Short-term Phase Research Articles

Chemical composition of five Miscanthus sinensis harvests and nitric-acid cellulose therefrom

A new form of Miscanthus sinensis Andersson var. Soranovskii suitable for cultivation in the severe continental climate of Siberia is considered herein. This cultivar offers such merits as high yielding capacity with short-term vegetative phase, frost resistance, pest resistance, and unpretentiousness to soil. This is the first report investigating the chemical composition of Miscanthus sinensis grown in Siberia as a function of the plantation age during the initial five years. With advancing plantation age, the biomass yield was found to rise from 2.1tha−1 to 14.9tha−1 and cellulose content of the biomass from 42% to 54%. Cellulose specimens were derived by the nitric-acid process from five Miscanthus harvests and had the α-cellulose content of 93–95%, total non-cellulosics of at most 1.8%, and cellulose degree of polymerization ranging from 880 to 1050. Miscanthus grown in the severe continental climate of Siberia can serve as a source of high-quality cellulose. The cellulose can perfectly be utilized for the synthesis of cellulose esters and other bio-based products.

Depression and anxiety following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective population-based study in Germany.

In this prospective multicenter study, we investigated the course of depression and anxiety during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) until 5 years after transplantation adjusting for medical information. Patients were consulted before HSCT (n=239), at 3 months (n=150), 12 months (n=102) and 5 years (n=45) after HSCT. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Detailed medical and demographic information was collected. Prevalence rates were compared with an age- and gender-matched control group drawn from a large representative sample (n=4110). The risk of depression before HSCT was lower for patients than for the control group (risk ratio (RR), 0.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.39/0.81). Prevalence rates of depression increased from 12 to 30% until 5 years post HSCT. Anxiety rates were most frequently increased before HSCT (29%, RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.02/1.68) and then reached a stable level comparable to the background population (RR 0.83, 95% CI, 0.56/1.22). This study confirms the low levels of depression in the short term after HSCT and identifies depression as a long-term effect. Furthermore, it confirms previous results of heightened anxiety before HSCT. Surveillance of symptoms of anxiety during the short-term phase of HSCT and of depression during the following years is crucial.

Reciprocal regulation of β2-adrenoceptor-activated cAMP response-element binding protein signalling by arrestin2 and arrestin3

Activation of Gs coupled receptors (e.g. β2-adrenoreceptor (β2AR)) expressed within the uterine muscle layer (myometrium), promotes intracellular cAMP generation, inducing muscle relaxation through short-term inhibition of contractile proteins, and longer-term modulation of cellular phenotype to promote quiescence. In the myometrium cAMP-driven modulation of cell phenotype is facilitated by CREB activity, however despite the importance of CREB signalling in the promotion of myometrial quiescence during pregnancy, little is currently known regarding the molecular mechanisms involved. Thus, we have characterised β-adrenoceptor-stimulated CREB signalling in the immortalised ULTR human myometrial cell line.The non-selective β-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline induced time- and concentration-dependent CREB phosphorylation, which was abolished by the β2AR selective antagonist ICI118,551. β2AR-stimulated CREB phosphorylation was mediated through a short-term PKA-dependent phase, and longer-term Src/p38 MAPK-dependent/PKA-independent phase. Since in model cells, arrestin2 can facilitate β2AR-mediated Src/p38 recruitment, we examined whether CREB signalling was activated through a similar process in myometrial cells. Depletion of arrestin2 attenuated p38 phosphorylation, whilst arrestin3 depletion enhanced and prolonged isoprenaline-stimulated p38 signals, which was reversed following inhibition of Src. Knockdown of arrestin2 led to enhanced short-term (up to 10min), and attenuated longer-term (>10min) isoprenaline-stimulated CREB phosphorylation. Contrastingly, removal of arrestin3 enhanced and prolonged isoprenaline-stimulated CREB phosphorylation, whilst depletion of both arrestins abolished CREB signals at time points >5min.In summary, we have delineated the molecular mechanisms coupling β2AR activity to CREB signalling in ULTR myometrial cells, revealing a biphasic activation process encompassing short-term PKA-dependent, and prolonged Src/arrestin2/p38-dependent components. Indeed, our data highlight a novel arrestin-mediated modulation of CREB signalling, suggesting a reciprocal relationship between arrestin2 and arrestin3, wherein recruitment of arrestin3 restricts the ability of β2AR to activate prolonged CREB phosphorylation by precluding recruitment of an arrestin2/Src/p38 complex.

