The Argyre Region as a Prime Target for in situ Astrobiological Exploration of Mars

At the time before ∼3.5 Ga that life originated and began to spread on Earth, Mars was a wetter and more geologically dynamic planet than it is today. The Argyre basin, in the southern cratered highlands of Mars, formed from a giant impact at ∼3.93 Ga, which generated an enormous basin approximately 1800 km in diameter. The early post-impact environment of the Argyre basin possibly contained many of the ingredients that are thought to be necessary for life: abundant and long-lived liquid water, biogenic elements, and energy sources, all of which would have supported a regional environment favorable for the origin and the persistence of life. We discuss the astrobiological significance of some landscape features and terrain types in the Argyre region that are promising and accessible sites for astrobiological exploration. These include (i) deposits related to the hydrothermal activity associated with the Argyre impact event, subsequent impacts, and those associated with the migration of heated water along Argyre-induced basement structures; (ii) constructs along the floor of the basin that could mark venting of volatiles, possibly related to the development of mud volcanoes; (iii) features interpreted as ice-cored mounds (open-system pingos), whose origin and development could be the result of deeply seated groundwater upwelling to the surface; (iv) sedimentary deposits related to the formation of glaciers along the basin's margins, such as evidenced by the ridges interpreted to be eskers on the basin floor; (v) sedimentary deposits related to the formation of lakes in both the primary Argyre basin and other smaller impact-derived basins along the margin, including those in the highly degraded rim materials; and (vi) crater-wall gullies, whose morphology points to a structural origin and discharge of (wet) flows

Stretching positions for the coracohumeral ligament: Strain measurement during passive motion using fresh/frozen cadaver shoulders

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Contracture of the coracohumeral ligament is reported to restrict external rotation of the shoulder with arm at the side and restrict posterior-inferior shift of the humeral head. The contracture is supposed to restrict range of motion of the glenohumeral joint.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To obtain stretching position of the coracohumeral ligament, strain on the ligament was measured at the superficial fibers of the ligament using 9 fresh/frozen cadaver shoulders. By sequential measurement using a strain gauge, the ligament strain was measured from reference length (L0). Shoulder positions were determined using a 3 Space Tracker System. Through a combination of previously reported coracohumeral stretching positions and those observed in preliminary measurement, ligament strain were measured by passive external rotation from 10° internal rotation, by adding each 10° external rotation, to maximal external rotation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Stretching positions in which significantly larger strain were obtained compared to the L0 values were 0° elevation in scapula plane with 40°, 50° and maximum external rotation (5.68%, 7.2%, 7.87%), 30° extension with 50°, maximum external rotation (4.20%, 4.79%), and 30° extension + adduction with 30°, 40°, 50° and maximum external rotation (4.09%, 4.67%, 4.78%, 5.05%)(P < 0.05). No positive strain on the coracohumeral ligament was observed for the previously reported stretching positions; ie, 90° abduction with external rotation or flexion with external rotation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Significant strain of the coracohumeral ligament will be achieved by passive external rotation at lower shoulder elevations, extension, and extension with adduction.</p

Cost-effectiveness of budesonide Turbuhaler in the treatment of mild-to-moderate asthma in Japan

Asthma therapy including inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) has been shown to be effective in many parts of the world, but its use is still limited in Japan. A 6-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial was therefore undertaken to assess the efficacy of the ICS budesonide Turbuhaler (budesonide administered via the dry-powder inhaler Turbuhaler) in patients in Japan with mild-to-moderate asthma. Prior to, and during, the study, all concomitant medications, except corticosteroid preparations, were allowed (i.e. all pre-study medication was to be maintained throughout the study). In total, 218 patients randomized to receive budesonide Turbuhaler 200 μg/day (n = 53), 400 μg/day (n = 55), 800 μg/day (n = 57) or placebo (n = 53) were included in the analysis. Due to the increased demand and interest for health economic data in Japan, this retrospective cost-effectiveness analysis reports on the economic impact of budesonide Turbuhaler compared with placebo (i.e. usual care), based on this clinical trial. At each dosage, budesonide Turbuhaler was significantly more effective than the placebo, according to the number of symptom-free and episode-free days. The number of emergency visits, days of lost production and days of hospitalization were all lower in the budesonide Turbuhaler groups, leading to significantly (P < 0.05) reduced total health-care and productivity costs compared with placebo. These findings were generally stable to sensitivity analysis. However, this reduction in costs will obviously have to be compared with the acquisition cost of budesonide Turbuhaler (which was excluded in the analysis as a price had not been determined) when it becomes available on the market. Budesonide Turbuhaler, while improving the health of patients, could thus have a considerable impact on the costs of treating asthma in Japan, by shifting large hospital care costs towards relatively small out-patient medication costs