Prevalence of Cardiac Amyloidosis in Patients Undergoing Carpal Tunnel Release With Amyloid Deposition.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is considered an early sign of cardiac amyloidosis (CA) because amyloid deposition is often confirmed in the tenosynovium removed during carpal tunnel release (CTR); however, the prevalence of concomitant CA is unclear.

Methods and results: We prospectively examined 700 patients who underwent CTR and evaluated amyloid deposition after tenosynovium removal. Amyloid deposition was observed in 261 (37%) patients, who were significantly older and predominantly male (P<0.

Adsorption of dimethyl silicone onto hair-surface models prepared with micro-phase separated monolayers.

The adsorption of dimethylsilicone (DMS) from its emulsion onto hair-surface models was investigated. The model surfaces were prepared on silicon wafers by utilizing a micro-phase separation in mixed Langmuir monolayers with a chemically adsorptive organosilane, n-octadecyltriethoxysilane (ODTES), as one component. The resulting surfaces consisted of hydrophobic micro-domains of polymerized ODTES and a surrounding hydrophilic surface silanol (SiOH) region of the silicon wafer, corresponding to the healthy and damaged regions of the hair surface, respectively, in terms of surface wettability.

Painful heterotopic pacinian corpuscle in the hand: a report of three cases.

Severe pain in the finger caused by an abnormal Pacinian corpuscle is a rare condition. We have recently encountered three patients diagnosed with a heterotopic Pacinian corpuscle, based on histopathological findings. When making a differential diagnosis of unexplained severe pain in the finger, abnormal Pacinian corpuscles must be taken into account in addition to glomus tumour and other types of painful soft-tissue tumour.

Temperature dependent dendritic domain shapes in Langmuir monolayers of tetradecanoyl N-ethanolamide at the air-water interface.

The effect of temperature on the surface phase behavior of tetradecanoyl N-ethanolamide (NHEA-14) in Langmuir monolayers at the air-water interface has been investigated by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). It has been observed that dendritic domains are formed in the coexistence region between liquid-expanded (LE) and liquid-condensed (LC) phases at different temperatures. At 10 and 15°C, the domains are four-armed dendrites having wide arms which have a tendency to be fractal while growing in size.

Effect of head groups on the phase transitions in Gibbs adsorption layers at the air-water interface.

The adsorption kinetics and the surface phase behavior of four different amphiphiles, which are 2-hydroxyethyl laurate (2-HEL), dodecanoyl N-ethanolamide (NHEA-12), dodecanoyl N-methylethanolamide (NMEA-12) and tetradecanoyl N-methylethanolamide (NMEA-14), have been investigated at the air-water interface by film balance, surface tensiometer and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). The former two amphiphiles show a first-order phase transition from a lower density liquid like phase to a higher density condensed phase in Gibbs adsorption layers. On the other hand, the latter two amphiphiles are unable to show such characteristics under any experimental conditions.

Temperature and compression rate independent domain shape in Langmuir monolayers of di-n-dodecyl hydrogen phosphate at the air-water interface.

Thermodynamic and morphological properties of Langmuir monolayers of di-n-dodecyl hydrogen phosphate (DDP) have been studied by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) over a wide range of temperature between 5 and 40 degrees C. From pi-A isotherms, a generalized phase diagram consisting of gas (G), liquid expanded (LE) and liquid condensed (LC) phases is constructed for the DDP monolayers. The BAM images show the formation of gas bubble in the bright background of LE phase during G-LE phase transitions and fingering LC domains during LE-LC phase transitions.

How many phases and phase transitions do exist in Gibbs adsorption layers at the air-water interface?

Four different phases and four different first-order phase transitions have been shown to exist in Gibbs adsorption layers of mixtures containing n-hexadecyl dihydrogen phosphate (n-HDP) and L-arginine (L-arg) at a molar ratio of 1:2. These conclusions have been made from surface pressure-time (pi-t) adsorption isotherms measured with a film balance and from monolayer morphology observed with a Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). The observed four phases are gas (G), liquid expanded (LE), liquid condensed (LC) and LC' phases.

Weak first-order tilting transition in monolayers of mono- and bipolar docosanol derivatives.

A systematic analysis of pressure-area isotherms and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) data of 22-methoxydocosan-1-ol (H3C-O-(CH2)22-OH, MDO), docosan-1-ol (H3C-(CH2)21-OH, DO), and docosyl methyl ether (H3C-(CH2)21-O-CH3, DME) monolayers on pure water between 10 and 35 degrees C is presented. All monolayers form fully condensed phases in the investigated temperature region. The GIXD data reveal that the monolayers exhibit the phase sequence -S at lower temperature and -LS at higher temperature.

Interactions of L-arginine with Langmuir monolayers of di-n-dodecyl hydrogen phosphate at the air-water interface.

The surface phase behavior of di-n-dodecyl hydrogen phosphate (DDP) in Langmuir monolayer and its interactions with L-arginine (L-arg) have been investigated by measuring pi-A isotherms with a film balance and observing monolayer morphology with a Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). The DDP monolayers on pure water show a first-order liquid expanded-liquid condensed (LE-LC) phase transition and form fingering LC domains having uniform brightness at different temperatures. At 15 degrees C, the pi-A isotherms on pure water and on different concentration solutions of L-arg show a limiting molecular area at approximately 0.

Surface phase behavior of di-n-tetradecyl hydrogen phosphate in Langmuir monolayers at the air-water interface.

Surface phase behavior of di-n-tetradecyl hydrogen phosphate, DTP, has been studied by measuring pi-A isotherms with a film balance and observing monolayer morphology with a Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) at different temperatures. A generalized phase diagram, which shows a triple point for gas (G), liquid-expanded (LE) and liquid-condensed (LC) phases at about 32 degrees C, is constructed for the amphiphile. Below the triple point, a first-order G-LC phase transition has been shown to occur, whereas a first-order G-LE phase transition followed by another first-order LE-LC transition has been found to take place at a temperature above the triple point.

Kinetic appearance of first-order gas-liquid expanded and liquid expanded-liquid condensed phase transitions below the triple point.

Phase diagram of Gibbs monolayers of mixtures containing n-hexadecyl phosphate (n-HDP) and L-arginine (L-arg) at a molar ratio of 1:2 has been constructed by measuring surface-pressure-time (pi-t) isotherms with film balance and by observing monolayer morphology with Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). This phase diagram shows a triple point for gas (G), liquid expanded (LE), and liquid condensed (LC) phases at around 6.7 degrees C.

Effect of temperature on the surface phase behavior of n-hexadecyl dihydrogen phosphate in adsorption layers at the air-water interface.

We present the adsorption kinetics and the surface phase behavior of n-hexadecyl dihydrogen phosphate (n-HDP) at the air-water interface by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). A phase diagram, which shows a triple point at about 25.8 degrees C, is constructed by measuring the surface pressure (pi)-time (t) adsorption isotherms.

Dependence of phase behavior of some non-ionic surfactants at the air-water interface on micellization in the bulk.

The temperature-dependent surface phase behavior of two sparingly soluble surfactants, namely, ethylene glycol n-dodecyl ether (EGDE) and ethylene glycol n-tetradecyl ether (EGTE), at the air-water interface was investigated by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). A cusp point followed by a pronounced plateau region in the surface pressure-time (pi-t) adsorption isotherms of the amphiphiles measured by film balance indicates the first-order phase transition. Bright two-dimensional condensed phase domains in a dark background are observed by BAM just after the phase transition.

Anomalous phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of monomyristoyl-rac-glycerol at the air-water interface.

The effect of temperature on the surface phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of monomyristoyl-rac-glycerol (MMG) at the air-water interface has been studied by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). It is observed that the domains of the MMG monolayers formed in the coexistence region between the liquid expanded (LE) and liquid condensed (LC) phases retain their circular shape over the studied temperature range, showing a sharp contrast to the temperature-dependent monolayer morphologies of amphiphilic systems where the shape of condensed domains changes either from compact circular to fingering or from irregular or spiral to compact patterns with increasing temperature. It is concluded that the system is capable of tuning the line tension of the interface by the effect of the increase in the hydrophobic character because of dehydration of the headgroup, which imparts to the molecules the properties of similar molecules but with less hydrophilic headgroups.

Two-dimensional facets in Langmuir monolayers of 1-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol at the air-water interface.

We study the surface phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of 1-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol (C16G) by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy over a wide range of temperatures. A cusp point followed by a pronounced plateau region in the pressure-area (pi-A) isotherm indicates a first-order phase transition between a lower density liquid expanded (LE) phase and a higher density liquid condensed (LC) phase at the air-water interface. A wide variety of condensed domains are found to form just after the appearance of the cusp point.

Influence of temperature and alkyl chain length on phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of some oxyethylenated nonionic surfactants.

We study the surface phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of a series of nonionic surfactants of the general formula CnE1 with n=14, 16, and 18 by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) over a wide range of temperatures. A cusp point followed by a pronounced plateau region in the pressure-area (pi-A) isotherms indicates a first-order phase transition in the coexisting state between a lower density liquid expanded (LE) phase and a higher density liquid condensed (LC) phase at the air-water interface. The formation of bright two-dimensional (2D) LC domains in a dark background visualized by BAM further confirms this observation.

Interaction of an organic cation with Gibbs monolayers of n-hexadecyl phosphate.

Surface phase behavior of n-hexadecyl phosphate (n-HDP) and its mixture with L-arginine (L-arg), which behaves as L-argininium cation (L-arg(+)) in aqueous solution, at a molar ratio 2:3 in Gibbs adsorption layers has been studied by film balance, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) and surface tensiometry at 20 degrees C. The monolayers of n-HDP show three phases that are gas (G), intermediate (I) and liquid condensed (LC), and two phase transitions. A first-order G-I phase transition that is followed by a second-order I-LC phase transition is found in these monolayers.

