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Ethanol (EtOH) intake and noise exposure are particularly concerning among human adolescents because the potential to harm brain. Unfortunately, putative underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Moreover, implementing non-pharmacological strategies, such as enriched environments (EE), would be pertinent in the field of neuroprotection. This study aims to explore possible underlying triggering mechanism of hippocampus-dependent behaviors in adolescent animals of both sexes following ethanol intake, noise exposure, or a combination of both, as well as the impact of EE. Adolescent Wistar rats of both sexes were subjected to an intermittent voluntary EtOH intake paradigm for one week. A subgroup of animals was exposed to white noise for two hours after the last session of EtOH intake. Some animals of both groups were housed in EE cages. Hippocampal-dependent behavioral assessment and hippocampal oxidative state evaluation were performed. Results show that different hippocampal-dependent behavioral alterations might be induced in animals of both sexes after EtOH intake and sequential noise exposure, that in some cases are sex-specific. Moreover, hippocampal oxidative imbalance seems to be one of the potential underlying mechanisms. Additionally, most behavioral and oxidative alterations were prevented by EE. These findings suggest that two frequently found environmental agents may impact behavior and oxidative pathways in both sexes in an animal model. In addition, EE resulted a partially effective neuroprotective strategy. Therefore, it could be suggested that the implementation of a non-pharmacological approach might also potentially provide neuroprotective advantages against other challenges. Finally, considering its potential for translational human benefit might be worth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case study from eastern Australia is used to demonstrate methods for subsurface high-grading and development-concept optimisation in Coal Seam Gas resource plays. We discuss two aspects of subsurface high-grading: (1) improved prediction of net coal using 2D seismic data, and (2) structure-geological analysis and mapping of the fracture network. Net-coal predictions across the study area focused on the upper Juandah Coal Measures interval of the Jurassic Walloon Coal Measures. There is a positive relationship between extracted and normalised upper Juandah Coal Measures seismic-amplitude strength and net coal in the wells. Areas with considerable amplitude dimming commonly coincide with reflector 'washout' areas mapped from seismic data and are interpreted as channel incisions into otherwise continuous coal seams. Integration of seismic and well data can improve the mapping of net coal and help optimise the placement of appraisal wells, reducing the number of unexpected or difficult-to-interpret well finds. It may also guide delineation of resource-classification domains in a more robust manner than mapping from well data alone. Fractures in coal seams of the study area are mostly bed-perpendicular joints and cleats. Three sets of fractures/cleats are identified in the coal beds: a dominant set and two more localised sets. Fracture intensity was mapped per set using well data and then combined. Fracture maps are deemed useful as an indication of permeability anisotropy, and hence the expected shape of well drainage areas, as opposed to indicating a range of permeability values. Based on the fracture interpretations, it may be possible to optimise the development concept of specific areas, i.e. varying well spacing and/or drilling wells slanted perpendicular to dominant fracture strike. Use of 2D seismic data to qualitatively indicate net-coal trends in the Walloon Coal Measures. The correlation coefficient between seismic amplitude and net coal is strong enough to guide well placement and resource delineation. Fracture intensity mapping from borehole images may indicate permeability anisotropy of the coals rather than absolute permeability values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common valvular disorder in the elderly, with the incidence of 3% in general population of Western countries. The initial phase of CAVD is characterized by leaflet thickening and possible spotty calcification (i.e. aortic valve sclerosis (AVSc)), while advanced stages have leaflets structure degeneration (i.e. aortic valve stenosis (AS)). The pathological cellular and molecular mechanisms, involved in CAVD, are extracellular matrix degradation, aberrant matrix deposition, fibrosis, mineralization, inflammation, lipid accumulation, and neo-angiogenesis. CAVD clinical risk shares considerable overlap with those of atherosclerosis and they include hypertension, smoking habits, and hyperlipidemia. Unfortunately, surgical aortic valve replacement and transcatheter aortic valve implantation are the only available treatments when the disease become severe and symptoms