Bismuth Sodium Titanate Based Materials for Piezoelectric Actuators

The ban of lead in many electronic products and the expectation that, sooner or later, this ban will include the currently exempt piezoelectric ceramics based on Lead-Zirconate-Titanate has motivated many research groups to look for lead-free substitutes. After a short overview on different classes of lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with large strain, this review will focus on Bismuth-Sodium-Titanate and its solid solutions. These compounds exhibit extraordinarily high strain, due to a field induced phase transition, which makes them attractive for actuator applications. The structural features of these materials and the origin of the field-induced strain will be revised. Technologies for texturing, which increases the useable strain, will be introduced. Finally, the features that are relevant for the application of these materials in a multilayer design will be summarized.     

Low-dose hydrocortisone in patients with COVID-19 and severe hypoxia (COVID STEROID) trial—Protocol and statistical analysis plan

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has caused a pandemic of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with many patients developing hypoxic respiratory failure. Corticosteroids reduce the time on mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit and potentially also mortality in similar patient populations. However, corticosteroids have undesirable effects, including longer time to viral clearance. Clinical equipoise on the use of corticosteroids for COVID-19 exists.

Methods

The COVID STEROID trial is an international, randomised, stratified, blinded clinical trial. We will allocate 1000 adult patients with COVID-19 receiving ≥10 L/min of oxygen or on mechanical ventilation to intravenous hydrocortisone 200 mg daily vs placebo (0.9% saline) for 7 days. The primary outcome is days alive without life support (ie mechanical ventilation, circulatory support, and renal replacement therapy) at day 28. Secondary outcomes are serious adverse reactions at day 14; days alive without life support at day 90; days alive and out of hospital at day 90; all-cause mortality at day 28, day 90, and 1 year; and health-related quality of life at 1 year. We will conduct the statistical analyses according to this protocol, including interim analyses for every 250 patients followed for 28 days. The primary outcome will be compared using the Kryger Jensen and Lange test in the intention to treat population and reported as differences in means and medians with 95% confidence intervals.

Discussion

The COVID STEROID trial will provide important evidence to guide the use of corticosteroids in COVID-19 and severe hypoxia.

     

Cost-effectiveness analysis of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms based on five year results from a randomised hospital based mass screening trial.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate the cost effectiveness of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: All 12,639 men born in the years 1921-1933 (aged 64-73) living in Viborg County, Denmark, were randomly allocated either to receive an invitation to abdominal ultrasound scanning for AAA or to be controls. Costs for screening and surveillance were assessed prospectively. Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) costs from 1999 were used concerning admissions with uncomplicated and complicated operations. Admissions for AAA surgery were retrospectively classified according to complications in patient records. RESULTS: Mean follow-up time was 52 months. 76.6% of invited men attended screening, and 191 (4.0%) had an AAA. As previously reported, the cumulative 5-year AAA-specific mortality in the invited group was significantly reduced by 67% compared to the control group (P = 0.003). The costs were estimated to be Euro 11.23 per scan. The costs per life-year saved were Euro 9057 (Euro 5872-20,063) after 5 years, and were expected to decrease to Euro 2708 (Euro 1758-6031) after 10 years and to Euro 1825 (Euro 1185-4063) after 15 years. CONCLUSION: Screening of 64-73 years old males in Denmark seems cost effective.     

Freezing of gait in postmortem-confirmed atypical parkinsonism.

The frequency and pathophysiology of freezing of gait (FoG) in atypical parkinsonism is unknown. We analysed the frequency of FoG in postmortem-confirmed atypical parkinsonian disorders (APD) comprising corticobasal degeneration (CBD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), multiple system atrophy (MSA), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Sixty-six patients with pathologically confirmed APD (CBD, n = 13; DLB, n = 14; MSA, n = 15; PSP, n = 24) formed the basis for a multicenter clinicopathological study. Clinical features at first and last clinical visit were abstracted from patient records on standardized forms following strict instructions. At the first visit (median 36 months after symptom onset), 24% of APD had FoG (CBD, 8%; DLB, 21%; PSP, 25%; MSA, 40%). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association of FoG and urinary incontinence (P = 0.04) at first visit. At last visit, 47% of APD had FoG (CBD, 25%; PSP, 53%; DLB, 54%; MSA, 54%). Clinicopathological correlation based on routine postmortem examination failed to identify a consistent neuropathological substrate of FoG. This study demonstrates that (1) FoG is common in APD, and (2) urinary incontinence is significantly associated with FoG in these disorders. Whether FoG and urinary incontinence share similar neuropathological substrates remains to be determined by future studies.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor mRNA, bFGF peptide and FGF receptor in epiretinal membranes of intraocular proliferative disorders (PVR and PDR)

