Preparation of ion-imprinted polyvinyl sulfonate-grafted silica particles for trace enrichment of Th(IV) prior to determination by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Grafting from polymerisation technique has been used to prepare Th(IV) ion-imprinted polyvinyl sulfonate (IIPVS)-bonded silica particles. The graft polymerisation of vinyl sulfonate (VS) on the surface of silica particles was achieved in aqueous medium through thermal decomposition of surface-bound azo initiators (60°C) in the presence of thorium ion. The prepared material was characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The entrapped template ion was then removed using 2 M HCl. The experimental batch rebinding data were successfully described by the Langmuir�Freundlich model. The prepared material was then packed to a PTFE micro-column (20mm�3.0mm, id) to evaluate its efficiency in column operations prior to determination by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The limit of detection of the method and breakthrough capacity of the column was evaluated as 0.074µgL�1 and 0.83mgg�1, respectively. The selectivity of the prepared polymer towards Th(IV) ion was investigated in the presence of some foreign competitor ions, including U(VI). Finally, the proposed method has been used to determine Th(IV) ion in real samples. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Effects of breast milk on pain severity during muscular injection of hepatitis B vaccine in neonates in a teaching hospital in Iran

Introduction and aims: Human breast milk is a natural pain reliever that contains endorphins. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of breast milk and powdered milk on pain severity after a muscular injection in 1-day-old neonates. Materials and methods: One hundred neonates admitted to a teaching hospital in 11am city, Iran, participated in a randomized clinical trial in 2016. One-day-old neonates were divided into four equal groups including: the control group (no feeding); the breastfed group; the bottle-fed mother's milk group and the powdered formula group. All infants received the hepatitis B vaccine by muscle injection in the same position of the thigh. The severity and duration of pain were compared among all groups during and after injection using the DAN scoring method (evaluation behavioral scale of acute pain in newborn infant). Results: One hundred neonates (57 boys) participated in this study. The mean +/- SD age and weight for participants were 39.15 +/- 0.05 weeks and 3016 +/- 28g, respectively. Crying duration either during or after the injection in breastfed infants was significantly shorter compared to the control and powdered formula groups (9.2 +/- 3.9 and 16 +/- 4.6 s vs. 38.2 +/- 8.9 and 30.0 +/- 4.4 s, respectively, during injection, P < 0.003); (11.8 +/- 3.4 and 20.6 +/- 5.1 s vs. 56.2 +/- 6.5 and 49.8 +/- 9.6 s, respectively, after injection, P < 0.006). There was also a significant relationship between behavioral variations and pain during injection (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The results of this study showed that breastfeeding decreases pain severity during painful experiences in neonates, which is in accordance with other reports. Based on this finding, neonates are advised to be breastfed if a painful intervention such as vaccination is needed. The pain-relieving effect of breast milk could also be added to its other suitable effects. (C) 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved

Safety of protocol violations in acute stroke tPA administration

Background: Intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator remains the only approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the United States; however, less than 10% of patients receive treatment. This is partially because of the large number of contraindications, narrow treatment window, and physician reluctance to deviate from these criteria. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients who received IV thrombolysis at our stroke center for National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) protocol violations and rates of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). Other outcome variables included systemic hemorrhage, modified Rankin Scale at discharge, and discharge disposition. Results: A total of 212 patients were identified in our stroke registry between 2009 and 2011 and included in the analysis. Protocol violations occurred in 76 patients (36%). The most common violations were thrombolysis beyond 3 hours (26%), aggressive blood pressure management (15%), elevated prothrombin time (PT) or partial thromboplastin time (PTT) (6.6%), minor or resolving deficits (4.2%), unclear time of onset (3.9%), and stroke within 3 months (3%). There were no significant differences in any of the safety outcomes or discharge disposition between patients with or without protocol violations. Controlling for age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on admission, and glucose on admission, there was no significant increase in sICH (odds ratio: 3.8; 95% confidence interval: .37-38.72) in the patients who had protocol violations. Conclusions: Despite more than one third of patients receiving thrombolysis with protocol violations, overall rates of hemorrhage remained low and did not differ from those who did not have violations. Our data support the need to expand access to thrombolysis in AIS patients

Timing of Recanalization and Functional Recovery in Acute Ischemic Stroke

10.5853/jos.2019.01648JOURNAL OF STROKE221130-

Timing of recanalization and functional recovery in acute ischemic stroke

Background and Purpose Although onset-to-treatment time is associated with early clinical recovery in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), the effect of the timing of tPA-induced recanalization on functional outcomes remains debatable. Methods We conducted a multicenter, prospective observational cohort study to determine whether early (within 1-hour from tPA-bolus) complete or partial recanalization assessed during 2-hour real-time transcranial Doppler monitoring is associated with improved outcomes in patients with proximal occlusions. Outcome events included dramatic clinical recovery (DCR) within 2 and 24-hours from tPA-bolus, 3-month mortality, favorable functional outcome (FFO) and functional independence (FI) defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores of 0–1 and 0–2 respectively. Results We enrolled 480 AIS patients (mean age 66±15 years, 60% men, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 15). Patients with early recanalization (53%) had significantly (P<0.001) higher rates of DCR at 2-hour (54% vs. 10%) and 24-hour (63% vs. 22%), 3-month FFO (67% vs. 28%) and FI (81% vs. 39%). Three-month mortality rates (6% vs. 17%) and distribution of 3-month mRS scores were significantly lower in the early recanalization group. After adjusting for potential confounders, early recanalization was independently associated with higher odds of 3-month FFO (odds ratio [OR], 6.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.88 to 9.88) and lower likelihood of 3-month mortality (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.67). Onset to treatment time correlated to the elapsed time between tPA-bolus and recanalization (unstandardized linear regression coefficient, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.19). Conclusions Earlier tPA treatment after stroke onset is associated with faster tPA-induced recanalization. Earlier onset-to-recanalization time results in improved functional recovery and survival in AIS patients with proximal intracranial occlusions.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe