Cardiac Surgery is Associated with Biomarker Evidence of Neuronal Damage

BACKGROUND: Anesthesia and surgery is commonly associated with central nervous system sequelae and cognitive symptoms, which may be caused by neuronal injury. Neuronal injury can be monitored by plasma concentrations of the neuronal biomarkers tau and neurofilament light protein (NFL). Currently, there are no studies examining whether neuronal injury varies between surgical procedures. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate if neuronal damage is more frequent after cardiac than after otolaryngeal surgery, as estimated by tau and NFL concentrations in plasma. METHODS: Blood samples were drawn before, during, and after surgery and concentrations of tau, NFL, Aβ40, and Aβ42 were measured in 25 patients undergoing cardiac surgery (9 off-pump and 16 on-pump) and 26 patients undergoing otolaryngeal surgery. RESULTS: Tau increased during surgery (1752%, p = 0.0001) and NFL rose seven days post-surgery (1090%, p < 0.0001) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery; even more in patients on-pump than off-pump. No changes were observed in patients undergoing otolaryngeal surgery and only minor fluctuations were observed for Aβ40 and Aβ42. CONCLUSION: Cardiac surgery is associated with neuronal injury, which is aggravated by extracorporeal circulation. Analyses of NFL and tau in blood may guide development of surgical procedures to minimize neuronal damage, and may also be used in longitudinal clinical studies to assess the relationship of surgery with future neurocognitive impairment or dementia

Analiza numeryczna wpływu parametrów geometryczno-masowych projektowanego antypocisku na jego balistykę zewnętrzną

This paper presents a selection of deliverables of a research project intended to develop a technology demonstrator for an active protection system smart counterprojectile. Numerical simulations were completed to analyse the effects of geometry and weight of the counterprojectile warhead on the counterprojectile flight (motion) parameters. This paper investigates four variants of the counterprojectile warhead shape and three variants of the counterprojectile warhead weight. Given the investigated geometric and weight variants, the PRODAS software environment was used to develop geometric models of the counterprojectile warhead, followed by the determination of the model aerodynamic characteristics. The final deliverable of this work are the results of the numerical simulation of the counterprojectile motion along the initial flight path length. Given the required activation of the active protection system in direct proximity of the protected object, the analyses of counterprojectile motion parameters were restricted to a distance of ten-odd metres from the counterprojectile launching system.W pracy przedstawiono niektóre wyniki realizacji projektu badawczego, którego celem jest opracowanie demonstratora technologii inteligentnego antypocisku systemu ochrony aktywnej. Przeanalizowano, na drodze symulacji numerycznych, wpływ geometrii oraz masy głowicy bojowej antypocisku na parametry jego ruchu (lotu). W artykule rozpatrzono cztery warianty kształtu głowicy antypocisku oraz trzy warianty masowe. Dla rozpatrywanych wariantów geometryczno-masowych opracowano w środowisku PRODAS modele geometryczne głowicy antypocisku, a następnie wyznaczono ich charakterystyki aerodynamiczne. Ostatecznym rezultatem pracy są wyniki symulacji numerycznych ruchu antypocisku na początkowym odcinku toru lotu. Ze względu na wymagane działanie systemu ochrony aktywnej w bezpośredniej odległości od ochranianego obiektu, analizy parametrów ruchu antypocisku ograniczono do kilkunastu metrów od wyrzutni

The merits of fat replacers in low-calorie food

Carbohydrate and protein replacers of fat are frequently used by food manufacturers in response to the increased risk of diseases, which are connected with oversupply of energy and lipids in the diet. Low-calorie replacers such as inulin can limit hunger and normalize blood cholesterol levels. Increases in the nutritional value of food products can be achieved by partially replacing fat by soy protein isolates. Amino acids and deficient minerals like calcium and iron can be provided by food containing protein-based fat substitutes. Some fat substitutes, like maltodextrin, can slightly reduce the bioavailability of the fat-soluble vitamins. As a result, food products containing maltodextrin should be fortified with the affected substances to reduce the risk of malnutrition. The long-term effects of carbohydrate and protein replacers on the human body have not been sufficiently explained, and so fat replacers should be limited in the daily diet