Parabolic isometries of CAT(0) spaces and CAT(0) dimensions

We study discrete groups from the view point of a dimension gap in connection to CAT(0) geometry. Developing studies by Brady-Crisp and Bridson, we show that there exist finitely presented groups of geometric dimension 2 which do not act properly on any proper CAT(0) spaces of dimension 2 by isometries, although such actions exist on CAT(0) spaces of dimension 3. Another example is the fundamental group, G, of a complete, non-compact, complex hyperbolic manifold M with finite volume, of complex-dimension n > 1. The group G is acting on the universal cover of M, which is isometric to H^n_C. It is a CAT(-1) space of dimension 2n. The geometric dimension of G is 2n-1. We show that G does not act on any proper CAT(0) space of dimension 2n-1 properly by isometries. We also discuss the fundamental groups of a torus bundle over a circle, and solvable Baumslag-Solitar groups.Comment: Published by Algebraic and Geometric Topology at http://www.maths.warwick.ac.uk/agt/AGTVol4/agt-4-38.abs.htm

Longitudinal change in hip fracture incidence after starting risedronate or raloxifene: an observational study

This study examined patients' risk profiles and adherence to treatment in relation to the effect of risedronate and raloxifene on hip fracture incidence. Administrative billing data were used to follow two cohorts of women aged 65 and older after starting therapy with either risedronate (n=86,735) or raloxifene (n=37,726). The fracture risk profile was described using a 6-month history period before starting therapy. Effectiveness of each therapy was evaluated by comparing the incidence of hip fractures during the first 3months with the subsequent 12months among women adherent (medication possession ratio >80%) compared with those non-adherent to treatment. At the start of therapy, the raloxifene cohort was younger than the risedronate cohort (median age 73 vs. 76years) and had fewer prior fractures (p<0.01 for both). In the first 3months of therapy, hip fracture incidence was lower in the raloxifene group (0.51 per 100 person-years) compared with the risedronate group (0.94 per 100 person-years). In the subsequent 12months, the incidence of hip fractures decreased among patients adherent to the risedronate regimen [relative risk (RR) 0.70, 95% CI 0.59-0.84, p<0.01] and did not change significantly among patients adherent to the raloxifene regimen (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.73-1.44). In poorly adherent patients, neither drug decreased hip fracture risk. Risedronate treatment in adherent patients rapidly decreased the risk of hip fractures, whereas raloxifene treatment did no

Treatment for Osteoporosis among Women in Japan: Associations with Patient Characteristics and Patient-Reported Outcomes in the 2008–2011 Japan National Health and Wellness Surveys

This study was conducted to identify characteristics associated with treatment for osteoporosis among women aged 50 years and older in Japan and to explore differences among patients according to treatment regimen. Data were provided by a large annual survey representative of Japanese aged 18 and older; all measures were by self-report. Women aged 50 and older who reported diagnosed osteoporosis (N=900) were compared based on current treatment status using bivariate statistics and logistic regression. Approximately 1 in 3 women in this study reporting diagnosed osteoporosis were currently untreated. Factors associated with current treatment for osteoporosis included having ≥1 physician visit in the prior 6 months (OR = 5.4, P<0.001), self-rated moderate or severe osteoporosis (OR = 2.8, P<0.001), completion of menopause (OR = 1.6, P<0.05), and family history of osteoporosis (OR = 1.5, P<0.05), while longer duration of osteoporosis diagnosis (OR = 0.9, P<0.05) and arthritis (OR = 0.7, P<0.05) were associated with lower odds of treatment. These findings suggest that diagnosed patients are not being actively managed in the longer term, and efforts need to be made to ensure that patients stay engaged with their healthcare providers

Comparison of Various Serum Protein Values in the Japanese and the Japanese-Americans Resident in the United States

Measurements were made of various types of proteins, that is α1-antitrypsin, α1-acid glycoprotein, α2-HS glycoprotein, haptoglobin, α2-macroglobulin, transferrin, C3, IgG, IgA and lgM, in the serum of the Japanese-Americans living in Hawaii and the Japanese-Americans living in Los Angeles who are assumed to be genetically almost identical to the Japanese in Hiroshima Prefecture but are known to have a higher intake of animal fats but a lower intake of complex carbohydrates. These were compared with those of the Japanese in Hiroshima Prefecture. α2-macroglobulin values in serum of the male Japanese-Americans living in Hawaii of ages 30-39 years, 40-49 years, and 50-59 years were significantly lower than those of the residents in Hiroshima Prefecture, but no significant difference in these values could be observed between the Japanese-Americans living in Los Angeles and the Japanese in Hiroshima Prefecture. No significant difference could be observed in the values of other serum proteins in all age groups. These findings indicate that the difference in intake volume of animal fats and complex carbohydrates did not affect these serum protein values

Cellular Immunity of Patients with Lung Cancer and Other Lung Diseases II. Analysis of interleukin-2 production

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients with lung cancer and noncancerous respiratory diseases was determined. The results are as follows: 1) Neither sex nor age difference was observed for IL-2 production among healthy people. 2) IL-2 production showed a positive correlation with the Leu-3a/Leu-2a ratio and a negative correlation with the percentage of HLA-DR+ cells. 3) IL-2 production of patients with lung cancer and noncancerous respiratory diseases did not differ from that of healthy persons. 4) No difference in IL-2 production was found in relation to the clinical stage of lung cancer, but subjects with low IL-2 production were mostly observed in the advanced stage group (Stage IV)

Reactivity of the Serum from A-Bomb Survivors with the Tissues of Stomach, Liver and Kidney of Normal Rats

In order to evaluate delayed effects of radiation on pathological immune response an attempt was made to detect antibodies in the serum of atomic bomb survivors against kidney, liver, and parietal cells from rats. The following results were observed. Analysis of changes in antibody detection frequencies by age and exposure dose without considering sex showed that the rates for those exposed to 100 + rad showed a trend to increase with age for all three organs (P<0.01). However, in the 0 rad group, a significant trend to increase with age was noted for anti-kidney and antiliver antibodies only (P<0.01 for both). Analysis of changes in antibody detection frequencies by sex, age, and exposure dose showed that the detection frequencies increased significantly with age for all three organs in males exposed to 100 + rad (P < 0.05), but only the anti-liver antibody frequency increased significantly with age in males in the O rad exposure group. Females failed to shown any statistical changes in any exposure group

Biomarkers of Radiosensitivity in A-Bomb Survivors Pregnant at the Time of Bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Purpose. There is evidence in the literature of increased maternal radiosensitivity during pregnancy. Materials and Methods. We tested this hypothesis using information from the atomic-bomb survivor cohort, that is, the Adult Health Study database at the Radiation Effects Research Foundation, which contains data from a cohort of women who were pregnant at the time of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Previous evaluation has demonstrated long-term radiation dose-response effects. Results/Conclusions. Data on approximately 250 women were available to assess dose-response rates for serum cholesterol, white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and serum hemoglobin, and on approximately 85 women for stable chromosome aberrations, glycophorin A locus mutations, and naïve CD4 T-cell counts. Although there is no statistically significant evidence of increased radiosensitivity in pregnant women, the increased slope of the linear trend line in the third trimester with respect to stable chromosome aberrations is suggestive of an increased radiosensitivity

Patients’ preferences for fracture risk communication : the Risk Communication in Osteoporosis (RICO) study

Summary The RICO study indicated that most patients would like to receive information regarding their fracture risk but that only a small majority have actually received it. Patients globally preferred a visual presentation of fracture risk and were interested in an online tool showing the risk. Purpose The aim of the Risk Communication in Osteoporosis (RICO) study was to assess patients’ preferences regarding fracture risk communication. Methods To assess patients’ preferences for fracture risk communication, structured interviews with women with osteoporosis or who were at risk for fracture were conducted in 11 sites around the world, namely in Argentina, Belgium, Canada at Hamilton and with participants from the Osteoporosis Canada Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network (COPN), Japan, Mexico, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA in California and Washington state. The interviews used to collect data were designed on the basis of a systematic review and a qualitative pilot study involving 26 participants at risk of fracture. Results A total of 332 women (mean age 67.5 ± 8.0 years, 48% with a history of fracture) were included in the study. Although the participants considered it important to receive information about their fracture risk (mean importance of 6.2 ± 1.4 on a 7-point Likert scale), only 56% (i.e. 185/332) had already received such information. Globally, participants preferred a visual presentation with a traffic-light type of coloured graph of their FRAX® fracture risk probability, compared to a verbal or written presentation. Almost all participants considered it important to discuss their fracture risk and the consequences of fractures with their healthcare professionals in addition to receiving information in a printed format or access to an online website showing their fracture risk. Conclusions There is a significant communication gap between healthcare professionals and patients when discussing osteoporosis fracture risk. The RICO study provides insight into preferred approaches to rectify this communication gap

Lymphocyte subset characterization associated with persistent hepatitis C virus infection and subsequent progression of liver fibrosis

This study aims to deepen understanding of lymphocyte phenotypes related to the course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and progression of liver fibrosis, in a cohort of atomic-bomb survivors. The study subjects comprise three groups: 162 HCV persistently infected, 145 spontaneously cleared, and 3511 uninfected individuals. We found increased percentages of peripheral blood TH1 and total CD8 T cells and decreased percentages of NK cells in the HCV persistence group, compared with the other two groups, after adjustment for age, gender, and radiation exposure dose. Subsequently, we found that increased TH1 cell percentages in the HCV persistence group were significantly associated with an accelerated time-course reduction in platelet counts―accelerated progression of liver fibrosis―while TC1 and NK cell percentages were inversely associated with the progression. This study suggests that TH1 immunity is enhanced by persistent HCV infection, and that percentages of peripheral TH1, TC1, and NK cells may help predict progression of liver fibrosis.This research was based on RERF Research Protocols 3-09, 4-02, 2-00, 9-92, and was supported in part by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID Contract HHSN272200900059C)