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Best Candidates (best + candidate)
Selected AbstractsBest candidates for capsule endoscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleedingJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 12 2007Zhi-Zheng Ge Abstract Background and Aim:, Capsule endoscopy (CE) has an important role in the diagnosis of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. However, there was still controversy regarding the best candidates for CE. The present retrospective study aimed to access the best candidates for CE. Methods:, There were 91 consecutive patients referred to the present study for 94 CE examinations from May 2002 to January 2005. They were divided into two groups (41 with active bleeding, and 50 with previous bleeding). Results:, The CE findings were positive in 74.7%, suspicious in 11% of cases and negative in 14.3% of cases, respectively. The positive and suspected positive yield of CE were 75.6% and 19.5% in the active bleeding group, 74% and 4% in the previous bleeding group (P = 0.01), 75.7% and 21.6% in the overt bleeding group, 75% and 0% in the occult bleeding group (P = 0.206), 89.7% and 3.4% in patients who bled 2 weeks previously, 52.38% and 4.76% in patients who bled >2 weeks previously (P = 0.003), 75.6% and 19.5% in active bleeding group, 89.7% and 3.4% in patients who bled 2 weeks ago (P = 0.128). Conclusions:, The best candidates for the procedure are those with active bleeding, or active bleeding in the previous 2 weeks. [source] Comparison of coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing and multicarrier code division multiple access systems for power line communicationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, Issue 9 2004P. L. Katsis Abstract Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) and multicarrier code division multiple access (MC-CDMA) systems are comparatively evaluated for power line communications (PLC) in a frequency-selective fading environment with additive coloured Gaussian noise which is used to model the actual in-home power line channel. OFDM serves as a benchmark in order to measure the performance of various MC-CDMA systems, since multicarrier modulation systems are considered the best candidate for this kind of channel. Both single-user and multi-user cases are taken into account, making use of the appropriate combiner schemes to take full advantage of each case. System efficiency is enhanced by the application of different coding techniques, a fact which shows that powerful coding can make the difference under such a hostile medium. The impact of block interleaving is investigated, while the simulation examines how different modulation schemes fair under the imposed channel conditions as well. The performance of the system is assessed by the commonly used bit error rate vs signal-to-noise ratio diagrams and there is also a comparison regarding throughput efficiency among all the tested systems. As stated in Section 4, a promising PLC application is attained. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A comparison of three closest fit approaches to missing attribute values in preterm birth dataINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS, Issue 2 2002Jerzy W. Grzymala-Busse One of the main problems of data mining is imperfection of input data. Such data may be uncertain, vague, and incomplete. In our data set, describing preterm birth, many attribute values were missing, that is, the input data set was incomplete. The main approach to solving the missing attribute value problem was based on a closest fit: a missing attribute value in a case was replaced by the existing attribute value in the best candidate, a case that fits as closely as possible (resembles the most) the case with the missing attribute value. We experimented with three methods based on the idea of the closest fit: looking for the best candidate among the set of all cases, among the cases that belong to the same concept (cases within the same class as the case with missing attribute values), and a special method, where the set of all attributes was restricted to a single attribute with the missing attribute value. In the last method, the missing attribute value was replaced by the most common value within the concept for symbolic attributes, and by the average value of all attribute values of the same concept for numerical attributes. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [source] Real Options: Meeting the Georgetown ChallangeJOURNAL OF APPLIED CORPORATE FINANCE, Issue 2 2005Thomas E. Copeland In response to the demand for a single, generally accepted real options methodology, this article proposes a four-step process leading to a practical solution to most applications of real option analysis. The first step is familiar: calculate the standard net present value of the project assuming no managerial flexibility, which results in a value estimate (and a "branch" of a decision tree) for each year of the project's life. The second step estimates the volatility of the value of the project and produces a value tree designed to capture the main sources of uncertainty. Note that the authors focus on the uncertainty about overall project value, which is driven by uncertainty in revenue growth, operating margins, operating leverage, input costs, and technology. The key point here is that, in