Background Studies on humans have related the high consumption of fructose, especially in the form of sugar-sweetened beverages, to obesity, fatty liver, and hypercholesterolemia, all risk factors ...for atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to determine whether supplementation of liquid fructose (SLF), in either a normal, healthy chow or a Western-style chow, promoted the appearance of atherosclerosis in a rodent model. Methods LDL receptor knockout mice were fed for twelve weeks with normal chow, normal chow plus ad libitum 15% fructose solution, Western chow, or Western chow plus ad libitum 15% fructose solution (W + F). Food and liquid intake and body weight were periodically monitored. At the end of the study, plasma and hepatic lipids, liver histology and expression of genes related to lipid handling were analyzed and histological and immunohistological analyses of atherosclerosis at the aortic origin was performed. Results Total calorie intake was significantly increased in Western-fed vs normal chow-fed mice, but was not modified by SLF. SLF significantly increased body weight, visceral adiposity, plasma lipids and liver cholesterol content in Western-fed mice, probably due to an increase in de novo lipid synthesis. Aortic atherosclerotic total lesion area was significantly correlated to plasma lipids, being highest in W + F mice. Further, SLF induced higher immunostaining for macrophages and oxidized-LDL receptor, independently of lesion area and caloric burden. Conclusions SLF, without changing total calorie intake, increases atherosclerosis, visceral adipose tissue and cholesterol burden in a background of overweight LDL receptor knockout mice consuming an unhealthy, Western-type solid rodent chow.
We present an analysis of seven primary transit observations of the hot Neptune GJ436b at 3.6, 4.5, and 8 μm obtained with the Infrared Array Camera on the Spitzer Space Telescope. After correcting ...for systematic effects, we fitted the light curves using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique. Combining these new data with the EPOXI, Hubble Space Telescope, and ground-based V, I, H, and Ks published observations, the range 0.5-10 μm can be covered. Due to the low level of activity of GJ436, the effect of starspots on the combination of transits at different epochs is negligible at the accuracy of the data set. Representative climate models were calculated by using a three-dimensional, pseudospectral general circulation model with idealized thermal forcing. Simulated transit spectra of GJ436b were generated using line-by-line radiative transfer models including the opacities of the molecular species expected to be present in such a planetary atmosphere. A new, ab-initio-calculated, line list for hot ammonia has been used for the first time. The photometric data observed at multiple wavelengths can be interpreted with methane being the dominant absorption after molecular hydrogen, possibly with minor contributions from ammonia, water, and other molecules. No clear evidence of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is found from transit photometry. We discuss this result in the light of a recent paper where photochemical disequilibrium is hypothesized to interpret secondary transit photometric data. We show that the emission photometric data are not incompatible with the presence of abundant methane, but further spectroscopic data are desirable to confirm this scenario.
ABSTRACT The hot Jupiter HD 209458b was observed during primary transit at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8 and 8.0 μm using the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) on the Spitzer Space Telescope. We describe the procedures ...we adopted to correct for the systematic effects present in the IRAC data and the subsequent analysis. The light curves were fitted including limb-darkening effects and fitted using Markov Chain Monte Carlo and prayer-bead Monte Carlo techniques, obtaining almost identical results. The final depth measurements obtained by a combined Markov Chain Monte Carlo fit are at 3.6 μm, 1.469 ± 0.013 and 1.448 ± 0.013 per cent; at 4.5 μm, 1.478 ± 0.017 per cent; at 5.8 μm, 1.549 ± 0.015 per cent; and at 8.0 μm, 1.535 ± 0.011 per cent. Our results clearly indicate the presence of water in the planetary atmosphere. Our broad-band photometric measurements with IRAC prevent us from determining the additional presence of other molecules such as CO, CO2 and methane for which spectroscopy is needed. While water vapour with a mixing ratio of combined with thermal profiles retrieved from the day side may provide a very good fit to our observations, this data set alone is unable to resolve completely the degeneracy between water abundance and atmospheric thermal profilePUBLICATION ABSTRACT
To evaluate the effectiveness of a fast track diagnosis and treatment program for colorectal cancer (CRC) in reducing the diagnosis to treatment interval (DTI) and tumor stage. To analyze the ...association between DTI and tumor stage.
A quasi-experimental study with a control group was conducted, and 156 incident cases of CRC referred through a preferential pathway between July 2005 and December 2008 in a tertiary hospital were included, after excluding those treated urgently, treated by endoscopic polypectomy only or having periodic colonoscopies. A control group of 156 patients was randomly selected from all the patients referred through habitual pathways, frequency matched by tumor location, age and year of entry. Data was analyzed with multivariate linear and logistic regression.
Mean DTI was 39.20 days (95% CI: 36.21-42.42) for fast track patients and 63.40 days (95% CI: 57.08-70.41) for controls (p < 0.001), and this difference persisted after multivariate analysis. The odds of having a DTI longer than 30 days was 4.79 (95% CI: 2.19-10.51) higher for controls. There were no significant differences in tumor stage according to the pathway followed. Independently of the track followed, a DTI longer than 30 days was associated with advanced tumor stages for colon cancer, while it was associated with low stages for rectal cancer.
The PDTR strategy is effective in reducing DTI and may reduce patients' and relatives' anxiety. However, it is far from reaching the DTI recommended. The achieved reduction of the delay has no impact on tumor stage.
Objectives: to evaluate the effectiveness of a fast track diagnosis and treatment program for colorectal cancer (CRC) in reducing the diagnosis to treatment interval (DTI) and tumor stage. To analyze ...the association between DTI and tumor stage. Methods: a quasi-experimental study with a control group was conducted, and 156 incident cases of CRC referred through a preferential pathway between July 2005 and December 2008 in a tertiary hospital were included, after excluding those treated urgently, treated by endoscopic polypectomy only or having periodic colonoscopies. A control group of 156 patients was randomly selected from all the patients referred through habitual pathways, frequency matched by tumor location, age and year of entry. Data was analyzed with multivariate linear and logistic regression. Results: mean DTI was 39.20 days (95% CI: 36.21-42.42) for fast track patients and 63.40 days (95% CI: 57.08-70.41) for controls (p < 0.001), and this difference persisted after multivariate analysis. The odds of having a DTI longer than 30 days was 4.79 (95% CI: 2.19-10.51) higher for controls. There were no significant differences in tumor stage according to the pathway followed. Independently of the track followed, a DTI longer than 30 days was associated with advanced tumor stages for colon cancer, while it was associated with low stages for rectal cancer. Conclusions: the PDTR strategy is effective in reducing DTI and may reduce patients' and relatives' anxiety. However, it is far from reaching the DTI recommended. The achieved reduction of the delay has no impact on tumor stage.
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