BACKGROUND: Thrombosis is one of the most important causes of morbidity in the medical field. Several independent in vitro studies have shown that the fibrinolytic process may be enhanced by ultrasound, but the effect of ultrasound on thrombus formation in vivo is unexplored. The present study was designed to investigate this matter. METHODS: In a blind randomized study, standardized arteriotomies

In this work the problem of designing feedback controllers for the rejection of narrow-band disturbances is considered. The design technique proposed herein is based upon a well-suited overparameterization of a standard model-based minimum-variance controller; the extra-degrees-of-freedom so introduced are used to improve the performence of the basic controller. In particular, the problem of impro

Background: Immediate recurrence of atrial fibrillation (IRAF) occurs frequently after electrical cardioversion, its electrophysiological determinants and prognostic significance hove, however, not been studied in detail. This Study aimed to explore (1) the association of IRAF with clinical characteristics, pulmonary vein (PV) arrhythmogenicity as well as atrial electrophysiologic properties and (

An experimental study of the normalized three-jet rate of b quark events with respect to light quarks events (light = l equivalent to u, d, s) has been performed using the CAMBRIDGE and DURHAM jet algorithms. The data used were collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP on the Z peak from 1994 to 2000. The results are found to agree with theoretical predictions treating mass corrections at next-to-

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the phagocyte NADPH oxidase complex are important in the killing of invading pathogens. Lately, a role of ROS has been suggested in regulation of the immune system. This was further highlighted when the Ncf1 gene, encoding a subunit of the NADPH oxidase complex, was found to regulate arthritis severity in rats. Interestingly, the fact that increased arthri

Glucostatic appetite regulation has numerous determinants, among others: cephalic phase digestion, gastric emptying and absorption, together influencing postprandial blood glucose responses and satiety. This short communication presents and reviews studies of gastric emptying, antral distension and postprandial glucose response and their relation to reports of satiety in healthy non-obese over nig

The effects of different Mediterranean vegetation cover on the biological and biochemical quality of soil is not well understood. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effects that different types of vegetation (forestry plots, mainly dominated by Spanish black pine (Pinus nigra Am. ssp salzmannii) and herbaceous plots, where overstorey density is lower and natural herbaceous percentage is highe

The Gq-coupled 5-hydroxytryptamine 2B (5-HT2B) receptor is known to regulate the proliferation of islet beta cells during pregnancy. However, the role of serotonin in the control of insulin release is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to explore the role of the 5-HT2B receptor in the regulation of insulin secretion in mouse and human islets, as well as in clonal INS-1(832/13) c

Summary Elastic pressure/volume (P(el)/V) and elastic pressure/resistance (P(el)/R) diagrams reflect parenchymal and bronchial properties, respectively. The objective was to develop a method for determination and mathematical characterization of P(el)/V and P(el)/R relationships, simultaneously studied at sinusoidal flow-modulated vital capacity expirations in a body plethysmograph. Analysis was c

OBJECTIVE: To develop a Western blot method for quantification of multiple aggrecan fragments in human synovial fluids (SFs). METHOD: SF aggrecan fragments were prepared from knee healthy (reference), knee injury and arthritis subjects by CsCl gradient centrifugations collecting D1 fractions. Samples were analyzed by Western blot, using antibodies against the N-terminal epitope ARGS and the G3 dom

This paper presents a preliminary model of the occupational history of the valley bottoms at the edges of the bed of the Quequén Grande River (Argentina) during the late Holocene. The ultimate goal of the research is to situate some aspects of technology, mobility, land-use patterns and settlement systems as a proximal consequence of a long-term process of 'lithification', that is, the positioning

Background The etiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dysmotility is in most cases unknown. Organic, pathognomonic changes have not been described. We have previously demonstrated sporadic expressions of antibodies against gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in serum from these patients. The aim of this study was to screen for the presence of GnRH antibodies in healthy subjects and patie

Transient experiments for the Eemian (128-113 ky BP) were performed with a complex, coupled earth system model, including atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere and marine biogeochemistry. In order to investigate the effect of land surface parameters (background albedo, vegetation and tree fraction and roughness length) on the simulated changes during the Eemian, simulations with interactive cou

Background:Tasquinimod is a quinoline-3-carboxamide derivative with anti-angiogenic activity. Two open-label phase I clinical trials in patients were conducted to evaluate the safety and tolerability of tasquinimod, with additional pharmacokinetic and efficacy assessments.Methods:Patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer with no previous chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The patie

A roller coaster ride comes to an end. Magnets on the train induce eddy currents in the braking fins, giving a smooth rise in braking force as the remaining kinetic energy is absorbed by the brakes and converted to thermal energy. In this paper an IR camera was used to monitor the temperature of the first braking fin, before, during and after the passage of a train. In addition, the resulting acce