This article reviews experimental and clinical data on atherosclerosis and cancer showing common pathogenic mechanisms. It is suggested that common pathways follow dysfunction of the vascular endothelium. The activation of the haemostatic system and the overexpression of cytokines and adhesion molecules by the endothelial cells represent important features of this dysfunction. These mechanisms can be responsible for progression of both diseases and explain the higher incidence of thromboembolic events in cancer patients, the occurrence of similar laboratory findings and the effect of many drugs on the course of the two diseases. Our article confirms that atherosclerosis and cancer share common mechanisms, and we hope it will stimulate further clinical trials on the use of drugs active on the haemostatic system in cancer patients.

Among 1875 patients with palpable thyroid nodules examined with FNA cytology and LNAB histology, 132 with a preoperative FNA diagnosis of microfollicular nodule with atypical cells (n = 50) or suspected cancer (n = 82) were operated on. The 50 nodules showed the following preoperative LNAB finding: inadequate (8), benign (15), microfollicular (20), microfollicular with atypical cells (5), suspected cancer (2). The postoperative cancer incidence in the nodules with the benign LNAB diagnosis was 0% while it was 10%, 60% (P = 0.008), 100% (P = 0.007) in the other three LNAB diagnostic categories. The 82 nodules showed the following preoperative LNAB finding: inadequate (21), benign (21), microfollicular (15), microfollicular with atypical cells (15), suspected cancer (10). The postoperative incidence of cancer in the 21 (14%) and 10 (80%) nodules diagnosed by LNAB as benign nodule or suspected cancer, respectively, was significantly different (P = 0.0007). These data suggest that LNAB can be used for the preoperative selection of the palpable thyroid nodules diagnosed by FNA as a microfollicular nodule with atypical cells or suspected cancer.

In 102 N- and 44 N+ disease-free breast cancer patients, lymphocytic populations and skin reaction of delayed hypersensitivity (SRDH) were monitored up to 266 months after mastectomy to find out whether they were similar or different from control values. In two selected groups of 34 N- and 11 N+ breast cancer patients, the whole 10 year follow-up was divided into three subintervals, each of them lasting 40 months and the time course of lymphocytic populations was evaluated. In the 102 N- patients, mean CD4+, CD8+, CD3+ values were lower (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, respectively) while CD4+/CD8+ ratio was higher (P < 0.05) than in controls. Fifteen N- breast cancer patients (16%) were anergic compared to 30(32%) of controls (P < 0.05). In the 34 selected N- breast cancer patients soon after mastectomy the mean value of CD4+, CD8+, CD3+ T subpopulations was lower (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, respectively) than in controls. Successively their mean value increased so that in the last subinterval they were not or were only slightly lower (P n.s., P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively) than in controls. In the 44 N+ patients, mean CD4+, CD8+, CD3+ values were lower (P < 0.001, v < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively) and CD19+ lymphocytes higher (P < 0.001) than in controls. Five N+ breast cancer patients (13%) were anergic compared to 32% of controls (P < 0.05). In the 11 selected N+ breast cancer patients soon after mastectomy, the mean value of CD4+, CD8+ T subpopulations and CD16+56+ cells was significantly lower (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, respectively) than in controls. Successively their mean value constantly increased so that in the last subinterval, no or slight (P n.s., P < 0.05, P n.s., respectively) significant difference compared to controls occurred. The mean CD4+/CD8+ ratio value of N- patients was significantly higher than in controls. However in the last subinterval, the significance was lower than in the first one (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). In the N+ patients, the mean value of CD4+/CD8+ ratio was constant, although not significantly, lower than in controls; however it progressively increased from the first to the last subinterval. Therefore the significance of the difference of the mean CD4+/CD8+ ratio between N- and N+ patients strongly decreased from the first to the last subinterval (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). These data indicate that in breast cancer patients, following mastectomy, a significant activation of memory and CD4+ T cells and long-term decrease of the circulating immunocompetent CD4+, CD8+ and CD16+56+ cells occurs. The prolonged disease-free interval observed in the 34 N- and 11 N+ breast cancer patients can be correlated with the restoration of the normal state of cell-mediated immunity.

