New results on the Roper resonance and the P_{11} partial wave

Properties of the Roper resonance, the first scalar excitation of the nucleon, are determined. Pole positions and residues of the $P_{11}$ partial wave are studied in a combined analysis of pion- and photo-induced reactions. We find the Roper pole at $\{(1371\pm7)-i(92\pm10)\}$ MeV and an elasticity of $0.61\pm 0.03$. The largest decay coupling is found for the $N\sigma$ ($\sigma=(\pi\pi)$-$S$-wave). The analysis is based on new data on $\gamma p\to p\pi^0\pi^0$ for photons in the energy range from the two-pion threshold to 820 MeV from TAPS at Mainz and from 0.4 to 1.3 GeV from Crystal Barrel at Bonn and includes further data from other experiments. The partial wave analysis excludes the p…

Growth hormone substitution in growth hormone-deficient adults: Effects on collagen type I synthesis and skin thickness

Growth hormone stimulates collagen type I synthesis. Collagen type I is a common matrix compound in a large number of connective tissues. The aim of our study was to prove whether a stimulation of collagen type I synthesis might be accompanied by a deposition of collagen type I in the skin (cutis). Twenty growth hormone-deficient hypopituitary patients were included in a randomised, double-blind, placebo controlled, prospective, twelve-month study (eighteen patients assessable at the end of the study). The patients were treated with recombinant human growth hormone 0.25 U/kg/week subdivided in daily subcutaneous injections beginning with half the dosage during the first four weeks. During t…

Eosinophils, pruritus and psoriasis: effects of treatment with etretinate or cyclosporin-A

Abstract Background The antipsoriatic drugs cyclosporin A (CyA) and etretinate have been found to influence proinflammatory eosinophilic leukocytes and pruritus. Aim We compared the number of blood eosinophils, concentration of serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and pruritus in patients with psoriasis treated with either CyA or etretinate. Study design Patients with psoriasis vulgaris were randomly assigned to treatment for 10 weeks with either CyA ( n =21) or etretinate ( n =10). The psoriasis area-and-severity index (PASI-score) and pruritus (according to a 0–3 scale) served as clinical parameters, the blood esosinophil counts (Coulter Counter) and the serum ECP (RIA, Pharmacia) as …

Transparency ratio in γA→η′A′ and the in-medium η′ width

Abstract The photoproduction of η ′ -mesons off different nuclei has been measured with the CBELSA/TAPS detector system for incident photon energies between 1500–2200 MeV. The transparency ratio has been deduced and compared to theoretical calculations describing the propagation of η ′ -mesons in nuclei. The comparison indicates a width of the η ′ -meson of the order of Γ = 15 – 25 MeV at ρ = ρ 0 for an average momentum p η ′ = 1050 MeV / c , at which the η ′ -meson is produced in the nuclear rest frame. The inelastic η ′ N cross section is estimated to be 3–10 mb. Parameterizing the photoproduction cross section of η ′ -mesons by σ ( A ) = σ 0 A α , a value of α = 0.84 ± 0.03 has been dedu…

Gaucher's disease: therapy by intravenous infusions of modified glucocerebrosidase