To build a model based on cardiometabolic indicators that allow the identification of overweight adolescents at higher risk of subclinical atherosclerotic disease (SAD).
Cross-sectional study ...involving 161 adolescents with a body mass index ≥ +1 z-Score, aged 10 to 19 years. Carotid intima-media complex thickness (IMT) was evaluated using ultrasound to assess subclinical atherosclerotic disease. Cardiometabolic indicators evaluated included nutritional status, central adiposity, blood pressure, lipidic profile, glycemic profile, as well as age and sex. Data was presented using measures of central tendency and dispersion, as well as absolute and relative frequency. The relationship between IMT measurement (outcome variable) and other variables (independent variables) was assessed using Pearson or Spearman correlation, followed by multiple regression modeling with Gamma distribution to analyze predictors of IMT. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and R software, considering a significance level of 5 %.
It was observed that 23.7 % had Carotid thickening, and the prevalence of abnormal fasting glucose was the lowest. Age and fasting glucose were identified as predictors of IMT increase, with IMT decreasing with age by approximately 1 % per year and increasing with glucose by around 0.24 % per mg/dL.
The adolescent at higher risk is younger with higher fasting glycemia levels.
To evaluate the influence of curcumin supplementation on the glycemic profile, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress in HIV‐infected individuals under antiretroviral therapy. This double‐blind, ...crossover, randomized clinical trial was composed of 20 subjects arranged initially into experimental group (n = 10) and placebo group (n = 10) groups, receiving 1,000 mg curcumin/day or microcrystalline cellulose/day, respectively, during a 30‐day period and 12‐day washout. Subsequently, the groups were switched to follow the crossover design. Fasting glucose and insulin, IL‐10, tumor necrosis factor alpha, malonialdehyde, and reduced glutathione were measured. Food consumption was evaluated as a control variable. Descriptive statistics are presented as mean and standard deviation, and inferential analyses were performed from two‐way analysis of variance and the magnitude of the effect. No significant improvements were observed in the glycemic, inflammatory, or oxidative stress profiles. Although the mean serum fasting glucose levels and the homeostatic model assessment index presented qualitative improvement in the CG, this result should be interpreted with caution since the observed variation may represent acceptable fluctuation, in addition to the small difference between the means, added to the large variation observed in the standard deviation. Supplementation with curcumin in HIV‐infected individuals undergoing antiretroviral therapy and training did not improve the glycemic, inflammatory, or oxidative stress profiles.
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to provide services such as the Internet, goods delivery, and air taxis has become a reality in recent years. The use of these aircraft requires a secure ...communication between the control station and the UAV, which demands the characterization of the communication channel. This paper aims to present a measurement setup using an unmanned aircraft to acquire data for the characterization of the radio frequency channel in a propagation environment with particular vegetation (Caatinga) and a lake. This paper presents the following contributions: identification of the communication channel model that best describes the characteristics of communication; characterization of the effects of large-scale fading, such as path loss and log-normal shadowing; characterization of small-scale fading (multipath and Doppler); and estimation of the aircraft speed from the identified Doppler frequency.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of anthropometric, metabolic, and endocrine abnormalities as predictors of estimated average glucose and other biomarkers of dysglycemia in women ...with different phenotypes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This cross-sectional study included 648 women with PCOS and 330 controls. A single protocol of investigation was applied for all subjects. PCOS women were divided by phenotypes according to the Rotterdam criteria. Biomarkers of dysglycemia were considered dependent variables and anthropometric, lipid, and hormone alterations as independent variables using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Univariate logistic regression analysis, controlled for age and BMI, showed that many biomarkers of dysglycemia could be predicted by anthropometric, lipid, and endocrine variables. Multivariate logistic models showed that in non-PCOS women estimated average glucose (eAG) was predicted by lower TSH levels (OR=0.39; p=0.045); fasting glucose was predicted by increased T (OR=2.3). For PCOS, phenotype A, eAG was predicted by decreased HDL-C (OR=0.17, p=0.023) and high levels of free estradiol (OR=7.1, p<0.001). Otherwise, in PCOS, phenotype D, eAG was predicted by higher levels of HDL-C. The current study demonstrated that eAG was poorly predicted by anthropometric, lipid, and hormone parameters. Nevertheless, without adding significant benefits, it was comparable with other established markers of dysglycemia in women with different PCOS phenotypes.
An ideal stimuli-responsive magnetic system possibilities the monitoring of the medication in the organism followed by the treatment using local drug delivery or hyperthermia.
In recent years, ...magnetic nanoparticles have been studied due to their potential applications as magnetic carriers in biomedical area. These materials have been increasingly exploited as efficient delivery vectors, leading to opportunities of use as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) agents, mediators of hyperthermia cancer treatment and in targeted therapies. Much attention has been also focused on “smart” polymers, which are able to respond to environmental changes, such as changes in the temperature and pH. In this context, this article reviews the state-of-the art in stimuli-responsive magnetic systems for biomedical applications. The paper describes different types of stimuli-sensitive systems, mainly temperature- and pH sensitive polymers, the combination of this characteristic with magnetic properties and, finally, it gives an account of their preparation methods. The article also discusses the main in vivo biomedical applications of such materials. A survey of the recent literature on various stimuli-responsive magnetic gels in biomedical applications is also included.
To evaluate the association between vessel density measurements using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and severity of visual field loss in primary open-angle glaucoma.
Observational, ...cross-sectional study.
A total of 153 eyes from 31 healthy participants, 48 glaucoma suspects, and 74 glaucoma patients enrolled in the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study.
