RESUMEN
The vapor of (chlorocarbonyl)sulfenyl bromide, ClC(O)SBr, was isolated in solid Ar, Kr, N(2), and Ar doped with 5% CO at 15 K, and the matrix was subsequently irradiated with broad-band UV--visible light (200 < or = lambda < or = 800 nm), the changes being followed by reference to the IR spectrum of the matrix. The initial spectrum showed the vapor of ClC(O)SBr to consist of more than 99% of the syn form (with the C==O bond syn with respect to the S--Br bond) in equilibrium with less than 1% of the anti conformer. Irradiation caused various changes to occur. First, conformational randomization took place, leading to a roughly equimolar mixture of the two rotamers, and so affording the first spectroscopic characterization of an anti-ClC(O)S-containing compound. Simultaneously, the novel constitutional isomer syn-BrC(O)SCl was also formed. Continued photolysis resulted in the decay of all these species while revealing a third reaction channel, leading to the elimination of CO and the formation of the new triatomic sulfur halide BrSCl. The assignment of the IR bands to the different products was made on the basis of the usual criteria, taking account (i) of the effects of the naturally occurring isotopic pairs (35)Cl/(37)Cl and (79)Br/(81)Br, (ii) of the vibrational properties of related molecules, and (iii) of the properties predicted for the relevant molecules by quantum chemical calculations.
RESUMEN
Following the observation of an apparently high prevalence of poor nutritional status in elderly hospital admissions a prospective survey was carried out on two medical wards at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados. Sixty consecutive admissions had haemoglobin, serum albumin and serum trasferrin levels assayed, and weights and heights measured. Albumin was measured by immunoelectrophoressis and transferrin by radial diffusion methods. Patients with renal or liver disease, blood loss or diseases of the haemopoietic system were excluded. The mean age of patients admitted was 59.3 years ñ 17.4 (S.D.), (range 13 to 85). Laboratory indices for all patients were: haemoglobin level 10.2g/dl ñ 4.0 (women) and 11.7gm/dl ñ 2.3 (men), albumin level 37.4 g/l ñ 7.3 (normal range at QEH 29-45) and transferrin level 2.2 ñ 0.5 g/l (normal range 2.0-4.0). There was a significant negative correlation between serum albumin and age (r=-0.36;p<0.025), and between haemoglobin and age (r= -40; p<0.025). The haemoglobin level was more strongly correlated with age in men than in the whole group (r = -0.48) or in women (r = 0.28). Serum transferrin levels showed the strongest correlation with age (r = -0.48) although it was measured in only 18 subjects (p<0.05). Serum albumin and transferrin levels showed a significant positive correlation with each other as expected (r = 0.47;p<0.05). Ther was no correlation between albumin and haemoglobin levels or between body mass index (weight devided by heightý) and age. Neither haemoglobin nor albumin levels are ideal indices of malnutrition. Transferrin is widely accepted to be a better index of protein deficiency. The negative correlation of all three with age in this survey provides strong evidence that elderly patients admitted to hospital with acute medical problems are ess well-nourished than their younger counterparts. Since nutritional status may affect resistance to infection and stress, malnutrition may play a role both in precipitating illness in the elderly and in determining the outcome. Malnutrition in the elderly in the Caribbean merits the attention of preventive as well as curative services (AU)