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There is still disagreement on whether peritoneal dialysis (PD) should begin with a full dose (Full_Dial) or with incremental doses (Incr_Dial) to compensate for the amount of Kt/V no longer supplied by the residual renal function (RRF). The aim of this study is to assess the effects of an Incr_Dial protocol on the choice of dialysis modality, RRF, and adequacy. The Incr_Dial protocol in our center is as follows: for patients with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR)5 ml min(-1), PD is initiated with two exchanges per day (continuous ambulatory PD (CAPD)) or four sessions per week (ambulatory PD (APD)); and hemodialysis (HD) is initiated with two sessions per week. The PD dose is then increased in proportion to the reduction in the GFR as follows: GFRor =5 and3 ml min(-1)=3 CAPD exchanges or five APD sessions; GFR3 ml min(-1)=full dialysis dose (Full_Dial). The effects of the Incr_Dial protocol on the choice of dialysis modality were assessed on 87 patients (pts) (age: 69.3+/-13.1 years) who initiated dialysis between 1 January 2004 and 31 May 2007. The effects of Incr_Dial on RRF and dialytic adequacy were assessed in 11 pts treated with two CAPD exchanges per day for a total of 106 months (mean+/-s.d. 9.7+/-6.5), and then treated with three CAPD exchanges per day for an additional 105 months (9.4+/-8.3). The use of Incr_Dial determined the choice of PD in 27 of 44 pts (61.4%) without indications or contraindications to HD or PD. CAPD was chosen by 20 of these pts (74.1%), whereas APD was preferred by 6 of the 8 pts switched from Incr_Dial to Full_Dial. During Incr_Dial, a significant reduction in the loss of GFR of 2.4+/-3.1 ml min(-1) year(-1) was observed when compared to the pre-dialysis period. Incr_Dial allowed for adequate clearance, as confirmed by the Kt/V (2.07+/-0.2), protein nitrogen appearance (1.17+/-0.13), and biochemical parameters. Ultrafiltration (UF) with icodextrin (772+/-166 ml per exchange) provided a daily UF of 517+/-296 ml day(-1) and remained unchanged when the duration of the dwell time increased significantly from 12.3+/-1.4 to 17.5+/-2.6 h.

We examined changes in mood and personality characteristics in a sample of cocaine-dependent women being treated in a therapeutic community (TC). Forty-six women completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-II (MCMI-II) on admission and 12 months after discharge from the TC. On admission, the group was characterized by clinically significant scores on the BDI, HAM-A, and the MCMI-II Avoidant, Dependent, Antisocial, Passive-aggressive, Self-defeating, and Borderline scales. On follow-up, significant improvement in functioning was suggested by decreases in scale scores on the BDI, HAM-A, and MCMI-II Avoidant, Dependent, Self-Defeating, and Borderline Scales, but not for the MCMI-II Antisocial and Passive-Aggressive scales. These results suggest substantial positive effects of TC treatment on personality characteristics and functioning, but also indicate that TC treatment may not habilitate all critical personality deficits.

Two examples are considered in this work in order to show possible settings for decision making in the strategic field of energy: transport vehicles and wastewater treatment plant that are powered by a fuel cell. The environmental impact, measured by evaluating hydrogen life cycle as fuel, varies depending on the source of hydrogen, the process, and the complexity of the productive chain. Nowadays, starting from this point of view, it is possible to get a lot more benefits when hydrogen is directly produced in situ from renewable sources of energy and it is used to make a fuel cell work, as an alternative to an external electric energy source. Future work must be focalized to decrease technological development gap between fuel cells and clean hydrogen extraction, before use of fuel cell would be massive.

WS10.5 Social support, self-esteem and treatment barriers in adolescents with CF: the LINFA study L. Neri1, V. Lucidi2, P. Catastini3, C. Colombo4, LINFA Study Group. 1University of Milan, Clinical Science and Community Health, Milan, Italy; 2Bambino Gesu Children’s Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis Unit − Department of Pediatric Medicine, Rome, Italy; 3Ospedale Pediatrico Meyer, Fibrosi Cistica Toscana Centro Regionale Toscano di Riferimento per la Fibrosi Cistica, Firenze, Italy; 4University of Milan, Clinica Pediatrica De Marchi, Milan, Italy

Intact washed human platelets were studied for ecto-ATPase activity; labelled and unlabelled substrate was used. Strong activity was found with ATP and ITP; weaker activity occurred with ADP, UTP, and GTP. The K m of the ATP-splitting reaction was 1.6–2.0 × 10 −5 m . The enzyme was found to be Ca ++ - and Mg ++ -dependent, was blocked by EDTA, and had maximal activity in a pH range of 7.0–8.5. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by ADP. KCN, 1 × 10 −2 m , 5 × 10 −4 m ouabain, and 3 × 10 −2 m arginine methyl ester had no effect. The ecto-ATPase has many features in common with thrombosthenin, the contractile protein of platelets. The K m of purified thrombosthenin was 2.4 × 10 −5 m . Subcellular fractionation of platelets yielded a membrane fraction whose K m in the presence of ouabain was 1.8 × 10 −6 m . Antisera to thrombosthenin inhibited the platelet ecto-ATPase. The possible relationship of this enzyme to the mechanism of ADP-induced platelet aggregation is discussed.

1.1. The literature on dermatitis due to celery has been reviewed. 2.2. Seventy-seven cases of dermatitis in celery workers have been observed. 3.3. The results of skin tests made by the scratch, intradermal, and patch methods, using various preparations from the celery plant, have been described. 4.4. The dermatitis is of the contact type and appears to be due to the oil in the celery plant. Dextro-limonene may be a factor in this oil. 5.5. The methods of treatment are discussed. In a pilot experiment two highly sensitive workers have been protected by injections of the celery oil.