Past alcohol consumption and incident atrial fibrillation: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

BackgroundAlthough current alcohol consumption is a risk factor for incident atrial fibrillation (AF), the more clinically relevant question may be whether alcohol cessation is associated with a reduced risk.Methods and resultsWe studied participants enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC) between 1987 and 1989 without prevalent AF. Past and current alcohol consumption were ascertained at baseline and at 3 subsequent visits. Incident AF was ascertained via study ECGs, hospital discharge ICD-9 codes, and death certificates. Of 15,222 participants, 2,886 (19.0%) were former drinkers. During a median follow-up of 19.7 years, there were 1,631 cases of incident AF, 370 occurring in former consumers. Former drinkers had a higher rate of AF compared to lifetime abstainers and current drinkers. After adjustment for potential confounders, every decade abstinent from alcohol was associated with an approximate 20% (95% CI 11-28%) lower rate of incident AF; every additional decade of past alcohol consumption was associated with a 13% (95% CI 3-25%) higher rate of AF; and every additional drink per day during former drinking was associated with a 4% (95% CI 0-8%) higher rate of AF.ConclusionsAmong former drinkers, the number of years of drinking and the amount of alcohol consumed may each confer an increased risk of AF. Given that a longer duration of abstinence was associated with a decreased risk of AF, earlier modification of alcohol use may have a greater influence on AF prevention

Do women in the boardroom influence foreign acquisitions’ premium and outcomes? Evidence from China<strong> </strong>

This paper examines whether gender diversity influences foreign merger and acquisition (M&amp;A) premiums and outcomes in China. Consistent with agency and resource dependence theories, we find that female directors significantly reduce the acquisition premium paid for foreign targets. We show that the market responds positively in the short-term (measured by cumulative abnormal returns) to the announcement of foreign acquisitions by firms with greater female representation in the boardroom. We further find significant evidence that acquirers’ boards comprising more female directors experience value creation and better operating synergies (measured by buy-and-hold abnormal returns and changes in return on assets) in the long-term following engagement in foreign M&amp;A deals. Interestingly, after distinguishing between female independent and executive directors, we find that our previous finding on board gender diversity can be attributable to both the monitoring (independent directors) and supervisory (executive directors) roles played by female directors. We also find evidence accords with the argument of the critical mass of female directors’ representation in the boardroom. Our results are robust after controlling for endogeneity issues using instrumental variables (IV), propensity score matching (PSM), Heckman, and firm fixed-effects methods. Overall, our findings offer additional empirical support for the global concern by regulators for improving corporate governance practices by increasing female quotas in the boardroom

Assessment of pulmonary hypertension in patients with liver disease pre and post liver transplantation

AbstractBackgroundBoth hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension are associated with chronic liver disease. Liver transplantation is considered a controversial solution.AimThe aim of this work is to assess pulmonary hypertension in liver disease patients pre and post liver transplantation. Studying the impact of pulmonary hypertension on hemodynamic of the patients in hospital after liver transplantation.Patients and methodsEcho cardiographic examination pre and post liver transplantation after at least 3months was conducted on 20 patients with chronic liver diseases and pulmonary hypertension who underwent liver transplantation to estimate mean PAP and degree of tricuspid regurgitation.ResultsThe present study was conducted on 20 patients consisting of 18 males (90%) and two females (10%) with mean age 47.8±8.9. It showed that mean pulmonary arterial pressure improved after liver transplantation 24.65%±17.50.The tricuspid regurgitation before operation was mild in 17 patients (85%) and moderate in three patients (15%) and after operation it become normal in 40% and mild in 60% with improvement in 55% and no improvement in 45% of the patients. There was improvement in dyspnea scale after the operation with one grade change in 35%, two grade change in 55% and three grade change in 10% of patients.ConclusionLiver transplantation was effective in the reduction of pulmonary artery pressure. The degree of pulmonary hypertension affected the functional state according to WHO Classification of pulmonary hypertension patients

Screening Spring Wheat Genotypes for TaDreb-B1 and Fehw3 Genes under Severe Drought Stress at the Germination Stage Using KASP Technology

