An elaborative NMR based plasma metabolomics study revealed metabolic derangements in patients with mild cognitive impairment: a study on north Indian population

Metabolic Brain Disease - Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is transition phase between cognitive decline and dementia. The current study aims to investigate altered metabolic pattern in plasma of...     

Development and evaluation of a microdevice for amino acid biomarker detection and analysis on Mars

The Mars Organic Analyzer (MOA), a microfabricated capillary electrophoresis (CE) instrument for sensitive amino acid biomarker analysis, has been developed and evaluated. The microdevice consists of a four-wafer sandwich combining glass CE separation channels, microfabricated pneumatic membrane valves and pumps, and a nanoliter fluidic network. The portable MOA instrument integrates high voltage CE power supplies, pneumatic controls, and fluorescence detection optics necessary for field operation. The amino acid concentration sensitivities range from micromolar to 0.1 nM, corresponding to part-per-trillion sensitivity. The MOA was first used in the lab to analyze soil extracts from the Atacama Desert, Chile, detecting amino acids ranging from 10-600 parts per billion. Field tests of the MOA in the Panoche Valley, CA, successfully detected amino acids at 70 parts per trillion to 100 parts per billion in jarosite, a sulfate-rich mineral associated with liquid water that was recently detected on Mars. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using the MOA to perform sensitive in situ amino acid biomarker analysis on soil samples representative of a Mars-like environment.     

Frequent occurrence of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is associated with lower total testosterone (T) levels in cross-sectional studies. However, it is not known whether the defect is primary or secondary. We investigated the prevalence of hypogonadism in type 2 diabetes by measuring serum total T, free T (FT), SHBG, LH, FSH, and prolactin (PRL) in 103 type 2 diabetes patients. FT was measured by equilibrium dialysis. FT was also calculated by using T and SHBG (cFT). Hypogonadism was defined as low FT or cFT. The mean age was 54.7 +/- 1.1 yr, mean body mass index (BMI) was 33.4 +/- 0.8 kg/m(2), and mean HbA1c was 8.4 +/- 0.2%. The mean T was 12.19 +/- 0.50 nmol/liter (351.7 +/- 14.4 ng/dl), SHBG was 27.89 +/- 1.65 nmol/liter, and FT was 0.250 +/- 0.014 nmol/liter. Thirty-three percent of patients were hypogonadal. LH and FSH levels were significantly lower in the hypogonadal group compared with patients with normal FT levels (3.15 +/- 0.26 vs. 3.91 +/- 0.24 mIU/ml for LH and 4.25 +/- 0.45 vs. 5.53 +/- 0.40 mIU/ml for FSH; P < 0.05). There was a significant inverse correlation of BMI with FT (r = -0.382; P < 0.01) and T (r = -0.327; P < 0.01). SHBG correlated inversely with BMI (r = -0.267; P < 0.05) but positively with age (r = 0.538; P < 0.001) and T (r = 0.574; P < 0.001). FT correlated strongly with cFT (r = 0.919; P < 0.001) but not with SHBG. LH levels correlated positively with FT (r = 0.287; P < 0.05). We conclude that hypogonadotropic hypogonadism occurs commonly in type 2 diabetes.     

The impact of a celebrity promotional campaign on the use of colon cancer screening: the Katie Couric effect

BACKGROUND: Public participation in many preventive health programs is suboptimal. While various interventions to increase participation have been studied, the impact of a celebrity spokesperson on cancer screening has not been rigorously examined. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of Katie Couric's March 2000 Today Show colorectal cancer awareness campaign on colonoscopy rates. METHODS: A population-based observational study was conducted using 2 different data sources: (1) The Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative (CORI) database-a voluntary consortium of 400 endoscopists who performed 95 000 colonoscopies from July 1998 to December 2000; and (2) 44 000 adult members of a managed care organization. Using change point analyses and linear regression models, we compared colonoscopy utilization rates before and after Ms Couric's March 2000 television series. RESULTS: The number of colonoscopies performed per CORI physician per month after Ms Couric's campaign increased significantly (15.0 per month before campaign; 18.1 after campaign; P<.001). After adjusting for temporal trends, a significantly higher postcampaign colonoscopy rate was sustained for 9 months. Analysis also demonstrated a trend toward an increase in the percentage of colonoscopies performed on women (43.4% before campaign; 47.4% after campaign; P =.054). Colonoscopy rates also increased significantly in the managed care organization after Ms Couric's campaign (1.3 per 1000 members per month before; 1.8 after; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Katie Couric's televised colon cancer awareness campaign was temporally associated with an increase in colonoscopy use in 2 different data sets. These findings suggest that a celebrity spokesperson can have a substantial impact on public participation in preventive care programs.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary bypass graft surgery for patients with medically refractory myocardial ischemia and risk factors for adverse outcomes with bypass: The VA AWESOME multicenter registry: comparison with the randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the three-year survival after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in physician-directed and patient-choice registries with the Angina With Extremely Serious Operative Mortality Evaluation (AWESOME) randomized trial results. BACKGROUND: The AWESOME multicenter randomized trial and registry compared the long-term survival after PCI and CABG for the treatment of patients with medically refractory myocardial ischemia and at least one additional risk factor for adverse outcome with CABG. The randomized trial demonstrated comparable three-year survival. METHODS: Over a five-year period (1995 to 2000), 2,431 patients with medically refractory myocardial ischemia and at least one of five risk factors (prior heart surgery, myocardial infarction within seven days, left ventricular ejection fraction <0.35, age >70 years, intra-aortic balloon required to stabilize) were identified. By physician consensus, 1,650 patients formed a physician-directed registry assigned to CABG (692), PCI (651) or further medical therapy (307), and 781 were angiographically eligible for random allocation; 454 of these patients constitute the randomized trial, and the remaining 327 constitute a patient choice registry. Survival for CABG and PCI was compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests. RESULTS: The CABG and PCI 36-month survival rates for randomized patients were 79% and 80%, respectively. The CABG and PCI 36-month survival rates were both 76% for the physician-directed subgroup; comparable survival rates for the patient-choice subgroup were 80% and 89%, respectively. None of the global log-rank tests for survival demonstrated significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Both registries support the randomized trial conclusion: PCI is an alternative to CABG for some medically refractory high-risk patients.     

