Association between different degrees of hypothyroidism and serum lipids

The association between overt hypothyroidism (OH) and altered lipid profile is well known, however the significance of dyslipidemia in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) remain controversial. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine any association between lipid profile and different degrees of thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid and lipid profile parameters were analysed in 58 patients with overt (TSH ≥ 10.0 μIU/L and/or abnormally low fT4 and fT3 levels) and 87 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH 6.0-9.9 μIU/L with normal fT4 and fT3 levels) in this case-control study. These were compared with 100 age- and sex-matched euthyroid controls. It was found that only mean serum level of total cholesterol in patients with SCH was significantly high from that in controls (p=0.045). Other lipid parameters did not show any statistical significance. Whereas patients with OH had statistically significant higher levels of total cholesterol (p<0.001), triglyceride (p<0.05), LDL-C (p<0.001) and VLDL-C (p<0.05). There was also an increase in HDL-C in both SCH and OH group though not significant statistically. In conclusion, lipid profile is not much deranged in SCH whereas OH is a major cause of secondary dyslipidemia which may lead to increased risk of coronary artery disease. Therefore, thyroid hormone replacement would be most beneficial in patients with OH instead of SCH. However, patients with SCH should be monitored for deterioration of thyroid function and dyslipidemia at regular intervals.Keywords: Cholesterol; Dyslipidemia; HDL cholesterol; Hypothyroidism; SubclinicalInternet Journal of Medical Update 2012 July;7(2):3-

Influence of thyroid hormones on biochemical parameters of liver function: a case-control study in North Indian population

Normal level of thyroid hormones is important for normal hepatic function and thyroid dysfunction may modulate metabolic function of liver. The purpose of this study is to determine whether liver function is associated with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism. Thyroid and liver function tests were evaluated in 47 patients with overt (TSH ≥10.0 mIU/L) and 77 patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (TSH 6.0-9.9mIU/L) and compared with 120 age-matched euthyroid controls. Subjects with overt hypothyroidism had significantly raised serum ALT, AST, ALP and total protein levels as compared to controls whereas subclinical hypothyroid patients had significantly increased levels of serum ALT, ALP and total protein. Further, TSH showed significant positive correlation with AST and ALP values whereas fT3 and fT4 had a negative correlation with AST in overt hypothyroidism. Thus, overt hypothyroid state is associated with significant derangement in biochemical parameters of liver function. Hence, liver function should be regularly monitored in hypothyroid patients

Phase-plane analysis of driven multi-lane exclusion models

We show how a fixed point based boundary-layer analysis technique can be used to obtain the steady-state particle density profiles of driven exclusion processes on two-lane systems with open boundaries. We have considered two distinct two-lane systems. In the first, particles hop on the lanes in one direction obeying exclusion principle and there is no exchange of particles between the lanes. The hopping on one lane is affected by the particle occupancies on the other, which thereby introduces an indirect interaction among the lanes. Through a phase plane analysis of the boundary layer equation, we show why the bulk density undergoes a sharp change as the interaction between the lanes is increased. The second system involves one lane with driven exclusion process and the other with biased diffusion of particles. In contrast to the previous model, here there is a direct interaction between the lanes due to particle exchange between them. In this model, we have looked at two possible scenarios with constant (flat) and non-constant bulk profiles. The fixed point based boundary layer method provides a new perspective on several aspects including those related to maximal/minimal current phases, possibilities of shocks under very restricted boundary conditions for the flat profile but over a wide range of boundary conditions for the non-constant profile.Comment: 13 pages, 17 figure

An integrated structural intervention to reduce vulnerability to HIV and sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Karnataka state, south India

BACKGROUND: Structural factors are known to affect individual risk and vulnerability to HIV. In the context of an HIV prevention programme for over 60,000 female sex workers (FSWs) in south India, we developed structural interventions involving policy makers, secondary stakeholders (police, government officials, lawyers, media) and primary stakeholders (FSWs themselves). The purpose of the interventions was to address context-specific factors (social inequity, violence and harassment, and stigma and discrimination) contributing to HIV vulnerability. We advocated with government authorities for HIV/AIDS as an economic, social and developmental issue, and solicited political leadership to embed HIV/AIDS issues throughout governmental programmes. We mobilised FSWs and appraised them of their legal rights, and worked with FSWs and people with HIV/AIDS to implement sensitization and awareness training for more than 175 government officials, 13,500 police and 950 journalists. METHODS: Standardised, routine programme monitoring indicators on service provision, service uptake, and community activities were collected monthly from 18 districts in Karnataka between 2007 and 2009. Daily tracking of news articles concerning HIV/AIDS and FSWs was undertaken manually in selected districts between 2005 and 2008. RESULTS: The HIV prevention programme is now operating at scale, with over 60,000 FSWs regularly contacted by peer educators, and over 17,000 FSWs accessing project services for sexually transmitted infections monthly. FSW membership in community-based organisations has increased from 8,000 to 37,000, and over 46,000 FSWs have now been referred for government-sponsored social entitlements. FSWs were supported to redress > 90% of the 4,600 reported incidents of violence and harassment reported between 2007-2009, and monitoring of news stories has shown a 50% increase in the number of positive media reports on HIV/AIDS and FSWs. CONCLUSIONS: Stigma, discrimination, violence, harassment and social equity issues are critical concerns of FSWs. This report demonstrates that it is possible to address these broader structural factors as part of large-scale HIV prevention programming. Although assessing the impact of the various components of a structural intervention on reducing HIV vulnerability is difficult, addressing the broader structural factors contributing to FSW vulnerability is critical to enable these vulnerable women to become sufficiently empowered to adopt the safer sexual behaviours which are required to respond effectively to the HIV epidemic

Violence against female sex workers in Karnataka state, south India: impact on health, and reductions in violence following an intervention program

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Violence against female sex workers (FSWs) can impede HIV prevention efforts and contravenes their human rights. We developed a multi-layered violence intervention targeting policy makers, secondary stakeholders (police, lawyers, media), and primary stakeholders (FSWs), as part of wider HIV prevention programming involving >60,000 FSWs in Karnataka state. This study examined if violence against FSWs is associated with reduced condom use and increased STI/HIV risk, and if addressing violence against FSWs within a large-scale HIV prevention program can reduce levels of violence against them.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>FSWs were randomly selected to participate in polling booth surveys (PBS 2006-2008; short behavioural questionnaires administered anonymously) and integrated behavioural-biological assessments (IBBAs 2005-2009; administered face-to-face).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>3,852 FSWs participated in the IBBAs and 7,638 FSWs participated in the PBS. Overall, 11.0% of FSWs in the IBBAs and 26.4% of FSWs in the PBS reported being beaten or raped in the past year. FSWs who reported violence in the past year were significantly less likely to report condom use with clients (zero unprotected sex acts in previous month, 55.4% vs. 75.5%, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.3 to 0.5, p < 0.001); to have accessed the HIV intervention program (ever contacted by peer educator, 84.9% vs. 89.6%, AOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4 to 1.0, p = 0.04); or to have ever visited the project sexual health clinic (59.0% vs. 68.1%, AOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6 to 1.0, p = 0.02); and were significantly more likely to be infected with gonorrhea (5.0% vs. 2.6%, AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.3, p = 0.02). By the follow-up surveys, significant reductions were seen in the proportions of FSWs reporting violence compared with baseline (IBBA 13.0% vs. 9.0%, AOR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9 p = 0.01; PBS 27.3% vs. 18.9%, crude OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4 to 0.5, p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This program demonstrates that a structural approach to addressing violence can be effectively delivered at scale. Addressing violence against FSWs is important for the success of HIV prevention programs, and for protecting their basic human rights.</p

Pullulan-based nanoparticles as carriers for transmucosal protein delivery

Polymeric nanoparticles have revealed very effective in transmucosal delivery of proteins. Polysaccharides are among the most used materials for the production of these carriers, owing to their structural flexibility and propensity to evidence biocompatibility and biodegradability. In parallel, there is a preference for the use of mild methods for their production, in order to prevent protein degradation, ensure lower costs and easier procedures that enable scaling up. In this work we propose the production of pullulan-based nanoparticles by a mild method of polyelectrolyte complexation. As pullulan is a neutral polysaccharide, sulfated and aminated derivatives of the polymer were synthesized to provide pullulan with a charge. These derivatives were then complexed with chitosan and carrageenan, respectively, to produce the nanocarriers. Positively charged nanoparticles of 180-270 nm were obtained, evidencing ability to associate bovine serum albumin, which was selected as model protein. In PBS pH 7.4, pullulan-based nanoparticles were found to have a burst release of 30% of the protein, which maintained up to 24h. Nanoparticle size and zeta potential were preserved upon freeze-drying in the presence of appropriate cryoprotectants. A factorial design was approached to assess the cytotoxicity of raw materials and nanoparticles by the metabolic test MTT. Nanoparticles demonstrated to not cause overt toxicity in a respiratory cell model (Calu-3). Pullulan has, thus, demonstrated to hold potential for the production of nanoparticles with an application in protein delivery

Community mobilization, empowerment and HIV prevention among female sex workers in south India

While community mobilization has been widely endorsed as an important component of HIV prevention among vulnerable populations such as female sex workers (FSWs), there is uncertainty as to the mechanism through which it impacts upon HIV risk. We explored the hypothesis that individual and collective empowerment of FSW is an outcome of community mobilization, and we examined the means through which HIV risk and vulnerability reduction as well as personal and social transformation are achieved

Nature-Inspired Cloud–Crowd Computing for Intelligent Transportation System

Nowadays, it is crucial to have effective road traffic signal timing, especially in an ideal traffic light cycle. This problem can be resolved with modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud and crowd computing. We hereby present a functional model named Cloud–Crowd Computing-based Intelligent Transportation System (CCCITS). This model aims to organize traffic by changing the phase of traffic lights in real-time based on road conditions and incidental crowdsourcing sentiment. Crowd computing is responsible for fine-tuning the system with feedback. In contrast, the cloud is responsible for the computation, which can use AI to secure efficient and effective paths for users. As a result of its installation, traffic management becomes more efficient, and traffic lights change dynamically depending on the traffic volume at the junction. The cloud medium collects updates about mishaps through the crowd computing system and incorporates updates to refine the model. It is observed that nature-inspired algorithms are very useful in solving complex transportation problems and can deal with NP-hard situations efficiently. To establish the feasibility of CCCITS, the SUMO simulation environment was used with nature-inspired algorithms (NIA), namely, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Ant Colony Optimization and Genetic Algorithm (GA), and found satisfactory results

Impact of Parameter Tuning for Optimizing Deep Neural Network Models for Predicting Software Faults

Deep neural network models built by the appropriate design decisions are crucial to obtain the desired classifier performance. This is especially desired when predicting fault proneness of software modules. When correctly identified, this could help in reducing the testing cost by directing the efforts more towards the modules identified to be fault prone. To be able to build an efficient deep neural network model, it is important that the parameters such as number of hidden layers, number of nodes in each layer, and training details such as learning rate and regularization methods be investigated in detail. The objective of this paper is to show the importance of hyperparameter tuning in developing efficient deep neural network models for predicting fault proneness of software modules and to compare the results with other machine learning algorithms. It is shown that the proposed model outperforms the other algorithms in most cases