Patient demographics, the number of hospital admissions in the last 6 months of life, survival, and referrals to palliative care services were evaluated. Results: Ninety-eight patients were diagnosed with brain metastases and treated with WBRT alone. The median overall survival following WBRT was 80 days. Twenty-eight of the patients presented to the
emergency department bigger than = 2 times in the last 6 months of life. Sixty-eight percent of patients were referred to palliative care. Of those referrals, 57% selleck chemical were during an inpatient hospitalization. The median survival from palliative care referral to death was 27 days. Conclusions: Patients with brain metastasis requiring WBRT have a predictable dying trajectory. These patients are likely to have a high symptom burden and would benefit from palliative care. Timely palliative care referrals in this population remain RepSox molecular weight inadequate and classically follow a hospital admission. Referrals continued to be late in the dying process and the recommendation for WBRT can be used as an independent marker for initiating end-of-life discussions and involving palliative care.”
“Two phosphorus-based molecules were grafted onto flax fibers through electron beam irradiation in order to impart flame retardancy to flax fabrics. Fabrics were impregnated by dipping them into a solution containing a phosphonated
monomer: dimethyl(methacryloxy)methyl phosphonate (MAPC1) or dimethylvinyl phosphonate (MVP). Then fabrics were irradiated at a dose ranging between 10 and 100 kGy. The grafting efficiency was found to be Selleck CCI-779 dependent on the molecule concentration in the impregnation solution, on the radiation dose and on the nature of the monomer. In particular, it has been observed that MAPC1
is grafted only onto the surface while MVP is also grafted into the bulk leading to high phosphorus content (4 wt%). Flame retardancy of the modified flax fibers, fabrics and polyester thermoset composites containing these fabrics were also investigated. High phosphorus content allows fabrics to achieve self-extinguishing behavior. The flammability of composites in cone calorimeter test is also reduced, even if the thermoset is not flame retarded itself. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objectives: To evaluate the effect of early versus deferred antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the neurodevelopment of infants from Cape Town participating in the Children with HIV Early Antiretroviral Therapy (CHER) trial.\n\nDesign: HIV-infected infants were randomized to early (<3 months) or deferred ART. HIV-uninfected infants (HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed) provide background data.\n\nMethods: Neurological examination and Griffiths Mental Development Scales (GMDS) were administered between 10-16 months of age by testers blind to HIV status and randomized allocation. Mean quotients were compared using paired Student’s t-tests.