Pionic decay of a possible d' dibaryon and the short-range NN interaction

We study the pionic decay of a possible dibaryon d′→N+N+π in the microscopic quark shell model. The initial d′ dibaryon wave function (JP=0-, T=0) consists of one 1ħω six-quark shell-model s5p[51]X configuration. The most important final six-quark configurations s6[6]X, s4p2[42]X, and (s4p2-s52s)[6]X are properly projected onto the NN channel. The final state NN interaction is investigated by means of two phase-equivalent—but off-shell different—potential models. We demonstrate that the decay width Γd′ depends strongly on the short-range behavior of the NN wave function. In addition, the width Γd′ is very sensitive to the mass and size of the d′ dibaryon. For dibaryon masses slightly above the experimentally suggested value Md′=2.065GeV, we obtain a pionic decay width of Γd′≈0.18–0.32MeV close to the experimental value Γd′≈0.5MeV.Obukhovsky, I. Itonaga, K. ; Wagner, Georg ; Buchmann, A. ; Faessler, Aman

Stress testing and non-invasive coronary angiography in patients with suspected coronary artery disease: time for a new paradigm

Diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease represents major challenges to our health care system, affecting millions of patients each year. Until recently, the diagnosis of coronary artery disease was possible only through cardiac catheterization and invasive coronary angiography. To avoid the risks of an invasive procedure, stress testing is often employed for an initial assessment of patients with suspected coronary artery disease, serving as a gatekeeper for cardiac catheterization. With the emergence of non-invasive coronary angiography, the question arises if such a strategy is still sensible, particularly, in view of only a modest agreement between stress testing results and the presence of coronary artery disease established by cardiac catheterization. Much data in support of the diagnostic accuracy and prognostic value of non-invasive coronary angiography by computed tomography have emerged within the last few years. These data challenge the role of stress testing as the initial imaging modality in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. This article reviews the clinical utility, limitations, as well as the hazards of stress testing compared with non-invasive coronary artery imaging by computed tomography. Finally, the implications of this review are discussed in relation to clinical practice

Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial

Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort