Radiation induced angiosarcoma a sequela of radiotherapy for breast cancer following conservative surgery

Radiation induced angiosarcomas (RIA) can affect breast cancer patients who had radiotherapy following conservative breast surgery. They are very rare tumors and often their diagnosis is delayed due to their benign appearance and difficulty in differentiation from radiation induced skin changes. Therefore it is very important that clinicians are aware of their existence. We report here a case of RIA followed by discussion and review of literature

Decreased actin expression in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation

Background - Chronic atrial fibrillation is characterized by a severe contractile dysfunction and myolysis. Remodelling of the cellular ultrastructure develops progressively. Myolysis is associated with the replacement of sarcomeres by glycogen. The aim of our study was, to determine if myolysis is represented by a reduction in actin concentration. Methods - Right atrial samples from 18 patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery were excised and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. 8 patients had chronic AF (>3 month) and 10 patients were in sinus rhythm (SR). Actin concentration was determined by SDS-PAGE, Western blot and quantified by optical densitometry. Results - Immunoblot analysis demonstrated actin expression in all hearts. In myocardial samples from patients with chronic AF we found a 2.1 fold reduction in actin expression. (

Influence of xenon perfusion on adrenalin dependent atrial contractility

Background: Many anesthetic agents show a cardiodepressant effect. In cardiac surgery this may limit their application. We tested the hypothesis that xenon does not affect the positive inotropic effect of adrenalin in human right atrial muscle bundles. Methods: 18 right atrial appendages from 17 patients were harvested. Thin myocardial muscle strips were prepared under stereomicroscopic control, connected to isometric force transducers and placed in an organ bath. Force of contraction was analysed from 10 pmol to 1 mmol adrenalin. Differences in force development were compared after perfusion of the Krebs-Henseleit solution with 100 % xenon for 30 minutes at 60 bpm and 37 °C in the open contraction chamber. Results: Xenon perfusion did not alter myocardial force of contraction. The positive inotropic impact of adrenalin did not differ between the muscles exposed to xenon and the control group. Conclusion: The present findings indicate that the inotropic effect of adrenalin is not affected by xenon perfusion of human right atrial muscle strips

Porównanie urządzeń testujących tendencje pyłu węglowego do wybuchu z wykorzystaniem rozdrobnionego węgla z kopalni w Pittsburgu (USA)

Explosions of coal dust are a major safety concern within the coal mining industry. The explosion and subsequent fires caused by coal dust can result in significant property damage, loss of life in underground coal mines and damage to coal processing facilities. The United States Bureau of Mines conducted research on coal dust explosions until 1996 when it was dissolved. In the following years, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) developed a test standard, ASTM E1226, to provide a standard test method characterizing the “explosibility” of particulate solids of combustible materials suspended in air. The research presented herein investigates the explosive characteristic of Pulverized Pittsburgh Coal dust using the ASTM E1226-12 test standard. The explosibility characteristics include: maximum explosion pressure, (Pmax); maximum rate of pressure rise, (dP/dt)max; and explosibility index, (Kst). Nine Pulverized Pittsburgh Coal dust concentrations, ranging from 30 to 1,500 g/m3, were tested in a 20-Liter Siwek Sphere. The newly recorded dust explosibility characteristics are then compared to explosibility characteristics published by the Bureau of Mines in their 20 liter vessel and procedure predating ASTM E1126-12. The information presented in this paper will allow for structures and devices to be built to protect people from the effects of coal dust explosions.Wybuchy pyłu węglowego są jednym z głównych zagrożeń związanych z bezpieczeństwem pracy w górnictwie węgla. Wybuchy i spowodowane przez nie pożary skutkują poważnymi zniszczeniami w kopalniach podziemnych, powodować mogą ofiary śmiertelne a także uszkodzić urządzenia do transportu i przeróbki węgla. Instytut Górnictwa w USA (The United States Bureau of Mines) prowadził badania nad wybuchami pyłu węglowego do roku 1996, kiedy to Instytut został rozwiązany. W kolejnych latach Amerykańskie Stowarzyszenie Badań Materiałów (ASTM) opracowało normę ASTM E1226, określającą standardową metodę badania w celu określenia skłonności do wybuchu części stałych substancji palnych zawieszonych w powietrzu. W pracy przedstawiono badania właściwości wybuchowych pyłu węglowego z rozdrobnionego węgla z kopalni w Pittsburgu w oparciu o metodę określoną w dokumencie normatywnym ASTM E1226-12. Charakterystyka skłonności pyłu do wybuchu obejmuje następujące parametry: maksymalne ciśnienie wybuchu (Pmax), maksymalne tempo wzrostu ciśnienia (dP/dt)max, oraz wskaźnik (Kst) określający skłonność pyłu do wybuchu. Do badań wykorzystano dziewięć próbek różniących się stężeniem pyłu węglowego (od 30 do 1500 g/m3). Badania przeprowadzono z wykorzystaniem 20-litrowej komory w kształcie kuli. Otrzymane charakterystyki porównano następnie do charakterystyk opublikowanych przez Amerykański Instytut Górnictwo po przeprowadzeniu badań z użyciem 20-litrowej komory będącej na wyposażeniu Instytutu oraz w oparciu o procedury stosowane przed wprowadzeniem normy ASTM E1126-12. Informacje zebrane w niniejszej pracy pozwolą na opracowanie konstrukcji i urządzeń które skutecznie będą mogły chronić ludzi przed skutkami wybuchów pyłu węglowego

An evaluation framework for worker-centric solutions in production environments

Evaluating how an Information Systems (IS) intervention in the workplace affects daily work and impacts on workers and organizations is a challenge that requires a very broad research approach. IS researchers have derived several models to explain and measure IS success, taking various perspectives and system types into account. This study presents an evaluation framework for measuring the impacts of an IS intervention especially at the shop floor in production environments. In this framework, we take a broad scope of examination and apply an integrated model that comprises elements from several methods for analyzing the acceptance and the impact of the new solutions. Thus, the aim is to further develop and enhance the existing methods and models for measuring the acceptance and the impacts of the sociotechnical interventions in production environments