Is liquid ventilation a reasonable alternative?

Liquid breathing has been in medical literature for nearly 80 years and has been proposed as a means of improving gas exchange in critically ill infants since the 1970s. Extensive laboratory experience with perfluorochemical liquid ventilation has lead to clinical trials in infants, children, and adults. This article discusses the process and physiologic response to liquid breathing in neonates, and reviews some of the factors that need clarification prior to approval as a routine clinical therapy.     

Randomised trial of home-based psychosocial nursing intervention for patients recovering from myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Increases in life stress have been linked to poor prognosis, after myocardial infarction (MI). Previous research suggested that a programme of monthly screening for psychological distress, combined with supportive and educational home nursing interventions for distressed patients, may improve post-MI survival among men. Our study assessed this approach for both men and women. We aimed to find out whether the programme would reduce 1-year cardiac mortality for women and men. METHODS: We carried out a randomised, controlled trial of 1376 post-MI patients (903 men, 473 women) assigned to the intervention programme (n = 692) or usual care (n = 684) for 1 year. All patients completed a baseline interview that included assessment of depression and anxiety. Survivors were also interviewed at 1 year. FINDINGS: The programme had no overall survival impact. Preplanned analyses showed higher cardiac (9.4 vs 5.0%, p = 0.064) and all-cause mortality (10.3 vs 5.4%, p = 0.051) among women in the intervention group. There was no evidence of either benefit or harm among men (cardiac mortality 2.4 vs 2.5%, p = 0.94; all-cause mortality 3.1 vs 3.1%, p = 0.93). The programme's impact on depression and anxiety among survivors was small. INTERPRETATION: Our results do not warrant the routine implementation of programmes that involve psychological-distress screening and home nursing intervention for patients recovering from MI. The poorer overall outcome for women, and the possible harmful impact of the intervention on women, underline the need for further research and the inclusion of adequate numbers of women in future post-MI trials.     

A new assay for tRNA aminoacylation kinetics

An improved quantitative assay for tRNA aminoacylation is presented based on charging of a nicked tRNA followed by separation of an aminoacylated 3'-fragment on an acidic denaturing polyacrylamide gel. Kinetic parameters of tRNA aminoacylation by Escherichia coli AlaRS obtained by the new method are in excellent agreement with those measured by the conventional method. This assay provides several advantages over the traditional methods of measuring tRNA aminoacylation: (1) the fraction of aminoacyl-tRNA is measured directly; (2) data can be obtained at saturating amino acid concentrations; and (3) the assay is significantly more sensitive.     

Further delineation of spondylo-meta-epiphyseal dysplasia, short limb-abnormal calcification type, with emphasis on diagnostic features

Further delineation of a generalized bone dysplasia which we call spondylo-meta-epiphyseal dysplasia, short limb-abnormal calcification type is presented. This dwarfing condition has several serious complications, with the most common cause of death being spinal cord damage secondary to atlantoaxial instability. It is a heritable condition with an autosomal recessive mode of transmission. Radiologic diagnostic criteria are developed on the basis of studies in 8 patients with the oldest being between 4 and 5 years old. The condition is clinically and radiographically apparent neonatally or in early infancy, and it is probable that all or almost all affected individuals will come to medical attention in the age range screened by this study.     

Pentobarbital anesthesia: lack of effect on venous prostaglandins in dogs

Venous prostaglandins A, E, and F were determined by radioimmunoassay in 10 dogs before and one hour after administration of sodium pentobarbital (35 mg/Kg, iv). In the conscious state, PGA was 0.34 + 0.04 ng/ml (mean +/- SE), PGE 0.20 + 0.01 ng/ml, and PGF 0.25 + 0.03 ng/ml. During pentobarbital anesthesia, these levels were unchanged (p greater than 0.05). Thus, pentobarbital anesthesia had no effect on peripheral venous prostaglandin levels.     

An experimental case study of the successes and failures of job enrichment in a government agency.

An experimental job enrichment program was introduced in 3 clerical work units ( N = 1,000 workers) of a federal agency. Matched control groups were selected for each experimental unit. The program was introduced after careful diagnosis of the work situation and thorough training of the personnel involved. Within the limits imposed by the field situation, before-after measures of both behavior and attitudes suggested that changes in behavior (e.g., productivity, absences) occurred in favor of the experimental groups. Job enrichment apparently had no effect on attitudes, however. On the basis of interviews and observations, the productivity changes were attributed mainly to more efficient use of manpower, elimination of unnecessary operations, and feedback and competition, while the absence changes were attributed mainly to initial changes in morale based on the expectation of extrinsic rewards. It is concluded that attitudes did not improve because the expectations and desire for such rewards had not been met. The problem and limitations of job enrichment are discussed. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Constriction of the umbilical cord as a cause of fetal demise following midtrimester amniocentesis

Two cases of constriction of the umbilical cord resulting in fetal demise following midtrimester amniocentesis are presented. In both cases, real-time ultrasonography prior to amniocentesis revealed a viable fetus. Fetal demise was identified immediately following the procedure in the first case and one month later in the other. A localized constriction at the fetal end of the umbilical cord in both, with torsion of the constricted segment in the second case, was observed. Wharton's jelly was noted to be deficient in this segment of the cord in the first case. The mechanism of fetal demise is discussed. It is suggested that this abnormality should be considered when fetal demise follows midtrimester amniocentesis.     

On the identification of warded-off mental contents: An empirical and methodological contribution.

The basic assumption behind psychoanalytic psychotherapy is that mental contents that were once warded off come to emerge in the course of a successful treatment. This paper focuses on specific contents which a male patient in his mid-20's became aware of during a psychoanalytic treatment. Study 1 describes the method for identifying warded-off contents: Themes were identified that emerged for the 1st time between Hours 41 and 100; then 20 clinicians read the process notes of the 1st 10 hrs of treatment and judged which of the newly emerging themes had previously been warded off. The judges' ratings were highly reliable and case specific. Studies 2 and 3 validated the ratings (a) by assessing the patient's discomfort when warded-off themes emerged and (b) by examining relevant changes in the patient's memories of early events. Finally, Study 4 explored certain conditions involving the patient-therapist interaction that facilitate the emergence of warded-off contents. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Raman Scattering in AlN Crystals Grown by Sublimation on SiC and AlN Seeds

Semiconductors - The Raman-scattering technique is used to analyze the structural quality of bulk AlN crystals grown by sublimation on SiC and AlN seeds. Growth on SiC seeds is conducted with...