Time Resolved Spectroscopy Of Cataclysmic Variables - SS Cygni

NSF AST76-23882, AST 79-06340McDonald Observator

Impact of obesity on acyclovir-induced nephrotoxicity

© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Triamcinolone acetonide (TA), an intermediate acting corticosteroid, is used in the treatment of posterior ocular diseases, such as inflammation, posterior uveitis, and diabetic macular edema. The objective of this investigation was to prepare TA-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (TA-SLNs) and in situ gel (TA-SLN-IG) formulations for delivery into the deeper ocular tissues through the topical route. TA-SLNs were prepared by hot homogenization and ultrasonication method using glyceryl monostearate and Compritol® 888ATO as solid lipids and Tween®80 and Pluronic® F-68 as surfactants. TA-SLNs were optimized and converted to TA-SLN-IG by the inclusion of gellan gum and evaluated for their rheological properties.In vitro transcorneal permeability and in vivo ocular distribution of the TA-SLNs and TA-SLN-IG were studied using isolated rabbit corneas and New Zealand albino rabbits, respectively, and compared with TA suspension, used as control (TA-C). Particle size, PDI, zeta potential, assay, and entrapment efficiency of TA-SLNs were in the range of 200–350 nm, 0.3–0.45, −52.31 to −64.35 mV, 70–98%, and 97–99%, respectively. TA-SLN-IG with 0.3% gellan gum exhibited better rheological properties. The transcorneal permeability of TA-SLN and TA-SLN-IG was 10.2 and 9.3-folds higher compared to TA-C. TA-SLN-IG showed maximum tear concentration at 2 h, indicating an improved pre-corneal residence time, as well as higher concentrations in aqueous humor, vitreous humor and cornea at 6 h, suggesting sustained delivery of the drug into the anterior and posterior segment ocular tissues, when compared to TA-SLN and TA-C. The results, therefore, demonstrate that the lipid based nanoparticulate system combined with the in situ gelling agents can be a promising drug delivery platform for the deeper ocular tissues

Agricultural scene understanding and supporting field research, volume 1

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Fluoroquinolone versus nonfluoroquinolone treatment of bloodstream infections caused by chromosomally mediated ampc‐producing enterobacteriaceae

Objectives: Chromosomally mediated AmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CAE) display high susceptibility to fluoroquinolones; minimal clinical data exist supporting comparative clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to compare treatment outcomes between fluoroquinolone and nonfluoroquinolone definitive therapy of bloodstream infections caused by CAE. Methods: This retrospective cohort assessed adult patients with positive blood cultures for CAE that received inpatient treatment for 48 hours. The primary outcome was difference in clinical failure between patients who received fluoroquinolone (FQ) versus non‐FQ treatment. Secondary endpoints included microbiological cure, infection‐related length of stay, 90‐day readmission, and all‐cause inpatient mortality. Results: 56 patients were included in the study (31 (55%) received a FQ as definitive therapy; 25 (45%) received non‐FQ). All non‐FQ patients received a beta‐lactam (BL). Clinical failure occurred in 10 (18%) patients, with 4 (13%) in the FQ group and 6 (24%) in the BL group (p = 0.315). Microbiological cure occurred in 55 (98%) patients. Median infection‐related length of stay was 10 (6–20) days, with a significantly longer stay occurring in the BL group (p = 0.002). There was no statistical difference in 90‐day readmissions between groups (7% FQ vs. 17% BL; p = 0.387); one patient expired. Conclusion: These results suggest that fluoroquinolones do not adversely impact clinical outcomes in patients with CAE. When alternatives to beta‐lactam therapy are needed, fluoroquinolones may provide an effective option

The Spectrum projection package: improvements in estimating mortality, ART needs, PMTCT impact and uncertainty bounds

BACKGROUND: The approach to national and global estimates of HIV/AIDS used by UNAIDS starts with estimates of adult HIV prevalence prepared from surveillance data using either the Estimation and Projection Package (EPP) or the Workbook. Time trends of prevalence are transferred to Spectrum to estimate the consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, including the number of people living with HIV, new infections, AIDS deaths, AIDS orphans, treatment needs and the impact of treatment on survival. METHODS: The UNAIDS Reference Group on Estimates, Modelling and Projections regularly reviews new data and information needs and recommends updates to the methodology and assumptions used in Spectrum. The latest update to Spectrum was used in the 2007 round of global estimates. RESULTS: Several new features have been added to Spectrum in the past two years. The structure of the population was reorganised to track populations by HIV status and treatment status. Mortality estimates were improved by the adoption of new approaches to estimating non-AIDS mortality by single age, and the use of new information on survival with HIV in non-treated cohorts and on the survival of patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART). A more detailed treatment of mother-to-child transmission of HIV now provides more prophylaxis and infant feeding options. New procedures were implemented to estimate the uncertainty around each of the key outputs. CONCLUSIONS: The latest update to the Spectrum program is intended to incorporate the latest research findings and provide new outputs needed by national and international planners

Asteroseismological Observations of the Central Star of the Planetary Nebula NGC 1501

We report on a global CCD time-series photometric campaign to decode the pulsations of the nucleus of the planetary nebula NGC1501. The star is hot and hydrogen-deficient, similar to the pre-white-dwarf PG 1159 stars. NGC1501 shows pulsational brightness variations of a few percent with periods ranging from 19 to 87 minutes. The variations are very complex, suggesting a pulsation spectrum that requires a long unbroken time series to resolve. Our CCD photometry of the star covers a two-week period in 1991 November, and used a global network of observatories. We obtained nearly continuous coverage over an interval of one week in the middle of the run. We have identified 10 pulsation periods, ranging from 5235 s down to 1154 s. We find strong evidence that the modes are indeed nonradial g-modes. The ratios of the frequencies of the largest-amplitude modes agree with those expected for modes that are trapped by a density discontinuity in the outer layers. We offer a model for the pulsation spectrum that includes a common period spacing of 22.3 s and a rotation period of 1.17 days; the period spacing allows us to assign a seismological mass of 0.55+/-0.03 Msun.Comment: 12 pages, AASTEX, 7 tables, 6 EPS figures, to appear in AJ, 12/96 Corrected version repairs table formatting and adds missing Table

Impact of Obesity in Patients with Candida Bloodstream Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study

© 2020, The Author(s). Background: Candida species are responsible for 15% of bloodstream infections, leading to prolonged hospitalizations and increased mortality. With the rise in obesity, antifungal dosing is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine differences in clinical outcomes between obese versus non-obese patients with Candida bloodstream infections. Methods: This retrospective cohort included adult patient’s first episode of Candida bloodstream infection treated with ≥ 48 h of antifungal therapy between 1 June 2013 and 31 August 2019. Patients were excluded for: dual systemic antifungal therapy, polymicrobial infections, or chronic candidiasis. The primary outcome was infection-related length of stay. Secondary outcomes included: time to candidemia resolution, 30-day readmission rates, and in-hospital mortality. Results: Eighty patients were included (28 obese; 52 non-obese). Most were male (55%); median age was 54 years. Median BMI and weight were 36.3 kg/m2 and 103 kg versus 20.4 kg/m2 and 61 kg, respectively (p \u3c 0.01). Baseline characteristics were comparable. C. albicans was isolated in 37.5% of cultures and C. glabrata in 30%. Micafungin was utilized empirically in 72.5% of patients; obese patients received definitive micafungin more frequently (57.1% vs. 21.2%; p \u3c 0.01) and were treated longer (13 versus 10 days; p = 0.04). Infection-related length of stay was 19 days in the obese patients and 13 days in the non-obese patients (p = 0.05). Non-obese patients had a shorter duration of candidemia (5 versus 6 days; p = 0.02). In-hospital mortality was numerically higher in obese patients (21.4% versus 13.5%; p = 0.36). There were no differences in 30-day readmissions between groups. Conclusions: Worse clinical outcomes were observed for obese versus non-obese patients. Further clinical research is warranted

Experiences of Inpatient Bone Marrow Transplantation Nurses and Providers Using Electronic Symptom Reporting

Purpose To investigate the use of electronic patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to assess symptoms and how they can provide opportunities to clinicians to address symptoms in a timely manner to improve clinical care. As part of a larger study to evaluate whether providing standardized symptom reports to the medical team would decrease the time to treatment of reported symptoms in hematopoietic stem-cell transplant recipients, we assessed nurses’ and providers’ perceptions of electronic symptom reporting. Methods Semistructured interviews of RNs, MDs, NPs and PAs were conducted at an academic cancer center in the southeastern United States. Nurses’ and providers’ perceptions of electronic symptom reporting were explored. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded by two investigators to identify major themes. Results Fourteen RNs and seven providers (MDs, PAs, and NPs) participated in the interviews. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: electronic symptom reporting may improve assessment and care, integrating symptom reporting into nurse workflow presents difficulties, and there are barriers for completion of surveys. Conclusion The majority of nurses and providers believed that the inclusion of electronic symptom reporting in bone marrow transplantation inpatient units has the potential to improve care but that barriers to implementation remain

Giving structure to the biofilm matrix:an overview of individual strategies and emerging common themes

Biofilms are communities of microbial cells that underpin diverse processes including sewage bioremediation, plant growth promotion, chronic infections and industrial biofouling. The cells resident in the biofilm are encased within a self-produced exopolymeric matrix that commonly comprises lipids, proteins that frequently exhibit amyloid-like properties, eDNA and exopolysaccharides. This matrix fulfils a variety of functions for the community, from providing structural rigidity and protection from the external environment to controlling gene regulation and nutrient adsorption. Critical to the development of novel strategies to control biofilm infections, or the capability to capitalize on the power of biofilm formation for industrial and biotechnological uses, is an in-depth knowledge of the biofilm matrix. This is with respect to the structure of the individual components, the nature of the interactions between the molecules and the three-dimensional spatial organization. We highlight recent advances in the understanding of the structural and functional role that carbohydrates and proteins play within the biofilm matrix to provide three-dimensional architectural integrity and functionality to the biofilm community. We highlight, where relevant, experimental techniques that are allowing the boundaries of our understanding of the biofilm matrix to be extended using Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, and Bacillus subtilis as exemplars