Search

ABSTRACT Typically, electroresponsive hydrogels have either a high electrical conductivity with little swelling or large swelling with low conductivity. This paper investigates a method of maintaining high swelling capabilities and increasing electrical conductivity by infusing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into a hydrolyzed polyacrylamide hydrogel. Various concentrations of MWCNT and Nafion solutions infused into the hydrogel were investigated. Optical microscopy analysis showed aggregates of carbon nanotube bundles at the macroscale, whereas electron microscopy revealed homogeneous dispersion of carbon nanotube in the polymer matrix at the microscale. Electrical conductivity measurements demonstrated an increase from 0.02 to 0.11 mS cm-1 with infused MWCNT. The MWCNT-infused hydrogels demonstrated a 400% increase in deswelling capabilities during an applied electrical stimulus compared to a noninfused hydrogel. In conclusion, infusing the MWCNT into the hydrogel increased its electrical conductivity, which allows the hydrogel to deswell more rapidly with an applied electrical bias without compromising its mechanical or swelling properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For patients with haematological malignancies, information on disease, prognosis, treatment and impact on quality of life is of the utmost importance. To gain insight into the perceived need for information in relation to sociodemographic and clinical parameters, comorbidity, quality of life (QoL) and information satisfaction, we compiled a questionnaire based on existing validated questionnaires. A total of 458 patients diagnosed with a haematological malignancy participated. The perceived need for information was moderate to high (40-70%). Multivariate regression analyses showed that a higher need for information was related to younger age, worse QoL, being member of a patient society and moderate comorbidity. The need for disease and treatment-related information was higher than the need for psychosocial information. A higher need for disease and treatment-related information was associated to being diagnosed with multiple myeloma. A higher need for psychosocial information was related to a lower educational level. The information provision could be improved according to 41% of the patients. Higher satisfaction with provided information was associated with better QoL. Most patients (62%) reported that they wanted to be fully informed about their illness and actively involved in treatment decision-making. The results contribute to improving patient-tailored information provision and shared decision-making in clinical practice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Electro-responsive hydrogels (ERH) are highly researched materials for biomedical applications. However, most of the research is concentrated on the synthesis of novel hydrogels for various applications, and little effort has been made to investigate electrode configuration and optimization of electrical stimulation parameters. This article used a three-dimensional interdigitated (IDT) electrode configuration device to investigate the optimization of electrical actuation parameters in order to radially deswell an ERH. A Pluronic-bismethacrylate hydrogel modified with hydrolyzed methacrylic acid was used as the ERH material. This article reports on using novel electro-actuation parameters and electrode configurations to maximize radial deswelling of an ERH for biomedical applications. The optimal waveform was assessed for, varying electrode spacing's, voltages, duty cycles, and frequencies. The results show that a maximum deswelling occurred with a DC pulsed monophasic waveform, with IDT electrodes spaced close enough to create a relatively uniform electric field, with a peak voltage of 5 V at 1 kHz, and 50% duty cycle. This resulted in a deswelling of 320% in Krebs solution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results show that the impedance is dependent on the ionic concentration of the fluid environment and that the impedance decreases with increasing frequency. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41687. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To quantify the environmental component of aetiology of overweight and obesity by examining the relationship between the degree of overweight in dogs and cats and the degree of overweight in their owners. Design: Cross-sectional study. Main outcome measures of the owners were weight, height (stature) and BMI. Of the animals, weight and divergence from ideal weight were measured by a veterinarian. Setting: Three veterinary clinics in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Subjects: Dogs and cats, together with their owners, who visited the veterinary clinic. Dogs and cats had to be older than 1 year, and their owners had to be at least 21 years old. After exclusion, there remained forty-seven pairs of dogs and their owners and thirty-six pairs of cats and their owners. Results: We found a significant relationship between the degree of overweight of dogs and the BMI of their owners (r=0·31). Correction for length of ownership, gender and age of the animal, and gender, age, education level and activity score of the owner did not materially affect this relationship. However, after correction for the amount of time the dog was being walked each day, this relationship disappeared. No significant relationship was found between the degree of overweight of cats and the BMI of their owners. Conclusions: The degree to which dogs are overweight is, in contrast to the degree to which cats are overweight, related to the BMI of their owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which described a power cycling in-test monitoring system to assess the reliability of different lead-free surface mount assemblies. Experimental details; Results and discussion; Conclusions.

