Metastasis of malignant melanoma of the nasal mucosa to the small intestine

Malignant melanoma of the mucous membranes is rare and has a very poor prognosis. When localized in the nose, the tumor becomes apparent late in the course of the disease with nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Distant metastases are uncommon, but any organ of the body can be involved. A case of a malignant melanoma of the nasal mucosa with metastasis to the small intestine is presented, and the natural history of the metastatic disease is discussed.     

The influence of the chemical composition of silicon nitride films on their thermal oxidation parameters

The thermal dry-oxygen oxidation of Si₃N₄ films prepared by the ammonolysis of monosilane was investigated. Multiple internal reflection and simple transmission spectroscopy at IR wavelengths were used to determine the chemical composition of the films. The decrease in the thickness of the Si₃N₄ films after each oxidation run was measured by an ellipsometric technique using a hollow quartz prism. The parameters of the parabolic equation for oxidation at 1100°C were calculated for films deposited in the temperature range 750–1100°C. It was found that the oxidation rate depended on the concentration of N—H bonds in the film material. The diffusion of oxygen through the overlying SiO₂ film was found to be the limiting step of the process. The activation energy of the process was 52 kcal mol^-1.     

Urinary excretion of vanilmandelic acid in the glossalgia syndrome

Under observation there were 78 patients aged 41 to 70 years suffering from the glossalgia syndrome, as well as 25 clinically healthy subjects. An activation of the sympathoadrenal system was revealed in the patients. This was ascertained on the basis of the data on vanillylmandelic acid excretion with the urine. The excretion of that acid is known to be dependent on the intensity of the paraesthesias, the duration of the ailment and the character of concurrent visceral diseases. The results obtained are regarded as evidences of the participation of the vegetative nervous system in the mechanism of the glossalgia syndrome development.