Sex difference in the association of metabolic syndrome with high sensitivity C-reactive protein in a Taiwanese population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although sex differences have been reported for associations between components of metabolic syndrome and inflammation, the question of whether there is an effect modification by sex in the association between inflammation and metabolic syndrome has not been investigated in detail. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare associations of high sensitivity C-creative protein (hs-CRP) with metabolic syndrome and its components between men and women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1,305 subjects aged 40 years and over were recruited in 2004 in a metropolitan city in Taiwan. The biochemical indices, such as hs-CRP, fasting glucose levels, lipid profiles, urinary albumin, urinary creatinine and anthropometric indices, were measured. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the American Heart Association and the National Heart, lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) definition. The relationship between metabolic syndrome and hs-CRP was examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After adjustment for age and lifestyle factors including smoking, and alcohol intake, elevated concentrations of hs-CRP showed a stronger association with metabolic syndrome in women (odds ratio comparing tertile extremes 4.80 [95% CI: 3.31-6.97]) than in men (2.30 [1.65-3.21]). The p value for the sex interaction was 0.002. All components were more strongly associated with metabolic syndrome in women than in men, and all sex interactions were significant except for hypertension.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data suggest that inflammatory processes may be of particular importance in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome in women.</p

Development of Energy Management System Based on Internet of Things Technique

The purpose of this study was to develop an energy management system for university campuses based on the Internet of Things (IoT) technique. The proposed IoT technique based on WebAccess is used via network browser Internet Explore and applies TCP/IP protocol. The case study of IoT for lighting energy usage management system was proposed. Structure of proposed IoT technique included perception layer, equipment layer, control layer, application layer and network layer

Immunogenicity and Safety of the Adjuvanted Recombinant Zoster Vaccine in Chronically Immunosuppressed Adults Following Renal Transplant: A Phase 3, Randomized Clinical Trial

open15BACKGROUND: The incidence of herpes zoster is up to 9 times higher in immunosuppressed solid organ transplant recipients than in the general population. We investigated the immunogenicity and safety of an adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) in renal transplant (RT) recipients ≥18 years of age receiving daily immunosuppressive therapy. METHODS: In this phase 3, randomized (1:1), observer-blind, multicenter trial, RT recipients were enrolled and received 2 doses of RZV or placebo 1-2 months (M) apart 4-18M posttransplant. Anti-glycoprotein E (gE) antibody concentrations, gE-specific CD4 T-cell frequencies, and vaccine response rates were assessed at 1M post-dose 1, and 1M and 12M post-dose 2. Solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AEs) were recorded for 7 and 30 days after each dose, respectively. Solicited general symptoms and unsolicited AEs were also collected 7 days before first vaccination. Serious AEs (including biopsy-proven allograft rejections) and potential immune-mediated diseases (pIMDs) were recorded up to 12M post-dose 2. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-four participants (RZV: 132; placebo: 132) were enrolled between March 2014 and April 2017. gE-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were higher in RZV than placebo recipients across postvaccination time points and persisted above prevaccination baseline 12M post-dose 2. Local AEs were reported more frequently by RZV than placebo recipients. Overall occurrences of renal function changes, rejections, unsolicited AEs, serious AEs, and pIMDs were similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS: RZV was immunogenic in chronically immunosuppressed RT recipients. Immunogenicity persisted through 12M postvaccination. No safety concerns arose. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT02058589.openVink P.; Ramon Torrell J.M.; Sanchez Fructuoso A.; Kim S.-J.; Kim S.-I.; Zaltzman J.; Ortiz F.; Campistol Plana J.M.; Fernandez Rodriguez A.M.; Rebollo Rodrigo H.; Campins Marti M.; Perez R.; Gonzalez Roncero F.M.; Kumar D.; Chiang Y.-J.; Doucette K.; Pipeleers L.; Aguera Morales M.L.; Rodriguez-Ferrero M.L.; Secchi A.; McNeil S.A.; Campora L.; Di Paolo E.; El Idrissi M.; Lopez-Fauqued M.; Salaun B.; Heineman T.C.; Oostvogels L., Caldara Rossana, Carmellini Mario, Chen Yen-Ta, Garibotto Giacomo, González Montes Esther, Kanaan Nada, Kuypers Dirk, Lin Cheng-Chia, Maggiore Umberto, Navratil Pavel, Van der Tol Arjan, Villate Navarro José Ignacio, Virgilio Bice, and Wu Ming-Ju.Vink, P. ; Ramon Torrell J. M. ; Sanchez Fructuoso A. ; Kim S. -J. ; Kim S. -I. ; Zaltzman J. ; Ortiz F. ; Campistol Plana J. M. ; Fernandez Rodriguez A. M. ; Rebollo Rodrigo H. ; Campins Marti M. ; Perez R. ; Gonzalez Roncero F. M. ; Kumar D. ; Chiang Y. -J. ; Doucette K. ; Pipeleers L. ; Aguera Morales M. L. ; Rodriguez-Ferrero M. L. ; Secchi A. ; McNeil S. A. ; Campora L. ; Di Paolo E. ; El Idrissi M. ; Lopez-Fauqued M. ; Salaun B. ; Heineman T. C. ; Oostvogels L.; Caldara, Rossana; Carmellini, Mario; Chen, Yen-Ta; Garibotto, Giacomo; González Montes, Esther; Kanaan, Nada; Kuypers, Dirk; Lin, Cheng-Chia; Maggiore, Umberto; Navratil, Pavel; Van der Tol, Arjan; Villate Navarro José, Ignacio; Virgilio, Bice; and Wu, Ming-Ju

Distinct Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis of Helicobacter pylori Negative Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND:Whether the characteristics and prognosis of gastric cancer (GC) are different in patients with and without Helicobacter pylori (HP) remains controversial. The definitions of HP status in patients with atrophic gastritis but negative tests for HP are heterogeneous. We aimed to assess the impact of HP on the prognosis of GC using different definitions. METHODS:From 1998 Nov to 2011 Jul, five hundred and sixty-seven consecutive patients with GC were included. HP status was determined by serology and histology. Patients with any positive test were defined as HP infection. Patients without HP infection whose serum pepsinogen (PG) I <70 ng/dl and PG I/II ratio < 3.0 were defined as atrophic gastritis and they were categorized into model 1: HP positive; model 2: HP negative; and model 3: exclusion of these patients. RESULTS:We found four characteristics of HP negative GC in comparison to HP positive GC: (1) higher proportion of the proximal tumor location (24.0%, P = 0.004), (2) more diffuse histologic type (56.1%, p = 0.008), (3) younger disease onset (58.02 years, p = 0.008) and (4) more stage IV disease (40.6%, p = 0.03). Patients with negative HP had worse overall survival (24.0% vs. 35.8%, p = 0.035). In Cox regression models, the negative HP status is an independent poor prognostic factor (HR: 1.34, CI:1.04-1.71, p = 0.019) in model 1, especially in stage I, II and III patients (HR: 1.62; CI:1.05-2.51,p = 0.026). CONCLUSION:We found the distinct characteristics of HP negative GC. The prognosis of HP negative GC was poor