Publications

Methodological problems related to the quantitative assessment of stretch, elastic recoil, and balloon‐artery ratio

The (inflated) balloon is important to determine the extent of stretch (theoretical maximal gain in diameter or area during PTCA), elastic recoil (the loss in diameter or area immediately after PTCA), and whether under‐ or over‐sizing (balloon‐artery ratio) of the dilated lesion occurred. In these assessments, the inflated balloon is used as scaling device with assumed uniformity along its entire length. In order to assess more accurately stretch, elastic recoil, and the balloon‐artery ratio, the balloon diameter was measured over its entire length with edge detection and videodensitometry in 505 lesions (453 patients). With an average inflation pressure of 8.3 ± 2.6 atm a difference between the minimal and the maximal balloon diameter of 0.59 ± 0.23 mm was measured using edge detection and 1.70 ± 0.90 mm 2 difference in area using videodensitometry. This results in large variations in the calculated stretch, elastic recoil, and balloon‐artery ratio depending on the site of the balloon chosen for assessment. The mean difference ± SD between stretch and elastic recoil assessed by edge detection and videodensitometry (using the minimal luminal diameter or area of the balloon) are respectively 0.00 ± 0.19 and 0.00 ± 0.24, suggesting that both methods are appropriate.

Fluorometric measurement of wheat germ in milling products, I. Boron trifluoride—Methanol reagent

Cellular buckling in I-section struts

STAT6 expression in T cells, alveolar macrophages and bronchial biopsies of normal and asthmatic subjects

Asthma is characterised by increased numbers of Th2-like cells in the airways and IgE secretion. Generation of Th2 cells requires interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 acting through their specific receptors and activating the transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6). STAT6 knockout mice fail to produce IgE, airway hyperresponsiveness and bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia after allergen sensitisation, suggesting a critical role for STAT6 in allergic responses.We have investigated the expression of STAT6 in peripheral blood T-lymphocytes, alveolar macrophages and bronchial biopsies from 17 normal subjects and 18 mild-moderate steroid-naïve stable asthmatic patients.STAT6 expression was variable and was detected in T-lymphocytes, macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells from all subjects with no difference between normal and stable asthmatic subjects.STAT6 expression in different cells suggests that it may be important in regulating the expression of not only Th2-like cytokines in T cells of man, but may also regulate STAT-inducible genes in alveolar macrophages and airway epithelial cells.

STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOUR OF ELLIPTICAL HOLLOW SECTIONS UNDER COMBINED COMPRESSION AND UNIAXIAL BENDING

The structural behaviour of elliptical hollow sections (EHS) has been examined in previous studies under the isolated loading conditions of pure compression and pure bending.This paper examines the response of EHS under combined compression plus uniaxial bending at the cross-sectional level.Structural performance data were initially generated through a series of laboratory stub column tests with various load eccentricities.The measured geometric and material properties of the test specimens, together with the full load-deformation histories have been reported herein.The test data were supplemented by further results generated through parallel numerical studies.Slenderness parameters and limits for EHS under combined compression plus bending were developed following analytical work.Finally, the experimental and numerical data were used to verify proposed interaction expressions for the design of EHS under combined loading; these have been developed in accordance with Eurocode 3 for ease of future incorporation.

Autonomic Control of the Airways

Autonomic nerves regulate airway caliber, blood flow and secretions. They play an important role in the pathophysiology of airway diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, modulating the inflammatory process and the airway response to inflammation. Cholinergic nerves play a major role in regulating airway caliber in humans, whereas adrenergic nerves are less important. Afferent nerves are important in mediating responses to inhaled irritants and other stimuli. Many neuropeptides are expressed in airway nerves and may play an important modulating role in disease. Several treatments for airway disease interact with autonomic control mechanisms.

