Probiotics and inflammatory bowel disease

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com © Springer 2006Gordon S. Howarthhttp://www.springer.com/medicine/internal/book/978-1-4020-5701-

The threat of litigation: Private obstetric care – quo vadis?

Because of changes in litigation frequency and estimated claims value, indemnity costs for South African obstetricians have increased sharply and may soon become virtually unaffordable. There is the real possibility of very serious public health consequences and it is important that the matter is addressed as a matter of urgency. Resolution is by no means limited to obstetric care, but it is important that obstetricians become actively involved in the debate. While the alternatives suggested may be considered unpalatable they are raised to open and stimulate debate – they are by no means prescriptive. Clearly the debate has to extend beyond the obstetric or indeed the medical community and urgent and serious consideration will have to be given to tort reform

Explicating the role of partnerships in changing the health and well-being of local communities: a profile of neighbourhood renewal activity focused on promoting health and well-being in Salford and the north west region and the north east of England

This scoping and mapping report is one of three outputs from a project: Explicating the role of partnerships in changing the health and well-being of local communities, one of a number of projects in a larger Higher Education Funding Council Strategic Development Fund project ( HEFCE ) entitled: Urban Regeneration: Making a Difference. This was a collaborative venture between Manchester Metropolitan University, Northumbria University, University of Salford and University of Central Lancashire. Bradford University was an affiliated partner

Development of a Flame Resistant Silicone Rubber

Flame resistant silicone rubber using aluminum silicates and aromatic bromide

Voltage Drop

The white-clad form of a sailor clambered out of the after battery hatch, lingered restlessly for a moment; then peered down into the same open hatch..

Flame resistant elastomeric polymer development

Elastomeric products were developed for use in the space shuttle program, and investigations were conducted to improve the properties of elastomers developed in previous programs, and to evaluate the possibility of using lower-cost general purpose polymers. Products were fabricated and processed on conventional processing equipment; these products include: foams based on fluorinated rubber flame-retarded compounds with a density of 20-30 pounds/cubic foot for use as padding and in helmets; foams based on urethane for use in instrument packaging in the space shuttle; flexible and semi-rigid films of fluorinated rubber and neoprene compounds that would not burn in a 70% nitrogen, 30% oxygen atmosphere, and in a 30% nitrogen, 70% oxygen atmosphere, respectively for use in packaging or in laminates; coated fabrics which used both nylon and Kelvar fabric substrates, coated with either fluorinated or neoprene polymer compositions to meet specific levels of flame retardancy; and other flame-resistant materials

Non-flammable elastomeric fiber from a fluorinated elastomer and containing an halogenated flame retardant

Flame retardant elastomeric compositions are described comprised of either spandex type polyurethane having incorporated into the polymer chain halogen containing polyols, conventional spandex type polyurethanes in physical admixture with flame retardant additives, or fluoroelastomeric resins in physical admixture with flame retardant additives. Methods are described for preparing fibers of the flame retardant elastomeric materials and articles of manufacture comprised of the flame retardant clastomeric materials and non elastic materials such as polybenzimidazoles, fiberglass, nylons, etc

Can private obstetric care be saved in South Africa?

This article examines the question of whether private obstetric care in South Africa (SA) can be saved in view of the escalation in medical and legal costs brought about by a dramatic increase in medical negligence litigation. This question is assessed with reference to applicable medical and legal approaches. The crux of the matter is essentially a question of affordability. From a medical perspective, it seems that the English system (as articulated by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) as well as American perspectives may be well suited to the SA situation. Legal approaches are assessed in the context of the applicable  medicolegal framework in SA, the present nature of damages and  compensation with reference to obstetric negligence liability, as well as alternative options (no-fault and capping of damages) to the present system based on fault. It is argued, depending on constitutional  considerations, that a system of damages caps for noneconomic damages seems to be the most appropriate and legally less invasive system in conjunction with the establishment of a state excess insurance fund

Imaging as an End Point in Ischemia Trials

Imaging of cardiac function and anatomy has advanced at an exponential rate over the past two decades. Our ability to quantitatively assess the degree of myocardial ischemia and accurately define the vascular anatomy using noninvasive techniques is greater than ever before. Current advances is cardiac imaging are allowing us to more safely assess patients for myocardial ischemia and better understand the prognostic implications of our findings. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge in cardiac imaging for the assessment of cardiac ischemia with a focus on the use of cardiac MRI

Effects of Metallicity on the Rotation Rates of Massive Stars

Recent theoretical predictions for low metallicity massive stars predict that these stars should have drastically reduced equatorial winds (mass loss) while on the main sequence, and as such should retain most of their angular momentum. Observations of both the Be/(B+Be) ratio and the blue-to-red supergiant ratio appear to have a metallicity dependence that may be caused by high rotational velocities. We have analyzed 39 archival Hubble Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), high resolution, ultraviolet spectra of O-type stars in the Magellanic Clouds to determine their projected rotational velocities V sin i. Our methodology is based on a previous study of the projected rotational velocities of Galactic O-type stars using International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) Short Wavelength Prime (SWP) Camera high dispersion spectra, which resulted in a catalog of V sin i values for 177 O stars. Here we present complementary V sin i values for 21 Large Magellanic Cloud and 22 Small Magellanic Cloud O-type stars based on STIS and IUE UV spectroscopy. The distribution of V sin i values for O type stars in the Magellanic Clouds is compared to that of Galactic O type stars. Despite the theoretical predictions and indirect observational evidence for high rotation, the O type stars in the Magellanic Clouds do not appear to rotate faster than their Galactic counterparts.Comment: accepted by ApJ, to appear 20 December 2004 editio