Evaluating of Existing VTE Risk Scales in Glioma Patients.

Introduction: Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequently occurring complication among glioma patients. Several risk assessment models (RAMs), including the Caprini RAM, the IMPROVE Risk Score, the IMPROVED VTE Risk Score, and the Padua Prediction Score, have not been validated within the glioma patient population. The purpose of this study was to assess the predictive accuracy of established VTE risk scales in patients with glioma.

Artificial liver.

Without transplantation, approximately 90% of patients with fulminant hepatic failure die. If patients receive a liver transplant, there is often a lag between the need for and the availability of a donor liver. Therefore, there is a definite need for a liver support system to support the patient's own liver function in fulminant hepatic failure and while awaiting transplantation.

Preliminary report on complement activating potential of polycarbonate membrane.

Clinical as well as laboratory studies have been employed to assess the complement activating potential of polycarbonate membrane hemodialyzers. Blood samples from a group of patients undergoing sequential maintenance hemodialysis with cuprophane, polyacrylonitrile and polycarbonate devices were evaluated to define plasma levels of C3a antigen and leukocyte counts during the initial phases of hemodialysis. While polyacrylonitrile dialyzers did not activate complement to a significant extent, we did observe transient elevations in the plasma concentration of C3a and corresponding diminutions in the granulocyte counts of patients dialyzed with both cuprophane and polycarbonate dialyzers.

Polycarbonate-polyether (PC-PE) flat sheet membrane: manufacture, structure and performance.

Polycarbonate-polyether (PC-PE) polymer, prepared by solution or interfacial polymerization, was used to produce a dry PC-PE diffusion membrane by means of the phase inversion technique. The mechanical stabilities and diffusive permeabilities of chloride, phosphate and vitamin B12 were determined for this membrane. Additionally, close control over manufacturing parameters allowed the study of the effects of varied membrane thickness (at constant ultrafiltration rate) and varied ultrafiltration rate (at constant membrane thickness) on solute diffusive permeabilities.