Hearing improvement after resection of cerebellopontine angle meningioma: case study of the preoperative role of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions

OBJECTIVE: The present study was initiated to investigate the validity of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in urine in comparison with the metals in blood as a biological marker of nonoccupational exposure of general populations to these metals as environmental pollutants. DESIGN: Peripheral blood samples, morning spot-urine samples, and 24-h total food duplicate samples were collected from 107 nonsmoking women (aged 30-59 years) in four urban and rural survey sites in Korea. METHODS: Portions of the samples were digested by heating in the presence of mineral acids, and the digests were analyzed for Cd and Pb by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The metal concentrations in urine were adjusted for creatinine concentration and a specific gravity of 1.016. The analyte levels were evaluated on an individual basis (n = 107) and also on a group basis, i.e., in terms of geometric means for the survey sites (n = 4). RESULTS: Cd in urine correlated with Cd in blood on an individual as well as survey-site basis and tended to correlate with Cd in food duplicates on a group basis. The correlation of Pb in urine with Pb in blood was weaker than that of Cd in urine with Cd in blood when evaluated on an individual and survey-site basis. Pb in urine correlated with Pb in food duplicates either weakly or even negatively when examined on a survey-site basis. CONCLUSIONS: Cd in urine proved to be valid as a biological marker of environmental exposure of general populations, whereas less support was obtained for Pb in urine as an exposure marker.     

Fluoroscopic chest tube insertion and patient care

Catheters and chest tubes may be placed under fluoroscopic control to reduce pleural effusions. This procedure has been adopted as a routine procedure at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, California to improve patient care. This technique was modified for the placement of large chest tubes, which can be placed by a radiologist without multiple attempts or complications. Our experience with 2234 patients who underwent this procedure between 1977 and 1990 is described.     

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<正>屡获殊荣的植物摄影师Mandy Disher是《影像视觉》杂志的忠实读者,让她告诉我们如何使用纹理素材、图层、混合模式搭配出炫目的花卉摄影作品。我是个园艺师,同时也是一个摄影师。我非常喜欢花卉摄影,因为它能将我的两大兴趣完美结合在一起。大自