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Lung sound analysis can be an index of the control of bronchial asthma
No full textAbstractBackgroundWe assessed whether lung sound analysis (LSA) is a valid measure of airway obstruction and inflammation in patients with bronchial asthma during treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs).Methods63 good adherence patients with bronchial asthma and 18 poor adherence patients were examined by LSA, spirometry, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and induced sputum. The expiration-to-inspiration lung sound power ratio at low frequencies between 100 and 200 Hz (E/I LF) obtained by LSA was compared between healthy volunteers and bronchial asthma patients. Next, post-ICS treatment changes were compared in bronchial asthma patients between the good adherence patients and the poor adherence patients.ResultsE/I LF was significantly higher in bronchial asthma patients (0.62 ± 0.21) than in healthy volunteers (0.44 ± 0.12, p < 0.001). The good adherence patients demonstrated a significant reduction in E/I LF from pre-treatment to post-treatment (0.55 ± 0.21 to 0.46 ± 0.16, p = 0.002), whereas the poor adherence patients did not show a significant change. The decrease of E/I LF correlated with the improvement of FEV1/FVC ratio during the ICS treatment (r = −0.26, p = 0.04). The subjects with higher pre-treatment E/I LF values had significantly lower FEV1/FVC and V50,%pred (p < 0.001), and significantly higher FeNO and sputum eosinophil percentages (p = 0.008 and p < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsThe E/I LF measurement obtained by LSA is useful as an indicator of changes in airway obstruction and inflammation and can be used for monitoring the therapeutic course of bronchial asthma patients
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Study for the Detection and Quantitation of Cholesterol in HSV529 Therapeutic Vaccine Candidate
No full textAbstractThis study describes the NMR-based method to determine the limit of quantitation (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) of cholesterol, a process-related impurity in the replication-deficient Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) type 2 candidate vaccine HSV529. Three signature peaks from the 1D 1H NMR of a cholesterol reference spectrum were selected for the identification of cholesterol. The LOQ for a cholesterol working standard was found to be 1μg/mL, and the LOD was found to be 0.1μg/mL. The identity of cholesterol, separated from the formulation of growth supplement by thin layer chromatography (TLC), was confirmed by 1D 1H NMR and 2D 1H-13C HSQC NMR. The three signature peaks of cholesterol were detected only in a six-times concentrated sample of HSV529 candidate vaccine sample and not in the single dose HSV529 vaccine sample under similar experimental conditions. Taken together, the results demonstrated that NMR is a direct method that can successfully identify and quantify cholesterol in viral vaccine samples, such as HSV529, and as well as in the growth supplement used during the upstream stages of HSV529 manufacturing
Questioning demand: A study of regretted purchases in Great Britain
No full textAbstractThis paper presents findings from a nationally representative household survey on the tendency to regret purchases across 20 product groups. The survey reveals that the vast majority of adults in Great Britain (82%) have regretted a purchase in the past. Post-purchase regret is shown to be particularly prevalent for clothing & footwear and takeaway food. The tendency to regret purchases appears to reduce with age and to be more common amongst white collar rather than blue collar workers. Combining survey results with average price estimates gives an estimated, aggregate, annual expenditure on regretted purchases of £5–25bn, equivalent to 2–10% of annual consumer spending on goods in Great Britain. These findings are interesting because they suggest that there is a degree of self-assessed over-consumption that, if reduced, could help to reduce pressures on the environment
Biomarker of exposure level data set in smokers switching from conventional cigarettes to Tobacco Heating System 2.2, continuing smoking or abstaining from smoking for 5 days
No full textAbstractLevels of biomarkers of exposure to selected harmful and potentially harmful smoke constituents found in cigarette smoke, in addition to nicotine were measured in 160 smokers randomized for 5 days to continuing smoking conventional cigarettes (41 participants), switching to Tobacco Heating System 2.2 (THS 2.2) (80 participants), or abstaining from smoking (39 participants). The data reported here are descriptive statistics of the levels of each biomarker of exposure expressed as concentrations adjusted to creatinine; at baseline, and at the end of the study, and their relative change from baseline. Reductions in the levels of biomarkers of exposure when expressed as quantity excreted, are also reported. Detailed descriptions of bioanalytical assays used are also provided. The data presented here are related to the article entitled “Evaluation of the Tobacco Heating System 2.2. Part 8: 5-Day randomized reduced exposure clinical study in Poland” (Haziza et al., 2016) [1]
Park use is associated with less sedentary time among low-income parents and their preschool child: The NET-Works study
