Background: Adipose tissue is a primary in vivo site of inflammation in obesity. Excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT), when compared to subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), imparts an increased risk of ...obesity-related comorbidities and mortality, and exhibits differences in inflammation. Defining depot-specific differences in inflammatory function may reveal underlying mechanisms of adipose-tissue-based inflammation. Methods: Stromovascular cell fractions (SVFs) from VAT and SAT from obese humans undergoing bariatric surgery were studied in an in vitro culture system with transcriptional profiling, flow cytometric phenotyping, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and intracellular cytokine staining. Results: Transcriptional profiling of SVF revealed differences in inflammatory transcript levels in VAT relative to SAT, including elevated interferon- (IFN-) transcript levels. VAT demonstrated a broad leukocytosis relative to SAT that included macrophages, T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. IFN- induced a proinflammatory cytokine expression pattern in SVF and adipose tissue macrophages (ATM). NK cells, which constitutively expressed IFN-, were present at higher frequency in VAT relative to SAT. Both T and NK cells from SVF expressed IFN- on activation, which was associated with tumor necrosis factor- expression in macrophages. Conclusion: These data suggest involvement of NK cells and IFN- in regulating ATM phenotype and function in human obesity and a potential mechanism for the adverse physiologic effects of VAT.
We explore the potential of using intensity mapping surveys (MeerKAT, SKA) and optical galaxy surveys (DES, LSST) to detect H i clustering and weak gravitational lensing of 21 cm emission in auto- ...and cross-correlation. Our forecasts show that high-precision measurements of the clustering and lensing signals can be made in the near future using the intensity mapping technique. Such studies can be used to test the intensity mapping method, and constrain parameters such as the H i density
$\Omega _{\rm H\,\small {I}}$
, the H i bias
$b_{\rm H\,\small {I}}$
and the galaxy-H i correlation coefficient
$r_{\rm H\,\small {I}-g}$
.
Summary Objective To investigate relationships between external knee adduction moment parameters (KAM) and osteoarthritis (OA) symptoms according to disease severity. Design 164 participants with ...symptomatic medial knee OA were included. Radiographic severity was graded by (1) Kellgren & Lawrence (KL) scale (Grade 2, n = 49; Grade, n = 52; Grade 4, n = 63) and; (2) medial tibiofemoral joint space narrowing (JSN) (Grade 1, n = 47; Grade 2, n = 50; Grade 3, n = 67). KAM-related parameters (peak KAM, KAM impulse and cumulative load) were determined from three-dimensional gait analysis and pedometry. Cumulative load was determined by multiplying KAM impulse by the average number of steps/day recorded over at least 5 days. Symptoms were assessed via numeric rating scale ((NRS), pain) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index (pain and physical function). Relationships between KAM parameters (independent variables) and symptoms (dependent variables) were evaluated by radiographic severity using linear models, adjusting for covariates. Results In mild disease (either KL Grade 2 or JSN Grade 1), there were no associations between KAM and symptoms. In moderate disease of KL Grade 3, higher KAM impulse was associated with greater WOMAC pain. In severe disease (KL Grade 4), higher KAM impulse was associated with less WOMAC pain (KL Grade 4), while higher peak KAM was associated with better function (KL Grade 4). Higher cumulative knee adduction load was associated with less pain on both NRS and WOMAC (JSN Grade 3) as well as better function (both JSN Grade 3 and KL Grade 4). Conclusions Relationships between KAM-related parameters and symptoms differ according to underlying radiographic OA severity.
Objective: To determine whether a multimodal physiotherapy programme including taping, exercises, and massage is effective for knee osteoarthritis, and if benefits can be maintained with self ...management. Methods: Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial; 140 community volunteers with knee osteoarthritis participated and 119 completed the trial. Physiotherapy and placebo interventions were applied by 10 physiotherapists in private practices for 12 weeks. Physiotherapy included exercise, massage, taping, and mobilisation, followed by 12 weeks of self management. Placebo was sham ultrasound and light application of a non-therapeutic gel, followed by no treatment. Primary outcomes were pain measured by visual analogue scale and patient global change. Secondary measures included WOMAC, knee pain scale, SF-36, assessment of quality of life index, quadriceps strength, and balance test. Results: Using an intention to treat analysis, physiotherapy and placebo groups showed similar pain reductions at 12 weeks: −2.2 cm (95% CI, −2.6 to −1.7) and −2.0 cm (−2.5 to −1.5), respectively. At 24 weeks, pain remained reduced from baseline in both groups: −2.1 (−2.6 to −1.6) and −1.6 (−2.2 to −1.0), respectively. Global improvement was reported by 70% of physiotherapy participants (51/73) at 12 weeks and by 59% (43/73) at 24 weeks. Similarly, global improvement was reported by 72% of placebo participants (48/67) at 12 weeks and by 49% (33/67) at 24 weeks (all p>0.05). Conclusions: The physiotherapy programme tested in this trial was no more effective than regular contact with a therapist at reducing pain and disability.
