Laser therapy in pressure ulcers: evaluation by the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing and Nursing Outcomes Classification

AbstractOBJECTIVETo describe the pressure ulcer healing process in critically ill patients treated with conventional dressing therapy plus low-intensity laser therapy evaluated by the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) and the result of Wound Healing: Secondary Intention, according to the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC).METHODCase report study according to nursing process conducted with an Intensive Care Unit patient. Data were collected with an instrument containing the PUSH and the result of the NOC. In the analysis we used descriptive statistics, considering the scores obtained on the instrument.RESULTSA reduction in the size of lesions of 7cm to 1.5cm of length and 6cm to 1.1cm width, in addition to the increase of epithelial tissue and granulation, decreased secretion and odor.CONCLUSIONThere was improvement in the healing process of the lesion treated with adjuvant therapy and the use of NOC allowed a more detailed and accurate assessment than the PUSH.

Epitaxial growth of Y-doped SrZrO3 films on MgO by pulsed laser deposition

Epitaxial thin films of Y¿doped SrZrO3 have been grown on MgO(001) by pulsed laser deposition. The deposition process has been performed at temperatures of 1000¿1200¿°C and at an oxygen pressure of 1.5×10¿1 mbar. The samples are characterized by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry/channeling (RBS/C) and x¿ray diffraction (XRD). We found an epitaxial relationship of SrZrO3 (0k0) [101]¿MgO (001) [100]. Good crystalline quality is confirmed by RBS/C minimum yield values of 9% and a FWHM of 0.35° of the XRD rocking curve.

Self and cross-velocity correlation functions and diffusion coefficients in liquids: a molecular dynamics study of binary mixtures of soft spheres

Molecular dynamics simulation is applied to the study of the diffusion properties in binary liquid mixtures made up of soft-sphere particles with different sizes and masses. Self- and distinct velocity correlation functions and related diffusion coefficients have been calculated. Special attention has been paid to the dynamic cross correlations which have been computed through recently introduced relative mean molecular velocity correlation functions which are independent on the reference frame. The differences between the distinct velocity correlations and diffusion coefficients in different reference frames (mass-fixed, number-fixed, and solvent-fixed) are discussed.

Immediate improvement in coronary flow reserve after alcohol septal ablation in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether percutaneous alcohol septal ablation affects coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). METHODS: CFR was measured immediately before and after septal ablation in patients with symptomatic obstructive HCM. CFR was also obtained in normal subjects (NL) for comparison. RESULTS: Patients with HCM (n = 11), compared with NL (n = 22), had a lower mean (SD) baseline CFR (1.96 (0.5) vs 3.0 (0.7), p<0.001), a lower coronary resistance (1.04 (0.45) vs 3.0 (2.6), p = 0.002), a higher coronary diastolic/systolic velocity ratio (DSVR; 5.1 (3.0) vs 1.8 (0.5), p = 0.04) and a lower hyperaemic coronary flow per left ventricular (LV) mass (0.73 (0.4) vs 1.1 (0.6) ml/min/g, p = 0.007). Septal ablation in the HCM group (n = 7) reduced the outflow tract gradient but not the left atrial or LV diastolic pressures. Ablation resulted in immediate normalisation of CFR (to 3.1 (1), p = 0.01) and DSVR (to 1.9 (0.8), p = 0.09) and an increase in coronary resistance (to 1.91 (0.6), p = 0.02). This was probably related to an improvement in the systolic coronary flow. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that successful septal ablation in patients with symptomatic HCM results in immediate improvement in CFR, which is reduced in HCM partly because of the increased systolic contraction load.

Transmyocardial laser revascularisation in acutely ischaemic myocardium.

OBJECTIVE: Although recent experience suggests that transmyocardial laser revascularisation (TMLR) relieves angina, its mechanism of action remains undefined. We examined its functional effects and analysed its morphological features in an animal model of acute ischaemia. METHODS: A total of 15 pigs were randomised to ligation of left marginal arteries (infarction group, n = 5), to TMLR of the left lateral wall using a holmium:yttrium-aluminium garnet (Ho:YAG) laser (laser group, n = 5), and to both (laser-infarction group, n = 5). All the animals were sacrificed 1 month after the procedure. Haemodynamics and echocardiography with segmental wall motion score were carried out at both time intervals (scale 0-3: 0, normal; 1, hypokinesia; 2, akinesia; 3, dyskinesia). Histology of the involved area was analysed. RESULTS: Laser group showed no change of the segmental wall motion score of the involved area 30 min after the laser channels were made (score: 0 +/- 0). Infarction and laser infarction groups both showed a persistent and definitive increase of the segmental wall motion score (at 30 min: 1.6 +/- 0.3 and 2 +/- 0, respectively; at 1 month: 1.8 +/- 0.2 and 1.8 +/- 0.4, respectively). These increases were all statistically significant in comparison with baseline values (P < 0.5), however comparison between infarction and laser-infarction groups showed no significant difference. On macroscopic examination of the endocardial surface, no channel was opened. On histology, there were signs of neovascularisation around the channels in the laser group, whereas in the laser-infarction group the channels were embedded in the infarction scar. CONCLUSIONS: In this acute pig model, TMLR did not provide improvement of contractility of the ischaemic myocardium. To the degree that the present study pertains to the clinical setting, the results suggest that mechanisms other than blood flow through the channels should be considered, such as a laser-induced triggering of neovascularisation or neural destruction.

Avalanche-like vortex penetration driven by pulsed microwave fields in an epitaxial LaSrCuO thin film

Different vortex penetration regimes have been registered in the output voltage signal of a magnetometer when single microwave pulses are applied to an epitaxial overdoped La2− x Sr x CuO4 thin film in a perpendicular dc magnetic field. The onset of a significant variation in the sample magnetization which exists below threshold values of temperature, dc magnetic field, and pulse duration is interpreted as an avalanche-type flux penetration. The microwave contribution to the background electric field suggests that the nucleation of this fast vortex motion is of electric origin, which also guarantees the occurrence of vortex instabilities under adiabatic conditions via the enhancement of the flux flow resistivity. Flux creep phenomena and heat transfer effects act as stabilizing factors against the microwave-pulse-induced fast flux diffusion.

Association of DNA repair inhibition and radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of xenografted colorectal cancer

Purpose: Most of the patients with advanced colorectal cancer will develop liver metastasis, even after primary tumor resection. Although surgical resection remains the gold standard treatment of hepatic metastases, only few patients are eligible to curative resection. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the most common curative alternative. Dbait are new molecules that inhibit DNA double-strand breaks repair. In vitro, Dbait has shown to increase cell death after hyperthermia. Here, we have assessed the combination of Dbait and RFA in the treatment of human colorectal cancer model xenografted in nude mice.Materials: 98 mice were flank-grafted with HT29 (human colon adenocarcinoma). When tumor reached 500 mm3, mice were sham treated (n=19), treated by Dbait via local injections (n=20), treated by RFA using an incomplete ablation scheme (n=20) or treated by combination of Dbait and RFA (n=39 separated in two Dbait regimens). After RFA, 39 mice were sacrificed for blinded pathological study, and 59 others were followed for survival analysis.Results: Mice treated by RFA-Dbait had significantly longer survival as compared to RFA alone (median survival: 56 vs 39 days, p<0.05) while RFA improved survival as compared to controls (median survival: 39 vs 28 days, p<0.05). Pathological studies of tumor slice have demonstrated significant decrease of tumor area and cancer cell viability in the RFA-Dbait group.Conclusions: While the implication of DNA repair activity in heat sensitivity remains unclear, our results show that the addition of Dbait to RFA enhances the antitumor response in this model and provide an experimental basis for the use of Dbait as an additional therapy to RFA.

Les traitements laser en dermatologie pédiatrique [Laser treatments in pediatric dermatology].

Lasers in pediatric dermatology were developed as a result of the treatment of port-wine stains. Infantile hemangiomas may benefit, in some cases, from laser treatment as well as venous and lymphatic malformations. For certain pigmented lesions, as well as some hamartomas, laser treatments are a credible alternative to surgical resection. Bum scars are improved by lasers which stimulate collagen remodeling. Furthermore, hair removal of congenital and acquired hypertrichosis can relieve psychosocial discomfort and improve quality of life. The management of pain and fear of children undergoing laser treatment, using either topical or general anesthesia, remains of central importance.

Pulssitettu laserablaatio mikrofluidisten kanavistojen sarjatuotantomenetelmänä

Puolijohteiden yleistyttyä vuodesta 1948 alkaen, ovat elektroniset laitteet pienentyneet jatkuvasti tehojen kuitenkin kasvaessa. Kasvaneet tehotiheydet kuitenkin vaikeuttavat laitesuunnittelua, sillä puoljohdekomponenttien suorituskyvylle ja eliniälle on oleellista lämpötilojen ja lämpötilavaihteluiden minimointi. Perinteisen ilmajäähdytyksen lähestyessä rajojaan niin kokonaistehon kuin järkevän energiatehokkuudenkin suhteen, on parhaaksi seuraavaksi teknologiaksi ennustettu kaksifaasijäähdytystä, jonka suorituskyky ja energiatehokkuus ovat vaaditulla tasolla. Kaksifaasijäähdytyksen optimaaliselle toiminnalle tärkeää on hyvin suunniteltu ja tarkasti valmistettu lämmönsiirtopinta, jota kutsutaan mikrokanavistoksi. Pulssitettu laserkaiverrus on edistynyt valmistustekniikka, jonka tarkkuus ja luotettavuus sopisivat mikrokanavistojen valmistamiseen. Laserkaiverruksella saavutettavat lopputulokset vaihtelevat kuitenkin materiaalista riippuen ja kupari – jota käytetään yleisesti lämmönjohteena – on eräs huonoimmin lasertyöstöön reagoivista materiaaleista ja siksi on oleellista selvittää laser-kaiverruksen toimivuutta kuparisten mikrokanavistojen valmistuksessa. Pulssitetun laser-kaiverruksen eri variaatioista nanosekunti-luokan pulssinpituuksilla toimivat laitteet ovat jatkuvan tuotannon kannalta paras vaihtoehto niiden hyvän tuottavuuden, saatavuuden sekä kohtuullisen alkuinvestoinnin vuoksi. Käytännön kaiverruskokeiden perusteella selvisi, että menetelmä on laatunsa ja tarkkuutensa puolesta sopiva varsinaiseen tuotantoon. Kaiverruksen tehokkuus kuparia työstettäessä on kuitenkin ennakoituakin heikompi ja niin valmistus- kuin suunnitelu-prosessikin vaativat vielä jatkotutkimusta ja -kehitystä.

Nanonization of megestrol acetate by laser fragmentation in aqueous milieu

Faculté de Pharmacie

Synthesis and Characterisation of Zinc Gallate Based Phosphors for Thin Film Electroluminescent Devices

Department of Physics, Cochin University of Science and Technology