Modeling Meridians Within the Quantum Field Theory.

We present here a model of meridians in the formalism of the gauge theory paradigm of quantum field theory with spontaneous breakdown of symmetry. We discuss the origin and dynamic self-focusing propagation of the electromagnetic field in coherent states and the role it plays in our meridian modeling. Within this frame, we consider the formation of solitary waves on proteins and anatomical filamentary structures and discuss nondissipative energy transport.

Impact of daily supplementation of Spirulina platensis on the immune system of naïve HIV-1 patients in Cameroon: a 12-months single blind, randomized, multicenter trial.

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies occur early in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections they have reverse effects on the nutritional status. The diet supplementation with a natural nutraceutical rich in proteins and micronutrient like Spirulina platensis, may be effective and efficient in delaying HIV disease progression by frequently reported improvement in immune response.

Methods: A prospective single-blind, randomized, multicenter study conducted on 320 HIV-1 ARV-naïve participants for 12 months.

Laparoscopic appendectomies: experience of a surgical unit.

Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen in adults and appendectomy is the most common emergency abdominal procedure. Laparoscopic appendectomy has gained popularity only in recent years and the optimal approach for the treatment of acute appendicitis is still under debate. This retrospective study aimed at examining the current indications for laparoscopic appendectomy.

Signal spatial filtering for co-phasing in seeing-limited conditions.

We present the results of the co-phasing closed loop performed with a pyramid wavefront sensor for what we believe to be the first time in the presence of emulated atmospheric disturbance. The performance of the co-phasing loop is significantly improved by applying two spatial filters in the sensor signal space. The first is a zonal filter applied to the interaction matrix before the computation of the reconstructor; the second is a modal filter applied to the sensor signals before the correction command computation.

Pyramid sensor for segmented mirror alignment.

We report what is to our knowledge the first laboratory experiment that shows the use of a pyramid wavefront sensor to cophase and align segmented mirrors having three degrees of freedom per segment, i.e., piston, tip, and tilt.

Ultrasonographic detection of portal branches and hepatic vein gas associated with mesenteric artery occlusion: a new finding correlated with patient prognosis?

The diagnosis of bowel infarction is still a challenge. In some cases, portal venous gas is an associated feature and in these patients, the prognosis is very poor. We report on our experience with two consecutive cases in which ultrasonography showed gas in the portal venous branches, and also in the hepatic veins in one of them.

Drain-site tumour recurrence after laparotomy resection for colorectal cancer.

We report a case of drain-site tumour recurrence 2 years after right colon resection for adenocarcinoma of the ascending colon. A large number of case reports concerning port-site tumour recurrences after laparoscopic procedures have been reported. However, post-laparotomy incision site cancer recurrence is considered a rare occurrence.

In human monocytes interleukin-1 stimulates a phospholipase C active on phosphatidylcholine and inactive on phosphatidylinositol.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) can initiate the synthesis of prostaglandins which in turn act as endogenous modulators of IL-1 production. The human monocyte/macrophage synthesizes various eicosanoids through the activation of the cellular phospholipase system. Cell stimulation results in the activation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) whose major substrate is phosphatidylcholine (PC) and the release of the eicosanoid precursor arachidonic acid (AA) from PC.

[The technic of sub-vigil anesthesia in plastic-reconstructive surgery].

The personal experience in plastic-reconstructive surgery with 395 cases of sub-vigil anaesthesia (neuroleptanalgesia + benzodiazepine in 124 patients (group A); ketamine + benzodiazepine in 138 patients (group B); neuroleptanalgesia + ketamine + benzodiazepine in 133 patients (group C) is described by the authors in the present study. They conclude that the sub-vigil anaesthesia is usually free from complications and a very safe, tolerable, expedient technique for plastic surgical procedures; furthermore, the result is good patient acceptance, a stable blood pressure and heart rate.

A reappraisal of the factors affecting early patency of aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass grafts. Current experience with extensive revascularization employing sequential grafting techniques.

A number of factors potentially influencing the patency rates of aortocoronary bypass grafts were investigated in a consecutive series of 50 patients by control angiography at 28 +/- 26 days and by univariate and multivariate analysis of a selected set of clinical, surgical and angiographic predictors. There were 234 anastomoses in this series, a mean of 4.7 per patient (range 1 to 9), 215 of which were connected to sequential vein grafts.

Surgical treatment of cancer of the colon.

The authors give a brief review of the course of surgical treatment for colon cancer in the last two decades, as reported in the medical literature. Between 1960 and 1980 they examined 619 patients. Of these, 599 underwent surgery: 436 (72.

Selection for surgery and long-term results in renovascular hypertension.

From 1960 to December 1977, 251 patients with renovascular hypertension (RVH) were observed; 219 were operated upon. Long-term results were assessed in 130 patients. Selection for surgery follows three steps: 1) screening of patients with renal artery disease, which is done by angiography; 2) diagnosis of RVH, which is reached mainly by differential renal function studies and renal vein renin measurements (ancillary methods are intravenous pyelography and sequential scintigraphy; the significance of renin measurements is discussed); and 3) prediction of the results of surgery and choice of technique.

Transduodenal sphincteroplasty.

Sphincteroplasty is an inferior partial sphincterotomy followed by suture approximation of both the duodenal and common bile duct walls. We have described our operative technic employed in 770 sphincteroplasties performed in the past 14 years.