Type IIx muscle fibers are related to poor body composition, glycemic and lipidemic blood profiles in young females: the protective role of type I and IIa muscle fibers.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between muscle fiber composition, body composition, resting glycemic-lipidemic blood profiles, in apparently healthy, young, active females. METHODS: Thirty-four young healthy female volunteers were allocated into two groups, depending on their Vastus Lateralis type IIx muscle fibers percent cross-sectional area (%CSA; H: high type IIx %CSA; L: low type IIx %CSA). Body composition was determined via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Venous blood samples were collected for the determination of resting serum glucose, Insulin, Apo-A1, HOMA-IR, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), High-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) concentrations. Nutritional intake was also evaluated. RESULTS: Individuals of the H group have significantly higher body mass, body fat percentage-mass, and resting blood indices of glycemic and lipidemic profiles, compared to those of L group (p < 0.001). Increased type IIx and low type I, IIa muscle fibers %CSAs were linked with poorer body composition, glycemic and lipidemic blood profiles (r: - 0.722 to 0.740, p < 0.001). Linear regression analyses revealed that the impact of muscle fibers %CSA (B coefficients ranged between - 0.700 and 0.835) on the above parameters, was at least, of the same or even of greater magnitude as that of body composition and daily nutritional intake (B: - 0.700 to 0.666). CONCLUSION: Increased type IIx and low Type I, IIa %CSAs are associated with poorer body composition and glycemic-lipidemic profiles in young healthy females. The contribution of the muscle fiber %CSA on health status seems to be comparable to that of nutrition and body composition.

Effect of a Diode Laser (445 nm) on Polymerization Efficiency of a Preheated Resin Composite Used for Luting of Indirect Composite Restorations.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the polymerization efficiency of a preheated resin composite used as a luting agent for indirect restorations light-cured by a blue diode laser (445 nm). METHODS: Bronze molds were used to prepare cylindrical specimens of a laboratory composite (Ceramage) with dimensions 2, 3, and 4 mm in height and 8 mm in diameter. The molds had additional height of 120 µm for the placement of the preheated resin composite. A nanohybrid resin composite (Enamel Plus HRi) was preheated at 55°C to use as a luting agent. Photopolymerization was followed for 20 seconds using three light sources: a diode laser emitting at 445 nm (SiroLaser Blue) and two light-emitting diode (LED) units (Bluephase Style and Valo). Degree of conversion (DC) of the preheated resin composite was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. RESULTS: The results indicated that the main effects of the analysis were significant for both material thickness (p<0.001) and polymerization method (p<0.001). The preheated resin composite was not polymerized under 4-mm-thick specimens, independent of the light-curing unit. For 2-mm material thickness, there was no difference among the three light-curing units (p=0.383), while 3-mm Bluephase Style presented very low DC. CONCLUSIONS: Diode laser (445 nm) achieved better polymerization efficiency at the same fluence compared to the LED unit at 3-mm depth, implying a better mechanical behavior and potential improved adhesion of the luting material to dentin.

Local and regional air pollution characteristics in Cyprus: A long-term trace gases observations analysis.

Observations of key gaseous trace pollutants, namely NO, NOy, CO, SO2 and O3, performed at several curb, residential, industrial, background and free-troposphere sites were analyzed to assess the temporal and spatial variability of pollution in Cyprus. Notably, the analysis utilized one of the longest datasets of 17 years of measurements (2003-2019) in the East Mediterranean and the Middle East (EMME). This region is considered a regional hotspot of ozone and aerosol pollution. A trend analysis revealed that at several stations, a statistically significant decrease in primary pollutant concentration is recorded, most likely due to pollution control strategies. In contrast, at four stations, a statistically significant increase in ozone levels, ranging between 0.36 ppbv y-1 and 0.82 ppbv y-1, has been observed, attributed to the above strategies targeting the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) but not that of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The NO and NOy, and CO levels at the Agia Marina regional background station were two orders of magnitude and four times lower, respectively, than the ones of the urban centers. The latter denotes that local emissions are not negligible and control a large fraction of the observed interannual and diurnal variability. Speciation analysis showed that traffic and other local emissions are the sources of urban NO and NOy. At the same time, 46 % of SO2 and 40 % of CO, on average, originate from long-range regional transport. Lastly, a one-year analysis of tropospheric NO2 vertical columns from the TROPOMI satellite instrument revealed a west-east low-to-high gradient over the island, with all major hotspots, including cities and powerplants, being visible from space. With the help of an unsupervised machine learning approach, it was found that these specific hotspots contribute overall around 10 % to the total NO2 tropospheric columns.

Metaanálisis para evaluar el riesgo de infecciones respiratorias y síndrome de distrés respiratorio del adulto con los agonistas del receptor del péptido similar al glucagón tipo 1 en los ensayos de seguridad cardiovascular: consecuencias útiles para la pandemia de COVID-19 / Meta-analysis evaluating the risk of respiratory tract infections and acute respiratory distress syndrome with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in cardiovascular outcome trials: Useful implications for the COVID-19 pandemic

Los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DMT2) presentan un mayor riesgo de experimentar una enfermedad grave por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) con un incremento de la mortalidad relacionada. Los agonistas del receptor del péptido similar al glucagón tipo 1 (AR-GLP-1) ejercen efectos cardiovasculares y renales beneficiosos en los pacientes con DMT2 de alto riesgo cardiovascular. Sus propiedades antiinflamatorias podrían resultar beneficiosas en estos pacientes. El presente estudio es un metaanálisis sobre el riesgo de infección respiratoria y distrés respiratorio del adulto causado por AR-GLP-1 utilizando como fuente los ensayos clínicos de seguridad cardiovascular publicados en la bibliografía. Hay que destacar que los AR-GLP-1 no parecen aumentar el riesgo de infección respiratoria, neumonía ni síndrome de distrés respiratorio del adulto en los pacientes con DMT2 y alto riesgo cardiovascular (AU)

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related mortality. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) have significant cardiovascular and renal benefits for patients with T2DM and related comorbidities. Their anti-inflammatory properties could be beneficial in these patients. This work provides less-biased estimates regarding the risk for respiratory tract infections and acute respiratory distress syndrome by performing the first significant meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome trials in the literature. Notably, GLP-1-RAs do not seem to increase the risk for respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with T2DM and cardiovascular comorbidities (AU)

[Meta-analysis evaluating the risk of respiratory tract infections and acute respiratory distress syndrome with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in cardiovascular outcome trials: Useful implications for the COVID-19 pandemic]. / Metaanálisis para evaluar el riesgo de infecciones respiratorias y síndrome de distrés respiratorio del adulto con los agonistas del receptor del péptido similar al glucagón tipo 1 en los ensayos de seguridad cardiovascular: consecuencias útiles para la pandemia de COVID-19.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related mortality. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) have significant cardiovascular and renal benefits for patients with T2DM and related comorbidities. Their anti-inflammatory properties could be beneficial in these patients. This work provides less-biased estimates regarding the risk for respiratory tract infections and acute respiratory distress syndrome by performing the first significant meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome trials in the literature. Notably, GLP-1-RAs do not seem to increase the risk for respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with T2DM and cardiovascular comorbidities.

Meta-analysis evaluating the risk of respiratory tract infections and acute respiratory distress syndrome with glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in cardiovascular outcome trials: Useful implications for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and related mortality. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1-RAs) have significant cardiovascular and renal benefits for patients with T2DM and related comorbidities. Their anti-inflammatory properties could be beneficial in these patients. This work provides less-biased estimates regarding the risk for respiratory tract infections and acute respiratory distress syndrome by performing the first significant meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcome trials in the literature. Notably, GLP-1-RAs do not seem to increase the risk for respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, or acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with T2DM and cardiovascular comorbidities.

Aldolase A deficiency: Report of new cases and literature review.

Aldolase A (ALDOA), is the predominant isoform of aldolase in skeletal muscle and erythrocytes that catalyzes the reversibleconversion of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate. Autosomal recessive mutations in ALDOA, are extremely rare and cause hemolytic anemia and/or recurrent episodes of rhabdomyolysis, usually precipitated by fever. In this report we describe, clinical, laboratory and genetic data of two novel unrelated patients harboring mutations in the ALDOA gene who presented with episodic rhabdomyolysis, we review all previously published cases and discuss the most valuable features for diagnosis of this rare disorder.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors as add-on therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes? A systematic review and meta-analysis of surrogate metabolic endpoints.

