Hepatic-portal vein infusions of glucagon-like peptide-1 reduce meal size and increase c-Fos expression in the nucleus tractus solitarii, area postrema and central nucleus of the amygdala in rats

We recently reported that brief, remotely controlled intrameal hepatic-portal vein infusions of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) reduced spontaneous meal size in rats. To investigate the neurobehavioural correlates of this effect, we equipped male Sprague-Dawley rats with hepatic-portal vein catheters and assessed (i) the effect on eating of remotely triggered infusions of GLP-1 (1 nmol/kg, 5 min) or vehicle during the first nocturnal meal after 3 h of food deprivation and (ii) the effect of identical infusions performed at dark onset on c-Fos expression in several brain areas involved in the control of eating. GLP-1 reduced (P < 0.05) the size of the first nocturnal meal and increased its satiety ratio. Also, GLP-1 increased (P < 0.05) the number of c-Fos-expressing cells in the nucleus tractus solitarii, the area postrema and the central nucleus of the amygdala, but not in the arcuate or paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei. These data suggest that the nucleus tractus solitarii, the area postrema and the central nucleus of the amygdala play a role in the eating-inhibitory actions of GLP-1 infused into the hepatic-portal vein; it remains to be established whether activation of these brain nuclei reflect satiation, aversion, or both.

Heterogeneity in vaccination coverage explains the size and occurrence of measles epidemics in German surveillance data

The objective of this study was to characterize empirically the association between vaccination coverage and the size and occurrence of measles epidemics in Germany. In order to achieve this we analysed data routinely collected by the Robert Koch Institute, which comprise the weekly number of reported measles cases at all ages as well as estimates of vaccination coverage at the average age of entry into the school system. Coverage levels within each federal state of Germany are incorporated into a multivariate time-series model for infectious disease counts, which captures occasional outbreaks by means of an autoregressive component. The observed incidence pattern of measles for all ages is best described by using the log proportion of unvaccinated school starters in the autoregressive component of the model.

EEG correlation and power during maintenance of wakefulness test after sleep-deprivation

To investigate whether there are any objective EEG characteristics that change significantly between specific time periods during maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT) and whether such changes are associated with the ability to appropriately communicate sleepiness.

Early bursts of body size and shape evolution are rare in comparative data

George Gaylord Simpson famously postulated that much of life's diversity originated as adaptive radiations-more or less simultaneous divergences of numerous lines from a single ancestral adaptive type. However, identifying adaptive radiations has proven difficult due to a lack of broad-scale comparative datasets. Here, we use phylogenetic comparative data on body size and shape in a diversity of animal clades to test a key model of adaptive radiation, in which initially rapid morphological evolution is followed by relative stasis. We compared the fit of this model to both single selective peak and random walk models. We found little support for the early-burst model of adaptive radiation, whereas both other models, particularly that of selective peaks, were commonly supported. In addition, we found that the net rate of morphological evolution varied inversely with clade age. The youngest clades appear to evolve most rapidly because long-term change typically does not attain the amount of divergence predicted from rates measured over short time scales. Across our entire analysis, the dominant pattern was one of constraints shaping evolution continually through time rather than rapid evolution followed by stasis. We suggest that the classical model of adaptive radiation, where morphological evolution is initially rapid and slows through time, may be rare in comparative data.

CT screening and follow-up of lung nodules: effects of tube current-time setting and nodule size and density on detectability and of tube current-time setting on apparent size

The purpose of the study was to quantify and compare the effect of CT dose and of size and density of nodules on the detectability of lung nodules and to quantify the influence of CT dose on the size of the nodules.

Effect of tumor size and tumor-to-liver contrast of hypovascular liver tumors on the diagnostic performance of hepatic CT imaging

To assess the effect of tumor size and tumor-to-liver contrast of simulated hypovascular liver tumors on the diagnostic accuracy of hepatic computed tomography (CT).

