Can we understand partnerships in general practice? A pilot study

BACKGROUND: Partnerships have been investigated in different professions,but other than identifying problems, little work has been carriedout on general practice. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this present study was to develop methods for studyingpartnerships in general practice. METHOD: A tripartite methodological approach was used, with questionnairesadapted from other instruments in use in other professions,followed by an individual interview with each partner, and non-participantobservation at a partnership meeting. Results for one case-studypartnership are given. RESULTS: There were no major differences between the partners on alldimensions measured; the minor differences indicated by theresults of the questionnaires were corroborated by the partnerinterviews and observations. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the use of such techniques could provide supportto partnerships going through significant periods of change. Keywords. General practice, interview, observation, partnerships, questionnaire.     

Reconstruction of complex and unusual defects of the thoracic wall

Summary From 1981 to. 1989, a total of 13 procedures were performed on 12 patients requiring complex reconstructions of the thoracic wall. The most common cause of these defects was cancer. Muscle flaps remain the treatment of choice for thoracic wall reconstruction and have been used in 10 cases. Microsurgical tissue transfer opens even larger therapeutic perspectives. A team approach is recommended.     

Relationship between serum follicle stimulating hormone in the male and standard sperm parameters, and the results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is routinely measured when evaluating the infertile male for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). However, among the sperm parameters, only its relationship with sperm concentration is well documented. Few investigations concern the relationship between FSH and sperm motility and morphology, and the results of ICSI. A retrospective study of 316 couples who underwent ICSI was carried out to determine the relationships between serum FSH concentrations in the male and (i) standard sperm parameters_(concentration, motility and morphology) and (ii) fertilization, cleavage, pregnancy and implantation rates after ICSI. There was an inverse correlation with sperm concentration and total motility but no relationship was found with progressive motility and sperm morphology. Neither was any relationship found between serum FSH and fertilization, cleavage, pregnancy and implantation rates, and the results of ICSI. These findings suggest the need to review the routine measurement of serum FSH in the infertile male when ICSI is the planned treatment procedure.      

A simple method for measurement of inulin in nanoliter samples using glass capillaries

Summary A simple method using glass capillaries instead of microcuvettes for measurement of inulin in nanoliter samples is given. Inulin was determined with anthron reagent (5 or 10 nl samples +3 l anthron reagent). Glass capillary tubes (o.d.=1 mm, i.d.=0.68 mm, length=150 mm) in which the chemical reaction took place during incubation at 56°C were directly introduced into the optical system of a Zeiss spectrophotometer PMQ II with sphere attachment and objective.Extinction was measured vertically to the axis of the capillary. The changes of extinction of 20 different capillaries with the blank at different positions was only 1.13×10^–3. The exactness of measurement in the concentration range of 100 200 400 750 1500 3000 mg-% inulin was for 5nl/3 l: 19.8 11.0 6.7 4.7 3.0 2.2%. 10nl/3 l: 13.0 8.4 5.1 3.9%.This method of measurement may also be applicable for other colorimetric reactions with nanoliter samples.This work was supported by Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung.