LCD vs. E-ink: An Analysis of the Reading Behavior

Electronic books (e-book) are an interesting option compared to classic paper books. Most e-reading devices of the first generation were based on e-ink technology. With the appearance of the Apple iPad on the market, TFT-LCDs became important in the field of e-reading. Both technologies have advantages and disadvantages but the question remains whether one or the other technology is better for reading. In the present study we analyzed and compared reading behavior when reading on e-inkreader (e-ink displays) and on tablets (TFT-LCDs) as measured by eye-tracking. The results suggest that the reading behavior on tablets is indeed very similar to the reading behavior on e-ink-reader. Participants showed no difference in fixation duration. Significant differences in reading speed and in the proportion of regressive saccades suggest that tablets, under special artificial light conditions, may even provide better legibility

Tetrahydrobiopterin restores impaired coronary microvascular dysfunction in hypercholesterolaemia

Purpose: Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential co-factor for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), and BH4 deficiency may cause impaired NO synthase (NOS) activity. We studied whether BH4 deficiency contributes to the coronary microcirculatory dysfunction observed in patients with hypercholesterolaemia. Methods: Myocardial blood flow (MBF; mlmin−1g−1) was measured at rest, during adenosine-induced (140μgkg−1min−1 over 7min) hyperaemia (mainly non-endothelium dependent) and immediately after supine bicycle exercise (endothelium-dependent) stress in ten healthy volunteers and in nine hypercholesterolaemic subjects using 15O-labelled water and positron emission tomography. Measurements were repeated 60min later, after intravenous infusion of BH4 (10mgkg−1 body weight over 30min). Adenosine-induced hyperaemic MBF is considered to represent (near) maximal flow. Flow reserve utilisation was calculated as the ratio of exercise-induced to adenosine-induced hyperaemic MBF and expressed as percent to indicate how much of the maximal (adenosine-induced) hyperaemia can be achieved by bicycle stress. Results: BH4 increased exercise-induced hyperaemia in controls (2.96±0.58vs 3.41±0.73mlmin−1g−1, p<0.05) and hypercholesterolaemic subjects (2.47±0.78vs 2.70±0.72mlmin−1g−1, p<0.01) but had no influence on MBF at rest or during adenosine-induced hyperaemia in controls (4.52±1.10vs 4.85±0.45mlmin−1g−1, p=NS) or hypercholesterolaemic subjects (4.86±1.18vs 4.53±0.93mlmin−1g−1, p=NS). Flow reserve utilisation remained unchanged in controls (70±17% vs 71±19%, p=NS) but increased significantly in hypercholesterolaemic subjects (53±15% vs 66±14%, p<0.05). Conclusion: BH4 restores flow reserve utilisation of the coronary microcirculation in hypercholesterolaemic subjects, suggesting that BH4 deficiency may contribute to coronary microcirculatory dysfunction in hypercholesterolaemi

Caffeine Impairs Myocardial Blood Flow Response to Physical Exercise in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease as well as in Age-Matched Controls

BACKGROUND: Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed pharmacologically active substances. Its acute effect on myocardial blood flow is widely unknown. Our aim was to assess the acute effect of caffeine in a dose corresponding to two cups of coffee on myocardial blood flow (MBF) in coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: MBF was measured with (15)O-labelled H2O and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) at rest and after supine bicycle exercise in controls (n = 15, mean age 58+/-13 years) and in CAD patients (n = 15, mean age 61+/-9 years). In the latter, regional MBF was assessed in segments subtended by stenotic and remote coronary arteries. All measurements were repeated fifty minutes after oral caffeine ingestion (200 mg). Myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) was calculated as ratio of MBF during bicycle stress divided by MBF at rest. Resting MBF was not affected by caffeine in both groups. Exercise-induced MBF response decreased significantly after caffeine in controls (2.26+/-0.56 vs. 2.02+/-0.56, P<0.005), remote (2.40+/-0.70 vs. 1.78+/-0.46, P<0.001) and in stenotic segments (1.90+/-0.41 vs. 1.38+/-0.30, P<0.001). Caffeine decreased MPR significantly by 14% in controls (P<0.05 vs. baseline). In CAD patients MPR decreased by 18% (P<0.05 vs. baseline) in remote and by 25% in stenotic segments (P<0.01 vs. baseline). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that caffeine impairs exercise-induced hyperaemic MBF response in patients with CAD to a greater degree than age-matched controls

Because I'm happy - positive affect and its predictive value for future disease activity in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: While the detrimental impact of negative emotions on the clinical course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and quality of life has been extensively investigated, evidence for a potential impact of positive emotions is scarce. OBJECTIVES: We aim to analyse contributing factors of positive affect and their predictive value for disease course in IBD patients. DESIGN: In this retrospective cohort study, epidemiological, psychosocial and IBD disease characteristics of Swiss IBD cohort study patients were analysed longitudinally. METHODS: Epidemiological, psychosocial and disease characteristics were extracted from the database of the Swiss IBD cohort study. Participants' positive emotions were assessed cross-sectionally with the seven-item Marburg questionnaire (range 1-6) addressing positive affect in different aspects of daily life. Predictors of positive emotions were identified by linear regression. The quantitative longitudinal impact of positive emotions on the further disease course was analysed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Among 702 IBD patients, those reporting more positive emotions were found to have significantly less intense medical treatment, less pain and fewer depressive symptoms (p  3.5) experienced longer flare-free survival, also after adjusting for confounders (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.39, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The absence of pain and depressive symptoms were the strongest drivers for high positive affect. Higher scores of positive affect were associated with longer disease-free survival in IBD patients

Human African Trypanosomiasis in a Rural Community, Democratic Republic of Congo

Human African trypanosomiasis places a substantial economic hardship on affected households

Women's Experiences and Views about Costs of Seeking Malaria Chemoprevention and other Antenatal Services: A Qualitative Study from two Districts in Rural Tanzania.

The Tanzanian government recommends women who attend antenatal care (ANC) clinics to accept receiving intermittent preventive treatment against malaria during pregnancy (IPTp) and vouchers for insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) at subsidized prices. Little emphasis has been paid to investigate the ability of pregnant women to access and effectively utilize these services. To describe the experience and perceptions of pregnant women about costs and cost barriers for accessing ANC services with emphasis on IPTp in rural Tanzania. Qualitative data were collected in the districts of Mufindi in Iringa Region and Mkuranga in Coast Region through 1) focus group discussions (FGDs) with pregnant women and mothers to infants and 2) exit-interviews with pregnant women identified at ANC clinics. Data were analyzed manually using qualitative content analysis methodology. FGD participants and interview respondents identified the following key limiting factors for women's use of ANC services: 1) costs in terms of money and time associated with accessing ANC clinics, 2) the presence of more or less official user-fees for some services within the ANC package, and 3) service providers' application of fines, penalties and blame when failing to adhere to service schedules. Interestingly, the time associated with travelling long distances to ANC clinics and ITN retailers and with waiting for services at clinic-level was a major factor of discouragement in the health seeking behaviour of pregnant women because it seriously affected their domestic responsibilities. A variety of resource-related factors were shown to affect the health seeking behaviour of pregnant women in rural Tanzania. Thus, accessibility to ANC services was hampered by direct and indirect costs, travel distances and waiting time. Strengthening of user-fee exemption practices and bringing services closer to the users, for example by promoting community-directed control of selected public health services, including IPTp, are urgently needed measures for increasing equity in health services in Tanzania