Background
Obesity is associated with metabolic abnormalities that predispose patients to increased cancer risk. Contemporary data on the long‐term risk of specific cancers are sparse among patients ...with hospital‐diagnosed overweight and obesity.
Objectives
To examine the overall cancer incidence and specific site‐related cancer incidences among patients with overweight and obesity, compared to the general Danish population.
Methods
For this 40‐year (1977–2016), nationwide, Danish cohort study, we reviewed medical databases to identify individuals with hospital‐based overweight and obesity diagnoses. We computed age‐ and gender‐standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for subsequent cancer compared to the general population.
Results
We observed 20 706 cancers among 313 321 patients diagnosed with overweight and obesity (median age 43 years; median follow‐up 6.7 years, range 1–40 years) compared to the 18 480 cancers expected; thus, the SIR was 1.12 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.11–1.14. The SIR associated with overweight and obesity was increased with concomitant comorbidities, like type 2 diabetes (SIR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.13–1.23) and alcoholism‐related diseases (SIR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.45–1.82). The SIR was 1.31 (95% CI: 1.28–1.34) for cancers previously identified as obesity‐related, including pancreatic (SIR: 1.38; 95% CI; 1.27–1.49) and postmenopausal breast cancer (SIR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.09–1.19). Obesity/overweight status also elevated the SIRs for haematological (SIR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.18–1.29) and neurological cancers (SIR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.11–1.27. In contrast, SIRs were 1.01 (95% CI: 0.97–1.05) for immune‐related cancers, 0.88 (95% CI: 0.82–0.95) for malignant melanoma, and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.85–0.92) for hormone‐related cancers, other than postmenopausal breast cancer.
Conclusion
In this large cohort study, overweight and obesity was associated with increased risk of several common cancers.
Raman spectroscopy is used to measure the strain in individual single-wall carbon nanotubes, strained by manipulation with an atomic-force-microscope tip. Under strains varying from 0.06%-1.65%, the ...in-plane vibrational mode frequencies are lowered by as much as 1.5% (40 cm(-1)), while the radial breathing mode (RBM) remains unchanged. The RBM Stokes/anti-Stokes intensity ratio remains unchanged under strain. The elasticity of these strain deformations is demonstrated as the down-shifted Raman modes resume their prestrain frequencies after a nanotube is broken under excessive strain.
The Caprini risk assessment model (RAM) has been validated in over 250 000 patients in more than 100 clinical trials worldwide. Ultimately, appropriate treatment options are dependent on precise ...completion of the Caprini RAM. As the numerical score increases, the clinical venous thromboembolism rate rises exponentially in every patient group where it has been properly tested. The 2013 Caprini RAM was completed by specially trained medical students via review of the presurgical assessment history, medical clearances, and medical consults. The Caprini RAM was completed for every participant both preoperatively and predischarge to ensure that any changes in the patient’s postoperative course were captured by the tool. This process led to the development of completion guidelines to ensure consistency and accuracy of scoring. The 2013 Caprini scoring system provides a consistent, thorough, and efficacious method for risk stratification and selection of prophylaxis for the prevention of venous thrombosis.
The electronic properties of graphene depends on how many layers are involved. Monolayer graphene is a zero-gapped semi-metal. Bilayer graphene is a small-gapped semiconductor. Magnetotransport ...measurements indicate trilayer graphene can be both, depending on its stacking.
Summary Background Use of free fetal DNA to diagnose fetal chromosomal abnormalities has been hindered by the inability to distinguish fetal DNA from maternal DNA. Our aim was to establish whether ...single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can be used to distinguish fetal DNA from maternal DNA—and to determine the number of fetal chromosomes—in maternal blood samples. Methods Formaldehyde-treated blood samples from 60 pregnant women and the stated biological fathers were analysed. Maternal plasma fractions were quantified at multiple SNPs, and the ratio of the unique fetal allele signal to the combined maternal and fetal allele signal calculated. The mean ratios of SNPs on chromosomes 13 and 21 were compared to test for potential fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Findings The mean proportion of free fetal DNA was 34·0% (median 32·5%, range 17·0–93·8). We identified three samples with significant differences in the fetal DNA ratios for chromosome 13 and chromosome 21, indicative of trisomy 21; the remaining 57 samples were deemed to be normal. Amniocentesis or newborn reports from the clinical sites confirmed that the copy number of fetal chromosomes 13 and 21 was established correctly for 58 of the 60 samples, identifying 56 of the 57 normal samples, and two of the three trisomy 21 samples. Of the incorrectly identified samples, one was a false negative and one was a false positive. The sensitivity and positive predictive value were both 66·7% (95% CI 12·5–98·2) and the specificity and negative predictive values were both 98·2% (89·4–99·9). Interpretation The copy number of chromosomes of interest can be directly established from maternal plasma. Such a non-invasive prenatal test could provide a useful complement to currently used screening tests.
