Effect of steam application based on microbiological and parasitologic test procedures

In the present study steam application was investigated with regard to microbicidal and parasiticidal effects. The cleaning apparatus used (Uninova Company) works at a boiler pressure of about 5 bar and consequently with a temperature up to 155 degrees C inside the boiler. Whereas the ambient atmosphere working temperature of steam is slightly below 100 degrees C. The tests are based on the DVG guidelines for testing chemical disinfectants (2). Different steaming times and distances were used in germ carrier tests with three different germ carriers (tile, wood, carpet) and three different test germs (Staphyloccocus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans) in order to determine the optimum conditions for biocidal effects of steam-application. These optimum conditions were additionally tested with two test viruses (ECBO- and Reo-virus) and a parasitological resting form (ascarid worm eggs). Swirling of germs caused by steam turbulence was minimized by covering the steam outlet nozzle with cloth. The experiments showed logarithmical reduction factors of at least 5.0 in the germ count at steaming times of 5 seconds and a steaming distance of 2.5 cm for all three test germs on all three germ carriers (mean of 10 repeated tests). The virological tests showed good disinfection results after a steaming time of only 2 seconds using aseptic gauze as germ carrier and also after 5 seconds using wood as a carrier. Finally in testing vitality of undeveloped Ascarid worm eggs only 2 seconds of steam treatment proved to be sufficient for a 100 percent destruction. According to the present results steam treatment is most likely to become a valuable, ecologically compatible method in controlling hygienic problems, with a potential of partly replacing chemical disinfectants. In particular we see applications in keeping pets and companion animals, provided the above mentioned rules are followed (steaming distance 2.5 cm; steaming time 5 seconds; cloth). In farm animal stables steam disinfection seems harder to achieve because of large, rough surfaces and economical reasons as e.g. expenditure of time and energy.     

TB10钛合金的动态力学性能及绝热剪切分析

利用分离式的Hopkinson压杆,得到了不同组织状态的近β型TB10钛合金在高应变率下的动态压缩应力-应变曲线,结果表明:TB10钛合金的三种组织状态都表现出应变率敏感性。通过光学显微镜分析其显微组织的变化规律,结果表明:两相区固溶 时效、两相区固溶 双重时效的试样中均可观察到明显的绝热剪切带,且沿剪切带出现裂纹;单一固溶态试样金相观察表明晶粒的变形是均匀的,没有观察到绝热剪切带。在单一固溶态试样中出现了应力诱发马氏体相。     

Barriers to school-based health care programs

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of Nd:YAG laser treatment on the permeability of dentine. Forty dentine discs were prepared by horizontal sectioning through the middle coronal third of freshly extracted non-carious third molars. After the removal of the pulp the discs were finished with 600 grit and divided into three test groups and one control group (n = 10). For the test group three different laser power settings were chosen: test group A: 3 x 60 sec, 60 mJ; test group B: 3 x 60 sec, 90 mJ; test group C: 3 x 60 sec, 120 mJ. No laser treatment was performed on the control group. In a two-chamber system the filtration rate of dentine tubules from an exactly defined area of the specimens was measured using a radioactive Ringer solution under a pressure of 30 cm H2O. Permeability measurements were carried out three times prior to lasing, three times immediately following laser treatment and six times after the application of phosphoric acid. Analysis of variance showed a significant influence of the Nd:YAG laser treatment on the permeability of dentine (P < 0.001). The mean quotient of non-treated control vs. lased dentine was 2.19 +/- 0.86 for the 60 mJ beam, 1.49 +/- 0.88 for the 90 mJ beam, and 2.04 +/- 2.17 for the 120 mJ beam. Etching the lased surfaces had a statistically significant influence on the permeability of the dentine only in the 60 mJ group (P < 0.001). The data show that the Nd:YAG laser treatment often increases the permeability of smear layer covered dentine but moderates the increase of permeability after etching the surface with phosphoric acid.     

Failure of methadone and levomethadyl acetate (levo-alpha-acetylmethadol, LAAM) maintenance to affect memory

Memory tests were administered to 30 patients taking methadone hydrochloride and 31 taking levomethadyl acetate (levo-alpha-acetylmethadol, LAAM) both prior to treatment and after one and three months of continuous treatment. A group of nonopiate using matched control subjects was administered the tests at similar intervals. No statistically significant difference in test performance was found among these groups at any of the three sessions. The methadone and control groups also did not differ significantly in the frequency of subjective reports of decreased memory function. Previous reports of memory deflicits during long-term methadone administration may be a result of comparing methadone and control groups at a single point in time and assuming that prior to methadone maintenance the groups were equivalent.     

Value of serology as a noninvasive method for evaluating the efficacy of treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

The systemic humoral response to Helicobacter pylori was studied in 86 infected adult patients before antimicrobial therapy and at intervals following therapy. Endoscopy with collection of biopsy specimens was performed immediately before treatment; a 13C-labeled urea breath test was performed, and blood specimens were collected before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment. Serum samples from three patient groups (eradication success [n = 50], eradication failure [n = 16], and no treatment [n = 20]) were assayed for IgA and IgG antibodies to H. pylori by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of antibody to H. pylori before treatment were similar in all three groups. As expected, the no treatment and eradication failure groups had no significant changes in antibody levels during the study period. In contrast, for the eradication success group, the specific IgA and IgG antibody levels decreased progressively and significantly. We conclude that serology is a potentially useful way to monitor the success of treatment of H. pylori infection without using invasive or more expensive methods.     

The impact of personality disorders on behavioral treatment outcome for social phobia

The impact of personality disorders (PDs) on exposure in vivo treatment for social phobia was investigated in three groups of social phobics: social phobia without any PD (n = 30), social phobia with a single diagnosis of avoidant PD (n = 18) and social phobia with multiple PDs (n = 13). We hypothesized parallel change for social phobia with and without an avoidant PD with the latter group being more impaired before and after treatment. In order to test this hypothesis, confidence intervals for change were computed. In line with our hypothesis, social phobics in all three groups improved significantly during treatment and no interaction effects were found on the repeated MANOVAs. By using a confidence interval, parallel change was found on most measures. The impact of additional anxiety and mood disorders on treatment outcome was investigated separately. The analyses showed that an additional anxiety or mood disorder also did not predict outcome of exposure treatment.     

Topical retinoic acid (tretinoin) for photoaging: conceptions and misperceptions

Sinusoidal rotation and rotational stimulation tests were used to examine vestibular function in guinea pigs. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the mean number of nystagmus of semi-cycle sinusoidal rotation test and the duration of nystagmus of rotational stimulation test for both the control and test groups before treatment in albinos and pigmented guinea pigs. Meantime, daily subcutaneous injection of gentamicin 125 mg/kg body weight for 12 days in albinos and pigmented guinea pigs showed no significant change in vestibular function until the 7th day of treatment. Significant impairment of vestibular function was noticed on the 10th treatment day. At 5 days after treatment vestibular impairment reached its maximum and minimal recovery was seen at 14 days after treatment. No Further improvement of vestibular function was noticed three months after treatment. The methods are feasible and reliable.     

The long-term effect of day care rehabilitation on individuals with dementia

In the treatment of senile dementia, rehabilitation rather than drugs, could result in more positive long-term effects. A Day Care program designed for individuals with Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer type (SDAT) and Vascular Dementia (VD:MID and BD), activates the brain through memory training, creative arts therapy, physical activity, and social interaction. The objective of this study is to determine if Day Care can modify the patients intellectual decline or even alter the natural course of the dementing illness. 135 SDAT and 213 VD patients were studied over three years. ADL (Activities of Daily Living) measurements were evaluated by the Barthel Index and cognitive measurements by the NM-scale. The Wilcoxon test and the Sign test were carried out using the BI and NM-scale scores. These results indicated a decline or arrest in the progression of SDAT and VD as determined by the multiple logistical models. The 8 variables (risk factors, medication, age at onset, self-rehabilitation, family support, sex, grade of dementia and Day Care) influence on the survival curves was calculated using the Kaplan-Meire Life table method. The Cox proportional hazard analysis was then used to examine the relationship between the 8 variables and dementia. The significantly positive results from these four analyses of the ADL and cognitive measurements indicate that Day Care programs clearly retards the progression of intellectual decline in dementia patients and improves the quality of life (QOL) in all cases. In VD patients the mortality rate was notably decreased through Day Care. These results make one consider the benefits of introducing such programs into society as a strong treatment against the onset of dementia developing into severe, dehabilitating dementia. However a healthy diet, a physically and mentally active life, as well as early diagnosis, are the best preventions against dementia.     

Evaluation of commercial presence-absence test kits for detection of total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and other indicator bacteria

Evaluations of several commercial presence-absence (P-A) test kits were performed over a 6-month period in 1990 by using the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) P-A test for comparison. The general principles of the multiple-tube fermentation technique formed the basis for conducting the product evaluations. Each week, a surface water sample was diluted and inoculated into 25 99-ml dilution blanks for each of three dilutions. The inoculated dilution blanks from each dilution series were randomly sorted into sets of five. Three of these sets were inoculated into the P-A test kits or vice versa, as required. The other two sets were passed through membrane filters, and one set of five membrane filters was placed onto m-Endo agar LES to give replicate total coliform counts and the other set was placed onto m-TEC agar to give replicate fecal coliform results. A statistical analysis of the results was performed by a modified logistic transform method, which provided an improved way to compare binary data obtained from the different test kits. The comparative test results showed that three of the four commercial products tested gave very good levels of recovery and that the fourth commercial product gave only fair levels of recovery when the data were compared with the data from MOE P-A tests and membrane filter tests. P-A bottles showing positive results after 18 h of incubation that were subcultured immediately in ECMUG tubes frequently could be confirmed as containing total coliforms, fecal coliforms, or Escherichia coli after 6 h of incubation; thus, the total incubation time was only 24 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Solitary plasmacytoma of the lung with light chain extracellular deposits: a case report and review of the literature

We studied a possible correlation between autonomic cardiac activity and the level of the red blood cell acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in patients with probable Alzheimer disease (AD). The influence of cholinesterase inhibitor treatment on this autonomic activity was evaluated. Twelve patients satisfying the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria of probable AD and 10 healthy controls were studied. Autonomic cardiac activity was evaluated by means of power spectral analysis (PSA) of heart rate variability (HRV) using an autoregressive algorithm on 250 consecutive electrocardiographic R-R intervals. All patients received oral eptastigmine, a new cholinesterase inhibitor, for 1 month. Before treatment, a simultaneous recording of the electrocardiographic and respiratory activities was performed at rest and subsequently during head-up tilt test at 700. Recording was repeated on the last day of treatment. The level of AChE activity during each recording was also evaluated. Spectrum power was calculated in three main frequency bands: high frequency (HF), 0.15-0.4 Hz; low frequency (LF), 0.04-0.15 Hz; very low frequency (VLF), <0.04 Hz. In addition, we calculated the total spectrum power (TSP) and the LF/HF ratio. The TSP and the absolute value of each spectral component were significantly lower in AD patients than in controls. In contrast with controls, AD patients did not show any significant change before treatment in either the LF and HF components or in the LF/HF ratio during the tilt test. However, the modification in the LF component, induced by tilting, showed a significant correlation with the level of AChE activity (p < 0.03). During the tilt test, the treatment caused changes in LF and HF components and in the LF/HF ratio similar to those observed in controls. These results suggest that the presence of autonomic cardiac dysfunction in AD patients might be due to a cholinergic deficit in the peripheral autonomic nervous system. Some aspects of this autonomic dysfunction can be normalized by cholinesterase inhibitor treatment.     