Adsorption and micellar properties of a mixed system of nonionic-nonionic surfactants.

We study the surface adsorption and bulk micellization of a mixed system of two nonionic surfactants, namely, ethylene glycol mono-n-dodecyl ether (C12E1) and tetraethylene glycol mono-n-tetradecyl ether (C14E4), at different mixing ratios at 15 degrees C. The pure C14E4 monolayer cannot show any indicative features of phase transition because of both hydration-induced and dipolar repulsive interactions between the bulky head groups. On the other hand, the monolayers of pure C12E1 and its mixture with C14E4 undergo a first-order phase transition, showing a variety of surface patterns in the coexistence region between the liquid expanded (LE) and liquid condensed (LC) phases under the same experimental conditions.

Phases and phase transitions in Gibbs monolayers of an alkyl phosphate surfactant.

We present the adsorption kinetics and the surface phase behavior of water-soluble n-tetradecyl phosphate (n-TDP) at the air-water interface by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). The relaxation of the surface pressure at about zero value in the surface pressure (pi)-time (t) adsorption isotherm is found to occur from 2 to 20 degrees C with appropriate concentrations of the amphiphile. These plateaus are accompanied by two surface phases, confirming that the relaxation of the surface pressure is caused by a first-order phase transition.

Diabetes with hyperlipidemia: a risk factor for developing joint contractures secondary to immobility in rat knee joints?

Several studies have reported that diabetes may cause limited joint motion and often combines with hyperlipidemia (HL). This study clarifies that joint contracture can be produced by diabetes, HL, or both. The experimental animal model, a rat with diabetes and HL, was developed by streptozosin injection and addition of 1% cholesterol to the food.

Influence of temperature and headgroup size on condensed-phase patterns in langmuir monolayers of some oxyethylenated nonionic surfactants.

The surface phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of some oxyethylenated nonionic surfactants of the general formula C16En, with n = 1, 2, 3, and 4, at the air-water interface has been studied by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) over a wide range of temperatures. The C16E4 monolayers cannot show any indicative features of phase transition because of strong dipolar as well as hydration-induced repulsive interactions between the bulky headgroups. On the other hand, the monolayers of C16E1, C16E2, and C16E3 show a sharp cusp point followed by a pronounced plateau region in their respective isotherms with subsequent formation of a variety of structures in the two-phase coexistence region between the liquid expanded (LE) and liquid condensed (LC) phases at different temperatures.

Effect of temperature on the surface phase behavior and micelle formation of a mixed system of nonionic/anionic surfactants.

The adsorption and micellar behavior of diethylene glycol mono-n-tetradecyl ether (C14E2), sodium 3,6,9,12-tetraoxaoctacosanoate (TOOCNa), and their mixture at a 1:1 molar ratio have been studied by film balance, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), and surface tensiometry at different temperatures. The monolayers of pure C14E2 and its mixture with TOOCNa show a first-order phase transition with a conspicuous cusp point in their respective adsorption isotherms. This is further confirmed by the observation of bright two-dimensional condensed phase domains visualized by BAM just after the appearance of the phase transition.

Faceted structures in Langmuir monolayers of diethylene glycol mono-n-octadecyl ether at the air--water interface.

We have concurrently studied the surface pressure (pi) versus area (A) isotherms and microscopic surface morphological features of Langmuir monolayers of diethylene glycol mono-n-octadecyl ether (C18E2) by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) over a wide range of temperature. At temperatures < or =10 degrees C, the monolayers exist in the form of condensed phase even just after the evaporation of the spreading solvent, suggesting that the melting point of the condensed phase is above this temperature. At > or =15 degrees C, the monolayers can exist as gas (G), liquid expanded (LE), and liquid condensed (LC) phases and undergo a pressure-induced first-order phase transition between LE and LC phases showing a sharp cusp point followed by a plateau region in the pi-A isotherms.

Surface phase behavior in Langmuir monolayers of diethylene glycol mono-n-hexadecyl ether at the air-water interface.

The surface phase behavior of condensed-phase domains formed during a first-order phase transition in Langmuir monolayers of diethylene glycol mono-n-hexadecyl ether at the air-water interface has been investigated by Brewster angle microscopy and polarization modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS). A variety of two-dimensional (2D) structures are observed just after the appearance of the phase transition at different temperatures. At 10 and 15 degrees C, the domains are found to be small nuclei of irregular structures.

Surface phase behavior in Gibbs monolayers of bis(ethylene glycol) mono-n-tetradecyl ether at the air-water interface.

We present the adsorption kinetics and surface morphology of the adsorbed monolayers of bis(ethylene glycol) mono-n-tetradecyl ether (C14E2) by film balance and Brewster angle microscopy. A cusp point followed by a plateau region in the pressure (pi)-time (t) adsorption isotherm indicates a first-order phase transition in the coexistence region between a lower density liquid expanded (LE) phase and a higher density liquid condensed (LC) phase. A variety of condensed phase domains surrounded by the homogeneous LE phase are observed just after the appearance of the phase transition.