BACKGROUND The rate of non-compliance with vitamin D supplementation is as high as 45%. This is why randomised controlled trials are needed to analyse the response to low doses of vitamin D3. OBJECTIVE (1) To compare supplementation with 250 versus 500 units of vitamin D3 and (2) to analyse sun exposure time/ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure during the first 6 weeks of life. DESIGN 40 breastfed ...

UNLABELLED BACKGROUND Low Frequency Vibro-Percussion (LFVP) assists clearance of thrombi in catheter systems and when applied to the heart and timed to diastole is known to enhance coronary flow. However LFVP on a clotted coronary like vessel given engagement over a chest wall sized barrier (to resemble non-invasive heart attack therapy) requires study. METHODS One hour old clots (n=16) we...

The effects of some factors on the preparation and regeneration of protoplasts from the taxol-producing fungus Nodulisporium sylviforme were discussed in this paper, including recombination of various enzymes, digesting time and temperature, and pH value. The results showed that the highest preparation frequency of protoplasts is a concentration of 2.0×10 protoplasts per microlitre. The mutagen...

Dispensing and manipulation of small droplets is important in bioassays, chemical analysis and patterning of functional inks. So far, dispensing of small droplets has been achieved by squeezing the liquid out of a small orifice similar in size to the droplets. Here we report that instead of squeezing the liquid out, small droplets can also be dispensed advantageously from large orifices by drai...

Foraging by honeybee workers was investigated from the moment of the first foraging flight until death. To minimise the influence of factors other than senescence the foragers were trained to collect food from an artificial flower close to their hive. During each foraging trip the workers repeatedly visited an artificial flower, collecting one microlitre of 50% sugar solution per visit. During ...

A snakebite victim presented with normal clotting profile and a low platelet count. A routine CBC in his past records (February 2004) showed a platelet count of 20,000/microlitre, but the patient was not symptomatic. We report a case of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, incidentally found in a patient presenting with snakebite. The patient also has acquired primary testicular failure...