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Las
Kinds of Las Terms modified by Las Selected AbstractsAssociation of Left Atrial Strain and Strain Rate Assessed by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography with Paroxysmal Atrial FibrillationECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 10 2009Wei-Chuan Tsai M.D. Background: We hypothesized that contraction of the LA wall could be documented by speckle tracking and could be applied for assessment of LA function. This study tried to identify the association between LA longitudinal strain (LAS) and strain rate (LASR) measured by speckle tracking with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Methods: Fifty-two patients (61 ± 17 years old, 23 men) with sinus rhythm at baseline referred for the evaluation of episodic palpitation were included. Standard four-chamber and two-chamber views were acquired and analyzed off-line. Peak LAS and LASR were carefully identified as the peak negative inflection of speckle tracking waves after P-wave gated by electrocardiography. Results: Ten patients (19%) had PAF. LAS, LASR, age, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, left ventricular mass, LA volume, and mitral early filling-to-annulus early velocity ratio were different between patients with and without PAF. After multivariate analysis, LASR was significantly independently associated with PAF (OR 8.56, 95% CI 1.14,64.02, P = 0.036). Conclusion: Speckle tracking echocardiography could be used in measurements of LAS and LASR. Decreased negative LASR was independently associated with PAF. [source] Impact of five selected xenobiotics on isolated ammonium oxidizers and on nitrifying activated sludgeENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2006S. N. Dokianakis Abstract Sewage treatment plants (STPs) are usual receptors of xenobiotic compounds that have to be cotreated with municipal wastewaters before being discharged to the water environment. The presence of organic contaminants, such as surfactants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalates, and their primary degradation products in the influents of STPs may inhibit irreversibly sensitive biological processes, such as nitrification. The first step of nitrification, i.e., the oxidation of ammonium to nitrite (nitritification), is particularly sensitive. Inhibition of this step under uncontrolled conditions may completely inhibit biological nitrogen removal. The aim of this work was to study the possible inhibitory effect of five selected xenobiotics on (a) a mixed culture of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria isolated from activated sludge and (b) nitrifying activated sludge directly. The xenobiotics that were tested include nonylphenols (NP), nonylphenolethoxylates (NPEO), linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), as a representative phthalate ester, and the PAH phenanthrene. Remarkable inhibitory effects for all tested compounds were observed in this study even at xenobiotic concentrations as low as 1 mg/L. The observed inhibition of xenobiotics on nitrifying activated sludge was less pronounced, because of the masking effect exerted by the sludge flocs, but was still significant for many of the tested substances at concentrations up to 10 mg/L. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 21: 310,316, 2006. [source] Adsorption of hydrophobic organic compounds onto a hydrophobic carbonaceous geosorbent in the presence of surfactants,ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2008Peng Wang Abstract The adsorption of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs; atrazine and diuron) onto lampblack was studied in the presence of nonionic, cationic, and anionic surfactants (Triton® X-100), benzalkonium chloride [BC], and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate [LAS]) to determine the effect of the surfactant on HOC adsorption onto a hydrophobic carbonaceous geosorbent. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate showed an adsorption capacity higher than that of BC but similar to that of Triton X-100, implying the charge property of a surfactant is not a useful indicator for predicting the surfactant's adsorption onto a hydrophobic medium. The results also indicated that the octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow) of a surfactant is not a good predictor of that surfactant's sorption onto a hydrophobic medium. Under subsaturation adsorption conditions (i.e., before sorption saturation is reached), surfactant adsorption reduced HOC adsorption to a significant extent, with the reduction in HOC adsorption increasing monotonically with the amount of surfactant adsorbed. Among the three surfactants, Triton X-100 was the most effective in reducing HOC adsorption, whereas BC and LAS showed similar effectiveness in this regard. Under the same amount of the surfactant sorbed, the reduction in atrazine adsorption was consistently greater than that for diuron because of atrazine's lower hydrophobicity. No significant difference was observed in the amount of the HOC adsorbed under different adsorption sequences. Our results showed that the presence of surfactant can significantly decrease HOC adsorption onto hydrophobic environmental media and, thus, is important in predicting HOC fate and transport in the environment. [source] Investigation of an onsite wastewater treatment system in sandy soil: Site characterization and fate of anionic and nonionic surfactantsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2002Allen M. Nielsen Abstract This study reports on the fate of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), alcohol ethoxylate (AE), and alcohol ether sulfate (AES) surfactants in a home septic system near Jacksonville (FL, USA) that has been used since 1976. The drainfield at this site resides in fine sand (<6% silt and clay) with an unsaturated zone that ranges from 0 to 1.3 m. During the wettest times of the year, it is likely that effluent from the septic system passes directly into the groundwater without exposure to an unsaturated zone of soil. Groundwater was collected during two sampling events, representing seasonal high and low groundwater table levels, and analyzed for the surfactants LAS, AES, and AE. During the wet season, the unsaturated zone was approximately 0.01 m beneath the drainfield. During the dry season, the unsaturated zone was about 0.4 m below the drainfield. Alcohol ethoxylate was not detected in any groundwater samples during either sampling. Alcohol ether sulfate was not found in the dry season sampling, but traces of AES had migrated downgradient about 4.7 m horizontally and 1.8 m vertically in the wet season. Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate was detected in some dry season samples and had moved downgradient some 11.7 m horizontally and 3.7 m vertically in the wet season. These observations demonstrate that these surfactants were removed to a great extent; otherwise, they would have traveled more than 260 m downgradient, which is the calculated distance that a conservative tracer like bromide would have moved downgradient over the life of the system. The most likely removal mechanisms for these surfactants were biodegradation and sorption. Therefore, this study indicates that LAS, AE, and AES are readily removed from groundwater in soils below septic system drainfields even in situations with minimal unsaturated soil zones. [source] ,, ,-Unsaturated sulfophenylcarboxylates as degradation intermediates of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates: Evidence for ,-oxygenation followed by ,-oxidations by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometryENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2002Peter Eichhorn Abstract Liquid chromatography with an electrospray interface to a mass spectrometer (LC-ES-MS) and LC-ES coupled to a tandem MS (LC-ES-MS/MS) were used to detect and identify intermediates excreted transiently during the aerobic degradation of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LAS) in fixed-bed bioreactors (FBBR). The inoculum for the FBBR was the microflora of the River Rhine, Germany. Two major phenomena were observed on the addition of 100 mg/L LAS to the system, sorption and then biodegradation. Disappearance due to sorption was followed in an inhibited FBBR. Biodegradation of LAS started on day 7 and was accompanied by the transient excretion of intermediates, which were later largely degraded. We detected not only the sulfophenylcarboxylates (SPCs) observed previously but also the ,, ,-unsaturated SPCs (SPC-2H), which have not been reported before. Experiments with the (4-sulfophenyl)dodecanes (C12-LAS), which had minor contaminants of C11-LAS, showed C12-, C10-, C8-, C6-, and C4-SPCs when LAS was degraded as well as traces of C9-, C7-, and C5-SPCs. Signals from the SPC-2H species were usually some 10% of those from the corresponding SPCs. Samples from these experiments were also examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), but no desulfonated intermediates were detected. We interpret the data to mean that the only attack on LAS was by ,-oxygenation; there was no visible initial desulfonation. The products of ,-oxygenation were oxidized to the corresponding SPC and subject to ,-oxidation, as evidenced not only by the pattern of C-2 units in the excreted SPCs but also in the corresponding series of SPC-2H, representing the intermediates in ,-oxidation. [source] Mineralization of organic contaminants in sludge-soil mixturesENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2001Bo Gejlsbjerg Abstract The mineralization of 14C-labeled linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), nonylphenol (NP), nonylphenol-di-ethoxylate (NP2EO), di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), pyrene, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB) was investigated in different sludge-soil mixtures and soils. Under aerobic conditions, the mineralization of LAS, NP, and NP2EO was between 50 and 81% of the added amounts after two months, while DEHP and pyrene were mineralized more slowly. The mineralization of the model chemicals was indirectly affected by the amount of sludge in the test mixtures. A higher content of sludge in the mixtures reduced the overall concentration of oxygen, which resulted in a decrease of the mineralization of several of the model chemicals. In sludge-soil mixtures with predominantly anaerobic conditions, the mineralization was slower for all of the chemicals with the exception of DEHP and DCB. The mineralization of DCB was enhanced in mixtures with a high sludge content. No pronounced difference in the mineralization of the model chemicals (except DEHP) was observed when the sludge was mixed with three different agricultural soils. [source] Quantification of in vivo biotransformation of the anionic surfactant C12 -2-linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in fathead minnowsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 10 2000Johannes Tolls Abstract Linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) is a major surfactant in household detergents and enters the environment via the wastewater. Aquatic organisms are thus exposed to LAS and can bioaccumulate this compound. Even though the extent of bio-accumulation is determined by the organisms' capability of metabolizing LAS, little is known about metabolism of LAS in small aquatic organisms. In the present investigation, we present a novel approach to quantify in vivo biotransformation. Fish (fathead minnows [Pimephales promelas]) were exposed to the LAS constituent 2- n -(p -sulfophenyl)-dodecane (C12 -2-LAS). The parent surfactant and its biotransformation product 3- n -(p -sulfophenyl)-butyric acid (C4 -3-SPC) were determined in fish tissue. On the average, the concentration of C4 -3-SPC in fish was 70 to 80% of that of C12 -2-LAS. The first-order one-compartment model of bioconcentration was extended to include biotransformation as an explicit process. Analysis of the C4 -3-SPC/C12 -2-LASconcentration ratio in fish allowed estimating a rate constant for in vivo biotransformation of C12 -2-LAS in fathead minnows. With the estimates of the biotransformation rate constant (kBT,LAS) ranging between 0.31 and 0.72/d, biotransformation contributes to more than 40% of the elimination of C12 -2-LAS in fathead minnows. This indicates that biotransformation is a significant process in reducing the bioaccumulation potential of LAS. Moreover, the present investigation demonstrates that the combination of measurements of parent compound and metabolite with an extended bioaccumulation model is a viable approach for quantification of biotransformation in small aquatic test animals. [source] Efficient Removal of Anionic Surfactants Using Mesoporous Functionalised Hybrid MaterialsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 25 2009Carmen Coll Abstract A new hybrid system for surfactant removal from water has been developed using mesoporous material (MCM-41) functionalised with suitable binding groups. Solid S1, S2 and S3 were prepared by reaction of the mesoporous material with N -methyl- N, -(propyltrimethoxysilyl)imidazolium chloride, (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane or 4-[(triethoxysilylpropylthio)methyl]pyridine, respectively. The functionalised materials were characterised following standard solid-state techniques. The final prepared solids consist of a siliceous MCM-41-type mesoporous support with the surface decorated by imidazolium, amine and pyridine binding groups suitable for anion coordination. Equilibrium adsorption studies of linear alkylbenzenesulfonate (LAS) using S1, S2 and S3 in water have been carried out. The obtained adsorption data were correlated with a Langmuir isotherm model that gives an acceptable description of the experimental data. The maximum surfactant uptake/binding site (mol,mol,1) and the surfactant adsorption capacity (mmol,g,1) for materials S1, S2 and S3 were calculated. S1 shows a positive-charged functionalised surface that is independent of the pH of the solution, whereas S2 and S3 are functionalised with neutral groups that need to be protonated in order to display electrostatic binding interactions with the anionic surfactants. Therefore, whereas the adsorption capacity of S1 is pH-independent, S2 and S3 display larger LAS adsorption at acidic pH. The adsorption ability at a certain pH follows the order S1 >> S3 > S2. A remarkable maximum surfactant adsorption of 1.5 mmol per gram of material was observed for S1 at neutral pH. S2 and S3 behave as poorer adsorbents and show maximum surfactant adsorption of 0.197 and 0.335 mmol per gram of material, respectively, at pH 2.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009) [source] A comparative in situ Rietveld refinement study: thermal decomposition and transformation of CoAl and CoZnAl layered double hydroxidesJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2008Rune E. Johnsen Rietveld refinement based on in situ X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data was combined with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and mass spectrometry (MS) to study and compare the phase transformations, thermal stability, microstructural and structural changes of two cobalt-containing nitrate-based layered double hydroxides (LDHs) upon heating in a controlled inert atmosphere of nitrogen. The XRPD data were collected, using synchrotron X-ray radiation, with a time resolution of 107,s, which made it possible to carry out detailed structural studies of the initial layered double hydroxides as well as their decomposition products: spinel for a CoAl,NO3 LDH and spinel/zincite for a CoZnAl,NO3 LDH. Correlating these data with those from the TGA,MS analyses gives us information about the transformation mechanisms. Rietveld refinements of the two spinel phases reveal remarkable differences. The a axis of the spinel formed by decomposition of the CoAl,NO3 LDH increases almost linearly from approximately 598 to 1163,K, mainly due to the dominating thermal expansion, whereas the a axis of the spinel formed by decomposition of the CoZnAl,NO3 shows a more complex temperature dependency. Between approximately 698 and 1073,K, the a axis is almost constant due to pronounced chemical interaction with an additional amorphous phase and the zincite phase, whereas from 1073 up to 1163,K it increases linearly. Calculations, based on the results of the Rietveld refinements, of the size of the octahedral and tetrahedral coordination polyhedra in the spinel show that the octahedra shrink and the tetrahedra expand with increasing temperature. The unusual thermal behaviour of the octahedra is discussed and attributed to the low formation temperature of the cobalt aluminium spinel phase. Finally, the intensity of a low-angle scattering (LAS) signal observed in the XRPD patterns was correlated with the decomposition of the LDH, and determination of the specific surface areas gave the temperature-dependent BET surface areas. [source] Lasofoxifene (CP-336,156) Protects Against the Age-Related Changes in Bone Mass, Bone Strength, and Total Serum Cholesterol in Intact Aged Male RatsJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2001Hua Zhu Ke Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate if long-term (6 months) treatment with lasofoxifene (LAS), a new selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), can protect against age-related changes in bone mass and bone strength in intact aged male rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats at 15 months of age were treated (daily oral gavage) with either vehicle (n = 12) or LAS at 0.01 mg/kg per day (n = 12) or 0.1 mg/kg per day (n = 11) for 6 months. A group of 15 rats was necropsied at 15 months of age and served as basal controls. No significant change was found in body weight between basal and vehicle controls. However, an age-related increase in fat body mass (+42%) and decrease in lean body mass (,8.5%) was observed in controls. Compared with vehicle controls, LAS at both doses significantly decreased body weight and fat body mass but did not affect lean body mass. No significant difference was found in prostate wet weight among all groups. Total serum cholesterol was significantly decreased in all LAS-treated rats compared with both the basal and the vehicle controls. Both doses of LAS treatment completely prevented the age-related increase in serum osteocalcin. Peripheral quantitative computerized tomography (pQCT) analysis at the distal femoral metaphysis indicated that the age-related decrease in total density, trabecular density, and cortical thickness was completely prevented by treatment with LAS at 0.01 mg/kg per day or 0.1 mg/kg per day. Histomorphometric