Sex differences in rheumatoid arthritis: more than meets the eye...

Sex differences in the prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are well described, but the literature is not as clear about sex differences in RA disease course and prognosis. A recent study from a very large cross-sectional international cohort demonstrated slightly worse levels of disease activity and function in female patients with RA, compared with men. These findings are discussed in the context of our evolving knowledge of sex differences in the expression of this prototypic autoimmune disease, both in terms of the actual disease activity level, the effects that the disease has on physical function, and our ability accurately to measure these aspects

Superhard NbB 2 −x thin films deposited by dc magnetron sputtering-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/)

We have deposited weakly textured substoichiometric NbB 2−x thin films by magnetron sputtering from an NbB 2 target. The films exhibit superhardness (42 ± 4 GPa), previously only observed in overstoichiometric TiB 2 thin films, and explained by a self-organized nanostructuring, where thin TiB 2 columnar grains hinder nucleation and slip of dislocations and a B-rich tissue phase between the grains prevent grain-boundary sliding. The wide homogeneity range for the NbB 2 phase allows a similar ultra-thin B-rich tissue phase to form between thin (5-10 nm) columnar NbB 2−x grains also for films with a B/Nb atomic ratio of 1.8, as revealed here by analytical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, a coefficient of friction of 0.16 is measured for an NbB 2−x film sliding against stainless steel with a wear rate of 5 × 10 −7 mm 3 /Nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results suggest that the low friction is due to the formation of a lubricating boric acid film

VEMP using a new low-frequency bone conduction transducer [Erratum]

Håkansson B, Fredén Jansson KJ, Tengstrand T, et al. Med Devices (Auckl). 2018;11:301–312.On page 307, Table 1, there is an error in the placement of the lines in the “Average” column. All measured values in Table 1 are correct, but the lines to the right, showing how the conclusive values “39 dB” and “32 dB” were calculated, were erroneously scaled in the final preparation, and point to wrong values in their lower end. The correct placement of the lines is shown in the corrected version in this erratum.Read the original article

VEMP using a new low-frequency bone conduction transducer

Bo Håkansson,1 Karl-Johan Fredén Jansson,1 Tomas Tengstrand,2 Leif Johannsen,3 Måns Eeg-Olofsson,4 Cristina Rigato,1 Elisabeth Dahlström,4 Sabine Reinfeldt1 1Department of Electrical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden; 2Department of Audiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden; 3Ortofon A/S, Nakskov, Denmark; 4Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden Objective: A new prototype bone conduction (BC) transducer B250, with an emphasized low-frequency response, is evaluated in vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) investigations. The aim was to compare cervical (cVEMP) and ocular (oVEMP) responses using tone bursts at 250 and 500 Hz with BC stimulation using the B250 and the conventional B81 transducer and by using air conduction (AC) stimulation.Methods: Three normal subjects were investigated in a pilot study. BC stimulation was applied to the mastoids in cVEMP, and both mastoid and forehead in oVEMP investigations.Results: BC stimulation was found to reach VEMP thresholds at considerably lower hearing levels than in AC stimulation (30–40 dB lower oVEMP threshold at 250 Hz). Three or more cVEMP and oVEMP responses at consecutive 5 dB increasing mastoid stimulation levels were only obtained in all subjects using the B250 transducer at 250 Hz. Similar BC thresholds were obtained for both ipsilateral and contralateral mastoid stimulation. Forehead stimulation, if needed, may require a more powerful vibration output.Conclusion: Viable VEMP responses can be obtained at a considerably lower hearing level with BC stimulation than by AC stimulation. The cVEMP and oVEMP responses were similar when measured on one side and with the B250 attached to both ipsilateral and contralateral mastoids. Keywords: vestibular investigation, air conduction, bone conduction, VEMP, cVEMP, oVEM