Search

Prostate cancer (PCa) diagnostics are shifting towards multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with targeted biopsies. However, some 10% of clinically significant PCa (csPCa) is missed with current MRI sequences. Evidence on biological differences between MRI visible and invisible csPCa is scarce. Our aim was to find out, whether MRI invisible lesions harbor more indolent characteristics compared to visible csPCa lesions, and to identify transcript markers of MRI visibility. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 45 radical prostatectomy-treated men with csPCa, including 30 with MRI visible lesions, 15 with MRI invisible lesions and additional 19 benign controls. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the invisible lesions were measured based on their topographical locations in histological slides. The histological slides were checked for histological subtypes of PCa and the prostate epithelium and stroma surface area were measured using machine learning. mRNA was analyzed using Nanostring nCounter platform. First, hierarchical clustering of transcript copy counts was performed. Next, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between study groups were analyzed and Reactome pathway analysis was performed to identify genes and pathways responsible for MRI visibility. Random forest models (RFMs) were trained to predict MRI visibility using DEGs, and genes in MSK-IMPACT, Decipher, Oncotype DX and Prolaris. RFMs were also trained to predict metastatic and lethal PCa using DEGs. Results: MRI negative lesions remained invisible upon radiologist re-evaluation. Clinicopathological characteristics did not explain MRI invisibility, while ADC values were higher in invisible lesions than visible ones. Hierarchical clustering did not separate visible and invisible lesions, while benign samples formed a cluster. We identified a set of 10 and 52 DEGs and 65 enriched pathways between visible and invisible specimens. RFMs performed well in predicting MRI visibility for our 10- and 52-gene DEG sets (AUC = 0.92), for transcripts in Decipher, Oncotype DX, Prolaris (AUC = 0.69-0.86) and MSK-IMPACT (AUC = 0.93). RFMs based on 52- and 10-DEG sets showed independent value in predicting metastatic (AUC = 0.67 and 0.65) and lethal disease (AUC = 0.70 and 0.72) and the samples with predicted poor outcomes based on RFMs had significantly worse survival (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: MRI visibility is net result of many genes and might be linked to various biological processes. Invisible lesions harbor a less aggressive transcript signature than visible csPCa and might be considered for more conservative management. Further research is required to validate these findings on protein level and to find histological correlates. Promising markers altered in currently MRI invisible csPCa could be used to improve MRI sequences. Citation Format: Timo-Pekka K. Lehto, Carolin Stürenberg, Juho Pylväläinen, Kevin Sandeman, Anu Kenttämies, Stig Nordling, Jing Tang, Tuomas Mirtti, Antti Rannikko. Gene expression in multi-parametric MRI visible and invisible prostate cancers predicts progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 5171.

Antegrade colonic enemas are used in patients with colorectal dysfunction resistant to conservative therapy. A number of different operative techniques are applied, but their effectiveness is by and large unknown. We therefore evaluated the long-term usefulness of the left-sided percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube method in adult patients.Twenty-one patients with colorectal dysfunction underwent insertion of a PEG tube colostomy by laparotomy between 1997 and 2006. In 2014, we evaluated how many of the patients had the tube still in place, how the patients coped with the tube, and what the reasons for the removal were.The main indications were severe constipation or fecal incontinence mainly related to neurological diseases. In 2014, 5 out of 21 patients had the tube still in use (median follow-up 14 years, range 11-17 years) and 4 out of 5 deceased patients had had the tube in use until their death, unrelated to this treatment (median follow-up 7 years, range 0-8 years). Four out of the 5 living patients considered the benefit of the tube to be good or excellent. Tubes were removed in 11 (52%) patients for various reasons, local skin irritation being the most common.A left-sided PEG tube colostomy was removed in over half of the patients, but despite that, it still seems to be a viable long-term option in the treatment of individual patients with colorectal dysfunction, when conservative methods are ineffective.

