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The objective of this study was to investigate the development of small intestinal size and digestive capacity of the jejunum in growing pigs. The weight, length, surface area, and mucosa weight of the small intestine were measured when pigs were 1, 3, 5, and 9 wk of age. Sucrase and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities of the jejunal brush-border membrane, prepared by differential centrifugation and Mg2+ precipitation, were determined at the respective postnatal stages. Body weights increased 7-fold from 2.7 kg at 1 wk to 23.32 kg at 9 wk postnatal. Body weight gains were greater (P < 0.05) from wk 3 to 5 than from wk 1 to 3. Weights of the small intestine and of the intestinal mucosa increased faster (P < 0.05) from 3 to 5 wk than from 1 to 3 wk; the slowest increase occurred from 5 to 9 wk. Weights of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, and mucosa from the respective sections increased (P < 0.05) as pigs grew from 3 to 9 wk. Mucosa weight relative to the weight of the section was greater (P < 0.05) for the duodenum and jejunum than for the ileum at 9 wk of age. Between the ages of 3 and 9 wk, the increase in mucosa weight was highest for the jejunum followed by the duodenum and the ileum. The increase was greatest for the duodenum followed by the jejunum and the ileum when mucosal weight was expressed per unit of appropriate intestinal section weight. There was a 55-fold increase in jejunal sucrase activity from 1 to 9 wk; the greatest rate of increase occurred between 5 and 9 wk. Total jejunal ALP activities in pigs at 9 wk was greater (P < 0.05) than at 5 wk, which in turn was greater than at 1 wk of age. In summary, increases in BW during the first 9 wk of postnatal growth in pigs are accompanied by significant developmental changes in digestive capacity including intestinal weights, length, and area as well as jejunal brush-border sucrase and ALP activities.

Hypersonic flight powered by airbreathing engines offers the potential for faster response time at long ranges, and reduced cost for access-to-space. In the present paper the operating environment of typical hypersonic vehicles are discussed, including results for the radiation equilibrium wall temperature of external vehicle surfaces and the flow properties through three sample engines spanning the range of hydrocarbon-fueled Mach 4-8 flight and hydrogen-fueled flight at speeds up to Mach 17. Flow conditions at several locations through the sample engines were calculated to provide indications of the required operating flow environment. Additional system consideration such a seals, joints, vehicle integration and in-service engineering are addressed.

A vacuum quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) apparatus was used to measure water adsorption isotherms on mercaptohexadecanoic acid (HS(CH2)15COOH-MHA) self assembled monolayers (SAMs) on Au coated quartz crystals. Isotherms measured over a temperature range of 20–45°C are consistent with a strong interaction between adsorbed water and the COOH terminated surface of the SAM. From comparison of our data with calculated BET isotherms we estimate the isosteric heat of adsorption for this system to be ca. 12 kcal/mol.

There has been much discussion on designing for producibility, new and innovative construction techniques, changing traditional relationships between engineering design and construction planning, and the requirement for new design products providing information beyond the class design system viewpoint to support the construction of interim products. The purpose of this paper is to continue this dialogue and provide some insight into how the design process has changed by offering for discussion, information, or use the specific process that the SEAWOLF design agent is using today in the development of sectional construction drawings.

Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are treated with oxygen (in hypoxemic patients), inhaled beta2 agonists, inhaled anticholinergics, antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids. Methylxanthine therapy may be considered in patients who do not respond to other bronchodilators. Antibiotic therapy is directed at the most common pathogens, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Mild to moderate exacerbations of COPD are usually treated with older broad-spectrum antibiotics such as doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium. Treatment with augmented penicillins, fluoroquinolones, third-generation cephalosporins or aminoglycosides may be considered in patients with more severe exacerbations. The management of chronic stable COPD always includes smoking cessation and oxygen therapy. Inhaled beta2 agonists, inhaled anticholinergics and systemic corticosteroids provide short-term benefits in patients with chronic stable disease. Inhaled corticosteroids decrease airway reactivity and reduce the use of health care services for management of respiratory symptoms. Preventing acute exacerbations helps to reduce long-term complications. Long-term oxygen therapy, regular monitoring of pulmonary function and referral for pulmonary rehabilitation are often indicated. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines should be given. Patients who do not respond to standard therapies may benefit from surgery.

The newer fluoroquinolones have broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, excellent oral bioavailability, good tissue penetration and favorable safety and tolerability profiles. A new four-generation classification of the quinolone drugs takes into account the expanded antimicrobial spectrum of the more recently introduced fluoroquinolones and their clinical indications. First-generation drugs (e.g., nalidixic acid) achieve minimal serum levels. Second-generation quinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin) have increased gram-negative and systemic activity. Third-generation drugs (e.g., levofloxacin) have expanded activity against gram-positive bacteria and atypical pathogens. Fourth-generation quinolone drugs (currently only trovafloxacin) add significant activity against anaerobes. The quinolones can be differentiated within classes based on their pharmacokinetic properties. The new classification can help family physicians prescribe these drugs appropriately.

A 35-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and chest pain. She had a large aneurysm of the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva. Before her scheduled urgent surgery, the patient collapsed and died of cardiac tamponade secondary to intrapericardial rupture of the aneurysm. We would advocate urgent repair of this type of lesion to prevent such an outcome. We are aware of no other specific reports addressing extracardiac rupture of non-coronary cusp aneurysms [corrected].

Using concentrated natural sunlight at the NREL High Flux Solar Furnace, we have exposed several materials to acceleration factors of up to 400 times the normal outdoor UV exposure dose. This accelerated rate allows the exposure of materials such that a year of outdoor exposure can be simulated in about 5 hours. We have studied the solarization of cerium containing glass, the degradation of ethylene vinyl acetate laminated between borosilicate glass, and the yellowing of standard polystyrene test coupons. The first two candidates are of interest to the photovoltaics (PV) program, and the last candidate material is a widely used dosimeter for ultra violet (UV) exposure in accelerated weathering chambers

Hyperconcentration of platelets may lead to platelet activation and loss of platelet function.Platelet activation following hyperconcentration was assessed using flow-cytometric detection of platelet P-selectin expression and platelet swirling.Platelet hyperconcentration led to a minimal increase in P-selectin expression and no difference in platelet swirling.Hyperconcentration was not associated with a clinically significant change in platelet activation and had no significant effect on platelet quality as detected by pH and platelet yield.

Night call has both service and educational value. This study examined trends in night-call frequency from 1981-1997. Our hypothesis was that night-call frequency is decreasing in family practice residency programs.We reviewed the Directory of Family Practice Residency Programs from 1981, 1989, and 1997 and entered into a database information about call frequency from all of the programs in each year. In-house night-call frequency and frequency of home call requiring other trips to the hospital were combined to determine total calls per year.The mean number of total calls for PGY-1 residents was 190, 124, and 104 for each cohort year, respectively (1981, 1989, 1997). PGY-2 total calls were 160, 96, and 74. PGY-3 total calls were 151, 73, and 57. For all years of residency, total calls in 1997 were fewer than for 1981 and 1989.Family practice residents have less night call now than in 1981 or 1989. The educational consequences of decreasing night call should be evaluated.

A longstanding impediment to successful medical computing is resistance on the part of physicians. Interaction with many medical computing systems is difficult, requiring the physician to spend valuable time and energy trying to figure out how to get the machine to do what needs to be done. In developing encounter forms for use in prenatal medical records, we confronted the challenges involved in designing a computing system that provides an intuitive and physician-friendly method of recording clinical data. In trying to meet those challenges, we also learned about how to evaluate a medical computing system for flexibility and ease of use.

Confabulation is a clinically well-documented accompaniment of selective types of memory impairment, especially in brain-damaged alcoholics. This study reports specific occurrences of visual confabulation consisting of spontaneous alterations of Card D of the Visual Reproduction subtest of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised. The resemblance of a wineglass was fashioned by a 90-degree rotation into a "bowl and stem", observed in six of 30 brain-damaged alcoholics. There were no such instances in 132 other patients, including alcoholic controls, those with Parkinson's Disease, temporal lobe epileptics (pre- or post-surgery), and those with neurotoxic exposure. When asked, the subjects who identified the figure as a wineglass or similar drinking instrument reported that they had drawn it as originally shown to them. "Wineglass" confabulators had shorter periods of abstinence, longer drinking histories and lower intellectual functioning than their brain-damaged peers or an alcoholic control group. These findings lend support for the association of alcohol-related confabulation with visual, as well as previously-documented verbal material among brain-damaged alcoholics.

Death certificates are important because morbidity and mortality statistics often come from death-certification data. These statistics are vital in developing approaches to disease treatment and strategies for increasing longevity. It is often the primary care physician who is responsible for completing the death certificate, for explaining the cause of death to the family and, if appropriate, for referring some cases to the medical examiner. The primary care physician should have an explicit understanding of how to determine the cause and manner of death and should use succinct, clear language in completing the death certificate. When doubt exists or an external cause of death is a possibility, the coroner or the medical examiner is the appropriate public health official to contact.

Community-acquired pneumonia is a common infection encountered in clinical practice and is the leading cause of death due to infectious disease in the United States. To choose initial antimicrobial therapy appropriately, physicians must keep informed of recent developments in the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of atypical pathogens, antibiotic resistance and new antibiotics. Differentiating between "typical" and "atypical" pneumonia based on the initial clinical presentation is difficult. Primary treatment for community-acquired pneumonia in young adults without comorbidities is erythromycin. Older adults or those with comorbidities should be treated with erythromycin plus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, a second- or third-generation cephalosporin, or a new macrolide. Empiric therapy for moderately or severely III hospitalized patients usually begins with erythromycin plus a second- or third-generation cephalosporin. Physicians should use initial antibiotic therapy for coverage of both typical and atypical pathogens.

CD4 and CD8 antigen coexpression occurs not only on blastic T-cell malignancies, but also on a small subset of mature lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this population of cells and to identify features that can be used to differentiate them from T lymphoblasts.All specimens submitted to the clinical flow cytometry laboratory from August 1, 1994, through July 31, 1995, were analyzed for CD4 and CD8 coexpression.Percentage of lymphocytes coexpressing the CD4 and CD8 antigens.Four percent (22/526) of all specimens contained a population of CD4/CD8 coexpressing cells. Five cases represented CD4 and CD8 antigen expression on neoplastic cells. In 17 cases, the CD4/CD8 coexpressing cells appeared to represent a population of mature lymphocytes with a normal phenotype. The immature cells of T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoblastic lymphoma represented a dominant uniform population of cells demonstrating strong staining with both the CD4 and CD8 antigens. Cases containing a mature population of CD4/CD8 coexpressing cells were characterized by fewer coexpressing cells and variable expression of CD8. There were cases where distinction of this population of mature CD4/CD8 coexpressing lymphoid cells from a blastic malignancy was not possible using immunophenotyping alone.Correlation of clinical, morphologic, and immunophenotypic data is recommended to prevent the misdiagnosis of subtle involvement by a blastic T-cell malignancy.

Clinical trials have not shown a consistent benefit of treating bronchitis with antibiotics. Many physicians, however, treat acute bronchitis with antibiotics because of the possibility of Mycoplasma pneumoniae or other pathogens. The objectives of this study were to determine the effectiveness of erythromycin treatment in patients with acute bronchitis and to determine whether a newly developed rapid M pneumoniae antibody test is useful in predicting which patients will respond to therapy.We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial at three primary care centers in North Carolina. A convenience sample of 140 patients presenting with acute bronchitis were tested for M pneumoniae, 91 of whom were treated with either erythromycin 250 mg four times daily for 10 days or an identical-appearing placebo.Patients treated with erythromycin missed an average of only 0.81 +/- 1.1 days of work compared with 2.16 +/- 3.2 days for placebo-treated patients (P.02). There were no significant differences in cough, use of cough medicine, general feeling of well-being, or chest congestion between the erythromycin and placebo groups. Twenty-five percent of the patients tested positive for M pneumoniae. There were no differences in response to erythromycin based on whether the patient had a positive test for M pneumoniae.Erythromycin is effective in significantly reducing lost time from work, but it is not effective in reducing cough or other symptoms in patients with acute bronchitis, regardless of the outcome of the M pneumoniae antibody test.

Diagnostic Cytology Laboratory, Inc., has an outpatient Fine Needle Biopsy Clinic, which evaluated 7,487 fine-needle biopsies (FNB) from January 1989 to February 1992. Two hundred eighty-eight (3.8%) of these specimens were collected from patients 19 years old or younger and this represents the largest study of this population in the scientific literature. The majority of these specimens were obtained from palpable masses in the head and neck region [lymph nodes (58.3%), thyroid (7.6%), and salivary gland (5.2%)] while a smaller number were collected from miscellaneous soft tissue (18.8%) and breast masses (10.1%). Thirteen (4.5%) (from 12 patients) were diagnosed as malignant by FNB and 275 (95.5%) (264 patients) were benign by FNB. This benign:malignant ratio (22:1) is significantly higher than has been reported from tertiary care institutions and is a reflection of the difference of this outpatient population. Two hundred nine of 276 patients (75.7%) had adequate follow-up, including 137 (49.6%) patients followed by observation, 48 (17.4%) patients followed by surgical biopsy, and 24 (8.7%) patients followed by some other modality: imaging studies, flow cytometry, or treatment. There was a single false positive diagnosis (a pilomatrixoma) and one (1) false negative interpretation (a cystic acinic cell carcinoma) resulting in a diagnostic sensitivity of 92.3% and a specificity of 99.6%. The positive predictive value was 92.3%, the negative predictive value was 99.6%, and the test efficiency was 99.3%. The utility, cost-effectiveness and uniqueness of the clinic population is discussed.

