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- Lutgens, E., et al.
(author)
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Genetic loss of Gas6 induces plaque stability in experimental atherosclerosis
- 2008
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In: Journal of Pathology. - : Wiley. - 0022-3417 .- 1096-9896. ; 216:1, s. 55-63
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) plays a role in pro-atherogenic processes such as endothelial and leukocyte activation, smooth muscle cell migration and thrombosis, but its role in atherosclerosis remains uninvestigated. Here, we report that Gas6 is expressed in all stages of human and mouse atherosclerosis, in plaque endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and macrophages. Gas6 expression is most abundant in lesions containing high amounts of macrophages, ie thin fibrous cap atheroma and ruptured plaque. Genetic loss of Gas6 does not affect the number and size of initial and advanced plaques in ApoE(-/-) mice, but alters its plaque composition. Compared to Gas6(+/+): ApoE(-/-) mice, initial and advanced plaques of Gas6(-/-): ApoE(-/-) mice contained more smooth muscle cells and more collagen and developed smaller lipid cores, while the expression of TGFbeta was increased. In addition, fewer macrophages were found in advanced plaques of Gas6(-/-): ApoE(-/-) mice. Hence, loss of Gas6 promotes the formation of more stable atherosclerotic lesions by increasing plaque fibrosis and by attenuating plaque inflammation. These findings identify a role for Gas6 in plaque composition and stability.
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- Moreira, T, et al.
(author)
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Staff and Facility Utilization in Direct Patient Transfer to the Comprehensive Stroke Center: Testing a Real-Time Location System for Automatic Patient Pathway Characterization
- 2021
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In: Frontiers in neurology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-2295. ; 12, s. 741551-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Starting reperfusion therapies as early as possible in acute ischemic strokes are of utmost importance to improve outcomes. The Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSCs) can use surveys, shadowing personnel or perform journal analysis to improve logistics, which can be labor intensive, lack accuracy, and disturb the staff by requiring manual intervention. The aim of this study was to measure transport times, facility usage, and patient–staff colocalization with an automated real-time location system (RTLS).Patients and Methods: We tested IR detection of patient wristbands and staff badges in parallel with a period when the triage of stroke patients was changed from admission to the emergency room (ER) to direct admission to neuroradiology.Results: In total, 281 patients were enrolled. In 242/281 (86%) of cases, stroke patient logistics could be detected. Consistent patient–staff colocalizations were detected in 177/281 (63%) of cases. Bypassing the ER led to a significant decrease in median time neurologists spent with patients (from 15 to 9 min), but to an increase of the time nurses spent with patients (from 13 to 22 min; p = 0.036). Ischemic stroke patients used the most staff time (median 25 min) compared to hemorrhagic stroke patients (median 13 min) and stroke mimics (median 15 min).Discussion: Time spent with patients increased for nurses, but decreased for neurologists after direct triage to the CSC. While lower in-hospital transport times were detected, time spent in neuroradiology (CT room and waiting) remained unchanged.Conclusion: The RTLS could be used to measure the timestamps in stroke pathways and assist in staff allocation.
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- Tunon, J, et al.
(author)
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Interplay between hypercholesterolaemia and inflammation in atherosclerosis: Translating experimental targets into clinical practice
- 2018
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In: European journal of preventive cardiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2047-4881 .- 2047-4873. ; 25:9, s. 948-955
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Dyslipidaemia and inflammation are closely interconnected in their contribution to atherosclerosis. In fact, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-lowering drugs have anti-inflammatory effects. The Canakinumab Antiinflammatory Thrombosis Outcome Study (CANTOS) has shown that interleukin (IL)-1β blockade reduces the incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with previous myocardial infarction and C-reactive protein levels >2 mg/L. These data confirm the connection between lipids and inflammation, as lipids activate the Nod-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome that leads to IL-1β activation. LDL-lowering drugs are the foundation of cardiovascular prevention. Now, the CANTOS trial demonstrates that combining them with IL-1β blockade further decreases the incidence of cardiovascular events. However, both therapies are not at the same level, given the large evidence showing that LDL-lowering drugs reduce cardiovascular risk as opposed to only one randomized trial of IL-1β blockade. In addition, IL-1β blockade has only been studied in patients with C-reactive protein >2 mg/L, while the benefit of LDL-lowering is not restricted to these patients. Also, lipid-lowering drugs are not harmful even at very low ranges of LDL, while anti-inflammatory therapies may confer a higher risk of developing fatal infections and sepsis. In the future, more clinical trials are needed to explore whether targeting other inflammatory molecules, both related and unrelated to the IL-1β pathway, reduces the cardiovascular risk. In this regard, the ongoing trials with methotrexate and colchicine may clarify whether the cardiovascular benefit of IL-1β blockade extends to other anti-inflammatory mechanisms. A positive result would represent a major change in the future treatment of atherosclerosis.
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- Adak, S., et al.
(author)
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Study of oxidation states of the transition metals in a series of Prussian blue analogs using x-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy
- 2017
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In: Journal of Electron Spectroscopy and Related Phenomena. - : Elsevier BV. - 0368-2048. ; 214, s. 8-19
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There have been renewed interests in metal-organic framework classes of materials such as Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) due to their potential usage in energy storage applications. In particular, due to their high surface areas, controllable structures and excellent electrochemical properties, PBAs such as hexacyanometalates MII3[AIII(CN)6]2*nH2O (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn; A = Co, Fe, Cr; n = no. of water molecules present), MII2[FeII(CN)6]2*nH2O (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) and mixed hexacyanometalates(III) (Fe1-xCox)3[BIII(CN)6]2·nH2O (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75; B = Co, Fe) could have possible usage as a new class of cathode and even anode materials for rechargeable batteries. Detailed knowledge of the oxidation states of the transition metals in PBAs is required to improve efficiency and durability of such devices. Furthermore, a link between the thermal expansion observed in these materials and the oxidation state of the transition metal is of interest to synthesize materials with a desired thermal expansion behavior, Here we demonstrate the use of Synchrotron based X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra to identify transition metal oxidation states. Our analysis reveals the presence of divalent, trivalent and/or mixed valence transition metals in the materials as well as high-spin and low-spin complexes.
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- Stishov, Sergei M., et al.
(author)
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Lost Heat Capacity and Entropy in the Helical Magnet MnSi
- 2010
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In: Physical Review Letters. - : American Physical Society. - 0031-9007 .- 1079-7114. ; 105:23, s. 236403-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The heat capacity of MnSi at B = 0 and B = 4 T was measured in the temperature range 2.5-100 K. To analyze the data, calculations of the phonon spectrum and phonon density of states in MnSi were performed. The calculated phonon frequencies were confirmed by means of inelastic neutron scattering. The analysis of the data suggests the existence of negative contributions to the heat capacity and entropy of MnSi at T > T-c that may imply a specific ordering in the spin subsystem in the paramagnetic phase of MnSi.
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- Van Holsbeke, C., et al.
(author)
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Ultrasound methods to distinguish between malignant and benign adnexal masses in the hands of examiners with different levels of experience
- 2009
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In: Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. - : Wiley. - 1469-0705 .- 0960-7692. ; 34:4, s. 454-461
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives To determine the effect of an ultrasound training course on the performance of pattern recognition when used by less experienced examiners and to compare the performance of pattern recognition, a logistic regression model and a scoring system to estimate the risk of malignancy between examiners with different levels of experience. Methods Using ultrasound images of selected adnexal masses, two trainees classified the masses as benign or malignant by using pattern recognition both before and after they bad attended a theoretical gynecological ultrasound course. They also classified the masses by using a logistic regression model and a scoring system, but only after they bad attended the course. The performance of these three methods when they were used by the trainees was then compared with that when they were used by experts. Results One hundred and sixty-five adnexal masses were included, of which 42% were malignant (21% invasive tumors and 21% borderline tumors). The area under the receiver- operating characteristics curve of pattern recognition when used by the trainees was similar before and after they had attended the course. Training decreased sensitivity (84% vs. 70% for Trainee 1, P = 0.004; 70% vs. 61% for Trainee2, P = 0.08) and increased specificity (77% vs. 92% for Trainee 1, P = 0.001; 89% vs. 95% for Trainee 2, P = 0.058). The performance of pattern recognition was poorer in the hands of the trainees than in the bands of the experts. The sensitivities of the logistic regression model were 70% and 54% for the trainees vs. 83% for an expert (P = 0.020 and < 0.001, respectively) and the specificities were 84% and 94% vs. 89% (P = 0.25 and 0.59, respectively). The sensitivities of the scoring system were 59% and 54% for the trainees vs. 75% for the expert (P = 0.002 and < 0.001, respectively), and the specificities were 90% and 93% vs. 85% (P = 0.103 and 0.008, respectively). Conclusion Theoretical ultrasound teaching did not seem to improve the performance of pattern recognition in the bands of trainees. A logistic regression model and a scoring system to classify adnexal masses as benign or malignant perform less well when they were used by inexperienced examiners than when used by an expert. Before using a model or a scoring system, experience and/or proper training are likely to be of paramount importance if diagnostic performance is to be optimized. Copyright (C) 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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