321 research outputs found
Association of smoking and nicotine dependence with pre-diabetes in young and healthy adults.
INTRODUCTION: Several studies have shown an increased risk of type 2 diabetes among smokers. Therefore, the aim of this analysis was to assess the relationship between smoking, cumulative smoking exposure and nicotine dependence with pre-diabetes.
METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of healthy adults aged 25-41 in the Principality of Liechtenstein. Individuals with known diabetes, Body Mass Index (BMI) >35 kg/m² and prevalent cardiovascular disease were excluded. Smoking behaviour was assessed by self-report. Pre-diabetes was defined as glycosylated haemoglobin between 5.7% and 6.4%. Multivariable logistic regression models were done.
RESULTS: Of the 2142 participants (median age 37 years), 499 (23.3%) had pre-diabetes. There were 1,168 (55%) never smokers, 503 (23%) past smokers and 471 (22%) current smokers, with a prevalence of pre-diabetes of 21.2%, 20.9% and 31.2%, respectively (p <0.0001). In multivariable regression models, current smokers had an odds ratio (OR) of pre-diabetes of 1.82 (95% confidential interval (CI) 1.39; 2.38, p <0.0001). Individuals with a smoking exposure of <5, 5-10 and >10 pack-years had an OR (95% CI) for pre-diabetes of 1.34 (0.90; 2.00), 1.80 (1.07; 3.01) and 2.51 (1.80; 3.59) (p linear trend <0.0001) compared with never smokers. A Fagerström score of 2, 3-5 and >5 among current smokers was associated with an OR (95% CI) for pre-diabetes of 1.27 (0.89; 1.82), 2.15 (1.48; 3.13) and 3.35 (1.73; 6.48) (p linear trend <0.0001).
DISCUSSION: Smoking is strongly associated with pre-diabetes in young adults with a low burden of smoking exposure. Nicotine dependence could be a potential mechanism of this relationship
MuPix7 - A fast monolithic HV-CMOS pixel chip for Mu3e
The MuPix7 chip is a monolithic HV-CMOS pixel chip, thinned down to 50 \mu m.
It provides continuous self-triggered, non-shuttered readout at rates up to 30
Mhits/chip of 3x3 mm^2 active area and a pixel size of 103x80 \mu m^2. The hit
efficiency depends on the chosen working point. Settings with a power
consumption of 300 mW/cm^2 allow for a hit efficiency >99.5%. A time resolution
of 14.2 ns (Gaussian sigma) is achieved. Latest results from 2016 test beam
campaigns are shown.Comment: Proceedingsfor the PIXEL2016 conference, submitted to JINST A
dangling reference has been removed from this version, no other change
Purification of the food-borne carcinogens 2-amino-3-methylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoline and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline in heated meat products by immunoaffinity chromatography
A rapid and simple scheme has been developed for the isolation and purification of two of the major mutagenic heterocyclic amines formed in heated beef products by affinity chromatography using monoclonal antibodies which recognize 2-amino-3-methylimidazo(4,5-f]quinoline (IQ). Two cell lines producing IgG antibodies were established following fusion of Sp2 or P3x.63 myeloma cells with spleen cells of immunized BALB/cby mice. The antigen was bovine gamma globulin haptenized with 2-(3-carboxypropylthio)-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline. The antibodies were immobilized on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. IQ and MeIQx formed in heated beef products were partially purified by XAD-2 chromatography and then applied to the affinity columns. Purification by affinity chromatography was adequate for subsequent quantitative analysis by HPLC with UV detection. With this purification scheme as little as 1 g of beef extract or 15 g of fried beef could be assayed for IQ and MeIQx at the part per billion level. Both antibodies had similar affinity constants for IQ (9.3 × 106 and 6.7 × 106 M−1) and for MeIQx (7.1 × 105 and 2.7 × 105 M−1) and both were suitable for immunoaffinity purification of IQ from complex mixtures. MAb2 could be used as well to selectively remove MeIQx from meat products after partial purification by XAD-2. MAb1, despite having a 3-fold higher affinity than MAb2 for MeIQx, could not be used for affinity chromatography for this mutage
The Mu3e experiment: Toward the construction of an HV-MAPS vertex detector
The Mu3e experiment searches for the lepton flavor violating decay with an ultimate aimed sensitivity of 1 event in decays. This goal can only be achieved by reducing the material budget per tracking layer to . High-Voltage Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (HV-MAPS) which are thinned to 50 μm serve as sensors. Gaseous helium is chosen as coolant.
