76 research outputs found
Comparison of the effect of beclometasone/formoterol in asthma patients after methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction:A noninferiority study using metered dose vs. dry powder inhaler
No full textAims: To demonstrate the noninferiority of extrafine beclomethasone/formoterol fumarate (BDP/FF) dry powder inhaler (DPI) vs. extrafine BDP/FF pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI; Foster® 100/6 μg NEXThaler and pMDI, respectively) in the onset of reliever effect after methacholine induced bronchospasm in asthmatic patients, evaluated in terms of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) at 5 min postdose. The DPI provides an alternative device option for patients who cannot use a pMDI properly during an acute asthma attack. Methods: Sixty-five patients received one inhalation of BDP/FF DPI, BDP/FF pMDI or placebo after methacholine challenge, according to a double-blind, double-dummy, cross-over design. Lung function and Borg dyspnoea score were assessed up to 30 min postdose. Results: FEV1 adjusted mean difference between BDP/FF DPI and BDP/FF pMDI at 5 min postdose was 2 ml (95% confidence interval: –0.060; 0.065). A similar result was observed at the other time points. Median time to 85% recovery in FEV1 was 8 min for BDP/FF DPI, 7.5 min for BDP/FF pMDI and 28 min for placebo (P = 0.554 DPI vs. pMDI). The Borg score improved after treatment with both BDP/FF DPI and pMDI and the effect was greater than after placebo. Median time to reach 50% recovery was 4.2 min for BDP/FF DPI, 4.0 min for BDP/FF pMDI and 10.0 min for placebo (P = 0.609 DPI vs. pMDI). Conclusions: Extrafine Foster® NEXThaler, a flow-independent DPI, is comparable to extrafine Foster® pMDI when administered as reliever therapy after methacholine challenge, thus supporting the maintenance and reliever therapy approach also with Foster® NEXThaler.</p
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Tank 241-B-103 tank characterization plan
No full textThe Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has advised the US Department of Energy (DOE) to concentrate the near-term sampling and analysis activities on identification and resolution of safety issues. The data quality objective (DQO) process was chosen as a tool to be used to identify sampling and analytical needs for the resolution of safety issues. As a result, a revision in the Federal Facility Agreement and Consent Order (Tri-Party Agreement or TPA) milestone M-44-00 has been made, which states that ``A Tank Characterization Plan (TCP) will also be developed for each double-shell tank (DST) and single-shell tank (SST) using the DQO process... Development of TCPs by the DQO process is intended to allow users (e.g., Hanford Facility user groups, regulators) to ensure their needs will be met and that resources are devoted to gaining only necessary information.`` This document satisfies that requirement for Tank 241-B-103 (B-103) sampling activities. Tank B-103 was placed on the Organic Watch List in January 1991 due to review of TRAC data that predicts a TOC content of 3.3 dry weight percent. The tank was classified as an assumed leaker of approximately 30,280 liters (8,000 gallons) in 1978 and declared inactive. Tank B-103 is passively ventilated with interim stabilization and intrusion prevention measures completed in 1985
Serum antibodies in first-degree relatives of patients with IBD: A marker of disease susceptibility? A follow-up pilot-study after 7 years
No full textIntroduction: Various disease-specific serum antibodies were described in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and their yet healthy first-degree relatives. In the latter, serum antibodies are commonly regarded as potential markers of disease susceptibility. The present long-term follow-up study evaluated the fate of antibody-positive first-degree relatives. Patients and Methods: 25 patients with Crohn's disease, 19 patients with ulcerative colitis and 102 first-degree relatives in whom presence of ASCA, pANCA, pancreatic- and goblet-cell antibodies had been assessed were enrolled. The number of incident cases with inflammatory bowel disease was compared between antibody-positive and antibody-negative first-degree relatives 7 years after storage of serum samples. Results: 34 of 102 (33%) first-degree relatives were positive for at least one of the studied serum antibodies. In the group of first-degree relatives, one case of Crohn's disease and one case of ulcerative colitis were diagnosed during the follow-up period. However, both relatives did not display any of the investigated serum antibodies (p = 1). Discussion: The findings of our pilot study argue against a role of serum antibodies as a marker of disease susceptibility in first-degree relatives of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, these data have to await confirmation in larger ideally prospective multicenter studies before definite conclusions can be drawn
Real-Time MRI of Continent and Stress Incontinent Male Patients after Orthotopic Ileal Neobladder
