Communication in Oncology Outpatient Clinic Settings: Congruence of Quality of Life Assessment between Patient-Physician and Patient-Caregiver Dyads.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the congruence of HRQOL reports between patient-physician and patient-caregiver dyads and to determine the association of variables, if any, with the congruence between dyads.

Methods: This correlational study with a cross-sectional design first approached physicians who provided care for patients with advanced cancer at the participating institution. Then, participating physicians' patients and their caregivers were recruited.

Abdominal aortic calcification score can predict future coronary artery disease in hemodialysis patients: a 5-year prospective cohort study.

Background: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has been known to be associated with cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis. However, the association between AAC and future coronary artery disease (CAD) occurrence is not clear. We aimed to clarify the association of AAC severity and the occurrence of future CAD events in hemodialysis patients.

Providing free pregnancy test kits to community health workers increases distribution of contraceptives: results from an impact evaluation in Madagascar.

Objectives: To improve access to contraceptives in remote and rural areas, sub-Saharan African countries are allowing community health workers (CHWs) to distribute hormonal contraceptives. Before offering hormonal contraceptives, CHWs must determine pregnancy status but often lack a reliable way to do so. No studies have evaluated the impact of providing CHWs with urine pregnancy test kits.

Formation and morphology of Zn(2)Ti(3)O(8) powders using hydrothermal process without dispersant agent or mineralizer.

Synthesis of Zn(2)Ti(3)O(8) powders for attenuating UVA using TiCl(4), Zn(NO(3))(2)·6H(2)O and NH(4)OH as precursor materials by hydrothermal process has been investigated. The X-ray diffractometry (XRD) results show the phases of ZnO, anatase TiO(2) and Zn(2)Ti(3)O(8) coexisted when the zinc titanate powders were calcined at 600 °C for 1 h. When calcined at 900 °C for 1 h, the XRD results reveal the existence of ZnO, Zn(2)TiO(4), rutile TiO(2) and ZnTiO(3).

Multiparameter fiber optic sensor for the assessment of intramyocardial perfusion.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to characterize a multiparameter fiber optic sensor for detection of changes in intramyocardial perfusion and to demonstrate a method of determining critical values for pH, PCO2, and PO2 to indicate onset of anaerobic metabolism.

Methods: Six swine underwent a 20-minute occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Myocardial pH, PCO2, and PO2 were measured continuously in the LAD and left circumflex coronary artery (CFX) territories.

Investigation of muscle pH as an indicator of liver pH and injury from hemorrhagic shock.

Background: During hemorrhagic shock blood flow to vital organs is maintained by the diversion of blood from both the splanchnic organs and skeletal muscle. In this swine study, we tested the hypotheses that (1). liver and muscle pH are correlated during both shock and resuscitation and (2).

Experimental coronary artery occlusion: relevance to off-pump cardiac surgery.

Mechanical coronary artery occlusion is required for minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass and off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. It is important that the method of occlusion be minimally traumatic. Chronic effects of these methods have never been studied.

Recycling of scrap cathode ray tubes.

It is estimated that approximately 50% of the weight of a computer monitor is composed of cathode ray tube (CRT) glass. Thus, the successful recycling of scrap CRT glass can greatly relieve the disposal problem created by scrap monitors. CRT glass may be considered a hazardous waste due to its high lead concentration.

Application of fiberoptic sensors for the study of hepatic dysoxia in swine hemorrhagic shock.

Objectives: To determine whether the simultaneous measurement of tissue pH, Pco2, and Po2 with a multiple-parameter fiberoptic sensor can be used to indicate the onset of hepatic dysoxia, to determine critical values, and to assess their use in predicting negative outcomes.

Design: Prospective animal study.

Setting: University research laboratory.

Experimental use of an illuminated and magnetic tip, flow-directed pulmonary artery catheter for lung resection.

The authors performed a study to design and evaluate a device giving the surgeon added protection against pulmonary artery injury in a closed thoracic compartment. Eleven swine were used for a total of 12 lobectomies. A light-bearing, magnetic-tipped, modified Swan-Ganz catheter was passed through the jugular vein into the left pulmonary artery.

Simultaneous measurement of hepatic tissue pH, venous oxygen saturation and hemoglobin by near infrared spectroscopy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of the liver to simultaneously assess oxygen content in combination with tissue pH, an indicator of anaerobic metabolism. Six anesthetized swine were subjected to 45 min of hemorrhagic shock followed by resuscitation with blood and crystalloid. Calibration models between NIR spectra and reference measurements of tissue pH, hepatic venous oxygen saturation (S(V)O2), and blood hemoglobin concentration (Hb) were developed using partial least-squares regression.

Chronic pulmonary artery balloon counterpulsation in sheep via percutaneous route.

Background: In clinical practice pulmonary artery balloon counterpulsation (PABC) has been utilized only in the operative setting with the balloon housed in a graft attached to the pulmonary artery. Clearly, percutaneous insertion of a dedicated pulmonary artery balloon is a desirable goal for patients requiring temporary assist for right ventricular failure.

Methods: To address the question of right sided cardiopulmonary tolerance for a chronic indwelling pulmonary artery balloon, six adult ewes underwent percutaneous placement of an 11 ml pulmonary artery balloon, via the femoral vein.

