Psychiatric problems within the satellite-extended families of Turkey

The many Turkish villagers who now migrate to large Turkish cities or enter the European labor force try to create models of the extended families they leave behind. Their satellite families necessarily drift away from tradition, however, in the direction of greater independence. This process often triggers psychiatric symptom formation.     

Quantitation of carbenicillin disodium, cefazolin sodium, cephalothin sodium, nafcillin sodium, and ticarcillin disodium by high-pressure liquid chromatography

High-pressure liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods for the quantitation of carbenicillin, cefazolin, cephalothin, nafcillin, and ticarcillin were developed. The stability of 2% solutions of the antibiotics in normal saline and in 5% dextrose in water were studied at 24 and 5 degrees. The assays were conducted using a previously reported colorimetric method, and some assays also were performed using HPLC. For discolored solutions of cephalothin, the colorimetric method was not stability indicating. The percent relative standard deviations by HPLC based on six injections were 1.69, 0.94, 1.30, 1.59, and 1.6 for carbenicillin, cefazolin, cephalothin, nafcillin, and ticarcillin, respectively. Both carbenicillin and ticarcillin apparently may be mixtures of two isomers at equilibrium with each other. The shelflives recommended by the manufacturers at 5 degrees may be too conservative.     

Minimum phase model of a dynamic spectral analysis of sounds at the periphery of hearing

The model consists of independent frequency-channels the amplitude-frequency characteristics (AFC) of which are assigned by the investigator. The phase characteristics are computed. Concrete minimum-phase model is described and illustrated. The temporal and frequency characteristics of this model are consistent with experimental data on peripheral auditory system. The AFC can be easily reformed, so the model is convenient for investigation of functional models of peripheral auditory analysis.     

Coagglutination test: a simple and rapid immunodiagnostic test for parvovirus infection in dogs

Pheochromocytoma is rarely observed during pregnancy and not easily diagnosed, especially since the clinical manifestations may mimic common gravid hypertension. The maternal and fetal prognosis depends on early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management preparing for tumor resection. Appropriate laboratory tests easily provide the positive diagnosis, if they are ordered. The tumor is localized by ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). By prescribing an alpha-blocker, it is possible to prepare the resection as a function of term, before or after delivery. This strategy allows a reduction in maternal and fetal mortality which is high if the pheochromocytoma goes undiagnosed.     

Validity of epidemiological classification: study of asymptomatic properties of a discriminant criterion

Aiming to assess the presence of selected anaerobic microorganisms in root canals of human teeth with chronic apical periodontitis. 25 central and lateral upper incisors presenting with radiographic evidence of chronic apical periodontitis were studied. The pulp chamber was opened under aseptic conditions and samples of the root canal content were collected with sterile absorbent paper points, which were placed and dispersed in test tubes containing reduced transport medium RTT. Aliquots were dried on glass slides and stained by indirect immunofluorescence for detection of Actinomyces viscosus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia. The results showed a positive indirect immunofluorescence reaction in 24 of the 25 samples. Fourteen were positive for the specie Actinomyces viscosus, 12 for Prevotella intermedia, 10 for Fusobacterium nucleatum and 4 for Porphyromonas gingivalis. A semiquantitative assay was easily implemented for assessment of degree of infection by the organisms in individual cases.     

Experience in the health promotion of children in opisthorchiasis foci

The analysis covers 2555 appendectomies, performed on an emergency and scheduled surgery basis in the clinic of emergency surgery.--State University Hospital "Queen Giovanna", Sofia, over the period 1985-1997. Relaparotomy is necessitated in 28 cases (1.09 per cent) because of various postoperative complications. Data are presented on the number of relaparotomies, done under conditions of emergency and scheduled surgery, and with a special reference to the pathoanatomical character of appendicitis. The underlying causes of undertaking relaparotomy and postoperative lethality are analyzed. As shown by the obtained results post-relaparotomy mortality rate is the highest after primary operation for destructive form of appendicitis and advanced form of peritonitis.     

The value of the Health Assessment Questionnaire and special patient-generated scales to demonstrate change in systemic sclerosis patients over time

OBJECTIVE: To determine the validity and usefulness of a modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) for measurement of disease status and changes in disease status over time in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Since 1985, 1,250 patients attending the University of Pittsburgh Scleroderma Clinic have completed a modified HAQ annually. In addition to the standard HAQ questions about disability, the questionnaire includes visual analog scales (VAS) to evaluate SSc organ system symptoms, Raynaud's phenomenon, gastrointestinal (GI) tract and lung involvement, pain, and overall disease severity. In this study, the disability index (DI) (from the HAQ) and the VAS scores (on a 0-3 scale) were compared with various clinical and laboratory features recorded within 3 months of administration of the HAQ and VAS, using t-tests and Spearman's correlation tests. RESULTS: The HAQ DI correlated directly with skin involvement, scleroderma heart or kidney disease, tendon friction rubs, hand contractures, and proximal muscle strength. Over time, the DI correlated with changes in skin score and was a good predictor of survival. There was a significant improvement in the DI during a 2-year time period in patients treated with D-penicillamine. The VAS for digital ulcers, GI symptoms, and lung symptoms correlated very closely with subjective and objective findings for these organ systems. The presence of new digital ulcers or improvement in digital ulcers showed significant associations with the Vascular scale, new GI symptoms or improvement in GI symptoms and institution of H2-blockers showed appropriate strong correlations with the GI scale, and changes in the forced vital capacity had an excellent correlation with the Lung scale (r = 0.58, P < 0.001). By Cox regression analysis, the HAQ DI was one of the best predictors of survival. CONCLUSION: These data provide convincing evidence that a self-administered questionnaire is an accurate and inexpensive tool to measure disease status changes in SSc. Prospective studies with the HAQ administered at regular intervals, as in controlled trials, should be performed to further assess the benefits and limitations of this instrument.