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Background/Aims: Sedation rates may vary among countries, depending on patients’ and endoscopists’ preferences. The aim of this survey was to investigate the rate of using premedication for routine diagnostic upper gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy in endoscopy societies, members of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). Methods: We evaluated a multiple-choice questionnaire which was e-mailed to representatives of national endoscopy societies, which are members of the ESGE. The questionnaire had 14 items referring to endoscopy practices in each country and the representatives’ endoscopy units. Results: The response rate was 76% (34/45). In 47% of the countries, less than 25% of patients undergo routine diagnostic UGI endoscopy with conscious sedation. In 62% of the responders’ endoscopy units, patients are not asked their preference for sedation and do not sign a consent form (59%). Common sedatives in use are midazolam (82%), diazepam (38%) or propofol (47%). Monitoring equipment is not available ‘in most of the endoscopy units’ in 46% (13/28) of the countries. Though they were available in 91% of the national representatives’ endoscopy units, they are rarely (21%) used to monitor unsedated routine diagnostic UGI endoscopy. Conclusions: In about 50% of ESGE-related countries, less than 25% of patients are sedated for routine diagnostic UGI endoscopy. Major issues to improve include availability of monitoring equipment and the use of a consent form.

This paper presents a spectroscopic study of emulsions generated with a laser-assisted device. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman and UV–Vis–NIR reflectance spectra of emulsions, recorded before and after exposure to laser radiation were used to characterize the effect of laser irradiation. The paper also presents a comparison between the calculated IR spectra and the experimental FTIR spectra of an emulsion’s components. FTIR measurements allowed the identification of absorption bands specific to each of the emulsions’ components. Moreover, it enabled the observation of destabilization of the emulsion in real-time. Raman spectroscopy allowed the observation of the modifications at a molecular level, by identifying the vibrations of the representative functional groups and the polymerization of sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) molecules by analyzing the evolution of the carbonyl band. UV–Vis–NIR reflectance spectra of emulsions before and after exposure to laser radiation showed that the physical characteristics of the emulsions changed during irradiation—the dimensions of the droplets decreased, leading to an emulsion with a better time stability. These results proved that the employed spectroscopy techniques were powerful tools in emulsion analysis.

Antibiotic resistance became an increasing risk for population health threatening our ability to fight infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of laser irradiated thioridazine (TZ) against clinically-relevant bacteria in view to fight antibiotic resistance. TZ in ultrapure water solutions was irradiated (1–240 min) with 266 nm pulsed laser radiation. Irradiated solutions were characterized by UV–Vis and FTIR absorption spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography, laser-induced fluorescence, and dynamic surface tension measurements. Molecular docking studies were made to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of photoproducts action against Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA. More general, solutions were evaluated for their antimicrobial and efflux inhibitory activity against a panel of bacteria of clinical relevance. We observed an enhanced antimicrobial activity of TZ photoproducts against Gram-positive bacteria. This was higher than ciprofloxacin effects for methicillin- and ciprofloxacin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Molecular docking showed the Penicillin-binding proteins PBP3 and PBP2a inhibition by sulforidazine as a possible mechanism of action against Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA strains, respectively. Irradiated TZ reveals possible advantages in the treatment of infectious diseases produced by antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. TZ repurposing and its photoproducts, obtained by laser irradiation, show accelerated and low-costs of development if compared to chemical synthesis.

This paper reports results obtained using white light diffraction phase microscopy (wDPM) on captured images of breast and colon tissue samples, marking a contribution to the advancement in biomedical imaging. Unlike conventional brightfield microscopy, wDPM offers the capability to capture intricate details of biological specimens with enhanced clarity and precision. It combines high resolution, enhanced contrast, and quantitative capabilities with non-invasive, label-free imaging. These features make it a useful tool for tissue imaging, providing detailed and accurate insights into tissue structure and dynamics without compromising the integrity of the samples. Our findings underscore the potential of quantitative phase imaging in histopathology, in the context of automating the process of tissue analysis and diagnosis. Of particular note are the insights gained from the reconstructed phase images, which provide physical data regarding peripheral glandular cell membranes. These observations serve to focus attention on pathologies involving the basal membrane, such as early invasive carcinoma. Through our analysis, we aim to contribute to catalyzing further advancements in tissue (breast and colon) imaging.

The aim of this investigation is to reveal the structure of 150Sm by measuring for the first time a rather complete set of energy levels of this nucleus up to 4 MeV and determine the total angular momentum of the states. The study was carried out at the 14 MV Tandem Accelerator of the Munich universities by measuring complete angular distributions for states up to 4 MeV excited in the direct two-neutron transfer reaction 152Sm(p,t)150Sm at an incident energy of 22 MeV. Emphasis was put on determining the 0+ excited states, which are some of the most important excitations in the rare-earth region. Up to now only three 0+ levels are known in 150Sm, and investigating the distribution of energy and intensity of these excited states also at higher excitation energy might reveal the main contributions in the wave functions of this nucleus.

Recent arguments claim that behavioral science has focused – to its detriment – on the individual over the system when construing behavioral interventions. In this commentary, we argue that tackling economic inequality using both framings in tandem is invaluable. By studying individuals who have overcome inequality, “positive deviants,” and the system limitations they navigate, we offer potentially greater policy solutions.

In this paper stainless steel copper laser welding was investigated by controlling the processing parameters like welding speed and laser power. Welding the dissimilar materials of stainless steel and copper presents a series of problems. Differences in the physical properties of the two metals, including the melting point, thermal conductivity and thermal dilatation are the main reasons for obtaining an inappropriate laser welding bead. Particularly, the laser welding process of copper is complex because of the very high reflectivity of cooper and in almost situations it requires a specific surface pre-treatment. The main objective of the study conducted in this work was to laser weld a structure used in pressure measuring and control equipments. In order to satisfy the conditions imposed by the sensor manufacturer, the difficulty of obtaining flawless joints was represented by the very small dimensions of the parts to be welded especially of the elastic spiral thickness made of steel.

The aim of this investigation is to reveal the structure of 150 Sm by measuring for the first time a rather complete set of energy levels of this nucleus up to 4 MeV and determine the total angular momentum of the states. The study was carried out at the 14 MV Tandem Accelerator of the Munich universities by measuring complete angular distributions for states up to 4 MeV excited in the direct two-neutron transfer reaction 152 Sm(p,t) 150 Sm at an incident energy of 22 MeV. Emphasis was put on determining the 0 + excited states, which are some of the most important excitations in the rare-earth region. Up to now only three 0 + levels are known in 150 Sm, and investigating the distribution of energy and intensity of these excited states also at higher excitation energy might reveal the main contributions in the wave functions of this nucleus.