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Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Catalytic activity of microbial communities maintains the services and functions of soils. Microbial communities require energy and carbon for microbial growth, which...
Catalytic activity of microbial communities maintains the services and functions of soils. Microbial communities require energy and carbon for microbial growth, which they obtain by transforming organic matter (OM), oxidizing a fraction of it and transferring the electrons to various terminal acceptors. Quantifying the relations between matter and energy fluxes is possible when key parameters such as reaction enthalpy (), energy use efficiency (related to enthalpy) (EUE), carbon use efficiency (CUE), calorespirometric ratio (CR), carbon dioxide evolution rate (CER), and the apparent specific growth rate () are known. However, the determination of these parameters suffers from unsatisfying accuracy at the technical (sample size, instrument sensitivity), experimental (sample aeration) and data processing levels thus affecting the precise quantification of relationships between carbon and energy fluxes. To address these questions under controlled conditions, we analyzed microbial turnover processes in a model soil amended using a readily metabolizable substrate (glucose) and three commercial isothermal microcalorimeters (MC-Cal/100P, TAM Air and TAM III) with different sample sizes meaning varying volume-related thermal detection limits () (0.05mW L). We conducted aeration experiments (aerated and un-aerated calorimetric ampoules) to investigate the influence of oxygen limitation and thermal perturbation on the measurement signal. We monitored the CER by measuring the additional heat caused by CO absorption using a NaOH solution acting as a CO trap. The range of errors associated with the calorimetrically derived , EUE, and CR was determined and compared with the requirements for quantifying CUE and the degree of anaerobicity (. Calorimetrically derived and EUE were independent of the instrument used. However, instruments with a low yielded the most accurate results. Opening and closing the ampoules for oxygen and CO exchange did not significantly affect metabolic heats. However, regular opening during calorimetrically derived CER measurements caused significant measuring errors due to strong thermal perturbation of the measurement signal. Comparisons between experimentally determined CR, CUE,, and modeling indicate that the evaluation of CR should be performed with caution.
PubMed: 38371938
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1321059 -
Acta Crystallographica Section B,... Apr 2024As an excellent representative of all-inorganic perovskite materials, CsPbBr has been widely used in high-energy rays or high-energy particles detection for its...
As an excellent representative of all-inorganic perovskite materials, CsPbBr has been widely used in high-energy rays or high-energy particles detection for its outstanding high carrier mobility and long diffusion length. The great challenges and opportunities in these fields are crystal growth technology, especially the high-quality and large-sized CsPbBr single crystals. In this work, the influences of growth parameters (temperature gradient, growth rate, cooling rate) and thermal stress by the vertical Bridgman method on the quality and performance of CsPbBr crystals are systematically studied. The final results show that 10°C cm is the optimized temperature gradient and 0.5 mm h is the suitable growth rate for CsPbBr crystal growth. The study also shows that a cooling rate of 10°C h for the general temperature interval and 1°C h for the phase transition temperature interval is helpful to balance crystal growth efficiency as well as crystal quality. Crystal cracks caused by thermal stress as well as crystal adhesion on the ampoule can be effectively solved by depositing a uniform carbon film on the ampoule in advance. The optical, electrical and detection performance are also investigated. The optical characterization in the wavelength region ranging from ultraviolet to infrared indicates the crystal has a low density of deep-level defects and good crystal quality. The resistivity over 10 Ω cm and μτ of electrons over 10 cm V proves that the electrical performance of the crystal has met the basic requirement for nuclear radiation detection. The metal-semiconductor-metal structure Ti/Ni/CsPbBr/Ni/Ti detector fabricated from the optimized CsPbBr single crystal has an energy resolution of 12.85% (Cs, 662 keV). The purpose of this work is to provide a useful guide and reference for the future exploration of repeatable and improvable CsPbBr crystal growth technology.
PubMed: 38335029
DOI: 10.1107/S2052520624000398 -
International Journal of Circumpolar... Dec 2024In very cold environments, it may be burdensome or impossible for the polar medic to prevent medicines from freezing. We sought to investigate whether orientation...
In very cold environments, it may be burdensome or impossible for the polar medic to prevent medicines from freezing. We sought to investigate whether orientation affected the risk that glass ampoules of 1 in 1000 adrenaline, an important emergency drug, would break during freezing and subsequent thawing. Ampoules of adrenaline were orientated either upright, horizontally or inverted. They were exposed to freezing temperatures (-25°C or -80°C) and then allowed to thaw. A crossover design was used whereby the orientation of unbroken ampoules was changed for the next trial. No ampoules broke when frozen at -25°C and then thawed. When this was repeated at -80°C, ampoules reliably broke unless they were upright with no liquid in the top part of the ampoule. Upright orientation prevents the breakage of glass ampoules of 1 in 1000 adrenaline rapidly frozen at -80°C. The polar medic may consider storing ampoules upright if they are to be exposed to very low temperatures.
Topics: Humans; Epinephrine; Temperature; Freezing; Glass
PubMed: 38290014
DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2024.2309756 -
Pain Physician Jan 2024In patients with severe cancer pain, systemic analgesics are often refractory or have limited application due to the side effects of opioids. In these cases, epidural... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
In patients with severe cancer pain, systemic analgesics are often refractory or have limited application due to the side effects of opioids. In these cases, epidural analgesia may be effective. However, data on the effects of epidural patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) on cancer pain are limited.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of epidural PCA in patients with cancer pain through a retrospective chart review.
STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective analysis.
SETTING
A single academic center in Daegu, South Korea.
METHODS
The analgesic efficacy of epidural PCA on cancer pain was analyzed in patients who underwent epidural PCA using a disposable balloon pump with a flow regulator between 2012 and 2021. The pump was filled with a 600-mL mixture of 6 ampoules of 0.2% ropivacaine, 1 mg fentanyl, and normal saline. For the first use of epidural PCA, the basal rate, bolus dose, and lockout time were set as 4 mL/h, 2 mL, and 15 min, respectively. The basal rate was increased and decreased depending on the degree of pain relief effect and occurrence of side effects, respectively. To increase the usage time of epidural PCA and reduce the patient's cost burden, the fentanyl dose was increased by 1 mg when the disposable balloon pump was replaced with a new one after exhaustion of the drug if no side effects from the previous dose were observed. Analgesic efficacy was confirmed by comparing the number of types and the total amount of opioids used in patients before and after epidural PCA application in terms of the equivalent dose of oral morphine.
RESULTS
Epidural catheterization was performed 105 times, and PCA was refilled 257 times in 88 patients. On average, epidural catheterization was performed 1.2 ± 0.4 (1-3) times, and epidural PCA was refilled 3.2 ± 2.3 (1-11) times per patient. The mean duration of PCA use was 15.6 ± 13.4 (1-82) days. The mean number of opioid types used the day before the procedure and the mean smallest number of opioids used per day up to 5 days after the procedure were 3.4 ± 1.2 and 2.4 ± 1.4, respectively (P < 0.05). The total amount of opioids used the day before the procedure and the smallest total amount of opioids used per day up to 5 days after the procedure were converted into oral morphine equivalent doses, respectively, and the mean doses were 449.5 ± 555.9 and 331.9 ± 462.8 mg, respectively (P < 0.05).
LIMITATIONS
The study results are the author's observations from a single center. Epidural PCA was performed only on hospitalized patients. Individual differences were not considered in the composition of drugs for PCA. Transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl was not accurately converted to oral morphine; thus, it was excluded from the analysis of the total amount used, and the effect of adjuvant analgesics could not be considered.
CONCLUSION
Epidural PCA using subcutaneous tunneling is a useful cancer pain control method. Furthermore, it can be safely used for a longer duration owing to its low infection risk.
Topics: Humans; Analgesia, Patient-Controlled; Cancer Pain; Retrospective Studies; Analgesics; Analgesics, Opioid; Fentanyl; Pain; Morphine Derivatives; Neoplasms
PubMed: 38285038
DOI: No ID Found -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... May 2024Food allergy (FA), which is a condition that has no effective cure and can result in severe life-threatening allergic reactions, remains a global public health concern;...
BACKGROUND
Food allergy (FA), which is a condition that has no effective cure and can result in severe life-threatening allergic reactions, remains a global public health concern; however, little is known about how FAs are currently managed in the Asia-Pacific region.
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this survey was to evaluate the epidemiology of FA, as well as the availability of resources and practices for management of FA and anaphylaxis by health care providers across Asia.
METHODS
From June 2022 to September 2022, a questionnaire-based survey comprising 66 questions was electronically sent to member societies of the Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology by using Survey Monkey.
RESULTS
A total of 20 responses were received from 15 member countries and territories. Compared with the pediatric data, there was a lack of prevalence data for FA in adults. Except for Australia and Japan, most regions had between 0.1 and 0.5 allergists per 100,000 population and some had fewer than 0.1 allergists per 100,000 population. The perceived rate of FA in regions with a short supply of allergists was high. Although specific IgE tests and oral food challenges were available in all regions, the median wait time for oral food challenges at government facilities was 37 days (interquartile range = 10.5-60 days). Seven regions still relied on prescriptions of ampules and syringes of injectable adrenaline, and adrenaline autoinjectors were not accessible in 4 regions. Oral immunotherapy as FA treatment was available in half of the surveyed countries and territories.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study offers a cross-sectional evaluation of the management practices for FA in each Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology member country or territory. Urgent actions are required to enhance allergy services, improve the accessibility and affordability of adrenaline autoinjectors, and conduct robust epidemiologic studies.
PubMed: 38283085
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2023.100202 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024The chalcogenides of p-block elements constitute a significant category of materials with substantial potential for advancing the field of electronic and optoelectronic...
The chalcogenides of p-block elements constitute a significant category of materials with substantial potential for advancing the field of electronic and optoelectronic devices. This is attributed to their exceptional characteristics, including elevated carrier mobility and the ability to fine-tune band gaps through solid solution formation. These compounds exhibit diverse structures, encompassing both three-dimensional and two-dimensional configurations, the latter exemplified by the compound InSe. Sesqui-chalcogenides were synthesized through the direct reaction of highly pure elements within a quartz ampoule. Their single-phase composition was confirmed using X-ray diffraction, and the morphology and chemical composition were characterized using scanning electron microscopy. The compositions of all six materials were also confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. This investigation delves into the thermodynamic properties of indium and gallium sesqui-chalcogenides. It involves low-temperature heat capacity measurements to evaluate standard entropies and Tian-Calvet calorimetry to elucidate the temperature dependence of heat capacity beyond the reference temperature of 298.15 K, as well as the enthalpy of formation assessed from DFT calculations.
PubMed: 38255536
DOI: 10.3390/ma17020361 -
Pharmeuropa Bio & Scientific Notes 2024This publication describes the outcome of a project to develop a replacement European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) Biological Reference Preparation (BRP) for Human tetanus...
This publication describes the outcome of a project to develop a replacement European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) Biological Reference Preparation (BRP) for Human tetanus immunoglobulin (TIg) as well as for the World Health Organization (WHO) International Standard (IS) for Tetanus Immunoglobulin, Human. Bulk TIg was kindly provided by a European manufacturer and was used to prepare the candidate standard. The candidate standard was freeze-dried and calibrated in an international collaborative study jointly co-ordinated by the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM, Council of Europe). The results of this study show that there was good agreement between laboratories for the potency estimates obtained for the candidate standard relative to the current WHO IS/Ph. Eur. BRP. The study also demonstrated that the candidate standard is suitable for use in Ph. Eur. assays for potency testing of TIg products and there was good agreement in the potency estimates obtained using the different assay methods included in the study. Accelerated degradation studies performed at the MHRA over a period of 4 years suggest that the freeze-dried candidate standard will be very stable. The candidate standard was established as Ph. Eur. BRP for Human tetanus immunoglobulin, batch 2 with an assigned potency of 45 IU/ampoule. The same preparation was also adopted by the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization (ECBS) to serve as the WHO 2nd IS for Tetanus Immunoglobulin, Human (13/240).
