The clinical significance of gadolinium enhancement of lumbar disc herniations and nerve roots on preoperative MRI

The clinical significance of preoperative gadolinium DPTA enhancement around disc herniations and in the epidural space on MRI is not clear. The relation of nerve root enhancement to dysfunction also remains controversial. To investigate the clinical significance of contrast enhancement we looked at the symptoms and signs and gadolinium DPTA-enhanced images of 71 consecutive surgical candidates in a standardised fashion. Annular rupture and disc enhancement were found to be closely related, and correlated with sensory loss and paresis, respectively. Nerve root enhancement was found to be related to neurological deficits in general and sensory impairment in particular.     

Intestinal transplantation in children under FK 506 immunosuppression

Intestinal transplantation, solitary (n = 3) or in combination with the liver (n = 7), was performed in 10 pediatric patients with intestinal failure. The liver was only replaced if there was liver failure and portal hypertension. Immunosuppression was based on FK 506. Two patients died, one of graft-versus-host disease and one of lymphoproliferative disease. One patient as still in the intensive care unit 1 month posttransplantation due to perioperative complications. The function of the intestinal grafts in the remaining patients is normal. All nutrition and medications including immunosuppression are being administered enterally. This series indicates that small bowel transplantation, alone or in combination with the liver, is feasible in pediatric patients.     

Binary optical switch and programmable optical logic gate based onthe integration of GaAs/AlGaAs surface-emitting lasers andheterojunction phototransistors

Optical switches based on GaAs/AlGaAs vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and heterojunction phototransistors are combined monolithically into new switching configurations that perform optical logic and spatial routing in a dynamically programmable manner. Using simple voltage control, many different logic and routing configurations, including AND and OR gates with variable fan-out, can be implemented using the same hardware     

A process for the introduction of elemental sulphur into high analysis phosphate fertilisers

A method for producing and incorporating fine elemental sulphur into high analysis fertilisers based on phosphoric acid is described. Molten sulphur is added to phosphoric acid under high shear conditions to produce a slurry containing fine sulphur. The slurry is subsequently used to acidulate phosphate rock and the resultant high analysis fertiliser contains sulphur which is sufficiently fine to ensure reasonably rapid oxidation to sulphate by soil micro-organisms. A small pilot plant has been used to produce a triple superphosphate containing 15% elemental sulphur which has a particle size distribution of: 95% < 0.5 mm, 76% < 0.25 mm and 57% < 0.15 mm.