11 research outputs found

    Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

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    Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

    Migraine and coarctation of the aorta: prevalence and risk factors

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    OBJECTIVES: We previously described a potential relationship between the presence of migraine and congenital heart defects. It has been hypothesized that a genetic substrate might determine for congenital heart defects and migraine. Therefore, we wanted to study the prevalence of migraine in female patients with coarctation of the aorta (CA) and to determine predictive variables for migraine in this specific population. METHODS: All patients with CA, previously selected for the ZAHARA trial to evaluate pregnancies and outcome, were recruited from the database of congenital heart disease of the University Hospital of Leuven. These patients were contacted by phone and asked to complete a structured headache questionnaire. Based on this questionnaire, a neurologist blinded to the patients' files, diagnosed migraine without or with aura (MA- and MA+, respectively), according to the international headache criteria. Demographic, clinical, and technical data were obtained by reviewing the patients' records. RESULTS: Thirty-four female patients (age 32.2 +/- 6.3 y) were included in the study. The overall prevalence of migraine in female CA patients was 38%, of which 12% were MA- and 26% MA+. No significant relationship between demographic, clinical, and technical variables and migraine could be determined, except for migraine and the number of pregnancies and smoking behaviour (univariate logistic regression; B = 1.2 and 1.9, P = 0.039 and 0.027, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this study, we found a relatively high prevalence of migraine in female adult CA patients. We could also demonstrate a positive relationship between migraine, smoking behaviour, and the number of pregnancies. Therefore, we should pay more attention to these findings in daily practice.status: publishe

    Optical Investigation of On-Surface Synthesized Armchair Graphene Nanoribbons

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    International audienceOn-surface synthesized N ¼ 9-armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) are investigated by Raman spectroscopy and AFM/micro photoluminescence measurements. In order to perform the optical experiments, the AGNR film is transferred on a glass substrate through a non-membrane method. The Raman spectroscopy shows the radial breathing-like mode characteristic of the 1D nature of GNRs, proving the efficiency of the transfer method. Then, the results of combined AFM/micro photoluminescence measurements are discussed. First, the observation of high-order Raman lines suggests the 1D nature of the electron–phonon coupling in GNR, similar to the case of carbon nanotubes. Secondly, the origin of the broad luminescence line is discussed in comparison with the predicted gap energy of the 9-AGNR. Due to its width and energy range, the emission is interpreted as arising from defect sites, missing phenyl rings for instance, that occur during the synthesis of these specific armchair nanoribbons
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