399 research outputs found
The Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn Sum Rule and the Spin Structure of the Nucleon
The Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn sum rule is one of several dispersive sum rules
that connect the Compton scattering amplitudes to the inclusive photoproduction
cross sections of the target under investigation. Being based on such universal
principles as causality, unitarity, and gauge invariance, these sum rules
provide a unique testing ground to study the internal degrees of freedom that
hold the system together. The present article reviews these sum rules for the
spin-dependent cross sections of the nucleon by presenting an overview of
recent experiments and theoretical approaches. The generalization from real to
virtual photons provides a microscope of variable resolution: At small
virtuality of the photon, the data sample information about the long range
phenomena, which are described by effective degrees of freedom (Goldstone
bosons and collective resonances), whereas the primary degrees of freedom
(quarks and gluons) become visible at the larger virtualities. Through a rich
body of new data and several theoretical developments, a unified picture of
virtual Compton scattering emerges, which ranges from coherent to incoherent
processes, and from the generalized spin polarizabilities on the low-energy
side to higher twist effects in deep inelastic lepton scattering.Comment: 32 pages, 19 figures, review articl
Patients' experiences of transitioning between different renal replacement therapy modalities : a qualitative study
BACKGROUND:
Different kidney replacement therapy modalities are available to manage end-stage kidney disease, such as home-based dialysis, in-center hemodialysis, and kidney transplantation. Although transitioning between modalities is common, data on how patients experience these transitions are scarce. This study explores patients' perspectives of transitioning from a home-based to an in-center modality.
METHODS:
Patients transitioning from peritoneal dialysis to in-center hemodialysis were purposively selected. Semi-structured interviews were performed, digitally recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis, consistent with Charmaz' constructivist approach of grounded theory was performed.
RESULTS:
Fifteen patients (10 males; mean age 62 years) participated. The conditions of the transitioning process impacted the participants' experiences, resulting in divergent experiences and associated emotions. Some participants experienced a loss of control due to the therapy-related changes. Some felt tied down and having lost independence, whereas others stated they regained control as they felt relieved from responsibility. This paradox of control was related to the patient having or not having (1) experienced a fit of hemodialysis with their personal lifestyle, (2) a frame of reference, (3) higher care requirements, (4) insight into the underlying reasons for transitioning, and (5) trust in the healthcare providers.
CONCLUSIONS:
Care teams need to offer opportunities to elicit patients' knowledge and fears, dispel myths, forge connections with other patients, and visit the dialysis unit before transition to alleviate anxiety. Interventions that facilitate a sense of control should be grounded in the meaning that the disorder has for the person and how it impacts their sense of self
Structural identification of oxidized acyl-phosphatidylcholines that induce platelet activation
Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) generates proinflammatory and prothrombotic mediators that may play a crucial role in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. In order to study platelet-activating components of oxidized LDL 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine, a representative of the major phospholipid species in LDL, the 1-acyl-phosphatidylcholines (PC), was oxidized by CuCl2 and H2O2. After separation by high-performance liquid chromatography, three compounds were detected which induced platelet shape change at low micromolar concentrations. Platelet activation by these compounds was distinct from the pathways stimulated by platelet-activating factor, lysophosphatidic acid, lyso-PC and thromboxane A(2), as evidenced by the use of specific receptor antagonists. Further analyses of the oxidized phospholipids by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry structurally identified them as 1-stearoyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (m/z 694; SAzPC), 1-stearoyl-2-glutaroyl-snglycero-3- phosphocholine (m/z 638; SGPC), and 1-stearoyl-2-( 5-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (m/z 622; SOVPC). These observations demonstrate that novel 1-acyl-PC which had previously been found to stimulate interaction of monocytes with endothelial cells also induce platelet activation, a central step in acute thrombogenic and atherogenic processes. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel
Pioglitazone Improves Myocardial Blood Flow and Glucose Utilization in Nondiabetic Patients With Combined Hyperlipidemia A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
