low-SIS Groups Research Articles

Association between sarcopenia index, intraoperative events and post-discharge mortality in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: a retrospective cohort study in a teaching hospital in Western China.

To examine the association between the sarcopenia index (SI) and the risk of intraprocedural events and post-discharge death during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A retrospective cohort study. The study was conducted at a teaching hospital in Western China. The participants were patients aged 45 years and older who underwent PCI at the hospital and had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥15 mL/min/1.73 m2. Patients who died during hospitalisation, as well as those with unknown death dates, those lost to follow-up and those with missing information for the SI calculation, were excluded. The SI was calculated as serum creatinine/cystatin C (Cr/CysC) × 100. The high-SI group was defined as the highest quartile, while the remaining participants were included in the low-SI group. Intraprocedural events included intraprocedural coronary slow flow (CSF)/coronary artery no-reflow (CNR) and malignant ventricular arrhythmia (MVA). In the event of death, the date of death was recorded. The study included 497 patients who underwent PCI in our hospital, of whom 369 (74.25%) were males. A total of 57 (11.47%) patients developed CSF, 100 (20.12%) developed CNR and 4 (0.8%) developed MVA. Forty-four (8.85%) patients died post-discharge. The proportion of patients in the low-SI group who developed CSF was higher than those who did not (16.94% vs 9.65%, p=0.027). In addition, the average SI was lower in patients who developed CSF than in those who did not (81.99 vs 87.11, p=0.043). After adjusting for possible confounding factors, logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of CSF in the low-SI group was higher than that in the high-SI group (OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.04 to 3.89). In addition, it was found that the lower the SI, the higher the risk of CSF (OR = 0.983, 95% CI: 0.967 to 0.999). Patients with lower SI had a greater risk of developing CSF, and the lower the SI, the higher the risk of CSF. However, these data suggest that SI is not associated with CNR and the risk of post-discharge death in patients after PCI.

Sarcopenia Index Predicts Short-Term Prognosis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The sarcopenia index (SI), calculated as [(serum creatinine/serum cystatin C) × 100], maybe a simpler alternative for measuring muscle mass than computed tomography (CT) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). We enrolled 112 patients with head and neck cancers (HNC). The correlation of the SI with muscle surface area measured by CT (CTMSA, n = 82) and muscle mass by BIA (BIA-MM, n = 41) was tested. Cutoff values were set for SI, CTMSA, and BIA-MM. Overall survival (OS) was compared between the high- and low-SI/CTMSA/BIA-MM groups. The SI was correlated with CTMSA (r = 0.43) and BIA-MM (r = 0.52). The optimal cutoff values of SI, CTMSA, and BIA-MM were 76.1 (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.67), 129.2 (AUC = 0.59), and 46.1 (AUC = 0.62), respectively. OS was significantly lower in the low-SI group (78% at 1 year and 69% at 2 years) than in the high-SI group (94% at 1 year and 86% at 2 years; p = 0.006). There was no significant difference in OS between the low-and high-CTMSA and -BIA-MM groups. The SI, which only requires a blood sample, is a useful marker of muscle mass that correlates with short-term prognosis in patients with HNC.

A baseline sarcopenia index based on creatinine/cystatin C for the prediction of stroke recurrence and mortality in older survivors of first ischemic strokes.