Abstract
The imminent advent of very large-scale optical sky surveys, such as Euclid and the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), makes it important to find efficient ways of discovering rare ...objects such as strong gravitational lens systems, where a background object is multiply gravitationally imaged by a foreground mass. As well as finding the lens systems, it is important to reject false positives due to intrinsic structure in galaxies, and much work is in progress with machine learning algorithms such as neural networks in order to achieve both these aims. We present and discuss a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm which makes use of a Gabor filter bank in order to provide learning criteria for separation of lenses and non-lenses, and demonstrate using blind challenges that under certain circumstances, it is a particularly efficient algorithm for rejecting false positives. We compare the SVM engine with a large-scale human examination of 100 000 simulated lenses in a challenge data set, and also apply the SVM method to survey images from the Kilo Degree Survey.
To compare contoured foot orthoses to sham flat insoles for first MTP joint OA walking pain.
This was a participant- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled, multi-centre randomized clinical trial set ...in community-based private practices. Eighty-eight adults aged ≥45 years with symptomatic radiographic first MTP joint OA were randomized to receive contoured foot orthoses (n = 47) or sham flat insoles (n = 41), worn at all times when wearing shoes for 12 weeks. Primary outcome was change in first MTP joint walking pain (11-point numerical rating scale (NRS), 0–10) over 12 weeks. Secondary outcomes included additional first MTP joint and foot pain measures, physical function, quality of life and physical activity. Separate linear regression models for primary and secondary outcomes on treatment group were fit, adjusting for the outcome at baseline and podiatrist. Other measures included adverse events.
88 participants were randomized and 87 (99%) completed the 12-week primary outcome. There was no evidence foot orthoses were superior to sham insoles for reducing pain (mean difference −0.3 NRS units (95% CI -1.2 to 0.6), p = 0.53). Similarly, foot orthoses were not superior to sham on any secondary outcomes. Sensitivity analyses yielded similar results. Adverse events were generally minor and transient.
Contoured foot orthoses are no more effective than flat sham insoles for the clinical management of first MTP joint OA. Given the dearth of evidence on treatments for first MTP joint OA, further research is needed to identify effective management approaches for this common and debilitating condition.
Energy partition in two solar flare/CME events Emslie, A. G.; Kucharek, H.; Dennis, B. R. ...
Journal of Geophysical Research - Space Physics,
October 2004, Letnik:
109, Številka:
A10
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Using coordinated observations from instruments on the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE), the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), and the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager ...(RHESSI), we have evaluated the energetics of two well‐observed flare/CME events on 21 April 2002 and 23 July 2002. For each event, we have estimated the energy contents (and the likely uncertainties) of (1) the coronal mass ejection, (2) the thermal plasma at the Sun, (3) the hard X‐ray producing accelerated electrons, (4) the gamma‐ray producing ions, and (5) the solar energetic particles. The results are assimilated and discussed relative to the probable amount of nonpotential magnetic energy available in a large active region.
Aims. Our aim is to quantify the impact of systematic effects on the inference of cosmological parameters from cosmic shear. Methods. We present an “end-to-end” approach that introduces sources of ...bias in a modelled weak lensing survey on a galaxy-by-galaxy level. We propagated residual biases through a pipeline from galaxy properties at one end to cosmic shear power spectra and cosmological parameter estimates at the other end. We did this to quantify how imperfect knowledge of the pipeline changes the maximum likelihood values of dark energy parameters. Results. We quantify the impact of an imperfect correction for charge transfer inefficiency and modelling uncertainties of the point spread function for Euclid, and find that the biases introduced can be corrected to acceptable levels.
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