Esophageal cyst--a rare cause of backache

BACKGROUND: The duration of action of muscle relaxants is poorly correlated to the rate of decay of their plasma concentration. The plasma concentration of mivacurium may rapidly decrease below its active concentration because of the extensive hydrolysis of mivacurium. By inflating a tourniquet on one upper limb for 3 min after the administration of atracurium, mivacurium or vecuronium, we studied the influence of the initial decline of their plasma concentration on their effect. METHODS: In 50 patients anaesthetised with thiopental, isoflurane and fentanyl, the effect of bolus doses of 0.15 or 0.25 mg.kg-1 mivacurium (MIV 15, MIV 25), 0.3 or 0.5 mg.kg-1 atracurium (ATR 30, ATR 50) and 0.06 or 0.1 mg.kg-1 vecuronium (VEC 06, VEC 10) were measured on both arms (evoked response of the adductor pollicis to train-of-four stimulation every 12 s), a tourniquet being applied on one arm just before and during 3 min after the muscle relaxant bolus. RESULTS: Tourniquet inflation of 3 min almost abolished the neuromuscular effect of mivacurium. In the vecuronium groups and in the ATR 50 group, tourniquet inflation did not modify the maximum degree of depression of the twitch response. Also, the duration of action of vecuronium was unaffected by the tourniquet. In the ATR 30 group, times to return of the twitch response to 25% (duration 25%) and 75% (duration 75%) of control response were significantly shorter in the cuffed arm, 23 min vs 27 min, and 41 min vs 45 min, respectively. In the ATR 50 group, only duration 25% was significantly shorter in the cuffed arm (41 min vs 45 min). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the rate of decline of the plasma concentration of mivacurium is so rapid, that a very low and almost clinically ineffective concentration is present as soon as 3 min after its administration. The results also indicate that the recovery from a mivacurium-induced neuromuscular blockade is not influenced by the rate of decay of its plasma concentration in patients with genotypically normal plasma cholinesterase.     

Continuous size fractionation of magnetic nanoparticles by using simulated moving bed chromatography

The size fractionation of magnetic nanoparticles is a technical problem, which until today can only be solved with great effort. Nevertheless, there is an important demand for nanoparticles with sharp size distributions, for example for medical technology or sensor technology. Using magnetic chromatography, we show a promising method for fractionation of magnetic nanoparticles with respect to their size and/or magnetic properties. This was achieved by passing magnetic nanoparticles through a packed bed of fine steel spheres with which they interact magnetically because single domain ferro-/ferrimagnetic nanoparticles show a spontaneous magnetization. Since the strength of this interaction is related to particle size, the principle is suitable for size fractionation. This concept was transferred into a continuous process in this work using a so-called simulated moving bed chromatography. Applying a suspension of magnetic nanoparticles within a size range from 20 to 120 nm, the process showed a separation sharpness of up to 0.52 with recovery rates of 100%. The continuous feed stream of magnetic nanoparticles could be fractionated with a space-time-yield of up to 5 mg/(L∙min). Due to the easy scalability of continuous chromatography, the process is a promising approach for the efficient fractionation of industrially relevant amounts of magnetic nanoparticles.     

Magneto-sensitive nickel nanowires fabricated by electrodeposition into multi- and single-ion track templates

Polycarbonate templates of (30±1) μm thickness containing cylindrical etched-track nanochannels of (500±50) nm diameter were used for electrodeposition of Ni nanowires. Using 10⁴ channels per cm², the most favourable deposition potential of  − 1.0 V was determined in a potentiostatic mode by varying the deposition potential with respect to an Ag/AgCl reference electrode over a range between  − 0.1 V and  − 1.5 V. The deposition efficiency at  − 1.0 V was estimated around 10%. The resulting single wires had a resistance around 200 Ω and showed an anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) effect of 1%, applicable to directionally sensitive magnetic field sensors.     

