Diagnosis of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis by three radiological modalities

PURPOSE

To compare the findings at US, CT and contrast enema (CE) with the clinical, biochemical, and surgical findings in patients with suspected acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis (ALCD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study comprised 32 consecutive patients hospitalized with clinically diagnosed ALCD. During the first 3 days of hospitalization, they were examined by US and CT of the pelvis and abdomen, and CE.

RESULTS

Of the 32 patients, 21 had ALCD according to the combined radiological, clinical, biochemical and surgical findings. Findings compatible with ALCD were verified by radiological examination alone in 12 patients (4 patients at US, 10 at CT, and 6 at CE). In 9 patients, only diverticula or tethering was found at either CE or CT, and the diagnoses were then supported by clinical and biochemical findings and clinical follow-up. The most common clinical symptoms and signs associated with ALCD were left lower quadrant pain, left-sided tenderness, and fever. Most patients showed elevations of the white blood-cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein, but there was no statistical difference in the stages of severity of ALCD, or between ALCD and other abdominal disorders.

CONCLUSION

Radiological examination is valuable in confirming the diagnosis of ALCD. CT was the radiological modality that best demonstrated ALCD and revealed complications (e.g. pericolic abscesses) during the course of the illness.

Mentally ill mothers who have killed: three cases addressing the issue of future parenting capability

Many parents with severe and chronic mental illness lose custody of their children due to child abuse or neglect. These children may linger in foster care for long periods of time until decisions about custody are made. Recent proposals to shorten the time that children remain in the foster care system include the use of categories of abuse to guide decisions about custody. One proposal has been to "fast-track" cases involving parents with long-standing mental disorders by automatically terminating parental rights. This approach assumes that a severe and chronic mental disorder is incompatible with safe parenting. This report describes three cases of mentally ill mothers who lost custody of their children after they killed someone. The mothers were nonetheless found to be at low risk for future child maltreatment and violence according to evaluation with two current methodologies, Parenting Risk Assessment and Risk of Violence Assessment. The cases question the assumption that mental illness is incompatible with safe parenting and underscore the fact that evaluation of the parenting competency of mentally ill parents is rarely clear-cut.

Children's ability to delay gratification: longitudinal relations to mother-child attachment

Concurrent and longitudinal mother-child attachment qualities were studied in relation to children's ability to postpone gratification at age 6 years. A sample of 32 children (at ages 12 months and 18 months) and their mothers participated in the strange situation procedure. At age 6 years, they were observed in an attachment situation and administered a standard delay of gratification task. The length of time that children were able to delay gratification at age 6 was predicted both by concurrent attachment quality and by a longitudinal attachment measure. Children with secure attachment were able to wait the longest periods of time, whereas those with insecure-disorganized attachment had the most difficulties in waiting. The effects of longitudinal, but not concurrent, attachment quality on children's total waiting time remained significant when other important variables were considered, including gender and children's cognitive functioning. An interactive effect was found between attachment quality and cognitive functioning. Insecure-avoidantly attached children with high cognitive functioning did not differ in their overall waiting times from securely attached children, but insecure-avoidantly attached children with average or low cognitive functioning did have shorter waiting times. The study provides a basis for the further investigation of mother-child attachment quality as a factor that is linked to children's delay behavior.

Children's attachment representations: longitudinal relations to school behavior and academic competency in middle childhood and adolescence

A longitudinal study examined children's (N = 108) attachment representations in relation to behavior and academic competency at school during middle childhood and adolescence. Attachment representations were assessed from children's responses to a separation story at age 7 years. At ages 9, 12, and 15, teachers rated children on four dimensions of school behavior: attention-participation, extroversion, disruptive behavior, and insecurity about self. Children's grade point average (GPA) in school was also examined. Children's attachment representations (secure vs. insecure) did not predict either disruptive behavior or extroversion, but they were significantly linked to attention-participation, insecurity about self, and GPA, with secure representations being associated with more favorable outcomes. The study controlled for social class, gender, IQ, perspective-taking ability, and prior competency.

Children's attachment representations: longitudinal relations to school behavior and academic competency in middle childhood and adolescence

A longitudinal study examined children's (N = 108) attachment representations in relation to behavior and academic competency at school during middle childhood and adolescence. Attachment representations were assessed from children's responses to a separation story at age 7 years. At ages 9, 12, and 15, teachers rated children on four dimensions of school behavior: attention-participation, extroversion, disruptive behavior, and insecurity about self. Children's grade point average (GPA) in school was also examined. Children's attachment representations (secure vs. insecure) did not predict either disruptive behavior or extroversion, but they were significantly linked to attention-participation, insecurity about self, and GPA, with secure representations being associated with more favorable outcomes. The study controlled for social class, gender, IQ, perspective-taking ability, and prior competency.

