A longitudinal study of abnormalities on MRI and disability from multiple sclerosis

Background: In patients with isolated syndromes that are clinically suggestive of multiple sclerosis, such as optic neuritis or brain-stem or spinal cord syndromes, the presence of lesions as determined by T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain increases the likelihood that multiple sclerosis will develop. We sought to determine the relation between early lesion volume, changes in volume, and long-term disability. Methods: Seventy-one patients in a serial MRI study of patients with isolated syndromes were reassessed after a mean of 14.1 years. Disability was measured with the use of Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS; possible range, 0 to 10, with a higher score indicating a greater degree of disability). Results: Clinically definite multiple sclerosis developed in 44 of the 50 patients (88 percent) with abnormal results on MRI at presentation and in 4 of 21 patients (19 percent) with normal results on MRI. The median EDSS score at follow-up for those with multiple sclerosis was 3.25 (range, 0 to 10); 31 percent had an EDSS score of 6 or more (including three patients whose deaths were due to multiple sclerosis). The EDSS score at 14 years correlated moderately with lesion volume on MRI at 5 years (r=0.60) and with the increase in lesion volume over the first 5 years (r=0.61). Conclusions: In patients who first present with isolated syndromes suggestive of multiple sclerosis, the increases in the volume of the lesions seen on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in the first five years correlate with the degree of long-term disability from multiple sclerosis. This relation is only moderate, so the volume of the lesions alone may not be an adequate basis for decisions about the use of disease-modifying treatment

Interferon beta in multiple sclerosis: experience in a British specialist multiple sclerosis centre

Background: The efficacy of interferon beta (IFN beta) is well established in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the use of this drug in clinical practice is complex, especially because it is only partially effective, its long term efficacy and side effects are unknown, its efficacy may be abrogated by the development of neutralising antibodies, compliance is variable, and its cost effectiveness is controversial. Objectives and Methods: Analysis of a prospectively followed up series of 101 MS patients treated with IFN beta was undertaken to: (1) monitor the outcome of IFN beta treatment in clinical practice; (2) compare the immunogenicity of the three commercial IFN beta preparations available; (3) assess the proportion of patients fulfilling the current guidelines of the Association of British Neurologists for stopping IFN beta therapy. Results: During a median treatment period of 26 months (range 2–85), the relapse rate decreased by 41%. Although the reduction in the relapse rate was similar for all three commercial products, none of the Avonex treated patients were relapse free, compared with 19% of the Betaferon treated and 27% of the Rebif treated patients (p=0.02). Neutralising antibodies were not detected in Avonex treated patients (0 of 18), compared with 12 of 32 (38%) Betaferon treated and 10 of 23 (44%) Rebif treated patients (p=0.02). Forty of 101 (40%) patients satisfied the current (2001) Association of British Neurologists criteria for stopping IFN beta treatment at some stage during their treatment. Conclusion: IFN beta is effective in reducing the relapse rate in patients with relapsing-remitting MS in routine clinical practice. However, after a median treatment duration of 26 months, 40% of initially relapsing-remitting MS patients seem to have ongoing disease activity, presenting as disabling relapses or insidious progression

Effects of Anabolic Implants on Reproductive Function, Carcass Characteristics and Performance in Postweaned Beef Bulls

Angus bulls averaging 620 lb were used to study the effects of implants on performance, carcass characteristics and reproductive parameters of intact males. Sixty-six bulls were randomly assigned to four treatments. These treatments were (1) nonimplanted, (2) implanted with 36 mg of Ralgro every 60 t o 70 days, (3) implanted with 220 mg of Synovex-S every 60 t o 70 days, (4) implanted with 24 mg of Compudose every 180 days. Body weights were taken a t the initiation of the trial and every 28 days. Blood samples were collected v i a jugular venipuncture weekly for 9 weeks and then monthly for 4 months with the f i n a l sample taken a t slaughter. Blood was evaluated f o r testosterone, luteinizing hormone and growth hormone levels . Bulls were on test 217 days. Final average weight and hip height were 1142 lb and 49.6 in ., respectively. Nonimplanted bulls had the largest final scrotal circumference of 39.6 cm compared to 38.8 cm for Ralgro-, 38.6 cm for Compudose- and 37.8 cm for Synovex-implanted bulls. Implanting postweaning had little effect on average daily gain, hip height, testicular weight, testosterone, luteinizing hormone levels and sperm chromatin structure. Synovex implanted bulls had the highest growth hormone levels. Compudose- and Synovex-implanted bulls had the heaviest (PC .01) carcass weights and dressing percentage. Also, the Synovex-implanted bulls had the greatest (P\u3c.01) fat thickness at the 12th rib and least desirable yield grade. No difference was present for longissimus muscle, and KPH fat