Magnetic resonance imaging--guided abdominal interventional radiology: laser-induced thermotherapy of liver metastases

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical benefit of magnetic resonance imaging--guided laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) for the minimally invasive treatment of liver metastases, with regard to survival rates and local tumor control. Magnetic resonance--guided LITT under local anesthesia was carried out in 134 consecutive patients aged 28-84 (mean age 69), with a total of 383 liver metastases. The major groups were liver metastases from colorectal cancer (88 patients) and liver metastases from breast cancer (20 patients), as well as metastases of miscellaneous primary tumors (26 patients). A total of 1048 laser applications were carried out. Cumulative survival times were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. All of the patients tolerated the procedure under local anesthesia well, and no severe complications or side effects were observed. During the follow-up period, 29 of the 134 patients treated died. The mean survival time was 35 months in the colorectal cancer group, 30 months in the breast cancer group, and 34 months in the group with miscellaneous primary tumors. The statistical assessment of the equality of survival distribution showed no significant differences between the three groups (Breslow test P = 0.35, Tarone-Ware test P = 0.49). These results suggest that in patients with liver metastases, local tumor destruction using minimally invasive percutaneous LITT under local anesthesia results in improved clinical outcomes, independently of the type of primary tumor.     

The effect of bicarbonate/fluoride dentifrices on human plaque pH

The acidogenic response in dental plaque after rinsing with sodium bicarbonate/fluoride dentifrice slurries was studied using three intra-oral models. In the first model, resting plaque pH was monitored in mesiobuccal plaque on upper molars and premolars in six healthy subjects after abstinence from normal oral hygiene for three days. These measurements were followed by a three-minute rinse with 10% sucrose and, following a two-minute interval, a three-minute rinse with a test dentifrice slurry. After the test dentifrice rinse, pH was monitored at regular intervals up to 60 minutes. Flow rate, pH and buffer capacity of stimulated saliva were also determined. Changes in resting pH, plaque pH minima, and maximum pH drop were calculated. A clear elevation in the resting pH was observed after bicarbonate/fluoride dentifrice rinses, and a significant increase was obtained in the pH minima. The smallest pH drop also was found after treatment with the bicarbonate/fluoride dentifrice rinse treatment (p < 0.02). A second model using telemetric partial dentures with interproximally placed micro-antimony pH electrodes was used to study the effects of rinsing with increasing concentrations of sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate solutions, and with a fluoride dentifrice containing sodium bicarbonate. The response to these treatments was found to be rapid, dose-dependent, and was the greatest from the sodium bicarbonate. A third model used 24 subjects to assess the effects of sodium bicarbonate/fluoride dentifrice on plaque pH before and after a glucose challenge. The use of the bicarbonate/fluoride dentifrice resulted in significantly less measurable plaque acid than the fluoride dentifrice treatment. Collectively, these results indicate bicarbonate in dentifrice to be an effective buffering agent for stabilizing the pH and neutralizing plaque acids in dental plaque.     

ABO materno-fetal incompatibility in the newborn infant: clinical usefulness of Coombs test and elution for the study of hemolytic disease

A decision to establish early treatment for hemolytic disease in the newborn is usually based upon results of the Coombs test. In order to evaluate a possible advantage of using the Elution test to help in the diagnosis of the hemolytic state, samples of cord blood from 197 consecutive newborns with ABO incompatibility were studied. Hemolysis occurred in 41. Each test (Coombs and Elution) was positive in 26 patients, for a total of 35 positive results and a combined sensitivity of 85%. False positives occurred in 24 of 156 patients with Coombs test and in 30 for the Elution test. Thus, combined results of both test would have suggested a need for phototherapy in 72 of 197 patients when in fact it was needed for only 41. Conversely, 13 patients with hemolytic disease were missed by both tests. The negative predictive value of both tests combined was 95% which is useful for clinical practice.     

Bench-Scale Evaluation of Chemically Bonded Phosphate Ceramic Technology to Stabilize Mercury Waste Mixtures

This bench-scale study was conducted to evaluate the stabilization of mercury (Hg) and mercuric chloride-containing surrogate test materials by the chemically bonded phosphate ceramics technology. This study was performed as part of a U.S. EPA program to evaluate treatment and disposal alternatives to the current land disposal restriction (LDR) treatment standards for mercury. The stabilized materials were subjected to a suite of leaching tests: one test characterized the solubility and release behavior of mercury as a function of pH between the pH values of 2 and 12; the second test used the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP); and the third leaching test used the TCLP “cage” modification. TCLP results showed that leachability of Hg decreased by approximately two orders of magnitude and a maximum of five orders of magnitude. The three leachability test methods produced similar amounts of leached mercury, but the test that studied mercury solubility as a function of pH released slightly higher levels (at pH 2) compared to the TCLP methods. On comparing the results obtained with the standard TCLP and the TCLP cage modification, we learned that the leachates from stabilized wastes containing 50 wt?% loading of elemental Hg and HgCl2 were within the LDR requirements. However, wastes containing higher loadings (i.e., 70 wt?% loading of Hg and HgCl2) had leachate concentrations exceeding the 0.2 mg/L treatment standard and therefore would not meet the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act disposal requirements.     

13C-urea breath test for diagnosis of experimental Helicobacter pylori infection in barrier born pigs

Previous studies with Helicobacter pylori infected barrier born pigs indicate that the infection has a patchy distribution, resulting in false negative culture results on endoscopic biopsy specimens. This study aimed to adapt the 13C-urea breath test as used in humans to diagnose H pylori infection in barrier born pigs. The breath test was also performed after bismuth as a single treatment and after triple therapy (bismuth, ampicillin, metronidazole). In control pigs the median excess of 13CO2 in expired air was 2.2 (range 0-12 n = 22) ppm. The infected pigs (n = 4) showed consistently high values (median 23 range 14-43) when examined on four occasions (n = 16) four to 10 weeks after inoculation. Biopsy specimens for culture had lower sensitivity than the breath test. No reduction in excess 13CO2 was seen after three days' single bismuth treatment, but after two weeks' triple therapy the breath test results had returned to normal. This suppression was temporary only, however, as the breath test was positive again four weeks after stopping treatment. In conclusion, the 13C-urea breath test is a simple and reliable test for determining H pylori infection and monitoring treatment effects in barrier born pigs. Because the test can be performed in awake pigs anaesthesia and gastroscopy are unnecessary.     

扩散连接冶金技术制备无损检测模拟试块的应用研究

将热压扩散连接冶金法应用于超声波模拟试块制备的应用研究,设计制备含有不同深度、宽度的矩形缺陷阵列试块并进行表征研究。利用石墨限位装置实现3～1 mm梯度的3种试块轴向变形极限条件,实施热压扩散连接试验。所制备试块分析结果表明:3种变形极限条件下,试块连接质量均较好,且试块轴向和径向变形量得到不同程度的限制;设计深度为2.0、1.0和0.5 mm的系列缺陷均能保留,预制缺陷的宽/深比小于3.6时,缺陷不会发生熔合;1 mm变形极限下,可获得最为完整的预制缺陷状态。无损检测结果显示各条件下试块预制矩形缺陷边界清晰;微观形貌显示连接界面区域组织扩散熔合充分且无明显影响预制缺陷的自生有害缺陷生成;连接界面区域与基体金相组织无明显区别,且化学元素分布均匀;热压扩散连接冶金方法可以应用于无损检测模拟试块的研制。     

扩散连接冶金技术制备无损检测模拟试块的应用研究

将热压扩散连接冶金法应用于超声波模拟试块制备的应用研究,设计制备含有不同深度、宽度的矩形缺陷阵列试块并进行表征研究。利用石墨限位装置实现3～1 mm梯度的3种试块轴向变形极限条件,实施热压扩散连接试验。所制备试块分析结果表明:3种变形极限条件下,试块连接质量均较好,且试块轴向和径向变形量得到不同程度的限制;设计深度为2.0、1.0和0.5 mm的系列缺陷均能保留,预制缺陷的宽/深比小于3.6时,缺陷不会发生熔合;1 mm变形极限下,可获得最为完整的预制缺陷状态。无损检测结果显示各条件下试块预制矩形缺陷边界清晰;微观形貌显示连接界面区域组织扩散熔合充分且无明显影响预制缺陷的自生有害缺陷生成;连接界面区域与基体金相组织无明显区别,且化学元素分布均匀;热压扩散连接冶金方法可以应用于无损检测模拟试块的研制。     

