Factors affecting outcome in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in term infants

Forty-nine term infants were prospectively shown to have hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). All infants survived the neonatal period, and all but two infants (seen at 12 months) were followed up to at least 27 months of age. Factors that significantly correlated with outcome included the Sarnat encephalopathy stage and the occurrence of intractable seizures not controlled by phenobarbital sodium alone. There was no association between the one- or five-minute Apgar score, the need for early ventilation, the EEG, the occurrence of seizures, and the subsequent outcome. There was no significant difference in outcome for those infants who received dexamethasone sodium phosphate (n = 29) v those who did not receive the drug (n = 20). A review of 97 term infants with HIE from a regional perinatal program during a one-year period (1979), including 35 of the 49 infants in the present study, did show a significant increase in morbidity and mortality for transported infants.     

Factors affecting pregnancy outcome resulting from assisted reproductive technology (ART)

The lesions of the anus and the rectum are not very really found in children, representing even a appreciable percentage; in the Pediatric Surgery Clinic of the University Hospital no. 1 of Craiova were admitted and operated 12 patients with lesions of the rectum between 1986 and 1998. The causes of these lesions were: polytraumatism--3, falls in different sharp things--7, rectal perforations on the septic base from the peritoneal cavity--1, iatrogenic cause--1. The surgical treatment were consisted in: the suture of wounds on the perineal way, lavage, drainage, antibiotherapy--6 cases, the iliac left anus with the re-establishing of the continuity--3 cases, the suture of wounds on the perineal and abdominal ways--2 cases. The conditions were good in 9 cases--cured, and 3 deceases (2 polytraumatism, 1 case malformed new-born with perforation produced by using haegar).     

Psychiatric outcome of termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality

Termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality has become frequent with the increasing sophistication of techniques of antenatal diagnosis. The aim of this study was to obtain quantitative and qualitative information about psychiatric morbidity in women after termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality. Two samples of women were compared. The first consisted of 71 women who had had a termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality (FA group). The second consisted of 26 women who had experienced so-called missed abortion (MA group). Both groups had lost a pregnancy in the mid-trimester of pregnancy, but the MA group had no element of choice. Standardized psychiatric and social measures were used to assess both groups on three occasions after the termination. In both groups, 4 weeks after the termination psychiatric morbidity was high (four to five times higher than in the general population of women), and social adjustment was impaired. Six months and 12 months after the abortion, levels of psychiatric morbidity were near normal. Semi-structured interviewing was used to obtain information about the experience of grief after mid-trimester termination. For many women, symptoms of grief persisted throughout the year. These symptoms included typical features of grief as well as grief symptoms specific to pregnancy loss. The findings have implications for the counselling of women after termination for foetal abnormality or after missed abortion.     

Contemporary concepts of the problem of hydrocephaly]

A lymphocyte population was studied of natural killer cells in an acute phase of myocardial infarction during its uncomplicated course and in case of development of pneumonia. MI patients demonstrate some defect in the EK-cellular link of immunity, which fact can be of pathogenetic significance for the development of the inflammatory changes in the bronchopulmonary system.     

Variance analysis: affecting the outcome through use

Drugs research in children entails a number of problems: medical-ethical, pharmacological (owing to the immaturity of the organs and the growth and development of the child) and financial (because children do not use many drugs). Consequently, children are exposed to insufficiently tested drugs and new therapeutic possibilities are withheld from them. Currently, little clinical drugs research in children is being carried out, but this is about to change. By now, European guidelines have been drawn up for the performance of clinical drugs trials according the 'good clinical practice' standards in children. In the Netherlands, a cooperative body has been set up (the Pediatric Pharmacology Network), which is to promote and coordinate paediatric pharmacological research in according with these guidelines.     

Factors affecting high-density lipoproteins

Although it is well established that a low-circulating level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is strongly associated with the likelihood of developing atherosclerotic coronary heart disease (CHD), the causal nature of this association has not been shown. Low levels of HDL cholesterol frequently are associated with other CHD risk factors, whose correction, often by hygienic means, may reduce CHD risk with minimal risk of adverse side-effects. However, other recommended hygienic interventions may lower HDL cholesterol levels. Specific safe and effective drugs for correcting a low HDL cholesterol level are not available and the potential value of specific pharmacologic treatment of this condition in the treatment or prevention of CHD remains unproven. Thus, while HDL measurement should be incorporated routinely in risk-assessment, intervention efforts should focus primarily on lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.     

Factors determining the weaning outcome

OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinicopathological and chemoresistant factors predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the patient prognosis in high-risk cervical carcinomas. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 47 patients with locally advanced or bulky cervical carcinoma treated with two courses of intraarterial infusion of cisplatin, doxorubicin, mitomycin C, and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), followed by radical hysterectomy at our hospital between 1988 and 1995. Expressions of the chemoresistance-related proteins, such as P-glycoprotein, glutathione S-transferase pi (GST-pi), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the tumor cells, were examined by immunohistochemistry using pretreatment biopsy specimens. These results were compared with the chemotherapeutic response, which was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathology. Outcome of the patients was also studied. RESULTS: Chemotherapeutic effect of either complete (CR) or partial (PR) response on MRI was obtained in 36 of the 47 (86%) patients. Poor response to chemotherapy was significantly correlated with P-glycoprotein expression (P < 0.005) and low PCNA labeling (P < 0. 05), but not GST-pi expression in the tumor cells. Independent prognostic factors for patient survival were parametrial involvement and lymph node metastasis. Neither the expression of GST-pi nor PCNA was correlated with the patient survival. CONCLUSION: Assessment of the expression of P-glycoprotein and PCNA is potentially useful for the prediction of tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for cervical carcinomas.     

Factors affecting the biodegradation of toluene in soil

The biodegradation of toluene in soil microcosms was examined in order to identify the physical, chemical, and biological factors which determine the fate and lifetime of organic chemicals in soils. Toluene degradation rates were proportional to the initial substrate concentration and these rates reached a maximum at a concentration of 200 micrograms/g. No degradation occurred above this concentration presumably due to the toxicity of the hydrocarbon to the soil microorganisms. Small differences were observed in the degradation rates in soils at different moisture content. However, the availability of water in soil appeared to limit toluene degradation only at a very low water content. The lifetime of toluene in soil was also related to the initial level and activity of the soil microorganisms. Toluene was metabolized rapidly in those soils which initially contained high levels of degrading microorganisms. Furthermore, exposure of the soil to toluene resulted in an increase in the number of degrading organisms. The lack of inorganic nutrients such as nitrogen prevented complete degradation of toluene in a clay soil which contained high levels of degrading microorganisms. The biodegradation of organic chemicals in soil is not an intrinsic property of the molecule and cannot be predicted without first delineating the environment in which it is found. The biodegradation of a compound is defined by the biological, physical, and chemical characteristics of the soil environment. The lifetime of a chemical in soil results from a combination of all three of these parameters.     

Factors affecting the work efforts of disabled-worker beneficiaries

Congress is currently placing considerable emphasis on returning disabled-worker beneficiaries to work. However, going back to work is only the first step in the complex process of program termination due to work and trust fund savings. Not only must the beneficiary get a job, but also the work effort must be sustained at what is considered a substantial gainful activity (SGA) level by the disability program (so that an SGA termination will result) and a reasonable living condition must be achieved by the beneficiary (so that the person is motivated to continue working and lose benefits). This article focuses on those factors that affect the ability of the beneficiary to sustain such a work effort. Combined with previous findings about returning to work, we begin to see the overall effect of the factors on work efforts. Beneficiaries who have physical therapy rehabilitation have a higher tendency to start working and a lower tendency to stop. Those with vocational training or general education have a higher tendency to start working, but these factors do not help to sustain the effort. Beneficiaries who were helped with job placement have a higher tendency to start work, but they also have a higher tendency to stop. If beneficiaries knew about the trial-work period, but not about either the extended period of eligibility or Medicare continuation, then they had a higher tendency to start work and a higher tendency to stop. However, if they knew about all three work-incentive provisions, then the tendency to work was not affected.     

Factors affecting the shrinkage of fly ash geopolymers

The shrinkage of fly ash geopolymers was studied in the present study.Fly ash was used as the source material for making the geopolymers.The effects of the concentration of Na0H,sodium silicate-to-NaOH ratio,liquid-to-ash ratio,curing temperature,and curing time on shrinkage were investigated.The geopolymers were cured at 25,40,and 600C,respectively.The results indicate that the shrinkage of geopolymers is strongly dependent on curing temperature and liquid-to-ash ratio.The increase in shrinkage is associated with the low strength development of geopolymers.It is also found that NaOH concentration and sodium silicate-to-NaOH ratio also affect the shrinkage of geopolymers but to a lesser extent.     

Factors affecting the mobility of pediatric dentistry faculty

A 66-year-old female underwent uneventful removal of parasagittal meningioma. At surgery, a piece of Biobond-soaked oxycellulose was applied to the lateral wall of the superior sagittal sinus for hemostasis. Her early postoperative course was complicated by focal but severe brain edema, which was adjacent to the hemostatic agent. Unlike foreign body granuloma previously reported, this complication was considered to be attributed to inflammatory reaction of Biobond, because of the early onset and fulminant edema despite of small volume of the mass lesion. Although there have been no previous reports of this complication, it should be kept in mind that intracranial application of Biobond may induce fulminant inflammatory reaction as seen in this patient.     

Factors affecting the self-concepts of South African students

Relationships among family macrosocial structures, proximate family settings, attributions of responsibility, and African adolescents' self-concepts were examined. Data were collected from 460 South African high school students (234 girls, 226 boys; mean age = 18.6 years). On the basis of partial least squares path modeling, the results suggest that (a) family macrosocial structure, proximate family settings, and the individual's sense of responsibility for academic outcomes had modest to strong associations with different dimensions of self-concept; and (b) there were gender-related differences in the structure of the adolescents' social status backgrounds and self-concepts and in the relationships among social status, perceptions of parents' support for learning, personal responsibility, and self-concept.     

