RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN PATIENTS WITH VISCERAL OBESITY

Aim. To invent a model for coronary atherosclerosis risk prediction in patients with visceral obesity and to conduct comparison research for this model with the other known Framingham and PROCAM.Material and methods. Totally 67 men included, of the age 40-65 (50,95±6,54 y.o.) without angina pectoris and clinical signs of another localization atherosclerosis. Patients had general obesity of I-III grade with BMI 35,16±3,32 kg/m , and visceral obesity by the thickness of epicaridal fat >7 mm. After coronary arteriography or multidetector computed tomography of coronary arteries we selected 2 comparison groups: group I (n=25) — patients with coronary atherosclerosis, group II (n=42) — without. For the invention of the prognostic score we used regression model with regression and optimal scaling.Results. Potential predictors of coronary atherosclerosis riskas a result of two groups comparison were: arterial hypertension, carbohydrate metabolism disorders, triglycerides, leptin, adiponectin and C-rective protein. As the result of regression analysis each predictor got its own significance mark. The rate of correctclassifications reached 79,1% that shows good prognostic value of this regression model. While using Framingham and PROCAM model the prognostic value of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis was 24,6% and 21,6% lower, resp., than the new risk assessment. Conclusion. The model invented of the risk assessment in visceral obesity patients makes it possible to take into account the main pathogenetic mechanisms that connect obesity and coronary atherosclerosis

Study on the performance of different craniofacial superimposition approaches (II): Best practices proposal

Craniofacial superimposition, although existing for one century, is still a controversial technique within the scientific community. Objective and unbiased validation studies over a significant number of cases are required to establish a more solid picture on the reliability. However, there is lack of protocols and standards in the application of the technique leading to contradictory information concerning reliability. Instead of following a uniform methodology, every expert tends to apply his own approach to the problem, based on the available technology and deep knowledge on human craniofacial anatomy, soft tissues, and their relationships. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of different craniofacial superimposition methodologies and the corresponding technical approaches to this type of identification. With all the data generated, some of the most representative experts in craniofacial identification joined in a discussion intended to identify and agree on the most important issues that have to be considered to properly employ the craniofacial superimposition technique. As a consequence, the consortium has produced the current manuscript, which can be considered the first standard in the field; including good and bad practices, sources of error and uncertainties, technological requirements and desirable features, and finally a common scale for the craniofacial matching evaluation. Such a document is intended to be part of a more complete framework for craniofacial superimposition, to be developed during the FP7-founded project MEPROCS, which will favour and standardize its proper application

Study on the criteria for assessing skull-face correspondence in craniofacial superimposition

Craniofacial superimposition has the potential to be used as an identification method when other traditional biological techniques are not applicable due to insufficient quality or absence of ante-mortem and post-mortem data. Despite having been used in many countries as a method of inclusion and exclusion for over a century it lacks standards. Thus, the purpose of this research is to provide forensic practitioners with standard criteria for analysing skull-face relationships. Thirty-seven experts from 16 different institutions participated in this study, which consisted of evaluating 65 criteria for assessing skull-face anatomical consistency on a sample of 24 different skull-face superimpositions. An unbiased statistical analysis established the most objective and discriminative criteria. Results did not show strong associations, however, important insights to address lack of standards were provided. In addition, a novel methodology for understanding and standardizing identification methods based on the observation of morphological patterns has been proposed

Characterising the discharge cycle of CaCl 2 and LiNO 3 hydrated salts within a vermiculite composite scaffold for thermochemical storage

Transpired solar collectors (TSC) are an efficient means of building heating but due to the demand/use mismatch their capabilities are maximised when paired with a suitable storage technology. The Hydration and/dehydration of inorganic salts provides an appropriate energy storage medium which is compatible with the air temperature provided by a conventional TSC (<70 °C). The study reports on technical appraisal of materials which are compatible with building scale energy storage installations. Two salts (CaCl2, and LiNO3) were impregnated into porous vermiculite to form a salt in matrix (SIM). Their performance during the discharge portion of the cycle at high packing density was examined using a laboratory scale reactor. Reactor and exit temperature increases were considerably lower than those predicted from first principles. Peak reactor temperature rises of only 14 °C were observed with a reduction in temperature output from this initial peak over 60 hours. Poor salt utilization resulting from deliquescence near the reactor inlet was identified as being the source of the reduced performance. Changes in reactor size, orientation and cycling between input periods of moist and dry air did not improve reactor performance. The investigation has identified that moist air transit through the packed SIM reactor column is limited to approximately 100 mm from the air inlet. This has implications for reactor design and the operation of any practical building scale installation. Predictions of building scale energy storage capabilities based on simple scaling of laboratory test considerably under estimate the volume and complexity of equipment required