occur. Indeed, no approved pharmacological approach is available for CAVD patients. In this review, we describe the current literature evidence on possible future therapeutic targets for this debilitating and fatal disease such as PCSK9, P2Y2 receptor, cadherin 11, and DDP-4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the evolution of a light impurity particle in a Lorentz gas where the background atoms are in thermal equilibrium. As in the standard Lorentz gas, we assume that the particle is negligibly light in comparison with the background atoms. The thermal motion of atoms causes the average particle speed to grow. In the case of the hard-sphere particle-atom interaction, the temporal growth is ballistic, while generally it is sublinear. For the particle-atom potential that diverges as r-λ in the small separation limit, the average particle speed grows as tλ/[2(d-1)+λ] in d dimensions. The particle displacement exhibits a universal growth, linear in time, and the average (thermal) speed of the atoms. Surprisingly, the asymptotic growth is independent of the gas density and the particle-atom interaction. The velocity and position distributions approach universal scaling forms which are non-Gaussian. We determine the velocity distribution in arbitrary dimension and for arbitrary interaction exponent λ. For the hard-sphere particle-atom interaction, we compute the position distribution and tile joint velocity-position distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper the deposition of thin films obtained from femtosecond laser ablation of an Al70Cu20Fe10 alloy is presented. In the plasma produced by ablation, a characteristic feature is the presence of hot nanoparticles that become evident several microseconds after the laser shot. The cooling mechanisms of these particles have been analysed together with the evolution of their composition. The results, compared with those previously obtained for Al65Cu23Fe12 quasicrystal, reveal a clear relation between the final composition of the particles and the high-temperature equilibrium vapor pressures of the different elements, suggesting a direct emission from the target rather than a gas phase formation. Analysis of the elemental composition through the cross-section of the as-deposited films helps to illustrate the role of nanoparticles in the film growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction. The association between psychotic disorders and epilepsy has been controversial. Different subtypes of psychotic disorders in epilepsy patients have been described according to temporal relationship with seizures-postictal (PIP), interictal (IIP) and bimodal (BP) psychoses are described in literature. Objectives. Determine clinical characteristics of patients with refractory partial epilepsy and psychoses and compare the results with a control group of patients with refractory partial epilepsy without psychoses. Methods. A total of 57 patients with refractory partial epilepsy and psychotic disorders (psychotic group [PG]) and 56 patients with refractory partial epilepsy and without psychoses (control group, CG) were evaluated according to DSM-IV criteria and SCID-I. All patients underwent complete neurological, neuroimaging, neuropsychological, and psychiatric assessment. Clinical, demographic and neuroimaging data were compared between patients in CG and PG. Results. In PG 15 patients (26%) had criteria for PIP, 29 patients (51%) for IIP and 13 patients (23%) for BP. Epilepsy time duration and bilateral hippocampal sclerosis were significantly more frequent in patients with psychosis. PG patients had a longer evolution time of epilepsy and greater frequency of bilateral hippocampal sclerosis (p < 0,05). No differences were found between psychoses subtypes. Conclusions. Longer evolution of seizures and the presence of bilateral hippocampal sclerosis may increase propensity to develop psychoses in patients with refractory partial epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on density functional perturbation theory, we have studied the vibrational properties of crystalline . The calculated Raman and IR spectra are in good agreement with available experimental data and allow assigning the experimental peaks to specific phononic modes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work we have evaporated a titanium carbide target by an Nd:glass laser with 250 fs pulse duration. The plasma produced from the ablation has been characterized by Intensified Coupled Charge Device (ICCD) fast imaging, optical emission spectroscopy and quadrupole mass spectrometry, while X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopy have been used to study the deposited film morphology and composition. The plume shape and front velocity are very similar to those found in other systems and are typical of femtosecond ablation. In particular the front velocity is 1.1×107 cm s−1 at a laser fluence of 1.9 J cm−2, while the value of the cosine exponent is 4.5 in the same conditions. In