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Comparing five species of pipefish, egg size was significantly larger in species with brood pouches ( Syngnathus typhle, Syngnathus acus and Syngnathus rostellatus) than in species without brood pouches ( Entelurus aequoreus and Nerophis ophidion). Egg size correlated positively with female body size in species with brood pouches, but was similar across female sizes in the species lacking pouches. These results may reflect differences in offspring competition as a consequence of variable offspring relatedness within a brood, due to the mating systems adopted by the different species and the presence or absence of a brood pouch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rupture of atherosclerotic plaques is the major cause of acute cardiovascular events. The biomarker PRO‐C6 measuring Endotrophin, a matrikine of collagen type VI, may provide valuable information detecting subjects in need of intensified strategies for secondary prevention. Objective: In this study, we evaluate endotrophin in human atherosclerotic plaques and circulating levels of PRO‐C6 in patients with atherosclerosis, to determine the predictive potential of the biomarker. Methods: Sections from the stenotic human carotid plaques were stained with the PRO‐C6 antibody. PRO‐C6 was measured in serum of patients enrolled in the Carotid Plaque Imagining Project (CPIP) (discovery cohort, n = 577) and the innovative medicines initiative surrogate markers for micro‐ and macrovascular hard end‐points for innovative diabetes tools (IMI‐SUMMIT, validation cohort, n = 1,378). Median follow‐up was 43 months. Kaplan–Meier curves and log‐rank tests were performed in the discovery cohort. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis (HR with 95% CI) was used in the discovery cohort and binary logistic regression (OR with 95% CI) in the validation cohort. Results: PRO‐C6 was localized in the core and shoulder of the atherosclerotic plaque. In the discovery cohort, PRO‐C6 independently predicted future cardiovascular events (HR 1.089 [95% CI 1.019 −1.164], p = 0.01), cardiovascular death (HR 1.118 [95% CI 1.008 −1.241], p = 0.04) and all‐cause death (HR 1.087 [95% CI 1.008 −1.172], p = 0.03). In the validation cohort, PRO‐C6 predicted future cardiovascular events (OR 1.063 [95% CI 1.011 −1.117], p = 0.017). Conclusion: PRO‐C6 is present in the atherosclerotic plaque and associated with future cardiovascular events, cardiovascular death and all‐cause mortality in two large prospective cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death in industrialized countries. One underlying cause is atherosclerosis, which is a systemic disease characterized by plaques of retained lipids, inflammatory cells, apoptotic cells, calcium and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the arterial wall. The biologic composition of an atherosclerotic plaque determines whether the plaque is more or less vulnerable, that is prone to rupture or erosion. Here, the ECM and tissue repair play an important role in plaque stability, vulnerability and progression. This review will focus on ECM remodelling in atherosclerotic plaques, with focus on how ECM biomarkers might predict plaque vulnerability and outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Atherosclerosis is characterized by accumulation of lipids, cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the arterial wall. Collagen type I (COL1), a component of the arterial ECM, is cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and known to be remodelled in atherosclerosis. We explored whether the MMP-mediated COL1 biomarker, C1M, was associated with cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality in a large prospective cohort of patients with known atherosclerosis.Methods: Serum from 787 patients who underwent a carotid endarterectomy was included. Circulating levels of C1M were measured in serum. A total of 473 patients were followed for 6 years after surgery. Associations between C1M and incidence of cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality were assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis.Results: A total of 101 (21.4%) patients suffered from nonfatal cardiovascular events during the follow-up period, and 64 (13.5%) patients died. Of these, 39 (60.9%) died from cardiovascular diseases. Patients with C1M levels above the median were significantly associated with cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality (P < 0.001, P = 0.004 and P < 0.001, respectively). C1M was included in the final model for prediction of cardiovascular events (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.40-3.32, P = 0.001), cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.20, 95% CI 1.07-4.51, P = 0.031) and all-cause mortality (HR 2.98 95% CI 1.67-5.33, P = < 0.001).Conclusions: In patients with atherosclerotic carotid lesions, high levels of C1M predicted cardiovascular events, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. These findings emphasize the importance of remodelling mechanisms in atherosclerosis that are now becoming more and more explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is a need to develop and validate surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease ( CVD) in subjects with diabetes. The macrovascular changes associated with diabetes include aggravated atherosclerosis, increased arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine which of these factors is most strongly associated with clinically manifest cardiovascular events. Methods Vascular changes were measured in a cohort of 458 subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke or lower extremity arterial disease), 527 subjects with T2D but without clinically manifest CVD and 515 subjects without T2D and with or without CVD. Results Carotid intima-media thickness ( IMT) and ankle-brachial pressure index were independently associated with the presence of CVD in subjects with T2D, whereas pulse wave velocity and endothelial function provided limited independent additive information. Measurement of IMT in the carotid bulb provided better discrimination of the presence of CVD in subjects with T2D than measurement of IMT in the common carotid artery. The factors most significantly associated with increased carotid IMT in T2D were age, disease duration, systolic blood pressure, impaired renal function and increased arterial stiffness, whereas there were no or weak independent associations with metabolic factors and endothelial dysfunction. Conclusions Measures of atherosclerotic burden are associated with clinically manifest CVD in subjects with T2D. In addition, vascular changes that are not directly related to known metabolic risk factors are important in the development of both atherosclerosis and CVD in T2D. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved is crucial for enabling better identification of CVD risk in T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EURopean Isotope Separation On-Line Radioactive Ion Beam (EURISOL) project aims at building a facility to produce radioactive ion beams with intensities two to three orders of magnitude higher than those presently available. A 4-MW (1-GeV, 4-mA) proton beam hits a liquid mercury converter, generating, by spallation reactions, high neutron fluxes that induce fission in surrounding fissile targets. In this work, Monte Carlo calculations of dose rate and activation were carried out to identify the necessary shielding and access restrictions for each section of the facility, including main tenance, storage, and remote control spaces. These calculations allowed an optimization of the materials chosen for the assembly, based on the radioprotection issues, while taking into account the desired performance of the system. The results of the design studies indicate that the intended performance parameters (namely neutron fluxes, fission rates, and easy fission target manipulation) of the EURISOL multimegawatt target station are in reach. The safety analysis indicates that some regions of the facility need special attention from the safety and radioprotection points of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Plateau iris configuration (PIC) is a rare condition involving an angle closure unrelated to pupillary block. It may be defined by a narrow angle and a double-hump configuration on gonioscopy. Plateau iris syndrome (PIS) may lead to acute angle-closure glaucoma due to an anterior displacement and rotation of the ciliary body. It has been proposed that ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) is helpful in PIC/ PIS diagnosis. Our work aims to describe UBM quantitative and qualitative findings in patients whose gonioscopy suggested a PIC/ PIS Methods Cross-sectional study involving patients with a double hump gonioscopic finding. UBM was then performed by a blinded observer and evaluated for the presence of following ultrasonographic (US) criteria: (1) a thick and flat iris, (2) a sharp, square root angulation on its insertion, (3) an anterior rotation of the ciliary body, (4) irido-ciliary sulcus narrowing, (5) iris-trabecular apposition and (6) a relatively normal anterior chamber (AC) depth. Only high-quality images were accepted Results From September 14 to May 15, 35 patients (59 eyes) were recruited. Only 3 eyes presented the six US criteria, 23 eyes filled five of the criteria, 13 satisfied four criteria, 16 presented three criteria and 4 two criteria. The most commonly verified criteria (over 95% of them) were a thick and flat iris and a square root insertion. There was no association between any of these criteria and sex nor age (p > 0.10). Furthermore, the presence/absence of these criteria did not correlate with either anterior chamber depth, lens vault and lens length (p > 0.10) Conclusions The majority of patients presenting with clinical iris plateau syndrome do not fulfill the entire US criteria for this condition. However, the US-based iris morphological parameters seem to be present in nearly all iris plateau patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Plateau iris configuration (PIC) is a rare condition involving an angle closure unrelated to pupillary block. It may be defined by a narrow angle and a double-hump configuration on gonioscopy. Plateau iris syndrome (PIS) may lead to acute angle-closure glaucoma due to an anterior displacement and rotation of the ciliary body. It has been proposed that ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) is helpful in PIC/ PIS diagnosis. Our work aims to describe UBM quantitative and qualitative findings in patients whose gonioscopy suggested a PIC/ PIS. Methods Cross-sectional study involving patients with a double hump gonioscopic finding. UBM was then performed by a blinded observer and evaluated for the presence of following ultrasonographic (US) criteria: 1) a thick and flat iris, 2) a sharp, square root angulation on its insertion, 3) an anterior rotation of the ciliary body, 4) irido-ciliary sulcus narrowing, 5) iris-trabecular apposition and 6) a relatively normal anterior chamber (AC) depth. Only high-quality images were accepted. Results From Sep/14-May/15, 35 patients (59 eyes) were recruited. Only 3 eyes presented the six US criteria, 23 eyes filled five of the criteria, 13 satisfied four criteria, 16 presented three criteria and 4 two criteria. The most commonly verified criteria (over 95% of them) were a thick and flat iris and a square root insertion. There was no association between any of these criteria and sex nor age (p > 0.10). Furthermore, the presence/absence of these criteria did not correlate with either anterior chamber depth, lens vault and lens length (p > 0.10). Conclusions The majority of patients presenting with clinical iris plateau syndrome do not fulfill the entire US criteria for this condition. However, the US-based iris morphological parameters seem to be present in nearly all iris plateau patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]