A short, stereoselective, and common approach for the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted delta-lactones simplactone B and its C-5 analogue.

A short, stereoselective, and a common approach for the synthesis of 4,5-disubstituted delta-lactones simplactone B and its analogue using Evans protocol is described.

MRI of the lung gas-space at very low-field using hyperpolarized noble gases.

In hyperpolarized (HP) noble-gas magnetic resonance imaging, large nuclear spin polarizations, about 100,000 times that ordinarily obtainable at thermal equilibrium, are created in 3He and 129Xe. The enhanced signal that results can be employed in high-resolution MRI studies of void spaces such as in the lungs. In HP gas MRI the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) depends only weakly on the static magnetic field (B(0)), making very low-field (VLF) MRI possible; indeed, it is possible to contemplate portable MRI using light-weight solenoids or permanent magnets.

Hemodynamic monitoring in the neurological intensive care unit.

The neurointensivist needs to have a thorough understanding of hemodynamic issues and the interaction of the brain and the cardiovascular system. Before one decides to intervene and try to correct an apparent "abnormal hemodynamic parameter" one needs to think whether such an intervention is indeed warranted and what effect the intervention would have on the cerebral circulation. The neurointensivist thus needs to approach these issues differently from the approach an internist or general intensivist would take.

Signal-to-noise ratio comparison of encoding methods for hyperpolarized noble gas MRI.

Some non-Fourier encoding methods such as wavelet and direct encoding use spatially localized bases. The spatial localization feature of these methods enables optimized encoding for improved spatial and temporal resolution during dynamically adaptive MR imaging. These spatially localized bases, however, have inherently reduced image signal-to-noise ratio compared with Fourier or Hadamad encoding for proton imaging.

Hyperpolarized (129)Xe T (1) in oxygenated and deoxygenated blood.

The viability of the new technique of hyperpolarized (129)Xe MRI (HypX-MRI) for imaging organs other than the lungs depends on whether the spin-lattice relaxation time, T(1), of (129)Xe is sufficiently long in the blood. In previous experiments by the authors, the T(1) was found to be strongly dependent upon the oxygenation of the blood, with T(1) increasing from about 3 s in deoxygenated samples to about 10 s in oxygenated samples. Contrarily, Tseng et al.

Physiological response of rats to delivery of helium and xenon: implications for hyperpolarized noble gas imaging.

The physiological effects of various hyperpolarized helium and xenon MRI-compatible breathing protocols were investigated in 17 Sprague-Dawley rats, by continuous monitoring of blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, EKG, temperature and endotracheal pressure. The protocols included alternating breaths of pure noble gas and oxygen, continuous breaths of pure noble gas, breath-holds of pure noble gas for varying durations, and helium breath-holds preceded by two helium rinses. Alternate-breath protocols up to 128 breaths caused a decrease in oxygen saturation level of less than 5% for either helium or xenon, whereas 16 continuous-breaths caused a 31.

Evaluation of carrier agents for hyperpolarized xenon MRI.

Several biocompatible carrier agents, in which xenon is highly soluble and has a long T(1), were tested, and injected in living rats. These included saline, Intralipid suspension, perfluorocarbon emulsion and (129)Xe gas-filled liposomes. The T(1) of (129)Xe in these compounds ranged from 47 to 116 s.

T(1) of (129)Xe in blood and the role of oxygenation.

In previous experiments by the authors, in which hyperpolarized (129)Xe was dissolved in fresh blood samples, the T(1) was found to be strongly dependent on the oxygenation level, the values increasing with oxygenation: T(1) was about 4 s in deoxygenated samples and about 13 s in oxygenated samples. C. H.

Acinetobacter sepsis in neonates.

Twenty-six neonates were diagnosed to have acinetobacter sepsis during 1986-90, representing 6.5% of all cases of bacteriologically proven sepsis. Of these 19 neonates were low birth weight (LBW) 12 were small for gestational age (SGA).

Prognosis of single unprovoked seizure.

201 patients (131 males and 70 females) with mean age of 18 years (range 5-55 years) who presented at median of 6 days after the onset of first unprovoked seizure were studied. They were followed for a mean period of 60 months (range 12-84 months). One hundred and fifty four (76%) patients were treated with anticonvulsant medication (group A) on a non-randomized basis and the remaining 47 patients (24%) were not treated (group B).

Rotavirus and bacterial enteropathogens causing acute diarrhea.

The etiology of rotavirus in acute diarrhoeal illness in children 0-5 years of age, admitted to the Pediatric wards of Kasturba Medical College Hospital, Manipal was studied, over a period of one year. Rotavirus in the faecal samples detected by the slide latex agglutination test accounted for 14.9% of the diarrheas with maximum incidence in the 7-12 months of age group (57.

Computerised neonatal case records: a four year experience.

A computerized system for neonatal case records has been used for the last four years at Kasturba Hospital. The software was developed in-house. The data base can be used to generate discharge summaries, neonatal statistics and epidemiological information.

Quantitation of proteinuria using protein-creatinine ratio in random urine samples.

Estimation of proteinuria in children is cumbersome when a 24 h urine collection is needed. In the presence of a stable glomerular filtration rate, the ratio of urinary protein and creatinine should reflect the protein excretion. One hundred samples of urine (24 h and random samples) were collected from 50 children with nephrotic syndrome, 25 with nephrotic syndrome in remission and 25 normal children.

Salmonella typhimurium isolated from bacteraemia.

During a two year period, a total of 15 strains of S. typhimurium were isolated and analysed by phage typing. Of these, 13 were found untypable, while two strains belonged to phage 76 and 22.

Neonatal citrobacter sepsis: clinical and epidemiological aspects.

Fourteen neonates were diagnosed to have Citrobacter sepsis during 1986-89, representing 4.6% of all cases with bacteriologically proven sepsis. Most of these infants were low birth weight (mean 2046 gm, +/- 750) and preterm (mean 34.

Pediatric cancer care in India. A national survey.

A national survey of institutions treating children with cancer was undertaken in April 1988. The 21-item questionnaire included questions on personnel, treatment facilities, support services, attitudes and opinions regarding pediatric cancer care. 73 institutions responded.

Serum apolipoproteins A and B, lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase activities and urinary cholesterol levels in nephrotic syndrome patients before and during steroid treatment.

Serum apolipoproteins A (Apo-A) and B (Apo-B) and lecithin: cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) activities and 24-hour urinary cholesterol levels were estimated in 25 nephrotic children before and during steroid treatment with 4 weeks of daily prednisolone followed by another 4 weeks of alternate-day prednisolone. The patients with untreated nephrotic syndrome (NS) showed significant decrease in serum Apo-A and LCAT activities associated with significant increase in serum Apo-B and urinary cholesterol levels compared to healthy controls (n = 25). Serum Apo-A levels correlated directly and Apo-B levels inversely with the serum albumin concentrations.

Neonatal behavior of small for gestational age infants.

The behavioral pattern of small for gestational age (SGA) infants differs from that of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Maternal malnutrition and SGA infants being a common problem in our country, we assessed the behavior of 36 full term SGA infants using the Brazelton scale. These infants had an excellent orienting capacity, state control and self quieting.

Intraperitoneal ascariasis.

Seven children with intraperitoneal ascariasis are reported. One of them had two episodes. There were four instances of free worms in the peritoneal cavity, whereas others had peritoneal abscesses containing round worms.