Quenching the thirst in dialysis patients

OBJECTIVE: To review the results of the operative treatment of posterior urethral injuries in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 29 children (25 boys and two girls, age range 3-14 years) with injuries to the posterior urethra were admitted to this department over 14 years. Twenty-three patients presented immediately after trauma and six were referred after unsuccessful attempt(s) at surgical repair. RESULTS: Fourteen patients underwent suprapubic diversion and primary realignment over a catheter. Urethral continuity with normal urinary continence was achieved in seven of these patients. Four patients underwent a re-operation; urethral reconstruction was successful in these patients, but one patient remained incontinent. Primary realignment with anastomosis was performed in nine patients; the results were satisfactory in six. Urethral stricture developed in all of four patients who were managed with a suprapubic cystostomy alone; a staged repair using the transpubic approach was carried out in two of them and one improved. Partial urethral tears in two patients healed with urethral catheterization alone. CONCLUSION: Primary realignment of the urethra with anastomosis and suprapubic diversion resulted in the highest rate of success for normal urethral continuity. Urethral strictures or urinary incontinence were not major problems in this group. Therefore, we recommend this approach for the initial management of urethral injuries in childhood. Transpubic urethroplasties may be reserved for secondary repair.     

Two-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an innovative new method for gallbladder removal

This study was directed at defining the optimal in vitro screening methodology for the selection of new anti-myelogenous leukemia agents. Using thousands of samples of synthetic compounds from the Eastman Pharmaceutical, Inc. and Sterling Research Corporation (Eastman/Sterling) inventory, a number of sequential combinations of 8 cell lines were employed to optimize the model. The cells in these lines were of either murine (L1210 lymphocytic leukemia, C1498 myelogenous leukemia, and colony-forming unit-granulocyte macrophage [CFU-GM]) or human (HL-60, K-562, HEL, and THP-1 myelogenous leukemias, and CFU-GM) origin. The focus of the study was to find the most efficient and cost-effective manner in which to test compounds for both cytotoxicity against the tumor cells and for differential cytotoxicity against tumor as compared with normal cells.     

Characterization of A12O3, A12O3 + TiO2 Powder Mixture, and Coatings Prepared by Plasma Spraying

A1₂O₃ and its mixture with 3 wt% Ti0₂ powders were prepared by fusion and crushing methods. Al₂O₃ + 13 wt% TiO₂ and A1₂O₃ + 40 wt% TiO₂ powders were mixtures of fused AI₂O₃ + 3 wt% TiO₂ and 10 wt% and 37 wt% of TiO₂respectively. Chemical analysis of the powders showed that: approximately 1 wt% of impurities were present in each powder. True and tap densities were measured and are discussed for all powders. Powder size study showed narrow range of distribution of particle size in each powder. SEM study showed that the particles were in round and other irregular shapes in all the powders. A1₂O₃ was found to be in alpha phase and TiO₂ in rutile phase. All the powders were coated by plasma spraying at 16 kW. The density of the coatings were measured and are discussed. In the coatings, A1₂O₃ was in both alpha and gamma phases. In A1₂O₃ + 13 wt% TiO₂ and A1₂O₃ + 40 wt% TiO₂ coatings, the oxygen reduction from TiO₂ was observed.     

Assessment of iodine deficiency in selected blocks of east and west Champaran districts of Bihar

OBJECTIVE: A survey conducted in 1964 reported a goitre prevalence of 40.3% in East and West Champaran districts of Bihar. No recent survey has been documented on the prevalence of iodine deficiency in these districts. The present study was therefore undertaken (i) to assess the prevalence of IDD in these districts, and (ii) to estimate the iodine content of salt consumed by population. METHODOLOGY: In each district, one block was selected. In each block more than 630 children in the age group of 6-12 years were included in the study and were clinically examined. Urine samples were collected from 261 children and were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. A total of 456 salt samples were collected from children and 35 from traders from the two districts and analyzed using the standard iodometric titration method. RESULTS: The total goiter prevalence was 11.6%. The percentage of children with < 2, 2.0-4.9, 5.0-9.9 and > or = 10 mcg/dl of urinary iodine excretion level were 12.3, 13.4, 23.4 and 51.0, respectively. The median urinary iodine excretion of the children was 10.0 mcg/dl. None of the families were consuming salt with a nil iodine content and about 29.3%, were consuming salt with less than 15 ppm of iodine. Of the 35 salt samples collected from traders, all had iodine and about 17% had less than 15 ppm of iodine. CONCLUSION: The study stresses the need for strengthening the existing system of monitoring of quality of salt being provided in the East and West Champaran districts by Government of Bihar.     

Consciousness and body image: lessons from phantom limbs, Capgras syndrome and pain asymbolia

Words such as 'consciousness' and 'self' actually encompass a number of distinct phenomena that are loosely lumped together. The study of neurological syndromes allows us to explore the neural mechanisms that might underlie different aspects of self, such as body image and emotional responses to sensory stimuli, and perhaps even laughter and humour. Mapping the 'functional logic' of the many different attributes of human nature on to specific neural circuits in the brain offers the best hope of understanding how the activity of neurons gives rise to conscious experience. We consider three neurological syndromes (phantom limbs, Capgras delusion and pain asymbolia) to illustrate this idea.     

Analytical prediction of conversion-time behaviour of gas-solid noncatalytic reactions

A procedure has been suggested for analytical prediction of conversion-time behaviour of gas-solid non-catalytic reactions which are first order with respect to the gaseous reactant but of any general form with respect to the solid species. Based on this method analytical solutions have been presente for some of the commonly encountered rate forms including the grain model. These solutions predict the behaviour of the system extremely well upto abou 50–70% conversion of the solid.     

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of cracked thick plates in bending

By using the finite element technique, stress intensity factors have been obtained for finite rectangular plates and the results have been given for various h/a, W/a and L/W ratios. By using a three-dimensional isoparametric element, the problem has been considered as a three-dimensional one and the variation of stress intensity factor across the plate thickness has been found to be nonlinear.     

Terminations for component-simulation-type SC ladder filters

A circuit for simulating the termination resistances of component-simulation-type SC ladder filters using LDI transformation is described.     

Technical note

The primary aim of this paper is to develop models for replacement strategies using genetic algorithms. Two models have been developed, one for implementing the strategy using a discrete function to replace the items whose efficiency deteriorates with time and the other for implementing the strategy using a continuous function. The main aim is to show how genetic algorithms can be applied to these models. For the quick convergence to the optimal solution for the replacement problems, Queen Bee strategy has been adopted.