Bifunctional anionic initiators: A critical study and overview

The suitability of several dilithio compounds as initiators for the anionic polymerization of dienes was tested in view of the following criteria: quantitative reaction of diolefins with sec-butyllithium within reasonable periods of time, precipitation of dilithio compounds in a heptane/toluene mixture, sufficient solubility of the dilithio compounds in toluene, rapid initiation of polymerization and small dispersion index of the polymer, low cost of the preparation of the diolefins and the dilithio initiators. The results show that with respect to the diolefins investigated the bifunctional initiator derived from 1,4-bis(4-(1-phenylvinyl)phenyl)-butane is most suited for the preparation of diene blocks in ABA-triblock copolymers.     

The clinical utility of the roll-over test in predicting pregnancy-induced hypertension in a high-risk Andean population

The utility of the roll-over test (ROT) as a prognostic tool for predicting pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) was examined in primiparas in Quito, Ecuador. In Study I, 14 of 16 subjects with a +ROT developed PIH (positive predictive value (PPV) = 88%); only 2 of 27 subjects with a -ROT developed PIH (negative predictive value (NPV) = 92.5%). In Study II (n = 66), the PPV and NPV were 71.4% and 78.6%, respectively. Data from these and previous studies indicate that although the ROT is not a perfect predictor, its advantages recommend usage in populations with high PIH-associated maternal and perinatal mortality.     

Inferior vena caval replacement after resection of left renal tumor in canine model

An animal model simulating the necessity of replacing the inferior vena cava (IVC) with a prosthetic graft is described. Six dogs underwent replacement of the IVC with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (E-PTFE) graft using an interrupted-suture technique. Three dogs served as controls, undergoing resection and autograft of the native IVC. Distal side-to-side femoral arteriovenous fistulas were constructed in each case and allowed to remain for six weeks. Subcutaneous heparin and prophylactic antibiotics were administered in the early postoperative period. All grafts were patent at six months, indicating a potentially successful technique for reconstruction of the IVC involved in disease or trauma.     

The role of enzyme induction on metabolite formation of bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether in the rat

The effect of enzyme induction on the metabolism of the reproductive toxicant bis (2-methoxyethyl) ether (diglyme) was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were given either daily doses of diglyme at 5.1 mmol/kg body wt. by gavage or 0.1% (w/v) phenobarbital (PB) in the drinking water for 22 consecutive days. In one study, a significant reduction in the hexobarbital sleeping time was determined for rats pretreated with diglyme or PB in comparison with that determined for naive rats. In a second study, naive and pretreated rats given single oral doses of 14C-diglyme at 5.1 mmol/kg body wt. showed similar urinary 14C excretion patterns. Urinary metabolites were separated and quantified by hplc to evaluate the influence of pretreatment with either diglyme or PB on the 14C-diglyme urinary metabolite profile. The amount of (2-methoxyethoxy) acetic acid, the principal metabolite, was similar for rats given no pretreatment and for rats pretreated with either diglyme or PB. However, both pretreatments resulted in significant increases in the formation of methoxyacetic acid, a recognized reproductive toxicant.     

Hypomagnesaemia in Elderly Hospital Admissions: A Study of Clinical Significance

Serum magnesium estimations carried out on 1576 consecutiveelderly patients at the time of hospital admission revealedthat 10.7 per cent had a serum magnesium level below 0.7 mmol/l,with 4.4 per cent of the total having a serum level less than0.65 mmol/l. Hypokalaemia was frequently associated with hypomagnesaemia,for which diuretic therapy was the most commonly found predisposingfactor. Outcome of illness, measured at six months in termsof mortality, duration of hospital stay and percentage of patientsdischarged from hospital, was no worse in patients admittedwith hypomagnesaemia than in normomagnesaemic controls.     

Effect of gamma irradiation of red blood cell units on T-cell inactivation as assessed by limiting dilution analysis: implications for preventing transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease

Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease can be prevented by treating cellular blood products with gamma irradiation. A wide range of gamma irradiation dose levels has been used in routine practice. We used limiting dilution analysis, which measures clonable T cells, to assess the influence of 500 to 3,000 cGy of gamma irradiation delivered from a 137Cs source on T cells when delivered in situ to ADSOL- preserved red blood cell (RBC) units in blood bags. In a series of experiments using RBC units irradiated within 24 hours after collection, 1,500 cGy inactivated > 4 log10 of T cells; however, viable T cells were detected in all experiments. With 2,000 cGy, a > or = 4.7 log10 decrement in T-cell growth occurred in 7 of 8 experiments. With 2,500 or 3,000 cGy, no T-cell growth (> 5 log10 depletion) was detected. Comparable effects were observed with ADSOL-preserved RBC units in the standard PL 146 plastic container and in the recently developed PL 2209 plastic container. T-cell inactivation, as a function of gamma irradiation dose, was similar when either a 137Cs or a linear accelerator source was used. T cells isolated from ADSOL-preserved RBC units after storage for 7 and 21 days, although reduced in number as compared with a fresh unit stored for 24 hours, were viable, capable of proliferation, and susceptible to inactivation by gamma irradiation. Using a sensitive in vitro assay for T-cell proliferation, we found that a gamma irradiation dose of 2,500 cGy may be required to completely inactivate T cells in RBC units.     

Intraperitoneal spillage of formalin after intravesical instillation

Intravesical instillation of formalin appears to be a method of choice in the control of massive hematuria following radiation cystitis. It is generally described as a safe, cheap, effective procedure. We report a case of intraperitoneal spillage of formalin and describe the metabolic and extensive medical problems encountered in the four-week period following the incident before the patient's death.