Matched population-based study examining the risk of type 2 diabetes in people with and without diagnosed hepatitis C virus infection

Meta-analyses have found hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to be associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we examine this association within a large population-based study, according to RNA status. A data-linkage approach was used to examine the excess risk of diagnosed T2DM in people diagnosed with HCV-antibodies in Scotland (21,929 Ab+ves; involving 15,827 RNA+ves, 3927 RNA−ves and 2175 with unknown RNA-status) compared to that of a three-fold larger general population sample matched for sex, age and postcode (65,074 Ab−ves). To investigate effects of ascertainment bias the following periods were studied: up to one year before (pre-HCV)/within one year of (peri-HCV)/more than one year post (post-HCV) the date of HCV-diagnosis. T2DM had been diagnosed in 2.9% of Ab+ves (including 3.2% of RNA+ves and 2.3% of RNA-ves) and 2.7% of Ab−ves. A higher proportion of T2DM was diagnosed in the peri-HCV period (i.e. around the time of HCV-diagnosis) for the Ab+ves (22%) compared to Ab−ves (10%). In both the pre-HCV and post-HCV periods, only those Ab+ves living in less deprived areas (13% of the cohort) were found to have a significant excess risk of T2DM compared to Ab−ves (adjusted odds ratio in the pre-HCV period: 4.0 for females and 2.3 for males; adjusted hazard ratio in the post-HCV period: 1.5). These findings were similarly observed for both RNA+ves (chronic) and RNA−ves (resolved). In the largest study of T2DM among chronic HCV-infected individuals to date, there was no evidence to indicate that infection conveyed an appreciable excess risk of T2DM at the population level.<br/

Is there an interplay between adherence to mediterranean diet, antioxidant status, and vascular disease in atrial fibrillation patients?

Mediterranean Diet (Med-Diet) is associated with reduced incidence of vascular events (VEs) in atrial fibrillation (AF), but the mechanism accounting for its beneficial effect is only partially known. We hypothesized that Med-Diet may reduce VEs by improving antioxidant status, as assessed by glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). We performed a prospective cohort study investigating the relationship between adherence to Med-Diet, serum baseline GPx3 and SOD activities, and the occurrence of VEs in 690 AF patients. GPx3 activity was directly associated with Med-Diet score (B = 0.192, p &lt; 0.001) and inversely with age (B = −0.124, p = 0.001), after adjustment for potential confounders; Med-Diet weakly affected SOD levels. During a mean follow-up of 46.1 ± 28.2 months, 89 VEs were recorded; patients with VEs had lower GPx3 levels compared with those without VEs (p = 0.002); and no differences regarding SOD activity were found. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that age (Hazard ratio [HR]:1.065, p &lt; 0.001), logGPx3 (above median, HR: 0.629, p &lt; 0.05), and Med-Diet score (HR: 0.547, p &lt; 0.05) predicted VEs. Med-Diet favorably modulates antioxidant activity of GPx3 in AF, resulting in reduced VEs rate. We hypothesize that the modulation of GPx3 levels by Med-Diet could represent an additional nutritional strategy to prevent VEs in AF patients

Using Wii technology to explore real spaces via virtual environments for people who are blind

Purpose - Virtual environments (VEs) that represent real spaces (RSs) give people who are blind the opportunity to build a cognitive map in advance that they will be able to use when arriving at the RS. Design - In this research study Nintendo Wii based technology was used for exploring VEs via the Wiici application. The Wiimote allows the user to interact with VEs by simulating walking and scanning the space. Finding - By getting haptic and auditory feedback the user learned to explore new spaces. We examined the participants' abilities to explore new simple and complex places, construct a cognitive map, and perform orientation tasks in the RS. Originality – To our knowledge, this finding presents the first virtual environment for people who are blind that allow the participants to scan the environment and by this to construct map model spatial representations

Is there an interplay between adherence to mediterranean diet, antioxidant status, and vascular disease in atrial fibrillation patients?

Mediterranean Diet (Med-Diet) is associated with reduced incidence of vascular events (VEs) in atrial fibrillation (AF), but the mechanism accounting for its beneficial effect is only partially known. We hypothesized that Med-Diet may reduce VEs by improving antioxidant status, as assessed by glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). We performed a prospective cohort study investigating the relationship between adherence to Med-Diet, serum baseline GPx3 and SOD activities, and the occurrence of VEs in 690 AF patients. GPx3 activity was directly associated with Med-Diet score (B = 0.192, p &lt; 0.001) and inversely with age (B = −0.124, p = 0.001), after adjustment for potential confounders; Med-Diet weakly affected SOD levels. During a mean follow-up of 46.1 ± 28.2 months, 89 VEs were recorded; patients with VEs had lower GPx3 levels compared with those without VEs (p = 0.002); and no differences regarding SOD activity were found. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that age (Hazard ratio [HR]:1.065, p &lt; 0.001), logGPx3 (above median, HR: 0.629, p &lt; 0.05), and Med-Diet score (HR: 0.547, p &lt; 0.05) predicted VEs. Med-Diet favorably modulates antioxidant activity of GPx3 in AF, resulting in reduced VEs rate. We hypothesize that the modulation of GPx3 levels by Med-Diet could represent an additional nutritional strategy to prevent VEs in AF patients

Study of reaction pi- A --> pi+pi-pi- A at VES setup

The results on partial wave analysis of 3pi system produced at beam momentum 36.6 GeV/c on beryllium target are presented. New method of amplitude analysis is suggested -- extraction of largest eigenvalue of density matrix. Exotic wave with JPC = 1-+ in rho pi system is studied in four t' regions. No narrow object around M = 1.6 GeV is found. Unusually steep t'-dependence for pi(1300) object is detected.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, LaTeX2e, aipproc class, to be published in the proceedings of the IX international Conference on Hadron Spectroscopy, HADRON2001, 25 august - 1 september, Protvino, Russi

La Matanza: ¿Qué ves? ¿Qué ves cuando me ves?

Los objetivos que persiguió la propuesta estuvieron vinculados con desnaturalizar los diferentes modos de violencias cotidianas que atraviesan las prácticas de los jóvenes de las zonas más vulnerables de dicho municipio, a través de talleres de lenguaje audiovisual, radiofónico y fotografía que favorecieran las instancias de expresión, de debate y de reflexión. Los objetivos específicos estuvieron relacionados con promover espacios de construcción y recreación que posibiliten la expresión de dichos jóvenes en torno a sus experiencias diarias vinculadas directa e indirectamente con las situaciones de violencia; identificar las representaciones de los jóvenes respecto de los diferentes modos de “estar con el otro”, y de vincularse con sus pares, adultos, reconocer los peligros y los riesgos que atraviesan los jóvenes en sus prácticas cotidianas; y extender las experiencias y las producciones surgidas de los talleres con los grupos de amigos, las familias y los barrios de los jóvenes participantes de este proyecto