Increased nausea and dizziness when using tramadol for post-operative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) compared with morphine after intraoperative loading with morphine

Thirty-eight ASA I-III patients undergoing lower abdominal operations were randomly allocated to receive either morphine (group M, patient-controlled analgesia bolus = 1 mg of morphine) or tramadol (group T, patient-controlled analgesia bolus = 10 mg of tramadol) for post-operative patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) after receiving morphine intraoperatively. There were no between-group differences in the pain, sedation or vomit scores. The nausea scores were significantly higher in group T in the initial 20 h and between 32 and 36 h (P < 0.01, 0-4 and 8-12 h; P < 0.05, 4-8, 12-16, 16-20 and 32-36 h). The incidence of dizziness was also significantly higher in group T (68.4% vs. 31.6%, group T vs. group M, P < 0.05). There was no difference in the overall satisfaction. We conclude that the use of tramadol, compared with morphine, for post-operative PCA after intraoperative loading with morphine is associated with more nausea and dizziness, but with similar sedation, quality of analgesia and patient satisfaction.published_or_final_versio

Inhaled foreign bodies: children with peanut in airway

Foreign body aspiration is a common problem in young children. Many patients present after a significant delay despite having a witnessed choking event. Moreover, their presentations may mimic other common respiratory problems like pneumonia or asthma. It is extremely important to be attentive to history taking and clinical signs that may indicate early bronchoscopy to confirm the diagnosis.published_or_final_versio

Measurement of cosmic-ray muons and muon-induced neutrons in the Aberdeen Tunnel Underground Laboratory

postprin

The adjunctive use of Chinese medicine in non-surgical periodontal therapy

published_or_final_versio

An apparatus for studying spallation neutrons in the Aberdeen Tunnel laboratory

postprin

Early-life activities mediate the association between family socioeconomic status in early childhood and physical fitness in early adolescence

The graded association between family socioeconomic status (SES) and physical fitness is evident, but little is known about the mechanism underlying this association. This study investigated the role of early-life activities as mediators of the longitudinal relationship between early-life SES and health-related physical fitness in 168 adolescents (51.2% boys; final mean age: 12.4 years old). In Wave 1 (2011–12), their parents completed questionnaires about family socioeconomic status (SES), parent–child activities, and child screen time. In Wave 2 (2014–15), participants’ physical activity levels were assessed through parent proxy-reports. In Wave 3 (2018–19), a direct assessment of handgrip strength, standing long-jump, and 6-min walk test (6MWT) performance was conducted. After controlling for demographic factors, results of mediation analyses revealed that (a) Wave 1 SES predicted Wave 3 long-jump and 6MWT performance; (b) child physical activity level in Wave 2 mediated the relation between Wave 1 SES and standing long-jump performance in Wave 3; and (c) recreational parent–child activities and child screen time in wave 1 mediated the relation between Wave 1 SES and 6MWT performance in Wave 3. Our findings suggest that the type and frequency of early-life activities play a role in the graded association between childhood SES and physical fitness in adolescence

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy among Ethnic Minorities in Hong Kong

Ethnic minorities account for 8% of the Hong Kong population, most are Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers taking care of children and the elderly. To understand the COVID-19 vaccination rates and factors associated with vaccine acceptance of ethnic minorities, we performed a cross-sectional questionnaire study recruiting Hong Kong ethnic minorities aged ≥18 years between 1 July and 18 July 2021 in public areas. Demographics, knowledge about COVID-19, vaccination status, intention and reasons to receive the vaccine, and planning to be re-vaccinated were analyzed. Continuous and categorical variables were compared using unpaired t-test and Chi-square test, respectively. Potential confounders were adjusted using multiple logistic regression. 2,012 ethnic minorities participated, with a mean age of 39 years, of which 97.6% were female, 79.5% were Filipino, and 17.5% were Indonesian. 80.6% of participants were categorized as vaccine acceptance, and 69.2% were willing to be re-vaccinated. There were significantly more Filipinos than Indonesians in the vaccine acceptance group (p < .001). Subjects in the vaccine acceptance group were more likely to have higher education (p < .001), a higher COVID-19 knowledge score (p < .001), received information from the Government website (p = .003) and not from their friends or family members (p = .02), and were more confident in judging the accuracy of the information (p < .001). Logistic regression showed the mean knowledge score (β = 3.07, p < .001) and receiving information from official Government websites (adjusted OR = 1.37, p = .03) were significant factors that positively influenced vaccine acceptance. The Hong Kong Government should improve COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among ethnic minorities through public education using official channels

Viewing biofilm formation through a multifocal lens of physics and biology

Recent studies on the formation, organisation and dynamics of biofilms highlight the interplay between physical forces and biological programs. Two complementary generalised pathways that explain the mechanisms driving biofilm formation have emerged. In the first pathway, where physical forces precede the biological program, the initial expansion of cells leads to cell clustering or aggregation prior to the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The second pathway describes an initial biologically prompted production of EPS, which introduces new biophysical interactions within the EPS, such as by phase separation, macromolecular crowding, excluded volume interactions and intermolecular cross-linking. In practice, which of the two pathways is adopted is ultimately determined by the specificities of the biofilm and the local microenvironment, each leading to the formation of robust, viscoelastic biofilm. Within this framework, we further highlight here recent findings on the role of higher-order structures in matrix gelation and phase separation of EPS in promoting the clustering of bacteria. We assert that examining biofilms through the combined lens of physics and biology promises new and significant methodological and conceptual advancements in our understanding of biofilms

Inhaled fluticasone therapy reduces exacerbation frequency and sputum production in bronchiectasis (BX)

published_or_final_versio

Anti-inflammatory treatment increased exhaled nitric oxide production on patients with active bronchiectasis

published_or_final_versio