Melamine-formaldehyde-NTA chelating gel resin: Synthesis, characterization and application for copper(II) ion removal from synthetic wastewater.

A new chelating resin was synthesised by anchoring nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) to melamine during the melamine-formaldehyde gelling reaction in the presence of water, using acetone and guaiacol as a porogen mixture. This technique gives a porous chelating gel resin capable of removing heavy metals from wastewater. FT-IR, XRD, elemental analysis, surface area and water regain measurements were conducted for characterization of the new chelating gel resin. A comprehensive adsorption study (kinetics isotherm, and thermodynamics) of Cu(II) removal from synthetic acidic aqueous solutions by adsorption on this resin was conducted regarding the effects of time, temperature, initial pH and copper(II) initial concentration.

HLA antigens in East African Black patients with Burkitt's lymphoma or nasopharyngeal carcinoma and in controls: a pilot study.

A pilot study is reported of HLA-A, B, and C antigens in 141 East African Blacks comprising patients with Burkitt's lymphoma or nasopharyngeal carcinoma, either with active disease or in long-term remission, together with comparable controls. This study forms part of a wider program investigating host factors in these diseases. A protocol was selected for optimal testing of cells processed and cryopreserved between 1972 and 1976, largely under field conditions, which employed a two-color fluorochromasia typing procedure. Antigen distribution and computed haplotype frequencies in the total unrelated population are given. New findings include an approximately equal frequency of Aw23 and Aw24, a high (18%) incidence of Bw21, and the gametic associations of Aw36 with Bw44, and Aw30 with Bw45. Of the major group of B15-related antigens reported earlier. SV is the most common, and there are strong linkages of SV with Cw2 and Bu with Cw3. The possible presence of further variants at the A- and B-loci is reported. The proportion of B-locus antigen "blanks" in this study is 5.9%. Relationships have been sought between the HLA antigens and diseases studied: the antigen A29, possibly in linkage with Bw42, shows a correlation with disease susceptibility, and associations are suggested between Bw44 (in possible combination with Aw36) and resistance to both BL and NPC, and between Bw45 and long-term remission in NPC.

Treated xenografts as gliding tendon prostheses in an ovine model.

A model for testing the properties of gliding tendon grafts has been developed that allows anastomoses to be evaluated separately from the mid-portion of the graft. In addition, two different graft materials may be implanted in one sheep foreleg whilst maintaining control (not operated) tendons in both the operated leg and contralateral foreleg. The model has been used to evaluate the response of xenografts made from chemically treated kangaroo tail tendon (KTT) compared with autografts. At 3 month the mid-sections of the glutaraldehyde-fixed xenografts maintained between 57 and 82% of their initial ultimate tensile strength whereas lyophilized KTT dropped to 10% and autografts retained 91% of initial strength. Sterilization by gamma-radiation of wet xenografts did not affect the material and implant properties significantly. Longer term studies are necessary to determine the resorption behaviour of the xenografts. Anastomosis strengths were found to be about the same for all grafts, at about 25% of the strength of the original tendon. Alternatives need to be investigated to improve this strength.

Persistence and recurrence of S-antigen in Plasmodium falciparum infections in man.

The persistence of heat stable malarial antigens (S-antigens) in the sera of Gambian children following treatment for severe Plasmodium falciparum infections was investigated. In most cases S-antigens ceased to be demonstrable within 7 days but in some they were detected for several weeks and their persistence correlated with both the density of parasitaemia and the antigen titre observed before treatment. An exponential loss of circulating antigen was, in the majority of individuals, accelerated by some other factor which might have been homologous antibody. Renewal of asexual parasitaemia usually resulted in reduction in the rate of antigen loss or in an increase in antigen level. When the aparasitaemic interval was a month or less the antigens associated with different parasitaemic episodes usually showed identical specificities; when the interval was longer they were usually antigenically distinct. These findings may indicate that relapse parasites usually show the same S-antigen specificities as their progenitors while parasites arising from distinct infections tend to show different specificities and could therefore support a view that considerable antigenic heterogeneity exists among the parasites that comprise P. falciparum populations in endemic areas.

Precipitating antibody response to malarial S-antigens.

