Effects of positive airway pressure therapy on cardiovascular and metabolic markers in males with obstructive sleep apnea

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with cardiovascular/ metabolic complications. Some analytical parameters (homocysteine, glycemic and lipidic profiles) are recognized markers of these consequences. Limited data is available on the association of these markers and OSAS’s severity/response to positive airway pressure therapy (PAP). Material and methods: In this prospective study we analyzed polysomnographic and analytical data of male patients admitted to sleep laboratory. The aim was to evaluate metabolic/cardiovascular markers in snorers and OSAS patients, to relate with sleep parameters and PAP response. One-hundred and three patients were included, and 73 (71%) were OSAS patients. OSAS patients were similar to snorers except for higher body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia. Severe OSAS patients showed higher glycemia, HbA1c, insulin, and insulin resistance, and lower HDL cholesterol in comparison to mild---moderate (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.05, respectively). Glycemic profile and triglycerides were slightly correlated with OSAS severity. 46 OSAS patients were submitted to 6 months of PAP, with a statistical decrease in mean values of homocysteine, glycemia, total and LDL cholesterol(p < 0.05, p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively), and in glycemia and LDL cholesterol in severe grouponly (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively).Results: This study demonstrated an association between glucose metabolism parameters andtriglycerides with OSAS severity underlying the complexity of the process leading to cardiovas-cular/metabolic complications in this disorder. Moreover, homocysteine, glycemic and lipidicprofiles changed significantly after 6 months of PAP therapy in OSAS, supporting its cardiovas-cular and metabolic protective effect.Conclusion: Our study has reinforced the importance of analytical cardiovascular/metabolicevaluation as complementary tool of diagnosis/treatment response in OSAS.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of zirconia-based ceramics stabilized with different yttria contents shaped by extrusion 3D-printing

In this study, zirconia-based ceramics doped with different yttria contents (3, 4 or 5 mol.%) were processed by a material extrusion additive manufacturing technique, Direct Ink Writing (DIW). A gel-based approach, using polyethylene glycol (PEG), Laponite® nano-clay and Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), was used for the development of ceramic inks with solid load ≈31 vol% and suitable rheological properties to be processed by DIW. Prismatic and cylindric samples were printed (crossed layers at 90°; print speed = 10 mm/s; nozzle Ø = 0.63 mm), dried, debinded and pre-sintered (up to 1100 °C for 2 h), being finally sintered at 1550 °C for 2 h. The sintered samples were evaluated by their microstructure, phase composition and relative density. The hardness and Young's modulus of the sintered samples, were evaluated locally, by dynamic nanoindentation varying the indentation loads: 250 mN → 1960 mN. The three sintered sample’ groups showed similar relative density (≈90 %), but different proportions of the three ZrO2 polytypes (monoclinic, tetragonal, and cubic) as crystalline phases in their composition. The microstructure of the sintered groups was characterized by bimodal grain size distributions, with larger grain sizes as yttria concentration increased and, consequently, higher presence of cubic phase and translucency. Vickers hardness of 1023 HV, 921.4 HV and 896.9 HV and fracture toughness of 5.45 MPa m1/2, 4.30 MPa m1/2 and 4.15 MPa m1/2 were obtained for 3Y-TZP, 4Y-PSZ and 5Y-PSZ, respectively, both influenced by relative density

The next-generation microcalorimeter array of XRS on Astro-E2

The square-format 32-pixel microcalorimeter array at the focal plane of the high-resolution X-ray spectrometer on the Astro-E2 X-ray Observatory is the first of a new generation of silicon-based microcalorimeters. This array has numerous advantages over its predecessor, the bilinear array that was launched on Astro-E. Foremost among its benefits are: (1) the energy resolution is improved by a factor of two at 6keV (now 6eV FWHM), (2) the thermal time constant is a factor of two faster, and (3) each pixel has a Gaussian line response. We will discuss the design changes that have led to these and other advantages

Práticas de manejo integradas para produção de arroz irrigado Integrated management practices for lowland rice production

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a avaliação técnica e financeira do arroz irrigado (Oryza sativa) em função da integração de práticas de manejo da cultura. O experimento foi conduzido em Cachoeirinha, RS. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, com parcelas subsubdivididas, com quatro repetições. As estações de crescimento (2003/2004, 2004/2005 e 2006/2007) foram locadas na parcela principal, as épocas de semeadura (preferencial e tardia), nas subparcelas e os sistemas de práticas de manejo (baixo, médio, alto e muito alto), nas subsubparcelas. Os sistemas de práticas de manejo variaram quanto à densidade de semeadura, à adubação de base e de cobertura, à dose de herbicida e aos manejos da adubação nitrogenada de cobertura e da irrigação.A resposta em produtividade de grãos e em retorno financeiro do arroz irrigado à melhoria nas práticas de manejo foi maior na época de semeadura preferencial, no final de outubro, do que na semeadura tardia, na primeira semana de dezembro. Na época preferencial, o retorno financeiro aumentou com a melhoria nas práticas de manejo, por causa do aumento da receita, proporcionado pela maior produtividade de grãos.<br>The objective of this work was to perform a technical and financial evaluation of integrated management practices for lowland rice (Oryza sativa). The experiment was carried out in Cachoeirinha, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A randomized block design with split-split plots with four replications was used.The three growing seasons (2003/2004, 2004/2005, and 2006/2007) were the main plots, the sowing dates (preferential and late) were the split plots, and the management practice systems (low, average, high and veryhigh) were thes plit-split plots. The management practice systems varied in terms of seeding rate, fertilizer rate, herbicide rate, nitrogen fertilizer topdress management, and irrigation management. The grain yield and financial return responses to the improvement of management practices were greater at the preferential sowing date, at the end of October, than on the first week of December. At the preferential sowing date, the financial return increased with the improvement of management practices, due to the increased income resulting from the higher grain yield