22.29 +/- 2.21 mm, p smaller than 0.001), which represented an absolute and percent decrease in stent dimension of 1.10 +/- 0.40 mm and 4.70 +/- 1.76%, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, the predictors of larger recoil

were a higher prosthesis/annulus ratio (r(2)=0.0624, p=0.015) and the SAPIEN XT prosthesis (r(2)=0.1276, p=0.001). No significant changes in haemodynamic performance were observed at discharge and follow-up in patients with larger recoil. Conclusions: TAVI with a balloon-expandable valve was systematically associated with a certain degree of valve stent recoil after balloon deflation. Prexasertib mw A higher degree of valve oversizing and the SAPIEN XT prosthesis predicted a larger degree of stent recoil.”
“A novel phosphorylation buy Tariquidar motif for casein kinase 1 (CK1) in response to two sulfated lipids [sulfatide and cholesterol-3-sulfate (SCS)] was determined, using three functional proteins [myelin basic protein (MBP), tau protein (TP) and RhoA (a small GTPase)] and five

synthetic NIBP peptides as phosphate acceptors for the kinase in vitro. It was found that (i) MBP, p8 (positions 38-118) cleaved from MBP, and a synthetic peptide M103 were effectively phosphorylated, by CK1 delta in the presence of SCS; (ii) sulfatide in comparison with CH-3S highly enhanced autophosphorylation of CK1 delta; (iii) SCS had a high binding affinity with NIBP and peptide M103, but not other MBP peptides lacking K-G-R; and (iv) a novel consensus phosphorylation motif (K/R-X-K/R-X-X-S/T)

for CK1 was identified among several SCS-binding proteins (SCS-BPs) and three CK1 isoforms (delta, MEK162 epsilon and gamma). The binding of SCS to two basic brain proteins (MBP and TP) resulted in the high stimulation of their phosphorylation by three CK1 isoforms (c 6 and 6), but not CK1 gamma. In contrast, an acidic protein (RhoA) was effectively phosphorylated by CK1 delta in the presence of SCS, and also highly phosphorylated by CK1 gamma in the presence of sulfatide. Our results presented here suggest that (i) sulfatide may function as an effective stimulator for autophosphorylation of CK1; and (ii) cellular SCS-binding proteins, containing novel phosphorylation motifs for CK1, may be preferentially phosphorylated by CK1 with 432 isoform specificity at the highly accumulated level of SCS in the brain.”
“Objectives: To determine the patterns and proximity of reflux events in patients with adult-onset asthma (AOA) using hypopharyngeal multichannel intraluminal impedance (HMII) and to assess outcomes of antireflux surgery (ARS) in patients with AOA.\n\nDesign: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data.\n\nSetting: University hospital.\n\nPatients, Interventions, and Outcomes: All patients with AOA referred to our testing center underwent HMII, and those with abnormal proximal exposure, defined as laryngopharyngeal reflux at least once a day and/or high esophageal reflux at least 5 times a day, subsequently underwent ARS.

Near infrared (NIR) excitation is preferred because NIR light is safer and can penetrate deeper in biological tissues. However, most photolabile groups cannot be excited by NIR light directly. So light conversion from NIR to UV/visible is required. Nanomaterials that display upconversion or two-photon-excitation properties have been developed that can serve as nanotransducers, converting NIR to UV/visible light to which the aforementioned photoresponsive moieties are sensitive. This Account will review the existing light-based nanoparticle delivery systems, their applications, the limitations they face, and the technologies that have emerged in an effort to overcome these limitations.”
“Functional

connectivity (FC) reflects the coherence of spontaneous, low-frequency fluctuations

in functional https://www.selleckchem.com/products/3-deazaneplanocin-a-dznep.html magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. We report a behavior-based connectivity analysis method, in which whole-brain data are used to identify behaviorally relevant, intrinsic FC networks. Nineteen younger adults (20-28 years) and 19 healthy, older adults (63-78 years) were assessed with fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Results indicated that FC involving a distributed 123 network of brain regions, particularly CA3 the inferior frontal gyri, exhibited age-related change in the correlation with perceptual-motor speed (choice reaction time; RT). No relation between FC and RT was evident for younger adults, whereas older adults exhibited a significant age-related slowing GSK690693 in vivo of perceptual-motor

speed, which was mediated by decreasing FC. Older adults’ FC values were in turn associated positively with white matter integrity (from DTI) within the genu of the corpus callosum. The developed FC analysis illustrates the value of identifying connectivity by combining structural, functional, and behavioral data.”
“Antiviral drugs for treating polyomavirus BK (BKV) replication in polyomavirus-associated nephropathy or hemorrhagic cystitis are of considerable clinical interest. Unlike cidofovir, the lipid conjugate 1-O-hexadecyloxypropyl cidofovir (CMX001) is orally available and has not caused detectable nephrotoxicity in rodent models or human studies to date. Primary human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells were infected with BKV-Dunlop, and CMX001 was added 2 h postinfection (hpi). The intracellular and extracellular BKV DNA load was determined by quantitative PCR. Viral gene expression was examined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence microscopy. We also examined host cell viability, proliferation, metabolic activity, and DNA replication. The titration of CMX001 identified 0.31 mu M as the 90% effective concentration (EC(90)) for reducing the extracellular BKV load at 72 hpi. BKV large T antigen mRNA and protein expression was unaffected at 24 hpi, but the intracellular BKV genome was reduced by 90% at 48 hpi.

6 vs 26 days; P < .017) and were less likely to 432 develop renal failure (P < .017) and require dialysis (P < .017) than patients with CP scores >= 8; these values were similar between patients with CP scores <8 and their matched controls. HM781-36B supplier CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for non-liver-related risk factors, patients with compensated cirrhosis (defined by CP score < can undergo cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass with no significant increases

in postoperative mortality and morbidity. For this group of patients, comorbidities, rather than liver failure, appear to account for the occasional death.”
“Aims: To identify independent prognostic factors in patients with cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) who do not belong CCI-779 in vivo to prognostically favourable subsets, and to develop a prognostic index for predicting survival in these patients.\n\nMaterials and methods: In this prospective study, univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors were conducted in a population of 145 patients with CUP in two clinical institutions. Subsets of patients with favourable prognostic features and those requiring well-defined

treatment were excluded.\n\nResults: The 1-year overall survival rate for all patients was 42% and the median overall survival was 330 days. Overall survival was significantly related to the following pre-treatment prognostic factors: poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) >= 2, presence of liver metastasis, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), high white blood cell count, anaemia, age >= 63 years, and prolonged QTc interval in electrocardiography (ECG). In multivariate analysis, four independent adverse prognostic parameters were retained: elevated LDH (hazard ratio 2.21; 95% confidence interval 1.41-3.47; P = 0.001), prolonged QTc selleck chemical interval

(hazard ratio 2.10; 95% confidence interval 1.28-3.44; P = 0.003), liver metastasis (hazard ratio 1.77; 95% confidence interval 1.11-2.81; P = 0.016) and ECOG PS >= 2 (hazard ratio 1.69; 95% confidence interval 1.05-2.73; P = 0.03). We developed a prognostic index for overall survival based on the following subgroups: good prognosis (no or one adverse factor), intermediate prognosis (two adverse factors) and poor prognosis (three or four adverse factors). The median overall survival for the three subgroups was 420, 152 and 60 days, respectively, P < 0.0001.\n\nConclusions: This study validated previously identified important prognostic factors for survival in patients with CUP. Prolonged QTc was additionally identified as a strong adverse prognostic factor. We developed a simple prognostic index using performance status, LDH, presence of liver metastasis and QTc interval in ECG, which allowed assignment of patients into three subgroups with divergent outcome. Trivanovic, D. et al. (2009). Clinical Oncology 21, 43-48 (C) 2008 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

