| 1. |
- Diget, C. A., et al.
(författare)
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Breakup channels for C-12 triple-alpha continuum states
- 2009
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Ingår i: Physical Review C - Nuclear Physics. - 2469-9985 .- 2469-9993. ; 80:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The triple-alpha-particle breakup of states in the triple-alpha continuum of C-12 has been investigated by way of coincident detection of all three alpha particles of the breakup. The states have been fed in the beta decay of N-12 and B-12, and the alpha particles measured using a setup that covers all of the triple-alpha phase space. Contributions from the breakup through the Be-8(0(+)) ground state as well as other channels-interpreted as breakup through excited energies in Be-8-have been identified. Spins and parities of C-12 triple-alpha continuum states are deduced from the measured phase-space distributions for breakup through Be-8 above the ground state by comparison to a fully symmetrized sequential R-matrix description of the breakup. At around 10 MeV in C-12, the breakup is found to be dominated by 0(+) strength breaking up through the ghost of the Be-8(0(+)) ground state with L = 0 angular momentum between the first emitted alpha particle and the intermediate Be-8 nucleus. For C-12 energies above the 12.7 MeV 1(+) state, however, L = 2 breakup of a C-12 2(+) state through the Be-8(2(+)) excited state dominates. Furthermore, the possibility of a 2(+) excited state in the 9-12 MeV region of C-12 is investigated.
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| 2. |
- Soranzo, Nicole, et al.
(författare)
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A genome-wide meta-analysis identifies 22 loci associated with eight hematological parameters in the HaemGen consortium
- 2009
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Ingår i: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 41:11, s. 38-1182
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The number and volume of cells in the blood affect a wide range of disorders including cancer and cardiovascular, metabolic, infectious and immune conditions. We consider here the genetic variation in eight clinically relevant hematological parameters, including hemoglobin levels, red and white blood cell counts and platelet counts and volume. We describe common variants within 22 genetic loci reproducibly associated with these hematological parameters in 13,943 samples from six European population-based studies, including 6 associated with red blood cell parameters, 15 associated with platelet parameters and 1 associated with total white blood cell count. We further identified a long-range haplotype at 12q24 associated with coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction in 9,479 cases and 10,527 controls. We show that this haplotype demonstrates extensive disease pleiotropy, as it contains known risk loci for type 1 diabetes, hypertension and celiac disease and has been spread by a selective sweep specific to European and geographically nearby populations.
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| 3. |
- Harrington, Robert A., et al.
(författare)
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The Thrombin Receptor Antagonist for Clinical Event Reduction in Acute Coronary Syndrome (TRA.CER) trial : study design and rationale
- 2009
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Ingår i: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 158:3, s. 327-334
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background The protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1), the main platelet receptor for thrombin, represents a novel target for treatment of arterial thrombosis, and SCH 530348 is an orally active, selective, competitive PAR-1 antagonist. We designed TRA.CER to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SCH 530348 compared with placebo in addition to standard of care in patients with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and high-risk features. Trial design TRA.CER is a prospective, randomized, double-blind, multicenter, phase III trial with an original estimated sample size of 10,000 subjects. Our primary objective is to demonstrate that SCH 530348 in addition to standard of care will reduce the incidence of the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, recurrent ischemia with rehospitalization, and urgent coronary revascularization compared with standard of care alone. Our key secondary objective is to determine whether SCH 530348 will reduce the composite of cardiovascular death, MI, or stroke compared with standard of care alone. Secondary objectives related to safety are the composite of moderate and severe GUSTO bleeding and clinically significant TIMI bleeding. The trial will continue until a predetermined minimum number of centrally adjudicated primary and key secondary end point events have occurred and all subjects have participated in the study for at least I year. The TRA.CER trial is part of the large phase III SCH 530348 development program that includes a concomitant evaluation in secondary prevention. Conclusion TRA.CER will define efficacy and safety of the novel platelet PAR-1 inhibitor SCH 530348 in the treatment of high-risk patients with NSTE ACS in the setting of current treatment strategies.
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| 4. |
- Kjeldsen, Sverre E, et al.