Assessing parenting competency in individuals with severe mental illness: a comprehensive service

Determining the parenting capabilities of individuals with severe mental disorders who are alleged perpetrators of child abuse or neglect is a profoundly difficult task. This article discusses the methodological shortcomings of some widely used assessment strategies and outlines the components of a comprehensive parenting competency evaluation for individuals with severe mental illness. Procedures identifying both risk factors associated with abuse or neglect and protective influences against child maltreatment are summarized. These procedures are illustrated by describing a Chicago-based parenting assessment team for parents with severe mental disorders.

Detection of psoriasis-associated antigen pso p27 in sarcoidosis bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using monoclonal antibodies

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology, predominantly affecting the lung. The increased concentration of pulmonary lymphocytes with specific receptors in subgroups of sarcoidosis patients suggests a local specific immune response. pso p27, a psoriatic scale antigen linked to the pathogenesis of psoriasis, was previously found in BAL cells, serum, and Kveim-Siltzback test in sarcoidosis. With an enzyme-linked immunoassay based on murine monoclonal antibodies, we analyzed BAL fluid from 21 patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis. Eleven (52%) of the patients have detectable levels of pso p27 antigen. No antigen is detected in the BAL fluid from five healthy, nonsmoking controls. Serum concentrations of pso p27 shows no significant difference between the two groups, but three of the sarcoidosis patients have detectable levels of the antigen. Mean concentration of pso p27 is >100 fold higher in BAL fluid than in serum from the sarcoidosis patients. This strongly suggests local pulmonary production of pso p27 antigen.

[Diverticulitis of the colon. Diagnosis and treatment illustrated by a patient material]

During the period 1985-92, 181 patients were treated at Aker Hospital for diverticulitis of the colon. 106 patients (59%) were treated conservatively, and 75 (41%) were operated on for complications. The mortality among the patients treated conservatively was 4.7%. 47 patients underwent operation in the acute stage, most often for perforation or intestinal obstruction, and the most frequent operation was the Hartmann procedure. 28 patients had an elective operation, the most common indication being a fistula from the colon. In this group the operation was usually resection with anastomosis. After acute operation, 17 patients (36%) experienced surgical complications, and the mortality was 12.8% (six patients). After elective operation the morbidity was low (2/28), and the mortality was nil. Our preferred principle for acute surgery for diverticulitis is colonic resection. This eliminates the source of contamination, and allows debridation and cleansing of the peritoneum.

Prematurity in Greenland. A study of infants with a birthweight below 2000 g

For all 67 babies born in Greenland between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1992 with a birthweight < 2000 g, birth certificates and clinical data were reviewed. The frequency of a birthweight of < 2000 g was 1.8%, which corresponds with Danish data. Twenty-four (35%) died. Compared with Danish babies, the stratified odds ratio for death was 5.16. There was a marked geographic variation, with the highest mortality in the less affluent remote districts. Respiratory insufficiency was the dominant cause of death, with immaturity the only other important cause. Due to lack of equipment in the smaller district hospitals, half of the babies dying from respiratory insufficiency received no other treatment than oxygen in an incubator. It is recommended that all district health centres are equipped with facilities for nasal continuous airway pressure, that the use of antibiotics is encouraged and that the introduction of surfactant replacement therapy is considered.

Comparison of lipases from different strains of the fungus Geotrichum candidum

The type A lipase and the cis-9 18:1 specific type B lipase of different strains of Geotrichum candidum were compared. Comparing the enzyme activity of crude lipase preparation and purified type A and type B lipases and the protein pattern of these preparations in denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that the specific activity for cis-9 18:1 fatty acids was related to the content of the type B lipase. Tandem-crossed immunoelectrophoresis was used to demonstrate immunological identity between type A and type B lipase of G. candidum ATCC 66592. Partial immunological identity was observed between type B lipase of this strain and type A lipase of G. candidum ATCC 34614 and two commercial crude G. candidum lipase preparations (Amano and Biocatalyst), i.e., the type B lipase of G. candidum ATCC 66592 had immunogenic epitopes which are not present on the other lipases. Enzymatic deglycosylation of the lipases did not alter this pattern. After partial proteolysis of purified type A and type B lipases of G. candidum ATCC 66592, Amano and Biocatalyst, no difference between the type A lipase of the three strains was observed in SDS-PAGE. For all strains the type B lipase exhibited a distinctly different peptide pattern to that of the type A lipase. In addition, the type B lipase of G. candidum ATCC 66592 differed from the type B lipase of Amano and Biocatalyst by having an additional peptide band. The results indicate that the G. candidum ATCC 66592 should be considered a distinct strain regarding the protein chemical characteristics of its type B lipase, whereas the two commercial lipase preparations appear to be very similar.

