8 research outputs found

    Vitamin D Levels and Status Amongst Asthmatic and Non-asthmatic Adolescents in Cyprus: a Comparative Cross-sectional Study

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    Presented at the 5th European Association of Public Health (EUPHA) conferenceAbstract Background: Emerging evidence suggests that vitamin D might be implicated in asthma pathophysiology. This study aims to compare Vitamin D mean serum levels and status between asthmatic and non-asthmatic adolescents and investigate the association of vitamin D with asthma severity. Methods: In a cohort of adolescents aged 16–17 years, those reporting wheezing in the past 12 months and Ever asthma on the ISAAC questionnaire were invited to participate and formed the Active Asthmatics group. Controls were selected amongst Never Wheezers/Never Asthmatics (NWNA). Differences in mean 25(OH)D serum levels and vitamin D status between AA and NWNA were examined in multivariate linear and logistic regression models respectively, adjusting for potential confounders. Within AA, differences in vitamin D levels were assessed across asthma severity indicators. Results: A total of 69 AA and 671 NWNA participated in the study. Unadjusted mean 25(OH)D serum levels were 22.90 (SD 6.41), and 21.15 (SD 5.59) ng/mL in NWNA and AA respectively (p = 0.03). In adjusted models, mean 25(OH)D levels remained significantly lower amongst AA compared to NWNA (adjusted beta coefficient −1.68, 95% CI −3.24, −0.13). Severe (<12 ng/mL), moderate (<25 ng/mL) or insufficient (<30 ng/mL) vitamin D status was more prevalent among AA who were 1.6 times (95% CI 1.01, 2.53) more likely to belong to a lower vitamin D category compared to NWNA. Within AA, there was a negative trend between vitamin D levels and the number of reported asthma severity indicators. Conclusions: Levels of vitamin D tend to be lower among asthmatic compared to non-asthmatic children and in those with severe asthma independent of important confounders. Keywords: Adolescents, Asthma, Asthma severity, Vitamin D levels, Vitamin D statu

    Time for a Consensus Conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

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    Time for a Consensus Conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

    Overview of JET results

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    High density and high confinement operation in ELMy H-mode is confirmed at or above the normalized parameters foreseen for the ITER operating point (H98(y,2) 3c 1, n/nGW 3c 1, \u3b2N > 1.8 at q95 3c 3). The scaling of the ELMy H-mode with \u3b2N could be more favourable than that predicted by the IPB98(y,2) scaling. In ELMy H-mode, ion cyclotron current drive (ICCD) control of large sawteeth stabilized by fast particle has been demonstrated and the underlying neo-classical tearing modes (NTMs) and sawtooth physics is being refined. At high-density, Type I ELMy H-modes show trends that would lead to marginally acceptable ELMs on ITER. Type II ELM regime has been produced, though under very restrictive conditions. Type III ELMy operation with radiation fractions up to 95% has been demonstrated by seeding of N2 in H-modes and could extrapolate to Q = 10 ITER operation, albeit at high current (17 MA). The mitigation of Type I ELMs, nevertheless, remains a challenge. Considerable progress has been obtained in internal transport barrier (ITB) plasmas, with operation at central densities close to the Greenwald density or/and low toroidal rotation or/and high triangularity. Demonstrations of full current drive and successful simultaneous real time control of safety factor and temperature profiles have been achieved in ITB plasmas. Physics of resistive wall modes (RWMs) has been compared with theory, showing favourable scaling for ITER. High \u3b2N 3c 2.8 operation of hybrid modes (also called improved H-modes) has been obtained with dominant neutral beam heating. Hybrid modes with dominant ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) have also been achieved. Trace tritium experiments yielded valuable information on particle transport in H-mode, ITB and hybrid regimes. In Type I ELMy plasmas, successful tests of the conjugate-T ICRH scheme have been achieved as well as lower hybrid coupling at ITER-relevant 10\u201311 cm distances. Reduced D and T fuel retention has been observed, which could relate to operation with vertical targets in the divertor and/or lower (ITER-like) vessel temperature. It is confirmed that erosion occurs predominantly on the main chamber surfaces, with possible benefits for T retention in ITER, although consequences for the metallic first wall lifetime need to be assessed. Disruption and ELM studies indicate that transient power deposition could be less constraining than expected for the ITER divertor, but more challenging for the metallic first wall. Alpha particle tomography and direct observation of alpha particle slowing down have been made possible by \u3b3 -spectroscopy. Measurements of Alfve \u301n cascades have been improved by a new interferometric technique. Promising tests of ITER relevant neutron counting detectors have been conducted

    Time for a Consensus Conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

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    Pain represents a common problem in the setting of neurorehabilitation, in that it is a common outcome measure but may also have a negative effect on motor and cognitive outcomes. Guidelines, expert opinions or consensus statements on pain in neurorehabilitation are largely lacking. The Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation (ICCPN) was promoted to answer some questions on this topic, and its recommendations may offer practical and useful information and represent the basis for future studies on pain in neurorehabilitation
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