Silicon surface states and subsurface hydrogen

The n-Si|fluoride electrolyte interface exhibits a small interface-state density, as shown by the presence of a weak capacitance peak in the capacitance–potential curves. After in situ chemical dissolution of an anodically formed oxide, a quasi ideal interface with a very low interface-state density was obtained. At open-circuit potential, a slow increase in the interface-state density was observed. These interface states result from the penetration of hydrogen into the silicon subsurface region. The inward diffusion of hydrogen produced by electrochemical etching of silicon accounts for the large time constant observed.     

Male breast cancer: Austrian experience

Data were collected on 169 men treated for breast cancer at 36 surgical departments in Austria between 1970 and 1991. We report here several of their clinical features and assess the importance of established prognostic factors. After a median observation period of 51 months 60 patients (35%) suffered a recurrence. The estimated 5-year recurrence-free survival for the entire group was 55%, and the estimated 5-year overall survival was 62%. Although stage-adjusted data are comparable to those for female breast cancer, the outcome in this series may be attributed to a relatively high frequency of advanced tumor stages. Tumor size (recurrence-free survival p=0.00001; overall survival p=0.03) and axillary lymph node status (recurrence-free survival p=0.0001; overall survival p=0.0001) proved to have a prognostic impact. Using a multivariate analysis, axillary lymph node status (recurrence-free survival p=0.001; overall survival p=0.01) still had prognostic influence. The various procedures used had no effect on local recurrence.

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Resumen Se recolectaron datos en 169 hombres tratados por cáncer mamario en 16 departamentos quirúrgicos de Austria en el período 1970 a 1991. En el presente estudio reportamos diferentes características clínicas y tratamos de definir la importancia de factores establecidos de pronóstico. Luego de un período promedio de observación de 51 meses, se observó recurrencia en 60 pacientes (35%). La tasa estimada de sobrevida libre de enfermedad recurrente para la totalidad del grupo fue 55% y la tasa estimada de sobrevida global a 5 años fue 62%. En tanto que la estadificación de los datos es comparable a la de las mujeres con cáncer mamario, el resultado final en esta serie puede ser atribuido a una frecuencia relativamente alta de tumor en estados avanzados. El tamaño del tumor (sobrevida libre de recurrencia p=0.0001; sobrevida global p=0.03) y estado de los ganglios axilares (sobrevida libre de recurrencia p=0.00001; sobrevida global p=0.0001) demostró tener impacto en cuanto al pronós neo. En el análisis multivariable, el estado de los ganglios linfáticos axilares (sobrevida libre de recurrencia p=0.0001; sobrevida global p=0.01) retuvo su influencia pronóstica. Los diferentes procedimientos operatorios de tratamiento local no demostraron efecto en cuanto a la recurrencia local.

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Résumé On a analysé les dossiers de 169 hommes traités pour un cancer du sein dans 36 centres chirurgicaux en Autriche entre 1970 et 1991. Les données cliniques ont été analysés et des facteurs pronostiques établis. Après une période d'observation médiane de 51 mois, 60 patients (35%) avaient une récidive. La survie à 5 ans sans maladie a été évaluée à 55% pour le groupe entier, alors que la survie à 5 ans globale a été de 62%. Lorsqu'on a comparé ces cas à des cancers de sein chez la femme, on s'est rendu compte que l'évolution dans cette série était peut-être en rapport avec un nombre plus important de stades avancés de patients avec cancer. On a démontré que la taille de la tumeur (survie sans récidive; p =0.0001; survie globale p=0.03) et l'état des ganglions axillaires (survie sans récidive p=0,00001, survie globale p=0,0001) avaient une valeur pronostique. En analyse multifactorielle, l'état ganglionnaire axillaire était toujours considéré comme facteur pronostique (survie sans récidive p=0.0001; survie globale p=0.01). Les interventions locales n'avaient aucune influence pronostique sur les récidives locales.

     

Nucleotide sequence of the murine leukaemia virus amphotropicstrain 4070A integrase (IN) coding region and comparativestructural analysis of the inferred polypeptide

Summary.  The complete nucleotide sequence of the integrase (IN) protein coding region of the murine leukaemia virus (MLV) amphotropic strain 4070A is presented. The sequence comprises 1,224 nucleotides, encoding a 408-residue polypeptide of M_r 46,312. Alignment of the inferred 4070A IN amino acid sequence with the IN proteins of other MLV showed that substitutions are confined largely to segments within the N- and C-terminal domains. In the N-terminal domain the majority of substitutions occur as contiguous 2- to 6-residue blocks, whereas in the C-terminal domain they occur as isolated entities except within a short segment characterized by deletions/insertions. Selection appears to act on the C-terminal 19 residues of IN rather than on the N-terminal residues of ENV (encoded by overlapping reading frames), suggesting a functional role for this segment. Phylogenetic analyses grouped the sequences into two clusters, one comprising IN from the amphotropic strain 4070A and three ecotropic MLV (CAS-BR-E, Moloney and Friend), the other consisting of IN from three ecotropic MLV (two radiation-induced viruses and AKV) and a mink cell focus-forming (MCF) MLV virus. The same dichotomy and cluster composition was obtained from analysis of the long terminal repeat (LTR) regions from these viruses (consistent with the functional interrelationship of IN and LTR) but not from analysis of envelope protein sequences (consistent with the functional independence of ENV proteins from both IN and LTR). Secondary structure predictions supported features determined from the catalytic domain of human immunodeficiency virus and avian sarcoma virus IN, and identified probable structures within the relatively long N- and C-terminal domains of MLV IN proteins. Received February 25, 1997 Accepted May 2, 1997     

The Removal of Heat-damaged and 51Cr-labelled Red Cells in Haemoglobinopathies

S ummary . Fifty-seven individuals, all living in Ghana, and having Hb types AA (controls), AS, S-thalassaemia, CC, SC, and SS, were studied using ⁵¹Cr-labelled heatdamaged red cells. Investigations were designed to show the effect of heating on red cell morphology, G6PD activity, osmotic and mechanical fragility, ESR, sickling, and the clearance of the cells from the circulation after injection. In transfusion experiments, damaged cells were given to recipients with differing haemoglobin types and the cell disappearance and radioactive uptake by the liver and spleen were measured. In AS, S-thalassaemia and CC patients the clearance and splenic uptake were similar to those of the AA subjects. In some of the SC and in all of the SS patients, the spleen did not sequester damaged cells, although they were cleared fairly rapidly from the circulation in a few cases. It was concluded that intracorpuscular factors cannot be ignored in the removal of heat damaged cells from the circulation, even though extracorpuscular mechanisms play the major part.     

Personality traits in chronic pain patients related to endorphin levels in cerebrospinal fluid

Interindividual differences in endorphin levels may relate to widespread changes in adaptive processes, and endorphin levels may thus be related to personality traits. In 40 patients with chronic pain syndromes of both psychogenic and organic origin, endorphin levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined, and the patients completed Eysenck's Personality Inventory (EPI) and the Cesarek Marke Personality Scheme. Twenty-seven of the patients also completed the Zuckerman Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS). As a comparison group 30 healthy volunteers completed the personality inventories. The chronic pain patients were characterized by guilt feelings, need for order, low need for autonomy, and low tendency toward sensation seeking. Low levels of endorphins in CSF were found in patients with high scores on all the subscales in the SSS and low scores on the neuroticism subscale in the EPI.