R-matrix electron-impact excitation data for the Mg-like iso-electronic sequence

Emission lines from ions in the Mg-like iso-electronic sequence can be used as reliable diagnostics of temperature and density of astrophysical and fusion plasmas over a wide range of parameters. Data in the literature are quite lacking, there are no calculations for many of the ions in the sequence. We have carried-out intermediate coupling frame transformation R-matrix calculations which include a total of 283 fine-structure levels in both the configuration interaction target and close-coupling collision expansions. These arise from the configurations 1s2 2s2 2p6 3 {s,p,d} nl with n = 4,5, and for l = 0−4. We obtain ordinary collision strengths and Maxwell-averaged effective collision strengths for the electron-impact excitation of all the ions of the Mg-like sequence, from Al+ to Zn18 +. We compare our results with those from previous R-matrix and distorted waves calculations, where available, for some benchmark ions. We find good agreement with the results of previous calculations for the transitions n = 3−3. We also find good agreement for the most intense transitions n = 3−4. These transitions are important for populating the upper levels of the main diagnostic lines

Advances in atomic data for plasma diagnostics

We present sets of new atomic data for astrophysical and fusion plasma diagnostics. We calculate electron-impact excitation collision strengths and effective collisions strengths for the Be- and Mg-like isoelectronic sequences up to Krq+. We use the R-Matrix Intermediate-Coupling Frame Transformation method. We also study the accuracy of calculations for highly-excited states and give extrapolation rules to estimate the effective collision strengths and their error at high n. We demonstrate the importance of a well converged CI/CC expansion in the R-matrix calculation to get good quality results, mainly for highly-excited states

Meta-analysis on the survival of short implants

Objective: To evaluate the success and failure rates of short implants (10 mm or less) for oral rehabilitations in cases of limited bone height. Study Design: Review of the articles published on the topic between the years 2000 and 2010, and development of a descriptive meta-analysis of the results. Results: The majority of the studies obtain a cumulative success rate (CSR) similar to that of longer implants (92.5% - 98.42% for machined and rough-surface implants, respectively). The studies that record lower cumulative success rates (CSR) are later studies that analyze implants with a machined surface. Almost none of the studi-es compared the success/failure rates with the bone quality or location of the implant (maxilla or mandible). Thus, the results obtained are from a mixture of these parameters. Conclusions: In view of the results analyzed, rehabilitations with short implants are a reliable treatment; however, the lack of consistency in the study designs as well as the presence of bias in all of the studies reviewed make it difficult to analyze the data. © Medicina Oral S. L

Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Post-COVID Pain in Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors Depending on Infection with the Historical, Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 Variant

We compared the prevalence of musculoskeletal post-COVID pain between previously hospitalized COVID-19 survivors infected with the historical, Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. Data about musculoskeletal post-COVID pain were systematically collected through a telephone interview involving 201 patients who had survived the historical variant, 211 who had survived the Alpha variant and 202 who had survived the Delta variant six months after hospital discharge. Participants were recruited from non-vaccinated individuals hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in one hospital of Madrid (Spain) during three different waves of the pandemic (historical, Alpha or Delta variant). Hospitalization and clinical data were collected from hospital medical records. In addition, anxiety/depressive levels and sleep quality were also assessed. The prevalence of musculoskeletal post-COVID pain was higher (p = 0.003) in patients infected with the historical variant (47.7%) than in those infected with the Alpha (38.3%) or Delta (41%) variants. A significantly (p = 0.002) higher proportion of individuals infected with the historical variant reported generalized pain (20.5%) when compared with those infected with the other variants. The prevalence of new-onset post-COVID musculoskeletal pain reached 80.1%, 75.2% and 79.5% of patients infected with the historical, Alpha or Delta variants, respectively. No specific risk factors for developing post-COVID pain were identified depending on the SARS-CoV-2 variant. In conclusion, this study found that musculoskeletal post-COVID pain is highly prevalent in COVID-19 survivors six months after hospital discharge, with the highest prevalence and most generalized pain symptoms in individuals infected with the historical variant. Approximately 50% developed “de novo” post-COVID musculoskeletal pain symptoms

Long-term prognostic impact of anticoagulation on patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing hemodialysis

