Clinical and angiographic variables affecting the progression of coronary artery disease as determined by quantitative angiography

To assess by serial quantitative angiography, the significance of clinical and angiographic variables that affect the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). Progression of disease by sequential angiography is unpredictable and the role of clinical risk factors controversial. Various intervention trials have demonstrated less progression and even regression in hyperlipidemic patients. Correlates of progression have included a younger age, unstable angina, and greater involvement of the coronary arteries, with few studies looking at angiographic features of individual lesions. Serial angiograms on 74 patients were analyzed by computer assisted quantitative angiography using absolute measurements. A total of 99 diseased segments were analyzed for progression defined as an absolute reduction of 20% in luminal cross-sectional area. A preliminary correlation coefficient was calculated for each of the clinical and angiographic variables to detect any association with progression, and the odds ratio determined.The presence of any of the clinical risk factors-diabetes, hypertension, serum cholesterol, smoking, and a family history of coronary disease could not predict progression. The use of beta blockers was three times less likely to be associated with progression (odds ratio 0.33). While the presence of distal disease was associated with progression of a more proximal lesion (odds ratio 2.4), eccentricity, branch point location, lesion length, calcification, thrombus, or the presence of collaterals did not influence progression of disease in an individual segment. In conclusion, the presence of any of the clinical risk factors could not predict progression of disease in an individual coronary segment as determined by serial quantitative angiography, and the use of beta blockers and the absence of coexistent distal disease was associated with less progression of disease in an individual coronary segment. This may be related to changes in wall stress, reduced platelet interactions, and the integrity and permeability of the vascular endothelium to lipids.     

Protective measures for patients with advanced cancer during the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic: Quo vadis?

Clinical & Experimental Metastasis - Cancer patients represent a vulnerable cohort during the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. Oncological societies have generated a plethora of recommendations, but...     

Solid state interdigitated Sb2S3 based TiO2 nanotube solar cells

TiO₂ nanotubes generated by anodization of metallic titanium sputter-coated on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates are used as a conductive scaffold for all solid-state Sb₂S₃-sensitized extremely thin absorber (ETA) solar cells. A blocking layer of TiO₂ placed between Ti and ITO in combination with optimized Ti deposition and anodization conditions enables the formation of crack-free layers of straight, cylindrical TiO₂ nanotubes of tunable length and diameter. ALD (atomic layer deposition) is subsequently used to coat this substrate conformally with a highly pure Sb₂S₃ light absorber layer under an inert atmosphere. The high absorption coefficient of Sb₂S₃ as compared to molecular dyes allows for the utilization of very short nanotubes, which facilitates the infiltration of the organic hole transport material and formation of a p–i–n heterojunction in an interdigitated and tunable geometry. We investigate the influence of nanotube length and of the absorber thickness to enhance the photocurrent value to twice that of planar reference structures.

TiO₂ nanotubes generated by anodization of metallic titanium sputter-coated on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates are used as a conductive scaffold for all-solid-state Sb₂S₃-sensitized extremely thin absorber (ETA) solar cells.     

Differentiation of population of peripheral blood lymphocytes into cells bearing sheep erythrocyte receptors in vitro by human thymic extract.

A small population of human marrow cells has been shown to be differentiated in vitro by thymic extract into cells bearing T-lymphocyte (thymus-derived lymphocyte) characteristics. By a similar method, the differentiation of human peripheral blood lymphocytes has been studied. A discontinuous gradient of bovine serum albumin was used to isolate lymphocytes into four layers and cells from layers I and III demonstrated the greatest potential for differentiation by human thymic extract. Appearance of T-lymphocyte characteristics was recognized by the spontaneous E-rosette technique with sheep erythrocytes. Ability of human marrow cells to be differentiated under the influence of human thymic extract was abolished by specific inhibitors of nucleic acid synthesis, however, had no inhibitory effect on the maturation of peripheral blood lymphocytes during a 2 hr incubation with human thymic extract but puromycin, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, abolished this differentiative step in cells of layer I. It is suggested from these studies that many of the cells in peripheral blood that are differentiable by thymic extract are at a stage of maturation more advanced than those in human marrow that are also differentiable by thymic extract.     

Occupational Characteristics of Adults with Pediatric-Onset Spinal Cord Injury

Background:

Employment rates among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are lower than in the general population and little is known about the specific occupations in which they are employed.

Objectives:

To describe specific occupations of adults with pediatric-onset SCI using the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system and to determine associations between SOC occupations and demographic factors.

Methods:

Cross-sectional data specific to education and employment were collected from the last interviews of a larger longitudinal study. Occupations were categorized according to the 2010 SOC system. SOC groups were compared within gender level of injury and final education.

Results:

Of the 461 total participants 219 (47.5%) were employed and specific occupations were available for 179. Among the SOC groups Education Law Community Service Arts and Media Occupations were most prevalent (30.2%) followed by Management Business and Finance Occupations (21.1%) Computer Engineering and Science Occupations (10.6%) Administrative and Office Support Occupations (10.0%) Service Occupations (7.3%) Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations (3.9%) and Production Occupations (3.4%). Differences were found in the distribution of SOC groups between gender levels of injury and final education groups.

Conclusion:

A wide variety of occupations were reported in adults with pediatric-onset SCI generally in concordance with final education and functional ability levels.     

Genetic diversity of 3′ region of glycoprotein D gene of bovine herpesvirus 1 and 5

Bovine herpesviruses 1 (BoHV-1) and 5 (BoHV-5) are closely related alphaherpesviruses of cattle. While BoHV-1 is mainly associated with respiratory/genital disease and rarely associated with neurological disease, BoHV-5 is the primary agent of meningoencephalitis in cattle. The envelope glycoprotein D of alphaherpesviruses (BoHV-1/gD1 and BoHV-5/gD5) is involved in the early steps of virus infection and may influence virus tropism and neuropathogenesis. This study performed a sequence analysis of the 3′ region of gD gene (gD3′) of BoHV-1 isolates recovered from respiratory/genital disease (n = 6 and reference strain Cooper) or from neurological disease (n = 7); and from seven typical neurological BoHV-5 isolates. After PCR amplification, nucleotide (nt) sequencing, and aminoacid (aa) sequence prediction; gD3′ sequences were compared, identity levels were calculated, and selective pressure was analyzed. The phylogenetic reconstruction based on nt and aa sequences allowed for a clear differentiation of BoHV-1 (n = 14) and BoHV-5 (n = 7) clusters. The seven BoHV-1 isolates from neurological disease are grouped within the BoHV-1 branch. A consistent alignment of 346 nt revealed a high similarity within each viral species (gD1 = 98.3 % nt and aa; gD5 = 97.8 % nt and 85.8 % aa) and an expected lower similarity between gD1 and gD5 (73.7 and 64.1 %, nt and aa, respectively). The analysis of molecular evolution revealed an average negative selection at gD3′. Thus, the phylogeny and similarity levels allowed for differentiation of BoHV-1 and BoHV-5 species, but not further division in subspecies. Sequence analysis did not allow for the identification of genetic differences in gD3′ potentially associated with the respective clinical/pathological phenotypes, yet revealed a lower level of gD3′ conservation than previously reported.