Separated magnet yoke for permanent magnet linear generator for marine wave energy converters

In this paper the performance of a longitudinal flux permanent magnet linear generator (PMLG) for wave energy converters (WEC) is investigated. The influence of the number of slots per pole, phase q and the number of stator's winding sections are analysed. The power output and the cogging forces in the PMLG are calculated and reviewed with respect to the above design parameters. In addition, an optimised PMLG model is designed and simulated. Three-dimensional Finite Element Method (FEM) is used for solving the combined field and circuit equations of the generator.The PRIMaRE project

Bowel Preparation for Capsule Endoscopy: A Prospective Randomized Multicenter Study

Background/Aims: The ability to visualize the small bowel mucosa by capsule endoscopy is limited. Moreover, studies involving small-bowel preparation with purgative drugs have failed to establish which preparations produce better images and higher diagnostic yields. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacies and diagnostic yields of different bowel preparations. Methods: A cohort of 134 patients with suspected small bowel disease was randomly assigned to 3 groups. Patients in group A (n=44) fasted for 12 h before being administered an M2A capsule (Given Imaging, Yoqneam, Israel). Patients in group B (n=45) were asked to drink two doses of 45 mL of sodium phosphate (NaP) with water during the afternoon and evening on the day before the procedure and to drink at least 2 L of water thereafter. Patients in group C (n=45) drank 2 L of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) lavage solution the evening before the procedure. Results: Overall cleansing of the small bowel was adequate in 43% of patients in group A, 77% of those in group B, and 56% of those in group C (group A vs; group B, p=0.001). Diagnoses for obscure gastrointestinal bleeding were established in 9 patients (39%) in group A, 16 patients (69%) in group B, and 14 patients (50%) in group C. No significant difference in diagnostic yield was observed between groups. Conclusions: Bowel preparation with NaP for capsule endoscopy improved small-bowel mucosal visualization when compared to 12-h overnight fasting. (Gut and Liver 2009;3:180-185)Wei W, 2008, AM J GASTROENTEROL, V103, P77, DOI 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01633.xCheon JH, 2007, GUT LIVER, V1, P118van Tuyl SAC, 2007, ENDOSCOPY, V39, P1037, DOI 10.1055/s-2007-966988Ben-Soussan E, 2005, J CLIN GASTROENTEROL, V39, P381FIREMAN Z, 2005, WORLD J GASTROENTERO, V11, P5863DAI N, 2005, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V61, P28Viazis N, 2004, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V60, P534Niv Y, 2004, SCAND J GASTROENTERO, V39, P1005, DOI 10.1080/00365520410003209Fireman Z, 2004, ISRAEL MED ASSOC J, V6, P521Albert J, 2004, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V59, P487Pennazio M, 2004, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V126, P643, DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2003.11.057Mylonaki M, 2003, GUT, V52, P1122Costamagna G, 2002, GASTROENTEROLOGY, V123, P999, DOI 10.1053/gast.2002.35988Lewis BS, 2002, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V56, P349, DOI 10.1067/mge.2002.126906Kastenberg D, 2001, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V54, P705Aronchick CA, 2000, GASTROINTEST ENDOSC, V52, P346

Arsenic trioxide concentration determines the fate of Ewing’s sarcoma family tumors and neuroblastoma cells in vitro

AbstractArsenic trioxide (As2O3) induces both the differentiation and apoptosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells in a concentration dependent manner. We assessed the effects of As2O3 in CADO-ES Ewing’s sarcoma (ES), JK-GMS peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, as they share common histogenetic backgrounds. As2O3 at low concentrations (0.1–1μM) induced SH-SY5Y differentiation, and whereas PNET cells acquired a slightly differentiated phenotype, change was minimal in ES cells. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) was activated at low As2O3 concentrations, and PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK-1, blocked SH-SY5Y cell differentiation by As2O3. High concentrations (2–10μM) of As2O3 induced the apoptosis in all three cell lines, and this was accompanied by the activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase. The generation of H2O2 and activation of caspase 3 were identified as critical components of As2O3-induced apoptosis in all of the above cell lines. Fibroblast growth factor 2 enhanced As2O3-induced apoptosis in JK-GMS cells. The overall effects of As2O3 strongly suggest that it has therapeutic potential for the treatment of ES/PNET

