56 research outputs found
To verify four 5-year-old mathematical models to predict the outcome of ICU patients
The aim of this study is to verify calibration and discrimination after 5 years in the case mix of patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during the year 2000. In this way we want to perform a quality control of our ICU in order to justify the increased amount of money spent for intensive care.A prospective study has been made on the 357 patients admitted to the ICU during the year 2000. The Apache II score was calculated within the first 24 hours and, depending on the length of stay in the ICU, on the 5(th), 10(th) and 15(th) day after ICU admission. On the basis of the 4 mathematical models death risk has been calculated for each of the 4 times. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was performed for calibration and ROC curves for discrimination, always for each of the 4 mathematical models.The 1(st) model, at 24 hours from ICU admission, showed a bad calibration (p=0.000088), while the ROC curve was 0.744+/-0.32. Also the 2(nd) model, at the 5(th) day from admission, showed a bad calibration (p=0.000588), with ROC curve of 0.827+/-0.04. The 3(rd) model (10(th) day), was well calibrated (p=0.112247) and discriminating (ROC=0.888 +/-0.04). Finally the models at 15 days showed again a bad calibration (p=0.001422) but a very good discrimination (area=0.906+/-0.06).Developing mathematical models to predict mortality within ICUs can be useful to assess quality of care, even if these models should not be the only ICU quality controls, but must be accompanied by other indicators, looking at quality of life of the patients after ICU discharge
Evaluating adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy with use of pill counts and viral load measurement in the drug resources enhancement against AIDS and malnutrition program in Mozambique
Background. Maintaining treatment adherence among the growing number of patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in Africa is a dramatic challenge. The objective of our study was to explore the results of a computerized pill count method and to test the validity, sensitivity, and specificity of this method with respect to viral load measurement in an African setting. Methods. We performed a prospective, observational study involving patients who received first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy in Mozambique from 1 April 2005 through 31 March 2006. Enrolled patients had received treatment for at least 3 months before the study. For defining treatment adherence levels, pill counts were used, and the results were analyzed with viral load measurements at the end of the observation period. Results. The study involved 531 participants. During the 12 months of observation, 137 patients left the program or discontinued first-line therapy. Of the remaining 394 patients, 284 (72.1%) had >95% treatment adherence; of those 284 patients, 274 (96.5%) had a final viral load <1000 copies/mL. A Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that the relationship between >95% treatment adherence and the final viral load was closer than that between >90% treatment adherence and viral load. Conclusions. Treatment adherence >95% maximizes the results of the nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-based regimen. The pill count method appears to be a reliable and economic tool for monitoring treatment adherence in resource-limited settings
Evaluating adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy with use of pill counts and viral load measurement in the drug resources enhancement against AIDS and malnutrition program in Mozambique
Background. Maintaining treatment adherence among the growing number of patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in Africa is a dramatic challenge. The objective of our study was to explore the results of a computerized pill count method and to test the validity, sensitivity, and specificity of this method with respect to viral load measurement in an African setting. Methods. We performed a prospective, observational study involving patients who received first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy in Mozambique from 1 April 2005 through 31 March 2006. Enrolled patients had received treatment for at least 3 months before the study. For defining treatment adherence levels, pill counts were used, and the results were analyzed with viral load measurements at the end of the observation period. Results. The study involved 531 participants. During the 12 months of observation, 137 patients left the program or discontinued first-line therapy. Of the remaining 394 patients, 284 (72.1%) had >95% treatment adherence; of those 284 patients, 274 (96.5%) had a final viral load <1000 copies/mL. A Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that the relationship between >95% treatment adherence and the final viral load was closer than that between >90% treatment adherence and viral load. Conclusions. Treatment adherence >95% maximizes the results of the nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor-based regimen. The pill count method appears to be a reliable and economic tool for monitoring treatment adherence in resource-limited settings
Chemical ionization pathways of polyfluorinated chemicals—A connection to environmental atmospheric processes
Mass Spectrometry of Some Fluornated Alcohols
The 70 eV electron impact mass spectrometric behaviour of some fluorinated alcohols, i.e. 2-fluoroethanol, 2,2,2,-trifluoroethanol, 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropan-1-ol and 1,3-difluoropropan-2-ol, was studied in detail by means of mass-analysed ion kinetic energy spectrometry, deuterium-labelling experiments and comparison with unfluorinated analogues. Composite metastable peaks related to HF losses were rationalized by invoking the presence of two concurrent decomposition pathways, the first consisting in a 1,2-elimination and the second requiring the implication of hydroxyl hydrogen. This last process and other decomposition routes suggest the presence of H bridging between the hydroxyl oxygen atom and fluorine
Surveillance of Hospital Acquired Infections: the Example of the St. Eugenio Hospital in Rome
Structures and reactivity of some fluorine-containing gaseous ions
The 70 eV Electron Impact mass spectrometric behaviour of some fluorinated alcohols, i.e. 2-fluoroethan-1-ol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethan-1-ol, 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropan -1-ol and 1,3-difluoropropan-2-ol, has been studied in detail by means of mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectroscopy, deuterium labelling experiments and comparison with nonfluorinated analogues.
Composite metastable peaks related to HF loss have been rationalized by invoking the presence of two concurrent decomposition pathways, the first consisting of a 1\u20132 elimination and the second requiring the implication of hydroxyl hydrogen. This last process and other decomposition routes suggest the presence of H bridging the hydroxyl oxygen and fluorine
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