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The nanotwinned structures in metals exhibit the unique combination of physical properties. The unifying approach is developed that can be applied to nanocrystalline (nc) materials with different crystal structures. It is used to make a bridge between microscopical mechanisms of twin nucleation and macroscopic characteristics of the twinning and calculate them. The grain size range of the nanotwinning propensity, the grain size of its peak, and the requisite external twinning stress are calculated for the nc face-centered cubic metals Al, Cu, Ni, Pd, Au, Ag, for nc body-centered cubic metals Ta, Fe, Nb, Mo, and for hexagonal close-packed nc metals Co, Zr, Mg, Ti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Video capsule endoscopy is a major advance for small bowel exploration. Although the clinical benefit is well accepted, there are still unresolved issues concerning patient preparation. Aim: This study was set up in order to clarify the clinical benefit of small bowel preparation and give advices in order to obtain the best results for this expensive device. Method: 116 patients were randomised in 3 centres between two preparations from the traditional liquid diet versus polyethylene glycol colonoscopy-like preparation. External viewer monitoring and recording pictures were focused on image quality, bubbles or diet residues. Picture qualities were assessed blindly. Results: For jejunal exploration no differences were noticed between the two preparations but for the ileum, polyethylene glycol preparation gives significant better results than liquid diet: air bubbles (64.4% versus 29.8% p <0.05); opaque residue (83.1% versus 38.6% p <0.05). External viewer was useful in order to use prokinetic drugs in case of delayed gastric emptying. Conclusion: The result leads to a new advice for colleagues in handling patients in order to improve the diagnosis yield by using a modified polyethylene glycol preparation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of beta-blocker treatment on a large cohort of patients with coronary artery disease in functional classes II and III according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification. Among 11,575 patients with coronary artery disease screened for participation, but not included in the Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention (BIP) study, 3,225 (28%) were in NYHA classes II and III. In the latter group of patients we compared the prognosis of 1,109 (34%) treated with beta blockers with 2,116 counterparts not receiving beta-blocker therapy. After a mean follow-up of 4 years, all-cause and cardiac mortality rates were significantly lower among beta-blocker users, 9% and 5%, respectively, than among beta-blocker nonusers, 17% and 11%, respectively (p <0.01 for both). After multivariate adjustment, treatment with beta blockers was associated with a lower all-cause mortality risk (hazards ratio [HR] 0.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49 to 0.78), and a lower cardiac mortality risk (HR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.83) than was no treatment with a beta blocker. Lower total mortality risk was noted among patients in NYHA class II (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.82) and in NYHA class III (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.87) as well as in patients with (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.81) or without (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.09) a previous myocardial infarction. We conclude that beta-blocker therapy in coronary patients in NYHA classes II or III is safe and associated with a lower risk for all-cause and cardiac mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the impact of severity of growth restriction on mortality and major neonatal morbidity among very-low-birthweight small-for-gestational-age infants. STUDY DESIGN: This was a population-based observational study using data collected by the Israel National Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infant Database 1995 through 2007 including infants 24-31 weeks' gestation, with birthweight (BW) <=50th percentile without major malformations. Four BW percentile groups were considered: <3rd, 3rd-<10th, 10th-<25th, and a reference group 25th-50th percentile. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Infants of BW 3rd-<10th percentile were at increased risk for grades 3-4 retinopathy of prematurity (odds ratio [OR], 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54-2.78), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 2.03-3.12), necrotizing enterocolitis (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04-1.68), and mortality (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.94-2.90). The risk was further increased among infants of BW <3rd percentile. CONCLUSION: Growth restriction severity may serve as a clinical marker of degree of risk for neonatal mortality and various morbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the risk for maternal complications in women and neonatal outcomes in children conceived following assisted reproductive treatment as compared with spontaneously conception and also separately evaluated conventional IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The prospective cohort included 1161 women with singleton pregnancies: 561 who conceived following assisted reproduction (223 following IVF and 338 following ICSI) and 600 who conceived spontaneously. No differences were observed in pregnancy complications (including spontaneous abortion, pregnancy-induced hypertension, gestational diabetes and Caesarean delivery) except for significantly increased risk for excess vaginal bleeding in assisted reproduction pregnancies (21.4% versus 12.9%; OR 1.67, 95% Cl 1.18--2.37), which was prominent in women who reported polycystic ovary syndrome. Neonates born following assisted reproduction had increased risk for prematurity (10.6% versus 5.3%; OR 1.72, 95% Cl 1.04-2.87), and IVF, but not ICSI, was associated with significantly increased risk for prematurity (OR 2.36, 95% Cl 1.28-4.37) and low birthweight (OR 1.89, 95% Cl 1.03-3.46). In conclusion, this study observed only an increased risk for excess vaginal bleeding as a pregnancy-associated complication in singleton pregnancies following assisted compared with spontaneous conception. However, singleton neonates born following IVF, but not ICSI, were at increased risk for prematurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The synthesis of calix[4]arenes bearing two quinazolin-4-ones group at the upper rim is decribed. 