362 research outputs found
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Weak Detonations
Detonation of a three-dimensional reactive non-isotropic molecular crystal is
modeled using molecular dynamics simulations. The detonation process is
initiated by an impulse, followed by the creation of a stable fast reactive
shock wave. The terminal shock velocity is independent of the initiation
conditions. Further analysis shows supersonic propagation decoupled from the
dynamics of the decomposed material left behind the shock front. The dependence
of the shock velocity on crystal nonlinear compressibility resembles solitary
behavior. These properties categorize the phenomena as a weak detonation. The
dependence of the detonation wave on microscopic potential parameters was
investigated. An increase in detonation velocity with the reaction
exothermicity reaching a saturation value is observed. In all other respects
the model crystal exhibits typical properties of a molecular crystal.Comment: 38 pages, 20 figures. Submitted to Physical Review
Utility of the ACC/AHA Lesion Classification to Predict Outcomes After Contemporary DES Treatment:Individual Patient Data Pooled Analysis From 7 Randomized Trials
BACKGROUND: Use of the modified American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) lesion classification as a prognostic tool to predict shortâ and longâterm clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in the modern drugâeluting stent era is uncertain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patientâlevel data from 7 prospective, randomized trials were pooled. Clinical outcomes of patients undergoing single lesion percutaneous coronary intervention with secondâgeneration drugâeluting stent were analyzed according to modified ACC/AHA lesion class. The primary end point was target lesion failure (TLF: composite of cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, or ischemiaâdriven target lesion revascularization). Clinical outcomes to 5âyears were compared between patients treated for noncomplex (class A/B1) versus complex (class B2/C) lesions. Eight thousand five hundred sixteen patients (age 63.1±10.8âyears, 70.5% male) were analyzed. Lesions were classified as A, B1, B2, and C in 7.9%, 28.5%, 33.7%, and 30.0% of cases, respectively. Target lesion failure was higher in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention of complex versus noncomplex lesions at 30âdays (2.0% versus 1.1%, P=0.004), at 1âyear (4.6% versus 3.0%, P=0.0005), and at 5âyears (12.4% versus 9.2%, P=0.0001). By multivariable analysis, treatment of ACC/AHA class B2/C lesions was significantly associated with higher rate of 5âyear target lesion failure (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.17â1.64], P=0.0001) driven by significantly higher rates of target vessel myocardial infarction and ischemiaâdriven target lesion revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: In this pooled largeâscale analysis, treating complex compared with noncomplex lesions according to the modified ACC/AHA classification with secondâgeneration drugâeluting stent was associated with worse 5âyear clinical outcomes. This historical classification system may be useful in the contemporary era for predicting early and late outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention
Anticoagulation in Patients With COVID-19: JACC Review Topic of the Week.
Clinical, laboratory, and autopsy findings support an association between coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and thromboembolic disease. Acute COVID-19 infection is characterized by mononuclear cell reactivity and pan-endothelialitis, contributing to a high incidence of thrombosis in large and small blood vessels, both arterial and venous. Observational studies and randomized trials have investigated whether full-dose anticoagulation may improve outcomes compared with prophylactic dose heparin. Although no benefit for therapeutic heparin has been found in patients who are critically ill hospitalized with COVID-19, some studies support a possible role for therapeutic anticoagulation in patients not yet requiring intensive care unit support. We summarize the pathology, rationale, and current evidence for use of anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19 and describe the main design elements of the ongoing FREEDOM COVID-19 Anticoagulation trial, in which 3,600 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 not requiring intensive care unit level of care are being randomized to prophylactic-dose enoxaparin vs therapeutic-dose enoxaparin vs therapeutic-dose apixaban. (FREEDOM COVID-19 Anticoagulation Strategy [FREEDOM COVID]; NCT04512079).Dr Farkouh has received research grants from Amgen, Novo Nordisk,
and Novartis. Dr Stone has received speaker honoraria from Infraredx; has served as a consultant to Valfix, TherOx, Robocath, HeartFlow, Ablative Solutions, Miracor, Neovasc, Abiomed, Ancora,
Vectorious, Elucid Bio, Occlutech, CorFlow, Apollo Therapeutics,
Impulse Dynamics, Cardiomech, Gore, and Amgen; and has equity/
options from Ancora, Cagent, Applied Therapeutics, Biostar family of
funds, SpectraWave, Orchestra Biomed, Aria, Cardiac Success, Valfix,
and Xenter. Dr Godoy is supported by the Frederick Banting and
Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship (Doctoral Research Award)
from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. All other authors
