ABSTRACT
The ForMAX beamline at the MAX IV Laboratory provides multiscale and multimodal structural characterization of hierarchical materials in the nanometre to millimetre range by combining small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering with full-field microtomography. The modular design of the beamline is optimized for easy switching between different experimental modalities. The beamline has a special focus on the development of novel fibrous materials from forest resources, but it is also well suited for studies within, for example, food science and biomedical research.
ABSTRACT
Tinnitus, a phantom auditory percept, is strongly associated with cochlear trauma. The latter leads to central changes in auditory pathways such as increased spontaneous activity and this may be involved in tinnitus generation. As not all people with cochlear trauma develop tinnitus, recent studies argue that non-auditory structures, such as prefrontal cortex (PFC), play an important role in tinnitus development. As part of sensory gating circuitry, PFC may modify activity in auditory thalamus and consequently in auditory cortex. Human studies suggest that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive tool for neurostimulation, can alter tinnitus perception. This study used a guinea pig model of hearing loss and tinnitus to investigate effects of low-intensity rTMS (LI-rTMS) over PFC on tinnitus and spontaneous activity in auditory thalamus. In addition, immunohistochemistry for calbindin and parvalbumin in PFC was used to investigate the possible mechanism of action of LI-rTMS. Three treatment groups were compared: sham treatment, LI, low frequency (1 Hz) or LI, high frequency (10 Hz) rTMS (10 min/day, 2 weeks, weekdays only). None of the treatments affected the behavioural measures of tinnitus but spontaneous activity was significantly increased in auditory thalamus after 1 Hz and 10 Hz treatment. Immunostaining showed significant effects of rTMS on the density of calcium-binding protein expressing neurons in the dorsal regions of the PFC suggesting that rTMS treatment evoked plasticity in cortex. In addition, calbindin-positive neuron density in the superficial region of PFC was negatively correlated with spontaneous activity in auditory thalamus suggesting a possible mechanism for change in activity observed.
Subject(s)
Action Potentials/physiology , Behavior, Animal/physiology , Geniculate Bodies/physiopathology , Prefrontal Cortex/physiopathology , Prepulse Inhibition/physiology , Tinnitus/physiopathology , Tinnitus/therapy , Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/methods , Animals , Audiometry , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Guinea Pigs , MaleABSTRACT
We measured fasting serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C) levels in 5000 individuals. Coronary artery disease (CAD) was present in 31%. Compared with women, men had lower mean TC, LDL-C and HDL-C and higher mean TG. Optimal TC level was observed in only 46% of men and 41% of women, and optimal TG in 42% of men and 50% of women. Only 3% of men and 12% of women had HDL-C > 60 mg/dL. Mean TC was not different in CAD patients and those without CAD, but mean TG was significantly higher and mean HDL-C was lower. In all age groups, low HDL-C was more prevalent among men and women who had CAD.
Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Disease/epidemiology , Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Analysis of Variance , Chi-Square Distribution , Cholesterol/blood , Cholesterol, HDL/blood , Cholesterol, LDL/blood , Coronary Artery Disease/etiology , Fasting , Female , Humans , Hyperlipidemias/blood , Hyperlipidemias/complications , Hyperlipidemias/diagnosis , Jordan/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Regression Analysis , Risk Factors , Sex Distribution , Triglycerides/bloodABSTRACT
We measured fasting serum total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], and low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C and HDL-C] levels in 5000 individuals. Coronary artery disease [CAD] was present in 31%. Compared with women, men had lower mean TC, LDL-C and HDL-C and higher mean TG. Optimal TC level was observed in only 46% of men and 41% of women, and optimal TG in 42% of men and 50% of women. Only 3% of men and 12% of women had HDL-C > 60 mg/dL. Mean TC was not different in CAD patients and those without CAD, but mean TG was significantly higher and mean HDL-C was lower. In all age groups, low HDL-C was more prevalent among men and women who had CAD
