Acupuncture Treatment for Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Methods of conservative management for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) are burdensome in terms of time, cost, and convenience. In addition, many patients are not candidates for surgical treatment. Preliminary results have demonstrated possible beneficial effects of acupuncture for patients with BCRL.

Squeezed Light from a Levitated Nanoparticle at Room Temperature.

Quantum measurements of mechanical systems can generate optical squeezing via ponderomotive forces. Its observation requires high environmental isolation and efficient detection, typically achieved by using cryogenic cooling and optical cavities. Here, we realize these conditions by measuring the position of an optically levitated nanoparticle at room temperature and without the overhead of an optical cavity.

The homogeneous characterisation of Ariel host stars.

The Ariel mission will characterise the chemical and thermal properties of the atmospheres of about a thousand exoplanets transiting their host star(s). The observation of such a large sample of planets will allow to deepen our understanding of planetary and atmospheric formation at the early stages, providing a truly representative picture of the chemical nature of exoplanets, and relating this directly to the type and chemical environment of the host star. Hence, the accurate and precise determination of the host star fundamental properties is essential to Ariel for drawing a comprehensive picture of the underlying essence of these planetary systems.

Real-time optimal quantum control of mechanical motion at room temperature.

The ability to accurately control the dynamics of physical systems by measurement and feedback is a pillar of modern engineering. Today, the increasing demand for applied quantum technologies requires adaptation of this level of control to individual quantum systems. Achieving this in an optimal way is a challenging task that relies on both quantum-limited measurements and specifically tailored algorithms for state estimation and feedback.

Synchronization in populations of electrochemical bursting oscillators with chaotic slow dynamics.

We investigate the synchronization of coupled electrochemical bursting oscillators using the electrodissolution of iron in sulfuric acid. The dynamics of a single oscillator consisted of slow chaotic oscillations interrupted by a burst of fast spiking, generating a multiple time-scale dynamical system. A wavelet analysis first decomposed the time series data from each oscillator into a fast and a slow component, and the corresponding phases were also obtained.

Comparison of electrolized water and multiple chemical sanitizer action against heat-resistant molds (HRM).

This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of heat-resistant molds isolated from spoiled thermally processed foods to antimicrobial compounds used for food industry sanitation. An ortho-phenylphenol-based smoke generator sanitizer, liquid chemical sanitizers (benzalkonium chloride, biguanide, iodine, peracetic acid, and sodium hypochlorite), and acidic and alkaline electrolyzed water were used against Aspergillus australensis (MB 2579; NFF 02), Aspergillus aureoluteus (NFC1), Paecilomyces fulvus (PFF 01), Paecilomyces niveus (PNT 01; PNDC 01; PNB1 01), and Paecilomyces variotii (PV 01; PV 01; PVCH 03). The fungal strains were exposed separately to liquid sanitizers and electrolyzed water in stainless steel discs for 15 min following the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) recommendations.

Recurrence quantification analysis with wavelet denoising and the characterization of magnetic flux emergence regions in solar photosphere.

Solar systems complexity, multiscale, and nonlinearity are governed by numerous and continuous changes where the sun magnetic fields can successfully represent many of these phenomena. Thus, nonlinear tools to study these challenging systems are required. The dynamic system recurrence approach has been successfully used to deal with this kind challenge in many scientific areas, objectively improving the recognition of state changes, randomness, and degrees of complexity that are not easily identified by traditional techniques.

Assessing Burnout and Professional Fulfillment in Breast Surgery: Results From a National Survey of the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

Background: Physician burnout is a well-recognized problem in health care that has a negative impact on professional well-being and quality of patient care. Rates of burnout in breast surgery are not well-defined. This study sought to understand the degree of burnout among breast surgeons and to identify factors that influence professional fulfillment.

Proenkephalin, Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin, and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rates in Patients With Sepsis.

Background: Proenkephalin (PENK) has been suggested as a novel biomarker for kidney function. We investigated the diagnostic and prognostic utility of plasma PENK in comparison with neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) in septic patients.

Methods: A total of 167 septic patients were enrolled: 99 with sepsis, 37 with septic shock, and 31 with suspected sepsis.

Sol-gel coated ion sources for liquid chromatography-direct electron ionization mass spectrometry.

Advances in interfacing liquid chromatography and electron ionization mass spectrometry are presented. New ion source coatings synthesized by sol-gel technology were developed and tested as vaporization surfaces in terms of peak intensity, peak width and peak delay for the liquid chromatography-direct electron ionization mass spectrometry (Direct-EI) determination of environmental pollutants like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and steroids. Silica-, titania-, and zirconia-based coatings were sprayed inside the stainless steel ion source and characterized in terms of thermal stability, film thickness and morphology.

Comparison Between Soluble ST2 and High-Sensitivity Troponin I in Predicting Short-Term Mortality for Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department With Chest Pain.

Background: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and the soluble isoform of suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) are useful prognostic biomarkers in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of this study was to test the short term prognostic value of sST2 compared with hs-cTnI in patients with chest pain.

