Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with reduced response and lower treatment persistence with TNF inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To investigate the association between socioeconomic deprivation and outcomes following TNF inhibitor (TNFi) treatment. Methods Individuals commencing their first TNFi in the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for RA (BSRBR-RA) and Biologics in RA Genetics and Genomics Study Syndicate (BRAGGSS) cohort were included. Socioeconomic deprivation was proxied using the Index of Multiple Deprivation and categorized as 20% most deprived, middle 40% or 40% least deprived. DAS28-derived outcomes at 6 months (BSRBR-RA) and 3 months (BRAGGSS) were compared using regression models with the least deprived as referent. Risks of all-cause and cause-specific drug discontinuation were compared using Cox models in the BSRBR-RA. Additional analyses adjusted for lifestyle factors (e.g. smoking, BMI) as potential mediators. Results 16 085 individuals in the BSRBR-RA were included (mean age 56 years, 76% female), of whom 18%, 41% and 41% were in the most, middle and least deprived groups, respectively. Of 3459 included in BRAGGSS (mean age 57, 77% female), proportions were 22%, 36% and 41%, respectively. The most deprived group had 0.3-unit higher 6-month DAS28 (95% CI 0.22, 0.37) and were less likely to achieve low disease activity (odds ratio [OR] 0.76; 95% CI 0.68, 0.84) in unadjusted models. Results were similar for 3-month DAS28 (β = 0.23; 95% CI 0.11, 0.36) and low disease activity (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.63, 0.94). The most deprived were more likely to discontinue treatment (hazard ratio 1.18; 95% CI 1.12, 1.25), driven by ineffectiveness rather than adverse events. Adjusted estimates were generally attenuated. Conclusion Socioeconomic deprivation is associated with reduced response to TNFi. Improvements in determinants of health other than lifestyle factors are needed to address socioeconomic inequities

Complex permeability of Fe-deficient Ni–Cu–Zn ferrites

Fe-deficient Ni-Cu-Zn ferrites with composition Ni0.28Cu0.10Zn0.62O(Fe2O3)(1-x), where x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08 were prepared by the double sintering ceramic technique. Real part of the initial permeability mu', Curie temperature T-c, imaginary part of the initial permeability mu '', relative quality factor (Q-factor) of the samples were elaborately discussed as a function of frequency and temperature with increase of Fe-deficiency during the heating and cooling cycles. The temperature dependence of the imaginary part of the complex permeability curves are very interesting to note that there is a peak value of mu '' at particular temperature which corresponds to the T-c because at this temperature the samples might be in complete spin disorder. This reflects that at T-c, a ferrimagnetically ordered state over comes KBT and becomes comparable with mu H-0 where the loss becomes maximum. Results of heating and cooling cycles were found to be very close to each other. The small difference during heating and cooling process might arise due to the thermal hysteresis which is accumulated in this work. In our study, it was noticed that the resonant frequency and T-c increases first with the increase in iron deficiency and decreases after it takes a maximum at x = 0.06

Order-disorder phase transition and lattice parameter of Ni–Pt alloys

In this paper order-disorder phase transition of undoped Ni0.5Pt0.5 alloy and doped with Fe and Co with compositions Ni0.45Fe0.05Pt0.5 and Ni0.45Co0.05Pt0.5 respectively were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) method. It has been observed that Ni–Pt alloys undergo disorder-order transformation at high temperature from fcc (face centered cubic) structure to fct (face centered tetragonal) phase. Lattice parameters of the three disordered and three-ordered Ni–Pt and doped alloys were determined. Disordered state of Ni–Pt alloy shows fcc structure with lattice parameter of a = 3.7468 Å, while ordered one is fct having a = 3.8187 Å and c = 3.6028 Å with c/a ratio of 0.943. A slight increase of c/a ratio has been observed for Fe and Co doped alloys. The lattice parameters of the ordered fct phase of Ni0.45Fe0.05Pt0.5 and Ni0.45Co0.05Pt0.5 are a = 3.8141 Å, c = 3.6069 Å and a = 3.8174 Å, c = 3.6154 Å with c/a ratio of 0.945 and 0.947 respectively. Fe and Co doped Ni–Pt alloys has been found to be multiphased in contrast to the undoped counterpart. The corresponding N–R functions for each reflection planes have been reported as well

Study of structural and magnetic properties of Sr-hexaferrites using additives

M-type strontium hexaferrites of composition (SrO)1-x (La2O3)x 5.7 Fe2O3, where x = 0.00, 0.04, 0.08 were successfully prepared by standard ceramic technique using magnetite from Cox’s Bazar beach sand. The influence of the composition on both the structural and magnetic properties of M-type Sr-hexaferrites with substitution of Sr2+ by La2O3 of various samples were investigated. The effect of simultaneous addition of CaO and SiO2 on the structural and magnetic properties of the hexaferrites sintered at different temperatures was also studied. The prepared samples were studied by measuring density, X-ray density, porosity, lattice parameters, unit cell volume, Curie temperature and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. It has been observed that the structural and magnetic properties of the sintered Sr-hexaferrites increases significantly with the addition of La2O3 ¬ and (CaO + SiO2) and sintering temperature

