Adaptation of thermafil components to canal walls

In summer 1991 an outbreak of a Salmonella enteritidis epidemic involving about 600 cases of gastroenteritis occurred at one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in southwestern Germany. The main source was a cold fruit soup, in addition Salmonella were isolated from meat strips and a curd cheese which were used for a salad dressing. A total of 2300 contaminated food portions were served resulting in an attack rate of about 25%. The possible origin could have been an asymptomatic Salmonella-positive member of the kitchen personnel who was the only one who was involved with the preparation of all the incriminated foods. A further spread of the epidemic and especially the possible contamination of pharmaceuticals was avoided by the timely and adequate reaction of the company's occupational medical service. This case exemplifies how classical crisis management, "increased initiative on one's own for prevention of infections in all areas of food processing" (Steuer) and finally the cooperation of the company with different institutions of the public health authorities contribute to the control of such a catastrophic scenario.     

A technique for developing and photographing ridge impressions on decomposed water-soaked fingers

One of the most challenging tasks confronting a crime laboratory technician is the fingerprinting and subsequent identification of an unknown homicide or drowning victim whose fingers have been subjected to a long period of exposure to water and the effects of decomposition. If the fingers of the individual have not been exposed to the erosive effects of water and decomposition for a long period of time, they may be allowed to dry, and suitable impressions are often obtainable. In other cases the fingers may have to be removed, with the permission of the Medical Examiners Office, and processed by the Crime Laboratory in an attempt to develop suitable ridge structure for inked impressions or an exact photographic copy of the individual's fingers. In extreme cases the effects of water and decomposition make the fragile ridge structure appear to be nonexistent to the naked eye. The procedure used in this case report, combines the use of cyanoacrylate vapor, commonly called "super glue fuming," and the ninhydrin process in conjunction to develop fragile ridge structure into discernable ridges that are easily seen and photographed for the purpose of making an identification of the individual.     

Immunogestosis: a new etiologic concept of "essential" EPH gestosis, with special consideration of the primigravid patient; preliminary report of a clinical study

Evidence for immunologic processes taking part in the pathogenesis of what until now has been called the "essential" form of EPH gestosis is cited. The name of immunogestosis (IG) is introduced. The data of this preliminary study suggest that regular "inoculation" of the female genital tract with allogeneic spermatozoal histocompatibility antigens reduces the incidence of IG. Information about preconceptional sexual habits and contraceptive measures was obtained from 83 selected primigravid patients. Twenty-eight women had mild to moderate IG (Group B);55 did not (Group A). Women in Group B had had less contact with spermatozoa of partners than did women in Group A. Oral contraceptive consumption was less in Group B than in Group A. Women in Group B were younger than women in Group A. All these differences were statistically significant. A new immunoetiologic hypothesis referring to IG, as well as the theoretic and clinical implications arising from it, are discussed. This hypothesis is based on the assumption that spermatozoal histocompatibility antigens can either induce immunologic tolerance or be responsible for the phenomenon of immunologic enhancement in the maternal immunosystem. As the fetus inherits paternal histocompatibility antigens, it is concluded that pre-existing tolerance (or enhancement) exerts an IG-preventive function in a subsequent pregnancy.     

NMR investigation of experimental chemical induced brain tumors in rats, potential of a superparamagnetic contrast agent (MD3) to improve diagnosis

The different steps of development of chemically induced brain tumors were investigated in rats by MRI using a superparamagnetic contrast agent, magnetite-dextran nanoparticles (MD3). Sprague-Dawley strain pregnant female rats were injected intravenously with ethynitrosourea solution at the end of pregnancy. Offspring whelped by the inoculated mother were followed. MRI examinations were performed at 0.5 T. MD3 nanoparticles were injected intravenously at a dose of 5 mg Fe kg^-1 body weight 30 min before rat sacrifice. After sacrifice, histological slices were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Relaxation times were measured at 40 MHz and 37°. MD3 nanoparticles act differently according to the step of the tumor development. Before tumor appearance, at a step characterized by the presence of abnormal cell clusters, relaxation time T2 increased significantly. The T2-weighted image showed a small increase in signal intensity in the lesion. Image contrast was improved by MD3 nanoparticles injection because of the decrease in healthy tissue signal intensity. The Tl-weighted image did not provide any additional information. In presence of a minute tumor, relaxation times decreased in tumor but increased in surrounding tissue. The Tl-weighted image showed a hypersignal on the border of an hyposignal. T2-weighted image showed a hypersignal in the same area. Signal intensity was not modified after MD3 nanoparticles injection. When new vascular capillaries developed in the tumor, MD3 nanoparticles cross into the cerebral parenchyma. Transmission electron microscopy showed magnetite crystals in this specific area on cytoplasm vesicles of glial cells and in tumor-specific membrane arrangements. On T2-weighted image, the hypersignal consisted of a well defined part and a second more fuzzy part, its signal being extinguished after MD3 nanoparticles injection. Necrotic areas and edema can be discriminated. The use of such a superparamagnetic contrast agent would be helpful in early detection of tumor development and in improving distinction of tumor mass from its vascular environment in patients. © 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.     

