Statistical-Analysis of a Mixed-Layer X-Ray-Diffraction Peak

Fil: Rebollo-Neira, Laura. Department of Mathematics. Aston University. Birmingham; United KingdomFil: Constantinides, Anthony G.. Imperial College London. Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. London; United KingdomFil: Plastino, Ángel Luis. CONICET; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Alberto Guillermo. Departamento de Química. Universidad de Los Andes; ColombiaFil: Bonetto, Rita D.. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas Dr. Jorge J. Ronco. CINDECA. Facultad de Ingeniería y de Ciencias Exactas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Iñíguez Rodríguez, Adrián Mario. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas (CIG). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentin

Socializing One Health: an innovative strategy to investigate social and behavioral risks of emerging viral threats

In an effort to strengthen global capacity to prevent, detect, and control infectious diseases in animals and people, the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) PREDICT project funded development of regional, national, and local One Health capacities for early disease detection, rapid response, disease control, and risk reduction. From the outset, the EPT approach was inclusive of social science research methods designed to understand the contexts and behaviors of communities living and working at human-animal-environment interfaces considered high-risk for virus emergence. Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, PREDICT behavioral research aimed to identify and assess a range of socio-cultural behaviors that could be influential in zoonotic disease emergence, amplification, and transmission. This broad approach to behavioral risk characterization enabled us to identify and characterize human activities that could be linked to the transmission dynamics of new and emerging viruses. This paper provides a discussion of implementation of a social science approach within a zoonotic surveillance framework. We conducted in-depth ethnographic interviews and focus groups to better understand the individual- and community-level knowledge, attitudes, and practices that potentially put participants at risk for zoonotic disease transmission from the animals they live and work with, across 6 interface domains. When we asked highly-exposed individuals (ie. bushmeat hunters, wildlife or guano farmers) about the risk they perceived in their occupational activities, most did not perceive it to be risky, whether because it was normalized by years (or generations) of doing such an activity, or due to lack of information about potential risks. Integrating the social sciences allows investigations of the specific human activities that are hypothesized to drive disease emergence, amplification, and transmission, in order to better substantiate behavioral disease drivers, along with the social dimensions of infection and transmission dynamics. Understanding these dynamics is critical to achieving health security--the protection from threats to health-- which requires investments in both collective and individual health security. Involving behavioral sciences into zoonotic disease surveillance allowed us to push toward fuller community integration and engagement and toward dialogue and implementation of recommendations for disease prevention and improved health security

Changes in Nocturnal Leptin and Insulin Concentrations in Prepubertal Low Birth Weight Children after Administration of the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 Complex

Background: There is limited information regarding the effects of IGF-I and/or IGFBP-3 on circulating leptin concentrations. Aim: To determine the effects of IGF-I on leptin and insulin concentrations, we examined leptin and insulin nocturnal profiles before and after the administration of the IGF-I/IGFBP-3 complex (Iplex™) to prepubertal, low birth weight children. Methods: We studied 20 prepubertal children (11 boys and 9 girls), born after a full-term pregnancy with a mean birth weight below 2.8 kg. They were studied at the mean age of 7.3 ± 0.5 years (range 4-11 years). Their mean height was-1.8 ± 0.3 SDS and their mean BMI was 0.1 ± 0.2 SDS at the time of the study. The children were studied on 2 separate occasions, the first under basal conditions, and the second time after s.c. administration of 1 mg/kg of Iplex™ at 21.00 h. Blood samples for determination of leptin and insulin were obtained every 60 min between 23.00 h and 07.00 h, while the children were sleeping. In each pat

Longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity and secretion from birth to age three years in small- and appropriate-for-gestational-age children

Aims/hypothesis: Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes risk in human subjects who were small-for-gestationalage (SGA) at birth may be a consequence of rapid early postnatal weight gain. Materials and methods: We prospectively studied early changes in fasting insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion, assessed by a short intravenous glucose tolerance test that was conducted several times from birth to 3 years of age in 55 SGA (birthweight below fifth percentile) newborns and in 13 newborns with a birthweight appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Results: Most SGA infants showed postnatal upward weight centile crossing and by 3 years were similar in size to AGA infants. SGA infants had lower pre-feed insulin levels at postnatal age 48 h than AGA infants (median 34.4 vs 59.7 pmol/l, p<0.05), but by the age of 3 years they had higher fasting insulin levels (median 38.9 vs 23.8 pmol/l, p<0.005), which were related to rate of weight gain between 0 and 3 years (r=0.47, p=0.0003). First-phase insulin secretion did not differ between SGA and AGA infants, but SGA infants had a lower glucose disposition index (beta cell compensation) (median 235 vs 501 min mmol−1 l −1 , p=0.02), which persisted after allowing for postnatal weight gain (p=0.009). Conclusions/interpretation: SGA infants showed a marked transition from lower pre-feed insulin and increased insulin sensitivity at birth to insulin resistance over the first 3 years of life. This transition was related to rapid postnatal weight gain, which could indicate a propensity to central fat deposition. The additional observation of reduced compensatory beta cell secretion underlines the need for long-term surveillance of glucose homeostasis in all SGA subjects, whether or not they show postnatal catch-up growth

C-Reactive protein and insulin growth factor 1 serum levels during the menstrual cycle in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes

© 2016 Diabetes UK.Aims: To evaluate C-reactive protein, insulin growth factor 1 and lipid levels during the follicular and luteal phases in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Methods: Adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (N = 40) and healthy controls (C; N = 43) were studied during the follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycles. C-Reactive protein, insulin growth factor 1 and lipid levels were measured. Results: Adolescents with Type 1 diabetes exhibited higher C-reactive protein levels than the C group during the follicular (P &lt; 0.0001) and luteal phases (P &lt; 0.01). The elevation of C-reactive protein levels was more pronounced in overweight adolescents with Type 1 diabetes than in adolescents in the C group. More adolescents with Type 1 diabetes were classified as having an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease (C-reactive protein &gt; 3 mg/l) in the luteal phase than in the follicular phase (37.5% and 17.5%, respectively); half of the overweight adolescents with Type 1 diabe

IGF-I sensitivity in small for gestational age children

Background: The lack of catch up growth (CUG) in small for gestational age (SGA) children may be related to a reduced sensitivity to insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-I). Aim: To assess the sensitivity to IGF-I in small for gestational age children, measuring basal and post IGF-I nocturnal profile of growth hormone (GH). Patients and methods: We studied 34 prepubertal SGA children aged 4 to 11 years. Twenty three had CUG and 11 did not have CUG. As an IGF-I sensitivity test, nocturnal GH levels were measured every 20 minutes from 23:00 h to 07:00 h, both under baseline conditions and after the administration of a subcutaneous bolus of 1 mg/kg/body weight of the IGF-I + IGFBP-3 complex (Somatokine®). Results: At the time of the study, the Z scores for height among children with and without CUG were -1.55 ± 0.22 and -3.24 ± 0.28, respectively (p <0.0001). There were no statistical differences between CUG + vs CUG- patients in mean basal GH (6.6 ± 0.5 and 5.6 ± 0.6 ng/ml, respectively). After Somatokine® administration, mean GH, and the mean GH area under the curve (AUC) decreased significantly in both groups. However, mean overnight GH AUC decreased in all SGA children with CUG, after Somatokine® administration, whereas 3 out of 11 SGA children without CUG had an increase in their mean GH AUC in response to Somatokine®. Conclusions: These findings suggest that pituitary sensitivity to IGF-I may be decreased in some SGA children without CUG.Trabajo financiado por proyecto Fondecyt #1020965

Papel del cuestionario EORTC QLQ-C30 en la predicción de riesgo de desnutrición en pacientes mexicanos con cáncer de cabeza y cuello EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire role as predictor for malnutrition risk in head and neck cancer Mexican patients

Introducción: El tratamiento del cáncer de cabeza y cuello puede limitar la ingesta oral y condicionar desnutrición. Un soporte nutricional adecuado durante el tratamiento puede limitar el impacto de los efectos secundarios. Objetivo: Describir la utilidad de la encuesta EORTC QLQ-C30 en el tamizaje de riesgo de desnutrición en pacientes con cáncer de cabeza y cuello. Métodos: Estudio transversal analítico, validación de prueba diagnóstica en pacientes con cáncer de cabeza y cuello en diferentes etapas clínicas. Se correlacionó el diagnóstico de desnutrición (Valoración Global Subjetiva) con las escalas del cuestionario EORTC QLQ-C30.v3 a través de las correlaciones de Pearson y de Spearman; se realizó una curva ROC para determinar el punto de corte en los puntajes de las escalas del cuestionario QLQ-C30.v3 y el cálculo de sensibilidad, especificidad, valores predictivos positivo y negativo, y el cálculo de Odds Ratio por regresión logística. Resultados: Las escalas funcionales (función de rol, función física y estado global de salud) presentaron valores limitados para estimar riesgo de desnutrición en las personas, con cáncer de cabeza y cuello. Las escalas de síntomas que mostraron mayor grado de asociación fueron: dolor con sensibilidad de 76,47% y especificidad de 69,23%, insomnio con sensibilidad de 88,24% y especificidad de 53,85%, fatiga con sensibilidad de 70,59% y especificidad de 76,92%. Conclusiones: El cuestionario EORTC QLQ-C30, es una herramienta útil para detectar tempranamente desnutrición en pacientes con cáncer de cabeza y cuello, impactar el estadio nutricio, la respuesta al tratamiento y elevar la calidad de vida de estos pacientes.Introduction: Head and neck cancer treatment restricts oral intake and conditioning malnutrition. Adequate nutritional support during treatment can limit the impact of side effects. Objective: To describe EORTC QLQ-C30 role for malnutrition risk screening in head and neck cancer patients. Methods: Analytical and cross-sectional, diagnostic test study in head and neck cancer patients. We correlated malnutrition diagnosis with subjective global assessment (SGA) and score for the EORTC QLQ-C30 scales with Pearson and Spearman correlation. We realized COR (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curves to calculate cut point in the score for the EORTC QLQ-C30 scales; we calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and Odds Ratio through logistic regression. Results: Functional scales (role, physic, global health status/QoL) showed limited utility to malnutrition risk estimation in people with head and neck cancer. Symptoms´ scales with strong association were: pain (sensitivity 76.47%, specificity 69.23%), insomnia (sensitivity 88.24%, specificity 53.85%), fatigue (sensitivity 70.59%, specificity 76.92%). Conclusions: EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire is a useful tool to early malnutrition diagnosis in head and neck cancer patients with short term results in nutritional condition, treatment response and a better QoL in this kind of patients