Does ethanol intake interfere with the evaluation of glycated hemoglobins?

1989

Ethanol and/or its metabolites interfere with the chromatographic assay of glycated hemoglobins. Fasting plasma glucose, blood ethanol, HbA(1), HbA(1c), HbA(1a+b), MCV and GGT were determined in 22 control subjects; 22 alcoholics, 22 diabetic patients and 22 alcoholic diabetic patients. Fasting plasma glucose and all hemoglobin fractions were lower in alcoholic subjects and, except for HbA(1a+b), higher in diabetic patients and in alcoholic diabetic patients. HbA(1), and HbA(1c) correlated well with plasma glucose but not with blood ethanol, MCV and GGT. Glycated hemoglobin was not found to be a useful marker for alcohol abuse. With the chromatographic method we used, the evaluation of glyc…

Management and Control of the Read Out Processors (tpps) of the Aleph Time Projection Chamber

1989

The readout of the Aleph time projection chamber (TPC) relies on a set of 72 time projection processors (TPPs), which are based on a Motorola 68020 microprocessor running a real-time operating system. The advanced processing capabilities of the TPPs allow them to perform in parallel a number of tasks, both during and outside of data acquisition, which are outlined. The management and control of such a large number of intelligent devices is presented. The discussion covers the hardware configuration of the TPPs; the software running the TPPs; their management, status, and control; exception handling and message logging; and the TPP monitoring tasks. >

Combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and vincristine in the treatment of stage III-IV small-cell lung cancer.

1989

SummaryTwenty patients with histologically confirmed small-cell lung cancer were treated with cyclophosphamide 1000 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 i.v. day 1, and adriamycin 50 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1. This protocol was repeated every 21 days. Out of 17 evaluable patients 2 obtained a complete response (12%) with a mean duration of 11 months, 4 patients achieved a partial response with a mean duration of 6.3 + months, and 1 had a minimal response of 7.2 months. Two patients had a stabilization which lasted a mean of 4 + months, while 8 patients progressed. Although the mean survival was higher in responders than in non-responders, the difference in survival time was not statisticall…

Spin-1 Heisenberg chain and the one-dimensional fermion gas.

1989

The composite-spin representation of the spin-1 Heisenberg chain is used to transform it through the Jordan-Wigner transformation to the one-dimensional fermion gas. To properly include the xy couplings between spins, we also consider the bosonized version of the fermion model. Phase diagrams deduced from the two versions of the fermion model are compared against numerical results for finite Heisenberg chains. One of the symmetries of the spin model is lost in the fermionization, and this leads to a topologically incorrect phase diagram in at least one part of the parameter space. There are clear indications of significant coupling of spin and charge degrees of freedom in the fermion model …

Calorimetric study on the solubilization of some primary alcohols by reversed AOT micelles

1989

A calorimetric method to evaluate, at the same time, the distribution constant and the standard enthalpy of transfer of a solute partitioned between organic phase and reversed micelles is proposed. The method was applied to the partition of methanol, 1-propanol and 1-pentanol between n-heptane and AOT reversed micelles containing water at 25°C. The results show that the distribution constant decreases as the alcohol alkyl chain length increases and that the solubilization site can change as the water content of reversed AOT micelles increases. In particular, at sufficiently high water content, methanol seems to be preferably solubilized in the aqueous pseudophase whereas 1-pentanol prefers …

Computerized tomography: an unreliable method for accurate staging of bladder tumors in patients who are candidates for radical cystectomy.

1989

A total of 164 patients with bladder tumors underwent preoperative staging by computerized tomography. All patients were previously untreated, or had undergone only transurethral biopsy or resection of the tumor before computerized tomography. The post-cystectomy histological stage was compared to the preoperative computerized tomography stage. Computerized tomography accuracy according to the tumor, nodes and metastasis classification was only 32.3%, whereas overstaging was found in 39.6% and understaging in 28.1% of the cases. In untouched tumors or after transurethral resection computerized tomography accuracy demonstrated no significant difference. Only 2 of 19 true positive lymph nodes…

Serum hormone concentrations during prolonged training in elite endurance-trained and strength-trained athletes.

