Doxazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in normotensive patients: a multicenter study

A 16-week, double-blind, placebo controlled, dose titration study was done on 100 normotensive patients age 45 years or older to determine the efficacy and safety of doxazosin, a selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist, in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Of the 41 efficacy evaluable patients 88% underwent dose titration to a maximum of 8 mg. doxazosin once daily. Maximum and average urinary flow rates increased significantly above baseline with doxazosin (2.9 ml. per second and 1.4 ml. per second, respectively) compared with placebo (0.7 ml. per second and 0.3 ml. per second, respectively). A significant effect on maximum flow rate was noted as early as week 2 of double-blind treatment at the initial efficacy evaluation. Doxazosin was superior to placebo in patient and investigator assessments of total, obstructive and irritative BPH symptoms. The onset of efficacy for total patient-assessed symptoms was significant for doxazosin compared to placebo 4 weeks after the start of the treatment regimen. Statistically significant decreases in mean blood pressure of 4 to 6 mm. Hg were noted with doxazosin compared with placebo. Adverse events, primarily mild to moderate in severity, were reported in 44% of patients given doxazosin and 30% of those given placebo. Our results strongly demonstrate that doxazosin is significantly superior to placebo in the treatment of BPH in normotensive patients, with the patient experiencing significant relief early after initiation of therapy.     

Taste agnosia following gustatory neocortex ablation: Dissociation from odor and generality across taste qualities.

In Exp I, 18 male Long-Evans hooded rats trained to avoid drinking in the presence of a compound odor (benzyl acetate) and taste (sucrose) CS lost the taste habit but retained the odor habit following gustatory neocortex (GN) ablation. Conversely, olfactory bulb ablation resulted in loss of the odor habit but retention of the taste habit. In Exp II, with 60 Ss, Ss lacking GN did not retain preoperatively instated learned aversions to a suprathreshold quinine hydrochloride (bitter) taste solution that had been employed as a CS. However, Ss with GN lesions that were virtually identical to those of the bitter-trained group retained a preoperatively learned aversion to a hydrochloric acid (sour) CS. Exp III, with 60 Ss, demonstrated that reliable agnosia for an acid CS could be produced by lesions that extended more deeply into perirhinal areas near the claustrum at the level of the GN. It is concluded that the agnosia following GN ablation is relatively specific to gustation and that agnosia for preoperatively acquired tasted aversion habits occurs for all 4 basic gustatory stimuli following anterolateral cortex ablations centered on the GN. (49 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Über die Anwendung von Zirkonium im chemischen Apparatebau

Application of zirconium in chemical plant construction It ist in this decade only, that zirconium has become an established special material in chemical plant construction. Zirconium is used in particular where high corrosion resistance is required, e.g. with processes involving sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric and phosphoric acids, chlorides (except ferric and cupric chlorides), alkalies, urea, hydrogen peroxide and lactic acid. Preferred types of equipment are reaction columns, pump casing, heat exchangers and tubing, e.g. in connection with the production of dyes, pigments (erosion resistance), foods, hydrogen peroxide and urea. The price of zirconium, though still high if compared with that of nickel-base alloys or high-alloy stainless steels is soon amortized as a consequence of the low maintenance requirement.     

Zum Mechanismus der thermischen Abspaltung von Chlorwasserstoff aus Polyvinylchlorid. 9. mitt.: Zur struktur der verzweigungen in polyvinylchlorid

The reduction of PVC and of copolymers from vinyl chloride and 2-chloropropene with lithium aluminium hydride occurs in a nearly quantitative manner. A selective reduction of the tertiary chlorine atoms in the copolymers, using lithium deuteride, cannot be observed by means of n.m.r. spectroscopy. The amount of CH₃-groupins the reduced samples was determined by i.r. spectroscopic compensation against polymethylene. The number of methyl groups determined in the copolymers agrees well with the copolymer composition found by n.m.r. spectroscopy. The experimental results of the determination of branches and of the thermal degradation indicate no tertiary chlorine atoms in PVC; therefore, one can assume another structure of branches in PVC.     

Organochlorine Residues in Suspended Solids Collected from the Mouths of Canadian Streams Flowing into the Great Lakes 1974–1977

Suspended solids were collected from 105 streams on the Canadian side of the Great Lakes during snow melt and spring flow between 1974 and 1977. Analyses were performed for organochlorine and organophosphorus insecticides and three industrial chemicals. All streams sampled contained suspended solids that were contaminated with DDT, its metabolites, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB). The highest mean concentrations of ΣDDT (356 μg/kg) occurred in 1974 from streams draining the Niagara Peninsula and entering Lake Ontario; these were correlated to areas of high use on fruit in the past. The highest loadings by lake section, however, were along the north shore of Lake Erie involving a very much larger delivery of suspended solids. The highest concentrations of PCB were on suspended solids entering Lake Ontario in 1974 along the northern (191 μg/kg) and southwestern (172 μg/kg) shore and were associated with the high urban-industrial activity in the megalopolis of Hamilton-Burlington-Oakville-Mississauga-Toronto. However, the highest loadings occurred along Lake St. Clair where two large rivers, the Thames and Sydenham, discharge a much larger volume of suspended solids. The highest individual concentrations of HEOD (dieldrin) were found on suspended solids in two streams entering along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Ontario. However, the highest mean residues on solids for all streams was in waters entering Lake Erie (3 μg/kg) and the highest loadings were into Lake St. Clair. Endosulfan, chlordane, and heptachlor epoxide were detected in some streams entering all five lakes. No aldrin, endrin, mirex, heptachlor, or organophosphorus insecticides were detected.     

Review of The social psychology of reading.

Reviews the book, The Social Psychology of Reading by John Edwards (Ed.) (1981). This volume, unlike many edited books, consists of original papers. Unlike many current volumes in reading, this one addresses broad socio- and psychological correlates of reading achievement. This book is a unique collection of data-based chapters, surveys and reviews. If the aim of the volume was to provide a perspective within which reading can be better understood, the authors have achieved success. It is an excellent reference and has good potential for senior undergraduate or early graduate required reading. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)