ObjectivesThis study’s aim was to examine whether treatment with pioglitazone, added to conventional lipid-lowering therapy, would improve myocardial glucose utilization (MGU) and blood flow (MBF) in nondiabetic patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL).BackgroundThiazolidinediones were found to improve insulin sensitivity and MGU in type 2 diabetes and MBF in Mexican Americans with insulin resistance. Familial combined hyperlipidemia is a complex genetic disorder conferring a high risk of premature coronary artery disease, characterized by high serum cholesterol and/or triglyceride, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and insulin resistance.MethodsWe undertook a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 26 patients with FCHL, treated with pioglitazone or matching placebo 30 mg daily for 4 weeks, followed by 45 mg daily for 12 weeks. Positron emission tomography was used to measure MBF at rest and during adenosine-induced hyperemia and MGU during euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp at baseline and after treatment.ResultsWhereas no change was observed in the placebo group after treatment, patients receiving pioglitazone showed a significant increase in whole body glucose disposal (3.93 ± 1.59 mg/kg/min to 5.24 ± 1.65 mg/kg/min; p = 0.004) and MGU (0.62 ± 0.26 μmol/g/min to 0.81 ± 0.14 μmol/g/min; p = 0.0007), accompanied by a significant improvement in resting MBF (1.11 ± 0.20 ml/min/g to 1.25 ± 0.21 ml/min/g; p = 0.008). Furthermore, in the pioglitazone group HDL cholesterol (+28%; p = 0.003) and adiponectin (+156.2%; p = 0.0001) were increased and plasma insulin (−35%; p = 0.017) was reduced.ConclusionsIn patients with FCHL treated with conventional lipid-lowering therapy, the addition of pioglitazone led to significant improvements in MGU and MBF, with a favorable effect on blood lipid and metabolic parameters. (A study to investigate the effect of pioglitazone on whole body and myocardial glucose uptake and myocardial blood flow/coronary vasodilator reserve in patients with familial combined hyperlipidaemia; http://www.controlled-trials.com/mrct/trial/230761/ISRCTN78563659; ISRCTN78563659
Clinical relevance of biomarkers of oxidative stress
SIGNIFICANCE
Oxidative stress is considered to be an important component of various diseases. A vast number of methods have been developed and used in virtually all diseases to measure the extent and nature of oxidative stress, ranging from oxidation of DNA to proteins, lipids, and free amino acids. Recent Advances: An increased understanding of the biology behind diseases and redox biology has led to more specific and sensitive tools to measure oxidative stress markers, which are very diverse and sometimes very low in abundance.
CRITICAL ISSUES
The literature is very heterogeneous. It is often difficult to draw general conclusions on the significance of oxidative stress biomarkers, as only in a limited proportion of diseases have a range of different biomarkers been used, and different biomarkers have been used to study different diseases. In addition, biomarkers are often measured using nonspecific methods, while specific methodologies are often too sophisticated or laborious for routine clinical use.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
Several markers of oxidative stress still represent a viable biomarker opportunity for clinical use. However, positive findings with currently used biomarkers still need to be validated in larger sample sizes and compared with current clinical standards to establish them as clinical diagnostics. It is important to realize that oxidative stress is a nuanced phenomenon that is difficult to characterize, and one biomarker is not necessarily better than others. The vast diversity in oxidative stress between diseases and conditions has to be taken into account when selecting the most appropriate biomarker. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 00, 000-000
First measurement of the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn integral for Hydrogen from 200 to 800 MeV
A direct measurement of the helicity dependence of the total photoabsorption
cross section on the proton was carried out at MAMI (Mainz) in the energy range
200 < E_gamma < 800 MeV. The experiment used a 4 detection system, a
circularly polarized tagged photon beam and a frozen spin target.
The contributions to the Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn sum rule and to the forward
spin polarizability determined from the data are 226 \pm 5 (stat)\pm
12(sys) \mu b and -187 \pm 8 (stat)\pm 10(sys)10^{-6} fm^4, respectively, for
200 < E_\gamma < 800 MeV.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, 3 table
The first determination of Generalized Polarizabilities of the proton by a Virtual Compton Scattering experiment
Absolute differential cross sections for the reaction (e+p -> e+p+gamma) have
been measured at a four-momentum transfer with virtuality Q^2=0.33 GeV^2 and
polarization \epsilon = 0.62 in the range 33.6 to 111.5 MeV/c for the momentum
of the outgoing photon in the photon-proton center of mass frame. The
experiment has been performed with the high resolution spectrometers at the
Mainz Microtron MAMI. From the photon angular distributions, two structure
functions which are a linear combination of the generalized polarizabilities
have been determined for the first time.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
The helicity amplitudes A and A for the D resonance obtained from the reaction}
The helicity dependence of the reaction
has been measured for the first time in the photon energy range from 550 to 790
MeV. The experiment, performed at the Mainz microtron MAMI, used a
4-detector system, a circularly polarized, tagged photon beam, and a
longitudinally polarized frozen-spin target. These data are predominantly
sensitive to the resonance and are used to determine its
parameters.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
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