the TiC system a delayed emission, found by ICCD imaging and emission spectroscopy, is also present. In fact, although the emission involved in the “traditional” plume ends after about 1 μs, the target is still hot and gives origin to another emission, expanding with a velocity that is about two orders of magnitude lower compared to that of the traditional plume (2.2×104 cm s−1 at a laser fluence of 1.9 J cm−2). The results of the analysis of both the gaseous plume and the deposited films seem to indicate that in the case of TiC system the presence of a large number of particles ejected from the target is responsible for the formation of the films. XPS and EDX data indicate that the stoichiometry of the target is preserved in the films, while XRD analysis shows that the films are amorphous in structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work, Al70Pd20Mn10 quasicrystalline targets were evaporated by a doubled Nd:glass laser with a pulse duration of 250fs. The produced plasma has been analysed by time of flight mass spectrometry, optical emission spectroscopy and fast imaging. The results indicate that the plume is more complex as compared to other quasicrystalline systems with the presence of quite large clusters and with a higher ionisation degree. The analyses on the deposited films indicate that the vaporisation is not congruent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The gaseous phase obtained by ablating a superconducting SmBa2Cu3O7−x target with a Nd:glass laser (λ =529nm, τ =250fs) has been characterised by optical emission spectroscopy, quadrupole mass spectrometry and ICCD imaging, to analyse the plume composition, energy and morphology. The results obtained show that femtosecond ablation creates plumes with different shapes and velocities as compared to nanosecond ablation. The plume angular distribution has a high cosine exponent and the optical emission spectroscopy evidences a low ionisation degree, coupled with a high kinetic energy of the particles. Films have been deposited by the ablation process and analysed by the conventional techniques used for solid state characterisation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The pulsed laser ablation of titanium, zirconium and hafnium carbides has been performed by a Nd:glass laser with a pulse duration of 250fs. The gaseous phase produced from the ablation has been analysed by emission spectroscopy and ICCD imaging. The results evidence large differences in the plasma characteristics in the case of femtosecond or nanosecond ablation. In particular, in the femtosecond and nanosecond plumes, the energy and the velocity of neutral and ionised particles are very different. The ablation mechanism seems to be very different, including, in the case of femtosecond ablation, the delayed emission from the target of large and slow particles. The morphology of the deposited films is clearly related to the characteristics of the plasma. Preliminary results show a morphology consisting of a large number of spherical particles with diameters ranging from 50 to 200nm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A Nd:glass laser with pulse duration of 250 fs and 1.3 ps has been used to evaporate a Al65Cu23Fe12 quasicrystalline target. The gaseous phase obtained from the ablation process has been characterised by several techniques such as emission spectroscopy, quadrupole mass spectrometry and ICCD imaging, used to study the plume composition, energy and morphology. The results show that the ablation processes in the short-pulse regimes are very different to the nanosecond one. In particular the plume angular distribution shows a characteristic high cosine exponent and the composition is completely stoichiometric and independent from the laser fluence. Furthermore the mass spectra indicate the presence of clusters, both neutral and ionised and the emission from the target suggest a rapid thermalisation leading to the melting of the surface. To clarify the ablation process some films have been deposited, on oriented silicon, at different experimental conditions and analysed by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray diffraction. The analyses show the presence of nanostructured films retaining the target stoichiometry but consisting of different crystalline and non crystalline phases. In particular the nanostructure supports the hypothesis of the melting of the target during the ablation and a mechanism of material ejection is proposed for both picosecond and femtosecond regimes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, we have evaporated neodymium and praseodymium carbides by a doubled Nd:YAG laser and we have studied the ablation plume by time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry, intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) imaging and emission spectroscopy. The results show that in the gas phase the produced clusters have mainly the (MC2)n (where M is the metal) stoichiometry, irrespective of the