Effect of density of state on isotope effect exponent of two-band superconductors

The exact formula of Tc's equation and the isotope effect exponent of two-band s-wave superconductors in weak-coupling limit are derived by considering the influence of two kinds of density of state : constant and van Hove singularity. The pairing interaction in each band consisted of 2 parts : the electron-phonon interaction and non-electron-phonon interaction are included in our model. We find that the interband interaction of electron-phonon show more effect on isotope exponent than the intraband interaction and the isotope effect exponent with constant density of state can fit to an experimental data,MgB2, and high-Tc superconductors, better than van Hove singularity density of state.Comment: 11 pages. accepted in Physica

Fermiology and superconductivity studies on the non-tetrachalcogenafulvalene structured organic superconductor beta-(BDA-TTP)_2SbF_6

The quantum oscillatory effect and superconductivity in a non-tetrachalcogenafulvalene (TCF) structure based organic superconductor beta-(BDA-TTP)_2SbF_6 are studied. Here the Shubnikov-de Haas effect (SdH) and angular dependent magnetoresistance oscillations (AMRO) are observed. The oscillation frequency associated with a cylindrical Fermi surface is found to be about 4050 tesla, which is also verified by the tunnel diode oscillator (TDO) measurement. The upper critical field Hc2 measurement in a tilted magnetic field and the TDO measurement in the mixed state reveal a highly anisotropic superconducting nature in this material. We compared physical properties of beta-(BDA-TTP)_2SbF_6 with typical TCF structure based quasi two-dimensional organic conductors. A notable feature of beta-(BDA-TTP)_2SbF_6 superconductor is a large value of effective cyclotron mass m_c^*=12.4+/1.1 m_e, which is the largest yet found in an organic superconductor. A possible origin of the enhanced effective mass and its relation to the superconductivity are briefly discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure

Management and outcome of patients with established coronary artery disease: the Euro Heart Survey on coronary revascularization

Aims The purpose of the Euro Heart Survey Programme of the European Society of Cardiology is to evaluate to which extent clinical practice endorses existing guidelines as well as to identify differences in population profiles, patient management, and outcome across Europe. The current survey focuses on the invasive diagnosis and treatment of patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods and results Between November 2001 and March 2002, 7769 consecutive patients undergoing invasive evaluation at 130 hospitals (31 countries) were screened for the presence of one or more coronary stenosis >50% in diameter. Patient demographics and comorbidity, clinical presentation, invasive parameters, treatment options, and procedural techniques were prospectively entered in an electronic database (550 variables+29 per diseased coronary segment). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were evaluated at 30 days and 1 year. Out of 5619 patients with angiographically proven coronary stenosis (72% of screened population), 53% presented with stable angina while ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was the indication for coronary angiography in 16% and non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction or unstable angina in 30%. Only medical therapy was continued in 21%, whereas mechanical revascularization was performed in the remainder [percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 58% and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in 21%]. Patients referred for PCI were younger, were more active, had a lower risk profile, and had less comorbid conditions. CABG was performed mostly in patients with left main lesions (21%), two- (25%), or three-vessel disease (67%) with 4.1 diseased segments, on average. Single-vessel PCI was performed in 82% of patients with either single- (45%), two- (33%), or three-vessel disease (21%). Stents were used in 75% of attempted lesions, with a large variation between sites. Direct PCI for STEMI was performed in 410 cases, representing 7% of the entire workload in the participating catheterization laboratories. Time delay was within 90 min in 76% of direct PCI cases. In keeping with the recommendations of practice guidelines, the survey identified under-use of adjunctive medication (GP IIb/IIIa receptor blockers, statins, and angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitors). Mortality rates at 30 days and 1 year were low in all subgroups. MACE primarily consisted of repeat PCI (12%). Conclusion The current Euro Heart Survey on coronary revascularization was performed in the era of bare metal stenting and provides a global European picture of the invasive approach to patients with CAD. These data will serve as a benchmark for the future evaluation of the impact of drug-eluting stents on the practice of interventional cardiology and bypass surger

How to summarise and report written qualitative data from patients: a method for use in cancer support care

Goals of work: Determination of key themes to aid the analysis of qualitative data collected at three cancer support centres in England, using the Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing (MYCaW) questionnaire. Patients and methods: People with cancer who use complementary therapies experience and value a wide range of treatment effects, yet tools are urgently required to quantitatively measure these outcomes. MYCAW is an individualised questionnaire used in cancer support centres providing complementary therapies, scoring 'concerns or problems' and 'wellbeing' and collects qualitative data about other major events in a patient's life and what has been most important to the patient. Content analysis on 782 MYCaW questionnaires from people at these cancer support centres was carried out. The "concerns", "other things going on in their life" and "important aspects of centre" were thematically categorised, externally validated by a focus group and the inter-rater reliability calculated. Main results: Clinical information from a cancer patient's perspective was collected that is not measured on standard quality of life questionnaires; furthermore some themes acknowledge the multifaceted aspects of CAM provision, rather than information only relating to the therapeutic intervention. Categories for qualitative MYCaW analysis have been established providing a tool for future research and/or service delivery improvement within cancer support centres such as these. Conclusions: The established themes provide a framework to aid analysis of qualitative aspects of complementary therapy care for people with cancer, improving our understanding of how the patient’s cancer experience can be aided by complementary therapies in specialized cancer centres

Non-human TRIM5 variants enhance recognition of HIV-1-infected cells by CD8+ T cells

Tripartite motif-containing protein 5 (TRIM5) restricts human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) in a species-specific manner by uncoating viral particles while activating early innate responses. Although the contribution of TRIM5 proteins to cellular immunity has not yet been studied, their interactions with the incoming viral capsid and the cellular proteasome led us to hypothesize a role for them. Here, we investigate whether the expression of two non-human TRIM5 orthologs, rhesus TRIM5α (RhT5) and TRIM-cyclophilin A (TCyp), both of which are potent restrictors of HIV-1, could enhance immune recognition of infected cells by CD8+ T cells. We illustrate how TRIM5 restriction improves CD8+ T cell-mediated HIV-1 inhibition. Moreover, when TRIM5 activity was blocked by the non-immunosuppressive analog of cyclosporin A, SmBz-CsA, we found a significant reduction in CD107a/MIP1β expression in HIV-1-specific CD8+ T cells. This finding underscores the direct link between TRIM5 restriction and activation of CD8+ T-cell responses. Interestingly, cells expressing RhT5 induced stronger CD8+ T-cell responses through the specific recognition of the HIV-1 capsid by the immune system. The underlying mechanism of this process may involve TRIM5-specific capsid recruitment to cellular proteasomes and increase peptide availability for loading and presentation of HLA class I antigens. In summary, we identified a novel function for non-human TRIM5 variants in cellular immunity. We hypothesise that TRIM5 can couple innate viral sensing and CD8+ T-cell activation to increase species barriers against retrovirus infection. IMPORTANCE: New therapeutics to tackle HIV-1 infection should aim to combine rapid innate viral sensing and cellular immune recognition. Such strategies could prevent seeding of the viral reservoir and the immune damage that occurs during acute infection. The non-human TRIM5 variants, rhesus TRIM5α (RhT5) and TRIM-cyclophilin A (TCyp), are attractive candidates owing to their potency in sensing HIV-1 and blocking its activity. Here, we show that expression of RhT5 and TCyp in HIV-1-infected cells improves CD8+ T cell-mediated inhibition through the direct activation of HIV-1-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. We found that the potency in CD8+ activation was stronger for RhT5 variants and capsid-specific CD8+ T-cells in a mechanism that relies on TRIM5-dependent particle recruitment to cellular proteasomes. This novel mechanism couples innate viral sensing with cellular immunity in a single protein and could be exploited to develop innovative therapeutics for control of HIV-1 infection

Altered striatal endocannabinoid signaling in a transgenic mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type-3