Background The aim of the present study was to evaluate the subjective outcome of primary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) at 6 months, the factors associated with the symptoms of anal incontinence (AI), and the role of a simple survey consisting in one question with three answer choices, combined with the Wexner incontinence score for the assessment of this patient population. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with third- or fourth-degree OASIS operated on between January 2007 and December 2013 inclusive at Tampere University Hospital, Finland. At 6 months, the patients were asked to report their Wexner’s score as well as the three-choice assessment regarding AI symptoms. Based on this assessment, the patients were divided into three groups: those, asymptomatic, those with mild symptoms who did not want further treatment and those with severe symptoms who were willing to undergo further evaluation and treatment. Results There were 325 patients (median age 30 years). A total of 310 patients answered the questionnaire. Of which, one hundred and ninety-eight (63.9%) patients were asymptomatic, 85 (27.4%) had mild AI, and 27 (8.7%) experienced severe symptoms. There was no statistical difference in the results between the two techniques used (overlapping vs. end-to-end), or the stage of specialization of the operating physician. Persistent symptoms were associated with instrumental vaginal delivery (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.32–3.41), severity of the injury (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.20–2.25), and increased maternal age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02–1.13). The correlation between the three-choice symptom evaluation and the Wexner score was good (Spearman’s rho 0.82). Conclusions After 6 months, severe symptoms after OASIS repair were present in 9% of women and were more frequent in older women, women with high-degree tears and after instrumental vaginal delivery. A three-choice assessment of AI symptoms correlated well with the Wexner score and might be useful to triage patients who need further evaluation.

It was hypothesized that the bioresorbable interposition implant might offer a viable alternative to conventional silicone implant arthroplasty in rheumatoid metacarpophalangeal joint destruction. A randomized clinical study was performed to compare a stemless poly-L/D-lactide copolymer 96: 4 (PLDLA) implant with the Swanson silicone implant. Results in 52 patients (53 hands and 175 joints) at a mean follow-up of 2 years (minimum 1 year) showed that the improvement in clinical assessments was comparable in both groups, except for better maintenance of palmar alignment in the Swanson group. The lack of implant fractures and intramedullary osteolysis were advantages of the PLDLA implant. The bioresorbable PLDLA interposition implant may offer an alternative tool for tailored reconstruction of rheumatoid metacarpophalangeal joints.

This prospective study was performed to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of radiocarpal joint arthrodesis in the treatment of unstable Simmen group III and Larsen grade II or III rheumatoid wrists. Radiolunate arthrodesis was performed in 16 wrists and radioscapholunate arthrodesis in 7 wrists in 20 patients. When they were evaluated at a mean of 5.8 (range 3.5–9.8) years later, flexion was 29° and extension 34°, representing 67% and 92% of the preoperative values, respectively. Patient satisfaction was excellent, or good, for 20 wrists and satisfactory for 1 wrist. In two patients with poor satisfaction, arthritis progressed to the midcarpal joint and necessitated total arthrodesis of the wrist. Radiolunate joint arthrodesis, with inclusion of the scaphoid in the fusion if necessary, is a useful operation in the treatment of this degree of wrist disease as it produces a functional and pain-free wrist at the same time as preserving much of the mobility and bone stock.

We present the results of 525 primary Souter elbow arthroplasties undertaken in 406 patients between 1982 and 1997. There were 372 women and 34 men with a mean age of 57 years; 119 patients had a bilateral procedure. The elbows were affected by chronic inflammatory disease, usually rheumatoid arthritis, which had been present for a mean of 24.7 years (2 to 70). In about 30% the joints were grossly destroyed with significant loss of bone. In 179 elbows the ulnar components were metal-backed and retentive; in the remaining 346, with better bone stock, non-retentive, all-polyethylene prostheses were used. Because of complications, 108 further operations were required in 82 patients. During the early years the incidence of complications was higher. Dislocation was the indication for 30 further procedures in 26 patients. Thirty patients underwent 33 revision procedures for aseptic loosening, 12 had 29 operations because of deep infection, two for superficial infection, and 14 further operations were done for other reasons. The cumulative rate of success, without aseptic loosening, five and ten years after surgery, was 96% and 85%, respectively.