Energieinformatik

Due to the increasing importance of producing and consuming energy more sustainably, Energy Informatics (EI) has evolved into a thriving research area within the CS/IS community. The article attempts to characterize this young and highly dynamic field of research by describing current EI research topics and methods and provides an outlook of how the field might evolve in the future. It is shown that two general research questions have received the most attention so far and are likely to dominate the EI research agenda in the coming years: How to leverage information and communication technology (ICT) to (1) improve energy efficiency, and (2) to integrate decentralized renewable energy sources into the power grid. Selected EI streams are reviewed, highlighting how the respective research questions are broken down into specific research projects and how EI researchers have made contributions based on their individual academic background.     

Natrium-Aluminium-Silicate - Eigenschaften und Anwendungen

Sodium Aluminium Silicates - Properties and Application Sodium aluminium silicates in amorphous and crystalline form are used since many years in various technical processes. The crystalline sodium aluminium silicates, e. g. zeolites, belong to the group of structured silicates and are known for their reversible water uptake and alkaline earth exchange properties. Recently, sodium aluminium silicates have gained considerable importance since their cation exchanging ability can be utilized in washing agents for the removal of undesirable hardness of water. Thus, the polyphosphates used in washing agents can possibly be substituted. Zeolites can be supplied to the detergent industry in the form of powder or suspension. Production of the powder by spray drying does not involve special problems. Incorporation of the powder into the slurry of the detergent appears to be an anachronism from the viewpoint of energy saving. Optimization work on suspensions of zeolite yielded stable products with 45 to 48% zeolite content. The theory of critical particle concentration was applied in this work.     

SURFACE TENSION EFFECTS IN THE SEDIMENTATION OF COAL PARTICLES IN VARIOUS LIQUID MIXTURES

The sedimentation volume, V_sed, of coal particles in mixtures of pairs of non-polar and more polar organic liquid combinations as well as in aqueous solutions was determined at 20°C.

The liquid combinations were chosen such that the surface tension, γ_SV, of the coal particles fell between the surface tensions, γ_LV, of the two liquids. A constant mass of a given coal sample was suspended in constant volumes of liquid mixtures of different concentrations.

It was found that the sedimentation volume changed with varying composition of the liquid mixtures, as did the surface tension. A maximum or a minimum occurred in V_sed when the surface tension of the suspending liquid was equal to that of the coal particles, i.e. when γ_LV = γ_SV. Maxima occurred in more polar and minima in the non-polar or less polar liquid mixtures. The position of the extrema, and hence the surface tension, γ_sv, of the particles, was found to change with particle size, in agreement with findings from other independent techniques.

It was found that the surface tension of coal, γ_sv, depends on the surrounding liquid, i.e. coal is hydrophobic in organic and hydrophilic in aqueous media, again in agreement with the results from other techniques.     

A biomarker of n−3 compliance in patients taking fish oil for rheumatoid arthritis

Dietary fish oil supplements have been shown to have benefits in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), other inflammatory diseases, and in cardiovascular disease. As with any medical advice, variability will exist with regard to adherence and consequent biochemical or pharmacophysiologic effects. The aim was to explore the utility of plasma phospholipid EPA as a measure of n−3 PUFA intake and response to standardized therapeutic advice given in an outpatient or office practice setting, to increase dietary n−3 PUFA, including a fish oil supplement. Patients with early RA were given verbal and written advice to alter their dietary n−3 PUFA intake, including ingestion of 20 mL of bottled fish oil on juice daily. The advice included instructions to increase n−3 PUFA and to avoid foods rich in n−6 PUFA. Every 3 mon, blood samples were obtained for analysis of plasma phospholipid FA. Plasma phospholipid EPA was used as the primary index of n−3 PUFA intake. A diverse response was seen, with about one-third of patients achieving a substantial elevation of plasma phospholipid EPA over the 12-mon study period. A third had little change, with the remainder achieving intermediate levels. Data obtained longitudinally from individual patients indicated that substantial elevations of EPA (>5% total plasma phospholipid FA) could be maintained for more than 3 yr. Plasma phospholipid EPA is a convenient measure of adherence to advice to take a dietary n−3 PUFA-rich fish oil supplement. This measure may prove a useful adjunct to intention to treat analyses in determining the effect of dietary fish oil supplements on long-term outcomes in arthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases. It may also provide a guide to the effectiveness of therapeutic and preventive messages designed to increase n−3 PUFA intake.