Dyspnea in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: does dyspnea worsen longitudinally in the presence of declining lung function?

PURPOSE: The neurodegenerative progression of glaucoma is considered to be related not only to primary risk factors such as the elevation of intraocular pressure, but also to mediators of secondary neuronal degeneration. In the present study, the neuroprotective activity of the alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists brimonidine, AGN 191103, and clonidine were examined in an animal model that simulates secondary neuronal degeneration of the optic nerve in a way thought to be independent of elevation of intraocular pressure. The beta-blocker timolol, currently used clinically to decrease intraocular pressure, was also examined for neuroprotective activity at dosages corresponding to the effective antihypertensive dosage. METHODS: A single dose of each of the tested compounds was administered intraperitoneally immediately after partial crush injury of the rat optic nerve. Secondary degeneration was measured by determining injury-induced deficits with and without the drug. This was achieved electrophysiologically by measurement of compound action potential amplitude, and morphometrically by counting the retrogradely labeled retinal ganglion cells, representing viable optic nerve axons, in wholemounted retinas. RESULTS: All three alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists, but not timolol, exhibited neuroprotective effects. Treatment immediately after injury with each of these agonists resulted in a dose-dependent attenuation of the injury-induced decrease in compound action potential amplitude. Moreover, after treatment with 100 microg/kg brimonidine administered intraperitoneally, the loss of retinal ganglion cells 2 weeks after injury was three times lower than in saline-treated animals. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to their known effect of lowering intraocular pressure, alpha2-adrenoreceptor agonists, unlike timolol, exert a neuroprotective effect. Use of the rat optic nerve model of partial crush injury can serve as a method of screening compounds that are potentially capable of alleviating the progression of secondary neuronal degeneration.     

Do promises matter? An exploration of the role of promises in psychological contract breach.

Promises are positioned centrally in the study of psychological contract breach and are argued to distinguish psychological contracts from related constructs, such as employee expectations. However, because the effects of promises and delivered inducements are confounded in most research, the role of promises in perceptions of, and reactions to, breach remains unclear. If promises are not an important determinant of employee perceptions, emotions, and behavioral intentions, this would suggest that the psychological contract breach construct might lack utility. To assess the unique role of promises, the authors manipulated promises and delivered inducements separately in hypothetical scenarios in Studies 1 (558 undergraduates) and 2 (441 employees), and they measured them separately (longitudinally) in Study 3 (383 employees). The authors’ results indicate that breach perceptions do not represent a discrepancy between what employees believe they were promised and were given. In fact, breach perceptions can exist in the absence of promises. Further, promises play a negligible role in predicting feelings of violation and behavioral intentions. Contrary to the extant literature, the authors’ findings suggest that promises may matter little; employees are concerned primarily with what the organization delivers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is resection of pulmonary and hepatic metastases warranted in patients with colorectal cancer?

BACKGROUND: Conventional management of stage IV colorectal carcinoma is palliative. The value of resecting both liver and lung colorectal metastases that occur in isolation of other sites of metastasis is undetermined. OBJECTIVES: Our objectives were to (1) assess the efficacy of resecting both hepatic and pulmonary metastases, (2) investigate the influence of the sequence and timing of metastases, and (3) identify the profile of patients likely to benefit from both hepatic and pulmonary metastasectomy. Patients and methods: Of 48 patients identified with resection of colorectal cancer and, at some point in time, both liver and lung metastases, 25 patients underwent metastasectomy (resection group). The remaining 23 patients comprised the nonresection group. Risk factors for death were identified by multivariable analyses. RESULTS: Median survival was longer after the last metastatic appearance in the resection group (16 months) than in the nonresection group (6 months; P <.001). The pattern of risk also differed; it peaked at 2 years and then declined in the resection group but was constant in the nonresection group. In the resection group, patients with metachronous resections survived longer after colorectal resection (median, 70 months) than patients with synchronous (median, 22 months) or mixed resections (median, 31 months; P <.001). Risk factors for death included older age, multiple liver metastases, and a short disease-free interval. CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients with solitary metachronous metastases to the liver, then the lung, and long disease-free intervals are more likely to benefit from resection of both liver and lung metastases. Patients with risk factors also had better survival with resection than without resection.     

Effect of MicroArea pH Value on Formation of Different Rust Phases of Weathering Steel in Initial Corrosion Period

 The formation of protective rust layer of atmospheric corrosion resistance was discussed for weathering steel. The Rust layers of experimental steels were made by using an accelerating industrial atmospheric corrosion test of dry-wet cyclic immersion. Furthermore XRD were used to measure and analyze the rust layers. The initial corrosion processes below thin water film were observed and the changes of micro-area PH value were measured. The results are as follows: The corrosion processes are obviously different between P-RE weathering steel and carbon steel. The surface of P-RE weathering steel rapidly forms α-FeOOH and the micro-area PH value is above 5.4 during the initial corrosion period. While the component of the rust layer for the carbon steel is mainly Fe3O4 and the micro-area PH value is below 3.8.     

Enrichment and Release of Rare Earth Elements during Weathering of Sedimentary Rocks in Wujiang Catchments

Thirteen weathering profiles of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomitic limestone, dolomite, silicalite, black shale and purple sandrock from Wujiang catchments were selected for study on enrichment and release behavior of rare earth elements （REE） during weathering, and in its impact on plant growth and riverine REE distribution in the catchments with methods of hierachical cluster analysis and mass balance calculation in order to set a basis for riverine material source research and agricultural production. The results show that the enrichment degree of REE in calcareous soils from the Wujiang catchments is much higher than that of limestone, yellow soil, upper continental crust （UCC）,     

Quality of life in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Results of a study with the newly developed Tübingen Questionnaire for measuring quality of life of patients with chronic venous insufficiency

Across the boundaries of the medical specialties we have realized how important the concepts of quality of life and disease-related coping behavior are to understand the patients' subjective perception of the medical condition and its treatment. Although standardized instruments are already available for different medical indications and even in the related fields of peripheral vascular and cardiac diseases, phlebology still lacks standardized concepts for evaluating quality of life and/or disease-related coping behavior in patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). We report on a newly developed instrument specifically designed for recording quality of life in patients with CVI. It not only meets the requirements of psychometric standards, but has also proven its applicability in clinical use. The "Tübingen Questionnaire for measuring Quality of Life in patients with CVI (TLQ-CVI)" and the results of a study on quality of life in 142 patients with various stages of chronic venous insufficiency are presented. It was possible to distinguish between Stage I/II and Stage III CVI patients with respect to parameters such as "leg complaints" and "day-to-day fears and worries". These convey clinically relevant insights into the patient's subjective perception of the disease and how they cope. The information gathered provides a set of reasonable target scores for clinical studies presently being carried out at various study centers in Germany incorporating the TLQ-CVI.     

Syncope during bathing in infants, a pediatric form of water-induced urticaria?

BACKGROUND: Apparent life-threatening events in infants are a difficult and frequent problem in pediatric practice. The prognosis is uncertain because of risk of sudden infant death syndrome. CASE REPORTS: Eight infants aged 2 to 15 months were admitted during a period of 6 years; they suffered from similar maladies in the bath: on immersion, they became pale, hypotonic, still and unreactive; recovery took a few seconds after withdrawal from the bath and stimulation. Two diagnoses were initially considered: seizure or gastroesophageal reflux but this was doubtful. The hypothesis of an equivalent of aquagenic urticaria was then considered; as for patients with this disease, each infant's family contained members suffering from dermographism, maladies or eruption after exposure to water or sun. All six infants had dermographism. We found an increase in blood histamine levels after a trial bath in the two infants tested. The evolution of these "aquagenic maladies" was favourable after a few weeks without baths. After a 2-7 year follow-up, three out of seven infants continue to suffer from troubles associated with sun or water. CONCLUSION: "Aquagenic maladies" could be a pediatric form of the aquagenic urticaria.     

Direct evidence of intermediate state during alpha-omega transformation in TiV alloy

The intermediate state during the pressure-induced alpha-omega transformation is shown to be a b.c.c. phase. Direct electron-diffraction evidence is presented in the case of a quenched Ti-10 at.% V alloy after pressure treatment.     

Structure and phase formation of combustion products during the synthesis of γ-AlON in self-propagating high-temperature synthesis

Synthesis of aluminum oxynitride (γ-AlON) in conditions of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) gas-statting under high pressures (10–100 MPa) of gaseous nitrogen, including the mode of so-called coupled combustion reactions (chemical furnaces) is investigated. It is shown that chemical and phase compositions of combustion products, as well as their structure and morphology of powder particles, depend on the reagent ratio in Al–Al₂O₃ initial mixture, as well as on nitrogen pressure, combustion temperature of highly exothermic components of chemical furnaces, and grade of initial reagents. The structure of γ-AlON powder particles are determind and its relation with operation conditions of SHS. Optimal SHS parameters for Al₅O₆N (γ-AlON) formation are established.     

Migration of δ/γ, Interface in Low Carbon Steels during Continuous Cooling

The δ-ferrite to γ-austenite phase transformation process of low carbon steel was observed in-situ under a confocal scanning laser microscope and the influence of manganese and chromium on the migration of δ/γ interphase boundary during theδ to γphase transformation was studied. It was found that the δ/γ interphase boundary becomes unstable with the decrease of temperature, from planar to curved morphology during theδ to γ phase transformation of Fe-0.08C steel and Fe-0.08C-0.8Mn steel. But in Fe-0.08C-0.8Cr steel, the δ/γ interphase boundaries are stable with planar morphology during the whole δ-ferrite to γ-austenite transformation. The destabilization of δ/γ inter- phase boundary in Fe-0.08C and Fe-0.08C-0.8Mn steels results from high degree of supercooling and sub-boundaries in 7, respectively. The stabilization of δ/γ interphase boundary in Fe-0.08C-0.8Cr steel results from the slow diffu- sion rate of carbon atom induced by the addition of chromium.     

Enrichment and Release of Rare Earth Elements during Weathering of Sedimentary Rocks in Wujiang Catchments, Southwest China

Thirteen weathering profiles of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomitic limestone, dolomite, sillicalite, black shale and purple sandrock from Wujiang catchments were selected for study on enrichment and release behavior of rare earth elements （REE） during weathering, and its impact on plant growth and riverine REE distribution in the catchments with methods of hierachical cluster analysis and mass balance calculation in order to set a basis for riverine material source research and agricultural production. The results show that the enrichment degree of REE in calcareous soils from the Wujiang catchments is much higher than that of limestone, yellow soil, upper continental crust （UCC）, China soil （CS） and world soil （WS）. The ability of enrichment and release of REE is partly controlled by distribution of REE in bedrocks, contents and adsorption ability of organic matters, clay minerals and Fe-oxides/hydroxides in weathering profiles. The REE released from weathering of carbonate rocks and clastic rocks can be absorbed and utilized by local plants. The results also reveal that release of REE and Fe mainly from weathering of carbonate rocks and partly from clastic rocks exerts an important control on riverine REE distribution.     

Reaction behavior of Ni–Re alloys during direct current polarization in sulfuric acid solutions

The macrokinetic regularities of the reactivity of synthesized Ni–Re (20 and 60 wt %) alloys in a sulfuric acid solution (100 g/L, 25–40°C) during direct current polarization are studied using physicochemical methods. The phase composition of the synthesized alloys is determined by the formation of solid solutions as a function of the initial Ni/Re weight ratio. These are two types of nickel solid solutions (Ni₁₆Re_0.2 and Ni₁₄Re_0.9) and one rhenium solution (Ni_1.1Re). These solid solutions are anodically oxidized in the sequence of their structural rearrangement Ni₁₆Re_0.2 → Ni₁₄Re_0.9 → Ni_1.1Re with a combined transition of the metals into an electrolyte solution. These solid solutions provide the reduction of Ni³⁺ to Ni²⁺ due to the depolarization ability of rhenium, being their component.     

Evaluation of patient exposure to radiation during x-ray diagnostic examinations (in selected health service centers in the city of Wroc?aw and in the province of Wroc?aw)

In 35 x-ray laboratories, randomly selected, in the city of Wroc?aw an in the voivodship, the following measurements were performed: -exposure doses (mGy) for different kinds of x-ray examinations, -exposure doses (mGy) for examinations employing conventional intensifying cassettes and cassettes equipped with intensifying screens of rare earths, -basic exposure parameters, ie high voltage (kV), anodic current intensity (mA), and exposure duration. An average number of exposure per one examination was also defined. The values of standard deviation (SD) for doses measured and for exposure parameters were identified. The doses were compared with the values recommended in "Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Ionizing Radiation" (IAEA, Safety Series No 115). Two differences were discussed between the values measured and those recommended, particularly in exposures when conventional cassettes were used. The assessment of exposure parameters for the same x-ray examinations performed in different laboratories pointed to a lack of any analogy between the results. It bears witness to the fact that x-ray equipment is very much diversified, and that subjective factors play a significant role.     

Changes in the fracture strength parameters of ferritic–bainitic and bainitic pipe steels during operation

The fracture strength and the sensitivity to delayed fracture of the pipes in oil-trunk pipelines that are made of ferritic–bainitic and bainitic steels are studied. The results of modeling of the delayed brittle fracture of pipe steel during a simultaneous action of mechanical stresses and a corrosive medium are presented.