Rapid Adaptation of a Polygenic Trait After a Sudden Environmental Shift.

Although a number of studies have shown that natural and laboratory populations initially well adapted to their environment can evolve rapidly when conditions suddenly change, the dynamics of rapid adaptation are not well understood. Here a population genetic model of polygenic selection is analyzed to describe the short-term response of a quantitative trait after a sudden shift of the phenotypic optimum. We provide explicit analytical expressions for the timescales over which the trait mean approaches the new optimum. We find that when the effect sizes are small relative to a scaled mutation rate, small to moderate allele frequency changes occur in the short-term phase in a synergistic fashion. In contrast, selective sweeps, i.e., dramatic changes in the allele frequency, may occur provided the size of the effect is sufficiently large. Applications of our theoretical results to the relationship between QTL and selective sweep mapping and to tests of fast polygenic adaptation are discussed.

Role of Tartaric Acid in Chemical, Mechanical and Self-Healing Behaviors of a Calcium-Aluminate Cement Blend with Fly Ash F under Steam and Alkali Carbonate Environments at 270 °C.

Tartaric acid (TA) changes short-term mechanical behavior and phase composition of sodium-metasilicate activated calcium-aluminate cement blend with fly ash, type F, when used as a set control additive to allow sufficient pumping time for underground well placement. The present work focuses on TA effect on self-healing properties of the blend under steam or alkali carbonate environments at 270 °C applicable to geothermal wells. Compressive strength recoveries and cracks sealing were examined to evaluate self-healing of the cement after repeated crush tests followed by two consecutive healing periods of 10 and 5 days at 270 °C. Optical and scanning electron microscopes, X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform infrared and EDX measurements along with thermal gravimetric analyses were used to identify phases participating in the healing processes. Samples with 1% mass fraction of TA by weight of blend demonstrated improved strength recoveries and crack plugging properties, especially in alkali carbonate environment. This effect was attributed to silicon-rich (C,N)-A-S-H amorphous phase predominant in TA-modified samples, high-temperature stable zeolite phases along with the formation of tobermorite-type crystals in the presence of tartaric acid.

Interest of an auto-adjustable nighttime compression sleeve (MOBIDERM\xae Autofit) in maintenance phase of upper limb lymphedema: the MARILYN pilot RCT

PurposeBreast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a debilitating condition. The recommended treatment is based on decongestive lymphedema therapy (DLT) with two separate phases: a short-term intensive phase to reduce lymphedema volume and a long-term maintenance phase to stabilize it. Optimizing compression therapy and compliance during maintenance phase are key factors for long-term control of lymphedema. The primary objective of this pilot prospective open-label randomized study was to assess the benefit of a new auto-adjustable nighttime arm sleeve (MOBIDERM® Autofit) on lymphedema volume during the maintenance phase after the intensive phase.MethodsForty women with BRCL were consecutively enrolled and randomized (D0) for 1 month in 1:1 ratio either in night-use group: with MOBIDERM® Autofit (on top of a daytime compression hosiery), or in no night-use group: without MOBIDERM® Autofit (daytime hosiery alone). From Day 31 to Day 90, all patients were fitted with MOBIDERM® Autofit. Primary endpoint was lymphedema volume variation between Day 0 and Day 30. Secondary endpoints were compliance, quality of life (LYMQOL arm questionnaire), functional symptoms (heaviness, limb use limitation, pain), sleep quality, and safety.ResultsIn ITT population, between Day 0 and Day 30, mean lymphedema volume increase was higher in no night-use group with 92.9 mL (i.e., 3.2%) than in night-use group with 46.7 mL (i.e., 1.80%), p = 0.757. Between Day 30 and Day 90, all patients fitted with MOBIDERM® Autofit, lymphedema volume remained stable in both groups. The device improved functional symptoms and function domain of the LYMQOL arm questionnaire. MOBIDERM® Autofit was worn overnight almost 85% of the nights. It was well accepted by the patients and no adverse reaction leading to permanent device discontinuation occurred.ConclusionsOur results suggest that MOBIDERM® Autofit offers clinical benefits during maintenance phase of lymphedema treatment and enhances patient’s self-management.

P262 Cognitive outcomes of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in the treatment of major depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Compared to high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) appears to be particularly effective in the treatment of unipolar psychotic major depression. The aim of the current study was to compare the short-term cognitive effects of the two methods in the treatment of major depression using a systematic literature review and a meta-analysis. Methods A systematic literature search of PubMed, PsycInfo, and Medline (any time – 16.02.2016) identified k = 118 studies. Of those k = 5 met the inclusion criteria (parallel design, rTMS with >1 Hz frequency, diagnosis of major depression). Cognitive functioning was measured as overall cognitive impairment, working memory, anterograde memory (learning), and retrograde memory (free-recall) using several standardised scales administered at baseline and at the end of the short-term stimulation phase. The effect sizes (standardised mean difference, Hedges’ g ) were pooled according to random-effects meta-analysis with inverse-variance weights. Results The studies utilised a single-blind design ( k = 1) or open-label designs ( k = 4). Mixed samples with psychotic depression were included in two studies. All k = 5 studies utilised 10–20 sessions of 10-Hz rTMS of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Most studies applied ECT as a right unilateral stimulation with 2.5 times the seizure threshold energy in 2–14 sessions. HF-rTMS was applied as an augmentation therapy in three studies and ECT was applied as an augmentation therapy in four studies. The pooled weighted effects (from three studies each) showed that the overall cognitive impairment and working, anterograde, and retrograde memory tended to improve after the short-term treatment compared to baseline. However, the magnitude of these effects did not differ between ECT vs. HF-rTMS. On the individual study level, anterograde and retrograde memory were impaired after ECT but not HF-rTMS in one study with severely depressed unipolar non-psychotic patients. Conclusion Short-term ECT and HF-rTMS treatments appear to have similar effects on cognitive functioning in unipolar major depression. However, cognitive outcomes need to be assessed in further blinded randomised trials with homogeneous samples and beyond the short-term treatment phases.

OP02 A Managed Access Approach To Appraising New Cancer Drugs In England

INTRODUCTION:The changing regulatory landscape brings new challenges to Health Technology Assessment (HTA). Marketing authorizations are being granted as the evidence base evolves to facilitate timely patient access to promising health technologies. Consequently, some products come to HTA bodies sooner in their development cycles with less evidence, which ultimately leads to greater uncertainty in decision making. A key challenge for payer and HTA bodies is providing access to promising medicines while the evidence is still emerging, in a financially sustainable way.METHODS:Changes to the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) have resulted in a managed access fund for cancer medicines in England. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) can now recommend a treatment for use within the CDF if there is plausible potential to satisfy the criteria for routine use in the National Health Service (NHS) at its current price, but the evidence is not robust enough and associated with significant uncertainty. Further evidence is then generated in clinical trials, through observational data collection, or a combination of the two, while the drug's price reflects the decision uncertainty. At the end of the managed access period, NICE reviews the guidance to determine if the treatment can be recommended for routine commissioning.RESULTS:The first treatment recommended for use within the new CDF was osimertinib for non-small cell lung cancer (1). At the time of NICE appraisal, there was considerable uncertainty in osimertinib's clinical and cost effectiveness because only short-term phase II trial results were available. NICE's independent appraisal committee considered there was plausible potential for osimertinib to be cost effective and identified that an ongoing phase III trial would provide longer-term data addressing the key uncertainties.CONCLUSIONS:An integrated approach between payer and HTA decision-maker has significantly changed how cancer treatments in England are appraised. This collaborative way of working heralds a more sustainable approach to introducing promising cancer treatments.

Accurate frequency referencing for fieldable dual-comb spectroscopy.

We describe a dual-comb spectrometer that can operate independently of laboratory-based rf and optical frequency references but is nevertheless capable of ultra-high spectral resolution, high SNR, and frequency-accurate spectral measurements. The instrument is based on a "bootstrapped" frequency referencing scheme in which short-term optical phase coherence between combs is attained by referencing each to a free-running diode laser, whilst high frequency resolution and long-term accuracy is derived from a stable quartz oscillator. The sensitivity, stability and accuracy of this spectrometer were characterized using a multipass cell. We demonstrate comb-resolved spectra spanning from 140 THz (2.14 µm, 4670 cm-1) to 184 THz (1.63 µm, 6140 cm-1) in the near infrared with a frequency sampling of 200 MHz (0.0067 cm-1) and ~1 MHz frequency accuracy. High resolution spectra of water and carbon dioxide transitions at 1.77 µm, 1.96 µm and 2.06 µm show that the molecular transmission acquired with this system operating in the field-mode did not deviate from those measured when it was referenced to a maser and cavity-stabilized laser to within 5.6 × 10-4. When optimized for carbon dioxide quantification at 1.60 µm, a sensitivity of 2.8 ppm-km at 1 s integration time, improving to 0.10 ppm-km at 13 minutes of integration time was achieved.