After the initial AZD8931 concentration analysis of collected data using the software SPSS 18, the pharmacy queuing network performance indicators were calculated for both shifts. Then, based on collected data and to provide appropriate solutions, the queuing system of current situation for both shifts was modeled and simulated

using the software ARENA 12 and 4 scenarios were explored. Results: Results showed that the queue characteristics of the studied pharmacy during the situation analysis were very undesirable in both morning and evening shifts. The average numbers of patients in the pharmacy were 19.21 and 14.66 in the morning and evening, respectively. The average times spent in the system by clients were 39 minutes in

the morning and 35 minutes in the evening. The system utilization in the morning and evening were, respectively, 25% and 21%. The simulation results showed that reducing the staff in the morning from 2 to 1 in the receiving prescriptions stage didn’t change the queue performance indicators. Increasing one staff in filling prescription drugs could cause a decrease of 10 persons in the average queue length and 18 minutes and 14 seconds in the average waiting time. On the other hand, simulation results showed that in the evening, decreasing the staff from 2 to 1 in the delivery of prescription drugs, changed the queue performance indicators very little. Increasing a staff to fill prescription drugs could cause a decrease of 5 persons in the average queue length and 8 minutes and 44 seconds in the average waiting time. Conclusions: The patients’ waiting times and the

number of patients waiting to receive check details services in both shifts could be reduced by using multitasking Batimastat Proteases inhibitor persons and reallocating them to the time-consuming stage of filling prescriptions, using queuing theory and simulation techniques.”
“The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing the amount of time spent in physical education classes on bone mineral accrual and gain in bone size in prepubertal Danish children. A total of 135 boys and 108 girls, aged 6-8 years, were included in a school-based curriculum intervention program where the usual time spent in physical education classes was doubled to four classes (180 min) per week. The control group comprised age-matched children (62 boys and 76 girls) recruited from a separate community who completed the usual Danish school curriculum of physical activity (90 min/week). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to evaluate bone mineral content (BMC; g), bone mineral density (g/cm(2)), and bone width at the calcaneus and distal forearm before and after 3 years of intervention. Anthropometrics and Tanner stages were evaluated on the same occasions. General physical activity was measured with an accelerometer worn for 4 days. In girls, the intervention group had a 12.5% increase (P = 0.

\n\nMETHODS. We determined hospitalization rates and compared demographics and comorbidities of patients hospitalized with CA-MRSA versus those hospitalized with all other non-MRSA diagnoses by multivariable

logistic regression.\n\nRESULTS. Of 18,226 hospitalizations with an MRSA diagnosis over 10 years, 3,579 (20%) were classified as community-associated. The CA-MRSA hospitalization rate increased from 1.47 to 10.65 per 100,000 people overall from 1997 to 2006. Relative to non-MRSA hospitalizations, men, children, Bronx and Manhattan residents, the homeless, patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and persons with diabetes had higher adjusted odds of CA-MRSA hospitalization.\n\nCONCLUSIONS. The CA-MRSA hospitalization rate appeared to increase between

1997 and 2006 in New York City, with residents of the Bronx and Manhattan, selleck products men, and persons with HIV learn more infection or diabetes at increased odds of hospitalization with CA-MRSA. Further studies are needed to explore how changes in MRSA incidence, access to care, and other factors may have impacted these rates. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012;33(7):725-731″
“Objective. To summarize evidence regarding the effectiveness of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF alpha) treatments in childhood autoimmune chronic uveitis (ACU), refractory to previous disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). Methods.

A systematic search between January 2000 and October 2012 was conducted PP2 inhibitor using EMBase, Ovid Medline, Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) Reviews: American College of Physicians Journal Club, Cochrane libraries, and EBM Reviews. Studies investigating the efficacy of anti-TNF alpha therapy, in children ages smaller than = 16 years, as the first treatment with a biologic agent for ACU, refractory to topical and/or systemic steroid therapy and at least 1 DMARD, were eligible for inclusion. The primary outcome measure was the improvement of intraocular inflammation, as defined by the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature Working Group criteria. We determined a combined estimate of the proportion of children responding to anti-TNF alpha treatment, including etanercept (ETA), infliximab (INF), or adalimumab (ADA). Results. We initially identified 989 articles, of which 148 were potentially eligible. In total, 22 retrospective chart reviews and 1 randomized clinical trial were deemed eligible, thus including 229 children (ADA: n = 31, ETA: n = 54, and INF: n = 144). On pooled analysis of observational studies, the proportion of responding children was 87% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 75-98%) for ADA, 72% (95% CI 64-79%) for INF, and 33% (95% CI 19-47%) for ETA. There was no difference in the proportion of responders between ADA and INF (chi(2) = 3.06, P smaller than 0.

All rights reserved.”
“Currently, separation processes used for natural fibres for composite reinforcing textiles cause a significant amount of damage to the fibres. Microscopic analysis showed that industrially processed flax (Linum usitassimium L) fibres contained significantly more defects than green or retted ones and that further mechanical processing did not significantly increase the amount of defects. In this study it has been shown, by analysing the degree of polymerisation of cell wall components indirectly by viscosity measurements, that mechanically induced defects do not significantly cleave

the cell wall polymers. Acid hydrolysis, however, induced more degradation of the cell wall polymers in fibres having a greater degree of damage, indicating that that defects are more susceptible to certain chemical reactions and which in turn might cause problems for example, during chemical modification of fibres clue to heterogeneous MEK162 cell line reactivity. Analogous findings were observed in hemp (Cannabis sativa

L.) fibre damaged in the laboratory under controlled conditions, emphasising the need to develop extraction and separation processes that minimise mechanical damage to the fibres. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common and pneumonia is a frequent cause of acute respiratory failure requiring admission to the intensive care unit, little is known about the effect of OSA on this patient population. This study

SNX-5422 examined outcomes associated with OSA in patients Erastin inhibitor with pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Materials and methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was investigated for discharges with a primary diagnosis of pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation between 2009 and 2011. Persons aged 18 to 75 years with OSA were compared with patients without OSA. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality and nonroutine discharges. Results: Among 74032 hospitalizations, 13.8% (10227) were obese, and 10.3% (7610) had OSA. Obstructive sleep apnea patients had decreased in-hospital mortality (17.0% vs 25.8%; P smaller than .01) and nonroutine discharge (74.4% vs 79.4%; P smaller than .01) when compared with non-OSA patients. In adjusted logistic models, OSA was associated with a 27% decreased risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-0.79; P smaller than .01) and a 21% decreased risk of nonroutine discharge (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.84; P smaller than .01). Conclusions: In mechanically ventilated patients with pneumonia, OSA was associated decreased in-hospital mortality and nonroutine discharge. It is possible that differences in treatment pattern may partially explain improved survival. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Alternatively, iterative methods

can be used, but they can be extremely slow at converging when dealing with large matrices. A few approaches suitable for the reconstruction of images from very large data sets have been developed. However, they either require explicit construction of the sensitivity matrix, suffer from slow computation Danusertib times, or can only be applied to restricted geometries. We introduce a method for fast reconstruction in fDOT with large data and solution spaces, which preserves the resolution of the forward operator whilst compressing its representation. The method does not require construction of the full matrix, and thus allows storage and direct inversion of the explicitly constructed compressed system matrix. The method is tested using simulated and experimental data. Results show that the fDOT image reconstruction problem can be effectively compressed without significant loss of information and with the added advantage of reducing image noise. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)”
“Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) is a new metabolic regulator, which is related to antiobesity and insulin sensitivity in vivo. However, the clinical implication of FGF-21 is poorly understood. To investigate whether FGF-21 may play a role as a metabolic

regulator in patients with end-stage renal disease, we measured serum concentrations selleck chemical of FGF-21, selleck screening library inflammatory markers, and metabolic parameters in healthy people (n = 63) and nondiabetic patients receiving peritoneal

dialysis (PD, n = 72). The patients were treated with angiotensin receptor blocker for 6 months, and the changes in FGF-21 concentration and metabolic parameters were assessed. Compared with controls, serum FGF-21 concentration was 8 times higher in patients undergoing PD (754.2 +/- 463.5 vs 86.9 +/- 60.2 pg/mL, P < .001). In controls, only lipid parameters correlated positively with FGF-21 concentration. In contrast, inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, fibrinogen, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) correlated positively and residual renal function correlated inversely with serum FGF-21 concentration in PD patients. In a multivariate analysis adjusting these factors, residual renal function, HOMA-IR, and fibrinogen concentration were independent determinants of serum FGF-21 concentration. After 6-month angiotensin receptor blocker treatment, serum FGF-21 concentration declined significantly by 13% and HOMA-IR and inflammatory markers improved in PD patients. These findings suggest that FGF-21 may play a role in insulin resistance in patients with end-stage renal disease. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

For assessment of survival, methylation was measured in a total of 97 tumor tissues with complete clinical and follow-up data. Analysis was also performed for correlation with age at diagnosis, gender, smoking, and stage. Significant differences in methylation patterns were observed for 9 of

the 12 miRNAs, all due to hypermethylation in the tumor tissue. Individuals with the highest levels of methylated miR-127 were at a significantly increased risk of dying with a hazard ratio of 1.93 (95% CI 1.17-3.19; P=0.010), in univariate analysis and remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, and stage (HR 1.97; 95% CI 1.15-3.40; P=0.014). This increase in risk due to increased methylation were accompanied by significant, dramatic difference in survival duration of 17 months (P=0.0089). Six of the EVP4593 ic50 12 miRNAs were significantly positively correlated with age at diagnosis. Additionally, methylation of miR-127 was significantly greater in higher stage tumors compared to lower stage tumors (P=0.0039). However, no significant associations between smoking and gender with miRNA methylation were observed. Our results demonstrate that miRNA methylation plays a role in NSCLC tumorigenesis and prognosis. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“Metabolomics,

including both targeted and global metabolite profiling strategies, is fast becoming the approach of choice across a broad range of sciences including systems biology, drug discovery, molecular and cell biology, and other medical and agricultural sciences. New analytical and bioinformatics technologies and click here techniques are continually being created or optimized, significantly increasing the crossdisciplinary capabilities of this new biology. The metabolomes of medicinal plants are particularly a valuable natural resource for the evidence-based development of new phytotherapeutics and nutraceuticals. Comparative metabolomics platforms are evolving into novel technologies for monitoring disease development, drug metabolism, and chemical toxicology.

An efficient multidisciplinary find more marriage of these emerging metabolomics techniques with agricultural biotechnology will greatly benefit both basic and applied medical research.”
“The effect of Vespa amino acid mixture (VAAM) on the release of lipolytic products was examined in isolated rat adipocytes. Concentrations of 112.5 to 225 ppm of VAAM showed significantly greater release of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glycerol than the same concentrations of casein amino acid mixture (CAAM). The integrated relative release of NEFA and glycerol was lower in response to individual administration of amino acids comprising VAAM than to VAAM itself. Further, amino acids mixtures deficient in a single amino acid comprising VAAM showed significantly lower release of lipolytic products than VAAM.

012) and El (P = 0.010) compared with earlier measurements in the same groups.\n\nConclusion: A first oral intake in children 1 h after anesthesia for minor surgery seems not to increase the incidence of vomiting as long as the ingested fluid is at body temperature.”
“With the improved survival rate of childhood and young adult cancer patients, the long-term sequelae of the treatments used are increasingly important. In this review, current knowledge of the gonadotoxicity of commonly employed chemotherapeutic agents and radiotherapy regimens is examined. Differences between the effect of “high-risk” and “low-risk” agents are discussed. Tailoring treatment to suit the individual and counseling

patients regarding reduced fertility have resulted in the best practice.\n\nTarget Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists,\n\nFamily VX 809 Physicians. Learning Objectives: After completing this CME activity, physicians should be better able to evaluate and use appropriate methods to estimate ovarian reserve, assess the risk of infertility caused by commonly used cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens and radiation, and counsel patients regarding the gonadotoxic effects of cancer treatment.”
“This review provides an update of previous estimates of first-year probabilities

of contraceptive failure for all methods of contraception available in the United States. Estimates are provided of probabilities of failure during typical use (which includes both incorrect and inconsistent use) and during perfect FG-4592 manufacturer use (correct and consistent use). The difference between these two probabilities reveals the consequences

