Management of rhesus isoimmunization by preimplantation genetic diagnosis

Intracranial osteolipomas are rare lesions which occur in the region of the tuber cinereum. All cases reported to date have been incidental autopsy findings. We describe a patient who presented with a variety of neurological symptoms and had a typical osteolipoma surgically removed.     

The hierarchies of knowledge and the mathematics of discovery

Rather than attempting to characterize a relation of confirmation between evidence and theory, epistemology might better consider which methods of forming conjectures from evidence, or of altering beliefs in the light of evidence, are most reliable for getting to the truth. A logical framework for such a study was constructed in the early 1960s by E. Mark Gold and Hilary Putnam. This essay describes some of the results that have been obtained in that framework and their significance for philosophy of science, artificial intelligence, and for normative epistemology when truth is relative.I am indebted to Kevin Kelly for several years of happy conversation from which the perspective and views of this paper grew, for comments on a draft of the paper, and for constructing some of the illustrations. A fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation provided the liberty to write this paper. It was first presented in the Turing Colloquium, 1990.     

Microstructural changes in concretes with sulfate exposure

In prior papers the responses of concretes to 50,000 ppm MgSO₄ exposure depending on cement type, w/cm and the presence of slag were described. The present paper completes this analysis by examining the effects of immersion of concretes produced using slag blended cements, in solutions containing 50,000 ppm of sodium sulfate. The spatial evolution of microstructure associated with carbonation and sulfate attack show differences which can be related to the nature of the cation associated with the sulfate, the cement type, and the w/cm ratio.     

Changes of respiratory chain activity in mitochondrial and synaptosomal fractions isolated from the gerbil brain after graded ischaemia

In this study we have examined (1) the integrated function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain by polarographic measurements and (2) the activities of the respiratory chain complexes I, II-III, and IV as well as the ATP synthase (complex V) in free mitochondria and synaptosomes isolated from gerbil brain, after a 30-min period of graded cerebral ischaemia. These data have been correlated with cerebral blood flow (CBF) values as measured by the hydrogen clearance technique. Integrated functioning of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, using both NAD-linked and FAD-linked substrates, was initially affected at CBF values of approximately 35 ml 100 g-1 min-1, and declined further as the CBF was reduced. The individual mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, however, showed differences in sensitivity to graded cerebral ischaemia. Complex I activities decreased sharply at blood flows below approximately 30 ml 100 g-1 min-1 (mitochondria and synaptosomes) and complex II-III activities decreased at blood flows below 20 ml 100 g-1 min-1 (mitochondria) and 35-30 ml 100 g-1 min-1 (synaptosomes). Activities declined further as CBF was reduced below these levels. Complex V activity was significantly affected only when the blood flow was reduced below 15-10 ml 100 g-1 min-1 (mitochondria and synaptosomes). In contrast, complex IV activity was unaffected by graded cerebral ischaemia, even at very low CBF levels.     

Non-invasive headspace measurement for characterizing oxygen-scavenging in polymers

A non-invasive headspace analysis method to measure rate and amount of oxygen uptake in oxygen-scavenging polymers is presented. Oxygen uptake data for metal-catalyzed poly(1,4-butadiene) at 30 °C are provided to illustrate the method. These data were obtained by measuring oxygen headspace concentration above the scavenging polymer with an OxySense^® 200T non-invasive oxygen sensor, and, for comparison, oxygen uptake was measured with an analytical balance. Excellent agreement was observed between these two independent experiments.     

Central poststroke pain and Wallenberg''s lateral medullary infarction: frequency, character, and determinants in 63 patients

BACKGROUND: Questionnaire-based surveys from several countries have consistently detected adverse health associated with home dampness and mould growth. METHODS: To test the validity of questions commonly used to indicate the presence of indoor mould, questionnaires were administered in 403 homes where dust samples were taken for viable fungi and air samples for ergosterol. RESULTS: Geometric mean concentrations of the total viable fungi were 255 (SE 116) x 10(3) CFU/g when mouldy odours were reported and 155 (SE 55) when odours were not reported (P = 0.01). Similarly, reported water damage was associated with a 50% increase (P = 0.06). Geometric mean concentrations of the predominantly indoor-source fungi, Aspergillus plus Penicillium, were twice as high when mould or mildew was reported than when not mentioned (P = 0.01). The presence of reported mould or water damage was unrelated to the presence of detectable levels of ergosterol. There was evidence for reporting bias: in the presence of low concentrations of viable fungi in dust, respondents reporting allergies were more likely to report visible mould growth (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9-3.5, P = 0.10. In the presence of elevated concentrations of dust fungi, respondents who smoked were less likely to report visible mould growth, (OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2-0.7, P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Reported mould, water damage, and mouldy odours were associated with elevated levels of indoor fungi. However, inaccuracy was high and there was evidence of a systematic reporting bias. Future research should concentrate on developing accurate objective measures of exposure to fungi, and then use this information to develop valid questionnaires. Currently, objective measures not questionnaires, are recommended to clarify the health effects of indoor fungi.     

RETARDATION AND REPAIR OF FATIGUE CRACKS BY ADHESIVE INFILTRATION

Abstract— This paper presents results which demonstrate that polymeric filler materials, such as low-viscosity epoxies, can be vacuum-infiltrated into fatigue cracks in 7050 aluminium alloy to produce significant levels of fatigue crack retardation. It was found that the main test variable affecting the degree of retardation was the stress level at which the adhesive was introduced and cured. Two infiltrated adhesives were tested.
Infiltration at 0% (of the original) peak fatigue stress level produced negligible retardation, while infiltration at the 80% stress level produced about 300% increase in fatigue life for one adhesive and 3000% for the other adhesive. For the highest infiltration stress level both crack-face wedging and adhesion contributed initially to the retardation, but the adhesive component ceased after a crack grew through the adhesive to the original crack tip position. The results are discussed in terms of the applicability of the technique to highly-stressed aircraft components.     

