Optimal processing of Ektaspeed dental film

Three rapid and two standard developing solutions have been tested. A jaw specimen and an aluminium step wedge were exposed on Kodak Ektaspeed film with a 60 kVp dental x-ray machine. The films were developed during varying times at 21 degrees C under controlled conditions. The image quality was tested with a densitometer as well as visually. The characteristic density curves were constructed and the relative speed, average density, fog and contrast were calculated for each test film. The time at which the contrast specified by the film manufacturer was reached, and beyond which the speed and contrast increased only marginally was regarded as the optimal developing time. With longer developing times no increase in image quality could be perceived visual by three trained observers. The optimal developing time at room temperature 21 degrees C, for the different solutions were found to be Kodak Dental 1:1 1.5 minutes Elfwing Rapid 1:3 1.0 minutes Scanfors Dental 1:2 1.5 minutes Kodak Dental 1:3 3.0 minutes Gevaert G 150 1:5 3.0 minutes The characteristic curves were identical for all developing solutions at the times recommended above and the total fog was below 0.20. However, the image quality was maintained and only an insignificant increase of fog was found even when those times were doubled.     

The structure of IADL and ADL measures: some findings from a Swedish study

The purpose of this paper is to uncover the dimensional structure of a set of disability items. The analysis is based on a sample of 421 persons aged 75 years and older. Firstly, a factor analysis of the items reveals two distinct dimensions: IADL and ADL. The items with large loadings on the IADL-factor are next submitted to a Guttman analysis. An index is derived which strictly meets the requirements of a Guttman scale, but it is doubtful whether there is a true hierarchical structure among the items. The criterion validity of the index (in different versions) appears to be satisfactory when assessed in terms of the correlation with an outcome variable (home help).     

Low energy charge and high adenosine content in smooth muscle of human bladder in comparison with striated muscle

Summary This study determined the energy charge, adenosine and inosine content of human bladder smooth muscle in comparison with striated muscle of the same individual. Biopsies were obtained from 21 women who were subjected to urethrocystopexy because of urinary stress incontinence. We found that the ATP content of bladder smooth muscle was only about one-eighth of that of striated muscle. The energy charge of bladder smooth muscle was 0.78±0.13, which is low compared with striated muscle (0.92±0.02). The adenosine content of bladder smooth muscle was 6.7 times higher than striated muscle and the adenosine/ATP ratio was 1∶9 compared with 1∶450 for striated muscle. These findings were in accordance with our previous studies on uterine smooth muscle.     

The expression of CEA, CA 19-9 and HMFG antigens in ovarian clear-cell and endometrioid carcinomas.

The tumour antigen expression of ovarian and endometrial endometrioid carcinomas, ovarian clear-cell carcinomas as well as endometrial and cervical clear-cell carcinomas were immunohistochemically compared. Of special interest were potential differences between the endometrioid and clear-cell carcinomas of the ovary. The expression of CEA and CA 19-9 tumour antigens in all these tumour types was heterogeneous, with 10-20% of the cases being positive for CEA and 40-75% being positive for CA 19-9. In contrast, HMFG IIIC 12, a monoclonal antibody originally directed against human milk fat globule (HMFG) membrane antigens, invariably detected a corresponding antigen on every case of these tumour types. Another HMFG antibody, SM IF 3, on the other hand, detected antigenic material on all clear-cell tumour types, but only rarely on endometrioid tumours of the ovary or endometrium. While HMFG IIIC 12 detects an antigen present on all ovarian, endometrial and mammary carcinomas, antibody SM IF 3 thus appears to be more restricted in its staining patterns. Our results with both of these antibodies indicate that ovarian clear-cell carcinomas and ovarian endometrioid carcinomas have antigenic differences, which provides further evidence that they belong to different tumour entities.     

External cephalic version and daily post-versional maternal self-assessment of fetal presentation. A prospective study.

External cephalic version (ECV) using tocolysis is a widely recognized low-risk intervention in cases of breech presentation, particularly in areas where resources are scarce and the perinatal mortality is high in vaginal breech deliveries. In such a setting, pregnant women were trained to make regular self-assessments of the presenting fetal part after ECV in order to detect spontaneous reversions to breech presentation. It was found that such maternal involvement could significantly improve the final results of ECV.     

Spinal cord restitution following compression injuries in rats

Spinal cord compression injuries were produced in rats by applying weights to a plate 2.2 x 50 mm in size, placed on the exposed midthoracic dura covering the spinal cord. The influence of force and duration of compression was studied by using 3 different weights, 20, 35 and 50 g, applied for 1, 5 and 10 min. Postoperative neurological function was tested by the inclined plane method and the rats were observed for 3 weeks. Neurological impairment increased with force and duration of compression. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that patients suffering from spinal cord injury should be investigated immediately for signs of persistent cord compression. If this is present, early decompression might be of value, although nothing is known in man concerning the limits of force and duration of compression permitting postoperative neurological recovery.     

Early pathological changes in progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: a report of two asymptomatic cases occurring prior to the AIDS epidemic

Serial sections of formalin-fixed, paraffinembedded blocks from two asymptomatic, non-AIDS cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) were stained with a double-label immunocytochemical method for detection of glial fibrillary acidic protein and JC virus (JCV) capsid proteins and with luxol fast blue/hematoxylin-eosin. In case 1 small, rounded lesions of about 1-mm diameter were seen within a restricted area in the posterior part of the superior frontal gyrus of both cerebral hemispheres, suggesting an early manifestation of the disease. Fully developed demyelinated lesions of the classical type with JCV-infected oligodendrocytes appeared in the white matter and along its border with the cortex. Lesswell-developed lesions, believed to be precursors to the fully developed ones, were seen in the gray and white matter. Of special interest were areas which contained small collections of enlarged, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive astrocytes without capsid antigen and which seemed to lack destruction of myelin as judged from the appearance of matching serial sections stained for myelin. Large lesions in the brain of case 2 showed the well-known features of advanced PML. The close relation between some astrocytes and oligodendrocytes with viral antigen raises the possibility of early intercellular passage of virus. Vacuolation, seen within or near lesions in both cases, has previously been noted in the CNS infected by HIV, but not in PML. It is suggested that PML, a disease of both oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, may actually begin in astroglial cells which, under the influence of a restricted JCV infection, become reactive, express GFAP and pass on virus to the more highly susceptible oligodendrocytes with which they are in contact.Supported in part by a grant N.S.07596 from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The work was carried out in the Laboratory of Experimental Neurophathology, NINDS, and in the Department of Pathology II, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm     

Temporal disparity in pineal and retinal ontogeny

The development of photoreceptors and two putative neurotransmitter systems in the pineal organ and retina was studied during embryogenesis in the three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus L. The investigation was performed by aid of immunocytochemistry using well characterized antisera to the retinal proteins alpha-transducin (TD alpha) and S-antigen (SA) (photoreceptor-markers), antisera against L-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), choline-O-acetyltransferase (ChAT) and with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry (neurotransmitter-markers). It was possible to set up the following developmental time-table concerning the first appearance of positive immuno- and enzyme-reactive cells in the pineal organ and retina: I AChE-activity and TD alpha- and SA-immunoreactive cells in the pineal organ; II GAD- and GABA-immunoreactive cells in the pineal organ and retina; ChAT immunoreactivity and AChE activity in the retina; III hatching; IV SA-immunoreactive cells in the retina. The obtained results provide good evidence that while photoreceptor cells develop much earlier in the pineal organ than in the retina, neurons develop simultaneously in the pineal organ and retina.