Reversal of female sterilisation experience in a district general hospital.

Forty-five women who had microsurgical reversal of tubal sterilisation in New Cross Hospital Wolverhampton, between January 1986 and December 1992, were analysed to determine the success rate and the influencing factors. These women were followed-up until September 1994. More than 80% of the women were sterilised before the age of 30, and more than 80% sought reversal because of change of relationship.

Tactile resolution: peripheral neural mechanisms underlying the human capacity to determine positions of objects contacting the fingerpad.

We measured the ability of humans to discriminate the positions of spherical objects passively contacting the fingerpad. The discrimination threshold averaged 0.55 mm for a moderately curved sphere (radius 5.

Delivery of the ribosome-inactivating protein, gelonin, to lymphoma cells via CD22 and CD38 using bispecific antibodies.

It is well established that bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) can be used effectively in targeting the ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP), saporin, against neoplastic B cells. We have now extended this delivery system for use with gelonin. By measuring antigen-binding characteristics and epitope mapping a panel of anti-gelonin MAbs using the IAsys resonant mirror bisensor, we were able to rapidly select the most suitable for making BaAbs.

Representation of curved surfaces in responses of mechanoreceptive afferent fibers innervating the monkey's fingerpad.

The aim was to elucidate how the population of digital nerve afferents signals information about the shape of objects in contact with the fingerpads during fine manipulations. Responses were recorded from single mechanoreceptive afferent fibers in median nerves of anesthetized monkeys. Seven spherical surfaces were used, varying from a highly curved surface (radius, 1.

Sedation of horses with romifidine and butorphanol.

Combinations of romifidine and butorphanol were used to sedate 55 horses for a variety of surgical, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Eighteen of the horses were given the drugs separately, romifidine first followed by butorphanol four minutes later, and 37 were given the drugs together. The levels of sedation and ataxia were assessed and graded, and there were no statistically significant differences between the two methods of administration.

Detomidine-butorphanol sedation in equine clinical practice.

Combinations of detomidine (mean dose rate 13 micrograms/kg) and butorphanol (mean dose rate 26 micrograms/kg) were used to sedate 61 horses for a variety of surgical or diagnostic procedures in general equine practice. Three horses were sedated on more than one occasion. The degree of sedation was graded from 3 to 0 (deep sedation to no effect) and any side effects were recorded.

The study of thermal and gross morphologic properties of polyglycolic acid upon annealing and degradation treatments.

The objective of this study is to alter the fiber morphology of a linear aliphatic polyester, polyglycolic acid, by annealing treatment and to examine the changes of its degradation properties. The annealing was done at 150 degrees C, 170 degrees C, and 190 degrees C, and the specimens were annealed in four different strained conditions, freely hung, 0, 1, and 10%. After annealing treatments, the specimens were subject to in vitro hydrolytic degradation by immersing them in phosphate-buffer solution of pH 7.

The effect of annealing treatments on the tensile properties and hydrolytic degradative properties of polyglycolic acid sutures.

The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of annealing treatments on the mechanical properties of polyglycolic acid sutures, and their subsequent influence on PGA degradation properties. An attempt was made to develop a better understanding of the degradation mechanism of synthetic absorbable sutures, including the relationship of their structure, morphology, and mechanical properties. PGA sutures were annealed under selected axial strain (freely hung, 0%, 1%, 10%), at four temperatures (150 degrees C, 170 degrees C, 180 degrees C, 190 degrees C), and two times (5 and 20 min).

Cefuroxime pharmacokinetics in continuous and intermittent peritoneal dialysis.

Pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime was studied in patients on continuous ambulatory or intermittent peritoneal dialysis. A single intravenous bolus (15 mg/kg) of cefuroxime provided a mean serum concentration of 86 mg/litre 5 min, 40 mg/litre 1 h, 163 mg/litre 24 h after the injection. The peritoneal clearance of cefuroxime varied widely among different individuals, ranging from 1.

Excretion of cefuroxime in biliary disease.

Cefuroxime is a broad spectrum B-lactamase stable cephalosporin antibiotic. An intravenous injection of cefuroxime sodium 1.5 grams was administered to 45 patients after induction of anesthesia for cholecystectomy.

