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The wet stripping of unreacted Ni(Pt) and TiN using Aqua Regia, after Ni(Pt) silicidation, was evaluated in this study. It was observed that Aqua Regia attacked Ni(Pt) silicide formed at low annealing temperatures. Resultant degradation of silicided sheet resistance of narrow linewidth structures would outweigh the benefits of improved reverse linewidth effect and junction leakages. By using an optimum RTA temperature and Aqua Regia duration, an operating window could be established for low temperature Ni(Pt) silicidation process.

Alpha-feto protein (AFP) is a clinically useful marker for hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoblastoma, and nonseminomatous testicular tumors. Elevated serum AFP can also occur with tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, lung, kidney, and urachus. Serum AFP can also be minimally elevated in nonmalignant conditions including acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and pregnancy.

Sixty nursing homes were randomly allocated to receive or not to receive a quality assurance intervention. The experimental intervention included the use of predeveloped quality assurance packages, the services of a quality assurance consultant, and the process of working through the quality assurance cycle with one of two principal indicator conditions. Two prevalent health problems, hazardous mobility and constipation, were selected as the principal indicator conditions. To detect co-intervention, one of two hidden secondary indicator conditions (potential skin breakdown and urinary incontinence) was assessed in each facility. In the control nursing homes, both the principal and secondary indicator conditions were hidden from staff. The care for 1,525 residents was examined before and after the intervention using a retrospective record review initiated for the study purposes. Improvement in management of the principal conditions, hazardous mobility and constipation, was greater in the experimental group (P< 0.03 and P< 0.005, respectively). Neither group changed its management of the hidden conditions. Behavior change was achieved using quality assurance-linked interventions. Further research should focus on refining quality assurance interventions that provide staff education and motivational strategies.

Intestinal perforation from a migrated biliary stent is a rare complication after endoscopic stent placement for benign biliary stricture. We provide the first description of stent migration and distal small-bowel perforation after stent placement for biliary anastomotic stricture in a liver transplant recipient. We review the current literature on the diagnosis and management of stent migration and intestinal perforation after endoscopic or percutaneous stent placement for benign and malignant biliary strictures. Early diagnosis and treatment of biliary stent migration and subsequent intestinal perforation are essential in transplant patients, in whom immunosuppression sometimes blunts signs and symptoms of intestinal perforation.

There is growing evidence that yoga may offer a safe and cost-effective intervention for Type 2 Diabetes mellitus (DM 2). However, systematic reviews are lacking. This article critically reviews the published literature regarding the effects of yoga-based programs on physiologic and anthropometric risk profiles and related clinical outcomes in adults with DM 2. We performed a comprehensive literature search using four computerized English and Indian scientific databases. The search was restricted to original studies (1970–2006) that evaluated the metabolic and clinical effects of yoga in adults with DM 2. Studies targeting clinical populations with cardiovascular disorders that included adults with comorbid DM were also evaluated. Data were extracted regarding study design, setting, target population, intervention, comparison group or condition, outcome assessment, data analysis and presentation, follow-up, and key results, and the quality of each study was evaluated according to specific predetermined criteria. We identified 25 eligible studies, including 15 uncontrolled trials, 6 non-randomized controlled trials and 4 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Overall, these studies suggest beneficial changes in several risk indices, including glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, anthropometric characteristics, blood pressure, oxidative stress, coagulation profiles, sympathetic activation and pulmonary function, as well as improvement in specific clinical outcomes. Yoga may improve risk profiles in adults with DM 2, and may have promise for the prevention and management of cardiovascular complications in this population. However, the limitations characterizing most studies preclude drawing firm conclusions. Additional high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm and further elucidate the effects of standardized yoga programs in populations with DM 2.