Different Strokes for Different Folks: Visual Presentation Design between Disciplines.

We present an ethnographic study of design differences in visual presentations between academic disciplines. Characterizing design conventions between users and data domains is an important step in developing hypotheses, tools, and design guidelines for information visualization. In this paper, disciplines are compared at a coarse scale between four groups of fields: social, natural, and formal sciences; and the humanities. Two commonplace presentation types were analyzed: electronic slideshows and whiteboard "chalk talks". We found design differences in slideshows using two methods - coding and comparing manually-selected features, like charts and diagrams, and an image-based analysis using PCA called eigenslides. In whiteboard talks with controlled topics, we observed design behaviors, including using representations and formalisms from a participant's own discipline, that suggest authors might benefit from novel assistive tools for designing presentations. Based on these findings, we discuss opportunities for visualization ethnography and human-centered authoring tools for visual information.

ADP-ribosylation activity in pertussis vaccines and its relationship to the in vivo histamine-sensitisation test.

Pertussis toxin (PTx) is a major virulence factor produced by Bordetella pertussis. In its detoxified form (PTd), it is an important component of acellular pertussis vaccines although some residual PTx activity may likely be present because of the limitations of the detoxification processes used. Furthermore, different detoxification procedures have been shown to result in different amino acid side-chain modifications for the resulting PTd. The histamine-sensitisation test (HIST) in mice is currently used for the safety testing of these vaccines. However, an alternative test is needed because of large assay variability and ethical concerns. The ADP-ribosylation enzyme activity of PTx is thought to be the major factor responsible for the histamine-sensitising activity detected in vivo. In the present study, the ADP-ribosylation activity in different acellular pertussis-based combination vaccine formulations was measured and compared with reactivity in the HIST. The results indicated that different products showed differences in ADP-ribosylation activity and a level which would be significant in relation to the reactivity seen in the HIST could not be defined, except for vaccines that contain genetically detoxified PTx, which do not have enzymatic activity nor in vivo toxicity. Different detoxification procedures as well as formulation factors could contribute to this variation. Relying solely on the residual enzyme activity of PTx in vaccines containing chemically detoxified PTd may not fully reflect the in vivo reactivity observed by the HIST. Refinement of the in vitro test to include a step which monitors the B-subunit activity of PTx may provide a better correlation with the in vivo HIST.

[Biliary stenosis in patients treated with liver transplantation. Diagnostic approach]. / Stenosi biliare nei pazienti trattati con trapianto epatico (OLT). Approccio diagnostico.

Between April 1986 and August 1994, 393 orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) have been performed at "12 de Octubre" Hospital. Among these ones we consider 274 OLT made in 223 adults and in 47 children (4 intraoperative deaths). The reconstruction of the biliary tract was performed with a choledocho-choledochostomy with T tube (CD-CD T) in 131 patients, a choledocho-choledochostomy without T tube or stent (CD-CD) in 75, a Roux-en-y-hepatico-jejunostomy (H-J) in 248, a hepatico-jejunostomy with stent (H-J St) in 13 and a choledocho-cholecisto-jejunostomy (CD-CC-J) in 3 patients. Thirthy six (13.3%) patients developed biliary complications (30 adults and 6 childrens). Fourteen (18.6%) occurred in CD-CD reconstruction and 13 (11.4%) in CD-CD T. The most common complications were leakage and stricture. Thirteen ERCP were performed in 12 patients (1 failed), all adults (CD-CD T: 3; CD-CD: 10). The main indication for ERCP was cholestasis and inability of non invasive methods ultrasound, scintigraphy and computerized tomography in determining the underlying etiology. ERCP was successful in all 12 patients: detecting strictures in 8, strictures + lithiasis in 1, stricture+lekage in 1 and leakage in 2. No complications were encountered after ERCP in our patients. ERCP is the method of choice in diagnosis of biliary complications in CD-CD biliary reconstruction.

Liver transplantation in patients with fulminant hepatic failure.

Fulminant hepatic failure without liver transplantation is associated with a high mortality rate (80-100 per cent). Some 254 liver transplantations were performed on 202 patients between April 1986 and February 1992. Of these, 26 patients had fulminant hepatic failure. The median age was 31.5 (range 3-60) years. Reduced-size grafts were used in seven patients. The preoperative mortality rate was six of 26 patients, and five patients died during follow-up. Ten patients underwent retransplantation and two a second retransplant. The overall mortality rate was 16 of 26 and actuarial survival rate was 62.7 per cent at 12 months and 48.7 per cent at 36 months. The preoperative mortality rate is relatively high but liver transplantation is currently recommended as a last-resort treatment for patients with fulminant hepatic failure in the absence of response to medical treatment.

[Results of hepatic transplantation from donors older than 50 years of age. Comparison with other age groups]. / Resultados del trasplante hepático utilizando donantes de más de 50 años. Comparación con otros grupos de edad.

We have performed 284 OLT and from 1990 we accept donors older than 50 years. We analyzed 100 consecutive OLT from 1990 in relation to donor age and we divided them in three groups: A) 10 liver transplants with donors < 16 years old; B) 76 liver transplants with donors between 16 and 49 years old, and C) 14 liver transplants with donors > 49 years old. The follow-up was more than 6 months. The liver preservation was carried out with Belzer solution and the immunosuppression was performed with cyclosporine A, corticoids and azathioprine. The C group donors were more stable haemodynamically (less dopamine dosage-p < 0.001- and less hours with arterial hypotension-p < 0.05-) and they died less of craneoencephalic traumatism than A group donors (p < 0.01). The C group donors didn't have more frequence of liver esteatosis or greater graft harvest lesions (p = n.s.). The cold ischaemia time was greater in C group vs A (p < 0.05) and its pretransplant clinical status was more serious than in A and B groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in relation to recipient status, frequence of hepatic artery or portal vein thrombosis, frequence of acute rejection, chronic rejection or biochemical graft evolution at first month. There were more primary graft non functions in B vs A (p < 0.05) and retransplants in B vs A and C (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Utilization of split liver grafts in orthotopic liver transplantation.

Among a total of 220 liver transplants, reduced-size liver was used in 21 cases due to discrepancies in size between recipient and donors in 19 patients. In the case of two adult patients suffering from fulminant hepatic failure and in a critical condition, only one donor organ became available, so that the graft was divided to give the two recipients an equal opportunity. The two patients with fulminant hepatic failure were admitted to the ICU requiring mechanical respiration almost at the same time. Hepatitis serologies were HBcAb+, HBsAb+, and VCA+ in one and negative in the second. They had different blood groups (A.Rh+, O.Rh-), and the only donor available was located in Milan, Italy. The graft perfused with UW. was divided into two (right side, segments IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII, and left side, segments I, II and III). The recipients were transplanted 50 and 48 hours after admission. The cold ischemia time was 7.10 and 16.50 hours. The first patient, who received the right lobe, was extubated at 48 hours and discharged on the 40th postransplant day. The second patient remained unconscious with progressive deterioration; an EEG on the 4th day revealed absence of higher cortical function.

Neurologic complications in liver transplantation.

A retrospective review is presented of neurologic complications in our first 143 consecutive adult patients (208 liver transplants in 143 adults and 18 children) undergoing liver transplantation. Nineteen (13.2%) of the 143 patients developed neurologic complications in the postoperative period. Immunosuppression was initiated intraoperatively with steroids with the addition of azathioprine on Day 1 and cyclosporine, adjusted by RIA to a level of 400-600 ng/ml, on Day 2 post-transplantation. Azathioprine is discontinued in the third month. Fourteen of the 19 patients (73.6%) presented with CNS complications characterized by: diffuse multifactorial encephalopathy (5 patients); leukoencephalopathy (2 patients) which required temporary (1 case) or permanent (1 case) discontinuation of cyclosporine A; hemorrhage (in 2 cases due to arterial hypertension and coagulopathy and another due to unknown causes); ischemic/anoxic injury secondary to cardiorespiratory arrest (2 patients) or arteriothrombosis (1 patient); and myelopathy (1 patient) due to vertebral compression (T10-T11) secondary to osteoporosis. The diagnostic studies most often employed were computed tomographic (CT) (85.7%) and electroencephalography (EEG) (42.8%). Five of 19 patients (26.3%) suffered peripheral nervous system (PNS) complications: 1 patient with reversible Claude-Bernard-Horner Syndrome caused by central venous catheterization during anesthesia; 2 patients with peroneal nerve palsy due to compression below the knees by operating room table supports; 1 patient with an irreversible lesion of the right recurrent laryngeal nerve secondary to prolonged intubation and central venous catheterization; and 1 patient with a reversible lesion of the left brachial plexus secondary to inadvertant hyperextension of the upper extremity on the O.R. table due to the need for dialysis and catheterization of the axillary vein for veno-venous bypass.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Results of orthotopic liver transplantation: a personal experience.

