The symptom cluster of shortness of breath(SOB) contributes significantly to the outpatient workload of cardiology services. The workup of these patients includes blood chemistry and biomarkers, imaging and functional...The symptom cluster of shortness of breath(SOB) contributes significantly to the outpatient workload of cardiology services. The workup of these patients includes blood chemistry and biomarkers, imaging and functional testing of the heart and lungs. A diagnosis of diastolic heart failure is inferred through the exclusion of systolic abnormalities, a normal pulmonary function test and normal hemoglobin, coupled with diastolic abnormalities on echocardiography. Differentiating confounders such as obesity or deconditioning in a patient with diastolic abnormalities is difficult. While the most recent guidelines provide more avenues for diagnosis, such as incorporating the left atrial size, little emphasis is given to understanding left atrial function, which contributes to at least 25% of diastolic left ventricular filling; additionally, exercise stress testing to elicit symptoms and test the dynamics of diastolic parameters, especially when access to the "gold standard" invasive tests is lacking, presents clinical translational gaps. It is thus important in diastolic heart failure work up to understand left atrial mechanics and the role of exercise testing to build a comprehensive argument for the diagnosis of diastolic heart failure in a patient presenting with SOB.展开更多
Background: Acute otitis externa is a common multi-factorial disorder in the dog. Several topical preparations are available on the veterinary market, which are licensed for an either specified duration of treatment o...Background: Acute otitis externa is a common multi-factorial disorder in the dog. Several topical preparations are available on the veterinary market, which are licensed for an either specified duration of treatment or for a discretionary period that is determined by the clinician. Objectives: To compare the efficacy of two topical products, both licensed for the treatment of otitis externa in the dog, but with different treatment durations. Animal Population: One hundred and sixty dogs were enrolled in this multicentre field study from which 157 dogs were analysed in the Per Protocol sample (73 Aurizon?treated animals and 84 Easotic?treated animals). Method: Dogs were randomly assigned to Aurizon?or Easotic?treatment groups. Aurizon?(Vétoquinol SA: marbofloxacin, clotrimazole, dexamethasone) was administered daily in the affected ear(s) for 7 or 14 days, and was compared with a daily administration of Easotic?(Virbac SAS: gentamicin, miconazole, hydrocortisone aceponate) for 5 days. General and localised clinical signs were scored on days 0 (D0), 3 (D3), 7 (D7), 14 (D14) and 21 (D21). Results: Clinical cure rates at the end of treatment were 56.3% and 48.8% (p=0.35) in the Aurizon?and Easotic?groups respectively and 81.2% versus 74.7% one week after completing the course of treatment (p = 0.34). Twenty-one days after initially presenting for the study, cure rates were 84.3% in the Aurizon?group and 73.8% in the Easotic?(p=0.12). A relationship between severity of clinical signs and treatment duration was observed. Conclusion and Clinical Significance: At the end of the trial period, cure rates showed a tendency to be higher in the Aurizon?treated animals. The flexible dosage and the veterinary monitoring permitted treatment duration to be adjusted based upon the severity of otitis externa thus increasing the likelihood of clinical cure.展开更多
Hypnosis,one of the earliest mind-body treatments,has been the subject of renewed interest in the last decade with research indicating its effectiveness for varied physiological and psychological ailments including pa...Hypnosis,one of the earliest mind-body treatments,has been the subject of renewed interest in the last decade with research indicating its effectiveness for varied physiological and psychological ailments including pain,distress,and psychosomatic disorders.However,the adoption and acceptance of hypnosis are still hindered by myths and misconceptions that prevail among the general public and clinicians.Considering their significant role in promoting the successful delivery and acceptance of interventions,informing clinicians about hypnosis is crucial to promote balanced views,and thereby the adoption of this intervention when warranted.This narrative review traces the historical roots of myths surrounding hypnosis,while unravelling related misconceptions that have impeded its adoption in clinical and research settings.We hope that this review enhances the general public’s views and clinicians’understanding of hypnosis in historical,theoretical and research contexts to promote its adoption in research and clinical settings and steer research toward an evidence-based practice of hypnosis.展开更多
