Recommendations on basic requirements for intensive care units: structural and organizational aspects

OBJECTIVE: To provide guidance and recommendations for the planning or renovation of intensive care units (ICUs) with respect to the specific characteristics relevant to organizational and structural aspects of intensive care medicine. METHODOLOGY: The Working Group on Quality Improvement (WGQI) of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) identified the basic requirements for ICUs by a comprehensive literature search and an iterative process with several rounds of consensus finding with the participation of 47 intensive care physicians from 23 countries. The starting point of this process was an ESICM recommendation published in 1997 with the need for an updated version. RESULTS: The document consists of operational guidelines and design recommendations for ICUs. In the first part it covers the definition and objectives of an ICU, functional criteria, activity criteria, and the management of equipment. The second part deals with recommendations with respect to the planning process, floorplan and connections, accommodation, fire safety, central services, and the necessary communication systems. CONCLUSION: This document provides a detailed framework for the planning or renovation of ICUs based on a multinational consensus within the ESIC

Photoneutron cross sections in 7-Li

NRC publication: Ye

MESURE DE LA SECTION EFFICACE 12C(γ, xn) DU SEUIL JUSQU'A 33 MeV.

La réaction 12C(γ, xn) a été produite dans une cible de carbone naturel par le rayonnement de freinage du linac. Les photoneutrons sont détectés par un système du type Halpern. La méthode d'analyse de Penfold et Leiss et celle de Cook ont été appliquées. La forme de la résonance géante est conforme à celle observée dans les dernières expériences.The 12C(γ, xn)-reaction was produced in a natural carbon target by the bremsstrahlung beam from the linac. The photoneutrons are detected by a Halpern-type system. Penfold and Leiss' analysis method as well as Cook's method were applied. The shape of the giant resonance is in good agreement with that observed in previous experiments

Photoneutron fine structure in 208-Pb and multipole resonance

NRC publication: Ye

Colon mucosa of patients both with spondyloarthritis and Crohn's disease is enriched with macrophages expressing the scavenger receptor CD163

Objective: To investigate macrophages and other antigen presenting cells in gut mucosa from patients with SpA and Crohn's disease, given the relationship between both entities. Methods: Biopsy specimens from patients with SpA, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and from controls were immunohistochemically stained with different markers for macrophages and dendritic cells. Slides were scored semiquantitatively on a four point scale. Results: SpA and Crohn's disease were associated with large numbers of CD68(+) macrophages. Colon mucosa of both patients with SpA and Crohn's disease, but not ulcerative colitis, showed increased numbers of macrophages expressing the scavenger receptor CD163. Conclusions: Macrophages expressing the scavenger receptor CD163 are increased in colonic mucosa in SpA and in Crohn's disease, highlighting the relationship between these entities. The increased number of CD163(+) macrophages in colon mucosa of patients with SpA suggests this is another argument for a role of macrophage scavenger receptors in this group of diseases