Older adults individuals have a higher risk of stroke recurrence, leading to high mortality and disability rates, which, in turn, hinders the achievement of healthy aging. This study aimed to assess the utility of a baseline sarcopenia index (SI) based on serum creatinine (Cr)/cystatin C (CysC) as a prognostic marker for the risk of stroke recurrence and mortality in first-ever ischemic stroke older survivors (ISOS). Data were obtained from an ischemic stroke cohort study. The baseline information was collected from medical records and face-to-face interviews with patients admitted between January 2010 and June 2016. Follow-up information was obtained from telephone interviews every 3 months to determine stroke recurrence and survival status. The SI was calculated from the Cr and CysC values in the medical records as Cr/CysC × 100. Using the first quantile of the SI as the cut-off value, the study participants were divided into the low muscle-mass group (low SI) and the high muscle-mass group (high SI). Cox regression analysis was used to assess the association between SI and recurrence and mortality. A total of 415 first-ever ISOS were enrolled, including 242 (58.31%) male and 173 (41.69%) female participants. In the high-SI group, the relapse and mortality rates were lower than those in the low-SI group (relapse: 20.58% vs. 30.77%; mortality:13.5% vs. 29.81%). After adjusting for confounding factors, the high-SI group was found to have a lower risk of relapse and mortality than the low-SI group (relapse: HR = 0.571; mortality: HR = 0.294). The SI was predictive of the long-term prognosis of IS recurrence and mortality in first-ever ISOS. After discharge, in addition to conventional medication, it is recommended that patients with low SI values actively receive treatment for sarcopenia to reduce the risk of stroke recurrence and mortality and promote healthy aging.

Shock Index for the Prediction of Interventions and Mortality in Patients With Blunt Thoracic Trauma

IntroductionShock index (SI) is a bedside simple scoring tool; however, it has not yet been tested in blunt thorax trauma (BTT). We sought to evaluate the prognostic value of SI for chest interventions (thoracostomy tube or thoracotomy), blood transfusion, and mortality in patients with BTT. We hypothesized that high SI is associated with worse outcomes in patients with BTT. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of all BTT patients (chest Abbreviated Injury Score [AIS] > 1) hospitalized in a level 1 trauma center between 2011 and 2020. Patients with AIS >1 for head or abdominal injuries and patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation surgery or penetrating injuries were excluded. Patients were categorized into two groups (low SI <0.80 versus high SI ≥0.80) based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of mortality. ResultsA total of 1645 patients were admitted with BTT; of them, 24.5% had high SI. The mean age was 39.2 ± 15.2 y, and most were males (91%). Patients with high SI were younger, had sustained severer injuries, and required more chest interventions (P = 0.001), blood transfusion (P = 0.001), and massive transfusion protocol activation (P = 0.001) compared with low SI group. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 2.6%, which was more in the high SI group (8.2% versus 0.8%; P = 0.001). SI significantly correlated with age (r = −0.281), injury severity score (r = 0.418), Glasgow Come Score on arrival (r = −0.377), Trauma and Injury Severity Score (r = −0.144), Revised Trauma Score (r = −0.219), serum lactate (r = 0.434), blood transfusion units (r = 0.418), and chest AIS (r = 0.066). SI was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio 3.506; 95% confidence interval 1.389-8.848; P = 0.008), and this effect persisted after adjustment for chest intervention (odds ratio 2.923; 95% confidence interval 1.146-7.455; P = 0.02). ConclusionsThe present study highlights the prognostic value of SI as a rapid bedside tool to predict the use of interventions and the risk of mortality in patients with BTT. The study findings help the emergency physicians for early and appropriate risk stratification and triaging of patients with BTT.

Transitional phase Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI: Visual assessment of hepatic function and fibrosis based on uptake rate of Gd-EOB-DTPA

PurposeThe aim of the study is to investigate the feasibility for hepatic function and fibrosis visual assessment using transitional phase imaging based on the uptake process of Gd-EOB-DTPA. Materials and methodsWe retrospectively selected 105 consecutive patients who underwent Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI examination at 1.5 Tesla for intrahepatic lesion evaluation from June 2020 to June 2022. Data were classified into two groups defined by the signal intensity (SI) difference in the hepatic vein against that of the hepatic parenchyma at transitional phase as follows: High and Iso-SI group: hepatic vein SI equal to or greater than the hepatic parenchymal SI; and Low-SI group: hepatic vein SI lower than hepatic parenchymal SI. We evaluated whether significant differences in ALBI score, FIB-4, APRI and LSR of hepatobiliary phase between two groups. We measured cut-off values between two groups in all items according to receiver operating characteristic analysis. Furthermore, the inter-reader reproducibility of the visual assessment on transitional phase images between two readers was evaluated using the ICC. ResultsThe visual assessment results were as follows: High and Iso- and Low-SI groups included 48, 57, patients, respectively. Significant differences were observed in ALBI score, FIB-4, APRI and LSR between two groups. The cut-off values of ALBI score, FIB-4, APRI and LSR were −2.69, 2.28, 0.49 and 2.15. ICC of transitional phase image visual assessment between two readers was 0.86. ConclusionsHepatic function and fibrosis might be assessed by visual assessment of transitional phase images in Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced MRI.

The Systemic Inflammation Score Is an Independent Prognostic Factor for Esophageal Cancer Patients who Receive Curative Treatment.

Perioperative systemic inflammation affects the long-term oncological outcomes in cases of malignancies. We evaluated the clinical impact of the preoperative systemic inflammation score (SIS) in resectable esophageal cancer patients who received curative treatment. This study included 168 patients who underwent curative surgery followed by perioperative adjuvant chemotherapy for esophageal cancer between 2005 and 2018. The risk factors for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were identified. Based on the 3- and 5-year OS rate, we set the cut-off value for SIS at 2 in the preset study. Among the 168 total patients, 119 were categorized as the Low-SIS group, and 49 were categorized as the High-SIS group. The respective 3- and 5-year OS rates were 61.9% and 52.4% in the Low-SIS group and 33.3% and 26.6% in the High-SIS group. There were significant differences in OS (p<0.001). The SIS was therefore selected for the final multivariate analysis model (hazard ratio=2.094, 95% confidence interval=1.355-3.234, p<0.001). On comparing the perioperative clinical course between the High- and Low-SIS groups, there were significant differences in the rate of postoperative anastomosis leakage of grade ≥2 between the groups (61.5% in the High-SIS group vs. 30.3% in the Low-SIS group; p=0.021). The systemic inflammation score had a clinical effect on the long-term oncological outcomes in esophageal cancer patients, suggesting that it might be a promising prognostic factor for esophageal cancer patients.

Elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels reflects renal interstitial inflammation in drug-induced acute tubulointerstitial nephritis

BackgroundA renal biopsy is needed to define active inflammatory infiltration and guide therapeutic management in drug-induced acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (D-ATIN). However, factors such as various contraindications, refusal of informed consent and limited technical support may stop the biopsy process. It is thus of great importance to explore approaches that could deduce probable pathologic changes.MethodsA total of 81 biopsy-proven D-ATIN patients were enrolled from a prospective cohort of ATIN patients at Peking University First Hospital. The systemic inflammation score (SIS) was developed based on the CRP and ESR levels at biopsy, and patients were divided into high-SIS, median-SIS, and low-SIS groups. The demographic data, clinicopathologic features, and renal outcomes were compared.ResultsThe SIS was positively correlated with inflammatory cell infiltration and was inversely correlated with interstitial fibrosis. The number of interstitial inflammatory cells increased significantly with increasing SISs. The proportions of neutrophils and plasma cells were the highest in the high-SIS group compared with the other two groups. Prednisone (30–40 mg/day) was prescribed in all patients. The high-SIS group tended to have more favorable renal restoration than the other two groups. By 12 months postbiopsy, a decreased eGFR (< 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) was observed in 66.7% of medium-SIS patients, 32.4% of high-SIS patients, and 30.4% of low-SIS patients.ConclusionThe SIS was positively correlated with active tubulointerstitial inflammation and therefore could help to aid therapeutic decisions in D-ATIN.

The Relationship between Performance of Attention Task and Suicidal Ideation in Korean Patients with Mood Disorders.

Objective We examined the performance of attention tests related to suicidal ideation in mood disorder patients and to explain the difference of attention test performance in relation to suicidal ideation after controlling clinical and psychological variables of mood disorder patients. Methods Seventy-three in- and outpatients with major depressive disorder (n=41) or bipolar disorder (n=32) completed a self-rating questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, and clinical and psychological variables. Comprehensive Attention Test (CAT) also was conducted. Results Thirty-three patients were the high-suicidal ideation (SI) group, and forty patients were the low-SI group. The errors of commission (CEs) of visual sustained attention in the high-SI group was 6.3 times higher on average than that of the low-SI group. After controlling for sex, age, and diagnosis, a higher number of CEs on visual sustained attention tasks predicted higher SI score. However, after controlling for sex, age, diagnosis, and depressive mood, this predictive ability was no longer observed. Conclusion This study showed that CE on the visual sustained attention task seems to influence suicidal ideation as a result of interaction with depressive symptoms.

Mental health status and sagittal spinopelvic alignment correlate with self-image in patients with adult spinal deformity before and after corrective surgery.

Preoperative patient self-image (SI) in adult spinal deformity (ASD) is the most relevant factor for surgical decision-making. Postoperative SI has an important role in a patient's satisfaction with surgery. However, few studies are available to describe these variables. The aim was to investigate the factors that correlate with SI before and 2years after ASD surgery. This study was a retrospective review of prospectively collected multicentric data. Patients who underwent ASD surgery with a minimum follow-up of 2years were enrolled (n = 391). They were divided into high-SI and low-SI groups, both preoperatively and postoperatively, according to SRS-22R SI/appearance subdomain scores at baseline and at 2years, respectively. Independently related factors for SI were determined using logistic regression analysis. Crucial factors for SI at baseline were the scores on the SRS-22R function/activity (OR: 2.61), SRS-22R mental health (OR: 2.63) subdomains, and relative spinopelvic alignment (RSA, OR: 0.95). SF-36 MCS (OR: 1.07) at baseline as well as sagittal vertical axis (SVA, OR: 0.99) at 2years, and complications (OR: 0.44) were independent predictive factors for SI at 2years. The patients who transitioned from the preoperative low-SI group to the postoperative high-SI group achieved larger global sagittal alignment restoration and had lesser complications than those who did not. Mental status and sagittal spinopelvic alignment are key determinants of SI. The results indicate that considering mental status, preventing complications, and global sagittal alignment, restoration is crucial for achieving substantial SI scores after ASD surgery. These slides can be retrieved under Electronic Supplementary Material.

P1842Impact of left ventricular outflow tract sphericity on transcatheter heart valve hemodynamics and outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Abstract Background Accurate assessment of aortic annulus and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) anatomy is mandatory for appropriate device selection in order to achieve optimal deployment of transcatheter heart valves (THV). Aim To evaluate the impact of LVOT shape as determined by the sphericity index (ratio of long and short LVOT diameter) on THV hemodynamics. Methods 1000 consecutive patients diagnosed with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis and undergoing TAVI between May 2008 and July2017 were analyzed. Assessment of aortic root dimensions including the LVOT was performed by contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in all patients. The primary endpoint was 30-day device success as defined by the VARC-2 criteria. Secondary endpoints included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI), and a 30-day combined early safety endpoint (all-cause mortality, all strokes, life threatening bleeding, acute kidney injury stage 2 or 3, CAD obstruction requiring intervention, major vascular complication, valve related dysfunction requiring repeat intervention). Results Patients were divided into 3 groups according to LVOT sphericity index (SI) quartiles. The three groups (low-SI: 0.4–0.63, n=250; mid-SI: 0.64–0.75, n=500; high-SI: 0.76–1.0, n=250) were well balanced in terms of baseline characteristics, except for gender distribution with more female patients in the low-SI group (36.8% vs. 49.0% vs. 60.0%; p=0.ehz748.05941). Assessment of calcification volume and Agatston score demonstrated significantly higher aortic valve and LVOT calcification in the high-SI group. The primary endpoint of device success after 30-days did not differ between the 3 groups (92.4% vs 91.9% vs. 87.9%; p=NS). However, moderate or severe paravalvular regurgitation (PAR) occurred significantly more often in the high-SI as compared to the other groups (4.1% vs. 5.2% vs. 10.6%; p=0.004 for low-SI vs. high-SI). In contrast, PPI rates, the early safety endpoint at 30 days, and all-cause mortality at 1 year did not differ between the groups. In the high-SI group implantation of a BE valve was associated with a significantly higher rate of device success as compared to SE valves (93.8% vs. 82.2%, p=0.007). This difference was driven by a higher rate of moderate or severe PAR (6.9% vs. 15.3%, p=0.007) in patients treated with SE valves. Moreover, patients in the high-SI group receiving a SE valve required more often a PPI than those treated with a BE valve (26.2% vs 13.3%, p=0.012). There was no difference between the THV types in the other SI groups in terms of primary and secondary endpoints. Conclusion A more circular LVOT is associated with higher aortic valve and LVOT calcification. Implantation of a SE THV results in higher rates of moderate or severe PAR and persistent conduction disorder requiring PPI in such patients.

