Early postoperative effects of the hypothermia level during hypothermic circulatory arrest in patients with ascending aortic aneurysm

Aim. To compare the effectiveness and safety of ascending aortic hemiarch replacement performed during hypothermic circulatory arrest with different temperature regimens.Material and methods. The study included 104 patients with ascending aortic aneurysm, who underwent ascending aortic hemiarch replacement under hypothermic circulatory arrest and antegrade cerebral perfusion. Depending on the temperature regimen, all patients were divided into two comparable groups: group 1 (n=28) — patients operated on under mild hypothermia (29-31oС), group 2 (n=76) — patients operated on under moderate hypothermia (25-28oC).Results. Comparative analysis of intraoperative data between groups of patients with mild and moderate hypothermia revealed a significant difference in the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (111 [97; 135] min vs 125 [108.5; 170] min, p=0,031) and surgery (240 [210; 270 ] min vs 275 [240; 330] min, p=0,003). In the early postoperative period, the best results were also obtained in patients of mild hypothermia group. In these patients, compared with moderate hypothermia group, there was a lower frequency of reoperation due to bleeding (3,5% vs 5,2%, p=0,572), a decrease in transfused fresh frozen plasma volume (2 [2; 4] vs 4 [2; 4], p=0,03), a decrease in the ventilatory support duration (10 [7; 16] hours vs 18 [10; 24] hours, p=0,002), as well as a bed-day decrease in intensive care unit (2 [2; 3] and 3 [2; 4] days, p=0,005). No neurologic deficit was found in any of the patients. In-hospital mortality had no significant intergroup differences (p=0,541).Conclusion. An increase in the temperature regimen during the ascending aortic hemiarch replacement performed under hypothermic circulatory arrest is relatively safe in relation to early postoperative complications. Mild hypothermia does not increase early postoperative surgical risks compared to moderate hypothermia.

Seasonal changes in plant pollen concentrations over recent years in Vinnytsya, Central Ukraine

<p>The control of plant pollen season patterns is especially important in the expectation of climate change, as the timing of potential varying pollen seasons affects the human population. An ever-increasing number of people suffer from hay fever symptoms with varying severity during the pollen season. This paper presents data on the seasonal variations of pollen concentration and the factors which are the likely causes of these variations in Vinnytsya, a city in Central Ukraine, in order to establish the apparent pattern of this variation and so improve the efficiency of hay fever control in Ukraine.</p><p>Pollen counts were obtained by gravimetric and volumetric methods employing a Hirst-type volumetric spore trap.</p><p>Alder (<em>Alnus</em>) and birch (<em>Betula</em>) peaks of pollen release occurred approximately 1 month earlier than was observed at the end of the twentieth century. This was due to the seasonal heat accumulation related to the appropriate temperature regimen registered in January and February prior to the growing season. Other trees – including poplar (<em>Populus</em>), maple (<em>Acer</em>), walnut (<em>Juglans</em>), common hazel (<em>Corylus</em>) – did not show distinct changes in pollen season pattern over the past decades.</p><p>Mean daily temperature seems to be the leading factor promoting early season onset and a seasonal pollen peak shift of the grass and herb flora such as ragweed (<em>Ambrosia</em>). The shift of the ragweed seasonal pollen maximum towards later in the season correlated with higher temperatures during September. Our study has shown that droughts may also significantly decrease the ragweed pollen concentration.</p>

Pilot Tests for the Comprehensive Utilization of Coal Refuse to Produce Alumina and Cement Clinker

This paper describes a pilot process for the comprehensive utilization of coal refuse. During the process, alumina was first extracted from coal refuse, the residue was then used to calcine cement clinker, and all of the waste gases and water were recovered and re-used in the process of alumina extraction. During the first process, the appropriate temperature regimen and temperature distribution were determined based on laboratory results in a tunnel kiln, and were optimized during the pilot process. The most important step of the temperature regimen is the increasing rate within the temperature range of 500–600°C. And the last determined temperature regimen is suitable to be used in the other industrial kiln when the other processes are applied for the extraction of alumina from coal refuse. The extraction rate for alumina has also been investigated in the pilot tests, and it is a bit lower than those obtained in the laboratory tests. Two methods were used for the calcination of cement clinker. The clinker calcined directly from the adjusted residue could be used for applications with low strength demands, whereas the clinker calcined from the residue and the raw materials of the Portland cement clinker could be used normally.

Cryoprotection of porcine cornea: a scanning electron microscopy study

Porcine corneas were frozen with Me₂SO, glycerol, 1,2-propanediol and PEG-400. The effects of the range of concentrations (5% and 10%) and temperature regimen (1&ordm;C/min and 5&ordm;C/min) were investigated. The integrity of corneal endothelial cells was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and trypan blue staining. The presence of 5&ndash;10% PEG-400 in the protective medium was the most effective in minimizing changes in the integrity of the corneal endothelium during freezing-thawing procedures.

