Generation of hard twisted photons by charged particles in cholesteric liquid crystals.

We study the radiation from charged particles crossing a cholesteric plate in the shortwave approximation when the wavelength of photons is much smaller than the pitch of the cholesteric helix, whereas the escaping angle of the photon and the anisotropy of the permittivity tensor can be arbitrary. The radiation of photons is treated in the framework of quantum electrodynamics with classical currents. The radiation of the plane-wave photons and the photons with definite projection of the angular momentum (the twisted photons) produced by charged particles crossing the cholesteric plate and moving rectilinearly and uniformly is considered. The explicit expressions for the average number of radiated photons and their spectra with respect to the energy and the projection of the angular momentum are obtained in this case. It turns out that in the paraxial approximation the projection of the orbital angular momentum, l, of radiated twisted photons is related to the harmonic number n∈Z as l=2n+1, i.e., the given system is a pure source of twisted photons as expected. It is shown that in the paraxial shortwave regime the main part of radiated photons is linearly polarized with l=±1 at the harmonics n={-1,0}. The applicability conditions of the approach developed are discussed. As the examples, we consider the production of 6.3 eV twisted photons from uranium nuclei and the production of x-ray twisted photons from 120 MeV electrons.

Parathyroid carcinoma: a case report.

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is an uncommon cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). The tumor is mostly functioning with following high serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Consideration of PC in differential diagnosis of pHPT is important because the mortality and the prognosis depend on early recognition and surgical approach. A case of PC in 51-year old female patient with persistent pHPT is reported. A patient, referred with anterior cervical hematoma, dysphagia, underwent neck ultrasound, barium X-ray swallow test and neck computed tomography. On the posterior surface of left thyroid lobe, close to the esophagus the heterogenic lesion with irregular margins was found. The preoperative calcemia was slightly elevated. The patient underwent cervical exploration with parathyroidectomy. Histological exam showed parathyroid lesion with immunohistochemical confirmation of PC. After 2 months follow-up there are no signs of a residual-recurrent disease. Although laboratory tests revealed pHPT preoperatively, no clinical effects of elevated calcium and PTH concentration levels were presented. As histological features are not specific for the differential diagnosis between the parathyroid adenoma and PC, the immunohistochemistry remains the only useful tool for the definite diagnosis.

The effectiveness of prehospital hypertonic saline for hypotensive trauma patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal prehospital fluid for the treatment of hypotension is unknown. Hypertonic fluids may increase circulatory volume and mute the pro-inflammatory response of the body to injury and illness. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine whether in patients presenting with hypotension in the prehospital setting (population), the administration of hypertonic saline (intervention), compared to an isotonic fluid (control), improves survival to hospital discharge (outcome). METHODS: Searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and CENTRAL from the date of database inception to November, 2016, and included all languages. Two reviewers independently selected randomized control trials of hypotensive human participants administered hypertonic saline in the prehospital setting. The comparison was isotonic fluid, which included normal saline, and near isotonic fluids such as Ringer's Lactate. Assessment of study quality was done using the Cochrane Collaborations' risk of bias tool and a fixed effect meta-analysis was conducted to determine the pooled relative risk of survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes were reported for fluid requirements, multi-organ failure, adverse events, length of hospital stay, long term survival and disability. RESULTS: Of the 1160 non-duplicate citations screened, thirty-eight articles underwent full-text review, and five trials were included in the systematic review. All studies administered a fixed 250 ml dose of 7.5% hypertonic saline, except one that administered 300 ml. Two studies used normal saline, two Ringer's Lactate, and one Ringer's Acetate as control. Routine care co-interventions included isotonic fluids and colloids. Five studies were included in the meta-analysis (n = 1162 injured patients) with minimal statistical heterogeneity (I 2  = 0%). The pooled relative risk of survival to hospital discharge with hypertonic saline was 1.02 times that of patients who received isotonic fluids (95% Confidence Interval: 0.95, 1.10). There were no consistent statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in important clinical outcomes for hypotensive injured patients administered hypertonic saline compared to isotonic fluid in the prehospital setting. Hypertonic saline cannot be recommended for use in prehospital clinical practice for the management of hypotensive injured patients based on the available data. PROSPERO registration # CRD42016053385 .

[THE THROMBUS FORMATION IN THE PROSTHESIS AS A REACTION OF ORGANISM ON ITS MATERIAL].

Abstract Vascular prostheses, excised because of their functional properties loss, were studied. Using different methods there was established, that this complication is caused by the thrombus formation as a reaction of organism on the prosthesis material. The testing procedure on compatibility was proposed, using atomic-power microscope. Components of a patient immunity may identify the prosthesis material and start the rejection mechanisms in case of negative reaction.

[TESTING USING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY OF ALLOGRAFT INDIVIDUAL COMPATIBILITY WITH RECIPIENT BODY].

The specificity of the test networks for hernia repair using an atomic force microscopy was studied. The method allows to determine the compatibility of allograft material with the body of the patient, and select the appropriate implant support optimal patient after surgery.

[ETACISIN-INDUCED BRUGADA SYNDROME IN A PATIENT WITH LONG-STANDING SUPRAVENTRICULAR EXTRASYSTOLE].

Brugada syndrome is a commonest cause of malignant disorders of cardiac rhythm associated with sudden death. It is diagnosed based on characteristic ECG signs and ventricular arrhythmia. This paper reports a 49 year-old patient with long-standing latent BS manifest as supraventricular and transient blockade of the right branch of the His bundle. The ECG pattern of BS became apparent in association with a 7 day treatment with class IC antiarrhythmic agent etacisin. Diagnostic difficulties account for the fact that the disease was initially described as myocardial infarction. Diagnosis of BS was confirmed by an electrophysiological study in which stable ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation were induced by etacisin. A cardioverter defibrillator was implanted to the patient.

Comparison of intramuscular betamethasone and oral prednisone in the prevention of relapse of acute asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the relapse rate after a single intramuscular injection of a long acting corticosteroid, betamethasone, with oral prednisone in patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) for acute exacerbations of asthma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with acute exacerbations of asthma who were suitable for discharge from the ED were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled pilot study. At discharge, patients were randomly assigned to receive either intramuscular betamethasone 12 mg and placebo capsules, or a placebo intramuscular injection and prednisone 50 mg daily for seven days. At days 7 and 21, patients were contacted by telephone to determine relapse. Relapse was defined as an unscheduled visit to a physician for treatment of continuing or worsening symptoms of asthma. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-one patients were enrolled, of whom 87 were randomly assigned to the betamethasone group and 84 to the prednisone group. Baseline characteristics were matched evenly between the groups, with the exception of asthma duration (15.5 versus 21.2 years, respectively) and use of inhaled corticosteroids (46% versus 64.3% respectively) (P<0.05). Using intention-to-treat analysis, the relapse rates for betamethasone and prednisone at day 7 were 14.9% (13 of 87 patients) and 25% (21 of 84 patients), respectively (P=0.1), and at day 21, the rates were 36.8% (32 of 87 patients) and 31% (26 of 84 patients), respectively (P=0.4). There were no differences in symptom score, peak flows and adverse effects between the two groups at days 7 and 21. CONCLUSIONS: A single dose of intramuscular betamethasone 12 mg was safe and as efficacious as prednisone in preventing the relapse of acute asthma. There was a trend toward a reduced relapse rate at seven days. In select ED patients discharged for acute asthma, intramuscular betamethasone may be an effective alternative to prednisone.

Accuracy and speed of urine pregnancy tests done in the emergency department: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Our primary objective was to assess the agreement between urine pregnancy tests done in the emergency department (ED) and those done by the Calgary Laboratory Services (CLS). Our secondary objective was to compare turnaround times for tests done in the ED and those done in the laboratory. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled a convenience sample of ED patients who required a pregnancy test at 1 of 3 urban Calgary EDs. Using the same urine sample from each patient, testing was done in both the ED and by the CLS using the Abbott TestPak Plus (Abbott Laboratories, Mississauga, Ont.) urine pregnancy kit. The ED data included time of urine collection, beta-hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) result, urine specific gravity, and the time the ED nurse reported the result. The CLS data included the time sample was sent to the laboratory, time of laboratory reporting, time ED nurse was aware of the result, the urine beta-hCG result and urine specific gravity. When the ED result and CLS result differed, a serum beta-hCG assay was performed and used as the diagnostic "gold standard." RESULTS: There was a high level of agreement between the CLS and the ED, as indicated by a kappa value of 0.97 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-0.98). The ED was significantly faster in time to initial report and time to availability on the chart, with mean differences of 25 minutes (95% CI, 22-27) and 60 minutes (95% CI, 56-64), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ED nurses can perform urine pregnancy tests as accurately as laboratory technicians, and can provide results on which to base care much faster than the laboratory can. Point-of-care urine pregnancy testing may expedite the ED management of patients who require pregnancy tests.

Pharmacological elevation of cyclic AMP and transmitter release at the mouse neuromuscular junction.

Intracellular recordings of spontaneous and evoked end-plate potentials have been made at the neuromuscular junction of mouse hemidiaphragms to determine a possible role of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the release of acetylcholine from presynaptic terminals. Spontaneous release, as determined from the frequency of miniature end-plate potentials, was increased by drugs that inhibit phosphodiesterase: isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX), SQ 20,009, theophylline, and caffeine; drugs that stimulate adenylate cyclase: forskolin, fluoride, and cholera toxin, and the stable analogue of cAMP: 8-bromo-cAMP but not dibutyryl cAMP. Release increased with time during maintained exposure to the drugs and generally followed a simple exponential time course with time constants ranging from 8 to 17 min at 20 degrees C, except for SQ 20,009 and cholera toxin which required longer exposure times for effect. The order of potency of the phosphodiesterase inhibitors was IBMX = SQ 20,009 greater than theophylline = caffeine. This is consistent with an effect mediated by an increase in cAMP concentrations within the nerve terminal. Evoked release, determined from the quantal content of the end-plate potential, was increased to a lesser extent than spontaneous release. The results are discussed with reference to the possible involvement of second messengers in the release of vesicles from nerve terminals in vertebrate synapses.

[Influence of cation dyes on blood coagulation]. / Vliianie kationnykh krasitelei na koaguliatsiiu krovi.

Experiments on rabbits showed that intravenous injection of dyestuffs of the thionine series (toluidine blue, azur A, 1:9 dimethylene blue) was accompanied by hypofibrinogenemia, a decrease in the concentration of prothrombin complex factors, thrombocytopenia and the lowering of the blood platelets adhesion against the background of delayed blood thrombogenesis. The blood heparin tolerance and the amount of free heparin were sharply lowered. The authors consider that the hypocoagulative effect of cationic dyestuffs on the blood was caused by the thrombocytopenia and by the lowering of the platelet aggregation activity.