Search

It is well-known that the Ginzburg-Landau equation on R has a global attractor [15] that attracts in Due to image rights restrictions, multiple line equation(s) cannot be graphically displayed. (ℝ) all the trajectories. This attractor contains bounded trajectories that are analytical functions in space. A famous theorem due to P. Collet and JP. Eckmann asserts that the ε-entropy per unit length in L∞ of this global attractor is finite and is smaller than the corresponding complexity for the space of functions which are analytical in a strip. This means that the global attractor is flatter than expected. We explain in this article how to establish the Collet-Eckmann Theorem in a Hilbert space framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a multilevel Cox model, the association between socioeconomic and geographical aggregate variables and survival was investigated in 81 268 patients with digestive tract cancer diagnosed in the years 1980-1997 and registered in 12 registries in the French Network of Cancer Registries. This association differed according to cancer site: it was clear for colon (relative risk (RR)=1.10 (1.04-1.16), 1.10 (1.04-1.16) and 1.14 (1.05-1.23), respectively, for distances to nearest reference cancer care centre between 10 and 30, 30 and 50 and more than 90 km, in comparison with distance of less than 10 km; P-trend=0.003) and rectal cancer (RR=1.09 (1.03-1.15), RR=1.08 (1.02-1.14) and RR=1.12 (1.05-1.19), respectively, for distances between 10 and 30 km, 30 and 50 km and 50 and 70 km, P-trend=0.024) (n=28 010 and n=18 080, respectively) but was not significant for gall bladder and biliary tract cancer (n=2893) or small intestine cancer (n=1038). Even though the influence of socioeconomic status on prognosis is modest compared to clinical prognostic factors such as histology or stage at diagnosis, socioeconomic deprivation and distance to nearest cancer centre need to be considered as potential survival predictors in digestive tract cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To prospectively determine whether ventricular rate and regularity are significant determinants of the velocity and magnitude of left atrial appendage (LAA) flow. Design and patients: 12 patients with atrial fibrillation CM), high degree atrioventricular block, and indwelling permanent pacemakers were studied. Setting: Cardiology department of a tertiary referral centre. Interventions: Pacing was triggered by an external programmable transcutaneous device. Patients were paced at 60, 120, and 150 beats/mm in both regular and irregular rhythm. LAA flow velocity and magnitude were assessed with transoesophageal Doppler echocardiography. Main outcome measures: Peak and mean LAA inflow and outflow velocity, and time-velocity interval (WI) of LAA flow. Results: Increasing ventricular rate was associated with significantly lower peak inflow (p < 0.01), peak outflow (p < 0.05), mean inflow (p < 0.01), and mean outflow (p < 0.05) velocities and with a lower WI of LAA filling and emptying velocities (p <0.01). This effect was noted at rates of 60 beats/mm compared with both 120 and 150 beats/mm. At a pacing rate of 120 beats/mm there was a significantly higher total TVI when pacing at a regular than at an irregular rhythm (40.16 (14.6) cm v 30.74(10.9) cm, p < 0.05). Conclusions: In this study, LAA filling velocities in patients in AF were significantly influenced by paced ventricular rate and to a much lesser extent ventricular rhythm. These results suggest that rapid ventricular rates may predispose to stasis in the LAA in AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between social and geographic characteristics and the type of care centre for initial colorectal surgery in France. Patients living far from a reference cancer site were less frequently treated in a reference cancer site than those who were living near a reference cancer site OR(a)=(0.50 (0.33-0.76)). As for topography and emergency presentation, place of residence (urban/rural), occupation and marital status were not associated with the type of the care centre. Improvements in diagnosis and treatment and of clinical practice guidelines are therefore crucial to ensure equality in health care in France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the differences in five different formulae for heart rate correction of the QT interval in serial electrocardiograms recorded in healthy subjects subjected to graded exercise. Twenty-one healthy subjects (aged 37+/-10 years, 15 male) were subjected to graded physical exercise on a braked bicycle ergometer until the heart rate reached 120 beats/min. Digital electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded on baseline and every 30 seconds during the exercise. In each ECG, heart rate and QT interval were measured automatically (QT Guard package, Marquette Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA). Bazett, Fridericia, Hodges, Framingham, and nomogram formulae were used to obtain QTc interval values for each ECG. For each formula, the slope of the regression line between RR and QTc values was obtained in each subject. The mean values of the slopes were tested by a one-sample t-test and the comparison of the baseline and peak exercise QTc values was performed using paired t-test. Bazett, Hodges, and nomogram formulae led to significant prolongation of QTc intervals with exercise, while the Framingham formula led to significant shortening of QTc intervals with exercise. The differences obtained with the Fridericia formula were not statistically significant. The study shows that the practical meaning of QT, interval measurements depends on the correction formula used. In studies investigating repolarization changes (e.g., due to a new drug), the use of an ad-hoc selected heart rate correction formula is highly inappropriate because it may bias the results in either direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor referencing an article published in the 2004 issue of the "British Journal of Cancer," by R. Robertson and colleagues, on the treatment of colorectal and breast cancer in rural and urban areas.