Symptom Assessment for Mechanically Ventilated Patients: Principles and Priorities: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.

Mechanically ventilated patients experience many adverse symptoms, such as anxiety, thirst, and dyspnea. However, these common symptoms are not included in practice guideline recommendations for routine assessment of mechanically ventilated patients. An American Thoracic Society-sponsored workshop with researchers and clinicians with expertise in critical care and symptom management was convened for a discussion of symptom assessment in mechanically ventilated patients.

Development of a pharmacist-managed protocol for the transition from intravenous to subcutaneous insulin in critically ill adults.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a pharmacist-managed protocol for transitioning critically ill patients from intravenous (IV) to subcutaneous insulin.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective, observational study included patients admitted to the medical or surgical/trauma intensive care unit who received a continuous infusion of IV insulin from January 2019 to April 2021. Patients were excluded if they were less than 18 years old, pregnant, or incarcerated or received IV insulin for the diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, calcium channel blocker or β-blocker overdose, or hypertriglyceridemia.

Arsenic release from pyrite ashes: kinetic studies.

Arsenic mobility in pyrite ashes was studied because of the possible effects on water systems. The batch extraction method was used to assess kinetics and extent of As release induced by contact of the material either with rainwater or groundwater. Self-established pH-Eh range of pyrite ashes/water mixtures brought both As(III) and As(V) to be present in the water phase, as neutral arsenite H3AsO3 and anionic arsenate HAsO42-, respectively.

Decision support tool for used oil regeneration technologies assessment and selection.

Regeneration is the most efficient way of managing used oil. It saves money by preventing costly cleanups and liabilities that are associated with mismanagement of used oil, it helps to protect the environment and it produces a technically renewable resource by enabling an indefinite recycling potential. There are a variety of processes and licensors currently offering ways to deal with used oils.

Overview of remediation technologies for persistent toxic substances.

This paper gives a review of established and emerging technologies for the treatment of wastes and soils contaminated by Persistent Toxic Substances which include the Persistent Organic Pollutants. The technologies are classified as biological, physico-chemical, and thermal treatments, describing main unit operations and comparing technical, social and environmental limitations, including some potential risks and environmental impacts. Estimated overall costs, cleanup times, reliability, and maintenance levels are also presented in order to assess advantages and limitations of each technology.