Vascular access failure-cause or complication of central venous catheterization: Case report

© 2020, University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science. All rights reserved. The quality of life and patient survival rate in terminal chronic renal insufficiency depends on the duration of vascular approaches. Dialysis catheters are used to establish an adequate vascular approach when emergency hemodialysis is indicated and when all approaches are exhausted. Complications of CVC can be classified into three categories: mechanical (hematoma, arterial puncture, pneumothorax, hemothorax, catheter misplacement, and stenosis), infectious (insertion site infection, CVC colonization, and bloodstream infection) and thrombotic (deep vein thrombosis). Despite the increasing prevalence of haemodialysis patients with complex access issues, there remains no consensus on the definition of vascular access failure or end-stage vascular access. The dilema in these cases remains whether the generalized vascular insufficiency is the cause or a complication of exhausted vascular accesses. This case report is one of the examples of combined complications with generalized vascular access insufficiency. During the year and a half of the chronic dialysis program, the patient had several changes of vascular approaches, and each approach became dysfunctional in certain time due to various causes. After six months of successful hemodialysis, the patient was admitted with signs of infection and during hospitalization was again subjected to multiple changes of the vascular approach due to infection, thrombosis, and vascular access failure

Effect of surface pretreatment of TiO2 films on interfacial processes leading to bacterial inactivation in the dark and under light irradiation

Evidence is presented for radio-frequency plasma pretreatment enhancing the amount and adhesion of TiO2 sputtered on polyester (PES) and on polyethylene (PE) films. Pretreatment is necessary to attain a suitable TiO2 loading leading to an acceptable Escherichia coli reduction kinetics in the dark or under light irradiation for PES–TiO2 and PE–TiO2 samples. The amount of TiO2 on the films was monitored by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. X-ray electron spectroscopy shows the lack of accumulation of bacterial residues such as C, N and S during bacterial inactivation since they seem to be rapidly destroyed by TiO2 photocatalysis. Evidence was found for Ti4þ/Ti3þ redox catalysis occurring on PES–TiO2 and PE–TiO2 during the bacterial inactivation process. On PE–TiO2 surfaces, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) provides evidence for a systematic shift of the na(CH2) stretching vibrations preceding bacterial inactivation within 60 min. The discontinuous IR-peak shifts reflect the increase in the C–Hinter-bond distance leading to bond scission. The mechanism leading to E. coli loss of viability on PES–TiO2 was investigated in the dark up to complete bacterial inactivation by monitoring the damage in the bacterial outer cell by transmission electron microscopy. After 30 min, the critical step during the E. coli inactivation commences for dark disinfection on 0.1–5% wt PES–TiO2 samples. The interactions between the TiO2 aggregates and the outer lipopolysaccharide cell wall involve electrostatic effects competing with the van der Waals forces

Adiponectin and Interleukin-33: Possible Early Markers of Metabolic Syndrome

Adiponectin is one of the most important molecules in the body’s compensatory response to the development of insulin resistance. By trying to maintain insulin sensitivity, increase insulin secretion and prevent inflammation, adiponectin tries to maintain glucose homeostasis. Interleukin-33, which belongs to the group of alarmins, also promotes insulin secretion. Interleukin-33 might be either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory depending on the disease and the model. However, interleukin-33 has shown various protective effects in CVD, obesity and diabetes. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between adiponectin and interleukin-33 in patients with metabolic syndrome. As expected, all patients with metabolic syndrome had worse parameters that represent the hallmark of metabolic syndrome compared to the control group. In the subgroup of patients with low adiponectin, we observed less pronounced characteristics of metabolic syndrome simultaneously with significantly higher values of interleukin-33 compared to the subgroup of patients with high adiponectin. Our findings suggested that adiponectin might be an early marker of metabolic syndrome that emerges before anthropomorphic, biochemical and clinical parameters. We also suggest that both interleukin-33 and adiponectin may be used to predict the inflammatory status in the early stage of metabolic syndrome

Idea pojednania między rasą białą i czarną w powieści De mensengenezer Koena Peetersa

De Congo-roman is een belangrijk subgenre in de Vlaamse literatuur. Al sinds de zestiende eeuw werd er in de Nederlandstalige teksten over Afrika geschreven. De interesse voor dit continent bleef in de volgende eeuwen stijgen. In dit artikel zal de thematiek van de recent gepubliceerde Congo-roman De mensengenezer (2017) van de contemporaine Vlaamse auteur Koen Peeters (geb. 1959) worden besproken. De focus in deze bijdrage ligt op de verhouding tussen de blanken en de zwarten, in het kader van de Congo-roman. De meeste Congo-romans van de twintigste eeuw en eerder toonden het beeld dat de zwarten inferieur aan de blanken zijn. In plaats daarvan wordt er in De mensengenezer het idee van verzoening tussen deze twee groepen gepresenteerd.Powieść z motywem Konga („Congo-roman”) stanowi ważny podgatunek literatury flamandzkiej. Już od XVI wieku powstawały niderlandzkojęzyczne teksty o Afryce, a zainteresowanie tym kontynentem rosło w kolejnych stuleciach. W niniejszym artykule omówiono niedawno opublikowaną (2017) powieść z motywem Konga pt. De mensengenezer („Uzdrowiciel ludzi”) współczesnego flamandzkiego pisarza Koena Peetersa (ur. 1959). Artykuł skupia się na relacjach między przedstwicielami rasy białej i czarnej w tej powieści. Większość tego typu powieści z XX wieku i wcześniejszych ukazywała natywnych Afrykańczyków jako gorszych od ludzi białych. Powieść De mensengenezer przedstawia natomiast ideę pojednania między obydwiema rasami.The “Congo-novel” is an important subgenre in Flemish literature. Dutch texts from as early as the sixteenth century contain passages about Africa. Interest in this continent continued to grow over the following centuries. This article discusses one of the themes present in De Mensengenezer (“The People Healer”, 2017), a recently published Congo-novel by the contemporary Flemish author Koen Peeters (born 1959). The focus in this article is on the relationship between whites and blacks in the context of the Congo-novel. Most of the Flemish prose on the Congo from the twentieth century and earlier depicted the blacks as inferior to the whites. Instead, De Mensengenezer offers the idea of reconciliation between these two groups

Reduction of void content in laminated composites by mechanical vibrations

Defects, such as voids and bubbles, are detrimental to mechanical properties of composite materials. Theory predicts and experiments show that mechanical properties deteriorate in the presence of voids, hence void management is critical to high quality composite parts. Eliminating common defects such as voids, bubbles, and poor adhesion at interfaces will increase the quality of laminated sandwich composite structure. There is evidence from previous research that mechanical vibrations applied during curing of a laminated composite can reduce the number of bubbles. Previous experiments provide guidelines for the exploration of vibrations as void eliminator in composites. This thesis reports experimental research results and analysis of the effect of mechanical vibrations applied to the curing system of composite materials production, particularly for minimizing void content. Range of frequency of vibrations covered was from 0 Hz to 40 kHz, for different period of vibrations (10-30 min), at different operating temperatures (20-55{u00B0}C), along with vacuum assistance. The composite laminates were made by hand lay-up using glass fibers and either vinyl-ester or epoxy resin, and examined under microscope to determine types and quantity of defects. The results showed remarkable reduction in void content when low frequency vibrations were applied (5-50 Hz). Void content was determined by optical microscopy. Details of internal structure were examined by scanning electron microscopy and computed tomography. Mechanical testing (flexural, tensile and shear) also supported these observations. After initial stage where electromagnetic shaker was introduced to the curing system, special apparatus (based on the Quickstep method) was built to 'explore suitable frequency range of vibrations for curing at elevated temperatures, supported with vacuum pump. Numerous tests were performed and conclusions are leading towards better mechanical properties of laminates cured with vibration assistance. Theoretical background is described taking into account various factors, such as temperature and viscosity, pressure variations, mass diffusion, and vibration itself as a complex process. Although there are still some unknown areas in the understanding of the process, some hypotheses made are supported and corroborated with experimental results

An investigation into the effects of stress and hostility trait on alcohol-related behaviours in social drinkers

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Alcohol and the appetiser effect

In order to evaluate the effects of alcohol on appetite, 12 unrestrained and 10 restrained men ate lunch 20 min after consuming preloads consisting of water, an alcoholic fruit juice (alcohol) and a non-alcoholic fruit juice (juice). The unrestrained men ate significantly less after the juice preload, and ate most after alcohol. Intake was not altered significantly in the restrained men. However, both the alcohol and juice preloads reduced rated hunger and increased fullness, relative to the water control, in both restrained and unrestrained men. When the relationship between rated appetite and intake within the test meal was modelled mathematically, it was found that hunger increased more during the initial stages of the test meal in the unrestrained men who had consumed alcohol than in any other condition. No such effects were seen in the restrained subjects. Overall, these results suggest that alcohol has a complex action on appetite, which includes some form of appetite stimulation, and this may explain the excess energy intake reported previously in moderate alcohol consumer

On the void reduction mechanisms in vibration assisted consolidation of fibre reinforced polymer composites

Vibration- and vacuum-assisted curing experiments of laminate composites were carried out using a method involving a flat curing chamber and heat transfer fluid. The laminates were made with woven glass fabric and epoxy resin systems, and were subjected to void content analysis. Of the wide range of frequencies studied (0-8 kHz), the low frequency vibrations (around 10 Hz) resulted in significant void content reduction (by approximately 60%) compared to curing without vibration assistance. Analysis of solubility, diffusion and dynamic effects leads to a hypothesis for the possible mechanisms of void reduction, which include bubble growth and escape by reduction of pressure (vacuum), dissolution and growth by the Thomson-Freundlich effect, and enhancement of the diffusion and growth process due to vibrations amplified by damped natural resonance frequency

Hepato-renal syndrome: Etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment

Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) involves reversible renal failure in patients with advanced cirrhosis or acute liver failure. The aim of the study was to determine the pathogenetic mechanisms of the development of hepatorenal syndrome and to emphasise the clinical importance of early detection and timely treatment of patients with this condition. The one-year incidence rate of hepatorenal syndrome in patients with liver cirrhosis is 18-20%. The risk factors for the development of hepatorenal syndrome include the following: spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, gastrointestinal bleeding, nephrotoxic drugs, diuretics, non-steroidal anti-infl ammatory drugs, and hyponatraemia. The primary plan of treatment is a liver transplantation, while a secondary plan of treatment is the use of a vasoconstrictor in conjunction with albumin. Early diagnosis and prompt appropriate treatment can signifi cantly reduce the mortality rate of patients with hepatorenal syndrome