Drought stress is a major yield-limiting factor throughout the world in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), causing losses of up to 80% of the total yield. The identification of factors affecting drought stress tolerance in the seedling stage is especially important to increase adaptation and accelerate the grain yield potential. In the current study, 41 spring wheat genotypes were tested for their tolerance to drought at the germination stage under two different polyethylene glycol concentrations (PEG) of 25% and 30%. For this purpose, twenty seedlings from each genotype were evaluated in triplicate with a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a controlled growth chamber. The following nine parameters were recorded: germination pace (GP), germination percentage (G%), number of roots (NR), shoot length (SL), root length (RL), shoot–root length ratio (SRR), fresh biomass weight (FBW), dry biomass weight (DBW), and water content (WC). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant differences (p \u3c 0.01) among the genotypes, treatments (PEG25%, PEG30%) and genotypes × treatment interaction, for all traits. The broad-sense heritability (H2) estimates were very high in both concentrations. They ranged from 89.4 to 98.9% under PEG25% and from 70.8 to 98.7% under PEG30%. Citr15314 (Afghanistan) was among the best performing genotypes under both concentrations for most of the germination traits. Two KASP markers for TaDreb-B1 and Fehw3 genes were used to screen all genotypes and to study the effect of these on drought tolerance at the germination stage. All genotypes with Fehw3 (only) showed a better performance for most traits under both concentrations compared to other genotypes having TaDreb-B1 or having both genes. To our knowledge, this work is the first report showing the effect of the two genes on germination traits under severe drought stress conditions

Cholestasis in patients with Cockayne syndrome and suggested modified criteria for clinical diagnosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cockayne syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease characterized by low-to-normal birth weight; growth failure; brain dysmyelination with calcium deposits, cutaneous photosensitivity; pigmentary retinopathy, cataract, and sensorineural hearing loss. To the best of our knowledge, cholestatic liver disease was not previously reported in these patients.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To highlight the presence of cholestasis and liver dysfunction in this group of patients and to suggest modified criteria for clinical diagnosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study included nine patients with Cockayne from four different families (five males and four females) in which Cockayne was suspected clinically. In all patients chromosomal breakage studies revealed mild (45%) to moderate (60%) increase in frequency of chromatid and chromosome gaps and breaks versus 25% in normal controls. Diagnosis was confirmed by DNA repair assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During routine follow up of these patients, seven of them had evident liver affection ranging from mild elevation in liver enzymes to cholestatic liver disease and liver cell failure. The attacks were recurrent in two patients and were sometimes preceded by infection. The attack may lead to deterioration of neurological and/or liver condition. It may end in liver cell failure that either recovers completely or may lead to death.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>liver disease could be considered common in Egyptian patients with Cockayne with the cholestatic form being the most evident. The syndrome should be included in the list of causes of cholestatic liver disease. Chromosomal breakage study and positive family history should be included as major criteria for clinical diagnosis of Cockayne especially in a population like ours where consanguineous marriage is very high and molecular testing and UV sensitivity tests are considered unaffordable.</p

Robocasting of advanced ceramics: ink optimization and protocol to predict the printing parameters - A review

Direct-Ink-Writing (or robocasting) is a subset of extrusion-based additive manufacturing techniques that has grown significantly in recent years to design simple to complex ceramic structures. Robocasting, relies on the use of high-concentration powder pastes, also known as inks. A successful optimization of ink rheology and formulation constitutes the major key factor to ensure printability for the fabrication of self-supporting ceramic structures with a very precise dimensional resolution. However, to date achieving a real balance between a comprehensive optimization of ink rheology and the determination of a relevant protocol to predict the printing parameters for a given ink is still relatively scarce and has been not yet standardized in the literature. The current review reports, in its first part, a detailed survey of recent studies on how ink constituents and composition affect the direct-ink-writing of ceramic parts, taking into account innovative ceramic-based-inks formulations and processing techniques. Precisely, the review elaborates the major factors influencing on ink rheology and printability, specifically binder type, particle physical features (size, morphology and density) and ceramic feedstock content. In the second part, this review suggests a standardized guideline to effectively adapt a suitable setting of the printing parameters, such as printing speed and pressure, printing substrate, strut spacing, layer height, nozzle diameter in function of ink intrinsic rheology

Maternal risk factors in young Egyptian mothers of Down syndrome

Introduction: We investigated the possible maternal risk factors that mayincrease the incidence of Down syndrome (DS) in young Egyptian mothers(younger than 35 years) especially methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR) enzyme C677T polymorphism.Subjects and Methods: The study included 200 mothers of karyotypicallyascertained non-disjunction DS attending Genetics clinic, Children’s hospital, Ain Shams University (100 mothers were < 35 years and 100 mothers ≥ 35 years). 50 mothers of none-DS children served as a control group. For all cases, history was taken laying stress on: Parental ages at conception, maternal grandparent’s ages at conception of mother, DS birth order, history of oral contraceptive use 6 months before conception, genital infection, vitamin supplementation and smoking or exposure to irradiation.Results: MTHFR C677T mutational analysis was done to twenty DS motherswith ages ≤ 35 years revealed that 35% of young mothers had C677T mutation (10% had homozygous mutation and 25% had heterozygous mutation). MTHFR C677T polymorphism was found to be a possible maternal genetic risk factor for DS although statistically non-significant.Other maternal risk factors included the use of oral contraceptive pills (OCP) 6 months before pregnancy which was significantly higher only in DSmothers ≥ 35 years. on the other hand, parental consanguinity, maternal grandparents’ ages, the presence of genital infection and birth order did not show a significant difference between young and old mothers of DS.Conclusion: MTHFR C677T could not be considered as a maternal risk factor in young Egyptian mothers of DS. The risk effect may depend on gene-environment interaction between the genotype and dietary intake in particular folic acid consumption which should be further studied on a larger scale population including other MTHFR polymorphisms and environmental factors. Other risk factors may include the use of OCP in older mothers. Parents consanguinity, paternal age and maternal grandparents’ ages were not found to be risk factors in DS in this study.Keywords: Down syndrome, risk factors, mothers, MTHFR

Effect of Dispersions of Al2O3 on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Pure Copper and Copper-Nickel Alloy

This paper illustrates the mechanical and physical properties of pure Cu and Cu-Ni (50-50 wt. %) alloy mixed with Al2O3 (1-4 wt. %) as micro-particles reinforcement materials. The attained composite alloy specimens\u27 characteristics were estimated such as microstructure, relative density, electrical and thermal conductivity, hardness, and compression yield stress properties to adjust the suitable optimum percentage of reinforcing material which has the best physical and mechanical properties with different main matrix materials whether pure Cu powder or Cu-Ni mechanical alloy. The micron-sized Al2O3 was added to enhance the mechanical and physical properties of the pure Cu and Cu-Ni alloy composites. The electrical and thermal conductivity for pure Cu alloy composites were improved compared to the copper-nickel alloy matrix composites material. The hardness and compression yield stress of pure copper has enhancement values and for Cu-Ni alloy composites have enhancement values and for Cu-Ni base composites, hardness and compression yield stress have improved with the most positive enhancement values

P Wave Indices—Advancing Our Understanding of Atrial Fibrillation-Related Cardiovascular Outcomes

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke, heart failure, cognitive decline, dementia, myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death (SCD), and all-cause death. Although these associations are firmly established, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains incomplete. Accumulating evidence suggests that left atrial (LA) abnormality or atrial cardiomyopathy may explain the relationship of AF to the aforementioned outcomes. P-wave indices (PWIs) reflect underlying atrial remodeling. In this mini review, we define representative PWIs, discuss state-of-the-art knowledge on the relationship between abnormal PWIs and AF-related cardiovascular outcomes (focusing on ischemic stroke and sudden cardiac death), and propose directions for future research. Our ultimate goal is to present a practical way forward to advance the emerging field of LA abnormality or atrial cardiomyopathy