Characterization of the near-surface layers of carbon steels modified by interaction with intense pulsed plasma beams: scanning electron microscopy investigations.

Modification of materials is a wide area in materials science, especially surface modification. To investigate the results of the modification process, treated and nontreated samples were compared. Intense plasma pulses of argon or nitrogen were used to irradiate the carbon steels. In all samples, the near-surface layer was melted. Results of scanning electron microscopy investigations of the surface morphology and cross-sections, as well as the results of tribological tests, are presented. The obtained results allowed us to draw conclusions about changes in material properties and to propose subsequent studies using other investigation techniques.

Neutron diffraction studies of U4O9: comparison with EXAFS results.

Conradson et al. have analyzed X-ray absorption fine-structure spectra of the UO2-U4O9 system and concluded that oxygen atoms are incorporated in U4O9 as oxo groups with U-O distances in the range 1.72-1.76 A. They also found that the uranium sublattice consists of an ordered portion and an additional 'spectroscopically silent' glassy portion. We have carried out studies of powdered U4O9 by neutron diffraction which contradict these conclusions from EXAFS measurements. Our analysis shows that there are no U-O bonds shorter than 2.2 A and that U4O9 is crystallographically ordered with no evidence of a glassy structure.

Early social environment interferes with the development of NADPH-diaphorase-reactive neurons in the rodent orbital prefrontal cortex.

The influence of early parental deprivation on the development of NADPH-diaphorase-(NO-synthase) reactive neuron numbers in subregions of the orbital prefrontal cortex (ventrolateral orbital, lateral orbital, and agranular insular cortex) was quantitatively investigated in the precocious lagomorph Octodon degus. Forty-five-day-old degus from three groups were compared: (1) repeated parental separation: degus that were repeatedly separated from their parents during the first three postnatal weeks and thereafter raised in undisturbed social conditions; (2) chronic isolation: degus that were raised under undisturbed social conditions until postnatal day 21, and then were reared in chronic social isolation; and (3) control: degus that were reared undisturbed in their families. Compared to the control animals the ventrolateral orbital prefrontal cortex and agranular insular cortex of the two deprived groups displayed significantly decreased density of NADPH-diaphorase-reactive neurons (down to 62% in the ventrolateral orbital prefrontal cortex of males, 70% in the agranular insular cortex, and in the lateral orbital prefrontal cortex 80% in both genders). These results confirm that early changes of social environment interferes with the development of limbic circuits, which might determine normal or pathological behaviors in later life.

Early social deprivation alters monoaminergic afferents in the orbital prefrontal cortex of Octodon degus.

The influence of early parental deprivation on the development of tyrosine hydroxylase- and 5-hydroxytryptamine-immunoreactive fiber innervation of subregions of the orbital prefrontal cortex (ventrolateral orbital, lateral orbital and agranular insular cortex) was quantitatively investigated in the precocious lagomorph Octodon degus. Forty-five-day-old degus from two groups were compared: 1) degus which were repeatedly separated from their parents during the first three postnatal weeks, and after weaning they were reared in social isolation; and 2) degus which were reared undisturbed in their families. Compared with the normal control animals the ventrolateral orbital prefrontal cortex and agranular insular cortex of the deprived animals displayed significantly increased density of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers (up to 172% in the ventrolateral orbital prefrontal cortex and up to 143% in the agranular insular cortex). The lateral orbital prefrontal cortex showed increased 5-hydroxytryptamine-positive fiber densities (up to 118%). This altered balance between the serotonergic and dopaminergic cortical innervation in the orbital prefrontal cortex may reflect an anatomical and functional adaptation, which may be triggered by an altered activity of these transmitter systems during the phases of parental separation and social isolation.

A procedure for assessing a contract testing facility: one sponsor's perspective.

