COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pneumonia: a comparison

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the relocation of huge financial resources to departments dedicated to infected patients, at the expense of those suffering from other pathologies. Aim To compare clinical features and outcomes in COVID-19 pneumonia and non-COVID-19 pneumonia patients. Patients and methods 53 patients (35 males, mean age 61.5 years) with COVID-19 pneumonia and 50 patients (32 males, mean age 72.7 years) with non-COVID-19 pneumonia, consecutively admitted between March and May 2020 were included. Clinical, laboratory and radiological data at admission were analyzed. Duration of hospitalization and mortality rates were evaluated. Results Among the non-COVID patients, mean age, presence of comorbidities (neurological diseases, chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Charlson Comorbidity Index and risk factors (tobacco use and protracted length of stay in geriatric healthcare facilities) were higher than in COVID patients. The non-COVID-19 pneumonia group showed a higher (24% vs. 17%), although not statistically significant in-hospital mortality rate; the average duration of hospitalization was longer for COVID patients (30 vs. 9 days, p = .0001). Conclusions In the early stages of the COVID pandemic, our centre noted no statistical difference in unadjusted in-hospital mortality between COVID and non-COVID patients. Non-COVID patients had higher Charlson Comorbidity Scores, reflecting a greater disease burden in this population. Key Messages In March 2020, the COVID-19 disease was declared a pandemic, with enormous consequences for the organization of health systems and in terms of human lives; this has caused the relocation of huge financial resources to departments dedicated to infected patients, at the expense of those suffering from other pathologies. Few published reports have compared COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 pneumonia. In our study, performed in a geographic area with a low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we found few statistically significant differences in terms of clinical characteristics between the two groups analyzed. In the early stages of the COVID pandemic, our centre noted no statistical difference in unadjusted in-hospital mortality between COVID and non-COVID patients. Non-COVID patients had higher Charlson Comorbidity Scores, reflecting a greater disease burden in this populatio

Structural and electronic characterization of (2,3(3)) bar-shaped stacking fault in 4H-SiC epitaxial layers

Crystallographic, electronic, and energetic analyses of the (2, 3_3) [or (2, 3, 3, 3) in the standard Zhadanov notation] bar-shaped stacking fault, observed in as-grown 4H-SiC epitaxial layers, are presented. The defect has been identified by means of spatially resolved microphotoluminescence (μ-PL) measurements at different emission wavelengths, focusing on the emission peak at 0.3 eV below the conduction band. Low temperature μ-PL measurements have also been performed. The defect has been identified and characterized using high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Experimental results are correlated and validated by the calculations of the Kohn–Sham electronic band structure and the defect formation energy

Investigation of the Young's Modulus and the Residual Stress of 4H-SiC Circular Membranes on 4H-SiC Substrates

International audienceThe stress state is a crucial parameter for the design of innovative microelectromechanical systems based on silicon carbide (SiC) material. Hence, mechanical properties of such structures highly depend on the fabrication process. Despite significant progresses in thin-film growth and fabrication process, monitoring the strain of the suspended SiC thin-films is still challenging. However, 3C-SiC membranes on silicon (Si) substrates have been demonstrated, but due to the low quality of the SiC/Si heteroepitaxy, high levels of residual strains were always observed. In order to achieve promising self-standing films with low residual stress, an alternative micromachining technique based on electrochemical etching of high quality homoepitaxy 4H-SiC layers was evaluated. This work is dedicated to the determination of their mechanical properties and more specifically, to the characterization of a 4H-SiC freestanding film with a circular shape. An inverse problem method was implemented, where experimental results obtained from bulge test are fitted with theoretical static load-deflection curves of the stressed membrane. To assess data validity, the dynamic behavior of the membrane was also investigated: Experimentally, by means of laser Doppler vibrometry (LDV) and theoretically, by means of finite element computations. The two methods provided very similar results since one obtained a Young's modulus of 410 GPa and a residual stress value of 41 MPa from bulge test against 400 GPa and 30 MPa for the LDV analysis. The determined Young's modulus is in good agreement with literature values. Moreover, residual stress values demonstrate that the fabrication of low-stressed SiC films is achievable thanks to the micromachining process developed

Ion Implanted Phosphorous for 4H-SiC VDMOSFETs Source Regions: Effect of the Post Implantation Annealing Time

Van der Pauw devices have been fabricated by double ion implantation processes, namely P+ and Al+ co-implantation. Similarly to the source area in a SiC VD-MOSFET, a 5 × 1018 cm-3 P plateau is formed on the top of a buried 3 × 1018 cm-3 Al distribution for electrical isolation from the n- epilayer. The post implantation annealing temperature was 1600 °C. Annealing times equal to 30 min and 300 min have been compared. The increase of the annealing time produces both an increase of electron density as well as electron mobility. For comparison a HPSI 4H-SiC wafer, 1×1020 cm-3 P+ ion implanted and 1700 °C annealed for 30 min was also characterized.ISSN:0255-5476ISSN:1662-975

Study of a constrained finite element elbow prosthesis: the influence of the implant placement

