Thrombogenicity of small-diameter prosthetic grafts: Relative contributions of graft-associated thrombin and factor Xa

Purpose:We evaluated the contributions of coagulation factors IIa (thrombin) and Xa to small-diameter prosthetic graft thrombogenicity in vivo.Methods:Preclotted and nonpreclotted (collagen-coated) polyester grafts were studied before and 24 hours after implantation into pig femoral arteries. After incubation of explanted grafts was performed with plasma depleted of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors by barium chloride adsorbtion (Ba-plasma), graft-associated thrombin activity was determined by radioimmunoassay for fibrinopeptide A. Fibrinopeptide A levels reflect thrombin-mediated fibrin formation. Factor Xa activity was characterized by measuring activation of prothrombin added to Ba-plasma.Results:Thrombin and factor Xa were associated with the luminal surfaces of preclotted grafts before and 24 hours after implantation. Nonpreclotted grafts had negligible procoagulant activity before implantation. After 24 hours in vivo graft-associated factor Xa activity was similar in both nonpreclotted and preclotted grafts; however, more thrombin was bound to nonpreclotted coated grafts (p < 0.01).Conclusions:The procoagulant activity of small-diameter prosthetic grafts persists for 24 hours after implantation and is attributable not only to graft-associated thrombin but also to de novo thrombin elaboration induced by factor Xa. Moreover, graft-associated procoagulant activity is not dependent on preclotting because it develops on nonpreclotted, collagen-coated grafts as well. Treatment strategies to attenuate graft thrombosis may require the inhibition of both thrombin and factor Xa

An Innovative Geocentric Decision Support Solution to Comprehensive Planning, Design, Operation, and Management of Urban Drainage Systems

Geographic Information System (GIS) is quickly becoming a critical component to develop and sustain asset management for today’s wastewater utilities as most of their data is geographically referenced. This technology offers sophisticated data management and spatial analysis capabilities that can greatly improve and facilitate urban drainage infrastructure modeling and analysis applications. This paper presents a comprehensive GIS-based decision support system that integrates several technologies for use in the effective management of urban stormwater collection systems. It explicitly integrates ESRI ArcGIS geospatial model with advanced hydrologic, hydraulic, and water quality simulation algorithms, nature-based global optimization techniques including genetic algorithms for design and calibration of stormwater management models, automated dry weather flow generation and allocation, and automated subcatchment delineation and parameter extraction tools to address every facet of urban drainage infrastructure management. The geocentric interface allows seamless communication among the various modules. The resulting decision support system effortlessly reads GIS datasets, extracts necessary modeling information, and automatically constructs, loads, designs, calibrates, analyzes and optimizes a representative urban drainage model considering hydrologic and hydraulic performance requirements. It also makes it easy to run, simulate and compare various modeling scenarios, identify system deficiencies, and determine cost-effective physical and operational improvements to achieve optimum performance and regulatory compliance. These combined capabilities provide favorable geospatial environment to assist wastewater utilities in planning, designing, and operating reliable systems and in optimizing their capital improvement programs

Distal cantilever length comparison in esthetic material for hybrid implant prosthesis: an in vitro study.

Objective: the assessment of distal cantilever length in implant supported infrastructure by comparing the load to fracture in two different framework esthetic materials (Zirconia and Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)) with two different cantilevers loading distances (10mm, 15mm). Material and methods: 20 frameworks were fabricated and divided into 4 groups (n=5): according to the material type Peek, zirconia, and according to the cantilever loading distance (10), or (15) mm and a load-to-fracture test was used until complete fracture of specimens occurs. Results: The effect of material type and cantilever loading distance were statistically significant for the mean load-to-fracture values (P\u3c 0.05). The Zirconia group failed at higher fracture loads (817 N) than the Peek one (651 N). Frameworks with 10 mm cantilever loading distance failed at higher fracture loads than specimens with 15 mm. Conclusion: Peek is a suitable material for all-on-four framework reconstruction in specific situations, and there is a higher success rate when the distal cantilever length is kept at minimal value (10mm)

The Maine Lung Cancer Coalition: A Statewide, Multi-Sector Partnership to Improve Evidence-Based Lung Cancer Prevention & Screening

MLCC has two primary goals: 1. Engage and educate about evidence based lung cancer prevention and screening practices 2. Develop, implement, and evaluate innovative programs to increase access to prevention, screening, and treatment services for all Mainershttps://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/lambrew-retreat-2021/1051/thumbnail.jp

Passive cavitation imaging using an open ultrasonic system and time reversal reconstruction

Les maladies cardiovasculaires sont la première cause de mortalité dans le monde. Elles sont le plus souvent provoquées par l'obstruction des vaisseaux par des caillots sanguins entrainant un manque d'oxygène dans les cellules. La thrombolyse ultrasonore extracorporelle constituerait un traitement innovant utilisant des ultrasons focalisés pour détruire les caillots sanguins en tirant parti de l'aspect mécanique de la cavitation acoustique. Un prototype a été conçu et amélioré afin de contrôler l'activité de cavitation. Pour suivre le processus de cavitation en temps réel, un système d'imagerie ultrasonore ouvert est utilisé. Les données brutes sont acquises en utilisant une sonde linéaire de 64 éléments actifs dans un mode d'imagerie passive. Lors du traitement de ces données, sur le principe du retournement temporel, le signal acoustique enregistré par la sonde est retro-propagées afin de localiser l'activité de cavitation

Comparison of the in vitro antibacterial activity of Ramizol, fidaxomicin, vancomycin, and metronidazole against 100 clinical isolates of Clostridium difficile by broth microdilution

This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. This author accepted manuscript is made available following 12 month embargo from date of publication (June 2018) in accordance with the publisher’s archiving policyAntibiotic drug development remains a major challenge with few candidates in clinical development. Ramizol, a first-in-class styrylbenzene antibiotic, is under development for the treatment of Clostridium difficile associated disease. Here, we investigate the in vitro antibacterial activity of Ramizol in comparison to fidaxomicin, vancomycin and metronidazole against 100 clinical isolates of C. difficile by the broth microdilution method. We show there is no apparent impact of ribotype, toxin-production, or resistance to fidaxomicin, vancomycin or metronidazole on the activity of Ramizol. Moreover, we show Ramizol has a narrower MIC range translating to potentially better control over the therapeutic dose. Together, these results support the further development of Ramizol for the treatment of C. difficile associated disease.The authors acknowledge funding from Boulos & Cooper Pharmaceuticals for this research

Contrôle temporel et spatial de la cavitation acoustique pour des tests de thrombolyse ultrasonore extracorporelle

Les ultrasons focalisés permettent de détruire des caillots sanguins notamment en exploitant les effets mécaniques associés à la cavitation acoustique, dont la dynamique complexe reste un obstacle à l'élaboration d'un dispositif thérapeutique. Un meilleur contrôle de cette dynamique est donc nécessaire pour le développement d'une telle application. Un système permettant le contrôle temporel et spatial de la cavitation en régime pulsé a donc été développé dans le but de réaliser des tests de thrombolyse ultrasonore extracorporelle. Ce système utilise, d'une part, un transducteur focalisé, un hydrophone et une boucle de rétroaction, réalisée à l'aide d'un dispositif FPGA, pour réguler l'activité de cavitation et, d'autre part, un système d'échographie, et un bras robotisé permettant le placement et le balayage par la sonde de thérapie du caillot sanguin à traiter. Le contrôle de la cavitation a été testé et caractérisé en eau dégazée. Les essais ont montré, d'une part, que le système de régulation permet d'atteindre un niveau de cavitation souhaité en régime pulsé de manière très reproductible et avec une bonne stabilité temporelle et, d'autre part, qu'il permet de repérer où se situe le nuage de cavitation le long de l'axe acoustique

HIV, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis B Infections and Associated Risk Behavior in Injection Drug Users, Kabul, Afghanistan

Behavior of injection drug users increases the risk for an HIV epidemic