NCT-501 datasheet of imperfect use; it depends both on how unforgiving of imperfect use a method is and on how hard it is to use that method perfectly. These revisions reflect new research on contraceptive failure both during perfect use and during typical use. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The etiological agents of human trichinellosis are distributed worldwide in domestic and wild animals. In Spain, two morphologically indistinguishable Trichinella species have been described-Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi-that are perpetuated in both domestic and sylvatic cycles. The present work reports a double natural infection involving these species in a wild boar killed by hunters in the Province of Caceres, Spain. After artificial digestion of the boar’s muscles, nine larvae/g were collected. These were characterized by multiplex-PCR and Western-blotting using the Trichinella-specific monoclonal antibodies US5 and US9, and both T. spiralis and T. britovi were detected. The mechanism by which this wild boar came to acquire a mixed infection remains unclear. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Infective exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with increased mortality. Therefore, effective management of COPD should include prevention and reduction of exacerbations.

This study showed that a similar technology was also applied at Kutahya in the 16th century. A linear correlation was found between the position of the Raman intense stretching peak Q3 and lead oxide content of lead-alkali glazes, which could allow for the differentiation of Ottoman tiles based on the nondestructive Raman analysis. This study provides an important additional reference data and discussion for the Ottoman tiles. Copyright (c) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.”
“A mutation of KCNQ1 gene encoding the alpha subunit of the channel mediating

the slow delayed rectifier K+ current in cardiomyocytes may cause severe arrhythmic disorders. We identified KCNQ1(Y461X), a novel mutant gene encoding KCNQ1 subunit whose C-terminal domain is truncated at tyrosine 461 from a man with a mild QT interval prolongation. We made whole-cell see more voltage-clamp recordings from HEK-293T cells transfected with either of wild-type KCNQ1 [KCNQ1(WT)], KCNQ1(Y461X), or their mixture plus KCNE1 auxiliary subunit gene. The KCNQ1(Y461X)-transfected cells showed no

delayed rectifying current. The cells transfected with both KCNQ1(WT) and KCNQ1(Y461X) showed the delayed rectifying current that is thought to be mediated largely by homomeric channel consisting of KCNQ1(WT) find more subunit because its voltage-dependence of activation, activation rate, and deactivation rate were similar to the current in the KCNQ1(WT)-transfected cells. The immunoblots of HEK-293T cell-derived lysates showed that KCNQ1(Y461X) subunit cannot form channel

tetramers by itself or with KCNQ1(WT) subunit. Moreover, immunocytochemical analysis in HEK-293T cells showed that the surface expression level of KCNQ1(Y461X) subunit was very PARP activity low with or without KCNQ1(WT) subunit. These findings suggest that the massive loss of the C-terminal domain of KCNQ1 subunit impairs the assembly, trafficking, and function of the mutant subunit-containing channels, whereas the mutant subunit does not interfere with the functional expression of the homomeric wild-type channel. Therefore, the homozygous but not heterozygous inheritance of KCNQ1(Y461X) might cause major arrhythmic disorders. This study provides a new insight into the structure-function relation of KCNQ1 channel and treatments of cardiac channelopathies. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Application of coronary artery calcium (CAC) for stratifying coronary heart disease (CHD) risk may change the proportion of subjects eligible for risk reduction treatment and decrease cost-effectiveness of primary prevention. We therefore aimed to analyze the impact of CAC on CHD risk categorization.