Objective. To evaluate radiographically the glenohumeral (GH ) joint space in patients with long-term rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A cohort of 74 patients with RA were followed prospectively for 15 yr. At the end point, 148 shoulders were radiographed using a standard method. The GH joint space was examined from the radiographs using a method developed previously for population studies; the joint space was measured at three different sites and the average of the three measurements, the integral space, was calculated. Destruction of the GH joints was assessed with the Larsen method on a scale of 0–5 and compared with the joint space measurements. Results. The mean GH joint space in RA patients was 3.1 (.. 3.3), range −17.3 to 5.7 mm; 2.7 mm (.. 4.5) in men and 3.2 mm (.. 2.8) in women. The mean of the affected joints (Larsen grades 2–5), 1.7 mm (.. 4.5), was notably narrower than the mean 4.4 mm (.. 0.6) of the non-affected (Larsen grades 0–1) joints. Pathological GH joint space, less than 2 mm, was found in five (15%) of 36 joints in men and in 14 (13%) of 112 joints in women. All the joints graded as Larsen 4 and 5 (n = 17) fulfilled this pathological criterion. Joint space narrowing was associated [r =− 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI ): −0.56 to −0.75] with increasing destruction (Larsen grading) of the joint. The narrowing was significant between non- (Larsen 0, 1), moderately (Larsen 2, 3) and severely (Larsen 4, 5) affected joints (P < 0.001). However, a remarkable step in this process occurred between Larsen grades 3 and 4 when the mean joint space diminished from 3.1 to 0.3 mm. Conclusions. Joint space narrowing is a frequent consequence of GH joint rheumatoid affection. However, joint space narrowing is a late phenomenon occurring not until after marked erosive destruction, which should be noted when using the Larsen method for GH joints. K : Rheumatoid arthritis, Glenohumeral joint, Joint space, Radiography, Larsen method.

Reversion is the most wide-spread and serious virus-like disease infecting black currant but the causal agent of the disease has not been described. Recently, we have isolated a new nepovirus from reversion-infected black currant and by using immunocapture-RT-PCR detection, we have shown that the virus is consistently associated with reversion disease (Lemmetty et al., Phytopathology 87: 404–413, 1997). These data suggested that the virus, tentatively called black currant reversion associated virus (BRAV), could be the causal agent of reversion disease. Here we report that the isolated virus was successfully inoculated back to healthy black currant plants by slash inoculation of in vitro propagated young recipient plants. Vein pattern symptoms identical or very similar to the reported early symptoms of reversion disease were produced in the virus-infected plants. Using immunocapture-RT-PCR, the virus was again detected from symptomatic but not from inoculated symptomless plants or from the mock-inoculated or uninoculated controls. Production of the acute reversion symptoms demonstrates that BRAV is the causal agent of reversion disease, and we therefore propose that the virus be named black currant reversion virus, abbreviated BRV.

One hundred patients with the diagnosis of an acute patellar dislocation treated conservatively and 30 healthy control subjects were studied roentgenographically by lateral and tangential views. The aim of the study was to determine the distribution and incidence of predisposing factors in different study groups. Three study groups were formed as follows: 67 patients (group A) without late problems or operative treatment of redislocation: 33 patients (group B) who underwent a surgical realignment procedure for redislocations or late problems; and 30 healthy control subjects (group C). A statistically significant difference was observed between the patient groups (A, B) and control group (C) when the means, medians and distributions of patellar tendon length (LT), patellar length (LP), tendon to patellar length ratio (LT/LP), tendon to patellar articular surface ratio (LT/LAS), sulcus angle (SA), lateral patellar displacement (LPD), lateral patellofemoral angle (LPA) and morphological classification of the patella (1–5, Jagerhut) were compared. In group A, LPD was also significantly greater than in group B. This study demonstrates a considerably high rate of predisposing factors associated with patellar dislocation.

96 patients with lumbar spinal stenosis were operated on after two to sixteen years of disabling symptoms. There were 50 women and 46 men with a mean age of 59 years. 33 of the patients had been previously operated on for spinal complaints. A laminectomy was performed in 61 patients; at one level in 31 patients, at two levels in 23 patients, and at three levels in seven patients. A hemilaminectomy was performed in 35 patients: at one level in 28 patients, at two levels in five patients, and at three levels in two patients. There were neither internal fixation devices used, nor spondylodesis performed in these operations. Special attention was focused on the effect of age, sex, body mass index and smoking, as well as previous surgery and extent of surgical intervention on the outcome of operative treatment. The follow-up time was 3-11 years (5.5 mean). Laminectomy at one level resulted in significantly most acceptable results of operative treatment methods. Younger patients and women were more prone to inferior results of operative treatment. Also the extent of surgical intervention, overweight and smoking seemed to have a tendency to worsen the result of operative treatment.

Forty-nine patients with Achilles peritendinitis (APT) (11 bilateral) and 31 patients with retrocalcanear bursitis (RCB) (5 bilateral) were treated surgically (altogether 96 heels). There were 37 men and 12 women in the APT group, with a mean age of 38.4 years, and 26 men and 5 women in the RCB group, with a mean age of 32.3 years. Forty-five patients in the APT group and 30 patients in the RCB group were active in sports. All patients had been treated conservatively for at least 6 months (range 6 months to 13 years) without relief of symptoms. The operative method was bilateral longitudinal incision of fascia cruris and trimming of the adhesions to fascia and base of Kager's triangle in APT group, and ablation of the posterior upper corner of os calcaneus in RCB group. In order to assess the ability to return to sports, the healing results were evaluated by questionnaire in 42 patients (47 operations) in the APT group and 25 patients (28 operations) in the RCB group 2-11 years postoperatively. The results were excellent in 27, good in 11, fair in 7 and poor in 2 in the APT group, and excellent in 13, good in 10, fair in 2 and poor in 3 in the RCB group, respectively. Operative treatment of APT and RCB in patients whose symptoms persist after conservative treatment seems to give favourable results in the majority of cases.

Transcriptional regulator autoimmune regulator (AIRE) controls thymic negative selection but it is also expressed in secondary lymphoid organs. The relative contribution of AIRE's central and peripheral function to the maintenance of tolerance is unclear. We transferred mature lymphocytes from Aire(-/-) or wild-type donors to Aire(+/+) lymphopenic recipients, which allowed us to gauge the autoreactivity inherent in the cells originating in an Aire(-/-) thymus. In the ensuing lymphopenia-induced proliferation (LIP), the recipients of cells from Aire(-/-) showed definite T cell hyperproliferation and developed autoantibodies at a higher frequency than the recipients of wild-type cells. However, neither of the recipient groups developed clinical symptoms, and pathological tissue infiltrates were also absent. The recipients of Aire(-/-) cells showed hyperproliferation and increased accumulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs), especially in tissues susceptible to inflammation triggered by LIP. These data are consistent with the view that T cells developing in the absence of Aire are autoreactive. However, overt autoimmunity was prevented, most likely by the suppressive function of Treg cells in the Aire-sufficient recipients. Our results support the importance of the peripheral AIRE expression in the maintenance of immunological tolerance.

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with faecal incontinence in a Finnish population.A population-based age-stratified random sample of 8000 people aged 30-81 years from a large city was obtained from the national population registry. A postal questionnaire was sent to all subjects. Questions regarding faecal incontinence were adopted from a previously developed validated questionnaire.Response rate was 39.8%. Overall, the prevalence of faecal incontinence occurring in any frequency within the last year was 10.6% (CI: 9.5-11.6%). Women suffered significantly more often than men (11.9% vs. 8.7%). The prevalence of faecal incontinence occurring at least twice a month was 5.2% (CI: 4.5-6%). Of these subjects, 62.3% used a pad at least twice a month to protect their underwear (91 women, 10 men), 23.6% used it daily. There was a strong correlation between faecal incontinence and urinary incontinence. Of the 162 subjects reporting faecal incontinence at least twice a month, only 27.2% had discussed the problem with their physician. In 12.4%, their physician had raised the question of faecal incontinence. Only 10% had received treatment for it, but 66% (107/162) felt they needed treatment.Faecal incontinence is a common problem. Only a minority had reported this symptom to their physician and surprisingly few had received treatment for it. General awareness of faecal incontinence and treatment options should be improved among primary care physicians and general population.

