Cs-Ar optical amplifier with a saturation intensity of 10 kW-cm-2 and single-pass extraction efficiency of 28% at 852.2 nm

Optical amplification by the stimulated emission of Cs(6p²P_3/2)-Ar atomic pairs, observed in pump-probe experiments over a ∼290 GHz-wide spectral region lying to the red of the Cs D₂ line (852.1 nm), has been realized by photoexciting thermalized, ground state Cs-Ar atoms in the 834-849 nm wavelength interval. When the gain medium is pumped at the peak of the CsAr B²Σ_1/2⁺←X²Σ_1/2⁺ transition at 836.7 nm, maximum gain occurs between 852.2 nm and 852.3 nm and >28% of the energy stored in the upper laser level is extracted with 8 ns (FWHM) probe pulses in a single pass. From the measured rate of saturation of the extracted pulse energy with increasing probe intensity, the product of γ₀L and E_sat, the saturation pulse energy, is measured directly to be 400 ± 20 µJ and the lower limit for the saturation intensity (I_sat) of this amplifier is estimated to be 10 kW-cm^-2 at 852.2 nm. Circularly polarizing the optical pump beam increases the optical-to-optical conversion efficiency by 20%, and the storage lifetime of the upper laser level is observed from temporally-resolved gain spectra to be 5 ± 1 ns. Pump excitation spectra also reveal a significant contribution from Ar-Cs-Ar (3-body) photoassociation and suprathermal Ar atoms generated by the dissociation of the CsAr B²Σ_1/2⁺ complex. Multipass-amplifier geometries with broad-bandwidth probe signals are expected to yield upper state energy extraction efficiencies above 50%. This alkali-rare gas amplifier demonstrates the efficiencies available with the storage of energy in, and optical extraction from, excited atomic collision pairs.

Metformin and tuberculosis risk in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus

SETTING: Tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) remain global health concerns. Metformin has recently received attention for its anti-tuberculosis effects.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk of TB development in elderly DM patients treated with metformin compared with sulfonylureas.DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the National Health Insurance Service-Senior database. The participants were type-2 DM (T2DM) patients aged ≥60 years between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2013. We matched each metformin user to a sulfonylurea user using a propensity score. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to compare the risk of TB in metformin and sulfonylurea users.RESULTS: After propensity score matching, 12,582 patients were in each group. The TB incidence was 280.2/100 000 person-years (py) for metformin users and 394.5/100 000 py for sulfonylurea users. Metformin users had a lower risk of TB development than sulfonylurea users (adjusted hazard ratio 0.74, 95%CI 0.58-0.95), and the results were stronger for male participants. A dose-response relationship between metformin use and TB development was found in both sexes.CONCLUSION: Metformin use was associated with a decreased risk of TB development among elderly T2DM patients compared with sulfonylurea use.

Understanding of plasticity size-effect governed mechanical response and incomplete die filling in a microscale double-punch molding configuration

Direct replication of microscale patterns onto metal surfaces by compression molding with patterned dies is used to fabricate metal-based structures for microsystem applications. Micron scale plasticity governs both the mechanical molding response and the geometric fidelity of replicated patterns. Microscale molding replication offers a technologically relevant example in which various plasticity size effects manifest themselves and control the effectiveness of the fabrication process. Microscale compression molding of a single-crystal Al specimen was studied by combining experimentation with conventional and strain gradient plasticity finite element simulations. In the single-punch molding configuration, single rectangular punches with different widths and lengths were used. In the double-punch configuration, two identically-dimensioned rectangular punches with a spacing in between were used. Under single-punch molding at the micron scale, both the absolute punch width as well as the length-to-width ratio affected the characteristic molding pressure. Under double-punch molding, both the measured characteristic molding pressure and the material flow to fill the gap between the two rectangular punches exhibited a significant dependence on the spacing to punch-width ratio and-when this ratio was fixed-on the absolute spacing between punches. The present study elucidates the impact of plasticity size effects on the efficacy of pattern replication by molding at the micron scale.

Terahertz-frequency dielectric anisotropy in three-dimensional polymethacrylates fabricated by stereolithography

The anisotropic optical dielectric functions of slanted columnar layers fabricated using polymethacrylate based stereolithography are reported for the terahertz-frequency domain using generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry. The slanted columnar layers are composed of spatially coherent columnar structures with a diameter of 100 µm and a length of 700 µm that are tilted by 45° with respect to the surface normal of the substrates. A simple biaxial (orthorhombic) layer homogenization approach is used to analyze the terahertz ellipsometric data obtained at three different sample azimuthal orientations. The permittivity along the major polarizability directions varies by almost 25%. Our results demonstrate that stereolithography allows tailoring of the polarizability and anisotropy of the host material, and provides a flexible alternative metamaterials fabrication method for the terahertz spectral range.