characteristics of the starting material (pure carbide or mixed metal oxide–graphite powders), while the velocities of neutral and ions seem to be quite low with similar values for all considered particles. The overall data seem to indicate a process in which gas phase reactions play a pre-eminent role.Preliminary results on the deposited films, obtained from X-ray diffractometry (XRD Siemens D5000), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, indicate that the films are amorphous in structure and their stoichiometry is very close to MC2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, the analysis of the gaseous phase, produced by pulsed laser ablation of a TiC target and performed by emission spectroscopy and intensified charge coupled device (ICCD) imaging is reported. In the case of laser fluence higher than 3 J/cm2, the front of the emitting plume is identified with the presence of Ti2+ ions, while the presence of a double maximum is due to the neutral and ionized titanium particles traveling with different velocities. At a laser fluence lower than 3 J/cm2, the front is marked by C+ emission and only one maximum is present. The results, compared with those obtained for other carbides of group 4, evidence that only in the plume produced from TiC targets there is the presence of a large amount of ions with high kinetic energy. In particular, the highly energetic M2+ ions (M=Ti, Zr, Hf) are present only in the TiC plume. The different energy and concentration of ions in the different carbide plumes confirm the importance of the ionized part of the gaseous phase in the film growth mechanism. In fact only in the TiC films, we find a layered structure in contrast with the columnar structure found in the other carbides of the same group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The gaseous phase produced by laser ablation of a molybdenum silicide target has been analysed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry, emission spectroscopy and fast imaging performed by an ICCD camera, in order to obtain informations about the mechanisms involved in the laser deposition of MoSi2 thin films. During laser ablation, the emission spectra indicate a target temperature of about 7200 K, while the mass spectra evidence the presence of clusters corresponding to the formula (MoSi2)n with n up to 2. The results suggest that the possibility to deposit stoichiometric thin films is related to the composition of the plasma and, in particular to the presence of cluster with the right silicon molybdenum ratio. The presence of a large amount of clusters could be due to reactions in the plasma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this work, the dynamics of multiple cavitation bubbles produced by femtosecond laser ablation of a palladium target submerged in acetone is studied by means of time-resolved fast shadowgraphy technique. The data have evidenced the periodic growth and collapse of the bubbles and the consequent emission of material together with the role played by the laser focus position. Comparing the results with the previsions of the Rayleigh–Plesset model a good agreement is found. The nanoparticles obtained under different focusing conditions are characterized by means of TEM analysis. Their dimension and distribution are correlated with the bubbles dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluated the progression of intima-media thickness of common carotid artery (cIMT) and the effect of phytoestrogen therapy on atherosclerosis development in early and late postmenopausal women. The 2-year cIMT progression was evaluated in 315 early postmenopausal women aged 40–55 years and in 231 late postmenopausal women aged 60–69 years free of cardiovascular disease. B-mode ultrasound was done at baseline and after 12 and 24 months of follow-up. The study revealed no significant changes in the rate of cIMT progression in 315 early postmenopausal women. By contrast, a statistically significant difference in the rate of atherosclerosis development was observed in late postmenopausal women treated with phytoestrogens compared to placebo (p = 0.008). The rate of cIMT progression in the placebo group was 0.019 mm/year led to a significant increase of cIMT during the observation period (p = 0.012), while the rate of cIMT progression in phytoestrogen late postmenopausal recipients was 0.011 mm/year, and total change did not reach statistical significance during the follow-up period (p = 0.101). These results suggest that late postmenopausal women can be a suitable cohort for trials assessing the anti-atherosclerosis effects of phytoestrogen preparations. In particular, the beneficial effect of phytoestrogens on cIMT progression was demonstrated in late postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Central adrenal insufficiency (CAI) in acromegaly may be related to pituitary adenoma or induced by various medical treatments, transsphenoidal neurosurgery (TNS) or radiotherapy (RT), alone or combined. We assessed the role of all available treatments for acromegaly in inducing CAI. We retrospectively studied 97 patients. CAI was diagnosed if morning serum cortisol was < 138 nmol/l, or if its response was inadequate in the low-dose short synacthen test. Seventy-four subjects underwent TNS (and 17 of whom also underwent RT), and 23 were on primary medical therapy: overall we diagnosed 21 cases of CAI. Duration of acromegaly, invasion of cavernous sinus, disease control, and type of medical treatment were much the same for patients with and without CAI, which was identified in 18 % of patients (10/57) after one TNS, and in 53 % (9/17) after RT (p = 0.01); repeat surgery increased the risk of CAI (p = 0.02). The risk of CAI onset during the follow-up was lower among patients treated with TNS or medical therapy than after RT (p = 0.035). Medical treatment did not raise the risk of CAI, whereas a 5- and 4-fold higher risk of CAI was associated with repeat TNS and RT, respectively. Basal or stimulated cortisol levels were similar among acromegalic patients without CAI and matched controls with nonsecreting pituitary lesions. A significant proportion of patients with acromegaly developed CAI over time. While primary or secondary medical treatment did not contribute to the risk of CAI, repeat TNS and RT correlated with pituitary-adrenal axis impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify early predictors of a severe or fulminant course in patients with acute viral hepatitis B ( AVH-B). One hundred and thirty-eight patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis B observed from 1999 to 2012 were enrolled. For each patient, the demographics, risk factors for the acquisition of hepatitis B virus ( HBV) infection, clinical, biochemical and virological data ( HBV DNA, HBV DNA sequences) were recorded and analysed. The HBV mutants in the polymerase region were sought in 110 (87%) patients by direct sequencing, and the rtM204V/I mutations also by an allele-specific PCR. AVH-B was severe in 13 (9.4%) of the 138 patients enrolled, fulminant in 6 (4.3%) and with a normal clinical course in 119. The 19 patients with severe or fulminant AVH-B more frequently than the 119 with a normal course stated intravenous drug use (63.2% versus 36.1%, p 0.04) and were HBV- DNA negative (31.6% versus 11.8%, p 0.03) and anti-hepatitis C virus ( HCV) positive (57.9% versus 19.3%, p 0.0008); the prevalences of different HBV genotypes and of the rtM204V/I mutant were similar in these three forms of AVH-B. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified a pre-existing HCV chronic infection as the only factor independently associated with a severe or fulminant clinical course of AVH-B (OR 4.89, 95% CI 1.5-15.94, p 0.01). A pre-existing HCV chronic infection was identified as the only factor independently associated with a severe clinical presentation of acute hepatitis B, an association most probably due to the combination of the liver lesions caused by acute hepatitis B and the pre-existing histological abnormalities related to HCV chronic infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Fungal infections are still one of the most important issue in liver transplant patients, contributing considerably to both morbidity and mortality. Few studies have been published comparing antifungal protocols for their impact on liver transplant (OLT) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of liposomal amphotericin B compared with fluconazole prophylaxis on morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation. Methods: We evaluated all 44 patients undergoing OLT from January 2006 to January 2009 who were enrolled and randomized to undergo treatment with Amphotericin B (3 mg/kg/d; group A = 25 patients) or fluconazole (800 mg Loading dose and thereafter 400 mg/d according to renal parameters and immunosuppressant trough levels; group B = 18 patients) for at least 7 to 14 days with 12 months follow-up after liver transplantation. A multivariate analysis assessed factors associated with infections and mortality. Results: Neither antifungal prophylaxis was associated with a fungal episode; however, group A patients experienced fewer bacterial infectious episodes (Mann-Whitney U test P < .05). Furthermore, no renal impairment was observed in either groups. Nonetheless, patients undergoing fluconazole prophylaxis showed significant increases in immunosuppressive trough levels requiring dose adjustment. Conclusion: We observed comparable results of fluconazole and liposomal amphotericin B to prevent invasive fungal infections throughout 12 months after surgery. The latter drug was associated with fewer bacterial infections after liver transplantation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Valcamonica is an Italian valley where ferro-manganese industries have been active for a century and where an increased prevalence of parkinsonism was observed. A group of 93 patients (65 from Valcamonica, 28 from the reference area of Brescia city) and 76 controls (52 from Valcamonica, 24 from Brescia) were screened for serum Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn in blood (MnB) and urine (MnU), transferrin, peroxides, alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) transaminases and direct bilirubin. Test results were compared among groups according to the residential area and related to the disease severity. Valcamonica patients had a serum-increase of Cu, as well as of AST/ALT ratio, and a serum-decrease of Zn and Fe compared with other subgroups of cases and controls. Cases and controls from Valcamonica had higher MnB and MnU levels compared to cases and controls from Brescia. After controlling for the duration of illness, the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale III domain correlated with serum Cu and AST/ALT ratio. Our results suggest the possibility that, in this area, a lifetime exposure to neurotoxicants and to Mn in particular, when accompanied to a subclinical liver dysfunction, may pose an increased risk for neurodegenerative disorders via metal metabolism (Cu, Zn, Fe) abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turpentine appears to be associated with a high frequency of concomitant allergies. Researcher R. Treudler and colleagues have reported a contact allergy to MCI/MI in 9.5 percent of turpentine-positive patients compared to 23 percent in turpentine-negative patients. MCI/MI is used as a preservative and biocide in cosmetic and industrial products such as latex emulsions. This article reports on a case of allergic contact dermatitis of the hands in an oil painter. The A 43-year-old man reacted to turpentine as well as to epoxy resin in varnish. He had no personal history of atopy, who had been working in a cheese factory for 12 years, complained of about 4 months of itchy erythema on the hands and forearms and then on the thighs and abdomen.

Thin films of refractory carbides can find application in energy conversion and tribotechnical devices due to their excellent hardness and high melting temperature. Experiments were performed with pulsed laser ablation deposition of Ti, Zr, and Hf carbide films on silicon substrate. The thickness of the films was varied in the wide range by monitoring the deposition conditions. The hardness of composite film–substrate systems was measured and the intrinsic hardness of the film was separated from the composite system hardness. A model based on an area law-of-mixtures approach was applied taking into account the indentation size effect. The film hardness is revealed to increase with a decrease in thickness, the thickest films being as hard as bulk ceramics. At equal thickness of the films, the hardness decreases with an increase of molar weight of the carbide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The purpose of this study is to identify specific clinical-electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns at seizure onset in patients with hippocampal sclerosis (HS).Methods: Sixty-six ictal video-EEG recordings corresponding to 26 patients with HS have been reviewed, focusing on the EEG features found during the first 30 ictal s. The EEG activity has been classified into the following groups: (A) according to spatial distribution: type 1: temporal electrodes on one side; type 2: temporal and adjacent frontal electrodes on one side; and type 3: non-lateralizing electrographic activity; and (B) according to morphology; subtype (a): regular 5–9 Hz rhythmic activity (RA); subtype (b): low-voltage rapid activity, followed by a 5–9 Hz RA; and subtype (c): irregular EEG sharp waves.We analyzed the clinical symptoms sequence and established the relationship with the ictal EEG patterns.Results: Considering spatial distribution and morphology, the most frequent ictal EEG patterns were type 1 (57%), type 2 (37%), and subtype (a): 62%; subtype (b): 27%; and subtype (c): 11%. The sequence of clinical symptoms observed was: aura→behavioral arrest→oro-alimentary automatisms→unilateral hand automatisms. All seizures with aura and including two or more symptoms of the clinical sequence (65%) were associated with a 1a, 1b, 2a or 2b EEG pattern.Conclusions: The identification of a specific clinical-EEG pattern provides a useful tool for the epileptogenic zone localization in non-invasive pre-surgical assessment of patients with hippocampal sclerosis.Significance: The identification of a specific clinical-EEG pattern associated to neuroimaging findings and neuropsychological testing allows indicating surgery for the treatment of epilepsy in patients with hippocampal sclerosis, without performing any further complementary studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the clinical features and prognosis of nonepileptic seizures (NES) in patients. Mean duration of NES before diagnosis; Common psychiatric diagnosis; Prognostic factors of seizure-free patients.

Describes cases of allergy to pectinase among factory workers. Clinical manifestations; Diagnostic results; Treatment regimen.