Circular polarization antenna for CW V-band radar

Practical realization of the circular polarization antenna for CW V-band radar is described

Facet Appearance on the Lateral Face of Sapphire Single-Crystal Fibers during LHPG Growth

Results of the study of the lateral surface of single-crystal (SC) sapphire fibers grown along crystallographic directions [ 0001 ] and [ 11 2 ¯ 0 ] by the LHPG method are presented. The appearance or absence of faceting of the lateral surface of the fibers depending on the growth direction is analyzed. The crystallographic orientation of the facets is investigated. The microstructure of the samples is investigated with the help of an optical microscope and a JSM-5910LV scanning electronic microscope (JEOL). The crystallographic orientations of the facets on the SC sapphire fiber surface are determined by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The seed orientation is studied by means of XRD techniques

Assessment of Bowel Preparation Using Low-Volume Sulphate-Based Preparations in Comparison with Macrogols: A Multicenter, Randomized, Comparative Clinical Study of the 3rd Phase

Oral sulphate solution (OSS: sodium sulphate, potassium sulphate and magnesium sulphate) is a low-volume osmotic agent for cleansing the intestines.Aim: in a multicentre, prospective, randomized, 3rd phase study with two parallel groups, the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of OSS was evaluated in comparison with Macrogol 4000 with electrolytes (a reference preparation for bowel cleansing in Russia) in adult patients who were scheduled for routine diagnostic colonoscopy.Methods. This study was conducted in three Russian research centres during the March–December, 2015 period. Men and women over the age of 18 scheduled to undergo routine diagnostic colonoscopy were randomly assigned either to the OSS group or to the Macrogol group with a fractional use mode before the colonoscopy. The colonoscopy researchers were not aware of which preparation had been taken by the patients. Anonymized video records were centrally analysed by three experts. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with a successful bowel preparation for colonoscopy ≥6 points, as determined by the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale of quality assessment (BBPS scale).Results. 296 patients were randomized in the study (147 patients were treated with OSS, 149 patients received Macrogol); 294 participants were included in the Intention to Treat population (ITT-population), and 274 participants were included in the population of patients who completed the study according to the protocol (Per-Protocol; PP-population) (139 patients received OSS, 135 patients received Macrogol). The proportion of patients with a successful bowel preparation (BBPS ≥6 scores) was high in both groups (OSS [PP-population]: 97.2 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 89.5–99.3), Macrogol [PP-population]: 97.7 % (95 % CI: 90.7–99.4)). The corrected difference between the groups was -0.5 % (95 % CI: -4.2–3.3), thereby demonstrating “no less effective” of OSS as compared to Macrogol. Compliance with the drug use regime was higher in the OSS group than in the Macrogol group (95.7 % versus 82.3 %, respectively, p-value = 0.0011, ITT-population).The most common symptom reported in patients was nausea (27.9 % in the OSS group and 12.9 % in the Macrogol group). The proportion of patients who developed nausea was significantly higher in the OSS group than in the Macrogol group (25.2 % compared with 10.2 % when taking the first dose of the preparation (p = 0.0008) and 19.7 % compared with 6.8 % when taking the second dose of the preparation (p = 0.0016)). Differences in other symptoms (bloating, abdominal pain or abdominal discomfort) between the groups were not significant, with the severity of symptoms being generally mild. The safety profile of the investigated preparations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in remission did not differ from that in the general patient population.The differences in terms of secondary endpoints were not identified, including BBPS assessment for different sections of the colon, the level of polyp detection, the duration and completeness of colonoscopy, and the investigator’s satisfaction with the procedure. The analysis by subgroups also did not reveal any significant differences.Conclusion. In this study, the “not less effectiveness” of the sulphate solution was demonstrated as compared to Macrogol in a fractional use mode. Both preparations were well tolerated. Despite the higher incidence of nausea in the OSS group, the patients showed significantly higher compliance with the OSS mode as compared to that of Macrogol.This study is registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov Registry of Clinical Trials, No. NCT02321462

Assessment of Bowel Preparation Using Low-Volume Sulphate-Based Preparations in Comparison with Macrogols: A Multicenter, Randomized, Comparative Clinical Study of the 3rd Phase

Oral sulphate solution (OSS: sodium sulphate, potassium sulphate and magnesium sulphate) is a low-volume osmotic agent for cleansing the intestines.Aim: in a multicentre, prospective, randomized, 3rd phase study with two parallel groups, the effectiveness, safety and tolerability of OSS was evaluated in comparison with Macrogol 4000 with electrolytes (a reference preparation for bowel cleansing in Russia) in adult patients who were scheduled for routine diagnostic colonoscopy.Methods. This study was conducted in three Russian research centres during the March–December, 2015 period. Men and women over the age of 18 scheduled to undergo routine diagnostic colonoscopy were randomly assigned either to the OSS group or to the Macrogol group with a fractional use mode before the colonoscopy. The colonoscopy researchers were not aware of which preparation had been taken by the patients. Anonymized video records were centrally analysed by three experts. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with a successful bowel preparation for colonoscopy ≥6 points, as determined by the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale of quality assessment (BBPS scale).Results. 296 patients were randomized in the study (147 patients were treated with OSS, 149 patients received Macrogol); 294 participants were included in the Intention to Treat population (ITT-population), and 274 participants were included in the population of patients who completed the study according to the protocol (Per-Protocol; PP-population) (139 patients received OSS, 135 patients received Macrogol). The proportion of patients with a successful bowel preparation (BBPS ≥6 scores) was high in both groups (OSS [PP-population]: 97.2 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 89.5–99.3), Macrogol [PP-population]: 97.7 % (95 % CI: 90.7–99.4)). The corrected difference between the groups was -0.5 % (95 % CI: -4.2–3.3), thereby demonstrating “no less effective” of OSS as compared to Macrogol. Compliance with the drug use regime was higher in the OSS group than in the Macrogol group (95.7 % versus 82.3 %, respectively, p-value = 0.0011, ITT-population).The most common symptom reported in patients was nausea (27.9 % in the OSS group and 12.9 % in the Macrogol group). The proportion of patients who developed nausea was significantly higher in the OSS group than in the Macrogol group (25.2 % compared with 10.2 % when taking the first dose of the preparation (p = 0.0008) and 19.7 % compared with 6.8 % when taking the second dose of the preparation (p = 0.0016)). Differences in other symptoms (bloating, abdominal pain or abdominal discomfort) between the groups were not significant, with the severity of symptoms being generally mild. The safety profile of the investigated preparations in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in remission did not differ from that in the general patient population.The differences in terms of secondary endpoints were not identified, including BBPS assessment for different sections of the colon, the level of polyp detection, the duration and completeness of colonoscopy, and the investigator’s satisfaction with the procedure. The analysis by subgroups also did not reveal any significant differences.Conclusion. In this study, the “not less effectiveness” of the sulphate solution was demonstrated as compared to Macrogol in a fractional use mode. Both preparations were well tolerated. Despite the higher incidence of nausea in the OSS group, the patients showed significantly higher compliance with the OSS mode as compared to that of Macrogol.This study is registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov Registry of Clinical Trials, No. NCT02321462

Recovery of endoscopy services in the era of COVID-19: recommendations from an international Delphi consensus

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on provision of endoscopy services globally as staff and real estate were repurposed. As we begin to recover from the pandemic, a cohesive international approach is needed, and guidance on how to resume endoscopy services safely to avoid unintended harm from diagnostic delays. The aim of these guidelines is to provide consensus recommendations that clinicians can use to facilitate the swift and safe resumption of endoscopy services. An evidence-based literature review was carried out on the various strategies used globally to manage endoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic and control infection. A modified Delphi process involving international endoscopy experts was used to agree on the consensus statements. A threshold of 80% agreement was used to establish consensus for each statement. 27 of 30 statements achieved consensus after two rounds of voting by 34 experts. The statements were categorised as pre-endoscopy, during endoscopy and postendoscopy addressing relevant areas of practice, such as screening, personal protective equipment, appropriate environments for endoscopy and infection control precautions, particularly in areas of high disease prevalence. Recommendations for testing of patients and for healthcare workers, appropriate locations of donning and doffing areas and social distancing measures before endoscopy are unique and not dealt with by any other guidelines. This international consensus using a modified Delphi method to produce a series of best practice recommendations to aid the safe resumption of endoscopy services globally in the era of COVID-19.status: publishe