302 research outputs found
Age and Prostate-Specific Antigen Level Prior to Diagnosis Predict Risk of Death from Prostate Cancer.
A single early prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level has been correlated with a higher likelihood of prostate cancer diagnosis and death in younger men. PSA testing in older men has been considered of limited utility. We evaluated prostate cancer death in relation to age and PSA level immediately prior to prostate cancer diagnosis. Using the Veterans Affairs database, we identified 230,081 men aged 50-89âyears diagnosed with prostate cancer and at least one prior PSA test between 1999 and 2009. Prostate cancer-specific death over time was calculated for patients stratified by age group (e.g., 50-59âyears, through 80-89âyears) and PSA range at diagnosis (10 ranges) using Kaplan-Meier methods. Risk of 10-year prostate cancer mortality across age and PSA was compared using log-rank tests with a Bonferroni adjustment for multiple testing. 10.5% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer died of cancer during the 10-year study period (mean follow-upâ=â3.7âyears). Higher PSA values prior to diagnosis predict a higher risk of death in all age groups (pâ<â0.0001). Within the same PSA range, older age groups are at increased risk for death from prostate cancer (pâ<â0.0001). For PSA of 7-10âng/mL, cancer-specific death, 10âyears after diagnosis, increased from 7% for age 50-59âyears to 51% for age 80-89âyears. Men older than 70âyears are more likely to die of prostate cancer at any PSA level than younger men, suggesting prostate cancer remains a significant problem among older men (even those aged 80+) and deserves additional study
An Archaeological Survey of a Pipeline Right-of-way along Loop 1604 from IH-37 to the San Antonio River, Southeast Bexar County, Texas
In February 1997, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) of The University of Texas at San Antonio was contracted by the San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS) to conduct an intensive archaeological survey and geomorphological study along a proposed 5 .5-km water main right-of-way, from the junction of ill -3 7 and Loop 1604 to the San Antonio River in southeast Bexar County. Upon completion of a 1 DO-percent pedestrian survey, 10 backhoe trenches, and 152 shovel tests, CAR concluded that no significant cultural remains would be impacted by excavations for the proposed water main, and recommends that no further archaeological work is required prior to construction.
Chemical Substructure in the Milky Way Halo: A New Population of Old Stars
We report the results of a coherent study of a new class of halo stars defined on the basis of the chemical compositions of three metal-poor objects ([Fe/H] -2) that exhibit unusually low abundances of α-element (Mg, Si, Ca) and neutron-capture (Sr, Y, Ba) material. Our analyses confirm and expand on earlier reports of atypical α- and neutron-capture abundances in BD +80°245, G4-36, and CS 22966-043. We also find that the latter two stars exhibit unusual relative abundance enhancements within the iron peak (Cr, Mn, Ni, Zn), along with what may be large abundances of Ga, an element not previously reported as being observed in any metal-poor star. These results provide further evidence that chemical enrichment and star formation histories varied from region to region within the Milky Way halo. Comparing the chemical abundances of the newly identified stellar population to supernova model yields, we derive supernova ratios of Type Ia versus Type II events in the range of 0.6 (NIa/NII)New Pop 1.3. For the Sun, we derive 0.18 ± 0.01 < (NIa/NII)â < 0.25 ± 0.06, supernova ratios in good agreement with values found in the literature. Given the relatively low metallicity and relatively high NIa/NII ratios of the low-α stars studied here, these objects may have been born from material produced in the yields of the earliest Type Ia supernova events. We also report the results of a preliminary attempt to employ the observed chemical abundances of low-metallicity stars in the identification, and possible cosmic evolution, of Type Ia supernova progenitors, and we discuss the limitations of current model yields
SkyMapper Southern Survey: First Data Release (DR1)
We present the first data release (DR1) of the SkyMapper Southern Survey, a
hemispheric survey carried out with the SkyMapper Telescope at Siding Spring
Observatory in Australia. Here, we present the survey strategy, data
processing, catalogue construction and database schema. The DR1 dataset
includes over 66,000 images from the Shallow Survey component, covering an area
of 17,200 deg in all six SkyMapper passbands , while the full area
covered by any passband exceeds 20,000 deg. The catalogues contain over 285
million unique astrophysical objects, complete to roughly 18 mag in all bands.
