Comparison of two new generation pulse oximeters during emergency ambulance transportation.

Objectives: We wanted to test whether there is a difference between the total number and duration of malfunctions and a correlation between the oxygen saturation and pulse rate values of two new generation pulse oximeters (Masimo 'Radical 7' and Nellcor 'N 600') during emergency ambulance transportation.

Methods: Patients were monitored with two pulse oximeters ('Radical 7' and 'N 600') on different randomly selected fingers of the same hand during transportation. Data of both devices were recorded continuously by a laptop computer.

Recent decline in the global land evapotranspiration trend due to limited moisture supply.

More than half of the solar energy absorbed by land surfaces is currently used to evaporate water. Climate change is expected to intensify the hydrological cycle and to alter evapotranspiration, with implications for ecosystem services and feedback to regional and global climate. Evapotranspiration changes may already be under way, but direct observational constraints are lacking at the global scale.

Drug-induced mild therapeutic hypothermia obtained by administration of a transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 agonist.

Background: The use of mechanical/physical devices for applying mild therapeutic hypothermia is the only proven neuroprotective treatment for survivors of out of hospital cardiac arrest. However, this type of therapy is cumbersome and associated with several side-effects. We investigated the feasibility of using a transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) agonist for obtaining drug-induced sustainable mild hypothermia.

Increased susceptibility to cardiovascular effects of dihydrocapcaicin in resuscitated rats. Cardiovascular effects of dihydrocapsaicin.

Background: Survivors of a cardiac arrest often have persistent cardiovascular derangements following cardiopulmonary resuscitation including decreased cardiac output, arrhythmias and morphological myocardial damage. These cardiovascular derangements may lead to an increased susceptibility towards the external and internal environment of the cardiovascular system as compared to the healthy situation.

Methods: Here we tested the hypothesis that the cardiovascular system in healthy rats and rats resuscitated from a cardiac arrest may be differentially affected by a transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 agonist, by continuous intravenous infusion of dihydrocapsaicin (DHC).

MRI features of gastrocnemius musculotendinopathy in herding dogs.

Pelvic limb lameness that was localized clinically to the lateral gastrocnemius head was observed in dogs without history of trauma. The aim of this retrospective study was to describe magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of this condition. Nine dogs were identified, eight Border Collies and one Australian Shepherd.

Assessment of structural lesions in sacroiliac joints enhances diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging in early spondylarthritis.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic utility of T1-weighted and STIR magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences in early spondylarthritis (SpA) using a standardized approach to the evaluation of sacroiliac (SI) joints, and to test whether systematic calibration of readers directed at recognition of abnormalities on T1-weighted MRI would enhance diagnostic utility.

Methods: Six readers independently assessed T1-weighted and STIR MRI scans of the SI joints from 187 subjects: 75 ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 27 preradiographic inflammatory back pain (IBP) patients, and 26 mechanical back pain and 59 healthy volunteer controls ages ≤45 years. The exercise was repeated 6 months later on a random selection of 30 AS patients and 34 controls after calibration directed at lesions visible on T1-weighted MRI.

[Exsudative AMD: Regression analysis of transpupillary thermotherapy with and without intravitreal injection of triamcinolone, bevacizumab and ranibizumab].

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate therapies for exsudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a regression analysis. Transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) with and without intravitreal injection (IVI) of triamcinolone, IVI of bevacizumab, and ranibizumab was investigated.

Material And Methods: 413 patients with an at least 6-month control were included in this retrospective single-centre study.

Effects of high-urgency ambulance transportation on pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels in patients with heart failure.

Objectives: We hypothesized that pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) levels in venous blood increase in patients with acute out-of-hospital heart failure because of stress during emergency ambulance transportation, and furthermore, we wanted to show if there is an effect of increasing proBNP levels on hemodynamic parameters.

Methods: Venous proBNP levels, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and anxiety before and after transportation, heart rate, blood pressure, and transcutaneous Spo(2) were measured every 3 minutes in 32 patients with defined clinical signs of heart failure.

Results: ProBNP levels increased significantly (P < .

The diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging in spondylarthritis: an international multicenter evaluation of one hundred eighty-seven subjects.

Objective: To systematically assess the diagnostic utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to differentiate patients with spondylarthritis (SpA) from patients with nonspecific back pain and healthy volunteers, using a standardized evaluation of MR images of the sacroiliac joints.

Methods: Five readers blinded to the patients and diagnoses independently assessed MRI scans (T1-weighted and STIR sequences) of the sacroiliac joints obtained from 187 subjects: 75 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS; symptom duration ≤ 10 years), 27 patients with preradiographic inflammatory back pain (IBP; mean symptom duration 29 months), 26 patients with nonspecific back pain, and 59 healthy control subjects; all participants were age 45 years or younger. Bone marrow edema, fat infiltration, erosion, and ankylosis were recorded according to standardized definitions using an online data entry system.

[Stabilization of the osteoporotic spine from a biomechanical viewpoint].

The altered trabecular structure of the osteoporotic spine leads to an increased vulnerability of its biomechanical characteristics and reduction of load resistance. Therefore, any surgical procedure must account for these circumstances. In cement-augmented vertebrae, both the overall stability and load transfer to the adjacent structures are influenced by a variety of factors.

Effects of the new immunosuppressive agent AEB071 on human immune cells.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND. The novel immunosuppressive agent AEB071 is currently being evaluated for its capability to prevent rejection after kidney transplantation as a potential adjunct to calcineurin inhibitor-based regimen. AEB071 is a selective protein kinase C inhibitor and has been shown to be well tolerated in humans.

Comparison of carbon ions versus protons.

At present, beam ion beam therapy has started to spread worldwide. In Europe and Asia, combined carbon/proton facilities are favored, but in the US, only proton centers are under construction. This development is partially due to the different funding procedures and partially due to the more complex physical and especially biologic features of the heavy ions.

An Ultrasound Assisted Anchoring Technique (BoneWelding Technology) for Fixation of Implants to Bone - A Histological Pilot Study in Sheep.

The BoneWelding((R)) Technology offers new opportunities to anchor implants within bone. The technology melted the surface of biodegradable polymer pins by means of ultrasound energy to mould material into the structures of the predrilled bone. Temperature changes were measured at the sites of implantation in an in vitro experiment.

Sensitivity and specificity of spinal inflammatory lesions assessed by whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in patients with ankylosing spondylitis or recent-onset inflammatory back pain.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic utility of different spinal inflammatory lesions assessed by whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or with recent-onset inflammatory back pain (IBP) compared with healthy controls.

Methods: We scanned 35 consecutive patients with AS fulfilling the modified New York criteria, 25 patients with IBP of <24 months' duration (both groups were age < or =45 years and had a Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score > or =4), and 35 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers using whole-body MRI STIR sequences of the spine. MRIs were independently assessed in random order by 3 readers blinded to patient identity.

Validation of whole-body against conventional magnetic resonance imaging for scoring acute inflammatory lesions in the sacroiliac joints of patients with spondylarthritis.

Objective: To compare the performance of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) versus conventional MRI in assessing acute inflammatory lesions of the sacroiliac (SI) joints in patients with established and active spondylarthritis (SpA) using the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) MRI index. This study is validating whole-body MRI against the current MRI standard for assessing active inflammatory lesions of the SI joints in patients with SpA.

Methods: Thirty-two SpA patients with clinically active disease (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score >/=4) fulfilling the modified New York criteria were scanned by whole-body and conventional MRI of the SI joints.

Emergency ambulance transport induces stress in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Trials with healthy volunteers have shown that emergency ambulance transportation induces stress, which becomes evident by an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and plasma levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol and prolactin. A study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that emergency ambulance transportation may also lead to stress in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Methods: Venous plasma levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine and lactate as well as visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain and anxiety were measured in 32 patients with defined clinical signs of acute coronary syndrome before and after transportation.

Assessment of active spinal inflammatory changes in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: validation of whole body MRI against conventional MRI.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of whole body (WB) MRI versus conventional (CON) MRI in assessing active inflammatory lesions of the entire spine in patients with established and clinically active axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) using the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) MRI index.

Methods: 32 consecutive patients with SpA fulfilling the modified New York criteria and with clinically active disease (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) score > or =4) were scanned by sagittal WB and CON MRI of the spine. The MR images were scored independently in random order by three readers blinded to patient identifiers.

The development of Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria for axial spondyloarthritis (part II): validation and final selection.

Objective: To validate and refine two sets of candidate criteria for the classification/diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Methods: All Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) members were invited to include consecutively new patients with chronic (> or =3 months) back pain of unknown origin that began before 45 years of age. The candidate criteria were first tested in the entire cohort of 649 patients from 25 centres, and then refined in a random selection of 40% of cases and thereafter validated in the remaining 60%.

Reconstruction of large defects of the long bones with free vascularized bone grafts: functional results after minimum 5-year follow-up.

This study evaluated the clinical and radiographic results of 44 patients (26 men and 18 women) who underwent reconstruction of large defects of the long bones with free vascularized bone grafts. Mean patient age was 29+/-15 years and mean follow-up was 8.6+/-2.

Data quality of animal health records on Swiss dairy farms.

High-quality data are essential for veterinary surveillance systems, and their quality can be affected by the source and the method of collection. Data recorded on farms could provide detailed information about the health of a population of animals, but the accuracy of the data recorded by farmers is uncertain. The aims of this study were to evaluate the quality of the data on animal health recorded on 97 Swiss dairy farms, to compare the quality of the data obtained by different recording systems, and to obtain baseline data on the health of the animals on the 97 farms.

Complex regional pain syndrome 1--the Swiss cohort study.

Background: Little is known about the course of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 1 and potential factors influencing the course of this disorder over time. The goal of this study is a) to set up a database with patients suffering from suspected CRPS 1 in an initial stadium, b) to perform investigations on epidemiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and socioeconomics within the database and c) to develop a prognostic risk assessment tool for patients with CRPS 1 taking into account symptomatology and specific therapies.

Methods/design: Prospective cohort study.

Role of interaction anisotropy in the formation and stability of molecular templates.

Surface templating via self-assembly of hydrogen-bonded molecular networks is a rapidly developing bottom-up approach in nanotechnology. Using the melamine-PTCDI molecular system as an example we show theoretically that the network stability in the parameter space of temperature versus molecular coupling anisotropy is highly restricted. Our kinetic Monte Carlo simulations predict a structural stability diagram that contains domains of stability of an open honeycomb network, a compact phase, and a high-temperature disordered phase.