Concretes with the same strength can have various deformability that influences span structures deflection. In addition, a significant factor is the non-linear deformation of concrete dependence on ...the load. The main deformability parameter of concrete is the instantaneous modulus of elasticity. This research aims to evaluate the relation of concrete compressive and tensile elastic properties testing. The beam samples at 80 × 140 × 1400 cm with one rod Ø8 composite or Ø10 steel reinforcement were experimentally tested. It was shown that instantaneous elastic deformations under compression are much lower than tensile. Prolonged elastic deformations under compression are close to tensile. It results in compressive elasticity modulus exceeding the tensile. The relation between these moduli is proposed. The relation provides operative elasticity modulus testing by the bending tensile method. The elasticity modulus's evaluation for the reinforced span structures could be based only on the bending testing results. A 10% elasticity modulus increase, which seems not significant, increases at 30-40% the stress of the reinforced span structures under load and 30% increases the cracking point stress.
The association between the visceral swallowing pattern (VSP) and dentofacial abnormalities remains controversial. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between the VSP and ...various factors including type of birth, gender, tongue posture, lip incompetence, eruption of primary molars, habits and the presence of malocclusions in children with primary and early mixed dentition.
A total of 219 children (102 boys and 117 girls) were evaluated using a combination of a questionnaire and a structured clinical examination by one pediatric specialist dentist. Kittel’s method of tongue posture evaluation and the Payne technique for assessment of swallowing pattern were included in the clinical examination of myofunctional status. After checking for normality, normal and non-normal distributed data were analyzed using two-sample t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, respectively. Analysis of categorical variables was done using a chi-square test, and Bonferroni correction was used as correction for multiple comparisons.
A total of 56.2 % of the study population had a VSP. The chi-square test indicated a statistically significant higher presence of VSP in male gender. Statistically significant associations were seen between the VSP and lip incompetency, pathologic resting tongue position, habits, anterior open bite and increased overjet. On the other hand, no statistically significant associations were found between VSP and children’s age within the sample population, type of birth, uni- or bilateral crossbites, increased overbite, edge-to-edge anterior bite or completion of eruption of primary molars and/or permanent incisors.
The association between VSP and male gender, pathologic tongue posture, lip incompetency and habits and occlusal traits such as anterior open bite and increased anterior overjet is supported by the results of the present study.
Bereavement is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease; however, no reports exist of interventions to reduce risk. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 85 ...recently bereaved participants, we determined whether β-blocker (metoprolol 25 mg) and aspirin (100 mg) reduce cardiovascular risk markers and anxiety, without adversely affecting bereavement intensity.
Participants were spouses (n = 73) or parents (n = 12) of deceased from 5 hospitals in Sydney, Australia, 55 females, 30 males, aged 66.1 ± 9.4 years. After assessment within 2 weeks of bereavement, subjects were randomized to 6 weeks of daily treatment or placebo, and the effect evaluated using ANCOVA, adjusted for baseline values (primary analysis).
Participants on metoprolol and aspirin had lower levels of home systolic pressure (P = .03), 24-hour average heart rate (P < .001) and anxiety (P = .01) platelet response to arachidonic acid (P < .001) and depression symptoms (P = .046) than placebo with no difference in standard deviation of NN intervals index (SDNNi), von Willebrand Factor antigen, platelet-granulocyte aggregates or bereavement intensity. No significant adverse safety impact was observed.
In early bereavement, low dose metoprolol and aspirin for 6 weeks reduces physiological and psychological surrogate measures of cardiovascular risk. Although further research is needed, results suggest a potential preventive benefit of this approach during heightened cardiovascular risk associated with early bereavement.
Aldosterone (Aldo) activates both genomic and nongenomic signaling pathways in the cardiovascular system. Activation of genomic signaling pathways contributes to the adverse cardiac actions of Aldo ...during reperfusion injury; however, the extent nongenomic signaling pathways contribute has been difficult to identify due to lack of a specific ligand that activates only nongenomic signaling pathways. Using a pegylated aldosterone analog, aldosterone-3-carboxymethoxylamine-TFP ester conjugated to methoxypegylated amine (Aldo-PEG), we are able for the first time to distinguish between nongenomic and genomic cardiac actions of Aldo. We confirm Aldo-PEG activates phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in rat cardiomyocyte H9c2 cells similar to Aldo and G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30 or GPER) agonist G1. GPER antagonist, G36, but not mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist spironolactone, prevented ERK1/2 phosphorylation by Aldo, Aldo-PEG, and G1. The selective nongenomic actions of Aldo-PEG are confirmed, with Aldo-PEG increasing superoxide production in H9c2 cells to similar levels as Aldo but having no effect on subcellular localization of MR. Striatin serves as a scaffold for GPER and MR, with GPER antagonist G36, but not spironolactone, restoring MR-striatin complexes. Aldo-PEG had no effect on MR-dependent transcriptional activation, whereas Aldo increased transcript levels of serum-regulated kinase 1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. Using our ex vivo experimental rat model of myocardial infarction, we found aggravated infarct size and apoptosis by Aldo but not Aldo-PEG. Our studies confirm that in the heart, activation of nongenomic signaling pathways alone are not sufficient to trigger the deleterious effects of aldosterone during myocardial reperfusion injury.
Early bereavement is associated with increased cardiovascular events. The mechanism, however, has not been well studied. We assessed whether bereavement is associated with an increased heart rate ...(HR) and decreased heart rate variability that might contribute to increased cardiovascular risk. A total of 78 bereaved spouses and parents (55 women and 23 men; aged 34 to 87 years, mean 65) were studied with 24-hour Holter monitoring within 2 weeks of bereavement (acute) and at 6 months. Their findings were compared to those from a nonbereaved reference group (52 women and 27 men) aged 33 to 91 years (mean 63.6). All participants were in sinus rhythm. We assessed the mean HR, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and both time and frequency domain heart rate variability measures. Acute bereavement was associated with increased 24-hour HR (mean ± SE, 75.1 ± 1.1 vs 70.7 ± 1.0; p = 0.004) and reduced heart rate variability, as indicated by lower standard deviation of the NN intervals index (median 45.4 vs 49.9, p = 0.017), total power (7.78 ± 0.10 vs 8.02 ± 0.09, p = 0.03), very low frequency (7.23 ± 0.09 vs 7.44, p = 0.046) and low frequency (5.76 ± 0.12 vs 6.16 ± 0.09, p = 0.01). At 6 months, the bereaved had a significantly lower HR (p = 0.001) and increased standard deviation of the NN intervals index (p = 0.02), square root of the mean square of differences of successive intervals (p = 0.045), number of interval differences of successive NN intervals >50 ms divided by the number of NN intervals (p = 0.039), low-frequency power (p = 0.02), and high frequency (p = 0.002) compared to the initial acute levels. In conclusion, the present study, the first to report 24-hour HR monitoring in the early weeks of bereavement, has demonstrated increased HR and altered autonomic function that might contribute to the increased cardiovascular events in early bereavement.
Although there is an increased cardiovascular risk in the immediate weeks following bereavement, the mechanism is not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine whether inflammatory and ...thrombotic changes were present in acute bereavement.
Eighty bereaved spouses or parents were prospectively studied within 2 weeks of bereavement (acute) and at 6 months, and compared to 80 non-bereaved participants. Haemostatic measures were obtained between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and processed within 1 h. Compared to non-bereaved participants, those acutely bereaved had a higher neutrophil count (4.34 ± 0.19 vs 3.79 ± 0.15, p = <0.001), von Willebrand factor antigen (132.33 ± 3.6 vs 119.95 ± 3.29, p = 0.02), Factor VIII (1.43 ± 0.06 vs 1.25 ± 0.04, p = 0.02) and platelet/granulocyte aggregates (median 383.0 vs 343.5, p = 0.02). Levels of neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, platelet count, platelet/monocyte granulocytes and von Willebrand factor were lower in bereaved at 6 months compared to acutely (all p < 0.05).
Acute bereavement is associated with inflammatory and prothrombotic changes that may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk with bereavement and provide clues for future preventative strategies.
Background Bereavement is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, particularly in surviving spouses and parents, however the mechanism is not well understood due to limited studies. The ...purpose of this study was to evaluate haemodynamic changes (blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR)), that may contribute to increased cardiac risk in early bereavement. Methods We enrolled 80 bereaved individuals and 80 non-bereaved as a reference group. Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed within two weeks (acute assessment) and at six months following bereavement. Results Compared to the non-bereaved, the acutely bereaved had higher 24-hour systolic BP (mean (SE) 130.3 (1.5) vs 127.5 (1.4) mm Hg, p = 0.03), higher daytime systolic BP (135.6 (1.5) vs 131.6 (1.4) mm Hg, p = 0.02) and higher daytime systolic load (median % 39.0 vs 29.3, p = 0.02). By six months the BP of the bereaved tended to be lower than acute measures. This difference was significant amongst those not taking BP lowering medications for 24-hour systolic BP (126.5 (2.4) vs 129.7 (2.3) mm Hg, p = 0.04), daytime systolic BP (129.8 (2.1) vs 133.9 (2.0) mm Hg, p = 0.01) and daytime diastolic pressure (76.7 (1.0) vs 78.9 (0.9) mm Hg, p = 0.03). Twenty-four hour heart rate was also higher acutely in the bereaved compared with the reference group (74.0 (1.2) vs 71.7 (0.9) b/min, p = 0.02); at six months heart rate in the bereaved had fallen to non-bereaved levels (70.4 (0.09), p = 0.02). Conclusion Early bereavement is associated with increased systolic blood pressure and heart rate. These haemodynamic changes may contribute to a time-limited increase in cardiovascular risk.
NFAT2 is a highly phosphorylated transcription factor which regulates developmental and activation programs in diverse cell types. We and others have previously described a significant overexpression ...of NFAT2 in CLL cells as compared to physiological B cells. Three major isoforms of NFAT2 with different regulatory properties have been described (700aa short isoform, 800aa intermediate isoform, 900 aa long isoform). Here, we analyzed the role of different NFAT2 transcripts in CLL with respect to disease phenotype and cell proliferation.
We investigated primary samples from CLL patients (n=30) for their expression profile of different NFAT2 isoforms using RT-PCR. Applying an shRNA approach, we generated stable knock-down cells of the CLL cell line MEC-1 for the long and intermediate isoforms and for the entire NFAT2 gene resulting in the complete ablation of all isoforms. The proliferation properties of the different MEC-1 cell lines was subsequently assessed in xeno-transplant experiments into NSG mice.
While physiological B cells express comparable levels of the short and intermediate/long isoforms, we could detect a five fold overexpression of the intermediate/long isoforms in primary CLL samples. To further analyze the differential regulation of the different NFAT2 transcripts on tumor cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation, we injected NSG mice with MEC-1 cells with intact NFAT2 (n=6), MEC-1 cells with a knock-down of the intermediate and long isoforms (n=6) and MEC-1 cells with a complete NFAT2 knock-down (n=6). MEC-1 cells with selective ablation of the intermediate and long NFAT2 isoforms grew significantly faster in NSG mice than MEC-1 cells with intact NFAT2 expression or MEC-1 cells with a complete NFAT2 knock-down. MEC-1 cells selectively lacking the intermediate and long isoforms led to accelerated tumor proliferation upon subcutaneous injection. Cell cycle analysis as assessed by flow cytometry showed a significantly increased number of cells in the G1/S-Phase for the group without expression of the short isoform, while the group with complete NFAT knock-down exhibited a compromised growth pattern as compared to wild-type MEC-1 cells.
In summary, our data demonstrate that genetic loss of the intermediate and long isoforms of NFAT2 leads to CLL acceleration
No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
12.08.2016 | Herwig Rehatschek, Ursula Leopold, Martin Ebner, Michael Kopp, Patrick Schweighofer, Manfred Rechberger, Martin Teufel & Anastasia Sfiri (Graz)
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