The extent of demixing of PEG-phospholipid from bilayers decrease

The extent of demixing of PEG-phospholipid from bilayers decreases as the phospholipid alkyl chain decreases in the order of C18:0 > C16:0 > C14:0. 2.3.2. PEG Density The polymer density on the nanocarrier surface is as much relevant as polymer molecular weight. Few authors showed that the high polymer surface density can compensate the low polymer molecular weight in obtaining stealth particles [25, 95, 97]. Vittaz et al. investigated www.selleckchem.com/products/Etopophos.html complement consumption of PEGylated PLA

nanoparticles. The authors concluded Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical that a distance between two chains of 2kDa PEG of 2.2nm corresponding to 0.2 PEG molecules/nm2 could achieve efficient 100nm particle coating with minimum complement consumption [98]. Studies carried out using human phagocytes demonstrated that a distance of 1.4nm between 5kDa-PEG chains optimally yielded stealth 190–270nm PEG-PLA nanoparticles [33]. However, it is worth to note Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical that the polymer density threshold depends on a number of parameters, including particle size and surface curvature.

Investigations carried out by decorating gold-coated silica particles with 750 and 2000Da methoxy-PEG suggested that a polymer density of 0.5 chain/nm2 is a critical threshold to prevent the adsorption of plasma proteins [99]. Low complement consumption was observed in the case of 1.5kDa PEG-stearate-coated 26nm nanocapsules. The protein repulsion was found to depend on the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical polymer density Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical rather than the polymer chain length [25, 100]. The nanocapsule surface covered by one PEG 1.5kDa-stearate molecule was estimated to be about 2.8nm2, corresponding to about 1.7nm distance between two PEG chains, which is in fair agreement with the results described above. As a result of the low opsonisation and complement consumption, these nanoparticles displayed prolonged

residence time in the blood with 20% of the dose still present in the blood 24h after injection [101]. The homogeneous Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical surface polymer coating is, together with the polymer density, a key parameter to obtain stealth particles. A study showed that 30% of PEGylated polystyrene nanoparticles underwent phagocytosis as a consequence of the inhomogeneous physical adsorption of the polymer on the particle surface [102]. 2.3.3. Liposome Rigidity and Cholesterol Resminostat Effect Phospholipid membrane rigidity is paramount to produce liposomes with stealth properties as well as to prevent rapid drug release. Decreased rigidity due to the use of phospholipids with low melting temperature (Tm) for the preparation of liposomal formulation can lead to drug leakage and opsonin adsorption. The liposome membrane rigidity, homogeneity, and stability can be optimised by selecting phospholipids with proper Tm and by introducing cholesterol in the phospholipid bilayer. A minimum content of 30% mol cholesterol ratio is required to prevent the formation of phase separated lamellas and mixed micelles.

112 The ceiling effect is approximately 32 mg of sublingual bupre

112 The ceiling effect is approximately 32 mg of sublingual buprenorphine, but it may be possible to increase analgesic effects above that. Because buprenorphine is best absorbed parenterally and poorest orally,113-115 with sublingual bioavailability in between, and naloxone is poorly absorbed orally but about 20 times more parenterally, the sublingual combination tablet yields primarily a Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical buprenorphine effect. If crushed and injected, both drugs are bioavailable.114,115

Naloxone will then precipitate opioid withdrawal if the individual is opioid-dependent, unless only on buprenorphine. Buprenorphine alone will also precipitate withdrawal by displacing other opiates from the receptor. Individuals who use only buprenorphine can get high even if they inject the combination product, but it is not as reinforcing.116 There have been a number of reports of buprenorphine abuse in some countries, including France,117 Finland,118 Great Britain,119 and Australia.120 Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Only Finland has, since 2004, the combination product. A recent study from Finland found a very high rate of buprenorphine intravenous (IV) use but 75% of such users said they were using it to self-medicate addiction or withdrawal. Over two thirds had tried the combination IV but 80% said they had Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical a “bad experience.”

