The concurrent effect of one bout aerobic exercise and short-term garlic supplementation on the lipids profile in male non-athletes

زمینه و هدف: بیماری های قلبی- عروقی امروزه به عنوان یکی از عوامل تهدید کننده سلامتی انسان ها بخصوص در بیماران کم توان ذهنی محسوب می شوند. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی تأثیر دوازده هفته تمرین هوازی بر نیمرخ لیپیدهای سرمی و توان هوازی دختران کم توان ذهنی غیر ورزشکار طراحی و اجرا شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه کارآزمایی بالینی،22 دختر کم توان ذهنی با میانگین سنی 5/0±38/23 سال، قد 6/4±161 سانتیمتر، وزن 73/6±15/61 کیلوگرم، نمایه توده بدن 19/4±68/25 کیلوگرم بر مجذور قد و با بهره هوشی50 تا 75 به صورت نمونه گیری در دسترس انتخاب و به صورت تصادفی در دو گروه تجربی (10 نفر) و شاهد (12 نفر) تقسیم شدند. گروه تجربی در یک دوره تمرینات هوازی به مدت 12 هفته، با شدت 60 تا80 درصد ضربان قلب ذخیره شرکت نمودند؛ ولی گروه شاهد در هیچگونه تمرینی شرکت نکردند. متغیرها در دو گروه، در دو مرحله ی پیش و پس آزمون مورد مقایسه قرار گرفتند. یافته ها: قبل از آزمون بین دو گروه از نظر سن، قد، وزن و شاخص توده بدنی تفاوت معناداری وجود نداشت (05/0P). میانگین نسبت محیط کمر به باسن، درصد چربی بدن، لیپوپروتئین- کلسترول با چگالی بالا بین دو گروه تفاوت معنی دار ی نشان داد (05/0>P). نتیجه گیری: براساس نتایج این مطالعه فعالیت هوازی می تواند متابولیسم لیپوپروتئین ها را تغییر داده و سبب کاهش عوامل خطر ساز بیماری قلبی- عروقی در دختران کم توان ذهنی شود

Outcomes of Adult Patients with Small Body Size Supported with a Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device

There is insufficient data on patients with small body size to determine if this should be considered a risk factor for continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) support. We sought to evaluate survival outcomes, adverse events, and functional status of CF-LVAD patients with body surface area (BSA) <1.5 m2 in a large national registry. Adults with BSA < 1.5 m2 (n = 128) implanted with a HeartMate II (HMII)-LVAD from the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support registry from April 2008 to December 2012 formed this cohort. Outcomes were compared with HMII bridge to transplant (BTT) and destination therapy (DT) post approval studies. The majority of patients were female (n = 106, 83%). A total of 64% (n = 82) were implanted for BTT and 36% (n = 46) for DT. The median BSA (range) was 1.44 (1.19–1.49) and 1.45 (1.25–1.49) m2 for BTT and DT, respectively. Overall survival 1 year post implant was 81% ± 5% for BTT and 84% ± 6% for DT. The most common adverse events for BTT and DT patients were bleeding (0.91, 0.88 events/patient year) and driveline infection (16%, 0.28 events/patient year). Six months post implantation, 87% of BTT and 77% of DT patients were New York Heart Association functional class I or II. Post implant survival, functional status improvement, and adverse event profile for adult BTT and DT HMII patients with BSA < 1.5 m2 are favorable and comparable with outcomes published in the overall patient population

Preliminary Mean-line Design and Optimization of a Radial Turbo-Expander for Waste Heat Recovery Using Organic Rankine Cycle

AbstractThis study presents an optimized modelling approach for ORC based on radial turbo-expander, where the constant expander efficiency is replaced by dynamic efficiency and is unique for each set of cycle operating conditions and working fluid properties. The model was used to identify the key variables that have significant effects on the turbine overall size. These parameters are then included in the optimization process using genetic algorithm to minimize the turbine overall size for six organic fluids. Results showed that, dynamic efficiency approach predicted considerable differences in the turbine efficiencies of various working fluids at different operating conditions with the maximum difference of 7.3% predicted between the turbine efficiencies of n-pentane and R245fa. Also, the optimization results predicted that minimum turbine overall size was achieved by R236fa with the value of 0.0576m. Such results highlight the potential of the optimized modeling technique to further improve the performance estimation of ORC and minimize the size

