Heparin effect on hydrolysis of fibrin clots in a bull and a man with varying fibrinolytic systems

Heparin was studied for its effect on the hydrolysis time of clots from desAA fibrin (FB), desAABB fibrin (F0) and fibrinogen (Fg) of a bull and a man by gly-or lys-plasminogen which is activated by the tissue activator. It is shown that heparin in the concentration to 4.6 M does not affect that hydrolysis time of clots from human and bovine Fg and human Fg by gly-plasminogen which is activated by the tissue activator. Heparin increases the hydrolysis time of clots from bovine Fg and F0 by gly-and lys-plasminogen, the tissue activator being present. It firstly increases (in concentrations below 0.5 (microM), and then decreases (in concentrations above 0.5 (microM) the hydrolysis time of clots from human FB, F0 and Fg and bovine FB and F0 by plasmin. In concentration 4.6 microM heparin increases the hydrolysis time of clots from human fibrinogen by fibrinolytic systems. Effect of heparin on fibrinolytic process from the viewpoint of affine interactions between the components of fibrin clots is discussed.     

Symbiosis of nurse and machine through fuzzy logic: improved specificity of a neonatal pulse oximeter alarm

This article describes the theoretical underpinnings that preceded the design of a new neonatal pulse oximeter alarm that differentiates true from false alarms based on an artificial intelligence theory called "fuzzy logic." The connection between the intuition and sense of advocacy gained through neonatal primary nursing and the application of fuzzy logic to solve the problem of false alarms--that is, the symbiosis between nurse and machine--are explained. Emphasis is placed throughout on the importance of involving nurses in the development of the technology for which they are responsible.     

Time utilization of a population of general surgeons in a prepaid group practice

Seven general surgeons in a prepaid group practice previously shown to have a mean operative work load of 9.2 hernia equivalents (HE) per week were found to have a standardized mean daytime working week of 56.2 hours, exclusive of evening activities of which 50.7 hours were devoted to professional activities. The surgeons also devoted a mean of 6.7 evening hours per week to professional activities for a mean net professional week of 57.4 hours. Comparisons with a population of previously studied community surgeons revealed that the prepaid group surgeons were able to produce a surgical output more than double that of the community surgeons while devoting only one and a half as much time to professional activities. Economies in the utilization of surgical manpower in the prepaid group appear to stem from: 1) restriction of practice setting to a single geographic location, 2) restriction of patients to surgical patients, 3) reduced surgeon waiting time in the office, and 4) the utilization of paraprofessional personnel for selected operative assisting. These economies were achieved while the prepaid group surgeons were observed to average more time per patient visit both on rounds and in the office than the community surgeons.     

Oropharyngeal control of drinking in rats

Drinking was studied in water-deprived rats with chronic intragastric fistulas. Sham drinking, by which the ingested water was immediately lost through the open gastric fistula, was approximately four times greater than normal drinking. This proportion held across different levels of water deprivation, following 5-ml intragastric preloads of water or isotonic saline or ingestion of isotonic saline. The contribution of oropharyngeal controls in the normal drinking of rats is discussed and is compared with that of other species.     

Potential new artificial sweetener from study of structure-taste relationships

4-(Methoxymethyl)-1,4-cyclohexadiene-1-carboxaldehyde syn-oxime is a new sweetening agent developed by systematic synthesis and taste evaluation of 80 new oximes analogous to the little-used osime sweetener, perillartine.     

Age and features of adrenal cortical function in cerebral circulatory disorders

The indices of glucocorticoid and androgen activity in the adrenal cortex (the level of circulating eosinophils, the daily urine excretion of 17 OCS and 17 CS) and the functional reserve after an ACTH loading was studied in 2 groups of patients with disorders of cerebral circulation under 45 years of age (247 cases) and over 55 (234 cases). In the acute period of a cerebral stroke there was an increase of the glucocorticoid activity which was more definitely expressed in the younger group and a certain inhibition of the androgen function seen mainly in the older group. In transient disorders of cerebral circulation significant age difference in the functioning of the adrenal cortex was not established. In the period following a stroke the established and potential reserves of the adrenocortical glands were distinctly decreased in patients above 55 years and practically unchanged in the younger group.