Transient severe hypoplastic anemia in Q fever.

A case of severe transient marrow hypoplasia as a complication of Q fever is described. This caused marked thrombocytopenia and anemia. The patient recovered fully over the period of 1 wk. The initial marrow showed severe hypoplasia. The subsequent regenerating marrow showed numerous epithelioid granulomas one of which had a characteristic fibrin ring.

Fiber-optic acoustic sensors with increased sensitivity by use of composite structures.

Fiber-optic acoustic sensors having sensitivity nearly 2 orders of magnitude greater than that of sensors using bare fiber are reported. These new devices utilize a composite structure wherein the fiber is embedded in a material of lower elastic modulus that serves to increase the stress, and hence the optical phase shift, in the fiber for a given pressure.

Fiber-optic sensing of pressure and temperature.

The use of a fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer to measure differences in temperature or pressure between two single-mode fiber arms is described. Temperature or pressure changes are observed as a motion of an optical interference fringe pattern. Values are calculated for the pressure and temperature dependence of the fringe motion. Pressure and temperature measurements are made with the interferometer, and the experimental values for sensitivity are in good agreement with those calculated.

Fiber optic acoustic sensors with composite structure: an analysis.

Fiber optic acoustic sensors with composite structures are analyzed and shown to offer greatly increased acoustic sensitivity. The composite structure consists of an optical fiber coated with or embedded in an elastic material of lower elastic modulus. Sensitivity increases of 10-100 times are indicated. Important advantages of this technique in practical acoustic sensors are also described.

Unidirectional star coupler for single-fiber distribution systems.

The design and construction of a unidirectional star coupler for single-fiber distribution systems are described. A rectangular mixing section is required to obtain uniform output distribution. Four-port stars have been constructed with losses only (1/2) to 1 dB greater than packing fraction. For any given input, outputs are uniform to within about +/-1 dB.

[Results of treatment for laryngeal carcinoma in Würzburg]. / Würzburger Therapieergebnisse beim Larynxkarzinom

From 1960 through 1972, altogether 418 patients with laryngeal carcinoma have been treated at Würzburg, 333 = 82% of these by primary radiation therapy with Co-60 gamma-rays. The results are reported and analyzed in dependence on prognostic factors as tumor site and extension, formation of metastases and age of the patient. Five-year survival of primarily irradiated cases from 1960 to 1967; Glottic T1 = 90%, T2 = 70%, T3 -31%. Supraglottic T2 = 51%, T3 =20%, T4 = 16%. Quota of cases with posterior surgical treatment: Glottic = 8% supraglottic = 28%. The attempt to preserve the larnyx function by means of radiation therapy as an initial measure does not bring along any risk for the patient. The incidence of recurrences with secondary surgical treatment is not smaller than with irradiation only.

Mode dispersion in diffused channel waveguides by the effective index method.

The effective index method for calculating waveguide mode dispersion is reviewed and applied to uniform rectangular optical waveguides with both small and large index differences. The results are shown to be at least as accurate as other approximate techniques. The effective index method is then applied to channel waveguides assuming 1-D and 2-D diffusion. Channel waveguides without sideways diffusion are shown to be described by the method using a normalized notation and previously published universal dispersion curves. Two-dimensional diffusion theory is applied to treat the case of isotropic sideways diffusion. A new, normalized, 1-D universal chart is obtained which in conjunction with previous results defines waveguide mode dispersion in isotropically diffused 2-D channels.

Chlorambucil allergy--a series of three cases.

Three cases of chlorambucil-related skin eruption in patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are described. Cases were confirmed by exclusion of other drugs, rechallenge, skin testing and histology. One patient died due to florid erythema multiforme. Only two other adequately documented cases are described.

Hodgkin's disease: results of treatment with combination chemotherapy.

Combination chemotherapy, which consisted of nitrogen mustard, a vinca alkaloid, procarbazine, and prednisone, was given to 60 patients with disseminated or recurrent Hodgkin's disease. A complete remission of disease was observed in 41 patients, with a median duration of 35+ months. The longest continuing remission was 89 months, and 52% of patients who achieved a complete remission were alive five years from the start of treatment. In contrast, patients who only had a partial remission (11 patients), or failed to respond to therapy (8 patients) fared badly, with a less than 50% survival rate at one year. Response to drug therapy could not be predicted on the basis of sex, age or tumour histology, but patients who had previously received both radiotherapy and chemotherapy had a poor prognosis. Drug toxicity was substantial, but was considered acceptable in view of the clear benefit of treatment to most patients. Further improvement in the outlook of patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease is likely to result from modifications of current drug regimens, possibly combined with non-radical radiotherapy.

Advanced non-Hodgkins' lymphomas: response to treatment with combination chemotherapy and factors influencing prognosis.

Response to combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (COP) and specific factors influenceing prognosis were evaluated in 70 patients with stage III or IV non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Complete remissions (CR) were observed in 40% of patients, with a total response rate of 88%. The median duration of CR was 8 months, but 50% of patients were in continuing CR. High rates of CR were associated with: (a) well-differentiated lymphocytic cytology, (b) tumour nodularity, (c) normal blood lymphocyte counts at diagnosis, and (d) disease stage IIIA. These same factors also showed a positive correlation with 5-year-survival rates from diagnosis. It is suggested that patients with advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphomas do not form a homogeneous treatment group, but warrant a differential therapeutic approach based on the prognostic determinants stated above. The study provides further support for the prognostic usefulness of Rappaport's classification of these tumours.

Acoustic desensitization of single-mode fibers utilizing nickel coatings.

The pressure sensitivity of the phase of light propagating in a single-mode fiber coated with a thin nickel jacket is determined both analytically and experimentally. The measured acoustic response of the fiber is found to be 1 order of magnitude lower than that of the bare fiber, in agreement with analytical predictions. The technique thus appears to be a promising way for desensitizing optical-fiber leads for use with fiber-optic sensors.