scholarly journals Clinical Significance of Carotid Intima-Media Complex and Carotid Plaque Assessment by Ultrasound for the Prediction of Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Primary and Secondary Care Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 4628
Author(s):  
Anna Kabłak-Ziembicka ◽  
Tadeusz Przewłocki
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Secondary Care ◽  
Carotid Plaque ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Arterial Plaque ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
American Society ◽  
Carotid Arterial

Recently published recommendations from the American Society of Echocardiography on ‘Carotid Arterial Plaque Assessment by Ultrasound for the Characterization of Atherosclerosis and Evaluation of Cardiovascular Risk’ provoked discussion once more on the potential clinical applications of carotid intima-media complex thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque assessment in the context of cardiovascular risk in both primary and secondary care patients. This review paper addresses key issues and milestones regarding indications, assessment, technical aspects, recommendations, and interpretations of CIMT and carotid plaque findings. We discuss lacks of evidence, limitations, and possible future directions.

Association of plaque echostructure and cardiovascular risk factors with symptomatic carotid artery disease

VASA ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giannoukas ◽  
Sfyroeras ◽  
Griffin ◽  
Saleptsis ◽  
Antoniou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽  
Carotid Plaque ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Symptomatic Disease ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Ica Stenosis

Background: Severity of stenosis remains the main factor for assessing risk of stroke in patients with internal carotid artery (ICA) disease. This study was conducted to investigate the association of plaque echostructure and other established and emerging cardiovascular risk factors with symptomatic ICA disease. Design: Cross-sectional study of consecutive patients with significant (> 50 %) ICA stenosis. Patients and methods: Carotid plaque echostructure, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, serum lipoprotein (a), homocysteine, vitamin B12, folate, cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, and the Framingham risk score were assessed in 124 consecutive patients (70 asymptomatic; 54 symptomatic) with significant (> 50 %) ICA stenosis. Results: The asymptomatic and symptomatic groups did not differ in terms of gender distribution (p = 0.76) and severity of stenosis (p = 0.62). Echolucent plaques (type 1 and 2) were more predominant in patients with symptomatic disease (p = 0.004, OR = 2.13, 95 % CI = 1.26-3.6). Patients with plaques type 1 were relatively younger than those with type 4 (p = 0.02). None of the other factors assessed had any significant association with symptomatic disease and any type of carotid plaque. Conclusions: Besides the severity of carotid stenosis, the presence of an echolucent plaque appears as an important factor associated with symptomatic ICA disease. Also, young patients are more likely to have an echolucent plaque suggesting an age-related association with plaque maturation.

Advocacy in pediatric neurosurgery: results from a 2017 survey of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa LoPresti ◽  
Sandi Lam ◽  
Katie Orrico ◽  
Samuel R. Browd ◽  
Richard G. Ellenbogen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽  
Clinical Issues ◽  
Economic Issues ◽  
Advocacy Effort ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
American Society ◽  
Advocacy Program

OBJECTIVEPediatric neurosurgeons are unswerving advocates for public health–related issues in children, with most providers participating in local, regional, national, or international efforts. Collective advocacy efforts by organized pediatric neurosurgeons have not been undertaken to date.METHODSA 10-item survey was administered to members of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons (ASPN) in order to evaluate attitudes and opinions regarding the development of a formal advocacy effort by the organization.RESULTSSeventy-nine of 178 registered members of the ASPN (44.38%) participated in the survey. Participants were 82.61% male, with age, stage of career, and practice type varied. Although there was unequivocal support for participation in organized advocacy, respondents were divided on methods and topics for advocacy. In this survey, the ASPN membership prioritized public health and clinical issues over economic issues that affected children.CONCLUSIONSMost respondents favored the drafting of position statements on key issues and partnerships with larger organizations to pursue an advocacy agenda. The survey provides data regarding pediatric neurosurgeons’ attitudes that may assist with the design of a successful advocacy program.

scholarly journals Selective Harvesting Robotics: Current Research, Trends, and Future Directions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gert Kootstra ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Pieter M. Blok ◽  
Jochen Hemming ◽  
Eldert van Henten
Keyword(s):  
Review Paper ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Selective Harvesting ◽  
Important Solution ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Current Systems

