The effect of polymerization procedure on Vickers hardness of dual-curing resin cements

To investigate the surface hardness (Vickers hardness, HVN) of one light-curing flowable resin composite and five dual-curing resin cements after different polymerization procedures.

Concomitant vascular GRP-receptor and VEGF-receptor expression in human tumors: molecular basis for dual targeting of tumoral vasculature

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and GRP receptors (GRPR) play a role in tumor angiogenesis. Recently, GRPR were found to be frequently expressed in the vasculature of a large variety of human cancers. Here, we characterize these GRPR by comparing the vascular GRPR expression and localization in a selection of human cancers with that of an established biological marker of neoangiogenesis, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. In vitro quantitative receptor autoradiography was performed in parallel for GRPR and VEGF receptors (VEGFR) in 32 human tumors of various origins, using ¹²⁵I-Tyr-bombesin and ¹²⁵I-VEGF₁₆₅ as radioligands, respectively. Moreover, VEGFR-2 was evaluated immunohistochemically. All tumors expressed GRPR and VEGFR in their vascular system. VEGFR were expressed in the endothelium in the majority of the vessels. GRPR were expressed in a subpopulation of vessels, preferably in their muscular coat. The vessels expressing GRPR were all VEGFR-positive whereas the VEGFR-expressing vessels were not all GRPR-positive. GRPR expressing vessels were found immunohistochemically to co-express VEGFR-2. Remarkably, the density of vascular GRPR was much higher than that of VEGFR. The concomitant expression of GRPR with VEGFR appears to be a frequent phenomenon in many human cancers. The GRPR, localized and expressed in extremely high density in a subgroup of vessels, may function as target for antiangiogenic tumor therapy or angiodestructive targeted radiotherapy with radiolabeled bombesin analogs alone, or preferably together with VEGFR targeted therapy.

Risk Judgment in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Testing a Dual-Systems Account

Dual-systems theorists posit distinct modes of reasoning. The intuition system reasons automatically and its processes are unavailable to conscious introspection. The deliberation system reasons effortfully while its processes recruit working memory. The current paper extends the application of such theories to the study of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Patients with OCD often retain insight into their irrationality, implying dissociable systems of thought: intuition produces obsessions and fears that deliberation observes and attempts (vainly) to inhibit. To test the notion that dual-systems theory can adequately describe OCD, we obtained speeded and unspeeded risk judgments from OCD patients and non-anxious controls in order to quantify the differential effects of intuitive and deliberative reasoning. As predicted, patients deemed negative events to be more likely than controls. Patients also took more time in producing judgments than controls. Furthermore, when forced to respond quickly patients' judgments were more affected than controls'. Although patients did attenuate judgments when given additional time, their estimates never reached the levels of controls'. We infer from these data that patients have genuine difficulty inhibiting their intuitive cognitive system. Our dual-systems perspective is compatible with current theories of the disorder. Similar behavioral tests may prove helpful in better understanding related anxiety disorders. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dual-energy CT-cholangiography in potential donors for living-related liver transplantation: Improved biliary visualization by intravenous morphine co-medication

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate whether intravenous morphine co-medication improves bile duct visualization of dual-energy CT-cholangiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty potential donors for living-related liver transplantation underwent CT-cholangiography with infusion of a hepatobiliary contrast agent over 40min. Twenty minutes after the beginning of the contrast agent infusion, either normal saline (n=20 patients; control group [CG]) or morphine sulfate (n=20 patients; morphine group [MG]) was injected. Forty-five minutes after initiation of the contrast agent, a dual-energy CT acquisition of the liver was performed. Applying dual-energy post-processing, pure iodine images were generated. Primary study goals were determination of bile duct diameters and visualization scores (on a scale of 0 to 3: 0-not visualized; 3-excellent visualization). RESULTS: Bile duct visualization scores for second-order and third-order branch ducts were significantly higher in the MG compared to the CG (2.9±0.1 versus 2.6±0.2 [P<0.001] and 2.7±0.3 versus 2.1±0.6 [P<0.01], respectively). Bile duct diameters for the common duct and main ducts were significantly higher in the MG compared to the CG (5.9±1.3mm versus 4.9±1.3mm [P<0.05] and 3.7±1.3mm versus 2.6±0.5mm [P<0.01], respectively). CONCLUSION: Intravenous morphine co-medication significantly improved biliary visualization on dual-energy CT-cholangiography in potential donors for living-related liver transplantation.

Pramipexole versus dual release levodopa in restless legs syndrome: a double blind, randomised, cross-over trial

To compare efficacy and safety of the dopamine agonist pramipexole (PPX) versus reference treatment with dual release levodopa/benserazide (L/B) in de novo patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Dual origins of dairy cattle farming - evidence from a comprehensive survey of European Y-chromosomal variation

