Mean-field effects on matter and antimatter elliptic flow

We report our recent work on mean-field potential effects on the elliptic flows of matters and antimatters in heavy ion collisions leading to the production of a baryon-rich matter. Within the framework of a multiphase transport （AMPT） model that includes both initial partonic and final hadronic interactions, we have found that including mean-field potentials in the hadronic phase leads to a splitting of the elliptic flows of particles and their antiparticles, providing thus a plausible explanation of the different elliptic flows betweenp and anti-p, K＋ and K-, and Jr＋ and ~ observed by the STAR Collaboration in the Beam Energy Scan （BES） program at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider （RHIC）. Using a partonic transport model based on the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio （NJL） model, we have also studied the effect of scalar and vector mean fields on the elliptic flows of quarks and antiquarks in these collisions. Converting quarks and antiquarks at hadronization to hadrons via the quark coalescence model, we have found that the elliptic flow differences between particles and antiparticles also depend on the strength of the quark vector coupling in baryon-rich quark-gluon plasma, providing thus the possibility of extracting information on the latter＇s properties from the BES program at RHIC.     

基于神经网络的损伤构件及损伤程度识别

确定损伤构件及其损伤程度是分阶段损伤识别的最后一步,同时又是进一步制定结构安全运行决策的前提和基础。研究了在确定了结构损伤区域的条件下,应用反向传播(BP)神经网络同时实现对具体损伤构件及其损伤程度识别的方法。探讨了针对上述神经网络训练数据的构造和训练策略。应用提出的方法对汲水门斜拉桥桥面结构进行了损伤识别仿真模拟。基于模态参数对损伤的灵敏度分析,选取了12个自振频率和损伤区域附近的6个振型分量作为构造网络输入的基本数据。网络的输出向量同时指示了损伤构件及其损伤程度。就模拟的10种损伤情况,当损伤程度达到60%以上时,有9种实现了正确的构件识别,半数以上给出了可以接受的损伤程度描述。     

Reassessment of the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of endocrine-inactive pituitary macroadenomas

OBJECTIVE: This prospective clinical trial was undertaken to assess the rate of tumor recurrence in patients with endocrine-inactive pituitary macroadenomas who underwent gross total surgical resection of their tumors and did not receive adjuvant radiotherapy. METHODS: Between December 1987 and July 1994, 45 patients with endocrine-inactive pituitary macroadenomas underwent transsphenoidal surgery. In 38 (84%) of these patients, gross total surgical resection was achieved and was confirmed by postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (n = 37) or computed tomography (n = 1). After receiving counseling from the neurosurgeon concerning the risks and benefits of radiation therapy, 32 of the 38 patients elected not to receive adjuvant radiotherapy. Patients were followed through March 1998 with radiographic imaging obtained every 6 months for the first 2 years, annually for postoperative Years 3 and 4, and then every 2 to 3 years thereafter. The study end point was defined as radiographic tumor recurrence or patient death. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration for the study group was 5.5 years. During that time, 2 of 32 (6%) patients developed recurrence, at 18 and 24 months, respectively, after initial surgery. Both were successfully treated using radiation therapy, with one requiring additional surgery. Three additional patients died as a result of unrelated causes 9, 12, and 49 months, respectively, after initial surgery. Immunocytochemical analysis revealed 66% of the tumors to be weak gonadotroph cell adenomas, 22% to be null cell adenomas, 9% to be silent prolactinomas, and 3% to be silent corticotroph cell adenomas. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a 6% 5-year recurrence rate in patients with endocrine-inactive pituitary macroadenomas treated using gross total surgical resection alone. Reserving radiation therapy for the infrequent patient with recurrence and sparing the majority of patients the associated risks inherent in its use seems reasonable.     

Effects of bunazosin and atenolol on serum lipids and apolipoproteins in a randomised trial

The effects of bunazosin and atenolol on serum lipids and lipoproteins after 6 months of treatment were compared in this multicentric, double-blind, randomised trial. A total of 174 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension from 15 hospitals in Germany and Poland was included in the study. Eighty-seven were treated with the alpha-receptor blocker bunazosin and the same number with the beta-blocker atenolol. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in both groups, whereas only atenolol decreased pulse rate. In the bunazosin group HDL-cholesterol was significantly increased after 6 months of treatment, whereas all other analysed parameters remained unchanged. In the atenolol group total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total triglycerides, apolipoprotein E, VLDL-cholesterol and VLDL-triglycerides were significantly increased after 6 months of therapy. There was a significant difference between bunazosin and atenolol for total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL-triglycerides and apolipoprotein B levels. As a consequence, there was a significant difference in the atherogenic index of both groups. We conclude that bunazosin is favorable in the treatment of high blood pressure, because the coronary risk is not negatively influenced as shown for atenolol.     

Glandular cells in vaginal smears from posthysterectomy patients

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare disease characterized by recurrent inflammation and destruction of the cartilaginous structures. Tracheobronchial chondritis is a dreaded complication of RP. We wish to report a case of RP of the trachea and bronchi which was treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.     

Intermittent edema of the upper and lower extremities and the abdominal wall caused by membranous stenosis of the superior vena cava and membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava

We report on a 38-year-old patient with intermittent edema of the lower legs, arms and abdominal wall. The cause for his tendency to develop edema was a membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava and a membranous stenosis of the superior vena cava. The etiology of these anomalies of the vena cava suggests a congenital malformation. In consideration of the cases of inferior and/or superior vena cava-anomalies published to date the patient received an anticoagulant therapy (coumarin) and treatment with graduated compression stockings. He now complains from time to time of a sensation tension in the lower legs after prolonged standing or sitting. Edema of the upper and lower extremities and the abdominal wall have disappeared.     

Legal grounds for patient information in orthopedics

Neuroimaging is playing an increasing role in research of affective disorders, with investigators examining both volumetric changes of specific brain structures and vascular changes within white and gray matter. Recent studies have attempted to make clinical correlations between neuroimaging changes in unipolar and bipolar mood disorders. In this review, we focus particularly on those changes that are clinically meaningful. We conclude that there is enough evidence to begin to evaluate inclusion of neuroimaging findings in our mood disorder classification system. To this end, we propose two new mood disorder subtypes, vascular depression and vascular mania. Directions for future research in neuroimaging are then discussed.     

Local intra-arterial thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We performed a retrospective analysis of the prognostic factors in patients treated with local intra-arterial thrombolysis (LIT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LIT using urokinase in patients with acute ischemic stroke of the anterior or posterior circulation and to determine the influence of clinical and radiological parameters on outcome. METHODS: Forty-three patients were treated with LIT using urokinase (median dose, 0.75x10(6) IU). The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at hospital admission was 18 (range, 9 to 36). Nine patients had occlusions of the internal carotid artery (ICA), 23 of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), 1 of the anterior cerebral artery, and 10 of the basilar artery (BA). Outcome was assessed after 3 months and classified as good for Rankin Scale (RS) scores of 0 to 3 and poor for RS scores of 4 or 5 and death. RESULTS: Nine patients (21%) recovered to RS scores 0 or 1, 17 (40%) to scores of 2 or 3, and 7 (16%) to scores of 4 or 5. Ten patients (23%) died. Outcome was good in 17 patients (80%) with MCA occlusions, in 3 patients (33%) with ICA, and in 5 patients (50%) with BA occlusions. Good outcome was associated with an initial NIHSS score of <20 (P<0.001), improvement by 4 or more points on NIHSS score within 24 hours (P=0.001), and vessel recanalization (P=0.02). Recanalization was more likely if LIT was started within 4 hours (P=0.01). Symptomatic cerebral hemorrhage occurred in 2 patients (4.7%). CONCLUSIONS: LIT was most efficacious in patients with MCA and BA occlusions when the initial NIHSS score was less than 20 and when treated within 4 hours. It is of limited value in patients with distal ICA occlusions.