Characterization of Pharmaceutical Tablets by X-ray Tomography

Solid dosage forms such as tablets are extensively used in drug administration for their simplicity and large-scale manufacturing capabilities. High-resolution X-ray tomography is one of the most valuable non-destructive techniques to investigate the internal structure of the tablets for drug product development as well as for a cost effective production process. In this work, we review the recent developments in high-resolution X-ray microtomography and its application towards different tablet characterizations. The increased availability of powerful laboratory instrumentation, as well as the advent of high brilliance and coherent 3rd generation synchrotron light sources, combined with advanced data processing techniques, are driving the application of X-ray microtomography forward as an indispensable tool in the pharmaceutical industry

A Graph based architectural (re)configuration language

For several different reasons, such as changes in the business or technological environment, the configuration of a system may need to evolve during the execution. Support for such evolution can be conceived in terms of a language for specifying the dynamic reconfiguration of systems. In this paper, continuing our work on the development of a formal platform for architectural design, we present a high-level language to describe architectures and for operating changes over a configuration (i.e., an architecture instance), such as adding, removing or substituting components or interconnections. The language follows an imperative style and builds on a semantic domain established in previous work. Therein, we model architectures through categorical diagrams and dynamic reconfiguration through algebraic graph rewriting

Feasibility and efficacy of bypassing the right ventricle and pulmonary circulation to treat right ventricular failure: an experimental study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Right ventricular failure (RVF) and -support is associated with poor results. We aimed for a new approach of right - sided assistance bypassing the right ventricle and pulmonary circulation in order to better decompress the right ventricle and optimize left ventricular filling.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From a microaxial pump (Abiomed), a low resistance oxygenator (Maquet and Novalung) and two cannulas (28 and 27 Fr) a system was set up and evaluated in an ovine model (n = 7). Connection with the heart was the right and left atrium. One hour the system was operated without RVF and turned of again. Then a RVF was induced and the course with the system running was evaluated. Complete hemodynamic monitoring was performed as well as echocardiography, flow measurement and blood gas analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall performance of the system was reliable. Without RVF no relevant changes of hemodynamics occurred; blood gases were supra normal. In RVF a cardiogenic shock developed (MAP 35 ± 13 mmHg, CO 1,1 ± 0,7 l/min). Immediately after starting the system the circulation normalized (significant increase of MAP to 85 ± 13 mmHg, of CO to 4,5 ± 1,9). Echocardiography also revealed right ventricular recovery. After stopping the system, RVF returned.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Bypassing the right ventricle and pulmonary circulation with an oxygenating assist device, which may offer the advantages of enhanced right ventricular decompression and augmented left atrial filling, is feasible and effective in the treatment of acute RVF. Long time experiments are needed.</p

Long-term survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer and synchronous brain metastasis treated with whole-brain radiotherapy and thoracic chemoradiation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Brain metastases occur in 30-50% of Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and confer a worse prognosis and quality of life. These patients are usually treated with Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) followed by systemic therapy. Few studies have evaluated the role of chemoradiotherapy to the primary tumor after WBRT as definitive treatment in the management of these patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We reviewed the outcome of 30 patients with primary NSCLC and brain metastasis at diagnosis without evidence of other metastatic sites. Patients were treated with WBRT and after induction chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cisplatin for two cycles. In the absence of progression, concurrent chemoradiotherapy for the primary tumor with weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin was indicated, with a total effective dose of 60 Gy. If disease progression was ruled out, four chemotherapy cycles followed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Median Progression-free survival (PFS) and Overall survival (OS) were 8.43 ± 1.5 and 31.8 ± 15.8 months, respectively. PFS was 39.5% at 1 year and 24.7% at 2 years. The 1- and 2-year OS rates were 71.1 and 60.2%, respectively. Three-year OS was significantly superior for patients with N0-N1 stage disease vs. N2-N3 (60 vs. 24%, respectively; Response rate [RR], 0.03; <it>p</it>= 0.038).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Patients with NSCLC and brain metastasis might benefit from treatment with WBRT and concurrent thoracic chemoradiotherapy. The subgroup of N0-N1 patients appears to achieve the greatest benefit. The result of this study warrants a prospective trial to confirm the benefit of this treatment.</p