Radionuclide evaluation of a communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation

A boy with a communicating bronchopulmonary foregut malformation is presented. Since arteriography failed to demonstrate systemic or pulmonary blood supply to the lesion, 99M Tc-macroaggregated albumin was injected into the aorta at the conclusion of the arteriogram. This procedure documented the existence of a systemic blood supply which at surgery arose from the ninth left intercostal artery. Administration of 99M Tc-pertechnetate prior to surgery demonstrated gastric mucosa in the lesion.

Lability of odor pleasantness: influence of mere exposure

Subjects judged the pleasantness of various odorants both before and after intensive exposure to a pleasant, a neutral, or an unpleasant odorant, or a short period of relaxation. Intensive exposure comprised a 30 min task of intensity discrimination. The outcome implied that exposure to an odorant can modify its own pleasantness readily, but not so readily that of other odorants. Exposure to the pleasant lemon-smelling substance citral reduced its subsequent pleasantness, whereas exposure to the unpleasant rancid-smelling substance isobutyric acid reduced its subsequent unpleasantness. The results were compatible with the notion of affective habituation. Variability of the pleasantness judgments was uniform throughout the hedonic continuum. That is, subjects agreed as much about hedonically neutral odors as about extremely pleasant and unpleasant odors.

Neonatal intussusception. Report of 12 cases

Twelve cases of neonatal intussusception are presented and another 25 taken from the literature are reviewed. Intussusception in the first month of life is a distinct clinical and pathological entity, presenting as bowel obstruction in the first days and usually led by a tumor. In the past, a high mortality rate has been related to late diagnosis. The barium-enema examination is diagnostic.

Cavitating lesions in a cold agglutinin positive pneumonia

Cavitating lesions are considered a rare presentation for cold agglutinin positive pneumonia. This paper describes a case of cold agglutinin positive pneumonia which presented as a multilobar, cavitating bronchopneumonia.

Aspirin, phenacetin, and the kidney: a rheumatism clinic study

In a rheumatism clinic study in Brisbane, the consumption of aspirin and phenacetin compounds (APC) containing more than one kilogram of aspirin and phenacetin was significantly associated with overt renal papillary necrosis (RPN) and with a renal score, but when more than one kilogram of aspirin was taken without phenacetin there was no such association. Analysis and comparison with the parallel New Zealand study showed an overall risk of RPN of at least 10-6% when more than one kilogram of aspirin was taken in APC form, and 0-3% when aspirin was taken without phenacetin. An additive interaction of phenacetin and aspirin is postulated. It is concluded that phenacetin use should be severely restricted.

Microprocessors in health care: panacea or more effervescent technology?

The impact of microprocessors on medical instrumentation is explored, with particular reference to their role within a health care system that has finite resources. The authors present two examples of microprocessor use from their own experience and attempt to highlight both the merits and the disadvantages of the use of such technology by the hospital medical engineer.

Chequerboard pattern reversal using a modified television display to measure visual evoked responses

The clinical value of visual evoked response measurement is noted with particular reference to the stimulus source used. The complexities of response to brief flashes of light has led to the increased use of chequerboard reversal as a stimulus source. Thus far, the chequerboard reversal has been produced by opto-mechanical means. This paper presents the results of using a television display as the stimulus generator, and some of the advantages of such a purely electronic source of pattern reversal are discussed.

Radiocarbon dating and archeology in North America

The history of the development of a radiocarbon chronology shows how the establishment of the times of events and the order of them has greatly improved the understanding of prehistory in North America. This is true also of other parts of the world. Too little has been said of existing discordance between archeologically determined sequences, and interregional associations, and the radiocarbon chronology. It does appear that these will be resolved as additional dates are added and as the results become more finely calibrated so that secular variations may be accounted for. The collaborative aspect of the venture was apparent at the outset. Nevertheless no one expects an archeologist to delve into nuclear physics and geochemistry, and vice versa. There is great need, nevertheless, for the man in the laboratory to comprehend the difficulties of sample collecting and of judgement of the significance of the source of organic matter to be dated. At the same time, the archeologist must become more familiar with the importance of the various steps in the processing of the sample and with, what is most vital, interpretation of the significance of the numbers that appear on the counters.