Rutile to anatase phase transition induced by N doping in highly oriented TiO2 films.

Highly oriented TiO2 thin films were deposited onto Al2O3(0001), SrTiO3(001), and LaAlO3(001) substrates by spin coating a titanium alkoxide precursor solution followed by annealing. The films were nitrogen doped by two different routes: either by adding tetramethyethylenediamine (TMEDA) to the precursor solution or alternatively by high temperature ammonolysis. Undoped TiO2 films were highly oriented and the phase was dependent on the substrate.

Local anaesthetic on Filshie clips for pain relief after tubal sterilisation: a randomised double-blind controlled trial.

Pain during tubal sterilisation is thought to be due to either ischaemia or pressure at the site of impact of sterilising devices on the fallopian tubes. We have evaluated the effectiveness of an application of 2% lignocaine gel to Filshie clips to relieve postoperative pain. In a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study, 80 healthy women undergoing tubal sterilisation under general anaesthesia at the County Hospital, Lincoln, UK, were allocated to be sterilised by Flishie clips covered with 2% lignocaine gel or K-Y gel as placebo.

The effect of pelvic floor exercises in the treatment of genuine urinary stress incontinence in women at two hospitals.

The results of the pelvic floor exercises for the treatment of genuine stress incontinence of urine were compared between two different hospitals geographically 50 miles apart. A perineal pad weighing test was used to assess the quantity of urine lost during exercise before and after treatment. A similar percentage of patients in the two studies responded to treatment and became either completely dry or significantly improved at the end of 3 months interval; 69% at LCH and 65% at LGH.

The symptomatology of the climacteric in relation to hormonal and cytological factors.

Climacteric symptomatology was investigated in a group of non-selected women aged between 54 and 56 years of age, Vasomotor complaints and dyspareunia, in particular, were noted and related to plasma hormone levels and vaginal cytology. Only 33% of those women who were within 5 years of the menopause had symptoms of a magnitude that might require hormone replacement therapy. Neither the vasomotor complaints nor dyspareunia correlated with the hormone levels or cytology findings to such an extent as to be helpful in planning treatment.