Overall, PF-6463922 nmr non-improvement at week 1 or week 2 was highly predictive of non-response using BPRS scores and PANSS but not CGI-I.\n\nConclusions These data, independent of antipsychotic used, confirm prior research showing that early improvement in symptoms is predictive of response. There appears to be an important window of time, beyond week 1, during which important clinical decisions to stay or switch medication may be made. Copyright (C) 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.”
“Context Early hospital readmission is emerging as an indicator of care quality. Some children with chronic illnesses may be readmitted on a recurrent basis, but there are limited

data describing their rehospitalization patterns and impact.\n\nObjectives BI 2536 Cell Cycle inhibitor To describe the inpatient resource utilization, clinical characteristics, and admission reasons of patients recurrently readmitted to children’s hospitals.\n\nDesign, Setting, and Patients Retrospective cohort analysis of 317 643 patients (n=579 504 admissions) admitted to 37 US children’s hospitals in 2003 with follow-up through 2008.\n\nMain Outcome Measure Maximum number

of readmissions experienced by each child within any 365-day interval during the 5-year follow-up period.\n\nResults In the sample, 69 294 patients (21.8%) experienced at least 1 readmission within 365 days of a prior admission. Within a 365-day interval, 9237 patients (2.9%) experienced 4 or more readmissions; time between admissions was a median 37 days (interquartile range [IQR], 21-63). These patients accounted for 18.8% (109 155 admissions) of all admissions and 23.2% ($3.4 billion) of total inpatient charges for the study cohort during the entire follow-up period. Tests for trend indicated that as the number of readmissions increased from 0 to 4 or more, the prevalences increased for a complex chronic condition (from 22.3% [n=55 382/248 349] to 89.0% [n=8225/9237]; P<.001),

technology assistance (from 5.3% [n=13 163] to 52.6% [n=4859]; P<.001), public insurance use (from 40.9% [n=101 575] to 56.3% [n=5202]; P<.001), and non-Hispanic buy DAPT black race (from 21.8% [n=54 140] to 34.4% [n=3181]; P<.001); and the prevalence decreased for readmissions associated with an ambulatory care-sensitive condition (from 23.1% [62 847/272 065] to 14.0% [15 282/109 155], P<.001). Of patients readmitted 4 or more times in a 365-day interval, 2633 (28.5%) were rehospitalized for a problem in the same organ system across all admissions during the interval.\n\nConclusions Among a group of pediatric hospitals, 18.8% of admissions and 23.2% of inpatient charges were accounted for by the 2.9% of patients with frequent recurrent admissions. Many of these patients were rehospitalized recurrently for a problem in the same organ system. JAMA. 2011;305(7):682-690 www.jama.

“
“Influenza virus subtyping has emerged as a critical tool in the diagnosis of influenza. Antiviral resistance is present in the majority of seasonal H1N1 influenza A infections, with association of viral strain type and antiviral resistance. Influenza A virus subtypes can be reliably distinguished by examining conserved sequences in the matrix protein gene. We describe our experience

with an assay for influenza A BVD-523 in vivo subtyping based on matrix gene sequences. Viral RNA was prepared from nasopharyngeal swab samples, and real-time RT-PCR detection of influenza A and B was performed using a laboratory developed analyte-specific reagent-based assay that targets a conserved region of the influenza A matrix protein gene. FluA-positive samples were analyzed using a second RT-PCR assay targeting the matrix protein gene to distinguish seasonal influenza subtypes based on differential melting of fluorescence resonance energy transfer probes. The novel H1N1 influenza strain responsible for the 2009 pandemic showed a melting profile distinct from that of seasonal H1N1 or H3N2 and compatible

with the predicted melting temperature based on the published novel H1N1 matrix gene sequence. Validation by comparison with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention real-time RT-PCR for swine influenza A (novel LGX818 mw H1N1) test showed this assay to be both rapid and reliable (>99% sensitive and specific) in the identification of the novel H1N1 influenza A virus strain. (J Mol Diagn 2010, 12:664-669; DOI: 10.2353/jmoldx.2010.090225)”
“B-type natriuretic peptide selleck kinase inhibitor and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide have emerged as powerful biomarkers for heart failure and other cardiovascular conditions. B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide are synthesized on the basis of myocardial stress and hypertrophy and are detectable in serum by several commercially available assays. Although both markers display wide similarities in their predictive values for acute and chronic

heart failure, important differences exist regarding cutoff values and influence of noncardiac variables. The similarities and differences between B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide will be reviewed and illustrated in detail regarding preanalytics and analytics, predictive properties for acute and chronic heart failure and prognosis as well as the influence of noncardiac parameters.”
“The exchange interactions for rapidly solidified (Nd/Pr)(Fe/Co)B hard magnetic alloys with remanence enhancement were studied by analyzing characteristic magnetic curves and Henkel plots. The exchange coupling can be improved by increasing soft phase content within hard matrix. With increasing temperature, the exchange interaction is enhanced due to the increased exchange length. An increased recoil susceptibility was found for the alloys with improved exchange coupling.

But concern lingers that DAs might introduce cognitive biases.\n\nMethods: We recruited 663 women at high risk of breast cancer and presented them with a DA designed to experimentally test potential methods of identifying and reducing cognitive biases that could influence this decision, by varying specific ABT-737 ic50 aspects of the DA across participants in a factorial design.\n\nResults: Participants were susceptible to a cognitive bias – an order effect – such that those who learned first about the risks of tamoxifen thought more favorably of the drug than women who learned first about

the benefits. This order effect was eliminated among women who received additional information about competing health risks.\n\nConclusion: We discovered that the order of risk/benefit information influenced women’s perceptions of tamoxifen. This bias was eliminated by providing

contextual information about competing health risks. Practice implications: We have demonstrated the feasibility of using factorial experimental designs to test whether DAs introduce cognitive biases, and whether specific elements of DAs can reduce such biases. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.”
“The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an analogue of lacidipine, CZ454 in in vitro and in vivo. The isometric tension of Sprague-Dawley rat arterial ring segments was recorded by a myography system. Intracellular calcium of vascular smooth muscle was determined by the confocal laser microscopy. Blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats was measured using BIBF 1120 molecular weight a tail-cuff blood pressure system. The results showed that CZ454 (10(-9)-10(-6)mol/L) relaxed

the mesenteric artery SC79 contracted by high K+ concentration-dependently, which was not affected by removal of the endothelium. CZ454 treatment shifted the concentration-contractile curves induced by phenylephrine, U46619, KCl and CaCl2 to the right with the decreased E-max. CZ454 was more potent in the coronary and basilar artery than in the mesenteric artery. CZ454 did not reduce phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction: however, it did inhibit the contraction caused by addition of CaCl2 and did not change caffeine-induced contraction in the mesenteric artery in Ca2+-free solution. CZ454 decreased the vasoconstriction induced by Bay K 8644 in the presence of 60mmol/L K+ CZ454 1.0 mg/kg administered by gavage lowered the systolic pressure and diastolic pressure by 20% and 17%, respectively. It was concluded that CZ454 lowers blood pressure and relaxes arteries with higher potency in coronary and basilar artery and that the vasodilation may involve inhibition of calcium influx.”
“Objective: The link between impulsive personality traits and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) is well established. No studies, however, have investigated whether receipt of help for AUDs predicts change in impulsivity or whether such change is associated with relevant outcomes such as legal problems.

A photovoltaic device composed of eight ITO/NiO/P3HT:PCBM/Al OSCs in series connection with area of 5 x 4 cm(2), V-OC of 4.35 V. I-SC of 1.59 mA and power conversion efficiency of 2.08% was achieved. This device succeeded in driving a group

