1,186 research outputs found
Association between diabetes, diabetes treatment and risk of developing endometrial cancer.
BackgroundA growing body of evidence suggests that diabetes is a risk factor for endometrial cancer incidence. However, most of these studies used case-control study designs and did not adjust for obesity, an established risk factor for endometrial cancer. In addition, few epidemiological studies have examined the association between diabetes treatment and endometrial cancer risk. The objective of this study was to assess the relationships among diabetes, diabetes treatment and endometrial cancer risk in postmenopausal women participating in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).MethodsA total of 88â107 postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years who were free of cancer and had no hysterectomy at baseline were followed until date of endometrial cancer diagnosis, death, hysterectomy or loss to follow-up, whichever came first. Endometrial cancers were confirmed by central medical record and pathology report review. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence interval (CI)) for diagnosis of diabetes and metformin treatment as risk factors for endometrial cancer.ResultsOver a mean of 11 years of follow-up, 1241 endometrial cancers developed. In the primary analysis that focused on prevalent diabetes at enrolment, compared with women without diabetes, women with self-reported diabetes, and the subset of women with treated diabetes, had significantly higher risk of endometrial cancer without adjusting for BMI (HR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.13-1.85 for diabetes, HR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.19-2.07 for treated diabetes). However after adjusting for BMI, the associations between diabetes, diabetes treatment, diabetes duration and the risk of endometrial cancer became non-significant. Elevated risk was noted when considering combining diabetes diagnosed at baseline and during follow-up as time-dependent exposure (HR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.08-1.59) even after adjusting for BMI. No significant association was observed between metformin use and endometrial cancer risk.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the relationship observed in previous research between diabetes and endometrial cancer incidence may be largely confounded by body weight, although some modest independent elevated risk remains
Quantitative atomic spectroscopy for primary thermometry
Quantitative spectroscopy has been used to measure accurately the
Doppler-broadening of atomic transitions in Rb vapor. By using a
conventional platinum resistance thermometer and the Doppler thermometry
technique, we were able to determine with a relative uncertainty of
, and with a deviation of from the
expected value. Our experiment, using an effusive vapour, departs significantly
from other Doppler-broadened thermometry (DBT) techniques, which rely on weakly
absorbing molecules in a diffusive regime. In these circumstances, very
different systematic effects such as magnetic sensitivity and optical pumping
are dominant. Using the model developed recently by Stace and Luiten, we
estimate the perturbation due to optical pumping of the measured value
was less than . The effects of optical pumping on atomic and
molecular DBT experiments is mapped over a wide range of beam size and
saturation intensity, indicating possible avenues for improvement. We also
compare the line-broadening mechanisms, windows of operation and detection
limits of some recent DBT experiments
Spectroscopic characterisation of CARMENES target candidates from FEROS, CAFE and HRS high-resolution spectra
CARMENES (Calar Alto high-Resolution search for M dwarfs with Exoearths with
Near-infrared and optical Echelle Spectrographs) started a new planet survey on
M-dwarfs in January this year. The new high-resolution spectrographs are
operating in the visible and near-infrared at Calar Alto Observatory. They will
perform high-accuracy radial-velocity measurements (goal 1 m s-1) of about 300
M-dwarfs with the aim to detect low-mass planets within habitable zones. We
characterised the candidate sample for CARMENES and provide fundamental
parameters for these stars in order to constrain planetary properties and
understand star-planet systems. Using state-of-the-art model atmospheres
(PHOENIX-ACES) and chi2-minimization with a downhill-simplex method we
determine effective temperature, surface gravity and metallicity [Fe/H] for
high-resolution spectra of around 480 stars of spectral types M0.0-6.5V taken
with FEROS, CAFE and HRS. We find good agreement between the models and our
observed high-resolution spectra. We show the performance of the algorithm, as
well as results, parameter and spectral type distributions for the CARMENES
candidate sample, which is used to define the CARMENES target sample. We also
present first preliminary results obtained from CARMENES spectra
Infrared Photodissociation Spectroscopy of C2n+1Nâ Anions with nâ=â1âââ5
The gas phase vibrational spectroscopy of cryogenically cooled C2nâ+â1Nâ
