Critical behavior of the two-dimensional N-component Landau-Ginzburg Hamiltonian with cubic anisotropy

We study the two-dimensional N-component Landau-Ginzburg Hamiltonian with cubic anisotropy. We compute and analyze the fixed-dimension perturbative expansion of the renormalization-group functions to four loops. The relations of these models with N-color Ashkin-Teller models, discrete cubic models, planar model with fourth order anisotropy, and structural phase transition in adsorbed monolayers are discussed. Our results for N=2 (XY model with cubic anisotropy) are compatible with the existence of a line of fixed points joining the Ising and the O(2) fixed points. Along this line the exponent $\eta$ has the constant value 1/4, while the exponent $\nu$ runs in a continuous and monotonic way from 1 to $\infty$ (from Ising to O(2)). For N\geq 3 we find a cubic fixed point in the region $u, v \geq 0$, which is marginally stable or unstable according to the sign of the perturbation. For the physical relevant case of N=3 we find the exponents $\eta=0.17(8)$ and $\nu=1.3(3)$ at the cubic transition.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figure

A new approach to ticagrelor-based de-escalation of antiplatelet therapy after acute coronary syndrome. A rationale for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, investigator-initiated, multicenter clinical study

© 2021 Via Medica. This article is available in open access under Creative Common Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/The risk of ischemic events gradually decreases after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), reaching a stable level after 1 month, while the risk of bleeding remains steady during the whole period of dual antiplatelet treatment (DAPT). Several de-escalation strategies of antiplatelet treatment aiming to enhance safety of DAPT without depriving it of its efficacy have been evaluated so far. We hypothesized that reduction of the ticagrelor maintenance dose 1 month after ACS and its continuation until 12 months after ACS may improve adherence to antiplatelet treatment due to better tolerability compared with the standard dose of ticagrelor. Moreover, improved safety of treatment and preserved anti-ischemic benefit may also be expected with additional acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) withdrawal. To evaluate these hypotheses, we designed the Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Two Ticagrelor-based De-escalation Antiplatelet Strategies in Acute Coronary Syndrome — a randomized clinical trial (ELECTRA-SIRIO 2), to assess the influence of ticagrelor dose reduction with or without continuation of ASA versus DAPT with standard dose ticagrelor in reducing clinically relevant bleeding and main-taining anti-ischemic efficacy in ACS patients. The study was designed as a phase III, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, investigator-initiated clinical study with a 12-month follow-up.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Extended Thromboprophylaxis with Betrixaban in Acutely Ill Medical Patients

Background Patients with acute medical illnesses are at prolonged risk for venous thrombosis. However, the appropriate duration of thromboprophylaxis remains unknown. Methods Patients who were hospitalized for acute medical illnesses were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous enoxaparin (at a dose of 40 mg once daily) for 10±4 days plus oral betrixaban placebo for 35 to 42 days or subcutaneous enoxaparin placebo for 10±4 days plus oral betrixaban (at a dose of 80 mg once daily) for 35 to 42 days. We performed sequential analyses in three prespecified, progressively inclusive cohorts: patients with an elevated d-dimer level (cohort 1), patients with an elevated d-dimer level or an age of at least 75 years (cohort 2), and all the enrolled patients (overall population cohort). The statistical analysis plan specified that if the between-group difference in any analysis in this sequence was not significant, the other analyses would be considered exploratory. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of asymptomatic proximal deep-vein thrombosis and symptomatic venous thromboembolism. The principal safety outcome was major bleeding. Results A total of 7513 patients underwent randomization. In cohort 1, the primary efficacy outcome occurred in 6.9% of patients receiving betrixaban and 8.5% receiving enoxaparin (relative risk in the betrixaban group, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 1.00; P=0.054). The rates were 5.6% and 7.1%, respectively (relative risk, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66 to 0.98; P=0.03) in cohort 2 and 5.3% and 7.0% (relative risk, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.63 to 0.92; P=0.006) in the overall population. (The last two analyses were considered to be exploratory owing to the result in cohort 1.) In the overall population, major bleeding occurred in 0.7% of the betrixaban group and 0.6% of the enoxaparin group (relative risk, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.67 to 2.12; P=0.55). Conclusions Among acutely ill medical patients with an elevated d-dimer level, there was no significant difference between extended-duration betrixaban and a standard regimen of enoxaparin in the prespecified primary efficacy outcome. However, prespecified exploratory analyses provided evidence suggesting a benefit for betrixaban in the two larger cohorts. (Funded by Portola Pharmaceuticals; APEX ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01583218. opens in new tab.

