Qualitative study of the quality of sleep in marginalized individuals living with HIV.

Sleep disturbances have been reported to be higher in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals compared to the general population. Despite the consequences of poor quality of sleep (QOS), research regarding sleep disturbances in HIV infection is lacking and many questions regarding correlates of poor QOS, especially in marginalized populations, remain unanswered. We conducted one-on-one qualitative interviews with 14 marginalized HIV-infected individuals who reported poor QOS to examine self-reported correlates of sleep quality and explore the relationship between QOS and antiretroviral adherence. Findings suggest a complex and multidimensional impact of mental health issues, structural factors, and physical conditions on QOS of these individuals. Those reporting poor QOS as a barrier to antiretroviral adherence reported lower adherence due to falling asleep or feeling too tired to take medications in comparison to those who did not express this adherence barrier. These interviews underscore the importance of inquiries into a patient's QOS as an opportunity to discuss topics such as adherence, depression, suicidal ideation, and substance use

Urinary proteomics for prediction of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria

Background: The urinary proteomic classifier CKD273 has shown promise for prediction of progressive diabetic nephropathy (DN). Whether it is also a determinant of mortality and cardiovascular disease in patients with microalbuminuria (MA) is unknown. Methods: Urine samples were obtained from 155 patients with type 2 diabetes and confirmed microalbuminuria. Proteomic analysis was undertaken using capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry to determine the CKD273 classifier score. A previously defined CKD273 threshold of 0.343 for identification of DN was used to categorise the cohort in Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression models with all-cause mortality as the primary endpoint. Outcomes were traced through national health registers after 6 years. Results: CKD273 correlated with urine albumin excretion rate (UAER) (r = 0.481, p = <0.001), age (r = 0.238, p = 0.003), coronary artery calcium (CAC) score (r = 0.236, p = 0.003), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (r = 0.190, p = 0.018) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = 0.265, p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis only UAER (β = 0.402, p < 0.001) and eGFR (β = − 0.184, p = 0.039) were statistically significant determinants of CKD273. Twenty participants died during follow-up. CKD273 was a determinant of mortality (log rank [Mantel-Cox] p = 0.004), and retained significance (p = 0.048) after adjustment for age, sex, blood pressure, NT-proBNP and CAC score in a Cox regression model. Conclusion: A multidimensional biomarker can provide information on outcomes associated with its primary diagnostic purpose. Here we demonstrate that the urinary proteomic classifier CKD273 is associated with mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes and MA even when adjusted for other established cardiovascular and renal biomarkers

Urinary proteomics for prediction of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria

Background: The urinary proteomic classifier CKD273 has shown promise for prediction of progressive diabetic nephropathy (DN). Whether it is also a determinant of mortality and cardiovascular disease in patients with microalbuminuria (MA) is unknown. Methods: Urine samples were obtained from 155 patients with type 2 diabetes and confirmed microalbuminuria. Proteomic analysis was undertaken using capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry to determine the CKD273 classifier score. A previously defined CKD273 threshold of 0.343 for identification of DN was used to categorise the cohort in Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression models with all-cause mortality as the primary endpoint. Outcomes were traced through national health registers after 6 years. Results: CKD273 correlated with urine albumin excretion rate (UAER) (r = 0.481, p = <0.001), age (r = 0.238, p = 0.003), coronary artery calcium (CAC) score (r = 0.236, p = 0.003), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (r = 0.190, p = 0.018) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = 0.265, p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis only UAER (β = 0.402, p < 0.001) and eGFR (β = − 0.184, p = 0.039) were statistically significant determinants of CKD273. Twenty participants died during follow-up. CKD273 was a determinant of mortality (log rank [Mantel-Cox] p = 0.004), and retained significance (p = 0.048) after adjustment for age, sex, blood pressure, NT-proBNP and CAC score in a Cox regression model. Conclusion: A multidimensional biomarker can provide information on outcomes associated with its primary diagnostic purpose. Here we demonstrate that the urinary proteomic classifier CKD273 is associated with mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes and MA even when adjusted for other established cardiovascular and renal biomarkers

Picometer level displacement metrology with digitally enhanced heterodyne interferometry

Digitally enhanced heterodyne interferometry is a laser metrology technique employing pseudo-random codes phase modulated onto an optical carrier. We present the first characterization of the technique’s displacement sensitivity. The displacement of an optical cavity was measured using digitally enhanced heterodyne interferometry and compared to a simultaneous readout based on conventional Pound-Drever-Hall locking. The techniques agreed to within 5 pm/√Hz at 1 Hz, providing an upper bound to the displacement noise of digitally enhanced heterodyne interferometry. These measurements employed a real-time signal extraction system implemented on a field programmable gate array, suitable for closed-loop control applications. We discuss the applicability of digitally enhanced heterodyne interferometry for lock acquisition of advanced gravitational wave detectors

Incidence and risk factors for thoracic spine pain in the working population: the French pays de la loire study

OBJECTIVE: To examine the incidence and risk factors for incident thoracic spine pain (TSP) in workers representative of a French region\u27s working population. METHODS: In this prospective study, 3,710 workers were assessed in 2002-2005, and 2,332 (62.9%) of them were reassessed in 2007-2010. TSP was assessed by a self-administered Nordic questionnaire at baseline and at followup. At baseline, all participants completed a self-administered questionnaire on personal factors and work exposure. A total of 1,886 subjects (1,124 men and 762 women) without TSP at baseline were eligible for analysis. Associations between incident TSP and risk factors at baseline were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The incidence rate of TSP was 5.2 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 3.9-6.6) per 100 men and 10.0 (95% CI 7.8-12.1) per 100 women. TSP was often associated with low back pain and neck pain. TSP in men was associated with age (odds ratios [ORs] ranging from 2.6 [95% CI 0.95-7.1] at 30-39 years to 6.0 [95% CI 2.1-17.3] at ≥50 years), being tall (OR 2.2 [95% CI 1.2-3.9]), frequent/sustained trunk bending (OR 3.0 [95% CI 1.5-6.1]), lack of recovery period or change in the task (OR 2.0 [95% CI 1.2-3.6]), and driving vehicles (OR 2.8 [95% CI 1.4-5.5]). Being overweight or obese was associated with lower risk (OR 0.5 [95% CI 0.3-0.96]). TSP in women was associated with high perceived physical workload (OR 1.9 [95% CI 1.1-3.3]), after adjustment for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: The risk model of TSP combined personal and work-related organizational and physical factors. Trunk bending appeared to be a strong independent predictor of TSP in this working population

Is there a role for proteomics in diabetic renal disease?

No abstract available

A Constraint Condition for Foraging Strategy in Subterranean Termites

Previous studies have explored the relationship between termite branch tunnel geometry and foraging efficiency in a model simulation in which foraging efficiency, γ, for two termite species, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), was investigated in response to two variables, the probability of tunnel branching (Pbranch) and the probability of tunnel branch termination (Pterm). It was found that simulated tunnel patterns based on empirical data did not have maximum foraging efficiency. We hypothesized that termites could increase their foraging efficiency in response to landscape heterogeneity. The present study investigated how termites could control the two variables, Pbranch and Pterm, in response to the external environment in terms of tunnel network connectivity. It was found that the best simulated strategy for C. formosanus and R. flavipes termites would occur if both Pbranch and Pterm were increased together. This study provides possible mechanisms for foraging strategies in subterranean termites and a baseline for future empirical work

Resistin mediates sex-dependent effects of perivascular adipose tissue on vascular function in the SHRSP

Premenopausal women are relatively protected from developing hypertension compared to men. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) has been shown to mediate vasoactive effects; however, a sex-dependent difference in PVAT function in the setting of hypertension has not yet been explored. We investigated the effect of PVAT on resistance vessel biology in male and female 16 week old stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). This preclinical model of hypertension exhibits a sex-dependent difference in the development of hypertension similar to humans. Wire myography was used to assess vascular function in third-order mesenteric arteries. KATP channel-mediated vasorelaxation by cromakalim was significantly impaired in vessels from SHRSP males + PVAT relative to females (maximum relaxation: male + PVAT 46.9 ± 3.9% vs. female + PVAT 97.3 ± 2.7%). A cross-over study assessing the function of male PVAT on female vessels confirmed the reduced vasorelaxation response to cromakalim associated with male PVAT (maximum relaxation: female + PVATfemale 90.6 ± 1.4% vs. female + PVATmale 65.8 ± 3.5%). In order to explore the sex-dependent differences in PVAT at a molecular level, an adipokine array and subsequent western blot validation identified resistin expression to be increased approximately 2-fold in PVAT from male SHRSP vessels. Further wire myography experiments showed that pre-incubation with resistin (40 ng/ml) significantly impaired the ability of female + PVAT vessels to relax in response to cromakalim (maximum relaxation: female + PVAT 97.3 ± 0.9% vs. female + PVAT + resistin[40ng/ml] 36.8 ± 2.3%). These findings indicate a novel role for resistin in mediating sex-dependent vascular function in hypertension through a KATP channel-mediated mechanism