Novel concept suppressing plasma heat pulses in a tokamak by fast divertor sweeping.

One of the remaining challenges in magnetic thermonuclear fusion is survival of the heat shield protecting the tokamak reactor vessel against excessive plasma heat fluxes. Unmitigated high confinement edge localized mode (ELM) is a regular heat pulse damaging the heat shield. We suggest a novel concept of magnetic sweeping of the plasma contact strike point fast and far enough in order to spread this heat pulse. We demonstrate feasibility of a dedicated copper coil in a resonant circuit, including the induced currents and power electronics. We predict the DEMO ELM properties, simulate heat conduction, 3D particles motion and magnetic fields of the plasma and coil in COMSOL Multiphysics and Matlab. The dominant system parameter is voltage, feasible 18 kV yields 1 kHz sweeping frequency, suppressing the ELM-induced surface temperature rise by a factor of 3. Multiplied by other known mitigation concepts, ELMs might be mitigated enough to ensure safe operation of DEMO.

Ascaris suum--vaccination of mice with liposome encapsulated antigen.

Vaccination with liposome encapsulated adult crude antigen with and without coencapsulated immunomodulator (levamisole) in a mice/larval Ascaris suum model provided protection against a challenge infection (2000 eggs) in mice immunised by immobilised antigen. The best results (88.9% protection) were obtained with a combination of two doses of liposome entrapped antigen with leamisole. Vaccination with liposome vaccine without modulator was slightly less effective (78.7% protection). A single dose of vaccine was ineffective (14.3% protection). Application of the soluble antigen without any adjuvants led to the enhancement of worm yield in lungs and liver.

Efficacy of praziquantel treatment of schistosomiasis in a non-endemic country: a follow-up of parasitological, clinical and immunological parameters.

Schistosomiasis patients were immigrants to Czechoslovakia from Angola and Yemen. Most of them had light or moderate infections and felt subjectively healthy. They received treatment with praziquantel (two doses with a total of 40 mg/kg) and were followed up for several years. In nine of 13 patients, Schistosoma haematobium or S. mansoni eggs with undamaged miracidia were detected in biopsies from the bladder or the rectum one year or later after treatment. Granulomatous reactions in the rectum and bladder lesions of stage 1 including thickened bladder walls persisted in most of the patients. Antibody levels against adult S. mansoni worm antigen remained elevated for at least two years after therapy in some patients and declined in others. Among the nine patients, for whom pre- and post-treatment sera were available, the changes in relative levels of antibodies did not strictly correlate with the continued presence of schistosome eggs in, or their absence from, biopsies. We discuss the results obtained with sensitive diagnostic techniques in the absence of subjectively perceived disease.

Preparation and post-transfusion aurvial of frozen-deglycerolized red blood cells / 대한수혈학회지

No abstract available.

[Orinade--an aid for orientation when working with serology plates]. / Orinade--pomucka pro orientaci pri práci se sérologickými destickami.

Simple and cheap aid for help during pipeting of the reagent on standard microtiter 96 well plates is described. By means of the 8 x 12 LED diode matrix under the plate is by running the program from the memory accomplished the guide during the plate. The number of current sample is indicated by means of numerical display. The use of described aid limited the number of false pipeting in routine work.

Preparation of frozen-deglycerolized red blood cells (I) / 대한수혈학회지

No abstract available.

Preparation and post-transfusion suvival of frozen-deglycerolized red blood cells / 대한혈액학회지

No abstract available.

Artificial immunization of pigeons against Argas polonicus (Ixodoidea, Argasidae).

Two subcutaneous injections of salivary gland antigen (SGA) or larval homogenate (LH) at 2-week intervals induced a resistance in pigeons to Argas (Argas) polonicus Siuda, Hoogstraal, Clifford and Wassef larvae and induced anti-tick antibodies. The number of larvae rejected after LH immunization was significantly higher compared to SGA immunization but lower than the number of larvae rejected after two natural infestations at 2-week intervals. The antibody titre reached a peak on day 6 following the first inoculation of LH, and 11-13 days after SGA inoculation. The maximum antibody titre was recorded 6 days after a second challenge for both antigens. The highest antibody titre was reached after the first inoculation with LH but only after the second inoculation with SGA. The sera of pigeons immunized either with SGA or LH cross-reacted with the other antigen as demonstrated by ELISA. SDS-PAGE and immunoblot studies demonstrated several differences in the protein profiles of these antigens, the presence of 34 and 35 kdal proteins in SGA and their absence in LH.

Increased gut blood flow with early enteral feeding in burned guinea pigs.