BACKGROUND: Diversity patterns of livestock species are informative to the history of agriculture and indicate uniqueness of breeds as relevant for conservation. So far, most studies on cattle have focused on mitochondrial and autosomal DNA variation. Previous studies of Y-chromosomal variation, with limited breed panels, identified two Bos taurus (taurine) haplogroups (Y1 and Y2; both composed of several haplotypes) and one Bos indicus (indicine/zebu) haplogroup (Y3), as well as a strong phylogeographic structuring of paternal lineages. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Haplogroup data were collected for 2087 animals from 138 breeds. For 111 breeds, these were resolved further by genotyping microsatellites INRA189 (10 alleles) and BM861 (2 alleles). European cattle carry exclusively taurine haplotypes, with the zebu Y-chromosomes having appreciable frequencies in Southwest Asian populations. Y1 is predominant in northern and north-western Europe, but is also observed in several Iberian breeds, as well as in Southwest Asia. A single Y1 haplotype is predominant in north-central Europe and a single Y2 haplotype in central Europe. In contrast, we found both Y1 and Y2 haplotypes in Britain, the Nordic region and Russia, with the highest Y-chromosomal diversity seen in the Iberian Peninsula. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the homogeneous Y1 and Y2 regions reflect founder effects associated with the development and expansion of two groups of dairy cattle, the pied or red breeds from the North Sea and Baltic coasts and the spotted, yellow or brown breeds from Switzerland, respectively. The present Y1-Y2 contrast in central Europe coincides with historic, linguistic, religious and cultural boundaries.

Liver fat quantification by dual-echo MR imaging outperforms traditional histopathological analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of dual-echo (DE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with and without fat and water separation for the quantification of liver fat content (LFC) in vitro and in patients undergoing liver surgery, with comparison to histopathologic analysis.

Assessment of the mineral density and mineral content of the equine third metacarpal and first phalanx bone by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry

In the first part of this methodological study eleven metacarpi of 9 skeletally normal horses were examined from 4 directions by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The differences between the dorsopalmar-palmarodorsal and lateromedial-mediolateral (opposite sites) bone mineral density (BMD) values were found to be nonsignificant. In the second part of the study the precision of the Norland XR-26 densitometer was tested by measuring 34 metacarpal bones and 34 proximal phalanges, each of them three times, from a single direction. The difference between the individual measurements of the first phalanges and of the metacarpal bones originating from the right or the left side of the same horse were not significant, nor did the age or breed have a significant effect on BMD or bone mineral content (BMC). However, both BMD and BMC are greater in the metacarpal bones than in the proximal phalanges and are higher in geldings than in mares or to stallions, while the BMD or BMC values of mares and stallions did not differ from each other significantly. These data point to the necessity of further BMD studies in a higher number of patients.

Comparison of dual-energy subtraction and electronic bone suppression combined with computer-aided detection on chest radiographs: effect on human observers' performance in nodule detection

The objective of our study was to compare the effect of dual-energy subtraction and bone suppression software alone and in combination with computer-aided detection (CAD) on the performance of human observers in lung nodule detection.

The Dual Ownership Structure: a Model to Connect the Cooperative Model With Financial Markets

In business literature, the conflicts among workers, shareholders and the management have been studied mostly in the frame of stakeholder theory. The stakeholder theory recognizes this issue as an agency problem, and tries to solve the problem by establishing a contractual relationship between the agent and principals. However, as Marcoux pointed out, the appropriateness of the contract as a medium to reduce the agency problem should be questioned. As an alternative, the cooperative model minimizes the agency costs by integrating the concept of workers, owners and management. Mondragon Corporation is a successful example of the cooperative model which grew into the sixth largest corporation in Spain. However, the cooperative model has long been ignored in discussions of corporate governance, mainly because the success of the cooperative model is extremely difficult to duplicate in reality. This thesis hopes to revitalize the scholarly examination of cooperatives by developing a new model that overcomes the fundamental problem in the cooperative model: the limited access to capital markets. By dividing the ownership interest into financial and control interest, the dual ownership structure allows cooperatives to issue stock in the capital market by making a financial product out of financial interest.

Dual-loop circuits in postoperative atrial macro re-entrant tachycardias

Background Patients late after open-heart surgery may develop dual-loop reentrant atrial arrhythmias, and mapping and catheter ablation remain challenging despite computer-assisted mapping techniques. Objectives The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the prevalence and characteristics of dual-loop reentrant arrhythmias, and to define the optimal mapping and ablation strategy. Methods Fourty consecutive patients (mean age 52+/-12 years) with intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia (IART) after open-heart surgery (with an incision of the right atrial free wall) were studied. Dual-loop IART was defined as the presence of two simultaneous atrial circuits. Following an abrupt tachycardia change during radiofrequency (RF) ablation, electrical disconnection of the targeted reentry isthmus from the remaining circuit was demonstrated by entrainment mapping. Furthermore, the second circuit loop was localized using electroanatomic mapping and/or entrainment mapping. Results Dual-loop IART was demonstrated in 8 patients (20%, 5 patients with congenital heart disease, 3 with acquired heart disease). Dual-loop IART included an isthmus-dependant atrial flutter combined with a reentry related to the atriotomy scar. The diagnosis of dual-loop IART required the comparison of entrainment mapping before and after tachycardiamodification. Overall, 35 patients had successful RF ablation (88%). Success rates were lower in patients with dual-loop IART than in patient without dual-loop IART. Ablation failures in 3 patients with dual-loop IART were related to the inability to properly transect the second tachycardia isthmus in the right atrial free wall. Conclusions Dual-loop IART is relatively common after heart surgery involving a right atriotomy. Abrupt tachycardia change and specific entrainment mapping maneuvers demonstrate these circuits. Electroanatomic mapping appears to be important to assist catheter ablation of periatriotomy circuits.