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BACKGROUND: The primary objective of this study was to explore the viewpoints held by employees at a pharmaceutical manufacturing workplace in a middle-income country regarding management's role in promoting health behaviours in the workplace. METHODS: This study used transcripts of focus group discussion from an original study that investigated employee perceptions of factors associated with healthy behaviours among South African pharmaceutical manufacturing factory workers. RESULTS: Participants felt that workplace managers could improve capability through health promotion strategies, supportive leadership and promoting a culture of health. They could provide opportunity through employee engagement programs and resources, and physical activity opportunities were specifically identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that managers in a middle-income country have the potential to contribute to workplace health in a range of ways that include addressing capability, opportunity and motivation of their workers.
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BACKGROUND: The burden of obesity-related, non-communicable diseases in South Africa is persistent, with poor and black South African women particularly vulnerable. The purpose of the present study was to determine relationships between obesity, physical activity, sleep patterns and beverage consumption among black South African women in a rural village in the Limpopo province. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 rural-dwelling African women. Data were collected on beverage consumption, sociodemographic information, sleep patterns and anthropometry using self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS: The mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.5±7.3 kg/m2, with 40% being classified as obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and the mean sleep score was 4.68±2.51. Participants with very bad habitual sleeping patterns consumed significantly more sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol than those with very good sleeping patterns. We also observed that when total coffee with sugar, fruit juice, total sugar-sweetened beverages and weight decreased the number of hours participants slept increased. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified significant associations between body weight, sleep duration and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among rural black South African women. This underscores a need to address unhealthy lifestyle behaviours to lower incidences of non-communicable diseases in rural-dwelling women.
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Between 30% and 70% of patients with breast cancer have pre-existing chronic conditions, and more than half are on long-term non-cancer medication at the time of diagnosis. Preliminary epidemiological evidence suggests that some non-cancer medications may affect breast cancer risk, recurrence, and survival. In this nationwide cohort study, we assessed the association between medication use at breast cancer diagnosis and survival. We included 235,368 French women with newly diagnosed non-metastatic breast cancer. In analyzes of 288 medications, we identified eight medications positively associated with either overall survival or disease-free survival: rabeprazole, alverine, atenolol, simvastatin, rosuvastatin, estriol (vaginal or transmucosal), nomegestrol, and hypromellose; and eight medications negatively associated with overall survival or disease-free survival: ferrous fumarate, prednisolone, carbimazole, pristinamycin, oxazepam, alprazolam, hydroxyzine, and mianserin. Full results are available online from an interactive platform ( https://adrenaline.curie.fr ). This resource provides hypotheses for drugs that may naturally influence breast cancer evolution.
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Neoplasias da Mama , Humanos , Feminino , Neoplasias da Mama/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias da Mama/epidemiologia , Neoplasias da Mama/patologia , Estudos de Coortes , Comorbidade , SinvastatinaRESUMO
CANCERS: INCIDENCE AND SURVIVAL IN METROPOLITAN France. Incidence and survival rates are key indicators for cancer surveillance. They also help to drive cancer control programs and public health policies. Focusing on the main cancer localisations, this paper describes the latest incidence (2023) and survival (2018) rates, as well as their evolutions since 1990 in metropolitan France. In 2023, the number of new cases of cancer was estimated to be 433 136, of which 57% occurring in men. Both gender considered, the most frequent cancers are: breast cancer (61 214 new cases), prostate cancer (59 885 new cases) and lung cancer (52 777 new cases). Although the « all cancer ¼ incidence rate as remained quite stable for 33 years in men, it has been raising by almost 1% per year in women. Regarding survival, the standardized net survival (SNS) at 5 years shows great disparities among tumor sites, and it is overall higher in women. Cancers with the best prognosis are thyroid cancer (SNS at 5 years: 96%), prostate cancer (93%), skin melanoma (93%) and uterine cancer (74%). On the contrary, a few tumor locations, including the pancreas (SNS at 5 years of 11%), the liver (18%) and the lung (20%) are still associated with a poor prognosis, even if survival rates have increased in most of cancer locations since 1990.