Soft‐Lithographed Up‐Converted Distributed Feedback Visible Lasers Based on CdSe–CdZnS–ZnS Quantum Dots

The development of a solution‐deposited up‐converted distributed feedback laser prototype is presented. It employs a sol–gel silica/germania soft‐lithographed microcavity and CdSe–CdZnS–ZnS quantum dot/sol–gel zirconia composites as optical gain material. Characterization of the linear and nonlinear optical properties of quantum dots establishes their high absorption cross‐sections in the one‐ and two‐ photon absorption regimes to be 1 × 10^?14 cm² and 5 × 10⁴ GM, respectively. In addition, ultrafast transient absorption dynamics measurements of the graded seal quantum dots reveal that the Auger recombination lifetime is 220 ps, a value two times higher than that of the corresponding CdSe core. These factors enable the use of such quantum dots as optically pumped gain media, operating in the one‐ and two‐photon absorption regime. The incorporation of CdSe–CdZnS–ZnS quantum dots within a zirconia host matrix affords a quantum‐dot ink that can be directly deposited on our soft‐lithographed distributed feedback grating to form an all‐solution‐processed microcavity laser.     

Reversal by naloxone of the effects of morphine on the unanesthetized dog]

In unasthetized dogs naloxone induced effects opposed to those of morphine (tachycardia, agitation, hyperthermia, tachypnea) and mydriasis. These effects were moderate and transient; some of them were elicited with low doses being border-line after 0.03 mg.kg-1 s.c., statistically significant after 0.1 mg.kg-1 s.c.; they increased slightly with the dose. After repeated administrations, acute tolerance developed and some moderate morphine-like effects (miosis, sedation) were observed. The stimulatory effects described here may result from antagonism of a morphinomimetic natural ligand,and represent thus indirect arguments in favour of normal functions of this ligand; these functions would be to temper not only algesic but also other stimulant reactions. The limitation of the effects might result from the limited release of this ligand in normal dogs and (or) from interfering morphinomimetic properties of naloxone, which are apparently unmasked when administrations are repeated. Both, stimulatory and inhibitory effects of naloxone are not liable to represent noticeable side-effects of this drug, but they both might play some role in the mechanisms of precipitated abstinence.     

Pantothenic acid, coenzyme A, and human chronic ulcerative and granulomatous colitis

To investigate further an apparent relationship between chronic ulcerative and granulomatous colitis and pantothenic acid deficiency, colonic tissues obtained at the time of colectomy in 29 patients with these disorders were assayed for pantothenic acid and for coenzyme A (CoA) activity. For comparison, normal colonic tissues free of pathological lesions were obtained from 31 patients having colectomy for carcinoma or diverticulitis. Plasma, red blood cells, and colonic mucosa were assayed microbiologically for free and total pantothenic acid. The activity of CoA in colonic mucosa was determined by assaying the acetylation of sulfanilamide. Concentrations of free, bound, and total pantothenic acid in blood and in colonic mucosa did not differ between the two groups of patients. Bound pantothenic acid increased linearly with total pantothenic acid. Colonic mucosa concentrated free pantothenic acid to about 50 times the level of blood, and pantothenic acid in red cells was similar to the concentration in plasma. Compared to normal gut mucosa, CoA activity was markedly low in mucosa from patients with chronic ulcerative or granulomatous disease despite the presence of normal amounts of free and bound pantothenic acid. A block in the conversion of bound pantothenic acid to CoA in diseased mucosa is suggested.     

Automation in the hematology laboratory

In the routine laboratory for hematology conflicting results may be obtained for the red blood cell parameters with the Coulter Counter Model S. These parameters2) are: mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). When the values of the MCHC are above 36 g/dl something must be wrong with the blood sample of the patient. One of the reasons can be agglutination e.g. by cold agglutinins. The blood sample should be reanalysed before and after heating for 1 hour at 37 degrees C. If the values change: cold agglutinins are present; if no change occurs paraproteins, or other disturbing factors, such as bilirubin or high leucocyte levels, will be found. MCH values may also be high in some cases e.g. if the red blood cells are coated with antibodies (Coombs test positive) or after ingestion of medicines like Azathioprine. These examples show that it is possible in some cases to correlate immunological findings with the red blood cell parameters. In addition to the results with the Coulter Counter Model S, some observations on the Hemalog (Technicon) are also presented.