1989

A study of 1 year was performed on nine elite endurance-trained athletes (swimmers) and on eight elite strength-trained athletes (weightlifters) in order to examine the effects of training on the endocrine responses and on physical performance capacity. The measurements for the determination of serum hormone concentrations were performed at about 4-month intervals during the course of the year. The primary findings demonstrated that during the first and most intensive training period of the year in preparing for the primary competitions similar but statistically insignificant changes were observed in the concentrations of serum testosterone, free testosterone and cortisol in both the endura…

PHASE TRANSITIONS AT INTERFACES

1989

The interface between two phases may exhibit significant structural changes if one of them comes close to a phase transition in its bulk. Surface critical phenomena, critical adsorption, and wetting phenomena, like e.g. surface melting or surface induced disorder, can occur. The grazing incidence of X rays and neutrons is particularly well suited in order to obtain precise informations about these kind of critical phenomena which link the space dimensions two and three.

Antiandrogens alone or in combination for treatment of prostate cancer: The European experience

1989

Abstract In Europe, antiandrogens have been used for many years to treat prostate cancer, either as monotherapy or as part of a “combination therapy” with either surgical or chemical castration. However, considerable debate still exists regarding the relative benefits of combination therapy versus antiandrogen monotherapy or castration alone. This article reviews the European experience with antiandrogen therapy, including the personal experiences of the authors.

Comparison of glycemic response and insulin requirements after mixed meals of equal carbohydrate content in healthy, type-1, and type-2 diabetic man

1989

The postprandial insulin requirements after three mixed meals of equal carbohydrate and energy content were assessed in 10 type-1 and 12 type-2 diabetics by a glucose-controlled insulin infusion system. These were compared with the glycemic response to the same meals of 10 healthy individuals (glycemic index). In type-1 diabetics, we found the highest insulin requirements after consumption of a continental breakfast (low fibre, low protein, high fat). Ten percent less insulin was infused after milk (low fat, high protein) and 30% less after an English breakfast (high fibre, high protein). Type-2 diabetics showed no significant differences in insulin requirements between the three test meals…

Hearing impaired children in primary schools in Finland

1989

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to present basic data on hearing impaired pupils in primary schools in Finland in 1982‐83. The purpose of the survey was to provide an information base for the development of hearing services and teaching in primary schools. Earlier studies have mainly focused on the screening of moderate and severe cases of hearing impairment. The present study includes also cases of mild (20‐30 dB) hearing impairment, the criterion, however, being that hearing impairment in the better ear is > 20 dB in at least one of the three speech frequencies (500‐1000‐2000 hz).

Demonstration of an endocrine signaling circuit for insulin in the sponge Geodia cydonium.

1989

Abstract The existence of an insulin-mediated cell-to-cell signaling in the sponge Geodia cydonium is demonstrated in this study by molecular biological and immunological techniques. The sequence of a sponge cDNA clone encoding preproinsulin was analyzed for the first time and determined to comprise a high homology to human preproinsulin (60-80% homology). The predicted polypeptide of preproinsulin from sponge contains two disulfide bridges which link the A- to the B-chain. The intra-A chain disulfide bridge is absent. Applying immunological and electron microscopical techniques it is shown that insulin is produced in specialized cells (spherulous cells). Experimental evidence is presented …

In vivo targets of recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-α: blood flow, oxygen consumption and growth of isotransplanted rat tumours

1989

The impact of recombinant human tumour necrosis factor-alpha (1 microgram kg-1 to 1 mg kg-1; 6.6 x 10(6) U mg protein-1) on blood flow, oxygen consumption and growth of a moderately TNF-sensitive rat tumour (DS-carcinosarcoma) was studied. Tumour growth was stimulated at low TNF doses (1 and 10 micrograms kg-1) and significantly retarded at higher TNF dose levels (0.1 and 1 mg kg-1). Growth changes were concomitant with variations in oxygen consumption, lactate release and acidification of the metabolic micromilieu. Both single and repeated application of low TNF doses (1-10 micrograms kg-1 i.v.) increased tumour perfusion whereas single administration of high TNF dose levels (0.1-1 mg kg-1…

The Ising square lattice in aL�M geometry: A model for the effect of surface steps on phase transitions in adsorbed monolayers

