F-19 MR imaging of glucose metabolism in the rabbit

Noninvasive metabolic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging reflecting glucose metabolism in the aldose-reductase-sorbitol (ARS) pathway was performed in the rabbit head; after administration of the fluorinated glucose analogue 3-fluoro-3-deoxy-D-glucose (3FD-glucose), fluorine-19 images were generated. Images of 3FD-glucose showed significant 3FD-glucose uptake by adipose tissue, indicating its buffering effects in case of excess loads of glucose. Images of 3-fluoro-3-deoxy-D-sorbitol (3FD-sorbitol) demonstrated the spatial distribution of aldose reductase activities and significant sorbitol accumulation in the lens. Images of 3-fluoro-3-deoxy-D-fructose (3FD-fructose) showed preferential uptake of fructose by muscle tissue. The extremely low toxicity of 3FD-glucose indicates promise for its clinical application in metabolic imaging.     

Factors linked to bacterial vaginosis in nonpregnant women

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to test the hypothesis that vaginal douching is linked to bacterial vaginosis in both symptomatic and asymptomatic women and to identify other demographic, reproductive, and lifestyle factors associated with bacterial vaginosis. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study involving 3 clinic sites, 496 nonpregnant women completed a self-administered questionnaire. Their vaginal smears were assessed and cross-validated for bacterial vaginosis. RESULTS: The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis across clinics ranged from 15% to 30%. In analyses restricted to site 1, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for bacterial vaginosis remained significant for African American women with 13 or fewer years of education (OR = 5.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1, 14.5), hormone use within the past 6 months (OR = 0.5, 95% CI = 0.2, 0.8), and vaginal douching within the past 2 months (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.5, 5.6). CONCLUSIONS: Two lifestyle factors emerge as strongly associated with bacterial vaginosis: systemic contraceptives appear protective, whereas douching is linked to an increase in prevalence. The temporal relationship between douching and bacterial vaginosis needs further clarification.     

Digital beam attenuator technique for compensated chest radiography

The feasibility of producing patient-specific beam attenuators for chest radiography has been investigated using an anthropomorphic phantom and a human volunteer. A low-dose test exposure is digitized, processed, and used to print a small cerium filter, which is placed in the x-ray beam near the collimator. The final radiograph is recorded on film. The technique results in relatively uniform film exposure, so that structures in all regions of the chest are simultaneously displayed with optimal film contrast. The equalized exposure improves image quality in the normally underpenetrated regions and reduces the role of cross-scatter from the lungs. The image is analogous to optical or computer-processed unsharp masking techniques, but the processing is accomplished in the x-ray beam and results in an improved exposure distribution, giving advantages that cannot be achieved with image processing techniques alone.     

Antibiotic resistance among gram-negative bacteria of lower respiratory tract secretions in hospitalized patients

Data on antibiotic resistance pattern of gram-negative bacterial isolates of lower respiratory tract secretions of hospitalized patients were fed into WHONET computer and analyzed for the year 1999. Out of 860 samples, 269 (31.2%) were culture positive. Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) accounted for 238 (88.4%) positive samples. Non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria (NFGNB) were found in 34% samples, the other common ones being Klebsiella spp (29.8%) and Pseudomonas spp (17.2%). GNB isolates from tracheal aspirates and sputum were 132 (55.4%) and 106 (44.5%) respectively. Adults (32.7%) and elderly patients (24.3%) recorded higher isolation of GNB as compared to pediatric patients (1.6%). The highest mean resistance among predominant GNB in both tracheal aspirate (96.6%) and sputum (86.9%) was noted to ampicillin while the lowest mean resistance in tracheal aspirate (28%) and sputum (14.3%) was to amikacin. NFGNB of tracheal aspirates and sputum showed highest resistance of 50% and 32% to amikacin, respectively. Pseudomonas spp showed the highest variation in the resistance pattern between tracheal aspirates and sputum samples. Overall mean resistance was highest among tracheal aspirate isolates compared to sputum isolates.     

Prevalence of beta hemolytic streptococci carrier rate among schoolchildren in Salem

A preliminary study was conducted to identify the carriers of beta hemolytic streptococci (BHS) among school children. BHS were identified, grouped by latex agglutination test and tested for susceptibility to penicillin, erythromycin and cefazolin from their throat swabs. Prevalence of BHS was found to be 21.6% with group G (43.2%) as the predominant group followed by group A (28.8%). All the isolates were sensitive to the antibiotics tested. Health cards were issued to the carriers of group A beta hemolytic streptococci.