39 research outputs found
The effects of alcohol on plasma lipid mediators of inflammation resolution in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Background
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by peripheral insulin resistance and low-grade systemic inflammation. Inflammation resolution is recognised as an important process driven by specialised pro-resolving mediators of inflammation (SPMs) and has the potential to moderate chronic inflammation. Alcohol has the potential to affect synthesis of SPMs by altering key enzymes involved in SPM synthesis and may influence ongoing inflammation associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Aims
(i) To examine the effects of alcohol consumed as red wine on plasma SPM in men and women with Type 2 diabetes in a randomised controlled trial and (ii) compare baseline plasma SPM levels in the same patients with those of healthy volunteers.
Methods
Twenty-four patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized to a three-period crossover study with men drinking red wine 300 ml/day (∼31 g alcohol/day) and women drinking red wine 230 ml/day (∼24 g alcohol/day), or equivalent volumes of dealcoholized red wine (DRW) or water, each for 4 weeks. The SPM 18-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (18-HEPE), E-series resolvins (Rv) (RvE1-RvE3), 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA), and D-series resolvins (RvD1, 17R-RvD1, RvD2, RvD5), 14-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (14-HDHA) and Maresin 1 were measured at the end of each period. A baseline comparison of plasma SPM, hs CRP, lipids and glucose was made with healthy volunteers.
Results
Red wine did not differentially affect any of the SPM measured when compared with DRW or water. Baseline levels of the hs-CRP and the SPM 18-HEPE, 17-HDHA, RvD1 and 17R-RvD1 in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus were all significantly elevated compared with healthy controls and remained so after adjusting for age and gender.
Conclusion
Moderate alcohol consumption as red wine does not alter plasma SPM in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The elevation of SPM levels compared with healthy volunteers may be a homeostatic response to counter ongoing inflammation
The Stellar Population of h and chi Persei: Cluster Properties, Membership, and the Intrinsic Colors and Temperatures of Stars
(Abridged) From photometric observations of 47,000 stars and
spectroscopy of 11,000 stars, we describe the first extensive study of
the stellar population of the famous Double Cluster, h and Persei, down
to subsolar masses. Both clusters have E(B-V) 0.52--0.55 and dM =
11.8--11.85; the halo population, while more poorly constrained, likely has
identical properties. As determined from the main sequence turnoff, the
luminosity of M supergiants, and pre-main sequence isochrones, ages for h
Persei, Persei and the halo population all converge on 14 Myr.
From these data, we establish the first spectroscopic and photometric
membership lists of cluster stars down to early/mid M dwarfs. At minimum, there
are 5,000 members within 10' of the cluster centers, while the entire h
and Persei region has at least 13,000 and as many as 20,000
members. The Double Cluster contains 8,400 M of stars
within 10' of the cluster centers. We estimate a total mass of at least 20,000
M. We conclude our study by outlining outstanding questions regarding
the properties of h and Persei. From comparing recent work, we compile a
list of intrinsic colors and derive a new effective temperature scale for O--M
dwarfs, giants, and supergiants.Comment: 88 pages, many figures, Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journal Supplements. Contact lead author for version with high-resolution
figure
Preventive acetaminophen reduces postoperative opioid consumption, vomiting, and pain scores after surgery: systematic review and meta-analysis
Background and Objectives: Preventive analgesia has been proposed as a potential strategy to reduce postoperative pain. However, there is currently no review that focuses on acetaminophen for preventive analgesia.
Methods: We conducted a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cinahl, AMED, and CENTRAL databases identifying randomized controlled trials that compared preventive acetaminophen with postincision acetaminophen.
Results: Seven studies with 544 participants were included. Overall, the studies showed a reduction in 24-hour opioid consumption (standardized mean difference [SMD] of -0.52; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], -0.98 to -0.06), lower pain scores at 1 hour (MD, -0.50; 95% CI, -0.98 to -0.02) and 2 hours (MD, -0.34; 95% CI, -0.67 to -0.01), and a lower incidence of postoperative vomiting (risk ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.31-0.83) in the preventive acetaminophen group. Current studies are limited by a potential risk of bias.
Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first review to describe a potential preventive effect of acetaminophen. However, well-conducted randomized controlled trials are necessary to substantiate the conclusions of this review
Structures of Local Galaxies Compared to High Redshift Star-forming Galaxies
The rest-frame far-ultraviolet (FUV) morphologies of 8 nearby interacting and
starburst galaxies (Arp 269, M 82, Mrk 8, NGC 520, NGC 1068, NGC 3079, NGC
3310, NGC 7673) are compared with 54 galaxies at z ~ 1.5 and 46 galaxies at z ~
4 observed in the GOODS-ACS field. The nearby sample is artificially redshifted
to z ~ 1.5 and 4. We compare the simulated galaxy morphologies to real z ~ 1.5
and 4 UV-bright galaxy morphologies. We calculate the Gini coefficient (G), the
second-order moment of the brightest 20% of the galaxy's flux (M_20), and the
Sersic index (n). We explore the use of nonparametric methods with 2D profile
fitting and find the combination of M_20 with n an efficient method to classify
galaxies as having merger, exponential disk, or bulge-like morphologies. When
classified according to G and M_20, 20/30% of real/simulated galaxies at z ~
1.5 and 37/12% at z ~ 4 have bulge-like morphologies. The rest have merger-like
or intermediate distributions. Alternatively, when classified according to the
Sersic index, 70% of the z ~ 1.5 and z ~ 4 real galaxies are exponential disks
or bulge-like with n > 0.8, and ~30% of the real galaxies are classified as
mergers. The artificially redshifted galaxies have n values with ~35% bulge or
exponential at z ~ 1.5 and 4. Therefore, ~20-30% of Lyman-break galaxies (LBGs)
have structures similar to local starburst mergers, and may be driven by
similar processes. We assume merger-like or clumpy star-forming galaxies in the
GOODS field have morphological structure with values n -1.7.
We conclude that Mrk 8, NGC 3079, and NGC 7673 have structures similar to those
of merger-like and clumpy star-forming galaxies observed at z ~ 1.5 and 4.Comment: Accepted by The Astronomical Journal May 2009. Changes include an
added explanation of methods in Section
Mechanisms of Hearing Loss after Blast Injury to the Ear
Given the frequent use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) around the world, the study of traumatic blast injuries is of
increasing interest. The ear is the most common organ affected by blast injury because it is the bodyメs most sensitive
pressure transducer. We fabricated a blast chamber to re-create blast profiles similar to that of IEDs and used it to develop a
reproducible mouse model to study blast-induced hearing loss. The tympanic membrane was perforated in all mice after
blast exposure and found to heal spontaneously. Micro-computed tomography demonstrated no evidence for middle ear or
otic capsule injuries; however, the healed tympanic membrane was thickened. Auditory brainstem response and distortion
product otoacoustic emission threshold shifts were found to be correlated with blast intensity. As well, these threshold
shifts were larger than those found in control mice that underwent surgical perforation of their tympanic membranes,
indicating cochlear trauma. Histological studies one week and three months after the blast demonstrated no disruption or
damage to the intra-cochlear membranes. However, there was loss of outer hair cells (OHCs) within the basal turn of the
cochlea and decreased spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and afferent nerve synapses. Using our mouse model that
recapitulates human IED exposure, our results identify that the mechanisms underlying blast-induced hearing loss does not
include gross membranous rupture as is commonly believed. Instead, there is both OHC and SGN loss that produce auditory
dysfunction
CANDELS: The Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey - The Hubble Space Telescope Observations, Imaging Data Products and Mosaics
This paper describes the Hubble Space Telescope imaging data products and
data reduction procedures for the Cosmic Assembly Near-IR Deep Extragalactic
Legacy Survey (CANDELS). This survey is designed to document the evolution of
galaxies and black holes at , and to study Type Ia SNe beyond
. Five premier multi-wavelength sky regions are selected, each with
extensive multiwavelength observations. The primary CANDELS data consist of
imaging obtained in the Wide Field Camera 3 / infrared channel (WFC3/IR) and
UVIS channel, along with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). The
CANDELS/Deep survey covers \sim125 square arcminutes within GOODS-N and
GOODS-S, while the remainder consists of the CANDELS/Wide survey, achieving a
total of \sim800 square arcminutes across GOODS and three additional fields
(EGS, COSMOS, and UDS). We summarize the observational aspects of the survey as
motivated by the scientific goals and present a detailed description of the
data reduction procedures and products from the survey. Our data reduction
methods utilize the most up to date calibration files and image combination
procedures. We have paid special attention to correcting a range of
instrumental effects, including CTE degradation for ACS, removal of electronic
bias-striping present in ACS data after SM4, and persistence effects and other
artifacts in WFC3/IR. For each field, we release mosaics for individual epochs
and eventual mosaics containing data from all epochs combined, to facilitate
photometric variability studies and the deepest possible photometry. A more
detailed overview of the science goals and observational design of the survey
are presented in a companion paper.Comment: 39 pages, 25 figure
CANDELS: The Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey
The Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS)
is designed to document the first third of galactic evolution, over the
approximate redshift (z) range 8--1.5. It will image >250,000 distant galaxies
using three separate cameras on the Hubble Space Telescope, from the
mid-ultraviolet to the near-infrared, and will find and measure Type Ia
supernovae at z>1.5 to test their accuracy as standardizable candles for
cosmology. Five premier multi-wavelength sky regions are selected, each with
extensive ancillary data. The use of five widely separated fields mitigates
cosmic variance and yields statistically robust and complete samples of
galaxies down to a stellar mass of 10^9 M_\odot to z \approx 2, reaching the
knee of the ultraviolet luminosity function (UVLF) of galaxies to z \approx 8.
The survey covers approximately 800 arcmin^2 and is divided into two parts. The
CANDELS/Deep survey (5\sigma\ point-source limit H=27.7 mag) covers \sim 125
arcmin^2 within GOODS-N and GOODS-S. The CANDELS/Wide survey includes GOODS and
three additional fields (EGS, COSMOS, and UDS) and covers the full area to a
5\sigma\ point-source limit of H \gtrsim 27.0 mag. Together with the Hubble
Ultra Deep Fields, the strategy creates a three-tiered "wedding cake" approach
that has proven efficient for extragalactic surveys. Data from the survey are
nonproprietary and are useful for a wide variety of science investigations. In
this paper, we describe the basic motivations for the survey, the CANDELS team
science goals and the resulting observational requirements, the field selection
and geometry, and the observing design. The Hubble data processing and products
are described in a companion paper.Comment: Submitted to Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series; Revised
version, subsequent to referee repor
Effects of a high-dose 24-h infusion of tranexamic acid on death and thromboembolic events in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding (HALT-IT): an international randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Background: Tranexamic acid reduces surgical bleeding and reduces death due to bleeding in patients with trauma.
Meta-analyses of small trials show that tranexamic acid might decrease deaths from gastrointestinal bleeding. We
aimed to assess the effects of tranexamic acid in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding.
Methods: We did an international, multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 164 hospitals in 15 countries.
Patients were enrolled if the responsible clinician was uncertain whether to use tranexamic acid, were aged above the
minimum age considered an adult in their country (either aged 16 years and older or aged 18 years and older), and
had significant (defined as at risk of bleeding to death) upper or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients were
randomly assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight packs that were identical
apart from the pack number. Patients received either a loading dose of 1 g tranexamic acid, which was added to
100 mL infusion bag of 0·9% sodium chloride and infused by slow intravenous injection over 10 min, followed by a
maintenance dose of 3 g tranexamic acid added to 1 L of any isotonic intravenous solution and infused at 125 mg/h
for 24 h, or placebo (sodium chloride 0·9%). Patients, caregivers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to
allocation. The primary outcome was death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation; analysis excluded patients
who received neither dose of the allocated treatment and those for whom outcome data on death were unavailable.
This trial was registered with Current Controlled Trials, ISRCTN11225767, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01658124.
Findings: Between July 4, 2013, and June 21, 2019, we randomly allocated 12 009 patients to receive tranexamic acid
(5994, 49·9%) or matching placebo (6015, 50·1%), of whom 11 952 (99·5%) received the first dose of the allocated
treatment. Death due to bleeding within 5 days of randomisation occurred in 222 (4%) of 5956 patients in the
tranexamic acid group and in 226 (4%) of 5981 patients in the placebo group (risk ratio [RR] 0·99, 95% CI 0·82–1·18).
Arterial thromboembolic events (myocardial infarction or stroke) were similar in the tranexamic acid group and
placebo group (42 [0·7%] of 5952 vs 46 [0·8%] of 5977; 0·92; 0·60 to 1·39). Venous thromboembolic events (deep vein
thrombosis or pulmonary embolism) were higher in tranexamic acid group than in the placebo group (48 [0·8%] of
5952 vs 26 [0·4%] of 5977; RR 1·85; 95% CI 1·15 to 2·98).
Interpretation: We found that tranexamic acid did not reduce death from gastrointestinal bleeding. On the basis of our
results, tranexamic acid should not be used for the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding outside the context of a
randomised trial