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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The creatine kinase curve area and peak creatine kinase after acute myocardial infarction: usefulness and limitations.

We determined creatine kinase (CK) curve areas in 112 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Two-hour sampling was performed for the first 24 hours or until peak CK was reached, and a gamma density function was used to calculate curve areas from all available samples. Attempts to predict CK curve area by means of the portion of the curve prior to peak CK proved to be inaccurate; not until values 2 hours or more beyond peak CK were utilized did predicted and actual CK areas agree well. A good correlation (r = 0.93) was found between CK area and peak CK. To establish an approach for detecting peak CK in the clinical setting, a range of sampling intervals (4 to 24 hours) was assessed; 4- and 6-hour sampling intervals for 48 hours produced maximum CK values at or above 85% of true peak CK in 90% and 89% of patients, respectively, and average maximum CK at both sampling intervals exceeded 94% of that obtained with 2-hour samplings. We conclude that this simplified approach can provide a basis for estimating infarct severity in the individual patient.

Creatine Kinase↗

Utility of area curve ratio electrocochleography in early Meniere disease.

BACKGROUND: Electrocochleography (ECochG) is useful in supporting the diagnosis of Meniere disease (MD). Possible MD (early disease as defined by the 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium) is a readily treatable form of MD. OBJECTIVES: To identify whether ECochG summating potential/action potential (SP/AP) area curve measures are more sensitive than conventional SP/AP amplitude ratios in detecting possible MD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of a 3-year period (1997-2000) was conducted. All charts of patients diagnosed as having MD who had undergone tympanic ECochG were examined to identify those with possible MD. Exclusion criteria were incomplete workup, ECochG performed using a prior system, cochlear microphonic spike obscuring ratio measurements, and prior otologic surgery. A control group of patients with normal SP/AP ratios and ECochG data were identified. SP/AP amplitude and area curve ratios for both groups were measured. RESULTS: Of 138 patients with MD reviewed, 20 (14%) had possible MD, and 8 passed exclusion criteria. An audiologist blinded to patients' diagnoses performed all measurements. The upper limit of normal for SP/AP amplitude and area curve ratios from the control group of ears (n = 13) (alpha =.05) were similar to previously published results. Of the 8 patients with possible MD, 4 had an abnormal SP/AP amplitude ratio, and 7 had an abnormal SP/AP area curve ratio; the difference between groups was statistically significant (P =.03, chi2). CONCLUSIONS: The SP/AP area curve ratio significantly improves ECochG diagnostic sensitivity in possible MD. This ECochG refinement will allow earlier intervention to preserve inner ear function in MD.

Action Potentials↗

Species-area curves, spatial aggregation, and habitat specialization in tropical forests.

The relationship between species diversity and sampled area is fundamental to ecology. Traditionally, theories of the species-area relationship have been dominated by random-placement models. Such models were used to formulate the canonical theory of species-area curves and species abundances. In this paper, however, armed with a detailed data set from a moist tropical forest, we investigate the validity of random placement and suggest improved models based upon spatial aggregation. By accounting for intraspecific, small-scale aggregation, we develop a cluster model which reproduces empirical species-area curves with high fidelity. We find that inter-specific aggregation patterns, on the other hand, do not affect the species-area curves significantly. We demonstrate that the tendency for a tree species to aggregate, as well as its average clump size, is not significantly correlated with the species' abundance. In addition, we investigate hierarchical clumping and the extent to which aggregation is driven by topography. We conclude that small-scale phenomena such as dispersal and gap recruitment determine individual tree placement more than adaptation to larger-scale topography.

Ecology↗

A nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator for the receiver operating characteristic curve area in the presence of verification bias.

The efficacy of a diagnostic test can be represented by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In estimating the ROC curve area, a common problem is verification bias resulting from selectively verifying a subset of patients initially tested. This paper proposes a simple verification bias correction procedure for estimating the ROC curve area and its corresponding variance.

Bias↗

Surface tension-surface area curves calculated from pressure-volume loops.

An energy analysis and data from the literature on the relation among surface area, recoil pressure, and lung volume are used to calculate the surface tension-surface area curves corresponding to pressure-volume loops. The energy analysis has been described earlier (J. Appl. Physiol.: Respirat. Environ. Exercise Physiol. 50: 921-926, 1981). It is based on the assumption that the tissue structure of the lung constitutes a conservative mechanical system and hence that pressure-volume hysteresis is primarily a result of surface tension-surface area hysteresis. Unlike previous methods of calculating surface tension from recoil pressure, this method does not rely on the assumption that the tissue component of recoil in the air-filled lung is the same as recoil pressure of the saline-filled lung at the same lung volume. The calculated values of surface tension decrease to less than 2 dyn/cm as surface area decreases along the deflation limb of the pressure-volume curve. Surface tension increases very steeply with surface area on the inflation limbs, reaching a limiting value of just under 30 dyn/cm. The shape of the surface tension-surface area curves, unlike the shape of the curves calculated by previous methods, is similar to the shape obtained on surface tension balances for fluid extracted from lungs.

Animals↗

Predicting biodiversity change: outside the climate envelope, beyond the species-area curve.

Efforts to anticipate threats to biodiversity take the form of species richness predictions (SRPs) based on simple correlations with current climate and habitat area. We review the major approaches that have been used for SRP, species-area curves and climate envelopes, and suggest that alternative research efforts may provide more understanding and guidance for management. Extinction prediction suffers from a number of limitations related to data and the novelty of future environments. We suggest additional attention to (1) identification of variables related to biodiversity that are diagnostic and potentially more predictable than extinction, (2) constraints on species dispersal and reproduction that will determine population persistence and range shifts, including limited sources or potential immigrants for many regions, and (3) changes in biotic interactions and phenology. We suggest combinations of observational and experimental approaches within a framework available for ingesting heterogeneous data sources. Together, these recommendations amount to a shift in emphasis from prediction of extinction numbers to identification of vulnerabilities and leading indicators of change, as well as suggestions for surveillance tools needed to evaluate important variables and the experiments likely to provide most insight.

Animals↗

In vivo human tracheal pressure-area curves using computerized tomographic scans. Correlation with maximal expiratory flow rates.

In order to develop a simple technique to measure in vivo pressure-area (P-A) curves of the extrathoracic trachea in humans, we studied 14 normal male subjects. Valsalva and Mueller maneuvers were performed at FRC, and tracheal cross-sectional area (TXSA) was measured using computed tomography. Extrathoracic tracheal transmural pressure (TMP) was obtained as airway opening minus atmospheric pressure (Pat). Tracheal "compliance" (TC) was measured on the "inflation" limb of the P-A curve. Tracheal compliance was not a significant predictor of maximal expiratory flow rates, and TXSA at zero TMP was a significant predictor of peak expiratory flow rate but not of FEV1 or Vmax50. P-A curves showed an unexpected configuration characterized by a plateau or an increase in TXSA with TMP lower than -15 cm H2O. P-A curves obtained in 5 subjects using extrathoracic esophageal pressure as tracheal external pressure instead of atmospheric pressure did not show a plateau or an increase in TXSA with Mueller maneuvers. In these 5 subjects, TC using esophageal pressure rather than Pat did not aid in the prediction of flow. We conclude that extrathoracic tracheal external pressure is not Pat because this pressure is probably affected by transmission of pleural pressure to the cervical interstitial tissue as well as by the contraction of cervical accessory inspiratory muscles. Therefore, true tracheal compliance cannot be simply measured since it requires placement of an esophageal balloon.

Adult↗

Positive end-expiratory pressure shifts left ventricular diastolic pressure-area curves.

Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ventilation is frequently associated with reduction in cardiac output despite unchanged transmural left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure. These findings have been interpreted to indicate decreased contractility, but could also be explained by altered LV diastolic pressure-volume characteristics. To study this possibility, radiopaque markers were inserted into a plane of the LV in nine dogs. Transmural pressure (LV-pericardial) was synchronized with LV area during ventilation with zero end-expiratory pressure and with 15 cmH2O PEEP. Mean polynomial curves derived from the diastolic pressure-area data demonstrated that PEEP shifted the curves upward so that a given diastolic area was associated with a higher transmural LV pressure (P less than 0.0001). PEEP decreased end-diastolic area and stroke area, both of which were normalized with dextran volume expansion. Restoration of stroke area by normalizing end-diastolic area with volume expansion suggests the initial changes with PEEP were due to a decrease in preload rather than in contractility.

Animals↗

Climate change, species-area curves and the extinction crisis.

An article published in the journal Nature in January 2004-in which an international team of biologists predicted that climate change would, by 2050, doom 15-37% of the earth's species to extinction-attracted unprecedented, worldwide media attention. The predictions conflict with the conventional wisdom that habitat change and modification are the most important causes of current and future extinctions. The new extinction projections come from applying a well-known ecological pattern, the species-area relationship (SAR), to data on the current distributions and climatic requirements of 1103 species. Here, I examine the scientific basis to the claims made in the Nature article. I first highlight the potential and pitfalls of using the SAR to predict extinctions in general. I then consider the additional complications that arise when applying SAR methods specifically to climate change. I assess the extent to which these issues call into question predictions of extinctions from climate change relative to other human impacts, and highlight a danger that conservation resources will be directed away from attempts to slow and mitigate the continuing effects of habitat destruction and degradation, particularly in the tropics. I suggest that the most useful contributions of ecologists over the coming decades will be in partitioning likely extinctions among interacting causes and identifying the practical means to slow the rate of species loss.

Animals↗

pH, temperature, humidity and the dynamic force-area curve of dipalmitoyl lecithin.

Both high pH at 25 degrees C and humidity at 37 degrees C prevent DPL films from attaining zero surface tension, whereas humidity at 25 degrees C and high pH at 37 degrees C do not. At 37 degrees C DPL lowered surface tension to zero when spread from organic solvent or when absorbed from aqueous 0.15 M NaCl in the surface balance in which the surface film was exposed to the room air (dry film). Upon saturation of the atmosphere with water vapor in equilibrium with the aqueous phase at 37 degrees C in a closed chamber, DPL lost the ability to produce zero surface tension, and the gamma min of the DPL film increased from zero to 22 dyne/cm. Addition of DPL in chloroform to distilled water before dispersion by sonication did not prevent the effect of the humidity. However, when the chloroform solution of DPL was added to 0.15 M NaCl before sonication, the adsorbed film produced immediately a stable gamma min of zero in a saturated atmosphere, 37 degrees C. In the absence of chloroform, with DPL adsorbed from either distilled water or 0.15 M NaCl, the effect of humidity was reversed either by removing the chamber and returning the wet film to room air or by introducing small quantities of dispersing agents such as cholesteryl palmitate. However, whereas the effect of humidifying the air was reversible indefinitely, the effect of cholesteryl palmitate (zero surface tension, wet or dry film) was irreversible. This means that there are substances or conditions that can assist DPL films in maintaining zero surface tension when such films are exposed to humidity-saturated air at 37 degrees C.

Humidity↗

Effect of serum albumin on dynamic force-area curve of dipalmitoyl lecithin.

In line with previous findings at 25 degrees C, solutions of serum albumin in the subphase stabilized the surface activity of DPL spread films at 25 degrees C as well as 37 degrees C. In contrast, films adsorbed from mixtures of DPL and albumin exhibitied a marked inhibitory action of the albumin on DPL activity. The inhibitory effect increased with the relative protein concentration but, with albumin/DPL ratios smaller than 2, the DPL activity was regained gradually with cycling. With larger albumin/DPE negative effect of albumin was counteracted by higher temperatures (37 degrees C vs 25 degress C) and modest cholesterol concentrations; with greater cholesterol concentrations the known inhibitory effect of cholesterol prevailed. The inhibitory effect of albumin was potentiated by humidity; saturation of the atmosphere with water vapor at 37 degrees C abolished the DPL character of DPL-RSA mixtures and prevented its return (zero surface tension) upon reversal of the atmosphere from saturated water vapor to dry air. The data are important in the interpretation of the surface activity of pulmonary washings and other pulmonary extracts.

Adsorption↗