No full textAbstractIntroductionParks are an important component of the neighborhood environment, and their presence is believed to support higher levels of physical activity among residents.The present study examined park use frequency among a sample of 534 low-income parents of preschool aged children. Associations with child and parent physical activity, neighborhood characteristics and physical characteristics of the block immediately surrounding the home were examined.MethodsData are from baseline measurements completed in 2012–2014 as part of larger study (NET-Works: Now Everybody Together for Amazing and Healthy Kids) targeting low-income preschool children and their parents (N=534 parent-child dyads). Physical activity was measured in parent and child using accelerometry. Parents reported their frequency of use with their child of parks within a half kilometer from their residence. Block audits were performed by trained research staff to describe the quality and walkability of the streets around the home.Statistical analysisBivariate associations between demographic variables, perceptions of the neighborhood environment, parent support for child physical activity, and physical activity were examined using regression or Chi square analysis.ResultsPark use frequency was not significantly associated with child accelerometry light, moderate or vigorous physical activity. However, it was marginally significantly inversely associated with child accelerometry sedentary time (p<0.06). Television viewing hours on weekend days (but not on weekdays) were significantly fewer among children in the high park use group compared with children who visited the park less frequently (p<0.01). Park use frequency was significantly positively associated with parent accelerometry moderate physical activity (p<0.004), and was significantly inversely associated with parent accelerometry sedentary time (p<0.002). Frequent park use was significantly positively associated with parent report of the child frequency of being taken to a park or playground outside the home (p<0.0001), past week visit to park and recreation center (p<0.0001) and parent-reported supportive behaviors for child physical activity (p<0.0001). Parents who reported having to cross busy streets to reach play areas reported less frequent park use (p<0. 02). Walkable neighborhoods (p<0.003) and more incivilities (p<0.02) in the immediate block surrounding the home were significantly associated with more frequent park use.ConclusionsFrequent park use with their preschool child may support higher levels of physical activity among low-income parents and reduce sedentary time for both child and parent
CTAB functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube composite modified electrode for the determination of 6-mercaptopurine
No full textAbstractIn this work the electrochemical behavior of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) on MWCNT-CTAB modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is reported in a phosphate buffer solution, pH3.0. Cyclic voltammetric studies indicated that the oxidation process is irreversible and diffusion-controlled. The number of electrons exchanged in the electro-oxidation process was obtained, and the data indicated that 6-MP is oxidized via a two-electron step. The results revealed that MWCNT-CTAB modified GCE promotes the rate of oxidation compared to the bare GCE, by increasing the peak current. The electron-transfer coefficients and heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constants for 6-MP were reported using modified GCE. A sensitive, simple, and timesaving linear sweep voltammetric procedure was developed for the analysis of 6-MP, using the MWCNT-CTAB/GC electrode. 6-MP can be determined with a detection limit of 8.41×10−9M in the range of 5.0×10−7M to 3.0×10−6M with the proposed method. The developed method was successfully applied in real sample analysis
Synthetic iron complexes as models for natural iron-humic compounds: Synthesis, characterization and algal growth experiments
No full textAbstractA series of monomeric and dimeric FeIII complexes with O,O-; O,N-; O,S-coordination motifs has been prepared and characterized by standard analytical methods in order to elucidate their potential to act as model compounds for aquatic humic acids. Due to the postulated reduction of iron in humic acids and following uptake by microorganisms, the redox behavior of the models was investigated with cyclic voltammetry. Most of the investigated compounds showed iron reduction potentials accessible to biological reducing agents. Additionally, observed reduction processes were predominantly irreversible, suggesting that subsequent reactions can take place after reduction of the iron center. Also the stability of the synthesized complexes in pure water and artificial seawater was monitored from 24h up to 21days by means of UV–Vis spectrometry. Several complexes remained stable even after 21days, showing only partially precipitation but some of them showed changes in UV–Vis spectra already after 24h which were connected to protonation/deprotonation processes as well as redox processes and degradation of the complexes. The ability to act as an iron source for primary producers was tested in algal growth experiments with two marine algae species Chlorella salina and Prymnesium parvum. Some of the compounds showed effects on the algal cultures, which are comparable with natural humic acids and better as for the samples kept under ideal conditions. Those findings help to understand which functional groups of humic acids could be responsible for the reversible iron binding and transport in aquatic humic substances