have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.S
Titanium, Sinusitis, and the Yellow Nail Syndrome
Yellow nail syndrome is characterized by nail changes, respiratory disorders, and lymphedema. In a yellow nail patient with a skeletal titanium implant and with gold in her teeth, we found high levels of titanium in nail clippings. This study aims to examine the possible role of titanium in the genesis of the yellow nail syndrome. Nail clippings from patients with one or more features of the yellow nail syndrome were analyzed by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Titanium was regularly found in finger nails in patients but not in control subjects. Visible nail changes were present in only half of the patients. Sinusitis with postnasal drip and cough was the most common complaint. The dominant source of titanium ions was titanium implants in the teeth or elsewhere. The titanium ions were released through the galvanic action of dental gold or amalgam or through the oxidative action of fluorides. In other patients the titanium was derived from titanium dioxide in drugs and confectionary. Stopping galvanic release of titanium ions or canceling exposure to titanium dioxide led to recovery. In one patient with a titanium implant, the symptoms recurred after renewed exposure to titanium. Yellow nail syndrome is caused by titaniu
Ultrasensitivity of the Bacillus subtilis sporulation decision
Starving Bacillus subtilis cells execute a gene expression program
resulting in the formation of stress-resistant spores. Sporulation
master regulator, Spo0A, is activated by a phosphorelay and controls
the expression of a multitude of genes, including the forespore-
specific sigma factor ÏF and the mother cell-specific sigma
factor ÏE. Identification of the system-level mechanism of the sporulation
decision is hindered by a lack of direct control over Spo0A
activity. This limitation can be overcome by using a synthetic system
in which Spo0A activation is controlled by inducing expression
of phosphorelay kinase KinA. This induction results in a switch-like
increase in the number of sporulating cells at a threshold of KinA.
Using a combination of mathematical modeling and single-cell microscopy,
we investigate the origin and physiological significance
of this ultrasensitive threshold. The results indicate that the phosphorelay
is unable to achieve a sufficiently fast and ultrasensitive
response via its positive feedback architecture, suggesting that the
sporulation decision is made downstream. In contrast, activation
of ÏF in the forespore and of ÏE in the mother cell compartments
occurs via a cascade of coherent feed-forward loops, and thereby
can produce fast and ultrasensitive responses as a result of KinA
induction. Unlike ÏF activation, ÏE activation in the mother cell
compartment only occurs above the KinA threshold, resulting in
completion of sporulation. Thus, ultrasensitive ÏE activation explains
the KinA threshold for sporulation induction. We therefore infer
that under uncertain conditions, cells initiate sporulation but postpone
making the sporulation decision to average stochastic fluctuations
and to achieve a robust population response
Outcome of paraosseous extra-medullary disease in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients treated with new drugs
Extramedullary disease is relatively frequent in multiple myeloma, but our knowledge on the subject is limited and mainly relies on small case series or single center experiences. Little is known regarding the role of new drugs in this setting. We performed a meta-analysis of eight trials focused on the description of extramedullary disease characteristics, clinical outcome, and response to new drugs. A total of 2,332 newly diagnosed myeloma patients have been included; 267 (11.4%) had extramedullary disease, defined as paraosseous in 243 (10.4%), extramedullary plasmocytoma in 12 (0.5%), and not classified in 12 (0.5%) patients. Median progression-free survival was 25.3 months and 25.2 in extramedullary disease and non-extramedullary disease patients, respectively. In multivariate analysis the presence of extramedullary disease did not impact on progression-free survival (hazard ratio 1.15, P=0.06), while other known prognostic factors retained their significance. Patients treated with immunomodulatory drugs, mainly lenalidomide, or proteasome inhibitors had similar progression-free survival and progression-free survival-2 regardless of extramedullary disease presence. Median overall survival was 63.5 months and 79.9 months (P=0.01) in extramedullary and non-extramedullary disease patients, respectively, and in multivariate analysis the presence of extramedullary disease was associated with a reduced overall survival (hazard ratio 1.41, P<0.001), in line with other prognostic factors. With the limits of the use of low sensitivity imaging techniques, that lead to an underestimation of extramedullary disease, we conclude that in patients treated with new drugs the detrimental effect of extramedullary disease at diagnosis is limited, that lenalidomide is effective as are proteasome inhibitors, and that these patients tend to acquire a more aggressive disease in later stages. (EUDRACT2005-004714-32, NCT01063179 NCT00551928, NCT01091831, NCT01093196, NCT01190787, NCT01346787, NCT01857115)
Maintenance in myeloma patients achieving complete response after upfront therapy: a pooled analysis
- âŠ