Serum analysis for potassium ions using a fibre optic sensor.

A fibre optic potassium ion sensor has been developed based on reflectance measurements of the pH-dependent chromogenic crown ether 'Takagi reagent' immobilized on the non-ionic polymeric resin Amberlite XAD2. The sensor response is in the 1.5-100 mM range with a detection limit of 0.25 mM K+. The selectivity factor over sodium is 20. The proposed sensor works with a reproducibility of +/- 0.8% at the 5 mM K+ level. Advantageous design features include ease of construction, simplicity of use, reversibility, short response time (approximately 1 min) and an optimum working pH range (7.0-8.0) for biological fluids. This optical sensor was applied successfully to the direct determination of potassium in human serum. Aqueous potassium standards containing 0.13 M NaCl and a buffer of pH 8 were used for calibration.     

A primary gastric Burkitt's lymphoma in a child]

We report a case of a primary gastric Burkitt's lymphoma in a 8-year-old child, which first symptoms were abdominal pain, dysphagia, melena and a constitutional syndrome. The differential characteristics of this case are its peculiar gastric infiltration and the existence of oesophageal extension, which is very infrequent among this kind of tumors.     

Pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is an important health problem and often a major clinical challenge, not only because of the low specificity of its clinical manifestations but also because of the increasing number of medical circumstances that are risk factors for this illness and the importance of early identification, since prompt and appropriate treatment can decrease mortality from this disease by about 25%. In recent years research on PE has been extensive, directed mainly at trying to determine and characterize its risk factors, establish new clinical probability algorithms, develop new diagnostic methods and put existing ones into perspective, seek new therapeutic approaches (pharmacological and non-pharmacological), and above all establish protocols that can guide the clinician from the stage of clinical suspicion to measures to prevent recurrence. It was the authors' aim to review the most significant literature on this subject, in order to produce a text that reflects the state of the art concerning PE and that can be used as a guide in the clinical approach to this pathology.     

Cast syndrome

The term cast syndrome is used to denote duodenal obstruction occurring after application of a corrective plaster cast to patients with scoliosis. We report a classical case in a 14-year-old female who required surgical intervention after conservative treatment failed. Six months later the patient had no further gastrointestinal symptoms. Clinical, radiological, and pathological details as well as the surgical treatment are described and discussed. Offprint requests to: M. E. Martín Hortigüela     

Low plasma zinc and androgen in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Plasma zinc and pituitary and testicular hormone concentrations were measured in two groups of male adolescents. One group comprised insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients, aged 14-19 years; the other, as control, included 12 healthy youngsters aged 13-19 years. Plasma concentration of zinc, prolactin, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone were lower in diabetics than in controls, whereas the ratios of androstenedione and androstenedione to testosterone + dihydrotestosterone were higher. Plasma FSH and LH were normal. These results suggest a diminished conversion of androstenedione to testosterone and relate zinc with the 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase enzyme activity.     

Inhibitory effects of Santolina chamaecyparissus extracts against spasmogen agonists

Several extracts of Santolina chamaecyparissus ssp. squarrosa antagonized in a concentration-dependent way the contractions of rat duodenum, guinea-pig ileum, rat vas deferens and rat uterus as induced by acetylcholine, histamine, noradrenaline, oxytocin and serotonin. Polar extracts were less active than apolar extracts, and it was necessary to assay the former at higher concentrations. Only the lyophilized aqueous extract produced a slight hypotensive effect when given intravenously at 150 mg/kg to urethananesthetized rats.     

Effectiveness of health education for puerperae

A survey was conducted in early 1985 among 366 new mothers at 3 hospitals in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, to assess their level of health information regarding the care of newborns. The 11 study variables included breastfeeding, weaning, bathing the newborn, care of clothing and equipment for the baby, well baby visits, vaccination, accidents and safety, parent-child relations, sex education, and the puerperium. The level of information on these topics was generally low and was adequate only for breastfeeding. The information deficit was not related to urban or rural residence, parity, or educational level. The lack of knowledge of new mothers was attributed to the lack of motivation of health personnel at all levels to provide health education, inadequate use of existing information channels, and a lack of emphasis on health education within the general educational system.