Ion beam plume and efflux characterization flight experiment study

A flight experiment and flight experiment package for a shuttle-borne flight test of an 8-cm mercury ion thruster was designed to obtain charged particle and neutral particle material transport data that cannot be obtained in conventional ground based laboratory testing facilities. By the use of both ground and space testing of ion thrusters, the flight worthiness of these ion thrusters, for other spacecraft applications, may be demonstrated. The flight experiment definition for the ion thruster initially defined a broadly ranging series of flight experiments and flight test sensors. From this larger test series and sensor list, an initial flight test configuration was selected with measurements in charged particle material transport, condensible neutral material transport, thruster internal erosion, ion beam neutralization, and ion thrust beam/space plasma electrical equilibration. These measurement areas may all be examined for a seven day shuttle sortie mission and for available test time in the 50 - 100 hour period

Comments on the High Pressure Preservation of Human Milk

The current state of studies on the high pressure preservation of the human milk is briefly presented. It is indicated that reaching (i) the antimicrobial safety, (ii) antiviral safety, and (iii) high nutritional, metabolic and immunological quality, may be difficult for a “classical” single pressure pulse High Pressure Preservation (HPP) treatment. It is shown that the sudden decompression leads to additional physical processes, which can be important for supporting the HPP technology. Additional advantages were reached due to the two-pulse compression, with subsequent values: P = 200 MPa and 400 MPa. Tests included the microbiological insight for the two-weeks storage. It is also shown that the decay of the number of microorganisms under the high pressure follows the relation n(t) = n0exp(At)exp(Bt2). Finally, issues regarding containers for the high pressure preservation of human milk are discussed

Burza elektryczna u pacjentów z kardiowerterem–defi brylatorem (ICD) — możliwości, zasady postępowania, perspektywy na przyszłość

Burza elektryczna to okres nasilenia komorowych zaburzeń rytmu serca i występowania 3 lub więcej tachyarytmii komorowych, wymagających elektroterapii (częstoskurcz komorowy, migotanie komór), w ciągu 24 godzin. U pacjentów z wszczepialnym kardiowerterem–defi brylatorem (ICD) termin oznacza 3 lub więcej adekwatnych interwencji tego urządzenia w ciągu 24 godzin. Pojęciem złośliwej burzy elektrycznej określa się 10 adekwatnych interwencji ICD w ciągu 1 godziny. Postępowanie w przypadku burzy elektrycznej obejmuje procedury farmakoterapeutyczne, przeprogramowanie ICD, jak i czasowe wyłączenie ICD z zastosowaniem zabezpieczenia defi brylatorem zewnętrznym. Dobre efekty uzyskuje się również po zastosowaniu ablacji. W pracy zostały przedstawione aktualne zasady postępowania w przypadku burzy elektrycznej u pacjentów z ICD

Effect of ASA dose doubling versus switching to clopidogrel on plasma inflammatory markers concentration in patients with type 2 diabetes and high platelet reactivity: The AVOCADO study

Background: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of 2 strategies of antiplatelet treatment (i.e., 150 mg ASA vs. 75 mg clpoidogrel) on plasma level of inflammatory markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with high platelet reactivity (HPR).Methods: Study cohort consisted of 304 T2DM patients on chronic ASA therapy (75 mg per day) participating in the Aspirin Versus/Or Clopidogrel in Aspirin-resistant Diabetics inflammation Outcomes (AVOCADO) study. Patients with HPR defined as Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA)-100 collagene/epinephrine closure time (CEPI-CT) < 193 s (n = 80) were randomized to 150 mg of ASA or 75 mg of clopidogrel in 2:3 ratio, respectively. Concentrations of the selected inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, solubleCD40 ligand (sCD40L), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), were measured and compared in both treatment groups before and after 8 weeks of treatment in both groups.Results: Out of 234 patients included into final analysis, the total of 34.2% (n = 80) patients displayed HPR, of which 14.1% (n = 33) were randomized into 150 mg of ASA group and 20.1% (n = 47) into 75 mg of clopidogrel group. Treatment with clopidogrel was a positive predictor (stepwise multiple regression analysis) of reduction of sCD40L concentration (odds ratio [OR] 4.15; p = 0.013), while treatment with 150 mg ASA was a positive predictor of reduction of IL-6 concentration (OR 4.38; p = 0.033). There was no statistically significant differences between clopidogrel and ASA 150 mg treatment in respect to predictive value for decreased hsCRP concentrations or increased TNF-α concentrations.Conclusions: Increasing the dose of ASA from 75 mg to 150 mg daily or switching ASA 75 mg to clopidogrel 75 mg daily may reduce concentrations of some inflammatory markers (in particular hsCRP, IL-6 and CD40L) in T2DM patients with HPR treated previously with 75 mg of ASA

Association of plasma concentrations of salicylic acid and high on ASA platelet reactivity in type 2 diabetes patients

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the association between plasmaconcentrations of salicylic acid (SA) and other minor acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) metabolitesand high on ASA platelet reactivity assessed with different methods in type 2 diabetic patients(T2DM).Methods: Study cohort consisted of 293 T2DM patients on chronic ASA therapy. Plateletfunction inhibition was analyzed using measurements of serum thromboxane B2 (S-TxB2),VerifyNow Aspirin and Platelet Function Analyzer (PFA)-100 assays. The concentration of ASAmetabolites in plasma was measured with a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Results: In logistic regression analysis both ASA dose/kg of body weight and plasma SAconcentration were found to be predictive of S-TxB2 concentrations above 0.72 ng/mL cut-offpoint (OR 16.9, 95% CI 2.29–125.8, p = 0.006 and OR 5.34, 95% CI 2.67–10.68, p < 0.001,respectively). When using the VerifyNow Aspirin Assay, the concentrations of SA were signifi -cantly lower (p = 0.007) in the group with high on ASA platelet reactivity when compared withthe group with normal on ASA platelet reactivity. In logistic regression analysis plasma SAconcentration was found to be predictive of VerifyNow Aspirin Reaction Units (ARU) ≥ 550(OR 3.86, 95% CI 1.86–8.00, p < 0.001).Conclusions: Our study suggests that disturbances of pharmacokinetic mechanisms mightcontribute to lower plasma SA levels, and subsequently incomplete inhibition of thromboxane A2synthesis as measured with S-TxB2 concentrations and increased platelet reactivity measuredwith VerifyNow in T2DM patients

Sports safety for patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

Implantowane kardiowertery-defibrylatory (ICD) to standard postępowania w pierwotnej i wtórnej prewencji nagłego zgonu sercowego. Urządzenia te są coraz częściej spotykane u młodych osób czynnie uprawiających sporty. Do tej pory wszczepienie ICD u wspomnianych chorych wiązało się z koniecznością zmiany trybu życia, co mogło niekorzystnie wpływać na jakość życia. Ze względu na sprzeczne doniesienia dotyczące bezpieczeństwa uprawiania sportów przez osoby po wszczepieniu ICD, w 2006 roku zainicjowano rejestr pacjentów z ICD, którzy kontynuują wyczynowe lub amatorskie uprawianie sportu. Wyniki ICD Sports Registry wskazują na możliwość czynnego uprawiania sportu przez osoby z ICD bez ryzyka poważnych urazów czy nieskutecznych wyładowań ICD.Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) have become a standard management in primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. More and more frequently ICD are implanted in young, active patients. So far, implantation of the device was associated with the necessity to change patients’ lifestyle, which might adversely affect their quality of life. Due to discrepancies in reports on sports safety in patients with ICD, a multicentre international ICD Sport Registry was initiated in 2006. The results of this study showed that many patients with implanted cardioverter-defibrillator are physically active. ICD Sports Registry results indicate the possibility of sports participation of people with an ICD without the risk of serious injury or ineffective ICD therapy

The observation of vibrating pear-shapes in radon nuclei (vol 10, 2473, 2019)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper