Whether to report diabetes as the underlying cause-of-death? a survey of internists of different sub-specialties

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cause-specific mortality is a commonly used endpoint of clinical trials or prospective studies. However, it is sometimes difficult for physician to determine the underlying-cause-of-death (UCD), especially for diabetic patients coexisted with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The aim of this survey was to examine whether internists with different specialties have different opinions on the reporting of diabetes as the UCD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 549 physicians completed the questionnaire in Taiwan, which comprised seven hypothetical case scenarios, each indicating a different level of contribution of diabetes in initiating the chain of events leading to death.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>As a whole, endocrinologists were more likely than cardiologists and nephrologists to report diabetes as the UCD. The differences were more prominent when the diabetic patient had a coexisting CVD. In scenario 3 (a diabetic patient with hypertension who died from acute myocardial infarction), the percentage was 56% in endocrinologists, which was significantly higher than in cardiologists (42%) and nephrologists (41%). In scenario 4 (a diabetic patient with hypertension who died from cerebrovascular infarction), the percentage was 45% in endocrinologists, and only 31% in cardiologists and 36% in nephrologists.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Internists of different sub-specialties do have different opinions on the reporting of diabetes as the UCD, especially when the diabetic patient has a coexisting CVD.</p

Effect of urea formaldehyde viscosity on urea formaldehyde and urea proparaldehyde copolymer composite

This work investigates the effect of urea formaldehyde (UF) viscosity on a composite derived from copolymerization reaction between urea formaldehyde (UF) and urea proparaldehyde (UP). Some physical properties of the urea formaldehyde/urea proparaldehyde (UF/UP) copolymer obtained at different UF viscosities (3.91-207.08 mPa.s) were evaluated. The melting point, refractive index, density and formaldehyde emission were found to increase with increase in UF viscosity while the dry time, moisture uptake and elongation at break were found to decrease with increase in viscosity. UF viscosity below 10.82 mPa.s was found to produce UF/UP copolymer composite which is ductile and soluble in water. Beyond this value, the composite became insoluble in water. Thus processing of UF/PU copolymer resin for emulsion paint formulation should be carried out below 10.82 mPa.s viscosity level. The results obtained from this experiment will offer formulators different options and will help to control formulation processes towards developing UF/UP copolymer composite as a paint binder for emulsion paint formulation. Keywords: Copolymerization, viscosity, Paint binder.International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2008: pp. 425-43