21 research outputs found
Electrochemical Study of Ion Transfer of Acetylcholine Across the Interface of Water and a Lipid-Modified 1,2-Dichloroethane
Addressing COVID-19 challenges in a randomised controlled trial on exercise interventions in a high-risk population
Background!#!The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a threat to ongoing clinical trials necessitating regular face-to-face, in-person meetings, particularly in participants with a high risk of complications. Guidance on how to handle and safely continue such trials is lacking. Chronically ill elderly individuals require-in addition to protection from infection-regular physical exercise and social contact to remain healthy. Solutions on how to handle these conflicting necessities are needed. The ENTAIER-randomised controlled trial was investigating the influence of mindful movements on fall risk, fear of falling, mobility, balance, life quality, and other outcomes. The study population was planned to comprise of 550 chronically ill elderly individuals with a high risk of falling. The movements were regularly performed in coached groups over 6 months. After the trial began, COVID-19 lockdowns stopped all in-person meetings, and it was expected that the limitations of this pandemic would continue for a long term. Therefore, the exercise programme, which involved complex movements and was typically conducted face-to-face in groups, had to be substituted by a telemedicine programme within a short timeframe. The objectives, therefore, were to identify challenges and tasks that could to be resolved and steps that could to be taken to achieve high-quality, efficacy, safety, and enable human encounter and motivation.!##!Methods!#!We proceeded with four steps: 1) A literature review on the quality and feasibility issues of telemedicine in general, and specifically, in exercise training in elderly individuals. 2) Participation in two international telemedicine task forces on integrative medicine, particularly, mind-body medicine. 3) Interviews with study therapists, (for practical purposes, eurythmy therapists and Tai Chi teachers are summarized here as therapists) personnel, and international experts on providing mindful movement exercises and other physiotherapies via live telecommunication technology, and with scientists and patient representatives. 4) Final evaluation by the core trial team and subsequent planning and implementation of changes in the trial organisation.!##!Results!#!Various tasks and challenges were identified: for the technical equipment for therapists and patients; for the ability of therapists and trial participants to adequately manage the technology and telemedicine intervention; the reservations and concerns about the technology among therapists and participants; safety and data protection in using the technology; and study design. The two major options found on how to continue the trial in the COVID-19 situation were a complete switch to telemedicine and a partial switch in the form of risk management implemented into the former design.!##!Conclusions!#!The management of an ongoing clinical trial in a national or international crisis with a minimum of available time and extra financial resources, alongside with two checklists on steps and procedures for trial continuation and telemedicine implementation, may be informative for other researchers or healthcare providers faced with similar challenges and making similar decisions in the current situation or similar future scenarios. TRAIL REGISTRATION: www.drks.de . DRKS00016609. Registered July 30, 2019
Quantitative determination by means of cyclic voltammetry at the interface of two immiscible electrolyte solutions
Thermal Modulation Voltammetry at a 1,2-Dichloroethane/Water Microinterface Using Visible Laser Heating with Optically Absorbing Supporting Electrolyte
Selectivity in the Coextraction of Cation and Anion by Electrochemically Modulated Liquid-Liquid Extraction
Electrochemistry at the interface between two immiscible electrolyte solutions has been presented as a method of electrochemically modulated liquid-liquid extraction, where ions in a mixture can be selectively partitioned as a function of the applied interfacial potential difference. In this study, a mixture comprising 4-octylbenzenesulfonate (4-OBSA-) and tetraethylammonium (TEA+) ions was evaluated. The application of negative potential differences enabled the selective extraction of 4-OBSAinto the organic phase, and more positive potential differences enabled the selective extraction of TEA+. However, intermediate potentials lead to the coextraction of both ions into the organic phase, with apparent selectivity for TEA+ over 4-OBSA-. An increased concentration of either ion in the mixture inhibited the extraction response of the other ion, but the order of the extraction at these intermediate potentials was always TEA+ followed by 4-OBSA-. The reasons for the selectivity for the cation over the anion are discussed