Plot of hazard curves for major adverse cardiovascular events based on the Cox model analysis for patients with carbon monoxide poisoning and controls.

<p>Plot of hazard curves for major adverse cardiovascular events based on the Cox model analysis for patients with carbon monoxide poisoning and controls.</p

Short-span composite beam tests to evaluate stud resistances

The results of a parametric study on ten short-span composite beam tests with small degrees of shear connection between 12 and 46% are presented. The beam tests were conducted using composite slabs with two modern forms of profiled steel sheeting. Important parameters of the shear connection, such as stud diameter, number of studs per rib, reinforcement pattern, welding procedure and concrete strength, were varied. All the test configurations were selected in accordance with a previously conducted study on the behaviour of shear connectors in push-out specimens. A comparison of the bending resistance of the beam tests and the calculated plastic bending resistance is presented. The shear connector resistances were taken either from the push-out test results or from the analytical methods of Konrad, EN 1994-1-1 and Nellinger. Evaluation of the push-out and beam test results showed that the current shear connector resistances in EN 1994-1-1 insufficiently predict the observed concrete failure modes and resistances in the presence of modern forms of steel decking. New approaches to the shear connector resistance proposed by Konrad and Nellinger led to more accurate predictions of the shear resistance of headed studs and the plastic bending resistance of the composite beam tests

Analysis of Associations of Human BAFF Gene Polymorphisms with Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases - Fig 1

<p>Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibody titers at the baseline in different genotypes of rs1041569 (Panel A) and rs2893321 (Panel B) in Graves’ disease in females and males. TSHRAb, thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody; the number in the column indicates the number of patients.</p

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population

<p>Demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population</p

Sensitivity analysis of the Cox regression model for major adverse cardiovascular events.

<p>Sensitivity analysis of the Cox regression model for major adverse cardiovascular events.</p

Number of patients with carbon monoxide poisoning during the study period.

<p>Number of patients with carbon monoxide poisoning during the study period.</p

Incidence and adjusted hazard ratios for MACE during the 9-year follow-up period.

<p>Incidence and adjusted hazard ratios for MACE during the 9-year follow-up period.</p

Analysis of Associations of Human BAFF Gene Polymorphisms with Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases

<div><p>Background</p><p>The B-lymphocyte-activating factor (BAFF) is associated with B-cell functions, and gene polymorphisms of the BAFF have been linked to autoimmune diseases (AIDs). In this study, we explored possible associations of two BAFF single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs1041569 and rs2893321, with autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) in an ethnic Chinese population.</p><p>Material and Methods</p><p>In total, 319 Graves’ disease (GD), 83 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) patients, and 369 healthy controls were enrolled. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism and direct sequencing were used to genotype rs2893321 and rs1041569.</p><p>Results</p><p>There was a significant difference in frequencies of the G allele and AG+GG genotype of rs2893321 between the GD and control groups (<i>p</i> = 0.013, odds ratio (OR) = 0.76, and <i>p</i> = 0.017, OR = 0.68, respectively) and between the AITD and control groups (<i>p</i> = 0.009, OR = 0.76, and, <i>p</i> = 0.014, OR = 0.69, respectively). The AA genotype of rs2893321 was associated with low titers of the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody (TSHRAb) (<i>p</i> = 0.015) in males but not in females. The AA genotype of rs2893321 was associated with the presence of two different types of thyroid autoantibody (TAb) (TSHRAb and Hashimoto’s autoantibody (anti-thyroglobulin or anti-microsomal antibody)) in females and with that of one type in males.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>rs2893321 may be a susceptible genetic variant for the development of GD and AITDs. Associations of rs2893321 with susceptibility to GD and AITDs and the correlation between rs2893321 and TAb exhibit a dimorphic pattern. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings.</p></div

Genotypic and allelic frequencies of rs1387153, rs10830963, and rs1562444 in the melatonin receptor type 1B gene.

<p>Genotypic and allelic frequencies of rs1387153, rs10830963, and rs1562444 in the melatonin receptor type 1B gene.</p

Demographic characteristics in the Graves’ disease (GD), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), and control groups.

<p>Demographic characteristics in the Graves’ disease (GD), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT), and control groups.</p