Thoracoscopic lobectomy with endoarterial vascular control: an experimental study in swine.

Background: Video-assisted lobectomy lacks vascular control and presents the potential for serious hemorrhage in a closed cavity. The use of a lighted, flow-directed balloon catheter in the pulmonary artery as an endovascular control device was evaluated.

Methods: A modified light-bearing Swan-Ganz catheter was placed in the left or right pulmonary artery using fluoroscopy.

Hypothermic cardioplegic arrest is associated with increased myocardial adenosine.

The current study examined the effects of temperature on myocardial pH, contractile function and adenosine triphosphate metabolism, particularly the production of adenosine. We matched intermittent delivery of blood cardioplegia in two groups (hypothermia 15 degrees C; normothermia 37 degrees C), for 2 h of cardioplegic arrest. Hypothermic perfusion resulted in a markedly alkalotic pH, and nearly a threefold increase in adenosine and adenosine monophosphate levels compared to normothermic hearts.

Feasibility of non-invasive measurement of tissue pH using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy.

Objective: Tissue pH measurement has a number of clinical applications, including the monitoring of both muscle pH and organ pH as an indicator of compromised blood flow and anaerobic metabolism. The objective of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of a noninvasive measurement of deep tissue pH using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy and multivariate calibration techniques.

Methods: Six studies were done on five New Zealand white rabbits.

Retrograde abdominal visceral perfusion: is it beneficial?

Background: It is proposed that retrograde abdominal perfusion be used in combination with retrograde cerebral perfusion to provide total body visceral protection during aortic reconstruction; however, its physiologic effects remain unknown.

Methods: We compared the effect of superior vena caval perfusion alone with that of combined superior and inferior vena caval perfusion on the liver and kidney in 6 mongrel dogs. Organ blood flow was measured using ultrasonic flow probes on the hepatic artery, the portal vein, and the renal artery.

Decreasing myocardial pH reflects ischemia during continuous warm retrograde cardioplegic arrest.

Warm continuous retrograde cardioplegia is thought to prevent myocardial ischemia. We tested this hypothesis by subjecting canine hearts to 2 hours of either antegrade or retrograde perfusion with normothermic blood cardioplegia. Ischemic alterations were evaluated through the measurement of myocardial pH, tissue levels of adenosine triphosphate and lactate, and the preservation of left ventricular contractility.

Correction of intramyocardial hypercarbic acidosis with sodium bicarbonate.

Although it has been hypothesized that exogenously administered bicarbonate can exacerbate intramyocardial acidosis and compromise contractile function, this phenomenon has not been demonstrated in an intact model in which intramyocardial pH (pH(int)), regional venous pCO2, and regional contractile function have been simultaneously monitored. In 20 anesthetized dogs, we studied the effects of intracoronary infusions of sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3 30 mEg over 15 min, on regional pH(int), (glass electrode) and regional stroke work (SW, sonomicrometry) before and after creating systemic hypercarbic acidosis by hypoventilation. During NaHCO3 administration, regional coronary venous pCO2 increased rapidly during the first minute (eucapnea; 34 +/- 7 to 55 +/- 18 mm Hg; hypercapnea: 70 +/- 15 to 98 +/- 23 mm Hg, P < 0.

Sodium bicarbonate versus Carbicarb in canine myocardial hypercarbic acidosis.

The objective of this study was to compare the in vivo effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and Carbicarb infusion on regional contractile performance and acid-base status in the setting of hypercarbic acidosis. Animals (N = 9) were anesthetized and paralyzed using sodium pentothal, halothane, and pancuronium bromide, and mechanically ventilated with an air-O2 mixture so that arterial PO2 was > or = 300 mm Hg. Following beta-adrenergic blockade, alveolar ventilation was gradually reduced over a 50-minute period to increase arterial PCO2 to 60 to 80 mm Hg.

Retrograde coronary sinus perfusion provides non-homogeneous myocardial blood flow.

The ability of retrograde cardioplegia to protect the right ventricle has been questioned. Canine myocardial circulation was assessed by infusing colored microspheres through the coronary sinus. The relative flow index (RFI), a normalized measure of tissue blood flow, was determined for 76 sections of myocardium.

Left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction after infusion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in conscious dogs.

We used a load-insensitive index of systolic left ventricular (LV) function and an analysis of diastolic pressure-dimension relationships to test the hypothesis that recombinant human (rh) tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) impairs LV function in dogs. Animals were studied 7-10 d after aseptic implantation of instrumentation to monitor cardiac output, external anterior-posterior LV diameter, and LV and pleural pressures. Data were analyzed from seven dogs that received active rhTNF alpha (100 micrograms/kg over 60 min) and from five dogs that received heat-inactivated rhTNF alpha.

Dystrophin immunostaining in muscles from patients with different types of muscular dystrophy: a Brazilian study.

The localization of the protein dystrophin was studied using the immunofluorescence method, in muscle biopsies from 74 patients affected by different types of muscular dystrophy and 4 normal controls. In 15 patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) the pattern was indistinguishable from normal. Among 42 Duchenne patients (DMD), 3 were totally negative and 39 showed a variable proportion (4-30%) of partially labelled fibers.