Late Phenomenon Research Articles

The influence of intensive physical training on growth and pubertal development in athletes

Genetic potential for growth can be fully expressed only under favorable environmental conditions. Although moderate physical activity has beneficial effects on growth, excessive physical training may negatively affect it. Sports favoring restricted energy availability, in the presence of high energy expenditure, are of particular concern. In gymnastics, a different pattern in skeletal maturation and linear growth was observed, resulting in an attenuation of growth potential in artistic gymnasts (AG), more pronounced in males than in females. In female rhythmic gymnasts (RG), the genetic predisposition to growth was preserved owing to a late catchup growth phenomenon. In all other sports not requiring strict dietary restrictions, no deterioration of growth has been documented so far. Intensive physical training and negative energy balance alter the hypothalamic pituitary set point at puberty, prolong the prepubertal stage, and delay pubertal development and menarche in a variety of sports. In elite RG and AG, prepubertal stage is prolonged and pubertal development is entirely shifted to a later age, following the bone maturation rather than the chronological age.

BAS/BSCR36 Regulation of human smooth muscle cell development by myocardin

BackgroundMyocardin is a cardiac-specific and smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific transcription factor with a key role in development. It regulates a wide variety of SMC-specific contractile markers by acting as an...

Incidence and Risk Factors of Late Target Lesion Revascularization After Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation (3-Year Follow-Up of the j-Cypher Registry)

It yet has not been clarified whether there is a late catch-up phenomenon in target lesion revascularization (TLR) after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) compared to bare metal stent (BMS) implantation. In 12,824 patients enrolled in the j-Cypher Registry, incidences of early (within first year) and late (1 year to 3 years) TLR were compared between 17,050 lesions treated with SESs and 1,259 lesions treated with BMSs. Incidences of TLR in SES-treated lesions were 5.7% at 1 year, 8.1% at 2 years, and 10.0% at 3 years, whereas those in BMS-treated lesions were 14.2%, 15.5%, and 15.5%, respectively (p <0.0001, log-rank test). Incidences of late TLR were significantly higher with SESs compared to BMSs (2.6% vs 1.4% at 2 years and 4.5% vs 1.4% at 3 years, p = 0.0007, log-rank test). A multivariable logistic regression model identified 7 independent risk factors for late TLR at 3 years after SES implantation: hemodialysis, low estimated glomerular filtration rate, ostial right coronary artery, lesion length >or=30 mm, 2 stents for bifurcation, American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology type B2/C, and vessel size <2.5 mm. Of these, 5 factors were common to those for early TLR. In conclusion, a late catch-up phenomenon was observed as indicated by the increasing incidence of late TLR after SES, but not after BMS, implantation. Risk factors for late TLR were generally common to those for early TLR.

Frequency of various brain parenchymal findings of early cerebral ischemia on unenhanced CT scans

The purpose of the study was to determine the frequency of various unenhanced computed tomography (CT) findings of early cerebral ischemia within brain parenchyma, which could be useful to the radiologist who is interpreting CT studies by indicating the CT finding that is most likely to be present in early cerebral ischemia. We analyzed articles reporting the use of unenhanced CT in acute cerebral ischemia over the period 1976-2009 for frequency of the following brain parenchyma signs: loss of insular ribbon, obscuration of lentiform nucleus, sulcal effacement, and parenchymal hypodensity. We recorded data for the 2-, 3-, 6-, and 12-h intervals after symptom onset from various studies and (1) calculated percent of time intervals in which >50% of patients exhibited the finding in any study and (2) pooled results for patients reported as having a specific CT finding during a specific time interval. We hypothesized that CT findings indicating brain swelling, which would be expected to be a relatively late phenomenon, would be detected at a lower rate in the first 6 h than changes of decreased density of brain tissue and increased density of arteries. The loss of insular ribbon sign (83% of time intervals reported) and obscuration of lentiform nucleus sign (75%) were the most common signs present in >50% patients in a time interval in any article. Pooled results showed that the two most common findings in the first few hours were loss of insular ribbon (70% at 2 h; 77% at 3 h) and obscuration of lentiform nucleus (60% at 2 h; 82% at 3 h). At 6 h, parenchymal hypodensity (53%), loss of insular ribbon (46%), and obscuration of lentiform nucleus (46%) were most common, which validated our hypothesis. At 12 h, loss of insular ribbon (65%) and sulcal effacement (63%) were most common. Loss of insular ribbon and obscuration of lentiform nucleus appear to be the most common signs of early cerebral ischemia identified on unenhanced CT.