analysis of proximal tibial cancellous bone showed an age-related decrease in trabecular bone volume (TBV; ,46%), trabecular number (Tb.N), wall thickness (W.Th), mineral apposition rate, and bone formation rate-tissue area referent. Moreover, an age-related increase in trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) and eroded surface was observed. LAS at 0.01 mg/kg per day or 0.1 mg/kg per day completely prevented these age-related changes in bone mass, bone structure, and bone turnover. Similarly, the age-related decrease in TBV and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and the age-related increase in osteoclast number (Oc.N) and osteoclast surface (Oc.S) in the third lumbar vertebral cancellous bone were completely prevented by treatment with LAS at both doses. Further, LAS at both doses completely prevented the age-related decrease in ultimate strength (,47%) and stiffness (,37%) of the fifth lumbar vertebral body. These results show that treatment with LAS for 6 months in male rats completely prevents the age-related decreases in bone mass and bone strength by inhibiting the increased bone resorption and bone turnover associated with aging. Further, LAS reduced total serum cholesterol and did not affect the prostate weight in these rats. Our data support the potential use of a SERM for protecting against the age-related changes in bone and serum cholesterol in elderly men. [source] Performance of the hydrolyzation film bed and biological aerated filter (HFB,BAF) combined system for the treatment of low-concentration domestic sewage in south ChinaJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Xiao Ling Abstract The performance of the hydrolyzation film bed and biological aerated filter (HFB,BAF) combined system in pilot scale (with a daily treatment quantity of 600,1300 m3 d,1), operated for 234 days, for low-strength domestic sewage was assessed using different amounts of aeration, reflux ratios and hydraulic loading rates (HLR). In steady state it was found that the average removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand at 5 days (BOD5) were 82.0% and 82.2% and the average effluent concentrations were 15.8 mg L,1 and 9.4 mg L,1 respectively as the HFB was running at an HLR of 1.25,1.77 m3 m,2 h,1 and the BAF was running at an HLR of 1.56,2.21 m3 m,2 h,1. In general, the removal efficiency of total nitrogen (TN) fluctuated with the HLR, gas,water ratio and reflux ratio, so the ratio of gas to water should be controlled from 2:1 to 3:1 and the reflux ratio should be as high as possible. The effluent concentration of TN was 10.4 mg L,1 and the TN removal averaged 34.3% when the gas,water ratio was greater than 3:1 and the reflux ratio was 0.5. The effluent concentration and removal efficiency of NH4+ -N averaged respectively 2.3 mg L,1 and 78.5%. The overall reduction of total phosphorus (TP) was 30% and the average effluent concentration was 0.95 mg L,1. The removal efficiency of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) reached 83.8% and the average effluent concentration was almost 0.9 mg L,1. The effluent concentration and removal efficiency of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were 0.0654 µ g L,1 and 37.05% respectively when the influent concentration was 0.1039 µ g L,1. The excess sludge containing water (volume 15 m3) was discharged once every 3 months. The power consumption of aeration was 0.06,0.09 kWh of sewage treated. The results show that the HFB,BAF combined technology is suitable for the treatment of low-concentration municipal sewage in south China. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Matrix metalloproteinase-7, -8, -9, -25, and -26 and CD43, -45, and -68 cell-markers in HIV-infected patients' saliva and gingival tissueJOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 9 2006Liisa Mellanen Background:, Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) process the extracellular matrix and act in tissue remodelling in many physiological and pathological conditions. Certain MMPs can also exert protective anti-inflammatory properties. The levels and expression of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMPs) in saliva and gingival tissues of human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive (HIV+) patients are unclear. Methods:, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods and Western blots were used to study levels and molecular forms of MMP-7, -8, -9, -25, and -26 and TIMP-1 from salivary samples of HIV+ patients (n = 55) and healthy controls (n = 10). The expression of MMPs was also studied by immunohistochemical means in gingival tissue specimens (n = 11, HIV+ patients; n = 10, healthy controls). Results:, The HIV+ patients' MMP-8 levels in saliva were statistically significantly higher only in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-phase. MMP-9 levels in ASX- and AIDS-phases showed increased expression. TIMP-1 levels were significantly decreased in lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS)- and AIDS-related complex (ARC)-phases, while MMP-8/TIMP-1 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 molar ratios were increased in all phases in comparison with controls. The molecular forms of MMP-7, -25, and -26 were different between patients and controls as assessed by Western blot. Immunohistochemical studies showed slightly enhanced MMP-7, -8, -9, -25, and -26 staining in HIV+ gingival tissue samples in comparison with controls. Conclusions:, This study confirmed and further demonstrated differences in salivary amounts and molecular forms of MMPs and TIMP-1 in HIV+ patients. The results may reflect alterations in host defence reactions associated with HIV infection. [source] Increasing Lung Allocation Scores Predict Worsened Survival Among Lung Transplant RecipientsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4 2010V. Liu Implemented in 2005, the lung allocation score (LAS) aims to distribute donor organs based on overall survival benefits for all potential recipients, rather than on waiting list time accrued. While prior work has shown that patients with scores greater than 46 are at increased risk of death, it is not known whether that risk is equivalent among such patients when stratified by LAS score and diagnosis. We retrospectively evaluated 5331 adult lung transplant recipients from May 2005 to February 2009 to determine the association of LAS (groups based on scores of ,46, 47,59, 60,79 and ,80) and posttransplant survival. When compared with patients with LAS , 46, only those with LAS , 60 had an increased risk of death (LAS 60,79: hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21,1.90; LAS , 80: HR, 2.03; CI, 1.61,2.55; p < 0.001) despite shorter median waiting list times. This risk persisted after adjusting for age, diagnosis, transplant center volume and donor characteristics. By specific diagnosis, an increased hazard was observed in patients with COPD with LAS , 80, as well as those with IPF with LAS , 60. [source] Lung Transplantation in the United States, 1999,2008AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4p2 2010R. D. Yusen This article highlights trends and changes in lung and heart,lung transplantation in the United States from 1999 to 2008. While adult lung transplantation grew significantly over the past decade, rates of heart,lung and pediatric lung transplantation have remained low. Since implementation of the lung allocation score (LAS) donor allocation system in 2005, decreases in the number of active waiting list patients, waiting times for lung transplantation and death rates on the waiting list have occurred. However, characteristics of recipients transplanted in the LAS era differed from those transplanted earlier. The proportion of candidates undergoing lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease decreased, while increasing for those with pulmonary fibrosis. In the LAS era, older, sicker and previously transplanted candidates underwent transplantation more frequently compared with the previous era. Despite these changes, when compared with the pre-LAS era, 1-year survival after lung transplantation did not significantly change after LAS inception. The long-term effects of the change in the characteristics of lung transplant recipients on overall outcomes for lung transplantation remain unknown. Continued surveillance and refinements to the LAS system will affect the distribution and types of candidates transplanted and hopefully lead to improved system efficiency and outcomes. [source] Lung Transplantation in the United States, 1998,2007AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4p2 2009K. R. McCurry This article highlights trends and changes in lung and heart-lung transplantation in the United States from 1998 to 2007. The most significant change over the last decade was implementation of the Lung Allocation Score (LAS) allocation system in May 2005. Subsequently, the number of active wait-listed lung candidates declined 54% from pre-LAS (2004) levels to the end of 2007; there was also a reduction in median waiting time, from 792 days in 2004 to 141 days in 2007. The number of lung transplants performed yearly increased through the decade to a peak of 1 465 in 2007; the greatest single year increase occurred in 2005. Despite candidates with increasingly higher LAS scores being transplanted in the LAS era, recipient death rates have remained relatively stable since 2003 and better than in previous years. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis became the most common diagnosis group to receive a lung transplant in 2007 while emphysema was the most common diagnosis in previous years. The number of retransplants and transplants in those aged ,65 performed yearly have increased significantly since 1998, up 295% and 643%, respectively. A decreasing percentage of lung transplant recipients are children (3.5% in 2007, n = 51). With LAS refinement ongoing, monitoring of future impact is warranted. [source] Lack of Impact of Myocardial Ischemia on the Signal-Averaged ECG Assessment by Time-Domain AnalysisANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Michael A. E. Schneider M.D. Background: Late potentials represent an arrhythmogenic substrate in chronically infarcted myocardium. It is hypothesized that acute transient ischemia enhances anisotropic electrical ventricular activation and facilitates reentry mechanisms. Study aim was the prospective assessment of the impact of dipyridamole-induced myocardial ischemia on the signal-averaged ECG. Methods: Dipyridamole stress thallium-201 SPECT imaging was utilized to avoid noise contamination of the signal-averaged ECG from exercise and to document evidence and localization of myocardial ischemia or persistent perfusion defects in 68 patients with suspected coronary artery disease. Before and during dipyridamole-induced vasodilatation serial signal-averaged ECG was performed to evaluate the influence of transient ischemia on the occurrence of late potentials. Results: There was a significant difference between heart rate at rest and heart rate under dipyridamole influence in patients with inducible ischemia (70 ± 13 vs. 87 ± 13; P < 0.0001) in contrast to patients without dipyridamole-induced ischemia (74 ± 20 vs. 80 ± 16; n.s.). The number of averaged beats and achieved noise level was comparable between both groups. Thirty-three of 68 patients (49%) revealed dipyridamole-induced ischemia; however, no changes of the SAECG parameters, such as QRS, RMS, LAS at 25,250 and 40,250 Hz bandpass filtering in the leads X, Y, Z and vector magnitude, respectively, were observed as a result of ischemia. Conclusion: These results suggest that transient myocardial ischemia does not affect the signal-averaged ECG. Clinically, the signal-averaged ECG analysis seems not to be helpful in identifying patients with silent ischemia. A.N.E. 2002;7(3):191,197 [source] Loose anagen syndrome: A prospective study of three familiesAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2002Alvin H Chong SUMMARY Loose anagen syndrome (LAS) is an autosomal dominant, age-related disorder characterized by the ability to easily and painlessly extract unsheathed anagen hairs from the scalp with a gentle hair pull. The phenotype is heterogeneous with three distinct clinical presentations. To further characterize the phenotype of loose anagen syndrome and its fluctuations over time, a prospective study of eight cases from three families was conducted over a period of 18 months. Patients were examined using standardized hair-pull and hair-pluck protocols. Each of the three different phenotypes of LAS were found to be present in one family. This implies that these phenotypes are variants of a single genotype, modified by environmental or age-related factors. The hair-pluck trichogram from LAS cases consistently showed a high proportion of loose anagen (LA) hairs. In contrast the hair-pull test was found to vary over time with regards to the number of LA hairs that could be extracted. Periods where no hairs could be obtained on hair pull were found. These findings have important implications in the diagnosis of LAS. A single negative hair-pull test does not exclude the diagnosis. If LAS is suspected on clinical grounds, then either a hair-pluck trichogram or serial re-examination by hair pull would be required to exclude the diagnosis. [source] Pharmacokinetics and safety of oral almotriptan in healthy male volunteersBIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION, Issue 7 2004J. McEwen Abstract Almotriptan (LAS 31416) is a new, oral, specific 5-hydroxytryptamine1B/1D receptor agonist for the treatment of migraine. The pharmacokinetics and safety of a range of oral doses were assessed in 23 healthy male volunteers. Peak plasma concentrations were reached between 1.5 and 4 h after dosing. The maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve showed dose proportionality over the dose range 5,200 mg. The elimination half-life was constant at approximately 3 h across all dose levels. A substantial proportion of the initial dose was excreted in urine (27%,39%) during 12 h post-dose and the main excretory product was unchanged drug. Three major urinary metabolites were detected, all of which were pharmacologically inactive. The most common events following almotriptan administration were headache, tiredness and mild nausea. Nine events (18%) were classed as probably related to almotriptan and these were all at the highest dose level of 200 mg. The maximum tolerated dose of almotriptan was, therefore, determined as 150 mg. In conclusion, almotriptan is well tolerated following single, oral doses up to 150 mg and has predictable pharmacokinetics. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Effects of process stability on anaerobic biodegradation of LAS in UASB reactorsBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 7 2005Trine Løbner Abstract Anaerobic biodegradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) was studied in upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors operated under mesophilic (37°C) and thermophilic (55°C) conditions. LAS C12 concentration in the influents was 10 mg·L,1, and the hydraulic retention time in the reactors was 2 days. Adsorption of LAS C12 was assessed in an autoclaved control reactor and ceased after 115 days. The reactors were operated for a minimum of 267 days; 40,80% removal of LAS C12 was observed. A temperature reduction from 55°C to 32°C for 30 h resulted in process imbalance as indicated by increase of volatile fatty acids (VFA). The imbalance was much more intense in the LAS amended reactor compared with an unamended reactor. At the same time, the process imbalance resulted in discontinued LAS removal. This finding indicates that process stability is a key factor in anaerobic biological removal of LAS. After a recovery period, the removal of LAS resumed, providing evidence of biological anaerobic LAS degradation. The removal remained constant until termination of experiments in the reactor. Biodegradation of LAS in the mesophilic reactor was at the same level as in the thermophilic reactor under stable conditions. ©2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Laboratory identification of lupus anticoagulants,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2009Kristi J. Smock Lupus anticoagulants (LA) are acquired autoantibodies that can cause antiphospholipid syndrome. LAs prolong phospholipid-dependent coagulation tests, acting as nonspecific inhibitors that are neutralized in the presence of excess phospholipid. However, there is no gold standard test and the testing is influenced by a number of variables. This article summarizes laboratory testing for LAs, with particular focus on technical issues and limitations of testing. Am. J. Hematol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Networking for knowledge transfer: towards an understanding of local authority roles in regional industrial ecosystem managementBUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 5 2004Fredrik von Malmborg Knowledge of the changing roles of local authorities (LAs) in relation to industry would provide an important insight for development and management of industrial ecology at the regional level. Drawing on empirical studies in Sweden, this paper develops a theoretical understanding of the roles of LAs in knowledge transfer in regional environmental management networks. It is suggested that LAs, besides initiating networks and being network brokers and managers, can act as ,knowledge banks' or ,knowledge brokers'. As a ,knowledge bank', officers in the LA hold the knowledge transferred to companies and engage closely with the companies in small active networks. As ,knowledge brokers', LA officers are less active and mainly help companies to get in contact with consultants and technical experts who hold the knowledge needed for developing environmental management in the companies. In all, the roles identified could be seen as more specific approaches to be taken by the LA when playing the overall role of an institutional anchor tenant, facilitating development and management of regional industrial ecosystems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Intersubsystem chemical bonds in the misfit layer compounds (LaS)1.13TaS2 and (LaS)1.14NbS2ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION B, Issue 2 2002Andreas Jobst The modulated structures of incommensurate composite crystals (La0.912S)1.13TaS2 at room temperature and of (La0.949S)1.14NbS2 at T = 115,K are refined against high-resolution X-ray data. The compounds are isostructural with superspace group F,m2m(,,0,0)00s. For (LaS)1.13TaS2, lattice parameters of the first subsystem TaS2 were obtained as a = 3.2922,(1), b = 5.7776,(2) and c = 23.013,(2),Å. For the second subsystem LaS, the same b and c parameters were found, but a = 5.8090,(8),Å. Refinements led to a final structure model with R = 0.036 for 4767 observed unique reflections (R = 0.023 for 2147 main reflections, R = 0.099 for 1554 first-order satellites and R = 0.112 for 1042 second-order satellites). The final model includes modulation parameters up to the second-order harmonics for the displacements of the atoms, for the occupational parameters and for the temperature parameters. A clear correlation is found between the relative positions of the subsystems, the displacement modulation, the occupational modulation and the modulation of the temperature parameters. The analysis shows that the variations in environments are resolved by correlated variations in the temperature factors. For (LaS)1.14NbS2, lattice parameters at T = 115,K of the NbS2 subsystem were obtained as a = 3.3065,(4), b = 5.7960,(5) and c = 22.956,(3),Å. For the LaS subsystem, the same values for b and c were obtained, but a = 5.7983,(7),Å. Refinements led to a final structure model with R = 0.048 for 5909 observed unique reflections (R = 0.034 for 2528 main reflections, R = 0.092 for 2171 first-order satellites and R = 0.113 for 1103 second-order satellites). The final structure model is similar to that of (LaS)1.13TaS2. In particular, it is found that the values of the modulation parameters are almost equal and it is concluded that the modulations are independent of the temperature and the replacement of Ta with Nb, and thus represent a general mechanism of resolving the strain between the mutually incommensurate layers. [source] A Nationwide Assessment of the Biodiversity Value of Uganda's Important Bird Areas NetworkCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006HERBERT TUSHABE AIAs; complementariedad; congruencia trans-taxón; selección de sitios de conservación Abstract:,BirdLife International's Important Bird Areas (IBA) program is the most developed global system for identifying sites of conservation priority. There have been few assessments, however, of the conservation value of IBAs for nonavian taxa. We combined past data with extensive new survey results for Uganda's IBAs in the most comprehensive assessment to date of the wider biodiversity value of a tropical country's IBA network. The combined data set included more than 35,000 site × species records for birds, butterflies, and woody plants at 86 Ugandan sites (23,400 km2), including 29 of the country's 30 IBAs, with data on additional taxa for many sites. Uganda's IBAs contained at least 70% of the country's butterfly and woody plant species, 86% of its dragonflies and 97% of its birds. They also included 21 of Uganda's 22 major vegetation types. For butterflies, dragonflies, and some families of plants assessed, species of high conservation concern were well represented (less so for the latter). The IBAs successfully represented wider biodiversity largely because many have distinctive avifaunas and, as shown by high cross-taxon congruence in complementarity, such sites tended to be distinctive for other groups too. Cross-taxon congruence in overall species richness was weaker and mainly associated with differences in site size. When compared with alternative sets of sites selected using complementarity-based, area-based, or random site-selection algorithms, the IBA network was efficient in terms of the number of sites required to represent species but inefficient in terms of total area. This was mainly because IBA selection considers factors other than area, however, which probably improves both the cost-effectiveness of the network and the persistence of represented species. Resumen:,El programa de Áreas de Importancia para las Aves (AIAs) de Birdlife International es el sistema global más desarrollado para la identificación de sitios de prioridad para la conservación. Sin embargo, ha habido pocas evaluaciones del valor de conservación de las AIAs para taxa no aviares. En la evaluación más integral, hasta la fecha, del valor de la biodiversidad en general de la red de AIAs de un país tropical, combinamos datos antiguos con los resultados de muestreos extensivos recientes de las AIAs de Uganda. El conjunto de datos combinados incluyó más de 35000 registros de sitios x especies de aves, mariposas y plantas leñosas en 86 sitios en Uganda (23400 km2), incluyendo 29 de las 30 AIAs del país, con datos sobre taxa adicionales en muchos sitios. Las AIAs de Uganda contenían por lo menos un 70% de las especies de mariposas y plantas leñosas del país, 86% de sus libélulas y 97% de sus aves. También incluyeron 21 de los 22 principales tipos de vegetación. En las mariposas, libélulas y algunas de las familias de plantas evaluadas, la representación de especies de alto interés para la conservación fue buena (menor en las plantas). Las Áreas de Importancia para las Aves representaron exitosamente a la biodiversidad en general principalmente porque muchas tienen avifaunas distintivas y, como muestra la alta congruencia trans-taxón en complementariedad, tales sitios tendieron a ser distintivos para otros grupos también. La congruencia trans-taxón en la riqueza de especies total fue más débil y se asoció principalmente con diferencias en el tamaño del sitio. Cuando se compara con conjuntos alternativos de sitios seleccionados mediante algoritmos basados en complementariedad, área o selección aleatoria de sitios, la red de AIAs fue eficiente en términos del número de sitios requeridos para representar especies, pero ineficiente en términos del área total. Sin embargo, esto se debió principalmente a que la selección de AIA considera factores distintos al área que probablemente mejoran tanto la efectividad de la red como la persistencia de las especies representadas. [source] Differential expansion of highly repeated DNA sequences in the swine subgenomesJOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008M. Pita Abstract Differences in highly repeated DNA sequences among three swine breeds genomes were detected by means of whole-comparative genomic hybridization (W-CGH). The results showed that Duroc, Iberian and Landrace/Large White breeds share similar DNA sequences in their centromeric regions, but the number of copies of the highly repeated DNA sequences building the blocks of heterochromatin in the metacentric chromosomes is differentially expanded among them. That is not the case in the acrocentric subgenome where the chromosomes share similar sequence composition and number of copies among the three breeds in the centromeric regions. The highly repeated DNA sequences in the chromosome Y also displayed differences among the breeds studied. The reported results are discussed in the light of the possible evolutionary tendencies of these particular DNA sequences. Resumen Se detectaron diferencias en los ADNs repetidos de tres razas de cerdo mediante Hibridación Genómica Comparativa-Completa (W-CGH). Los resultados revelaron que las razas Duroc, Ibérica y Landrace/Large White, comparten secuencias repetidas similares en sus regiones centroméricas, pero el número de copias de éstas en las regiones centroméricas del subgenoma metacéntrico muestra distinto número de copias entre las razas. Por el contrario el subgenoma acrocéntrico muestra tanto la misma composición de secuencias altamente repetidas como de número de copias. Las secuencias repetidas del cromosoma Y también mostraron diferencias en su abundancia relativa entre las tres especies estudiadas. Los resultados obtenidos se discutieron en términos de las particulares tendencias evolutivas de este tipo de secuencias. [source] Population genetics of the endangered limpet Patella ferruginea (Gastropoda: Patellidae): taxonomic, conservation and evolutionary considerationsJOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006F. Espinosa Abstract The limpet Patella ferruginea is the most endangered marine invertebrate in the western Mediterranean rocky shores, whereas Patella caerulea is the most common Mediterranean limpet. From Pleistocene to historic age, P. ferruginea was distributed around the whole Mediterranean basin, since the shells of this species are a characteristic feature of Palaeolithic and Neolithic deposits in this area. However, its Mediterranean range has progressively contracted to a few restricted areas. The ancient origin of the species (18 Ma) and the present geographical isolation among relic populations could have led to a great genetic difference among populations, taking into account the supposedly low dispersal ability of the species. However, we have observed a few genetic differences among populations and a ,star phylogeny' of COI haplotypes from the 41 individuals of P. ferruginea analysed; a similar pattern has also been observed for the seven individuals of P. caerulea studied. Genetic evidences show a possible bottleneck event on late Pleistocene that affected the two species. The results have an important implication on the future management of this endangered species. Additionally, two different morphological types of P. ferruginea have been described by Payraudeau in 1826: lamarcki and rouxi forms. Clear morphological differences occur between these two types and some authors pointed out the hypothesis about the existence of two different species. The results of the present study conclude that the two different forms of P. ferruginea are