Background: Cimicoxib is a coxib recently licensed in Europe for pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis (OA), and the management of perioperative pain due to orthopaedic or soft tissue surgery. Purpose: ...Background: Cimicoxib is a coxib recently licensed in Europe for pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis (OA), and the management of perioperative pain due to orthopaedic or soft tissue surgery. Purpose: This prospective study was to complete the product information for the end users by providing additional scientific data obtained after a thirty-day treatment course of cimicoxib in dogs with OA, and to collect owners’ feedback. Data were collected from nine European countries with 492 client owned dogs recruited to the trial. Dogs were treated once daily with 2 mg/kg cimicoxib orally. Immediately before, at Day (D) 15 and D30 after the start of treatment veterinarians and owners scored body condition, appetite, locomotion, lameness, pain on palpation and manipulation of the joint and joint effusion (veterinarians) and dog demeanor and well being (owners). In a subset of dogs, serum urea (n = 191), creatinine (n = 184), AST (n = 141) and ALT (n = 174) were measured at day (D) 0 and D30. Statistical tests were carried out to detect significant changes in the clinical parameters with time. Results and Discussion: Veterinary and owner assessments were analysed from 236 and 215 dogs respectively. Improvements in locomotion, mobility, pain scores and dog demeanor and body condition were identified;outcome measures assessed by veterinarians continued to improve after 15 days of treatment up to the 30-day time point. At D30 a significantly higher number of dogs had an urea concentration superior to the upper limit of the reference range. However, there was no significant difference for creatinine, ALT and AST. Conclusions: A 30-day treatment course with cimicoxib improved locomotion and decreased pain scores in dogs with OA, with minimal adverse effects. These data, support pre-clinical data in dogs receiving cimicoxib and are useful for veterinarians making decisions about which NSAID to administer to dogs that require pain management for OA.展开更多
Ear cleaning is a therapeutic component in the management of otitis externa in dogs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vivo efficacy and safety of a new ear cleanser, Sonotix? against EpiOtic? Advan...Ear cleaning is a therapeutic component in the management of otitis externa in dogs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vivo efficacy and safety of a new ear cleanser, Sonotix? against EpiOtic? Advanced for the management of canine otitis externa. Eighteen clients owned dogs with a diagnosis of erythemato-ceruminous or purulent otitis externa were prospectively included and randomized to two treatment group: EpiOtic? Advanced and Sonotix?. Cytology and video-otoscopic examination (erythema, amount of cerumen and thickness and surface of ear canal covered by cerumen) of all affected ears were done at D0, both before (T0) and 30 minutes (T0 + 30 min) after ear cleaning. Then an ear medication was applied (Aurizon?, Vetoquinol). Owners were instructed to clean affected ears daily and apply the ear medication 30 minutes later for 5 days (D1-D5). Dogs were seen again at D6 for cytology and video-otoscopic examination. At T0, no significant differences were found between both ear cleansers groups regarding macroscopic and microscopic scorings. At T0 + 30 min and D6 cytological and video-otoscopic scores were significantly decreased (Wilcoxon test;p < 0.01) compared to baseline in both groups. However, the cleaning activity of Sonotix? was statistically superior to Epiotic? as evidenced by the median global scores of video-otoscopic examination at T0 + 30 min (Mann Whitney Test, p < 0.01). Effective ear cleaning is an essential part of any treatment scheme because it favours the contact between the ointment and the lining ear epidermis and speeds resolution by the removal of cerumen, microbial organisms and cellular debris. In our study, the important reductions in yeast, cocci, and rod-shaped organism counts were demonstrated in smears at T0 + 30 min and D6 in both groups. Video-otoscopic examination performed 30 minutes after ear cleaning suggests that Sonotix? seems to be more effective in removing cerumen than EpiOtic? Advanced.展开更多
X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) on the carbon K edge of carbon nanostructures (nanotubes, nanofibers, nanowalls) is reported here. They are grown on plain SiO2 (8 nm thick)/Si(100) substrates by a Plasma and Hot F...X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) on the carbon K edge of carbon nanostructures (nanotubes, nanofibers, nanowalls) is reported here. They are grown on plain SiO2 (8 nm thick)/Si(100) substrates by a Plasma and Hot Filaments-enhanced Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition (PE HF CCVD) process. The morphology and the nature of these carbon nanostructures are characterized by SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. According to conditions of catalyst preparation and DC HF CCVD process, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), carbon nanowalls (CNWs), carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) with different orientation of the graphene plans or shells can be prepared. From the angular dependence of the incident light and geometrical morphology of the nanostructures, wide variations of the C K-edge intensity of the transitions to the empty π* and σ* states occur. A full lineshape analysis of the XAS spectra has been carried out using a home-made software, allowing estimating the relative proportion of π* and σ* transitions. A geometrical model of the angular dependence with the incidence angle of the light and the morphology of the carbon nanostructures is derived. With normalization to the HOPG (Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite graphite) reference case, a degree of alignment can be extracted which is representative of the localized orientation of the graphitic carbon π bonds, accounting not only for the overall orientation, but also for local defects like impurities incorporation, structural defects ... This degree of alignment shows good agreement with SEM observations. Thus CNTs films display degrees of alignment around 50%, depending on the occurrence of defects in the course of the growth, whereas no special alignment can be detected with CNFs and CNPs, and a weak one (about 20%) is detected on CNWs.展开更多
Heteroepitaxial growth is a process of profound fundamental importance as well as an avenue to realize nanostructures such as Ge/Si quantum dots(QDs),with appealing properties for applications in opto-and nanoelectron...Heteroepitaxial growth is a process of profound fundamental importance as well as an avenue to realize nanostructures such as Ge/Si quantum dots(QDs),with appealing properties for applications in opto-and nanoelectronics.However,controlling the Ge/Si QD size,shape,and composition remains a major obstacle to their practical implementation.Here,Ge nanostructures on Si(111)were investigated in situ and in real-time by low energy electron microscopy(LEEM),enabling the observation of the transition from wetting layer formation to 3D island growth and decay.The island size,shape,and distribution depend strongly on the growth temperature.As the deposition temperature increases,the islands become larger and sparser,consistent with Brownian nucleation and capture dynamics.At 550◦C,two distinct Ge/Si nanostructures are formed with bright and dark appearances that correspond to flat,atoll-like and tall,faceted islands,respectively.During annealing,the faceted islands increase in size at the expense of the flat ones,indicating that the faceted islands are thermodynamically more stable.In contrast,triangular islands with uniform morphology are obtained from deposition at 600◦C,suggesting that the growth more closely follows the ideal shape.During annealing,the islands formed at 600◦C initially show no change in morphology and size and then rupture simultaneously,signaling a homogeneous chemical potential of the islands.These observations reveal the role of dynamics and energetics in the evolution of Ge/Si QDs,which can serve as a step towards the precise control over the Ge nanostructure size,shape,composition,and distribution on Si(111).展开更多
文摘The symptom cluster of shortness of breath(SOB) contributes significantly to the outpatient workload of cardiology services. The workup of these patients includes blood chemistry and biomarkers, imaging and functional testing of the heart and lungs. A diagnosis of diastolic heart failure is inferred through the exclusion of systolic abnormalities, a normal pulmonary function test and normal hemoglobin, coupled with diastolic abnormalities on echocardiography. Differentiating confounders such as obesity or deconditioning in a patient with diastolic abnormalities is difficult. While the most recent guidelines provide more avenues for diagnosis, such as incorporating the left atrial size, little emphasis is given to understanding left atrial function, which contributes to at least 25% of diastolic left ventricular filling; additionally, exercise stress testing to elicit symptoms and test the dynamics of diastolic parameters, especially when access to the "gold standard" invasive tests is lacking, presents clinical translational gaps. It is thus important in diastolic heart failure work up to understand left atrial mechanics and the role of exercise testing to build a comprehensive argument for the diagnosis of diastolic heart failure in a patient presenting with SOB.
