Background The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte （N/L） ratio has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with heart failure, but it has not been compared with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） in...Background The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte （N/L） ratio has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with heart failure, but it has not been compared with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） in elderly patients with chronic heart failure （CHF）. We sought to make this comparison. Methods A total of 1355 elderly patients with CHF were analyzed. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the variables associated with atrial fibrillation （AF）. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the multivariable rela- tionship between the N/L ratio, NT-proBNP level, and subsequent major cardiovascular events （MCE）. Results In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the N/L ratio was demonstrated as a risk factor for AF in elderly patients with CHF [odds ratio （OR）： 1.079, 95% confi- dence interval （CI）： 1.027-1.134, P = 0.003]. The median follow-up period was 18 months. In a multivariable model using tertiles of both variables, the highest tertile of the N/L ratio was significantly associated with MCE [hazard ratio （HR）： 1.407, 95% CI： 1.098-1.802, P = 0.007] compared with the lowest tertile. Similarly, the highest NT-proBNP tertile was also significantly associated with MCE （HR： 1.461, 95% CI： 1.104-1.934, P- 0.008）. Conclusions In elderly patients with CHF, the N/L ratio is one of the important risk factors for AF and it is an inexpensive and readily available marker with similar independent prognostic power to NT-proBNP. The risk of MCE increases 1.407-fold when the N/L ratio is elevated to the highest tertile.展开更多
A series of scaled-model shaking table tests and its simulation analyses using dynamic finite element method were performed to clarify the dynamic behaviors and the seismic stability of embedded corrugated steel culve...A series of scaled-model shaking table tests and its simulation analyses using dynamic finite element method were performed to clarify the dynamic behaviors and the seismic stability of embedded corrugated steel culverts due to strong earth-quakes like the 1995 Hyogoken-nanbu earthquake. The dynamic strains of the embedded culvert models and the seismic soil pressure acting on the models due to sinusoidal and random strong motions were investigated. This study verified that the cor-rugated culvert model was subjected to dynamic horizontal forces (lateral seismic soil pressure) from the surrounding ground, which caused the large bending strains on the structure; and that the structures do not exceed the allowable plastic deformation and do not collapse completely during strong earthquake like Hyogoken-nanbu earthquake. The results obtained are useful for design and construction of embedded long span corrugated steel culverts in seismic regions.展开更多
文摘Background The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte （N/L） ratio has been associated with poor prognosis in patients with heart failure, but it has not been compared with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） in elderly patients with chronic heart failure （CHF）. We sought to make this comparison. Methods A total of 1355 elderly patients with CHF were analyzed. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the variables associated with atrial fibrillation （AF）. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the multivariable rela- tionship between the N/L ratio, NT-proBNP level, and subsequent major cardiovascular events （MCE）. Results In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the N/L ratio was demonstrated as a risk factor for AF in elderly patients with CHF [odds ratio （OR）： 1.079, 95% confi- dence interval （CI）： 1.027-1.134, P = 0.003]. The median follow-up period was 18 months. In a multivariable model using tertiles of both variables, the highest tertile of the N/L ratio was significantly associated with MCE [hazard ratio （HR）： 1.407, 95% CI： 1.098-1.802, P = 0.007] compared with the lowest tertile. Similarly, the highest NT-proBNP tertile was also significantly associated with MCE （HR： 1.461, 95% CI： 1.104-1.934, P- 0.008）. Conclusions In elderly patients with CHF, the N/L ratio is one of the important risk factors for AF and it is an inexpensive and readily available marker with similar independent prognostic power to NT-proBNP. The risk of MCE increases 1.407-fold when the N/L ratio is elevated to the highest tertile.
文摘A series of scaled-model shaking table tests and its simulation analyses using dynamic finite element method were performed to clarify the dynamic behaviors and the seismic stability of embedded corrugated steel culverts due to strong earth-quakes like the 1995 Hyogoken-nanbu earthquake. The dynamic strains of the embedded culvert models and the seismic soil pressure acting on the models due to sinusoidal and random strong motions were investigated. This study verified that the cor-rugated culvert model was subjected to dynamic horizontal forces (lateral seismic soil pressure) from the surrounding ground, which caused the large bending strains on the structure; and that the structures do not exceed the allowable plastic deformation and do not collapse completely during strong earthquake like Hyogoken-nanbu earthquake. The results obtained are useful for design and construction of embedded long span corrugated steel culverts in seismic regions.
