Domiciliary oxygen: rationalization of supply in the Hunter region from 1982-1986

In October 1982, a clinic was planned at The Royal Newcastle Hospital to review the usage of domiciliary oxygen that was funded by the Provision of Aids for Disabled Persons scheme in the Hunter Region of New South Wales. Patient review included an assessment of the indications for domiciliary oxygen, education in the use of oxygen, the efficiency of delivery arrangements and the transfer from cylinders to concentrators as indicated. Between January and June 1983, 111 patients who were receiving oxygen at home were reviewed: 84 (76%) of these patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; their two-year survival was 80% (95% confidence interval, 69%-87%) and five-year survival was 36% (95% confidence interval, 25%-46%). In 66 (59%) patients, review led to a reduction in the usage of domiciliary oxygen which was estimated to save $40,000 each year in the Hunter Region. In the year from 1985-1986 the decrease in the usage of oxygen at home represented an actual cost saving of $60,000 for the region ($470 per person) which translated into a saving of $95,000 ($740 per person) when inflation was taken into account. If our experience is projected nation-wide, the potential exists for a considerable cost saving by means of programmes to rationalize the use of domiciliary oxygen.     

Antiaggregatory and anticoagulant effects of oligoamines. 7. Benzene-1,3,5-trialkaneamines

Platelet Aggregation Inhibiting and Anticoagulant Effects of Oligoamines, VII: Benzene-1,3,5-trialkanamines Seventeen title compounds were synthesized. Platelet aggregation induced by collagen in vitro is inhibited by 9 of them at IC₅₀ = 2–4 μmol/L. Seven compounds depress the formation of fibrin to ≦ 25 % of normal in concentrations below 50 μmol/L. Compound 15 [4-(2-thienylbutyl)benzene-1,3,5-trimethanamine is the first oligoamine which shows anticoagulant and antiplatelet effects at the same concentration (25 μmol/L).     

New scoring matrix for amino acid residue exchanges based on residue characteristic physical parameters

Based on residue characteristic physical parameters, a new scoring matrix, called EMPAR, for amino acid exchanges in proteins was obtained. When comparing protein sequences for detecting homologies, the use of this matrix in place of the Dayhoff log-odds matrix yields results that reflect the topological similarities in the proteins. The use of EMPAR is equivalent to the parametric correlation coefficient approach of Ooi and his colleagues. This matrix correlates at 0.63 with the Dayhoff matrix.     

Goldenhar’s Syndrome associated with congenital cyanotic heart disease

A case of Goldenhar’s Syndrome in a 10 year old girl is reported. The unusual features are the absence of epibulbar dermoid which is one of the major hallmarks of the Syndrome and the presence of an associated Cyanotic Heart disease.     

Mental health in the population approaching retirement age. Preliminary findings of the TURVA project

The present paper deals with a Finnish long-term prospective study, the objective of which is to shed light on adjustment to retirement and old age. In this phase, only the preliminary findings of the initial survey carried out in 1982 are available. For the purposes of the study, a random sample of 200 individuals was drawn from among Turku inhabitants born in 1920. Another sample, consisting of 189 persons of the same age, was drawn from rural municipalities in the neighborhood of Turku. An extensive structured psychosocial interview could be conducted with a total of 339 subjects. The research methods used included e.g. the 36-item version of Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Relatively little mental disturbance was revealed in the interview, and no major differences occurred between the urban and the rural sample. Somewhat over one-third of both samples were probable psychiatric cases as defined according to the GHQ.     

Heterogeneous epithelial expression of class II (HLA-DR) determinants and secretory component related to dysplasia in ulcerative colitis

The intensity and degree of heterogeneous epithelial marker expression were evaluated immunohistochemically in 29 mucosal biopsy specimens from 7 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with dysplasia. Biopsy specimens from UC patients with mild (n = 7) or severe (n = 6) inflammation and from histologically normal samples (n = 7) served as controls. HLA-DR showed heterogeneous epithelial expression in all lesions with high grade dysplasia and in 6 of 8 with low grade dysplasia. SC was heterogeneous stained in 17 of 21 lesions with high grade dysplasia and in all but two lesions with low grade dysplasia. In histologically normal mucosa, SC was homogeneously expressed and epithelial DR was virtually absent. In mildly inflamed UC lesions, SC exhibited patchy distribution in only one sample and DR in two, whereas both SC and DR showed a slight degree of heterogeneous expression in all lesions with severe inflammation. Moreover, the overall intensity of SC staining tended to decrease with increasing degree of inflammation, whereas the opposite was seen for DR. Decreased SC and increased DR expression thus seemed to be related to intensified inflammatory activity, whereas heterogeneous expression of these markers was significantly more related to dysplasia.     

The growth of microorganisms in total parenteral nutrition admixtures

Total nutrient admixtures (TNAs) containing glucose, amino acids, and lipid emulsion in one container and amino acid/dextrose solutions [conventional total parenteral nutrition (TPN) formulations] were studied in a controlled laboratory experiment for their ability to support the growth of microorganisms. Both TNA and conventional TPN formulations for peripheral and central venous administration with standard additives were inoculated with microorganisms to provide 10(1)-10(2) colony-forming units/ml (CFU/ml) of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida albicans. The admixtures were stored at room temperature and samples for quantitative microbiology were taken at time 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr. K. pneumoniae, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa were able to proliferate in central TNAs, but the growth of these organisms was retarded in conventional TPN solutions. In the peripheral formulations, K. pneumoniae and E. coli proliferated in both the TNA and conventional TPN systems, whereas P. aeruginosa grew well only in the peripheral TNA. S. epidermidis was not able to grow in any admixtures tested; however, C. albicans grew well in all admixtures, but growth was slower in the conventional central TPN. In conclusion, peripheral and central TNAs supported the growth of microorganisms significantly better than conventional TPN solutions.     

Intrathecal morphine for post-thoracotomy pain

We wished to investigate possible differences in the duration of postoperative analgesia and the incidence of respiratory depression after the intrathecal injection in the lumbar area of 10 micrograms/kg morphine in hypobaric and hyperbaric solution for relief of post-thoracotomy pain. Twenty-nine patients received morphine plus dextrose (hyperbaric) and 21 received morphine in preservative-free normal saline. The duration of analgesia was longer with the morphine in the normal saline group than in the hyperbaric group (P less than 0.04). One patient developed delayed respiratory depression. Our data support the use of morphine in normal saline mixtures for greater duration of analgesia after thoracic operations.     

Intubating conditions after vecuronium and atracurium given in divided doses (the priming technique)

Intubating conditions have been assessed at 60 s following administration of vecuronium 0.1 mg kg-1 or atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1 given either as a single dose after induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone or in divided doses; vecuronium 0.015 mg kg-1 followed 4 or 6 min later by 0.085 mg kg-1, or atracurium 0.075 mg kg-1 followed 4 or 6 min later by 0.425 mg kg-1. In the divided dose groups the smaller initial (priming) dose was given prior to induction of anaesthesia. Onset and duration of clinical relaxation were assessed using a peripheral nerve stimulator. The intubating conditions at 60 s improved significantly, with the use of relaxants in divided doses being acceptable in 80 and 70% of patients, respectively, with vecuronium and atracurium, but the conditions are not as good as those commonly found using suxamethonium. Priming at 6 min has no advantage over priming at 4 min. The onset of complete block was accelerated with priming, but the difference was not significant. The duration of clinical relaxation of vecuronium was significantly prolonged by giving it in divided doses. Unpleasant awareness of muscle weakness was observed in 15 patients, requiring early induction of anaesthesia in five of them.