Dietary patterns, insulin sensitivity and inflammation in older adults.

Background/objectivesSeveral studies have linked dietary patterns to insulin sensitivity and systemic inflammation, which affect risk of multiple chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary patterns of a cohort of older adults, and to examine relationships of dietary patterns with markers of insulin sensitivity and systemic inflammation.Subjects/methodsThe Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study is a prospective cohort study of 3075 older adults. In Health ABC, multiple indicators of glucose metabolism and systemic inflammation were assessed. Food intake was estimated with a modified Block food frequency questionnaire. In this study, dietary patterns of 1751 participants with complete data were derived by cluster analysis.ResultsSix clusters were identified, including a 'healthy foods' cluster, characterized by higher intake of low-fat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish and vegetables. In the main analysis, the 'healthy foods' cluster had significantly lower fasting insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance values than the 'breakfast cereal' and 'high-fat dairy products' clusters, and lower fasting glucose than the 'high-fat dairy products' cluster (P≤0.05). No differences were found in 2-h glucose. With respect to inflammation, the 'healthy foods' cluster had lower interleukin-6 than the 'sweets and desserts' and 'high-fat dairy products' clusters, and no differences were seen in C-reactive protein or tumor necrosis factor-α.ConclusionsA dietary pattern high in low-fat dairy products, fruit, whole grains, poultry, fish and vegetables may be associated with greater insulin sensitivity and lower systemic inflammation in older adults

Electrospinning of poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofibers in a pump-free process

The effects of processing parameters, including solution concentration, viscosity, nozzle diameter, voltage bias and the nozzle to collector distance, on the morpho logy and diameters of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) fibers have been systematically investigated, using a unique pump-free electrospinning method. For PMMA solution concentrations less than the critical entanglement concentration, c e, prolate spheroidshaped droplets or beads with fibers were formed, whereas at concentrations above c e, good quality beadfree fibers were formed. Quantitative analysis revealed a linear dependence between the solution viscosity and fiber diameter. Larger fiber diameters were achieved by increasing the nozzle diameter and voltage bias. Increasing the bias voltage has the additional effect of broadening the diameter distribution, as a result of splaying and splitting. By contrast, when the strength of the electrical field was reduced by increasing the distance between the nozzle and collector, the overall fiber dia meter was reduced

Bond-length dependence of charge-transfer excitations and stretch phonon modes in perovskite ruthenates: Evidence of strong p – d hybridization effects

We reported the optical conductivity spectra of the Ruddlesden-Popper series ruthenates, i.e., Srn+1RunO3n+1 and Can+1RunO3n+1, where n=1, 2, and `. Among various optical transitions, we investigated two Ru-O related modes, i.e., the charge-transfer excitation and the transverse stretching phonon. We found that their frequency shifts are not much affected by a structural dimensionality, but are closely related to the Ru-O bond length. Through the quantitative analysis of the charge-transfer excitation energy, we could demonstrate that the p–d hybridization should play an important role in determining their electronic structure. In addition, we discussed how the electronic excitation could contribute the lattice dynamics in the metallic ruthenate

Impaired decisional impulsivity in pathological videogamers

Abstract Background Pathological gaming is an emerging and poorly understood problem. Impulsivity is commonly impaired in disorders of behavioural and substance addiction, hence we sought to systematically investigate the different subtypes of decisional and motor impulsivity in a well-defined pathological gaming cohort. Methods Fifty-two pathological gaming subjects and age-, gender- and IQ-matched healthy volunteers were tested on decisional impulsivity (Information Sampling Task testing reflection impulsivity and delay discounting questionnaire testing impulsive choice), and motor impulsivity (Stop Signal Task testing motor response inhibition, and the premature responding task). We used stringent diagnostic criteria highlighting functional impairment. Results In the Information Sampling Task, pathological gaming participants sampled less evidence prior to making a decision and scored fewer points compared with healthy volunteers. Gaming severity was also negatively correlated with evidence gathered and positively correlated with sampling error and points acquired. In the delay discounting task, pathological gamers made more impulsive choices, preferring smaller immediate over larger delayed rewards. Pathological gamers made more premature responses related to comorbid nicotine use. Greater number of hours played also correlated with a Motivational Index. Greater frequency of role playing games was associated with impaired motor response inhibition and strategy games with faster Go reaction time. Conclusions We show that pathological gaming is associated with impaired decisional impulsivity with negative consequences in task performance. Decisional impulsivity may be a potential target in therapeutic management

An exploratory cluster randomised trial of a university halls of residence based social norms marketing campaign to reduce alcohol consumption among 1st year students

<p>Aims: This exploratory trial examines the feasibility of implementing a social norms marketing campaign to reduce student drinking in universities in Wales, and evaluating it using cluster randomised trial methodology.</p> <p>Methods: Fifty residence halls in 4 universities in Wales were randomly assigned to intervention or control arms. Web and paper surveys were distributed to students within these halls (n = 3800), assessing exposure/contamination, recall of and evaluative responses to intervention messages, perceived drinking norms and personal drinking behaviour. Measures included the Drinking Norms Rating Form, the Daily Drinking Questionnaire and AUDIT-C.</p> <p>Results: A response rate of 15% (n = 554) was achieved, varying substantially between sites. Intervention posters were seen by 80% and 43% of students in intervention and control halls respectively, with most remaining materials seen by a minority in both groups. Intervention messages were rated as credible and relevant by little more than half of students, though fewer felt they would influence their behaviour, with lighter drinkers more likely to perceive messages as credible. No differences in perceived norms were observed between intervention and control groups. Students reporting having seen intervention materials reported lower descriptive and injunctive norms than those who did not.</p> <p>Conclusions: Attention is needed to enhancing exposure, credibility and perceived relevance of intervention messages, particularly among heavier drinkers, before definitive evaluation can be recommended. A definitive evaluation would need to consider how it would achieve sufficient response rates, whilst hall-level cluster randomisation appears subject to a significant degree of contamination.</p&gt

Evidence-informed health policy 3 – Interviews with the directors of organizations that support the use of research evidence

Background: Previous surveys of organizations that support the development of evidence-informed health policies have focused on organizations that produce clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) or undertake health technology assessments (HTAs). Only rarely have surveys focused at least in part on units that directly support the use of research evidence in developing health policy on an international, national, and state or provincial level (i.e., government support units, or GSUs) that are in some way successful or innovative or that support the use of research evidence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: We drew on many people and organizations around the world, including our project reference group, to generate a list of organizations to survey. We modified a questionnaire that had been developed originally by the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation in Europe (AGREE) collaboration and adapted one version of the questionnaire for organizations producing CPGs and HTAs, and another for GSUs. We sent the questionnaire by email to 176 organizations and followed up periodically with non-responders by email and telephone. Results: We received completed questionnaires from 152 (86%) organizations. More than one-half of the organizations (and particularly HTA agencies) reported that examples from other countries were helpful in establishing their organization. A higher proportion of GSUs than CPG-or HTA-producing organizations involved target users in the selection of topics or the services undertaken. Most organizations have few (five or fewer) full-time equivalent (FTE) staff. More than four-fifths of organizations reported providing panels with or using systematic reviews. GSUs tended to use a wide variety of explicit valuation processes for the research evidence, but none with the frequency that organizations producing CPGs, HTAs, or both prioritized evidence by its quality. Between one-half and two-thirds of organizations do not collect data systematically about uptake, and roughly the same proportions do not systematically evaluate their usefulness or impact in other ways. Conclusion: The findings from our survey, the most broadly based of its kind, both extend or clarify the applicability of the messages arising from previous surveys and related documentary analyses, such as how the 'principles of evidence-based medicine dominate current guideline programs' and the importance of collaborating with other organizations. The survey also provides a description of the history, structure, processes, outputs, and perceived strengths and weaknesses of existing organizations from which those establishing or leading similar organizations can draw

Blurred digital mammography images : an analysis of technical recall and observer detection performance

Background: Blurred images in Full Field Digital Mammography (FFDM) are a problem in the UK Breast Screening Programme. Technical recalls may be due to blurring not being seen on lower resolution monitors used for review. Objectives: This study assesses the visual detection of blurring on a 2.3 megapixel (MP) monitor and a 5 MP report grade monitor and proposes an observer standard for the visual detection of blurring on a 5 MP reporting grade monitor. Method: Twenty-eight observers assessed 120 images for blurring; 20 had no blurring present whilst 100 had blurring imposed through mathematical simulation at 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 mm levels of motion. Technical recall rate for both monitors and angular size at each level of motion were calculated. Chi-squared (X2) tests were used to test whether significant differences in blurring detection existed between 2.3 and 5 MP monitors. Results: The technical recall rate for 2.3 and 5 MP monitors are 20.3 % and 9.1% respectively. Angular size for 0.2 to 1 mm motion varied from 55 to 275 arc seconds. The minimum amount of motion for visual detection of blurring in this study is 0.4 mm. For 0.2 mm simulated motion, there was no significant difference X2 (1, N=1095) =1.61, p=0.20) in blurring detection between the 2.3 and 5 MP monitors. Conclusion: According to this study monitors equal or below 2.3 MP are not suitable for technical review of FFDM images for the detection of blur. Advances in knowledge: This research proposes the first observer standard for the visual detection of blurring. Key words: Simulated motion; technical recall; monitor resolution; observer standard; blurring detectio

Silver hake tracks changes in Northwest Atlantic circulation

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2011. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Nature Publishing Group for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Nature Communications 2 (2011): 412, doi:10.1038/ncomms1420.Recent studies documenting shifts in spatial distribution of many organisms in response to a warming climate highlight the need to understand the mechanisms underlying species distribution at large spatial scales. Here we present one noteworthy example of remote oceanographic processes governing the spatial distribution of adult silver hake, Merluccius bilinearis, a commercially important fish in the Northeast US shelf region. Changes in spatial distribution of silver hake over the last 40 years are highly correlated with the position of the Gulf Stream (GS). These changes in distribution are in direct response to local changes in bottom temperature on the continental shelf that are responding to the same large scale circulation change affecting the GS path, namely changes in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). If AMOC weakens as is suggested by global climate models, silver hake distribution will remain in a poleward position, the extent to which could be forecast at both decadal and multidecadal scales.J.A.N. was supported by the NOAA Fisheries and the Environment program (FATE). T.M.J. and Y.O.K. were supported by the WHOI Ocean Climate Change Institute and Ocean Life Institute