Letter from P. F. Holtzinger to James B. Finley

Rev. Holtzinger invites Finley to attend the 3rd quarterly meeting and dedication of the new Pleasant Valley Meeting House (Union County) on April 22nd. It is hoped that $150 will be raised at the dedication to pay off the indebtedness. Abstract Number - 369https://digitalcommons.owu.edu/finley-letters/1567/thumbnail.jp

Nonfatal Strangulation Continuing Education Program for Forensic Nurses

Patients experiencing nonfatal strangulation during intimate partner violence (IPV) are suffering the consequences of unrecognized injuries and delayed life-threatening medical sequela. Forensic nurses offer expertise in the physical assessment and documentation to a variety of assault victims including those impacted by IPV. This project addressed whether an educational program on nonfatal strangulation increased the knowledge and assessment skills of forensic nurse examiners. The purpose of this doctoral project was to develop a continuing education program on the topic of nonfatal strangulation for forensic nurse examiners. The project design was created using Knowles\u27s adult learning theory principles. The content outline was guided by the International Association of Forensic Nurses Nonfatal Strangulation Toolkit as well as input from content experts on nonfatal strangulation. The evaluation of the project was through pre- and posttest scores. The nonfatal strangulation continuing education training resulted in a statistically significant increase in participants\u27 posttest scores (z-value= -3.064; p value =.002) indicating that the training material and teaching modality positively affected the participants test scores. This continuing education program on nonfatal strangulation increased knowledge of forensic nurse examiners and its application in the field might contribute to positive social change by increasing the identification of IPV and providing appropriate intervention

Influence of Viscosity Modifiers on Hydrodynamic Friction

Polymer additives, named Viscosity Modifiers (VMs), have been added to motor engine lubricants for more than 50 years, where they are used to increase the viscosity index of their blends. It is well known that solutions of VMs exhibit shear thinning under high strain rate conditions as are present in engine journal bearings. In the past, this shear thinning was regarded as undesirable since it might reduce hydrodynamic film thickness. However it has been reported that multigrade oils containing VMs provide lower engine friction than polymer-free oils of comparable viscosity and the most likely origin of this is a reduction of hydrodynamic friction due to temporary shear thinning of the polymer solutions. In this thesis, the role of polymer shear thinning in reducing hydrodynamic friction is clarified by the experimental work carried out on a range of different polymer types. This study includes the viscosity measurements over a wide range of shear rate and also friction and film thickness analyses performed in a soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication contact in order to avoid piezoviscous effects. A very recent technique based on laser induced fluorescence technology is used to evaluate the film thickness. These experimental results are compared with theoretical calculations, which allows based on the rheological data of each polymer solution, the impact of polymer shear thinning on hydrodynamic friction to be quantified. The studied polymer solutions show a decrease in film thickness and in hydrodynamic friction compared to Newtonian fluids of similar viscosity. This reduction is ascribed to the temporary shear thinning of polymer blends. The proposed theoretical models show good agreement with the experimental values. They appear to be useful tools to quantify the impact of polymer shear thinning on film thickness and friction. In addition to this main work, the polymer solutions are analysed under high contact pressure and the shear stability of some commercials viscosity modifiers are studied. A new method is developed to quantify the permanent viscosity loss of each polymer solution and this is compared to the industrial Kurt-Orbahn test

Effets de composition et de morphologie sur la mouillabilité de revêtements sol-gel nanocomposites

Des revêtements sol-gel nanocomposites TiO2-SiO2 ont été réalisés à partir de mélanges d'une suspension nanocristalline de TiO2 anatase et de sols polymériques de silice. Ces revêtements présentent une superhydrophilie naturelle, persistante et photo-régénérable. La présence de charges localisées aux interfaces granulaires TiO2-SiO2 est une des hypothèses permettant d'expliquer cette superhydrophilie naturelle. Toutefois des effets de morphologie (rugosité, porosité de surface) sont également connus pour influencer le mouillage. Des études ont été menées pour mettre directement en évidence l'effet intrinsèque des interfaces granulaires. Les études se sont recentrées sur l'effet extrinsèque de paramètres morphologiques susceptibles d'influencer la mouillabilité des revêtements nanocomposites selon des modèles thermodynamiques des surfaces connus. De nouveaux protocoles de synthèse par voie sol-gel ont été mis au point afin d'analyser i/ en quoi la superhydrophilie naturelle et photo-induite des revêtements TiO2-SiO2 pouvait être influencée par des effets de morphologie et de composition, et ii/ en quoi une exacerbation de ces effets via des structurations artificielles pouvaient encore accroître la superhydrophile de surface. Une extrapolation de ces protocoles a également permis d'étudier des revêtements superhydrophobes.Sol-gel TiO2-SiO2 nanocomposites coatings have been deposited from a suspension of anatase TiO2 nanocristallites mixed with different polymeric silica sols. These coatings show a natural and persistent superhydrophilicity, which can also be photo-regenerated. This outstanding property can probably be explained by electrical charges localized at TiO2-SiO2 granular interfaces. Yet, some morphological features (roughness, surface porosity) may also influence wetting properties. Studies have firstly been carried out to directly evidence the intrinsic effect of those electrical charges. The studies have then been focused on the extrinsic effect of morphological parameters than can influence the composite wettability, according to thermodynamic models. New sol-gel protocols were carried out to better understand in which extent i/ the natural and photo-induced wetting properties of composite coatings may be influenced by composition and morphological features, and ii/ artificial structuration of the coating surface may enhance their superhydrophilicity. Those structuration protocols have been extrapolated to the study of superhydrophobic coatings.SAVOIE-SCD - Bib.électronique (730659901) / SudocGRENOBLE1/INP-Bib.électronique (384210012) / SudocGRENOBLE2/3-Bib.électronique (384219901) / SudocSudocFranceF

A COVID-19-járvány hatása a szervadományozásra és -átültetésre Magyarországon 2020-ban

Introduction: The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in drastic changes in day-to-day patient care, which has also affected the field of organ donation and transplantation, thus reducing the number of donations and transplants from living and deceased donors worldwide. In addition to the reduction in the number of cases, additional safety measures had to be introduced to protect transplanted and implicatively immunosuppressed patients. Method: The aim of the study was to demonstrate the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on domestic donation and transplantation activity in 2020, compared to the previous year. We also compared the Hungarian results with the data of the Eurotransplant and the European Union member states. Results: In terms of population-weighted, registered COVID-19 infection and mortality, we did not find a significant difference in Hungary in 2020 compared to the Eurotransplant member states. The national organ donation potential did not diminish in the period under review, however, the number of brain-dead organ donors decreased by 38.33% in Hungary, while in the Eurotransplant it did by 8.64% on average and in 23 reporting European countries by 17.55%. The number of organ transplants from the deceased decreased by 29.27%, especially regarding heart and liver transplants. Both the number and the proportion of organs received from abroad increased by 21.13% and 12.34%, respectively. The number of living donor kidney transplants did not change. In 2020, 25% fewer new patients were registered than in 2019 and the mortality on waiting list increased by 28% compared to the previous year, especially among those waiting for a kidney transplant. Conclusion: The national organ transplantation program is safe: donor-derived SARS-CoV-2 transmission did not occur in Hungary. In addition to the organ donation potential and the COVID-19 pandemic, organ donation and transplantation activity decreased significantly in Hungary from March 2020 until the end of the year. Transient and smaller reductions in organ donation rates have been reported in most European countries. The number of organ transplants did not decrease as much as the number of donors, because more donor organs arrived in Hungary from the Eurotransplant than we sent abroad. © 2021 Akademiai Kiado Rt.. All rights reserved

Magyarországi intenzív osztályok szervdonációval kapcsolatos személyi és tárgyi feltételei = Personnel and material conditions of the Hungarian intensive care units dealing with organ donation