Magnetization and magnetic behavior of Ni1-xCdxFe2O4 ferrites

This article describes the experimental investigation on the magnetization behavior of Ni1-xCdxFe2O4 ferrites for x greater than or equal to 0.0 & less than or equal to 0.8 prepared by conventional ceramic method. Magnetic properties have been measured as a function of field and temperature using vibrating sample magnetometer and SQUID magnetometer. Saturation magnetization at 20 K increases with Cd-content up to x = 0.5 and decreases thereafter. Neel’s two sublattice collinear model is applied for the initial rise of the magnetization up to x less than or equal to 0.5 and beyond that three sublattices non-collinear model proposed by Yafet-Kittel are predominant. This indicates the appearance of spin canting structure in Ni1-xCdxFe2O4 ferrites with higher Cd-content. Sample with x = 0.8 shows anomalous temperature dependent magnetic ordering on applied magnetic field. Low field (5 Oe) magnetization shows antiferromagnetic ordering while the ferromagnetic ordering has been found to be dominant with the high field (1 T). That is the magnetic ordering of Ni1-xCdxFe2O4 is dependent on the strength of applied field

Diversity and abundance of dipteran species at two different elevations in Gunung Datuk, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

A study on diversity and abundance of Diptera was conducted at two different elevations of Gunung Datuk viz. low (200 m) and high (700 m) from December 2014 to February 2015 using Malaise traps. Three malaise traps were set up in each elevation. A total of 1028 individuals of Diptera consisting of 31 families and 71 morphospecies were successfully collected. The abundance of Diptera at low elevation had the highest number of individuals collected with 627 (27 families, 62 morphospecies), while at high elevation only 401 individuals have been collected (23 families, 48 morphospecies). The most abundant family was Cecidomyiidae (322 individuals) while the least abundance was showed by the families Tipulidae, Rhagionidae and Agromyzidae with only one individual. The Shannon Weiner Diversity (H’) showed that low elevation had the higher diversity value with H’= 3.71. Further analysis conducted by using T-test showed that there was no significant difference between both elevations (P > 0.05). Overall, this study showed that the diversity and abundance of Diptera were higher at low elevation compared to high elevation

1,5-Diphenyl-1,4-pentadiene-3-ones and cyclic analogues as antioxidative agents. Synthesis and structure-activity relationship.

A series of 1,5-diphenyl-1,4-pentadiene-3-ones and cyclic analogues with OH-groups in the para position of the phenyl rings and various meta substituents were prepared and their antioxidant activity compared with that of curcumin. Most of them exhibited potent antioxidative activity, especially when all the meta positions were substituted by methoxy groups

Nutritional Indicators and Some Related Factors in Hemodialysis Patients Referred to Hospitals Covered by Alborz University of Medical Science, Summer 91

Background: Protein-energy malnutrition is one of the most complicated, multifactorial and prevalent phenomenon in hemodialysis patients and is directly related to increased mortality in this patients. This research conducted for assessment of nutritional indicators and some related factors in hemodialysis patients referred to hospitals covered by Alborz University of medical science in summer 91. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 210 hemodialysis patients. Anthropometry indicators (BMI, TSF, MAMC and MAC), biochemical parameters (albumin and creatinin), protein and energy intake was measured with 24-hour recall. FP ΙΙ and SPSS (version 12) was used for analysis of data. Results: On the base of results insufficiency of energy and protein intake in this patients was reported very high (respectively 93.8% and 82.8%). Also depletion of fat and structural protein storage was reported 38.2% and 84.5% respectively in these patients. Malnutrition on the base of MAMC was high in men (P=0.04) and on the base of TSF in women (P= 0.001) significantly. Relation of age with anthropometry indicators and albumin was also significant. Conclusion: Malnutrition is prevalent and severe problem in hemodialysis patients. Comprehensive and continues assessment of nutritional states of these patients and reflection of results for education and facility of servicing are recommended

Structural effect on Magneto-electric properties in (1-x) BiFe0.9La0.1O3 + xNi0.6Zn0.4Fe1.94V0.06O4 composites

Enhancement of magnetic as well as electric properties in BiFe0.9La0.1O3 (BLFO) with the addition of Ni-Zn ferrite have been studied on the compositions (1-x)BiFe0.9La0.1O3 + xNi0.6Zn0.4Fe1.94V0.06O4 (where, x = 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0). The samples were synthesized by the conventional ceramic methods sintered at 850 °C for 2 h. XRD studies revealed a normal distorted rhombohedral phase (R3c space group), cubic phase (Fd-3 m space group) and some impurity phases like Bi2Fe4O9 and Bi25FeO39 in the synthesized composites. The addition of Ni0.6Zn0.4Fe1.94V0.06O4 (NZVFO) successfully eliminated Bi25FeO39 phase from the derived composites. The average grain sizes (Dg) were estimated from FESEM images and found to decrease with the increase of NZVFO content in the samples. There is a large increment in saturation magnetization (MS) from 0.1 emu/g to 50.5 emu/g for adding NZVFO in BLFO. The frequency-dependent magnetic permeability μ and dielectric constant ε and dielectric loss tanδε have been measured with an impedance analyzer. The addition of NZVFO results in decreasing the permittivity ε' and dielectric loss (tanδε). The composites with 0.7 NZVFO addition shows a stable matching impedance Z/η0≈0.5 over a wide frequency range (5–70 MHz), demonstrating its possible applications in miniaturizing devices such as microwave antenna