AgI complexes Ag(O2CtBu)(PMe3) (1) and Ag(O2CtBu)(PEt3) (2) were used as CVD precursors. Silver films between 30 nm and 100 nm were deposited from the above compounds using hot‐wall and cold‐wall CVD ...techniques on Si(111) and Si(100) substrates in the temperature range 180‐220 °C, under the reactor pressure 1–3 mbar. Metallic films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GDOES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and conductivity measurements.
AgI complexes Ag(O2CtBu) (PMe3) (1) and Ag(O2CtBu)(PEt3) (2) were used as CVD precursors for deposition of silver films between 30 nm and 100 nm thick using hot‐wall and cold‐wall CVD techniques on Si(111) and Si(100) substrates (Figure). Metallic films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and conductivity measurements.
To describe and measure reliability of a computer-assisted method of case vignette assembly and expert review to assess the appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy for hospitalized adults.
...Feasibility and reliability analysis of computer-assisted tool used to compare the effects of antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
Public teaching hospital.
Randomly selected adult antimicrobial recipients admitted to inpatient medicine services.
Clinical data abstracted from 504 paper medical records were merged with computerized laboratory and pharmacy data to assemble case vignettes that underwent expert review for appropriateness. We performed 3 validations, as follows: data for 35 vignettes abstracted independently by 2 research assistants were assessed for interrater agreement, expert review of 24 vignettes was compared with review of the corresponding paper medical records, and interrater reliability of antimicrobial appropriateness assessments by 2 experts was determined for 70 case vignettes.
Vignette assembly and expert review each required 10-12 minutes per case. Potentially important discrepancies occurred in 0%-32% of clinical findings abstracted independently by 2 research assistants. Expert review of 24 vignettes and the corresponding full paper medical records yielded fair agreement (kappa, 0.30). The 2 experts identified inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy in 67% and 61% of case vignettes reviewed independently; interrater agreement was improved after sequential case discussion and stringent application of appropriateness criteria (kappa, 0.72).
Our case vignette assembly and expert review method is efficient, but improvements in both technical and human performance are needed to be able to yield valid estimates of the prevalence of inappropriate antimicrobial use. Assessments of antimicrobial appropriateness require validation.
Treating the elderly is often problematic, especially when congenital heart disease is diagnosed. The aim of this study is to present the case of a 72-year old woman with depression syndrome, ...paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and past cerebral stroke, in whom persistent ductus arteriosus Botalli was diagnosed. Due to exacerbation of the depressive syndrome, she did not give her consent to further diagnostics, possible interventional procedures and treatment with oral anticoagulants. After intermission of the therapy she was treated with dabigatran. The patient is still undergoing outpatient treatment and so far, no cerebrovascular episodes have been recorded.
In hyperlipidemia damage to the plasma membranes of erythrocytes is observed. It is supposed that statins by their beneficial impact on the serum lipids and pleiotropic effects may modify the ...membrane cell structure.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of statins on erythrocyte membrane structure in patients (pts) with hyperlipidemia. The study involved 54 pts with the initial total cholesterol (TC) concentration > 200 mg/dl (6.5 mmol/l), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) > 160 mg/dl (4.1 mmol/l) and triglycerides (TG) < 400 mg/dl (4.5 mmol/l) and 22 healthy individuals as the control group. After 8 weeks of hypolipemic diet, pts were randomized to two groups: A--27 pts treated with atorvastatin in a dose of 10 mg/day; S--27 pts treated with simvastatin in a dose of 40 mg/day. After 8 weeks of active therapy in all pts were determined: the activity of Na+K+-ATPase, erythrocyte membrane fluidity (the order parameter S), lipids peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances - TBARS), content of membrane cholesterol, concentration of SH groups and W/S ratio (which specifies the relations between the two kinds of the SH groups: the weakly--W bound, and the strongly--S bound).
In the group of hyperlipidemic patients as compared to the control group we observed significantly higher values of the order parameter S, membrane cholesterol, TBARS, ratio W/S and significantly lower the activity of Na+K+-ATPase, SH groups concentration in membrane erythrocytes. Atorvastatin and simvastatin in a similar degree significantly increased the activity of Na'K'-ATPase (15.7% vs. 20.9%), the SH concentration groups (23.4% vs. 21.2%) and decreased TBARS (-41.8% vs. -41%), W/S ratio (-11.3% vs. S-12.1%). Simvastatin decreased stronger the membrane cholesterol (-30.0% vs. -24.5%; p < 0.05) and the values of parameter S (-5.1% vs. -3.5%, p < 0.05) than atorvastatin.
A short-term therapy with statins exhibits a high hypolipemic efficacy and advantageous effects on the protein-lipid structure of erythrocyte membranes. Simvastatin at 40 mg/day dose increases the fluidity of erythrocyte membrane and decreases the membrane cholesterol level to a greater extent than does atorvastatin at 10 mg/day dose.
The GRADE working group has recently suggested a rigorous framework for clinical practice guidelines (CPG) addressing diagnostic tests and test strategies based on the impact of alternative ...approaches on patient-important outcomes. The framework mandates explicit evidence summaries, ratings of the quality of evidence, and specifying recommendations as strong or weak.
