Separateness or wholeness: a qualitative study of the experiences of Asian American female sexual minorities.

This study explored the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality as they pertain to experiences of Asian American female sexual minority (AAFSM) students attending Midwestern universities in the United States through an intersectional lens. The study utilized intersectionality as a theoretical framework, a data generation tool, and a methodological approach to guide the study. The results showed that the participants experienced constructed objectifications, which included gendered, racial, and sexual objectification.

In vitro evaluation of an active heat-and-moisture exchanger: the Hygrovent Gold.

Background: To improve the heat and humidification that can be achieved with a heat-and-moisture exchanger (HME), a hybrid active (ie, adds heat and water) HME, the Hygrovent Gold, was developed. We evaluated in vitro the performance of the Hygrovent Gold.

Methods: We tested the Hygrovent Gold (with and without its supplemental heat and moisture options activated), the Hygrobac, and the Hygrovent S.

Performance of heated wire humidifiers: an in vitro study.

Purpose: We assessed the performance of heated wire humidifiers (HWHs), which should avoid water condensation in the circuit.

Methods: We evaluated the efficiency of 3 HWHs, MR850 (Fisher & Paykel, Auckland, New Zealand), CONCHATHERM IV (Hudson RCI, Temecula, Calif), and DAR HC 2000 (Mallinckrodt DAR, Mirandola, Italy), in comparison with that of the MR730 heated humidifier (HH), which has a standard circuit. We measured gas temperature and absolute humidity (AH) at the Y piece of the ventilatory circuit using a test lung ventilated at 2 minute ventilation volumes (5 and 15 L/min).

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a new active heat moisture exchanger.

Introduction: In order to improve the efficiency of heat moisture exchangers (HMEs), new hybrid humidifiers (active HMEs) that add water and heat to HMEs have been developed. In this study we evaluated the efficiency, both in vitro and in vivo, of a new active HME (the Performer; StarMed, Mirandola, Italy) as compared with that of existing HMEs (Hygroster and Hygrobac; Mallinckrodt, Mirandola, Italy).

Methods: We tested the efficiency by measuring the temperature and absolute humidity (AH) in vitro using a test lung ventilated at three levels of minute ventilation (5, 10 and 15 l/min) and at two tidal volumes (0.

A systematic review of the antifungal effectiveness and tolerability of amphotericin B formulations.

Objective: A systematic review was performed to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of lipid-based amphotericin B (AmB) formulations and conventional AmB in the treatment of systemic fungal infections.

Methods: The literature and unpublished studies were searched using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Biological Abstracts, AIDSLINE, CANCERLIT, CRD database, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and other databases. Search terms included: amphotericin, liposom*, lipid*, colloid*, antifungal agents, and mycoses.

Influence of albumin supplementation on tacrolimus and cyclosporine therapy early after liver transplantation.

Liver transplant recipients administered gelatin (GEL) rather than human albumin solution (HAS) can become profoundly hypoalbuminemic in the early postoperative period and often have hepatic dysfunction at this time. The combined effect of these two abnormalities could be an increase in the unbound (active) concentration of low-extraction highly albumin-bound drugs, such as tacrolimus (TAC). This may increase the efficacy and/or toxicity of such drugs.