1989

Critical phenomena in adsorbed monolayers on surfaces are influenced by limited substrate homogeneity, such as surface steps. We consider the resulting finite-size and boundary effects in the framework of a lattice gas system with nearest neighbor attraction in aL×M geometry, with two free boundaries of lengthM≫L, and periodic boundary conditions in the other direction (along the direction of the steps). This geometry thus models a “terrace” of the stepped surface, and adatoms adsorbed on neighboring terraces are assumed to be non-interacting. Also the effect of boundary “fields” is considered (describing the effects of missing neighbors and changed binding energy to the substrate near the …

Komplikationen nach Zelltherapie

1989

Nach wie vor durfen tierische Frischzellpraparationen zur sog. Zellulartherapie verabreicht werden unter der Vorstellung einer allgemeinen Vitalisierung und Roborierung des Organismus, insbesondere des Immunsystems. Die Verwendung von Trockenzelltherapeutica hat das Bundesgesundheitsamt bereits 1987 vorlaufig verboten, nicht ohne darauf hinzuweisen, das auch gegen die sog. Frischzelltherapie schwerwiegende Bedenken bestunden, das ein generelles Verbot auch dieser Behandlungsweise jedoch nicht in seiner Kompetenz lage. Wiederholt waren z.T. lebensbedrohliche und auch todliche Komplikationen im Verlauf dieser Therapie beobachtet und beschrieben worden. Den bereits publizierten Beobachtungen w…

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Palermo, Italy: an epidemiological study

1989

The incidence, prevalence and natural course of ALS were determined in the population of the province of Palermo, Italy. The average annual incidence calculated for the years 1973 through 1984, was 044./100.000 inhabitants. The prevalence rate on prevalence day December 31, 1984, was 1.67/100.000 population. The male/female ratio was 1.38. The mean age at onset was 54.3±11.02. The most common clinical form was the conventional one (61.4%); the bulbar form was more frequent among females than males. The mean duration of the disease was 33.7±35.8 months. The longest duration belongs to the pseudopolyneuritic form. The median survival was 36 months: 16 months for the bulbar, 36 months for the …

An Exact Algorithm for the Quadratic Assignment Problem on a Tree

1989

The Tree QAP is a special case of the Quadratic Assignment Problem (QAP) where the nonzero flows form a tree. No condition is required for the distance matrix. This problem is NP-complete and is also a generalization of the Traveling Salesman Problem. In this paper, we present a branch-and-bound algorithm for the exact solution of the Tree QAP based on an integer programming formulation of the problem. The bounds are computed using a Lagrangian relaxation of this formulation. To solve the relaxed problem, we present a Dynamic Programming algorithm which is polynomially bounded. The obtained lower bound is very sharp and equals the optimum in many cases. This fact allows us to employ a redu…

Persistent skin ulcers, mutilations, and acro-osteolysis in hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy with phospholipid excretion

1989

We observed three children in a Turkish family who from early childhood had deformations of the feet and torpid ulcers with subfocal osteomyelitis and osteolysis, which subsequently led to amputations. The fingers showed ainhumlike constriction bands and spontaneous amputations. Neurologic studies revealed an almost complete sensory and autonomic loss affecting all modalities and a marked involvement of motor fibers. The clinical symptoms fulfill many of the hallmarks of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type II, including autosomal recessive inheritance, onset of symptoms in childhood, and mutilating acropathy. A high urinary excretion of sphingomyelin and lecithin suggests that …

Potential scattering transitions in a strong chaotic non-Markovian radiation field.

1989

Theorie non relativiste de la diffusion par un potentiel en presence d'un champ laser intense, fluctuant en amplitude et en phase, a l'approximation de Born. Calcul des largeurs et profils de raies et des facteurs de coherence en fonction de l'intensite du laser

Der sibirische Zilpzalp (Phylloscopus collybita tristis): Gesang und Reaktion einer mitteleuropäischen Population im Freilandversuch

1989

Der Gesang des sibirischen ZilpzalpsPhylloscopus collybita tristis unterscheidet sich markant von jenem der beiden mittel- und ost-europaischen SubspeziesPh. c. collybita undPh. c. abietinus. Unterschiede betreffen Qualitat und Quantitat des Element-Repertoires, Syntax, Rhythmus innerhalb der Strophen und Frequenzumfang der Strophe.Tristis verfugt uber den reicheren und vielfaltigeren Gesang. Das wird als apomorphes Merkmal betrachtet. Eine mitteleuropaischecollybita-Population reagiert auftristis-Gesang im Feld-Experiment fast nicht. Nur solche Kunst-Strophen aus naturlichen Elementen vontristis werden vergleichsweise gut beantwortet, die Elementen entsprechen, uber die auch mitteleuropais…

Synthesis and characterization of acetazolamide complexes of Ni(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), and Ag(I)

1989

The preparation and characterization of K2Ni2(Acm)3·5H2O, Cd(Acm)·32 H2O, Hg(Acm)·12H2O, Ag2(Acm), and Ag2(Acm)(NH3) complexes are described. The spectral properties suggest that Acm interacts with the metal ions through the doubly deprotonated form as observed in the [Cu(Acm)(NH3)2(OH2)]2·2H2O complex, whose crystalline structure has been previously reported. The crystal field parameters of the Ni(II) complex indicate an octahedral environment for the metal ion in the solid and its aqueous, DMSO, and DMF solutions. UV spectra of all the Acm complexes until now synthesized are discussed.

Indicator system and suspension of the old egyptian scales

1989

Abstract Detailed analysis of drawings of both the death balance and scales of daily life together uith technical considerations suggest a triangular pointer perpendicular to the balance beam and a plummet suspended in front of the beam. The suspension was made using a rope or metal rings, the axis most probably piercing the beam horizontally.

Flavor-changing decays of theZ0and leptoquarks

1989

Many extensions of the standard model, e.g., certain composite models and some superstring- inspired'' E{sub 6} models, contain new scalar matter fields which couple to both quarks and leptons, i.e., leptoquarks. We consider leptonic flavor-changing decays of the {ital Z}{sup 0}, e.g., {ital Z}{sup 0}{r arrow}{mu}{sup +}{tau}{sup {minus}}, due to one-loop diagrams involving such leptoquarks. We find branching ratios which are at most {approx}10{sup {minus}7}, even assuming generous values for unknown Yukawa couplings.

The effect of chlorine substituent(s) on the primary loss of a methyl radical from chlorinated veratroles (1,2-dimethoxybenzenes)

1989

DNA polymorphism of the human complement C8 beta gene: formal genetics and intragenic localization.

1989

The eighth component of human complement consists of three subunits of different molecular mass, which are coded for by three separate genetic loci. Polymorphisms have been described at the protein level for the alpha and beta subunits by means of sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing. Using a full-length human C8 beta cDNA probe, we have studied more than 100 individuals by Southern blot analysis to detect DNA polymorphisms. We have found two restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) with the enzymes Taq I and Bam HI. The Taq I polymorphism is defined by two alleles, i.e., a single 4.9 kb fragment or two 2.8/2.1 kb fragments. The allele frequencies are…

Development and validation of a radioimmunoassay for serum melatonin.

1989

A radioimmunoassay using N-[3-(4-hydroxy-3-[4-hydroxy-3- [125I]iodophenylpropionyl)]-5-methoxytryptamine as tracer for determination of melatonin in the serum of different species is described. Melatonin antisera were raised in rabbits by immunization with a bovine serum albumin conjugate of N-[3-(2-aminoethyl)-5-methoxy indole] hemisuccinamide. A single high affinity, specific antiserum was obtained. In contrast to previous studies, the tracer was synthesised in one step in the absence of water, giving an excellent yield of highly pure product. No chromatographic purification step was needed. Polyethylene glycol in combination with goat antirabbit immunoglobulins was used to separate bound…

THE FASTBUS READ-OUT SYSTEM FOR THE ALEPH TIME PROJECTION CHAMBER

1989

The readout system for the Aleph central tracking detector, a large time projection chamber (TPC), consists of more than 100 FASTBUS crates with approximately 1000 FASTBUS modules. The detector and its associated electronics are briefly presented, followed by a more detailed description of the readout and control system. The discussion covers the sector readout, electronics calibration, front-end data acquisition, data pipelining, and service request handling. Experiences with the system are discussed. >

Transpenile Venenokklusion zur Therapie der erektilen Impotenz

1989

In 15 of 18 patients, 2 of them with previous surgery, transpenile venoablation was performed for treatment of erectile dysfunction due to cavernous leakage. In 4 this was combined with retrograde venooclusion via the internal iliac vein. In 4 patients normal erectile status could be obtained. In 3 other patients erections became possible with use of intracavernous vasoactive agents. In two only mild amelioration, and in two others no change of erectile dysfunction were obtained. Follow-up studies are yet missing in 3 patients. Complications of the procedure were not observed.

Contributions to the History of Psychology: LXI. Language of Publications Referred to in Four American Journals, 1887–1945: A Synthesis

1989

The language dimension of the interaction with world psychology, reflected in the contributions to the American Journal of Psychology, Psychological Review, Psychological Bulletin, and the Journal of Experimental Psychology, was one of the topics examined in a series of doctoral dissertations written in the 1980s at the University of Valencia under the direction of Prof. Helio Carpintero. The studies yielded information on well over 100,000 references. The present synthesis documents the trends toward a relative decrease in references to works written in French and German, and an increase in references to publications written in English. In the 20th century the percentage of references to …

Wetting transitions near the bulk critical point: Monte Carlo simulations for the Ising model

1989

Critical, tricritical, and first-order wetting transitions are studied near the bulk critical point of a simple cubic nearest-neighbor Ising model by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. The model applies an exchange J in the bulk and exchange ${J}_{s}$ in the surface planes, where surface fields ${H}_{1}$ also act in addition to a possible bulk field H. Lattices in a thin-film geometry L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}D are used, with two free L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L surfaces (with L up to 256) and film thickness D up to 160, applying a very fast fully vectorizing multispin coding program. Our results present the first quantitative evidence f…

Some observations on the sensitivity of flow-injection techniques for atomic absorption spectrophotometry

1989

Abstract Different strategies for coupling flow-injection manifolds to atomic absorption spectrometers in order to obtain better sensitivity are compared. Using a T-connector interface, different carriers and flow compensation solvents have been assayed in an attempt to improve the sensitivity of flow-injection analysis. Manganese and copper determinations in sewage sludge have been used as a test system and the analytical parameters of both batch and flow-injection methods are compared.

Lymphokine activated killer cells.

1989

Various subpopulations of human leukocytes may be induced by lymphokines to exert cytotoxic activity. In man major histocompatibility complex non-restricted tumor cell lysis by interleukin-2 (IL-2) induced peripheral blood lymphocytes is attributed mainly to natural killer cells. These T cell receptor negative large granular lymphocytes are called lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells. In order to explore the potential of LAK cells in tumor therapy, several clinical studies have been conducted, using IL-2 alone or in combination with ex vivo IL-2-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes. Objective responses have reproducibly been achieved only in renal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma …

Plant regeneration from cultured leaves of Lavandula latifolia Medicus: Influence of growth regulators and illumination conditions

1989

Leaves were obtained from 4-week-old seedlings of Lavandula latifolia Medicus grown in vitro. Leaf explants were then cultured on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of the auxins IAA or NAA with the cytokinin BA and maintained under three illumination conditions, 16h photoperiod, darkness or darkness followed by a photoperiod, to assess morphogenic responses. Irrespective of illumination conditions, bud regeneration was achieved only in media containing BA or BA/auxin combinations, with the best results being obtained in the presence of BA and 0.06 or 0.6 μM IAA or NAA. A photoperiod of 16h appeared to yield the best response in terms of bud regeneration p…

Volumes, heat capacities and solubilities of amyl compounds in decyltrimethylammonium bromide aqueous solutions

1989

Apparent molar heat capacities and volumes of amylamine (PentNH2) 0.02m, capronitrile (PentCN) 0.02m and nitropentane (PentNO2) 0.009m in decyltrimethylammonium bromide (DeTAB) micellar solutions, in water and in octane were measured at 25°C. By assuming that their concentration approaches the standard infinite dilution state, heat capacities and volumes were rationalized by means of previously reported equations following which the distribution constant between the aqueous and the micellar phase and heat capacity and volume of the additives in both phases are simultaneously derived. The present results are compared to those we have previously obtained for pentanol (PentOH). The thermodynam…

ℏ-Normalizers and local definitions of saturated formations of finite groups

1989

We define, in each finite groupG, h-normalizers associated with a Schunck class ℏ of the formEΦ f with f a formation. We use these normalizers in order to give some sufficient conditions for a saturated formation of finite groups to have a maximal local definition.

Theory and implications of neutrino mass

1989

Abstract I briefly review the basic theory of neutrino mass from the point of view of modern gauge theories. Some of the implications of neutrino masses for particle physics, nuclear physics, cosmology and astrophysics are discussed.