Which is the best treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures: balloon kyphoplasty, percutaneous vertebroplasty, or non-surgical treatment? A Bayesian network meta-analysis.

The aim of the current study was to use a Bayesian network meta-analysis to evaluate the relative benefits and risks of balloon kyphoplasty (BK), percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP), and non-surgical treatment (NST) for patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). The results demonstrate that for pain and functional status, PVP was significantly better than NST, while the three treatments did not significantly differ in other outcomes. INTRODUCTION: BK, PVP, and NST are widely used to treat OVCFs, but preferable treatment is unknown. The aim of the current study was to use a Bayesian network meta-analysis to evaluate the relative benefits and risks of BK, PVP, and NST for patients with OVCFs. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were screened. Based on the preplanned eligibility criteria, we screened and included randomized controlled trials that compared BK, PVP, and NST in treating patients with OVCFs. The risk of bias for individual studies was appraised. The data were pooled using a Bayesian network meta-analysis and a traditional direct comparison meta-analysis. RESULTS: Of the 1057 relevant studies, 15 were eligible and included. Compared with NST, PVP significantly reduced pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). The comparative efficacy of BK and PVP was similar for pain (mean difference (MD) 0.51, 95% credible interval (CrI) - 0.35 to 1.4), ODI (MD 0.11, 95% CrI - 13 to 13), and RMDQ (MD 1.2, 95% CrI - 2.7 to 5.4). The European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and Physical Component Summary subscales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36 PCS) did not differ significantly. There were also no substantial differences in the risks of subsequent vertebral fractures, adjacent vertebral fractures, and re-fractures at the treated level across all comparators. The results of pairwise meta-analyses were almost consistent with those of network meta-analyses. The treatment ranking indicated that PVP had the highest probability of being the most effective for pain, ODI, RMDQ, and EQ-5D. BK had the highest probability of improving SF-36 PCS and of reducing the risk of subsequent vertebral fractures and re-fractures at the treated level. NST was ranked first in preventing adjacent vertebral fractures. CONCLUSION: PVP was the most effective method for improving pain, functional status, and quality of life (based on EQ-5D). BK emerged as the best intervention for decreasing the risk of subsequent vertebral fractures and re-fractures at the treated level. NST could be ranked first in reducing adjacent vertebral fractures. The future directions of OVCFs treatment will depend on the outcomes of additional and larger randomized trials in comparing BK with PVP.

Effect of roaming transition states upon product branching in the thermal decomposition of CH3NO2.

The kinetics for the thermal unimolecular decomposition of CH3NO2 and its structural isomer CH3ONO have been investigated by statistical theory calculations based on the potential energy surface calculated at the UCCSD(T)/CBS and CASPT3(8, 8)/6-311+G(3df,2p) levels. Our results show that for the decomposition of CH3NO2 at pressures less than 2 Torr, isomerization to CH3ONO via the recently located roaming transition state is dominant in the entire temperature range studied, 400-3000 K. However, at higher pressures, the formation of the commonly assumed products, CH3 + NO2, becomes competitive and at pressures higher than 200 Torr the production of CH3 + NO2 is exclusive. The predicted rate constants for 760 Torr and the high-pressure limit with Ar as diluent in the temperature range 500-3000 K, producing solely CH3 + NO2, can be expressed respectively by kd(760)(CH3NO2) = 2.94 × 10(55)T(-12.6) exp(-35500/T) s(-1) and kd(∞)(CH3NO2) = 5.88 × 10(24)T(-2.35) exp(-31400/T) s(-1). In the low pressure limit, the decomposition reaction takes place exclusively via the roaming TS producing internally excited CH3ONO, giving rise to both CH3O + NO and CH2O + HNO with the second-order rate constant kd(0)(CH3NO2) = 1.17 × 10(31)T(-10.94) exp(-32400/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). For CH3ONO decomposition, a new roaming transition state connecting to the CH2O + HNO products has been located, lying 6.8 kcal/mol below the well-known four-member ring tight transition state and 0.7 kcal/mol below CH3O + NO. The rate constants predicted by similar calculations give rise to the following expressions for the thermal decomposition of CH3ONO in He: kd(760)(CH3ONO) = 8.75 × 10(41)T(-8.97) exp(-22600/T) s(-1) and kd(∞)(CH3ONO) = 1.58 × 10(23)T(-2.18) exp(-21100/T) s(-1) in the temperature range 300-3000 K. These results are in very good agreement with available experimental data obtained under practical pressure conditions. The much different branching ratios for the formation of CH3O + NO and CH2O + HNO in the decomposition of both CH3NO2 and CH3ONO are also given in this work.

