Prognostic utility of ADAMTS13 activity for the atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and comparison of complement serology between aHUS and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Background Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) involves dysregulation of the complement system, but whether this also occurs in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) remains unclear. Although these conditions are difficult to differentiate clinically, TTP can be distinguished by low (<10%) ADAMTS13 activity. The aim was to identify the differences in complement activation products between TTP and aHUS and investigate ADAMTS13 activity as a prognostic factor in aHUS. Methods We analyzed patients with thrombotic microangiopathy diagnosed as TTP (N=48) or aHUS (N=50), selected from a Korean registry (N=551). Complement activation products in the plasma samples collected from the patients prior to treatment and in 40 healthy controls were measured by ELISA. Results The levels of generalized (C3a), alternate (factor Bb), and terminal (C5a and C5b-9) markers were significantly higher (all P<0.01) in the patients than in the healthy controls. Only the factor Bb levels significantly differed (P=0.008) between the two disease groups. In aHUS patients, high normal ADAMTS13 activity (≥77%) was associated with improved treatment response (OR, 6.769; 95% CI, 1.605–28.542; P=0.005), remission (OR, 6.000; 95% CI, 1.693–21.262; P=0.004), exacerbation (OR, 0.242; 95% CI, 0.064–0.916; P=0.031), and disease-associated mortality rates (OR, 0.155; 95% CI, 0.029–0.813; P=0.017). Conclusion These data suggest that complement biomarkers, except factor Bb, are similarly activated in TTP and aHUS patients, and ADAMTS13 activity can predict the treatment response and outcome in aHUS patients

Association between plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and cardiac disease hospitalizations and deaths in older women

Background Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin ( NGAL ) or lipocalin 2 may promote atherosclerosis and plaque instability leading to increased risk of cardiac events. We investigated the relationships between plasma NGAL , cardiovascular disease biomarkers, and long-term cardiac events. Methods and Results The study population consisted of 1131 ambulant older white women (mean age 75 years) without clinical coronary heart disease ( CHD ) and measures of plasma NGAL in the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women with 14.5-year CHD and heart failure hospitalizations or death (events) captured using linked records. Over 14.5 years, 256 women had CHD events, while 118 had heart failure events. Per SD increase in log-transformed NGAL there was a 35% to 37% increase in relative hazards for CHD and heart failure events in unadjusted analyses, which remained significant after adjustment for conventional risk factors for CHD events (hazard ratio 1.29, 95% CI 1.13-1.48, P0.05). Women in the highest 2 quartiles of NGAL had higher relative hazards for CHD events compared with women in the lowest quartile hazard ratio 1.61, 95% CI 1.08-2.39, P=0.019 and hazard ratio 1.97, 95% CI 1.33-3.93, P=0.001, respectively. These associations were independent of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I, homocysteine, and estimated renal function. NGAL correctly reclassified 1 in 4 women who sustained a CHD event up in risk and 1 in 10 women without CHD events down in risk. Conclusions NGAL was associated with increased risk of long-term CHD events, independent of conventional risk factors and biomarkers. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the role of NGAL with cardiac events

Top Quark Decays into Heavy Quark Mesons

For top quark decays into heavy quark mesons $\Upsilon$ and $\bar{B}_c^*$ , a complete calculation to the leading order both in QCD coupling constant $\alpha_s$ and in $v$, the typical velocity of the heavy quarks inside the mesons, is performed. Relatons between the top quark mass and the decay branching ratios are studied. Comparion with the results which are obtained by using the quark frangmentation functions is also discussed. The branching ratios are consistent (within a factor of $2\sim 3$) with that obtained using fragmentation functions at $m_t\sim 150$ GeV.Comment: 15 pages in LaTex form, 4 figures include

Tachyon Kinks on Unstable Dp-branes

In the context of tachyon effective theory coupled to Born-Infeld electromagnetic fields, we obtain all possible singularity-free static flat configurations of codimension one on unstable Dp-branes. Computed tension and string charge density suggest that the obtained kinks are D(p-1) or D(p-1)F1-branes.Comment: 22pages, LaTeX2e, 7figure

Charged rotating dilaton black branes in AdS universe

We present the metric for the $(n+1)$-dimensional charged rotating dilaton black branes with cylindrical or toroidal horizons in the background of anti-de Sitter spacetime. We find the suitable counterterm which removes the divergences of the action in the presence of the dilaton potential in all higher dimensions. We plot the Penrose diagrams of the spacetime and reveal that the spacetime geometry crucially modifies in the presence of the dilaton field. The conserved and thermodynamic quantities of the black branes are also computed.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Gen. Relat. Gravi

Slowly rotating charged black holes in anti-de Sitter third order Lovelock gravity