Anemia is associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) size and decreased long-term survival after endovascular AAA repair

OBJECTIVE: Anemia is a common comorbid condition in various inflammatory states and an established predictor of mortality in patients with chronic heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and end-stage renal disease. The present study of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) undergoing endovascular repair (EVAR) assessed the relationships between baseline hemoglobin concentration and AAA size, as well as anemia and long-term survival. METHODS: Between March 1994 and November 2006, 711 patients (65 women, mean age 75.8 +/- 7.8 years) underwent elective EVAR. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level <13 g/dL in men and <12 g/dL in women. Post-EVAR mean follow-up was 48.3 +/- 32.0 months. Association of hemoglobin level with AAA size was assessed with multiple linear regression. Mortality was determined with use of the internet-based Social Security Death Index and the electronic hospital record. Kaplan-Meier survival curves of anemic and nonanemic patient groups were compared by the log-rank method. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the influence of anemia on vital status after EVAR. RESULTS: A total of 218/711 (30.7%) of AAA patients undergoing EVAR had anemia at baseline. After adjustment for various risk factors, hemoglobin level was inversely related to maximum AAA diameter (beta: - .144, 95%-CI: -1.482 - .322, P = .002). Post-EVAR survival was 65.5% at 5 years and 44.4% at 10 years. In long-term follow-up, survival was significantly lower in patients with anemia as compared to patients without anemia (P < .0001 by log-rank). Baseline hemoglobin levels were independently related to long-term mortality in multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for various risk factors (adjusted HR: 0.866, 95% CI: .783 to .958, P = .005). Within this model, statin use (adjusted HR: .517, 95% CI: .308 to .868, P = .013) was independently related to long-term survival, whereas baseline AAA diameter (adjusted HR: 1.022, 95% CI: 1.009 to 1.036, P = .001) was an independently associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline hemoglobin concentration is independently associated with AAA size and reduced long-term survival following EVAR. Thus, the presence or absence of anemia offers a potential refinement of existing risk stratification instruments.

Quality, size, and composition of pediatric endobronchial biopsies in cystic fibrosis

BACKGROUND: Studies on airway remodeling in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) may be hampered by difficulty in obtaining evaluable endobronchial biopsy specimens because of large amounts of mucus and inflammation in the CF airway. We prospectively assessed how the quality of biopsy specimens obtained from children with CF compare with those from children with other airway diseases. METHODS: Fiberoptic bronchoscopy with endobronchial biopsy was performed in 67 CF children (age range, 0.2 to 16.8 years), 34 children with wheeze/asthma (W/A), and 64 control children with chronic respiratory symptoms. Up to three biopsy specimens were taken and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Biopsy specimen size and structural composition were quantified using stereology. RESULTS: At least one evaluable biopsy specimen was obtained in 72% of CF children, in 79% of children with W/A, and in 72% of control subjects (difference was not significant). The use of large biopsy forceps (2.0 mm) rather than small biopsy forceps (1.0 mm) [odds ratio (OR), 5.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1 to 29.8; p = 0.037] and the number of biopsy specimens taken (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 5.2; p = 0.006) significantly contributed to the success rate. Biopsy size and composition were similar between groups, except that CF children and those patients with W/A had a higher percentage of the biopsy specimen composed of muscle than did control subjects (median 6.2% and 9.7% vs 0.9%, respectively; p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Biopsy size and quality are adequate for the study of airway remodeling in CF children as young as 2 months of age. Researchers should use large forceps when possible and take at least two biopsy specimens per patient. An increased airway smooth muscle content of the airway mucosa may contribute to the pathophysiology of CF lung disease.

Post-prandial alterations in LDL size and subclasses in patients with growth hormone deficiency

Several studies have suggested that lipoproteins generated during the post-prandial phase are highly atherogenic, with modifications in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) size and density. In the present study we assessed post-prandial variations in LDL size and subclasses in patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD).

Atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype and low-density lipoprotein size and subclasses in patients with growth hormone deficiency before and after short-term replacement therapy

Patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) have increased cardiovascular risk and may show elevated triglyceride and reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations, two lipid abnormalities usually accompanied by increased small dense LDL in the 'atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype' (ALP). In the present study, we directly investigated (1) whether hypopituitary patients with GHD have increased small dense LDL; (2) whether growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) beneficially impact on such particles; (3) the prevalence of ALP in GHD and GHRT patients.

Comparative effects of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone on fasting and postprandial low-density lipoprotein size and subclasses in patients with Type 2 diabetes

To assess the effects of pioglitazone and rosiglitazone on fasting and postprandial low-density lipoprotein (LDL) size and subclasses in patients with Type 2 diabetes.