121 research outputs found
Star formation and UV colors of the brightest Cluster Galaxies in the representative XMM-Newton Cluster Structure Survey
We present UV broadband photometry and optical emission-line measurements for
a sample of 32 Brightest Cluster Galaxies (BCGs) in clusters of the
Representative XMM-Newton Cluster Structure Survey (REXCESS) with z =
0.06-0.18. The REXCESS clusters, chosen to study scaling relations in clusters
of galaxies, have X-ray measurements of high quality. The trends of star
formation and BCG colors with BCG and host properties can be investigated with
this sample. The UV photometry comes from the XMM Optical Monitor, supplemented
by existing archival GALEX photometry. We detected H\alpha and forbidden line
emission in 7 (22%) of these BCGs, in optical spectra. All of the emission-line
BCGs occupy clusters classified as cool cores, for an emission-line incidence
rate of 70% for BCGs in cool core clusters. Significant correlations between
the H\alpha equivalent widths, excess UV production in the BCG, and the
presence of dense, X-ray bright intracluster gas with a short cooling time are
seen, including the fact that all of the H\alpha emitters inhabit systems with
short central cooling times and high central ICM densities. Estimates of the
star formation rates based on H\alpha and UV excesses are consistent with each
other in these 7 systems, ranging from 0.1-8 solar masses per year. The
incidence of emission-line BCGs in the REXCESS sample is intermediate, somewhat
lower than in other X-ray selected samples (-35%), and somewhat higher than but
statistically consistent with optically selected, slightly lower redshift BCG
samples (-10-15%). The UV-optical colors (UVW1-R-4.7\pm0.3) of REXCESS BCGs
without strong optical emission lines are consistent with those predicted from
templates and observations of ellipticals dominated by old stellar populations.
We see no trend in UV-optical colors with optical luminosity, R-K color, X-ray
temperature, redshift, or offset between X-ray centroid and X-ray peak ().Comment: 19 pages, 18 figures, 6 tables. Submitted, with minor revisions, to
ApJ
Ionizing Radiation from Ex Vivo Sterilization Diminishes Fatigue but Not Static Murine Vertebral Body Mechanics
For a variety of medical and scientific reasons, human bones can be exposed to ionizing radiation. At relatively high doses (30,0005,000 Gy), ex vivo ionizing radiation is commonly used to sterilize bone allografts. However, ionizing radiation in these applications has been shown to increase risk of fracture clinically and decrease bone quality. Previously, we observed a significant decrease in compressive static strength and fatigue life of ex vivo whole bones exposed to x-ray radiation at 17,000 Gy and above; no changes in compressive mechanical properties were observed for radiation doses of 1,000 Gy and below. The gap in doses between no mechanical change (1,000 Gy) and significant mechanical degradation (17,000 Gy) is large, and it is unclear at what dose mechanical integrity begins to diminish in whole bones, and if its effects differ in response to static versus cyclic mechanical loading. This is a major clinical concern, as trabecular and cortical bone allografts are commonly used in structural, load-bearing applications. To gain insight into the effect of ionizing radiation from 1,000-17,000 Gy, we conducted an ex vivo radiation study on the static and fatigue mechanical properties of the vertebral whole bone. Our objectives were to: (1) quantify the effect of exposure to ex vivo ionizing radiation on the mechanical integrity (compressive static and fatigue) of whole bones; and (2) evaluate, if there are observed differences in mechanics, if they differ in magnitude for static versus cyclic properties. The results of this study will give insight into the need for changes in protocols for bone allograft radiation sterilization procedures
Vertigoheel induced psychosis: A patient case report
Objective: To describe a case of a patient who developed psychosis after ingestion of Vertigoheel for treatment of dizziness.
Case Summary: A 28-year-old male with no psychiatric history presented with 5 days of worsening depression and psychosis. He denied current use of prescription medications, alcohol, or illicit substances. Approximately 2 weeks prior, while visiting family in Germany, he developed dizziness. A provider in Germany prescribed Vertigoheel, 1 tablet to be taken every hour until symptom improvement. This did not improve his dizziness but did cause him to feel as if he were “in a dream.” He stopped taking the medication after 2 days but continued to feel amotivated with decreased appetite and insomnia. Several days later, he developed ego-dystonic auditory hallucinations. He returned to the United States; was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit for 4 days; and given olanzapine 5 mg at bedtime, lorazepam 1 mg every evening, and melatonin 6 mg every evening. He experienced gradual improvement in symptoms and was discharged with olanzapine 5 mg daily and outpatient follow-up.
Discussion: Vertigoheel is a homeopathic preparation containing ambra grisea, Cocculus indicus, Conium maculatum, and petroleum. Psychosis was not reported in any of the randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of Vertigoheel for treatment of vertigo. A literature search revealed no published reports of psychosis as a result of administration of any components of Vertigoheel.
Conclusion: A possible causal relationship was observed between the homeopathic supplement Vertigoheel and an acute episode of psychosis in a young male patient with no comorbidities
gammaCore for cluster headaches: a NICE medical technologies guidance
Cluster headaches are excruciating attacks of pain that can last between 15 min and 3 h. Cluster headaches can be episodic, where patients have long pain-free intervals between attacks, or chronic, where they do not. As part of the Medical Technologies Evaluation Programme, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) considered the clinical effectiveness and cost impact of gammaCore (electroCore), a handheld, patient-controlled device used to treat and prevent cluster headache. gammaCore is a non-invasive vagus nerve stimulator, the aim of which is to modify pain signals by stimulating the vagus nerve through the skin of the neck. Evidence suggests that gammaCore reduces the intensity and frequency of cluster headaches and that the addition of gammaCore to standard care is cost saving. Therefore, the guidance published by NICE in December 2019 recommends routine adoption of gammaCore into the UK national health service. However, the guidance noted that gammaCore does not work for everyone and recommended that treatment with gammaCore should stop after 3 months in patients whose symptoms do not improve
Ionizing Radiation from Ex Vivo Sterilization Diminishes Collagen Integrity and Vertebral Body Mechanics
Clinical exposure to ionizing radiation could put cancer radiotherapy or bone allograft patients at an increased risk of fracture. In these applications, ionizing radiation levels can range from accumulative 50 Gy for radiotherapy cancer treatment, to acute 35,000 Gy for allograft sterilization. Ionizing radiation has been shown to decrease bon equality through reduced strength and post-yield properties and degrade collagen integrity through either increased crosslinks (advanced glycation end products, AGEs)or fragmentation. It is unclear which collagen structural change accounts for reduced strength. The dose-dependent effect of ionizing radiation on mechanical and biochemical properties of whole bones are not well understood, particularly for ex vivo doses ranging from 50 to 35,000 Gy
MTG570 AposHealth for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee: External Assessment Group report
AposHealth (previously AposTherapy) is a non-invasive device worn on the foot to
adjust the gait of the user to improve symptoms of knee osteoarthritis (OA), a
condition that results in joints becoming stiff and painful. It is proposed as an addition
to non-surgical standard care, or as an alternative. The comparators included
alternative devices such as supports, splints and braces or intra-articular
corticosteroid injections.
Clinical evidence primarily from low quality non-comparative, observational studies
indicates that users of AposHealth experience improvements in symptoms of knee
OA including pain, function and stiffness. Quality of life outcomes also show
improvements and both clinical and patient experts supported these findings from
their own experience. Two comparative studies, one high quality randomised trial
and one prospective comparative study, did report improvements with AposHealth
however both studies compared with a sham device rather than standard care.
There is a lack of evidence comparing AposHealth to non-surgical standard care
treatment options such as manual therapy, walking aids, and intra-articular
corticosteroid injections and their respective impacts on pain and function.
Additionally, there is a lack of evidence relating to the outcome of TKR surgery delay
or avoidance and in general there is a lack of long-term follow-up data (beyond 2
years). This is a key gap in the evidence and has a particular impact on the
economic assessment
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