Six-hour Period Research Articles

Analysis of selective neurocritical care admission costs following elective endovascular treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

No consensus exists on the necessity of neurocritical care unit (NCU)-level care following unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) treatment. We aim to identify patients requiring NCU-level care post-treatment and determine potential cost savings utilizing a selective NCU admission protocol. A retrospective analysis of all UIA patients who underwent endovascular treatment at a single center from 2017-2022 was conducted. Data on demographics, preprocedural variables, radiographic features, procedural techniques, intra/postoperative events, and length of stay (LOS) were collected. Multivariable analysis was performed to identify patients requiring NCU-level care post-treatment. Cost analysis using hospital cost data (not charges/reimbursement) was performed using simulated step-down and floor protocols for patients without NCU indications following a hypothetical six-hour post-anesthesia care unit observation period. Of 209 patients, 179 were discharged within 24 h and 30 had prolonged LOS. In our analysis, intra- and postoperative events independently predicted prolonged LOS. In our subanalysis, 47 patients demonstrated NCU needs: 24 with intraoperative indications, 18 with postoperative indications, and five with both. Of the 23 with postoperative indications, 20 were identified within six hours, while three were identified within six to 24 h. The median variable cost per patient for the current NCU protocol was $31,505 (IQR, $26,331-$37,053) vs. stepdown protocol $29,514 (IQR, $24,746-$35,011;p = 0.061) vs. floor protocol $26,768 (IQR, $22,214-$34,107;p < 0.001). Total variable costs were $6,211,497 for the current NCU protocol vs. $5,921,912 for the step-down protocol (4.89% savings) and $5,509,052 for the floor protocol (12.75% savings). Most patients requiring NCU-level care following UIA treatment were identified within a six-hour postoperative window. Thus, selective NCU admission for this cohort following a six-hour observation period may be a logical avenue for cost reduction. Our analysis demonstrated 5% and 13% savings for uncomplicated patients using step-down and floor admission protocols, respectively.

Generalization and enhancement of the effects of an active placebo nasal spray on sadness

IntroductionThe placebo effect, i.e., the psychobiological response arising from administering an inert treatment, influences various domains, such as pain perception and emotional regulation. Positive framing might enhance this effect. This study tested whether the effect of an active placebo (mimicking drug side effects to enhance treatment credibility) on is generalized between two different contexts of sadness induction and if positive framing of side effects enhances this effect. MethodsNinety-six healthy participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Placebo+positive framing (PPF), Placebo+standard information (PSI), or no treatment control (NTC). Participants underwent a sadness induction protocol during an in-person lab session and a 20-min online follow-up at home six hours later. Primary outcome was self-reported sadness, secondary outcome was self-reported side effects. ResultsBoth the PPF and PSI groups showed a significant decrease in sadness compared to the NTC group after placebo administration during the lab session (p < 0.001) and at follow-up (p < 0.05). At follow-up, only the PPF group did not experience a significant increase in sadness. Positive framing did not improve side effect tolerability. LimitationsSelf-reported measures introduce subjective bias. The sample restriction to healthy volunteers limits generalizability. The six-hour period may not capture clinically relevant long-term effects. ConclusionsThe active placebo nasal spray effectively reduced sadness, with effects persisting for six hours and across different contexts. Positive framing did not enhance side effect tolerability but may have helped maintain effectiveness at follow-up. Further research is needed in clinical populations and to explore long-term effects.

Feasibility of deescalating postoperative care in enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) prioritizes faster functional recovery after major surgery. An important aspect of postoperative ERAS is decreasing morbidity and immobility, which can result from prolonged critical care. Using current clinical data, our aim was to analyze whether a six-hour monitoring period after Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) might be sufficient to recognize major postoperative complications in a future Fast Track pathway. Additionally, we sought to investigate whether it could be possible to deescalate the setting of postoperative monitoring. 358 patients received MICS and were deemed suitable for an ERAS protocol between 01/2021 and 03/2023 at our institution. Of these, 297 patients could be successfully extubated on-table, were transferred to IMC or ICU in stable condition and therefore served as study cohort. Outcomes of interest were incidence and timing of Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE; death, myocardial infarction requiring revascularization, stroke), bleeding requiring reexploration and Fast Track-associated complications (reintubation and readmission to ICU). Patients' median age was 63 years (IQR 55-70) and 65% were male. 189 (64%) patients received anterolateral mini-thoracotomy, primarily for mitral and/or tricuspid valve surgery (n = 177). 108 (36%) patients had partial upper sternotomy, primarily for aortic valve repair/replacement (n = 79) and aortic surgery (n = 17). 90% of patients were normotensive without need for vasopressors within 6 h postoperatively, 82% of patients were transferred to the general ward on postoperative day 1 (POD). Two (0.7%) MACE events occurred, as well as 4 (1.3%) postoperative bleeding events requiring reexploration. Of these complications, only one event occurred before transfer to the ward - all others took place on or after POD 1. There was one instance of reintubation and two of readmission to ICU. If MICS patients can be successfully extubated on-table and are hemodynamically stable, major postoperative complications were rare in our single-center experience and primarily occurred after transfer to the ward. Therefore, in well selected MICS patients with uncomplicated intraoperative course, monitoring for six hours, possibly outside of an ICU, followed by transfer to the ward appears to be a feasible theoretical concept without negative impact on patient safety.

Warning signs in a period of acute risk for suicide attempt: The utility of count- and combination-based classification

ObjectiveThis study sought to establish if models involving the specific combinations of identifiable behavioral warning signs (WS; i.e., alcohol use, suicidal communications, preparation of personal affairs, experiencing negative interpersonal life events) for a suicide attempt outperformed a simpler count model of WS to distinguish an acute risk period (the six hours prior to a suicide attempt) from a control period (a matched six-hour period the day prior). MethodGeneralized linear mixed models tested all logical combinations of four behavioral WS in addition to a count variable of the number of behavioral warning signs. For the count variable, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was utilized to determine the optimal cut point for the number of endorsed WS. ResultsArea under the curve (AUC) compared classification across all models, with the count model demonstrating similar classification performance to the best multivariate model (AUCs of 0.72 and 0.73, respectively), with an optimal cut point of endorsing one or more WS. ConclusionAlthough determinations of acute risk should be informed by multiple sources of information, this study suggests a relatively simple count-based approach that considers the presence of one (or more) behavioral WS may be used as a potential indication of increased acute risk for suicide attempt.

Time-Dependent Bacterial Contamination of a Surgical Suction Tip.

Background: No in vitro surgical study has evaluated the time-dependent contamination of surgical suction tips compared with controls. Our purpose was to determine the difference in suction tip bacterial contamination rates between suction-positive and suction-negative tips. Materials and Methods: A matched-pair analysis of the contamination of surgical suction tips over a six-hour period was performed in two clean operating rooms. One suction tip was connected to standard wall suction (suction-positive group), with a matched control tip not connected to wall suction (suction-negative group). At time zero and then at hourly intervals for six hours, the distal 3 cm of suction tips were removed, placed in nutrient broth for 48 hours, then plate cultured. One hundred tips were collected for each time interval. Results: Eighty-two of 700 (11.7%) suction tips had bacterial contamination. Sixty-three (18.0%) of 350 suction-positive tips were contaminated, with 19 (5.4%) of the 350 suction-negative tips contaminated (χ2 = 26.7, p < 0.001). Suction tip contamination was time-dependent with the first significant difference between groups occurring after two hours of continuous suction (χ2 = 4.0, p = 0.04). Contamination rate in the suction-positive group increased significantly after one hour compared with time-zero controls (χ2 = 7.1, p = 0.008). There was no significant difference in frequency of positive cultures over time in the suction-negative group compared with time-zero controls. Conclusions: This is the first controlled laboratory study suggesting a time-dependent increase in positive suction tip cultures. From our data, operating room staff should have an awareness that suction tips represent a potential source of bacterial concentration. We recommend that when not in use, suction tip valves be closed if this feature is available, that hosing be manipulated to cease suction when not needed, that suckers be disconnected from tubing, or that suckers be exchanged at frequent intervals. Doing so may reduce bacterial contamination on the suction tip.

