Relevance of biofilms in pediatric tonsillar disease.

In this investigation, we study the relation between chronic inflammation of the tonsils, clinical features, and the presence of biofilms in the crypts in patients presenting with obstructive hypertrophy and recurrent upper airway pathology. Thirty-six patients who needed to undergo a tonsillectomy for obstructive reasons (aged 1 to 6 years), among which none of them had taken any antibiotics 30 days prior to surgery, were included. Samples were examined with hematoxylin-eosin and Gram staining, fluorescent microscopy, and confocal laser microscopy.

A comparison of planar, laser-induced fluorescence, and high-sensitivity interferometry techniques for gas-puff nozzle density measurements.

The distribution of argon gas injected by a 12-cm-diameter triple-shell nozzle was characterized using both planar, laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and high-sensitivity interferometry. PLIF is used to measure the density distribution at a given time by detecting fluorescence from an acetone tracer added to the gas. Interferometry involves making time-dependent, line-integrated gas density measurements at a series of chordal locations that are then Abel inverted to obtain the gas density distribution.

Time-resolved voltage measurements of Z-pinch radiation sources with a vacuum voltmeter.

A vacuum-voltmeter (VVM) was fielded on the Saturn pulsed power generator during a series of argon gas-puff Z-pinch shots. Time-resolved voltage and separately measured load current are used to determine several dynamic properties as the load implodes, namely, the inductance, L(t), net energy coupled to the load, E(coupled)(t), and the load radius, r(t). The VVM is a two-stage voltage divider, designed to operate at voltages up to 2 MV.

Promoting weight loss and blood pressure control at work: impact of an education and intervention program.

Objective: To assess the impact of tailored intervention on body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) among hypertensive employees participating in an employer-based BP screening program.

Methods: The quasi-experimental design involved screening subjects (n = 15,583) within the Merrill Lynch organization. A control group had BP and weight measurements plus education whereas experimental sites additionally received a pedometer, to measure physical activity, body fat measurement, and education encouraging physical activity.

Electric fields in plasmas under pulsed currents.

Electric fields in a plasma that conducts a high-current pulse are measured as a function of time and space. The experiment is performed using a coaxial configuration, in which a current rising to 160 kA in 100 ns is conducted through a plasma that prefills the region between two coaxial electrodes. The electric field is determined using laser spectroscopy and line-shape analysis.

Acute otitis media: bacteriology and bacterial resistance in 205 pediatric patients.

Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most frequent diagnoses in children below the age of 2 years. Treatment is usually based on information included in the literature concerning bacteriology. The purpose of this work was to define the most frequent germs in the etiology of AOM within our community, in order to optimize therapeutics for this pathology.

Preparation of 7-oxaaporphine derivatives and evaluation of their dopaminergic activity.

A series of 7-oxaaporphine derivatives was prepared. The compounds were evaluated as dopaminergic agents. None of them showed either affinity for dopamine receptors or activity in vivo in the climbing behavior (mice) and turning behavior (6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned rats) tests.