Pasteurella multocida pneumonia with hemoptysis: A case report

Pasteurella multocida, which colonizes upper respiratory and digestive tracts, is a leading cause of respiratory diseases in many host species. Here, we describe a case of P. multocida pneumonia with hemoptysis. A 72-year-old female diagnosed with bronchiectasis with a 36-year history presented with a worsened infiltrative and granular shadow in the lower right lobe and lingular segment. Bronchial lavage fluid culturing suggested Pasteurella pneumonia. P. multocida was confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The patient was readmitted to our hospital because of hemoptysis, and she was treated successfully with antibiotic therapy. The possibility of P. multocida infection must be considered in patients who own pets

Effect of Nitriding parameter on Active Screen Plasma Nitriding Response of SACM645 Steel

A nitriding steel SACM645 was active screen plasma nitrided using an austenitic stainless steel screen to investigate the effect of nitriding parameters such as gas pressure and the distance between the screen and the sample on the nitriding response. The sample was treated for 18 ks at 823 K in 25% N2 + 75% H2. The gas pressure was changed to 100, 600, and 1200 Pa. The distance between the screen and the sample was also changed to 10, 30, and 50 mm. The nitrided samples were characterized by observing their surface morphology and cross sectional microstructure by scanning electron microscopy, X ray diffraction, and microhardness testing. After nitriding, polygonal particles with a normal distribution were observed at the center and edges of all nitrided sample surfaces. The particles on the sample surface became finer with an increase in the gas pressure. A nitrided layer with a greater and homogeneous thickness was obtained at a low gas pressure of 100 Pa

Visualization for the corrosion reaction of the metal surface

解

Prevalence of and risk factors for post-intensive care syndrome: Multicenter study of patients living at home after treatment in 12 Japanese intensive care units, SMAP-HoPe study

Few studies have examined the epidemiology of post-intensive care syndrome in Japan. This study investigated the mental health and quality of life of patients living at home in Japan after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. Additionally, we examined whether unplanned admission to the ICU was associated with more severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptoms. An ambidirectional cohort study was conducted at 12 ICUs in Japan. Patients who stayed in the ICU for > 3 nights and were living at home for 1 year afterward were included. One year after ICU discharge, we retrospectively screened patients and performed a mail survey on a monthly basis, including the Impact of Event Scale—Revised (IER-S), the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), and the EuroQOL—5 Dimension (EQ-5D-L) questionnaires. Patients’ characteristics, delirium and coma status, drugs used, and ICU and hospital length of stay were assessed from medical records. Descriptive statistics and multilevel linear regression modeling were used to examine our hypothesis. Among 7,030 discharged patients, 854 patients were surveyed by mail. Of these, 778 patients responded (response rate = 91.1%). The data from 754 patients were analyzed. The median IES-R score was 3 (interquartile range [IQR] = 1‒9), and the prevalence of suspected PTSD was 6.0%. The median HADS anxiety score was 4.00 (IQR = 1.17‒6.00), and the prevalence of anxiety was 16.6%. The median HADS depression score was 5 (IQR = 2‒8), and the prevalence of depression was 28.1%. EQ-5D-L scores were lower in our participants than in the sex- and age-matched Japanese population. Unplanned admission was an independent risk factor for more severe PTSD, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Approximately one-third of patients in the general ICU population experienced mental health issues one year after ICU discharge. Unplanned admission was an independent predictor for more severe PTSD symptoms

Employment status and its associated factors for patients 12 months after intensive care: Secondary analysis of the SMAP-HoPe study

BackgroundReturning to work is a serious issue that affects patients who are discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU). This study aimed to clarify the employment status and the perceived household financial status of ICU patients 12 months following ICU discharge. Additionally, we evaluated whether there exists an association between depressive symptoms and subsequent unemployment status.MethodsThis study was a subgroup analysis of the published Survey of Multicenter Assessment with Postal questionnaire for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome for Home Living Patients (the SMAP-HoPe study) in Japan. Eligible patients were those who were employed before ICU admission, stayed in the ICU for at least three nights between October 2019 and July 2020, and lived at home for 12 months after discharge. We assessed the employment status, subjective cognitive functions, household financial status, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and EuroQOL-5 dimensions of physical function at 12 months following intensive care.ResultsThis study included 328 patients, with a median age of 64 (interquartile range [IQR], 52–72) years. Of these, 79 (24%) were unemployed 12 months after ICU discharge. The number of patients who reported worsened financial status was significantly higher in the unemployed group (p<0.01) than in the employed group. Multivariable analysis showed that higher age (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.08]) and greater severity of depressive symptoms (OR, 1.13 [95% CI, 1.05–1.23]) were independent factors for unemployment status at 12 months after ICU discharge.ConclusionsWe found that 24.1% of our patients who had been employed prior to ICU admission were subsequently unemployed following ICU discharge and that depressive symptoms were associated with unemployment status. The government and the local municipalities should provide medical and financial support to such patients. Additionally, community and workplace support for such patients are warranted

Correlation between susceptibility to environment-assisted cracking of super-elastic TiNi alloy and the states and their amount of hydrogen in it

Susceptibility to environment-assisted cracking (EAC) of super-elastic TiNi alloy has been correlated with the states and their amount of hydrogen in the material. The TiNi alloy specimen was immersed in sulfate solutions at a given pH, and a giving cathodic potential was applied to it for 13 ks to absorb hydrogen into it. The specimen was subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD) test to detect hydride, and to thermal gas desorption spectroscopy (TDS) test to determine the state and its amount of hydrogen in it. In the case that a potential of -0.5 VAg/AgCl was applied to the specimen in the solution of pH 3, the XRD detected no hydride on it. Whereas, application of -1.5 VAg/AgCl was induced formation of hydride. The TDS indicated that the specimen treated at -0.5 VAg/AgCl involved hydrogen desorbing around 810 K, and the one at -1.5 VAg/AgCl involved hydrogen desorbing around 500 as well as 810 K. Therefore, it was suggested that the hydrogen desorbing at lower and higher temperatures obtained by the TDS were of hydride state and solid-solution state, respectively. The specimens treated under various conditions were analyzed by the same way as mentioned before, and an amount of the hydrogen in each state as well as a cathodic charge density applied to the specimen were obtained to be correlated. A logarithm of the amount of the hydrogen in the each state increased almost linearly with an increase in a logarithm of a charge density. Susceptibility to the EAC of the material suddenly increased around a charge density of 0.025 MC·m-2, and the charge density was considered to induce the amounts of hydrogens in hydride and solid-solution state of 10 and 100 mass ppm, respectively

Correlation between susceptibility to environment-assisted cracking of super-elastic TiNi alloy and the states and their amount of hydrogen in it

Susceptibility to environment-assisted cracking (EAC) of super-elastic TiNi alloy has been correlated with the states and their amount of hydrogen in the material. The TiNi alloy specimen was immersed in sulfate solutions at a given pH, and a giving cathodic potential was applied to it for 13 ks to absorb hydrogen into it. The specimen was subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD) test to detect hydride, and to thermal gas desorption spectroscopy (TDS) test to determine the state and its amount of hydrogen in it. In the case that a potential of -0.5 VAg/AgCl was applied to the specimen in the solution of pH 3, the XRD detected no hydride on it. Whereas, application of -1.5 VAg/AgCl was induced formation of hydride. The TDS indicated that the specimen treated at -0.5 VAg/AgCl involved hydrogen desorbing around 810 K, and the one at -1.5 VAg/AgCl involved hydrogen desorbing around 500 as well as 810 K. Therefore, it was suggested that the hydrogen desorbing at lower and higher temperatures obtained by the TDS were of hydride state and solid-solution state, respectively. The specimens treated under various conditions were analyzed by the same way as mentioned before, and an amount of the hydrogen in each state as well as a cathodic charge density applied to the specimen were obtained to be correlated. A logarithm of the amount of the hydrogen in the each state increased almost linearly with an increase in a logarithm of a charge density. Susceptibility to the EAC of the material suddenly increased around a charge density of 0.025 MC·m-2, and the charge density was considered to induce the amounts of hydrogens in hydride and solid-solution state of 10 and 100 mass ppm, respectively