Capturing the Influence of Jet Fluctuations on Particles in Plasma Spraying.

Instabilities and fluctuations of the plasma jet in a thermal spray process can have a significant influence on the particle in-flight temperatures and velocities, affecting the properties of resulting plasma-sprayed coatings. Presented in this paper is a novel method for capturing the effects particles are exposed to in the plasma spraying process. High-speed camera images of a plasma jet generated by a cascaded three-cathode plasma generator (TriplexPro-210) were recorded for varying operating conditions. The images are processed using the inverse Abel transform. This transformation accounts for the fact that the images represent a 2D projection of the 3D jet and generates more accurate intensity values that the sprayed particles would experience. These images are then combined with particle tracks resulting from CFD simulations of the plasma jet to match the particles path with the recorded plasma jet. This new method allows a precise description of the plasma intensity experienced by individual particles with a high temporal resolution. The results show a high sensitivity of the method, even detecting the influence on the particles of the plasma jet originating from the cascaded triple arc plasma generator, which is considered as rather stable.

Follow-up examination at the age of 15 months of extremely preterm infants after postnatal estradiol and progesterone replacement.

A randomized controlled pilot study was performed with a sample of extremely preterm infants to evaluate the impact of postnatal estradiol and progesterone replacement on postnatal bone mineral accretion. Twenty-five of 30 infants in the pilot study survived, and of these, 24 infants were available for the follow-up examination at a median chronological age of 18.1 months (minimum-maximum, 17.0--20.6) corresponding to a corrected age of 14.8 months (minimum-maximum, 12.9--17.4). Somatic growth data and bone mineralization showed no differences between the hormone-treated and control group infants. The deviation of the skeletal age from the corrected age was 0.0 months (minimum-maximum, -7.7 to 7.4) for hormone-treated infants compared with -1.7 months (minimum-maximum, -7.5 to 5.9) for the control group. The Bayley scales mental and psychomotor developmental indexes were 89 (minimum-maximum, 71--107) and 101 (minimum-maximum, 49--121) for the hormone-treated infants and 93 (minimum-maximum, 49--111) and 71 (minimum-maximum, 49--121) for the control group infants, respectively (mental developmental index, P = 1.0; psychomotor developmental index, P = 0.14). The normal psychomotor development in the hormone-treated infants compared with the below average development in the control group infants is encouraging and indicates the potentially important integrative role of sex steroids for the developing brain. Larger studies on the effects of the postnatal replacement of estradiol and progesterone in extremely preterm infants are warranted.

[Patients with diabetes mellitus: psychosocial stress and use of psychosocial support: a multicenter study]. / Patienten mit Diabetes mellitus: psychosoziale Belastung und Inanspruchnahme von psychosozialen Angeboten. Eine multizentrische Studie.

BACKGROUND: In a multicenter study the association of psychosocial stress and the use of psychosocial support in patients with diabetes mellitus was evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In a sample of 410 patients with diabetes mellitus (Type I: n 157, Type II: n = 253) stress in different facets of daily life was assessed using the revised Questionnaire on Stress in Patients with Diabetes (QSD-R). Self-constructed items were used to assess the use of psychosocial support during the course of the illness. Diabetics with a mean global stress score above standard deviation were defined as extremely handicapped and compared to the less handicapped sample. RESULTS: Extreme psychosocial stress could be found in 68 diabetics (16.6%). Not the type of diabetes but the use of insulin within the Type-II diabetic sample revealed an impact on psychosocial stress. Diabetics with extreme psychosocial stress showed worse diabetic control compared to less stressed diabetics. Profiles of psychosocial stress showed maximal stress with regard to depression in both types of diabetes; this was followed by fear of hypoglycemia in the sub-sample of Type I and physical complaints in the sub-sample of Type-II diabetics. Family members, primary care physicians and diabetologists were the main sources of psychosocial support. CONCLUSION: A considerable number of diabetic patients suffers from extreme psychosocial stress often associated with poor diabetic control. These patients need psychosocial care which should primarily be offered in diabetologic centers incorporating both the patients' family and family background.

Bereitschaftspotential in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): lower amplitudes in patients with hyperreflexia (spasticity).

In a pilot study the Bereitschaftspotential (BP) was investigated in 16 patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (mean age 58.6, mean severity of the illness according to Norris ALS score 76.4 points). Comparing the total ALS group (n=16) with matched controls no significant differences in the BP amplitude parameters were found. However, a subgroup of 7 ALS patients with signs of pronounced spasticity (hyperreflexia) differed significantly at the central midline from matched controls and significantly in addition from patients with a lower degree of spasticity. Controls as well as patients with a lower degree of spasticity had significantly higher BP amplitudes at the midline (electrode positions Cz and Pz, P<0.05, H-test). The correlation coefficient between the hyperreflexia Norris score and the various BP parameters for the total ALS sample (n=16) revealed a significant correlation especially over the midline. Stronger signs of spasticity (hyperreflexia) are associated with lower amplitudes of the BP.

Purification and characterization of a microsomal bile acid beta-glucosidase from human liver.

A human liver microsomal beta-glucosidase has been purified to apparent homogeneity in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis where a single protein band of Mr 100,000 was obtained under reducing conditions. The enzyme was enriched about 73, 000-fold over starting microsomal membranes by polyethylene glycol fractionation, anion exchange chromatographies on DEAE-Trisacryl, and Mono Q followed by affinity chromatography on N-(9-carboxynonyl)-1-deoxynojirimycin-AH-Sepharose 4B. The purified enzyme had a pH optimum between 5.0 and 6.4, was activated by divalent metal ions, and required phospholipids for exhibition of activity. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of 3beta-D-glucosido-lithocholic and 3beta-D-glucosido-chenodeoxycholic acids with high affinity (Km, 1.7 and 6.2 microM, respectively) and of the beta-D-glucoside (Km, 210 microM) and the beta-D-galactoside of 4-methylumbelliferone. The ratio of relative reaction rates for these substrates was about 6:3:11:1. No activity was detectable toward 6beta-D-glucosido-hyodeoxycholic acid, glucocerebroside, and the following glycosides of 4-methylumbelliferone: alpha-D-glucoside, alpha-L-arabinoside, beta-D-fucoside or beta-D-xyloside. Immunoinhibition and immunoprecipitation studies using antibodies prepared against lysosomal glucocerebrosidase showed no cross-reactivity with microsomal beta-glucosidase suggesting that these two enzymes are antigenically unrelated.

Radioassay of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities toward endogenous substrates using labeled UDP-glucuronic acid and an organic solvent extraction procedure.

A rapid and sensitive radioassay for measuring UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities (EC 2.4.1.17) toward the major endogenous substrates hyodeoxycholic and hyocholic acids, bilirubin, estriol, androsterone, and testosterone has been developed. In this assay, 14C-labeled glucuronides are formed from the enzyme-catalyzed reaction of 14C-labeled UDP-glucuronic acid with the unlabeled aglycones. Following incubation, the 14C-labeled glucuronides are separated under acidic conditions from the unreacted 14C-labeled UDP-glucuronic acid by a single extraction with ethyl acetate. The recovery of glucuronides into ethyl acetate was greater than 90%, whereas the carryover of unreacted UDP-glucuronic acid into the organic phase was approximately 0.2%. The reaction products extracted into ethyl acetate were characterized by their mobilities in thin-layer chromatography and identified as glucuronides by their sensitivity to hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase and inhibition of hydrolysis by the specific beta-glucuronidase inhibitor D-saccharic acid-1,4-lactone. The optimal conditions of enzyme reactions with the individual aglycones have been defined with human liver microsomes as enzyme source. For all aglycones investigated, 10-30 micrograms of microsomal protein are sufficient for enzyme estimation. The assay is applicable to biochemical studies of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, as well as to measurement of these enzyme activities from small amounts of clinical liver specimens.

Thermoradiotherapy in locally advanced deep seated tumours--thermal parameters and treatment results.

From October 1987 to December 1990 a total of 37 patients with deep seated tumours of the pelvis (n = 34), the abdomen (n = 2), or lower leg (n = 1) were treated with radiotherapy and regional hyperthermia. Hyperthermia was produced by the BSD-1000 system and the annular phased array (AA) applicator usually driven at 60-80 MHz, or the BSD-2000 system and the Sigma-60 (S 60) applicator usually driven at 70-90 MHz. Detailed thermal mapping and temperature analysis was performed on 29 patients. The overall mean maximum, average and minimum temperature observed was 42.9 +/- 2.4 degrees C, 40.9 +/- 1.5 degrees C, and 39.3 +/- 0.9 degrees C for all treatments. The time-averaged tumour temperatures achieved in 20%, 50% and 90% of all measured temperature sites were 41.8 +/- 2.1 degrees C (T20), 40.9 +/- 1.6 degrees C (T50), and 39.9 +/- 1.2 degrees C (T90). In addition, the overall mean maximum, average and minimum temperature measured in normal tissue was 42.4 +/- 1.4 degrees C, 40.6 +/- 1.0 degrees C, and 39.2 +/- 0.9 degrees C. The time averaged normal tissue temperatures achieved in 20%, 50% and 90% of all measured temperature sites were 41.3 +/- 1.1 degrees C, 40.6 +/- 1.1 degrees C, and 39.6 +/- 1.0 degrees C. In 36 assessable patients, the overall objective response rate was 31%: 2 complete responses (CR) and 9 partial responses (PR).

Localization of post-infarction myocardial ischemia by 201Tl emission computed tomography.

In 41 patients with a history of a single myocardial infarction, the location of myocardial ischemia was studied by 201Tl emission computed tomography immediately and 3 h after intravenous dipyridamole. Distant ischemia was distinguished from periinfarctional ischemia by the presence of transient thallium defects in, or slow thallium washout from, myocardium not supplied by the infarct-related coronary artery. Distant ischemia occurred in 13 patients and was always accompanied by peri-infarctional ischemia. Peri-infarctional ischemia without distant ischemia was observed in 15 patients. The occurrence of distant ischemia was found to be dependent on the severity of stenosis in non-infarct coronary vessels. Twelve (86%) of 14 patients with non-infarct stenosis of 75% or greater had distant ischemia, but only 1 (4%) of 27 patients with non-infarct stenosis of less than 75%. In the presence of distant ischemia, peri-infarctional ischemia was in 11 patients (85%) of the patients with peri-infarctional ischemia only, incomplete obstruction of the infarct vessel was observed. It is concluded that, by the distinction between peri-infarctional and distant ischemia, the presence of significant stenosis in non-infarct vessels can be non-invasively predicted from tomographic thallium scintigraphy with dipyridamole.

[The 4 hr-washout-functional picture: a quantitative visualization of 201Tl myocardial stress kinetics and the significance of paradoxical redistribution]. / Das 4 h-Washout-Funktionsbild: Eine quantitative Darstellung der 201Tl-Kinetik im Herzmuskel nach Belastung--zugleich Deutung der "paradoxen Redistribution".

Between March and August 1983, 62 patients with suspected coronary artery disease were investigated by both 201Tl myocardial scintigraphy and coronary angiography. Functional images of the 4 h-201Tl-washout were compared with conventional scintigrams of the stress and rest phases and with results of coronary angiography. Myocardial scintigraphy with 4 views was performed immediately after exercise and 3-4 h later. After interpolative background subtraction, 4 h-washout functional images were computed from each of the initial scintigrams and the corresponding delayed scintigrams. Using a special-coded colour table, the 4 h-washout could be read quantitatively from the functional image. The additional analysis of washout images increased the accuracy of myocardial 201Tl scintigraphy for the detection and localization of coronary stenoses from 42% to 69%. Sensitivity increased from 42% to 73%, definitivity from 50% to 79%. Ischemic regions appeared more obvious in the washout images, even to less experienced observers. In comparison with circumferential washout profiles the interpretation of washout images was easier because of more obvious anatomical localization. The phenomenon of "reverse redistribution" was found to be associated with a decreased 201Tl-washout in apparently "normal" regions, whereas in those regions with "reverse redistribution" the washout was normal or at least relatively high. In addition diffuse myocardial ischemia occurring in 3-vessel disease could be recognized in the 4 h-washout functional images.

[Temperature-dependent effects of lidocaine-CO2 in peridural anesthesia]. / Temperaturabhängige Wirkungen von Lidocain-CO2 in der Periduralanaesthesie.