Case study: is selective mutism a manifestation of dissociative identity disorder?

Selective mutism is a rare psychiatric disorder that usually has its onset in early childhood. This case study describes a patient in whom selective mutism developed in adolescence. It was later discovered that he had dissociative identity disorder. The study documents his history, which included violence, abuse, and threats to keep silent. The study suggests that in cases presenting with significant trauma or abuse, selective mutism may be a manifestation of dissociative identity disorder.

Some effects of water on dentin bonding

OBJECTIVES

The goals of this study were to determine how: 1) the bond strengths of hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA)-based dentin primers are affected by different solvents (water or acetone), 2) the application time of these primers affect the bond strength, and 3) the conversion of water contaminated bonding resins.

METHODS

HEMA (35%), mixed with water or acetone, was placed on moist dentin for 30 or 120 s, dried, covered with a bonding resin, and light-cured. Composite cylinders were bonded to these surfaces, and the shear bond strength was determined after 30 d of water storage at 37 degrees C. The conversion of bonding resins containing 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mL water per mL of bonding resin was determined with FTIR.

RESULTS

The two acetone groups gave significantly (p<0.5) higher bond strength values (sigma 30s=22.2 +/- 2.1 MPa and sigma 120s=21.5 +/- 3.2 MPa) than the two water groups (sigma 30s=7.0 +/- 3.3 MPa and sigma 120s=16.2 +/- 4.8 MPa). In contrast to the acetone-based primer, the water-based primer improved its bond strength with increased priming time without reaching that of the two acetone groups. The conversion of the bonding resin was 53.5%, which decreased to approximately 25% when 0.2 mL or more water was added per mL resin.

SIGNIFICANCE

Compared to acetone, water is inferior as a solvent for HEMA-based dentin primers and gives both lower bond strength and requires longer priming time than acetone. A possible explanation of these results is the ability of water to interfere with the polymerization of the resin systems.

Surfactant therapy and nasal continuous positive airway pressure for newborns with respiratory distress syndrome. Danish-Swedish Multicenter Study Group

BACKGROUND

In southern Scandinavia most babies with respiratory distress syndrome are initially treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure. We performed a multicenter trial to investigate whether the addition of a single dose of porcine surfactant administered during a short intubation before the occurrence of serious deterioration could reduce the subsequent need for mechanical ventilation.

METHODS

We randomly assigned 35 infants with moderate-to-severe respiratory distress syndrome to surfactant therapy (Curosurf, 200 mg per kilogram of body weight) plus nasal continuous positive airway pressure and 33 infants to nasal continuous positive airway pressure alone. The study was not blinded. The indications for mechanical ventilation were a ratio of arterial to alveolar oxygen tension of less than 0.15, severe apneic attacks, or both.

RESULTS

Six hours after randomization, when the median age of the babies was 18 hours, the mean ratio of arterial to alveolar oxygen tension was 0.37 in the surfactant-treated babies, as compared with 0.25 in the controls (P < 0.001). The need for subsequent mechanical ventilation was reduced with surfactant therapy (to 43 percent of the surfactant-treated babies as compared with 85 percent of the controls; P = 0.003). When 17 infants with ratios of arterial-to-alveolar oxygen tension of less than 0.15 at randomization were excluded, the need for mechanical ventilation was still significantly reduced in the surfactant-treated group (to 33 percent [9 of 27 babies], as compared with 83 percent [20 of 24 babies] in the control group; (P < 0.001). After 28 days, two of the surfactant-treated babies had died, as compared with five of the control babies.

CONCLUSIONS

In babies with moderate-to-severe respiratory distress syndrome treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure, a single dose of surfactant reduced the need for subsequent mechanical ventilation.

Complications during the introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Norway. A prospective multicentre study in seven hospitals

OBJECTIVE

To assess the morbidity of laparoscopic cholecystectomy since its introduction in Norway in the Autumn of 1990.

