Analysis, characterization and optimization of the energy efficiency on softwarized mobile platforms

Mención Internacional en el título de doctorLa inminente 5ª generación de sistemas móviles (5G) está a punto de revolucionar la industria, trayendo una nueva arquitectura orientada a los nuevos mercados verticales y servicios. Debido a esto, el 5G Infrastructure Public Private Partnership (5G-PPP) ha especificado una lista de Indicadores de Rendimiento Clave (KPI) que todo sistema 5G tiene que soportar, por ejemplo incrementar por 1000 el volumen de datos, de 10 a 100 veces m´as dispositivos conectados o consumos energéticos 10 veces inferiores. Con el fin de conseguir estos requisitos, se espera expandir los despligues actuales usando mas Puntos de Acceso (PoA) incrementando así su densidad con múltiples tecnologías inalámbricas. Esta estrategia de despliegue masivo tiene una contrapartida en la eficiencia energética, generando un conflicto con el KPI de reducir por 10 el consumo energético. En este contexto, la comunidad investigadora ha propuesto nuevos paradigmas para alcanzar los requisitos impuestos para los sistemas 5G, siendo materializados en tecnologías como Redes Definidas por Software (SDN) y Virtualización de Funciones de Red (NFV). Estos nuevos paradigmas son el primer paso hacia la softwarización de los despliegues móviles, incorporando nuevos grados de flexibilidad y reconfigurabilidad de la Red de Acceso Radio (RAN). En esta tesis, presentamos primero un análisis detallado y caracterización de las redes móviles softwarizadas. Consideramos el software como la base de la nueva generación de redes celulares y, por lo tanto, analizaremos y caracterizaremos el impacto en la eficiencia energética de estos sistemas. La primera meta de este trabajo es caracterizar las plataformas software disponibles para Radios Definidas por Software (SDR), centrándonos en las dos soluciones principales de código abierto: OpenAirInterface (OAI) y srsLTE. Como resultado, proveemos una metodología para analizar y caracterizar el rendimiento de estas soluciones en función del uso de la CPU, rendimiento de red, compatibilidad y extensibilidad de dicho software. Una vez hemos entendido qué rendimiento podemos esperar de este tipo de soluciones, estudiamos un prototipo SDR construido con aceleración hardware, que emplea una plataformas basada en FPGA. Este prototipo está diseñado para incluir capacidad de ser consciente de la energía, permiento al sistema ser reconfigurado para minimizar la huella energética cuando sea posible. Con el fin de validar el diseño de nuestro sistema, más tarde presentamos una plataforma para caracterizar la energía que será empleada para medir experimentalmente el consumo energético de dispositivos reales. En nuestro enfoque, realizamos dos tipos de análisis: a pequeña escala de tiempo y a gran escala de tiempo. Por lo tanto, para validar nuestro entorno de medidas, caracterizamos a través de análisis numérico los algoritmos para la Adaptación de la Tasa (RA) en IEEE 802.11, para entonces comparar nuestros resultados teóricos con los experimentales. A continuación extendemos nuestro análisis a la plataforma SDR acelerada por hardware previamente mencionada. Nuestros resultados experimentales muestran que nuestra sistema puede en efecto reducir la huella energética reconfigurando el despligue del sistema. Entonces, la escala de tiempos es elevada y presentamos los esquemas para Recursos bajo Demanda (RoD) en despliegues de red ultra-densos. Esta estrategia está basada en apagar/encender dinámicamente los elementos que forman la red con el fin de reducir el total del consumo energético. Por lo tanto, presentamos un modelo analítico en dos sabores, un modelo exacto que predice el comportamiento del sistema con precisión pero con un alto coste computacional y uno simplificado que es más ligero en complejidad mientras que mantiene la precisión. Nuestros resultados muestran que estos esquemas pueden efectivamente mejorar la eficiencia energética de los despliegues y mantener la Calidad de Servicio (QoS). Con el fin de probar la plausibilidad de los esquemas RoD, presentamos un plataforma softwarizada que sigue el paradigma SDN, OFTEN (OpenFlow framework for Traffic Engineering in mobile Network with energy awareness). Nuestro diseño está basado en OpenFlow con funcionalidades para hacerlo consciente de la energía. Finalmente, un