As an application of the scalar potential theory, it is shown that under appropriate radial anisotropy conditions photons can be localized, in a manner that is analogous to the bounded electrons in atoms. We refer to such localized states as the photonic atoms in order to reflect their conceptual significance as an extension to the analogies between photons and electrons. The developed scalar potential theory is expected to be helpful in practice. (C) 2010 American selleckchem Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3490648]“
“Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains the most significant
single species of bacteria causing disease in mankind. The ability of M, tuberculosis to survive and replicate within host macrophages is a pivotal step in its pathogenesis.
Understanding the microenvironments that M. tuberculosis encounters within the macrophage and the adaptations that the bacterium undergoes to facilitate its survival will lead to insights into possible therapeutic targets for improved treatment of tuberculosis. This is urgently needed with the emergence of multi- and extensively drug resistant strains of M, tuberculosis, Significant advances have been made in understanding the macrophage response on encountering M. tuberculosis. Complementary information is also accumulating regarding the counter responses of M, tuberculosis during the various stages of its interactions with the host. As such, a picture is emerging delineating the gene expression of intracellular M. tuberculosis at different stages of the interaction with macrophages.”
“BACKGROUND: The incidence and effect of atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF) after lung transplant CAL-101 cell line are variable. An effect of pharmacologic treatment on outcomes is undetermined.
METHODS: One hundred thirty-seven consecutive JIB04 lung or heart-lung transplant patients were reviewed retrospectively. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to determine statistically
significant risk factors for AF and short-term mortality.
RESULTS: AF occurred in 45.0% of patients within 26 days. By univariate analysis, male gender was predictive of AF (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21 to 4.20, p = 0.011). Mortality within 200 days occurred in 36 of 137 (22.6%) patients. Those with AF had higher mortality than those without AF (27 of 62 [43.5%] vs 9 of 75 [12%]; p < 0.0001). Twenty-four of the 38 (63.1%) patients treated with amiodarone died, whereas 3 of 26 (11.5%) patients treated without amiodarone died (p < 0.0001). Mortality was similar among patients without AF, and those with AF not receiving amiodarone (9 of 75 [12%] vs 3 of 26 [11.5%], p = 1.00). By multivariate analysis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR = 0.395, CI 0.175 to 0.892, p = 0.025), primary pulmonary hypertension (HR = 7.245, CI 1.89 to 27.84, p = 0.0039), and use of amiodarone (HR = 2.967, CI 1.187 to 7.415, p = 0.020) were associated with death.