Association between serum immunoglobulin E levels and knee osteoarthritis in Korean adults

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine whether osteoarthritis (OA) in the knees was associated with total immunoglobulin E (IgE), allergen-specific IgE, or allergic sensitizations in a nationally representative population.

METHODS

The study population comprised of 785 adults aged 50 years or more in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010. OA was diagnosed as radiographic (rOA) and symptomatic osteoarthritis (sxOA). We performed multivariable logistic regression analyses to investigate relationships of OA in a knee with serum total IgE, allergen (Dermatophagoides farinae, cockroach, and dog allergens)-specific IgE, and allergic sensitizations.

RESULTS

Participants with the highest tertile of the total IgE had 92% and 242% increased risk of knee rOA and sxOA, respectively. Those with D. farinae-specific IgE had 2.2 times increased risk of knee sxOA compared to the lowest tertile. Participants with high total IgE (>150kU/L) had a 60% increased risk of knee rOA. Those with D. farinae-specific sensitization (>0.35kU/L) had 2.0 times increased risk of knee sxOA in compared to those without sensitization. Population-attributable fractions of knee rOA caused by high total IgE and knee sxOA caused by D. farinae-specific sensitization were 9.8% and 15.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Total IgE and D. farinae-specific IgE were significantly associated with OA in knees of Korean adults. High total IgE and D. farinae-specific sensitization were also associated with their OA.

Gas chromatographic determination of phenol in fish tissues as a phenyl acetate derivative following solvent extraction of acidified samples

This study aimed to develop a chromatographic method to quantitatively determine phenol in fish tissues. This method involves solvent extraction of acidified samples, followed by derivatization to phenyl acetate and analysis with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Phenol in a representative tissue sample (belly, gill, or renal tubules), which was homogenized with 2 N sulfuric acid, was extracted with ethyl acetate and derivatized to phenyl acetate using acetic anhydride and K2CO3 in water. An n-butyl acetate extract was injected into the GC–MS. The linearity (r2) of the calibration curve was greater than 0.996. The analytical repeatability, which is expressed as the relative standard deviation, was less than 6.14%, and the recovery was greater than 96.3%. The method detection limit and the limit of quantitation were 8.0 μg/kg and 26 μg/kg, respectively. The proposed method is also applicable to the analysis of other biological tissues for phenol and its analogs, such as pentachlorophenol.

Statistical sensitivity estimates for oscillating electric dipole moment measurements in storage rings

In this paper analytical expressions are derived to describe the spin motion of a particle in magnetic and electric fields in the presence of an axion field causing an oscillating electric dipole moment (EDM). These equations are used to estimate statistical sensitivities for axion searches at storage rings. The estimates obtained from the analytic expressions are compared to numerical estimates from simulations in Chang et al. (Phys Rev D 99(8):083002, 2019). A good agreement is found.

Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in evidence synthesis: how the PatMed study approached embedding audience responses into the expression of a meta-ethnography

Background

Patient and public involvement (PPI) has become enshrined as an important pillar of health services empirical research, including PPI roles during stages of research development and analysis and co-design approaches. Whilst user participation has been central to qualitative evidence synthesis (QES) for decades, as seen in the Cochrane consumer network and guidelines, meta-ethnography has been slow to incorporate user participation and published examples of this occurring within meta-ethnography are sparse.

In this paper, drawing upon our own experience of conducting a meta-ethnography, we focus on what it means in practice to ‘express a synthesis’ (stage 7). We suggest the methodological importance of ‘expression’ in Noblit and Hare’s seven stage process (Noblit, GW and Hare, RD. Meta-ethnography: synthesizing qualitative studies, 1988) has been overlooked, and in particular, opportunities for PPI user participation within it.

Methods

Meta-ethnography comprises a seven-stage process of evidence synthesis. Noblit and Hare describe the final 7th stage of the meta-ethnography process as ‘expression of synthesis’, emphasizing co-construction of findings with the audience. In a previous study we conducted a meta-ethnography exploring patient and student experience of medical education within primary care contexts. We subsequently presented and discussed initial meta-ethnography findings with PPI (students and patients) in focus groups and interviews. We transcribed patient and student PPI interpretations of synthesis findings. As a research team, we then translated these into our existing meta-ethnography findings.

Results

We describe, with examples, the process of involving PPI in stage 7 of meta-ethnography and discuss three methodological implications of incorporating PPI within an interpretative approach to QES: (1) we reflect on the construct hierarchy of user participants’ interpretations and consider whether incorporating these additional 1st order, 2nd level constructs implies an additional logic of 3rd order 2nd level constructs of the QES team; (2) we discuss the link between PPI user participation and what Noblit and Hare may have meant by ideas of ‘expression’ and ‘audience’ as integral to stage 7; and (3) we link PPI user participation to Noblit and Hare’s underlying theory of social explanation, i.e. how expression of the synthesis is underpinned by ideas of translation and that the synthesis must be ‘translated in the audience’s (user participants) particular language’.

Conclusions

The paper aims to complement recent attempts in the literature to refine and improve guidance on conducting a meta-ethnography, highlighting opportunities for PPI user participation in the processes of interpretation, translation and expression. We discuss the implications of user participation in meta-ethnography on ideas of ‘generalisability’.

Femtosecond Compression Dynamics and Timing Jitter Suppression in a THz-driven Electron Bunch Compressor

We present the first demonstration of THz driven bunch compression and timing stabilization of a relativistic electron beam. Quasi-single-cycle strong field THz radiation is used in a shorted parallel-plate structure to compress a few-fC beam with 2.5 MeV kinetic energy by a factor of 2.7, producing a 39 fs rms bunch length and a reduction in timing jitter by more than a factor of 2 to 31 fs rms. This THz driven technique offers a significant improvement to beam performance for applications like ultrafast electron diffraction, providing a critical step towards unprecedented timing resolution in ultrafast sciences, and other accelerator applications using femtosecond-scale electron beams.

Reduction of Salmonella in Pork Trimmings

ObjectivesThe objective of the current study was to determine the efficacy of dipping pork trimmings in acetic acid on Salmonella reduction.Materials and MethodsPork loins were purchased from a commercial purveyor and trimmed of external fat and connective tissues, leaving only the longissimus muscle, which was further cut into 2.5 cm (W) × 2.5 cm (L) × 1.3 cm (H) cubes. Pork cubes were randomly assigned to a negative control (no inoculation, no dipping; NEG), a positive control (inoculation, no dipping; POS), acetic acid dipping at 21°C (ACC) and acetic acid dipping at 50°C (ACH) with a 15-, 45-, or 75-s dipping duration (n = 10 per treatment × time combination). Two inoculation levels, 108 Colony Forming Unit (CFU)/cube of bioluminescent gene-modified (Lux) or 105 CFU/cube of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella enteritica serovar Typhimurium, were inoculated onto pork cubes to determine the antibacterial effects of each treatment condition by in vivo bioluminescence imaging system (IVIS) or direct CFU measurement on XLD agar, respectively. In Experiment 1, the cubes were dipped for 15 s to measure the reduction effects by employing both IVIS and CFU. In Experiment 2, cubes were dipped with three dipping durations and the CFU were calculated. The common logarithm of Lux and CFU were calculated and analyzed by the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS v9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Actual probability values were reported.ResultsIn Experiment 1, at 108 inoculation level, ACC and ACH reduced the growth of Salmonella by 1.8 and 1.6 log, respectively (P < 0.001) without treatment difference (P = 0.207). However, at 105 inoculation level, ACC and ACH reduced Salmonella by 0.2 and 0.3 log, respectively (P ≤ 0.026). In Experiment 2, at 105 inoculation level with three dipping durations, the ACH treatment reduced Salmonella by 0.9 log more than the ACC treatment (P < 0.001). The 75-s dipping duration was the most effective, providing a reduction of 0.7-log more than the 15-s duration (P = 0.001). No 2-way treatment × time interaction was observed (P = 0.104).ConclusionThe present study suggests that the pork trimmings be dipped into 3% acetic acid solution at 50°C for at least 75 s to ensure the safety of further processed pork products.

Interventional treatment of arterial injury during blind central venous catheterisation in the upper thorax: experience from two centres

AIM

To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of interventional treatment for arterial injury during blind, central venous catheterisation in the upper thorax at two tertiary medical centres.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen consecutive patients (37-81 years; M:F=8:10) who underwent interventional treatment for the arterial injuries that occurred during central venous catheterisation without any imaging guidance between November 2007 and December 2018 were included. Clinical data, angiographic findings, detailed interventional procedures, and technical and clinical outcomes were analysed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Arterial injury sites were the subclavian artery/branches (n=12), axillary artery/branches (n=2), and common carotid artery (n=4). The target vein was not correlated with the corresponding artery/branches in eight patients (44.4%); internal jugular vein to subclavian artery branches. Angiographic findings were pseudoaneurysm (66.7%, 12/18), contrast medium extravasation (22.2%, 4/18), or both (11.1%, n=2). A stent graft was inserted for the main trunk injuries in nine patients, with (n=2) or without (n=7) prior arterial branch embolisation to prevent potential endoleak, while embolisation for the arterial branch injuries was performed in nine patients. Direct percutaneous access with thrombin injection to the pseudoaneurysm or residual arteriovenous fistula was utilised in two. The technical and clinical success rate was 94.4% (17/18) each. There were no procedure-related complications. In one patient without immediate clinical success, there was a persistent pseudoaneurysm after stent graft placement, which was treated with in-stent balloon dilation.

CONCLUSION

Interventional treatment serves as a safe and effective treatment modality for inadvertent arterial injury related to blind, central venous access catheterisation in the upper thorax.

Comparison of proton density fat fraction, simultaneous R2*, and apparent diffusion coefficient for assessment of focal vertebral bone marrow lesions

AIM

To investigate the diagnostic performance of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and simultaneous R2* for focal vertebral bone marrow lesion (VBML) assessment, compared with the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred and ninety-two spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations performed in 126 patients with focal VBMLs from March 2016 to November 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. The lesions were divided into metastases and benign VBMLs. The protocol consisted of routine morphological MRI sequences, followed by complex-based chemical shift imaging (CSE)-MRI and diffusion-weighted (DW)-MRI with a 1.5 T system. PDFF, R2*, and the ADC values were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was carried out to assess the diagnostic performance for differentiating metastases from focal benign VBMLs.

RESULTS

PDFF, R2*, and mean ADC values in metastases were significantly lower than those in benign VBMLs (p<0.05). The PDFF (area under the curve [AUC]= 0.968; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.932-0.988) showed a significantly larger AUC compared with R2* (AUC=0.670; 95% CI=0.599-0.736) and ADC (AUC=0.801; 95% CI=0.738-0.855). The optimal cut-off value of the PDFF for predicting metastases was 9%; this threshold corresponded to a sensitivity of 96.67%, specificity of 90.28%, and accuracy of 94.27%.

CONCLUSION

PDFF is significantly more accurate than ADC and R2* for differentiating focal benign VMBLs from metastases.

P5731Optimal blood pressure in diabetic hypertensive patients with overt proteinuria

Background

Evidence for the benefit of intensive blood pressure lowering in diabetic nephropathy is not clear at this time. The objective of this study was to demonstrate whether lower mean blood pressure (BP) in treated hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy is associated with better prognosis.

Methods

From the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) Health Examination Database, diabetic hypertensive subjects with proteinuria between 2009 and 2010 were selected and followed-up until 2015 (N=8,663). Mean of the recorded systolic and diastolic BP during follow-up health examinations were stratified into five categories (SBP: <120, 120 to <130, 130 to <140, 140 to <150, and ≥150 mmHg; DBP: <70, 70 to <80, 80 to <90, 90 to <100, and ≥100 mmHg). All-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and renal outcome (progression to end stage renal disease or doubling of serum creatinine) were examined by Cox proportional hazard models with the propensity scores adjusted method.

Results

Compared to SBP of 130 to <140 mmHg, SBP of 120 to <130 mmHg was associated with lower risk of all-cause death (HR=0.78; 95% CI, 0.64–0.95), stroke (HR: 0.65; 95% CI, 0.45–0.94), and renal outcome (HR: 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68–0.97). SBP of <120 mmHg was associated with benefit for renal outcomes (HR: 0.69; 95% CI 0.55–0.88) but not with elevated risk of other outcomes. Compared to DBP of 80 to <90 mmHg, DBP of 70 to <80 mmHg were associated with lower risk of all-cause death (HR: 0.75; 95% CI, 0.64–0.88) but with higher risk of MI (HR: 1.52; 95% CI, 1.05–2.21). DBP of <70 mmHg was associated with reduced risk of all-cause death (HR: 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64–0.98).

Conclusion

In diabetic hypertensive subjects with overt proteinuria, deterioration of renal function decreased with decreasing SBP and the lowest risk of all-cause death and stroke were observed in SBP <130 mmHg. Low DBP was associated with low risk of all-cause death but there was a J curve phenomenon for MI in DBP of 70 to <80 mmHg.

P4339Reference values for cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy Koreans: compared to western nations and nomogram

Introduction

Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF), defined as the integrated ability to properly oxygenate skeletal muscles during physical activity, is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. The reference range for CRF may differ among nations, with Asians under-represented in previous data.

Purpose

In this study, we sought to establish reference values of CRF for Asians using a recent Korean cohort.

Methods

We analyzed 2646 healthy Korean adults recently enrolled in the Korea Institute of Sports Science Fitness Standards (KISS FitS) project with estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) values during treadmill test. Patients with cardiovascular or renal disease, systemic infection, pregnant women and those with orthopedic injuries unable to measure physical fitness were excluded. Age-specific mean VO2max values were compared with those from recent American, Norwegian, Danish cohorts and old Korean data.

Results

Age-specific reference values for healthy Korean adults in this cohort were as shown (Table). We were able to draw a nomogram to predict exercise capacity for a given age and MET value (Figure). When compared to other countries, less CRF reduction by aging was seen in Asians than in other Westerners. When compared to old Korean data from the 1980s, values were similar after adjustment for difference in methods, except for those under 30 years old which were decreased.

Exercise capacity of healthy Korean Men Women Age VO2max (ml/kg/min) N P-value for trend Age VO2max (ml/kg/min) N P-value for trend 19–29 42.3±6.3± 209 <0.01 19–29 34.3±4.3± 110 <0.01 30–39 42.0±5.0± 170 39–39 32.2±4.5± 211 40–49 41.4±5.6± 238 40–49 30.8±4.6± 284 50–59 38.0±5.7± 274 50–59 28.3±4.6± 367 60–69 32.4±6.2± 134 60–69 26.0±5.7± 336 70–79 27.2±5.6± 83 70–79 23.9±4.4± 195 >80 24.1±4.0± 11 >80 21.0±3.7± 24 Total 38.6±7.4± 1119 Total 28.5±5.8 1527 Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. VO2max, maximal oxygen uptake; N, number.

Nomogram of exercise capacity in Koreans

Conclusions

While there was no significant change in CRF over time in the same ethnic group, there was a clear inter-ethnic difference. CRF should be assessed according to ethnic or national standards, and it is necessary to establish a reference for each nation or ethnicity with periodic updates.

Acknowledgement/Funding

National Sports Promotion Fund of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation in 2015

P6266Circulating microparticules of patients with coronary artery disease up-regulate the expression of sodium-glucose cotransporters 1 and 2 in coronary artery endothelial cells: role of angiotensin II

Introduction

Circulating microparticles (MPs) from patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD) have been shown to promote endothelial senescence and dysfunction involving the pro-oxidant local angiotensin system. Sodium-glucose cotransporters (SGLTs)2 inhibitors decreased the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes and this effect appears to be independent of glycemic control. Moreover, high glucose and H2O2 have been shown to cause a redox-sensitive upregulation of SGLT1 and 2 in coronary artery endothelial cells (ECs).

Aim

Therefore, this study examined whether angiotensin II (Ang II, a potent NADPH oxidase-dependent inducer of oxidative stress) and CAD MPs stimulate SGLT1 and 2 expression in ECs, and assessed their role in the induction of endothelial dysfunction.

Methods

ECs were isolated from porcine coronary arteries. The protein expression level was assessed by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical staining, oxidative stress using dihydroethidium staining, and senescence by senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity (SA-beta-gal activity). Circulating CAD MPs were collected from blood samples of patients (61–79 year) with established cardiovascular disease.

Results

Control ECs expressed low levels of SGLT1 and SGLT2 proteins. Exposure of ECs to Ang II caused a time- and concentration-dependent increase in the protein level of SGLT1 and SGLT2 with a significant increase observed at concentrations as low as 10 nM. Exposure of ECs to CAD MPs (10 nM PhtdSer eq) from 3/5 patients increased the SGLT1 and SGLT2 protein level. An increased SGLT1 and SGLT2 immunofluorescence signal was also observed in response to Ang II and H2O2. Ang II increased the level of oxidative stress, SA-beta-gal activity, senescence markers (p53, p21 and p16), VCAM-1, MCP-1, tissue factor (TF) and the local angiotensin system (ACE, AT1R), and down-regulated that of eNOS. CAD MPs from 4/5 patients decreased eNOS level and from 5/5 patients increased VCAM-1 level. All the Ang II-induced effects were prevented by the dual SGLT1/2 inhibitor LX-4211 and the selective SGLT2 inhibitor, empagliflozin.

