Femoral Arterial Haemostasis Using an Anchored Collagen Plug after Percutaneous EVAR with an Ultra-Low Profile Device: Prospective Audit of an Evolving "Post-Close" Technique.

OBJECTIVE: To present an audit of a successful "post-close" haemostatic technique using the Angio-Seal VIP vascular closure device (VCD) after percutaneous endovascular aneurysm repair (p-EVAR) using an ultra-low profile (ULP) device. METHODS: Thirty patients underwent EVAR using the Ovation device, of which 26 procedures were totally percutaneous. Data including patient habitus, procedural details, number of VCDs deployed including use of the double wire approach, and technical success/complications were prospectively recorded. Numerical/statistical analyses were undertaken using Microsoft Excel 2007 and Minitab for Windows. RESULTS: Thirty consecutive patients (27 male, 3 female; age range 70-85 years [mean 76.1, SD 6.5]) underwent EVAR for an infrarenal AAA (mean size 61 mm, SD 9.7) between March 2014 and August 2016 using the Ovation endograft system. In a few patients open ipsilateral femoral access was used (n=4); the remainder underwent p-EVAR (n=26), and these results are presented hereafter. Ipsilateral sheath sizes used varied between 14F (n=22), 15F (n=3), and 16F (n=1), and were closed using a single 8F Angio-Seal (n=7), a combination of 8F/6F Angio-Seal VCDs (n=18), or two 8F Angio-Seal VCDs (n=1) with prior double wire set up. Contralateral punctures were closed mostly with a single 8F Angio-Seal (n=24) or combination of 8F/6F Angio-Seal VCDs (n=2) to seal defects downsized to 12F. The overall immediate haemostasis success rate was 100%. Mean length of stay in the p-EVAR cohort was 2 days (SD 1.5). All patients had a post-EVAR computed tomography angiogram (n=24) or duplex ultrasound (n=2) which did not reveal any stenoses or seromas; two patients developed an ipsilateral femoral pseudoaneurysm successfully treated by thrombin injection. CONCLUSION: A "post-close" technique can be employed successfully for haemostasis after p-EVAR using an ULP device. An 8F Angio-Seal is usually effective in closing a 12F femoral arterial defect. This represents a viable option for femoral arterial closure in this scenario.

Limit on Tensor Currents from

In the standard model, the weak interaction is formulated with a purely vector-axial-vector (V-A) structure. Without restriction on the chirality of the neutrino, the most general limits on tensor currents from nuclear ß decay are dominated by a single measurement of the ß-ν[over ¯] correlation in ^{6}He ß decay dating back over a half century. In the present work, the ß-ν[over ¯]-α correlation in the ß decay of ^{8}Li and subsequent α-particle breakup of the ^{8}Be^{*} daughter was measured. The results are consistent with a purely V-A interaction and in the case of couplings to right-handed neutrinos (C_{T}=-C_{T}^{'}) limits the tensor fraction to |C_{T}/C_{A}|^{2}<0.011 (95.5% C.L.). The measurement confirms the ^{6}He result using a different nuclear system and employing modern ion-trapping techniques subject to different systematic uncertainties.

Epidemiology of epilepsy and its burden in Kolkata, India.

BACKGROUND: Disability-adjusted life year (DALY) is a time-based measure of disease burden incorporating both disability and mortality. Our study aimed to determine the DALY lost from epilepsy in an Indian metropolis. METHODS: A population-based prospective study on epilepsy was conducted over 5 years (2003-8) in Kolkata, India, on randomly selected 100,802 subjects (males 53,209, females 47,593) to assess prevalence as well as to capture incident cases of epilepsy and those incident cases that died. Standard case definitions were used. The data were used to estimate years of life lost (YLL) due to premature mortality, years of life lived with disability (YLD), and DALY, utilizing the prevalence-based Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2010 approach. Age- and gender-specific figures were computed. RESULTS: During 2003-2004, a total of 476 subjects with active epilepsy were detected and the age-adjusted prevalence rate was 4.71 per 1000. Over 5 years, there were 197 incident cases of epilepsy of whom 26 died. The age-adjusted annual incidence rate of epilepsy was 38.3 per 100,000. The all-cause standardized mortality rate (SMR) of epilepsy was 2.4. The burden of epilepsy in the year 2007-8 revealed the overall YLL was 755 per 100,000, and the overall YLD ranged from 14.45 to 31.0 per 100,000 persons depending on the clinical severity of the epilepsy. Both YLL and YLD values were higher in males than in females. The overall DALY lost due to epilepsy in 2007-8 was found to be 846.96 (males 1183.04, females 463.81) per 100,000. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in India to determine the DALY of epilepsy using GBD 2010. The results reveal a substantial burden of epilepsy in our setting. Similar such studies are needed in other parts of India in both urban and rural settings.

