Pneumocystis pneumonia and disseminated toxoplasmosis in a male homosexual

Images

Inhibition by ultraviolet light of pole cell formation in Smittia sp (Chironomidae, Diptera): action spectrum and photoreversibility

The formation of pole cells (primordial germ cells) in Smittia sp can be inhibited by ultraviolet (uv) irradiation without causing significant mortality. Until 70 min after egg deposition, pole cells are suppressed by low uv doses applied to the posterior pole region. Microbeam irradiation of a target area including the oosome inhibits pole cell formation; this is not observed after irradiation of other target areas. The action spectrum for uv inhibition of pole cells shows a distinct peak at 260 nm; its shape suggests that a nucleic acid-protein complex acts as an effective target. Independent evidence for the involvement of a nucleic acid moiety is derived from the fact that uv inhibition of pole cell formation is photoreversible. The results are discussed in the context of pole cell determination by localized cytoplasmic components.

Acute arterial emergencies

The response of the primary care physician in the initial assessment and management of acute arterial injuries will often be the deciding factor in survival of life, limb or organ system. Most arterial emergencies occur as a result of trauma, disruption of vessel wall and/or occlusion of flow. The common clinical syndromes of acute arterial emergencies are injuries to and beyond the aorta, acute aortic dissection, ruptured aortic aneurysm, and thromboembolic occlusive arterial disease. The role of arteriography and the urgency of definitive surgical repair in acute arterial emergencies is summarized.

A study of the fate of gum karaya in the rat

Rats were fed a diet containing 5% gum karaya for 24 h and faeces and urine were collected over 72 h. Faeces were examined, after methanolysis, by gas chromatography--mass spectometry and the quantity and monosaccharide composition of the faecal polysaccharide were compared with the dose and original composition of the gum polysaccharide. Gum-derived rhamnose was not found in the urine. Indications of minor quantitative changes in composition but no evidence of extensive degradation or absorption of gum polysaccharide, were found.

Problems of carotid Doppler scanning which can be overcome by using frequency analysis

The value of the concomittant use of a real time frequency analyzer along with a continuous wave carotid Doppler scanner is demonstrated in this study of 118 cases. With a colour-coded Doppler scanner alone, internal carotid stenoses greater than 35% were diagnosed with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 82%. With the addition of frequency analysis certain inherent problems with Doppler scanning were overcome and with the measurement of the peak Doppler frequency, the specificity was improved to 93%.

The difficulty of quantifying the severity of carotid stenosis

The problems of quantifying internal carotid stenoses were studied by analyzing 119 arteriograms. The normal carotid artery diameters, corrected for arteriographic magnification, are reported. Using these measurements, a theoretical comparison is made between the different methods that have been used for defining the severity of a carotid stenosis. Also, in the 119 arteriograms, the minimum residual lumen diameter of the stenosis was compared with the calculated percentage area of stenosis, the percentage diameter of stenosis, and the qualitative estimates of stenosis made by radiologists. Based on these data and other theories, it is concluded that the measurement of the minimum residual lumen diameter is the preferred method for quantifying the severity of carotid stenoses and that its use will avoid some of the current confusion in interpreting the results of noninvasive and clinical studies.

Detection of occlusive disease of the carotid artery with continuous wave Doppler spectral analysis

The accuracy of Doppler spectral analysis for diagnosing stenoses of the carotid artery was evaluated in this study. Two hundred and five patients were examined, using a 4 megahertz continuous wave Doppler velocity meter and a real-time frequency analyzer. By a comparison of the results of arteriography, peak Doppler frequencies of greater than 3.8 kilohertz were diagnostic of internal carotid artery stenoses having residual lumen diameters of 3.2 millimeters, or less, with a sensitivity rate of, 91 per cent and a specificity rate of 92 per cent. Spectral broadening, evaluated by subjective grading, yielded similar results.

Perceptions of religious solutions to personal problems of women

Investigated perceptions of effectiveness of religious solutions for personal problems for women. Ss (N = 160) read a biographical sketch of a hypothetical middle-class female who had a personal problem and who adopted a solution to the problem. Two independent variables were manipulated; they were type of problem and type of solution. Results indicate that religion is viewed as being just as effective as an informational solution for women. However, there was a difference between the acceptability of different types of religious solution with the intensely emotional religious experience being valued less than church or prayer. Results were compared and contrasted with those from an earlier study in which the biographee was a male.

A critical study of ultrasound Doppler spectral analysis for detecting carotid disease

The results of in vitro and in vivo studies to determine the application and limitations of frequency analysis for CW Doppler ultrasound assessment of carotid stenoses are reported. In the in vitro study, the peak Doppler frequency and a new spectral broadening index were determined proximal to, at, and distal to axisymmetric and asymmetrical model stenoses. Good correlations with percent area stenoses were found. In the clinical study, 162 cases were examined using a 4 MHz Doppler system and by standard four-vessel arteriography. Peak frequencies of greater than 3.8 KHz were diagnostic of internal carotid stenoses of 3.2 mm minimum lumen diameter or less, with a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 94%. Spectral broadening, evaluated by subjective grading, yielded similar results.

Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with diabetic retinopathy

Cardiac autonomic function was assessed by an on-line microcomputer technique in 67 patients with diabetic retinopathy. Sixteen patients had a resting tachycardia (92 beats/min or greater). R-R interval variations were abnormally low in 29 patients at rest, in 35 during deep breathing and in four in response to a Valsalva manoeuvre. The severity of retinopathy correlated significantly with the degree of autonomic dysfunction assessed by the interval variations at rest (p less than 0.05), during deep breathing (p less than 0.01), and with the Valsalva manoeuvre (p less than 0.01). The results emphasise the important association between diabetic retinopathy and cardiac autonomic dysfunction.

Symptomatic exacerbation of peripheral vascular disease with chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Details of five patients with exacerbation of the symptoms of peripheral vascular disease on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) are presented. The mechanisms of their vascular complications are discussed and the peripheral arterial sequelae of hypotension induced by CAPD are emphasized. These patients are compared with the other patients in the series of 121 patients. Suggestions for diagnosis and treatment of exacerbations of peripheral vascular disease in patients on CAPD are given.

Cerebrovascular assessment using a Doppler carotid scanner and real-time frequency analysis

The results of two methods for noninvasively diagnosing carotid disease are described. In the first study, a color-coded continuous-wave Doppler scanner was used. As evaluated by arteriography in 56 sides, the sensitivity and specificity of the Doppler scanner for diagnosing carotid lesions with greater than 50% stenosis was 71% and 82%, respectively. We found that many of our initial problems could be overcome by the concomitant use of a real-time frequency analyzer. Specifically, when the Doppler waveforms were displayed, we found that: 1) signals that had been attenuated by calcification or plaques, or had reduced velocity as a result of a proximal stenosis, could still be detected; 2) when the velocity of flow was increased to compensate for a contralateral carotid stenosis, the waveforms could still be of diagnostic value; 3) distinguishing between the internal and external carotid arteries was easier than relying on the audio signal alone; 4) when the scan showed internal carotid occlusion, morphological evaluation of the external and common carotid waveforms was helpful in verifying the scan result; and 5) artifactual noise on the Doppler waveform could be recognized. In the second study, frequency analysis recordings were evaluated semiquantitatively by measuring peak frequency and the fractional width of the Doppler frequency spectrum at peak systole Our preliminary results show that this approach is of diagnostic value in that it has the potential to detect minor stenoses.

Personal, home, and school factors related to eleventh graders' drug attitudes

Forty-seven thousand 11th grade students were tested in 1974 as part of a statewide educational quality assessment procedure in Pennsylvania. Two drug attitude items were selected for analysis from the assessment scales. Abusive and abstinent attitude groups were formed from a random sample of students (n = 3,568), and compared across 24 other assessment variables related to demographic, personal, home, and school characteristics. Significant differences were found between the two groups for 20 of the variables. The findings support earlier research relating psychosocial constructs to substance-abuse attitudes and use-patterns, and can be interpreted as supportive of comprehensive preventive education strategies.

Glucose turnover and metabolic and hormonal changes in ethanol-induced hypoglycaemia

Infusion of 67 g ethanol over four hours in fasted, non-obese normal men (a) induced hypoglycaemia by inhibiting gluconeogenesis; (b) produced noticeable increases in blood lactate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and free fatty acid concentrations; (c) depressed plasma growth hormone concentrations, despite hypoglycaemia; and (d) raised plasma cortisol concentrations before significant hypoglycaemia occurred. These metabolic changes were explained by the reduction of redox state which accompanies ethanol oxidation. The pronounced changes in metabolic values recorded during this study suggested that the use of parenteral feeding regimens including ethanol needs to be reconsidered.

Perceived effectiveness of religious solutions to personal problems

Investigated (N = 151) the perceived effectiveness of religious solutions for personal problems. Two independent variables were manipulated. One was type of problem, with one problem being a life-threatening physical problem and one problem being a psychological/adjustment problem. The other variable was type of solution with three types of religious solutions (church attendance, prayer, involvement with a group emphasizing intense emotional religious experience) and an informational solution (reading to learn more about the problem). Religious solutions were less highly valued than the informational solution; there was no difference in perceived utility among the religious solutions; and religious solutions were seen as more reasonable with a physical, life-threatening problem than with a psychological problem although they were paradoxically seen as less indicative of need for professional help for a psychological problem than for a physical problem.

Comparison of hormonal and metabolic effects of salbutamol infusion in normal subjects and insulin-requiring diabetics

A comparison of the metabolic effects of salbutamol in diabetic patients and normal subjects showed that salbutamol infused at 5 and 2 microgram/min (a) stimulated hepatic glucose production to a greater extent in diabetic patients than in normal subjects despite prior restoration of the diabetic patients' fasting blood glucose to normal by an overnight infusion of insulin; (b) caused a greater rise in plasma glucose, free fatty acids, glycerol, and ketone-body concentrations in the diabetic patients; and (c) produced a marked fall in plasma-potassium concentrations. The differences between the diabetic and normal groups were accounted for by an immediate (six-fold) stimulation of insulin secretion in the normal subjects.