Effects of hygiene-sanitary measures on microbiological safety of finished product in butter production plant

This work presents the results of investigations of the effects of hygienesanitary measures at critical points in the technological process of butter production on its quality and microbiological safety. With this object in mind, hygiene safety was checked using the swab method at the machine for churning and packing butter (125 g packages and bulk butter), the equipment, hands and clothing (work aprons) of employees directly engaged on the machines. The evaluation of the safety parameters, as well as of the hygiene of the production process itself, was carried out in keeping with the Regulations on general and special conditions of food hygiene at any stage of production, processing and trade (RS Official Gazette, No.72/2010). The results of the hygiene safety of swabs taken from the 125g-butter packing machine, after sanitation, showed an increased number of mesophilic bacteria (up to 90 cfu/cm2), as well as the presence of bacteria from the Family Enterobacteriaceae (4 cfu/cm2). The results of swabs taken from the hands of workers engaged on the line for wrapping the butter following the churning process and on the packing line reveal the presence of aerobic mesophilic sporogenic bacteria (20 cfu/cm2), while the presence of pathogenic microorganisms was not established. Butter samples packed into 125g portions present more risky forms of commercial packaging than bulk butter, which is a consequence of various handling activities and additional outside contamination that takes place during the production process if continuous production in the plant has not been ensured. Moreover, the established presence of certain microorganisms (aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, lipolytic bacteria, as well as fungi) in packed butter during its shelf life, is largely a result of outside contamination and the hygienic condition of the equipment. The obatined results of the investigations indicate the need for special attention to be paid during the butter production process on meeting the hygiene-sanitary conditions during the production process tself, which primarily implies adequate washing and disinfecting of the equipment, the required temperature regimen for the pasteurization of the cream and similar activities, as well as the immaculate hygiene of the workers engaged in the production process.

Therapeutic hypothermia in acute ischemic stroke

Induced hypothermia has been used for neuroprotection in cardiac and neurovascular procedures. Experimental and translational studies provide evidence for its utility in the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Over the past decade, these principles have been applied to the clinical management of acute stroke. Varying induction methods, time windows, clinical indications, and adjuvant therapies have been studied. In this article the authors review the mechanisms and techniques for achieving therapeutic hypothermia in the setting of acute stroke, and they outline pertinent side effects and complications. The manuscript summarizes and examines the relevant clinical trials to date. Despite a reasonable amount of existing data, this review suggests that additional trials are warranted to define the optimal time window, temperature regimen, and precise clinical indications for induction of therapeutic hypothermia in the setting of acute stroke.

Ciliates on the Macrophytes in Industrially Heated Lakes (Kujawy Lakeland, Poland)

Ciliates on the Macrophytes in Industrially Heated Lakes (Kujawy Lakeland, Poland)The ciliate assemblage on the macrophytes was examined in 2005 during the vegetation period in the Konińskie Lakes which are heating by post-cooling waters from thermal electric plants. As a result of changed temperature regimen the alien thermophilic macrophyteVallisneria spiralisis becoming increasingly common in the littoral zone. A total of 150 ciliate taxa belonging to 27 orders were found. Greater ciliate species diversity was found on architecturally complex, submerged forms such asCeratophyllum demersumandMyriophyllum spicatum. By contrast the ciliate compositions on emergent macrophytes with simple architecture in their submerged parts, such asTypha, Sparganium, orAcorus, were less species rich. Despite the simple architecture ofVallisnerialeaves, the ciliate diversity on them was high. The results show that replacement of native macrophytes by the alien formV. spiralisin heated lakes did not impoverish the ciliate diversity.

Burbot: Ecology, Management, and Culture

<em>Abstract.</em>—Although burbot <em>Lota lota </em>are native to Montana, little is known about their distribution, life history, and ecology. The objectives of this study were to determine the distribution, relative abundance, and population characteristics of burbot in the upper Missouri River basin in north-central Montana, and to compare sampling efficiency of hoop nets, cod traps, and slat traps. Hoop nets and cod traps were fished in the Missouri River during March 2005 and 2006, and slat traps were fished during March 2006. In total, hoop nets were fished 572 net nights, cod traps for 94 net nights, and slat traps for 92 net nights. Catch rates of hoop nets and cod traps were higher in 2005 than in 2006, and catch rates of all gear types were higher in the upstream half of the study area. Mean section-wide hoop-net catch rates exhibited a significant (<EM>P </EM>≤0.05) inverse relationship with increasing distance downstream from Holter Dam, while catch rates for other gear types did not. Catch rates were not significantly different (<EM>P </EM>≥0.05) among gear types. The size (length and weight) and condition (relative weight) of burbot sampled was significantly (<EM>P </EM>≤0.05) different among gear types. Length, weight, and relative weight were higher for burbot sampled in hoop nets and cod traps than those sampled in slat traps. Slat traps were effective at sampling small (≤300 mm) burbot. Although most (80%) burbot were recaptured within 10 km of where they were tagged, three burbot moved more than 33 km. We hypothesize that the distribution of burbot in our study reach has changed and relative abundance has increased due to the cumulative effect of upstream reservoirs (Canyon Ferry, Hauser, and Holter) by decreasing the downstream water temperature regimen.