187 research outputs found
Erratum: Tumour expression of leptin is associated with chemotherapy resistance and therapy-independent prognosis in gastro-oesophageal adenocarcinomas
No full textCorrection to: Corrigendum: British Journal of Cancer (2015) 113, 1641–1641. doi:10.1038/bjc.2015.391; published online 1 December 2015 Upon publication of the above corrigendum in the British Journal of Cancer, the authors noted that author KM Matula had been placed in the incorrect position on the author listing. The publishers would like to apologise for this mistake. The full and correct author listing is reproduced above
Non-Vitamin K Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC) Versus Vitamin K Antagonists (VKA) for Atrial Fibrillation with Elective or Urgent Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Meta-Analysis with a Particular Focus on Combination Type
No full textBackground: Our study aims to perform a meta-analysis of benefits and risks associated with the use of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC) versus vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in patients with a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with a particular focus on the combination type: dual vs. dual antithrombotic therapy (DAT: NOAC + single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) vs. DAT: VKA + SAPT), dual vs. triple antithrombotic therapy (DAT: NOAC + SAPT vs. TAT: VKA + dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT)) or triple vs. triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT: NOAC+DAPT vs. TAT: VKA+DAPT). Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials comparing antithrombotic regimens. Four randomized studies (n = 10.969; PIONEER AF-PCI, RE-DUAL PCI, AUGUSTUS, and ENTRUST-AF PCI) were included. The primary outcome was the composite of major bleeding defined by the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) and clinically relevant bleeding requiring medical intervention (CRNM). Secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and stent thrombosis (ST). Results: Combination strategies with NOACs were associated with reduced risk of major bleeding events across different combination strategies as compared to VKA, with the most significant risk reduction when DAT was compared with TAT, namely DAT with NOAC + SAPT was associated with a 37% relative risk reduction (RRR) of major bleeding events as compared to TAT with VKA + DAPT (RR 0.63; 95% CI, 0.50-0.80). The reduction of major bleeding risks is a class effect of NOACs. Combination strategies of NOACs vs. VKAs resulted in a comparable risk of MACE, MI, stroke, ST, or death. Conclusions: Antithrombotic combinations of NOACs (as DAT or TAT) are safer than VKAs with respect to bleeding risk and result in a satisfactory efficacy with no increase of ischemic or thrombotic events in patients undergoing PCI
(p,k)-coloring problems in line graphs
No full textAbstractThe (p,k)-coloring problems generalize the usual coloring problem by replacing stable sets by cliques and stable sets. Complexities of some variations of (p,k)-coloring problems (split-coloring and cocoloring) are studied in line graphs; polynomial algorithms or proofs of NP-completeness are given according to the complexity status. We show that the most general (p,k)-coloring problems are more difficult than the cocoloring and the split-coloring problems while there is no such relation between the last two problems. We also give complexity results for the problem of finding a maximum (p,k)-colorable subgraph in line graphs. Finally, upper bounds on the optimal values are derived in general graphs by sequential algorithms based on Welsh–Powell and Matula orderings
Thromboembolic and bleeding risk in obese patients with atrial fibrillation according to different anticoagulation strategies
No full textBackground: Data on the relationship between body mass index (BMI), thromboembolic events (TEE) and bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are controversial, and further evidence on the risk of such events in obese patients with AF receiving different anticoagulant therapies (OAC) is needed. Methods and results: We divided a total of 9330 participants from the prospective PREFER in AF and PREFER in AF PROLONGATION registries into BMI quartiles at baseline. Outcome measures were TEE and major bleeding complications at the 1-year follow-up. Without OAC, there was a ≥6-fold increase of TEE in the 4th vs other BMI quartiles (P =.019). OAC equalized the rates of TEE across different BMI strata. The occurrence of major bleeding was highest in patients with BMI in the 1st as well as in the 4th BMI quartile [OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.03–2.78, P =.039 and OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.13–3.04, P =.014 vs those in the 3rd quartile, respectively]. At propensity score-adjusted analysis, the incidence of TEE and major bleeding in obese patients receiving non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) or vitamin K-antagonist anticoagulants (VKAs) was similar (P ≥.34). Conclusions: Our real-world data suggest no obesity paradox for TEE in patients with AF. Obese patients are at higher risk of TEE, and here OAC dramatically reduces the risk of events. We here found a comparable clinical outcome with NOACs and VKAs in obese patients. Low body weight and obesity were also associated with bleeding, and therefore OAC with the best safety profile should be considered in this setting
Shrub aboveground biomass estimation considering bulk volume geometry: general and specific models for 14 species in the Mediterranean central Chile
No full textShrubland ecosystems cover a large part of the five Mediterranean regions of the world, and monitoring their biomass is crucial for assessing fire risk and carbon sequestration. However, biomass models for multi-stemmed shrubs remain scarce, making the quantitative assessment of shrubland biomass imprecise and often unreliable. Here, we measured, harvested, and weighed 411 specimens at two representative sites to quantify aboveground biomass (AGB) in 14 shrub species. To develop species-specific and general models of AGB, we used observations on total height (HT), diameter at collar height (DCH), number of stems (NS), and crown size as well as different geometric shapes representing crown area (CA) and bulk volume (BV). General models including all species were fit, including species identity as a random effect to take variation across species into account. A k-fold cross-validation was used to assess and compare the ability of the models to predict independent data. Individual AGB varied markedly both within and among the 14 species, with on average higher values at the site characterized by lower shrub density and species richness. Two biomass components, woody and leaf + twig, were distinguished, and species-specific means of the woody and leaf + twig proportion varied between 30 and 60%. We found that crown BV assessed on different geometric shapes was suitable to predict the biomass for different shrub species and that additional variables were rarely beneficial. The best general model included BV represented as an inverted truncated cone, derived from crown diameter (CD), HT and the DCH of the longest stem. This study provides novel allometric equations essential for assessing AGB shrublands in central Chile. Our general multi-species models based on BV geometry could prove very useful for future studies in Mediterranean shrublands, allowing us to estimate biomass through indirect, non-destructive methods
Random triangles
No full textThe author summarizes some previous results concerning random triangles. He describes the Gaussian triangle and random triangles whose vertices lie in a unit n-dimensional ball, in a rectangle or in a general bounded convex set. In the second part, the author deals with an inscribed triangle in a triangle - let ABC be an equilateral triangle and let M, N, O be three points, each laying on one side of the ABC. We call MNO inscribed triangle (in an equi- laterral triangle). The median triangle is a special case of that triangle. Author starts with the median triangle and one by one replaces it's vertices by random points with uniform distribution on the corresponding sides. He proves that propability of such inscribed triangle to be an obtuse triangle increases with number of randomly chosen points while the expected area reminds constant. The whole thesis is concluded with a simulation study.
