Picosecond laser filament-guided electrical discharges in air at 1 kHz repetition rate.

Laser-induced filaments have been shown to reduce the voltage necessary to initiate electrical discharges in atmospheric air and guide their propagation over long distances. Here we demonstrate the stable generation of laser filament-guided electrical discharge columns in air initiated by high energy (up to 250 mJ) 1030 nm wavelength laser pulses of 7 ps duration at repetition rates up to 1 kHz and we discuss the processes leading to breakdown. A current proportional to the laser pulse energy is observed to arise as soon as the laser pulse arrives, initiating a high impedance phase of the discharge.

Demonstration of a side-pumped cross-seeded thin-slab pre-amplifier for high-power Ti:Sa laser systems.

We demonstrate a room-temperature Ti:Sapphire (Ti:Sa) amplifier that uses a cross pump-seed geometry (cross-thin-slab) to generate 30-mJ output pulses at 0.5-kHz repetition rate, and 25 mJ at 1 kHz when pumped by 100-mJ, 515-nm pulses from a diode-pumped Yb:YAG laser. The geometry allows to maintain a crystal temperature of ∼30°C using cooling water at 10°C.

Difficulties Detecting Clinically Relevant Factor Xa Inhibitor Levels Prior to Reversal With Andexanet Alfa for Intracranial Hemorrhage.

Coagulation factor Xa (recombinant), inactivated-zhzo (andexanet alfa) is approved for reversal of life-threatening bleeding with rivaroxaban and apixaban use. Clinical decision-making to initiate reversal is reliant on dose taken and timing of last dose. In practice, timing of last dose may be unknown, and the turnaround time for drug-specific anti-factor Xa levels at some institutions may be prolonged, leaving clinicians balancing a difficult decision with limited tools.

Pentobarbital Coma Use in a Pregnant Patient With Refractory Intracranial Hypertension: A Case Report.

Objective: Intracranial hypertension is a life-threatening condition that requires emergent diagnosis and management. Although pentobarbital coma for refractory intracranial hypertension has been studied in the general population, this study is the first reported case of pentobarbital coma use in a pregnant patient.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of a pregnant patient with refractory intracranial hypertension and reviewed the current literature on the role of pentobarbital coma.