Diagnosis and pathophysiology of paradoxical embolism

A review of the experience with 134 consecutive patients with germinal cell testicular neoplasia indicates that definitively accurate staging of the malignancy at presentation is the single most important prognostic factor. Nearly two-thirds of the patients with all types of germinal malignancies survived or died of other causes and the highest survival rates were seen among patients with earlier stages of seminoma. In recent years patients with all types of germinal malignancies of the testis have been treated by radical retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy with enhancement of survivals. Patients with seminoma and non-seminomatous tumors exhibited increased survival rates with node dissection. In 66 consecutive lymphadenectomies the complication rate was less than 14 per cent, with only 1 death related to the operation. Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy not only affords therapeutic advantage but also provides an opportunity for accurate surgical staging of disease and allows for rational decision relative to additional treatment, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.     

Clinical memory testing: A review.

Although a great deal of attention has been given to the study of learning and memory, relatively little has been paid to the problem of preparing tests for assessing memory functioning in clinical settings. Available memory batteries (e.g., the Wechsler Memory Scale) and tests for verbal and nonverbal learning and memory are reviewed. It is noted that, with the exception of the Wechsler Memory Scale, there are no widely known clinical tests of memory functioning, and the Wechsler Memory Scale does little more than establish norms for a set of tasks ordinarily included in a mental status exam. Critical issues are summarized, and implications for memory testing in clinical settings and for preparing future test batteries are listed. (3? p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurement of plasma contrast levels during excretory urography

Ultraviolet spectrophotometry permits easy measurement of plasma levels of intravenously injected contrast media. The initial results are described from the determination of plasma methylglucamine iothalamate (Conray 60) levels during routine excretory urography in 10 normal patients. This simple procedure has many potential applications in the investigation of contrast media physiology.     

Cellular gluconeogenesis by lactating bovine mammary tissue.

The gluconeogenic capacity of mammary tissue of lactating cow was investigated by incubating mammary tissue slices with alanine, glutamate, lactate, pyruvate, or glycerol in conjunction with acetate and glucose (10mM or 1 mM). In no case was any substrate incorporated into glucose per se. In lactose synthesis, glucose was the major source of carbon although glycerol also was incorporated into lactose. Alanine, glutamate, lactate, or pyruvate were not incorporated into lactose at optimum (10 mM) or suboptimum (1 mM) concentrations of glucose. Activity of glucose-6-phosphatase was negligible in mammary tissue, less than 1% of the activity in liver or kidney tissue from the same cows. Pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase were in cow mammary tissue, but the activities were lower than in liver. Gluconeogenic substrates were not converted to glucose regardless of whether the incubation contained an optimum (10 mM) or a suboptimum (1 mM) glucose concentration. Consistent with the inability of cow mammary tissue to convert gluconeogenic metabolites to glucose is the virtual absence of glucose-6-phosphatase and the lack of excess gluconeogenic substrates available to the intact mammary gland of lactating cow.     

Energy scenarios for New Zealand

Three scenarios for New Zealand's energy future have been researched. Each scenario has a theme which is used as a basis for calculation of energy demand in all sectors. The energy supply is worked out using a strategy which is also based on the theme. The themes tend to be an exaggeration of what is seen of three major thought streams present in our society today and are as follows:Continuation. Continuation of policies and trends which apply today; emphasis on economic growth measured in terms of per capital productivity; continued exploitation of the country's potential for agricultural and industrial development.Low New Zealand Pollution. Postulation of a society which sets out to minimise site-specific pollution especially from industry, power production, while still have comparatively high economic growth.Limited Growth. Economic growth rate reduced to zero by 2000; move to renewable sources for energy; concern for environmental degradation.The scenarios also provide a body of information on energy issues and discuss options which are significantly different from those being followed today. Of particular interest are the issues of liquid fuels, fossil fuels, nuclear energy and alternative technologies, as well as an indication of the range of energy demand under the three scenario themes.     

Learned helplessness in the perspective of the depressive disorders: Conceptual and definitional issues.

Examines 3 issues that are important in extending the learned helplessness model to clinical depressive disorders. First, the nature of the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations of depression is examined within several clinical frameworks, and the role that learned helplessness may play in each is discussed. Second, the problems in constructing models for clinical populations are explored through the examination of several parallels between learned helplessness and clinical depression put forth by M. E. Seligman (1975). Third, problems involved in defining and identifying depressed college student Ss in analog research are discussed. Integral to the latter issue is an evaluation of the assumption that depressed college student Ss differ from clinical depressives only quantitatively but not qualitatively. Suggestions are made for research aimed at extending the learned helplessness model to other clinical problem areas. (48 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Low energy lithotripsy with the Lithostar: treatment results with 19,962 renal and ureteral calculi

Between November 1988 and January 1992, 19,962 renal and ureteral calculi were treated in the United States using 18 different mobile and 2 fixed base Lithostar lithotriptors. Lithotripsy was performed on 11,516 renal and 8,446 ureteral calculi by 750 urologists using the same technique. The success rate (asymptomatic with stone fragments of 4 mm. or less) for renal stones was 87.9%, the stone-free rate was 68.9% and the retreatment rate was 16.5%. Auxiliary procedures were performed in 32.2% of the renal calculi. The success rate for ureteral calculi was 89.5%, the stone-free rate was 83.5% and the retreatment rate was 10.7%. Auxiliary procedures were performed in 25.5% of the ureteral calculi. The overall success rate was 88.4% stone-free rate 75.5%, retreatment rate 14.0% and auxiliary procedure rate 29.4%. Anesthesia personnel were used in 1.9% of the cases. Low energy extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was found to be safe and effective.     

Cocaine alters behavior in the rat fetus.

Changes in motor behavior and sensory responsiveness were characterized in rat fetuses on Gestational Day 21 after acute administration of various doses of cocaine. An increase in fetal motor activity was evident in the 3 highest doses (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg). Cocaine-exposed Ss showed reduced facial wiping in behavioral bioassays of cutaneous sensitivity (10 and 20 mg/kg) and chemosensory responsiveness (20 mg/kg). Changes in other behavioral measures indicated that fetuses detected and responded to these stimuli, suggesting that reduced facial wiping was due to a disruption of sensorimotor integration or motor coordination. Study of the fetus in vivo can provide insights into the mechanisms of cocaine's deleterious effects on CNS and behavioral development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)