Factors affecting bone graft incorporation

Successful graft incorporation requires that an appropriate match be made among the biologic activity of a bone graft, the condition of the perigraft environment, and the mechanical environment. The authors have studied, in a wide variety of animal models, the factors that affect the main components of bone graft incorporation: revascularization, new bone formation, and host-graft union. The principal determinant of the rate, pattern, and amount of revascularization is the presence or absence of a vascular pedicle. The nonvascularized bone graft is entirely dependent on the surrounding tissue for its revascularization, which results in a noticeable delay in vessel ingrowth. The principal determinant of the rate and amount of new bone formation on, in, or about a bone graft is the presence or absence of living, histocompatible, committed bone-forming cells. When living cells are not part of the graft at the time of implantation, the cells that form new bone are derived from host tissues, and new bone formation is delayed. The principal determinants of host-graft union are stability of the construct and contact between host bone and the graft. Factors that slow or inhibit all of these processes are reduction of the biologic activity of the graft by freezing or some other treatment, histocompatibility antigen disparities between donor and recipient, mechanical instability between the graft and the perigraft environment, and local and systemic interference with the biologic activity of the graft and surrounding tissue, for example, by irradiation or the administration of cisplatin. The task of the clinician who does a bone grafting procedure is to choose the right graft or combination of grafts for the biologic and mechanical environment into which the graft will be placed.     

Factors affecting lead jarosite formation

The importance of lead jarosite in hydrometallurgical processing and the factors affecting its formation in both the slow addition and autoclave synthesis techniques are discussed. In the slow addition method the principal factors are the amount and rate of delivery of soluble lead to the hot ferric sulphate solution; high temperatures and good agitation are also essential to avoid the formation of PbSO₄. The key step in the autoclave synthesis process is the selective removal of residual PbSO⁴ from the reaction product and methods of accomplishing this are described. The major factors affecting the autoclave synthesis of lead jarosite are the ratio of $\text{PbSO}{}_4\text{Fe}{}^{\mathrm{3+}}$, acid concentration and the ionic strength of the solution. Time, temperature, degree of agitation and seeding all affect the reaction but to a lesser degree. The principal techniques identified to suppress lead jarosite formation were high acidity (> 0.3 M H₂SO₄ or the presence of substantial quantities (> 0.3 M) of other jarosite formers such as K₂SO₄. Lead jarosites containing more than 16% Pb were produced and X-ray diffraction data for such material are presented.     

Factors affecting alkali jarosite precipitation

Several factors affecting the precipitation of the alkali jarosites (sodium jarosite, potassium jarosite, rubidium jarosite, and ammonium jarosite) have been studied systematically using sodium jarosite as the model. The pH of the reacting solution exercises a major influence on the amount of jarosite formed, but has little effect on the composition of the washed product. Higher temperatures significantly increase the yield and slightly raise the alkali content of the jarosites. The yield and alkali content both increase greatly with the alkali concentration to about twice the stoichiometric requirement but, thereafter, remain nearly constant. At 97 °C, the amount of product increases with longer retention times to about 15 hours, but more prolonged reaction times are without significant effect on the amount or composition of the jarosite. Factors such as the presence of seed or ionic strength have little effect on the yield or jarosite composition. The amount of precipitate augments directly as the iron concentration of the solution increases, but the product composition is nearly independent of this variable. A significant degree of agitation is necessary to suspend the product and to prevent the jarosite from coating the apparatus with correspondingly small yields. Once the product is adequately suspended, however, further agitation is without significant effect. The partitioning of alkali ions during jarosite precipitation was ascertained for K:Na, Na:NH₄, K:NH₄, and K:Rb. Potassium jarosite is the most stable of the alkali jarosites and the stability falls systematically for lighter or heavier congeners; ammonium jarosite is slightly more stable than the sodium analogue. Complete solid solubility among the various alkali jarosite-type compounds was established.     

影响光面爆破效果的因素分析

对光面爆破原理和影响因素进行了分析,介绍了光面爆破的方法、光面爆破参数的选择和光面爆破的优点,说明了采用光面爆破的必要性.     

Donor factors affecting outcome after pancreas transplantation

In this study, we demonstrated that Px grafts from donors older than 45 years are associated with an increased risk of developing poor glycemic control and premature loss of Px function. Previous studies corroborate our finding that age of the donor is the principal donor characteristic impacting postoperative Px survival. Whereas prior studies also implicated hyperamylasemia as a factor which contributes adversely to outcome, we were unable to demonstrate a significant influence of donor hyperamylasemia on long-term graft survival, although it did correlate with the degree of immediate postoperative pancreatitis and with the need for oral hypoglycemic agents. Similarly, elevated blood glucoses in the donor, which can be a result of many other factors unrelated to the quality of the graft, did not predict a poor outcome in the recipient. NHB donor pancreata did as well as HB pancreata with regards to all postoperative functional parameters. A marginally increased risk of developing major complications was associated with older donors. Despite the frequent use of non-ideal donors, including older and NHB donors, excellent overall Px graft survival can be achieved. Although the quality of the pancreas graft was not directly addressed in this study, we believe irrespective of hyperglycemia or hyperamylasemia, subjective assessment of organ quality by an experienced transplant surgeon is the most important determinant of suitability.