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Internal erosion is a major cause of dam or dike failures and incidents. In this study, laboratory tests were conducted to investigate the deformation of two gap-graded soils during internal erosion and the stress-strain behavior of the soils that experienced loss of fine particles due to internal erosion. An erosion-controlled experimental method was adopted to achieve a designated loss of fine particles during internal erosion by adding a predefined amount of salt into the soil sample during sample preparation and dissolving the salt in water under a controlled stress condition. Both the radial and axial deformations during erosion were measured using a photographic method. Subsequently, drained triaxial compression tests were performed to study the stress-strain behavior of the soils that had lost different amounts of fine particles. The peak friction angle and critical friction angle of the soil decreased with the loss of fine particles. After a significant loss of fine particles, the stress-strain behavior changed from the initially dilative behavior to a more contractive behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers insights on the study entitled "Stress-Strain Behavior of Granular Soils Subjected to Internal Erosion" by C. Chen, D. S. Chang and L. M. Zhang. Topics mentioned include the investigation on the erosion behavior of soil with salt particles, the analysis of the particle size distributions in the soil layers, and the use of salt simulation method in internal erosion test.

Internal erosion involves selective loss of fine particles within the matrix of coarse soil particles under seepage flow, which affects the hydraulic and mechanical behavior of the soil. In this research, extensive laboratory internal erosion tests were conducted under complex stress states following three stress paths: isotropic, drained triaxial compression, and triaxial extension stress paths. These tests were designed to investigate the initiation and development of internal erosion and the effect of stress state on critical hydraulic gradients. The entire erosion process can be divided into four phases: stable, initiation, development, and failure. Accordingly, three critical gradients termed as initiation, skeleton-deformation, and failure hydraulic gradients, can be defined. These critical gradients correspond to the onset of erosion of the fine particles filling the large pores of the skeleton, the buckling of the strong force chains formed by the coarse particles, and the soil failure, respectively. The initiation gradient under compression stress conditions generally increases with the shear stress ratio first and then decreases when the stress conditions approach failure. The tests under isotropic stress conditions show the largest initiation and skeleton-deformation gradients at the same porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colluvial soils are usually coarse and widely graded. Shallow-seated failures occur frequently in colluvial soil deposits during rainfall infiltration. This paper investigates the behavior of coarse, widely graded soils under very low confining pressures of 5-25 kPa encountered in shallow-seated failures. Isotropic consolidation tests, drained triaxial tests, and undrained triaxial tests were conducted on several widely graded soils with different coarse contents but with the same void ratio of 0.62. With increasing coarse content, the soil microstructure changes from a fines-controlled structure to a coarse-controlled structure after a critical coarse content of approximately 70%. Silty sand with gravel with a coarse content close to the critical value exhibits the highest compressibility because of the presence of large interaggregate pores. Even under very low confining pressures, such soil still shows strong contractive behavior during drained loading, and generates large positive pore-water pressures during undrained loading. This explains why shallow-seated failures occur frequently in colluvial soil deposits caused by rainfall infiltration. Soils with lower or higher coarse contents than the critical value may show dilative behavior under the same low confining pressures. The critical state friction angle increases with the coarse content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimsPrimary angle-closure glaucoma is expected to account for nearly 50% of bilateral glaucoma blindness by 2020. This study was conducted to assess the performance of the scanning peripheral anterior chamber depth analyzer (SPAC) and limbal anterior chamber depth (LACD) as screening methods for angle closure.MethodsThis study assessed two clinical populations to compare SPAC, LACD, and gonioscopy: the Zhongshan Angle-closure Prevention Trial, from which 370 patients were eligible as closed-angle participants and the Liwan Eye Study, from which 72 patients were selected as open-angle controls. Eligible participants were assessed by SPAC, LACD, and gonioscopy.ResultsAngle status was defined by gonioscopy. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) for SPAC was 0.92 (0.89-0.95) whereas AUROC for LACD was 0.94 (0.92-0.97). Using conventional cutoff points, sensitivity/specificity was 93.0%/70.8% for SPAC and 94.1%/87.5% for LACD. Sequential testing using both SPAC and LACD increased the specificity to 94.4% and decreased the sensitivity to 87.0%.ConclusionSPAC has significantly lower specificity than LACD measurement using conventional cutoffs but interpretation of the findings can be performed by modestly trained personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, a large landslide of approximately 30 million m³ occurred at Donghekou with a particle run-out distance of over 2000 m. This paper presents fascinating particle flow and segregation characteristics in the landslide process found through field investigation of changes in the soil particle size, density, and fabric along the particle movement