Induced sputum differential cell counts have been advocated as a method of non-invasively assessing airway inflammation in asthma and other airway diseases. Since sputum induction usually involves delivering hypertonic saline via a high output ultrasonic nebulizer there have been concerns about its safety in asthma. There are relatively little data on the effects of sputum induction in large numbers of patients. We have examined the success rate and effect of sputum induction on forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) in 100 inductions performed on 79 patients using a low output nebulizer. Thirty-seven patients had asthma, 29 had miscellaneous conditions (mainly chronic cough) and 13 were subjects without respiratory symptoms. Sputum was induced 10 min after 200 micrograms of inhaled salbutamol by sequential 5-min inhalations of 3, 4 and 5% saline delivered via a Fisoneb ultrasonic nebulizer and FEV1 was measured after each inhalation. Sputum induction resulted in a sample suitable for analysis in 92% of asthmatics, 90% of those with miscellaneous conditions and 100% of normal subjects. The mean (SEM) maximum per cent fall in FEV1 was 5.4% (0.1), 4.3%, (1.0) and 2.6% (1.1) in subjects with asthma, miscellaneous conditions and in asymptomatic subjects respectively. Only 13 inductions resulted in a > 10% fall in FEV1, and only three of these resulted in a > 20% fall. The maximum per cent fall in FEV1 did not correlate with baseline FEV1 % predicted (r = -0.17), the log sputum eosinophil count (r = -0.12), or the methacholine PC20 (r = -0.14). We conclude that sputum induction using a relatively low output ultrasonic nebulizer with premedication with salbutamol is successful and safe in the majority of patients with asthma and other airway conditions.
This study was prompted by the disparate recoveries of nickel (>70%) and copper (<20%) from a test heap of copper-nickel sulfide ore after about 200 days of leaching. Variables tested in bioleaching columns charged with a pyrrhotite-rich, chalcopyrite and pentlandite ore were acid pre-conditioning, inoculation and aeration. The results indicated that the rapid reaction of pyrrhotite with acid created conditions that impacted directly and/or indirectly on copper recovery. Important reactions were hydrogen sulfide formation, high soluble iron concentrations and the formation of large amounts of elemental sulfur. It was hypothesized that copper loss, evidenced by copper redistribution during passage through the ore, was mainly the result of reaction with hydrogen sulfide to form covellite, although this could not be confirmed by XRD analysis of leached residues. A layer of ironoxy-hydroxy-sulfate "scale" on particle surfaces encapsulated sulfide grains as well as elemental sulfur formed by the oxidation of pyrrhotite and was of sufficient depth and integrity to have hindered but not prevented leaching and bioleaching. Lack of aeration (oxygen, carbon dioxide) impacted on ferrous ion biooxidation and probably sulfur biooxidation. More extensive sulfur biooxidation to form acid might have lowered the 2 solution pH and reduced the amount of scale formation, resulting in higher ferric ion concentrations and better chalcopyrite oxidation.
A photoredox protocol that uses a heteroleptic Cu (I) complex, [Cu(dq)(BINAP)]BF 4 , has been developed for the photodeprotection of benzenesulfonyl-protected N-heterocycles. A range of substrates was examined, including indazoles, indoles, pyrazoles, and benzimidazole, featuring both electron-rich and electron-deficient substituents, giving good yields of the N-heterocycle products with broad functional group tolerance. This transformation was also found to be amenable to flow reaction conditions.
The final 22-item ALIS is unidimensional, reliable and valid, and a valuable tool for comprehensively assessing the holistic impact of asthma from the patient's perspective.
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