contrast to many real options approaches, none of these variables taken alone is assumed to be a reliable surrogate for the uncertainty of the project itself. For example, in assessing the option value of a proven oil reserve, the relevant measure of volatility is the volatility not of oil prices, but of the value of the operating entity,that is, the project value without leverage. The third step attempts to capture managerial flexibility using a decision "tree" that illustrates the decisions to be made, their possible outcomes, and their corresponding probabilities. The article illustrate various kinds of applications, including a phased investment in a chemical plant (which is treated as a compound option) and an investment in a peak-load power plant (a switching option with changing variance, which precludes the use of constant risk-neutral probabilities as in standard decision tree analysis). The fourth and final step uses a "no-arbitrage" approach to form a replicating portfolio with the same payouts as the real option. For most corporate investment projects, it is impossible to locate a "twin security" that trades in the market. In the absence of such a security, the conventional NPV of a project (again, without flexibility) is the best candidate for a perfectly correlated underlying asset because it represents management's best estimate of value based on the expected cash flows of the project. [source] Separation and characterization of the 1,3-propanediol and glycerol dehydrogenase activities from Clostridium butyricum E5 wild-type and mutant DJOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2001H. Malaoui H. MALAOUI AND R. MARCZAK. 2001. Aims:,Clostridium butyricum E5 wild-type and mutant E5-MD were cultivated in chemostat culture on glycerol in order to compare the properties of two key enzymes of glycerol catabolism, i.e. propanediol and glycerol dehydrogenase. Methods and Results:,These two enzymes, which belong to the dha regulon, were separated by gel filtration. Both dehydrogenase activities displayed similar properties, such as pH optimum values, specificity towards physiological substrates and dependence on Mn2+. Both strains accumulate glycerol at high levels. Conclusion:,The mutant D strain contained a propanediol dehydrogenase activity which had a low affinity for its physiological substrate, leading to the conclusion that this strain would seem more resistant to the toxic effect of 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde than the wild-type. Significance and Impacts of the study: These properties make Cl. butyricum mutant D strain the best candidate so far to be used as a biotechnological agent for the bioconversion of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol. [source] Respiratory virus induction of alpha-, beta- and lambda-interferons in bronchial epithelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cellsALLERGY, Issue 3 2009M. R. Khaitov Background:, Respiratory viruses, predominantly rhinoviruses are the major cause of asthma exacerbations. Impaired production of interferon-, in rhinovirus infected bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) and of the newly discovered interferon-,s in both BECs and bronchoalveolar lavage cells, is implicated in asthma exacerbation pathogenesis. Thus replacement of deficient interferon is a candidate new therapy for asthma exacerbations. Rhinoviruses and other respiratory viruses infect both BECs and macrophages, but their relative capacities for ,-, ,- and ,-interferon production are unknown. Methods:, To provide guidance regarding which interferon type is the best candidate for development for treatment/prevention of asthma exacerbations we investigated respiratory virus induction of ,-, ,- and ,-interferons in BECs and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by reverse transferase-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:, Rhinovirus infection of BEAS-2B BECs induced interferon-, mRNA expression transiently at 8 h and interferon-, later at 24 h while induction of interferon-, was strongly induced at both time points. At 24 h, interferon-, protein was not detected, interferon-, was weakly induced while interferon-, was strongly induced. Similar patterns of mRNA induction were observed in primary BECs, in response to both rhinovirus and influenza A virus infection, though protein levels were below assay detection limits. In PBMCs interferon-,, interferon-, and interferon-, mRNAs were all strongly induced by rhinovirus at both 8 and 24 h and proteins were induced: interferon-,>-,>-,. Thus respiratory viruses induced expression of ,-, ,- and ,-interferons in BECs and PBMCs. In PBMCs interferon-,>-,>-, while in BECs, interferon-,>-,>-,. Conclusions:, We conclude that interferon-,s are likely the principal interferons produced during innate responses to respiratory viruses in BECs and interferon-,s in PBMCs, while interferon-, is produced by both cell types. [source] Leaf traits as indicators of resource-use strategy in floras with succulent speciesNEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 1 2002Fernanda Vendramini Summary ,,Associations between specific leaf area (SLA), leaf water content (LWC) and leaf thickness (LT) in 77 species were analysed to identify which of these traits gave a better indicator value of general plant resource-use strategy within the flora of central-western Argentina, in which succulent species are common. ,,When all species were considered together, SLA and LWC were not significantly correlated. All high-SLA tender-leafed species showed high LWC. Low SLA, however, was associated both with low LWC (sclerophyllous species) and with high LWC (succulents). When succulents were excluded, the association between SLA and LWC was significant and positive. A similar trend was found for a mixed set of nonsucculent species from other floras of the world. ,,In the Argentine data set, SLA and LT, but not LWC, were significantly correlated with species' scores along a multivariate axis of plant resource-use strategy. ,,Because of its clearer ecological interpretation and its applicability across different floras, SLA appears to be the best candidate for inclusion in large comparative databases. [source] Spin triplet superconductivity in Sr2RuO4PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 2 2003Karol I. Wysoki Abstract Sr2RuO4 is at present the best candidate for being a superconducting analogue of the triplet superfluidity in 3He. This material is a good (albeit correlated) Fermi liquid in the normal state and an exotic superconductor below Tc. The mechanism of superconductivity and symmetry of the order parameter are the main puzzling issues of on-going research. Here we present the results of our search for a viable description of the superconducting state realised in this material. Our calculations are based on a three-dimensional effective three-band model with a realistic band structure. We have found a state with non-zero order parameter on each of the three sheets of the Fermi surface. The corresponding gap in the quasi-particle spectrum has line or point nodes on the , and , sheets and is complex with no nodes on the , sheet. This state describes remarkably well a number of existing experiments including power low temperature dependence of the specific heat, penetration depth, thermal conductivity etc. The stability of the state with respect to disorder and different interaction parameters are also analyzed briefly. [source] Complexity of Anti-immunosenescence Strategies in HumansARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 10 2006Miriam Capri Abstract:, Immunosenescence is characterized by three main aspects: (i) the shrinkage of the T cell repertoire and the accumulation of oligoclonal expansions (megaclones) of memory/effector cells directed toward ubiquitary infectious agents; (ii) the involution of the thymus and the exhaustion of naďve T cells; and (iii) a chronic inflammatory status called inflamm-aging. We present here possible strategies to counteract these main aspects of immunosenescence in humans with particular attention to the reduction of antigenic load by pathogens, such as CMV, and the normalization of intestinal microflora, the possible utilization of IL-7 to reverse thymic involution, the purging of megaclones, the forced expression of CD28 on T lymphocytes, the reduction of inflamm-aging and the administration of nutrients such as vitamin D. Possible drawbacks of all these strategies are discussed. Finally, the complexity of a rejuvenation approach is stressed, with particular attention to the inhibitory role played by the "old microenvironment" on the performance of progenitor cells, the best candidate to counteract the decline in regenerative potential characteristic of organs and tissues from old organisms. [source] The adaptive role of Phosphoglucomutase and other allozymes in a marine snail across the vertical rocky-shore gradientBIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 1 2009JUAN GALINDO Natural selection can play an important role in the maintenance of genetic polymorphisms, despite ongoing gene flow. In the present study, we use previously analysed allozymic loci and perform an FST outlier-based analysis to detect the signatures of divergent selection between sympatric ecotypes of the marine snail Littorina saxatilis at different localities. The results obtained show that different allozyme polymorphisms are affected (directly or indirectly) by selection at distinct geographical regions. The Phosmogluco mutase-2 locus was the best candidate for adaptation and further biochemical analyses were performed. The kinetic properties of the three more common genotypes of Pgm-2 were studied. The results obtained are concordant with two alternative hypotheses: (1) natural selection is acting directly on this locus or, more probably, (2) selection is affecting a genomic region tightly linked to the enzyme locus. In both cases, the known existence of a parallel and partially independent origin of these ecotypes would explain why different candidate loci were detected in different localities. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 98, 225,233. [source] Factors Affecting the Small Mammal Community Inside and Outside Katavi National Park, Tanzania1BIOTROPICA, Issue 2 2002T. M. Caro ABSTRACT Small mammal trapping showed that a minimum of 12 species live in and around Katavi National Park in western Tanzania. Species richness and abundance were greater outside the park than inside, extending results of an earlier study. Species richness and abundance were not significantly associated with vegetation cover or plant biomass but were negatively correlated with seed diversity, seed biomass, and possibly small carnivore abundance. Unfortunately, small mammal diets are unknown in this ecosystem and it can be argued that carnivores are unlikely to reduce species diversity, casting doubt on the importance of these variables. While the factors causing small mammals to fare poorly in this protected area are not yet understood, reduced food availability remains the best candidate. [source] G-Quadruplex Aptamers with Peroxidase-Like DNAzyme Functions: Which Is the Best and How Does it Work?CHEMISTRY - AN ASIAN JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009Tao Li Abstract Select the best: Five G-quadruplex hemin-binding aptamers are compared to determine the best candidate for DNAzyme-based sensing application. The structural model and catalytic mechanism of the hemin,G-quadruplex complex are proposed to indicate how it works in a manner similar to the peroxidase. Some G-quadruplex DNA aptamers have been found to strongly bind hemin to form DNAzymes with peroxidase-like activity. To help determine the most suitable DNAzymes and to understand how they work, five previously reported G-quadruplex aptamers were compared for their binding affinity and then the potential catalytic mechanism of their corresponding hemin-G-quadruplex DNAzymes was explored. Among these aptamers, a G-quadruplex named AGRO100 was shown to possess the highest hemin-binding affinity and the best DNAzyme function. This means that AGRO100 is the most ideal candidate for DNAzyme-based analysis. Furthermore, we found the peroxidase-like activity of DNAzyme to be primarily dependent on the concentration of H2O2 and independent of that of the peroxidase substrate (that is, 2,2,-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)diammonium salt). Accordingly, a reaction mechanism for DNAzyme-catalyzed peroxidation is proposed. This study provides new insights into the G-quadruplex-based DNAzymes and will help us to further extend their applications in the analytical field. [source] Sentinel node biopsy and head and neck tumors,Where do we stand today?HEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 12 2006FCAP, Kenneth O. Devaney MD Abstract Background. Sentinel lymph node sampling may be studied profitably in series of patients with 1 tumor type, such as breast carcinoma, in 1 anatomic locale. The present work analyzes the efficacy of sentinel node sampling in a pathologically diverse group of lesions from an anatomically diverse region such as the head and neck; however, there are risks conflating the findings in different tumors with radically different behaviors, in the process producing muddled data. This report reviews the head and neck experience with sentinel sampling and concludes that certain tumor types that have a known propensity for aggressive behavior are the best candidates for trials employing sentinel node sampling; candidates include many cutaneous melanomas of the head and neck, oropharyngeal squamous carcinomas, and selected thyroid carcinomas. Despite the growing popularity of sentinel node sampling in a variety of regions of the body, however, at this juncture this technique remains an investigational procedure, pending demonstration of a tangible improvement in patient outcome through its use. It is recommended that studies of the efficacy of this technique strive, whenever possible, to segregate results of different tumor types in different head and neck locales from one another so as to produce more focused findings for discrete types of malignancies, and not group together tumor types that may in reality exhibit different biological behaviors. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2006 [source] Central nervous system dissemination in immunocompetent patients with aggressive lymphomas: incidence, risk factors and therapeutic optionsHEMATOLOGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Andrés J. M. Ferreri Abstract Central nervous system (CNS) dissemination is a rare (4,5%) but usually fatal complication of aggressive lymphomas. Prophylaxis modalities to prevent CNS dissemination in aggressive lymphomas cannot be widely applied to every lymphoma patient since it is associated with increased risk of neurotoxicity. Therefore, identification of high-risk patients as the best candidates to receive CNS prophylaxis constitutes a major endpoint in the management of these malignancies. Various risk factors and models for CNS recurrence have been described. Parameters reflecting the extent and proliferation of the disease, like elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, involvement of multiple extranodal sites, advanced stage and high age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (IPI) score, as well as the involvement of specific anatomic sites, like testes, orbit, paranasal sinuses, have been identified and confirmed as important to predict CNS dissemination. Management of this complication in aggressive lymphomas with conventional-dose chemotherapy is associated with disappointing results, while some preliminary but encouraging experiences suggest a potential role of high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. The analysis of recent clinical studies could lead to advancement in the prognosis of aggressive lymphomas, but several questions regarding the optimum chemotherapy combination, the best conditioning regimen and the role of radiation therapy and intrathecal chemotherapy remain still unanswered. The purposes of the present review are to critically analyse current data on the risk of CNS dissemination in aggressive lymphomas, the clinical presentation of secondary CNS lymphomas and the efficacy of CNS prophylaxis as well as to discuss the available therapeutic options for this devastating event. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Deletion of interleukin-6 in mice with the dominant negative form of transforming growth factor , receptor II improves colitis but exacerbates autoimmune cholangitis,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Weici Zhang The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in autoimmunity attracts attention because of the clinical usage of monoclonal antibodies to IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), designed to block IL-6 pathways. In autoimmune liver disease, activation of the hepatocyte IL-6/STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) pathway is associated with modulating pathology in acute liver failure, in liver regeneration, and in the murine model of concanavalin A,induced liver inflammation. We have reported that mice expressing a dominant negative form of transforming growth factor , receptor II (dnTGF,RII) under control of the CD4 promoter develop both colitis and autoimmune cholangitis with elevated serum levels of IL-6. Based on this observation, we generated IL-6,deficient mice on a dnTGF-,RII background (dnTGF,RII IL-6,/,) and examined for the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies, levels of cytokines, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry of liver and colon tissues. As expected, based on reports of the use of anti,IL-6R in inflammatory bowel disease, dnTGF,RII IL-6,/, mice manifest a dramatic improvement in their inflammatory bowel disease, including reduced diarrhea and significant reduction in intestinal lymphocytic infiltrates. Importantly, however, autoimmune cholangitis in dnTGF,RII IL-6,/, mice was significantly exacerbated, including elevated inflammatory cytokines, increased numbers of activated T cells, and worsening hepatic pathology. Conclusion: The data from these observations emphasize that there are distinct mechanisms involved in inducing pathology in inflammatory bowel disease compared to autoimmune cholangitis. These data also suggest that patients with inflammatory bowel disease may not be the best candidates for treatment with anti,IL-6R if they have accompanying autoimmune liver disease and emphasize caution for therapeutic use of anti,IL-6R antibody. HEPATOLOGY 2010 [source] An efficient hourglass control implementation for the uniform strain hexahedron using the Total Lagrangian formulationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 11 2008Grand Roman Joldes Abstract The under-integrated hexahedron is one of the best candidates for use in real-time surgical simulations, because of its computational efficiency. This element requires a very efficient method of controlling the zero energy (hourglass) modes that arise from one-point integration. An efficient implementation of the perturbation hourglass control method proposed by Flanagan and Belytschko for the uniform strain hexahedron is presented. The implementation uses the Total Lagrangian formulation and takes into consideration large deformations and rigid body motions. By using the Total Lagrangian formulation most of the necessary components for calculating the hourglass forces can be pre-computed, leading to a significant reduction of the additional computation time required for hourglass control. The performance evaluation results show the very good accuracy and computational efficiency of the presented algorithm. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Best candidates for capsule endoscopy for obscure gastrointestinal bleedingJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 12 2007Zhi-Zheng Ge Abstract Background and Aim:, Capsule endoscopy (CE) has an important role in the diagnosis of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. However, there was still controversy regarding the best candidates for CE. The present retrospective study aimed to access the best candidates for CE. Methods:, There were 91 consecutive patients referred to the present study for 94 CE examinations from May 2002 to January 2005. They were divided into two groups (41 with active bleeding, and 50 with previous bleeding). Results:, The CE findings were positive in 74.7%, suspicious in 11% of cases and negative in 14.3% of cases, respectively. The positive and suspected positive yield of CE were 75.6% and 19.5% in the active bleeding group, 74% and 4% in the previous bleeding group (P = 0.01), 75.7% and 21.6% in the overt bleeding group, 75% and 0% in the occult bleeding group (P = 0.206), 89.7% and 3.4% in patients who bled 2 weeks previously, 52.38% and 4.76% in patients who bled >2 weeks previously (P = 0.003), 75.6% and 19.5% in active bleeding group, 89.7% and 3.4% in patients who bled 2 weeks ago (P = 0.128). Conclusions:, The best candidates for the procedure are those with active bleeding, or active bleeding in the previous 2 weeks. [source] Benefit of downsizing hepatocellular carcinoma in a liver transplant populationALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2010J. W. JANG Aliment Pharmacol Ther,31, 415,423 Summary Background, Long-term results after downstaging hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prior to liver transplantation (LT) remain unknown. Aims, To investigate dropouts and post-transplant outcome among patients with downstaged HCC by transarterial chemo-lipiodolization (TACL). Methods, Between 2000 and 2007, 386 patients with HCC initially exceeding Milan criteria underwent TACL for tumour downstaging and were consecutively enrolled. Results, Overall, 160 (41.5%) patients achieved successful downstaging of HCC to within Milan criteria. During the follow-up, 82 eventually dropped off the waiting list for LT, with estimated dropout rates at 1, 2 and 5 years of 46.7%, 70.2%, and 87.2%, respectively. The overall post-transplant survival rates at 1, 2 and 5 years were 89.2%, 70.3% and 54.6% and the corresponding rates for recurrence-free survival were 74.7%, 71.8% and 66.3% respectively. Multivariate analysis indentified alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels ,100 ng/mL at LT (P = 0.003), maximum tumour size ,7 cm (P = 0.002) and the lack of complete necrosis by TACL (P = 0.048) as independent predictors of HCC recurrence after LT. Patients with none of these risk factors had an excellent post-transplant outcome, with an 87.5% probability of recurrence-free survival up to 6 years. Conclusions, These long-term results may contribute to the database for optimizing management of LT candidates with downstaged HCC. Based on our data, patients with a maximum tumour size <7 cm who achieve complete necrosis together with AFP levels <100 ng/mL at LT may be the best candidates for LT following downstaging using TACL. [source] Comparison of two techniques of transarterial chemoembolization before liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: A case-control studyLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2007Sébastien Dharancy Supraselective transarterial chemoembolization (STACE) more efficiently targets chemotherapy delivered via the feeding arterial branches of the tumor than does conventional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). However, the hypothesis of its greater efficacy compared with the latter is subject to controversy. The aim of the present study was to compare STACE to conventional TACE in a controlled study of candidates for liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients were matched for factors associated with HCC recurrence and survival. Sixty patients were included: 30 who were treated with STACE and 30 treated with conventional TACE. The 2 groups were similar in terms of matched criteria. In the overall population (uni- and multinodular HCC), there was no marked difference between the 2 groups in 5-year disease-free survival: 76.8% vs. 74.8%. In sensitivity analysis of patients considered to be the best candidates for TACE (uninodular HCC ,5 cm), there was a trend toward significance between STACE and TACE in 5-year disease-free survival: 87% vs. 64% (P = 0.09). The only factor associated with complete tumor necrosis was STACE in the overall population (30.8% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.02), with a similar trend in the subgroup of patients with a single nodule (33.3% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.06), whereas the mean number of procedures was similar in the 2 groups (mean, 1.3 procedures; range 1-5 procedures; P = NS). STACE is more efficient at inducing complete tumor necrosis in the liver. This study observed trends toward improvement in the disease-free survival of patients with uninodular HCC ,5 cm. Future studies focusing on such patients are warranted. Liver Transpl, 2007. © 2007 AASLD. [source] Factors that identify survival after liver retransplantation for allograft failure caused by recurrent hepatitis C infectionLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 12 2004Guy W. Neff Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is becoming the most common indication for liver retransplantation (ReLTx). This study was a retrospective review of the medical records of liver transplant patients at our institution to determine factors that would identify the best candidates for ReLTx resulting from allograft failure because of HCV recurrence. The patients were divided into 2 groups on the basis of indication for initial liver transplant. Group 1 included ReLTx patients whose initial indication for LTx was HCV. Group 2 included patients who received ReLTx who did not have a history of HCV. We defined chronic allograft dysfunction (AD) as patients with persistent jaundice (> 30 days) beginning 6 months after primary liver transplant in the absence of other reasons. HCV was the primary indication for initial orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in 491/1114 patients (44%) from July 1996 to February 2004. The number of patients with AD undergoing ReLTx in Groups 1 and 2 was 22 and 12, respectively. The overall patient and allograft survival at 1 year was 50% and 75% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .04). The rates of primary nonfunction and technical problems after ReLTx were not different between the groups. However, the incidence of recurrent AD was higher in Group 1 at 32% versus 17% in Group 2 (P = .04). Important factors that predicted a successful ReLTx included physical condition at the time of ReLTx (P = .002) and Child-Turcotte-Pugh score (P = .008). In conclusion, HCV is associated with an increased incidence of chronic graft destruction with a negative effect on long-term results after ReLTx. The optimum candidate for ReLTx is a patient who can maintain normal physical activity. As the allograft shortage continues, the optimal use of cadaveric livers continues to be of primary importance. The use of deceased donor livers in patients with allograft failure caused by HCV remains a highly controversial issue. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1497,1503.) [source] Physical and Electrochemical Properties of PVdF-HFP/SiO2 -Based Polymer Electrolytes Prepared Using Dimethyl Acetamide Solvent and Water Non-SolventMACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS, Issue 8 2007Kwang Man Kim Abstract Poly[(vinylidene fluoride)- co -hexafluoropropylene]/SiO2 polymer electrolytes were prepared by a phase inversion technique using DMAc solvent and water non-solvent. Cast film electrolytes filled with the same amount of SiO2 using DMAc were also made to compare physical and electrochemical properties. DMAc had a higher solubility to PVdF-based polymers than NMP, and DMAc produced highly porous structures with bigger cavities and influenced the reduction of crystallinity. Due to the highly porous nature of phase inversion membranes, the uptake of electrolyte solution reached more than 400% and room-temperature ionic conductivity was more than 10,3 S,·,cm,1. All of the liquid absorbed, however, did not necessarily contribute to increases in ionic conductivity. This was due to the different conduction modes of lithium cations in a complicated porous structure. Comprehensively optimizing all the properties measured, the phase inversion membrane electrolytes with 10,30 wt.-% SiO2 were the best candidates for use as the polymer electrolyte of lithium rechargeable batteries. [source] Substellar companions and isolated planetary-mass objects from protostellar disc fragmentationMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 3 2003W. K. M. Rice ABSTRACT Self-gravitating protostellar discs are unstable to fragmentation if the gas can cool on a time-scale that is short compared with the orbital period. We use a combination of hydrodynamic simulations and N -body orbit integrations to study the long-term evolution of a fragmenting disc with an initial mass ratio to the star of Mdisc/M*= 0.1. For a disc that is initially unstable across a range of radii, a combination of collapse and subsequent accretion yields substellar objects with a spectrum of masses extending (for a Solar-mass star) up to ,0.01 M,. Subsequent gravitational evolution ejects most of the lower mass objects within a few million years, leaving a small number of very massive planets or brown dwarfs in eccentric orbits at moderately small radii. Based on these results, systems such as HD 168443 , in which the companions are close to or beyond the deuterium burning limit , appear to be the best candidates to have formed via gravitational instability. If massive substellar companions originate from disc fragmentation, while lower-mass planetary companions originate from core accretion, the metallicity distribution of stars which host massive substellar companions at radii of ,1 au should differ from that of stars with lower mass planetary companions. [source] Sunyaev,Zel'dovich effect from quasar-driven blast wavesMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 1 2002P. Platania Abstract Quasar-driven winds are currently the best candidates for accounting for the pre-heating of the intergalactic medium in clusters. Such winds, occurring during early phases of the evolution of spheroidal galaxies, shock-heat the interstellar gas, thus inducing a detectable Sunyaev,Zel'dovich effect. We estimate the amplitude and the angular scale of such an effect as well as its counts as a function of the Comptonization parameter y. The contamination arising from radio emission by the quasar itself is also discussed. The corresponding mean Compton distortion of the cosmic microwave background spectrum is found to be well below the COBE/FIRAS upper limit. [source] Evidence for a large fraction of Compton-thick quasars at high redshiftMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY: LETTERS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2007Alejo Martínez-Sansigre ABSTRACT Using mid-infrared and radio selection criteria, we pre-select a sample of candidate high-redshift type 2 quasars in the Subaru XMM,Newton Deep Field (SXDF). To filter out starburst contaminants, we use a Bayesian method to fit the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) between 24-,m and the B -band, obtain photometric redshifts, and identify the best candidates for high- z type 2 quasars. This leaves us with 12 zphot, 1.7 type 2 quasar candidates in an area ,0.8 deg2, of which only two have secure X-ray detections. The two detected sources have estimated column densities NH, 2 & 3 × 1027 m,2, i.e. heavily obscured but Compton-thin quasars. Given the large bolometric luminosities and redshifts of the undetected objects, the lack of X-ray detections suggests extreme absorbing columns NH, 1028 m,2 are typical. We have found evidence for a population of ,Compton-thick' high-redshift type 2 quasars, at least comparable to, and probably larger than, the type 1 quasar population, although spectroscopic confirmation of their active galactic nuclei nature is important. [source] Detecting North American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) in rifflesAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 5 2010Z. F. Gladman Abstract 1.The spread of the invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) outside its natural range is of widespread concern due to the threats posed to native biodiversity. To date, there is no standard protocol for determining signal crayfish presence or absence in a watercourse. 