In a cold, wet, or windy environment, cold exposure can be considerable for an injured or ill person. The subsequent autonomous stress response initially will increase circulatory and respiratory demands, and as body core temperature declines, the patient's condition might deteriorate. Therefore, the application of adequate insulation to reduce cold exposure and prevent body core cooling is an important part of prehospital primary care, but recommendations for what should be used in the field mostly depend on tradition and experience, not on scientific evidence. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the thermal insulation properties in different wind conditions of 12 different blankets and rescue bags commonly used by prehospital rescue and ambulance services. Methods:The thermal manikin and the selected insulation ensembles were setup inside a climatic chamber in accordance to the modified European Standard for assessing requirements of sleeping bags. Fans were adjusted to provide low (< 0.5 m/s), moderate (2-3 m/s) and high (8-9 m/s) wind conditions. During steady state thermal transfer, the total resultant insulation value, I tr (m 2°C /Wclo; where °C = degrees Celcius, and W = watts), was calculated from ambient air temperature (°C), manikin surface temperature (°C), and heat flux (W/m 2 ). Results: In the low wind condition, thermal insulation of the evaluated ensembles correlated to thickness of the ensembles, ranging from 2.0 to 6.0 clo (1 clo = 0.155 m 2°C /W), except for the reflective metallic foil blankets that had higher values than expected. In moderate and high wind conditions, thermal insulation was best preserved for ensembles that were windproof and resistant to the compressive effect of the wind, with insulation reductions down to about 60-80% of the original insulation capacity, whereas wind permeable and/or lighter materials were reduced down to about 30-50% of original insulation capacity. Conclusions:The evaluated insulation ensembles might all be used for prehospital protection against cold, either as single blankets or in multiple layer combinations, depending on ambient temperatures. However, with extended outdoor, on-scene durations, such as during prolonged extrications or in multiple casualty situations, the results of this study emphasize the importance of using a windproof and compression resistant outer ensemble to maintain adequate insulation capacity.

Heart failure (HF) is a major public health problem characterized by inability of the heart to maintain sufficient output of blood. The systematic characterization of circulating proteins across different stages of HF may provide pathophysiological insights and identify therapeutic targets. Here we report application of aptamer-based proteomics to identify proteins associated with prospective HF incidence in a population-based cohort, implicating modulation of immunological, complement, coagulation, natriuretic and matrix remodeling pathways up to two decades prior to overt disease onset. We observe further divergence of these proteins from the general population in advanced HF, and regression after heart transplantation. By leveraging coronary sinus samples and transcriptomic tools, we describe likely cardiac and specific cellular origins for several of the proteins, including Nt-proBNP, thrombospondin-2, interleukin-18 receptor, gelsolin, and activated C5. Our findings provide a broad perspective on both cardiac and systemic factors associated with HF development.

This small series of patients with "malignant" relapsing-remitting MS suggests HSCT to be an effective treatment option for this relatively rare disease course. It further suggests that future criteria for HSCT in MS should be close to the present ones.

Summary: Homozygous deficiency of aminolaevulinate dehydratase (porphobilinogen synthase, EC 4.2.1.24) was diagnosed in a small child. The clinical presentation was unique since severe Symptoms were already present in the neonatal period. The patient, a boy, now three-years old, had recurrent attacks of pain, vomiting, hyponatraemia and Symptoms of polyneuropathy engaging motor functions including respiration. The clinical course of the disease from birth on is related, äs are the results of various attempts at therapy. The patient excreted large amounts of 5-aminolaevulinic acid and coproporphyrin and minor amounts of porphobilinogen in the urine. Faecal excretion of coproporphyrin and harderoporphyrin was increased äs was erythrocyte porphyrin concentration. Diagnosis was established by the finding that erythrocyte aminolaevulinate dehydratase activity was less than 5 per cent of normal in the patient and between 26 and 51 per cent of normal in both the parents, the grandfathers and a sibling. The activity of the enzyme could not be restored by the addition of dithiothreitol (10~3 mol/1) alone, or in combination with zinc or manganese in varying concentrations. The enzyme K m did not differ between affected and nonaffected members of the family.