Stimulation of a variety of cell types leads to the release of submicron vesicles that bud off from the plasma membrane. These so-called microparticles (MPs) or microvesicles are defined by their small size (0.1 to 1 m) and the presence of surface antigens from the parental cells.1,2 MPs contribute to a variety of physiological and pathological processes. For instance, they appear to play a rol...

AIM We evaluated the prevalence and severity of myocardial perfusion abnormalities among inmates undergoing cardiac single-photon emission computed tomography. We also compared the results with those obtained in a cohort of non-inmates. METHODS Between January 2009 and December 2013, 2420 consecutive subjects (258 inmates and 2162 non-inmates) with suspected or known coronary artery disease u...

OBJECTIVES Although acupuncture and microcurrent are widely used for chronic pain, there remains considerable controversy as to their therapeutic value for neck pain. We aimed to determine the effect size of microcurrent applied to lower back acupuncture points to assess the impact on the neck pain. DESIGN This was a cohort analysis of treatment outcomes pre- and postmicrocurrent stimulation,...

Cancer patients have a four- to seven-fold increased risk to develop a venous thromboembolic event. Accumulating evidence from experimental and clinical studies indicates that microparticles (MPs), small procoagulant membrane vesicles that are defined by size and a negatively charged phosphatidylserine rich surface, play an important role in the pathogenesis of cancer-related venous thromboembo...

Microporous silica materials with a controlled pore size and a narrow pore size distribution have been prepared by sol-gel processing using an organic-templating approach. Microporous networks were formed by pyrolytic removal of organic ligands (methacryloxypropyl groups) from organic/inorganic hybrid materials synthesized by copolymerization of 3-methacryloxypropylsilane (MPS) and tetraethoxys...

OBJECTIVE Controversy still exists regarding the optimal surgical technique for postinfarction left ventricular (LV) aneurysm repair. We analyze the efficacy of two established techniques, linear vs. patch remodeling, for repair of dyskinetic LV aneurysms. METHODS Between May 1988 and December 2001, 110 consecutive patients underwent repair of LV aneurysms. These represent 2.0% of a total gro...

BACKGROUND Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) are a group of rare inherited disorders characterized by abnormal accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) within the myocytes and coronary arteries. Little is known about hyperlipidaemia as a potential cardiovascular risk factor in these patients. Baseline cholesterol data in adults are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse factors affe...

Five types of porous Nickel-Titanium (NiTi) alloy samples of different porosities and pore sizes were fabricated. According to compressive and fracture strengths, three groups of porous NiTi alloy samples underwent further cytocompatibility experiments. Porous NiTi alloys exhibited a lower Young's modulus (2.0 GPa ~ 0.8 GPa). Both compressive strength (108.8 MPa ~ 56.2 MPa) and fracture strengt...

BACKGROUND Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) is an inherited X-linked disease associated with a deficiency in the enzyme iduronate 2-sulfatase due to iduronate 2-sulfatase gene (IDS) mutations. Recent studies in MPS II carriers did not find clinical involvement, but these were mainly performed by anamnesis and patients' self-reported description of signs and symptoms. So although it is rar...