prototipo real con esta plataforma es presentando, probando así la plausibilidad de los RoD en despligues reales.The upcoming 5th Generation of mobile systems (5G) is about to revolutionize the industry, bringing a new architecture oriented to new vertical markets and services. Due to this, the 5G-PPP has specified a list of Key Performance Indicator (KPI) that 5G systems need to support e.g. increasing the 1000 times higher data volume, 10 to 100 times more connected devices or 10 times lower power consumption. In order to achieve these requirements, it is expected to expand the current deployments using more Points of Attachment (PoA) by increasing their density and by using multiple wireless technologies. This massive deployment strategy triggers a side effect in the energy efficiency though, generating a conflict with the “10 times lower power consumption” KPI. In this context, the research community has proposed novel paradigms to achieve the imposed requirements for 5G systems, being materialized in technologies such as Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV). These new paradigms are the first step to softwarize the mobile network deployments, enabling new degrees of flexibility and reconfigurability of the Radio Access Network (RAN). In this thesis, we first present a detailed analysis and characterization of softwarized mobile networking. We consider software as a basis for the next generation of cellular networks and hence, we analyze and characterize the impact on the energy efficiency of these systems. The first goal of this work is to characterize the available software platforms for Software Defined Radio (SDR), focusing on the two main open source solutions: OAI and srsLTE. As result, we provide a methodology to analyze and characterize the performance of these solutions in terms of CPU usage, network performance, compatibility and extensibility of the software. Once we have understood the expected performance for such platformsc, we study an SDR prototype built with hardware acceleration, that employs a FPGA based platform. This prototype is designed to include energy-awareness capabilites, allowing the system to be reconfigured to minimize the energy footprint when possible. In order to validate our system design, we later present an energy characterization platform that we will employ to experimentally measure the energy consumption of real devices. In our approach, we perform two kind of analysis: at short time scale and large time scale. Thus, to validate our approach in short time scale and the energy framework, we have characterized though numerical analysis the Rate Adaptation (RA) algorithms in IEEE 802.11, and then compare our theoretical results to the obtained ones through experimentation. Next we extend our analysis to the hardware accelerated SDR prototype previously mentioned. Our experimental results show that our system can indeed reduce the energy footprint reconfiguring the system deployment. Then, the time scale of our analysis is elevated and we present Resource-on-Demand (RoD) schemes for ultradense network deployments. This strategy is based on dynamically switch on/off the elements that form the network to reduce the overall energy consumption. Hence, we present a analytic model in two flavors, an exact model that accurately predicts the system behaviour but high computational cost and a simplified one that is lighter in complexity while keeping the accuracy. Our results show that these schemes can effectively enhance the energy efficiency of the deployments and mantaining the Quality of Service (QoS). In order to prove the feasibility of RoD, we present a softwarized platform that follows the SDN paradigm, the OFTEN (Open Flow framework for Traffic Engineering in mobile Networks with energy awareness) framework. Our design is based on OpenFlow with energy-awareness functionalities. Finally, a real prototype of this framework is presented, proving the feasibility of the RoD in real deployments.FP7-CROWD (2013-2015) CROWD (Connectivity management for eneRgy Optimised Wireless Dense networks).-- H2020-Flex5GWare (2015-2017) Flex5GWare (Flexible and efficient hardware/software platforms for 5G network elements and devices).Programa de Doctorado en Ingeniería Telemática por la Universidad Carlos III de MadridPresidente: Gramaglia , Marco.- Secretario: José Nuñez.- Vocal: Fabrizio Giulian

Mecanismos de optimización cross-layer para el tráfico de vídeo en redes 4G

Los operadores y proveedores de servicios de todo el mundo han observado un incremento significativo de vídeo en redes móviles así como un crecimiento en la demanda de mayores tasas de transferencia sobre redes inalámbricas que, en muchos casos, sobrepasan las ofertadas por tecnologías de última generación como el LTE. Comparado con el núcleo de la red móvil, las congestiones ocurren de manera mas frecuente en los interfaces de red inalámbricos por su naturaleza. La calidad de vídeo se ve dramáticamente degradada debido a las congestiones y las variaciones de las condiciones del canal en las celdas, disminuyendo la Quality-of-Experience (QoE) de los usuarios. El proyecto europeo MultimEDia transport for mobIlE Video AppLications (MEDIE- VAL) tiene como objetivo evolucionar la actual arquitectura de Internet móvil centrándose en la optimización de los servicios de vídeo. Al combinar aspectos de movilidad en la red CDN y mediante el diseño de las técnicas adecuadas de ingeniería de tráfico, trata de responder a las limitaciones de la QoE en flujos de vídeo. Esta arquitectura funciona sobre un sistema basado cross-layer junto a una codificación de vídeo en capas, obteniendo así un uso mas eficiente del tráfico de vídeo en redes móviles. Esta estrategia de gestión de tráfico se centra en la QoE en lugar de los parámetros tradicionales de la Quality-of-Service (QoS). Las mejoras específicas de vídeo se introducen en las diferentes capas de la pila de protocolos. Por otra parte, el enfoque de cross-layer proporciona un soporte mejor de vídeo a un coste menor que las soluciones convencionales. En este Trabajo Fin de Grado se describe la solución diseñada para proveer un servicio mejorado de vídeo sobre redes inalámbricas enfocado a la QoE del usuario, así como el montaje de una demostración que presenta la funcionalidad.Operators and service providers around the world have observed a significant increase of video on mobile networks as well as an increase in the demand for higher transfer rates over wireless networks, in many cases, exceed those offered by latest technologies like LTE. Compared to the core of the mobile network congestions occur more frequently in the wireless network interfaces by its physical nature. The video quality is dramatically degraded due to congestion and variations in channel conditions in the cells, decreasing the Quality-of-Experience (QoE) of users. The European project MultimEDIa transport for mobile Video AppLications (MEDIE- VAL) aims to evolve the current architecture of mobile internet focusing on the optimiza- tion of video services. By combining aspects of mobility in the CDN and by designing the proper techniques of traffic engineering, seeks to answer the limitations of QoE in video streams. This architecture applies a cross-layer framework to efficiently handle video traffic in the mobile network. This traffic management strategy focuses on QoE rather than the traditional parameters of the Quality-of-Service (QoS). Specific video improvements are introduced in different layers of the protocol stack. Moreover, the approach cross-layer video provides a better support at a lower cost than conventional solutions. In this Bachelor Thesis is described the solution designed to provide an improved video service over wireless networks focused on QoE of user, as well as the installation of a demonstration that shows the solution functionality.Ingeniería Telemátic

An openflow architecture for energy-aware traffic engineering in mobile networks

To cope with the growing traffic demand, future mobile networks will be denser and integrate heterogeneous technologies. However, if not properly engineered, such networks may incur huge energy waste when there is little traffic, and may suffer from an unbearable management burden caused by the variety of technologies integrated. In this article, we propose and implement a novel management architecture for mobile networks based on OpenFlow, which supports resource-on-demand provisioning in a centralized control plane, and hides the technology specifics from the controller through the use of abstractions. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated by a real-life prototype based on commercial off-the-shelf devices.This work has been partly supported by the European Community through the iJOIN (FP7-ICT-317941) and CROWD (FP7-ICT-318115) projects. Apart from this, the European Commission has no responsibility for the content of this article.Publicad

Design, implementation and experimental validation of a 5G energy-aware reconfigurable hotspot

Flexibility and energy efficiency are considered two principal requirements of future fifth generation (5G) systems. From an architectural point of view, centralized processing and a dense deployment of small cells will play a vital role in enabling the efficient and dynamic operation of 5G networks. In this context, reconfigurable hotspots will provide on-demand services and adapt their operation in accordance to traffic re quirements, constituting a vital element of the heterogeneous 5G network infrastructure. In this paper we present a reconfigurable hotspot which is able to flexibly distribute its underlying communication functions across the network, as well as to adapt various parameters affecting the generation of the transmitted signal. The reconfiguration of the hotspot focuses on minimizing its energy footprint, while accounting for the current operative requirements. A real-time hotspot prototype has been developed to facilitate the realistic evaluation of the energy saving gains of the proposed scheme. The development flexibly combines software (SW) and hardware (HW) accelerated (HWA) functions in order to enable the agile reconfiguration of the hotspot. Actual power consumption measurements are presented for various relevant 5G networking scenarios and hotspot configurations. This thorough characterization of the energy footprint of the different subsystems of the prototype allows to map reconfiguration strategies to different use cases. Finally, the energy-aware design and implementation of the hotspot prototype is widely detailed in an effort to underline its importance to the provision of the flexibility and energy efficiency to future 5G systems.This work was supported by the European Commission in the framework of the H2020-ICT-2014-2 project Flex5Gware (Grant agreement no. 671563). The work of CTTC was also partially supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya (2017 SGR 891) and by the Spanish Government under project TEC2014-58341-C4-4-R

Impacts of the Tropical Pacific/Indian Oceans on the Seasonal Cycle of the West African Monsoon

The current consensus is that drought has developed in the Sahel during the second half of the twentieth century as a result of remote effects of oceanic anomalies amplified by local land–atmosphere interactions. This paper focuses on the impacts of oceanic anomalies upon West African climate and specifically aims to identify those from SST anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Oceans during spring and summer seasons, when they were significant. Idealized sensitivity experiments are performed with four atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs). The prescribed SST patterns used in the AGCMs are based on the leading mode of covariability between SST anomalies over the Pacific/Indian Oceans and summer rainfall over West Africa. The results show that such oceanic anomalies in the Pacific/Indian Ocean lead to a northward shift of an anomalous dry belt from the Gulf of Guinea to the Sahel as the season advances. In the Sahel, the magnitude of rainfall anomalies is comparable to that obtained by other authors using SST anomalies confined to the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. The mechanism connecting the Pacific/Indian SST anomalies with West African rainfall has a strong seasonal cycle. In spring (May and June), anomalous subsidence develops over both the Maritime Continent and the equatorial Atlantic in response to the enhanced equatorial heating. Precipitation increases over continental West Africa in association with stronger zonal convergence of moisture. In addition, precipitation decreases over the Gulf of Guinea. During the monsoon peak (July and August), the SST anomalies move westward over the equatorial Pacific and the two regions where subsidence occurred earlier in the seasons merge over West Africa. The monsoon weakens and rainfall decreases over the Sahel, especially in August.Peer reviewe

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

Identification of genetic variants associated with Huntington's disease progression: a genome-wide association study

Background Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene, HTT. Age at onset has been used as a quantitative phenotype in genetic analysis looking for Huntington's disease modifiers, but is hard to define and not always available. Therefore, we aimed to generate a novel measure of disease progression and to identify genetic markers associated with this progression measure. Methods We generated a progression score on the basis of principal component analysis of prospectively acquired longitudinal changes in motor, cognitive, and imaging measures in the 218 indivduals in the TRACK-HD cohort of Huntington's disease gene mutation carriers (data collected 2008–11). We generated a parallel progression score using data from 1773 previously genotyped participants from the European Huntington's Disease Network REGISTRY study of Huntington's disease mutation carriers (data collected 2003–13). We did a genome-wide association analyses in terms of progression for 216 TRACK-HD participants and 1773 REGISTRY participants, then a meta-analysis of these results was undertaken. Findings Longitudinal motor, cognitive, and imaging scores were correlated with each other in TRACK-HD participants, justifying use of a single, cross-domain measure of disease progression in both studies. The TRACK-HD and REGISTRY progression measures were correlated with each other (r=0·674), and with age at onset (TRACK-HD, r=0·315; REGISTRY, r=0·234). The meta-analysis of progression in TRACK-HD and REGISTRY gave a genome-wide significant signal (p=1·12 × 10−10) on chromosome 5 spanning three genes: MSH3, DHFR, and MTRNR2L2. The genes in this locus were associated with progression in TRACK-HD (MSH3 p=2·94 × 10−8 DHFR p=8·37 × 10−7 MTRNR2L2 p=2·15 × 10−9) and to a lesser extent in REGISTRY (MSH3 p=9·36 × 10−4 DHFR p=8·45 × 10−4 MTRNR2L2 p=1·20 × 10−3). The lead single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TRACK-HD (rs557874766) was genome-wide significant in the meta-analysis (p=1·58 × 10−8), and encodes an aminoacid change (Pro67Ala) in MSH3. In TRACK-HD, each copy of the minor allele at this SNP was associated with a 0·4 units per year (95% CI 0·16–0·66) reduction in the rate of change of the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) Total Motor Score, and a reduction of 0·12 units per year (95% CI 0·06–0·18) in the rate of change of UHDRS Total Functional Capacity score. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age of onset. Interpretation The multidomain progression measure in TRACK-HD was associated with a functional variant that was genome-wide significant in our meta-analysis. The association in only 216 participants implies that the progression measure is a sensitive reflection of disease burden, that the effect size at this locus is large, or both. Knockout of Msh3 reduces somatic expansion in Huntington's disease mouse models, suggesting this mechanism as an area for future therapeutic investigation

Effects of carvedilol or amlodipine on target organ damage in L-NAME hypertensive rats: their relationship with blood pressure variability

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of chronic oral treatment with carvedilol or amlodipine on blood pressure, blood pressure variability and target organ damage in N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) hypertensive rats. Wistar rats were treated with L-NAME administered in the drinking water for 8 weeks together with oral administration of carvedilol 30 mg/kg (n = 6), amlodipine 10 mg/kg (n = 6), or vehicle (n = 6). At the end of the treatment, echocardiographic evaluation, blood pressure, and short-term variability measurements were performed. Left ventricular and thoracic aortas were removed to assess activity of metalloproteinase 2 and 9 and expression levels of transforming growth factor β, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 6. Histological samples were prepared from both tissues. Carvedilol and amlodipine induced a comparable reduction of systolic and mean arterial pressure and its short-term variability in L-NAME rats. The expression of transforming growth factor β, tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 6 decreased in both organs after carvedilol or amlodipine treatment and the activity of metalloproteinase was reduced in aortic tissue. Treatment with carvedilol or amlodipine completely prevented left ventricular collagen deposition and morphometric alterations in aorta. Oral chronic treatment with carvedilol or amlodipine significantly attenuates blood pressure variability and reduces target organ damage and biomarkers of tissue fibrosis and inflammation in L-NAME hypertensive rats.Fil: del Mauro, Julieta Sofía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Prince, Paula Denise. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Donato, Pablo Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez Machulsky, Nahuel Hernan. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Moretton, Marcela Analía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Tecnología Farmacéutica; ArgentinaFil: González, Germán Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; ArgentinaFil: Bertera, Facundo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Carranza, Maria Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Gorzalczany, Susana Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Chiappetta, Diego Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Tecnología Farmacéutica; ArgentinaFil: Berg, Gabriela Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Morales, Celina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; ArgentinaFil: Gelpi, Ricardo Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; ArgentinaFil: Taira, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Höcht, Christian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentin

Síndrome metabólico y diabetes mellitus en México: el papel de la PET / TC en la disfunción endotelial y la detección de enfermedades cardiovasculares

Purpose of Review Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes mellitus (DM) have become over the past years a global burden of disease. They are one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease among others. CVDs represent the number one cause of death globally. Diabetes Mellitus’ prevalence, especially type 2, has increased dramatically in a short period increasing health care costs and mortality worldwide. Detecting coronary artery disease in diabetic patients with a myocardial perfusion imaging method such as PET/CT is the primary concern for this review. Recent Findings The most recent survey in Mexico done in 2012 reveals that an overall prevalence of 9.4% of the population has DM, which is roughly 6.4 million people with DM. Myocardial perfusion imaging with PET/CT has proven to be an accurate method to assess myocardial perfusion defects and viability in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with DM. Summary In this review, we briefly describe the latest data on DM in Mexico and the use of MPI with PET/CT for patients with this disease, creating a discussion of the use of this technique as a screening method for endothelial dysfunction to prevent cardiovascular outcomes

Effects of third generation beta-blockers, atenolol or amlodipine on blood pressure variability and target organ damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Background: b-blockers are no longer considered as firstline antihypertensive drugs due to their lower cardioprotection. Method: Considering the differences in the pharmacological properties of b-blockers, the present work compared the effects of third-generation bblockers – carvedilol and nebivolol – with a first-line agent – amlodipine – on hemodynamic parameters, including short-term blood pressure variability (BPV), and their ability to prevent target organ damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR rats were orally treated with carvedilol, nebivolol, atenolol, amlodipine or vehicle for 8 weeks. Wistar Kyoto rats treated with vehicle were used as normotensive group. Echocardiographic evaluation, BP, and short-term BPV measurements were performed. Left ventricle and thoracic aorta were removed for histological evaluations and to assess the expression of transforming growth factor b (TGF-b), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Results: Carvedilol, nebivolol or amlodipine induced a greater reduction of carotid BP, short-term BPV and echocardiography parameters than atenolol in SHR rats. Carvedilol, nebivolol and amlodipine were more effective than atenolol in the prevention of cardiac hypertrophy, and cardiac and aortic collagen deposit. Carvedilol and nebivolol, but not atenolol, reduced the expressions of fibrotic and inflammatory biomarkers – TGF-b, TNF-a and IL-6 – in SHR rats to a similar extent to that of amlodipine. Conclusion: Chronic treatment with carvedilol or nebivolol attenuates carotid BP and short-term BPV, and reduces target organ damage in SHR to a greater extent than atenolol. Our findings suggest that the lower cardiovascular protection of nonvasodilating b-blockers, as atenolol, in hypertension must not be translated to thirdgeneration b-blockers. Keywords: amlodipine, atenolol, blood pressure variability, carvedilol, nebivolol, spontaneously hypertensive rats, target organ damage Abbreviations: BP, blood pressure; BPV, blood pressure variability; CV, coefficient of variation; D. Post. WT, diastolic posterior wall thickness; HR, heart rate; ICF, interstitial collagen fraction; IL-6, interleukin-6; IVRT, isovolumic relaxation time; LVEDD, left ventricular end diastolic diameter; LV, left ventricular; LVWT, left ventricular wall thickness; SHR, spontaneously hypertensive rats; TGF-b, transforming growth factor b; TNF-a, tumor necrosis factor-a; TOD, target organ damage; TPGS, D-a-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate; WKY, Wistar KyotoFil: del Mauro, Julieta Sofía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Prince, Paula Denise. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Allo, Miguel Angel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Santander Plantamura, Yanina Alejandra. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Moretton, Marcela Analía. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: González, Germán Esteban. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Bertera, Facundo Martin. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Carranza, Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Gorzalczany, Susana Beatriz. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Chiappetta, Diego Andrés. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Morales, Celina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; ArgentinaFil: Gelpi, Ricardo Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; ArgentinaFil: Taira, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Polizio, Ariel Héctor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; ArgentinaFil: Donato, Martin Alejandro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Fisiopatología Cardiovascular; ArgentinaFil: Hocht, Christian. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Farmacología; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; Argentin