ПРЕДИКТОРЫ КОРОНАРНОГО АТЕРОСКЛЕРОЗА У МУЖЧИН С МЕТАБОЛИЧЕСКИМ СИНДРОМОМ

The purpose. Тo study set of the risk factors (RF) which are most significantly connected with risk of coronary atherosclerosis at men with the metabolic syndrome (MS).Material and methods. The research included 82 men from MS by criteria of ВНОК, 2009, at the age of 39 - 73 years (56,42±7,3 years). Group 1 (n=40), patients with MS and a coronary heart disease: angina of pectoralis of IIIII f.cl. and a coronary atherosclerosis according to a coronaroangiography, group 2 (n=42), patients about the MS which don’t have a coronary heart disease: angina of pectoralis and symptoms of coronary atherosclerosis. In groups of comparison the analysis of the main and additional metabolic RF and by means of a method of logistic regression search of the most adverse set of RF bound to a coronary atherosclerosis at patients with MS was carried out.Results. At patients of group 1 (n=40) higher rates of insulin (р&lt;0,001), HOMA-IR index (р&lt;0,001), Apo B (р&lt;0,05), LPa (р&lt;0,05), IL-6 (р&lt;0,05), ФНО-α (р&lt;0,05), CRP (р&lt;0,05) and lower indicators of ApoA1 (р&lt;0,05), apelin (р&lt;0,001), than in group 2 (n=42) were defined. The predictors which are the most significantly connected with coronary atherosclerosis at patients with in steel MS: apelin, ApoB, insulin, IL-6, CRP and waist circumference.Conclusion. The received set of predictors allows to choose more perspective and schemes of prophylaxis of cardiovascular complications at patients with MS are rational. The obtained data, are also valuable material for carrying out further scientific research with studying of a role of neurohormonal and pro-inflammatory activity of visceral adipose tissue in risk of development of a coronary heart disease in patients with MS.Цель. Изучить совокупность факторов риска (ФР), наиболее значимо связанных с риском коронарного атеросклероза у мужчин с метаболическим синдромом (МС).Материалы и методы. В исследование было включено 82 мужчины с МС по критериям ВНОК, 2009 г., в возрасте 39-73 лет (56,42±7,3 лет). Группу 1 (n=40) составили пациенты с МС и ИБС – стенокардией напряжения IIIII ф кл. и коронарным атеросклерозом по данным коронароангиографии; группу 2 (n=42) – пациенты с МС, не имеющие ИБС – стенокардии напряжения и признаков коронарного атеросклероза. В группах сравнения был проведен анализ основных и дополнительных метаболических ФР и с помощью метода логистической регрессии поиск наиболее неблагоприятной совокупности ФР, связанных с коронарным атеросклерозом у пациентов с МС.Результаты. У пациентов группы 1 (n=40) были определены более высокие показатели инсулина (р&lt;0,001), индекса HOMA-IR (р&lt;0,001), Апо В (р&lt;0,05), ЛПа (р&lt;0,05), ИЛ-6 (р&lt;0,05), ФНО-α (р&lt;0,05), вчСРБ (р&lt;0,05) и более низкие показатели Апо А1 (р&lt;0,05), апелина (р&lt;0,001), чем в группе 2 (n=42). Наиболее неблагоприятной совокупностью ФР, связанных с коронарным атеросклерозом у пациентов с МС, стали показатели, характеризующие нейрогуморальную активность висцеральной жировой ткани (ВЖТ) (апелин), показатель липидного спектра крови (АпоВ), показатель углеводного обмена (инсулин), показатели провоспалительной активности плазмы (ИЛ-6, вчСРБ) и показатель абдоминального ожирения (ОТ).Заключение. Полученная совокупность предикторов позволяет выбрать более перспективные и рациональные схемы медикаментозной и немедикаментозной профилактики сердечно-сосудистых осложнений у пациентов с МС. Полученные данные являются также ценным материалом для проведения дальнейших научных исследований с изучением роли нейрогуморальной и провоспалительной активности ВЖТ в риске развития ИБС у пациентов с МС.

