1,864 research outputs found
Mindfulness and Alcohol-Related Problems among Individuals with Fibromyalgia: Chronic Pain and Depressive Symptoms as Mediators
Mindfulness is a cognitive attribute that is associated with better health and well-being. Fibromyalgia is a neurosensory disorder primarily characterized by chronic pain and comorbid depression, leading to an increased risk for alcohol-related problems. Empirical literature confirms mindfulness has beneficial associations with chronic pain, depression, alcohol-related problems, and fibromyalgia. Mindfulness may lead to better health and well-being by facilitating self-monitoring, objective reperceiving, and purposeful changing of health-related behaviors. It was hypothesized that higher levels of mindfulness would be related to lower levels of chronic pain and depressive symptoms, and, in turn, to fewer alcohol-related problems among individuals with fibromyalgia. Cross-sectional data was collected from 287 participants, and statistically analyzed using parallel mediation models. Hypotheses were only partially supported; mindfulness had an inverse relationship with alcohol-related problems, as hypothesized, although the relationship was not mediated by chronic pain or depressive symptoms
A multiple scales approach to crack front waves
Perturbation of a propagating crack with a straight edge is solved using the
method of matched asymptotic expansions (MAE). This provides a simplified
analysis in which the inner and outer solutions are governed by distinct
mechanics. The inner solution contains the explicit perturbation and is
governed by a quasi-static equation. The outer solution determines the
radiation of energy away from the tip, and requires solving dynamic equations
in the unperturbed configuration. The outer and inner expansions are matched
via the small parameter L/l defined by the disparate length scales: the crack
perturbation length L and the outer length scale l associated with the loading.
The method is first illustrated for a scalar crack model and then applied to
the elastodynamic mode I problem.
The dispersion relation for crack front waves is found by requiring that the
energy release rate is unaltered under perturbation. The wave speed is
calculated as a function of the nondimensional parameter kl where k is the
crack front wavenumber, and dispersive properties of the crack front wave speed
are described for the first time. The example problems considered here
demonstrate that the potential of using MAE for moving boundary value problems
with multiple scales.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure
Six years survival on imatinib with no disease progression after diagnosis of metastatic duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumour: a case report
Introduction: A duodenal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour (GIST) is a rare finding and until recently advanced disease had a poor prognosis. A PubMed search revealed no reports of more than five years survival of inoperable GIST on chemotherapy with WHO performance status zero.
Case Presentation: A 68 year old female was diagnosed with unresectable GIST in the duodenum with metastasis to liver, pancreas and omentum in November 2001. She was
commenced on imatinib mesylate (Glivec) chemotherapy. This case report was prepared from the medical records and radiology reports. She had good tolerance with stable disease. After six years her CT scan showed no disease progression and her WHO performance status was zero.
Conclusion: This report supports the view that imatinib is a safe and effective drug in controlling
disease progression in advanced metastatic GIST and plays an important role in improving the patient's quality of life
Performance of Sri Lankan FRAX algorithm without bone mineral density and with Quantitative Ultrasound data input
Introduction
Fracture risk assessment algorithm (FRAX) is the most validated method available to predict fracture risk. Its use is restricted due to limited availability of Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). FRAX has the option of assessing facture risk without BMD data.
Objectives
To assess the ability of Sri Lankan FRAX algorithm without BMD input in evaluating fracture risk. The possibility of replacing the BMD input with Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) data of radius in calculating fracture risk also assessed.
Methods
Data of clinical risk factors associated with fractures were collected from community dwelling postmenopausal women (n=339). DXA scans were performed in all subjects and QUS scans (in radius) were performed in a randomly selected sample (n=207). Ten-year risks of major osteoporotic fracture (MOFR) and hip fracture (HFR) were calculated with BMD, without BMD (FRAX-FN0) and with US T score instead of BMD (FRAX-UST).
Results and conclusion
Nearly 35.7% had high risk of fractures. FRAX-FN0 had 79.2% sensitivity, 80.1% specificity, 68.8% positive predictive value (PPV) and 87.4% negative predictive value (NPV). FRAX-UST showed 78.4% sensitivity, 70% specificity, 59.8% PPV and 85% NPV. ROC AUCs were above 0.80 in both FRAX-FN0 and FRAX-UST. The standard errors of estimate (SEE) were less in FRAX-FN0 (3.96 and 2.76 for MOFR-FN0 and HFR-FN0 respectively) compared to FRAX-UST (6.13 and 4.83 for MOFR-UST and HFR-UST, respectively). In conclusion, Sri Lankan FRAX without BMD is an acceptable alternative in areas with restricted DXA facility. Radial QUS data cannot be used as a substitute to FN-BMD in Sri Lankan FRAX
A long term spectroscopic and photometric study of the old nova HR Del
The Nova HR Del, discovered in 1967, was found to be exceptionally bright in
the optical and UV during the whole lifetime of the IUE satellite (ending in
1996) and appears to be still extremely luminous today. The reason for this
continuing activity is not clear; continuing weak thermonuclear burning might
be involved. HR Del was thus monitored over several years, both in broad band
photometry and spectroscopically in the H spectral region. The profile
of the H line shows two components: a narrow, central component; and
broader wings. The former is most easily understood as being due to an
accretion disk, whose geometry might lead to it partly occulting itself. That
component shows something like an S wave with an orbital phase dependance,
suggesting that it could be due to a spot bright in H. The wide
component must come from another region, with a probably non-negligible
contribution from the material ejected during the 1967 outburst. Non-orbital
variations of the H equivalent width were found both on long and short
time scales. Similar variations were found in the photometry, showing a
component with a clear dependence on the orbital phase, but no obvious relation
with the H variations. The orbital part of the photometric variations
can be explained by irradiation of the companion, while the properties of
H are explicable by the presence of an accretion disk and a spot bright
in H.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
Introducing SEARCHBreast: a virtual resource to facilitate sharing of surplus animal material developed for breast cancer research
Animals studies have made significant contribution to expanding our knowledge of breast cancer. Often material is leftover and archived. SEARCHBreast provides a platform for collaborative sharing of archived material via a dedicated on-line database whereby users can both share and search available tissue. The SEARCHBreast database has information on over 50 different mouse models, including tissue from PDX models, available to share. With thousands of samples freely available, SEARCHBreast should be the first point of call for any researcher looking for animal material to aid their breast cancer research
SEARCHBreast: A new online resource to make surplus material from in vivo models of breast cancer visible and accessible to researchers
No abstract available
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