When women become pregnant, they expect their family physicians to answer many questions about potential risks during the pregnancy and possible effects on the developing fetus. Many of these questions concern over-the-counter medications, common household exposures and daily activities, which often are not well discussed in obstetric texts. In general, women can be reassured that allergy medications and most common food additives, such as caffeine and aspartame, are safe to use during pregnancy. Most cosmetics and hair care products, including permanent wave solutions, are safe in limited exposures. Patients should be counseled to avoid exposure to insecticides and to continue good safety habits, such as wearing seat belts. Discussion of specific risks may prevent unnecessary anxiety and needless changes in work and home environment and lifestyle for pregnant women.

Studies suggest that family physicians and other generalist physicians practice differently than specialists. This study was performed to determine whether practice patterns and outcomes differ for women with low-risk pregnancies who obtain maternity care from family physicians as compared with those who are cared for by obstetricians.A retrospective chart review was performed at five sites across the United States. Women who presented for elective repeat cesarean section or who had any one of 14 high-risk conditions were excluded from the analysis. The final sample analyzed included 4865 women. Family physicians managed the labor of 2000 of these women, and obstetricians managed 2865.During intrapartum care, women managed by family physicians were less likely to have their labor induced (8.6% vs 10.4%, P = .03), receive oxytocin augmentation (14.9% vs 17.8%, P = .006), or receive epidural anesthesia (5.4% vs 17.0%, P.001) as compared with those managed by obstetricians. Delivery outcomes showed that patients of family physicians were less likely to have an episiotomy during vaginal delivery (53.7% vs 74.5%, P.001) and a lower frequency of cesarean section deliveries (9.3% vs 16.0%, P.001), especially for cephalopelvic disproportion. When adjusted for potential confounders, rates for cesarean section and episiotomy for obstetricians were still significantly higher than those of family physicians. For neonatal outcomes (low 1-minute Apgar score, neonatal intensive care unit admission, birth trauma, or neonatal infection), no significant differences were found between the care delivered by obstetricians and family physicians.Women obtaining maternity care from family physicians were less likely to receive epidural anesthesia during labor or an episiotomy after vaginal births, and had a lower rate of cesarean section delivery rates, primarily because of a decreased frequency in the diagnosis of cephalopelvic disproportion. Differences between outcomes persisted after adjustment for potential confounders such as parity, previous cesarean delivery, and use of epidural anesthesia during labor. No differences between the two physician groups with respect to neonatal outcomes were found.

Physicians rarely question patients about their religious beliefs. This lack of inquiry may be contrary to patients' wishes and detrimental to patient care. This study examines whether patients want physicians to discuss religious beliefs with them.Two hundred three family practice adult inpatients at two hospitals were interviewed regarding their views on the relationship between religion and health.Many patients expressed positive attitudes toward physician involvement in spiritual issues. Seventy-seven percent said physicians should consider patients' spiritual needs, 37% wanted their physicians to discuss religious beliefs with them more frequently, and 48% wanted their physicians to pray with them. However, 68% said their physician had never discussed religious beliefs with them.This study supports the hypothesis that although many patients desire more frequent and more in-depth discussions about religious issues with their physicians, physicians generally do not discuss these issues with their patients.

Carotidynia has an extensive differential diagnosis, including such conditions as pharyngitis, otitis, bruxism, temporomandibular joint syndrome, neuralgia, myalgia and temporal arteritis. Carotidynia may be divided into three distinct classifications: migrainous, nonmigrainous (or classic) and arteriosclerotic. Successful treatment depends on correct classification of the disorder. Ergotamine, propranolol and tricyclic antidepressants have been effective treatments in patients with migrainous carotidynia, and steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have proved effective for the classic type of carotidynia. Further investigation is required before it can be determined if treatment for the arteriosclerotic type should be medical or surgical.

Recent media attention has focused on patients who use faith healers to care for their medical problems. Many people who use faith healers also consult physicians. This study was done to learn more about how often physicians see patients who are involved in faith healing, and to learn more about physicians' attitudes about, and experiences with, faith healing.A 1-page questionnaire was mailed to 1025 family physicians in seven states; 594 participated, for a response rate of 59%.Approximately one half (52%) of the physicians were aware of at least one patient in their practice who had had a faith-healing experience. Most physicians came in contact with such patients no more frequently than once a year. Fifty-five percent agreed and 20% disagreed that reliance on faith healers often leads to serious medical problems. However, 44% thought that physicians and faith healers can work together to cure some patients, and 23% believed that faith healers divinely heal some people whom physicians cannot help.These results suggest that family physicians are infrequently aware of faith-healing beliefs and experiences among their patients. Family physicians were divided in their views about faith healing, with a majority expressing skepticism about faith healing and a sizeable minority favorable toward it.

Novel chemical approaches were developed to synthesize SnO 2 -based powders. Overall, chemically derived Sn oxide based-materials heat-treated in air show an improved cyclability compared to commercially derived SnO 2 . However the cyclability of SnO 2 :B 2 O 3 :P 2 O 5 = 1:0.25:0.25, is remarkably affected by the generation of gels or precipitates. Homogeneous gels reveal better cyclability and less aggregation of Sn clusters in comparison to precipitated oxides. Air-treated precursors of SnO 2 :Li 2 O:B 2 O 3 :SiO 2 = 1:0.39:0.13:0.48, regardless of the process, exhibit a larger capacity fade than amorphous compositions of SnO 2 :B 2 O 3 :P 2 O 5 = 1:0.25:0.25. This is due to a breakdown of the initial homogeneous state of the components in the as-prepared precursor and the segregation of crystalline SnO 2 , despite a higher ratio of spectator atom:Sn. Finally, in situ reduction of chemically synthesized precursors leads to a decrease in the first-cycle loss, albeit exhibiting more fade due to large grained tin. Thus by selecting a suitable chemical process and the spectator species, it is possible to synthesize compositions that represent a homogeneous distribution of tin oxide, while controlling the aggregation of Sn clusters during cycling. This judicious control of the process and the homogeneity of the tin oxide compositions can lead to improved cyclability and minimization of capacity fade.

The photosensitizer benzoporphyrin-derivative monoacid ring A (BPD-MA, verteporfin), in combination with visible light irradiation, a clinical procedure termed photodynamic therapy (PDT), has immunomodulatory activity in various mouse models. We studied the impact of BPD-MA and light upon DBA/2 mouse splenic dendritic cells (DC), a potent antigen-presenting cell (APC) type. DC treated with nanomolar amounts of BPD-MA and 690 nm wavelength light had a reduced capacity to stimulate the proliferation of alloreactive T cells. Treatment with BPD-MA and light reduced DC levels of major histocompatibility (MHC) Class I and II antigens, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54), the costimulatory B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) molecules, leucocyte common antigen CD45, the apoptosis-regulating Fas (CD95) receptor and the integrin CD11c. In contrast, DC expression of leucocyte function-associated-1 (LFA-1, CD11a), Mac-1 (CD11b), integrin beta2 chain (CD18) and the DEC-205 receptor increased, while CD40 levels were relatively unchanged 24 h after the treatment. MHC Class I and ICAM-1 levels decreased to 40% of control levels within 2 h following the photodynamic treatment. In the absence of light, BPD-MA did not affect DC receptor levels. Changes in DC receptor levels produced by BPD-MA and red light were similar to those produced by ultraviolet B light irradiation. The photodynamic treatment of activated splenic B cells, a separate APC class, had little effect upon receptor expression, except that MHC Class II levels were moderately decreased 24 h later. Changes in DC receptor expression may contribute to the immunomodulatory action of PDT.

Transthoracic fine needle aspiration specimens with abnormal cytology were obtained from 272 patients between 1976 and 1980 at the University of Rochester Medical Center. A comparison was made between the original specific cytologic and final histologic diagnoses on 116 patients; an additional 16 patients with the cytologic diagnosis of small-cell carcinoma were evaluated by clinical criteria. Analysis of the data indicated that malignant neoplasms were identified correctly with an accuracy of 99%. There was a single false-positive diagnosis. Predictive values for a specific morphologic variant of pulmonary neoplasm were 70% for squamous-cell carcinoma, 86% for adenocarcinoma and 95% for small-cell carcinoma. The probable bases for diagnostic error are discussed. Confidence intervals calculated from these data compared favorably with those in recently reported studies. The results reconfirmed the value of fine needle aspiration cytopathology for the diagnosis of pulmonary neoplasms.

The diagnostic and didactic utility of plastic-embedded semi-thin sections of fine needle aspiration biopsies is presented using a case-study approach. The Spurr epoxy semi-thin sections were stained with a newly developed sequential basic fuchsin-methylene blue stain, which gives hematoxylin-and-eosin-like staining and simultaneously substitutes for a wide variety of special stains. The informational content of the sections can approach that of electron microscopy. The use of a direct off-the-slide "pop-off" technique in preparing the plastic-embedded sections allows for a direct comparison between similar groups of cells embedded in plastic and present on the routine aspiration slides; retrospective analysis can discern subtle, previously unrecognized morphologic features in the alcohol-fixed, Papanicolaou-stained slides. The limitations of this comparative approach, however, become manifest when the effects of alcohol fixation on cells are directly compared in plastic and at the ultrastructural level to aldehyde fixation.

Faith healers have become more visible as an alternative to traditional medicine because of the growth of television evangelism. The extent to which patients engage in alternative therapies such as faith healing, however, is not fully known. To further explore patients' involvement in faith healing, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 207 patients in one rural family practice. Most respondents (58 percent) reported that faith healers are "quacks," but 29 percent believed that faith healers can help some people who physicians cannot help. Twenty-one percent had attended a faith-healing service. Six percent stated they had actually been healed by faith healers, and 15 percent reported they personally knew someone who had been healed. Participation in faith-healing services was significantly higher among blacks (P less than .01) and those with less than a high school education (P less than .01). The finding that many patients embrace faith healing has implications for traditional family practice and may explain why patients sometimes reject medical treatment. Physicians need to be sensitive to patients' beliefs about "faith," and must determine the extent to which patients reject the scientific approach before physicians can become effective "healers."

Four types of cells that may be the source of important diagnostic pitfalls in cerebrospinal fluid cytology are presented: (1) nucleus pulposus cells, (2) keratinized squamous cells from craniopharyngioma and sphenoid sinus carcinoma, (3) reactive leptomeningeal cells and (4) epitheloid cells from sarcoidosis. For each the cellular morphology is described and representative clinical, cytologic and histologic presentations are discussed.

Acute soft tissue injuries create pain and limitation of function. Treatment requires analgesia and time for full recovery. Acetaminophen with codeine (650 mg plus 60 mg, respectively, every 4 to 6 hours) is used frequently as the analgesic of choice. Diflunisal (1,000 mg initially then 500 mg twice a day) vs acetaminophen with codeine was prospectively studied in the treatment of acute mild to moderate pain from soft tissue injuries. Thirty-five patients with acute strains, sprains, or low back pain were randomized to treatment (17 acetaminophen with codeine vs 18 diflunisal). Both groups were similar in the amount of pain and type of injury at initiation of therapy. Patient pain rating went from 3.3 +/- 0.6 to 1.6 +/- 1.5 for acetaminophen with codeine and from 3.3 +/- 0.6 to 1.3 +/- 1.1 for diflunisal. However, 65 percent of acetaminophen with codeine patients experienced side effects, with 35 percent of these patients stopping the medication because of intolerable side effects. In the diflunisal group, 28 percent of the patients experienced side effects and 5 percent had to stop the medication early. Diflunisal was found to be an effective analgesic in mild to moderate pain of acute soft tissue injuries, and caused fewer and more tolerable side effects than did acetaminophen with codeine.

The purpose of this paper is to report changes in the optical transmission spectrum (solarization) of commercial low-iron cerium containing glass (CG). UV absorption by CG has been shown to reduce yellowing rates of EVA polymeric pottants in PV modules resulting from UV radiation. Absorption and fluorescence spectra of CG change with exposure to UV light in the glass matrix. Solarization of CG could cause changes in the glass transmission that may result in changes in the UV protection and the efficiency of the module. The authors are studying the solarization of glasses in a variety of accelerated light exposure chambers at intensities ranging from 1 to more than 1000 Suns. Measurements made at various stages of the accelerated exposure tests are presented.