A new role for oxidative stress in aging: The accelerated aging phenotype in Sod1−/− mice is correlated to increased cellular senescence
No full textAbstractIn contrast to other mouse models that are deficient in antioxidant enzymes, mice null for Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Sod1−/− mice) show a major decrease in lifespan and several accelerated aging phenotypes. The goal of this study was to determine if cell senescence might be a contributing factor in the accelerated aging phenotype observed in the Sod1−/− mice. We focused on kidney because it is a tissue that has been shown to a significant increase in senescent cells with age. The Sod1−/− mice are characterized by high levels of DNA oxidation in the kidney, which is attenuated by DR. The kidney of the Sod1−/− mice also have higher levels of double strand DNA breaks than wild type (WT) mice. Expression (mRNA and protein) of p16 and p21, two of the markers of cellular senescence, which increased with age, are increased significantly in the kidney of Sod1−/− mice as is β-gal staining cells. In addition, the senescence associated secretory phenotype was also increased significantly in the kidney of Sod1−/− mice compared to WT mice as measured by the expression of transcripts for IL-6 and IL-1β. Dietary restriction of the Sod1−/− mice attenuated the increase in DNA damage, cellular senescence, and expression of IL-6 and IL-1β. Interestingly, the Sod1−/− mice showed higher levels of circulating cytokines than WT mice, suggesting that the accelerated aging phenotype shown by the Sod1−/− mice could result from increased inflammation arising from an accelerated accumulation of senescent cells. Based on our data with Sod1−/− mice, we propose that various bouts of increased oxidative stress over the lifespan of an animal leads to the accumulation of senescent cells. The accumulation of senescent cells in turn leads to increased inflammation, which plays a major role in the loss of function and increased pathology that are hallmark features of aging
Is there an occupational status gradient in the development of periodontal disease in Japanese workers? A 5-year prospective cohort study
No full textAbstractBackgroundDevelopment of periodontal disease (PD) may be affected by socioeconomic status. This study examined the relationship between occupational status and PD in a 5-year prospective cohort of Japanese workers.MethodsIn total, 19,633 participants had initial examinations at the Aichi Health Promotion Foundation, of whom 8210 participants aged 20 years or older did not have PD. Follow-up examinations were conducted for 3757 participants, accounting for 45.8% of baseline participants. Ultimately, 3390 participants were analyzed according to the criterion of job classification at baseline, which was based on the International Standard Classification of Occupations, 1987. Oral examinations were performed using the Community Periodontal Index (CPI). The CPI scores were coded as follows: healthy (score of 0); bleeding after probing (1); dental calculus (2); shallow pockets (3); and deep pockets (4). Participants with one or more sextants with a score >2 were diagnosed with PD. Poisson regression analysis was performed to adjust for age and other potential confounders.ResultsOverall, 31.6% of men and 23.8% of women had developed PD (CPI scores of 3 or 4). The adjusted relative risk (RR) for PD (CPI scores of 3 or 4) in men was not significant. On the other hand, the adjusted RRs for PD (CPI score of 4) in men were 2.52-, 2.39-, and 2.74-fold higher for skilled workers, sales persons, and drivers, respectively, than for professionals. In contrast, we found no gradient in women.ConclusionsWe found a gradient related to the risk of developing PD according to occupational status among men in a Japanese worker population
Homogeneity of ball milled ceramic powders: Effect of jar shape and milling conditions
No full textAbstractThis paper contains data and supporting information of and complementary to the research article entitled “Effect of jar shape on high-energy planetary ball milling efficiency: simulations and experiments” (Broseghini et al.,) [1]. Calcium fluoride (CaF2) was ground using two jars of different shape (cylindrical and half-moon) installed on a planetary ball-mill, exploring different operating conditions (jar-to-plate angular velocity ratio and milling time). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images and X-Ray Powder Diffraction data (XRPD) were collected to assess the effect of milling conditions on the end-product crystallite size. Due to the inhomogeneity of the end product, the Whole Powder Pattern Model (WPPM, (Scardi, 2008) [2]) analysis of XRPD data required the hypothesis of a bimodal distribution of sizes – respectively ground (fine fraction) and less-to-not ground (coarse fraction) – confirmed by SEM images and suggested by the previous literature (Abdellatief et al., 2013) [3,4]. Predominance of fine fraction clearly indicates optimal milling conditions