Distributed optical strain sensing measurements down to cryogenic temperatures.

Rayleigh backscattering (RBS)-based distributed fiber sensors technology is becoming more and more crucial in various fields such as aerospace and defense, automotive, civil, and geotechnical. This technology is measuring the naturally occurring Rayleigh backscatter level in the optical fiber core; thus, any standard single-mode telecom optical fiber can be used. The application of distributed optical fiber strain sensing in the harsh environments of the European Organization for Nuclear Research required several mechanical tests to study the accuracy of strain sensing in cryogenic conditions.

Use of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for the Screening of Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a frequent and underdiagnosed disease in hypertensive individuals who experience cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to define the best model that combined the ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM), anthropometric, sociodemographic, and biological variables to identify moderate to severe OSA. A total of 105 ABPM-confirmed hypertensive patients were evaluated using their clinical histories, blood analyses, ABPM, and home respiratory polygraphic results.

Use of the Zarit scale for assessing caregiver burden and collapse in caregiving at home in dementias.

Objectives: The main objective was to analyse the Zarit scale's (ZS) ability to identify signs of caregiver collapse amongst people looking after patients suffering from dementia. We also evaluated the dimensions most affected by the ZS and risk factors associated with caregiver burden and collapse.

Methods: We administered the ZS and semi-structured interviews to identify signs of caregiver collapse amongst 66 people looking after patients suffering from dementia.

[Community-acquired pneumonia: usefulness of clinical presentation in the selection of antibiotic treatment].

Background: Our purpose was to assess the usefulness of a strategy based on the clinical presentation in order to choose antibiotics in patients with non-severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Patients And Method: During one year, all patients admitted to the emergency department with a diagnosis of non-severe (Fine risk-classes I, II and III) CAP, were randomized and assigned into the following groups: GROUP 1: the clinical presentation was not taken into account and all patients were treated with levofloxacin; GROUP 2: patients with typical presentation were treated with amoxicillin and patients with atypical presentation were treated with clarithromycin. The following aspects were evaluated during the follow-up: presence of fever after 72 h of treatment, days of hospitalization and complications.

Nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia: correlation between cause and severity or comorbidity.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia frequently constitutes a nonsevere infection manageable at home. However, for these low-risk episodes, the epidemiological features have not been carefully analyzed.

Objectives: To determine the cause of nonsevere community-acquired pneumonia and to investigate if a correlation exists between cause and severity or comorbidity.