Precision heat forming of tetrafluoroethylene tubing

An invention that provides a method of altering the size of tetrafluoroethylene tubing which is only available in limited combination of wall thicknesses and diameter are discussed. The method includes the steps of sliding the tetrafluoroethylene tubing onto an aluminum mandrel and clamping the ends of the tubing to the mandrel by means of clamps. The tetrafluorethylene tubing and mandrel are then placed in a supporting coil which with the mandrel and tetrafluorethylene tubing are then positioned in a insulated steel pipe which is normally covered with a fiber glass insulator to smooth out temperature distribution therein. The entire structure is then placed in an event which heats the tetrafluorethylene tubing which is then shrunk by the heat to the outer dimension of the aluminum mandrel. After cooling the aluminum mandrel is removed from the newly sized tetrafluorethylene tubing by a conventional chemical milling process

Effect of soy in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and subclinical hypogonadism: a randomised controlled study

Context: Isoflavones found in soy products have a chemical structure similar to estrogen, leading to concerns of an adverse estrogenic effect in men, particularly in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who have low testosterone levels due to hypogonadism. Objective: The primary outcome was change in total testosterone levels. The secondary outcomes were the changes in glycaemia and cardiovascular risk markers. Design: Randomised double blind parallel study. Setting: Secondary care setting in UK. Participants: 200 men with T2DM with a total testosterone level≤12nmol/L Intervention: 15g soy protein with 66mg of isoflavones (SPI) or 15g soy protein alone without isoflavones (SP) daily as snack bars for three months. Results: There was no change in either total testosterone or in absolute free testosterone levels with either SPI or SP. There was an increase in TSH and reduction in fT4 (p<0.01) after SPI supplementation. Glycaemic control improved with a significant reduction in HbA1c (-4.19(7.29)mmol/mol,p<0.01) and HOMA-IR after SPI. Cardiovascular risk improved with a reduction in triglycerides, CRP and diastolic BP (p<0.05) with SPI versus SP supplementation. There was 6% improvement in 10-year coronary heart disease risk after three months of SPI supplementation. Endothelial function improved with both SPI and SP supplementation (p<0.01) with an increased reactive hyperemia index that was greater for the SPI group (p<0.05). Conclusions: Testosterone levels were unchanged and there was a significant improvement in glycaemia and cardiovascular risk markers with SPI compared to SP alone over three months. There was significant increase in TSH and a reduction in fT4

The effect of soy phytoestrogen supplementation on thyroid status and cardiovascular risk markers in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study

Context: There is concern whether soy phytoestrogens may affect thyroid function. If true, soy phytoestrogens may be expected to have a greater impact in subjects with subclinical hypothyroidism. Objective: The primary aim was to determine the effect of soy phytoestrogen supplementation on thyroid function, with a secondary aim of assessing the effects on cardiovascular risk indices in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Design and Setting: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, crossover study in a tertiary care setting. Participants: Sixty patients with subclinical hypothyroidism participated in the study. Intervention: Patients were randomly assigned to either low-dose phytoestrogen (30 g soy protein with 2 mg phytoestrogens, representative of a Western diet) or high-dose phytoestrogen (30 g soy protein with 16 mg phytoestrogens, representative of a vegetarian diet) supplementation for 8 wk, then crossed over after an 8-wk washout period. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was progression to overt hypothyroidism, with secondary outcome measures of blood pressure, insulin resistance, lipids, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Results: Six female patients in the study progressed into overt hypothyroidism with a standardized rate ratio of 3.6 (95% confidence interval, 1.9, 6.2) after 16-mg phytoestrogen supplementation. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased with 16 mg phytoestrogens, whereas systolic pressure alone decreased with 2 mg phytoestrogens. Insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, 3.5 ± 0.09 vs. 2.6 ± 0.08; P < 0.02) and hsCRP (4.9 ± 0.04 vs. 3.9 ± 0.03; P < 0.01) decreased with 16 mg phytoestrogens. Lipid profile remained unchanged. Conclusion: There is a 3-fold increased risk of developing overt hypothyroidism with dietary supplementation of 16 mg soy phytoestrogens with subclinical hypothyroidism. However, 16-mg soy phytoestrogen supplementation significantly reduces the insulin resistance, hsCRP, and blood pressure in these patients. Copyright © 2011 by The Endocrine Society