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In this study, the kinetics of Zn–Fe codeposition was investigated in chloride acidic solution using cyclic voltammetry. Anomalous codeposition is detected and this mechanism depends on the Zn(II)/Fe(II) concentration ratio in the electrolytic bath. Influence of deposition parameters on the morphology and structure of the coatings is discussed using characterization techniques and using the anodic linear sweep voltametry (ALSV). The ratio between Zn(II)/Fe(II) considerably influences the structure of the alloys. Dense, uniform, and single-phased Zn–Fe coatings could be obtained.

Infants with Pierre Robin syndrome are known to be difficult to intubate. We evaluated the paraglossal approach combined with a gum elastic bougie for intubation of these infants. Whilst under general anaesthesia, a conventional laryngoscopy was performed; if it failed to obtain a laryngoscopic grade I or II view, intubation was attempted using a paraglossal approach and a gum elastic bougie. Six consecutive infants were studied. Conventional laryngoscopy failed in all infants whilst the paraglossal approach combined with a gum elastic bougie was successful in five of the cases. The paraglossal approach combined with a gum elastic bougie made intubation easy in most children with severe Pierre Robin syndrome and difficult laryngoscopy. Therefore we recommend this as the first line for airway management in such children. However, a fibreoptic bronchoscope and an anaesthetist trained in fibreoptic intubation must still be present when dealing with severe Pierre Robin syndrome infants.

There have been several reports on the possible value of measurements of circulating immune complexes for the diagnosis of human breast cancer. To begin to evaluate this possibility and the comparability of results among laboratories, a cooperative study was organized under the auspices of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the United States. Investigators from four laboratories performing assays for immune complexes were sent coded aliquots of serum specimens from the NCI-Mayo Clinic Serum Bank. The serum panel consisted of specimens from 30 patients with breast cancer (including 20 from untreated patients with resectable tumors), 30 preoperative patients with benign breast disease, and 30 normal women. Although some significant differences in levels of immune complexes between cancer patients and controls were seen, none of the assays had sufficient discriminatory capacity to support optimism about the diagnostic value of this approach. To relate the results with immune complexes to those with a widely used cancer marker, the same sera were also tested for levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The CEA assay provided significant discrimination between cancer patients and normal donors but did not significantly discriminate between malignant and benign breast diseases.