Quantitative adsorbate structure determination for quasicrystals using x-ray standing waves.

The quantitative structure determination of adsorbed species on quasicrystal surfaces has so far appeared to present insurmountable problems. The normal incidence standing x-ray wave field technique offers a simple solution, without extensive data sets or large computations. Its application to quasicrystals raises several conceptual difficulties that are related to the phase problem in x-ray diffraction. We demonstrate their solution for the case of Si atoms adsorbed on the decagonal Co-rich modification of the Al-Co-Ni quasicrystal to determine the local structure, comprising 6-atom clusters in particular hollow sites.

In-trap spectroscopy of charge-bred radioactive ions.

In this Letter, we introduce the concept of in-trap nuclear decay spectroscopy of highly charged radioactive ions and describe its successful application as a novel spectroscopic tool. This is demonstrated by a measurement of the decay properties of radioactive mass A=124 ions (here, ^{124}In and ^{124}Cs) in the electron-beam ion trap of the TITAN facility at TRIUMF. By subjecting the trapped ions to an intense electron beam, the ions are charge bred to high charge states (i.e., equivalent to the removal of N-shell electrons), and an increase of storage times to the level of minutes without significant ion losses is achieved. The present technique opens the venue for precision spectroscopy of low branching ratios and is being developed in the context of measuring electron-capture branching ratios needed for determining the nuclear ground-state properties of the intermediate odd-odd nuclei in double-beta (ßß) decay.

Breakdown of the isobaric multiplet mass equation for the A = 20 and 21 multiplets.

Using the Penning trap mass spectrometer TITAN, we performed the first direct mass measurements of (20,21)Mg, isotopes that are the most proton-rich members of the A = 20 and A = 21 isospin multiplets. These measurements were possible through the use of a unique ion-guide laser ion source, a development that suppressed isobaric contamination by 6 orders of magnitude. Compared to the latest atomic mass evaluation, we find that the mass of (21)Mg is in good agreement but that the mass of (20)Mg deviates by 3 σ. These measurements reduce the uncertainties in the masses of (20,21)Mg by 15 and 22 times, respectively, resulting in a significant departure from the expected behavior of the isobaric multiplet mass equation in both the A = 20 and A = 21 multiplets. This presents a challenge to shell model calculations using either the isospin nonconserving universal sd USDA and USDB Hamiltonians or isospin nonconserving interactions based on chiral two- and three-nucleon forces.

Electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry study of six isomeric cationic amphiphiles with ester/amide linker.

RATIONALE: Isomeric cationic amphiphiles differing only in the orientation of the linker group have been demonstrated to possess dramatically changed gene transfer efficacies. Studies aimed at understanding structure-stability correlations of such isomeric cationic amphiphiles at the molecular level are yet to be undertaken. Such studies may throw significant new insights into the mechanistic origin on their contrasting bioactivities. METHODS: Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and multi-stage tandem mass spectrometric (MS(n)) experiments were performed on a LCQ ion trap mass spectrometer. The decomposition pathway was confirmed by high-resolution mass spectrometry data from a quadrupole time-of-flight (Q-TOF) mass spectrometer. Dissociation curves were drawn based on the intensities of precursor and product ions. RESULTS: The collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of the M(+) ion of each isomeric pair showed distinct product ions (3 pairs). Normal esters (1 and 3) showed abundant product ions with a neighboring group participation (NGP) reaction and reverse esters (lipid 2 and 4) showed McLafferty rearrangement product ions. The spectra of a normal amide (5) and a reverse amide (6) are similar to that found in the corresponding ester, except for the absence of the McLafferty rearrangement in 6. Dissociation curves revealed that normal esters/amide decompose at lower energy than those of corresponding reverse esters/amide. CONCLUSIONS: The lipids which easily decompose (flexible) show dramatically enhanced gene delivery capabilities and the lipids which decompose at higher collision energy (CE) values (rigid) are transfection incompetent.

