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The American Journal of Cardiology Feb 2024
Erratum to 'Acute Effect of Atrial Fibrillation on Circulating Natriuretic Peptides: The Influence of Heart Rate, Rhythm Irregularity, and Left Atrial Pressure Overload' [American Journal of Cardiology 208 (2023)156-163].
PubMed: 38134969
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2023.12.022 -
Science Advances Dec 2023Decadal and multidecadal changes in the meridional overturning circulation may originate from either the subpolar North Atlantic or the Southern Hemisphere. New records...
Decadal and multidecadal changes in the meridional overturning circulation may originate from either the subpolar North Atlantic or the Southern Hemisphere. New records of carbon and oxygen isotopes from an eastern Martinique Island (Lesser Antilles) coral reveal irregular, decadal, double-step events of low ∆C and enhanced vertical mixing, high δO and high δC values starting in 1885. Comparison of the new and published ∆C records indicates that the last event (1956-1969) coincides with a widespread, double-step ∆C low of South Atlantic origin from 32°N to 18°S, associated with a major slowdown of the Caribbean Current transport between 1963 and 1969. This event and the past Martinique ∆C lows are attributed to pulses of northward advection of low ∆C Sub-Antarctic Mode Waters into the tropical Atlantic. They are coeval with changes of the tropical freshwater budget and likely driven by meridional overturning circulation changes since ~1880.
PubMed: 38100584
DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi1687 -
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences :... Nov 2023To evaluate the effect of intense pulsed light (IPL) in the treatment of chronic hordeolum.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of intense pulsed light (IPL) in the treatment of chronic hordeolum.
METHODS
Patients with chronic hordeolum who underwent IPL treatment were enrolled in this study. According to the severity of hordeolum, the patients were treated with IPL 3 to 5 times. Patients' satisfaction and visual analog scale scores for ocular discomfort symptoms before and after treatment were collected. The number, congestion, long diameter, short diameter and area of nodules were also recorded and measured. Finally, eyelid margin signs, meibum quality, meibomian gland expressibility, meibomian gland dropout, tear meniscus height, and corneal fluorescein staining were scored.
RESULTS
20 patients were enrolled in this study. The eyelid margins were congestive and swollen, with blunt rounding or irregularity. The meibum was cloudy or toothpaste-like. The meibomian gland expressibility, meibomian gland dropout and tear meniscus height were reduced. The cornea showed scattered fluorescein staining. After treatment, score of visual analog scale, congestion and size of nodules were significantly reduced. Eyelid margin signs, meibum quality, meibomian gland expressibility, tear meniscus height and corneal fluorescein staining scores were improved. Meibomian gland dropout had no significant change. No side effects occurred during treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
IPL is beneficial for the treatment of chronic hordeolum.
Topics: Humans; Hordeolum; Meibomian Glands; Tears; Fluoresceins
PubMed: 38098321
DOI: 10.3967/bes2023.131 -
PloS One 2023A mechanical device inspired by the rapid rotational motion of the pistol shrimp plunger has been developed to experimentally study the contraction/expansion dynamics of...
A mechanical device inspired by the rapid rotational motion of the pistol shrimp plunger has been developed to experimentally study the contraction/expansion dynamics of a gas bubble inside a confined liquid volume and in the vicinity of solid surfaces. The apparatus consists of a limb with a V-shaped end, which fits into a socket forming a cylindrical compression chamber. Air bubbles of different sizes and in different positions inside the chamber were seeded to study their shape evolution in liquids when subjected to pressure pulses induced by the limb closure. By changing the standoff and curvature parameters, as well as the closing power of the limb it was possible to control the dynamical behavior of the cavity. Four stages describing the dynamic behavior of the bubble were found: 1) A slight expansion-contraction stage accompanied by very weak volumetric oscillations. 2) First compression stage. The formation of gas and liquid micro-jets is observed when the vertical symmetry axis of the bubble is initially located outside of the chamber symmetry axis, on the other hand, when there is a coincidence between these axes, the bubble only contracts exhibiting non-spherical shapes, alternating between oblate and prolate spheroidal structures. 3) An expansion stage where the cavity reaches the walls of the chamber exhibiting irregular shapes on its surface. 4) Second compression stage. This process begins when the limb rebounds and stops sealing the chamber allowing a jet of liquid to enter from the fluid medium outside, inducing a very violent collapse accompanied by the emission of light. The proposed technique represents a novel alternative to study the dynamic evolution of bubbles near and on solid boundaries of various geometries. Other attractive features of the apparatus are its low manufacturing cost, simple design and compact size which makes it easily portable.
PubMed: 38096256
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293839 -
Expert Opinion on Drug Safety Dec 2023Long QT syndrome (LQTS) has been reported in older patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following the use of osimertinib, the third-generation...