Results of recent studies related to the sensor prototypes, the helium cooling, and module prototyping are presented. The recent chip submission MuPix10 has proven its functionality regarding efficiency and time resolution. The helium cooling system for the inner tracker could be verified using a full-scale prototype. A complete prototype equipped with MuPix10 chips will be tested inside the Mu3e magnet in summer 2021
The Mu3e experiment: Toward the construction of an HV-MAPS vertex detector
The Mu3e experiment searches for the lepton flavor violating decay
with an ultimate aimed sensitivity of 1 event
in decays. This goal can only be achieved by reducing the material
budget per tracking layer to . High-Voltage Monolithic
Active Pixel Sensors (HV-MAPS) which are thinned to serve as
sensors. Gaseous helium is chosen as coolant.
Results of recent studies related to the sensor prototypes, the helium
cooling, and module prototyping are presented. The recent chip submission
MuPix10 has proven its functionality regarding efficiency and time resolution.
The helium cooling system for the inner tracker could be verified using a
full-scale prototype. A complete prototype equipped with MuPix10 chips will be
tested inside the Mu3e magnet in summer 2021.Comment: Talk presented at the International Workshop on Future Linear
Colliders (LCWS2021), 15-18 March 2021. C21-03-15.
Prospective Assessment of Sex-Related Differences in Symptom Status and Health Perception Among Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.
We prospectively assessed sex-specific differences in health perception, overall symptom status, and specific symptoms in a large cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation.
We performed a prospective multicenter observational cohort study of 1553 patients with atrial fibrillation. Patients completed questionnaires about personal characteristics, comorbidities, and symptoms on a yearly basis. Mean age was 70±11 years among women and 67±12 years among men. Health perception on a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 100 (with higher scores indicating better health perception) was significantly lower in women than in men (70 [interquartile range: 50-80] versus 75 [interquartile range: 60-85]; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@29592a5d <0.0001). More women than men had any symptoms (85.0% versus 68.3%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@7ac0b4e4 <0.0001), palpitations (65.2% versus 44.4%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@41229466 <0.0001), dizziness (25.6% versus 13.5%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@61871784 <0.0001), dyspnea (35.7% versus 21.8%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@16cc22b <0.0001), and fatigue (25.3% versus 19.1%; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@7ef43176 =0.006). At 1-year follow-up, symptoms decreased in both sexes but remained more frequent in women (49.1% versus 32.6%, javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@2b200b6a <0.0001). In multivariable adjusted longitudinal regression models, female sex remained an independent predictor for lower health perception (ß=-4.8; 95% CI, -6.5 to -3.1; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@72c212bd <0.0001), any symptoms (odds ratio [OR]: 2.6; 95% CI, 2.1-3.4; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@15d8fb54 <0.0001), palpitations (OR: 2.6; 95% CI, 2.1-3.2; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@4af80718 <0.0001), dizziness (OR: 2.9; 95% CI, 2.1-3.9; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@61282e76 <0.0001), dyspnea (OR: 2.1; 95% CI, 1.6-2.8; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@31d9f14 <0.0001), fatigue (OR: 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@51cdd678 =0.0008), and chest pain (OR: 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.6; javax.xml.bind.JAXBElement@5b87db9e =0.001).
Women with atrial fibrillation have a substantially higher symptom burden and lower health perception than men. These relationships persisted after multivariable adjustment and during prospective follow-up
Photooxidation-induced changes in optical, electrochemical, and photochemical properties of humic substances
Exercise Performance of Lowlanders with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Acutely Exposed to 2048 m: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial
Background: Amongst the millions of travelers to high altitude worldwide are many with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but data regarding the effects of acute exposure to altitude on exercise performance are limited. The current study investigated how acute exposure to moderate altitude influences exercise performance in COPD patients, providing novel insights to the underlying physiological mechanisms.
Methods: Twenty-nine COPD patients, GOLD grade 2-3, median (quartile) forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV) of 60% predicted (46; 69) performed cycling incremental ramp exercise test (IET) at 490 m and after acute exposure of 2-6 hours to 2048 m or vice versa, according to a randomized cross-over design. Exercise performance and breath-by-breath analyses of the last 30 seconds of each IET were compared between locations.
