892 research outputs found
Arterial stiffness and hand osteoarthritis: a novel relationship?
SummaryObjectiveOsteoarthritis (OA) and vascular stiffening may share elements of common pathogenesis, but their potential relatedness has been the focus of little prior inquiry. We tested the hypothesis that these two aging-associated conditions are related to each other.MethodWe analyzed cross-sectional data from 256 participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), a study of normative aging. All underwent measurement of arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV), an index of vascular stiffness, as well as hand radiographs that were graded for evidence of OA. Twenty total joints across three joint groups (distal interphalangeal [DIP], proximal interphalangeal [PIP], carpal-metacarpal [CMC]) were each assigned a Kellgren–Lawrence grade (K–L) of 0 (normal) through 4 (severe), with K–L grades ≥2 considered evidence of definite OA. Radiographic hand OA was defined as definite OA changes in at least two of the three anatomic hand sites (DIP, PIP, CMC). OA burden was represented by the total number of affected OA joints, and a cumulative K–L grade was aggregated across all hand joint groups. The relationship of PWV with these three measures of hand OA was assessed by linear regression.ResultsUpon univariate analysis, the presence of radiographic hand OA (β=218.1, P<0.01), the total number of OA joints (β=32.9, P<0.01), and the cumulative K–L grade across all joint groups (β=12.2, P<0.01) were each associated with increased PWV. These associations, however, were no longer significant in age-adjusted models.ConclusionAlthough significant individual relationships between PWV and several measures of hand OA were observed, these associations were largely attributable to the confounding effect of age
Case Report: Coronary-Pulmonary Fistula Closure by Percutaneous Approach: Learning From Mistakes.
Coronary-pulmonary artery fistulas (CPAF) are congenital vascular anomalies detected incidentally in most cases. When a significant left-right shunt exists, surgical, or percutaneous treatment is indicated. We describe a challenging case of CPAF closure, by percutaneous approach, in a patient symptomatic for dyspnea and evidence of a significant left-right shunt. A first attempt to close the fistula was performed implanting a vascular plug but it quickly embolized. The plug was successfully retrieved. In a second attempt, we deployed several coils before implanting the vascular plug with total closure of the fistula. The combination of plugs and coils is associated with a higher success rate of closure
Investigating the Influence of High-Speed Gantry Rotation in Cardiac CT on Motion Artifacts in Aortic Stenosis Patients Not Premedicated with β-Blockers: The FAST-CCT Randomized Trial Protocol.
Coronary CT angiography (CCTA) is increasingly used as a non-invasive tool to assess coronary artery disease (CAD). However, CCTA is subject to motion artifacts, potentially limiting its clinical utility. Despite faster (0.35 and 0.28 s/rot) gantry rotation times, low (60-65 bpm) heartbeat is recommended, and the use of β-blockers is often needed. Technological advancements have resulted in the development of faster rotation speeds (0.23 s/rot). However, their added value in patients not premedicated with β-blockers remains unclear. This prospective single-center, two-arm, randomized, controlled trial aims to assess the influence of fast rotation on coronary motion artifacts, diagnostic accuracy of CCTA for CAD, and patient safety.
We will randomize a total of 142 patients aged ≥ 50 scheduled for an aortic stenosis work-up to receive CCTA with either a fast (0.23) or standard (0.28 s/rot) gantry speed.
rate of CCTAs with coronary motion artifacts hindering interpretation.
assessable coronary segments rate, diagnostic accuracy against invasive coronary angiography (ICA), motion artifact magnitude per segment, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), and patient ionizing radiation dose. The local ethics committee has approved the protocol. Potential significance: FAST-CCT may improve motion artifact reduction and diagnosis quality, thus eliminating the need for rate control and β-blocker administration.
gov identifier: NCT05709652
ac Josephson effect in the resonant tunneling through mesoscopic superconducting junctions
We investigate ac Josephson effect in the resonant tunneling through
mesoscopic superconducting junctions. In the presence of microwave irradiation,
we show that the trajectory of multiple Andreev reflections can be closed by
emitting or absorbing photons. Consequently, photon-assisted Andreev states are
formed and play the role of carrying supercurrent. On the Shapiro steps, dc
component appears when the resonant level is near a series of positions with
spacing of half of the microwave frequency. Analytical result is derived in the
limit of infinite superconducting gap, based on which new features of ac
Josephson effect are revealed.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure
A Derivation of Three-Dimensional Inertial Transformations
The derivation of the transformations between inertial frames made by
Mansouri and Sexl is generalised to three dimensions for an arbitrary direction
of the velocity. Assuming lenght contraction and time dilation to have their
relativistic values, a set of transformations kinematically equivalent to
special relativity is obtained. The ``clock hypothesis'' allows the derivation
to be extended to accelerated systems. A theory of inertial transformations
maintaining an absolute simultaneity is shown to be the only one logically
consistent with accelerated movements. Algebraic properties of these
transformations are discussed. Keywords: special relativity, synchronization,
one-way velocity of light, ether, clock hypothesis.Comment: 16 pages (A5), Latex, one figure, to be published in Found. Phys.
Lett. (1997
Transcriptome profiling on the response of Mycosphaerella graminicola isolates to an azole fungicide using cDNA arrays
Resistance to azole antifungals is a major problem in the control of diseases caused by fungal pathogens of both humans and plants. Potential for the development of azole resistance in the wheat leaf blotch pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola, the causal agent of the most economically significant foliar disease of wheat in north-western Europe, is now of particular concern after the recent emergence of widespread resistance to quinone outside inhibitor fungicides. Using a cDNA microarray representing around 25% of the genome, we have profiled the transcriptional response of M. graminicola to epoxiconazole, currently the most widely used azole fungicide on cereal crops. By comparing the transcription profiles of two M. graminicola isolates with contrasting sensitivities to epoxiconazole we show qualitative and quantitative differences in differentially expressed genes, including those involved in ergosterol biosynthesis, mitochondrial respiration and transport mechanisms. This represents the first study investigating the response of a plant pathogenic fungus to a fungicide using cDNA microarray technology
Power, norms and institutional change in the European Union: the protection of the free movement of goods
How do institutions of the European Union change? Using an institutionalist approach, this article highlights the interplay between power, cognitive limits, and the normative order that underpins institutional settings and assesses their impact upon the process of institutional change. Empirical evidence from recent attempts to reinforce the protection of the free movement of goods in the EU suggests that, under conditions of uncertainty, actors with ambiguous preferences assess attempts at institutional change on the basis of the historically defined normative order which holds a given institutional structure together. Hence, path dependent and incremental change occurs even when more ambitious and functionally superior proposals are on offer
Recovery of sperm after epididymal refrigeration from domestic cats using ACP-117c and Tris extenders
Measurement of the Charged Multiplicities in b, c and Light Quark Events from Z0 Decays
Average charged multiplicities have been measured separately in , and
light quark () events from decays measured in the SLD experiment.
Impact parameters of charged tracks were used to select enriched samples of
and light quark events, and reconstructed charmed mesons were used to select
quark events. We measured the charged multiplicities:
,
, from
which we derived the differences between the total average charged
multiplicities of or quark events and light quark events: and . We compared
these measurements with those at lower center-of-mass energies and with
perturbative QCD predictions. These combined results are in agreement with the
QCD expectations and disfavor the hypothesis of flavor-independent
fragmentation.Comment: 19 pages LaTex, 4 EPS figures, to appear in Physics Letters
Measurement of the B0-anti-B0-Oscillation Frequency with Inclusive Dilepton Events
The - oscillation frequency has been measured with a sample of
23 million \B\bar B pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II
asymmetric B Factory at SLAC. In this sample, we select events in which both B
mesons decay semileptonically and use the charge of the leptons to identify the
flavor of each B meson. A simultaneous fit to the decay time difference
distributions for opposite- and same-sign dilepton events gives ps.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Physical Review Letter
- …