Search

OBJECTIVE:To validate the estimates of the prevalence of multimorbidity based on administrative hospital discharge data, with medical records and chart reviews as benchmarks. DESIGN:Retrospective cohort study. SETTING:Medical division of a tertiary care teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS:A total of 170 medical inpatients admitted from the emergency unit in January 2009. MAIN MEASURES:The prevalence of multimorbidity for three different definitions (≥2 diagnoses, ≥2 diagnoses from different ICD-10 chapters, and ≥2 medical conditions as defined by Charlson/Deyo) and three different data sources (administrative data, chart reviews, and medical records). RESULTS:The prevalence of multimorbidity in medical inpatients derived from administrative data, chart reviews and medical records was very high and concurred for the different definitions of multimorbidity (≥2 diagnoses: 96.5%, 95.3%, and 92.9% [p = 0.32], ≥2 diagnoses from different ICD-10 chapters: 86.5%, 90.0%, and 85.9% [p = 0.46], and ≥2 medical conditions as defined by Charlson/Deyo: 48.2%, 50.0%, and 46.5% [p = 0.81]). The agreement of rating of multimorbidity for administrative data and chart reviews and administrative data and medical records was 94.1% and 93.0% (kappa statistics 0.47) for ≥2 diagnoses; 86.0% and 86.5% (kappa statistics 0.52) for ≥2 diagnoses from different ICD-10 chapters; and 82.9% and 85.3% (kappa statistics 0.69) for ≥2 medical conditions as defined by Charlson/Deyo. CONCLUSION:Estimates of the prevalence of multimorbidity in medical inpatients based on administrative data, chart reviews and medical records were very high and congruent for the different definitions of multimorbidity. Agreement for rating multimorbidity based on the different data sources was moderate to good. Administrative hospital discharge data are a valid source for exploring the burden of multimorbidity in hospital settings.

In the present study, we report the first pathogenic mutation in the CACNA2D1 gene in humans, which causes a new variant of SQTS. It remains to be determined whether mutations in this gene lead to other manifestations of the J-wave syndrome.

Inductance cardiography (thoracocardiography) non-invasively monitors changes in stroke volume by recording ventricular volume curves with an inductive plethysmographic transducer encircling the chest at the level of the heart. Clinical application of this method has been hampered, as data analysis has not been feasible in real time. Therefore a novel, real-time signal processing technique for inductance cardiography has been developed. Its essential concept consists in performance of multiple tasks by several, logically linked signal processing modules that have access to common databases. Based on these principles, a software application was designed that performs acquisition, display, filtering and ECG-triggered ensemble averaging of inductance signals and separates cardiogenic waveforms from noise related to respiration and other sources. The resulting ventricular volume curves are automatically analysed. Performance of the technique for monitoring cardiac output in real time was compared with thermodilution in four patients in an intensive care unit. The bias (mean difference) among 76 paired thoracocardiographic and thermodilution derived changes in cardiac output was 0%; limits of agreement (±2 SD of the bias) were ±25%. It is concluded that the proposed signal processing technique for inductance cardiography holds promise for non-invasive, real-time estimation of changes in cardiac output

Working copy machine trans. of Tsentralnyi Aerogidrodinamicheskii Institut. Uchenye Zapiski (USSR) v3 n3 p36-44 1972.

This book discusses the methods of production of powder polymer materials, principles of film formation and production of coatings on the basis of these materials. Considerable attention is given to the technology of production of films and the methods of application of polymer materials onto surfaces, including equipment used. (Author-PL)

This is a description of the use of sulphidising agents to achieve a significant increase in the level of metal recovery during the smelting of copper concentrates and matte conversion. In the conversion process for copper and polymetallic mattes, the addition of sulphides produces: a remarkably low level of nonferrous metals remaining in converter slag; a high level of copper extraction to matte; high levels of arsenic and antimony extraction to dust; and a decrease in the magnetite content of the converter slags. Based on laboratory, pilot, and industrial scale data, the advantages of the addition of sulphidising agents to the converter for the treatment of copper and polymetallic materials are demonstrated., This is a description of the use of sulphidising agents to achieve a significant increase in the level of metal recovery during the smelting of copper concentrates and matte conversion. In the conversion process for copper and polymetallic mattes, the addition of sulphides produces: a remarkably low level of nonferrous metals remaining in converter slag; a high level of copper extraction to matte; high levels of arsenic and antimony extraction to dust; and a decrease in the magnetite content of the converter slags. Based on laboratory, pilot, and industrial scale data, the advantages of the addition of sulphidising agents to the converter for the treatment of copper and polymetallic materials are demonstrated.

Studies have been carried out on the use of a copper-zinc concentrate for the removal of As and Sb during the treatment of recycled Pb-containing materials in a blast furnace. Converter slag from the KAZZINC plant and Cu-Zn concentrate from the Nikolaevsky deposits in Kazakhstan were used. Results showed that, for an initial charge in the blast furnace of 26% converter slag, 30% Cu slips, 16% Cu-Pb matte, 4% caustic slag, 8% Cu-Zn concentrate, 8% silica flux, and 8% CaCO3 flux, the use of the Cu-Zn concentrate results in antimony and arsenic volatilisation 30% higher than with the current technology (based on the use of Cu-Zn ore). Arsenic and antimony extraction to the furnace dust is 84% instead of 63.3% , and 76% instead of 61%, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations for the smelting reaction showed that, at 1 573 K, there is an energetically preferred reaction of arsenic oxide and antimony oxide with the sulphur from the decomposition of CuFeS2 and FeS2. Maximum lead extraction to lead bullion and maximum volatilisation of As and Sb in the furnace dust were achieved with a Cu-Zn concentration flow rate of 20 wt% of converter slag. A thermodynamic calculation to provide a theoretical basis for the process is presented., Studies have been carried out on the use of a copper-zinc concentrate for the removal of As and Sb during the treatment of recycled Pb-containing materials in a blast furnace. Converter slag from the KAZZINC plant and Cu-Zn concentrate from the Nikolaevsky deposits in Kazakhstan were used. Results showed that, for an initial charge in the blast furnace of 26% converter slag, 30% Cu slips, 16% Cu-Pb matte, 4% caustic slag, 8% Cu-Zn concentrate, 8% silica flux, and 8% CaCO3 flux, the use of the Cu-Zn concentrate results in antimony and arsenic volatilisation 30% higher than with the current technology (based on the use of Cu-Zn ore). Arsenic and antimony extraction to the furnace dust is 84% instead of 63.3% , and 76% instead of 61%, respectively. Thermodynamic calculations for the smelting reaction showed that, at 1 573 K, there is an energetically preferred reaction of arsenic oxide and antimony oxide with the sulphur from the decomposition of CuFeS2 and FeS2. Maximum lead extraction to lead bullion and maximum volatilisation of As and Sb in the furnace dust were achieved with a Cu-Zn concentration flow rate of 20 wt% of converter slag. A thermodynamic calculation to provide a theoretical basis for the process is presented.

Inductance cardiography (thoracocardiography) non-invasively monitors changes in stroke volume by recording ventricular volume curves with an inductive plethysmographic transducer encircling the chest at the level of the heart. Clinical application of this method has been hampered, as data analysis has not been feasible in real time. Therefore a novel, real-time signal processing technique for inductance cardiography has been developed. Its essential concept consists in performance of multiple tasks by several, logically linked signal processing modules that have access to common databases. Based on these principles, a software application was designed that performs acquisition, display, filtering and ECG-triggered ensemble averaging of inductance signals and separates cardiogenic waveforms from noise related to respiration and other sources. The resulting ventricular volume curves are automatically analysed. Performance of the technique for monitoring cardiac output in real time was compared with thermodilution in four patients in an intensive care unit. The bias (mean difference) among 76 paired thoracocardiographic and thermodilution derived changes in cardiac output was 0%; limits of agreement (±2 SD of the bias) were ±25%. It is concluded that the proposed signal processing technique for inductance cardiography holds promise for non-invasive, real-time estimation of changes in cardiac output