In Singapore, the obesity prevalence is disproportionately higher in the Asian-Indians and Malays than the Chinese. Lower resting energy expenditure (REE) may be a contributory factor.
We explored ...the association between ethnicity and REE in Chinese, Asian-Indian and Malay men living in Singapore and determined the influence of body composition, mass/volume of high metabolic rate organs, represented by brain volume and trunk fat-free mass (FFM), and physical activity on ethnic differences.
Two hundred and forty-four men from Singapore (n=100 Chinese, 70 Asian-Indians and 74 Malays), aged 21-40 years and body mass index of 18.5-30.0 kg m(-2), were recruited in this cross-sectional study. REE was assessed by indirect calorimetry and body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Brain volume was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Physical activity was assessed by the Singapore Prospective Study Program Physical Activity Questionnaire.
REE was significantly lower in Asian-Indians compared with that in Chinese after adjusting for body weight. FFM (total, trunk and limb) and total fat mass were important predictors of REE across all ethnic groups. Brain volume was positively associated with REE only in Malays. Moderate and vigorous physical activity was positively associated with REE only in Asian-Indians and Malays. The difference in REE between Asian-Indians and Chinese was attenuated but remained statistically significant after adjustment for total FFM (59±20 kcal per day), fat mass (67±20 kcal per day) and brain volume (54±22 kcal per day). The association between REE and ethnicity was no longer statistically significant after total FFM was replaced by trunk FFM (which includes heart, liver, kidney and spleen) but not when it was replaced by limb FFM (skeletal muscle).
We have demonstrated a lower REE in Asian-Indians compared with Chinese who may contribute to the higher rates of obesity in the former. This difference could be accounted for by differences in metabolically active organs.
Introduction
Chromogenic substrate assays (CSA) to measure Factor IX (FIX) have recently become commercially available. However, information on their performance characteristics and use in diagnostic ...haemostasis laboratories remains limited.
Aim
To evaluate the Hyphen Biomed (Hyphen) and Rossix FIX CSAs on fully automated coagulation analysers and compare them to the FIX one‐stage assay (OSA). This study was conducted in a tertiary referral haemostasis laboratory associated with a haemophilia treatment centre.
Methods
Automated CSA protocols were adapted to the Sysmex CS2500 (CS2500) and Diagnostica Stago STA‐R (STA‐R) analysers. Samples assayed were from healthy volunteers, haemophilia B patients and FIX deficient plasma spiked with either plasma derived, recombinant or extended half‐life FIX products.
Results
Reference intervals for Hyphen and Rossix assays were 73 IU/dL to 164 IU/dL and 73 IU/dL to 168 IU/dL, respectively, on the CS2500 analyser; and 84 IU/dL to 165 IU/dL for the Rossix assay on the STA‐R. Repeatability across all method/analyser combinations resulted in CVs ranging from 0.8% to 5.4%. Between run reproducibility gave CVs <6.7% for all method/analyser combinations. In spiked samples, FIX recoveries were mostly within an acceptable limit of 100 ± 25% for BeneFIX®, Rixubis® and Alprolix® with some differences between CSAs.
Conclusion
Both commercial factor FIX CSA kits can be adapted for Stago and Sysmex automated coagulation analysers. Reagent cost and workflow practices will need to be considered. These assays are potentially more consistent than OSA in measurement of replacement FIX products in haemophilia B patients.
To analyze the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) in normal eyes using optical coherence tomography angiography.
Prospective noncomparative case series. The parafoveal region of 70 eyes from 67 healthy ...subjects was imaged using optical coherence tomography angiography to visualize the superficial and deep capillary plexuses and correlated with standard macular volume scans using spectral domain optical coherence tomography to determine foveal morphology.
In all 70 eyes imaged, 2 vascular plexuses could be detected within the retina: a superficial plexus within the ganglion cell layer and a deep plexus within the inner nuclear layer. A measurable FAZ was visualized in both plexuses in all imaged eyes. The FAZ area was variable in the study population with a mean of 0.266 mm² ± 0.097 mm² in the superficial plexus (range: 0.071 mm²-0.527 mm²) and a mean of 0.495 mm² ± 0.227 mm² in the deep plexus (range: 0.160 mm²-0.795 mm²). The FAZ area was significantly larger in the deep plexus (P < 0.0001) compared with superficial plexus. The FAZ area in both plexuses correlated inversely with central macular thickness and central macular volume (P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was found between superficial plexus FAZ area and age (P = 0.55) or sex (P = 0.34). In the same manner, no significant correlation was found between deep plexus FAZ area and age (P = 0.13) or sex (P = 0.13).
Optical coherence tomography angiography provides a noninvasive method to visualize and measure the superficial and deep plexus FAZ in a normal population. The FAZ can vary in size and shape, with the FAZ area significantly larger in the deep compared with the superficial plexus. Both superficial and deep FAZ area correlate inversely with foveal thickness and volume.
In-beam spectroscopy of heavy elements Theisen, Ch; Greenlees, P.T.; Khoo, T.-L. ...
Nuclear physics. A,
12/2015, Letnik:
944, Številka:
C
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Traditionally the experimental study of heavy and superheavy elements has belonged to the realm of decay spectroscopy and nuclear reactions. Only in the past twenty years or so has it become feasible ...to study nuclei with Z=96 and beyond with in-beam spectroscopic techniques. Since the pioneering studies in the late 1990s, development of both instrumentation and experimental techniques has resulted in a significant lowering of the spectroscopic limit for in-beam measurements. Such measurements give access to a wide range of nuclear structure observables which in general are beyond the reach of other techniques. The current review aims to present the most recent developments and results in the field, building upon previous reviews with a similar theme.
Purpose: To assess features and outcomes of Coats disease over 5-decades. Methods: Retrospective review of Coats disease patients at a single center. Features and outcomes were compared based on ...decade of presentation. Results: There were 351 patients with Coats disease. The presenting median age (6 years), male sex (84%), and unilaterality (100%) did not change per decade. Coats disease classification did not change per decade with Stage 1 (1%), Stage 2 (21%), Stage 3 (68%), Stage 4 (6%), and Stage 5 (1%). Clinical features that changed per decade (1970s vs. 1980s vs. 1990s vs. 2000s vs. 2010s) included 1980s features of more eyes with exudation in all 4 quadrants (22% vs. 58% vs. 44% vs. 33% vs. 27, P = 0.01) and total exudative retinal detachment (33% vs. 53% vs. 39% vs. 27% vs. 21%, P < 0.001). Imaging features that changed per decade included 2010s greater fluorescein angiographic extent of retinal non-perfusion in mean clock hours (4 vs. 4 vs. 3 vs. 5 vs. 6, P = 0.003), and 1980s greater mean height of retinal detachment ultrasonographically (5 vs. 12 vs. 5 vs. 5 vs. 4 mm, P < 0.001). Treatment features that changed per decade included 1980s greater primary enucleation (11% vs. 16% vs. 3% vs. 4% vs. 1%, P = 0.001), and 2010s greater use of laser photocoagulation (55% vs. 33% vs. 38% vs. 40% vs. 72%, P < 0.001), sub-Tenon corticosteroid (0% vs. 4% vs. 5% vs. 8% vs. 29%, P < 0.001), and intravitreal anti-VEGF) (0% vs. 4% vs. 2% vs. 13% vs. 18%, P = 0.003). Outcomes that changed per decade included 2010s findings of more complete resolution of subretinal fluid (64% vs. 59% vs. 38% vs. 58% vs. 72%, P = 0.01) and less need for primary/secondary enucleation (17% vs. 27% vs. 14% vs. 13% vs. 6%, P = 0.04). Conclusion: Eyes with Coats disease in the 1980s demonstrated more advanced findings, often requiring enucleation. Over the decades, greater use of laser photocoagulation and injections has led to improved disease resolution with greater globe salvage.
