Resistance to fretting corrosion of fuel rods in a VVER-440 water-moderated reactor in contact with spacers

The wear resistance of fuel assemblies in the VVER-440 water-moderated reactor is investigated, with small fuel-rod diameter. The experimental apparatus, the model of the fuel rods, and the similarity conditions are described; the possibility of applying the experimental results to regular fuel rods is noted.     

Functional transformations of the human brain during emotional self-regulation with biofeedback

By means of a special technique, mobilising of a subject's selective attention upon the dynamics of the subjective sphere states, was reached. An involved biofeedback was positively reinforced by avoidance of an expected electric stimulus. The subjects revealed occurrence of an adaptive correction of their general behaviour. The EEG computer analysis manifested a specifics of structural-functional maintenance of different states evoked in the training process.     

Lithium secretion in kidneys of amphibians and reptiles under hydrated conditions

Renal lithium transport was studied at different hydration levels in five species of anuran amphibians (Bufo bufo, B. danatensis, B. viridis, Rana ridibunda, and R. temporaria), two species of urodeles (Triturus vulgaris and T. cristatus) and four species of reptiles (lizards Eremias multiocellata, Lacerta vivipara, Trapelus sanguinolentus, and Teratoscincus scincus). Under dehydration conditions, Li+ was reabsorbed in the kidneys of amphibians ans reptiles, but to a lesser degree than in mammalian kidneys: the ratio of lithium clearance (CLi) to glomerular filtration rate (GFR)--fractional lithium excretion--in dehydrated animals was in the range 0.5-0.8. The transition to the hydrated state resulted in a cessation of net renal lithium reabsorption. Under condition of high hydration, all the animals studied, except for urodeles, showed net renal secretion of Li+, i.e., CLi exceeded GFR. The ratio CLi/GFR was 1.2-1.3 in hydrated anurans and 1.7-2.3 in hydrated lizards. In urodeles, this ratio was approximately unity. It is suggested that renal lithium secretion in hydrated amphibians and reptiles reflects fluid secretion in the proximal tubule, which is additional to the glomerular filtration mechanism of fluid delivery to nephron under water loading.     

Ultrasound differentiation of fibroadenoma and diagnosis of minimal carcinoma of the breast

Extragonadal germ-cell tumors (EGCT) are uncommon and biologically distinct from their gonadal counterparts. Thirty-seven patients who had EGCT were treated over a ten-year period at the Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum, India. There were 26 men and boys and 11 women and girls. The sites of primary tumor were mediastinum (n=18), central nervous system (n=5), sacrococcygeal region (n=4), retroperitoneum (n=2), and other sites (n=8). After combined modality therapy, 13 of 18 patients who had mediastinal EGCT--1 of 2 with retroperitoneal, 1 of 4 with sacrococcygeal, 0 of 5 with central nervous system, and 2 of 8 patients with tumor in other sites-were alive with no evidence of disease at a median follow-up of 16 months. The overall 5-year survival rate was 40%. Histologic subtype and elevated marker levels were the significant prognostic factors on univariate analysis.     

Effectiveness of postoperative irradiation in stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer according to regression tree analyses of recurrence risks

BACKGROUND: In the setting of grossly resected stage IIIA (N2 involvement) non-small cell lung carcinoma, the role of adjuvant postoperative thoracic radiation therapy (TRT) remains controversial. This study was initiated to subcategorize these patients into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk groups with respect to local recurrence and survival rates, and to determine whether there were certain subgroups of patients who were particularly likely or unlikely to benefit from postoperative TRT. METHODS: Two hundred twenty-four patients were studied. A regression tree analysis was used to separate patients who had undergone operation alone into groups that had a high, intermediate, or low risk of local recurrence and death. The effect of adjuvant postoperative TRT then was examined in each of these groups. RESULTS: The use of adjuvant postoperative TRT (compared with operation alone) was associated with an improvement in freedom from local recurrence and survival for patients who had an intermediate or high risk of local recurrence and death. However, the greatest level of improvement in freedom from local recurrence (p < 0.0001) and survival (p = 0.0002) associated with the use of adjuvant postoperative TRT was in the high-risk group. Similarly, but of lesser magnitude, the intermediate-risk group had improved freedom from local recurrence and survival rates with the use of adjuvant post-operative TRT (p = 0.002 and p = 0.01, respectively). For the low-risk group, the freedom from local recurrence and survival rates were not statistically different between the patients who received adjuvant postoperative TRT and those who underwent observation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma involving ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes (stage IIIA) who undergo gross resection and who are at either high or intermediate risk for local recurrence and death are likely to benefit from adjuvant postoperative irradiation. The role of radiation therapy in low-risk patients is unclear. Prospective confirmation of these observations is warranted.     

An experimental study of the anti-ulcer properties of an extract of poplar bark

Marked antiulcerative properties of a Populus tremula bark extract were demonstrated in experiments on mice and rats with stress-, reserpine-induced, and acetylsalicylic ulcers. The gastroprotective activity of the extract was expressed in decrease in the number of animals with mucosal ulcers and in marked decrease in the number of ulcers. It exceeded similar parameters of alanton, plantaglucide, and Hippopheae oil.     

The effect of salben on the rheological properties of the bronchial secretion

We report a case of a 1.5 cm cystine staghorn calculus of the right lower pole in a 32 year female known cystinuric patient. With a 200 microns Holmium laser probe through a 9,5 F flexible ureteroscope the calculus was fragmented in small particles. An internal ureteral stent was inserted at the end of the procedure. All but one small residual fragments were evacuated spontaneously after removal of the stent. This case shows that flexible ureteroscopy combined with the Holmium laser is a safe and efficient procedure to treat medium size renal cystine calculi. It can be repeated in case of recurrence with minimal trauma to the urologic tract.