Effect of an Overnight Stay at 2500 m on Nocturnal Hypoxemia and Sleep-disordered Breathing in Patients with Pulmonary Vascular Disease: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Patients with pulmonary vascular disease (PVD) often reveal nocturnal hypoxemia and sleep apnea. We investigated whether exposure to high altitude worsens those conditions.

Methods: In a randomized-controlled crossover trial, stable patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) without resting hypoxemia (PaO2 >8 kPa at low altitude) underwent respiratory polygraphy at 470 m and during an overnight stay at 2500 m.

High altitudes and partial pressure of arterial oxygen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Importance: Prior study in healthy subjects has shown a reduction of partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO) by -1.60 kPa/kilometre of altitude gain. However, the association of altitude-related change in PaO and altitude-related adverse health effects (ARAHE) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unknown.

A case series of eight amateur athletes: exercise-induced pre-/syncope during the Zurich Marathon 2023.

Background: Marathon running poses unique cardiovascular challenges, sometimes leading to syncopal episodes. We present a case series of athletes who experienced pre-/syncope during the Zurich Marathon 2023, accompanied by elevated cardiac biomarkers.

Case Summary: Eight athletes (2 females, 6 males) aged 21-35 years, with pre-/syncope and various additional diverse symptoms such as dizziness and palpitations during the (half-)marathon, were admitted to two emergency departments in Zurich, Switzerland.

The effect of high altitude (2500 m) on incremental cycling exercise in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a randomised controlled crossover trial.

Background: Our objective was to investigate the effect of a day-long exposure to high altitude on peak exercise capacity and safety in stable patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).

Methods: In a randomised controlled crossover trial, stable patients with PAH or distal CTEPH without resting hypoxaemia at low altitude performed two incremental exercise tests to exhaustion: one after 3-5 h at high altitude (2500 m) and one at low altitude (470 m).

Results: In 27 patients with PAH/CTEPH (44% females, mean±sd age 62±14 years), maximal work rate was 110±64 W at 2500 m and 123±64 W at 470 m (-11%, 95% CI -16- -11%; p<0.

Partial Pressure of Arterial Oxygen in Healthy Adults at High Altitudes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: With increasing altitude, the partial pressure of inspired oxygen decreases and, consequently, the Pao2 decreases. Even though this phenomenon is well known, the extent of the reduction as a function of altitude remains unknown.

Objective: To calculate an effect size estimate for the decrease in Pao2 with each kilometer of vertical gain among healthy unacclimatized adults and to identify factors associated with Pao2 at high altitude (HA).

Terahertz optical solitons from dispersion-compensated antenna-coupled planarized ring quantum cascade lasers.

Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) constitute an intriguing opportunity for the generation of on-chip optical dissipative Kerr solitons (DKSs). Originally demonstrated in passive microresonators, DKSs were recently observed in mid-infrared ring QCL paving the way for their achievement even at longer wavelengths. To this end, we realized defect-free terahertz ring QCLs featuring anomalous dispersion leveraging on a technological platform based on waveguide planarization.

THz optical beat-note detection with a fast superconducting hot electron bolometer operating up to 31 GHz.

We study the performance of a hot-electron bolometer (HEB) operating at THz frequencies based on superconducting niobium nitride films. We report on the voltage response of the detector over a large electrical detection bandwidth carried out with different THz sources. We show that the impulse response of the fully packaged HEB at 7.

Job satisfaction among community drug distributors in the Mass Drug Administration programme in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite having one of the largest human resources for health in Africa, the delivery of neglected tropical disease (NTD) health interventions in Nigeria has been hampered by health worker shortages. This study assessed factors associated with job satisfaction among community drug distributors (CDDs) supporting the Nigerian NTD programme, with the goal of identifying opportunities to improve job satisfaction in support of NTD control and elimination efforts in Nigeria.

Methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2019 among CDDs in two states with sharply contrasting NTD programme support, Kaduna and Ogun.

Frequency chirped Fourier-Transform spectroscopy.

Fast (sub-second) spectroscopy with high spectral resolution is of vital importance for revealing quantum chemistry kinetics of complex chemical and biological reactions. Fourier transform (FT) spectrometers can achieve high spectral resolution and operate at hundreds of ms time scales in rapid-scan mode. However, the linear translation of a scanning mirror imposes stringent time-resolution limitations to these systems, which makes simultaneous high spectral and temporal resolution very difficult.

Planarized THz quantum cascade lasers for broadband coherent photonics.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in integrated THz photonics for various applications in communications, spectroscopy and sensing. We present a new integrated photonic platform based on active and passive elements integrated in a double-metal, high-confinement waveguide layout planarized with a low-loss polymer. An extended top metallization keeps waveguide losses low while improving dispersion, thermal and RF properties, as it enables to decouple the design of THz and microwave cavities.

Special Issue "Clinical and Physiological Consequences of Hypoxia/Hypoxemia in Healthy Subjects and Patients".

