Enhanced weak superconductivity in trigonalγ-PtBi2.

Electrical resistivity experiments show superconductivity atTc=1.1K in a high-quality single crystal of trigonalγ-PtBi2, with an enhanced critical magnetic fieldµ0Hc2(0)≳1.5Tesla and a low critical current-densityJc(0)≈40 A cm-2atH = 0. BothTcandHc2(0)are the highest reported values for stoichiometric bulk samples at ambient pressure. We found a weakHc2anisotropy withΓ=Hc2ab/Hc2c<1, which is unusual among superconductors. Under a magnetic field, the superconducting transition becomes broader and asymmetric. Along with the low critical currents, this observation suggests an inhomogeneous superconducting state. In fact, no trace of superconductivity is observed through field-cooling-zero-field-cooling magnetization experiments.

Non-normal Data in Repeated Measures ANOVA: Impact on Type I Error and Power.

BACKGROUND: Repeated measures designs are commonly used in health and social sciences research. Although there are other, more advanced, statistical analyses, the F-statistic of repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) remains the most widely used procedure for analyzing differences in means. The impact of the violation of normality has been extensively studied for between-subjects ANOVA, but this is not the case for RM-ANOVA. Therefore, studies that extensively and systematically analyze the robustness of RM-ANOVA under the violation of normality are needed. This paper reports the results of two simulation studies aimed at analyzing the Type I error and power of RM-ANOVA when the normality assumption is violated but sphericity is fulfilled. METHOD: Study 1 considered 20 distributions, both known and unknown, and we manipulated the number of repeated measures (3, 4, 6, and 8) and sample size (from 10 to 300). Study 2 involved unequal distributions in each repeated measure. The distributions analyzed represent slight, moderate, and severe deviation from normality. RESULTS: Overall, the results show that the Type I error and power of the F-statistic are not altered by the violation of normality. CONCLUSIONS: RM-ANOVA is generally robust to non-normality when the sphericity assumption is met.

Measurement Invariance and Validity of the Satisfaction With Life Scale in Informal Caregivers.

BACKGROUND: The number of informal caregivers within ageing population is increasing and there is a growing research interest to promote their well-being, and therefore there is a need for adequate measurement tools. We aim to provide validity evidence of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in a representative sample of British older adults, including measurement invariance across caregivers and non-caregivers. METHOD: Data was drawn from English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). The sample consisted of 3,754 caregivers and 4,036 non-caregivers. The structure and measurement invariance were tested through a confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability and validity evidence based on relationships with other variables were also analysed. RESULTS: Our results supported the one-factor structure of the SWLS, CFI = .996; NNFI = .993; RMSEA = 0.081, and measurement invariance across caregiving status. McDonald´s omega was .93. Scores on the SWLS were positively correlated with quality of life, positive social support, and self-reported health, and negatively with loneliness, depression, negative social support, difficulties in activities and instrumental activities of daily living, and number of health conditions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide new psychometric evidence to support the use of the SWLS in research which focuses on caregivers and on the comparison with non-caregiver samples.

Evolución de la formación continuada acreditada tras la puesta en marcha de la Estrategia para la Seguridad del Paciente / Evolution of the accredited continuing education after Patient Safety Strategy implementation

Objetivo. Analizar la evolución de las actividades de formación continuada acreditadas por el modelo andaluz de acreditación en las principales líneas de la Estrategia para la Seguridad del Paciente. Material y Métodos. Se ha realizado un estudio observacional de las actividades de formación continuada acreditadas por el modelo andaluz de acreditación, durante el periodo 2003-2010 y relacionadas con las líneas estratégicas de seguridad del paciente. Se realizaron análisis estadísticos descriptivos mediante frecuencias e inferencial con medidas de asociación como la X2, de los resultados obtenidos mediante el programa SPSS versión 16. Resultados. Fueron acreditadas 12975 actividades dirigidas a profesionales sanitarios, de las cuales 1002 actividades (7,7%) y un total de 13413 convocatorias estaban relacionadas con alguna o varias de las líneas de seguridad. Los principales colectivos destinatarios de esta formación fueron Enfermería con 4763 convocatorias (35,5%), Medicina con 4090 convocatorias (30,5%) y Técnicos Sanitarios con 1963 convocatorias (14,6%). Conclusiones. La implantación y consolidación de la Estrategia para la Seguridad del Paciente, ha fomentado el desarrollo de actividades acreditadas de formación continuada relacionadas con la materia de seguridad, así como un aumento del valor cualitativo de estas actividades(AU)