This paper presents the results of a prospective study of 80 metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasties, in which biodegradable polylactide 96/4 copolymer scaffolds were used. Twenty-three rheumatoid arthritis patients were assessed at an average of 59 months after operation, which exceeds the resorption time of P(L/D)LA 96/4 according to animal experiments. Palmar subluxation exceeded half of the bone thickness in 39 joints before operation and in nine at the last follow-up. Ulnar deviation decreased from 25 degrees to 5 degrees , extension deficit from 32 degrees to 15 degrees and active flexion from 76 degrees to 63 degrees . The results are comparable with published data on silicone implant arthroplasties. Implant resorption did not induce any significant osteolysis in the medium term and the restoration of the structure and function of the hand was maintained after implant resorption, probably as the guided fibrous tissues had replaced the dissolved implant.

International audience; The genus Nepovirus (family Comoviridae) was known both for a good level of homogeneity and for the presence of atypical members. In particular, the atypical members of the genus differed by the number of capsid protein (CP) subunits. While typical nepoviruses have a single CP subunit with three structural domains, atypical nepoviruses have either three small CP subunits, probably corresponding to the three individual domains, or a large and a small subunit, probably containing two and one structural domains, respectively. These differences are corroborated by hierarchical clustering based on sequences derived from both genomic RNAs. Therefore, these atypical viruses are now classified in two distinct genera, Cheravirus (three CP subunits; type species Cherry rasp leaf virus) and Sadwavirus (two CP subunits; type species Satsuma dwarf virus).

Posiva is a Finnish nuclear waste management company with the duty to take care of the high-level nuclear waste produced in Finland. Pursuant to the Decision-in-Principle of 2001 Posiva has moved to the phase of underground characterisation of the repository site. The main objective of this phase is to confirm the suitability of the Olkiluoto site by investigations conducted underground. A programme of monitoring has been launched as part of the investigations and to follow the changes occurring within the site due to the construction. The programme of monitoring started in the year 2004, one year before the construction work. Baseline monitoring was carried out prior to the construction phase and the results gained from monitoring during construction phase are compared to the baseline data. Rock mechanics, hydrology, geochemistry, environment, and the use of foreign materials are included the monitoring programme.

Background The main cause of recurrent reflux symptoms after Nissen fundoplication is disruption of the fundic wrap. Reoperation has shown a lack of scar tissue between the serosal surfaces of the fundic folds in these cases. Methods Attempts were made to induce serosal scarring during fundoplication performed in rabbits. In group 1 the serosal folds were attached to the upper fundus with three non-absorbable seromuscular sutures. In group 2 Teflon pledgets were placed between these sutures. Fibrin glue was injected between the folds in group 3 and polyglycolic acid mesh was inserted in group 4. Results When the rabbits were killed 6 months later, the serosa had unfolded and no macroscopic or microscopic scar tissue was found between the serosal surfaces, except in five of the six rabbits in group 3, in which fibronectin, laminin and collagen types I and III were present in interserosal scar tissue. Conclusion Application of fibrin glue between the serosal surfaces of the fundic folds may prevent disruption of Nissen fundoplication.

Swanson silicone implant is the "gold standard" of metacarpophalangeal joint reconstruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. However, durability problems of silicone implants have led us to develop a new technique based on bioreconstructive implants. PLA96 (poly-L,D-lactide copolymer, L:D ratio of 96:4) scaffolds were engineered. Bioabsorption and substitution of porous PLA96 scaffold with living tissue eventually produce a neojoint. In the current prospective study, 23 RA patients (80 joints) were operated on, using PLA96 implants. Fifteen patients (54 joints) have been monitored for at least 1 year. Pain alleviation was well achieved. Range of motion improvement was emphasized to extension direction of functional arc. The average ulnar deviation was preoperatively 26 degrees, and at follow-up it was 6 degrees. Volar subluxation was noticeable in 56% of joints preoperatively and in 6% at 1-year follow-up. This is the first report of the formation of a living, functional joint in situ by means of a synthetic bioreconstructive joint scaffold. Results of this preliminary short-term study are comparable with previously published data on silicone arthroplasty. However, bioreconstructive prostheses can aid in preventing problems that occur with biostable prostheses. Tissue engineering has created a new era in the reconstruction of damaged joints.

