Decrease in shunt volume in patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO) there is evidence supporting the hypothesis of a change in right-to-left shunt (RLS) over time. Proven, this could have implications for the care of patients with PFO and a history of stroke. The following study addressed this hypothesis in a cohort of patients with stroke and PFO.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The RLS volume assessed during hospitalisation for stroke (index event/T0) was compared with the RLS volume on follow-up (T1) (median time between T0 and T1 was 10 months). In 102 patients with a history of stroke and PFO the RLS volume was re-assessed on follow-up using contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler/duplex (ce-TCD) ultrasound. A change in RLS volume was defined as a difference of ≥20 microembolic signals (MES) or no evidence of RLS during ce-TCD ultrasound on follow-up.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was evidence of a marked reduction in RLS volume in 31/102 patients; in 14/31 patients a PFO was no longer detectable. An index event classified as cryptogenic stroke (P < 0.001; OD = 39.2, 95% confidence interval 6.0 to 258.2) and the time interval to the follow-up visit (P = 0.03) were independently associated with a change in RLS volume over time.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>RLS volume across a PFO decreases over time, especially in patients with cryptogenic stroke. These may determine the development of new strategies for the management in the secondary stroke prevention.</p

Passive Mineral Carbonation of Mg-rich Mine Wastes by Atmospheric CO2

Mg-rich process tailings and waste rocks from mining operations can react spontaneously with atmospheric CO2 to form stable carbonate minerals by exothermic reactions. Over the last decade, we have conducted a number of laboratory and field experiments and surveys on both mine waste rocks and different types of mine tailings from Ni-Cu, chrysotile, and diamond mines. The experiments and surveys cover a wide range of time (103 to 108 s) and mass (1-108 g) scales. Mine waste rich in brucite or chrysotile enhances the mineral carbonation reactions. Water saturation, but more importantly, watering frequency, are highly important to optimize carbonation. Adjusting the chemical composition of the interstitial water to favour Mg dissolution and to prevent passivation of the reaction surfaces is crucial to ensure the progress of the carbonation reactions. Preservation of the permeability structure is also critical to facilitate water and CO2 migration in the rock wastes and tailings. In field experiments, CO2 supply controled by diffusion in the mining waste is slower than the reaction rate which limits the capture of atmospheric CO2. Industrial implementation of passive mineral carbonation of mine waste by atmospheric CO2 can be optimized using the above parameters

Stylonectria norvegica (Nectriaceae), a new species fromNorway

Stylonectria norvegica sp. nov. is described from three collections on pyrenomycetous hosts on Quercus, Betula and Alnus in Norway. The fusarium-like asexual state was obtained in culture and the ITS1- 5.8S-ITS2 loci were sequenced. This new species is described and illustrated and its affinities and differences with other species in the genus are discussed. Ascomycota, fungicolous, Hypocreales, ITS, taxonomy

A new species of &lt;I&gt;Ijuhya, I. oenanthicola&lt;/I&gt;

Volume: 119Start Page: 249End Page: 25

&lt;I&gt;Eutypella phaeospora,&lt;/I&gt; a new species on &lt;I&gt;Chenopodiaceae&lt;/I&gt;

Volume: 118Start Page: 441End Page: 44

Two new species of &lt;I&gt;Lasionectria&lt;/I&gt; (&lt;I&gt;Bionectriaceae, Hypocreales&lt;/I&gt;) from Guadeloupe and Martinique (French West Indies)

Volume: 121Start Page: 275End Page: 28

A new species of [i]Ijuhya, I. fournieri,[/i] from french Guiana

A detailed description of [i]Ijuhya fournieri[/i] sp. nov. is presented based on two collections on dead palm leaves in French Guiana. The asexual state has been obtained in culture and sequenced. Molecular data indicate that it is an undescribed species of [i]Ijuhya[/i]. A key to the species of Ijuhya with fasciculate hairs is provided.Une description détaille de [i] Ijuhya fournieri[/i] sp. nov. est présentée, basée sur deux récoltes sur feuilles mortes de palmier en Guyane Française. Le stade asexué a été obtenu en culture et séquencé. Les données moléculaires indiquent qu’il s’agit d’une espèce d’ Ijuhya non décrite. Une clé des espèces d’ [i]Ijuhya[/i] avec des poils fasciculés est fournie