Spinocerebellar ataxia type-3 (SCA-3) is the most prevalent autosomal dominant inherited ataxia. We recently found that the endocannabinoid system is altered in the post-mortem cerebellum of SCA-3 patients, and similar results were also found in the cerebellar and brainstem nuclei of a SCA-3 transgenic mouse model. Given that the neuropathology of SCA-3 is not restricted to these two brain regions but rather, it is also evident in other structures (e.g., the basal ganglia), we studied the possible changes to endocannabinoid signaling in the striatum of these transgenic mice. SCA-3 mutant mice suffer defects in motor coordination, balance and they have an abnormal gait, reflecting a cerebellar/brainstem neuropathology. However, they also show dystonia-like behavior (limb clasping) that may be related to the malfunction/deterioration of specific neurons in the striatum. Indeed, we found a loss of striatal projecting neurons in SCA-3 mutant mice, accompanied by a reduction in glial glutamate transporters that could potentially aggravate excitotoxic damage. In terms of endocannabinoid signaling, no changes in CB2 receptors were evident, yet an important reduction in CB1 receptors was detected by qPCR and immunostaining. The reduction in CB1 receptors was presumed to occur in striatal afferent and efferent neurons, also potentially aggravating excitotoxicity. We also measured the endocannabinoid lipids in the striatum and despite a marked increase in the FAAH enzyme in this area, no overall changes in these lipids were found. Collectively, these studies confirm that the striatal endocannabinoid system is altered in SCA-3 mutant mice, adding to the equivalent changes found in other strongly affected CNS structures in this type of ataxia (i.e.: the cerebellum and brainstem). These data open the way to search for drugs that might correct these changes.Funding: This study has been supported: (i) by MICINN (SAF2009-11847 and SAF2015-68580-C2-1-R), CIBERNED (CB06/05/0089) and “Fundación Eugenio Rodríguez Pascual”, to JFR; (ii) by the Research and Education Component of the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment at the Medical College of Wisconsin, to CJH; and (iii) by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016818 (PTDC/NEU-NMC/3648/2014) and co-financed by the Portuguese North Regional Operational Program (ON.2 – O Novo Norte) under the National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN), through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), to PM. Carmen Rodríguez-Cueto was a predoctoral fellow supported by FPI Program-Ministry of Science. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Successful combined surgical approach in a rare case of retrotracheal goitre in a patient with anatomical impediments

Diving goitres can descend the cervical region expanding directly into the thoracic cavity. In most cases, diving goitres extend into the anterosuperior compartment, but they may also extend behind the trachea. We herein present a case of a male patient with retrotracheal goitre and history of left thyroid lobectomy and median sternotomy for thoracic aortic aneurysm repair with graft placement. After detailed preoperative evaluation, the patient underwent surgical resection of the mass through a combined approach; the existing cervical incision and a right posterolateral mini-thoracotomy. The postoperative course of the patient was uncomplicated. One year after surgery, the patient is asymptomatic and disease-free. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 1: 166–169

Describing Visceral Fat via Girth and Skinfold Measurements

While girth ratios (GR), such as waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body fat percentage (BF%) have been widely used to describe visceral fat (VF), the applicability of skinfold (SF) measurements has been given less attention for the same purpose. PURPOSE: This study examined the associations between BF%, GR, SF, and VF. METHODS: Sixty healthy participants (38 males and 22 females, age = 21.23 ± 4.37 years, BMI = 24.87 ± 3.02 kg/m2, BF% = 19.70 ± 7.28%) participated in the study. Girth ratios, including WHtR and WHR, were assessed using a Gulick tape specifically at the level of the navel and slimmest part of the waist. SF thickness was assessed using a Lange skinfold caliper at 5 different regions, including the navel, upper abdomen, axillary, lumbar, and subscapular. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to determine VF. A Pearson correlation was utilized to examine the associations among BF%, GR, SF, and VF. RESULTS: Females’ VF (33.9 ± 16.9 cm2) was significantly correlated with BMI (23.9 ± 3.7 kg/m2, r = .451, p = .035) and BF% (26.6 ± 5.3%, r = .590, p = .004), while males’ VF (49.6 ± 10.9 cm2) was not correlated with BMI (25.4 ± 2.4 kg/m2, r = -.021, p = .899) nor BF% (15.7 ± 4.8%, r = -.084, p = .616). In addition, WHR (.85 ± .04) was correlated with VF in males (r = .462, p = .004), while WHtR (.47 ± .06) was correlated with VF (r = .616, p = .002) in females. When participants were clustered into two groups based on BMI (\u3c 25 or ≥ 25 kg/m2), VF was correlated with the WHR in males (n = 18) with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (r = .522, p = .026) and in women (n = 14) with a BMI \u3c 25 kg/m2 (r = .567, p = .035). However, males (n = 20) with a BMI \u3c 25 kg/m2 and women (n = 8) with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 had no correlations between VF and any GR or SF measurements. Although there was no correlation between VF and SF in males, VF in females was correlated with SF at the anterior slimmest part of the waist (16.1 ± 4.9 mm, r = .450, p = .035), iliac crest (14.0 ± 5.4 mm, r = .527, p = .012), and subscapular (14.0 ± 5.3 mm, r = .51, p = .018). CONCLUSION: BF% has a greater correlation with VF in females than in males, while WHR (a marker of body fat distribution) better explains VF in males. In addition, SF only held a degree of applicability within females. Furthermore, fat content seems to play a more important role in females when assessing VF content, while fat distribution seems to be more important in males

Effect of high-intensity interval training on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, and substrate utilization during exercise among prehypertensive and hypertensive patients with excessive adiposity

Incluye material complementarioRegular exercise training is a recognized lifestyle strategy to lower resting blood pressure (BP), but little is known about substrate metabolism in population with high BP. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 16-weeks of HIIT on body composition, BP, cardiorespiratory fitness by (Formula presented.) O2max, and substrate utilization during exercise among prehypertensive and hypertensive patients with excessive adiposity. We also aimed to test the potential association between changes in cardiorespiratory fitness, substrate utilization during exercise and BP. Forty-two physically inactive overweight/obese participants participated in 16-weeks of HIIT intervention. The HIIT frequency was three times a week (work ratio 1:2:10, for interval cycling: rest period: repeated times; 80–100% of the maximum heart rate). Groups were distributed based on their baseline BP: HIIT-hypertensive (H-HTN: age 47.7 ± 12.0 years; body mass index [BMI] 30.3 ± 5.5 kg/m2; systolic [SBP]/diastolic BP [DBP] 151.6 ± 10/81.9 ± 4.2 mmHg), HIIT-pre-hypertensive (H-PreHTN: age 37.6 ± 12.0 years; BMI 31.9 ± 5.3 kg/m2; SBP/DBP 134.4 ± 3.2/74.9 ± 7.0 mmHg), and a normotensive control group (H-CG: age 40.7 ± 11.0 years; BMI 29.5 ± 4.2 kg/m2; SBP/DBP 117.0 ± 6.2/72.4 ± 4.1 mmHg). Anthropometry/body composition, BP, and metabolic substrate utilization during exercise (fat [FATox], carbohydrate [CHOox] oxidation, respiratory exchange ratio [RER], and (Formula presented.) O2max), were measured before and after the 16-week HIIT intervention. Adjusted mixed linear models revealed a significant improved in (Formula presented.) O2max were + 3.34 in the H-CG, + 3.63 in the H-PreHTN, and + 5.92 mL⋅kg–1⋅min–1, in the H-HTN group, however, the Time × Group interaction were not significant (p = 0.083). All the exercise types induced similar decreases on SBP (−8.70) in the H-HTN, (−7.14) in the H-CG, and (−5.11) mmHg in the H-PreHTN, as well as DBP levels (−5.43) mmHg in H-CG group (p = 0.032 vs. H-HTN group). At 16-week, no significant correlations were noted for the changes of blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness or exercise metabolism substrates outcomes. In conclusion, our results suggest that a 16-week HIIT-intervention improved (Formula presented.) O2max and blood pressure BP, but these changes are independent of substrate utilization during exercise in normotensive and hypertensive participants with excessive adiposity.PD-F was funded by the Universidad de La Frontera. CÁ was funded by private funds and by the Universidad de Los Lagos. MI is also funded in part by a research grant PI17/01814 of the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (ISCIII, FEDER). RR-V is funded in part by a Postdoctoral Fellowship Resolution ID 420/2019 of the Universidad Pública de Navarra. DCA was supported by Vicerrectoria de Investigación throguh proyecto puente PEP I-2019050