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Solid glycerol citrate polyester polymeric foams generated by microwave heating were further cured in a conventional oven at 100 °C for 0, 6, 24, 48, or 72 h and their physical properties were tested. Curing glycerol citrate polyesters resulted in decreased moisture content (MC), altered color, increased hydrated polymer weight loss (HWL), and increased polymer oven weight loss (OWL). Polyester polymer samples were evaluated for firmness and springiness employing a texture analyzer (Model TA/TX2 i). Oven curing increased polymer firmness and springiness. For example, firmness and springiness in 48 h cured samples increased 202 and 143%, respectively, when compared to uncured controls. High correlations were found comparing OWL, MC, HWL, firmness, and springiness. Compression molded samples obtained from ground cured and non-cured polymers were evaluated for tensile strength, elongation and Young's modulus using the Instron universal test machine (Model 4201). Curing promoted higher tensile strengths and elongation but did not affect Young's modulus values. High correlations were found between springiness, firmness, tensile strength, and elongation. The texture analyzer was shown to have merit in the preliminary evaluation of the glycerol citrate polyester polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rheology of soft-serve ice creams prepared with Fantesk™ a starch-lipid composite, was compared to a commercial product. Fantesk™ describes a class of stable starch-lipid composites formed by steam-jet cooking, and is used in this case as a fat replacer. Waxy maize starch and butter were used, and the butter content was selected to give 0.5 to 1.1 wt% butter in the ice cream mix. Despite the lower level of fat, the overrun and rheological properties of the Fantesk™-based ice creams were similar to the commercial product when differences in the freezing behavior of the different formulations were accounted for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS: To determine a possible mechanism to explain the presence of aluminium lines within fully calcified bone in aluminium-related osteomalacia. METHODS: Fifty five bone cases shown by bone biopsy to be aluminium-related osteomalacia were studied. In 38 specimens aluminium lines were identified within calcified bone by means of the Aluminon stain and a characteristic form of patchy mineralisation was seen within thickened osteoid seams. Five representative examples were analysed quantitatively by histomorphometry and electronprobe X-ray microanalysis and compared with five cases of vitamin D deficiency-related osteomalacia which also had patchy mineralisation. RESULTS: The patchy calcification occupied 40 +/- 8% (mean +/- SEM) of the osteoid and consisted of small focal deposits (less than 40 microns diameter), often (52%) around osteoid osteocytes (probably an underestimate of the association), and larger areas that extended to the aluminium lines at the underlying mineralisation front. Small and large mineralisation nuclei were seen ultrastructurally in the patchy calcification. Quantitative electronprobe X-ray microanalysis showed that calcium concentrations and calcium:phosphorus ratios in the mineralisation nuclei and in the superficial layer of the fully calcified bone of the aluminium-related osteomalacia cases were significantly less than values measured at similar sites in the vitamin D deficiency-related osteomalacia cases. Furthermore, aluminium could not be detected by means of this technique at the mineralisation front or along cement lines in these specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Calcification can occur in thickened osteoid seams in osteomalacia. It can begin around osteoid osteocytes as small deposits that enlarge within the osteoid and extend to the underlying mineralisation front or cement line where aluminium lines may become trapped. Complete calcification of osteoid could account for the presence of aluminium lines within fully calcified bone. The Aluminon stain appears to be a more sensitive method for the detection of aluminium in bone than electronprobe X-ray microanalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Mood, cognitive, and behavioural changes have been reported with deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the thalamus, globus pallidus interna, and anterior limb of the internal capsule/nucleus accumbens region.Objective: To investigate panic and fear resulting from DBS.Methods: Intraoperative DBS in the region of the right and then left anterior limb of the internal capsule and nucleus accumbens region was undertaken to treat a 52 year old man with treatment refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Mood, anxiety, OCD, alertness, heart rate, and subjective feelings were recorded during intraoperative test stimulation and at follow up programming sessions.Results: DBS at the distal (0) contact (cathode 0-, anode 2+, pulse width 210 ms, rate 135 Hz, at 6 volts) elicited a panic attack (only seen at the (0) contact). The patient felt flushed, hot, fearful, and described himself as having a "panic attack." His heart rate increased from 53 to 111. The effect (present with either device) was witnessed immediately after turning the device on, and abruptly ceased in the off conditionConclusions: DBS of the anterior limb of the internal capsule and nucleus accumbens region caused severe "panic." This response may result from activation of limbic and autonomic networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mood, cognitive, and behavioural changes have been reported with deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the thalamus, globus pallidus interna, and anterior limb of the internal capsule/nucleus accumbens region. Objective: To investigate panic and fear resulting from DBS. Methods: Intraoperative DBS in the region of the right and then left anterior limb of the internal capsule and nucleus accumbens region was undertaken to treat a 52 year old man with treatment refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Mood, anxiety, OCD, alertness, heart rate, and subjective feelings were recorded during intraoperative test stimulation and at follow up programming sessions. Results: DBS at the distal (0) contact (cathode 0-, anode 2+, pulse width 210 ms, rate 135 Hz, at 6 volts) elicited a panic attack (only seen at the (0) contact). The patient felt flushed, hot, fearful, and described himself as having a ‘panic attack.’ His heart rate increased from 53 to 111. The effect (present with either device) was witnessed immediately after turning the device on, and abruptly ceased in the off condition Conclusions: DBS of the anterior limb of the internal capsule and nucleus accumbens region caused severe ‘panic.’ This response may result from activation of limbic and autonomic networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Irregular word pronunciation is a common method of estimating premorbid intellect, because it is resistant to neurological insult/deterioration. However, emerging research suggests word reading ability declines in some neurodegenerative diseases, resulting in an underestimation of premorbid IQ. Misrepresentation of predisease intellect may affect clinical diagnosis and confound the selection of participants for clinical trials. An alternative method is the use of a demographically-based equation to estimate intelligence. Aim: To compare the WRAT Reading Subtest (a pronunciation measure) and the Barona Index (a demographically-based regression equation) as estimates of premorbid IQ in individuals with mild to moderate Huntington disease (HD). Method: Using participants (n = 73) pooled from two clinical trials and an outpatient HD clinic, we examined WRAT and Barona standard scores and their discrepancy, along with demographic and clinical characteristics. Results: Mean age was 47.6 years (SD = 11.7), total functional capacity (TFC) was 9.6 (SD = 3.0), and total motor score (TMS) was 32.7 (SD = 15.8). Average WRAT standard score was 91.9 (SD = 11.9), while Barona was 108.0 (SD = 7.2), with a mean discrepancy of 16.1 (SD = 10.7; range –42.3 to +6.3). Although true premorbid IQ is unknown, this sample overrepresented higher levels of education (i.e., ∼22% of the sample had 16+ years, while ∼8% had <12 years). Pearson correlations revealed that only WRAT reading was associated with motor functioning (r= –0.245, p < 0.05). Neither measure correlated with functional capacity. Discussion: The WRAT produced premorbid IQ estimates lower than the Barona for 93% of participants and was below expectations given the sample''s mean education. Unlike the Barona, the WRAT was associated with impaired motor functioning, suggesting that it may decline with disease. Therefore, the Barona Index may be a more appropriate measure of premorbid intelligence in persons with HD and should be considered for subject selection in clinical trials and clinical evaluation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2009 in Richmond, Virginia, USA, July 26 – July 30, 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]