Assessment of optic disc and ganglion cell layer in diabetes mellitus type 2

The purpose of this study was to compare the optic disc parameters, retinal nerve fiber (RNFL), and macular ganglion cell layers between patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 and healthy controls. In this cross-sectional study, 69 eyes of 69 diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy and 47 eyes of 47 healthy controls were included. Optic disc parameters (i.e., rim area, disc area, cup to disc ratio, cup volume), RNFL, and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layers (GCL+IPL) thickness were measured by means of spectral domain optical coherence tomography. There were not statistically significant differences between the diabetic patients and healthy controls in terms of RNFL thickness (P=.32), rim area (P=.20), disc area (P=.16), cup volume (P=.12), and average macular GCL+IPL thickness (P=.11). Nevertheless, binocular RNFL thickness symmetry percentage (P=.03), average cup to disc ratio (P=.02), and superior-nasal macular GCL+IPL thickness (P=.04) were statistically significantly different in the diabetic and control groups. Diabetic patients without retinopathy have more binocular RNFL thickness asymmetry, higher cup to disc ratio, and thinner sectoral macular GCL+IPL when compared to healthy controls. Our results may support the statement that DM causes inner retinal neurodegenerative changes. © 2017 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc

The relationship between life satisfaction and alienation level of disabled athletes (Kayseri Case)

Background and Study Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between life satisfaction and alienation level of disabled athletes living in Kayseri. Material and Methods: The population of the study consists of 421 disabled athletes engaged in sports. The sample consisted of 109 disabled athletes identified by simple random sampling method. The study was performed by scanning method and the data was collected by survey method. Demographic information form consisting of 5 questions, "Life Satisfaction Scale" which was developed by Diener et.al. and translated into Turkish by Köker, of which reliability and validity study had been conducted and the "Alienation Scale" developed by Dean and adopted into Turkish by Kınık were applied. The obtained data were recorded in the SPSS 23 package program. Mann Whitney U test was used for comparison of binary groups and Kruskal Wallis test was used for multiple comparisons. Spearman Correlation test was applied to determine the relationship between life satisfaction and alienation level sub-dimensions. Results: It has been determined that there is a difference between life satisfaction and alienation level sub-dimension scores of disabled athletes according to the gender and marital status, that there is a difference according to life satisfaction level score and ages of 18-23, 24-29 and 18-23 and 30 and above in terms of alienation level and irregularity sub dimensions; and ages of 18-23, 24-29 and 18-23 and 30 and above in terms of social isolation sub dimension and that there is a statistically significant difference between their life satisfaction level score according to education status and alienation level sub dimension. It has been determined that there is a negative and medium sized relation between the level of alienation and life satisfaction, weakness (r = -.491, p =.050) and the irregularity (r = -.619, p =.050) sub-dimension, and that there is a positive relation between life satisfaction and social isolation sub dimension (r=.795, p= .050). Conclusions: A medium level negative relation was determined between the level of life satisfaction and alienation with gender, age, marital status and educational status and between the level of alienation with life satisfaction and weakness and irregularity sub dimensions; and a high positive relation was determined with the social isolation sub dimension

Vertical muscle transposition augmented with lateral fixation (Foster) suture for Duane syndrome and sixth nerve palsy

PurposeTo report the postoperative results of full-tendon vertical rectus transposition (VRT) augmented with lateral fixation suture for the treatment of type 1 Duane syndrome and sixth nerve palsy and to determine whether there was a decrease in the effect of the Foster suture over time.MethodsThis retrospective, consecutive case series included patients who underwent a full-tendon VRT transposition with lateral fixation for type 1 Duane syndrome or sixth nerve palsy. The primary outcome measures included deviation, abnormal head posture(AHP), abduction deficiency, and postoperative binocular single visual field (BSVF).ResultsEighty-seven patients (87 eyes: 40 eyes with Duane syndrome and 47 eyes with sixth nerve palsy) were included in this study. In Duane syndrome patients, the deviation was reduced by a mean of 95%, the AHP was eliminated in 86% of patients, the abduction was improved by 42%, and a useful BSVF of ∼67% of normal was achieved at 1 year post operation. In sixth nerve palsy patients, the deviation was reduced by 99%, the abduction was improved by 59%, and a useful BSVF of ∼71% of normal was achieved at 1 year post operation. In both groups, the improvements in deviation angle and abduction were stable postoperatively. Sixteen patients needed reoperation for undercorrection.ConclusionVRT surgery with posterior fixation is an effective treatment method for complete sixth nerve palsy and Duane syndrome with esotropia, AHP, and abduction deficiency. The procedure carries a small risk of reoperation for undercorrection. The effect of the Foster suture did not decline over time. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved

Ammonia Emission, Manure Nutrients and Egg Production of Laying Hens Fed Distiller Dried Grain Diets

A USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Innovation Grant project coordinated by the United Egg Producers (UEP) conducted concurrent demonstrations in Iowa and Pennsylvania (PA) at commercial laying hen facilities. The goal was to document manure nutrient and gas emission improvements through the use of dried distiller’s grain with solubles (DDGS) diets and/or other dietary modifications while maintaining or improving hen productivity. Results of the PA trial are presented here. Diets containing 10% corn DDGS with (D+P) or without (D) the probiotic Provalen™ were compared to a corn-soybean based control diet (CON). The isocaloric, amino acid balanced diets were fed to three groups of 39,800 Lohmann hens in one house. Hens were 20-65 wk of age with each diet provided to 2 of 6 rows of stacked cages with manure belts (six decks high). Feed intake, water consumption, hen body weight (BW), egg production (EP,) egg case weight, mortality, feed cost (FC), and egg income (EI) were provided weekly by the cooperating egg company. Replicated monthly data, including egg weight (EW), albumen height (AH), Haugh units (HU), yolk color (YC), shell strength (SS) and shell thickness (ST), were determined from eggs collected from six 4-cage sections of hens on each diet. Replicated monthly samples of hen manure (fresh and from storage) were analyzed for moisture and major nutrients. Ammonia (NH3) gas measurements utilized a non-steady state flux chamber method coupled with photoacoustic infrared gas analyzer. There was no clear trend in the magnitude of NH3 emissions relative to the diets within the hen house as measured on the manure belt. At 32 and 36 wks of age, NH3 emissions were significantly (P \u3c 0.10) higher in D while D+P and CON were lower and similar. At 48 and 52 wks, NH3 emissions from D were similar to D+P and significantly lower than CON. Emission rate from belt manure averaged 0.42 ±0.025 g bird-1 d-1 for all treatments and dates. There was no significant impact of diet on BW, EW, HU, SS, or ST (P =0.10 to 0.66), however, CON hens had lower EP, AH, and YC compared to D and D+P hens (P=0.05). Fresh manure total phosphorus (P2O5) was higher for CON samples (P \u3c 0.05) while other major agronomic nutrients and moisture were not significantly different among treatments. Stored CON manure samples had increased moisture and NH4-N compared to those of D and D+P treatments (P \u3c 0.10). Weekly EI minus FC averaged $6,146,$6,215, and $6,209 for the CON, D, and D+P diets, respectively

Differentiating effect of thalidomide and GM-CSF combination on HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells

Aim: To investigate whether granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) with or without thalidomide can induce apoptosis and differentiation of HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line in vitro. Methods: Effect of GM-CSF and thalidomide on proliferation of HL-60 cells was evaluated by MTT assay, cell cycle analysis was performed by propidium iodide staining approach and flow cytometry, and apoptosis rate was analyzed using FITC-conjugated annexin-V and FACScan flow cytometry. Results: The study revealed that thalidomide alone at high concentrations inhibited HL-60 cell growth and induced apoptosis. Three days treatment of low-dose thalidomide in combination with GM-CSF induced marked terminal differentiation of HL-60 cells, as it was assessed by increased expression of differentiation antigens on cell surface. Conclusion: Treatment of HL-60 cells by low concentration of thalidomide combined with GM-CSF induced terminal differentiation of HL60 cells in vitro, which may be advantageous for the elaboration of novel therapeutic regimens in patients with differentiation-inducible leukemias.Цель: изучить эффект гранулоцитарно-макрофагального колониестимулирующего фактора (ГМ-КСФ) в сочетании с талидомидом на индукцию апоптоза и дифференцировку клеток острого промиелоцитарного лейкоза линии HL-60 in vitro. Методы: для оценки пролиферации и жизнеспособности клеток HL-60 применяли MTT анализ, для изучения клеточного цикла — окраску пропидиум бромидом и проточную цитометрию. Для оценки апоптоза клетки линии HL-60 обрабатывали талидомидом, ГМ-КСФ, и совместно талидомидом и ГМ-КСФ в течении 48 ч, и затем метили анексином, конъюгированным с FITC, и анализировали с помощью проточной цитометрии. Результаты: талидомид в высоких концентрациях ингибирует пролиферацию клеток HL-60 и вызывает апоптоз. В сочетании с ГМ-КСФ в течение 3 дней талидомид в низкой концентрации индуцировал терминальную дифференцировку клеток HL-60, о чем свидетельствовало появление экспрессии дифференцировочных антигенов на поверхности клеток. Выводы: применение талидомида в низкой концентрации в сочетании с ГМ-КСФ вызывает терминальную дифференцировку клеток HL-60

A global lake and reservoir volume analysis using a surface water dataset and satellite altimetry

Lakes and reservoirs are crucial elements of the hydrological and biochemical cycle and are a valuable resource for hydropower, domestic and industrial water use, and irrigation. Although their monitoring is crucial in times of increased pressure on water resources by both climate change and human interventions, publically available datasets of lake and reservoir levels and volumes are scarce. Within this study, a time series of variation in lake and reservoir volume between 1984 and 2015 were analysed for 137 lakes over all continents by combining the JRC Global Surface Water (GSW) dataset and the satellite altimetry database DAHITI. The GSW dataset is a highly accurate surface water dataset at 30&thinsp;m resolution compromising the whole L1T Landsat 5, 7 and 8 archive, which allowed for detailed lake area calculations globally over a very long time period using Google Earth Engine. Therefore, the estimates in water volume fluctuations using the GSW dataset are expected to improve compared to current techniques as they are not constrained by complex and computationally intensive classification procedures. Lake areas and water levels were combined in a regression to derive the hypsometry relationship (dh&thinsp;∕&thinsp;dA) for all lakes. Nearly all lakes showed a linear regression, and 42&thinsp;% of the lakes showed a strong linear relationship with a R2&thinsp;&gt;&thinsp;0.8, an average R2 of 0.91 and a standard deviation of 0.05. For these lakes and for lakes with a nearly constant lake area (coefficient of variation &lt;&thinsp;0.008), volume variations were calculated. Lakes with a poor linear relationship were not considered. Reasons for low R2 values were found to be (1) a nearly constant lake area, (2) winter ice coverage and (3) a predominant lack of data within the GSW dataset for those lakes. Lake volume estimates were validated for 18 lakes in the US, Spain, Australia and Africa using in situ volume time series, and gave an excellent Pearson correlation coefficient of on average 0.97 with a standard deviation of 0.041, and a normalized RMSE of 7.42&thinsp;%. These results show a high potential for measuring lake volume dynamics using a pre-classified GSW dataset, which easily allows the method to be scaled up to an extensive global volumetric dataset. This dataset will not only provide a historical lake and reservoir volume variation record, but will also help to improve our understanding of the behaviour of lakes and reservoirs and their representation in (large-scale) hydrological models.</p

Harmonisation, Mosaicing and Production of the Global Land Cover 2000 Database.

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra

A Land Cover Map of Africa. Carte de l'Occupation du Sol de l'Afrique.

Abstract not availableJRC.H-Institute for environment and sustainability (Ispra