52 research outputs found
Multifragmentation threshold in ^{93}Nb+{nat}Mg collisions at 30 MeV/nucleon
We analyzed the on reaction at 30 MeV/nucleon in the aim
of disentangling binary sequential decay and multifragmentation decay close to
the energy threshold, i.e. MeV/nucleon. Using the backtracing
technique applied to the statistical models GEMINI and SMM we reconstruct
simulated charge, mass and excitation energy distributions and compare them to
the experimental ones. We show that data are better described by SMM than by
GEMINI in agreement with the fact that multifragmentation is responsible for
fragment production at excitation energies around 3 MeV/nucleon.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, 5 tables Soumis \`a Nuclear Physics
Isotope correlations as a probe for freeze-out characterization: central 124Sn+64Ni, 112Sn+58Ni collisions
124Sn+64Ni and 112Sn+58Ni reactions at 35 AMeV incident energy were studied
with the forward part of CHIMERA multi-detector. The most central collisions
were selected by means of a multidimensional analysis. The characteristics of
the source formed in the central collisions, as size, temperature and volume,
were inspected. The measured isotopes of light fragments (3 <= Z <=8) were used
to examine isotope yield ratios that provide information on the free neutron to
proton densities.Comment: 4 pages, Contribution to 8th International Conference on
Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions, Moscow 200
Mass and charge identification of fragments detected with the Chimera Silicon-CsI(Tl) telescopes
Mass and charge identification of charged products detected with
Silicon-CsI(Tl) telescopes of the Chimera apparatus is presented. An
identification function, based on the Bethe-Bloch formula, is used to fit
empirical correlation between Delta E and E ADC readings, in order to
determine, event by event, the atomic and mass numbers of the detected charged
reaction products prior to energy calibration.Comment: 24 pages, 7 .jpg figures, submitted to Nucl.Instr.
Isoscaling in dissipative projectile breakup
Dynamical breakup of projectile-like fragments (PLF) following dissipative reactions of Ca-48 projectiles with Sn-112 and Sn-124 is shown to exhibit "isoscaling" regularities that can be understood in terms of phase space governed by ground state masses. Ambiguities in isoscaling parameters obscure information on nuclear symmetry energy at subnormal densities
Clinical features and outcomes of elderly hospitalised patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure or both
Background and objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart failure (HF) mutually increase the risk of being present in the same patient, especially if older. Whether or not this coexistence may be associated with a worse prognosis is debated. Therefore, employing data derived from the REPOSI register, we evaluated the clinical features and outcomes in a population of elderly patients admitted to internal medicine wards and having COPD, HF or COPD + HF. Methods: We measured socio-demographic and anthropometric characteristics, severity and prevalence of comorbidities, clinical and laboratory features during hospitalization, mood disorders, functional independence, drug prescriptions and discharge destination. The primary study outcome was the risk of death. Results: We considered 2,343 elderly hospitalized patients (median age 81 years), of whom 1,154 (49%) had COPD, 813 (35%) HF, and 376 (16%) COPD + HF. Patients with COPD + HF had different characteristics than those with COPD or HF, such as a higher prevalence of previous hospitalizations, comorbidities (especially chronic kidney disease), higher respiratory rate at admission and number of prescribed drugs. Patients with COPD + HF (hazard ratio HR 1.74, 95% confidence intervals CI 1.16-2.61) and patients with dementia (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.06-2.90) had a higher risk of death at one year. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed a higher mortality risk in the group of patients with COPD + HF for all causes (p = 0.010), respiratory causes (p = 0.006), cardiovascular causes (p = 0.046) and respiratory plus cardiovascular causes (p = 0.009). Conclusion: In this real-life cohort of hospitalized elderly patients, the coexistence of COPD and HF significantly worsened prognosis at one year. This finding may help to better define the care needs of this population
Efficacy and safety of dabigatran in a "real-life" population at high thromboembolic and hemorrhagic risk: data from MonaldiCare registry
Dabigatran is a novel target specific oral anticoagulant for stroke prevention in non valvular atrial fibrillation. Little is still known about its real-world effectiveness and safety in the italian population. Aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dabigatran in a large single-center cohort of "real-life" italian population with non-valvular AF and to compare the results with those obtained from the RE-LY trial and the Medicare study
