Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Modern high-resistance alloy steel used in railway transport

The article presents an overview of modern steel used in rail transport. Directions for the development of materials, technologies and constructions used in the manufacture of rail vehicles are, on the one hand, determined by the technical and economic requirements of industry and, on the other, by the continued emphasis of environmentalists on reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. This generates innovation in the use of modern materials, processing methods and new design solutions and results in reduced vehicle weight. More bold forecasts today show that at the current pace of technology development, in the near future the mass of the vehicle will reduce by an average of 30%. Observing the trends and pace of rail transport development, it can be predicted that existing restrictions on the use of modern materials, such as high prices, technological conditions and difficult automation of large-scale production, can be predicted

Problemy emisji spalin z modernizowanych lokomotyw spalinowych eksploatowanych w Polsce

This article presents the analysis of emissivity of diesel locomotives operating in Poland. In the last years a significant part of the rail vehicles have been subjected to remotorization consisting in replacement of the combustion engine with the new generation model. This leads to the reduction of toxic constituents emission of exhaust gases from the railway vehicles. The analysis was conducted bearing in mind the histograms of locomotives loads in normal work conditions. It allowed to assess the ecological benefits of these engines during their operation.W artykule przedstawiono analizę emisyjności eksploatowanych lokomotyw spalinowych w Polsce. Znaczną część pojazdów szynowych w ciągu ostatnich lat poddano remotoryzacjom polegającym na zastąpieniu silnika spalinowego nowszym generacyjnie modelem. Skutkuje to zmniejszeniem emisji składników toksycznych spalin z pojazdów szynowych. Analizę przeprowadzono z uwzględnieniem histogramów obciążeń lokomotyw w typowych warunkach pracy, co pozwoliło na ocenę korzyści ekologicznych związanych z tymi silnikami w czasie ich eksploatacji

New technologies of enhanced plastic for use in rail vehicles to reduce noise emissions

The article presents an overview of modern plastics for use in rail vehicles. The analysis of plastics and composites in the constructional aspect was analyzed. The trends in the development of polymer materials, technologies and constructions used in the manufacture of vehicles, on the one hand, are determined by the technical and economic requirements of industry and, on the other, by the continued emphasis on reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Further development will be subject to pre-impregnation techniques, particularly in the form of different types of reinforcement. Full use of the advantages of reinforced polymer materials in vehicle production will only be achieved when further optimization of the resin properties and development of automation will result in the widespread use of composite components in series production. Observing the trends and pace of development, it is possible to predict that there are still restrictions on the use of polymeric materials in the transport sector, such as relatively high prices, technological constraints and the hindering automation of large-scale production. Modern construction and material solutions, in particular those using reinforced plastics, are primarily designed to reduce vehicle weight and have better noise and vibration damping properties. Rail vehicles are becoming more environmentally friendly at the time and travel comfort is higher

Possibilities of the medication the rolling stock exploited in Poland in reducing his influence on the environment

Na przestrzeni ostatnich kilku lat zostaje sprowadzanych do kraju coraz większa liczba spalinowych pojazdów trakcyjnych (zwłaszcza lokomotyw), których silniki spalinowe nie spełniają wymagań w zakresie emisji składników toksycznych [1, 2]. Spowodowane jest to przede wszystkim liberalizacją przewozów kolejowych w kraju i pojawieniem się ponad trzydziestu przewoźników (tzw. operatorów prywatnych), nie skupionych w byłych i obecnych strukturach Polskich Kolei Państwowych S.A

Legal conditions in the aspect of pollutant emissions from exhaust systems of rail vehicles engines

One of the main objectives of the European transport policy is to increase the share of alternative modes of transport – revitalization of rail transport, promotion of water transport and development of intermodal transport, which will help to reduce the dominance of road transport. The adverse impact of transport can be felt both in the natural environment and in society, where the dynamic development of this sector has enabled significant civilization development, with the effects varying depending on the level of economic development, the degree of advancement and use of the various transport sectors, geographical location (including climate), and also the sensitivity of the elements of the environment. Considering contemporary transport hazards, it is important to prevent them from occurring, and when that is not possible – limiting their impact on the environment and reducing the scale and extent of negative impacts. The impact of rail transport on the environment and safety is much lower compared to road transport. The impact of rail transport on the environment mainly comes from the emission of noise and vibration, pollution (from diesel locomotives) and land occupation. The article presents information on the current legal conditions regarding the emission of pollutants from rail vehicles. Information with reference to research tests and emission limit values was included. The subject of tests in real traffic conditions was also mentioned as the direction of changes in vehicle homologation tests

An assessment of shunting work organization in ecological aspects

Efektywne prowadzenie prac rozrządowych wymaga odpowiedniej ich organizacji. Ma to swoje przełożenie nie tylko na względy ekonomiczne (w tym zużycie energii), lecz również ekologiczne (emisja zanieczyszczeń w gazach wylotowych). W artykule dokonano analiz eksploatacyjnych, mających na celu określenie wpływu zastosowania różnego sposobu rozrządzania wagonów na kwestię emisji substancji toksycznych przez układ wylotowy lokomotywy SM42. Wspomniana lokomotywa należy do grupy specjalistycznych maszyn niezbędnych w pracach manewrowych. Należy nadmienić, że pojazdy tego typu mają znacząco odmienny charakter pracy niż lokomotywy wykorzystywane w ruchu osobowym i towarowym. Duży procentowy udział stanowi praca silnika w warunkach biegu jałowego oraz przy małym obciążeniu. Charakter obciążenia jest między innymi przyczyną zasadniczo dużego stężenia zanieczyszczeń w spalinach.Effective management of marshalling works requires their appropriate organization. This has its impact not only on economic considerations (including energy consumption), but also ecological (emission of pollutants in exhaust gases). In the article, operational analyzes were made to determine the impact of the use of various wagon management methods on the issue of toxic substances emission via the SM42 locomotive's exhaust system. The locomotive belongs to a group of specialized machines necessary for maneuvering work. It should be noted that vehicles of this type have a significantly different nature of work than locomotives used in personal and freight traffic. A large percentage share is engine work under idling conditions and at low load. The nature of the load is, among other things, the cause of a substantially high concentration of pollutants in the exhaust gases

An assessment of shunting work organization in ecological aspects

Efektywne prowadzenie prac rozrządowych wymaga odpowiedniej ich organizacji. Ma to swoje przełożenie nie tylko na względy ekonomiczne (w tym zużycie energii), lecz również ekologiczne (emisja zanieczyszczeń w gazach wylotowych). W artykule dokonano analiz eksploatacyjnych, mających na celu określenie wpływu zastosowania różnego sposobu rozrządzania wagonów na kwestię emisji substancji toksycznych przez układ wylotowy lokomotywy SM42. Wspomniana lokomotywa należy do grupy specjalistycznych maszyn niezbędnych w pracach manewrowych. Należy nadmienić, że pojazdy tego typu mają znacząco odmienny charakter pracy niż lokomotywy wykorzystywane w ruchu osobowym i towarowym. Duży procentowy udział stanowi praca silnika w warunkach biegu jałowego oraz przy małym obciążeniu. Charakter obciążenia jest między innymi przyczyną zasadniczo dużego stężenia zanieczyszczeń w spalinach.Effective management of marshalling works requires their appropriate organization. This has its impact not only on economic considerations (including energy consumption), but also ecological (emission of pollutants in exhaust gases). In the article, operational analyzes were made to determine the impact of the use of various wagon management methods on the issue of toxic substances emission via the SM42 locomotive's exhaust system. The locomotive belongs to a group of specialized machines necessary for maneuvering work. It should be noted that vehicles of this type have a significantly different nature of work than locomotives used in personal and freight traffic. A large percentage share is engine work under idling conditions and at low load. The nature of the load is, among other things, the cause of a substantially high concentration of pollutants in the exhaust gases