Progression of endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and arterial stiffness in stable kidney transplant patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplant patients suffer from vascular abnormalities and high cardiovascular event rates, despite initial improvements post-transplantation. The nature of the progression of vascular abnormalities in the longer term is unknown. This pilot study investigated changes in vascular abnormalities over time in stable kidney transplant patients long after transplantation. METHODS: Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), nitroglycerin-mediated dilation, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV), ankle-brachial pressure index, and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) were assessed in 18 kidney transplant patients and 17 controls at baseline and 3-6 months after. RESULTS: There was no difference in age (51 ± 13 vs. 46 ± 11; P = 0.19), body mass index (26 ± 5 vs. 25 ± 3; P = 0.49), serum cholesterol (4.54 ± 0.96 vs. 5.14 ± 1.13; P = 0.10), systolic blood pressure (BP) (132 ± 12 vs. 126 ± 12; P = 0.13), diastolic BP (82 ± 9 vs. 77 ± 8; P = 0.10), or diabetes status (3 vs. 0; P = 0.08) between transplant patients and controls. No difference existed in vascular markers between patients and controls at baseline. In transplant patients, FMD decreased (- 1.52 ± 2.74; P = 0.03), cf-PWV increased (0.62 ± 1.06; P = 0.03), and CCA-IMT increased (0.35 ± 0.53; P = 0.02). No changes were observed in controls. CONCLUSION: Markers of vascular structure and function worsen in the post-transplant period on long-term follow-up, which may explain the continued high cardiovascular event rates in this population

Star formation and AGN activity in a sample of local Luminous Infrared Galaxies through multi-wavelength characterization

Nuclear starbursts and AGN activity are the main heating processes in luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) and their relationship is fundamental to understand galaxy evolution. In this paper, we study the star-formation and AGN activity of a sample of 11 local LIRGs imaged with subarcsecond angular resolution at radio (8.4GHz) and near-infrared ($2.2\mu$m) wavelengths. This allows us to characterize the central kpc of these galaxies with a spatial resolution of $\simeq100$pc. In general, we find a good spatial correlation between the radio and the near-IR emission, although radio emission tends to be more concentrated in the nuclear regions. Additionally, we use an MCMC code to model their multi-wavelength spectral energy distribution (SED) using template libraries of starburst, AGN and spheroidal/cirrus models, determining the luminosity contribution of each component, and finding that all sources in our sample are starburst-dominated, except for NGC6926 with an AGN contribution of $\simeq64$\%. Our sources show high star formation rates ($40$ to $167M_\odot\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$), supernova rates (0.4 to $2.0\mathrm{SN}\mathrm{yr}^{-1}$), and similar starburst ages (13 to $29\mathrm{Myr}$), except for the young starburst (9Myr) in NGC6926. A comparison of our derived star-forming parameters with estimates obtained from different IR and radio tracers shows an overall consistency among the different star formation tracers. AGN tracers based on mid-IR, high-ionization line ratios also show an overall agreement with our SED model fit estimates for the AGN. Finally, we use our wide-band VLA observations to determine pixel-by-pixel radio spectral indices for all galaxies in our sample, finding a typical median value ($\alpha\simeq-0.8$) for synchrotron-powered LIRGs.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 20 pages, 12 figure

USING SPATIAL METHODS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND FOOD INSECURITY AND SNAP UNDER-PARTICIPATION IN TEXAS

The overall objective of this research is to use spatial methods to better understand food insecurity and SNAP under-participation in Texas. Paper 1 assesses whether a sample of community dwelling Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, who screen positive for food insecurity at healthcare locations in Harris County, exhibit a spatial pattern in terms of where they live. In other words, it tests whether or not there are statistically significant neighborhood hot spots or cold spots of food insecurity against a null hypothesis of complete spatial randomness. This approach is novel because it uses address-level data on patients who report being food insecure to test for statistically significant neighborhood hot spots or cold spots, instead of relying on extant factors like neighborhood poverty rates, or the presence of grocery stores. Using address-level food insecurity screening data is often difficult because few organizations screen for food insecurity, and even fewer are willing to share their data due to privacy concerns. Paper 2 utilizes geographical information systems (GIS) to map census tract-level clusters and outliers of households that are eligible but not enrolled (EBNE) in the SNAP program. The implications of this analysis are vast. Knowing the locations of neighborhood-level clusters and outliers of SNAP EBNE households can inform interventions to address the “SNAP GAP” more effectively. Additionally, this method of identifying neighborhood-level clusters and outliers of SNAP EBNE households can be applied to other safety net programs including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Healthy Texas Women, and the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Program

The Optical and Infrared Photometric Evolution of the Recent Stellar Merger, V1309 Sco