Effects of defibrillation shock in patients implanted with a subcutaneous defibrillator: a biomarker study
Aims Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks are associated with a subsequent increased risk of death, and an elevation of cardiac enzymes has been measured after defibrillation testing (DFT). In an experimental swine study, subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) shocks caused less myocardial damage than traditional ICD shocks. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between S-ICD shock and acute cardiac damage in humans, as evaluated by means of sensitive and highly specific circulating biomarkers.Methods and results We calculated the variation in the serum levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-CTnI) and creatine kinase- and results MB mass concentration (CK-MB mass), measured before and after an S-ICD shock delivered during intraoperative DFT. We also measured the degree of haemodynamic stress, as the variation in the serum levels of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and copeptin (CP), after the S-ICD shock. We analysed 30 consecutive patients who received an S-ICD and who underwent DFT by means of a single 65) shock. The levels of biomarkers did not change from baseline to 1h post-shock, i.e. hs-CTnI (from 0.029 +/- 0.005 ng/mL to 0.030 +/- 0.005 ng/mL, P = 0.079) and CK-MB mass (from 1.37 +/- 0.17 ng/mL to 1.41 +/- 0.18, P= 0.080) and remained stable 6 and 24h after DFT. The plasma NT-proBNP did not change, whereas CP levels were significantly higher at 1 h post-shock evaluation. However, 6 h after DFT, the levels had returned to the baseline and remained stable at 24 h.Conclusion The S-ICD shock did not seem to cause myocardial injuries. Although CP levels temporarily rose after DFT, they returned to basal levels within 6 h, which suggests that DFT does not have long-term prognostic implications. ICD shocks are associated with a subsequent increased risk of death, and an elevation of cardiac enzymes has been measured after DFT. We showed that serum levels of biomarkers of myocardial damage did not increase after high-energy DFT in patients who had undergone S-ICD device implantation. This suggests that S-ICD shock does not have long-term prognostic implications
S100b Milk concentration in mammalian species.
S100B is a neurotrophic protein detectable in
biological fluids and in human milk. Since there are several
maternal-neonatal conditions requiring the administration of
animal milks the aim of the present study was to quantify
S100B in milk from different mammalian species and to
compare protein\u2019s concentration among human and
mammalian milks. We assessed S100B concentrations in
donkey (n=12), goat (n=15) sheep (n=15), commercially
available cow (n=8) and human (n=15) milk samples. S100B
measurements were performed using an
immunoluminometric assay. S100B concentration in human
milk (10.41 \ub1 4.2 microg/L) was higher (P<0.001) than
mammalian milks. Of note, S100B concentration in cow
milk (3.13 \ub10.56 microg/L) was higher (P<0.01) than that
showed in donkey (1.17 \ub1 0.26 microg/L), sheep (0.25 \ub10.11
microg/L) and goat (0.26 \ub1 0.11 microg/L). S100B in
donkey milk was higher (P<0.01) than sheep and goat
samples whilst protein\u2019s concentration did not differ
between goat and sheep. The present study suggests the
opportunity of S100B addition to animal milk intended for
infant feeding
S100B Protein concentration in milk-formulas for preterm and term infants. Correlation with industrial preparation procedures.
Human milk S100B protein possesses important neurotrophic properties. However, in some conditions human milk is substituted by milk formulas. The aims of the present study were: to assess S100B concentrations in milk formulas, to verify any differences in S100B levels between preterm and term infant formulas and to evaluate the impact of industrial preparation at predetermined phases on S100B content. Two different set of samples were tested: (i) commercial preterm (n = 36) and term (n = 36) infant milk formulas; ii) milk preterm (n = 10) and term infant (n = 10) formulas sampled at the following predetermined industrial preparation time points: skimmed cow milk (Time 0); after protein sources supplementation (Time 1); after pasteurization (Time 2); after spray-drying (Time 3). Our results showed that S100B concentration in preterm formulas were higher than in term ones (p 0.05) at Time 2, whereas a significant (p < 0.001) dip was observed at Time 3. In conclusion, S100B showed a sufficient thermostability to resist pasteurization but not spry-drying. New feeding strategies in preterm and term infants are therefore warranted in order to preserve S100B protein during industrial preparation
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