Among 103 patients with eGFR < 68 mL/min only 35 (34%)

were see more free of recurrences compared with 335/599 (55.9%) in patients with GFR = 68 mL/min (P = 0.001). Both parameters were revealed in multivariate analysis to be independent predictors for outcome after catheter ablation. Conclusion: The results of our study clearly demonstrated that outcome after 1st catheter ablation of AF is poor in patients with MetS and/or impaired renal function. This observation has a potential clinical impact for the follow up management of these patients. (PACE 2012;112)”
“Aims: To correlate the pre-treatment plasma Epstein Barr virus (EBV) DNA with tumour burden and to explore the prognostic implications of pre- and post-treatment plasma EBV DNA load in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy.

Materials and methods: Plasma EBV DNA load was measured using a

real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay in 69 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma before and after radiation treatment and correlated with tumour volume and treatment outcome. Tumour volume was calculated by multiplying the sum of the areas of gross extent of the primary tumour and regional selleck compound lymph nodes shown by computed tomography images and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Prognostic models for distant metastasis and overall survival were constructed using a multivariable fractional polynomial algorithm.

Results: The pre-treatment plasma EBV DNA concentration was significantly associated with tumour volume (Spearman correlation coefficient, 0.61; P < 0.001). The multivariable fractional polynomial algorithm selected post-treatment EBV DNA and administration of chemotherapy as prognostic factors for distant metastasis (P < 0.001, P=0.021, respectively), selleckchem as well as for overall survival (P < 0.001, P=0.018, respectively).

Conclusions: Pre- and post-treatment plasma EBV DNA load have important clinical significance. Pre-treatment plasma EBV DNA concentration reflects tumour burden, whereas clearance of circulating plasma EBV DNA after treatment predicts the risk

of distant metastasis and overall survival. (C) 2010 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Piezoelectric ceramic (1 – x)Bi(Sc3/4In1/4)O-3-xPbTiO(3) (BSIPT) (0.45 <= x <= 0.70) solid solutions near the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) were developed for high temperature piezoelectric transducer and actuator applications. It was found that the MPB composition of BSIPT ceramics was in the vicinity of x = 0.6, where it had relatively small tolerance factor t = 0.901 resulting in a high T-C of 457 degrees C, and also optimal properties such as the high P-r = 25.4 mu C/cm(2), epsilon(r) = 1153, d(33) = 201 pC/N, k(p) = 0.34, and the low E-c = 23.5 kV/cm. Measurements also showed that the depoling temperature was 360 degrees C, about 200 degrees C higher than that of commercialized PZT ceramics, which indicated good temperature stability.