Aortic valve sclerosis is a sign of increased arterial stiffness in clinically asymptomatic subjects

Background: Classic risk scores may under estimate the risk of cardiovascular (CV) events in specific risk groups requiring appropriate medical and interventional treatment. Arterialstiffness has been known as a sign of CV risk and has a predictive value for CV events beyond classic CV risk factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between thecardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) that has been recently reported as a new surrogate marker of arterial stiffness and aortic valve sclerosis (AVS).Methods: Eighty patients with AVS and 80 control subjects were enrolled to the study. Arterial stiffness was evaluated by VaSera-1000 CAVI instrument and AVS was defined by echocardiography as thickening and calcification of the normal trileaflet aortic valve without obstruction to the left ventricular outflow.Results: CAVI was significantly higher in patients with AVS compared to the control subjects (10.5 ± 2.7 vs. 8.6 ± 1.4, p < 0.001). Higher frequency of AVS was detected in patients with abnormal than borderline and normal CAVI values (69% vs. 27% and 20%, respectively, p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, there was a significant association between AVS and CAVI (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.44–2.48, p < 0.001]. Multivariate analysis demonstrated CAVI (95% CI 1.39–2.44, p < 0.001) as an independent determinant of AVS.Conclusions: Detection of increased arterial stiffness could prevent patients from being mistakenly classified as at low or moderate risk, when they actually are at high risk. Assessment of aortic valve during echocardiography examination may offer the opportunity to identify these subjects

Organisations, circulations, réseaux : la jeunesse arménienne universitaire à Genève et à Lausanne entre 1887 et 1926 comme vecteur de lien entre les peuples suisse et arménien

Ce travail s’intéresse à la présence des étudiants arméniens dans les Universités de Genève et de Lausanne (de 1887 à 1926), dans le contexte de la fin de l’Empire ottoman. En tant qu’expérience transnationale, le parcours de ces étudiants en Europe et en Suisse, illustre comment des hommes entrent en contact avec des idées, comment ils les réceptionnent, se les approprient, les rejettent ou les transforment, pour les intégrer d’abord dans leurs histoires personnelles, puis au sein de leurs organisations et réseaux. Nous montrons comment, dans des conditions sociales, culturelles et historiques précises, l’ensemble de leurs expériences et échanges intellectuels donne naissance à des associations, des organisations et des partis politiques, qui deviennent à leur tour acteurs de l’histoire du peuple arménien. En nous concentrant sur l’Empire ottoman, nous mettons en évidence la place importante qu’occupent ces étudiants en tant qu’acteurs de transferts de modèles et de concepts entre leurs trois empires de provenance, mais aussi entre leur société d’accueil, la Suisse, et les empires. On retrouve les traces de ces étudiants arméniens dans diverses archives, telles que les archives universitaires, cantonales et fédérales, les archives de presse et celles d’organisations internationales

The behavior of N/sub 2/+SF/sub 6/ gas mixtures subjected to orthogonal electric and magnetic fields

The limiting equivalent electric fields in N2+SF6 binary gas mixtures due to Townsend discharges are evaluated directly from a Monte-Carlo simulation when the mixture is subjected to orthogonal electric and magnetic fields. Along with the limiting equivalent electric fields, transverse and perpendicular drift velocities, electron mean energies and collision frequencies are also determined within the scope of the Monte-Carlo simulation. The equivalent reduced electric field (EREF) concept for the corresponding limiting electric fields is also investigated for the calculated mean energy levels and collision frequencies. The EREF values are found to be in good agreement with the previously published limiting electric field data

Boltzmann analysis of electron swarm parameters in binary CF4+ Ar mixtures

The electron swarm parameters, namely electron mean energy, drift velocity, effective ionization coefficient and limiting values of number density reduced electric fields, E/N, are calculated in CF 4 +Ar mixtures for various CF 4 concentrations that vary from 2 to 100% over a range of E/N from 50Td to 600Td by solving Boltzmann\u27s equation. In this study Boltzmann\u27s equation was solved using finite difference method under steady-state Townsend condition. One of the most important results of this study indicated that at higher E/N values inelastic processes due to argon began to control the swarm energy thus leading this binary mixture act essentially like pure argon

Simultaneous separation and preconcentration of Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions by coprecipitation without any carrier element in some food and water samples

OZDES, Duygu/0000-0002-8692-2676WOS: 000335940600019A simple and highly sensitive separation and preconcentration procedure, which has minimal impact on the environment, has been developed. The procedure is based on the carrier element-free coprecipitation of Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions by using 2-{4-[2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)ethyl]-3-(4-chlorobenzyl)-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl}-N '-(pyrrol-2-ylmethyliden)acetohydrazide (ICOTPA), as an organic coprecipitant. The levels of analyte ions were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The detection limits for Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions were found to be 0.27 and 0.58 mu gL(-1), respectively, and the relative standard deviations for the analyte ions were lower than 4.0%. Spike tests and certified reference material analyses were performed to validate the method. The method was successfully applied for the determination of Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions levels in sea and stream water as liquid samples and red lentil and rice as solid samples

Development of cloud point extraction preconcentration of cadmium and lead in solid samples using flame atomic absorption spectrometry

WOS: 0004461974000202- [(6-Morphol in-4-ylpyridin-3-yl)amino]-N'-(4 -oxo-3 -phenyl-1,3thiazolidin-2-ylidene) acetohydrazide (MPAPTAH) was first used in a cloud point extraction procedure to determine the cadmium and lead ions in solid samples. Triton X-114 was used as a mixed micellar medium. The optimal extraction parameters (e.g. surfactant concentrations, amount of ligand, pH etc.) were evaluated. The optimum experimental conditions for Cd and Pb ions during the extraction procedure were carried out with 0.7 mg of MPAPTAH agent, 1.0 mL 0.2% (w/v) of the surfactant, a pH of 8.0. Under the best analytical parameters, the detection limit (LOD) for Cd(II) and Pb(II) ions were found to be 0.6 mu g L-1 and 1.91 mu g L-1, while the relative standard deviation (RSD) was taken as 2.78 and 2.86%, respectively. Preconcentration factor (PE) of 50 was obtained from using 50 mL of the sample volume for both ions. The accuracy of the method was tested through analysis of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in certified reference material (CRM Sandy Soil C). The interference effect of certain cations and anions were also investigated. The recoveries of the analyte ions were almost quantitative in the presence of all the interfering ions. Afterwards, the developed method was successfully applied to find lead and cadmium in real solid samples, including black tea, tobacco, and chili pepper

Portal Hypertension Due to Echinococcus Alveolaris: A Case Report

Infection of the liver with Echinococcus alveolaris (EA) contemplates with a fatal course though it is a rare condition. We present herein a patient with upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to portal hypertension caused by the involvement of the liver with EA

Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness is Associated With Higher SYNTAX Score

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and coronary artery disease (CAD) complexity. Consecutive patients (n = 360) with CAD confirmed by coronary angiography were enrolled. Mean CIMT and the overall SYNTAX score (SXscore) were 0.87 +/- 0.12 mm and 15 +/- 9, respectively. In univariate analysis, there was a significant correlation between the overall SXscore and CIMT (r = .42, P < .001), age (r = .23, P < .001), hypertension (r = .27, P = 0.001), diabetes (r = 0.11, P = 0.02), smoking (r = .24, P = .01), dyslipidemia (r = .2, P = 0.03), and beta-blocker use (r = .19, P < .001). In multivariate analysis, CIMT (beta = .34, P < .001) and age (beta = .11, P < .019) were independently associated with SXscore. We have demonstrated a significant relation between CIMT and SXscore. Although this study is correlative and no causative conclusions can be drawn, our findings suggest that increased CIMT could reflect complex coronary artery lesions

Association between Diagonal Earlobe Crease and Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in Asymptomatic Hypertensive Patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between earlobe crease (ELC) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) in asymptomatic hypertensive subjects. Materials and Methods: A total of 75 subjects with ELC and 75 age-and gender-matched patients without ELC were prospectively selected from subjects admitted to the Outpatient Cardiology Clinic. ELC was assigned to a person with a crease stretching obliquely from the outer ear canal towards the border of the earlobe of at least one ear. CAVI was assessed by a VaSera VS-1000 instrument. Results: There were statistically significant higher CAVI values in ELC subjects (9.8 +/- 2.1 vs. 8.6 +/- 1.6, p < 0.001). There was a significant and positive association between CAVI and age (r = 0.42, p < 0.001), ELC (r = 0.31, p < 0.001), BMI (0.20, p < 0.001) and male gender (r = 0.21, p = 0.04). Linear regression analysis demonstrated ELC (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.61-1.74, p = 0.009), age (95% CI 0.03-0.09, p < 0.001) and male gender (95% CI 0.48-1.55, p = 0.03) as independent determinants of CAVI. Also, there was a higher prevalence of ELC in subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis (CAVI = 9) than in normal subjects (CAVI < 9). Conclusion: Patients with ELC had higher CAVI than normal subjects. This observation of ELC is simple, adds no cost and can be easily made by most physicians, and it may provide important predictive information of arterial stiffness and subclinical atherosclerosis in asymptomatic hypertensive subjects. (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Base