OBJECTIVE:To describe a relatively new percutaneous large-needle aspiration biopsy technique for histologic examination of the testis in infertile patients.DESIGN:Retrospective analysis of clinical and pathologic data.SETTING:Clinical and academic research environment.PATIENT(S):Sixty-six infertile patients who underwent testicular biopsy.INTERVENTION(S):Local anesthesia was induced through spermatic cord block with lidocaine, and a relatively large needle (usually 18- or 20-gauge) was introduced percutaneously into the testicle without a scrotal incision.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):The number of seminiferous tubules per histologic section of each testicular biopsy sample.RESULT(S):A mean of 74 seminiferous tubules were obtained in the histologic sections of each biopsy sample. This number varied according to the size of the needle used; it was 24.7 when a 21-gauge needle was used, 56.2 when a 20-gauge needle was used, and 103 when an 18-gauge needle was used. The biopsies were performed in the office. No significant hematomas occurred, no antibiotic prophylaxis was prescribed, and no postbiopsy medical or pharmacologic interventions were required.CONCLUSION(S):Tissue specimens as large as those obtained with open surgical biopsy can be obtained from the testicles of infertile patients with the use of a percutaneous technique that is easier, less costly, and safer than any previously reported.

Gyro calibration is a complex taskm, mainly because of the difficulty of managing angular velocity standards. This is especially true ‘in field’ and therefore low-cost sensors cannot to be used in high-accuracy applications. This paper presents a calibration process that does not require rotating tables or other velocity standards. The calibration is carried out making reference only to geometrical quantities and using the A/D conversion system and the computing system normally connected to the gyro. The calibration can be completed in a few minutes, and results in a noticeable improvement in accuracy.

Gyro calibration is a complex task, mainly because of the difficulty of managing angular velocity standards. This is especially true 'in field' and therefore low-cost sensors cannot to be used in high-accuracy applications. This paper presents a calibration process that does not require rotating tables or other velocity standards. The calibration is carried out making reference only to geometrical quantities and using the A/D conversion system and the computing system normally connected to the gyro. The calibration can be completed in a few minutes, and results in a noticeable improvement in accuracy.

A procedure, by which it is possible to detect the geometrical errors of a coordinate measuring machine and a machine tool and to obtain the parameters necessary for software correction of these errors, has been studied, put into operation and tested. This procedure, called “seifcalibration”, uses the results of the measurements automatically made by the machine on a three-dimensional standard placed at different positions in the working machine volume. The dimensions of the standard need not be known with high accuracy: it is sufficient to guarantee their stability during procedure operations and to measure three scale factors separately. For procedure adjusting and testing, nine machines have been employed, seven of which operating in industrial environment (two of these being working stations). The results proved that machine performance can be Improved by a factor ranging between three and ten.

The main characteristics of an intelligent measuring instrument for electrical quantities are outlined, putting in evidence the role of intelligence. Particular emphasis is given to the functional viewpoint, describing the most important subsystems into which the whole equipment can be divided. The main processes performed, such as autoranging, systematic errors correction, autocalibration, automatic estimation of uncertainties, autodiagnosis and instrument-to-user interfacing are also highlighted. The instrument has been completely designed and a good deal of hardware and software has been implemented.

Criteria and methods adopted in the design of the architecture of an automatic system for data acquisition and distribution, operating in industrial environments, are presented. The system will be used in a wide range of applications including both continuous and discrete processes. In the paper, the decision-making method used for the choice of the architecture is described. This method is based upon a formalised procedure consisting of the construction of a tree which displays the possible design alternatives, and of a decision-making process which enables the choice of the best architecture. Finally, some system configurations are shown as examples. These can be implemented by means of the chosen architecture and are suitable for specific plants.

Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter Facebook Reddit LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Reprints and Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation I. Gorini, S. Sartori; Quartz Thermometer. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 1 August 1962; 33 (8): 883–884. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1718012 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentAIP Publishing PortfolioReview of Scientific Instruments Search Advanced Search |Citation Search