Hypomagnesaemia in cystic fibrosis patients referred for lung transplant assessment

AbstractBackgroundHypomagnesaemia in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is underrecognized although the true incidence is unknown. Many patients are asymptomatic, although severe deficiency may be associated with muscle weakness, cramps and tetany. Hypomagnesaemia may be a risk factor for post-transplant complications including convulsions, which may be exacerbated by the use of calcineurin inhibitors. The aims of the present study were to describe serum magnesium levels and to investigate the relationship between magnesium levels and age, and renal function measurements in patients with CF referred to a transplant centre for lung transplant assessment.MethodsWe reviewed the data of all 106 CF patients referred for transplant assessment from January 1995 to December 2003. Demographic and biochemical data were recorded and the explanatory variables were subjected to univariate analysis and linear regression analysis.ResultsMean serum magnesium level was 0.75 mmol/L (range 0.46–1.03, normal range 0.74–1.1). 57% of patients had hypomagnesaemia. Serum magnesium levels were not associated with age, serum creatinine or GFR.ConclusionsHypomagnesaemia is a common finding in patients with CF referred for lung transplant assessment. Serum magnesium levels should be monitored in all CF patients being referred for lung transplant irrespective of the results of other renal function tests

The accelerator tube development programme at Daresbury Laboratory

A review of progress being made at Daresbury towards the development of an all metal-ceramic tube is presented.Nous présentons une revue des progrès faits à Daresbury dans le développement d'un tube accélérateur entièrement en métal et céramique

Revegetation of gold residues in the eastern jarrah forest in the south-west of western Australia

Revegetation of mine residues (tailings) is an important aspect of rehabilitation after mining, and represents a substantial investment. Therefore it is important to increase our understanding of all aspects of re-establishing a sustainable vegetation community on these materials. We report here on a multi-disciplinary, collaborative research program, focusing on vegetation establishment, soil development, and water-balance modeling on a large residue revegetation experiment. The study focused on gold residues produced at the Boddington Gold Mine (BGM) and Hedges Gold Mine (HGM), in the south-west of Australia. The residue storage areas will be rehabilitated once no longer required, but revegetation may be hampered by the alkaline, saline, and sodic properties of the residue. A large field experiment was established to examine soil amendments and capping strategies. The treatments were three depths of gravel-rich subsoil (0 cm, 15 cm, and 30 cm) overlying residue treated with gypsum (30 t/ha). All plots subsequently received an application of topsoil (10 cm). The plots were established in 1999 with species from the local jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn. ex Smith) forest, or salt- and waterlogging-tolerant native species. Ten months after application, gypsum had contributed to a decrease in residue pH and salinity. By March 2000, approximately 90% of the directly seeded species had emerged and survived, and 100% of transplanted seedlings had survived. Applying gravel subsoil in addition to topsoil did not improve plant growth in the first two years. In fact, aboveground biomass production was higher, from 4 to 8.5 t/ha/yr, in the absence of a gravel subsoil. However, in the third growing season, this trend was less apparent. Plant roots were found to grow into the residue, preferentially following shrinkage cracks and exploring coarser-textured layers. Vigorous plant and root growth, and thus high plant water use, has resulted in substantial drying of the residue profile. On-going studies are examining water and salt movement through these profiles and long-term plant performance. At the same time, an overall model is being developed to predict the net water balance if the whole residue area was vegetated

Isotope shifts and hyperfine splitting in144-154Sm I

The isotope shifts and hyperfine splitting have been measured in 144-154Sm I using the crossed-beam laser fluorescence method. Transitions at 598.98 nm and 570.68 nm were investigated for all isotopes except 146Sm and 153Sm, in which measurements were only obtained at 570.68 nm. Laser-induced fluorescence has not previously been reported for 145Sm: the hyperfine structure for the ground state of this isotope leads to mu =1.123 mu N, Q(spectroscopic)=-0.60e2b2 and delta (r2) (144-145)=0.11 fm2. The magnetic dipole and electric quadrupole moments of the odd isotopes and the changes in mean square radii of the even ones are shown to be consistent with the information obtained from nuclear spectroscopy