Vitamin D and Biomarkers of Sex Steroid Hormones Are Non-Linearly and Inversely Related to All-Cause Mortality: Results from NHANES III

Background: In men, hypovitaminosis D as well as high and low testosterone levels have been linked to adverse events, including death. A biological interaction has been previously suggested between vitamin D and androgens. In a cohort study using Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, we simultaneously investigated circulating vitamin D and biomarkers of sex steroid hormones as predictors of all-cause mortality. Methods: Age-adjusted and fully-adjusted Cox regression models were constructed to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Whereas the vitamin D sufficient group (25(OH)D3 ≥30 ng/ml) was selected as a referent, biomarkers of sex steroid hormones (testosterone, estradiol, SHBG) were defined as Loge-transformed continuous variables. Results: Of 1,472 men with a mean age of 42.1 years at baseline, 382 died over a median of 192 months of follow-up. Estradiol levels were significantly higher among vitamin D deficient compared to vitamin D sufficient men and sex hormone binding globulin level was significantly higher in vitamin D sufficient compared to vitamin D insufficient or deficient groups. An inverse non-linear relationship was observed between all-cause mortality rate and levels of testosterone, estradiol and vitamin D, in fully-adjusted models. There were no significant interaction effects between vitamin D and sex steroid hormones in relation to all-cause mortality rate. Conclusions: Vitamin D and sex steroid hormones, but not sex hormone binding globulin, may be inversely and non-linearly related to all-cause mortality among adult men, after adjustment for baseline demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and clinical characteristics

Virtual geographic environments in socio-environmental modeling: a fancy distraction or a key to communication?

Modeling and simulation are recognized as effective tools for management and decision support across various disciplines; however, poor communication of results to the end users is a major obstacle for properly using and understanding model output. Visualizations can play an essential role in making modeling results accessible for management and decision-making. Virtual reality (VR) and virtual geographic environments (VGEs) are popular and potentially very rewarding ways to visualize socio-environmental models. However, there is a fundamental conflict between abstraction and realism: models are goal-driven, and created to simplify reality and to focus on certain crucial aspects of the system; VR, in the meanwhile, by definition, attempts to replicate reality as closely as possible. This elevated realism may add to the complexity curse in modeling, and the message might be diluted by too many (background) details. This is also connected to information overload and cognitive load. Moreover, modeling is always associated with the treatment of uncertainty–something difficult to present in VR. In this paper, we examine the use of VR and, specifically, VGEs in socio-environmental modeling, and discuss how VGEs and simulation modeling can be married in a mutually beneficial way that makes VGEs more effective for users, while enhancing simulation models

Associations between race, APOE genotype, cognition, and mortality among urban middle-aged white and African American adults

We examined associations between cognition and mortality and how these relationships vary by race and Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, in a longitudinal study of 2346 middle-aged White and African American adults (30-64 years at baseline) from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span cohort study. Baseline cognition spanned global mental status, and several domains obtained using principal components analysis (PCA; PCA1: verbal memory/fluency; PCA2: attention/working memory; PCA3: executive function/visuo-spatial abilities). Cox regression models evaluated associations between cognition and all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD)-mortality. Interactions between cognition and APOE2 as well as APOE4 allelic dose were tested, and race was a key effect modifier. Higher APOE4 dose was associated with increased CVD-mortality (hazard ratio [HR] per allele = 1.37; 95% CI 1.01-1.86, p = 0.041); APOE2 dosage's association with CVD-mortality was non-significant (HR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.35-1.03, p = 0.065). Higher PCA3 was associated with lower all-cause (HR = 0.93; 95% CI 0.87-0.99, p = 0.030) and CVD (HR = 0.85; 95% CI 0.77-0.95, p = 0.001) mortality risks, the latter association being more pronounced among Whites. PCA2 interacted synergistically with APOE2 dosage, reducing risks for all-cause mortality (PCA2 × APOE2: - 0.33 ± 0.13, p = 0.010) and CVD mortality (PCA2 × APOE2: - 0.73 ± 0.31, p = 0.019). In conclusion, greater executive function/visuo-spatial abilities were associated with reduced CVD-specific mortality, particularly among Whites. Greater "attention/working memory" coupled with higher APOE2 dosage was linked with reduced all-cause and CVD mortality risks

