Data on sex differences in one-year outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients without ST-segment elevation

Sex differences in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients are increasingly recognized. Although it has been found that post-resuscitated women are less likely to have significant coronary artery disease (CAD) than men, data on follow-up in these patients are limited. Data for this data in brief article was obtained as a part of the randomized controlled Coronary Angiography after Cardiac Arrest without ST-segment elevation (COACT) trial. The data supplements the manuscript “Sex differences in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients without ST-segment elevation: A COACT trial substudy” were it was found that women were less likely to have significant CAD including chronic total occlusions, and had worse survival when CAD was present. The dataset presented in this paper describes sex differences on interventions, implantable-cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks and hospitalizations due to heart failure during one-year follow-up in patients successfully resuscitated after OHCA. Data was derived through a telephone interview at one year with the patient or general practitioner. Patients in this randomized dataset reflects a homogenous study population, which can be valuable to further build on research regarding long-term sex differences and to further improve cardiac care

Development of an electro-osmotic heat pump

The majority of heat pumps and refrigerators is driven by a mechanical compressor. Although they usually function very well, the search for new and in some cases better heat pumping concepts continues. One of the topics in this field is the development of an electro-osmotic heat pump. As each electricity driven heat pumping technique, electro-osmosis is related to a power generation equivalent: the fuel cell. By applying a direct current voltage over the compression unit a pressure difference can be realised, leading to a heat pumping effect. Since 1995 TNO MEP has been working on this concept. After a quick theoretical scan, it was concluded that the concept might work. This quick scan was followed in 1996 and 1997 by experimental work with the aim to demonstrate the compression function. As it proved to be successful a new test rig is being built in 1998. It will be evaluated in the next months with respect to capacities, Coefficient of Performance and part load behaviour. Besides the influence of input parameters will be determined. Of course the concept has a number of advantages over conventional compression machines. An electro-osmotic heat pump has no moving parts, can be very compact, does not make any noise and uses an environmentally friendly refrigerant. Attractive applications may be small air-conditioners, for example for cars or buses, heat pumps for combined heating and cooling and specialities for small cooling capacities

Rapid identification of cyst (Heterodera spp., Globodera spp.) and root-knot (Meloidogyne spp.) nematodes on the basis of ITS2 sequence variation detected by PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) in cultures and field samples

Cyst and root-knot nematodes show high levels of gross morphological similarity. This presents difficulties for the study of their ecology in natural ecosystems. In this study, cyst and root-knot nematode species, as well as some ectoparasitic nematode species, were identified using the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) sequence variation detected by polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP). The ITS2 region was sufficiently variable within the taxa investigated to allow species to be separated on the basis of minor sequence variation. The PCR primers used in this study were effective for 12 species with three genera within the Heteroderinae (Globodera pallida, G. rostochiensis, Heterodera arenaria/avenae, H. ciceri, H. daverti, H. hordecalis, PI. mani, PI. schachtii, H. trifolii, Meloidogyne ardenensis, M. duytsi and M. maritima). However, pathotypes of Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis could not be distinguished. The method was tested at two coastal dune locations in The Netherlands tone in the lime-poor dunes of the north and one in calcareous dunes of the south) to determine the population structure of cyst nematodes. At each site, cyst nematodes were associated with three plant species: two plant species on the foredune (Elymus farctus and Ammophila arenaria) and one plant species occurring further inland (Calamagrostis epigejos). Two species of cyst nematodes, H. arenaria and H. hordecalis, were found. H. arenaria associated with vigorous A. arenaria and H. hordecalis in association with degenerating A. arenaria and C. epigejos. The field survey demonstrated that in coastal dunes abiotic factors may be the important affecting the distribution of cyst nematodes. [KEYWORDS: Globodera; Heterodera; identification; Meloidogyne; nematode; PCR-SSCP Plant-parasitic nematodes; polymerase chain-reaction; ribosomal dna; rdna; alignment; arenaria

Development of a cost-effective heat pump system for family dwellings

Since the 1970s TNO MEP has played an important role in heat pump research, focused on perfonnance improvement, implementation, testing and development. In 1996/1997 a heat pump competition was organised. The main conclusion was, that the capital cost was too high and system performance was not sufficient to create a break-through in the implementation of heat pumps for family dwellings. A study to the production costs of a single heat pump led to a cost price of DFL 2.900 (about US$ 1.500), whereas the consumer has to pay DFL 8.000 to DFL 12.000 for a commercially available heat pump. It triggered TNO MEP to develop a heat pump that can compete in the Dutch situation. About the same time the same idea arose at the management of Itho bv., a leading company in the field of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and member of the Danfoss-Group. As both parties are rather complementary, they decided in December 1997 to start - together with some suppliers - a joint development of an advanced cost-effective heat pump system for family dwellings. The first six months of 1998 were spent to make a system design. Starting-points were a Seasonal Perfonnance Factor (SPF) of 5 and application of a low temperature heat delivery system. Within a team of 8 to 15 experts extensive discussions were held with respect to the system design, heat exchanger designs, control algorithm et cetera. As a result, important features of the system are a solar collector, an advanced control system and the possibility of free cooling. May 1999 the heat pump will be tested in the Development and Test Centre for Heat Pumps of TNO MEP, including simulations of the total system, followed by a field test in 1999

Ischaemic electrocardiogram patterns and its association with survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients without ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a COACT trials' post-hoc subgroup analysis

