Friable Material Research Articles

Leprotic cervical spondylodiscitis

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium leprae that leads to leprotic neuropathy involving the peripheral nerve and several characteristic skin lesions. Skeletal involvement can occur in peripheral joints, such as the wrist and the ankle. However, there is no report of an axial leprotic lesion involving the spine or paraspinal soft tissue. The authors report the first case of a leprotic cervical lesion involving the axial skeletal system. A 48-year-old male presented with neck pain and severe pain in the right suprascapular area and left arm. Preoperative MRI of the cervical spine revealed signal changes in the prevertebral soft tissue at the level of the C3, 4, 5 vertebral bodies. There were a lower signal intensity on T1-weighted image and high signal intensity on T2WI of the bone marrow at the level of the C5 and C6 vertebral bodies, and a C5/6 segmental ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. There were herniated cervical disc on the left C5/6 with C6 root and the right side of C6/7 with a C7 root compression. He was previously diagnosed with leprosy when he was 14 years old and received treatment intermittently over the course of 7 years. But patient did not disclose his past history. Surgical intervention was conducted using an anterior cervical approach. An incision was made in the anterior longitudinal ligament at C5/6, and a pinkish gray friable gelatinous material was observed on the C5/6 disc and on the anterior lower one-third surface of the C5 vertebral body. Specimens were obtained and subjected to pathological evaluation and microbiological culture. After C5/6 and C6/7 discectomies, nerve root decompression and autologous iliac bone grafting were performed at the C5/6 and C6/7 levels. The C5-6-7 vertebrae were fixed with an Atlantis cervical locking plate and a screw system. The pathological report indicated chronic inflammation with heavy plasma cell infiltration on the specimen. We sent the specimens to the Institute of Hansen's Disease, and polymerase chain reaction for leprosy tested positive. After surgery, his pain disappeared and he was given a prescription for antileprotic drugs. The authors describe the first case of leprotic cervical spondylodiscitis that was operatively treated in a 48-year-old patient with known leprosy history since his 14 years old.

Identifying the cluster structure of blast-furnace batch by resistance measurements

In accordance with the basic concepts of percola� tion theory, a mixture of friable components is a cluster structure. The formation of clusters (their size, shape, etc.) is described by mathematical laws [1–3]. A mixture of friable materials with different ratios of the components is characterized by a specific prob� ability of cluster structure, from which the mixture composition may be established. To determine the 〈〉 �������� � , =

Diagnosis of invasive aspergillus tracheobronchitis facilitated by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration: a case report

IntroductionInvasive pulmonary aspergillosis is the most common form of infection by Aspergillus species among immunocompromised patients. Although this infection frequently involves the lung parenchyma, it is unusual to find it limited to the tracheobronchial tree, a condition known as invasive aspergillus tracheobronchitis.Case presentationA 65 year-old Hispanic man from Bolivia with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia developed cough and malaise eight months after having an allogenic stem cell transplant. A computed tomography of the chest revealed an area of diffuse soft tissue thickening around the left main stem bronchus, which was intensely fluorodeoxyglucose-avid on positron emission tomography scanning. An initial bronchoscopic exam revealed circumferential narrowing of the entire left main stem bronchus with necrotic and friable material on the medial wall. Neither aspirates from this necrotic area nor bronchial washing were diagnostic. A second bronchoscopy with endobronchial ultrasound evidenced a soft tissue thickening on the medial aspect of the left main stem bronchus underlying the area of necrosis visible endoluminally. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration performed in this area revealed multiple fungal elements suggestive of Aspergillus species.ConclusionWe describe the first case of invasive aspergillus tracheobronchitis in which the diagnosis was facilitated by the use of endobronchial ultrasound guided trans-bronchial needle aspiration. To the best of our knowledge, we are also presenting the first positron emission tomography scan images of this condition in the literature. We cautiously suggest that endobronchial ultrasound imaging may be a useful tool to evaluate the degree of invasion and the involvement of vascular structures in these patients prior to bronchoscopic manipulation of the affected areas in an effort to avoid potentially fatal hemorrhage.

Behavior of loose material when using a lobed batch distributor at a blast furnace

The behavior of batch at blast furnaces with different charging devices is studied on the basis of the theory of friable material and experimental data. The nonuniformity of the batch distribution disappears when using a lobed distributor.

Plant biomorphology and seed germination in pioneer species of Kamchatka volcanoes

Biomorphology, quantitative characters and seed germination of 17 pioneer plant species friable materials of volcanic eruptions (Kamchatka Peninsula) were studied. Adaptive trends in survival stress conditions are discussed. To evaluate a possibility of the cryogenic seed storage, their response to ultra low temperatures (-196 degrees C) was determine.

Thermal history, partial preservation and sampling bias recorded by Stardust cometary grains during their capture

The nature and origin of cometary grains are poorly known. For this reason the first in situ sampling of cometary materials, the Stardust mission, raised considerable expectations. The Stardust spacecraft captured cometary dusts at a relative velocity of 6.1 km/s in a low density silica aerogel medium. Calculations and laboratory experiments on the shock behaviour of aerogel and hypothetical dust-analogue material indicate that an intense but short heating stage (on the order of the microsecond) occurred during the collection; however, results from the preliminary team emphasized that a large fraction of the collected material was deeply affected by the thermal event, indirectly suggesting that the heating was more protracted. Here we constrain its parameters based on diffusion of MgO and SiO2 between a molten cometary dust and the embedding molten aerogel. After the shock, this assemblage stayed at ∼2100 K for duration of up to 0.1 ms. This timescale is characteristic for friable and fine-grained aggregates whereas consolidated grains were quenched faster. Therefore, a sampling bias occurred during the collection. It may explain the recent finding that preserved cometary grains look more similar to inner solar nebula material than to chondritic porous interplanetary dust particles (CP-IDP). Indeed, CP-IDPs and other primitive materials are friable materials and consequently, they must have been selectively damaged. The strong thermal modification precludes detailed studies of mineralogy, but molten cometary dusts are only partially mixed with aerogel, giving an opportunity to analyze bulk and local compositions of the impacting aggregate fragments.

Acalculous and Clostridial Cholecystitis in a Pig

A 21-month-old domestic Hanford pig (Sus scrofa domestica) in a 1-year study for experimental myocardial infarction was euthanized at the end of the study. One week earlier, the animal had symptoms and elevated clinical chemistry results suggestive of hepatobiliary disease, which resolved after medical therapy. At necropsy, the gallbladder was markedly enlarged, discolored, and had a thickened wall. Within the gallbladder, there was abundant friable green-brown material. A culture of the gallbladder luminal material yielded Clostridium perfringens type A. Histopathology of the gallbladder demonstrated multifocal areas of necrosis of varying depths, admixed with an inflammatory infiltrate that was also observed on the serosa and within the associated adipose tissue. Luminal material was composed of cellular debris and bile sludge admixed with numerous bacterial rods. Smooth-muscle hypertrophy of numerous small arterioles with narrowed lumina was observed in the gallbladder. A diagnosis of acalculous cholecystitis presumably because of ischemia of the gallbladder with secondary clostridial infection was made. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of acalculous cholecystitis with evidence of vascular compromise in a pig, as well as cholecystitis secondarily attributed to Clostridium perfringens type A.

New system for supplying friable materials to the converter shop at OAO NTMK

New system for supplying friable materials to the converter shop at OAO NTMK

Asbestos Release from Whole-Building Demolition of Buildings with Asbestos-Containing Material

The whole-building demolition method, which entails one-or two-story buildings pushed down by heavy equipment, loaded into trucks, and hauled away, is generally the most cost-effective means to remove small buildings. For taller buildings, a crane and wrecking ball may be used initially to reduce the height of the building. Demolitions might release asbestos fibers from friable asbestos-containing material (ACM). Fibers also might be released from nominally nonfriable ACM (Categories I and II nonfriable ACM) if it becomes friable after rough handling throughout the whole-building demolition process. This paper reports on asbestos air monitoring from two demolition projects involving ACM. In one building, Category II nonfriable ACM was present because it could not be removed safely prior to demolition. Both projects had large quantities of gypsum wallboard with ACM joint compound and ACM flooring. One building had large quantities of ACM spray-on ceiling material. During the demolitions personal air monitoring of the workers and area air monitoring downwind and around the sites were conducted. The monitoring found the concentrations of fibers detected by phase contrast microscopy were generally well below the permissible exposure limits (PEL) of workers. Electron microcopy analysis of samples at or near the PEL indicated most of the fibers were not asbestos, and the actual asbestos exposure was often below the detection limit of the procedure. The buildings were kept wet with fire hoses during the demolition and that required large quantities of water, 20,000–60,000 gal/day (75–225 m3/day). Earlier studies found little asbestos release from buildings containing only nonfriable ACM demolished by this method. This project found a negligible release of asbestos fibers, despite the presence of nonfriable materials that might become friable, such as ACM joint compound and spray-on ACM ceiling coating.

