Inflammation and Alzheimer's disease.

CRT
: Cardiac resynchronization therapy
ECG
: Electrocardiographic
LV
: Left ventricular
RV
: Right ventricular
SDI
: Systolic dyssynchrony index
TEE
: Transesophageal echocardiographic
3D
: Three-dimensional
3DE
: Three-dimensional echocardiographic
TTE
: Transthoracic echocardiographic
TV
: Tricuspid valve
2D
: Two-dimensional

Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic (3DE) imaging represents a major innovation in cardiovascular ultrasound. Advancements in computer and transducer technologies permit real-time 3DE acquisition and presentation of cardiac structures from any spatial point of view. The usefulness of 3D echocardiography has been demonstrated in (1) the evaluation of cardiac chamber volumes and mass, which avoids geometric assumptions; (2) the assessment of regional left ventricular (LV) wall motion and quantification of systolic dyssynchrony; (3) presentation of realistic views of heart valves; (4) volumetric evaluation of regurgitant lesions and shunts with 3DE color Doppler imaging; and (5) 3DE stress imaging. However, for 3D echocardiography to be implemented in routine clinical practice, a full understanding of its technical principles and a systematic approach to image acquisition and analysis are required. The main goal of this document is to provide a practical guide on how to acquire, analyze, and display the various cardiac structures using 3D echocardiography, as well as limitations of the technique. In addition, this document describes the current and potential clinical applications of 3D echocardiography along with their strengths and weaknesses.

### a. Fully Sampled Matrix-Array Transducers

An important milestone in the history of real-time 3D echocardiography was reached shortly after the year 2000, with the development of fully sampled matrix-array transducers. These transducers provided excellent real-time imaging of the beating heart in three dimensions and required significant technological developments in both hardware and software, including transducer design, microelectronic techniques, and computing.

Currently, 3DE matrix-array transducers are composed of nearly 3,000 piezoelectric elements with operating frequencies ranging from 2 to 4 MHz and from 5 to 7 MHz for transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) imaging, respectively. These piezoelectric elements are arranged in a matrix configuration within the transducer and require a large number of digital channels for these fully sampled elements to be connected. To reduce both …

https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/75298/1/EurHeartCardImaging_201201.pdf

EAE/ASE Recommendations for Image Acquisition and Display Using Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

Background—Percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy (BMC) has been proposed as an alternative to surgical closed mitral commissurotomy (CMC) and open mitral commissurotomy (OMC) for the management of rheumatic mitral valve stenosis (MS). Methods and Results—We conducted a prospective, randomized trial comparing the results of the 3 procedures in 90 patients (30 patients in each group) with severe pliable MS. Cardiac catheterization was performed in all patients before and at 6 months after each procedure. All patients had clinical and echocardiographic evaluation initially and throughout the 7-year follow-up period. Gorlin mitral valve area (MVA) increased much more after BMC (from 0.9±0.16 to 2.2±0.4 cm2) and OMC (from 0.9±0.2 to 2.2±0.4 cm2) than after CMC (from 0.9±0.2 to 1.6±0.4 cm2). Residual MS (MVA <1.5 cm2) was 0% after BMC or OMC and 27% after CMC. There was no early or late mortality or thromboembolism among the three groups. At 7-year follow-up, echocardiographic MVA was similar and greater a...

Percutaneous Balloon Versus Surgical Closed and Open Mitral Commissurotomy : Seven-Year Follow-up Results of a Randomized Trial

This review presents a holistic analysis of the synthesis and efficacy of nanosorbents towards the waste water purification by the removal of selected heavy metal ions, with special emphasis on the effect of functionalization of nanoadsorbents on certain key properties such as surface area, separation and adsorption capacity. We have compiled enormous data based on the characteristic properties of nanomaterials and their selective affinity towards certain heavy metal ions. The experimental factors like pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, temperature, initial ion concentration and ionic strength affecting metal ion removal have also been explored. Besides, the different adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm models are discussed with the help of various illustrations to have an insight into the adsorption procedure.

Role of nanomaterials as adsorbents in heavy metal ion removal from waste water: A review

Inflammation and alzheimers disease

Nanostructured materials have been successfully applied to efficiently remove toxic and carcinogenic contaminants such as heavy metals from wastewater. In this work, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was selected as base polymer for electrospinning process to obtain easily modifiable and versatile nanofibers able to remove selectively heavy metal ions from contaminated effluents. Chemical functionalities were grafted in a stable and homogeneous way by a two steps grafting process which involves hydrolysis and chemical modification with ethylenediamine (EDA), ethyleneglycol (EG) or diethylenetriamine (DTA) resulting in three ion-selective nanofibrous materials. Their adsorption behaviour was tested against Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) reaching extremely high adsorption capacities of 6.1 mmol/g, 8.8 mmol/g and 7.2 mmol/g, respectively.

Highly efficient removal of heavy metal ions from polluted water using ion-selective polyacrylonitrile nanofibers

Bayesian classification for the selection of in vitro human embryos using morphological and clinical data

In this study, we have compared the cellular pathology associated with beta-amyloid (beta A) deposits which characterize Alzheimer's disease (AD) in demented patients with pathologically confirmed AD, with that in non-demented aged individuals. Brain sections from two severely demented AD cases, six non-demented individuals with beta A deposits, and six age-matched controls devoid of beta A deposits were double-immunostained with antibodies against beta A, and antibody markers for neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), astrocytes and microglial cells. We found that the severely demented patients displayed numerous plaques of variable morphology, most of which were associated with NFT, hypertrophied astrocytes and reactive microglial cells. In contrast, non-demented patients showed fewer plaques, few or not NFT and less astroglial and microglial reaction. The number of plaques with associated abnormal cellular elements were much lower in non-demented than in demented cases. Furthermore, classical plaques were more likely to be associated with abnormal cellular elements than diffuse plaques, which were most often devoid of any associated cellular change. These findings suggest that: (i) beta A plaques in non-demented individuals may represent an early stage of AD; (ii) beta A deposition is the first recognizable pathological abnormality of AD; and (iii) NFT, and astro- and microglial proliferation are later features, possibly secondary to the known dystrophic effects of the beta A peptide and other fragments of its precursor protein.

The cellular pathology associated with Alzheimer β‐amyloid deposits in non‐demented aged individuals

Summary

Merino breed female sheep (225 in total) were used to study the effects of age and reproductive state on the values of 31 physiological parameters. Of these 31 parameters, 23 were affected by the age of animals, by their reproductive state, or by the interaction between these two factors.



The statistical weighing of each of the factors of variability was determined. This revealed that the effects produced by them were indeed systematic. In order to demonstrate the systematic nature of the factors of variability, an attempt was made to classify each animal with respect to its reproductive state and age group, given only the set of biochemical values relating to it. The number of correct assignments to an age group achieved was 84.41%, and this rose to 92.17% with regard to reproductive state. A figure of 100% of correct assignments was reached with the adult age group and animals in oestrus.



Thus, although the range of values observed for physiological parameters can, on occasions, be very large, this must be seen as a result of physiological deviations from average. These deviations are systematic and quantifiable, whether analysed in isolation or together as part of a multivariate analysis.

The Effects of Age and Reproductive Status on Serum and Blood Parameters in Merino Breed Sheep

Background: Spirometric parameters can be normal in many stable asthma patients, making a diagnosis difficult at certain times in the course of disease. Objectives:</i&g

M. A. García

Papers

Highly efficient removal of heavy metal ions from polluted water using ion-selective polyacrylonitrile nanofibers

Bayesian classification for the selection of in vitro human embryos using morphological and clinical data

The cellular pathology associated with Alzheimer β‐amyloid deposits in non‐demented aged individuals

The Effects of Age and Reproductive Status on Serum and Blood Parameters in Merino Breed Sheep

Analysis of Forced Wheezes in Asthma Patients