An Exploration into the Motivation for Gluten Avoidance in the Absence of Coeliac Disease

Aim: To explore the motivation for gluten avoidance in the absence of coeliac disease (CD) and ascertain what symptoms are triggered by gluten and what beliefs/reasons influence this decision. Background: Links between physical/psychological symptoms and gluten in CD are well known but less is known about those who self-select a gluten-free diet (GFD) in the absence of CD. Methods: An empirical study using responses to an anonymous on-line questionnaire. Closed questions were used as a screening tool to exclude participants who had CD, wheat allergy or were following a low FODMAP diet. Data from participants using a GFD in the absence of a medical diagnosis was then analysed using thematic analysis. Results: 120 initial responses, 87 were completed in full. 23 respondents fulfilled the inclusion criteria for thematic analysis. 7 different themes emerged, including one for signs/symptoms. Other themes identified included difficulties of a GFD, health beliefs, feelings and influence on decision to follow a GFD. Responses indicate that the reasons for gluten avoidance are in the most part reasoned and logical and were based around participants’ self-management of symptoms. Conclusion: Symptoms included those typical of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but also infertility, low mood/energy, immune function and weight management and visual and auditory hallucinations. It appears the majority of responses analysed thematically could fit into the spectrum of non-coeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Findings also suggest more support at all levels of medical care may help patients establish if it is gluten, rather than wheat or FODMAPs particularly fructans that are contributing to signs/symptoms

Alien Registration- Bold, Mrs. Lester L. (Kittery, York County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/3784/thumbnail.jp

The Impact of Breakfast in Metabolic and Digestive Health

Aim: The purpose of this study is to explore whether the types and quality of breakfast could influence energy levels (blood glucose levels) and propose ideal breakfast models. Background: It is widely considered that a regular breakfast provides a number of health benefits; however, there is no general scientific agreement regarding what kind of food should be consumed. Evidence supports the importance of balancing blood glucose levels by low glycaemic index/load (L-GI/L) and increased protein diets, in particular in metabolic disorders, which non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a close relation to. Patients and methods: This study was conducted by using a valid and standard questionnaire at the University of Worcester to evaluate the breakfast and dietary habits and energy levels. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis. Results: No significant differences were found either between breakfast consumption, energy levels, types of snack and amount of caffeine intake in the morning or between types of breakfast, energy levels, types of snack, and amount of caffeine intake in the morning. However, potential differences in energy levels were found across the groups of breakfast types: glycaemia (GL) (p=.057) and protein intake (p=.056). Conclusion: The types and quality of breakfast would be key as regular breakfast consumption alone did not show adequate health benefits. Lower GL foods and higher protein intake at breakfast were found to be associated with higher energy levels. It is therefore recommended that breakfast foods should be low in GL and high in protein. These changes may lead to better health status and prevention of dise ase, especially metabolic and liver disorders, in the long term

Role of the liver in splanchnic extraction of atrial natriuretic factor in the rat

Mesenteric, hepatic and splanchnic extraction of C-terminal and N-terminal atrial natriuretic factor was investigated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Plasma concentrations (mean ± S.E.M.) of C-terminal atrial natriuretic factor were 55.0 ± 6.1 fmol/ml, 31.2 ± 4.0 fmol/ml and 23.5 ± 3.3 fmol/ml (n = 12) in the abdominal aorta, the portal vein and the hepatic vein, respectively. N-terminal atrial natriuretic factor plasma levels in these vessels were 3031 ± 756 fmol/ml, 2264 ± 661 fmol/ml and 1618 ± 496 fmol/ml (n = 6), respectively. Although the mesenteric extraction ratio was higher (p < 0.05) for C-terminal atrial natriuretic factor (42% ± 6%) than for N-terminal atrial natriuretic factor (28% ± 4%), there were no significant differences in the hepatic extraction ratio (41% ± 5% vs. 39% ± 6%) and the splanchnic extraction ratio (56% ± 5% vs. 50% ± 7%). These data suggest a major role of the liver in the splanchnic extraction of C-terminal and of N-terminal atrial natriuretic factor in the rat. (HEPATOLOGY 1992;16:790-793

Measurement of the Luminosity in the ZEUS Experiment at HERA II

The luminosity in the ZEUS detector was measured using photons from electron bremsstrahlung. In 2001 the HERA collider was upgraded for operation at higher luminosity. At the same time the luminosity-measuring system of the ZEUS experiment was modified to tackle the expected higher photon rate and synchrotron radiation. The existing lead-scintillator calorimeter was equipped with radiation hard scintillator tiles and shielded against synchrotron radiation. In addition, a magnetic spectrometer was installed to measure the luminosity independently using photons converted in the beam-pipe exit window. The redundancy provided a reliable and robust luminosity determination with a systematic uncertainty of 1.7%. The experimental setup, the techniques used for luminosity determination and the estimate of the systematic uncertainty are reported.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figure

Prevalence and burden of chronic bronchitis symptoms: results from the BOLD study

We studied the prevalence, burden and potential risk factors for chronic bronchitis symptoms in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease study. Representative population-based samples of adults aged ≥40 years were selected in participating sites. Participants completed questionnaires and spirometry. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were defined as chronic cough and phlegm on most days for ≥3 months each year for ≥2 years. Data from 24 855 subjects from 33 sites in 29 countries were analysed. There were significant differences in the prevalence of self-reported symptoms meeting our definition of chronic bronchitis across sites, from 10.8% in Lexington (KY, USA), to 0% in Ile-Ife (Nigeria) and Blantyre (Malawi). Older age, less education, current smoking, occupational exposure to fumes, self-reported diagnosis of asthma or lung cancer and family history of chronic lung disease were all associated with increased risk of chronic bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were associated with worse lung function, more dyspnoea, increased risk of respiratory exacerbations and reduced quality of life, independent of the presence of other lung diseases. The prevalence of chronic bronchitis symptoms varied widely across the studied sites. Chronic bronchitis symptoms were associated with significant burden both in individuals with chronic airflow obstruction and those with normal lung function

Synthesis of Dihydropyridine Spirocycles by Semi-Pinacol-Driven Dearomatization of Pyridines

The identification of the beneficial pharmacokinetic properties of aza-spirocycles has led to the routine incorporation of these highly rigid and three-dimensional structures in pharmaceuticals. Herein, we report an operationally simple synthesis of spirocyclic dihydropyridines via an electrophile-induced dearomative semi-pinacol rearrangement of 4-(1′-hydroxycyclobutyl)pyridines. The various points for diversification of the spirocyclization precursors, as well as the synthetic utility of the amine and ketone functionalities in the products, provide the potential to rapidly assemble medicinally relevant spirocycles

Triggering events with GPUs at ATLAS

The growing complexity of events produced in LHC collisions demands increasing computing power both for the online selection and for the offline reconstruction of events. In recent years there have been significant advances in the performance of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) both in terms of increased compute power and reduced power consumption that make GPUs extremely attractive for use in a complex particle physics experiments such as ATLAS. A small scale prototype of the full ATLAS High Level Trigger has been implemented that exploits reconstruction algorithms optimized for this new massively parallel paradigm. We discuss the integration procedure followed for this prototype and present the performance achieved and the prospects for the future.Peer Reviewe