(författare)
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Predictors of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy : the losartan inventervention for endpoint reduction in hypertension study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Blood Pressure. - 0803-7051 .- 1651-1999. ; 18:6, s. 348-361
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective. We assessed readily available patient characteristics, including albuminuria (not included in traditional cardiovascular risk scores), as predictors of cardiovascular events in hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and developed risk algorithms/scores for outcomes. Methods. The Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study compared effects of losartan-based versus atenolol-based therapy on cardiovascular events in 9193 patients with hypertension and LVH. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified baseline variables with significant impact on development of the primary composite endpoint (cardiovascular death, stroke and myocardial infarction) and its components. Multivariate analysis used a Cox regression model with stepwise selection process. Risk scores were developed from coefficients of risk factors from the multivariate analysis, validated internally using naïve and jack-knife procedures, checked for discrimination and calibration, and compared with Framingham coronary heart disease and other risk scores. Results. LIFE risk scores showed increasing endpoint rates with increasing quintile (first to fifth quintile, composite endpoint 2.8–26.7%, cardiovascular death 0.5–14.4%, stroke 1.2–11.3%, myocardial infarction 1.4–8.1%) and were confirmed with a jack-knife approach that adjusts for potentially optimistic bias. The Framingham coronary heart disease and other risk scores overestimated risk in lower risk patients and underestimated risk in higher risk patients, except for myocardial infarction. Conclusion. A number of patient characteristics predicted cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension and LVH. Risk scores developed from these patient characteristics, including albuminuria, strongly predicted outcomes and may improve risk assessment of patients with hypertension and LVH and planning of clinical trials.
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| 5. |
- Gerdts, E., et al.
(författare)
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Pulse pressure, left ventricular function and cardiovascular events during antihypertensive treatment (the LIFE study)
- 2009
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Ingår i: Blood Press. - 1651-1999. ; 18:4, s. 180-186
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. Pulse pressure (PP) has been related to risk of cardiovascular events in hypertension. However, less is known about modification of this risk marker during antihypertensive treatment in patients with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Methods. Associations of in-treatment PP with LV systolic function and cardiovascular events was assessed in 883 patients with electrocardiographic LV hypertrophy during 4.8 years of randomized losartan- or atenolol-based treatment within the echocardiographic substudy of the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study. Results. PP was similarly reduced by both treatments. In different multiple regression models, lower in-treatment PP was independently associated with lower in-treatment LV ejection fraction (beta = 0.16), stress-corrected midwall shortening (beta = 0.20), stroke volume (beta = 0.11) and cardiac index (beta = 0.07, all p<0.05). In time-varying Cox regression models, 10mmHg lower in-treatment PP was associated with a 28% higher rate of cardiovascular events [hazard ratio, HR = 1.28 (1.09 - 1.52), p <0.01] independent of in-treatment LV mass and ejection fraction, history of ischemic heart disease, Framingham risk score and study treatment allocation. Conclusion. During systematic antihypertensive treatment in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic LV hypertrophy, lower in-treatment PP was associated with lower in-treatment LV function and cardiac output as well as higher rate of cardiovascular events.
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| 6. |
- Hernandez, A. F., et al.
(författare)
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Rationale and design of the Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure Trial (ASCEND-HF)
- 2009
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Ingår i: Am Heart J. - 1097-6744. ; 157:2, s. 271-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a major public health burden with significant mortality and morbidity. Nesiritide is a recombinantly produced intravenous formulation of human B-type natriuretic peptide that promotes vasodilation and increases salt and water excretion, which results in reduced cardiac filling pressures. Prior studies have shown that dyspnea is improved in patients with ADHF 3 hours after nesiritide infusion with significant dose-related reductions in cardiac filling pressures and systemic vascular resistance without significant arrhythmias. However, the effect of nesiritide on dyspnea at 6 or 24 hours is unknown, and no clinical outcome trials have been done to provide a reliable estimate of the effect of nesiritide on morbidity and mortality. METHODS: The Acute Study of Clinical Effectiveness of Nesiritide in Decompensated Heart Failure trial (ASCEND-HF) is a phase III study evaluating the efficacy and safety of nesiritide in patients with ADHF. Patients hospitalized for hear failure will be randomly assigned to receive either intravenous nesiritide or matching placebo for 24 hours to 7 days. The 2 coprimary end points are (1) assessment of acute dyspnea at 6 or 24 hours and (2) death or rehospitalization for hear failure within 30 days. A total of 7,000 patients will be enrolled worldwide between 2007 and 2010. CONCLUSIONS: The data from the ASCEND-HF trial will establish whether nesiritide safely improves acute dyspnea as well as morbidity and mortality at 30 days.
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| 7. |
- Olsen, Michael Hecht, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of losartan compared with atenolol on lipids in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy : the losartan intervention for endpoint reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Hypertension. - 0263-6352 .- 1473-5598. ; 27:3, s. 567-574
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Beta-blockers and angiotensin II receptor blockers have different effects on lipids. Methods: We examined lipid levels in the Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension study and their impact on the primary composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. We measured total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at baseline and annually during 4.8 years of losartan-based compared with atenolol-based treatment in 8611 patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. Results: Patients randomized to losartan-based or atenolol-based treatment had similar baseline total (6.04 ± 1.12 vs. 6.05 ± 1.13 mmol/l, NS) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (1.50 ± 0.44 vs. 1.49 ± 0.44 mmol/l, NS). Total cholesterol decreased significantly but equally (-0.37 ± 1.05 vs. -0.34 ± 1.09 mmol/l, NS), whereas HDL cholesterol decreased less during the first 2 years in patients randomized to losartan compared with atenolol (-0.13 ± 0.24 vs. -0.19 ± 0.25 mmol/l) and remained higher each year (1.38, 1.37, 1.42, 1.47, and 1.48 mmol/l vs. 1.32, 1.30, 1.36, 1.40, and 1.42 mmol/l, all P < 0.001) independent of hydrochlorothiazide or statin treatment. In Cox regression analysis, baseline total cholesterol [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.08 (1.02–1.14) per mmol/l, P < 0.01], HDL cholesterol [HR = 0.56 (0.48–0.66) per mmol/l, P < 0.001], and treatment allocation [HR = 0.86 (0.76–0.98), P < 0.05] predicted composite endpoint independently. Using time-varying analyses, the predictive strength of HDL cholesterol was increased [HR = 0.36 (0.30–0.44) per mmol/l, P < 0.001], whereas that of total cholesterol [HR = 1.03 (0.97–1.09) per mmol/l, NS] and treatment allocation [HR = 0.91 (0.80–1.03), NS] were reduced. Conclusion: Losartan blunted the decrease in HDL cholesterol during antihypertensive treatment in the LIFE study. Higher intreatment HDL cholesterol was associated with fewer composite endpoints and may partly explain the better outcome of losartan-based treatment.
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| 8. |
- Parkin, S. J., et al.
(författare)
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Highly birefringent vaterite microspheres: production, characterization and applications for optical micromanipulation
- 2009
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Ingår i: Optics Express. - 1094-4087. ; 17:24, s. 21944-21955
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper reports on a simple synthesis and characterization of highly birefringent vaterite microspheres, which are composed of 20-30 nm sized nanocrystalls. Scanning electron microscopy shows a quite disordered assembly of nanocrystals within the microspheres. However, using optical tweezers, the effective birefringence of the microspheres was measured to Delta n = 0.06, which compares to Delta n = 0.1 of vaterite single crystals. This suggests a very high orientation of the nanocrystals within the microspheres. A hyperbolic model of the direction of the optical axis throughout the vaterite spherulite best fits the experimental data. Results from polarized light microscopy further confirm the hyperbolic model. (C) 2009 Optical Society of America
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| 9. |
- Vogel, R., et al.
(författare)
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Synthesis and Surface Modification of Birefringent Vaterite Microspheres
- 2009
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Ingår i: Langmuir. - 0743-7463. ; 25:19, s. 11672-11679
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper reports on the synthesis of birefringent vaterite microspheres with narrow size distribution using a seeded growth method. In a post-treatment the microspheres were stabilized and functionalized through coating with a combination of organosilica and silica. The coating vastly enhanced the stability of the vaterite microspheres in biological buffers and allowed the attachment of biomolecules such as DNA or proteins. As an example, streptavidin was attached to the surface of the functionalized microspheres. These results pave the way for the use of birefringent vaterite particles for the micromanipulation of single biological molecules such as DNA or specific proteins in an optical trap capable of exerting and measuring torques. The stabilized birefringent microspheres may also find use for biosensor and biological screening applications.
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