CANCERS: INCIDENCE ET SURVIE EN FRANCE MÉTROPOLITAINE. Les données d'incidence et de survie constituent des indicateurs essentiels à la surveillance des cancers et à l'orientation des politiques publiques en matière de lutte contre le cancer. Cet article résume les données les plus récentes d'incidence (2023) et de survie (2018) des principaux cancers, ainsi que leur évolution depuis 1990. En 2023, en France, le nombre total de nouveaux cas de cancers est estimé à 433 136 cas, dont 57 % chez l'homme. Tous sexes confondus, les cancers les plus fréquents sont le cancer du sein (61 214 nouveaux cas), le cancer de la prostate (59 885 nouveaux cas) et le cancer du poumon (52 777 nouveaux cas). Si le taux d'incidence « tous cancers ¼ est plutôt stable chez l'homme depuis 1990 (+0,3 % par an), il a augmenté de presque 1 % par an chez la femme. La survie nette standardisée (SNS) à cinq ans varie, quant à elle, considérablement selon les localisations, meilleure chez les femmes pour les cancers qui concernent les deux sexes. Les cancers de meilleur pronostic sont notamment ceux de la thyroïde (96 %), de la prostate (93 %), le mélanome de la peau (93 %) et le cancer du corps de l'utérus (74 %). À l'inverse, certains cancers fréquents, dont celui du pancréas (SNS à cinq ans de 11 %), du foie (18 %) ou encore du poumon (20 %), ont une survie qui reste défavorable, malgré une évolution encourageante de la survie dans la plupart des localisations depuis 1990.
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Neoplasias da Mama , Melanoma , Neoplasias , Neoplasias da Próstata , Humanos , Masculino , Incidência , Neoplasias/epidemiologia , Neoplasias/terapia , França/epidemiologia , Taxa de Sobrevida , Sistema de RegistrosRESUMO
AFTER CANCER: AFTER-EFFECTS. RETURN TO WORK AND THE RIGHT TO FORGET. The ten-year strategy 2021-2030 against cancers makes staying at work or returning to work after cancer a major priority. A growing number of patients are on the job market at the time of their cancer diagnosis, with a potentially long career future. The after-effects of the disease, and the gap between them and the professional world, present them with numerous difficulties. French national cancer institute (INCa) has launched several initiatives to help people stay in work and return to work, in particular to complement the measures developed by the League against Cancer. INCa has set up the «Cancer and Employment¼ Business Club, a forum for the exchange of best practices and experiences between employers and researchers in the human and social sciences. The «Cancer aide info réseau entrepreneur¼ (CAIRE) scheme supports self-employed patients in their professional careers, and gives them a voice in their professional ecosystem. Research initiatives are also undertaken. The social repercussions of the disease also include its impact on borrowing capacity, for both personal and business loans. The "right to be forgotten" for cancer sufferers applies 5 years after the end of the therapeutic protocol. A grid completes the system, and in certain cases enables insurances for a loan can be obtained on standard or similar terms, even before this period has elapsed. It also includes other pathologies such as HIV, hepatitis C and cystic fibrosis. Last but not least, health questionnaires have been abolished for loans under 200,000. The role of the health professional is paramount, providing advice and facilitating the completion of documents requested by insurers.
APRÈS UN CANCER : SÉQUELLES, RETOUR À L'EMPLOI ET DROIT À L'OUBLI. La stratégie décennale de lutte contre les cancers 2021-2030 fait du maintien et/ou retour au travail ou en activité après un cancer une de ses priorités. Un nombre croissant de malades sont sur le marché du travail au moment de la survenue du cancer, avec un horizon de carrière potentiel assez long. Ces malades doivent faire face à de nombreuses difficultés du fait des séquelles de la maladie mais souvent également du décalage qui s'installe entre eux et le monde professionnel. Les entreprises se sentent fréquemment démunies. L'Institut national de cancer (INCa) a lancé plusieurs actions pour favoriser le maintien et le retour à l'emploi, notamment en complément de dispositifs développés par la Ligue contre le cancer ; l'INCa a ainsi créé un club d'entreprises « Cancer et emploi ¼, espace d'échanges de bonnes pratiques et d'expériences entre employeurs et chercheurs en sciences humaines et sociales. Le dispositif « Cancer Aide Info Réseau Entrepreneur ¼ (CAIRE) accompagne les travailleurs indépendants malades dans leur parcours professionnel et porte leur voix auprès des acteurs de leur écosystème professionnel. Des actions de recherche sont également entreprises. Le retentissement social de la maladie concerne aussi la capacité d'emprunt, pour des prêts à caractère personnel ou professionnel. Le droit à l'oubli pour les personnes atteintes de cancer s'applique cinq ans après la fin du protocole thérapeutique. Une grille vient compléter ce dispositif et permet dans certains cas, avant même la survenue de ce délai, l'obtention d'une assurance pour un prêt aux conditions standard ou s'en rapprochant. Cette grille inclut également d'autres pathologies, comme le VIH, l'hépatite C ou la mucoviscidose. Enfin, les questionnaires de santé sont supprimés pour les assurances de prêts inférieurs à 200 000 . La place du professionnel de santé est prépondérante, en apportant des conseils et en facilitant la complétion des documents demandés par les assureurs.
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Neoplasias , Retorno ao Trabalho , Humanos , Emprego , Neoplasias/epidemiologia , Neoplasias/terapiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of sedentary behaviour has concurrently risen with multiple cardiometabolic risk markers independent of physical activity levels. Office-based workers accumulate the highest levels of sitting time during occupational times. This study aims to investigate the short-term effects of using height-adjustable sit-to-stand workstations on cardiometabolic risk markers of office-based workers in South Africa. RESULTS: Sixty-two office-based workers were randomized into intervention (n = 44), and the control group (n = 18). Small improvements were observed in BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in this cohort. CONCLUSION: This preliminary investigation confirms that short-term height-adjustable sit-stand interventions are effective in reducing workplace sitting time and selected health outcomes. South Africa has been attributed with the highest burden of obesity in Sub-Saharan Africa, as a result, there is a need to implement long-term workplace intervention to reverse these implications. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry, PACTR201911656014962 on the 12th of November 2019.
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Doenças Cardiovasculares , Saúde Ocupacional , Humanos , África do Sul/epidemiologia , Local de Trabalho , Avaliação de Resultados em Cuidados de SaúdeRESUMO
Increasing evidence implicates the tumor microbiota as a factor that can influence cancer progression. In patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), we found that pre-resection antibiotics targeting anaerobic bacteria substantially improved disease-free survival by 25.5%. For mouse studies, we designed an antibiotic silver-tinidazole complex encapsulated in liposomes (LipoAgTNZ) to eliminate tumor-associated bacteria in the primary tumor and liver metastases without causing gut microbiome dysbiosis. Mouse CRC models colonized by tumor-promoting bacteria (Fusobacterium nucleatum spp.) or probiotics (Escherichia coli Nissle spp.) responded to LipoAgTNZ therapy, which enabled more than 70% long-term survival in two F. nucleatum-infected CRC models. The antibiotic treatment generated microbial neoantigens that elicited anti-tumor CD8+ T cells. Heterologous and homologous bacterial epitopes contributed to the immunogenicity, priming T cells to recognize both infected and uninfected tumors. Our strategy targets tumor-associated bacteria to elicit anti-tumoral immunity, paving the way for microbiome-immunotherapy interventions.
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Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that signals through 5-HT receptors to control key functions in the nervous system. Serotonin receptors are also ubiquitously expressed in various organs and have been detected in embryos of different organisms. Potential morphogenetic functions of serotonin signaling have been proposed based on pharmacological studies but a mechanistic understanding is still lacking. Here, we uncover a role of serotonin signaling in axis extension of Drosophila embryos by regulating Myosin II (MyoII) activation, cell contractility and cell intercalation. We find that serotonin and serotonin receptors 5HT2A and 5HT2B form a signaling module that quantitatively regulates the amplitude of planar polarized MyoII contractility specified by Toll receptors and the GPCR Cirl. Remarkably, serotonin signaling also regulates actomyosin contractility at cell junctions, cellular flows and epiblast morphogenesis during chicken gastrulation. This phylogenetically conserved mechanical function of serotonin signaling in regulating actomyosin contractility and tissue flow reveals an ancestral role in morphogenesis of multicellular organisms.
