Plasma lipoprotein(a) is not a predictor for restenosis after elective high-pressure coronary stenting

BACKGROUND: Preceding mucosal response to one allergen leads to the priming of the nasal mucosal response to another allergen. This study aimed to determine whether environmental allergens, especially ubiquitous animal dander, can induce nasal priming. METHODS: We investigated 26 grass-pollen-allergic subjects with additional sensitization to other aeroallergens. We performed continuous allergen challenge for 2 h with 1500 Dactylis glomerata pollen/m3 in the Vienna challenge chamber. The nasal flow at 150 Pa was examined, and subjective scores were obtained every 15 min. Statistical analysis was calculated from the area under curve of nasal flow reduction by Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. Alpha was 0.05. RESULTS: In subjects with positive cat-dander RAST (class of > or = 3), besides grass-pollen allergy, the specific nasal allergic reaction to Dactylis challenge was significantly pronounced (P < 0.01), and an earlier onset of reaction was evident. The same results were obtained with additional sensitization to dog dander (P < 0.05). Concomitant sensitization to mugwort also led to escalating symptoms (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that a specific nasal allergic reaction is augmented by environmental priming caused by ubiquitous animal dander and possibly is influenced by the daily use of spices.     

Experimental and numerical evaluation of electromagnetic acoustic transducer performance on steel materials

Electromagnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs) are an attractive alternative to standard piezoelectric probes in a number of applications thanks to their contactless nature. EMATs do not require any couplant liquid and are able to generate a wide range of wave-modes; however these positive features are partly counterbalanced by a relatively low signal-to-noise ratio and by the dependence of EMAT performance on the material properties of the test object. A wide variety of steel materials is employed in many industrial applications, so it is important to assess the material-dependent behaviour of EMATs when used in the inspection of different types of steel. Experimental data showing the performance of bulk shear wave EMATs on a wide range of steels is presented, showing the typical range of physical properties encountered in practice. A previously validated Finite Element model, including the main transduction mechanisms, the Lorentz force and magnetostriction, is used to evaluate the experimental data. The main conclusion is that the Lorentz force is the dominant transduction effect, regardless of the magnitude and direction of the bias magnetic field. Differently from magnetostriction, the Lorentz force is not significantly sensitive to the typical range of physical properties of steels, as a consequence the same EMAT sensor can be used on different grades of ferritic steel.     

A randomized, controlled, clinical study of laparoscopic vs open tension-free inguinal hernia repair

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study was to compare laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) hernia repair with a standard tension-free open mesh repair (open). METHODS: A total of 108 low-risk patients with unilateral (primary or recurrent) or bilateral hernias were randomized to TAPP (group 1 = 52 cases) or open (group 2 = 56 cases). The outcome measures included operating time, complications, postoperative pain, return to normal activity, operating theater costs, and recurrences. RESULTS: The mean operative time was longer for the TAPP than for the open group only in unilateral primary hernias. At rest, the median Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score was higher for group 1 than group 2 at 48 h postoperatively. Mild to discomforting pain in the inguinal region after 7 days, night pain after 30 days, and inguinal hardening after 3 months were more frequent in group 2 than group 1. No significant differences were observed in return to normal activities between the groups. One hernia recurrence was observed after 1 month in group 1. TAPP was significantly more expensive than open. CONCLUSIONS: TAPP was associated with less postoperative pain than open. The increase in operating theater costs, however, was dramatic and was not compensated by shorter time away from work. TAPP should not be adopted routinely unless its costs can be drastically reduced.     

Use of Gianturco-Roubin stents for treating abrupt occlusion of unprotected left main stem during elective PTCA

Abrupt occlusion of the left main during elective coronary angioplasty has a high mortality rate despite emergent surgery. Coronary stents are useful for managing abrupt occlusion during balloon angioplasty, but patients treated with bail-out stenting to obviate life-threatening occlusions are usually operated after stabilization. Two cases of multiple bail-out stenting of the left main as a stand-alone treatment and their long-term follow-up are reported.     

On bibliometrics in academic promotions: a case study in computer science and engineering in Italy

Scientometrics - Due to its quantitative nature, bibliometrics is becoming increasingly popular among policy makers for academic hiring and career promotions. In this article, we quantitatively...     

Quantitative modeling of the transduction of electromagnetic acoustic transducers operating on ferromagnetic media

The noncontact nature of electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) offers a series of advantages over traditional piezoelectric transducers, but these features are counter-balanced by their relatively low signal-to-noise ratio and their strong dependence on material properties such as electric conductivity, magnetic permeability, and magnetostriction. The implication is that full exploitation of EMATs needs detailed modeling of their operation. A finite element model, accounting for the main transduction mechanisms, has been developed to allow the optimization of the transducers. Magnetostriction is included and described through an analogy with piezoelectricity. The model is used to predict the performance of a simple EMAT: a single current-carrying wire, parallel to a bias magnetic field generating shear horizontal waves in a nickel plate close to it. The results are validated against experiments. The model is able to successfully predict the wave amplitude dependence on significant parameters: the static bias field, the driving current amplitude, and the excitation frequency. The comparison does not employ any arbitrary adjustable parameter; for the first time an absolute validation of a magnetostrictive EMAT model has been achieved. The results are satisfactory: the discrepancy between the numerical predictions and the measured values of wave amplitude per unit current is less than 20% over a 200 kHz frequency range. The study has also shown that magnetostrictive EMAT sensitivity is not only a function of the magnetostrictive properties, because the magnetic permeability also plays a significant role in the transduction mechanism, partly counterbalancing the magnetostrictive effects.     

The use of activated clotting time (ACT) to optimize heparinization during coronary angioplasty. The nursing personnel of the Hemodynamics Laboratory

BACKGROUND: Suboptimal anticoagulation during coronary angioplasty is reported to be a major risk factor for occlusive complications. AIM: To define an appropriate timing for activated clotting time (ACT) tests in order to optimize anticoagulation with heparin during coronary angioplasty. METHODS: In 50 consecutive procedures of elective angioplasty ACT was measured at baseline, at 30, 60 and 120 min after heparin 10,000 U iv. In a subgroup of 25 patients (SG1) no additional heparin was given until the ACT test at 60 min. In a second subgroup of 25 patients (SG2) heparin 5,000 U was administered 30-45 min after the initial bolus if the ACT at 30 min was < 300 sec. ACT values were analyzed, and the correlation with the biological variables of patients was tested. RESULTS: In 20 patients out of 50 (40%) ACT values at 30 min were < 275 min. Heparin response was correlated with the body surface area but nor with age, neither with baseline ACT. Values at 60 min showed an adequate anticoagulation in only 6 patients (24%) in SG1 vs 21 (84%) in SG2. There were not complications. CONCLUSIONS: ACT testing 30 min after heparin 10,000 U during coronary angioplasty identifies most patients requiring early supplemental heparin. This yields an adequate anticoagulation at 60 min in most patients.     

On computer science research and its temporal evolution

Scientometrics - In this article, we study the evolution of the computer science research community over the past 30 years. Analyzing data from the full Scopus database, we investigate how aspects...