As a result, the street price of the combination was less than half of the mono product.121 Buprenorphine undergoes metabolism by the liver, primarily by the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme system122,123 but studies have not found clinically significant interactions with HIV medications Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical that interact with this system,124 with the possible exception of atazanavir/retonavir.125 Buprenorphine’s terminal half-life of 37 hours and slow-onset and offset enables every-other-day dosing, although that tends not to be the preferred spacing Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical by patients. Buprenorphine’s high affinity at the ju receptor means it will block most opioid agonist effects,126,127 but because of its ceiling effect, one can override the blockade by using higher agonist

doses.128,129 Induction For practical reasons, buprenorphine induction is usually done on an outpatient basis, with induction divided into two visits: initial Mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease evaluation for suitability, answering questions and giving instructions for the second visit; and actual induction. Induction may take 2 hours or longer, and patients should not drive that first day. When distance or other factors prevent two visits, careful telephone preparation is important. Buprenorphine can learn more displace a full opioid agonist from the li receptor, but since it is only a partial agonist there could be precipitated opioid withdrawal. At induction, therefore, the addicted patient should be in withdrawal: off short-acting opioids for at least 12 to 16 hours and long-acting ones for at least 36 hours.

The mean (approximately 60 mg), twenty-fifth percentile (approxim

The mean (approximately 60 mg), twenty-fifth percentile (approximately 30 mg), seventy-fifth percentile (approximately 60 mg) and ninety-fifth percentile (approximately 120 mg) doses were also stable over time (Table

​(Table33). Table 3 Morphine equivalent daily dose by time in subjects with intermittent exposure Six hundred and nineteen subjects were continuously research exposed to opioids for at least Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical 6 months, and 6 years after the index day, only 9 subjects were continuously exposed to opioids. The daily morphine equivalent dose in subjects with continuous exposure and no cancer diagnosis remained stable for the first two years, as measured by mean (approximately 70 mg), median Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical (approximately 50 mg), twenty-fifth (approximately 30 mg) or seventy-fifth percentiles (approximately 75 mg), but the 95th percentile dose rose from 143 mg to 185 mg. After the second year of continuous exposure, although the median dose remained stable, the mean, seventy-fifth percentile and ninety-fifth percentile doses rose gradually. After the fourth year of continuous exposure the median opioid dose increased as well, though it should be noted Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical that the number of subjects was small. The daily morphine equivalent dose in subjects with continuous exposure and a cancer diagnosis increased earlier

than in subjects without cancer diagnosis (Tables ​(Tables44 and ​and55). Table 4 Morphine equivalent daily dose by time Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in subjects with continuous exposure without cancer diagnosis Table 5 Morphine equivalent daily dose by time in subjects with continuous exposure with cancer diagnosis The opioid dose among subjects whose exposure ended in a given 6-month time period was similar

to the opioid dose among subjects who remained exposed in the next 6-month time period (Table ​(Table66). Table 6 Morphine equivalent median daily doses in subjects continuously Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical exposed to opioids by time and by permanence in the cohort Exposure to high doses of opioids In subjects who were intermittently exposed to opioids exposure to high doses (180 mg or more of oral morphine equivalent) occurred at some point in 2,095 (4%) subjects and 1,257 (2.6%) were exposed to very high doses (300 mg or more of oral morphine equivalent). In subjects who were continuously exposed to opioids, 7.6% were exposed to high doses of opioids and 2.9% 17-DMAG (Alvespimycin) HCl were exposed to very high doses of opioids at some point. Ten percent of subjects who were continuously exposed to opioids with a cancer diagnosis were exposed to high doses of opioids compared with 7% of subjects who were continuously exposed to opioids without a cancer diagnosis. In subjects intermittently exposed to opioids, 18.7% reached doses of 100 mg or more of oral morphine equivalent. In subjects continuously exposed to opioids, 19.9% reached doses of 100 mg or more of oral morphine equivalent.

