Influences of flunixin and tenoxicam on the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol in lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influences of flunixin (FM) and tenoxicam (TN) on the pharmacokinetics of florfenicol (FF) after coadministration in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemic rabbits. Fifteen male rabbits were used in this study. FF (20 mg/kg), FM (2 mg/kg), and TN (1 mg/kg) were coadministered via intravenous injection to the animals. The concentrations of FF were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection from 0.08 to 12 h in plasma. The plasma concentration-time profile of FF was described using a noncompartmental open model. In this study, terminal half-life, area under the curve, mean residence time, and volume of distribution at steady state were significantly increased, whereas total body clearance was decreased in coadministered groups. In conclusion, FM and TN have effects on the pharmacokinetics of FF in coadministered endotoxemic rabbits. When FF is coadministered with FM and TN, it can be given at a dose of 20 mg/kg b.w. every 8 h for treatment of infections caused by susceptible pathogens with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of <= 2 mu g/mL or 12 h for treatment of infections caused by susceptible pathogens with MIC of <= 1 mu g/mL in critically ill rabbits. Further studies are necessary to determine variations in dosage regimens

Operating principles and practical design aspects of all SiC DC/AC/DC converter for MPPT in grid-connected PV supplies

A 20 kW, 20 kHz high frequency (HF) link maximum power point tracking (MPPT) converter for a grid-connected PV supply, based on all silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors, is presented. In the developed converter, SiC power MOSFETs are used in the low-voltage PV panel side and SiC Schottky diodes on the high-voltage DC output, in order to maximize the power conversion efficiency and the power density. Operating principles of the resulting dual H-bridge MPPT converter and the practical aspects of the converter design and its circuit layout, are described in detail. The implemented converter performance is compared with that of a classical Si-IGBT and hybrid-IGBT based MPPT converter in terms of efficiency. This configuration can compete with the non-isolated MPPT converter topologies, such as the boost converter commonly used in grid-connected PV systems, since it allows the possibility of using a conventional two-level, three-phase grid-connected inverter. This is due to the enhanced common-mode EMI performance as compared to non-isolated MPPT topologies, resulting in a competitive high efficiency PV converter design with galvanic isolation. It has been shown that the converter size can be shrinked up to a power density of 1.6 kW/lt, with a DC-DC converter full-load efficiency of 98%. The resulting compact and highly efficient SiC power MOSFET based HF link MPPT converter is suggested to be a part of grid-connected, multi-string PV supplies with simple inverter topologies in the future

Incidence, risk factors and severity of retinopathy of prematurity in Turkey (TR-ROP study): a prospective, multicentre study in 69 neonatal intensive care units

Background To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Turkey and to establish screening criteria for this condition. Methods A prospective cohort study (TR-ROP) was performed between 1 April 2016 and 30 April 2017 in 69 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Infants with a birth weight (BW)=1500 g or gestational age (GA) 1500 g or GA> 32 weeks with an unstable clinical course were included in the study. Predictors for the development of ROP were determined by logistic regression analyses. Results The TR-ROP study included 6115 infants: 4964 (81%) with a GA 32 weeks. Overall, 27% had any stage of ROP and 6.7% had severe ROP. A lower BW, smaller GA, total days on oxygen, late-onset sepsis, frequency of red blood cell transfusions and relative weight gain were identified as independent risk factors for severe ROP in infants with a BW=1500 g. Of all infants, 414 needed treatment and 395 (95.4%) of the treated infants had a BW <= 1500 g. Sixty-six (16%) of the treated infants did not fulfil the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity requirements for treatment. Conclusions Screening of infants with a GA <= 34 weeks or a BW<1700 g appears to be appropriate in Turkey. Monitoring standards of neonatal care and conducting quality improvement projects across the country are recommended to improve neonatal outcomes in Turkish NICUs