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- Abdo, A. A., et al.
(author)
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Gamma-ray emission concurrent with the nova in the symbiotic binary V407 cygni
- 2010
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In: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 329:5993, s. 817-821
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Novae are thermonuclear explosions on a white dwarf surface fueled by mass accreted from a companion star. Current physical models posit that shocked expanding gas from the nova shell can produce x-ray emission, but emission at higher energies has not been widely expected. Here, we report the Fermi Large Area Telescope detection of variable γ-ray emission (0.1 to 10 billion electron volts) from the recently detected optical nova of the symbiotic star V407 Cygni. We propose that the material of the nova shell interacts with the dense ambient medium of the red giant primary and that particles can be accelerated effectively to produce π0 decay γ-rays from proton-proton interactions. Emission involving inverse Compton scattering of the red giant radiation is also considered and is not ruled out.
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- Ederle, Joerg, et al.
(author)
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Carotid artery stenting compared with endarterectomy in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis (International Carotid Stenting Study): an interim analysis of a randomised controlled trial
- 2010
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In: The Lancet. - 1474-547X. ; 375:9719, s. 985-997
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Stents are an alternative treatment to carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic carotid stenosis, but previous trials have not established equivalent safety and efficacy. We compared the safety of carotid artery stenting with that of carotid endarterectomy. Methods The International Carotid Stenting Study (ICSS) is a multicentre, international, randomised controlled trial with blinded adjudication of outcomes. Patients with recently symptomatic carotid artery stenosis were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive carotid artery stenting or carotid endarterectomy. Randomisation was by telephone call or fax to a central computerised service and was stratified by centre with minimisation for sex, age, contralateral occlusion, and side of the randomised artery. Patients and investigators were not masked to treatment assignment. Patients were followed up by independent clinicians not directly involved in delivering the randomised treatment. The primary outcome measure of the trial is the 3-year rate of fatal or disabling stroke in any territory, which has not been analysed yet. The main outcome measure for the interim safety analysis was the 120-day rate of stroke, death, or procedural myocardial infarction. Analysis was by intention to treat (ITT). This study is registered, number ISRCTN25337470. Findings The trial enrolled 1713 patients (stenting group, n=855; endarterectomy group, n=858). Two patients in the stenting group and one in the endarterectomy group withdrew immediately after randomisation, and were not included in the ITT analysis. Between randomisation and 120 days, there were 34 (Kaplan-Meier estimate 4.0%) events of disabling stroke or death in the stenting group compared with 27 (3.2%) events in the endarterectomy group (hazard ratio [HR] 1.28, 95% CI 0.77-2.11). The incidence of stroke, death, or procedural myocardial infarction was 8.5% in the stenting group compared with 5.2% in the endarterectomy group (72 vs 44 events; HR 1.69, 1.16-2.45, p=0.006), Risks of any stroke (65 vs 35 events; HR 1.92, 1.27-2.89) and all-cause death (19 vs seven events; HR 2.76, 1.16-6.56) were higher in the stenting group than in the endarterectomy group. Three procedural myocardial infarctions were recorded in the stenting group, all of which were fatal, compared with four, all non-fatal, in the endarterectomy group. There was one event of cranial nerve palsy in the stenting group compared with 45 in the endarterectomy group. There were also fewer haematomas of any severity in the stenting group than in the endarterectomy group (31 vs 50 events; p=0.0197). Interpretation Completion of long-term follow-up is needed to establish the efficacy of carotid artery stenting compared with endarterectomy. In the meantime, carotid endarterectomy should remain the treatment of choice for patients suitable for surgery.
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- Lebzelter, T., et al.
