BACKGROUND: We evaluated the performance of the Rapidlab 860 (Chiron Diagnostics, Medfield, MA, USA), the newly introduced automated blood gas&electrolytes analyzer, according to the guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. METHODS: The tested analytes were pH (hydrogen ion activity), PCO(2) (carbon dioxide pressure or tension), PO(2) (oxygen pressure or tension), Na(+) (sodium), K(+) (potassium), Ca(++) (ionized calcium), Cl(-)(chloride), HCO(3)(-)(bicarbonate), ctCO(2) (concentration of total carbon dioxide). Within-day precision, between-day precision, and sample-related carryover were analyzed using quality control materials at three different concentration levels for each analyte. Correlation was compared with the routinely used NOVA-Stat Profile 5 (Nova Biomedical, Waltham, MA, USA) with patient's whole blood samples. RESULTS: The within-day coefficients of variations (CVs) for pH, PCO(2), Na(+), K(+), Ca(++), HCO(3)(-), and ctCO(2) were less than 5.0%. The within-day CVs for PO(2) and Cl(-) at low concentration levels were 7.128% and 5.065%, respectively. The between-day CVs for each group were less than 5.0% in all analytes. Sample-related carryover was less than 5.0% in all items. Coefficients of correlation exceeded 0.950 except for PCO(2) and HCO(3)(-). CONCLUSIONS: Rapidlab 860 showed good precision, close correlation with NOVA-Stat Profile 5 and sample-related carryover was barely present for pH, PCO(2), PO(2), Na(+), K(+), Ca(++), Cl(-), HCO(3)()-ctCO(2).
Carbon ; Electrolytes* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Quality Control

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the effects of decreasing ambient temperature on peripheral blood flow and body temperature of males and females in a thermal neutral zone for references to the thermal standard of office workers. Methods: Peripheral blood flows of the hand and feet, and body temperatures and so on of male and female subjects were measured in a climatic chamber. Air temperature was maintained at 28.5°C at the beginning. After this, air temperature was decreased linearly to 21.0°C over a period of 60 minutes. Finally, air temperature was maintained at 21.0°C. Results: Blood flows and skin temperatures of male and female subjects became similar or showed no significant difference at beginning and the end of the experiment. Skin blood flow of the hand and skin temperatures of the hand and fingers decreased, and these values in females were lower than in males, when air temperature was decreased linearly in a thermal neutral zone. However, there were no remarkable differences between males and females in sublingual and mean skin temperatures during the experiment. Conclusion: Minimum air temperature at the thermal standard for offices in Japan is 17°C, which may be too low to be comfortable or neutral. Even in a neutral thermal condition, it is better that office workers are provided some protection such as a blanket or clothing, to protect peripheral body parts from cooling in winter, as there are individual differences in physiological thermal reactions.
Temperature ; Carbon ion ; seconds ; Integumentary system ; Hand

A total of 206 residents (76 males and 130 females) of a rural area of Hokkaido, Japan, attending a health check in August, 1997, were studied to assess the relationship between serum carotenoids and atrophic gastritis (AG). Of the participants, 91 had AG, as indicated by their serum levels of pepsinogen I and pepsinogen II. Logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for gender and age, revealed that the odds ratios for serum carotenoid levels were lower for subjects with high serum levels of α-carotene (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% C.I., 0.19−0.88) and β-carotene (odds ratio, 0.41; 95% C.I., 0.18−0.91) than for those with low serum carotenoid levels. In addition, the odds ratios of subjects with high serum levels of β-cryptoxanthin (odds ratio, 0.60; 95% C.I., 0.28−1.31), provitamin A (odds ratio, 0.38; 95% C.I., 0.17−0.85), and retinol (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% C.I., 0.31−1.48) were found to be lower than the odds ratios for those with low serum levels. Odds ratios for subjects with high serum zeaxanthin/lutein levels were higher than odds ratios for those with low serum levels. These results suggest that frequent intake of foods rich in carotenoids with provitamin A activity may reduce the risk of AG.
Serum ; Carotenoids ; Carbon ion ; Hokkaido ; Silver

A 43 year-old man presented with pain on the right tooth for three days duration. Computed tomography showed left orbital cellulitis and right parapharyngeal abscess. There was also evidence suggestive of a dental abscess over right upper alveolar region. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed left superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis. Emergency drainage of the right parapharyngeal abscess was performed. Right maxillary molar extraction revealed periapical abscess. Left eye proptosis markedly reduced after initiating heparin.
Abscess ; Orbital cellulitis ; Carbon ion ; Ipsilateral ; Contralateral

At least three major antigenic dengue 2 virus proteins were recognized by pooled dengue fever patients' sera in infected Aedes albopictus (C6/36) mosquito cells. Dengue virus envelope (E), premembrane (PrM) and non-structural protein 1 (NS 1) dimer were detected beginning on day 3 postinfection in both the cell membrane and cytosolic fractions. Using the patients' sera, the presence of antigenic intermediate core protein (C)-PrM and NS1-non-structural protein 2a (NS2a) in the cytoplasmic fraction of dengue 2 virus infected cells was revealed. The presence of a approximately 92 and approximately 84 kDa NS 1 dimer in the membrane (NS 1m) and cytosolic (NS 1c) fractions of C6/36 cells, respectively, was also recognized. Using individual patient's serum, it was further confirmed that all patients' sera contained antibodies that specifically recognized E, NS 1 and PrM present in the dengue 2 virus-infected cell membrane fractions, suggesting that these glycosylated virus proteins were the main antigenic proteins recognized in vivo. Detection of dengue 2 virus C antibody in some patients further suggested that C could be antigenic if presented in vivo.
Dengue ; seconds ; Viral Proteins ; Proteins ; Carbon ion

Tonsillectomy is performed for several indications, the two commonest in practice are infective (chronic tonsillitis) and obstructive symptoms such as sleep apnea. The objective of this study is to determine the necessity of routinely performed histopathological examination of fonsillectomy specimens. In this paper, a retrospective evaluation of 480 specimens from 241 patient who had undergone tonsillectomies in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia between January 2004 and October 2005 was done. It was found that 462 (96.25 %) were reactive lymphoid hyperplasia and 18 (3.75 %) were follicular hyperplasia. None of them were found to be malignant. The result of this study indicates that routine histopathological examination of tonsillectomy specimens are unnecessary and results only in added cost and a loss of man hours.
Tonsillectomy ; Retrospective Studies ; Malaysia ; Hospitals ; Carbon ion

Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is one of the important pathogens which cause antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) -diarrhea following antibiotic therapy. There are some reports of nosocomial outbreak of AAD caused by C. difficile.We analyzed risk factors and epidemiology of C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CAD) in Kumiai Hospital. From March 2003 to February 2004, 53 in patients developed AAD, of whom 35 patients (66%) were diagnosed as having CAD. Advanced age, bed-rest, tube-feeding, and prolonged administration of antibiotics were regarded as risk factors.In initial two months, seven cases developed CAD in one ward and five in another ward. After hand-washing and use of gloves were enforced in treating CAD patients, the incidence of CAD decreased. Epidemiological analysis was performed using PCR ribotyping of C. difficile strains recovered from 20 among 35 CAD cases in the different wards. Nineteen of 20 strains were identical, typed as the ribotype. These results may suggest nosocomial diarrhea but we cannot conclude that is a hospital infection as yet.Although all C. difficile strains recovered in this study were toxin A-positive, the result of the test using a toxin A detecting kit was negative in three cases. It is necessary toculture C. difficile in addition to detecting toxin A to diagnose CAD.
cytarabine/daunorubicin ; Carbon ion ; Diarrhea ; Clostridium difficile ; Toxins

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) provide a global agenda for the international and national agencies and non-government organizations to work together towards promoting human development as the key to sustaining social and economic progress. There are eight MDGs to be achieved by the year 2015: Goal 1 – Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; Goal 2 – Achieve universal primary education; Goal 3 – Promote gender equality and empower women; Goal 4 – Reduce child mortality; Goal 5 – Improve maternal health; Goal 6 – Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; Goal 7 – Ensure environmental sustainability; and Goal 8 – Develop a global partnership for development. Each MDG is accompanied by one or more targets, which in turn are monitored by specific measureable indicators. Several of these indicators are closely linked to nutrition, thus underscoring the paramount importance that nutrition plays in influencing the success of the MDGs, especially those aimed at reducing hunger and poverty, improving education attainment, gender quality, child mortality, maternal health and combating diseases. Adequate nutrition including key micronutrients is crucial for optimum growth and development from infancy through childhood and adolescence. Improving maternal health is also critical as impaired health during pregnancy can bring about an inter-generational effect on human capital. Gender equality is said to bring about a ‘double dividend’ in benefiting both women and children. Access to safe water and living in a sanitary environment are necessary conditions for ensuring people do not run the risk of infections and diseases arising from an unclean environment. Incorporating nutrition considerations into government development policies and budgets is essential towards enhancing the achievement of the health-related MDGs by 2015.
Goals ; Carbon ion ; Nutritional status ; Health ; development aspects

Carbon ion ; Therapeutic procedure ; Kidney Diseases ; Hepatitis, Chronic

This study was conducted to examine the effect of malathion on the development of Chrysomya megacephala. A total of 12 adult Sprague-Dawley rats was divided into 4 groups. Each animal in the 4 groups was given orally 0 (control), 10, 25 and 50ml/kg body weight of malathion, respectively. Chrysomya megacephala larvae were then allowed to grow on the liver of carcass. Larvae development was estimated by means of weight and length, time of adult emergence and survival rate. Results indicated that for the first 6 to 30 hours, larvae from control group developed more rapidly than larvae feeding on tissue containing malathion. However, the 3 doses of malathion did not exhibit significant impact on larvae length and weight. The time required for adult emergence was significantly greater for malathion-treated colony which was 10 days compared to 7 days in control colony. Control larvae of C. megacephala had higher survival rate compared to larvae exposed to the three different doses of malathion. Analysis of the tissues indicated that all rats and fly samples were positive for malathion. Malathion concentration was highest in liver. It was concluded that the presence of malathion altered the development rate of C. megacephala and thus disrupted normal postmortem interval estimation.
Malathion ; Chrysomya megacephala ; development aspects ; Adult ; Carbon ion