Comparative effectiveness of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue as add-on therapies to sulphonylurea among diabetes patients in the Asia-Pacific region: a systematic review

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is rising globally, and it induces a substantial public health burden to the healthcare systems. Its optimal control is one of the most significant challenges faced by physicians and policy-makers. Whereas some of the established oral hypoglycaemic drug classes like biguanide, sulphonylureas, thiazolidinediones have been extensively used, the newer agents like dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors and the human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues have recently emerged as suitable options due to their similar efficacy and favorable side effect profiles. These agents are widely recognized alternatives to the traditional oral hypoglycaemic agents or insulin, especially in conditions where they are contraindicated or unacceptable to patients. Many studies which evaluated their clinical effects, either alone or as add-on agents, were conducted in Western countries. There exist few reviews on their effectiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. The purpose of this systematic review is to address the comparative effectiveness of these new classes of medications as add-on therapies to sulphonylurea drugs among diabetic patients in the Asia-Pacific countries. We conducted a thorough literature search of the MEDLINE and EMBASE from the inception of these databases to August 2013, supplemented by an additional manual search using reference lists from research studies, meta-analyses and review articles as retrieved by the electronic databases. A total of nine randomized controlled trials were identified and described in this article. It was found that DPP-4 inhibitors and GLP-1 analogues were in general effective as add-on therapies to existing sulphonylurea therapies, achieving HbA1c reductions by a magnitude of 0.59–0.90% and 0.77–1.62%, respectively. Few adverse events including hypoglycaemic attacks were reported. Therefore, these two new drug classes represent novel therapies with great potential to be major therapeutic options. Future larger-scale research should be conducted among other Asia-Pacific region to evaluate their efficacy in other ethnic groups

Examination of the efficacy of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine ingestion during hydration stress in endurance exercise

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The effect of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine (AG; Sustamine™) ingestion on performance changes and markers of fluid regulation, immune, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and recovery was examined in response to exhaustive endurance exercise, during and in the absence of dehydration.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ten physically active males (20.8 ± 0.6 y; 176.8 ± 7.2 cm; 77.4 ± 10.5 kg; 12.3 ± 4.6% body fat) volunteered to participate in this study. During the first visit (T1) subjects reported to the laboratory in a euhydrated state to provide a baseline (BL) blood draw and perform a maximal exercise test. In the four subsequent randomly ordered trials, subjects dehydrated to -2.5% of their baseline body mass. For T2, subjects achieved their goal weight and were not rehydrated. During T3 - T5, subjects reached their goal weight and then rehydrated to 1.5% of their baseline body mass by drinking either water (T3) or two different doses (T4 and T5) of the AG supplement (0.05 g·kg^-1and 0.2 g·kg^-1, respectively). Subjects then exercised at a workload that elicited 75% of their VO₂max on a cycle ergometer. During T2 - T5 blood draws occurred once goal body mass was achieved (DHY), immediately prior to the exercise stress (RHY), and immediately following the exercise protocol (IP). Resting 24 hour (24P) blood samples were also obtained. Blood samples were analyzed for glutamine, potassium, sodium, aldosterone, arginine vasopressin (AVP), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), malondialdehyde (MDA), testosterone, cortisol, ACTH, growth hormone and creatine kinase. Statistical evaluation of performance, hormonal and biochemical changes was accomplished using a repeated measures analysis of variance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Glutamine concentrations for T5 were significantly higher at RHY and IP than T2 - T4. When examining performance changes (difference between T2 - T5 and T1), significantly greater times to exhaustion occurred during T4 (130.2 ± 340.2 sec) and T5 (157.4 ± 263.1 sec) compared to T2 (455.6 ± 245.0 sec). Plasma sodium concentrations were greater (p < 0.05) at RHY and IP for T2 than all other trials. Aldosterone concentrations at RHY and IP were significantly lower than that at BL and DHY. AVP was significantly elevated at DHY, RHY and IP compared to BL measures. No significant differences were observed between trials in CRP, IL-6, MDA, or in any of the other hormonal or biochemical measures.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Results demonstrate that AG supplementation provided a significant ergogenic benefit by increasing time to exhaustion during a mild hydration stress. This ergogenic effect was likely mediated by an enhanced fluid and electrolyte uptake.</p

When climate science became climate politics: British media representations of climate change in 1988

Climate change has become a pressing environmental concern for scientists, social commentators and politicians. Previous social science research has explored media representations of climate change in various temporal and geographical contexts. Through the lens of Social Representations Theory, this article provides a detailed qualitative thematic analysis of media representations of climate change in the 1988 British broadsheet press, given that this year constitutes an important juncture in this transition of climate change from the domain of science to that of the socio-political sphere. The following themes are outlined: (i) “Climate change: a multi-faceted threat”; (ii) “Collectivisation of threat”; (iii) “Climate change and the attribution of blame”; and (iv) “Speculative solutions to a complex socio-environmental problem.” The article provides detailed empirical insights into the “starting-point” for present-day disputes concerning climate change and lays the theoretical foundations for tracking the continuities and discontinuities characterising social representations of climate change in the future

Effects of Elevated Temperature and Carbon Dioxide on the Growth and Survival of Larvae and Juveniles of Three Species of Northwest Atlantic Bivalves

Rising CO2 concentrations and water temperatures this century are likely to have transformative effects on many coastal marine organisms. Here, we compared the responses of two life history stages (larval, juvenile) of three species of calcifying bivalves (Mercenaria mercenaria, Crassostrea virginica, and Argopecten irradians) to temperatures (24 and 28°C) and CO2 concentrations (∼250, 390, and 750 ppm) representative of past, present, and future summer conditions in temperate estuaries. Results demonstrated that increases in temperature and CO2 each significantly depressed survival, development, growth, and lipid synthesis of M. mercenaria and A. irradians larvae and that the effects were additive. Juvenile M. mercenaria and A. irradians were negatively impacted by higher temperatures while C. virginica juveniles were not. C. virginica and A. irradians juveniles were negatively affected by higher CO2 concentrations, while M. mercenaria was not. Larvae were substantially more vulnerable to elevated CO2 than juvenile stages. These findings suggest that current and future increases in temperature and CO2 are likely to have negative consequences for coastal bivalve populations

