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The Ar/O2/hexamethyldisiloxane-fed expanding thermal plasma setup is employed for the deposition of scratch-resistant silicone films on polycarbonate with the purpose of replacing glass by polymers in the architectural and transportation industry. It is shown that the versatile control of parameters in the ETP setup (i.e. arc current, gas flow rates and working pressure) enables specific tuning of the film properties (i.e. chemical composition, optical and mechanical properties). The gas phase is monitored by means of mass spectrometry and cavity ringdown spectroscopy. In situ/ex situ ellipsometry is applied for the optical characterisation of the film. The film composition is determined by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the mechanical properties are obtained using nano-indentation measurements. The control parameters are tuned such that the final scratch-resistant films are carbon-deficient and have a strong SiOSi network: stoichiometry SiC0.6HyO1. The low refractive index of 1.42 is due to the presence of residual voids in the film network. The hardness and Young''s modulus of the film is 1.2 GPa and 12 GPa, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Immunoadsorption (IA) is used in patients with chronic inflammatory dilative cardiomyopathy (iDCM) to remove cardiotoxic autoantibodies, and to improve myocardial function. We examined the effects of IA on endothelial function, circulating endothelial progenitor cells, and circulating microparticles, including endothelial-derived microparticles, in patients with chronic iDCM., Methods: Thirteen patients (10 males, 3 females, mean age 52.3 years) with advanced congestive heart failure (NYHA III and IV) secondary due to chronic iDCM (with signs of myocardial inflammation in biopsies, but without persistence of virus genome), and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF < 35%) underwent IA. Blood samples were drawn before an IA course of 5 days, and 6 months after IA. Blood levels of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs as defined as VEGFR2(+)CD34(+) cells), of microparticles (MPs as defined as Annexin V(+) particles with a diameter between 0.1 and 1 μm), and of endothelial-derived MPs (eMPs as defined as CD31(+bright) CD42b(-)/Annexin V(+) particles) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Endothelial function (expressed as reactive hyperemia index (RHI)) and arterial stiffness were assessed by PAT-technology (peripheral arterial tone) using fingertips., Results: Left ventricular systolic function (EF%) improved on average at 6 months from 26.3 ± 4.8 to 37.9 ± 9.6% (mean ± SEM; p < 0.05). The LV end-diastolic diameter reduced after 6 months from 68.4 ± 8.2 to 61.6 ± 7.9 mm; p < 0.05). Endothelial function improved from 1.53 ± 0.09 to 1.80 ± 0.12 (p < 0.05). The arterial stiffness index remained unchanged. Number of total MPs decreased on average by 36.8% (p < 0.05), the number of eMPs by 39.6% (p < 0.05), respectively. The level of circulating EPC remained unchanged (EPC/PMNC 0.26 ± 0.07 vs. 0.27 ± 0.05 ‰, p = n.s.)., Conclusions: IA treatment improves endothelial function in patients with chronic iDCM. This effect is associated with a significant drop in circulating microparticles. The causal relationship between circulating microparticles and endothelial function is discussed.

Background: Immunoadsorption (IA) is used in patients with inflammatory dilative cardiomyopathy (iDCM) to remove cardiotoxic autoantibodies, and to improve myocardial function. Even if IA is used only once, the level of anti-cardiac antibodies remains low over time. Changes in cell-mediated immunity after IA may contribute to this observation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of IA on cell-mediated immunity especially on regulatory and early activated T cells., Methods: Ten patients (50.1 ± 9.3 years) with chronic iDCM (with signs of myocardial inflammation in biopsies, but without persistence of virus genome), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF < 35%) underwent IA. Blood samples were drawn before and after an IA course of 5 days, and 1, 3, and 6 months after IA. Leukocyte subpopulations were quantified by FACS analysis., Results: Left ventricular systolic function improved on average at 6 months from 25.6 ± 4.9 to 37.3 ± 10.1% (p < 0.05). The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was reduced after 6 months (63.3 ± 3.1 vs. 57.1 ± 4.1 mm; p < 0.05). IA therapy led to an increase of regulatory T cells (CD4(+), CD25(+) and CD127(low)) over time (up to 6 months). This was associated with a decrease of activated T cells (CD4(+)/CD69(+) and CD8(+)/CD69(+) cells) and CD28(+) T cells (co-stimulatory cells), which was detectable for at least 6 months after IA., Conclusion: It is suggested that changes in cell-mediated immunity contribute to the beneficial effect of IA on myocardial function, and on maintenance of reduced blood levels of cardiotoxic autoantibodies.

Aim: The frequency of cardiovascular adverse effects of cervical nerve root infiltration was investigated by means of a prospective study., Method: The hemodynamic and respiratory parameters systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were monitored continuously in 56 patients undergoing cervical spine nerve root infiltration (injection of 10 ml Lidocain 0.5 %, mean depth of injection 5 cm). The monitored time frame ranged from 5 minutes before to 10 minutes after its administration, an additional holter-monitoring began 1 day prior to the injection., Results: Severe complications such as syncopes were not observed in any of the 56 patients, 4 patients developed presyncopes. None of the registered parameters showed a significant change. In a group of patients with known, pre-existing cardiovascular morbidity, no significant changes occurred either. No relevant cardiac arrhythmias were observed., Conclusion: The observed cardiovascular complications were not severe. Most probably, the observed reactions were vasavagal presyncopes. Supine positioning led to immediate recovery in all of these patients. A complete hemodynamic monitoring and the placement of an intravenous line do not seem to be absolute necessities in the routine cervical nerve root infiltration.

Aim: The frequency of cardiovascular adverse effects of lumbar paravertebral nerve root infiltration was investigated., Method: 117 patients with sciatic pain were included prospectively. 60 % of these suffered from known cardiovascular diseases. In 50 patients, cardiac rhythm was investigated by Holter monitoring. In 100 patients blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were registered continuously from 5 minutes before to 15 minutes after the administration of a paravertebral nerve root infiltration by means of a non-invasive monitoring system., Results: A minor rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate as well as a normalization of these parameters after the nerve root infiltration, were found. These findings were similar for patients with and without pre-existing cardiovascular diseases. No relevant cardiac arrhythmias could be determined. 5 of the 117 patients suffered from presyncope after the nerve root infiltration. These individuals were significantly (p = 0.002) younger than those without presyncope (32.4 +/- 9.3 vs. 55.8 +/- 14.6 years). Presyncope was more frequent during the first treatment with lumbar paravertebral nerve root infiltration in comparison to repeated application of this therapy [4/27 (14.8 %) vs. 1/90 (1.1 %), p = 0.003]. 80 % of the patients who had experienced a presyncope reported a history of similar events., Conclusion: According to our findings, cardiovascular monitoring for lumbar paravertebral nerve root infiltrations in the treatment of sciatica does not appear to be required. Patients with a presyncope seem to be characterized by age, first treatment and a history of (pre-)syncopes. In these cases, intravenous fluid substitution might be of help in counteracting vasovagal circulatory reactions.