1,946 research outputs found
Comparison of conservative treatment versus transcatheter arterial embolisation for the treatment of spontaneously ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma
Purpose: To elucidate the prognostic factors in the spontaneous rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to determine whether transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) is associated with better prognosis compared to conservative treatment. Material and methods: A retrospective multicentre study was conducted involving 71 patients with spontaneous rupture of HCC. A conservative treatment group (Cons T group) included 20 patients, while a transcatheter arterial embolisation group (TAE group) included 51 patients. Results: The median survival time (MST) in the Cons T group was only 16 days and the survival rate was 39% at one month, whereas the MST in the TAE group was 28 days and the one month survival rate was 63%. However, there is no statistically significant difference in the overall survival between Cons T and TAE groups (p = 0.213). Multivariable analysis identified only the presence of distant metastasis as an independent prognostic factor (p = 0.023). A subanalysis including patients without distant metastasis showed that the presence of portal vein tumour thrombosis was a significant prognostic factor (p = 0.015). Conclusions: Distant metastasis appears to be a prognostic factor in spontaneous rupture of HCC. In cases without distant metastasis, portal vein tumour thrombosis could influence the prognosis. Our data failed to prove any benefit of TAE as the primary management
Magnetic-Field-Independent Ultrasonic Dispersions in the Magnetically Robust Heavy Fermion System SmOs4Sb12
Elastic properties of the filled skutterudite compound SmOsSb have
been investigated by ultrasonic measurements. The elastic constant
shows two ultrasonic dispersions at 15 K and 53 K
for frequencies between 33 and 316 MHz, which follow a Debye-type
formula with Arrhenius-type temperature-dependent relaxation times, and remain
unchanged even with applied magnetic fields up to 10 T. The corresponding
activation energies were estimated to be = 105 K and = 409 K,
respectively. The latter, , is the highest value reported so far in the
Sb-based filled skutterudites. The presence of magnetically robust ultrasonic
dispersions in SmOsSb implies a possibility that an emergence of a
magnetically insensitive heavy fermion state in this system is associated with
a novel local charge degree of freedom which causes the ultrasonic dispersion.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
Interaction between anandamide and sphingosine-1-phosphate in mediating vasorelaxation in rat coronary artery
<b>BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE</b> Anandamide and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) both regulate vascular tone in a variety of vessels. This study aimed to examine the mechanisms involved in the regulation of coronary vascular tone by anandamide and S1P, and to determine whether any functional interaction occurs between these receptor systems.
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<b>EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH</b> Mechanisms used by anandamide and S1P to regulate rat coronary artery (CA) reactivity were investigated using wire myography. Interactions between S1P and the cannabinoid (CB)2 receptor were determined using human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells that stably over-express recombinant CB2 receptor.
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<b>KEY RESULTS</b> Anandamide and S1P induced relaxation of the rat CA. CB2 receptor antagonists attenuated anandamide-induced relaxation, while S1P-mediated relaxation was dependent on the vascular endothelium and S1P3. Anandamide treatment resulted in an increase in the phosphorylation of sphingosine kinase-1 within the CA. Conversely, anandamide-mediated relaxation was attenuated by inhibition of sphingosine kinase. Moreover, S1P3, specifically within the vascular endothelium, was required for anandamide-mediated vasorelaxation. In addition to this, S1P-mediated relaxation was also reduced by CB2 receptor antagonists and sphingosine kinase inhibition. Further evidence that S1P functionally interacts with the CB2 receptor was also observed in HEK293 cells over-expressing the CB2 receptor.
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<b>CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS</b> In the vascular endothelium of rat CA, anandamide induces relaxation via a mechanism requiring sphingosine kinase-1 and S1P/S1P3. In addition, we report that S1P may exert some of its effects via a CB2 receptor- and sphingosine kinase-dependent mechanism, where subsequently formed S1P may have privileged access to S1P3 to induce vascular relaxation
Novel device prototyping for endoscopic cell sheet transplantation using a three-dimensional printed simulator
手術負担の少ない内視鏡による心臓表面への細胞シート移植デバイスを開発 --心臓再生医療への応用を目指して--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2020-11-20.Introduction: Considering higher risks of candidates for cardiac regenerative therapy with compromised cardiac function, it is anticipated to develop less invasive surgical procedures. In the present study, we aimed to develop a prototype of totally endoscopic cell sheet delivery device and evaluate the surgical technique for epicardial cell sheet placement using three-dimensional (3D) printed simulators based on human computed tomography data. Methods: We designed an endoscopic cell sheet delivery device with outer and inner frame with self-expandable applicator which can be opened in thoracic cavity. We launched spout line to provide liquids on the applicator surface and tension line to gently bend the applicator dorsally. We prepared human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) sheets and compared wet/dry conditions of 3D printed heart/porcine heart and applicator to identify suitable conditions for cell sheet transplantation. Finally we validated the feasibility of endoscopic transplantation to anterior and lateral wall of left ventricle using 3D printed simulators. Results: Moist condition of both 3D printed heart/porcine heart surface and applicator at transplantation yielded highest successful rate (100%, p = 0.0197). For both endoscopic transplantation sites, MSC sheets were successfully deployed. The procedure duration was 157 ± 23 s for anterior wall and 123 ± 13 s for the lateral wall in average, respectively. Conclusions: We developed a novel prototype of endoscopic cell sheet delivery device for minimally-invasive cardiac regenerative therapy utilizing a 3D printed simulator. The commercialization of the prototype may provide a safe minimally-invasive method to deliver potential cardiac regenerative therapy in the future
Regioselective Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Couplings of Enones and Allenes
No AbstractPeer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78305/1/anie_201004740_sm_miscellaneous_information.pd
Haptic Device System for Upper Limb and Cognitive Rehabilitation – Application for Development Disorder Children
Inhaled nitric oxide and high concentrations of oxygen in pediatrics patients with congenital cardiopathy and pulmonary hypertension: report of five cases
Five patients with ages ranging from 6 months to 3 years were analyzed. All received inhaled nitric oxide (NO - 20 parts per million (ppm) ) and oxygen (0(2) - at a concentration of 90-95%) by means of an oxygen hood. Mean Pulmonary Artery Pressure (MPAP), Mean Aortic Pressure (MAoP), Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR) and Systemic Vascular Resistance (SVR) were measured and the calculation of their relationship to pulmonary/systemic flow (Qp/Qs) was performed by the catheterization' of the femoral artery vein. Three patients presented reduction in PVR and increase in Qp/Qs. There were no systemic alterations or any side effect from using NO.Cinco pacientes com cardiopatia congênita e hipertensão pulmonar receberam o oxido nítrico (NO - 20 partes por milhão (ppm)) inalatório e o oxigênio ( O2) na concentração de 90-95%) ) por meio de uma tenda de oxigênio. Através do cateterismo da artéria e veia femural foram mensuradas as pressão média de artéria pulmonar ( PmAP), pressão média de aorta (PmAo), resistência vascular pulmonar ( RVP), resistência vascular sistêmica (RVS) e feito o cálculo da relação fluxo pulmonar/sistêmico ( Qp/Qs). Três pacientes apresentaram uma redução na RVP e um aumento no Qp/Qs. Não foram observadas alterações sistêmicas ou qualquer efeito colateral com a utilização do NO.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departments of Pediatrics and CardiologyUNIFESP, EPM, Departments of Pediatrics and CardiologySciEL
Physical properties of dense cores in Orion B9
We aim to determine the physical and chemical properties of dense cores in
Orion B9. We observed the NH3(1,1) and (2,2), and the N2H+(3-2) lines towards
the submm peak positions. These data are used in conjunction with our LABOCA
870 micron dust continuum data. The gas kinetic temperature in the cores is
between ~9.4-13.9 K. The non-thermal velocity dispersion is subsonic in most of
the cores. The non-thermal linewidth in protostellar cores appears to increase
