Harmonization of experimental procedures to assess mitochondrial respiration in human permeabilized skeletal muscle fibers

Aim: High-resolution respirometry in human permeabilized muscle fibers is extensively used for analysis of mitochondrial adaptions to nutrition and exercise interventions, and is linked to athletic performance. However, the lack of standardization of experimental conditions limits quantitative inter- and intra-laboratory comparisons. Methods: In our study, an international team of investigators measured mitochondrial respiration of permeabilized muscle fibers obtained from three biopsies (vastus lateralis) from the same healthy volunteer to avoid inter-individual variability. High-resolution respirometry assays were performed together at the same laboratory to assess whether the heterogenity in published results are due to the effects of respiration media (MiR05 versus Z) with or without the myosin inhibitor blebbistatin at low- and high-oxygen regimes. Results: Our findings reveal significant differences between respiration media for OXPHOS and ETcapacities supported by NADH&succinate-linked substrates at different oxygen concentrations. Respiratory capacities were approximately 1.5-fold higher in MiR05 at high-oxygen regimes compared to medium Z near air saturation. The presence or absence of blebbistatin in human permeabilized muscle fiber preparations was without effect on oxygen flux. Conclusion: Our study constitutes a basis to harmonize and establish optimum experimental conditions for respirometric studies of permeabilized human skeletal muscle fibers to improve reproducibility

General practitioners' attitudes and preparedness towards Clinical Decision Support in e-Prescribing (CDS-eP) adoption in the West of Ireland: a cross sectional study

Background: Electronic clinical decision support (CDS) is increasingly establishing its role in evidence-based clinical practice. Considerable evidence supports its enhancement of efficiency in e-Prescribing, but some controversy remains. This study evaluated the practicality and identified the perceived benefits of, and barriers to, its future adoption in the West of Ireland. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out by means of a 27-part questionnaire sent to 262 registered general practitioners in Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. The survey domains encompassed general information of individual's practice, current use of CDS and the practitioner's attitudes towards adoption of CDS-eP. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed to analyse the data collected. Results: The overall response rate was 37%. Nearly 92% of respondents employed electronic medical records in their practice. The majority acknowledged the value of electronic CDS in improving prescribing quality (71%) and reducing prescribing errors (84%). Despite a high degree of unfamiliarity (73%), the practitioners were open to the use of CDS-eP (94%) and willing to invest greater resources for its implementation (62%). Lack of a strategic implementation plan (78%) is the main perceived barrier to the incorporation of CDS-eP into clinical practice, followed by i) lack of financial incentives (70%), ii) lack of standardized product software (61%), iii) high sensitivity of drug-drug interaction or medication allergy markers (46%), iv) concern about overriding physicians' prescribing decisions(44%) and v) lack of convincing evidence on the systems' effectiveness (22%). Conclusions: Despite favourable attitudes towards the adoption of CDS-eP, multiple perceived barriers impede its incorporation into clinical practice. These merit further exploration, taking into consideration the structure of the Irish primary health care system, before CDS-eP can be recommended for routine clinical use in the West of Ireland.Healthcare Informatics Society of Ireland (HISI) research bursary 2007-2009Deposited by bulk impor

Cost Effective Large Blade Components by Using Carbon Fibers

For large off-shore wind turbines, blades with relative low blade mass are becoming more important. The economic use of large-tow carbon fibers can help achieve lower blade masses. Basic material design data have been established for two promising material combinations, including the fatigue properties for Panex33/epoxy. Blade root joints have been developed in a carbon/glass combination, resulting in a better price performance ratio. The initial cost assessment on a blade dominated by severe fatigue loads shows that application of carbon fibers in the spar leads to cost reductions

Cost effective large blade components by using carbon fibres

For large off-shore wind turbines, blades with relative low blade mass are becoming more important. The economic use of large-tow carbon fibers can help achieve lower blade masses. Basic material design data have been established for two promising material combinations, including the fatigue properties for Panex33/epoxy. Blade root joints have been developed in a carbon/glass combination, resulting in a better price performance ratio. The initial cost assessment on a blade dominated by severe fatigue loads shows that application of carbon fibers in the spar leads to cost reductions

International experience with the use of Cocoon septal occluder for closure of atrial septal defects

Background: The Cocoon septal occluder (CSO) is a new generation double disk occluder device for catheter closure of the secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). Initial clinical evaluations with the use of this device have shown quite satisfactory results but large follow-up studies are missing. In this international multicenter study, we present procedural and follow-up data from 4008 patients with secundum ASD who underwent catheter closure with the use of CSO. Methods: The study cohort consisted of 1853 pediatric and 2155 adult patients with secundum ASD treated with the CSO. Patients were enrolled retrospectively from 11 international centers and were followed for a mean period of 43 months (range 12–84 months), postprocedural. Clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, procedural, and follow-up data were collected from each collaborating hospital. Results: The CSO was permanently implanted in 3983 patients (99.4%). Echocardiographic evaluation at one month follow-up revealed complete closure in 99.6% of those patients who had a device implanted. Thrombus formation in one adult patient was the only major device related to procedural complication. During the follow-up period, no patient developed cardiac erosions, allergic reactions to nickel, or other major complications. Conclusions: Implantation of CSO provided satisfactory procedural and follow-up results with high success and no device-related cardiac erosions and nickel allergy. © 2021 Hellenic Society of Cardiolog