Generalized Erlang and mortality levelling off distributions

We propose some simple generalizations of the Erlang distribution and study their properties and their connections to other existing well known distributions. In particular, we examine the mortality rate functions and their shapes which informs us how the population ages under these models. With suitable selections of parameter values, we can achieve all the common monotonic or non-monotonic hazard rate shapes that occur in reliability and survival analysis. Some of these functions have an S shape which is suitable for the lifetime random variables that exhibit a late life deceleration phenomenon.

Connectivity in the human fetal brain

Event Abstract Back to Event Connectivity in the human fetal brain Ivica Kostovic1* and Lana Vasung1 1 School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Netherlands It is generally accepted that complexity of neuronal connections in the human brain underlies complexity of cognitive and behavioral functions. In this paper we explain how developmental cellular events and connectivity patterns form special framework for early functions and establishment of adult circuitry. At the beginning of fetal period distributions of circuitry elements (axons, dendrites and synapses) is strictly bi-laminar outside of proliferative zones. The first quantifiable number of synapses occurs after 15 post conceptional weeks (PCW) in the transient subplate zone. This early synapses are substrate of endogenous, sensory non-driven activity. Distribution within the connectivity compartments is random and no modular units were observed. Important phenomenon in development of afferent input is "waiting" phenomenon: axons "wait" for several months until they gradually invade target cortical area. These waiting synaptic compartments may be visualized in both in vivo and postmortem images. The bipolar orientation of synapses, with predominance of deep circuitry is basis for cortical surface-positive electric response. The majority of described circuitry is transient. It is only after 23 PCW that sensory driven afferents establish connections in the corresponding cortical target area. At the end of gestation another phenomenon take place and that is a dramatic reorganization of fetal circuitry due to the retraction of axons and gradual disappearance of transient fetal layers. In conclusion, early fetal circuitry shows transient laminar distribution and transient endogenous activity. Sensory driven activity is late phenomenon and further development of connectivity proceeds after dramatic spatial and cellular reorganization of cortex. The knowledge on development of fetal circuitry is important for understanding of biological basis of motor sensory and cognitive functions as well as developmental origin of mental and cognitive disorders in men. Conference: Biomag 2010 - 17th International Conference on Biomagnetism , Dubrovnik, Croatia, 28 Mar - 1 Apr, 2010. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Fetal and neonatal biomagnetism Citation: Kostovic I and Vasung L (2010). Connectivity in the human fetal brain. Front. Neurosci. Conference Abstract: Biomag 2010 - 17th International Conference on Biomagnetism . doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2010.06.00071 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 22 Mar 2010; Published Online: 22 Mar 2010. * Correspondence: Ivica Kostovic, School of Medicine University of Zagreb, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, Zagreb, Netherlands, ikostov@hiim.hr Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Ivica Kostovic Lana Vasung Google Ivica Kostovic Lana Vasung Google Scholar Ivica Kostovic Lana Vasung PubMed Ivica Kostovic Lana Vasung Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Georgios Sphrantzes or how to become an archon in Byzantium in the XV century

The historical work by Georgios Sphrantzes, his Memoirs, illustrates, through information on his life and career, the way in which a person could enter the higher social circles in XV century Byzantium. Usually, these persons were referred to in sources as "archons" and some of them as the emperor?s "oikeioi", which involved a specific kind of personal and close relationship with the ruler and, in this case, a dynasty. Furthermore, "Sphrantzes" work provides data on some late Byzantine phenomena, for instance, not only the imperial "oikos", but those of the emperor?s brothers as well, and indicates the existence of the same hierarchy in the "ospitia" of the despotai.

