Superconducting Properties and Microstructure in Dilute Copper Alloys Containing Small Amounts of V_3Ga Particles(Metallurgy)

The superconducting properties (T_c and J_c) were investigated by the resistivity measurement, and the structure was observed by a transmission electron microscopy in the dilute copper alloys containing small amounts of V_3Ga particles prepared by quenching from the liquid state and aging. No superconductivity could be observed at 4.2 K in as-quenched and/or in overaged samples. The highest T_ (=12.5 K), T_ (=9.6 K), and J_c (=525 A/cm^2) were obtained by aging at 700℃ for 96 h and corresponded with the structure of fine V_3Ga precipitates dispersed homogeneously in the copper matrix. Therefore, it is concluded that superconductivity in these alloys results from the superconducting path due to the proximity effect of the superconducting V_3Ga particles

Malignancy incidences by glycemic control among diabetic patients

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the difference in malignancy incidence by evaluating time-dependent HbA1c levels among diabetic patients in a longitudinal study. Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study at large academic hospital, Tokyo, Japan, from 2006 to 2016. We included all diabetic patients who were 50 years or older and who underwent health check-ups at the Center for Preventive Medicine. Those patients with a prior history of malignancies were excluded. We categorized patients into five groups on the basis of HbA1c measurements: 8.5%. Our primary outcome was the development of any types of malignancy. Longitudinal analyses by a mixed effect model with time-dependent HbA1c levels were applied in order to take into account fluctuations in HbA1c levels within the same patient. Results: In total, 2729 participants were included in this study, where the mean age was 62.6 (standard deviation (s.d.): 7.8) and 2031 (74.4%) were male. The mean disease duration of diabetes was 7.6 (s.d.: 7.6) years, and 1688 (61.8%) were prescribed medications. Median follow-up was 1443.5 (interquartile range (IQR): 2508) days and 376 (13.8%) developed malignancies. Compared to the reference range of HbA1c (5.5–6.4%), the odds ratios for developing malignancies among the other HbA1c level groups were similar and not statistically different (OR: 0.98, 95% CI:0.31–3.15 (for HbA1c 8.5%)). Conclusion: In our study, there was no association between glycemic control and the development of future malignancies. Compared to very strictly controlled HbA1c levels, both excessive control and good or bad control had a statistically similar risk of developing malignancies

Exome Sequencing in Suspected Monogenic Dyslipidemias

Abstract BACKGROUND: -Exome sequencing is a promising tool for gene mapping in Mendelian disorders. We utilized this technique in an attempt to identify novel genes underlying monogenic dyslipidemias. METHODS AND RESULTS: -We performed exome sequencing on 213 selected family members from 41 kindreds with suspected Mendelian inheritance of extreme levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (after candidate gene sequencing excluded known genetic causes for high LDL cholesterol families) or high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. We used standard analytic approaches to identify candidate variants and also assigned a polygenic score to each individual in order to account for their burden of common genetic variants known to influence lipid levels. In nine families, we identified likely pathogenic variants in known lipid genes (ABCA1, APOB, APOE, LDLR, LIPA, and PCSK9); however, we were unable to identify obvious genetic etiologies in the remaining 32 families despite follow-up analyses. We identified three factors that limited novel gene discovery: (1) imperfect sequencing coverage across the exome hid potentially causal variants; (2) large numbers of shared rare alleles within families obfuscated causal variant identification; and (3) individuals from 15% of families carried a significant burden of common lipid-related alleles, suggesting complex inheritance can masquerade as monogenic disease. CONCLUSIONS: -We identified the genetic basis of disease in nine of 41 families; however, none of these represented novel gene discoveries. Our results highlight the promise and limitations of exome sequencing as a discovery technique in suspected monogenic dyslipidemias. Considering the confounders identified may inform the design of future exome sequencing studies

Cancer Risk in Diabetic Patients Treated with Metformin: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: A growing body of evidence has suggested that metformin potentially reduces the risk of cancer. Our objective was to enhance the precision of estimates of the effect of metformin on the risk of any-site and site-specific cancers in patients with diabetes. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We performed a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov for pertinent articles published as of October 12, 2011, and included them in a systematic review and meta-analysis. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RRs) for overall cancer mortality and cancer incidence. Of the 21,195 diabetic patients reported in 6 studies (4 cohort studies, 2 RCTs), 991 (4.5%) cases of death from cancer were reported. A total of 11,117 (5.3%) cases of incident cancer at any site were reported among 210,892 patients in 10 studies (2 RCTs, 6 cohort studies, 2 case-control studies). The risks of cancer among metformin users were significantly lower than those among non-metformin users: the pooled RRs (95% confidence interval) were 0.66 (0.49-0.88) for cancer mortality, 0.67 (0.53-0.85) for all-cancer incidence, 0.68 (0.53-0.88) for colorectal cancer (n = 6), 0.20 (0.07-0.59) for hepatocellular cancer (n = 4), 0.67 (0.45-0.99) for lung cancer (n = 3). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The use of metformin in diabetic patients was associated with significantly lower risks of cancer mortality and incidence. However, this analysis is mainly based on observational studies and our findings underscore the more need for long-term RCTs to confirm this potential benefit for individuals with diabetes

Dietary Approaches for Japanese Patients with Diabetes: A Systematic Review

This study aimed to elucidate the effect of an energy restricted and carbohydrate restricted diet on the management of Japanese diabetes patients. Several databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society were searched for relevant articles published prior to June 2017. The articles identified were systematically reviewed. We identified 286 articles on an energy restricted diet, assessed seven and included two studies in our review. On a carbohydrate restricted diet, 75 articles were extracted, seven articles assessed and three included in the review, of which two were the studies that were selected for the energy restricted diet group, since they compared energy restricted diets with carbohydrate restricted diets. All selected studies were on Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes. No studies for type 1 diabetes were found in our search. Two randomized controlled trials on an energy restricted diet were also included in the three studies for a carbohydrate restricted diet. All the three randomized controlled trials showed better glucose management with the carbohydrate restricted diet. Our study revealed that there is very little evidence on diets, particularly in Japanese patients with diabetes, and that the energy restricted diet, which has been recommended by the Japan Diabetes Society in the sole dietary management approach, is not supported by any scientific evidence. Our findings suggest that the carbohydrate restricted diet, but not the energy restricted diet, might have short term benefits for the management of diabetes in Japanese patients. However, since our analysis was based on a limited number of small randomized controlled trials, large scale and/or long term trials examining the dietary approaches in these patients are needed to confirm our findings