Transient analysis and techno-economic assessment of thermal energy storage integrated with solar air heater for energy management in drying

The integration of thermal energy storage (TES) system with solar air heater holds an immense potential for optimising the energy management in drying application. In this pioneer research, a transient thermodynamic model of conical shaped rock bed TES has been developed, and the economic analysis of hybrid V-groove double pass solar air heater (SAH)-TES has been studied, offering a unique perspective on the feasibility and economic viability of hybrid SAH-TES for drying application. By considering the time dependent dynamics of energy demand, the model predicts energy stored and released by the system during charging and discharging with a considerable error of 9.9%, as validated with a pilot scale experimental setup. The numerical and experimental results showed that the stored and recovered energy is highly dependent on the inlet temperature and flow rate of air. Notably, the optimised conical shaped TES has the capacity of storing 15.6 kWh of energy during six-hour charging period enabling the recovery of 33% of the stored energy to power the dryer during the discharge period. Moreover, the pressure drop across the TES observed to be 1306.37 Pa/m at 0.050 kg/s, which quantify the power required for fan to overcome such pressure drop to be 4.22 kW Furthermore, the economic assessment showcased remarkable reduction in energy payback period, dropping from 0.7 years to 0.5 years using hybrid SAH-TES dryer compared to SAH dryer. This demonstrates the superior economic value of the hybrid SAH-TES dryer paving the way for the scalability and widespread adoption of low-carbon drying industry.

Haboob Dust Storms and Motor Vehicle Collision-related Trauma in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Sonoran Desert region, encompassing most of southern Arizona, has an extreme climate that is famous for dust storms known as haboobs. These storms lead to decreased visibility and potentially hazardous driving conditions. In this study we evaluate the relationship between haboob events and emergency department (ED) visits due to motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) in Phoenix, Arizona. This study is a retrospective analysis of MVC-related trauma presentations to Phoenix, AZ, hospitals before and following haboob dust storms. These events were identified from 2009-2017 primarily using Phoenix International Airport weather data. De-identified trauma data were obtained from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Arizona State Trauma Registry (ASTR) from seven trauma centers within a 10-mile radius of the airport. We compared MVC-related trauma using six- and 24-hour windows before and following the onset of haboob events. There were 31,133 MVC-related trauma encounters included from 2009-2017 and 111 haboob events meeting meteorological criteria during that period. There was a 17% decrease in MVC-related ED encounters in the six hours following haboob onset compared to before onset (235 vs 283, P = 0.04), with proportionally more injuries among males (P < 0.001) and higher mortality (P = 0.02). There was no difference in frequency of presentations (P = 0.82), demographics, or outcomes among the 24-hour pre-and post-haboob groups. Haboob dust storms in Phoenix, Arizona, are associated with a decrease in MVC-related injuries during the six-hour period following storm onset, likely indicating the success of public safety messaging efforts. Males made up a higher proportion of those injured during the storms, suggesting a target for future interventions. Future public-targeted weather-safety initiatives should be accompanied more closely by monitoring and evaluation efforts to assess for effectiveness.

Evacuating Premature and Critically Ill Neonates When Hospitals are Endangered by Disasters: A Case Study of the PANDA Team Evacuation of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During Severe Wildfires in Oregon, USA

Introduction:In September 2020, severe wildfires in Oregon (USA) came dangerously close to Hospital A. The entire county was under evacuation orders. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hospital A needed to evacuate patients to other areas for safety, however the characteristics of premature and critically ill neonates required a specialized transport team. This presentation outlines a case study of how the Pediatric and Neonatal Transport team (PANDA), based at Oregon Health and Science University (Portland, Oregon, USA), responded to evacuate neonatal and infant patients to other metro area NICUs during the wildfires.Method:Case study.Results:During a six-hour period, both PANDA transport teams on shift were activated to complete back-to-back transports of neonates and infants by ground ambulance to fire safe locations. Each patient was transported by a PANDA Registered Nurse and PANDA Respiratory Therapist, with an Emergency Medical Technician who drove the ambulance and Medical Control available by phone. The PANDA team normally operates in non-disaster settings. This was the first time PANDA was activated to evacuate patients from a hospital during a disaster. This presentation will discuss lessons learned and implications for future practice.Conclusion:Wildfire frequency and severity is predicted to increase due to climate change. Evacuation of premature and critically ill neonates requires a specialized transport team due to patient size, weight, and other considerations. Specialized transport teams should develop disaster evacuation workflows and resources, and regularly practice for these events. There is also a need for trauma-informed care in the post-evacuation setting to transport staff and parents of patients who were unable to travel with their child during transport. A full team pre-transport risk assessment is crucial in these circumstances.

Effectiveness of Amlodipine in the Control of 24-Hour Blood Pressure in Mild-to-Moderate Essential Hypertension: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Real-World Study from India.

