A clinical evaluation of the Maquet Quadrox-i Neonatal oxygenator with integrated arterial filter.

High-performance, low-prime-volume oxygenators for the pediatric patient population have become a growing market among manufacturers. In the summer of 2011, our institution clinically evaluated the performance of the newly released Maquet Quadrox-i Neonatal oxygenator with integrated arterial filter. The static priming volume, including the integrated arterial filter, is 40 ml and the maximum rated blood flow is 1.5 liters per minute (LPM). The device was used on seven pediatric patients, ranging from 3.2 to 14 kg, undergoing various congenital heart defect repairs. Data were collected to calculate gas transfer, trans-oxygenator pressure drop, and heat exchange performance. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 85 minutes and the mean cross-clamp time was 56 minutes. The average oxygen transfer was 34.3 ± 22.8 ml/O2/min and increased with both blood flow and FiO2. The average carbon dioxide transfer was 22.3 ± 17.8 ml/min and increased with both blood flow and gas sweep to blood flow ratio. The average trans-oxygenator pressure drop per blood flow was 53.3 ± 15.5 mmHg/L/min and increased with flow. The average heat exchanger performance factor was 47.6 ± 11.6% and decreased with flow. The heat exchange performance factor at maximum observed clinical flow, 1.42 LPM, was 36.4%. During this evaluation, the Maquet Quadrox-i Neonatal oxygenator adequately performed within its operational flow in the clinical setting.

Cultural determinants of achievement, aggression, and psychological distress.

We present a cross-cultural exploration of the interrelationships among six concepts: achievement (ie, cultural attainment), aggression, psychological distress, competition, interpersonal intensity (strength of passionate attachments), and social synergy (patterned behavior that simultaneously benefits both individual and society). Of interest is the proposition that levels of achievement, aggression, and psychological distress are partly determined by corresponding levels of competition and interpersonal intensity; however, in the presence of high levels of social synergy, aggression and psychological distress are lowered without affecting the level of achievement. We have tested the implied linear relationships, using blind ratings (of five variables assessed from ethnographic extracts) obtained from ten cross-cultural scholars, and a Social Development Index (from Tatje and Naroll) to indicate achievement. A sample of 58 societies was employed in correlation and multivariate analysis of variance.

Impact of dramatized television entertainment on adult males.

The authors studied the effects of a week's viewing of five types of television programs, including those with predominantly helpful or hurtful content, on the aggressive mood and hurtful behavior of adult men. They found, within the population studied, a significant decrease in aggressive mood and lower levels of hurtful behavior in viewers of helpful programs as compared with a control group, as well as some evidence that emotional arousal in response to helpful programs is negatively correlated with aggressive mood.