Numerical simulation data of building integrated solar thermal collectors under diverse conditions.

This dataset presents the thermal performance of building-integrated flat solar collectors with a uniform and multiple riser structure. The input data of the numerical model were obtained with the use of the PVGIS tool. Solar radiation and ambient temperature values at slopes 0°, 45°, and 90° were extracted and used as boundary conditions. Numerical calculations were carried using Finite Element (FE) analysis. Three-dimensional transient models were developed to calculate the investigated configurations' thermal performance based on the environmental temperature, the solar radiation, and the inclination angle. The numerical model was validated with the use of an experimental data set showing a good agreement between the two models with RMSE of 5%. Data of hourly heat flux through the building masonry with the building-integrated solar collector and the average fluid temperature of each system is presented.

Numerical data on heat flux of a novel controlled-temperature double skin façade.

Hourly heat flux for variant boundary conditions of a novel controlled-temperature double skin façade (DSF) building element in a two- dimensional time- dependent study was determined. The building element is subjected to boundary conditions, characterizing different orientations (azimuth 0°, 90°, 180°, 270°) and climatic conditions of the four seasons. This data article provides detailed numerical data on the hourly heat flux, temperatures attained at the exterior and within the building element for six different geometries and for the variant boundary conditions under study. The external boundary conditions were determined with the use of the PVGIS tool, corrected in accordance to the sol-air temperature equation. The numerical simulation studies were performed with the use of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tool Comsol Multiphysics [2].

Administration of esmolol in microlaryngeal surgery for blunting the hemodynamic response during laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation in cigarette smokers.

OBJECTIVES: Cigarette smokers constitute a group of patients with an increased hemodynamic response to tracheal intubation. We studied the dose-response and side effects of bolus administration of esmolol hydrochloride in cigarette smokers undergoing elective microlaryngeal surgery, when esmolol was used for reducing the intense hemodynamic response to laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. METHODS: We randomly allocated 165 patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classes I to III) to receive placebo (Eplac) or esmolol 1 mg/kg (E1) or 2 mg/kg (E2). The esmolol was given 2 minutes before laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. The same anesthetic technique was used in all patients. Cardiovascular parameters were recorded every minute for the first 5 minutes and thereafter every 3 minutes. Bronchospasm, other side effects, and rescue esmolol treatment were noted during anesthesia. RESULTS: In group Eplac, significant increases (p < .05) in arterial blood pressure and heart rate were observed in the first 3 minutes after tracheal intubation. In group E1, significant increases (p < .05) in diastolic blood pressure were observed in the first 2 minutes after intubation. In group E2, no significant fluctuations were recorded in cardiovascular parameters after intubation. During surgery, 17% of the patients in group Eplac showed an increase in blood pressure and tachycardia. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that esmolol administration of 2 mg/kg during induction of anesthesia in smokers provides hemodynamic stability after laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation with no severe side effects.

Preoperative administration of rofecoxib versus ketoprofen for pain relief after tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the analgesic efficacy and the opioid-sparing effect of oral rofecoxib compared with intramuscular (IM) ketoprofen in tonsillectomy. METHODS: Seventy-seven adult patients were randomized into 2 groups: group R (n = 39), which received a single oral preoperative dose of rofecoxib 50 mg, and group K (n = 38), which received 2 IM doses of ketoprofen 100 mg (before surgery and after 12 hours). In both groups, additional IM meperidine hydrochloride 1 mg/kg was given. All patients received general anesthesia. A pain score (visual analog scale, 0 to 100) was assessed both at rest and during swallowing at 30 minutes and at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 hours after operation. If the pain score exceeded 40, patients were given meperidine as rescue analgesia. RESULTS: The pain scores during rest and swallowing in group R were significantly lower (p < .05) than those of group K at 4, 8, and 12 hours after operation. Meperidine was given as rescue medication in significantly more patients of group K (76%) than of group R (38%; p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Oral premedication with rofecoxib seems to be more effective than use of ketoprofen in decreasing postoperative pain and the need for opioid rescue medication after elective tonsillectomy. Both drugs seem to be relatively safe as far as postoperative bleeding is concerned.

Angiogenesis and p53 at the invading tumor edge: prognostic markers for colorectal cancer beyond stage.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis has emerged as a major prognostic factor in many human malignancies and it is a prospective target for cancer therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we investigated immunohistochemically the angiogenic activity and the expression of p53 and bcl-2 proteins in a series of 170 operable colorectal carcinomas, stage B and C. RESULTS: A high vascular density at the invading tumor front was directly related to nuclear p53 accumulation, and inversely to cytoplasmic expression of bcl-2. Furthermore, high angiogenic activity was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. Survival analysis showed that Dukes stage and vascular density were the most important and independent prognostic factors in colorectal cancer. DISCUSSION: It is believed that angiogenesis at the invading tumor edge can be used as an independent prognostic marker to identify subgroups of colorectal cancer patients with an unfavorable post-operative outcome.

Inhalational anesthetic technique in microlaryngeal surgery: a comparison between sevoflurane-remifentanil and sevoflurane-alfentanil anesthesia.

We studied the effects of sevoflurane, remifentanil hydrochloride, and alfentanil anesthesia in terms of the hemodynamic responses and emergence characteristics of patients scheduled for elective microlaryngeal surgery. Sixty patients (ASA I to III) were randomly allocated into 2 groups: group S-R (sevoflurane-remifentanil) and group S-A (sevoflurane-alfentanil; 1:20 and 1:4 ratios of remifentanil to alfentanil for induction and maintenance of anesthesia, respectively; doses not strictly equipotent). The mean arterial pressure and heart rate were measured before and after induction of anesthesia, 1 and 3 minutes after endotracheal intubation, at the insertion of the operating laryngoscope, and every 3 minutes during surgery. The emergence times and side effects during the first 30 minutes after surgery were also recorded. The mean arterial pressure values at the insertion of the operating laryngoscope and throughout the procedure were significantly greater (p < .05) in group S-A than in group S-R. The emergence times and postoperative side effects did not differ, except for the greater pain score (p < .05) in group S-R. In conclusion, sevoflurane with remifentanil seems to maintain cardiovascular stability during microlaryngeal surgery more effectively than sevoflurane with alfentanil. Both anesthetic regimens seem to provide rapid and uneventful emergence.