Yb8Ge3Sb5, a metallic mixed-valent Zintl phase containing the polymeric 1 infinity[Ge3 4-] anions.

Yb8Ge3Sb5 is a nonclassical Zintl phase with metallic properties arising from the electropositive "spectator" cations of Yb. This compound contains the new Zintl anion 1infinity(Ge3)4- and is stabilized via a combination of Yb2+ and Yb3+ ions.

Stabilization of new forms of the intermetallic phases beta-RENiGe2 (RE = Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) in liquid indium.

Flux conditions using liquid indium bypass the thermodynamically stable structure and yield new forms of the phases RENiGe2 (RE = Dy, Er, Yb, Lu). The compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic Immm space group and possess the YIrGe2 structure type. Lattice parameters for ErNiGe2, DyNiGe2, YbNiGe2, and LuNiGe2 are a = 4.

[Exposure to smoking during pregnancy: Barcelona (Spain) 1994-2001].

Background: Exposure to smoking during pregnancy is an important risk factor for child health. In the last few decades, the prevalence of smoking among fertile women has increased in Spain.

Objectives: To assess fetal exposure to smoking in a representative sample of pregnant women and its trends.

17-Oxo-5 alpha-androst-6-en-3 beta-yl acetate.

In the title compound, C(21)H(30)O(3), a potential inhibitor of aromatase, all rings are fused trans. Rings A and C have chair conformations which are slightly flattened, whereas the conformation of ring B is close to a half-chair. Ring D has a 14 alpha-envelope conformation.

[Lithiasis in complete ureteral duplication and prostate cancer: combined surgery treatment].

The diagnosis of congenital anomalies of the urogenital tract in the adult is uncommon. Complete ureteral duplication represents a congenital anomaly of the ureters, usually draining a duplex kidney, with a second orifice entering the bladder, urethra or other structures. In the majority of cases, this pathology is completely asymptomatic; sometimes it's diagnosed because of complications such as infections, hydronephrosis, lithiasis, or in the evaluation of the urinary tract.

[Molecular biology of follicular thyroid carcinoma (II). Clinical applications].

The great advance of molecular medicine over the last few years gives us an attractive vision of the new possibilities in diagnosis and therapeutics of thyroid cancer and helps us to understand its biological behaviour. The clinical application of the growing understanding of gene alterations involved in thyroidal oncogenesis is becoming a reality. Such knowledge might contribute to greater diagnostic accuracy, by helping us characterise malignant or benign cells, predict tumour outcome or state its origin.

Gene expression profile of omental adipose tissue in human obesity.

The aim of the present study was to gain insight into the pathophysiology of obesity by comparing the pattern of gene expression of omental adipose tissue of obese and lean volunteers using DNA microarrays. Omental adipose tissue biopsies were obtained by laparoscopic surgery from six male patients (44.2+/-6.

Zero thermal expansion in YbGaGe due to an electronic valence transition.

Most materials expand upon heating. Although rare, some materials expand on cooling, and are said to exhibit negative thermal expansion (NTE); but the property is exhibited in only one crystallographic direction. Such materials include silicon and germanium at very low temperature (<100 K) and, at room temperature, glasses in the titania-silica family, Kevlar, carbon fibres, anisotropic Invar Fe-Ni alloys, ZrW2O3 (ref.

Isolation of DNA from saliva of betel quid chewers using treated cards.

Betel quid (BQ) chewing, a common tradition in tropical areas, often poses a problem during collection and DNA analysis of buccal samples from many indigenous communities for population genetic studies and in forensic analysis of chewed BQ residues. This study evaluated the use of FTA card, a chemically treated filter paper, in collecting buccal samples from long-term BQ users and subsequent PCR-based analysis using nine STR markers. A low overall success rate of amplification was observed in the samples extracted using a standard organic extraction procedure (7%) as compared with those prepared using the FTA card (89%).

Management and prognosis of transitional cell carcinoma superficial recurrence in muscle-invasive bladder cancer after bladder preservation.

Purpose: To assess the bladder preservation rate and cancer-specific survival after conservative treatment of superficial relapses in invasive tumors after bladder preservation.

Material And Methods: Fifty-one patients with invasive bladder tumor (T2) were treated using transurethral resection (TUR) followed by three cycles of systemic chemotherapy (carboplatin-vinblastine). After three weeks, an endoscopic reappraisal was made including deep TUR of the site of the original tumor and multiple cold cup biopsies.

[Percutaneous treatment of a primary renal aspergilloma in a patient with AIDS].

Primary renal aspergillosis is a very rare complication of AIDS which usually have fatal outcome (53% of mortality). The immune status of the patient and the early and correct therapeutic approach are the main factors that predict disease advancement. The new antiretroviral therapies improve the CD4 cell count and permit to treat these patients as immuno-competent.

[Pharmacological treatment of obesity].

The foundation on which the treatment of obesity rests is made up of the procedures aimed at unbalancing the equation of energy balance in favour of calorie consumption. Pharmacological treatment is aimed at favouring a reduction of calorie intake or stimulating calorie production. Depending on their mechanism of action, the drugs that are used in the treatment of obesity can be divided into appetite inhibitors, inhibitors of food intake or blockers of fat digestion and stimulators of thermogenesis.

A multicenter phase II study of irinotecan (CPT-11) alternated with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: In this multicenter phase II study the efficacy and safety of the alternating schedule of irinotecan (CPT-11) with bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) were assessed as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC).

Patients And Methods: Enrolled in the study were 43 patients with advanced CRC. They received CPT-11 350 mg/m2 i.

Management of urethral recurrence in patients with Studer ileal neobladder.

Objective: The overall risk of urethral recurrence (UR) of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) in patients with orthotopic neobladder ranges from 2% to 6%. We are presenting herein our experience in order to evaluate and define the management of these patients, since the cases with urethral recurrence in patients with orthotopic neobladder are very scarce.

Materials And Methods: Five hundred and sixteen radical cystectomies due to TCC were performed at our Centre between January 1990 and February 1998.

Social inequalities in perinatal mortality in a Southern European city.

The objective of this study was to describe and explain inequalities in perinatal mortality by educational level and occupational social class in Barcelona for the years 1993-1997. This was a case-control study. Cases were singleton perinatal deaths, controls were singleton live births obtained from a 2% random sample of births.

Effect of spermine on the activity of synaptosomal plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase reconstituted in neutral or acidic phospholipids.

The activity of purified plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase (PMCA) from pig brain was inhibited by spermine (a naturally occurring and highly abundant polycation in brain). The level of inhibition was dependent on the phospholipid used for reconstitution as well as on the intact or truncated state of the enzyme. An IC(50) value of 12.

Future challenges in analysis and treatment of human immune senescence.

Immune functions decline with age; immunorestorative approaches have been explored in laboratory animals and humans with definite, but limited success. In the clinical setting, the age-associated immune deficiency (immunesenescence) is compounded by the presence of comorbidities that are associated with a functional decline in immunity. Thus, any successful immune reconstitution strategy for humans must involve treatment of the underlying diseases.

Alkyl halide charge transfer complexes with hard Lewis bases.

The unusual charge transfer complexes formed between alkyl halide acceptors and hard Lewis base donors (amines and alcohols) in low dielectric solvent were examined using ultraviolet spectroscopy. The lambda(max) of the complex decreases with increasing ionization potential of the donor. The complex formation equilibria were probed by thermodynamic analysis and concentration variation.

Hasson's laparoscopic trocar in percutaneous bladder stone lithotripsy.

Bladder calculi are a common problem traditionally treated with open cystolithotomy or transurethral cystolithalopaxy. Percutaneous cystolithotomy via an Amplatz sheath is a recent approach that keeps urethral instrumentation to a minimum. We describe a percutaneous approach to bladder stones using a Hasson's trocar.

How old is that child? Validating the accuracy of age assignments in observational surveys of vehicle restraint use.

Objectives: Many large scale observational studies of child restraint usage require observers to estimate the ages of the vehicle occupants. The accuracy of age assignments were assessed and possible methods to improve observational accuracy in research and field studies of child restraint use were identified.

Methods: The validation study was performed at fast food restaurants in a metropolitan area.

Leptin inhibits angiotensin II-induced intracellular calcium increase and vasoconstriction in the rat aorta.

Besides its role in body weight control leptin may also act as a vasoactive hormone. This study was designed to investigate whether leptin modifies angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced vascular responses. The expression of functional leptin receptors (OB-Rb) was detected in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from adult Wistar rats by RT-PCR.