Infrared spectrum of solid isocyanic acid (HNCO): vibrational assignments and integrated band intensities.

Infrared spectra of thin films of solid HNCO condensed from the gas phase are characterized in terms of their vibrational frequencies, mode assignments, and integrated band intensities at low temperatures ( approximately 20-145 K). Isocyanic acid is shown to react with water (H2O) and ammonia (NH3) even at low temperatures; consequently, it may be an important species in the chemistry of interstellar ices and comets.

Algorithm for the diagnosis and management of asthma: a practice parameter update: Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, representing the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and the Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

This algorithm on the diagnosis and treatment of asthma is intended to complement and update the previously published Practice Parameters for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma. Both documents were developed by the Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, representing the AAAAI, ACAAI, and the JCAAI. The authors of this asthma algorithm have attempted to include all the elements essential for the diagnosis and care of patients with asthma. Every effort was made to keep the algorithm clear and concise, yet thorough and complete (Fig 1). Each component of the algorithm is elaborated further in a brief annotation. For further discussion, the reader is referred to the more extensive Practice Parameters for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Asthma.

Severe, diffuse osteosclerosis: A new manifestation of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

A 56 year-old man with a 2-year history of transitional-cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder presented with back pain and diffuse radiological osteosclerosis. Laboratory studies revealed borderline-low ionized serum calcium, and markedly elevated serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and serum osteocalcin. Serum acid phosphatase and prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) were normal. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D were just below the normal limit and parathyroid hormone was moderately elevated. A transiliac bone biopsy specimen revealed expanded bone trabeculae, abundance of osteoid-covered surfaces, and heavy metastatic spread. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of the association of osteosclerosis and metastatic transitional-cell carcinoma of the bladder.