anions with nâ=â1âââ5 is investigated in the spectral range of the CâĄC and CâĄN
stretching modes (1850â2400âŻcmâ1) by way of infrared photodissociation (IRPD)
spectroscopy of messenger-tagged C2n+1Nâ·âmD2 complexes. The IRPD spectra are
assigned based on a comparison to previously reported anharmonic and harmonic
CCSD(T) vibrational frequencies and intensities. Experimentally determined and
predicted anharmonic vibrational transition energies lie within ±â21âcmâ1. For
the harmonic CCSD(T)/vqz+ vibrational frequencies a scaling factor of 0.9808
is determined, resulting in comparable absolute deviations. The influence of
the D2-messenger molecules on the structure and the IRPD spectrum is found to
be small. Compared to the results of previous IR matrix isolation studies
additional, in particular weaker, IR-active transitions are identified
Table-top soft x-ray source for XAS experiments with photon energies up to 350 eV
We present a table-top setup for femtosecond x-ray absorption spectroscopy
based on high harmonic generation (HHG) in noble gases. Using sub-millijoule
pump pulses at a central wavelength of 1550 nm broadband HHG in the range 70 to
350 eV was demonstrated. The HHG coherence lengths of several millimeters were
achieved by reaching the nonadiabatic regime of harmonic generation. NEXAFS
experiments on the boron K edge of a boron foil and a hexagonal BN (hBN) 2D
material demonstrate the capabilities of the setup
Patient level pooled analysis of 68,500 patients from seven major vitamin D fracture trials in the US and Europe
Objectives To identify participantsâ characteristics that influence the anti-fracture efficacy of vitamin D or vitamin
D plus calcium with respect to any fracture, hip fracture, and clinical vertebral fracture and to assess the influence of dosing regimens and co-administration of calcium. Design Individual patient data analysis using pooled data from randomised trials. Data sources Seven major randomised trials of vitamin D with calcium or vitamin D alone, yielding a total of 68 517 participants (mean age 69.9 years, range 47-107 years, 14.7% men). Study selection Studies included were randomised studies with at least one intervention arm in which vitamin D was given, fracture as an outcome, and at least 1000 participants. Data synthesis Logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant interaction terms, followed by Coxâs proportional hazards models incorporating age, sex, fracture history, and hormone therapy and bisphosphonate use. Results Trials using vitamin D with calcium showed a
reduced overall risk of fracture (hazard ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval 0.86 to 0.99, P=0.025) and hip fracture (all studies: 0.84, 0.70 to 1.01, P=0.07; studies using 10 ÎŒg of vitamin D given with calcium: 0.74, 0.60 to 0.91, P=0.005). For vitamin D alone in daily doses of 10 ÎŒg or 20 ÎŒg, no significant effects were found. No interaction was found between fracture history and treatment
response, nor any interaction with age, sex, or hormone replacement therapy. Conclusion This individual patient data analysis indicates that vitamin D given alone in doses of 10-20 ÎŒg is not effective in preventing fractures. By contrast, calcium and vitamin D given together reduce hip fractures and total fractures, and probably vertebral fractures, irrespective of age, sex, or previous fractures.The WHI program is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services through contracts N01WH22110, 24152, 32100-2, 32105-6, 32108-9, 32111-13, 32115, 32118-32119, 32122, 42107-26, 42129-32, and 44221. AA acknowledges personal funding from the UK Medical Research Council and Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health Directorates
Creating a Ferromagnetic Ground State with Tc Above Room Temperature in a Paramagnetic Alloy through Non-Equilibrium Nanostructuring
Materials with strong magnetostructural coupling have complex energy landscapes featuring multiple local ground states, thus making it possible to switch among distinct magnetic-electronic properties. However, these energy minima are rarely accessible by a mere application of an external stimuli to the system in equilibrium state. A ferromagnetic ground state, with Tc above room temperature, can be created in an initially paramagnetic alloy by nonequilibrium nanostructuring. By a dealloying process, bulk chemically disordered FeRh alloys are transformed into a nanoporous structure with the topology of a few nanometer-sized ligaments and nodes. Magnetometry and Mössbauer spectroscopy reveal the coexistence of two magnetic ground states, a conventional low-temperature spin-glass and a hitherto-unknown robust ferromagnetic phase. The emergence of the ferromagnetic phase is validated by density functional theory calculations showing that local tetragonal distortion induced by surface stress favors ferromagnetic ordering. The study provides a means for reaching conventionally inaccessible magnetic states, resulting in a complete on/off ferromagneticâparamagnetic switching over a broad temperature range
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