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DCM
Terms modified by DCM Selected AbstractsFish Oil Supplementation Improves Left Ventricular Function in Children With Idiopathic Dilated CardiomyopathyCONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 6 2007Seref Olgar MD Fish oil has a cardioprotective effect in adults with ischemic heart disease. The authors examined the effects of fish oil in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Eighteen DCM patients (group I) and 12 healthy children (group III) were given fish oil (10 mL/d). Their cardiac findings were compared with those of 11 patients with DCM who did not receive fish oil (group II). After 6.62±1.70 months, left ventricular ejection fraction had increased by 8.44%±3.80% (P<.05), in group I; 2.48%±3.85% (not statistically significant) in group II; and 0.84%±2.34% (not statistically significant) in group III. Left ventricular internal diastolic diameter (mm) was reduced by 4.36±4.86 (P=.001) in group I and 1.92±5.37 (P=.263) in group II, but increased by 0.22±2.54 (not statistically significant) in group III. The results suggest that fish oil leads to accelerated improvement of left ventricular function. The authors believe that if these results are confirmed in larger studies, fish oil should be added to the standard anticongestive therapy of children with DCM. [source] Differences in Echocardiographic Assessment with Standard Doppler and Tissue Doppler Imaging of Left Ventricular Filling Pressure in Idiopathic and Ischemic Dilated CardiomyopathyECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2008Pierluigi Costanzo M.D. Background: In idiopathic and ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) there are differences in left atrial and ventricular relaxation. We assessed the hypothesis of an influence of these dissimilarities in assessing left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) in these two DCMs by standard Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging. In particular, we focused on early transmitral flow to early diastolic motion velocity of mitral annulus ratio (E/Ea), useful to estimate normal or elevated LVFP. However, when found in intermediate range (8,15), its role is unclear. Methods and Results: We evaluated 26 patients with ischemic and 21 patients with idiopathic DCM. To validate the echocardiographic estimation of LVFP, a sample (12 patients) underwent LVFP assessment by catheterization. In idiopathic DCM, E/Ea directly related to duration of retrograde pulmonary venous flow (ARd) (r = 0.66 P = 0001). In ischemic DCM E/Ea inversely related only to systolic to diastolic velocity ratio of pulmonary venous flow (S/D) (r =,0.56 P = 0002). After a mean follow up of 6 months, by a second echocardiogram we observed a direct relation between E/Ea and ARd percentage variation (r = 0.52 P = 0.02) in idiopathic DCM group, whereas in the ischemic DCM group there was an inverse relation between E/Ea and S/D percentage variation (r =,0.59 P = 0.02).Conclusions: In conclusion, ARd in idiopathic and S/D in ischemic DCM might be used as specific additional information to estimate LVFP when E/Ea falls within intermediate range. [source] Role of Echocardiography in Assessing the Mechanism and Effect of Ramipril on Functional Mitral Regurgitation in Dilated CardiomyopathyECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2005D.M. (Card), F.I.A.E., F.I.A.M.S., F.I.C.C., F.I.C.P., I.B. Vijayalakshmi M.D. The objectives of this article are to determine the possible mechanism of functional mitral regurgitation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to know the effect of ramipril on left ventricle (LV) and mitral regurgitation by ECHO. Several postulates are put forth for functional mitral regurgitation in DCM, and mitral annular dilatation is said to be the primary mechanism in the past, but the exact mechanism is not clear. Though angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are known to remodel the LV, their beneficial effect in patients with DCM with functional mitral regurgitation is not known. Various cardiac dimensions and degree of mitral regurgitation were measured by echocardiography in 30 normal control group and in 30 patients with DCM of various etiologies except ischemic, before and after ramipril therapy. There was a significant difference in all parameters especially sphericity of left ventricle and position of papillary muscles (P < 0.0003) in DCM patients, but mitral valve annulus did not show significant change (P < 0.3) compared to control group. In 50% of the patients, the functional mitral regurgitation totally disappeared. In 30% of patients, it came down from grade II to I or became trivial. In 20% of patients, it remained unchanged. There was remarkable improvement in sphericity, LV dimension, volumes, and EF%, which increased from 31 ± 9.81 to 39.3 ± 8.3% (P < 0.0003). It is concluded that echocardiography clearly demonstrates the increased sphericity of LV in DCM. The lateral migration of papillary muscles possibly plays a major role in functional mitral regurgitation. Ramipril significantly reduces not only sphericity but also functional mitral regurgitation. [source] ABSENCE OF CORRELATION BETWEEN QRS DURATION AND ECHOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS OF VENTRICULAR DESYNCHRONIZATION.ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 2 2004CAN WE STILL TRUST THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC CRITERIA? Background: Identification of the responder candidates for multisite pacing is still difficult and severe heart failure, dilated left ventricle with reduced ejection fraction, prolonged QRS with left bundle branch block (LBBB) are still considered the principal indicators of ventricular desynchronization. The aim of the study was to assess if echographic ventricular desynchronization parameters measured in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and severe heart failure are correlated with the duration of the QRS on surface electrocardiogram. Methods: This study included 51 patients aged 58.8 ± 7.4 years with idiopathic DCM. The following parameters were measured: QRS duration; effective contraction time (ECT) measured as the interval between QRS onset and closure of aortic valve, interventricular delay (IVD) measured as the time between onset of aortic and pulmonary flow, left ventricular mechanical delay (LVD) as the time from maximal interventricular septum contraction and posterior wall contraction, posterior (P), lateral (L), and posterolateral (PL) wall delays, as the time from QRS onset to maximal wall contraction. Regional post-systolic contraction was defined in a given wall as the difference (contraction delay , ECT)> 50 ms. Results: 29 patients presented complete LBBB, 22 patients had QRS duration < 120 ms. 39 patients had a post-systolic contraction of the PL wall (32 patients of the L wall and 26 patients of the P wall). 