Systematic study of the impact of MOF densification into tablets on textural and mechanical properties

Densification process of MOF powders (HKUST-1, UiO-66, UiO-66-NH₂, and UiO-67) into mechanically resistant pellets with maintained microporosity and enhanced volumetric uptake.

Reversible recrystallization process of copper and silver thioacetamide–halide coordination polymers and their basic building blocks

Three-dimensional [CuX(TAA)]_n (X = Br (1), I (2)) and bi-dimensional [AgX(TAA)]_n (X = Cl (3), Br (4)) coordination polymers have been isolated by the direct synthesis from copper(i) and silver(i) halides and thioacetamide (TAA).

[Meningocele, glioma and optic nerve meningioma: differential diagnosis and treatment]

PURPOSE

After studying 3 clinical cases, we have reviewed the clinical and radiological characteristics of meningocele, meningioma and optic nerve glioma. The differential diagnosis and therapeutic management are also discussed.

METHODS

Review of three clinical reports of three patients seen in our unit and a bibliographic search concerning the diagnosis and therapeutic management of these three entities at the present time.

RESULTS

Differential diagnosis has to be based on a wide range of parameters: epidemiologic (age, race, sex, prevalence of the tumors), clinical (visual acuity, perimetry, Hertel exophthalmometry and funduscopy) and radiologic (computed tomography and magnetic resonance). Anatomopathologic study is required only rarely. The therapeutic options are: observation, surgery and radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

A correct differential diagnosis is mandatory to be able to individualize the treatment for each entity (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2009; 84: 563-568).

[Sebaceous carcinoma. Study of two cases]

CLINICAL CASES

A 94-year-old woman, who had had a chalazion for a period of 8 months, presented because of thickening of the eyelid with necrosis, madarosis and adenopathy. A 67-year-old woman, previously operated on for a sebaceous carcinoma, presented because of reddening of the conjunctiva and eyelid. Clinical evaluation revealed inflammation of the eyelid and an irregular and erythematous superior bulbar conjunctiva with disruption of the limbal architecture.

DISCUSSION

A sebaceous carcinoma is a tumour which is difficult to diagnose and treat, because it can be patchy and has a tendency to pagetoid dissemination. Diagnosis requires a biopsy of the lesion and mapping of biopsies from the conjunctiva of the eyelid and eyebrow. The subsequent treatment depends on the extent of the tumour, and may involve simple cleavage, topical mitomycin C, radiotherapy or exenteration of the eyebrow.

[Ocular rupture associated with lens dislocation to the subconjunctival space]

CASE REPORT

We present the case of a patient who suffered from rupture of her left eye due to moderate blunt trauma. The lens, which was dislocated to the nasal and superior subconjunctival space, was extracted and the wound explored and repaired; when the process had stabilized secondary vitrectomy and suture of an IOL to the sulcus were performed, achieving a final visual acuity of 0.3.

DISCUSSION

Eye trauma is common and eye rupture may occur in those patients who have undergone ocular surgery or suffer from a debilitating condition of the eye. None of these predisposing factors existed in our case. Despite the seriousness of the problem, appropriate treatment achieved good visual function.

[Idiopathic loss of lateral tarsal suspension]

CASE

A 53-year-old man who showed a loss of tarsal suspension in the lateral third of both lower eyelids underwent lateral canthoplasty with a good post-operative result.

DISCUSSION

Disinsertion of the union of the inferior tarsus with the lateral canthus, of unknown cause, is a very uncommon finding that has almost never been reported in the world literature. There are two cases described of eyelid elastolysis with loss of lateral tarsal suspension, as in our case, but both showed eyelid skin atrophy and had histopathologic confirmation. Our case did not have skin atrophy.

The labor induction: integrated clinical and sonographic variables that predict the outcome

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical and sonographic variables that predicts the success of labor induction.

STUDY DESIGN

We studied the Bishop score, cervical length and parity in 196 pregnant women in the prediction of successful vaginal delivery within 24 h of induction. Logistic regression and segmentation analysis were performed.

RESULTS

Cervical length (odds ratio (OR) 1.089, P<0.001), Bishop score (OR 0.751, P=0.001) and parity (OR 4.7, P<0.001) predict the success of labor induction. In a global analysis of the variables studied, the best statistic sequence that predicts the labor induction was found when we introduced parity in the first place. The success of labor induction in nulliparous was 50.8 and 83.3% in multiparous women (P=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Cervical length, Bishop score and parity, integrated in a flow chart, provide independent prediction of vaginal delivery within 24 h of induction.

[Ocular infiltration in a patient with Multiple Myeloma]

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a patient with Multiple Myeloma Ig G Kappa stage IIIA and hepatic infiltration, who presented with ocular infiltration. The initial sign was a rapidly growing sub-conjunctival mass that caused ophthalmoplegia and increased intraocular pressure secondary to progressive infiltration of the orbit.

DISCUSSION

Multiple Myeloma is a malignant tumor of plasma cells that can affect the eye and orbit, not only as an infiltration secondary to the disease but also primary as an isolated tissue proliferation (extramedullary plasmacytoma). Chemotherapy is the usual treatment given. Radiotherapy with or without excisional surgery is the first option for plasmacytomas.

A 6-month assessment of bimatoprost 0.03% vs timolol maleate 0.5%: hypotensive efficacy, macular thickness and flare in ocular-hypertensive and glaucoma patients

AIM

To compare 6 months of treatment with bimatoprost and timolol in terms of their hypotensive efficacy and secondary effects, including changes in macular thickness and the inflammatory reaction induced in the anterior chamber.

METHODS

A prospective, randomized, parallel-group trial performed on 30 eyes of 30 patients per group. The main outcome measure was the difference between the IOP value taken between the baseline visit and the 6-month-visit. Macular thickness determined through optical coherence tomography and anterior chamber inflammation estimated using the laser flare meter was also evaluated. Adverse events were recorded during the study period.

RESULTS

Bimatoprost treatment gave rise to a significantly lower mean IOP than timolol in all follow-up visits as from the first month (P<0.05). Bimatoprost achieved high percentage IOP reductions from baseline in a significantly higher proportion of patients (P<0.05). Macular thickness and anterior chamber flare failed to vary significantly both between the two groups and within each group during the 6-month evaluation (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Bimatoprost 0.03% once daily showed a greater efficacy then timolol 0.05% twice daily in patients with elevated IOP. No significant differences were detected in macular thickness or anterior uveitis using optical coherence tomography and laser flare photometry.

Prenatal diagnosis of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease: DNA analysis of a mummified umbilical cord using closely linked microsatellite markers

We present a case of prenatal diagnosis of Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, the most severe type of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). DNA obtained from a mummified umbilical cord of a decreased affected brother of the index case was analysed with four closely linked microsatellite markers [EF1/2a and EF13/14 (D5S125), MAP1B, and JK53CA (D5S112)], flanking the SMA gene, on chromosome 5q11.2-13.3. The fetus was diagnosed as homozygous for the deleterious SMA gene.