with increasing bolometric luminosity. The core masses are very likely drawn
from the same parent distribution as the core masses in Orion B North. Starless
cores in the region are likely to be gravitationally bound, and thus
prestellar. Some of the cores have a lower radial velocity than the systemic
velocity of the region, suggesting that they are members of the "low-velocity
part" of Orion B. The observed core-separation distances deviate from the
corresponding random-like model distributions. The distances between the
nearest-neighbours are comparable to the thermal Jeans length. The fractional
abundances of NH3 and N2H+ in the cores are ~1.5-9.8x10^{-8} and
~0.2-5.9x10^{-10}, respectively. The NH3 abundance appears to decrease with
increasing H2 column and number densities. The NH3/N2H+ column density ratio is
larger in starless cores than in cores with embedded protostars. The core
population in Orion B9 is comparable in physical properties to those in nearby
low-mass star-forming regions. It is unclear if the origin of cores could be
explained by turbulent fragmentation. On the other hand, many of the core
properties conform with the picture of dynamic core evolution. The Orion B9
region has probably been influenced by the feedback from the nearby Ori OB 1b
group, and the fragmentation of the parental cloud into cores could be caused
by gravitational instability.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, 7 tables. Accepted for publication in Astronomy
and Astrophysics. Version 2: minor language corrections adde
A novel approach for the endothelialization of xenogeneic decellularized vascular tissues by human cells utilizing surface modification and dynamic culture
Decellularized xenogeneic vascular grafts can be used in revascularization surgeries. We have developed decellularization methods using high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), which preserves the extracellular structure. Here, we attempted ex vivo endothelialization of HHP-decellularized xenogeneic tissues using human endothelial cells (ECs) to prevent clot formation against human blood. Slices of porcine aortic endothelium were decellularized using HHP and coated with gelatin. Human umbilical vein ECs were directly seeded and cultured under dynamic flow or static conditions for 14 days. Dynamic flow cultures tend to demonstrate higher cell coverage. We then coated the tissues with the E8 fragment of human laminin-411 (hL411), which has high affinity for ECs, and found that Dynamic/hL411showed high area coverage, almost reaching 100% (Dynamic/Gelatin vs Dynamic/hL411; 58.7 ± 11.4 vs 97.5 ± 1.9%, P = 0.0017). Immunostaining revealed sufficient endothelial cell coverage as a single cell layer in Dynamic/hL411. A clot formation assay using human whole blood showed low clot formation in Dynamic/hL411, almost similar to that in the negative control, polytetrafluoroethylene. Surface modification of HHP-decellularized xenogeneic endothelial tissues combined with dynamic culture achieved sufficient ex vivo endothelialization along with prevention of clot formation, indicating their potential for clinical use as vascular grafts in the future
Massive Star Forming Regions in the Galaxy using the Spitzer GLIMPSE Survey
We examine the thirteen most luminous sources in the WMAP free-free map using
the Spitzer GLIMPSE and MSX surveys to identify massive star formation regions,
emitting one-third of the Galactic free-free luminosity. We identify star
forming regions by a combination of bubble morphology in 8 \micronm (PAH)
emission and radio recombination line radial velocities. We find 40 star
forming regions associated with our WMAP sources, and determine unique
distances to 31. We interpret the bubbles as evidence for radial expansion. The
radial velocity distribution for each source allows us to measure the intrinsic
speed of a region's expansion. This speed is consistent with the size and age
of the bubbles. The high free-free luminosities, combined with negligible
synchrotron emission, demonstrate that the bubbles are not driven by
supernovae. The kinetic energy of the largest bubbles is a substantial fraction
of that measured in the older superbubbles found by Heiles. We find that the
energy injected into the ISM by our bubbles is similar to that required to
maintain the turbulent motion in the gas disk inside 8 kpc. We report a number
of new star forming regions powered by massive (\textrm{M}_{*} > 10^4
\textrm{M}_\sun) star clusters. We measure the scale height of the Galactic O
stars to be h_{\textrm{*}} = 35 \pm 5 \pc. We determine an empirical
relationship between the PAH and free-free emission of the form
. Finally, we find that the bubble
geometry is more consistent with a spherical shell rather than a flattened
disk.Comment: Submitted to ApJ; 29 Pages, 17 Figures, 5 Table
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