This editorial of the Special Issue "Clinical and Physiological Consequences of Hypoxia/Hypoxemia in Healthy Subjects and Patients" aims to draw more attention to the broad and diverse field of hypoxia research and serves as an invitation for research groups to share their most recent findings with the medical community [...

Exercise Performance in Central Asian Highlanders: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Forrer, Aglaia, Philipp M. Scheiwiller, Maamed Mademilov, Mona Lichtblau, Ulan Sheraliev, Nuriddin H. Marazhapov, Stéphanie Saxer, Patrick Bader, Paula Appenzeller, Shoira Aydaralieva, Aybermet Muratbekova, Talant M.

Infrared Thermal Imaging as a Novel Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Tool to Assess Filarial Lymphoedema.

Lymphatic filariasis causes disfiguring and disabling lymphoedema, which is commonly and frequently exacerbated by acute dermatolymphangioadenitis (ADLA). Affected people require long-term care and monitoring but health workers lack objective assessment tools. We examine the use of an infrared thermal imaging camera as a novel non-invasive point-of-care tool for filarial lower-limb lymphoedema in 153 affected adults from a highly endemic area of Bangladesh.

Novel Blood Biomarkers for a Diagnostic Workup of Acute Aortic Dissection.

Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a rare condition, but together with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and pulmonary embolism (PE) it belongs to the most relevant and life-threatening causes of acute chest pain. Until now, there has been no specific blood test in the diagnostic workup of AAD. To identify clinically relevant biomarkers for AAD, we applied Proseek Multiplex assays to plasma samples from patients with AAD, AMI, PE, thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), and non-cardiovascular chest pain (nonCVD).

Why onchocerciasis transmission persists after 15 annual ivermectin mass drug administrations in South-West Cameroon.

Introduction: Onchocerciasis is targeted for elimination mainly with annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI). High infection levels have been reported in South-West Cameroon, despite ≥15 years of CDTI. The aim of this study was to assess factors associated with continued onchocerciasis transmission and skin disease.

[Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders among nurses of a provincial hospital in Vietnam: Issue and health policy context].

Objective: To study the situation of MSDs among nursing staff and the barriers to implementing an MSD preventive intervention in Vietnamese hospitals.

Methods: A mixed design has been devised. The quantitative component aimed to study the prevalence of MSDs, the associations between MSDs and potential risk factors and consequences of MSDs; the qualitative component focused on the study of facilitators/barriers to the implementation of a MSDs prevention program in Vietnamese hospitals.

[Not Available].

Objective: To study the situation of MSDs among nursing staff and the barriers to implementing an MSD preventive intervention in Vietnamese hospitals.

Methods: A mixed design has been devised. The quantitative component aimed to study the prevalence of MSDs, the associations between MSDs and potential risk factors and consequences of MSDs; the qualitative component focused on the study of facilitators/barriers to the implementation of a MSDs prevention program in Vietnamese hospitals.

Implementation of test-and-treat with doxycycline and temephos ground larviciding as alternative strategies for accelerating onchocerciasis elimination in an area of loiasis co-endemicity: the COUNTDOWN consortium multi-disciplinary study protocol.

Background: Onchocerciasis is a priority neglected tropical disease targeted for elimination by 2025. The standard strategy to combat onchocerciasis is annual Community-Directed Treatment with ivermectin (CDTi). Yet, high prevalence rates and transmission persist following > 12 rounds in South-West Cameroon.

Strongyloides stercoralis: Spatial distribution of a highly prevalent and ubiquitous soil-transmitted helminth in Cambodia.

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is a neglected soil-transmitted helminth that occurs worldwide, though it is particularly endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. It can cause long-lasting and potentially fatal infections due to its ability to replicate within its host. S.

Coexisting frequency combs spaced by an octave in a monolithic quantum cascade laser.

Quantum cascade lasers are proving to be instrumental in the development of compact frequency comb sources at mid-infrared and terahertz frequencies. Here we demonstrate a heterogeneous terahertz quantum cascade laser with two active regions spaced exactly by one octave. Both active regions are based on a four-quantum well laser design and they emit a combined 3 mW peak power at 15 K in pulsed mode.

Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworm co-infection: spatial distribution and determinants in Preah Vihear Province, Cambodia.

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis and hookworm are two soil-transmitted helminths (STH) that are highly prevalent in Cambodia. Strongyloides stercoralis causes long-lasting infections and significant morbidity but is largely neglected, while hookworm causes the highest public health burden among STH. The two parasites have the same infection route, i.

Strongyloides stercoralis is associated with significant morbidity in rural Cambodia, including stunting in children.

Background: Strongyloides stercoralis is a soil-transmitted nematode that can replicate within its host, leading to long-lasting and potentially fatal infections. It is ubiquitous and highly prevalent in Cambodia. The extent of morbidity associated with S.