Lead content of rice collected from various areas in the world

Rice samples consumed by local populations were collected between 1990 and 1995 in 17 areas in the world, mostly from Asia (10 areas), but also from 7 areas outside of Asia. In total, 1528 samples were obtained (about one half from Japan) and were analyzed for lead (Pb) by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. When the Pb contents in rice samples were classified into 10 areas in Asia, the highest and the lowest geometric means (GMs) were for Indonesia (38 ng/g) and Australia (2 ng/g), respectively. Among 7 regions outside Asia, the GM was highest for Spain (58 ng/g) and the lowest for the USA. (3 ng/g). Moreover, inter-regional differences were significant, when more than 100 samples from one area were divided into 3-9 regions and GMs for regions were compared. There was a marked difference in Pb contents in rice by areas and regions in the world. Nevertheless, comparison by area of the present results with those reported in literature show that there has been no substantial reduction in Pb in rice in the past decade either in Japan or elsewhere in the world.     

Vitamin C elevates red blood cell glutathione in healthy adults

Pre-transplant nephrectomy was done in a 25-year-old man for calculous pyelonephritis using a retroperitoneal laparoscopic approach with a newly devised ligature applicator-dissector- kidney retractor.     

Familial bilateral blepharoptosis and subvalvular aortic stenosis

PURPOSE: To select ideal radiologic projections for mapping and ablation of tachycardias of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). METHODS: Ten hearts from human corpses were studied utilizing radiopaque material to identify the pulmonary valve and three distinct sites on this valve: septal anterior (A), septal posterior (P) and free-wall (L). Next, the hearts were filmed in the frontal plane and in oblique projections with 15 degrees increments to the right and to the left. The projections in which the sites were lateralized on the valve, eased radiologic interpretation and were considered ideal for mapping and ablation. Depending on the proximity of the sites to the lateral extremes of the pulmonary valve, the projections were considered ideal ( ), intermediary (++) and inadequate (+). RESULTS: Projections [table: see text] CONCLUSION: The A site of RVOT was best indicated in the 60 and 45 degrees left anterior oblique projections; the 0 degree postero anterior projection was best for mapping the P site; the L region was best explored in the 60 degrees right anterior oblique projection.     

Effects of seat slope and hip flexion on spinal angles in sitting

Lumbar and thoracic spinal angles of 25 male and 25 female subjects were measured in four sitting postures, with standing angles used as reference. Subjects sat with either 90 deg or 65 deg of hip flexion on either flat or forward-sloping seats. Lumbar kyphosis was greatest when the flat seat/90-deg posture was adopted and least when the sloping seat/65-deg posture was adopted. The opposite was observed for the thoracic angles, and intermediate results were observed for the other two sitting postures. No statistically significant interactions were observed among seat slope, hip flexion, and subject sex. The findings are discussed with reference to the anatomy of sitting and factors influencing pelvic tilt and the implications for the ergonomic design of chairs.     

Rationalisierung des Zeichnungswesens im Chemie-Apparatebau

Rationalizing drawings for chemical apparatus . For small and medium-sized manufacturers of apparatus, producing drawings may constitute a disproportionate waste of time and personnel, particularly when no new designs are involved but only modification or improvement of drawings supplied by the customer. One possibility for rationalizing drawing is to simplify the old-fashioned approach by using symbols for frequently drawn or standard items, or by listing alphanumerically. This presumes a kind of systematization permitting determination of those symbols and their reasonable use, as well facilitating rationalization by means of data processing. There are different approaches to computer-aided drawing (from computer controlled drawing-board to interactive screens); here a CAD programme is presented which was especially developed for graphic presentation of chemical apparatus, and which can be used without learning a programming language.     

Fungal carriage in lizards

The occurrence of fungi was investigated in the gut of 200 common garden lizards (Agama agama). The most important pathogenic fungus isolated was Basidiobolus haptosporus, an aetiological agent of subcutaneous zygomycosis. It was recovered from the intestinal contents of 112 (56%) lizards. Other important fungi isolated included Aspergillus spp. in 24 (12%) lizards, Candida spp. in 12 (6%), Penicillium spp. in 12 (6%) and Fusarium spp. in 12 (6%). Mucor spp. were isolated from eight (4%) male lizards only. Agamid lizards are plentiful in rural and urban areas of Nigeria. As they live in close vicinity to man, they are likely to play an important role in the spread of disease that may be caused by these fungi and its transmission to man. None of the animals investigated that yielded fungal cultures revealed any external fungal infection.     

Lizards as hosts for immature Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) in North Carolina

Previously archived museum specimens of lizards collected throughout North Carolina were examined for Ixodes scapularis (Say). Lizards (n = 1,349) collected in 80 of North Carolina's 100 counties were examined. Lizards with ticks were collected in 23 (29%) of the 80 counties from which lizards were examined. I. scapularis was detected on 8.7% (n = 117) of the lizards and was the sole species of tick obtained from lizards. Immature ticks were most frequently found on the southeastern five-lined skink, Eumeces inexpectatus, and the eastern glass lizard, Ophisaurus ventralis. Larvae were most frequently found on the six-lined racerunner, Cnemidophorus sexlineatus. One C. sexlineatus harbored 177 larvae and 2 nymphs. Nymphs were most frequently observed on E. inexpectatus. The majority of counties (chi 2, P < 0.01) where ticks were found on lizards were in the Coastal Plain.