Maternal and cord plasma concentrations of beta-lipotrophin, beta-endorphin and gamma-lipotrophin at delivery; effect of analgesia.

Maternal venous plasma concentrations of beta-LPH, beta-EP and gamma-LPH were compared in (i) patients undergoing vaginal delivery, 11 with an epidural block and 13 with pethidine and nitrous oxide or no analgesics; (ii) patients delivered by caesarean section, 7 under epidural block and 8 under general anaesthesia. Patients delivered by either method under epidural block had significantly lower levels of all three peptides than those receiving no epidural. There were significant negative correlations between umbilical vein beta-LPH, beta-EP and gamma-LPH concentrations and umbilical artery pH and positive correlations between beta-LPH and beta-EP but not gamma-LPH and cord PCO2 in 29 patients.

Maternal plasma concentrations of beta-lipotrophin, beta-endorphin and gamma-lipotrophin throughout pregnancy.

Plasma beta-LPH, beta-EP and gamma-LPH concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in 10 pregnant women from 12 weeks gestation until term and in nine women in the early follicular phase of the cycle. There was a progressive and significant rise in the concentration of all three peptides throughout pregnancy and by 32 weeks the concentrations of beta-LPH and beta-EP were greater than the corresponding concentrations in the follicular phase: gamma-LPH was greater than in the follicular phase by the end of pregnancy in those women who were delivered after 40 weeks. The ratio of beta-LPH to gamma-LPH did not change significantly throughout pregnancy, but there was a progressive fall in the beta-LPH/beta-EP ratio.

Cefuroxime: potential use in pregnant women at term.

The placental transfer of cefuroxime was studied in 20 women after one or more 1.5 g intravenous injections. Ten women had labour induced at term and ten were delivered by elective Caesarean section.

The efficacy of twice daily cephalexin.

A multi-centre study in general practice was carried out to compare the efficacy of two doses of cephalexin-500 mg or 1 g - given in a twice daily dosage regimen to 752 patients with respiratory or soft tissue infections. After 5-days' treatment, over 80% of the patients were cured or considerably improved, with no differences between the two treatment groups. Considering the lower respiratory and soft tissue infections together, 1 g cephalexin twice daily produced a better clinical response after 48-hours' treatment, suggesting a more rapid response with the higher dosage, but this trend did not reach statistical significance.

Cephalexin therapy for infections in the elderly and other vulnerable patients.

A multicentre study was carried out in general practice to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerance of cephalexin in the treatment of infections in 194 patients with an underlying chronic disease or other complications, and in patients over the age of 65 years. For comparison, a group of 145 patients with no such complicating conditions was included in the study. Altogether, 339 patients were treated with doses of 1 g or 2 g cephalexin daily depending on the type and severity of infection.

Failure of lactoperoxidase to iodinate specifically the plasma membrane of cucurbita tissue segments.

An attempt has been made to use lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination of excised Cucurbita hypocotyl hooks to monitor the distribution of plasma membrane fragments relative to that of phytochrome in particulate fractions from this tissue. Upon fractionation, the iodinated tissue yields a 20,000g pellet which contains 58% of the trichloroacetic acid-precipitable (125)I at a specific radioactivity 12 times that of the proteins in the supernatant. On sucrose gradients, the labeled fraction has a mean isopycnic density of 1.

City transport of the future - the high speed pedestrian conveyor. Part 2: ergonomic considerations of complete conveyor systems.

This is the second part of an article on an unusual form of passenger transport, the moving pavement or pedestrian conveyor running at speeds up to 16 km/h. Part 1, "Ergonomic considerations of acceleration, deceleration and transfer sections," was published in the December, 1974, issue.

City transport of the future - the high speed pedestrian conveyor. Part 1: ergonomic considerations of accelerators, decelerators and transfer sections.

In this article, an uncommon form of passenger transport is considered, the moving pavement or pedestrian conveyor running at speeds of up to 16 km/h. There are very little relevant ergonomic data for such devices and some specific laboratory experiments have been carried out using 1000 subjects to represent the general public. It is concluded that whilst high speed pedestrian conveyors are quite feasible, stations along them are likely to be large.