Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is now widely used as a rapid and inexpensive tool for chemical/biochemical analysis. The method can give enormous increases in the intensities of the Raman ...signals of low‐concentration molecular targets if they are adsorbed on suitable enhancing substrates, which are typically composed of nanostructured Ag or Au. However, the features of SERS that allow it to be used as a chemical sensor also mean that it can be used as a powerful probe of the surface chemistry of any nanostructured material that can provide SERS enhancement. This is important because it is the surface chemistry that controls how these materials interact with their local environment and, in real applications, this interaction can be more important than more commonly measured properties such as morphology or plasmonic absorption. Here, the opportunity that this approach to SERS provides is illustrated with examples where the surface chemistry is both characterized and controlled in order to create functional nanomaterials.
Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a powerful technique for probing the chemical structure of adsorbed surface layers on nanostructured materials. Currently, it is predominantly used for detecting the adsorption of small molecules, but it also provides information on the surface chemistry of enhancing materials themselves. This is important since it is the surface chemistry that governs the interaction of the materials with their environment.
Objective: Female post-secondary students typically engage in less physical activity than their male counterparts. Given that women have greater anxiety sensitivity (ie, fear of arousal-based body ...sensations) and anxiety sensitivity is inversely related to physical activity participation, this study sought to determine if anxiety sensitivity mediates gender differences in self-reported physical activity. Participants and methods: A sample of 802 post-secondary students completed the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 and a Lifestyles Questionnaire in September 2017. Results: Women reported significantly less physical activity and significantly greater anxiety sensitivity. Anxiety sensitivity was significantly and inversely related to self-reported physical activity. A significant indirect effect of gender on physical activity via anxiety sensitivity was shown (B = 5.56, SE = 2.81, p < 0.05, 95% CI 1.31, 12.78, Psubscript M = 0.0843). Conclusions: Results suggest that anxiety sensitivity partially explains gender differences in physical activity. Anxiety sensitivity reduction interventions might increase physical activity participation and reduce the existing gender gap.
Objectives
To evaluate psychological, social, and financial outcomes amongst individuals undergoing a non‐contrast abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan to screen for kidney cancer and other ...abdominal malignancies alongside the thoracic CT within lung cancer screening.
Subjects and Methods
The Yorkshire Kidney Screening Trial (YKST) is a feasibility study of adding a non‐contrast abdominal CT scan to the thoracic CT within lung cancer screening. A total of 500 participants within the YKST, comprising all who had an abnormal CT scan and a random sample of one‐third of those with a normal scan between 14/03/2022 and 24/08/2022 were sent a questionnaire at 3 and 6 months. Outcomes included the Psychological Consequences Questionnaire (PCQ), the short‐form of the Spielberger State–Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the EuroQoL five Dimensions five Levels scale (EQ‐5D‐5L). Data were analysed using regression adjusting for participant age, sex, socioeconomic status, education, baseline quality of life (EQ‐5D‐5L), and ethnicity.
Results
A total of 380 (76%) participants returned questionnaires at 3 months and 328 (66%) at 6 months. There was no difference in any outcomes between participants with a normal scan and those with abnormal scans requiring no further action. Individuals requiring initial further investigations or referral had higher scores on the negative PCQ than those with normal scans at 3 months (standardised mean difference 0.28 sd, 95% confidence interval 0.01–0.54; P = 0.044). The difference was greater in those with anxiety or depression at baseline. No differences were seen at 6 months.
Conclusion
Screening for kidney cancer and other abdominal malignancies using abdominal CT alongside the thoracic CT within lung cancer screening is unlikely to cause significant lasting psychosocial or financial harm to participants with incidental findings.
This review examines the association between the apolipoprotein (apo) ε gene polymorphism (or its protein product (apo E)), metabolic regulation of cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. The apo ε ...gene is located at chromosome 19q13.2. Among the variants of this gene, alleles *ε2, *ε3, and *ε4 constitute the common polymorphism found in most populations. Of these variants, apo *ε3 is the most frequent (>60%) in all populations studied. The polymorphism has functional effects on lipoprotein metabolism mediated through the hepatic binding, uptake, and catabolism of chylomicrons, chylomicron remnants, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), and high density lipoprotein subspecies. Apo E is the primary ligand for two receptors, the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (also known as the B/E receptor) found on the liver and other tissues and an apo E-specific receptor found on the liver. The coordinate interaction of these lipoprotein complexes with their receptors forms the basis for the metabolic regulation of cholesterol. Allelic variation in apo ε is consistently associated with plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and apo B (the major protein of LDL, VLDL, and chylomicrons). Apo ε has been studied in disorders associated with elevated cholesterol levels or lipid derangements (i.e., hyperlipoproteinemia type III, coronary heart disease, strokes, peripheral artery disease, and diabetes mellitus). The apo ε genotype yields poor predictive values when screening for clinically defined atherosclerosis despite positive, but modest associations with plaque and coronary heart disease outcomes. In addition to genotype-phenotype associations with vascular disease, the alleles and isoforms of apo ε have been related to dementias, most commonly Alzheimer's disease.
