New stand magnifiers do not meet rated levels of performance

A new range of stand magnifiers has been released by the COIL company in the United Kingdom. Examination of these magnifiers reveals that they fail to deliver the rated magnifications labelled prominently on the appliances, as a result of the manufacturer's conformance with the requirements of the German DIN standard and the use of back vertex power (F'_v) rather than equivalent dioptric power (F_m) of the magnifier. In this study we provide information on the optometric parameters of these new stand magnifiers that will assist the more accurate specification of improvements in vision expected from their use.     

Leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava. Ultrasonographic appearance

Ultrasonographic features of six leiomyosarcomas of the inferior vena cava are described. In most cases, the presentation is typical enough to strongly suggest the histologic diagnosis. The tumor is usually greater than 10 cm long, hypoechoic, heterogeneous. Cystic components can be found. It is sharply demarcated from neighboring organs which are displaced. The mass is located at the very place of the inferior vena cava, the lumen of which is no longer seen. It is fusiform shaped, surprisingly sparing the aorta. Differential diagnosis along with other radiologic examinations, pathologic findings, and prognosis are discussed.     

Vital capacity restitution curve: prognostic value in chronic decompensated respiratory insufficiency

From a series of 50 patients with acute decompensation of chronic obstructive lung disease (38 of whom were treated by mechanical ventilation), the authors demonstrate the prognostic value of an easily obtained parameter of respiratory function: the vital capacity restitution curve (VCRC). From daily measurements of vital capacity, beginning on the day of admission, a graph is constructed which shows an initial period of increase in the degree of restitution, followed by stabilization of the values. An analysis of the various parameters embodied in this graph provides information about the prognosis. Such graphs can be divided into 3 zones of prognostic value: a favourable zone, an intermediate zone (mediocre survival with or without mechanical ventilation) and an unfavourable zone (death during the acute phase). Although a favourable prognosis can be made after 4 days of observation and almost always by the 10th day, an unfavourable prognosis cannot be made before the 21st day.     

Birth outcomes of Korean women in Hawaii.

Since the end of the Korean War, immigration of Koreans to the United States has increased rapidly. In 1990, 11.6 percent of all Asians in the United States were of Korean ethnicity, and it is projected that Koreans will outnumber all other Asian groups, except Filipinos, in the United States by the year 2030. Despite the growing size of this population, very little is known about their health status. This study, using 1979-89 Hawaii vital record data, investigates the relationship between maternal sociodemographic characteristics, prenatal care utilization factors, and birth outcomes among Koreans as compared with Caucasians. The ethnic term "Caucasian" is used in Hawaii''s vital records and is synonymous with non-Hispanic whites. Korean mothers were more likely to be older and have lower educational attainment, and less likely to be adolescent, single, or to have received adequate prenatal care than Caucasian mothers. More than 80 percent of the Korean mothers were foreign born. Significantly higher risks for very preterm delivery (less than 33 weeks) and very low birth weight births were observed for Koreans as compared with Caucasians. Nativity had no effect on birth outcome in this population. The results of this study suggest that prevention of preterm birth is an important focus for improving pregnancy outcomes in this growing ethnic group.     

Combined anterior and posterior convex epiphysiodesis for progressive congenital scoliosis in children aged ≤ 5 years

Summary Six patients aged 5 years with congenital scoliosis due to vertebral malformation were treated by anterior and posterior epiphysiodesis of the convexity. In all cases the pattern of deformity was a kyphoscoliosis. The average age at operation was 3 years 6 months, average follow-up was 4 years 6 months, and average preoperative angles were 42° in the frontal and 36° in the sagittal plane. The fusion included the malformative zone and the supe rior and inferior adjacent vertebrae. Two patients had a fusion effect, three patients had a true epiphysiodesis effect, and one patient had a postoperative progression of the deformity. Epiphysiodesis of the convexity is a treatment proper for the growing period, allowing the child either to reach skeletal maturity without needing further treatment or to achieve an adequate torso height to finish the treatment with a classical vertebral arthrodesis.     

