Group B streptococcus bacteremia in nonpregnant adults

The ability of carbonaceous particles (AST-120), originally developed as an enteral adsorbent of uremic toxins, to quench nitric oxide (NO) was tested. NO in solutions prepared by two methods [NO gas bubbling and NO generating system, i.e., decomposition of 1-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-(aminopropyl)-3-isopropyl-1-triazene] were determined by a NO-specific reduction of carboxy-2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide using an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometry. NO concentrations were less in samples containing increasing concentrations of AST-120. In a separate study, nitrite concentrations in lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW264 cells were significantly less in incubation medium containing AST-120. Thus, AST-120 may be applicable as an enteral anti-NO agent.     

测量聚合物薄膜厚度的一种简便方法

本文介绍了用准波导耦合ｍ线技术测量聚合物薄膜厚度的方法。测量结果表明，薄膜样品厚度的误差为３．６２×１０＾－２μｍ。并对测量精度作了分析和讨论。     

SSU rDNA characterization of lymnaeid snails transmitting human fascioliasis in South and Central America

OBJECTIVE: To develop an acceptable model system to study calcium activation of human oocytes. DESIGN: Study of oocyte development and intracellular calcium [Ca]i dynamics of activated oocytes. SETTING: Research center affiliated with infertility service. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Morphologic evidence of meiotic maturation and cell division under high-power Hoffman optics with an inverted microscope. Meiotic maturation was determined by the number of polar bodies or the presence of a pronucleus, and cell division was determined by evidence of a cleavage furrow or presence of blastomeres. To monitor the effect of calcium ionophore on [Ca]i levels, oocytes were incubated with fura-2 (2 microM) for 30 minutes and [Ca]i was determined by rationing the emission fluorescence (510-nm long-pass filter) during simultaneous excitation at 340 and 380 nm with a microspectrofluorimeter. RESULT(S): All oocytes loaded with fura-2 and then exposed to ionophore exhibited an isolated elevation of [Ca]i, followed by prompt return to baseline levels. None of the oocytes showed signs of cleavage or of meiotic maturation after treatment with calcium ionophore. CONCLUSION(S): Human oocytes activated with calcium ionophore A23187 or ionomycin exhibited elevated [Ca]i but remained resistant to subsequent meiotic maturation and cleavage. Our results differ from some reports of parthenogenetic activation of human oocytes. These differences may result from different activation protocols or culture conditions. Because none of the 126 oocytes cleaved after the activation protocols used in these experiments, this approach should provide an ethically acceptable model system to study calcium dynamics in human oocytes.     

Co-operation regarding water and other resources will enhance economic development in Egypt,Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea

Competition for water will increase in the northern portion of the Nile River basin, with increases in population and with new and continuing efforts to stimulate economic development, improve income levels and achieve food security. Water scarcity and the inefficient allocation of water can limit the pace of economic development in arid regions, particularly when nations are unable to implement agreements that enhance the sum of net benefits generated with water resources. Much of the discussion regarding water in the northern Nile basin involves the volumetric allocation of water among countries. That focus may limit appreciation of the benefits that might be generated by co-operation involving a larger set of activities, such as international trade and transborder investments. The authors present a conceptual framework that describes how co-operation and international agreements may contribute to achieving the development goals of individual countries, while also enhancing regional net benefits. The authors propose several types of transborder investments that might be helpful in achieving those goals.     

如何搞好勘探动态分析

动态分析是指通过编制动态数列,计算动态分析指标,来分析研究社会经济现象在不同时期的发展过程、趋势和变动程度的方法。勘探动态分析是指在执行、实施总体勘探项目设计的过程中,通过对勘探生产中工程量的统计和油气勘探成败的分析,跟踪研究勘探项目的实际进展情况,不断修改已经形成的石油地质模型,并据此提出勘探工程量的调整和勘探部署方案的修正以保证勘探总体目标实现的过程。     