ecotypes, rather than different species or subspecies, and intermediate steps are an ecological range instead of hybridization events among different species. Resumen Patella ferruginea es el invertebrado marino más amenazado de las costas del Mediterráneo occidental, mientras que Patella caerulea es una especie muy común. Desde el Pleistoceno hasta épocas históricas, P. ferruginea estuvo distribuída alrededor de toda la cuenca mediterránea, ya que su concha es característica de depósitos paleolíticos y neolíticos en esta área. Sin embargo, su rango de distribución se ha visto reducido a unas pocas áreas restringidas. Su orígen primitivo (18 Ma) y el presente aislamiento geográfico entre las poblaciones podría haber generado importantes diferencias genéticas inter-poblacionales, teniendo en cuenta la supuesta baja capacidad de dispersión de la especie. Sin embargo, se han observado pocas diferencias genéticas inter-poblacionales y una ,,filogenia en estrella'' de los haplotipos de la COI procedentes de los 41 individuos de P. ferruginea analizados, un patrón similar ha sido también observado para los 7 individuos de P. caerulea estudiados. Las evidencias genéticas sugieren un posible cuello de botella a finales del Pleistoceno que afectó a las dos especies. Estos resultados tienen gran importancia en la futura gestión de esta especie amenazada. Adicionalmente, Payraudeau en 1826 describió dos tipo morfológicos de P. ferruginea: formas rouxi y lamarcki. Importantes diferencias morfológicas aparecen entre las dos formas y algunos autores han señalado la hipótesis de que podrían ser dos especies distintas. Los resultados del presente estudio concluyen que las dos formas de P. ferruginea son ecotipos en lugar de especies o subespecies distintas, y que las formas intermedias serían parte de un rango ecológico en lugar de ser fenómenos de hibridación entre especies diferentes. [source] The Assembly of Macrocyclic Bis- and Tetra-,-lactams with Embedded Platinum or Palladium Square-Planar CentersCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 28 2009Daniel Pellico Abstract The synthesis, isolation, and full characterization of different types of stable, metal-assembled macrocyclic ,-lactams are reported. By using adequately functionalized bis-,-lactams with defined stereochemistry as building blocks, a series of mono- and bimetallic Pd and Pt macrocycles has been prepared in good to quantitative yields. These novel structures combine the ,-lactam moiety with transition-metal fragments with cis -square-planar geometry and constitute a new class of metal-assembled cavities involving molecules with biological relevance as building blocks. By combining the adequate ligands, metallic fragments, and tuning the reaction conditions, different mono- and bimetallic macrocyclic ,-lactam cavities can be selectively obtained. Macrocycles with Pt,ethynyl groups are suitable to form host,silver triflate guest complexes in a tweezer fashion. El trabajo describe la síntesis, aislamiento y caracterización completa de una serie de Pd y Pt-metalo-,-lactamas. Estos compuestos se obtienen con excelente rendimiento a partir de bis-,-lactamas adecuadamente funcionalizadas y con estereoquímica definida, y los correspondientes complejos de Pd y Pt. Las bis y tetra-metalo-,-lactamas obtenidas constituyen un nuevo tipo de cavidades macrocíclicas, que combinan en su estructura los fragmentos ,-lactámicos con complejos metálicos de geometría cis-plano cuadrada. Combinando adecuadamente los ligandos precursores (bis-,-lactama y complejo metálico) y las condiciones de reacción, es posible controlar de forma totalmente selectiva, el tamaño del macrociclo obtenido y preparar bis y tetra-,-lactamas mono o bimetálicas. La presencia de fragmentos Pt-etinilo en la estructura permite a las compuestos macrocíclicos obtenidos la formación de complejos pinzados con sales de plata. [source] Neuromuscular coordination of masticatory muscles in subjects with two types of implant-supported prosthesesCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2004Virgilio F. Ferrario Abstract Objectives: To compare the electromyographic (EMG) characteristics of masticatory muscles in patients with fixed implant-supported prostheses and implant overdentures. Material and methods: Nineteen subjects aged 45,79 years were examined. Fourteen were edentulous and had been successfully rehabilitated with (a) maxillary and mandibular implant-supported fixed prostheses (seven patients); (b) mandibular implant overdentures and maxillary complete dentures (seven patients). Five control subjects had natural dentition or single/partial (no more than two teeth) tooth or implant fixed dentures. Surface EMG of the masseter and temporal muscles was performed during unilateral gum chewing and during maximum teeth clenching. To reduce biological and instrumental noise, all values were standardized as percentage of a maximum clenching on cotton rolls. Results: During clenching, temporal muscle symmetry was larger in control subjects and fixed implant-supported prosthesis patients than in overdenture patients (analysis of variance, P=0.005). No differences were found in masseter muscle symmetry or in muscular torque. Muscle activities (integrated areas of the EMG potentials over time) were significantly larger in control subjects than in implant-supported prosthesis patients (P=0.014). In both patient groups, a poor neuromuscular coordination during chewing, with altered muscular patterns, and a smaller left,right symmetry than in control subjects were found (P=0.05). No differences in masticatory frequency were found. Conclusion: Surface EMG analysis of clenching and chewing showed that fixed implant-supported prostheses and implant overdentures were functionally equivalent. Neuromuscular coordination during chewing was inferior to that found in subjects with natural dentition. Résumé Le but de cette étude a été de comparer les caractéristiques éléctromiographiques (EMG) de muscles masticateurs chez des patients avec des prothèses fixées sur implant et des prothèses amovibles sur implants. Dix-neuf patients de 45 à 79 ans ont été examinés. Quatorze étaient édentés et ont été traités avec succès par a) une prothèse fixée sur des implants au niveau maxillaire et mandibulaire (sept patients), b) des prothèses amovibles ancrées sur implant au niveau de la mandibule et des prothèses amovibles totales supérieures (sept patients). Les cinq contrôles avaient soit une dentition naturelle soit des couronnes sur implants ou dent unique. L'EMG de surface des muscles masséter et temporaux a été effectué durant la mastication unilatérale de gomme à mâcher et à la force maximale de fermeture. Pour diminuer le bruit biologique et instrumental, toutes les valeurs ont été standardisées en pourcentage d'une force maximale de fermeture sur des rouleaux de coton. Durant la fermeture, la symétrie musculaire temporale était plus importante chez les sujets contrôles et les prothèses fixées sur implants que chez les patients avec prothèse amovible (analyse de variance, p=0,005). Aucune différence n'a été constatée dans la symétrie musculaire du masséter ou dans la torsion musculaire. Les activités musculaires (zones intégrées des potentiels EMG avec le temps) étaient significativement plus importantes chez les contrôles que chez les patients avec prothèses fixées sur implants (p=0,014). Dans les deux groupes de patients, une pauvre coordination neuromusculaire durant le mâchonnement, avec des modèles musculaires altérés, et une plus petite symétrie gauche-droite étaient constatées chez les sujets contrôles (p=0,05). Aucune différence dans la fréquence masticatoire n'a été trouvée. L'analyse EMG de surface de fermeture et de mastication montraient que les prothèses fixées sur implant et les prothèses amovibles sur implants étaient fonctionnellement équivalentes. Cependant la coordination neuromusculaire durant la mastication était inférieure à celle trouvée chez les sujets avec dentition naturelle. Zusammenfassung Ziel: Die EMG-Charakteristiken der Kaumuskeln in Patienten mit festsitzenden implantatgetragenen Prothesen und implantatgetragenen Hybridprothesen zu vergleichen. Material und Methode: Neunzehn Patienten im Alter von 45 bis 79 Jahren wurden untersucht. Vierzehn davon waren zahnlos und erfolgreich wiederhergestellt worden mit a) festsitzenden implantatgetragenen Ober- und Unterkieferprothesen (sieben Patienten); b) Unterkieferhybridprothesen und OK-Totalprothesen (sieben Patienten). Die fünf Kontrollpatienten hatten eine natürliche Bezahnung oder Einzelkronen bzw. kleine Brücken (nicht mehr als zwei Zähne) auf Implantaten oder Zähnen. Während einseitigem Kaugummikauen und maximalem Zähnepressen wurden Messungen der Oberflächen-EMGs der Masseter- und Temporalmuskulatur durchgeführt. Um das biologische und instrumentelle Rauschen zu unterdrücken, wurden alle Werte als Prozentanteil des maximalen Pressens auf Watterollen standardisiert. Resultate: Während des Pressens war die temporale Muskelsymmetrie bei den Kontrollpatienten und den Patienten mit festsitzenden implantatgetragenen Prothesen grösser als bei den Probanden mit Hybridprothesen (Varianzanalyse, p=0.005). Bei der Symmetrie der Massetermuskeln und im muskulären Drehmoment konnten keine Unterschiede gefunden werden. Die Muskelaktivitäten (integrierte Areale der EMG-Potentiale über die Zeit) waren bei den Kontrollpatienten signifikant tiefer als bei den Probanden mit implantatgetragenen Prothesen (p=0.014). Bei beiden Patientengruppen konnte eine schlechtere neuromuskuläre Koordination während des Kauens mit veränderlichen muskulären Mustern und einer geringeren links-rechts Symmetrie als bei den Kontrollpatienten gefunden werden (p=0.05). Bei der Kaufrequenz bestanden keine Unterscheide. Schlussfolgerung: Die Analyse der Oberflächen-EMG beim Pressen und Kauen zeigte, dass festsitzende implantatgetragene Prothesen und implantatgetragene Hybridprothesen funktionell gleichwertig sind. Die neromuskuläre Koordination während des Kauens war schlechter als bei Probanden mit natürlicher Bezahnung. Resumen Objetivos: Comparar las características del EMG de los músculos masticatorios en pacientes con prótesis fija implanto-soportada y sobredentaduras en implantes. Material y métodos: Se examinaron 19 sujetos de edades entre 45 y 79 años. Catorce eran edéntulos, y habían sido rehabilitados con éxito con a) prótesis fija implanto-soportada maxilar y mandibular (siete pacientes); b) sobredentadura completa en implantes maxilar y mandibular (siete pacientes). Cinco pacientes de control tenían dentición natural o dentaduras fijas sobre implantes o dientes unitarias o parciales (no mas de 2 dientes). Se llevó a cabo EMG de superficie de los músculos maseteros y temporales durante mascado de chicles unilateralmente, y durante cierre máximo. Para reducir las interferencias biológicas e instrumentales, todos los valores se estandarizaron como porcentajes de un cierre máximo sobre rollos de algodón. Resultados: Durante el cierre, la simetría de los músculos temporales fue mayor en los sujetos de control y en los pacientes de prótesis fijas implanto-soportadas que en los pacientes con sobredentaduras (análisis de varianza, p=0.005). No se encontraron diferencias en la simetría del músculo masetero o en el torque muscular. Las actividades musculares (áreas integradas de los potenciales del EMG a lo largo del tiempo) fueron significativamente mayores en los sujetos de control que en los pacientes con prótesis implantosoportada (p=0.014). En ambos grupos de pacientes, se encontró una coordinación neuromuscular mas pobre durante el mascado, con patrones musculares alterados, y una menor simetría derecha-izquierda que en los sujetos de control (p=0.05). No se encontraron diferencias en la frecuencia masticatoria. Conclusión: El análisis del EMG de superficie de máxima mordida y de mascado mostró que las prótesis fijas implanto-soportadas y las sobredentaduras en implantes fueron funcionalmente equivalentes. La coordinación neuromuscular durante el mascado fue inferior a aquella encontrada en sujetos con dentición natural. [source] Radiologic measurements of the mandible: a comparison between CT-reformatted and conventional tomographic imagesCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2004Hanazawa Tomomi Abstract: This study was carried out to compare the accuracy of determination of the mandibular contour and the position of the mandibular canal in cadaver mandibles by the multiplanar reconstruction method (MPR-CT), which has recently come to be used widely for preoperative examinations, with those by tomographic techniques and to evaluate the usefulness of MPR-CT. Using three imaging systems, i.e. Quantum CT scanner, Scanora, and OP-100, a total of 6 sites were scanned in the molar regions of 3 cadaver mandibles. The images obtained were measured twice each by 4 radiologists. The anatomic structures measured were the height and thickness of the mandible, distance from the alveolar crest to the mandibular canal, and distance from the buccal cortical bone to the mandibular canal. After scanning, the scanned areas of the mandibles were sliced at a thickness of 2 mm, and soft X-ray images of these slices were obtained. The values of the above 4 anatomic structures obtained by measurements in the soft X-ray radiograms using digital-display calipers were regarded as true values. When compared with the true values, the errors in the distance from the alveolar crest to the mandibular canal were within 1 mm (±1 mm) in 93.7% of the measurements by Direct-CT, 89.6% of the measurements by MPR-CT, 87.5% of the measurements by Scanora, and 47.9% of the measurements by OP-100, and the accuracy of the 4 methods ranked in the order of Direct-CT, MPR-CT, Scanora, and OP-100. A similar tendency was observed in the measurements of other anatomic structures, and statistically significant differences were observed among the methods. Thus, MPR-CT allows more accurate measurements than by the other 2 tomographic techniques,and to be useful as a preoperative examination for implant surgery. Résumé Cette étude a été menée afin de comparer la précision de la détermination du contour de la mandibule et de la position du canal mandibulaire dans des mandiblules de cadavres par la méthode de reconstruction par multi-plans (MPR-CT), qui a récemment été très utilisée pour les examens préopératoires, avec celle des techniques de tomographie et d'évaluer l'utilité de MPR-CT en utilisant trois systèmes d'image; c.-à-d. le scanner CT Quantum, le Scanora et l'OP-100, Six sites ont été balayés dans la région molaire de trois mandibules de cadavres. Les images obtenues ont été mesurées deux fois par quatre radiologues. Les structures anatomiques mesurées étaient la hauteur et l'épaisseur de la mandibule, la distance du rebord alvéolaire jusqu'au canal mandibulaire et la distance de l'os cortical vestibulaire au canal mandibulaire. Après balayage, les zones balayées des mandibules ont été coupées en tranches d'une épaisseur de 2 mm et des images radiographiques de ces tranches ont été obtenues. Les valeurs des quatre structures anatomiques mentionnées précédemment obtenues par les mesures des radiogrammes utilisant les compas digitaux étaient considérées comme valeurs correctes. Lorsqu'elles étaient comparées aux valeurs correctes, les erreurs dans la distance du rebord alvéolaire jusqu'au canal mandibulaire étaient inférieures à 1±1 mm dans 94 % des mesures par CT-Direct, 90% dans les mesures par MPR-CT, 88% des mesures par Scanora et 48% des mesures par OP-100, et la précision des quatre méthodes était dans l'ordre CT-Direct, MPR-CT, Scanora et OP-100. Une tendance semblable a été observée dans les mesures d'autres structures anatomiques et des différences statistiquement significatives ont été observées parmi les méthodes. Le CT-PMR apporte donc plus de mesures précises que les deux autres techniques de tomographie et devrait être utilisé pourl'examen préopératoire lors de la chirurgie implantaire. Zusammenfassung Radiologische Messungen im Unterkiefer: Ein Vergleich zwischen reformatierten CTs und konventionellen tomographischen Bildern Diese Studie wurde durchgeführt, um die Genauigkeit bei der Bestimmung der Kontur des Unterkiefers und bei der Lokalisation des Mandibularkanals in Kadaverunterkiefern durch die multiplanare Rekonstruktionsmethode (MPR-CT) mit konventionellen tomographischen Techniken zu vergleichen. Die MPR-CT wird seit kurzem oft für präoperative Untersuchungen angewendet. Zudem sollte die Anwendbarkeit der MPR-CT untersucht werden. Bei 3 Kadaverunterkiefern wurden je 6 Stellen in der Molarenregion mit 3 verschiedenen Systemen, Quantum CT Scanner, Scanora und OP-100, untersucht. Die erhaltenen Bilder wurden zweimal durch 4 Radiologen ausgewertet. Die folgenden anatomischen Strukturen wurden ausgemessen: Höhe und Dicke des Unterkiefers, Distanz vom Alveolarkamm zum Mandibularkanal und Distanz vom bukkalen kortikalen Knochen zum Mandibularkanal. Nach den Aufnahmen wurden die untersuchten Stellen auf eine Dicke von 2 mm geschnitten und es wurden Röntgenaufnahmen mit weichen Strahlen von den Schnitten angefertigt. Die Werte der obenerwähnten 4 anatomischen Strukturen, welche durch Messungen in den Röntgen mit weicher Strahlung mittels Zirkel mit Digitalanzeige ermittelt worden waren, wurden als wahre Werte angenommen. Im Vergleich zu den wahren Werten lag der Fehler bei der Distanz vom Alveolarkamm zum Mandibularkanal bei 93.7% der Messungen mit direktem CT, bei 89.6% der Messungen mit MPR-CT, bei 87.5% der Messungen mit Scanora und bei 47.9% der Messungen mit dem OP-100 innerhalb von 1mm (±1mm). Die Genauigkeit der 4 Methoden nahm in folgender Reihenfolge ab: direkte CT, MPR-CT, Scanora und OP-100. Eine ähnliche Tendenz konnte bei den Messungen der anderen anatomischen Strukturen beobachtet werden und zwischen den Methoden bestanden statistisch signifikante Unterschiede. Die MPR-CT ergaben genauere Messungen als die zwei anderen tomographischen Techniken. Die Methode ist daher hilfreich bei der präoperativen Untersuchung vor Implantatchirurgie. Resumen Este estudio se llevó a cabo para comparar la exactitud de la determinación del contorno mandibular y la posición del canal mandibular en mandíbulas de cadáver por medio del método de reconstrucción multiplanar (MPR-CT), que recientemente se ha convertido de uso extendido para exámenes preoperatorios, con aquellas técnicas tomográficas y para evaluar la utilidad de MPR-CT. Se escanearon un total de 6 lugares en la región molar de 3 mandíbulas de cadáver usando tres sistemas de imágenes, i.e. escáner Quantum CT, Scanora y OP-100. Las imágenes obtenidas se midieron dos veces cada una por 4 radiólogos. Las estructuras anatómicas medidas fueron altura y grosor de la mandíbula, distancia de la cresta alveolar al canal mandibular, y distancia desde el hueso cortical vestibular al canal mandibular. Tras realizar el escáner, las áreas escaneadas de las mandíbulas se cortaron en lonchas de 2 mm de grosor, y se obtuvieron imágenes radiológicas blandas de estos cortes. Los valores de las ya mencionadas 4 estructuras anatómicas obtenidas por mediciones en los radiogramas radiográficos usando calibres de visualización digital se consideraron como valores reales, los errores en la distancia desde la cresta alveolar al canal mandibular estaban dentro de 1 mm (±1 mm) en 93.7% de las mediciones por CT-directa, 89.6% de las mediciones por MPR_CT, 87.5% de las mediciones por Scanora, y el 47.9% de las mediciones por OP-100, y la exactitud de los 4 métodos se clasificaron en orden de CT-directa, MPR-CT, MPR-CT, Scanora, y OP-100. Se observó una tendencia similar en las mediciones de otras estructuras anatómicas, y se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los métodos. De este modo, MPR-CT permite unas mediciones mas exactas que las de las otras 2 técnicas tomográficas, y ser útil como examen preoperatorio para cirugía de implantes. [source] Assessing the Effectiveness of Reserve Acquisition Programs in Protecting Rare and Threatened SpeciesCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006WILL R. TURNER Lake Wales Ridge (Florida); especies en peligro; índice de protección; Lista Roja IUCN; matorral Abstract:,Measuring the effectiveness of reserve networks is essential to ensure that conservation objectives such as species persistence are being met. We devised a new approach for measuring the effectiveness of land conservation in protecting rare and threatened species and applied it to an ecosystem of global significance. We compiled detailed global distributional data for 36 rare and threatened plants and animals found in the Lake Wales Ridge ecosystem in central Florida (U.S.A.). For each species, we developed a set of protection indices based in part on criteria used to categorize species for the World Conservation Union's Red List. We calculated protection indexes under three different conservation scenarios: a past scenario, which assumed recent, major land-acquisition efforts never occurred; a current scenario, which assumed no additional areas are saved beyond what is currently protected; and a targeted scenario, which assumed all of the remaining areas targeted for protection are eventually acquired. This approach enabled us to quantify the progress, in terms of reduced risk of extinction, that conservationists have made in protecting target species. It also revealed the limited success these land-acquisition efforts have had in reducing those extinction risks associated with loss of habitat or small geographic ranges. Many species of the Lake Wales Ridge will remain at high risk of extinction even if planned land-acquisition efforts are completely successful. By calculating protection indexes with and without each site for all imperiled species, we also quantified the contribution of each protected area to the conservation of each species, enabling local conservation decisions to be made in the context of a larger (global) perspective. The protection index approach can be adapted readily to other ecosystems with multiple rare and threatened species. Resumen:,La cuantificación de la efectividad de las redes de reservas es esencial para asegurar que objetivos, como la persistencia de especies, se cumplan. Diseñamos un nuevo método para medir la efectividad de la conservación de tierras en la protección de especies raras y amenazadas y lo aplicamos a un ecosistema de importancia global. Compilamos datos detallados de la distribución global de 36 especies raras y amenazadas de plantas y animales que se encuentran en el ecosistema de la Lake Wales Ridge en el centro de Florida (E.U.A.). Para cada especie desarrollamos un conjunto de índices de protección basado parcialmente en criterios utilizados para clasificar especies para la Lista Roja de la Unión Mundial para la Naturaleza. Calculamos los índices de protección bajo tres escenarios de conservación distintos: un escenario pasado, que asumía que los esfuerzos recientes de adquisición de tierras nunca ocurrieron; un escenario actual, que asumía que no se protegen áreas adicionales a las ya conservadas; y un escenario deseado, que asumía que todas las áreas consideradas para ser protegidas son adquiridas eventualmente. Este método nos permitió cuantificar el progreso, en términos de la reducción del riesgo de extinción, en la protección de las especies obtenido por conservacionistas. También reveló el éxito limitado de los esfuerzos de adquisición de tierras en la disminución de los riesgos de extinción asociados con la pérdida de hábitat o con rangos geográficos pequeños. Se pronosticó que muchas especies de la Lake Wales Ridge permanecerán en alto riesgo aun si los esfuerzos de adquisición de tierra planificados son completamente exitosos. Al calcular los índices de protección con y sin cada sitio para todas las especies en peligro, también cuantificamos la contribución de cada área protegida a la conservación de cada especie, lo que permite que las decisiones de conservación se tomen en el contexto de una perspectiva mayor (global). El método del índice de protección se puede adaptar fácilmente a otros ecosistemas con múltiples especies raras y amenazadas. [source] Incorporation of Recreational Fishing Effort into Design of Marine Protected AreasCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006TIM P. LYNCH consulta pública; modelos de reservas marinas; pesca con caña; suposiciones de poza dinámica Abstract:,Theoretical models of marine protected areas (MPAs) that explore benefits to fisheries or biodiversity conservation often assume a dynamic pool of fishing effort. For instance, effort is homogenously distributed over areas from which subsets of reserves are chosen. I tested this and other model assumptions with a case study of the multiple-use Jervis Bay Marine Park. Prior to zoning of the park I conducted 166 surveys of the park's recreational fisheries, plotting the location of 16,009 anglers. I converted these plots into diagrams of fishing effort and analyzed correlates between fishing and habitat and the effect of two reserve designs,the draft and final zoning plans of the park,on the 15 fisheries observed. Fisheries were strongly correlated with particular habitats and had negatively skewed and often bimodal spatial distribution. The second mode of intensely fished habitat could be 6 SD greater than the fishery's mean allocation of effort by area. In the draft-zoning plan, sanctuary zone (no-take) area and potential subduction of fishing effort were similar. In the final plan, which was altered in response to public comment, the area of sanctuary zone increased, and the impact on fishing effort decreased. In only one case was a fishery's most intensely targeted location closed to fishing. Because of the discriminating manner with which fishers target habitats, if simple percentage targets are used for planning, sanctuary location can be adjusted to avoid existing fishing effort. According to modeled outcomes, the implication of this may be diminished reserve effectiveness. To address this, reserve area should be implicitly linked to subducted fishing effort when promoting or modeling MPAs. Resumen:,Los modelos teóricos de áreas marinas protegidas (AMPs) que exploran los beneficios para las pesquerías o la conservación de la biodiversidad a menudo asumen que hay una poza dinámica en el esfuerzo de pesca. Por ejemplo, el esfuerzo es distribuido homogéneamente en áreas en las que se seleccionan subconjuntos de reservas. Probé esta y otras suposiciones del modelo con un estudio de caso del Parque Marino Jarvis Bay. Antes de la zonificación del parque, realicé 166 muestreos de las pesquerías recreativas del parque, dibujando la localización de 16,009 pescadores con caña. Convertí estos dibujos en diagramas de esfuerzo de pesca y analicé las correlaciones entre la pesca, el hábitat y el efecto de dos diseños de reserva,el anteproyecto y los planes finales de zonificación del parque,sobre las 15 pesquerías observadas. Las pesquerías se correlacionaron fuertemente con los hábitats particulares y tenían una distribución espacial sesgada negativamente y a menudo bimodal. El segundo tipo de hábitat pescado intensivamente podría ser 6 DS mayor que la asignación promedio de esfuerzo de pesquería por unidad de área. En el anteproyecto de plan de zonificación, el área santuario (sin pesca) y la subducción potencial del esfuerzo de pesca eran similares. En el plan final, que fue alterado en respuesta a comentarios del público, el área del santuario fue incrementada, y el impacto del esfuerzo de pesca disminuyó. En solo un caso fue cerrado a la pesca la localidad de pesca más intensiva. Debido a la forma discriminada en que los pescadores eligen los hábitats, si se utilizan objetivos porcentuales simples para la planificación, la localización del santuario puede ser ajustada para evitar el esfuerzo de pesca existente. De acuerdo con los resultados del modelo, la implicación puede ser la disminución de la efectividad de la reserva. Para abordar esto, el área de la reserva debiera estar implícitamente relacionada con la reducción del esfuerzo de pesca cuando se promueven o modelan AMPs. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||