Factors influencing the selection of analgesia in spontaneously labouring nulliparous women at term

It is the purpose of this study to compare the prognostic value of the Herring classification (lateral pillar) with that of the Catterall classification. The material is constituted by 45 patients affected with Perthes' disease and reviewed an average of 24 years after onset. At follow-up the hips were divided into three classes based on joint congruency as suggested by Stulberg. The Catterall classification demonstrated overall a better predictive value for the Herring system. Instead, the most satisfactory reproducibility seems to be that of Herring: 80% as compared to 42% for the Catterall classification.     

The practice of health education in acute care settings in Hong Kong: an exploratory study of the contribution of registered nurses

A multiple case study design was used to explore the practice of health education in acute care settings in Hong Kong. Two case studies, a medical ward and a surgical ward, were selected to reflect the real setting in which nurses carry out health education in acute care. Data collection methods involved the use of non-participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Seven nurses and eight patients were interviewed to explore their understanding of health education concepts, the use made in the wards of health education and the factors influencing such practice in the acute settings. Individual and cross-case analysis showed that respondents' understanding of the concept of health education was limited to patient information-giving. Although the importance of health education in acute patient care was acknowledged, the degree to which health education featured in nurses' practice was minimal. Many available opportunities for health education were missed and factors such as nurses' busy-ness and the associated lack of time and staff were identified as influencing health education practice in these acute care settings. Implications for practice and future studies were discussed in the light of these findings.     

Sequence of the luxD gene encoding acyltransferase of the lux operon from Photobacterium leiognathi

The nucleotide sequence of luxD (EMBL accession No. X65611), encoding acyltransferase (ACT), of the lux operon from Photobacterium leiognathi PL741 was determined, and the amino acid (aa) sequence was deduced. ACT is a component of the fatty acid reductase complex, which is responsible for converting fatty acid to aldehyde that serves as the substrate in the luciferase-catalyzed bioluminescent reactions. The protein has a calculated M(r) of 34,384 and comprises 305 aa residues. Alignment and comparison of the ACT of P. leiognathi with that of Vibrio fischeri ATCC7744, V. harveyi B392 and Xenorhabdus luminescens Hm shows that there is 66%, 59% and 61% aa identity, respectively.     

Stabilité des algorithmes récursifs d’adaptation

Stability and convergence analysis remained incomplete or even non-existant as much in a deterministic environment as in a stochastic one. The authors intend to give an overview of results obtained till now, concerning the stability and convergence analysis of adaptive recursive algorithms. They also give some examples with the help of identification schemes.     

Morphometric study of trout gills: a light-microscopic method suitable for the evaluation of pollutant action

1. Methods are described for the morphometric estimation of parameters of the gill system of trout which are relevant to its function in gas exchange. The methods have been used with 1 mum sections viewed under the light microscope. 2. In particular the diffusion distances between water and blood are measured, which together with determinations of gill area, provide figures for the morphometrically estimated diffusing capacity. 3. The methods have been used to compare the diffusing capacity of gills from control fish and those treated in polluted waters. The concept of relative diffusing capacity (Drel) is introduced which enables comparisons to be made without the need to determine the absolute diffusing capacity. 4. Quantitative estimation of changes in relative volumes and surface areas of components of the secondary lamellae were determined, and employed to explain the possible anatomical causes of changes in Drel. 5. It is suggested that these methods can be of value in the comparison of the gills of fish treated in different waters.     

Interference of bronchographic agents with lung surfactant

Dionosil Oily (a suspension of propyliodone crystals in peanut oil and powdered tantalum were introduced into the right principal bronchi of rabbit lungs. The left lungs were used as controls. Pressure-volume characteristics of excised lungs with Dionosil Oily or peanut oil demonstrated significantly reduced compliance on inflation at a pressure of 3-4 cm H2O. These lungs also retained less air on deflation and therefore demonstrated a significantly reduced stability index. Histological sections revealed microatelectasis closely associated with crystals and/or peanut oil. Lungs with tantalum powder were not measurably influenced by the bronchographic agents. Surface balance experiments with lung surfactant and synthetic dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) demonstrated an increased minimum surface tension due to the oil suspension of propyliodone, peanut oil and particles (propyliodone and tantalum). There is good evidence that the oil suspension of propyliodone reduced the surface activity of lung surfactant in situ. Particles also may prevent the minimum surface tension from reaching relatively low values if they enter the alveoli in sufficient quantities.     

Inhibition of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) as a means of detection of immune complexes in the sera of patients with thyroid disorders and bronchogenic carcinoma

Circulating immune complexes in the sera of patients with thyroid disorders or bronchogenic carcinoma were investigated using an assay system based on the inhibition of the ADCC activity of rat spleen cells. Increased inhibition, as compared with that of the sera of age and sex matched controls, was found in patients with thashimoto thyroiditis, primary hypothyroidism and bronchogenic carcinoma. The degree of inhibition in the first two groups was markedly increased compared with control sera of the same IgG content. However, the results in the lung cancer group were slightly but not significantly greater than in controls with the same level of IgG. Increased IgG levels were found in patients with thashimoto thyroiditis and thyrotoxicosis, and also in patients with bronchogenic carcinoma who had mediastinal gland involvement. The lower level of sensitivity of the assay system was approximately 600 ng added aggregated IgG, corresponding to a concentration of 6mu g/ml in the sample assayed. It is possible that circulating immune complexes may exist in lung cancer, but at a level below that of the present assay system.     

Arteriovenous anastomoses in the skin of tropical cattle

As part of a general study of the vascular arrangement in the skin of cattle in tropical environments, the arteriovenous anastomoses (AVA) and other specialized vascular structures in the various skin sites of cattle were observed histologically. AVA were abundant in the skin from the scrotum, eye margin and the lower limb sites but were generally less numerous on the hairy body skin sites of cattle. Most of the AVA, especially those in the scrotal skin, were complex and tortuous S-shaped vessels, mainly located in the mid- and lower reticular layer and the mid- and lower papillary layer. The possible significance of their presence in various body sites, especially on the scrotal skin, is discussed.     

Isochores in superfluid4He between 25 bar and the melting curve

Isochores in superfluid⁴He between 25 bar and the melting curve have been measured to high resolution. Together with the published results of Maynard, these results provide the self-consistent basis for establishing the equation of state in the superfluid phase for temperatures above 1 K.This work supported in part by U.S. NSF Grant No. DMR75-19546.