化学镀碳纤维增韧补强莫来石基复合材料的研究

通过化学镀方法，在碳纤维表面分别镀上Ni、Cu和Cu Ni镀层，以这种表面改性碳纤维与莫来石陶瓷复合，制备表面改性碳纤维增韧补强莫来石基复合材料，研究各种碳纤维的含量对复合材料的横向断裂强度、断裂韧度、尺寸变化率和孔隙度等的影响规律。结果表明，碳纤维可以显著地提高材料的性能，表面改性碳纤维可以进一步提高材料性能，尤其是铜镍复合镀碳纤维的效果更好，其横向断裂强度可达基体横向断裂强度的2．3倍，断裂韧度可达基体断裂韧度的3倍，增韧补强后的复合材料的尺寸变化率和孔隙率变化不大。     

Evaluation of six pesticides leaching indexes using field data of herbicide application in Casablanca Valley, Chile.

A field study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of six pesticide screening leaching indexes for herbicide movement. Adsorption, dissipation and soil movement were studied in a vineyard in a sandy loam soil during 2005 season. Simazine, diuron, pendimethalin, oxyfluorfen and flumioxazin were applied to bare soil at rates commonly used, and their soil concentrations throughout soil profile were determined at 0, 10, 20, 40 and 90 days after application (DAA). Herbicides were subjected to two pluviometric regimens, natural field condition and modified conditions (plus natural rainfall 180 mm). Leaching indexes utilized were: Briggs's Rf, Hamaker's Rf, LEACH, LPI, GUS and LIX. Simazine reached 120 cm, diuron 90 cm, flumioxazin 30 cm soil depth respectively. Pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen were retained up to 5 cm. None of the herbicides leaching was affected by rainfall regimen. Only flumioxazin field dissipation was clearly affected by pluviometric condition. The best representation of the herbicide soil depth movement and leaching below 15 cm soil depth were: Hamaker's Rf < Briggs's Rf < GUS < LPI, < LEACH < LIX. Field results showed a good correlation between herbicides K(d) and their soil depth movement and mass leached below 15 cm soil depth.     

High prevalence of serum cryoglobulins in multitransfused hemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis C

The prevalence, clinical relevance, and risk factors of serum cryoglobulins in hemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are unknown. We studied 135 consecutive hemophilic patients (median age, 31 years; range, 10 to 69 years) with chronic hepatitis C, exposed to the virus for 10 to 41 years. A total of 67 patients were coinfected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 3 (2%) had signs of cirrhosis. Serum samples were tested for the presence of cryoglobulins, hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers, including HBV-DNA by hybridization assay, and antibody to HCV by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Serum HCV-RNA was tested by polymerase chain reaction and typed with a hybridization technique. Samples were also tested for antitissue antibodies, immunoglobulins, rheumatoid factor, and C3 and C4 proteins of complement. Forty-two hemophiliacs (31%) circulated cryoglobulins (median levels, 166 mg/L; range, 66 to 480) predominantly type III (62%; and 29% type II). None of the patients had clinical signs or symptoms of systemic vasculitis. Cryoglobulinemic patients had more often serum HCV-RNA (95% v 80%, P < .05), rheumatoid factor (20% v 6%, P < .05), higher levels of IgG (2,354 +/- 682 mg/dL v 1,928 +/- 557 mg/dL, P < .0005) and IgM (323 +/- 226 mg/dL v 244 +/- 243 mg/dL, P < .05), and lower levels of serum C4 (19 +/- 8 mg/dL v 24 +/- 8 mg/dL, P < .05) than patients without cryoglobulins. The risk of producing cryoglobulins was greater for 114 patients circulating HCV-RNA than for 21 nonviremic patients (odds ratio [OR] = 4.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1 to 22.0) and for the 31 patients with longer exposure to HCV (more than 26 years) than for the 24 patients with shorter (17 years or less) exposure (OR = 4.4 95% CI = 1.1 to 18.0). In conclusion a large number of multitransfused hemophiliacs with chronic HCV infection circulated serum cryoglobulins but none had clinical signs or symptoms of vasculitis. The risk of developing cryoglobulins parallels the duration of exposure to HCV.     

Severe immune thrombocytopenia during formestane treatment

Formestane is a new aromatase inhibitor used as second-line endocrine treatment for postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer. The most frequent side effects are local reactions. Here we report the development of immune thrombocytopenia coinciding with administration of this drug.