Life events during pregnancy and early infant temperament

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Infections Up to 76 Days After Stroke Increase Disability and Death

Early infection after stroke is associated with a poor outcome. We aimed to determine whether delayed infections (up to 76 days post-stroke) are associated with poor outcome at 90 days. Data came from the international Efficacy of Nitric Oxide Stroke (ENOS, ISRCTN99414122) trial. Post hoc data on infections were obtained from serious adverse events reports between 1 and 76 days following stroke in this large cohort of patients. Regression models accounting for baseline covariates were used to analyse fatalities and functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index, Euro-Qol-5D) at 90 days, in patients with infection compared to those without infection. Of 4011 patients, 242 (6.0%) developed one or more serious infections. Infections were associated with an increased risk of death (p < 0.001) and an increased likelihood of dependency (measured by mRS) compared to those of all other patients (p < 0.001). This remained when only surviving patients were analysed, indicating that the worsening of functional outcome is not due to mortality (p < 0.001). In addition, the timing of the infection after stroke did not alter its detrimental association with fatality (p = 0.14) or functional outcome (p = 0.47). In conclusion, severe post-stroke infections, whether occurring early or late after stroke, are associated with an increased risk of death and poorer functional outcome, independent of differences in baseline characteristics or treatment. Not only are strategies needed for reducing the risk of infection immediately after stroke, but also during the first 3 months following a stroke. This study is registered: ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN99414122, ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier, NCT00989716. © 2017, The Author(s)

Subsolidus phase equilibria of Fe-Ni-X-O (X = Mg, Al) systems in air

The phase equilibria of Fe-Ni-X-O (X = Mg, Al) systems, including their lower-order systems, at temperatures between 1200 C and 1600 C in air in the subsolidus region, have been experimentally studied. In the present study, the ‘Fe2O3’-MgO, ‘Fe2O3’-Al2O3, and NiO-Al2O3 binary phase diagrams, as well as the ternary phase diagrams in the Fe-Ni-Mg-O and Fe-Ni-Al-O systems projected onto the Fe-Mg-Ni and Fe-Al-Ni planes, have been constructed. Differences have been found between the present measurements, the previously published data, and the FactSage predictions, especially in the lower-order systems. It is suggested that the improved experimental techniques used in the present study, which involve carefully planned equilibration procedures followed by electron probe X-ray microanalyses (EPMA), provide more accurate and precise measurements of the phase boundaries and phase compositions

Epicardial fat thickness significantly decreases after short-term growth hormone (GH) replacement therapy in adults with GH deficiency

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) is characterized by increased visceral fat accumulation. Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness is a new marker of visceral adiposity. Aim of the present study was to evaluate whether epicardial fat thickness can significantly change and therefore serve as a marker of visceral fat reduction after short-term rhGH replacement therapy in patients with adult-onset GHD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness was measured in 18 patients (10 M, 8 F, age 48 ± 11.8 yrs, BMI 29 ± 5.9 kg/m(2)) with adult-onset GHD, at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of rhGH therapy and in 18 healthy matched controls, at baseline. Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness, conventional anthropometric and metabolic parameters, body fat percentage and quality of life were also evaluated. Epicardial fat thickness in adult GHD patients was higher than in controls (9.8 ± 2.8 vs 8 ± 3 mm, p < 0.05). Epicardial fat thickness significantly decreased after 6-months of rhGH replacement therapy (from 9.8 ± 2.8 to 7.0 ± 2.3 mm, P < 0.01, i.e. -29% from baseline). After 12 months of rhGH replacement therapy, epicardial fat thickness showed a further significant decrease (from 7.0 ± 2.3 to 5.9 ± 3.1 mm, P < 0.01, i.e. -40% from baseline). No significant changes in BMI or waist circumference after 6 or 12 months of rhGH therapy were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness may represent a valuable and easy marker of visceral fat and visceral fat changes during rhGH replacement treatment in patients with adult-onset growth hormone deficiency