Evaluation of airline exercises prescribed to avoid deep vein thrombosis using fiber Bragg grating sensors

Various leg exercises have been recommended to prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition where a blood clot forms in the deep veins, especially during long-haul flights. Accessing the benefit of each of these exercises in avoiding the DVT, which can be fatal, is important in the context of suggesting the correct and the most beneficial exercises. Present work aims at demonstrating the fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based sensing methodology for measuring surface strains generated on the skin of the calf muscle to evaluate the suggested airline exercises to avoid DVT. As the dataset in the experiment involves multiple subjects performing these exercises, an inertial measurement unit has been used to validate the repetitiveness of each of the exercises. The surface strain on the calf muscle obtained using the FBG sensor, which is a measure of the calf muscle deformation, has been compared against the variation of blood velocity in the femoral vein of the thigh measured using a commercial electronic-phased array color Doppler ultrasound system. Apart from analyzing the effectiveness of suggested exercises, a new exercise which is more effective in terms of strain generated to avoid DVT is proposed and evaluated. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Valor nutritivo del pasto pangola (Digitaria decumbens stent.) vr. transvala a distintos niveles de fertilización y diversas edades de corte

Este estudio Se desarrolló en el periodo de julio a diciembre de 1990 en el Centro de Investigación Zootecnia “La Polvosa” de la UCA (Universidad Centroamericana), situada en el km 23 112 de la carretera nueva a León, depto. de Managua. El centro se ubica a una elevación de 40 msnrn a 1 2 grados 12 minutos, Latitud norte y 86 grados 22 minutos, longitud oeste registra temperaturas promedio anuales de 32 grados centígrados los y unos 8OO mm de precipitación media por año, por lo cual, es posible calificar su zona agroecológica como de trópico seco se evaluó la respuesta en términos de valor nutritivo del pasto Pangola (Digitaria decumbens Stent.) vr. Transvala, utilizándose un diseño experimental en bloques completos al azar (BCA) con arreglo factorial, se estudió el efecto de dos factores (Niveles de fertilizantes-edades de cortes) con cuatro repeticiones, formándose un total de 16 tratamientos El ensayo contó con un área experimental total de 357.75 mt2 para la toma de muestras, se empleó el método del metro cuadrado realizándose en las parcelas un muestreo sin reemplazo para cada frecuencia en estudio. Previo al momento experimental, se efectúo una poda de control procediéndose después a aplicar de una sola vez los respectivos niveles de fertizante. El estudio estadístico contempló el uso del análisis de varianza (ANDEVA), se hizo una separción de medias por Tukey, y se midió la influencia porcentual (Individual y asociada) de 4 niveles de fertilizante (0, 50,100 y150 kg urea (46%N2) / mz) y 4 edades de corte (15, 30.. 45y 60 días), sobre nueve variables o componentes bromatológicos (MS, PB,FC, ELN, EE, EB (Kcal/ 100g), Cz, Ca y P). Todos los componentes bromatológicos evaluados excepto el EE.. presentaron una variación significativa (P<0.05), bajo el efecto de los factores en estudio. Los niveles de fertilizante influyeron ios valores de mayor mérito con la dosis •150 kg urea / rnz, observando la PB.. 9.76% ;el ELN, 56.54 y la EB,190.97 Kcal ,' 100 g. En tanto que los 50 kg1mz mostraron !os mayores índices en FC (28.88), EE (2.75) y Cz. (11.:39) las parcelas no fertilizadas brindaron los porcentajes más altos de MS (23.78) y Ca (0.60),y el nivel 100 kg/ mz El mejor en P (0.39) y el más bajo en FC (26.61). A su vez con O kg / mz_. Observaron sus níveles minimos la PB (6.91), el ELN (53.58). el valor energético (175.45 Kcal/ 100 g) y el P (O.28), y con 100 kg/ mz los menores en MS y Cz (25.08 y 10.38 respectivamente), a. los 150kg/mz el EE (2.29) y el Ca (0.49), rindieron sus índices más bajos. En cuanto a la frecuencia de corte, la edad 15 días presentó los máximos contenidos en PH (11.95), ELN (56.45),EB (202.40 Kcal/ 100g), EE (2.65) y el mínimo en FC (27.09). Observando el corte a los 60 días, las mayores proporciones en MS (30.91) Cz (12.43) )'Ca (0.58),en tanto que con 30 y 45 días se dieron los más altos valores de P (0.34) FC (28.55) respectivamente los índices más bajos de PB (6.48),ELN (52.63), Ca (0.47)y P (0.30), se obtuvieron a los 45 días de madurez mientras que la MS (22.88) y la Cz (9.56),alcanzaron sus valores más pequeños con 15 días de corte a los 60 días, la EB (175. 42 Kcal ./ 100g) y el EE (2.20) respondieron con sus por cientos más bajos. Para los tratamientos resultantes de la combinación de un nivel de fertilizante y una edad de corte, la interacción 50 kg/mz-60 días reportó el mayor contenido en MS (32.72), sobresaliendo el tratamiento 150 kg / mz-15 días al presentar los valores más altos en EB (214.39 Kcal/100g), PB (14.30) y ELN (59.02), aunque la combinación 50 kg/mz-30 días brindó igual valor en ELN y el máximo en Cz (13.10) con aplicaciones de 100 kg/mz y frecuencia de 15 días se obtuvieron los menores índices en FC (24.82) y Cz (9.37). Consiguiéndose en O kg / mz-15 días el valor más alto en Ca (0.76) y el menor en P (0.22), observando la MS su índice más bajo (18.37) con el tratamiento 100 kg / mz-15 días. Finalmente, en las interacciones que incluyen la frecuencia 45 días, se encontró que las parcelas no fertilizadas presentaron los menores contenidos en PB (5.02), ELN (48.95) y EB (165.44 Kcal/ 1oo g). en cambio al aplicar 100 kg /rnz, se obtuvieron (para la misma interacción) los valores más bajos en EE (1.72), Ca (0.43) y el mayor en P (0.44),en tanto los niveles 50 y 150 kg / mz influyeron los índices más altos en EE (3.85) y FC (30.75) respectivamente.

LDLR and PCSK9 Are Associated with the Presence of Antiphospholipid Antibodies and the Development of Thrombosis in aPLA Carriers

Introduction The identification of the genetic risk factors that could discriminate non-thrombotic from thrombotic antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLA) carriers will improve prognosis of these patients. Several human studies have shown the presence of aPLAs associated with atherosclerotic plaque, which is a known risk factor for thrombosis. Hence, in order to determine the implication of atherosclerosis in the risk of developing thrombosis in aPLA positive patients, we performed a genetic association study with 3 candidate genes, APOH, LDLR and PCSK9. Material & Methods For genetic association study we analyzed 190 aPLA carriers -100 with non-thrombotic events and 90 with thrombotic events-and 557 healthy controls. Analyses were performed by chi(2) test and were corrected by false discovery rate. To evaluate the functional implication of the newly established susceptibility loci, we performed expression analyses in 86 aPLA carrier individuals (43 with thrombotic manifestations and 43 without it) and in 45 healthy controls. Results Our results revealed significant associations after correction in SNPs located in LDLR gene with aPLA carriers and thrombotic aPLA carriers, when compared with healthy controls. The most significant association in LDLR gene was found between SNP rs129083082 and aPLA carriers in recessive model (adjusted P-value = 2.55 x 10(-3); OR = 2.18; 95% CI = 1.49-3.21). Furthermore, our work detected significant allelic association after correction between thrombotic aPLA carriers and healthy controls in SNP rs562556 located in PCSK9 gene (adjusted P-value = 1.03 x 10(-2); OR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.24-2.06). Expression level study showed significantly decreased expression level of LDLR gene in aPLA carriers (P-value < 0.0001; 95% CI 0.16-2.10; SE 0.38-1.27) in comparison to the control group. Discussion Our work has identified LDLR gene as a new susceptibility gene associated with the development of thrombosis in aPLA carriers, describing for the first time the deregulation of LDLR expression in individuals with aPLAs. Besides, thrombotic aPLA carriers also showed significant association with PCSK9 gene, a regulator of LDLR plasma levels. These results highlight the importance of atherosclerotic processes in the development of thrombosis in patients with aPLA.

Anti-thrombosis Repertoire of Blood-feeding Horsefly Salivary Glands

Blood-feeding arthropods rely heavily on the pharmacological properties of their saliva to get a blood meal and suppress immune reactions of hosts. Little information is available on antihemostatic substances in horsefly salivary glands although their sal

