Determination of the Influence of Alloying Elements on Solidification Parameters for the Study of the Thixoformability of a Chromium Steel

peer reviewedThis paper deals with the examination of the influence of alloying elements on the thixoformability of a chromium steel. It focuses on the liquid fraction curves of different chromium steel with and without modification of composition. The liquid fraction versus temperature has been obtained experimentally by differential thermal analysis (DTA), limited to low heating rates. The correlation between liquid fraction and temperature has been studied. The effect of modifications of composition was observed

Characterization of pentraxin 3 in the horse and its expression in airways

The long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) plays an important role in host defence and its over-expression may contribute to airway injury. The aim of the present study was therefore to characterize in more detail PTX3 and its expression in the horses’ airway. Six healthy horses and six horses affected by recurrent airway obstruction (R.A.O.) were submitted to a dusty environment challenge. PTX3 DNA and cDNA were cloned and sequenced. PTX3 expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR, Western blotting and immuno-histochemistry in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells, BALF supernatant and bronchial epithelial cells. An alternative splicing of the second exon of PTX3 occurred, resulting in two forms of the protein: “spliced” (32 kDa) and “full length” (42 kDa). PTX3 was detected in BALF macrophages, neutrophils and bronchial epithelial cells. It was over-expressed in the BALF supernatant from R.A.O.-affected horses in crisis. However, dust was unable to induce PTX3 in BALF cells ex vivo, indicating that dust is an indirect inducer of PTX3. Dust exposure in-vivo induced PTX3 in BALF macrophages but there was no significant difference between healthy and R.A.O.-affected horses. Conversely, PTX3 was over-expressed in the bronchial epithelial cells from R.A.O.-affected horses in crisis. These data indicate a differential regulatory mechanism in inflammatory and bronchial epithelial cells and offer therapeutically interesting perspectives

Impact du Percussionaire® et de la kinésithérapie respiratoire conventionnelle après chirurgie cardiaque : étude randomisée contrôlée

peer reviewedaudience: researcher, professional, studen

Clinical nutrition issues in 2022: What is missing to trust supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN) in ICU patients?

Clinical nutrition; Intensive care unit; Nutrition careNutrició clínica; Unitat de cures intensives; Cura de la nutricióNutrición Clínica; Unidad de cuidados intensivos; Cuidado de la nutriciónA multidisciplinary group of international physicians involved in the medical nutrition therapy (MNT) of adult critically ill patients met to discuss the value, role, and open questions regarding supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN) along with oral or enteral nutrition (EN), particularly in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. This manuscript summarizes the discussions and results to highlight the importance of SPN as part of a comprehensive approach to MNT in critically ill adults and for researchers to generate new evidence based on well-powered randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The experts agreed on several key points: SPN has shown clinical benefits, resulting in this strategy being included in American and European guidelines. Nevertheless, its use is heterogeneous across European countries, due to the persistence of uncertainties, such as the optimal timing and the risk of overfeeding in absence of indirect calorimetry (IC), which results in divergent opinions and barriers to SPN implementation. Education is also insufficient. The experts agreed on actions needed to increase evidence quality on SPN use in specific patients at a given time point during acute critical illness or recovery.The organization of the Virtual Meeting that motivated this publication was funded by Baxter Healthcare SA. The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. MPC receives funding from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) (Grant No. 1832817N) and Onderzoeksraad, KU Leuven (Grant No. C24/17/070) and from the Private Charity Organization “Help Brandwonden Kids

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for pregnant women with acute respiratory distress syndrome : a narrative review

peer reviewedAcute respiratory distress syndrome remains an uncommon condition during pregnancy. In patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, when oxygenation or ventilation cannot be supported sufficiently using best practice conventional mechanical ventilation and additional therapies, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be considered. In the past two decades, there has been increasing adoption of this technique to support adult patients with refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, its use for the management of pregnant women is rare and remains a challenge. This narrative review addresses acute respiratory distress syndrome and its management during pregnancy, and then focuses on indications, contraindications, challenges, potential complications, and outcomes of the use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute respiratory distress syndrome in the pregnant patien

Clinical nutrition issues in 2022: What is missing to trust supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN) in ICU patients?

A multidisciplinary group of international physicians involved in the medical nutrition therapy (MNT) of adult critically ill patients met to discuss the value, role, and open questions regarding supplemental parenteral nutrition (SPN) along with oral or enteral nutrition (EN), particularly in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting. This manuscript summarizes the discussions and results to highlight the importance of SPN as part of a comprehensive approach to MNT in critically ill adults and for researchers to generate new evidence based on well-powered randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The experts agreed on several key points: SPN has shown clinical benefts, resulting in this strategy being included in American and European guidelines. Nevertheless, its use is heterogeneous across European countries, due to the persistence of uncertainties, such as the optimal timing and the risk of overfeeding in absence of indirect calorimetry (IC), which results in divergent opinions and barriers to SPN implementation. Education is also insufcient. The experts agreed on actions needed to increase evidence quality on SPN use in specifc patients at a given time point during acute critical illness or recovery.MPC receives funding from the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) (Grant No. 1832817N) and Onderzoeksraad, KU Leuven (Grant No. C24/17/070) and from the Private Charity Organization “Help Brandwonden Kids.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio