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The effect of hold time with 0, 20, and 40 s on in-phase thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) behavior and life of P92 steel is investigated in this study. TMF tests are carried out under mechanical strain control with strain amplitudes of 0.40.4, 0.60.6, and 0.8%0.8\text{\%}, and temperature range of 550–650°C which is closely relevant to the operating condition in power plant. TMF tests are performed in a mechanical strain ratio of R=−1R=-1 and cycle time of 120 s. The fatigue life variation follows the sequence of Nf0s

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term treatment with arotinolol in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM)., Methods: Sixty-three patients with IDCM were evaluated at baseline and after 12-month therapy with arotinolol. The conventional therapy for congestive heart failure was continued throughout the study with arotinolol as the only beta-blocker. Left ventricular function was assessed with the New York Heart Association functional class and two-dimensional echocardiography., Results: After 12-month arotinolol treatment, there was a significant improvement in left ventricular systolic function. Left ventricular end-systolic dimension significantly decreased from 59.52 +/- 8.83 mm to 50.89 +/- 8.17 mm (P < 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction significantly increased from 27.39% +/- 7.94% to 41.13% +/- 9.45% ( P < 0.001). Left ventricular mass index decreased from 150.47 +/- 42.42 g/m2 to 141.58 +/- 34.36 g/m2 (P < 0.01). No adverse events leading to premature discontinuation of study drug occurred., Conclusion: In this preliminary study, 12-month arotinolol treatment has a favorable effect on left ventricular function in patients with IDCM, and it is safe and well tolerated.

Objective: To describe the clinical features of paradoxical embolism and therefore to improve its diagnosis., Methods: Case analysis and literature review., Results: Eight cases of pulmonary embolism complicated with paradoxical embolism were diagnosed, of whom there were six men and two women (mean age, 47.6 years). Patent foramen ovale with right to left shunt was identified in only 3 cases. Cerebral embolism occurred in three patients, kidney artery embolism in 2 patients, left atrial thrombus in 1 patient, lower limb artery and aortic embolism in 1 patients respectively. The diagnosis of paradoxical embolism can only be confirmed when a venous thrombus was detected lodged at arterial-venous communication; otherwise, paradoxical embolism was considered a clinical diagnosis. Of the 8 cases, 7 were clinically diagnosed, while 1 was confirmed., Conclusions: Paradoxical embolism is not uncommon. The diagnosis should be considered when venous thromboembolism is complicated with systematic embolism or unknown cause of systematic embolism.

Objective: To investigate the vicissitudes of the proportion and the mortality of patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE)., Methods: To analyze respectively the data of 442 patients with PTE admitted to the Fuwai Hospital during the period 1974-2002 were analyzed retrospectively., Results: The numbers of PTE in-patients every year during the 1970s and 48-79 cases in the early 2000s. The hospitalization constituent ratio of PTE was 0.1152% in 1970s and was 0.5866% in early 2000s. The age of onset ranged from 30 to 60. The tide age was from 30 to 60 in the male patients and from 40 to 60 in the female patients. The in-hospital mortality of PTE patients was descending from 20.0% in 1970s to 5.8% in early 2000s. The in-hospital mortality was 12.5% before 1990 and was 4.5% after 1990 (P = 0. 005). The in-hospital mortality rates of the male and female patients were 4.6% and 8.6% respectively (P = 0.09). The in-hospital mortality rates of the patients younger than 70 and elder than 70 were 5.5% and 19.0% respectively (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: PTE The mortality of PTE, which attacks males more frequently than females, and the proportions of the number of PTE in-patients to the number of the whole in-patients increased and the in-hospital mortality increased during the past 3 decades.

Objective: To improve the differential diagnosis of pulmonary artery sarcoma from pulmonary embolism., Method: Case analysis and literature review., Results: Pulmonary artery sarcoma had similar clinical features as pulmonary thromboembolism. When the radiological features such as unilateral hilar enlargement and massive lumps in main trunk of pulmonary artery were observed and clinical deterioration occurred after thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy, pulmonary artery sarcoma should be considered seriously in patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism., Conclusion: Pulmonary artery Sarcoma can be easily misdiagnosed as pulmonary thromboembolism.