Search

Electromagnetic shielding attenuation (ESA) properties of carbon nanotubes/polymer nanocomposite films, in the super high frequency (SHF) X-band (7-12 GHz) domain are studied. The nanocomposite films consisted of thermoset polyurethane (PU) resin blended with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) mats, and deposited on fused quartz substrates. Two different approaches were used to achieve the nanocomposite films, namely (i) through the on-substrate 'all-laser' growth approach of SWCNTs directly onto substrate, followed by their infiltration by the PU resin, and (ii) by appropriately dispersing the chemically-purified SWCNTs (in the soot form) into the PU matrix and their subsequent deposition onto quartz substrates by means of a solvent casting process. Characterizations of the ESA properties of the developed nanocomposite films show that they exhibit systematically a deep shielding band, centered at around 9.5 GHz, with an attenuation as high as |- 30| dB, recorded for SWCNT loads of 2.5 wt. % and above. A direct correlation is established between the electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite films and their electromagnetic shielding capacity. The SWCNTs/PU nanocomposites developed here are highly promising shielding materials as SHF notch filters, as their ESA capacity largely exceeds the target value of |- 20| dB generally requested for commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To identify personal and environmental predictors of the most disrupted participation domains in people with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Outpatient neuromuscular clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Adults (n=200; 121 women), age 18 years or older (mean age, 47 y), with a confirmed diagnosis of DM1 were selected from the registry of a neuromuscular clinic (N=416). Fifty-two participants had the mild phenotype and 148 the adult phenotype. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Social participation in mobility, housing, employment, and recreation was assessed with the Life Habits Measure. Disrupted participation was based on whether help was needed in performing most life habits because of incapacities or environmental barriers. Environmental factors were assessed by using the Measure of the Quality of the Environment. Personal factors were assessed with standardized instruments including the Berg Balance Scale, the Krupp Fatigue Severity Scale, and manual muscle testing. RESULTS: A large proportion of participants (45%-61%) reported disrupted participation in all 4 domains. Lower-extremity strength (odd ratios [OR], 15.0-5.5; P<.050) and higher fatigue (OR, 6.0-2.6; P<.05) were present in participants with disrupted participation. With regard to environmental factors, family support (OR, 3.6-2.5; P<.05) and public services (OR, 2.8-2.2; P<.05) were perceived as barriers for participants with disrupted participation in most domains. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified personal and environmental factors that may influence the trajectory toward disrupted participation in individuals with DM1. Fatigue, strength, family support, and public services were found to be independent predictors of disrupted participation. Copyright © 2008 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Excessive daytime sleepiness is a common symptom of myotonic dystrophy. Psychostimulants are drugs that are increasingly used to treat hypersomnia in myotonic dystrophy., Objectives: To assess the effects of psychostimulants in myotonic dystrophy patients with hypersomnia., Search Methods: We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and WHO ICTRP on 5 January 2023. We also checked the bibliographies of identified papers and made enquiries of the authors of the papers., Selection Criteria: We considered all randomised controlled trials that have evaluated any type of psychostimulant (versus a placebo or no treatment) in children or adults with myotonic dystrophy, confirmed by clinical and electromyographic diagnostic, or genetic testing, and hypersomnia., Data Collection and Analysis: Two review authors independently scrutinised potentially relevant papers for study inclusion, with any disagreements resolved by discussion. Two review authors independently performed data extraction. We obtained unpublished data from some study authors. We assessed the methodological quality of trials and applied GRADE to assess the certainty of evidence. Review authors did not contribute to eligibility or risk of bias assessment or data extraction of trials in which they had participated. When cross-over trials were included in the analysis, treatment effects were summarised as mean difference (MD) between treatment effects and standard error, and analysed by generic inverse variance., Main Results: We included six trials (136 participants). All studies included only adult outpatients, aged from 18 to 70 years old, and followed them only in the short term (up to four weeks). Five trials had a cross-over design. We judged five trials as being at low risk of bias. Primary outcome Data for mean improvement in the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test were available from three trials. The MD was 3.59 (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.06 to 7.24) minutes, and there was marked heterogeneity across studies (I 2 = 71%). We downgraded the certainty of evidence to very low for inconsistency and imprecision. Secondary outcomes Data for mean improvement in the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were available from five trials. The MD was -2.55 (95% CI -4.00 to -1.11, P < 0.001) in favour of modafinil with considerable heterogeneity across studies (I 2 = 80%). We downgraded the certainty of evidence to low for inconsistency. The effects of psychostimulants on excessive daytime sleepiness as assessed by the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MD -1.82, 95% CI -5.57 to 1.93; P = 0.34; very low certainty evidence) and on quality of life (MD 1.27, 95% CI -3.63 to 6.17; I 2 = 0%; very low certainty evidence) were very uncertain. The risk ratio for experiencing adverse events was 1.70 (95% CI 0.75 to 3.85; P = 0.20; I 2 = 0%; low certainty evidence). No trial evaluated our primary or secondary outcomes in the long term. We were not able to perform planned subgroup analyses as none of the trials provided relevant data., Authors' Conclusions: In myotonic dystrophy, the effects of psychostimulants on excessive daytime sleepiness as assessed by the Maintenance of Wakefulness Test or Multiple Sleep Latency Test and on quality of life are very uncertain. Psychostimulants may improve hypersomnia as self-evaluated by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and may increase the risk of adverse events. More randomised trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of psychostimulants in both the short and long term., (Copyright © 2024 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The objective was to characterize the progression of sleep complaints in 115 dystrophy type 1 (DM1) patients who filled out a sleep questionnaire twice at a 9-year interval. Daytime napping (22.1% vs. 34.5%, p < 0.05), early awakenings (11.4% vs 21.1%, p < 0.05), nonrestorative sleep (39.5% vs 51.8%, p < 0.05), stimulant use (7.0% vs 19.3%, p < 0.01), breathing cessation (10.7% vs 23.2%, p < 0.01), and nighttime urination (42.5% vs 54.9%, p < 0.05) increased between Time 1 and Time 2. Sleep-related complaints are prominent and augment rapidly in DM1 patients. Physicians need to better identify and treat them to help alleviate the burden they impose on patients and their caregivers.