Background Calcium-channel blockers (CCB) are a mainstay in the management of hypertension (HTN), and amlodipine is the preferred CCB due to its longer half-life and better safety. Patients and methods This practice-based, observational, real-world evidence study assessed the 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) control in mild-to-moderate essential hypertensive patients (treatment naïve receiving amlodipine monotherapy, or as add-on therapy) in inadequately controlled blood pressure (BP goal not met after one month of existing therapy). One hundred four (62M/42F) patients between 18 and 65 years of age who received amlodipine 5/10 mg/day for >8 weeks were included after obtaining informed written consent. The primary outcome was a change from baseline in the mean 24-hSBP and DBP on ABP monitoring at eight (±1) weeks. Secondary outcomes were different from baseline in the mean morning, day-time, night-time, and last six-hour dosing interval period. Other outcomes assessed BP variability (dippers and non-dippers), and responder rates based on ABP monitoring and in-clinic trough cuff measurements. Safety outcomes included adverse effects reported, electrocardiogram, and laboratory abnormalities (hepatic and renal function). Changes in BP parameters in different sub-groups (age, gender, BMI, physical activity, occupation, duration of hypertension, the total daily dose of amlodipine, type of amlodipine therapy, and hypertension severity at baseline) were estimated. Results Of the 104 patients, 49 patients (completed eightweeks) were included in the per-protocol (PP) data for efficacy analysis. Safety analysis was done on the intent-to-treat (ITT) dataset. Significant reductions (p<0.0001) from baseline in all BP measurements on ABPM were observed at the end of eight weeks. Similar improvements were observed in office BP recordings. There was a marginal but non-significant (p>0.05) increase in the proportion of dippers and extreme dippers with amlodipine at the end of the eight-week treatment period. Conclusions Amlodipine 5/10 mg/day therapy used as monotherapy or adjuvant therapy provided significant reductions in both office BP and ambulatory BP over eight weeks.

A machine learning approach for detecting fatigue during repetitive physical tasks

Prolonged and repetitive stress on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves can have long-term adverse effects on the human body. This can be exasperated while working if the environment and nature of the tasks puts significant strain on the body, which may lead to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Workers with WMSDs can experience generalized pain, loss of muscle strength, and loss of ability to continue working. Most WMSDs injuries are caused by ergonomic risks, such as repetitive physical movements, awkward postures, inadequate recovery time, and muscular stress. Fatigue can be seen as a detector of ergonomic risk, as the accumulation of fatigue can significantly increase the possibility of injury. Thirty participants completed a series of repetitive physical tasks over a six-hour period while wearing sensors to capture data related to heart rate and movement, while external embedded sensors captured ground reaction and hand exertion force. They also provided subjective ratings of fatigue at the start and end of the experiment. Classifiers for fatigue (high vs low) were constructed using three methods: linear discriminant analysis (LDA), k-nearest neighbor (kNN), and polynomial kernel-based SVM (P-SVM) and were validated using a tenfold cross-validation technique that was repeated a hundred times. Results of our supervised machine learning approach demonstrated a maximum accuracy of 94.15% using P-SVM for the binary classification of fatigue.

Acute Effects of White Button and Shiitake Mushroom Powder Supplementation on Postprandial Lipemia and Glycemia Following a High-Fat Meal

Background To determine the acute effects on postprandial lipemia and glycemia by supplementing a high-fat meal with either white button (WB) or shiitake (SH) mushroom powder. Methods Nine healthy participants (4-male, 5-female, 23.3±1.3 years, 17.8±6% body fat, 56.2±11.4kg fat free mass) consumed a control hamburger. At one-week intervals, after consumption of a control meal, participants consumed hamburgers in random order, supplemented with 14g of either WB or SH mushroom powder. Peripheral blood for lipids (triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein HDL, low-density lipoprotein LDL), and glucose was obtained at baseline (t=0 hours) and postprandially every two hours for six hours. Data were analyzed using linear mixed effects models. Results Lower LDL levels were observed for both SH and WB burgers compared to the control burger (p=0.0007) over the six-hour period. Mushroom powder content did not alter triglyceride, HDL, or glucose levels. Gender affected triglyceride and HDL levels over the treatment course. Triglyceride levels were higher in males (p=0.0084), and HDL levels were lower in females (p=0.0005). Triglyceride and glucose levels were higher, (p&lt; 0.001 and p&lt; 0.0001 respectively), during the postprandial time course (t=0, 2, 4, 6 hours). Conclusions Supplementing SH or WB mushrooms during a high-fat meal may lower serum LDL levels.

MORPHOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN THE GONADS OF CHILDREN 2-6 HOURS AFTER ACUTE UNILATERAL TESTICULAR TORSION.

The aim: To determine the morphological and immunohistochemical changes in the testes 2-6 hours after the onset of clinical symptoms of acute unilateral testicular torsion. Materials and methods: A morphological and immunohistochemical study was conducted on biopsy samples of testicular tissues taken 2-6 hours after the onset of clinical symptoms of acute unilateral testicular torsion during detorsion and orchiopexy surgery in 27 adolescent patients. Results: In cases of incomplete torsion (180-360°) and a disease duration of up to 2 hours, the seminiferous tubules maintained their normal structure. The convoluted seminiferous tubules showed minor damage during 4 hours of ischemia caused by testicular torsion of 360-450°, which was characterized by mild damage. Glycogen and neutral glycoproteins were preserved in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, and Sertoli cells, indicating that their intracellular metabolism was relatively preserved. The ischemia that lasted for 4 hours with testicular torsion of 450-720° was characterized by a moderate degree of gonadal damage. However, there was pronounced expression of vimentin and calretinin, and the presence of glycogen and neutral glycoproteins indicated functional activity of the gonads. A six-hour ischemia period with a 360-450° testicular torsion demonstrated 100% gonadal viability, with 50% of the seminiferous tubules preserved and 35% with minor damage. Severe damage to the spermatogenic epithelium was observed in 15% of seminiferous tubules, characterized by dystrophy of spermatogenic epithelial cells with signs of karyopyknosis, karyorrhexis, vacuolization, hyperchromasia of cytoplasmic organelles, shedding of individual cells into the lumen of tubules, and focal necrosis. Conclusions: 1. The degree of torsion and duration of symptoms are prognostic factors for testicular salvage in torsion episodes. Ischemia lasting up to 6 hours is characterized by a moderate degree of gonadal damage, and detorsion of the testicle performed within 6 hours from the onset of pathology allows for preservation of the testicle in 100% of cases. 2. Histological examination of the susceptibility of different cell types to ischemia reveals that Sertoli cells and spermatogonia are the most resistant, while spermatocytes and spermatids are more susceptible and prone to degeneration.

Traditional kava use and body sway: A pilot investigation

Introduction The (traditionally influenced) consumption of kava (Piper methysticum) has been associated with increased body sway, raising concerns about fall risk. However, studies typically utilise pill-styled kava extracts with a lack of understanding regarding experienced naturalistic kava drinkers. This pilot study investigated the effects of naturalistic kava consumption over a six-hour period on postural control. Methods Six experienced male kava drinkers consumed 100ml of kava every 10 minutes over six hours in a culturally responsive setting. Postural control was examined at three time points (Pre, Mid, and Post) using a 30-seconds eyes-closed feet-together postural balance test conducted on a 3D force plate. Centre of pressure path length, average velocity, and area of the 95th percentile ellipse data were extracted and compared between time points using a one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Findings There were no significant differences in the centre of pressure parameters. Based on the Pre and Post differences for path length and average velocity logged values, this study would require 19 participants to achieve an 80% power and 5% significance level. Discussion Irrespective of limited sample size, our preliminary results do not support that kava consumption negatively affects postural control, findings that appear to be corroborated by a recent neuroscience study. The perceived risks of naturalistic kava consumption with regards to falls may be overstated. Further study on the physiological implications of kava consumption in naturalistic settings is needed to quantify the actual risks.&#x0D; Highlights• Kava is a culturally significant drink for Pacific people• Anecdotal reports describe impaired balance following high traditional use volumes• Postural control was tested during and following kava use in a pilot study• Contrary to hypothesis, results do not show that kava negatively affects postural control

Anti-inflammatory Activity of Andong Leaf Extract (Cordyline Terminalis Kunth) Against Edema in the Soles of Wistar Rats