Abstract Purpose of Review The world-wide demand for agricultural products is rapidly growing. However, despite the growing population, labor shortage becomes a limiting factor for agricultural production. Further automation of agriculture is an important solution to tackle these challenges. Recent Findings Selective harvesting of high-value crops, such as apples, tomatoes, and broccoli, is currently mainly performed by humans, rendering it one of the most labor-intensive and expensive agricultural tasks. This explains the large interest in the development of selective harvesting robots. Selective harvesting, however, is a challenging task for a robot, due to the high levels of variation and incomplete information, as well as safety. Summary This review paper provides an overview of the state of the art in selective harvesting robotics in three different production systems; greenhouse, orchard, and open field. The limitations of current systems are discussed, and future research directions are proposed.

scholarly journals Biodiesel Production from Melia azedarach and Ricinus communis Oil by Transesterification Process

Catalysts ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Awais ◽  
Sa’ed A Musmar ◽  
Faryal Kabir ◽  
Iram Batool ◽  
Muhammad Asif Rasheed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ricinus Communis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Biodiesel Production ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Melia Azedarach ◽  
Renewable Fuel ◽  
Animal Fats ◽  
Edible Crops ◽  
American Society

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel usually produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. This study investigates the extraction of oil and its conversion into biodiesel by base-catalyzed transesterification. Firstly, the effect of various solvents (methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, di-ethyl ether) on extraction of oil from non-edible crops, such as R. communis and M. azedarach, were examined. It was observed that a higher concentration of oil was obtained from R. communis (43.6%) as compared to M. azedarach (35.6%) by using methanol and n-hexane, respectively. The extracted oils were subjected to NaOH (1%) catalyzed transesterification by analyzing the effect of oil/methanol molar ratio (1:4, 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10) and varying temperature (20, 40, 60 and 80 °C) for 2.5 h of reaction time. M. azedarach yielded 88% and R. communis yielded 93% biodiesel in 1:6 and 1:8 molar concentrations at ambient temperature whereas, 60 °C was selected as an optimum temperature, giving 90% (M. azedarach) and 94% (R. communis) biodiesel. The extracted oil and biodiesel were characterized for various parameters and most of the properties fulfilled the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard biodiesel. The further characterization of fatty acids was done by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) and oleic acid was found to be dominant in M. azedarach (61.5%) and R. communis contained ricinoleic acid (75.53%). Furthermore, the functional groups were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The results suggested that both of the oils are easily available and can be used for commercial biodiesel production at a cost-effective scale.

A Novel Processing Route for the Fabrication of Monolithic and Composite Silicon Nitride

1992 ◽  
Vol 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. V. Raman ◽  
S. V. Rele
Keyword(s):  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Hot Isostatic Pressing ◽  
Thermal Exposure ◽  
Processing Route ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Α Phase ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Novel Processing ◽  
Composite Silicon

ABSTRACTCurrent hot isostatic consolidation methodology used for the fabrication of complex-shaped Si3N4-based components requires the use of an expensive glass encapsulation technique and extended thermal exposure (in hours) of the specimen. An alternative consolidation approach involving the use of solid pressure transmitting media under high pressure, has enabled the consolidation of Si3N4 alloys without the need for glass encapsulation.Characterization of microstructures and mechanical properties of this (MOR, fracture toughness) material has been carried out and will be presented. It has been noted that in Si 3N4/8%Y2O3-4%Al2O3 composition, consolidated using this approach, a significantly larger volume fraction of α phase has been retained compared with typically observed conversion in α⇒ β in hot isostatically pressed material or sintered material.Key issues for addressing densification and microstructure control using this process are presented. This rapid consolidation approach appears to be a promising alternative to hot isostatic pressing for the fabrication of complex-shaped Si3N4 components.

Noninvasive Tissue Characterization of Coronary Arterial Plaque by 16-Slice Computed Tomography in Acute Coronary Syndrome

Angiology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenichi Sakakura ◽  
Takanori Yasu ◽  
Yasuyuki Kobayashi ◽  
Takuji Katayama ◽  
Yoshitaka Sugawara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Tissue Characterization ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Arterial Plaque
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