Diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic echocardiography for the identification of proximal aortic dissection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the performance of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for diagnosis of proximal aortic dissections based on the identification of specific sonographic features. A systematic literature search of major databases was conducted on human studies investigating the diagnostic accuracy of TTE for proximal aortic dissection. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.

Inhibition of the solid state transformation of carbamazepine in aqueous solution: impact of polymeric properties.

The effects of polymers on the anhydrate-to-hydrate transformation of carbamazepine (CBZ) was investigated. The three types of polymers studied were polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and substituted celluloses which included hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and methylcellulose (MC). Anhydrous CBZ was added to dilute aqueous polymer solutions and Raman spectroscopy measurements were collected to monitor the kinetics of the solution-mediated transformation to CBZ dihydrate.

An assessment of serum prolactin levels among infertile women with galactorrhea attending a gynecological clinic North-West Nigeria.

Background: Galactorrhea is a common manifestation of hyperprolactinemia but may not always be present in women with hyperprolactinemia. This study was, therefore, undertaken to assess the serum prolactin levels of infertile women presenting with galactorrhea and to determine the prevalence of hyperprolactinemia among them.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study of serum prolactin levels of 63 female partners of infertile couples attending the gynecological clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria, who were found to have galactorrhea from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2013.

An official American Thoracic Society statement: update on the mechanisms, assessment, and management of dyspnea.

Background: Dyspnea is a common, distressing symptom of cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular diseases. Since the ATS published a consensus statement on dyspnea in 1999, there has been enormous growth in knowledge about the neurophysiology of dyspnea and increasing interest in dyspnea as a patient-reported outcome.

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to update the 1999 ATS Consensus Statement on dyspnea.

Influence of polymeric excipient properties on crystal hydrate formation kinetics of caffeine in aqueous slurries.

The influence of polymeric excipients on the hydrate transformation of caffeine (CAF) was studied. Anhydrous CAF was added to aqueous solutions containing different additives and the transformation to the hydrate form was monitored using in-line Raman spectroscopy. Various properties of two known inhibitors of CAF hydrate formation, polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), were investigated.

The development and testing of an instrument for perceived self-efficacy for fatigue self-management.

Background: Persons with chronic illness commonly report fatigue. Measurement of perceived self-efficacy for fatigue self-management (PSEFSM) is essential if fatigue is to be monitored and enhanced to improve physical functional status.

Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the development and testing of the PSEFSM instrument.

Manipulating hydrate formation during high shear wet granulation using polymeric excipients.

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) can undergo an anhydrate to hydrate transformation during wet granulation and this transformation may either result in mixed crystalline forms or an unwanted form in the final drug product. Previous studies have shown that it may be possible to inhibit this transformation with polymeric excipients. In this study, three model compounds, caffeine (CAF), carbamazepine (CBZ), and sulfaguanidine (SGN), were subjected to high shear wet granulation and phase transformations were monitored using in-line Raman spectroscopy.

Testing a theoretical model of perceived self-efficacy for cancer-related fatigue self-management and optimal physical functional status.

Background: Critical gaps exist in the understanding of cancer symptoms, particularly for cancer-related fatigue (CRF). Existing theories and models do not examine the key role perceived self-efficacy (PSE) plays in a person's ability to manage symptoms.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that physical functional status (PFS) is predicted through patient characteristics, CRF, other symptoms, and PSE for fatigue self-management in persons with cancer.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectral measurements of 5-fluorouracil in saliva.

The ability of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to measure 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in saliva is presented. The approach is based on the capacity of Raman spectroscopy to provide a unique spectral signature for virtually every chemical, and the ability of SERS to provide microg/mL sensitivity. A simple sampling method, that employed 1-mm glass capillaries filled with silver-doped sol-gels, was developed to isolate 5-FU from potential interfering chemical components of saliva and simultaneously provide SERSactivity.

Influence of polymeric excipients on crystal hydrate formation kinetics in aqueous slurries.

Crystalline anhydrous active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can potentially transform to the hydrate form during manufacturing processes involving water. The ability to understand and manipulate these transformations is important to maintain control of the solid state form of the API. The influence of various polymeric excipients on the anhydrate to hydrate transformation of caffeine, carbamazepine, and sulfaguanidine was investigated in this study.

Relationships among pain, fatigue, insomnia, and gender in persons with lung cancer.

