138,467 research outputs found
LA VITAMINA D IN PATOLOGIE RESPIRATORIE DI INTERESSE PEDIATRICO
No full textIntroduzione: La vitamina D e i suoi effetti sulla salute umana sono temi che stanno suscitando un grande interesse, e negli ultimi anni si sta assistendo ad un rapido aumento del numero di pubblicazioni in materia di vitamina D e sue relazioni con asma, allergie ed infezioni respiratorie.
Inoltre, la consapevolezza che essenzialmente ogni tessuto e cellula del corpo possiede i recettori per la vitamina D, ha aperto le porte a numerosi studi inerenti al sistema della vitamina D e alle sue azioni precedentemente non riconosciute.
Dati recenti indicano che l'ipovitaminosi D è associata a molte condizioni morbose extrascheletriche come l'asma.
Obiettivi dello studio: Abbiamo studiato le relazioni esistenti fra livelli di vitamina D nel siero, funzionalità polmonare, controllo dell’asma nei bambini ed abitudine tabagica dei loro genitori.
Materiali e metodi: Abbiamo stimato la correlazione tra la concentrazione di 25-idrossicolecalciferolo [25(OH)D], i parametri di funzionalità respiratoria ottenuti con l'esecuzione della spirometria basale e i livelli di controllo dell’asma, secondo le linee guida Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) e il Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT), in 152 bambini con asma (età compresa tra 5-15 anni; 84 maschi) in uno studio cross-sectional condotto durante l’inverno e la primavera.
Abbiamo inoltre studiato l’esistenza di una possibile associazione tra l'abitudine al fumo dei genitori e i livelli di vitamina D di questi bambini asmatici.
Risultati
Solo il 9.9 % dei nostri bambini avevano livelli sierici sufficienti di 25(OH)D (tra 30 e 40 ng/ml).
Abbiamo individuato una moderata correlazione positiva tra la capacità vitale forzata in percentuale del predetto e i livelli della vitamina (ρ di Spearman=0.36, 95%CI=0.22-0.50, P<0.001).
Questo dato è stato ritrovato anche per il volume espiratorio forzato al 1 secondo (ρ=0.36, 95%CI=0.23-0.50, P<0.001).
I soggetti con asma ben controllato mostravano livelli sierici di vitamina D più elevati rispetto ai bambini con asma parzialmente o non controllato, con valori mediani pari a 22.4 ng/ml (IQR = 18.2 - 26.0 ng/ml), 17.8 ng/ml (IQR = 12.6 - 22.0 ng/ml) e 13.5 ng/ml (IQR = 10.1 - 18.1 ng/ml), rispettivamente (P<0.001).
Abbiamo inoltre individuato una correlazione moderatamente positiva tra i livelli di 25(OH)D e il C-ACT score (r=0.49, 95%CI=0.36-0.62, P<0.001).
Analizzando l'abitudine tabagica dei genitori in rapporto ai livelli sierici di vitamina D è emersa una associazione statisticamente significativa tra i due parametri.
In particolare, i livelli sierici appaiono significativamente ridotti se entrambi i genitori riferiscono di fumare regolarmente (P<0.001).
Conclusioni
I nostri risultati indicano che l’ipovitaminosi D è frequente nei bambini con asma che vivono in un paese del Mediterraneo. In questi bambini, bassi livelli di vitamina D sono associati a parametri di funzionalità respiratoria più bassi e quindi ad un ridotto controllo dell’asma.
Lo studio suggerisce inoltre che il fumo passivo potrebbe rappresentare un fattore causale per l'ipovitaminosi D nei bambini asmatici. Occorrono però ulteriori studi per verificare questa relazione, in particolare analizzando marcatori biologici di esposizione al fumo di sigaretta.Introduction: Vitamin D and its effects on human health are topics that are attracting great interest, and in recent years there is a rapid increase in the number of publications about vitamin D and its relationship to asthma, allergies and respiratory infections.
This discovery, together with the realization that essentially every tissue and cell in the body has vitamin D receptors, has prompted new interests in the vitamin D system and its previously unrecognized actions. Recent data suggest that hypovitaminosis D is associated with many nonskeletal conditions such as asthma.
