1,199 research outputs found
Effectiveness of various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in pain management of patients with vertebral fracture: A comparative clinical study
Purpose: To study the effectiveness of various nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with vertebral fractures.Methods: A total of 78 patients (17 males and 61 females) with a mean age of 69.5 years were included. The major inclusion criterion was an osteoporotic vertebral fracture between T7 and L3. The exclusion criteria included fractures above T7 and below L3; and other bone disorders such as disc herniation, spondylolisthesis, an infection, or a tumour. Pain intensity was assessed with the aid of a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS). Bone mineral density (BMD) data, delay in reunion, and any other matter of significance, were discussed with the treating doctors and cross-checked with independent doctors. The NSAIDs given were non-selective cyclo-oxygenase (COX) inhibitors (naproxen, indomethacin and flurbiprofen) and selective COX 2 inhibitors (piroxicam, celecoxib, and rofecoxib). All data were compiled and appropriately analysed.Results: Some NSAIDs interfered with bone healing. No male required surgery, but two females taking naproxen, one taking flurbiprofen, and another taking celecoxib, required surgery. In terms of bone healing, non-union and delay in reunion were more evident in those taking naproxen, indomethacin or flurbiprofen than in those taking piroxicam, celecoxib, or rofecoxib. All T scores were lower than -2.5, indicating that all the patients were osteoporotic. Positive changes in T scores after 12 weeks were evident only in those taking rofecoxib, celecoxib, or piroxicam. VAS scores were also better in these patients.Conclusions: Celecoxib seems to be the best of the six NSAIDs in terms of both analgesia and bone health. The study recommends the use of celecoxib in patients with vertebral fractures.Keywords: Orthopaedic, NSAID, COX, Bone reunion, Analgesic activity, Pain management, T scor
Determining layer number of two dimensional flakes of transition-metal dichalcogenides by the Raman intensity from substrate
Transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) semiconductors have been widely studied
due to their distinctive electronic and optical properties. The property of TMD
flakes is a function of its thickness, or layer number (N). How to determine N
of ultrathin TMDs materials is of primary importance for fundamental study and
practical applications. Raman mode intensity from substrates has been used to
identify N of intrinsic and defective multilayer graphenes up to N=100.
However, such analysis is not applicable for ultrathin TMD flakes due to the
lack of a unified complex refractive index () from monolayer to bulk
TMDs. Here, we discuss the N identification of TMD flakes on the SiO/Si
substrate by the intensity ratio between the Si peak from 100-nm (or 89-nm)
SiO/Si substrates underneath TMD flakes and that from bare SiO/Si
substrates. We assume the real part of of TMD flakes as that of
monolayer TMD and treat the imaginary part of as a fitting
parameter to fit the experimental intensity ratio. An empirical ,
namely, , of ultrathin MoS, WS and WSe
flakes from monolayer to multilayer is obtained for typical laser excitations
(2.54 eV, 2.34 eV, or 2.09 eV). The fitted of MoS has
been used to identify N of MoS flakes deposited on 302-nm SiO/Si
substrate, which agrees well with that determined from their shear and
layer-breathing modes. This technique by measuring Raman intensity from the
substrate can be extended to identify N of ultrathin 2D flakes with N-dependent
. For the application purpose, the intensity ratio excited by
specific laser excitations has been provided for MoS, WS and
WSe flakes and multilayer graphene flakes deposited on Si substrates
covered by 80-110 nm or 280-310 nm SiO layer.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. Accepted by Nanotechnolog
Controlled polarization rotation of an optical field in multi-Zeeman-sublevel atoms
We investigate, both theoretically and experimentally, the phenomenon of
polarization rotation of a weak, linearly-polarized optical (probe) field in an
atomic system with multiple three-level electromagnetically induced
transparency (EIT) sub-systems. The polarization rotation angle can be
controlled by a circularly-polarized coupling beam, which breaks the symmetry
in number of EIT subsystems seen by the left- and right-circularly-polarized
components of the weak probe beam. A large polarization rotation angle (up to
45 degrees) has been achieved with a coupling beam power of only 15 mW.
Detailed theoretical analyses including different transition probabilities in
different transitions and Doppler-broadening are presented and the results are
in good agreements with the experimentally measured results.Comment: 28pages, 12figure
Effects of two myricetin on renal fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy rats
Objective: To investigate the protective effect of two - myricetin (DMY) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its effect on renal fibrosis. Methods: the DN model was established by intraperitoneal injection of high-dose (55 mg · kg-1) streptozotocin (STZ). The model was successfully established with blood glucose > 16.7 mmol · L-1. The rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group and low, medium and high dose DMY group (125, 250 and 500 mg · kg-1). DMY group was administered by gavage, and the model group was administered by normal saline for 12 weeks. The contents of 24h urinary protein (24h-Pro), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood creatinine (SCR) were detected by biochemistry. He staining was used to observe the morphological changes of kidney in each group, PAS staining was used to observe the changes of basement membrane thickness of renal tissue in each group, and Masson staining was used to observe the degree of glomerulosclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis in each group. TGF in renal tissue of rats in each group was detected by Western blot- β1. Expression level of Smad2 and Smad7. Results: compared with the normal group, the contents of 24h pro, bun and SCR in DN model group were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the contents of 24h pro, bun and SCR in each dose of DMY group decreased (P < 0.01). The pathological results showed that the renal tissue of the model group showed increased glomerular volume and glue mor
Quantum Interference of Stored Coherent Spin-wave Excitations in a Two-channel Memory
Quantum memories are essential elements in long-distance quantum networks and
quantum computation. Significant advances have been achieved in demonstrating
relative long-lived single-channel memory at single-photon level in cold atomic
media. However, the qubit memory corresponding to store two-channel spin-wave
excitations (SWEs) still faces challenges, including the limitations resulting
from Larmor procession, fluctuating ambient magnetic field, and
manipulation/measurement of the relative phase between the two channels. Here,
we demonstrate a two-channel memory scheme in an ideal tripod atomic system, in
which the total readout signal exhibits either constructive or destructive
interference when the two-channel SWEs are retrieved by two reading beams with
a controllable relative phase. Experimental result indicates quantum coherence
between the stored SWEs. Based on such phase-sensitive storage/retrieval
scheme, measurements of the relative phase between the two SWEs and Rabi
oscillation, as well as elimination of the collapse and revival of the readout
signal, are experimentally demonstrated
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