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Actomiosina , Serotonina , Animais , Citoesqueleto de Actina , Transdução de Sinais , Proteínas do Citoesqueleto , Drosophila , MorfogêneseRESUMO
Environmental Enteric Dysfunction (EED) is an associate driver of stunting in poor settings, and intestinal infections indirectly contribute to the pathophysiology underlying EED. Our work aimed at assessing whether enteric viral carriage is determinant to stunting. A total of 464 healthy and asymptomatic children, aged 2 to 5 years, were recruited, and classified as non-stunted, moderately stunted, or severely stunted. Among the recruited children, 329 stool samples were obtained and screened for enteric and non-enteric viruses by real-time polymerase chain reaction. We statistically tested for the associations between enteric viral and potential risk factors. Approximately 51.7% of the stool samples were positive for at least one virus and 40.7% were positive for non-enteric adenoviruses. No statistical difference was observed between virus prevalence and the growth status of the children. We did not find any statistically significant association between viral infection and most of the socio-demographic risk factors studied, except for having an inadequate food quality score or an over-nourished mother. In addition, being positive for Ascaris lumbricoides was identified as a protective factor against viral infection. In conclusion, we did not find evidence of a direct link between stunting and enteropathogenic viral carriage in our population.
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Objectives: Hypoparathyroidism is the most common complication of total thyroidectomy for cancer, and requires calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation for an unpredictable period of time. The additional cost associated with this complication has not hitherto been assessed. The aim of this study was to assess the economic burden of postoperative hypoparathyroidism after total thyroidectomy for cancer in France. Methods: Based on the French national cancer cohort, which extracts data from the French National Health Data System (SNDS), all adult patients who underwent a total thyroidectomy for cancer in France between 2011 and 2015 were identified, and their healthcare resource use during the first postoperative year was compared according to whether they were treated postoperatively with calcium and/or vitamin D or not. Univariate and multivariate cost analyses were performed with the non-parametric Wilcoxon test and generalized linear model (gamma distribution and log link), respectively. Results: Among the 31,175 patients analyzed (75% female, median age: 52y), 13,247 (42%) started calcium and/or vitamin D supplementation within the first postoperative month, and 2,855 patients (9.1%) were still treated at 1 year. Over the first postoperative year, mean overall and specific health expenditures were significantly higher for treated patients than for untreated patients: 7,233 vs 6,934 per patient (p<0.0001) and 478.6 vs 332.7 per patient (p<0.0001), respectively. After adjusting for age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity index, ecological deprivation index, types of thyroid resection, lymph node dissection and complications, year and region, the incremental cost of overall health care utilization was 142 (p<0.004). Conclusion: Our study found a significant additional cost in respect of health expenditures for patients who had hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy for cancer, over the first postoperative year. Five-year follow-up is planned to assess the impact of more severe long-term complications on costs.
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Hipocalcemia , Hipoparatireoidismo , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide , Adulto , Humanos , Feminino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Masculino , Tireoidectomia/efeitos adversos , Estudos de Coortes , Cálcio , Gastos em Saúde , Hipocalcemia/complicações , Hipoparatireoidismo/epidemiologia , Hipoparatireoidismo/etiologia , Neoplasias da Glândula Tireoide/complicações , Vitamina D/uso terapêutico , Cálcio da Dieta , Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de SaúdeRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: There is limited evidence, particularly qualitative analysis, of health and wellness interventions within the South African workplace. The purpose of this study is to explore whether health and wellness coaching when offered as part of an employee wellness program has potential for developing lifestyle change in a South African workplace. METHODS: There were four, 45-minute focus group discussions, where employees discussed their experiences of the workplace health and wellness intervention program. RESULTS: Main categories identified from the coding of the transcripts were purpose of the health and wellness coaching program, as well as employees' program experience and improvement to the program. Common barriers to engagement, positive and negative experiences, and suggested improvements were defined by the employees. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlighted the need of understanding employee perceptions in the development and implementation of a workplace health and wellness program.
