Abstract Hot melt extrusion technology using a twin-screw extruder was employed to obtain maltodextrin, maltodextrin-gum arabic and maltodextrin-trehalose based glassy extrudates containing ascorbic acid (dispersed phase). Ascorbic acid payload of all three formulations was more than 15.67 g/100 g extrudates while the ascorbic acid yield was above 97%. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of all extrudates was above 40 °C. The expansion ratio of the extrudates and Tg reduced due to the incorporation of trehalose and gum arabic to maltodextrins, respectively. The results of Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy confirmed that the formulated feed material turned into a glassy state, whereas, ascorbic acid was uniformly dispersed throughout the glassy matrix. Extruded formulations showed a steady dissolution rate, therefore, having a role in controlling the dissolution rate of ascorbic acid.

The microstructure evolution of Fe-19Mn-8Cr-1Co-0.2Si (wt.%) alloy and Fe-19Mn (wt.%) alloy during cold rolling and its effect on the damping capacity of the two alloys were investigated. It was shown that the damping capacity of the two alloys was enhanced significantly owing to the deformation-induced ε-martensite and stacking faults. The Fe-19Mn-8Cr-1Co-0.2Si alloy exhibited an accelerated phase transformation from γ-austenite to ε-martensite due to a higher content of retained γ-austenite and larger grain sizes compared with the Fe-19Mn alloy, resulting in a higher maximal increment of damping capacity in this alloy caused by deformation. It was observed that no twinned ε-martensite was generated in the Fe-19Mn-8Cr-1Co-0.2Si alloy during cold rolling, resulting in a remarkable increase in the volume fraction of α'-martensite owing to no impediment to ε → α' transformation, hence the deterioration of damping capacity was slow because the α'-martensite weakened the pinning effect of dislocations on damping sources. In addition, new damping sources were provided due to the occurance of γ-austenite twinning in the Fe-19Mn-8Cr-1Co-0.2Si alloy.

SUMMARY: The nerve entry points (NEPs) cannot yet be accurately localized for the treatment of thigh adductor muscles spasticity in chemical neurolysis. The aim of this study was to identify the location and depth of the NEPs of thigh adductor muscles by spiral computed tomography (CT) and bony landmarks. Forty lower limbs of twenty adult cadavers were dissected in supine position. A curved line on skin surface from the tip of greater trochanter of femur to the center of pubic tubercle was designated as the horizontal reference line (H). Another curved line from the tip of great trochanter to the lateral epicondyle of femur was designated as the longitudinal reference line (L). Following dissection, the NEPs were labeled with barium sulfate, and their body surface projection points (P) were determined by spiral CT. Projection of NEP in the opposite direction was designated as P'. The percentage location of the intersections (PH and PL) of P with the H and L and the percentage depth of NEPs were determined with the Syngo system. The PH for the NEP of pectineus, gracilis, adductor longus, adductor brevis and adductor magnus muscles branch were located at 76.41±0.71 %, 93.85±2.07 %, 92.05±2.15 %, 80.75±1.20 % and 88.08±1.09 % of the H, respectively. The PLwere at 1.64±0.04 %, 29.89±1.90 %, 16.06±1.32 %, 11.66±0.11 % and 22.94±0.90 % of the L, respectively. The depth of NEP from P points were at 17.52±0.52 %, 38.38±2.75 %, 20.88±0.79 %, 20.35±0.82 % and 39.52±0.67 % of PP', respectively. These results help to carry out more precise localization of the NEPs. It should provide a novel anatomical guide for improving the efficacy and efficiency of chemical neurolysis in treating thigh adductor muscle spasticity.

RESUMEN: Aún no se pueden localizar con precisión los puntos de entrada del nervio (PEN) para el tratamiento de la espasticidad de los músculos aductores del muslo a través de la neurólisis química. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar la ubicación y la profundidad de los PEN de los músculos aductores del muslo mediante tomografía computarizada espiral (TC) y puntos de referencia óseos. Se disecaron loa miembros inferiores de 20 cadáveres adultos en posición supina. Se trazó una línea curva en la superficie de la piel desdeel ápice del trocánter mayor del fémur hasta el centro del tubérculo púbico y se designó como línea de referencia horizontal (H). Otra línea curva desde el ápice del trocánter mayor hasta el epicóndilo lateral del fémur se designó como línea de referencia longitudinal (L). Después de la disección, los PEN se marcaron con sulfato de bario y sus puntos de proyección de la superficie del cuerpo (P) se determinaron mediante TC helicoidal. La proyección de PEN en la dirección opuesta se designó como P '. El porcentaje de ubicación de las intersecciones (PH y PL) de P con H y L y la profundidad porcentual de los PEN se determinaron con el sistema Syngo. Los PH para los PEN de los músculos pectineus, gracilis, adductor longus, aductor brevis y rama aductora del músculo aductor magnus se localizaron en 76,41±0,71 %, 93,85±2,07 %, 92,05±2,15 %, 80,75±1,20 % y 88,08±1,09 % de H, respectivamente. Los PL estuvieron en 1,64±0,04 %, 29,89±1,90 %, 16,06±1,32 %, 11,66±0,11 % y 22,94±0,90 % de la L, respectivamente. La profundidad de PEN de P puntos fue de 17,52±0,52 %, 38,38±2,75 %, 20,88±0,79 %, 20,35±0,82 % y 39,52±0,67 % de PP ', respectivamente. Estos resultados ayudan a realizar una localización más precisa de los PEN. Se debe proponer una nueva guía anatómica para mejorar la eficacia y la eficiencia de la neurólisis química en el tratamiento de la espasticidad del músculo aductor del muslo.

OBJECTIVES: Behcet’s disease is a form of systematic vasculitis that affects vessels of various sizes. Aortic pseudoaneurysm is one of the most important causes of death among patients with Behcet’s disease due to its high risk of rupture and associated mortality. Our study aimed to investigate the outcomes of Behcet’s disease patients with aortic pseudoaneurysms undergoing open surgery and endovascular aortic repair. METHODS: From January 2003 to September 2014, ten consecutive patients undergoing surgery for aortic pseudoaneurysm met the diagnostic criteria for Behcet’s disease. Endovascular repair was the preferred modality and open surgery was performed as an alternative. Systemic immunosuppressive medication was administered after Behcet’s disease was definitively diagnosed. RESULTS: Eight patients initially underwent endovascular repair and two patients initially underwent open surgery. The overall success rate was 90% and the only failed case involved the use of the chimney technique to reach a suprarenal location. The median follow-up duration was 23 months. There were 7 recurrences in 5 patients. The median interval between operation and recurrence was 13 months. No significant risk factors for recurrence were identified, but a difference in recurrence between treatment and non-treatment with preoperative immunosuppressive medication preoperatively was notable. Four aneurysm-related deaths occurred within the follow-up period. The overall 1-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 80%, 64% and 48%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Both open surgery and endovascular repair are safe and effective for treating aortic pseudoaneurysm in Behcet’s disease patients. The results from our retrospective study indicated that immunosuppressive medication was essential to defer the occurrence and development of recurrent aneurysms.

Prunella vulgaris L. (Labiatae) contains a variety of structurally diverse natural products, primarily rosmarinic acid (RA), ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA), which possess a wide array of biological properties. In the present study, P. vulgaris was harvested at three developmental stages (vegetative, full-flowering and mature-fruiting stages), dissected into stem and leaf tissues and assayed for chemical contents using high performance liquid chromatography. Significant changes in the concentrations of the major secondary metabolites (RA, UA and OA) were observed at the different development stages. The highest concentrations of RA, UA and OA were found at the full-flowering stage (15.83 mg/g dry weight (DW) RA, 1.77 mg/g DW UA and 0.65 mg/g DW OA). Among the different aerial parts of the plant, the concentrations of RA, UA and OA were higher in the leaves than in the stems at the different developmental stages. These results suggest that the full-flowering stage is characterized by the highest concentrations of bioactive compounds. Therefore, this stage may be the optimum point for harvesting P. vulgaris plants. In additional, the leaves of P. vulgaris demonstrated higher RA, UA and OA concentrations than the stems, suggesting higher utilization potential.