Physical Connectivity Between the NE Atlantic Seamounts

Within the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, the Great Meteor and Madeira-Tore complexes are highly productive areas, which are likely to be classified as marine protected areas (MPAs) due to their ecological vulnerability. This was the main focus of the BIOMETORE project and, framed on it, the aim of the present study was to investigate the physical connectivity between both seamount complexes. Using the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model coupled with the Connectivity Modeling System (CMS) (a Lagrangian tool), a series of experiments was conducted in order to determine the influence of the main oceanographic phenomena governing the area in: (i) the origin of the particles that reach each complex, (ii) their capacity to capture and retain incoming particles, and (iii) the physical connectivity between them as well as the intra-connectivity within each seamount system. Due to the geographical location of both groups of seamounts, the Azores Current (AzC) and its associated eddies were identified as the main transport pathways, its influence being stronger at intermediate waters and decreasing with depth. Notwithstanding, the Great Meteor and the MadeiraTore were mainly affected by the AzC southward and eastward branches, respectively, resulting in a non-significant connectivity between the two groups. Meanwhile, the inter-connectivity between seamounts slightly varied with depth at the Great Meteor complex while increasing at Madeira-Tore. In addition, the Plateau, Irving, and Cruiser (PIC) seamounts from the Great Meteor complex and Gorringe and Coral from the Madeira-Tore complex proved to incorporate the regional connectivity routes. Although containing the three smallest seamounts, Madeira-Tore showed the higher capturing capacity per square kilometer, highlighting the influence of the "sticky water effect." In the Great Meteor complex, the "seamount effect" seems to be the main phenomenon responsible for the greater retention and self-recruitment abilities of these seamounts. The presented results provide valuable information for the design of a MPA to preserve these vulnerable habitat

Gadolinium-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance: administered dose in relationship to united states food and drug administration (FDA) guidelines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>Myocardial late gadolinium enhancement was originally validated using higher than label-recommended doses of gadolinium chelate. The objective of this study was to evaluate available evidence for various gadolinium dosing regimens used for CMR. The relationship of gadolinium dose warnings (due to nephrogenic systemic fibrosis) announced in 2008 to gadolinium dosing regimens was also examined.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a meta-analysis of peer reviewed publications from January, 2004 to December, 2010. Major subject search headings (MeSh) terms from the National Library of Medicine's PubMed were: contrast media, gadolinium, heart, magnetic resonance imaging; searches were limited to human studies with abstracts published in English. Case reports, review articles, editorials, MRA related papers and all reports that did not indicate gadolinium type or weight-based dose were excluded. For all included references, full text was available to determine the total administered gadolinium dose on a per kg basis. Average and median dose values were weighted by the number of subjects in each study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>399 publications were identified in PubMed; 233 studies matched the inclusion criteria, encompassing 19,934 patients with mean age 54.2 ± 11.4 (range 9.3 to 76 years). 34 trials were related to perfusion testing and 199 to myocardial late gadolinium enhancement. In 2004, the weighted-median and weighted-mean contrast dose were 0.15 and 0.16 ± 0.06 mmol/kg, respectively. Median contrast doses for 2005-2010 were: 0.2 mmol/kg for all years, respectively. Mean contrast doses for the years 2005-2010 were: 0.19 ± 0.03, 0.18 ± 0.04, 0.18 ± 0.10, 0.18 ± 0.03, 0.18 ± 0.04 and 0.18 ± 0.04 mmol/kg, respectively (p for trend, NS). Gadopentetate dimeglumine was the most frequent gadolinium type [114 (48.9%) studies]. No change in mean gadolinium dose was present before, versus after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) black box warning (p > 0.05). Three multi-center dose ranging trials have been published for cardiac MRI applications.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CMR studies in the peer-reviewed published literature routinely use higher gadolinium doses than regulatory agencies indicated in the package leaflet. Clinical trials should be supported to determine the appropriate doses of gadolinium for CMR studies.</p

1004-57 Regional Left Ventricular Function by Intraventricular Ultrasound in Patients with Myocardial Infarction

Regional left ventricular (LV) dysfunction induced by ischemia/infarction is accompanied by increased end-systolic stress because the ischemic LV wall is unable to generate enough tension to contribute effectively to systole. To explore the possibility of assessing regional LV dysfunction as changes in LV wall stress we performed intraventricular echocardiography in 10 patients with a 6.2 french/12.5MHZ catheter at the time of cardiac catheterization. Cross-sectional images obtained at the level of the papillary muscles were analyzed by computer aided system to assess left ventricular wall thickness and radius of curvature (RC) in 16 equi-angular segments. End-systolic segmental endocardial radius of curvature divided by LV wall thickness obtained as segment area divided by the average of endo and epicardial arc lengths was utilized as an index of regional LV performance proportional to segmental LV wall stress. Percent wall thickening (WT%) was reduced (20.7±14.5%) in the territory perfused by the stenosed artery determined at catheterization, when compared with WT% obtained from territory perfused by normal coronaries (34.4±15.8%, p&lt;0.05). In addition, systolic wall thickening was inversely related to the ratio of RC to WT at end-systole (r=0.75, %WT=65.5 – 21.4 (RCIWT), p&lt;0.05) reflecting regional systolic dysfunction with increased circumferential end-systolic wall stress in those regions. In conclusion, intraventricular echocardiography correctly detects regional left ventricular dysfunction and its geometric consequences to local LV performance induced by ischemic myocardial damage. This technique may play an important role in monitoring myocardial injury by ischemia during invasive interventional procedures

Pulmonary artery stiffness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd) and emphysema: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) COPD Study

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and particularly emphysema are characterized by stiffness of the aorta, due in part to accelerated elastin degradation in the lungs and aorta. Stiffness of the pulmonary arteries (PAs) may also be increased in COPD and emphysema, but data are lacking. We assessed PA stiffness using MRI in patients with COPD and related these measurements to COPD severity and percent emphysema. Materials and Methods: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) COPD Study recruited 290 participants, age 50–79 years with 10 or more packyears and free of clinical cardiovascular disease. COPD severity were defined on postbronchodilator spirometry by ATS/ERS criteria. Percent emphysema was defined as the percentage of regions of the lung &lt; -950 Hounsfield units on full-lung computed tomography (CT). PA stain was defined by the percent change in cross-sectional PA area between systole and diastole on MRI. Blood flow across the tricuspid and mitral valves was assessed by phase-contrast MRI for determination of the ventricular diastolic dysfunction (E/A ratio). Results: PA strain was reduced in COPD compared with controls (P = 0.002) and was inversely correlated with COPD severity (P = 0.004). PA strain was inversely associated to percent emphysema (P = 0.01). PA strain was also markedly correlated with right ventricular diastolic dysfunction measured by E/A ratios in the fully adjusted mix models (P = 0.02). Conclusion: PA strain is reduced in COPD, related in part to percent emphysema on CT scan, which may have implications for pulmonary small vessel flow and right ventricular function. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage

Three new triterpenes from the resinous bark of Protium kleinii and their antinociceptive activity

Three novel pentacyclic triterpenes have been isolated from the resin of Protium kleinii and their structures elucidated by NMR spectroscopy as 3-oxo-11beta,16beta-dihydroxy-urs-12-ene (1), 3-oxo-11beta-hydroxy-urs-12-ene (2) and 3-oxo-11beta-hydroxy-olean-12-ene (3). The systemic administration of the above compounds (10-100 mg kg-1, i.p.) was able to inhibited both first and second phase of the formalin-induced nociception in mice. The known triterpenes 3beta,16beta-dihydroxy-olean-12-ene (brein) (4) and a mixture of alpha (5)- and beta-amyrin (6) were also found. Três triterpenos pentacíclicos inéditos foram isolados da resina de Protium kleinii. Suas estruturas, 3-oxo-11beta,16beta-diidróxi-urs-12-eno (1), 3-oxo-11beta-hidróxi-urs-12-eno (2) e 3-oxo-11beta-hidróxi-olean-12-eno (3), foram elucidadas por espectroscopia de RMN. A administração sistêmica destes compostos (10-100 mg kg-1, i.p.) foi capaz de inibir tanto a primeira quanto a segunda fase da nocicepção induzida pela formalina em camundongos. Em adição, foram isolados os triterpenos conhecidos 3beta,16beta-dihidróxi-urs-12-eno (breina) (4) e uma mistura de alfa (5)- e beta-amirina (6)