Diabetic patients who are amateur divers

Cukrzyca to „epidemia XXI wieku”, szacuje się, że w 2011 roku na cukrzycę chorowało 6,7% populacji Polski, z czego jedna czwarta nie miała świadomości choroby. Tak duże rozpowszechnienie cukrzycy sprawia, że coraz więcej lekarzy staje przed problemem prawidłowej kwalifikacji pacjenta z cukrzycą do amatorskiego uprawiania sportu, w tym nurkowania. W niniejszej publikacji przedstawiono najważniejsze informacje dotyczące oceny ryzyka, dopuszczenia do amatorskiego nurkowania pacjentów z cukrzycą oraz proponowanych protokołów postępowania przed i podczas uprawiania tego sportu.Diabetes is an "epidemic of the 21st century" and it is estimated that in 2011 6.7% of Poland's population suffered from diabetes, one quarter of which was unaware of the disease. Such a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus results in an increasing number of physicians being confronted with the problem of qualifying patient with diabetes to partake in amateur sports, including diving. This publication presents the most important information concerning risk assessment, admission of diabetic patients to amateur diving and some proposed protocols of management before and during sport practice

Diabetic Patients Who are Amateur Divers

Cukrzyca to „epidemia XXI wieku”, szacuje się, że w 2011 roku na cukrzycę chorowało 6,7% populacji Polski, z czego jedna czwarta nie miała świadomości choroby. Tak duże rozpowszechnienie cukrzycy sprawia, że coraz więcej lekarzy staje przed problemem prawidłowej kwalifikacji pacjenta z cukrzycą do amatorskiego uprawiania sportu, w tym nurkowania. W niniejszej publikacji przedstawiono najważniejsze informacje dotyczące oceny ryzyka, dopuszczenia do amatorskiego nurkowania pacjentów z cukrzycą oraz proponowanych protokołów postępowania przed i podczas uprawiania tego sportu.Diabetes is an "epidemic of the 21st century" and it is estimated that in 2011 6.7% of Poland's population suffered from diabetes, one quarter of which was unaware of the disease. Such a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus results in an increasing number of physicians being confronted with the problem of qualifying patient with diabetes to partake in amateur sports, including diving. This publication presents the most important information concerning risk assessment, admission of diabetic patients to amateur diving and some proposed protocols of management before and during sport practice

Membrane protein distribution in composite polymer-lipid thin films

We present a model system to demonstrate that the positioning of biomolecules (membrane proteins) in a nonnative, complex thin film environment can be regulated by the phase behavior of film components. Partial separation between an amphiphilic polymer and a lipid drives the protein to a fluid phase, mechanically more similar to a cellular bilayer

Inhibition of macrophage phagocytotic activity by a receptor-targeted polymer vesicle-based drug delivery formulation of pravastatin

Ruptures of macrophage-rich atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries are the main reason for heart attack. Targeted therapeutic interventions with an inhibitory effect on the macrophages promise to be beneficial, but currently available drugs such as statins achieve event reductions of only 30%. Dose-limiting adverse effects in remote organs prohibit achieving higher drug levels known to have strong inhibitory effects on macrophages. Receptor-specific targeting using statin-loaded nanometer-sized triblock copolymer vesicles with targeting moieties might allow high-dose treatment for improved efficacy, while minimizing toxicity in other cells. Vesicle uptake by target cells but not other cell types and slow intracellular content release was observed. A major improvement in biologic efficacy was observed for polymer vesicles compared to free drug, whereas no increased cytotoxicity was observed in muscle cells. Such high-dose, targeted therapy of statins through cell-specific polymer vesicles allows novel treatment paradigms not only for atherosclerosis, but appears promising for a wide range of drugs and diseases