DESIGN

Postal collection of prospectively collected data.

SETTING

Practices of 26 surgeons in 7 district and university hospitals.

SUBJECTS

527 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

INTERVENTIONS

133 patients (25.5%) had endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography before operation, and two had cholangiograms during operation; dissection was by electrocautery in 490 patients and by laser in 37.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Morbidity, number converted to open operation, and number who required reoperation.

RESULTS

There were no deaths and a total of 70 complications (13.3%), 8 of which were after laser dissection. There were 59 local complications (11.2%) and 11 general (2.1%); 12 patients (2.3%) required reoperation for bleeding (n = 5), biliary leak (n = 4), and incisional hernia (n = 3). One had a retained stone in the common duct. 42 were converted to open operation (8.0%), 11 because of complications (bleeding, n = 6; damage to the bile duct, n = 3; and bowel perforation, n = 2). Of the 28 patients with acute cholecystitis 5 (17.9%) had to be converted to open operations and 7 (25.0%) developed complications. 2 of these patients had bile duct injury.

CONCLUSION

The morbidity during the introductory period of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in Norway is higher than that reported elsewhere, indicating that the risk of complications is increased during the learning period.

[Neonatal cancer in Denmark 1943-1985]

In order to describe the incidence, distribution and prognosis of neonatal cancer, 76 cases (44 boys, 32 girls) of cancer in the first 28 days of life were identified in the Danish Cancer Registry within the period 1943-85. All cases were re-evaluated and the International Classification of Disease for Oncology (ICD-O) code was applied. The incidence is calculated to 2.38 (1.88-2.98) cases per 100,000 births. The most common tumour was neuroblastoma (26%) followed by leukaemias (16%), soft tissue sarcomas (14%) and brain tumours (11%). The five year survival rate was 25% (15.1-39.0) with the highest survival rate among soft tissue sarcomas (55%) and neuroblastomas (25%) and the lowest among leukaemias and brain tumours (0). Eighteen per cent of the cases were incidental findings. Two cases of secondary malignancy were identified.

"Minitouch" treatment of very low-birth-weight infants

In a cohort study with historical controls of non-asphyxiated very low-birth-weight infants (birth weight < or = 1500 g and gestational age < 33 completed weeks), we evaluated the use of a "minitouch" regime for stabilization after birth and treatment of respiratory distress. This combination of early (prophylactic) treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure and minimal handling was introduced as a routine in our Department in 1986. We compared infants born in 1987 and in 1985, when ventilator treatment was used initially in all infants with progressing respiratory distress. The frequency of mechanical ventilation was reduced significantly from 76% in 1985 to 35% in 1987 (p = 0.00001). This reduction reflected the smaller number of infants who received ventilator treatment for less than one week, whereas the frequency of long-term ventilator treatment remained unchanged. Intracranial haemorrhage grade II-IV was reduced from 49% in 1985 to 25% in 1987 (p = 0.01). Mortality rate, average duration of hospitalization, number of infants with pneumothorax, patent ductus arteriosus, need for oxygen at 28 days and number of surviving infants with handicap did not differ significantly between the two study periods. Septicaemia was diagnosed in 16% of the infants in 1987 versus 7% in 1985 (p = 0.045). This difference coincided with an increased use of total parenteral nutrition (18% in 1987 versus 3% in 1985, p = 0.007). We conclude that the minitouch regime prevents progression of respiratory distress, reduces the need for ventilator treatment and is a safe and convenient alternative to mechanical ventilation in preterm infants with mild respiratory problems.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Morphology of coupling sites between bonding agents and dentine in vivo and in vitro

In spite of the unclear relationship between in vitro and in vivo conditions, the majority of dentine bonding agent investigations are carried out in vitro. The purpose of this SEM study was to compare micromorphologically the bonding sites between dentine and seven resin bonding systems, which were applied either in vivo or in vitro on freshly cut dentine in similar locations on contralateral premolar teeth scheduled for extraction for orthodontic reasons. The morphology of the bonding sites was investigated on samples fractured perpendicularly to the bonding interface following superficial decalcification and deproteinization of the dentine. For six of the seven systems studied a resin-impregnated dentine layer was identified. This hybrid zone was very similar on specimens prepared in vivo and in vitro.