Purpose/objectives: To examine the relationships among pain, fatigue, insomnia, and gender while controlling for age, comorbidities, and stage of cancer in patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer within 56 days of receiving chemotherapy.

Design: Secondary data analysis.

Setting: Accrual from four sites: two clinical community oncology programs and two comprehensive cancer centers.

Symptom assessment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The primary purpose of this secondary data analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and suitability of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS) for use with patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Symptoms experienced by patients with severe COPD were assessed in the original investigation using the 32-item MSAS. The sample consisted of 72 individuals with COPD ranging in age from 36 to 79 years.

The influence of end-of-life cancer care on caregivers.

The purpose of this secondary analysis was to glean from prospective data whether those caring for elderly family members recently diagnosed with cancer who ultimately died reported different caregiver depressive symptomatology and burden than caregivers of those who survived. Findings from interviews with 618 caregivers revealed that caregiver depressive symptomatology differed based on family members' survival status, and spousal caregivers experienced greater burden when a family member was near death than did non-spousal caregivers. Family member symptoms and limitations in daily living, as well as caregiver health status, age, and employment, were associated with caregiver depressive symptomatology and burden; however, these associations had no interaction with family member survival status.

Symptom clusters related to specific cancers.

Objectives: To examine the current research related to symptom clusters in specific cancer diagnoses.

Data Sources: Research studies, review articles.

Conclusion: Factors that can impact symptoms and their relationship include the stage of disease, treatment used, modification of treatment for the individual patient, patient co-morbidities as well as psychological, sociological, and cultural factors.

Hyphenation of Raman spectroscopy with gravimetric analysis to interrogate water-solid interactions in pharmaceutical systems.

A moisture sorption gravimetric analyzer has been combined with a Raman spectrometer to better understand the various modes of water-solid interactions relevant to pharmaceutical systems. A commercial automated moisture sorption balance was modified to allow non-contact monitoring of the sample properties by interfacing a Raman probe with the sample holder. This hybrid instrument allows for gravimetric and spectroscopic changes to be monitored simultaneously.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectra of VX and its hydrolysis products.

Detection of chemical agents as poisons in water supplies not only requires microg/L sensitivity, but also requires the ability to distinguish their hydrolysis products. We have been investigating the ability of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to detect chemical agents at these concentrations. Here we expand these studies and present the SERS spectra of the nerve agent VX (ethyl S-2-diisopropylamino ethyl methylphosphonothioate) and its hydrolysis products, ethyl S-2-diisopropylamino methylphosphonothioate, 2(diisopropylamino) ethanethiol, ethyl methylphosphonic acid, and methylphosphonic acid.

Burden and depression among caregivers of patients with cancer at the end of life.

Purpose/objectives: To examine the patient and family caregiver variables that predicted caregiver burden and depression for family caregivers of patients with cancer at the end of life.

Design: A prospective, longitudinal study was implemented with an inception cohort of patients and their family caregivers who were followed after the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Setting: Community oncology sites in the midwestern United States.

Symptom clusters in elderly patients with lung cancer.

Purpose/objectives: To identify the number, type, and combination (cluster) of symptoms experienced by patients with lung cancer.

Design: A secondary analysis of data collected as part of a larger study.

Setting: 24 sites that included community hospitals, medical clinics, oncology clinics, and radiation-oncology clinics.

A cluster of symptoms over time in patients with lung cancer.

Background: Patients with lung cancer present late in the disease and have multiple symptoms. Previous research has shown the symptom cluster of fatigue, weakness, weight loss, appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, and altered taste to be present at time of lung cancer diagnosis.

Objectives: The study determined whether the symptom cluster identified at the time of diagnosis remained 3 and 6 months later, and whether there was a difference in the mean number of symptoms and the mean level of symptom severity over time.

Pain experiences of traumatically injured patients in a critical care setting.

Background: Little is known about the acute pain experiences of traumatically injured critically ill patients.

Objectives: To describe pain experiences of traumatically injured adults during the first 72 hours of hospitalization.

Methods: Thirty multiply injured adults at a level I trauma center participated in the study.

Fatigue and other symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: do women and men differ?

Objective: Describe the symptoms experienced by patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), compare women and men with regard to their physical and psychologic symptoms, and determine the predictors of fatigue for the group as a whole and for women separately.

Design: Correlational, predictive.

Participants: One hundred four (48 women/56 men) outpatients with severe COPD and a mean age of 60 years.