The analysis of cyhexatin residues in apples, pears and kiwi fruit using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry as an initial screen for total tin, with confirmation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been used to determine concentrations of total tin in samples of apples, pears and kiwi fruit, following acid digestion. It was found that the background levels of tin in these fruits were normally below 0.06 mg/kg, which was equivalent to the target reporting limit for cyhexatin for this work of 0.

The named nurse: patient and nurse expectations.

The named nurse concept was introduced to provide patients with one nurse responsible for their care during a hospital stay. Research into patient and nurse expectations of the role is needed if the named nurse concept is to be evaluated.

Rare earth elements as nonabsorbable fecal markers in studies of iron absorption.

The use of rare earth elements as nonabsorbable fecal markers for studies of iron absorption from sources labeled extrinsically with stable isotopes was evaluated. On 3 successive days 13 healthy fasting adults were given different stable isotopes of iron with samarium, ytterbium, or dysprosium. On day 1, three meals were given with 57Fe (1 mg per meal) plus samarium (0.

Determination of copper, zinc and aluminium from dietary sources in the femur, brain and kidney of guinea pigs and a study of some elements in in vivo intestinal digesta by size-exclusion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

The multi-element facility of an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer was used to monitor other elements during a project to investigate aluminium uptake from some foods by guinea pigs and to characterize aluminium in the intestinal digesta by size exclusion chromatography. Copper, zinc and aluminium were measured in the femur, brain and kidney. Aluminium, copper, zinc and manganese were measured in the solid digesta and soluble fraction of the digesta.

Value from resources in Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Outlines the use of the "value from resources" approach to build bridges between clinicians and managers. The simple but powerful use of graphical interactive presentations has resulted in increased staff awareness of how quality improvement and resource utilization are inextricably linked.

Exchangeable apolipoproteins of insects share a common structural motif.

Elucidation of the secondary structure of the exchangeable apolipoproteins has been hindered by the difficulty in producing crystals suitable for X-ray spectrographic analyses. Consequently, in order to analyze potential structure-function relationships in the family of insect exchangeable apolipoproteins, apolipophorins-III (apoLps-III), two apoLps-III cDNA clones, one from the palo verde beetle (Derobrachus geminatus) and one from the house cricket (Acheta domesticus), have been isolated and sequenced. Multiple sequence alignments of the deduced protein sequences with two previously reported apolipophorins-III from Manduca sexta and Locusta migratoria reveal low sequence identity, suggesting that these proteins are very old and are highly divergent.

Evaluation of a mass media campaign on smoking and pregnancy.

Two surveys were conducted among pregnant women throughout England, before (n = 625) and after (n = 607) a mass media campaign on smoking and pregnancy targeted at women aged 15-24 years, in the social grade C2DE. The majority of the post-campaign sample recalled having seen at least one of the campaign's series of press advertisements. There was a significant increase among this sample in those considering smoking to be very dangerous to the unborn child, in those understanding the term passive smoking and in those considering passive smoking to be very dangerous.

Adaptation of the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay for the determination of virus-neutralizing antibodies using the virus-neutralization assay.

The tetrazolium salt MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] has been widely used for bioassays. Herein is described the use of the MTT dye with a virus-neutralization (VN) assay to titer infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV)-neutralizing antibodies. A standard VN assay using chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) and IBDV was used for the assessment of IBDV-neutralizing antibodies.

Aluminium uptake from some foods by guinea pigs and the characterization of aluminium in in vivo intestinal digesta by SEC-ICP-MS.

The uptake of ingested aluminium (Al) from food items commonly consumed in a normal human diet was investigated by feeding five test diets to guinea pigs. Al concentrations were measured in the femur, brain, kidney and upper intestinal contents. Consumption of these diets did not lead to elevated Al levels in brain.

Urinary retention associated with herpes zoster infection.

Background: Herpes zoster infection particularly involving the sacral dermatomes has been associated with bladder and bowel dysfunction, most commonly urinary retention.

Case Reports: We report two patients who developed acute urinary retention, one of whom also had constipation, within days of herpes zoster skin lesions of the S2-S4 dermatomes.

Conclusions: Herpes zoster is a reversible cause of neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction and should be considered in a patient that presents with acute urinary retention and/or constipation.

Atypical melanocytic nevi. Clinical and histopathologic predictors of residual tumor at reexcision.

Background: The appropriate method for surgical management of melanocytic lesions with disordered architecture and melanocytic atypia (formerly dysplastic nevi) has been controversial. Physicians often reexcise these lesions after primary removal because of their potential relation to malignant melanoma. The outcomes of these reexcisions and the original biopsy specimens have not been previously examined.

Lead in feed incident--multi-element analysis of cattle feed and tissues by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and co-operative quality assurance scheme for lead analysis of milk.

Contaminated cattle feed was imported into the UK in 1989 and resulted in lead toxicity in some animals. Rapid analyses for lead and several other possible contaminating elements were required for feed and cattle tissues. Microwave dissolution of samples with measurement by ICP-MS was used for multi-element determinations.

Preliminary study of metals in proteins by high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using multi-element time-resolved analysis.

The feasibility of multi-element and multi-isotope determinations during the on-line chromatographic separation of protein matrices was investigated using time-resolved software with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Size-exclusion chromatography was used to separate a mixture of known proteins and the behaviour of associated elements was monitored. It was possible to scan either the entire mass range or a selected number of isotopes.

Abstinence from smoking and expired-air carbon monoxide levels: lactose intolerance as a possible source of error.

We investigated a possible source of contamination of expired-air carbon monoxide (CO) readings on CO monitors from raised expired-air hydrogen (H2) levels, namely lactose intolerance, the norm in certain ethnic groups. A significant correlation between expired-air CO and H2 readings was observed in four non-smoking lactose maldigesters.

Pseudostatus epilepticus.

Thirteen patients with pseudostatus (simulated status epilepticus) have been compared to 13 patients with true status epilepticus seen at a regional neurological centre. Pseudostatus was common in patients with pseudoseizures and was often misdiagnosed as status epilepticus. Complications of this misdiagnosis included eight episodes of anticonvulsant-induced respiratory arrest.

Profiles of instant heart rate during partial seizures.

Instant heart rate (R-R intervals) can be readily studied during spontaneous seizures recorded with ambulatory cassette AEEG/AECG techniques. Ninety-three seizures were recorded in 32 patients with complex partial epilepsy. Instant R-R interval plots showed that 74% of seizures were associated with a dominant tachycardia, the most characteristic features of which were the initial steep acceleration phase at seizure onset and the wide fluctuations in heart rate ('exaggerated sinus arrhythmia') which occurred during and immediately after the seizure.

Thermic effect of food in lean and obese men.

A systemic reappraisal of the thermic effect of food was done in lean and obese males randomly fed mixed meals containing 0, 8, 16, 24, and 32 kcal/kg fat-free mass. Densitometric analysis was used to measure body composition. Preprandial and postprandial energy expenditures were measured by indirect calorimetry.