Deterministic Transformations of Multipartite Entangled States with Tensor Rank 2

Transformations involving only local operations assisted with classical communication are investigated for multipartite entangled pure states having tensor rank 2. All necessary and sufficient conditions for the possibility of deterministically converting truly multipartite, rank-2 states into each other are given. Furthermore, a chain of local operations that successfully achieves the transformation has been identified for all allowed transformations. The identified chains have two nice features: (1) each party needs to carry out at most one local operation and (2) all of these local operations are also deterministic transformations by themselves. Finally, it is found that there are disjoint classes of states, all of which can be identified by a single real parameter, which remain invariant under deterministic transformations.Comment: 27 pages, 1 figure; added new references and improved the presentatio

Influence of cadmium and copper on tissue element levels of pregnant rats

In the current study, we examined the effects of Cd on Cd, Cu, Zn and Fe levels in placenta and maternal and fetal plasma and tissues, the placental weight, total fetal and maternal body weights, and fetal and maternal tissue weights during pregnancy. A total of 21 adult female rats were treated during gestation with drinking water containing one of the following: 70 mg/L of CdCl2, a combination of 70 mg/L of CdCl2 and 70 mg/L of CuSO4, or no addition (control). Placenta Cu and Fe levels, fetal liver and kidney Cu levels, and fetal liver tissue weights were lower in the group administered Cd than in the control group. Also, Cd levels in the placenta, maternal and fetal liver, and maternal kidney were higher in the group treated with Cd than in controls. In the group administered both Cd and Cu, fetal body and tissue weights did not change, but Cd levels in the placenta, maternal and fetal liver, and maternal kidneys were higher than in controls. Zn and Fe levels in the maternal kidney and fetal liver were also lower in this group. Cd exposure during pregnancy resulted in Cd accumulation in maternal and fetal tissues during pregnancy and a decrease in the total weight of fetuses, and the combination of Cd and Cu caused some changes in the both maternal and fetal levels of Cu, Zn, and Fe, but it did not cause changes in the total fetal body weight or the weights of individual tissues. © 2007 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag

Persistent Hyperglycemia Is Associated With Increased Mortality After Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background-Hyperglycemia may be associated with worse outcome after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We assessed the association of early glycemic trajectory on ICH mortality and edema growth. Methods and Results-We included patients from the Helsinki ICH study with glucose measurements at least once between both 0 to 24 and 24 to 72 hours from onset. Hyperglycemia was defined as blood glucose >= 8 mmol/L (144 mg/dL) based on the local threshold for treatment. Glycemic trajectory was defined on maximum values 0 to 24 and 24 to 72 hours after ICH: (1) persistent normoglycemia in both epochs; (2) late hyperglycemia (only between 24 and 72 hours); (3) early hyperglycemia (only before 24 hours); and (4) persistent hyperglycemia in both epochs. Logistic regression with known predictors of outcome estimated the association of glycemic trajectory and 6-month mortality. A generalized linear model assessed the association of glycemic trajectory and interpolated 72-hour edema extension distance. A total of 576 patients met eligibility criteria, of whom 214 (37.2%) had persistent normoglycemia, 44 (7.6%) late hyperglycemia, 151 (26.2%) early hyperglycemia, and 167 (29.0%) persistent hyperglycemia. Six-month mortality was higher in the persistent (51.1%) and early (26.3%) hyperglycemia groups than the normoglycemia (19.0%) and late hyperglycemia (3.6%) groups. Persistent hyperglycemia was associated with 6-month mortality (odds ratio 3.675, 95% CI 1.989-6.792; P <0.001). Both univariate (P=0.426) and multivariable (P=0.493) generalized linear model analyses showed no association between glycemic trajectory and 72-hour edema extension distance. Conclusion-Early hyperglycemia after ICH is harmful if it is persistent. Strategies to achieve glycemic control after ICH may influence patient outcome and need to be assessed in clinical trials.Peer reviewe

Point Interaction in two and three dimensional Riemannian Manifolds

We present a non-perturbative renormalization of the bound state problem of n bosons interacting with finitely many Dirac delta interactions on two and three dimensional Riemannian manifolds using the heat kernel. We formulate the problem in terms of a new operator called the principal or characteristic operator. In order to investigate the problem in more detail, we then restrict the problem to one particle sector. The lower bound of the ground state energy is found for general class of manifolds, e.g., for compact and Cartan-Hadamard manifolds. The estimate of the bound state energies in the tunneling regime is calculated by perturbation theory. Non-degeneracy and uniqueness of the ground state is proven by Perron-Frobenius theorem. Moreover, the pointwise bounds on the wave function is given and all these results are consistent with the one given in standard quantum mechanics. Renormalization procedure does not lead to any radical change in these cases. Finally, renormalization group equations are derived and the beta-function is exactly calculated. This work is a natural continuation of our previous work based on a novel approach to the renormalization of point interactions, developed by S. G. Rajeev.Comment: 43 page

Diagnostic value of combined serum biomarkers for the evaluation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C infection: A multicenter, noninterventional, observational study

Background/Aims: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is important cause of chronic hepatitis. Liver biopsy is considered the gold standard for assessment of fibrosis but this procedure is an invasive procedure. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of non-invasive serum biomarkers, separately and in combinations, on liver fibrosis in treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and sixteen treatment-naive CHC patients were enrolled from 32 locations across Turkey in this open-labelled, non-interventional prospective observational study. FibroTest®, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index(APRI), aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4), Age-platelet(AP) index and Forns index were measured and compared with Metavir scores got from liver biopsies. Results: Data from 182 patients with baseline liver biopsy were suitable for analysis. One hundred and twenty patients (65.9%) had F0-F1 fibrosis and 62 patients (34.1%) had F2-F4 fibrosis. APRI 0.732 area under the curve(AUC) indicated advanced fibrosis with 69% sensitivity and 77% specificity. FIB-4 0.732 AUC and FibroTest 0.715 AUC indicated advanced fibrosis with 69% and 78.4% sensitivity, and 75% and 71.4% specificity, respectively. The combined use of tests also led to an increase in AUC and specificity. Combinations of FibroTest with APRI and/or FIB-4, and FIB-4 with APRI were optimal for the evaluation of liver fibrosis. Conclusion: Fibrotest, FIB-4, APRI, AP index and Forns index exhibit good diagnostic performance for determining liver fibrosis in CHC patients, and the use of at least two tests together will increase their diagnostic value still further. © Copyright 2018 by The Turkish Society of Gastroenterology

Leptin and resistin levels in serum of patients with hematologic malignancies: correlation with clinical characteristic

Aim:To evaluate leptin and resistin levels in patients with various hematologic malignancies. Methods: We included 21 patients with lymphoma, 14 with multiple myeloma (MM), 14 with acute leukemia, 13 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and 25 healthy control subjects into our study. The subjects’ body mass indexes (BMI) were calculated; hematological and acute phase response parameters, serum lipid were determined; serum leptin and resistin levels were determined by ELISA. Results: Serum leptin level was significantly increased in CLL and MM groups when compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Resistin level was significantly higher in lymphoma patients than in CLL, acute leukemia and control groups (p < 0.01). In the control group, leptin level was negatively correlated with hemoglobin level (r = –0.44, p = 0.047); and in all patients with hematologic malignancies, leptin level was correlated with BMI (r = 0.32, p = 0.02). Leptin in lymphoma subjects correlated with hemoglobin level (r = 0.64, p = 0.005), resistin level correlated with the platelet count in patients with hematologic malignancies (r = 0.26, p = 0.044). In addition, leptin level had negative correlations with international prognostic score (IPS) in Hodgkin lymphoma (r = –0.9, p = 0.002) and with international prognostic index (IPI) in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r = –0.77, p = 0.03). In CLL patients, leptin level had a correlation with the poor prognostic marker — CD38 level (r = 0.68, p = 0.03). Conclusion: We found higher leptin levels in MM and CLL patients, and higher resistin levels in lymphoma patients: this fact demonstrates that changes in adipose tissue and metabolism occur in these disease states.Цель: определить уровни содержания лептина и резистина в сыворотке крови больных с различными онкогематологическими заболеваниями. Методы: обследован 21 больной лимфомой, 14 — множественной миеломой (ММ), 14 — острой лейкемией, 13 — хронической лимфоцитарной лейкемией (ХЛЛ), и 25 здоровых доноров. У пациентов определены такие характеристики: индекс массы тела (ИМТ), гематологические параметры, содержание липидов в сыворотке крови. Содержание лептина и резистина в сыворотке крови определяли иммуноферментным методом. Результаты: уровень лептина в сыворотке крови был значительно выше у больных с ХЛЛ и ММ, чем таковой у контрольной группы (р < 0,01). Уровень резистина был значительно выше в группе больных с лимфомами по сравнению с ХЛЛ, острой лейкемией и контрольной группами (р < 0,01). В контрольной группе уровень лептина отрицательно коррелировал с уровнем гемоглобина (r = –0,44, р = 0,047), а во всех группах больных уровень лептина коррелировал с ИМТ (r = 0,32, р = 0,02). Уровень лептина при лимфомах коррелировал с уровнем гемоглобина (r = 0,64, р = 0,005), уровень резистина коррелировал с количеством тромбоцитов у больных всех групп (r = 0,26, р = 0,044). При лимфоме Ходжкина выявлена отрицательная корреляция между уровнем лептина и величиной международной прогностической шкалы (r = -0,9, р = 0,002), при неходжкинской лимфоме — величиной международного прогностического индекса (r = –0,77, р = 0,03), у больных ХЛЛ — с уровнем экспрессии CD38 (r = 0,68, р = 0,03). Выводы: у больных ММ и ХЛЛ выявлен высокий уровень лептина, а с лимфомами — высокий уровень резистина: этот факт указывает на то, что у больных указанными онкогематологическими заболеваниями могут возникать изменения в структуре жировой ткани и обмене веществ

Effect of baseline hypocalcaemia on volume of intracerebral haemorrhage in patients presenting within 72 hours from symptom onset

Introduction: Calcium has a pivotal role in haemostasis. We investigated the association of baseline calcium levels with admission intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) volume. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of consecutive ICH patients in an academic hospital between January 2005 and March 2010. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain and serum/plasma ionized calcium had to be taken within 72 h of symptom onset and within 12 h of each other in order to fulfil the study criteria. ICH cases related to trauma or tumour as well as sole intraventricular haemorrhages were excluded. Baseline haematoma volumes were calculated using semiautomated planimetry. The hypocalcaemic (Ca-ion <1.16 mmol/L) and normocalcaemic (1.16-1.30 mmol/L) patient groups were compared in univariate analyses. Association between admission hypocalcaemia and haematoma volume was studied using multivariable regression models. Results: Out of 1013 consecutive patients, 447 fulfilled the study criteria. Hypocalcaemic patients (n = 178; 39.8%) had larger baseline hematoma volumes (median 30.2 mL, IQR 11.4-58.7 mL), compared to normocalcaemic patients (n = 255; 57.0%; median 16.8 mL, IQR 7.4-44.2 mL). The median ICH volume among hypercalcaemic patients (n = 14; 3.1% of included patients) was 6.5 mL (IQR 3.1-34.6 mL). On linear regression, admission hypocalcaemia was independently associated with larger hematoma volumes (beta = 11.77; 95% CI 4.66-18.87, P = 0.01). Patients with larger haematoma volumes had higher mortality. Conclusion: Hypocalcaemia is associated with larger admission haematoma volumes among ICH patients. Higher mortality among hypocalcaemic patients is very likely mediated through larger ICH volumes.Peer reviewe

The influence of functional pinealectomy and exogenous melatonin application on healing of burr hole in adult rat calvaria: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Background: Even today, repair of the cranial defects still represents a significant challenge in neurosurgery and various options have been used for their reconstruction to date. but there are very few studies investigating the effects of exogenous administration of melatonin (MEL) as an agent that promotes bone regeneration. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of functional pinealectomy (Px) and exogenous MEL administration on the bone repair properties and surrounding connective tissue alterations in a rat calvaria model. Materials and methods: The total of 30 adult female Wistar-Albino rats was randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): control (CO) group (12 h light/12 h dark exposure), functional Px group (24 h light exposure, light-induced functional Px), and Px+MEL group (light-induced Px plus MEL, 20 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks). Critical-sized burr-hole defects (diameter = 3.0 mm) were surgically created by a single operator in the calvarium of all rats, using an electric drill. Animals in Px+MEL group received MEL 20 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, bone healing and connective tissue alterations surrounding drilled defect area in the rat calvaria were determined in hematoxylin/eosin-stained and mallory azan slices applied in anti-bone sialoprotein (BSP). Image Pro Express 4.5 program was used for histomorphometric calculation of areas of new bone and fibrotic tissue. Normality control was performed by Shapiro Wilk test. Variance homogeneities were examined by Shapiro Wilk and Levene tests; Tukey HSD test was used as a post hoc method since there was no homogeneity problem. All hypothesis tests were performed at the 0.05 significance level. Results: Histological analysis showed that the bone repair process in the Px+MEL group was similar to that of the CO group, whereas the functional Px group showed a delay. Histomorphometrically, it was found that the Px group had the largest hole diameter and the most fibrotic scar area, although no binary statistical significance was found between the CO and Px+MEL groups (p=0.910). In terms of vascularization, it was observed that the most vascular structure was found in the Px+MEL group among the scar tissue and ossification areas, while the vascularization was the least in the Px group (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings revealed that bone repair process was impaired in functional Px group, but exogenous MEL replacement was able to restore this response. Thus, it is concluded that utilization of MEL may improve the bone repair in calvarial defects