A neutron powder diffraction study of short range order in ferroelectric Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3)

The structure of Pb(Mg(1/3)Nb(2/3))O(3) (PMN) was investigated using pulsed neutron powder diffraction. Rietveld analysis suggests small displacements of Pb and O atoms, with anomalously large thermal factors. The pair-distribution function (PDF) derived from experiment indicates the presence of short range order. Modeling in real space by fitting to the experimental PDF suggests displacements of lead and oxygen atoms of much larger magnitude than those indicated by the Rietveld analysis. Correlation of these displacements may be related to the onset of bulk ferroelectricity in this material.

Factitious haematuria. A report of two cases

Two patients who presented with recurrent gross haematuria are described. Both underwent extensive invasive investigations including renal biopsies before it was discovered that they had factitious haematuria produced by contaminating urine with blood from self inflicted skin wounds.

Acute renal failure following multiple hornet stings

Five patients who developed acute renal failure due to acute tubular necrosis following multiple hornet (Vespa orientalis) stings are described. All of them had intravascular hemolysis. Evidence for rhabdomyolysis was present in 2 patients. Two patients had elevated transaminase and alkaline phosphatase levels and in 1 of these, liver biopsy showed centrilobular necrosis. Two patients had thrombocytopenia in the absence of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Two patients died of infections while the remaining 3 recovered completely. Acute renal failure following multiple hornet stings appears to result mainly from intravascular hemolysis or rhabdomyolysis although a direct nephrotoxic effect of venom cannot be excluded.

Behaviour disturbances during recovery from herpes simplex encephalitis

Bizarre behaviour disturbances in four patients occurring during incomplete recovery from herpes simplex encephalitis are described. Some aspects of their behaviour were similar to that originally described by Klüver and Bucy in monkeys following bilateral temporal lobectomy. Previous reports of behavioural disturbances in man after herpes simplex encephalitis are reviewed and attention drawn to the aggressive and disruptive behaviour that is often seen. With the reduced mortality in herpes simplex encephalitis in recent years it is possible that behaviour disturbances such as those described here will be seen more frequently.