A high-speed data acquisition and protocol control system for vocal tract physiology

Many laboratories designed to assess vocal tract function are still dependent on FM tape recorders, strip chart recorders, and analog oscilloscopes. Data reduction is often a tedious process requiring time-consuming manual measurement routines. The present report describes the components of a high-speed computer system for real-time data acquisition and display, stimulus control, and automated analysis. The acquisition and computational performance of this system is exemplified in a discussion of two special-purpose software applications, including (a) speech aerodynamics and (b) orofacial force physiology.     

Urinary biomarker and treatment mechanism of Rhizoma Alismatis on hyperlipidemia

Rhizoma Alismatis (RA), a diuretic in Asia and Europe, was found to possess anti‐hyperlipidemic activity. Since the biomarkers and mechanisms of RA in the treatment of hyperlipidemia are inadequate, ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight synapt high‐definition mass spectrometry and multivariate data analysis were employed to investigate the urinary metabolomics of RA on hyperlipidemic rats induced by high‐fat diet. The metabolic profile of RA‐treated hyperlipidemic group located between control and diet‐induced hyperlipidemic groups. Nineteen metabolites with significant fluctuations were identified as potential biomarkers related to the hyperlipidemia and anti‐hyperlipidemia of RA using partial least‐squares‐discriminate analysis, heatmap analysis and correlation coefficient analysis. The fluctuations of these biomarkers represented disturbances in amino acid metabolism, purine metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism and energy metabolism. After RA treatment, these perturbed metabolites were restored to normal or nearly normal levels. RA can alleviate high‐fat diet‐induced dysfunctions in these metabolic pathways.     

治疗小儿感染性中毒性脑病的体会

介绍了收治３４例小儿感染性中毒性脑病的体会，应及时足量用山莨菪治疗， 还采用维生素Ｅ、叶酸抗氧剂、保肝药，以及纠酸等代谢紊乱。     

Mass spectrometry in newborn and metabolic screening: historical perspective and future directions

The growth of mass spectrometry (MS) in clinical chemistry has primarily occurred in two areas: the traditional clinical chemistry areas of toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring and more recent, human genetics and metabolism, specifically inherited disorders of intermediary metabolism and newborn screening. Capillary gas chromatography and electrospray tandem MS are the two most common applications used to detect metabolic disease in screening, diagnostics and disease monitoring of treated patients. A few drops of blood from several million newborn infants are screened annually throughout the world making this the largest application of MS in medicine. Understanding the technique, how it grew from a few dozen samples per week in the early 1990s to increasing daily volume today will provide important information for new tests that either expand newborn screening or screening in other areas of metabolism and endocrinology. There are numerous challenges to the further expansion of MS in clinical chemistry but also many new opportunities in closely related applications. The model of newborn screening and MS in medicine may be useful in developing other applications that go beyond newborns and inherited metabolic disease. As MS continues to expand in clinical chemistry, it is clear that two features will drive its success. These features are excellent selectivity and multiple analyte or profile analysis; features recognized in the 1950s and remain true today. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photoacoustic study of the thermal and optical properties of hippuric acid

Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) is a recently developed, non‐destructive testing (NDT) tool, used for analyzing the physical properties of materials. This method is used here to determine the thermal diffusivity and conductivity of the gel‐grown single crystals of hippuric acid, a minor constituent of urinary calculi and also a non‐linear optical (NLO) material. Optical absorption of the specimen was studied using its PA spectrum and compared with UV‐visible absorption spectra. Second harmonic generation (SHG) conversion efficiency was also carried out. Characterization of the crystals was made using X‐ray powder diffraction and density determination. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

粘液素对草酸钙晶体生长的影响

泌尿系结石是一种常见疾病。在70％以上的结石中,草酸钙(CaOxa)单独或和其它钙盐共同为主要成分。一般认为正常人不形成尿石是其尿液中存在的抑制剂抑制了CaOxa晶体的成核、生长、聚集或固相转化。     

Urinary Excretion of Disulfated Disaccharides in Hunter Syndrome: Correction by Infusion of a Serum Fraction

Abstract

The presence of disulfated disaccharides containing iduronic acid has been demonstrated in the urine of a Hunter patient by gel filtration of the low molecular weight urinary mucopolysaccharides. Intravenous infusion of a purified fraction from normal human serum causes disappearance of these metabolites which probably represent the substrate of the enzyme deficient in the disease, a sulfatase specific for an ester group situated on position 2 or 3 of the iduronic acid residues of dermatan sulfate.     

Urinary Screen for α-Methyldopa by TLC

Abstract

A method for the detection of α-methyldopa in urine of individuals taking the drug at its therapeutic dose was developed. This test would be useful to ascertain patient compliance and to detect surreptitious use of the drug. The method is effective for detecting α-methyldopa in urine also known to contain azulfidine and/or other antihypertensive agents. No false positive or false negative analysis were obtained to date.     

Influenza and the Vocal Performer: Update on Prevention and Treatment

SUMMARY: Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) are a major cause of morbidity among vocal arts professionals, both from their acute impairment of the vocal mechanism and their predisposing influence for the development of serious vocal sequelae. In this review, we present some of the salient features of currently available treatments effective against influenza, the virus family responsible for the most serious form of URI. At present, these include an inactivated vaccine and four antiviral drugs, each approved in the United States and many other countries for the prevention and treatment of influenza. A live attenuated vaccine is also available, and other vaccines and antiviral drugs are under development. This review details the current options available for treating both influenza and noninfluenza related URIs in the professional voice user.