Ancient genomes show social and reproductive behavior of early Upper Palaeolithic foragers

Present-day hunter-gatherers (HGs) live in multilevel social groups essential to sustain a population structure characterized by limited levels of within-band relatedness and inbreeding. When these wider social networks evolved among HGs is unknown. Here, we investigate whether the contemporary HG strategy was already present in the Upper Paleolithic (UP), using complete genome sequences from Sunghir, a site dated to ~34 thousand years BP (kya) containing multiple anatomically modern human (AMH) individuals. Wedemonstrate that individuals at Sunghir derive from a population of small effective size, with limited kinship and levels of inbreeding similar to HG populations. Our findings suggest that UP social organization was similar to that of living HGs, with limited relatedness within residential groups embedded in a larger mating network

Stone Age Yersinia pestis genomes shed light on the early evolution, diversity, and ecology of plague

The bacterial pathogenYersinia pestisgave rise to devastating outbreaks throughouthuman history, and ancient DNA evidence has shown it afflicted human populations asfar back as the Neolithic.Y. pestisgenomes recovered from the Eurasian Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age (LNBA) period have uncovered key evolutionary steps that led to itsemergence from aYersinia pseudotuberculosis-like progenitor; however, the number ofreconstructed LNBA genomes are too few to explore its diversity during this criticalperiod of development. Here, we present 17Y. pestisgenomes dating to 5,000 to 2,500y BP from a wide geographic expanse across Eurasia. This increased dataset enabled usto explore correlations between temporal, geographical, and genetic distance. Ourresults suggest a nonflea-adapted and potentially extinct single lineage that persistedover millennia without significant parallel diversification, accompanied by rapid dis-persal across continents throughout this period, a trend not observed in other pathogensfor which ancient genomes are available. A stepwise pattern of gene loss provides fur-ther clues on its early evolution and potential adaptation. We also discover the presenceof theflea-adapted form ofY. pestisin Bronze Age Iberia, previously only identified inin the Caucasus and the Volga regions, suggesting a much wider geographic spread ofthis form ofY. pestis. Together, these data reveal the dynamic nature of plague’s forma-tive years in terms of its early evolution and ecology

Elastic Mid-Infrared Light Scattering: a Basis for Microscopy of Large-Scale Electrically Active Defects in Semiconducting Materials

A method of the mid-IR-laser microscopy has been proposed for the investigation of the large-scale electrically and recombination active defects in semiconductors and non-destructive inspection of semiconductor materials and structures in the industries of microelectronics and photovoltaics. The basis for this development was laid with a wide cycle of the investigations on the low-angle mid-IR-light scattering in semiconductors. The essence of the technical idea was to apply the dark-field method for spatial filtering of the scattered light in the scanning mid-IR-laser microscope. This approach enabled the visualization of large-scale electrically active defects which are the regions enriched with ionized electrically active centers. The photoexcitation of excess carriers within a small volume located in the probe mid-IR-laser beam enabled the visualization of the large-scale recombination-active defects like those revealed in the optical or electron beam induced current methods. Both these methods of the scanning mid-IR-laser microscopy are now introduced in detail in the present paper as well as a summary of techniques used in the standard method of the lowangle mid-IR-light scattering itself. Besides the techniques for direct observations, methods for analyses of the defect composition associated with the mid-IR-laser microscopy are also discussed in the paper.Comment: 44 pages, 13 figures. A good oldi

The population history of northeastern Siberia since the Pleistocene.

Northeastern Siberia has been inhabited by humans for more than 40,000 years but its deep population history remains poorly understood. Here we investigate the late Pleistocene population history of northeastern Siberia through analyses of 34 newly recovered ancient genomes that date to between 31,000 and 600 years ago. We document complex population dynamics during this period, including at least three major migration events: an initial peopling by a previously unknown Palaeolithic population of 'Ancient North Siberians' who are distantly related to early West Eurasian hunter-gatherers; the arrival of East Asian-related peoples, which gave rise to 'Ancient Palaeo-Siberians' who are closely related to contemporary communities from far-northeastern Siberia (such as the Koryaks), as well as Native Americans; and a Holocene migration of other East Asian-related peoples, who we name 'Neo-Siberians', and from whom many contemporary Siberians are descended. Each of these population expansions largely replaced the earlier inhabitants, and ultimately generated the mosaic genetic make-up of contemporary peoples who inhabit a vast area across northern Eurasia and the Americas

The population history of northeastern Siberia since the Pleistocene

FGW – Publications without University Leiden contractDescriptive and Comparative Linguistic