A Case of Left Atrial Metastasis From Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Life-Saving Palliative Resection Using Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with metastasis to the heart is uncommon. We report a rare case of left atrial metastasis of HCC which was resected palliatively as a live-saving procedure with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. Despite chemoembolization, which was undertaken 11 times, cardiac metastasis occurred. Moreover, the right and left atria and left ventricle were involved simultaneously. The severe dyspnea improved dramatically after surgery. Following this, the patient underwent systemic chemotherapy and lived a life without recurrence of symptoms associated with mitral valve obstruction

Characteristics, Outcomes and Predictors of Long-Term Mortality for Patients Hospitalized for Acute Heart Failure: A Report From the Korean Heart Failure Registry

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acute heart failure (AHF) is associated with a poor prognosis and it requires repeated hospitalizations. However, there are few studies on the characteristics, treatment and prognostic factors of AHF. The aims of this study were to describe the clinical characteristics, management and outcomes of the patients hospitalized for AHF in Korea. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the clinical data of 3,200 hospitalization episodes that were recorded between June 2004 and April 2009 from the Korean Heart Failure (KorHF) Registry database. The mean age was 67.6±14.3 years and 50% of the patients were female. RESULTS: Twenty-nine point six percent (29.6%) of the patients had a history of previous HF and 52.3% of the patients had ischemic heart disease. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was reported for 89% of the patients. The mean LVEF was 38.5±15.7% and 26.1% of the patients had preserved systolic function (LVEF ≥50%), which was more prevalent in the females (34.0% vs. 18.4%, respectively, p<0.001). At discharge, 58.6% of the patients received beta-blockers (BB), 53.7% received either angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEi/ARB), and 58.4% received both BB and ACEi/ARB. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year mortality rates were 15%, 21%, 26% and 30%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that advanced age {hazard ratio: 1.023 (95% confidence interval: 1.004-1.042); p=0.020}, a previous history of heart failure {1.735 (1.150-2.618); p=0.009}, anemia {1.973 (1.271-3.063); p=0.002}, hyponatremia {1.861 (1.184-2.926); p=0.007}, a high level of serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) {3.152 (1.450-6.849); p=0.004} and the use of BB at discharge {0.599 (0.360-0.997); p=0.490} were significantly associated with total death. CONCLUSION: We present here the characteristics and prognosis of an unselected population of AHF patients in Korea. The long-term mortality rate was comparable to that reported in other countries. The independent clinical risk factors included age, a previous history of heart failure, anemia, hyponatremia, a high NT-proBNP level and taking BB at discharge.ope

Hematopoietic Differentiation of Embryoid Bodies Derived from the Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line SNUhES3 in Co-culture with Human Bone Marrow Stromal Cells

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells can be induced to differentiate into hematopoietic precursor cells via two methods: the formation of embryoid bodies (EBs) and co-culture with mouse bone marrow (BM) stromal cells. In this study, the above two methods have been combined by co-culture of human ES-cell-derived EBs with human BM stromal cells. The efficacy of this method was compared with that using EB formation alone. The undifferentiated human ES cell line SNUhES3 was allowed to form EBs for two days, then EBs were induced to differentiate in the presence of a different serum concentration (EB and EB/high FBS group), or co-cultured with human BM stromal cells (EB/BM co-culture group). Flow cytometry and hematopoietic colony-forming assays were used to assess hematopoietic differentiation in the three groups. While no significant increase of CD34+/CD45- or CD34+/CD38- cells was noted in the three groups on days 3 and 5, the percentage of CD34+/CD45- cells and CD34+/CD38- cells was significantly higher in the EB/BM co-culture group than in the EB and EB/high FBS groups on day 10. The number of colony-forming cells (CFCs) was increased in the EB/BM co-culture group on days 7 and 10, implying a possible role for human BM stromal cells in supporting hematopoietic differentiation from human ES cell-derived EBs. These results demonstrate that co-culture of human ES-cell-derived EBs with human BM stromal cells might lead to more efficient hematopoietic differentiation from human ES cells cultured alone. Further study is warranted to evaluate the underlying mechanism