The hemodynamic responses to early enteral feeding were assessed with fluid-resuscitated, 30% total body surface area-burned guinea pigs fed by means of tube gastrostomies. Regional blood flow and cardiac output were determined by a reference sample method, injecting 15 microns radiolabeled microspheres. During the initial 24 hours after burn injury, animals were given the same volume by continuous infusion of either lactated Ringer's solution (LR group) or a liquid diet (20% protein, 12% lipid, and 68% carbohydrate; 175 kcal/kg/24 hr) (diet group). Although cardiac outputs in the LR and diet groups were not different from each other at 24 hours and no less than that in unburned control animals, the diet group showed higher blood flow to the jejunum (+55.7%) and cecum (+98.7%) than did the LR group. Burn injury caused little change of blood flow to tissues other than the intestine. In addition, early feeding after burn injury suppressed excessive cortisol response to burn shock. The increase in gut blood flow associated with enteral feeding could have an impact on mucosal barrier function.

Passive transfer of humoral resistance against adults of the tsetse fly, Glossina palpalis palpalis (Diptera, Glossinidae), in rabbits.

The possibility of passive transfer of rabbit humoral immunity against tsetse fly bites was investigated for the first time. Partial immunity of recipient animals was achieved after two intravenous injections of 15 ml of serum from immunized (donor) rabbits during 48 hrs. This treatment induced an apparent increase of resistance in the passively immunized group of rabbits expressed as direct mortality ("killing effect") of sucking flies within the following 72 hr period. The immunological state of immune sera of both donors and recipients was examined by ELISA, using the water-soluble proteins of tsetse salivary glands as antigen. No direct correlation between the titre of antibodies and the killing of Glossina was detected. These results indicate that these antibodies were not the only humoral factor responsible for tsetse mortality since their titre did not substantially change in the course of 7 days while the "killing effect" had disappeared from the recipient's blood within 72 hrs.

Antibody-mediated response of pigeons to Argas polonicus larval feeding and characterization of larval antigen.

Circulating antibodies to larval Argas polonicus antigen detected in the blood of pigeons by means of ELISA reach their highest level 3-6 days post-tick attachment. During 6-8 days post infestation when most larvae detach from their host, there is an abrupt drop of the antibody level in blood followed by second peak at day 10-15. During the secondary and subsequent infestations the dynamics of the antibody production is analogous, but the maximum absorbance values found are higher with each following infestation. This is in direct correlation with the growth of immune resistance of hosts. The transfer of immunoglobulins of resistant pigeons produces in naive hosts a partial resistance in a statistically significant (P less than 0.01) reduction of the number of engorged larvae, in the shortening of larval feeding period and in the decrease of their mean weight after feeding. However this resistance was significantly (P less than 0.01) less expressed than in naturally resistant pigeons during secondary infestation. The protracted effect on the duration of premoulting period and the percentage of moulted larvae manifested in larvae after secondary infestation was not apparent in molecular weight of approximately 19, 21, 23, 27, 45 and 165 kilodaltons, were recognized by serum of resistant pigeons.

Incorporation of patient immobilization, tissue compensation and matchline junction technique for three-field breast treatment.

A protocol for the treatment of the intact breast was developed to maximize dose homogeneity and reproducibility. This protocol uses patient and breast immobilization, three-dimensional tissue compensators, and a technique for geometric matching of fields when the supraclavicular area is treated. A series of phantom measurements and analysis of patient port films was performed to evaluate dose homogeneity and reproducibility using this technique, and the potential adverse effect of loss of skin sparing from the immobilization device was investigated. Dose homogeneity throughout the phantom breast was within +/- 6% of the prescribed central axis dose, and homogeneity at the supraclavicular match line was +/- 10%. This represented a significant improvement over techniques not using tissue compensation or geometrically matched fields. Reproducibility of patient treatments was not significantly improved from previous non-immobilized treatment techniques, but there was no loss of skin sparing from the device, and other advantages of immobilization were observed. Details of the protocol are discussed together with changes that are currently being made to improve the results obtained thus far.

Re-186(Sn) HEDP for treatment of multiple metastatic foci in bone: human biodistribution and dosimetric studies.

Investigation of the biodistribution of subtherapeutic amounts of a new, chromatographically purified rhenium-186(tin) hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate radiopharmaceutical have been completed in five patients with metastatic carcinoma to bone. The new agent localizes in metastatic foci in bone in the same manner as do standard technetium-99m diphosphonate bone-scanning agents and appears able to deliver therapeutic radiation doses of thousands of rads (tens of grays) to these metastatic foci while limiting the total red marrow dose to less than 75 rad (0.75 Gy). The simultaneous treatment of multiple metastatic foci in bone appears feasible with this new agent.

