Performance of a reflectometric technique for serum alanine aminotransferase determinations

The Ames Seralyzer uses solid phase chemistry coupled with reflectance spectroscopy to measure levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (serum ALT). The study reported here was carried out to evaluate the performance of the Seralyzer method compared to conventional analyses carried out on a Coulter Dacos discrete random access analyser using Boehringer (BCL) reagents conforming to SCE specications at 37° C. Clinically acceptable accuracy and precision were obtained. The effect of bilirubin and haemoglobin on the test was investigated. Increased levels of bilirubin in sera did not affect the estimation but the presence of high haemoglobin levels produced significant interference. The overall practicality of the Seralyzer was assessed and the method was found to be particularly suitable for the estimation of urgent or high risk samples in the laboratory or for use by suitably trained personnel in other clinical areas

MIS RESEARCH: REFERENCE DISCIPLINES AND A CUMULATIVE TRADITION

This paper discusses what is needed to make MIS into a coherent research field. It defines 3 main needs: 1. Clarification of reference disciplines. 2. Definition of the dependent variable. 3. Building a cumulative tradition. It reviews the relationship of MIS to computer technology and to practice and assess the publishing inlets for MIS research. The author would like to acknowledge with warm gratitude the contribution of Phillip Smith in helping shape the ideas expressed in this paper

Resveratrol given intraperitoneally does not inhibit the growth of high-risk t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells in a NOD/SCID mouse model.

The efficacy of resveratrol as a preventive agent against the growth of t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was evaluated in NOD.CB17-Prkdcscid/J mice engrafted with the human t(4;11) ALL SEM cell line. SEM cells were injected into the tail vein and engraftment was monitored by flow cytometry. Once engraftment was observed, mice were injected intraperitoneally with resveratrol (10 mg/kg body weight) dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or DMSO alone (control) every other day, or vincristine (0.5 mg/kg body weight) 3 times per week for 4 weeks (n=16 per group). Comparisons of the percent of human leukemia cells in blood and survival curves showed resveratrol did not inhibit progression of the disease. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analyses of mouse sera showed resveratrol was rapidly metabolized to glucuronidated and sulfated forms 1 h post-injection, with low to no resveratrol or metabolites observed in sera by 24-48 h. These data indicate that in contrast to findings in in vitro models, parenterally administered resveratrol does not have potential as a preventive agent against high risk t(4;11) ALL

Parabolic groups acting on one-dimensional compact spaces

Given a class of compact spaces, we ask which groups can be maximal parabolic subgroups of a relatively hyperbolic group whose boundary is in the class. We investigate the class of 1-dimensional connected boundaries. We get that any non-torsion infinite f.g. group is a maximal parabolic subgroup of some relatively hyperbolic group with connected one-dimensional boundary without global cut point. For boundaries homeomorphic to a Sierpinski carpet or a 2-sphere, the only maximal parabolic subgroups allowed are virtual surface groups (hyperbolic, or virtually $\mathbb{Z} + \mathbb{Z}$).Comment: 10 pages. Added a precision on local connectedness for Lemma 2.3, thanks to B. Bowditc

Virus Infections in Children in a Respiratory Intensive Care Unit during an Influenza Epidemic

The incidence and severity of virus infections in a children's respiratory intensive care unit during an influenza A epidemic were studied. Infections caused by the Port Chalmers strain of influenza A or by an adenovirus were associated with severe, often fatal, pneumonia, whereas infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus or cytomegalovirus carried a good prognosis