16 patients with QRS duration <120 had a post-systolic contraction of the PL wall (as for the LBBB the rest of 39 patients). In 40 patients the sequence of regional ventricular contraction was: P-L-PL wall (16 patients with QRS < 120). LVD was > 100 ms in 36 patients (26 patients with LBBB and 10 with QRS < 120). 27 patients with LBBB and 6 with QRS < 120 ms presented IVD > 30 ms. There was no correlation between the QRS duration and the parameters listed above. Conclusions: In a population of patients with severe heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy there is no correlation between the duration of the QRS and echocardiographic parameters of ventricular desynchronization. These results show that mechanical ventricular desynchronization can be observed in patients with a QRS duration < 120 ms. Further studies are needed to evaluate if this population could beneficiate of multisite pacing therapy. [source] Influence of hydroxypropyl-,-cyclodextrin on the extraction and biodegradation of phenanthrene in soilENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2004Brian J. Reid Abstract A study was conducted to investigate the effect of hydroxypropyl-,-cyclodextrin (HPCD) on the aging and biodegradation of phenanthrene (PHE) in soil. Soil was spiked with PHE at 25 mgPHE/kgSOIL and HPCD at a range of concentrations from 0 to 3.5 gHPCD/kgSOIL and aged for 1, 84, and 322 d. At each time point, a variety of analyses were performed to assess the loss and aging of the PHE in the soil. Methods included determination of total PHE remaining, dichloromethane (DCM) and butan-1-ol (BuOH) extractions, and determination of PHE extractable by an aqueous HPCD shake extraction. Mineralization assays were also carried out to assess the availability of the PHE to a PHE-degrading bacterial inoculum. It was found that the presence of HPCD in the soils increased PHE loss from the aged soil systems, particularly at the higher application rates. Dichloromethane and BuOH extractabilities were reduced with aging and increasing HPCD concentration, as was the amount of PHE that was extractable using an aqueous HPCD shake extraction or that was available for mineralization. The DCM and BuOH extraction yielded similar results, and both greatly overestimated the availability of the PHE to the degraders, whereas the HPCD extraction results were very similar to that of PHE biodegradation. This study indicates that cyclodextrins have potential for use as alternatives to surfactants in enhancing the desorption/solubilization and degradation of recalcitrant organic contaminants in soil. [source] Actin mutations in hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy cause inefficient protein folding and perturbed filament formationFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 8 2005Søren Vang Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are the most common hereditary cardiac conditions. Both are frequent causes of sudden death and are often associated with an adverse disease course. Alpha-cardiac actin is one of the disease genes where different missense mutations have been found to cause either HCM or DCM. We have tested the hypothesis that the protein-folding pathway plays a role in disease development for two actin variants associated with DCM and six associated with HCM. Based on a cell-free coupled translation assay the actin variants could be graded by their tendency to associate with the chaperonin TCP-1 ring complex/chaperonin containing TCP-1 (TRiC/CCT) as well as their propensity to acquire their native conformation. Some variant proteins are completely stalled in a complex with TRiC and fail to fold into mature globular actin and some appear to fold as efficiently as the wild-type protein. A fraction of the translated polypeptide became ubiquitinated and detergent insoluble. Variant actin proteins overexpressed in mammalian cell lines fail to incorporate into actin filaments in a manner correlating with the degree of misfolding observed in the cell-free assay; ranging from incorporation comparable to wild-type actin to little or no incorporation. We propose that effects of mutations on folding and fiber assembly may play a role in the molecular disease mechanism. [source] Volatile composition of the laksa plant (Polygonum hydropiper L.), a potential source of green note aroma compoundsFLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 5 2005J. Jiang Abstract Volatile compounds were extracted from laksa plant (Polygonum hydropiper L.) by three isolation techniques,dynamic headspace sampling, simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE) and liquid,liquid extraction with dichloromethane (DCM). In the GC,MS analysis of the volatile extracts, a total of 46 compounds were identi,ed, including 14 carbonyls, 14 alcohols, 10 hydrocarbons, four esters, two furans, one acid and one base. Carbonyls (aldehydes/ketones) and alcohols are the predominant classes of volatile compounds, accounting for almost 90% (or above) of the total volatiles extracted from the plant. The major compounds include dodecanal (3,40%), (E)-2-hexenal (20,35%), decanal (4,22%), (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol (4,31%), hexanal (1.7,5.1%) and , -caryophyllene (1.7,2.3%). Signi,cantly high levels of both (E)-2-hexenal (leaf aldehyde) and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol (leaf alcohol) may make the weed plant become a potential source of green note aroma componds. More (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol was found in the stem while more (E)-2-hexenal was detected in the leaf. The laksa stem appeared to contain more decanal and dodecanal but less esters than the leaf. Different isolation techniques produced volatile extracts with different proportions of the major volatile components. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Light acclimation of Chlamydomonas acidophila accumulating in the hypolimnion of an acidic lake (pH 2.6)FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 8 2005ANTJE GERLOFF-ELIAS Summary 1. The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas acidophila accumulates in a thin phytoplankton layer in the hypolimnion (deep chlorophyll maximum, DCM) of an extremely acidic lake (Lake 111, pH 2.6, Lusatia, Germany), in which the underwater light spectrum is distorted and red-shifted. 2. Chlamydomonas acidophila exhibited a significantly higher absorption efficiency and a higher cellular chlorophyll b content when incubated in the red shifted underwater light of Lake 111 than in a typical, blue-green dominated, light spectrum. 3. Chlamydomonas acidophila has excellent low light acclimation properties (increased chlorophyll b content, increased oxygen yield and a low light saturation point for photosynthesis) that support survival of the species in the low light climate of the DCM. 4. In situ acclimation to the DCM under low light and temperature decreased maximum photosynthetic rate in autotrophic C. acidophila cultures, whereas the presence of glucose under these conditions enhanced photosynthetic efficiency and capacity. 5. The adaptive abilities of C. acidophila to light and temperature shown in this study, in combination with the absence of potent competitors because of low lake pH, most probably enable the unusual dominance of the green alga in the DCM of Lake 111. [source] Increase in photosynthetic efficiency as a strategy of planktonic organisms exploiting deep lake layersFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Beatriz Modenutti Summary 1. The photosynthetic efficiencies of the mixotrophic ciliate Ophrydium naumanni and the autotrophic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium paradoxum were investigated using laboratory and field experiments in Lake Moreno Oeste (41°5,S and 71°33,W, 758 m a.s.l.), in the Nahuel Huapi System (North Patagonia, Argentina). 2. The effect of different underwater light intensities on net primary production (NPP) was assessed during one summer. Additionally, laboratory experiments were carried out to obtain photosynthesis-irradiance response curves for each species. 3. Ophrydium naumanni and G. paradoxum dominated the metalimnetic (30 m depth) deep chlorophyll maximum (DCM) in the lake. 4. Despite these deep higher abundances, the cell-specific production of both species was higher at 10 m than at 30 m (DCM) depth. In addition, at 5 m depth, NPP was reduced by PAR + UV-A radiation. 5. Both species exhibited a positive NPP at very low irradiance but the mixotrophic ciliate was more efficient in exploiting the DCM irradiance level both in situ and at comparable light intensities in laboratory experiments. Light acclimatised O. naumanni showed a higher NPP at lower irradiances and photoinhibition at medium and high irradiances. 6. Under the strong wind-driven turbulence commonly found in Patagonian lakes, organisms cannot select their position in the epilimnetic water column and will be dragged to potentially harmful UV radiation levels. Thus, metalimnetic DCM colonisation by these two species represents a tradeoff between higher survival and lower cell-specific NPP. [source] Tetrakis-phthalocyanines bearing electron-withdrawing fluoro functionality: Synthesis, spectroscopy, and electrochemistryHETEROATOM CHEMISTRY, Issue 5 2009Ahmet T. Bilgiçli In this study, 2,9,16,23-tetrakis-4,-(2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro)-phenoxy-phthalocyaninatometalfree and metal(II) complexes, (H2PcBzF16, ZnPcOBzF16, CuPcOBzF16, and CoPcOBzF16) (Bz: Benzene) (2H, Zn, Cu, and Co), have been prepared directly from the corresponding 4,-(2,3,5,6-fluorophenylthio)-phthalonitrile compounds in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in high boiling quinoline solvent. Tetrafluoro atoms on 2,3,5,6-position of benzene at the peripheral sites of phthalocyanines (Pcs) give rise interesting solubility to tetrakismetallophthalocyanines. Although all complexes were soluble in DCM, CHCl3, THF, DMF, and DMSO with increasing order, complexes synthesized, particularly H2PcBzF16, CuPcOBzF16, have very limited solubility in DMF and DMSO. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H NMR, UV,vis, and MALDI,TOF mass spectral data. The cyclic voltammetry and differential pulsed voltammetry of the complexes show that while H2PcBzF16, CuPcOBzF16, and ZnPcOBzF16 give ligand-based reduction and oxidation processes, CoPcOBzF16 gives both ligand and metal-based redox processes, in harmony with the common metallophthalocyanine complexes. Redox processes due to both aggregated and disaggregated species were simultaneously observed during the first reduction process. The nature of the metal-based redox processes was confirmed using spectroelectrochemical measurements. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 20:262,271, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.20545 [source] A human phospholamban promoter polymorphism in dilated cardiomyopathy alters transcriptional regulation by glucocorticoids,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 5 2008Kobra Haghighi Abstract Depressed calcium handling by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-ATPase and its regulator phospholamban (PLN) is a key characteristic of human and experimental heart failure. Accumulating evidence indicates that increases in the relative levels of PLN to Ca-ATPase in failing hearts and resulting inhibition of Ca sequestration during diastole, impairs contractility. Here, we identified a genetic variant in the PLN promoter region, which increases its expression and may serve as a genetic modifier in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The variant AF177763.1:g.203A>C (at position ,36,bp relative to the PLN transcriptional start site) was found only in the heterozygous form in 1 out of 296 normal subjects and in 22 out of 381 cardiomyopathy patients (heart failure at age of 18,44 years, ejection fraction=22±9%). In vitro analysis, using luciferase as a reporter gene in rat neonatal cardiomyocytes, indicated that the PLN-variant increased activity by 24% compared to the wild type. Furthermore, the g.203A>C substitution altered the specific sequence of the steroid receptor for the glucocorticoid nuclear receptor (GR)/transcription factor in the PLN promoter, resulting in enhanced binding to the mutated DNA site. These findings suggest that the g.203A>C genetic variant in the human PLN promoter may contribute to depressed contractility and accelerate functional deterioration in heart failure. Hum Mutat 29(5), 640,647, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Spectrum of ALMS1 variants and evaluation of genotype-phenotype correlations in Alström syndrome,HUMAN MUTATION, Issue 11 2007Jan D. Marshall Abstract Alström syndrome is a monogenic recessive disorder featuring an array of clinical manifestations, with systemic fibrosis and multiple organ involvement, including retinal degeneration, hearing loss, childhood obesity, diabetes mellitus, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), urological dysfunction, and pulmonary, hepatic, and renal failure. We evaluated a large cohort of patients with Alström syndrome for mutations in the ALMS1 gene. In total, 79 disease-causing variants were identified, of which 55 are novel mutations. The variants are primarily clustered in exons 8, 10, and 16, although we also identified novel mutations in exons 12 and 18. Most alleles were identified only once (45/79), but several were found recurrently. Founder effects are likely in families of English and Turkish descent. We also identified 66 SNPs and assessed the functional significance of these variants based on the conserved identity of the protein and the severity of the resulting amino acid substitution. A genotype,phenotype association study examining 18 phenotypic parameters in a subset of 58 patients found suggestive associations between disease-causing variants in exon 16 and the onset of retinal degeneration before the age of 1 year (P = 0.02), the occurrence of urological dysfunction (P = 0.02), of DCM (P = 0.03), and of diabetes (P = 0.03). A significant association was found between alterations in exon 8 and absent, mild, or delayed renal disease (P = 0.0007). This data may have implications for the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of ALMS1 and provides the basis for further investigation of how alternative splicing of ALMS1 contributes to the severity of the disease. Hum Mutat 28(11),1114,1123, 2007. Published 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Displacement-controlled method and its applications to material non-linearityINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 3 2005H. Zheng Abstract For the analysis of non-linear problems, the displacement-controlled method (DCM) has a more extensive application scope and more powerful abilities than the load-controlled method (LCM). However, difficulties of the DCM's procedure not amenable to most finite element implementations of the conventional LCM have restricted its applications in geomechanics. By means of Sherman,Morrison's theorem, the solution of DCM is improved. The improved procedure is characterized by high efficiency, good numerical stability and a programme structure similar to LCM. Two aspects of applications of DCM are illustrated. The first application is to compute the response of a structure under a given load level like the conventional finite element analysis. The second application is to trace the equilibrium path of a structure under a given load distribution type. A simple but effective algorithm is presented for automatically adjusting the step length in tracing the equilibrium path. Examples illustrate that the proposed procedures are suited for modelling complicated non-linear problems in geomechanics. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dynamic model of one-cycle control for converters operating in continuous and discontinuous conduction modes,INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 5 2009N. Femia Abstract In this paper a new dynamic model of one-cycle-controlled converters operating either in continuous or in discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) is introduced. The static and dynamic behaviour is analysed by using sampled-data modelling combined with the small-signal linearization of the average model of the converter's power stage. The proposed model is valid for frequencies up to half the switching frequency and, while the other dynamic models presented in the literature cover continuous conduction mode only, it also gives an accurate prediction of the system's dynamic behaviour in the DCM. The model allows to determine the closed-form expression of the reference-to-output transfer function G of the system, which is a fundamental prerequisite for the design of a conventional output feedback control circuit aimed at improving the dynamic behaviour of the system in response to load variations. In this paper it is also shown that one-cycle control does not work properly in switching converters operating in deep DCM if some specific design constraints are not fulfilled. The theoretical predictions are confirmed by the results of suitable numerical simulations and laboratory experiments on a one-cycle-controlled buck-switching converter. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dementia Care Mapping (DCM): initial validation of DCM 8 in UK field trialsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 11 2006Dawn J. Brooker Abstract Objectives This paper describes DCM 8 and reports on the initial validation study of DCM 8. Methods Between 2001,2003, a series of international expert working groups were established to examine various aspects of DCM with the intention of revising and refining it. During 2004,2005 the revised tool (DCM 8) was piloted in seven service settings in the UK and validated against DCM 7th edition. Results At a group score level, WIB scores and spread of Behavioural Category Codes were very similar, suggesting that group scores are comparable between DCM 7 and 8. Interviews with mappers and focus groups with staff teams suggested that DCM 8 was preferable to DCM 7th edition because of the clarification and simplification of codes; the addition of new codes relevant to person-centred care; and the replacement of Positive Events with a more structured recording of Personal Enhancers. Conclusions DCM 8 appears comparable with DCM 7th edition in terms of data produced and is well received by mappers and dementia care staff. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dementia Care Mapping reconsidered: exploring the reliability and validity of the observational toolINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 8 2004A. Thornton Abstract Background Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) is a widely used observational method for evaluating the service quality provided to people with dementia. However, there is little evidence concerning its reliability and validity when used by routine care staff for whom it was designed. Method The study evaluated levels of inter-observer agreement; The ability of the five-minute time frame to reflect the ,actual passing of time'; And the nature of the relationship between individual Well/Ill-Being values (WIB) and dependency levels. Data collected using DCM and continuous time sampling (CTS) were compared. The methods were used in parallel where the CTS coder and the DCM mapper(s) observed the same participants. Observations were carried out with 64 people with dementia within a day hospital and a continuing care ward. Inter-observer agreement was calculated across 20 participants. Dependency levels were measured using the Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly (CAPE) (Pattie and Gilleard, 1979). Results Low levels of inter-observer agreement were found where 11 of the 25 Behaviour Category codes and all six Well/Ill-being Codes produced unacceptable kappas (<0.6). The Behaviour coding frame provided a meaningful picture of activities participants engaged in, but significantly underestimated participant levels of inactivity. A strong relationship was demonstrated between participants' WIB score and levels of dependency, thus DCM was unable to measure well-/ill-being as a separate construct from participants' levels of dependency. Conclusions Questions were raised regarding the reliability and validity of DCM as used by routine care staff. Possible reasons for this, and suggestions for amendments are made. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Data construction method for the analysis of the spatial distribution of disastrous earthquakes in TaiwanINTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009Hsiao-Fan Wang Abstract Considering a disastrous earthquake as a rare event, the aim of this study is to apply the proposed data construction method (DCM) to determine the possible distribution pattern of disastrous earthquakes in Taiwan. Owing to the availability of only a limited amount of data and based on the multiset division of DCM, virtual samples have been generated. The procedure is illustrated by a numerical experiment that consists of data from 12 disastrous earthquakes in Taiwan from 1990 to 1999. The results show that the pattern constructed by DCM is geologically consistent with the actual phenomenon, which was caused by the collision of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Continental Plate. A case study of disastrous earthquakes in East Taiwan is then conducted by studying three near-source regions. Based on the Kolmogorov,Smirnov test, the constructed spatial distribution has shown its validity and capability in providing useful information for the risk assessment of disastrous earthquakes as rare events. [source] Electrochemical Bromination of Peracetylated GlycalsADVANCED SYNTHESIS & CATALYSIS (PREVIOUSLY: JOURNAL FUER PRAKTISCHE CHEMIE), Issue 1 2008Marija, olovi Abstract Bromination of glycals with tribromides formed in situ from bromine and different bromide salts in dichloromethane (DCM) or acetonitrile (AN) was found to give predominantly the products of anti addition of bromine from the C-6 side in high yields. The same selectivity, which was much higher compared to bromination with bromine alone, was achieved in bromination of these substrates by anodic generation of bromine from the same salts. [source] Preparation of poly(ester imide) ultrafine fibers by gas-jet/electrospinningJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 2 2009Bing Wang Abstract In this study, ultrafine fibers of poly(ester imide) (PEI) were produced by gas-jet/electrospinning of its solutions in mixtures of phenol and dichloromethane (DCM). The process parameters, including the solution concentration, gas flow rate, applied voltage, tip-to-collector distance (TCD), and inner diameter of the metal needle, were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the solution concentration, gas flow rate, TCD, and inner diameter of the needle were the most important process parameters influencing the average diameter and morphology of the PEI gas-jet/electrospun fibers. An increase in the solution concentration resulted in a larger average diameter in the PEI gas-jet/electrospun fibers. Mixed-bead fibers were obtained when the concentration of PEI in phenol/DCM was below 20 wt % during gas-jet/electrospinning. A larger diameter of the capillary and a smaller gas flow rate favored the formation of ultrafine fibers with thicker fibers. Thinner and uniform PEI fibers with an average diameter of 298 nm were formed at a TCD of 25 cm. On the basis of the systematic parameters study, uniform PEI ultrafine fibers with an average diameter of 293 nm were prepared by this gas-jet/electrospinning with the following optimal process parameters: the concentration of the polymer solution was 20 wt %, the gas flow rate was 10.0 L/min, the applied voltage was 25.0 kV, the TCD was 25 cm, and the inner diameter of the metal needle was 0.24 mm. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 [source] Wear in molded tibial inserts: Knee simulator study of H1900 and GUR1050 polyethylenesJOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008Riichiro Tsukamoto Abstract Hi-fax 1900Ô tibial inserts were used in the IB-1 total knee replacement (TKR) beginning 1978, soon followed by the AGC design. Such direct compression molded (DCM) inserts was relatively immune to oxidation. Unfortunately the Hi-fax 1900Ô resin (H1900) was taken off the market in year 2004. As an alternate, GUR1050 was introduced in the VanguardÔ TKR. However there appeared to be little or no wear comparisons of molded inserts. Therefore the study aim was to compare wear performance of GUR1050 to the historical H1900. The hypothesis was that Hi-fax and GUR1050 would show comparable wear performance. The VanguardÔ was a posterior-cruciate sacrificing design (Biomet Inc.). All tibial inserts were sterilized by gamma-radiation (3.2 Mrad) under argon. A 6-channel, displacement,controlled knee simulator was used with serum lubricant (protein concentration 20 mg/mL). Wear assessments were by gravimetric methods and linear regression techniques. The gross weight-loss trends over 2.5 Mc duration demonstrated excellent linear behavior with good agreement between TKR sets (<±10%). Fluid sorption artifacts in control represented less than 5% of gross wear magnitudes. Thus suitable corrections could be made in determining net wear. The H1900 and GUR1050inserts demonstrated net wear-rates of 3.6 and 3.4 mm3/Mc, respectively. This difference was not found to be statistically significant. This wear study demonstrated that GUR1050 inserts were indistinguishable from the Hi-fax 1900 in terms of laboratory wear performance, proving our hypothesis. Given the excellent clinical history of DCM Hi-fax 1900, the GUR1050 should be an ideal candidate for TKR. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008 [source] Quantitative Analysis of Cytokine mRNA Expression in Hearts from Patients with Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 2003Akira Ukimura To evaluate the role of cytokines in nonischemic DCM, we analyzed the relative quantity of cytokine mRNA expression in the hearts from DCM patients with refractory heart failure, using the ABI PRISM7700 real-time PCR system. We used heart tissues resected from 32 DCM patients at the time of elective partial ventriculectomy (PLV), and five biopsy specimens with normal histological findings as control. Results and Discussion: Interleukin (IL)-1,, IL-10, and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-, mRNA were expressed at low levels in all normal hearts. The number of IL-10-positive DCM cases was significantly smaller than normal controls (P = 0.0036). One (10%) of 10 DCM patients with IL-10 mRNA expression died after PLV, and 10 (45%) of 22 DCM patients without IL-10 mRNA expression died. IL-1, mRNA was overexpressed (over twice the mean of control subjects) in 15 of 32, and TNF-, mRNA in 10 of 32 patients. We propose the classification of DCM patients into subgroups on the basis of cytokine mRNA expression. Anticytokine therapy or cytokine therapy may have potential in improving the condition of heart failure in certain subgroups of DCM patients. Conclusions: We suggest that DCM patients with heart failure deteriorate without IL-10 mRNA expression in the myocardium. The classification of DCM patients into subgroups on the basis of cytokine mRNA expression may have great value in considering the treatment of this heterogeneous disease state. (J CARD SURG 2003;18 (Suppl 2):S101-S108) [source] Early and Late Results of Partial Left Ventriculectomy: Single Center Experience and Review of the LiteratureJOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 3 2003Raimondo Ascione M.D. Methods: From February 1996 to August 2001, 24 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (12 idiopathic, 12 ischemic) underwent PLV. Perioperative and follow-up data were prospectively entered into a database and analyzed. An observational analysis of the literature was carried out of all the published series of PLV reporting on ,15 patients. Results: In our series there were 22 males with amean age of 65 years (range 49 to73]). Of the 22, there were 3 (12.5%) in-hospital deaths. Mean duration of follow-up was 26 months (range 3 to 71) with 9 late deaths (38%), 6 in the idiopathic group. The five-year actuarial survival was 74% in the ischemic group and 33% in the idiopathic group. The observational analysis of literature included a total of 506 patients (425 males, age 50.2 ± 5.2 years)]. The etiology was idiopathic in 255 (50.4%), and ischemic in 89 (17.6%) patients. Baseline characteristics of the whole population include: ejection fraction 18.9 ± 3.9%, NYHA functional class 3.7 ± 0.2, and LVEDD of 7.7 ± 0.4 cm. Severe mitral regurgitation was present in 368 (72.7%) patients. There were 88 (17.4%) in-hospital deaths. Cause of death included 55 due to (62.5%) low cardiac output, 10 (11.3%) due to severe bleeding, 7 (7.95%) caused by malignant arrhythmias, 8 (9%) due to sepsis, and 5 (5.7%) as a result of stroke. Ten of the selected series (overall 386 patients) reported late outcome. There were 89 (22.9%) late deaths, 12 (13.5%) were not cardiac-related, 50 (56.2%) were due to recurrence of congestive heart failure (CHF), 20 (22.5%) caused by sudden arrhythmias, 5 (5.6%) due to infections, and 2 (2.2%) from strokes. Overall, there were 248 (64.2%) survivors, of whom 179 (72.17%) were reported to be in NYHA functional class I or II. All 10 papers reported one-year survival ranging from 50% to 85%. Seven reported a two-year survival of 45% to 72%, and 4 reported a three-year survival of 33% to 64%. Conclusions: Our results and the review of the literature seem to suggest a relatively high early mortality with satisfactory late results of PLV in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.(J Card Surg 2003;18:190-196) [source] Habitual Cocaine Use Is Associated with High Defibrillation Threshold During ICD ImplantationJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 7 2007JAY CHEN M.D. Background: Habitual cocaine use can lead to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and sudden cardiac death. Based on prior clinical observations, we hypothesized that prior habitual cocaine use is a strong predictor of high defibrillation threshold (DFT) during implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implant. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 130 consecutive patients undergoing initial ICD implantation or revision at Parkland Hospital and the Dallas VA Hospital, Dallas, TX, from January 2002 to November 2005. Patient characteristics and DFT data were collected retrospectively. Results: The study group includes 11 patients (8.46%) who were identified as having a history of prior habitual cocaine use as demonstrated by history and urine toxicology; the rest (119 patients) form the control group. Cocaine-using patients tended to be younger (48.2 ± 10 vs 60.1 ± 12.3 years; P = 0.0026), were less likely to have coronary disease (36.3% vs 72.2%; P = 0.032), and had less comorbidity. The average DFT was 27.9 ± 7.8 J for all cocaine-using patients and 14.5 ± 4.1 J for noncocaine-using patients (P = 0.00018). In the cocaine-using group, three out of 11 patients required a subcutaneous array compared to none in the control group. Conclusions: Our results suggest that patients with a history of habitual cocaine use may be at increased risk to have a high DFT during ICD implantation. This is the first study to demonstrate such association. ICD implantation in patients with this history should be planned with these findings in mind, as larger output generators or subcutaneous arrays might be required. [source] QT Dispersion Does Not Represent Electrocardiographic Interlead Heterogeneity of Ventricular RepolarizationJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2000MAREK MALIK Ph.D. QT Dispersion and Repolarization Heterogeneity. Introduction: QT dispersion (QTd, range of QT intervals in 12 ECG leads) is thought to reflect spatial heterogeneity of ventricular refractoriness. However, QTd may be largely due to projections of the repolarization dipole rather than "nondipolar" signals. Methods and Results: Seventy-eight normal subjects (47 ± 16 years, 23 women), 68 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients (HCM; 38 ± 15 years. 21 women), 72 dilated cardiomyopathy patients (DCM; 48 ± 15 years, 29 women), and 81 survivors of acute myocardial infarction (AMI; 63 ± 12 years, 20 women) had digital 12-lead resting supine ECGs recorded (10 ECGs recorded in each subject and results averaged). In each ECG lead, QT interval was measured under operator review by QT Guard (GE Marquette) to obtain QTd. QTd was expressed as the range, standard deviation, and highest-to-lowest quartile difference of QT interval in all measurable leads. Singular value decomposition transferred ECGs into a minimum dimensional time orthogonal space. The first three components represented the ECG dipole; other components represented nondipolar signals. The power of the T wave nondipolar within the total components was computed to measure spatial repolarization heterogeneity (relative T wave residuum, TWR). OTd was 33.6 ± 18.3, 47.0 ± 19.3, 34.8 ± 21.2, and 57.5 ± 25.3 msec in normals, HCM, CM, and AMI, respectively (normals vs DCM: NS, other P < 0.009). TWR was 0.029%± 0.031%, 0.067%± 0.067%, 0.112%± 0.154%, and 0.186%± 0.308% in normals, HCM, DCM, and AMI (HCM vs DCM: NS. other P < 0.006), The correlations between QTd and TWR were r = -0.0446, 0.2805, -0.1531, and 0.0771 (P = 0.03 for HCM, other NS) in normals, HCM, DCM, and AMI, respectively. Conclusion: Spatial heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization exists and is measurable in 12-lead resting ECGs. It differs between different clinical groups, but the so-called QT dispersion is unrelated to it. [source] Aerobic biological treatment of waste- waters containing dichloromethaneJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2007Sandra C Moura Abstract BACKGROUND: Volatilization has been advanced as one of the predominant phenomena contributing to volatile organic carbon emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In this study, strategies for minimizing such air stripping losses when treating a liquid stream containing dichloromethane (DCM), aiming at decreasing the overall emission inventory from WWTPs, were investigated. RESULTS: System R1, consisting of a continuous flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR) treating a liquid stream containing DCM at a concentration of 12 mmol dm,3 presented a biodegradation efficiency (BE) of 68%, based upon chloride release, with 10% of measurable losses, mainly due to volatilization, and 22% of unmeasurable losses. System R2 introduced operational designs aiming at decreasing DCM volatilization. In Experiment R2.1, a biotrickling filter, through which the air stripped from the CSTR was driven, was introduced leading to a reduction from 10% to 7% on the measurable losses. In Experiment R2.2, the air stripped from the CSTR was recirculated at a flow rate of 2.4 dm3 h,1 through the reactor medium before entering the biotrickling filter. The BE was improved from 69% to 82% and the losses associated with air stripping were successfully reduced to 2%. The proposed design, including air recirculation and the biotrickling filter, increased the ratio between the biodegradation rate and the volatilization rate from 7 to 41. CONCLUSIONS: Recirculation of the gaseous effluent through the reactor medium, which allowed for higher residence time within the bioreactor, was shown to be a successful strategy for improving the treatment process, thus minimizing DCM volatilization losses. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Effects of protein A immunoadsorption in patients with advanced chronic dilated cardiomyopathy,JOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS, Issue 4 2009Andreas O. Doesch Abstract Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate functional effects of immunoadsorption (IA) in severely limited study patients with chronic nonfamilial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and to analyze the prevalence of Troponin I (TNI) autoantibodies. Background: Immunoadsorption (IA) has been shown to induce early hemodynamic improvement in patients with nonfamilial DCM. Methods: We performed IA using Immunosorba columns on five consecutive days in 27 patients with chronic DCM, congestive heart failure of NYHA class ,II, left ventricular ejection fraction below 40%, and mean time since initial diagnosis of 7.2 ± 6.8 years. Results: Immediately after IA, IgG decreased by 87.7% and IgG3 by 58.5%. Median NT-pro BNP was reduced from 1740.0 ng/L at baseline to 1504.0 ng/L after 6 months (P = 0.004). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly improved overall (24.1 ± 7.8% to 25.4 ± 10.4% after 6 months, P = 0.38), but LVEF improved ,5% (absolute) in 9 of 27 (33%) patients. Bicycle spiroergometry showed a significant increase in exercise capacity from 73.7 ± 29.4 Watts to 88.8 ± 31.1 Watts (P = 0.003) after 6 months while VO2max rose from 13.7 ± 3.8 to 14.9 ± 3.0 mL/min kg after 6 months (P = 0.09). Subgroup analysis revealed a higher NT-pro BNP reduction in patients with shorter disease duration (P = 0.03) and without TNI autoantibodies at baseline (P = 0.05). All 9 patients with an absolute increase of LVEF of ,5.0% were diabetic (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: In this study, on severely limited heart failure patients with nonfamilial DCM, IA therapy moderately improved markers of heart failure severity in a limited subgroup of patients. This may be due to the selected study population with end-stage heart failure patients and the lower reduction of IgG3 compared to previous studies. Future blinded multicenter studies are necessary to identify those patients that benefit most. J. Clin. Apheresis 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] ROLE OF OIL ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF CORN MASA FLOURS AND SENSORY CHARACTERISTICS OF CORN TORTILLASJOURNAL OF FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION, Issue 1 2001REYNA LUZ VIDAL-QUINTANAR This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of oil on physical properties of corn masa and sensory of tortillas. Oil from commercial and lab-made whole dry corn masa (DCM) was extracted with hexane. Both flours were reconstituted with 2, and 4% w/w of commercial corn oil, to have 50 and 100% oil reconstituted flours. These levels of reconstitution were to determine the impact of oil on dough properties and sensory characteristics of corn tortillas. The sensory analysis of both types of flours showed the same patterns. The absence of oil did not affect dough stickiness or tortilla reliability. But, low content of oil did adversely and significantly (p<0.05) affect the typical corn tortilla flavor. Presence of oil significantly improved tortilla firmness and chewiness. [source] Synthesis and biological evaluation of new benzo[f]furo[2,3- h]-and benzo[f]pyrano[2,3- h]coumarin derivatives. ,JOURNAL OF HETEROCYCLIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2007Maria Tsoukka Furocoumarins 3,5 and pyranocoumarin 7 were synthesized from the reaction of furonaphthalenediones 2,4 and pyranonaphthalenedione 6 respectively with carbethoxymethylene(triphenyl)phosphorane in refluxing DCM for 3-6 hours or under microwave irradiation in toluene for a few minutes. Compounds 3,5,7 and their precursors were tested as anti-inflammatory/antioxidant agents. They were found to compete significantly high DMSO for OH radicals, to scavenge O2, and to inhibit lipoxygenase to a high extent. [source] Dual-mode reflectance and fluorescence near-video-rate confocal microscope for architectural, morphological and molecular imaging of tissueJOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY, Issue 1 2007ALICIA L. CARLSON Summary We have developed a near-video-rate dual-mode reflectance and fluorescence confocal microscope for the purpose of imaging ex vivo human specimens and in vivo animal models. The dual-mode confocal microscope (DCM) has light sources at 488, 664 and 784 nm, a frame rate of 15 frames per second, a maximum field of view of 300 × 250 ,m and a resolution limit of 0.31 ,m laterally and 1.37 ,m axially. The DCM can image tissue architecture and cellular morphology, as well as molecular properties of tissue, using reflective and fluorescent molecular-specific optical contrast agents. Images acquired with the DCM demonstrate that the system has the sub-cellular resolution needed to visualize the morphological and molecular changes associated with cancer progression and has the capability to image animal models of disease in vivo. In the hamster cheek pouch model of oral carcinogenesis, the DCM was used to image the epithelium and stroma of the cheek pouch; blood flow was visible and areas of dysplasia could be distinguished from normal epithelium using 6% acetic acid contrast. In human oral cavity tissue slices, DCM reflectance images showed an increase in the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio and density of nuclei in neoplastic tissues as compared to normal tissue. After labelling tissue slices with fluorescent contrast agents targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor, an increase in epidermal growth factor receptor expression was detected in cancerous tissue as compared to normal tissue. The combination of reflectance and fluorescence imaging in a single system allowed imaging of two different parameters involved in neoplastic progression, providing information about both the morphological and molecular expression changes that occur with cancer progression. The dual-mode imaging capabilities of the DCM allow investigation of both morphological changes as well as molecular changes that occur in disease processes. Analyzing both factors simultaneously may be advantageous when trying to detect and diagnose disease. The DCM's high resolution and near-video-rate image acquisition and the growing inventory of molecular-specific contrast agents and disease-specific molecular markers holds significant promise for in vivo studies of disease processes such as carcinogenesis. [source] Free radical scavengers, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of Acaena magellanicaJOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY: AN INTERNATI ONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2002Gabriela Egly Feresin Extracts of the whole plant Acaena magellanica (Rosaceae) were assessed for anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic activity in animal models. At 600 mg kg,1, the global ethanolic extract (GEE), dichloromethane (DCM) and defatted methanol (MeOH) fractions showed a mild anti-inflammatory effect in the carrageenan-induced guinea-pig paw oedema. The GEE, DCM and defatted MeOH fractions significantly reduced inflammation by 43.2, 40.5 and 42.1%, respectively. The GEE did not showed any significant antipyretic activity in doses up to 600 mg kg,1. A 20% w/v infusion administered orally at 16 mL kg,1 presented analgesic effect in the acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction test in mice. The GEE and MeOH extract of A. magellanica showed free radical scavenging activity in the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl decolouration assay. Assay-guided isolation led to quercetin, Q-3- O -,-D-glucoside, Q-3- O -,-D-galactoside, ellagic acid and catechin as the free radical scavengers. The saponins tormentic acid 28- O -,-D-galactopyranoside and 28- O -,-D-glucopyranoside were isolated from the polar extract. The structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||