Lunar drill footplate and casing

To prevent hole collapse during lunar drilling operations, a casing has been devised of a graphite reinforced polyimide composite which will be able to withstand the lunar environment. Additionally, this casing will be inserted into the ground in segments two meters long which will penetrate the regolith simultaneously with the auger. The vertical action of the mobile platform will provide a downward force to the casing string through a special adaptor, giving the casing the needed impetus to sink the anticipated depth of ten meters. Casing segments will be connected with a simple snap arrangement. Excess casing will be cut off by a cylindrical cutting tool which will also transport the excess casing away from the hole. A footplate will be incorporated to grasp the auger rod string during rod segment additions or removals. The footplate grasping mechanism will consist of a set of vice-like arms, one end of each bearing threaded to a common power screw. The power screw will be threaded such that one end's thread pitch opposes that of the other end. The weight of the auger and rod string will be transmitted through the arms to the power screw and absorbed by a set of three ball bearing assemblies. The power screw will be driven by a one-half horsepower brushless motor actuated by radio control. The footplate will rest on four short legs and be anchored with pins that are an integral part of each leg

Cold extremities in migraine: a marker for vascular dysfunction in women

Background and purpose: Migraine is recognized as a vascular risk factor, especially in women. Presumably, migraine, stroke and cardiovascular events share pathophysiological mechanisms. Self-reported cold extremities were investigated as a marker for vascular dysfunction in migraine. Secondly, it was hypothesized that suffering from cold extremities affects sleep quality, possibly exacerbating migraine attack frequency. Methods: In this case–control study, a random sample of 1084 migraine patients and 348 controls (aged 22–65 years) from the LUMINA migraine cohort were asked to complete questionnaires concerning cold extremities, sleep quality and migraine. Results: A total of 594 migraine patients and 199 controls completed the questionnaires. In women, thermal discomfort and cold extremities (TDCE) were more often reported by migraineurs versus controls (odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.4–3.7; P < 0.001), but not significantly so in men (odds ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval 0.9–6.9; P = 0.09). There was no difference in TDCE comparing migraine with or without aura. Female migraineurs who reported TDCE had higher attack frequencies compared to female migraineurs without TDCE (4 vs. 3 attacks per month; P = 0.003). The association between TDCE and attack frequency was mediated by the presence of difficulty initiating sleep (P = 0.02). Conclusion: Women with migraine more often reported cold extremities compared with controls, possibly indicating a sex-specific vascular vulnerability. Female migraineurs with cold extremities had higher attack frequencies, partly resulting from sleep disturbances. Future studies need to demonstrate whether cold extremities in female migraineurs are a predictor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events

The cardiovascular risk profile of middle-aged women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Contains fulltext : 220851.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)OBJECTIVES: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the cardiometabolic phenotype and prevalence of CVD in middle-aged women with PCOS, compared with age-matched controls from the general population, and estimated 10-year CVD risk and cardiovascular health score. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 200 women aged >45 with PCOS, and 200 age-matched controls. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometrics, insulin, lipid levels, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. Ten-year Framingham risk score and the cardiovascular health score were calculated, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured. RESULTS: Mean age was 50.5 years (SD = 5.5) in women with PCOS and 51.0 years (SD = 5.2) in controls. Increased waist circumference, body mass index and hypertension were more often observed in women with PCOS (P < .001). In women with PCOS, the prevalence of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome was not significantly increased and lipid levels were not different from controls. cIMT was lower in women with PCOS (P < .001). Calculated cardiovascular health and 10-year CVD risk were similar in women with PCOS and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged women with PCOS exhibit only a moderately unfavourable cardiometabolic profile compared to age-matched controls, even though they present with an increased BMI and waist circumference. Furthermore, we found no evidence for increased (10-year) CVD risk or more severe atherosclerosis compared with controls from the general population. Long-term follow-up of women with PCOS is necessary to provide a definitive answer concerning long-term risk for CVD

The cardiovascular risk profile of middle-aged women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the cardiometabolic phenotype and prevalence of CVD in middle-aged women with PCOS, compared with age-matched controls from the general population, and estimated 10-year CVD risk and cardiovascular health score. Design: A cross-sectional study. Participants: 200 women aged >45 with PCOS, and 200 age-matched controls. Measurements: Anthropometrics, insulin, lipid levels, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. Ten-year Framingham risk score and the cardiovascular health score were calculated, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured. Results: Mean age was 50.5 years (SD = 5.5) in women with PCOS and 51.0 years (SD = 5.2) in controls. Increased waist circumference, body mass index and hypertension were more often observed in women with PCOS (P <.001). In women with PCOS, the prevalence of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome was not significantly increased and lipid levels were not different from controls. cIMT was lower in women with PCOS (P <.001). Calculated cardiovascular health and 10-year CVD risk were similar in women with PCOS and controls. Conclusions: Middle-aged women with PCOS exhibit only a moderately unfavourable cardiometabolic profile compared to age-matched controls, even though they present with an increased BMI and waist circumference. Furthermore, we found no evidence for increased (10-year) CVD risk or more severe atherosclerosis compared with controls from the general population. Long-term follow-up of women with PCOS is necessary to provide a definitive answer concerning lon

