A versatile physiological data analysis system using an Intel 8080 microprocessor.

A microprocessor based physiological data processor has been realised. The system controls the data flow from physiological experiments and performs on-line mean and variance calculations with an output in graphical form. The analyser accepts one data point every 0.5 ms and has a capacity of 128 records each containing 800 data points. Post stimulus histogram and interval histogram analysis programs have also been written and implemented.

An overview of adult allergic disorders.

Stuffy nose, itchy and watery eyes, shortness of breath with wheezing, hives and stomach upsets often translate into allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, urticaria and food allergies. These symptoms present a diagnostic dilemma to practitioners, even when sophisticated immunologic tests are available. Given a good history, however, the most common allergic disorders can be diagnosed and managed by nurse practitioners. In this article, an overview is presented which includes a discussion of four chronic adult allergic problems: rhinitis, asthma, urticaria and food allergies. A review of basic immunological principles is provided. Each condition is described in terms of data collection and assessment criteria. General client education guidelines follow.

Addition of NaCl to MS-2 system clinical cuvettes for combined salt tolerance and susceptibility testing for group D streptococci.

Sodium chloride was added directly to individual wells of MS-2 system clinical cuvettes for evaluating the feasibility of simultaneous susceptibility and salt tolerance testing for group D streptococcal isolates. Salt tolerance was correctly detected for all 177 enterococci tested; there was no false-positive results for 29 group D nonenterococcal or 45 viridans streptococcal isolates.