Search results for "Academics"
showing 10 items of 177 documents
The dapagliflozin and prevention of adverse outcomes in chronic kidney disease (DAPA-CKD) trial: baseline characteristics
2020
Abstract Background The Dapagliflozin and Prevention of Adverse outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease (DAPA-CKD; NCT03036150) trial was designed to assess the effect of the sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin on kidney and cardiovascular events in participants with CKD with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). This analysis reports the baseline characteristics of those recruited, comparing them with those enrolled in other trials. Methods In DAPA-CKD, 4304 participants with a urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥200 mg/g and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 25 and 75 mL/min/1.73 m2 were randomized to dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily or placebo. Me…
Human brain ages with hierarchy-selective attenuation of prediction errors
2020
Abstract From the perspective of predictive coding, our brain embodies a hierarchical generative model to realize perception, which proactively predicts the statistical structure of sensory inputs. How are these predictive processes modified as we age? Recent research suggested that aging leads to decreased weighting of sensory inputs and increased reliance on predictions. Here we investigated whether this age-related shift from sensorium to predictions occurs at all levels of hierarchical message passing. We recorded the electroencephalography responses with an auditory local–global paradigm in a cohort of 108 healthy participants from 3 groups: seniors, adults, and adolescents. The detect…
Management of Graves‘Thyroidal And Extrathyroidal Disease – An Update
2020
Abstract Context Invited update on the management of systemic autoimmune Graves disease (GD) and associated Graves orbitopathy (GO). Evidence acquisition Guidelines, pertinent original articles, systemic reviews, and meta-analyses. Evidence synthesis Thyrotropin receptor antibodies (TSH-R-Abs), foremost the stimulatory TSH-R-Abs, are a specific biomarker for GD. Their measurement assists in the differential diagnosis of hyperthyroidism and offers accurate and rapid diagnosis of GD. Thyroid ultrasound is a sensitive imaging tool for GD. Worldwide, thionamides are the favored treatment (12-18 months) of newly diagnosed GD, with methimazole (MMI) as the preferred drug. Patients with persistent…
Maternal Iodine Status During Pregnancy Is Not Consistently Associated with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Autistic Traits in Children
2020
Background: Severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy can cause intellectual disability, presumably through inadequate placental transfer of maternal thyroid hormone to the fetus. The association between mild-to-moderate iodine deficiency and child neurodevelopmental problems is not well understood. Objectives: We investigated the association of maternal iodine status during pregnancy with child attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic traits. Methods: This was a collaborative study of 3 population-based birth cohorts: Generation R (n = 1634), INfancia y Medio Ambiente (n = 1293), and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n = 2619). Exclusion criteria were…
The impact of aircraft noise on vascular and cardiac function in relation to noise event number: a randomized trial
2020
Abstract Aims Nighttime aircraft noise exposure has been associated with increased risk of hypertension and myocardial infarction, mechanistically linked to sleep disturbance, stress, and endothelial dysfunction. It is unclear, whether the most widely used metric to determine noise exposure, equivalent continuous sound level (Leq), is an adequate indicator of the cardiovascular impact induced by different noise patterns. Methods and results In a randomized crossover study, we exposed 70 individuals with established cardiovascular disease or increased cardiovascular risk to two aircraft noise scenarios and one control scenario. Polygraphic recordings, echocardiography, and flow-mediated dila…
Body weight and premature retirement: population-based evidence from Finland.
2021
Abstract Background Health status is a principal determinant of labour market participation. In this study, we examined whether excess weight is associated with withdrawal from the labour market owing to premature retirement. Methods The analyses were based on nationally representative data from Finland over the period 2001–15 (N ∼ 2500). The longitudinal data included objective measures of body weight (i.e. body mass index and waist circumference) linked to register-based information on actual retirement age. The association between the body weight measures and premature retirement was modelled using cubic b-splines via logistic regression. The models accounted for other possible risk fact…
Targeted use of intraoperative frozen-section analysis lowers the frequency of completion thyroidectomy
2021
Abstract Background The impact of intraoperative frozen section (iFS) analysis on the frequency of completion thyroidectomy for the management of thyroid carcinoma is controversial. Although specialized endocrine centres have published their respective results, there are insufficient data from primary and secondary healthcare levels. The aim of this study was to analyse the utility of iFS analysis. Methods In the Prospective Evaluation Study Thyroid Surgery (PETS) 2 study, 22 011 operations for benign and malignant thyroid disease were registered prospectively in 68 European hospitals from 1 July 2010 to 31 December 2012. Group 1 consisted of 569 patients from University Medical Centre (UMC…
Effectiveness and Safety of Ustekinumab in Ulcerative Colitis: Real-world Evidence from the ENEIDA Registry
2021
Abstract Background and Aims The development programm UNIFI has shown promising results of ustekinumab in ulcerative colitis [UC] treatment which should be confirmed in clinical practice. We aimed to evaluate the durability, effectiveness, and safety of ustekinumab in UC in real life. Methods Patients included in the prospectively maintained ENEIDA registry, who received at least one intravenous dose of ustekinumab due to active UC [Partial Mayo Score [PMS]>2], were included. Clinical activity and effectiveness were defined based on PMS. Short-term response was assessed at Week 16. Results A total of 95 patients were included. At Week 16, 53% of patients had response [including 35% o…
Mechanical characterization of rose bengal and green light crosslinked collagen scaffolds for regenerative medicine
2021
Abstract Collagen is one of the most important biomaterials for tissue engineering approaches. Despite its excellent biocompatibility, it shows the non-negligible disadvantage of poor mechanical stability. Photochemical crosslinking with rose bengal and green light (RGX) is an appropriate method to improve this property. The development of collagen laminates is helpful for further adjustment of the mechanical properties as well as the controlled release of incorporated substances. In this study, we investigate the impact of crosslinking and layering of two different collagen scaffolds on the swelling behavior and mechanical behavior in micro tensile tests to obtain information on its wearin…
May Measurement Month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Italy
2020
Abstract Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are burdened by high mortality and morbidity, being responsible for half of the deaths in Europe. Although hypertension is recognized as the most important CV risk factor, hypertension awareness and blood pressure (BP) control are still unsatisfactory. In 2017, 30.6% of a >10 000 individual sample who took part in the May Measurement Month (MMM) campaign in Italy was found to have high BP. To raise awareness on the hypertension issue and to report BP data on a nation-wide scale in Italy. In the frame of the MMM campaign, an opportunistic cross-sectional survey of volunteers aged ≥18 was carried out in May 2018. Blood pressure measurement, the def…