Effects of a multicomponent resistance-based exercise program with protein, vitamin D and calcium supplementation on cognition in men with prostate cancer treated with ADT: Secondary analysis of a 12-month randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this preplanned secondary analysis of a 12-month randomised controlled trial was to investigate the effects of a multicomponent exercise programme combined with daily whey protein, calcium and vitamin D supplementation on cognition in men with prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). DESIGN: 12-month, two-arm, randomised controlled trial. SETTING: University clinical exercise centre. PARTICIPANTS: 70 ADT-treated men were randomised to exercise-training plus supplementation (Ex+ Suppl, n=34) or usual care (control, n=36). INTERVENTION: Men allocated to Ex + Suppl undertook thrice weekly resistance training with weight-bearing exercise training plus daily whey protein (25 g), calcium (1200 mg) and vitamin D (2000 IU) supplementation. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Cognition was assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months via a computerised battery (CogState), Trail-making test, Rey auditory-verbal learning test and Digit span. Data were analysed with linear mixed models and an intention-to-treat and prespecified per-protocol approach (exercise-training: ≥ 66%, nutritional supplement: ≥ 80%). RESULTS: Sixty (86%) men completed the trial (Ex + Suppl, n = 31; control, n = 29). Five (7.1%) men were classified as having mild cognitive impairment at baseline. Median (IQR) adherence to the exercise and supplement was 56% (37%-82%) and 91% (66%-97%), respectively. Ex + Suppl had no effect on cognition at any time. CONCLUSIONS: A 12-month multicomponent exercise training and supplementation intervention had no significant effect on cognition in men treated with ADT for prostate cancer compared with usual care. Exercise training adherence below recommended guidelines does not support cognitive health in men treated with ADT for prostate cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ACTRN12614000317695, registered 25/03/2014) and acknowledged under the Therapeutic Goods Administration Clinical Trial Notification Scheme (CT-2015-CTN-03372-1 v1)

Testbeam and Laboratory Characterization of CMS 3D Pixel Sensors

The pixel detector is the innermost tracking device in CMS, reconstructing interaction vertices and charged particle trajectories. The sensors located in the innermost layers of the pixel detector must be upgraded for the ten-fold increase in luminosity expected with the High- Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) phase. As a possible replacement for planar sensors, 3D silicon technology is under consideration due to its good performance after high radiation fluence. In this paper, we report on pre- and post- irradiation measurements for CMS 3D pixel sensors with different electrode configurations. The effects of irradiation on electrical properties, charge collection efficiency, and position resolution of 3D sensors are discussed. Measurements of various test structures for monitoring the fabrication process and studying the bulk and surface properties, such as MOS capacitors, planar and gate-controlled diodes are also presented.Comment: 14 page

Photoacclimation strategies in northeastern Atlantic seagrasses: Integrating responses across plant organizational levels

Seagrasses live in highly variable light environments and adjust to these variations by expressing acclimatory responses at different plant organizational levels (meadow, shoot, leaf and chloroplast level). Yet, comparative studies, to identify species' strategies, and integration of the relative importance of photoacclimatory adjustments at different levels are still missing. The variation in photoacclimatory responses at the chloroplast and leaf level were studied along individual leaves of Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera marina and Z. noltei, including measurements of variable chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthesis, photoprotective capacities, non-photochemical quenching and D1-protein repair, and assessments of variation in leaf anatomy and chloroplast distribution. Our results show that the slower-growing C. nodosa expressed rather limited physiological and biochemical adjustments in response to light availability, while both species of faster-growing Zostera showed high variability along the leaves. In contrast, the inverse pattern was found for leaf anatomical adjustments in response to light availability, which were more pronounced in C. nodosa. This integrative plant organizational level approach shows that seagrasses differ in their photoacclimatory strategies and that these are linked to the species' life history strategies, information that will be critical for predicting the responses of seagrasses to disturbances and to accordingly develop adequate management strategies.Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal [PTDC/MAR-EST/4257/2014

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.]

Cost modelling approach for the source specific evaluation of alternative manufacturing networks

Part 13: Production EconomicsInternational audienceIn order to seize the full potential of production on a global scale, companies need to constantly evolve their production networks and reconsider the number of sites. Decision making in this context forces corporations to process a substantial amount of information and complexity. Prominent examples of German companies (e.g. Stihl or Steiff) prove the present struggle of decision makers. Existing approaches are either too complex and effortful or they do not consider all decision relevant cost factors in a cause-fair way. This paper presents a pragmatic cost modelling approach which focuses on the identification and projection of decision relevant cost factors as well as their source specific allocation in terms of the impact on existing sites in the network

Pyridazinopsoralens of wide chemotherapeutic interest.

The synthesis of new 6,10-dimethylpyridazino[4,5-h]psoralens, carrying no (4), one (5), or two (6\u20139) dialkylaminoalkylcarboxamide side chains on the pyridazine ring is reported. All compounds exert a significant photoantiproliferative activity. Moreover, the derivatives characterised by the protonable side chains show a notable cytotoxicity in the dark. The investigation on the mechanism of action demonstrated the capacity to intercalate into DNA base pairs and to inhibit the relaxation activity of topoisomerase II

Creatinine to Cystatin C Ratio, a Biomarker of Sarcopenia Measures and Falls Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Women

BACKGROUND: The ratio of creatinine to cystatin C (Cr:Cyc) has been proposed as a biomarker of sarcopenia, as greater Cr:Cyc is typically associated with greater muscle mass. We examined the relationship between Cr:Cyc with individual sarcopenia measures, 5-year self-reported falls, and 12-year fall-related hospitalizations in a prospective cohort study of 1 118 community-dwelling older women (mean age 75.2 ± 2.7 years). METHODS: Serum Cr:Cyc, hand grip strength, and timed-up-and-go performance were assessed at baseline (1998), while dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-derived appendicular lean mass (ALM)/height2 (m) was obtained in a subset of women at baseline and 1 year (n = 334). Incident 5-year self-reported falls and 12-year falls-related hospitalizations were considered. RESULTS: In a multivariable-adjusted model, women with the lowest Cr:Cyc (Quartile [Q] 1) had 5% (1.0 kg) weaker grip strength, as well as 3.7% (0.22 kg/m2) and 5.5% (0.031) lower ALM adjusted for height2 or body mass index, respectively, compared to women in Q4 (all p \u3c .05). 329 women reported an incident fall over 5 years, and 326 fall-related hospitalizations were recorded over 12 years. Women in Q1 of Cr:Cyc had a greater relative hazard for a fall over 5 years (hazard ratio [HR] 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-2.01) and fall-related hospitalization over 12 years (HR 1.53; 95% CI 1.13-2.07) compared to Q4 in the multivariable-adjusted model. CONCLUSION: These findings support further investigation into the use of Cr:Cyc as a muscle biomarker to help clinicians identify individuals at risk of falls for early inclusion into evidence-based primary prevention programs targeting improvements to diet and exercise