The gel diffusion test has been used to detect antibodies to malarial S-antigens. Sera were obtained from entire Gambian village communities, from young children with acute P. falciparum malaria, from children convalescent from such infections and from immune adults. In community studies, small selections of S-antigens detected antibody frequently in sera from older persons but rarely in sera from young children. Larger panels of antigens detected antibodies in sera from half of 50 malarious children while homologous antibody responses were observed in 22% of 267 children followed at intervals during convalescence from malaria. In these latter cases, antibody tended to appear more swiftly when antigen was lost rapidly from the circulation, and observations made on individual responses indicated that antibody production was influenced by factors other than the intrinsic properties of the antigens. In adult sera antibodies usually occurred in association with IgG.

Increased frequency of DR4 in systemic onset juvenile chronic arthritis.

Eighty-one patients with systemic onset juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) have been tested for HLA-A, -B, -C, and -DR antigens. This study confirms previous reports of an increased incidence of DR4 in these patients. Subdivision of the patients according to their disease course over ten years showed different HLA associations with different disease courses. The frequency of DR4 tended to be greater in patients with less severe disease. There was also an increased incidence of HLA B27 in patients in whom relapses of disease were associated with intercurrent infections.

HLA antigen frequencies among patients with juvenile chronic arthritis and amyloidosis: a brief report.

Amyloidosis is seen in a small number of patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). In order to determine whether particular HLA markers might predispose to the development of amyloid in JCA a group of 45 patients with amyloidosis confirmed by biopsy was typed for the HLA-A, B, C and DR loci. The results confirmed previous smaller studies that no HLA antigen detected by standard serological techniques was associated specifically with the development of amyloidosis. Those antigens which showed an altered frequency (ie. DR4 and DRw8) were known to be associated with the different types of JCA onset represented in this group.

An in vitro study of the effects of calcium on the cardiovascular actions of thiopentone, althesin and ketamine in the rat.

The actions of three intravenous anaesthetics, Althesin, thiopentone and ketamine have been compared on the rat isolated atria and portal vein. Although the three anaesthetics had grossly similar actions on the two preparations. i.e. depression of atrial rate and depression of the amplitude of myogenic activity in the portal vein, there were enough differences to suggest that they produced their effects by different mechanisms. These differences were particularly obvious in interactions with noradrenaline and the effects of changes in calcium ion concentration on the concentration effect relationships for the agents on the atria and portal vein. Generally Althesin was unaffected by changes, but in qualitatively different ways.

A study in the light and electron microscope of the extruded peristome and related structures of the rumen ciliate entodinium caudatum.

A study in the light and electron microscope of sections of the rumen ciliate Entodinium caudatum was undertaken in an attempt to elucidate the structure of the peristome when in the extruded state The conformation of the ciliary band on the peristome and the structure of the lining of the buccal cavity are described. The structure and position of a tuft of specialized sheet like extensions of the cell surface is also described.

Plaque antibacterial levels following controlled food intake and use of a toothpaste containing 2% zinc citrate and 0.3% Triclosan.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the levels of zinc and Triclosan present in plaque 12 hours post-brushing and following two weeks home use of a toothpaste formulation containing 2% zinc citrate and 0.3% Triclosan. To measure the levels of zinc and Triclosan in plaque following two weeks home use of the test toothpaste formulation together with a further morning's brushing and a day of controlled food intake. METHODS: A total of 104 subjects completed the study. Plaque samples were taken before use of the test toothpaste and again after a specified regime of product use and food intake. The samples were analysed for zinc or Triclosan. RESULTS: Levels of zinc and Triclosan in plaque 12 hours after last brushing and following a 2-week home usage of product, were 149.1 microg/g and 8.6 microg/g respectively. Following a morning brushing and a day of controlled food intake zinc and Triclosan levels were 94.7 microg/g and 4.1 microg/g respectively. These levels of agents were found to reduce pH drop in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Regular use of a toothpaste containing 2% zinc citrate and 0.3% Triclosan can lead to a build-up of antibacterial agents in plaque that continue to work even after controlled food intake.

Planning an integrated population-based program.

Social, economic, and political pressures demand that hospitals focus on ways to provide cost-effective, population-based care. As a member of the hospital executive staff, nurse administrators need to have a method for analyzing, planning, implementing, and evaluating prospective programs and be able to articulate their potential and relative worth in terms of cost, quality, and value. The author presents a template model for integrated population-based program planning. Children's Home-Based Asthma Management and Prevention Service (CHAMPS) is presented to illustrate application of the model.