Mechanism and kinetics for ammonium dinitramide (ADN) sublimation: a first-principles study.

The mechanism for sublimation of NH(4)N(NO(2))(2) (ADN) has been investigated quantum-mechanically with generalized gradient approximation plane-wave density functional theory calculations; the solid surface is represented by a slab model and the periodic boundary conditions are applied. The calculated lattice constants for the bulk ADN, which were found to consist of NH(4)(+)[ON(O)NNO(2)](-) units, instead of NH(4)(+)[N(NO(2))(2)](-), agree quite well with experimental values. Results show that three steps are involved in the sublimation/decomposition of ADN. The first step is the relaxation of the surface layer with 1.6 kcal/mol energy per NH(4)ON(O)NNO(2) unit; the second step is the sublimation of the surface layer to form a molecular [NH(3)]-[HON(O)NNO(2)] complex with a 29.4 kcal/mol sublimation energy, consistent with the experimental observation of Korobeinichev et al. (10) The last step is the dissociation of the [H(3)N]-[HON(O)NNO(2)] complex to give NH(3) and HON(O)NNO(2) with the dissociation energy of 13.9 kcal/mol. Direct formation of NO(2) (g) from solid ADN costs a much higher energy, 58.3 kcal/mol. Our calculated total sublimation enthalpy for ADN(s) → NH(3)(g) + HON(O)NNO(2)) (g), 44.9 kcal/mol via three steps, is in good agreement with the value, 42.1 kcal/mol predicted for the one-step sublimation process in this work and the value 44.0 kcal/mol computed by Politzer et al. (11) using experimental thermochemical data. The sublimation rate constant for the rate-controlling step 2 can be represented as k(sub) = 2.18 × 10(12) exp (-30.5 kcal/mol/RT) s(-1), which agrees well with available experimental data within the temperature range studied. The high pressure limit decomposition rate constant for the molecular complex H(3)N···HON(O)NNO(2) can be expressed by k(dec) = 3.18 × 10(13) exp (-15.09 kcal/mol/RT) s(-1). In addition, water molecules were found to increase the sublimation enthalpy of ADN, contrary to that found in the ammonium perchlorate system, in which water molecules were shown to reduce pronouncedly the enthalpy of sublimation.

Ab initio chemical kinetics for the hydrolysis of N2O4 isomers in the gas phase.

The mechanism and kinetics for the gas-phase hydrolysis of N(2)O(4) isomers have been investigated at the CCSD(T)/6-311++G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p) level of theory in conjunction with statistical rate constant calculations. Calculated results show that the contribution from the commonly assumed redox reaction of sym-N(2)O(4) to the homogeneous gas-phase hydrolysis of NO(2) can be unequivocally ruled out due to the high barrier (37.6 kcal/mol) involved; instead, t-ONONO(2) directly formed by the association of 2NO(2), was found to play the key role in the hydrolysis process. The kinetics for the hydrolysis reaction, 2NO(2) + H(2)O ↔ HONO + HNO(3) (A) can be quatitatively interpreted by the two step mechanism: 2NO(2) → t-ONONO(2), t-ONONO(2) + H(2)O → HONO + HNO(3). The predicted total forward and reverse rate constants for reaction (A), k(tf) = 5.36 × 10(-50)T(3.95) exp(1825/T) cm(6) molecule(-2) s(-1) and k(tr) = 3.31 × 10(-19)T(2.478) exp(-3199/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), respectively, in the temperature range 200-2500 K, are in good agreement with the available experimental data.

Ab initio chemical kinetics for reactions of ClO with Cl2O2 isomers.

The mechanisms for the reactions of ClO with ClOClO, ClOOCl, and ClClO(2) have been investigated at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df)//PW91PW91∕6-311+G(3df) level of theory. The rate constants for their low energy channels have been calculated by statistical theory. The results show that the main products for the reaction of ClO with ClOClO are ClOCl + ClOO, which can be produced readily by ClO abstracting the terminal O atom from ClOClO. This process occurs without an intrinsic barrier, with the predicted rate constant: k (ClO + ClOClO) = 7.26 × 10(-10) T(-0.15) × exp (-40/T) cm(3)molecule(-1)s(-1) for 200-1500 K. For the reactions of ClO + ClOOCl and ClClO(2), the lowest abstraction barriers are 7.2 and 7.3 kcal/mol, respectively, suggesting that these two reactions are kinetically unimportant in the Earth's stratosphere as their rate constants are less than 10(-14) cm(3)molecule(-1)s(-1) below 700 K. At T = 200-1500 K, the computed rate constants can be represented by k (ClO+ ClOOCl) = 1.11 × 10 (-14) T (0.87) exp (-3576/T) and k (ClO+ ClClO(2)) = 4.61 × 10(-14) T(0.53) exp (-3588/T) cm(3)molecule(-1)s(-1). For these systems, no experimental or theoretical kinetic data are available for comparison.

Ab initio chemical kinetic study on the reactions of ClO with C2H2 and C2H4.

The mechanisms for the reactions of ClO with C(2)H(2) and C(2)H(4) have been investigated at the CCSD(T)/CBS level of theory. The results show that in both systems, the interaction between the Cl atom of the ClO radical and the triple and double bonds of C(2)H(2) and C(2)H(4) forms prereaction van der Waals complexes with the O-Cl bond pointing perpendicularly toward the π-bonds, both with 2.1 kcal/mol binding energies. The mechanism is similar to those of the HO-C(2)H(2)/C(2)H(4) systems. The rate constants for the low energy channels have been predicted by statistical theory. For the reaction of ClO and C(2)H(2), the main channels are the production of CH(2)CO + Cl (k(1a)) and CHCO + HCl (k(1b)), with k(1a) = 1.19 × 10(-15)T(1.18) exp(-5814/T) and k(1b) = 6.94 × 10(-21) × T(2.60) exp(-6587/T) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). For the ClO + C(2)H(4) reaction, the main pathway leads to C(2)H(4)O + Cl (k(2a)) with the predicted rate constant k(2a) = 2.13 × 10(-17)T(1.52) exp(-3849/T) in the temperature range of 300-3000 K. These rate constants are pressure-independent below 100 atm.

Ab initio study on the oxidation of NCN by OH: prediction of the individual and total rate constants.

The mechanism for the reaction of NCN with OH has been investigated by ab initio molecular orbital and transition-state theory calculations. The potential energy surface (PES) was calculated by the highest level of the modified GAUSSIAN-2 (G2M) method, G2M(CC1). The barrierless association process of OH + NCN --> OH...NCN (van der Waals, vdw) was also examined at the UCCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df,2p)//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) and CASPT2(13,13)/ANO-L//B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) levels. The predicted heats of reaction for the production of H + NCNO, HNC + NO, HCN + NO, and N(2) + HOC, 7.8, -53.2, -66.9, and -67.7, respectively, are in excellent agreement with the experimental values, 8.2 +/- 1.3, -52.3 +/- 1.7 (or 55.7 +/- 1.7), -66.3 +/- 0.7, and -68.1 +/- 0.7 kcal/mol. The kinetic results indicate that, in the temperature range of 300-1000 K, the formation of trans,trans-HONCN (LM2) is dominant. Over 1000 K, formation of H + NCNO is dominant, while the formation of HCN + NO becomes competitive. The rate constants for the low-energy channels given in units of cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) can be represented by the following: k(1)(LM2) = 1.51 x 10 (15)T(-8.72) exp(-2531/T) at 300-1500 K in 760 Torr N(2); k(2)(H+NCNO) = 5.54 x 10 (-14)T(-0.97) exp(-3669/T) and k(3)(HCN+NO) = 7.82 x 10 (-14)T(0.44) exp(-2013/T) at 300-2500 K, with the total rate constant of k(t) = 3.18 x 10 (2)T(-4.63) exp(-740/T), 300-1000 K, and k(t) = 2.53 x 10 (-14)T(1.13) exp(-489/T) in the temperature range of 1200-2500 K. These results are recommended for combustion modeling applications.

Ab initio study on the oxidation of NCN by O (3P): prediction of the total rate constant and product branching ratios.

The reaction of NCN with O is relevant to the formation of prompt NO according to the new mechanism, CH+N2-->cyclic-C(H)NN- -->HNCN-->H+NCN. The reaction has been investigated by ab initio molecular orbital and transition state theory calculations. The mechanisms for formation of possible product channels involved in the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces have been predicted at the highest level of the modified GAUSSIAN-2 (G2M) method, G2M (CC1). The barrierless association/dissociation processes on the singlet surface were also examined with the third-order Rayleigh-Schrödinger perturbation (CASPT3) and the multireference configuration interaction methods including Davidson's correction for higher excitations (MRCI+Q) at the CASPT3(6,6)/6-311+G(3df)//UB3LYP/6-311G(d) and MRCI+Q(6,6)/6-311+G(3df)//UB3LYP/6-311G(d) levels. The rate constants for the low-energy channels producing CO+N2, CN+NO, and N(4S)+NCO have been calculated in the temperature range of 200-3000 K. The results show that the formation of CN+NO is dominant and its branching ratio is over 99% in the whole temperature range; no pressure dependence was noted at pressures below 100 atm. The total rate constant can be expressed by: kt=4.23x10(-11) T0.15 exp(17/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1).

Ab initio study of the ClO + NH2 reaction: prediction of the total rate constant and product branching ratios.

The mechanism for ClO + NH2 has been investigated by ab initio molecular orbital and transition-state theory calculations. The species involved have been optimized at the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df,2p) level and their energies have been refined by single-point calculations with the modified Gaussian-2 method, G2M(CC2). Ten stable isomers have been located and a detailed potential energy diagram is provided. The rate constants and branching ratios for the low-lying energy channel products including HCl + HNO, Cl + NH2O, and HOCl + 3NH (X(3)Sigma(-)) are calculated. The result shows that formation of HCl + HNO is dominant below 1000 K; over 1000 K, Cl + NH2O products become dominant. However, the formation of HOCl + 3NH (X(3)Sigma(-)) is unimportant below 1500 K. The pressure-independent individual and total rate constants can be expressed as k1(HCl + HNO) = 4.7 x 10(-8)(T(-1.08)) exp(-129/T), k(2)(Cl + NH2O) = 1.7 x 10(-9)(T(-0.62)) exp(-24/T), k3(HOCl + NH) = 4.8 x 10(-29)(T5.11) exp(-1035/T), and k(total) = 5.0 x 10(-9)(T(-0.67)) exp(-1.2/T), respectively, with units of cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), in the temperature range of 200-2500 K.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of rate coefficients of the reaction S(3P)+OCS in the temperature range of 298-985 K.

The reaction S(3P)+OCS in Ar was investigated over the pressure range of 50-710 Torr and the temperature range of 298-985 K with the laser photolysis technique. S atoms were generated by photolysis of OCS with light at 248 nm from a KrF excimer laser; their concentration was monitored via resonance fluorescence excited by atomic emission of S produced from microwave-discharged SO2. At pressures less than 250 Torr, our measurements give k(298 K)=(2.7+/-0.5)x10(-15) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, in satisfactory agreement with a previous report by Klemm and Davis [J. Phys. Chem. 78, 1137 (1974)]. New data determined for 407-985 K connect rate coefficients reported previously for T>or=860 and Tor=500 Torr, the reaction rate was enhanced. Theoretical calculations at the G2M(CC2) level, using geometries optimized with the B3LYP6-311+G(3df) method, yield energies of transition states and products relative to those of the reactants. Rate coefficients predicted with multichannel Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) calculations agree satisfactorily with experimental observations. According to our calculations, the singlet channel involving formation of SSCO followed by direct dissociation into S2(a 1Deltag)+CO dominates below 2000 K; SSCO is formed via intersystem crossing from the triplet surface. At low temperature and under high pressure the stabilization of OCS2, formed via isomerization of SSCO, becomes important; its formation and further reaction with S atoms partially account for the observed increase in the rate coefficient under such conditions.

Ab initio studies of ClO(x) reactions: prediction of the rate constants of ClO+NO2 for the forward and reverse processes.

