Synthesis of lithium aluminate,mullite and coloured zirconia by a combustion process

Also with the Department of Agronomy.     

DNA flow cytometric analysis in patients with operable non-small cell lung carcinoma

Fresh surgical specimens of tumors from 60 patients with previously untreated non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) who underwent radical surgery between January 1991 and October 1992 were investigated by means of flow-cytometry. The nuclear DNA measurement was carried out using a Facscan (Becton, Dickinson, USA). Analysis of the DNA content was performed in all 60 patients whilst cell cycle analysis was possible in 41 cases (68.3%). Forty-two of the 60 cases (70%) were aneuploid and 18 (30%) were diploid. The overall mean value of DNA index was 1.5. Diploid NSCLC were compared with aneuploid tumors: no significant differences in age distribution, sex ratio, histology and staging were found between the two groups (P > 0.05). An S-phase proportion of more than 10% was found in 30 out of 41 patients (73.2%). Early cancer deaths were reported in four patients (6.6%): the aneuploidy rate was very close in these patients (75%) and in the remaining surviving patients (69.6%). An S-phase proportion of more than 10% was found in 100% of early cancer deaths and in 70.2% of the remaining cases; such a difference seems of some importance although it was not statistically significant (P = 0.071). In conclusion, flow-cytometry studies seem to be a useful tool in the understanding of the biological behavior of patients with NSCLC. In the present prospective report there were no significant correlations between DNA measurements and clinical outcome, however, these results suggest that a high S-phase proportion should be seen as a possible prognostic indicator.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

HIV arthritis

Whether reexposure of varicella-immune persons to varicella-zoster virus would protect against or predispose to development of zoster was analyzed. The rate of zoster in 511 leukemic recipients of varicella vaccine who had 1 or > 1 dose of varicella vaccine and in those who did or did not have a household exposure to varicella was determined. A Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis revealed that the incidence of zoster was lower in those given > 1 dose of vaccine (P < .05). A Cox proportional hazards analysis showed that both household exposure to varicella and receipt of > 1 dose of vaccine were highly protective (P < .01) against zoster. Thus, the risk of zoster is decreased by reexposure to varicella-zoster virus, either by vaccination or by close exposure to varicella.     

Effects of rilmenidine on rats made insulin resistant and hypertensive by a high fructose diet

This study was aimed to determine the effects of rilmenidine, an hypertensive drug, in an animal model of hypertension associated with insulin resistance, i.e. rats fed on a high fructose diet. Wistar rats were fed during four weeks either on a standard diet (S) or on a high fructose diet (F, 34.5% de fructose). In half of the F groups, rilmenidine (1 mg/kg/day) was added to the drinking water during the two last weeks of the diet (FR). Arterial blood pressure as well as insulin efficiency were determined at the end of the four weeks. Body weight gain was higher in F than in S rats (66 +/- 8 g versus 45 +/- 8 g; p < 0.05), this was prevented by rilmenidine treatment (32 +/- 2 g). Arterial systolic blood pressure was increased in F rats (162 +/- 2 vs 155 +/- 2 mmHg; p < 0.05), rilmenidine brought this value back to normal (149 +/- 3 mmHg). During the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, glucose utilization was lower (10 +/- 1 vs 14 +/- 1.5 mg/min/kg; p < 0.05) and hepatic glucose production higher (1 +/- 0.01 vs 0 mg/min/kg; p < 0.01) in F than in S rats. These changes in insulin action were totally abolished by rilmenidine. These data demonstrate that rilmenidine can ameliorate the deleterious effects of a high fructose diet, i.e. weight gain, hypertension and resistance to the effects of insulin Rilmenidine could represent a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of hypertension associated with metabolic disorders such as syndrom X and obesity.     

Salvage chemotherapy with mitomycin, vindesine, and cisplatin (MiViP) in recurrent carcinoma of the cervix

We report two cases of metastatic non-functioning pancreatic endocrine tumour with very elevated plasma levels of alpha-fetoprotein. In these two cases, serial plasma levels of alpha-fetoprotein, initially normal, correlated well with hepatic tumour progression and were associated with fatal outcome. These results suggest that elevated plasma concentration of alpha-fetoprotein may be caused by metastatic pancreatic endocrine tumour and than alpha-fetoprotein serial measurement may be useful in prognostic evaluation.     

Ripple evaluation of high-performance synchronous reluctancemachines

In this article, synchronous reluctance motors with multiple-segment rotor structures are considered. The presence of stator slots is taken into account, with respect to torque ripple. An analytical model is presented, based on magnetic interaction between the d and q axes, due to stator toothing. The effect of skewing is also considered, showing its partial effect on torque ripple reduction, due to the rotor anisotropy. A closed expression for the torque is obtained, giving the torque ripple as a function of design parameters. Experimental verification of the proposed model is given, from measurements on prototype motors     

Ice/metal interfaces: fracture energy and fractography

Results are presented of the fracture tests of ice/metal interfaces in an attempt to utilize fracture mechanics to characterize the failure of ice/solid adhesion. The four-point bending delamination specimen was used to measure the fracture energy of ice/aluminium and ice/steel joints at — 15 °C. The interfacial fracture energy was found to be dependent on ice type and formation procedure of the ice/metal composites. Crack growth was in a manner of asymmetrical bursting, and both cohesive and adhesive failure mechanisms were observed. Although the fracture of ice/metal interfaces was brittle in nature, the evidence of dislocation slip in ice crystals, as revealed by etching and replicating, suggests that microplastic deformations occur in the ice component.     

Characterization of titanium alloy implant surfaces with improved dissolution resistance

The present work sets out to investigate the structure and chemistry of surface treated oxides (either aged in boiling water or air-heated) with improved dissolution resistance compared to conventionally passivated surfaces. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has demonstrated a significant reduction in oxidized aluminium associated with an ageing-based surface treatment. Angle-dependent XPS has revealed an increase in amphoteric-OH surface sites for the thermal treatments. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigation suggests that these sites play a role in the improved proteinadsorption properties of these surfaces. These observations form the basis of a model which describes the influence of surface oxide on the kinetics of metal ion dissolution.