BACKGROUND
Long QT syndrome (LQTS) has been reported in older patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) following the use of osimertinib, the third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI). However, there have not been analytic epidemiology studies on this topic. We aimed to compare the risk of LQTS between osimertinib and first/second-generation EGFR-TKIs in older patients with advanced NSCLC.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
This retrospective observational study used the 2006-2019 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data and included older patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with either osimertinib or first/second-generation EGFR-TKIs during 2007-2017. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance the two groups with propensity scores estimated based on the patients' socioeconomic and clinical characteristics. Crude incidence rate (IR) and adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of the primary outcome, incident LQTS, were estimated.
RESULTS
A total of 545 and 1,135 patients were included in the osimertinib and first/second-generation EGFR-TKI groups, which increased to 1,614 and 1,659, respectively, after IPTW. The osimertinib group had a higher IR of LQTS (2.62 per 100 person-years, 95% CI 2.03-3.38) compared to the first/second-generation EGFR-TKI group (1.33 per 100 person-years, 95% CI 0.92-1.92). After adjusting for covariates, the osimertinib group had a higher risk of LQTS than the first/second-generation EGFR-TKI group, with an HR of 1.94 (95% CI 1.23-3.08). The increased LQTS risk in the osimertinib group was even higher in females, whites and patients aged ≥ 75.
CONCLUSIONS
Given the elevated risk of LQTS associated with osimertinib user, close monitoring for cardiac rhythm irregularities of high-risk patients following initiation of EGFR-TKI is recommended.
PubMed: 38088244
DOI: 10.1080/14740338.2023.2294924 -
Journal of the American Heart... Dec 2023Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), experienced in 10% to 20% of the population, has been associated with cardiovascular disease and death. However, the condition is...
BACKGROUND
Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), experienced in 10% to 20% of the population, has been associated with cardiovascular disease and death. However, the condition is heterogeneous and is prevalent in individuals having short and long sleep duration. We sought to clarify the relationship between sleep duration subtypes of EDS with cardiovascular outcomes, accounting for these subtypes.
METHODS AND RESULTS
We defined 3 sleep duration subtypes of excessive daytime sleepiness: normal (6-9 hours), short (<6 hours), and long (>9 hours), and compared these with a nonsleepy, normal-sleep-duration reference group. We analyzed their associations with incident myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke using medical records of 355 901 UK Biobank participants and performed 2-sample Mendelian randomization for each outcome. Compared with healthy sleep, long-sleep EDS was associated with an 83% increased rate of MI (hazard ratio, 1.83 [95% CI, 1.21-2.77]) during 8.2-year median follow-up, adjusting for multiple health and sociodemographic factors. Mendelian randomization analysis provided supporting evidence of a causal role for a genetic long-sleep EDS subtype in MI (inverse-variance weighted β=1.995, =0.001). In contrast, we did not find evidence that other subtypes of EDS were associated with incident MI or any associations with stroke (>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests the previous evidence linking EDS with increased cardiovascular disease risk may be primarily driven by the effect of its long-sleep subtype on higher risk of MI. Underlying mechanisms remain to be investigated but may involve sleep irregularity and circadian disruption, suggesting a need for novel interventions in this population.
Topics: Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence; Sleep; Myocardial Infarction; Stroke
PubMed: 38084713
DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.122.030568 -
ELife Dec 2023Sudden cardiac death (SCD) from ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) is a leading cause of death, but current therapies are limited. Despite extensive research... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) from ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) is a leading cause of death, but current therapies are limited. Despite extensive research on drugs targeting sarcolemmal ion channels, none have proven sufficiently effective for preventing SCD. Sarcoplasmic ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) Ca release channels, the downstream effectors of sarcolemmal ion channels, are underexplored in this context. Recent evidence implicates reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated oxidation and hyperactivity of RyR2s in the pathophysiology of SCD. We tested the hypothesis that RyR2 inhibition of failing arrhythmogenic hearts reduces sarcoplasmic Ca leak and repolarization lability, mitigates VT/VF/SCD and improves contractile function. We used a guinea pig model that replicates key clinical aspects of human nonischemic HF, such as a prolonged QT interval, a high prevalence of spontaneous arrhythmic SCD, and profound Ca leak via a hyperactive RyR2. HF animals were randomized to receive dantrolene (DS) or placebo in early or chronic HF. We assessed the incidence of VT/VF and SCD (primary outcome), ECG heart rate and QT variability, echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) structure and function, immunohistochemical LV fibrosis, and sarcoplasmic RyR2 oxidation. DS treatment prevented VT/VF and SCD by decreasing dispersion of repolarization and ventricular arrhythmias. Compared to placebo, DS lowered resting heart rate, preserved chronotropic competency during transient β-adrenergic challenge, and improved heart rate variability and cardiac function. Inhibition of RyR2 hyperactivity with dantrolene mitigates the vicious cycle of sarcoplasmic Ca leak-induced increases in diastolic Ca and ROS-mediated RyR2 oxidation, thereby reducing repolarization lability and protecting against VT/VF/SCD. Moreover, the consequent increase in sarcoplasmic Ca load improves contractile function. These potentially life-saving effects of RyR2 inhibition warrant further investigation, such as clinical studies of repurposing dantrolene as a potential new therapy for heart failure and/or SCD.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Guinea Pigs; Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; Dantrolene; Reactive Oxygen Species; Heart Failure; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Tachycardia, Ventricular; Death, Sudden, Cardiac; Calcium; Myocytes, Cardiac
PubMed: 38078905
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.88638 -
The Permanente Journal Mar 2024Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia characterized by disorganized atrial activity with an associated unevenly irregular ventricular response on an...
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia characterized by disorganized atrial activity with an associated unevenly irregular ventricular response on an electrocardiogram. It is the most common sustained arrhythmia, with a lifetime risk of 25% in patients older than 40 years old. The incidence of AF increases with age and is associated with an increased risk for heart failure, stroke, adverse cardiac events, and dementia. The 2 main aims of AF treatment include anticoagulation for thromboembolism prophylaxis as well as rate vs rhythm control. The focus of this article will be on the treatment strategies in managing AF. Rate control refers to the use of atrioventricular nodal blocking medications, including beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, to maintain a goal heart rate. Rhythm control, on the other hand, refers to a treatment strategy focused on the use of antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD), cardioversion, and ablation to restore and to maintain a patient in sinus rhythm. Currently, the ideal treatment strategy remains greatly debated. Thus, we hope to compare the risks and benefits of rate to rhythm control to highlight how patients with AF are managed here at Kaiser Permanente Northern California.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Atrial Fibrillation; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; Heart Rate; Electric Countershock; Heart Failure
PubMed: 38073307
DOI: 10.7812/TPP/23.151 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023Titanium thin films are particularly important as electrode layers, barrier layers, or intermediate buffer layers in the semiconductor industry. In order to improve the...
Titanium thin films are particularly important as electrode layers, barrier layers, or intermediate buffer layers in the semiconductor industry. In order to improve the quality of Ti thin films and the adhesion and diffraction abilities of irregular parts, this paper used high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HPPMS/HiPIMS) to prepare titanium thin films. The effects of different trigger voltages (700 V, 800 V, and 900 V) on plasma properties were studied, and the microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of the films were also studied. The results showed that as the voltage increased, the grain size of the thin films gradually increased. The residual stress of the titanium films changed from compressive stress (-333 MPa) to tensile stress (55 MPa) and then to low compressive stress (-178 MPa). The hardness values were 13 GPa, 9.45 GPa and 6.62 GPa, respectively. The wear resistance of the films gradually decreased, while the toughness gradually increased. The corrosion resistance of the films decreased as well.
PubMed: 38068038
DOI: 10.3390/ma16237294 -
Journal of Hazardous Materials Mar 2024Poly(hexamethylenebicyanoguanide-hexamethylenediamine) hydrochloride (PHMB) is a biocide with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Its use as a disinfectant and...
Assessment of poly(hexamethylenebicyanoguanide-hexamethylenediamine) hydrochloride-induced developmental neurotoxicity via oxidative stress mechanism: Integrative approaches with neuronal cells and zebrafish.
Poly(hexamethylenebicyanoguanide-hexamethylenediamine) hydrochloride (PHMB) is a biocide with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity. Its use as a disinfectant and preservative in consumer products results in human exposure to PHMB. Toxicity studies on PHMB mainly focus on systemic toxicity or skin irritation; however, its effects on developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) and the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, the DNT effects of PHMB were evaluated using IMR-32 and SH-SY5Y cell lines and zebrafish. In both cell lines, PHMB concentrations ≥ 10 µM reduced neurite outgrowth, and cytotoxicity was observed at concentrations up to 40 µM. PHMB regulated expression of neurodevelopmental genes and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial dysfunction. Treatment with N-acetylcysteine reversed the toxic effects of PHMB. Toxicity tests on zebrafish embryos showed that PHMB reduced viability and heart rate and caused irregular hatching. PHMB concentrations of 1-4 µM reduced the width of the brain and spinal cord of transgenic zebrafish and attenuated myelination processes. Furthermore, PHMB modulated expression of neurodevelopmental genes in zebrafish and induced ROS accumulation. These results suggested that PHMB exerted DNT effects in vitro and in vivo through a ROS-dependent mechanism, highlighting the risk of PHMB exposure.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Reactive Oxygen Species; Zebrafish; Neuroblastoma; Oxidative Stress; Disinfectants; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Diamines
PubMed: 38064952
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133146