Anti-Suicidal Efficacy of Repeated Ketamine Infusions in Depression with Suicidal Ideation

Background: Suicide is a tremendous public health crisis around the world and is demanded urgent intervention. Most people who die by suicide suffer from some forms of mental illness, especially mood disorders. Previous studies found that Ketamine intervention could rapidly reduce suicidal ideation. The current study is aim to assess the anti-suicidal efficacy of repeated ketamine infusions for Chinese depressed suicidal patients. Methods: In the current study, 112 unipolar and bipolar depressive patients with current suicidal ideation received six ketamine infusions during a 12-day period. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was measured at baseline, 4 hours and 24 hours after each infusion, two-week naturalistically follow-up. Findings: 59 (53.6%) relief of suicidal ideation (HAMD-SI=0) after first infusion and 71 (73.2%) after six infusions. Anti-suicidal response rate in low SI group were higher than high SI group (F1,1401=56.81, p<0.001). Moreover, anti-suicidal response at 24 hours after first infusion was significant predictor of response at 24 hours after sixth infusion (b=2.263, <0.001). At 24 hours after sixth infusion, correlation between changes in suicidal ideation and depression was 0.32 (p=0.001), accounting for 9.0% in the variance of suicidal ideation change. Interpretation: We confirmed that six repeated ketamine infusions were effective in generating a rapid response of suicidal ideation, with a large sample size. Reductions in suicidal thoughts following ketamine infusions were associated with, but partially independent of, the improvement in depression. Registration Number: (ChiCTR-OOC-17012239) Funding Statement: This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (grant number 2016YFC0906300), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 81801343, 81801345), the International Communication Foundation Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (grant number: 16410722500) and Guangzhou Municipal Psychiatric Disease Clinical Transformation Laboratory (grant number 201805010009), Key Laboratory for Innovation platform Plan, Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou, China. The funding source had no role in the study design, analysis or interpretation of data or in the preparation of the report or decision to publish. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests or potential conflicts of interest. MW was previously involved in a clinical trial on ketamine in treatment resistant depression in collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceuticals (trial identifier: DRK3527). This study was unrelated to the current study and MW declares no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was conducted at the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou Huiai Hospital) and approved by local ethics committee.

The prognostic value of shock index for the outcomes of acute myocardial infarction patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background:Several studies have revealed that high shock index (SI) is a risk factor for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. These studies do not give a systematic review in this issue. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effect of high SI on the prognosis of AMI patients.Methods:We did a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, using various combinations of keywords such as “shock index,” “shock-index,” “acute myocardial infarction,” “ST elevation myocardial infarction,” “non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction,” “STEMI,” “NSTEMI,” “AMI,” and “MI” for eligible studies published up to December 23, 2016. The 3 primary outcomes for this analysis were all-cause in-hospital mortality, short-term adverse outcomes, and long-term adverse outcomes.Results:Database searches retrieved 226 citations. Finally, 8 studies enrolling 20,404 patients were eventually included in the analysis. High SI was associated with an increased in-hospital mortality (pooled RR = 10.96, 95% CI: 2.00–59.94, P = .01). Adverse outcomes were significantly higher in the high SI group compared to the low SI group (pooled RR = 1.93, 95% CI: 1.10–3.39, P = .02; I2 = 95%). Individuals with high SI had an increased risk of long-term adverse outcomes (pooled RR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.90–2.81, P < .001) compared to low SI.Conclusion:High SI may increase the in-hospital mortality, short-term, and long-term adverse outcomes in AMI patients.

Geochemistry of olivine-hosted melt inclusions in the Baekdusan (Changbaishan) basalts: Implications for recycling of oceanic crustal materials into the mantle source

We determined the major and trace element concentrations of olivine-hosted melt inclusions in basalts from the active Baekdusan volcano situated on the border between China and North Korea in order to understand better the nature of the mantle source and the geodynamic processes that gave rise to volcanism at this site. Rehomogenized melt inclusions (after ‘Fe-loss’ correction) can be divided into three groups: a low-Si alkaline group, a high-Si alkaline group, and a high-Si sub-alkaline group. The low-Si group is composed of picrobasalt to basanite, and the high-Si group consists of (trachy)basalt to basaltic (trachy)andesite. The low-Si group has generally higher TiO2, CaO, and P2O5, but lower Al2O3, Na2O, and K2O contents at a given MgO concentration compared with those in the high-Si group. The CaO and P2O5 contents are positively correlated, indicating the presence of a calcium phosphate, probably tuite [γ-Ca3(PO4)2], in the source. The melt inclusions are enriched in light rare earth elements [(La/Yb)N=7.8–30.4]. On a primitive-mantle-normalized incompatible element plot, the low-Si group has positive anomalies in Ba and P compared with typical oceanic island basalt (OIB). On the other hand, the high-Si group exhibits remarkable positive anomalies in Eu, Ba, Rb, K, Pb, P, and Ti, implying that K-hollandite and tuite are essential phases in the source. The high-Si subalkaline group has lower abundances of incompatible elements than the high-Si alkaline group, reflecting different degrees of partial melting from the same source. In contrast to OIB, Baekdusan magmatism is characterized by positively fractionated (Zr/Hf)N ratios, and is best approximated by admixture of partial melts derived from both clinopyroxene-rich eclogite and garnet peridotite. Intraplate volcanism in northeastern Asia is closely associated with deep subduction of the Pacific plate. The subducting Pacific slab flattens and stagnates in the mantle transition zone under northeastern Asia, and this zone may yield a wet plume. Focused mantle upwelling through a gap in the stagnant slab may also be accompanied to the plume responsible for the Baekdusan magmatism. Thermal decomposition of K-hollandite within recycled continent-derived sediments is likely to metasomatize the ambient mantle peridotite above the stagnant slab. As the plume ascends through the upper mantle, the metasomatized mantle and recycled oceanic crustal materials (tuite-bearing eclogite or garnet pyroxenite) entrained by the plume may undergo partial melting, resulting in the volcanism observed at Baekdusan.

High Sucrose Intake at 3 Years of Age Is Associated with Increased Salivary Counts of Mutans Streptococci and Lactobacilli, and with Increased Caries Rate from 3 to 16 Years of Age

Objective: We aimed to study the long-term associations between sucrose intake (SI), selected representatives of the cariogenic oral flora, and the dental health of children from 3 to 16 years of age. Methods: At 7 months of age 1,062 infants (540 intervention; 522 controls) were included in the prospective, randomised STRIP-project aimed at restricting the child's saturated fat and cholesterol intake to prevent atherosclerosis when they become adults. At 3 years of age, every fifth child was invited (n = 178) to an oral sub-study, and 148 (78 boys) children attended. A restudy was conducted on 135 children aged 6, 127 aged 9, 114 aged 12 and 88 aged 16. SI using 4-day food records, plate-cultured mutans streptococci (MS), salivary lactobacilli (LB) and yeasts using commercial kits (Orion Diagnostica, Espoo Finland), toothbrushing frequency using fluoridated toothpaste and dental health expressed as d₃mft/D₃MFT were regularly recorded. Results: The SI of children whose intake was ≥10 E% (high SI) at 3 years remained high throughout the entire follow-up (p < 0.001, GLM for repeated measures) period, and they had higher salivary MS and LB counts (p = 0.024 and p = 0.068, respectively, GLM) than their counterparts whose SI was below 10 E% (low SI). No differences in toothbrushing habits were found between the high and low SI-groups. Caries-survival was strongly associated with low 6-year-counts of MS (p = 0.008, Cox regression analysis), and the d₃mft/D₃MFT-scores of the high SI-group were higher than those of the low SI-group (p = 0.046, GLM). Conclusions: High SI at 3 years was associated with high MS-counts (≥10⁵ cfu/ml) and with a high risk for caries.

Effects of Foot-Massage on Mood and Autonomic Nervous System and the Interaction with Personality

Massage is often used to reduce psychological distress or to improve local circulation, but, the effects of massage are neither stable nor consistent. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of foot-massage on mood and autonomic nervous system in highly stressed students, and the interaction with personality. We selected highly stressed students by scores of daily hassles scale and profile of mood states (POMS). We employed POMS and visual analogue scale to assess mood, and employed heart rate variability, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), and baroreflex sensitivity to assess autonomic nervous function. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed increase of vigor and comfortableness, and decrease of diastolic BP after foot-massage. To evaluate the interaction with personality, repeated measures ANOVA was applied to two groups (low- and high-) divided by the score of clinical scale of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). High-Pa group (considered to be sensitive in human relationships) showed significant decrease of tension-anxiety after the massage,but low-Pa did not. Low-Si group (considered to be socially active) showed significant decrease of angerhostility and fatigue after the massage, but high-Si did not. And low-Ma group (considered to be temperate and adjusting slowly) showed remarkable decrease of diastolic BP after the massage, but high-Ma did not. These results suggest that foot-massage would generally raise vigor and comfortableness, and decrease diastolic BP, however, the effects would be different from person to person, and beneficial effects to reduce tension-anxiety, anger-hostility and fatigue can be expected dependent on their personality.

Mafic dykes intrusive into Pre-Cambrian rocks of the São Luís cratonic fragment and Gurupi Belt (Parnaíba Province), north–northeastern Brazil: Geochemistry, Sr–Nd–Pb–O isotopes, 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, and relationships to CAMP magmatism