In this paper, we study slowly rotating black hole solutions in Lovelock gravity (n=3). These exact slowly rotating black hole solutions are obtained in uncharged and charged cases, respectively. Up to the linear order of the rotating parameter a, the mass, Hawking temperature and entropy of the uncharged black holes get no corrections from rotation. In charged case, we compute magnetic dipole moment and gyromagnetic ratio of the black holes. It is shown that the gyromagnetic ratio keeps invariant after introducing the Gauss-Bonnet and third order Lovelock interactions.Comment: 14 pages, no figur

New way of healing : experienced counsellors’ perceptions of the influence of ch’i-related exercises on counselling practice in Taiwan

This study examines how Taiwanese senior counsellors with substantial experience of ch’i-related exercise (CRE) perceived the influence of their regular CRE on their counselling practice. I am interested in the perceived influence of CRE on both self-care and professional practice. In this studyn this studyn this study n this study n this study n this study, CRE, CRE, CRE, CRE, CRE refers to any refers to any refers to any refers to any ch'i enhancing exercise that coordinates movement with breathing and inner concentration wherein ch'i is a first order concept used by practitioners and regarded by them as an embodiment of ideas related to human life and human existence and able to be experienced and refined through any ch'i related exercise. CRE is a set of practices and an intrinsic part of local culture in Taiwan which in recent years, has become popular practice in Taiwanese society. There are growing numbers of counselling professionals involved in regular CRE in recent years. Studies examining the effects of CRE indicate the benefits of CRE on practitioners' global health and personal growth. However, no previous study has investigated the influence of the long-term regular use of CRE on counsellors‟ self-care and counselling practice. The narrative research design for this study was developed from a post-structural theoretical perspective located in the domain of social constructivism. The data were co-constructed between the researcher and 12 senior Taiwanese counsellors with substantial CRE experience using a semi-structured in-depth interview approach. Interview data were analysed using the structure-based approach developed by William Labov in the field of socio-linguistics. The study reveals an overall benefit of regular involvement in CRE for practitioners' global wellbeing and personal growth counsellor' self-care. The research findings also reveals the potential of ch’i to be used as a way of expressing health and illness and a way of understanding in therapy and CRE to be lived out in therapy as an embodiment. I argue that collectively the narratives, as a whole, give evidence of an increasing integratin of the ideas and practices of ch’i into counselling practice in contemporary Taiwan. This might even make up a new form of integrated and culturally appropriate practice, what I term "a new way of healing." These are therapeutic practices which value the potential of CRE for counsellor's self-care and personal growth; recognize the integral whole of the human person; promote conscious use of the knowledge and experience of ch’i and CRE in therapy as an important aspect of the therapeutic use of self. Implications for practice such as the potential of CRE to be introduced into counsellor training programmes for counsellors' preparation or ongoing education are provided. Recommendations for future research such as the development of a new healing modality based on the research findings are offered

The preparation of HEMA-MPC films for ocular drug delivery

There is a need to prolong drug residence time using a biocompatible formulation in the subconjunctival space after surgery to treat glaucoma. Drug releasing discs were prepared with 2-(hydroxyethyl)methacrylate (HEMA) and 2-methacryloyl-oxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC). The ratio of bound water (Wb) to free water (Wf) ratio increased from 1:0.3 to 1:6.8 with increasing MPC (0 to 50%, w/w). The optimal balance between water content, SR and mechanical strength were obtained with 10% MPC (w/w) hydrogels. Water-alcohol mixtures were examined to facilitate loading of poorly soluble drugs, and they showed greater hydrogel swelling than either water or alcohol alone. The SR was 1.2 ± 0.02 and 3.3 ± 0.1 for water and water:ethanol (1:1) respectively. HEMA-MPC (10%) discs were loaded with dexamethasone using either water:ethanol (1:1) or methanol alone. Drug release was examined in an outflow rig model that mimics the subconjunctival space in the eye. Dexamethasone loading increased from 0.3 to 1.9 mg/disc when the solvent was changed from water:ethanol (1:1) to methanol with the dexamethasone half-life (t½) increasing from 1.9 to 9.7 days respectively. These encouraging results indicate that HEMA-MPC hydrogels have the potential to sustain the residence time of a drug in the subconjunctival space of the eye

Higher Dimensional Charged Rotating Dilaton Black Holes

In this paper, we present the metric for the $n$-dimensional charged slowly rotating dilaton black hole with $N = [(n -1)/2]$ independent rotation parameters, associated with $N$ orthogonal planes of rotation in the background of asymptotically flat and asymptotically (anti)-de Sitter spacetime. The mass, angular momentum and the gyromagnetic ratio of such a black hole are determined for the arbitrary values of the dilaton coupling constant. We find that the gyromagnetic ratio crucially depends on the dilaton coupling constant, $\alpha$, and decreases with increasing $\alpha$ in any dimension.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur