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Nuclear fission is still one of the most complex physical processes due to the interplay between macroscopic and microscopic nuclear properties that decide the output. An example of this coupling is the presence of nuclear dissipation as an important ingredient that contributes to drive the dynamics and has a clear impact on the time of the process. However, different theoretical interpretations and scarce experimental data make it poorly understood. At low excitation energy, the relative yields of fragments even and odd atomic numbers show a clear difference, which can be quantified with the so-called even-odd effect. This seemingly mundane property can be used to obtain information about the energy dissipated during the process and the role of structure in its dynamics. In this paper, the study of the even-odd effect for elasticand transfer-induced fission data is discussed. A clear connection with particular fragment shells and the dissipation energy is found, as detailed in Ref. [1]. In addition, preliminary results from quasi-fission data show the formation of a relatively large even-odd effect, which suggests a process with low dissipation mainly consisting in the exchange of nucleon pairs.

During the last decade, the use of inverse kinematics in the experimental study of fission is bringing a wealth of new observables obtained in single measurements, allowing their analysis and their correlations. An ongoing application of this technique is the basis of a series of experiments performed with the variable-mode, large-acceptance VAMOS++ spectrometer at GANIL. A recent experiment has been focused on the survival of the nuclear structure effects at high excitation energy in fission and quasi-fission. The full isotopic identification of fragments, the fission dynamics and the ratio between the production of fragments with even and odd atomic numbers, the so-called proton even-odd effect, are shown. The latter shows a different mechanism for fission and quasi-fission that could be used to separate fission from quasi-fission.

Over the past decade, inverse kinematics has been increasingly employed in experimental studies of fission. This approach has yielded a wealth of new observables that can be obtained in single measurements, enabling their analysis and correlations. One ongoing application of this technique involves a series of experiments performed at GANIL using the variable-mode, large-acceptance VAMOS++ spectrometer. A recent experiment focused on examining the survival of nuclear structure effects at high excitation energy in both fission and quasi-fission. The results of the study involved a full isotopic identification of fragments, as well as an analysis of the elemental yields their relation to fission dynamics. The results indicate that fission and quasi-fission involve different mechanisms, which could be exploited to distinguish between the two phenomena.

Fission at low excitation energy, is a process in which both macroscopic and microscopic aspects are involved. Some features in the total kinetic energy and in the N/Z distributions of the fragments, commonly associated with shell effects, came out in a series of recent experiments with high excitation energy fusionfission reactions in inverse kinematics. In the latest experiment of this campaign, a study of high-energy fission and quasi-fission between a 238U beam and a series of light targets was carried out by using the aforementioned technique, in order to probe the role of the shell structure in these processes.

Introduction and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of spironolactone and doxazosin as treatment for patients with resistant hypertension., Methods: This retrospective study involved 181 outpatients with resistant hypertension (defined as a failure of blood pressure [BP] control despite treatment with three drugs, one of which was a diuretic) who received additional spironolactone (n=88) or doxazosin (n=93)., Results: Mean systolic BP in the spironolactone group fell by 28 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI], 24-32 mmHg; P< .001) and mean diastolic BP fell by 12 mmHg (95% CI, 9-14 mmHg; P< .001). The corresponding falls in the doxazosin group were 16 mmHg (95% CI, 13-20 mmHg; P< .001) and 7 mmHg (95% CI, 5-9 mmHg; P< .001), respectively. The decrease was significantly greater with spironolactone for both systolic (P< .001) and diastolic (P=.003) pressures. At the end of follow-up, 30% of all patients had achieved BP control, with control being more frequent with spironolactone (39%) than doxazosin (23%; P=.02). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the only factors that significantly influenced the achievement of BP control were diabetes (odds ratio=0.17; 95% CI, 0.08-0.39; P< .001) and baseline systolic BP <165 mmHg (odds ratio=2.56; 95% CI, 1.11-5.90; P=.03)., Conclusions: In patients with resistant hypertension, the addition of either spironolactone or doxazosin resulted in a significant decrease in BP, though the decrease appeared to be greater with spironolactone. The presence of diabetes complicated BP control.

Background: The study was designed to evaluate blood pressure (BP) values related to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in a group of never treated middle-aged hypertensive subjects., Patients and Method: Non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and echocardiography were performed in 149 hypertensive patients (25-50 years old) with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 90-114 mmHg. LVH was considered when left ventricular mass (LVM) was > 134 g/m2 in males and > 110 g/m2 in females., Results: 43% of patients had LVH. Patients with LVH had higher clinic and ambulatory BP values. The greatest differences were in mean 24-h SBP (p = 0.001) and in 24-h DBP (p = 0.006). With respect to LVH, there were no differences between dippers and non-dippers, males or females, and circadian or BP variability. LVM was positively correlated with clinical DBP (p = 0.24), 24 h SBP (p = 0.41), pulse pressure (PP) (p = 0.36) and absolute BP variability (p = 0.23). Multiple regression analysis confirmed that 24-h SBP and sex where positively associated with LVH independent of others factors. The existence of 24-h SBP > 150 mmHg dramatically increased the risk of LVH (odds ratio [OR] = 9.2; CI 95%: 2.8-29.3; p = 0.002)., Conclusions: The present study indicates that in never treated middle-aged essential hypertensive patients the principal factor related to the presence of LVH is the value of systolic blood pressure throughout a 24-h period.

Background: The occurrence of microalbuminuria (mAlb) in essential hypertension (HT) was evaluated., Methods: 100 patients were studied (56 males), with mean age 39 +/- 6 years, body mass index (BMI) 28 +/- 4. 32 had borderline HT, 47 had mild HT and 21 had moderate HT. 74 were in stage I of the WHO and 26 were in stage II. All had normal renal function (creatinine 91 +/- 12 mumol, Clcr 92 +/- 13 ml/m/1.73 m2) and no proteinuria as measured by sulphosalicylic acid. mAlb was immuno-nephelometrically measured in two 24-hour urine samples, and was given as urinary albumin excretion (UAE). In 62 patients, noninvasive ambulatory recording of blood pressure (NIAR) was carried out. In 39, ventricular mass was estimated by echocardiography., Results: UAE was correlated with SPB24h (r = 0.39) and DBP24h, but not with SBP or DBP. UAE was greater in patients with moderate HT than in those with mild or borderline HT (p less than 0.01). UAE was less than 20 mg/24 h in 70 patients (group A) and greater than 20 mg/24 h in 30 (group B). The comparative analysis of the two groups showed different clinical BP values (SBP p less than 0.01; DBP p less than 0.001) and NIAR (SBP 24 h p less than 0.001; DBP 24 h p less than 0.05). In the 47 patients with mild HT the only differential parameter between groups A and B was SBP24h (p less than 0.05). Regarding echocardiographic data, in higher UAE levels a greater left ventricular mass index was found in males (chi-square p less than 0.05)., Conclusions: Increased mAlb is associated with more severe HT. This finding may be helpful for the initial evaluation of hypertensive patients.