The Balinese plant andong (Cordyline terminalis Kunth) has anti-inflammatory properties. The focus of this research was to determine whether andong leaf extract has anti-inflammatory properties and is effective against carrageenan-induced edema in rat soles. In this study, carrageenan was used to induce inflammation in the soles of Wistar rats. 25 rats were divided into five treatment groups. Group I was given aquadest as the control; group II was given diclofenac sodium at a dose of 4.5 mg/kgbw as a drug control; and groups III, IV and V were given ethanol extract of andong leaves at doses of 150 mg/kgbw, 300 mg/kgbw, and 600 mg/kgbw orally as test groups. For six hours, the inflammation volume was measured using a plethymometer. One-way ANOVA was used to test differences between the treatment groups. The results showed that the ethanol extract of andong leaves had the highest anti-inflammatory activity in the six-hour period when given at doses of 150 mg/kgbw (36.35% 0.02), 300 mg/kgbw (26.30% 0.20), and 600 mg/kgbw (20.67% 0.16) with a significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) compared to the negative control (86.84% 0.092), but this was not significantly different from the positive control (22.21% 0.01). Based on these findings, it can be concluded that a dose of 600 mg/kgbw is the most effective in reducing inflammation.&#x0D; Keywords: Anti-inflammatory, Red andong leaf, Carrageenan, Wistar rat, Edema

English

BACKGROUND Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are the most common complication seen following laparoscopic surgeries. We have conducted a study between two 5 HT3 antagonist palonosetron and ondansetron in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies. METHODS A total of 180 patients, aged between 25–55 years, posted for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies under general anaesthesia belonging to the American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA), divided into one of two groups (n=90), ASA- I &amp; II were included in the study. Before induction, patients in the first group (Group I) received 0.075 mg palonosetron and patients in the second group (Group II) received 8 mg ondansetron. Postoperatively, any incidences of early or delayed vomiting, requirement of rescue antiemetic, and side effects were recorded. Patient’s hemodynamics were also monitored. Statistical analysis was done using Student’s ttest, chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test. RESULTS Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative heart rate, mean arterial pressure, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation was statistically not significant (p&gt;0.050) in either group. In Group II, 16 patients had nausea in the first two hours and 6 patients had nausea in the two to six-hour postoperative period. In Group I, 6 patients experienced nausea in the first six hours period. 16 patients in Group II had vomited in the first two-hour period compared to 2 patients in Group I (p=0.013). The requirement of rescue antiemetic was greater in Group II than Group I (20% vs. 4%). No side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS Palonosetron is more effective in treating PONV compared to ondansetron in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomies under general anaesthesia. KEY WORDS Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, Palonosetron, Ondansetron, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies.

Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols in Hospital Patient Rooms.

Evidence varies as to how far aerosols spread from individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 in hospital rooms. We investigated the presence of aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2 inside of dedicated COVID-19 patient rooms. Three National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health BC 251 two-stage cyclone samplers were set up in each patient room for a six-hour sampling period. Samplers were place on tripods, which each held two samplers at various heights above the floor. Extracted samples underwent reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for selected gene regions of the SARS-CoV-2 virus nucleocapsid. Patient medical data were compared between participants in rooms where virus-containing aerosols were detected and those where they were not. Of 576 aerosols samples collected from 19 different rooms across 32 participants, 3% (19) were positive for SARS-CoV-2, the majority from near the head and foot of the bed. Seven of the positive samples were collected inside a single patient room. No significant differences in participant clinical characteristics were found between patients in rooms with positive and negative aerosol samples. SARS-CoV-2 viral aerosols were detected from the patient rooms of nine participants (28%). These findings provide reassurance that personal protective equipment that was recommended for this virus is appropriate given its spread in hospital rooms.

Enhancing the Natural Biological Control in the Thyroid Hormone Homeostasis As a First-Order Control System.

This study explores the natural control system that exists within the pituitary gland. More specifically, this study investigates the regulation of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), released by the anterior pituitary, with regards to the thyroid releasing hormone (TRH), which is released by the hypothalamus. Using appropriate assumptions on the behavior of the hormones, along with relevant boundary conditions, we modeled an output of TSH using constant TRH input over the course of a six-hour period. Other relevant hormones such as thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and their relevant intermediaries were also modeled as a means to complete the natural feedback found physiologically. Due to our boundary conditions, we do not consider the consumption or final function of these hormones since they leave the pituitary gland, our control system; instead, we consider a constant TRH since it is produced by the hypothalamus. Finally, we explore the results of reducing the TRH input while observing the TSH response. We append a short loop controller feedback that uses the TSH output to regulate a TRH input to remedy the reduction of TRH. The open-loop transfer function derived presented three poles at the clearance exponents for T4, TSH, and central T3, with a phase margin of 74.1°, characterizing a stable but slow system that can be improved with a simple proportional control.