Proliferative and necrotizing otitis externa in four cats

Proliferative and necrotizing feline otitis externa is a rare disorder of unknown aetiology. This condition was diagnosed by skin biopsy in three adult domestic shorthair cats (3-5 years old) and one kitten (6 months old). The affected cats had large tan to dark brown-black coalescing plaques covering the concave surface of the pinnae and external ear canals. Friable material from the plaques and a thick exudate occluded the ear canals. The cats had a secondary bacterial and/or yeast otitis. Prior to the histopathological diagnosis, all cats received numerous otic preparations as well as oral antibiotics and corticosteroids without resolution. Histologically, all cases had strikingly similar changes; acanthosis with pronounced hair follicle outer root sheath hyperplasia and neutrophilic luminal folliculitis, follicular keratosis and individually necrotic keratinocytes in the outer root sheath of hair follicles. One case was documented via skin biopsy to have persisted for 4 years. The adult cats were treated with topical 0.1% tacrolimus and all showed marked improvement although one cat was lost to follow up. The lesions completely resolved with topical tacrolimus alone in one cat and topical tacrolimus in addition to oral prednisolone in another cat.

Intradural lumbar disc herniation—Is it predictable preoperatively? A report of two cases

Intradural disc herniations are thought to be rare events, and there have been relatively few literature reports of intradural disc herniations available with regard to magnetic resonance imaging findings. The authors describe two patients with intradural lumbar disc herniations, one with and one without preoperative diagnosis, who had different postoperative outcomes. Case study The first patient underwent an extended L3 subtotal laminectomy followed by bilateral medial facetectomy and foraminotomy at L3-L4. A durotomy uncovered large disc fragments comprised of friable disc materials and end plates, after no clear disc herniation was found in the epidural space. The second patient underwent anterior lumbar interbody fusion after a preoperative diagnosis of intradural disc herniation. The first patient experienced a marked reduction of pain and progressive recovery of sensory disturbance, but neurologic examination showed right foot drop postoperatively. Two years after surgery, she can not walk without a cane because the neurologic deficit of the right ankle has shown no improvement. Two days after surgery, the second patient was allowed to ambulate with a lumbar orthosis. Neurologic examination showed no motor deficit. Twenty-one months after surgery, the patient reports minimal back pain when sitting on a chair for prolonged periods of time. Our cases highlight the importance of preoperative diagnosis in the treatment of intradural lumbar disc herniations. The potential presence of an intradural disc herniation must always be considered preoperatively on a patient whose magnetic resonance imaging study demonstrates the "hawk-beak sign" on axial imaging as well as abrupt loss of continuity of the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL). This association results in an adequate surgical approach, thereby reducing the chance of postoperative neurologic deficit. Finally, anterior lumbar interbody fusion can be a reasonable alternative in the treatment of intradural lumbar disc herniations.

Embolic Protection Devices in Saphenous Vein Graft Interventions

Saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) are widely used as aortocoronary conduits during coronary artery bypass surgery and are critical in the high early success of coronary bypass revascularization. Saphenous vein grafts tend to be more prone than native coronary arteries to accelerated atherosclerosis and intimal fibrosis and thus frequently lead to recurrent symptoms and require further revascularization. Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) have become the prime means of SVG mechanical revascularization but are plagued by higher complication rates than PCI on native coronaries, largely due to embolic debris mobilized from around the target lesion in the SVG. Several mechanical devices and techniques have been developed to capture this friable material during the PCI before it can embolize; these devices have shown great promise in reducing the morbidity and mortality of these interventions and should be employed routinely.

Phaeohyphomycosis in a Free-Living Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)

A free-ranging eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) was referred to the Wildlife Center of Virginia with a three-month history of marked swelling of the right hind limb initially diagnosed as chromomycosis by histopathology. Hematology revealed severe anemia (9%), leukocytosis (12.8 cells x 10(3)/microl), heterophilia (6.14 cells x 10(3)/microl), and monocytosis (0.51 cells x 10(3)/microl). Gross necropsy revealed a firm, encapsulated 3 x 1 cm subcutaneous mass filled with dark brown-black, friable necrotic material of the distal right hind limb. Microscopically, the mass was characterized by a granulomatous inflammatory process with numerous multinucleated histiocytic giant cells. Fungal elements were present within necrotic centers and associated with multinucleated cells. Special stains revealed numerous phaeoid hyphae and yeast; Exophiala jeanselmei was isolated by routine mycologic culture. Phaeohyphomycosis was diagnosed based on the histologic appearance of the fungal elements within the mass and culture results. There was no histopathological evidence of systemic infection. This is the first report of phaeohyphomycosis caused by fungi of the genus Exophiala in free-living reptiles.

On the sodium overabundance in cometary meteoroids

Relative chemical abundances and physical properties of cometary meteoroids can be deduced from meteor spectroscopy. The study of moderately volatile elements like Na can provide clues on the structure of cometary particles and processes suffered by these particles. Recent studies of spectra of photographic fireballs (produced by cm-sized meteoroids) suggest that Na is enhanced in a 1.5 factor relative to the chondritic value. The observed features in the ablation of Perseid and Leonid meteoroids suggest that the particle fragmentation behavior of an important part of the large meteoroids fits well with a dustball model where Na would be associated with an interstitial material joining mineral grains. We suggest that aqueous alteration in the parent bodies of these meteoroids can promote chemical redistribution of Na as has been widely observed in carbonaceous chondrites. Then, this element is mobilised towards interstitial fine-grain materials that are joining large mineral grains. These more friable materials (rich in Na) can be ablated preferentially in the first stages of ablation. Finally, we discuss briefly the interest in the development of meteor spectroscopy in UV and IR in order to improve our knowledge of the ablation of volatile and moderately volatile phases of meteoroids.

