Assessment of vocal fold mobility using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound in healthy volunteers

Purpose: To verify the value of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, fast field echo (FFE), and balanced gradient echo (true fast imaging with steady-state free precession - TRUFI) in the evaluation of vocal fold mobility in healthy volunteers, against ultrasound examination (US) as the reference test. Material and methods: Vocal fold mobility in 35 healthy volunteers (age 20-59 years, 20 women and 15 men) with no history of laryngeal disorders and neck surgeries was determined by means of US and MRI during normal breathing and phonation of the "hiiii" sound. US images were used to determine the glottic angles. During MRI two dynamic sequences, fast field echo and balanced gradient echo, were applied to determine the minimum and maximum values of the glottic angles, along with the rima glottidis area, separately for the right and left compartments. Due to differences in larynx anatomy, the abovementioned parameters were analysed separately for women and men. Results: No significant differences were observed between the glottic angle values obtained during US and dynamic MRI (FFE and TRUFI sequences). Regardless of the dynamic MRI sequence used, a positive correlation was found between the maximum values of glottic angle and the rima glottidis area. This correlation was strong and statistically significant among men, but not in women. Conclusions: Dynamic MRI of vocal folds using FFE and TRUFI sequence is an accurate method for the objective evaluation of rima glottidis width

Contribution to a ranking procedure for polymeric caotings and hydrophobic agents for concrete

One of the possible ways to protect the concrete is using coatings and hydrophobic agents that act as a barrier against the environment. When selecting the material for concrete protection, importance should be given to these properties of diffusion and permeability. The coatings and the hydrophobic agents must stop the penetration of water and delay the influence of aggressive agents, allowing the structure to breathe by a water vapour diffusion mechanism. An evaluation of the surface layer transport properties gives information on the durability of a particular concrete. In order to make the selection of coatings and hydrophobic agents for concrete protection, it is important to analyse the compound’s technical and economical performances. A ranking procedure, developed by Czarnecki and Lukowski, is applied on a series of concrete protection products. The ranking procedure is applied to evaluate durability experiments, carried out on some commercially available silicone, acrylic and epoxy compounds for surface treatment of concrete. The ranking procedure transforms experimental data of properties into one numerical value, by which the products can be classified according to the way on which their properties present an optimised or even best buy combination. The paper shows the use of the ranking procedure methodology, and points at the importance of the choice of the criteria and of their relative weight factor in the evaluation. The method is a valuable tool for the ranking of similar materials, whose performance is based on the same or similar physical or chemical processes

Biodegradable polymer-coated thin strut sirolimus- -eluting stent versus durable polymer-coated everolimus-eluting stent in the diabetic population

Background: The number of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) presenting with coronary artery disease is increasing and accounts for more than 30% of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). The biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents were developed to improve vascular healing. It was sought herein, to determine 1-year clinical follow-up in patients with DM treated with the thin strut biodegradable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) versus durable coating everolimus-eluting stent (DP-EES).Methods: Patients were retrospectively analyzed with DM were treated with either a BP-SES (ALEX™, Balton, Poland, n = 670) or a DP-EES (XIENCE™, Abbott, USA, n = 884) with available 1 year clinical follow-up using propensity score matching. Outcomes included target vessel revascularization (TVR) as efficacy outcome and all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and definite/probable stent thrombosis as safety outcomes.Results: After propensity score matching 527 patients treated with BP-SES and 527 patients treated with DP-EES were selected. Procedural and clinical characteristics were similar between both groups. In-hospital mortality was 3.23% in BP-SES vs. 2.09% in DP-EES group (p = 0.25). One-year followup demonstrated comparable efficacy outcome TVR (BP-SES 6.64% vs. DP-EES 5.88%; p = 0.611), as well as similar safety outcomes of all-cause death (BP-SES 10.06% vs. DP-EES 7.59%; p = 0.158), myocardial infarction (BP-SES 7.959% vs. DP-EES 6.83%; p = 0.813), and definite/probable stent thrombosis (BP-SES 1.14% vs. DP-EES 0.76%; p = 0.525).Conclusions: The thin-strut biodegradable polymer coated, sirolimus-eluting stent demonstrated comparable clinical outcomes at 1-year after implantation to DP-EES. These data support the relative safety and efficacy of BP-SES in diabetic patients undergoing PCI

Regularity and Symmetry as a Base for Efficient Realization of Reversible Logic Circuits

We introduce a Reversible Programmable Gate Array (RPGA) based on regular structure to realize binary functions in reversible logic. This structure, called a 2 * 2 Net Structure, allows for more efficient realization of symmetric functions than the methods shown by previous authors. In addition, it realizes many non-symmetric functions even without variable repetition. Our synthesis method to RPGAs allows to realize arbitrary symmetric function in a completely regular structure of reversible gates with smaller “garbage” than the previously presented papers. Because every Boolean function is symmetrizable by repeating input variables, our method is applicable to arbitrary multi-input, multi-output Boolean functions and realizes such arbitrary function in a circuit with a relatively small number of garbage gate outputs. The method can be also used in classical logic. Its advantages in terms of numbers of gates and inputs/outputs are especially seen for symmetric or incompletely specified functions with many outputs

Citrullinated histone H3, a marker of extracellular trap formation, is increased in blood of stable asthma patients

Background: Emerging data indicates that extracellular traps (ETs), structures formed by various immune cell types, may contribute to the pathology of noninfectious infammatory diseases. Histone hypercitrullination is an important step in ETs formation and citrullinated histone H3 (H3cit) is considered a novel and specifc biomarker of that process. In the present study we have evaluated circulating H3cit in stable asthmatics and investigated its relationship with asthma severity, pulmonary function and selected blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) biomarkers. Methods: In 60 white adult stable asthmatics and 50 well-matched controls we measured serum levels of H3cit. In asthmatics we also performed bronchoscopy with BAL. We analyzed blood and BAL biomarkers, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A and interferon γ. For statistical analysis, Mann-Whitney U-test, χ2 test, one-way ANCOVA, ROC curve analysis and univariate linear regression were applied. Independent determinants of H3cit were established in a multiple linear regression model. Results: Asthma was characterized by elevated circulating H3cit (17.49 [11.25–22.58] vs. 13.66 [8.66–18.87] ng/ml, p=0.03). In asthmatics positive associations were demonstrated between serum H3cit and lung function variables, including total lung capacity (TLC) (β=0.37 [95% CI 0.24-0.50]) and residual volume (β=0.38 [95% CI 0.25–0.51]). H3cit was increased in asthma patients receiving systemic steroids (p=0.02), as well as in subjects with BAL eosino‑ philia above 144 cells/ml (p=0.02). In asthmatics, but not in controls, circulating H3cit correlated well with number of neutrophils (β=0.31 [95% CI 0.19–0.44]) and monocytes (β=0.42 [95% CI 0.29–0.55]) in peripheral blood. Further‑ more, BAL macrophages, BAL neutrophils, TLC, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, Il-12p70 and bronchial obstruction degree were independent determinants of H3cit in a multivariate linear regression model. Conclusions: Asthma is characterized by increased circulating H3cit likely related to the enhanced lung ETs forma‑ tion. Inhibition of ETs might be a therapeutic option in selected asthma phenotypes, such as neutrophilic asthma