Are pigmented lesion clinics worthwhile?

To assess the effect of a pigmented lesion clinic on referral patterns and thickness of melanoma at presentation, we have compared data from the centralized pathology services of the adjacent health authorities of Wandsworth, and Merton and Sutton. Both districts were the subject of a CRC public awareness campaign in 1987, but only Wandsworth is served by a pigmented lesion clinic. All patients presenting with malignant melanoma were included; from 1981 to 1990 for Wandsworth, and from 1984 to 1990 for Merton and Sutton. The Breslow thickness and clinic source of all melanomas was documented. Approximately equal numbers of melanomas were seen in the two districts, with no obvious difference in the numbers of thin (< 1.5 mm thick) 'good prognosis' tumours. Both districts saw an increase in the total number of tumours, and the number of thin tumours, after the CRC publicity campaign. However, there was considerable cross-boundary referral to the pigmented lesion clinic in Wandsworth, with 60% of all melanomas coming from outside the district. The presence of a pigmented lesion clinic within a given district confers no obvious benefit with regard to the number of thin, 'good prognosis' melanomas being seen as a whole, but the cross-boundary referral pattern suggests that it fulfils a demand from both general practitioners (GPs) and patients, and it does provide a centralized source for the collection of much-needed data.     

Further comments on response productivity

Discusses G. C. Gleser and A. Lubin's (see PA, Vol 56:Issue 6) objections to the present authors' 1974 article on methods of controlling for response productivity. It is shown that in those instances in which the facts they adduced were accurate, the objections were not to the point and therefore were not legitimate criticisms of the article. The remaining objections were based on their lack of attention to certain statistical issues or on misunderstandings of the authors' position. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The behavioural effects of manipulating GABA function in the globus pallidus

Effects of drugs on precapillary vessels and oxygen uptake may differ from effects on resistance vessels and total flow in skeletal muscle. This study was performed to compare effects of phentolamine and isoproterenol, two drugs which are used to treat shock, on oxygen uptake in skeletal muscle. Oxygen uptake of gracilis muscle (GVO2) was measured in muscles perfused at constant flow or constant pressure in normotensive dogs. We compared effects of the drugs on oxygen uptake at doses chosen so that both drugs produced comparable effects on vascular resistance. With flow constant, phentolamine increased but isoproterenol decreased or did not alter GVO2. With constant pressure, phentolamine produced significantly greater increases in GVO2. For example, increases in GVO2 occurred with all three doses of phentolamine, but only with the high dose of isoproterenol. Neither drug altered oxygen-hemoglobin affinity of red blood cells or oxygen consumption of skeletal muscle in vitro. The results suggest that phentolamine produces more favorable effects than isoproterenol on oxygen uptake in skeletal muscle, presumably because of greater dilator action on precapillary sphincters.     

Rotational and translational accommodation coefficients of nitrogen on nickel,silver and gold

An electron beam excited fluorescence technique was used to make simultaneous measurements of rotational and translational accommodation of nitrogen on nickel, silver, gold and stainless steel solid surfaces. In addition to the advantage of being able to make independent measurements of rotational accommodation, this apparatus allows a wide range of solid surface temperatures to be used and operates at lower gas density than most previous experiments.Rotational accommodation coefficients for nickel and gold varied from α_R = 0.12 at 400°K to α_R = 0.18 at 850°K while the value of α_R for silver increased more quickly from α_R = 0.03 at 430°K to α_R = 0.2 at 700°K.A linear variation of translational accommodation coefficient, α_T, with surface temperature was observed. An empirical relationship based on molecular weights was able to account for variation in dα_T/dT_s observed. The metal surfaces used were thought to be free of adsorbed gas and oxide layers.     

The effect of silane coupling agents in improving the properties of filled or reinforced thermoplastics

The application of silane coupling action produces significant improvements in physical properties in various thermpolastic resin systems. Both glass-reinforced thermoplastics and the more conventional filled thermoplastic resin systems were studied. An order of specificity between resin and coupling agent exists for thermoplastic resins similar to that of thermosets. The interaction with thermosets is considered copolymerization, wereas that with thermoplastics is not yet clearly defined. The silanes are incorporated by pre-treatment (best for glass reinforcement) or by addition during normal compounding. Fillers are added for a specific result, often with sacrifice of physical strength. Data presented show that silane addition upgrades filled thermoplastics to the level of clear resins and sometimes above. The effect of silanes on electrical properties of filled thermoplastics are also reported.     

Work style and the expression of hostility in boys.

The concept of work style denotes the unique, idiosyncratic stylistic variations in how one works, variations which override the demands of the job and which express the person in relation to the task. 5 dimensions of work style are defined in the context of the role of early work experience in personality development. 52 white 8-14 yr. old males who worked at a variety of part-time jobs were rated on these dimensions on the basis of extensive interview data. Ratings correlated positively with both the pervasiveness and intensity of hostility expressed in imaginative though products (TAT stories). The relation between work-style dimensions and hostility expression is examined in the context of psychoanalytic ego-psychology theory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

colour and constitution of some N-phenylpyrrolidinylazo dyes: application of the PPP molecular orbital method

Electronic absorption spectral data for a series of monoazo dyes derived from N-phenylpyrrolidine have been calculated by the PPP molecular orbital method. In order to optimise the agreement between experimental and calculated results, certain parameters were reassessed by trial and error calculations. New parameters for some sulphur-containing heterocyclic systems permit the satisfactory prediction of λ_max values for the derived dyes. The relative intensities of the various heterocyclic azo dyes are also reasonably well accounted for by the PPP method.     

Flexible tubular replicas of abdominal aortic aneurysms

The aim of this study was to manufacture life-size, flexible, tubular replicas of human abdominal aortic aneurysms and the associated vasculature, suitable for use in a training simulator for endovascular procedures. Selective laser sintering was used to create a geometrically correct master model for each of ten anatomical variations. The masters were used to generate flexible latex replicas. The use of the replicas in the training simulator was demonstrated. In total ten silicone rubber models were produced. When connected into the training simulator and perfused at arterial pressure it was possible to deploy an endovascular stent under fluoroscopic control and to perform angiography. The study has shown that conventional rapid prototyping technology can be used to manufacture flexible, radiolucent replicas which provide a realistic training environment for endovascular procedures.