To describe the typical sites of stress fractures in the lower extremities and pelvis in rheumatoid patients (rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile chronic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis).Thirty-three patients with 52 stress fractures [mean age 44 years (range 11-73)] were studied at the authors' institution when they were being treated for their rheumatic diseases. Fourteen patients had RA, 9 JCA, 5 PsoA, and 5 SPA. Stress fractures were detected from patient documents and from series radiographs in suspected cases. In some cases magnetic resonance imaging was also performed.One patient presented with 5 fractures, 2 patients with 4 and 3 fractures, and 7 patients with 2 fractures each. Other patients (n = 19) had only one fracture each. The metatarsal (MT) bones were the most common site of involvement. Twenty-five of the 52 fractures were located on MT I-V. The second and third most common sites were thefibula (n = 13) and tibia (n = 6). All fractures of the lower tibia or fibula were associated with valgus malalignment of the ankle.If a patient with rheumatic disease experiences sudden and unexplained pain localised in the forefoot, above the ankle, below the knee, or in the pelvis, a stress fracture should be suspected. Patients with severe osteoporosis, high-load corticosteroid or methotrexate therapy, or marked joint deformity are at high risk of developing stress fracture.

76 consecutive Charnley low friction hip arthroplasties were performed in 54 (37 men) patients with ankylosing spondylitis from 1971 to 1991 in the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital. Their mean age was 40 (16-67) years. They were followed until the end of 1999. The overall prosthesis survival was 80% at 10 years, 66% at 15 years and 62% at 20 years. The survival of the acetabular component was 91%, 77% and 73% at 10, 15 and 20 years and that of the femoral component 82%, 79% and 77%, respectively. We found no significant risk factor that predicted prosthesis survival.

Objective. To evaluate radiographically the acromioclavicular joint space in patients with long-term rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A cohort of 74 patients with RA was followed prospectively for 15 yr. At the end point, 148 shoulders were radiographed with a standard method. The acromioclavicular (AC ) joint space was examined from the radiographs with a method developed previously for population studies; the joint space was measured at its superior and inferior border, and the average of the two measurements, the integral space, calculated. Results. Mean AC joint space in RA patients was 4.9 (s.d. 3.7), range 0‐20.5 mm; 6.2 mm (s.d. 5.1) in men and 4.5 mm (s.d. 3.0) in women. An AC joint space wider than 7 mm in men was found in 11 (31%) out of 36 joints and wider than 6 mm in women in 17 (15%) out of 112 joints. Joint space widening was associated (r= 0.87, 95% CI 0.82‐0.90) with increasing destruction (Larsen grading) of the joint and it seems to be an inevitable consequence of AC joint aVection in RA. Joint space widening is more progressive on the caudal side because of the nature of the erosive destruction. Degeneration with joint space narrowing was observed in 8 (11%) patients (11 joints, 7%; three bilateral ). Conclusions. The largest value of the joint space may be used when evaluating rheumatoid AC joint space. In RA patients, a joint space of >7 mm in men and >5 mm in women is a sign of destructive AC joint aVection.

The survivorship of 1,553 consecutive Charnley low-friction arthroplasties (LFA) in 1,086 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were analyzed. There were 846 women (1,236 hips) and 240 men (317 hips), with a mean age of 53.1 years (range, 24-77 years; standard deviation, 10.7). A uniform postoperative regimen with protected weight bearing for 2 months (6 months in patients with bone grafting on the acetabular side) was used throughout the whole study. The overall survival with revision as the endpoint was 90.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 88.7-92.2) at 10 years and 83% (95% CI, 80.3-85.7) at 15 years. The survival of the femoral component was 93.2% (95% CI, 91.8-96.7) and 89.9% (95% CI, 88.0-93.0) at 10 and 15 years, and survival of the acetabulum was 93.6% (95% CI, 92.1-95.1) and 87.1% (95% CI, 84.6-89.5) at 10 and 15 years. The indication for revision was late deep infection in 19 patients (1.2%) and in others aseptic loosening of prosthetic components. Young age, male sex, and secondary reactive amyloidosis impaired significantly the survival of LFA in the RA patients. In all, cemented LFA provided good results, and it can be justified for the treatment of hip destruction in RA.