Effect of Turmeric Concentrations on the Rate of Growth of Oral Bacteria-An In-Vitro Study.

Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of varying concentrations of a turmeric solution on the growth rates of oral bacteria sampled from dental students. Methods: Bacterial cultures were grown overnight in aerobic conditions from plaque samples obtained from five test subjects. With the exception of the control, samples were exposed to different treatments; including chlorhexidine gluconate 2 mg/mL, prepared turmeric solution (TS) mouthwash: TS 0.25 mL (7.375 mg/mL), TS 0.5 mL (14.75 mg/mL), and TS 1 mL (29.50 mg/mL). Growth rate of the bacterial cultures were assessed by monitoring changes in optical density readings at 600 nm at hourly intervals for a six-hour period. The data were plotted and the exponential trend was used to calculate individual rates of growth. Data was analyzed using a one-way ANOVA with the significance confirmed using the Tukey-HSD test. Results: Growth observed in the bacteria exposed to the turmeric solution, was significantly greater (p < 0.05) when compared with the bacteria exposed to the medium alone. There was a significant difference found between the bacterial growth rate of the 1 mL turmeric solution against the growth rate of the bacteria in the 0.25 and 0.5 mL turmeric solutions. Conclusion: Comparison of growth rates of oral bacteria suggested that turmeric solutions of concentrations between 7.357 and 29.5 mg/mL (0.25–1 mL) were unlikely to exhibit bacteriostatic or bactericidal properties, and, conversely, increased bacterial growth. Considering this result, it is unlikely that turmeric mouthwash made from store-bought turmeric would have any antibacterial effects against oral bacteria, and may even promote bacterial growth.

CdS@Ni3S2 for efficient and stable photo-assisted electrochemical (P-EC) overall water splitting

CdS-based photoanodes have attracted tremendous attention for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Combining CdS with state-of-the-art transition-metal electrocatalyst is an advantages strategy to increase both the photoactivity and photostability of CdS. It is worth noting that in this study, with considering the original electrocatalytic (EC) water decomposition function of the electrocatalyst, we provide further understanding on how the photocatalyst affect the electrocatalyst. By using an advantageous photo-assisted electrochemical (P-EC) overall water splitting strategy, it is found that CdS@Ni3S2 core–shell nanoarrays is an efficient photoanode for synergistically photo-electrical catalytic hydrogen production. The intrinsic EC, PEC and P-EC properties of CdS photocatalyst and Ni3S2 electrocatalyst in CdS@Ni3S2 photoelectrode are comparably studied. In a six-hour long time period, the average P-EC water splitting H2 production rate of CdS@Ni3S2 is 178.1 μmol∙cm−2∙h−1, which reaches 123.3% times of its neat electrochemical (EC) water splitting (144.4 μmol∙cm−2∙h−1), corresponding to a 2.22% solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency. This work provides an important research foundation for the development of high-efficiency photo-electrical catalytic system.

Effect of Morning vs. Evening Turmeric Consumption on Urine Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Obese, Middle-Aged Adults: A Feasibility Study.

The circadian rhythm of biological systems is an important consideration in developing health interventions. The immune and oxidative defense systems exhibit circadian periodicity, with an anticipatory increase in activity coincident with the onset of the active period. Spice consumption is associated with enhanced oxidative defense. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of a protocol comparing the effects of morning vs. evening consumption of turmeric on urine markers of oxidative stress in obese, middle-aged adults. Using a within-sample design, participants received each of four clock time x treatment administrations, each separated by one week: morning turmeric; evening turmeric; morning control; evening control. Participants prepared for each lab visit by consuming a low-antioxidant diet for two days and fasting for 12 h. Urine was collected in the lab at baseline and one-hour post-meal and at home for the following five hours. The results showed that the processes were successful in executing the protocol and collecting the measurements and that participants understood and adhered to the instructions. The findings also revealed that the spice treatment did not elicit the expected antioxidant effect and that the six-hour post-treatment urine collection period did not detect differences in urine endpoints across treatments. This feasibility study revealed that modifications to the spice treatment and urine sampling timeline are needed before implementing a larger study.