Unravelling the endovascular microenvironment by optical coherence tomography

> “The more I see, the less I know for sure.” > > - John Lennon Undoubtedly, the field of interventional cardiology has evolved significantly over the past decades. A myriad of technologies, from mechanical devices that simply remove or displace obstructive atheroma to more complex energy-emitting or local drug delivery systems that interfere with critical molecular pathways, have been incorporated into our clinical armamentarium. This rapid pace of cardiovascular device development poses considerable challenges to contemporary clinician-investigators, who have at their disposal ageing X-ray coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging systems to take on the difficult task of judging these therapies ( Figure 1 ). We have relied on a presbyopic view of what happens in the vascular microenvironment after it receives high doses of potent drugs, once only given to patients with cancer or transplanted organs. Barlis et al. have reported the first multicentre experience on the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a new drug-eluting stent (DES).1 The term substudy in the title and the fact that OCT was not the primary endpoint of the main investigation should not distract the reader from realizing the historical value of this report as it indicates the early signs of a late catch-up phenomenon, not the one commonly associated with late lumen loss. It defines the somewhat late arrival of OCT, a derivative of optical low-coherence reflectometry introduced by James Fujimoto in the early 1990s,2 in cardiology clinical trials providing the corrective lens to allow a clear, close-up look at the vessel wall. In a simplified view, OCT is the optical cousin of IVUS: emitting and detecting backscattered signals. The use of light renders considerable advantages to OCT while creating some challenges—the most noticeable are the inability to see through blood or beyond 2 mm of tissue depth. The … *Corresponding author. Tel +1 216 844 5840, Fax: +1 216 844 8954, Email: marco.costa{at}uhhospitals.org

Coronary stenting with the sirolimus-eluting stent in patients with restenosis after intracoronary brachytherapy: results from the prospective multicentre German Cypher Stent Registry

Treatment of restenosis following intracoronary brachytherapy (ICB) is still a challenging problem. Implantation of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) in this setting may be an option to be evaluated. We analysed the prospective multicentre SES registry, the German Cypher Stent Registry. 7,445 patients treated with an SES during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were registered. Out of these patients, 61 (0.8%) were treated for restenosis after ICB: 56 patients with completed follow-up could be evaluated. Median age was 65 years, with 80% male patients. 48% of patients had a prior myocardial infarction and 25% had already coronary bypass surgery (CABG). Type B2 lesion was present in 40% and type C lesion in 22.4%. Event rates from SES implantation until 6.6 months follow-up were death 0%, myocardial infarction 3.6%, stroke 2.1%. Target vessel revascularization rate (TVR) was 16.4%, and major adverse cardiovascular or cerebral events (MACCE) or TVR occurred in 17.9% of patients. This TVR rate was higher compared with that of other patients treated with an SES: 8.4% (P = 0.04). During 65 months follow-up MACCE or TVR occurred in 44.6% of patients. The treatment of lesions after ICB occurred in 0.8% out of all patients treated with an SES. Clinical event rates during early follow-up were low. However, the TVR rate was 16.4%, which was significantly higher when compared with other SES-treated patients (8.4%, P = 0.04). The treatment of restenosis after ICB with SES seems to be safe and reasonably effective; however, there might be a late catch-up phenomenon.