Lanes 1-6; mecA positive isolates, lane 7; mecA negative control,

Lanes 1-6; mecA positive isolates, lane 7; mecA negative control, M; 100 bp DNA ladder marker Discussion Detection of methicillin resistance in staphylococci is complex, mainly because it is often heterogeneous, and only 1 in 104 to 108 cells in a bacterial population expresses the trait. 11 The previously used NCCLS breakpoints for methicillin resistance (4 and 2 µg/ml) were shown Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical to significantly underestimate the degree of true methicillin resistance among CoNS. Hence, the NCCLS redefined the breakpoints for methicillin susceptibility to MIC values of ≥0.5 µg/ml and

organisms with MICs ≤0.25 µg/ml were considered susceptible.7,9,10 Another phenotypic method for successful prediction of methicillin resistance in CoNS is the simultaneous use of cefoxitin and oxacillin discs. However, P450 inhibitor interpretation of inhibition zones are Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical often in dispute, and prediction of methicillin susceptibility is not 100% accurate.5,11 Although culture-based methods are generally reliable for detecting

methicillin-resistant staphylococci, detection of the mecA gene by PCR has been considered as the gold standard, and a number of investigators have found a complete agreement between methicillin resistance phenotype and mecA gene presence.8,9,12,16 Concordance between mecA gene carriage and resistance phenotype in CoNS using 2 µg/ml MIC breakpoint showed12-16% false susceptibility, and lowering Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical MIC breakpoint to 0.25 µg/ml greatly improved the accuracy of the MIC test performance.7-9 In our experiments with clinical isolates of S. epidermidis, using mecA gene carriage as standard, MIC value of 4 (or 2) µg/ml resulted in 11% false susceptibility, and MIC values of 0.5 (or 0.25) µg/ml showed a more accurate profile for methicillin susceptibility. However, unlike other investigations, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical we did not find complete agreement between mecA gene carriage and MIC phenotype even at lower MIC values. In the case of methicillin resistant mecA negative isolates, it has been suggested that mechanisms such as β-lactamase hyperproduction and alteration of PBPs

other than PBP 2a may be responsible for the resistance phenotype.11,13 In methicillin sensitive mecA positive isolates, mecA gene is not consistently next expressed and auxiliary genes such as femA, mecR and other β-lactamase genes may participate in the control of gene expression.12 Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that the choice of correct MIC breakpoints is important for the detection of methicillin resistance in clinical isolates of S. epidermidis, and can lower the number of false sensitive isolates. There was a better agreement between MIC of <0.5 µg/ml and presence of the mecA gene compared to higher MIC values (2 and 4 µg/ml). They also show that gene carriage does not necessarily account for resistance phenotype, and environment would ultimately control gene expression.

EBRT was delivered at our institution for 27 patients and at outs

EBRT was delivered at our institution for 27 patients and at outside institutions for 4 patients. Treatments were designed using high energy photons and either 3-D conformal, multi-field techniques (27 patients) or intensity modulated radiation therapy (4 patients). Treatment fields included both the primary tumor and nodal areas at risk. Techniques used

in our institution have been described in detail in prior publications and will only be summarized (1,6,9,11). The EBRT dose was 45-50.4 Gy in 25-28 fractions (Fx) of 1.8 Gy in 27 patients. A boost field was carried to 54-56 Gy in 28-30 Fx in 2 patients. The EBRT Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical dose was <45 Gy in 2 patients because of intolerance to the treatment (39.6 Gy/22 Fx; 43.2 Gy/24 Fx). Surgical

resection was feasible in 17 of 31 patients after preop CRT (R0 in 11 patients; R1 in 5; R2 in 1) and the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical lesion was unresectable in 14 patients. Whipple resection was performed in 9 patients with primary lesions in the head of pancreas, and the other 8 patients had a distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy for primary lesions in the body of the pancreas. A vascular sleeve resection and reconstruction was necessary in 2 patients (superior mesenteric vein – 1; left renal vein – 1). IOERT was given as a component of treatment in 28 of 31 patients. IOERT was delivered with a mobile electron accelerator (Mobetron®; Sunnyvale, Ca). The IOERT Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical dose was based on both the extent of resection and the dose of preop EBRT: R0 resection, 12.5 Gy; R1, median 12.5 Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Gy (range, 10-15 Gy); R2, 15 Gy; unresectable 17.5 Gy (n=2) or 20 Gy (n=12). IOERT energy was based on the depth of the tumor bed or unresected tumor, and IOERT applicator size included the tumor bed or unresected tumor Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical with a 1-cm margin (e.g., 4 cm

