The electron capture in 163^{163}Ho experiment – ECHo

Neutrinos, and in particular their tiny but non-vanishing masses, can be considered one of the doors towards physics beyond the Standard Model. Precision measurements of the kinematics of weak interactions, in particular of the $^{3}$H β-decay and the $^{163}$Ho electron capture (EC), represent the only model independent approach to determine the absolute scale of neutrino masses. The electron capture in $^{163}$Ho experiment, ECHo, is designed to reach sub-eV sensitivity on the electron neutrino mass by means of the analysis of the calorimetrically measured electron capture spectrum of the nuclide $^{163}$Ho. The maximum energy available for this decay, about 2.8 keV, constrains the type of detectors that can be used. Arrays of low temperature metallic magnetic calorimeters (MMCs) are being developed to measure the $^{163}$Ho EC spectrum with energy resolution below 3 eV FWHM and with a time resolution below 1 μs. To achieve the sub-eV sensitivity on the electron neutrino mass, together with the detector optimization, the availability of large ultra-pure $^{163}$Ho samples, the identification and suppression of background sources as well as the precise parametrization of the $^{163}$Ho EC spectrum are of utmost importance. The high-energy resolution $^{163}$Ho spectra measured with the first MMC prototypes with ion-implanted $^{163}$Ho set the basis for the ECHo experiment. We describe the conceptual design of ECHo and motivate the strategies we have adopted to carry on the present medium scale experiment, ECHo-1K. In this experiment, the use of 1 kBq $^{163}$Ho will allow to reach a neutrino mass sensitivity below 10 eV/c$^{2}$. We then discuss how the results being achieved in ECHo-1k will guide the design of the next stage of the ECHo experiment, ECHo-1M, where a source of the order of 1 MBq $^{163}$Ho embedded in large MMCs arrays will allow to reach sub-eV sensitivity on the electron neutrino mass

Secular changes in body formation of greek students

Anthropometric dimensions of 1520 students of Biology at University of Athens in Greece were analysed to determine secular changes of height and body proportions during a 20 year period. Since, 1970, means of standing height, subischial length, and cormic index have been increased, although the rate of increase from 1986 to 1990 has been rather slow. On the contrary the mean sitting height is stable, and cormic/ subischial index have been declined during the same period. There are no data for comparing this sample with the general population, but we suppose that these changes in the body formation is common as a result of the modern way of life. © 1995 International Institute for the Study of Man

Evaluating the role of perceived stress on the likelihood of having a non - Fatal acute coronary syndrome: A case-control study

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the independent role of perceived stress, measured by the PSS-14, on the likelihood of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: This is a case-control study with individual matching by age and sex. During 2010-2012, 250 consecutive patients (60±11 years, 78% men) with a first ACS and 250 population-based, control subjects (60±8.6 years, 77.6% men), were enrolled. Perceived stress levels were evaluated with the PSS-14 scale, depression status was assessed with the Zung Depression Rating Scale, anxiety status with the STAI scale and adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by the MedDietScore. Results: Higher perceived stress was associated with increased likelihood of having an ACS, after adjusting for various factors (OR=1.15, %CI 1.11, 1.18). STAI and ZUNG scale were positively associated with the likelihood of having an ACS (OR: 1.27 %CI 1.20-1.34, p<0.001 and OR: 1.49 %CI 1.36-1.63, p<0.001 respectively). Stratified analysis by sex showed a greater impact of perceived stress in men, compared with women (Wald test value 45.65 vs 18.56, respectively). When stratifying by depression levels, the effect of perceived stress on ACS was not significant among depressed individuals. When stratifying by level of anxiety, higher odds of having an ACS was found in the low anxiety group (OR: 1.129, %CI 1.047 -1.218). Conclusion: Perceived stress appears as an independent ACS risk factor, although no causal relationship can be extracted due to the nature of the study. Early recognition and treatment of perceived stress may lead to ACS risk reduction. © Katsarou et al

Evaluating the role of perceived stress on the likelihood of having a non - Fatal acute coronary syndrome: A case-control study

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the independent role of perceived stress, measured by the PSS-14, on the likelihood of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: This is a case-control study with individual matching by age and sex. During 2010-2012, 250 consecutive patients (60±11 years, 78% men) with a first ACS and 250 population-based, control subjects (60±8.6 years, 77.6% men), were enrolled. Perceived stress levels were evaluated with the PSS-14 scale, depression status was assessed with the Zung Depression Rating Scale, anxiety status with the STAI scale and adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed by the MedDietScore. Results: Higher perceived stress was associated with increased likelihood of having an ACS, after adjusting for various factors (OR=1.15, %CI 1.11, 1.18). STAI and ZUNG scale were positively associated with the likelihood of having an ACS (OR: 1.27 %CI 1.20-1.34, p<0.001 and OR: 1.49 %CI 1.36-1.63, p<0.001 respectively). Stratified analysis by sex showed a greater impact of perceived stress in men, compared with women (Wald test value 45.65 vs 18.56, respectively). When stratifying by depression levels, the effect of perceived stress on ACS was not significant among depressed individuals. When stratifying by level of anxiety, higher odds of having an ACS was found in the low anxiety group (OR: 1.129, %CI 1.047 -1.218). Conclusion: Perceived stress appears as an independent ACS risk factor, although no causal relationship can be extracted due to the nature of the study. Early recognition and treatment of perceived stress may lead to ACS risk reduction. © Katsarou et al

Development of a Population Pharmacokinetic Model of Busulfan in Children and Evaluation of Different Sampling Schedules for Precision Dosing

We develop a population pharmacokinetic model to describe Busulfan pharmacokinetics in paediatric patients and investigate by simulations the impact of various sampling schedules on the calculation of AUC. Seventy-six children had 2 h infusions every 6 h. A two-compartment linear model was found to adequately describe the data. A lag-time was introduced to account for the delay of the administration of the drug through the infusion pump. The mean values of clearance, central volume of distribution, intercompartmental clearance, and peripheral volume of distribution were 10.7 L/h, 39.5 L, 4.68 L/h and 17.5 L, respectively, normalized for a Body Weight (BW) of 70 kg. BW was found to explain a portion of variability with an allometric relationship and fixed exponents of 0.75 on clearance parameters and 1 on volumes. Interindividual variability for clearance and volume of distribution was found to be 28% and 41%, respectively, and interoccasion variability for clearance was found to be 11%. Three sampling schedules were assessed by simulations for bias and imprecision to calculate AUC by a non-compartmental and a model-based method. The latter was found to be superior in all cases, while the non-compartmental was unbiased only in sampling up to 12 h corresponding to a once-daily dosing regimen. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland