With increasing Sr doping level, the characteristics of intrinsic Josephson junctions in LNSCO change from a superconductor-insulator-superconductor type to a superconductor-normal metal-superconductor

one. The field dependence of critical current I-c exhibits a periodical perturbation with a large scale of magnetic field. A fourfold symmetry of the angular dependent I-c for the rotation of the CuO2 plane in magnetic fields confirms the vortex pinning effect of the PRIMA-1MET order static stripes. The abrupt jump of voltage at a rather large I-c in LNSCO may be used as a high-power current restrictor or switch. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3524214]“
“Methods: A total of 121 patients without structural heart disease who underwent primary CPVI by a single operator were included learn more in the study (paroxysmal/persistent AF: 77/44). Left atrial diameter was measured by transesophageal echocardiography. Plasma hsCRP concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on the follow-up outcomes, patients were divided into two groups, a recurrence group and a nonrecurrence

group. AF recurrence was defined as AF or atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia episodes lasting for >= 30 s during regular follow-up (> 12 months).

Results: A total of 36 (29.8%) patients (paroxysmal/persistent AF: 19 [24.7%]/17 [38.6%]) had AF recurrence in a mean 23 (range, 12-44) month 5-Fluoracil follow-up period. The plasma hsCRP concentration in the recurrence group was significantly higher than that in the nonrecurrence group for all patients (median

[quartile range] 2.22 [1.97] mg/L vs 0.89 [1.30] mg/L, P < 0.001), for patients with paroxysmal AF (2.12 [2.78] mg/L vs 0.84 [1.15] mg/L, P = 0.028), and for those with persistent AF (2.29 [1.08] mg/L vs 0.89 [1.53] mg/L, P = 0.005). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that the higher level of the plasma hsCRP (P < 0.001) was a significant prognostic predictor of AF recurrence, both for patients with paroxysmal AF (P = 0.012) and those with persistent AF (P = 0.003).

Conclusion: Plasma hsCRP concentration before CPVI was associated with AF recurrence after primary CPVI procedure for both paroxysmal and persistent AF patients. Plasma hsCRP concentration could play a role in prediction of AF recurrence after primary CPVI. (PACE 2011; 34:398-406).”
“Pain following depot intramuscular (IM) injection of oil vehicle-based drugs has been little studied. This study aimed to determine prospectively the prevalence, determinants, severity and functional consequences of pain during the week after IM injection of 1 000 mg testosterone undecanoate (TU) in a 4-mL castor oil vehicle.