Methods: Assays for hs-cTnI and sST2 were performed in 157 patients admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) for chest pain at arrival.

Usefulness of combining admission brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) plus hospital discharge bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in predicting 90 days cardiovascular mortality in patients with acute heart failure.

Heart failure is a disease characterized by high prevalence and mortality, and frequent rehospitalizations. The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic power of combining brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and congestion status detected by bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) in acute heart failure patients. This is an observational, prospective, and a multicentre study.

Soluble Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 and Echocardiography in Sepsis.

Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) has emerged as a biomarker of cardiac stretch or remodeling, and has demonstrated a role in acutely decompensated heart failure. However, its role in sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction is still unknown. We explored whether sST2 serum concentration reflects either systolic or diastolic dysfunction as measured by Doppler echocardiography.

Soluble ST2 Levels and Left Ventricular Structure and Function in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: A biomarker that is of great interest in relation to adverse cardiovascular events is soluble ST2 (sST2), a member of the interleukin family. Considering that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is accompanied by a proinflammatory state, we aimed to assess the relationship between sST2 and left ventricular (LV) structure and function in patients with MetS.

Methods: A multicentric, cross-sectional study was conducted on180 MetS subjects with normal LV ejection fraction as determined by echocardiography.

Prognostic value of decreased peripheral congestion detected by Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure: BIVA prognostic value in acute heart failure.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic role of quantitative reduction of congestion during hospitalization assessed by Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) serial evaluations in patients admitted for acute heart failure (AHF).

Background: AHF is a frequent reason for patients to be admitted. Exacerbation of chronic heart failure is linked with a progressive worsening of the disease with increased incidence of death.

Microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS)-UHPLC-UV: A simple and efficient method for the determination of five benzodiazepines in an alcoholic beverage.

This article describes a nano-scale method for the determination and quantification of five benzodiazepines (BDZ) in an alcoholic grappa drink (chlordiazepoxide; lorazepam; diazepam; oxazepam; medazepam). BDZ are typically used in drug-facilitated crimes (DFC) for their accessibility and synergistic effects with alcohol. Specimens collected on the crime scene must be rapidly analyzed to prove the crime, though, in most cases, a very small amount is available.

Soluble ST2 has a prognostic role in patients with suspected sepsis.

Background: Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) has emerged as a novel biomarker for heart failure, and serum sST2 concentrations could be increased in inflammatory diseases. We explored whether sST2 is related to cardiac dysfunction/failure and has a prognostic role in patients with suspected sepsis.

Methods: In a total of 397 patients with suspected sepsis, sST2 concentrations were measured by using the Presage ST2 Assay (Critical Diagnostics, USA).

Boosting the Detection Potential of Liquid Chromatography-Electron Ionization Mass Spectrometry Using a Ceramic Coated Ion Source.

Detection of target and non-target substances and their characterization in complex samples is a challenging task. Here we demonstrate that coating the electron ionization (EI) ion source of an LC-MS system with a sol-gel ceramic film can drastically improve the detection of high-molecular weight and high-boiling analytes. A new ion source coated with a ceramic material was developed and tested with a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) with an increasing number of rings.

N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) Measurements Until a 30% Reduction Is Attained During Acute Decompensated Heart Failure Admissions and Comparison With Discharge NT-proBNP Levels: Implications for In-Hospital Guidance of Treatment.

Background: A >30% N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) reduction at discharge in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) predicts a favorable prognosis. To study the feasibility of guiding ADHF treatment by measuring NT-proBNP well before discharge, we assessed at which moment during hospitalization patients attain a NT-proBNP reduction of >30% (target) and whether this target is still attained at discharge.

Methods: Twenty-five consecutive ADHF patients with NT-proBNP >1,700 ng/L were included (original cohort).

Serum Cystatin C for the Diagnosis of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Admitted in the Emergency Department.

Background: Early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) at emergency department (ED) is a challenging issue. Current diagnostic criteria for AKI poorly recognize early renal dysfunction and may cause delayed diagnosis. We evaluated the use of serum cystatin C (CysC) for the early and accurate diagnosis of AKI in patients hospitalized from the ED.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Utility of Procalcitonin in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department with Dyspnea.

Background: Among patients in the emergency department, dyspnea is a common complaint and can pose a diagnostic challenge. Biomarkers are used increasingly to improve diagnostic accuracy and aid with prognostication in dyspneic patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical utility of serum procalcitonin (PCT) for the diagnosis of pneumonia in patients presenting to the emergency department with dyspnea.

Drug Therapy for Acute Heart Failure.

Acute heart failure is globally one of most frequent reasons for hospitalization and still represents a challenge for the choice of the best treatment to improve patient outcome. According to current international guidelines, as soon as patients with acute heart failure arrive at the emergency department, the common therapeutic approach aims to improve their signs and symptoms, correct volume overload, and ameliorate cardiac hemodynamics by increasing vital organ perfusion. Recommended treatment for the early management of acute heart failure is characterized by the use of intravenous diuretics, oxygen, and vasodilators.