MDCT Findings of Denim-Sandblasting-Induced Silicosis: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Denim sandblasting is as a novel cause of silicosis in Turkey, with reports of a recent increase in cases and fatal outcomes. We aimed to describe the radiological features of patients exposed to silica during denim sandblasting and define factors related to the development of silicosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty consecutive men with a history of exposure to silica during denim sandblasting were recruited. All CT examinations were performed using a 64-row multi-detector CT (MDCT). The nodules were qualitatively and semi-quantitatively analyzed by grading nodular profusion (NP) on CT images.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Silicosis was diagnosed radiologically in 73.3% of patients (44 of 60). The latency period (the time between initial exposure and radiological imaging) and duration of silica exposure was longer in patients diagnosed with silicosis than in those without silicosis (p < 0.05). Nodules were present in all cases with centrilobular type as the commonest (63.6%). All cases of silicosis were clinically classified as accelerated and 11.4% had progressive massive fibrosis (PMF). Mild NP lesions were the most prevalent in all six zones of the lung. The NP score was significantly correlated with the duration of silica exposure, the latency period, presence of PMF, and pleural thickening. Enlarged lymphadenopathy was present in 45.5% of patients.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The duration of exposure and the latency period are important for development of silicosis in denim sandblasters. MDCT is a useful tool in detecting findings of silicosis in workers who has silica exposure.</p

Postantibiotic Effects of Tigecycline, Colistin Sulfate, and Levofloxacin Alone or Tigecycline-Colistin Sulfate and Tigecycline-Levofloxacin Combinations against Acinetobacter baumannii

Background: Colistin sulfate and levofloxacin, alone and in combination with tigecycline, were investigated for their in vitro activities and postantibiotic effects (PAEs) on 6 meropenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Methods: The in vitro activities of colistin sulfate and levofloxacin in combination with tigecycline were determined using a microbroth checkerboard technique. The results were interpreted based on the fractional inhibitory concentration index. To determine the PAEs, A. baumannii strains in the logarithmic phase of growth were exposed for 1 h to antibiotics, alone and in combination. Recovery periods of test cultures were evaluated using viable counting after centrifugation. Results: One synergistic interaction was observed for each of the tigecycline-colistin sulfate and tigecycline-levofloxacin combinations. Colistin sulfate produced a strong PAE ranging from 2.50 to 7.0 h in a concentration-dependent manner. PAEs were induced by levofloxacin (ranging from 0.35 to 2.45 h) and tigecycline (ranging from 0.05 to 1.40 h). In combination, tigecycline slightly changed the PAE of colistin sulfate and levofloxacin against the studied strains. Conclusion: This study's findings could have important implications for the timing of doses during antimicrobial therapy with tigecycline, colistin sulfate, and levofloxacin alone and in combination. copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Base

Improved Metrological Methodology to Address the Challenges Associated with the Determination of Biofuels Calorific Value by Bomb Calorimeter

The challenges associated with biofuel quality come from its heterogenous nature as biomass crops grow in different lands and under different conditions. Moreover, the inconsistency of the handling and sampling techniques in the laboratories or in the feedstock storage piles increase biomass variability. These issues affect the calorific value and as a result, the accuracy of the measurement for each feedstock pile of the measured data might be widely scattered. Furthermore, the current standards, e.g., ISO, DIN or ASTM are limited and do not consider the deviations caused by determination errors during the measurements. Therefore, this study quantifies the causes of these deviations by performing an inter-laboratory comparison on a metrological level between 3 national metrology institutes. Eventually this comparison helps to optimize the existing strategies and provides an enhanced technical practice for the determination of the calorific value by bomb calorimetry. It has been found that by assuring that the equilibrium moisture content of the samples is reached and that by avoiding the sources of error during the measurements, the repeatability of the samples can be improved by up to 50%. Consequently, this improvement will help to lower the final uncertainty by 10-25%

Community-acquired pneumonia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring admission to the intensive care unit: Risk factors for mortality

Conclusion: Noninvasive ventilation, hypertension, systemic corticosteroid treatment, and shorter ICU stay are associated with reduced mortality, whereas bilateral infiltration and longer duration of invasive mechanical ventilation are associated with increased risk of mortality in patients with COPD and CAP requiring ICU admission. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Mortality indicators in community-acquired pneumonia requiring intensive care in Turkey

Background: Severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) is a fatal disease. This study was conducted to describe an outcome analysis of the intensive care units (ICUs) of Turkey

Mortality Indicators In Community-Acquired Pneumonia Requiring Intensive Care In Turkey

Background: Severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) is a fatal disease. This study was conducted to describe an outcome analysis of the intensive care units (ICUs) of Turkey. Methods: This study evaluated SCAP cases hospitalized in the ICUs of 19 different hospitals between October 2008 and January 2011. The cases of 413 patients admitted to the ICUs were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Overall 413 patients were included in the study and 129 (31.2%) died. It was found that bilateral pulmonary involvement (odds ratio (OR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-5.7) and CAP PIRO score (OR 2, 95% CI 1.3-2.9) were independent risk factors for a higher in-ICU mortality, while arterial hypertension (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.9) and the application of non-invasive ventilation (OR 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.5) decreased mortality. No culture of any kind was obtained for 90 (22%) patients during the entire course of the hospitalization. Blood, bronchoalveolar lavage, and non-bronchoscopic lavage cultures yielded enteric Gram-negatives (n = 12), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (n = 10), pneumococci (n = 6), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 6). For 22% of the patients, none of the culture methods were applied. Conclusions: SCAP requiring ICU admission is associated with considerable mortality for ICU patients. Increased awareness appears essential for the microbiological diagnosis of this disease. (C) 2013 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.WoSScopu