This paper presents a systemic analysis of the Greater Middle East Geo-complex, in the light of the geopolitical factor of the Islamist movement –both Shiite and Sunnite. We consider that the geostrategy practiced by the Anglo-Saxon actors of the Super-system of this specific geocomplex aims at the containment strategy of the Russian and Chinese actors from the Mediterranean Sub-system, along with their ally states of Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and some of the UAE (e.g. Abu Dhabi). Furthermore, with the rise to power of the Sunnite Islamist governments in the region, a “remote” threat is tried to be exerted against both of the aforementioned actors in order to increase the negotiating benefits of the dipole of the London-Washington Special Relationship, in view of the provoked redrawing of the borders of the former nation-state regime. Moreover, the US appear willing to create strong and permanent territorial strategic bases in the Middle East, in order to guarantee, both for Israel and the US, the strategic depth that is desirable for their security. We are making reference to the gradually developing strategic plan for the creation of an Independent Kurdistan, that would be able to serve Western security interests, as well as the energy-related interests of the Anglo-Saxon, and European oil consortia, but also Washington’s power projection to the Russian Near Abroad and the Chinese Northwest region of Xinjiang, increasing the power gap once again, in favor of the US, at the centre of the Rimland.
The geophysical and geological indications (pockmarks, gas chimneys, salt domes, etc.) that have been traced on the seabed using multi–beam echo–sounders and side–scan sonars, as well as the corresponding seismic surveys in the region South, South–west and South– east of Cyprus, as well as the corresponding international interest of investors, especially in the marine region of the Levantine Basin, lead to the conclusion that, from a geopolitical perspective, Greece must be urged to accelerate the consolidation of its sovereign rights and understand anew and in practical terms, that “Cyprus is not far away, not at all actually”. With respect to Kastellorizo and the submarine area of its EEZ, it is noted that de-tailed geophysical, bathymetric and sediment surveys have confirmed the fact that the region of the submarine Anaximander mountains presents active mud volcanoes, linked to the presence of gas hydrates. Samples of gas hydrates were collected using indicative samplings in mud volcanoes thoroughly mapped in sub–seabed layers of no more 1.5 m deep. Their form is “ice crystal”. New mud volcanoes were also discovered (“Athens” and “Thessaloniki”). Gas hydrates were found in samplings conducted on–board the M/V “Thessaloniki”. Based on preliminary assessments, the total capacity of the mud volcanoes of the Anaximander mountains complex is estimated between 2.56 6.40 c. km.1.
Back in 2010, during my presentation at the Conference of the Institute of Energy of South East Europe (ΙΕΝΕ) on 8 February 2010, I had stressed the importance for Greece to proclaim an EEZ, and clarified the pertinent diplomatic arguments, together with its geopolitical and geostrategic advantages. Later, this communication was published in the Press («Estia», 8 January 2011) and on the Internet (skai.gr). Also, the weekly Epikaira published a complete study, co–authored by me and Dr. G.–A. Sgouros, in the form of a special insert entitled The Greek EEZ and Kastellorizo: Principles of a Geopolitical Analysis (issue 82, 12–18.5.2011). There are comparative demarcations, using Turkey’s baseline, in two ways: one using the Voronoi method and one using the median line principle, as applied also by competent international organizations). The arguments expressed in these documents are still valid, considering there has been no change, on the part of Greece, on the practicalities of the EEZ. There have been, of course, many promises and declarations from politicians, as there have been “extremely good intentions”. In the meantime, many views were also circulated, which were extremely dangerous, on “how far is Kastellorizo located”, as well as relevant, equally unfortunate views. We tend to forget, as my colleague Th. Karyotis also points out, that “there are 137 states having a 200 nm EEZ”.
Europe’s “energy hunger” in the years to come will be such, as to oblige it to seek alternative fuel sources, far beyond the ones currently in use. A solution that presents itself as ideal is the supply of the continent with natural gas from the new reserves of Eastern Mediterranean. Turkey, a country outside this political game, reacts to such a perspective. However, the era does not seem to be favoring it.
Tzanakaki A, Figuerola S, García-Esṕin JA, Simeonidou D, Ciulli N, Robinson P, Rodriǵuez J, Landi G, Belter B, Vicat-Blanc P, et al.The GEYSERS concept and major outcomes. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) [Internet]. 2013;7858 LNCS:346-349. Website
BACKGROUND: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are frequently encountered after thyroidectomy. For PONV prevention, selective serotonin 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists are considered one of the first-line therapy. We report on the efficiency of granisetron and tropisetron, with that of placebo on the prevention of PONV in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy.
METHODS: One hundred twenty-seven patients were divided into three groups and randomized to receive intravenously, prior to induction of anesthesia, tropisetron 5 mg, or granisetron 3 mg, or normal saline. All patients received additionally 0.625 mg droperidol. All episodes of postoperative PONV during the first 24 h after surgery were evaluated.
RESULTS: Nausea visual analogue scale (VAS) score was lower in tropisetron and granisetron groups than the control group at all measurements (P<0.01) except for the 8-h measurement for tropisetron (P=0.075). Moreover, granisetron performed better than tropisetron (P<0.011 at 4 h and P<0.01 at all other points of time) apart from the 2-h measurement. Vomiting occurred in 22.2%, 27.5%, and 37.5% in granisetron, tropisetron, and control groups, respectively (P=0.43).
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of the 5-HT3 antagonists with droperidol given before induction of anesthesia is well tolerated and superior to droperidol alone in preventing nausea but not vomiting after total thyroidectomy.
We report a case of Azospirillum infection manifestating as granulomatous tenosynovitis of the right hand, in an immunocompetent middle-aged female. We highlight the unusual source of the infection, the diagnostic workup, as well as the treatment approach.
Grazing of goats on Mediterranean islets is a common practice. Its consequences on plant communities are well documented, although not on vertebrates. We aim to shed light on the effect of livestock farming on lizards by investigating five populations of the insular lizard, Podarcis gaigeae, differing in the duration and intensity of grazing. Data on grazing regime, invertebrate abundance, tick prevalence, infestation levels, gull nests and lizard densities were collected during a period of 6 consecutive years. Grazing had a negative impact on insect populations, thus decreasing food availability for lizards. Tick prevalence and infestation levels were higher in places of continuous grazing. Goat activity disturbed gulls, which avoid nesting, so depriving the islets of marine subsidies. As a consequence of all these factors, lizard densities were higher in ungrazed and lower in grazed biotopes. Grazing effects were more severe on islets communities than on the main island populations. Our data imply that management action should be taken to conserve the highly diverse islet populations.
The latest developments in the geopolitical complex of the Eastern Mediterranean and more in particular in the dipole of Greece and Turkey, correspond to the implementation stage for Turkey’s geostrategic goals. This is witnessed, inter alia, by the declarations of the Turkish Foreign Minister, A. Davutoğlu, during his latest visit in Greece, in March 2011. The sincerity of these declarations should be taken for granted, and should have been expected by the Greek diplomacy. This paper analyses the principles of a Geopolitical Analysis concerning the Greek EEZ.
Aims: To examine the biocontrol potential of multiactive Greek indigenous Streptomyces isolates carrying antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani that causes damping-off symptoms on beans.Methods and Results: A total of 605 Streptomyces isolates originated from 12 diverse Greek habitats were screened for antifungal activity against R. solani DSM843. Almost one-third of the isolates proved to be antagonistic against the fungus. From the above isolates, six were selected due to their higher antifungal activity, identified by analysing their 16S rRNA gene sequence and studied further. The obtained data showed the following: firstly, the isolates ACTA1383 and ACTA1557 exhibited the highest antagonistic activity, and therefore, they were selected for in vivo experiments using bean seeds as target; secondly, in solid and liquid culture experiments under optimum antagonistic conditions, the medium extracts from the isolates OL80, ACTA1523, ACTA1551 and ACTA1522 suppressed the growth of the fungal mycelium, while extracts from ACTA 1383 and ACTA1557 did not show any activity. Conclusions: These results corresponded important indications for the utility of two Greek indigenous Streptomyces isolates (ACTA1557 and ACTA1383) for the protection of the bean crops from R. solani damping-off symptoms, while four of them (isolates OL80, ACTA1523, ACTA1551 and ACTA1522) seem to be promising producers of antifungal metabolites. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first study on the biocontrol of R. solani using multiactive Streptomyces isolates originated from ecophysiologically special Greek habitats. Our study provides basic information to further explore managing strategies to control this critical disease.
OBJECTIVE: Excess body weight has been implicated in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). We thus explored the role of serum fetuin-A reflecting ectopic hepatic fat deposition when storage capacity of adipocytes has been exceeded, free leptin reflecting overall fat mass and adiponectin reflecting visceral fat mass, all potential mediators of the effects of obesity on insulin resistance and, consequently, to MDS risk.
MATERIALS & METHODS: In a hospital-based case-control study, we studied 101 cases with incident, histologically confirmed primary MDS and 101 controls matched on gender, age and date of diagnosis, between 2004 and 2007. Serum fetuin-A, adiponectin, leptin, leptin receptor, free leptin and insulin were determined.
RESULTS: Higher serum fetuin-A, lower adiponectin and lower free leptin were all individually and independently associated with higher risk of MDS before and after controlling for matching and risk factors, such as age, gender, date of diagnosis, body mass index (BMI), family history of lymphohematopoietic cancer, smoking history and serum insulin. Interestingly, we have shown that these associations were prominent among overweight/obese individuals and persisted after controlling for BMI and serum insulin indicating that their effects are above and beyond insulinemia only.
CONCLUSION: Elevated serum fetuin-A but lower adiponectin and free leptin are associated with higher risk of MDS particularly among overweight/obese individuals. These findings suggest that the association between excessive weight gain and the risk of MDS could be mediated by fetuin-A, adiponectin and free leptin, which may have potential clinical and preventive implications.
BACKGROUND: Understanding HIV-1 subtype distribution and epidemiology can assist preventive measures and clinical decisions. Sequence variation may affect antiviral drug resistance development, disease progression, evolutionary rates and transmission routes.
RESULTS: We investigated the subtype distribution of HIV-1 in Europe and Israel in a representative sample of patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2005 and related it to the demographic data available. 2793 PRO-RT sequences were subtyped either with the REGA Subtyping tool or by a manual procedure that included phylogenetic tree and recombination analysis. The most prevalent subtypes/CRFs in our dataset were subtype B (66.1%), followed by sub-subtype A1 (6.9%), subtype C (6.8%) and CRF02_AG (4.7%). Substantial differences in the proportion of new diagnoses with distinct subtypes were found between European countries: the lowest proportion of subtype B was found in Israel (27.9%) and Portugal (39.2%), while the highest was observed in Poland (96.2%) and Slovenia (93.6%). Other subtypes were significantly more diagnosed in immigrant populations. Subtype B was significantly more diagnosed in men than in women and in MSM > IDUs > heterosexuals. Furthermore, the subtype distribution according to continent of origin of the patients suggests they acquired their infection there or in Europe from compatriots.
CONCLUSIONS: The association of subtype with demographic parameters suggests highly compartmentalized epidemics, determined by social and behavioural characteristics of the patients.
BACKGROUND: Neonatal immune neutropenia (NIN) is a rare, but potentially life-threatening, disorder caused by maternal alloantibodies recognizing paternal neutrophil antigens on fetal cells. Alloantibodies directed against the human neutrophil alloantigen system (HNA)-1 located on Fcγ receptor IIIb (FcγRIIIb) are most frequently implicated in NIN. In this report, we describe two cases of NIN with alloantibodies against FcγRIIIb, which did not match one of the known HNA-1a, -1b, or -1c specificities, but define a new antigen, HNA-1d. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Neutrophil-reactive antibodies were detected by agglutination, microscopic immunofluorescence, and monoclonal antibody (MoAb)-specific immobilization of neutrophil antigens (MAIGA) assay. For epitope mapping of FcγRIIIb-reactive antibodies, recombinant chimeric variants of FcγRIIIb were used in the MAIGA assay. Genotyping of FCGR3B was performed by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Both mothers were typed FCGR3B*01+, *02-, *03+. Antibody screening revealed the presence of alloantibodies reactive with FcγRIIIb encoded by FCGR3B*02, but not with FcγRIIIb encoded by FCGR3B*03. MAIGA with recombinant, partly chimeric FcγRIIIb variants demonstrated that the antigen recognized by maternal antibodies is characterized by two amino acids, Ala78 and Asp82. Among the FCGR3B alleles, the sequence Ala78–-Asn82 is exclusively encoded by FCGR3B *02. CONCLUSION: A previously unrecognized second antigen, HNA-1d, is present on FcγRIIIb encoded by FCGR3B*02. This antigen is characterized by the sequence Ala78–-Asn82. It appears that only individuals carrying the HNA-1c phenotype can form anti-HNA-1d alloantibodies. The HNA-1 system now consists of four antigens encoded by three alleles.
PURPOSE: To address the factors that surgeons use to decide between 2 options for treatment when the evidence is inconclusive.
METHODS: We tested the null hypothesis that the factors surgeons use do not vary by training, demographics, and practice. A total of 337 surgeons rated the importance of 7 factors when deciding between treatment and following the natural history of the disease and 12 factors when deciding between 2 operative treatments using a 5-point Likert scale between "very important" and "very unimportant."
RESULTS: According to the percentages of statements rated very important or somewhat important, the most popular factors influencing recommendations when evidence is inconclusive between treatment and following the natural course of the illness were "works in my hands," "familiarity with the treatment," and "what my mentor taught me." The most important factors when evidence shows no difference between 2 surgeries were "fewer complications," "quicker recovery," "burns fewer bridges," "works in my hands" and "familiarity with the procedure." Europeans rated "works in my hands" and "cheapest/most resourceful" of significantly greater importance and "what others are doing," "highest reimbursement," and "shorter procedure" of significantly lower importance than surgeons in the United States. Observers with fewer than 10 years in independent practice rated "what my mentor taught me," "what others are doing" and "highest reimbursement" of significantly lower importance compared to observers with 10 or more years in independent practice.
CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons deciding between 2 treatment options, when the evidence is inconclusive, fall back to factors that relate to their perspective and reflect their culture and circumstances, more so than factors related to the patient's perspective, although this may be different for younger surgeons.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Hand surgeons might benefit from consensus fallback preferences when evidence is inconclusive. It is possible that falling back to personal comfort makes us vulnerable to unhelpful commercial and societal influences.
OBJECTIVE: The constellation of obesity, insulin resistance, and serum adipocytokine levels is associated with the risk and prognosis of postmenopausal breast cancer (PBC). Altered secretion of resistin may underlie the association between overweight/obesity and PBC. We thus explored the association of serum resistin with PBC, taking into account established risk factors, including adipokines and anthropometric, metabolic, and inflammatory markers.
METHODS: In a case-control study, we studied 102 postmenopausal women with pathologically confirmed, incident invasive breast cancer and 102 control participants matched on age and time of diagnosis between 2003 and 2010 at the Veterans' Administration General Hospital of Athens (NIMTS Hospital). Serum resistin, adiponectin, leptin, metabolic (homeostasis model assessment score of insulin resistance) and inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) parameters, and tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen and CA 15-3) were determined.
