Element-specific hysteresis loop measurements on Individual 35 nm islands with scanning transmission X-ray microscopy.

Using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy combined with X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, element-specific hysteresis loops with a 25 nm X-ray probe are obtained on 35 nm Fe/Gd multilayer nanoislands fabricated by extreme ultra-violet interference lithography. Local hysteresis loops measured for the individual islands and the antidot film between the islands display similar behavior resulting from the lateral confinement. Line scan measurements confirm ferrimagnetic coupling between Fe and Gd in the patterned region.

Pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea.

Pleomorphic adenoma in the trachea is very rare. We report the case of a 46-year-old woman who had been treated for asthma for 12 months before the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma of the trachea was made. The tumour was defined by fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the mid 1/3 of the trachea obstructing nearly 90 % of the lumen.

Gabapentin versus pregabalin in improving sleep quality and depression in hemodialysis patients with peripheral neuropathy: a randomized prospective crossover trial.

Purpose: In dialysis patients, painful peripheral neuropathy (PPN) is associated with sleep disturbance and mood disorders. Our goal was to compare the effects of gabapentin and pregabalin on improving sleep quality and depression among hemodialysis patients with PPN.

Methods: Fifty hemodialysis patients with PPN were randomized into 2 groups, to receive gabapentin and pregabalin, respectively.

Storage and disposal of unused medications: knowledge, behavior, and attitudes among Serbian people.

Background: Improper disposal of medications potentially poses a significant environmental risk and storage of expired and unused medications in households provides an increased risk of accidental childhood poisonings.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the storage and disposal habits of medications amongst the population in the South Bačka District of Serbia, and to gain insight into the attitudes and knowledge of the population about the proper disposal of medications. Setting Households in South Bačka District.

Interfacing multistage mass spectrometry with liquid chromatography or ion mobility separation for synthetic polymer analysis.

Synthetic polymers are naturally mixtures of homologs, even in pure form. More complexity is introduced by the presence of different comonomers, end groups and/or macromolecular architectures. The analysis of such systems is substantially facilitated by interfacing mass spectrometry (MS), which disperses based on mass, with an additional level of separation involving either interactive liquid chromatography (LC) or ion mobility (IM) spectrometry, both of which are readily coupled online with electrospray ionization and MS detection.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in a hemodialysis patient treated with fondaparinux: nephrologists between two fires.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is caused by heparin exposure and presents with reduced platelet count. Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) treatment have increased risk of developing HIT due to prolonged exposure to unfractionated heparin or low-molecular weight heparin. We report a 79-year-old male patient with end-stage renal disease who developed type-II HIT during maintenance HD.

Short-term effects of Ankaferd hemostat for renal artery embolization: an experimental study.

Purpose: Renal artery embolization (RAE) is a minimally invasive therapeutic technique that is utilized in a number of disorders. Ankaferd is a novel hemostatic agent with a new mechanism of action independent of clotting factors. We used Ankaferd for RAE in a sheep model.

Electrocardiographic P-wave characteristics in patients with end-stage renal disease: P-index and interatrial block.

Purpose: P-wave parameters including P-wave dispersion (P d) have been examined in general population to predict development of atrial fibrillation (AF). But data on end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population are limited. P index (Pi) and interatrial block (IAB) as novel parameters may more accurately predict AF and have not been previously investigated in ESRD patients.

Poor quality of life is associated with increased mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a prospective cohort study.

Despite all developments in hemodialysis (HD), the mortality rate is still apparently higher than that in the general population, and worse health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is associated with increased mortality. We prospectively investigated the mortality status of HD patients during a five-year period and the association between mortality, HRQOL, laboratory parameters and clinical and sociodemographic characteristics at baseline. At the end of the five years, 293 patients out of 420 patients were still on HD treatment and 127 patients died.

The Relationship between Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Coronary Artery Calcification in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, coronary artery calcification (CAC), and left ventricular hypertrophy are the most commonly encountered risk factors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in end-stage renal disease patients. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is the true visceral fat depot of the heart. The relationship between coronary artery disease and EAT has been shown in healthy subjects and patients with a high risk of coronary artery disease.

Anaesthetic considerations and perioperative features of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in infants: analysis of 57 cases.

Aim: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is currently considered the best alternative to shunt systems in the treatment of triventricular hydrocephalus. However, there has been very few published data about the anaesthetic management and the complications of ETV procedure in infants. In this report, we detail our experience with 57 infants, who underwent ETV as an initial treatment for obstructive triventricular hydrocephalus between 2003 and 2010.

[Combined spinal epidural anesthesia in a patient with advanced kyphoscoliosis].

Kyphoscoliosis is a progressive disease that worsens with age. While applying anesthesia, kyphosis and/or scoliosis can lead to difficulty in both during endotracheal intubation and also performing regional interventional technics. In addition to aging and the direct effects of deformity such as neurological deficities and immobility; deterioration in cardiopulmonary functions can also develop in these patients.

Brucella peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis: a case report and review of the literature.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection that humans contract usually by ingestion of unpasteurized milk and milk products or by direct contact with raw infected animal products. Infection is endemic in many countries, including Turkey. Being a systemic disease, brucellosis may affect almost any part of the body.

Effects of secondary amyloidosis on arteriovenous hemodialysis fistula outcomes and intradialytic hypotension: a case-control study.

Amyloid fibrils can affect vascular structure through deposition and by causing nitric oxide depletion and increase of asymmetric dimethyl arginine. Patients with amyloidosis are prone to development of hypotension. Hypotension may also affect the maturation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and may set the stage for formation of thrombosis and fistula failure.

Carinal resection and reconstruction for respiratory tumors using Miyamoto's technique.

Purpose: Surgical processes that involve the carina pose a serious challenge to thoracic surgeons. Although techniques to allow resection and reconstruction have been developed, few institutions have accumulated sufficient experience to achieve meaningful results. There is still a debate about the indications and the morbidity and mortality rates for this type of surgery.

Tracheal intubation in morbidly obese patients: a comparison of the Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway™ and Laryngeal Mask Airway CTrach™.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Intubating Laryngeal Mask Airway™ (ILMA) and Laryngeal Mask Airway CTrach™ (LMA CTrach) in facilitating tracheal intubation in morbidly obese patients. Eighty patients (body mass index >40 kg x m(-2)) were randomly allocated to the ILMA or the LMA CTrach. The median (IQR [range]) total time taken for tracheal intubation was shorter with the ILMA than with the LMA CTrach (78 (63-105 [40-265]) s vs 128 (98-221 [60-423]) s, respectively; p<0.

Efficacy and tolerability of intravenous paricalcitol in calcitriol-resistant hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism: 12-month prospective study.

Rationale/objectives: Data are limited regarding the use of paricalcitol in calcitriol-resistant patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). We aimed to evaluate the effects of paricalcitol in calcitriol-resistant hemodialysis patients with SHPT.

Methods: This is a 12-month, open-label, prospective study.

Evaluation of performance of quantiferon assay and tuberculin skin test in end stage renal disease patients receiving hemodialysis.

Purpose: End stage renal disease (ESRD) cases are associated with increased risk of tuberculosis. There is no gold standard method for detecting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in ESRD. The aim of the present study was to analyze the performance of the tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold in tube (QFT-G) in cases receiving hemodialysis (HD).