Thoracic electric impedance and fluid balance during aortic surgery

Indices of fluid balance were evaluated during and after aortic surgery in 16 consecutive patients. Thoracic electrical impedance (TI), heart rate (HR), central venous (CVP), pulmonary artery mean (PAMP), pulmonary wedge (PWP) and mean arterial (MAP) pressures as well as fourteen arterial and venous blood gas variables were followed. Consistent with a reduction of TI during the operation, fluid balance was in excess, and it remained elevated on the first postoperative morning. The HR, MAP and PWP remained stable, while CVP and PAMP decreased. Of the determined variables only TI revealed a meaningful correlation to fluid balance (rho = -0.41; p < 0.01). The results indicate that while central venous and pulmonary artery mean pressures gave the impression of a volume deficit, the positive fluid balance was mirrored by thoracic electrical impedance.     

Comparison of three monoclonal antibody pools for the detection of respiratory viral antigen in respiratory secretions

The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivities of commercial monoclonal antibody pools to be used as an initial rapid screen for detection of viral antigens in respiratory secretions. The availability of commercial monoclonal antibodies has dramatically improved the detection of viruses by immunofluorescence techniques in exfoliated cells obtained from respiratory secretions. Several companies have recently introduced monoclonal antibody pools to detect the presence of respiratory viruses in a single preparation. Ninety-four stored slide preparations that had previously been examined by individual monoclonal antibodies were tested using three commercial monoclonal antibody pools produced by Sanofi (UK), Dako (UK), and Quadratech (UK). These monoclonal antibody pools had a sensitivity of 79.6%, 90.9%, and 100%, respectively, when compared with the original results. The overall intensity of immunofluorescence was also examined.     

Characterization of allergoids from ovalbumin in vitro and in vivo

Several in vivo and in vitro methods for monitoring immunological properties of two allergoids obtained by formaldehyde treatment of ovalbumin (OA) were developed. The calculated molecular weight of allergoids was 80 kD (OA-F1) and 165 kD (OA-F2), respectively. The allergenic activity in vitro of allergoids in mast-cell histamine release assay was 1000 times lower than of OA. Both allergoids showed reduced ability to induce passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in the Sprague-Dawley rats or systemic anaphylaxis in Dunkin-Harley guinea-pigs. The ability of OA and allergoids to bind to the OA-specific IgE antibodies was measured in vivo by the inhibition of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA-inhibition). Allergoid binding to IgE was 51-66% lower than the native allergen. Moreover, the avidity of OA-specific IgG antibodies, measured by ELISA-inhibition, for allergoids and allergen was of the same order. Allergoids induced a different pattern of humoral immune response from that, induced by the native allergen. Thus, after immunization of BALB/c mouse, both allergoids induced a higher production of IgG and a lower production of IgE than OA, only OA-F2 induced a lower production of IgG1. The differences in the IgA response to the immunogens was not significant. Delayed hypersensitivity studies in the BALB/c mouse showed that allergoids were 5- to 12-times less effective in inducing a cell-mediated immune response than OA. The present study provides a battery of immunological methods for preclinical testing of modified allergens.     

Predictive equation for acquisition of hepatitis B in hospital workers in a general hospital

A cross-sectional study was performed to obtain risk factors for hepatitis B disease, HBsAg carriers and immunised personnel, among 2470 workers in a general hospital in Madrid, Spain. The data obtained were analyzed with multiple logistic regression to obtain beta coefficients for variables. The results of the analysis show that being a nurse or being regularly exposed to blood are the most important risk factors for hepatitis B acquisition. The length of time working at the same job activity was also a risk factor. The resulting beta coefficients allow the construction for a hepatitis non-immunised, HBsAg carrier and immunised HBV status, which can select subjects for a hepatitis B vaccination program.     

Generation of Technology-Independent Retargetable Analog Blocks

This paper introduces a complete methodology for retargeting of analog cells to different sets of specifications. This methodology is technology-independent, thus allowing the migration, from one technology to another, of the circuit under retargeting. Careful integration of the device sizing and layout generation tasks via the incorporation of layout constraints during the sizing process allows to generate fully functional designs in a few minutes. The methodology is illustrated via the retargeting of a fully-differential Miller-compensated two-stage operational amplifier for a new set of specifications and two different technological processes.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Preparation, Characterisation and Catalytic Behaviour of a New TeVMoO Crystalline Phase

TeM_xMo_1.7O mixed oxides (M = V and/or Nb; x = 0-1.7) have been prepared by calcination of the corresponding salts at 600 °C in an atmosphere of N₂. A new crystalline phase, with a Te/V/Mo atomic ratio of 1/0.2-1.5/1.7, has been isolated and characterised by XRD and IR spectroscopy. This phase is observed in the TeVMo or TeVNbMo mixed oxide but not in the TeNbMo mixed oxide. The new crystalline phase shows an XRD pattern similar to Sb₄Mo₁₀O₃₁ and probably corresponds to the M1 phase recently proposed by Aouine et al. (Chem. Commun. 1180, 2001) to be present in the active and selective MoVTeNbO catalysts. Although these catalysts present a very low activity in the propane oxidation, they are active and selective in the oxidation of propene to acrolein and/or acrylic acid. However, the product distribution depends on the catalyst composition. Acrolein or acrylic acid can be selectively obtained from propene on Nb-free or Nb-containing TeVMo catalysts, respectively. The presence of both V and Nb, in addition to Mo and Te, appears to be important in the formation of acrylic acid from propene.