A novel planar optical sensor for simultaneous monitoring of oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH and temperature

The first quadruple luminescent sensor is presented which enables simultaneous detection of three chemical parameters and temperature. A multi-layer material is realized and combines two spectrally independent dually sensing systems. The first layer employs ethylcellulose containing the carbon dioxide sensing chemistry (fluorescent pH indicator 8-hydroxy-pyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (HPTS) and a lipophilic tetraalkylammonium base). The cross-linked polymeric beads stained with a phosphorescent iridium(III) complex are also dispersed in ethylcellulose and serve both for oxygen sensing and as a reference for HPTS. The second (pH/temperature) dually sensing system relies on the use of a pH-sensitive lipophilic seminaphthorhodafluor derivative and luminescent chromium(III)-activated yttrium aluminum borate particles (simultaneously acting as a temperature probe and as a reference for the pH indicator) which are embedded in polyurethane hydrogel layer. A silicone layer is used to spatially separate both dually sensing systems and to insure permeation selectivity for the CO2/O2 layer. The CO2/O2 and the pH/temperature layers are excitable with a blue and a red LED, respectively, and the emissions are isolated with help of optical filters. The measurements are performed at two modulation frequencies for each sensing system and the modified Dual Lifetime Referencing method is used to access the analytical information. The feasibility of the simultaneous four-parameter sensing is demonstrated. However, the practical applicability of the material may be compromised by its high complexity and by the performance of individual indicators

Prilocaine irrigation for pain relief after transurethral resection of the prostate

PMID = 2356593

A review on the relationship between marital adjustment and maternal attachment

Objective: To determine the relationship between marital adjustment of mothers who have babies between 1-4 months old and their maternal attachment; as well as the relationship of maternal attachment and marital adjustment with sociodemographic characteristics

Alopecia Areata: Clinical Treatment

Alopecia areata is a complex immune-mediated disease that targets anagen hair follicles. Therapeutic strategies must be directed as either immunosuppressive or immunomodulating and may consist of monotherapy or combination therapy and should be different depending on patient’s age, extent, and chronicity of the disease. The physician must discuss mild and aggressive options, as well as the possibility of no treatment, camouflage options, and social/psychological support. Topical, intralesional, and systemic steroids, as well as corticosteroid-sparing agents and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are useful as local or systemic immunosuppressors. Topical immunotherapy, anthralin, and phototherapy have proved useful as immunomodulators. Target therapy with JAK inhibitors is useful in alopecia areata totalis or universalis. Treatment in special areas such as eyelashes, eyebrows, or beard benefit from treatment with steroids, minoxidil, prostaglandin F2a analogs, and topical tofacitinib. Vitamin D3, ezetimibe/simvastatin, platelet-rich plasma, antihistamines, and aromatherapy may be used as adjuvant therapies. We discuss a practical but evidence-based approach for treatment in different cases of alopecia areata with detailed information about doses, administration, and possible side effects