Elucidation of the Structure of Organic Compounds by Thermal Fragmentation

The thermal fragmentation of organic compounds is described using a technique in which the sample is coated on a ferromagnetic conductor. This conductor can be reproducibly heated to an accurately defined temperature (Curie point) in 20 to 30 milliseconds. Techniques are described to study fragmentation mechanism

Elucidation of the Structure of Organic Compounds by Thermal Fragmentation

ISSN:0021-9665ISSN:1945-239

Effects of Sinus Rhythm Maintenance on Left Heart Function After Electrical Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation: Implications for Tachycardia-Induced Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: The role of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy vs tachycardia-related short diastolic filling period and reduced atrial contraction in decline of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in atrial fibrillation (AF) is uncertain. We aimed to characterize left heart changes over time in patients with AF who undergo electrical cardioversion (ECV). METHODS: Consecutive AF patients who were to undergo ECV were enrolled. Patients with unstable or acute heart failure, severe valvular diseases, recent open-heart surgery, major disorders, or an unsuccessful ECV were excluded. Transthoracic echocardiography, including 3-dimensional left atrial and ventricular volume acquisitions, was performed 1-2 hours before and after ECV, and 4-6 weeks later. RESULTS: In 73 patients (77% male, 66 +/- 11 years), ECV resulted in an immediate increase in LVEF (from 43 [interquartile range (IQR), 33-50%] to 48 [IQR, 40-53%]; P > 0.0001). Four to 6 weeks after ECV, ejection fraction increased further in patients who remained in sinus rhythm (SR) (n = 55) to 55 (IQR, 44-62)%; P > 0.001. In patients with AF relapse, LVEF returned to values comparable to pre-ECV (n = 18) (44 [IQR, 32-51]%; P = 0.03). The atrial emptying fraction did not significantly change immediately after ECV (n = 69; from 20 [IQR, 13-25]% to 20 [IQR, 15-28]%; P = 0.14). Only patients who remained in SR showed an increase in atrial emptying fraction after 4-6 weeks (n = 51; to 37 [IQR, 26-48]%; P > 0.0001 vs post-ECV). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate improvement in LVEF after ECV explains approximately 50% of total LVEF increase over time. However, in SR, LVEF, and atrial function continuously increase over 4-6 weeks after ECV. This might be attributable to recovery of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy

Promoting Wellbeing in Pregnancy: A Multi-component Positive Psychology and Mindfulness-Based Mobile App

Pregnancy involves important changes for women of all ages: it is a time of physical and psychological change. Women may experience anxiety and negative emotions, which can negatively influence their wellbeing and make difficult their adaptation to the new role of mothers. Furthermore, poor mental well-being and difficulties in emotion regulation can negatively affect obstetric outcomes, development of the child and neonatal adaptation. The aim of this work is to present a new self-applied multi-component positive psychology- and mindfulness-based intervention (MPPMI) supported by a mobile App addressed to pregnant women. The core of this MPPMI is to combine traditional positive psychology activities with mindfulness-based exercises. The purpose of this MPPMI App (available in both Android and IOS versions) is to increase positive feelings, behaviors and cognitions and to learn strategies to better cope with anxiety to get adaptively and positively through pregnancy. The intervention is composed by five modules, for a total length of five weeks, and each module includes three activities. The future steps will be to carry out a pilot study to examine the program implementation and preliminary evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention on women\u2019s mental well-being, both at the end of the intervention and after childbirth