Effect of nebulized formoterol, ipratropium bromide, and furosemide in combination with fluticasone propionate on arterial blood gases of premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗThe purpose of this study was to assess the clinical effect of nebulized formoterol (FM), ipratropium bromide (IB) and furosemide (FS) combined with fluticasone propionate (FP) on l ung function in premature calves with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Thirty-six premature calves with RDS were randomly assigned to six different treatment groups (D1 to D6). All groups received the standard treatment, including oxygen and support treatment. Calves in D1 received only the standard treatment. The following combinations of nebulized drugs were used for the other groups: D2: FP, D3: FP+FM; D4: FP+IB; D5: FP+FS and D6: FP+IB+FM+FS. The treatment period (72 h) involved the application of FM (15 μg totally/12 h), IB (2 μg/kg/12 h), FS (1 mg/kg/12 h) and FP (15 μg/kg/12 h) for five minutes. A significant increase over time in blood pH, partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), oxygen saturation (SatO2) and a decrease in partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and lactate were detected in all groups that received nebulized treatment; while in the D1, a significant change was observed only for PaCO2. Calves in D6 had the highest PaO2 and lowest PaCO2 values amongst all groups at the end of treatment. No statistical difference was observed between the Nebulization Groups (NG). Nebulized FM, IB and FS with FP combination in premature calves with RDS, in addition to the standard treatment showed a significant curative effect on lung function

Three-dimensional media for mobile devices

Cataloged from PDF version of article.This paper aims at providing an overview of the core technologies enabling the delivery of 3-D Media to next-generation mobile devices. To succeed in the design of the corresponding system, a profound knowledge about the human visual system and the visual cues that form the perception of depth, combined with understanding of the user requirements for designing user experience for mobile 3-D media, are required. These aspects are addressed first and related with the critical parts of the generic system within a novel user-centered research framework. Next-generation mobile devices are characterized through their portable 3-D displays, as those are considered critical for enabling a genuine 3-D experience on mobiles. Quality of 3-D content is emphasized as the most important factor for the adoption of the new technology. Quality is characterized through the most typical, 3-D-specific visual artifacts on portable 3-D displays and through subjective tests addressing the acceptance and satisfaction of different 3-D video representation, coding, and transmission methods. An emphasis is put on 3-D video broadcast over digital video broadcasting-handheld (DVB-H) in order to illustrate the importance of the joint source-channel optimization of 3-D video for its efficient compression and robust transmission over error-prone channels. The comparative results obtained identify the best coding and transmission approaches and enlighten the interaction between video quality and depth perception along with the influence of the context of media use. Finally, the paper speculates on the role and place of 3-D multimedia mobile devices in the future internet continuum involving the users in cocreation and refining of rich 3-D media content

Thrombotic gene polymorphisms and postoperative outcome after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Emerging perioperative genomics may influence the direction of risk assessment and surgical strategies in cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) affect the clinical presentation and predispose to increased risk for postoperative adverse events in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 220 patients undergoing first-time CABG between January 2005 and May 2008 were screened for factor V gene G1691A (FVL), prothrombin/factor II G20210A (PT G20210A), angiotensin I-converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE-ins/del) polymorphisms by PCR and Real Time PCR. End points were defined as death, myocardial infarction, stroke, postoperative bleeding, respiratory and renal insufficiency and event-free survival. Patients were compared to assess for any independent association between genotypes for thrombosis and postoperative phenotypes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 220 patients, the prevalence of the heterozygous FVL mutation was 10.9% (n = 24), and 3.6% (n = 8) were heterozygous carriers of the PT G20210A mutation. Genotype distribution of ACE-ins/del was 16.6%, 51.9%, and 31.5% in genotypes I/I, I/D, and D/D, respectively. FVL and PT G20210A mutations were associated with higher prevalence of totally occluded coronary arteries (p < 0.001). Furthermore the risk of left ventricular aneurysm formation was significantly higher in FVL heterozygote group compared to FVL G1691G (<it>p </it>= 0.002). ACE D/D genotype was associated with hypertension (<it>p </it>= 0.004), peripheral vascular disease (p = 0.006), and previous myocardial infarction (<it>p </it>= 0.007).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>FVL and PT G20210A genotypes had a higher prevalence of totally occluded vessels potentially as a result of atherothrombotic events. However, none of the genotypes investigated were independently associated with mortality.</p

Multi-Stage Neural Networks with Application to Motion Planning of a Mechanical Snake

