Obese patients with a binge eating disorder have an unfavorable metabolic and inflammatory profile

To evaluate whether obese patients with a binge eating disorder (BED) have an altered metabolic and inflammatory profile related to their eating behaviors compared with non-BED obese.A total of 115 White obese patients consecutively recruited underwent biochemical, anthropometrical evaluation, and a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Patients answered the Binge Eating Scale and were interviewed by a psychiatrist. The patients were subsequently divided into 2 groups according to diagnosis: non-BED obese (n = 85) and BED obese (n = 30). Structural equation modeling analysis was performed to elucidate the relation between eating behaviors and metabolic and inflammatory profile.BED obese exhibited significantly higher percentages of altered eating behaviors, body mass index (P < 0.001), waist circumference (P < 0.01), fat mass (P < 0.001), and a lower lean mass (P < 0.001) when compared with non-BED obese. Binge eating disorder obese also had a worse metabolic and inflammatory profile, exhibiting significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P < 0.05), and higher levels of glycated hemoglobin (P < 0.01), uric acid (P < 0.05), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P < 0.001), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (P < 0.01), and white blood cell counts (P < 0.01). Higher fasting insulin (P < 0.01) and higher insulin resistance (P < 0.01), assessed by homeostasis model assessment index and visceral adiposity index (P < 0.001), were observed among BED obese. All differences remained significant after adjusting for body mass index. No significant differences in fasting plasma glucose or 2-hour postchallenge plasma glucose were found. Structural equation modeling analysis confirmed the relation between the altered eating behaviors of BED and the metabolic and inflammatory profile.Binge eating disorder obese exhibited an unfavorable metabolic and inflammatory profile, which is related to their characteristic eating habits

Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis

With advancing therapeutic options, achieving a state of remission has become the treatment goal in rheumatoid arthritis. Agreeing on what constitutes remission and what measures should be used to assess disease activity has remained a challenge. Multiple remission criteria have been devised and modified, all with different strengths and limitations. A consensus definition of remission will need to be achieved if we are to be able to evaluate outcomes of clinical trials and establish treatment targets for practice. Remission defined as the complete absence of disease currently may not be a realistic therapeutic goal

Inferential Survival Analysis for Type II Censored Truncated Exponential Topp Leone Exponential Distribution with Application to Engineering Data

This study focuses on estimating the unknown parameters of the truncated exponential Topp-Leon distribution using a type II scheme. We estimate the unknown parameters, survival, and hazard functions using maximum likelihood estimation methods. Additionally, we derive the approximate variance covariance matrix and asymptotic confidence intervals. Furthermore, we compute Bayesian estimates of the unknown parameters under squared error and linear loss functions. To generate samples from the posterior density functions, we use the Metropolies-Hastings algorithm. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed distribution by applying it to two data sets: Monte Carlo simulation and real data set. Our results show that the proposed distribution provides accurate estimates of the unknown parameters and performs well in fitting the data. Our findings also indicate that Bayesian estimation can provide more precise estimates with narrower confidence intervals compared to maximum likelihood estimation method. In summary, the study provides a comprehensive analysis of the estimation of the unknown parameters for the truncated exponential Topp-Leone distribution using a type II scheme. Also, the results demonstrate the potential of this distribution in modeling real data and the usefulness of both maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation methods in obtaining accurate parameter estimates

Modeling Integrated Water User Decisions in Intermittent Supply Systems

We apply systems analysis to estimate household water use in an intermittent supply system considering numerous interdependent water user behaviors. Some 39 household actions include conservation; improving local storage or water quality; and accessing sources having variable costs, availabilities, reliabilities, and qualities. A stochastic optimization program with recourse decisions identifies the infrastructure investments and short-term coping actions a customer can adopt to cost-effectively respond to a probability distribution of piped water availability. Monte Carlo simulations show effects for a population of customers. Model calibration reproduces the distribution of billed residential water use in Amman, Jordan. Parametric analyses suggest economic and demand responses to increased availability and alternative pricing. It also suggests potential market penetration for conservation actions, associated water savings, and subsidies to entice further adoption. We discuss new insights to size, target, and finance conservation

Parameters and Reliability Estimation of Left Truncated Gumbel Distribution under Progressive Type II Censored with Repairable Mechanical Equipment Data

The estimation of two parameters of the left truncated Gumbel distribution using the progressive type II censoring scheme is discussed. We first derived the maximum likelihood estimators of the unknown parameters. The approximate asymptotic variance-covariance matrix and approximate confidence intervals based on the asymptotic normality of the classical estimators are calculated. Also, the survival and hazard functions are derived. Further, the delta method is used to construct approximate confidence intervals for survival and hazard functions. Using the left truncated normal prior for the location parameter and an inverted gamma prior for the scale parameter, several Bayes estimates based on squared error and general entropy loss functions are computed. Bayes estimators of the unknown parameters cannot be calculated in closed forms. Markov chain Monte Carlo method, namely Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, has been used to derive the approximate Bayes estimates. Also, the credible intervals are constructed by using Markov chain Monte Carlo samples. Finally, The Monte Carlo simulation study compares the performances among various estimates in terms of their root mean squared errors, mean absolute biased, average confidence lengths, and coverage probabilities under different sets of values of sample sizes, number of failures and censoring schemes. Moreover, a numerical example with a real data set and Markov chain Monte Carlo data sets are tackled to highlight the importance of the proposed methods. Bayes Markov chain Monte Carlo estimates have performed better than those obtained based on the likelihood function

Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical, Economic Evaluation and IL6 Gene Expression in Growing Rabbits Fed Diets Supplemented with Zinc Nanoparticles

Zinc nanoparticles showed a great potential as mineral feed supplements in animals than the conventional sources. However, this potential has not been applied in rabbit nutrition. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of dietary nano-zinc oxide on the growth performance, serum biochemical, economic parameters and gene expression of interleukin-6 in growing rabbits. A total of 120 male, five-week-old New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were randomly distributed into four equal groups. The control group (Z0) was fed on a basal diet with zinc free premix; the other three experimental groups received the basal diet supplemented with 60 mg zinc oxide/kg diet (Z1), 60 mg nano-zinc oxide/kg diet (Z2) and 30 mg nano-zinc oxide/kg diet (Z3), respectively. The results revealed that rabbits in the groups Z2 and Z3 had higher body weight, daily weight gain, daily feed intake, serum total protein, globulin, IgG and SOD when compared with those of groups Z0 and Z1 (P<0.001). In addition, growth hormone level was higher in Z3 group than in the other groups, whereas no significant differences were recorded among the treated groups in respect to serum TSH concentration (P>0.05). Hepatic and serum zinc contents were high in Z2 and Z3 groups, but the copper contents were decreased. Rabbits of group Z3 yielded the highest gross margin with the lowest expenses to produce 1 kg of live weight compared with the others. The production of IL6 in spleen was increased in Z3 group than that in the other groups. Thus, it can be concluded that nano-zinc oxide at a concentration of 30 mg/kg diet may be used instead of the traditional zinc sources in rabbit diets

A new digital signature scheme with message recovery using hybrid problems

We present a new digital signature scheme with message recovery and its authenticated encryption based on elliptic curve discrete logarithm and quadratic residue. The main idea is to provide a higher level of security than all other techniques that use signatures with single hard problem including factoring, discrete logarithm, residuosity, or elliptic curves. The proposed digital signature schemes do not involve any modular exponentiation operations that leave no gap for attackers. The security analysis demonstrates the improved performance of the proposed schemes in comparison with existing techniques in terms of the ability to resist the most common attack

Assessment of serum magnesium level in patients with bronchial asthma

AbstractBackgroundAsthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide and has been increasing in prevalence over the last few decades. Magnesium ion has an inhibitory action on smooth muscle contraction, histamine release from mast cells and acetylcholine release from cholinergic nerve terminals. Magnesium has been shown to relax bronchial smooth muscles and influence the function of respiratory muscles. Hypomagnesemia have been associated with diminished respiratory muscle power.AimTo assess the serum Mg levels in bronchial asthma patients during stable and exacerbating clinical conditions.Subjects and methods60 Subjects were enrolled, 40 patients diagnosed as bronchial asthma and 20 healthy individuals as a control group. The asthmatic patients were divided into group (I) chronic stable bronchial asthma and group (II) acute exacerbation of bronchial asthma.ResultsSerum Mg levels were significantly lower in asthmatic patients compared with healthy controls and significantly lower in asthmatic patients during exacerbation compared with stable asthmatics. There was a positive correlation between serum Mg levels and each of FEV1/FVC ratio and FEV1.ConclusionHypomagnesemia was found in patients with chronic stable asthma and also in those with acute asthma exacerbation compared to control. Serum mg levels were significantly lower in asthmatic patients during exacerbations compared with stable asthmatics