Randomized clinical trial of percutaneous transluminalangioplasty, supervised exercise and combined treatment forintermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal arterial disease

Background:The aim was to compare percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), a supervisedexercise programme (SEP) and combined treatment (PTA plus SEP) for intermittent claudication dueto femoropopliteal arterial disease.Methods: Consenting patients with femoropopliteal arterial lesions were randomized to one of threetreatment arms: PTA, SEP, or PTA plus SEP. All patients received optimal medical treatment. Patientswere assessed at baseline and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after intervention. Clinical (ankle pressures, walkingdistances, symptoms) and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes (Short Form 36, VascuQol) were analysed.Results: A total of 178 patients (108 men, median age 70 years) were included. All three treatmentgroups demonstrated significant clinical and QoL improvements. One year after PTA (60 patients, 8withdrew), 37 patients (71 per cent) had improved (16 mild, 16 moderate, 5 marked), nine (17 per cent)showed no improvement and six (12 per cent) had deteriorated. After SEP (60 patients, 14 withdrew),32 patients (70 per cent) had improved (19 mild, 10 moderate, 3 marked), six (13 per cent) showed noimprovement and eight (17 per cent) had deteriorated. After PTA plus SEP (58 patients, 11 withdrew),40 patients (85 per cent) had improved (18 mild, 20 moderate, 2 marked), seven (15 per cent) showedno improvement and none had deteriorated. On intergroup analysis, PTA and SEP alone were equallyeffective in improving clinical outcomes, although the effect was short-lived. PTA plus SEP produced amore sustained clinical improvement, but there was no significant QoL advantage.Conclusion: For patients with intermittent claudication due to femoropopliteal disease, PTA, SEP,and PTA plus SEP were all equally effective in improving walking distance and QoL after 12 months.Registration number: NCT00798850 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)

Force Appropriation Method for Two Degrees of Freedom Nonlinear System

In this paper, the vibrations of structures are investigated via force appropriation method in which modes are excited individually by forces. Multivariate mode indicator function (MMIF) is used in the modal testing for investigating the prospective nonlinearities in the structures. The method is applied to simulate two degree of freedom with simple nonlinearities. The results are presented and evaluated to indicate that the method has advantages when it comes to involving in mode by mode identification. Results calculated from modal assurance criteria (MAC) and modal purity indicator (MPI) show that the qualities of evaluating a pure normal mode are in satisfactory. This suggests that force appropriation method for nonlinear structures is reliable and efficient, particularly in terms of the isolation of individual modes and determination of high quality modal parameters

Retrospective analysis of primary patency of vascular access maturity: a single centre experience at HTAA, Kuantan, Malaysia

Introduction Arteriovenous stula (AVF) has been proven to be the best vascular access for the purpose of haemodialyis due to its’ longevity and robustness. Unfortunately, despite of its’ popularity in Malaysia, there is a limited local data being published. HTAA is a main referral center for AVF creation for the east coast of Malaysia. We examined our data for primary patency rate and possible factors that may associates with it. Methods Patients who underwent AVF creation created by a single surgeon from July 2012 to July 2013 in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), Kuantan were identi ed using theatre list and also logbook. Data were collected retrospectively from the patients’ medical notes. A total of 89 patients were identi ed. Primary patency rate is being assessed at 6 weeks. Statistical analysis performed using SPSS® v20. Results The patient’s median age of the patients was 53 years with a slight male predominance (53%). Majority of the subjects have no history of tobacco use (71.4%). The Malays make up the majority in ethnicity (79.6%). 53.1% and 18.4% have underlying diabetes mellitus and obesity respectively. Brachio-cephalic stulas (BCF) are the majority of AVF (71.4%) that were created. 78% of our patients had already been diagnosed with ESRF and 59% was already on dialysis upon AVF creation. 57.1% of the subjects are statins users. The mean diameters of artery and veins are 2.56mm and 2.94mm respectively. Our primary patency rate is 87.8%. Multivariate analysis shows no signi cance between the demographics and maturity but a suggestive association of venous diameter and statins with primary patency rate with p values of 0.06 and 0.07 respectively. Conclusion This study described a comparable success rate of AVF creation at our centre in to other published data. We have identi ed, venous diameter and statins use have a positive trend with primary patency rate of our AVF in a multivariate analysis

Retrospective analysis of primary patency of vascular acess maturity: A single centre experience at HTAA, Kuantan, Malaysia

Introduction Arteriovenous stula (AVF) has been proven to be the best vascular access for the purpose of haemodialyis due to its’ longevity and robustness. Unfortunately, despite of its’ popularity in Malaysia, there is a limited local data being published. HTAA is a main referral center for AVF creation for the east coast of Malaysia. We examined our data for primary patency rate and possible factors that may associates with it. Methods Patients who underwent AVF creation created by a single surgeon from July 2012 to July 2013 in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), Kuantan were identi ed using theatre list and also logbook. Data were collected retrospectively from the patients’ medical notes. A total of 89 patients were identi ed. Primary patency rate is being assessed at 6 weeks. Statistical analysis performed using SPSS® v20. Results The patient’s median age of the patients was 53 years with a slight male predominance (53%). Majority of the subjects have no history of tobacco use (71.4%). The Malays make up the majority in ethnicity (79.6%). 53.1% and 18.4% have underlying diabetes mellitus and obesity respectively. Brachio-cephalic stulas (BCF) are the majority of AVF (71.4%) that were created. 78% of our patients had already been diagnosed with ESRF and 59% was already on dialysis upon AVF creation. 57.1% of the subjects are statins users. The mean diameters of artery and veins are 2.56mm and 2.94mm respectively. Our primary patency rate is 87.8%. Multivariate analysis shows no signi cance between the demographics and maturity but a suggestive association of venous diameter and statins with primary patency rate with p values of 0.06 and 0.07 respectively. Conclusion This study described a comparable success rate of AVF creation at our centre in to other published data. We have identi ed, venous diameter and statins use have a positive trend with primary patency rate of our AVF in a multivariate analysis

Klebstoffe für Holzprodukte auf Basis von Fettsäurederivaten

Polyurethanklebstoffe haben aufgrund ihrer universellen Adhäsionseigenschaften eine erhebliche Marktbedeutung. Da auch bei der Verarbeitung von PUR-Klebstoffen die VOC-Richtlinie zu beachten ist, wurden wässrige PUR-Dispersionen entwickelt. PUR-Dispersionen bilden historisch betrachtet eine der jüngsten Klassen von Dispersionsklebstoffen. Heute sind sie eine der am stärksten wachsenden Gruppe, nicht zuletzt, weil es gelungen ist, die äußerst variablen Eigenschaften der Polyurethane auch auf das Dispersionsgebiet zu übertragen. Ein Joint-Venture mit Malaysia hatte zum Ziel, einen lösemittelfreien 2K-PUR-Klebstoff aus pflanzlichem Öl zu entwickeln. Der Schwerpunkt der anwendungstechnischen Untersuchungen lag in der Verklebung von mitteldichten Faserplatten (MDF). Die Klebstoffbasis, PolyMO, wird in einer dreistufigen Reaktion im MPOB hergestellt. Im Fraunhofer-Institut wurden die Polymerisation, der Dispergierprozess und die Formulierung des Klebstoffes durchgeführt. Neben der Verklebung von MDF haben die neu entwickelten PUR-Dispersionen auch potenzielle Chancen bei der Anwendung zur Laminierung von Holzwerstoffen mit PVC-Folien oder Dekorpapieren