124 research outputs found
J-Class Abelian Semigroups of Matrices on C^n and Hypercyclicity
We give a characterization of hypercyclic finitely generated abelian
semigroups of matrices on C^n using the extended limit sets (the J-sets).
Moreover we construct for any n\geq 2 an abelian semigroup G of GL(n;C)
generated by n + 1 diagonal matrices which is locally hypercyclic but not
hypercyclic and such that JG(e_k) = C^n for every k = 1; : : : ; n, where (e_1;
: : : ; e_n) is the canonical basis of C^n. This gives a negative answer to a
question raised by Costakis and Manoussos.Comment: 10 page
A method to improve the performance of multilayer perceptron by utilizing various activation functions in the last hidden layer and the least squares method
Real-time compression feedback for patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest: a multi-center randomized controlled clinical trial
Objective: To determine if real-time compression feedback using a non-automated hand-held device improves
patient outcomes from in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA).
Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled, parallel study (no crossover) of patients with IHCA in
the mixed medical–surgical intensive care units (ICUs) of eight academic hospitals. Patients received either standard
manual chest compressions or compressions performed with real-time feedback using the Cardio First Angelâ„¢ (CFA)
device. The primary outcome was sustained return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), and secondary outcomes were
survival to ICU and hospital discharge.
Results: One thousand four hundred fifty-four subjects were randomized; 900 were included. Sustained ROSC was
significantly improved in the CFA group (66.7% vs. 42.4%, P < 0.001), as was survival to ICU discharge (59.8% vs. 33.6%)
and survival to hospital discharge (54% vs. 28.4%, P < 0.001). Outcomes were not affected by intra-group comparisons
based on intubation status. ROSC, survival to ICU, and hospital discharge were noted to be improved in inter-group
comparisons of non-intubated patients, but not intubated ones.
Conclusion: Use of the CFA compression feedback device improved event survival and survival to ICU and hospital
discharge
Cost-Effectiveness of New Cardiac and Vascular Rehabilitation Strategies for Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Objective: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) often hinders the cardiac rehabilitation program. The aim of this study was evaluating the relative cost-effectiveness of new rehabilitation strategies which include the diagnosis and treatment of PAD in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. Data Sources: Best-available evidence was retrieved from literature and combined with primary data from 231 patients. Methods: We developed a Markov decision model to compare the following treatment strategies: 1. cardiac rehabilitation only; 2. ankle-brachial index (ABI) if cardiac rehabilitation fails followed by diagnostic work-up and revascularization for PAD if needed; 3. ABI prior to cardiac rehabilitation followed by diagnostic work-up and revascularization for PAD if needed. Quality-adjusted-life years (QALYs), life-time costs (US 75 000 was used. Results: ABI if cardiac rehabilitation fails was the most favorable strategy with an ICER of 75 000/QALY. After sensitivity analysis, a combined cardiac and vascular rehabilitation program increased the success rate and would dominate the other two strategies with total lifetime costs of $30 246 a quality-adjusted life expectancy of 3.84 years, and an incremental NHB of 0.06 QALYs (95%CI:−0.24, 0.46) compared to current practice. The results were robust for other different input parameters. Conclusion: ABI measurement if cardiac rehabilitation fails followed by a diagnostic work-up and revascularization for PAD if needed are potentially cost-effective compared to cardiac rehabilitation only
NKG2D expression in CD4+ T lymphocytes as a marker of senescence in the aged immune system
Human aging is characterized by changes in the immune system which have a profound impact on the T-cell compartment. These changes are more frequently found in CD8+ T cells, and there are not well-defined markers of differentiation in the CD4+ subset. Typical features of cell immunosenescence are characteristics of pathologies in which the aberrant expression of NKG2D in CD4+ T cells has been described. To evaluate a possible age-related expression of NKG2D in CD4+ T cells, we compared their percentage in peripheral blood from 100 elderly and 50 young adults. The median percentage of CD4+ NKG2D+ in elders was 5.3% (interquartile range (IR): 8.74%) versus 1.4% (IR: 1.7%) in young subjects (p < 0.3 × 10−10). CD28 expression distinguished two subsets of CD4+ NKG2D+ cells with distinct functional properties and differentiation status. CD28+ cells showed an immature phenotype associated with high frequencies of CD45RA and CD31. However, most of the NKG2D+ cells belonged to the CD28null compartment and shared their phenotypical properties. NKG2D+ cells represented a more advanced stage of maturation and exhibited greater response to CMV (5.3 ± 3.1% versus 3.4 ± 2%, p = 0.037), higher production of IFN-γ (40.56 ± 13.7% versus 24 ± 8.8%, p = 0.015), lower activation threshold and reduced TREC content. Moreover, the frequency of the CD4+ NKG2D+ subset was clearly related to the status of the T cells. Higher frequencies of the NKG2D+ subset were accompanied with a gradual decrease of NAIVE and central memory cells, but also with a higher level of more differentiated subsets of CD4+ T cells. In conclusion, CD4+ NKG2D+ represent a subset of highly differentiated T cells which characterizes the senescence of the immune system
Effect of the Cardio First Angelâ„¢ device on CPR indices: a randomized controlled clinical trial
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Global variation in diabetes diagnosis and prevalence based on fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both used to diagnose diabetes, but these measurements can identify different people as having diabetes. We used data from 117 population-based studies and quantified, in different world regions, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and whether those who were previously undiagnosed and detected as having diabetes in survey screening, had elevated FPG, HbA1c or both. We developed prediction equations for estimating the probability that a person without previously diagnosed diabetes, and at a specific level of FPG, had elevated HbA1c, and vice versa. The age-standardized proportion of diabetes that was previously undiagnosed and detected in survey screening ranged from 30% in the high-income western region to 66% in south Asia. Among those with screen-detected diabetes with either test, the age-standardized proportion who had elevated levels of both FPG and HbA1c was 29–39% across regions; the remainder had discordant elevation of FPG or HbA1c. In most low- and middle-income regions, isolated elevated HbA1c was more common than isolated elevated FPG. In these regions, the use of FPG alone may delay diabetes diagnosis and underestimate diabetes prevalence. Our prediction equations help allocate finite resources for measuring HbA1c to reduce the global shortfall in diabetes diagnosis and surveillance
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