Vacuum-ultraviolet frequency-modulation spectroscopy.

Frequency-modulation (FM) spectroscopy has been extended to the vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Coherent VUV laser radiation is produced by resonance-enhanced sum-frequency mixing (νVUV=2νUV+ν2) in Kr and Xe using two near-Fourier-transform-limited laser pulses of frequencies νUV and ν2. Sidebands generated in the output of the second laser (ν2) using an electro-optical modulator operating at the frequency νmod are directly transferred to the VUV and used to record FM spectra. Demodulation is demonstrated both at νmod and 2νmod. The main advantages of the method compared to VUV absorption spectroscopy are its background-free nature, the fact is that its implementation using table-top laser equipment is straightforward and that it can be used to record VUV absorption spectra of cold samples in skimmed supersonic beams simultaneously with laser-induced-fluorescence and photoionization spectra. To illustrate these advantages, we present VUV FM spectra of Ar, Kr, and N2 in selected regions between 105000 cm-1 and 122000 cm-1.

Absorption, autoionization, and predissociation in molecular hydrogen: High-resolution spectroscopy and multichannel quantum defect theory.

Absorption and photoionization spectra of H2 have been recorded at a resolution of 0.09 and 0.04 cm(-1), respectively, between 125,600 cm(-1) and 126,000 cm(-1). The observed Rydberg states belong to series (n = 10 - 14) converging on the first vibrationally excited level of the X (2)Σ(g)(+) state of H2(+), and of lower members of series converging on higher vibrational levels. The observed resonances are characterized by the competition between autoionization, predissociation, and fluorescence. The unprecedented resolution of the present experimental data leads to a full characterization of the predissociation/autoionization profiles of many resonances that had not been resolved previously. Multichannel quantum defect theory is used to predict the line positions, widths, shapes, and intensities of the observed spectra and is found to yield quantitative agreement using previously determined quantum defect functions as the unique set of input parameters.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings in soft-tissue lesions: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVES: There is currently no widely available, minimally invasive first-level examination that allows physicians to identify soft-tissue lesions that are likely to be malignant. The aim of this pilot study was to explore the potential suitability of dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) for this purpose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 23 patients were referred to the Veneto Oncological Institute for work-up of superficial soft-tissue lesions. Fourteen lesions were examined with CEUS and enhancement kinetics was analyzed. Subsequently, all lesions were surgically removed and subjected to histological analysis. RESULTS: The 14 lesions included in the study were histologically classified as malignant (n = 7) or benign (n = 7, including 3 schwannomas). A statistically significant difference between benign and malignant lesions was found in terms of mean times to peak enhancement intensity (p = 0.03) but not mean filling times (FT). When schwannomas were analyzed as a separate group, their mean FT was found to be significantly different from that of the other benign lesions (p = 0.001) and from that of the group comprising other benign lesions as well as malignant lesions (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: CEUS with analysis of contrast-enhancement kinetics is a relatively low-cost, minimally invasive imaging technique, which appears to be a potentially effective first-level method for identifying suspicious soft-tissue masses.

Role of multidetector CT angiography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound in redefining follow-up protocols after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

PURPOSE: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is an appealing alternative to computed tomography angiography (CTA) for the follow-up of patients who underwent endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). We sought to evaluate the accuracy of CEUS compared with a particularly tailored protocol of CTA performed with a 64-row multidetector CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study prospectively enrolled 88 consecutive patients for CEUS and CTA imaging during follow-up after EVAR, yielding 142 paired examinations. The outcome is represented by three main goals: identification and characterisation of endoleaks, evaluation of graft patency and measurement of aneurysm diameter. Triple-phase CTA was the gold standard. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of CEUS compared with CTA in endoleak and graft patency evaluation were 91.89% and 100% and 72% and 100%, respectively. A very high correlation between CTA and CEUS diameter measurements was established. CEUS did not appear superior to CTA in endoleak detection, probably because a tailored CTA protocol with a delayed phase (180 s) allows detection of low-flow endoleaks. CONCLUSIONS: Patient management was not different following CEUS and CTA results. CTA cannot yet be completely replaced, but several limitations (radiation exposure, contrast agent) encourage redefining the routine follow-up imaging modality. We suggest an algorithm of surveillance alternating CTA and CEUS.

