Cardiac Amyloidosis

Amyloidosis represents a heterogeneous group of disorders caused by amyloid fibril deposition in the extracellular space in different organs. Among the many types of amyloidosis cardiac involvement occurs almost exclusively with immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis) or transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis). When present cardiac amyloidosis (CA) has a significant impact on disease prognosis. The typical clinical presentation in CA is that of a restrictive cardiomyopathy. Clinical suspicion of CA is based on clinical, laboratory and electrocardiographic findings. The diagnosis is confirmed using echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, biopsy, and/or bone scintigraphy. A precise definition of amyloidosis type is essential for choosing the specific treatment for this condition. Treatment of CA has two components: general treatment of congestive HF, and specific treatment of the underlying protein misfolding disorder

The forestry-wood chain : simulation technique, measurement accuracy, traceability concept

A customer-oriented production philosophy, an integrated forestry-wood chain and the global vision of Precision Forestry are concepts that researchers and people involved in the forest and wood industry have to deal with in the beginning of this new millennium. Fulfilling the specific requirements for dimension, length, biological features and proof-of-origin that customers demand for the wood products entails the existence of advanced methods and tools for understanding and thus controlling the production process along the forestry-wood value chain. The two overall objectives of this thesis were a) to study the prerequisites of using the simulation technique together with advanced simulation tools in understanding the role of the measurement accuracy at different locations within the forestry-wood production chain and b) to study the prerequisites of developing a marking/reading free traceability system for sawlogs based on log measurement data as generated today at the sawmill site.Godkänd; 2003; 20061109 (haneit

The fingerprint approach : using data generated by a 3D log scanner on debarked logs to accomplish traceability in the sawmill's log yard

Technological advances in the area of optical scanning have made sophisticated equipment such as three-dimensional (3D) log scanners available to the sawmill industry. In a typical Swedish sawmill, the measurements obtained from the 3D log scanner placed at the log sorting station is used exclusively for scaling and sorting the sawlogs. In the same way, the information obtained from the 3D log scanner placed at the saw intake is used exclusively for optimal positioning of the sawlog into the headrig. Meanwhile, large knowledge gaps regarding the flow and the origin of the sawlogs persist in the sawmill's daily routine. For the Swedish sawmills performing presorting of sawlogs, the most critical information gap exists between the log sorting station and the saw intake, where the forest log batch identity disappears, and the logs are mixed according to various sorting criteria. This study attempts to use the data generated by 3D log scanners together with advanced recognition algorithms to develop a traceability system, marking/reading free, between the log sorting station and the saw intake when working with debarked logs. The originality of the fingerprint approach rests on the hypothesis that logs are separate entities with individual features. Measuring these features with the same type of measuring device at both the log sorting station and at the saw intake and then connecting the data to a common database will permit each individual sawlog to be tracked within the sawmill and will thus make it possible to develop an advanced raw material flow control.Validerad; 2004; 20061017 (cira

Electrocardiographic Patterns in Patients with Neurally Mediated Syncope

The baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) is less informative in neurally mediated syncope (NMS) than in arrhythmic syncope. However, some of the ECG patterns present in NMS can have diagnostic and prognostic value in such patients. Electrocardiographic documentation of a syncopal spell and thus identification of the ECG changes can be performed during tilt table test (TTT) or during prolonged ECG monitoring. This work reviews the specific ECG patterns in NMS, which are primarily related to the cardioinhibitory reflex. In addition, there are other ECG findings present in patients with NMS that are being analyzed, such as increased heart rate variability as well as specific QRS voltage patterns. In addition to the diagnostic and prognostic value, these ECG patterns in NMS may help improving the selection of patients for pacemaker implant