Ultrasonographic tissue characterisation of human Achilles tendons: quantification of tendon structure through a novel non-invasive approach

OBJECTIVE: To asses if three-dimensional imaging of the Achilles tendon by Ultrasonographic Tissue Characterisation (UTC) can differentiate between symptomatic and asymptomatic tendons. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Sports medical department of The Hague medical centre. PATIENTS: Twenty-six tendons from patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy were included. The "matched" control group consisted of 26 asymptomatic tendons. INTERVENTIONS: Symptomatic and asymptomatic tendons were scanned using the UTC-procedure. One researcher performed the ultrasonographic data-collection. These blinded data were randomised and outcome measures were determined by two independent observers. Main outcome measurements: The raw ultrasonographic images were analysed with a custom-designed algorithm that quantifies the three-dimensional stability of echopatterns, qua intensity and distribution over contiguous transverse images. This three-dimensional stability was related to tendon structure in previous studies. UTC categorizes four different echo-types that represent: I) highly stable; II) medium stable; III) highly variable and IV) constantly low intensity and variable distribution. The percentages of echo-types were calculated and the maximum tendon-thickness was measured. Finally, the inter-observer reliability of UTC was determined. RESULTS: Symptomatic tendons showed less pixels in echo-types I and II than asymptomatic tendons (51.5% versus 76.6%, p<0.001), thus less three-dimensional stability of the echopattern. The mean maximum tendon thickness was 9.2 mm in the symptomatic group and 6.8 mm in the asymptomatic group (p<0.001). The Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for the inter-observer reliability of determining the echo-types I+II was 0.95. The ICC for tendon thickness was 0.84. CONCLUSION: UTC can quantitatively evaluate tendon structure and thereby discriminate symptomatic and asymptomatic tendons. As such UTC might be useful to monitor treatment protocols

Manifestation of three-body forces in three-body Bethe-Salpeter and light-front equations

Bethe-Salpeter and light-front bound state equations for three scalar particles interacting by scalar exchange-bosons are solved in ladder truncation. In contrast to two-body systems, the three-body binding energies obtained in these two approaches differ significantly from each other: the ladder kernel in light-front dynamics underbinds by approximately a factor of two compared to the ladder Bethe-Salpeter equation. By taking into account three-body forces in the light-front approach, generated by two exchange-bosons in flight, we find that most of this difference disappears; for small exchange masses, the obtained binding energies coincide with each other.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, submitted in Few-Body System

Distinctive Cytokines as Biomarkers Predicting Fatal Outcome of Severe Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia in Mice

Invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections are frequently associated with bacteraemia. To support clinical decisions on antibiotic therapy, there is an urgent need for reliable markers as predictors of infection outcome. In the present study in mice, bacteraemia was established by intravenous inoculation of a clinical S. aureus isolate at the LD50 inoculum. As potential biomarkers for fatal outcome, blood culture (qualitative and quantitative), serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as 31 selected cytokines and chemokines were assessed during the first three days of infection. A positive S. aureus blood culture, the quantitative blood culture, CRP levels, and levels of eight cytokines were indicative for the presence of S. aureus bacteraemia. However, only tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α, interleukin (IL) 1α, and keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC; a functional homologue of human IL-8) were each significantly elevated in eventually non-surviving infected mice versus eventually surviving infected mice. In severe S. aureus bacteraemia in mice, TNF-α, IL-1α, and KC are biomarkers predicting fatal outcome of infection. KC was a biomarker elevated irrespective the progression of infection, which is very interesting regarding clinical application in view of the heterogeneity of patients experiencing bacteraemia in this respect

Relativistic Three-Dimensional Two- and Three-Body Equations on a Null Plane and Applications to Meson and Baryon Regge Trtajectories

We start from a field-theoretical model of zero range approximation to derive three-dimensional relativistic two- and three-body equations on a null plane. We generalize those equations to finite range interactions. We propose a three-body null-plane equation whose form is different from the one presented earlier in the framework of light-cone dynamics. We discuss the choices of the kernels in two- and three-body cases and apply our model to the description of meson and baryon Regge trajectories. Our approach overcomes some theoretical and phenomenological difficulties met in preceding relativized treatments of the three-body problem.Comment: 35 pages LaTex, 6 figs (available from [email protected]

RQM description of the charge form factor of the pion and its asymptotic behavior

The pion charge and scalar form factors, $F_1(Q^2)$ and $F_0(Q^2)$, are first calculated in different forms of relativistic quantum mechanics. This is done using the solution of a mass operator that contains both confinement and one-gluon-exchange interactions. Results of calculations, based on a one-body current, are compared to experiment for the first one. As it could be expected, those point-form, and instant and front-form ones in a parallel momentum configuration fail to reproduce experiment. The other results corresponding to a perpendicular momentum configuration (instant form in the Breit frame and front form with $q^+=0$) do much better. The comparison of charge and scalar form factors shows that the spin-1/2 nature of the constituents plays an important role. Taking into account that only the last set of results represents a reasonable basis for improving the description of the charge form factor, this one is then discussed with regard to the asymptotic QCD-power-law behavior $Q^{-2}$. The contribution of two-body currents in achieving the right power law is considered while the scalar form factor, $F_0(Q^2)$, is shown to have the right power-law behavior in any case. The low-$Q^2$ behavior of the charge form factor and the pion-decay constant are also discussed.}Comment: 30 pages, 10 figure

