OBJECTIVE: To compare the attitudes of a large sample of obstetricians from eight European countries toward a competent woman's refusal to consent to an emergency cesarean delivery for acute fetal distress. METHODS: Obstetricians' attitudes in response to a hypothetical clinical case were surveyed through an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire. The sample included 1,530 obstetricians (respo

BACKGROUND: Hip dislocation in children with cerebral palsy (CP) is a common and severe problem. The dislocation can be avoided, by screening and preventive treatment of children with hips at risk. The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of children with CP who develop hip displacement, in order to optimise a hip surveillance programme. METHODS: In a total population of children w

A prospective study was carried out in 499 patients admitted to a coronary care unit (CCU) in order to evaluate the incidence of clinically significant electrolyte disturbances. Low serum potassium values (less than 3.6 mmol l) occurred in 7% of the CCU patients and low serum magnesium values (less than 0.70 mmol l-1) in 6%. Few patients had low values of both these ions (1.9%). In 49 patients the

Objectives. Elevated plasma homocysteine might indicate an increased risk of cancer, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases. The homocysteine level depends on the supply of folate and cobalamine, and constipation and/or laxative treatment might compromise this supply. The present study examined the impact of constipation and laxative treatment on the blood levels of homocysteine, folate and

The polycations spermine, neomycin and polylysine potentiated Ca(2+)-activated force in beta-escin permeabilized guinea-pig ileum strips. The effect was inhibited by the calmodulin antagonists trifluoperazine, mastoparan and W13. Potentiation was slow or absent in chi-toxin permeabilized strips, indicating dependence on penetration of the polycations into cells. The effects of spermine and neomyci

Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRGP), an abundant heparin-binding protein found in plasma and thrombocytes, exerts antibacterial effects against Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Fluorescence studies and electron microscopy to assess membrane permeation showed that HRGP induces lysis of E

We describe two patients with uncommon causes of iatrogenic injuries and review the anatomy, presentation, possibilities of repair, and results. The incidence of such nerve injuries during lymph node biopsies is 3%-10%, but the diagnosis is often delayed. Symptoms are shoulder pain and inability to abduct the arm beyond the horizontal plane. Surgical repair may improve function and pain and should

heory predicts that electrons emitted from independent electron sources (metallic contacts) can nevertheless interfere. This interference is manifest in an exchange contribution to the shot noise correlation of currents at different contacts of a mesoscopic conductor. A geometry has been proposed in which second order (single particle) interference due to superposition of amplitudes is absent but

Traditionally, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are propagated by mechanical dissection or enzymatic dissociation into clusters of cells. To facilitate up-scaling and the use of hESC in various experimental manipulations, such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting, electroporation, and clonal selection, it is important to develop new, stable culture systems based on single-cell enzymatic propag

The importance, legitimacy and role of second-order probabilities are discussed. Two descriptive models of the use of second-order probabilities in decisions are presented. The results of two empirical studies of the effects of second-order probabilities upon the rank orderings of bets are summarized briefly. The bets were of three basic types and involved a wide variety of first- and second-order