Algebraic Self-Similar Renormalization in Theory of Critical Phenomena

We consider the method of self-similar renormalization for calculating critical temperatures and critical indices. A new optimized variant of the method for an effective summation of asymptotic series is suggested and illustrated by several different examples. The advantage of the method is in combining simplicity with high accuracy.Comment: 1 file, 44 pages, RevTe

New earnings survey 1999 Part E: analyses by region, county and small areas

Published in 7 partsSIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:6083.642(1999 pt E) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Does soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) affect neutrophil activation and adhesion following ischaemia-reperfusion?

Objective: to examine the effect of reperfusion plasma and sICAM-1 on neutrophil integrin expression and neutrophil adhesion to determine if sICAM-1 has a potential role in the regulation of neutrophil adhesion. Materials: twenty-seven patients, 17 men and 10 women undergoing femorodistal surgery. Blood was taken preoperatively and from the femoral vein following the release of the cross-clamp. Neutrophils were obtained from five volunteers and incubated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS), preoperative plasma or reperfusion plasma with and without sICAM-1. Neutrophil expression of CD11b and adhesion were measured. Main results: neutrophil CD11b expression did not change following incubation in the three media. Neutrophil adhesion increased significantly following exposure to reperfusion plasma compared to PBS or preoperative plasma (45.5 adhesion vs. 12.75%, p < 0.01 Mann-Whitney U-test). Soluble ICAM-1 decreased CD11b expression and adhesion in neutrophils exposed to reperfusion plasma only (CD11b expression fell from 15.9 to 3.4 mcf, p < 0.01 Mann-Whitney U-test and adhesion fell to 11.6% cells adhered, p < 0.01). Conclusion: an increase in CD11b expression is not required for an increase in neutrophil adhesion. The change in neutrophil adhesion produced by reperfusion plasma can be blocked by sICAM-1. Soluble ICAM-1 may have a physiological role in the regulation of neutrophil adhesion

Reduced total antioxidant capacity predicts ischaemia-reperfusion injury after femorodistal bypass

BackgroundAntioxidant defence systems are essential to protect the body from harmful free radicals released following ischaemia-reperfusion. The aim of this study was to examine the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of patients with chronic critical leg ischaemia undergoing femorodistal bypass and to correlate this with lipid peroxidation, changes in capillary permeability and clinical outcome.MethodsTwenty-five patients, 15 men and ten women of median age 71 (range 62-79) years, and 15 matched controls were studied. Blood was taken before operation and after reperfusion, with assays performed for malondialdehyde (a product of lipid peroxidation) and total antioxidant capacity. Changes in capillary permeability were measured by changes in the urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) following reperfusion of the ischaemic leg and expressed as a percentage increase from the preoperative value. Clinical outcome in terms of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) was recorded.ResultsVascular patients who developed clinical evidence of a systemic inflammatory reaction following revascularization had a significantly reduced TAC compared with the controls (490 versus 860 &micro;mol/l; P &lt; 0&middot;01, Mann-Whitney U test). These patients also demonstrated an increase in lipid peroxidation (0&middot;5 versus 0&middot;25 &micro;mol/l, P &lt; 0&middot;05) and vascular permeability, as measured by the percentage increase in ACR (365 versus 130 per cent, P &lt; 0&middot;01).ConclusionVascular patients with a lower TAC developed increased capillary permeability as a result of ischaemia-reperfusion, which progressed to SIRS. TAC may provide a test to identify &lsquo;at risk' patients. It may be possible to augment their defence with exogenous antioxidants. &copy; 1998 British Journal of Surgery Society Lt

Lymph nodes, tumor deposits, and TNM: are we getting better?

Contains fulltext : 97088.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)PURPOSE: New editions of the TNM staging system for colorectal cancer have been subject to extensive criticism. In the current study, we evaluate each edition of TNM and analyze stage migration caused by the different versions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two independent test populations were used: participants derived from a randomized surgical trial from the United Kingdom (n = 455) and patients from a population-based series from Sweden (n = 505). All slides from these patient cases were reviewed with special attention for the presence of tumor deposits. Tumor deposits were classified according to the fifth, sixth, and seventh editions of TNM and correlated with prognosis. RESULTS: Every change in edition of TNM led to a stage migration of between 33% and 64% in patients with tumor deposits. Reproducibility was best in the fifth edition of TNM. The prognostic value of the seventh edition was best only when all tumor deposits irrespective of size or contour were included as lymph nodes. The prognostic value of the fifth edition was better than that of the sixth. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate there is a place for tumor deposits in the staging of patients with colorectal cancer. However, many questions remain about their definition and the reproducibility and use of this category in special situations, such as after neoadjuvant treatment. These should be the subject of additional research before use as a factor in TNM staging. This work demonstrates the necessity of testing modifications before their introduction