Quantum conductance of silicon-doped carbon wire nanojunctions.

Unknown quantum electronic conductance across nanojunctions made of silicon-doped carbon wires between carbon leads is investigated. This is done by an appropriate generalization of the phase field matching theory for the multi-scattering processes of electronic excitations at the nanojunction and the use of the tight-binding method. Our calculations of the electronic band structures for carbon, silicon, and diatomic silicon carbide are matched with the available corresponding density functional theory results to optimize the required tight-binding parameters.

Incidence of early burn-induced effects on liver function as reflected by the plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green: a prospective descriptive cohort study.

Organ dysfunction and failure are important for burned patients as they increase morbidity and mortality. Recent evidence has suggested that organ injuries are occurring earlier after burns, and are more common than previously thought. In this study we have assessed the extent to which liver function, assessed by the plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (PDR(ICG)), is affected in patients with severe burns.

Mortality after thermal injury: no sex-related difference.

Background: Young women have been reported to be more likely to survive than men after severe trauma. Girls also have less inflammation and hypermetabolism after major burns. Yet burned women have been found to have a twofold greater risk of death than men.

Nutrient content of carob pod (Ceratonia siliqua L.) flour prepared commercially and domestically.

Although the fruit of the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L. Fabaceae) is nutritious and widely available in Turkey, especially in West and South Anatolia, much remains to be learned about its nutrient composition. The main goal of our study was to determine if there are differences in the content of certain nutrients in commercially-prepared carob flour (CPCP) and domestic or home-prepared carob powder (HPCP).

Hemodynamic changes during resuscitation after burns using the Parkland formula.

Background: The Parkland formula (2-4 mL/kg/burned area of total body surface area %) with urine output and mean arterial pressure (MAP) as endpoints for the fluid resuscitation in burns is recommended all over the world. There has recently been a discussion on whether central circulatory endpoints should be used instead, and also whether volumes of fluid should be larger. Despite this, there are few central hemodynamic data available in the literature about the results when the formula is used correctly.

Acute kidney injury is common, parallels organ dysfunction or failure, and carries appreciable mortality in patients with major burns: a prospective exploratory cohort study.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, time course, and outcome of acute kidney injury after major burns and to evaluate the impact of possible predisposing factors (age, gender, and depth and extent of injury) and the relation to other dysfunctioning organs and sepsis.

Method: We performed an explorative cohort study on patients with a TBSA% (percentage burned of total body surface area) of 20% or more who were admitted to a national burn centre. Acute kidney injury was classified according to the international consensus classification of RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of kidney function, and End-stage kidney disease).

Patient controlled sedation using a standard protocol for dressing changes in burns: patients' preference, procedural details and a preliminary safety evaluation.

Background: Patient controlled sedation (PCS) enables patients to titrate doses of drugs by themselves during different procedures involving pain or discomfort.

Methods: We studied it in a prospective crossover design using a fixed protocol without lockout time to examine it as an alternative method of sedation for changing dressings in burned patients. Eleven patients with >10% total burn surface area (TBSA) had their dressings changed, starting with sedation by an anaesthetist (ACS).

Cardiac dysfunction after burns.

Objectives: Using transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) we investigated the occurrence, and the association of possible abnormalities of motion of the regional wall of the heart (WMA) or diastolic dysfunction with raised troponin concentrations, or both during fluid resuscitation in patients with severe burns.

Patients And Methods: Ten consecutive adults (aged 36-89 years, two women) with burns exceeding 20% total burned body surface area who needed mechanical ventilation were studied. Their mean Baux index was 92.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is as important as inhalation injury for the development of respiratory dysfunction in major burns.

Respiratory dysfunction is common after major burns. The pathogenesis is, however, still under debate. The aim was to classify and examine underlying reasons for respiratory dysfunction after major burns.

Human cardiovascular dose-response to supplemental oxygen.

