6,963 publications from this institution
Abstract Methanol maser emission has proven to be an excellent signpost of regions undergoing massive star formation (MSF). To investigate their role as an evolutionary tracer, we have recently completed a large observing program with the ATCA to derive the dynamical and physical properties of molecular/ionised gas towards a sample of MSF regions traced by 6.7GHz methanol maser emission. We find that the molecular gas in many of these regions breaks up into multiple sub-clumps which we separate into groups based on their association with/without methanol maser and cm continuum emission. The temperature and dynamic state of the molecular gas is markedly different between the groups. Based on these differences, we attempt to assess the evolutionary state of the cores in the groups and thus investigate the role of class II methanol masers as a tracer of MSF.
A total of 533 patients with acute myocardial infarction of less than 4‐h duration were enrolled in the multicenter randomized trial of intracoronary thrombolysis compared to conventional treatment. In two of the five participating centers, an additional coronary angioplasty immediately after thrombolysis was attempted in 46 patients. According to the treatment allocation and early and late patency of the infarct related vessel, patients were subdivided into three groups: conventionally treated (group A); successful coronary angioplasty following thrombolysis with persistent patent infarct related vessel (group B); and late patency of the infarct related vessel postthrombolytic therapy without angioplasty (group C). The highest global ejection fractions were observed in group B (54% ± 10%) and group C (55% ± 13%), while the lowest ejection fraction was found in group A (47% ± 14%). The sequential changes in global ejection fraction from the acute to the chronic stage was + 4% (p = 0.05) in group B, while no significant changes could be demonstrated in group C. Furthermore, in the group successfully treated by angioplasty, the improvement in global ejection fraction was more pronounced and persisted up to three months after the intervention. This was supported by analysis of regional myocardial function of the infarct zone (+16% improvement, p = 0.01). The long‐term clinical follow‐up (median 24 months) of the patients successfully treated by combined procedure of thrombolysis and angioplasty (group B) was most favourable with a lower incidence of re‐infarction (6%), and late coronary bypass surgery (13%) and/or (re)‐percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (3%) was performed less frequently. These results suggest that reperfusion may need to be supplemented by additional revascularization procedures in order to optimize the chances of obtaining full functional recovery and so to improve the prognosis.
A recently developed nonlinear analytical model for axially loaded thin-walled stringer-stiffened plates based on variational principles is extended to include local buckling of the main plate. Interaction between the weakly stable global buckling mode and the strongly stable local buckling mode is highlighted. Highly unstable post-buckling behaviour and a progressively changing wavelength in the local buckling mode profile is observed under increasing compressive deformation. The analytical model is compared against both physical experiments from the literature and finite element analysis conducted in the commercial code Abaqus; excellent agreement is found both in terms of the mechanical response and the predicted deflections.
We investigated the role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anions in recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rhIL-1 beta)-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and neutrophilia in Brown-Norway rats. Aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg/d) administered subcutaneously for 3 d, an inhibitor of inducible NO synthase, L-arginine (100 mg/kg/d administered subcutaneously for 3 d, a specific precursor for the synthesis of NO, and apocynin (5 mg/kg/orally), an inhibitor of superoxide anion (O2-)-generating NADPH oxidase in macrophages and neutrophils, were administered prior to administration of rhIL-1 beta (500 U) intratracheally. Aminoguanidine in addition to another inhibitor of NO synthase, NW-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) 100 mg kg/d administered subcutaneously for 3 d augmented bronchial responsiveness to inhaled bradykinin (BK) but not to acetylcholine (ACh), an effect reversed by L-arginine. rhIL-1 beta-treated rats also demonstrated BHR to BK but not to ACh, associated with neutrophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). rhIL-1 beta-induced BHR and neutrophilia were neither further increased by aminoguanidine nor inhibited by L-arginine. Apocynin, however, significantly inhibited rhIL-1 beta-induced BHR but not the BALF neutrophilia. Suppression of NO generation and generation of O2- from macrophages and infiltrating neutrophils may be important in rhIL-1 beta-induced airway hyperresponsiveness to bradykinin.
The application of optical coherence tomography to the cardiovascular system has led to intense interest, both clinically and also on the research front. Based on sound optical physics, intracoronary, in vivo imaging with high resolution (∼15 µm) has given unique insights into not only atherosclerotic plaques but also the tissue responses underlying stent implantation. This article will introduce the application of optical coherence tomography technology to coronary arteries, with particular reference to the evaluation of stents, and will also give a glimpse into current and future developments that will see optical coherence tomography remain a key tool in the armamentarium of researchers and interventional cardiologists alike.
Intracoronary radiation is a promising therapy to reduce restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. It may be anticipated that radiation and intracoronary stents - the current standard coronary revascularization procedure - have a synergic antirestenosis effect. However, this potential benefit has not been proven in the clinical scenario. Indeed, this combined approach (stenting plus brachytherapy) may even be harmful. Delayed endothelialization and late stent malapposition are important drawbacks of implanting a metallic prosthesis in the setting of radiation therapy. Owing to the relatively high frequency of late thrombosis after stenting irradiated coronary arteries, the Food and Drug Administration required that the labeling of both gamma- and beta-radiation devices recently approved for clinical use explicitly advise avoidance of the placement of new stents. The pathophysiologic aspects as well as the clinical implications of the implantation of a new stent in association with radiation delivered by radioactive stents or catheter-based systems are discussed in this paper.
Objectives We sought to assess the efficacy of vascular brachytherapy (VBT) combined with stenting for the primary prevention of restenosis. Background Intravascular brachytherapy after stent implantation for de novo lesions has been abandoned for the present. We revisited this procedure by optimizing all procedural steps—the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa blockers, direct stenting, adequate radiation coverage, avoidance of edge damage, source centering, intravascular ultrasound-guided dosimetry, and continuation of a dual anti-platelet regimen for one year. Methods The Beta-Radiation Investigation with Direct stenting and Galileo in Europe (BRIDGE) study is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial evaluating the long-term efficacy of VBT with P-32 (20 Gy at 1 mm in the coronary wall) after direct stenting. The primary end point was angiographic intra-stent late loss; secondary end points were six months binary restenosis and neo-intimal hyperplasia. Patients (n = 112) with de novo lesions (2.5 to 4.0 mm in diameter up to 15 mm long) were randomized to either VBT or no-VBT. Results At six months, intra-stent loss was 0.43 and 0.84 mm (p < 0.001) in the irradiated and control groups, respectively. Intra-stent neo-intimal volume was reduced from 36 mm3to 10 mm3. However, in the irradiated group there were six late occlusions as well as eight restenoses outside the stented and peri-stented area at the fall-off dose edges of the irradiated area. Accordingly, the target vessel revascularization and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events rates at one year in the VBT group (20.4% and 25.9%, respectively) were higher than in the control group (12.1% and 17.2%, respectively). Conclusions Despite the optimization of pre-, peri-, and post-procedural factors and despite the relative efficacy of the brachytherapy for the prevention of the intra-stent neo-intimal hyperplasia, the clinical outcome of the irradiated group was less favorable than that of the control group.