Life cycle of Ixodes minor (Acari: Ixodidae) in the laboratory

OBJECTIVE: It is commonly believed that the full moon exerts an influence on violence and aggression in psychiatric settings. The literature to date is contentious. This study used a robust methodology to examine the hypothesis that there was an increased frequency of violent and aggressive behaviour among hospitalised psychiatric clients at the time of the full moon. METHOD: Prospective data were collected in five inpatient psychiatric settings across the Northern Sydney Area Health Service. Morrison's hierarchy of violence and aggression was used to rate behaviour. Lunar phases were clearly defined and Poisson regression used to examine relationships between lunar phase and violence. Extraneous temporal variation was considered. RESULTS: No significant relationship was found between total violence and aggression or level of violence and aggression and any phase of the moon. CONCLUSION: Future research could profitably examine the implications of a belief in the lunar effect among health workers in the face of evidence that no relationship exists between violence, aggression and the lunar cycle.     

Effects of vesnarinone, a novel orally active inotropic agent with an immunosuppressive action, on experimental cardiac transplantation in rats

BACKGROUND: Vesnarinone (VES) has been used for treatment of patients with congestive heart failure. In addition to inotropic effects, it seems to have immunosuppressive action. We tested the hypothesis that VES suppresses graft rejection, inotropic dysfunction caused by early rejection, and chronic coronary obstruction in a heterotopic rat cardiac transplantation model. METHODS: (1) To study acute rejection, hearts from Lewis-Brown Norway (LBN) rats were transplanted into Lewis rats, which were treated with or without VES (50 or 100 mg/kg/day orally). (2) In a functional study, LBN hearts with or without VES (100 mg/kg/ day) were isolated and perfused on day 3 after transplantation to assess inotropic response to isoproterenol (3 x 10(-8) M). (3) To study chronic rejection, Lewis hearts were transplanted into Fisher 344 rats, which were treated with or without VES (50 mg/kg/day) for 90 days. Coronary obstructive disease was assessed by morphometric analysis. There were five to six animals in each group. RESULTS: (1) VES (100 mg/kg/day) prolonged LBN heart survival (11.7 +/- 0.7 vs. 9.6 +/- 0.7 days in control; P < 0.05). (2) Left ventricular developed pressure was depressed in transplanted hearts regardless of VES treatment (84 +/- 12, 90 +/- 8 vs. 144 +/- 16 mmHg in untransplanted hearts; P < 0.01). The developed pressure after administration of isoproterenol in VES-treated hearts (184 +/- 20 mmHg) was higher than transplanted hearts without VES (118 +/- 16 mmHg; P < 0.05), and similar to untransplanted hearts (203 +/- 27 mmHg; P = NS). (3) Transplanted hearts treated with or without VES showed similar grades of rejection (2.0 +/- 0.3 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.2; P = NS), intimal area (6,996 +/- 3,186 vs. 13,441 +/- 5,165 microns2; NS), and coronary luminal obstruction (45 +/- 16% vs. 67 +/- 14%; NS). CONCLUSIONS: VES produces mild prolongation in survival of rat heart grafts, but has no significant effect on chronic graft atherosclerosis. VES preserves the positive inotropic effects of isoproterenol that are otherwise deteriorated by early acute rejection.     

Sequence-specific methylation of the mouse H19 gene in embryonic cells deficient in the Dnmt-1 gene

Currently, the pig species is regarded as the most likely organ donor for human xenotransplantation in the future. However, it cannot be granted that the pig will be the optimal species of choice. We have studied human anti-sheep antibodies in comparison with anti-pig antibodies. The anti-sheep lymphocytotoxic and hemagglutination titers were in the range 8 to 128 and 2 to 32, respectively, in single individuals, which were considerably lower than the anti-pig titers of these individuals. Perfusion of sheep kidneys with human blood reduced the anti-sheep xenoantibody titers to zero as measured by lymphocytotoxic, hemagglutination, and sheep aortic endothelial cell antibody binding assays. The perfused kidneys showed generalised depositions of human IgM and C3c in the vascular tree and focal depositions of C1q and fibrin. Obliteration of capillaries by human platelets and polymorphonuclear cells were observed. Total neutral glycolipid fractions were isolated from sheep intestinal, pancreatic, and kidney tissues. By using a chromatogram binding assay, a monoclonal anti-Forssman antibody identified a single compound with five sugar residues in all organs. Several glycolipid bands were stained in all organs by the Gal(alpha)1-specific lectin I-B4 from Griffonia (Bandeiraea) Simplicifolia. A human AB serum pool showed staining by both IgG and IgM antibodies of the Forssman and Gal(alpha)1-terminating components as well as some other, not structurally identified, components. The Forssman and Gal(alpha)1-reactivity in human sera could be eliminated by immunoadsorption using Forssman and Gal(alpha)1-3Gal-immunoadsorbent columns, respectively. Immunostaining of sheep kidney tissue sections showed the presence of Gal(alpha)1-terminating epitopes by immunoperoxidase and immunogold silver staining techniques. Proximal convoluted tubules showed a strong staining, while thin loops of Henle, collecting ducts, urothelium, and vessels showed a weaker staining. Distal convoluted tubules and thick loops of Henle were completely negative. In summary, human serum contains anti-sheep xenoantibodies reacting mainly with the Forssman and Gal(alpha)1-determinants in sheep tissues and the anti-sheep antibody titers are lower than the corresponding anti-pig titers.