paths. The soil particles experienced projection, long-distance flying, sliding, and rolling. Trajectory segregation, inverse grading, and particle crushing were found in the landslide event, which contributed to the heterogeneity of the soil deposits. In the initial deposition area, particles with larger diameters appeared to have flown longer. Materials from different sources mixed, forming more uniform debris. In the run-out area, the particle flow tended to cause large particles to travel further. However, particle disintegration and crushing led to more small particles along the movement paths and the observed characteristic flow distances of very large particles did not increase with the particle diameter, which is different from observations of an idealized granular mass flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A landslide dam typically comprises freshly deposited heterogeneous, unconsolidated or poorly consolidated earth materials and is vulnerable to overtopping breaching. A physically-based breach model is presented to simulate the breaching process of such landslide dams. The new model can predict the breach evolution, the erosion rate, and the outflow hydrograph. A spreadsheet is developed to numerically implement the model. The erosion processes of Tangjiashan Landslide Dam and Xiaogangjian Landslide Dam induced by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake are analyzed using the new model. The erodibility of the two landslide dams varies significantly along depth. The predicted key breaching parameters (i.e., final breach size, failure time, and peak outflow rate) considering the variations in the soil erodibility along depth agree well with the observed values. Further sensitivity analysis indicates that the soil erodibility affects the breaching process of a landslide dam significantly. Higher soil erodibility will lead to a larger breach, a shorter failure time and a larger peak outflow rate. The erosion rate of the breach channel in the depth direction decreases with increasing erosion resistance of the landslide deposits. In the two case studies, the key breaching parameters cannot be properly predicted if constant soil erodibility parameters along depth are assumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first neutral beam (NB) injection system of the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) tokamak was partially completed in 2010 with only 1/3 of its full design capability, and NB heating experiments were carried out during the 2010 KSTAR operation campaign. The ion source is composed of a JAEA bucket plasma generator and a KAERI large multi-aperture accelerator assembly, which is designed to deliver a 1.5 MW, NB power of deuterium at 95 keV. Before the beam injection experiments, discharge, and beam extraction characteristics of the ion source were investigated. The ion source has good beam optics in a broad range of beam perveance. The optimum perveance is 1.1-1.3 μP, and the minimum beam divergence angle measured by the Doppler shift spectroscopy is 0.8°. The ion species ratio is D+:D2+:D3+ = 75:20:5 at beam current density of 85 mA/cm2. The arc efficiency is more than 1.0 A/kW. In the 2010 KSTAR campaign, a deuterium NB power of 0.7-1.5 MW was successfully injected into the KSTAR plasma with a beam energy of 70-90 keV. L-H transitions were observed within a wide range of beam powers relative to a threshold value. The edge pedestal formation in the Ti and Te profiles was verified through CES and electron cyclotron emission diagnostics. In every deuterium NB injection, a burst of D-D neutrons was recorded, and increases in the ion temperature and plasma stored energy were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ion optics of three accelerator geometries was studied in terms of an analytic linear optics analysis, a numerical simulation using the IGUN program, an optical multichannel measurement of Doppler-shifted Hα lines, and a water-flow calorimetry on the beam absorbing target. In general, there was a reasonable agreement observed between the four analysis methods and thus the theoretical analyses can be utilized with confidence for design iteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spotted sea bass, Lateolabrax maculatus, is an important commercial and recreational fishery resource in Korea. Aquacultural production of this species has increased because of recent resource declines, growing consumption, and ongoing government-operated stock release programs. Therefore, the genetic characterization of hatchery populations is necessary to maintain the genetic diversity of this species and to develop more effective aquaculture practices. In this study, the genetic diversity and structure of three cultured populations in Korea were assessed using multiplex assays with 12 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci; 144 alleles were identified. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 6 to 28, with an average of 13.1. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.724 and 0.753, respectively. Low levels of inbreeding were detected according to the inbreeding coefficient (mean FIS = 0.003-0.073). All hatchery populations were significantly differentiated from each other (overall fixation index (FST) = 0.027, P < 0.01), and no population formed a separate cluster. Pairwise multilocus FST tests, estimates of genetic distance, mantel test, and principal component analyses did not show a consistent relationship between geographic and genetic distances. These results could reflect the exchange of breeds and eggs between hatcheries and/or genetic drift due to intensive breeding practices. For optimal resource management, the genetic variation of hatchery stocks should be monitored and inbreeding controlled within the spotted sea bass stocks that are being released every year. This genetic information will be useful for the management of both L. maculatus fisheries and the aquaculture industry.

Scaphoid fractures are one of the most common carpal fractures and heal without complication in a majority of cases. Nonunion of the scaphoid, unfortunately, can occur secondarily to several reasons; namely, delay in treatment, delay in diagnosis, the intra-articular nature of the fracture, the precarious vascular supply of the scaphoid, and significant biomechanical stresses across the fractured scaphoid.

Bacterial growth and histamine formation in Pacific mackerel during storage at 0, 4, 15, and 25 degrees C were monitored. To identify bacterial species contributing to histamine formation, several groups of bacteria were isolated by using selective media under temperatures corresponding to the various storage conditions. Initially, low counts of bacteria were found in the gill, skin, and intestine of fresh fish, and only weak histamine formers were found in the gill. Histamine was found in the muscle when fish were stored above 4 degrees C, and aerobic plate counts reached 10(6) CFU/g. When fish became unsuitable for human consumption by abusive storage, toxicological levels of histamine were always found. The highest level of histamine formed was 283 mg/100 g in 2 days. The optimum temperature for supporting growth of prolific histamine formers was 25 degrees C. The most prolific and prevalent histamine former was Morganella morganii, followed by Proteus vulgaris, both of which were isolated on violet red bile glucose (VRBG) agar. At 15 degrees C, a significant level of histamine was still produced in fish muscle, although prolific histamine formers were less frequently detected than at 25 degrees C. The isolates on thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose (TCBS) agar were weak histamine formers and identified as Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus. At 4 degrees C, less than 57.4 mg/100 g of histamine was found in fish stored for 14 days. Most isolates were natural bacterial flora in the marine environment and identified as weak histamine formers. At 0 degrees C, neither histamine former nor histamine production was detected up to 14 days of storage.

Purpose: The initial purpose of this study was to determine the effects of intravascular adenoviral vector-mediated gene transfer of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (AdeNOS) on experimental hindlimb ischemia in the rat. Unexpectedly, administration of AdeNOS immediately after induction of acute limb ischemia led to limb gangrene. We subsequently sought to define the molecular mechanisms responsible for this unusual effect and to devise adenoviral gene transfer strategies to prevent the development of gangrene in acutely ischemic limbs., Methods: Phosphate-buffered saline or adenoviral vectors containing the bovine endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (AdeNOS) or no transgene (Ad-E1) were injected intra-arterially into the hindlimb of a rat under vascular isolation immediately after surgical induction of severe ischemia. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed on muscle sections to evaluate inflammation. A separate group of animals was injected with an adenovirus containing a nontranscribable genome, treated with cyclosporine, or received delayed administration of the adenoviral vector. Gene expression after delayed adenoviral gene transfer was assessed with immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity assay., Results: Both AdeNOS and Ad-E1 caused gangrene of the entire hindlimb within 12 days in a dose-dependent manner, at a threshold concentration of 1 x 10(9) plaque-forming unit/mL. Adenoviral delivery was associated with more inflammation and edema compared with phosphate-buffered saline histologically. Inactivation of adenoviral DNA transcription did not affect induction of gangrene. However, gangrene was prevented by concurrent immunosuppression with cyclosporine or delayed administration of the vector. Delayed administration allowed adenoviral gene expression as determined by immunohistochemistry, NOS protein levels, and an assay of NOS enzyme activity., Conclusion: Intra-arterial administration of adenoviral vectors, under vascular isolation, immediately after induction of acute ischemia causes inflammation and subsequent limb gangrene. The inflammatory response is unrelated to the expression of the recombinant transgene or the adenoviral genome and is likely due to the adenoviral capsid proteins. However, administration of cyclosporine or delayed injection of the adenoviral vector is a method that can be used for adenoviral mediated gene transfer in limb ischemia.

For evaluation of the clinical application of immunoassay for nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22 immunoassay) and urinary cytology for early diagnosis and detection of bladder cancer in patients with hematuria and/or a previous history of bladder cancer, 209 urine samples obtained from 137 patients presenting episodes of hematuria or a history of bladder cancer were assayed for NMP22 levels and/or prepared for cytology examination. Biopsy was performed when any visible tumor was identified during cystoscopy examination. The median NMP22 concentrations measured in samples taken from patients with active bladder cancer, from patients with a history of bladder cancer but no active disease, from patients with hematuria, and from healthy volunteers were 18.95, 5.45, 6.39, and 3.75 U/ml, respectively. The urinary NMP22 level recorded for patients with urothelial carcinoma was significantly higher than that noted for individuals without active disease. The sensitivity of the NMP22 assay and of urinary cytology in diagnosing bladder cancer was 69% and 67%, respectively. In contrast, the specificity of these two diagnostic modalities reached 72% and 93%, respectively. The NMP22 assay is slightly more sensitive but less specific than urinary cytology in detecting bladder cancer. This study indicates that determination of urinary NMP22 levels is a useful and noninvasive tool for the detection of bladder cancer because of its high sensitivity. The urinary NMP22 assay may be used as a first-line routine screening method; however, it cannot replace the use of urinary cytology because of its lower specificity.

The treatment of lunotriquetral interosseous (LTIO) ligament injuries is controversial. It is part of a spectrum of injuries involving the ulnar side of the wrist. Associated injuries may play a greater role in the outcome of treatment than does the LTIO injury. Arthroscopy is the most accurate diagnostic tool available for the evaluation of LTIO ligament injuries; it allows diagnosis and often treatment of associated injuries. This article describes the current approach to the diagnosis and treatment of LTIO ligament injuries and related use of arthroscopy.

We have presented a technique for reconstruction of the central band of the interosseous membrane in conjunction with surgical repair of the distal radial joint and radial head prosthesis. With this technique, we address all three anatomic structures that provide longitudinal stability of the forearm, specifically, (1) radial head replacement, (2) interosseous membrane reconstitution, and (3) TFCC repair.

The authors describe a technique of treating scaphoid nonunions with associated avascular necrosis consisting of arthroscopic resection of the distal pole of the scaphoid combined with radial styloidectomy. The results at 2-year follow-up showed all three patients to have complete relief of their mechanical pain and improvement in their range of motion as well as high satisfaction with the procedure. Modified Mayo Wrist Scores were a mean preoperatively of 60 and postoperatively of 88. Postoperative radiographs showed no increase in the scapholunate gap. However, the capitolunate angle increased from a mean of 3 degrees to 13 degrees . There was no progression of degenerative changes noted. The advantages of this technique include (1) minimal morbidity, (2) relief of mechanical pain, and (3) improved range of motion with no early degenerative changes. The rate and severity of degenerative change following this procedure remain unknown.

Primary intraventricular hemorrhage in adults is rare, comprising only about 3.1 % of all intracranial hemorrhage. One of the major management tasks is to find out whether the hemorrhage is secondary to underlying structural vascular abnormality, such as arteriovenous malformation (AVM) and aneurysm, so that appropriate treatment can be carried out to prevent rebleeding. We retrospectively analyzed 24 patients with computerized tomography findings of intraventricular hemorrhage in our hospital from 1991 to 1996. Cerebral angiography was performed in eighteen patients. Eight patients (57%) had positive angiographic findings (five were AVM and three were aneurysm). The angiographic yield was five of seven patients (72%) younger than 45 years of age and three of eleven (27%) older than 45 years of age. On the basis of our results, we suggest that cerebral angiography should be considered for all primary intraventricular hemorrhage patients who are younger than 45 years old.

Hemangioblastomas are regarded as benign neoplasms. They may recur in 3 to 10% of cases after apparently total excision. The opposite site recurrence is not found in the reported literature. A case is described in which, after successful removal of a cerebellar hemangioblastoma followed by two years of freedom from symptoms, developed a new growth of cerebellar hemangioblastoma contralaterally again. The histology of the tumor tissue is in no way different from that of a conventional hemangioblastoma. This case gives us some insights into the biological multipotentiality of cerebellar hemangioblastoma. We stress that close observation is absolutely necessary for this unique group of tumors, even after total removal.

Microvascular decompression is a well established technique in the treatment of medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia when a significant vascular contact is identified during posterior fossa exploration. However, in patients with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia after this type of surgery or if no significant vascular indentation is found during surgery, a partial sensory rhizotomy is often the preferred alternative mode of treatment. For eight such patients, partial sensory trigeminal rhizotomy was performed with the involved distribution. Two patients were cases of previous failure, while the other six cases showed a lack of vascular indentation during operation. All the patient underwent microvascular decompression in addition to partial sensory trigeminal rhizotomy with dissector disruption. Sensory examination was performed during the outpatient department follow-up. In these eight such patients, five had excellent results, two continued to have mild pain that was well controlled with carbamazepine, and one had poor results. The mean follow-up period was 58 months. Our study indicates that sensory loss is compatible with the extent of nerve section and that touch loss is less evidence than sensory loss. Partial sensory trigeminal rhizotomy is recommended as the alternative treatment strategy of choice for patients with trigeminal neuralgia who lack significant vascular contact during operation.

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate commonly metastasizes to the lymph nodes and bones, with occasional visceral deposits, however, metastasis to the brain is rare. A case of prostatic carcinoma with brain metastasis presenting as a tumor hemorrhage is reported. The pertinent literature is also reviewed.

Fourteen cases of shaken baby syndrome seen between 1993 to 1997 at the Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital were reviewed. The common clinical presentations were seizure, respiratory problem and disturbed consciousness. The signs and symptoms of this form of head trauma were nonspecific. The findings may mimic infection, intoxication, seizure disorder or metabolic abnormalities. The CT scan is the most common diagnostic tool in cases of suspected shaken baby syndrome. The common CT findings were acute subdural hematoma followed by chronic subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage. One infant died due to delay in seeking medical help. Five patients sustained significant morbidity which included developmental delay, seizure, motor deficit and visual impairment. Early recognition and prompt treatment were key to the overall success of case management. The incidence of shaken baby syndrome can be reduced through public awareness and education of the parents not to shake the baby.

Withdrawal from morphine evokes increases in Fos-like immunoreactivity in the spinal cord, particularly in the superficial dorsal horn, laminae I/II. To determine the origin of the increased Fos-like immunoreactivity, we selectively targeted central or peripheral opioid receptors with naloxone-methiodide, an antagonist that does not cross the blood-brain barrier, or induced withdrawal after eliminating possible sources of input to the superficial dorsal horn. To induce tolerance, we implanted rats with morphine or placebo pellets (75 mg, six pellets over three days). On day 4, withdrawal was precipitated and after 1 h, the rats were killed, their spinal cords removed and 50 microm transverse sections of the spinal cord immunoreacted with a rabbit polyclonal antiserum directed against the Fos protein. In placebo-pelleted rats, none of the different procedures, viz. spinal transection, unilateral dorsal rhizotomy (L4-S2), neonatal capsaicin treatment or direct intrathecal opioid antagonist injection, induced expression of the Fos protein. However, both spinally transected and rhizotomized withdrawing animals showed significant increases in Fos-like immunoreactivity in laminae I/II, compared to intact withdrawing rats. Neonatal treatment with capsaicin, which eliminates C-fibres, did not alter Fos-like-immunoreactivity. Selective withdrawal of morphine from peripheral opioid receptors by naloxone-methiodide did not induce Fos-like immunoreactivity in the lumbar spinal cord greater than that recorded in nonwithdrawing rats. However, intrathecal injection of naloxone-methiodide increased Fos-like immunoreactivity in laminae I/II and the ventral horn to a greater extent than did subcutaneous injection of naloxone. We hypothesize that the increased Fos expression after systemic withdrawal in spinally-transected rats results from a loss of descending inhibitory control that is activated during withdrawal. The increase in withdrawal-induced Fos-like immunoreactivity after rhizotomy may be secondary to loss of inhibitory controls exerted by large diameter primary afferents or to deafferentation-induced reorganization in the dorsal horn. Since capsaicin did not alter the magnitude of Fos-like immunoreactivity in withdrawing rats, we conclude that hyperactivity of opioid receptor-laden C-fibres is not a necessary contributor to the withdrawal-induced increase in Fos-like immunoreactivity in laminae I and II. Taken together with the results recorded after intrathecal injection of naloxone-methiodide in tolerant rats, we conclude that the pattern of lumbar spinal cord Fos expression following systemic withdrawal is primarily a consequence of increased activity in opioid receptor-containing circuits intrinsic to the dorsal horn and that the magnitude of Fos expression is normally dampened by supraspinal and primary afferent-derived inhibitory inputs.

Uterine rupture is a rare obstetric emergency, and the diagnosis of rupture is not always obvious. High surgical delivery rate today which tends to increase the incidence of the disaster urged us to present this report. Two cases of spontaneous rupture of uterus are described. Case 1 concerns spontaneous rupture of a previously intact uterus; case 2 is a rupture due to placenta percreta. A review relevant to its incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and anesthetic managements is given.

A mouse mutant with glutathionuria was discovered by screening for amino acidurias in the progeny of ethylnitrosourea-mutagenized mice. Total glutathione concentration was increased in both blood and urine but decreased in liver homogenates from affected mice. Glutathionuric mice exhibited lethargy, severe growth failure, shortened life spans and infertility. gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase activity was deficient in kidney homogenates of glutathionuric mice. The glutathionuric phenotype in these mice is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. This mouse mutant will be a useful animal model for the study of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase physiology and glutathione metabolism.

This is a report of two parent-child families which developed intracranial neoplasm. There is no known history of brain tumor in other family members. Two instances of familial brain tumors are reported which are different from those seen in phakomatosis. Family one had posterior fossa tumors including astrocytoma and hemangioblastoma. The second family had endocrine-associated tumors consisting of pituitary adenoma and yolk sac tumor.

Background: Diuretic therapy after transurethral prostatectomy (TURP) is primarily intended to induce diuresis against water intoxication and cystic clot retention. This study was undertaken to compare the diuretic effects of glycerol with furosemide after TURP., Methods: Thirty patients (ASA I or II) undergoing TURP were studied. Spinal anesthesia was induced with bupivacaine. At the end of prostatic resection, the patients were randomly allocated into two groups. In one group (n = 15) the patients received furosemide 30 mg i.v., while in the other group (n = 15) they received glycerol 0.5 g/kg i.v. Blood samples were collected for measurements of osmolality, hematocrit, sodium and glucose concentration before anesthesia and after surgery. Urine output was also recorded after surgery in each group., Results: Plasma osmolality in glycerol group was higher than furosemide group at 30 min (295.3 +/- 10.6 vs. 283.8 +/- 5.6 mOsm/kg, p < 0.01) and 1 h after operation (294.9 +/- 8.7 vs 286.3 +/- 6.7 mOsm/kg, p < 0.01). Blood glucose was higher in glycerol group than that in furosemide group at 2 h after operation (195.6 +/- 121.9 vs 152.9 +/- 70.1 mg/dl, p < 0.05). Measured urine output was significantly greater in furosemide group at 30 min after operation (904.6 +/- 491.5 vs. 248.4 +/- 143.4 ml, p < 0.05) but was greater in glycerol group at 12 h after operation., Conclusions: Since urine output is significantly less in glycerol group at 1 h after operation, glycerol is inferior to furosemide for preventing cystic clot retention after TURP. But glycerol may protect against water intoxication better for its merit of producing higher plasma osmolality.

Impulse activity in axons generates aftereffects on membrane excitability that can alter the conduction velocity of subsequently conducted impulses. We used a computerized stimulus pattern (a 1 Hz stimulus period followed by a period of repeated short bursts at 200 Hz) to assess in vivo activity-dependent changes in conduction latency of functionally identified rat cutaneous afferents conducting in the A beta range. Several different parameters of activity dependence were measured: burst supernormality, the average increase in conduction latency following conditioning with a single preceding impulse during high frequency burst stimulation; burst subnormality, the average latency increase during each burst; depression, a long-term increase in latency caused by the high frequency stimulation. The data show that different mechanosensitive A beta afferents with overlapping resting conduction velocities exhibit activity-dependent changes in conduction latency that are characteristic of their particular functions.

The right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA), a branch of the gastroduodenal artery, supplies the greater curvature of the stomach. It is capable of easily reaching the posterior and lateral surface of the heart as a reliable arterial conduit when appropriately harvested. In the previous reports, it has usually been anastomosed to the right coronary artery (RCA) or left circumflex coronary artery (LCX). Here, we present two cases of ischemic heart disease undergoing coronary revascularization. The RGEA was anastomosed to the left anterior decending coronary artery (LAD), which is the most important coronary artery in terms of patient outcome. Thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy has proven that the RGEA can provide sufficient blood flow to the territory of the LAD. Thus, in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the RGEA is a reliable arterial conduit for LAD revascularization.

Exposure to microgravity elevates blood pressure and flow in the head, which may increase intracranial volume (ICV) and intracranial pressure (ICP). Rhesus monkeys exposed to simulated microgravity in the form of 6 degrees head-down tilt (HDT) experience elevated ICP. With humans, twenty-four hours of 6 degrees HDT bed rest increases cerebral blood flow velocity relative to pre-HDT upright posture. Humans exposed to acute 6 degrees HDT experience increased ICP, measured with the tympanic membrane displacement (TMD) technique. Other studies suggest that increased ICP in humans and cats causes measurable cranial bone movement across the sagittal suture. Due to the slightly compliant nature of the cranium, elevation of ICP will increase ICV and transcranial distance. Currently, several non-invasive approaches to monitor ICP are being investigated. Such techniques include TMD and modal analysis of the skull. TMD may not be reliable over a large range of ICP and neither method is capable of measuring the small changes in intracranial volume that accompany changes in pressure. Ultrasound, however, may reliably measure small distance changes that accompany ICP fluctuations. The purpose of our study was to develop and evaluate an ultrasound technique to measure transcranial distance changes during HDT.

This study examines the lifetime prevalence of various psychiatric disorders among 100 Korean elderly in Los Angeles. The instrument used in this study is the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Version III (DIS III, 1-10). The main finding is of relatively low prevalence of most DSM-III disorders with the exception of alcohol abuse and dependence. The rate of alcoholism is astonishingly high among elderly Korean males in Los Angeles. The findings are compared with the U.S. Epidemiological Catchment Area studies, and with other much larger community studies conducted in Korea. A comparison shows that there are no significant differences in the prevalence of mental disorders between elderly Koreans in Los Angeles and elderly Americans in St. Louis (N = 576) except for the prevalence of alcohol abuse and dependence. The lifetime prevalence of DSM-III disorders among Koreans in Korea (N = 5100) is generally higher than among elderly Koreans in Los Angeles.

A Vibrio vulnificus hemolysin (VVH) was purified by two steps of hydrophobic column chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose HP. The first chromatography was carried out at pH 6.0. In this pH condition, VVH efficiently bound to the column, but the hemolysin fraction eluted was accompanied with colored substance(s). To eliminate this colored substance, the second chromatography was carried out at pH 9.8 in the presence of 1% 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), a zwitterionic detergent. Homogeneity of the hemolysin thus obtained was shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The specific activity increased 33,600 times and the yield was 35%. The method is simple and useful to supply enough VVH for study of the role of the hemolysin in the infection by V. vulnificus or on the mechanism of action of the hemolysin.

The reliabilities of five in vitro susceptibility tests (agar dilution, broth microdilution, automated MS-2, Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion, and ability to grow on methicillin-containing agar) to predict the susceptibility of 204 coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates to penicillinase-resistant semisynthetic penicillins were compared. There was wide variation in susceptibility, with results ranging from 86.3% susceptible by MS-2 to 38.2% by growth on methicillin-containing agar. The results of the broth dilution techniques, including the MS-2, were significantly different (P less than 0.02) from the remaining tests. Nafcillin disks were less effective (P less than 0.02) than oxacillin disks in predicting resistance. Kirby-Bauer oxacillin disks and the ability to grow on methicillin-containing agar were the most reliable predictors of resistance. The MS-2 did not reliably predict resistance.