Objetive. To analyse the evolution of continuing education activities in the main areas of the Strategy for Patient Safety of the Andalusian Accreditation Model. Material and methods. An observational study was carried out on continuing education activities related to patient safety according to the Andalusian Accreditation Model, during 2003-2010. Results were evaluated (Fisher's exact test) by SPSS v.16 program. Results. A total of 12,975 health professional activities were accredited, of which 1,002 (7.7%) activities and 13,413 meetings were related to one or more of safety lines. The main target groups of this training were Nursing with 4,763 meetings (35.5%), Medicine with 4,090 meetings (30.5%), and Medical Technicians with 1,963 meetings (14.6%). Conclusions. The implementation and consolidation of the Strategy for Patient Safety, has encouraged the development of accredited continuing education activities related to safety, as well as an improvement in the qualitative value of this activities(AU)

[Evolution of the accredited continuing education after Patient Safety Strategy implementation]. / Evolución de la formación continuada acreditada tras la puesta en marcha de la Estrategia para la Seguridad del Paciente.

OBJECTIVE: [corrected] To analyse the evolution of continuing education activities in the main areas of the Strategy for Patient Safety of the Andalusian Accreditation Model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational study was carried out on continuing education activities related to patient safety according to the Andalusian Accreditation Model, during 2003-2010. Results were evaluated (Fisher's exact test) by SPSS v.16 program. RESULTS: A total of 12,975 health professional activities were accredited, of which 1,002 (7.7%) activities and 13,413 meetings were related to one or more of safety lines. The main target groups of this training were Nursing with 4,763 meetings (35.5%), Medicine with 4,090 meetings (30.5%), and Medical Technicians with 1,963 meetings (14.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation and consolidation of the Strategy for Patient Safety, has encouraged the development of accredited continuing education activities related to safety, as well as an improvement in the qualitative value of this activities.

Aproximación al diagnóstico radiológico de las neumonías intersticiales idiopáticas. Hallazgos en tomografía computarizada de alta resolución / Radiological diagnostic approach to idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: findings in high resolution computed tomography

Las neumonías intersticiales idiopáticas, cuyos hallazgos histológicos y radiológicos revisamos, se incluyen entre las enfermedades difusas del parénquima pulmonar y, aunque pueden afectar a otros compartimentos, el intersticio pulmonar es el sustrato inicial de la lesión del parénquima por diversos patrones de inflamación y fibrosis. La clasificación actual, propuesta en 2002 como un documento de consenso internacional multidisciplinario auspiciado por la American Thoracic Society y la European Respiratory Society incluye 7 entidades. Basada en criterios histológicos, cada patrón histológico se asocia con un patrón de imagen. Son un grupo de entidades de etiología desconocida con características comunes y rasgos diferenciales que permiten individualizarlas como enfermedades con pronóstico y tratamiento diferentes. Como formas idiopáticas son infrecuentes, pero comparten sustrato morfológico con otras enfermedades de causa conocida más frecuentes, que es necesario excluir para alcanzar el diagnóstico definitivo. Por ello, es importante que el radiólogo esté familiarizado con sus hallazgos de imagen característicos (AU)

A review is presented on the histological and radiological findings in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, which are included among the diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. Although they may affect other compartments, the lung interstitium is the initial substrate of the parenchymal lesion due to different patterns of inflammation and fibrosis. The current classification, proposed in 2002 as an international multidisciplinary consensus document promoted by the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society, includes 7 conditions. Based on histological criteria, each histological pattern is associated with an image pattern. They are a group of conditions of unknown origin with common characteristics and differential features that enable them to be individualised as diseases with a different prognosis and treatment. They are rare as idiopathic forms, but share a morphological substrate with other more common diseases of unknown cause, which means they have to be excluded to reach a definitive diagnosis. For this reason it is important that the radiologist is familiar with their characteristic imaging finding (AU)

[Radiological diagnostic approach to idiopathic interstitial pneumonias: findings in high resolution computed tomography]. / Aproximación al diagnóstico radiológico de las neumonías intersticiales idiopáticas. Hallazgos en tomografía computarizada de alta resolución.

A review is presented on the histological and radiological findings in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, which are included among the diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. Although they may affect other compartments, the lung interstitium is the initial substrate of the parenchymal lesion due to different patterns of inflammation and fibrosis. The current classification, proposed in 2002 as an international multidisciplinary consensus document promoted by the American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society, includes 7 conditions. Based on histological criteria, each histological pattern is associated with an image pattern. They are a group of conditions of unknown origin with common characteristics and differential features that enable them to be individualised as diseases with a different prognosis and treatment. They are rare as idiopathic forms, but share a morphological substrate with other more common diseases of unknown cause, which means they have to be excluded to reach a definitive diagnosis. For this reason it is important that the radiologist is familiar with their characteristic imaging findings.

Prospectus of waste stabilization ponds in Ceará, Northeast Brazil.

WSP technology has been used in Ceará, Northeast Brazil, since middle 1970s. There are presently 96 ponds plants and most of them are comprised by single cells (40%) and series of 3 ponds (35%). They were under loaded due to incomplete house connections to the sewerage network and low per capita wastewater contributions. Highest removal rates of organic material, ammonia and faecal coliform were found in 3 pond series. Faecal coliform removal was in accordance with the literature and series of ponds reached numbers ≤10(5) cells/100 ml. In series with 4 and 5 ponds FC was below 10(3) cells/100 ml. Ammonia removal varied from 30 to 80% and total phosphorus the removal was not significant. An increase in the number of maturation ponds enhances nutrient and coliform removal. Up-grading schemes should be investigated as well as effluent reuse potential.

Novel device for simultaneous volumetric and x-ray diffraction measurements on metal-hydrogen systems.

Hydrogen storage materials can form more than one hydride phase. These different phases, in turn, display different hydrogen absorption/desorption capacities, kinetics, and stabilities. Studies aimed at characterizing and improving these materials usually need to correlate hydrogen intake with the precise determination of the hydride phase involved in the process. Here, we present a device designed to perform measurements of well known volumetric techniques with simultaneous x-ray diffraction on the material under study. The compact design can stand up to 6000 kPa of internal pressure while the sample can be heated up to 450 degrees C. The design process was assisted by finite element modeling and by the use of mock-up prototypes in order to optimize the thermal and under load behaviors. We provide two examples of use for this new device: (1) hydride decomposition in LaNi5 at 115 degrees C and (2) formation of MgCo during the programmed thermal desorption of the Mg2CoH5 hydride.

Long-term outcomes in patients with schizophrenia treated with risperidone long-acting injection or oral antipsychotics in Spain: results from the electronic Schizophrenia Treatment Adherence Registry (e-STAR).

BACKGROUND: The electronic Schizophrenia Treatment Adherence Registry (e-STAR) is a prospective, observational study of patients with schizophrenia designed to evaluate long-term treatment outcomes in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Parameters were assessed at baseline and at 3 month intervals for 2 years in patients initiated on risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) (n=1345) or a new oral antipsychotic (AP) (n=277; 35.7% and 36.5% on risperidone and olanzapine, respectively) in Spain. Hospitalization prior to therapy was assessed by a retrospective chart review. RESULTS: At 24 months, treatment retention (81.8% for RLAI versus 63.4% for oral APs, p<0.0001) and reduction in Clinical Global Impression Severity scores (-1.14 for RLAI versus -0.94 for APs, p=0.0165) were significantly higher with RLAI. Compared to the pre-switch period, RLAI patients had greater reductions in the number (reduction of 0.37 stays per patient versus 0.2, p<0.05) and days (18.74 versus 13.02, p<0.01) of hospitalizations at 24 months than oral AP patients. CONCLUSIONS: This 2 year, prospective, observational study showed that, compared to oral antipsychotics, RLAI was associated with better treatment retention, greater improvement in clinical symptoms and functioning, and greater reduction in hospital stays and days in hospital in patients with schizophrenia. Improved treatment adherence, increased efficacy and reduced hospitalization with RLAI offer the opportunity of substantial therapeutic improvement in schizophrenia.

Equipment for hydrogen absorption-desorption cycling characterization of hydride forming materials.

Hydrogen storage materials suffer different degradation processes when they are cycled, forming and decomposing their associated hydride phases. In order to study these processes, we have designed and built an automated apparatus specifically developed for cycling samples of hydride forming materials by changing the external hydrogen pressure. Instead of the standard open configuration involving a high-pressure, high-quality gas bottle and a vacuum pump, the equipment uses another hydride forming material (in our case LaNi5) as a source and sink of hydrogen. The resulting closed-loop configuration eliminates hydrogen waste and ensures that extremely high purity gas is used during the whole experiment, thanks to the purifying properties of the selected hydride as source/sink. Hydrogen pressure is set by changing the source/sink temperature. Cycles can be performed as fast as one cycle every 5 min, a period comparable with typical good hydride forming material kinetics. An example of application of the apparatus is given for 1000 absorption/ desorption cycles on a Mm0.8Ca0.2Ni5 sample.

Folic acid supplementation does not prevent ribavirin-induced anemia

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C consists of inteferon plus ribavirin. The major adverse effect of ribavirin is hemolytic anemia, a complication that limits therapy. Folic acid supplementation is used to improve erythropoiesis in chronic hemolytic anemia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of folic acid supplementation in the prevention of ribavirin-induced anemia in patients being treated for hepatitis C. Twenty one patients enrolled in treatment protocols for hepatitis C received folic acid 1 mg daily and 22 did not. Groups were similar in age, gender, ribavirin dose and baseline hemoglobin. Folic acid supplementation had no effect in the decrease in hemoglobin or the measured parameters of hemolysis. No difference between males and females was noted for hemoglobin decrease or lowest hemoglobin levels. In our study, folic acid showed no beneficial effect in the prevention of ribavirin-induced anemia.

[Delays in the diagnosis of lung cancer]. / Demoras diagnósticas en el cáncer del pulmón.

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical and demographic factors associated with delays in the diagnosis of lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 2-year prospective study of patients admitted to the respiratory medicine ward with a suspected diagnosis of lung cancer. We studied demographic factors, health care received, place of residence, and delays in carrying out diagnostic procedures. The following diagnostic time periods were defined: consultation (from first symptom to first medical visit), middle period (from first medical visit to hospital admission) and diagnostic (from hospital admission to histological diagnosis and clinical staging). RESULTS: One hundred thirteen patients with a mean age of 65 years (range, 36-90), 103 men and 10 women, were studied. The most frequent symptoms leading to consultation were coughing (10.6%), hemoptysis (19.5%), chest pain (26.5%), and shortness of breath (9.7%). First visits were to a primary care physician for 72%, to the hospital emergency room for 22%, or to a pulmonologist for 6%. Forty-four percent of the patients visited the doctor 2 or 3 times. The mean SD, numbers of days for the different time periods were as follows: consultation, 30.3 60; diagnosis, 18.6 19; middle period 37.9 63. The mean total time from first symptom to diagnosis was 85.7 87 days. The middle period, the time in hospital until diagnosis, and the total time were shorter when patients were referred by the primary care physician to the emergency room or were directly admitted to the hospital (P<.001). Only 25.7% of the staged lung cancers were operable. CONCLUSIONS: Delays in lung cancer diagnosis are long. The attitudes of primary care physicians and their relations with specialized care providers are crucial for reducing delays.