The potential-energy surface for the reaction of ClO with NO2 has been constructed at the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(3df)//B3LYP/6-311+G(3df) level of theory. Six ClNO3 isomers are located; these are ClONO2, pc-ClOONO, pt-ClOONO, OClNO2, pt-OClONO, pc-OClONO, with predicted energies relative to the reactants of -25.6, -0.5, 1.0, 1.9, 12.2 and 13.6 kcal mol-1, and heats of formation at 0 K of 7.8, 32.9, 34.4, 35.5, 45.6 and 47.0 kcal mol-1, respectively. Isomerizations among them are also discussed. The rate constants for the low-energy pathways have been computed by statistical theory calculations. For the association reaction producing exclusively ClONO2, the predicted low- and high-pressure-limit rate constants in N2 for the temperature range of 200-600 K can be represented by: (N2)=3.19 x 10-17 T-5.54 exp(-384 K/T) cm6 molecule-2 s-1 and =3.33 x 10-7 T-1.48 exp(-18 K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1. The predicted low- and high-pressure-limit rate constants for the decomposition of ClONO2 in N2 at 200-600 K can be expressed, respectively, by =6.08 x 1013 T-6.54 exp(-13813 K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1 and =4.59 x 1023 T-2.43 exp(-13437 K/T) s-1. The predicted values compare satisfactorily with available experimental data. The reverse Cl+NO3 reaction was found to be independent of the pressure, giving exclusively ClO+NO2; the predicted rate constant can be expressed as k(Cl+NO3)=1.19 x 10-9 T-0.60 exp(58 K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1..

Experimental and theoretical investigations of rate coefficients of the reaction S(3P)+O2 in the temperature range 298-878 K.

Rate coefficients of the reaction S+O(2) with Ar under 50 Torr in the temperature range 298-878 K were determined with the laser photolysis technique. S atoms were generated by photolysis of OCS with a KrF excimer laser at 248 nm; their concentration was monitored via resonance fluorescence excited by atomic emission of S produced from microwave-discharged SO(2). Our measurements show that k(298 K)=(1.92+/-0.29)x10(-12) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1), in satisfactory agreement with previous reports. New data determined for 505-878 K show non-Arrhenius behavior; combining our results with data reported at high temperatures, we derive an expression k(T)=(9.02+/-0.27)x10(-19)T(2.11+/-0.15) exp[(730+/-120)/T] cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for 298< or =T< or =3460 K. Theoretical calculations at the G2M (RCC2) level, using geometries optimized with the B3LYP/6-311+G(3df) method, yield energies of transition states and products relative to those of the reactants. Rate coefficients predicted with multichannel RRKM calculations agree satisfactorily with experimental observations; the reaction channel via SOO(1A') dominates at T<500 K, whereas channels involving formation of SOO(3A") followed by isomerization to SO(2) before dissociation, and formation of SOO(1A") followed by direct dissociation, become important at high temperatures, accounting for the observed rapid increase in rate coefficient.

Ab initio studies of alkyl radical reactions: Combination and disproportionation reactions of CH3 with C2H5, and the decomposition of chemically activated C3H8.

This paper reports the first quantitative ab initio prediction of the disproportionation/combination ratio of alkyl+alkyl reactions using CH3+C2H5 as an example. The reaction has been investigated by the modified Gaussian-2 method with variational transition state or Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus calculations for several channels producing (1) CH4+CH2CH2, (2) C3H8, (3) CH4CH3CH, (4) H2+CH3CHCH2, (5) H2+CH3CCH3, and (6) C2H6+CH2 by H-abstraction and association/decomposition mechanisms through singlet and triplet potential energy paths. Significantly, the disproportionation reaction (1) producing CH4+C2H4 was found to occur primarily by the lowest energy path via a loose hydrogen-bonding singlet molecular complex, H3CHC2H4, with a 3.5 kcal/mol binding energy and a small decomposition barrier (1.9 kcal/mol), instead of a direct H-abstraction process. Bimolecular reaction rate constants for the formation of the above products have been calculated in the temperature range 300-3000 K. At 1 atm, formation of C3H8 is dominant below 1200 K. Over 1200 K, the disproportionation reaction becomes competitive. The sum of products (3)-(6) accounts for less than 0.3% below 1500 K and it reaches around 1%-4% above 2000 K. The predicted rate constant for the disproportionation reaction with multiple reflections above the complex well, k1=5.04 x T(0.41) exp(429/T) at 200-600 K and k1=1.96 x 10(-20) T(2.45) exp(1470/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) at 600-3000 K, agrees closely with experimental values. Similarly, the predicted high-pressure rate constants for the combination reaction forming C3H8 and its reverse dissociation reaction in the temperature range 300-3000 K, k2(infinity)=2.41 x 10(-10) T(-0.34) exp(259/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) and k(-2)(infinity)=8.89 x 10(22) T(-1.67)exp(-46 037/T) s(-1), respectively, are also in good agreement with available experimental data.

Ab initio studies of CIO, reactions: prediction of the rate constants of CIO + NO for the forward and reverse processes.