Summary
Introduction
Studies have shown dabigatran to be an effective anticoagulant with an acceptable bleeding profile. None the less, these patients do suffer from bleeding complications. ...Unfortunately, there are currently no direct reversal agents to dabigatran or established guidelines on the management of bleeding in these circumstances.
Methods
We examined the effects on thrombin generation parameters, after ex‐vivo spiking the plasma of patients on dabigatran (n = 8) with FEIBA®. These parameters were measured using the calibrated automated thrombography (CAT) machine.
Results
In our study, we showed the ability of FEIBA® to improve the abnormal thrombin generation parameters caused by dabigatran in these patients.
Conclusion
This provides evidence, lacking in the literature, that this agent may be able to provide haemostatic support in situations where dabigatran induced coagulopathy exists.
We report an approach to achieve low-resistance contacts to MoS2 transistors with the intrinsic performance of the MoS2 channel preserved. Through a dry transfer technique and a metal-catalyzed ...graphene treatment process, nickel-etched-graphene electrodes were fabricated on MoS2 that yield contact resistance as low as 200 Ω·μm. The substantial contact enhancement (∼2 orders of magnitude), as compared to pure nickel electrodes, is attributed to the much smaller work function of nickel-graphene electrodes, together with the fact that presence of zigzag edges in the treated graphene surface enhances tunneling between nickel and graphene. To this end, the successful fabrication of a clean graphene–MoS2 interface and a low resistance nickel–graphene interface is critical for the experimentally measured low contact resistance. The potential of using graphene as an electrode interlayer demonstrated in this work paves the way toward achieving high performance next-generation transistors.
To study radiation retinopathy after plaque radiotherapy of choroidal melanoma using optical coherence tomography angiography.
Retrospective comparative analysis of 65 consecutive patients with ...choroidal melanoma, treated with standard dose I-125 plaque radiotherapy and imaged with optical coherence tomography angiography. A comparison of irradiated versus contralateral, nonirradiated (control) eyes was performed.
The mean patient age was 55 years. Underlying medical diseases included diabetes mellitus (4/65, 4%) or hypertension (25/65, 38%), but no patient demonstrated disease-related retinopathy. The mean pretreatment melanoma diameter was 11 mm and mean thickness was 5 mm. The mean radiation dose to the foveola was 5663 centiGray. At mean follow-up of 46 months after plaque radiotherapy, the most frequent qualitative finding on optical coherence tomography angiography (irradiated eye) was nonperfusion in the superficial capillary plexus (19/65, 29%) and deep capillary plexus (20/65, 31%), followed by loss of choriocapillaris within tumor margins (11/65, 17%). The quantitative findings revealed foveal avascular zone with significantly larger mean area (irradiated vs. nonirradiated eye) in the superficial plexus (0.961 vs. 0.280 mm, P < 0.0001) and deep plexus (1.396 vs. 0.458 mm, P < 0.0001), even in eyes without clinical evidence of radiation maculopathy (superficial 0.278 mm, P = 0.03; deep 0.454 mm, P = 0.02). Parafoveal capillary density (superficial and deep) was decreased in all irradiated eyes (P < 0.001). This difference was maintained after subgroup analysis of eyes with (P < 0.001) or without (P < 0.001) clinical evidence of radiation maculopathy. Mean logMAR visual acuity was significantly reduced in irradiated eyes (0.7 vs. 0.1 Snellen equivalent 20/100 vs. 20/25, P < 0.001) and the reduced vision was significant even in eyes without clinical evidence of radiation maculopathy (0.4 vs. 0.1 Snellen equivalent 20/50 vs. 20/25, P < 0.001).
Optical coherence tomography angiography demonstrated significant enlargement of the foveal avascular zone and decreased parafoveal capillary density of both superficial and deep capillary plexuses in eyes after plaque radiotherapy of choroidal melanoma, even in eyes with no clinical evidence of radiation maculopathy.
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