Photodissociation dynamics of the HCNN radical

The photodissociation dynamics of the diazomethyl (HCNN) radical have been studied using fast radical beam photofragment translational spectroscopy. A photofragment yield spectrum was obtained for the range of 25 510-40 820 cm-1, and photodissociation was shown to occur for energies above 25 600 cm-1. The only product channel observed was the formation of CH and N2. Fragment translational energy and angular distributions were obtained at several energies in the range covered by the photofragment yield spectrum. The fragment translational energy distributions showed at least two distinct features at energies up to 4.59 eV, and were not well fit by phase space theory at any of the excitation energies studied. A revised C-N bond dissociation energy and heat of formation for HCNN, D0 (HC-NN) =1.139±0.019 eV and Δf H0 (HCNN) =5.010±0.023 eV, were determined. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.Ann Elise Faulhaber, Jason R. Gascooke, Alexandra A. Hoops, and Daniel M. Neumar

Photodissociation spectroscopy and dynamics of the CH(2)CFO radical

Alexandra A. Hoops, Jason R. Gascooke, Kathryn E. Kautzman, Ann Elise Faulhaber, and Daniel M. Neumar

Continuous increase of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and non-HIV related cancers as causes of death in HIV-infected individuals in Brazil: An analysis of nationwide data

Introduction: After antiretroviral therapy (ART) became available, there was a decline in the number of deaths in persons infected with HIV. Thereafter, there was a decrease in the proportion of deaths attributed to opportunistic infections and an increase in the proportion of deaths attributed to chronic comorbidities. Herein we extend previous observations from a nationwide survey on temporal trends in causes of death in HIV-infected patients in Brazil. Methods: We describe temporal trends in causes of death among adults who had HIV/AIDS listed in the death certificate to those who did not. All death certificates issued in Brazil from 1999 to 2011 and listed in the national mortality database were included. Generalized linear mixed-effects logistic models were used to study temporal trends in proportions. Results: In the HIV-infected population, there was an annual adjusted average increase of 6.0%, 12.0%, 4.0% and 4.1% for cancer, external causes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM), respectively, compared to 3.0%, 4.0%, 1.0% and 3.9%, in the non-HIV group. For tuberculosis (TB), there was an adjusted average increase of 0.3%/year and a decrease of 3.0%/year in the HIV and the non-HIV groups, respectively. Compared to 1999, the odds ratio (OR) for cancer, external causes, CVD, DM, or TB in the HIV group were, respectively, 2.31, 4.17, 1.76, 2.27 and 1.02, while for the non-HIV group, the corresponding OR were 1.31, 1.63, 1.14, 1.62 and 0.67. Interactions between year as a continuous or categorical variable and HIV were significant (p <0.001) for all conditions, except for DM when year was considered as a continuous variable (p = 0.76). Conclusions: Non HIV-related co-morbidities continue to increase more rapidly as causes of death among HIV-infected individuals than in those without HIV infection, highlighting the need for targeting prevention measures and surveillance for chronic diseases among those patients. © 2014 Paula et al

Premature Discontinuation of Pediatric Randomized Controlled Trials : A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives To determine the proportion of pediatric randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that are prematurely discontinued, examine the reasons for discontinuation, and compare the risk for recruitment failure in pediatric and adult RCTs. Study design A retrospective cohort study of RCTs approved by 1 of 6 Research Ethics Committees (RECs) in Switzerland, Germany, and Canada between 2000 and 2003. We recorded trial characteristics, trial discontinuation, and reasons for discontinuation from protocols, corresponding publications, REC files, and a survey of trialists. Results We included 894 RCTs, of which 86 enrolled children and 808 enrolled adults. Forty percent of the pediatric RCTs and 29% of the adult RCTs were discontinued. Slow recruitment accounted for 56% of pediatric RCT discontinuations and 43% of adult RCT discontinuations. Multivariable logistic regression analyses suggested that pediatric RCT was not an independent risk factor for recruitment failure after adjustment for other potential risk factors (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.57-2.63). Independent risk factors were acute care setting (aOR, 4.00; 95% CI, 1.72-9.31), nonindustry sponsorship (aOR, 4.45; 95% CI, 2.59-7.65), and smaller planned sample size (aOR, 1.05; 95% CI 1.01-1.09, in decrements of 100 participants). Conclusion Forty percent of pediatric RCTs were discontinued prematurely, owing predominately to slow recruitment. Enrollment of children was not an independent risk factor for recruitment failure.Peer reviewe

Triple-valve endocarditis due to Lysinibacillus sphaericus infection

Lysinibacillus sphaericus is an environmental organism often considered a contaminant when isolated from patient specimens due to its rare association with human disease. Here we report a case of triple valve endocarditis caused by L. sphaericus infection. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first documented case of endocarditis caused by this bacterium

Fast beam studies of I(2)(-) and I(2)(-) (.) Ar photodissociation

Copyright © 2003 Elsevier Science B.VThe photodissociation dynamics of bare I₂⁻ and I₂⁻ • Ar at 413 and 390 nm have been investigated using a fast beam instrument coupled with a new photofragment coincidence imaging detector. Results from the application of this technique to the dissociation of I₂⁻ and I₂⁻ • Ar yielded the dissociation energy of I₂⁻ (D₀(I₂⁻)=1.012±0.008 eV) and I₂⁻–Ar binding energy (D0(I₂⁻–Ar)=45±8 meV). The experiments show that at these wavelengths, I₂⁻ • Ar undergoes three-body dissociation to I⁻ + I* + Ar, with very low momentum in the Ar atom and unequal momentum partitioning between the two I atoms.Alexandra A. Hoops, Jason R. Gascooke, Ann Elise Faulhaber, Kathryn E. Kautzman and Daniel M. Neumar

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of interventions for fibromyalgia: a protocol

Abstract Background Fibromyalgia is associated with substantial socioeconomic loss and, despite considerable research including numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews, there exists uncertainty regarding what treatments are effective. No review has evaluated all interventional studies for fibromyalgia, which limits attempts to make inferences regarding the relative effectiveness of treatments. Methods/design We will conduct a network meta-analysis of all RCTs evaluating therapies for fibromyalgia to determine which therapies show evidence of effectiveness, and the relative effectiveness of these treatments. We will acquire eligible studies through a systematic search of CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, AMED, HealthSTAR, PsychINFO, PapersFirst, ProceedingsFirst, and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials. Eligible studies will randomly allocate patients presenting with fibromyalgia or a related condition to an intervention or a control. Teams of reviewers will, independently and in duplicate, screen titles and abstracts and complete full text reviews to determine eligibility, and subsequently perform data abstraction and assess risk of bias of eligible trials. We will conduct meta-analyses to establish the effect of all reported therapies on patient-important outcomes when possible. To assess relative effects of treatments, we will construct a random effects model within the Bayesian framework using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Discussion Our review will be the first to evaluate all treatments for fibromyalgia, provide relative effectiveness of treatments, and prioritize patient-important outcomes with a focus on functional gains. Our review will facilitate evidence-based management of patients with fibromyalgia, identify key areas for future research, and provide a framework for conducting large systematic reviews involving indirect comparisons

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of interventions for fibromyalgia: a protocol

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is associated with substantial socioeconomic loss and, despite considerable research including numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews, there exists uncertainty regarding what treatments are effective. No review has evaluated all interventional studies for fibromyalgia, which limits attempts to make inferences regarding the relative effectiveness of treatments. METHODS/DESIGN: We will conduct a network meta-analysis of all RCTs evaluating therapies for fibromyalgia to determine which therapies show evidence of effectiveness, and the relative effectiveness of these treatments. We will acquire eligible studies through a systematic search of CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, AMED, HealthSTAR, PsychINFO, PapersFirst, ProceedingsFirst, and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials. Eligible studies will randomly allocate patients presenting with fibromyalgia or a related condition to an intervention or a control. Teams of reviewers will, independently and in duplicate, screen titles and abstracts and complete full text reviews to determine eligibility, and subsequently perform data abstraction and assess risk of bias of eligible trials. We will conduct meta-analyses to establish the effect of all reported therapies on patient-important outcomes when possible. To assess relative effects of treatments, we will construct a random effects model within the Bayesian framework using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. DISCUSSION: Our review will be the first to evaluate all treatments for fibromyalgia, provide relative effectiveness of treatments, and prioritize patient-important outcomes with a focus on functional gains. Our review will facilitate evidence-based management of patients with fibromyalgia, identify key areas for future research, and provide a framework for conducting large systematic reviews involving indirect comparison