Introducción y objetivos: La evidencia de la eficacia y seguridad de la anticoagulación oral con dicumarínicos en pacientes en hemodiálisis con fibrilación auricular (FA) es controvertida. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es evaluar las implicaciones a nivel pronóstico a largo plazo de la anticoagulación con dicumarínicos en una cohorte de pacientes con FA no valvular en programa de hemodiálisis debido a insuficiencia renal terminal. Métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo con inclusión consecutiva de 74 pacientes en hemodiálisis con FA. El periodo de inclusión fue de enero de 2005 a octubre de 2016. Las variables principales fueron mortalidad por todas las causas, reingresos no programados y sangrados. Resultados: La edad media fue de 75 ± 10 años; el 66,2% fueron hombres y 43 pacientes (58,1%) recibieron acenocumarol. Durante una mediana de seguimiento de 2,40 años (IQR = 0,88-4,15), el acenocumarol no demostró beneficio en supervivencia [HR = 0,76, IC 95% (0,35-1,66), p = 0,494]. Sin embargo, los pacientes anticoagulados presentaron más riesgo de hospitalizaciones cardiovasculares recurrentes [IRR = 3,94, IC 95% (1,06-14,69), p = 0,041]. Hubo una tendencia a un aumento de hospitalizaciones repetidas de causa isquémica en los pacientes anticoagulados [IRR = 5,80, IC 95% (0,86-39,0), p = 0,071]. Se observó una tendencia estadística hacia un mayor riesgo de sangrados totales recurrentes en los anticoagulados [IRR = 4,43, IC 95% (0,94-20,81), p = 0,059]. Conclusiones: En el presente estudio, la anticoagulación oral con acenocumarol en pacientes en hemodiálisis con FA no supuso un aumento de la supervivencia, y sin embargo, se asoció con un mayor riesgo de hospitalizaciones de causa cardiovascular y una tendencia a mayor riesgo de sangrados totales.Introduction and objectives: Evidence for the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulation with dicumarines in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) on hemodialysis is controversial. The aim of our study is to evaluate the long-term prognostic implications of anticoagulation with dicumarines in a cohort of patients with non-valvular AF on a hemodialysis program due to end-stage renal disease. Methods: Retrospective, observational study with consecutive inclusion of 74 patients with AF on hemodialysis. The inclusion period was from January 2005 to October 2016. The primary variables were all-cause mortality, non-scheduled readmissions and bleeding during follow-up. Results: Mean age was 75 ± 10 years; 66.2% were men and 43 patients (58.1%) received acenocoumarol. During a median follow-up of 2.40 years (IQR = 0.88-4.15), acenocoumarol showed no survival benefit [HR = 0.76, 95% CI (0.35-1.66), p = 0.494]. However, anticoagulated patients were at increased risk of recurrent cardiovascular hospitalizations [IRR = 3.94, 95% CI (1.06-14.69), p = 0.041]. There was a trend towards an increase in repeated hospitalizations of ischemic cause in anticoagulated patients [IRR = 5.80, 95% CI (0.86-39.0), p = 0.071]. There was a statistical trend towards a higher risk of recurrent total bleeding in patients treated with acenocoumarol [IRR = 4.43, 95% CI (0.94-20.81), p = 0.059]. Conclusions: In this study, oral anticoagulation with acenocoumarol in patients with AF on hemodialysis did not increase survival. However, it was associated with an increased risk of hospitalizations of cardiovascular causes and a tendency to an increased risk of total bleeding

Instantaneous Wave-Free Ratio for the Assessment of Intermediate Left Main Coronary Artery Stenosis: Correlations With Fractional Flow Reserve/Intravascular Ultrasound and Prognostic Implications: The iLITRO-EPIC07 Study

Background: There is little information available on agreement between fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR) in left main coronary artery (LMCA) intermediate stenosis. Besides, several meta-analyses support the use of FFR to guide LMCA revascularization, but limited information is available on iFR in this setting. Our aims were to establish the concordance between FFR and iFR in intermediate LMCA lesions, to evaluate with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in cases of FFR/iFR discordance, and to prospectively validate the safety of deferring revascularization based on a hybrid decision-making strategy combining iFR and IVUS. Methods: Prospective, observational, multicenter registry with 300 consecutive patients with intermediate LMCA stenosis who underwent FFR and iFR and, in case of discordance, IVUS and minimal lumen area measurements. Primary clinical end point was a composite of cardiovascular death, LMCA lesion-related nonfatal myocardial infarction, or unplanned LMCA revascularization. Results: FFR and iFR had an agreement of 80% (both positive in 67 and both negative in 167 patients); in case of disagreement (31 FFR+/iFR- and 29 FFR-/iFR+) minimal lumen area was & GE;6 mm(2) in 8.7% of patients with FFR+ and 14.6% with iFR+. Among the 300 patients, 105 (35%) underwent revascularization and 181 (60%) were deferred according to iFR and IVUS. At a median follow-up of 20 months, major adverse cardiac events incidence was 8.3% in the defer group and 13.3% in the revascularization group (hazard ratio, 0.71 [95% CI 0.30-1.72]; P=0.45). Conclusions: In patients with intermediate LMCA stenosis, a physiology-guided treatment decision is feasible either with FFR or iFR with moderate concordance between both indices. In case of disagreement, the use of IVUS may be useful to indicate revascularization. Deferral of revascularization based on iFR appears to be safe in terms of major adverse cardiac events

Long-term effects of coronavirus disease 2019 on the cardiovascular system, CV COVID registry: A structured summary of a study protocol

Background: Patients presenting with the coronavirus-2019 disease (COVID-19) may have a high risk of cardiovascular adverse events, including death from cardiovascular causes. The long-term cardiovascular outcomes of these patients are entirely unknown. We aim to perform a registry of patients who have undergone a diagnostic nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 and to determine their long-term cardiovascular outcomes. Study and design: This is a multicenter, observational, retrospective registry to be conducted at 17 centers in Spain and Italy (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT04359927). Consecutive patients older than 18 years, who underwent a real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV2 in the participating institutions, will be included since March 2020, to August 2020. Patients will be classified into two groups, according to the results of the RT-PCR: COVID-19 positive or negative. The primary outcome will be cardiovascular mortality at 1 year. The secondary outcomes will be acute myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure hospitalization, pulmonary embolism, and serious cardiac arrhythmias, at 1 year. Outcomes will be compared between the two groups. Events will be adjudicated by an independent clinical event committee. Conclusion: The results of this registry will contribute to a better understanding of the long-term cardiovascular implications of the COVID19