Science Verification for the VISIR Upgrade

The Very Large Telescope spectrometer and imager for the mid-infrared (VISIR) was upgraded in 2015 with new detectors and several new modes were added. Science Verification (SV) is carried out for new ESO instruments as well as for substantial upgrades to existing instruments. Sparse aperture masking and coronagraphy in the mid infrared have now been added to VISIR’s capabilities and during SV these new observational modes, together with the recommissioned burst mode, were used to demonstrate the observational capabilities of the instrument. The SV process for VISIR is briefly described and some results from the successful observations are presented. All SV data are publicly available

Integrated approach to prevent functional decline in hospitalized elderly: the Prevention and Reactivation Care Program (PReCaP)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hospital related functional decline in older patients is an underestimated problem. Thirty-five procent of 70-year old patients experience functional decline during hospital admission in comparison with pre-illness baseline. This percentage increases considerably with age.</p> <p>Methods/design</p> <p>To address this issue, the Vlietland Ziekenhuis in The Netherlands has implemented an innovative program (PReCaP), aimed at reducing hospital related functional decline among elderly patients by offering interventions that are multidisciplinary, integrated and goal-oriented at the physical, social, and psychological domains of functional decline.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This paper presents a detailed description of the intervention, which incorporates five distinctive elements: (1) Early identification of elderly patients with a high risk of functional decline, and if necessary followed by the start of the reactivation treatment within 48 h after hospital admission; (2) Intensive follow-up treatment for a selected patient group at the Prevention and Reactivation Centre (PRC); (3) Availability of multidisciplinary geriatric expertise; (4) Provision of support and consultation of relevant professionals to informal caregivers; (5) Intensive follow-up throughout the entire chain of care by a casemanager with geriatric expertise. Outcome and process evaluations are ongoing and results will be published in a series of future papers.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>The Netherlands National Trial Register: <a href="http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=2317">NTR2317</a></p

EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of calcium

&lt;p&gt;Following a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies was asked to re-evaluate the safety in use of calcium. The Panel was requested to consider if the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for calcium established by the SCF in 2003 (2,500 mg/day for adults, including pregnant and lactating women), which was based on different intervention studies of long duration in which total daily calcium intakes of 2,500 mg from both diet and supplements were tolerated without adverse effects, needed to be changed on the basis of new available evidence. A number of placebo controlled human intervention studies in adults published since then also showed that total daily calcium intakes of 2,500 mg from both diet and supplements are tolerated without adverse effects. The Panel considers that no relationship has been established between long-term calcium intakes from diet and supplements and increased risk of nephrolithiasis, cardiovascular disease or prostate cancer. No new data have become available which would require a revision of the UL for calcium for adults, including pregnant and lactating women, of 2,500 mg. No new data have become available which would allow the setting of a UL for infants, children or adolescents. Data from European populations indicate that intakes of calcium in high consumers among adult males can be close to the UL. Although available data do not allow the setting of a UL for infants, children or adolescents, no risk has been identified with highest current levels of calcium intake in these age groups.&lt;/p&gt

Assessment of recent nebulizer delivery systems using urinary pharmacokinetics method and aerodynamic characteristics of TOBI® nebulized dose following inhalation

yesBackground Chronic infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa are a leading cause of morbidity in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Tobramycin nebulizer solution (TNS) is indicated for maintenance therapy in CF patients. TOBI® is a tobramycin nebulizer solution (TNS) approved by FDA for maintenance therapy for patient with CF. Adherence to recommended therapy in CF has always been a challenge and new generation nebulizers are increasingly used “off label” to reduce the time required for inhalation, potentially improving patient compliance. Objectives To assess the performance of selected recent nebulizer delivery systems for determination the optimum combinations to deliver TOBI®. Using the relative lung bioavailability of TOBI® to the lungs in healthy volunteers, following inhalation from selected nebulizer delivery systems, using a urinary pharmacokinetics method. In vitro aerodynamic characteristics of the nebulized dose were also determined. Methods Serial urine samples were collected from 12 healthy volunteers up to 24 h post-inhalation of TOBI® inhaled solution following delivery by Pari LC Plus®, Sidestream®, NE-U22-E Omron® and Aeroneb® Go nebulizers. In vitro aerodynamic characteristics of the nebulized dose were also determined according to the CEN (Committee European de Normalization) method. Results The mean (SD) relative lung bioavailability from Pari LC Plus®, Sidestream®, Omron®, and Aeroneb® Go nebulizers was 4.9 (0.5), 3.9 (0.5), 7.1 (1.3), and 7.7 (0.7) %, respectively. The mean (SD) mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of the drug particles from the same systems was 2 (0.2), 2 (0.2), 1.2 (0.03) and 2.0 (0.1) μm, and the corresponding fine particle doses (FPD) were 2.2 (0.23), 1.5 (0.2), 3.44 (0.3) and 2.8 (0.3) mg. Conclusion The data obtained from in-vitro and in-vivo studies reflect poor relative lung bioavailability of tobramycin following jet nebulization

Evaluation design of a reactivation care program to prevent functional loss in hospitalised elderly: A cohort study including a randomised controlled trial

Background: Elderly persons admitted to the hospital are at risk for hospital related functional loss. This evaluation aims to compare the effects of different levels of (integrated) health intervention care programs on preventing hospital related functional loss among elderly patients by comparing a new intervention program to two usual care progra