[Surfactant treatment of newborn infants with respiratory distress syndrome primarily treated with nasal continuous positive air pressure. A pilot study]

In this pilot study, Curosurf (200 mg/kg) was administrated to 34 patients with the respiratory distress syndrome in nasal-CPAP therapy with FiO2 requirements greater than 0.60 and/or TcPCO2 greater than 8 kPa. The surfactant was instilled during a short period of intubation or in a few cases via an intratracheal catheter (Ch. 6). The age of the patients on surfactant treatment ranged from two to 72 hours. Eighteen patients could be maintained on nasal-CPAP after treatment with Curosurf and only a few complications were seen in these infants. The other 16 patients subsequently required artificial ventilation and had a higher incidence of pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications. On the basis of these observations, we plan a randomized trial to investigate whether, administration of surfactant reduces the need for ventilator treatment and improves the odds for uneventful recovery in this category of patients.

Neonatal cancer in Denmark 1943-1985

In order to describe the incidence, distribution, and prognosis of neonatal cancer, 76 cases (44 boys, 32 girls) of cancer in the first 28 days of life were identified in the Danish Cancer Registry within the period 1943-1985. All cases were reevaluated and the International Classification of Disease for Oncology (ICD-O) code was applied. The incidence is calculated to 2.38 (1.88-2.98) cases per 100,000 births. The most common tumor was neuroblastoma (26%) followed by leukemias (16%), soft-tissue sarcomas (14%), and brain tumors (11%). The 5-year survival rate was 25% (15.1-39.0) with the highest survival rate among soft-tissue sarcomas (55%) and neuroblastomas (25%) and the lowest among leukemias and brain tumors (0). Eighteen percent of the cases were incidental findings. Two cases of secondary malignancy were identified.

Acute changes in cerebral oxygenation and cerebral blood volume in preterm infants during surfactant treatment

Following administration of surfactant a marked depression in aEEG activity occurs for about 10 minutes; the mechanism of this depression is unknown. In view of this, twenty-nine preterm infants were investigated with near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to evaluate rapid changes in total cerebral haemoglobin concentration and cerebral oxyhaemoglobin concentration during rescue treatment with natural surfactant. During surfactant instillation there was a short-lasting hypoxaemia as demonstrated by pulseoximetry as well as a considerable fall in arterial blood pressure. With NIRS, tissue hypoxia was demonstrated by a drop in cerebral oxyhaemoglobin concentration. The marked drop in arterial blood pressure occurring immediately following surfactant was not matched by a drop in total cerebral haemoglobin concentration. This suggests that cerebral blood volume and hence cerebral blood flow was maintained. In the following minutes there was an improvement in cerebral oxygenation as indicated by the rise in cerebral oxyhaemoglobin concentration in nearly all the infants.

[Treatment of severe respiratory distress syndrome with surfactant]

The first Danish experience of treatment of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in preterm infants with exogenous surfactant is described. Fifteen infants with birthweights of 645-1,865 g and gestational ages of 25-32 weeks, all receiving artificial ventilation with at least 60% oxygen for severe RDS, were treated with purified porcine surfactant (Curosurf) within the first 28 hours of life. Pulmonary function improved immediately in all of the infants. Four infants (27%) died, four (27%) developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia (pulmonary fibrosis) and two (13%) had late neurological sequelae. These preliminary results are considered to be promising and they are in complete agreement with the results of randomised, controlled investigations from abroad. Systematic registration is, however, still necessary.

[Ogilvie syndrome]

Ogilvie's syndrome, or acute colonic pseudo-obstruction, is clinically impossible to differentiate from mechanical colonic ileus. Ogilvie's syndrome is associated with several conditions but the most common associated factor is surgery. Earlier, coecostomi or colostomy was the treatment of choice but most experts will agree that, although several methods of treatment have been proposed, the one now to be preferred is deflation by a colonoscope.

Separation and characterization of 61- and 57-kDa lipases from Geotrichum candidum ATCC 66592

Two lipolytic proteins (61 and 57 kDa) present in a Sephadex G-100 fraction of extracellular lipase from Geotrichum candidum ATCC 66592 were separated using high-performance liquid chromatography. Crossed electrofocusing immunoelectrophoresis was used to demonstrate that the 61-kDa lipase fraction contained two forms of lipase with pI 4.5 and 4.7. However, when deglycosylated with endoglycosidase H, the two forms gained an identical pI, 4.6. The 57-kDa lipase fraction contained one form of lipase with pI close to 4.5. Although the 61- and 57-kDa lipases were immunologically identical, the substrate specificity differed. Thus, the 61-kDa lipase hydrolysed palmitic acid methyl ester at an initial velocity of hydrolysis that was 60% of the initial velocity of hydrolysis of oleic acid methyl ester, whereas the 57-kDa lipase hydrolysed palmitic acid methyl ester at an initial velocity of hydrolysis that was only 7% of the initial velocity of hydrolysis of oleic acid methyl ester.