Absztrakt: Bevezetés: A hazai transzplantációs várólistákon 2016 végén kétszer annyi beteg volt, mint amennyi átültetés történt az év során. A szervdonációs programok működésének intézményi szintű előfeltétele a megfelelő dolgozói létszám és a tárgyi feltételek biztosítása az ellátási szükséglethez képest. Célkitűzés: A jelen vizsgálat célja a hazai szakmai környezet feltérképezése volt. Módszer: Az Országos Vérellátó Szolgálat Szervkoordinációs Irodája kérdőíves felmérést készített a magyarországi intenzív osztályok szervdonációval kapcsolatos személyi és tárgyi feltételeiről. A felmérés eszköze online kérdőív volt, 43 kérdéssel. Az ágyszámok és a dolgozói létszám mellett vizsgáltuk az agyhalál jogi és orvosszakmai megállapításához szükséges eszközöknek, valamint a donorlekérdezőn található vizsgálatoknak az elérhetőségét. Az adatgyűjtés 2016. december 12-től 2017. június 30-ig tartott. Eredmények: A kérdőívet 59 kórház intenzív osztálya töltötte ki; a vizsgálat 640 betegágyat, 816 orvost, valamint 1252 ápolót érintett. Nappali műszakban egy betegágyra átlagosan 0,25 orvos, 0,41 ápoló jut, éjszakai műszakban 0,11 és 0,33. Az Országos Transzplantációs Nyilvántartásból való lekérdezésre az orvosok 51,7%-a regisztrált, agyhalál-megállapító bizottság a kórházak 83%-ában bármikor elérhető. A képalkotó vizsgálatok között (koponya, has-mellkas) CT-vizsgálat 71–73%-ban, hasi UH 75%-ban, transthoracalis echokardiográfia 37%-ban, transoesophagealis echokardiográfia 4%-ban, bronchoszkópia 49%-ban, koronarográfia 19%-ban nonstop elérhető, 75%-ban azonnali leletezéssel. Transcranialis Doppler-vizsgálat 30%-ban, négyér-angiográfia 45%-ban és SPECT 14%-ban áll rendelkezésre. A donorlekérdezőn szereplő laborvizsgálatok több mint 90%-a a nap 24 órájában elérhető. Következtetés: A 2008-ban történt felmérésünkhöz képest az orvosok és az ápolók száma nem változott (2008: 0,18 orvos; 0,37 ápoló/intenzív osztályos ágy), miközben egy potenciális donor ellátása egyre több erőforrást és időt igényel. A személyi és tárgyi feltételek rendelkezésre állása a szervdonációs programok előfeltétele az életmentés szolgálatában. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(33): 1360–1367. | Abstract: Introduction: At the end of 2016, the number of patients on the domestic transplant waiting list was twice as much as the number of the organ transplantations accomplished that year. The institutional prerequisites for functional organ donation programs are the sufficient number of personnel and the adequate material conditions to be provided in relation to the needs. Aim: The goal of the current study was to evaluate the professional environment in Hungary. Method: The Organ Coordination Office at the Hungarian National Blood Transfusion Service compiled a questionnaire survey on the personnel and material conditions of the intensive care units (ICUs) in Hungary in regards to organ donations. The survey applied an online questionnaire including 43 questions. In addition to the number of beds and employees, we investigated the tools needed for the legal and the medical diagnosis of brain death as well as the accessibility of examinations on the donor information form. The data collection spanned from 12 December 2016 to 30 June 2017. Results: 59 intensive care units completed the questionnaire; the investigation involved 640 hospital beds, 816 physicians and 1252 nurses. In the daytime shift, 0.25 doctors and 0.41 nurses work on a patient bed at an average, while in the night shift, the figures are 0.11 and 0.33, respectively. 51.7% of the doctors are registered to access the National Non-Donor Registry, and brain death diagnosis committee is available in 83% of the hospitals. Among the medical imaging methods (cranial, abdominal-thoracic), CT scan in 71–73%, abdominal ultrasound in 75%, transthoracic echocardiograpy (TTE) in 37%, transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 4%, bronchoscopy in 49%, coronarography in 19% are non-stop available, with instant interpretation in 75% of the cases. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) in 30%, four-vessel angiography in 45% and SPECT in 14% of the cases are available. More than 90% of the laboratory examinations on the donor information form are available 24 hours a day. Conclusion: The number of doctors and nurses did not change compared to our 2008 survey (0.18 doctors, 0.37 nurses/ICU beds in 2008), but the care of potential donors needs more resources and time. The standby availability of personnel and material conditions is a prerequisite for organ donation programs in order to save lives. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(33): 1360–1367

