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)     

Quantifying and characterizing contemporary riparian sedimentation

Fluvial processes of erosion, sediment transport and deposition determine the changing form and sedimentary structure of naturally adjusting riparian zones. Riparian sediment storage has both scientific and management importance in relation to: (i) the quantities of sediment that are involved; (ii) the quality of the sediment; and (iii) the dispersal of biological materials, notably the vegetation propagules that are transported and deposited in association with the sediment. After discussing the significance of riparian sedimentation processes, this paper reviews methods for quantifying contemporary sediment deposition within water bodies and their margins. Methods for investigating contemporary riparian sedimentation are given particular emphasis, and the extent to which different methods provide comparable estimates and have been used to support the analysis of different physical and chemical properties of the sediment are outlined. The importance of the following are stressed: (i) selecting a sampling method that is suited to the sedimentation environment; (ii) incorporating careful cross‐calibration if measurements from different methods are to be combined; and (iii) replicating measurements to give more robust estimates if small traps are employed. It is concluded that artificial turf mats provide a useful design of sediment trap across a range of environmental conditions because: (i) their surface roughness reduces problems of sediment removal by flood waters or rainfall; (ii) their pliability permits installation on irregular surfaces; (iii) they can be securely attached to the ground with metal pins to resist high shear stresses from river flows; (iv) they are robust and light and so easily manipulated in the field and laboratory; (v) it is possible to fully recover the deposited sediment to accurately determine the amount of sediment deposited and to support a range of other analyses. Results are presented to illustrate how artificial turf mats can be used to estimate the quantity and quality of deposited sediment and to explore the associated deposition of viable seeds. This provides one example of the important hydroecological role of riparian sedimentation processes and of the potential for the development of innovative, interdisciplinary research on riparian sediment dynamics. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

利用黄河泥沙加固下游大堤

黄河是一条举世闻名的多泥沙河流，善淤、善决、善徒给沿河人民带来对过深重灾难，防洪问题一直是国家的心腹之患。泥沙问题是黄河防洪问题的症结所在。在总结固大堤经验的基础，进行挖河疏浚，淤筑“相对地下河”，已作为黄河治理的一项重大决策付诸实施。     

黄河龙青段主要环境工程地质问题分析思路

介绍了黄河上游龙青段主要环境工程地质问题的分析思路，以达到抛砖引玉，交流和提高电工程地质勘测水平的目的。     

永定新河治理工程几个关键问题的研究

永定新河是天津市防洪的北部防线。由于受海相来沙淤积 ,河道行洪能力大幅度下降。针对永定新河治理工程设计中涉及到的河道淤积治理方案、闸位比选、防潮闸结构型式及施工方法、闸下减淤清淤措施等诸多问题进行了分析和研究 ,提出了相应的措施和建议     

悬沙中D〉0．06mm粗粒的粒析级配组成及其改正方法

本文首先简述Ｄ＞０．０６ｍｍ泥沙的粒析沉降特性及其粒径偏粗的原因。继之对悬沙中粒径大于０．０６ｍｍ的粒析级配组成机理，及级配组成不同对标准粒径Ｄｂ与粒析粒径ＤＬ关系的影响进行了详细研究。在以上研究工作的基础上，开展了Ｄｂ与ＤＬ的比较试验，得出了粗、中、细型悬沙的Ｄｂ～ＤＬ关系和对ＤＬ的改正方法。     

坨五站中间乳化层快速增长原因及治理方案

胜利采油厂坨五站高含水(95％)原油化学预脱水中，二级沉降罐内油水相之间的中间乳化层增长迅速，引起了一系列问题。现场调查和大量室内测试结果表明，产生这一现象的原因有：油溶性破乳剂WD-1加入点不合理。有2／3的含水原油在通过油水分离器之后才与破乳剂混合；二级沉降罐进油口伸入油相内，油流的冲击达不到中间层；WD-1对坨五站混合原油中的稠油破乳脱水性能欠佳，不能适应坨五站混合原油组成和含水的变化。针对上述各种原因筛选出了性能更好的一种破乳剂1916。根据确定的几种原因采取了相应的措施：将破乳剂加入点改在3个并联油水分离器之前；将二级沉降罐的进油口移到水相内；改用筛选出的破乳剂1916，结果使中间乳化层的增长受到了抑制。图2表4参2。     

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。     

微型灌注桩托换技术在地基基础加固工程中的应用

因场地淤泥等软土层深厚,在填方荷载作用下,软弱土层产生固结沉降,引起局部构筑物的不均匀沉降,发生结构破坏。采用微型灌注桩加固满足现场各个限制条件的要求,达到了加固目的。