Effect of hypoxia on myocardium in heart-lung preparation

Effect of hypoxia on myocardium in starling heart lung preparations ventilated with mixtures of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxid

Effect of Blood Ph and CO2 Tension on the Performance of the Heart-lung Preparation

Blood pH and carbon dioxide tension effect on performance of heart-lung preparatio

Cardiac output and regional blood flow in conscious rats exposed to acute hypoxia

Cardiac output and regional blood flow in conscious rats exposed to acute hypoxi

Comparison of serum levels of hepcidin and pro-hepcidin in hemodialysis patients and healthy subjects

Hepcidin prevents absorption of iron from the intestine and inhibits release of iron from macrophages and hepatocytes. For this reason, it seems that high levels of hepcidin are a predisposing factor for anemia in chronic inflammatory conditions such as chronic kidney disease and dialysis patients. This study was designed to determine the role of changes in the level of serum hepcidin in the management of hemodialysis patients. This study included 44 dialysis patients and 44 controls. The hepcidin and pro-hepcidin levels were measured by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. The serum ferritin level was measured by the chemiluminescence method. The mean hepcidin level was 999.3 ± 996.7 ng/mL in the case group and 770.4 ± 815.9 ng/mL in the control group (P = 0.25). The mean pro-hepcidin level was, respectively, 186.1 ± 220.3 pg/mL and 150.87 ± 207.7 pg/mL, in the case group and control groups (P = 0.45). The mean (standard deviation) ferritin level was 816.4 ± 379.4 ng/mL in the case group and 193 ± 171.8 ng/mL in the control group (P < 0.001). In the case group, the correlation between serum ferritin and hepcidin was not significant (r = 0.6, P = 0.08). Also, there was no significant correlation between serum ferritin and pro-hepcidin levels (r = 0.6, P = 0.08). A positive correlation was seen between pro-hepcidin and hepcidin levels (r = 0.92, P < 0.01). In this study, the results showed that the serum hepcidin levels are high in dialysis patients and that there was no correlation with the serum ferritin levels

FormCalc 8: Better Algebra and Vectorization

We present Version 8 of the Feynman-diagram calculator FormCalc. New features include in particular significantly improved algebraic simplification as well as vectorization of the generated code. The Cuba Library, used in FormCalc, features checkpointing to disk for all integration algorithms.Comment: 7 pages, LaTeX, proceedings contribution to ACAT 2013, Beijing, China, 16-21 May 201

Relation of Child Feeding Behaviors & Caregiver Qualities to Adherence to Nutritional Therapy in Type 1 Diabetes Management

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic illness, typically diagnosed within childhood, that affects the ability of the pancreas to produce insulin. Significant daily self-management behaviors are required to maintain metabolic control for patients with T1D. Nutritional therapy, including adequate intake of macronutrients, is one self-management behavior necessary to optimize health. Adherence to such nutritional guidelines is associated with improved glycemic control, decreased instances of acute health complications (e.g., hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia), and can also prevent insulin resistance. Despite the critical importance of nutritional therapy, adherence to these guidelines remains low within pediatric populations. Therefore, it is important and necessary to better understand relevant factors related to nutritional adherence. Child feeding behaviors is one factor that may influence nutritional therapy, as some literature has identified childhood selective eating to be related to dietary intake quality. The parent-child dynamic also presents unique challenges for achieving diabetic adherence. Some studies indicate that parents of children with T1D report more mealtime stress. However, it is unknown whether specific parent characteristics, such as parent stress or parenting style, influence child nutritional adherence. The current study investigated variables associated with nutritional adherence and health outcomes in children with T1D. Sixty-three children with T1D and their primary caregiver were recruited from in-person and tele-based endocrinology appointments in a pediatric endocrinology clinic in West Virginia. Participants completed self-report questionnaires remotely and researchers extracted relevant health information (HbA1c, diabetes regimen, date of diagnosis) via chart review. Linear regression modeling was used to determine the extent to which child feeding behaviors predicted (a) nutritional adherence and (b) glycemic control. Moderation analyses were used to identify the extent to which parent factors, including authoritative parenting style and parent stress, moderated the relation of child feeding behaviors to nutritional adherence and glycemic control. Problematic child feeding behavior was negatively associated with nutritional adherence to vegetable and protein intake while no association between child feeding behavior and glycemic control was observed. Caregivers with low degrees of parent stress and high degrees of authoritative parenting moderated the relationship between problematic feeding behavior and nutritional adherence. Increased use of Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) therapy was associated with low HbA1c levels. Continuing research on factors influencing health outcomes for pediatric T1D patients is needed, with more objective measures of parenting characteristics. Parent-based behavioral interventions and increased access to diabetes technology are recommended to optimize pediatric health outcomes. Recommendations for clinical-based program development surrounding behavioral health interventions are presented and healthcare policy recommendations are discussed