Conclusions

The present findings indicate that CAD MPs and Ang II upregulate the expression of SGLT1 and SGLT2 protein levels in ECs, and that they promote endothelial dysfunction. They further suggest that inhibition of SGLT1 and/or SGLT2 might be an attractive strategy to protect the arterial wall and, hence, the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Unrestricted research grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG

RHEB gene therapy maintains the chondrogenic characteristics and protects cartilage tissue from degenerative damage during experimental murine osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by cartilage degeneration resulting from hypertrophic changes in chondrocytes caused by altered gene expression. The involvement of Ras homolog enriched in brain (RHEB) in OA regulation is unclear.

METHODS

Human knee articular cartilage samples - were analyzed for structural and biological changes by histology, immunohistochemistry, real time PCR and western blotting. OA-mouse model developed by surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) were treated with adenovirus harboring Rheb gene to analyze onset and progression of OA. Histological scoring, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL assay was performed to assess cartilage damage across the entire joint.

RESULTS

Human and mouse OA cartilage is degenerated and has markedly reduced levels of RHEB. Human OA-degenerated chondrocytes (DC) exhibited a fibroblastic phenotype and 80 % of degenerative cartilage were senescent, with higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Gene expression analysis of DC revealed almost no COL2A1 expression and reduced SOX9 and RHEB expression. Transient transfection of RHEB rescued the DC phenotype and reduced senescence and ROS levels markedly. RHEB overexpression also increased COL2A1 and SOX9 expression. In an OA-mouse model, the Rheb protein level decreased as the severity of OA increased. Ectopic expression of Rheb using adenovirus in mouse-OA cartilage suppressed surgically-induced OA pathogenesis accompanied by modulation of Adamts5, Mmp 13, Col 10, and Col2a1 expression. Rheb induction significantly reduced apoptosis in OA-cartilage.

CONCLUSION

RHEB plays an important role in maintaining the chondrogenic characteristics of chondrocytes, and has potential in preventing progression of OA in the destabilize the medial meniscus (DMM) mouse model of OA.

Prone positioning before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome: A retrospective multicenter study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) subjected to prone positioning before extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of a multicenter cohort was carried out.

SETTING

Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Units of 11 hospitals in Korea.

PATIENTS

Patients were divided into those who underwent prone positioning before ECMO (n=28) and those who did not (n=34).

INTERVENTIONS

None.

VARIABLES OF INTEREST

Thirty-day mortality, ECMO weaning failure rate, mechanical ventilation weaning success rate, mechanical ventilation-free days at day 60.

RESULTS

The prone group had lower median peak inspiratory pressure and lower median dynamic driving pressure before ECMO. Thirty-day mortality was 21% in the prone group and 41% in the non-prone group (p=0.098). The prone group also showed a lower ECMO weaning failure rate, and a higher mechanical ventilation weaning success rate and more mechanical ventilation-free days at day 60. In the non-prone group, median dynamic compliance marginally decreased shortly after ECMO, but no significant change was observed in the prone group.

CONCLUSIONS

Prone positioning before ECMO was not associated to increased mortality and tended to exert a protective effect.

Nuclear Dependence of the Transverse Single-Spin Asymmetry in the Production of Charged Hadrons at Forward Rapidity in Polarized p+p, p+Al, and p+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

We report on the nuclear dependence of transverse single-spin asymmetries (TSSAs) in the production of positively charged hadrons in polarized p^{↑}+p, p^{↑}+Al, and p^{↑}+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. The measurements have been performed at forward rapidity (1.4<η<2.4) over the range of transverse momentum (1.8<p_{T}<7.0  GeV/c) and Feynman x (0.1<x_{F}<0.2). We observed positive asymmetries for positively charged hadrons in p^{↑}+p collisions, and significantly reduced asymmetries in p^{↑}+A collisions. These results reveal a nuclear dependence of TSSAs for charged-hadron production in a regime where perturbative techniques are applicable. These results provide new opportunities to use p^{↑}+A collisions as a tool to investigate the rich phenomena behind TSSAs in hadronic collisions and to use TSSAs as a new handle in studying small-system collisions.