A possible explanation of the phase diagram of cuprate superconductors

A d-p pairing curve that is consistent with the pseudogap curve observed in experiments is found on a d-p model on phonon mechanism. On the discovery we suggest that there are two pseudogaps associated with the nearly localized d-p pairs and nearly free p-p pairs. The p-p pairs look like bosons and are responsible for superconductivities.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with decreased serum levels of high density lipoprotein, but not with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>The objective of this survey was to study the association between <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>infection and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study population consisted of 961 consecutive patients (711 males and 250 females) who underwent coronary angiography for suspected or known coronary atherosclerosis. The patients' body mass index, blood pressure, the blood lipid, blood glucose, leukocyte count (10⁹/L), neutrophil count (10⁹/L), and Helicobacter <it>pylori</it>-specific IgG antibodies were performed. Coronary angiograms were scored according to vessel score and Gensini's score.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A significant association between <it>H. pylori </it>infection and coronary atherosclerosis as well as its severity was not find in this cross section study (<it>p </it>= 0.858). And, the level distribution of vessel score (<it>p </it>= 0.906) and Gensini's score (<it>p </it>= 0.905) were similar in the seropositivity group and seronegativity group of Helicobacter <it>pylori </it>infection. However, the level of fasting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mmol/L) (<it>p </it>= 0.013) was significantly lower in the seropositivity group than that in the seronegativity group of Helicobacter <it>pylori </it>infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In conclusion, in the present study, a significantly correlation between Helicobacter <it>pylori </it>seropositivity and angiographically evaluated severity of atherosclerosis was not find. And, the present study showed a good correlation between Helicobacter <it>pylori </it>infection and decreased HDL cholesterol. However, the exact mechanisms need further study.</p

The characteristics of the spectra of superior venae cavae in patients with right heart failure

BACKGROUND: Aimed to elucidate the characteristics of the spectra of superior venae cavae (SVC) in respiratory cycles in patients with right heart failure. METHODS: The spectra of SVC of 30 patients with right heart failure and 30 paired healthy subjects were recorded through right supraclavicular fossa view. The profiles of spectra of superior venae cavae were observed, and peak velocity and velocity time integral (VTI) of every wave of SVC under spontaneous respiration were measured for statistical analysis. RESULTS: In healthy subjects, the peak velocities and VTI of S wave and D wave increased in inspiratory phase and diminished in expiratory phase, and which of S wave were larger than which of D wave in whole respiratory cycle. In patients with right heart failure, spectral variations of SVC could be classified into three patterns: Pattern I: peak velocities and VTI of S wave were larger than that of D wave in early inspiratory phase, but peak velocities and VTI of D wave were larger than those of S wave in late inspiratory phase and early expiratory phase [Pattern I-1], even in whole respiratory cycle [Pattern I-2]; Pattern II: the S wave disappeared and was substituted by inverse wave with low amplitude in whole respiratory cycle. Pattern III: the profiles of the spectra of SVC in patients were similar to those of healthy subjects. In the whole, the respiratory variation ratios of peak velocities and VTI of S wave and D wave were diminished in patients compared with those in healthy subjects. CONCLUSION: The spectra of superior venae cavae in patients with right heart failure were abnormal, and these characteristics could be used as signs in evaluating right heart failure

Comparison of tricuspid inflow and superior vena caval Doppler velocities in acute simulated hypovolemia: new non-invasive indices for evaluating right ventricular preload

BACKGROUND: Assessment of cardiac preload is important for clinical management of some emergencies related to hypovolemia. Effects of acute simulated hypovolemia on Doppler blood flow velocity indices of tricuspid valve (TV) and superior vena cava (SVC) were investigated in order to find sensitive Doppler indices for predicting right ventricular preload. METHODS: Doppler flow patterns of SVC and TV in 12 healthy young men were examined by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) during graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP) of up to -60 mm Hg which simulated acute hypovolemia. Peak velocities of all waves and their related ratios (SVC S/D and tricuspid E/A) were measured, calculated and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Except for the velocity of tricuspid A wave, velocities of all waves and their related ratios declined during volume decentralization. Of all indices measured, the peak velocities of S wave and AR wave in SVC correlated most strongly with levels of LBNP (r = -0.744 and -0.771, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The S and AR velocities are of good values in assessing right ventricular preload. Monitoring SVC flow may provide a relatively noninvasive means to assess direct changes in right ventricular preload

Grey scale enhancement by a new self-made contrast agent in early cirrhotic stage of rabbit liver

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The development of new ultrasound contrast agents (UCAs) has become one of the most promising fields in ultrasound medicine. This paper evaluates a new self-made contrast agent enhancement effect developed to study the fibrotic stages of the liver in perfusion models <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We constructed experimental models of hepatic fibrosis involving five stages from F0 to F4 via administration of CCL₄(0.01 ml/kg BW) every 3 days for 3 months. The intrahepatic circulatory time of the contrast agent was analyzed via an image and Cine-loop display. Calculations of the perfusion-related parameters including the peak signal intensity (PSI) and peak signal intensity time (PIT) of the portal vein and parenchyma were obtained from an analysis of the time-acoustic intensity curve.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Hepatic artery to vein transmit time (HA-HVTT) was significantly shorter at F4 stage (mean 5.1 seconds) compared with those in other stages (mean 8.3 s, 7.5 s, 6.9 s, 6.6 s, P < 0.01). The average PSI difference of PV-parenchyma was 13.62 dB in F4 stage, demonstrating significant differences between F4 stage and other early stages (P < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results indicate that the new self-made contrast agent is capable of indicating intrahepatic hemodynamic changes. HA-HVTT and the PSI difference of the microbubble perfusion in liver parenchyma and PV were considered to differentiate the degree of hepatic fibrosis between F4 and other early stages.</p

A simulation study on the measurement of D0-D0bar mixing parameter y at BES-III

We established a method on measuring the \dzdzb mixing parameter $y$ for BESIII experiment at the BEPCII $e^+e^-$ collider. In this method, the doubly tagged $\psi(3770) \to D^0 \overline{D^0}$ events, with one $D$ decays to CP-eigenstates and the other $D$ decays semileptonically, are used to reconstruct the signals. Since this analysis requires good $e/\pi$ separation, a likelihood approach, which combines the $dE/dx$, time of flight and the electromagnetic shower detectors information, is used for particle identification. We estimate the sensitivity of the measurement of $y$ to be 0.007 based on a $20fb^{-1}$ fully simulated MC sample.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure

Time Distribution of the Onset of Chest Pain in Subjects with Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: An Eight-Year, Single-Center Study in China

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the time distribution patterns of the onset of chest pain in subjects with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a Chinese population. Methods: A total of 1467 patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction were enrolled from 2003 to 2010. The hourly, daily, monthly, seasonal and day-of-week fluctuations in the prevalence of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction were analyzed. Results: A peak was found between the morning hours of 07:31 and 08:30. A second peak was observed between 14:31 and 15:30, and a third peak was found between 23:31 and 00:30 (p,0.001). The monthly maximum was recorded in November and the minimum was in April (p,0.001). The number of daily cases was greatest in autumn and lowest in the spring (p = 0.001). Day-of-the-week variations of ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction were not found, except in patients more than 75-years-old. Conclusions: Periodic variations in the frequency of ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction in Chinese patients showed significant differences with regard to diurnal, monthly and seasonal patterns. The exact mechanisms underlying thes

Preliminary application of three-dimensional printing in congenital uterine anomalies based on three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasonographic data

Abstract Background The three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has remarkable potential as an auxiliary tool for representing anatomical structures, facilitating diagnosis and therapy, and enhancing training and teaching in the medical field. As the most available diagnostic tool and it is routinely used as the first approach in diagnosis of the uterine anomalies, 3D transvaginal ultrasonography (3D-TVS) has been proposed as non-invasive “gold standard” approach for these malformations due to high diagnostic accuracy. Despite holding promise of manufacturing 3D printed models based on 3D-TVS data, relevant reports about 3D-TVS derived gynecological 3D printing haven’t been reported to the best of our knowledge. We found an opportunity to explore the feasibility of building 3D printed models for the abnormal uterus based on the data acquired by 3D-TVS. Methods The women suspected with congenital uterine anomalies (CUAs) were enrolled in the study. The diagnose of CUAs were made by 3D-TVS scanning and further confirmed under the hysteroscopy examination. One volunteer with normal uterus was enrolled as control. All subjects underwent 3D-TVS scanning for 3D printing data collection. Acquired images were stored and extracted as DICOM files, then processed by professional software to portray and model the boundary of the uterine inner and outer walls separately. After the computer 3D models were constructed, the data were saved and output as STL files for further surface restoration and smoothing. The colors of endometrium and uterine body were specified, respectively, in the print preview mode. Then the uncured photosensitive resin was cleaned and polished to obtain a smooth and transparent solid model after printed models were cooled down. Results 3D printing models of normal uterus, incomplete septate uterus, complete septate uterus, uterus didelphys and unicornuate uterus were produced on ultrasonographic data of 3D-TVS. Conclusions Our research and practice made the first try in modeling CUAs successfully based on ultrasonographic data entirely, verifying that it’s a feasible way to build 3D printed models of high-quality through 3D-TVS scanning

Simultaneous beat-by-beat investigation of the effects of the Valsalva maneuver on left and right ventricular filling and the possible mechanism.

Although the influence of the Valsalva maneuver on the heart and circulatory system has been investigated, the mechanism of intrathoracic pressure influencing cardiovascular function is unclear. To test our hypothesis that the interaction between the anatomy-determined partially-intrathoracic system and the fully-intrathoracic system might explain those issues and help to disclose the mechanism, we used the Hitachi dual pulse wave Doppler echocardiographic apparatus to investigate simultaneously the beat-by-beat influence of 40-mmHg Valsalva maneuver on left and right cardiac ventricular filling in 30 male adult volunteers. The mitral and tricuspid blood inflow velocity spectra during the Valsalva maneuver were recorded simultaneously. The peak velocity (PV), velocity-time integral (VTI) and inflow volume (IV) of each cycle were measured or calculated. The PV, VTI and IV of the left heart remained unchanged at the first beat after the Valsalva maneuver onset (compared with those at rest, p>0.1) and then decreased gradually to the lowest at the 11±1.2th beat (range, 9th to 12th beat). Simultaneously, the PV, VTI and IV of the right heart decreased significantly (p<0.05) at the first cycle, decreased rapidly to the lowest at the 6±0.8th beat (range, 4th to 7th beat) and then increased gradually to the 9±1.3th beat (range, 8th to 10th beat). These results suggest that the left heart and right heart have different physiological responses to the Valsalva maneuver. These could be explained by our hypothesis, the interaction between the partially-intrathoracic system and the fully-intrathoracic system, which might help to disclose the mechanism of how intrathoracic pressure influences the heart and circulatory system