Levamisole--biological response modifier in Taenia crassiceps--mouse experimental system.

Levamisole, a common anthelminthic preparation, was used for the modification of the immune response of mice to vaccination with soluble antigen from Taenia crassiceps. The combination of antigen with Levamisole significantly increased the immunogenic effect of the antigen. Metacestodes survived in 16.7% after one dose and in 42.9% after two doses of Levamisole. The percentage of resistance was 97.7% and 67.8%.

Correlation of the results of IFAT-DASS and ELISA tests in experimental cysticercosis of mice.

The sera of mice experimentally infected with Taenia crassiceps were tested for the occurrence of the antibodies by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence using defined antigen substrate spheres (IFAT-DASS). Results of both tests were compared. From day 11 p.i. until the end of the experiment (day 108 p.i.) antibodies were detected by both tests. The maximal intensity of the ELISA and IFAT-DASS reactions was observed between days 63 and 94 and days 14 and 46 p.i., respectively. ELISA is an easy-to-do and objectively appraisable method, IFAT-DASS is more suitable for testing antigens weakly adsorbing to polystyrene plates.

Dependency of resistance of mice immunized against Taenia crassiceps on the dose of soluble antigen.

Mice immunized with a single dose (1.25-40 micrograms/mouse) of soluble antigen from Taenia crassiceps cysticerci developed a 62.9-85.0% resistance. Maximum effect was achieved in the groups immunized with 40 micrograms and 20 micrograms of antigen. The dose of 5 micrograms induced the lowest number of successful infections (28.6%), but the mean number of surviving larvae was higher than in the above groups.

Noise analysis of scintillation camera images: stochastic and non-stochastic effects.

An analysis of noise was performed on scintillation camera images. The analysis was performed on sets of field floods, uniform exposures over the field of view, in such a way that stochastic and non-stochastic effects were separable. Stochastic noise for the digitally acquired images was found to approach the limit of Poisson count statistics. The non-stochastic component of the calculations dominated the results at the lower spatial frequencies. These results hold true even after standard methods of uniformity correction are applied, primarily due to the effects of Compton scatter events. The noise power spectrum calculations carry information about the patterns of the noise in flood images. Examples of digitisation, photomultiplier tube mottle and edge-packing artefacts are presented.

The effect of the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor Dazmegrel (UK-38,485) on wound healing, dermal ink perfusion and skin blood flow measurements in deep partial thickness burns.

A guinea-pig model was used to evaluate the effect of Dazmegrel (UK-38,485), a new highly selective inhibitor of thromboxane synthetase, on burn wound healing. Dazmegrel had a beneficial effect on wound healing when given systemically at a dosage of 3.4 mg kg-1 day-1 but higher doses had no effect. There was no change in dermal perfusion measured by India ink injection or by 133Xe injection in any of the groups receiving parenteral Dazmegrel. Neither was the number of hair follicles in the healing burn wound significantly different between the treated and control animals. When Dazmegrel was applied topically, it inhibited wound healing. These findings are consistent with previous reports from different laboratories that prostaglandin inhibitors impair healing of the burn wound when applied topically but improve wound healing when given parenterally. The present study further suggested that the improvement in wound healing in this model was not mediated by improved dermal perfusion.

Differences in drug delivery with peripheral and central venous injections: normal perfusion.

The differences between central venous (CV) and peripheral venous (PV) injections with respect to drug delivery times and peak concentrations in the left ventricle are examined. In this drug-delivery model, anesthetized dogs (n = 7) received both PV and CV injections of a radionuclide tracer. Measurements of radioactivity levels were made over each ventricle during normal perfusion. There was no statistically significant difference in left ventricular delivery times or peak radioactivity levels between the two different routes. When delivery time was corrected for variations in flow rate, a small but statistically significant difference was seen, the CV route being faster than the PV route (P less than 0.05). The magnitude of the observed difference for normal perfusion (2 seconds) is unlikely to be of clinical significance.

[Evaluation of the results of intradermal tests in spontaneous cysticercosis in cattle]. / Hodnoceni výsledku intradermálních testu pri spontánní cysticerkóze skotu.

The diagnostic value of intradermal tests was verified on 126 bulls (out of this number 32 autopsically positive) subject to intravital diagnostics of bovine cysticercosis. As allergen were used homologous antigens from adult larvae of Taenia saginata and heterologous antigens from larvae of Taenia crassiceps, as well as hydatid fluid from Echinococcus granulosis. With the antigen T. saginata the sensitivity reached 53.1% and specificity 90.4%, with the antigen T. crassiceps 53.1% and 80.9% and with the antigen E. granulosus 16.7% and 89.5%.