Frequently asked questions about chlorophyll fluorescence, the sequel

[EN] Using chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence many aspects of the photosynthetic apparatus can be studied, both in vitro and, noninvasively, in vivo. Complementary techniques can help to interpret changes in the Chl a fluorescence kinetics. Kalaji et al. (Photosynth Res 122: 121-158, 2014a) addressed several questions about instruments, methods and applications based on Chl a fluorescence. Here, additionalChl a fluorescence-related topics are discussed again in a question and answer format. Examples are the effect of connectivity on photochemical quenching, the correction of F-V/F-M values for PSI fluorescence, the energy partitioning concept, the interpretation of the complementary area, probing the donor side of PSII, the assignment of bands of 77 K fluorescence emission spectra to fluorescence emitters, the relationship between prompt and delayed fluorescence, potential problems when sampling tree canopies, the use of fluorescence parameters in QTL studies, the use of Chl a fluorescence in biosensor applications and the application of neural network approaches for the analysis of fluorescence measurements. The answers draw on knowledge fromdifferent Chl a fluorescence analysis domains, yielding in several cases new insights.Kalaji, H.; Schansker, G.; Brestic, M.; Bussotti, F.; Calatayud, A.; Ferroni, L.; Goltsev, V.... (2017). Frequently asked questions about chlorophyll fluorescence, the sequel. Photosynthesis Research. 132(1):13-66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-016-0318-yS13661321Adams WW III, Demmig-Adams B (1992) Operation of the xanthophyll cycle in higher plants in response to diurnal changes in incident sunlight. Plant 186:390–398Adams WW III, Demmig-Adams B (2004) Chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool to monitor plant response to the environment. In: Papageorgiou GC, Govindjee (eds) Advances in photosynthesis and respiration series chlorophyll fluorescence: a signature of photosynthesis, vol 19. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 583–604Adams WW III, Demmig-Adams B, Winter K, Schreiber U (1990a) The ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence from photosystem II, measured in leaves at ambient temperature and at 77 K, as an indicator of the photon yield of photosynthesis. Planta 180:166–174Adams WW III, Winter K, Schreiber U, Schramel P (1990b) Photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics in relationship to changes in pigment and element composition of leaves of Platanus occidentalis L. during autumnal senescence. Plant Physiol 93:1184–1190Alfonso M, Montoya G, Cases R, Rodriguez R, Picorel R (1994) Core antenna complexes, CP43 and CP47, of higher plant photosystem II. Spectral properties, pigment stoichiometry, and amino acid composition. Biochemistry 33:10494–10500Allakhverdiev SI (2011) Recent progress in the studies of structure and function of photosystem II. J Photochem Photobiol B Biol 104:1–8Allakhverdiev SI, Klimov VV, Carpentier R (1994) Variable thermal emission and chlorophyll fluorescence in photosystem II particles. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 491:281–285Allakhverdiev SI, Los DA, Mohanty P, Nishiyama Y, Murata N (2007) Glycinebetaine alleviates the inhibitory effect of moderate heat stress on the repair of photosystem II during photoinhibition. Biochim Biophys Acta 1767:1363–1371Allen JF (1992) Protein phosphorylation in regulation of photosynthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta 1098:275–335Allen JF, Bennett J, Steinback KE, Arntzen CJ (1981) Chloroplast protein phosphorylation couples platoquinone redox state to distribution of excitation energy between photosystems. Nature 291:21–25Amesz J, van Gorkom HJ (1978) Delayed fluorescence in photosynthesis. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 29:47–66Ananyev GM, Dismukes GC (1996) Assembly of the tetra-Mn site of photosynthetic water oxidation by photoactivation: Mn stoichiometry and detection of a new intermediate. Biochemistry 35:4102–4109Anderson JM, Chow WS, Goodchild DJ (1988) Thylakoid membrane organization in sun/shade acclimation. Aust J Plant Physiol 15:11–26Andrizhiyevskaya EG, Chojnicka A, Bautista JA, Diner BA, van Grondelle R, Dekker JP (2005) Origin of the F685 and F695 fluorescence in photosystem II. Photosynth Res 84:173–180Anithakumari AM, Nataraja KN, Visser RGF, van der Linden G (2012) Genetic dissection of drought tolerance and recovery potential by quantitative trait locus mapping of a diploid potato population. Mol Breed 30:1413–1429Antal TK, Krendeleva TE, Rubin AB (2007) Study of photosystem 2 heterogeneity in the sulfur-deficient green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Photosynth Res 94:13–22Antal TK, Matorin DN, Ilyash LV, Volgusheva AA, Osipov A, Konyuhow IV, Krendeleva TE, Rubin AB (2009) Probing of photosynthetic reactions in four phytoplanktonic algae with a PEA fluorometer. Photosynth Res 102:67–76Araus JL, Amaro T, Voltas J, Nakkoul H, Nachit MM (1998) Chlorophyll fluorescence as a selection criterion for grain yield in durum wheat under Mediterranean conditions. Field Crops Res 55:209–223Argyroudi-Akoyunoglou J (1984) The 77 K fluorescence spectrum of the Photosystem I pigment-protein complex CPIa. FEBS Lett 171:47–53Arnold WA (1991) Experiments. Photosynth Res 27:73–82Arnold WA, Thompson J (1956) Delayed light production by blue-green algae, red algae and purple bacteria. J Gen Physiol 39:311–318Aro EM, Hundal T, Carlberg I, Andersson B (1990) In vitro studies on light-induced inhibition of PSII and D1-protein degradation at low temperatures. Biochim Biophys Acta 1019:269–275Aro EM, Virgin I, Andersson B (1993) Photoinhibition of photosystem II. Inactivation protein damage and turnover. Biochim Biophys Acta 1143:113–134Arsalane W, Parésys G, Duval JC, Wilhelm C, Conrad R, Büchel C (1993) A new fluorometric device to measure the in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence yield in microalgae and its use as a herbicide monitor. Eur J Phycol 28:247–252Asada K (1999) The water-water cycle in chloroplasts: scavenging of active oxygens and dissipation of excess photons. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 50:601–639Ashraf M, Harris PJC (2004) Potential biochemical indicators of salinity tolerance in plants. Plant Sci 166:3–16Bailey S, Walters RG, Jansson S, Horton P (2001) Acclimation of Arabidopsis thaliana to the light environment: the existence of separate low light and high light responses. Planta 213:794–801Baker NR (2008) Chlorophyll fluorescence: a probe of photosynthesis in vivo. Annu Rev Plant Biol 59:659–668Baker NR, Rosenqvist E (2004) Applications of chlorophyll fluorescence can improve crop production strategies: an examination of future possibilities. J Exp Bot 55:1607–1621Ballottari M, Dall’Osto L, Morosinotto T, Bassi R (2007) Contrasting behavior of higher plant photosystem I and II antenna systems during acclimation. J Biol Chem 282:8947–8958Barbagallo RP, Oxborough K, Pallett KE, Baker NR (2003) Rapid, noninvasive screening for perturbations of metabolism and plant growth using chlorophyll fluorescence imaging. Plant Physiol 132:485–493Barber J, Malkin S, Telfer A (1989) The origin of chlorophyll fluorescence in vivo and its quenching by the photosystem II reaction centre. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 323:227–239Barra M, Haumann M, Loja P, Krivanek R, Grundmeier A, Dau H (2006) Intermediates in assembly by photoactivation after thermally accelerated disassembly of the manganese complex of photosynthetic water oxidation. Biochemistry 45:14523–14532Baumann HA, Morrison L, Stengel DB (2009) Metal accumulation and toxicity measured by PAM-chlorophyll fluorescence in seven species of marine macroalgae. Ecotoxicol Environ Safe 72:1063–1075Bauwe H, Hagemann M, Fernie A (2010) Photorespiration: players, partners and origin. Trends Plant Sci 15:330–336Beck WF, Brudvig GW (1987) Reactions of hydroxylamine with the electron-donor side of photosystem II. Biochemistry 26:8285–8295Belgio E, Kapitonova E, Chmeliov J, Duffy CDP, Ungerer P, Valkunas L, Ruban AV (2014) Economic photoprotection in photosystem II that retains a complete light-harvesting system with slow energy traps. Nat Commun 5:4433. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5433Bell DH, Hipkins MF (1985) Analysis of fluorescence induction curves from pea chloroplasts: photosystem II reaction centre heterogeneity. Biochim Biophys Acta 807:255–262Bellafiore S, Barneche F, Peltier G, Rochaix J-D (2005) State transitions and light adaptation require chloroplast thylakoid protein kinase STN7. Nature 433:892–895Belyaeva NE, Schmitt F-J, Paschenko VZ, Riznichenko GY, Rubin AB (2015) Modeling of the redox state dynamics in photosystem II of Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick cells and leaves of spinach and Arabidopsis thaliana from single flash-induced fluorescence quantum yield changes on the 100 ns–10 s time scale. Photosynth Res 125:123–140Bennett J (1977) Phosphorylation of chloroplast membrane polypeptides. Nature 269:344–346Bennett J (1983) Regulation of photosynthesis by reversible phosphorylation of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein. Biochem J 212:1–13Bennett J, Shaw EK, Michel H (1988) Cytochrome b6f complex is required for phosphorylation of light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b complex II in chloroplast photosynthetic membranes. Eur J Biochem 171:95–100Bennoun P (2002) The present model for chlororespiration. Photosynth Res 73:273–277Bennoun P, Li Y-S (1973) New results on the mode of action of 3,-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea in spinach chloroplasts. Biochim Biophys Acta 292:162–168Berden-Zrimec M, Drinovec L, Zrimec A (2011) Delayed fluorescence. In: Suggett DJ, Borowitzka M, Prášil O (eds) Chlorophyll a fluorescence in aquatic sciences: methods and applications, developments in applied phycology, vol 4. Springer, The Netherlands, pp 293–309Berger S, Sinha AK, Roitsch T (2007) Plant physiology meets phytopathology: plant primary metabolism and plant-pathogen interactions. J Exp Bot 58:4019–4026Bernacchi CJ, Leakey ADB, Heady LE, Morgan PB, Dohleman FG, McGrath JM, Gillespie GM, Wittig VE, Rogers A, Long SP, Ort DR (2006) Hourly and seasonal variation in photosynthesis and stomatal conductance of soybean grown at future CO2 and ozone concentrations for 3 years under fully open-air field conditions. Plant Cell Environ 29:2077–2090Betterle N, Ballotari M, Zorzan S, de Bianchi S, Cazzaniga S, Dall’Osto L, Morosinotto T, Bassi R (2009) Light-induced dissociation of an antenna hetero-oligomer is needed for non-photochemical quenching induction. J Biol Chem 284:15255–15266Bielczynski LW, Schansker G, Croce R (2016) Effect of light acclimation on the organization of photosystem II super and sub-complexes in Arabidopsis thaliana. Front Plant Sci. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.00105Björkman O, Demmig-Adams B (1995) Regulation of photosynthetic light energy capture, conversion, and dissipation in leaves of higher plants. In: Schulze ED, Caldwell MM (eds) Ecophysiology of photosynthesis. Springer, Berlin, pp 17–47Blubaugh DJ, Cheniae GM (1990) Kinetics of photoinhibition in hydroxylamine-extracted photosystem II membranes: relevance to photoactivation and site of electron donation. Biochemistry 29:5109–5118Bock A, Krieger-Liszkay A, Ortiz de Zarate IB, Schönknecht G (2001) Cl—channel inhibitors of the arylaminobenzoate type act as photosystem II herbicides: a functional and structural study. Biochemistry 40:3273–3281Bode S, Quentmeier CC, Liao P-N, Hafi N, Barros T, Wilk L, Bittner F, Walla PJ (2009) On the regulation of photosynthesis by excitonic interactions between carotenoids and chlorophylls. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:12311–12316Boekema EJ, Van Roon H, Van Breemen JFL, Dekker JP (1999) Supramolecular organization of photosystem II and its light-harvesting antenna in partially solubilized photosystem II membranes. Eur J Biochem 266:444–452Bolhar-Nordenkampf HR, Long SP, Baker NR, Öquist G, Schreiber U, Lechner EG (1989) Chlorophyll fluorescence as a probe of the photosynthetic competence of leaves in the field: a review of current Instrumentation. Funct Ecol 3:497–514Bonaventura C, Myers J (1969) Fluorescence and oxygen evolution from Chlorella pyrenoidosa. Biochim Biophys Acta 189:366–383Bonfig KB, Schreiber U, Gabler A, Roitsch T, Berger S (2006) Infection with virulent and avirulent P. syringae strains differentially affects photosynthesis and sink metabolism in Arabidopsis leaves. Planta 225:1–12Bouges-Bocquet B (1980) Kinetic models for the electron donors of photosystem II of photosynthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta 594:85–103Bradbury M, Baker NR (1981) Analysis of the slow phases of the in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence induction curve; changes in the redox state of photosystem II electron acceptors and fluorescence emission from photosystem I and II. Biochim Biophys Acta 635:542–551Brestič M, Živčák M (2013) PSII fluorescence techniques for measurement of drought and high temperature stress signal in crop plants: protocols and applications. In: Das AB, Rout GR (eds) Molecular stress physiology of plants. Springer, New Dehli, pp 87–131Brestič M, Cornic G, Fryer MJ, Baker NR (1995) Does photorespiration protect the photosynthetic apparatus in French bean leaves from photoinhibition during drought stress? Planta 196:450–457Brestič M, Živčák M, Kalaji HM, Allakhverdiev SI, Carpentier R (2012) Photosystem II thermo-stability in situ: environmentally induced acclimation and genotype-specific reactions in Triticum aestivum L. Plant Physiol Biochem 57:93–105Brody SS, Rabinowitch E (1957) Excitation lifetime of photosynthetic pigments in vitro and in vivo. Science 125:555–563Brudvig GW, Casey JL, Sauer K (1983) The effect of temperature on the formation and decay of the multiline EPR signal species associated with photosynthetic oxygen evolution. Biochim Biophys Acta 723:366–371Bukhov NG, Boucher N, Carpentier R (1997) The correlation between the induction kinetics of the photoacoustic signal and chlorophyll fluorescence in barley leaves is governed by changes in the redox state of the photosystem II acceptor side; a study under atmospheric and high CO2 concentrations. Can J Bot 75:1399–1406Bukhov N, Egorova E, Krendeleva T, Rubin A, Wiese C, Heber U (2001) Relaxation of variable chlorophyll fluorescence after illumination of dark-adapted barley leaves as influenced by the redox states of electron carriers. Photosynth Res 70:155–166Buschmann C, Koscányi L (1989) Light-induced heat production correlated with chlorophyll fluorescence and its quenching. Photosynth Res 21:129–136Bussotti F (2004) Assessment of stress conditions in Quercus ilex L. leaves by O-J-I-P chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis. Plant Biosystems 13:101–109Bussotti F, Agati G, Desotgiu R, Matteini P, Tani C (2005) Ozone foliar symptoms in woody plants assessed with ultrastructural and fluorescence analysis. New Phytol 166:941–955Bussotti F, Desotgiu R, Cascio C, Pollastrini M, Gravano E, Gerosa G, Marzuoli R, Nali C, Lorenzini G, Salvatori E, Manes F, Schaub M, Strasser RJ (2011a) Ozone stress in woody plants assessed with chlorophyll a fluorescence. A critical reassessment of existing data. Environ Exp Bot 73:19–30Bussotti F, Pollastrini M, Cascio C, Desotgiu R, Gerosa G, Marzuoli R, Nali C, Lorenzini G, Pellegrini E, Carucci MG, Salvatori E, Fusaro L, Piccotto M, Malaspina P, Manfredi A, Roccotello E, Toscano S, Gottardini E, Cristofori A, Fini A, Weber D, Baldassarre V, Barbanti L, Monti A, Strasser RJ (2011b) Conclusive remarks. Reliability and comparability of chlorophyll fluorescence data from several field teams. Environ Exp Bot 73:116–119Butler WL (1978) Energy distribution in the photochemical apparatus of photosynthesis. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 29:345–378Byrdin M, Rimke I, Schlodder E, Stehlik D, Roelofs TA (2000) Decay kinetics and quantum yields of fluorescence in photosystem I from Synechococcus elongatus with P700 in the reduced and oxidized state: Are the kinetics of excited state decay trap-limited or transfer-limited? Biophys J 79:992–1007Caffarri S, Croce R, Cattivelli L, Bassi R (2004) A look within LHCII: differential analysis of the Lhcb1-3 complexes building the major trimeric antenna complex of higher-plant photosynthesis. Biochemistry 43:9467–9476Calatayud A, Ramirez JW, Iglesias DJ, Barreno E (2002) Effects of ozone on photosynthetic CO2 exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence and antioxidant systems in lettuce leaves. Physiol Plant 116:308–316Cascio C, Schaub M, Novak K, Desotgiu R, Bussotti F, Strasser RJ (2010) Foliar responses to ozone of Fagus sylvatica L. seedlings grown in shaded and in full sunlight conditions. Environ Exp Bot 68:188–197Cazzaniga S, Dall’Osto L, Kong S-G, Wada M, Bassi R (2013) Interaction between avoidance of photon absorption, excess energy dissipation and zeaxanthin synthesis against photooxidative stress in Arabidopsis. Plant J 76:568–579Ceppi MG, Oukarroum A, Çiçek N, Strasser RJ, Schansker G (2012) The IP amplitude of the fluorescence rise OJIP is sensitive to changes in the photosystem I content of leaves: a study on plants exposed to magnesium and sulfate deficiencies, drought stress and salt stress. Physiol Plant 144:277–288Chaudhary N, Singh S, Agrawal SB, Agrawal M (2013) Assessment of six Indian cultivars of mung bean against ozone by using foliar injury index and changes in carbon assimilation, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigments. Environ Monit Assess 185:7793–7807Chen J, Kell A, Acharya K, Kupitz C, Fromme P, Jankowiak R (2015) Critical assessment of the emission spectra of various photosystem II core complexes. Photosynth Res 124:253–265Cheng L, Fuchigami LH, Breen PJ (2000) Light absorption and partitioning in relation to nitrogen content ‘Fuji’ apple leaves. J Am Soc Hortic Sci 125:581–587Choi CJ, Berges JA, Young EB (2012) Rapid effects of diverse toxic water pollutants on chlorophyll a fluorescence: variable responses among freshwater microalgae. Water Res 46:2615–2626Chow WS, Aro EM (2005) Photoinactivation and mechanisms of recovery. In: Wydrzynski T, Satoh K (eds) Photosystem II: the light-driven water: plastoquinone oxidoreductase, advances in photosynthesis and respiration, vol 22. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 627–648Chow WS, Fan DY, Oguchi R, Jia H, Losciale P, Youn-Il P, He J, Öquist G, Shen YG, Anderson JM (2012) Quantifying and monitoring functional photosystem II and the stoichiometry of the two photosystems in leaf segments: approaches and approximations. Photosynth Res 113:63–74Christensen MG, Teicher HB, Streibig JC (2003) Linking fluorescence induction curve and biomass in herbicide screening. Pest Manag Sci 59:1303–1310Codrea CM, Aittokallio T, Keränen M, Tyystjärvi E, Nevalainen OS (2003) Feature learning with a genetic algorithm for fluorescence fingerprinting of plant species. Pattern Recognit Lett 24:2663–2673Conjeaud H, Mathis P (1980) The effect of pH on the reduction kinetics of P-680 in tris-treated chloroplasts. Biochim Biophys Acta 590:353–359Conrad R, Büchel C, Wilhelm C, Arsalane W, Berkaloff C, Duval JC (1993) Changes in yield of in-vivo fluorescence of chlorophyll a as a tool for selective herbicide monitoring. J Appl Phycol 5:505–516Cornic G, Massacci A (1996) Leaf photosynthesis under drought stress. In: Baker NR (ed) Photosynthesis and the environment. Kluwer Academic Publisher, Dordrecht, pp 347–366Cornic G, Fresneau C (2002) Photosynthetic carbon reduction and carbon oxidation cycles are the main electron sinks for photosystems II during a mild drought. Ann Bot 89:887–894Correia MJ, Chaves MMC, Pereira JS (1990) Afternoon depression in photosynthesis in grapevine leaves—evidence for a high light stress effect. J Exp Bot 41:417–426Cotrozzi L, Remorini D, Pellegrini E, Landi M, Massai R, Nali C, Guidi L, Lorenzini G (2016) Variations in physiological and biochemical traits of oak seedlings grown under drought and ozone stress. Physiol Plant 157:69–84Croce R, Zucchelli G, Garlaschi FM, Bassi R, Jennings RC (1997) Excited state equilibration in the photosystem I-light-harvesting I complex: P700 is almost isoenergetic with its antenna. Biochemistry 35:8572–8579Cser K, Vass I (2007) Radiative and non-radiative charge recombination pathways in photosystem II studied by thermoluminescence and chlorophyll fluorescence in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6308. Biochim Biophys Acta 1767:233–243Czyczyło-Mysza I, Tyrka M, Marcińska Skrzypek E, Karbarz M, Dziurka M, Hura T, Dziurka K, Quarrie SA (2013) Quantitative trait loci for leaf chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in relation to biomass and yield in bread wheat and their chromosome deletion bin assignments. Mol Breed 32:189–210D’Haene SE, Sobotka R, Bučinská L, Dekker JP, Komenda J (2015) Interaction of the PsbH subunit with a chlorophyll bound to histidine 114 of CP47 is responsible for the red 77 K fluorescence of Photosystem II. Biochim Biophys Acta 1847:1327–1334Dang NC, Zazubovich V, Reppert M, Neupane B, Picorel R, Seibert M, Jankowiak R (2008) The CP43 proximal antenna complex of higher plant photosystem II revisited: modeling and hole burning study. J Phys Chem B 112:9921–9933Dau H (1994) Molecular mechanisms and quantitative models of variable Photosystem II fluorescence. Photochem Photobiol 60:1–23Dau H, Sauer K (1992) Electric field effect on the picosecond fluorescence of photosystem II and its relation to the energetics and kinetics of primary charge separation. Biochim Biophys Acta 1102:91–106Dau H, Zaharieva I, Haumann M (2012) Recent developments in research on water oxidation by photosystem II. Curr Opin Chem Biol 16:3–10de Wijn R, van Gorkom HJ (2001) Kinetics of electron transfer from QA to QB in photosystem II. Biochemistry 40:11912–11922de Wijn R, van Gorkom HJ (2002) The rate of charge recombination in photosystem II. Biochim Biophys Acta 1553:302–308Debus RJ (1992) The manganese and calcium ions of photosynthetic oxygen evolution. Biochim Biophys Acta 1102:269–352Degl’Innocenti E, Guidi L, Soldatini GF (2002) Characteriz

All-sky search for gravitational-wave bursts in the second joint LIGO-Virgo run

We present results from a search for gravitational-wave bursts in the data collected by the LIGO and Virgo detectors between July 7, 2009 and October 20, 2010: data are analyzed when at least two of the three LIGO-Virgo detectors are in coincident operation, with a total observation time of 207 days. The analysis searches for transients of duration < 1 s over the frequency band 64-5000 Hz, without other assumptions on the signal waveform, polarization, direction or occurrence time. All identified events are consistent with the expected accidental background. We set frequentist upper limits on the rate of gravitational-wave bursts by combining this search with the previous LIGO-Virgo search on the data collected between November 2005 and October 2007. The upper limit on the rate of strong gravitational-wave bursts at the Earth is 1.3 events per year at 90% confidence. We also present upper limits on source rate density per year and Mpc^3 for sample populations of standard-candle sources. As in the previous joint run, typical sensitivities of the search in terms of the root-sum-squared strain amplitude for these waveforms lie in the range 5 10^-22 Hz^-1/2 to 1 10^-20 Hz^-1/2. The combination of the two joint runs entails the most sensitive all-sky search for generic gravitational-wave bursts and synthesizes the results achieved by the initial generation of interferometric detectors.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures: data for plots and archived public version at https://dcc.ligo.org/cgi-bin/DocDB/ShowDocument?docid=70814&version=19, see also the public announcement at http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-S6BurstAllSky

Differential profiling of lacrimal cytokines in patients suffering from thyroid-associated orbitopathy.

The aim was to investigate the levels of cytokines and soluble IL-6R in the tears of patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) disease. Schirmer's test was adopted to collect tears from TAO patients (N = 20, 17 women, mean age (±SD): 46.0 years (±13.4)) and healthy subjects (N = 18, 10 women, 45.4 years (±18.7)). Lacrimal cytokines and soluble IL-6R (sIL-6R) were measured using a 10-plex panel (Meso Scale Discovery Company) and Invitrogen Human sIL-6R Elisa kit, respectively. Tear levels of IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-6 and TNF-α appeared significantly higher in TAO patients than in healthy subjects. Interestingly, IL-10, IL-12p70 and IL-8 levels increased in tears whatever the form of TAO whereas IL-13, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were significantly elevated in inflammatory TAO patients, meaning with a clinical score activity (CAS) ≥ 3, compared to controls. Furthermore, only 3 cytokines were strongly positively correlated with CAS (IL-13 Spearman coeff. r: 0.703, p = 0.0005; IL-6 r: 0.553, p = 0.011; IL-8 r: 0.618, p = 0.004, respectively). Finally, tobacco use disturbed the levels of several cytokines, especially in patient suffering of TAO. The differential profile of lacrimal cytokines could be useful for the diagnosis of TAO patients. Nevertheless, the tobacco use of these patients should be taken into account in the interpretation of the cytokine levels

Hand osteoarthritis: clinical phenotypes, molecular mechanisms and disease management

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent condition and the hand is the most commonly affected site. Patients with hand OA frequently report symptoms of pain, functional limitations, and frustration in undertaking everyday activities. The condition presents clinically with changes to the bone, ligaments, cartilage and synovial tissue, which can be observed using radiography, ultrasonography or MRI. Hand OA is a heterogeneous disorder and is considered to be multifactorial in aetiology. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology, presentation and burden of hand OA, including an update on hand OA imaging (including the development of novel techniques), disease mechanisms and management. In particular, areas for which new evidence has substantially changed the way we understand, consider and treat hand OA are highlighted. For example, genetic studies, clinical trials and careful prospective imaging studies from the past 5 years are beginning to provide insights into the pathogenesis of hand OA that might uncover new therapeutic targets in disease

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Background: Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories.Methods: We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30-79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age.Findings: The number of people aged 30-79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306-359) million women and 317 (292-344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584-668) million women and 652 (604-698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55-62) of women and 49% (46-52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43-51) of women and 38% (35-41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20-27) for women and 18% (16-21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran.Interpretation: Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings.Copyright (C) 2021 World Health Organization; licensee Elsevier.</p

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Background Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30–79 years from population-representative studies with measurement of blood pressure and data on blood pressure treatment. We defined hypertension as having systolic blood pressure 140 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure 90 mm Hg or greater, or taking medication for hypertension. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and the proportion of people with hypertension who had a previous diagnosis (detection), who were taking medication for hypertension (treatment), and whose hypertension was controlled to below 140/90 mm Hg (control). The model allowed for trends over time to be non-linear and to vary by age. Findings The number of people aged 30–79 years with hypertension doubled from 1990 to 2019, from 331 (95% credible interval 306–359) million women and 317 (292–344) million men in 1990 to 626 (584–668) million women and 652 (604–698) million men in 2019, despite stable global age-standardised prevalence. In 2019, age-standardised hypertension prevalence was lowest in Canada and Peru for both men and women; in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and some countries in western Europe including Switzerland, Spain, and the UK for women; and in several low-income and middle-income countries such as Eritrea, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Solomon Islands for men. Hypertension prevalence surpassed 50% for women in two countries and men in nine countries, in central and eastern Europe, central Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Globally, 59% (55–62) of women and 49% (46–52) of men with hypertension reported a previous diagnosis of hypertension in 2019, and 47% (43–51) of women and 38% (35–41) of men were treated. Control rates among people with hypertension in 2019 were 23% (20–27) for women and 18% (16–21) for men. In 2019, treatment and control rates were highest in South Korea, Canada, and Iceland (treatment >70%; control >50%), followed by the USA, Costa Rica, Germany, Portugal, and Taiwan. Treatment rates were less than 25% for women and less than 20% for men in Nepal, Indonesia, and some countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Control rates were below 10% for women and men in these countries and for men in some countries in north Africa, central and south Asia, and eastern Europe. Treatment and control rates have improved in most countries since 1990, but we found little change in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania. Improvements were largest in high-income countries, central Europe, and some upper-middle-income and recently high-income countries including Costa Rica, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, and Iran. Interpretation Improvements in the detection, treatment, and control of hypertension have varied substantially across countries, with some middle-income countries now outperforming most high-income nations. The dual approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention and enhancing its treatment and control is achievable not only in high-income countries but also in low-income and middle-income settings. Funding WHO