Performance of the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers with Cosmic Rays

The Cathode Strip Chambers (CSCs) constitute the primary muon tracking device in the CMS endcaps. Their performance has been evaluated using data taken during a cosmic ray run in fall 2008. Measured noise levels are low, with the number of noisy channels well below 1%. Coordinate resolution was measured for all types of chambers, and fall in the range 47 microns to 243 microns. The efficiencies for local charged track triggers, for hit and for segments reconstruction were measured, and are above 99%. The timing resolution per layer is approximately 5 ns

Analysis of shared common genetic risk between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and epilepsy

Because hyper-excitability has been shown to be a shared pathophysiological mechanism, we used the latest and largest genome-wide studies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n = 36,052) and epilepsy (n = 38,349) to determine genetic overlap between these conditions. First, we showed no significant genetic correlation, also when binned on minor allele frequency. Second, we confirmed the absence of polygenic overlap using genomic risk score analysis. Finally, we did not identify pleiotropic variants in meta-analyses of the 2 diseases. Our findings indicate that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and epilepsy do not share common genetic risk, showing that hyper-excitability in both disorders has distinct origins

Aligning the CMS Muon Chambers with the Muon Alignment System during an Extended Cosmic Ray Run

Peer reviewe

Transient QRS amplitude attenuation is associated with clinical recovery in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Low voltage QRS complexes (LQRSV) and amplitude attenuation of QRS voltage (AAQRS) have been described in takotsubo (TC) patients, and postulated as valuable pre-angiographic markers. The aim of this observational study is to evaluate potential diagnostic and prognostic features of QRS amplitude in TC and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with TC were matched with 58 patients with ACS according to age, gender, and presence or absence of ST elevation at hospital admission. A 12-lead ECG was recorded within 12h after symptoms onset, the day after coronary angiography (CA) and before hospital discharge. When available, ECGs prior and subsequent to the acute event were also collected. RESULTS: QRS amplitude showed a time related trend, with a first phase characterized by an initial decrease in amplitude in both groups and a second phase, with a progressive recovery of QRS amplitude in TC patients up to pre-event levels, while QRS amplitude in ACS patients remained substantially unchanged from admission onwards. Rise in AAQRS during hospitalization showed a positive linear association with systolic function recovery and both troponin I and CK-MB decrease (all p<0.01) in TC patients. A 20% increase of mean AAQRS from admission is able to predict LVEF recovery and troponin I and CK-MB normalization in TC patients with good sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: LQRSV and AAQRS are not reliable in differentiating ACS from TC. However, QRS amplitude attenuation in TC is transient, and is linearly associated with systolic function recovery and cardiac biomarkers normalization

Zofenopril or irbesartan plus hydrochlorothiazide in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension untreated or uncontrolled by previous treatment: a double-blind, randomized study

OBJECTIVE: To compare zofenopril + hydrochlorothiazide (Z + H) vs. irbesartan + hydrochlorothiazide (I + H) efficacy on daytime SBP in elderly (>65 years) patients with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), untreated or uncontrolled by a previous monotherapy. METHODS: After a 1-week run-in, 230 ISH patients (office SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and DBP < 90 mmHg + daytime SBP ≥ 135 mmHg and daytime DBP < 85 mmHg) were randomized double-blind to 18-week treatment with Z + H (30 + 12.5 mg) or I + H (150 + 12.5 mg) once daily, in an international, multicenter study. Z and I doses could be doubled after 6 and 12 weeks, and nitrendipine 20 mg added at 12 weeks in nonnormalized patients. RESULTS: In the full analysis set (n = 216) baseline-adjusted average (95% confidence interval) daytime SBP reductions after 6 weeks (primary study end point) were similar (P = 0.888) with Z + H [7.7 (10.7, 4.6) mmHg, n = 107] and I + H [7.9 (10.7, 5.0) mmHg, n = 109]. Daytime SBP reductions were sustained during the study, and larger (P = 0.028) with low-dose Z + H at study end [16.2 (20.0, 12.5) mmHg vs. 11.2 (14.4, 7.9) mmHg I + H]. Daytime SBP normalization (<135 mmHg) rate was similar under Z + H and I + H at 6 and 12 weeks, but more common under Z + H at 18 weeks (68.2 vs. 56.0%, P = 0.031). Both drugs equally reduced SBP in the last 6 h of the dosing interval and homogeneously reduced SBP throughout the 24 h. The proportion of patients reporting drug-related adverse events was low (Z + H: 4.4% vs. I + H: 6.0%; P = 0.574). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients with ISH respond well to both low and high-dose Z or I combined with H