Radiation dose reduction during hysterosalpingography: an application of scanning-beam digital radiography

Hysterosalpingography was performed in 31 patients by means of a low-dose scanning-beam digital radiographic system. The technique permits adequate evaluation of gynecologic abnormalities while allowing significant reduction in radiation: 2.4-mR (6.1 X 10(-7) C/kg) exposure to the skin and 0.7-mrad (7 X 10(-6) Gy) mean dose to the ovaries per image obtained. Sixteen patients demonstrated readily recognizable and documented abnormalities, corroborated by laparoscopy, laparotomy, or other supportive evidence.     

Stability of famotidine 20 and 40 mg/L and amino acids in total parenteral nutrient solutions

The stability of famotidine in total parenteral nutrient (TPN) solutions and the concentrations of amino acids in the presence of famotidine were determined. Two famotidine concentrations (20 mg/L and 40 mg/L) and two amino acid concentrations (20 g/L and 42.5 g/L) were studied under the following storage conditions: refrigerated for 24 hours and then kept at room temperature (20-22 degrees C) for 24 hours, at room temperature for 48 hours, or refrigerated for seven days. Control TPN solutions were studied under the same storage conditions. TPN solutions also contained dextrose 25%, electrolytes, trace elements, and vitamins. Famotidine concentration was determined at 0, 24, and 48 hours and at seven days by high-performance liquid chromatography. Amino acid concentration was determined in the TPN solutions containing 42.5 g/L of amino acids without famotidine and with famotidine 40 mg/L under both 48-hour storage conditions. At 24 hours, all solutions retained at least 95% of the initial famotidine concentration. Seven of the eight famotidine solutions retained more than 95% of the initial famotidine concentration at 48 hours. All samples refrigerated for seven days retained more than 95% of the initial famotidine concentration. The concentration of amino acids in TPN solutions containing 42.5 g/L of amino acids was not affected by the addition of famotidine 40 mg/L under either 48-hour storage condition. Famotidine in concentrations of 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L is stable under the studied 48-hour storage conditions in TPN solutions containing amino acid concentrations of either 20 g/L or 42.5 g/L.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence of complement on sperm motility

Isolated sperm from normo-, oligo- and astheno-spermic men were incubated for 20 h in medium supplemented with 8% heat-inactivated or untreated human serum, and in medium with heated or untreated serum deficient in complement factor C3. Before and after incubation, sperm motility was assessed by means of a computer-assisted semen analyser. The results did not show significant differences between the motility of sperm incubated in heated or untreated serum. It is concluded that heating of homologous serum is not necessary for preserving sperm motility and in some cases may even be disadvantageous.     

Buspirone treatment of aggression and anxiety in mentally retarded patients: a multiple-baseline, placebo lead-in study

Buspirone, a new anxiolytic agent, was used in a multiple-baseline, placebo lead-in study for the treatment of aggression and anxiety in six mentally retarded adult patients. The findings demonstrate buspirone's effectiveness in reducing aggression and anxiety in a mentally retarded group of subjects without causing deleterious cognitive side effects. The authors review a body of literature on animal and human subjects where buspirone was used in the treatment of aggression and other mental disorders. Unlike neuroleptics and benzodiazepines, buspirone does not cause sedation which can compromise adaptive and intellectual capacities and thus reduce the patient's potential to benefit from training programs.     

Colorectal carcinoma: importance of clinical and pathological factors in survival.

A series of clinicopathological variables was assessed on 312 patients undergoing surgical resection for primary colorectal cancer. Although the presence of venous invasion was related to mortality (P = 0.02), classifying invasion into involvement of thick-walled or thin-walled veins did not produce a variable of prognostic value. Intestinal obstruction (P = 0.04) and the macroscopic appearance of the tumour (P = 0.04) were related to mortality from colorectal cancer, but not from all causes of death. Duke''s stage, increasing patient age and poorly differentiated tumours were the variables which were individually most significantly related to poor prognosis (P < 0.001 for each analysis). Cox''s regression analysis identified these three variables as independent predictors of outcome in colorectal cancer. This study confirms that Duke''s stage, patient age and tumour differentiation are still the most important clinicopathological variables in colorectal cancer.