Acute Changes in Heart Rate Variability to Glucose and Fructose Supplementation in Healthy Individuals : A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Placebo-Controlled Trial

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In this study, we investigated the cardio-autonomic stress responses to the ingestion of liquid glucose, fructose, a combination thereof and a placebo in healthy individuals at rest. The cardio-autonomic response was more pronounced in all groups with carbohydrates compared to placebo indicating an increased cardio-autonomic stress response resulting in a reduced heart-rate variability. When investigating different levels of blood glucose, the findings showed a significant decline in heart-rate variability with increasing blood glucose levels. This was also seen with severely low levels of blood glucose. The speed of how quick blood glucose increased and decreased also impacted the cardio-autonomic response which further deteriorated heart-rate variability. These findings indicate that healthy human’s autonomic system responds quickly to changes in their blood glucose. ABSTRACT: Background: It is unknown how different types of carbohydrates alter the cardio-autonomic system in healthy individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how heart-rate variability changes to single dose ingestion of glucose, fructose, glucose and fructose, and an artificial sweetener (sucralose). Methods: In a double-blind randomized crossover placebo-controlled setting, 15 participants received all study-specific substances in liquid form. During each 2-h visit, venous blood glucose was measured in a 5-min interval while heart-rate variability was measured continuously via Holter-electrocardiograph. Results: Ingestion of different types of carbohydrates and sucralose showed significant differences for heart rate (p < 0.001), SDNN (p < 0.008), RMSSD (p < 0.001), pNN50 (p < 0.001) and blood pressure (p < 0.001). Different glucose levels significantly altered parameters of heart-rate variability and blood pressure (all p < 0.001), while the rate of change in blood glucose led to changes in heart rate variability, but not in heart rate (p = 0.25) or blood pressure (p = 0.99). Conclusions: Ingestion of different types of carbohydrates lead to reductions in heart-rate variability compared to a placebo. Blood glucose values above or below 70–90 mg/dL decreased heart rate variability while this was also seen for rapid glucose changes, yet not as pronounced. Healthy individuals should be conscious about carbohydrate intake while maintaining blood glucose levels between 70–90 mg/dL

Molecularly defined diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumor (DLGNT) comprises two subgroups with distinct clinical and genetic features

Diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumors (DLGNT) represent rare CNS neoplasms which have been included in the 2016 update of the WHO classification. The wide spectrum of histopathological and radiological features can make this enigmatic tumor entity difficult to diagnose. In recent years, large-scale genomic and epigenomic analyses have afforded insight into key genetic alterations occurring in multiple types of brain tumors and provide unbiased, complementary tools to improve diagnostic accuracy. Through genome-wide DNA methylation screening of &gt; 25,000 tumors, we discovered a molecularly distinct class comprising 30 tumors, mostly diagnosed histologically as DLGNTs. Copy-number profiles derived from the methylation arrays revealed unifying characteristics, including loss of chromosomal arm 1p in all cases. Furthermore, this molecular DLGNT class can be subdivided into two subgroups [DLGNT methylation class (MC)-1 and DLGNT methylation class (MC)-2], with all DLGNT-MC-2 additionally displaying a gain of chromosomal arm 1q. Co-deletion of 1p/19q, commonly seen in IDH-mutant oligodendroglioma, was frequently observed in DLGNT, especially in DLGNT-MC-1 cases. Both subgroups also had recurrent genetic alterations leading to an aberrant MAPK/ERK pathway, with KIAA1549:BRAF fusion being the most frequent event. Other alterations included fusions of NTRK1/2/3 and TRIM33:RAF1, adding up to an MAPK/ERK pathway activation identified in 80% of cases. In the DLGNT-MC-1 group, age at diagnosis was significantly lower (median 5 vs 14 years, p &lt; 0.01) and clinical course less aggressive (5-year OS 100, vs 43% in DLGNT-MC-2). Our study proposes an additional molecular layer to the current histopathological classification of DLGNT, of particular use for cases without typical morphological or radiological characteristics, such as diffuse growth and radiologic leptomeningeal dissemination. Recurrent 1p deletion and MAPK/ERK pathway activation represent diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, respectively—laying the foundation for future clinical trials with, e.g., MEK inhibitors that may improve the clinical outcome of patients with DLGNT

Cross-scanner and cross-protocol multi-shell diffusion MRI data harmonization: algorithms and result

Cross-scanner and cross-protocol variability of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) data are known to be major obstacles in multi-site clinical studies since they limit the ability to aggregate dMRI data and derived measures. Computational algorithms that harmonize the data and minimize such variability are critical to reliably combine datasets acquired from different scanners and/or protocols, thus improving the statistical power and sensitivity of multi-site studies. Different computational approaches have been proposed to harmonize diffusion MRI data or remove scanner-specific differences. To date, these methods have mostly been developed for or evaluated on single b-value diffusion MRI data. In this work, we present the evaluation results of 19 algorithms that are developed to harmonize the cross-scanner and cross-protocol variability of multi-shell diffusion MRI using a benchmark database. The proposed algorithms rely on various signal representation approaches and computational tools, such as rotational invariant spherical harmonics, deep neural networks and hybrid biophysical and statistical approaches. The benchmark database consists of data acquired from the same subjects on two scanners with different maximum gradient strength (80 and 300 ​mT/m) and with two protocols. We evaluated the performance of these algorithms for mapping multi-shell diffusion MRI data across scanners and across protocols using several state-of-the-art imaging measures. The results show that data harmonization algorithms can reduce the cross-scanner and cross-protocol variabilities to a similar level as scan-rescan variability using the same scanner and protocol. In particular, the LinearRISH algorithm based on adaptive linear mapping of rotational invariant spherical harmonics features yields the lowest variability for our data in predicting the fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), mean kurtosis (MK) and the rotationally invariant spherical harmonic (RISH) features. But other algorithms, such as DIAMOND, SHResNet, DIQT, CMResNet show further improvement in harmonizing the return-to-origin probability (RTOP). The performance of different approaches provides useful guidelines on data harmonization in future multi-site studies

Search for heavy resonances decaying to two Higgs bosons in final states containing four b quarks

A search is presented for narrow heavy resonances X decaying into pairs of Higgs bosons (H) in proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC at root s = 8 TeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb(-1). The search considers HH resonances with masses between 1 and 3 TeV, having final states of two b quark pairs. Each Higgs boson is produced with large momentum, and the hadronization products of the pair of b quarks can usually be reconstructed as single large jets. The background from multijet and t (t) over bar events is significantly reduced by applying requirements related to the flavor of the jet, its mass, and its substructure. The signal would be identified as a peak on top of the dijet invariant mass spectrum of the remaining background events. No evidence is observed for such a signal. Upper limits obtained at 95 confidence level for the product of the production cross section and branching fraction sigma(gg -> X) B(X -> HH -> b (b) over barb (b) over bar) range from 10 to 1.5 fb for the mass of X from 1.15 to 2.0 TeV, significantly extending previous searches. For a warped extra dimension theory with amass scale Lambda(R) = 1 TeV, the data exclude radion scalar masses between 1.15 and 1.55 TeV

Measurement of the top quark mass using charged particles in pp collisions at root s=8 TeV

Peer reviewe

Porcine osteochondrosis dissecans - a histologic and immonochemical analysis

Titelblatt, Inhalts-, Abbildungs-, Tabellenverzeichnis, Glossar, Danksagung, Curriculum vitae mit Publikationsverzeichnis, Selbständigkeitserklärung Einfuehrung Material und Methoden Ergebnisse Diskussion Zusammenfassung LiteraturverzeichnisDie Ätiologie der Osteochondrosis dissecans (O. D.) beim Menschen ist weiterhin unbekannt. Zur Erforschung der Krankheitsätiologie und insbesondere der (in vivo-) Analyse der frühen Krankheitsstadien bedarf es der Entwicklung eines Spontanmodells. Der Knorpel des Schweines ähnelt in Aufbau und Kollagenverteilungsmuster dem des Menschen. In der Massentierhaltung ist die O. D. bei Schweinen bereits vorbeschrieben. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es, die in der Literatur vorbeschriebenen osteochondritischen Veränderungen bei Mastschweinen aus der Massentierhaltung auch bei Schweinen aufzuzeigen, die nicht den o. g. unnatürlichen Einflüssen des Massenbetriebes ausgesetzt sind, so dass deren Eignung als Spontanmodell für die O. D. geprüft werden kann. Des Weiteren wird das Verteilungsmuster spezifischer Kollagene, insbesondere von Kollagen X, im pathologisch veränderten Knorpelgewebe eines Tieres untersucht. Es kommen standardisierte Methoden der histologischen und immunhistochemischen Untersuchungstechnik zum Einsatz. Die kritische Bewertung der gefundenen histopathologischen Veränderungen und deren verändertes Kollagenverteilungsmuster, insbesondere das Kollagen X-Verteilungsmuster, stützen die in der Literatur diskutierte Theorie, dass die Pathologie der O. D. nicht vom Knorpel, sondern vom Knochen auszugehen scheint. Das hier untersuchte porcine hyaline Knorpelgewebe von nicht der Mast unterworfenen Tieren zeigt die O. D. und ihre Veränderungen in ausreichend hoher Häufigkeit und scheint somit als Spontanmodell für die Erforschung der O. D., insbesondere aufgrund der bereits erläuterten Ähnlichkeiten zwischen porcinem und humanem Knorpelgewebe, geeignet. Es wird die Aufgabe weiterführender Untersuchungen sein, die hier gewonnen Erkenntnisse und daraus resultierenden Hypothesen zu überprüfen. Weitere Versuchsreihen am porcinen hyalinen Gelenkknorpel und dem subchondralen Knochengewebe, z. B. der Nachweis von Proliferationsmarkern wie s-100 oder Ki-67, können Näheres über Ursprung und Verlauf der Erkrankung aufklären. Dies wird neben einem besseren Verständnis für die Erkrankung auch früh einsetzende Therapien, das heißt vor dem Auslösen des Dissekates, ermöglichen können.Still the Etiology of Osteochondrosis dissecans (O. D.) is unknown. To learn more about the etiology of this desease and to do further research on its different stages, especially in-vivo analysis, we need a spontaneous model for O. D. The spread of collagens in porcine cartilage ist comparable to the one in humans. Also the texture is comparable. In commercial breeding of pigs O. D. is well known. The aim of this work was to reproduce the already shown histologic features of O. D.in pigs of commercial breeding in pigs that did not undergo commercial breeding features such as mass feeding and drug applications. In order to proof their eligibility as a spontaneous model. Another task was to analyse the spread of different types of collagens in cartilage such as collagen type X in affcted cartilage. We used standardised methods of histologic analysis and immunostaining. Our results of histopathologic findings and the spread of different types of collagens support the idea that O. D. might result from disorders originated in subchondral localized bone. In addition the used cartilage from non commercial breeding pigs showed the disorders in an incidence that could make it usable as spontaneous model. It will be the task of further tests to proof our results and hypothesis. In addition further research on the etiology of O. D. should focus on markers of proliferation such as s-100 or Ki-67 to learn more about the cause of O. D. This research could lead to a better understanding of the disease and an early stage therapy

Emerging magnetic order in platinum atomic contacts and chains

The development of atomic-scale structures revealing novel transport phenomena is a major goal of nanotechnology. Examples include chains of atoms that form while stretching a transition metal contact or the predicted formation of magnetic order in these chains, the existence of which is still debated. Here we report an experimental study of the magneto-conductance (MC) and anisotropic MC with atomic-size contacts and mono-atomic chains of the nonmagnetic metal platinum. We find a pronounced and diverse MC behaviour, the amplitude and functional dependence change when stretching the contact by subatomic distances. These findings can be interpreted as a signature of local magnetic order in the chain, which may be of particular importance for the application of atomic-sized contacts in spintronic devices of the smallest possible size

Inhibition growth

Inhibition zones (mm) exhibited by each of the treatment