The government agencies responsible for Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) place accountability for assuring compliance of studies intended for submission on the sponsor. An initial step toward meeting these legal obligations includes a comprehensive assessment of the candidate testing facility. Literature review has substantiated that the initial evaluation may be best accomplished through both technical and compliance-focused inspections (O'Brien-Pomerleau, 1991; Schroeder, 1989). Combined technical and compliance inspections have also been reported as an effective auditing approach for long-term studies (Hoover and Baldwin, 1984). However, for the purposes of the initial qualifying assessment inspection, personal experiences and published literature indicate that these two equally important evaluations are commonly conducted independently of one another (Scozzie, 1995). A collaborative approach utilized by Dow Corning Corporation in the preliminary assessment of a contract testing facility builds upon those methods just mentioned. Coupling this evaluation with a program of actively monitoring the testing facility's performance in study conduct provides continued assessment and has proven to be beneficial to all stakeholders (sponsor, testing facility, and regulatory agency). Details of the process practiced by this sponsor to assure that studies conducted by a contract testing facility meet GLP requirements are presented.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-CLL) and Immunocytoma (LP-IC): Clinical and Prognostic Relevance of this Distinction.

The Kiel classification of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) has established chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and immunocytoma (LP-IC) as separate entities of low-grade malignant NHL by morphological and immunohistochemical criteria. The clinical and prognostic relevance of this discrimination was evaluated in a prospective multicenter observation study by the Kiel Lymphoma Study Group. From 1975 to 1980, 430 previously untreated patients with B-CLL (n = 217) and LP-IC (n = 213)a were recruited and followed for up to 14 years. While the age and sex distribution and the incidence of clinical stages were quite similar in both entities major differences between initial manifestations in B-CLL and LP-IC became evident, e.g. in the incidence of bone marrow infiltration (99.5 vs. 86%), peripheral blood lymphocytosis (99.5 vs. 60%), or monoclonal gammopathy (1 vs. 30%). A strictly localized tumor (Ann Arbor stage I/IE) was seen in only 1.5% of the LP-IC patients who were successfully treated by local radiotherapy. In all other patients an expectative-palliative treatment concept was pursued. Long-term survival data analysis revealed significant differences between B-CLL and LP-IC and identified the pseudofollicular in B-CLL and the lymphoplasmacytic in LP-IC as the most favorable histological subtypes. The discriminative prognostic potential of clinical stage (Rai or Binet classification) for B-CLL and LP-IC varied and the pattern of prognostic risk factors obtained by multivariate analysis was not identical. Thus, the morphological distinction between B-CLL and LP-IC correlates with characteristic differences between these entities both in their initial clinical presentation and long-term prognosis.

[Comparative crossover double-blind study of profenid and indomethacin patients with rheumatoid arthritis]. / Vergleichende Crossover-Doppelblindstudie mit Profenid und Indometazin bei Patienten mit Rheumatoid-Arthritis.

38 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis, randomly divided into two groups, underwent a three weeks treatment with profenid (3 capsules + 1 suppositorium) alternatively with indomethacin (3 capsules + 1 suppositorium), which head lasted six weeks in case of each patient. The study was double-blind using a crossover technique. The results show that the efficacy of the applied doses of profenid is similar to that of indomethacin. Profenid is superior to indomethacin with regard to drug tolerance.

Lymphoplasmacytic/lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma: a clinical entity distinct from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?

Clinical data of 116 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and of 114 patients with lymphoplasmacytic/lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma (synonym: LP immunocytoma, IC) as diagnosed according to the Kiel classification were compared. This interim evaluation of a prospective multicenter study of the Kiel Lymphoma Study Group characterizes IC the less favorable lymphoma entity as evidenced by a more rapid lymph node enlargement, by a higher incidence of constitutional symptoms and of marked anaemia, and by a higher percentage of patients requiring early treatment. In addition, in IC autoimmune haemolytic anaemia was detected in 11.2% of investigated patients as compared to none of the patients with CLL, and monoclonal gammopathy was disclosed in 34.2% of investigated patients as compared to only three patients with CLL who could be, however, unrecognized cases of IC. Actuarial survival data after a follow-up period of 40 months are in favor of an overall better prognosis of patients with CLL than of patients with IC.

Germinal center cell lymphomas: prognostic significance of their histopathological differentiation.

Clinical data of 48 patients with centrocytic, 83 patients with centroblastic/centrocytic and 64 patients with centroblastic lymphoma who had entered a prospective multicenter study of the Kiel Lymphoma Study Group since October 1975 were compared. Advanced (stage IV) disease at time of diagnosis, predominantly due to bone marrow infiltration, was most frequent in centrocytic (69% of patients) and in centroblastic/centrocytic (51% of patients) lymphomas as compared to only 28% of patients with centroblastic lymphoma. High survival probability of patients with localized centrocytic and centroblastic/centrocytic lymphomas after radiotherapy, contrasting with a worse prognosis of corresponding patients with centroblastic lymphoma, is compatible with the classification of these lymphoma entities as neoplasias of low-grade malignancy. However, as shown by this prospective and previous retrospective trials overall survival probability of patients with advanced centrocytic lymphoma was inferior to that observed in corresponding patients with centroblastic/centrocytic lymphoma. These findings suggest the possibility that patients with advanced centrocytic lymphoma occupy an intermediate position between typical low-grade and typical high-grade malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Clinical and prognostic heterogeneity of non-Hodgkin lymphomas of high-grade malignancy.

Comparison of clinical data of 64 patients with centroblastic lymphoma, 55 patients with immunoblastic lymphoma and 31 patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma not only confirmed the original assumption of high-grade malignancy as proposed by the concept of the Kiel classification but also demonstrated distinct clinical differences, particularly between lymphoblastic lymphoma and the two other entities. Rapid lymph node enlargement as well as steep fall of survival curves within the first year after diagnosis were common characteristics. Bimodal age distribution, predominance of males and early generalization of disease were typical features of lymphoblastic lymphoma; elderly patients and patients with the unclassified subtypes of lymphoblastic lymphoma exhibited the worst prognosis. Whereas patients with centroblastic and immunoblastic lymphomas showed similar distribution of age, sex and initial stage of disease, patients with immunoblastic lymphoma presented more frequently with a reduced performance status and showed a poorer response to radio- and chemotherapy resulting in a worse prognosis discernible after the first year of follow-up. Generalization during course of the disease was significantly more frequent in immunoblastic than in centroblastic lymphoma.

[Frequency of hemoglobin abnormalities and hemoglobinopathies in Mozambique peoples (comparison between leprosy and non-leprosy subjects]. / Uber die Häufigkeit von Hämoglobinanomalien und Hämoglobinopathien bei moçambiquanischen Völkerschaften. (Mit Vergleich zwischen Leprösen und Nicht-Leprösen)

In 588 bloodsamples of negride natives from Moçambique, preferably Chuabo and Macua, haemoglobin analyses were performed. In 21 cases an increase of Hb A2 was found, indicating the presence of heterozygous beta-thalassaemia, in one case the changes in Hb-analysis were typical for beta-delta-thalassaemia, 18 samples could be shown to contain Hb S, typical for the heterozygous sickle cell trait. Futhermore in 7 cases Hb A2' was found. In two bloodsamples haemoglobin variants were observed, which according to their electrophoretical mobility were assumed to represent Hb D in one case, and Hb G in the other. In the Chuabo population the frequency of the thalassaemia gene was found to be more than twice as high as in the Macua population. In non-lepers Hb S was observed with a remarkable higher incidence than in lepers.

[Isolation and amino acid composition of two pathologically augmented proteins from psoriatic scales (author's transl)]. / Isolierung und Aminosäurenzusammensetzung zweier pathologisch erhöhter Proteine aus Psoriasisschuppen

Two protein bands of water soluble extracts of psoriatic scales, which appear intensified in disc-electrophoretical separation, were isolated and their amino acid compositions were determined. It could be demonstrated that band 9 was rich of glycine, alanine, aspartic acid, leucine, and serine and that band 10 was rich of glycine, threonine, and serine. Both proteins contained an amino-sugar (galactosamine).