Provider-Patient Communication and Transition Readiness Among Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

The majority of adolescents with type 1 diabetes do not maintain a glycemic control within the recommended range. Poor diabetes control can yield both short term and long term acute health complications, making it critical for adolescents to achieve diabetes control. During this same time in development, adolescents are preparing for the transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care. Adolescents often transition to adult care based on their age rather than their transition readiness, which may result in a lack of support from their pediatric provider, potentially exacerbating their already poor glycemic control. Transitioning from pediatric care to adult care among adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) often occurs spontaneously and with little guidance from pediatric providers. This abruptness in uncoordinated transition leads to decreased illness adherence. Research in the field of transition has identified that adolescents receive little information regarding the transition process including how to find an adult care provider, differences in adult care, and how to discuss their diabetes independently without a parent present. Adolescents who report poor transition readiness experienced gaps in care of 6 months or greater post-transition. Transition readiness can mitigate the negative effects that this transitional period often has. One potential method of increasing an adolescents’ readiness to transition into adult care is through information disseminated by their pediatric provider. The current project assessed the relation between provider-patient communication and transition readiness in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. A total of 60 adolescents (ages 13 to 17) and their caregiver were recruited from West Virginia University Health Sciences Center. Participants were identified using the medical record database and eligible participants were approached and invited to participate at a regularly scheduled pediatric endocrinology clinic visit. Upon assent and consent, respectively, adolescents and their caregiver completed questionnaire measures using electronic tablets and all data were securely stored using REDCap software system. The aims of this study were to identify (1) whether adolescent better perceived provider-patient communication was associated significantly with greater transition readiness; and (2) if glycemic control acts as a moderator or mediator on this relation. Results from this study suggest that provider patient communication, as measured, is not a significant predictor of transition readiness, nor is glycemic control. Future studies should consider using alternative methods for measuring provider-patient communication, broadening sample characteristics for both providers and patients, and expanding investigation to include other factors that could potentially influence transition readiness

Effect of stimuli-responsive nano hydrogel finishing on cotton fabric properties

Cotton fabrics have been prepared with smart properties by functional finishing with stimuli-responsive nano gel. A biopolymer (chitosan) and a synthetic polymer (poly-NiPAAm) have been used for the synthesis of nano gel through semi-batch surfactant-free dispersion polymerization (SB-SFDP) method. The incorporation of nano gel to textile fabrics is achieved by pad-dry-cure procedure, using an aqueous nano gel dispersion and 1,2,3,4-butantetracarboxylic acid as a crosslinking agent. With this cross linking method, it is possible to integrate the nano gel into the cotton fabric’s structure with good resistance to washing. The changes in physiological comfort parameters of cotton fabric such as the water vapor transmission rate, air permeability and vertical wicking as well properties such as the thickness, crease recovery angle, yellowness index and washing fastness of cotton fabric after smart finishing have also been assessed. The results show that the application of nano gel as a smart finishing system not only impairs the intrinsic properties of cotton but also improves the common textile quality by providing new features of stimuli-responsiveness.