Lidocaine CO2, used for anaesthesia in 26 gynaecological and urological patients, was injected into the epidural space at two temperatures -20 degrees C and 36 degrees C. We found that the higher temperature resulted in a faster onset of blockade, a longer duration of action, and a greater degree of motor blockade. We found, also, with the warmed solution a higher spread of analgesia, which could enable a reduction to be made in the volume necessary for satisfactory anaesthesia.

[Transbrachial angiography--arteriotomy or percutaneous puncture?]. / Transbrachiale Angiographie--Arteriotomie oder perkutane Punktion?

In 102 patients transcutaneous right brachial artery catheterizations were performed. The sequelae of the brachial artery lesion were investigated 22.43 +/- 22.26 months after catheterization, and data obtained by bilateral Doppler ultrasound technique, oscillography, and strain gauge plethysmography were compared. In ten patients minor obstructions of peripheral blood flow were noted. One patients suffered from longer-lasting ischemic symptoms, which were successfully treated with drugs. In another case an embolectomy had to be performed with an almost complete relief of the obstruction. In our view, the transcutaneous approach may be preferred to the dissection of the artery because the procedure is followed by a low incidence of sequelae for the patient and saves time for the investigator. The rate of obstruction to peripheral flow in our study was lower, in comparison to controls than after dissection of the brachial artery as reported in the literature.

beta-Endorphin-like immunoreactivity in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma of patients with schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Measurements of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity have been performed in CSF and plasma of patients with schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. The detection limit of the RIA was between 20--50 pg/ml (6--15 fmole/ml). In CSF the quantity of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity ranges up to 65 pg/ml. The data from schizophrenics and other neuropsychiatric patients show no obvious deviation from the results in a control group of medical patients with normal CSF findings. In plasma the immunoreactive beta-endorphin-like material ranges up to 250 pg/ml. There is only a small tendency to higher values in schizophrenic patients, if compared with different types of neuroses and affective and organic psychoses. In a second series of experiments also this tendency could not be reproduced. In 9 electroconvulsive treatments an increase of blood beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity was observed 7 times. A possible endorphinergic mechanism in the mode of action of electroconvulsion is hypothesized.

The effect of DL-2-bromopalmitate on the utilization of palmitic acid by rat granular pneumocytes.

The effect of DL-2-bromopalmitate (BrPA), an analogue of palmitic acid (PA), on the utilization of this fatty acid by rat lungs was investigated by a combination of anatomic and biochemical methods. The experiments were performed in vitro on two types of preparations, isolated perfused lungs and lung slices. In the isolated lung preparation the substrate reached the lung via the capillaries, in lung slices via the alveolar epithelium. Electron microscope autoradiography showed that BrPA depressed uptake of PA by granular pneumocytes. Radioactivity recovered by tissue analysis and capture of CO2 established that PA oxidation and incorporation into phospholipids and triglycerides was depressed by BrPA. A close correlation was found between the reduction in radioactivity in phospholipids and the grain density over lamellar bodies. The study shows that BrPA reversibly interferes with the uptake and utilization of long chain fatty by granular pneumocytes. BrPA appears as a useful tool to study palmitate metabolism and surfactant production by the lung.

Effect of potassium on utilization of (1-14C)palmitic acid in renal cortex of the rat.

The renal cortex has an unusually high rate of palmitic acid utilization. The uptake, oxidation, and distribution of this fatty acid in the cortex, unlike other tissues, responds to variations in medium and tissue potassium content. This potassium dependency is mimicked and amplified by rubidium. These observations indicate that in the renal cortex, both potassium and rubidium promote the accumulation, oxidation, and esterification of palmitic acid.

Urea transport in the dogfish kidney.

There is increasing evidence that urea movement across many epithelia involves more than passive diffusion. Of particular interest is the observation that urea transport across the erythrocyte membrane and across the vasopressin-stimulated urinary bladder of the toad occurs by facilitated diffusion, and can be selectively inhibited by phloretin and chromate. These inhibitory agents have been employed in studies of renal urea reabsorption by the spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias. Both agents inhibit urea reabsorption; the effect of chromate is of particular interest, since it blocks urea reabsorption to a proportionately greater extent than sodium reabsorption, and does so irreversibly.