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Tutoria , Saúde Ocupacional , Humanos , Promoção da Saúde , Comportamentos Relacionados com a Saúde , Grupos Focais , Local de TrabalhoRESUMO
Niobium oxide (Nb2O5) is a semiconductor that exhibits photocatalytic properties, making it potentially valuable in addressing air pollution, self-cleaning, and self-disinfection in cement-based materials (CBMs). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of different Nb2O5 concentrations on various parameters, including rheological characteristics, hydration kinetics (measured using isothermal calorimetry), compressive strength, and photocatalytic activity, specifically in the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) in white Portland cement pastes. The incorporation of Nb2O5 increased the yield stress and viscosity of the pastes by up to 88.9% and 33.5%, respectively, primarily due to the larger specific surface area (SSA) provided by Nb2O5. However, this addition did not significantly affect the hydration kinetics or the compressive strength of the cement pastes after 3 and 28 days. Tests focusing on the degradation of RhB in the cement pastes revealed that the inclusion of 2.0 wt.% of Nb2O5 was insufficient to degrade the dye when exposed to 393 nm UV light. However, an interesting observation was made concerning RhB in the presence of CBMs, as it demonstrated a degradation mechanism that was not dependent on light. This phenomenon was attributed to the production of superoxide anion radicals resulting from the interaction between the alkaline medium and hydrogen peroxide.
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BACKGROUND: The first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic led to a rapid and unexpected saturation of the French ICU, forcing the health care system to adapt. Among other emergency measures, inter-hospital transfers were carried out. OBJECTIVE: To assess the psychological experience of patients and their relatives regarding inter-hospital transfers. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with transferred patients and their relatives. A phenomenological study design was used to examine subjective experiences and their meanings for the participants. RESULTS: The analysis found nine axes pertaining to the experiences of IHT (inter-hospital transfers), grouped in three super-ordinate themes: Information about inter-hospital transfers, differences in patients' and relatives' experiences, and host hospital experience. It appears that patients felt little impacted by the transfers, unlike relatives who experienced intense anxiety when the transfer was announced. Good communications between patients and their relatives resulted in a good level of satisfaction regarding their host hospitals. COVID-19 and its somatic consequences seem to have had more psychological impact on the participants than the transfers by themselves. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that there are limited current psychological consequences of the IHT implemented during the first wave of COVID-19, although the involvement of patients and their relatives in the organization of the IHT at the time of transfer could further limit them.
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COVID-19 , Humanos , Pandemias , Hospitais , Pesquisa Qualitativa , Atenção à SaúdeAssuntos
COVID-19 , Síndrome de COVID-19 Pós-Aguda , Humanos , Exercício Físico , Progressão da DoençaRESUMO
Importance: COVID-19 has had a major effect on health care activities, especially surgery. At first, comparisons were proposed using 2019 activities as the highest standard. However, while such an approach might have been suitable during the first months of the pandemic, this might no longer be the case for a longer period. Objective: To examine approaches that may better assess the use of cancer surgeries. Design, Setting, and Participants: In a cross-sectional design, the nationwide French hospital facility data (Medicalised Information System Program) were used to assess cancer surgery for 6 cancer site categories in adults from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021. Exposure: Estimated cancer surgery activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Main Outcomes and Measures: Three models were proposed to assess the expected number of surgical procedures between 2020 and 2021 and make a comparison with those observed in earlier years. Results: In France, cancer removal surgeries account for approximately 7000 hospitalizations per year for liver cancer; 4000 for pancreatic cancer; 7700 for ovarian cancer; 1300 for esophagus cancer; 23â¯000 for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) cancer; 78â¯000 for breast cancer; and 16â¯600 for thoracic cancers. For most cancer sites, the number of surgical procedures increased from 2010 to 2019: liver, 14%; pancreas, 38%; ovary, 14%; esophagus, 18%; breast, 8%; and thoracic, 29%. Assuming stability, these values underestimate the gap in activity observed in 2020-2021. For other procedures, a decrease was observed: stomach, -10%, and ENT, -6%. Assuming stability, these values overestimate the gap in activity observed in 2020-2021. At the end of 2021, according to the model, the gap in activity observed in 2020-2021 was estimated at between -1.4% and 1.7% for breast, -6.6% and -7.3% for thoracic, -3.1% and -2.5% for ovarian, -4.2% and -1.7% for pancreas, -6.7% and 5.9% for stomach, and -13.0% and -13.9% for esophageal cancers. For ENT, liver, and urologic cancers, because the trend was different before and after 2015, it was necessary to opt for modeling using only the most recent period. The cumulative gap in activity observed in 2020-2021 was estimated at -1.0% for ENT cancers, -5.3% for liver cancers, and -2.9% for urologic cancers. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study suggest that short- and medium-term trends must be considered to estimate COVID-19 cancer surgery activities. Breast cancer is the site for which the activity showed the smallest decrease during the pandemic, with almost full recovery in 2021.