Objectives: We investigated the relationship between vitamin D serum levels, lung function and asthma control in children and smoking habits of their parents.
Materials and Methods: We estimated the correlation between the concentration of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D], lung function parameters obtained from baseline spirometry and levels of asthma control, according to the guidelines Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) and the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C- ACT), in 152 children with asthma (aged 5-15 years, 84 males) in a cross-sectional study conducted during the winter and spring.
We have also studied the existence of a possible association between the smoking habits of parents and the vitamin D levels of these children with asthma.
Results: Only 9.9 % of our children had sufficient vitamin D serum levels (between 30 and 40 ng / ml). We found a moderate positive correlation between the forced vital capacity percent predicted and the vitamin levels ( Spearman ρ = 0.36 , 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.50, P <0.001).
This finding was also found for the forced expiratory volume in 1 second ( ρ = 0.36 , 95% CI = 0.23 to 0.50, P <0.001).
Patients with well-controlled asthma showed serum levels of vitamin D higher than children with not or partly controlled asthma, with median values equal to 22.4 ng/ml (IQR = 18.2 - 26.0 ng / ml), 17.8 ng/ml (IQR = 12.6 - 22.0 ng/ml) and 13.5 ng/ml (IQR = 10.1 - 18.1 ng / ml), respectively (P <0.001) .
We have also identified a moderately positive correlation between 25(OH)D levels of and the C -ACT score (r = 0:49, 95% CI = 0.36-0.62 , P <0.001).
By analyzing the smoking habits of parents in relation to vitamin D serum levels, a statistically significant association between the two parameters was present.
In particular, serum levels appear to be significantly reduced if both parents report smoking regularly (P <0.001).
Conclusions: Our results suggest that hypovitaminosis D is frequent in children with asthma living in a Mediterranean country. In these children, lower vitamin D serum levels are associated with reduced asthma control and lung function.
The study also suggests that passive smoking could be a causal factor for hypovitaminosis D in children with asthma. However, further studies to verify this relationship, in particular by analyzing biomarkers of exposure to cigarette smoke are necessary
1ST MEASUREMENT OF GAMMA(D(S)(+)-]MU+NU)/GAMMA(D(S)(+)-]PHI-PI+)
No full textComplete Author List:
ACOSTA D, ATHANAS M, MASEK G, PAAR H, BEAN A, GRONBERG J, KUTSCHKE R, MENARY S, MORRISON RJ, NAKANISHI S, NELSON HN, NELSON TK, RICHMAN JD, RYD A, TAJIMA H, SCHMIDT D, SPERKA D, WITHERELL MS, PROCARIO M, YANG S, BALEST R, CHO K, DAOUDI M, FORD WT, JOHNSON DR, LINGEL K, LOHNER M, RANKIN P, SMITH JG, ALEXANDER JP, BEBEK C, BERKELMAN K, BESSON D, BROWDER TE, CASSEL DG, CHO HA, COFFMAN DM, DRELL PS, EHRLICH R, GALIK RS, GARCIASCIVERES M, GEISER B, GITTELMAN B, GRAY SW, HARTILL DL, HELTSLEY BK, JONES CD, JONES SL, KANDASWAMY J, KATAYAMA N, KIM PC, KREINICK DL, LUDWIG GS, MASUI J, MEVISSEN J, MISTRY NB, NG CR, NORDBERG E, OGG M, PATTERSON JR, PETERSON D, RILEY D, SALMAN S, SAPPER M, WORDEN H, WURTHWEIN F, AVERY P, FREYBERGER A, RODRIGUEZ J, STEPHENS R, YELTON J, CINABRO D, HENDERSON S, KINOSHITA K, LIU T, SAULNIER M, SHEN F, WILSON R, YAMAMOTO H, ONG B, SELEN M, SADOFF AJ, AMMAR R, BALL S, BARINGER P, COPPAGE D, COPTY N, DAVIS R, HANCOCK N, KELLY M, KWAK N, LAM H, KUBOTA Y, LATTERY M, NELSON JK, PATTON S, PERTICONE D, POLING R, SAVINOV V, SCHRENK S, WANG R, ALAM MS, KIM IJ, NEMATI B, ONEILL JJ, SEVERINI H, SUN CR, ZOELLER MM, CRAWFORD G, DAUBENMIER CM, FULTON R, FUJINO D, GAN KK, HONSCHEID K, KAGAN H, KASS R, LEE J, MALCHOW R, MORROW F, SKOVPEN Y, SUNG M, WHITE C, WHITMORE J, WILSON P, BUTLER F, FU X, KALBFLEISCH G, LAMBRECHT M, ROSS WR, SKUBIC P, SNOW J, WANG PL, WOOD M, BORTOLETTO D, BROWN DN, FAST J, MCILWAIN RL, MIAO T, MILLER DH, MODESITT M, SCHAFFNER SF, SHIBATA EI, SHIPSEY IPJ, WANG PN, BATTLE M, ERNST J, KROHA H, ROBERTS S, SPARKS K, THORNDIKE EH, WANG CH, DOMINICK J, SANGHERA S, SHELKOV V, SKWARNICKI T, STROYNOWSKI R, VOLOBOUEV I, ZADOROZHNY P, ARTUSO M, HE D, GOLDBERG M, HORWITZ N, KENNETT R, MONETI GC, MUHEIM F, MUKHIN Y, PLAYFER S, ROZEN Y, STONE S, THULASIDAS M, VASSEUR G, ZHU G, BARTELT J, CSORNA SE, EGYED Z, JAIN V, SHELDON P, AKERIB DS, BARISH B, CHADHA M, CHAN S, COWEN DF, EIGEN G, MILLER JS, OGRADY C, URHEIM J, WEINSTEIN A
