PURPOSE To evaluate a technique for contrast agent preparation as mixing the patients' blood with agitated saline and to compare it with agitated saline alone in diagnosis of cardiac right-to-left shunt in regard to their sensitivity, time window, and distribution of artificially induced microembolic signals. METHODS Fifty-two patients with stroke who had Transesophageal echocardiography prov...

This article presents a methodology for acquisition and analysis of bright-field amplitude contrast image data in high-throughput screening (HTS) for the measurement of cell density, cell viability, and classification of individual cells into phenotypic classes. We present a robust image analysis pipeline, where the original data are subjected to image standardization, image enhancement, and se...

Limited studies in recent years have shown that asphalt pavement subject to seawater in coastal regions or deicing salt in cold regions may be seriously damaged after being soaked in saline water for a long time. However, there is limited research into the influence of salt on rheological properties of asphalt after long-term aging. In this study, rheological properties of unmodified and polyme...

BACKGROUND We assessed the impact of heparinised saline versus 0.9% normal saline on arterial line patency. Maintaining the patency of arterial lines is essential for obtaining accurate physiological measurements, enabling blood sampling and minimising line replacement. Use of heparinised saline is associated with risks such as thrombocytopenia, haemorrhage and mis-selection. Historical studies...

Managing the rapidly changing saline-alkali land under cultivation in the coastal areas of China is important not only for mitigating the negative impacts of such land on the environment, but also for ensuring long-term sustainability of agriculture. In this light, setting up rapid monitoring systems to assist decision-making in developing sustainable management plans is therefore an absolute n...

Patent foramen ovale is frequently associated with embolic cerebrovascular accidents. The diagnosis of patent foramen ovale (PFO) is easier since the advent of transesophageal echocardiography but is invasive and does not allow to detect extracardiac RLS. Contrast transcranial Doppler ultrasound enables the detection of the passage of a contrast material injected into a peripheral vein to the c...

INTRODUCTION Coagulation-free dialysis, also commonly known as "heparin-free" dialysis, can be a challenging procedure as it increases the risk of clotting the dialysis circuit. Utilizing a better saline flushing technique can lead to improved patient outcomes as well as huge financial benefits to the health institution. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of continuous s...

OBJECTIVE To compare 5% dextrose-0.9% saline against 0.9% saline solution in the intravenous rehydration of hyperemesis gravidarum. METHODS Women at their first hospitalization for hyperemesis gravidarum were enrolled on admission to the ward and randomly assigned to receive either 5% dextrose-0.9% saline or 0.9% saline by intravenous infusion at a rate 125 mL/h over 24 hours in a double-blin...

OBJECTIVE To compare the length of hospital stay (primary) and improvement in clinical severity scores (secondary) among children with bronchiolitis nebulized with 3 % hypertonic saline or 0.9% saline. DESIGN Randomized double blind controlled trial. SETTINGS Tertiary care teaching hospital. PATIENTS Hospitalized children (1-24 months) with acute bronchiolitis of moderate severity. INTE...

Intr Maintaining the patency of arterial lines is essential for obtaining accurate physiological measurements, enabling blood sampling and minimising the time, expense and patient discomfort incurred by line replacement. HS is commonly used to maintain and prolong arterial line patency. In 2008, a National Patient Safety Agency alert advised organisations to minimise its use for this purpose fo...