tumor/tumor bed =6 cm applicator). Systemic maintenance chemotherapy was preferred in all patients but given in only 16 of 31 (unknown in 3). Maintenance chemotherapy was gemcitabine-based in all patients who received additional therapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given prior to preop CRT in 7 patients consisting of several cycles of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel. Outcomes Outcomes evaluated include survival [overall whatever (OS) and disease-free (DFS)], disease relapse [local failure in the EBRT field (LF), central failure in the IOERT field (CF) and distant metastases (DM)] and treatment tolerance (during preop CRT, the peri-operative period, and the Serotonin receptor agonist drugs 30-day post-operative period). OS and DFS were calculated with the Kaplan-Meier method (13). Differences between Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated with the log-rank test (univariate analyses). Both survival and time to relapse were calculated from initiation of treatment. Results Patient status was evaluated at time of analysis with median follow-up of 19 months for all patients and 31 months for survivors.

CPR instructions delivered by 9-1-1 call takers have been shown t

CPR instructions delivered by 9-1-1 call takers have been shown to significantly improve community bystander CPR rates [11-14], and received a Class IIa recommendation from the American Heart Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada [15]. In Ontario, 9-1-1 call takers began offering CPR instructions to callers reporting suspected cardiac arrests on April 1, 2004. However, the success of this intervention in increasing bystander CPR rates and ultimately survival to hospital discharge is directly linked to the ability

of the call taker to accurately identify cardiac Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical arrest over the telephone [14]. Call taker identification of OOHCA In previous studies, the ability of 9-1-1 call takers to accurately identify cardiac arrest has been reported to range from 47% to as high as 90% [16-19]. A

recently published study conducted in Ottawa reported similar results: call takers correctly identified 56.3% of cardiac arrests Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical during the first nine-month period following the implementation of assisted CPR instructions [14]. Agonal breathing, often learn more present early in cardiac arrest victims, can wrongly be interpreted as a sign of life by 9-1-1 call takers, and is believed to be a key factor explaining why cardiac arrest is not identified [14]. Agonal breathing Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical is defined as ineffective, gasping respiration occurring early in cardiac arrest [20]. Agonal breathing has been variably described by 9-1-1 callers. Some of the more common descriptions include: barely or occasionally Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical breathing, irregular breathing, laboured breathing, sighing, gurgling, moaning, groaning or snorting [16,21]. Previous observational studies have reported

agonal breathing in as many as 55% of witnessed cardiac arrests, however the true incidence is likely higher since establishing the presence or absence of agonal breathing Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical was determined retrospectively and relied solely on the callers’ descriptions of breathing during review of 9-1-1 call recordings [14,16,19,21]. Previous research has reported increased survival in patients with agonal respirations when compared with patients without agonal respirations (27% vs. 9%; p < 0.001) [21]. However, agonal breathing is frequently mistaken as a sign of life by 9-1-1 call takers, and represents a significant proportion of missed diagnoses of cardiac arrest – up to 50% in some studies [14,19]. If more cardiac arrest cases these can be correctly identified by 9-1-1 call takers, there is the potential to increase the proportion of victims receiving early bystander CPR, and ultimately improve survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The Theory of Planned Behaviour The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) can be a useful, systematic approach to identify barriers to and facilitators of change, and aid in the design of appropriate forms of intervention. [22-29].

In order to avoid a discussion of whether brain activation relate

In order to avoid a discussion of whether brain activation related to spatial attention originated in the PMd or the FEF, we are going to focus on functionality and use the term “areas in DLFC associated with spatial attention” (ADSA) in

the following sections. Aiming to address the issue of brain activation in the ADSA during MOT, we implemented a control AC220 solubility dmso condition (LUM). Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical LUM required paying attention to the moving objects while disregarding their trajectories, as opposed to previous fMRI studies on MOT that used passive viewing control conditions (Culham et al. 1998, 2001; Jovicich et al. 2001; Howe et al. 2009). That is, in both conditions, participants had to attend to peripherally presented visual stimuli, and both conditions featured the same amount of objects that moved around in the same visual field (the motion area, roughly 7° of visual angle). As a consequence, we can assume that processes of spatial attention are considerably Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical involved in both tasks. Thus, by contrasting MOT against LUM, we should have accounted for respective activation in the ADSA. It is possible, though, that the two conditions differed in regard to spatial attentional load. While behavioral performance did Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical not statistically differ, we cannot rule out this possibility. Rather, it appears to be intuitive to assume that MOT required more spatial attentional resources than LUM. However, Jovicich et al. (2001),

