Intravenous 1,25(OH)2 Vitamin D3 Therapy in Haemodialysis Patients: Evaluation of Direct and Calcium-Mediated Short-Term Effects on Serum Parathyroid Hormone Concentration

Eleven patients on chronic haemodialysis treatment thrice weekly received 1 μg 1,25(OH)2D3 i.v. after each dialysis for 3 weeks. Phosphate binders were mainly CaCO3, supplemented in a few patients by moderate amounts of A1(OH)3. Ionised calcium was measured by ion-selective electrode, normal values being 1.28-1.42mmol/l. PTH was estimated by an N-terminalsensitive assay; normal values are <0.25μg/ml. Results before and after 1,25(OH)2D3 were: ionised calcium before haemodialysis, 1.19±0.12and 1.17±0.14; ionised calcium after haemodialysis, 1.33±0.07 and 1.30±0.09; PTH before haemodialysis, 1.39±0.71 and 1.38±0.69; PTH after haemodialysis, 0.64±0.22 and 0.60 ±0.17; Phosphate before haemodialysis, 1.85±0.48 and 2.18±0.43 (P<0.05). No change of PTH concentration and ionised calcium before and after haemodialysis treatment could be documented after i.v. 1,25(OH)2D3 treatment. Mild and severe hyperparathyroidism were indistinguishable. Increased serum calcium concentrations therefore appear to be required for the suppression of PTH secretion by i.v. 1,25(OH)2D3 therap

An interlaboratory study of the reproducibility of on-wafer S-parameter measurements from 140 GHz to 220 GHz

The development, modelling and characterization of millimeter-wave semiconductor devices calls for accurate and reproducible on-wafer measurements. We report on an interlaboratory study involving on-wafer S-parameter measurements in the 140 GHz to 220 GHz band, conducted by three well-established measurement laboratories. The measurements can be used to form typical reproducibility limits for these measurements when conducted in different laboratories using different equipment and calibration methods

Predictors of state-of-the-art management of early breast cancer in Switzerland

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of state-of-the-art management of early breast cancer in Switzerland. Patients and methods: The study included 3499 women aged 25-79 years diagnosed with invasive breast cancer stages I-IIIA in 2003-2005. Patients were identified through population-based cancer registries and treated in all kinds of settings. Concordance with national and international recommendations was assessed for 10 items covering surgery, radiotherapy, systemic adjuvant therapy and histopathology reporting. We used multivariate logistic regression to identify independent predictors of high (10 points) and low (≤7 points) concordance. Results: In one-third of the patients, management met guidelines in all items, whereas in about one-fifth, three or more items did not comply. Treatment by a surgeon with caseload in the upper tercile and team involved in clinical research were independent predictors of a high score, whereas treatment by a surgeon with a caseload in the lower tercile was associated with a low score. Socioeconomic characteristics such as income and education were not independent predictors, but patient's place of residence and age independently predicted management according to recommendations. Conclusion: Specialization and involvement in clinical research seem to be key elements for enhancing the quality of early breast cancer management at population leve

Depression and cardiovascular disease are not linked by high blood pressure: findings from the SAPALDIA cohort

Depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are main contributors to the global disease burden and are linked. Pathophysiological pathways through increased blood pressure (BP) are a common focus in studies aiming to explain the relationship. However, studies to date have not differentiated between the predictive effect of depression on the course of BP versus hypertension diagnosis. Hence, we aimed to elucidate this relationship by incorporating these novel aspects in the context of a cohort study. We included initially normotensive participants (n = 3214) from the second (2001-2003), third (2009-2011), and fourth (2016-2018) waves of the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA). We defined depression based on physician diagnosis, depression treatment and/or SF-36 Mental Health score < 50. The prospective association between depression and BP change was quantified using multivariable censored regression models, and logistic regression for the association between depression and incident hypertension diagnosis. All models used clustered robust standard errors to account for repeat measurements. The age-related increase in systolic BP was slightly lower among people with depression at baseline (beta = - 2.08 mmHg/10 years, 95% CI - 4.09 to - 0.07) compared to non-depressed. A similar trend was observed with diastolic BP (beta = - 0.88 mmHg/10 years, 95% CI - 2.15 to 0.39), albeit weaker and not statistically significant. Depression predicted the incidence of hypertension diagnosis (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.33 to 2.60). Our findings do not support the hypothesis that depression leads to CVD by increasing BP. Future research on the role of depression in the pathway to hypertension and CVD is warranted in larger cohorts, taking into account healthcare utilization as well as medication for depression and hypertension