Carotid atherosclerosis in people of European, South Asian and African Caribbean ethnicity in the Southall and Brent revisited study (SABRE)

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk differs by ethnicity. In comparison with Europeans (EA) South Asian (SA) people in UK experience higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, while African Caribbean people have a lower risk of CHD but a higher risk of stroke. Aim: To compare carotid atherosclerosis in EA, SA, and AC participants in the Southall and Brent Revisited (SABRE) study and establish if any differences were explained by ASCVD risk factors. Methods: Cardiovascular risk factors were measured, and carotid ultrasound was performed in 985 individuals (438 EA, 325 SA, 228 AC). Carotid artery plaques and intima-media thickness (cIMT) were measured. Associations of carotid atherosclerosis with ethnicity were investigated using generalised linear models (GLMs), with and without adjustment for non-modifiable (age, sex) and modifiable risk factors (education, diabetes, hypertension, total cholesterol, HDL-C, alcohol consumption, current smoking). Results: Prevalence of any plaque was similar in EA and SA, but lower in AC (16, 16, and 6%, respectively; p < 0.001). In those with plaque, total plaque area, numbers of plaques, plaque class, or greyscale median did not differ by ethnicity; adjustment for risk factors had minimal effects. cIMT was higher in AC than the other ethnic groups after adjustment for age and sex, adjustment for risk factors attenuated this difference. Conclusion: Prevalence of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaques varies by ethnicity, independent of risk factors. Lower plaque prevalence in in AC is consistent with their lower risk of CHD but not their higher risk of stroke. Higher cIMT in AC may be explained by risk factors. The similarity of plaque burden in SA and EA despite established differences in ASCVD risk casts some doubt on the utility of carotid ultrasound as a means of assessing risk across these ethnic groups

Serum Trace Elements (Zinc, Copper and Magnesium) Status in Iraqi Patients with Acne Vulgaris :( Case- Controlled Study)

Recently on the dermatological fields, the serum levels and the roles of Zn, Cu and Mg have been studied especially in acne vulgaris, but the results were controversial. The aim of the present study is to investigate  a relationship between the severity of acne and the serum levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and magnesium (Mg) and to demonstrate the status of serum levels of zinc, copper, and magnesium in Iraqi male patients with acne vulgaris and to compare it with those of healthy controls.This case controlled study was conducted in the Department of Dermatology and Venerology and in the Poisoning Consultation Center of Baghdad Teaching Hospital between May 2009 to January 2010. Forty- five male patients with acne vulgaris, their ages ranged from 18-30 (21.82±3.77) years and 45 healthy male subjects as controls, their ages ranged from 18-30 (22.18±3.85) years were included in this study. Patients were subdivided into three groups according to the severity of their acne; mild acne group (n=15), moderate (n=15) and severe acne group (n=15). Investigations included serum estimation of Zn, Cu and Mg in both patient and control groups.The data obtained from this study showed that the (mean±SD) values of serum levels of Zn was significantly decreased in severe acne group compared with controls, mild and moderate type of acne group (P< 0.05). Serum Mg concentration was significantly lower in severe acne group compared with mild and moderate acne group (P< 0.05). With regard to serum Cu, there were no significant differences  among groups of patients with acne vulgaris.This study revealed a significant association between serum levels of either Zn or Mg with the severity of acne. Key words: Acne vulgaris, zinc, copper, magnesium

Strange new worlds: comparative planetology of exoplanets and the Solar System

This is the final version. Available on open access from the American Astronomical Society via the DOI in this record This whitepaper discusses the striking diversity of exoplanets that could be detected by future observations and highlights the potential for comparative planetology to be performed with Solar System planets in the upcoming era of large, space-based flagship missions

The ineluctable requirement for the trans-iron elements molybdenum and/or tungsten in the origin of life

An evolutionary tree of key enzymes from the Complex-Iron-Sulfur-Molybdoenzyme (CISM) superfamily distinguishes “ancient” members, i.e. enzymes present already in the last universal common ancestor (LUCA) of prokaryotes, from more recently evolved subfamilies. The majority of the presented subfamilies and, as a consequence, the Molybdo-enzyme superfamily as a whole, appear to have existed in LUCA. The results are discussed with respect to the nature of bioenergetic substrates available to early life and to problems arising from the low solubility of molybdenum under conditions of the primordial Earth

