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By the time I began working on my MLIS degree, circa 2010, Meredith Farkas's In Practice columns in American Libraries were already required reading for some of my courses. Moreover, [...]

The effects of the acetate content of hemodialysis fluids on the relation between L-carnitine (free carnitine, or FC) and acetyl-L-carnitine (AC) have not previously been examined in detail. The net fluxes of FC, AC, and acetate between intra-and extracellular pools during hemodialysis were calculated using a kinetic model with dialysates containing three concentrations of FC (0, 40, and 80 [micro]mol/L) and either 40 or 3 mmol acetate/L. Radioenzymatic assays of FC and AC were optimized for use with samples taken during hemodialysis. Acetate stimulated a tissue uptake of FC (P < 0.05) that could exceed the rate of FC delivery and was related to the dialysate FC composition (P < 0.02). There were associated changes in tissue AC output. With dialysate containing 40 mmol acetate/L, AC tissue output was directly related to the dialysate FC composition (P < 0.(2S). The AC tissue output was less with dialysate containing 3 mmol acetate/L (P < 0.05) but the significant increase with the provision of FC in the dialysate was retained (P < 0.05). Hemodialysis may therefore represent an acute period of relative carnitine deficiency when regeneration of free coenzyme A from acetyl coenzyme A consequent to metabolism of acetate is limited.

Annular pancreas is a condition in which pancreatic tissue forms a partial or complete ring encircling the descending duodenum. The condition may manifest itself in infancy, childhood, or adult life. It is an unusual cause of duodenal obstruction in the neonatal period. A recent patient with annular pancreas presenting as duodenal obstruction in a newborn infant has prompted this review of neonatal operative cases.Tiedemann1 is frequently given credit for the first description of annular pancreas. However, Ravitch and Woods,2 after reviewing Tiedemann's original article, have credited Ecker with the first description of the anomaly in humans. PATHOLOGY-EMBRYOLOGY3-4 The pancreas develops as dorsal and ventral out-pouchings from the entodermal lining of the foregut at the 3-4 mm stage. The dorsal anlage, growing more rapidly than the ventral bud, forms the body, tail, and part of the head of the pancreas. The ventral anlage is carried away from

The Dock industry has reached the advent of decasualisation and is at a critical point in its history. It is therefore appropriate to undertake a review now of the Safety and Health record under the past Casual system of employment. In spite of increasing mechanisation the biomechanical demands of dock work are still heavy and the insults resulting from load handling are reflected in the high morbidity statistics of the “wear and tear” conditions. The spinal apparatus is particularly vulnerable to both the long-term and immediate effects. Comparison of the 1966 “three day” industrial injuries in the shipbuilding and dock industries shows that workers in the latter experienced an injury incidence double that of the former. In dockworkers the trunk, spine, and hand were the most affected anatomical sites and only the eye was more vulnerable in shipbuilding personnel. Analysis of the three day injuries in registered dockworkers shows that handling was the most common operational hazard but that direct trauma was responsible for much of the injury. The relationship between trauma arising extrinsically and intrinsically is of particular significance in the aetiology and prevention of back injuries. The elimination of the effects of biomechanical hazards in dock work with their very high injury morbidity depends upon much greater safety discipline than has been exercised in the past. The teaching of safehandling methods is considered with reference to the acquisition of new lifting posture.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to the articles "Like Father, Like Candidate" and "The Ex-Con Next Door" in the December 17, 2007 issue.