Population prevalence, incidence, and predictors of atrial fibrillation in the Renfrew/Paisley study

<b>OBJECTIVES</b> Though atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important cause of cardiovascular morbidity, there are few large epidemiological studies of its prevalence, incidence, and risk factors. The epidemiological features of AF are described in one of the largest population cohorts ever studied. <b>METHODS</b> The prevalence and incidence of AF were studied in the Renfrew/Paisley population cohort of 15 406 men and women aged 45-64 years living in the west of Scotland. This cohort was initially screened between 1972 and 1976 and again between 1977 and 1979. Incident hospitalisations with AF in the 20 year period following initial screening were also studied. <b>RESULTS</b> The population prevalence of AF in this cohort was 6.5 cases/1000 examinations. Prevalence was higher in men and older subjects. In those who were rescreened, the four year incidence of AF was 0.54 cases/1000 person years. Radiological cardiomegaly was the most powerful predictor of new AF (adjusted odds ratio 14.0). During 20 year follow up, 3.5% of this cohort was discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of AF; the rate of incident hospitalisation for AF was 1.9 cases/1000 person years. Radiological cardiomegaly (adjusted odds ratio 1.46) and systolic blood pressure (adjusted odds ratio 2.1 for ≥ 169 mm Hg) were independent predictors of this outcome. <b>CONCLUSIONS</b> Data from one of the largest epidemiological studies ever undertaken confirm that AF has a large population prevalence and incidence, even in middle aged people. More important, it was shown that the long term incidence of hospitalisation related to AF is high and that two simple clinical measurements are highly predictive of incident AF. These findings have important implications for the prevention of AF

Water vole (Arvicola amphibius) abundance in grassland habitats of Glasgow

Water vole (Arvicola amphibius) populations have undergone a serious decline throughout the UK, and yet a stronghold of these small mammals is found in the greater Easterhouse area of Glasgow. The water voles in this location are mostly fossorial, living a largely subterranean existence in grasslands, rather than the more typical semi-aquatic lifestyle in riparian habitats. In this study, we carried out capture-mark-recapture surveys on water voles at two sites: Cranhill Park and Tillycairn Drive. We made a total of 62 captures including retraps, and the resulting population estimates were 78 individuals (95% confidence interval 41-197) for Cranhill Park and 42 individuals (20-141) for Tillycairn Drive. From these figures we estimated a population density of water voles, which appeared to be higher than other reports from the UK. Despite the difficulties of sampling in urban environments that resulted in relatively low capture rates, our data suggest that the greater Easterhouse area of Glasgow holds water voles at relatively high population densities. These results will inform future conservation in the City of Glasgow and surrounding areas, as well as raise awareness of important water vole populations in urban environments

Soil micronutrient problems and research in western Canada

Non-Peer ReviewedMicronutrient deficiencies have been recorded in a few western Canadian soils. This paper reviews the published work on zinc, manganese, copper, iron, boron, and molybdenum in western Canadian soils and plants. Suggestions are made for procedures that could be employed by soil testing laboratories and research agencies to identify deficient soils

Preliminary genetic analyses of important musculoskeletal conditions of thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong

A retrospective cohort study of important musculoskeletal conditions of Thoroughbred racehorses was conducted using health records generated over a 15 year period (n = 5062, 1296 sires). The prevalence of each condition in the study population was: fracture, 13%; osteoarthritis, 10%; suspensory ligament injury, 10%; and tendon injury, 19%. Linear and logistic sire and animal regression models were built to describe the binary occurrence of these musculoskeletal conditions, and to evaluate the significance of possible environmental risk factors. The heritability of each condition was estimated using residual maximum likelihood (REML). Bivariate mixed models were used to generate estimates of genetic correlations between each pair of conditions.<p></p> Heritability estimates of fracture, osteoarthritis, suspensory ligament and tendon injury were small to moderate (range: 0.01–0.20). Fracture was found to be positively genetically correlated with both osteoarthritis and suspensory ligament injury. These results suggest that there is a significant genetic component involved in the risk of the studied conditions. Due to positive genetic correlations, a reduction in prevalence of one of the correlated conditions may effect a reduction in risk of the other condition.<p></p&gt