Pesticin-dependent generation of somotically stable spheroplast-like structures.

Homogenous pesticin, a bacteriocin produced by Yersinia pestis, promoted rapid dose-dependent killing of Escherichia coli phi but permitted residual generation of cell mass. Both growing cells and those blocked in net synthesis of nucleic acids or protein were converted by pesticin to osmotically stable spheroplast-like forms. Morphology and viability of cells starved for fermentable carbohydrate were not affected by pesticin. Similar spheroplast-like structures were formed from sensitive cells of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Y. pestis.

Knotted femoral nerve catheter.

We describe a case of knotting of a femoral nerve catheter which prevented removal by traction after knee replacement surgery. In this context, early surgical removal should be performed as bacterial colonization of femoral catheters is common. Radiological imaging of the catheter may assist decision-making about whether to persist with traction and what surgical approach is required. Minimizing the length of catheter inserted to less than 10 cm makes knotting unlikely, but will decrease the chance of achieving lumbar plexus blockade which could improve analgesia if the catheter passes centrally.

[3H]Indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol hydrolysis by extracts of Zea mays L. vegetative tissue.

[3H]Indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol was hydrolyzed by buffered extracts of acetone powders prepared from 4 day shoots of dark grown Zea mays L. seedlings. The hydrolytic activity was proportional to the amount of extract added and was linear for up to 6 hours at 37 degrees C. Boiled or alcohol denatured extracts were inactive. Analysis of reaction mixtures by high performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that not all isomers of indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol were hydrolyzed at the same rate. Buffered extracts of acetone powders were prepared from coleoptiles and mesocotyls. The rates of hydrolysis observed with coleoptile extracts were greater than those observed with mesocotyl extracts. Active extracts also catalyzed the hydrolysis of esterase substrates such as alpha-naphthyl acetate and the methyl esters of indoleacetic acid and naphthyleneacetic acid. Attempts to purify the indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol hydrolyzing activity by chromatographic procedures resulted in only slight purification with large losses of activity. Chromatography over hydroxylapatite allowed separation of two enzymically active fractions, one of which catalyzed the hydrolysis of both indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol and esterase substrates. With the other enzymic hydrolysis of esterase substrates was readily demonstrated, but no hydrolysis of indole-3-acetyl-myo-inositol was ever detected.

Nausea and vomiting after prostaglandins in day case termination of pregnancy. The efficacy of low dose droperidol.

The antiemetic effects of low dose droperidol (0.25 and 0.5 mg) and a placebo were compared in patients who had received prostaglandin for day case termination of pregnancy. The incidence of nausea and vomiting was high. Low dose droperidol significantly reduced postoperative nausea and vomiting without any delay in immediate recovery or discharge home (p less than 0.05). Droperidol 0.25 mg was equally effective as an antiemetic, as 0.5 mg.

Immunoglobulin allotypes in families with pauciarticular-onset juvenile chronic arthritis.

Immunoglobulin allotypes have been studied in the families of 17 pauciarticular-onset juvenile chronic arthritis patients included in the 9th Histocompatibility Workshop. There is no evidence of an association of these genetic factors with the disease, nor with the HLA and complement C4 disease markers.

Metabolism of tryptophol in higher and lower plants.

Bacteria, thallophytes, and seed plants (107 species), supplied with exogenous indole-3-ethanol (tryptophol), formed one or more of the following metabolites: O-acetyl tryptophol, an unknown tryptophol ester (or a set of structurally closely related esters), tryptophol glucoside, tryptophol galactoside, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and indole-3-carboxylic acid. The unknown ester was formed by all species examined; O-acetyl tryptophol appeared sporadically in representatives of most major taxonomic groups. Tryptophol galactoside was found in the algae Chlorella, Euglena, and Ochromonas. The glucoside was formed by many eucaryotic plants, but not by bacteria; it was a significant tryptophol metabolite in vascular plants. IAA, if detectable at all, was usually a minor metabolite, as should be expected, if tryptophol oxidase responds to feedback inhibition by IAA. Indole-3-carboxylic acid, formed by a few fungi and mosses, was the only tryptophol metabolite detected which is likely to be formed via IAA.