Quality evaluation of highly purified human menopausal gonadotropin preparations by means of gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry.

Human gonadotropins are glycoprotein hormones with a highly complex structure, which demands the application of sophisticated analytical methodologies to assess their quality. The principal objective of this study was a comparative evaluation of gel electrophoretic techniques and mass spectrometry-based methods for the quality study of the two urinary-derived, highly purified, human menopausal gonadotropin preparations, Menopur 75/75 I. U.

Corrigendum: Survival outcomes and mobilization during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a retrospective cohort study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.

Cervical Nerve Root Block Using a Curved Blunt Needle and Posterior Approach.

Background: Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections have become less popular due to the risk of catastrophic complications they pose. However, cervical nerve root blocks are useful for surgical planning in patients with cervical radicular pain syndromes.

Objectives: Our aim was to find a method of performing cervical selective nerve root blocks that removed the risk of catastrophic complications.

Survival outcomes and mobilization during venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) can be considered in critically ill patient in severe pulmonary failure. However, the mobilization of patients on V-V ECMO can be challenging due to logistic and safety concerns. This study aimed to investigate whether 30 days survival was improved in patients who were mobilized during V-V ECMO support.

Fulminant Cervical Epidural Hematomas: Why Do They Happen, How Can We Minimize Their Occurrence, and What Can We Do When They Do Occur? A Perspective.

Background: Epidural hematomas after appropriately performed cervicothoracic interlaminar epidural injections have been associated with the rapid onset of neurological symptoms and devastating outcomes, despite prompt identification and treatment. Anticoagulation issues were initially felt to be the problem, but the occurrence of fulminant hematomas in patients without coagulation forced a reassessment of the causes and responses to this problem.

Objectives: To evaluate why fulminant epidural hematomas occur after cervicothoracic epidural injections, with a literature review to survey knowledge about them in the surgical literature, and to offer comments as to what the interventional pain physician can do to minimize their occurrence.

Dual lumen cannulation and mobilization of patients with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Background: Mobilization is important in longer courses in intensive care unit (ICU), typical for patients requiring venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO). For patients supported with ECMO, especially out-of-bed mobilizations improve outcome. We hypothesized that utilization of a dual lumen cannula (DLC) for V-V ECMO would facilitate out-of-bed mobilization compared to single lumen cannulas (SLC).

Solid Rocket Propellant Photo-Polymerization with an In-House LED-UV Prototype.

Composite solid propellants have used cast molding production technology for many decades, with intrinsic limitations on production flexibility, promptness, and grain geometry, as well as environmental implications on toxicity and global carbon footprint. This traditional method involves the use of toxic chemicals, has a long processing time, requires high temperature, and the products have limited geometries. To overcome those issues, different photo-curable resins have been evaluated as possible matrices.

Predictors of attrition in an interdisciplinary pain management program.

Purpose/objective: This study sought to investigate the extent to which demographic and clinical characteristics predict which patients drop out of an interdisciplinary pain management program (IPP).

Research Method/design: Participants ( = 178 outpatients, 18-75 years of age) received treatment for various chronic pain conditions in an IPP (including biopsychosocial assessment, cognitive-behavioral, and physical therapies). Separate logistic regression analyses identified the demographic and clinical variables most predictive of attrition across five domains: (a) demographics, (b) number of medical and non/psychiatric diagnoses, (c) opioid use (yes versus no)/risk of misuse, (d) pain-related cognition and behavior, and (e) physical, social, and mental well-being.

Interpreting the Benefit and Risk Data in Between-Drug Comparisons: Illustration of the Challenges Using the Example of Mefenamic Acid versus Ibuprofen.

Evidence-based pain therapy should rely on precisely defined and personalized criteria. This includes balancing the benefits and risks not only of single drugs but often requires complex between-drug comparisons. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been available for several decades and their use is described in an abundance of guidelines.

Rapid Identification and Classification of Pathogens That Produce Carbapenemases and Cephalosporinases with a Colorimetric Paper-Based Multisensor.

Infections caused by bacteria that produce β-lactamases (BLs) are a major problem in hospital settings. The phenotypic detection of these bacterial strains requires culturing samples prior to analysis. This procedure may take up to 72 h, and therefore it cannot be used to guide the administration of the first antibiotic regimen.

Using quantitative sensory testing to predict attrition in an interdisciplinary pain management program: a pilot study.

To determine the extent to which quantitative sensory testing (QST) predicted attrition in an interdisciplinary pain program (IPP). Participants (n = 53) enrolled in an IPP completed pretreatment assessments of QST and the PROMIS-29 quality of life survey. Compared with completers, non-completers (24.

UV-Cured Chitosan and Gelatin Hydrogels for the Removal of As(V) and Pb(II) from Water.

In this study, new photocurable biobased hydrogels deriving from chitosan and gelatin are designed and tested as sorbents for As(V) and Pb(II) removal from water. Those renewable materials were modified by a simple methacrylation reaction in order to make them light processable. The success of the reaction was evaluated by both H-NMR and FTIR spectroscopy.

Energetics of Floor Gymnastics: Aerobic and Anaerobic Share in Male and Female Sub-elite Gymnasts.

Background: Artistic gymnastics is a popular Olympic discipline where female athletes compete in four and male athletes in six events with floor exercise having the longest competition duration in Women's and Men's artistic gymnastics (WAG, MAG). To date no valid information on the energetics of floor gymnastics is available although this may be important for specific conditioning programming. This study evaluated the metabolic profile of a simulated floor competition in sub-elite gymnasts.

Bayesian inference for stationary points in Gaussian process regression models for event-related potentials analysis.

Stationary points embedded in the derivatives are often critical for a model to be interpretable and may be considered as key features of interest in many applications. We propose a semiparametric Bayesian model to efficiently infer the locations of stationary points of a nonparametric function, which also produces an estimate of the function. We use Gaussian processes as a flexible prior for the underlying function and impose derivative constraints to control the function's shape via conditioning.

Improved symptoms of complex regional pain syndrome after novel lymphatic treatment and interdisciplinary pain management.

Introduction: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a pain syndrome with no singular mechanism and no specific cure. The aim of this case report is to study the impact of Lymphatic Enhancement Technology (LET) treatment on CRPS-related symptoms.

Methods: A 51 year-old female presented with a chief complaint of severe, refractory ankle pain and CRPS related to a tibial and fibular fracture sustained three years earlier.

The role of ACE2 in the renin-angiotensin-system: Etiology and therapy of COVID-19 from a pharmaceutical perspective.

Angiotensin-2 converting enzyme (ACE2), a key element of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS), is not only the direct target of infection by the human SARS-Cov-2 virus but is at the same the root for the complex pathogenetic events of COVID-19. From a pharmaceutical perspective, several established classes of medicines are involved in different phases of the disease. From their known mechanisms of action, a comprehensive understanding of COVID-19 will be hopefully soon delineated.

Long-term Efficacy of Percutaneous Epidural Neurolysis of Adhesions in Chronic Lumbar Radicular Pain: 10 Year Follow-up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: No long-term follow-up data exist in any treatment for chronic radicular pain occurring with disc pathology and after failed back surgery. A previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) has proven efficacy in short-term follow-up as an evidence-based effective therapeutic option.

Objectives: Long term data is needed to determine the efficacy and cost- effectiveness of minimal invasive procedures.

Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Efficacy and Safety.

Background: Transforaminal epidural injections have been used since the late 1990s to treat lumbar radicular pain. They have been the subject of considerable attention, with varying conclusions from systematic reviews as to their efficacy. Transforaminal injections have been associated with rare but major complications.

Cationic UV-Curing of Epoxidized Biobased Resins.

Epoxy resins are among the most important building blocks for fabrication of thermosets for many different applications thanks to their superior thermo-mechanical properties and chemical resistance. The recent concerns on the environmental problems and the progressive depletion of petroleum feedstocks have drawn the research interest in finding biobased alternatives. Many curing techniques can be used to obtain the final crosslinked thermoset networks.

The "sugar dilemma".

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by insulin resistance and elevated blood glucose levels. Treatment protocols generally include dietary restriction of sugar, as well as drugs aiming at a reduction of blood glucose, mainly by activating the insulin system or supplementing insulin. This established approach does not take into account the outstanding physiological role of glucose as a key molecule in metabolism.

Sustainable access to fully biobased epoxidized vegetable oil thermoset materials prepared by thermal or UV-cationic processes.

Beyond the need to find a non-toxic alternative to DiGlycidyl Ether of Bisphenol-A (DGEBA), the serious subject of non-epichlorohydrin epoxy resins production remains a crucial challenge that must be solved for the next epoxy resin generations. In this context, this study focuses on the valorization of vegetable oils (VOs) into thermoset materials by using (i) epoxidation of the VOs through the "double bonds to epoxy" synthetic route and (ii) synthesis of crosslinked homopolymers by UV or hardener-free thermal curing processes. A thorough identification, selection and physico-chemical characterization of non-edible or non-valuated natural vegetable oils were performed.

Bioinspired Honeycomb Core Design: An Experimental Study of the Role of Corner Radius, Coping and Interface.

The honeybee's comb has inspired the design of engineering honeycomb core that primarily abstract the hexagonal cell shape and exploit its mass minimizing properties to construct lightweight panels. This work explored three additional design features that are part of natural honeybee comb but have not been as well studied as design features of interest in honeycomb design: the radius at the corner of each cell, the coping at the top of the cell walls, and the interface between cell arrays. These features were first characterized in natural honeycomb using optical and X-ray techniques and then incorporated into honeycomb core design and fabricated using an additive manufacturing process.