Search results for " Control"

Electrocardiographic abnormalities, preclinical carotid atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk in an apparently healthy real-world population. Data …

2021

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent important causes of morbidity and mortality. Our study aimed to evaluate cardiovascular risk using the EuroSCORE, ECG and carotid ultrasound for prevention purpose in a population of companions aged 50-70 years, asymptomatic and without CVD. Methods: History of CVD, risk factors (RF), ECG and carotid ultrasound were evaluated. Intima-media thickness (IMT) was defined as wall thickness >0.9 mm, while focal thickening ≥1.5 mm protruding into the lumen as asymptomatic carotid plaque (ACP). Results: Totally, 1860 subjects were screened. 393 (21.1%) had no RF, 780 (42%) hypertension, 571 (30.7%) hypercholesterolemia, 557 (29.9%) diabetes, 4…

Carotid Atherosclerosis Evolution When Targeting a Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Concentration70 mg/dL After an Ischemic Stroke of Atherosclero…

2020

Background: The TST trial (Treat Stroke to Target) showed the benefit of targeting a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration of <70 mg/dL in terms of reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in 2860 patients with ischemic stroke with atherosclerotic stenosis of cerebral vasculature. The impact on carotid atherosclerosis evolution is not known. Methods: TST-PLUS (Treat Stroke to Target–Plaque Ultrasound Study) included 201 patients assigned to an LDL-C concentration of <70 mg/dL and 212 patients assigned to a target of 100±10 mg/dL. To achieve these goals, investigators used the statin and dosage of their choice and added ezetimibe as needed. Ultrasonographer…

Efficacy of progressive aquatic resistance training for tibiofemoral cartilage in postmenopausal women with mild knee osteoarthritis : a randomised c…

2016

Objective: To study the efficacy of aquatic resistance training on biochemical composition of tibiofemoral cartilage in postmenopausal women with mild knee osteoarthritis (OA). Design: Eighty seven volunteer postmenopausal women, aged 60-68 years, with mild knee OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grades I/II and knee pain) were recruited and randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 43) and control (n = 44) group. The intervention group participated in 48 supervised aquatic resistance training sessions over 16 weeks while the control group maintained usual level of physical activity. The biochemical composition of the medial and lateral tibiofemoral cartilage was estimated using single-slice transverse …

Effects of a progressive aquatic resistance exercise program on the biochemical composition and morphology of cartilage in women with mild knee osteo…

2013

Background Symptoms associated with osteoarthritis of the knee result in decreased function, loss of working capacity and extensive social and medical costs. There is a need to investigate and develop effective interventions to minimise the impact of and even prevent the progression of osteoarthritis. Aquatic exercise has been shown to be effective at reducing the impact of osteoarthritis. The purpose of this article is to describe the rationale, design and intervention of a study investigating the effect of an aquatic resistance exercise intervention on cartilage in postmenopausal women with mild knee osteoarthritis. Methods A minimum of 80 volunteers who meet the inclusion criteria will b…

Different effects of biological drugs in rheumatoid arthritis

2013

Biological drugs have brought new hope to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in whom previously existing treatments could not control inflammation, joint destruction, or the progression of disability. The five currently available TNF blockers are approved for treating RA patients, but they have different structures, morphology, pharmacokinetic properties, and activity. Randomised clinical trials (RCTs) have shown that they improve the signs and symptoms of both early and long-standing RA and other inflammatory arthritides, prevent radiographic progression, and improve the patients' health-related quality of life. However, they are more effective in combination with methotrexate (MTX) t…

Effects of Exercise on Patellar Cartilage in Women with Mild Knee Osteoarthritis

2015

AB Purpose: This study aims to investigate the effects of exercise on patellar cartilage using T2 relaxation time mapping of magnetic resonance imaging in postmenopausal women with mild patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Eighty postmenopausal women (mean age, 58 (SD, 4.2) yr) with mild knee OA were randomized to either a supervised progressive impact exercise program three times a week for 12 months (n = 40) or a nonintervention control group (n = 40). Biochemical properties of cartilage were estimated using T2 relaxation time mapping, a parameter sensitive to collagen integrity, collagen orientation, and tissue hydration. Leg muscle strength and power, aerobic capacity, and…

Cascaded H-Bridges Multielvel Inverters: grid connected advanced applications

Power electronics is going to increase in the modern electrical systems. It is well known that the use of power electronics allows the management and the control of the energy flow, obtaining voltage and current waveforms suitable for electrical loads. In this scenario, multilevel power converters are finding increased attention in industry and academia as one of the promising choices of electronic conversion thanks to their features and many different application fields with high power and medium voltage. Moreover, they are fundamental in interfacing electric grid to high power renewable energy systems (i.e. PV, Wind farm, Biomass, Fuel Cell etc.). Nowadays, the research is focused on the …

Analyzing central-line associated bloodstream infection prevention bundles in 22 countries: The results of ID-IRI survey

2022

International audience; BACKGROUND: Because central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a significant complication of central venous access, it is critical to prevent CLABSIs through the use of central line bundles. The purpose of this study was to take a snapshot of central venous access bundles in various countries. METHODS: The participants in intensive care units (ICUs) completed a questionnaire that included information about the health center, infection control procedures, and central line maintenance. The countries were divided into 2 groups: those with a low or low-middle income and those with an upper-middle or high income. RESULTS: Forty-three participants from 22…

On Approximation of Entropy Solutions for One System of Nonlinear Hyperbolic Conservation Laws with Impulse Source Terms

2010

We study one class of nonlinear fluid dynamic models with impulse source terms. The model consists of a system of two hyperbolic conservation laws: a nonlinear conservation law for the goods density and a linear evolution equation for the processing rate. We consider the case when influx-rates in the second equation take the form of impulse functions. Using the vanishing viscosity method and the so-called principle of fictitious controls, we show that entropy solutions to the original Cauchy problem can be approximated by optimal solutions of special optimization problems.

Need of causal analysis for assessing phase relationships in closed loop interacting cardiovascular variability series

2003

The phase spectra obtained by the classical closed loop autoregressive model (2AR) and by an open loop autoregressive model (ARXAR) were compared to shed light on the need of introducing causality in the assessment of the delay between RR and arterial pressure oscillations. The reliability of the two approaches was tested in simulation and real data setting. In simulation, the coupling strength of a bivariate closed loop process was adjusted to obtain a range of working conditions from open to closed loop. In open loop condition, 2AR and ARXAR phases were comparable and in agreement with the imposed delay. In closed loop condition, ARXAR model returned the imposed delays, while 2AR showed a…