Rotational Resonance in milli-tesla fields detected by Field Cycling NMR.

Rotational Resonance (R(2)) between different spin Zeeman levels in samples of adamantane C(10)H(16) (homonuclear R(2)) and a mixture of C(10)H(16) and C(10)D(16) (both homonuclear and heteronuclear R(2)) has been studied. A Field Cycling NMR instrument was used to match the external field frequency ν(0) to a fixed frequency of sample rotation ν(r) at ν(r) = 40, 50 or 60 kHz. Rotational Resonance is observed at rational frequency ratios of ν(0)/ν(r), such as 12, 23, 32 and 1. The method may prove to become a useful tool for the determination of spin-spin distances in condensed matter.

Hazards of chemical weapons release during war: new perspectives.

The two major threat classes of chemical weapons are mustard gas and the nerve agents, and this has not changed in over 50 years. Both types are commonly called gases, but they are actually liquids that are not remarkably volatile. These agents were designed specifically to harm people by any route of exposure and to be effective at low doses. Mustard gas was used in World War I, and the nerve agents were developed shortly before, during, and after World War II. Our perception of the potency of chemical weapons has changed, as well as our concern over potential effects of prolonged exposures to low doses and potential target populations that include women and children. Many of the toxicologic studies and human toxicity estimates for both mustard and nerve agents were designed for the purpose of quickly developing maximal casualties in the least sensitive male soldier. The "toxicity" of the chemical weapons has not changed, but our perception of "toxicity" has.

Communication among rehabilitation staff: "mild," "moderate," or "severe" deficits?

Effective communication among members of the various rehabilitation disciplines is considered an essential component of the modern team approach. Inconsistency in the use of terminology within and across disciplines poses a significant barrier to effective communication. To systematically examine the extent of this problem, 132 respondents representing 14 rehabilitation facilities in six states were surveyed regarding their use of the descriptive labels "mild," "moderate," and "severe" as they pertain to level of cognitive impairment. They were also questioned regarding their use of terms to characterize different types of memory. As predicted, the results reflect a lack of consensus regarding the use of such terminology. The implications of this communication failure for rehabilitation staff, family members, patients, and third-party payers are discussed, and recommendations are made for ameliorating this problem.

Regulation of acetylcholine hydrolysis in canine tracheal smooth muscle.

The regulation of acetylcholine (ACh) lifetime by acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE, EC 3.1.1.8) was evaluated in vitro in canine tracheal smooth muscle preparations. Selective inhibition of AChE by low concentrations of 1,5-bis(N-allyl-N,N-dimethyl-4-ammoniumphenyl)-pentane-3-one dibromide (BW 284C51) led to increases in the amplitude and half-relaxation time of contractions elicited by electric field stimulation. Maximal responses were observed in the presence of 10(-6) M BW 284C51, where the amplitude and half-relaxation time were increased by 84 and 198%, respectively. Higher concentrations of BW 284C51, on the other hand, depressed the amplitude and shortened the decay of electric field stimulation-induced contractions by a mechanism involving blockade of muscarinic receptors. Selective inhibition of BuChE by tetraisopropylpyrophosphoramide (iso-OMPA) led to monotonic increases in the electric field stimulation amplitude and duration. These alterations were less marked than those observed in the presence of BW 284C51. Co-application of BW 284C51 (10(-5) M) and iso-OMPA (10(-5) M) resulted in a 1330% prolongation in the decay of electric field stimulation-induced contractions and the development of a sustained contracture. Such contractures were not observed with either inhibitor alone at any concentration tested. The results indicate that both hydrolytic enzymes are involved in the regulation of ACh lifetime at the canine tracheal neuroeffector junction with AChE exerting the more prominent role. The finding that BuChE co-regulates ACh lifetime in canine trachealis muscle demonstrates a functional role for this enzyme.

Developmental outcome of infants with grade III intraventricular hemorrhage.

To determine the developmental outcome of premature infants weighing 1,750 gm or less at birth and who had grade III intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), we followed up ten infants with IVH confirmed by computed tomography (CT) and ten CT-negative control infants until they were 12 months corrected age. The infants were evaluated at three-month intervals with neurologic examinations; hearing, speech, and language assessments; Bayley testing; and evoked response studies. Normal criteria were defined in each area. Eight of the ten grade III IVH survivors had identifiable defects, with a predominance of motor deficits, as assessed by two or more parameters. Only three of the ten patients without IVH had two or more suspicious or abnormal assessments. Infants with grade III IVH may have widespread damage. A multidisciplinary approach to evaluating these patients is mandatory to determine the full extent of various deficits. Similar studies of infants with all degrees of IVH may help to define its full impact on their long-term development.

[Patterns of complaint in a reconvalescent home for mothers and in a psychosomatic hospital (author's transl)]. / Beschwerdenmuster in einem Mütterkurheim und in einer psychosomatischen Klinik.

The frequency of psychosomatic disorders and psychosocial burden in women referred to a spa/reconvalescent home for mothers gave rise to a comparison of their patterns of complaint with those of female patients in a psychosomatic hospital. Those complaints that were described in the complaints scales as markedly impairing their health were found to be largely identical in both groups. Assignment of the women to the one or the other type of institution (by means of a discriminant analysis) was determined less by their complaints scores than by socio-economic variables (age, marital status, number of children, occupational activities), which is explained by differences in group composition.

[Interaction between physician and patient]. / Die Interaktion zwischen Arzt und Patient.

At a psychosomatic experimental station the patient-oriented therapeutical visits by the chief physician were investigated, in order to elucidate the importance and the role of the chief physician. The data obtained by an indirect measurement device, i.e. Osgood's "semantic differential" in its German version of Ertel, consist in self-evaluation and xeno-evaluation of the chief physician, of the resident doctors, and of the patients after fifteen visits. The results show that the patients and the accompanying doctors regard the chief physician as a "king" or a "father figure". The chief physician, on the contrary, assumes no strong role.