An efficient approach to nonlinear control problems in which the plant is to be driven to a desired state using a neural network controller in a number of steps is by representing the whole process as a multi - stage neural network. In this paper, an explicit formulation of the back propagation algorithm is developed for such networks. Later, this approach is used to build up a path planner for a mechanical snake (a robot composed of a sequence of articulated links). This path planner, together with a tracking algorithm, is shown to get the mechanical snake out of a collision-free closed region

Systematic literature study of trachea and bronchus morphology in children and adults

Understanding the dimensions of the lower airway is critical for performing respiratory surgery, selecting and designing appropriate airway equipment, and removing aspirated foreign bodies via bronchoscopy, anesthesia, and radiography. The purpose of this study was to analyze the trachea and bronchus morphologically in children and adults, as well as to standardize the data for these structures' measurements. Various databases were reviewed for studies on lower airway dimensions. The criteria for inclusion and exclusion were established. Finally, it was agreed to look into 28 studies that took place between 1984 and 2021. The length of the trachea, its anterior-posterior (AP) and transverse dimensions, the lengths and transverse diameters of the right and left major bronchus, and the subcarinal angle were also investigated in the study. In studies where measurements were performed with different methods and procedures; It was revealed that age and gender were effective in the difference in lower respiratory tract dimensions. The mean values of all parameters were greater in adults than in children, the AP diameter of the trachea in adults was greater than the transverse diameter; In children, it was observed that the transverse diameter was larger than the AP diameter on average, the left main bronchus was longer than the right main bronchus, and the transverse diameter was smaller than the right main bronchus in most of the studies. Was found to be smaller. The articles reviewed for this study revealed that measurements were done using a variety of different procedures and approaches, and the resulting data were inconsistent and could not be standardized. The data collected will be beneficial both conceptually and clinically; we believe that additional comparison research involving children and adults in bigger groups are necessary

Capacity analysis of a PMR system with DAB downlink

Several trunked private mobile radio (PMR) systems have been designed over the last decade, most of which have symmetric downlink and uplink channel capacities. These systems may not be spectrally efficient in case of group or broadcast-based voice and data calls, a common feature of PMR systems. We propose a new asymmetric PMR system comprising a wideband OFDM-based downlink and a narrowband uplink, which not only achieves a better spectral efficiency but also can support high bit rate multimedia applications. The system is shown to have high trunking efficiency since all users are assumed to use the pool of channels available in the wideband downlink. In this paper, we study the performance and capacity of a private mobile radio system using a digital audio broadcasting (DAB) downlink. In particular, we study the efficiency of such a system for voice calls using voice activity detection and statistical multiplexing. Moreover, we show that, the efficiency of the system can significantly increase, if the incoming calls, which can not find an available channel, are allowed to wait a certain amount of time before occupying a channel. © 2003 IEEE

Vertical muscle transposition augmented with lateral fixation (Foster) suture for Duane syndrome and sixth nerve palsy

PurposeTo report the postoperative results of full-tendon vertical rectus transposition (VRT) augmented with lateral fixation suture for the treatment of type 1 Duane syndrome and sixth nerve palsy and to determine whether there was a decrease in the effect of the Foster suture over time.MethodsThis retrospective, consecutive case series included patients who underwent a full-tendon VRT transposition with lateral fixation for type 1 Duane syndrome or sixth nerve palsy. The primary outcome measures included deviation, abnormal head posture(AHP), abduction deficiency, and postoperative binocular single visual field (BSVF).ResultsEighty-seven patients (87 eyes: 40 eyes with Duane syndrome and 47 eyes with sixth nerve palsy) were included in this study. In Duane syndrome patients, the deviation was reduced by a mean of 95%, the AHP was eliminated in 86% of patients, the abduction was improved by 42%, and a useful BSVF of ∼67% of normal was achieved at 1 year post operation. In sixth nerve palsy patients, the deviation was reduced by 99%, the abduction was improved by 59%, and a useful BSVF of ∼71% of normal was achieved at 1 year post operation. In both groups, the improvements in deviation angle and abduction were stable postoperatively. Sixteen patients needed reoperation for undercorrection.ConclusionVRT surgery with posterior fixation is an effective treatment method for complete sixth nerve palsy and Duane syndrome with esotropia, AHP, and abduction deficiency. The procedure carries a small risk of reoperation for undercorrection. The effect of the Foster suture did not decline over time. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved