Synthesis of heterocyclic metal complexes and their evaluation as marine antifoulants

4-Amino-3-thio-1,24-triazolidine (L₁) and 4-amino-5-thio-1,3,4-thiadiazole (L_II) as well as their metal complexes of the general formulae ML_I·2H₂O and ML_IICl (M; Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II)) were prepared. With Sn(II), we obtained Sn(L_I)₂·2H₂O and SnL_IICl, respectively. The structures of the compounds were identified through elemental analysis, and IR and UV spectra measurements, in addition to thermal analysis in case of the metal complexes. The antifouling properties of the compounds were tested by their incorporation into paint formulations which were applied to PVC substrates and tested in water from Alexandria western harbour. When the compounds were added at 17·5% by volume, the coated panels were fouled after 3 months of immersion. The addition of 6·7% by volume of tributyltin oxide to 15·8% of the prepared compounds in one formulation elevated the paint efficiency and prevented fouling for 11 months. Paint containing solely tributyltin oxide at the same concentration was inactive against algae.     

改性燕麦麸的保健营养功效初探

介绍了以燕麦麸为原料，经现代食品加工技术精制而成的新型保健食品－高纤麦维素。总膳食纤维含量高达30％，可溶性膳食纤维9．56％，其中主要成分为β－葡聚糖。在高脂饲料中添加本品10％，饲喂高脂模型大鼠4周，结果：大鼠血脂TC、TG、LDL－C值显著低于对照组，HDL－C值略有提高。利用核素^67Ga直结肠通过显像观察，可显著改善肠蠕动功能，迅速通便。     

基于模糊数的发射装置模糊可靠性分析

鱼雷发射装置的可靠性直接关系到潜艇武器系统的整体作战效能。考虑到可靠性分析中影响因素的模糊性,本文引入模糊数的概念,对潜艇鱼雷发射装置的可靠性进行分析,并基于模糊数的运算法则,给出了串联系统模糊可靠度的计算方法。     

Comparative study of monoclonal antibody scan in diagnosing orthopaedic infection

When clinical data are insufficient to diagnose infection of bone or joints, nuclear scanning becomes crucial in making an accurate diagnosis. The efficacy of (99m)technetium antigranulocyte monoclonal antibody Fab' fragment (LeukoScan) is prospectively compared with (111)indium white blood cell and (99m)technetium methylene diphosphonate bone scans in 74 patients with suspected musculoskeletal infections. They were grouped according to site of suspected infection: 33 long bones, 23 prosthetic joints, and 18 diabetic feet. Sixty-two of these 74 patients had surgical verification with histopathology or culture. The remaining 12 patients had clinical followup as proof of absence of infection. The overall sensitivity of LeukoScan, (111)indium white blood cell, and (99m)technetium methylene diphosphonate bone scans was 93%, 85% and 92%, respectively. Specificity was 89%, 75% and 52%, and accuracy was 90%, 79% and 74%, respectively. The conclusion from this study is that LeukoScan is more accurate in detecting osteomyelitis, with better sensitivity and specificity in prosthetic joints. Compared with (111)indium white blood cell scans, LeukoScan++ gives superior images, and results are obtained in 1 to 6 hours without biohazard risk from handling blood products.     

Using a cost-construction model to assess the cost of educating undergraduate medical students at the University of Texas--Houston Medical School

Spontaneous resolution of deformities after excision of facial skin lesions has been known and used for a long time by plastic surgeons. The resorption mechanism of deformity is based on natural skin expansion, and seems to be directly related to the action of the muscles of facial expression and their skin relations. Natural expansion has been shown to be effective in children. Between 1990 and 1994 excision of skin lesions, including congenital nevi, leading to postoperative deformity of the cheek, labial commissure, nose, eyelid and forehead, was performed on 35 patients, aged from 3 month to 12 years. The average follow-up is 24 months. For 26 patients (74%), natural resorption was observed 4 or 6 weeks later with good aesthetic results. For 6 patients (17%), the deformity persisted 3 or 6 months later, but did not require any further surgery. For 3 patients (9%), a second operation was necessary. Using the skins natural capacity for expansion in the treatment of facial skin defects in children is a method of reconstruction which has already been used for excision in enforced position. The platysma and muscles of facial expression by their action on skin mobilisation, allow natural expansion. A better knowledge of cutaneous biomechanical properties enables plastic surgeons to find an alternative to other classical methods.     

Nasopharyngeal colonization in Costa Rican children during the first year of life

BACKGROUND: The establishment of the nasopharyngeal flora was followed in Costa Rican children from birth to 1 year of age. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal cultures were obtained at 1 (n = 413), 3 (n = 393), 6 (n = 376) and 12 months (n = 356) of age from children representative of the population in the Puriscal district. Weekly cultures were obtained from a subcohort of these children (n = 101). Mother-infant diads (n = 95) and preschool children (n = 208) attending day-care centers were also studied. RESULTS: The estimated proportion of colonized children in the population differed markedly depending on the frequency of culture. Quarterly cultures showed a slow increase in carrier rates from 3.9% for Haemophilus influenzae, 3.1% for Streptococcus pneumoniae and 6.5% for Moraxella catarrhalis at 1 month of age to 10.1% carrying H. influenzae and 19.4% carrying S. pneumoniae by the end of the first year. By quarterly culture the proportion of children colonized at least once was 36% for S. pneumoniae, 26% for H. influenzae and 28% for M. catarrhalis. In contrast weekly sampling showed that 95 to 100% of the children were colonized at least once during the first year of life with H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae or M. catarrhalis. Nasopharyngeal carriage of H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae and M. catarrhalis was low in the mothers, and very few mother-infant pairs carried identical bacteria at the same time. In contrast carrier rates were high in the siblings attending day care (H. influenzae 27.9%, S. pneumoniae 39.4%, both organisms 26.6%). Infants with siblings had significantly higher bacterial carriage at all ages than infants without siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Quarterly nasopharyngeal cultures showed that Costa Rican infants acquire their nasopharyngeal flora at a rate comparable with that for infants in developed countries and that siblings are an important source of the bacteria. Weekly samplings showed that virtually all children were colonized at least once during the first year of life.     

Epidemiological study of hypertension and its determinants in an urban population of North India

OBJECTIVES: To determine age-specific prevalence of hypertension and blood pressure (BP) levels in relation to diet and lifestyle factors in North Indians. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional survey in 20 randomly selected streets in Moradabad, North India. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 1806 subjects from North India (904 males and 902 females) age range 25-64 years. The survey methods were as follows: dietary diaries for 7 days food intake record; BP measurements; physician administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. Diagnosis of hypertension was based on new World Health Organization/International Society of Hypertension (WHO/ISH) criteria. Risk factors were assessed based on WHO guidelines. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension according to WHO/ISH criteria was 23.7% and by old WHO criteria 13.3%. In the WHO/ISH hypertensive group, isolated diastolic hypertension was present in 47.3% males and 40.6% females. Males have a slightly higher prevalence than females in the young age group, however, the prevalence rates are comparable in the older age groups. In both sexes, the prevalence rates and BP level increased with older age. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, higher body mass index, central obesity and higher socioeconomic status were independently and strongly associated with hypertension in both sexes. Higher dietary fat and salt intake and lower physical activity were weakly but significantly associated with hypertension. CONCLUSION: Association of higher socioeconmic status, higher body mass index and central obesity in North Indian adults with higher fat intake, lower physical activity and higher prevalence and level of hypertension indicate that these populations may benefit by decreasing the dietary fat intake and increasing physical activity, with an aim to decrease central obesity for decreasing hypertension in North Indians.     

Recurrent gains of 1q, 8 and 12 in the Ewing family of tumours by comparative genomic hybridization

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to detect copy number changes of DNA sequences in the Ewing family of tumours (ET). We analysed 20 samples from 17 patients. Fifteen tumours (75%) showed copy number changes. Gains of DNA sequences were much more frequent than losses, the majority of the gains affecting whole chromosomes or whole chromosome arms. Recurrent findings included copy number increases for chromosomes 8 (seven out of 20 samples; 35%), 1q (five samples; 25%) and 12 (five samples; 25%). The minimal common regions of these gains were the whole chromosomes 8 and 12, and 1q21-22. High-level amplifications affected 8q13-24, 1q and 1q21-22, each once. Southern blot analysis of the specimen with high-level amplification at 1q21-22 showed an amplification of FLG and SPRR3, both mapped to this region. All cases with a gain of chromosome 12 simultaneously showed a gain of chromosome 8. Comparison of CGH findings with cytogenetic analysis of the same tumours and previous cytogenetic reports of ET showed, in general, concordant results. In conclusion, our findings confirm that secondary changes, which may have prognostic significance in ET, are trisomy 8, trisomy 12 and a gain of DNA sequences in 1q.