Continuous aerosol monitoring and comparison of aerosol exposure based on smoke dispersion distance and concentrations during oxygenation therapy.

This study evaluated the aerosol exposure risks while using common noninvasive oxygenation devices. A simulated mannequin was designed to breathe at a minute ventilation of 20 L/min and used the following oxygen-therapy devices: nasal cannula oxygenation (NCO) at 4 and 15 L/min, nonrebreathing mask (NRM) at 15 L/min, simple mask at 6 L/min, combination of NCO at 15 L/min and NRM at 15 L/min, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) at 50 L/min, and flush rate NRM. Two-dimension of the dispersion distance and the aerosol concentrations were measured at head, trunk, and foot around the mannequin for over 10 min.

A comparative analysis of aerosol exposure and prevention strategies in bystander, pre-hospital, and inpatient cardiopulmonary resuscitation using simulation manikins.

To evaluate aerosol exposure risk and prevention strategies during bystander, pre-hospital, and inpatient cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study compared hands-only CPR, CPR with a surgical or N95 mask, and CPR with a non-rebreather mask at 15 L/min. 30:2 compression-ventilation ratio CPR was tested with face-mask ventilation (FMV), FMV with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter; supraglottic airway (SGA), SGA with a surgical mask, SGA with a HEPA filter, or SGA with both.

Effects of Asymmetric Local Joule Heating on Silicon Nanowire-Based Devices Formed by Dielectrophoresis Alignment Across Pt Electrodes.

We demonstrate the fabrication and characterization of silicon nanowire-based devices in metal-nanowire-metal configuration using direct current dielectrophoresis. The current-voltage characteristics of the devices were found rectifying, and their direction of rectification could be determined by voltage sweep direction due to the asymmetric Joule heating effect that occurred in the electrical measurement process. The photosensing properties of the rectifying devices were investigated.

Disco spotlight sign: A sign that may be useful for diagnosis of pneumomediastinum.

The use of ultrasonography for the investigation of pneumomediastinum is limited by the presence of air artifacts. Air accumulation in the mediastinum obscures the heart, sometimes leading to misinterpretation as lung tissue. We found that cardiac apical swinging during the heart cycle, however, can create a uniquely characteristic squeezing of mediastinal free air, producing a sonographic B-line that flashes in and out.

Association of thalamic serotonin transporter and interleukin-10 in bipolar I disorder: a SPECT study.

Objectives: The serotonin hypothesis plays a critical role in the etiology of bipolar disorder (BD). Although many studies have demonstrated reciprocal relationships between serotonin metabolism and immune-inflammatory pathways that occur in depression, studies linking serotonergic function and cytokines are still limited concerning BD. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of brain serotonin transporter (SERT) and cytokines in BD.

Association of brain serotonin transporter availability and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in models of serotonin transporter genotypes in healthy subjects.

The S-allele of functional polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene has been demonstrated to have lower transcriptional activity compared with the L-allele, which shows low expression of SERT in the brain. However, this finding cannot be consistently replicated in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine the availability of SERT based on SERT genotype.

Effects of video game playing on cerebral blood flow in young adults: a SPECT study.

To study the impact of video game playing on the human brain, the effects of two video games playing on cerebral blood flow (CBF) in young adults were determined. Thirty healthy subjects comprising 18 males and 12 females who were familiar with video game playing were recruited. Each subject underwent three sessions of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with a bolus injection of 20 mCi (99m)Tc ECD IV to measure their CBF.

Aggression in bipolar II disorder and its relation to the serotonin transporter.

Background: Aggression is frequently observed in patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder (BD). Previous studies found a negative association between aggression and serotoninergic function in patients with BD, as well as in healthy subjects. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is an association between aggression and the availability of the serotonin transporter (SERT) in euthymic BD II patients.

Impaired cognition in bipolar I disorder: the roles of the serotonin transporter and brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Background: Studies have proposed that cognitive deficits are present in a variety of mood states in bipolar disorder (BD). The goal of this study was to find the cognitive deficits in euthymic BD patients and to further explore possible underlying mechanisms of the deficits.

Methods: Thirty-three healthy controls (HCs) and twenty-three euthymic BD type I patients were recruited.

Short term vs. long term test-retest reproducibility of ¹²³I-ADAM for the binding of serotonin transporters in the human brain.

Previous brain imaging studies have demonstrated a seasonal difference of serotonin transporter (SERT) binding in the human brain. However, the results were somewhat contradictory. We conducted test-retest study with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with ¹²³I-ADAM as ligand in 28 healthy subjects.

Decreased brain serotonin transporter binding in the euthymic state of bipolar I but not bipolar II disorder: a SPECT study.

Objectives: Previous positron emission tomography studies have demonstrated that serotonin transporter (SERT) binding in the midbrain is decreased in the depressive state of bipolar disorder (BD). The aim of this study was to assess SERT binding in the midbrain of patients in a euthymic state of BD.

Methods: Twenty-eight healthy controls and 24 patients in a euthymic state of medicated BD were recruited.

Amisulpride related tic-like symptoms in an adolescent schizophrenic.

Tic disorders can be effectively treated by atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone, olanzapine and ziprasidone. However, there are two case reports that show tic-like symptoms, including motor and phonic variants, occurring during treatment with quetiapine or clozapine. We present a 15-year-old girl schizophrenic who developed frequent involuntary eye-blinking movements after 5 months of amisulpride treatment (1000 mg per day).