1,491 research outputs found
Electrocardiographic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Among Gambian Diabetes Mellitus Patients
Background: The global prevalence of diabetes and its complications is increasing worldwide. Its role in coronary heart disease has been linked with the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The present study aims to determine the prevalence of electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (ECG-LVH) in adult diabetic subjects, its epidemiological and clinical correlates.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 534 patients was conducted at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (formerly Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital), The Gambia. Four hundred and forty patients were included using a standard questionnaire. Anthropometry, laboratory investigations and electrocardiogram were carried out. We used the Lewis, Cornell, and Sokolow-Lyon Voltage criteria to define ECG-LVH. MinitabTM statistical software version 13.20 was used for analysis.Results: 146 (35.2%) patients had ECG-LVH using all 3 criteria and this prevalence was higher among women being 116 (79.5%). A generally high prevalence of overweight (155/37.4%) and obesity (119/28.6%) was observed among study participants, and both clinic-day systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were significantly higher in those with ECG-LVH. Poor diabetes control was observed in both groups.Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of ECGLVH and it is especially so with combining multiple criteria, hence the need for screening. Clinic-day hypertension was associated with ECG-LVH hence the need for diagnosing and aggressive treatment of hypertension in patients with diabetes mellitus.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, ECG-LVH, The Gambia, voltage criteri
Topological modes bound to dislocations in mechanical metamaterials
Mechanical metamaterials are artificial structures with unusual properties,
such as negative Poisson ratio, bistability or tunable vibrational properties,
that originate in the geometry of their unit cell. At the heart of such unusual
behaviour is often a soft mode: a motion that does not significantly stretch or
compress the links between constituent elements. When activated by motors or
external fields, soft modes become the building blocks of robots and smart
materials. Here, we demonstrate the existence of topological soft modes that
can be positioned at desired locations in a metamaterial while being robust
against a wide range of structural deformations or changes in material
parameters. These protected modes, localized at dislocations, are the
mechanical analogue of topological states bound to defects in electronic
systems. We create physical realizations of the topological modes in prototypes
of kagome lattices built out of rigid triangular plates. We show mathematically
that they originate from the interplay between two Berry phases: the Burgers
vector of the dislocation and the topological polarization of the lattice. Our
work paves the way towards engineering topologically protected nano-mechanical
structures for molecular robotics or information storage and read-out.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures; changes to text and figures and added analysis
on mode localization; see
http://www.lorentz.leidenuniv.nl/~paulose/dislocation-modes/ for accompanying
video
Structure formation in active networks
Structure formation and constant reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton are
key requirements for the function of living cells. Here we show that a minimal
reconstituted system consisting of actin filaments, crosslinking molecules and
molecular-motor filaments exhibits a generic mechanism of structure formation,
characterized by a broad distribution of cluster sizes. We demonstrate that the
growth of the structures depends on the intricate balance between
crosslinker-induced stabilization and simultaneous destabilization by molecular
motors, a mechanism analogous to nucleation and growth in passive systems. We
also show that the intricate interplay between force generation, coarsening and
connectivity is responsible for the highly dynamic process of structure
formation in this heterogeneous active gel, and that these competing mechanisms
result in anomalous transport, reminiscent of intracellular dynamics
Graphene for spintronics: giant Rashba splitting due to hybridization with Au
Graphene in spintronics has so far primarily meant spin current leads of high
performance because the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling of its pi-electrons is
very weak. If a large spin-orbit coupling could be created by a proximity
effect, the material could also form active elements of a spintronic device
such as the Das-Datta spin field-effect transistor, however, metal interfaces
often compromise the band dispersion of massless Dirac fermions. Our
measurements show that Au intercalation at the graphene-Ni interface creates a
giant spin-orbit splitting (~100 meV) in the graphene Dirac cone up to the
Fermi energy. Photoelectron spectroscopy reveals hybridization with Au-5d
states as the source for the giant spin-orbit splitting. An ab initio model of
the system shows a Rashba-split dispersion with the analytically predicted
gapless band topology around the Dirac point of graphene and indicates that a
sharp graphene-Au interface at equilibrium distance will account for only ~10
meV spin-orbit splitting. The ab initio calculations suggest an enhancement due
to Au atoms that get closer to the graphene and do not violate the sublattice
symmetry.Comment: 16 pages (3 figures) + supplementary information 16 pages (14
figures
Using item response theory to explore the psychometric properties of extended matching questions examination in undergraduate medical education
BACKGROUND:
As assessment has been shown to direct learning, it is critical that the examinations developed to test clinical competence in medical undergraduates are valid and reliable. The use of extended matching questions (EMQ) has been advocated to overcome some of the criticisms of using multiple-choice questions to test factual and applied knowledge.
METHODS:
We analysed the results from the Extended Matching Questions Examination taken by 4th year undergraduate medical students in the academic year 2001 to 2002. Rasch analysis was used to examine whether the set of questions used in the examination mapped on to a unidimensional scale, the degree of difficulty of questions within and between the various medical and surgical specialties and the pattern of responses within individual questions to assess the impact of the distractor options.
RESULTS:
Analysis of a subset of items and of the full examination demonstrated internal construct validity and the absence of bias on the majority of questions. Three main patterns of response selection were identified.
CONCLUSION:
Modern psychometric methods based upon the work of Rasch provide a useful approach to the calibration and analysis of EMQ undergraduate medical assessments. The approach allows for a formal test of the unidimensionality of the questions and thus the validity of the summed score. Given the metric calibration which follows fit to the model, it also allows for the establishment of items banks to facilitate continuity and equity in exam standards
Strain-controlled criticality governs the nonlinear mechanics of fibre networks
Disordered fibrous networks are ubiquitous in nature as major structural
components of living cells and tissues. The mechanical stability of networks
generally depends on the degree of connectivity: only when the average number
of connections between nodes exceeds the isostatic threshold are networks
stable (Maxwell, J. C., Philosophical Magazine 27, 294 (1864)). Upon increasing
the connectivity through this point, such networks undergo a mechanical phase
transition from a floppy to a rigid phase. However, even sub-isostatic networks
become rigid when subjected to sufficiently large deformations. To study this
strain-controlled transition, we perform a combination of computational
modeling of fibre networks and experiments on networks of type I collagen
fibers, which are crucial for the integrity of biological tissues. We show
theoretically that the development of rigidity is characterized by a
strain-controlled continuous phase transition with signatures of criticality.
Our experiments demonstrate mechanical properties consistent with our model,
including the predicted critical exponents. We show that the nonlinear
mechanics of collagen networks can be quantitatively captured by the
predictions of scaling theory for the strain-controlled critical behavior over
a wide range of network concentrations and strains up to failure of the
material
Long term geological record of a global deep subsurface microbial habitat in sand injection complexes
Peer reviewedPublisher PD
Sociodemographic and geographic characteristics associated with patient visits to osteopathic physicians for primary care
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Health care reform promises to dramatically increase the number of Americans covered by health insurance. Osteopathic physicians (DOs) are recognized for primary care, including a "hands-on" style with an emphasis on patient-centered care. Thus, DOs may be well positioned to deliver primary care in this emerging health care environment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (2002-2006) to study sociodemographic and geographic characteristics associated with patient visits to DOs for primary care. Descriptive analyses were initially performed to derive national population estimates (NPEs) for overall patient visits, primary care patient visits, and patient visits according to specialty status. Osteopathic and allopathic physician (MD) patient visits were compared using cross-tabulations and multiple logistic regression to compute odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for DO patient visits. The latter analyses were also conducted separately for each geographic characteristic to assess the potential for effect modification based on these factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, 134,369 ambulatory medical care visits were surveyed, representing 4.6 billion (NPE) ± 220 million (SE) patient visits when patient visit weights were applied. Osteopathic physicians provided 336 million ± 30 million (7%) of these patient visits. Osteopathic physicians provided 217 million ± 21 million (10%) patient visits for primary care services; including 180 million ± 17 million (12%) primary care visits for adults (21 years of age or older) and 37 million ± 5 million (5%) primary care visits for minors. Osteopathic physicians were more likely than MDs to provide primary care visits in family and general medicine (OR, 6.03; 95% CI, 4.67-7.78), but were less likely to provide visits in internal medicine (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.24-0.58) or pediatrics (OR, 0.21; 95% CI, 0.11-0.40). Overall, patients in the pediatric and geriatric ages, Blacks, Hispanics, and persons in the South and West were less likely to utilize DOs, although there was some evidence of effect modification according to United States Census region.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Health care reform provides unprecedented opportunities for DOs to reach historically underserved populations and to overcome the "pediatric primary-care paradox."</p
In-reach specialist nursing teams for residential care homes : uptake of services, impact on care provision and cost-effectiveness
Background: A joint NHS-Local Authority initiative in England designed to provide a dedicated nursing and physiotherapy in-reach team (IRT) to four residential care homes has been evaluated.The IRT supported 131 residents and maintained 15 'virtual' beds for specialist nursing in these care homes.
Methods: Data captured prospectively (July 2005 to June 2007) included: numbers of referrals; reason for referral; outcome (e.g. admission to IRT bed, short-term IRT support); length of stay in IRT; prevented hospital admissions; early hospital discharges; avoided nursing home transfers; and detection of unrecognised illnesses. An economic analysis was undertaken.
Results: 733 referrals were made during the 2 years (range 0.5 to 13.0 per resident per annum)resulting in a total of 6,528 visits. Two thirds of referrals aimed at maintaining the resident's independence in the care home. According to expert panel assessment, 197 hospital admissions were averted over the period; 20 early discharges facilitated; and 28 resident transfers to a nursing home prevented. Detection of previously unrecognised illnesses accounted for a high number of visits. Investment in IRT equalled £44.38 per resident per week. Savings through reduced hospital admissions, early discharges, delayed transfers to nursing homes, and identification of previously
unrecognised illnesses are conservatively estimated to produce a final reduction in care cost of £6.33 per resident per week. A sensitivity analysis indicates this figure might range from a weekly overall saving of £36.90 per resident to a 'worst case' estimate of £2.70 extra expenditure per resident per week.
Evaluation early in implementation may underestimate some cost-saving activities and greater savings may emerge over a longer time period. Similarly, IRT costs may reduce over time due to the potential for refinement of team without major loss in effectiveness.
Conclusion: Introduction of a specialist nursing in-reach team for residential homes is at least cost neutral and, in all probability, cost saving. Further benefits include development of new skills in the care home workforce and enhanced quality of care. Residents are enabled to stay in familiar surroundings rather than unnecessarily spending time in hospital or being transferred to a higher
dependency nursing home setting
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