of 11 light emitting diodes. In addition, this patterned method a device with V-OC of 1.5 V and I-SC of 18 mA succeeded in driving a small motor. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“The effect of single-cycle and multiple-cycle high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatments on the survival of three Salmonella Enteritidis strains in chicken breast fillets was investigated. The surface of fillets was inoculated with a cocktail of three Salmonella strains at approximately 10(7) colony-forming units (CFU)/g, and held at 4 degrees C for 20 hours before HHP treatments. Reduction of Salmonella counts on tryptic soy agar (TSA) by single-cycle treatments at 300 MPa and 12 degrees C ranged from 0.58 log CFU/g selleck chemicals for a 0-minute (no dwell time) cycle to 3.35 log CFU/g for a 20-minute cycle, whereas with 400 MPa treatments the decline ranged from 0.93 log CFU/g to more than 5 log CFU/g, respectively. The 4.8 log unit reduction in Salmonella counts on TSA achieved by a 15-minute treatment at 400 MPa should suffice to see more eliminate the pathogen naturally present in contaminated chicken meat. When plated on Salmonella Shigella

agar (SSA), the reduction of Salmonella counts by single-cycle treatments at 300 MPa and 12 degrees C ranged from 0.69 log CFU/g for a 0-minute cycle to 4.21 log CFU/g for a 20-minute cycle, and with 400 MPa treatments from 1.25 log CFU/g to more than 5 log CFU/g, respectively. From the comparison of Salmonella counts on SSA and TSA it was concluded that not only the lethality but also the proportion of injured Salmonella cells increased with the length of HHP treatments.

The use of multiple-cycle treatments instead of single-cycle treatments of the same HHP time for the inactivation of Salmonella this website Enteritidis inoculated on chicken breast fillets showed to be more advantageous at 400 MPa than at 300 MPa. No recovery of injured Salmonella cells was observed when fillets treated at 300 or 400 MPa for 5 minutes were held for 72 hours at 4 degrees C.”
“A Gram-stain-negative bacterial strain, designated 9NM-8(T), was isolated from an abandoned lead-zinc ore in Mei county, Meizhou, Guangdong province, PR China. The isolate was orange-pigmented, aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, motile with lophotrichous flagella and rod-shaped. Strain 9NM-8(T) grew optimally at pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C and in the absence of NaCl on R2A agar. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 9NM-8(T) belongs to the genus Sphingomonas, with highest sequence similarities to Sphingomonas azotifigens KACC 14484(T) (96.1%), Sphingomonas trueperi DSM 7225(T) (96.0%) and Sphingomonas pituitosa DSM 13101(T) (95.6%).

\n\nUsing genomic signatures, we pair-wise compared 867 different genomic DNA sequences, taken from chromosomes and plasmids more than 100,000 base-pairs

in length. Hierarchical clustering was performed on the outcome of the comparisons before a multinomial regression model was fitted. The regression model included the cluster groups as the response variable with AT content, phyla, growth temperature, selective pressure, habitat, sequence size, oxygen requirement and pathogenicity as predictors.\n\nResults: Many significant factors were associated with the genomic signature, most notably AT content. Phyla was also an important factor, although considerably less so than AT content. Small improvements to the regression model, although significant, were also obtained by factors such as sequence size, habitat, growth temperature, selective pressure measured as oligonucleotide BTSA1 price usage variance, and oxygen requirement.\n\nConclusion:

The statistics obtained using hierarchical clustering and multinomial regression analysis indicate that the genomic signature is shaped by many factors, and this may JQEZ5 explain the varying ability to classify prokaryotic organisms below genus level.”
“Microsatellite instability (MSI) is a form of genetic instability present in virtually all tumors from patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer and a subset of various Quisinostat sporadic tumors, including colorectal and gastric cancers. Transforming growth factor-beta receptor 2 (TGFBR2) mutations in MSI-positive cancer cell lines may partially inactivate TGF-beta-induced growth inhibition. The aim of this study was to investigate whether MSI and TGFBR2 gene mutations contribute to the progression from gastric adenoma to cancer in multistep gastric carcinogenesis. MSIs were analyzed using 5 microsatellite markers and a frameshift mutation in poly(A) 10 within the TGFBR2 gene in 50 gastric adenomas and 88 gastric cancer specimens. One

(2.0%) of 50 gastric adenomas and 22 (25.0%) of 88 gastric cancers were MSI-positive. TGFBR2 frameshift mutations were found in 9 gastric cancers, but not in adenoma. All cases with the TGFBR2 frameshift mutation showed high-frequency MSIs. These results suggest that MSIs may occur in the development of gastric cancers, but not in adenomas less than 2 cm, and the TGFBR2 gene may be a target of genomic instability in MSI gastric carcinogenesis.”
“Increased CCL2 expression in prostate cancer (PCa) cells enhanced metastasis via macrophage recruitment. However, its linkage to androgen receptor (AR)-mediated PCa progression remains unclear. Here, we identified a previously unrecognized regulation: targeting AR with siRNA in PCa cells increased macrophage recruitment via CCL2 up-regulation, which might then result in enhancing PCa invasiveness.

(C) 2008 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.”
“Object. Diffusion tensor (DT) imaging tractography is increasingly

used to map fiber tracts in patients with surgical brain lesions to reduce the risk of postoperative functional deficit. There are few validation studies of DT imaging tractography in these patients. The aim of this study was to compare DT imaging tractography of language fiber tracts by using intraoperative subcortical electrical stimulations.\n\nMethods. ASP2215 The authors included 10 patients with low-grade gliomas or dysplasia located in language areas. The MR imaging examination included 3D T1-weighted images for anatomical coregistration, FLAIR, and DT images. Diffusion tensors and fiber tracts were calculated using in-house software. Four tracts GANT61 concentration were reconstructed in each patient including the arcuate fasciculus, the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, and 2 premotor fasciculi ( the subcallosal medialis fiber tract and cortical fibers originating from the medial and lateral premotor areas). The authors compared fiber tracts reconstructed using DT imaging with those evidenced using intraoperative subcortical language mapping.\n\nResults. Seventeen (81%) of 21 positive stimulations were concordant with DT imaging fiber bundles ( located within 6 mm of a fiber tract). Four positive stimulations were not located in the vicinity of a DT imaging

fiber tract. Stimulations of the arcuate fasciculus mostly induced articulatory and phonemic/syntactic disorders and less frequently semantic paraphasias. Stimulations of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus induced semantic paraphasias.

Stimulations of the premotor-related fasciculi induced dysarthria and articulatory planning deficit.\n\nConclusions. There was a good correspondence between positive stimulation sites and fiber tracts, suggesting that DT imaging fiber tracking is a reliable technique but not yet optimal to map language tracts in patients with brain lesions. Negative tractography does not rule out the persistence of a fiber tract, especially when invaded by the tumor. Stimulations of the different tracts induced variable language disorders Natural Product Library that were specific to each fiber tract. (DOI: 10.3171/2009.8.JNS09558)”
“Safety concerns have arisen about the possibility of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) promoting tumor growth and increasing the incidence of venous thromboembolic events (VTEs). Because of the reported presence of erythropoietin receptors (EPORs) on tumor cells, it was questioned if ESAs had the potential for promoting tumor growth through stimulation of EPORs and tumor vessels and/or enhanced tumor oxygenation. Studies have shown that EPOR mRNA can be isolated from tumor cells, but the presence of EPOR protein has not yet been proven because of a lack of specific antibodies against EPORs.

This artery was a very important source

of collateralization to the LAD. This artery has been reported once in vivo, while it has been described more frequently in postmortem studies. The descending septal artery is postulated to have an important role in the perfusion of the conduction HKI-272 molecular weight system and in collateral circulation in patients with coronary artery disease. A literature review confirms the functional importance of this artery. J INVASIVE CARDIOL 2013;25(2):E30-E32″
“Objectives. We examined associations between the socioeconomic characteristics of census tracts and racial/ethnic disparities in the incidence of bacteremic community-acquired pneumonia among US adults.\n\nMethods. We analyzed data on 4870 adults aged 18 years or older with community-acquired bacteremic pneumonia identified through active, population-based surveillance in 9 states and geocoded to census tract of residence. We used click here data from the 2000 US Census to calculate incidence by age, race/ethnicity, and census

tract characteristics and Poisson regression to estimate rate ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (Cls).\n\nResults. During 2003 to 2004, the average annual incidence of bacteremic pneumonia was 24.2 episodes per 100000 Black adults versus 10.1 per 100000 White adults (RR = 2.40; 95% CI = 2.24, 2.57). Incidence among Black residents of census tracts with 20% or more of persons in poverty (most impoverished) was 4.4 times the incidence among White residents of census tracts with less than 5% of persons in poverty (least impoverished). Racial disparities in incidence were reduced but remained significant

