Decay of proton-rich nuclei between 39Ti and 49Ni

Decay studies of very neutron-deficient nuclei ranging from 39Ti to 49Ni have been performed during a projectile fragmentation experiment at the GANIL/LISE3 separator. For all nuclei studied in this work, 39,40Ti, 42,43Cr, 46Mn, 45,46,47Fe and 49Ni, half-lives and decay spectra have been measured. In a few cases, gamma coincidence measurements helped to successfully identify the initial and final states of transitions. In these cases, partial decay scheme are proposed. For the most exotic isotopes, 39Ti, 42Cr, 45Fe and 49Ni, which are candidates for two-proton radioactivity from the ground state, no clear evidence of this process is seen in our spectra and we conclude rather on a delayed particle decay.Comment: 12 pages, 15 figures, submitted for publication in Eur. Phys. J.

First observation of 55,56Zn

In an experiment at the SISSI/LISE3 facility of GANIL, the most proton-rich zinc isotopes 55,56Zn have been observed for the first time. The experiment was performed using a high-intensity 58Ni beam at 74.5 MeV/nucleon impinging on a nickel target. The identification of 55,56Zn opens the way to 54Zn, a good candidate for two-proton radioactivity according to theoretical predictions.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J.

High-precision measurement of the half-life of 62^{62}Ga

The beta-decay half-life of 62Ga has been studied with high precision using on-line mass separated samples. The decay of 62Ga which is dominated by a 0+ to 0+ transition to the ground state of 62Zn yields a half-life of T_{1/2} = 116.19(4) ms. This result is more precise than any previous measurement by about a factor of four or more. The present value is in agreement with older literature values, but slightly disagrees with a recent measurement. We determine an error weighted average value of all experimental half-lives of 116.18(4) ms.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in PR

Defining metabolically healthy obesity: role of dietary and lifestyle factors

Background: There is a current lack of consensus on defining metabolically healthy obesity (MHO). Limited data on dietary and lifestyle factors and MHO exist. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence, dietary factors and lifestyle behaviours of metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese and non-obese subjects according to different metabolic health criteria. Method: Cross-sectional sample of 1,008 men and 1,039 women aged 45-74 years participated in the study. Participants were classified as obese (BMI ≥30kg/m2) and non-obese (BMI <30kg/m2). Metabolic health status was defined using five existing MH definitions based on a range of cardiometabolic abnormalities. Dietary composition and quality, food pyramid servings, physical activity, alcohol and smoking behaviours were examined. Results: The prevalence of MHO varied considerably between definitions (2.2% to 11.9%), was higher among females and generally increased with age. Agreement between MHO classifications was poor. Among the obese, prevalence of MH was 6.8% to 36.6%. Among the non-obese, prevalence of metabolically unhealthy subjects was 21.8% to 87%. Calorie intake, dietary macronutrient composition, physical activity, alcohol and smoking behaviours were similar between the metabolically healthy and unhealthy regardless of BMI. Greater compliance with food pyramid recommendations and higher dietary quality were positively associated with metabolic health in obese (OR 1.45-1.53 unadjusted model) and non-obese subjects (OR 1.37-1.39 unadjusted model), respectively. Physical activity was associated with MHO defined by insulin resistance (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.19-2.92, p = 0.006)

Prevalence of diabetes in the Republic of Ireland: results from the National Health Survey (SLAN) 2007

Background: Current estimates of diabetes prevalence in the Republic of Ireland (RoI) are based on UK epidemiological studies. This study uses Irish data to describe the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes amongst all adults aged 18+ years and undiagnosed diabetes amongst those aged 45+ years. Methods: The survey of lifestyle attitudes and nutrition (SLAN) 2007 is based on a nationally representative sample of Irish adults aged 18+ years (n = 10,364). Self-reported doctor-diagnosed diabetes was recorded for respondents in the full sample. Diabetes medication use, measured height and weight, and non-fasting blood samples were variously recorded in sub-samples of younger (n = 967) and older (n = 1,207) respondents. Results: The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes amongst adults aged 18+ years was 3.5% (95% CI 3.1% - 3.9%). After adjustment for other explanatory variables; the risk of self-reported doctor-diagnosed diabetes was significantly related to age (p < 0.0001), employment status (p = 0.0003) and obesity (p = 0.0003). Amongst adults aged 45+ years, the prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes was 8.9% (95% CI 7.3% -10.5%) and undiagnosed diabetes was 2.8% (95% CI 1.4% - 4.1%). This represented 31.2% of diabetes cases in this age group. Conclusion: Notwithstanding methodological differences, these prevalence estimates are consistent with those in the UK and France. However, the percentage of undiagnosed cases amongst adults aged 45+ years appears to be higher in the RoI. Increased efforts to improve early detection and population level interventions to address adverse diet and lifestyle factors are urgently needed

Relationship between dietary quality, determined by DASH score, and cardiometabolic health biomarkers: a cross-sectional analysis in adults

Background and aims: The relationship between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic disease is of increasing interest. However, limited data regarding the association between dietary quality and biomarkers of cardiometabolic health exist. Therefore the aim of this work was to examine potential associations between dietary quality, assessed using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary quality score, adiposity and biomarkers of glucose homeostasis, lipoprotein metabolism and inflammation in a cross-sectional sample of 1493 men and women. Methods: Anthropometric measurements included BMI, hip and waist circumference (WC). Serum acute-phase reactants, adipocytokines, pro-inflammatory cytokines and white blood cell (WBC) counts were determined. Lipoprotein particle size and subclass concentrations were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Results: Higher dietary quality was associated with lower BMI (P < 0.05), WC (P < 0.001), tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), WBC and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) concentrations (P < 0.01) and reduced insulin resistance (P < 0.05). In addition less small low density lipoprotein (LDL) and small high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles and less large very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles were observed among those with better dietary quality (P < 0.001). Individuals in the top DASH quartile had a 54% and 48% lower likelihood of central obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS), respectively, than those in the lowest DASH quartile (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our data suggest that higher quality diet is associated with improved adiposity measures and a less insulin resistant, pro-inflammatory, pro-thrombotic and pro-atherogenic cardiometabolic profile which may impact on central obesity and MetS risk. These findings, which may be of clinical and public health significance in terms of dietary approaches to promote cardiometabolic health, warrant further examination

High-efficiency endovascular gene delivery via therapeutic ultrasound

AbstractOBJECTIVESWe studied enhancement of local gene delivery to the arterial wall by using an endovascular catheter ultrasound (US).BACKGROUNDUltrasound exposure is standard for enhancement of in vitro gene delivery. We postulate that in vivo endovascular applications can be safely developed.METHODSWe used a rabbit model of arterial mechanical overdilation injury. After arterial overdilation, US catheters were introduced in bilateral rabbit femoral arteries and perfused with plasmid- or adenovirus-expressing blue fluorescent protein (BFP) or phosphate buffered saline. One side received endovascular US (2 MHz, 50 W/cm2, 16 min), and the contralateral artery did not.RESULTSRelative to controls, US exposure enhanced BFP expression measured via fluorescence 12-fold for plasmid (1,502.1 ± 927.3 vs. 18,053.9 ± 11,612 μm2, p < 0.05) and 19-fold for adenovirus (877.1 ± 577.7 vs. 17,213.15 ± 3,892 μm2, p < 0.05) while increasing cell death for the adenovirus group only (26 ± 5.78% vs. 13 ± 2.55%, p < 0.012).CONCLUSIONSEndovascular US enhanced vascular gene delivery and increased the efficiency of nonviral platforms to levels previously attained only by adenoviral strategies

On the discovery of doubly-magic 48^{48}Ni

The paper reports on the first observation of doubly-magic Nickel-48 in an experimental at the SISSI/LISE3 facility of GANIL. Four Nickel-48 isotopes were identified. In addition, roughly 100 Nickel-49, 50 Iron-45, and 290 Chromium-42 isotopes were observed. This opens the possibility to search for two-proton emission from these nuclei.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let