[Gonorrheal ophthalmia neonatorum in a premature infant delivered by cesarean section]

A case of gonococcal ophthalmia neonatorum in a preterm boy (gestational age 29 weeks) delivered by caesarean section 22 hours after rupture of the membranes is described. The neonate made an uneventful recovery after treatment with ampicillin, gentamicin and methicillin for concomitant cutaneous infection.

[Surfactant to premature neonates]

Surfactant is a lipoprotein complex which reduces alveolar surface tension, thus reducing the work of respiration. Defective secretion of surfactant in the premature newborn infant gives rise to the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Several surfactant preparations, natural (purified) and synthetic, have been evolved. They have been used for prophylaxis and also therapy. Several controlled studies have shown decreased mortality, while the effect on neonatal complications and late results are still uncertain.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A new therapeutic possibility]

We present the technique of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in some detail. The method was adapted at our clinic in August 1990. Postoperative results are very promising so far. We have reason to believe that this procedure will result in fewer postoperative complications and a smoother postoperative course for the patients, enabling them to regain physical ability much earlier than after conventional biliary surgery.

Unexpected survival after conservative management of cord prolapse in two very preterm babies

Two very preterm infants (24 and 25 weeks) were born vaginally in spite of prolapse of the umbilical cord. The prolapses lasted 45 min and 2 h, respectively, but though both babies were at first believed to be lost, they survived, only mild to moderate asphyxia, and both were discharged well. One of the babies later developed slight neurological sequelae. Even a very preterm baby has the possibility of surviving vaginal delivery complicated by cord prolapse.

Enzyme activity electrophoresis: development and applications

The development of rocket enzyme activity electrophoresis for the detection and quantification of various proteinases, lipases and pectinases is presented. Rocket enzyme activity electrophoresis is more sensitive than the radial diffusion assay and often enables distinction between qualitatively different enzymes present in the same samples, whereas the radial diffusion assay only provides information on the overall enzyme activity. However, calibration and optimization of the enzyme activity electrophoretic assay have to be performed for each new enzyme-substrate system to be analyzed. Some of the common pitfalls in the development of new enzyme activity electrophoretic assays are presented. Enzyme activity electrophoresis can be applied in combination with other electrophoretic assays. Particularly the combination of enzyme activity electrophoresis with various immunoelectrophoretic methods can provide detailed information on the enzymes studies.

Enzyme activity electrophoresis and rocket immunoelectrophoresis for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of Geotrichum candidum lipase activity

The development and application of a rocket immunoelectrophoretic and an enzyme activity electrophoretic assay for the qualitative analysis of Geotrichum candidum lipase activity is presented. The sensitivities of the four assays were (in arbitrary units): enzyme activity electrophoresis, 1-0.5; rocket immunoelectrophoresis, 0.5-0.2; radial diffusion, 1; titrimetry, 1. The electrophoretic methods made it possible to distinguish between high and low molecular weight forms of the G. candidum lipases. The enzyme activity electrophoretic methods can be combined with other electrophoretic techniques, as demonstrated here with isoelectric focusing, and produce useful information on physico-chemical differences between different molecular forms of the lipase, e.g. forms with different pI.

Absorption after subarachnoid and subdural administration of iohexol, 51Cr-EDTA, and 125I-albumin to rabbits

The absorption of the nonionic contrast medium iohexol, the clearance tracer 51Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and the blood-pool marker 125I-human serum albumin was studied after subarachnoid and subdural injection in rabbits. Subdural deposition of the contrast medium and 51Cr-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid resulted in a faster absorption rate and higher achieved blood levels than a subarachnoid injection of the two substances, where a slow absorption to lower blood concentrations was observed. No significant differences in absorption rate could be shown after subdural and subarachnoid administration of iodine-labelled albumin. The excretion of iohexol was observed for 1 week after the intrathecal injection. For both the subdural and subarachnoid depositions, about 83% of the injected iohexol was found in urine within 24 hr after injection. The total recovery of iohexol after 1 week was 96% (range, 87%-101%).