1H NMR spectra and quantum chemical calculations make it possible to suggest that calix[4]arenequinazolinones form three rotamers in solutions at room temperature, due to the restricted rotation of the quinazolinone fragments. The X-ray structure investigation indicates that quinazolin-4-onecalix[4]arene exists in the crystal state as the methanol 1:1 inclusion complex. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The decrease in mortality from ischemic heart disease during the last 25 years may partly reflect improvement in diagnosis and treatment of patients with coronary heart disease. These patients, therefore, are experiencing morbidity and mortality due to other causes. The aim of our study was to describe the incidence and causes of cardiac mortality (CM) and noncardiac mortality (NCM) and to identify predictive factors. A cohort of 14,697 patients with coronary heart disease was merged with the Central Population Registry to identify mortality records from 1990 to 1996. Among the 1,839 deaths, 1,055 (57.4%) were cardiac, 626 (34.0%) were noncardiac, and 158 deaths (8.6%) were due to unknown causes as classified in the International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Edition (ICD). The 3 most significant predictors were age for a 10-year increment (odds ratios 1.75 and 2.25 for CM and NCM, respectively), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratios 1.67 and 1.71), and current smoking (odds ratios 1.29 and 1.66). A history of cancer was a predictor of NCM, but not of CM, whereas peripheral vascular disease predicted CM but not NCM. As the number of predictive factors increased from none to >or=5, the risk of NCM gradually increased from 1.9% to 15.5%. Similar predictors expose subjects with coronary disease to CM and NCM, but smoking plays a more pronounced role in the prediction of NCM, whereas past myocardial infarction, lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and peripheral vascular disease are mainly associated with CM. Because of the similarity of antecedent predictors, treatment of risk factors among patients with coronary heart disease should prove valuable for the prevention of all-cause mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photoluminescence (PL) emission and excitation spectra of undoped and doped with rare-earth (RE = Eu, Tb) ions K 3 Bi 5 (PO 4 ) 6 and K 2 Bi(PO 4 )(MoO 4 ) crystals are studied in 3.7–14 eV region of the excitation photon energies at T = 8 and 300 K. The mechanisms of the host-related and RE-related luminescence in 3.7–7 eV region of the excitation photon energies are revealed in comparative analysis of the PL spectra of studied compounds. It is assumed that the excitation mechanisms of host luminescence of K 3 Bi 5 (PO 4 ) 6 and K 2 Bi(PO 4 ) (MoO 4 ) crystals below 4.8 eV are related to Bi 3+ ions in oxygen surrounding. An efficient energy transfer from the Bi 3+ -related luminescence centers to the emitting RE centers exists in crystals with low concentration of the RE dopants (1%). The PL excitation spectra of K 3 Bi 5 (PO 4 ) 6 crystals with high concentration of Eu dopants are formed by O – Eu CT transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The photoluminescence (PL) of ZrP2O7 and KZr2(PO4)3 phosphate crystalline micro-powders grown by spontaneous crystallization method is studied under vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) synchrotron radiation excitations (4–20 eV region of excitation photon energies) in 8–300 K temperature region. The electronic structures (partial densities of states) and optical absorbance spectra of the crystals are calculated by the Full-Potential Linear Augmented Plane Wave Method. Both phosphate crystals reveal PL emission band in the UV spectral region peaking near 300 and 295 nm for ZrP2O7 and KZr2(PO4)3 respectively. The spectral profile of the band weakly depends on temperature. The excitation spectra of the UV emission in each crystal contain intensive excitation band peaking at 189 and 182 nm for ZrP2O7 and KZr2(PO4)3 respectively. The excitation band of the UV emission is related to band-to-band electronic transitions with charge transfer from O 2p to Zr 4d states. The energy band gaps E g of ZrP2O7 and KZr2(PO4)3 are estimated as 6.7 and 6.6 eV respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mortality and morbidity after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is higher in diabetic than in nondiabetic patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been shown to exert a beneficial effect after AMI. We sought to evaluate the association between treatment with ACE inhibitors and 1-year outcome after AMI in diabetic and nondiabetic patients in a national survey. The study population was drawn from a national survey conducted in all coronary care units operating in Israel during a 5-month period in 1996, and included 2,179 patients with AMI: 533 diabetics (24%), 322 of whom received ACE inhibitors (60%) and 211 who did not; and 1,646 nondiabetics, 805 of whom received ACE inhibitors and 841 who did not. In both groups of patients, those treated with ACE inhibitors were older, included more women, more had a history of AMI, anterior wall AMI, or hypertension, and more had worse Killip class on admission. Diabetic patients treated with ACE inhibitors experienced lower 1-year mortality rates than diabetics not treated with ACE inhibitors (16.2% vs 18.8%, respectively; covariate adjusted hazard ratio 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.30 to 0.74). In nondiabetic patients, however, ACE inhibitor treatment was not associated with a better outcome (10.2% vs 7.3%, respectively; covariate adjusted hazard ratio 0.80; 95% confidence interval 0.56 to 1.15). Thus, treatment with ACE inhibitors after AMI appears to be particularly beneficial in diabetic patients. The beneficial effect observed supports the widespread use of ACE inhibitors in diabetic patients after AMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike thrombolytic agents, there are conflicting data regarding the time-dependent effect of aspirin treatment on outcome in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We sought to evaluate the impact of timing of aspirin administration (before vs after thrombolysis) on mortality of patients with AMI. Our study included 1,200 patients with ST elevation AMI treated with thrombolysis. Early (n = 364) versus late (n = 836) users were defined as those receiving emergency aspirin before versus after initiation of thrombolysis, respectively. Time (median) from symptom onset to initiation of aspirin treatment was significantly shorter in early versus late users (1.6 vs 3.5 hours; p <0.001). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to baseline clinical characteristics. Early aspirin users were more likely to develop reischemia, to be treated with beta blockers, to be referred to coronary angiography, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, or coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Early users experienced lower mortality at 7 days (2.5% vs 6.0%, p = 0.01), 30 days (3.3% vs 7.3%, p = 0.008), and 1 year (5.0% vs 10.6%, p = 0.002) than late users. This survival benefit persisted for patients with and without previous aspirin therapy or revascularization and after adjustment for baseline characteristics and therapies at 7 days (odds ratio 0.36, 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.79), at 30 days (odds ratio 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.17 to 0.82), and at 1 year (odds ratio 0.41, 95% confidence interval 0.21 to 0.74). Our study proposes a time-dependent benefit from aspirin in patients with AMI treated with thrombolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Killip class II or III are likely to benefit from catheterization and coronary revascularization performed within 30 days of AMI. The study population was drawn from 2 national surveys performed during 1996 and 1998 in 26 coronary care units operating in Israel. Our analysis included 3,113 patients with AMI who were divided into 2 groups according to their admission Killip class: 2,484 patients (80%) in Killip class I, of whom 1,408 (57%) underwent cardiac catheterization and 1,076 were treated noninvasively; and 629 patients in Killip class II or III, of whom 314 (50%) underwent cardiac catheterization and 315 were managed conservatively. Patients in Killip class II or III who were treated invasively had lower mortality rates than their counterparts who were treated noninvasively at 30 days: 7.6% versus 15.6%, respectively (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28 to 0.92), and thereafter from 30 days to 6 months, 4.3% versus 13.6%, respectively (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.68). In Killip class I patients, an invasive versus noninvasive management was not associated with a better outcome at 30 days: 1.6% versus 3.2%, respectively (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.05), but with similar mortality rates at 30 days to 6 months, 1.9% versus 2.0%, respectively (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.79 to 2.74). Thus, the present study suggests that patients with AMI in Killip class II or III on admission may benefit from cardiac catheterization and revascularization performed within 30 days from admission, whereas patients with AMI in Killip class I are less likely to benefit from this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the incidence, characteristics, management and outcome of cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction. Cardiogenic shock criteria; Utilization rates of intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation and coronary artery bypass surgery; Reasons for the worse outcome of patients with postadmission shock.

Compares the incidence of cardiac rupture among patients with acute myocardial infarction treated by thrombolysis versus percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Study methods; Baseline characteristics of patients involved in the study; Useful tool for early risk stratification in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Cancer incidence was assessed among a cohort of 10,923 male coronary patients in Israel screened for participation in a secondary prevention trial and compared with national cancer incidence rates. Higher total and age-specific incidence rates of cancer were observed among male coronary patients than among the Israeli male population, but this excess was limited to cancers of the lung, bladder, and colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic significance of unrecognized and newly defined borderline diabetes (with fasting blood sugar 126 to 139 mg/dl) by the American Diabetes Association criteria in coronary patients over a 7.7-year follow-up. Both undiagnosed and newly diagnosed borderline diabetes were associated with an unfavorable metabolic profile. The mortality of the borderline diabetics tended to be higher than in their nondiabetic counterparts. but this tendency did not reach statistical significance. A significant excess in long-term mortality was observed among the undiagnosed diabetes group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]