The authors report on their experience of 158 liver transplants performed on 135 patients. Nineteen underwent re-transplantation and four of these required a second re-transplantation; total number of re-transplantations: 23 (14.6%). Hepatic cirrhosis was the most common indication (50.6%), of which alcoholic cirrhosis was the most common type (32.5%). The authors briefly report on their operative techniques and the results of their procedures. The operative mortality (30 days) was 13.3% (18 out of 135 patients). Complications included nine cases of hepatic artery thrombosis (5.7%), four of arterial stenosis (2.5%), one case of portal venous stenosis (0.63%), four cases of post-operative portal venous thrombosis (2.5%), seven of biliary fistula (4.4%; five following choledochocholedochostomy and two following choledochojejunostomy), and two cases of common bile duct stenosis (1.3%). The actuarial survival rate at 48 months is 80%.

Results of transhiatal esophagectomy in cancer of the esophagus and other diseases.

We present the results we obtained during the last 12 years with transhiatal esophagectomy. Two hundred and eighty-three patients were operated on using this procedure; 171 of them underwent the operation for cancer of the esophagus, 73 for cancer of the cardia, and 11 for cancer of the hypopharynx. The tumor stage, the operative technique, and the type of esophageal replacement (stomach: 62.9%; colon: 37.1%) are described. Overall operative mortality was 5.6%, mainly as a result of respiratory insufficiency. Long-term survival was 11.9% at five years for cancer of the esophagus, much lower than the 48.3% for cancer of the cardia.

Respiratory health effects of alkali dust in residents near desiccated Old Wives Lake.

Several years of drought have contributed to the desiccation of Old Wives Lake, a shallow, alkaline lake in southern Saskatchewan. The prevailing northwest wind, which blows across the 177-km2 dry lake bed, has generated airborne sodium sulfate, silt, and clay. Residents have reported nasal, eye, and respiratory irritation. A cross-sectional design that included 300 controls and 300 exposed subjects elucidated the potential adverse respiratory health effects of exposure to blowing alkali salt and dust. An increased prevalence of current cough, current wheeze, chronic cough, chronic wheeze, chronic eye irritation, and chronic nasal irritation was identified in the exposed population. Smoking-adjusted odds ratios were consistent with the prevalence ratios. Lung function did not differ between the exposed and the control populations. Rainfall during the study period reduced airborne dust levels and may have precluded demonstration of previously reported adverse effects.

Relationship between airways responsiveness and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The idea that increases in airways responsiveness--either as a result of exposure to cigarette smoke and/or pre-existing increases in bronchial responsiveness, possibly genetically mediated--might be causal in the pathogenesis of the development of COPD in cigarette smokers presents an attractive hypothesis. The fact that a relatively small proportion of cigarette smokers develop COPD begs for specific susceptibilities as an explanation of selective pathogenesis. In our view, the evidence for modest increases in airways responsiveness in cigarette smokers who do not have asthma or allergies is convincing. Such increases in bronchial responsiveness are modest when compared to patients with asthma and may have a different mechanism. However, the demonstration by Verma et al that two types of patients with cigarette smoke-induced COPD, "bronchitis" patients and "emphysematous" patients, have virtually identical alterations in bronchial responsiveness, and that these alterations appear to be a function of airways caliber, has led us to believe that the changes in airways tone in patients with COPD may be reflective more of changes in airways geometry imposed by the development of disease rather than a measurement of a risk factor in the development of COPD. Of the epidemiologic studies that have emerged throughout the 1980s, problems of possible inclusion of asthmatic subjects in the study groups and of baseline airflow rates as a function of bronchial responsiveness have limited the ability of data to implicate increases in airways responsiveness as a risk factor in the development of COPD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Ethiology and pathology of low birth weight infants in our hospital (author's transl)]. / Correlaciones etiopatológicas del recién nacido de bajo peso, en nuestro medio

A retrospective study on 834 newborns of low birth weight, 2,500 grs., or less over a total of 19,869 live newborns during the year 1973 is presented. They are divided into low birth weight compatible with gestational age and low birth weight for gestational age when birth weight is lower than 10th percentile of Lubchenco's chart. Each of these groups is subdivided in three parts: First part refers to coincidence of frequence of different ethiologic factors or causes of low birth weight (maternal, gestational, placental and termination of pregnancy). The second part has its object in the clinical appraisal of the state at birth of these low birth weight newborns (fetal-obstetric evaluation of Velasco-Cándano, neonatal Apgar scoring, respiratory evaluation by Silvermann-Andersen and evaluation of external maturaty according to Usher). Third part of the study relates the morbility-mortality rate, need for admission, presence of congenital anomalies and autopsy findings in each of these groups of low birth weight newborns. Relation among all these estimated parameters is made presenting some conclusions reached.