Treasure of the Past VI: Standard Potential of the Silver-Silver-Chloride Electrode from 0° to 95° C and the Thermodynamic Properties of Dilute Hydrochloric Acid Solutions.

From electromotive-force measurements of the cell without liquid junction: [Formula: see text]through the range 0° to 95° C, calculations have been made of (1) the standard potential of the silver-silver-chloride electrode, (2) the activity coefficient of hydrochloric acid in aqueous solutions from m (molality) =0 to m=0.1 and from 0° to 90° C, (3) the relative partial molal heat content of hydrochloric acid, and (4) the relative partial molal heat capacity of hydrochloric acid. The extrapolations were made by the method of least squares with the aid of punch-card techniques. Data from at least 24 cells were analyzed at each temperature, and 81 cells were studied at 25° C. The value of the standard potential was found to be 0.22234 absolute volt at 25° C, and the standard deviation was 0.02 millivolt at 0° C, 0.01 millivolt at 25° C, and 0.09 millivolt at 95° C. The results from 0° to 60° C are compared with earlier determinations of the standard potential and other quantities derived from the electromotive force.

Programmed gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT).

Thirty-three patients with unexplained infertility underwent a total of 42 programmed superovulation cycles in a gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) programme. The date of oocyte retrieval was decided in advance and the cycle preceding oocyte collection was modified with norethisterone from mid-cycle until 14 days before the scheduled laparoscopy. This was followed by a fixed schedule superovulation regimen. Serum oestradiol, progesterone and luteinizing hormone were monitored and the data analysed retrospectively. A single ultrasound scan was performed on the day of laparoscopy to exclude ovulation. Thirty-eight GIFT procedures were performed, resulting in 11 (29%) clinical pregnancies of which four twin and four singleton pregnancies are continuing. There was a significant correlation between the oestradiol response pattern and the maturity of oocytes retrieved, the fertilization rate of supernumerary oocytes and the pregnancy rate. Programmed cycles may be conveniently combined with GIFT, and basic endocrinological monitoring can be used to identify cycles with a poor prognosis before laparoscopy.

Vaginoplasty using amnion.

Fifteen patients with various developmental and acquired abnormalities of the vagina were treated by the application of human amnion over a mold after surgical dissection of a space for the new vagina or enlargement of an existing but strictured one. Excellent results were achieved in cases of complete and partial vaginal agenesis, and there was improvement in all of the patients with vaginal strictures.

Uterine activity in the second stage of labour and the effect of epidural analgesia.

Uterine activity was measured during the second stage of normal labour in 20 patients with and 31 patients without epidural analgesia. There was a significantly lower uterine activity integral (UAI) in patients having epidural analgesia, and it is suggested that this may contribute to the increased rate of instrumental delivery associated with epidural analgesia.

Standard electromotive force of the H2-AgCl;Ag cell in 30, 40, and 50 mass% dimethyl sulfoxide/water from -20 to 25 degrees C: pK2 and pH values for a standard "Bicine" buffer solution at subzero temperatures.

The establishment of the pH (designated pH*) of a standard buffer solution suitable as a pH reference in 30, 40, and 50 mass% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/H2O mixtures at temperatures in the range -20 to 0 degrees C is reported. The buffer material selected was the ampholyte Bicine (N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine), and the reference standard consists of equal molal quantities of Bicine and its sodium salt. The assignment of pH* values rests on measurements of the emf of cells without liquid junction, Pt;H2(g, 1 atm) [Bicine, Na Bicinate, NaCl [AgCl;Ag, and the pH* was derived from a determination of K2, the equilibrium constant for the dissociation process (Bicine) +/- in equilibrium (Bicinate)- + H+. The standard emf in the DMSO/H2O solvents at subzero temperatures was determined from emf measurements of the cell with solutions of HCl replacing the buffer-chloride mixture.

Measurement of sodium in albumin solutions with ion-selective electrodes.

We have investigated the variations in the potentials of sodium-selective glass-membrane electrodes in various concentrations of albumin. These protein solutions serve as a simple model for measurements of electrolytes in whole blood, plasma, or serum with such an electrode. The results indicate that albumin-sodium binding and variations in liquid-junction potentials are of negligible importance. Mostly, the effect of albumin on the sodium glass-electrode potential is attributable to variations in the activity of sodium, determined by the water content of the solutions. We have calculated apparent fractional protein volumes in albumin solutions from measurements of sodium glass-electrode potential and find they compare well with the classical McLean-Hastings formulation. Our results indicate the need to correct experimentally determined potentiometric electrolyte concentrations for protein volumes.

Calibration of ion-selective electrodes for use in biological fluids.

We measured electromotive force at 37 degrees C with pH, sodium glass, valinomycin, and the Simon calcium electrodes in synthetic electrolyte mixtures simulating serum, in cells both with and without liquid junction. Evidently these electrodes respond in a near-Nernstian manner to changes in concentration of the ion sensed. We su-gest that such mixtures may serve as calibrating standards for ion-selective electrodes in clinical analysis. The effect of ionic strength on electrode response can be accounted for almost wholly by alterations in the activity coefficients. The lanthanum fluoride electrode activity coefficients. The lanthanum fluoride electrode shows promise as a reliable reference in cells without liquid junction.