Intensive hemodialysis and hemoperfusion treatment of Amanita mushroom poisoning

Over a period of fifteen years, 41 patients including 23 males and 18 females with Amanita mushroom poisoning were treated at the University Hospital of Lund, Sweden. The intensity of poisoning was graded according to serum transaminase elevations and prothrombin time reductions. Severity was mild in 16 patients (Group A), moderate in 14 (Group B) and severe in 11 (Group C). Members of Group C reported shorter latency periods before the onset of symptoms, (10±1 hours,p<0.05) and longer delays in treatment, (34±4 hours), than did the other patients. Intensive treatment was begun before the results of urine amatoxin assays were reported. Treatment consisted of: fluid and electrolyte replacement, oral activated charcoal and lactulose, IV penicillin, combined hemodialysis and hemoperfusion in two 8 hour sessions, some received IV thioctic acid, others IV silibinin, all received a special diet. This combination of treatment modalities was used to accelerate the elimination of amatoxin from the patients' bodies. The longest period of hospitalization, 13±2 days, was required by the patients of Group C (p<0.01). All patients improved and were discharged from the hospital asymptomatic. No sequelae were later reported for the majority of those moderately and severely poisoned. We have concluded that intensive combined treatment applied in these cases is effective in relieving patients with both moderate and severe amanitin poisoning.     

Desired family size and sex of children in Libya

During 1982, 600 Arabian students (300 females, 300 males) at the University of Garyounis (Benghazi, Libya) were surveyed to determine their preferences for family size and for combination and permutation of sexes of children. For families of the projected generation, the average number of children was 4.4, the sex ratio was 143.5 males: 100 females, the most preferred combination of sexes was 2m2f, and the most preferred permutation of sexes was mfmf. Strong preferences were indicated for the first-born to be male followed by an alternation of sexes.     

I point my heart with the tip of my fingers–Biometry for the diagnosis of congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects are characterized by abnormal positioning of some anatomical structures relative to a normal heart. Classically the classification of the disease or the stage of the disease is based on the measurement of the relative position of these structures by the cardiac morphologist. We propose a method in which the heart volume is acquired by a CT scanner. In this paper we present a tool which allows us to define landmarks interactively in this heart volume. These landmarks are then used to estimate some simple geometrical models of the anatomical structures and so as to describe their relative position and orientation.     

不同季节新疆圆柏总黄酮含量的变化

目的:确定乌鲁木齐南山地区新疆圆柏总黄酮含量最高的时期及其季节变化。方法:采用溶剂法萃取不同季节新疆圆柏叶、果实与枝干的总黄酮,以芦丁作为标准品,用比色法进行含量测定。结果:新疆圆柏的果实中黄酮含量最高,为0.62%～1.13%,以10月份的含量最高;叶中黄酮含量变化为0.28%～0.83%,4月份最高;枝干中的黄酮含量最少,变化不明显。结论:新疆圆柏黄酮含量的季节变化与其生长习性及乌鲁木齐南山气候有关。     

Current issues for anti-malarial drugs to control P. falciparum malaria

Successful malaria control depends heavily on efficacious anti-malarial drugs for the treatment of malaria. Artesunate-containing Combination Treatments (ACT) are increasingly recommended as first line malaria treatment in endemic countries, but implementation of this recommendation is limited by the small number of available and affordable co-formulated anti-malarial drugs. In recent years Intermittent Preventive Treatment has been recommended for malaria control in pregnancy and has been shown to be of potential public health importance in the prevention of malaria and anaemia in children. The use of drugs for malaria treatment or prevention is associated with the development of resistance and recent advances in molecular biology facilitate the evaluation of the impact on drug resistance of new drug-based strategies. This review concentrates on the challenges surrounding the use of ACT, the current understanding of IPT in infants and the use of molecular approaches to enhance our understanding of the effects of interventions on the spread of drug resistance.     

茶渍属地衣的一个中国新记录种

INTRODUCTION The lichen genus Lecanora is characterized by asci of the Lecanora-type, colorless ascospores, and crustose thalli;     

乌鲁木齐南部山区岩面生地衣群落特征的研究

应用多元分析中的主分量分析及聚类分析方法对分布在乌鲁木齐南部山区森林生态系统中岩面生地衣群落进行数量分类并对群落结构物种多样性、相似性和均匀度等群落参数进行了比较系统的研究。结果表明,乌鲁木齐南部山区的岩面生地衣共计49种,隶属于4目13科23属,岩面生地衣形成3种群落:(1)湿润石生地衣群落(Hygro-lichen community)定名为疣微孢衣Acarospora verruculosa+粉盘平茶渍A.alphaplaca+斑纹网衣Lecidea tessellata群落;(2)干燥石生地衣群落(Xero-lichen community)定名为多形茶渍Lecanora polytropa+破小网衣Lecideacarpathica群落;(3)高山石生地衣群落(Alpino-lichen community)定名为不等瓶口衣Verrucaria iaequalis+皮果衣Dermatocarpon miniatum群落。同时发现在乌鲁木齐南部山区森林生态系统中岩面生地衣群落的分布与海拔高度和基物的种类有密切的关系,不同海拔的不同类型的森林生态系统中分布着不同种类的岩面生地衣。