Normalized detection by using the blow-away signal in cold atom interferometry.

We propose and realize a simple normalized detection scheme for cold atom interferometry. The detection of population in final atomic states is normalized to the blow-away fluorescence during initial state preparation. In this way, the detection system and procedure are both simplified. The reduced sensitivity to amplitude noise in atom interference signal is experimentally verified. Both amplitude noise in atom source and short term phase noise of interference fringes are suppressed by more than a factor of 10 with normalized detection.

Analysing social media data for disaster preparedness: Understanding the opportunities and barriers faced by humanitarian actors

The use of social media applications by citizens, public authorities, and humanitarian organisations generates vast quantities of data. Research predominantly focuses on the use of social media and associated analysis tools during the short-term response phase of a disaster. As such, the use of social media analysis tools to harness social media data for preparedness purposes is currently unclear. This research uses a combination of semi-structured interviews with 20 Red Cross Red Crescent and humanitarian actors, an online survey, two workshops and desk-based research to examine the opportunities and barriers faced by humanitarian actors in using social media analysis tools to analyse social media data for disaster preparedness. Whilst social media analysis tools provide humanitarian actors with an opportunity to understand the effectiveness of their preparedness communication on social media, to monitor risks and disasters, and to build community preparedness networks, this study identified a limited use of social media analysis tools by research participants. This (non) use of social media analysis tools was influenced by the interaction between seven categories of barriers relating to the user of the tool or the tool itself: language, culture, value, financial, human resources, technology, and data. In discussing these barriers, the authors highlight the key role that context plays in determining the significance of each barrier on the selection and use of social media analysis tools for preparedness.

The evaluation of heat capacity and choice of materials for short-term storage of diurnal solar heat surplus in passive solar heating systems

The results of numerical studies aimed to evaluate the heat capacity of short-term phase change heat accumulators applied in passive solar heating systems (PSHS) with a three-layer energy active translucent enclosure (TE) are presented. An example is given of calculation of specific (per unit of TE surface area) weight of heat accumulator using dimethyl sulfoxide, (СН3)2SO, with melting temperature 18.6°C and latent heat of phase transition 173 kJ/kg, as the heat storage agent.

Selecting the maximum acceptable error in data minimising financial losses

Geological and grade models in the mining industry provide information that is used from the project phase until the short-term planning phase. Since model precision and accuracy depends strongly on data quality, data generation is subject to quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols that typically adopt error tolerance limits based on reference values. This paper proposes tolerance limits based on the relation between data acquisition costs and block misclassification rate sensitivity to data uncertainty. Using several scenarios generated by adding errors to sampled grades, approach applied to the Miraí bauxite deposit (Brazil) defined the optimum sampling error (measured by its CV) ranging within 6 and 15%. Moreover, sequential Gaussian simulation block classification performed better and was less sensitive to sampling uncertainty than ordinary kriging. The proposed approach results showed that sampling error optimisation is an opportunity to improve mine’s profitability that must be carefully investigated even in benchmark mines.

Power imbalance induced BER performance loss under limited-feedback CoMP techniques

Coordinated multipoint (CoMP) technology utilizes simultaneous transmission/reception from/to different access points, and it is considered as an important feature to exploit and/or mitigate intercell interference in fourth-generation mobile networks. Yet, channel power imbalance at the receiver is experienced in CoMP systems due to, e.g., spatially distributed transmissions. Traditional co-located multi-antenna systems may also experience power imbalance among antenna branches due to inaccurate antenna calibration. This paper presents a bit error rate (BER) analysis and derives asymptotic and approximate BER expressions for some practical CoMP transmission techniques under channel power imbalance. Besides the analytical results, numerical analysis is made to thoroughly capture the performance impact of channel power imbalance on the performance gain of the CoMP methods. The results demonstrate that power imbalance considerably affects BER performance and applying long-term amplitude information with fast phase feedback has insignificant benefit to effectively compensate the detrimental effect of large channel power imbalance when base stations use a single antenna. In this case, exploiting both short-term amplitude and phase information is a very good choice. On the contrary, for a large number of diversity antennas in base stations, using long-term amplitude information with a sparsely quantized phase shows BER performance close to the case where full channel state information is applied.

