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Nonirradiated and irradiated ATLAS silicon microstrip barrel and endcap modules have been beamtested with 4-GeV/c pions. Pulse shapes confirmed the peaking time of the amplifier to be 22 ns with slight deterioration in the irradiated modules. Median charges saturated around 3.8 fC, both in the nonirradiated and the irradiated modules. Signal/noise ratios, using the noise estimates from the in-situ calibration, were > 16 in the nonirradiated (> 150 V) and > 10 in the irradiated (>300 V) barrel modules. No excess common-mode noise was observed. Index Terms--Radiation damage effects, silicon microstrip radiation detectors.

Since 1969 corrective osteotomy has been performed at our institute in young patients (under 40 years) with bowlegs, knock knees and flexion or rotational deformities around the knee. Fifty-seven knees (29 left, 28 right) of 45 patients (19 boys, 26 girls) were followed-up for a period ranging from 30 to 38 years in seven patients with seven knees, from 20 to 29 years in nine patients with 11 knees, and from ten to 19 years in 29 patients with 39 knees. Supracondylar femoral osteotomy was performed on 12 knees (11 patients), high tibial osteotomy above the tibial tuberosity on eight knees (six patients) and below the tuberosity on 37 knees (28 patients). At the final follow-up (age range 42-73 years), all of the deformities were satisfactorily corrected, with no symptoms apart from nine knees, seven of which had dull pain after strenuous sport with osteophytes, etc. in the radiograph. Total knee arthroplasty was performed in the remaining two knees, at ten and 26 years, respectively, after the initial osteotomy. Osteoarthritis developed in the contralateral knee to the initial osteotomy in two patients after 34 years at age 73 and after 33 years at age 67. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bowlegs in childhood were emphasized as one of the most important etiological factors in medial compartmental osteoarthritis of the knee (knee OA). A long-term follow-up study was performed on 75 knees of 53 patients after high tibial valgus osteotomy for knee OA. There were 15 knees in 11 men and 60 knees in 43 women. The follow-up period ranged from 15 to 28 years with a mean of 19±3 years. The age at osteotomy ranged from 46 to 73 years with a mean of 59.6±6.7 years. Valgus osteotomy closing wedge was performed in all cases, aiming for an anatomical valgus angulation of 10°(standing). The American Knee Society Score showed a Knee Score of 37±20 and a Function Score of 38±16 preoperatively and 87±13 and 80±19 at the final 15 to 28 years follow-up. The repair of articular cartilage after high tibial valgus osteotomy was observed in 146 knees of 115 patients. The mean age of the patients at osteotomy was 65±7 years(range 47∼80). Observations were made through an arthrotomy at the time of removal of the blade plate, an average of 2 years after the initial osteotomy. Regeneration of the degenerated cartilage was classified into three stages. There were no regenerative findings (Stage A)in 13 knees; partial regeneration with fibrocartilaginous tissue (Stage B) in the previous degenerated area in 86 knees; and total coverage by new regenerated fibrocartilage containing hyaline-like cartilage (Stage C) in 47 knees (Stage B and Stage C 91%). As for floor sitting, recent follow-up results after high tibial osteotomy on knee range of motion showed that 24 knees (77%) were able to sit on the floor, among the 31 knees which showed no sitting on floor and had 137° ± 12° arc of motion before surgery. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty for medical and medialization of the tibial tuberosity and for patellofemoral compartmental knee OA were added, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adhesion molecule CD44 is thought to play an important role in the inflammatory process. To identify the expression of CD44 in articular chondrocytes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), monoclonal anti-CD44 antibodies were immunohistochemically used to react with articular cartilage specimens of 15 patients with RA, 9 with osteoarthritis (OA), and 6 with femoral neck fracture (FF). The proportion of CD44-positive chondrocytes in RA was 93 +/- 2% (N=16), which was significantly higher than that in OA (59 +/- 7%, N=9, p<0.001) and FF (46 +/- 5%, N=6, p<0.001). Among CD44 isoforms examined, the hemopoietic form was dominant in chondrocytes in RA. Therefore, up-regulation of CD44 on chondrocytes may play a significant role in cartilage degeneration in RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) is an important factor mediating broncho- constriction in asthma. We developed a guinea pig model for SRS-A-mediated bronchocon- striction induced by antigen inhalation. Using this model, we investigated the effect of N-(3, 4'-dimethoxycinnaxnoyl) anthranilic acid (N-5'), a new anti-allergic drug, on the broncho- constriction. FPL 55712 inhibited most of the bronchoconstriction induced by antigen inhalation. N-5 inhibited the antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in a dose-dependent fashion. Intraperitoneal administration of 200 mg/kg N-5' was effective for 40 min after antigen inhalation, while the effect of 80 mg/kg lasted only 7 mm. On the other hand, 200 mg/kg N-5' showed no inhibitory effect on the bronchoconstriction caused by direct inhalation of leukotriene C4, a component of SRS-A. These findings indicate that one of the anti-allergic actions of N-5' is due to inhibition of synthesis and/or release of SRS-A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computed tomography (CT) can demonstrate disorders of the chest wall muscles clearly. CT scans of the thorax were carried out in seven patients with Poland’s Syndrome. All patients with Poland's Syndrome had the clavicular portion of the pectoralis major, but were lacking the sternocostal portion of the pectoralis major. The pectoralis minor was absent in four of seven patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]