Extensive marine anoxia associated with the Late Devonian Hangenberg Crisis

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record The global Hangenberg Crisis near the Devonian-Carboniferous boundary (DCB) represents one of the major Phanerozoic mass extinction events, which shaped the roots of modern vertebrate biodiversity. Marine anoxia has been cited as the proximate kill mechanism for this event. However, the detailed timing, duration, and extent of global marine redox chemistry changes across this critical interval remain controversial because most of the studies to date only constrain changes in local or regional redox chemistry. Thus, opinions on the significance of anoxia as a kill mechanism are variable—from anoxia being a primary driver to being relatively unimportant. In this study, we explore the evolution of global marine redox chemistry using U isotopes of marine limestones. The δ238U trends at Long'an section in South China document systematic oscillations with three negative shifts punctuated by two positive events in between. The magnitude of the δ238U oscillations implies that the sediments do not record contemporaneous seawater with a constant offset at all times. The lack of covariation between δ238U data and diagenetic indicators (e.g., Mn and Sr contents, Mn/Sr ratio, δ18O) suggests that the δ238U trends are not produced by the same post-depositional diagenetic processes. Instead, trace-metal enrichments suggest that more reducing conditions prevailed during the deposition of the two positive events. We present plausible model scenarios that fit the observed δ238U trends in the context of redox-sensitive trace metal data suggesting marine anoxia expanded in the latest Devonian oceans to cover >5% of the continental shelf seafloor area. The rapid expansion of marine anoxia coincident with the onset of the Hangenberg Crisis supports marine anoxia as an important kill mechanism. Biogeochemical modeling of the coupled C-P-U cycles suggests that intensified continental weathering, for example, assisted by the spread of seed plants with deeper root systems at this time, could have triggered expansion of marine anoxia and other global changes (e.g., positive excursion in δ13Ccarb and decrease in sea surface temperature) in the latest Devonian. The anoxic event is inferred to have been transient as climatic cooling would have reduced weathering fluxes.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC

Prevalência de atraso do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor em pré-escolares

O desenvolvimento infantil é um processo de mudanças relacionado com a idade e influenciado pelo ambiente em que a criança vive. Desta maneira, o objetivo é verificar o a prevalência de atraso do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor (DNPM) em pré-escolares. Procedimentos: tratou-se de um estudo transversal analítico realizado em três abrigos e uma escola particular da Zona Leste de São Paulo-SP, na qual participaram 81 crianças. Aplicou-se um questionário aos responsáveis pelas crianças participantes e para avaliar o desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor das crianças foi utilizado o Teste Denver II. Os resultados revelaram a prevalência de atraso no DNPM em crianças institucionalizadas (31,6%), p=0,06. A linguagem foi a área mais freqüentemente afetada nas crianças com suspeita de atraso. Em relação ao suporte familiar e condições ambientais não houve diferenças estatisticamente significantes nas crianças institucionalizadas. Verificou-se que os resultados não significativos talvez sejam conseqüência da relação de apego que as crianças institucionalizadas adquirem entre si e da convivência com um maior número de crianças. Conclusão: o presente estudo não encontrou diferenças estatisticamente significativas no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor de crianças institucionalizadas e não-institucionalizadas, porém houve maior prevalência de suspeita de atraso nas crianças institucionalizadas.The child development is a process of age-related changes and influenced by the environment where the child lives. This way, the goal is to determine the prevalence of delay development neuropsychomotor in preschool children. Procedures: this was an analytical cross-sectional study performed in three shelters and a private school in the East zone of São Paulo-SP, attended 81 children. A questionnaire was applied to children participating and to evaluate the development neuropsychomotor of children was used testing Denver II. The results revealed the prevalence of late DNPM institutionalised children (31.6%), p = 0.06. The language was the area most often affected in children with suspected delays. In relation to the support of family and environmental conditions there were statistically significant differences in institutionalised children. The insignificant results may be a consequence of the relationship of attachment that institutionalized children acquire each other and co-existence with a greater number of children. Conclusion: this study found no statistically significant differences in the development of institutionalized children neuropsicomotor and non-institutionalized, but there were higher prevalence of suspected delay in institutionalised children