Critical appraisal and further development of the methodology for open circuit calorimetry in neonates.

A non-invasive technique for open circuit calorimetry based on a Vickers 79 incubator as the gas collection chamber was developed and evaluated. The technique, which involved drawing air from the incubator hood at 11 1/min for gas analysis, did not have a significant cooling effect on the infant and the noise levels within the incubator did not exceed current safety standards. A new technique for checking the calibration of the whole system was developed as the traditional alcohol burn method proved unsatisfactory. Either pure oxygen or carbon dioxide were fed into the incubator hood at controlled physiological rates using a calibrated throttling valve. Over a number of calibration checks the mean error of the system proved to be +/- 4.3% for oxygen and +/- 4.45% for carbon dioxide. Less than a fifth of this error was attributable to the pump and flow meter. When oxygen is introduced to the system at a constant physiological rate it takes 30 min for a plateau to be reached. Therefore it is recommended that this system is used when readings are to be taken in a steady state situation or data is to be cumulated over a long period of time such as in an energy balance study. A run in period of 30 min before collecting data is essential. It is recommended that a calibration check is performed before each study.     

Deferred treatment for prostate cancer

The clinical outcome of 278 prostate cancer patients managed by a deferred treatment policy was analysed retrospectively. Following TURP or biopsy, all patients were asymptomatic and deemed suitable for management by a deferred treatment policy, i.e. hormone therapy or other forms of treatment were only initiated if and when symptomatic progression occurred. The overall 5-year survival rate was 30%; 18% of patients died from other causes without needing treatment for their prostate cancer; 11% were alive and untreated after 5 years' follow-up; 17% died from prostate cancer without further treatment. Poor tumour grade, anaemia, metastatic disease, a short history, presentation with retention, and a raised serum creatinine at presentation were associated with a poor prognosis.     

Antigenic studies on an enzymatically sialylated carbohydrate: NeuAc(alpha 2-3)Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc

Sialic acid residues are often the end moiety of the carbohydrate chain of biologically important glycoconjugates. It is difficult to study sialylated glycoconjugates because the purification of these compounds is often laborious yielding only very small amounts of oligosaccharides for study. Chemical synthesis of sialylated compounds is complicated by the labile nature of the sialic acid bond. In both of these cases the sialylated compounds would need to be conjugated to a polypeptide to be an effective immunogen, and again, such conjugation is fraught with problems due to the instability of the sialic acid linkage. We have developed a combined enzymatic and synthetic route for obtaining quantities of sialylated carbohydrates conjugated to a protein carrier in amounts sufficient for antigenic studies. The notable novelty of this protocol is the addition of sialic acid after the carbohydrate-protein conjugation step. Antiserum to the compounds was developed and after absorption, antibodies that demonstrate a requirement for sialic acid for their binding were produced and studied. CA 125 has been shown to be a prognostically significant marker for ovarian adenocarcinoma. The nature of the epitope involved has been analyzed with conflicting results. To attempt to resolve this conflict, we initiated studies on sialylated antigens with NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-3GalNAc. This trisaccharide occupies the terminal region in a series of complex carbohydrates which have been suggested to be involved as the epitope. Hanisch et al. reported that the neuraminic acid was important for the reaction.     

Dermatitis from hexavalent chromate in the accelerator of an epoxy sealant (PR1422) used in the aircraft industry

4 aircraft construction workers developed allergic contact dermatitis of the hands and forearms. The allergen was hexavalent chromate in the accelerating solution of an epoxy-based sealant (PR1422). Although chromate dermatitis from an epoxy resin has been described, epoxy system accelerators are a hitherto unrecognized source of occupational chromate dermatitis.     

An overview of state medical discipline

The Office of Inspector General's responsibility for financially penalizing and excluding health care professionals from Medicare and Medicaid participation led to an interest in examining the state medical boards' licensure and discipline processes. This article discusses the results of the subsequent study and focuses only on medical discipline issues. We found that the rate of disciplinary actions taken by boards has been increasing. However, revocations and suspensions, the most serious category of actions, have remained relatively constant. Additionally, consumers and law enforcement agencies are the most active sources of possible violations. Individual health care professionals, hospitals, peer review organizations, and medical societies provide strikingly few reports. To rectify these problems, we encourage states to increase physician license renewal fees to fund expansion and improvement of boards' enforcement activities and to consider ways to limit the legal liability of those making good-faith referrals.     

Bibliography on AIDS-related bereavement and grief

This annotated bibliography on AIDS-relaled bereavement and grief was compiled to address a steadily increasing population: survivors of persons who have died of AIDS. Bibliographical entries were located by searching printed indexes, including Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Hospital Literature Index, Index Medicus, International Nursing Index, Psychological Abstracts, Social Science Index, Social Work Abstracts, and Sociological Abstracts. Databases searched included ERIC (Department of Education), Med-Line (National Library of Medicine), and Psych-Lit (American Psychological Association). References cited at the end of each work were also checked. This bibliography includes publications of studies using the survey method of social research and the case-study approach. It also includes experiences of professionals personally affected by the loss of someone to AIDS, and informational articles and chapters. To be included in this bibliography the work must have dealt exclusively or largely with the topic of AIDS-related bereavement and grief, or it must have addressed some aspect of it not previously covered anywhere in the literature. The topic of AIDS- related bereavement and grief refers to the loss of someone to (or with, as is the case with suicide) Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and its psychological, emotional, physical, and social effects on the survivor(s). This bibliography does not include publications that deal with related topics such as thanatology, anticipatory grief and mourning, and mortality rates and trends. This work is meant to serve as a resource for professionals in a variety of fields (e.g., nursing, pastoral care, mental health, and social work) involved in social research, bereavement counseling, ministry, and group intervention. It can be useful as a literature search for students in a variety of disciplines and for the AIDS-bereaved themselves. The bibliography is accompanied by an overview of the current state of the literature and a summary of the areas still in need of research and publication.