文摘Background: Acute otitis externa is a common multi-factorial disorder in the dog. Several topical preparations are available on the veterinary market, which are licensed for an either specified duration of treatment or for a discretionary period that is determined by the clinician. Objectives: To compare the efficacy of two topical products, both licensed for the treatment of otitis externa in the dog, but with different treatment durations. Animal Population: One hundred and sixty dogs were enrolled in this multicentre field study from which 157 dogs were analysed in the Per Protocol sample (73 Aurizon?treated animals and 84 Easotic?treated animals). Method: Dogs were randomly assigned to Aurizon?or Easotic?treatment groups. Aurizon?(Vétoquinol SA: marbofloxacin, clotrimazole, dexamethasone) was administered daily in the affected ear(s) for 7 or 14 days, and was compared with a daily administration of Easotic?(Virbac SAS: gentamicin, miconazole, hydrocortisone aceponate) for 5 days. General and localised clinical signs were scored on days 0 (D0), 3 (D3), 7 (D7), 14 (D14) and 21 (D21). Results: Clinical cure rates at the end of treatment were 56.3% and 48.8% (p=0.35) in the Aurizon?and Easotic?groups respectively and 81.2% versus 74.7% one week after completing the course of treatment (p = 0.34). Twenty-one days after initially presenting for the study, cure rates were 84.3% in the Aurizon?group and 73.8% in the Easotic?(p=0.12). A relationship between severity of clinical signs and treatment duration was observed. Conclusion and Clinical Significance: At the end of the trial period, cure rates showed a tendency to be higher in the Aurizon?treated animals. The flexible dosage and the veterinary monitoring permitted treatment duration to be adjusted based upon the severity of otitis externa thus increasing the likelihood of clinical cure.
文摘Hypnosis,one of the earliest mind-body treatments,has been the subject of renewed interest in the last decade with research indicating its effectiveness for varied physiological and psychological ailments including pain,distress,and psychosomatic disorders.However,the adoption and acceptance of hypnosis are still hindered by myths and misconceptions that prevail among the general public and clinicians.Considering their significant role in promoting the successful delivery and acceptance of interventions,informing clinicians about hypnosis is crucial to promote balanced views,and thereby the adoption of this intervention when warranted.This narrative review traces the historical roots of myths surrounding hypnosis,while unravelling related misconceptions that have impeded its adoption in clinical and research settings.We hope that this review enhances the general public’s views and clinicians’understanding of hypnosis in historical,theoretical and research contexts to promote its adoption in research and clinical settings and steer research toward an evidence-based practice of hypnosis.
文摘Background: Cimicoxib is a coxib recently licensed in Europe for pain and inflammation associated with osteoarthritis (OA), and the management of perioperative pain due to orthopaedic or soft tissue surgery. Purpose: This prospective study was to complete the product information for the end users by providing additional scientific data obtained after a thirty-day treatment course of cimicoxib in dogs with OA, and to collect owners’ feedback. Data were collected from nine European countries with 492 client owned dogs recruited to the trial. Dogs were treated once daily with 2 mg/kg cimicoxib orally. Immediately before, at Day (D) 15 and D30 after the start of treatment veterinarians and owners scored body condition, appetite, locomotion, lameness, pain on palpation and manipulation of the joint and joint effusion (veterinarians) and dog demeanor and well being (owners). In a subset of dogs, serum urea (n = 191), creatinine (n = 184), AST (n = 141) and ALT (n = 174) were measured at day (D) 0 and D30. Statistical tests were carried out to detect significant changes in the clinical parameters with time. Results and Discussion: Veterinary and owner assessments were analysed from 236 and 215 dogs respectively. Improvements in locomotion, mobility, pain scores and dog demeanor and body condition were identified;outcome measures assessed by veterinarians continued to improve after 15 days of treatment up to the 30-day time point. At D30 a significantly higher number of dogs had an urea concentration superior to the upper limit of the reference range. However, there was no significant difference for creatinine, ALT and AST. Conclusions: A 30-day treatment course with cimicoxib improved locomotion and decreased pain scores in dogs with OA, with minimal adverse effects. These data, support pre-clinical data in dogs receiving cimicoxib and are useful for veterinarians making decisions about which NSAID to administer to dogs that require pain management for OA.
文摘Ear cleaning is a therapeutic component in the management of otitis externa in dogs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the in vivo efficacy and safety of a new ear cleanser, Sonotix? against EpiOtic? Advanced for the management of canine otitis externa. Eighteen clients owned dogs with a diagnosis of erythemato-ceruminous or purulent otitis externa were prospectively included and randomized to two treatment group: EpiOtic? Advanced and Sonotix?. Cytology and video-otoscopic examination (erythema, amount of cerumen and thickness and surface of ear canal covered by cerumen) of all affected ears were done at D0, both before (T0) and 30 minutes (T0 + 30 min) after ear cleaning. Then an ear medication was applied (Aurizon?, Vetoquinol). Owners were instructed to clean affected ears daily and apply the ear medication 30 minutes later for 5 days (D1-D5). Dogs were seen again at D6 for cytology and video-otoscopic examination. At T0, no significant differences were found between both ear cleansers groups regarding macroscopic and microscopic scorings. At T0 + 30 min and D6 cytological and video-otoscopic scores were significantly decreased (Wilcoxon test;p < 0.01) compared to baseline in both groups. However, the cleaning activity of Sonotix? was statistically superior to Epiotic? as evidenced by the median global scores of video-otoscopic examination at T0 + 30 min (Mann Whitney Test, p < 0.01). Effective ear cleaning is an essential part of any treatment scheme because it favours the contact between the ointment and the lining ear epidermis and speeds resolution by the removal of cerumen, microbial organisms and cellular debris. In our study, the important reductions in yeast, cocci, and rod-shaped organism counts were demonstrated in smears at T0 + 30 min and D6 in both groups. Video-otoscopic examination performed 30 minutes after ear cleaning suggests that Sonotix? seems to be more effective in removing cerumen than EpiOtic? Advanced.
文摘X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) on the carbon K edge of carbon nanostructures (nanotubes, nanofibers, nanowalls) is reported here. They are grown on plain SiO2 (8 nm thick)/Si(100) substrates by a Plasma and Hot Filaments-enhanced Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition (PE HF CCVD) process. The morphology and the nature of these carbon nanostructures are characterized by SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. According to conditions of catalyst preparation and DC HF CCVD process, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), carbon nanowalls (CNWs), carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) with different orientation of the graphene plans or shells can be prepared. From the angular dependence of the incident light and geometrical morphology of the nanostructures, wide variations of the C K-edge intensity of the transitions to the empty π* and σ* states occur. A full lineshape analysis of the XAS spectra has been carried out using a home-made software, allowing estimating the relative proportion of π* and σ* transitions. A geometrical model of the angular dependence with the incidence angle of the light and the morphology of the carbon nanostructures is derived. With normalization to the HOPG (Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite graphite) reference case, a degree of alignment can be extracted which is representative of the localized orientation of the graphitic carbon π bonds, accounting not only for the overall orientation, but also for local defects like impurities incorporation, structural defects ... This degree of alignment shows good agreement with SEM observations. Thus CNTs films display degrees of alignment around 50%, depending on the occurrence of defects in the course of the growth, whereas no special alignment can be detected with CNFs and CNPs, and a weak one (about 20%) is detected on CNWs.
基金Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Nature et TechnologiesCanada Research ChairNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery。
文摘Heteroepitaxial growth is a process of profound fundamental importance as well as an avenue to realize nanostructures such as Ge/Si quantum dots(QDs),with appealing properties for applications in opto-and nanoelectronics.However,controlling the Ge/Si QD size,shape,and composition remains a major obstacle to their practical implementation.Here,Ge nanostructures on Si(111)were investigated in situ and in real-time by low energy electron microscopy(LEEM),enabling the observation of the transition from wetting layer formation to 3D island growth and decay.The island size,shape,and distribution depend strongly on the growth temperature.As the deposition temperature increases,the islands become larger and sparser,consistent with Brownian nucleation and capture dynamics.At 550◦C,two distinct Ge/Si nanostructures are formed with bright and dark appearances that correspond to flat,atoll-like and tall,faceted islands,respectively.During annealing,the faceted islands increase in size at the expense of the flat ones,indicating that the faceted islands are thermodynamically more stable.In contrast,triangular islands with uniform morphology are obtained from deposition at 600◦C,suggesting that the growth more closely follows the ideal shape.During annealing,the islands formed at 600◦C initially show no change in morphology and size and then rupture simultaneously,signaling a homogeneous chemical potential of the islands.These observations reveal the role of dynamics and energetics in the evolution of Ge/Si QDs,which can serve as a step towards the precise control over the Ge nanostructure size,shape,composition,and distribution on Si(111).
