Meson Screening Masses in the Interacting QCD Plasma

The meson screening mass in the pseudoscalar channel is calculated from the momentum dependent meson spectral function, using HTL fermionic propagators. A careful subtraction procedure is required to get an UV finite result. It is shown that in the whole range of temperatures explored here the HTL screening mass stays above the non-interacting result, slowly approaching the value m_{\trm{scr}}=2\sqrt{\pi^2T^2+m_\infty^2}, where $m_\infty^2$ is the HTL asymptotic thermal quark mass. Our analysis leads to a better understanding of the excitations of QGP at sufficiently large temperatures and may be of relevance for interpreting lattice results

Short term effects of milrinone on biomarkers of necrosis, apoptosis, and inflammation in patients with severe heart failure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Inotropes are associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure (HF), raising concern they may accelerate myocardial injury. Whether biomarkers of myocardial necrosis, inflammation and apoptosis change in response to acute milrinone administration is not well established.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ten patients with severe HF and reduced cardiac output who were to receive milrinone were studied. Blood samples were taken just before initiation of milrinone and after 24 hours of infusion. Dosing was at the discretion of the patient's attending physician (range 0.25–0.5 mcg/kg/min). Plasma measurements of troponin, myoglobin, N-terminal-pro-BNP, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, soluble Fas, and soluble Fas-ligand were performed at both time points.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Troponin was elevated at baseline in all patients (mean 0.1259 ± 0.17 ng/ml), but there was no significant change after 24 hours of milrinone (mean 0.1345 ± 0.16 ng/ml, p = 0.44). There were significant improvements in interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, soluble Fas, and soluble Fas-ligand (all p < 0.05) indicative of reduced inflammatory and apoptotic signaling compared to baseline.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, among patients with severe HF and low cardiac output, ongoing myocardial injury is common, and initiation of milrinone did not result in exacerbation of myocardial injury but instead was associated with salutary effects on other biomarkers.</p

Levels and sources of PCDDs, PCDFs and dl-PCBs in the water ecosystems of central Poland — A mini review

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are unwanted by-products in a variety of industrial and thermal processes. They have been present on Earth long before the human era, since they may be also formed as a result of forest fires or volcanic explosions. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in turn, have been intentionally produced by humans. Poland was a minor producer of PCB mixtures (Chlorofen and Tarnol), which were a source of direct and indirect environmental diffusion with PCB and less with PCDDs/PCDFs. Industrial accidents with PCDDs/PCDFs were absent in Poland. Their stability and resistance to thermal breakdown made them very dangerous for environment and, in consequence, due to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and biomagnification in the terrestrial and aquatic food chains, to humans. Humans may become affected by PCDDs/PCDFs and PCBs through environmental (soil and water contamination, fish and food), occupational (incinerators; pulp, paper and metallurgy industry; copper production), or accidental (Seveso accident) exposure. The aim of this review was to evaluate environmental hazard caused by PCDDs, PCDFs and dioxin-like-PCBs in the central region of Poland based on the accessible data on diffusion of those compounds in sediments and riverine, reservoir and storm water from our previous studies and discussed in the context of other achievements in Poland and elsewhere

Continuous aortic flow augmentation - A pilot study of hemodynamic and renal responses to a novel percutaneous intervention in decompensated heart failure

Background - Diminished aortic flow may induce adverse downstream vascular and renal signals. Investigations in a heart failure animal model have shown that continuous aortic flow augmentation ( CAFA) achieves hemodynamic improvement and ventricular unloading, which suggests a novel therapeutic approach to patients with heart failure exacerbation that is inadequately responsive to medical therapy. Methods and Results - We studied 24 patients ( 12 in Europe and 12 in the United States) with heart failure exacerbation and persistent hemodynamic derangement despite intravenous diuretic and inotropic and/or vasodilator treatment. CAFA ( mean +/- SD 1.34 +/- 0.12 L/min) was achieved through percutaneous ( n = 19) or surgical ( n = 5) insertion of the Cancion system, which consists of inflow and outflow cannulas and a magnetically levitated and driven centrifugal pump. Hemodynamic improvement was observed within 1 hour. Systemic vascular resistance decreased from 1413 +/- 453 to 1136 +/- 381 dyne (.) s (.) cm(-5) at 72 hours ( P = 0.0008). Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 28.5 +/- 4.9 to 19.8 +/- 7.0 mm Hg ( P < 0.0001), and cardiac index ( excluding augmented aortic flow) increased from 1.97 +/- 0.44 to 2.27 +/- 0.43 L (.) min(-1) (.) m(-2) ( P = 0.0013). Serum creatinine trended downward during treatment ( overall P = 0.095). There were 8 complications during treatment, 7 of which were self-limited. Hemodynamics remained improved 24 hours after CAFA discontinuation. Conclusions - In patients with heart failure and persistent hemodynamic derangement despite intravenous inotropic and/or vasodilator therapy, CAFA improved hemodynamics, with a reduction in serum creatinine. CAFA represents a promising, novel mode of treatment for patients who are inadequately responsive to medical therapy. The clinical impact of the observed hemodynamic improvement is currently being explored in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial

Dane demograficzne jako czynniki ryzyka aktywnej postaci gruźlicy płuc

Background. The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis is dependent on many factors, not just health but also demographics. The primary objective of the study was to identify and evaluate selected risk factors for active tuberculosis in patients treated in the former specialist clinic in the eastern part of Lublin Province and to compare them with the ones researched by other authors. Material and methods. The work was retrospective as it concerns the analysis of the data drawn from the records of 100 patients with active tuberculosis. The information on the examined patients included the following parameters: sex, age, place of residence and marital status. Results. The majority of the studied population were male (69.0%), among whom the highest proportion concerned the fourth age group, i.e. 51-60 years old (mean 36.3%). As for sex and place of residence of the patients, the proportion of the infected men living in the country was twice as high (68.7%) when compared to women (31.3%). However, there were no differences with regard to the subpopulation percentage of women (67.8%) and men (66.7%). In turn, considering the sex and marital status of the examined persons, we found that the highest proportion of men were bachelors − 39.1%, while the percentage of married persons was similar among men (56, 5%) and women (58.1%). Conclusions. The analysis of the data shows that in the studied area pulmonary tuberculosis is most common among married men aged 51-60 years living in the country.Wprowadzenie. Zapadalność na gruźlicę płuc zależy od wielu czynników, nie tylko zdrowotnych, lecz również wskaźników demograficznych. Celem pracy była identyfikacja i ocena wybranych czynników ryzyka gruźlicy prątkującej w populacji chorych leczonych w specjalistycznym ośrodku lecznictwa zamkniętego we wschodniej części województwa lubelskiego oraz porównanie ich z wynikami badań innych autorów. Materiał i metody. Praca miała charakter retrospektywny i była oparta na analizie danych pochodzących z historii chorób 100 pacjentów z aktywną postacią gruźlicy płuc. Zakres zbieranych danych obejmował następujące parametry: płeć, wiek, miejsce zamieszkania oraz stan cywilny badanych chorych. Wyniki. W badanej populacji większość stanowili mężczyźni (69,0%), wśród których najwyższy odsetek odnotowano w czwartej grupie wieku, tj. 51- 60 lat (36,3%). Biorąc pod uwagę płeć i miejsca zamieszkania badanych osób, to aż dwukrotnie wyższy był odsetek mężczyzn zamieszkałych na wsi (68,7%) w porównaniu z kobietami (31,3%). Jednak nie ma różnic w udziałach badanych w subpopulacji kobiet (67,8%) i mężczyzn (66,7%). Z kolei uwzględniając płeć i stan cywilny badanych stwierdzono, że w badanej populacji dowiedziono, że największy udział mieli tu mężczyźni zaliczeni do kategorii stanu cywilnego (kawaler) 39,1%, natomiast zbliżone były udziały osób będących w związku małżeńskim, zarówno wśród mężczyzn (56,5%), jak i kobiet (58,1%). Wnioski. Z analizy uzyskanych danych wynika, że gruźlica płuc na terenie objętym badaniami występuje najczęściej u mężczyzn w grupie wieku 51-60 lat, mieszkających na wsi i pozostających w związku małżeńskim