A Case of Severe Diffuse Venous Thromboembolism Associated with Aprotinin and Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in a Cardiac Surgical Patient with Factor V Leiden

A Case of Severe Diffuse Venous Thromboembolism Associated with Aprotinin and Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in a Cardiac Surgical Patient with Factor V Leiden

The finding of thrombus at carotid endarterectomy and its relationship to the timing of surgery.

The clinical, angiographical, operative and histological records of 52 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy for transient cerebral ischaemic attacks were reviewed. Thrombus or other friable material was present in 66 per cent of the 24 patients operated upon within 4 weeks of a clinical attack, but in only 21 per cent of the 28 patients in whom the time interval was longer. The data favour an embolic explanation for the clinical episodes and further suggest that thrombus formation on atheromatous stenosis and ulceration is intermittent.

Dimension Stone Cutting with AWJ Methods

The application of high-pressure abrasive water jets (AWJ) has evolved quickly in some fields of engineering. At Polytechnic School, University of São Paulo, one application has particular interest that is the cutting of friable materials, as rock and ceramics. The main aspect in this field is the cut at the beneficiation process of end product in dimension stone plates. How much the cut of plates, by different kind of AWJ methods, was the research of a PhD work of one of the authors. The abrasive water jet equipment, installed in the Laboratory of Rock Mechanics of the Mining and Petroleum Engineering Department, was used. Some fundamentals considerations regarding, the employed single and multiple passes methods of AWJ to cut rocks, are discussed.

Subalar cutaneous cysts with Harpirhynchus nidulans in bearded tits and hawfinches in Central Europe

In wild bearded tits (Panurus biarmicus) and hawfinches (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) trapped in the Czech Republic and Slovakia from 1999 to 2003, characteristic yellow thin-walled subalar cutaneous cysts filled with friable material containing mites Harpirhynchus nidulans were found. The biggest cysts were 14 mm and 20 mm in size in bearded tits and in hawfinches, respectively. Histologically, the relatively thick wall of cysts contained erythrocytes (extravased or in small vessels) and heterophils; mononuclear cells were not found. The prevalences of subalar cysts in bearded tits at Nesyt (Czech Republic), Pusté Úl'any (Slovakia) and Parížské Močiare (Slovakia) were 6.1% (11 positive/180 examined), 12.7% (13/102) and 4.2% (4/96), respectively. The overall prevalence of subalar cutaneous cysts in bearded tits was 7.4% (28/378). The cutaneous cysts were found on adult birds only. Subalar cysts of H. nidulans in hawfinches were also found in four other locations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Preparation of Geological and Biological TEM Specimens by Embedding in Sulfur

Abstract The technique of embedding TEM specimens in polymer resins for subsequent ultra-thin sectioning is well established. For geological materials, this protocol prevents specimen damage introduced by ion beam thinning, and is often used for preparing friable or porous materials. However, traditional polymer-based embedding resins may introduce organic carbon contaminants, producing artifacts in carbon analyses. Thus, a carbon-free substitute for traditional embedding media is required to ensure accurate carbon analyses of embedded and ultramicrotomed TEM specimens. A suitable technique that was first reported by Bradley is to embed specimens in pure sultur. In this technique, the specimen is immersed in liquid sulfur, the liquid is solidified, and the resulting block is ultramicrotomed as with traditional resins. Since sulfur has a high vapor pressure at room temperature, the ultra-thin sections are then placed in a separate vacuum chamber to sublimate the sulfur, yielding TEM specimens free of any embedding medium.

Asbestos exposure and radiological abnormalities among maintenance and custodian workers in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials.

Few studies have been carried out to evaluate the respiratory effects of asbestos exposure of custodian and maintenance workers. By a multicentre cross-sectional study, 277 custodian and maintenance employees working in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials and 87 unexposed subjects were studied for radiological abnormalities by use of the International Labour Office (ILO) classification of radiographs of pneumoconiosis, in relation to parameters of asbestos exposure. The cumulative asbestos exposure index was generally low (fewer than 5 fibres/ml x years in 82.3% of exposed workers). On multivariate analysis, pleural thickening was significantly related to latency since onset of exposure to asbestos in exposed workers, after adjustment for age, body mass index and tobacco smoking. Asbestos exposure of custodian and maintenance employees in buildings with friable asbestos-containing materials might be associated with an excess of pleural thickening on chest X-rays.