Isolated blunt abdominal aortic injury without concomitant abdominal injuries treated with endovascular stent grafting

Blunt injury of the abdominal aorta is a rare event, seen in only 0.07% to 0.17% of all blunt traumas. These injuries are frequently associated with other intra-abdominal injuries, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We present a case of isolated blunt abdominal aortic trauma to the infrarenal aorta without concomitant abdominal or spinal injuries. The patient was treated with endovascular aortic stent grafting and is without complications 12 months after the procedure

Interdental and subgingival microbiota may affect the tongue microbial ecology and oral malodour in health, gingivitis and periodontitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Oral malodour is often observed in gingivitis and chronic periodontitis patients, and the tongue microbiota is thought to play a major role in malodorous gas production, including volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) such as hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) and methanethiol (CH3 SH). This study aimed to examine the link between the presence of VSCs in mouth air (as a marker of oral malodour) and the oral bacterial ecology in the tongue and periodontal niches of healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis patients. METHODS: Participants were clinically assessed using plaque index, bleeding on probing (BOP) and periodontal probing depths, and VSC concentrations in their oral cavity measured using a portable gas chromatograph. Tongue scrapings, subgingival and interdental plaque were collected from healthy individuals (n = 22), and those with gingivitis (n = 14) or chronic periodontitis (n = 15). The bacterial 16S rRNA gene region V3-V4 in these samples was sequenced, and the sequences were analysed using the minimum entropy decomposition pipeline. RESULTS: Elevated VSC concentrations and CH3 SH:H2 S were observed in periodontitis compared with health. Significant ecological differences were observed in the tongue microbiota of healthy subjects with high plaque scores compared to low plaque scores, suggesting a possible connection between the microbiota of the tongue and the periodontium and that key dysbiotic changes may be initiated in the clinically healthy individuals who have higher dental plaque accumulation. Greater subgingival bacterial diversity was positively associated with H2 S in mouth air. Periodontopathic bacteria known to be prolific VSC producers increased in abundance on the tongue associated with increased bleeding on probing (BOP) and total percentage of periodontal pockets >6 mm, supporting the suggestion that the tongue may become a reservoir for periodontopathogens. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of the periodontal microbiota in malodour and has detected dysbiotic changes in the tongue microbiota in periodontitis

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Cross-sectional constants of composite blades using computed tomography technique and finite element analysis

The structural properties of Higher-harmonic Aeroacoustic Rotor Test (HART) II blades are determined using a finite element (FE) based cross-section analysis combined with the X-ray computed tomography technique. Three-dimensional, high-resolution digital images are constructed for this purpose. The detailed cross-section geometries are identified from a section segmentation process so that each pixel of the image is characterized by different attenuation coefficients according to the distribution of materials. The segmented section profiles are used to produce graphic data interfaces to create FE section model. A cross-section analysis is performed to compute the structural properties of the blade. The predicted mass and inertia results exactly reflect the manufactured configuration of the blade yielding semi-empirical data set of the blade. The stiffness properties measured using a cantilevered condition are correlated with the present predictions and the earlier estimated values. Good correlation is obtained between the predicted results and the measured data while a substantial deviation is observed with the earlier estimations. The possible source of discrepancy is identified from the analysis. The sensitivity of manufacturing defects and modeling deficiencies on the structural properties is examined. It is demonstrated that the proposed analysis offers a practical alternative for structural properties in non-destructive way

Blade Property Measurement and Its Assessment on Air/Structural Loads of HART II Rotor

In this study, the structural properties of Higher-harmonic Aeroacoustic Rotor Test (HART) II blades are determined using the state-of-the-art test techniques. The easurement includes bending and torsion stiffnesses, section geometric offsets, and mass and inertia properties. Several HART II blades including the original instrumented blade used for the wind tunnel test campaign in 2001 are employed for the activity. A finite element based cross-section analysis combined with the x-ray computer tomography technique is used for cases where no mechanical measurement is attempted. The resulting structural properties are correlated against the earlier estimated ones. It is found that the earlier properties overestimate the section values substantially. The comprehensive rotor dynamics analysis is performed to quantify the impact of the measured blade properties on the aeroelastic behavior of the rotor. The location of center of gravity is demonstrated to be the most influential factor affecting the correlation of the rotor