The mini bottle brush--a new fastening device in cancellous bone

We examined the associations between cerebral infarction (CI), asymptomatic arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO), and known risk factors for these diseases. The subjects were 67 elderly patients (11 men and 56 women, mean +/- SD age of 79.6 +/- 8.5 years). in 44 patients CI was diagnosed by CT scan; 23 were classified as having cortical infarction and 21 as having lacunar infarction. In 41 patients asymptomatic ASO was diagnosed by an ankle-pressure index (API) of less than 0.9. To identify risk factors for these diseases, we examined the association among these diseases and hypertension (blood pressure > or = 140/90 mmHg), hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol concentration > or = 220 mg/dl), hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride concentration > or = 150 mg/dl), low HDL-cholesterolemia (HDL-C concentration < 40 mg/dl), high LDL-cholesterolemia (LDL-C concentration > or = 150 mg/dl), and glucose intolerance (fasting blood sugar concentration > or = 110 mg/dl). The incidence of asymptomatic ASO in the subjects with CI was significantly higher than that in the subjects without CI (chi 2 test; p < 0.05, odds ratio 6.4), including cortical infarction (p < 0.05, odds ratio 8.9) and lacunar infarction (p < 0.05, odds ratio 3.8). Patients with lacunar infarction were more likely to have hypertension than were controls (p < 0.05). Cortical infarction was not associated with these risk factors. Both low HDL-C and high LDL-G were more common in patients with asymptomatic ASO than patients without asymptomatic ASO (p < 0.05). These results indicate that CI and asymptomatic ASO are strongly associated in the elderly, especially in subjects with cortical infarction, and that aging itself contributes to cortical infarction.     

Fibrinolytic variables and cardiovascular prognosis in patients with stable angina pectoris treated with verapamil or metoprolol. Results from the Angina Prognosis study in Stockholm

BACKGROUND: Disturbed fibrinolytic function may influence the progression of coronary atherosclerosis and contribute to thrombotic cardiovascular (CV) events. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Angina Prognosis Study in Stockholm (APSIS), patients with stable angina pectoris were studied prospectively during double-blind treatment with metoprolol or verapamil. Various measures of fibrinolytic function were studied in 631 (of 809) patients. During a median follow-up time of 3.2 years (2132 patient-years), 32 patients suffered a CV death, 21 had a nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), and 77 underwent revascularization. Plasma levels of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) activity and antigen (ag), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) activity at test, and TPA responses to exercise were determined at baseline and after 1 month's treatment and were related to subsequent fatal and nonfatal CV events. Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that elevated levels of TPA-ag at rest (P < .05), high PAI-1 activity (P < .05), and low TPA-ag responses to exercise (P < .05) were associated with increased risk of subsequent CV death. After adjustment for baseline risk factors, TPA-ag independently predicted CV death or MI. In addition, PAI-1 activity independently predicted CV death or MI in male patients. Verapamil treatment was associated with a 10% decrease of TPA-ag levels and metoprolol treatment with a 2% increase (P < .001 for treatment difference). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma TPA-ag levels at rest, and among male patients PAI-1 activity as well, independently predict subsequent CV death or MI in patients with stable angina pectoris.     

Phase composition and structure of composite powders based on solid solutions of SiC and AlN

The structure of SiC–AlN powders is investigated by x-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy methods. The powders were produced by joint carbon reduction and nitriding of silicon and aluminum oxide mixtures. The results show that a mixture of solid solutions forms during joint SiC and AlN synthesis at 1700°C, with SiC forming β (3C) and α (2H) modifications with different grain morphology. The fiber form is characteristic of β-SiC, whereas the grains of the solid solution based on SiC have a predominantly equiaxed form. α-SiC grain dimensions are considerablys smaller than those of AlN. Institute of Materials Science, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Kiev Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, Nos. 7–8, pp. 81–86, July–August, 1997.     

Memory-related changes of nitric oxide synthase activity and nitrite level in rat brain

The changes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and nitrite level in rat brain regions after spatial learning were investigated. NOS activity was assayed by conversion of [3H]L-arginine to [3H]L-citrulline, and a sensitive fluorometric assay for quantification of nitrite was used. Compared with sham-trained rats, NOS activity and nitrite level in hippocampus and cortex, and also the nitrite level in cerebellum, was elevated significantly one day after rats had learnt a water-rewarded spatial alteration task. These results suggest a spatial memory-related changes of endogenous NO in rat brain, and support the idea that NO participates in learning and memory processes.     

A new erasing method for a single-voltage long-endurance flashmemory

A new method to erase a standard (double-poly, stacked-gate NOR-type) flash cell is proposed. The method, still using the tunneling mechanism to extract electrons from the floating gate, is based on the concept of keeping the electric field constant during the whole erasing operation. The new method has two main advantages with respect to the conventional one: (1) it does not depend on the supply voltage variation and (2) it allows a better reliability in terms of endurance-induced stress. Results have shown that flash device performances are greatly improved in terms of stability and endurance reliability up to one million cycles     

Ultralow-voltage boron-doped diamond field emitter vacuum diode

A boron-doped diamond field emitter diode with ultralow turn-on voltage and high emission current is reported. The diamond field emitter diode structure with a built-in cap was fabricated using molds and electrostatic bonding techniques. The emission current versus anode voltage of the capped diamond emitter diode with boron doping, sp² content, and vacuum thermal electric (VTE) treatment shows a very low turn-on voltage of 2 V. A high emission current of 1 μA at an anode voltage of less than 10 V can be obtained from a single diamond tip. The turn-on voltage is significantly lower than comparable silicon field emitters     

Treatment of the sequelae of enucleation by septal chondro-mucosal composite graft. Report of 21 cases]

Enucleation frequently and progressively causes an enophtalmus and atrophia of the inferior eyelid, thereby leading to a height deficiency. Buccal mucous grafts give rise to phenomena such as secondary retraction. This may have complex and painful post-operative outcomes. However, when a septal chondromucous graft is performed, the height in the inferior palpebral part becomes more aesthetic, more retentive and quickly allows the wearing of a more voluminous prosthesis. Thus, the notinable enophtalmus can be corrected and the aesthetic quality of the looking is substantially restored. The authors report this surgical procedure and the results obtained with 21 patients which appear to be particularly promising.     

Linkage analysis under locus heterogeneity: behaviour of the A-test in complex analyses

The admixture test (A-test) is a popular method for the analysis of linkage data when locus heterogeneity is suspected. It can be applied on pairwise linkage data, multipoint data and even for the simultaneous analysis of data from multiple dispersed candidate regions. However, very little is known about the conditions for the use of the method under these divergent circumstances. By performing analytical evaluations, we demonstrate that the A-test is inconsistent if there is a relationship between the phenotype and the probability of being linked. Biased estimates of the recombination fraction (theta) and the proportion of linked families (alpha) may occur if the actual frequency of linked families is not identical among small and large families. We conclude that the A-test should be used with caution if the phenotype and the probability of developing the phenotype at a certain age cannot be shown to be equal for family members of linked and unlinked families. If dissimilarities in family size cannot be ruled out, the extent of bias should be considered and size specific alpha-values should be used in risk calculations.     

Expression and molecular characterization of an enzymatically active recombinant human spumaretrovirus protease

A theoretical model is presented by which a true expression of pregnancy rate resulting from stimulated cycles can be calculated. This includes the transfer of both fresh and cryopreserved embryos. It is concluded that the total reproductive potential of a single cycle of stimulation can only be evaluated by including pregnancies arising from all fresh and frozen embryo transfers resulting from that cycle.