Collisions of polarized electrons with O_2

Recently several methods have been developed and applied to studies of electron‐molecule collisions at low impact energies. These approaches include the R‐matrix, Linear algebraic, complex Kohn, and Schwinger multichannel (SMC) methods. In principle, these methods can account for important physical effects in such collisions which arise from open and closed electronic channels. In this paper we will report some results of preliminary studies of collisions of low‐energy electrons with molecular oxygen, an open‐shell system. In contrast to closed‐shell systems such as H_2 and N_2, the electron polarization may change in collisions with these open‐shell targets due to spin‐exchange processes. We have determined these spin‐exchange effects for elastic e‐O_2 collisions and found them to be much smaller than those seen in alkali atoms such as Na. Our results compare well with those of recent measurements of these effects for O_2 by Hanne and his collaborators

CT scanning for diagnosing blunt ureteral and ureteropelvic junction injuries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Blunt ureteral and ureteropelvic (UPJ) injuries are extremely rare and very difficult to diagnose. Many of these injuries are missed by the initial trauma evaluation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Trauma registry data was used to identify all blunt trauma patients with ureteral or UPJ injuries, from 1 April 2001 to 30 November 2006. Demographics, injury information and outcomes were determined. Chart review was then performed to record initial clinical and all CT findings.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eight patients had ureteral or UPJ injuries. Subtle findings such as perinephric stranding and hematomas, and low density retroperitoneal fluid were evident on all initial scans, and prompted delayed excretory scans in 7/8 cases. As a result, ureteral and UPJ injuries were diagnosed immediately for these seven patients. These findings were initially missed in the eighth patient because significant associated visceral findings mandated emergency laparotomy. All ureteral and UPJ injuries have completely healed except for the case with the delay in diagnosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most blunt ureteral and UPJ injuries can be identified if delayed excretory CT scans are performed based on initial CT findings of perinephric stranding and hematomas, or the finding of low density retroperitoneal fluid.</p

Analytical techniques for multiplex analysis of protein biomarkers

Introduction: The importance of biomarkers for pharmaceutical drug development and clinical diagnostics is more significant than ever in the current shift toward personalized medicine. Biomarkers have taken a central position either as companion markers to support drug development and patient selection, or as indicators aiming to detect the earliest perturbations indicative of disease, minimizing therapeutic intervention or even enabling disease reversal. Protein biomarkers are of particular interest given their central role in biochemical pathways. Hence, capabilities to analyze multiple protein biomarkers in one assay are highly interesting for biomedical research. Areas covered: We here review multiple methods that are suitable for robust, high throughput, standardized, and affordable analysis of protein biomarkers in a multiplex format. We describe innovative developments in immunoassays, the vanguard of methods in clinical laboratories, and mass spectrometry, increasingly implemented for protein biomarker analysis. Moreover, emerging techniques are discussed with potentially improved protein capture, separation, and detection that will further boost multiplex analyses. Expert commentary: The development of clinically applied multiplex protein biomarker assays is essential as multi-protein signatures provide more comprehensive information about biological systems than single biomarkers, leading to improved insights in mechanisms of disease, diagnostics, and the effect of personalized medicine

Is prolonged infusion of piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem in critically ill patients associated with improved pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic and patient outcomes? An observation from the Defining Antibiotic Levels in Intensive care unit patients (DALI) cohort

Objectives:We utilized the database of the Defining Antibiotic Levels in Intensive care unit patients (DALI) study to statistically compare the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic and clinical outcomes between prolonged-infusion and intermittent-bolus dosing of piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem in critically ill patients using inclusion criteria similar to those used in previous prospective studies.Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of a prospective, multicentre pharmacokinetic point-prevalence study (DALI), which recruited a large cohort of critically ill patients from 68 ICUs across 10 countries.Results: Of the 211 patients receiving piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem in the DALI study, 182 met inclusion criteria. Overall, 89.0% (162/182) of patients achieved the most conservative target of 50% fT(&gt; MIC) (time over which unbound or free drug concentration remains above the MIC). Decreasing creatinine clearance and the use of prolonged infusion significantly increased the PTA for most pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic targets. In the subgroup of patients who had respiratory infection, patients receiving beta-lactams via prolonged infusion demonstrated significantly better 30 day survival when compared with intermittent-bolus patients [86.2% (25/29) versus 56.7% (17/30); P=0.012]. Additionally, in patients with a SOFA score of &gt;= 9, administration by prolonged infusion compared with intermittent-bolus dosing demonstrated significantly better clinical cure [73.3% (11/15) versus 35.0% (7/20); P=0.035] and survival rates [73.3% (11/15) versus 25.0% (5/20); P=0.025].Conclusions: Analysis of this large dataset has provided additional data on the niche benefits of administration of piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem by prolonged infusion in critically ill patients, particularly for patients with respiratory infections

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P &lt; 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Cooperativas agroalimentarias y exportación. El proceso de internacionalización de la cooperativa del Valle de los Pedroches (COVAP)

El presente trabajo pretende aportar información del grado de internacionalización de las cooperativas agrarias españolas, de los mercados y canales que están utilizando en la apertura de mercados exteriores. Se analiza además un caso real de empresa, la Sociedad Cooperativa Andaluza del Valle de los Pedroches (COVAP) que se está convirtiendo en un referente de empresa que ha sido capaz de llevar sus productos a más de 23 países entre los que se encuentran mercados tan exigentes como es Estados Unidos

Latin american clinical epidemiology network series - paper 1: the latin american clinical epidemiology network ‘‘LatinCLEN’’

LatinCLEN, la Red Latinoamericana de Epidemiolog ıa Cl ınica (INCLEN) naci o en los a~nos noventa como una rama de INCLEN (la Red Mundial de Epidemiolog ıa Cl ınica). Las primeras personas entrenadas lo hicieron en Australia y Norteam erica. Se crearon unidades de Epidemiolog ıa Cl ınica por egresados del INCLEN y empezaron a desarrollarse centros de segunda y tercera generaci on con el prop osito de introducir en la regi on los conceptos de metodolog ıa de investigaci on cl ınica, apreciaci on cr ıtica de la literatura, econom ıa cl ınica y bioestad ıstica. El area de Epidemiolog ıa Cl ınica ha sido introducido en las escuelas de areas de la salud y ha tenido gran influencia, a trav es de investigaci on y de la aplicaci on de medicina basada en evidencia, en pol ıticas de salud y en pr acticas en Am erica Latina. Una red de investigadores y la colaboraci on entre centros ha permitido mayor desarrollo en la regi on. Los art ıculos de esta serie proveen una breve impresi on del desarrollo de investigaci on en la regi on que incluye, entre otros temas, la capacidad de conducir ensayos cl ınicos en terapias innovativas, revisiones sistem aticas, an alisis econ omicos, como estudios sobre factores de riesgo y carga de enfermedad. 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Q1Q171-74The Latin American Clinical Epidemiology Network (LatinCLEN) was born in the 90s as a branch of the International Clinical Epidemiology Network. Clinical Epidemiology Units that made up this network in the region were initially composed of health professionals trained in Australia and North America. From these units, second- and third-generation training centers started to develop in the region, with the main purpose of introducing clinical research methodology and critical appraisal, as well as health economics and biostatistics. The field of Clinical Epidemiology has been introduced into health schools, and has had great influence on health policies and practices in Latin America. The articles in this series provide a bird’s eye view of research development in the region which include, among others, the capacity to conduct clinical trials on innovative therapies, systematic reviews, economic analyses, as well as studies on risk factors and burden of illness