716 research outputs found
Quantitative sensory testing in painful hand osteoarthritis demonstrates features of peripheral sensitisation.
Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is a prevalent condition for which treatments are based on analgesia and physical therapies. Our primary objective was to evaluate pain perception in participants with HOA by assessing the characteristics of nodal involvement, pain threshold in each hand joint, and radiological severity. We hypothesised that inflammation in hand osteoarthritis joints enhances sensitivity and firing of peripheral nociceptors, thereby causing chronic pain. Participants with proximal and distal interphalangeal (PIP and DIP) joint HOA and non-OA controls were recruited. Clinical parameters of joint involvement were measured including clinical nodes, VAS (visual analogue score) for pain (0-100âmm scale), HAQ (health assessment questionnaire), and Kellgren-Lawrence scores for radiological severity and pain threshold measurement were performed. The mean VAS in HOA participants was 59.3âmm ± 8.19 compared with 4.0âmm ± 1.89 in the control group (P < 0.0001). Quantitative sensory testing (QST) demonstrated lower pain thresholds in DIP/PIP joints and other subgroups in the OA group including the thumb, metacarpophalangeal (MCPs), joints, and wrists (P < 0.008) but not in controls (P = 0.348). Our data demonstrate that HOA subjects are sensitised to pain due to increased firing of peripheral nociceptors. Future work to evaluate mechanisms of peripheral sensitisation warrants further investigation
Tenascin-C fragments are endogenous inducers of cartilage matrix degradation
Cartilage destruction is a hallmark of osteoarthritis (OA) and is characterized by increased protease activity resulting in the degradation of critical extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins essential for maintaining cartilage integrity. Tenascin-C (TN-C) is an ECM glycoprotein, and its expression is upregulated in OA cartilage. We aimed to investigate the presence of TN-C fragments in arthritic cartilage and establish whether they promote cartilage degradation. Expression of TN-C and its fragments was evaluated in cartilage from subjects undergoing joint replacement surgery for OA and RA compared with normal subjects by western blotting. The localization of TN-C in arthritic cartilage was also established by immunohistochemistry. Recombinant TN-C fragments were then tested to evaluate which regions of TN-C are responsible for cartilage-degrading activity in an ex vivo cartilage explant assay measuring glycosaminoglycan (GAG) release, aggrecanase and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. We found that specific TN-C fragments are highly upregulated in arthritic cartilage. Recombinant TN-C fragments containing the same regions as those identified from OA cartilage mediate cartilage degradation by the induction of aggrecanase activity. TN-C fragments mapping to the EGF-L and FN type III domains 3-8 of TN-C had the highest levels of aggrecan-degrading ability that was not observed either with full-length TN-C or with other domains of TN-C. TN-C fragments represent a novel mechanism for cartilage degradation in arthritis and may present new therapeutic targets for the inhibition of cartilage degradation
Lichenicolous fungi from the Komi Republic of Russia. II
A total of 23 species of lichenicolous fungi is reported from the Komi Republic of Russia, including 10 new to the republic. Physcia is a new host genus for Sphaerellothecium reticulatum.