Coronary artery calcification in middle-aged women with premature ovarian insufficiency

Objective: Women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) enter menopause before age 40. Early menopause was associated with increased risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), death from cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. We compared the prevalence of CAD between middle-aged women on average 10 years following the initial POI diagnosis, with a population-based cohort. Design: Cross-sectional case-control study. Participants: Women from two Dutch University Medical Centers above 45 years of age previously diagnosed with POI (n = 98) were selected and compared with age- and race-matched controls from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Measurements: The primary outcome was detectable coronary artery calcium (CAC) determined by coronary computed tomography (CCT). Results: Women with POI had significantly higher blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose, despite lower BMI compared to controls. Similar proportions of detectable CAC (CAC score >0 Agatston Units) were observed in women with POI and controls (POI n = 16 (16%), controls n = 52 (18%), P = 0.40 and Padj = 0.93). In women with POI separately, we were not able to identify associations between CVD risk factors and CAC. The following CVD risk factors in controls were positively associated with CAC: age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and LDL cholesterol. HRT use was negatively associated with CAC in controls. Conclusions: The presence of CAC did not differ significantly in women with POI around 50 years of age, compared to an age- and race-matched control group. We observe no increased calcified coronary disease in POI patients, despite the presence of unfavourable cardiovascular risk factors in these women

The cardiovascular risk profile of middle-aged women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVES: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the cardiometabolic phenotype and prevalence of CVD in middle-aged women with PCOS, compared with age-matched controls from the general population, and estimated 10-year CVD risk and cardiovascular health score. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: 200 women aged >45 with PCOS, and 200 age-matched controls. MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometrics, insulin, lipid levels, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. Ten-year Framingham risk score and the cardiovascular health score were calculated, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured. RESULTS: Mean age was 50.5 years (SD = 5.5) in women with PCOS and 51.0 years (SD = 5.2) in controls. Increased waist circumference, body mass index and hypertension were more often observed in women with PCOS (P < .001). In women with PCOS, the prevalence of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome was not significantly increased and lipid levels were not different from controls. cIMT was lower in women with PCOS (P < .001). Calculated cardiovascular health and 10-year CVD risk were similar in women with PCOS and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Middle-aged women with PCOS exhibit only a moderately unfavourable cardiometabolic profile compared to age-matched controls, even though they present with an increased BMI and waist circumference. Furthermore, we found no evidence for increased (10-year) CVD risk or more severe atherosclerosis compared with controls from the general population. Long-term follow-up of women with PCOS is necessary to provide a definitive answer concerning long-term risk for CVD

The cardiovascular risk profile of middle-aged women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives: Contradictory results have been reported regarding the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We assessed the cardiometabolic phenotype and prevalence of CVD in middle-aged women with PCOS, compared with age-matched controls from the general population, and estimated 10-year CVD risk and cardiovascular health score. Design: A cross-sectional study. Participants: 200 women aged >45 with PCOS, and 200 age-matched controls. Measurements: Anthropometrics, insulin, lipid levels, prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. Ten-year Framingham risk score and the cardiovascular health score were calculated, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) was measured. Results: Mean age was 50.5 years (SD = 5.5) in women with PCOS and 51.0 years (SD = 5.2) in controls. Increased waist circumference, body mass index and hypertension were more often observed in women with PCOS (P <.001). In women with PCOS, the prevalence of type II diabetes and metabolic syndrome was not significantly increased and lipid levels were not different from controls. cIMT was lower in women with PCOS (P <.001). Calculated cardiovascular health and 10-year CVD risk were similar in women with PCOS and controls. Conclusions: Middle-aged women with PCOS exhibit only a moderately unfavourable cardiometabolic profile compared to age-matched controls, even though they present with an increased BMI and waist circumference. Furthermore, we found no evidence for increased (10-year) CVD risk or more severe atherosclerosis compared with controls from the general population. Long-term follow-up of women with PCOS is necessary to provide a definitive answer concerning long-term risk for CVD