A hypoperfusion context may aid to interpret hyperlactatemia in sepsis-3 septic shock patients: a proof-of-concept study

__Background:__ Persistent hyperlactatemia is particularly difficult to interpret in septic shock. Besides hypoperfusion, adrenergic-driven lactate production and impaired lactate clearance are important contributors. However, clinical recognition of different sources of hyperlactatemia is unfortunately not a common practice and patients are treated with the same strategy despite the risk of over-resuscitation in some. Indeed, pursuing additional resuscitation in non-hypoperfusion-related cases might lead to the toxicity of fluid overload and vasoactive drugs. We hypothesized that two different clinical patterns can be recognized in septic shock patients through a multimodal perfusion monitoring. Hyperlactatemic patients with a hypoperfusion context probably represent a more severe acute circulatory dysfunction, and the absence of a hypoperfusion context is eventually associated with a good outcome. We performed a retrospective analysis of a database of septic shock patients with persistent hyperlactatemia after initial resuscitation. __Results:__ We defined hypoperfusion context by the presence of a ScvO2 < 70%, or a P(cv-a)CO2 ≥6 mmHg, or a CRT ≥4 s together with hyperlactatemia. Ninety patients were included, of whom seventy exhibited a hypoperfusion-related pattern and 20 did not. Although lactate values were comparable at baseline (4.8 ± 2.8 vs. 4.7 ± 3.7 mmol/L), patients with a hypoperfusion context exhibited a more severe circulatory dysfunction with higher vasopressor requirements, and a trend to longer mechanical ventilation days, ICU stay, and more rescue therapies. Only one of the 20 hyperlactatemic patients without a hypoperfusion context died (5%) compared to 11 of the 70 with hypoperfusion-related hyperlactatemia (16%). __Conclusions:__ Two different clinical patterns among hyperlactatemic septic shock patients may be identified according to hypoperfusion context. Patients with hyperlactatemia plus low ScvO2, or high P(cv-a)CO2, or high CRT values exhibited a more severe circulatory dysfunction. This provides a starting point to launch further prospective studies to confirm if this approach can lead to a more selective resuscitation strategy

Еволюція топоформанта -щина в слов’янських мовах та його рефлекси в реґіональній історичній ойконімії

У статті автор на широкому географічно-історичному тлі простежує еволюцію топоформанта -щина в слов'янській топонімії детально аналізує рефлекси цього суфікса в реґіональній історичній ойконімії на прикладі дев'яти назв (і 12-ти мікроойконімних варіантів) населених пунктів Галицької та Львівської земель Руського воєводства із подальшим встановленням їхньої етимологи.В статье автор на широком географическо-историческом фоне прослеживает эволюцию топонимического форманта -щина в славянской топонимии детально анализирует рефлексы этого суффикса в региональной исторической ойконимии на примере девяти названий (с 12-ю микроойконимными вариантами) населенных пунктов Галицкой и Львовской земель Русского воеводства с последующим установлением их этимологии.The author traces the evolution of topoformant -schyna on the basis of historical and geographical studies in Slavic Toponymy. Reflexes of the suffix are analyzed in regional historical oykonymy in 12 toponyms (and their 12 microokonymic variants) of villages and towns of Halych and Lviv Lands of Ruske Woyewodstwo. Their etymology is also analysed

Association of Cardiometabolic Disease With Cancer in the Community

BACKGROUND: Obesity and cardiometabolic dysfunction have been associated with cancer risk and severity. Underlying mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine associations of obesity and related cardiometabolic traits with incident cancer. METHODS: FHS (Framingham Heart Study) and PREVEND (Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-Stage Disease) study participants without prevalent cancer were studied, examining associations of obesity, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue depots, and C-reactive protein (CRP) with future cancer in Cox models. RESULTS: Among 20,667 participants (mean age 50 years, 53% women), 2,619 cancer events were observed over a median follow-up duration of 15 years. Obesity was associated with increased risk for future gastrointestinal (HR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.05-1.60), gynecologic (HR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.08-2.45), and breast (HR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.05-1.66) cancer and lower risk for lung cancer (HR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.44-0.87). Similarly, waist circumference was associated with increased risk for overall, gastrointestinal, and gynecologic but not lung cancer. VAT but not subcutaneous adipose tissue was associated with risk for overall cancer (HR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.05-1.43), lung cancer (HR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.01-3.66), and melanoma (HR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.02-2.38) independent of BMI. Last, higher CRP levels were associated with higher risk for overall, colorectal, and lung cancer (P < 0.05 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity and abdominal adiposity are associated with future risk for specific cancers (eg, gastrointestinal, gynecologic). Although obesity was associated with lower risk for lung cancer, greater VAT and CRP were associated with higher lung cancer risk after adjusting for BMI

A European proficiency test on thin film tandem photovoltaic devices

A round robin proficiency test RR PT on thin film multi junction MJ photovoltaic PV cells was run between 13 laboratories within the European project CHEETAH. Five encapsulated PV cells were circulated to participants for being tested at Standard Test Conditions STC . Three cells were a Si amp; 956;c Si tandem PV devices, each of which had a different short circuit current ratio between the top junction and the bottom one; the remaining two cells were single junction PV devices made with material representative of the individual junctions in the MJ cells. The RR PT s main purpose was to assess the capability of the participating laboratories, in terms of employed facilities and procedures, to test MJ PV devices. Therefore, participant