Monitoring cerebral oxygenation during balloon occlusion with multichannel NIRS

We report on oxygenation changes noninvasively recorded by multichannel continuous-wave near infrared spectroscopy (CW-NIRS) during endovascular neuroradiologic interventions requiring temporary balloon occlusion of arteries supplying the cerebral circulation. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) provides reference data on the site, timing, and effectiveness of the flow stagnation as well as on the amount and direction of collateral circulation. This setting allows us to relate CW-NIRS findings to brain specific perfusion changes. We focused our analysis on the transition from normal perfusion to vessel occlusion, i.e., before hypoxia becomes clinically apparent. The localization of the maximal response correlated either with the core (occlusion of the middle cerebral artery) or with the watershed areas (occlusion of the internal carotid artery) of the respective vascular territories. In one patient with clinically and angiographically confirmed insufficient collateral flow during carotid artery occlusion, the total hemoglobin concentration became significantly asymmetric, with decreased values in the ipsilateral watershed area and contralaterally increased values. Multichannel CW-NIRS monitoring might serve as an objective and early predictive marker of critical perfusion changes during interventions—to prevent hypoxic damage of the brain. It also might provide valuable human reference data on oxygenation changes as they typically occur during acute stroke.     

Ward mortality after ICU discharge: a multicenter validation of the Sabadell score

Background  

Tools for predicting post-ICU patients’ outcomes are scarce. A single-center study showed that the Sabadell score classified patients into four groups with clear-cut differences in ward mortality.     

Mitochondrial function in myocardial stunning

Mitochondrial respiration parameters were studied in mitochondria isolated from normal, ischemic and post-ischemic rabbit hearts. Mitochondrial function was related to tissue content of high energy phosphates (HEP) and cardiac function in the isolated working rabbit heart preparation. It was found that after 10 and 20 mins of global normothermic ischemia followed by 20 mins of Langendorff reperfusion, mitochondrial function and HEP content of the myocardium were not significantly diminished. Myocardial creatine phosphate even showed a significant overshoot as compared to the pre-ischemic condition. When these hearts were allowed to perform work, recovery of cardiac function was incomplete while mitochondrial function and HEP content remained in the normal range. Prolonged ischemia (30 mins) resulted in a significant depression of mitochondrial function and myocardial ATP content during and after ischemia. Recovery of contractile function was severely depressed. These results show that impaired cardiac function after a mild ischemic insult (myocardial stunning) can be associated with near normal mitochondrial function and HEP contents.     

Diazonium-functionalized thin films from the spontaneous reaction of p-phenylenebis(diazonium) salts

Salts of the diazonium coupling agent p-phenylenebis(diazonium) form diazonium-terminated conjugated thin films on a variety of conductive and nonconductive surfaces by spontaneous reaction of the coupling agent with the surface. The resulting diazonium-bearing surface can be reacted with various organic and inorganic nucleophiles to form a functionalized surface. These surfaces have been characterized with voltammetry, XPS, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Substrates that can be conveniently and quickly modified with this process include ordinary glass, gold, and an intact, fully assembled commercial screen-printed carbon electrode. The scope and convenience of this process make it promising for practical surface modification.

We present a surface functionalization procedure based on diazonium-functionalized thin films produced by spontaneous surface grafting of p-phenylene-bis(diazonium) cation.     

A Path Analysis of Latino Parental,Teenager and Cultural Variables in Teenagers' Sexual Attitudes,Norms, Self-Efficacy,and Sexual Intentions

OBJECTIVE:

to test a theoretical model based on the Parent-Based Expansion of the Theory of Planned Behavior examining relation between selected parental, teenager and cultural variables and Latino teenagers'' intentions to engage in sexual behavior.

METHOD:

a cross-sectional correlational design based on a secondary data analysis of 130 Latino parent and teenager dyads.

RESULTS:

regression and path analysis procedures were used to test seven hypotheses and the results demonstrated partial support for the model. Parent familism and knowledge about sex were significantly associated with parents'' attitudes toward sexual communication with their teenagers. Parent Latino acculturation was negatively associated with parents'' self-efficacy toward sexual communication with their teenagers and positevely associated with parents'' subjective norms toward sexual communication with their teenagers. Teenager knowledge about sex was significantly associated with higher levels of teenagers'' attitudes and subjective norms about sexual communication with parents. Only the predictor of teenagers'' attitudes toward having sex in the next 3 months was significantly associated with teenagers'' intentions to have sex in the next 3 months.

CONCLUSION:

the results of this study provide important information to guide future research that can inform development of interventions to prevent risky teenager sexual behavior among Latinos.