The mechanisms for ClO+NO and its reverse reactions were investigated by means of ab initio molecular orbital and statistical theory calculations. The species involved were optimized at the B3LYP/6-311 +G(3df) level, and their energies were refined at the CCSD(T)/6-311+ G(3df)//B3LYP/6-311 + G(3df) level. Five isomers and the transition states among them were located. The relative stability of these isomers is ClNO2 > cis-ClONO > trans-ClONO > cis-OClNO>trans-OClNO. The heats of formation of the three most-stable isomers were predicted using isodesmic reactions by different methods. The predicted bimolecular reaction rate constant shows that, below 100 atm, the formation of Cl+NO2 is dominant and pressure-independent. The total rate constant can be expressed as: k(ClO+NO)= 1.43 x 10(-9)T(-083)exp(92/ T) cm3 molecule(-1)s(-1) in the temperature range of 200-1000 K, in close agreement with experimental data. For the reverse reaction, Cl+NO2-->ClNO2 and ClONO (cis and trans isomers), the sum of the predicted rate constants for the formation of the three isomers and their relative yields also reproduce the experimental data well. The predicted total third-order rate constants in the temperature range of 200-1000 K can be represented by: k0(He) = 4.89 x 10(-6)T(-5.85) exp(-796/T) cm6 molecule(-1)s(-1) and k0(N2) =5.72 x 10(-15)T(-5.80) exp(-814/T) cm6 molecule(-1)s(-1). The predicted high- and low-pressure limit decomposition rates of CINO2 in Ar in the temperature range 400-1500 K can be expressed, respectively, by: k-(ClNO2) = 7.25 x 10(19)T(-1.89) exp(-16875/T) s(-1) and kd(ClNO2) = 2.51 x 10(38)T(-6.8) exp(-18409/T) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The value of k0(ClNO2) is also in reasonable agreement with available experimental data.

Low-energy paths for the unimolecular decomposition of CH3OH: a G2M/statistical theory study.

The potential energy surface (PES) of the CH3OH system has been characterized by ab initio molecular orbital theory calculations at the G2M level of theory. The mechanisms for the decomposition of CH3OH and the related bimolecular reactions, CH3 + OH and 1CH2 + H2O, have been elucidated. The rate constants for these processes have been calculated using variational RRKM theory and compared with available experimental data. The total decomposition rate constants of CH3OH at the high- and low-pressure limits can be represented by k infinity = 1.56 x 10(16) exp(-44,310/T) s-1 and kAr0 = 1.60 x 10(36) T-12.2 exp(-48,140/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively, covering the temperature range 1000-3000 K, in reasonable agreement with the experimental values. Our results indicate that the product branching ratios are strongly pressure dependent, with the production of CH3 + OH and 1CH2 + H2O dominant under high (P > 10(3) Torr) and low (P < 1 atm) pressures, respectively. For the bimolecular reaction of CH3 and OH, the total rate constant and the yields of 1CH2 + H2O and H2 + HCOH at lower pressures (P < 5 Torr) could be reasonably accounted for by the theory. For the reaction of 1CH2 with H2O, both the yield of CH3 + OH and the total rate constant could also be satisfactorily predicted theoretically. The production of 3CH2 + H2O by the singlet to triplet surface crossing, predicted to occur at 4.3 kcal mol-1 above the H2C...OH2 van der Waals complex (which lies 82.7 kcal mol-1 above CH3OH), was neglected in our calculations.

[Dot-ELISA using monoclonal antibody for detecting schistosome circulating antigen].

Monoclonal antibodies were produced by the fusion of splenic lymphocytes from BALB/c mice immunized with Schistosoma japonicum excretory/secretory antigen and the myeloma cell line SP2/0. The 1B2E7B8 McAb was proved to be specific against the gut antigen of adult worm in IFA. The McAb labelled with HRP was used in Dot-ELISA to detect schistosome circulating antigen. Schistosome circulating antigen was detected in 152 out of 188 proven cases of schistosomiasis, accounting for a positive rate of 80.9%. The positive rates for circulating antigen in cases with 1-24, 25-99 and greater than or equal to 100 EPG were 76.8%, 86.6% and 100% respectively. 10 out of 11 cases who had been checked 2 months after effective treatment became ELISA negative. No circulating antigen was detected in cases with other parasitosis nor in normal individuals. In addition, the McAb-Dot-ELISA showed good reproducibility. The results indicated that McAb-Dot-ELISA might be used for diagnosis of schistosomiasis and evaluation of cure.