Nova Sco 2008 was recently shown to have resulted from the merger of the two stars in the contact binary V1309 Sco. This is the first stellar merger ever observed between two convective stars. We present archival data, new infrared photometry, and Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 imaging of V1309 Sco. Spitzer observations show that it had a large infrared excess in the 3.6 μm to 8 μm range more than a year before the merger. Standard color diagnostics of the pre-merger infrared colors place V1309 Sco in the same region where evolved stars with chemically complex mass loss are located. Since the nova outburst subsided in optical bandpasses in 2008, the merger remnant's brightness in optical bandpasses, near-IR bandpasses, and the Spitzer 3.6 μm and 4.5 μm channels has varied by several magnitudes and in complex ways. A temporary, strong increase in the reddening during 2010 suggests the occurrence of a dust formation event. We point out several peculiarities in the relative fluxes and time behavior of the optical and near-IR magnitudes, which could be explained if some of the photometric bandpasses in the 1–5 μm range are strongly affected by emission lines

Instrumental delivery and ultrasound: a multicentre randomised controlled trial of ultrasound assessment of the fetal head position versus standard care as an approach to prevent morbidity at instrumental delivery

Objectives: To determine whether the use of ultrasound can reduce the incidence of incorrect diagnosis of the fetal head position at instrumental delivery and subsequent morbidity. Design: Two-arm, parallel, randomised trial, conducted from June 2011 to December 2012. Setting: Two maternity hospitals in the Republic of Ireland. Sample: 514 nulliparous women at term (≥37 weeks' gestation) with singleton cephalic pregnancies, aiming to deliver vaginally were recruited prior to induction of labour or in early labour. Methods: If instrumental delivery was required, women who had provided written consent were randomised to receive clinical assessment (standard care) or ultrasound scan and ultrasound assessment (ultrasound). Main outcome: Incorrect diagnosis of the fetal head position. Results: The incidence of incorrect diagnosis was significantly lower in the ultrasound group than the standard care group (4/257, 1.6% versus 52/257, 20.2%, odds ratio 0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02 to 0.19, p value <0.001). The decision to delivery interval was similar in both groups (ultrasound mean 13.8 minutes, SD 8.7, versus standard care mean 14.6 minutes, SD 10.1, p value 0.35). The incidence of maternal and neonatal complications,4 failed instrumental delivery and caesarean section was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: An ultrasound assessment prior to instrumental delivery reduced the incidence of incorrect diagnosis of the fetal head position without delaying delivery but did not prevent morbidity. A more integrated clinical skills-based approach is likely to be required to prevent adverse outcomes at instrumental delivery

Sustainability of India’s Current Account Deficit

The study empirically investigates the long-run sustainability of India’s current account deficit and the factors that have affected its current account balance by applying Husted (1992) intertemporal budget constraint model and Keynesian national account identity, respectively. We utilize a different empirical approach and extend the data set. The Pesaran bounds testing approach and the Johansen and Juselius likelihood ratio cointegration tests results suggest that a long-run positive relationship exists between India’s current account inflows and outflows. It implies that the path of India’s current account deficit is sustainable. We find that there is one cointegrating vector between India’s current account balance, fiscal deficit, real effective exchange rate and interest rate. India’s current account balance is statistically significantly affected by fiscal deficit, real effective exchange rate and interest rate. Our finding suggests that fiscal deficit curtailing policy need to be supplemented by a real effective exchange rate devaluation policy, lowering of interest rate and increase in export promotion measures in order to manage presently mounting India’s current account deficit

Insecticide resistance monitoring of field-collected Anopheles gambiae s.l. populations from Jinja, eastern Uganda, identifies high levels of pyrethroid resistance

Insecticide resistance in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae s.l. (Diptera: Culicidae) threatens insecticide-based control efforts, necessitating regular monitoring. We assessed resistance in field-collected An. gambiae s.l. from Jinja, Uganda using World Health Organization (WHO) biosassays. Only An. gambiae s.s. and An. arabiensis (≅70%) were present. Female An. gambiae exhibited extremely high pyrethroid resistance (permethrin LT50 > 2 h; deltamethrin LT50 > 5 h). Female An. arabiensis were resistant to permethrin and exhibited reduced susceptibility to deltamethrin. However, while An. gambiae were DDT resistant, An. arabiensis were fully susceptible. Both species were fully susceptible to bendiocarb and fenitrothion. Kdr 1014S has increased rapidly in the Jinja population of An. gambiae s.s. and now approaches fixation (≅95%), consistent with insecticide-mediated selection, but is currently at a low frequency in An. arabiensis (0.07%). Kdr 1014F was also at a low frequency in An. gambiae. These frequencies preclude adequately-powered tests for an association with phenotypic resistance. PBO synergist bioassays resulted in near complete recovery of pyrethroid susceptibility suggesting involvement of CYP450s in resistance. A small number (0.22%) of An. gambiae s.s. ×An. arabiensis hybrids were found, suggesting the possibility of introgression of resistance alleles between species. The high levels of pyrethroid resistance encountered in Jinja threaten to reduce the efficacy of vector control programmes which rely on pyrethroid-impregnated bednets or indoor spraying of pyrethroids