Cost-effectiveness of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: forecasting the incremental benefits of preventing coronary and cerebrovascular events

OBJECTIVE: To forecast the long-term benefits and cost-effectiveness of lipid modification in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: A validated model based on data from the Lipid Research Clinics cohort was used to estimate the benefits and cost-effectiveness of lipid modification with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) based on results from the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S), including a 35% decrease in low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels and an 8% increase in high-density-lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels. After comparing the short-term outcomes predicted for the 4S with the results actually observed, we forecast the long-term risk of recurrent myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, transient ischemic attacks, arrhythmias, and strokes and the need for surgical procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting, catheterization, angioplasty, and pacemaker insertions. Outpatient follow-up care costs were estimated, as were the costs of hospital care and drug therapy. All costs were expressed in 1996 US dollars. RESULTS: The short-term outcomes predicted for the 4S were consistent with the observed results. The long-term benefits of lipid modification among low-risk subjects (normotensive nonsmokers) with a baseline LDL/ HDL ratio of 5 but no other risk factors ranged from $5424 to $9548 per year of life saved for men and $8389 to $13747 per year of life saved for women. In high-risk subjects (hypertensive smokers) with an LDL/HDL ratio of 5, the estimated costs ranged from $4487 to $8532 per year of life saved in men and $5138 to $8389 per year of life saved in women. Assuming that lipid modification has no effect on the risk of stroke, cost-effectiveness increased by as much as 100%. CONCLUSIONS: These long-term cost estimates are consistent with the short-term economic analyses of the published 4S results. The long-term treatment of hyperlipidemia in secondary prevention is forecasted to be cost-effective across a broad range of patients between 40 and 70 years of age. Recognizing the additional effects of lipid changes on cerebrovascular events can substantially improve the cost-effectiveness of treating hyperlipidemia.     

The heart and cardiac conduction system in polymyositis-dermatomyositis: A clinicopathologic study of 16 autopsied patients

We reviewed the clinical records of 16 patients with polymyositis-dermatomyositis syndromes autopsied at The Johns Hopkins Hospital to determine the nature and extent of cardiac involvement and its correlation with the severity of disease as a whole. The adult patients ranged in age from 32 to 84 years (average 56); the 2 children were aged 2 and 10 years. The duration of disease ranged from 1 to 72 months (average 21). Seven patients had dermatomyositis, 5 had dermatomyositls with malignancy, 2 had childhood dermatomyositis and 2 had an overlap syndrome. Seven patients had clinical evidence of congestive heart failure, 4 of whom had microscopic evidence of myocarditis. Two patients had bundle branch block; in 1 there was direct involvement of the conduction system by myositis and contraction band necrosis. Evidence of active myocarditis was present in 4 patients (25 %); all had congestive failure. Focal myocardial flbrosis was present in 4 patients. Vascular alterations were present in the coronary arteries in 5 patients (31 %). Three had active vasculitis, 1 had Intimai proliferation and 1 had medial sclerosis with calcification. All patients with active myocarditis had skeletal muscle involvement. Nine patients had myositis without myocarditis. There was no correlation of overall severity of the disease with the presence or absence of active myocarditis. The present study shows that cardiac involvement may be common in polymyositis; congestive failure or conduction abnormalities arising in this setting may be indicative of myocarditis.     

High prevalence of obesity among nursing personnel working in tertiary care hospital

Aim

To find out the prevalence of obesity and glucose intolerance among nurses working in tertiary care hospital.

Micro-array Analysis of Cold Tolerant Tomato Expressing Nicotiana tabacum Osmotin

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences - Our earlier studies have established improved cold tolerance in the transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum...