Stripping analysis of nucleic acids at a heated carbon paste electrode.

A new electrically heated carbon paste electrode has been developed for performing adsorptive stripping measurements of trace nucleic acids. Such coupling of electrochemistry at electrically heated electrodes with adsorptive constant-current stripping chronopotentiometry offers distinct advantages for trace measurements of nucleic acids. The application of increased temperatures during the deposition step results in dramatic (4-34-fold, depending on temperature applied) enhancement of the stripping signal. Such improvement is attributed to the accumulation step at the heated electrode. Forced thermal convection near the electrode surface facilitates the use of quiescent solutions and hence of ultrasmall volumes. Using an electrode temperature of 32 degrees C and a quiescent solution during the 1-min accumulation, the response is linear over the 1-8 mg/L range tested, with a detection limit of 0.5 mg/L. Such electrode heating technology offers great promise for various applications involving thermal manipulations of nucleic acids.

Hot-wire amperometric monitoring of flowing streams.

This paper describes the design of a hot-wire electrochemical flow detector, and the advantages accrued from the effects of locally increased temperature, mainly thermally induced convection, upon the amperometric monitoring of flowing streams. A new hydrodynamic modulation voltammetric approach is presented, in which the solution flow rate remains constant while the temperature of the working electrode is modulated. Factors influencing the response, including the flow rate, temperature pulse, or applied potential, have been investigated. The hot-wire operation results also in a significant enhancement of the flow injection amperometric response. The minimal flow rate dependence observed with the heated electrode should benefit the on-line monitoring of streams with fluctuated natural convection, as well as various in-situ remote sensing applications.

[Prognosis and treatment of burns in elderly patients]. / Prognose und Behandlung der Verbrennung beim alten Patienten.

In a retrospective study victims of burn accidents over 65 years of age were analysed. The total number was 40, with an average age of 77 years. In 95% the burns were caused by accidents at home such as residential fires, highly inflammable clothing and scalds from hot showers. Patients were admitted late to hospital on average after 4.4 days, combined with a wound infection rate of 50% by this time. Of these 81.1% showed severe additional diseases. The letality rate was 24%, almost in every case caused by additional cardiopulmonary disease. A total of 95% were able to return to their previous home after treatment. The focus was on prevention by means of smoke-detectors and hotwater thermostats.

[The motivation and experiences of patients in connection with orthodontic-oral surgery combined therapy. A patient survey with consideration of the clinical and psychosocial factors]. / Motivation und Erfahrungen von Patienten im Zusammenhang mit einer kieferorthopädisch-kieferchirurgischen Kombinationstherapie. Patientenbefragung unter Berücksichtigung klinischer und psychosozialer Faktoren.

In a retrospective study 140 patients, 97 females and 43 males who had undergone combined orthodontic surgical therapy between 1984 and 1992, were interviewed using a questionnaire. The "closed form" questions were designed to provide insight into the patients' motivations for seeking treatment and into their perceptions of its course and outcome. Nine working hypotheses taken from the literature served as the study's starting point. The evaluation of the data gathered revealed that, contrary to other studies, the motivation for patients to seek treatment was not directly related to sex, i.e., was not sex specific, although this must be qualified. The unequal distribution of the sex of the patients who had sought treatment, and who were covered in the survey, points to differences between them in their decision making processes. When the results were evaluated, the data showed 92.2% patient satisfaction and even high satisfaction with treatment outcome. 86.4% of the patients stated that they would recommend the operation to others and 82.9% said that they would undergo the operation again. This high level of patient satisfaction was to a great degree directly attributable to, above all, the positive aesthetic result, the quality of the consultation and care, and to the absence of persisting postoperative complications. When the patients were divided into subgroups by means of using single criteria, significant varying degrees of satisfaction could be distinguished among segments of the subgroups. It was not possible, however, through the use of cluster analysis to separate out with precision the small group of patients who were not satisfied with the overall results of their treatment.

Treatment of partial thickness burns of the hand with the preshaped, semipermeable Procel Burn Cover: results of a multicentre study in the burn centres of Berlin, Duisburg and Munich.

The results of a prospective clinical study conducted in three German burn centres are reported. The subject of the evaluation was to show the effectiveness of a new, preshaped, semipermeable burn dressing that is resistant to fluids and bacteria but highly permeable to vapour. The dressing was used in conjunction with 1 per cent silver sulphadiazine cream in treating partial thickness burns of the hand. In 49 patients, 72 partial thickness burned hands were treated. The application proved to be very easy. The time for a dressing change was short (5-10 min). The duration of treatment was 13 days on average. Complications due to infections did not occur. Because of the semipermeable properties of the dressing material, skin macerations occurred in only a few instances (13 per cent) as a result of inappropriate cream application or extremely high exudation rates, and these did not adversely affect the healing process. Patients achieved the ability to perform activities of daily living early with positive results for the patients, the physician and the nursing team.