Asymptomatic mycotic aneurysm of ascending aorta after heart transplantation: a case report.

Mycotic pseudoaneurysm and aneurysm of the ascending aorta is a very rare and potentially fatal complication of heart transplantation. It usually presents with fever, chest pain, dyspnea, or constitutional symptoms. Most reports in the literature are about mycotic pseudoaneurysm, but mycotic aneurysm is rarer. Herein we report a 39-year-old man in who had an asymptomatic mycotic aneurysm of the ascending aorta developed late (1 year) after orthotopic heart transplantation. There was no history of previous mediastinitis or any other important infection. He underwent an uneventful replacement of the ascending aorta.

Construction of a new Cu2+ coated wire ion selective electrode based on 2-((2-(2-(2-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzylidene amino)phenyl)disufanyl)phenylimino)methyl)-4-methoxyphenol Schiff base.

In this article a new coated platinum Cu(2+) ion selective electrode based on 2-((2-(2-(2-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxybenzylideneamino)phenyl)disufanyl)phenylimino) methyl)-4-methoxyphenol Schiff base (L(1)) as a new ionophore is described. This sensor has a wide linear range of concentration (1.2 × 10(-7)-1.0 × 10(-1) mol L(-1)) and a low detection limit of 9.8 × 10(-8) mol L(-1)of Cu(NO(3))(2). It has a Nernstian response with slope of 29.54 ± 1.62 mV decade(-1) and it is applicable in the pH range of 4.0-6.0 without any divergence in potential. The coated electrode has a short response time of approximately 9s and is stable at least for 3.5 months. The electrode shows a good selectivity for Cu(2+) ion toward a wide variety of metal ions. The proposed sensor was successfully applied for the determination of Cu(2+) ion in different real and environmental samples and as indicator electrode for potentiometric titration of Cu(2+) ion with EDTA.

Anesthesia in adult cardiac surgery without maintenance of muscle relaxants: a randomized clinical trial.

There may be no need for muscle paralysis during cardiac surgery when adequate anesthesia is provided. We studied intra- and post-operative conditions during cardiac surgery without maintenance muscle relaxant therapy. Eighty adult patients who were candidates for elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery were randomly allocated into two groups. In the noMR or study group (noMR group; n = 40) only an intubation dose of cisatracurium (0.15 mg kg(-1)) was administrated, as opposed to the control group (MR group; n = 40), who had a continuous infusion added to the intubation dose. The anesthesia level was maintained at a Bispectral score of 40-50 using a propofol infusion. A remifentanil infusion was titrated to control patient hemodynamic response. During surgery, any minor (fine body or respiratory muscle movements) or major (coarse body movements or bucking/caught) movements were recorded. Postoperatively, analgesia was provided by remifentanil. The surgical condition was classified into three states: good (no movement), acceptable (minor movements), or poor (major movements). Anesthesia, surgery and postoperative characteristics were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed in only 78 patients (noMR = 38, MR = 40). The demographic and preoperative characteristics of the two groups were comparable. Intra-operative propofol consumption was the same, but significantly more remifentanil was used in the noMR group (p = 0.001). Post-operative characteristics and complication rates did not differ between the two groups. There were no movements in the MR group patients, while in the noMR group one patient had major movement and three had minor movements. We concluded that omitting maintenance muscle relaxants in adult cardiac surgery or eliminating residual muscle paralysis at the end of the surgery without improving early outcome can increase patient intra-operative movement risk.

Preconcentration and separation of trace amount of heavy metal ions on bis(2-hydroxy acetophenone)ethylendiimine loaded on activated carbon.

A sensitive and simple method for simultaneous preconcentration of trace heavy metal ions in some food samples has been reported. The method is based on the adsorption of Cr(3+), Fe(3+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+), Co(2+) and Zn(2+) on bis(2-hydroxy acetophenone)ethylendiimine (BHAPED) loaded on activated carbon (AC). The adsorbed metals on activated carbon were eluted using 2 mol L(-1) nitric acid in acetone. The influences of the analytical parameters including pH and sample volume were investigated. The effects of matrix ions on the recoveries of analyte ions were also investigated. The recoveries of analytes were generally higher than 94%. The method has been successfully applied for analysis of the metal contents in real samples including natural water samples.

An Integrated and Multivariate Model along with Designing Experiments Approach for Assessment of Micro- and Macro- Ergonomic Factors: The Case of a Gas Refinery.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this paper are three folds. First, an integrated framework for designing and development of the integrated health, safety and environment (HSE) model is presented. Second, it is implemented and tested for a large gas refinery in Iran. Third, it is shown whether the total ergonomics model is superior to the conventional ergonomics approach. This study is among the first to examine total ergonomics components in a manufacturing system. METHODS: This study was conducted in Sarkhoon & Qeshm Gas refinery- Iran in 2006. To achieve the above objectives, an integrated approach based on total ergonomics factors was developed. Second, it is applied to the refinery and the advantages of total ergonomics approach are discussed. Third, the impacts of total ergonomics factors on local factors are examined through non-parametric statistical analysis. RESULTS: It was shown that total ergonomics model is much more beneficial than conventional approach. It should be noted that the traditional ergonomics methodology is not capable of locating the findings of total ergonomics model. CONCLUSION: The distinguished aspect of this study is the employment of a total system approach based on integration of the conventional ergonomics factors with HSE factors.

The determination of some heavy metals in food samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after their separation-preconcentration on bis salicyl aldehyde, 1,3 propan diimine (BSPDI) loaded on activated carbon.

A sensitive and simple method for the simultaneous preconcentration of Cr3+, Fe3+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ in real samples has been reported. The method is based on the adsorption of analytes on bis salicyl aldehyde, 1,3 propan diimine (BSPDI) loaded on activated carbon. The adsorbed metals on modified activated carbon were eluted using 8 mL of 2 mol L(-1) nitric acid in acetone or 10 mL of 4 mol L(-1) HNO3. The influences of the analytical parameters including pH and sample volume were investigated. The effects of matrix ions on the retentions of the analytes were also examined. The recoveries of analytes were generally quantitative. The method has been successfully applied for these metals content evaluation in some food samples.