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Neoplasias da Mama , COVID-19 , Neoplasias Urológicas , Adulto , Feminino , Humanos , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Pandemias , Estudos Transversais , França/epidemiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in South African workers has been shown to be associated with absenteeism and increased risk of morbidity. Low-income workers living in urban settings are particularly vulnerable. Consultation with workers is crucial for understanding risks and identifying opportunities for intervention to promote health in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to examine South African pharmaceutical manufacturing workers' perspectives of health risk factors and absenteeism, and to identify how they perceived a role for the organisation to initiate interventions to improve their health. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five focus groups were conducted to capture 27 employees' perspectives. The semi-structured focus group discussions were recorded and analysed using a thematic content analysis approach. RESULTS: Participants indicated that they were aware of behavioural health risks such as prolonged sitting. They showed insight into strategies to prevent injuries and stay healthy, but also expressed dissatisfaction about the lack of organisational support, leading to stress and consequently absenteeism. Participants emphasized the responsibility of the organisation to support a range of health promoting strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study are important for cultivating a tailored workplace intervention to reduce NCD risk factors in the pharmaceutical manufacturing workforce. It is vital that these be supported by leadership of the company through the provision of funding and the development of internal healthcare services.
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Doenças não Transmissíveis , Humanos , Doenças não Transmissíveis/epidemiologia , Doenças não Transmissíveis/prevenção & controle , Promoção da Saúde , Absenteísmo , Local de Trabalho , Preparações FarmacêuticasRESUMO
Anisotropic strain is an external field capable of selectively addressing the role of nematic fluctuations in promoting superconductivity. We demonstrate this using polarization-resolved elasto-Raman scattering by probing the evolution of nematic fluctuations under strain in the normal and superconducting state of the paradigmatic iron-based superconductor Ba(Fe_{1-x}Co_{x})_{2}As_{2}. In the parent compound BaFe_{2}As_{2} we observe a strain-induced suppression of the nematic susceptibility which follows the expected behavior of an Ising order parameter under a symmetry breaking field. For the superconducting compound, the suppression of the nematic susceptibility correlates with the decrease of the critical temperature T_{c}, indicating a significant contribution of nematic fluctuations to electron pairing. Our results validate theoretical scenarios of enhanced T_{c} near a nematic quantum critical point.
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Gluteofemoral fat correlates negatively with a number of cardiometabolic disease risk factors, but the mechanisms involved in these relationships are unknown. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that gluteofemoral fat attenuates the risk of cardiometabolic disease by increasing blood adiponectin levels. This was a cross-sectional study in which arm, leg, gluteofemoral, abdominal s.c. and visceral fat levels were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 648 African females. Fasting serum adiponectin, lipid, insulin and plasma glucose levels and blood pressure were measured. Relationships between variables were analysed using multivariable linear regression and structural equation modelling. Adiponectin correlated positively (ß = 0.45, P < 0.0001) with gluteofemoral fat in a multivariable regression model that included age, height, and arm, s.c. and visceral fat levels. In further regression models, there was a negative correlation of gluteofemoral fat with fasting glucose (ß = -0.28; P < 0.0001) and triglyceride levels (ß = -0.29; P < 0.0001) and insulin resistance (HOMA; ß = -0.26; P < 0.0001). Structural equation modelling demonstrated that adiponectin mediated 20.7% (P < 0.01) of the association of gluteofemoral fat with insulin resistance and 16.1% (P < 0.01) of the association with triglyceride levels but only 6.67% (P = 0.31) of the association with glucose levels. These results demonstrate that gluteofemoral and leg fat are positively associated with adiponectin levels and that the negative association of lower body fat with insulin resistance and triglyceride levels may partially be mediated by this adipokine. Further studies are required to determine other factors that mediate the effect of lower body fat on cardiometabolic disease risk factors.