Recent advances in ASTEC validation on circuit thermal-hydraulic and core degradation

Within the SARNET network of excellence in the 6th Framework Programme of the European Commission, the severe accident integral code ASTEC, jointly developed by IRSN (France) and GRS (Germany), has been validated against international experiments to evaluate the suitability and capability of new or improved models implemented in successive code versions up to V1.3rev2, delivered in December 2007. This paper focuses on the code applications concerning circuit thermal-hydraulics and core degradation to integral and separate-effect experiments: for the CESAR thermal-hydraulic module, BETHSY 9.1 b, PACTEL ISP 33 and T2.1, PMK2-SBLOCA, LOFT-LP-FP-2; for the DIVA core degradation module, CORA-13 and -W2, QUENCH-11 and -13, LOFT-LP-FP-2, Phébus FPT-4, FARO L14 and L28, LIVE-L1, OLHF-1, FOREVER EC2. Besides, the TMI-2 accident has been analyzed using the CESAR and DIVA modules in a coupling mode. The emphasis was put on the following new or improved models: i.e. in CESAR, reflooding of an intact core, condensation in the pressurizer, sub-critical break flow correlation, and new pressurizer spray model; in DIVA, corium behaviour in the lower head and lower head mechanical failure. For thermal-hydraulics in the circuits, good results have been obtained with ASTEC on the three integral experiments that cover various thermal-hydraulic flow regimes: LOFT-LP-FP-2 in Western PWR geometry and the two PACTEL experiments in VVER-440 geometry. These good results have been confirmed by the validation done on several BETHSY integral tests. For core degradation, the ASTEC results are good for early-phase models of core heat-up, oxidation and hydrogen production (before any quenching phase) on different CORA and QUENCH experiments and on LOFT-LP-FP-2. For the in-vessel late-phase, the results can be considered as good regarding debris bed melting (Phébus FPT-4), corium fragmentation at slump into vessel lower plenum (FARO), molten pool behaviour in lower plenum (LIVE-L1), and vessel lower head mechanics (OLHF-1 and FOREVER EC2). Furthermore, the first two phases of the TMI-2 accident before core reflooding are very well calculated by ASTEC. The main remaining modelling weaknesses concern the reflooding of a degraded core and the corresponding hydrogen production. The implementation of detailed magma 2D relocation models in the new series of ASTEC V2 versions (the first one being released mid-2009) will allow a more realistic simulation of late phase phenomena up to the failure of the lower head.

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Americans All: The Cultural Gifts Movement

This timely book takes us back to the interwar origins of contemporary debates in the United States over ethnic studies and multicultural education. It is a welcome antidote given the current rise of anti-immigration sentiment and renewed fears of “strangers in the land.” Others, such as the novelist Philip Roth, revisit the 1930s in a different mood, imagining a fascist outcome of nativist fears resulting in the creation of a government Office of American Absorption, forcibly imposing a hegemonic reading of Americanism on America's immigrant population. As Diana Selig points out, there were such temptations of European fascism at work in the United States, but her focus is on countertrends, those that promoted a vision of tolerance and acceptance of ethnic and cultural diversity in the United States. Most of us think of multiculturalism as a late twentieth-century phenomenon, an outgrowth of 1960s liberalism and the ethnic pride movement of the 1970s. Some scholars have traced it back to the World War II and Cold War years. But Selig pushes the origins of contemporary multiculturalism back to the social and cultural ferment following World War I.

Early (M170) activation of face-specific cortex by face-like objects.

The tendency to perceive faces in random patterns exhibiting configural properties of faces is an example of pareidolia. Perception of 'real' faces has been associated with a cortical response signal arising at approximately 170 ms after stimulus onset, but what happens when nonface objects are perceived as faces? Using magnetoencephalography, we found that objects incidentally perceived as faces evoked an early (165 ms) activation in the ventral fusiform cortex, at a time and location similar to that evoked by faces, whereas common objects did not evoke such activation. An earlier peak at 130 ms was also seen for images of real faces only. Our findings suggest that face perception evoked by face-like objects is a relatively early process, and not a late reinterpretation cognitive phenomenon.

Neurological abnormalities in phenylketonuria.

Neurological disturbances were recorded in 46 out of 58 patients with phenylketonuria. An abnormal electroencephalogram was the most frequent finding. Motor signs were encountered in 31 cases. Only 2 patients showed true hyperkinesias and no other “extrapyramidal” signs were observed. Severe neurological dysfunction was most frequent in the most retarded patients. Severe motor signs only occurred in patients in their second and third decade. Twelve of the 58 patients were followed for 6 to 9 years. Five of these evolved supra-nuclear motor signs during the observation period. Two patients further showed definite progression of motor signs already present. The emergence or progression of motor disturbances always occurred in patients in their second or third decade. Thus, motor signs appear to be late phenomena while mental deficiency and epilepsy are early manifestations of phenylketonuria. This may indicate different pathogenetic mechanisms. It is suggested that motor signs are due to demyelination, previously demonstrated. The cause of demyelination may be a toxic effect of excess phenylalanine or its metabolites. Therefore, it should be reconsidered whether or not dietary treatment should be continued beyond the first decade.

Smooth Crossing of wΛ = −1 Line in a Single Scalar Field Model

Smooth double crossing of the phantom divide line wΛ = −1 has been found possible with a single minimally coupled scalar field for the most simple form of generalized k‐essence cosmological model, in the presence of background cold dark matter. Such crossing is a sufficiently late time transient phenomenon and does not have any pathological behaviour.

Transient crossing of phantom divide line w Λ = − 1 under Gauss–Bonnet interaction

Smooth double crossing of the phantom barrier w Λ = − 1 has been found possible in cosmological model with Gauss–Bonnet-scalar interaction, in the presence of background cold dark matter. Such crossing has been observed to be a sufficiently late time phenomena and independent of the sign of Gauss–Bonnet-scalar interaction. The luminosity distance versus redshift curve shows a perfect fit with the Λ CDM model up to z = 3.5.

Disappearing Microbiota: Helicobacter pylori Protection against Esophageal Adenocarcinoma

Once rare, esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is the most rapidly increasing malignancy in many developed countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Norway, and now is surpassing esophageal squamous cell carcinomas in certain populations ([1][1], [2][2]). EAC has very specific

Evaluation of Genetic Association and Expression Reduction of TRPC1 in the Development of Diabetic Nephropathy

Background/Aims: The TRPC1 gene on chromosome 3q22–24 resides within the linkage region for diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). A recent study has demonstrated that TRPC1 expression is reduced in the kidney of diabetic ZDF- and STZ-treated rats. The present study aimed to evaluate the genetic and functional role of TRPC1 in the development of DN. Methods: Genetic association study was performed with two independent cohorts, including 1,177 T1D European Americans with or without DN from GoKinD population and 850 African-American subjects with T2D-associated end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or with hypertensive (non-diabetic) ESRD, and nondiabetic controls. Seven tag SNP markers derived from HapMap data (phase II) were genotyped. TRPC1 gene expression was examined using real time RT-PCR. Results: No significant association of TRPC1 DNA polymorphisms with DN or ERSD was found in GoKinD and African-American populations. TRPC1 gene mRNA expression in kidney was found to be trendily reduced in 12-week and significantly in 26-week-old db/db mice. Conclusions: TRPC1 genetic polymorphism may not fundamentally contribute to the development of DN, while reduction of the gene expression in kidney may be a late phenomenon of DN as seen in diabetic animal models.

Sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for bare-metal in-stent restenosis: is there any evidence for a late catch-up phenomenon?

In-stent restenosis occurs not infrequently after intracoronary implantation of bare-metal stents. Many techniques have been proposed for the treatment of in-stent restenosis, but drug-eluting stents seem to provide the best early and mid-term results. We aimed to appraise whether the effectiveness of drug-eluting stents for in-stent restenosis is maintained even in the long term. Participants in this prospective multicenter study were patients with in-stent restenosis treated with sirolimus-eluting stents. The primary endpoint was freedom from major adverse cardiovascular events (i.e. death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, or stent thrombosis) in the long term (> or =24 months), with 6-month angiography planned for all patients. A total of 271 consecutive patients were enrolled (332 sirolimus-eluting stents). Procedural success was obtained in all patients, with no case of in-hospital death, acute/subacute stent thrombosis, stroke, or urgent coronary bypass. Survival free from major cardiovascular events decreased progressively from 98.8% at 1 month, to 95.7, 83.7, 75.4, and 65.8% at 6, 12, 24, and 30 months, respectively. A similar attrition in freedom from repeat target vessel was found from 97.6% at 6 months to 76.7% at 30 months. A total of four possible and one definite stent thromboses (2.6%) were noted, all occurring several months after clopidogrel discontinuation and in patients on life-long aspirin. The present study supports the mid-term safety and effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stents for the treatment of in-stent restenosis in comparison with the other available treatments. Whether the late catch-up phenomenon observed in repeat target revascularization and stent thrombosis is an incidental finding deserves further rigorous scrutiny.

The Salt Wars. The Story of How Finance and Vested Influence Impede the Progress of Medical Science

There is a tendency to be called dinosauric, particularly when writing about older concepts of therapy which have not been “proven” by the current phenomenon of evidence based Medicine which requires that causality be proven by its poor relation, significance derived from correlative studies without the postulate of a nul hypothesis. Thus investigative clinical medicine today has become the playground of the science of the inappropriate abuse of statistical methodology, and consequently is unlikely to impact upon modern therapeutic paradigms, particularly if the consequence of the empirical treatment has negative financial implications for the pharmaceutical and food industries. However, occasionally, new ideas resuscitate these forgotten paradigms. Such is the case with the long abandoned use of a salt restricted diet in the routine management of patients with end stage renal disease. The reason for this change of attitude is best exemplified by examining two recent learned proclamations. The first published in 2004 and entitled Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiatives Guidelines on the problem of cardiovascular disease in ESRD patients (K/DOQI) devoted a miniscule paragraph in the lifestyle changes section to salt restriction, unconvincingly recommended in the very early stages of chronic kidney disease and positively contraindicated in later stages [1]. The second document, published 2 years later by the same learned body [2] devotes eight pages and over 60 references to the use of a salt restricted diet in the treatment of ESRD patients on haemodialysis. The reason for this significant change of policy may be traced to a potentially plausible and acceptable scientific explanation of a hitherto empirical observation which we published over 40 years ago [3]. When we described our initial dramatic results obtained with a 5 g salt restricted diet in severely hypertensive ESRD patients maintained on haemodialysis we observed that it took several months to achieve ultimate drug free blood pressure control. This late (lag) phenomenon was independent of the initial reduction in blood pressure associated with reducing extracellular volume and reaching an arbitrarily defined dry body weight. In addition, serial exchangeable sodium measurements showed no further reduction with the appearance of the “lag” phenomenon”. The lag phenomenon, now recognized by many authors, has been shown to be due to a reduction in peripheral resistance [4]. The possible explanation may be linked to the reduction of non-osmotically active sodium which is potentially bound in the interstitial matrix lining the intimal surface of blood vessels containing proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans ; this sodium store takes months to normalize on a 5 g salt intake [5]. The concept depends upon observations in vitro that the gene responsible for inducing the inflammatory cytokine cycle, MAPK38 (mitogen activated protein kinase) stimulated by a local high sodium concentration; and resulting in an ADMA (asymmetric dimethyl arginine) induced increase in peripheral resistance by reduction in nitric oxide synthesis will be reversed by a low salt dietary intake, as will the production of inflammatory cytokines. Thus the lesson to be learned from the almost unique experience of Tassin and Izmir (cited in [4]) is that the most important determinant of improved survival in ESRD patients on haemodialysis is less related to the technical aspects of therapy than to the insistence of a 5 g daily salt intake. The tragedy of this conclusion is that the tendency to increase the salt intake of the world’s population by the spread of processed food and instant cooking make the problem of adherence to such a Kidney (2008) 17:176–177 DOI 10.1007/s00596-008-0036-3