3D Printing of Abdominal Immobilization Masks for Therapeutics: Dosimetric, Mechanical and Financial Analysis.

Molding immobilization masks is a time-consuming process, strongly dependent on the healthcare professional, and potentially uncomfortable for the patient. Thus, an alternative sustainable automated production process is proposed for abdominal masks, using fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing with polylactic acid (PLA). Radiological properties of PLA were evaluated by submitting a set of PLA plates to photon beam radiation, while estimations of their mechanical characteristics were assessed through numerical simulation.

Inspiratory muscle workload due to dynamic intrinsic PEEP in stable COPD patients: effects of two different settings of non-invasive pressure-support ventilation.

Background: In severe stable hypercapnic COPD patients the amount of pressure time product (PTP) spent to counterbalance their dynamic intrinsic positive end expiratory pressure (PEEPi,dyn) is high: no data are available on the best setting of non invasive pressure support ventilation (NPSV) to reduce the inspiratory muscle workload due to PEEPi,dyn.

Methods: The objectives of this randomised controlled physiological study were: 1. To measure the inspiratory muscle workload due to PEEPi,dyn 2.

Cardiac arrhythmias 48 hours before, during, and 48 hours after discharge from hospital following acute myocardial infarction.

The cardiac rate and rhythm were studied by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recording in 44 patients before, during, and after being discharged from hospital following an acute myocardial infarction. The first recordings were started 48 hours before discharge, the second on the morning of the day of discharge, and the third 48 hours after discharge (at home). While in hospital and after returning home the heart rate fell during sleep but there was no diurnal variation in the frequency of ventricular extrasystoles.

Vomiting as a diagnostic aid in acute ischaemic cardiac pain.

The incidence of vomiting before the administration of analgesics was studied in 109 patients admitted to hospital as emergencies with prolonged ischaemic cardiac pain. In transmural myocardial infarction (58 patients) the incidence was 43% (anterior infarction 58%, inferior infarction 41%). Of the 23 patients with myocardial necrosis but without transmural infarction (that is, those with diffuse or subendocardial necrosis) and the 28 with coronary insufficiency but no necrosis, only one patient in each group experienced vomiting.

The combined clinical and hemodynamic effects of trinitrin and propranolol.

The clinical and hemodynamic effects of trinitrin (nitroglycerin) have been studied in 5 patients with long-established coronary artery disease who had been receiving long-term beta blockade therapy (propranolol). 5 similar patients not on propranolol acted as controls. Patients on propranolol reported as effective relief of angina with trinitrin as patients not on this therapy.

Streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction: a controlled multicentre study in the United Kingdom.

In a multicentre trial of streptokinase in acute myocardial infarction 302 patients received an intravenous infusion of 2 500 000 IU of streptokinase over 24 hours, while 293 patients served as controls. Neither group received anticoagulants unless indicated by thromboembolic complications. No significant difference in mortality was evident during inpatient treatment nor at six-week or six-month follow-up.

Primary ventricular fibrillation and resumption of work, sexual activity, and driving after first acute myocardial infarction.

The resumption of work, sexual activity, and driving were studied in 32 patients who had suffered primary ventricular fibrillation after their first myocardial infarction. They were compared with 95 patients whose myocardial infarction was not so complicated. Though initially slowing rehabilitation, primary ventricular fibrillation did not affect ultimately either the return to work or the resumption of normal sexual activity and driving.

Prognostic significance of acute systolic hypertension after myocardial infarction.

The clinical behaviour and mean peak serum aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT) values of 106 patients admitted to a coronary care unit with acute myocardial infarction who displayed acute systolic hypertension were studied. Another 106 normotensive patients with acute myocardial infarction acted as controls. Neither group had established hypertension.

Low voltage electrocardiogram after acute myocardial infarction.

In a retrospective study of patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to a coronary monitoring unit in 1971 12 per cent (39 patients) had low voltage electrocardiograms within 72 hours of admission. Of these, 7 patients (18%) died while in hospital and a further 9 (23%) died within one year of their infarction. Of the 23 patients who survived, 16 were severely incapacitated by their symptoms at the one-year follow-up.

Long-term beta blockade: possible protection from myocardial infarction.

The clinical behaviour of 90 patients on beta-blocking drugs for established coronary heart disease who were admitted to a coronary care unit with prolonged ischaemic myocardial pain was compared with that of 90 similar patients not on this therapy. Transmural myocardial infarction was confirmed in 30 of the patients on beta-blockers and in 62 controls. A diagnosis of myocardial necrosis without infarction was made in 20 patients on beta-blockers and in 14 controls.

The influence of psychological factors and an early hospital follow-up on return to work after first myocardial infarction.

The factors influencing the return to work following first myocardial infarction were studied in 112 male patients, all of whom had previously been fully employed. Delay in return to work within 4 months of discharge from hospital was seen in patients who were not given an early hospital follow-up appointment and in those who attibuted their illness to aspects of their work. Encouragement by the General Practitioner to resume employment was found to be essential if an unnecessary delay was to be avoided.

Lignocaine therapy for ventricular ectopic activity after acute myocardial infarction: a double-blind trial.

The effectiveness of intravenous lignocaine in suppressing ventricular ectopic activity after acute myocardial infarction was examined in a double-blind trial in 82 patients. Whereas suppression of unifocal ventricular ectopics was achieved by lignocaine in 90% of patients, other forms of potentially more dangerous ectopic activity (multifocal or R-on-T ectopics) seemed more resistant to therapy. Cessation of ectopic activity was also observed in about one-third of the patients in the control group.

Pericarditis after acute myocardial infarction.

Fifty-two (6.8%) of 779 patients admitted to a coronary monitoring unit with acute myocardial infarction developed a pericardial friction rub. A diagnosis of postmyocardial infarction syndrome was made in three of these.

Peritoneal dialysis for pulmonary oedema after acute myocardial infarction.

Four patients with intractable pulmonary oedema after acute myocardial infarction were treated with peritoneal dialysis. A negative fluid balance was rapidly achieved in three patients, two of whom ultimately survived. The fourth patient, who had complete heart block at the beginning of dialysis, showed initial clinical improvement with restoration of sinus rhythm despite failure to extract fluid.