Effectiveness of an antioxidant in preventing restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: the Probucol Angioplasty Restenosis Trial

OBJECTIVES: The Probucol Angioplasty Restenosis Trial was a prospective, randomized, controlled study that investigated the effectiveness of probucol therapy in reducing the rate of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). BACKGROUND: Antioxidants have an inhibitory effect on smooth muscle cell growth in experiments in vitro and in vivo, which suggests a possible pharmacologic effect on restenosis after PTCA. METHODS: One hundred one patients were randomly assigned to receive 1,000 mg/day of probucol or control (no lipid-lowering) therapy 4 weeks before PTCA. After 4 weeks of premedication, both groups underwent PTCA. Probucol was continued until follow-up angiography 24 weeks after PTCA. Angiographic results were analyzed at a core laboratory by quantitative coronary angiography. RESULTS: Dilation was successful in 46 of 50 patients in the probucol group and 45 of 51 in the control group. At follow-up angiography 24 weeks after angioplasty, angiographic restenosis occurred in 9 (23%) of 40 patients in the probucol group and 22 (58%) of 38 in the control group (p = 0.001). Minimal lumen diameter was 1.49 +/- 0.75 mm (mean +/- SD) in the probucol group and 1.13 +/- 0.65 mm in the control group (p = 0.02). Percent diameter stenosis at follow-up angiography in the probucol group was significantly lower than that in the control group (43.9% vs. 56.4%, p = 0.009). The late loss was 0.37 +/- 0.69 mm in the probucol group and 0.60 +/- 0.62 mm in the control group (p = 0.13). The loss/gain ratio was 0.32 +/- 0.74 in the probucol group and 0.56 +/- 0.81 in the control group (p = 0.059). Net gain was greater in the probucol group than in the control group (0.77 +/- 0.70 vs. 0.48 +/- 0.59 mm, p = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: Probucol administered beginning 4 weeks before PTCA appears to reduce restenosis rates.     

A high fill factor and progressive scan PtSi Schottky-barrier IR-CCD image sensor using new wiring technology

A back surface illuminated 130/spl times/130 pixel PtSi Schottky-barrier (SB) IR-CCD image sensor has been developed by using new wiring technology, referred to as CLOSE Wiring, CLOSE Wiring, designed to effectively utilize the space over the SB photodiodes, brings about flexibility in clock line designing, high fill factor, and large charge handling capability in a vertical CCD (VCCD). This image sensor uses a progressive scanned interline-scheme, and has a 64.4% fill factor in a 30 /spl mu/m/spl times/30 /spl mu/m pixel, a 3.9 mm/spl times/3.9 mm image area, and a 5.5 mm/spl times/5.5 mm chip size. The charge handling capability for the 3.3 /spl mu/m wide VCCD achieves 9.8/spl times/10/sup 5/ electrons, The noise equivalent temperature difference obtained was 0.099 K for operation at 120 frames/sec with a 50 mm f/1.3 lens.<>     

A new solution for splay‐to‐bend transition in OCB mode with a twisted area

Abstract— Quick, stable transition from splay‐to‐bend alignment in optically compensated bend (OCB) mode is crucial for practical use. This has been achieved by surface treating part of a pixel with a chiral dopant to induce a twist alignment while controlling the twist direction. The effectiveness of this new method was confirmed in a prototype TFT‐LCD panel.     

Power coupling from laser diodes into single-mode fibres with quadrangular pyramid-shaped hemiellipsoidal ends

A novel fabrication method for hemiellipsoidal microlenses formed on fibre ends is proposed, for efficient coupling from laser diodes into single-mode fibres. The method permits the realisation of microlenses with the required ellipticities to match the fields of lasers and fibres. A very low coupling loss of 2.65 dB has been achieved.     

Structure dependent axial mode stability in GaAlAs/GaAs injection lasers

The influence of structure on the saturation behaviour of mode gain and the axial mode stability is investigated for different types of AlGaAs injection lasers. Both experimental and theoretical results confirm that carrier confinement along the lateral direction is effective for axial mode stabilisation.     

InGaAsP planar buried heterostructure laser diode (PBH-LD) with very low threshold current

Using a new LPE growth technique, an InGaAsP/InP planar buried heterostructure laser diode (PBH-LD) has been realised in 1.3 and 1.5 ?m wavelength regions. As a result of the effective carrier confinement, CW threshold currents as low as 8.5 mA and 13 mA have been obtained in 1.3 and 1.5 ?m PHB-LDs, respectively, at room temperature.     

Stability of two modes in DFB laser diode under high data rate modulation

Using a DFB-LD with two longitudinal modes in the 1.55 ?m region, the mode stability was examined experimentally. It is found that these modes are very stable under direct modulation at least up to around 300 Mbit/s and there is no power penalty due to mode partition noise in 97 km single-mode-fibre transmission at 280 Mbit/s.     

Two-step purely thermal ion-exchange technique for single-modewaveguide devices in glass

Two-step purely thermal ion-exchange technique using two monovalent ions for single-mode waveguides is proposed. Experiments show embedded waveguide structure below the surface of the glass, as computer simulation predicted. The insertion loss of the straight waveguide was less than 1 dB for 19 mm long samples, at both λ=1.3 μm and 1.55 μm     

A slowly progressed case of brain metastasis and meningeal carcinomatosis from lung cancer]

We reported a case of long survival brain metastasis and meningeal carcinomatosis from lung cancer without radiochemotherapy. A 59-year-old female admitted to our hospital suffered from headache, anorexia and nausea. Papilledema was noticed, and examinations showed a brain tumor in the left parietal lobe and cancer cells in cerebrospinal fluid. Removal of the tumor and ventriculoperitoneal shunt were performed. Pathology showed adenocarcinoma. No neurological deficit was found during the postoperative course and the patient asked for home treatment. She survived for 25 months and spent a useful life in the 15 months after the onset in spite of no radiochemotherapy for meningeal carcinomatosis. In this case, because of the slow progression of the clinical symptoms, it is considered that cancer cells in the cerebrospinal fluid space grow slowly. The first CT and MRI findings of metastatic tumor of this case showed atypical for brain metastasis. Calcifications were found in plain CT and a high intensive tumor in both T1 and T2 weighted images of MRI. Enhancement due to contrast media was very slight in both CT and MRI. We considered that these findings were related to the slow growing of cancer cells.     

Laparoscopic removal of a large gastric trichobezoar

Immunoglobulin M seroconversion to Ehrlichia chaffeensis was documented in U.S. citizens bitten by ticks in Sardinia. Seven cases of suspected ehrlichiosis in local residents were not confirmed by laboratory tests. In Alpine areas antibodies to E. phagocytophila were detected in persons at high risk, i.e., foresters (8.6%) and hunters (5.5%), and in controls (1.5%). Of 153 persons bitten by ticks, only one was Ehrlichia antibody-positive after 6 months.