Probability of malignant degeneration of ovarian tumors. Clinical study on the probability of malignant degeneration

More than 600 cases of ovarian tumors were analyzed for histological type, age of patient, bilateral occurrence, mobility and malignant degeneration in restant ovaries. Tumors of germinal epithelial origin show the highest incidence (24%) of malignant degeneration, tumors of germ cells the lowest (3,5%). Incidence of malignant degeneration increases in relation to the age of the patient from 2% (and under 30 years) to 36,5% (60-70 years). Each form of tumor has its typical age peak, which is about 20 years higher for carcinomas than for their benign counterpart. Bilateral ovarian tumors are malignant in 29%, one-sided only in 13%. Among freely movable ovarian tumors, only 6% enclose a malignant tumor, among adhaerent ones 34%. The examination of the prognosis of granulosacell-tumors, dysgerminomas and teratoblastomas is based on a larger material.     

Characterization of sputtered SmCo thin films for light element contamination using RBS and HIERDA techniques

Samarium cobalt films were prepared on silicon substrates with and without a chromium buffer layer at room temperature and 600°C using direct current unbalanced magnetron sputtering. For obtaining ideal magnetic properties, the films should be free from impurities, such as O, Al and others. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and heavy ion elastic recoil detection analysis were used to determine the composition and film thickness and to monitor the light element contamination across film thickness. X-ray diffractometer and superconducting quantum interference device were employed to characterize the structure and magnetic properties of the films, respectively. The results obtained led to an improved design of the ground shield and the use of a sorption pump to effectively minimize aluminium and oxygen concentration in the films, respectively.     

Granulomas and cholestatic--hepatocellular injury associated with phenylbutazone. Report of two cases

A combined cholestatic-hepatocellular injury and noncaseating granulomas occurred in two patients 1 and 4 weeks after phenylbutazone therapy. Both patients were jaundiced, one had a macular rash, and both had peripheral blood eosinophilia. Symptoms and signs subsided, and abnormal findings from tests of hepatic function rapidly returned to normal following withdrawal of the drug. Sections of liver biopsy specimens 6 months later showed no granulomas or other pathologic changes. Previously reported cases are reviewed.     

Ascorbic acid-mediated synthesis and characterisation of iron oxide/gold core–shell nanoparticles.

The current article reports on providing surface modification of magnetic nanoparticles with gold to provide stability against aggregation. Gold-coated magnetite nanoparticles were synthesised to combine both magnetic as well as surface plasma resonance (SPR) properties in a single moiety. The nanocomposites were produced by reduction (using ascorbic acid) of gold chloride on to the surface of iron oxide nanoparticles. Ascorbic acid not only acts as a reducing agent, but also the oxidised form of ascorbic acid i.e. Dehydro-ascorbic acid acts as a capping agent to impart stability to as synthesised gold-coated iron oxide nanocomposites. The synthesised nanocomposite was monodispersed with a mean particle size of around 16 nm and polydispersity index of 0.190. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms presence of gold on the surface of magnetite nanoparticles. The synthesised nanocomposites had a total organic content of around 3.2% w/w and also showed a shifted SPR peak at 546 nm as compared to gold nanoparticles (528 nm). Both uncoated and gold-coated magnetite exhibited superparamagnetic behaviour at room temperature. Upon coating with gold shell, saturation magnetisation of iron oxide nanoparticles decreases from 42.806 to 3.54 emu/gram.     

Development of pitch-based carbon–copper composites

Carbon–copper composites with varying copper to carbon ratio of 0.66–1.5 (by weight) were developed from coal-tar-pitch-derived green coke (as such or modified with natural graphite) as carbon source and electrolytic grade copper powder at different heat treatment temperatures (HTTs) of 1000–1400 °C. The physical, mechanical, and electrical properties differ depending upon the HTT and also on copper to carbon ratio (Cu/C). The composites prepared at HTT of 1100 °C having Cu/C ratio of 0.66 and 0.9 exhibited a high bending strength of 150 and 140 MPa, bulk density of 2.63 and 2.81 gm/cm³, electrical resistivity of 1.6 and 0.96 m Ω cm and shore hardness of 88 and 84, respectively, in spite of well-known inadequate wettability between copper and carbon. Increasing the temperature from 1100 °C for processing of the composites deteriorated the properties mainly due to the loss of copper through melting above 1100 °C as revealed by X-ray, scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis and EDAX studies.