Abstract Objective Vaginal cancer is an uncommon cancer of the lower genital tract, and standardized screening is not recommended. Risk factors for vaginal cancer include a history of other lower ...genital tract neoplasia or cancer, smoking, immunosuppression, and exposure to diethylstilbestrol in utero . Although cervical cancer screening after total hysterectomy for benign disease is not recommended, many women inappropriately undergo vaginal cytology and/or human papillomavirus (hrHPV) tests, and clinicians are faced with managing their abnormal results. Our objective is to review the literature on vaginal cytology and hrHPV testing and to develop guidance for the management of abnormal vaginal screening tests. Methods An electronic search of the PubMed database through 2015 was performed. Articles describing vaginal cytology or vaginal hrHPV testing were reviewed, and diagnostic accuracy of these tests when available was noted. Results The available literature was too limited to develop evidence-based recommendations for managing abnormal vaginal cytology and hrHPV screening tests. However, the data did show that 1) the risk of vaginal cancer in women after hysterectomy is extremely low, justifying the recommendation against routine screening, and 2) in women for whom surveillance is recommended, e.g. women post-treatment for cervical precancer or cancer, hrHPV testing may be useful in identification of vaginal cancer precursors. Conclusion Vaginal cancer is rare, and asymptomatic low-risk women should not be screened. An algorithm based on expert opinion is proposed for managing women with abnormal vaginal test results.
In a longitudinal study of 1,686 participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, we examined whether the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) was reduced among reported users of aspirin or ...other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In addition, we examined use of acetaminophen, a pain-relief medication with little or no anti-inflammatory activity, to assess the specificity of the association between AD risk and self-reported medications. Information on use of medications was collected during each biennial examination between 1980 and 1995. The relative risk (RR) for AD decreased with increasing duration of NSAID use. Among those with 2 or more years of reported NSAID use, the RR was 0.40 (95% confidence interval CI: 0.19-0.84) compared with 0.65 (95% CI: 0.33-1.29) for those with less than 2 years of NSAID use. The overall RR for AD among aspirin users was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.46-1.18), and no trend of decreasing risk of AD was observed with increasing duration of aspirin use. No association was found between AD risk and use of acetaminophen (RR = 1.35; 95% CI: 0.79-2.30), and there was no trend of decreasing risk with increasing duration of use. These findings are consistent with evidence from cross-sectional studies indicating protection against AD risk among NSAID users and with evidence suggesting that one stage of the pathophysiology leading to AD is characterized by an inflammatory process.
This study presents the improvement in ice edge error within the US Navy's operational sea ice forecast systems gained by assimilating high horizontal resolution satellite-derived ice concentration ...products. Since the late 1980's, the ice forecast systems have assimilated near real-time sea ice concentration derived from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSMI and then SSMIS). The resolution of the satellite-derived product was approximately the same as the previous operational ice forecast system (25 km). As the sea ice forecast model resolution increased over time, the need for higher horizontal resolution observational data grew. In 2013, a new Navy sea ice forecast system (Arctic Cap Nowcast/Forecast System – ACNFS) went into operations with a horizontal resolution of ~ 3.5 km at the North Pole. A method of blending ice concentration observations from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR2) along with a sea ice mask produced by the National Ice Center (NIC) has been developed, resulting in an ice concentration product with very high spatial resolution. In this study, ACNFS was initialized with this newly developed high resolution blended ice concentration product. The daily ice edge locations from model hindcast simulations were compared against independent observed ice edge locations. ACNFS initialized using the high resolution blended ice concentration data product decreased predicted ice edge location error compared to the operational system that only assimilated SSMIS data. A second evaluation assimilating the new blended sea ice concentration product into the pre-operational Navy Global Ocean Forecast System 3.1 also showed a substantial improvement in ice edge location over a system using the SSMIS sea ice concentration product alone. This paper describes the technique used to create the blended sea ice concentration product and the significant improvements in ice edge forecasting in both of the Navy's sea ice forecasting systems.
Investigate whether a range of cooling methods can extend tolerance time and/or reduce physiological strain in those working in the heat dressed in a Class 2 chemical, biological, radiological, ...nuclear (CBRN) protective ensemble.
Eight males wore a Class 2 CBRN ensemble and walked for a maximum of 120 min at 35 °C, 50% relative humidity. In a randomised order, participants completed the trial with no cooling and four cooling protocols: 1) ice-based cooling vest (IV), 2) a non-ice-based cooling vest (PCM), 3) ice slushy consumed before work, combined with IV (SLIV) and 4) a portable battery-operated water-perfused suit (WPS). Mean with 95% confidence intervals are presented.
Tolerance time was extended in PCM (46 36, 56 min, P = 0.018), SLIV (56 46, 67 min, P < 0.001) and WPS (62 53, 70 min, P < 0.001), compared with control (39 30, 48 min). Tolerance time was longer in SLIV and WPS compared with both IV (48 39, 58 min) and PCM (P ≤ 0.011). After 20 min of work, HR was lower in SLIV (121 105, 136 beats·min−1), WPS (117 101, 133 beats·min−1) and IV (130 116, 143 beats·min−1) compared with control (137 120, 155 beats·min−1) (all P < 0.001). PCM (133 116, 151 beats·min−1) did not differ from control.
All cooling methods, except PCM, utilised in the present study reduced cardiovascular strain, while SLIV and WPS are most likely to extend tolerance time for those working in the heat dressed in a Class 2 CBRN ensemble.
•Water-perfused suits worn during work in the heat extends work tolerance time.•Slushy ingestion before work with ice vest worn during work extends tolerance times.•Internal and external cooling reduces thermal strain during work in the heat.
Aim
Type 1 diabetes is the product of a complex interplay between genetic susceptibility and exposure to environmental factors. Existing bacterial profiling studies focus on people who are most at ...risk at the time of diagnosis; there are limited data on the gut microbiota of people with long‐standing Type 1 diabetes. This study compared the gut microbiota of patients with Type 1 diabetes and good glycaemic control and high levels of physical‐fitness with that of matched controls without diabetes.
Methods
Ten males with Type 1 diabetes and ten matched controls without diabetes were recruited; groups were matched for gender, age, BMI, peak oxygen uptake (VO2max), and exercise habits. Stool samples were analysed using next‐generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene to obtain bacterial profiles from each individual. Phylogenetic investigation of communities by reconstruction of unobserved states (PICRUSt) was implemented to predict the functional content of the bacterial operational taxonomic units.
Results
Faecalibacterium sp., Roseburia sp. and Bacteroides sp. were typically the most abundant members of the community in both patients with Type 1 diabetes and controls, and were present in every sample in the cohort. Each bacterial profile was relatively individual and no significant difference was reported between the bacterial profiles or the Shannon diversity indices of Type 1 diabetes compared with controls. The functional profiles were more conserved and the Type 1 diabetes group were comparable with the control group.
Conclusions
We show that both gut microbiota and resulting functional bacterial profiles from patients with long‐standing Type 1 diabetes in good glycaemic control and high physical fitness levels are comparable with those of matched people without diabetes.
What's new?
This study is the first to explore the gut microbiota in patients with Type 1 diabetes, but who otherwise have good glycaemic control and high physical fitness.
The gut microbiota from people with Type 1 diabetes and good glycaemic control and high physical fitness was comparable with that from matched healthy controls without diabetes.
Background. Testosterone increases lean mass and may help to counter the changes in muscle architecture associated with sarcopenia. This study was designed to investigate the effects of testosterone ...replacement therapy on skeletal muscle architecture in intermediate-frail and frail elderly men. Methods. A subgroup of 30 intermediate-frail and frail elderly men (65–89 years) with low to borderline-low testosterone levels were enrolled from a single-center randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Participants received either a transdermal testosterone (50 mg) or placebo gel daily for 6 months. Architecture (muscle thickness, fascicle length, and pennation angle) of the gastrocnemius medialis muscle was assessed by ultrasound imaging at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. Results. Serum testosterone increased from 11.6 ± 3.5 to 18.0 ± 8.1 nmol/L by 10 days after randomization in the active group (but not the placebo group) and was maintained throughout the treatment period. Testosterone treatment resulted in a preservation of muscle thickness at 6 months while it decreased in the placebo group (effect size 1.4 95% confidence interval = 0.3–2.5; p = .015). There was no significant effect of treatment on fascicle length (effect size 1.9 mm 95% confidence interval = −1.2 to 5.0 mm; p = .22) or pennation angle (effect size 1.2° 95% confidence interval = −1.3 to 3.7°; p = .32). Conclusions. Testosterone replacement in intermediate-frail and frail elderly men is associated with preservation of muscle thickness. The results suggest that testosterone mitigates sarcopenia by improving muscle tissue to maintain a state of normality in aging men.
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