Aim: The aim of the study was to examine the central and peripheral cardiovascular adaptation and its coupling during increasing levels of hyperoxaemia. We hypothesized a dose-related effect of hyperoxaemia on left ventricular performance and the vascular properties of the arterial tree.

Methods: Oscillometrically calibrated arterial subclavian pulse trace data were combined with echocardiographic recordings to obtain non-invasive estimates of left ventricular volumes, aortic root pressure and flow data.

[Comparing the young asthmatics running fitness].

Introduction: Nowadays, doctors strongly recommend physical activity for asthmatic children, since the resulting improved physical fitness and psychological change also raise the quality of life.

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare the physical fitness of asthmatic children who regularly participate in therapeutic swimming, with asthmatic children who do not participate in this training and with non-swimming, healthy children using the 12 minute free running, Cooper test.

Method: The children from the swimmer asthmatic group (n= 51, age = 9-22 yrs) took part in a special, long term, swimming exercise program (Gyene method).

Inhalation injury assessed by score does not contribute to the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome in burn victims.

Objective: To establish the incidence, mortality, and time of onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in relation to extent of burn and inhalation injury in patients who required mechanical ventilation.

Design: Data about burn and inhalation injury were recorded prospectively whereas ARDS and multiple organ dysfunction were assessed by review of patient charts.

Setting: National burn intensive care unit at Linkoping University Hospital, Sweden (a tertiary referral hospital).

Acute hyperoxaemia-induced effects on regional blood flow, oxygen consumption and central circulation in man.

Aim: Despite numerous in vitro and animal studies, circulatory effects and mechanisms responsible for the vasoconstriction seen during hyperoxaemia are yet to be ascertained. The present study set out to: (i) set up a non-invasive human model for the study of hyperoxia-induced cardiovascular effects, (ii) describe the dynamics of this effect and (iii) determine whether hyperoxaemia also, by vasoconstriction alters oxygen consumption (O(2)).

Methods: The study comprised four experiments (A, B, C and D) on healthy volunteers examined before, during and after 100% oxygen breathing.

Computed tomography--a possible aid in the diagnosis of smoke inhalation injury?

Inhalation injury is an important contributor to morbidity and mortality in burn victims and can trigger acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (1-3). Early diagnosis and treatment of inhalation injury are important, but a major problem in planning treatment and evaluating the prognosis has been the lack of consensus about diagnostic criteria (4). Chest radiographs on admission are often non-specific (5, 6), but indicators include indoor fires, facial burns, bronchoscopic findings of soot in the airways, and detection of carbon monoxide or cyanide in the blood (7).

Transesophageal echocardiographic hemodynamic monitoring during preoperative acute normovolemic hemodilution.

Background: Preoperative acute normovolemic hemodilution may compromise oxygen transport. The aims of our study were to describe the hemodynamic effects of normovolemic hemodilution and to determine its effect on systolic and diastolic cardiac function by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography.

Methods: In eight anesthetized patients (aged 13-51 yr) without heart disease, hemoglobin was reduced in steps from 123 +/- 8 (mean +/- SD) to 98 +/- 3 and to 79 +/- 5 g/l.

Cerebral venous drainage via the ophthalmic veins in the Sturge-Weber syndrome.

We describe a 23-year-old girl with an extremely uncommon form of cerebral venous drainage and cerebellar leptomeningeal angiomatosis as a possible variant of the Sturge-Weber syndrome. Extensive congenital port-wine stains all over the body, hypoplastic left renal and subclavian and iliac veins, cardiomegaly and ptosis and hypoplasia of the left kidney had been recognised in early childhood. She rapidly developed signs of intracranial hypertension.

[Early and late results after Colonna arthroplasties of the hip-joint (author's transl)].

In 10 years the authors have carried out 107 Colonna arthroplasties of the hip-joint. Results could be followed up in 98 patients, of whom 56 were - at the time of operation-less than 5-year-old, 42 holder. Among the early operations results were good and satisfactory in 60 per cent, in the late operations 50 per cent.