BackgroundThe functional results of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) are controversial and the medium- to long-term revision rates are relatively high. The aim of the present study was to analyze the stresses of TEA in its classic configuration, identify the areas of greatest stress in the prosthesis-bone-cement interface, and evaluate the most wearing working conditions.Materials and methodsBy means of a reverse engineering process and using a 3D laser scanner, CAD (computer-aided drafting) models of a constrained elbow prosthesis were acquired. These CAD models were developed and their elastic properties, resistance, and stresses were studied through finite element analysis (finite element method-FEM). The obtained 3D elbow-prosthesis model was then evaluated in cyclic flexion-extension movements (> 10 million cycles). We highlighted the configuration of the angle at which the highest stresses and the areas most at risk of implant mobilization develop. Finally, we performed a quantitative study of the stress state after varying the positioning of the stem of the ulnar component in the sagittal plane by +/- 3 degrees.ResultsThe greatest von Mises stress state in the bone component for the 90 degrees working configuration was 3.1635 MPa, which occurred in the most proximal portion of the humeral blade and in the proximal middle third of the shaft. At the ulnar level, peaks of 4.1763 MPa were recorded at the proximal coronoid/metaepiphysis level. The minimum elastic resistance and therefore the greatest stress states were recorded in the bone region at the apex of the ulnar stem (0.001967 MPa). The results of the analysis for the working configurations at 0 degrees and 145 degrees showed significant reductions in the stress states for both prosthetic components; similarly, varying the positioning of the ulnar component at 90 degrees (- 3 degrees in the sagittal plane, 0 degrees in the frontal plane) resulted in better working conditions with a greater resulting developed force and a lower stress peak in the ulnar cement.ConclusionThe areas of greatest stress occur in specific regions of the ulnar and humeral components at the bone-cement-prosthesis interface. The heaviest configuration in terms of stresses was when the elbow was flexed at 90 degrees. Variations in the positioning in the sagittal plane can mechanically affect the movement, possibly resulting in longer survival of the implant.Level of evidence:

Preconception Health Knowledge among Undergraduate Women

Preconception health is a woman’s health before she becomes pregnant. It means knowing and understanding how preexisting health conditions and risk factors could affect a woman or her unborn child if she becomes pregnant (Office on Women’s Health, 2010). This study examined undergraduate students’ knowledge of recommended preconception health practices. A paper survey was distributed to general education classes in health, sociology, and family consumer science. This 33-item survey assessed demographics, barriers to practicing recommended preconception health behaviors, and knowledge of preconception health practices. Analyses included frequencies, independent t-test, and ANOVA. Respondents had a mean score of 42.85 (2.68) on the knowledge section of the survey; indicating that respondents had a high level of knowledge regarding preconception health practices and information. Respondents’ knowledge scores were statistically correlated with their preconception health practices and behaviors (r=.176, p=.000). As knowledge scores increased, preconception health practice and behaviors scores also increased. When analyzing participants’ current health behaviors as they relate to preconception health, it was found that most students are engaging in healthy behaviors

Erenumab and Possible CGRP Effect on Chronotype in Chronic Migraine: A Real-Life Study of 12 Months Treatment

: The introduction of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), or its receptor (CGRPr), revolutionized migraine management due to their high efficacy and few side effects. Data suggest that the CGRP may even be implicated in circadian rhythm, but studies about the effect of anti-CGRP treatments on sleep are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of erenumab (70 and 140 mg per month), a human mAb directed against CGRPr, on chronotype in chronic migraineurs; secondly, we assessed its efficacy, safety, and the effects on anxiety and depression. Sleep was evaluated using self-administrable questionnaires investigating chronotype, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness. Migraine diaries and several self-administrable questionnaires regarding headache impact and psychological correlates were evaluated every 3 months during 12 months of treatment. Eighty-eight patients were included; most of them showed a significant reduction in headache frequency and an improvement in psychological symptoms. Moreover, an initial change in chronotype was observed at the three-month assessment from a morning chronotype to an intermediate one; a similar trend remained in the other evaluations, even if it did not reach a statistical significance. Lastly, patients who responded to the treatment showed a progressive sleep efficiency reduction. The present real-life study hypothesized the influence of erenumab on chronotype, representing a link between circadian rhythm, CGRP, and migraine

Analysis of the role of elution buffers on the separation capabilities of dielectrophoretic devices

Field flow fractionation dielectrophoretic (FFF-DEP) devices are currently used, among the others, for the separation of tumor cells from healthy blood cells. To this end specific suspension/elution buffers (EBs), with reduced conductivity (with respect to that of the cell cytoplasm) are generally used. In this paper we investigate the long-term alterations of the cells and elution buffers. We find that the EB conductivity is critically modified within few minutes after cells suspension. In turn, this modification results in a change the ideal separation frequency of the FFF-DEP device. On the other hand we prove that DEP manipulation is preserved for more than three hours for cells suspended in the considered EBs. Keywords: Dielectrophoresis, Elution buffer, Circulating tumor cells, Cell motilit