Validation of tracheal intubation of wire-reinforced endotracheal tube with ultrasonography

Objective. Te use of ultrasonography (US) is a new method for verifying the location of the endotracheal tube. Design. Our study was designed as a paired-data and investigator-blind clinical study for evaluating the efectiveness of US for verifcation of wire-reinforced endotracheal tube (WR-ETT) placement compared with capnography. Setting. Tis study was conducted on 56 patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia. Patients. Fify patients completed the study as 6 were excluded for various reasons. Intervention. Two diferent investigators performed the ultrasonography and intubation independently from one another. While investigator 1 attempted to verify the location of the WR-ETT with a portable ultrasonography with sagittal trans-tracheal view, investigator 2 intubated the patient and verifed the location of the ETT using capnography. Measurements. Time for verifying the location of the ETT using both US and capnography was recorded. Main Results. When the ultrasonography method was compared with capnography for verifcation of the WR-ETT placement, the results showed 95.75% sensitivity and 100% specifcity. Te average verifcation times for endotracheal intubation were 12.78 ± 7.46 s. and 24.44 ± 1.45 s. with US and capnography, respectively (p=0.003). Conclusion. Our results suggest that ultrasound identifcation of a WR-ETT within the trachea is a rapid and accurate method for confrmation of tracheal placement. Larger studies are needed before widespread use of this technique

INVESTIGATION ON SURFACE, ELECTRICAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ITO-AG-ITO COATED GLASS

The aim of this work was to study the optical and electrical properties of thick ITO-Ag-ITO multilayer coating onto glass. ITO-Ag-ITO coatings with thickness of ITO layers 110 nm, 185 nm and intermediate Ag layer thickness 40 nm were prepared by magnetron sputtering. The optical, electrical and atomic properties of the coating were examined by scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy.Yeditepe University, Istanbul-Turkey; TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey); National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) [110T578]This work was partially supported by Yeditepe University, Istanbul-Turkey and by joint TUBITAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) and National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU) project number 110T578

Epigenetic Basis of Diabetic Vasculopathy

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causes peripheral vascular disease because of which several blood-borne factors, including vital nutrients fail to reach the affected tissue. Tissue epigenome is sensitive to chronic hyperglycemia and is known to cause pathogenesis of micro- and macrovascular complications. These vascular complications of T2DM may perpetuate the onset of organ dysfunction. The burden of diabetes is primarily because of a wide range of complications of which nonhealing diabetic ulcers represent a major component. Thus, it is imperative that current research help recognize more effective methods for the diagnosis and management of early vascular injuries. This review addresses the significance of epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and histone modifications in the evolution of macrovascular and microvascular complications of T2DM

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension