Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Crises hipertensivas em portadores de hipertensão arterial em tratamento ambulatorial Crisis hipertensivas en portadores de hipertensión arterial en tratamiento ambulatorio Hypertensive crises in bearers of arterial hypertension in ambulatorial treatment

O presente estudo avaliou as características sociodemográficas e de adesão terapêutica de 27 portadores de hipertensão arterial em tratamento ambulatorial que apresentaram crises de urgências ou emergências hipertensivas e haviam sido atendidos em uma unidade de leito-dia e em uma unidade de emergência da cidade de Fortaleza-Ceará, no período de outubro de 2002 a maio de 2003. A maioria era mulher, com idade de 50 a 60 anos, pouca escolaridade, tempo de tratamento inferior a cinco anos e tempo de diagnóstico entre cinco e dez anos. O uso dos remédios foi o tratamento mais referido, seguido pela redução do consumo de sal e comparecimento às consultas. No entanto, o fato de comparecerem às consultas e receberem orientação parece não modificar o comportamento, uma vez que a maioria dos entrevistados não praticava exercícios físicos e demonstrava deficiência no conhecimento sobre a doença, atribuindo a elevação da pressão arterial a fatores emocionais.<br>El presente estudio evaluó las características sociodemográficas y de adhesión terapéutica de 27 portadores de hipertensión arterial en tratamiento ambulatorio que presentaron crisis de urgencias o emergencias hipertensivas y habían sido atendidos en una unidad de internamiento diurno y en una unidad de emergencia de la ciudad de Fortaleza - Ceará, en el período de octubre del 2002 a mayo del 2003. La mayoría fue del sexo femenino, con edad de 50 a 60 años, poca escolaridad, tiempo de tratamiento inferior a cinco años y tiempo de diagnóstico entre cinco y diez años. El uso de los remedios fue el tratamiento más referido, seguido por la reducción del consumo de sal y asistencia a las consultas. Entre tanto, el hecho de asistir a las consultas y recibir orientación parece no modificar su comportamiento, pues la mayoría de los entrevistados no praticaba ejercicios físicos y demostraba falta de conocimiento sobre la enfermedad, atribuyendo la elevación de la presión arterial a factores emocionales.<br>This study assessed the socio-demographic characteristics and the characteristics of therapeutic adhesion of 27 bearers of arterial hypertension undergoing ambulatorial treatment who had hypertensive urgencies crises or emergencies in the city of Fortaleza in the period between October of 2002 and May of 2003. The majority were women, between 50 and 60-years old, with little formal education, treatment time shorter than 5 years and time of diagnosis varying from 5 to 10 years. The use of medicine was the treatment that was most mentioned, followed by the reduction of the consumption of salt and attendance to medical appointments. However, attending the appointments and receiving orientation did not seem to change their behavior, since most of the patients that were interviewed practiced no physical exercises and demonstrated little knowledge of the illness, for they attributed the rise of the arterial pressure to emotional factors

Factors associated with topographic changes of the optic nerve head induced by acute intraocular pressure reduction in glaucoma patients

Purpose To investigate factors associated with changes in optic nerve head (ONH) topography after acute intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).Methods Untreated POAG patients (IOP >21 mm Hg) were prospectively enrolled. Systemic and ocular information were collected, including central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal hysteresis (CH). All patients underwent confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy and tonometry (Goldmann) before and 1 h after pharmacological IOP reduction. the mean of three measurements was considered for analysis. Changes in each ONH topographic parameter were assessed (one eye was randomly selected), and those that changed significantly were correlated with patient's systemic and ocular characteristics.Results A total of 42 patients were included (mean age, 66.7 +/- 11.8 years). After a mean IOP reduction of 47.3 +/- 11.9%, significant changes were observed in cup area and volume, and in rim area and volume (P = 0.21, P = 0.12). Including all significant factors in a multivariable model, only the presence of diabetes remained significantly associated with all ONH parameters evaluated (P < 0.01).Conclusions Different systemic and ocular factors, such as diabetes, CH, and the relative size of the cup, seem to be associated with the magnitude of changes in ONH topography after acute IOP reduction in POAG patients. These associations partially explain the ONH changes observed in these patients and suggest that other factors are possibly implicated in an individual susceptibility to IOP. Eye (2011) 25, 201-207; doi:10.1038/eye.2010.179; published online 3 December 2010Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, BR-820 São Paulo, BrazilNew York Eye & Ear Infirm, Einhorn Clin Res Ctr, New York, NY 10003 USANew York Med Coll, Valhalla, NY 10595 USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ophthalmol, BR-820 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc