Antihyperglycemic Therapies With Expansions of US Food and Drug Administration Indications to Reduce Cardiovascular Events: Prescribing Patterns Within an Academic Medical Center.

Sodium-glucose cotransport protein-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We examined real-world use of these agents at a US academic medical center in the state of Mississippi. Prescriptions, provider specialty, and insurance status of users of SGLT2is and GLP-1RAs in patients with T2DM, and T2DM and cardiovascular disease (CVD) seen from 1st January 2013 to 30th June 2019 were obtained by electronic health records review. We identified 21,173 patients with T2DM and CVD. Overall, 306 (1.4%) and 349 (1.6%) patients received a SGLT2i and GLP-1RA, respectively. After the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded empagliflozin and liraglutide indications, a mean difference of 19.2 and 12.7 greater quarterly new prescriptions was noted, respectively, whereas no such rise in canagliflozin was observed. Primary care physicians accounted for 53.4% SGLT2i prescriptions, endocrinology for 30.3%, and cardiology for 6.0%. Primary care physicians accounted for 45.1% GLP-1RA prescriptions, endocrinology for 45.0%, and cardiology for 1.4%. Prescription patterns did not largely differ by patient insurance status. In conclusion, prescription of evidence-based therapies to improve CVD outcomes in high-risk patients with T2DM remains very low after several years of evidence generation. Low uptake was evident across insurance types. Modest increases in use were observed after regulatory expansions in labeling; however, cardiologists rarely engaged in prescription, underscoring the need for widespread implementation strategies across health care systems.

Study of atomic and molecular emission spectra of Sr by laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).

Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is an ideal analytical technique for in situ analysis of elemental composition. We have performed a comparative study of the quantitative and qualitative analysis of atomic and molecular emission from LIBS spectra. In our experiments, a mixture of SrCl2 and Al2O3 in powder form was used as a sample. The atomic emission from Sr and molecular emission from SrCl and SrO observed in LIBS spectra were analyzed. The optimum laser energies, gate delays, and gate widths for selected atomic lines and molecular bands were determined from spectra recorded at various experimental parameters. These optimum experimental conditions were used to collect calibration data, and the calibration curves were used to predict the Sr concentration. Limits of detection (LODs) for selected atomic and molecular emission spectra were determined.

Determination of elemental impurities in plastic calibration standards using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Dual-energy computed tomography (CT) scanning is a rapidly emerging imaging technique employed in nondestructive evaluation of various materials. CT has been used for characterizing rocks and visualizing multiphase flow through rocks for over 25 years. The most common technique for dual-energy CT scanning relies on homogeneous calibration standards to produce the most accurate decoupled data. However, the use of calibration standards with impurities increases the probability of error in the reconstructed data and results in poor rock characterization. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy was used to determine impurity concentration in a set of commercially purchased calibration standards used in dual-energy scanning for material identification with coal samples. Two calibration models were developed by using univariate calibration with the internal ratio method and multiple linear regression. Seven elements (Al, Fe, Mg, Na, Ni, Sr, and Ti) were examined in five different samples containing varying amounts of each ion to compare calibration from univariate data analysis and from multivariate data analysis. The contaminant concentrations were also measured by a commercially available inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy instrument, and the data were used as a reference in developing calibration curves for a modified version of the single linear regression model and the multiple linear regression model.

Application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for total carbon quantification in soil samples.

The increase of greenhouse gas (i.e., CO(2)) levels in the atmosphere has caused noticeable climate change. Many nations are currently looking into methods of permanent underground storage for CO(2) in an attempt to mitigate this problem. The goal of this work is to develop a process for studying the total carbon content in soils before, during, and after CO(2) injection to ensure that no leakage is occurring or to determine how much is leaking if it is occurring and what effect it will have on the ecosystem between the injection formation and the atmosphere. In this study, we quantitatively determine the total carbon concentration in soil using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). A soil sample from Starkville, Mississippi, USA was mixed with different amounts of carbon powder, which was used as a calibration for additional carbon in soil. Test samples were prepared by adding different but known amounts of carbon powder to a soil sample and then mixing with polyvinyl alcohol binder before being pressed into pellets. LIBS spectra of the test samples were collected and analyzed to obtain optimized conditions for the measurement of total carbon in soil with LIBS. The total carbon content in the samples was also measured by a carbon analyzer, and the data (average of triplicates) were used as a reference in developing calibration curves for a modified version of the single linear regression model and the multiple linear regression model. The calibration data were then used to determine the total carbon concentration of an unknown sample. This work is intended to be used in the initial development of a miniaturized, field-portable LIBS analyzer for CO(2) leak detection.

Quantitative analysis of slurry sample by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been employed for the analysis of slurry samples. Quantitative analysis of slurry samples is crucial and challenging. The problems associated with slurry samples include splashing, surface turbulence, and the difficulties of obtaining reproducible samples due to sedimentation. The LIBS analysis has achieved limited success due to inherent disadvantages when applied to slurry samples. In order to achieve improved measurement precision and accuracy, a spin-on-glass sampling method was evaluated. Five elements (Al, Ca, Fe, Ni, and Si) were examined in five slurry simulants containing varying amounts of each ion. Three calibration models were developed by using univariate calibration, multiple linear regression, and partial least square regression. LIBS analysis results obtained from the partial least square regression model were determined to be the best fit to results obtained from inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy analysis.