Evaluation of a New POCT Bedside Glucose Meter and Strip With Hematocrit and Interference Corrections

Introduction: Based on the expanding role of point of care testing glucose meters and the need to improve accuracy and precision, the new Nova Biomedical StatStrip was evaluated and compared with the LifeScan SureStepFlexx (current point of care testing meter). Methods: Specimen volume variation, within-run imprecision, lot-to-lot bias, bias relative to a plasma hexokinase assay, and analytical interferences likely to be encountered in hospitalized patients were studied. Results: Strip dosing did not affect the StatStrip meter but did affect the SureStepFlexx at 5-and 50-KL specimen volumes. Within-run precision for each glucose meter was less than 5% at 39 to 47 mg/dL of glucose, less than 1.7% at 215 to 265 mg/dL, and less than 2.6% at 370 to 470 mg/dL. Improper coding resulted in erroneous measurements on the SureStepFlexx. Each meter was compared with the Dade RxL hexokinase plasma reference method, giving the following correlation equations: StatStrip = 1.015 (hexokinase) j 1.412 (r 2 = 0.996); SureStepFlexx = 0.889 (hexokinase) + 8.865 (r 2 = 0.989). At [glucose] of 55 mg/dL, ascorbic acid interfered with the SureStepFlexx but did not affect StatStrip. Hematocrit also affected the correlation of whole blood glucose on the SureStepFlexx to the plasma hexokinase reference glucose but did not affect the StatStrip meter. Conclusions: These studies suggest that the new StatStrip meter may be more accurate and precise (elimination of hematocrit effect and electrochemical interferences with no error because of strip dosing or calibration) than the SureStepFlexx meter. This reduction in total error may help achieve better glycemic control in hospitalized patients

Mutations in the 3'-untranslated region of GATA4 as molecular hotspots for congenital heart disease (CHD)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of mRNA contains regulatory elements that are essential for the appropriate expression of many genes. These regulatory elements are involved in the control of nuclear transport, polyadenylation status, subcellular targetting as well as rates of translation and degradation of mRNA. Indeed, 3'-UTR mutations have been associated with disease, but frequently this region is not analyzed. To gain insights into congenital heart disease (CHD), we have been analyzing cardiac-specific transcription factor genes, including <it>GATA4</it>, which encodes a zinc finger transcription factor. Germline mutations in the coding region of <it>GATA4 </it>have been associated with septation defects of the human heart, but mutations are rather rare. Previously, we identified 19 somatically-derived zinc finger mutations in diseased tissues of malformed hearts. We now continued our search in the 609 bp 3'-UTR region of <it>GATA4 </it>to explore further molecular avenues leading to CHD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>By direct sequencing, we analyzed the 3'-UTR of <it>GATA4 </it>in DNA isolated from 68 formalin-fixed explanted hearts with complex cardiac malformations encompassing ventricular, atrial, and atrioventricular septal defects. We also analyzed blood samples of 12 patients with CHD and 100 unrelated healthy individuals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified germline and somatic mutations in the 3'-UTR of <it>GATA4</it>. In the malformed hearts, we found nine frequently occurring sequence alterations and six dbSNPs in the 3'-UTR region of <it>GATA4</it>. Seven of these mutations are predicted to affect RNA folding. We also found further five nonsynonymous mutations in exons 6 and 7 of <it>GATA4</it>. Except for the dbSNPs, analysis of tissue distal to the septation defect failed to detect sequence variations in the same donor, thus suggesting somatic origin and mosaicism of mutations. In a family, we observed c.+119A > T in the 3'-UTR associated with ASD type II.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that somatic <it>GATA4 </it>mutations in the 3'-UTR may provide an additional molecular rationale for CHD.</p