The lunar soil simulant JSC-1 has been developed by NASA from volcanic ash found in Arizona to facilitate testing of toxicity and system requirements for lunar exploration. A concentration-response study of JSC-1 was undertaken on the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Results demonstrated concentrations of 50-2000 g/ml JSC-1 induced enhanced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Data suggest that extraterrestrial regolith has the potential to induce

an inflammatory response, and that selleck compound future development of anti-inflammatory mitigative strategies may be necessary to counteract lunar dust-associated cellular toxicity.”
“OBJECTIVE: This study examined the usefulness of a surgical approach (retrosigmoid suprafloccular transhorizontal fissure approach) for resection of brainstem cavernous malformations (CMs).

METHODS: An anatomic study concerning the retrosigmoid suprafloccular transhorizontal fissure approach was performed with 3 cadaveric heads. Clinical course was retrospectively reviewed for 10 patients who underwent microsurgical

resection of brainstem CMs with this approach. Medical, surgical, and neuroimaging records of these patients were click here evaluated.

RESULTS: In the anatomic study, after standard suboccipital retrosigmoid craniotomy, the horizontal fissure on the petrosal surface Galeterone of the cerebellum was dissected between the superior semilunar lobule and flocculus. With this approach, the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve and the middle cerebellar peduncle could be exposed by superior retraction of the superior semilunar lobule. The lateral surface of the pons was then easily visible around

the root entry zone. When this approach was used for 10 brainstem CMs, complete resection was achieved in 9 patients (90%). No mortality was encountered in this study. New neurological deficits occurred in the early postoperative period for 4 patients but were transient in 3 patients. Neurological status at final follow-up was improved in 4 patients (40%), unchanged in 5 patients (50%), and worse in 1 patient (10%) compared with preoperative conditions.

CONCLUSION: The retrosigmoid suprafloccular transhorizontal fissure approach is useful for the resection of lateral pontine CMs.”
“Lead (Pb) poisoning is preventable but continues to be a public health problem in several countries. Measuring Pb in the surface dental enamel (SDE) using microbiopsies is a rapid, safe, and painless procedure. There are different protocols to perform these microbiopsies, but the reliability of dental enamel lead levels (DELL) determination is dependent upon biopsy depth (BD). It is established that DELL decrease from the outermost superficial layer to the inner layer of dental enamel.