No full textIntroduction: The aim of this study was to correlate anatomic differences with continence status in male patients after cystoprostatectomy and ileal neobladder using real-time magnetic resonance imaging. Patients and Methods: Anatomic differences of 14 male patients (7 daytime continent and 7 stress incontinent) with ileal neobladder were determined by measuring the orthogonal distance of the bladder neck to the pubococcygeal line (PCL) to correlate anatomic differences with continence status. Results: The median distance of the bladder neck to PCL was +5.4 mm in continent patients before voiding whereas in incontinent patients it was +2 mm (p = 0.012). During the Valsalva maneuver, the median distance in continent patients was +4 and in incontinent patients -3 mm (p = 0.003). At the end of micturition, the median distance was +2.3 mm in continent patients and -12 mm in incontinent patients (p = 0.002). Conclusions: The bladder neck in incontinent patients showed more pronounced mobility in relation to the PCL during micturition and the Valsalva maneuver as compared to continent patients. In addition, the ileal neobladder was positioned significantly lower in the pelvis of incontinent patients. These preliminary results suggest that a stable bladder neck may be an important factor to reach full continence in patients with ileal neobladder. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base
"Hidden in plain sight": language and the importance of the ordinary in Wallace, DeLillo and Wittgenstein
No full textThe chapter explores the connections between David Foster Wallace and Don DeLillo, in particular their respective novels Infinite Jest and End Zone, by analyzing the similar ways in which both are engaged with the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein. Specifically, it uses Wittgenstein’s thought on how language use connects meaning and reality to compare the ‘Eschaton’ episode from Infinite Jest with the theme of games and nuclear war in End Zone
Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and their first-degree relatives: Potential clinical value
No full textAnti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) have been described as specific markers in Crohn's disease and their healthy first-degree relatives. 171 patients with Crohn's disease, their 105 first-degree relatives, 145 patients with ulcerative colitis and 101 first-degree relatives of patients with ulcerative colitis, 50 patients with infectious enterocolitis and 100 healthy controls were tested for ASCA employing the ELISA technique. When compared with the healthy controls (p < 0.0001) and patients with infectious enterocolitis (p < 0.0001) the prevalence of ASCA was significantly increased in patients with Crohn's disease and their first-degree relatives (p < 0.01). Further significant differences concerning the frequency of ASCA within the different groups of our study population were not observed. In particular, ASCA were not found in increased prevalence in infectious enterocolitis. These observations are compatible with a role of ASCA as a marker of genetic predisposition to Crohn's disease. Copyright (C) 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel
blower
No full textblown aAn' they were ready for marketing after we inspect 'em. If there was a blower or a leaker we'd throw that out. (leaking tin? swollen tin?)leaking tin, swollen tinJ.D.A. WIDDOWSON JUL 1973Not usedNot usedWithdrawnWithdrawn but no stam
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Tank characterization report for single-shell Tank 241-B-110
No full textSingle-shell Tank 241-B-110 is an underground storage tank containing radioactive waste. The tank was sampled at various times between August and November of 1989 and later in April of 1990. The analytical data gathered from these sampling efforts were used to generate this Tank Characterization Report. Tank 241-B-110, located in the 200 East Area B Tank Farm, was constructed in 1943 and 1944, and went into service in 1945 by receiving second cycle decontamination waste from the B and T Plants. During the service life of the tank, other wastes were added including B Plant flush waste, B Plant fission product waste, B Plant ion exchange waste, PUREX Plant coating waste, and waste from Tank 241-B-105. The tank currently contains 246,000 gallons of non-complexed waste, existing primarily as sludge. Approximately 22,000 gallons of drainable interstitial liquid and 1,000 gallons of supernate remain. The solid phase of the waste is heterogeneous, for the top layer and subsequent layers have significantly different chemical compositions and are visually distinct. A complete analysis of the top layer has not been done, and auger sampling of the top layer is recommended to fully characterize the waste in Tank 241-B-110. The tank is not classified as a Watch List tank; however, it is a Confirmed Leaker, having lost nearly 10,000 gallons of waste. The waste in Tank 241-B-110 is primarily precipitated salts, some of which are composed of radioactive isotopes. The most prevalent analytes include water, bismuth, iron, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silicon, sodium, and sulfate. The major radionuclide constituents are {sup 137}Cs and {sup 90}Sr
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