Impact of tunable oligophosphonates on barium sulfate crystallization

Calixarenes can be used as well-defined scaffolds for investigating structure–activity relationships of additives and their impact on crystallization. In this work, we present the crystal growth modification of barium sulfate by p-phosphonic acid calix[n]arenes that vary in size (n = 4, 5, 6, and 8) and thus vary in the size of the internal cavity for the same functionality in the upper rim. The tetrameric, hexameric, and octameric macrocycles induce nanoparticle formation with clear superstructure. In the case of the hexameric calix[6]arene, the initial mesocrystalline superstructure fuses over time to form almost hollow spheres, while the mesocrystals formed in the presence of the tetramer and octamer are stable over an extended period. The pentameric calix[5]arene forms more disordered aggregates of single crystals. Thermogravimetric data shows that a significant proportion of the mass of the barium sulfate-containing solid is the macrocycle, regardless of the choice of macrocycle

Framing the Paralympic Games: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Spanish Media Coverage of the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Paralympic Games

In recent years, there has been an increased emergence of studies focusing on the media coverage of the Paralympic Games. Until recently, studies have predominately used quantitative content analyses that, although providing useful interrogation of observational patterns, limits the understanding of and appreciation for the contexts that may have shaped the production of information. By focusing exclusively on the ‘what’ and on the ‘how much’ it is difficult to reveal the ‘why’ and to identify the underlying motives of any changes. This paper recognizes the nuances of the editorial decision-making process by using a mixed methods approach; employing quantitative and qualitative data drawn from a case study focusing on the Spanish media coverage of the 2008 and 2012 Paralympic Games. An initial content analysis of all news published in Spain’s twelve highest-circulation newspapers during Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Paralympic Games was undertaken. Subsequently, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with journalists that were also sent to these two iterations of the Paralympic Games by Spanish media. Drawing on conceptualisations of media framing, the results highlight that the numerical data alone shed insufficient light on the complexity of the news-making process. The semi-structured interviews brought to light issues such as editorial management buoyed by commercial imperatives, and organisational interjection in journalists’ narratives and authorship, that also contoured coverage and content. In addition to further debate about the complexities of media coverage of Paralympic sport, the study also underscores the utility of incorporating and combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies within sport media and communication research

POS1166 UNDERSTANDING PRESCRIPTION BEHAVIOR ACROSS HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN TREATING KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS BEFORE AND DURING THE 2020 COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Background:Knee Osteoarthritis (OA) treatment aims to provide symptom relief, easing joint pain and enabling mobility. The COVID-19 pandemic affected healthcare systems globally, including ways OA patients were treated.Objectives:This study is to understand how treatment management of knee OA patients and prescribing behavior across US healthcare professionals (HCPs) was affected when COVID-19 impacted healthcare systems and regimes globallyMethods:A multi-center online medical chart review study of patients with OA was conducted between May – July 2019 &amp; 2020 among US rheumatologists (rheums), orthopedic surgeons (orthos), primary care physicians with a focus in sports medicine (SM PCPs), and pain specialists, practicing across hospital and private practices. Recruited from a large access panel, physicians were screened for duration of practice in their specialty (3-50 years) and caseload (35 or more knee OA patients personally managed, at least 10 of which must be classified as moderate-severe). Patient charts were recorded for the next 5 eligible patients seen during the screening period. Respondents abstracted patient demographics and treatment regimes used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the dataResults:275 physicians were recruited and collectively reported 1375 patients between May-Jul 2019; 260 physicians were recruited and collectively reported 1300 patients between May-Jul 2020.Looking at treatments patients were receiving at time of reporting, oral medications, particularly NSAIDs, were widely used, regardless of the physician specialty. A directional increase of 6% in the proportion of reported patients deriving from sampled primary care SM PCPs from pre-COVID (Q219) to during COVID (Q220), whilst the same is not true for rheums, orthos, and pain specialists.Figure 1.Medication usage in reported knee OA patients across all sampled specialties - Q2 2019 vs Q2 2020With regards to the usage of injectable therapy, the opposite pattern is seen - higher proportions of reported patients deriving from sampled rheums, orthos &amp; pain specialists receiving injectables vs those deriving from sampled SM PCPs. While focusing on orthos, the proportion of reported patients deriving from them who receive injectables grew by 5% in Q220 (during COVID) vs Q219 (pre-COVID) – directionally more so than other specialties. This is possibly due to limited elective surgeries during the pandemic.Looking deeper into injectable usage amongst reported patients deriving from sampled rheums and orthos, the proportion of the total reported patient set receiving this treatment type is relatively similar across both specialties, prior to, and during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, among reported patients who received surgery, a directionally higher proportion of this reported patient cohort deriving from orthos are noted to receive injectables vs those from rheums – this is true both pre- and during the pandemic.Conclusion:From the sample surveyed, it appears that primary care SM PCPs adopted their treatment adjustment during COVID-19 pandemic differently, by prescribing more orals, while other secondary care physicians (rheums, orthos, pain specialists) focused on injection treatment for longer pain relief. Considering movement restrictions and limited elective surgeries during the pandemic, the lack of targeted treatment options for knee OA has been made more apparent. With a burgeoning pipeline, many of which are targeted therapies, it is hopeful that knee OA treaters will be less reliant on symptom remedies and can readily offer patients’ longer-acting pain relief or disease modifying options to combat joint deteriorationReferences:[1]Ipsos Osteoarthritis Therapy Monitor (May – July 2019, 275 specialists reporting on 1375 OA patients seen in consultation; May – July 2020, 260 specialists reporting on 1300 OA patients seen in consultation, data collected online. Participating physicians were primary treaters and saw a minimum number of 35 knee OA patients). Data © Ipsos 2021, all rights reserved.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.</jats:sec

The intrarenal distribution of urea-¹⁴C as shown by autoradiography

By use of an autoradiographic technique sodium and chloride were reported to be distributed in two separate regions in the mammalian kidney, the outer medulla and the papillary tip. Since urea is thought to be the other major component contributing to the overall osmotic pressure of the medulla, a similar pattern to that of sodium and chloride might be expected. Autoradiograms with urea-14C were made from kidneys of rats given a constant infusion of radioactivity and inulin (for the determination of GFR). The urea-14C autoradiograms showed an elevated region of radioactivity in the outer medulla adjacent to a region of lowered deposition in the outer zone of the inner medulla. This latter region was then followed, in the inner medulla, by an increasing deposition of urea-14C towards the papillary tip. This pattern is identical with that previously reported for sodium and chloride, suggesting a similar pattern for the osmotic pressure in the kidney. </jats:p

Simultaneous Determination of Urinary Estriol, Pregnanediol, and Pregnanolone by Gas-Liquid Chromatography

Abstract A simplified method for following the urinary excretion of estriol, pregnanediol, and pregnanolone during the course of pregnancy is presented. The procedure has been used successfully in a large hospital laboratory. An important advantage is that the estrogen and progesterone metabolites are measured simultaneously, and separate extraction and gas-liquid chromatography is not required. The urine specimen is hydrolyzed enzymatically, extracted, and the steroids are converted to trimethylsilyl ethers. Temperature-programmed gas-liquid chromatography is carried out on a 2% neopentyl glycol succinate column using a hydrogen flame ionization detector.</jats:p