IMAGINE: A Cold Neutron Imaging Station at the Laboratoire Léon Brillouin

AbstractA second cold neutron imaging station has been open to users at the Laboratoire Léon Brillouin. The station is designed for high resolution neutron imaging and tomography. The typical field of view is 100x100 mm2 with a spatial resolution of 100μm. Betterspatial resolutions (∼50μm) can be achieved when reducing the field of view down to 30x30mm2. The L/D ratio can be varied from 200 to1000with pinhole sizes ranging from 20 to7mm. Future upgrades will provide capabilities for energy resolved measurements using either a velocity selector or a double crystal monochromator. The possibility to perform polarized neutron experiments will also be provided next year

Evaluation of Belgian clays for manufacturing compressed earth blocks

This study aims to characterize Belgian clays in order to evaluate their use for manufacture of compressed earth blocks (CEBs)

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Triple versus dual antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndromes: Adding cilostazol to aspirin and clopidogrel

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a P2Y receptor antagonist is the standard of care in acute coronary syndromes. Additionally, novel P2Y receptor antagonists such as prasugrel and ticagrelor are even recommended over clopidogrel in certain clinical guidelines. Despite the fact that clopidogrel is fraught with significant variability in on-treatment platelet reactivity, the novel P2Y receptor antagonists come at the price of increased side effects and cost. Therefore, alternative or supplementary antiplatelet therapies are needed. Cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor, has been shown to significantly improve high on-treatment platelet reactivity in patients receiving both aspirin and clopidogrel and has antiproliferative effects (inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia and smooth muscle proliferation), thus reducing the risk of restenosis after coronary stent implantation. Further, cilostazol in addition to aspirin and clopidogrel versus DAPT in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention showed that triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT) was associated with a significantly greater platelet inhibition, reduced major adverse cardiovascular events, target lesion revascularization, and target vessel revascularization with no increased risk for a hemorrhagic event. Moving forward, larger randomized controlled trials are required comparing TAPT versus DAPT (clopidogrel, prasugrel or ticagrelor on top of aspirin)

Omega-3s and Cardiovascular Health

Background: Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids have previously been shown to reduce the risk of cardiac events, cardiac death, and all-cause mortality in randomized controlled trials. However, recent data have challenged the benefits of n-3 fatty acids in the current era of optimal medical therapy.Methods: We performed a literature review indicating important limitations that must be considered when interpreting the recent negative n-3 fatty acids trials.Results: Our review found relative strengths and weaknesses of both the older and more recent studies, along with many possible explanations for the disparate results. The principal difference between the older and the more recent n-3 studies was a greater use of background optimal medical therapy that may have reduced the benefit from n-3s. Additionally, some of the more recent n-3 trials used relatively low doses or tested n-3 supplementation on top of a relatively high baseline intake of n-3s.Conclusion: Despite the recent negative data about n-3 fatty acids, the overall evidence still supports the American Heart Association recommendation of 1 gram of eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid per day for patients with coronary heart disease

Bone scintigraphy for cardiac amyloidosis imaging: Past, present and future

International audienc