Native Hawaiian Birth Weight and Infant Mortality: Is Birth in Hawai'i Protective?

PURPOSE OF THE PAPER: This study provides baseline information on the characteristics of Native Hawaiian mothers and the health status of their infants, comparing residents of Hawaii with those of the continental U.S. The impact of Hawaii residence on low birth weight and infant mortality among Native Hawaiians is assessed. SUMMARY OF METHODS UTILIZED: Data from the National Center for Health Statistics 1983­1987 Linked U.S. Live Birth and Infant Death file were used to examine parental characteristics, prenatal care use and infant outcomes using chi­square and logistic regression procedures. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Despite a higher sociodemographic risk profile among Hawaii resident mothers, preterm birth, low and very low birth weight percentages were similar. Continental infants had significantly highter percentages of very pre­term birth and macrosomia. Mortality rates in both the neonatal and post­neonatal periods, and for SIDS and perinatal causes were elevated among continental infants. Hawaii residence had a borderline protective effect on infant mortality, wehn sociodemographic and prenatal care differences were controlled. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests a possibly protective effect of Hawaii residence on the health of Native Hawaiian infants during the period of following employer­mandated health insurance coverage but before the initiation of "gap­group" coverage and the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems in Hawaii. RELEVANCE TO ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN POPULATIONS. This is the first report documenting the sociodemographic and health status of the growing number of Native Hawaiian mothers and their infants residing outside of Hawaii. Expanded health insurance coverage and culturally appropriate and accessible health care may contribute to improved infant health status in Hawaii. Their absence, along with possible barriers of sociocultural isolation, may account for the poorer than expected outcomes of continental infants and predict a widening gap between them and their counterparts in Hawaii. A follow­up study of the health status of Native Hawaiian mothers and infants, and their access to appropriate care in Hawaii and thei continental U.S. is recommended.     

Specific activation of the mu opioid receptor (MOR) by endomorphin 1 and endomorphin 2

The recently discovered endomorphin 1 (Tyr-Pro-Trp-Phe-NH2) and endomorphin 2 (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH2) were investigated with respect to their direct receptor-binding properties, and to their ability to activate G proteins and to inhibit adenylyl cyclase in both cellular and animal models. Both tetrapeptides activated G proteins and inhibited adenylyl cyclase activity in membrane preparations from cells stably expressing the mu opioid receptor, an effect reversed by the mu receptor antagonist CTAP (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2), but they had no influence on cells stably expressing the delta opioid receptor. To further establish the selectivity of these peptides for the mu opioid receptor, brain preparations of mice lacking the mu opioid receptor gene were used to study their binding and signalling properties. Endomorphin 2, tritiated by a dehalotritiation method resulting in a specific radioactivity of 1.98 TBq/mmol (53.4 Ci/mmol), labelled the brain membranes of wild-type mice with a Kd value of 1.77 nM and a Bmax of 63.33 fmol/mg protein. In membranes of mice lacking the mu receptor gene, no binding was observed, and both endomorphins failed to stimulate [35S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate ([35S]GTPgammaS) binding and to inhibit adenylyl cyclase. These data show that endomorphins are capable of activating G proteins and inhibiting adenylyl cyclase activity, and all these effects are mediated by the mu opioid receptors.     

Fatal meningoencephalitis due to Bacillus anthracis

Abstract: We report the first case of fatal anthrax meningoencephalitis in Hong Kong over the past 60 years. A 13 year-old boy presented with right lower quadrant pain, diarrhoea and progressive headache. Lumbar puncture yielded gram positive bacilli initially thought to be Bacillus cereus, a contaminant. He was treated with ampicillin and cefotaxime, but died 3 days after hospitalization. The organism isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid was later identified as Bacillus anthracis.