Risk factors for thromboembolic and bleeding events in anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation::the prospective, multicentre observational PREvention oF thromboembolic events - European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (PREFER in AF)
No full textOBJECTIVES: We identified factors associated with thromboembolic and bleeding events in two contemporary cohorts of anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), treated with either vitamin K antagonists (VKA) or non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs).DESIGN: Prospective, multicentre observational study.SETTING: 461 centres in seven European countries.PARTICIPANTS: 5310 patients receiving a VKA (PREvention oF thromboembolic events - European Registry in Atrial Fibrillation (PREFER in AF), derivation cohort) and 3156 patients receiving a NOAC (PREFER in AF Prolongation, validation cohort) for stroke prevention in AF.OUTCOME MEASURES: Risk factors for thromboembolic events (ischaemic stroke, systemic embolism) and major bleeding (gastrointestinal bleeding, intracerebral haemorrhage and other life-threatening bleeding).RESULTS: The mean age of patients enrolled in the PREFER in AF registry was 72±10 years, 40% were female and the mean CHA 2DS 2-VASc Score was 3.5±1.7. The incidence of thromboembolic and major bleeding events was 2.34% (95% CI 1.93% to 2.74%) and 2.84% (95% CI 2.41% to 3.33%) after 1-year of follow-up, respectively.Abnormal liver function, prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack, labile international normalised ratio (INR), concomitant therapy with antiplatelet or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heart failure and older age (≥75 years) were independently associated with both thromboembolic and major bleeding events.With the exception of unstable INR values, these risk factors were validated in patients treated with NOACs (PREFER in AF Prolongation Study, 72±9 years, 40% female, CHA 2DS 2-VASc 3.3±1.6). For each single point decrease on a modifiable bleeding risk scale we observed a 30% lower risk for major bleeding events (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.76, p<0.01) and a 28% lower rate of thromboembolic events (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.82, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Attending to modifiable risk factors is an important treatment target in anticoagulated AF patients to reduce thromboembolic and bleeding events. Initiation of anticoagulation in those at risk of stroke should not be prevented by elevated bleeding risk scores.</p
Reciprocal Effects of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Signaling on Dengue Virus Replication and Virion Production
No full textCortese et al. conduct a human kinome RNAi-based screen and identify fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) as a kinase that has a reciprocal effect on the DENV life cycle. Inhibition of the FGFR pathway reduces RNA replication while increasing production of infectious virus particles through enhanced proteolytic cleavage of prM
Outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation on oral anticoagulation with and without heart failure: the ETNA-AF-Europe registry
No full textAims Heart failure (HF) is a risk factor for major adverse events in atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether this risk persists on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and varies according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is debated. Methods and results We investigated the relation of HF in the ETNA-AF-Europe registry, a prospective, multicentre, observational study with an overall 4-year follow-up of edoxaban-treated AF patients. We report 2-year follow-up for ischaemic stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA)/systemic embolic events (SEE), major bleeding, and mortality. Of the 13 133 patients, 1854 (14.1%) had HF. Left ventricular ejection fraction was available for 82.4% of HF patients and was <40% in 671 (43.9%) and ≥40% in 857 (56.1%). Patients with HF were older, more often men, and had more comorbidities. Annualized event rates (AnERs) of any stroke/SEE were 0.86%/year and 0.67%/year in patients with and without HF. Compared with patients without HF, those with HF also had higher AnERs for major bleeding (1.73%/year vs. 0.86%/year) and all-cause death (8.30%/year vs. 3.17%/year). Multivariate Cox proportional models confirmed HF as a significant predictor of major bleeding [hazard ratio (HR) 1.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–2.26] and all-cause death [HF with LVEF <40% (HR 2.42, 95% CI: 1.95–3.00) and HF with LVEF ≥40% (HR 1.80, 95% CI: 1.45–2.23)] but not of ischaemic stroke/TIA/SEE. Conclusion Anticoagulated patients with HF at baseline featured higher rates of major bleeding and all-cause death, requiring optimized management and novel preventive strategies. NOAC treatment was similarly effective in reducing risk of ischaemic events in patients with or without concomitant HF
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