171Intravascular polarimetry in patients with coronary artery disease: a first-in-human pilot study

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Otsuka ◽  
M Villiger ◽  
A Karanasos ◽  
L J C Van Zandvoort ◽  
P Doradla ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Polarization-sensitive (PS-) optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) measures polarization properties of tissue together with conventional cross-sectional OFDI images of subsurface microstructure. PS-OFDI offers refined insight into plaque morphology and composition, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Purpose This first-in-human pilot study of intravascular polarimetry aimed to investigate birefringence and depolarization features of coronary plaques in patients and to examine the relationship of these features with established structural characteristics available to conventional OFDI and with clinical presentation. Methods 30 patients undergoing PS-OFDI (acute coronary syndrome; ACS, n=12 and stable angina pectoris; SAP, n=18) participated in this study. 342 cross-sectional images evenly distributed along all imaged coronary arteries were classified into one of seven plaque categories according to conventional OFDI. Polarization features averaged over the entire intimal area of each cross-section were compared between plaque types and with structural parameters. Further, we assessed the polarization properties in the fibrous caps of ACS and SAP culprit lesions and compared them with structural features using a generalized linear model. Results The median birefringence and depolarization showed statistically significant differences among plaque types (both p<0.001, one-way ANOVA). Depolarization significantly differed between individual plaque types (p<0.05), except between fibro-fatty and fibro-calcified plaques. Caps of ACS lesions and ruptured caps exhibited lower birefringence than caps of SAP lesions (p<0.01). In addition to clinical presentation, cap birefringence also associated with macrophage accumulation as assessed by normalized standard deviation. Intravascular polarimetry Conclusions Intravascular polarimetry provides quantitative metrics that help to characterize coronary arterial tissues and may offer refined insight into coronary arterial atherosclerotic lesions in patients (Figure). Quantitative assessment of plaque polarization properties by intravascular polarimetry may open new avenues for studying plaque progression and detecting high-risk patients. Acknowledgement/Funding The JSPS Overseas Research Fellowship, the Uehara Memorial Foundation, and the Japan Heart Foundation and Bayer Yakuhin

Author(s):  
Hanna Isaksson ◽  
Viktoria Prantner ◽  
Jukka S. Jurvelin

Fragility fractures due to degradation of the bone tissue during aging or development of osteoporosis are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. A variety of factors contribute to the overall resistance of bones to fracture, e.g. the bone quality. Traditionally, bone mineral density (BMD) as assessed by the dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for osteoporosis diagnostics 1. However, BMD alone is insufficient to explain fracture risk in patients 2. Additional characterization of bone structural parameters may provide more insight into the predictive capacity of BMD with respect to bone structural parameters. Further, as various skeletal sites are used to assess bone status, differences in structural characteristics of skeletal sites should be addressed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felice Iasevoli ◽  
Elisabetta F. Buonaguro ◽  
Massimo Marconi ◽  
Emanuela Di Giovambattista ◽  
Maria Paola Rapagnani ◽  
...  

Background. Antipsychotic polypharmacy is used in several psychiatric disorders, despite poor evidence existing to support this practice. Aim. We evaluated whether psychotic patients in acute relapse exposed to antipsychotic polypharmacy (AP + AP) showed different demographic, clinical, or psychopathological features compared to those exposed to one antipsychotic (AP) and whether AP + AP patients showed significantly higher improvement compared to AP patients after a 4-week treatment. Methods. Inpatients were subdivided into AP + AP and AP ones. In the cross-sectional step, patients were compared according to demographics, clinical variables, and scores on rating scales. In the longitudinal step, patients remained for 4 weeks under admission medications and were compared for clinical improvement. Results. AP + AP patients were more frequently diagnosed with schizophrenia and mental retardation as a comorbid illness. AP + AP patients were more frequently under first-generation antipsychotics and had worse clinical presentation. After 4 weeks of treatment, both AP + AP and AP patients improved compared to the baseline. However, AP patients scored significantly less than AP + AP patients at the Clinical Global Impression Scale at the 4-week time point but not at the baseline, indicating a treatment-specific improvement. Conclusions. Antipsychotic polypharmacy may be offered to specific types of psychotic patients. However, efficacy of this strategy is limited at best.


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1228
Author(s):  
Jiajia Wang ◽  
Wenfeng Jia ◽  
Fu Zhang ◽  
Xiqiang Ma ◽  
Zhaomei Qiu ◽  
...  

The necks of birds that possess complex structures, graceful curves, and flexible movements are perfect natural motion actuators. Studying their structural features, mechanic characteristics, and motion rules can provide valuable references for imitating such actuators and motion functions artificially. Previous studies have analyzed the influence of two-dimensional motion geometric features and anatomical structure of the neck on motion efficiency and motion stability. However, the mechanism of motion flexibility from the perspective of neck structure has not been investigated. This study investigates the general law of the relationship between the structural parameters and motion characteristics of birds’ necks using tomography technology and 3D reconstruction technology. The results show that the structural characteristics of geese and ducks are similar, and there are significant differences in joint motion characteristics. Geese obtains complex neck postures through active intervertebral joints and highly flexible facet joints and possesses higher neck flexibility than ducks. This study provides a generic measuring method for obtaining birds’ cervical spinal vertebral structural dimensional parameters and offers a new theoretical concept for bionic robotic structural design and manufacture.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuya Miura ◽  
Keigo Dote ◽  
Masaya Kato ◽  
Shota Sasaki ◽  
Noboru Oda ◽  
...  

