IVUS-VH relation to the extent and composition of atherosclerotic plaque and clinical outcome prognosis

Background and aim: Most frequent and generally unpredictable coronary plaque rupture impacts the burden of coronary artery disease but features or signs related to plaque remodeling into the high risk structure are not clearly detectable by using ordinary visualization methods. Till yet there are no evident criteria for additional using IVUS. The aim of the study was to determinate intravascular ultrasound virtual histology (IVUS-VH) importance in identifying high risk plaques, which can contribute to increased rupture hazard. Methods: We selected 30 patients with stabile angina pectoris. 50 plaques were analyzed with coronary angiography digital assessment tool and IVUS similarly. Differences of stenoses measured by both methods, then were calculated and compared to composition of plaques evaluated by IVUS-VH. Results: Plaques were mostly formed of fibrous tissue (FI) (2.6 mm2; 57.89 %). Necrosis was found to make in average one-fifth of analyzed plaques (0.75 mm2, 19.60 %). Calcification made up the smallest part of plaques (0.3 mm2, 8.58 %). Plaques with higher necrosis component appeared to be significantly greater in IVUS compared to coronary angiography. In group A necrosis made up 1.40±1.05 mm2; group B – 0.87±0.52 mm2, and group C – 0.62 ±0.45 mm2 (p= 0.020). The same tendency was observed with FI: group A – 3.38±3.20 mm2; group B – 2.90±2.6 mm2 and group C – 2.04±165 mm2 (p= 0.082). Correlation analysis revealed negative moderate relationship between groups and necrosis percentage (r= –0.40, p= 0.004), and FI (r= –0.29, p= 0.039) components of the plaques. Conclusion: IVUS-VH provides new insight into the evaluation of different composition of plaques. However, despite the advantages, IVUS-VH remains costly and not always technically adaptive procedure, so it is necessary to pursue for new methods or technologies to identify atherosclerotic plaques at risk

A hybrid multiple criteria evaluation method of ranking of cultural heritage structures for renovation projects

Cultural heritage item preservation, renovation and adaptation to the social needs of people, as well as their passing from generation to generation, is a problem relevant from economic, historical, archeological, religious, technological, research and other perspectives. They are typical strategic multi-criteria decision-making problems. The state institutions and the owners and managers of the heritage items invest in their preservation. In fact, every country has a great number of the registered heritage structures. To ensure their effective management and renovation, a lot of implementation projects and strategies should be developed and evaluated. This work requires large investments and time. The paper presents a hybrid model developed for ranking the heritage buildings intended for renovation according to their value. The model for problem solution based on integrated using two MCDM methods Analytic Hierarchy Process and EDAS. A set of the criteria for evaluating the projects, concerning the renovation of cultural heritage items defined

Ligand-selective Modulation of the Permeability Transition Pore by Arginine Modification OPPOSING EFFECTS OF p-HYDROXYPHENYLGLYOXAL AND PHENYLGLYOXAL

Chemical modification of mitochondria with the arginine-specific reagents phenylglyoxal (PGO) and 2,3-butanedione (BAD) decreases the Ca(2+) sensitivity of the permeability transition pore (PTP) and stabilizes it in the closed conformation (Eriksson, O., Fontaine, E., and Bernardi, P. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 12669-12674). Unexpectedly, modification of mitochondria with the arginine-specific reagent p-hydroxyphenylglyoxal (OH-PGO) resulted instead in PTP opening. Sequential modification with OH-PGO and PGO (or BAD) revealed that the effects on the PTP depended on the order of the additions. PTP opening was observed when OH-PGO preceded, and PTP closing was observed when OH-PGO followed, the addition of PGO (or BAD). The differential effects of OH-PGO and PGO on the PTP open probability (i) were not modified by the conformation-specific ligands of the adenine nucleotide translocase bongkrekate and atractylate; and (ii) were also observed in de-energized mitochondria, indicating that the effect is exerted directly on the PTP. OH-PGO dramatically sensitized PTP opening, which was triggered by depolarization even in the presence of EGTA. These data show that arginine modification modulates the PTP conformation in a ligand-selective fashion and suggest that the effects of OH-PGO, PGO, and BAD are mediated by the same arginine residues. We analyzed the structure of the arginine adducts by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a test peptide and N-acetylarginine. The results indicate that both OH-PGO and PGO react with arginine at a stoichiometry of 2:1 and form stable adducts that may be feasible to identify the PTP at the molecular level

Low frequency and high intensity ultrasound in vascular surgery: theory, instrumentation and possibilities of clinical application

This paper presents a brief review of applications of ultrasound in modern surgery and results of original studies of the authors in the field of application of low frequency (24-36 kHz) high-intensity (up to 20 W/cm2) ultrasonic vibrations for disruption of thrombi and calcified atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels. Application of non-rigid wire ultrasonic waveguides with length up to 980 mm and diameter of working tip down to 0.3 mm enables minimally invasive surgical intervention, since a waveguide can be introduced along curved segments of blood vessels through a small incision situated at substantial distance from occlusion. Ultrasonic angioplasty can be successfully applied in combination with administration of thrombolytic drugs. The paper also considers physical mechanisms of thrombus disruption under influence of ultrasonic vibrations, particularly, effects of cavitation and acoustic streaming. We described design of ultrasonic waveguides for endovascular surgery and their manufacturing technology based on plasma-electrolytic etching. Application of finite element method and transfer matrix approach for design and model of wire waveguides is considered. Description of clinical system for ultrasonic angioplasty with automated resonance tuning of a waveguide is also provided. In addition, we report results of clinical application of ultrasonic angioplasty in patients with occlusion of iliofemoral segment

Low frequency and high intensity ultrasound in vascular surgery: theory, instrumentation and possibilities of clinical application

This paper presents a brief review of applications of ultrasound in modern surgery and results of original studies of the authors in the field of application of low frequency (24-36 kHz) high-intensity (up to 20 W/cm2) ultrasonic vibrations for disruption of thrombi and calcified atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels. Application of non-rigid wire ultrasonic waveguides with length up to 980 mm and diameter of working tip down to 0.3 mm enables minimally invasive surgical intervention, since a waveguide can be introduced along curved segments of blood vessels through a small incision situated at substantial distance from occlusion. Ultrasonic angioplasty can be successfully applied in combination with administration of thrombolytic drugs. The paper also considers physical mechanisms of thrombus disruption under influence of ultrasonic vibrations, particularly, effects of cavitation and acoustic streaming. We described design of ultrasonic waveguides for endovascular surgery and their manufacturing technology based on plasma-electrolytic etching. Application of finite element method and transfer matrix approach for design and model of wire waveguides is considered. Description of clinical system for ultrasonic angioplasty with automated resonance tuning of a waveguide is also provided. In addition, we report results of clinical application of ultrasonic angioplasty in patients with occlusion of iliofemoral segment

Dihydrolipoic Acid Induces Cytotoxicity in Mouse Blastocysts through Apoptosis Processes

α-Lipoic acid (LA) is a thiol with antioxidant properties that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. LA is absorbed from the diet, taken up by cells and tissues, and subsequently reduced to dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA). In view of the recent application of DHLA as a hydrophilic nanomaterial preparation, determination of its biosafety profile is essential. In the current study, we examined the cytotoxic effects of DHLA on mouse embryos at the blastocyst stage, subsequent embryonic attachment and outgrowth in vitro, in vivo implantation by embryo transfer, and early embryonic development in an animal model. Blastocysts treated with 50 μM DHLA exhibited significantly increased apoptosis and a corresponding decrease in total cell number. Notably, the implantation success rates of blastocysts pretreated with DHLA were lower than that of their control counterparts. Moreover, in vitro treatment with 50 μM DHLA was associated with increased resorption of post-implantation embryos and decreased fetal weight. Data obtained using an in vivo mouse model further disclosed that consumption of drinking water containing 100 μM DHLA led to decreased early embryo development, specifically, inhibition of development to the blastocyst stage. However, it appears that concentrations of DHLA lower than 50 μM do not exert a hazardous effect on embryonic development. Our results collectively indicate that in vitro and in vivo exposure to concentrations of DHLA higher than 50 μM DHLA induces apoptosis and retards early pre- and post-implantation development, and support the potential of DHLA to induce embryonic cytotoxicity

BuildingSMART: 3D model of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University

Construction and Architecture industry is changing all the time. New technologies have a huge impact to those changes. Many engineers accepted a challenge to start using new BuildingSMART software. Nowadays it is not enough to create a 3D model of building. This model has to be ‘SMART’. That was my main target too. To create a ‘SMART’ model I chose one floor of Vilnius Gediminas Technical University building. I used Autodesk Revit Architecture and Autodesk Revit MEP software, which gave me an opportunity not only to create a 3D model, but also to add all the information about this building

Contractor Selection for Sgraffito Decoration of Cultural Heritage Buildings Using the WASPAS-SVNS Method

Sgraffito is an ancient decorative technique applied in walls, produced by using layers of cement plaster tinted in contrasting colours to a moistened surface. This decoration originated in Italy and has been expanded in different European cities or villages. Nowadays, this decoration technique has almost disappeared because of decomposition, inexperience, or lack of knowledge. The preservation and restoration of the sgraffito technique is the most challenging and vital task of cultural heritage buildings’ preservation. Consequently, the conservation of sgraffito depends not only on the historical and architectural knowledge, studies, and conservation projects of the cultural heritage buildings, but also demands the experience, proper qualification, and knowledge of the contractor. This paper presents six principal criteria. Three possible variants for contractor selection for sgraffito decoration of cultural heritage buildings are proposed, and six principal criteria for their evaluation are suggested. The research employs the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), SWARA (Step-Wise Weights Assessment Ratio Analysis), and WASPAS-SVNS (Weight Aggregated Sum Product Assessment-Single- Valued Neutrosophic Set) methods