The neurons which selectively reacted to approaching vs. removal of the visual stimulus were described. These selective properties were shown to be fixed in the operative memory.

The aim of our study was to assess the incidence of subluxation of the first carpometacarpal joint (CMC I) and to evaluate which degree of subluxation produces swan-neck deformity of the thumb in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurring over 20 years. The hands of 83 rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive RA patients with recent (or = 6 months) arthritis were evaluated radiographically at onset and at 1, 3, 8 and 15 years; 68 patients were evaluated at 20 years from entry. Subluxation was assessed in millimetres and compared with the MCP-I angle measurement to evaluate the thumb deformity. A statistical end-point analysis was performed between two different grades of subluxation. Subluxation of 2-3 mm was non-specific and only one third of these thumbs showed swan-neck deformity. At the end-point, subluxation ofor = 4mm was present in 17% of the thumbs, 81% of which had the swan-neck deformity; only five thumbs did not show this deformity, but presented deformed and unstable MCP I and interphalangeal joints. The frequency of swan-neck deformity was highly significantly (p0.0001) increased in the thumbs with severe CMC I subluxation (or = 4 mm) compared with lesser subluxation (4 mm). When subluxation of the CMC I exceeds 4 mm, the swan-neck deformity of the thumb is a common consequence. This deformity is often progressive, and the hand function of such patients should be followed up carefully, both clinically and radiographically.

Clinical and radiographic studies were done for 85 patients treated conservatively for acute primary patellar dislocation occurring an average 13 years (range, 6-26 years) previously. Osteoarthritic changes in the patellofemoral joint were evaluated with special reference to the primary conservative treatment and treatment of redislocations (operative or conservative) or treatment for other subsequent problems such as pain and/or subluxations (late surgery). The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of findings in the unaffected knee and other joints. There were 56 patients (66%) with predisposing factors such as an abnormal quadriceps angle, positive apprehension test, quadriceps muscle atrophy, or generalized joint laxity common to all patients. Patients with or without predisposing factors did not differ from each other in terms of arthritic changes. Patellofemoral joint degeneration was found in the affected knee in 19 patients (22%) and in the unaffected knee in nine (11%). Conservative treatment without subsequent redislocations resulted in osteoarthritic changes in 29% of the cases and in 13% of cases with occasional redislocations. Osteoarthritic changes were found in 17% of patients treated operatively and in 12% of patients treated conservatively for redislocations. Of the patients who underwent late surgery for patellofemoral pain or subluxations, 35% showed osteoarthritic changes. In general, there were more degenerative changes in patients with stable patellae (no redislocations) than in those with occasional recurrences, especially in older and heavier patients.

A computed tomography (CT)-based image processing computer program was developed for three-dimensional (3D) femoral endosteal cavity shape modelling. For the examinations 50 cadaver femora were used. In the CT imaging 30 axial slices were taken above and below the lesser trochanter area from each femur. Different image analysis methods were used for femoral cavity detection depending on the structure of the processed slice. In the femoral shaft area simple thresholding methods succeeded, but in the problem areas of the metaphyseal femur edge, detection operators and local thresholding were required. In contour tracking several criteria were used to check the validity of the border pixels. The results were saved as four output data files: (i) a file for the longest anteroposterior (ap), mediolateral (ml) and oblique diameters computed by a Euclidian method, (ii) and (iii) files for 2D and 3D data respectively, and (iv) a file for centre points of each slice. Finally, testing of the results and dimensions obtained from the image analysis were carried out manually by sawing the femora into 10 stipulated horizontal slices. The ap and ml dimensions were measured with a caliper ruler. The CT-based image processing yielded a peak distribution of dimensions with a negative difference to those obtained in manual measurements. The mean difference between the image processing and the manual measurements was 1.1 mm (+/-0.7 mm, +/-1 SD). The difference was highest in the proximal slices of the femora of group I (with lowest cortical thickness), i.e. 1.3 mm (+/-0.8 mm) and lowest in the distal slices of the femora from group III (with highest cortical thickness), i.e. 0.9 mm (+/-0.6 mm). The results are acceptable for further use of the program to study endosteal anatomy for individual femoral component selection and designing basis.

