Serum testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin and sex-specific risk of incident type 2 diabetes in a retrospective primary care cohort

__Objective:__ Previous studies suggest that androgens have a sexually dimorphic impact on metabolic dysfunction. However, the sex-specific link between circulating androgens and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has not been examined in a large scale, longitudinal cohort, a task we undertook in this study. __Design:__ A retrospective cohort study in a UK primary care database. __Patients:__ We included men and women with available serum testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) results. __Measurements:__ We categorized serum concentrations according to clinically relevant cut-off points and calculated crude and adjusted T2DM Incidence Rate Ratios (IRRs and aIRRs). __Results:__ Serum testosterone concentrations were available in 70 541 men and 81 889 women; serum SHBG was available in 15 907 men and 42 034 women. In comparison to a reference cohort with serum testosterone ≥20 nmol/L, men with lower serum testosterone had a significantly increased risk of T2DM, with the highest risk in those with serum testosterone <7 nmol/L (aIRR 2.71, 95% CI 2.34-3.14, P < 0.001). In women, the risk of T2DM started to increase significantly when serum testosterone concentrations exceeded 1.5 nmol/L, with the highest risk in women with serum testosterone ≥3.5 nmol/L (aIRR 1.98, 95% CI 1.55-2.52, P < 0.001). These observations were verified in a continuous rather than categorized analysis. The risk of T2DM increased in men and women with serum SHBG <40 and <50 nmol/L, respectively. __Conclusions/Interpretation:__ In this longitudinal study, we found sexually dimorphic associations between serum testosterone and risk of incident T2DM. Androgen deficiency and excess should be considered important risk factors for diabetes in men and women, respectively

Effect of Diets With Protein From Different Sources On The Growth Of Goldfish, Carassius Auratus

Four isoproteinous (40% crude protein) feeds (based on chicken liver, lean shrimp meal, mus- sel meal or squid meal) were fed to goldfish, Carassius auratus, of 4.61±0.427 g for 30 days at 10% of their body weight. The effect of the feeds on growth performance were compared with two commercial feeds, Brine Shrimp Flake and Tubifex Worm (59% crude protein each). There were no significant differences in food conversion ratio or specific growth rate between the treat- ments. The protein efficiency ratios (PER) of all the formulated feeds were significantly better than that of the Brine Shrimp Flake and the PER of the diets based on mussel and squid meal were also significantly better than Tubifex Worm. The weight increment with Tubifex Worm was significantly highest of all the treatments. Considering the nutritional parameters and cost of pro- ducing one kilogram of fish, the diet based on lean shrimp meal was the best. The cost of pro- ducing one kilogram fish using the formulated feeds ranged Rs. 93.75-231.30. Using Brine Shrimp Flake and Tubifex Worm, the costs were Rs. 1150 and Rs. 3500 per kg, respectively. The cost of goldfish rearing can be appreciably reduced by using feeds prepared with locally available protein sources. The crude protein level of 40% was sufficient for the goldfish, as the PER of the fish fed the formulated feeds was better than that of the fish fed the commercial feeds

Studies on potential for ionisation of diffused hydrogen at palladium/alkali interface

lnlhe potentiostatic charging technique for measurement of permeation current, an anodic potential is applied to the palladium coated side of the steel membrane, to ionise the permeated hydrogen. Different authors have applied dierent potentials ranging from +200 mV to -560 mV with respect to HgIHgO electrode. In the studies on the exact range of potentials, two regions of plateau, both in the negative and positive regions were observed in the plotting of permeation current vs. apphied potential. In situ cyclic voltammetric studies, carried out at palladium side of steel membrane, in 0.2 M NaOH solution, gave rise to two reproducible humps at -200 mV and - 360 mV, indicating the exact range of potentials for the ionisation of permeated hydrogen. This observation was substantiated by measuring the actual quantum of ionisation at intetvals of 25 mV, both in the negative and positive plateau regions. Cyclic voltammetric studies with pure palladium, steel and palladised steel in 0.2N NaOH solution are also found to support the finding that the region of -200 mV to -360 mV with respect to HgIHgO electrode is the most suitable to be adopted for the efficient ionisation of diffused hydrogen in the permeation cell

A comparative study of nickel undercoats for solar collectors operating at high temperatures

Nickel electrodeposited from electrolytes containing magnesium, manganese, cobalt and sulphur were heat treated at 600°C for 30 hours to find out a suitable undercoat for solar collectors operating at high temperatures ( 7 4@0°C). Optical properties were measured and microscopic observation was made for the appearance of blisters, cracks and damage. It was found that excepting Watt's nickel other solutions containing magnesium, cobalt and manganese were found suitable for operation at high temperatures