who explicitly used the MOT paradigm in order to manipulate attentional Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical load, did not find any load-related activations

in the DLFC. That is, while possible differences in attentional load may have been manifest in other parts of the brain, we claim that it is unlikely that they can account for the activations in our target area. A more specific component of spatial attention that might have elicited different amounts of ADSA activation in MOT compared to LUM is shifts in spatial attention. Just as eye movement control, attention shifts can be categorized as endogenous, goal directed and exogenous, sensory guided. The extent to which the ADSA are involved in both categories Vasopressin Receptor of spatial Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical attention shifts is still under debate. For instance, Ptak and Schnider (2011) suggested that the ADSA are involved in both exogenous and endogenous attention shifts, whereas Corbetta and Shulman (2002) and Corbetta et al. (2005) claimed that the ADSA are rather responsible for endogenous, goal-directed attention shifts. In any case, remember that in the FEF-L task, upcoming target locations were visually guided (noncued), thus evoking exogenous shifts of attention. That is, after applying the exclusive FEF-L mask, any remaining attention-related activation in the MC can be ascribed to endogenous, goal-directed shifts in spatial attention. This interpretation would be in accordance with Yantis (1992), who proposed that maintenance of target identities is managed through top-down attention processes.

16 Despite the initial optimism that SGAs would greatly reduce EP

16 Despite the initial optimism that SGAs would greatly reduce EPS burden, most SGAs still demonstrate a clinically relevant tendency to induce these symptoms.23,24 In a large-scale effectiveness trial in chronic SCZ patients, SGAs were indistinguishable from a low-dose FGA (perphenazine) in rates of new onset of akathisia and EPS (5% to 10% each, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical irrespective

of drug assignment).25 However, meta-analytic reviews of the literature demonstrate that overall EPS burden may be reduced by 30% to 50% with SGAs.26 Because the mechanism of action for all currently approved antipsychotic medications remains blockade of dopamine LY450139 nmr receptors,27 motor and other side effects (eg, prolactin elevation) remain a concern in the Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical treatment of SCZ. While SGAs have moderately reduced EPS and substantially reduced TD liability relative to FGAs, these newer antipsychotics are most notable for

their propensity to induce weight gain,28 as well as related metabolic disturbances such as hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia.29 Clozapine and olanzapine are the APDs most frequently- associated with weight gain, but all Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical APDs, even first-generation agents, seem to share these effects as a group to varying degrees.30 For example,

a largescale effectiveness trial in antipsychotic naïve patients demonstrated clinically significant weight gain (≥7% of baseline) in more than half of patients Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical treated with haloperidol.9 Obesity has serious implications for overall health and survival due to an increased risk for cardiovascular and malignant disorders31; Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical these risks may be of particular importance in patients with SZ who often have limited access to health care and decreased motivation for weight reduction secondary to negative symptomatology.13 Unfortunately, unless APD-induced weight gain is very difficult to reverse, even with sophisticated behavioral, dietary, and pharmacological interventions.32 Pharmacogenetic studies of antipsychotic-induced side effects While the side effect profile of APDs is extremely burdensome in the aggregate, there is substantial interindividual variation in the degree of any particular motor or metabolic effect for a given patient.15 Despite extensive research over the last two decades, data on clinical or biological predictors of antipsychotic side effects are limited.

Computed tomography

(CT) of the thorax showed total absen

Computed tomography

(CT) of the thorax showed total absence of the right lung with a blindly-ending right main bronchus (aplasia), complete shift of the mediastinum to the right with a hyperinflated left lung herniating to the right hemithorax, and a prominent left pulmonary vasculature (figure 2). Fibre optic selleck bronchoscopy revealed a normal left bronchial tree and a right main bronchus ending in a blind pouch (figure 3). Culture of aspirate from rudimentary bronchus grew Pseudomonas. An electrocardiogram showed a normal sinus rhythm of 90 beats per min, with a rightward axis. Echocardiography Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical revealed a dilated right heart, with a normal left and right ventricular function, and no valvular abnormality. Figure 1 Chest radiography, showing opaque right hemithorax with the crowding of the ribs and mediastinal shift Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical to right. Figure 2 Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax, showing the total absence of the right lung with a blindly-ending right main bronchus, complete shift of the mediastinum to the right, and

left lung hyperinflated with herniation to the right hemithorax. Figure 3 Bronchoscopic view at carina, showing a rudimentary right main bronchus ending in a blind pouch. Gynecologic evaluation for primary amenorrhoea was done. The examination revealed well-developed secondary sexual characteristics. There was partial vaginal atresia and Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical on rectal examination, the pelvis was noted to be Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical free, suggesting a Müllerian abnormality. Transabdominal ultrasonography confirmed the absent uterus, and both kidneys were not visualised in the lumbar regions. A solitary left ectopic kidney, measuring 9.1×6.2 cm, was seen superior to the bladder in the pelvis. CT of the abdomen and pelvis confirmed right renal agenesis with left ectopic (pelvic) kidney and absent uterus (figure Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical 4). Karyotyping verified the 46 XX pattern, thus confirming

the MRKH syndrome as a cause of the primary amenorrhea. The final diagnosis was confirmed as congenital right lung aplasia with bronchial stump infection, MRKH syndrome, right renal agenesis, and left pelvic kidney. The patient’s respiratory symptoms responded well to a 10-day course of anti-pseudomonal antibiotics and other supportive treatment. She was counselled about the treatment options available to restore her sexual function when she is emotionally mature and ready to start sexual Tryptophan synthase activity. Figure 4 Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the pelvis, showing left renal pelvicalyceal system superior to the bladder with a short ureter, suggestive of left ectopic (pelvic) kidney. Discussion Schneider classified pulmonary agenesis into three groups, which were later modified by Boyden.2 There is a complete absence of lung and bronchus and there is no vascular supply to the affected side in type 1 (agenesis).

Halpern’s observations were met at first with skepticism but were

Halpern’s observations were met at first with skepticism but were buy KU-60019 verified abroad and are even cited in our times.10–14 True to the teachings of his mentor, Kurt Goldstein, Halpern regarded neurology and psychiatry as one inseparable entity. In this spirit, in 1949, he became the medical director of the Ezrat Nashim psychiatric hospital in Jerusalem. There he introduced contemporary treatments such as electroshock therapy and lobotomy;

the latter he abandoned out of dissatisfaction with the relatively lax indications that prevailed in the US at that time. He was deeply disturbed by the eventual separation of the neurological and psychiatric associations.15 Under his leadership, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical the Department of Neurology at Hadassah University Hospital flourished, and new avenues of research were opened. An EEG and electrophysiology institute was established, as well as a laboratory Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical of experimental neuroendocrinology and a center for neuroepidemiological research. The first major project of this last-mentioned center was a cross-country survey of multiple sclerosis. Halpern (Figure 2) reasoned that Israel, a country into which immigrants arrived from all over the world, could serve as a “laboratory” to study the influence of latitude and climate on the occurrence

of MS on patients of diverse origins.16,17 Figure 2 Lipman Halpern (1902–1968). Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Halpern was a cherished physician and teacher. He treated every patient, whether a top politician or the humblest individual, with the same warmth and diagnostic insight. He was a master of clinical teaching and was adored by his students as well as his staff. Halpern’s intimate acquaintance with Jewish Law and tradition, together with the wisdom of his forefathers and his excellent clinical standing, made Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical him one of the best mediators between the Orthodox Jewish establishment and modern medicine. His contribution was crucial during the early years of the State of Israel. Halpern’s achievements Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical earned him recognition in the international neurology community; in 1953 he was elected to the Presidential Board of the International Congress of Clinical Neurology

and, in 1957, to the Presidential Board of the First International Congress of the Neurological Sciences. In 1963, Halpern published an international collection of essays, with contributions by the leading neurologists and neuropsychologists of that time, dealing with the localization old and dynamics of the neurological “high functions.” The book continues to serve as a reference for issues such as referred pain, phantom pain, anosognosia, prosopagnosia, and sensorimotor induction syndrome.18 The Soviet Union forbade its scientists to contribute to this volume because of Halpern’s insistence that the book be published in Jerusalem. As Dean, Halpern strove to strengthen the Faculty of Medicine, protect its position as the leading basic and applied research center, obtain financial support, and strengthen the contacts with its university hospital.