Corrections to the generalized vector dominance due to diffractive rho_3 production

The idea of the vector dominance is still in use in various analyses of experimental data of photon-hadron reactions. It makes sense, therefore, to recast results of microscopic calculations of such reactions in this language. Here we present the diffractive DIS $\rho_3$ production as a specific correction to the generalized vector dominance. We perform a coupled channel analysis of spin-orbital excitations in diffractive photoproduction and reiterate the point that rho_3 in diffractive DIS will be sensitive to a novel aspect of diffraction.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

Polypharmacy and specific comorbidities in university primary care settings.

Polypharmacy is associated with adverse events and multimorbidity, but data are limited on its association with specific comorbidities in primary care settings. We measured the prevalence of polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing, and assessed the association of polypharmacy with specific comorbidities. We did a cross-sectional analysis of 1002 patients aged 50-80years followed in Swiss university primary care settings. We defined polypharmacy as ≥5 long-term prescribed drugs and multimorbidity as ≥2 comorbidities. We used logistic mixed-effects regression to assess the association of polypharmacy with the number of comorbidities, multimorbidity, specific sets of comorbidities, potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) and potential prescribing omission (PPO). We used multilevel mixed-effects Poisson regression to assess the association of the number of drugs with the same parameters. Patients (mean age 63.5years, 67.5% ≥2 comorbidities, 37.0% ≥5 drugs) had a mean of 3.9 (range 0-17) drugs. Age, BMI, multimorbidity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular diseases were independently associated with polypharmacy. The association was particularly strong for hypertension (OR 8.49, 95%CI 5.25-13.73), multimorbidity (OR 6.14, 95%CI 4.16-9.08), and oldest age (75-80years: OR 4.73, 95%CI 2.46-9.10 vs.50-54years). The prevalence of PPO was 32.2% and PIP was more frequent among participants with polypharmacy (9.3% vs. 3.2%, p<0.006). Polypharmacy is common in university primary care settings, is strongly associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases, and increases potentially inappropriate prescribing. Multimorbid patients should be included in further trials for developing adapted guidelines and avoiding inappropriate prescribing

Photoproduction of mesons in nuclei at GeV energies

In a transport model that combines initial state interactions of the photon with final state interactions of the produced particles we present a calculation of inclusive photoproduction of mesons in nuclei in the energy range from 1 to 7 GeV. We give predictions for the photoproduction cross sections of pions, etas, kaons, antikaons, and $\pi^+\pi^-$ invariant mass spectra in ^{12}C and ^{208}Pb. The effects of nuclear shadowing and final state interaction of the produced particles are discussed in detail.Comment: Text added in summary in general reliability of the method, references updated. Phys. Rev. C (2000) in pres

Hadron formation in high energy photonuclear reactions

We present a new method to account for coherence length effects in a semi-classical transport model. This allows us to describe photo- and electroproduction at large nuclei (A>12) and high energies using a realistic coupled channel description of the final state interactions that goes beyond simple Glauber theory. We show that the purely absorptive treatment of the final state interactions can lead to wrong estimates of color transparency and formation time effects in particle production. As an example, we discuss exclusive rho^0 photoproduction on Pb at a photon energy of 7 GeV as well as K^+ production in the photon energy range 1-7 GeV.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures, version published in Phys. Rev.

Patient and physician gender concordance in preventive care in university primary care settings.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of preventive care according to physician and patient gender in a country with universal health care coverage. METHODS: We assessed a retrospective cohort study of 1001 randomly selected patients aged 50-80years followed over 2years (2005-2006) in 4 Swiss university primary care settings (Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Zürich). We used indicators derived from RAND's Quality Assessment Tools and examined percentages of recommended preventive care. Results were adjusted using hierarchical multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: 1001 patients (44% women) were followed by 189 physicians (52% women). Female patients received less preventive care than male patients (65.2% vs. 72.1%, p<0.001). Female physicians provided significantly more preventive care than male physicians (p=0.01) to both female (66.7% vs. 63.6%) and male patients (73.4% vs. 70.7%). After multivariate adjustment, differences according to physician (p=0.02) and patient gender (p<0.001) remained statistically significant. Female physicians provided more recommended cancer screening than male physicians (78.4 vs. 71.9%, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In Swiss university primary care settings, female patients receive less preventive care than male patients, with female physicians providing more preventive care than male physicians. Greater attention should be paid to female patients in preventive care and to why female physicians tend to provide better preventive care

The Pomeron In Exclusive Vector Meson Production

An earlier developed model for vector meson photoproduction, based on a dipole Pomeron exchange, is extended to electroproduction. Universality of the non linear Pomeron trajectory is tested by fitting the model to ZEUS and H1 data as well as to CDF data on $\bar pp$ elastic scattering.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figure

Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction and the Risk of Cognitive Decline: a Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.