All eyes underwent imaging using OCT-A (Angiovue; Optovue, Fremont, CA), spectral-domain OCT (Avanti; Optovue), and standard automated perimetry (SAP). Retinal vasculature information was summarized as vessel density, the percentage of area occupied by flowing blood vessels in the selected region. Two measurements from the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) were used: circumpapillary vessel density (cpVD) (750-μm-wide elliptical annulus around the optic disc) and whole-image vessel density (wiVD) (entire 4.5×4.5-mm scan field).
Associations between the severity of visual field loss, reported as SAP mean deviation (MD), and OCT-A vessel density.
Compared with glaucoma eyes, normal eyes demonstrated a denser microvascular network within the RNFL. Vessel density was higher in normal eyes followed by glaucoma suspects, mild glaucoma, and moderate to severe glaucoma eyes for wiVD (55.5%, 51.3%, 48.3%, and 41.7%, respectively) and for cpVD (62.8%, 61.0%, 57.5%, 49.6%, respectively) (P < 0.001 for both). The association between SAP MD with cpVD and wiVD was stronger (R
= 0.54 and R
= 0.51, respectively) than the association between SAP MD with RNFL (R
= 0.36) and rim area (R
= 0.19) (P < 0.05 for all). Multivariate regression analysis showed that each 1% decrease in wiVD was associated with 0.66 decibel (dB) loss in MD and each 1% decrease in cpVD was associated with 0.64 dB loss in MD. In addition, the association between vessel density and severity of visual field damage was found to be significant even after controlling for the effect of structural loss.
Decreased vessel density was significantly associated with the severity of visual field damage independent of the structural loss. Optical coherence tomography angiography is a promising technology in glaucoma management, potentially enhancing the understanding of the role of vasculature in the pathophysiology of the disease.
To investigate the prevalence of visual field defects in glaucomatous eyes, glaucoma suspects, and ocular hypertensives with 24-2 and 10-2 visual fields.
Prospective, cross-sectional study.
Patients ...with or suspected glaucoma tested with 24-2 and 10-2. Patients were classified into 3 groups on the basis of the presence of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) and 24-2 visual field abnormalities: early glaucoma (GON and abnormal visual field, mean deviation >-6 decibels dB), glaucoma suspects (GON and normal visual field), and ocular hypertensives (normal disc, normal visual field, and intraocular pressure >22 mmHg). For the classification of visual field abnormalities, 24-2 and 10-2 tests performed on the same visit were analyzed.
Comparison of the prevalence of abnormal 24-2 versus 10-2 visual field results based on cluster criteria in each diagnostic group.
A total of 775 eyes (497 patients) were evaluated. A total of 364 eyes had early glaucoma, 303 eyes were glaucoma suspects, and 108 eyes were ocular hypertensives. In the glaucoma group, 16 of the 26 eyes (61.5%) classified as normal based on cluster criteria on 24-2 tests were classified as abnormal on 10-2 visual fields. In eyes with suspected glaucoma, 79 of the 200 eyes (39.5%) classified as normal on the 24-2 test were classified as abnormal on 10-2 visual fields. In ocular hypertensive eyes, 28 of the 79 eyes (35.4%) classified as normal on the 24-2 were classified as abnormal on the 10-2. Patients of African descent were more likely to have an abnormal 10-2 result (67.3 vs. 56.8%, P = 0.009).
Central visual field damage seen on the 10-2 test is often missed with the 24-2 strategy in all groups. This finding has implications for the diagnosis of glaucoma and classification of severity.
To investigate factors associated with dropout of the parapapillary deep retinal layer microvasculature assessed by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in glaucomatous eyes.
...Cross-sectional study.
Seventy-one eyes from 71 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients with β-zone parapapillary atrophy (βPPA) enrolled in the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study.
Parapapillary deep-layer microvasculature dropout was defined as a complete loss of the microvasculature located within the deep retinal layer of the βPPA from OCTA-derived optic nerve head vessel density maps by standardized qualitative assessment. Circumpapillary vessel density (cpVD) within the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) also was calculated using OCTA. Choroidal thickness and presence of focal lamina cribrosa (LC) defects were determined using swept-source optical coherence tomography.
Presence of parapapillary deep-layer microvasculature dropout. Parameters including age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, axial length, intraocular pressure, disc hemorrhage, cpVD, visual field (VF) mean deviation (MD), focal LC defects βPPA area, and choroidal thickness were analyzed.
Parapapillary deep-layer microvasculature dropout was detected in 37 POAG eyes (52.1%). Eyes with microvasculature dropout had a higher prevalence of LC defects (70.3% vs. 32.4%), lower cpVD (52.7% vs. 58.8%), worse VF MD (-9.06 dB vs. -3.83 dB), thinner total choroidal thickness (126.5 μm vs. 169.1 μm), longer axial length (24.7 mm vs. 24.0 mm), larger βPPA (1.2 mm
vs. 0.76 mm
), and lower diastolic blood pressure (74.7 mmHg vs. 81.7 mmHg) than those without dropout (P < 0.05, respectively). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, higher prevalence of focal LC defects (odds ratio OR, 6.27; P = 0.012), reduced cpVD (OR, 1.27; P = 0.002), worse VF MD (OR, 1.27; P = 0.001), thinner choroidal thickness (OR, 1.02; P = 0.014), and lower diastolic blood pressure (OR, 1.16; P = 0.003) were associated significantly with the dropout.
Systemic and ocular factors including focal LC defects more advanced glaucoma, reduced RNFL vessel density, thinner choroidal thickness, and lower diastolic blood pressure were factors associated with the parapapillary deep-layer microvasculature dropout in glaucomatous eyes. Longitudinal studies are required to elucidate the temporal relationship between parapapillary deep-layer microvasculature dropout and systemic and ocular factors.
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