Optimal EMG signal bandwidth and interelectrode distance for the recording of acoustic, electrocutaneous, and photic blink reflexes

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this research was to control for self-selection bias in the evaluation of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as aftercare treatment. Observational studies of alcoholism aftercare treatment are subject to selection bias whenever the self-selection process results in important differences in unobserved casemix dimensions between treatment groups. METHOD: The sample included 118 male veterans discharged from inpatient alcohol treatment, 85% of whom were followed-up at 3 months. Drinking outcomes were measured by self-reported abstinence in the third month after discharge. The aftercare treatment effect of AA was estimated using standard logistic regression analysis and instrumental variables analysis. Instruments included the subject's ability to drive oneself to AA meetings and the presence/absence of an AA meeting in the subject's town of residence. A Hausman exogeniety test was used to determine whether the standard logistic regression results were subject to self-selection bias. RESULTS: Estimates from the standard logistic regression yielded a positive (OR = 3.7) and significant (p = .018) treatment effect for AA attendance. However, the instrumental variables analysis yielded a smaller (OR* = 1.7) and insignificant treatment effect estimate (p = .782). The Hausman exogeniety test indicated that the treatment effect estimate from the standard logistic regression was subject to significant self-selection bias (chi2 = 83.9, 1 df, p <.01). CONCLUSIONS: The AA aftercare treatment effect observed in this sample was due to differences in unobserved casemix factors between the treatment groups. Results suggest that previous AA aftercare research may have also been subject to self-selection bias. Researchers of substance abuse outcomes should consider analyzing nonexperimental data using instrumental variables methodologies.     

Testing of visual acuity in young children: an evaluation of some commonly used methods

In a comparative study of screening tests for visual acuity in young children, two groups of children were presented with three different tests. In the younger group (three to five years) three single opto-type tests were compared: Sheridan's five and seven letter matching test, the Fooks test and the E card test. The Sheridan test gave the best results and the E card test was found to be unsuitable for this age-group. The Fooks is an attractive test but was less sensitive in the detection of defects than the Sheridan test. In the older group (five to seven years) a single opto-type test, the Sheridan-Gardiner test, was compared with the E chart and the Snellen chart. The Sheridan-Gardiner test was found to have limitations in the detection of defects, including amblyopia, therefore results obtained by this method should not be considered to be directly comparable with those of the Snellen chart. The E chart gave good results in the detection of defects and there was less lateral confusion than had been expected. It has disadvantages, but there is still a place for its use in the screening of normal school-age children. The Snellen chart was the most effective test in the detection of defects, but not all the children were able to co-operate in its use. It is concluded that where it is possible to use the Snellen chart it should always be the method of choice.     

Clinical validation of a new olfactory test

A new approach to clinical olfactometry is presented using nasal sprays. A special dosage valve was used to standardize an aerosol size to 40 microns. For evaluation a 6 x 6 matrix (substance/olfactory quality) with verbal associative clues was used according to test psychological findings. Validation took place in three steps after determining smell-associated thresholds in preliminary examinations. Recognition of different aromas administered either by spraying into the open mouth from a distance of 5 cm using nasal sprays or sniffing opened bottles was compared in 50 subjectively normosmic subjects. Findings showed that the correspondence between the two procedures was relatively high, with global identification of odorous substances as high as 98.4% in the spray test. The number of substances used was next reduced to those six substances providing the most reproducible results in an investigation with 56 normosmic and 55 hyposmic subjects. Verbal associative clues were also tested. In a last step 50 patients with hyposmia of various origin and 110 normosmic subjects were tested, allowing previous results to be reproduced regardless of the cause of hyposmia. The spray test was shown to be easily performed and was suitable as a screening test, with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 100%.