Hypokalaemia after suxamethonium administration.

The effect of suxamethonium on serum potassium levels was studied in 20 black patients undergoing emergency surgery. All patients were resuscitated pre-operatively to achieve a normal pH (range 7.35-7.

Control of human B-lymphocyte replication. I. Characterization of novel activation states that precede the entry of G0 B cells into cycle.

Tonsillar B lymphocytes of a particularly high buoyant density were prepared essentially free of contaminating monocytes and T cells. When exposed to anti-immunoglobulin, such cells initiated the hydrolysis of inositol phospholipids. This provides a postulated 'dual signal' for growth through the liberation of intracellular calcium stores and the activation of protein kinase C.

Determinants of the first inspiratory volume and functional residual capacity at birth.

We have investigated the pattern of pressure and volume changes that occur in vaginally delivered, full-term infants during the onset of spontaneous respiration. Within a few seconds of delivery of the head, simultaneous measurements were made of stomach and esophageal pressure changes together with volume changes determined at the mouth. Values obtained for volume were very similar, but pressure changes were of a greater magnitude than previously reported.

Archaeopteryx is not a forgery.

Archaeopteryx lithographica might be regarded as the most important zoological species known, fossil or recent. Its importance lies not in that its transitional nature is unique-there are many such transitional forms at all taxonomic levels-but in the fact that it is an obvious and comprehensible example of organic evolution. There have been recent allegations that the feather impressions on Archaeopteryx are a forgery.

Efficiency of manual resuscitators at birth.

The effectiveness of five neonatal/paediatric manual resuscitators was assessed in a group of babies born by caesarean section. Results showed that devices incorporating a large volume reservoir produced the greatest tidal volume, while those with smaller volume reservoirs could not be considered satisfactory for routine use during neonatal resuscitation.

Ventilatory response to increased dead spaces in the first week of life.

We have developed a method for quantitatively assessing respiratory control in a group of 10 full-term healthy babies, mean age at test 5 days, by measuring their ventilatory response to added external dead spaces. The dead spaces were equal to 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 anatomic dead spaces (2.

Oral corticosteroids for wheezing attacks under 18 months.

In a double blind, partial crossover trial we compared treatment with prednisolone with treatment with placebo (56 treatments) in 38 children aged less than 18 months (mean age 9.8 months, range 3-17 months), 30 of whom had required previous admission to hospital. Placebo or oral prednisolone 2 mg/kg/day in two divided doses for five days was given during acute exacerbations of symptoms on an outpatient basis.

Continuing respiratory problems three and a half years after acute viral bronchiolitis.

We reviewed the clinical progress of 81 children as part of a prospective study three and a half years after admission to hospital with acute viral bronchiolitis in infancy. Fifty six (69%) reported episodes of lower respiratory symptoms continuing over the preceding year, 25 (31%) had symptoms lasting for longer than two weeks on two or more occasions, 14 (17%) had symptoms for more than 100 days, and six (7%) required readmission to hospital with acute respiratory illness. Two years previously, these percentages had been 82%, 36%, 33%, and 13% respectively.

Manipulation of ventilator settings to prevent active expiration against positive pressure inflation.

Recent publications have suggested that in infants receiving artificial ventilatory support a particular pattern of interaction between spontaneous breaths and ventilator inflations (active expiration against each ventilator inflation) may be important in the production of pneumothoraces. We have looked at patterns of interaction from 47 preterm infants studied on 51 occasions. We found that active expiration against the ventilator occurred on a total of 16 occasions.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for determining specific immunoglobulin M in infections caused by Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo.

An automated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detecting specific immunoglobulin M in infections with Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo was evaluated on 69 patients. The test was sensitive and simple to perform, requiring a single dilution of test serum, with data expressed as units of antibody activity interpolated from a reference serum pool.

Effects of positive end expiratory pressure during ventilation of the preterm infant.

Twenty two babies receiving artificial ventilator support were studied on 29 occasions to determine the effects of low levels of positive end expiratory pressure. Mean positive end expiratory pressure during these studies was 2.6 cm H2O.

Continuous positive airway pressure via a single nasal catheter in preterm infants.

We present the results of giving continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) via a single nasal catheter to 20 preterm infants. A beneficial effect in terms of reduced work of breathing (P less than or equal to 0.01) and improved pattern of respiration (P less than or equal to 0.

Visual analysis of body movements by neurones in the temporal cortex of the macaque monkey: a preliminary report.

Movement provides biologically important information about the nature (and intent) of animate objects. We have studied cells in the superior temporal sulcus of the macaque monkey which seem to process such visual information. We found that the majority of cells in this brain region were selective for type of movement and for stimulus form, most cells responding only to particular movements of the body or some part of it.

A deficit in ambient visual guidance following superior colliculus lesions in rats.

Rats were tested for their ability to locate a hidden platform in the Morris swimming pool in which extrapool cues are required to guide locomotion. At the end of each trial, the rats were either removed immediately or allowed to remain on the platform for 60 s. Bilateral lesions of the superior colliculus (SC), as in a previous experiment (Milner & Lines, 1983), were found to produce a severe deficit.

Changing overall workload in neonatal units.

An epidemiological study was carried out in the current Nottingham health district to determine changes in both neonatal unit workload and in the infants requiring neonatal care during two study periods. All admissions for 1977 and again for the 12 months 1 April 1983 to 31 March 1984 were reviewed. Total numbers of admissions have shown roughly a 50% reduction because of a more rigorous admission policy locally.

Pressure volume characteristics of the lungs in sudden infant death syndrome.

Data on the pressure volume characteristics of left lungs obtained from 23 babies dying from sudden infant death syndrome were compared with results from 18 length-matched babies dying from established but primarily non-pulmonary causes. Volume distension at 30 cm of water and deflation flow volume characteristics were very similar in the two groups. These findings do not suggest that babies dying from sudden infant death syndrome have abnormally stiff lungs.

Calculation of mean airway pressure during neonatal intermittent positive pressure ventilation and high frequency positive pressure ventilation.

Because mean airway pressure (MAP) is extensively used to quantify ventilation administered during the neonatal period, the accuracy and reproducibility of the techniques currently used to define MAP were assessed. All techniques were found to compare closely with MAP measured by integration of the pressure wave form even at ventilator rates in excess of 100 breaths per minute. It was therefore concluded that all methods currently used are satisfactory for clinical use.

Visual evoked potentials to lateralised stimuli in two cases of callosal agenesis.

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to lateralised light flashes were recorded from two acallosal patients. In one patient, these recordings were made while he performed a choice-reaction time task, and in the other patient the VEPs were obtained during a simple reaction time task. In both cases the patient's VEPs from electrode sites contralateral to the visual field of stimulus delivery resembled those of controls.

Inspiratory time and tidal volume during intermittent positive pressure ventilation.

We measured the tidal volume achieved during intermittent positive pressure ventilation using various inspiratory times with a minimum of 0.2 seconds. Results indicate that tidal volume shows no reduction with inspiratory times down to 0.

Further investigation of visual evoked potentials elicited by lateralized stimuli: effects of stimulus eccentricity and reference site.

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to small lateralized flashes were recorded from the parietal midline, homotopic lateral central and occipital electrodes, and from left and right mastoid processes, all referred to a balanced non-cephalic reference. Two stimulus eccentricities, 4 degrees and 10 degrees, were employed, and a comparison made between the non-cephalic and linked mastoid references. P120 (measured at lateral occipital sites only) peaked earlier and was of smaller amplitude at the electrode contralateral to the visual field of stimulus exposure.