Immunocytochemical studies on the occurence of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the nervous system of the nematodes Panagrellus redivivus, Meloidogyne incognita and Globodera rostochiensis

Un antisérum polyclonal a été utilisé en immunofluorescence indirecte pour démontrer la présence d'acide gamma-aminobutyrique - un inhibiteur possible de la transmission de l'influx nerveux aux muscles - chez #Panagrellus redevivus et chez les juvéniles de deuxième stade (J2) de #Meloidogyne incognita. Chez #P. redivivus, il a été observé une immunoréactivité, présumée GABA, dans la corde nerveuse dorsale, dans la corde ventrale ainsi que dans certaines cellules nerveuses et les commissures qui ceinturent le nématode entre les cordes nerveuses. Une immunoréactivité a été également observée autour du pharynx et dans l'anneau nerveux. Chez les J2 de #M. incognita, on a détecté cette immunoréactivité dans les nerfs et les cellules de la corde nerveuse ventrale. La coloration à l'immunogold après inclusion de J2 de #Globodera rostochiensis$ traités à l'osmium a montré une immunoréactivité, présumée GABA, dans les procès de neurones des cordes nerveuses ventrale et dorsale, et dans le cytoplasme et le noyau de certaines cellules de la corde ventrale. La position de ces neurones dans les cordes nerveuses indique qu'ils sont probablement des neurones moteur inhibiteurs. Dans l'anneau nerveux, l'immunoréactivité a été observée dans les procès neuronaux et dans un corps cellulaire, probablement le neurone moteur de l'anneau ventral. (Résumé d'auteur

Maternal obesity is associated with the formation of small dense LDL and hypoadiponectinemia in the third trimester

Context: Maternal obesity is associated with high plasma triglyceride, poor vascular function, and an increased risk for pregnancy complications. In normal-weight pregnant women, higher triglyceride is associated with increased small, dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Hypothesis: In obese pregnancy, increased plasma triglyceride concentrations result in triglyceride enrichment of very low-density lipoprotein-1 particles and formation of small dense LDL via lipoprotein lipase. Design: Women (n = 55) of body mass index of 18–46 kg/m2 were sampled longitudinally at 12, 26, and 35 weeks' gestation and 4 months postnatally. Setting: Women were recruited at hospital antenatal appointments, and study visits were in a clinical research suite. Outcome Measures: Plasma concentrations of lipids, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, lipoprotein lipase mass, estradiol, steroid hormone binding globulin, insulin, glucose, leptin, and adiponectin were determined. Results: Obese women commenced pregnancy with higher plasma triglyceride, reached the same maximum, and then returned to higher postnatal levels than normal-weight women. Estradiol response to pregnancy (trimester 1–3 incremental area under the curve) was positively associated with plasma triglyceride response (r2 adjusted 25%, P < .001). In the third trimester, the proportion of small, dense LDL was 2-fold higher in obese women than normal-weight women [mean (SD) 40.7 (18.8) vs 21.9 (10.9)%, P = .014], and 35% of obese, 14% of overweight, and none of the normal-weight women displayed an atherogenic LDL subfraction phenotype. The small, dense LDL mass response to pregnancy was inversely associated with adiponectin response (17%, P = .013). Conclusions: Maternal obesity is associated with an atherogenic LDL subfraction phenotype and may provide a mechanistic link to poor vascular function and adverse pregnancy outcome

Preeclampsia is associated with compromized maternal synthesis of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids leading to offspring deficiency

Obesity and excessive lipolysis are implicated in preeclampsia (PE). Intrauterine growth restriction is associated with low maternal body mass index and decreased lipolysis. Our aim was to assess how maternal and offspring fatty acid metabolism is altered in mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy with PE (n=62) or intrauterine growth restriction (n=23) compared with healthy pregnancies (n=164). Markers of lipid metabolism and erythrocyte fatty acid concentrations were measured. Maternal adipose tissue fatty acid composition and mRNA expression of adipose tissue fatty acid–metabolizing enzymes and placental fatty acid transporters were compared. Mothers with PE had higher plasma triglyceride (21%, P<0.001) and nonesterified fatty acid (50%, P<0.001) concentrations than controls. Concentrations of major n−6 and n−3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in erythrocytes were 23% to 60% lower (all P<0.005) in PE and intrauterine growth restriction mothers and offspring compared with controls. Subcutaneous adipose tissue Δ−5 and Δ−6 desaturase and very long-chain fatty acid elongase mRNA expression was lower in PE than controls (respectively, mean [SD] control 3.38 [2.96] versus PE 1.83 [1.91], P=0.030; 3.33 [2.25] versus 1.03 [0.96], P<0.001; 0.40 [0.81] versus 0.00 [0.00], P=0.038 expression relative to control gene [square root]). Low maternal and fetal long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations in PE may be the result of decreased maternal synthesis

Pseudogap in fermionic density of states in the BCS-BEC crossover of atomic Fermi gases

We study pseudogap behaviors of ultracold Fermi gases in the BCS-BEC crossover region. We calculate the density of states (DOS), as well as the single-particle spectral weight, above the superfluid transition temperature $T_{\rm c}$ including pairing fluctuations within a $T$-matrix approximation. We find that DOS exhibits a pseudogap structure in the BCS-BEC crossover region, which is most remarkable near the unitarity limit. We determine the pseudogap temperature $T^*$ at which the pseudogap structure in DOS disappears. We also introduce another temperature $T^{**}$ at which the BCS-like double-peak structure disappears in the spectral weight. While one finds $T^*>T^{**}$ in the BCS regime, $T^{**}$ becomes higher than $T^*$ in the crossover and BEC regime. We also determine the pseudogap region in the phase diagram in terms of temperature and pairing interaction.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of QFS 200

A summary of the methodology for the seismic stratigraphic interpretation for the 'GlaciStore' bid to IODP

This report summarises the methodology followed for the seismic interpretation of sedimentary strata that are the overburden sequence and the Palaeogene strata that are prospective CO2 storage formations, in the UK Central North Sea. The interpretation of selected 2D and 3D seismic reflection, well and borehole data in the UK North and Central North Sea is targeted to inform the preparation of the ‘GlaciStore’ proposal for scientific drilling submitted to the International Ocean Discovery Programme (IODP). Drilling sites proposed to IODP lie within the UK and Norwegian sectors of the North Sea. The methodology is described for the interpretation of seismic data for proposed sites within UK waters. The seismic interpretation was undertaken in collaboration with Norwegian members of the GlaciStore consortium. The seismic interpretation was divided into two teams according to depth, into ‘shallower and ‘deeper’ seismic interpretation activities, appropriate to the fields of expertise and experience of the interpreters. The ‘shallower seismic’ interpreters considered strata of latest Neogene and Quaternary age which were deposited during major glacial and interglacial cycles. The ‘deeper seismic’ interpreters considered slightly older strata of Mid Eocene to Quaternary in age. Seven potential UK drill sites were selected to address the scientific objectives in the proposal. 2D and 3D seismic, well, borehole and bathymetry data were used to map buried and open tunnel valleys and to identify any evidence for the presence of shallow gas in the ‘shallower seismic’ interpretation at each drill site. Only sites without any indication of shallow gas features were considered as these pose a serious hazard for drilling. 2D and 3D seismic and well datasets and existing interpretations were collated for the ‘deeper seismic’ interpretation. The hydrocarbon exploration well log data, which were found to be of variable quality, were used to identify and map a number of stratigraphical surfaces of Cenozoic age, and included Quaternary strata, around the grid of seismic lines. Maps from some of the key stratigraphical surfaces are presented, selected to inform the drilling proposal. A plot of acoustic velocity data was prepared to inform future conversion of the seismic interpretation to true vertical depth. Future work, based on the seismic interpretation undertaken to underpin the drilling proposal, is identified. Features observed within the ‘shallower’ and ‘deeper’ seismic interpretations that warrant further investigation are: a chaotic zone within the Quaternary sequence; prograding units within the Eocene Horda Formation; basin centre sandstone bodies as prospective CO2 storage strata within the Horda Formation; systematic mapping of cross-cutting, buried tunnel valleys in the Quaternary sequence from 3D seismic data