jStudy of a Monte Carlo rearrangement model for the activity determination of electron-capture nuclides by means of liquid scintillation counting

A new Monte Carlo approach for the computation of the electron spectra of electron-capture nuclides is applied to obtain efficiencies in liquid scintillation counting for CIEMAT/NIST applications. The new method is applied to the radionuclides ¹⁰⁹Cd and ¹²⁵I by using a stochastic atomic rearrangement model, taking into account rearrangement processes including L-, M-, and N-subshells. The counting efficiencies were computed with the new code MICELLE which also comprises an approach for calculating the counting efficiency of a radionuclide in a gel phase sample. The calculated counting efficiencies are compared with experimental results.     

Epifluorescent direct counts of bacteria and viruses from topsoil of various desert dust storm regions

Topsoil from arid regions is the main source of dust clouds that move through the earth's atmosphere, and microbial communities within these soils can survive long-range dispersion. Microbial abundance and chemical composition were analyzed in topsoil from various desert regions. Statistical analyses showed that microbial direct counts were strongly positively correlated with calcium concentrations and negatively correlated with silicon concentrations. While variance between deserts was expected, it was interesting to note differences between sample sites within a given desert region, illustrating the ‘patchy’ nature of microbial communities in desert environments.     

Early management of type 2 diabetes based on a SMBG strategy: the way to diabetes regression—the St Carlos study

The aims are to define the regression rate in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes after lifestyle intervention and pharmacological therapy based on a SMBG (self-monitoring of blood glucose) strategy in routine practice as compared to standard HbA1c-based treatment and to assess whether a supervised exercise program has additional effects. St Carlos study is a 3-year, prospective, randomized, clinic-based, interventional study with three parallel groups. Hundred and ninety-five patients were randomized to the SMBG intervention group [I group; n = 130; Ia: SMBG (n = 65) and Ib: SMBG + supervised exercise (n = 65)] and to the HbA1c control group (C group) (n = 65). The primary outcome was to estimate the regression rate of type 2 diabetes (HbA1c <6 % on metformin treatment). After 3 years of follow-up, diabetes regression was achieved by 56 patients, 6 (9.2 %) from the C group, 21 (32.3 %) from the Ia group and 29 (44.6 %) from the Ib group. RR (95 % CI) for diabetes regression in the intervention group (Ia + Ib) was 4.5 (2.1–9); p < 0.001 and remained after stratification by gender, age and BMI. This difference was associated with healthier changes in lifestyle and greater weight loss. RR for a weight loss >4 kg was 3.6 (1.8–7); p < 0.001. This study shows that the use of SMBG in an educational program effectively increases the regression rate in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients after 3 years of follow-up. These data suggest that SMBG-based programs should be extended to primary care settings where diabetic patients are usually attended.     

Untersuchungen zum klinischen Bild der lokalen Argyrose

Zusammenfassung Nach Besprechung der derzeitigen Hauptanwendungsgebiete silberhaltiger Lösungen in Industrie und Pharmazie wird das klinische Bild der chronischen, langsam verlaufenden Silberimprägnation der Haut und Schleimhäute, Argyrose genannt, besprochen. Mitteilung eigener Untersuchungsbefunde von 21 Betriebsangehörigen einer Silbernitratfabrik, wobei sich als auffälligste Symptome einer lokalen Argyrose typische braunschwarze Silberimprägnationen der endonasalen Septumschleimhäute (bei 90% aller Fälle), der Conjunctiven (38%) und geringer auch der Mundschleimhäute (24%) fanden. Dabei ergab die chemische Untersuchung eines stark silberimprägnierten Anteiles der Nasenschleimhaut in einem Fall das Vorliegen reinen, elementaren Silbers. Es konnte ein deutlicher Zusammenhang zwischen Dauer und Intensität einerseits und dem Ausmaß der örtlichen Argyrose andererseits ermittelt werden. Entsprechend der Lokalisation und dem Ausmaß ergaben sich als typische Symptome Augenbrennen, Tränenträufeln, Fremdkörpergefühl und Trockenheit der Nasenschleimhäute. Darüber hinaus ließen andersartige allgemeine Symptome an eine Mitbeteiligung innerer Organe auf dem Boden einer bereits universellen Argyrose denken.Entsprechend der auffällig gehäuften Organsymptomatik lokaler Argyrose scheint dieser nach dem Ergebnis der Untersuchungen undentgegen der bestehenden Ansicht doch eingewisser Krankheitswert zuzukommen.Herrn Prof. Dr.Kindler zum 70. Geburtstag gewidmet. Arch. Ohr.-, Nas.-, u. Kehlk.-Heilk., Bd. 184     

Comparative study of two methods for salvaging red blood cells: centrifugation techniques (cell-saver) versus filtration through a 100,000-dalton filter

OBJECTIVES: Some loss of blood occurs during blood salvage. We hypothesized that plasmapheresis filtering would damage blood much less than centrifugation techniques do, thereby allowing more red blood cells to be transfused. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Laboratory study in which 16 units of whole donor blood were distributed randomly in two groups and processed either by a conventional "cell-saver" method or by hemofiltration using recirculation through a 100,000 dalton filter. We analysed hemoglobin, hematocrit, free hemoglobin, extracellular potassium, platelets, leukocytes, protein and albumin in whole blood before and after processing, and in the waste bag in each group. RESULTS: The recovery of hemoglobin and red blood cell volume was about 80% with both methods. More free plasma hemoglobin was found in the waste bag with the filtration technique. Hemolysis in processed blood was low, less than 0.1% in both groups. Platelet recovery with conventional centrifugation and filtration was 11 and 49%, respectively. Albumin, total protein and extra-cellular potassium were recovered at a rate of about 20% with the filtration technique, whereas recovery of these elements was minimal with the cell saver method. CONCLUSIONS: Both methods of autotransfusion caused moderate loss of red blood cells and low plasma levels of free hemoglobin in processed blood. Recovery of platelets, albumin, total protein and potassium was better with filtration than with the "cell-saver" method.     

Interactive image-guided surgery system with high-performance computing capabilities on low-cost workstations: a prototype

We present a new frameless stereotatic system prototype that has been initially validated in functional neurosurgery operations and that makes use of an optical position tracker for image-guided neurosurgery. Several devices for tracking different surgical instruments have been designed and manufactured. These devices include an array of infrared light-emitting diodes that are tracked by three charge-coupled device cameras. The system presents several new approaches for surgery planning. For high-quality 3D images of the patient's anatomy, we have developed a parallel version of a volume-rendering algorithm, thus enabling real-time 3D anatomy manipulation on low-cost PC workstations. In order to test the accuracy of the system, the localization of the target by means of a stereotatic frame has been compared with frameless techniques, obtaining a difference of about 1 +/- 1 mm.