Results: At 2048 m compared to 490 m, the maximum power output (Wmax) was 77 watts (62;104) vs 88 watts (75;112), median reduction 5 watts (95% CI, 2 to 8, P<0.05), corresponding to a median reduction of 6% (95% CI, 2 to 11, P<0.05) compared to 490 m. The peak oxygen uptake (V'Opeak) was 70% predicted (56;86) at 2048 m vs 79% predicted (63;90) at 490 m, median reduction of 6% (95% CI, 3 to 9, P<0.05). The oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (SpO) at 2048 m was reduced by 8% (95% CI, 4 to 9, P<0.05) compared to 490 m. The minute ventilation (V') increased by 2.8L/min (95% CI, 0.9 to 4.2, P<0.05) at 2048 m. The maximum heart rate and the subjective sense of dyspnea and leg fatigue did not change.
Conclusion: Lowlanders with moderate-to-severe COPD acutely exposed to 2048 m reveal small but significant reduction in cycling IET along with a reduced V'Opeak. As dyspnea perception and maximal heart rate were unchanged, the lower blood oxygenation and exaggerated ventilatory response were culprit factors for the reduced performance
Subclinical thyroid function and cardiovascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation
Objective: To evaluate if subclinical thyroid dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular (CV) risk in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Swiss-AF is a prospective cohort of community-dwelling participants aged ≥ 65 years with AF. Primary outcome was a composite endpoint of CV events (myocardial infarctions, stroke/transitory ischemic events, systemic embolism, heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, CV deaths). Secondary outcomes were component endpoints, total mortality, and AF-progression. Exposures were thyroid dysfunction categories, TSH and fT4. Sensitivity analyses were performed for amiodarone use, thyroid hormones use, and competing events. Results: 2415 patients were included (mean age: 73.2 years; 27% women). 196 (8.4%) had subclinical hypothyroidism and 53 (2.3%) subclinical hyperthyroidism. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction was not associated with CV events, during a median follow-up of 2.1 years (max 5 years): age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio (adjHR) of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.69-1.41) for subclinical hypothyroidism and 0.55 (95% CI: 0.23-1.32) for subclinical hyperthyroidism. Results remained robust following multivariable adjustment and sensitivity analyses. In euthyroid patients, fT4 levels were associated with an increased risk for the composite endpoint and HF (adjHR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.04-2.05; adjHR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.08-2.66, respectively, for the highest quintile vs the middle quintile). Results remained similar following multivariable adjustment and remained significant for HF in sensitivity analyses. No association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and total mortality or AF-progression was found. Conclusions: Subclinical hypothyroidism was not associated with increased CV risk in AF patients. Higher levels of fT4 with normal TSH were associated with a higher risk for HF
Long-term risk of adverse outcomes according to atrial fibrillation type.
Sustained forms of atrial fibrillation (AF) may be associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes, but few if any long-term studies took into account changes of AF type and co-morbidities over time. We prospectively followed 3843 AF patients and collected information on AF type and co-morbidities during yearly follow-ups. The primary outcome was a composite of stroke or systemic embolism (SE). Secondary outcomes included myocardial infarction, hospitalization for congestive heart failure (CHF), bleeding and all-cause mortality. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying covariates were used to compare hazard ratios (HR) according to AF type. At baseline 1895 (49%), 1046 (27%) and 902 (24%) patients had paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AF and 3234 (84%) were anticoagulated. After a median (IQR) follow-up of 3.0 (1.9; 4.2) years, the incidence of stroke/SE was 1.0 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of myocardial infarction, CHF, bleeding and all-cause mortality was 0.7, 3.0, 2.9 and 2.7 per 100 patient-years, respectively. The multivariable adjusted (a) HRs (95% confidence interval) for stroke/SE were 1.13 (0.69; 1.85) and 1.27 (0.83; 1.95) for time-updated persistent and permanent AF, respectively. The corresponding aHRs were 1.23 (0.89, 1.69) and 1.45 (1.12; 1.87) for all-cause mortality, 1.34 (1.00; 1.80) and 1.30 (1.01; 1.67) for CHF, 0.91 (0.48; 1.72) and 0.95 (0.56; 1.59) for myocardial infarction, and 0.89 (0.70; 1.14) and 1.00 (0.81; 1.24) for bleeding. In this large prospective cohort of AF patients, time-updated AF type was not associated with incident stroke/SE
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