Increased LDL susceptibility to oxidation accelerates future carotid artery atherosclerosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We analyzed the causal relationship between LDL susceptibility to oxidation and the development of new carotid artery atherosclerosis over a period of 5 years. We previously described the determinants related to a risk of cardiovascular changes determined in a Japanese population participating in the Niigata Study, which is an ongoing epidemiological investigation of the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We selected 394 individuals (169 males and 225 females) who underwent a second carotid artery ultrasonographic examination in 2001 - 2002 for the present study. The susceptibility of LDL to oxidation was determined as the photometric absorbance and electrophoretic mobility of samples that had been collected in 1996 - 1997. The measurements were compared with ultrasonographic findings obtained in 2001 - 2002.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The multivariate-adjusted model showed that age (odds ratio (OR), 1.034; 95% confidence interval (95%CI), 1.010 - 1.059), HbA1c (OR, 1.477; 95%CI, 0.980 - 2.225), and photometric O/N (OR, 2.012; 95%CI, 1.000 - 4.051) were significant variables that could independently predict the risk of new carotid artery atherosclerosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The susceptibility of LDL to oxidation was a significant parameter that could predict new carotid artery atherosclerosis over a 5-year period, and higher susceptibility was associated with a higher incidence of new carotid artery atherosclerosis.</p

Micrometeorological measurements of methane flux at a boreal forest in central Alaska

Methane (CH_4) flux at a black spruce forest in central Alaska was determined by applying the three types of modified gradient method. One type used the eddy diffusivity obtained by CO_2 flux and CO_2 gradient. Others established the flux gradient relationship assuming Monin-Obukhov similarity. The wind speed and temperature profile functions were corrected for the influence of the roughness sublayer, and then applied to the modified gradient methods. More than 70% of the data were rejected by the strict quality control and a continental climate, such as calm wind. Although the diurnal variations of CH_4 flux by the three methods were different, the seasonal variation showed similar tendency; a weak emission on snowpack, an obvious emission around spring thaw, and CH_4 uptake in the late growing season. As calculated CH_4 flux was in the same range as with previous studies conducted by the chamber measurement

Clinical profile of reading ability and reading and writing achievement of children with borderline full-scale intellectual quotient : a prospective study

Background Poor reading ability is one of the common causes of low academic performance. In previous studies, children with dyslexia were found to demonstrate poor academic achievement due to poor reading ability. However, the relationship between academic achievement and reading ability in children with a borderline full-scale intellectual quotient (FSIQ) is unknown. This study aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of children with borderline FSIQ and poor reading ability, and differentiate these characteristics from those of children with higher FSIQ and poor reading ability. Methods A total of 126 children (aged 6-15 years) identified as having low academic performance were enrolled. The reading ability of children was assessed through their performance on the hiragana (Japanese syllabary) reading task, while their reading and writing achievement was assessed through their reading and writing score on the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition. Children were categorized into two groups based on their FSIQ score (FSIQ > 85 and 85 >= FSIQ >= 70). Reading ability in children was evaluated by referring to the linear relationship between FSIQ and the standard deviation value of reading tasks in typically developing children. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to examine clinical characteristics between higher and lower FSIQ groups. Associations between reading and writing achievement, reading ability, and ages of children were assessed using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients for the higher and lower FSIQ groups. Results Poorer reading and writing achievement was associated with poorer reading ability in the higher FSIQ group. Conversely, poorer reading and writing achievement and poor reading ability were associated with older age in the lower FSIQ group. Conclusions Poor reading and writing achievement were associated with older age, not with poor reading ability in the lower FSIQ group. Children with lower FSIQ need appropriate educational interventions based on independent assessments to further their academic achievement and reading ability. Moreover, they need more frequent evaluations of their academic achievement than do children with higher FSIQ and poor reading ability since they are more likely to be at a lower academic achievement level at an older age.Peer reviewe

Metallic phase in the metal-intercalated higher fullerene Rb8.8(7)C84

A new material of higher fullerene, RbxC84, was synthesized by intercalating Rb metal into C-84 crystals. The RbxC(84) crystals showed a simple cubic (sc) structure with lattice constant, a, of 16.82 (2) angstrom at 6.5 K, and 16.87 (2) angstrom at 295 K. The Rietveld refinements were achieved with the space group, Pa (3) over bar, based on a model that the C-2 axis of D2d-C84 aligned along [111]. The sample composition was determined to be Rb-8.8(7) C-84. The ESR spectrum at 303 K was composed of a broad peak with peak-to-peak linewidth Delta H-pp of 220 G, and a narrow peak with Delta H-pp of 24 G. Temperature dependence of the broad peak clearly showed a metallic behavior. The metallic behavior was discussed based on a theoretical calculation. This finding of new metallic phase in a higher fullerene is the first step for a development of new types of fullerene materials with novel physical properties such as superconductivity.</p