The effect of acute ventilation-perfusion mismatch on respiratory heat exchange in a porcine model.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory heat exchange is an important physiological process occurring in the upper and lower respiratory tract and is usually completed when inspired gases reach the alveoli. Animal and human studies demonstrated that heat exchange can be modulated by altering pulmonary ventilation and perfusion. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acute ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch on respiratory heat exchange. In clinical practice, monitoring respiratory heat exchange might offer the possibility of real-time tracking of acute V/Q-mismatch. METHODS: In 11 anesthetized, mechanically ventilated pigs, V/Q-mismatch was established by means of four interventions: single lung ventilation, high cardiac output, occlusion of the left pulmonary artery and repeated whole-lung lavage. V/Q-distributions were determined by the multiple inert gas elimination technique (MIGET). Respiratory heat exchange was measured as respiratory enthalpy using the novel, pre-commercial VQm™ monitor (development stage, Rostrum Medical Innovations, Vancouver, CA). According to MIGET, shunt perfusion of low V/Q compartments increased during single lung ventilation, high cardiac output and whole-lung lavage, whereas dead space and ventilation of high V/Q compartments increased during occlusion of the left pulmonary artery and whole-lung lavage. RESULTS: Bohr dead space increased after pulmonary artery occlusion and whole-lung lavage, venous admixture increased during single lung ventilation and whole-lung lavage, PaO2/FiO2 was decreased during all interventions. MIGET confirmed acute V/Q-mismatch. Respiratory enthalpy did not change significantly despite significant acute V/Q-mismatch. CONCLUSION: Clinically relevant V/Q-mismatch does not impair respiratory heat exchange in the absence of additional thermal stressors and may not have clinical utility in the detection of acute changes.

Atmospheric entry simulations of Mars lander bioload--experiments in support of Beagle 2.

Simulations of the temperature and vacuum effects of Martian atmospheric entry upon Bacillus atrophaeus (formerly Bacillus subtilis var niger; 8058; NCIMB) endospores were carried out inside a purpose-built vacuum chamber. The work formed part of the study in support of planetary protection for the Beagle 2 Mars lander and investigated to what extent the outer surface of the lander's back heat shield would be sterilised during Mars atmospheric entry. The spores were heated to peak temperatures up to 300 degrees C over 30 s under vacuum conditions (10(-3) mbar). There was no effect on spore viability until peak temperatures reached 180-200 degrees C (12-15 s of heat exposure). Spore viability then fell rapidly with increasing temperature. Once peak temperatures exceeded 300 degrees C, no further spore viability was detected. The average heating rate was rapid (10 degrees C s(-1)); thus spores were exposed to peak temperatures for less than a second. These data inform on the process of determining bioburden reduction and control steps necessary for external surfaces of spacecraft which are non-sterile at launch, as well as providing new information about the ability of a model resistant organism to survive rapid, short-duration heating.

Development and preliminary validation of the testable assumptions questionnaire--eating disorders (TAQ-ED).

BACKGROUND: While cognitive formulations of eating disorders emphasise the role of dysfunctional assumptions regarding eating, weight and shape (EWS), less is known about the role of dysfunctional assumptions that are unrelated to EWS and those linking beliefs about EWS with negative beliefs about the self or the world. The present study aimed to develop a brief measure of dysfunctional assumptions in the eating disorders and to validate it clinically. Given that cognitive-behavioural therapy frequently involves the testing of patients' assumptions with the help of behavioural experiments, the measure was designed specifically to assess assumptions that can be addressed using such techniques. METHOD: The sample consisted of 79 women with DSM-IV eating disorder diagnoses. Each participant completed the measure of testable assumptions in the eating disorders (TAQ-ED), the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) and the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale (Brief FNE). RESULTS: The TAQ-ED was made up of three scales, each of which had acceptable psychometric properties. High scores on the eating attitudes/behaviours scales of the EDI and on the Brief FNE were broadly associated with dysfunctional assumptions about the world and one's body. In contrast, high scores on ego-dysfunction scales of the EDI were associated with dysfunctional assumptions about feelings. CONCLUSIONS: Different aspects of eating disorder pathology appear to be linked to different types of dysfunctional assumptions in the eating disorders. The clinical value of the proposed new measure of dysfunctional assumptions is discussed, and ideas are provided for behavioural experiments testing such assumptions.

The strength of sintered and adhesively bonded zirconia/veneer-ceramic bilayers.

OBJECTIVES: Recently all-ceramic restorative systems have been introduced that use CAD/CAM technology to fabricate both the Y-TZP core and veneer-ceramic layers. The aim was to identify whether the CAD/CAM approach resulted in more favourable stressing patterns in the veneer-ceramic when compared with a conventionally sintered Y-TZP core/veneer-ceramic. METHODS: Nominally identical Vita VM9 veneer-ceramic disc-shaped specimens (0.7mm thickness, 12mm diameter) were fabricated. 20 specimens received a surface coating of resin-cement (Panavia 21); 20 specimens were bonded with the resin-cement to fully sintered Y-TZP (YZ Vita Inceram Vita) discs (0.27mm thickness, 12mm diameter). A final series of 20 Y-TZP core/veneer-ceramic specimens were manufactured using a conventional sintering route. Biaxial flexure strength was determined in a ball-on-ring configuration and stress at the fracture origin calculated using multilayer closed-form analytical solutions. Fractography was undertaken using scanning electron microscopy. The experimental test was simulated using Finite Element Analysis. Group mean BFS were compared using a one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests at a 95% significance level. RESULTS: Resin cement application resulted in significant strengthening of the veneer-ceramic and further significant strengthening of the veneer-ceramic (p<0.01) occurred following bonding to the Y-TZP core. The BFS calculated at the failure origin for conventionally sintered specimens was significantly reduced when compared with the adhesively bonded Y-TZP/veneer-ceramic. CONCLUSIONS: Under the test conditions employed adhesive cementation between CAD/CAM produced Y-TZP/veneer-ceramic layers appears to offer the potential to induce more favourable stress states within the veneer-ceramic when compared with conventional sintered manufacturing routes. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The current investigation suggests that the stressing patterns that arise in all-ceramic restorations fabricated using CAD/CAM for both the core and veneer-ceramic layers differ from those that occur in conventionally sintered bilayer restorations. Further work is required to ascertain whether such differences will translate into improved clinical outcomes.

Metal distribution and disorder in the crystal structure of [NH2Et2][Cr7MF8((t)BuCO2)16] wheel molecules for M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd.

The homometallic wheel compound [Cr8F8(O2CCMe3)16] formed with fluorine and pivalic acid ligands can be modified by introducing in the synthesis process a divalent cation M capable of octahedral coordination instead of one of the trivalent Cr centres in the ring. Heterometallic mono-anionic species [Cr7MF8(O2CCMe3)16](-) can form diethylammonium salts and be crystallized from ethylacetate solution as compounds with the general formula [NH2Et2][Cr7MF8((t)BuCO2)16][C4H8O2]0.5 for M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn and Cd. Their structures are isomorphous, belonging to the space group P21/c. The study has determined the degree of order for the individual M heterometal over the possible metal positions of the ring in the crystal structure by modelling based on X-ray diffraction data. The model took into account disorder in tert-butyl groups of the pivalate ligands and in the position and orientation of the ethylacetate solvent molecule. The heterometal turned out to be partly ordered in the crystal structure.