Bowel gas--a cause of elevated dose in radiotherapy

The presence of gas in bowel could lead to higher than expected doses being given in the radiotherapy of abdominal and pelvic tumors. Radiation detectors were placed in the uterus and vagina of ten patients with caricnoma of cervix, and the actual dose compared with that expected when anterior fields of treatment were employed. Elvations greater than 10% were obtained in six, and severe postradiation morbidity subsequently occured in two of the three showing the highest readings.     

Aedes (Ochlerotatus) surcoufi (Theobald, 1912). Restoration of the binomen; morphological analysis; position in the holarctic "excrucians" complex (author's transl)

The study of the morphology of eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of Aedes excrucians from Germany, Italy and France has led the authors to rise again the binomen Aedes surcoufi (Theobald, 1912) to particularize the european populations. At the same time, the characteristics of the different species of the Aedes excrucians complex are discussed.     

Photoaffinity labeling of the human erythrocyte nucleoside transporter by N6-(p-Azidobenzyl)adenosine and nitrobenzylthioinosine. Evidence that the transporter is a band 4.5 polypeptide

N6-(p-Azidobenzyl)adenosine (ABA) and nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR) were employed as covalent probes of the nucleoside transport mechanism in human erythrocytes. NBMPR, a potent inhibitor of nucleoside transport, binds tightly (KD 0.3-1 nM) to specific sites on nucleoside transporter elements. ABA, a less potent inhibitor of uridine influx, competitively inhibited NBMPR binding (Ki 15 nM). [3H]ABA was bound tightly (KD 13.4 nM) but reversibly to sites on erythrocytes which appeared to be those which bind NBMPR. ABA binding was inhibited by uridine and adenosine. Irradiation with UV light caused site-bound [3H]ABA on erythrocyte membranes to become covalently bound and, similarly, photoactivation resulted in covalent attachment of membrane-bound [3H]NBMPR. In the presence of dithiothreitol, a free radical scavenger, photoactivation of the site-bound 3H-ligand on membranes depleted of extrinsic membrane proteins resulted in selective incorporation of 3H into band 4.5 of the membrane polypeptides which were resolved on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electropherograms. This result, when considered with previous findings, indicates that the NBMPR-binding component of the nucleoside transport mechanism (or the entire mechanism, if the NBMPR site is an integral part) is a band 4.5 polypeptide.     

Cost of management of patients with haemophilia

The cost of managing 114 adult haemophiliacs in the west of Scotland was assessed for the period 1 March 1971 to 28 February 1974. Altogether 23 of them (20%) accounted for 80% of the resources used. The cost of hospital treatment of these patients during the period was compared with the predicted cost of home treatment, given the availability of freeze-dried factor VIII concentrate in sufficient amounts. We calculate that adequate on-demand home treatment would cost only 16% more than the present treatment, which is substantially less efficient.     

Altered electrodermal responsivity associated with clinical pain

We used certain physiologic maneuvers to perturb the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in an attempt to detect a link between the ANS and pain. In the unperturbed state, we found no difference in the electrodermal response among normal controls, preoperative patients (increased stress without pain) and postoperative patients (increased stress and pain). The electrodermal response elicited by autonomic maneuvers was significantly attenuated in postoperative patients but not in preoperative patients or in normal control subjects.