HIV infection amongst leprosy patients in south India

We use the trapezoidal lamellar incision as standard construction for sutureless self-sealing wound closure in our clinic: a 7 mm incision for phacoemulsification and implantation of a 6.5 mm optic diameter PMMA posterior chamber less (PCL) and an incision up to 11 mm for ECCE with standard PCL. The operation can be performed in a nearly closed system because of the self-sealing wound construction. Experiments in cadaver eyes showed that the wound closure of a 7 mm incision with the no-stitch technique ruptured at a pressure five times greater than the cross-stitch-sutured corneoscleral incision and in an 11 mm incision four times greater (602 +/- 149 mmHg and 150 +/- 29 mmHg). Due to the high stability of the wound closure, no sutures are necessary. Complications arising in connection with sutures are therefore avoided. Clinically, two typical postoperative complications were observed: hypotony occurred in 1% and anterior chamber hemorrhage in 5%. These complications are exclusively caused by imperfection of the internal corneal opening.     

Absenteeism during treatment for leprosy. Analysis of causes as apparent from a survey in southern India

The reasons for absenteeism during leprosy treatment were investigated in a rural area of southern India. 120 patients known as "absents" to most controls were first interviewed and the major causes for absenteeism thus determined. A questionnaire was then elaborated in view to reveal these principal causes with efficiency and was applied by 8 investigators to 1200 patients, mostly absents or irregular to medical visits. 620 were selected at random for computer analysis. Results suggest that anxiety for loss of income while attending the medical control and erroneous impression of cure as soon as skin lesions have improved could be of first importance. Nevertheless no relation appears between absenteeism and income level, number of persons depending on the patient, or type of leprosy. Adverse reactions attributed to DDS are also frequently reported, especially fever, because of confusion with leprosy reactions, malaria and any other febrile condition. Assiduity to medical visits could be determined during the year following this study in 1191 of the 1200 patients showing clear beneficial effect over this period.     

南钢2000m^2高炉技术进步及发展前景

介绍了南钢2000m^3高炉技术进步及投产一年来取得的指标进步。通过消化无料钟炉顶布料技术，采用精料、强化冶炼等措施。2005年高炉指标取得较大进步，并于11月份取得利用系数2．5t／m^2d、入炉焦比354，4kg／t、煤比133kg／t的好水平。通过与国内一流指标的对比，说明南钢高炉在精料、指标进步等方面有广阔的发展前景。     

The contribution of "cure by dapsone monotherapy'' to the reduction of prevalence of leprosy in the State of Orissa, India, 1983-1993

The activity of phosphofructokinase-2, fructose, 1,6-bisphosphatase, glucokinase, and also the level of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate and glycogen were examined in the liver of normal, and streptozotocin-diabetic rats. It was shown that the activity of phosphofructokinase-2 was decreased in the liver of diabetic rats. Besides that the activity determined at pH 6.6 (the "active" or unphosphorylated enzyme form) was 3-fold reduced whereas the "total" enzyme activity as measured at pH 8.5 was lowered 1,7-fold. The phosphofructokinase-2 activity assay at two pH values allows to estimate a degree of phosphorylation of bifunctional enzyme which is markedly enhanced in diabetes. The fall of the bifunctional enzyme k in case activity is accompanied by the lowered fructose 2.6-bisphosphate level, increased fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase activity that in turn favours the liver tissue glycolysis inhibition and gluconeogenesis enhanced in diabetes.     