Room Volume Estimation Based on Ambiguity of Short-Term Interaural Phase Differences Using Humanoid Robot Head

Humans can recognize approximate room size using only binaural audition. However, sound reverberation is not negligible in most environments. The reverberation causes temporal fluctuations in the short-term interaural phase differences (IPDs) of sound pressure. This study proposes a novel method for a binaural humanoid robot head to estimate room volume. The method is based on the statistical properties of the short-term IPDs of sound pressure. The humanoid robot turns its head toward a sound source, recognizes the sound source, and then estimates the ego-centric distance by its stereovision. By interpolating the relations between room volume, average standard deviation, and ego-centric distance experimentally obtained for various rooms in a prepared database, the room volume was estimated by the binaural audition of the robot from the average standard deviation of the short-term IPDs at the estimated distance.

Successional trajectories of bacterioplankton community over the complete cycle of a sudden phytoplankton bloom in the Xiangshan Bay, East China Sea

Phytoplankton bloom has imposed ecological concerns worldwide; however, few studies have been focused on the successional trajectories of bacterioplankton community over a complete phytoplankton bloom cycle. Using 16S pyrosequencing, we investigated how the coastal bacterioplankton community compositions (BCCs) respond to a phytoplankton bloom in the Xiangshan Bay, East China Sea. The results showed that BCCs were significantly different among the pre-bloom, bloom, and after-bloom stages, with the lowest bacterial diversity at the bloom phase. The BCCs at the short-term after-bloom phase showed a rapid but incomplete recovery to the pre-bloom phase, evidenced by 69.8% similarity between pre-bloom and after-bloom communities. This recovery was parallel with the dynamics of the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) affiliated with Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, whose abundance enriched when bloom occur, and decreased after-bloom, and vice versa. Collectively, the results showed that the BCCs were sensitive to algal-induced disturbances, but could recover to a certain extent after bloom. In addition, OTUs which enriched or decreased during this process are closely associated with this temporal pattern, thus holding the potential to evaluate and indicate the succession stage of phytoplankton bloom.

Parasympathetic Reactivation Is Improved After Maximal Cycling Exercise In Immersion As Compared To Dryland Condition

PURPOSE: This aim of this study was to compare post-exercise parasympathetic reactivation after maximal incremental exercise performed at the same external power output (Pext) on dryland ergocycle (DE) vs. immersible ergocycle (IE). METHODS: Fifteen young healthy participants (30±7 years, 13 males and 2 females) performed in a random order an incremental maximal exercise tests on DE and another one on IE. On DE, the initial external power was 25 W and was increased by 25 W/min. On IE, initial external power was 40 rpm and was increased by 10 rpm until 70 rpm and thereafter by 5 rpm until exhaustion. Gas exchange and heart rate (HR) were measured continuously during exercise and 5-min recovery period. Parasympathetic reactivation parameters (ie: T30, τ, ΔHR from 10 to 300 sec) were compared during the IE and DE recovery. RESULTS: During the IE recovery, parasympathetic reactivation in the short-term phase was more predominant (ie: T30, HRR at Δ10, Δ20, Δ30, Δ60 sec, P<0.05), but similar in the long-term phase (HRR at Δ120, Δ180, Δ240 and Δ300 sec, P>0.05) as compared to the DE condition. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that recovery in immersion to the chest level following maximal exercise can accelerate parasympathetic reactivation during the short-term phase, as compared with recovery after maximal exercise on DE in healthy young participants.

Exercise during Short-Term and Long-Term Continuous Exposure to Hypoxia Exacerbates Sleep-Related Periodic Breathing.

Exposure to hypoxia elevates chemosensitivity, which can lead to periodic breathing. Exercise impacts gas exchange, altering chemosensitivity; however, interactions between sleep, exercise and chronic hypoxic exposure have not been examined. This study investigated whether exercise exacerbates sleep-related periodic breathing in hypoxia. Two experimental phases. Short-Term Phase: a laboratory controlled, group-design study in which 16 active, healthy men (age: 25 ± 3 y, height: 1.79 ± 0.06 m, mass: 74 ± 8 kg) were confined to a normobaric hypoxic environment (FIO2 = 0.139 ± 0.003, 4,000 m) for 10 days, after random assignment to a sedentary (control, CON) or cycle-exercise group (EX). Long-Term Phase: conducted at the Concordia Antarctic Research Station (3,800 m equivalent at the Equator) where 14 men (age: 36 ± 9 y, height: 1.77 ± 0.09 m, mass: 75 ± 10 kg) lived for 12-14 months, continuously confined. Participants were stratified post hoc based on self-reported physical activity levels. We quantified apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and physical activity variables. Short-Term Phase: mean AHI scores were significantly elevated in the EX group compared to CON (Night1 = CON: 39 ± 51, EX: 91 ± 59; Night10 = CON: 32 ± 32, EX: 92 ± 48; P = 0.046). Long-Term Phase: AHI was correlated to mean exercise time (R(2) = 0.4857; P = 0.008) and the coefficient of variation in night oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2; R(2) = 0.3062; P = 0.049). Data indicate that exercise (physical activity) per se affects night SpO2 concentrations and AHI after a minimum of two bouts of moderate-intensity hypoxic exercise, while habitual physical activity in hypobaric hypoxic confinement affects breathing during sleep, up to 13+ months' duration.

Robust Laser Phase Noise Reduction by Tracking Frequency Discrimination Change of Interferometer

We present a robust interferometer-based laser phase noise reduction technique that can easily be tuned to apply phase corrections at frequencies at which the interferometer is less affected by environmental disturbances. The technique operates by measuring the in-phase and quadrature components of the interference pattern along the circular Lissajous figure to compute the short-term phase error and reject long-term interferometer drift, and then uses that phase error to correct the laser phase noise. We successfully demonstrate phase noise reduction for an external cavity semiconductor laser without the need for an interferometer stabilization technique. The proposed technique realizes a frequency noise reduction about 20 dB between 100 Hz and 3 MHz. We also investigate the imbalance of the circular Lissajous figure and show that the performance degradation caused by an amplitude imbalance and a phase deviation from 90° can be compensated for by amplifying the extracted phase noise fluctuation.

Pitavastatin 4 mg Provides Significantly Greater Reduction in Remnant Lipoprotein Cholesterol Compared With Pravastatin 40 mg: Results from the Short-term Phase IV PREVAIL US Trial in Patients With Primary Hyperlipidemia or Mixed Dyslipidemia

PurposeRemnants are partially hydrolyzed, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins that are implicated in atherosclerosis. We assessed the adequacy of pitavastatin 4 mg and pravastatin 40 mg in reducing atherogenic lipid parameters beyond LDL-C, in particular remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C). MethodsFrom the Phase IV, multicenter, randomized, double-blind PREVAIL US (A Study of Pitavastatin 4 mg Vs. Pravastatin 40 mg in Patients With Primary Hyperlipidemia or Mixed Dyslipidemia) trial, we examined lipoprotein cholesterol subfractions using Vertical Auto Profile testing and apolipoproteins B and A-I at baseline and 12 weeks. Participants with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia had LDL-C levels of 130 to 220 mg/dL and triglyceride levels ≤400 mg/dL. In this post hoc analysis, changes in lipid parameters were compared by using ANCOVA. FindingsLipoprotein subfraction data were available in 312 patients (pitavastatin, n = 157; pravastatin, n = 155). Pitavastatin promoted a greater reduction in RLP-C than pravastatin (–13.6 [8.7] vs –9.3 [9.5] mg/dL). Furthermore, the pitavastatin group reported greater reductions in both components of RLP-C (both, P < 0.001): intermediate-density lipoprotein cholesterol (–9.5 [6.3] vs –6.4 [6.6] mg/dL) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol subfraction 3 (–4.1 [3.5] vs –2.9 [3.8] mg/dL). There were also greater reductions in the major ratios of risk (apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I and total cholesterol/HDL-C) (both, P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in HDL-C, its subfractions, or natural log lipoprotein(a)-cholesterol. The mean age was 58.8 ± 8.9 years in the pitavastatin group and 57.0 ± 10.2 years in the pravastatin group. ImplicationsCompared with pravastatin 40 mg daily, pitavastatin 4 mg provided superior reductions in atherogenic lipid parameters beyond LDL-C, including RLP-C. Future studies are needed investigate the clinical implications of lowering directly measured RLP-C as the principal target. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01256476.