RESULTS: The mean serum resistin level was significantly higher in case participants than in control participants (P < 0.001) in both univariate and multivariable analyses, adjusting for age, date of diagnosis, education, family history of cancer, use of exogenous hormones, alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical activity, reproductive markers, metabolic markers, anthropometric (body mass index and weight circumference) markers, inflammatory markers, and adipokines (odds ratio, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.03-1.34; P = 0.02). In case participants, resistin level correlated significantly with tumor markers and inflammatory parameters, but not with metabolic and anthropometric variables.
CONCLUSIONS: Further prospective, longitudinal, and mechanistic studies are needed to determine whether hyperresistinemia is involved in the development of PBC or reflects changes during PBC progression and therefore could be used as a biomarker for PBC. Targeting resistin inhibition could be an effective therapeutic strategy in breast cancer by down-regulating the inflammatory microenvironment in breast tissue.
Christogiorgos S, Tzikas D, Widdershoven-Zervaki MA, Dimitropoulou P, Athanassiadou E, Giannakopoulos G. Hypochondriacal anxieties in adolescence. Open Psychol J. 2013;6(1):6-9.
In human and experimental heart failure, the activity of the type 1 phosphatase is significantly increased, associated with dephosphorylation of phospholamban, inhibition of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca(2+) transport ATPase (SERCA2a) and depressed function. In the current study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms controlling protein phosphatase-1 activity. Using recombinant proteins and complementary in vitro binding studies, we identified a multi-protein complex centered on protein phosphatase-1 that includes its muscle specific glycogen-targeting subunit GM and substrate phospholamban. GM interacts directly with phospholamban and this association is mediated by the cytosolic regions of the proteins. Our findings suggest the involvement of GM in mediating formation of the phosphatase-1/GM/phospholamban complex through the direct and independent interactions of GM with both protein phosphatase-1 and phospholamban. Importantly, the protein phosphatase-1/GM/phospholamban complex dissociates upon protein kinase A phosphorylation, indicating its significance in the beta-adrenergic signalling axis. Moreover, protein phosphatase-1 activity is regulated by two binding partners, inhibitor-1 and the small heat shock protein 20, Hsp20. Indeed, human genetic variants of inhibitor-1 (G147D) or Hsp20 (P20L) result in reduced binding and inhibition of protein phosphatase-1, suggesting aberrant enzymatic regulation in human carriers. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying fine-tuned regulation of protein phosphatase-1 and its impact on the SERCA2/phospholamban interactome in cardiac function.
OBJECTIVES: Health informatics programs usually are evaluated by national accreditation committees. Not always are the members of these committees well informed about the international level of (education in) health informatics. Therefore, when a program is accredited by a national accreditation committee, this does not always mean that the program is of an international level. The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) has expertise in the field of education. The IMIA Recommendations on Education in Biomedical and Health Informatics guide curricula development. The goal of this article is to show that IMIA can also play the role of accreditation agency and to present the IMIA accreditation protocol and experiences obtained with it.
METHODS: The accreditation procedure used in the Netherlands and Belgium was taken as a template for the design of the IMIA accreditation protocol. In a trial period of one and a half year the protocol is tested out on six health informatics programs.
RESULTS: An accreditation protocol was designed. For judging the curriculum of a program the IMIA Recommendations are used. The institution has to write a self-assessment report and a site visit committee visits the program and judges its quality, supported by the self-assessment report and discussions with all stakeholders of the program.
CONCLUSIONS: After having visited three programs it appears that the IMIA accreditation procedure works well. Only a few changes had to be introduced. Writing the self-assessment report already appears to be beneficial for the management of the program to obtain a better insight in the quality of their program.
A debate at the European Union Parliament was held on 13 November 2012 on the Impact of early diagnosis and control of chronic respiratory diseases on Active and Healthy Ageing (AHA). The debate was held under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the European Union (2012) and represents a follow-up of the priorities of the Polish Presidency of the European Union (2011). It highlighted the importance of early life events on the occurrence of chronic respiratory diseases later in life and their impact on active and healthy ageing. Epidemiologic evidence was followed by actions that should be taken to prevent and manage chronic respiratory diseases in children. The debate ended by practical, feasible and achievable projects, demonstrating the strength of the political action in the field. Three projects will be initiated from this debate: The first will be a meeting sponsored by the Région Languedoc-Roussillon on the developmental origins of chronic diseases and ageing: from research to policies and value creation. The second project is being led by the WHO Collaborating Centre for Asthma and Rhinitis: Prevention of Asthma, Prevention of Allergy (PAPA). The third project is the GA(2)LEN sentinel network.
Abstract The overall biology of ectotherms is strongly affected by the thermal quality of the environment. The particular conditions prevailing on islands have a strong effect on numerous features of animal life. In this study we compared mainland and island populations of the lizard Lacerta trilineata and hypothesized that insularity would affect the thermoregulatory strategy. Continental habitats were of lower thermal quality, experiencing more intense fluctuations and had higher values of operative temperatures. Nevertheless mainland lizards selected for higher body temperatures in the lab and showed more effective thermoregulation during summer than their island peers. Lizards achieved similar body temperatures in the field in both types of habitat, underlining the importance of predation as a potential factor to mainland lizards that failed to reach their higher thermal preferences. Both island and mainland populations of L. trilineata have been adapted to their thermal environment, supporting the labile view on the evolution of thermal physiology for this species.
BACKGROUND: Influenza is associated with an increased risk for serious illness, hospitalization, and mortality in infants aged <6 months. However, influenza vaccines are not licensed for administration in this age group. The study evaluated the effectiveness of postpartum influenza vaccination of mothers and household members in infants. METHODS: The influenza vaccine was offered to mothers and household members of neonates born or hospitalized in 3 hospitals prior to the 2012-2013 season. Mothers were contacted every 2 weeks during the influenza season, and data regarding the onset of fever and/or respiratory symptoms in infants, healthcare seeking, hospitalization, and administration of antibiotics were collected. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 553 mothers who delivered 573 neonates. The influenza vaccine was administered to 841 of 1844 (45.6%) household contacts. Vaccination coverage rates ranged between 41.9% for neonates siblings and 49% for mothers. Five hundred thirty infants were analyzed for vaccine effectiveness. For outcomes in the infant, postpartum maternal vaccination had 37.7% effectiveness against acute respiratory illness (ARI), 50.3% against a febrile episode, 53.5% against influenza-like illness (ILI), 41.8% against related healthcare seeking, and 45.4% against administration of antibiotics. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that maternal influenza vaccination was significantly associated with a decreased probability for febrile episodes, ARIs, and/or ILIs in infants, related healthcare seeking, and/or administration of antibiotics during the influenza season. Vaccination of other household contacts had no impact. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal postpartum vaccination against influenza was associated with a significant reduction of influenza-related morbidity, healthcare seeking, and antibiotic prescription in infants during the influenza season.
MYCN is a well-known oncogene overexpressed in different human malignancies including neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, Wilms' tumor, and small cell lung cancer. While neuroblastoma is one of the most common childhood malignancies, in adults it is extremely rare and its treatment is based on pediatric protocols that take into consideration stage and genotypic features, such as MYCN amplification. Although neuroblastoma therapy has evolved, identification of early stage patients who need chemotherapy continues to pose a therapeutic challenge. The emerging prognostic role of MYCN phenotype of this disease is currently under investigation as it may redefine MYCN amplified subgroups. We describe an unusual case of adult neuroblastoma with MYCN amplification diagnosed incidentally and discuss possible therapeutic dilemmas.
OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate whether the site of common femoral artery (CFA) cannulation in regard to the inferior epigastric artery (IEA) is associated with the incidence of vascular complications in patients undergoing transfemoral aortic valve implantation (TAVI).
BACKGROUND: Vascular access complications are a main issue during TAVI and have been associated with significant increase of morbidity and mortality. The need for establishment of reliable predictors for these serious events remains important.
METHODS: A total of 90 patients, who had undergone TAVI, were retrospectively studied. Vascular complications were defined as major and minor according to the Valve Academic Research Consortium (VARC) criteria. Patients were divided into high cannulation site (CS) group and low CS group depending on the common femoral artery puncture site position, in regards to the most inferior border of the IEA.
RESULTS: Vascular complications were significantly more frequent in the high CS group versus the low CS group (32.3% vs. 11.9%, P = 0.039). High cannulation remained an independent predictor of vascular complications after adjustment for known risk factors (OR: 4.827, CI: 1.441-16.168; P = 0.011).
CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing transfemoral TAVI, arterial puncture above the most inferior border of the IEA is associated with vascular complications.
Fruit and vegetable intake in children remains below recommendations in many countries. The long-term effects of early parental feeding practices on fruit and vegetable intake are not clearly established.|The purpose of the current study was to examine whether early feeding practices influence later fruit and vegetable intake in preschool children.|The study used data from 4 European cohorts: the British Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), the French Etude des Déterminants pre et postnatals de la santé et du développement de l'Enfant study, the Portuguese Generation XXI Birth Cohort, and the Greek EuroPrevall study. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed in each cohort by food-frequency questionnaire. Associations between early feeding practices, such as breastfeeding and timing of complementary feeding, and fruit and/or vegetable intake in 2-4-y-old children were tested by using logistic regressions, separately in each cohort, after adjustment for infant's age and sex and maternal age, educational level, smoking during pregnancy, and maternal fruit and vegetable intake.|Large differences in early feeding practices were highlighted across the 4 European cohorts with longer breastfeeding duration in the Generation XXI Birth Cohort and earlier introduction to complementary foods in ALSPAC. Longer breastfeeding duration was consistently related to higher fruit and vegetable intake in young children, whereas the associations with age of introduction to fruit and vegetable intake were weaker and less consistent across the cohorts. Mothers' fruit and vegetable intake (available in 3 of the cohorts) did not substantially attenuate the relation with breastfeeding duration.|The concordant positive association between breastfeeding duration and fruit and vegetable intake in different cultural contexts favors an independent specific effect.
Knowledge, research, and innovation are of crucial importance for the competitiveness of an economy and a recipe for economic development not only for developed and developing countries, but also for entities surviving a political abnormality, such as the Palestinian territories. As Palestinians are currently planning for their future viable state, the policy and decision makers should formulate relevant science, technology, and innovation policies that encourage the different national sectors to utilize the available innovation potentials and the experience and support of other countries, for developing a competitive economy. Conducting and analyzing a community innovation survey on two major Palestinian industrial sectors, namely quarrying and stone fabrication and the food and beverages sector, brought about very promising indicators and showed high innovative potentials in both sectors. Employment, export, and revenues are clearly improved in innovative enterprises. Lack of cooperation between the industrial sector and the higher education and research and development institutions is found to be a major problem that should be tackled in order to strengthen the enterprises’ ability to innovate.
Knowledge, research, and innovation are of crucial importance for the competitiveness of an economy and a recipe for economic development not only for developed and developing countries, but also for entities surviving a political abnormality, such as the Palestinian territories. As Palestinians are currently planning for their future viable state, the policy and decision makers should formulate relevant science, technology, and innovation policies that encourage the different national sectors to utilize the available innovation potentials and the experience and support of other countries, for developing a competitive economy. Conducting and analyzing a community innovation survey on two major Palestinian industrial sectors, namely quarrying and stone fabrication and the food and beverages sector, brought about very promising indicators and showed high innovative potentials in both sectors. Employment, export, and revenues are clearly improved in innovative enterprises. Lack of cooperation between the industrial sector and the higher education and research and development institutions is found to be a major problem that should be tackled in order to strengthen the enterprises’ ability to innovate.
Unveil the properties of a two-stage design (TSD) for bioequivalence (BE) studies. A TSD with an upper sample size limit (UL) is described and analyzed under different conditions using Monte Carlo simulations. TSD was split into three branches: A, B1, and B2. The first stage included branches A and B1, while stage two referred to branch B2. Sample size re-estimation at B2 relies on the observed GMR and variability of stage 1. The properties studied were % BE acceptance, % uses and % efficiency of each branch, as well as the reason of BE failure. No inflation of type I error was observed. Each TSD branch exhibits different performance. Stage two exhibits the greatest % BE acceptances when highly variable drugs are assessed with a low starting number of subjects (N-1) or when formulations differ significantly. Branch A is more frequently used when variability is low, drug products are similar, and a large N-1 is included. BE assessment at branch A is very efficient. The overall acceptance profile of TSD resembles the typical pattern observed in single-stage studies, but it is actually different. Inclusion of a UL is necessary to avoid inflation of type I error.
The epidemiology of chronic viral infections, such as those caused by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is affected by the risk group structure of the infected population. Risk groups are defined by each of their members having acquired infection through a specific behavior. However, risk group definitions say little about the transmission potential of each infected individual. Variation in the number of secondary infections is extremely difficult to estimate for HCV and HIV but crucial in the design of efficient control interventions. Here we describe a novel method that combines epidemiological and population genetic approaches to estimate the variation in transmissibility of rapidly-evolving viral epidemics. We evaluate this method using a nationwide HCV epidemic and for the first time co-estimate viral generation times and superspreading events from a combination of molecular and epidemiological data. We anticipate that this integrated approach will form the basis of powerful tools for describing the transmission dynamics of chronic viral diseases, and for evaluating control strategies directed against them.
The epidemiology of chronic viral infections, such as those caused by Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is affected by the risk group structure of the infected population. Risk groups are defined by each of their members having acquired infection through a specific behavior. However, risk group definitions say little about the transmission potential of each infected individual. Variation in the number of secondary infections is extremely difficult to estimate for HCV and HIV but crucial in the design of efficient control interventions. Here we describe a novel method that combines epidemiological and population genetic approaches to estimate the variation in transmissibility of rapidly-evolving viral epidemics. We evaluate this method using a nationwide HCV epidemic and for the first time co-estimate viral generation times and superspreading events from a combination of molecular and epidemiological data. We anticipate that this integrated approach will form the basis of powerful tools for describing the transmission dynamics of chronic viral diseases, and for evaluating control strategies directed against them.
The aim of the International Myeloma Working Group was to develop practice recommendations for the management of multiple myeloma (MM) -related bone disease. An interdisciplinary panel of clinical experts on MM and myeloma bone disease developed recommendations based on published data through August 2012. Expert consensus was used to propose additional recommendations in situations where there were insufficient published data. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations were assigned and approved by panel members. Bisphosphonates (BPs) should be considered in all patients with MM receiving first-line antimyeloma therapy, regardless of presence of osteolytic bone lesions on conventional radiography. However, it is unknown if BPs offer any advantage in patients with no bone disease assessed by magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Intravenous (IV) zoledronic acid (ZOL) or pamidronate (PAM) is recommended for preventing skeletal-related events in patients with MM. ZOL is preferred over oral clodronate in newly diagnosed patients with MM because of its potential antimyeloma effects and survival benefits. BPs should be administered every 3 to 4 weeks IV during initial therapy. ZOL or PAM should be continued in patients with active disease and should be resumed after disease relapse, if discontinued in patients achieving complete or very good partial response. BPs are well tolerated, but preventive strategies must be instituted to avoid renal toxicity or osteonecrosis of the jaw. Kyphoplasty should be considered for symptomatic vertebral compression fractures. Low-dose radiation therapy can be used for palliation of uncontrolled pain, impending pathologic fracture, or spinal cord compression. Orthopedic consultation should be sought for long-bone fractures, spinal cord compression, and vertebral column instability.
Antoniades C, Ettinger U, Gaymard B, Gilchrist I, Kristjánsson A, Kennard C, Leigh JR, Noorani I, Pouget P, Smyrnis N, et al.An internationally standardised antisaccade protocol. Vision research. 2013;84:1–5.
Excess body weight constitutes a worldwide health problem with epidemic proportions impacting on the risk and prognosis of several disease states including malignancies. It is believed that the metabolic changes associated with weight gain, particularly visceral obesity, and physical inactivity could lead to dysfunctional adipose and muscle tissues causing insulin resistance, low-grade chronic inflammation and abnormal secretion of adipokines and myokines. The complex paracrine and endocrine interconnection between adipokines and myokines reflects a yin-yang balance with important implications in processes such as lipolysis control, insulin sensitivity and prevention from obesity-driven chronic low-grade inflammation and cancer promotion through anti-inflammatory adipokines and myokines. Furthermore, the complex pathophysiology of cancer cachexia is based on the interplay between muscle and adipose tissue mediated by free fatty acids, various adipokines and myokines. The purpose of this editorial is to explore the role of the adipose and muscle tissue interplay in carcinogenesis, cancer progression and cachexia, and to examine the mechanisms underpinning their association with malignancy. Understanding of the mechanisms connecting the interplay of adipokines and myokines with cancer pathophysiology is expected to be of importance in the development of therapeutic strategies against cancer cachexia. Advances in the field of translational investigation may lead to tangible benefits to obese and inactive persons who are at increased risk of cancer as well as to cancer patients with cachexia.
Actis M, Aghajani T, Agnetta G, Aguilar J, Aharonian F, Ajello M, Akhperjanian A, Alcubierre M, Aleksić J, Alfaro R. Introducing the CTA concept. Astroparticle Physics. 2013;43.
Acharya BS, Actis M, Aghajani T, Agnetta G, Aguilar J, Aharonian F, Ajello M, Akhperjanian A, Alcubierre M, Aleksić J, et al.Introducing the CTA concept. [Internet]. 2013;43. WebsiteAbstract
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a new observatory for very high-energy (VHE) gamma rays. CTA has ambitions science goals, for which it is necessary to achieve full-sky coverage, to improve the sensitivity by about an order of magnitude, to span about four decades of energy, from a few tens of GeV to above 100 TeV with enhanced angular and energy resolutions over existing VHE gamma-ray observatories. An international collaboration has formed with more than 1000 members from 27 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. In 2010 the CTA Consortium completed a Design Study and started a three-year Preparatory Phase which leads to production readiness of CTA in 2014. In this paper we introduce the science goals and the concept of CTA, and provide an overview of the project.
Acharya BS, Actis M, Aghajani T, Agnetta G, Aguilar J, Aharonian F, Ajello M, Akhperjanian A, Alcubierre M, Aleksić J. Introducing the CTA concept. Astroparticle physics. 2013;43:3-18.
Acharya BS, Actis M, Aghajani T, Agnetta G, Aguilar J, Aharonian F, Ajello M, Akhperjanian A, Alcubierre M, Aleksić J, et al.Introducing the CTA concept. [Internet]. 2013;43:3 - 18. WebsiteAbstract
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a new observatory for very high-energy (VHE) gamma rays. CTA has ambitions science goals, for which it is necessary to achieve full-sky coverage, to improve the sensitivity by about an order of magnitude, to span about four decades of energy, from a few tens of GeV to above 100 TeV with enhanced angular and energy resolutions over existing VHE gamma-ray observatories. An international collaboration has formed with more than 1000 members from 27 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. In 2010 the CTA Consortium completed a Design Study and started a three-year Preparatory Phase which leads to production readiness of CTA in 2014. In this paper we introduce the science goals and the concept of CTA, and provide an overview of the project.
Gonzalez F, Otero LA, Pallota J, Proyetti M, Quel EJ, Ristori PR, De La Vega GA, Etchegoyen A, Garcia B, Mancilla A. Introducing the CTA concept. Astroparticle Physics. 2013;43:3-18.
Acharya BS, Actis M, Aghajani T, Agnetta G, Aguilar J, Aharonian F, Ajello M, Akhperjanian A, Alcubierre M, Aleksić J, et al.Introducing the CTA concept. [Internet]. 2013;43:3 - 18. WebsiteAbstract
The Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) is a new observatory for very high-energy (VHE) gamma rays. CTA has ambitions science goals, for which it is necessary to achieve full-sky coverage, to improve the sensitivity by about an order of magnitude, to span about four decades of energy, from a few tens of GeV to above 100 TeV with enhanced angular and energy resolutions over existing VHE gamma-ray observatories. An international collaboration has formed with more than 1000 members from 27 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and North and South America. In 2010 the CTA Consortium completed a Design Study and started a three-year Preparatory Phase which leads to production readiness of CTA in 2014. In this paper we introduce the science goals and the concept of CTA, and provide an overview of the project.
This review starts with an introduction on the theoretical aspects of biopharmaceutics and developments in this field from mid-1950s to late 1970s. It critically addresses issues related to fundamental processes in oral drug absorption such as the complex interplay between drugs and the gastrointestinal system. Special emphasis is placed on drug dissolution and permeability phenomena as well as on the mathematical modeling of oral drug absorption. The review ends with regulatory aspects of oral drug absorption focusing on bioequivalence studies and the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency guidelines dealing with Biopharmaceutics Classification System and Biopharmaceutic Drug Disposition Classification System. (C) 2013Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association
Conventional experimental models of respiratory allergy have contributed greatly to our current knowledge of the pathophysiology of allergic airway diseases; nevertheless, they are contingent upon unnatural sensitization techniques, entailing adjuvant-aided intraperitoneal (i.p) administration of antigen. Currently, there is a growing appreciation of the impact of tolerance mechanics in the pathophysiology of respiratory allergy. Thus, inasmuch as adjuvants exert a robust tolerance-modifying action, a transition from the conventional method of experimental sensitization to one that is more naturally and clinically relevant becomes important. We therefore opted to survey the literature and identify agents that could interfere with sensitization mechanics following non-adjuvant-aided airway exposure of laboratory rodents to aeroallergen. GM-CSF was found to exert robust Th2-polarizing action in this setting. Conversely, IL-10 fulfilled an important, albeit not so clear-cut, tolerance-favoring role; TGF-β was also identified as a likely instigator of tolerogenesis. The role of Notch signaling in the sensitization versus tolerance dilemma appeared to be important but diverse. Collectively, these factors appeared to profoundly and diversely modulate the balance between tolerance and sensitization in naturally relevant experimental models of allergic airway disease.
Kiwifruit is a common cause of food allergy. Symptoms range from mild to anaphylactic reactions.|We sought to elucidate geographic differences across Europe regarding clinical patterns and sensitization to kiwifruit allergens. Factors associated with the severity of kiwifruit allergy were identified, and the diagnostic performance of specific kiwifruit allergens was investigated.|This study was part of EuroPrevall, a multicenter European study investigating several aspects of food allergy. Three hundred eleven patients with kiwifruit allergy from 12 countries representing 4 climatic regions were included. Specific IgE to 6 allergens (Act d 1, Act d 2, Act d 5, Act d 8, Act d 9, and Act d 10) and kiwifruit extract were tested by using ImmunoCAP.|Patients from Iceland were mainly sensitized to Act d 1 (32%), those from western/central and eastern Europe were mainly sensitized to Act d 8 (pathogenesis-related class 10 protein, 58% and 44%, respectively), and those from southern Europe were mainly sensitized to Act d 9 (profilin, 31%) and Act d 10 (nonspecific lipid transfer protein, 22%). Sensitization to Act d 1 and living in Iceland were independently and significantly associated with severe kiwifruit allergy (odds ratio, 3.98 [P = .003] and 5.60 [P < .001], respectively). Using a panel of 6 kiwifruit allergens in ImmunoCAP increased the diagnostic sensitivity to 65% compared with 20% for skin prick tests and 46% ImmunoCAP using kiwi extract.|Kiwifruit allergen sensitization patterns differ across Europe. The use of specific kiwifruit allergens improved the diagnostic performance compared with kiwifruit extract. Sensitization to Act d 1 and living in Iceland are strong risk factors for severe kiwifruit allergy.
Proposition initiale: Avant toute tentative de définition métathéorique lakatienne de l’analyse géopolitique systémique et de définition ontologique de ses notions structurelles, nous admettrons que l’approche théorique de l’analyse géopolitique systémique contemporaine, laquelle est de nature interdisciplinaire et se fonde sur la géographie politico-économique1 participe sur un pied d’égalité à l’ensemble des approches théoriques qui constituent le programme de recherche géopolitique néo-positiviste.
Since its discovery as an adipocyte-secreted hormone, leptin has been found to impact food intake, energy homeostasis, and metabolism through its effects on the central nervous system and peripheral organs. Recent research indicates that leptin may also be involved in cognition, immune function, and bone metabolism. These findings place leptin at the intersection of neuroendocrinology and metabolism, and possibly immune function, and render it an appealing therapeutic target for several niche areas of unmet clinical need. Current evidence regarding classic and emerging roles of leptin as well as the pros and cons of its potential clinical use are summarized herein.
Leptin is an adipocyte-secreted hormone that has been proposed to regulate energy homeostasis as well as metabolic, reproductive, neuroendocrine, and immune functions. In the context of open-label uncontrolled studies, leptin administration has demonstrated insulin-sensitizing effects in patients with congenital lipodystrophy associated with relative leptin deficiency. Leptin administration has also been shown to decrease central fat mass and improve insulin sensitivity and fasting insulin and glucose levels in HIV-infected patients with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-induced lipodystrophy, insulin resistance, and leptin deficiency. On the contrary, the effects of leptin treatment in leptin-replete or hyperleptinemic obese individuals with glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus have been minimal or null, presumably due to leptin tolerance or resistance that impairs leptin action. Similarly, experimental evidence suggests a null or a possibly adverse role of leptin treatment in nonlipodystrophic patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In this review, we present a description of leptin biology and signaling; we summarize leptin's contribution to glucose metabolism in animals and humans in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo; and we provide insights into the emerging clinical applications and therapeutic uses of leptin in humans with lipodystrophy and/or diabetes.
Cet article, basé sur les sources des textes sacrés du Coran ainsi que sur des textes de kanunistes importants de l’Islam, soutient le point de vue que le seul qui a le pouvoir absolu de déclarer le Djihad (en arabe égyptien: Gehad) c’est le Calife de l’Oumma qui a été choisi selon la Loi Sacrée (Shari’a). Cependant, puisque dans les circonstances actuelles l’Oumma des croyants (des musulmans) n’a pas la structure califale et donc n’a pas du calife, personne ne peut déclarer le Gehad selon les dispositions de la Loi Sacrée (Shari’a). Ainsi, «la Réouverture des Portes de l’Idjtihad (en arabe égyptien: Edgehad)» que les islamistes tentent et leur indifférence pour l’idjma’a (en arabe égyptien: egma’a) des kanunistes ne permet pas le support, du point de vue juridique, de la «déclaration du Gehad» par les dirigeants des divers secteurs des mouvements islamistes.
This review summarizes the findings and importance of 12 articles from research at Columbia University in New York City that were among the most cited in the literature between 2006 and 2011. The 12 articles summarized in this review made important contributions to the field of Alzheimer's disease in the last 5 years. Four of the articles established the Mediterranean diet as a food consumption pattern that may prevent Alzheimer's disease in addition to physical activity. Two of the articles advanced our knowledge of predictors of conversion from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Four of the articles provided important knowledge of risk factors for the progression of Alzheimer's disease and its complications. Lastly, one of the articles laid the theoretical framework for the study of cognitive reserve, an important modifier of the manifestation of Alzheimer's disease. These studies have advanced our knowledge about risk factors, modifiers, and progression of late onset Alzheimer's disease
BACKGROUND: International travel plays a role in the spread of HIV-1 across Europe. It is, however, not known whether international travel is more important for spread of the epidemic as compared to endogenous infections within single countries. In this study, phylogenetic associations among HIV of newly diagnosed patients were determined across Europe.
RESULTS: Data came from the SPREAD programme which collects samples of newly diagnosed patients that are representative for national HIV epidemics. 4260 pol sequences from 25 European countries and Israel collected in 2002-2007 were included.We identified 457 clusters including 1330 persons (31.2% of all patients). The cluster size ranged between 2 and 28. A number of 987 patients (74.2%) were part of a cluster that consisted only of patients originating from the same country. In addition, 135 patients (10.2%) were in a cluster including only individuals from neighboring countries. Finally, 208 patients (15.6%) clustered with individuals from countries without a common border. Clustering with patients from the same country was less prevalent in patients being infected with B subtype (P-value <0.0001), in men who have sex with men (P-value <0.0001), and in recently infected patients (P-value =0.045).
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the transmission of HIV-1 in Europe is predominantly occurring between patients from the same country. This could have implications for HIV-1 transmission prevention programmes. Because infections through travelling between countries is not frequently observed it is important to have good surveillance of the national HIV-1 epidemics.
The major risk factor of perinatal transmission of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the level of maternal HBV-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) during the third trimester of pregnancy. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the hematological and biochemical status in Hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic HBV-infected pregnant women and to correlate the findings with the presence or absence of viremia. Ninety-five consecutive chronic HBV-infected pregnant women were evaluated between the 28th and 32nd week of gestation. Viral load was determined by using the COBAS TaqMan HBV test. Sixty-nine women were evaluated and 14 of them exhibited HBV-DNA levels higher than 2000 IU·ml. In this study, viremic women exhibited significantly higher alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and uric acid values as well as significantly lower white blood cell count compared with nonviremic women. There was also a significant statistical difference concerning ALT/sodium ratio between viremic and nonviremic women (0.20 ± 0.22 vs. 0.10 ± 0.09, respectively, p= .024). The optimal cutoff points discriminating those women with a high probability to have detectable serum HBV-DNA were 0.092 for ALT/sodium ratio (sensitivity = 73.0%, specificity = 61.5%, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 71.05%) and 12.8 IU/L for ALT (sensitivity = 73.0%, specificity = 63.0%, AUC = 72.2%). Chronic HBV-infected pregnant women with ALT/sodium ratio ≥ 0.11 had the higher probability of having serum HBV-DNA levels higher than 2000 IU/ml (sensitivity = 76.92%, specificity = 58%, AUC = 62.38%). Presence of HBV-DNA in maternal blood during the third trimester of pregnancy is significantly associated with maternal serum ALT levels in HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-infected pregnant women. Women with an ALT/sodium ratio greater than 0.092 have the higher probability of HBV-DNA presence in maternal blood whereas an ALT/sodium ratio greater than 0.11 could discriminate those women with HBV-DNA levels higher than 2000 IU/ml.
OBJECTIVES: To examine in an observational study (1) relationships between cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) and memantine use, and functional and cognitive end points and mortality in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD); (2) relationships between other patient characteristics and these clinical end points; and (3) whether effects of the predictors change across time.
METHODS: The authors conducted a multicenter, natural history study that included three university-based AD centers in the United States. A total of 201 patients diagnosed with probable AD with modified Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores ≥ 30 at study entry were monitored annually for 6 years. Discrete-time hazard analyses were used to examine relationships between ChEI and memantine use during the previous 6 months reported at each assessment, and time to cognitive (MMSE score ≤ 10) and functional (Blessed Dementia Rating Scale score ≥ 10) end points and mortality. Analyses controlled for clinical characteristics, including baseline cognition, function, and comorbid conditions, and presence of extrapyramidal signs and psychiatric symptoms at each assessment interval. Demographic characteristics included baseline age, sex, education, and living arrangement at each assessment interval.
RESULTS: ChEI use was associated with delayed time in reaching the functional end point and death. Memantine use was associated with delayed time to death. Different patient characteristics were associated with different clinical end points.
CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest long-term beneficial effects of ChEI and memantine use on patient outcomes. As for all observational cohort studies, observed relationships should not be interpreted as causal effects.
BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PCa) is characterised by great heterogeneity of the disease progression rate. Tumours range from insignificant and not life threatening to high risk for relapse ones. Consequently, a large number of patients undergo unnecessary treatment. miR-145 is a well-documented tumour suppressor and its expression, which is regulated by the p53 pathway, has been found to be decreased in the majority of human malignancies. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical utility of miR-145 for the prognostication of PCa. METHODS: Total RNA was isolated from 137 prostate tissue specimens obtained from 73 radical prostatectomy-treated PCa patients and 64 transurethral- or open prostatectomy-treated benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) patients. Following polyadenylation and reverse transcription, miR-145 levels were determined by quantitative real-time PCR assay, using SNORD48 (RNU48) for normalisation purposes. RESULTS: Downregulated miR-145 expression was found in PCa compared with BPH patients. The reduction of miR-145 expression in PCa was correlated with higher Gleason score, advanced clinical stage, larger tumour diameter and higher prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and follow-up PSA levels. In addition, higher risk for biochemical recurrence and significantly shorter disease-free survival (DFS) was found for the PCa patients expressing lower miR-145. Focusing on 'low- and intermediate-recurrence risk' PCa patients, miR-145 loss was revealed to be a reliable predictor of biochemical relapse and poor DFS independent from Gleason score, clinical stage, PSA and patients' age. CONCLUSION: The loss of the tumour-suppressor miR-145 increases the risk for disease progression and predicts the poor survival of PCa patients.
INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to investigate potential associations between maxillary sinus floor extension and inclination of maxillary second premolars and second molars in patients with Class II Division 1 malocclusion whose orthodontic treatment included maxillary first molar extractions.
METHODS: The records of 37 patients (18 boys, 19 girls; mean age, 13.2 years; SD, 1.62 years) treated between 1998 and 2004 by 1 orthodontist with full Begg appliances were used in this study. Inclusion criteria were white patients with Class II Division 1 malocclusion, sagittal overjet of ≥4 mm, treatment plan including extraction of the maxillary first permanent molars, no missing teeth, and no agenesis. Maxillary posterior tooth inclination and lower maxillary sinus area in relation to the palatal plane were measured on lateral cephalograms at 3 time points: at the start and end of treatment, and on average 2.5 years posttreatment. Data were analyzed for the second premolar and second molar inclinations by using mixed linear models.
RESULTS: The analysis showed that the second molar inclination angle decreased by 7° after orthodontic treatment, compared with pretreatment values, and by 11.5° at the latest follow-up, compared with pretreatment. There was evidence that maxillary sinus volume was negatively correlated with second molar inclination angle; the greater the volume, the smaller the inclination angle. For premolars, inclination increased by 15.4° after orthodontic treatment compared with pretreatment, and by 8.1° at the latest follow-up compared with baseline. The volume of the maxillary sinus was not associated with premolar inclination.
CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence of an association between maxillary second molar inclination and surface area of the lower sinus in patients treated with maxillary first molar extractions. Clinicians who undertake such an extraction scheme in Class II patients should be aware of this potential association and consider appropriate biomechanics to control root uprighting.
A hindcast simulation in the Aegean–Levantine basins for the years 1960–2000 is performed, using an eddy resolving ocean model (1°/30). The model incorporates a 6-h atmospheric forcing provided by the ARPERA and captures the observed variability of the 40-years. The Eastern Mediterranean Transient (EMT) is the most prominent climatic event of the period. We investigate the impact of the atmospheric versus lateral forcing on the buoyancy content of the Aegean–Levantine basins. During the pre-EMT period, the basins’ buoyancy content is lowered by surface fluxes by about 1.5×10−8m2s−3 in the Aegean Sea, mostly related to surface heat loss, and lateral fluxes by about 0.9×10−8m2s−3, mostly related to salt flux, with the Levantine changes leading those of the Aegean. Furthermore, while long-term trends of surface and lateral inputs are preconditioning the changes in the Aegean stratification, it is the extreme heat loss pulses, related to the variability of the wind field that is controlling the formation processes by abruptly lowering the buoyancy content. Those events are possibly linked to an eastern Mediterranean bimodal atmospheric oscillation, with the anomalous surface heat fluxes shifting from the Levantine in the 1960s to the Aegean in the 1990s. The central Aegean due to its topography and thermohaline properties trigger events of excessive formation and producing the Aegean’s densest waters. During the EMT winters the central Aegean lower layers contain very dense waters, with σΘ larger than 29.3kgm−3. These waters form the core of the water mass outflowing in the Eastern Mediterranean, after being mixed with ambient waters along their southward flow. The outflowing layer is characterized by density of 29.21kgm−3. The deepest parts of the NW Levantine is initially filled with the new water mass, which later spreads to the SE parts of the basin, flowing over the Eastern Mediterranean Ridge.
OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to quantitatively synthesize all studies that examine the association between adherence to a Mediterranean diet and risk of stroke, depression, cognitive impairment, and Parkinson disease.
METHODS: Potentially eligible publications were those providing effect estimates of relative risk (RR) for the association between Mediterranean diet and the aforementioned outcomes. Studies were sought in PubMed up to October 31, 2012. Maximally adjusted effect estimates were extracted; separate analyses were performed for high and moderate adherence.
RESULTS: Twenty-two eligible studies were included (11 covered stroke, 9 covered depression, and 8 covered cognitive impairment; only 1 pertained to Parkinson's disease). High adherence to Mediterranean diet was consistently associated with reduced risk for stroke (RR = 0.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57-0.89), depression (RR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.54-0.86), and cognitive impairment (RR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.43-0.83). Moderate adherence was similarly associated with reduced risk for depression and cognitive impairment, whereas the protective trend concerning stroke was only marginal. Subgroup analyses highlighted the protective actions of high adherence in terms of reduced risk for ischemic stroke, mild cognitive impairment, dementia, and particularly Alzheimer disease. Meta-regression analysis indicated that the protective effects of Mediterranean diet in stroke prevention seemed more sizeable among males. Concerning depression, the protective effects of high adherence seemed independent of age, whereas the favorable actions of moderate adherence seemed to fade away with more advanced age.
INTERPRETATION: Adherence to a Mediterranean diet may contribute to the prevention of a series of brain diseases; this may be of special value given the aging of Western societies.
Accumulating evidence supports that psoriasis may be a potential multisystem inflammatory disease associated with a range of co-morbidities showing an overlapping pathology and an important health impact such as metabolic diseases. Psoriasis is associated with an increased risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome (Mets) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (t2DM), following a “dose-response” relationship from mild to severe psoriasis. Conversely, recent evidence from large prospective studies suggests that obesity constitutes a risk factor for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Also, a dyslipidemic profile may precede psoriasis onset. Both obesity, Mets and psoriasis, characterized as chronic inflammatory states, stem from a shared underlying pathophysiology exhibiting common genetic predisposition and risk factors such as high caloric intake, physical inactivity and psychological stress. Excess weight may potentiate the inflammation of psoriasis through the deregulation of adipocytokines while, at the same time, it may help the development of Mets. Interestingly, recent translational data has shown that psoriasis, through increased T-helper inflammatory cytokines in skin and sera, may exert a plethora of effects on insulin regulation and lipid metabolism. Larger population-based prospective cohort and longitudinal studies are needed to unravel the association between psoriasis and metabolic co-morbidities. The recognition of the intricate complex interplay between psoriasis and metabolic co-morbidities may help dermatologists to be aware of associated metabolic co-morbidities in order to screen for metabolic diseases and manage holistically and effectively the psoriatic patient.
Vavuranakis M, Kariori M, Vrachatis D, Aznaouridis K, Siasos G, Kokkou E, Mazaris S, Moldovan C, Kalogeras K, Tousoulis D, et al.MicroRNAs in aortic disease. Curr Top Med Chem. 2013;13(13):1559-72.Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNAs of ~22 nucleotides which act as down regulators of gene expression in the post-transcription level and/or in the translation level. Several studies have shown that the process of their maturation is rather crucial for the development of cardiovascular system thus their regulation (up-,down-) is implicated with many cardiac pathologies. This is evaluated through their circulating levels which are reliable, stable and the changes in their serum profiles are representative of tissue alterations serum levels. Furthermore, they have been shown to participate in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis including atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure cardiac arrhythmias and aortic stenosis. In the present review, we will first describe i) the process of miRNAs' maturation ii) their role in the cardiovascular development, iii) their role as biomarkers of cardiac diseases, iv) the cardiac myo-miR families and the v) their role in cardiac remodeling and the development of cardiac diseases. Second we will review the miRNA families that participate in aortic stenosis separated according to its main pathways (imflammation, fibrosis, calcification). Finally, we will describe the miRNAs that participate in the development of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection according to their serum levels.
Karamanou M, Androutsos G, Stefanadis C, Papaioannou TG. Midas touch in cardiology. European heart journal [Internet]. 2013;34(20):1463 - 1464. Website
Karamanou M, Androutsos G, Stefanadis C, Papaioannou TG. Midas touch in cardiology. European heart journal [Internet]. 2013;34(20):1463 - 1464. Website
Karamanou M, Androutsos G, Stefanadis C, Papaioannou TG. Midas touch in cardiology. European heart journal [Internet]. 2013;34(20):1463 - 1464. Website
BACKGROUND: We describe a vascular closure technique, convenient in practice, that permits effective femoral artery closure after CoreValve (Medtronic) implantation during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Vascular complications of transfemoral access implantation have been associated with significantly increased patient morbidity and mortality, as well as with increased hospitalization, among patients undergoing TAVI.
TECHNIQUE: The crossover technique is performed while using the sheath dilatator in order to tightly grasp the crossover wire; a peripheral artery balloon is inserted in the iliac artery and inflated above the puncture site. The 18 Fr sheath is removed while hemostasis is achieved in that way. Minor vascular complications were observed in 10% (3 out of 30) of the patients treated with this vascular closure technique. No major vascular complications were observed.
CONCLUSIONS: The described vascular closure maneuver is operator friendly, without demanding special skills and can be added to the therapeutic quiver for minimizing vascular complications after TAVI.
In many cases, technological advances are based on artificial low-dimensional structures of heterogeneous constituents, thus called hybrids, that when come together they provide stand-alone entities that exhibit entirely different properties. Such hybrids are nowadays intensively studied since they are attractive for both basic research and oncoming practical applications. Here, we studied hybrids constituted of piezoelectric (PE) and ferromagnetic (FM) components in the form FM/PE/FM, ultimately aiming to provide means for the controlled modulation of the properties of the FM electrodes, originating from the strain imposed to them by the PE mediator when an electric field is applied. The PE component is in single crystal form, 0.71Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O-3-0.29PbTiO(3) (PMN-PT), while the FM outer layers are Cobalt (Co) in thin film form. Detailed magnetization measurements performed under variation of the electric field applied to PMN-PT demonstrated the efficient modulation of the properties of the Co electrodes at low temperature (coercive field modulation up to 27% and saturation magnetization absolute modulation up to 4% at T = 10K for electric field not exceeding 6 kV/cm). The modulation degree faints upon increase of the temperature, evidencing that the thermal energy eventually dominates all other relevant energy scales. Candidate mechanisms are discussed for the explanation of these experimental observations. The results presented here demonstrate that commercially available materials can result in quantitatively noticeable effects. Thus, such elemental Co/PMN-PT/Co units can be used as a solid basis for the development of devices. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.
Here we examine the carbapenem and metronidazole resistance mechanisms of 640 Bacteroides strains reported in the 2008-2009 European antibiotic susceptibility survey. Of the 22 strains with elevated imipenem minimum inhibitory concentrations (≥4 μg/mL), 10 were cfiA-positive and out of these 5 carried activating insertion sequence (IS) elements in the upstream regions of the cfiA genes. However, resistant strains with cfiA genes but with no activating IS elements were found (n=2) as well as a resistant strain with no cfiA gene. In the former the resistance phenotypes by Etest were heterogeneous, whilst in the latter no carbapenemase production was seen; both mechanisms have been rarely observed, examined and characterised. Interestingly, few (n=3) nim-positive strains were found, including one metronidazole-resistant strain harbouring nimE activated by ISBf6, and two susceptible strains harbouring chromosomally located nim genes.
Correct identification of the culprit allergen is an essential part of diagnosis and treatment in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic diseases. In recent years, molecular biology has made important advances facilitating such identification and overcoming some of the drawbacks of natural allergen extracts, which consist of mixtures of various proteins that may be allergenic or not, specific for the allergen source or widely distributed (panallergens). New technologies offer the opportunity for a more accurate component-resolved diagnosis, of benefit especially to polysensitized allergic patients. The basic elements of molecular diagnostics with potential relevance to immunotherapy prescription are reviewed here, with a focus on Southern European sensitization patterns to pollen allergens. We propose a basic algorithm regarding component-resolved diagnostic work-up for pollen allergen-specific immunotherapy candidates in Southern Europe; this and similar algorithms can form the basis of improved patient management, conceptually a 'Component-Resolved Allergy Management'.
We investigate the origin of high-energy emission in blazars within the context of the leptohadronic one-zone model. We find that γ-ray emission can be attributed to synchrotron radiation either from protons or from secondary leptons produced via photohadronic processes. These possibilities imply differences not only in the spectral energy distribution (SED) but also in the variability signatures, especially in the X- and γ-ray regime. Thus, the temporal behaviour of each leptohadronic scenario can be used to probe the particle population responsible for the high-energy emission as it can give extra information not available by spectral fits. In this work, we apply these ideas to the non-thermal emission of Mrk 421, which is one of the best monitored TeV blazars. We focus on the observations of 2001 March, since during that period Mrk 421 showed multiple flares that have been observed in detail both in X-rays and γ-rays. First, we obtain pre-flaring fits to the SED using the different types of leptohadronic scenarios. Then, we introduce random-walk-type, small-amplitude variations on the injection compactness or on the maximum energy of radiating particles and follow the subsequent response of the radiated photon spectrum. For each leptohadronic scenario, we calculate the X-ray and γ-ray fluxes and investigate their possible correlation. Whenever the `input' variations lead, apart from flux variability, also to spectral variability, we present the resulting relations between the spectral index and the flux, both in X-rays and γ-rays. We find that proton synchrotron models are favoured energetically but require fine tuning between electron and proton parameters to reproduce the observed quadratic behaviour between X-rays and TeV γ-rays. On the other hand, models based on pion decay can reproduce this behaviour in a much more natural way.
We investigate the origin of high-energy emission in blazars within the context of the leptohadronic one-zone model. We find that γ-ray emission can be attributed to synchrotron radiation either from protons or from secondary leptons produced via photohadronic processes. These possibilities imply differences not only in the spectral energy distribution (SED) but also in the variability signatures, especially in the X- and γ-ray regime. Thus, the temporal behaviour of each leptohadronic scenario can be used to probe the particle population responsible for the high-energy emission as it can give extra information not available by spectral fits. In this work, we apply these ideas to the non-thermal emission of Mrk 421, which is one of the best monitored TeV blazars. We focus on the observations of 2001 March, since during that period Mrk 421 showed multiple flares that have been observed in detail both in X-rays and γ-rays. First, we obtain pre-flaring fits to the SED using the different types of leptohadronic scenarios. Then, we introduce random-walk-type, small-amplitude variations on the injection compactness or on the maximum energy of radiating particles and follow the subsequent response of the radiated photon spectrum. For each leptohadronic scenario, we calculate the X-ray and γ-ray fluxes and investigate their possible correlation. Whenever the `input' variations lead, apart from flux variability, also to spectral variability, we present the resulting relations between the spectral index and the flux, both in X-rays and γ-rays. We find that proton synchrotron models are favoured energetically but require fine tuning between electron and proton parameters to reproduce the observed quadratic behaviour between X-rays and TeV γ-rays. On the other hand, models based on pion decay can reproduce this behaviour in a much more natural way.
En este artículo se presentan la narración y la argumentación desde dos perspectivas:la lingüística y la cognitiva. Por un lado, nos detendremos en la narración y en laargumentación como tipos discursivos presentando las diferentes definiciones dadaspor los investigadores, así como los elementos característicos que las distinguen deotros tipos discursivos. Además, se exponen las diversas maneras en que las mismaspueden estar estructuradas. Por otro, las examinaremos desde la perspectiva cognitiva,es decir, como una modalidad de pensamiento y una habilidad cognitiva humana. Finprincipal del presente estudio es servir de herramienta didáctica a todos aquellosdocentes de LE que se vean involucrados en la enseñanza de los tipos textuales en laproducción escrita.
Neudesin (also known as neuron derived neurotrophic factor, Nenf) is a scarcely studied putative non-canonical neurotrophic factor. In order to understand its function in the brain, we performed an extensive behavioral characterization (motor, emotional, and cognitive dimensions) of neudesin-null mice. The absence of neudesin leads to an anxious-like behavior as assessed in the elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark box (LDB) and novelty suppressed feeding (NSF) tests, but not in the acoustic startle (AS) test. This anxious phenotype is associated with reduced dopaminergic input and impoverished dendritic arborizations in the dentate gyrus granule neurons of the ventral hippocampus. Interestingly, shorter dendrites are also observed in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) of neudesin-null mice. These findings lead us to suggest that neudesin is a novel relevant player in the maintenance of the anxiety circuitry.
Neudesin (also known as neuron derived neurotrophic factor, Nenf) is a scarcely studied putative non-canonical neurotrophic factor. In order to understand its function in the brain, we performed an extensive behavioral characterization (motor, emotional, and cognitive dimensions) of neudesin-null mice. The absence of neudesin leads to an anxious-like behavior as assessed in the elevated plus maze (EPM), light/dark box (LDB) and novelty suppressed feeding (NSF) tests, but not in the acoustic startle (AS) test. This anxious phenotype is associated with reduced dopaminergic input and impoverished dendritic arborizations in the dentate gyrus granule neurons of the ventral hippocampus. Interestingly, shorter dendrites are also observed in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) of neudesin-null mice. These findings lead us to suggest that neudesin is a novel relevant player in the maintenance of the anxiety circuitry.
This paper concerns records of species that have extended their distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. The finding of the rare brackish angiosperm Althenia filiformis in the island of Cyprus is interesting since its insertion in the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus is suggested. The following species enriched the flora or fauna lists of the relevant countries: the red alga Sebdenia dichotoma (Greece), the hydrachnid mite Pontarachna adriatica (Slovenia), and the thalassinid Gebiacanthatalismani (Turkey). Several alien species were recorded in new Mediterranean localities. The record of the burrowing goby Trypauchenvagina in the North Levantine Sea (Turkish coast), suggests the start of spreading of this Lessepsian immigrant in the Mediterranean Sea. The findings of the following species indicate the extension of their occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea: the foraminifer Amphistegina lobifera (island of Zakynthos, Greece), the medusa Cassiopea andromeda (Syria), the copepod Centropagesfurcatus (Aegean Sea), the decapod shrimp Melicertus hathor (island of Kastellorizo, Greece), the crab Menoethius monoceros (Gulf of Tunis), the barnacles Balanus trigonus, Megabalanus tintinnabulum, Megabalanus coccopoma and the bivalves Chama asperella, Cucurbitula cymbium (Saronikos Gulf, Greece).
This paper concerns records of species that have extended their distribution in the Mediterranean Sea. The finding of the rare brackish angiosperm Althenia filiformis in the island of Cyprus is interesting since its insertion in the Red Data Book of the Flora of Cyprus is suggested. The following species enriched the flora or fauna lists of the relevant countries: the red alga Sebdenia dichotoma (Greece), the hydrachnid mite Pontarachna adriatica (Slovenia), and the thalassinid Gebiacanthatalismani (Turkey). Several alien species were recorded in new Mediterranean localities. The record of the burrowing goby Trypauchenvagina in the North Levantine Sea (Turkish coast), suggests the start of spreading of this Lessepsian immigrant in the Mediterranean Sea. The findings of the following species indicate the extension of their occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea: the foraminifer Amphistegina lobifera (island of Zakynthos, Greece), the medusa Cassiopea andromeda (Syria), the copepod Centropagesfurcatus (Aegean Sea), the decapod shrimp Melicertus hathor (island of Kastellorizo, Greece), the crab Menoethius monoceros (Gulf of Tunis), the barnacles Balanus trigonus, Megabalanus tintinnabulum, Megabalanus coccopoma and the bivalves Chama asperella, Cucurbitula cymbium (Saronikos Gulf, Greece).
Several epidemiological studies have shown that the traditional Mediterranean diet is associated with a lower incidence of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and certain kinds of cancer. These appreciable health-promoting properties have been partially correlated with the regular consumption of extra virgin olive oil as the principal source of fat. Olive oil is the most famous agricultural product in the Mediterranean, with a history as old as that region’s civilization. Olive fruits and olive oil not only are delicious but also have been considered as medicines since ancient times.
Group VIA calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (GVIA iPLA2) has recently emerged as an important pharmaceutical target. Selective and potent GVIA iPLA2 inhibitors can be used to study its role in various neurological disorders. In the current work, we explore the significance of the introduction of a substituent in previously reported potent GVIA iPLA2 inhibitors. 1,1,1,2,2-Pentafluoro-7-(4-methoxyphenyl)heptan-3-one (GK187) is the most potent and selective GVIA iPLA2 inhibitor ever reported with a XI(50) value of 0.0001, and with no significant inhibition against GIVA cPLA2 or GV sPLA2. We also compare the inhibition of two difluoromethyl ketones on GVIA iPLA2, GIVA cPLA2, and GV sPLA2.
In a monitoring observation of the central region of the Andromeda Galaxy (M 31) with the Ultra-violet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) on board the Swift satellite (ObsID 00035336102, starting 2013-05-27.15 UT), we detected a new UV transient (UVW1 filter, 181-321 nm). The source is located at RA 00h 42m 55.62s, Dec +41d 14' 12.3" (± 0.5", J2000, 90% confidence level). The following table lists the Swift ObsID, the MJD at the beginning of the exposure, UVW1 magnitudes (Vega system), and 1σ statistical uncertainties.
In the early 80s, the word automation was used in the clinical laboratory setting referring only to analyzers. But in late 80s and afterwards, automation found its way into all aspects of the diagnostic process, embracing not only the analytical but also the pre- and post-analytical phase. While laboratories in the eastern world, mainly Japan, paved the way for laboratory automation, US and European laboratories soon realized the benefits and were quick to follow. Clearly, automation and robotics will be a key survival tool in a very competitive and cost-concious healthcare market. What sets automation technology apart from so many other efficiency solutions are the dramatic savings that it brings to the clinical laboratory. Further standardization will assure the success of this revolutionary new technology. One of the main difficulties laboratory managers and personnel must deal with when studying solutions to reengineer a laboratory is familiarizing themselves with the multidisciplinary and technical terminology of this new and exciting field. The present review/glossary aims at giving an overview of the most frequently used terms within the scope of laboratory automation and to put laboratory automation on a sounder linguistic basis.
BACKGROUND: Surrogates of aortic wave reflection and arterial stiffness, such as augmentation index (AIx), augmentation pressure, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and pulse pressure amplification (PPampl) are independent predictors of cardiovascular risk. A novel ambulatory, brachial cuff-based oscillometric device has been recently developed and validated, yielding 24-h assessment of the aforementioned parameters (Mobilo-O-Graph). Aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and reproducibility of wave reflection and arterial stiffness estimation by pulse wave analysis using this device.
METHODS: Thirty treated or untreated hypertensives (mean age: 53.6 ± 11.6 years, 17 men) had test-retest 24-h monitoring one week apart using the test device.
RESULTS: Mean numbers of valid aortic readings per subject, between test and retest, were comparable. Approximately 12 aortic readings per subject (17%) were not feasible or valid. No differences were observed for any 24-h parameter between the two assessments. Bland-Altman plots showed no systemic difference, while the limits of agreement for each parameter indicated high reproducibility (AIx: -7.2 to 8.2%, AP: -3.7 to 4.1mm Hg, PWV: -0.39 to 0.41 m/s, PPampl: -0.08 to 0.06). This was further verified by intraclass correlation coefficients which were >0.8 for each parameter.
CONCLUSIONS: Non-invasive 24-h estimation of wave reflection and arterial stiffness indices, derived by the test device, appear to be highly reproducible. Future studies should investigate whether these measurements have additive prognostic value for cardiovascular risk stratification, beyond common brachial blood pressure measurements or single estimations of wave reflection and PWV at office settings.
A detailed and rigorous theoretical investigation of the optical properties of a generic three-dimensional chiral structure of plasma spheres, without and under the action of an external static uniform magnetic field, is presented. Corresponding photonic band diagrams in conjunction with relevant transmission spectra, calculated by the full electrodynamic layer-multiple-scattering method properly extended to the case of gyrotropic spherical scatterers, are discussed in the light of the theory of nonsymmorphic space groups. This analysis provides a consistent interpretation of some remarkable features and effects like Dirac points, polarization-dependent transmission, as well as band splitting and non-reciprocal optical response that emerge as a result of time-reversal-symmetry breaking, induced by the external static magnetic field, and the lack of space-inversion symmetry in the crystal.
We report on the occurrence and properties of photonic surface states in periodic structures of magnetized plasma nanospheres by means of rigorous calculations using the full-electrodynamic layer-multiple-scattering method, properly extended to treat gyrotropic spheres with arbitrarily oriented gyration vector. More specifically, dispersion diagrams of Tamm states at the (001) surface of a semi-infinite fcc crystal of plasma nanospheres and of guided modes of a square array of such spheres supported by a quartz substrate, without and under the action of an in-plane static uniform magnetic field, are analyzed and nonreciprocal optical response, which emerges as a result of the simultaneous lack of space-inversion and time-reversal symmetries, is demonstrated in the Voigt geometry.
Selected CCD photometry of the nova forwarded by E. Waagen, AAVSO: Aug. 13.955 UT, [10.2 (G. Murawski, Suwalki, Poland; V-band); 14.817, V = 6.5 (I. Sergey, Molodechno, Belarus); 14.872, V = 6.43 (P. Hallsten, Vasterhaninge, Sweden); 14.876, B = 6.43 (L. Corp, Rodez, France); 14.877, V = 6.11 (Corp); 14.878, R = 5.68 (Corp); 15.837, B = 5.35 (T. Wikander, Borlange, Sweden); 15.883, V = 5.13 (A. Sonka, Bucharest, Romania); 16.037, I = 4.60 (K. Gazeas, Athens, Greece); 16.035, R = 4.71 (Gazeas); 16.033, V = 4.80 (Gazeas); 16.031, B = 4.97 (Gazeas); 16.279, V = 4.44 (A. Oksanen, Muurame, Finland); 16.278, B = 4.82 (Oksanen);
Blending of chewing gums of different colours is used in the clinical setting, as a simple and reliable means for the assessment of chewing efficiency. However, the available software is difficult to use in an everyday clinical setting, and there is no possibility of automated classification of the patient's chewing ability in a graph, to facilitate visualisation of the results and to evaluate potential chewing difficulties. The aims of this study were to test the validity of ViewGum - a novel image analysis software for the evaluation of boli derived from a two-colour mixing ability test - and to establish a baseline graph for the representation of the masticatory efficiency in a healthy population. Image analysis demonstrated significant hue variation decrease as the number of chewing cycles increased, indicating a higher degree of colour mixture. Standard deviation of hue (SDHue) was significantly different between all chewing cycles. Regression of the log-transformed values of the medians of SDHue on the number of chewing cycles showed a high statistically significant correlation (r² = 0.94, P < 0.01). ViewGum eliminates drawbacks of previous two-colour chewing gum test methods by the simplicity of its application. The newly developed ViewGum software provides speed, ease of use and immediate extraction of clinically useful conclusions to the already established method of chewing efficiency evaluation and is a valid adjunct for the evaluation of masticatory efficiency with two-colour chewing gum.
Worldwide, breast cancer (BC) represents the most common type of non-skin human malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths amid women in Western countries. Obesity and its metabolic complications have rapidly become major global health issues and are associated with increased risk for cancer, especially BC in postmenopausal women. Adipose tissue is considered as a genuine endocrine organ secreting a variety of bioactive adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin, resistin and nicotinamide phosphoribosyl-transferase/visfatin. Recent evidence has indicated that the constellation of obesity, insulin resistance and adipokines is associated with the risk and prognosis of postmenopausal BC. Direct evidence is growing rapidly supporting the stimulating and/or inhibiting role of adipokines in the process of development and progression of BC. Adipokines could exert their effects on the normal and neoplastic mammary tissue by endocrine, paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. Recent studies support a role of adipokines as novel risk factors and potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in BC. This editorial aims at providing important insights into the potential pathophysiological mechanisms linking adipokines to the etiopathogenesis of BC in the context of a dysfunctional adipose tissue and insulin resistance in obesity. A better understanding of these mechanisms may be important for the development of attractive preventive and therapeutic strategies against obesity-related breast malignancy.
