Competency-based assessment tools for regional anaesthesia: a narrative review.

Competency-based assessment tools are used in regional anaesthesia to measure the performance of study participants, trainees, and consultants. This narrative review was performed to appraise currently published assessment tools for regional anaesthesia. A literature search found 397 citations of which 28 peer-reviewed studies met the inclusion criteria of primary psychometric evaluation of assessment tools for regional anaesthesia. The included studies were diverse in the type of assessment and the skill set being assessed. The types of assessments included multiple-choice questions, hand-motion analysis, cumulative sum, visuospatial and psychomotor screening, checklists, and global rating scales. The skill sets that were assessed included holistic regional anaesthesia technical and non-technical performance observed at the bedside, to isolated part-tasks, such as needle tip visualisation under ultrasound. To evaluate validity and reliability, we compared the studies against published medical education consensus statements on ideal assessment tools. We discuss the relative merits of different tools when used to assess regional anaesthesia, the importance of psychometrically robust assessment tools in competency-based anaesthesia education, and directions for future education research in regional anaesthesia.

Fringe formation and coherence of a soft-x-ray laser beam illuminating a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

We investigated the fringe visibility produced by a Mach-Zehnder interferometer illuminated by a collisionally pumped yttrium x-ray laser operating at 15.5 nm. Fringe visibility varied as a function both of relative path delay and of relative spatial overlap of the beams. This visibility information was extracted quantitatively from several interferograms and analyzed to produce a characterization of the temporal coherence, yielding a gain-narrowed linewidth of 1.3 pm for the 15.5-nm laser transition and spatial coherence consistent with an effective source size of approximately 220 microm +/- 50% at the x-ray laser output.

Extreme-ultraviolet interferometry at 15.5 nm using multilayer optics.

The development of multilayer mirror technology capable of operating in the range of 3-30 nm and the construction of thin membranes with excellent uniformity and strength have made it possible to design and implement a Mach-Zehnder interferometer operating at 15.5 nm. We have tested this interferometer by using a soft x-ray laser as a source, and we show its use in probing high-density plasmas.

Long-acting contraceptive agents: levonorgestrel esters of unsaturated acids.

Esters of levonorgestrel (13 beta-ethyl-17 beta-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxygon-4-en-3-one) with a variety of unsaturated carboxylic acids have been synthesized for evaluation as potential long-acting, injectable contraceptive agents.

PIP: This paper describes the synthesis of esters of levonorgestrel (13 beta-ethyl-17 beta-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxygon-4-en-3-one) with a variety of unsaturated carboxylic acids for evaluation as potential longacting injectable contraceptive agents. 1-Cyclohexenylacetic acid was prepared by the hydrolysis of 1-cyclohexenylacetonitrile. The synthesis of E-penta-2,4-dienoic acid was achieved by the condensation of acrolein with malonic acid. Reformatsky reaction between crotonaldehyde and ethyl 2-bromopropionate followed by dehydration of the condensation product was used for the synthesis of E,E-2-methylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid. In the preparation of 5-methyl-2-furylacetic acid, 5-methylfurfural was subjected to condensation reaction with rhodanine followed by hydrolysis. The levonorgestrel esters were synthesized by reaction of the appropriate acid chloride with the thallim salt of levonorgestrel, which was obtained by use of thallous ethoxide. The esters prepared were levonorgestrel 1-cyclohexenylacetate; levonorgestrel 1-cyclopentenylacetate; levonorgestrel E-penta-2,4-dienoate; levonorgestrel E,E-2methylhexa-2,4-dienoate; levonorgestrel 5-methyl-2-furylethaoate; levonorgestrel 3-(5'-methyl-2'-furyl)propanoate; levonorgestrel 3-(5'-ethyl-2'-furyl)propanoate; leveonorgestrel 4-(5'-methyl-2'-furyl)butanoate; levonorgestrel E-non-2-en-4-ynoate; 1-cyclohexenylacetic acid; 1-cyclopentenylacetic acid; E-penta-2,4-dienoic acid; E,E-2-methylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid; 5-methyl-2-furylacetic acid; and E-non-2-en-4-ynoic acid.

Long-acting contraceptive agents: norethisterone esters of arylcarboxylic acids.

The synthesis of esters of norethisterone (17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxy-estr-4-en-3-one) with acids containing a benzene ring is described, two methods of esterification being compared in terms of yield and convenience. The activities of these esters as long-acting contraceptive agents have been evaluated.

Long-acting contraceptive agents: furylalkylcarboxylic acid esters of norethisterone.

5-Methyl- and 5-ethyl-furylalkylcarboxylic esters of norethisterone (17 alpha-ethynyl-17 beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one) were prepared in high yield in the presence of thallous ethoxide. The activities of these compounds as long-acting contraceptive agents have been evaluated.

Synthesis of some novel amodiaquine analogues as potential antimalarial and antifilarial compounds.

Ten amodiaquine analogues, which are hybridized molecules of amodiaquine and diethylcarbamazine, were designed and synthesized. Six analogues, all bearing a basic tertiary amino function at their side chain, were active against Plasmodium berghei in mice and inhibited the mobility of adult worms and microfilariae of Breinlia booliati in vitro. They were inactive against Litomosoides carinii in Mastomys natalensis. The most active antimalarial compound, 7-chloro-4-[alpha-[[N-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyl]amino]-4-hydroxy-m-toluidino]quinoline, had twice the activity of amodiaquine. O-Methylation and N-ethylation generally reduced antimalarial activity. Analogues which lack a basic tertiary amino function at their side chain were also lacking in both antimalarial and antifilarial activities.

Investigation of the anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of the antimalarial agent, amodiaquine, and related compounds.

The antimalarial agent, amodiaquine, is a potent inhibitor of AChE (Ki = 1.50 x 10(-9) M, pH 7.4, 25 degrees C). Both the protonated diethylamino and phenolic hydroxyl functions of amodiaquine are necessary for interaction with AChE. This suggests that the inhibition of AChE by amodiaquine may involve binding of the protonated diethylamino and phenolic hydroxyl functions to the anionic and esteric sites of the enzyme respectively. The anti-AChE property of amodiaquine may be related in some way to the gastrointestinal and central nervous system disturbances frequently encountered when large doses of amodiaquine are used for the treatment of malaria.