Influence of plasma properties on ARC discharge destabilization

The influence of heat transfer processes in arc discharges on the development of thermal instability is considered. A substantial dependence of the process of destabilization on the plasma properties is shown by the example of argon and helium arcs. Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 70, No. 1, pp. 93–98, January–February, 1997.     

Probe-guided surgery of colorectal carcinoma

Anti-CEA-scintigraphy turned out very reliable in detecting primary and recurrent colorectal cancer, its overall accuracy being more than 90 p.c. The intraoperative application of this technology should provide similar results when focussing at extrahepatic tumor deposits, for example in lymph nodes, thus allowing accurate staging of the underlying disease. To test this hypothesis we lauched the following feasibility-study the results of which are compared to those reported in the recent literature. We investigated 20 patients-six with rectum-, 14 with colon cancer, 24 hours before surgery they were intravenously given 1 ml of an fab-fragment-antibody to CEA, labeled with 25mCi of 99mTc (CEA-Scan). During surgery the radioactivity in lymph glands regionary for the tumors was measured and compared to the-much lower-activity in healthy nodes. For this we used a scintillation-probe (C-Trak). All lymph nodes of interest were-then excised and submitted to frozen section pathology. In 7/20 cases scintimetry led to an up-staging of the disease. In addition we found metastatic spread to lymph nodes that were basically not regionary for the primary tumor. Our results are confirmed by those of other investigators. Scintimetry can precisely identify even very small tumor deposits. So it leads to accurate staging when surgery is still on-going. In a next step the concept of sentinel-node-diagnosis, which is right now being clinically evaluated, may be applied is colorectal surgical oncology.     

A case of intractable epistaxis

The surgical management of intractable epistaxis by external carotid artery ligation may become complicated if there is a high bifurcation of the common carotid artery. Occlusion of the bleeding vessels by catheter embolization is described in a patient in whom exploration of the neck had failed to locate the external carotid artery.     

Dubin calls on CMPA to eliminate fee differentials, adopt flat fee for all physicians

PURPOSE: To examine vascular associations with pseudoexfoliation syndrome in view of the wide-spread elastosis now demonstrated in this disorder that affects many tissues, including vessel walls. METHODS: The Blue Mountains Eye Study is a population-based study of eye disease in an area west of Sydney, Australia. Of 4433 eligible persons aged 49 years or older, 3,654 (82.4%) participated. Signs of pseudoexfoliation were graded clinically, after excluding 108 people who had bilateral cataract surgery. RESULTS: Pseudoexfoliation was present in 81 (2.3%) of 3546 participants aged 49 years or older. The prevalence of pseudoexfoliation increased with age and was higher in women and in people with glaucoma. Pseudoexfoliation was statistically significantly associated with a history of angina or hypertension or a combined history of angina, acute myocardial infarction, or stroke. CONCLUSION: Slit-lamp signs of pseudoexfoliation may identify individuals with an increased vascular risk.     

Long-term follow-up of immunosuppressive treatment for obstructive airways disease after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

BACKGROUND: Locally advanced thyroid cancer invading the tracheal cartilage represents a difficult treatment dilemma during thyroidectomy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed to determine the results of laryngotracheal resection or tracheal cartilage shave with adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced thyroid cancer invading the upper airway. RESULTS: Of 597 patients undergoing thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer, 40 were found to have laryngotracheal invasion. Thirty-five patients with superficial invasion underwent cartilage shave procedures with adjuvant radiotherapy; five with full-thickness invasion underwent radical resection, including tracheal sleeve resection (n = 3) or total laryngectomy (n = 2). Histologic subtypes included papillary (n = 32), follicular (n = 2), Hurthle cell (n = 1), medullary (n = 3), and anaplastic (n = 2). Of the cartilage shave group, 25 are currently alive with no evidence of disease at a mean follow-up of 81 months (range 1-290). Six developed isolated local/regional recurrence and were managed with total laryngectomy (n = 1), tracheal resection (n = 1), cervical lymphadenectomy (n = 1), or repeat radiotherapy (n = 3). All six patients remain free of disease at a mean follow-up of 5 years. Of those who underwent initial laryngotracheal resection, four remain free of disease at a mean follow-up of 5 years. The rates of 10-year disease-free survival and overall survival for all patients were 47.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.8, 71.0) and 83.9% (95% CI 70.3, 97.5), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that adequate management of thyroid cancer with laryngotracheal invasion can be achieved with a more conservative surgical approach and adjuvant radiotherapy, reserving more radical resections for extensive primary lesions or locally recurrent disease.     

在高温,高压,氢环境中21／4Cr—1Mo钢及其焊接接头KIH的测试

采用恒位移试验方法，在高温、高压、氢环境中用ＷＯＬ试样测试了２１４Ｃｒ－１Ｍｏ钢及其焊接接头的应力腐蚀门限应力强度因子ＫＩＨ。试验结果表明：采用恒位移试验方法测试高温、高压、氢环境中２１４Ｃｒ－１Ｍｏ钢及其焊接接头的ＫＩＨ是可行的。     

2 cm long monolithic multisection laser for active modelocking at 2.2 GHz

A 2 cm long three-contact multisection laser has been fabricated for modelocking at very low repetition rates. Active modelocking yields 8.0-12.3 ps pulses at 2.2, 4.3 and 6.5 GHz corresponding to the fundamental, first, and second harmonics of the cavity resonance frequency. This device demonstrates the feasibility of fabricating monolithic pulse sources operating at rates as low as the OC-48 Sonet transmission rate (2.488 Gbit/s).<>     

Passive dissolution kinetics of titanium in vitro

The dissolution of titanium in simulated interstitial electrolyte (SIE), human serum in SIE (serum/SIE) and 8.0 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in SIE (EDTA/SIE) was measured in vitro. Titanium fibre samples were immersed in these solutions and maintained at 37°C, 10% O₂, 5% CO₂ and 97±3% relative humidity for 0–5000 h. The concentration of titanium released was quantified using electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy. Changes in oxide stoichiometry were determined by Auger electron spectroscopy after processing and immersion in the test solutions. The oxide became nearly stoichiometric TiO₂ after immersion, suggesting equilibration of the surface with the solutions. Solution ligands enhanced the magnitude of dissolution, with EDTA>serum/SIE>SIE. The dissolution kinetics were empirically fitted by a two-phase logarithmic relationship. The first phase of dissolution (t<300 h) was dominated by equilibration of the oxide with the solution and the second phase (t>300 h) by mass diffusion. The dissolution kinetics were similar for the EDTA/SIE and serum/SIE solutions, indicating that the mechanisms of dissolution for each solution may be the same.