Topics: Humans; Tetanus; Tetanus Antitoxin; Antitoxins; Biological Assay; Europe
PubMed: 38252512
DOI: No ID Found -
Asian Journal of Surgery Apr 2024
PubMed: 38212223
DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.12.084 -
Advanced Biomedical Research 2023In this case, a 44-year-old pregnant woman at a gestational age of 28 weeks and 6 days with symptoms of cold, shortness of breath, and cough since a week ago. She had...
In this case, a 44-year-old pregnant woman at a gestational age of 28 weeks and 6 days with symptoms of cold, shortness of breath, and cough since a week ago. She had received remdesivir ampoule, Tamiflu tablet, meropenem and linezolid, and dexamethasone. She received oxygen through a 14-liter reservoir bag mask and hydrocortisone, heparin, and ceftriaxone. Nine hours after hospitalization, the patient suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, resuscitation was performed, and the patient was intubated. Emergency cesarean section was done in the intensive care unit. Finally, the patient suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, prop was placed for the patient, and evidence of severe Mitral stenosis and right ventricle dilation were observed. The cardiopulmonary resuscitation operation continued for an hour, but unfortunately the patient died. So, it is important to be careful about influenza during pregnancy and in the case of heart failure symptoms, it is necessary to consider the presence of underlying mitral stenosis.
PubMed: 38192899
DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_104_23 -
European Journal of Obstetrics,... Feb 2024Unrecognized ureteral and bladder injury increase morbidity and mortality in gynecologic surgery. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the efficiency of a...
OBJECTIVE
Unrecognized ureteral and bladder injury increase morbidity and mortality in gynecologic surgery. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the efficiency of a systematic intra-venous (IV) injection of carmine indigo to detect bladder injury in gynecologic vaginal surgery for benign disease. The secondary objective is to analyze the cost and use of carmine indigo.
STUDY DESIGN
A retrospective, monocentric study was conducted in a tertiary hospital between January 2018 and October 2021. All patients undergoing a vaginal surgery of hysterectomy for benign disease or anterior prolapse were systematically included. Patients can be systematically included by the automatic coding of surgery. After anesthesia, during the patient's installation, an intravenous injection of 5 mL of intravenous indigo carmine (Carmyne®) diluted in 100 mL of physiological serum was systematically administered by the anesthesia team. Intraoperative cystoscopy was performed only in cases of suspected associated ureteral injury.
RESULTS
We recorded 443 vaginal hysterectomies for benign disease and 95 vaginal anterior prolapse surgeries. There were 6 (1,4%) bladder injuries during vaginal hysterectomies and 1 (1,1%) bladder injury during vaginal prolapse surgery. All bladder injuries were diagnosed intraoperatively. No ureteral injury was diagnosed in this series of patients. No complication related to IV indigo carmine injection was found. In this tertiary hospital, 1085 ampoules of carmine indigo were ordered during the same period, approximatively 270 per year. The total cost to the gynecology and obstetrics department was 19,600 euros, or about 4,900 euros per year. Half of the carmine indigo was used in vaginal surgery and half in laparotomy, caesarean section and endometriosis surgery for suspected bladder or ureteral injury.
Topics: Humans; Pregnancy; Female; Indigo Carmine; Carmine; Coloring Agents; Retrospective Studies; Cesarean Section; Urologic Diseases; Uterine Prolapse
PubMed: 38160534
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.12.027