High definition CT has been advocated for the evaluation of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) either generally or in selected cases. It is said to be capable of producing the fine detail needed to detect lateral canal fistulae, exposed dura and facial canal dehiscences, and to demonstrate the ossicular chain. At present there is no agreement on either the indications for CT scanning in CSOM or the most appropriate scanning plane. To determine the value of high definition CT in CSOM and to decide a unit policy for its application, 36 cases of CSOM underwent pre-operative CT scanning and their scans were compared with the operative findings. Our results show CT to be highly sensitive to the presence of soft tissue disease and bone erosion, moderately sensitive to the presence of lateral canal fistulae but less sensitive to the presence of small areas of exposed dura, ossicular continuity and facial canal dehiscence. Axial scans were better able to demonstrate the lateral canal but otherwise coronal scans were superior; ideally patients should be scanned in both planes. The principle value of CT in CSOM is its ability to demonstrate disease which is not clinically apparent.

This paper reports the recent development and applications of conductive borondoped ultrananocrystalline diamond (BD-UNCD). The authors have determined that BD-UNCD can be synthesized with an H-rich gaseous chemistry and a high CH 4 /H 2 ratio, which is opposite to previously reported methods with Ar-rich or H-rich gas compositions but utilizing very low CH 4 /H 2 ratio. The BD-UNCD has a resistivity as low as 0.01 ohm·cm, with low roughness (down to several nm) and a wide deposition temperature range (450-850¼C).The properties of this BD-UNCD were studied systematically using resistivity characterization, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and roughness measurements. Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy confirms that up to 97% of the UNCD is deposited as sp3 carbon.These series of measurements also reveal additional unique properties for this material, such as an ÒMÓ shape Raman signature, line-granular nano-cluster texture and high C-H bond surface content. A hypothesis is provided to explain why this new deposition strategy, with H-rich/Ar-free gas chemistry and CH 4 /H 2 ratio, is able to produce high sp3-content and/or 2 heavily doped UNCD. In addition, a few emerging applications for BD-UNCD in the field of atomic force microscopy, electrochemistry and biosensing are reviewed here.

In contradistinction to all currently available water-soluble contrast media, metrizamide (Amipaque) is not a salt, but a substituted amide and therefore does not dissociate in solution. This unique property results in solutions of high iodine content yet with low osmolality. Metrizamide probably has a lower neurotoxicity than any other known water-soluble contrast agent. A clinical trial of metrizamide lumbar myelography in 201 patients in three clinical centres represents the first clinical assessment of this new contrast medium in the United Kingdom. The technique of the radiological procedure and the adverse reactions encountered are presented and discussed. There were no serious adverse effects: no muscle spasm or epilepsy. Minor adverse reactions--headache, vomiting and nausea occur with approximately the same frequency as with meglumine iocarmate: 43 percent of patients complained of headache. In 118 patients, the lower dorsal subarachnoid space was also examined with no increase in toxic reactions. It is concluded that metrizamide is a safe contrast medium for lumbar and lower dorsal myelography. Water-soluble media will probably largely replace oil products for these investigations. Further clinical trials are being extended to include examination of the upper dorsal and cervical subarachnoid space.

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