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- Persson, L., et al.
(author)
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Separation of mass-overlapped time of flight-energy elastic recoil detection analysis data using Ryan and Jamieson's dynamic analysis method
- 2001
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In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B. - 0168-583X .- 1872-9584. ; 179:3, s. 403-411
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Time of flight-energy (ToF-E) elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA) data often contains mass signals with considerable overlap from adjacent isotopes in the mass-energy plane. An evaluation has been carried out of the suitability of the dynamic analysis method proposed by Ryan and Jamieson to decompose elemental signals with overlapping mass. This method is shown to work very well on generated test data and the result when it was applied to experimental data appears quite promising. Very accurate mass calibration and lineshape determination was found to be a prerequisite for the application of the method.
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- Cleland, J. G., et al.
(author)
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The EuroHeart Failure survey programme-- a survey on the quality of care among patients with heart failure in Europe. Part 1: patient characteristics and diagnosis
- 2003
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In: European heart journal. - 0195-668X. ; 24:5, s. 442-63
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has published guidelines for the investigation of patients with suspected heart failure and, if the diagnosis is proven, their subsequent management. Hospitalisation provides a key point of care at which time diagnosis and treatment may be refined to improve outcome for a group of patients with a high morbidity and mortality. However, little international data exists to describe the features and management of such patients. Accordingly, the EuroHeart Failure survey was conducted to ascertain if appropriate tests were being performed with which to confirm or refute a diagnosis of heart failure and how this influenced subsequent management. METHODS: The survey screened consecutive deaths and discharges during 2000-2001 predominantly from medical wards over a 6-week period in 115 hospitals from 24 countries belonging to the ESC, to identify patients with known or suspected heart failure. RESULTS: A total of 46788 deaths and discharges were screened from which 11327 (24%) patients were enrolled with suspected or confirmed heart failure. Forty-seven percent of those enrolled were women. Fifty-one percent of women and 30% of men were aged >75 years. Eighty-three percent of patients had a diagnosis of heart failure made on or prior to the index admission. Heart failure was the principal reason for admission in 40%. The great majority of patients (>90%) had had an ECG, chest X-ray, haemoglobin and electrolytes measured as recommended in ESC guidelines, but only 66% had ever had an echocardiogram. Left ventricular ejection fraction had been measured in 57% of men and 41% of women, usually by echocardiography (84%) and was <40% in 51% of men but only in 28% of women. Forty-five percent of women and 22% of men were reported to have normal left ventricular systolic function by qualitative echocardiographic assessment. A substantial proportion of patients had alternative explanations for heart failure other than left ventricular systolic or diastolic dysfunction, including valve disease. Within 12 weeks of discharge, 24% of patients had been readmitted. A total of 1408 of 10434 (13.5%) patients died between admission and 12 weeks follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Known or suspected heart failure comprises a large proportion of admissions to medical wards and such patients are at high risk of early readmission and death. Many of the basic investigations recommended by the ESC were usually carried out, although it is not clear whether this was by design or part of a general routine for all patients being admitted regardless of diagnosis. The investigation most specific for patients with suspected heart failure (echocardiography) was performed less frequently, suggesting that the diagnosis of heart failure is still relatively neglected. Most men but a minority of women who underwent investigation of cardiac function had evidence of moderate or severe left ventricular dysfunction, the main target of current advances in the treatment of heart failure. Considerable diagnostic uncertainty remains for many patients with suspected heart failure, even after echocardiography, which must be resolved in order to target existing and new therapies and services effectively.
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- Cohen, A J, et al.
(author)
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Are Hartree-Fock atoms too small or too large?
- 2004
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In: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. - : Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). - 1463-9084. ; 6:11, s. 2928-2931
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We address the simple question, whether Hartree-Fock atoms are smaller or larger than exact (Schrodinger) atoms. As a measure, we use . We study the ground state of the atoms He-Kr. The unrestricted Hartree-Fock method is used. To obtain the Schrodinger values we use the finite field CASPT2 approach, and the full CI scheme where possible. CASSCF calculations are also reported. Very large basis sets are employed. We find that for those atoms for which the CASSCF wavefunction is distinct from the HF wavefunction, the Schrodinger values are distinctly smaller than the HF values. Most other atoms are also smaller than the HF values, (or the same within a numerical uncertainty), the exceptions being the hard atoms N-Ne, and Cl, Ar and Kr. We interpret our results in terms of categories of correlation contribution. It is also of interest to test the performance of density functional theory (DFT); we find on the whole that the predictions are good, with B3LYP giving close agreement with finite field CASPT2 for nearly all atoms, in particular for the transition metals.
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- Komajda, M., et al.
(author)
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The EuroHeart Failure Survey programme--a survey on the quality of care among patients with heart failure in Europe. Part 2: treatment
- 2003
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In: European heart journal. - 0195-668X. ; 24:5, s. 464-74
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: National surveys suggest that treatment of heart failure in daily practice differs from guidelines and is characterized by underuse of recommended medications. Accordingly, the Euro Heart Failure Survey was conducted to ascertain how patients hospitalized for heart failure are managed in Europe and if national variations occur in the treatment of this condition. METHODS: The survey screened discharge summaries of 11304 patients over a 6-week period in 115 hospitals from 24 countries belonging to the ESC to study their medical treatment. RESULTS: Diuretics (mainly loop diuretics) were prescribed in 86.9% followed by ACE inhibitors (61.8%), beta-blockers (36.9%), cardiac glycosides (35.7%), nitrates (32.1%), calcium channel blockers (21.2%) and spironolactone (20.5%). 44.6% of the population used four or more different drugs. Only 17.2% were under the combination of diuretic, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers. Important local variations were found in the rate of prescription of ACE inhibitors and particularly beta-blockers. Daily dosage of ACE inhibitors and particularly of beta-blockers was on average below the recommended target dose. Modelling-analysis of the prescription of treatments indicated that the aetiology of heart failure, age, co-morbid factors and type of hospital ward influenced the rate of prescription. Age <70 years, male gender and ischaemic aetiology were associated with an increased odds ratio for receiving an ACE inhibitor. Prescription of ACE inhibitors was also greater in diabetic patients and in patients with low ejection fraction (<40%) and lower in patients with renal dysfunction. The odds ratio for receiving a beta-blocker was reduced in patients >70 years, in patients with respiratory disease and increased in cardiology wards, in ischaemic heart failure and in male subjects. Prescription of cardiac glycosides was significantly increased in patients with supraventricular tachycardia/atrial fibrillation. Finally, the rate of prescription of antithrombotic agents was increased in the presence of supraventricular arrhythmia, ischaemic heart disease, male subjects but was decreased in patients over 70. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the prescription of recommended medications including ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers remains limited and that the daily dosage remains low, particularly for beta-blockers. The survey also identifies several important factors including age, gender, type of hospital ward, co morbid factors which influence the prescription of heart failure medication at discharge.
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- Madler, C. F., et al.
(author)
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Non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease by quantitative stress echocardiography : optimal diagnostic models using off-line tissue Doppler in the MYDISE study
- 2003
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In: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 24:17, s. 1584-1594
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims To develop optimal methods for the objective non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease, using myocardial Doppler velocities during dobutamine stress echocardiography. Methods and results We acquired tissue Doppler digital data during dobutamine stress in 289 subjects, and measured myocardial responses by off-line analysis of 11 left ventricular segments. Diagnostic criteria developed by comparing 92 normal subjects with 48 patients with coronary disease were refined in a prospective series of 149 patients referred with chest pain. Optimal diagnostic accuracy was achieved by logistic regression models, using systolic velocities at maximal stress in 7 myocardial segments, adjusting for independent correlations directly with heart rate and inversely with age and female gender (all p<0.001). Best cut-points from receiver-operator curves diagnosed left anterior descending, circumflex and right coronary disease with sensitivities and specificities of 80% and 80%, 91% and 80%, and 93% and 82%, respectively. All models performed better than velocity cut-offs alone (p<0.001). Conclusion Non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease by quantitative stress echocardiography is best performed using diagnostic models based on segmental velocities at peak stress and adjusting for heart rate, and gender or age.
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- Madler, C.F., et al.
(author)
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Non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease by quantitative stress echocardiography : Optimal diagnostic models using off-line tissue Doppler in the MYDISE study
- 2003
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In: European Heart Journal. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 24:17, s. 1584-1594
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims: To develop optimal methods for the objective non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease, using myocardial Doppler velocities during dobutamine stress echocardiography. Methods and results: We acquired tissue Doppler digital data during dobutamine stress in 289 subjects, and measured myocardial responses by off-line analysis of 11 left ventricular segments. Diagnostic criteria developed by comparing 92 normal subjects with 48 patients with coronary disease were refined in a prospective series of 149 patients referred with chest pain. Optimal diagnostic accuracy was achieved by logistic regression models, using systolic velocities at maximal stress in 7 myocardial segments, adjusting for independent correlations directly with heart rate and inversely with age and female gender (all p<0.001). Best cut-points from receiveroperator curves diagnosed left anterior descending, circumflex and right coronary disease with sensitivities and specificities of 80% and 80%, 91% and 80%, and 93% and 82%, respectively. All models performed better than velocity cut-offs alone (p<0.001). Conclusion: Non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery disease by quantitative stress echocardiography is best performed using diagnostic models based on segmental velocities at peak stress and adjusting for heart rate, and gender or age. © 2003 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The European Society of Cardiology.
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