Analysis of anabolic steroids in hair by GC/MS/MS.

A simple and sensitive gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) method is described for the detection of anabolic steroids, usually found in keratin matrix at very low concentrations. Hair samples from seven athletes who spontaneously reported their abuse of anabolic steroids, and in a single case cocaine, were analyzed for methyltestosterone, nandrolone, boldenone, fluoxymesterolone, cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine. Anabolic steroids were determinate by digestion of hair samples in 1 m NaOH for 15 min at 95 degrees C. After cooling, samples were purificated by solid-phase and liquid-liquid extraction, then anabolic steroids were converted to their trimethylsilyl derivative and finally analyzed by GC/MS/MS. For detection of cocaine and benzoylecgonine, hair samples were extracted with methanol in an ultrasonic bath for 2 h at 56 degrees C then overnight in a thermostatic bath at the same temperature. After the incubation, methanol was evaporated to dryness, and benzoylecgonine was converted to its trimethylsilyl derivative prior of GC/MS/MS analysis. Results obtained are in agreement with the athletes' reports, confirming that hair is a valid biological matrix to establish long-term intake of drugs.

Effects of light physical exercise on sleep in middle-aged rats.

The effects of physical activity on sleep were evaluated in 12-month-old rats. The animals (n = 18) were induced to walk or run for 45 min in a rota-rod treadmill while control mates remained in their home cages. Immediately after the trial, they were left free to sleep for four hours, during which their electroencephalographic activity was recorded. Baseline electroencephalogram showed no differences among groups in sleep parameters and spike wave discharges during wakefulness in all rats. Sleep variables and spike wave discharges remained constant in the controls over times. On the contrary, Student's t-test for paired data indicated a decrease in spike wave discharges in both walking and running rats while paradoxical sleep rose parallel with slow wave sleep in walking animals but declined in running rats, in spite of an increment in slow wave sleep. The results seem to indicate that: i) light exercise improves sleep quality in middle aged rats, provided it is not stressful and ii) physical activity supplies important benefits to waking brain by reducing spike wave discharges.

[Medical record management and risk management processes. State of the art and new normative guidelines about the organization and the management of the sanitary documentation in the National Health System or Hospital Trusts]. / La gestione della cartella clinica ed i processi di risk management. Stato dell'arte e nuovi orientamenti normativi circa l'organizzazione e la gestione della documentazione sanitaria nelle Aziende Sanitarie od Ospedaliere.

Recent health care reforms, the start of accreditation processes of health institutions, and the introduction also in the health system of risk management concepts and instruments, borrowed from the enterprise culture and the emphasis put on the protection of privacy, render evident the need and the urgency to define and to implement improvement processes of the organization and management of the medical documentation in the hospital with the aim of facilitation in fulfilment of regional and local health authorities policies about protection of the safety and improvement of quality of care. Currently the normative context that disciplines the management of medical records inside the hospital appears somewhat fragmentary, incomplete and however not able to clearly orientate health operators with the aim of a correct application of the enforced norms in the respect of the interests of the user and of local health authority. In this job we individuate the critical steps in the various phases of management process of the clinical folder and propose a new model of regulations, with the purpose to improve and to simplify the management processes and the modalities of compilation, conservation and release to entitled people of all clinical documentation.

[Risk management and hospital food service: food safety quality system in healthcare]. / Il risk management e la ristorazione collettiva ospedaliera. Implementazione di un sistema di qualità delle attività di ristorazione collettiva e dietetica.

In this article we describe a project about reorganisation of dietetic and hospital food service which aims to implement a food safety quality system from the prospective of risk management approach. The main objective is to develop structural and systematic activities from the medical direction point of view on all those activities concerning with hospital food service and dietetic with the following actions: 1) epidemiologic surveillance, 2) monitoring and output control, 3) education, training and information for staff and patients. The operative context is particularly complex for many reasons: the prevalent tendency to outsourcing for food service, the involvement of many professionals and several medical and non medical units. Actually after the redefinition of the main tasks (food hygiene and dietetic are the first functions) the organizational analysis, we have already done the corrective actions finalized to the improvement of quality and it is going to be ready a list of quality indicators to evaluate and continuous monitoring efficacy on the same corrective actions.