155 research outputs found
Author Correction: Early pregnancy ultrasound measurements and prediction of first trimester pregnancy loss: A logistic model
No full textThe original version of this Article contained an error in the spelling of the author Patricia J. Goedecke which was incorrectly given as Patricia J. Goeske. The original Article has been corrected
Meeting physical activity guidelines is associated with reduced risk for cardiovascular disease in black South African women; a 5.5-year follow-up study
No full textBackground: Low levels of physical activity (PA) have been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), but few studies have examined whether meeting international PA guidelines is associated with reduced risk in a black South African (SA) population. The aims of this study were to compare body composition and cardio-metabolic risk factors for CVD and T2D between active and inactive groups (part 1, cross-sectional analysis) and, to determine whether PA level predicts changes in body composition and cardio-metabolic risk factors for CVD and T2D at follow-up after 5.5-years (part 2, longitudinal analysis). Methods: Part 1 included a sample of 240 apparently healthy black SA women (26 ± 7 years) who underwent the following measurements at baseline: PA (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ)), body composition and regional fat distribution (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and computerised tomography), blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin and lipid concentrations. For part 2, a sub-sample of women (n = 57) underwent the same measurements after a 5.5-year period. Results: At baseline, 61% of women were classified as meeting the guidelines for moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) according to GPAQ. Women who were active had significantly lower body weight (p < 0.001), body fat (BMI, fat mass, % body fat, waist circumference, central and appendicular fat mass, all p < 0.001), and measures of insulin resistance (fasting serum insulin and HOMA-IR, both p = 0.01), and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.041), compared to the inactive group. At follow-up, all body fat measures increased significantly in both groups and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in those who were active at baseline, but did not change in those who were inactive. Conclusions: Meeting PA guidelines was associated with decreased risk for CVD and T2D in black SA women, but did not prevent the increase in body fat over time. Interventions promoting physical activity to specifically address obesity in this high-risk group are recommended
Efficacy and tolerability of a very low molecular weight heparin compared with standard heparin in patients with unstable angina: a pilot study
No full text...Background: Unstable angina is an active thrombotic process that involves thrombus formation and platelets. It requires a rapid and intensive treatment with anticoagulants and antiplatelets. Hypothesis: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of a very low molecular weight heparin, OP 2000, with standard heparin in the treatment of unstable angina. Tolerance and safety were also assessed. Methods: The study population included 120 consecutive hospitalized patients with unstable angina randomized for treatment with very low molecular weight heparin or with standard heparin. The dosage of the study drug was 200 mg intramuscular (IM) the first day followed by 150 mg IM/day. The control drug was standard heparin starting at a dosage of 5,000 Ul/ml intravenously (IV) and followed by continuous infusion at an activated partial thromboplastin time-adjusted dosage. The primary end points were death, acute myocardial infarction, urgent revascularization, and recurrence of angina. Tolerability was assessed using bleeding parameters, thrombocytopenia, and allergic reactions. Results: Fourteen clinical events were reported in the study group compared with 25 events in the control group (p<0.05). No adverse events were reported in either group. Conclusion: During the acute phase of unstable angina, treatment with a very low molecular weight heparin plus aspirin was more effective than treatment with standard heparin plus aspirin
The impact of obesity and inflammation on metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease and type two diabetes in black and white South African women
No full text[T]he overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the ethnic-specific role of inflammation in obesity and related metabolic risk factors associated with T2DM and CVD in apparently healthy black and white premenopausal South African women
Dise\uf1o de un manual de procedimiento de control interno del activo fijo (andamiaje) de la empresa Vernon L. Goedecke Co Inc.
No full textEl presente trabajo ilustra la aplicaci\uf3n del Dise\uf1o de un Manual de Procedimiento de Control Interno del Activo Fijo (Andamiaje) que sirva de instrumento de control de las actividades de la empresa Vernon L. Goedecke Co Inc.
El prop\uf3sito que persigue el siguiente trabajo es el de evaluar las debilidades y fortalezas del control Interno del Activo Fijo (Andamiaje), herramienta de trabajo que le permitir\ue1 a la Gerencia determinar si se cumplen los objetivos establecidos. El trabajo se realiz\uf3 con diagn\uf3stico de la situaci\uf3n actual del inventario del Activo Fijo de la empresa, elaborando una lista de verificaci\uf3n y la aplicaci\uf3n de encuestas con el fin de determinar los problemas o fallas que pudiese tener la secci\uf3n de estudio. Posteriormente se efectuaran reuniones con la Gerencia y la Administraci\uf3n con la finalidad de informarles sobre las fallas existentes. Este trabajo representa el punto de partida para el proceso de mejoramiento continuo de la Secci\uf3n de Inventario de la empresa, por lo que es importante que la Gerencia considere los resultados obtenidos, a fin de mantener un control interno sobre los Activos Fijos
Transformation of the antidiabetic drug metformin
No full textFor years there have been more and more reports on the presence of drugs in the aquatic environment. Due to the demographic change, the consumption of pharmaceuticals has risen sharply. After taking the drugs, they are partly metabolized in the human body. However, the metabolism is not complete so that both the metabolites and non-metabolized amounts of the parent compounds are excreted. These compounds reach the waste water and afterwards the sewage treatment plants. In sewage treatment plants transformation products can be formed by the oxidative conditions during wastewater treatment processes. The transformation products may have a higher toxicity than the actual environmental pollutants and are often only partly removed during the waste water treatment. Since a lot of these compounds are still unknown, the transformation products are not detected by target analysis used in sewage treatment plants and are often released undetected in the aquatic ecosystems. The released substances may be subject to additional transformation processes in the environment. Pharmaceuticals produced in high amounts can be already detected in the μg/L range in water bodies worldwide.
