Dielectric behavior at the smectic-C*-chiral-nematic phase transition of a ferroelectric liquid crystal.
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Journal Article↗
Biomedical subjects
S Wrobel
Publications and source records attributed to S Wrobel.
Serendipity, science, and a new hantavirus.
This essay follows a team of scientific investigators step by intriguing step as it pursues the cause of the mysterious 1993 deaths of healthy young adults in the southwestern United States. Using the science of the day, the team unravels the elusive origin of a potentially widespread killer--tracking a new hantavirus to its home, tracing its lineage, and differentiating its DNA from the large hantavirus family. This is the first in the "Breakthroughs" series.
Adult↗
Evaluating the preservative effectiveness of RGP lens care solutions.
We examined the antimicrobial preservative efficacy of nine rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lens care solutions by challenging them in a laboratory study with both standard test organisms and preservative-resistant strains. Solutions containing polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), such as Boston Advance (15 ppm) and a Boston Advance Enhanced Comfort Formula (5 ppm PHMB + 30 ppm chlorhexidine gluconate [CHG]) were most effective at rapidly killing vegetative cells, killing all bacteria and yeast by 6 hours. Boston Advance only slightly reduced the number of Aspergillus niger spores during the 28 day study, but Boston Advance Enhanced Comfort Formula reduced the spores by almost 3 logs by 14 days and by 4 logs by 21 days. Thimerosal-preserved Soaclens only reduced Staphylococcus aureus by 1 log at 6 hours, but at 1 day all tested organisms including S. aureus and A. niger were killed. Barnes Hind Gas Permeable Wetting and Soaking Solution, containing 50 ppm CHG, had little effect on adapted Serratia marcescens or Pseudomonas cepacia during the 28 day study. Allergan Wet-N-Soak Plus, containing 30 ppm benzalkonium chloride (BAK), was also unable to kill adapted S. marcescens or P. cepacia. CIBA Vision Premus (40 ppm BAK) was unable to kill adapted S. marcescens. Alcon Opti-Free, with 50 ppm polyquaternium-1 (polyquad), did not kill P. cepacia. Sherman Stay-Wet 3, containing 0.1% benzyl alcohol, was not effective against S. marcescens (adapted or unadapted), P. cepacia, or A. niger. Sherman DeStat 3, which contains 0.1% benzyl alcohol plus surfactants and five times the concentration of EDTA as in Stay-Wet 3, was able to kill all the vegetative cells by 7 days but did not significantly reduce A. niger.
Bacteria↗
Pain; portable relief for terminal patients.
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Adult↗
Preoperative and postoperative assessment of nutrient intakes in patients who have undergone gastric bypass surgery.
The study of 25 morbidly obese patients who had undergone gastric bypass surgery was undertaken to determine the fat, carbohydrate (CHO), protein, and total caloric intake before and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. No postoperative complications occurred, and all patients lost weight appropriately. The nutrient intakes were estimated from dietary recall. Dramatic decreases occurred in average total caloric intake from a preoperative value of 3979.4 to 351.6 kcal at 1 month, 471.3 kcal at 3 months, 932.7 kcal at 6 months, and 1091 kcal at 12 months. Fat, CHO, and protein intake decreased equally until 12 months when fat intake had reached a plateau while CHO and protein intake continued to rise. Weight reduction after gastric bypass surgery is related to decreased caloric intake, predominantly in the fat component.
Adult↗
Bulimia: the binge eating syndrome.
Bulimia occurs in roughly half of obese and anorexic patients. A recent study found 19% of female and 5% of male college students to be bulimic. Binge eating usually comes to the physician's attention from problems associated with purging measures--diuretics, laxatives, or self-induced postprandial vomiting--used by one out of ten bulimic patients. Continuous vomiting causes parotid enlargement, sore throat, spontaneous regurgitation, and severe electrolyte imbalance. We report a case illustrating the bulimic's distorted body image, review alternative treatment methods, and suggest needed areas of research, particularly those elucidating the relationship between bulimia and affective disorders.
Adolescent↗
Anorexia nervosa.
Anorexia nervosa typically occurs in a "model child" of a family that values achievement, appearance and nonconflictual interactions. Three diagnostic criteria are weight loss of at least 25 percent of ideal body weight, physiologic changes (including amenorrhea) and a distorted body image in which the patient, even when cachectic, insists she is fat. Therapy must involve the entire family, focusing not on pounds gained but on learning to handle conflict.
Adolescent↗