Detection of Open Fractures with Vertical Seismic Profiling

In Vertical Seismic Profiling surveys tube waves are generated by compressional waves impinging on subsurface fractures or permeable zones. The problem of generation of these waves by a non-normal incident P wave for an inclined borehole intersecting a tilted parallel wall fracture is formulated theoretically. The amplitude of tube waves depends on the permeability, the length of the fracture, and on the frequency. The relative effects of these parameters are studied individually. The problem is also formulated for a thin oblate ellipsoidal (penny-shaped) fracture. The results for the two fracture models are compared and contrasted. Field data from Tyngsboro, Massachusetts are shown for open fractures in granite. From tube wave amplitudes normalized to P wave amplitudes, calculated permeabilities are on the order of one hundred millidarcys.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Full Waveform Acoustic Logging Consortiu

Detection Of Subsurface Fractures And Permeable Zones By The Analysis Of Tube Waves

In Vertical Seismic Profiling tube waves are generated by compressional waves impinging on subsurface fractures or permeable zones. The amplitude of tube waves is dependent upon the formation permeability, the length of the fracture, and on the source frequency. The generation of tube waves is formulated theoretically and the relative effects of these parameters are studied individually. Field examples are shown for open fractures in granite. From tube wave amplitudes normalized to P-wave amplitudes, calculated permeabilities are on the order of 400 millidarcys

PACHYCHOROID: an inherited condition?

PURPOSE: Thick choroid (pachychoroid) is associated with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), but whether pachychoroid is inherited is unknown. METHODS: In a prospective observational study, first- or second-degree relatives (16 individuals) of 5 patients with CSC had refraction and visual acuity measurement, fundus examination, nonmydriatic photography, and autofluorescence photography. Eyes were graded using the following criteria: 0: normal fundus and autofluorescence photography, 1: focal retinal pigment epithelium hyperfluorescence and/or hypofluorescence and/or retinal pigment epithelial detachment, 2: CSC or diffuse retinal epitheliopathy. Choroid thickness was measured by enhanced depth imaging mode on optical coherence tomography. RESULTS: Considering 395 μm as the threshold limit for normal subfoveal choroidal thickness, 50% of the eyes from relatives had a thick choroid. Nine eyes of Grade 0 (28%) with an isolated pachychoroid would thus have been considered normal, if choroidal thickness was not included as a screening sign predisposing for CSC. CONCLUSION: Our observation suggests that pachychoroid could be an inherited condition with potentially a dominant transmission mode. Its inclusion in the phenotype of CSC for genetic studies should be considered

Integrated model for earthquake risk assessment using neural network and analytic hierarchy process: Aceh province, Indonesia

© 2019 China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University Catastrophic natural hazards, such as earthquake, pose serious threats to properties and human lives in urban areas. Therefore, earthquake risk assessment (ERA) is indispensable in disaster management. ERA is an integration of the extent of probability and vulnerability of assets. This study develops an integrated model by using the artificial neural network–analytic hierarchy process (ANN–AHP) model for constructing the ERA map. The aim of the study is to quantify urban population risk that may be caused by impending earthquakes. The model is applied to the city of Banda Aceh in Indonesia, a seismically active zone of Aceh province frequently affected by devastating earthquakes. ANN is used for probability mapping, whereas AHP is used to assess urban vulnerability after the hazard map is created with the aid of earthquake intensity variation thematic layering. The risk map is subsequently created by combining the probability, hazard, and vulnerability maps. Then, the risk levels of various zones are obtained. The validation process reveals that the proposed model can map the earthquake probability based on historical events with an accuracy of 84%. Furthermore, results show that the central and southeastern regions of the city have moderate to very high risk classifications, whereas the other parts of the city fall under low to very low earthquake risk classifications. The findings of this research are useful for government agencies and decision makers, particularly in estimating risk dimensions in urban areas and for the future studies to project the preparedness strategies for Banda Aceh

Monotherapy Trials of New Antiepileptic Drugs

A number of clinical trials that test the efficacy and safety of the newer antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have recently been concluded. Two dose-response trials in inpatients with refractory partial seizures and outpatients with newly diagnosed partial epilepsy established the efficacy of gabapentin as monotherapy. Lamotrigine was found to have efficacy similar to that of phenytoin and carbamazepine (CBZ) and to be better tolerated than CBZ in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy. It was also shown to have efficacy as monotherapy in partial seizures, based on the results of an active controlled trial, and in the treatment of absence seizures, based on the results of a responder-enriched study. Topiramate as monotherapy was found to be efficacious for treatment of partial-onset seizures, based on the results of a single-center dose-response trial. A dose-response trial that tested the efficacy of tiagabine monotherapy in patients with refractory partial epilepsy was uninformative. Oxcarbazepine was found to be safe and efficacious in four comparative trials in patients with newly diagnosed epilepsy as well as in one placebo-controlled inpatient trial in patients with refractory partial seizures.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/65625/1/j.1528-1157.1997.tb05201.x.pd