2.For the purposes of this investigation, the crayfish detection ability of active sampling methods , hand-netting, electrofishing (one, two and three runs), kick sampling and Surber sampling , was tested at 30 sites along the River Clyde, southern central Scotland. 3.No single technique was successful in detecting crayfish in 100% of the sites known to contain crayfish and so the application of combinations of techniques was considered. The combination of techniques that resulted in a 100% detection rate was electrofishing (three runs) together with kick sampling. These results suggest that three-run electrofishing and kick sampling are the best candidates for incorporation into a crayfish detection protocol. 4.The mean time taken to apply electrofishing (three runs) was significantly greater than the mean time to apply kick sampling. Given the lower effort required for its application, kick sampling is recommended as the preliminary technique: if kick sampling yields a negative result, the application of electrofishing will decrease the chance of recording a false negative presence. If both kick sampling and electrofishing fail to detect crayfish, trapping may further decrease the risk of a false negative result. 5.These findings have assisted in the development of a crayfish detection protocol, which will be applied across Scotland to determine the current distribution of signal crayfish. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Genotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium in the CEPH human diversity panel for variants in folate pathway genes MTHFR, MTHFD, MTRR, RFC1, and GCP2BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH, Issue 8 2003Min Shi BACKGROUND Genetic variation in enzymes involved in vitamin metabolism is a candidate for analysis in studies of how nutritional covariates may impact a disease state. The role of folate pathway genes in birth defects and cardiovascular disease in humans has been widely studied. Since incidence rates for these disorders vary by geographic origins, it is useful to know which variants are the best candidates for studies based on genotype and allele frequency, as well as linkage disequilibrium (LD) in founder populations. METHODS Six polymorphisms in five folate metabolism-related genes (MTHFR, MTHFD, MTRR, GCP2, and RFC1) were genotyped on a collection of 1064 DNA samples from populations around the world, which were made available by the Centre d'Étude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) consortium for analysis. RESULTS In this study we report the genotype frequencies for variants in the MTHFR, MTHFD, MTRR, GCP2, and RFC1 genes, and the LD for two variants (C677T and A1298C) in MTHFR. CONCLUSIONS The rare allele frequency for each of the five genes studied varied widely. LD is strongest in Pakistani and Brazilian populations (D, = 1.0) and weakest in Mexican populations (D, = 0.45). These findings will allow the selection of variants that will provide the most power in studies of folate pathway genes involving different ancestral populations, and contribute to our knowledge of the population distribution of selected nutritional gene variants. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in multiple sclerosisACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2009C. Rogojan Intensive immunosuppresion followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been suggested as potential treatment in severe forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Since 1995 ca. 400 patients have been treated with HSCT. Stabilization or improvement occurred in almost 70% of cases at least for 3 years post-transplant. Magnetic resonance revealed the capacity of autologous HSCT to suppress or markedly reduce gadolinium-enhancing lesions. The progression of brain atrophy declined after two years post-HSCT. The profound immunological changes following autologous HSCT may result in restoration of self-tolerance. Relatively young patients with active inflammatory lesions of relatively short duration and rapidly progressive disease, but still low disability scores, unresponsive to conventional therapy seem the best candidates for transplantation. Transplant-related mortality was 6% in the first EBMT report and 5.3% in the second one. No deaths were reported since 2001. Very high-intensity conditioning regimen is associated with higher risk of toxicity without significant increase in efficacy. The effects of transplantation and transplantation-related morbidity are dependent on patient-selection, time of transplantation and conditioning regimens used. This review is a comprehensive study of the results obtained in several single-center and multicenter studies. Patient characteristics, transplantations steps, toxicity and clinical outcome have been monitored and compared. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||