A multifaceted approach to prevention of thromboembolism: a report of 529 cases

The morbidity and incidence of thromboembolic complications can be reduced by patient awareness, nursing staff concern, and physician responsibility using mechanical measures and drugs. Preoperative exercise instrutions, early ambulation, calf exercise, antiembolism hose, postoperative circle-bed turning and use of the Trendelenburg position, the use of intravenous dextran postoperatively and, in selected cases, low doses of sodium warfarin (Coumadin) form the foundation of our approach to the prophylaxis of thromboembolic phenomena. In the presence of thrombophlebitis, phenylbutazone (Butazolidin) is used. Dextran is used with caution in the presence of diminished biliary function. Heparin is avoided except in proven pulmonary embolism. No complications have resulted from this regimen.     

Digital refraction distortion correction with an astigmatic coherence sensor

We demonstrate the sensing and correction of an isoplanatic refractive distortion (not lens aberrations), using the complete measurement of the partially coherent field in an aperture that the previously described astigmatic coherence sensor provides. Isoplanatic distortions, and in general distortions that do not cause energy loss, maintain the orthogonality of the coherent modes. We use the fact that a common distortion will occur to all coherent modes to separate the distortion from the source behind it, rather than requiring a reference source at a different wavelength. Digital deconvolution was performed on the full four-dimensional partially coherent field for simultaneously computing the distortion and the source intensity distribution.     

A novel Asn344 deletion in the core domain of coagulation factor XIII A subunit: its effects on protein structure and function

We re-evaluated three schemes of liver organization: the classic lobule, the portal lobule, and Rappaport's liver acinus. The lobular angioarchitecture of normal rat liver and the three-dimensional structure of pseudolubules found in rat livers with fibrosis induced by swine serum were compared with the classic lobule of the pig. Normal and fibrotic rat livers and pig livers were perfused, injected with either India ink or 0.75% OsO4 through the portal and/or hepatic vein, and immersionfixed. Whole lobes and hand-cut thick sections were made transparent with a solution of benzyl benzoate and methyl salicylate. The angioarchitecture of normal rat liver differs from pig liver. In the former, terminal portal branches and central veins interdigitate, and in the latter, numerous terminal portal branches that arise from interlobular portal veins establish a vascular basket surrounding one central vein and forming classic lobule. The structure of liver acinus is never found in the pig liver. The terminal portal branch, together with the terminal hepatic artery and bile duct, are present inside each pseudolobule of fibrotic rat livers. Blood from the terminal portal branch flows through inlet venules into radiating sinusoids, and, at the periphery converges into newly formed septal and angular outlet venules; these venules terminate in fibrotic central veins located at each corner. Pseudolobules are not rugby ball-like as Rappaport's liver acini are but are polyhedron in shape. The rat pseudolobules are comparable with the portal lobule; its structure and microcirculation are the reverse of the pig classic lobule. Rat pseudolobules are different from liver acini, as shown by the following: 1) their three-dimensional shape is different; and 2) they have a reverse relationship to classic lobules while acini are defined to subdivide classic lobules. In normal and fibrotic rat livers, the liver unit is the portal lobule with a terminal portal branch as the axial branch and central veins at the periphery. The co-existence of liver acini and classic lobules is doubtful.     

Antibody catalysis of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerization in the folding of RNase T1

An antibody generated to an alpha-keto amide containing hapten 1 catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of peptidyl-prolyl amide bonds in peptides and in the protein RNase T1. The antibody-catalyzed peptide isomerization reaction showed saturation kinetics for the cis-substrate, Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA, with a kcat/Km value of 883 s-1.M-1; the reaction was inhibited by the hapten analog 13 (Ki = 3. 0 +/- 0.4 microM). Refolding of denatured RNase T1 to its native conformation also was catalyzed by the antibody, with the antibody-catalyzed folding reaction inhibitable both by the hapten 1 and hapten analog 13. These results demonstrate that antibodies can catalyze conformational changes in protein structure, a transformation involved in many cellular processes.     

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.