National survey of mammographic facilities in 1985, 1988, and 1992

PURPOSE: To determine trends in mammography in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of mammographic facilities was selected for each year of the Nationwide Evaluation of X-ray Trends. The same protocol was followed for the 1985, 1988, and 1992 surveys. Data were collected with use of the same imaging phantom for all three surveys and also with a different phantom in the 1988 and 1992 surveys. RESULTS: Of the 356 facilities surveyed in 1992, 59% claimed to be in compliance with the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) mammography requirements, 42% were accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR), and 23% did not hold credentials from either the HCFA or the ACR. Since 1985, there has been a 34% improvement in acceptable phantom image quality score and a 20% decrease in the mean glandular dose. CONCLUSION: Mammography as practiced today is essentially a screen-film technique. Mammographic phantom image quality has improved considerably. The overall mean glandular dose has decreased primarily because of the elimination of xeroradiography.     

The function of the reproductive system in x-ray-irradiated male rats after the transplantation of a culture of testicular cells from newborn piglets

The effect exerted by transplantation of the 5 day culture of testicles from newly born piglets on the hypogonadal state of mature X-ray irradiated (3 Gy) rats was studied. It has been found that a month after transplantation (two months after irradiation) the hypogonadal state disappeared for a while, which is confirmed by normalization of the weight of seminal vesicles, content of testosterone and biologically active lutropine, restoration of the reproductive function of rats. No significant changes in steroidogenesis activity have been found, which proves a substituent character of transplantation. The effect disappears three months later but certain restoration of the content of nucleic acids in the testicles is observed.     

Titanium and bioactive glass-ceramic coated titanium as materials for keratoprosthesis

The current problem with keratoprosthesis is the ingrowth of corneal or conjunctival epithelium into the anterior chamber. This may lead to infections and extrusion of the prosthesis as well as to the development of retroprosthetic membrane and secondary glaucoma. Glass-ceramic coated and uncoated titanium has been tested as material for the keratoprosthesis to prevent epithelial ingrowth. Twenty-two Supra-Descemet's membrane keratoprostheses were inserted in the eyes of 22 rabbits for 1, 2, 4, 8, or 12 months. The prosthesis had an optic part made of polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA). The support for the optic part and the flange of the prosthesis were made of titanium. Eleven of the prostheses were coated with glass-ceramic. The histological sections of the enucleated eyes were prepared through the central part of the cornea and the prosthesis using a cutting-grinding method. The histological analysis was made on both halves of the implants separately giving two analysis areas in each eye. All 11 titanium prostheses were retained for the time period planned. Two glass-ceramic coated prostheses were lost at 2 and 4 weeks, respectively. This was caused by difficulties at surgery due to a thick coating. These eyes were excluded from the histological analysis. No significant ingrowth of epithelium was seen in 15/18 (83%) and in 16/22 (73%) of the analysed areas of the glass-ceramic coated and titanium prostheses, respectively. Titanium appears to be a suitable material for the keratoprosthesis. The ingrowth of the epithelium may be hindered further by coating the titanium with bioactive glass-ceramic.     

掺杂铁电纳米粉的液晶的电光特性

铁电纳米粒子悬浮在向列相液晶母体中，增强介电各向异性，而且对施加的电场信号敏感。本文也展示了纳米粒子对所述复合材料可实现的总的相变的作用。这种方法也许可应用于设计新型显示材料。     

Isoproterenol evokes extracellular Ca2+ spikes due to secretory events in salivary gland cells

Secretory cells should in principle export substantial amounts of calcium via exocytosis since Ca2+ is sequestered in secretory granules. Based on a new technique for measurements of the extracellular calcium concentration in the vicinity of the cell membrane and on the droplet technique, we have monitored the rate of calcium extrusion from salivary gland acinar cells. Isoproterenol (ISP), a beta-adrenergic agonist and powerful secretogogue, evoked no change in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) but induced vigorous extracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) spiking. The absence of [Ca2+]i elevation and the pulsatile nature of the changes in [Ca2+]i indicate that these spikes are most likely due to calcium release from secretory granules. The cholinergic agonist acetylcholine (ACh), which induces moderate secretion, evoked a marked rise in [Ca2+]i and a smooth rise in [Ca2+]i, most likely induced by plasma membrane calcium pumps, on which shortlasting [Ca2+]i spikes were superimposed. The rate of ISP-induced calcium efflux was very substantial. The calculated calcium loss during the first 100 s of supramaximal stimulation corresponded to a reduction of the total cellular calcium concentration of approximately 0.4 mM. We conclude that in salivary glands, calcium release via exocytosis is one of the main mechanisms extruding calcium from cells to the extracellular milieu.     

On the optimization of metal forming

An approach to the calculation and design of metal forming is proposed and theoretically considered. This approach can minimize the nonuniformity of a deformation distribution over the cross section of ready products, which is equal to controlling the structure and properties of forged pieces. This approach is based on the calculation of the intermediate shapes of a forged piece by solving a set of inverse forming problems using the boundary element method and by constructing a forging process that is optimal according to a given criterion using dynamic programming.     

Thyroid surgery for tumours: the Semon Lecture, presented at the RSM November 1996

1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TRI) is a commonly used industrial solvent with a considerable potential for inhalation abuse. Previous studies in our laboratory and elsewhere have shown that this agent exerts a suppressant effect on operant responding, as well as a number of additional neurobehavioral effects that are similar to those of central nervous system (CNS) depressant drugs. In an effort to provide information relevant to potential mechanisms involved in the behavioral effects and abuse potential of TRI, the present study evaluated the acute effects of this agent on the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis . Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 3500 or 5000 ppm TRI by inhalation for 10 or 30 min. Following exposure, plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone and levels of ACTH and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in three brain regions--hypothalamus, hippocampus, and frontal cortex--were determined by selective radioimmunoassays. Levels of TRI in the three brain regions as well as blood were measured by headspace gas chromatography to determine the target tissue concentrations responsible for neuroendocrine changes. Uptake of TRI in blood and all brain regions was very rapid, with stable concentrations apparently achieved within 10 min and maintained for 30 min. During this time course, a significant decrease in plasma corticosterone was produced at 30 min but no significant change in plasma ACTH was observed with 3500 ppm TRI. However, after exposure to 5000 ppm, both plasma ACTH and plasma corticosterone were significantly reduced at 10 and 30 min. ACTH levels in the three brain regions were not significantly changed by TRI, while hypothalamic CRF was significantly increased during exposure to 3500 ppm. However, hypothalamic concentrations of CRF declined following 30 min at 3500 ppm and were not significantly changed by 5000 ppm. This complexity of effects on the regulation of HPA axis activity likely precluded the establishment of consistent relationships between changes in hormonal levels and blood or regional brain concentrations of the inhalant. However, these actions of TRI were strikingly similar to those previously reported for the benzodiazepines.