A CFD-Aided Galerkin Method for Global Linear Instability Analysis

Global linear instability analysis is a powerful tool for the complex flow diagnosis. However, the methods used in the past would generally suffer from some disadvantages, either the excessive computational resources for the low-order methods or the tedious mathematical derivations for the high-order methods. The present work proposed a CFD-aided Galerkin methodology which combines the merits from both the low-order and high-order methods, where the expansion on proper basis functions is preserved to ensure a small matrix size, while the differentials, incompressibility constraints and boundary conditions are realized by applying the low-order linearized Navier-Stokes equation solvers on the basis functions on a fine grid. Several test cases have shown that the new method can get satisfactory results for one-dimensional, two-dimensional and three-dimensional flow problems and also for the problems with complex geometries and boundary conditions.     

A fast screening method for the detection of CERA in dried blood spots

Continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) is a third-generation erythropoiesis-stimulating agent that was developed for the treatment of anemia. However, misuse of CERA for doping in endurance sports has been reported. Previous studies have shown blood as the matrix of choice for the detection of CERA, due to its high molecular weight. The use of dried blood spots (DBSs) for anti-doping purposes constitutes a complementary approach to the standard urine and venous blood matrices and could facilitate sample collection and increase the number of blood samples available for analysis due to reduced costs of sample collection and transport. Here, we investigated whether CERA could be indirectly detected in extracts of single DBSs using an erythropoietin-specific immunoassay that is capable of providing results within approximately 2 h. Reconstituted DBS samples were prepared from mixtures of red blood cell pellets and serum samples. The samples were collected in a previous clinical study in which six healthy volunteers were injected with a single, 200 μg dose of CERA. Using a commercially available ELISA kit, CERA was detected in the DBSs with a detection window of up to 20 days post-injection. Furthermore, in order to demonstrate the fitness-for-purpose, three authentic doping control serum samples, which were identified as containing CERA, were analyzed by the presented methodological approach on DBS. The testing procedure described here could be used as a fast and cost-effective method for the detection of CERA abuse in sport.     

人工气道吸痰方法的研究进展

<正>人工气道是将导管直接置入气管或经鼻(口腔)插入气管所建立的呼吸通道,主要用以清除呼吸道分泌物,改善通气功能,从而纠正患者的缺氧症状。但在建立人工气道的同时,也破坏了患者的上呼吸道非特异性防御屏障,失去对吸入空气的加热和加湿,以及对灰尘和微生物的过滤功能,从而导致气道分泌物粘稠,呼吸道纤毛运动能力下降,分泌物排出减慢等,造成细菌的繁殖引起肺部感染[1]。而感染又会加重分泌物的产生,增加痰液的粘稠度,导致气     

三种方法测定地面游离蚤的效果观察

目的比较水盘法、粘蚤纸法及粘蝇板法等三种方法现场测定地面游离蚤的效果。方法选择云南省景洪市景讷乡4个村54户家庭作为研究对象,其中2个村同时布放水盘及粘蚤纸,另外2个村同时放置水盘及粘蝇板测定地面游离蚤,分别计算不同方法对地面游离蚤的捕获率,并进行结果比较。结果同时布放粘蚤纸及水盘的勐混和小寨,粘蚤纸法和水盘法的捕获率分别为44.50%(283/636)和80.85%(494/611),两种方法对地面游离蚤的捕获率差异有统计学意义(χ2=175.33,P0.01);同时布放粘蝇板及水盘的大寨和新寨,粘蝇板法及水盘法捕获率分别为54.06%(353/653)和69.78%(448/642),捕获率测定结果差异有统计学意义(χ2=33.09,P0.01)。不同村寨水盘法的捕获率80.85%(494/611)和69.78%(449/642),与粘蚤纸法和粘蝇板法的捕获率44.50%(283/636)和54.06%(353/653)交叉比较,差异有统计学意义(χ2=83.40,P0.01和χ2=102.48,P0.01)。分别布放在不同村寨的粘蚤纸及粘蝇板对地面游离蚤的捕获率44.50%(283/636)和54.06%(353/653),差异有统计学意义(χ2=11.78,P0.01)。结论水盘法对地面游离蚤的收集效果明显优于粘蚤纸法及粘蝇板法,粘蝇板法虽然捕获率优于粘蚤纸法,但实际应用中存在缺点。水盘法更适合在基层鼠疫监测工作中使用。     

激光联合重组人干扰素α-2b凝胶治疗尖锐湿疣的临床研究

目的:研究激光联合重组人干扰素α-2b凝胶治疗尖锐湿疣(CA)的临床疗效;方法:选择2014年1月至2014年12月我院收治的尖锐湿疣患者96例,依据随机数字表法分为实验组与对照组各48例,两组性别、年龄、病程等基线资料比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。实验组以激光联合重组人干扰素α-2b凝胶治疗,对照组以5-氨基酮戊酸光动力(ALA-PDT)联合液氮冷冻治疗。观察两组临床疗效、复发及复发患者疣体个数与不良反应;结果:实验组治疗总有效率(89.58%)与对照组(83.33%)比较无统计学差异(P0.05)。跟踪回访6个月,实验组复发率(6.98%)与对照组(7.14%)比较无统计学差异(P0.05),两组复发患者疣体个数之间无统计学差异(P0.05)。实验组总不良反应发生率(10.42%)与对照组(6.25%)比较无统计学差异(P0.05);实验组治疗费用(1.45±0.53)千元显著低于对照组(6.05±0.74)千元,存在统计学意义(P0.05);结论:激光联合重组人干扰素α-2b凝胶治疗尖锐湿疣疗效均较为显著,且复发率低,在经济上更具有优势,值得应用与临床。     

Formulation and optimization of potassium iodide tablets

The use of potassium iodide (KI) as a protective agent against accidental radioactive exposure is well established. In this study, we aimed to prepare a KI tablet formulation using a direct compression method. We utilized Design of Experiment (DoE)/mixture design to define the best formulation with predetermined physical qualities as to its dissolution, hardness, assay, disintegration, and angle of repose. Based on the results from the DoE, the formulation had the following components (%w/w): Avicel 48.70%, silicon dioxide 0.27%, stearic acid (1.00%), magnesium stearate 2.45%, and dicalcium phosphate 18.69%, in addition to potassium iodide 28.89% (130 mg/tablet). This formulation was scaled-up using two tablet presses, a single-punch press and a rotary mini tablet press. The final scaled-up formulation was subjected to a variety of quality control tests, including photo-stability testing. The results indicate that potassium iodide tablets prepared by a rotary mini tablet press had good pharmaceutical characteristics and a shelf-life of 25 days when stored at room temperature protected from light.     

庄国康教授运用重潜搜风法治疗顽固性皮肤瘙痒的经验

瘙痒是皮肤科最常见症状,而顽固性瘙痒因其瘙痒剧烈、夜不能寐、持续时间长,常规中西医治疗无效,更是临床治疗的难点。庄国康教授在50余年的临床皮肤病诊疗过程中,积累了丰富而又宝贵的临床经验,认为痒必挟风,而顽固性瘙痒多伴情志失调,肝失疏泄,心神浮越,风火相煽,常规祛风之法疗效不显,故治疗多从心肝入手,运用重潜搜风法,选择金石和介壳类药物生龙骨、生牡蛎、石决明、珍珠母、灵磁石等为主确立核心处方,并根据皮疹颜色、形态以及患者整体辨证灵活配伍,取得了满意疗效。     

Characterization of Hybrid Materials Prepared by Sol-Gel Method for Biomedical Implementations. A Critical Review

The interaction between tissues and biomaterials (BM) has the purpose of improving and replacing anatomical parts of the human body, avoiding the occurrence of adverse reactions in the host organism. Unfortunately, the early failure of implants cannot be currently avoided, since neither a good mixture of mechanical and chemical characteristics of materials nor their biocompatibility has been yet achieved. Bioactive glasses are recognized to be a fine class of bioactive substances for good repair and replacement. BM interact with living bones through the formation of a hydroxyapatite surface layer that is analogous to bones. Bioglasses’ composition noticeably affects their biological properties, as does the synthesis method, with the best one being the versatile sol-gel technique, which includes the change of scheme from a ‘sol’ fluid into a ‘gel’. This process is widely used to prepare many materials for biomedical implants (e.g., hip and knee prostheses, heart valves, and ceramic, glassy and hybrid materials to serve as carriers for drug release). Nanoparticles prepared by the sol-gel method are interesting systems for biomedical implementations, and particularly useful for cancer therapy. This review provides many examples concerning the synthesis and characterization of the above-mentioned materials either taken from literature and from recently prepared zirconia/polyethylene glycol (PEG) hybrids, and the corresponding results are extensively discussed.     

Focusing on functional knee parameter determination to develop a better clinical gait analysis protocol

BackgroundAttempts to improve protocol standards of marker-based clinical gait analysis (CGA) have been one of the main focuses of research to enhance robustness and reliability outcomes since the 1990s. Determining joint centres and axes constitutes an important aspect of those protocols. Although the hip joint is more prominent in such studies, knee joint center (KJC) and axis (KJA) directly affect all outcomes.Research questionWhat recommendations arise from the study of the scientific literature for determining knee joint parameters (KJP) for protocols of CGA?MethodsA systematic, electronic search was conducted on November 2018 using three databases with the keyword combination (“functional approach” OR “functional method” OR “functional calibration”) AND (“hip joint” OR “knee joint” OR “ankle joint”) and analyzed by four reviewers. Given the existence of a recent review about the hip joint and the lack of material about the ankle joint, only papers about the knee joint were kept. The references cited in the selected papers were also screened in the final round of the search for these publications.The quality of the selected papers was assessed and aspects regarding accuracy, repeatability, and feasibility were thoroughly considered to allow for a comparison between studies. Technical aspects, such as marker set choice, KJP determination techniques, demographics, and functional movements, were also included.ResultsThirty-one papers were included and on average received a rating of about 75 % according to the quality scale used. The results showed that functional methods are superior or equivalent to predictive methods to estimate the KJA, while a regression method was slightly better for KJC prediction.SignificanceCalibration methods should be applied to CGA whenever feasibility is reached. No study to date has focused on evaluating the in vivo RoM required to obtain reliable and repeatable results and future work should aim in this direction.