We compare our point-source photometry with PanSTARRS1 DR1 and note an
RMS scatter of 2%. The internal reproducibility of SkyMapper photometry is on
the order of 1%. Astrometric precision is better than 0.2 arcsec based on
comparison with Gaia DR1. We describe the end-user database, through which data
are presented to the world community, and provide some illustrative science
queries.Comment: 31 pages, 19 figures, 10 tables, PASA, accepte
Integrated TiO2 resonators for visible photonics
We demonstrate waveguide-coupled titanium dioxide (TiO2) racetrack resonators
with loaded quality factors of 2x10^4 for the visible wavelengths. The
structures were fabricated in sputtered TiO2 thin films on oxidized silicon
substrates using standard top-down nanofabrication techniques, and passively
probed in transmission measurements using a tunable red laser. Devices based on
this material could serve as integrated optical elements as well as passive
platforms for coupling to visible quantum emitters.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Inheritance of Evolved Glyphosate Resistance in a North Carolina Palmer Amaranth ( Amaranthus palmeri
Inheritance of glyphosate resistance in a Palmer amaranth biotype from North Carolina was studied. Glyphosate rates for 50% survival of glyphosate-resistant (GR) and glyphosate-susceptible (GS) biotypes were 1288 and 58âgâhaâ1, respectively. These values for F1 progenies obtained from reciprocal crosses (GRĂGS and GSĂGR were 794 and 501âgâhaâ1, respectively. Dose response of F1 progenies indicated that resistance was not fully dominant over susceptibility. Lack of significant differences between dose responses for reciprocal F1 families suggested that genetic control of glyphosate resistance was governed by nuclear genome. Analysis of F1 backcross (BC1F1) families showed that 10 and 8 BC1F1 families out of 15 fitted monogenic inheritance at 2000 and 3000âgâhaâ1 glyphosate, respectively. These results indicate that inheritance of glyphosate resistance in this biotype is incompletely dominant, nuclear inherited, and might not be consistent with a single gene mechanism of inheritance. Relative 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) copy number varied from 22 to 63 across 10 individuals from resistant biotype. This suggested that variable EPSPS copy number in the parents might be influential in determining if inheritance of glyphosate resistance is monogenic or polygenic in this biotype
Fuel Use during Exercise at Altitude in Women with GlucoseâFructose Ingestion
Purpose: This study compared the co-ingestion of glucose and fructose on exogenous and endogenous substrate oxidation during prolonged exercise at terrestrial high altitude (HA) versus sea level, in women. Method: Five women completed two bouts of cycling at the same relative workload (55% Wmax) for 120 minutes on acute exposure to HA (3375m) and at sea level (~113m). In each trial, participants ingested 1.2 g.min-1 of glucose (enriched with 13C glucose) and 0.6 g.min-1 of fructose (enriched with 13C fructose) before and every 15 minutes during exercise. Indirect calorimetry and isotope ratio mass spectrometry were used to calculate fat oxidation, total and exogenous carbohydrate oxidation, plasma glucose oxidation and endogenous glucose oxidation derived from liver and muscle glycogen. Results: The rates and absolute contribution of exogenous carbohydrate oxidation was significantly lower at HA compared with sea level (ES>0.99, P<0.024), with the relative exogenous carbohydrate contribution approaching significance (32.6±6.1 vs. 36.0±6.1%, ES=0.56, P=0.059) during the second hour of exercise. In comparison, no significant differences were observed between HA and sea level for the relative and absolute contributions of liver glucose (3.2±1.2 vs. 3.1±0.8%, ES=0.09, P=0.635 and 5.1±1.8 vs. 5.4±1.7 grams, ES=0.19, P=0.217), and muscle glycogen (14.4±12.2% vs. 15.8±9.3%, ES=0.11, P=0.934 and 23.1±19.0 vs. 28.7±17.8 grams, ES=0.30, P=0.367). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in total fat oxidation between HA and sea level (66.3±21.4 vs. 59.6±7.7 grams, ES=0.32, P=0.557). Conclusion: In women, acute exposure to HA reduces the reliance on exogenous carbohydrate oxidation during cycling at the same relative exercise intensity
Microbiological efficacy of early MRSA treatment in cystic fibrosis in a randomised controlled trial
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate microbiological effectiveness, that is, culture negativity of a non-blinded eradication protocol (Rx) compared with observation (Obs) in clinically stable cystic fibrosis participants with newly positive methicillin resistant Staphylococcusaureus (MRSA) cultures.
DESIGN: This non-blinded trial randomised participants ages 4-45â
years with first or early (â€2 positive cultures within 3â
years) MRSA-positive culture without MRSA-active antibiotics within 4â
weeks 1:1 to Rx or Obs. The Rx protocol was: oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or if sulfa-allergic, minocycline plus oral rifampin; chlorhexidine mouthwash for 2â
weeks; nasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine body wipes for 5â
days and environmental decontamination for 21â
days. The primary end point was MRSA culture status at day 28.
RESULTS: Between 1 April 2011 to September 2014, 45 participants (44% female, mean age 11.5â
years) were randomised (24 Rx, 21 Obs). At day 28, 82% (n=18/22) of participants in the Rx arm compared with 26% (n=5/19) in the Obs arm were MRSA-negative. Adjusted for interim monitoring, this difference was 52% (95% CI 23% to 80%, p<0.001). Limiting analyses to participants who were MRSA-positive at the screening visit, 67% (8/12) in the Rx arm and 13% (2/15) in the Obs arm were MRSA-negative at day 28, adjusted difference: 49% (95% CI 22% to 71%, p<0.001). Fifty-four per cent in the Rx arm compared with 10% participants in the Obs arm remained MRSA-negative through day 84. Mild gastrointestinal side effects were higher in the Rx arm.
CONCLUSIONS: This MRSA eradication protocol for newly acquired MRSA demonstrated microbiological efficacy with a large treatment effect.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01349192
What Can We Conclude from Death Registration? Improved Methods for Evaluating Completeness
Julie Rajaratnam and colleagues evaluate the performance of a suite of demographic methods that estimate the fraction of deaths registered and counted by civil registration systems, and identify three variants that generally perform the best
Is Current Recommended Management of Isolated Degenerative Femoral Artery Aneurysms (IFAA) Too Aggressive for Its Natural History?
- âŠ