Myocardial involvement in systemic sclerosis

Objective. To identify clinical and/or laboratory characteristics that could be risk factors for myocardial microvascular involvement in patients with SSc. Methods. Twenty-one SSc patients, clinically silent for cardiovascular disease, were consecutively evaluated for myocardial perfusion defects through 99m-Tc sestamibi gated myocardial perfusion SPECT with a stress-rest protocol. Results. Eight patients (38%) had myocardial perfusion defects. Perfusion defects were related to skin scores (P < 0.0001), digital ulcers (P < 0.02) and oesophageal involvement (P < 0.046). A trend for anti-Scl 70 antibody positivity was observed in these patients (P < 0.09). Three SPECT-positive patients had re-establishment of normal myocardial perfusion after a course of prostanoid therapy. There were no significant associations between myocardial involvement and age, sex, diffuse/limited SSc, duration of RP or lung involvement. Conclusions. Myocardial perfusion defects in SSc patients are frequent, and the presence of severe skin thickness, digital ulcers and perhaps oesophageal involvement might warrant screening for myocardial involvement. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of prostanoid therapy on myocardial perfusion

Optimization of the effective light attenuation length of YAP : Ce and LYSO : Ce crystals for a novel geometrical PET concept

The effective light attenuation length in thin bars of polished YAP:Ce and LYSO:Ce scintillators with lengths of the order of 10 cm has been studied for various wrappings and coatings of the crystal lateral surfaces. This physical parameter plays a key role in a novel 3D PET concept based on axial arrays of long scintillator bars read out at both ends by Hybrid Photodetectors (HPDs) since it influences the spatial, energy and time resolutions of such a device. In this paper we show that the effective light attenuation length of polished crystals can be reduced by wrapping their lateral surfaces with Teflon, or tuned to the desired value by depositing a coating of Cr or Au of well-defined thickness. The studies have been carried out with YAP and LYSO long scintillator bars, read out by standard photomultiplier tubes. Even if the novel PET device will use different scintillators and HPD readout, the results described here prove the feasibility of an important aspect of the concept and provide hints on the potential capabilities of the device. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Recenti questioni in tema di mutuo

Normalmente il contratto di mutuo bancario include clausole dirette a determinare la misura sia del tasso di interessi corrispettivi sia del tasso di interessi moratori. Si esamina perciò il problema se il calcolo in ordine al superamento del tasso soglia usurario debba includere anche la misura degli interessi convenzionali moratori e si sottopongono ad analisi critica i vari argomenti che, specie nella giurisprudenza di legittimità, si portano a sostegno della risposta affermativa, sicché si dimostra la perdurante incertezza degli interpreti sul punto in questione. In alternativa al ricorso alla normativa anti usura, si sostiene l'opportunità di valorizzare altre forme di tutela del mutuatario quale, in particolare, quella rinveniente dall'art. 1384 c.c. che, invero, permette al giudice di ridurre ad equità il tasso degli interessi moratori

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 12

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 12

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1

Notulae to the Italian native vascular flora: 12

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, exclusions, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1