Update on the Diagnostic Pitfalls of Autopsy and Post-Mortem Genetic Testing in Cardiomyopathies

Inherited cardiomyopathies are frequent causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD), especially in young patients. Despite at the autopsy they usually have distinctive microscopic and/or macroscopic diagnostic features, their phenotypes may be mild or ambiguous, possibly leading to misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses. In this review, the main differential diagnoses of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (e.g., athlete’s heart, idiopathic left ventricular hypertrophy), arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (e.g., adipositas cordis, myocarditis) and dilated cardiomyopathy (e.g., acquired forms of dilated cardiomyopathy, left ventricular noncompaction) are discussed. Moreover, the diagnostic issues in SCD victims affected by phenotype-negative hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the relationship between myocardial bridging and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are analyzed. Finally, the applications/limits of virtopsy and post-mortem genetic testing in this field are discussed, with particular attention to the issues related to the assessment of the significance of the genetic variants.     

Fast Positive Feedback Between the Adrenocortical Stress Response and a Brain Mechanism Involved in Aggressive Behavior.

Aggressive behavior induces an adrenocortical stress response, and sudden stressors often precipitate violent behavior. Experiments in rats revealed a fast, mutual, positive feedback between the adrenocortical stress response and a brain mechanism controlling aggression. Stimulation of the aggressive area in the hypothalamus rapidly activated the adrenocortical response, even in the absence of an opponent and fighting. Hypothalamic aggression, in turn, was rapidly facilitated by a corticosterone injection in rats in which the natural adrenocortical stress response was prevented by adrenalectomy. The rapidity of both effects points to a fast, mutual, positive feedback of the controlling mechanisms within the time frame of a single conflict. Such a mutual facilitation may contribute to the precipitation and escalation of violent behavior under stressful conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

安徽省旱涝急转规律的认识与研究

旱涝急转是指某一地区或某一流域发生较长时间干旱时，突遇集中强降雨，引发山洪暴发、河水陡涨．客水入侵、内水难以及时外排的一种自然现象。旱涝急转极易造成人员伤亡、水库垮坝等重大经济损失。在防汛抗旱中，安徽省要充分认识旱涝急转的危害性，加强应急管理，具体包括思想上保持高度的警觉，加快防汛抗旱工程体系和预测预警体系建设，有效应对旱涝急转。     

突发事件泄漏石油类污染物在水环境中迁移转化研究进展

突发事件泄漏的石油类污染物在水体中的迁移转化规律一直是环境水力学研究的难点。根据石油类污染物的物理、化学特征,针对其在水体中不同阶段的运动动力学特征,分别从油膜在水体表层的扩展迁移过程、水体表层油膜的风化过程、油膜污染物向下层水体的扩散过程、水体中石油类污染物的迁移转化过程、石油类污染物的迁移转化过程物理试验、常用溢油模型6个方面归纳分析了国内外在动力学机制及数学模拟方面的研究进展,并分析了未来研究趋势。     

Well-Known and Novel Serum Biomarkers for Risk Stratification of Patients with Non-ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy encompasses a wide spectrum of myocardial disorders, characterized by left ventricular dilatation with systolic impairment and increased risk of sudden cardiac death. In spite of all the therapeutic progress that has been made in recent years, dilated cardiomyopathy continues to be an important cause of cardiac transplant, being associated with an enormous cost burden for health care systems worldwide. Predicting the prognosis of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy is essential to individualize treatment. Late gadolinium enhancement-cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, microvolt T-wave alternans, and genetic testing have emerged as powerful tools in predicting sudden cardiac death occurrence and maximizing patient’s selection. Despite all these new diagnostic modalities, additional tests to complement or replace current tools are required for better risk stratification. Therefore, biomarkers are an easy and important tool that can help to detect patients at risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Additionally, identifying potential biomarkers involved in dilated cardiomyopathy can provide us important information regarding the diagnostic, prognostic, risk stratification, and response to treatment for these patients. Many potential biomarkers have been studied in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, but only a few have been adopted in current practice. Therefore, the aim of our review is to provide the clinicians with an update on the well-known and novel biomarkers that can be useful for risk stratification of patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.     

突扩突跌掺气设施后泄槽底板脉动压力试验研究

有压洞出口后的突扩突跌掺气减蚀设施在水利工程中经常使用。由于水流受边界条件和掺气的影响,其流态和脉动压力往往与普通水槽的情况有很大的不同。通过水工模型试验,对突扩突跌掺气设施后泄槽底板上的脉动压力进行研究,揭示了掺气设施后泄槽底板上不同流动区域的脉动压力特性。从脉动压力的时域过程、均方根值、偏态系数、峰态系数和主频率等多方面得出冲击区、反射区和稳定区脉动压力的特性是不相同的结论。同一流量时,沿流程底板的时均压力都大于脉动压力的均方根值,在冲击区、反射区和稳定区,脉动压力的均方根值分别是同位置时均压力值的约0.5倍、0.6倍和0.7倍。研究成果可为更好地利用突扩突跌掺气设施提供有益的理论和试验依据。     

长大隧洞工程建设中地下水处理的实践及思考

以引汉济渭工程秦岭输水隧洞(越岭段81.779 km)为例,围绕该隧洞建设过程中的地下水问题,介绍其总体富水情况以及地下水预测方法。通过对秦岭各支洞抽排水措施的综合研究,给出了抽排水方案的设计步骤,结合不同涌水的处理提出了突涌水的处理思路,并介绍了目前国内先进的突涌水预测手段及应用效果。根据秦岭隧洞抽排设备的配置思路以及洞外环保处理情况,指出了目前地下水处理过程中存在的问题并提出相应的解决方法。通过引汉济渭工程建设过程中地下水处理情况的介绍、探讨和分析,对长大隧洞处理类似地下水问题提供一定的借鉴。     

我国炼焦炉改造与发展的取向

本文从我国煤炭资源特点、节能及技术进步出发，描绘出我国炼焦炉改造与发展的未来轨迹。即焦炉大型化，开发捣固焦炉；铸造焦生产及专业生产铸造焦焦炉；推广多种低热值燃气加热焦炉技术；添加粘结剂炼焦与煤预热炼焦工业化。     

The ring transformations of 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (2,2′-bioxirane) catalysed by various aluminosilicates

The transformations of a molecule containing two adjacent epoxide rings, 2,2-bioxirane that is, were studied over various acidic aluminosilicates (HZSM-5, HY-FAU, AlMCM-41), for the first time, In the 373–473 K temperature range, in a pulse reactor, a ring-opening–ring-enlargment reaction producing furan only occured over the zeolites and it was the predominant reaction on AlMCM-41 as well. The driving force of this transformation route is water formation via elimination from 2,2-bioxirane. Suprising is the lack of the mono- or dialdehyde, the would-be products of the cleavage of the sterically more hindered C–O bonds – an acid-catalysed reaction typical for alkyl-substituted oxiranes.     

突发事件下出行者行为时间特征研究

突发事件发生后,出行者行为发生改变,所在路网通行能力受到影响,出行时间发生变化。论文在研究突发事件发生后出行者行为特征的基础上,探讨出行者特定出行路径下的出行时间特征,研究出行时间均值及方差,以及两者与路网通行能力的关系。该研究对突发事件下交通流疏散及救援路径优化有重要指导意义。