ABSTRACT
La rotura espontánea del tendón cuadricipital (REC) es una lesión de escasa incidencia cuya etiología se ha relacionado con el uso de diferentes fármacos. Las estatinas son fármacos que se han asociado a la aparición de reacciones adversas que afectan al sistema músculo-esquelético, aunque la relación entre su uso y las roturas tendinosas es controvertida. Presentamos 2 casos de REC de pacientes en tratamiento con atorvastatina. Este trabajo contribuye a aumentar la literatura publicada sobre la posible asociación entre el uso de atorvastatina y la aparición de REC
Spontaneous quadriceps tendon rupture (SQTR) is a lesion of low incidence whose etiology has been related to the use of different drugs. Statins have been associated with the appearance of adverse reactions that affect the musculoskeletal system. However, the relationship between their use and tendon rupture remains controversial. We present 2 cases of SQTR in patients taking atorvastatin. This work contributes to increase the published literature of the association between use of atorvastatin and appearance of SQTR
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Aged , Atorvastatin/adverse effects , Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/adverse effects , Tendon Injuries/chemically induced , Rupture, Spontaneous/chemically induced , Knee , Rupture, Spontaneous/diagnostic imaging , Tendon Injuries/diagnostic imaging , Radiography , Ultrasonography , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
We demonstrate the first successful growth of large-area (200 × 200 µm(2)) bilayer, Bernal stacked, epitaxial graphene (EG) on atomically flat, 4H-SiC (0001) step-free mesas (SFMs) . The use of SFMs for the growth of graphene resulted in the complete elimination of surface step-bunching typically found after EG growth on conventional nominally on-axis SiC (0001) substrates. As a result heights of EG surface features are reduced by at least a factor of 50 from the heights found on conventional substrates. Evaluation of the EG across the SFM using the Raman 2D mode indicates Bernal stacking with low and uniform compressive lattice strain of only 0.05%. The uniformity of this strain is significantly improved, which is about 13-fold decrease of strain found for EG grown on conventional nominally on-axis substrates. The magnitude of the strain approaches values for stress-free exfoliated graphene flakes. Hall transport measurements on large area bilayer samples taken as a function of temperature from 4.3 to 300 K revealed an n-type carrier mobility that increased from 1170 to 1730 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), and a corresponding sheet carrier density that decreased from 5.0 × 10(12) cm(-2) to 3.26 × 10(12) cm(-2). The transport is believed to occur predominantly through the top EG layer with the bottom layer screening the top layer from the substrate. These results demonstrate that EG synthesized on large area, perfectly flat on-axis mesa surfaces can be used to produce Bernal-stacked bilayer EG having excellent uniformity and reduced strain and provides the perfect opportunity for significant advancement of epitaxial graphene electronics technology.
ABSTRACT
The potential benefit of interferon (IFN)-alpha therapy in early-stage B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients is still under discussion, and no assays are available to distinguish potential responders from nonresponders. Herein we analyzed the usefulness of serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF, a cytokine released by CLL cells) and MxA protein (an intracellular marker for biologic activity of endogenous IFN) concentrations as predictive measurements for evolution and response to IFN therapy in early-stage CLL patients. TNF levels and MxA expression were determined at diagnosis in 21 CLL patients. A statistically significant correlation was found between low TNF levels and MxA expression and between high TNF levels and no measurable MxA expression. The patients were then randomized to receive IFN-alpha or no therapy and were evaluated for response and evolution. When response to IFN-alpha therapy was considered, it became apparent that early-stage CLL patients with higher TNF levels and no measurable MxA expression were more likely to benefit from IFN therapy, whereas those patients with lower TNF levels and MxA expression could be considered CLL candidates for longer survival without therapy. More patients have to be tested to strengthen the value of MxA expression and TNF concentrations for subsequent response to IFN-alpha therapy.