Demoras diagnósticas en el cáncer de pulmón / Delays in the Diagnosis of lung cancer

OBJETIVO: Estudio de los factores clínicos y demográficos asociados a las demoras diagnósticas del cáncer de pulmón (CP). PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo de dos años de evolución de pacientes ingresados en la planta de neumología por sospecha de CP. Se estudiaron variables demográficas, de atención sanitaria, hábitat y demoras en las exploraciones. Se definieron los tiempos diagnósticos siguientes: de consulta (desde el primer síntoma hasta la visita del primer médico), medio (el que va desde la visita médica hasta el ingreso) y diagnóstico (desde el ingreso hasta el diagnóstico histológico y la estadificación clínica). RESULTADOS: Se estudió a 113 pacientes con una edad media de 65 años (intervalo, 36-90), de los que 103 eran varones y 10, mujeres. Los síntomas más frecuentes por los que consultó el paciente fueron: tos (10,6 por ciento), hemoptisis (19,5 por ciento), dolor torácico (26,5 por ciento) y disnea (9,7 por ciento). El 72 por ciento de los pacientes consultaba por primera vez al médico de atención primaria (MAP), el 22 por ciento a urgencias del hospital y el 6 por ciento al neumólogo. El 44 por ciento realizó entre dos y tres visitas al médico. Las medias ñ desviaciones típicas, en días, de los diferentes tiempos fueron: consulta, 30,3 ñ 60; diagnóstico, 18,6 ñ 19; medio, 37,9 ñ 63, y total, 85,7 ñ 87. El tiempo medio, el tiempo hasta el diagnóstico y el tiempo total fueron inferiores cuando el paciente fue remitido, por el MAP, a urgencias o ingresado directamente en el hospital (p < 0,001). Sólo el 25,7 por ciento de los CP estadificados eran resecables quirúrgicamente. CONCLUSIONES: Los tiempos de demora diagnóstica en el CP son elevados. La actitud del MAP y su relación con la atención especializada es importante para su reducción (AU)

[Congenital absence of the inferior vena cava as a risk factor for pulmonar thromboembolism]. / Agenesia de vena cava inferior como factor de riesgo de tromboembolismo pulmonar.

The absence of the inferior vena cava is a rare congenital anomaly. Currently its diagnosis is based on non-invasive imaging techniques (computerised axial tomagraphy and nuclear magnetic resonance). In most cases, it constitutes a casual finding upon practising these image tests unrelated to this congenital anomaly. In the symptomatic patients, the complaints associated are secondary to venous insufficiency and/or deep vein thrombosis. Recently the congenital absence of inferior vena cava has been described as a risk factor of deep vein thrombosis in young patients. We present a case of congenital absence of inferior vena cava that was admitted in our hospital because of pulmonary thromboembolism.

Azithromycin, furazolidone and omeprazole: a promising low-dose, short-term, anti-H. pylori triple therapy

Aim: Tocompare four anti-H. pylori regimes using omeprazole and azithromycin associated to different antimicrobials in peptic ulcer H. pylori positive patients. Patients and methodos: afterinformed consent, 136 endoscopically proven peptic ulcer patients(74 male, 62 female) were randomly assigned to one of thefollowing therapy groups: Group 1: Om 20mg mane for 7 ays + Az 500mgmane for 3 days + tinidazole (Ti) 500mg bid for 7 ays. Group 2: Om 20 mg mane for 7 days + Az 500mane for 3 days + amoxycilin (Am) 500mg tid for 7 days. Group 3 Om 20 mg mane for 7 days + Az 500mg mane for 3 days + furazolidone (F) 200 mg tid for 7 days. Group 4: Om 20 mg mane for 7 days +Az 500mg mane for 3 days + colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS) 120 mg tid ( double dose at bedtime) for7 days. The H. Pylori status was assessed before treatment and 94 (63-214) days post treatment using urease test, and 14C-urea breath test. Statistical analysis was performed by Kruskal-Wallis test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Lancaster & Irvin method. Results: The four groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. 120/136 patients completed the study. One patient discontinued treatment due to side effects and 15 were lost to follow-up.32/136 (23.5por cento) hed side effect during treatment, mainly nause. H.pylori eradication in group 3 was statistically different from the other groups ( p=0.000). Group 3 & 4 (statistically non-different) presented significantly more side effects than group 1 and 2 (p=0.002). Conclusion: 1)Om + Associated to F (the cheapest ant- H.Pylori drug) for one week represents an efficient reasonaaable well-tolerates alternatiaaaaaave to H.pylori eradication. 2) Future studies testing F with other macrolides or Az during 7 days can enhance H. Pylori eradication rates

Early detection of nonresponse to interferon plus ribavirin combination treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

We have investigated the value of early hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA decline (DeltaHCV RNA) to predict response to combination therapy in 66 chronic hepatitis C patients treated with IFN-alpha2b (3 MU thrice weekly) and ribavirin (800 mg daily) for 12 months [25 sustained responders (SR) and 41 nonresponders or relapsers (NR)]. Serum HCV RNA was retrospectively measured in samples obtained at baseline and 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment onset, using a commercially available quantitative RT-PCR assay. At 4 weeks, serum HCV RNA had decreased a mean of 2.6 +/- 0.8 logs among SR as compared with only 0.5 +/- 0.8 logs in NR (P < 0.001), and was already undetectable (< 600 IU/mL) in 12 (48%) of the SR but in none of the NR. At 8 weeks, HCV RNA was undetectable in 21 SR and in 2 NR and mean DeltaHCV RNA were 4.2 +/- 1.3 and 0.8 +/- 1.0 logs, respectively (P < 0.001). At week 12 all SR had undetectable HCV RNA as compared with only five NR (P < 0.001). Stepwise logistic regression analysis identified DeltaHCV RNA at 12 weeks as the strongest predictor of sustained response. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of DeltaHCV RNA for sustained response prediction identified sensitivity peaks with 100% negative predictive value corresponding to DeltaHCV RNA > 1 log at 4 weeks, > 2 logs at 8 weeks and > 3 logs at 12 weeks. Our results show that early changes in the HCV RNA level may reliably identify patients having no chance of a sustained virological response during the first 3 months of combination therapy, thus providing an excellent tool for optimizing antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C.

Aspectos epidemiólogicos de las cardiopatías congénitas: estudio sobre 1216 niños de Murcia / Epidemiological aspects of congenital heart malformations: a study of 1216 children of Murcia

Objetivos. Se pretende realizar una amplia revisión de la bibliografía para enumerar los principales factores, actualmente conocidos, relacionados con la etiología y otros aspectos epidemiológicos de las cardiopatías congénitas (CC). Posteriormente, se pretende valorar algunos de estos hallazgos, trasladándolos a una población geográficamente definida. Métodos. Se efectuó un estudio retrospectivo de todos los niños con cardiopatía congénita nacidos entre 1978-1990; y estudiados en el hospital de referencia, de la comunidad de Murcia, en lo que se refiere a la cardiología pediátrica. Los principales factores analizados se refieren a la distribución por municipios y áreas de salud, y algunos aspectos perinatales. Resultados. Había 525 niños y 477 niñas (H/M= 1:1), con predominio masculino en la estenosis aórtica e hipoplasia de cavidades izquierdas, y femenino en el conducto arterioso persistente. El 16 por ciento de niños presentó bajo peso al nacer. La incidencia por años osciló entre el 3,8 y el 6,4 por mil, y por áreas de salud también osciló entre el 3,8 y el 6,5 por mil. La edad de los progenitores era la siguiente: materna, en el momento del parto, entre 21-30 años en el 60 por ciento, y el 29 por ciento por encima de esta edad; paterna, entre 2130 años en el 53,1 por ciento, y el 43,1 por ciento superior a esa edad. Conclusiones 1. Existía un predominio masculino en la estenosis aórtica (p <0,001) y la hipoplasia de cavidades izquierdas (p <0,05), y femenino en el conducto arterioso permeable (p <0,05). 2. Fue estadísticamente significativo el menor peso entre los niños con CC y anomalías extracardiacas (2.902,20 ñ 624,69 g), que en aquellos con CC aisladas (3.228,86 641,28 g) (t= 7,823, p <0,0001). 3. Hubo mayor porcentaje de niños con peso <2.500 g entre los que tenían conducto arterioso permeable comparado con los niños con otras cardiopatías (aunque no se incluyeron los recién nacidos pretérmino con conducto arterioso patente) (AU)