Background: Previous studies have reported plaque rupture and erosion were the most common causes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and spotty calcifications was identified as a marker of plaque rupture. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers a high-resolution imaging to assess the plaque morphology and coronary calcification. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the distribution of coronary calcification and the culprit lesion morphology in patients with ACS. Methods: We enrolled consecutive 183 patients with ACS (mean age: 68 ± 11 years, 148 males). Culprit lesion was assessed by OCT and patients were divided into the rupture and non-rupture group according to the OCT findings. Maximum radial thickness, cross-sectional area of calcification and radial depth from the lumen and longitudinal length of calcification were compared between 2 groups. Results: Plaque rupture was detected at culprit site in 105 patients and coronary calcification was identified in 58 patients. There were no significant differences in age and gender between 2 groups. Maximum thickness, area and longitudinal length of calcification were smaller in rupture group (457.4 ± 284.9 μm vs. 722.1 ± 384.1 μm, p < 0.01, 0.7 ± 0.4 mm 2 vs. 1.8 ± 1.4 mm 2 , p < 0.01, 2.2 ± 1.1 mm vs. 5.6 ± 5.3 mm, p[[Unsupported Character - Codename &shy;]] < 0.01, respectively). Radial depth of calcification from the lumen was significantly geater in rupture group (150.0 ± 65.3 μm vs. 83.1 ± 63.3 μm, p<0.001). Conclusions: Distribution of coronary calcification could be associated with morphological etiology of ACS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 448-454
Author(s):  
Remco M. Koorn ◽  
Merel van Klinken ◽  
Everlien de Graaf ◽  
Rick E. G. W. Bressers ◽  
Adri P. Jobse ◽  
...  

Background: Hospices provide multidimensional care. In the Netherlands, patients with <3 months estimated life expectancy have access to hospice care. Insight into patients admitted to hospices and the care provided is lacking. In preparation for a national multicenter study, a pilot study was performed. Objective: The primary objective was to test the appropriateness of the study procedures and the availability of hospice patient records (HPRs), and patient and care characteristics. Method: A cross-sectional pilot study was performed using a descriptive exploratory design. Sixteen hospices were invited to participate, and HPRs from 8 deceased patients per hospice were selected. Data were collected using self-developed electronic case report forms. Outcomes: (1). Appropriateness of procedures: availability of HPRs and identified barriers and strategies. (2) Availability of patient and care characteristics in HPRs. Results: In total, 104 HPRs of patients from 13 hospices were enrolled. Various types of HPRs were found with different availabilities: nurses’ records were most available (98%) compared to volunteers’ records (62%). Overarching barriers were as follows: ethical issues, lack of knowledge, and lack of communication. Information about the illness was most available (97%), whereas descriptions of experienced symptoms were least available (10%). Conclusion: Collecting HPRs is difficult and time-consuming. Specifically, data from separate records of home care nurses and general practitioners were difficult to come by. Patient and care characteristics were alternately present, which led to an extension of data collection in HPRs to 3 time periods. Piloting is essential to adjust study procedures and outcome measures to ensure a feasible national multicenter hospice study.


BMJ Leader ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L B Schwappach ◽  
Lynn Häsler ◽  
Yvonne Pfeiffer

BackgroundMortality and morbidity conferences (M&MCs) are used to retrospectively discuss adverse events. Recently, the focus of the M&MC shifted from a clinical learning tool to a forum for analysing events using systems-based approaches. The aim of this study was to explore the M&MC characteristics that are associated with perceived improvement needs reported by chief physicians.MethodsA cross-sectional survey among chief physicians assessed characteristics of currently implemented M&MCs in Switzerland (44 items). A summative score was developed covering information on procedural and structural characteristics commonly recommended for design of M&MCs.ResultsOf 223 participants, 145 (65%) indicated that their M&MC could be improved. Regression analysis revealed that the score (ie, the sum of structural and procedural features of the M&MC) was associated with self-perceived need for improvement of M&MCs (OR=0.73, CI 0.62 to 0.85, P<0.001). Chief physicians who explicitly select cases for M&MC discussion which involve problems in cooperation had twice the odds of reporting a need for improvement (OR=1.99, CI 1.05 to 3.74, P=0.034).ConclusionOur study provides important insights into the factors contributing to chief physicians’ evaluation of M&MCs. Offering support for addressing the procedural and structural features of the M&MCs may be a good lever to improve them.


Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 568
Author(s):  
Worawat Wattanathana ◽  
Yuranan Hanlumyuang ◽  
Suttipong Wannapaiboon ◽  
Kantapat Chansaenpak ◽  
Piyanut Pinyou ◽  
...  

Dihydro-1,3,2H-benzoxazines (or benzoxazine monomers) are a class of compounds that have been widely utilized in many areas such as the production of the functional polymers and optoelectronic materials. The structure variety of the benzoxazines plays a vital role in their desired properties. The effort of synthesizing functionalized benzoxazines from bioresources is of interest for sustainable development. Herein, we report the synthesis of the novel benzoxazine monomer referred to as 3-(furan-2-ylmethyl)-6-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[e][1,3]oxazine or benzoxazine (I) from a one-pot Mannich reaction using p-cresol, paraformaldehyde, and furfurylamine (a bio-derived amine). An X-ray crystallographic study was performed at low temperature (100 K) to obtain the structural characteristics of the benzoxazine (I). The result reveals that the oxazine ring adopts a half chair conformation to locate all the members of the benzoxazine ring as planar as possible by employing the expansion of the bond angles within the ring. Apart from the structural parameters, the intermolecular interactions were also examined. It was found that the significant interactions within the crystal are C–H···N, C–H···O, and the C–H···π interactions. The C–H···N interactions link the benzoxazine (I) molecules into an infinite molecular chain, propagating along the [100] direction. Hirshfeld surfaces and their corresponding fingerprint plots were comprehensively analyzed to confirm and quantify the significance of these interactions. Moreover, the photophysical properties of the benzoxazine (I) were investigated in solvents with various polarities. The corresponding relations between the structural features, frontier molecular orbitals, and absorption-and-emission characteristics were proposed and explained according to the DFT and TD-DFT calculations.


Author(s):  
D. F. Blake ◽  
L. F. Allard ◽  
D. R. Peacor

Echinodermata is a phylum of marine invertebrates which has been extant since Cambrian time (c.a. 500 m.y. before the present). Modern examples of echinoderms include sea urchins, sea stars, and sea lilies (crinoids). The endoskeletons of echinoderms are composed of plates or ossicles (Fig. 1) which are with few exceptions, porous, single crystals of high-magnesian calcite. Despite their single crystal nature, fracture surfaces do not exhibit the near-perfect {10.4} cleavage characteristic of inorganic calcite. This paradoxical mix of biogenic and inorganic features has prompted much recent work on echinoderm skeletal crystallography. Furthermore, fossil echinoderm hard parts comprise a volumetrically significant portion of some marine limestones sequences. The ultrastructural and microchemical characterization of modern skeletal material should lend insight into: 1). The nature of the biogenic processes involved, for example, the relationship of Mg heterogeneity to morphological and structural features in modern echinoderm material, and 2). The nature of the diagenetic changes undergone by their ancient, fossilized counterparts. In this study, high resolution TEM (HRTEM), high voltage TEM (HVTEM), and STEM microanalysis are used to characterize tha ultrastructural and microchemical composition of skeletal elements of the modern crinoid Neocrinus blakei.


TAPPI Journal ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
WANHEE IM ◽  
HAK LAE LEE ◽  
HYE JUNG YOUN ◽  
DONGIL SEO

Preflocculation of filler particles before their addition to pulp stock provides the most viable and practical solution to increase filler content while minimizing strength loss. The characteristics of filler flocs, such as floc size and structure, have a strong influence on preflocculation efficiency. The influence of flocculant systems on the structural characteristics of filler flocs was examined using a mass fractal analysis method. Mass fractal dimensions of filler flocs under high shear conditions were obtained using light diffraction spectroscopy for three different flocculants. A single polymer (C-PAM), a dual cationic polymer (p-DADMAC/C-PAM) and a C-PAM/micropolymer system were used as flocculants, and their effects on handsheet properties were investigated. The C-PAM/micropolymer system gave the greatest improvement in tensile index. The mass fractal analysis showed that this can be attributed to the formation of highly dense and spherical flocs by this flocculant. A cross-sectional analysis of the handsheets showed that filler flocs with more uniform size were formed when a C-PAM/micropolymer was used. The results suggest that a better understanding of the characteristics of preflocculated fillers and their influence on the properties of paper can be gained based on a fractal analysis.


GIS Business ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 359-370
Author(s):  
Dr. Ravi S. Dalawai

Indian population is in growing trend from 942.2 million in 1994 to 1.36 billion in 2019.Among this six per cent of India's population was of the age 65 and above (UNFPA, 2019). Today the work culture is totally changed. Both husband and wife are forced to work in the current scenario and unable to take care of their parents. The changing structure created increased problems for old age people leads to loneliness, psychological, physical health and financial insecurity. The study paper provides insight into the social and demographic factor and health related sickness of the oldest people. This research explained the cross-sectional study included a representative sample (n=116) of adults aged ≥60 years. The sample was chosen using a four-stage stratified random-cluster survey sampling method .The Chi Square test and ANOVA test was analyzed using SPSS20.


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