Evaluation of the dispersion properties of graphene oxide/cetyltrimethylammonium bromide for application in nanocomposite materials.

The properties of thermal diffusivity and Z potential of the GONPs/CTAB nanofluid were studied as a function of GO concentration (in the range between 4 and 12% w/v), temperature (35 and 50 °C) and time (30 and 60 min) under ultrasound. In turn, the structural properties of GONPs/CTAB were measured by XRD, Raman, SEM and TEM. The GO previously modified with CTAB was used to obtain a PLA/GO nanocomposite. It was found that the behavior of thermal diffusivity provides information in situ on the dispersion properties of the nanofluid, finding values from 0.0013 to 0.0024 cm2 s-1. The hydrodynamic diameter of the GONP dispersions was also determined to range from 75.83 to 360.3 nm with an increase in Z potential from 17 to 30 mV. The most stable GONPs/CTAB dispersion conditions were 6% w/v GO, 50 °C and 30 min. Under these conditions, the GONPs/CTAB materials present an increase in the spacing between GO layers, associated with a greater multilayer stacking of the GO and CTAB layers. The Raman spectrum allowed us to demonstrate that the modification with CTAB did not affect the crystallinity of GO, which was verified by the intensity ratio of the D band and the G band (ID/IG) for the GO/CTAB samples, with the exception of the GO 6% sample, where an increase in the ID/IG ratio (0.9) was observed compared to GO (0.82), associated with greater intercalation of CTAB between the GO sheets. Finally, an SEM analysis of the PLA/GO nanocomposite was carried out and the homogeneous distribution of GO in PLA was demonstrated when it is used as a filler in proportions of 0.1%. This treatment, in turn, contributed to improving the mechanical flexural properties of the nanocomposite materials.

Bloqueo de las ramas terminales del plexo lumbar, una alternativa segura para el implante valvular aórtico transcatéter por vía transfemoral. Caso clínico / Lumbar plexus terminal branch block, a safe alternative for transfemoral aortic valve implantation. Case report

El implante de la válvula aórtica transcatéter es una alternativa al tratamiento de pacientes con estenosis aórtica severa, se realiza convencionalmente en anestesia general o anestesia local más sedación. Presentamos el primer caso de implante valvular aórtico transcatéter por vía transfemoral realizado en nuestro hospital en un paciente con estenosis aórtica severa con riesgo quirúrgico alto. La anestesia consistió en la combinación de bloqueo bilateral selectivo de los nervios iliohipogástrico, ilioinguinal y genitofemoral con el paciente despierto sin sedación, mediante el abordaje guiado por ecografía. El implante valvular aórtico transcatéter fue exitoso y transcurrió sin incidencias, el paciente se mantuvo inmóvil, tranquilo, no refirió dolor y no fue necesario suministrar sedantes/hipnóticos durante la dilatación de los accesos vasculares con los introductores. La monitorización estándar mostró estabilidad hemodinámica sin repercusión cardiovascular y no requirió apoyo de fármacos vasopresores o inotropos. Tras la intervención el paciente fue enviado a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Cardiológicos, donde se mantuvo asintomático y estable. Posteriormente el paciente ingresó en la sala de cardiología de la que fue dado de alta sin complicaciones.(AU)

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an alternative treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis, it is conventionally performed under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia plus sedation. We present the first case of trans-femoral, trans-catheter aortic valve implantation, performed in our hospital in a patient with severe aortic stenosis, who was a high surgical risk. Anaesthesia consisted of a combination of bilateral selective blockade of the iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerves with the patient awake without sedation, using an ultrasound-guided approach. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation was successful and passed without incident, the patient remained immobile, calm, did not report pain, and sedation or hypnotics were not necessary during dilation of the vascular accesses with the introducer. Standard monitoring demonstrated haemodynamic stability, without cardiovascular repercussions and did not necessitate vasopressor or inotropic drug support. After the intervention, the patient was sent to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, where he remained asymptomatic and stable. Subsequently, the patient was admitted to the cardiology ward from where he was discharged without complications.(AU)