Dykes of diabase and microgabbro intruded into Pre-Cambrian rocks of the São Luís cratonic fragment and Gurupi Belt, which are tectonic and erosive windows of the Parnaíba Basin in north–northeastern Brazil. Ar–Ar ages were determined, and major, trace element, and Nd–Sr–Pb–O isotopic compositions of these dykes were measured to provide insights into their age, and into the nature of their mantle sources and petrogenetic processes. The data have also been used to compare the chemical and isotopic signatures of the dykes with those of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP). Four chemical groups of mafic dykes have been identified. These comprise two subtypes of high-Ti rocks (i) HTi-1 (TiO2<2.3wt.%; SiO2>47 wt.%), (ii) HTi-2 (TiO2>2.7wt.%; SiO2>47wt.%), in addition to (iii) evolved high-Ti (TiO2>4wt.%; SiO2 of ~46wt.%) and (iv) low-Si (TiO2>2.2wt.%; SiO2<45wt.%) rocks. 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of plagioclase returned ages of 201±4 Ma and 193±10 Ma for the HTi-2 subtype, and of 201±2 Ma and 207±9Ma for the evolved high-Ti group. The HTi-1 and low-Si groups presented highly disturbed age spectra, and did not allow the definition of their emplacement ages. The Argon data indicate an age >200Ma for the low-Si group and are dubious with respect to the age of theHTi-1 subtype, if coeval with (i.e., ~200Ma), or older than, the HTi-2 and evolved high-Ti types. All groups present δ18O values of pyroxene that are compatible with uncontaminated mantle-derived magmas. The HTi-1 subtype (average 143Nd/144Nd200=0.512644; 87Sr/86Sr200=0.7035; 206Pb/204Pb of 17.86) shows the less enriched and less fractionated (more primitive) trace element distribution of all groups. The HTi-2 subtype shows enriched trace element pattern and depleted Nd–Sr signature (143Nd/144Nd200=0.512610; 87Sr/86Sr200=0.7037) and average 206Pb/204Pb ratios of 17.23. The evolved high-Ti chemical group shows average ratios of 143Nd/144Nd200=0.512558, 87Sr/86Sr200=0.7035, and 206Pb/204Pb of 16.88, and the more enriched trace-elements signature among the four groups. The chemical and isotopic compositions and trends of the HTi-1/HTi-2/EHTi types are consistent with their derivation from an asthenosphere-derived parental magma further modified by differentiation and minimal crust contamination (higher in the HTi-2 and EHTi types), and by the derivation of one type from another via fractional crystallization. These high- and evolved high-TiO2 types show ages and some chemical and isotopic features that are consistent with those of the CAMP magmatism. Some differences found are ascribed to petrogenetic processes, such as magma differentiation. A combination of warming of the mantle and edge-driven convection beneath the Pangea supercontinent after the closure of the Neoproterozoic (Brasiliano/Pan-African) orogenies in the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary might have triggered the magmatic event. The low-Si type shows paired Ta–Nb and Zr–Hf depletions, and depleted Sr–Nd (average 143Nd/144Nd200=0.512687; 87Sr/86Sr200=0.703) and enriched Pb (206Pb/204Pb of 18.66) isotopic compositions that may be interpreted to result either from interaction of a subcontinental lithospheric mantle with products of an earlier subduction or by contamination of the mantle-derived magma during ascent and emplacement in the continental crust. It is hypothesized that these dykes were emplaced in the Ediacaran–Cambrian boundary, after the Neoproterozoic orogeny that built up the Gurupi Belt and in the early extensional stages that preceded the formation of the Parnaíba Basin.

Geochemical Stratigraphy of Submarine Lavas (3–5 Ma) from the Flamengos Valley, Santiago, Southern Cape Verde Islands

New high-precision Pb–Sr–Nd isotope, major and trace element and mineral chemistry data are presented for the submarine stage of ocean island volcanism on Santiago, one of the southern islands of the Cape Verde archipelago. Pillow basalts and hyaloclastites in the Flamengos Valley are divided into three petrographic and compositional groups; the Flamengos Formation lavas (∼4·6 Ma) dominate the sequence, with the younger Low Si and Coastal groups (∼2·8 Ma) found near the shoreline. Olivine and clinopyroxene compositions and isotopic data for minerals and their host melts indicate disequilibrium between some crystals and the melt. Intra-sample disequilibrium suggests homogenisation of liquids but eruption before complete equilibration between crystals and melt preserves the heterogeneity. Pressures of crystallization for clinopyroxene (0·4–1·1 GPa) indicate stalling and crystallization of the magmas over a range of depths in the lithosphere. Major element compositions indicate melting of a carbonated eclogite source. Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data suggest the involvement of FOZO-like and EM1-like components in the mantle source, which are simultaneously available at all depths in the melting column. The Flamengos Valley lavas display large compositional variations, often between stratigraphically adjacent flows; these frequent abrupt changes of magma composition suggest stalling and crystallization of discrete magma batches on transport through the lithosphere.