A mathematical model of glioma growth: the effect of chemotherapy on spatio-temporal growth

During the past two decades computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have permitted the detection of tumours at much earlier stages in their development than was previously possible. In spite of this earlier diagnosis the effects of earlier and more extensive treatments have been difficult to document. This failure has led to an increasing awareness of the importance of infiltration of glioma cells into surrounding grossly normal brain tissue such that recurrence still occurs. In this paper a simple mathematical model for the proliferation and infiltration of such tumours is introduced, based in part on quantitative image analysis of histological sections of a human brain glioma and especially on cross-sectional area/volume measurements of serial CT images while the patient was undergoing chemotherapy. The model parameters were estimated using optimization techniques to give the best fit of the simulated tumour area to the CT scan data. Numerical solution of the model on a two-dimensional domain, which took into account the geometry of the brain and its natural barriers to diffusion, was used to determine the effect of chemotherapy on the spatiotemporal growth of the tumour.     

Economic history of ostrich fern,Matteuccia struthiopteris,the edible fiddlehead

Although the ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris,is distributed throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, its consumption as a spring vegetable has been largely restricted to the tables of the Maritime Provinces in Canada and neighboring Maine in the United States. However, in little more than a decade the demand has expanded beyond these traditional boundaries, due to the present availability of the frozen product. The heart of the industry is undoubtedly New Brunswick. The harvest of 200 t/yr is approximately 4 times that of Maine, and from an historical vantage the traditional use as a spring vegetable is with the New Brunswickers as well. In light of the present high demand for the product and the reports of localized overpicking, a review of the economic history, resource management and attempts at cultivation is presented.     

Application of the Indirect Immunoperoxidase Stain Technique to the Flagella of Azospirillum brasilense

An indirect immunoperoxidase stain was used to demonstrate by electron microscopy that an antigenic difference exists between the polar flagellum and the lateral flagella of Azospirillum brasilense ATCC 29145.     

Skeletal changes associated with vascular malformations

Five hundred and eighty birthmarks were reviewed; 356 were hemangiomas and 224 were malformations. Bony alterations occurred in association with only 1 percent of hemangiomas, in contrast with 34 percent of patients with vascular malformations. These alterations in bone development were classified according to size, shape, and density changes. Hypertrophy and distortion were typical of lymphatic malformations. Hypoplasia and demineralization were characteristic findings in the extremity venous malformations. Destructive and intraosseous changes were more commonly noted in the arterial or high-flow lesions. Possible mechanisms of altered skeletal growth include mechanical, physiological, and developmental processes.     

Characteristics of patients found not to have multiple sclerosis.

Of 400 consecutive patients referred to Dalhousie University''s multiple sclerosis research unit 52 (13%) were found not to have multiple sclerosis. Forty-one (79%) of the patients were female and 11 (21%) were male. About half of the patients had raised the suspicion of multiple sclerosis, and about half had either a medical background or a close association with a patient with the disease. Although in many cases a diagnosis was made at the initial visit, in difficult cases the most effective diagnostic technique was repeated assessment of the patient over a long period. It is important to keep an open mind when assessing patients suspected of having multiple sclerosis and to apply the recognized criteria for diagnosis of the disease.