Growth to early adulthood following extremely preterm birth: the EPICure study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate growth trajectories from age 2.5 to 19 years in individuals born before 26 weeks of gestation (extremely preterm; EP) compared with term-born controls. METHODS: Multilevel modelling of growth data from the EPICure study, a prospective 1995 birth cohort of 315 EP participants born in the UK and Ireland and 160 term-born controls recruited at school age. Height, weight, head circumference and body mass index (BMI) z-scores were derived from UK standards at ages 2.5, 6, 11 and 19 years. RESULTS: 129 (42%) EP children were assessed at 19 years. EP individuals were on average 4.0 cm shorter and 6.8 kg lighter with a 1.5 cm smaller head circumference relative to controls at 19 years. Relative to controls, EP participants grew faster in weight by 0.06 SD per year (95% CI 0.05 to 0.07), in head circumference by 0.04 SD (95% CI 0.03 to 0.05), but with no catch-up in height. For the EP group, because of weight catch-up between 6 and 19 years, BMI was significantly elevated at 19 years to +0.32 SD; 23.4% had BMI >25 kg/m2 and 6.3% >30 kg/m2 but these proportions were similar to those in control subjects. EP and control participants showed similar pubertal development in early adolescence, which was not associated with height at 19 years in either study group. Growth through childhood was related to birth characteristics and to neonatal feeding practices. CONCLUSIONS: EP participants remained shorter and lighter and had smaller head circumferences than reference data or controls in adulthood but had elevated BMI

INTEGRAL and Swift/XRT observations of IGR J19405-3016

IGR J19405-3016 is reported in the 3rd IBIS catalog as being one of its lowest significance sources (~4.6 sigma under an exposure of about 371 ks). This leads to a caveat in multi-wavelength study although the source was identified in optical as a Seyfert 1. The currently increased INTEGRAL data stimulate us to investigate the reality of this source. We analyze all available observations carried out by INTEGRAL and Swift on IGR J19405-3016. We find that IGR J19405-3016 has a detection significance of ~ 9.4 sigma in the 20-60 keV band during the observational period between March 2003 and March 2008. Thus confirms a real source detection reported previously. The source position and error location are therefore updated. The source is found to be constant over years at the hard X-rays. Over the three XRT observations, the source flux varied by up to 39% from the average, and the spectrum is generally soft. The combined XRT/ISGRI spectrum is well fitted with a simple power law model (photon index 2.11+-0.03). Such a photon index is well consistent with the mean value 1.98 (dispersion 0.27) as obtained from Swift/BAT AGN samples at 14-195 keV. The spectral slope of IGR J19405-3016 is larger than the average spectral slope found by Molina et al. (2009). A similar discrepancy is found with the results of Beckmann et al. (2009) regarding Seyfert 1 AGNs. A possible explanation of this simple spectral description may be that the low level of the column density allows for the `true' spectrum to appear at soft X-rays as well.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics, in pres

Characterisation of the main drivers of intra- and inter- breed variability in the plasma metabolome of dogs

INTRODUCTION: Dog breeds are a consequence of artificial selection for specific attributes. These closed genetic populations have metabolic and physiological characteristics that may be revealed by metabolomic analysis. OBJECTIVES: To identify and characterise the drivers of metabolic differences in the fasted plasma metabolome and then determine metabolites differentiating breeds. METHODS: Fasted plasma samples were collected from dogs maintained under two environmental conditions (controlled and client-owned at home). The former (n = 33) consisted of three breeds (Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel and Miniature Schnauzer) fed a single diet batch, the latter (n = 96), client-owned dogs consisted of 9 breeds (Beagle, Chihuahua, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Golden Retriever, Greyhound, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever and Maltese) consuming various diets under differing feeding regimens. Triplicate samples were taken from Beagle (n = 10) and Labrador Retriever (n = 9) over 3 months. Non-targeted metabolite fingerprinting was performed using flow infusion electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry which was coupled with multivariate data analysis. Metadata factors including age, gender, sexual status, weight, diet and breed were investigated. RESULTS: Breed differences were identified in the plasma metabolome of dogs housed in a controlled environment. Triplicate samples from two breeds identified intra-individual variability, yet breed separation was still observed. The main drivers of variance in dogs maintained in the home environment were associated with breed and gender. Furthermore, metabolite signals were identified that discriminated between Labrador Retriever and Cocker Spaniels in both environments. CONCLUSION: Metabolite fingerprinting of plasma samples can be used to investigate breed differences in client-owned dogs, despite added variance of diet, sexual status and environment. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11306-016-0997-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Clinical and Demographic Characteristics and Two-Year Efficacy and Safety Data of 508 Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Fingolimod Treatment

Introduction: Fingolimod is the first oral immunomodulatory treatment used as secondary care therapy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis for the last 10 years. The objective of our study is to reveal the experiences of the first generic fingolimod active ingredient treatment in different centers across Turkey. Method: The first generic fingolimod efficacy and safety data of patients followed-up in 29 different clinical multiple sclerosis units in Turkey were analyzed retrospectively. Data regarding efficacy and safety of the patients were transferred to the data system both before the treatment and on the 6th, 12th and 24th month following the treatment. The data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS 20.00. P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 508 multiple sclerosis patients, 331 of whom were women, were included in the study. Upon comparing the Expanded Disability Status values before and after the treatment, a significant decrease was observed, especially at month 6 and thereafter. Since bradycardia occurred in 11 of the patients (2.3%), the first dose had to be longer than 6 hours. During the observation of the first dose, no issues that could prevent the use of the drug occured. Side effects were seen in 49 (10.3%) patients during the course of fingolimod treatment. Respectively, the most frequent side effects were bradycardia, hypotension, headache, dizziness and tachycardia. Conclusion: The observed results regarding efficacy and safety were similar to clinical trial data in the literature and real life data in terms of the first equivalent with fingolimod active ingredient. © 2023, Turkish Neuropsychiatric Society. All rights reserved.Thanks to SANOVEL for funding the publication process

Effekten av olika koncentrationer av Rotstop R och Rotstop S och ofullständig täckning av Rotstop S på sporinfektioner av rotticka på granstubbar

The effectiveness of treatment with two Phlebiopsis gigantea based preparations (Rotstop® and RotstopS) in different concentrations against the root and butt rot causing fungus Heterobasidion annosum s.l. on Norway spruce (Picea abies) thinning stumps in southern Sweden was compared. The trees were cut on three sites during the summer 2004 and 285 stumps were treated manually with 100% cover with two different amounts of spores in solution corresponding to approximately 5×106 spores/l and 10×106 spores/l. 31 stumps received mechanical part cover with the highest spore concentrations of Phlebiopsis gigantea, i.e. approximately 20×106 spores/l. Mechanical treatment was assessed for satisfactory treatment effect. Three months later, samples were collected and analyzed. There was a significant reduction in frequency and relative areas of Heterobasidion spp. infections on stumps with manual application of control agents compared to untreated stumps. On average 10 to 23% of stumps subjected to manual treatments were infected compared to 52% for the untreated stumps. However, none of the concentration solutions of Rotstop® and RotstopS differed from the others in reduction of Heterobasidion spp. infections. Mechanical treatment failed to control the Heterobasidion spp. infections, but there was a tendency for the 85.1-95.0% cover class to provide better result than the others. Thus, despite of the incomplete control of the pathogen, stump treatment with different concentrations of Phlebiopsis gigantea oidia in suspensions provided equal effects at the present spore loads of Heterobasidion spp.Effektiviteten av behandling med två pergamentsvampsbaserade (Phlebiopsis gigantea) lösningar (Rotstop® och RotstopS) i olika koncentrationer mot sporinfektioner av rotticka (Heterobasidion spp.) på gallringsstubbar av gran (Picea abies) i södra Sverige jämfördes. Träd avverkades på tre olika lokaler under sommaren 2004 och sammanlagt 285 stubbar behandlades manuellt med en hundraprocentig täckning i två olika koncentrationer motsvarande ungefär 5×106 sporer/l respektive 10×106 sporer/l lösning. 31 stubbar på en av lokalerna behandlades maskinellt med en ofullständig täckning men med den högsta koncentrationen av pergamentsvamp (RotstopS), ca 20×106 sporer/l lösning. Effekten av den mekaniska behandlingens partiella täckning jämfördes med den manuella fullständiga. Tre månader efter behandlingen samlades prover in för analys med avseende på förekomsten av rotticka. Alla manuella behandlingar gav en signifikant reducering av frekvensen av och relativa arean av rottickeinfektioner jämfört med obehandlade stubbar. I genomsnitt var 10 till 23 % av de manuellt behandlade stubbarna infekterade jämfört med 52 % av de obehandlade. Ingen av de manuella applikationerna skiljde sig dock från varandra. Den mekaniska behandlingen gav inte ett tillfredsställande resultat men det fanns en tendens till att täckningsgradsklass 85,1- 95,0 % fungerade bättre än de andra. Således, trots att ingen behandling gav en 100 % -ig minskning av antalet rottickeinfektioner, verkar olika koncentrationer av Rotstop® och RotstopS ge ett likvärdigt resultat under de förhållanden i sportryck som rådde vid behandlingen