To date, an obesity/asthma link is well defined in adults; however, the nature of such a link is obscure in children, partly due to Body Mass Index (BMI) limitations as a surrogate fat mass marker in childhood. We thus opted to investigate the association of adiposity with asthma in children of different ages, using several indices to assess fat mass.|Wheeze ever/in the last 12 months (current) and physician-diagnosed asthma were retrospectively reported via questionnaire by the parents of 3641 children, participating in two cross-sectional studies: 1626 children aged 2-5 (the Genesis Study) and 2015 children aged 9-13 (the Healthy Growth Study). Perinatal data were recorded from the children's medical records or reported by parents. Anthropometric measurements (i.e., BMI, waist/hip circumference, biceps/triceps/subscapular/suprailiac skinfold thickness) were conducted in both cohorts; bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) was conducted only in preadolescent children.|In children aged 2-5, asthma was positively correlated with conicity index, waist/hip circumference, waist-to-height ratio, skinfold thickness, and skinfold-derived percentage fat mass (P < 0.05) but not BMI or BMI-defined overweight/obesity, after adjusting for several confounders. In children aged 9-13, asthma was positively associated with conicity index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, skinfold thickness, skinfold-derived percentage fat mass, BIA-derived percentage fat mass, BMI, and BMI-defined overweight/obesity, following adjustment (P < 0.05). Current/ever wheeze was not consistently associated with fat mass in either population.|Fat mass is positively linked to asthma in both 2-5 and 9-13 age spans. However, the failure of BMI to correlate with preschool asthma suggests its potential inefficiency in asthma studies at this age range.
Amiridis V, Wandinger U, Marinou E, Giannakaki E, Tsekeri A, Basart S, Kazadzis S, Gkikas A, Taylor M, Baldasano J. Optimizing CALIPSO Saharan dust retrievals. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 2013;13(23):12089-12106.
Amiridis V, Wandinger U, Marinou E, Giannakaki E, Tsekeri A, Basart S, Kazadzis S, Gkikas A, Taylor M, Baldasano J. Optimizing Saharan dust CALIPSO retrievals. Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. 2013;13:14749-14795.
Using density functional theory calculations, ultrathin films of SrVO3(d(1)) and SrCrO3(d(2)) on SrTiO3 substrates have been studied as possible multiferroics. Although both are metallic in the bulk limit, they are found to be insulating as a result of orbital ordering driven by lattice distortions at the ultrathin limit. While the distortions in SrVO3 have a first-order Jahn-Teller origin, those in SrCrO3 are ferroelectric in nature. This route to ferroelectricity results in polarizations comparable with conventional ferroelectrics.
BACKGROUND: SAHA syndrome is characterized by the tetrad: seborrhea, acne, hirsutism, and androgenetic alopecia. No previous study has examined the prevalence of glucose abnormalities in ovarian SAHA and explored whether it may be an independent risk factor for glucose abnormalities.
OBJECTIVE: In a prospective controlled study, we investigated the spectrum of glucose abnormalities in ovarian SAHA and explored whether it is associated with a more insulin-resistant profile.
METHODS: In all, 316 patients with a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (56 with SAHA) and 102 age-matched healthy women were examined and underwent a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test. Serum glucose homeostasis parameters, hormones, and adipokines were determined.
RESULTS: SAHA prevalence was 17.7% in patients with PCOS and predominance of the severe PCOS phenotype. Ovarian SAHA was independently associated with a more insulin-resistant profile (higher homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance score, lower quantitative insulin sensitivity check index [QUICKI] and MATSUDA indices, and relative hypoadiponectinemia), and represented an independent risk factor for glucose abnormalities regardless of anthropometric features, age, and PCOS phenotype.
LIMITATION: There was no performance of skin biopsies.
CONCLUSION: The prompt recognition of SAHA syndrome in women with PCOS permits an earlier diagnosis and surveillance of metabolic abnormalities, especially in Mediterranean PCOS population exhibiting a lower prevalence of glucose abnormalities.
Lannoo B, Lambert S, Heddeghem WV, Pickavet M, Kuipers F, Koutitas G, Niavis H, Satsiou A, Beck MT, Fischer A, et al.Overview of ict energy consumption (deliverable 8.1). EU Project FP7-2888021, European Network of Excellence in Internet Science. 2013.
Lannoo B, Lambert S, Van Heddeghem W, Pickavet M, Kuipers F, Koutitas G, Niavis H, Satsiou A, Beck MT, Fischer A, et al.Overview of ict energy consumption (deliverable 8.1). Report of the EU FP7 Project FP7-2888021. 2013.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether both OX40 and its ligand OX40L are expressed in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and to investigate the types of inflammatory cells expressing OX40L.
STUDY DESIGN: Immunohistochemistry was performed in limb muscle specimens from dermatomyositis, polymyositis and inclusion body myositis patients to analyze the expression of OX40 and its ligand OX40L. Double immunofluorescence labeling was performed to clarify the phenotype of inflammatory cells expressing OX40L.
RESULTS: OX40 and OX40L expressing cells were observed in all subsets of inflammatory myopathies following a similar pattern of distribution mainly in the perimysium. In polymyositis and inclusion body myositis inflammatory cells expressing the receptors invaded non-necrotic muscle fibers. OX40L expression was also found in endothelial blood cells in all dermatomyositis and some polymyositis specimens. In all subsets of inflammatory myopathies OX40L was expressed by T cells (CD4+ and CD8+), macrophages (CD68+), B cells (CD20+) and myeloid dendritic cells (BDCA1+). Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (BDCA2+) expressing OX40L were found only in dermatomyositis and polymyositis.
CONCLUSION: The simultaneous expression of both OX40 and its ligand OX40L in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies suggests that they might participate in disease pathogenesis. Expression of OX40L by different types of cells within the inflamed muscle implies that OX40-OX40L interaction may contribute in disease mechanisms through different pathways.
Rhinitis is a common problem in childhood and adolescence and impacts negatively on physical, social and psychological well-being. This position paper, prepared by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Taskforce on Rhinitis in Children, aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and therapy of paediatric rhinitis. Rhinitis is characterized by at least two nasal symptoms: rhinorrhoea, blockage, sneezing or itching. It is classified as allergic rhinitis, infectious rhinitis and nonallergic, noninfectious rhinitis. Similar symptoms may occur with other conditions such as adenoidal hypertrophy, septal deviation and nasal polyps. Examination by anterior rhinoscopy and allergy tests may help to substantiate a diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. Avoidance of relevant allergens may be helpful for allergic rhinitis (AR). Oral and intranasal antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids are both appropriate for first-line AR treatment although the latter are more effective. Once-daily forms of corticosteroids are preferred given their improved safety profile. Potentially useful add-on therapies for AR include oral leukotriene receptor antagonists, short bursts of a nasal decongestant, saline douches and nasal anticholinergics. Allergen-specific immunotherapy is helpful in IgE-mediated AR and may prevent the progression of allergic disease. There are still a number of areas that need to be clarified in the management of rhinitis in children and adolescents.
The history of Mediterranean vegetation can be outlined using pollen grains contained in lacustrine, marine and other sediments. These sediments have recorded very important vegetation changes during recent geological times. For example, during the last 6 Ma (million years), the effects of different events acting at regional (e.g. the Messinian salinity crisis between 5.96 Ma and 5.33 Ma) and global (expansion of the Arctic ice at ca 2.6 Ma) scales produced a progressive decrease and final disappearance of tropical and subtropical taxa. However, prior to the start of the Quaternary the Mediterranean flora still included a consistent number of tropical and subtropical arboreal taxa accompanying deciduous and partly evergreen trees that have persisted until today. The most important features of the vegetation history of the Quaternary consist in the fact that vegetation adapted to climate changes due to changes in orbital cyclicity, alternating between glacial and interglacial periods. The more widespread vegetation types were steppe and grassland formations during the dry and cold glacial periods whereas either deciduous or evergreen forests were characteristic of interglacial periods. These cold-dry to warmhumid climate cycles became more and more intense towards the present. During the second half of the present interglacial, after the mid-Holocene, joint actions of increasing dryness, climate oscillations and human impact led to the present day Mediterranean plant landscape. It is however not clear how far the causation of this spread of evergreen taxa was climatic or human. One of the most exciting challenges is the prediction of the future course of Mediterranean vegetation. In this perspective a consistent help, not fully explored yet, can be found in aeropalynology, recording the pollen transported in the air. Together with modern surface samples, these data act as modern analogues. Though it probably does not represent the same past vegetational composition, the current pollen rain is the only basic reference on which our comparative approach can rely. Present trends are interpreted and future scenarios can be hypothesized just using a combination of aero- and archaeo-/palaeo-palynological approaches.
Populations of many countries are becoming increasingly overweight and obese, driven largely by excessive calorie intake and reduced physical activity; greater body mass is accompanied by epidemic levels of comorbid metabolic diseases. At the same time, individuals are living longer. The combination of aging and the increased prevalence of metabolic disease is associated with increases in aging-related comorbid diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, cerebrovascular dementia, and sarcopenia. Here, correlative and causal links between diseases of overnutrition and diseases of aging and cognition are explored.
High-power high-frequency gyrotrons are required for several applications, including plasma heating, current drive, and plasmas stabilization for controlled thermonuclear fusion. Despite the use of dumping dielectric material in these gyrotrons, parasitic oscillations often appear, which significantly affect their operation and efficiency. In this paper, we perform an extended parametric study on the effect of the beam-tunnel characteristics, i.e., the outer radius of the inner waveguide and the width of the grooves, as well as the lossy material properties and the beam-radial position on the dumping of these oscillations.
The strong epidemiologic and pathophysiologic link between allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma has led to the concept of 'united airways disease' or 'respiratory allergy', implying that allergy, in its widest sense, underlies this clinical syndrome. Progression from AR to asthma is frequent and part of the 'atopic march'. Since pediatric immune responses are more adaptable and therefore may be more amenable to treatment, interventions at early childhood are characterized by a higher chance to affect the natural history of respiratory allergy. Although current treatments are quite effective in alleviating respiratory allergy symptoms, it has proven much more difficult to confirm any influence on the progression of the disease. Much more promising is the field of specific allergen immunotherapy, where current evidence, although not yet of ideal robustness, points towards a disease-modifying effect. In addition, newer or emerging, possibly more effective or more targeted interventions are promising in the preventive sense.
INTRODUCTION: Geriatric depression is a heterogeneous disorder with a complex genetic background. Current first-line treatment of depression is associated with a lower therapeutic outcome in aged depressed patients, when compared to younger subjects. Research which has explored this inadequate response has highlighted several factors which have come into play with the pharmacogenetics of antidepressants in the elderly being a particular area of interest. AREAS COVERED: The authors perform a critical review of the English language articles from PubMed using search terms such as late-life/geriatric depression, antidepressants, pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics, pharmacokinetic, genetic, genotype, remission, therapy, treatment and polymorphism. EXPERT OPINION: The emerging clinical and pharmacogenetic data are slowly unveiling the importance of the genome - age interaction in antidepressant response. This data introduces a critical new parameter in personalized medicine. A profound analysis of the age factor in the pharmacogenetics of antidepressant response is imperative, in order to elucidate the clinical significance of these findings and thereby improve patient treatment in the elderly.
INTRODUCTION: Geriatric depression is a heterogeneous disorder with a complex genetic background. Current first-line treatment of depression is associated with a lower therapeutic outcome in aged depressed patients, when compared to younger subjects. Research which has explored this inadequate response has highlighted several factors which have come into play with the pharmacogenetics of antidepressants in the elderly being a particular area of interest.
AREAS COVERED: The authors perform a critical review of the English language articles from PubMed using search terms such as late-life/geriatric depression, antidepressants, pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics, pharmacokinetic, genetic, genotype, remission, therapy, treatment and polymorphism.
EXPERT OPINION: The emerging clinical and pharmacogenetic data are slowly unveiling the importance of the genome - age interaction in antidepressant response. This data introduces a critical new parameter in personalized medicine. A profound analysis of the age factor in the pharmacogenetics of antidepressant response is imperative, in order to elucidate the clinical significance of these findings and thereby improve patient treatment in the elderly.
INTRODUCTION: Geriatric depression is a heterogeneous disorder with a complex genetic background. Current first-line treatment of depression is associated with a lower therapeutic outcome in aged depressed patients, when compared to younger subjects. Research which has explored this inadequate response has highlighted several factors which have come into play with the pharmacogenetics of antidepressants in the elderly being a particular area of interest. AREAS COVERED: The authors perform a critical review of the English language articles from PubMed using search terms such as late-life/geriatric depression, antidepressants, pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics, pharmacokinetic, genetic, genotype, remission, therapy, treatment and polymorphism. EXPERT OPINION: The emerging clinical and pharmacogenetic data are slowly unveiling the importance of the genome - age interaction in antidepressant response. This data introduces a critical new parameter in personalized medicine. A profound analysis of the age factor in the pharmacogenetics of antidepressant response is imperative, in order to elucidate the clinical significance of these findings and thereby improve patient treatment in the elderly.
Molecular beam epitaxy has been employed to obtain Ga1−xMnxN films with x up to 10% and Curie temperatures TC up to 13 K. The magnitudes of TC and their dependence on x, TC(x)∝xm, where m=2.2±0.2, are quantitatively described by a tight-binding model of superexchange interactions and Monte Carlo simulations of TC. The critical behavior of this dilute magnetic insulator shows strong deviations from the magnetically clean case (x=1), in particular, (i) an apparent breakdown of the Harris criterion, (ii) a nonmonotonic crossover in the values of the susceptibility critical exponent γeff between the high temperature and critical regimes, and (iii) a smearing of the critical region, which can be explained either by the Griffiths effects or by macroscopic inhomogeneities in the spin distribution with a variance Δx=(0.2±0.1)%.
Introduction:Phospholipases A2 have been implicated in various pathological conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders and cancer. The scientific community focuses on the search of potent and selective PLA2 inhibitors of each PLA2 class in order to identify novel medicinal agents. At present, only one lipoprotein-associated PLA2 (LpPLA2) inhibitor has reached Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Areas covered:This review article focuses on the role of the most important PLA2s in inflammatory diseases and other severe pathological conditions presented in patent literature from June 2009 to September 2012.
Expert opinion:Even though the role of each PLA2 in different diseases or pathological conditions is not yet definitively identified, the progress in the quest for potent and selective PLA2 inhibitors is exciting and the use of such inhibitors as medicinal agent looks now more promising than ever.
Introduite initialement par les photographes voyageurs et les photographes résidents, la photographie fut adoptée progressivement comme moyen de représentation par les artistes locaux de l’Orient méditerranéen. Formés en France ou associés aux photographes français, les photographes Orientaux devinrent progressivement autonomes, réussissant à rivaliser techniquement et artistiquement avec leurs collègues européens. De plus, présentés aux expositions internationales de Paris, les clichés des photographes comme Philippos Margaritis, Abdullah frères, Paul Sébah établit leur réputation en France. En outre, l’installation des photographes comme Bonfils au Proche-Orient contribua à la diffusion de l’art photographique dans la région
Aspergillus species originating from Greece were examined by morphological and molecular criteria to explore the diversity of this genus. The phylogenetic relationships of these species were determined using sequences from the ITS and IGS region of the nuclear rRNA gene complex, two nuclear genes ( β -tubulin (benA) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2)) and two mitochondrial genes (small rRNA subunit (rns) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (cox1)) and, where available, related sequences from databases. The morphological characters of the anamorphs and teleomorphs, and the single gene phylogenetic trees, differentiated and placed the species examined in the well-supported sections of Aenei, Aspergillus, Bispori, Candidi, Circumdati, Clavati, Cremei, Flavi, Flavipedes, Fumigati, Nidulantes, Nigri, Restricti, Terrei, Usti, and Zonati, with few uncertainties. The combined use of the three commonly employed nuclear genes (benA, rpb2, and ITS), the IGS region, and two less often used mitochondrial gene sequences (rns and cox1) as a single unit resolved several taxonomic ambiguities. A phylogenetic tree was inferred using Neighbour-Joining, Maximum Parsimony, and Bayesian methods. The strains examined formed seven well-supported clades within the genus Aspergillus. Altogether, the concatenated nuclear and mitochondrial sequences offer additional tools for an improved understanding of phylogenetic relationships within this genus.
Poor oral health, including caries, tooth loss, and periodontitis, is ubiquitous worldwide, and is potentially treatable and preventable. Like adverse oral health conditions, Alzheimer disease and related disorders are also very common among aging populations. Established risk factors for Alzheimer disease include cerebrovascular disease and its vascular risk factors, many of which share associations with evidence of systemic inflammation also identified in periodontitis and other poor oral health states. In this review, we present epidemiologic evidence of links between poor oral health and both prevalent and incident cognitive impairment, and review plausible mechanisms linking these conditions, including evidence from compelling animal models. Considering that a large etiologic fraction of dementia remains unexplained, these studies argue for further multidisciplinary research between oral health conditions, including translational, epidemiologic, and possibly clinical treatment studies.
BACKGROUND: Percutaneous approach techniques with closure device after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have diminished vascular complications (VC). In this retrospective study, we will report incidence and angiographic factors predisposing to major VC in patients undergoing TAVI using Prostar® XL closure device as a default strategy.
METHODS: Consecutive patients, who underwent TAVI transfemorally using Prostar® XL, were evaluated for the incidence of VC according to VARC criteria. Using arterial angiography, the femoral-iliac arterial tortuosity was adjusted for large arterial diameters and expressed as the ratio total tortuosity/arterial diameter (TT/AD). Arterial calcification, the combination of angulation and atheromatosis at the puncture site and ideal puncture were evaluated too. In all patients, 30 days of follow-up was available.
RESULTS: Eighty-four patients (80.2 ± 5.86 years, 39 males [46.4%]), who were consecutively treated with the transfemoral approach, were evaluated. In patients with major VC (17/84 [20.23%]) comparing to those without, arterial calcification (11 [64.7%] vs. 8 [11.9%], P < 0.01) and the TT/AD (30.2 ± 11.25 vs. 22.06 ± 8.64, P < 0.01) were independent predictors. Ideal puncture was achieved more frequently among patients without VC comparing to those with major (94.1% vs. 70.6%, P = 0.01). Blood transfusions (1.48 ± 0.37 vs. 2.45 ± 0.59, P = 0.023) were more frequent among patients with major VC. Finally, minimum creatinin clearance after TAVI predicted all-cause 30-day mortality (P = 0.021).
CONCLUSIONS: Major VC after TAVI with the use of Prostar closure device can be predicted by arterial calcification at the puncture site and TT/AD ratio. Minimum creatinin clearance after TAVI predicted 30-day mortality.
The paleoenviromental conditions during the depositional interval of sapropel S1 in the northeastern Aegean (gravity core M-4, length 2.53 m; south Limnos basin) are studied based on quantitative micropaleontological (benthic and planktonic foraminifera) and geochemical (OC, δ13Corg) analyses. Special feature of core M-4 is the thickness of S1 layer (96 cm). Our study points that sapropelic layer S1a has been deposited in more dysoxic and warmer conditions in respect to S1b. Both primary productivity and preservation of organic material are more intense during the lower part of S1. An interruption of the sapropelic conditions at 8.0 Ka BP which is mainly characterized by the increase of agglutinated foraminiferal forms confirms both higher oxygen bottom conditions and freshwater input.
We aimed to investigate the effect of metal ions on the semen of males of child fathering age with metal-on-metal (MM) total hip arthroplasty (THA). Semen was collected form 11 patients with MM THA and 5 control of comparable age. Cobalt and chromium concentrations were measured in both the seminal plasma and in the blood of patients. Results showed that cobalt level was higher in the seminal plasma of MM THA patients (2.89 μg/L) compared to control patients (1.12 μg/L) (P = .011). The ejaculate volume, the sperm density, the total sperm count, the pH, and the percentage of cells with normal morphology were in the range of the World Health Organization criteria for fertile population.
From the 2008-2009 European Bacteroides antibiotic resistance survey, we selected 161 strains for detection of antibiotic resistance genes (cepA, cfxA, cfiA, nim, ermB, ermF, ermG, linA, mefA, msrSA, tetM, tetQ, tetX, tetX1, tet36 and bexA). To facilitate the throughput, the genes were detected by Real-Time PCR. The presence of the genes was correlated with the known MIC data of the strains for the appropriate antibiotics. For the β-lactams, the cepA gene was found in 70.8% of the tested strains (all resistant to ampicillin), but its presence did not correlate with the ampicillin MIC values. The cepA gene occurred at different frequencies among Bacteroides fragilis and non-fragilis Bacteroides strains. The cfxA gene was not a major factor in determining cefoxitin resistance and it was found with higher prevalence in non-fragilis Bacteroides strains than in B. fragilis. Among the five possible clindamycin resistance genes, ermF was the most common and had the highest effect on clindamycin resistance after linA. The ermG-mefA-msrSA combination was found in a set of strains and their linked occurrence implied that they were harbored by the conjugative transposon CTnGERM1. All strains tested were susceptible to metronidazole and none of them harbored nim genes. TetQ was prevalent among both the B. fragilis and non-fragilis Bacteroides strains (78.9 and 84.8%, respectively) and no gene could be clearly linked to tigecycline resistance other than tetQ. BexA, which codes for the fluoroquinolone efflux pump, was found in 7.5% of strains and occurred at different frequencies among B. fragilis and non-fragilis Bacteroides strains, but was represented only in a minor proportion of moxifloxacin-resistant strains.
AIM: To determine the prevalence and frequency of non classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH) due to 21-OHD at the time of clinical presentation and at the peripubertal period in a substantial sample of Greek women with acne and to investigate the correlation of serum T, 17-OHP and DHEA-S with acne appearance at the time of clinical presentation.
METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three unselected women with hyperandrogenemic symptoms were examined. After the ACTH stimulation test, 6 (4.9%) women were diagnosed with NC-CAH due to 21-OHD.
RESULTS: There was not any statistical significant difference in the frequency of peripubertal acne between NC-CAH group of patients (6.4%) and patients with hyperandrogenemia of other aetiology (93%), mainly ovarian (P = 0.41). However, there was a statistical significant difference in the prevalence of acne at the time of clinical examination between the two groups (P = 0.04). Acne was present in 83.3% of women with NC-CAH vs. 41.02% of women in the hyperandrogenic group without NC-CAH. A statistically significant decrease of acne from the peripubertal time to the time of clinical examination in the group of women with hyperandrogenemia of other aetiology (-21.37%) was observed compared to women with NC-CAH (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: We have shown that acne persists from peripubertal period to adult life in NC-CAH women whereas it tends to diminish in women with hyperandrogenemia of other aetiology. Acne is a prominent finding in women with NC-CAH. Serum concentrations of 17-OHP after ACTH stimulation (17-OHP6O ) should be investigated in women with persistent acne in adult life.
BACKGROUND: Intraplaque neovascularization and vasa vasorum (VV) proliferation contribute in the progression and rupture of atherosclerotic lesions. Contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) has been reported to attain data regarding intraplaque neovessels and VV. However, whether the detection of microbubbles by CEUS within atherosclerotic plaques truly represents microvessels is a point of concern. We aimed to evaluate stable and unstable carotid artery plaque (CAP) VV pattern by CEUS and its correlation with histology and immunochemistry.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with CAP scheduled for plaque endarterectomy were enrolled. CAP was initially identified by conventional ultrasonography and subsequently CEUS (harmonic ultrasound imaging with simultaneous intravenous contrast agent injection) was performed. The recorded image loops were evaluated by a semi-automated method. Plaque specimens were excised and underwent histological and immunochemical (for CD34, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, CD68 and CD3 antibodies) analysis.
RESULTS: Fourteen patients (67.6 ± 10.2 years, 10 males) with a 86.9 ± 11.5 % degree of carotid artery stenosis were evaluated. Histology showed that half of the plaques were unstable. Enhancement of plaque brightness on CEUS was significant for both stable and unstable plaque subgroups (p = 0.018 for both). Immunochemistry showed that microvessels, as assessed by CD34 antibody, were more dense in unstable vs. stable plaques (36.6 ± 17.4 vs. 13.0 ± 7.2 respectively, p = 0.002). However, correlation between plaque brigthness enhancement on CEUS and microvessel density was significant only for stable (r = 0.800, p = 0.031) plaques.
CONCLUSIONS: The identification of brightness enhacement during CEUS in carotid atherosclerotic plaques may not always reflect the presence of VV.
Generics are usually considered to exhibit comparable in vivo properties in terms of efficacy and safety and for this reason are intended to be interchangeable with the reference product. The aim of this study is to provide a quantitative picture of the switchability problem between two generics and to introduce the concept of conditional probability of bioequivalence (BE) acceptance. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to examine all possible relationships between the tested products. Four types of percent BE acceptances are defined and evaluated: (a) % BA1, when generic T-1 is compared to the R product, (b) % BA2, in cases of comparison of generic T-2 with the R product, (c) % BA21, when generic T-2 is compared to another generic T-1, and finally (d) % BA21C which is the conditional probability of percent bioequivalence acceptance of generic T(2)versus another generic T-1 given that both T-1 and T-2 are declared bioequivalent to the same R formulation. The simulations were expanded to study concomitantly the performance of T-1 and T-2 when compared to the same R formulation. In each case, the 2 x 2 cross-over design was used and evaluation of BE was based on the classic BE limits (0.80-1.25) and the stricter BE limits (0.90-1.11) for narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs. A number of 24 and 48 subjects were assumed to participate in the simulated trials, while the coefficient of variation for the within-subject variability (CVw) was 20% and 40%. A number 40,000 BE trials were simulated under each condition. The T-1/R and T-2/R ratios ranged from 0.80 to 1.25 using a step of 0.05. Even though two generics (T-1 and T-2) can be declared bioequivalent to the same R product, this does not ensure that they are always mutually bioequivalent. On the contrary, two generic products which differ substantially from the R product can still have a high probability to be truly interchangeable. The two generics (T-1 and T-2) can be switched from one to another when the T-1/R and T-2/R ratios are close to the same value, the CVw of the drug is low, and each BE study of T-1-R and T-2-R was conducted using a relatively large number of subjects. In the same context, two generic NTI drugs which differ more than 10% from the R product can still be declared bioequivalent to one another depending on the relative T-1/R and T-2/R ratios. Switchability between generics assessed at the 0.90-1.11 interval is safer, but not always ensured. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Tsakmakidis K. Quantum jumps. Nature Materials [Internet]. 2013;12:91-91. Website
Relativistic jets associated with long/soft gamma-ray bursts are formed and initially propagate in the interior of the progenitor star. Because of the subsequent loss of their external pressure support after they cross the stellar surface, these flows can be modelled as moving around a corner. A strong steady-state rarefaction wave is formed, and the sideways expansion is accompanied by a rarefaction acceleration. We investigate the efficiency and the general characteristics of this mechanism by integrating the steady-state, special relativistic, magnetohydrodynamic equations, using a special set of partial exact solutions in planar geometry (r self-similar with respect to the `corner'). We also derive analytical approximate scalings in the ultrarelativistic cold/magnetized, and hydrodynamic limits. The mechanism is more effective in magnetized than in purely hydrodynamic flows. It substantially increases the Lorentz factor without much affecting the opening of the jet; the resulting values of their product can be much greater than unity, allowing for possible breaks in the afterglow light curves. These findings are similar to the ones from numerical simulations of axisymmetric jets by Komissarov et al. and Tchekhovskoy et al., although in our approach we describe the rarefaction as a steady-state simple wave and self-consistently calculate the opening of the jet that corresponds to zero external pressure.
Relativistic jets associated with long/soft gamma-ray bursts are formed and initially propagate in the interior of the progenitor star. Because of the subsequent loss of their external pressure support after they cross the stellar surface, these flows can be modelled as moving around a corner. A strong steady-state rarefaction wave is formed, and the sideways expansion is accompanied by a rarefaction acceleration. We investigate the efficiency and the general characteristics of this mechanism by integrating the steady-state, special relativistic, magnetohydrodynamic equations, using a special set of partial exact solutions in planar geometry (r self-similar with respect to the `corner'). We also derive analytical approximate scalings in the ultrarelativistic cold/magnetized, and hydrodynamic limits. The mechanism is more effective in magnetized than in purely hydrodynamic flows. It substantially increases the Lorentz factor without much affecting the opening of the jet; the resulting values of their product can be much greater than unity, allowing for possible breaks in the afterglow light curves. These findings are similar to the ones from numerical simulations of axisymmetric jets by Komissarov et al. and Tchekhovskoy et al., although in our approach we describe the rarefaction as a steady-state simple wave and self-consistently calculate the opening of the jet that corresponds to zero external pressure.
Eleftheriades M, Iavazzo C, Manolakos E, Hassiakos D, Botsis D, Petersen M, Konstantinidou A. Recurrent short rib polydactyly syndrome. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2013;33(1):14-16.
Refractory angina pectoris constitutes a manifestation of severe ischemic heart disease that cannot be treated adequately either with conventional medication or with interventional techniques including percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA). As a result, new therapeutic strategies, aiming on angiogenesis, were evolved in order to improve functional class and health related quality of life (HRQOL) indices. Among them, gene therapy constitutes a very promising alternative treatment for these patients. In this review, we will describe i) the definition of refractory angina ii) pathophysiology of angiogenesis, iii) routine as well as novel imaging techniques of neovascularization and iv) current treatment options for refractory angina. Secondly we will review the main angiogenic clinical trials, which will also be commented regarding their effectiveness to reduce the recurrency of angina symptoms and improve health-related quality-of-life, as well as the functional class of patients with chronic ischemic disease.
IMPORTANCE: Adherence to Mediterranean-type diet (MeDi) may delay onset of Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. Whether adherence to MeDi affects time to phenoconversion in Huntington disease (HD), a highly penetrant, single-gene disorder, is unknown.
OBJECTIVES: To determine if MeDi modifies the time to clinical onset of HD (phenoconversion) in premanifest carriers participating in Prospective Huntington at Risk Observational Study (PHAROS), and to examine the effects of body mass index and caloric intake on time to phenoconversion.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective cohort study of 41 Huntington study group sites in the United States and Canada involving 1001 participants enrolled in PHAROS between July 1999 and January 2004 who were followed up every 9 months until 2010. A total of 211 participants aged 26 to 57 years had an expanded CAG repeat length (≥ 37).
EXPOSURE: A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire was administered 33 months after baseline. We calculated daily gram intake for dairy, meat, fruit, vegetables, legumes, cereals, fish, monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids, and alcohol and constructed MeDi scores (0-9); higher scores indicate higher adherence. Demographics, medical history, body mass index, and Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) score were collected.
MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURE: Cox proportional hazards regression models to determine the association of MeDi and phenoconversion. RESULTS Age, sex, caloric intake, education status, and UHDRS motor scores did not differ among MeDi tertiles (0-3, 4-5, and 6-9). The highest body mass index was associated with the lowest adherence to MeDi. Thirty-one participants phenoconverted. In a model adjusted for age, CAG repeat length, and caloric intake, MeDi was not associated with phenoconversion (P for trend = 0.14 for tertile of MeDi, and P = .22 for continuous MeDi). When individual components of MeDi were analyzed, higher dairy consumption (hazard ratio, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.0-5.57; P = .05) and higher caloric intake (P = .04) were associated with risk of phenoconversion.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: MeDi was not associated with phenoconversion; however, higher consumption of dairy products had a 2-fold increased risk and may be a surrogate for lower urate levels (associated with faster progression in manifest HD). Studies of diet and energy expenditure in premanifest HD may provide data for interventions to modify specific components of diet that may delay the onset of HD.
In this paper the author presents research into the role of religion in the modern world and attempts to answer the question why students should know about religion, and particularly why religion should be taught in schools. He also presents research into young people’s perspectives on the role of religion in European school systems while at the same time offering a justification for compulsory Religious Education. The arguments are based on international and European legislation, experiences of different countries and the findings of two different researches in Greece published for the first time. Furthermore, the author offers a proposal for compulsory Religious Education which is necessarily based on the constructivist theory according to pedagogical practice in Europe. Finally, the paper stresses the existence of the right to withdraw from Religious Education and the author illustrates the consequences of such a practice.
This article concerns two recent political legislative moves by the Greek government and one in regard to Religious Education (RE) in schools. The latter concerns compulsory RE and the right to exemption for Orthodox students. The former concerns the new Curriculum of compulsory education (2011) which keeps RE as a distinctive compulsory subject for all, claiming that RE has been non-confessional since 2003 and an Amendment (2013) of Law 3536/2007 which was never implemented. The Amendment enacts a formal Muslim RE only for the schools of Western Thrace and for the students of the Muslim Minority who register at Greek public schools and have the right to withdraw from RE due to reasons relating to their religious consciousness. The native Muslims of Western Thrace (a region in the northern part of Greece bordering Turkey) are recognized as a minority according to the Lausanne Treaty (1923). They comprise 50% of the population, and according to the Treaty they have their own religion and educational system. The author takes into account the complexity of religion, educationand politics in the region and addresses controversial issues on the topic of RE that have been raised not only in local society but also between academics, educationists and educators. The question arises as to whether the Greek State is really concerned with RE and the type of RE to be offered to children. Fieldwork by interviewing persons responsible for or related to the subject and articles of local and national newspapers provided the sources for the paper.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to present a fatal case of fulminant hepatitis B (FHB) that developed in a renal transplant recipient, immunized against hepatitis B, 1 year post transplantation.
METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction amplification and full genome sequencing were performed to investigate whether specific mutations were associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission and FHB.
RESULTS: Molecular analysis revealed multiple mutations in various open reading frames of HBV, the most important being the G145R escape mutation and a frameshift mutation-insertion (1838insA) within the pre-C/C reading frame.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the possibility of developing FHB, despite previous immunization against HBV or administration of hyperimmune gammaglobulin, because of the selection of escape virus mutants. The current literature and guidelines regarding renal transplantation from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive to HBsAg-negative patients were also reviewed.
Palladini G, Dispenzieri A, Gertz MA, Kumar S, Wechalekar A, Hawkins PN, Schönland S, Hegenbart U, Comenzo R, Kastritis E, et al.Reply to S. Girnius et al. Journal of Clinical Oncology [Internet]. 2013;31(21):2750 - 2751. Website
Despite the fact that a significant percentage of the population is unable to swallow tablets and capsules, these dosage forms continue to be the default standard. These oral formulations fail many patients, especially children, because of large tablet or capsule size, poor palatability, and lack of correct dosage strength. The clinical result is often lack of adherence and therapeutic failure. The American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists formed a Pediatric Formulations Task Force, consisting of members with various areas of expertise including pediatrics, formulation development, clinical pharmacology, and regulatory science, in order to identify pediatric, manufacturing, and regulatory issues and areas of needed research and regulatory guidance. Dosage form and palatability standards for all pediatric ages, relative bioavailability requirements, and small batch manufacturing capabilities and creation of a viable economic model were identified as particular needs. This assessment is considered an important first step for a task force seeking creative approaches to providing more appropriate oral formulations for children.
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central regulator of cell proliferation that is often deregulated in cancer. Inhibitors of mTOR, including rapamycin and its analogues, are being evaluated as antitumor agents. For their promise to be fulfilled, it is of paramount importance to identify the mechanisms of resistance and develop novel therapies to overcome it. Given the emerging role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumorigenesis, we hypothesized that miRNAs could play important roles in the response of tumors to mTOR inhibitors. Long-term rapamycin treatment showed extensive reprogramming of miRNA expression, characterized by up-regulation of miR-17-92 and related clusters and down-regulation of tumor suppressor miRNAs. Inhibition of members of the miR-17-92 clusters or delivery of tumor suppressor miRNAs restored sensitivity to rapamycin. This study identifies miRNAs as new downstream components of the mTOR-signaling pathway, which may determine the response of tumors to mTOR inhibitors. It also identifies potential markers to assess the efficacy of treatment and provides novel therapeutic targets to treat rapamycin-resistant tumors.
New paleomagnetic data from Early Miocene to Pliocene terrestrial sedimentary and volcanic rocks in Central Greece constrain the history of vertical-axis rotation along the central part of the western limb of the Aegean arc. The present-day pattern of rapid block rotation within a broad zone of distributed deformation linking the right-lateral North Anatolian and Kephalonia continental transform faults initiated after Early Pliocene time, resulting in a uniform clockwise rotation of 24.3Β±6.5Β° over a region >250 km long and >150 km wide encompassing Central Greece and the western Cycladic archipelago. Because the published paleomagnetic dataset requires clockwise rotations of >50Β° in Western Greece after βΌ17 Ma, while our measurements resolve no vertical-axis rotation of Central Greece between βΌ15 Ma and post-Early Pliocene time, a large part of the clockwise rotation of Western Greece must have occurred during the main period of contraction within the external thrust belt of the Ionian Zone between βΌ17 and βΌ15 Ma. Pliocene initiation of rapid clockwise rotation in Central and Western Greece reflects the development of the North Anatolia–Kephalonia Fault system within the previously extended Aegean Sea region, possibly in response to entry of dense oceanic lithosphere of the Ionian Sea into the Hellenic subduction zone and consequent accelerated slab rollback. The development of the Aegean geometric arc therefore occurred in two short-duration pulses characterized by rapid rotation and strong regional deformation.
OBJECTIVE: Previous few studies have shown that resistin is significantly elevated in breast cancer (BC) patients. Therefore, we investigated whether serum resistin could be used as a potential diagnostic and prognostic tool for postmenopausal BC (PBC), taking into account clinicopathological features, serum tumor markers, anthropometric, metabolic, and, for the first time, inflammatory parameters.
METHODS: Serum resistin, tumor markers (CA 15-3 and CEA), metabolic, anthropometric and inflammatory parameters (TNF-α, IL-6, hsCRP) were determined in 103 postmenopausal women with incident, pathologically confirmed, invasive BC, 103 controls matched on age and time of diagnosis, and 51 patients with benign breast lesions (BBL).
RESULTS: Mean serum resistin was significantly higher in cases than in controls and patients with BBL (p<0.001). In patients, resistin was significantly associated with tumor and inflammatory markers, cancer stage, tumor size, grade and lymph node invasion but not with anthropometric, metabolic parameters and hormone receptor status. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that serum IL-6 (p=0.02) and cancer stage (p=0.048) were the strongest determinants of serum resistin in cases adjusting for demographic, metabolic and clinicopathological features. Although resistin's diagnostic performance was low based on ROC curve analysis [0.72, 95% CI: 0.64-0.79], it could, however, represent a BC biomarker reflecting advanced disease stage and inflammatory state.
CONCLUSION: Further prospective and longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate whether serum resistin could be used as a prognostic tool in BC monitoring and management. More research is essential to elucidate resistin's ontological role in the association between obesity, representing a chronic low-grade subclinical inflammation, and PBC.
In elderly patients, exposure to antipsychotic medication and subsequent withdrawal may lead to the development of persistent extrapyramidal symptoms, possibly including a syndrome suggested to be tardive parkinsonism. We describe a case in which withdrawal of antipsychotics was unexpectedly associated with progressive deterioration, rather than improvement, of extrapyramidal parkinsonian symptoms. Abnormal imaging of presynaptic dopamine transporters (DaTs) using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with ioflupane I 123 (DaTscan) substantially contributed to the differential diagnosis, suggesting it was likely that the patient had an underlying neurodegenerative disorder that preceded the onset of medicationinduced parkinsonian symptoms. Our report illustrates how novel findings from DaTscan may assist with diagnosing the cause of persistent parkinsonian symptoms after antipsychotic withdrawal and provide insight into the controversial concept of tardive parkinsonism.
Sex differences in the visual system have been reported in aspects of human vision, such as color perception, peripheral vision and even in the activation of the primary visual cortex. Similarly sex differences have been identified in the visual system of laboratory animals such as monkeys and rats. On the other hand, environmental enrichment (EE) has long been known to affect visual tissues. Taking into consideration the variation in the experimental approaches concerning EE and the sex differences in the visual system, we investigated in male and female rats the serotonergic and dopaminergic effects of EE in the retina and the visual cortex at different time points (i.e. P0-25, P0-P90 and P90-P150). Early EE in adulthood increased the serotonergic activity of the male visual cortex and the female retina (P0-P90). In addition early enrichment (P0-P90) increased dopaminergic activity in the female retina and in the visual cortex of both sexes. Late enrichment increased the serotonergic activity in the retina and visual cortex of both sexes (P90-P150), but increased the dopaminergic activity in the visual cortex only in male animals. In the present study we expose marked sex differences in the neurochemistry of visual tissues and we demonstrate for the first time that EE can in fact modify the serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission in the retina and visual cortex. Overall, the present study underpins the sex-dependent neurochemical status of the visual system and provides insights into the different mechanisms underlying visual processing in the two sexes.
Sex differences in the visual system have been reported in aspects of human vision, such as color perception, peripheral vision and even in the activation of the primary visual cortex. Similarly sex differences have been identified in the visual system of laboratory animals such as monkeys and rats. On the other hand, environmental enrichment (EE) has long been known to affect visual tissues. Taking into consideration the variation in the experimental approaches concerning EE and the sex differences in the visual system, we investigated in male and female rats the serotonergic and dopaminergic effects of EE in the retina and the visual cortex at different time points (i.e. P0-25, P0-P90 and P90-P150). Early EE in adulthood increased the serotonergic activity of the male visual cortex and the female retina (P0-P90). In addition early enrichment (P0-P90) increased dopaminergic activity in the female retina and in the visual cortex of both sexes. Late enrichment increased the serotonergic activity in the retina and visual cortex of both sexes (P90-P150), but increased the dopaminergic activity in the visual cortex only in male animals. In the present study we expose marked sex differences in the neurochemistry of visual tissues and we demonstrate for the first time that EE can in fact modify the serotonergic and dopaminergic neurotransmission in the retina and visual cortex. Overall, the present study underpins the sex-dependent neurochemical status of the visual system and provides insights into the different mechanisms underlying visual processing in the two sexes.
Pineios River is the 3 rd longest river in Peloponnese and flows in Kyllini wider area which is located close to the Hellenic Arc-Trench system. This is one of the most seismically and tectonically active regions in Greece with a great number of changes in the morphogenetic events taking place during the neotectonic period, as well as the last 100 ky. Prior to the 18 th century A.D., the lower alluvial Pineios River flowed north of the Kyllini peninsula and into the Ionian Sea southwest of Kotichi Lagoon, but the river now flows southward into a deltaic swamp and dune region, burying a former lagoon-barrier coastal zone. From this, it becomes apparent that this river is not monotonous in appearance and therefore is not completely controlled by hydrology and hydraulics. In fact, the lower alluvial Pineios River has reacted to major geological controls, surface deformation and uplift movements caused by the activity of the recently mapped Pineios normal fault zone and salt tectonics in Kyllini peninsula resulting in the river flow diversion from north to south at completely different open sea areas. The effects of the geological, tectonic and neotectonic activity and the impact of the human presence and influence on the lower Pineios River are presented in this paper in order to determine the causes of the diversion of the lower (alluvial) Pineios River (NW Peloponnese, Greece) and shoreline displacements.
BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is associated with a variety of comorbidities such as obesity and cardiovascular disease.
OBJECTIVE: In a cross-sectional study, we explored whether obstructive sleep apnea and hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is associated with psoriasis characteristics and metabolic parameters.
METHODS: Thirty-five patients with chronic plaque psoriasis underwent a nocturnal polysomnography study and were analysed for Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index to assess OSAHS severity and Framigham score to predict the absolute risk of coronary artery disease at 10 years. The association of OSAHS with psoriasis was examined according to psoriasis characteristics (PASI and DLQI scores, disease duration and previous use of systemic treatments), metabolic parameters (Body Mass Index - BMI, waist to hip ratio - WHR, lipid profile) and other comorbidities (obesity, hypertension, arthritis and cardiovascular disease).
RESULTS: There was no correlation between psoriasis characteristics and OSAHS. Psoriasis patients with OSAHS presented more frequent snoring and lower sleep quality compared with those without OSAHS. In univariate analyses, OSAHS was associated with increased BMI and hypertension in psoriasis patients. In multivariable logistic regression models, there was statistically significant evidence that only BMI and hypertension were associated with increased risk of OSAHS, adjusting for psoriasis characteristics, age and gender. Presence of metabolic syndrome, WHR, and smoking were not significant risk factors for OSAHS. In subgroup analyses, OSAHS correlated with duration of psoriasis (>8 years) in women (P = 0.021) and with Framigham score in men (P = 0.035).
CONCLUSION: OSAHS may be a comorbidity in obese psoriasis patients with hypertension. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure and weight loss interventions should be initiated.
Given a singular foliation, we attach an “essential isotropy” group to each of its leaves, and show that its discreteness is the integrability obstruction of a natural Lie algebroid over the leaf. We show that a condition ensuring discreteness is the local surjectivity of a transversal exponential map associated with the maximal ideal of vector fields prescribed to be tangent to the foliation. The essential isotropy group is also shown to control the smoothness of the holonomy cover of the leaf (the associated fiber of the holonomy groupoid), as well as the smoothness of the associated isotropy group. Namely, the (topological) closeness of the essential isotropy group is a necessary and sufficient condition for the holonomy cover to be a smooth (finite-dimensional) manifold and the isotropy group to be a Lie group. These results are useful towards understanding the normal form of a singular foliation around a compact leaf. At the end of this article we briefly outline work of ours on this normal form, to be presented in a subsequent paper.
Nastos PT, Kambezidis HD, DEMETRIOU D. Solar Dimming/Brightening within the Mediterranean. Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology Athens, Greece, 5-7 September 2013. 2013.
Although there is a substantial body of research on loneliness in children and adolescents, there is relatively less research evidence on solitude, as a state of being alone, and more specifically, on facets of solitude such as attitude toward aloneness, ability to be alone, and positive aloneness. In this paper, after some conceptual clarifications, research is reviewed on understanding the nature of solitude; affect of time alone; attitude toward aloneness; the links between solitude and adjustment; and the associations between solitude and other aloneness concepts. Finally, suggestions for future research on solitude in childhood and adolescence are offered.