Influence of early colour degradation of asphalt pavements on their thermal behaviour
Environmental goals such as the reduction of fossil fuel consumption or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the development of new renewable energy sources have led to the emergence of the so called asphalt solar collectors. Moreover, in recent years, engineers are devoting increased interest to the effect of the thermal loads on the mechanical behaviour of pavements. Several approaches to these topics can be found in the literature. However, a study of the influence of the colour degradation suffered by pavements on their thermal behaviour is still necessary since both the efficient application of the asphalt collectors and the proper study of the effect of the solar radiation on the asphalt pavement behaviour are directly affected by the loss of colour occurring as time goes by. Therefore, the thermal behaviour of two different asphalt mixes was studied before and after being subjected to a colour degradation process. The degradation of five different asphalt mixes was studied and the results were compared to those obtained in the access roads to seven low volume car parks. The final results show that there are large differences between the two asphalt mixes with different gradations and densities. The importance attributed by other authors to conductivity was also confirmed. Furthermore, the results showed that it was possible to simulate the early colour degradation suffered by a low volume road. Finally, a slight reduction in temperature and energy collection capacity was measured after the colour degradation process
Interacting supernovae and supernova impostors. SN 2007sv: the major eruption of a massive star in UGC 5979
We report the results of the photometric and spectroscopic monitoring
campaign of the transient SN 2007sv. The observables are similar to those of
type IIn supernovae, a well-known class of objects whose ejecta interact with
pre-existing circum-stellar material. The spectra show a blue continuum at
early phases and prominent Balmer lines in emission, however, the absolute
magnitude at the discovery of SN 2007sv (M_R = - 14.25 +/- 0.38) indicate it to
be most likely a supernova impostor. This classification is also supported by
the lack of evidence in the spectra of very high velocity material as expected
in supernova ejecta. In addition we find no unequivocal evidence of broad lines
of alpha - and/or Fe-peak elements. The comparison with the absolute light
curves of other interacting objects (including type IIn supernovae) highlights
the overall similarity with the prototypical impostor SN 1997bs. This supports
our claim that SN 2007sv was not a genuine supernova, and was instead a
supernova impostor, most likely similar to the major eruption of a luminous
blue variable.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 15 pages, 11 figures, 5 table
Aspirin and extended-release dipyridamole versus clopidogrel for recurrent stroke
Background
Recurrent stroke is a frequent, disabling event after ischemic stroke. This study compared
the efficacy and safety of two antiplatelet regimens â aspirin plus extendedrelease
dipyridamole (ASAâERDP) versus clopidogrel.
Methods
In this double-blind, 2-by-2 factorial trial, we randomly assigned patients to receive
25 mg of aspirin plus 200 mg of extended-release dipyridamole twice daily or to receive
75 mg of clopidogrel daily. The primary outcome was first recurrence of stroke.
The secondary outcome was a composite of stroke, myocardial infarction, or death
from vascular causes. Sequential statistical testing of noninferiority (margin of 1.075),
followed by superiority testing, was planned.
Results
A total of 20,332 patients were followed for a mean of 2.5 years. Recurrent stroke
occurred in 916 patients (9.0%) receiving ASAâERDP and in 898 patients (8.8%) receiving
clopidogrel (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 to 1.11). The
secondary outcome occurred in 1333 patients (13.1%) in each group (hazard ratio for
ASAâERDP, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.07). There were more major hemorrhagic events
among ASAâERDP recipients (419 [4.1%]) than among clopidogrel recipients (365
[3.6%]) (hazard ratio, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.32), including intracranial hemorrhage
(hazard ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.83). The net risk of recurrent stroke or major
hemorrhagic event was similar in the two groups (1194 ASAâERDP recipients [11.7%],
vs. 1156 clopidogrel recipients [11.4%]; hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.11).
Conclusions
The trial did not meet the predefined criteria for noninferiority but showed similar rates
of recurrent stroke with ASAâERDP and with clopidogrel. There is no evidence that either
of the two treatments was superior to the other in the prevention of recurrent
stroke. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00153062.
Oxygen vacancies versus fluorine at CeO2(111): a case of mistaken identity?
We propose a resolution to the puzzle presented by the surface defects observed with STM at the (111) surface facet of CeO2 single crystals. In the seminal paper of Esch et al. [Science 309, 752 (2005)] they were identified with oxygen vacancies, but the observed behavior of these defects is inconsistent with the results of density functional theory (DFT) studies of oxygen vacancies in the literature. We resolve these inconsistencies via DFT calculations of the properties of both oxygen vacancies and fluorine impurities at CeO2(111), the latter having recently been shown to exist in high concentrations in single crystals from a widely used commercial source of such samples. We find that the simulated filled-state STM images of surface-layer oxygen vacancies and fluorine impurities are essentially identical, which would render problematic their experimental distinction by such images alone. However, we find that our theoretical results for the most stable location, mobility, and tendency to cluster, of fluorine impurities are consistent with experimental observations, in contrast to those for oxygen vacancies. Based on these results, we propose that the surface defects observed in STM experiments on CeO2 single crystals reported heretofore were not oxygen vacancies, but fluorine impurities. Since the similarity of the simulated STM images of the two defects is due primarily to the relative energies of the 2p states of oxygen and fluorine ions, this confusion might also occur for other oxides which have been either doped or contaminated with fluorine
Fenton-Like Oxidation of 4âChlorophenol: Homogeneous or Heterogeneous?
Heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts have received considerable research attention because they could potentially be attractive for oxidative removal of organic contaminants from tertiary wastewater. However, process design is still hampered by insufficient understanding of the chemical pathways involved, and especially whether oxidation activity stems from heterogeneous surface chemistry or minute concentrations of dissolved metal ions in the homogeneous phase. Using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) in combination with pH monitoring and ultravioletâvisible spectroscopy (UVâvis) we have monitored the degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) over two Fenton-like heterogeneous systems, namely FeOx supported on TiO2 and CuFe2O4. We show conclusively that these systems proceed predominantly through a homogeneous route via dissolved metal ions from the solid phase catalysts. Control experiments with homogeneous Fe3+ or Cu2+ systems reveal that even minute concentrations (ÎŒM/subppm) of dissolved metal ions leached from the solid phases account for the observed 4-CP degradation rates in the heterogeneous systems. ICP-OES revealed that metal leaching was time-dependent and variable because of pH variations associated with changing acid release rates. Buffering solutions at pH 7.4 suppressed metal leaching (and hence 4-CP degradation) in the FeOx/TiO2 system, but not in others. For example, pH buffering did not entirely suppress metal leaching from CuFe2O4, for which 4-CP degradation was retained through small concentrations of Fe and Cu ions in solution. Our results highlight the importance of careful monitoring of metal content in the aqueous phase, certainly with analytical sensitivity below ppm concentrations of the dissolved metals, and also the crucial influence of time-dependent pH variations on the reaction process. Recyclability of catalysts, pH buffering of solutions or monitoring of metal content in the solid phase by less sensitive analytical methods, for example, chemical analysis, gravimetry, X-ray fluorescence, or energy dispersive X-ray analysis in electron microscopes, cannot exclude the homogeneous Fenton route in the presence of solid catalysts
Transformation kinetics of alloys under non-isothermal conditions
The overall solid-to-solid phase transformation kinetics under non-isothermal
conditions has been modeled by means of a differential equation method. The
method requires provisions for expressions of the fraction of the transformed
phase in equilibrium condition and the relaxation time for transition as
functions of temperature. The thermal history is an input to the model. We have
used the method to calculate the time/temperature variation of the volume
fraction of the favored phase in the alpha-to-beta transition in a zirconium
alloy under heating and cooling, in agreement with experimental results. We
also present a formulation that accounts for both additive and non-additive
phase transformation processes. Moreover, a method based on the concept of path
integral, which considers all the possible paths in thermal histories to reach
the final state, is suggested.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures. To appear in Modelling Simul. Mater. Sci. En
The acceleration and storage of radioactive ions for a neutrino factory
The term beta-beam has been coined for the production of a pure beam of
electron neutrinos or their antiparticles through the decay of radioactive ions
circulating in a storage ring. This concept requires radioactive ions to be
accelerated to a Lorentz gamma of 150 for 6He and 60 for 18Ne. The neutrino
source itself consists of a storage ring for this energy range, with long
straight sections in line with the experiment(s). Such a decay ring does not
exist at CERN today, nor does a high-intensity proton source for the production
of the radioactive ions. Nevertheless, the existing CERN accelerator
infrastructure could be used as this would still represent an important saving
for a beta-beam facility. This paper outlines the first study, while some of
the more speculative ideas will need further investigations.Comment: Accepted for publication in proceedings of Nufact02, London, 200
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