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Reticulo-endothelial function was evaluated by measuring the biokinetics of a standardized 99mTc-sulphur colloid using scintillation camera technique in rats with biliary obstruction. There was no difference in the uptake of the colloid in the liver (K1) between sham operation and biliary obstruction at 1 week and 3 weeks. However, when corrected for changes in liver volume, the corrected colloidal uptake rate (cK1) of the liver was significantly decreased in 1 week's biliary obstruction (P<0.005 compared with sham operation) and 3 weeks' biliary obstruction (P<0.025 compared with 1 week obstruction). Colloidal uptake rate of the extrahepatic reticulo-endothelial system (K2) was significantly increased (P<0.005) in rats with 3 weeks' biliary obstruction. Activity distribution of 99mTc-sulphur colloid in 3 weeks' biliary obstruction was significantly decreased in both total organ basis and per gram basis (P<0.005). The results demonstrated a depression of RE activity of the liver in biliary obstruction.

The bone-imaging agents MDP, DPD and HDP were compared radiochemically (only minor differences were found) in 12 patients with prostatic and 12 patients with breast carcinoma. Each patient received both MDP and either DPD or HDP. The scintigraphic examinations were compared visually and quantitatively. The uptake ratio normal bone/soft tissue was higher for DPD and HDP than for MDP. The ratio pathologic bone/normal bone was highest for MDP, particularly for prostatic carcinoma. The differences in this ratio for breast carcinoma were in general non-significant. The observed differences were minor and of little practical importance.

Studies of the activity uptake of radiolabeled 99mTC2S7 colloid in different tissues showed a moderately increased uptake in the lung 1 week and a greatly increased uptake 3 weeks after permanent bile duct occlusion. Three weeks after bile duct occlusion the activity uptake was also slightly increased in the spleen and moderately reduced in the liver. In pulmonary tissue of cholestatic rats, the levels of alkaline and acid phosphatase, β-glucuronidase, and β-hexosaminidase were determined after 6 weeks. The pulmonary contents of β-glucuronidase was increased tenfold, and that of β-hexosaminidase was increased fourfold in cholestasis. Histochemical investigation showed that the lysosomal enzymes were located in the macrophages, which in cholestasis were abundant in alveolar walls and inside alveoli. Macrophages were also frequently seen to engorge pulmonary veins.

Some investigators believe that active management of labor with early amniotomy and oxytocin augmentation reduces the caesarean section rate, but this view has not been supported in several meta-analyses. Observational data have shown an association between use of oxytocin treatment in labors lasting less than 12 hours and adverse neonatal outcomes. This prospective randomized trial compared the effect of early and delayed intervention with oxytocin on obstetrical and neonatal outcomes in nulliparous women with spontaneous but prolonged labor at 3 Swedish delivery wards. The study subjects were healthy nulliparous women with normal pregnancies, a singleton fetus, spontaneous onset of active labor with regular contractions, an effaced cervix dilated between 4 and 9 cm, no progress in cervical dilatation for 2 hours and no further progress 1 hour after amniotomy. A total of 630 study women were randomized to either an early oxytocin group (infused within 20 minutes, n 314) or to an expectant group (postponement of oxytocin infusion for 3 hours, n 316). The primary study outcome was mode of delivery (spontaneous vaginal, instrumental vaginal, or caesarean). Primary analysis was according to intention to treat.

This review summarizes recent first-principles investigations of the electronic structure and magnetism of dilute magnetic semiconductors (DMSs), which are interesting for applications in spintronics. Details of the electronic structure of transition-metal-doped III-V and II-VI semiconductors are described, especially how the electronic structure couples to the magnetic properties of an impurity. In addition, the underlying mechanism of the ferromagnetism in DMSs is investigated from the electronic structure point of view in order to establish a unified picture that explains the chemical trend of the magnetism in DMSs. Recent efforts to fabricate high-TC DMSs require accurate materials design and reliable TC predictions for the DMSs. In this connection, a hybrid method (ab initio calculations of effective exchange interactions coupled to Monte Carlo simulations for the thermal properties) is discussed as a practical method for calculating the Curie temperature of DMSs. The calculated ordering temperatures for various DMS systems are discussed, and the usefulness of the method is demonstrated. Moreover, in order to include all the complexity in the fabrication process of DMSs into advanced materials design, spinodal decomposition in DMSs is simulated and we try to assess the effect of inhomogeneity in them. Finally, recent works on first-principles theory of transport properties of DMSs are reviewed. The discussion is mainly based on electronic structure theory within the local-density approximation to density-functional theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]