Metformin and its major transformation product guanylurea are one of the main representatives. Metformin is the drug of choice for treating type 2 diabetes. The drug therapy for diabetes mellitus has increased significantly in recent years. In the year 2015 1500 tons of metformin were prescribed in Germany (for statutory insured persons). Metformin is not metabolized in the human body and is excreted unchanged therefore concentrations between 57 μg/L and 129 μg/L are found in German waste water treatment plants influents.
In this work the transformation of the antidiabetic drug metformin is investigated. The degradation of metformin is initialize by commercial water treatment techniques like UV-radiation or noncommercial techniques like heterogenous photocatalysis based on titanium dioxide. The degradation of metformin and resulting transformation products are analyzed by LC-MS/MS and LC-HRMS
Leakproofness of dangerous goods packagings - comparison of worst-case limit leakage rates and sensitivity of the bubble test
No full textThis work focuses on the question if the bubble test prescribed in the Dangerous Goods Regulations has sufficient sensitivity to detect leakage rates which could result in the formation of explosive atmospheres during transport. The sensitivity of the bubble test is not directly comparable with other leak testing methods because of its different flow conditions.
Therefore, a normalized minimum detectable leakage rate under Helium test conditions is calculated for the bubble test. This sensitivity of the bubble test under reference conditions is compared with limit leakage rates for a worst-case transport scenario. The sensitivity of the bubble test is not sufficient to prove the limit leakage rates for 6-L packagings. The Formation of explosive vapour-air-mixtures cannot be excluded. Therefore, more sensitive leak testing methods should be considered for smaller packaging design types
Determinants of body composition changes over 5.5 years and the associated cardio-metabolic risk factors in free-living black South African women
No full textIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Research from both developed and developing countries, including South Africa (SA), has shown that black women experience a disproportionately high burden of obesity and associated non-communicable diseases compared to their white counterparts. To our knowledge, there are no longitudinal studies that have examined the determinants of obesity and the associated cardio-metabolic risk factors in black SA women. The overall aim of this thesis was to examine the determinants of the changes in body composition and the associations with cardio-metabolic risk factors over a 5.5-year follow-up period in a cohort of free-living black SA women. These aims were addressed in two separate chapters with the following specific aims: Chapter 1: To examine changes in body weight, body composition and body fat distribution over 5.5-years in relation to changes in cardio-metabolic risk factors; Chapter 2: To examine the modifiable and non-modifiable determinants of the changes in body weight and body fat distribution over the follow-up period. A convenience sample of 64 apparently healthy black SA women (26±7 years) were tested at baseline and again after approximately 5.5-years. Testing included measuresof body composition and body fat distribution (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and computerised tomography), blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin and lipid concentrations.An oral glucose tolerance test was performed at follow-up only, from which insulin sensitivity(Matsuda index) and secretion (insulinogenic index) were calculated. In addition, participants completed questionnaires to assess socio-economic status (SES) and lifestyle factors including reproductive health at baseline and follow-up. Physical activity (Global Physical Activity Questionnaire) and dietary intake (Quantified Food Frequency questionnaire) were reported at baseline only. Chapter 1: There was a significant increase in body weight (8.8±12.5%) and total fat mass (16.4±26.9%), and all other measures of body fat distribution (range: 1.4–35.1%). When expressed relative to total fat mass (%FM), there was an increase in trunk fat mass with a concomitant decrease in peripheral fat mass, which was associated with increased fasting glucose concentrations and reduced insulin sensitivity, and a compensatory increase in insulin secretion at follow-up. Chapter 2: The increase in body weight was associated with a lower baseline body mass index (BMI), being nulliparous at baseline, and not having children over the follow-up period. Sanitation at baseline and change in sanitation over time had opposing effects on body weight, with smaller increases in weight in those women who had access to sanitation at baseline and larger increases in weight seen in those who improved sanitation over the follow-up period. Centralisation of body fat was associated with a lower BMI and being nulliparous at baseline only. Being younger at baseline was also associated with larger increases in body weight and centralisation of fat mass, but was not independent of the other variables. In a sample of free-living black SA women, body weight (~9%) and fat mass (~17%) increased significantly over a 5.5-year follow-up period. These increases, and specifically the increase in central fat mass, were associated with increased fasting glucose concentrations and reduced insulin sensitivity. When examining the determinants of weight gain and increasing centralisation of fat mass, younger women without children, with a lower BMI, were at greatest risk of increased weight gain, and should be the target of future interventions in this population. The risk of weight gain was further mediated by changes in SES, which should be examined further
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