OBJECTIVE: As sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are second-line treatment options in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), our study sought to provide precise effect estimates regarding the role of GLP-1RAs vs SGLT-2is as add-on treatments in patients uncontrolled by metformin monotherapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and 'grey literature' were searched from their inception up to December 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with durations≥12weeks to evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding a GLP-1RA vs an SGLT-2i in patients with T2DM. RESULTS: Three eligible RCTs were identified. Administration of GLP-1RAs vs SGLT-2is resulted in significant decreases in HbA1c with no significant impact on either body weight or fasting plasma glucose. GLP-1RA treatment led to a significant increase in odds for achieving an HbA1c<7% compared with SGLT-2is, whereas no difference was detected in body weight reductions of>5%. Significantly greater risk for any hypoglycaemia, nausea and diarrhoea, and lower risk for genital infections, was also observed with GLP-1RAs, while no differences regarding severe hypoglycaemia, treatment discontinuation and impact on blood pressure levels were identified. No other major safety issues arose. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggests that GLP-1RAs provide better glycaemic effects than SGLT-2is in patients with T2DM uncontrolled by metformin, albeit while increasing risk for hypoglycaemia and gastrointestinal adverse events.

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Libyan Men and Women.

Libya is following the trend observed in developing countries of steadily becoming more obese, such that obesity in Libya has reached epidemic proportions in the twenty-first century. The prevalence of obesity in Libya has more than doubled in the last three decades, with the numbers of overweight and obese adults being continuing to grow. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate and describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Libyan men and women. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among the Libyan population. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 401 Libyan adults randomly from the Benghazi electoral register. Qualified nurses were allocated to take anthropometric measurements (including visceral fat and Body Mass Index (BMI)) from participants using the Segmental Body Composition Analyser and a portable Stadiometer. The response rate achieved in this cross-sectional study was 78%. Four hundred and one Libyan adult, aged 20-65 years, participated; 253 were female (63%). The prevalence of obesity, overweight, and normal weight among Libyan adults was 42.4%, 32.9%, and 24.7%, respectively. The results also revealed that approximately 75.3% of Libyan adults were overweight and obese, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity in women was significantly higher than that in men (the prevalence of overweight was 33.2% in women compared to 32.4% in men, while the prevalence of obesity was 47.4% in women compared to 33.8% in men, respectively). The findings of this study confirmed that obesity and overweight are the fastest growing issues and have become one of the most serious public health challenges confronting the Libyan authorities. As the obesity epidemic in Libya continues to escalate, with a complete absence of prevention interventions to reduce obesity, more research is desperately needed to follow the trend of gender difference in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Libyans adults across the Libyan state to improve the effective interventions for preventing obesity.

Structural Integrity Evaluation of Large MOD Restorations Fabricated With a Bulk-Fill and a CAD/CAM Resin Composite Material.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of two composite restorative techniques (direct bulk fill vs indirect CAD/CAM) on the fracture resistance and mode of fracture of extended mesio-occlusal-distal (MOD) cavity preparations. METHODS: Fifty-one sound human mandibular third molars were divided into three groups (n=17). Extended bucco-lingual MOD cavities were prepared. Teeth in group 1 were restored with a bulk-fill resin composite (Filtek Bulk-Fill Posterior Restorative), teeth in group 2 were restored with composite computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) inlays (Lava Ultimate), and teeth in group 3 served as control and remained intact. All specimens were submitted to thermocycling, and a fracture resistance test was performed using a Universal testing machine (0.5 mm/min). Mode of fracture was classified into five types. One-way analysis of variance and the Duncan test were used to analyze the fracture load data at a significance level of α = 0.05. A chi-square test was used for the analysis of fracture mode between the restorative groups. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed significant differences in fracture resistance among the experimental groups. The teeth restored with the bulk-fill composite exhibited lower fracture resistance (1285.3±655.0 N) when compared to the teeth restored with the composite CAD/CAM inlays (1869.8±529.4 N) (p<0.05). Mode of fracture showed the same distribution between the restorative groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although both types of restorations failed at loads larger than those found in the oral cavity, the CAD/CAM composite inlays increased the fracture resistance of teeth with large MOD cavities when compared to direct bulk-fill composite restorations. The majority of fracture types were intraorally repairable for both restorative techniques.

Understanding the risk and protective factors associated with obesity amongst Libyan adults - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: There are a range of multifaceted behavioural and societal factors that combine to contribute to the causes of obesity. However, it is not yet known how particularly countries' cultural norms are contributing to the global obesity epidemic. Despite obesity reaching epidemic proportions in Libya, since the discovery of oil in 1959, there is a lack of information about obesity in Libyan adults. This study sought to explore the views of key informants about the risk and protective factors associated with obesity among Libyan men and women. METHODS: A series of qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with Libyan healthcare professionals and community leaders. RESULTS: Eleven main themes (risk and protective factors) were identified, specifically: socio-demographic and biological factors, socioeconomic status, unhealthy eating behaviours, knowledge about obesity, social-cultural influences, Libya's healthcare facilities, physical activity and the effect of the neighbourhood environment, sedentary behaviour, Libyan food-subsidy policy, and suggestions for preventing and controlling obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Key recommendations are that an electronic health information system needs to be implemented and awareness about obesity and its causes and consequences needs to be raised among the public in order to dispel the many myths and misconceptions held by Libyans about obesity. The current political instability within Libya is contributing to a less-active lifestyle for the population due to security concerns and the impact of curfews. Our findings have implications for Libyan health policy and highlight the urgent need for action towards mitigating against the obesity epidemic in Libya.

Early onset posterior subscapular cataract in a series of myotonic dystrophy type 2 patients.

PurposeEarly onset posterior subscapular cataract (<50 years of age) is a characteristic feature of myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2). Nevertheless, despite being operated at a young age, many patients remain undiagnosed for years. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of early onset posterior subscapular cataract as a presenting symptom of the disease in a cohort of patients with DM2.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed medical records of DM2 patients followed in our institution for the presence of early onset posterior subscapular cataract, of any secondary causes of cataract, of the age of onset of muscle weakness and of final disease diagnosis.ResultsTwenty-eight patients were studied. Nine patients (32.1%) had presented early onset posterior subscapular cataract at a median age of 43 years (IQR=36-46) and seven (25%) reported it was the presenting sign. No patient was referred for neuromuscular evaluation due to the occurrence of early onset cataract. Median delay between cataract onset and referral for neuromuscular evaluation was 10 years (IQR=6.0-19.5) and final DM2 diagnosis was achieved after a median of 16 years (IQR=6.5-19.5).ConclusionThis study shows that early onset posterior subscapular cataract was the first symptom of the disease in 25% of our DM2 patients. Nevertheless, none was suspected of having cataract in the context of DM2, and referral for neuromuscular evaluation was made after a long delay and usually following the appearance of other symptoms. Ophthalmologists can be the first physicians encountering these patients and should have a low threshold for referring them for neuromuscular evaluation.

What matters when judging intentionality-moral content or normative status? Testing the rational scientist model of the side-effect.

Previous work has demonstrated a "side-effect effect," such that intentionality is more likely to be attributed to agents who bring about negatively valenced as opposed to positively valenced side effects. The rational-scientist model explains this by suggesting that norm-violating side effects are more informative for inferring intentionality than norm-conforming side effects. In the present study we reexamined this account, addressing limitations of previous empirical tests (e.g., Uttich & Lombrozo, Cognition 116: 87-100, 2010). Side-effect valence and norm status were manipulated factorially, enabling an examination of the impact of norm status on intentionality judgments in both positively and negatively valenced side effects. Additionally, the impact of side-effect norm status on the perceived valences of side effects and agents was examined. Effects of norm status were found for both positive and negative side effects. Violation of an ostensibly neutral norm led to negative perceptions of the side effect. However, a norm status effect on intentionality judgments persisted when these effects were controlled. These results support the view that the side-effect effect is the result of the rational use of social-cognitive evidence.

GNE-Myopathy in a Greek Romani Family with Unusual Calf Phenotype and Protein Aggregation Pathology.

BACKGROUND: GNE-myopathy is increasingly diagnosed in different ethnicities worldwide. No clear genotype-phenotype correlation has been established to date. CASE REPORTS: We describe two affected members of the same family from Balkan population carrying an already known homozygous pathogenic mutation in the kinase domain of the UDP-N-acetylglucosamine 2 epimerase/N-acetylmannosamime kinase (GNE) gene. The patients presented with severe distal weakness of lower legs combined with rimmed vacuoles in muscle biopsy. However, in contrast to the typical pattern of muscle involvement, one of them showed severe involvement of posterior calf muscles with spared anterior compartment of the lower leg muscles. CONCLUSIONS: These patients provide evidence for a larger variability and further extend the phenotypic spectrum of GNE-myopathy to include preferential calf involvement.

VEEVVIE: Visual Explorer for Empirical Visualization, VR and Interaction Experiments.

Empirical, hypothesis-driven, experimentation is at the heart of the scientific discovery process and has become commonplace in human-factors related fields. To enable the integration of visual analytics in such experiments, we introduce VEEVVIE, the Visual Explorer for Empirical Visualization, VR and Interaction Experiments. VEEVVIE is comprised of a back-end ontology which can model several experimental designs encountered in these fields. This formalization allows VEEVVIE to capture experimental data in a query-able form and makes it accessible through a front-end interface. This front-end offers several multi-dimensional visualization widgets with built-in filtering and highlighting functionality. VEEVVIE is also expandable to support custom experimental measurements and data types through a plug-in visualization widget architecture. We demonstrate VEEVVIE through several case studies of visual analysis, performed on the design and data collected during an experiment on the scalability of high-resolution, immersive, tiled-display walls.

The evaluation of various restoration techniques on internal adaptation of composites in class v cavities.

Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different restoration techniques on the formation of internal microgaps between materials and dentin in class V restorations. Materials and Methods. Twenty-five extracted human premolars were prepared with standardized class V cavity outlines (3 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm). The cavities were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10 cavities each and restored according to manufacturer's instructions: Group 1: preheating (55°C) conventional composite (Filtek Z250), Group 2: flowable composite (Filtek Flow), Group 3: Filtek Flow + Filtek Z250 light-cured separately, Group 4: Filtek Flow + Filtek Z250 light-cured simultaneously, and Group 5 (control): Filtek Z250 at room temperature (23°C). The specimens were then thermocycled and cross-sectioned through the center of the restoration. Subsequently, impressions were taken, and epoxy resin replicas were made. The internal adaptation of the materials to the axial wall was analyzed under SEM. Results. The preheated Filtek Z250 (Group 1) showed better internal adaptation than the room temperature groups (P < 0.05). The combination of Filtek Flow with Filtek Z250 which was light-cured separately (Group 3) exhibited better internal adaptation than control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Different restoration techniques exhibit different behavior regarding internal adaptation to dentin after photopolymerization.

Public stigma towards mental illness in the Greek culture.

Mental illness stigma negatively affects the lives of individuals with mental health disorders. Studies have indicated that the type and degree of stigma significantly varies across cultures. This study aimed to add to this body of knowledge by examining the prevalence and the type of mental illness stigma among individuals who identified themselves as Greek. It also examined the influence of a range of potential within-culture stigma moderating factors, including levels of previous experience with mental illness and mental illness knowledge. A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed, and 111 participants living in England and Greece were sampled through the snowball sampling technique. Stigma prevalence was measured using the 'Community Attitudes to Mental Illness' questionnaire. The findings revealed that participants showed a high degree of sympathy for people with mental illness but also considered them to be inferior and of a lower social class, and needing strict societal control. Higher stigma was significantly associated with being educated in England (instead of Greece), higher religiosity, lower knowledge levels and lower levels personal experience of mental illness. Targeted antistigma campaigns specifically tailored for the Greek culture are required in order to help reduce stigmatizing attitudes.