A patient who bred exotic turtles as a hobby presented with 2 episodes of severe diarrhea, the second of which was proven to be caused by turtle-associated salmonellosis that was contracted during treatment with a proton-pump inhibitor. The literature about reptile-associated salmonellosis is briefly reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An 82-year-old woman attended our outpatient clinic because of a swollen right arm and hoarseness. Upon raising both arms, the patient developed a red and swollen face (Pemberton's sign). An MRI of the thorax showed a large intrathoracic goitre, which compressed venous structures and limited blood flow even when she lowered her arms.

Background: Besides the classical role of vitamin D on calcium and bone homeostasis, vitamin D deficiency has recently been identified as a contributing factor in the onset of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is uncertain whether vitamin D deficiency and poor glycaemic control are causally interrelated or that they constitute two independent features of type 2 diabetes mellitus. There are limited clinical trials carried out which measured the effect of vitamin D supplementation on glycaemic control.The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on glycaemic control and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus., Methods/design: In a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted in five general practices in the Netherlands three hundred patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus treated with lifestyle advises or metformin or sulphonylurea-derivatives are randomised to receive either placebo or 50,000 IU Vitamin D3 at monthly intervals. The primary outcome measure is the change in glycated haemoglobin level between baseline and six months. Secondary outcome measures include blood pressure, anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, insulin resistance, quality of life, advanced glycation end products and safety profiles. Quality of life will be measured by The Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey questionnaire. Advanced glycation end products are measured by an AGE-reader., Discussion: This trial will be the first study exploring the effect of vitamin D supplementation on both glycaemic control and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our findings will contribute to the knowledge of the relationship between vitamin D status and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus., Trial Registration: The Netherlands trial register: NTR3154.

In a 79-year-old female, a markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase level was found by chance. She had noticed her hats had become too small. Clinical examination revealed a large skull with frontal bossing. Bone scintigraphy showed increased activity of bone metabolism in the skull. These three findings combined are considered a classic example of Paget's disease.

A 56-years-old woman was admitted to the emergency department because of fatigue since 6 weeks. Laboratory investigation revealed pancytopenia with teardrop cells and hypersegmentation. Teardrop cells are a characteristic finding in myelofibrosis, but in this case they were caused by severe vitamin B12 deficiency.

In patients with hyperglycaemia plus obesity and cardiovascular disease, the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus is likely to be made and this is usually followed by the start of antihyperglycaemic therapy. This pragmatic approach, however, does not always turn out to be the correct one. We describe two patients with occult conditions that had caused or aggravated diabetes mellitus (DM): a 46-year-old man with acromegaly and a 41-year-old woman with Cushing's disease. After neurosurgeries were performed, the requirement for antihyperglycaemic treatment markedly decreased (case 2) or even disappeared (case 1). Physicians treating patients with DM should ask themselves what the cause of the disease could be; the recognition and treatment of that underlying condition may substantially decrease the amount of insulin required and may even cause the disappearance of DM altogether.

A 65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with progressive confusion and hypersomnia. During admission she became comatose which was found to be caused by hepatic encephalopathy. Fifteen years earlier she had undergone a Whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy for an adenocarcinoma of the pancreatic head. She had developed secondary endo- and exocrine pancreas insufficiency and a fatty liver. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a little-known late complication of a pancreaticoduodenectomy, possibly caused by postoperative exocrine pancreas insufficiency. NAFLD may lead to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which can ultimately result in liver cirrhosis. There have been no previous reports in the literature of hepatic encephalopathy presenting as liver failure secondary to NASH following pancreaticoduodenectomy.