In 25 clinical samples serum lidocaine concentrations fell from a mean of 6.5 +/- 2.1 mg/L (mean +/- SD) to 4.9 +/- 1.8 mg/L (p less than 0.001) when the blood sample was allowed to make contact with the stopper of the Vacutainer collection tube. In vitro experiments showed that this effect of the stopper occurred only with whole blood and was dependent on sample concentration. The plasma bindi...

BACKGROUND The origin of the gas in the stomachs of dogs with acute gastric dilatation or gastric dilatation with volvulus (GDV) often is disputed. HYPOTHESIS We tested the hypothesis that gaseous distention resulted from aerophagia. ANIMALS Ten cases of GDV that were submitted to an emergency clinic were sampled intraoperatively. METHODS With the abdomen open, the needle of a vacutainer ...

Activated partial thromboplastin times (APTT) for monitoring heparin therapy for venous thromboembolism tended to be inappropriately short if blood was collected in commercially available evacuated glass tubes. Five types of evacuated tubes marketed under the trade names Vacutainer and Venoject were examined. The APTT of heparinised blood collected in these tubes correlated poorly (r = 004 to r...

Lithium and copper are distributed equally between cells and serum. However, red cells contain more magnesium, zinc, and iron than does serum. To assure analytical accuracy, hemolysis should be avoided. Also, cells and sera must be separated shortly after sample collection. Since aqueous solutions leach magnesium from glass containers, materials and reagents meant for magnesium analysis should ...

PURPOSE To assess the validity of recommendations to avoid using cartridges for dental local anesthetic in patients with latex allergies. METHODS A MEDLINE search was conducted for the period 1966 to 2001, and relevant publications were reviewed for evidence of allergic reactions precipitated by latex in medication vials or cartridges for dental local anesthetic. RESULTS Twelve publications...

Julie Johnson: Communication is our number one strategy. Our patient accounting team meets quarterly to identify and communicate the top 10 list of denials. Once we’ve identified critical bill stoppers, we set up specific edits that are automatically generated. Also, we set accuracy goals by facility and registrar longevity. In addition, we link our registration accuracy to patient safety, beca...

A [3]rotaxane 1 involving two naphtho-21-crown-7 (N21C7) rings and a dumbbell-shaped component 4 was synthesized. The dumbbell-shape molecule 4 contains one viologen nucleus, two secondary alkyl ammonium sites and two phenyl stoppers. After threading the N21C7 ring with the thread-like ammonium guest 3, the copper(I)-catalyzed Huisgen alkyne-azide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (CuAAC ‘‘click’’ reac...

Results of gel-phase proton high resolution magic angle spinning (HR MAS) NMR spectroscopy are described for a systematic study of the reversible, thermodynamically-controlled assembly of surface-attached neutral rotaxanes and pseudorotaxanes based on a three-component system consisting of a naphthodiimide thread unit, a naphthalene crown shuttle, and metalloporphyrin stoppers. Further to the p...

A microrobotic leg actuated with amplifying mechanisms is developed in this letter to mimic the motion of legs natural organisms on small scale. The device has a planar structure and fabricated bulk micromachining. Two electrothermal actuators are used drive back forth workspace. actuator transmitted elastically using flexible arms. mechanism symmetrical similar standard parallel manipulators b...