67 research outputs found
Using digital technology to protect health in prolonged poor air quality episodes: a case study of the AirRater App during the Australian 2019â20 fires
In the southern hemisphere summer of 2019â20, Australia experienced its most severe bushfire season on record. Smoke from fires affected 80% of the population, with large and prolonged exceedances of the Australian National Air Quality Standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) recorded in all major population centers. We examined if AirRater, a free smartphone app that reports air quality and tracks user symptoms in near realâtime, assisted those populations to reduce their smoke exposure and protect their health. We distributed an online survey to over 13,000 AirRater users to assess how they used this information during the 2019-20 bushfire season, and why it was helpful to aid decisionâmaking in reducing personal smoke exposure. We received responses from 1732 users (13.3%). Respondents reported the app was highly useful, supporting informed decisionâmaking regarding daily activities during the smokeâaffected period. Commonly reported activities supported by information provided through the app were staying inside (76%), rescheduling or planning outdoor activities (64%), changing locations to less affected areas (29%) and informing decisions on medication use (15%). Innovative and easyâtoâuse smartphone apps such as AirRater, that provide individualâlevel and locationâspecific data, can enable users to reduce their exposure to environmental hazards and therefore protect their health
Plasma levels of catecholamines and cyclic nucleotides during hand-grip in normotensive and hypertensive subjects.
Effects of intravenous zoledronate and ibandronate on carotid intima-media thickness, lipids and FGF-23 in postmenopausal osteoporotic women
Objective: Osteoporosis and atherosclerosis are interconnected entities and share also some pathophysiological mechanisms. Moreover, recent literature data have supported the hypothesis that bisphosphonates (BPs) may have some antiatherogenic actions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of one year with zoledronate or ibandronate given intravenously on lipid profile and on carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT). Methods: Sixty postmenopausal osteoporotic women (mean age: 66.6. ±. 7.8. years) were randomly assigned to 1-year treatment with zoledronate 5. mg i.v. annually or ibandronate 3. mg i.v. every 3 months. In all patients at baseline and after 12. months we measured CA-IMT, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD), bone alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP), type I collagen ÎČ carboxy telopeptide (ÎČCTX), osteocalcin (OC), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and sclerostin. Results: The osteoporotic women treated with zoledronate showed a greater reduction in CA-IMT than those treated with ibandronate. HDL-C and HDL-C/LDL-C ratio showed a significant (p. <. 0.01) increase in the 2 groups, whereas, LDL-C showed a reduction in the two groups which, however, reached statistical significance (p. <. 0.05) only in the zoledronate group. FGF-23 serum levels showed a similar and significant decrease in both the women treated with zoledronate and in those treated with ibandronate. At the end of the study period sclerostin serum levels showed a higher increase in the patients treated with zoledronate than in those treated with ibandronate. Conclusion: In osteoporotic women both zoledronate and ibandronate given intravenously resulted in an increase in HDL-C/LDL-C ratio and a reduction of CA-IMT which was significant only for zoledronate. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify whether the change in FGF-23 and sclerostin levels is a marker or a potential mechanism of the action of BPs at a vascular level
Test of adrenergic stimulation by insulin infusion and plasma levels of cAMP. Preliminary results in labile hypertensive and normotensive subjects before and after beta blockade with pindolol
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