Quantum Scattering from Classical Field Theory

We show that scattering amplitudes between initial wave packet states and certain coherent final states can be computed in a systematic weak coupling expansion about classical solutions satisfying initial value conditions. The initial value conditions are such as to make the solution of the classical field equations amenable to numerical methods. We propose a practical procedure for computing classical solutions which contribute to high energy two particle scattering amplitudes. We consider in this regard the implications of a recent numerical simulation in classical SU(2) Yang-Mills theory for multiparticle scattering in quantum gauge theories and speculate on its generalization to electroweak theory. The generalization of our results to complex trajectories allows its application to it any wave packet to coherent state transition. Finally, we discuss the relevance of these results to the issues of baryon number violation and multiparticle scattering at high energies.Comment: 20 pages, JHU-TIPAC-940003, HUTP-A0/007, Latex, uses prepictex.tex, pictex.tex, and postpictex.tex (available by ftp from [email protected]) to produce figure

Effect of gluon-exchange pair-currents on the ratio G(E(P))/G(M(P))

The effect of one-gluon-exchange (OGE) pair-currents on the ratio $\mu_p G_E^p/G_M^p$ for the proton is investigated within a nonrelativistic constituent quark model (CQM) starting from $SU(6) \times O(3)$ nucleon wave functions, but with relativistic corrections. We found that the OGE pair-currents are important to reproduce well the ratio $\mu_p G_E^p/G_M^p$. With the assumption that the OGE pair-currents are the driving mechanism for the violation of the scaling law we give a prediction for the ratio $\mu_n G_E^n/G_M^n$ of the neutron.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

How much noise is too much? Methods for identifying thresholds for soundscape quality and ecosystem services

The United States National Park Service mandate is to conserve park resources and provide superlative visitor experience. In the context of acoustic resources, Denali National Park and Preserve provides an advantageous opportunity to understand the effect of aircraft noise on visitor experience because it possesses high levels of air tour traffic in a park renowned for its remote, wilderness character. Park visitors in four different settings were asked to rate the acceptability of recordings of aircraft noise, presented in randomized order relative to noise level. A cumulative link mixed model fitted visitor assessments to acoustic and nonacoustic factors. In addition to noise level, interest in an air tour was an important predictor of sound clip acceptability. For visitors uninterested in an air tour, the probability of rating aircraft noise as unacceptable at 54 dB LAeq,30 s or higher was 26%. For reference, this aligns with federal guidance that identified 55 dB as a threshold for interference with outdoor activities at rural residences and schools. Predictions of visitor response were joined to a spatial model of aircraft noise propagation to map visitor acceptability of aircraft noise in Denali’s entrance area (frontcountry). This map can be used to assess the condition of park management zones, to inform hiking recommendations for visitors, and to predict the range of soundscape conditions experienced by park visitors Soundscapes Threshold Indicators Aircraft noise Spatial analysis Ecosystem servicespublishedVersio

New calculations of the PNC Matrix Element for the JπTJ^{\pi}T 0+1,0−1^{+}1,0^{-}1 doublet in 14^{14}N

A new calculation of the predominantly isoscalar PNC matrix element between the $J^{\pi}T$ $0^{+}1,0^{-}1$ (E$_{x} \approx$ 8.7 MeV) states in $^{14}$N has been carried out in a (0+1+2+3+4)$\hbar \omega$ model space with the Warburton-Brown interaction. The magnitude of the PNC matrix element of 0.22 to 0.34 eV obtained with the DDH PNC interaction is substantially suppressed compared with previous calculations in smaller model spaces but shows agreement with the preliminary Seattle experimental data. The calculated sign is opposite to that obtained experimentally, and the implications of this are discussed.Comment: REVTEX, 28 page

A wider Europe? The view from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

On the evidence of national surveys conducted between 2000 and 2006, there is a declining sense of European self-identity in the three Slavic post-Soviet republics of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Attitudes towards the European Union and the possibility of membership are broadly supportive, but with a substantial proportion who find it difficult to express a view, and substantial proportions are poorly informed in comparison with the general public in EU member or prospective member countries. Those who are better informed are more likely to favour EU membership and vice versa. Generally, socioeconomic characteristics (except for age and region) are relatively poor predictors of support for EU membership as compared with attitudinal variables. But ‘Europeanness’ should not be seen as a given, and much will depend on whether EU member countries emphasize what is common to east and west or establish ‘new dividing lines’ in place of those of the cold war