Effects of Renal Denervation on Insulin Sensitivity and Inflammatory Markers in Nondiabetic Patients with Treatment-Resistant Hypertension

Increased sympathetic activity is important in the pathogenesis of hypertension and insulin resistance. Afferent signaling from the kidneys elevates the central sympathetic drive. We investigated the effect of catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) on glucose metabolism, inflammatory markers, and blood pressure in nondiabetic patients with treatment-resistant hypertension. Eight subjects were included in an open-labelled study. Each patient was studied before and 6 months after RDN. Endogenous glucose production was assessed by a 3-3H glucose tracer, insulin sensitivity was examined by hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp, hormones and inflammatory markers were analyzed, and blood pressure was measured by office blood pressure readings and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Insulin sensitivity (M-value) increased nonsignificantly from 2.68 ± 0.28 to 3.07 ± 0.41 (p=0.12). A significant inverse correlation between the increase in M-value and BMI 6 months after RDN (p=0.03) was found, suggesting beneficial effects on leaner subjects. Blood pressure decreased significantly, but there were no changes in hormones, inflammatory markers, or endogenous glucose production. Our results indicate that RDN may improve insulin sensitivity in some patients with treatment-resistant hypertension, albeit confirmation of these indications of beneficial effects on leaner subjects awaits the outcome of larger randomized controlled studies

Symmetry of the remanent state flux distribution in superconducting thin strips: Probing the critical state

The critical-state in a thin strip of YBaCuO is studied by magneto-optical imaging. The distribution of magnetic flux density is shown to have a specific symmetry in the remanent state after a large applied field. The symmetry was predicted [PRL 82, 2947 (1999)] for any Jc(B), and is therefore suggested as a simple tool to verify the applicability of the critical-state model. At large temperatures we find deviations from this symmetry, which demonstrates departure from the critical-state behavior. The observed deviations can be attributed to an explicit coordinate dependence of $j_c$ since both a surface barrier, and flux creep would break the symmetry in a different way.Comment: 5 pages including 5 eps figures, submitted to PR

Central peak position in magnetization loops of high-TcT_c superconductors

Exact analytical results are obtained for the magnetization of a superconducting thin strip with a general behavior J_c(B) of the critical current density. We show that within the critical-state model the magnetization as function of applied field, B_a, has an extremum located exactly at B_a=0. This result is in excellent agreement with presented experimental data for a YBCO thin film. After introducing granularity by patterning the film, the central peak becomes shifted to positive fields on the descending field branch of the loop. Our results show that a positive peak position is a definite signature of granularity in superconductors.Comment: $ pages, 6 figure

Dead Bryde's whale washed ashore at Veraval, Gujarat

Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni Anderson, 1879) measuring 10.4 m in length and weighing about 7 tons was found washed ashore on the beach of Veraval on 4th august 2017. Locally called as “Machchh” it was found in dead condition with small injuries in the caudal peduncle and genital region. With the intervention and supervision of forest officials, it was towed ashore and a veterinary officer conducted post-mortem after which it was buried on the shore. Occurrenc

Food and feeding habits of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791) off Gujarat, north-west coast of India

The food and feeding habits of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791) were studied along the Veraval coast, Gujarat landed by trawl fisheries. Total of 179 samples were analyzed to study the food and feeding habits from August, 2017 to March, 2018. The gut content comprised of fishes, crustacean and molluscan indicating demersal carnivorous nature of feeding. During the study, 15 genera of various groups of animals and digested material were recorded from the fishes of 79-450 mm total length. Crustaceans were among the most preferred food items of N. japonicus, contributing to 51.71 % of IRI. The proportions of empty and full stomachs were 37 and 28 %, respectively. Acetes spp. was the dominant diet in feed with 26 % of total feed followed by digested material (21.55 %), P. sanguinolentus (12.06 %), and Solenocera sp. (11.35 %), respectively

Food and feeding habits of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791) off Gujarat, north-west coast of India

The food and feeding habits of Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch, 1791) were studied along the Veraval coast, Gujarat landed by trawl fisheries. Total of 179 samples were analyzed to study the food and feeding habits from August, 2017 to March, 2018. The gut content comprised of fishes, crustacean and molluscan indicating demersal carnivorous nature of feeding. During the study, 15 genera of various groups of animals and digested material were recorded from the fishes of 79-450 mm total length. Crustaceans were among the most preferred food items of N. japonicus, contributing to 51.71 % of IRI. The proportions of empty and full stomachs were 37 and 28 %, respectively. Acetes spp. was the dominant diet in feed with 26 % of total feed followed by digested material (21.55 %), P. sanguinolentus (12.06 %), and Solenocera sp. (11.35 %), respectively

The therapeutic effect of clinical trials: understanding placebo response rates in clinical trials – A secondary analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Placebo response rates in clinical trials vary considerably and are observed frequently. For new drugs it can be difficult to prove effectiveness superior to placebo. It is unclear what contributes to improvement in the placebo groups. We wanted to clarify, what elements of clinical trials determine placebo variability. METHODS: We analysed a representative sample of 141 published long-term trials (randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled; duration > 12 weeks) to find out what study characteristics predict placebo response rates in various diseases. Correlational and regression analyses with study characteristics and placebo response rates were carried out. RESULTS: We found a high and significant correlation between placebo and treatment response rate across diseases (r = .78; p < .001). A multiple regression model explained 79% of the variance in placebo variability (F = 59.7; p < 0.0001). Significant predictors are, among others, the duration of the study (beta = .31), the quality of the study (beta = .18), the fact whether a study is a prevention trial (beta = .44), whether dropouts have been documented (beta = -.20), or whether additional treatments have been documented (beta = -.17). Healing rates with placebo are lower in the following diagnoses; neoplasms (beta = -.21), nervous diseases (beta = -.10), substance abuse (beta = -.14). Without prevention trials the amount of variance explained is 42%. CONCLUSION: Medication response rates and placebo response rates in clinical trials are highly correlated. Trial characteristics can explain some portion of the variance in placebo healing rates in RCTs. Placebo response in trials is only partially due to methodological artefacts and only partially dependent on the diagnoses treated

Morphometry and meristic counts of Bombay duck, Harpodon nehereus (Hamilton, 1822) along Sunderban region of West Bengal, India

Fisheries sector have been gaining importance globally due to their role in national economy, foreign exchange earnings and employment generation besides providing nutritious food and cheap protein not only to the fisher folk but also to the rapidly growing population. Bombay duck fishery supported by single species, Harpodon nehereus, contributes about 4-5 % of the estimated average annual marine landings of India. With a peculiar discontinuous distribution fishery is utmost importance in two maritime states of India i.e. Gujarat and Maharashtra contributing 92% of the total landings and the remaining 8% landings were from West Bengal and Orissa coasts. H. nehereus forms a commercial fishery along Hooghly estuarine systems. The present study aims on the morphometric and meristic counts of H. nehereus. During the period of investigation, 373 fish samples with length range (145 to 302 mm) and weight range (28 to 212 gm) were examined. Highest significant correlation (P<0.01) was observed between reference length and other morphometric parameters of both sexes. Percentage range difference in male's morphometric characters like post orbital length (15.24) and snout length (15.04) are environmentally controlled and others like standard length (11.09), pre-dorsal length (12.18), height of pelvic fin (13.39) and height of pectoral fin (12.10) are intermediate controlled (genetic and environmental factors). But in case of females, none of the characters are controlled by environmental factors and parameters like pre-dorsal length (10.37) and post orbital length (12.37) are intermediate controlled, remaining parameters in both sexes are genetically controlled (hereditary). Meristic counts includes dorsal fin with 10-13 soft rays, pelvic fin with 9 soft rays, pectoral fin with 10-12 soft rays and anal fin with 13-15 soft rays

The influence of expectation on spinal manipulation induced hypoalgesia: An experimental study in normal subjects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mechanisms thorough which spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) exerts clinical effects are not established. A prior study has suggested a dorsal horn modulated effect; however, the role of subject expectation was not considered. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of subject expectation on hypoalgesia associated with SMT.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty healthy subjects agreed to participate and underwent quantitative sensory testing (QST) to their leg and low back. Next, participants were randomly assigned to receive a positive, negative, or neutral expectation instructional set regarding the effects of a specific SMT technique on pain perception. Following the instructional set, all subjects received SMT and underwent repeat QST.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No interaction (p = 0.38) between group assignment and pain response was present in the lower extremity following SMT; however, a main effect (p < 0.01) for hypoalgesia was present. A significant interaction was present between change in pain perception and group assignment in the low back (p = 0.01) with participants receiving a negative expectation instructional set demonstrating significant hyperalgesia (p < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The current study replicates prior findings of c- fiber mediated hypoalgesia in the lower extremity following SMT and this occurred regardless of expectation. A significant increase in pain perception occurred following SMT in the low back of participants receiving negative expectation suggesting a potential influence of expectation on SMT induced hypoalgesia in the body area to which the expectation is directed.</p

Ocular lesions in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: genetics and clinical characteristics

Background: The aim of our study is to study the association between eye lesions in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) and other signs of the disease, as well as to characterize its genetics. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of a cohort of 206 patients studied in the HHT Unit of Hospital de Sierrallana, a reference centre for Spanish patients with HHT. Odds ratios for several symptoms or characteristics of HHT and ocular lesions were estimated using logistic regression adjusting for age and sex. Results: The ocular involvement was associated with being a carrier of a mutation for the ENG gene, that is, suffering from a type 1 HHT involvement (OR = 2.09; 95% CI [1.17–3.72]). p = 0.012). In contrast, patients with ocular lesions have less frequently mutated ACVRL1/ALK1 gene (OR = 0.52; 95% CI [0.30–3.88], p = 0.022). Conclusions: In conclusion, half of the patients with HHT in our study have ocular involvement. These eye lesions are associated with mutations in the ENG gene and ACVRL1/ALK1 gene. Thus, the ENG gene increases the risk of ocular lesions, while being a carrier of the mutated ACVRL1/ALK1 gene decreases said risk