Superior photoluminescence (PL) of Pr³âº-In, compared to Pr³âº-Ga, selenide-chalcogenide bulk glasses and PL of optically-clad fiber.

The photoluminescent-(PL)-properties of Pr³âº-ions in indium-containing selenide-chalcogenide bulk-glasses are found to be superior when compared with gallium-containing analogues. We observe circa doubling of mid-infrared (MIR) PL intensity from 3.5 to 6 µm for bulk glasses, pumped at 1.55 µm wavelength, and an increased excited state lifetime at 4.7 µm. PL is reported in optically-clad fiber. Ga addition is well known to enhance RE³âº solubility and PL behavior, and is believed to form ([RE³âº]-Se-[Ga(III)]) in the glasses. Indium has the same outer electronic-structure as gallium for solvating the RE-ions. Moreover, indium is heavier and promotes lower phonon energy locally around the RE-ion, thereby enhancing the RE-ion PL behavior, as observed here.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of serum nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, basic fibroblast growth factor and copper as angiogenic markers in premenopausal breast cancer patients: a case-control study.

Many studies demonstrate that increased microvessel density (MVD) surrounding primary tumour is associated with decreased overall survival in patients with breast cancer. This study compares the diagnostic and prognostic values of the angiogenic serum factors nitric oxide (NO), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and copper with those of serum CA15-3 as the standard tumour marker in breast cancer patients. Microvessel density was estimated in CD31-immunostained sections from breast cancer patients. Before surgery, NO, TNFalpha, bFGF, copper and CA 15-3 were measured in serum samples from 30 premenopausal breast cancer patients in comparison with 15 healthy controls. The diagnostic values of the assayed parameters were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Univariate survival analysis of patients was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Breast cancer tissues showed higher MVD than did normal breast tissues adjacent to the tumour (P = 0.008). Before surgery, tumour MVD correlated significantly with serum NO, TNFalpha, bFGF and copper (r = 0.458, P = .011; r = 0.379, P = .039; r = 0.513, P = .004 and r = 0.613, P = 0.000, respectively). Serum NO, TNFalpha, bFGF, copper and CA 15-3 levels in patients were significantly elevated compared with controls (P = 0.011, P = 0.004, P = 0.039, P = 0.000 and P = 0.001, respectively). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients with elevated serum TNFalpha, CA 15-3 and copper (P = 0.035, P = 0.040, P = 0.0339, respectively) had an overall survival significantly shorter than those who had lower levels of these parameters. These data suggest that serum TNFalpha, CA 15-3 and copper are useful predictive markers for overall survival in premenopausal breast cancer patients.

Evaluation of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, soluble P-selectin, gamma-glutamyl transferase, glutathione S-transferase-pi and alpha-fetoprotein in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma before and during chemotherapy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an environmentally related cancer, with both viral and chemical carcinogens involved in a multistage process. To date, it has been difficult to detect the asymptomatic precursor lesions in early HCC. Therefore, the majority of HCC patients are not amenable to therapy, as they are detected at late stages. To evaluate the significance of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), sP-selectin, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), glutathione S-transferase-pi (GST) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the diagnosis and follow up of HCC patients during chemotherapy with adriamycin, 45 subjects (15 healthy volunteers, 15 with benign liver diseases and 15 HCC patients) are studied before and during chemotherapy (three cycles of intravenous adriamycin). HCC patients had significantly higher serum levels of TNF-alpha, sP-selectin, GGT, GST and AFP Serum levels of GGT and GST were significantly higher in HCC patients with poorly differentiated tumours than in patients with well- and moderately differentiated tumours. Treatment with adriamycin for three cycles produced a significant decrease in TNF-alpha, sP-selectin and GST. Thus, it is concluded that GST is a superior diagnostic indicator and may be a prognostic marker in HCC patients.

Value of finger arterial blood pressure in diagnosis of vascular changes in some connective tissue diseases.

This study was performed in 60 patients with the following connective tissue diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (RA--20 patients), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE--20), and progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma = PSS--20). Twenty normal persons served as controls. All patients and controls were subjected to complete history taking, complete physical examination, and laboratory investigations including: rheumatoid factor, anti-DNA, LE cell test, antinuclear factor (ANF), and ECG. Finger arterial blood pressure (FABP) readings using an 8 MHz Doppler flow detector with a 24-mm-diameter cuff at a temperature of 24 degrees C were made in all cases and controls. The mean age of incidence in patients with RA was 37.8 years; in those with SLE, 21.5 years; in those with PSS 34.6 years; and in the control group, 33.7 years. Women were predominant both in the diseases and the control groups. The FABP was measured in all groups and the range of difference between the brachial and finger arterial blood pressure in each group was estimated. In the control group the mean difference was 27.7 mm Hg; in the RA group, 45.8 mm Hg; in the SLE group, 58.1 mm Hg; and in the PSS group, 70.9 mm Hg. There were no significant peripheral vascular changes in the small arteries in the RA group, whereas in the SLE and PSS groups there was a significant difference, which suggests different underlying microvascular changes. The FABP appears to be a diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of PSS and it helps in differentiation between various types of collagen disease in equivocal cases.