Positive experiences related to: having good coverage, a simple application process, straightforward transactions and helpful communication. Findings suggest that even when patients have insurance coverage, difficult interactions with insurers and limited skills in navigating insurance options may limit their access to needed medications and health services. Future research is needed to test this hypothesis in a larger

population.”
“The ZIETDFMK primary excited state decay processes relating to the (5)I(6) -> (5)I(7) similar to 2.9 mu m laser transition in singly Ho(3+)-doped tellurite (TZBG) glass have been investigated in detail using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. Selective laser excitation of the (5)I(6) energy level at 1151 nm and (5)I(7) energy level at 1958 nm has established that the rate of energy transfer up-conversion between holmium ions excited to the (5)I(7) level is negligible for Ho(3+) concentrations up to 4 mol. %. Excited state absorption was not observed from either the (5)I(7) or (5)I(6) levels and the luminescence from the (5)I(7) and (5)I(6) energy levels was measured to peak at similar to 2050 nm and, similar to 2930 nm, respectively. The (5)I(6) level has a low luminescence efficiency of similar to 8.9% due to strong nonradiative multiphonon

Selleck EPZ 6438 relaxation. In contrast, decay from the (5)I(7) level is essentially fully radiative. A linear decrease in the Ulixertinib decay time of the (5)I(6) level with Ho(3+) concentration augmentation results from energy transfer to OH(-) ions in the glass (with N(OH) similar to 8.2 x 10(17) ions cm(-3)) and reduces the luminescence efficiency of the (5)I(6) level to 8% for [Ho(3+)] = 4 mol. %. Numerical simulation of a fiber laser incorporating 4 mol. % Ho(3+) showed that a population inversion of similar to 7.8% is reached for square pulses of 100 mu s duration and a repetition frequency of 20 Hz at a moderate pump intensity of 418 kW cm(-2) if energy transfer to OH(-) radicals is neglected. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics.

[doi: 10.1063/1.3587476]“
“BACKGROUND: Currently, pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) >6 WU x m(2) (indexed units) is generally considered a contraindication to isolated orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). However, this has been questioned in the literature.

METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all patients <18 years old who underwent primary OHT for cardiomyopathy. Data were collected with regard to demographics, pre-operative hemodynamics, need for pre-operative mechanical circulatory support, vasodilator reactivity and 30-day mortality (30dM). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to establish an optimal threshold. Uni- and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to assess the influence of PVRI on 30dM.