Risk factors for type 1 reactions in leprosy

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) is a rare vascular neoplasm that previously has been described only in children. We report three cases occurring in adults. The patients, two men and one woman, were aged 64, 55, and 48 years, respectively. Lesions arose on the chest wall, the lateral aspect of the neck, and in the groin and buttock, and each was situated in superficial soft tissue. Tumor size ranged from 0.9 to 7 cm. Histologically, in all cases a lobular or nodular growth pattern of densely packed spindle-shaped tumor cells closely associated with small slitlike and sievelike blood vessels was seen. Within one lesion, small nodules of plumper, epithelioid tumor cells were identified. Well-formed capillaries frequently containing fibrin thrombi were observed mainly in the periphery of tumor nodules. Areas of hemorrhage and hemosiderin deposits were observed in two cases. Associated lymphangiomatosis composed of diffusely infiltrating lymphatic spaces of the dermis and subcutis was present in one case. Nuclear atypia was minimal in all cases, and mitotic figures were rare in two cases; in one case up to 6 mitoses in 10 high-power fields were noted focally. Immunohistochemically, well-formed capillaries stained positively for all the vascular markers used; however, endothelial cells lining the small slitlike and sievelike vascular spaces did not stain for von Willebrand factor. At least focally, actin-positive pericytes were seen. Neoplastic spindled cells stained only focally for CD34 and CD31. Two lesions were excised with clear margins; in one case only repeated biopsies were done. Follow-up information between 14 and 28 months revealed no sign of recurrence or metastasis. In adults, the differential diagnosis of KHE comprises especially Kaposi's sarcoma and spindle cell hemangioendothelioma; further differential diagnoses include tufted hemangioma and cellular capillary hemangioma, which occur rarely in adults.     

Immunogenetics of episcleritis in leprosy

BACKGROUND: Neurenteric cysts are rare endothelium-lined structures. Two patients with symptomatic neurenteric cysts at the craniovertebral junction are presented. CASE PRESENTATION: Intermittent progression of neurologic symptoms delayed diagnosis for both patients. In one case, marked enlargement of the cyst was detected on serial imaging studies, and pathological examination of the excised lesion indicated rupture of the cyst. These cysts were totally resected by transoral or suboccipital approaches, as they were not firmly adherent to surrounding neural structures. The diagnosis of neurenteric cyst was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis of the cyst wall. CONCLUSION: In view of the clinical course of these patients, we recommend early surgical resection of neurenteric cysts located at the craniovertebral junction.     

改善现场粉尘污染的设备密封改造

针对熔剂系统运送粉尘物料,导致转运站下料点处粉尘浓度严重超标的状况,通过不断对设备的密封进行改进、试用,使岗位粉尘浓度由过去的22.2 mg/m3降至现在的4.7 mg/m3以下.     

Surgical treatment of facial nerve involvement caused by leprosy

Complete and partial nerve paralysis can result from leprosy. The latter is more prevalent and results in lagophthalmos and corneal hypoesthesia. The former is characterized by loss of facial expression, deviation of the face to the nonparalyzed side, difficulty in chewing, and drooling, in addition to lagophthalmos and corneal hypoesthesia. Affected patients are at risk to develop blindness, as well as suffering social and economic deprivation because of the effects of facial nerve paralysis. Prevention of blindness and amelioration of the latter were successfully achieved by muscle transfer procedures, temporalis transfer to the eyelid, and masseter transfer to the mouth and nasolabial fold in small, minimally equipped hospitals in Africa.     

Cytokines in leprosy, II. Effect of treatment on serum cytokines in leprosy

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease characterized by a broad spectrum of clinical forms depending on the patient's immune response, in particular cell-mediated immune response. METHODS: Cytokines can play a role in the cell-mediated immune response. Serum levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 55 untreated leprosy patients and 35 reactional leprosy patients, in addition to 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Leprosy patients showed significantly higher serum levels of the studied cytokines (except IL-2) compared with healthy controls. When the two poles were compared, tuberculoid leprosy (TT) patients showed significantly higher levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha with significant negative correlations with the bacterial index (BI), whereas lepromatous leprosy (LL) patients showed significantly higher serum levels of IL-2R, IL-10, and IL-1beta with significant positive correlations with the BI. Both type I and type II reactional patients showed significantly higher serum IFN-gamma, IL-2R, and IL-1beta, in addition to IL-10 in type II reactional patients, compared with nonreactional leprosy patients. When compared with each other, type I reactional patients showed increased levels of IFN-gamma, whereas type II reactional patients showed increased levels of IL-10. CONCLUSIONS: In leprosy patients, both IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha are immunoprotective, whereas IL-2R, IL-10, and IL-1beta are immunosuppressive. Our results indicate that type I reaction, with increased levels of IFN-gamma, is a cell-mediated immune response, whereas type II reaction, with increased levels of IL-10, is essentially an immune complex disease.     

Prospects for ferroalloy production in Kazkahstan

World reserves of manganese ore are analyzed, taking account of the growing use of manganese in ferroalloy production in Kazakhstan. Reserves of chromite and titanium ore are also discussed. Measures intended to increase ferroalloy production and to promote the rational use of ore reserves are proposed.     

Prospects for Consteel technology in Russia

The development of the Consteel process is briefly analyzed. Foreign experience with the Consteel system and its derivatives (Faststeel and Consteel Evolution) is discussed. Its introduction in Russia is expedient for the production of high-quality steel.     

Effectiveness of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination in the prevention of leprosy; a case-finding control study in Nagpur, India

Among numerous available materials for osseous repair and reconstruction, those presenting osteoinductive characteristics and promoting bone regeneration are preferable. Fresh autologous bone is one of the most effective, but it has some disadvantages and risks. Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is considered to be a valid alternative, because it seems to show osteogenic potential, ascribed to the presence of bone morphogenetic proteins. In addition it can be prepared without difficulty and preserved without losing osteoinductive properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate the osteoinductive ability of xenogenic DBM, by testing DBM powder obtained from rabbit long bones, in cell culture of murine fibroblasts, alone or associated with electromagnetic field (EMF), that are known to exhibit biologic effects on cells: in particular they are used in orthopedics to improve bone formation. At the end of experiment, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium levels and cell proliferation and morphology were evaluated. A statistically significant stimulation of ALP activity and cell proliferation and a morphological change of fibroblasts were found. The results obtained show how DBM and EMF have different effects on cells, and that together they have synergic action toward bone induction.     

Prospects for insulin delivery by ex-vivo somatic cell gene therapy

The principle of insulin delivery by ex-vivo somatic cell gene therapy involves the removal of non-B-cell somatic cells (e.g. fibroblasts) from a diabetic patient, and genetically altering them in vitro to produce and secrete insulin. The cells can be grown in culture and returned to the donor as a source of insulin replacement. Cells modified in this way could be evaluated before implantation, and reserve stocks could be cryopreserved. By using the patient's own cells, the procedure should obviate the need for immunosuppression and overcome the problem of tissue supply, while avoiding a recurrence of cell destruction. Ex-vivo somatic cell gene therapy requires an accessible and robust cell type that is amenable to multiple transfections and subject to controlled proliferation. Special problems associated with the use of non-B-cell somatic cells include the processing of proinsulin to insulin, and the conferment of sensitivity to glucose-stimulated proinsulin biosynthesis and regulated insulin release. Preliminary studies using fibroblasts, pituitary cells, kidney (COS) cells and ovarian (CHO) cells suggest that these challenges could be met, and that ex-vivo somatic cell gene therapy offers a feasible approach to insulin replacement therapy.     

Corneal ulcer caused by Nocardia asteroides in a patient with leprosy

Nocardia asteroides is a rare cause of keratitis usually associated with trauma. We report a case of corneal ulceration caused by N. asteroides in a patient with leprosy. This is the first case report of nocardial keratitis from Southeast Asia. The diminished corneal sensation in a patient with leprosy could be a predisposing factor for development or exacerbation of corneal ulceration.     

Nickel Production by Major Producers in 2000

~~Nickel Production by Major Producers in 2000~~     

Prospects for synthetic composites in arc furnaces

The prospects for the use of synthetic Fe–O–C composites in arc furnaces are analyzed. It is found that, if components that are traditionally used individually are combined together in ingots or briquets, their behavior changes significantly and their effectiveness is improved. That permits complete utilization of iron-bearing production waste and the more extensive use of iron ore in arc furnaces.     

宝钢家电板生产技术发展回顾和展望

回顾了宝钢家电外板、彩管用钢、耐指纹钢和电工钢等产品及生产工艺技术的发展历史。介绍宝钢上述各类家电板的生产和技术现状及新产品开发情况。展望了宝钢在涂镀深加工家电板、热轧酸洗板、高强薄规格家电板、功能化家电板及“绿色”环保方面的发展前景。