Practical Investigations of the Method for Indirect Control of Acoustic Load Parameters

Abstract Article is devoted approbation of a method of indirect control of parameters of acoustic loading. Results of measurement of parameters of acoustic loading are presented

Fractional vortex lattice structures in spin triplet superconductors

Motivated by recent interest in spin triplet superconductors, we investigate the vortex lattice structures for this class of unconventional superconductors. We discuss how the order parameter symmetry can give rise to U(1)$\times$U(1) symmetry in same sense as in spinor condensates, making half-quantum vortices (HQV) topologically stable. We then calculate the vortex lattice structure of HQV's, with particular attention on the roles of the crystalline lattice, the Zeeman coupling, and Meissner screening, all absent in spinor condensates. Finally, we consider how spin-orbit coupling leads to a breakdown of the U(1)$\times$U(1) symmetry in free energy and whether the HQV lattice survives this symmetry breaking. As examples, we examine simpler spin-triplet models proposed in the context of NaxCoO2$\cdot$yH2O and Bechgaard salts, as well as the better known and more complex model for Sr2RuO4.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures. The version published in New Journal of Physics focus issue on 'Superconductors with Exotic Symmetry' with added reference

Predictors of inhospital mortality and re-hospitalization in older adults with community-acquired pneumonia: a prospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A better understanding of potentially modifiable predictors of in-hospital mortality and re-admission to the hospital following discharge may help to improve management of community-acquired pneumonia in older adults. We aimed to assess the associations of potentially modifiable factors with mortality and re-hospitalization in older adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prospective cohort study was conducted from July 2003 to April 2005 in two Canadian cities. Patients aged 65 years or older hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia were followed up for up to 30 days from initial hospitalization for mortality and these patients who were discharged alive within 30 days of initial hospitalization were followed up to 90 days of initial hospitalization for re-hospitalization. Separate logistic regression analyses were performed identify the predictors of mortality and re-hospitalization.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of 717 enrolled patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia, 49 (6.8%) died within 30 days of hospital admission. Among these patients, 526 were discharged alive within 30 days of hospitalization of whom 58 (11.2%) were re-hospitalized within 90 days of initial hospitalization. History of hip fracture (odds ratio (OR) = 4.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (1.46, 10.96), P = .007), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = (1.18, 4.50), P = .014), cerebrovascular disease (OR = 2.11, 95% CI = (1.03, 4.31), P = .040) were associated with mortality. Male sex (OR = 2.35, 95% CI = (1.13, 4.85), P = .022) was associated with re-hospitalization while vitamin E supplementation was protective (OR = 0.37 (0.16, 0.90), P = .028). Lower socioeconomic status, prior influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, appropriate antibiotic prescription upon admission, and lower nutrition risk were not significantly associated with mortality or re-hospitalization.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Chronic comorbidities appear to be the most important predictors of death and re-hospitalization in older adults hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia while vitamin E supplementation was protective.</p

Diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of clinical and laboratory parameters in community-acquired pneumonia

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the most frequent infection-related cause of death. The reference standard to diagnose CAP is a new infiltrate on chest radiograph in the presence of recently acquired respiratory signs and symptoms. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of clinical signs and symptoms and laboratory biomarkers for CAP. METHODS: 545 patients with suspected lower respiratory tract infection, admitted to the emergency department of a university hospital were included in a pre-planned post-hoc analysis of two controlled intervention trials. Baseline assessment included history, clinical examination, radiography and measurements of procalcitonin (PCT), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and leukocyte count. RESULTS: Of the 545 patients, 373 had CAP, 132 other respiratory tract infections, and 40 other final diagnoses. The AUC of a clinical model including standard clinical signs and symptoms (i.e. fever, cough, sputum production, abnormal chest auscultation and dyspnea) to diagnose CAP was 0.79 [95% CI, 0.75–0.83]. This AUC was significantly improved by including PCT and hsCRP (0.92 [0.89–0.94]; p < 0.001). PCT had a higher diagnostic accuracy (AUC, 0.88 [0.84–0.93]) in differentiating CAP from other diagnoses, as compared to hsCRP (AUC, 0.76 [0.69–0.83]; p < 0.001) and total leukocyte count (AUC, 0.69 [0.62–0.77]; p < 0.001). To predict bacteremia, PCT had a higher AUC (0.85 [0.80–0.91]) as compared to hsCRP (p = 0.01), leukocyte count (p = 0.002) and elevated body temperature (p < 0.001). PCT, in contrast to hsCRP and leukocyte count, increased with increasing severity of CAP, as assessed by the pneumonia severity index (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PCT, and to a lesser degree hsCRP, improve the accuracy of currently recommended approaches for the diagnosis of CAP, thereby complementing clinical signs and symptoms. PCT is useful in the severity assessment of CAP

Antibiotiques et quelques croyances populaires. [Antibiotics and some popular beliefs]

Although rarely studied, popular beliefs play a role in treatment compliance. In order to clarify this problem in the field of anti-infectious agents we sent a questionnaire to 200 patients and 100 nurses of the community hospital in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. We tried to test the influence, in poor patient compliance, of wrong beliefs concerning side effects and drug elimination. Eleven and twenty percent of patients suffered at least once from an episode of "allergy" and from another possible side effect respectively. Fatigue, often mentioned, has not been proved being a side effect and allergy is vastly overdiagnosed. Almost 50% of patients believe that antibiotics remain in the organism for months. Nurses are more intolerant to antibiotics than patients. In order to gain some insight on the role of cultural differences, the same questionnaire was submitted to nurses of the Moubda hospital in Cameroun. Their answers are very different from those of their swiss collegues: less side effects and allergies are reported. Nevertheless 17% would refuse an antibiotic therapy in case of a severe infection as compared to only 8% of swiss nurses. The reason for theses differences warrants further study

Candida glabrata spinal osteomyelitis involving two contiguous lumbar vertebrae: a case report and review of the literature

Due to the increase of the immunocompromised population, mucosal and systemic infections caused by Candida glabrata, formerly known as Torulopsis glabrata, have shown a recent significant increase. We present a case of C. glabrata vertebral osteomyelitis which required repeated surgical therapy, a complete L2 and L3 corporectomy and more than one year of hospitalisation to complete healing. We compare this case to eight previously reported cases outlining the features of C. glabrata spinal osteomyelitis, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, evolution and outcome. According to the case presented and in review of the literature, we believe that in the absence of abscess and neurologic symptoms, medical treatment should be initiated with close clinical, laboratory and radiologic follow-up. An unfavorable evolution of these parameters should be an indication for aggressive and, if necessary, repeated surgical intervention in association with an antifungal treatment