Prediction and prevention of venous thrombosis in pregnancy

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains the leading cause of maternal mortality. Reports identified further research is required in obese and women post caesarean section (CS). Risk factors for VTE during pregnancy are periodically absent indicating the need for a simple and effective screening tool for pregnancy. Perturbation of the uteroplacental haemostasis has been implicated in placenta mediated pregnancy complications. This thesis had 4 main aims: 1) To investigate anticoagulant effects following a fixed thromboprophylaxis dose in healthy women post elective CS. 2) To evaluate the calibrated automated thrombogram (CAT) assay as a potential predictive tool for thrombosis in pregnancy. 3) To compare the anticoagulant effects of fixed versus weight adjusted thromboprophylaxis dose in morbidly obese pregnant women. 4) To investigate the LMWH effects on human haemostatic gene and antigen expression in placentae and plasma from the uteroplacental , maternal and fetal circulation. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), thrombin antithrombin (TAT), CAT and anti-Xa levels were analysed. Real-time PCR and ELISA were used to quantify mRNA and protein expression of TFPI and TF in placental tissue. In women post CS, anti-Xa levels do not reflect the full anticoagulant effects of LMWH. LMWH thromboprophylaxis in this healthy cohort of patients appears to have a sustained effect in reducing excess thrombin production post elective CS. The results of this study suggest that predicting VTE in pregnant women using CAT assay is not possible at present time. The prothrombotic state in pregnant morbidly obese women was substantially attenuated by weight adjusted but not at fixed LMWH doses. LMWH may be effective in reducing in- vivo thrombin production in the uteroplacental circulation of thrombophilic women. All these results collectively suggest that at appropriate dosage, LMWH is effective in attenuating excess thrombin generation, in low risk pregnant women post caesarean section or moderate to high risk pregnant women who are morbidly obese or tested positive for thrombophilia. The results of the studies provided data to inform evidence-based practice to improve the outcome for pregnant women at risk of thrombosis.

Polymeric photosensitizer-embedded self-expanding metal stent for repeatable endoscopic photodynamic therapy of cholangiocarcinoma

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new therapeutic approach for the palliative treatment of malignant bile duct obstruction. In this study, we designed photosensitizer-embedded self-expanding nonvascular metal stent (PDT-stent) which allows repeatable photodynamic treatment of cholangiocarcinoma without systemic injection of photosensitizer. Polymeric photosensitizer (pullulan acetate-conjugated pheophorbide A; PPA) was incorporated in self-expanding nonvascular metal stent. Residence of PPA in the stent was estimated in buffer solution and subcutaneous implantation on mouse. Photodynamic activity of PDT-stent was evaluated through laserexposure on stent-layered tumor cell lines, HCT-116 tumor-xenograft mouse models and endoscopic intervention of PDT-stent on bile duct of mini pigs. Photo-fluorescence imaging of the PDT-stent demonstrated homogeneous embedding of polymeric Pheo-A (PPA) on stent membrane. PDT-stent sustained its photodynamic activities at least for 2 month. And which implies repeatable endoscopic PDT is possible after stent emplacement. The PDT-stent after light exposure successfully generated cytotoxic singlet oxygen in the surrounding tissues, inducing apoptotic degradation of tumor cells and regression of xenograft tumors on mouse models. Endoscopic biliary in-stent photodynamic treatments on minipigs also suggested the potential efficacy of PDT-stent on cholangiocarcinoma. In vivo and in vitro studies revealed our PDT-stent, allows repeatable endoscopic biliary PDT, has the potential for the combination therapy (stent plus PDT) of cholangiocarcinoma. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

A Quantitative and Mechanistic Assessment of Activated Thrombin-Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor and its Role in Pathological Bleeding and Thrombosis

The coagulation and fibrinolytic systems are linked by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex which regulates each system through activation of protein C and TAFI, respectively. We have used novel assays and techniques to study the enzymology and biochemistry of TAFI and TAFIa, to measure TAFI activation in hemophilia A and protein C deficiency and to determine if enhancing TAFI activation can improve hemostasis in hemophilic plasma and whole blood. We show that TAFIa not TAFI attenuates fibrinolysis in vitro and this is supported by a relatively high catalytic efficiency (16.41μM-1s-1) of plasminogen binding site removal from fibrin degradation products (FDPs) by TAFIa. Since the catalytic efficiency of TAFIa in removing these sites is ~60-fold higher than that for inflammatory mediators such as bradykinin it is likely that FDPs are a physiological substrate of TAFIa. The high catalytic efficiency is primarily a result of a low Km which can be explained by a novel mechanism where TAFIa forms a binary complex with plasminogen and is recruited to the surface of FDPs. The low Km also suggests that TAFIa would effectively cleave lysines from FDPs during the early stages of fibrinolysis (i.e. at low concentrations of FDPs). Since individuals with hemophilia suffer from premature fibrinolysis as a result of insufficient TAFI activation we quantified TAFI activation in whole blood from hemophilic subjects. Both the rate of activation and the area under the TAFI activation time course (termed TAFIa potential) was determined to be reduced in hemophilia A and the TAFIa potential was significantly and inversely correlated with the clinical bleeding iii phenotype. Using a novel therapeutic strategy, we used soluble thrombomodulin to increase TAFI activation which improved the clot lysis time in factor VIII deficient human plasma and hemophilic dog plasma as well as hemophilic dog blood. Finally, we briefly show in a biochemical case study that TAFI activation is enhanced in protein C deficiency and when afflicted individuals are placed on Warfarin anticoagulant therapy, TAFI activation is reduced. Since TAFIa stabilizes blood clots, this suggests that reducing TAFI activation or inhibiting TAFIa may help restore blood flow in vessels with pathological thrombosis.