A method for the fabrication of thick films of porous anodic alumina on rigid substrates is described. The anodic alumina film was generated by the anodization of an aluminum film evaporated on the ...substrate. The morphology of the barrier layer between the porous film and the substrate was different from that of anodic films grown on aluminum substrates. The removal of the barrier layer and the electrochemical growth of nanowires within the ordered pores were accomplished without the need to remove the anodic film from the substrate. We fabricated porous anodic alumina samples over large areas (up to 70 cm2), and deposited in them nanowire arrays of various materials. Long nanowires were obtained with lengths of at least 9 μm and aspect ratios as high as 300. Due to their mechanical robustness and the built‐in contact between the conducting substrate and the nanowires, the structures were useful for electrical transport measurements on the arrays. The method was also demonstrated on patterned and non‐planar substrates, further expanding the range of applications of these porous alumina and nanowire assemblies.
Large‐area porous anodic alumina films lacking a barrier layer, and nanowire arrays of high aspect ratio nanowires (∼102) in direct contact with a conductive film, have been formed on rigid substrates. The effect of different substrates on the morphology of the film and the barrier layer was examined, and the ease of manipulation of the structures was demonstrated by patterning the films and by nanowire transport measurements.
Clinical and subclinical endometritis are common causes of infertility and subfertility in high producing dairy cattle, delaying the onset of ovarian cyclic activity after parturition, extending ...luteal phases and reducing conception rates. Escherichia coli and Arcanobacterium pyogenes cause endometrial damage and inflammation. Components of microbes, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), are detected by Toll-like receptors on endometrial cells, leading to secretion of cytokines, chemokines and antimicrobial peptides. Long luteal phases associated with endometritis are probably caused by a switch in endometrial prostaglandin production from prostaglandin F₂a (PGF) to prostaglandin E₂. In addition, LPS impairs the function of the hypothalamus and pituitary, and directly perturbs ovarian granulosa cells steroidogenesis, providing mechanisms to explain the association between uterine disease and anovulatory anoestrus. Cows with uterine disease that ovulate have lower peripheral plasma progesterone concentrations that may further reduce the chance of conception associated with endometritis.
Tunable Raman spectroscopy is used to measure the optical transition energies Eii of individual single wall carbon nanotubes. Eii is observed to shift down in energy by as much as 50 meV, from -160 ...to 300 degrees C, in contrast with previous measurements performed on nanotubes in alternate environments, which show upshifts and downshifts in Eii with temperature. We determine that electron-phonon coupling explains our experimental observations of nanotubes suspended in air, neglecting thermal expansion. In contrast, for nanotubes in surfactant or in bundles, thermal expansion of the nanotubes' environment exerts a nonisotropic pressure on the nanotube that dominates over the effect of electron-phonon coupling.
Abstract
Body composition assessment is an integral feature of elite sport as optimization facilitates successful performance. This study aims to refine the use of B-mode ultrasound in the assessment ...of athlete body composition by determining suitable sites for measurement. 67 elite athletes recruited from the Human Performance Laboratory, University College Cork, Ireland, underwent dual measurement of body composition. Subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness at 7 anatomical sites were measured using ultrasound and compared to percentage body fat values determined using Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Multiple linear regressions were performed and an equation to predict percentage body fat was derived. The present study found subcutaneous adipose tissue depths at the triceps, biceps, anterior thigh and supraspinale sites correlated significantly with percentage body fat by X-ray absorptiometry (all p<0.05). Summation of the depths at these locations correlated strongly with percentage body fat by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (
R²
=0.879). The triceps, biceps, anterior thigh and supraspinale sites are suitable anatomical landmarks for the estimation of %BF using B-mode ultrasound. Use of B-mode ultrasound in the assessment of athlete body composition confers many benefits including lack of ionising radiation and its potential to be used as a portable field tool.
In outer space down to the altitudes routinely flown by larger aircrafts, radiation can pose serious issues for microelectronics circuits. The 88-Inch Cyclotron at Lawrence Berkeley National ...Laboratory is a sector-focused cyclotron and home of the Berkeley Accelerator Space Effects Facility, where the effects of energetic particles on sensitive microelectronics are studied with the goal of designing electronic systems for the space community. This paper describes the flexibility of the facility and its capabilities for testing the bombardment of electronics by heavy ions, light ions, and neutrons. Experimental capabilities for the generation of neutron beams from deuteron breakups and radiation testing of carbon nanotube field effect transistor will be discussed.
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