AIMS: ST-depression and T-wave inversion are frequently present on the post-resuscitation electrocardiogram (ECG). However, the prognostic value of ischaemic ECG patterns is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this post-hoc subgroup analysis of the Coronary Angiography after Cardiac arrest (COACT) trial, the first in-hospital post-resuscitation ECG in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with a shockable rhythm was analysed for ischaemic ECG patterns. Ischaemia was defined as ST-depression of ≥0.1 mV, T-wave inversion in ≥2 contiguous leads, or both. The primary endpoint was 90-day survival. Secondary endpoints were rate of acute unstable lesions, levels of serum troponin-T, and left ventricular function. Of the 510 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, 340 (66.7%) patients had ischaemic ECG patterns. Patients with ischaemic ECG patterns had a worse 90-day survival compared with those without [hazard ratio 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-2.12; P = 0.02]. A higher sum of ST-depression was associated with lower survival (log-rank = 0.01). The rate of acute unstable lesions (14.5 vs. 15.8%; odds ratio 0.90; 95% CI 0.51-1.59) did not differ between the groups. In patients with ischaemic ECG patterns, maximum levels of serum troponin-T (μg/L) were higher [0.595 (interquartile range 0.243-1.430) vs. 0.359 (0.159-0.845); ratio of geometric means 1.58; 1.13-2.20] and left ventricular function (%) was worse (44.7 ± 12.5 vs. 49.9 ± 13.3; mean difference -5.13; 95% CI -8.84 to -1.42). Adjusted for age and time to return of spontaneous circulation, ischaemic ECG patterns were no longer associated with survival. CONCLUSION: Post-arrest ischaemic ECG patterns were associated with worse 90-day survival. A higher sum of ST-depression was associated with lower survival. Adjusted for age and time to return of spontaneous circulation, ischaemic ECG patterns were no longer associated with survival

The effect of immediate coronary angiography after cardiac arrest without ST-segment elevation on left ventricular function. A sub-study of the COACT randomised trial

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: The effect of immediate coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients who are successfully resuscitated after cardiac arrest in the absence of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) on left ventricular function is currently unknown. METHODS: This prespecified sub-study of a multicentre trial evaluated 552 patients, successfully resuscitated from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest without signs of STEMI. Patients were randomized to either undergo immediate coronary angiography or delayed coronary angiography, after neurologic recovery. All patients underwent PCI if indicated. The main outcomes of this analysis were left ventricular ejection fraction and end-diastolic and systolic volumes assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging or echocardiography. RESULTS: Data on left ventricular function was available for 397 patients. The mean (± standard deviation) left ventricular ejection fraction was 45.2% (±12.8) in the immediate angiography group and 48.4% (±13.2) in the delayed angiography group (mean difference: -3.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], -6.75 to 0.37). Median left ventricular end-diastolic volume was 177 ml in the immediate angiography group compared to 169 ml in the delayed angiography group (ratio of geometric means: 1.06; 95% CI, 0.95-1.19). In addition, mean left ventricular end-systolic volume was 90 ml in the immediate angiography group compared to 78 ml in the delayed angiography group (ratio of geometric means: 1.13; 95% CI 0.97-1.32). CONCLUSION: In patients successfully resuscitated after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and without signs of STEMI, immediate coronary angiography was not found to improve left ventricular dimensions or function compared with a delayed angiography strategy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Netherlands Trial Register number, NTR4973

Tech United Eindhoven Middle Size League Winner 2022

During the RoboCup 2022 tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, Tech United Eindhoven achieved the first place in the Middle Size League. This paper presents the work done leading up to the tournament. It elaborates on the new swerve drive platform (winner of the technical challenge) and the progress of making the strategy software more semantic (runner-up of the scientific challenge). Additionally, the implementations of the automatic substitution and of more dynamic passes are described. These developments have led to Tech United winning the RoboCup 2022 tournament, and will hopefully lead to more successful tournaments in the future

Predicting who will benefit from endoscopic third ventriculostomy compared with shunt insertion in childhood hydrocephalus using the ETV success score: Clinical article

Object. The authors recently developed and internally validated the ETV Success Score (ETVSS) - a simplified means of predicting the 6-month success rate of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for a child with hydrocephalus, based on age, etiology of hydrocephalus, and presence of a previous shunt. A high ETVSS predicts a high chance of early ETV success. In this paper, they assess the clinical utility of the ETVSS by determining whether long-term survival outcomes for ETV versus shunt insertion are different within strata of ETVSS (low, moderate, and high scores). Methods. A multicenter, international cohort of children (≤ 19 years old) with newly diagnosed hydrocephalus treated with either ETV (489 patients) or shunt insertion (720 patients) was analyzed. The ETVSS was calculated for all patients. Survival analyses with time-dependent modeling of the hazard ratios were performed. Results. For the High-ETVSS Group (255 ETV-treated patients, 117 shunt-treated patients), ETV appeared to have a lower risk of failure right from the early postoperative phase and became more favorable with time. For the Moderate-ETVSS Group (172 ETV-treated patients, 245 shunt-treated patients), ETV appeared to have a higher initial failure rate, but after about 3 months the instantaneous risk of ETV failure became slightly lower than shunt failure (that is, the hazard ratio became < 1). For the Low-ETVSS Group (62 ETV-treated patients, 358 shunt-treated patients), the early risk of ETV failure was much higher than the risk of shunt failure, but the instantaneous risk of ETV failure became lower than the risk of shunt failure at about 6 months following surgery (the hazard ratio became < 1). Conclusions. Across all ETVSS strata, the risk of ETV failure becomes progressively lower compared with the risk of shunt failure with increasing time from the surgery. In the best ETV candidates (ETVSS ≥ 80), however, the risk of ETV failure is lower than the risk of shunt failure very soon after surgery, while for less-than-ideal ETV candidates (ETVSS ≤ 70), the risk of ETV failure is initially higher than the risk of shunt failure and only becomes lower after 3-6 months from surgery. These results need to be confirmed by larger, prospective, and preferably randomized studies