Clinical Studies into the Causes of Idiopathic Macular Telangiectasia Type 2: Sleep Apnoea and Macular Telangiectasia: The SAMTel Project

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) in a population with Macular Telangiectasia Type 2 (MacTel) and how OSA impacts on MacTel progression. Methods: In this case-control study participants completed a questionnaire which incorporated the Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) and questions regarding anthropometric data and medical history. A subset was sequentially selected to undertake overnight sleep analysis using the ResMed ApneaLink™. Using data acquired from the Busselton Population and Medical Research Foundation participants were case-matched based on age, sex and body mass index (BMI) along with, where possible, the presence of hypertension and diabetes. Results: There were 57 (30 ApneaLink) MacTel and 183 controls, respectively. There was no difference in self-reported sleep disordered breathing outcomes between the cohorts using the BQ (p=0.95). Analysis of key indices from ApneaLink recordings found that those with an Apnoea – Hypopnoea Index (AHI) and Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) > 5 episodes per hour had a more advanced stage of MacTel (AHI p = 0.05, ODI p = 0.03). 2 year MacTel disease progression rates were unremarkable. Conclusion: Patients with MacTel have a high prevalence of OSA which appears to result in a more advanced form of the disease

The bilirubin albumin ratio in the management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants to improve neurodevelopmental outcome: A randomized controlled trial - BARTrial

Background and Objective: High bilirubin/albumin (B/A) ratios increase the risk of bilirubin neurotoxicity. The B/A ratio may be a valuable measure, in addition to the total serum bilirubin (TSB), in the management of hyperbilirubinemia. We aimed to assess whether the additional use of B/A ratios in the management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants improved neurodevelopmental outcome. Methods: In a prospective, randomized controlled trial, 615 preterm infants of 32 weeks' gestation or less were randomly assigned to treatment based on either B/A ratio and TSB thresholds (consensus-based), whichever threshold was crossed first, or on the TSB thresholds only. The primary outcome was neurodevelopment at 18 to 24 months' corrected age as assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III by investigators unaware of treatment allocation. Secondary outcomes included complications of preterm birth and death. Results: Composite motor (100±13 vs. 101±12) and cognitive (101±12 vs. 101±11) scores did not differ between the B/A ratio and TSB groups. Demographic characteristics, maximal TSB levels, B/A ratios, and other secondary outcomes were similar. The rates of death and/or severe neurodevelopmental impairment for th

Seismic reservoir characterisation employing factual and simulated wells

Civil Engineering and Geoscience

Isolation and characterization of a microspore-specific gene from tobacco

Contains fulltext : 27897.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

High-Temperature-Induced Defects in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Anther and Pollen Development Are Associated with Reduced Expression of B-Class Floral Patterning Genes

Contains fulltext : 163392.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Designing a coherent ecological network for large mammals in northwestern Europe

In densely populated northwestern Europe, native large mammals are confronted with a very fragmented landscape, and most of the areas they inhabit are island-like reserves threatened with total isolation from other reserves. The only way to counteract the threat of further decline in the numbers of large-mammal species is to restore their habitats. The appropriate size of future reserves could be estimated from the habitat requirements of wild ungulates that are considered key species for ecosystem functioning. The species selected to guide the design of large nature reserves in northwestern Europe is the red deer ( Cervus elaphus) because of its widespread distribution, key role in ecosystem functioning, and home-range size. We describe a network analysis of the Netherlands, Belgium, and adjacent parts of France and Germany, performed with the LARCH landscape ecology model, that was conducted in order to identify the structure of the ecological network for red deer and the spatial connectivity of the landscape. The resulting maps show areas that could support viable populations and indicate habitat areas that will support persistent populations only if they are in a network of linked habitats. The gaps and barriers that prevent connectivity in such networks guide the design of effective corridors to increase spatial connectivity. The results of our analysis can be used for policy decisions on nature conservation and spatial planning, and the method is applicable to other regions and species

Routeplanner naar een klimaatbestendig Nederland 1: Nulmeting

In dit rapport is voor het eerst getracht op een systematische wijze de vraag te beantwoorden hoe bestendig Nederland is tegen klimaatverandering – en tegen de daarmee gepaard gaande zeespiegelstijging. Daarbij zijn de recent gepubliceerde klimaatscenario’s van het KNMI voor 2050 gebruikt, alsmede vier sociaal-economische scenario’s met een zichttijd tot 2040. Wat het klimaat betreft ziet het ernaar uit dat dit in Nederland gaat lijken op het klimaat zoals dat momenteel heerst in Zuidwest-Frankrijk. In dit deelproject ‘Nulmeting klimaatbestendigheid’ is het primair de bedoeling om een methode te ontwikkelen waarmee de mate van klimaatbestendigheid van Nederland kan worden bepaald, en daarmee de behoefte aan maatregelen om gesteld te staan voor toekomstige situaties als gevolg van klimaatverandering in beeld te brengen. Ten tweede wordt beoogd om met behulp van deze methode een – voorlopige en grofstoffelijke – nulmeting uit te voeren om aldus inzicht te verschaffen over hoe het momenteel met de klimaatbestendigheid van Nederland is gesteld en wat het resultaat van adaptatiemaatregelen voor verschillende toekomstscenario’s i

The bilirubin albumin ratio in the management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants to improve neurodevelopmental outcome: a randomized controlled trial--BARTrial

Contains fulltext : 136978.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: High bilirubin/albumin (B/A) ratios increase the risk of bilirubin neurotoxicity. The B/A ratio may be a valuable measure, in addition to the total serum bilirubin (TSB), in the management of hyperbilirubinemia. We aimed to assess whether the additional use of B/A ratios in the management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants improved neurodevelopmental outcome. METHODS: In a prospective, randomized controlled trial, 615 preterm infants of 32 weeks' gestation or less were randomly assigned to treatment based on either B/A ratio and TSB thresholds (consensus-based), whichever threshold was crossed first, or on the TSB thresholds only. The primary outcome was neurodevelopment at 18 to 24 months' corrected age as assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III by investigators unaware of treatment allocation. Secondary outcomes included complications of preterm birth and death. RESULTS: Composite motor (100 +/- 13 vs. 101 +/- 12) and cognitive (101 +/- 12 vs. 101 +/- 11) scores did not differ between the B/A ratio and TSB groups. Demographic characteristics, maximal TSB levels, B/A ratios, and other secondary outcomes were similar. The rates of death and/or severe neurodevelopmental impairment for the B/A ratio versus TSB groups were 15.4% versus 15.5% (P = 1.0) and 2.8% versus 1.4% (P = 0.62) for birth weights 1000 g. CONCLUSIONS: The additional use of B/A ratio in the management of hyperbilirubinemia in preterm infants did not improve their neurodevelopmental outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN74465643