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been shown to be involved in epiretinal membrane formation in proliferative vitreoretinal disorders. However, up to now, little knowledge exists, as to the actual cellular source of this potent mitogen.We examined 20 epiretinal membranes from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) (n = 12) and proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) (n = 8) for the presence of bFGF peptide, fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR-1) and bFGF messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA).Using a specific antibody, we detected bFGF peptide in most (8/10) examined PDR membranes and in all (8/8) PVR membranes. Moreover, we found positive staining for the corresponding receptor.Local production of bFGF in epiretinal membranes was confirmed by nonisotopic in situ hybridisation for bFGF mRNA in some (4/7) examined PDR membranes and some (3/4) examined PVR membranes. All membranes which contained bFGF mRNA were also positive for bFGF peptide.In conclusion, bFGF is produced and stored in epiretinal membranes. Together with the corresponding receptor, bFGF may play a role in the auto- and paracrine control of the proliferative processes at the vitroretinal interface.Abbreviations aFGF acidic fibroblast growth factor - bFGF basic fibroblast growth factor - FGFR-1 fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 - mRNA messenger ribonucleic acid     

Subtype determination of soma-dendritic α2-autoreceptors in slices of rat locus coeruleus

The aim of the study was to subclassify the soma-dendritic α₂-autoreceptors in the locus coeruleus (LC) of the rat by means of antagonists. To this end, the frequency of spontaneous action potentials was recorded extracellularly from single LC neurones in brain slices. The neurones fired spontaneously at an average rate of 1 Hz. The selective α₂-adrenoceptor agonist 5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolin-2-ylamino)-quinoxaline (UK 14,304) and noradrenaline decreased the action potential discharge with IC₅₀ values of 5 and 510 nM, respectively. The concentration-inhibition curves of UK 14,304 and noradrenaline were shifted to the right by phentolamine (0.15 μM) and rauwolscine (0.15 μM) but not by prazosin (1 μM). Apparent K _d values of phentolamine were 17 nM (against UK 14,304) and 20 nM (against noradrenaline). Apparent K _d values of rauwolscine were 47 nM (against UK 14,304) and 70 nM (against noradrenaline). (+)-Oxaprotiline (1 μM) suppressed the firing of the neurones within 10 to 33 min. In the continued presence of oxaprotiline, phentolamine and rauwolscine restored firing with EC₅₀ values of 120 and 250 nM, respectively. Prazosin (1 μM) again was ineffective. All three antagonist affinity estimates – against UK 14,304, exogenous noradrenaline and endogenous noradrenaline (that accumulates in the extracellular space in the presence of oxaprotiline) – yield an affinity order phentolamine > rauwolscine >> prazosin, prazosin being ineffective even at a concentration of 1 μM. These findings identify the soma-dendritic α₂-autoreceptors of the LC as the rat variant of the α_2A/D-adrenoceptor, i.e. α_2D. Not only presynaptic but also soma-dendritic α₂-autoreceptors may at least predominantly be α_2A/D throughout the nervous system. Received: 3 March 1997 / Accepted: 21 April 1997     

Head lice in Israeli children: parents' answers to an epidemiological questionnaire

BACKGROUND: The aim was to determine the influence of the socioeconomic status of the family and the hygienic practices in the home on the prevalence of head lice infestation in children. METHODS: The study was carried out by analyzing the answers to a standardized epidemiological questionnaire given to parents of school children aged 4-17 in Bet Shemesh, a medium-sized urban town 25 km from Jerusalem. RESULTS: Of 3,000 questionnaires distributed, 958 (31.9%) were completed and returned. The majority of the children (72.4%) had been previously infested with lice. Half of them had other family members, mainly brothers and sisters, who had been infested in the past with lice. In 97.5% of the families the mother was responsible for examining the children for lice, and for carrying out treatment when infestation was present. An association was found between presence of lice infestation and mother's education, age of child, and frequency of shampooing, combing, and examination for lice. There was no association between infestation rates and mother's country of origin, crowding in the home, and the sharing of combs, brushes, hats, scarves, towels, and clothes. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence that the incidence of lice infestation depends on the hygienic practices in the home rather than on the socioeconomic status of the family or sharing of personal articles among family members.