(author)
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Comparative modelling of the spectra of cool giants
- 2012
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 547, s. A108-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Our ability to extract information from the spectra of stars depends on reliable models of stellar atmospheres and appropriate techniques for spectral synthesis. Various model codes and strategies for the analysis of stellar spectra are available today. Aims. We aim to compare the results of deriving stellar parameters using different atmosphere models and different analysis strategies. The focus is set on high-resolution spectroscopy of cool giant stars. Methods. Spectra representing four cool giant stars were made available to various groups and individuals working in the area of spectral synthesis, asking them to derive stellar parameters from the data provided. The results were discussed at a workshop in Vienna in 2010. Most of the major codes currently used in the astronomical community for analyses of stellar spectra were included in this experiment. Results. We present the results from the different groups, as well as an additional experiment comparing the synthetic spectra produced by various codes for a given set of stellar parameters. Similarities and differences of the results are discussed. Conclusions. Several valid approaches to analyze a given spectrum of a star result in quite a wide range of solutions. The main causes for the differences in parameters derived by different groups seem to lie in the physical input data and in the details of the analysis method. This clearly shows how far from a definitive abundance analysis we still are.
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- Daryapeyma, A, et al.
(author)
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Perioperative cytokine response to infection associated with elective arterial surgery
- 2014
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In: Vascular and endovascular surgery. - : SAGE Publications. - 1938-9116 .- 1538-5744. ; 48:2, s. 116-122
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim was to assess the cytokine response to acute inflammation and infection in vascular surgery.Design of Study:Single-center, prospective cohort study.Methods:Blood samples from 96 consecutive patients undergoing elective vascular surgery were analyzed for C-reactive protein (CRP), total leukocyte counts (LPK), neutrophil CD64 expression, and cytokines using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results:Of the 25 investigated cytokines, 22 had lower postoperative mean values compared to preoperative values. Interleukin (IL) 6 (IL-6) was the only cytokine that increased significantly postoperatively. Combined analysis of CRP and CD64 together with IL-6 or IL-10 showed an individually unique association with postoperative infection ( P < .05).Conclusion:We have shown a positive correlation with perioperative infection for the proinflammatory cytokines and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 as well as a number of chemokines. To our knowledge, this is the first report linking IL-10 and chemokine plasma levels to perioperative infection in vascular surgery.
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- Harmenberg, U, et al.
(author)
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Treatment and overall survival (OS) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC): A Swedish population-based study (2000-2008).
- 2012
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In: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY. - : American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). - 0732-183X .- 1527-7755. ; 30:5
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- 389 Background: This retrospective register study assessed OS in all mRCC patients in Sweden diagnosed before (2000–2005) and after (2006–2008) the introduction of targeted therapies, plus factors and treatment options influencing OS. Methods: Three Swedish national health registers were used: the Swedish Cancer register (diagnosis and death), the National Patient Register (in-/out-patient data), and the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. From 2000-2008, 3,243 patients were identified with mRCC; 602 were recorded as receiving 1st-line treatment. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, including estimation of adjusted OS, was used in three models with the covariates: diagnosis period, age, gender, institution size, nephrectomy status, geographic region (all models); mRCC treatments, defined as any tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI; Model 1; n=417); sunitinib (SU), sorafenib (SO), and interferon-alfa (IFN-α) in the 1st-line setting (Model 2; n=602 [SU=244, SO=110, IFN-α=248]); and variations of these drugs as 1st- and 2nd-line treatment sequences (Model 3; n=602). Results: Amongst mRCC patients diagnosed from 2006–2008 compared with 2000–2005, median adjusted OS was 16.1 vs. 10.9 months, respectively (HR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.69, 0.83; P<0.001). In all three models, factors independently associated with significantly improved OS included female gender, large institution, and prior nephrectomy. Prescription of any TKI (Model 1: HR=0.82, 95% CI: 0.73, 0.93; P=0.002) and 1st-line SU treatment (Model 2: HR=0.79, 95% CI: 0.67, 0.94; P=0.007) were associated with significantly improved OS compared with other or no treatments. A similar significant improvement in OS was also confirmed for patients treated with SU only in Model 3; however, due to a low number of observations, the model had insufficient statistical power to be appropriate for all sequences. Conclusions: An improved OS for mRCC patients was demonstrated for the period 2006-2008 compared with 2000-2005. Although the observed survival advantage is multifactorial in origin, contribution of targeted therapies is highly probable. Of the drugs studied, given design limitations, only SU was associated with improved OS.
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