Cardiovascular risks in smokers treated with nicotine replacement therapy : a historical cohort study

The authors would like to thank Julie von Ziegenweidt, Daina Lim, and Muzammil Ali, who assisted with the analysis. Many thanks to Alison Chisholm for contribution to the study design and critical review of the manuscript, Derek Skinner for preparation of data for analysis, Rosalind Bonomally, and Martina Stagno d’Alcontres for medical writing. The study data were provided by the CPRD without charge (via a Medical Research Council study grant). The analysis was conducted by the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute Pte Ltd, in collaboration with the Respiratory Effectiveness Group (REG), and funded by the Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute Pte Ltd. Manuscript costs were covered by the REG.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Broad band X-ray spectral properties of Gamma-ray bursts with BeppoSAX

In about one year, five gamma-ray bursts were simultaneously observed with the Wide Field Cameras and Gamma Ray Burst Monitor aboard the BeppoSAX satellite. From some of them X-ray afterglow emission has been clearly detected with the same satellite. In order to understand how GRB emission is related to the X-ray afterglow, we are performing a systematic study of the spectral properties of these events. We report here preliminary results of this study.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. To appear in the Proceedings of the 4th Huntsville Gamma-ray Burst Symposiu

Methods of sputum processing for cell counts, immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridisation.

Since the first attempts to use standardised methods for sampling induced airways sputum, two methods for processing the expectorate have evolved. The first involves selecting all viscid or denser portions from the expectorated sample with the aid of an inverted microscope. This method has been extensively evaluated and reported in detail. The second approach involves processing the entire expectorate, comprising sputum plus variable amounts of saliva. Recent modifications to this method include collecting saliva and sputum separately in order to reduce salivary contamination. Both methods have advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of using selected sputum are: squamous cell contamination is v5%, making cell counting easier and quicker to perform, the total cell count (TCC) can be expressed per gram of lower airway secretions, and concentrations of chemicals in the fluid phase are unaffected by the confounding influence of saliva, and can be accurately corrected for dilution. The disadvantage is that selection takes a few minutes longer to perform and requires an inverted microscope. The advantage of using the entire expectorate is that the technique is quicker to perform, but there are some disadvantages that require consideration. The expectorate contains a variable mixture of sputum plus saliva which maydilute the sputum and confound its analysis. The reproducibility of cell counts has been reported to be lower if squamous cell contamination represents w20% of all recovered cells. There is conflicting data as to whether or not differential cell counts (DCCs) differ between the two methods. One study reported a higher percentage of eosinophils in sputum processed by the selection method compared to the entire expectorate but this has not been confirmed in other studies. Although, both the selected sputum and the entire expectorate methods have the same ability to distinguish asthmatics or bronchitics from healthy subjects, they are not interchangeable, and, once a technique has been adopted for a given study, it should always be applied

Teledetección y SIG para correlacionar espacios verdes y población en Bahía Blanca

El objetivo general de este trabajo fue determinar la relación existente entre las áreas verdes de la ciudad de Bahía Blanca y su densidad de población, considerando como área verde al espacio ocupado por vegetación arbórea en áreas privadas y públicas, con lo que se incluye la denominada arborización urbana. La determinación de este índice facilitará al gobierno de la ciudad la posibilidad de evaluar el cumplimiento de los índices establecidos por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), de esta manera se podrá abordar los aspectos técnicos que permitan aproximarse a dichos índices, cuando éstos resulten menores. La obtención de información numérica será relevante para el organismo municipal.Facultad de Ingenierí

Detection of a fast, intense and unusual gamma ray transient

An unusual transient pulse of approximately 50 keV was detected by the gamma-ray burst sensor network using nine space probes and satellites. Its characteristics are unlike those of the known variety of gamma-ray bursts and therefore suggest that it was formed either by a completely different origin species or in a very different manner. It is identified with the LMC supernova remnant N49