Although both overt hyper- and hypothyroidism are known to lead to cognitive impairment, data on the association between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and cognitive function are conflicting. This study sought to determine the risk of dementia and cognitive decline associated with subclinical thyroid dysfunction among prospective cohorts. We searched in MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception until November 2014. Two physicians identified prospective cohorts that assessed thyroid function and cognitive outcomes (dementia; Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]). Data were extracted by one reviewer following standardized protocols and verified by a second reviewer. The primary outcome was dementia and decline in cognitive function was the secondary outcome. Eleven prospective cohorts followed 16,805 participants during a median followup of 44.4 months. Five studies analyzed the risk of dementia in subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper) (n = 6410), six in subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) (n = 7401). Five studies analyzed MMSE decline in SHyper (n = 7895), seven in SHypo (n = 8960). In random-effects models, the pooled adjusted risk ratio for dementia in SHyper was 1.67 (95% confidence interval, 1.04; 2.69) and 1.14 (95% confidence interval, 0.84; 1.55) in SHypo vs euthyroidism, both without evidence of significant heterogeneity (I(2) = 0.0%). The pooled mean MMSE decline from baseline to followup (mean 32 mo) did not significantly differ between SHyper or SHypo vs euthyroidism. SHyper might be associated with an elevated risk for dementia, whereas SHypo is not, and both conditions are not associated with faster decline in MMSE over time. Available data are limited, and additional large, high-quality studies are needed

Nuclear shadowing at low Q^2

We re-examine the role of vector meson dominance in nuclear shadowing at low Q^2. We find that models which incorporate both vector meson and partonic mechanisms are consistent with both the magnitude and the Q^2 slope of the shadowing data.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures; to appear in Phys. Rev.

Systematics of Leading Particle Production

Using a QCD inspired model developed by our group for particle production, the Interacting Gluon Model (IGM), we have made a systematic analysis of all available data on leading particle spectra. These data include diffractive collisions and photoproduction at HERA. With a small number of parameters (essentially only the non-perturbative gluon-gluon cross section and the fraction of diffractive events) good agreement with data is found. We show that the difference between pion and proton leading spectra is due to their different gluon distributions. We predict a universality in the diffractive leading particle spectra in the large momentum region, which turns out to be independent of the incident energy and of the projectile type.Comment: 13 pages, Latex, 4 ps figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Thyroid antibody status, subclinical hypothyroidism, and the risk of coronary heart disease: an individual participant data analysis.

CONTEXT: Subclinical hypothyroidism has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), particularly with thyrotropin levels of 10.0 mIU/L or greater. The measurement of thyroid antibodies helps predict the progression to overt hypothyroidism, but it is unclear whether thyroid autoimmunity independently affects CHD risk. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare the CHD risk of subclinical hypothyroidism with and without thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs). DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: A MEDLINE and EMBASE search from 1950 to 2011 was conducted for prospective cohorts, reporting baseline thyroid function, antibodies, and CHD outcomes. DATA EXTRACTION: Individual data of 38 274 participants from six cohorts for CHD mortality followed up for 460 333 person-years and 33 394 participants from four cohorts for CHD events. DATA SYNTHESIS: Among 38 274 adults (median age 55 y, 63% women), 1691 (4.4%) had subclinical hypothyroidism, of whom 775 (45.8%) had positive TPOAbs. During follow-up, 1436 participants died of CHD and 3285 had CHD events. Compared with euthyroid individuals, age- and gender-adjusted risks of CHD mortality in subclinical hypothyroidism were similar among individuals with and without TPOAbs [hazard ratio (HR) 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.87-1.53 vs HR 1.26, CI 1.01-1.58, P for interaction = .62], as were risks of CHD events (HR 1.16, CI 0.87-1.56 vs HR 1.26, CI 1.02-1.56, P for interaction = .65). Risks of CHD mortality and events increased with higher thyrotropin, but within each stratum, risks did not differ by TPOAb status. CONCLUSIONS: CHD risk associated with subclinical hypothyroidism did not differ by TPOAb status, suggesting that biomarkers of thyroid autoimmunity do not add independent prognostic information for CHD outcomes