To test the feasibility and performance of the GRADE approach, we applied this framework to well-researched issues in the diagnoses of deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
A 16-member panel with interest in thromboembolism and CPG development identified pertinent clinical questions. Our search for relevant studies included existing CPG and systematic reviews. We summarized the data in form of evidence tables and developed recommendations including, when needed, a formal consensus process.
We provide three groups of recommendations for clinicians practicing in settings with access to different types of D-dimer tests -- highly sensitive, moderately sensitive, and no availability of D-dimer. We consider the use of clinical prediction rules in guiding the diagnostic process, the potential for negative D-dimer or venous ultrasound (US) to rule out disease, and the role of follow-up testing (US following positive D-dimer result, D-dimer following negative US, and serial US) depending on the probability of DVT at the start of diagnostic process. We recommend the following: that clinicians without access to a highly or moderately sensitive D-dimer test rely on US to guide DVT diagnosis; that those with access use the highly sensitive D-dimer to determine, in patients with low or moderate probability of DVT (by the Wells rule) whether US is needed; that in patients with low pre-test probability (pre-TP) and a negative D-dimer (either highly or moderately sensitive) they follow patients without further testing; that in patients with high pre-test probability they perform a compression ultrasound without D-dimer testing.
In hypercholesterolemia the damage to the plasma membranes of erythrocytes is observed. This may result from higher concentration of cholesterol in plasma and membranes, lipids peroxidation and ...changes in protein conformation. The aim of the study was to estimate the membrane fluidity, concentration of cholesterol (Ch), phospholipids (PL), ratio of Ch/PL, thiobarbituric acid reaction substances (TBARS) in the isolated erythrocyte membrane of patients with mixed hyperlipidemia. The study comprised 50 patients in the age from 45 to 65 with the initial concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) > 200 mg/dl (5.2 mmol/l); cholesterol LDL (LDL-C) > 160 mg/dL (4.1 mmol/l); triglicerides (TG) > 150 mg/dL (4.5 mmol/L) and 22 healthy controls. The plasma lipids concentrations were determined by enzymatic method, the concentration of cholesterol membrane (by method of Ilcy), phospholipids (by method of Bartlett), lipids peroxidation (by method of Stocks and Dormandy) and the erythrocyte membrane fluidity (by a spin-label paramagnetic resonance method using 5-doxylstearic acid - 5-DSA, and 16-doxylstearic acid - 16-DSA). The order parameter S was determined using 5-DSA; 16-DSA was used to estimate the correlation taub and tauc. In group of patients with mixed hyperlipidemia in comparison to the control group it was noticed a significant increase of the mean values of order parameter S (0.74 +/- 0.01 vs. 0.72 +/- 0.005, p < 0.001), of membrane cholesterol concentration (3.39 +/-0.98 vs. 1.93 +/- 0.93 mmol/l pc, p < 0.001), ratio Ch/PL (2.32 +/- 1.22 vs. 1.22 +/- 0.44; p < 0,001) and TBARS (2.91 +/- 0.74 vs. 1.5 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg protein). The differences of the correlation times and phospholipids concentrations between the groups were not statistically significant. Significant correlation between the order parameter S and concentrations of TC, LDL-C in plasma and membrane cholesterol was observed. On the base of given results we conclude that mixed hyperlipidemia may have influence on the erythrocyte membrane structure caused significant decrease of membrane fluidity in the superficial layer without any significant changes in deeper layer and significant increase of membrane cholesterol and TBARS.
The air oxidation of potato starch over ammonium vanadate (V) is presented. Contrary to the effect of oxidation described for corn starch, oxidised potato starch produced less viscous gels. Optimum ...quantity of the catalyst applied was about 4% (w/w). Oxidation proceeded at the granule surface level as proved by polarised light and electron microscopies.
Treating the elderly is often problematic, especially when congenital heart disease is diagnosed. The aim of this study is to present the case of a 72-year old woman with depression syndrome, ...paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and past cerebral stroke, in whom persistent ductus arteriosus Botalli was diagnosed. Due to exacerbation of the depressive syndrome, she did not give her consent to further diagnostics, possible interventional procedures and treatment with oral anticoagulants. After intermission of the therapy she was treated with dabigatran. The patient is still undergoing outpatient treatment and so far, no cerebrovascular episodes have been recorded.
Phys.Rev. D67 (2003) 064028 We extend the description of gravitational waves emitted by binary black
holes during the final stages of inspiral and merger by introducing in the
third post-Newtonian ...(3PN) effective-one-body (EOB) templates seven new
``flexibility'' parameters that affect the two-body dynamics and gravitational
radiation emission. The plausible ranges of these flexibility parameters,
notably the parameter characterising the fourth post-Newtonian effects in the
dynamics, are estimated. Using these estimates, we show that the currently
available standard 3PN bank of EOB templates does ``span'' the space of signals
opened up by all the flexibility parameters, in that their maximized mutual
overlaps are larger than 96.5%. This confirms the effectualness of 3PN EOB
templates for the detection of binary black holes in gravitational-wave data
from interferometric detectors. The possibility to drastically reduce the
number of EOB templates using a few ``universal'' phasing functions is
suggested.
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