The Role of FeNO in Cough Management : A Randomised Controlled Trial

This abstract is funded by: Observational & Pragmatic Research Institute Pte Ltd, and Circassia Presented at thematic poster session: A34 ASTHMA CLINICAL STUDIES I Sunday 20th MayPeer reviewedPostprin

Correlation between microstructure and mechanical spectroscopy of a Cu-Cu

Internal oxidized copper was tested by isothermal mechanical spectroscopy in a medium temperature range (300–600 K). Experimental results show the existence of a non-thermally activated effect at low temperature and of a relaxation peak at higher temperatures. The material microstructure was studied by combination of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Electron Energy Loss Spectrometry (EELS). The TEM study allowed us to investigate the distribution of fine spherical particles and the presence of particular network dislocations inside the grains. The EELS method was used to identify the nature of these fine particles as Cu2O. The internal friction has revealed a non thermally activated maximum occurring at 0.1 Hz for temperatures ranging from 290 K to 394 K, and a relaxation peak obtained after annealing at 573 K. This peak is stable after successive annealings at 723 K and 873 K. Comparison of the microstructure observations, their evolution with annealing and the evolution of the relaxation effect with annealing temperature enables us to interpret the phenomena described in this work: on the one hand, the microstructural characterisation using TEM and EELS allows us to assign the first effect to the result of a transformation of metastable Cu2O particles to CuO under the cyclic stress; on the other hand, the relaxation peak that does not change after high temperature annealing is linked with a particular stable dislocation network observed in many grains.

Clinical validation and evaluation of a novel six-lead handheld electrocardiogram recorder compared to the 12-lead electrocardiogram in unselected cardiology patients (EVALECG Cardio)

Aims Handheld electrocardiogram (ECG) monitors are increasingly used by both healthcare workers and patients to diagnose cardiac arrhythmias. There is a lack of studies validating the use of handheld devices against the standard 12-lead ECG. The Kardia 6L is a novel handheld ECG monitor which can produce a 6-lead ECG. In this study, we compare the 6L ECG against the 12-lead ECG. Methods and results A prospective study consisting of unselected cardiac inpatients and outpatients at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust. All participants had a 12- and 6-lead ECGs. All ECG parameters were analysed by using a standard method template for consistency between independent observers. Electrocardiograms from the recorders were compared by the following statistical methods: linear regression, Bland–Altman, receiver operator curve, and kappa analysis. There were 1015 patients recruited. The mean differences between recorders were small for PR, QRS, cardiac axis, with receiver operator analysis area under the curve (AUC) of >80%. Mean differences for QT and QTc (between recorders) were also small, with AUCs for QT leads of >75% and AUCs for QTc leads of >60%. Key findings from Bland–Altman analysis demonstrate overall an acceptable agreement with few outliers instances (<6%, Bland–Altman analysis). Conclusion Several parameters recorded by the Kardia 6L (QT interval in all six leads, rhythm detection, PR interval, QRS duration, and cardiac axis) perform closely to the gold standard 12-lead ECG. However, that consistency weakens for left ventricular hypertrophy, QRS amplitudes (Lead I and AVL), and ischaemic changes

Incidence of recreational sports-related sudden cardiac arrest in participants over age 12 in a general African population

Background The incidence of sports-related sudden cardiac arrest (SrSCA) in sub-Saharan Africa is unknown.Objective To determine the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in non-competitive athletes in an urban population of Cameroon, a country in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods Two study populations in Cameroon were used. A 12-month, multisource surveillance system of 86 189 inhabitants over 12 years old recorded all deaths in two administrative districts of Douala City. All fields of sports, emergency medical service, local medical examiners and district hospital mortuaries were surveyed. Two blinded cardiologists used a verbal autopsy protocol to determine the cause of death. SCA was identified for all deaths occurring within 1 hour of onset of symptoms. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 793 persons in Yaoundé City, which is the second study population aimed at determining the proportion of people who are physically active.Results The mean age in the cross-sectional study was 27.3±10.7, with more men (56.2%). The cross-sectional study showed that 69.0% (95% CI 65.8 to 72.2) of the population could be considered to have at least 3 hours of physical activity per week. The surveillance found that among 288 all-cause deaths, 27 (9.4%) were due to SCA. One SrSCA was registered in a 35-year-old woman while running. Merging both sources revealed an SrSCA incidence of 1.7 (95% CI 0.2 to 12.0) cases per 100 000 athletes per year.Conclusion This pioneer study reports the incidence estimates of SrSCA in a sub-Saharan African general population and should be regarded as a first step to a big problem

Epidemiology of sudden cardiac death in Cameroon: rationale and design of the Douala-SUD survey

BACKGROUND: The burden of sudden unexplained death in sub-Saharan Africa is unknown. AIM: The aim of this study is to establish the epidemiology of sudden cardiac death in Cameroon. METHODS: The Douala sudden unexplained death (Douala-SUD) study is a prospective, multiple-source, community-based surveillance of all cases of unexpected death (< 24 hours from onset of symptoms) occurring in victims aged>15 years. After approval from institutional boards, all deaths occurring in residents of four areas of Douala city will be checked for circumstances of death and past medical history. Subjects who die naturally will be further investigated. Unexpected death victims will be checked for detailed demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and biological records. Autopsy background and genetic analysis (postmortem or in first relatives if the young victim is aged<40 years) will be performed as far as possible. Finally, the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation efforts during the timeframe of sudden cardiac arrest will also be evaluated. CONCLUSION: The Douala-SUD study will provide comprehensive, contemporary data on the epidemiology of sudden unexplained and cardiac death in sub-Saharan Africa and will help in the development of strategies to prevent and manage cardiac arrest in Cameroon as well as in other sub-Saharan countries. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS: Afrique subsaharienne; Arrêt cardiaque; Arythmies ventriculaires; Cardiac arrest; Cardiopathie ischémique; Coronary artery disease; Mort subite inexpliquée; Sub-Saharan Africa; Sudden unexplained death; Ventricular arrhythmia

Rationale and design of the Pan-African Sudden Cardiac Death survey: the Pan-African SCD study

BACKGROUND: The estimated rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Western countries ranges from 300,000 to 400,000 annually, which represents 0.36 to 1.28 per 1 000 inhabitants in Europe and the United States. The burden of SCD in Africa is unknown. Our aim is to assess the epidemiology of SCD in Africa. METHODS: The Pan-Africa SCD study is a prospective, multicentre, community-based registry monitoring all cases of cardiac arrest occurring in victims over 15 years old. We will use the definition of SCD as 'witnessed natural death occurring within one hour of the onset of symptoms' or 'unwitnessed natural death within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms'. After approval from institutional boards, we will record demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic and biological variables of SCD victims (including survivors of cardiac arrest) in several African cities. All deaths occurring in residents of districts of interest will be checked for past medical history, circumstances of death, and autopsy report (if possible). We will also analyse the employment of resuscitation attempts during the time frame of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in various patient populations throughout African countries. CONCLUSION: This study will provide comprehensive, contemporary data on the epidemiology of SCD in Africa and will help in the development of strategies to prevent and manage cardiac arrest in this region of the worl

Rationale and design of the Pan-African sudden cardiac death survey: The Pan-African SCD study

Background: The estimated rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Western countries ranges from 300,000 to 400,000 annually, which represents 0.36 to 1.28 per 1 000 inhabitants in Europe and the United States. The burden of SCD in Africa is unknown. Our aim is to assess the epidemiology of SCD in Africa. Methods: The Pan-Africa SCD study is a prospective, multicentre, community-based registry monitoring all cases of cardiac arrest occurring in victims over 15 years old. We will use the definition of SCD as \u27witnessed natural death occurring within one hour of the onset of symptoms\u27 or \u27unwitnessed natural death within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms\u27. After approval from institutional boards, we will record demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic and biological variables of SCD victims (including survivors of cardiac arrest) in several African cities. All deaths occurring in residents of districts of interest will be checked for past medical history, circumstances of death, and autopsy report (if possible). We will also analyse the employment of resuscitation attempts during the time frame of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in various patient populations throughout African countries. Conclusion: This study will provide comprehensive, contemporary data on the epidemiology of SCD in Africa and will help in the development of strategies to prevent and manage cardiac arrest in this region of the world