Early quantitative coronary angiography of saphenous vein grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting harvested by means of open versus endoscopic saphenectomy: a prospective randomized trial

AbstractObjectiveEndoscopic saphenectomy is associated with a decreased incidence of wound complications without an increase in histologic trauma or endothelial dysfunction in published reports. Concern remains about the patency of saphenous vein grafts harvested endoscopically and the development of early intimal hyperplasia. The purpose of this study was to compare early quantitative coronary analysis of saphenous vein grafts used for coronary artery bypass grafting harvested with the open versus endoscopic techniques.MethodsForty patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass grafting surgery with at least 1 saphenous vein graft were randomized preoperatively to open versus endoscopic saphenectomy with bipolar cauterization of side branches. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed a mean of 3 months (range, 1-9 months) after the operation.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in the patency rates of internal thoracic artery grafts between the open and endoscopic groups and no statistically significant difference in the patency rates of saphenous vein grafts between both groups (85.2% vs 84.4%, P = .991). Quantitative coronary angiography showed no difference in graft stenosis (≥50% of the internal diameter of the graft) in the body of the saphenous vein grafts in the open versus endoscopic saphenectomy groups (3.7% vs 0%, P = .280).ConclusionAngiographic appearance and patency rates of saphenous vein grafts harvested with the endoscopic technique are similar to those of saphenous vein grafts harvested with the open technique. These results support the use of endoscopic saphenectomy because of the known lower incidence of wound and infectious complications and superior functional results

Quinoides and VEGFR2 TKIs influence the fate of hepatocellular carcinoma and its cancer stem cells

Bioactivities of quinoides 1-5 and VEGFR2 TKIs 6-10 in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and cancer stem cells (HCSCs) were studied. The compounds exhibited IC50 values in μM concentrations in HCC cells. Quinoide 3 was able to eradicate cancer stem cells, similar to the action of the stem cell inhibitor DAPT. However, the more cytotoxic VEFGR TKIs (IC50: 0.4-3.0 μM) including sorafenib, which is the only FDA approved drug for the treatment of HCC, enriched the hepatocellular cancer stem cell population by 2-3 fold after treatment. An aggressiveness factor (AF) was proposed to quantify the characteristics of drug candidates for their ability to eradicate the CSC subpopulation. Considering the tumour heterogeneity and marker positive cancer stem cell like subpopulation enrichment upon treatments in patients, this study emphasises the importance of the chemotherapeutic agent choice acting differentially on all the subpopulations including marker-positive CSCs. © The Royal Society of Chemistry

Above-ground biomass and structure of 260 African tropical forests.

We report above-ground biomass (AGB), basal area, stem density and wood mass density estimates from 260 sample plots (mean size: 1.2 ha) in intact closed-canopy tropical forests across 12 African countries. Mean AGB is 395.7 Mg dry mass ha⁻¹ (95% CI: 14.3), substantially higher than Amazonian values, with the Congo Basin and contiguous forest region attaining AGB values (429 Mg ha⁻¹) similar to those of Bornean forests, and significantly greater than East or West African forests. AGB therefore appears generally higher in palaeo- compared with neotropical forests. However, mean stem density is low (426 ± 11 stems ha⁻¹ greater than or equal to 100 mm diameter) compared with both Amazonian and Bornean forests (cf. approx. 600) and is the signature structural feature of African tropical forests. While spatial autocorrelation complicates analyses, AGB shows a positive relationship with rainfall in the driest nine months of the year, and an opposite association with the wettest three months of the year; a negative relationship with temperature; positive relationship with clay-rich soils; and negative relationships with C : N ratio (suggesting a positive soil phosphorus-AGB relationship), and soil fertility computed as the sum of base cations. The results indicate that AGB is mediated by both climate and soils, and suggest that the AGB of African closed-canopy tropical forests may be particularly sensitive to future precipitation and temperature changes

SUBLUXATION ATLOIDIENNE DANS Gesundh. Wesen DE LA POLYARTHRITE RHUMATOIDE

SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Experimental investigation of pressure drop in packed beds of irregular shaped wood particles

The knowledge of the pressure drop across a packed bed of irregular shaped wood particles is of great importance for achieving optimal control and maximum efficiency in many applications, such as wood drying, pyrolysis, gasification and combustion. In this work the effect of porosity, average particle size and main particle orientation on the pressure drop in a packed bed is investigated. To this end, particle size distributions and porosities are determined experimentally. Based on the experimental results obtained in this study, the form coefficient C and the permeability K of the Forcheimer equation are calculated for different packed beds. The Ergun equation requires an average equivalent particle diameter that is derived from the measured particle size distribution. This equivalent diameter and the corresponding bed porosity are used in the well known Ergun equation in order to derive adapted shape factors A and B. Since a change in bed porosity and particle size, caused by the degradation of the wood particles and gravity, can be expected in a reacting packed bed, a set of shape factors for use with the Ergun equation is determined that are independent of porosity and particle diameter and fit the experimental data very well