Quality of cell blocks prepared from residual pleural effusion and bronchial washing samples for immunocytochemistry.

Introduction: Cell blocks (CBs) enable the long-term preservation of cytological samples. The aim of this study was to analyse the quality of CBs prepared from leftover fluid from lung adenocarcinoma pleural effusion samples and residual bronchial washing sediment for immunocytochemistry.

Methods: The residual part of 455 lung adenocarcinoma pleural effusion samples and sediment from 384 bronchial washing samples were used to prepare CBs following the agarose method.

Influence of deep-freezing and MGG staining on DNA and RNA quality in different types of lung adenocarcinoma cytological smears.

Background: Preserving the optimal quality of DNA and RNA is mandatory for molecular testing in lung adenocarcinoma cytological smears (LACSs).

Methods: DNA and RNA were isolated from 90 frozen unstained and 46 May Grünwald Giemsa (MGG) stained LACSs prepared from bronchial washing (BW), bronchial brushing (BB), and pleural effusion (PE) samples during 3 years. Concentrations of nucleic acids in all LACSs were assessed by spectrophotometric analysis.

The role of arm volumes evaluation in the functional outcome and patient satisfaction following surgical repair of the brachial plexus traumatic injuries.

Objective: Brachial plexus injuries are among the most complex injuries of the peripheral nervous system and among the most devastating injuries overall. In complete lesions, functional priorities include the reinnervation of the musculocutaneous and axillary nerves for proximal functions restoration. Three major nerves - radial, median, and ulnar - and the corresponding muscles remain denervated, which results in subsequent muscle atrophy.

MANAGEMENT OF BRACHIAL PLEXUS MISSILE INJURIES.

- Missile injuries are among the most devastating injuries in general traumatology. Traumatic brachial plexus injuries are the most difficult injuries in peripheral nerve surgery, and most complicated to be surgically treated. Nevertheless, missile wounding is the second most common mechanism of brachial plexus injury.

Nerve Grafting versus Common Infraclavicular Intraplexal Nerve Transfer in Elbow Flexion Restoration.

Aim: To compare the results of nerve grafting versus common infraclavicular intraplexal nerve transfer in elbow flexion restoration.

Material And Methods: The study included 39 patients with upper brachial plexus palsy who were operated using common intraplexal nerve transfer (Oberlin procedure) and the thoracodorsal and medial pectoral nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve or grafting of C5 to the musculocutaneous nerve, for elbow flexion restoration. All patients underwent detailed preoperative evaluation, which included clinical and neurological examinations, electrophysiological investigation and neuroradiological studies.

ZnO nanowires as effective luminescent sensing materials for nitroaromatic derivatives.

We report on the efficient room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) quenching of ZnO in the presence of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) vapor and for concentration as low as 180 ppb. Compared to ZnO thin films, ZnO nanowires exhibit a strong (95%) and fast (41 s) quenching of the PL intensity in the presence of DNT vapor. Assuming that the PL quenching is due to a trapping of the ZnO excitons by adsorbed DNT molecules, Monte-Carlo calculations show that the nanometric dimensions as well as the better crystallographic quality (longer mean free path) of the ZnO nanowires result in an enhanced trapping process at the origin of the improved sensing properties of the nanowires.

Highly cooperative formation of bis-urea based supramolecular polymers.

Eleven bis-ureas have been synthesized, and some of their properties are reported. Several of these compounds form supramolecular polymers in organic solvents. The self-association is shown by FTIR spectroscopy to display cooperativity at two levels.