Lumbar plexus terminal branch block, a safe alternative for transfemoral aortic valve implantation. Case report.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is an alternative treatment for patients with severe aortic stenosis, it is conventionally performed under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia plus sedation. We present the first case of trans-femoral, trans-catheter aortic valve implantation, performed in our hospital in a patient with severe aortic stenosis, who was a high surgical risk. Anaesthesia consisted of a combination of bilateral selective blockade of the iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerves with the patient awake without sedation, using an ultrasound-guided approach. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation was successful and passed without incident, the patient remained immobile, calm, did not report pain, and sedation or hypnotics were not necessary during dilation of the vascular accesses with the introducer. Standard monitoring demonstrated haemodynamic stability, without cardiovascular repercussions and did not necessitate vasopressor or inotropic drug support. After the intervention, the patient was sent to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, where he remained asymptomatic and stable. Subsequently, the patient was admitted to the cardiology ward from where he was discharged without complications.

Application of thermal lens microscopy (TLM) for measurement of Cr(VI) traces in wastewater.

In this work, we demonstrate for the first time that Thermal Lens Microscopy technique (TLM) can be applied to monitor the dynamics of a photocatalytic process in-situ. The photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium -Cr(VI)- in aqueous solution using CdS and irradiated with visible light is monitored by TLM. Since the values of Cr(VI) concentration obtained after the photocatalytic process were close to those imposed by the international regulations for drinking water, the use of TLM allowed its measurement with a better reliability than with UV spectroscopy, usually used in this kind of analysis.

High sensitivity thermal lens microscopy: Cr-VI trace detection in water.

In this work, a low detection limit for hexavalent chromium in water of parts per trillions (21ng/L) was achieved using a micro-spatial thermal lens spectroscopy setup with coaxial counter-propagating pump and probe laser beams and an integrated passive optical Fabry-Perot resonator, aided with a well-established diphenyl carbazide colorimetric method. Cr-VI concentrations in the range of µg/L, i.e. well-below the toxicity thresholds in humans and animals (26 and 190mg/L respectively) and below those delimited by international regulations for drink water (~0.05-0.5mg/L), have been obtained by measurements in bottled and tap water samples. The developed thermal lens microscope is also capable to detect Cr-VI directly in potassium dichromate solutions using pump beam wavelengths within the very low optical absorption region in the visible part of the spectrum, i.e., without the use of any colorimetric method.

Family functioning and illness perception of parents of children with atopic dermatitis, living without skin symptoms, but with psychosomatic symptoms.

Emotional factors and a recurrent psychosomatic environment, have been implicated in the evolution of atopic dermatitis. These, in turn, affect the disease. This study was under taken to evaluate the functioning of families with a child that has atopic dermatitis without skin symptoms and the parents' perceptions of their child's disease.Semi-quantitative and cross-sectional study in which questionnaires were applied: one to study family functioning (Espejel et al. scale) and the second to determine aspects of parental perception of their child's atopic dermatitis. Pearson's correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the categories of the Family Function Scale.The most affected categories of family functioning were authority, handling of disruptive conduct, communication, and negative affect. The most significant positive correlations between the categories of family functioning were: authority and support, r=0.867, p<.001; disruptive conduct and communication, r=0.798, p<.001; and support and communication, r=0.731, p<.001. Of the parents, 66.4% thought that the pharmacotherapy used for their child's atopic dermatitis was not effective, and 33.3% of parents stated that the disease had affected their child's daily activities.In families of children with atopic dermatitis, various family environment factors facilitate the recurrence of symptoms even when no cutaneous lesions have been found on the child. The identification and use of family resources to face this disease are aspects that should be taken into consideration during the psychotherapeutic management of these families, putting emphasis on the most affected functional categories of these families in a strategy that should be implanted in a multi-disciplinary context.

Análisis de películas rechazadas en el Servicio General de Radiología del HUC / Replace of analytical pictures at the Service General of Radiology of HUC

Un servicio de radiología debe producir imágenes de buena calidad, sin irradiar innecesariamente al paciente y con el menor costo posible. Para el Hospital Universitario de Caracas (HUC) la consideración de este criterio es importante para mejorar la atención en los servicios de radiología. El desarrollo de un programa en esta dirección puede comenzarse con la evaluación de las radiografías que se desechan y las que se rechazan por no tener la calidad nrcesaria para el diagnóstico, las causas de tales rechazos, y los porcentajes de rechazo. En el presente trabajo se realizó este análisis de las películas desechadas en el servicio general de radiología del HUC. El resultado de este análisis mostró que el número de películas rechazadas es considerable al compararlo con límite recomendado. Al evaluar las causas se observó que están relacionadas con el funcionamiento del equipamiento del servicio, dificultades asociadas con el examen, competencias del personal, o una combinación de estos elementos. Se concluyó que para solventar los problemas encontrados se debe establecer un programa de control de calidad e implementarse la educación continua del personal. Estas medidas mejorarán la eficiente y la eficaz del servicio, e incidirán en la optimización de los recursos

Introduction of cyclofem once-a-month injectable contraceptive in Mexico.

A large introductory study of Cyclofem, a once-a-month injectable contraceptive, was conducted in three Mexican provinces. A total of 3457 healthy women participated: 640 women from rural areas (community-based component) and 2817 women from urban and suburban areas (health center-based component). A total of 20,316 women-months of treatment experience were accumulated during a one year period. Cyclofem proved its use-effectiveness (pregnancy rate of 0.03%) and its safety under routine service conditions of family planning facilities in Mexico. The overall life table continuation rate at 1 year was 26.1%. Higher continuation rates were observed in the community-based component (36.6%) as compared to the health center component (23.7%). The most common reason for method discontinuation was change of address. Only 15% of the discontinuations were attributable to the injectable contraceptive method, with the overall 1 year discontinuation rate for bleeding problems (including amenorrhea) was < 11%. These observations underscore the importance of appropriate counseling and follow-up measures, providing convenient access to repeat injections, and other service delivery issues related to continuation of Cyclofem. The results of this trial have once again demonstrated that Cyclofem is a highly effective method with an acceptable side effect profile. In addition, the study provided the elements for its approval by local health authorities and its inclusion into the Ministry of Health Family Planning Program.

PIP: The effectiveness and continuation rates associated with the once-a-month injectable contraceptive Cyclofem were investigated in an introductory trial conducted in three Mexican provinces (Sinaloa, Guanajuato, and Veracruz). Cyclofem contains 25 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate and 5 mg of estradiol cypionate. A total of 3457 women (640 women from rural communities and 2817 from urban and suburban family planning centers) were enrolled and 20,316 woman-months of treatment experience were accumulated during the 12-month study period. The mean age of study participants was 23.6 years; 70% had previously used at least one contraceptive method. There was only one pregnancy (rate, 0.03%). The overall life-table continuation rate at 1 year was 26.1%, but this rate was higher in the community-based group (36.9%) than in the health center group (22.4%). This discrepancy is presumed to reflect the greater access of clinic clients to other contraception options. Continuation was highest among women 30-34 years of age, those with low levels of education, women with five or more children, and those who did not want more children. Only 14% of discontinuations were method-related. The 1-year discontinuation rate for bleeding problems, including amenorrhea, was 10.2%. These findings indicate Cyclofem is a safe, effective method appropriate for inclusion in Mexico's Ministry of Health Family Planning Program.

The relationship between various production factors, condemnation, and downgrading in turkeys: factor analysis as a method of variable reduction.

Wholesomeness and grade inspection loss were monitored in a selected population of California turkeys. Of the several production variables normally measured in the production of meat turkeys, only "week of year place" and "temperature on date of processing" were found to be statistically significantly associated with "percent of flock receiving grade A." Factor analysis reduced the number of original variables, but some quality of the information resident in the original variables was lost.