The response of tolerant Streptococcus sanguis and nontolerant Streptococcus mitis infections to penicillin therapy was compared in the rabbit model of endocarditis. The minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of penicillin were 0.1 and 0.1 mug/ml, respectively, for S. mitis and 0.05 and 6.2 mug/ml, respectively, for S. sanguis. Time-kill studies done in vitro with penicillin concentrations of 2 and 20 mug/ml demonstrated minimal killing of the tolerant strain, with a 3 log difference in survival between the two strains after 24 and 48 h. Both strains produced endocarditis with comparable bacterial densities on the valvular vegetations. Rabbits were treated with procaine penicillin G in two dosage regimens, 80,000 or 5,000 U/kg given every 8 h. There was no difference between bacterial densities in valvular vegetations removed from rabbits infected with either strain after 2, 4, or 6 days of treatment with the high-dose regimen (serum penicillin concentration at 0.5 h, 9.4 mug/ml), despite the fact that serum bactericidal activity against the tolerant strain at 0.5 h was minimal. With the low-dose penicillin regimen (serum concentration at 0.5 h, 2.5 mug/ml), therapy was significantly less effective in the tolerant group only after 6 days of treatment. Similar results were obtained when penicillin was administered in low and high doses to prevent infection. In this animal model of infection, penicillin tolerance was associated with a diminished response to penicillin therapy only when the dose was severely restricted. In the high-dose regimen, there was no difference in the response to penicillin therapy between animals infected with either strain, despite the presence of only minimal serum bactericidal activity in the rabbits infected with the tolerant strain.

The effect of penicillin treatment of Streptococcus sanguis in vitro, on subsequent bacterial density in the bloodstream and on cardiac valves in the rabbit model of endocarditis was studied. As experimental tools for this study, isogenic pairs of S. sanguis differing in resistance to streptomycin or rifampin were prepared by genetic transformation. Rabbits with traumatized heart valves received an intravenous inoculation of penicillin treated (1 mug/ml) and untreated S. sanguis, each marked by resistance to either streptomycin or rifampin. The number of penicillin-treated and untreated bacteria attached to the valvular surfaces was determined by differential counting on streptomycin or rifampin containing media. Penicillin pretreatment reduced cardiac valve colonization 5 min after inoculation ("adherence ratio" x 10(8) was 4.11 for the control and 3.66 for the penicillin-treated bacteria, P < 0.001). The results were not due to differences in serum killing or bacterial densities in the bloodstream. There was no difference in valvular bacterial densities 24 h after bacterial inoculation (adherence ratio x 10(8), 7.26 untreated vs. 6.34 penicillin-pretreated, P > 0.10). In vitro experiments were performed using platelet-fibrin surfaces to test the possibility that penicillin-induced loss of lipoteichoic acid was responsible for decreased streptococcal adherence. Pretreatment of S. sanguis cultures with inhibitory concentrations of penicillin or with antiserum against lipoteichoic acid and precoating of the platelet-fibrin surfaces with lipoteichoic acid, all caused reduction in bacterial adherence. The findings are interpreted as support for the role of lipoteichoic acid as an adhesin in S. sanguis interactions with particular host tissue surfaces.

In response to the AIDS crisis and the critical need for competent and trained health care providers for the growing number of persons with AIDS, the McKinney Scholarship Fund has been recently established with the Stewart B. McKinney Foundation, and will be announced in December. As the first fund of its kind in the country, the McKinney Scholarship Fund will provide funding and financial assistance to qualified individuals who have demonstrated the ability and desire to go to school to work in the medical field with persons with AIDS, but who cannot afford to do so. At the present time, it is sponsored and endorsed by the Connecticut State Medical Society, the Hartford County Medical Association, the Connecticut Nurses' Association, the Hartford County Bar Association, and the Insurance Association of Connecticut.

The activity of combinations of vancomycin (2 or 10 micrograms/ml), gentamicin (0.3 micrograms/ml), and rifampin (0.03 micrograms/ml) against methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates was determined by the time-kill method. Combinations of rifampin with gentamicin or with vancomycin 2 micrograms/ml demonstrated enhanced killing against 13 of 17 and 13 of 25 strains, respectively. However, rifampin-resistant strains were selected with the latter combination in the remaining 12 of 25 studies.