Single-phase anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste without dilution: Reactor stability and process performance of small, decentralised plants
No full textCurrently, centralised plants are the most favoured approach for the anaerobic treatment of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). However, centralised solutions imply certain environmental impacts, which prevent large-scale implementation of the anaerobic digestion (AD). As a result, we are digesting <5% of organic waste both in Europe and the USA even today. Pursuing the criteria for maximising the balance between profit and impacts, an innovative layout with the ultimate goal of promoting the use of small, decentralised AD plants is proposed. In this study, source-separated OFMSW (SS-OFMSW) was treated in a mesophilic plug flow reactor by applying an atypical combination of conditions such as high SS-OFMSW solid content (214.5 g·kg−1), high organic loading rate (6.2 kg VS·m−3·d−1), and no dilution or co-substrate addition. A suitable and an efficient mixing system is essential to control the process. Accordingly, the process was stable in a single-stage reactor, in the absence of digestate recirculation, obtaining specific gas production of 0.67 m3·kg−1 VS in terms of biogas and 0.41 m3·kg−1 VS in terms of methane. High reactor volume exploitation and small plant construction were feasible, reaching a gas production rate of 4.5 m3·m−3 d−1. The estimated costs in terms of capital and operating expenditure are expected to realize gross economic sustainability of full-scale installation
MeSH term explosion and author rank improve expert recommendations
No full textInformation overload is an often-cited phenomenon that reduces the productivity, efficiency and efficacy of scientists. One challenge for scientists is to find appropriate collaborators in their research. The literature describes various solutions to the problem of expertise location, but most current approaches do not appear to be very suitable for expert recommendations in biomedical research. In this study, we present the development and initial evaluation of a vector space model-based algorithm to calculate researcher similarity using four inputs: 1) MeSH terms of publications; 2) MeSH terms and author rank; 3) exploded MeSH terms; and 4) exploded MeSH terms and author rank. We developed and evaluated the algorithm using a data set of 17,525 authors and their 22,542 papers. On average, our algorithms correctly predicted 2.5 of the top 5/10 coauthors of individual scientists. Exploded MeSH and author rank outperformed all other algorithms in accuracy, followed closely by MeSH and author rank. Our results show that the accuracy of MeSH term-based matching can be enhanced with other metadata such as author rank
The R&D Tax Incentives
No full textThis article sets out some background information and reflections of the author on the R&D tax incentive schemes included in the Common Corporate Tax Base (CCTB) Proposal. In particular the author analyzes the stimulus to private R&D through ad hoc tax incentives included in the CCTB Proposal and dives into the actual provisions included in the Proposal highlighting the most relevant issues connected with their design and interpretation. Moreover, the author explores the interaction between the CCTB Proposal and the granting by Member States of domestic R&D tax incentives
"Closing the R&D Gap, Evaluating the Sources of R&D Spending"
No full textBoth spending and tax policies have been implemented in the United States with the goal of stimulating private sector research and development (R&D). Karier questions whether current R&D policy, especially the research and experimentation tax credit, can contribute to closing the gap between nondefense expenditures on R&D in the United States and such expenditures in other countries, such as Japan and Germany. He also explores possible changes to our current R&D policy to make it more effective.
Extracting Boer-Mulders functions from p+D Drell-Yan processes
No full textWe extract the Boer- Mulders functions of valence and sea quarks in the proton from unpolarized p + D Drell- Yan data measured by the FNAL E866 Collaboration. Using these Boer- Mulders functions, we calculate the cos2 phi asymmetries in unpolarized pp Drell- Yan processes, both for the FNAL E866/ NuSea and the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider experiments. We also estimate the cos2 phi asymmetries in the unpolarized p (P) over bar Drell- Yan processes at GSI.Astronomy & AstrophysicsPhysics, Particles & FieldsSCI(E)37ARTICLE5null7
Scholarly Communication and Publishing Lunch and Learn Talk #11: The ULS Open Access Author Fee Fund
No full textAt the May 2014 talk, you will learn about the ULS Open Access Author Fee Fund--what it is, why we do it, how it works, and how the program is going so far
Efficacy and uptake of the high-dose influenza vaccine for older adults: a literature review
No full textAnnual influenza epidemics are a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in the United States and around the world. Older adults, individuals 65 years of age and older, are disproportionately affected by influenza. In 2009 a high-dose influenza vaccine was licensed for use in older adults. The efficacy and effectiveness of this influenza vaccine have been and continue to be studied today, in 2015. However, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the body primarily responsible for developing recommendations on how to use vaccines to control disease in the United States, recommends that older adults receive an influenza vaccine and does not distinguish between the standard-dose and high-dose vaccines. Given the growing body of research around the high-dose influenza vaccine, this literature review seeks to identify the efficacy of the high-dose influenza vaccine in older adults as well as facilitators and barriers to influenza vaccination among older adults. The author conducted a review of the literature published between January 1, 2004 and March 1, 2015 on these topics. Only 12 peer-reviewed articles were selected for inclusion from the 714 articles identified by the review. Four were randomized controlled trials, two were systematic literature reviews, four were retrospective data analyses, and two were cross-sectional studies. The studies regarding the efficacy of the high-dose influenza vaccine were of high quality, however the articles assessing factors associated with influenza vaccine uptake among older adults were limited in scope and generalizability. This review identified a considerable gap in the literature related to the facilitators and barriers to influenza vaccination among older adults at the individual, interpersonal, and community levels. Qualitative and mixed-methods research is needed to move from understanding who is and is not receiving an annual influenza vaccine to why and how individuals and communities are receiving annual influenza vaccines. This review is of public health significance because understanding and preventing influenza through the use of the high-dose influenza vaccine has the potential to significantly improve public health through preventing illnesses and hospitalizations, reducing influenza mortality, and reducing expenditures related to influenza morbidity
Precision measurement of the D*(0) decay branching fractions
No full textUsing 482 pb(-1) of data taken at root s = 4.009 GeV, we measure the branching fractions of the decays of D*(0) into D-0 pi(0) and D-0 gamma to be B(D*(0) -> D-0 pi(0)) = (65.5 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.5)% and B(D*(0) -> D0 gamma) = (34.5 +/- 0.8 +/- 0.5)%, respectively, by assuming that the D*(0) decays only into these two modes. The ratio of the two branching fractions is B(D*(0) -> D-0 pi(0))/B(D*(0) -> D-0 gamma) = 1.90 +/- 0.07 +/- 0.05, which is independent of the assumption made above. The first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones systematic. The precision is improved by a factor of 3 compared to the present world average values
- …
