This study compares two groups of infants weighing less than 1500 g at birth. In the propylene glycol (PG) group, 30 infants received MVI-Concentrate containing 300 mg of PG daily with their intravenous nutrition (ivn), and vitamin E, 50 mg/week by intramuscular injection. In the mannitol group, 30 infants received MVI-Pediatric (containing 245 mg mannitol), 65% of a vial/day. Serum and urine osmolality, serum PG, blood-urea-nitrogen, creatinine, sodium, and glucose were measured on days 0, 2, 5, 12, 19, 26, 33 and 40 of ivn. Weight, urine output, and fluid intake were measured daily.

In 1980, five federal special education longitudinal qualitative impact evaluations were all prematurely terminated. Given the popularity of case studies as part of educational evaluations, the increasing acceptance of qualitative methodology, and the probable continuation of annual funding patterns that pose a threat to the completion of multiyear studies, future studies of this sort are likely to find themselves similarly at risk. What happened, why it happened, what salvage decisions were made and what could have been done may have implications for the design of RFPs and evaluation plans so that the salvageability and usability of future studies will be maximized.