Differences in LDL oxidizability by glycemic status: the insulin resistance atherosclerosis study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in LDL oxidizability by glycemic status within the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study cohort. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: LDL oxidizability (lag time and oxidation rate) after exposure to copper was compared among 352 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, and known type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, clinic, ethnicity, sex, and smoking status, LDL oxidation rates differed by glycemic status (P = 0.001), with a strong trend (P = 0.0001) for reduced LDL oxidation rate with increasing extent and duration of glucose intolerance (2,378 +/- 54, 2,208 +/- 65, 2,145 +/- 71, and 2,115 +/- 48 arbitrary units [mean +/- SE] for NGT, IGT, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, and known type 2 diabetes, respectively). Differences in LDL oxidation rate among groups were relatively unaltered by adjustment for lipids and lipoproteins, hypertension, BMI, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and remained significant even after further adjustment for dietary antioxidants and fatty acids, as well as medications. LDL lag times differed marginally by glycemic status (P = 0.058), with similar values for NGT, IGT, and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (57-60 min) but higher values for known type 2 diabetes (65 +/- 2). These differences were eliminated by further adjustment for lipids and lipoproteins, hypertension, BMI, and WHR. CONCLUSIONS: We found that glycemic status influenced LDL oxidizability, with a paradoxical reduction in LDL oxidizability, as indicated by a lower LDL oxidation rate with increased extent and duration of glucose intolerance. This difference was only slightly attenuated by adjustment for relevant demographic, metabolic, dietary, and pharmacological factors that potentially influence LDL oxidation.     

Estimation of COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation in individuals aged ≥ 65 years using electronic health registries; a pilot study in four EU/EEA countries,October 2021 to March 2022

By employing a common protocol and data from electronic health registries in Denmark, Navarre (Spain), Norway and Portugal, we estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalisation due to COVID-19 in individuals aged ≥ 65 years old, without previous documented infection, between October 2021 and March 2022. VE was higher in 65–79-year-olds compared with ≥ 80-year-olds and in those who received a booster compared with those who were primary vaccinated. VE remained high (ca 80%) between ≥ 12 and < 24 weeks after the first booster administration, and after Omicron became dominant.     

Final report of the working group for the future planning of the Japanese Association of Anatomists

The working group for the future planning of the Japanese Association of Anatomists (JAA) has been working to address the issues that were consulted from the president of JAA since October 2009. After making the interim report in March 2010, a public hearing for general members of the JAA was held and a final report was submitted to the President in January 2011. The report contains the analysis of the current situation, the directions in which we should proceed, and recommendations of concrete actions that JAA should take for each issue. The issues discussed were as follows: 1. Future prospects of anatomy and morphological sciences. How can we maintain the specialties of morphological and anatomical sciences in the rapidly advancing field of life sciences and develop collaborations with other fields? 2. Improvement of the JAA academic meetings. How can we increase JAA members and young participants in the academic meetings of the JAA? 3. Fostering the next generation of young researchers. How can we increase young researchers graduated from the schools of Medicine or Dentistry? 4. Future prospects of education of gross anatomy. Prospects of education in gross anatomy and the body donation registration system in relation with some new cadaver-related movements.     

Clinimetric evaluation of a new overall disability scale in immune mediated polyneuropathies

OBJECTIVES: To determine the validity, reliability, and responsiveness of a new overall disability sum score in immune mediated polyneuropathies. METHODS: Three impairment measures (MRC sum score, sensory sum score, grip strength (Vigorimeter)) and three disability scales (an overall disability sum score (ODSS), Hughes' functional scale (f score), Rankin scale) were assessed in a cross sectional group of 113 clinically stable patients (83 with Guillain-Barré syndrome, 22 with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), eight with a gammopathy related polyneuropathy). The ODSS was also used serially in 20 patients with recently diagnosed Guillain-Barré syndrome (n = 7) or CIDP (n = 13) and changing clinical conditions. Multiple regression studies were performed to compare the impact of impairment disturbances (independent variables) on the various disability scales (dependent variable). RESULTS: Moderate to good construct validity (stable group: Spearman's rank test (absolute values), r = 0.41-0.79; longitudinal group: multiple correlation coefficient, R = 0.69-0.89; p < 0.006 for all associations) and reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, R = 0.90-0.95; p < 0.0001) were demonstrated for the ODSS. Its SRM values were high (> 0.8), indicating good responsiveness. Impairment measures accounted for a higher variance proportion of the ODSS compared with the f score and Rankin (R = 0.64 v 0.56 and 0.45, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: All clinimetric requirements were met by the overall (arm and leg) disability sum score in immune mediated polyneuropathies. Its use is therefore suggested in evaluating immune mediated polyneuropathies.     

Total Ischaemic Burden European Trial (TIBET): Effects of ischaemia and treatment with atenolol, nifedipine SR and their combination on outcome in patients with chronic stable angina

OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between presence or absence of ischaemicevents on Holter monitoring and occurrence of a hard or hard+softendpoint. DESIGN: A randomized double-blind parallel group study of atenolol,nifedipine and their combination, with ambulatory monitoringoff-treatment and after 6 weeks of randomized treatment andprospective follow-up of 2 years on average. SETTING: Europe. SUBJECTS: 682 men and women with a diagnosis of chronic stable anginaand who were not being considered for surgery. MAIN OUTCOME: Hard endpoints were cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarctionand unstable angina; soft endpoints were coronary artery bypasssurgery, coronary angioplasty and treatment failure. RESULTS: The study showed no evidence of an association between the presence,frequency or total duration of ischaemic events on Holter monitoring,either on or off treatment, and the main outcome measures. Therewas a non-significant trend to a lower rate of hard endpointsin the group receiving combination therapy. Compliance, as measuredby withdrawal from trial medication, was clearly poorest inthe nifedipine group with similar with drawal rates in the atenololand combination therapy groups. CONCLUSION: The recording of ischaemic events in 48 h Holter monitoringfailed to predict hard or hard+soft endpoints in patients withchronic stable angina.