in models that controlled for age, census tract poverty level, and state.\n\nConclusions. Adults living in impoverished census tracts are at increased risk of bacteremic pneumonia and should be targeted for prevention efforts. (Am J Public Health. 2010;100:1904-1911. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2009.181313)”
“Background: Attenuation of the EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) signalling cascade is crucial to control cell fate during development. A candidate-based RNAi approach Selleckchem VX-689 in C. elegans identified CDT-2 as an attenuator of LET-23 (EGFR) signalling. Human CDT2 is a component of the conserved CDT2/CUL4/DDB1 ubiquitin ligase complex that plays a critical role in DNA replication and G2/M checkpoint. Within this complex, CDT2 is responsible for substrate recognition. This ubiquitin ligase complex has been shown in various organisms, including C. elegans, to target the replication-licensing factor CDT1, and the CDK inhibitor p21. However, no previous link to EGFR signalling has been identified.\n\nResults: We have characterised CDT-2′s role during vulva development and found that it is a novel attenuator of LET-23 signalling.

\n\nResults: We show that the MPE of the species

tree is statistically consistent as the number M of genes goes to infinity. In addition, the probability that the MPE of the species tree matches the true species tree converges to 1 at rate O(M-1). The simulation results confirm that the maximum pseudo-likelihood approach is statistically consistent even when the species tree is in the anomaly zone. We applied our method, Maximum Pseudo-likelihood for Estimating Species Trees (MP-EST) to a mammal dataset. The four major clades found in the MP-EST tree are consistent with those in the Bayesian concatenation tree. The bootstrap supports for the species tree estimated by the MP-EST method are more reasonable than the posterior probability supports given by the Bayesian concatenation method in reflecting the level check details of uncertainty in gene trees and controversies over the relationship of four major groups of placental mammals.\n\nConclusions: MP-EST can consistently estimate the topology

and branch lengths (in coalescent units) of the species tree. Although the pseudo-likelihood is derived from coalescent theory, and assumes no gene flow or horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the MP-EST method is robust to a small amount of HGT in the dataset. In addition, increasing the number of genes does not increase the computational time substantially. The MP-EST method is fast for analyzing datasets that involve a large number of genes but a moderate number of species.”
“The feasibility

Trichostatin A datasheet of using bead-based suspension arrays to detect serological evidence of Trichinella in pigs was assessed. Trichinella spiralis excretory-secretory antigen was covalently coupled to paramagnetic beads and used to bind serum antibodies, which were subsequently detected using anti-swine antibody. The assay was evaluated by testing pig sera from farms where trichinellosis was endemic and comparing the results with those obtained using two commercially available ELISAs. With cut-offs established by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, digestion-negative sera from a Trichinella-free population of pigs were deemed seronegative. When anti-swine ��-catenin signaling antibody was replaced with protein A/G, higher test sensitivity (94% vs. 88%) at similar test specificity (95%), was achieved. The potential use of this assay in species other than swine was also demonstrated by testing human sera. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The first reports of disorders that in terms of cognitive and behavioral symptoms resemble frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and in terms of motor symptoms resemble amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) bring us back to the second half of the 1800s.

However, soils experiencing water saturation are able to host significant

methanogenic archaeal communities, potentially affecting the capacity of the soil to act as a methane sink. In order to provide insight into methanogenic populations in such soils, the distribution of archaeol in free and conjugated forms was investigated as an indicator of fossilised and living methanogenic biomass using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. Of three soils studied, only one organic matter-rich site contained archaeol in quantifiable amounts. Assessment GS-1101 mw of the subsurface profile revealed a dominance of archaeol bound by glycosidic headgroups over phospholipids implying derivation from fossilised biomass. Moisture content, through control of organic carbon and anoxia, seemed to BLZ945 govern trends in methanogen biomass. Archaeol and

crenarchaeol profiles differed, implying the former was not of thaumarcheotal origin. Based on these results, we propose the use of intact archaeol as a useful biomarker for methanogen biomass in soil and to track changes in moisture status and aeration related to climate change.”
“Arterial cannulation with ultrasound (US) guidance increases the success rate and reduces complications. US-guided vascular access has two main approaches: long axis in-plane (LA-IP) and short axis out-of-plane (SA-OOP) approaches. The purpose of this study was to compare performance time and possible complications between two techniques. After obtaining ethics committee approval and informed patient consent, a prospective and randomized trial was conducted at ASA I-III, patients between the ages of 20-70 years. 108 patients were scheduled for radial arterial cannulaton in patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups as LA-IP and SA-OOP approaches with sealed envelope randomized method. After induction of anesthesia, the

distance between skin-to-artery and the diameter of radial artery in US-imaging was recorded. The successful cannulation time, the number of attempts, potential complications such as thrombosis, edema, vasospasm, hematoma and posterior wall puncture were recorded. Demographic and hemodynamic parameters were similar in two groups. The diameter and PHA-739358 solubility dmso the depth of artery were also similar in both of groups. Cannulation time was shorter in LA-IP Group compared to SA-OOP (24 +/- A 17 s vs. 47 +/- A 34 s respectively, p < 0.05). The arterial cannulation by LA-IP approach increased the rate of cannula-insertion success at the first attempt (76 %) compared to SA-OOP approach (51 %). Posterior wall damage during arterial cannulation were found in 30 patients with SA-OOP Group (56 %) and 11 patients with LA-IP Group (20 %), (p < 0.05). In our study, the use of LA-IP approach during US-guided radial artery cannulation has higher success rate at first insertion.

65, respectively, P < 0.05). Our results showed that the increased percentage of myofibre type I and high expression of calpain 3 and PGC-1 alpha are positively related to meat tenderness. The results provide useful data for meat tenderness selection in pig breeding. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Background Mercaptopurine and azathioprine (AZA) are efficacious in treating IBD. 6-tioguanine (6-TGN) levels correlate with therapeutic efficacy, whereas high 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP) levels are associated with hepatotoxicity and myelotoxicity. Some IBD patients exhibit dose-limiting preferential 6-MMP production, Nocodazole manufacturer which may lead to undesired side effects and impact efficacy. Aim To review

the outcomes of thiopurine split-dosing in patients with preferential 6-MMP metabolism. Methods A retrospective chart review of 179 IBD patients treated at the Cedars-Sinai IBD Center with AZA or mercaptopurine was performed. Preferential 6-MMP metabolisers with 6-MMP levels greater than 7000 pmol/8 x 108 erythrocytes who underwent split-dosing were identified and assessed for biochemical and clinical responses to these dose modifications. Results A total of 20 of 179 patients met the criteria for preferential 6-MMP metabolism and underwent thiopurine split-dosing. Dividing the total daily thiopurine learn more dose led to a reduction

in 6-MMP levels (11785 vs. 5324 pmol/8 x 108 erythrocytes; P < 0.0001) without negatively affecting clinical disease activity or 6-TGN levels (239 vs. 216 pmol/8 x 108 erythrocytes; P = N.S.) and led to resolution of 6-MMP associated side effects (elevated transaminases,

leucopenia and flu-like symptoms) in all but two patients. After mean follow-up of 36 months, 12 patients remained in clinical remission on split-dose mercaptopurine. Five of the remaining eight patients escalated to anti-TNF therapy, two progressed to surgery, and one switched to tioguanine therapy. Conclusion Split-dose administration of mercaptopurine/AZA represents an alternative option in IBD patients with preferential 6-MMP metabolism who might otherwise require steroid exposure or escalation of therapy.”
“Intravascular stenting has emerged as the primary treatment for vascular diseases and has received great attention from the Rabusertib cost medical community since its introduction two decades ago. The endovascular self-expanding stent is used to treat peripheral artery diseases; however, once implanted, these stents suffer from various cyclic motions caused by pulsatile blood pressure and daily activities. Due to this challenging environment, fatigue performance has become a critical issue for stent design. In this paper, a simple yet intriguing concept of stent design aimed at enhancing pulsatile fatigue life is investigated. The concept of this design is to shift the highly concentrated stresses/strains away from the crown and re-distribute them along the stress-free bar arm by tapering its strut width.