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Value of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein assays in predicting atrial fibrillation recurrence: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Objectives: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) assays to see whether these tests are predictive of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after cardioversion. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases as well as a hand search of the reference lists in the retrieved articles from inception to December 2013. Study eligibility criteria This review selected observational studies in which the measurements of serum CRP were used to predict AF recurrence. An hs-CRP assay was defined as any CRP test capable of measuring serum CRP to below 0.6 mg/dL. Primary and secondary outcome measures We summarised test performance characteristics with the use of forest plots, hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves and bivariate random effects models. Meta-regression analysis was performed to explore the source of heterogeneity. Results: We included nine qualifying studies comprising a total of 347 patients with AF recurrence and 335 controls. A CRP level higher than the optimal cut-off point was an independent predictor of AF recurrence after cardioversion (summary adjusted OR: 3.33; 95% CI 2.10 to 5.28). The estimated pooled sensitivity and specificity for hs-CRP was 71.0% (95% CI 63% to 78%) and 72.0% (61% to 81%), respectively. Most studies used a CRP cut-off point of 1.9 mg/L to predict long-term AF recurrence (77% sensitivity, 65% specificity), and 3 mg/L to predict short-term AF recurrence (73% sensitivity, 71% specificity). Conclusions: hs-CRP assays are moderately accurate in predicting AF recurrence after successful cardioversion
Fourth Generation Leptons and Muon
We consider the contributions to from fourth generation heavy
neutral and charged leptons, and , at the one-loop level.
Diagrammatically, there are two types of contributions: boson-boson-, and
--boson in the loop diagram. In general, the effect from is
suppressed by off-diagonal lepton mixing matrix elements. For , we consider
flavor changing neutral couplings arising from various New Physics models,
which are stringently constrained by . We assess how the
existence of a fourth generation would affect these New Physics models.Comment: Minor changes, with references update
Epidermal growth factor receptor regulates Ī²-catenin location, stability, and transcriptional activity in oral cancer
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many cancerous cells accumulate Ī²-catenin in the nucleus. We examined the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in the accumulation of Ī²-catenin in the nuclei of oral cancer cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used two strains of cultured oral cancer cells, one with reduced EGFR expression (OECM1 cells) and one with elevated EGFR expression (SAS cells), and measured downstream effects, such as phosphorylation of Ī²-catenin and GSK-3Ī², association of Ī²-catenin with E-cadherin, and target gene regulation. We also studied the expression of EGFR, Ī²-catenin, and cyclin D1 in 112 samples of oral cancer by immunostaining. Activation of EGFR signaling increased the amount of Ī²-catenin in the nucleus and decreased the amount in the membranes. EGF treatment increased phosphorylation of Ī²-catenin (tyrosine) and GSK-3Ī²(Ser-(9), resulting in a loss of Ī²-catenin association with E-cadherin. TOP-FLASH and FOP-FLASH reporter assays demonstrated that the EGFR signal regulates Ī²-catenin transcriptional activity and mediates cyclin D1 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments indicated that the EGFR signal affects chromatin architecture at the regulatory element of cyclin D1, and that the CBP, HDAC1, and Suv39h1 histone/chromatin remodeling complex is involved in this process. Immunostaining showed a significant association between EGFR expression and aberrant accumulation of Ī²-catenin in oral cancer.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>EGFR signaling regulates Ī²-catenin localization and stability, target gene expression, and tumor progression in oral cancer. Moreover, our data suggest that aberrant accumulation of Ī²-catenin under EGFR activation is a malignancy marker of oral cancer.</p
THE ANALYSIS OF PULLING FORCE CURVES IN TUG-OF-WAR
The purpose of this study is to analyze the pulling force curves in DFB and AFB movements that produced by elite tug-of-war athletes. The subjects are 11 female high school athletes who have been trained more than two years for tug-of-war. Data is analyzed by paired-sample t-test. The results show that force-related parameters are all different significantly between two movements, and time-related parameters are not significant. The DFB movement has higher value in MaxF, AveF, FS and lower value in MinF. We suggest to avoid the decay of pulling force while adopting DFB movement, and increase MaxF, AveF, and FS while adopting AFB movement. Within the start of 2sec we suggest the team to take the DFB movements in order to produce powerful pulling force, then transform to the AFB movements to keep the team formation
Association of Alzhemier\u27s Disease With Hepatitis C Among Patients With Bipolar Disorder
Associations of hepatitis C virus infection with Alzheimerās disease have not been studied among higher risk, bipolar disorder patients. This population-based case-control study investigated the risks of hepatitis C virus infection among Alzheimerās disease patients with bipolar disorder in the years preceding their Alzheimerās disease diagnosis. We used 2000ā2013 data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database in Taiwan. Among patients with bipolar disorder, 73 were diagnosed with Alzheimerās disease (cases), who were compared with 365 individuals with bipolar disorder but without Alzheimerās disease (randomly selected controls matched on sex, age, and index year with cases). Prior claims (before the diagnosis year/index year for controls) were screened for a diagnosis of hepatitis C virus infection. Conditional logistic regression models were used for analysis. We found that 23 (31.51%) and 60 (16.44%) patients with bipolar disease were identified with a hepatitis C diagnosis among those with and without Alzheimerās disease, respectively. Compared to controls, patients with Alzheimerās disease showed 2.31-fold (95% confidence interval = 1.28ā4.16) increased risk of hepatitis C infections adjusted for demographics and socio-economic status. Findings suggest an association of Alzheimerās disease with a preceding diagnosis of hepatitis C infection among patients with bipolar disorder. Findings may suggest a need for increased awareness of and appropriate surveillance for Alzheimerās disease in patients with bipolar disorder diagnosed with hepatitis C infection
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