Systemic inflammation after inspiratory loading in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) present systemic inflammation. Strenuous resistive breathing induces systemic inflammation in healthy subjects. We hypothesized that the increased respiratory load that characterizes COPD can contribute to systemic inflammation in these patients.

Patients and methods

To test this hypothesis, we compared leukocyte numbers and levels of circulating cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFα], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10), before and 1 hour after maximal incremental inspiratory loading in 13 patients with stable COPD (forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV₁] 29 ± 2.5% ref) and in 8 healthy sedentary subjects (FEV₁ 98 ± 5% ref).

Results

We found that: (1) at baseline, patients with COPD showed higher leukocyte counts and IL-8 levels than controls (p < 0.01); and, (2) one hour after maximal inspiratory loading these values were unchanged, except for IL-10, which increased in controls (p < 0.05) but not in patients with COPD.

Conclusions

This study confirms the presence of systemic inflammation in COPD, shows that maximal inspiratory loading does not increase the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8) in COPD patients or controls, but suggests that the former may be unable to mount an appropriate systemic anti-inflammatory response to exercise.     

Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography: methodological aspects and clinical potential

Speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is an advanced echocardiographic technique that allows a novel approach to the assessment of cardiac physiology through the study of myocardial mechanics. In its three-dimensional (3D) modality, it overcomes the drawbacks inherent to other echocardiographic techniques, namely two-dimensional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. Several research studies and software improvements have led 3D-STE to become a promising tool for accurate evaluation of global and regional cardiac function. This article addresses the image acquisition, analytical methods, and parameters of myocardial mechanics that could be derived from 3D-STE. This systematic guidance may help to establish its usefulness in the global and regional evaluation of cardiac function, and to facilitate its clinical application.     

Copper nanoparticles anchored onto boron-doped graphene nanosheets for use as a high performance asymmetric solid-state supercapacitor

There is a high demand for high energy and power density in the field of energy storage devices. To rectify these limitations, a novel asymmetric solid-state supercapacitor (ASSC) was designed and fabricated using a copper anchored boron doped graphene nanosheet (CuBG) as a negative electrode and reduced graphene nanoplatelets as a positive electrode with H₂SO₄/PVA as the quasi-solid electrolyte. The CuBG was prepared using a two step hydrothermal process followed by pyrolysis at different temperatures using chemical vapour deposition (CVD), using copper sulphate (CuSO₄) and boron-trioxide (B₂O₃) as precursors, for doping in graphene oxide. Owing to the remarkable structure and morphology of Cu nanoparticles on nanosheets of boron intercalated with graphene oxide, the nanosheets exhibit a high specific capacitance of 483 Fg⁻¹ at 1 Ag⁻¹ with a capacitance retention of 96% after 5000 cycles, respectively, in a two-electrode system. In addition, the designed and fabricated solid state ASSC device of rGO//CuBG exhibited a high energy and power density of 132.5 W h kg⁻¹ and 1000 W kg⁻¹, respectively, in a wide potential window of 2.0 V, with an excellent stability, retaining 91% of its initial specific capacitance after 5000 cycles. The electrochemical capacitance of CuBG was also evaluated in a three and two electrode system using a KOH and KOH/PVA solid electrolyte respectively. A specific capacitance of 87.5 Fg⁻¹ was achieved at 1 Ag⁻¹ using the fabricated asymmetric device with a 31.1 W h kg⁻¹ energy density at a corresponding power density of 800 W kg⁻¹ and an 85% capacitance was retained after 5000 cycles. The kinetics of the interfacial charge transport phenomena were analysed using a Nyquist plot of the electrochemical impedance analysis.

There is a high demand for high energy and power density in the field of energy storage devices.     

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of mitral valve morphology by intraoperative volume-rendered three-dimensional echocardiography

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) performed to evaluate mitral valve anatomy during valve repair has certain limitations and pitfalls. The study aim was to assess the feasibility, accuracy and incremental value of three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE), coupled with 2DE in evaluating mitral valve structure, before and after repair and pericardial posterior annuloplasty. METHODS: The site and extent of mitral valve prolapse, systolic and diastolic changes of mitral annular area were evaluated using 2D and 3D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), both pre- and postoperatively in 34 patients before and after mitral valve repair and pericardial posterior annuloplasty. RESULTS: Concordance between 2DE and surgery in evaluating prolapsing mitral valve scallops was 76% for the anterior leaflet and 75% for the posterior leaflet; for 3DE and surgery, concordance was 87% and 93% respectively. There was a significant reduction in maximal and minimal annular area after surgery, with a statistically significant difference between systolic-diastolic changes. CONCLUSION: 3DE, coupled with 2DE, is feasible and accurate in delineating the extent and location of prolapsing scallops of the mitral valve. The combined approach is also valuable in planning mitral valve surgery and evaluating the mitral valve annulus in vivo.     

中老年人糖化血红蛋白水平与颈动脉内膜-中层厚度的相关性研究:广州生物库心血管疾病亚队列

目的 探讨相对健康的中老年人血中糖化血红蛋白(HbAlc)含量对颈动脉硬化的影响.方法 从广州生物库队列中单纯随机抽样收集1863名年龄≥50岁的广州市居民的个人资料,问卷调查其病史、体格检查及测定血清空腹血糖、血脂、HbA1c的含量并应用彩色多普勒超声测量颈总动脉内膜-中层厚度(intima media thickness,IMT).在调整相关混染因素后,应用协方差分析进行连续变量分析.结果 (1)在调整年龄、性别和空腹血糖等因素后,平均颈总动脉IMT随HbA1c含量升高呈明显增加趋势(P=0.005).线性回归模型显示,在调整年龄、性别、吸烟状态、腰围、收缩压和舒张压、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和空腹血糖等潜在危险因素后,结果仍然显示HbA1c水平与平均颈总动脉IMT有明显的线性相关(回归系数为0.014,P=0.03);(2)经过调整多种潜在混杂因素后,与HbA1c理想组(HbA1c<6.5%)比较,良好组(HbA1c为6.5%～7.5%)和差组(HbA1c>7.5%)发生颈动脉硬化的比值比(95%置信区间)分别为1.62(1.10,2.38)和1.76(0.86,3.63),趋势检验(P=0.01).结论 相对健康的中老年人HbA1c含量升高是颈动脉硬化的独立危险因素之一,提示降低HbA1c水平对阻止或延缓颈动脉硬化的发生与发展有重要意义.     

Soluble LH-HCG receptor and oestradiol as predictors of pregnancy and live birth in IVF

Research question

Circulating soluble LH-HCG receptor (sLHCGR) is a first-trimester marker for screening pregnancy pathologies and predicts premature or multiple births before fertility treatment. Oestradiol per oocyte at ovulation induction predicts IVF treatment outcomes. We asked whether sLHCGR levels are stable during fertility treatment and whether, alone or with oestradiol, they could improve prediction of fertility treatment outcomes.

Artificial insemination and in-vitro fertilization using donor spermatozoa: a report on 15 years of experience

Donor insemination (DI) using cryopreserved semen commenced at The Royal Women's Hospital in 1976. Over the next 15 years we performed 5953 treatment cycles to achieve 816 pregnancies (13.7% per cycle) and 706 live births. In-vitro fertilization (IVF) using donor spermatozoa commenced in 1986. Over the next 5 years we performed 303 treatment cycles for 185 couples. Including subsequent transfer of cryopreserved embryos, a total of 33% of couples achieved a successful pregnancy by IVF. Statistical analysis indicated that, for DI pregnancies, the most important semen variable was the percentage post-thaw motility, whilst for normal fertilization in IVF it was the pre-freeze motility. These results may be explained by the compensatory effects of post-thaw processing of spermatozoa for IVF, but not for DI in our clinic.