The Best Under Stress: An Analysis of Breast Tissue Expander Response to External Forces.

Background: The use of breast tissue expanders (TEs) in breast reconstruction is accompanied by undesired changes to the chest wall and lateral plane. Breast TEs are designed to create a naturally formed breast pocket by capitalizing on the ductile response of skin tissue; however, in practice, the use of expanders is accompanied by undesired changes to the chest wall and lateral plane.

Objectives: The authors of this study compared 3 comparably sized and commercially available breast TEs to assess the mechanical profile and functionality of each design.

Measurements show that marginal wells are a disproportionate source of methane relative to production.

Oil and natural gas wells are a prominent source of the greenhouse gas methane (CH), but most measurements are from newer, high producing wells. There are nearly 700,000 marginal "stripper" wells in the US, which produce less than 15 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) d. We made direct measurements of CH and volatile organic carbon (VOC) emissions from marginal oil and gas wells in the Appalachian Basin of southeastern Ohio, all producing < 1 BOE d.

The in vitro effect on T cell function of soluble IL-2Ralpha from advanced ovarian cancer ascites.

Activated T cells not only secrete interleukin-2 (IL-2) and express cell surface interleukin 2 receptor alpha (IL-2R alpha), but also shed IL-2R alpha. This soluble receptor is a truncated form of the membrane-bound p55 receptor with a similar binding affinity. It has been proposed that soluble IL-2R alpha (sIL-2R alpha) could negatively modulate local immune response.

Fatal microvascular pulmonary emboli from precipitation of a total nutrient admixture solution.

Background: Paroxysmal respiratory failure and death occurred in two young adult females with pelvic infections. Autopsy revealed an amorphous material containing calcium obstructing the pulmonary microvasculature of each patient. Both patients received an identical total nutrient admixture (TNA) solution before their deaths.