Volumetric Capnography for the Evaluation of Pulmonary Disease in Adult Patients with Cystic Fibrosis and Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

This study was designed to use volumetric capnography to evaluate the breathing pattern and ventilation inhomogeneities in patients with chronic sputum production and bronchiectasis and to correlate the phase 3 slope of the capnographic curve to spirometric measurements. Twenty-four patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and 21 patients with noncystic fibrosis idiopathic bronchiectasis (BC) were serially enrolled. The diagnosis of cystic fibrosis was based on the finding of at least two abnormal sweat chloride concentrations (iontophoresis sweat test). The diagnosis of bronchiectasis was made when the patient had a complaint of chronic sputum production and compatible findings at high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scan of the thorax. Spirometric tests and volumetric capnography were performed. The 114 subjects of the control group for capnographic variables were nonsmoker volunteers, who had no respiratory symptoms whatsoever and no past or present history of lung disease. Compared with controls, patients in CF group had lower SpO(2) (P < 0.0001), higher respiratory rates (RR) (P < 0.0001), smaller expiratory volumes normalized for weight (V(E)/kg) (P < 0.028), smaller expiratory times (Te) (P < 0.0001), and greater phase 3 Slopes normalized for tidal volume (P3Slp/V(E)) (P < 0.0001). Compared with controls, patients in the BC group had lower SpO(2) (P < 0.0001), higher RR (P < 0.004), smaller V(E)/kg (P < 0.04), smaller Te (P < 0.007), greater P3Slp/V(E) (P < 0.0001), and smaller VCO(2) (P < 0.0002). The pooled data from the two patient groups compared with controls showed that the patients had lower SpO(2) (P < 0.0001), higher RR (P < 0.0001), smaller V(E)/kg (P < 0.05), smaller Te (P < 0.0001), greater P3Slp/V(E) (P < 0.0001), and smaller VCO(2) (P < 0.0003). All of the capnographic and spirometric variables evaluated showed no significant differences between CF and BC patients. Spirometric data in this study reveals that the patients had obstructive defects with concomitant low vital capacities and both groups had very similar abnormalities. The capnographic variables in the patient group suggest a restrictive respiratory pattern (greater respiratory rates, smaller expiratory times and expiratory volumes, normal peak expiratory flows). Both groups of patients showed increased phase III slopes compared with controls, which probably indicates the presence of diffuse disease of small airways in both conditions leading to inhomogeneities of ventilation.188326326

Correlation between crystallization kinetics and electroactive polymer phase nucleation in ferrite/poly(vinylidene fluoride) magnetoelectric nanocomposites

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanocomposites with different ferrite nanoparticle loadings are interesting as, depending on ferrite type and content, the electroactive β-phase of the polymer is nucleated and the magnetoelectric coupling is induced. The isothermal crystallization behavior of ferrite/PVDF nanocomposites is studied using Polarized Optical Microscopy and the crystallization kinetic is analyzed by the Avrami theory in order to understand the crystallization conditions leading to the nucleation of the electroactive polymer phase. It is found that the nucleation kinetics is enhanced by the presence of ferrite nanoparticles, as evidenced by the increasing number of spherulites with increasing nanoparticle content and by the variations of the Avrami exponent. The crystallization velocity is intimately related to the polymer α- or β−phase formation in the nanocomposites and follows the order: NiFe2O4/PVDF > CoFe2O4/PVDF> Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/PVDF for a given temperature and nanoparticle loading, which results in larger amounts of β-phase for CoFe2O4/PVDF and Ni0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4/PVDF nanocomposites.We acknowledge the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for finantial support through PTDC/CTM/69316/2006, PTDC/CTM-NAN/112574/2009, and NANO/NMed-SD/0156/2007 projects. P.M. and C.M.C. thank the support of the FCT (grant SFRH/BD/45265/2008 and SFRH/BD/68499/2010). We also thank the support from the COST Action MP1003, 2010 'European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles'

Phylogenetic Systematics, Biogeography, and Ecology of the Electric Fish Genus <i>Brachyhypopomus</i> (Ostariophysi: Gymnotiformes)

<div><p>A species-level phylogenetic reconstruction of the Neotropical bluntnose knifefish genus <i>Brachyhypopomus</i> (Gymnotiformes, Hypopomidae) is presented, based on 60 morphological characters, approximately 1100 base pairs of the mitochondrial cytb gene, and approximately 1000 base pairs of the nuclear rag2 gene. The phylogeny includes 28 species of <i>Brachyhypopomus</i> and nine outgroup species from nine other gymnotiform genera, including seven in the superfamily Rhamphichthyoidea (Hypopomidae and Rhamphichthyidae). Parsimony and Bayesian total evidence phylogenetic analyses confirm the monophyly of the genus, and identify nine robust species groups. Homoplastic osteological characters associated with diminutive body size and occurrence in small stream habitats, including loss of squamation and simplifications of the skeleton, appear to mislead a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological characters alone–resulting in the incorrect placing of <i>Microsternarchus</i> + <i>Racenisia</i> in a position deeply nested within <i>Brachyhypopomus</i>. Consideration of geographical distribution in light of the total evidence phylogeny indicates an origin for <i>Brachyhypopomus</i> in Greater Amazonia (the superbasin comprising the Amazon, Orinoco and major Guiana drainages), with subsequent dispersal and vicariance in peripheral basins, including the La Plata, the São Francisco, and trans-Andean basins of northwest South America and Central America. The ancestral habitat of <i>Brachyhypopomus</i> likely resembled the normoxic, low-conductivity terra firme stream system occupied by many extant species, and the genus has subsequently occupied a wide range of terra firme and floodplain habitats including low- and high-conductivity systems, and normoxic and hypoxic systems. Adaptations for impedance matching to high conductivity, and/or for air breathing in hypoxic systems have attended these habitat transitions. Several species of <i>Brachyhypopomus</i> are eurytopic with respect to habitat occupancy and these generally exhibit wider geographical ranges than stenotopic species.</p></div