Percutaneous vascular closure using an anchored collagen plug provides effective haemostasis following both antegrade and retrograde femoral arterial punctures.

OBJECTIVES: Small published series suggest a higher failure rate for Angio-Seal vascular closure device (VCD) deployment after antegrade femoral puncture, despite the need for shorter haemostasis times, early discharge, and possibly higher turnover. We seek to compare the deployment efficacy and complications of the Angio-Seal VCD between antegrade and retrograde femoral arterial deployments. METHODS: Radiological data was retrospectively analysed from prospective databases from the hospitals' Computerised Radiology Information System (CRIS) over 2010-2012. Angio-Seal gauge, Rutherford class (as applicable), puncture mode (used to classify deployment as antegrade/retrograde), sheath sizes, and deployment success/failures were recorded. Numerical/statistical analyses were undertaken using Microsoft Excel 10/SISA software. RESULTS: A total of 519 Angio-Seal VIP VCDs were deployed in 470 patients over 2010-2012 (13 other patients could not be analysed due to incomplete data). Sheath sizes for antegrade/retrograde femoral puncture were 5F, n = 22/9; 6F, n = 244/223; 7F, n = 1/5; 9F, n = 4/0. 8F Angio-Seal VIPs were used for 9F punctures only, 6F for the remainder. The overall deployment success rate was 93.7%. In total, 247 (91.1%) successful antegrade deployments were undertaken with 24 (8.9%) failures, compared with 229 (96.6%) successful retrograde deployments with eight (3.4%) failures. Antegrade/retrograde failures were classed as failure to deploy, n = 15/5; bleeding despite successful deployment requiring supplementary compression, n = 6/1; haematoma formation, n = 2/1; groin pain, n = 0/1; vessel stenosis, n = 1/0. Higher deployment failures were noted with antegrade deployment (p < .02, chi-square test). CONCLUSIONS: Angio-Seal deployment is successful for both antegrade/retrograde femoral punctures albeit with a higher antegrade failure rate.

Immune cell function assay does not identify biopsy-proven pediatric renal allograft rejection or infection.

Management of pediatric renal transplant patients involves multifactorial monitoring modalities to ensure allograft survival and prevent opportunistic infection secondary to immunosuppression. An ICFA, which utilizes CD4 T-cell production of ATP to assess immune system status, has been used to monitor transplant recipients and predict susceptibility of patients to rejection or infection. However, the validity of this assay to reflect immune status remains unanswered. In a two-yr retrospective study that included 31 pediatric renal transplant recipients, 42 patient blood samples were analyzed for immune cell function levels, creatinine, WBC (white blood cell) count, immunosuppressive drug levels, and viremia, concurrent with renal biopsy. T-cell ATP production as assessed by ICFA levels did not correlate with allograft rejection or with the presence or absence of viremia. ICFA levels did not correlate with serum creatinine or immunosuppressive drug levels, but did correlate with WBC count. The ICFA is unreliable in its ability to reflect immune system status in pediatric renal transplantation. Further investigation is necessary to develop methods that will accurately predict susceptibility of pediatric renal transplant recipients to allograft rejection and infection.

First results from the CARIBU facility: mass measurements on the r-process path.

The Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer has made mass measurements of 33 neutron-rich nuclides provided by the new Californium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade facility at Argonne National Laboratory. The studied region includes the 132Sn double shell closure and ranges in Z from In to Cs, with Sn isotopes measured out to A=135, and the typical measurement precision is at the 100 ppb level or better. The region encompasses a possible major waiting point of the astrophysical r process, and the impact of the masses on the r process is shown through a series of simulations. These first-ever simulations with direct mass information on this waiting point show significant increases in waiting time at Sn and Sb in comparison with commonly used mass models, demonstrating the inadequacy of existing models for accurate r-process calculations.

Tensor interaction limit derived from the α-ß-ν[over ¯] correlation in trapped 8Li ions.

A measurement of the α-ß-ν[over ¯] angular correlation in the Gamow-Teller decay (8)Li→(8)Be(*)+ν[over ¯]+ß, (8)Be(*)→α+α has been performed using ions confined in a linear Paul trap surrounded by silicon detectors. The energy difference spectrum of the α particles emitted along and opposite the direction of the ß particle is consistent with the standard model prediction and places a limit of 3.1% (95.5% confidence level) on any tensor contribution to the decay. From this result, the amplitude of any tensor component C(T) relative to that of the dominant axial-vector component C(A) of the electroweak interaction is limited to |C(T)/C(A)|<0.18 (95.5% confidence level). This experimental approach is facilitated by several favorable features of the (8)Li ß decay and has different systematic effects than the previous ß-ν[over ¯] correlation results for a pure Gamow-Teller transition obtained from studying (6)He ß decay.

First documented case of imported tick-borne encephalitis in Australia.

We report a case of tick-borne encephalitis that has not been described before in Australia. The patient was a returned traveller from Russia who had typical manifestations of this infection. Clinical diagnosis was elusive because of the peculiar biphasic nature of the illness and its rarity in Australia. Laboratory diagnosis was also challenging and required testing at a reference laboratory in the Czech Republic because of the unavailability of specific assays in Australia. This report aims to make physicians from non-endemic regions aware that tick-borne encephalitis can be imported and to familiarise them with its clinical course.

Direct composite restorations for the worn mandibular anterior dentition: a 7-year follow-up of a prospective randomised controlled split-mouth clinical trial.

The purpose of this study was to report on the 7-year follow-up of 15 patients who took part in a prospective randomised controlled split-mouth trial to evaluate the performance and patient satisfaction of 107 direct composite restorations bonded to their worn anterior mandibular dentition. This is the continuation of a study by Poyser et al., which investigated the performance of the same direct composite restorations on this cohort of patients at 2.5 years. The results of the present study suggest that direct composite restorations bonded to the worn anterior mandibular dentition to have an approximate survival of 85% at the 7-year follow-up. Approximately 53% of patients experienced survival of all of their restorations. Pre-operative circumferential preparation did not influence restoration survival, patient satisfaction or other clinical variables (restoration staining, marginal discolouration, shade match, surface roughness and marginal adaptation). The time taken to initially build-up the restorations was shown to be statistically significant with a longer procedural time meaning less chance of the restoration being present at 7 years. This treatment modality exhibited no biological complications for the teeth, supporting periodontium or TMJ apparatus. The placement of these restorations provided an improvement in the aesthetics of the teeth, a reduction in the concern over the longevity of the worn lower anterior teeth, and improvements with regard to sensitivity experienced with hot or cold foods or drinks. Marginal breakdown was the most frequently recorded clinical complication. Thus, for the majority of patients, the restorations offered a high degree of patient satisfaction and required an acceptable level of maintenance in the 7-year follow-up period.

'Post-Close' Femoral Arterial Haemostasis at Endovascular Aneurysm Repair using a Dedicated Large-Bore Vascular Closure Device: A Prospective Real-World Audit.

PURPOSE: Percutaneous access for endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is commonplace, with its attendant benefits. The combination of continued reduction in device profile and evolution of vascular closure device (VCD) design drives successful and safe percutaneous EVAR. A new such VCD is the MANTA Large-Bore Closure Device designed in two iterations for closure of arterial defects from 10 to 25F. We present a prospective audit of 131 large-bore femoral closures using an 'all-comers' approach to device selection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty-one large-bore femoral arterial defects were analysed. Both 14F and 18F MANTA VCDs were deployed in this series as per instructions for use. Primary objectives were technical success, particularly successful deployment, and haemostasis achieved. Failures were denoted as failure to deploy; failure to achieve haemostasis was denoted as active bleeding, haematoma, or pseudoaneurysm formation requiring intervention. Later complications assessed were vessel occlusion/thrombosis or stenosis. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients (65 males and 11 females, age 75.2 ± 8.7 years) underwent a range of procedures including EVAR (n = 66), TEVAR (n = 2), and reinterventions (n = 8) requiring large-bore percutaneous femoral arterial access in 131 groins. Of these, the 14F MANTA VCD was used in 61 closures (defects ranging from 12 to 18F) and the 18F in 70 closures (defects ranging from 16 to 24F). Deployments achieved successful haemostasis in 120 (91.6%), and failures occurred in 11(8.4%) groins. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that a post-close approach using the novel MANTA Large-Bore Closure Device can be undertaken successfully to close a range of large-bore femoral arterial defects at EVAR/TEVAR with an acceptable rate of complications.

ß-hydroxybutyrate is a metabolic regulator of proteostasis in the aged and Alzheimer disease brain.

Loss of proteostasis is a hallmark of aging and Alzheimer disease (AD). Here, we identify ß-hydroxybutyrate (ßHB), a ketone body, as a regulator of protein solubility in the aging brain. ßHB is a small molecule metabolite which primarily provides an oxidative substrate for ATP during hypoglycemic conditions, and also regulates other cellular processes through covalent and noncovalent protein interactions. We demonstrate ßHB-induced protein insolubility across in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo mouse systems. This activity is shared by select structurally similar metabolites, is not dependent on covalent protein modification, pH, or solute load, and is observable in mouse brain in vivo after delivery of a ketone ester. Furthermore, this phenotype is selective for pathological proteins such as amyloid-ß, and exogenous ßHB ameliorates pathology in nematode models of amyloid-ß aggregation toxicity. We have generated a comprehensive atlas of the ßHB-induced protein insolublome ex vivo and in vivo using mass spectrometry proteomics, and have identified common protein domains within ßHB target sequences. Finally, we show enrichment of neurodegeneration-related proteins among ßHB targets and the clearance of these targets from mouse brain, likely via ßHB-induced autophagy. Overall, these data indicate a new metabolically regulated mechanism of proteostasis relevant to aging and AD.

New precision mass measurements of neutron-rich calcium and potassium isotopes and three-nucleon forces.

We present precision Penning trap mass measurements of neutron-rich calcium and potassium isotopes in the vicinity of neutron number N=32. Using the TITAN system, the mass of 51K was measured for the first time, and the precision of the (51,52)Ca mass values were improved significantly. The new mass values show a dramatic increase of the binding energy compared to those reported in the atomic mass evaluation. In particular, 52Ca is more bound by 1.74 MeV, and the behavior with neutron number deviates substantially from the tabulated values. An increased binding was predicted recently based on calculations that include three-nucleon (3N) forces. We present a comparison to improved calculations, which agree remarkably with the evolution of masses with neutron number, making neutron-rich calcium isotopes an exciting region to probe 3N forces.

EFNS-ENS guidelines for the use of PCR technology for the diagnosis of infections of the nervous system.

BACKGROUND: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a means to amplify nucleic acids has become an essential element in diagnosis of infections. It has evolved into a simple and rapid, easy- to- use approach. At present there are no published guidelines for the usage of PCR technology for the diagnosis of infections of the nervous system. METHODS: We reviewed the advantages and pitfalls of PCR in order to guide neurologists and infectious diseases experts in its application for the diagnosis of infections of the nervous system. Medical reference systems were searched, and original papers, meta-analyses, review papers, book chapters and guidelines recommendations were reviewed. The final literature search was performed in May 2012. Recommendations were reached by consensus. RECOMMENDATIONS: The reliability of PCR technology for the diagnosis of neurological infections is currently based on the pathogens. The main contribution of PCR is to the diagnosis of viral infections followed by bacterial CNS infections with the notable exception of tuberculous meningitis. Efficacy for the diagnosis of protozoal infections and helminthic infestations has also been established in many instances. Unfortunately, current molecular PCR technology is far from becoming routine in resource-poor countries where such infections are prevalent. Despite the importance of fungal infections in the context of the immune-compromised host, there is not enough data to recommend the routine use of PCR. CONCLUSIONS: PCR technology is currently a reliable method for the diagnosis of viral and bacterial (except tuberculosis) infections, and only for some protozoal infections and helminthic infestations.