Theory of the beta-type Organic Superconductivity under Uniaxial Compression

We study theoretically the shift of the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) under uniaxial compression in beta-type organic superconductors, beta-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 and beta-(BDA-TTP)2X[X=SbF6,AsF6], in order to clarify the electron correlation, the spin frustration and the effect of dimerization. The transfer integrals are calculated by the extended Huckel method assuming the uniaxial strain and the superconducting state mediated by the spin fluctuation is solved using Eliashberg's equation with the fluctuation-exchange approximation. The calculation is carried out on both the dimerized (one-band) and nondimerized (two-band) Hubbard models. We have found that (i) the behavior of Tc in beta-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 with a stronger dimerization is well reproduced by the dimer model, while that in weakly dimerized beta-BDA-TTP salts is rather well reproduced by the two-band model, and (ii) the competition between the spin frustration and the effect induced by the fluctuation is important in these materials, which causes nonmonotonic shift of Tc against uniaxial compression.Comment: 18 pages, 16 figures, 2 tabl

Accretion Properties of A Sample of Hard X-ray (<60keV) Selected Seyfert 1 Galaxies

We examine the accretion properties in a sample of 42 hard (3-60keV) X-ray selected nearby broad-line AGNs. The energy range in the sample is harder than that usually used in the similar previous studies. These AGNs are mainly complied from the RXTE All Sky Survey (XSS), and complemented by the released INTEGRAL AGN catalog. The black hole masses, bolometric luminosities of AGN, and Eddington ratios are derived from their optical spectra in terms of the broad H$\beta$ emission line. The tight correlation between the hard X-ray (3-20keV) and bolometric/line luminosity is well identified in our sample. Also identified is a strong inverse Baldwin relationship of the H$\beta$ emission line. In addition, all these hard X-ray AGNs are biased toward luminous objects with high Eddington ratio (mostly between 0.01 to 0.1) and low column density ($<10^{22} \mathrm{cm^{-2}}$), which is most likely due to the selection effect of the surveys. The hard X-ray luminosity is consequently found to be strongly correlated with the black hole mass. We believe the sample completeness will be improved in the next few years by the ongoing Swift and INTEGRAL missions, and by the next advanced missions, such as NuSTAR, Simbol-X, and NeXT. Finally, the correlation between RFe (=optical FeII/H$\beta$) and disk temperature as assessed by $T\propto (L/L_{\mathrm{Edd}})M_{\mathrm{BH}}^{-1}$ leads us to suggest that the strength of the FeII emission is mainly determined by the shape of the ionizing spectrum.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, accepted by A