Efficacy and toxicity of radiation in preparative regimens for pediatric stem cell transplantation. I: Clinical applications and therapeutic effects

Here, we review the role of total body irradiation in the treatment of children with bone marrow transplantation, as well as alternative sources of stem cells. We were unable to demonstrate any clear superiority of TBI-containing preparative regimens, but we were able to find a few definitive reports of significantly enhanced toxicity or important variations in control of the underlying primary diseases, in comparing TBI-based regimens, with those containing only chemotherapy.     

Occupational exposures and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. A population-based case-control study

This population-based case-control study was conducted in three countries in western Washington State to evaluate associations between workplace exposures and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Cases (n = 174) were all newly diagnosed with ALS by neurologists during 1990-1994, and controls (n = 348), who were matched according to age (+/-5 years) and sex, were identified via random-digit dialing or Medicare enrollment files. Four industrial hygienists blindly assessed detailed lifetime job histories for exposures to metals, solvents, and agricultural chemicals. Case-control comparisons were made for jobs held between 15 years of age and 10 years prior to the cases' dates of diagnosis. After adjustment for age and education, ever exposure to agricultural chemicals was associated with ALS (odds ratio (OR) = 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-3.5); this association was observed separately in men (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.8) but not in women (OR = 0.9, 95% CI 0.2-3.8). Among men, the odds ratio for low exposure to agricultural chemicals (below the median level for exposed controls) relative to no exposure was 1.5 (95% CI 0.4-5.3), and for high exposure, it was 2.8 (95% CI 1.3-6.1) (p for trend = 0.03). Similar analyses based on the panel's assessment of exposures to metals and solvents showed no associations. These findings suggest an association between ALS and agricultural chemicals in men.     

Lack of protection against avian cholera by vaccination with recombinant P6-like protein from Pasteurella multocida

The gene encoding the P6-like protein of Pasteurella multocida was cloned in the baculovirus expression system. Baculovirus-expressed recombinant protein was used to parenterally immunize 6-wk-old Nicholas broad-breasted white turkeys. Turkeys developed significant antibody titers to the recombinant protein as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two weeks after the last immunizing injection, vaccinated turkeys were placed in contact with turkeys infected with P. multocida strain P1059, as were nonvaccinated control birds. No differences occurred in percent mortality between the two groups. We conclude that parenterally administered recombinant P6-like protein does not protect turkeys from avian cholera.     

The influences of technological conditions and Au cluster islands on morphology of Ga<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanowires grown by VLS method on GaAs substrate

The synthesis of semiconductor nanowires is more and more interested to the applications for building blocks of the innovative nano-sized devices and circuits, but the research and fabrication of these nanowires are also holding a number of difficulties and challenges. Among many different kinds of semiconductor nanowires, Ga₂O₃ is increasingly grown for many promising applications in nano-device production, namely nanowire LED and Laser. So far there are many synthesizing methods of semiconductor nanowires, among them the vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) method is simple, cheap and popular. However, when we use the VLS method for nanowire growth, various technological problems exist. This paper aims at investigating some influences of the growth technological conditions and Au metal catalyst on the morphology of Ga₂O₃ nanowire grown by VLS on GaAs substrate. The main considering factors include the different growing temperatures and times, the effects of Au diffusion, Au droplets formation, Au cluster islands formation, and gas volume of the growing tube/ampoule at the 10⁻¹ torr low air pressure. The obtained experimental results regarding the structural properties of nanowires under these effects investigated by scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, high angle annular dark field and bright field, scanning transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray techniques, and focus ion beam are presented and discussed.     

Analytical and sampling constraints in ²¹⁰Pb dating

²¹⁰Pb dating provides a valuable, widely used means of establishing recent chronologies for sediments and other accumulating natural deposits. The Constant Rate of Supply (CRS) model is the most versatile and widely used method for establishing ²¹⁰Pb chronologies but, when using this model, care must be taken to account for limitations imposed by sampling and analytical factors. In particular, incompatibility of finite values for empirical data, which are constrained by detection limit and core length, with terms in the age calculation, which represent integrations to infinity, can generate erroneously old ages for deeper sections of cores. The bias in calculated ages increases with poorer limit of detection and the magnitude of the disparity increases with age. The origin and magnitude of this effect are considered below, firstly for an idealised, theoretical ²¹⁰Pb profile and secondly for a freshwater lake sediment core. A brief consideration is presented of the implications of this potential artefact for sampling and analysis.     

Additive Manufacturing of Batteries

Additive manufacturing, i.e., 3D printing, is being increasingly utilized to fabricate a variety of complex‐shaped electronics and energy devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors, and solar cells) due to its excellent process flexibility, good geometry controllability, as well as cost and material waste reduction. In this review, the recent advances in 3D printing of emerging batteries are emphasized and discussed. The recent progress in fabricating 3D‐printed batteries through the major 3D‐printing methods, including lithography‐based 3D printing, template‐assisted electrodeposition‐based 3D printing, inkjet printing, direct ink writing, fused deposition modeling, and aerosol jet printing, are first summarized. Then, the significant achievements made in the development and printing of battery electrodes and electrolytes are highlighted. Finally, major challenges are discussed and potential research frontiers in developing 3D‐printed batteries are proposed. It is expected that with the continuous development of printing techniques and materials, 3D‐printed batteries with long‐term durability, favorable safety as well as high energy and power density will eventually be widely used in many fields.     

State-of-the-art principles and practices of medical economics

Genomic DNA from 23 patients with isolated growth hormone (GH) deficiency (12 males and 11 females: heights -4.9 +/- 1.4 SDS) was screened for GH gene deletions by restriction endonuclease analysis of polymerase chain reaction amplification products. Three unrelated patients had typical features of severe GH deficiency and deletions (6.7 kb in two and 7.6 kb in one) of the GH gene. The two patients with 6.7-kb deletions developed growth-attenuating anti-GH antibodies whereas the patient with the 7.6-kb deletion continued to grow with GH replacement therapy. Our finding that 3/23 (approximately 13%) Brazilian subjects had GH gene deletions agrees with previous studies of severe isolated GH deficiency subjects in other populations. Two of three subjects (67%) with deletions developed blocking antibodies despite administration of exogenous GH at low doses. Interestingly, only 1/10 of cases with affected relatives or parental consanguinity had GH-1 gene deletions.     

Recovery from sevoflurane anesthesia: a comparison to isoflurane and propofol anesthesia

BACKGROUND: Sevoflurane has a lower blood:gas partition coefficient than isoflurane, which may cause a more rapid recovery from anesthesia; it also might cause faster emergence times than for propofol-based anesthesia. We evaluated a database that included recovery endpoints from controlled, randomized, prospective studies sponsored by Abbott Laboratories that compared sevoflurane to isoflurane or propofol when extubation was planned immediately after completion of elective surgery in adult patients. METHODS: Sevoflurane was compared to isoflurane in eight studies (N=2,008) and to propofol in three studies (N=436). Analysis of variance was applied using least squares method mean values to calculate the pooled mean difference in recovery endpoints between primary anesthetics. The effects of patient age and case duration also were determined. RESULTS: Sevoflurane resulted in statistically significant shorter times to emergence (-3.3 min), response to command (-3.1 min), orientation (-4.0 min) and first analgesic (-8.9 min) but not time to eligibility for discharge (-1.7 min) compared to isoflurane (mean difference). Times to recovery endpoints increased with increasing case duration with isoflurane but not with sevoflurane (patients receiving isoflurane took 4-5 min more to emerge and respond to commands and 8.6 min more to achieve orientation during cases longer than 3 hr in duration than those receiving sevoflurane). Patients older than 65 yr had longer times to orientation, but within any age group, orientation was always faster after sevoflurane. There were no differences in recovery times between sevoflurane and propofol. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery from sevoflurane was 3-4 min faster than with isoflurane in all age groups, and the difference was magnified in longer-duration surgical cases (> 3 hr).