Black lipid membranes (BLM) less than 90 A thick have been shown to be the most realistic approach to biological membrane models. This paper describes the formation characteristics, optical properties, and thermodynamics of BLM at water/oil/water bifaces. In particular, the nature of the Plateau-Gibbs border which supports the black membrane is analyzed in some detail. The formation of BLM at t...

A pregnancy in a patient undergoing regular dialysis treatment was successfully managed. Premature labour occurred at 32 weeks. Fetal nutrition was satisfactory and the infant developed normally and showed no congenital abnormality during 12 months' observation.

Spontaneous rupture of an intercostal artery is exceptionally rare without an inciting event such as trauma or nontraumatic arterial wall weakening. This report details the diagnosis and treatment of a 47-year-old man who presented with a spontaneous hemothorax from an intercostal artery. There are very few reports in the literature documenting spontaneous intercostal artery rupture without ass...

Two monoclonal antibodies raised against laminin isolated from a mouse parietal yolk sac cell line were used for immunohistochemical studies of basement membranes of the mouse embryo and various fetal and adult tissues. No immunoreactivity with either of the two monoclonal antibodies could be detected in the preimplantation-stage embryos, although it has been shown that these embryos contain ex...

Rupture of the spleen in infectious mononucleosis is a rare but potentially fatal complication. Once injured, the "pathologic" spleen may have limited reparative capabilities. In this situation, operative management seems to be the safer therapeutic approach.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes of the regulatory T cell subset in peripheral blood caused by gestational age and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) with or without labor to verify the role of regulatory T cells in pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS We investigated regulatory T cell distribution in the peripheral blood of pregnancies during the first trimester (group...

We present a case of spontaneous rupture of the diaphragm, characterized by nonspecific symptoms. The rapid diagnosis and appropriate surgical approach led to a positive resolution of the pathology.

Traumatic duodenal rupture resulting from blunt trauma during soccer is an extremely rare occurrence. A case report of this unusual condition is presented together with a review of the literature.