Determining the relative evolutionary stages of very young massive star formation regions

We have recently completed an observing program with the Australia Telescope Compact Array towards massive star formation regions traced by 6.7 GHz methanol maser emission. We found the molecular cores could be separated into groups based on their association with/without methanol maser and 24 GHz continuum emission. Analysis of the molecular and ionised gas properties suggested the cores within the groups may be at different evolutionary stages. In this contribution we derive the column densities and temperatures of the cores from the NH3 emission and investigate if this can be used as an indicator of the relative evolutionary stages of cores in the sample. The majority of cores are well fit using single-temperature large velocity gradient models, and exhibit a range of temperatures from ~10 K to >200 K. Under the simple but reasonable assumption that molecular gas in the cores will heat up and become less quiescent with age due to feedback from the powering source(s), the molecular gas kinetic temperature combined with information of the core kinematics seems a promising probe of relative core age in the earliest evolutionary stages of massive star formation.

Coronary interventions in 2020: the year in review

No abstract is provided for this article.

Residual Stresses in Steel I-Section Beams Strengthened by Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing

Towards complete assessment of progression/regression of coronary atherosclerosis: Implications for intervention trials

No abstract is provided for this article.

PDGF isoform-induced proliferation and receptor expression in human cultured airway smooth muscle cells

The effect of recombinant platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms (PDGF-AA, -BB and -AB) on mitogenesis of human cultured airway smooth muscle (ASM) was examined using the MTT-reduction assay and [3H]thymidine incorporation. Results were correlated with expression of PDGF receptor (PDGFR)-alpha and -beta subunits in the absence and presence of fetal calf serum (FCS). When FCS was absent PDGF-AB and -BB were potent mitogens, whereas PDGF-AA was weakly mitogenic, evoking <20% of the maximum response induced by the B-chain isoforms. When FCS (2.5%) was present, all PDGF isoforms stimulated marked ASM proliferation with similar efficacy and potency. Cross-competition binding analysis in FCS-deprived cells revealed that ASM cells in culture express mainly PDGFR-beta. Preincubation with PDGF-AA or PDGFR-alpha neutralizing antiserum abolished PDGF-AA binding and decreased total receptor number by approximately 15%. The ratio of PDGFR-alpha to beta subunits was approximately 1:8, supported by intense immunofluorescence staining for PDGFR-beta and weak staining for PDGFR-alpha. In parallel studies, uptake of [3H]thymidine stimulated by PDGF-AA, but not PDGF-AB or -BB, was inhibited by PDGFR-alpha immobilization. Western immunoblot analysis confirmed expression of mature PDGFR-alpha and -beta subunits in ASM cells. FCS did not cause any detectable increase in PDGFR-alpha expression or in PDGF-AA binding. These data support a role for PDGFR-beta mediating ASM mitogenesis during FCS-free conditions, but in the presence of FCS, both PDGFR-alpha and -beta subunits are linked to mitogenesis. The enhanced mitogenicity of PDGF-AA in the presence of FCS was independent of any detectable upregulation of PDGFR-alpha, suggesting that the inability of PDGF-AA to promote mitogenesis in the absence of FCS is not simply due to relative numbers of PDGFR-alpha and PDGFR-beta.

Airway responsiveness and inflammation in adolescent elite swimmers

A crucial factor in shared decision making: the team approach

No abstract is provided for this article.

Bioresorbable Scaffolds: Current Evidence and Ongoing Clinical Trials

Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) represent a novel approach in coronary stent technology. In contrast to the metallic stents, they provide transient scaffolding, thereby safeguarding early vessel patency and acute gain. Subsequently a process of "decomposition" occurs, that results in the complete absorption of the scaffold. This reduces the risk of late complications, allowing the vessel to maintain its integrity and physiological function. This unique ability has attracted interest and nowadays several BRS are available. The aim of this review article is to describe the advances in the field, present the evidence from the preclinical and clinical evaluation of these devices, and provide an overview of the ongoing clinical trials that were designed to examine the effectiveness of BRS in the clinical setting.

Editorial

No abstract is provided for this article.

Percutaneous implantation of coronary stenosis phantoms in an anesthetized swine model to validate current quantitative angiography analysis systems

No abstract is provided for this article.

Decreased histone deacetylase activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: relationship to disease severity.

Anticholinergic Blockade of Beta-Blocker-Induced Bronchoconstriction

Department of Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, and the Department of Thoracic Medicine, Brompton Hospital, London, England

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease