The implications of particle energy and acidic media on gross alpha and gross beta determination using liquid scintillation

The interaction of humans with radioactivity present in the environment from natural and artificial sources necessitates an evaluation of its risk on human health. Gross alpha and gross beta activities can provide a rapid evaluation of the radioactive content of a sample and can be simultaneously determined by using liquid scintillation counters. However, calibration of the liquid scintillation counter is required and is affected by many factors, such as particle energy and the acidity of the media. This study investigates what effect the particle energy used for calibration has on misclassification and how to account for this misclassification in routine measurements. The variability in measurement produced by the final pH, as well as any acids used in sample treatment, was also studied. These results showed that the most commonly used acid for these types of analyses, HNO3, produced a high amount of misclassifications at very low pH. The results improved when HCl was used to adjust the sample to low pH

Circulating triacylglycerol signatures and insulin sensitivity in NAFLD associated with the E167K variant in TM6SF2

Background & Aims The Glu167Lys (E167K) variant in the transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 protein (TM6SF2) was recently shown to influence liver fat (LFAT) content. We aimed at studying how this variant influences circulating triacylglycerol (TAG) signatures and whether it influences hepatic or adipose tissue insulin sensitivity. Methods We genotyped 300 Finnish subjects for the E167K (rs58542926) variant in TM6SF2 and for the I148M (rs738409) variant in the patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) in whom LFAT was measured using 1H-MRS and circulating lipids by UPLC-MS. We compared the plasma lipidome between E167K carriers (TM6SF2EK/KK) and non-carriers (TM6SF2EE), and between three groups of NAFLD: (i) carriers of the E167K but not of the I148M variant in PNPLA3 (‘TM6SF2 NAFLD’), (ii) carriers of the I148M but not of the E167K variant (‘PNPLA3 NAFLD’), and (iii) non-carriers of either risk allele (‘Non-risk NAFLD’). Hepatic and adipose tissue insulin sensitivities were measured using the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique combined with infusion of [3-3H]glucose in 111 subjects. Results The LFAT content was 34% higher in the TM6SF2EK/KK (13.07 ± 1.57%) than in the TM6SF2EE group (9.77 ± 0.58%, p = 0.013). The effect of insulin on glucose production and lipolysis were significantly higher in the TM6SF2EK/KK than in the TM6SF2EE group. Comparison of the three NAFLD groups with similar LFATs showed that both the ‘TM6SF2 NAFLD’ and ‘PNPLA3 NAFLD’ had significantly lower triglyceride levels and were characterized by lower levels of most common TAGs compared to the ‘Non-risk NAFLD’ group. Conclusions We conclude that the E167K variant in TM6SF2 is associated with a distinct subtype of NAFLD, characterized by preserved insulin sensitivity with regard to lipolysis, hepatic glucose production and lack of hypertriglyceridemia despite a clearly increased LFAT content

Arterial stiffness is highly correlated with the scores obtained from the Steno Type 1 Risk Engine in subjects with T1DM

Steno Type 1 Risk Engine (ST1RE); Arterial stiffness; Type 1 diabetes (T1DM)Motor de Risc Steno Tipus 1; Rigidesa arterial; Diabetis mellitus tipus 1 (DM1)Motor de Riesgo Steno Tipo 1; Rigidez arterial; Diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (DM1)OBJECTIVES: Currently used risk scores for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) clearly underestimate cardiovascular risk in type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Hence, there is a need to develop novel and specific risk-estimation tools for this population. We aimed to assess the relationship between the Steno Type 1 Risk Engine (ST1RE) and arterial stiffness (AS), and to identify potential cut-off points of interest in clinical practice. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 179 patients with T1DM (50.8% men, mean age 41.2±13.1 years), without established cardiovascular disease, were evaluated for clinical and anthropometric data (including classical cardiovascular risk factors), and AS measured by aortic pulse-wave velocity (aPWV). The ST1RE was used to estimate 10-year cardiovascular risk and patients were classified into 3 groups: low- (<10%; n = 105), moderate- (10-20%; n = 53) and high-risk (≥20%; n = 21). RESULTS: When compared with the low- and moderate-risk groups, patients in the high-risk group were older, had higher prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia and insulin-resistance, and had higher body-mass index and HbA1c. aPWV increased in parallel with estimated cardiovascular risk (6.4±1.0, 8.4±1.3 and 10.3±2.6m/s; p<0.001). As an evaluation of model performance, the C-statistic of aPWV was 0.914 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.873-0.950) for predicting moderate/high-risk and 0.879 (95%CI:0.809-0.948) for high-risk, according to the ST1RE. The best cut-off points of aPWV were 7.3m/s (sensitivity:86%, specificity:83%) and 8.7m/s (sensitivity:76%, specificity:86%) for moderate/high- and high-risk, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: AS is highly correlated with the scores obtained from the ST1RE. We have identified two cut-off points of AS that can clearly discriminate moderate/high- and high-risk T1DM patients, which could be of great value in clinical practice.Financial support was provided through the Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria (FIS) PI09/01360 (PI: JMCG), PI12/00954 (PI: JMCG) and PI15/00567 (PI: JMCG) as part of the National R+D+I (2008-2011) and was co-financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III - General Evaluation Branch (Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript

Telehealth model versus in-person standard care for persons with type 1 diabetes treated with multiple daily injections: an open-label randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveIncreasing evidence indicates that the telehealth (TH) model is noninferior to the in-person approach regarding metabolic control in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and offers advantages such as a decrease in travel time and increased accessibility for shorter/frequent visits. The primary aim of this study was to compare the change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at 6 months in T1D care in a rural area between TH and in-person visits.Research design and methodsRandomized controlled, open-label, parallel-arm study among adults with T1D. Participants were submitted to in-person visits at baseline and at months 3 and 6 (conventional group) or teleconsultation in months 1 to 4 plus 2 in-person visits (baseline and 6 months) (TH group). Mixed effects models estimated differences in HbA1c changes.ResultsFifty-five participants were included (29 conventional/26 TH). No significant differences in HbA1c between groups were found. Significant improvement in time in range (5.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43-10.38; p &lt; 0.05) and in time above range (-6.34, 95% CI: -12.13- -0.55;p &lt; 0.05) in the TH group and an improvement in the Diabetes Quality of Life questionnaire (EsDQoL) score (-7.65, 95% CI: -14.67 - -0.63; p &lt; 0.05) were observed. In TH, the costs for the participants were lower.ConclusionsThe TH model is comparable to in-person visits regarding HbA1c levels at the 6-month follow-up, with significant improvement in some glucose metrics and health-related quality of life. Further studies are necessary to evaluate a more efficient timing of the TH visits

Arterial Stiffness Is Increased in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Without Cardiovascular Disease

Altres ajuts: Financial support was provided by the Associació Catalana de Diabetis (Beca Gonçal Lloveras 2008); the Fundació la Marató de TV3-2008 (project no. 081410); FIS PS09/01360, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Spain; and by an intensification grant to J.M.G.-C. (Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Spain)

Prognostic Value of the Acute-to-Chronic Glycemic Ratio at Admission in Heart Failure: A Prospective Study

Acute hyperglycemia has been associated with worse prognosis in patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF). Nevertheless, studies evaluating the impact of glycemic control on long-term prognosis have shown conflicting results. Our aim was to assess the relationship between acute-to-chronic (A/C) glycemic ratio and 4-year mortality in a cohort of subjects hospitalized for acute HF. A total of 1062 subjects were consecutively included. We measured glycaemia at admission and estimated average chronic glucose levels and the A/C glycemic ratio were calculated. Subjects were stratified into groups according to the A/C glycemic ratio tertiles. The primary endpoint was 4-year mortality. Subjects with diabetes had higher risk for mortality compared to those without (HR 1.35 [95% CI: 1.10-1.65]; p = 0.004). A U-shape curve association was found between glucose at admission and mortality, with a HR of 1.60 [95% CI: 1.22-2.11]; p = 0.001, and a HR of 1.29 [95% CI: 0.97-1.70]; p = 0.078 for the first and the third tertile, respectively, in subjects with diabetes. Additionally, the A/C glycemic ratio was negatively associated with mortality (HR 0.76 [95% CI: 0.58-0.99]; p = 0.046 and HR 0.68 [95% CI: 0.52-0.89]; p = 0.005 for the second and third tertile, respectively). In multivariable analysis, the A/C glycemic ratio remained an independent predictor. In conclusion, in subjects hospitalized for acute HF, the A/C glycemic ratio is significantly associated with mortality, improving the ability to predict mortality compared with glucose levels at admission or average chronic glucose concentrations, especially in subjects with diabetes

La càrrega futura de l'excés de casos de diabetis mellitus de tipus 1 durant la pandèmia de COVID a Catalunya: avaluació econòmica

Diabetis mellitus de tipus 1; COVID-19; Avaluació econòmicaDiabetes mellitus de tipo 1; COVID-19; Evaluación económicaType 1 diabetes mellitus; COVID-19; Economic evaluationThis paper aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the impact of the excess cases of DM1 during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic on health outcomes and health spending in Catalonia.Este documento pretende proporcionar una evaluación exhaustiva del impacto del exceso de casos de DM1 durante los dos primeros años de la pandemia COVID-19 en resultados de salud y gasto sanitario en Cataluña.Aquest document pretén proporcionar una avaluació exhaustiva de l'impacte de l'excés de casos de DM1 durant els dos primers anys de la pandèmia COVID-19 en els resultats de salut i la despesa sanitària a Catalunya

Tailored design of a water-based nanoreactor technology for producing processable Sub-40 Nm 3D COF nanoparticles at atmospheric conditions

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are crystalline materials with intrinsic porosity that offer a wide range of potential applications spanning diverse fields. Yet, the main goal in the COF research area is to achieve the most stable thermodynamic product while simultaneously targeting the desired size and structure crucial for enabling specific functions. While significant progress is made in the synthesis and processing of 2D COFs, the development of processable 3D COF nanocrystals remains challenging. Here, a water‐based nanoreactor technology for producing processable sub‐40 nm 3D COF nanoparticles at ambient conditions is presented. Significantly, this technology not only improves the processability of the synthesized 3D COF, but also unveils exciting possibilities for their utilization in previously unexplored domains, such as nano/microrobotics and biomedicine, which are limited by larger crystallites