For many uses current optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) instruments have a prohibitively large (10-100-m) dead zone. The dead zone is the length of fiber between a Fresnel reflection and the point where the instrument has recovered enough to measure Rayleigh scattering. It is caused when a reflected pulse of light ionizes impurities in the detector or produces linear or thermal transients in the amplifier. An OTDR instrument with a fast optical switch to mask these unwanted reflections would have a resolution limited only by the pulse length from the light source. Also, with an optical switch the —6-dB insertion loss inherent in systems with passive couplers can be reduced or eliminated.

The Experimental Breeder Reactor II is a sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor and is designed to operate at a thermal power of 62.5 MW and an electrical generation rate of 20 MW. In a continuing program devoted to the understanding of the thermal, hydraulic, and neutronic behavior of this reactor under both normal and off-normal operating conditions, a series of steady-state natural convection tests have been conducted. Instrumentation utilized for the control and observation of the reactor behavior during these experiments included both the normal plant sensors as well as those located in-core within a special fueled subassembly. The results of these measurements have been compared to the predictions of an analytical model of the entire primary heat transport circuit and satisfactory agreement was obtained.

We report a consecutive series of 131 total hip arthroplasties using a prosthesis of Brunswik type and a posterior approach to the hip. Special attention is paid to technical details, postoperative course and early complications. The results are compared with those in published studies in which the lateral transtrochanteric approach has been used. Total hip replacement was performed by a team of four persons. This led to a marked decrease in the average operating time (60 minutes). The amount of blood transfused during and after the operation averaged 761 g. The postoperative course was complicated by one wound infection (0.8%). The immediate results regarding pain and walking capacity were good in 83% of the cases. The use of the posterior approach and a highly trained operating team reduced the time required for the operation, the blood loss and the frequency of postoperative complications, and caused less morbidity in the arthritic patients.

The fission cross-section ratios of 239Pu to 235U and 233U to 235U have been measured from 0.24 to 24 keV using parallel-plate, back-to-back fission detectors and a slowing down lead spectrometer a...

(1968). Reactor Noise Measurements Using Gamma Rays. Nuclear Science and Engineering: Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 142-146.

A gaseous Cerenkov detector, capable of detecting only high-energy prompt gamma rays in the presence of a significant low-energy flux, has been tested as a power-level monitor. Preliminary tests sh...

Plant viruses move systemically from one leaf to another via phloem. However, the viral functions needed for systemic movement are not fully elucidated. An experimental system was designed to study the effects of low temperature on the vascular transport of the tobacco mosaic tobamovirus (TMV). Vascular transport of TMV from lower inoculated leaves to upper non-inoculated leaves via a stem segment kept at low temperature (4 degrees C) was not affected. On the other hand, several experiments were performed on tobacco leaves to demonstrate that virus replication did not occur at the same temperature. The data suggest that replication of TMV in the phloem of wild-type tobacco plants is not necessary for the vascular transport of TMV, and that the virus moves with photoassimilates as suggested previously.

A prospective case control study was made by comparing the results of a modified combination parapatellar tendon transposition repair of a fresh anterior cruciate ligament rupture with those of the conventional Palmer technique. The mean follow-up time was 4 (3-7) years. A tendency to better stability was shown by an objective clinical device. Subjective results concerning stability sensations of the knee were also better than those obtained by the conventional method.

The Advancement, Strength and Training Planning (ADSTAP) system has been introduced, to coordinate and to develop Navy enlisted planning and research for force analysis and management. Some of its objectives and modes are described.

Fission rate fluctuations at low power in a reactor with a large fission-product inventory have been observed in the pool-type Ford Nuclear Reactor. A gaseous Cerenkov detector was used to sense th...