Thermal diffusivity, effusivity and conductivity of CdMnTe mixed crystals

Cd1-xMnxTe mixed crystals belong to a class of materials called ‘‘semimagnetic semiconductor’’ or diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) with addition of magnetic ions like Mn2+ implemented into crystal structure. The crystals under investigation were grown from the melt by the high pressure high temperature modified Bridgman method in the range of composition 0 < x < 0.7. Thermal properties of these compounds have been investigated by means of photopyroelectric (PPE) calorimetry in both, back and front detection configuration. The values of the thermal diffusivity and effusivity were derived from experimental data. Thermal conductivity of the specimens was calculated from the simple theoretical dependencies between thermal parameters. The influence of Mn concentration on thermal properties of Cd1-xMnxTe crystals have been presented and discussed

Taxonomic variations in the gut microbiome of gout patients with and without tophi might have a functional impact on urate metabolism

Objective: To evaluate the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiome in gout patients with and without tophi formation, and predict bacterial functions that might have an impact on urate metabolism. Methods: Hypervariable V3–V4 regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene from fecal samples of gout patients with and without tophi (n=33 and n=25, respectively) were sequenced and compared to fecal samples from 53 healthy controls. We explored predictive functional profles using bioinformatics in order to identify diferences in taxonomy and metabolic pathways. Results: We identifed a microbiome characterized by the lowest richness and a higher abundance of Phascolarctobacterium, Bacteroides, Akkermansia, and Ruminococcus_gnavus_group genera in patients with gout without tophi when compared to controls. The Proteobacteria phylum and the Escherichia-Shigella genus were more abundant in patients with tophaceous gout than in controls. Fold change analysis detected nine genera enriched in healthy controls compared to gout groups (Bifdobacterium, Butyricicoccus, Oscillobacter, Ruminococcaceae_UCG_010, Lachnospiraceae_ND2007_group, Haemophilus, Ruminococcus_1, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, and Ruminococcaceae_ UGC_013). We found that the core microbiota of both gout groups shared Bacteroides caccae, Bacteroides stercoris ATCC 43183, and Bacteroides coprocola DSM 17136. These bacteria might perform functions linked to one-carbon metabo‑ lism, nucleotide binding, amino acid biosynthesis, and purine biosynthesis. Finally, we observed diferences in key bacterial enzymes involved in urate synthesis, degradation, and elimination. Conclusion: Our fndings revealed that taxonomic variations in the gut microbiome of gout patients with and with‑ out tophi might have a functional impact on urate metabolism. Keywords: Gout, Gut microbiota, Uric acid metabolis

Volumetric assessment of the sella turcica: a reevaluation

Background: The sella turcica volume is widely measured by the Di Chiro-Nelson method. The purpose is to compare the fidelity of a proposed volumetry method versus the Di Chiro-Nelson method, using Computed Tomography (CT) images. Materials and methods: Morphometric examination of 173 CT were included, of which 52.6% were female. The mean age was 53.2 ± 17.6 years. Considering the Di Chiro-Nelson method, two measurements were added for each axis in the CT evaluation: Length (Central, Left, and Right), Width (Central, Anterior, and Posterior), and Height (Central, Left, and Right). Results: The mean measurements were Length: Central 10.11 ± 1.44, Left 7.45 ± 1.67, Right 7.53 ± 1.59; Width: Central 12.27 ± 2.11, Anterior 10.99 ± 1.92, Posterior 10.10 ± 1.74; Height: Central 7.68 ± 1.38, Left 7.16 ± 1.35, Right 7.40 ± 1.41. A statistically significant difference between sex was found only in the anterior width (p=0.01). Using the proposed method, the volume was 342.2 ± 88.5 and 378. 6 ± 113.9 mm3 respectively between females and males (p=0.02) versus 476.1 ± 132.4 and 523.8 ± 186.0 mm3 (p=0.05) using the Di Chiro-Nelson’s method. Conclusions: Women had significantly smaller sella turcica volume than men. This proposed method considers the sella turcica as a not strictly symmetrical structure and indicates reduced variation between the maximum and minimum values, compared to the Di Chiro-Nelson’s. Our findings may be useful to reassess the volume of the sella turcica as the measurements indicate a higher precision

Quality of life in Mexican women with breast cancer in different clinical stages and its association with socio-demographic features, comorbidity states and care process characteristics in the Mexican Institute of Social Security [Calidad de Vida en Mujeres Mexicanas con C�ncer de Mama en Diferentes Etapas Cl�nicas y su Asociaci�n con Caracter�sticas Socio-Demogr�ficas, Estados Co-M�rbidos y Caracter�sticas del Proceso de Atenci�n en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social]

Introduction: Quality of Life is the most studied PRO (patient reported outcome) in cancer patients. With early diagnosis and better treatments in breast cancer, this entity has been transformed in a chronic disease with longer survival. The joint effects of diseases and treatment on quality of life are each day more important to consider in survival patients. Objective: To evaluate Quality of Life, Socioeconomic factors, co-morbidities, and the attendance process impact on quality of life in breast cancer women with different clinical stages attending at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social using the EORCT QLQ-C30 Results: The scores of EORTC QLQ-C30 (v3) were: Global health status / QoL: 73.47 (�20.81), physical functioning 76.98 (�20.85), role functioning 76.60 (�27.57), emotional functioning 64.53 (�26.81), cognitive functioning 74.47 (�26.02), social functioning 84.96 (�23.20), fatigue 31.94 (�25.45), nausea and vomiting 19.49 (�26.93), pain 28.95 (�27.27), dyspnea 15.29 (�24.62), insomnia 35.13 (�32.10), appetite lost 18.04 (�28.75), 18.04 (�28.75), constipation 19.20 (�32.11), diarrhea 12.9 (�24.25), financial difficulties 40.57 (�37.26). The scores with EORTC QLQ-BR23 were: body image 74.84 (�31.69), sexual functioning13.73 (�22.55), sexual enjoyment 32.86 (�36.17), future perspectives 51.69 (�38.00), systemic therapy side effects 30.82 (�20.71), breast symptoms22.85 (�23.49), arm symptoms 27.53 (�24.75), upsert by hair loss 43.80 (�44.01). Conclusions: Clinical stage in breast cancer is associated with differences in the scores from fatigue, nausea and vomiting and financial difficulties according to the evolution of the disease and the physical detriment associated. Socio-demographic features were related role functioning, fatigue and pain in single women with higher scores. � 2011 International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR)