Adaptive Petal Reflector: In-Lab Software Configurable Optical Testing System Metrology and Modal Wavefront Reconstruction.

This paper addresses two aspects of the metrology of spherical, petal polymer reflectors which are part of an effort by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop actively controlled foldable reflectors, enabling larger apertures on CubeSats and small satellites. The first problem is that of measuring the surface figure error of the spherical reflector alone during the development phase, and to assess the quality before assembling the telescope (large stroke, low accuracy). The SCOTS (Software Configurable Optical Testing System) appears to provide a fast and satisfactory solution to this problem.

Causes of misdiagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic scoping review.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has serious implications at both the individual and the societal level. It is crucial that COPD is diagnosed correctly to ensure provision of the right treatment. However, the current diagnostic procedures may lead to misdiagnosis.

Undiagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients admitted to an acute assessment unit.

: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is very prevalent worldwide, yet underdiagnosed. : This study investigates feasibility of performing spirometry in patients in need of acute hospital admission as well as the prevalence of undiagnosed COPD in the same cohort. : During a two-week period, all patients admitted to three large acute assessment units were evaluated.

Pharmacokinetics and absorption of paromomycin and gentamicin from topical creams used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis.

This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics of topical creams containing 15% paromomycin ("paromomycin alone") and 15% paromomycin plus 0.5% gentamicin (WR 279,396) in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. The investigational creams were applied topically to all lesions once daily for 20 days.

Patients' use of self-monitored readings for managing everyday life with COPD: a qualitative study.

Objective: Effects of self-monitoring depend on how patients engage with readings and how this engagement is used for managing chronic disease. This article reports on a study of how chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients made use of readings during 16 weeks of self-monitoring.

Patients And Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 22 COPD patients three times each: at the beginning, halfway through, and after the monitoring device was collected.

Topical paromomycin with or without gentamicin for cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Background: There is a need for a simple and efficacious treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis with an acceptable side-effect profile.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, vehicle-controlled phase 3 trial of topical treatments containing 15% paromomycin, with and without 0.5% gentamicin, for cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major in Tunisia.

Clinical impact of home telemonitoring on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affects millions of people worldwide. A complication of COPD is exacerbations that result in increased utilization of healthcare services, readmissions to the hospital, and a decline in health-related quality of life. Home telehealth has been shown both to improve health-related quality of life and to reduce admission rates.

Cost-utility analysis of a telerehabilitation program: a case study of COPD patients.

Objective: The present study seeks to conduct cost-utility analysis (CUA) of the Danish TELEKAT (Telehomecare, Chronic Patients and the Integrated Healthcare System) project. The TELEKAT project seeks to test and develop a preventive home monitoring concept across sectors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The concept of the TELEKAT project is to reduce admissions by enabling the COPD patients to conduct self-monitoring and maintain rehabilitation activities in their own home.

Using preventive home monitoring to reduce hospital admission rates and reduce costs: a case study of telehealth among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

We studied whether preventive home monitoring of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could reduce the frequency of hospital admissions and lower the cost of hospitalization. Patients were recruited from a health centre, general practitioner (GP) or the pulmonary hospital ward. They were randomized to usual care or tele-rehabilitation with a telehealth monitoring device installed in their home for four months.

Marked enhancement of the immune response to BioThrax® (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) by the TLR9 agonist CPG 7909 in healthy volunteers.

Immunization with BioThrax(®) (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) is a safe and effective means of preventing anthrax. Animal studies have demonstrated that the addition of CpG DNA adjuvants to BioThrax can markedly increase the immunogenicity of the vaccine, increasing both serum anti-protective antigen (PA) antibody and anthrax toxin-neutralizing antibody (TNA) concentrations. The immune response to CpG-adjuvanted BioThrax in animals was not only stronger, but was also more rapid and led to higher levels of protection in spore challenge models.

Epidemiology, diagnostic delay and outcome of tuberculosis in North Jutland, Denmark.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of tuberculosis (TB) with regards to epidemiology, symptoms, delay, diagnostics, use of HIV-test, treatment, treatment outcome and mortality in the North Jutland Region from 2000 through 2008.

Material And Methods: The present study is a retrospective study of all new TB cases in the 2000-2008 period.

Results: The period saw a total of 251 TB patients (an average of 28 per year).

Empowering patients with COPD using Tele-homecare technology.

This paper discusses how a tele-rehabilitation program using home tele-monitoring may empower patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The paper is based on preliminary findings from an ongoing research and innovation project, called "Tele-homecare, chronic patients and the integrated healthcare system" (the TELEKAT project) that employs triple interventions related to patients, professionals, and the organization of care. The ways COPD patients make use of home tele-monitoring in the TELEKAT project points to the relevance of a concept of empowerment rooted in ideologies of social action, and focusing on the improvement of both personal and social conditions at the intersection of individual, organizational and community development.

An in vivo passive protection assay for the evaluation of immunity in AVA-vaccinated individuals.

Samples of human plasma from anthrax vaccine adsorbed (AVA, BioThrax)-vaccinated individuals were used to demonstrate passive protection of A/J mice from a lethal challenge with the Sterne strain of anthrax bacteria. The maximum concentration of human anti-protective antigen IgG in mouse sera 24 h after injection of 260 microg of anti-PA IgG was 134 microg/ml, declining to 91 microg/ml at 72 h (half-life=101.7 h).

Aprotinin may decrease blood loss in complex adult spinal deformity surgery, but it may also increase the risk of acute renal failure.

Study Design: Matched cohort comparison.

Objective: This study examines the potential for aprotinin to conserve blood in adults undergoing long thoracolumbar deformity procedures and characterizes patients at risk for acute renal failure.

Summary Of Background Data: Aprotinin has been shown to reduce intraoperative blood loss and reduce transfusion requirement in pediatric spine and cardiac surgery populations.

Pathology of inhalation anthrax in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Anthrax is considered a serious biowarfare and bioterrorism threat because of its high lethality, especially by the inhalation route. Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are the most commonly used nonhuman primate model of human inhalation anthrax exposure. The nonavailability of rhesus macaques necessitated development of an alternate model for vaccine testing and immunologic studies.