Moderate-to-deep sedation technique, using propofol and ketamine, allowing synchronised breathing for magnetic resonance high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) treatment for uterine fibroids: a pilot study.

Background: Magnetic resonance high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) treatment for uterine fibroids is rapidly gaining popularity as a treatment modality. This procedure is generally uncomfortable, painful, and requires minimal or absence of movement and an MR-HIFU synchronised breathing pattern of the patient. Procedural sedation and analgesia protocols have become the standard practice in interventional radiology departments worldwide.

The feasibility of office-based propofol sedation for dental care in patients with intellectual disability by sedation practitioners.

Background: The quality of oral health care for intellectually disabled patients is a significant challenge due to behavioral issues. Intravenous propofol sedation may be useful to relieve the anxiety and fear, and make dental procedures more acceptable. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of propofol sedation, by trained nonmedical sedation practitioners, during dental treatments in an office-based setting.

Procedural sedation and analgesia for respiratory-gated MR-HIFU in the liver: a feasibility study.

Background: Previous studies demonstrated both pre-clinically and clinically the feasibility of magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MR-HIFU) ablations in the liver. To overcome the associated problem of respiratory motion of the ablation area, general anesthesia (GA) and mechanical ventilation was used in conjunction with either respiratory-gated energy delivery or energy delivery during induced apnea. However, clinical procedures requiring GA are generally associated with increased mortality, morbidity, and complication rate compared to procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA).

Clinical analysis of moderate-to-deep-sedation by nonmedical sedation practitioners in 597 patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy: a retrospective study.

Background And Study Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether moderate-to-deep sedation with propofol and alfentanil can be administered safely by nonmedical sedation practitioners, and the outcomes of this practice in the Netherlands. We retrospectively analyzed the occurrence of sedation-related complications in patients undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.

Patients And Methods: In this study, 597 adult patients consecutively underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.

Considerable Variability of Procedural Sedation and Analgesia Practices for Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Procedures in Europe.

Background/aims: The use of moderate to deep sedation for gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures has increased in Europe considerably. Because this level of sedation is a risky medical procedure, a number of international guidelines have been developed. This survey aims to review if, and if so which, quality aspects have been included in new sedation practices when compared to traditional uncontrolled sedation practices.

Gefitinib as a last treatment option for non-small-cell lung cancer: durable disease control in a subset of patients.

Background: We describe 16 months' single-institution experience with gefitinib ("Iressa", ZD1839) used as "ultimum refugium" for pretreated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Patients And Methods: Toxicity, response and survival data of NSCLC patients participating in a compassionate-use program with gefitinib were reviewed. Documented disease progression and confirmation of the absence of other treatment options were requested.

Cognitive impairment in adults with good recovery after bacterial meningitis.

Adults without neurologic sequelae after bacterial meningitis are supposed to live without restrictions. Neuropsychological outcome was assessed in 51 adults from a prospective cohort with good recovery, defined as Glasgow Outcome Scale score 5, after pneumococcal or meningococcal meningitis. Patients who recovered well after pneumococcal meningitis showed cognitive slowness (P=.

Beryllium in food and drinking water--a summary of available knowledge.

In an overall evaluation of the situation published by IARC in 1993, beryllium and beryllium compounds are identified as carcinogens to humans. This prompted the initiation of this study on beryllium which reviews the situation up to 1998 on the aspects: properties and applications, toxicity, analytical procedures for food and drinking water, reference materials, occurrence in food and drinking water and estimates of daily dietary exposure. Special emphasis is put on analytical aspects and levels of beryllium in food and drinking water.

The oral nitrate and nitrite intake in The Netherlands: evaluation of the results obtained by HPIC analysis of duplicate 24-hour diet samples collected in 1994.

In spring and autumn of 1994 duplicates of 24-h diets were collected from 123 respondents. One of the goals of this study was to determine the amount of nitrite and nitrate in the duplicates of 24-h diets to establish the oral daily intake of these analytes. For this purpose an HPIC/UV method for the determination of nitrate and nitrite in duplicate diets was developed and validated.

Twenty-four-hour duplicate diet study 1994; nitrate and nitrite: method development and intake per person per day.

In spring and autumn of 1994 duplicates of 24-h diets were collected from 123 consumers (respondents). One goal of this study is to determine the amount of nitrite and nitrate in the duplicates of 24-h diets in order to establish the oral daily intake of these analytes. For this purpose a HPIC/UV method for the determination of nitrate and nitrite in duplicate diets was developed and validated.

Complications in the use of intravenous catheters for major surgery: A clinical study.

Two groups of patients received one of two intravenous catheters, a 20-gauge (ga) Criticon (C group;n=96) or a 20-gauge (ga) Vitaflon Plus (V group;n=100). Each catheter was inserted under identical cannulation conditions. Fluids and drugs used pre- and postoperatively were comparable in both groups.

Cadmium and atherosclerosis in the rabbit: reduced atherogenesis by superseding of iron?

This study evaluated the effect of dietary cadmium (Cd) on atherosclerosis in the rabbit. Cholesterol was added to the diet to initiate and/or accelerate atherogenesis. Cd was added to the diet at two dose levels.

The mechanism of fluoride-induced hypocalcaemia.

1. Fluoride intoxication leads to sudden cardiac death which has been assumed to result from the accompanying severe hypocalcaemia. The aim of this study has been to investigate the suggestion that fluorapatite formation rather than CaF2 precipitation is responsible for this low calcium.

Bioavailability of inorganic arsenic from bog ore-containing soil in the dog.

In some parts of The Netherlands, bog ore-containing soils predominate, which have natural arsenic levels that exceed, by a factor of 10, existing standards for maximum allowable levels of inorganic arsenic in soil. These standards are based on the assumption that in humans the bioavailability of arsenic from ingested soil is equal to that from an aqueous solution. In view of the regulatory problem that the arsenic levels of these soils present, we questioned the validity of this assumption.

Aluminium determination in food matrices IUPAC check sample survey of analytical performance.

Aluminum has been determined by 24 laboratories in the context of a check sample survey. Samples studied were two duplicate diets, one of which was spiked with 15.87 mg Al/kg, and two blind duplicate milk powders.

Some elements in domestic and imported fresh fruits marketed in The Netherlands.

Sodium, potassium, arsenic, selenium and tin have been determined in 38 different types of domestic and imported fresh fruits. All samples (n = 242) were analysed for Na und K whereas a limited number of samples (n = 85) of each fruit type was selected for the determination of As, Se and Sn. The median contents, in mass fractions of the edible portion, found for fresh fruits are: Na less than 0.

Chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity of bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) in the rat.

In a 106-wk toxicity and carcinogenicity study, groups of 60 male and 60 female weanling Wistar rats were fed 0, 0.5, or 50 mg bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO)/kg diet. In males, feed consumption was increased in all treated groups and increased water consumption occurred at 5 and 50 mg/kg.

Reference-material-based collaborative test of flame atomic absorption spectroscopic determination of calcium and magnesium in foods and biological materials.

A flame atomic absorption spectroscopic (FAAS) method is described for the determination of calcium and magnesium in a wide variety of foods and biological substrates. Results for reference materials (n = 9) are presented that demonstrate the validity of the procedure. Samples are digested with nitric acid at 150 degrees C in a pressure decomposition vessel, diluted and adjusted to pH 2 with ammonia.

Speciation of arsenic in Dutch total diets: methodology and results.

In the last decade 311 duplicate portions of the 24-h diet of Dutch citizens were collected and lyophilized. All samples were assayed for total arsenic and, in addition, the 20 samples which ranked highest in total arsenic were selected for arsenic speciation i.e.

Preparation and stability of ampouled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon solutions.

A 1-year stability study of ampouled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) solutions was carried out. Two solutions of seven pure PAHs were prepared, one in acetonitrile and one in toluene, and ampouled. Solutions were tested for mass concentration and impurities before and after ampouling.

Collaborative test of the fluorimetric determination of selenium in a test solution, milk powder and bovine liver.

Results are reported for an inter-laboratory test conducted to assess precision (repeatability, reproducibility) and accuracy of a collaborative method for the fluorimetric determination of selenium (Se). The seven participating laboratories analysed one test solution, four samples of milk powder and two samples of freeze-dried bovine liver. Each set of samples comprised three duplicates: two colorant-disguised milk powders and one code disguised freeze-dried bovine liver.

[Arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and selenium in slaughtered animals: an overview of a 10-year study].

A large number of organs of slaughtered animals were examined for heavy metals, arsenic and selenium during the period from 1970 to 1980. In the present paper, the arsenic, cadmium, mercury, lead and selenium levels determined in porcine and bovine kidneys and livers as well as in porcine brain are reviewed. The following median levels (in mg/kg of fresh product) of the various elements were determined: (table; see text) In a number of cases, organs and meat from the same animal were studied; the levels in meat were much lower than those in organs in every case.

Simple fluorimetric determination of selenium in food and biological materials. A validation study.

A method for the determination of selenium in food and biological materials has been developed. The method involves sample decomposition in a closed system at 150 degrees C with nitric acid, perchloric acid treatment of the digest, reduction of selenium to the tetravalent state with hydrochloric acid followed by Se-2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN) complex formation and extraction in a single-step operation. Performance characteristics of the method (accuracy and repeatability) were extensively tested for eleven reference materials and ten practice samples covering both a wide variety of matrices and a wide range of selenium content.

Toxicity of bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide in the rat. I. Short-term effects on general parameters and on the endocrine and lymphoid systems.

Male and female Wistar rats were fed bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) at 0, 5, 20, 80, or 320 mg/kg diet for 4 weeks. Clinical signs and decreases in feed and water consumption were observed in the 80 and 320 mg/kg groups. The serum transferase activities (alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase were increased at 20 (males only), 80, and 320 mg/kg.