Суміщений процес "гідравлічне видобування – знесолення вугілля"

Розглянуто принципову можливість і доцільність суміщення процесів гідравлічного ви-добування та збагачення вугілля по солі. Суміщений процес може розглядатися як оптималь-ний з точки зору мінімізації апаратурного забезпечення процесу. Зазначено, що суміщення технологічних процесів – один з перспективних напрямків у розвитку техніки і технології збагачення корисних копалин.Рассмотрена принципиальная возможность и целесообразность совмещения процессов гидравлической добычи и обогащения угля по соли. Совмещенный процесс может рассматриваться как оптимальный с точки зрения минимизации аппаратурного обеспечения процесса. Указано, что совмещение технологических процессов – одно из перспективных напра-влений в развитии техники и технологии обогащения полезных ископаемых.Considered fundamental possibility and feasibility of combining the processes of hydraulic mining and coal desalination. The combined process may be the best in terms of minimizing hardware support for the process. Indicated that the combination of processes – one of the most promising directions in the development of technology and mineral processing technology

Prevalence of Neuropathy and Peripheral Arterial Disease and the Impact of Treatment in People With Screen-Detected Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: There is limited evidence on how intensive multifactorial treatment (IT) improves outcomes of diabetes when initiated in the lead time between detection by screening and diagnosis in routine clinical practice. We examined the effects of early detection and IT of type 2 diabetes in primary care on the prevalence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) 6 years later in a pragmatic, cluster-randomized parallel group trial. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A stepwise screening program in 190 general practices in Denmark was used to identify 1,533 people with type 2 diabetes. General practices were randomized to deliver either IT or routine care (RC) as recommended through national guidelines. Participants were followed for 6 years and measures of DPN and PAD were applied. RESULTS: We found no statistically significant effect of IT on the prevalence of DPN and PAD compared with RC. The prevalence of an ankle brachial index ≤0.9 was 9.1% (95% CI 6.0–12.2) in the RC arm and 7.3% (5.0–9.6) in the IT arm. In participants tested for vibration detection threshold and light touch sensation, the prevalence of a least one abnormal test was 34.8% (26.7–43.0) in the RC arm and 30.1% (24.1–36.1) in the IT arm. CONCLUSIONS: In a population with screen-detected type 2 diabetes, we did not find that screening followed by IT led to a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of DPN and PAD 6 years after diagnosis. However, treatment levels were high in both groups

Noise pollution of agriculture and the new technical instruction

Die derzeit gültige Technische Anleitung Lärm entspricht nicht mehr dem Stand der Technik und wird derzeit überarbeitet. Für den Bereich der Landwirtschaft kommen drei wesentliche Punkte in der novellierten Fassung hinzu. Es sind dies die Berücksichtigung von auffälligen Geräuschen wie tonhaltigen, impulshaltigen, informationshaltigen sowie tieffrequenten Geräuschen und nicht ortsüblichen Geräuschen. Des weiteren gibt es Bestimmungen für seltene Ereignisse, die besonders die geringen Expositionszeiten in der Landwirtschaft abdecken. Als letzte, aber sehr wesentliche Neuerung ist die Einführung und Forderung nach Schallimmissionsprognosen zu nennen. Hierdurch ist die Möglichkeit gegeben, unzumutbare Lärmimmissionen bereits im Vorfeld der Planungen zu verhindern

Autoantikörpernachweis mittels indirekter Immunfluoreszenz an HEp-2-Zellen

Systemic autoimmune diseases are characterized by the presence of antinuclear autoantibodies (ANAs). Diluted patient sera are typically used to screen for the presence of ANAs by immunofluorescence microscopy with fixed HEp-2 cells. Despite high quality test kits, reports of different laboratories frequently present controversial results. This study presents a recommendation for a unified processing and interpretation of HEp-2 based screening for autoantibodies. We provide suggestions for selection of high quality test kits, optimized processing, and diagnostic procedures. For good laboratory practice, in addition to a relevant clinical diagnosis and an experienced laboratory specialist, the following procedure is highly recommended: initial HEp-2 based screening by indirect immunofluorescence, starting with a 1:80 serum dilution and evaluation in a bright fluorescence microscope, pathological values from a titer of 1:160, internal quality checks, and unified interpretation. We aim to improve diagnostics and care for patients with autoimmune diseases as a central focus of the European Autoimmunity Standardization Initiative (EASI)

Aspects of innate immunity in Sjögren's syndrome

Previously, a dominant role of the adaptive immune system in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome was suspected. Recent advances, however, have revealed a major role of the type I IFN pathway, documented by an increased circulating type I IFN activity and an IFN 'signature' in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and minor salivary gland biopsies from the patients. Polymorphisms in the genes IRF5 and STAT4 leading to increased IFN activation are associated with disease susceptibility. In the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome, the activation of salivary gland epithelial cells appears to be the initial event. Once intrinsically activated, they express costimulatory and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and MHC class I and II molecules, can present autoantigens and produce proinflammatory cytokines. The subsequent activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells induces the production of high levels of proinflammatory cytokines in individuals with the risk alleles of the susceptibility genes IRF5 and STAT4. Under the influence of the high IFN concentration in the glands and through TLR ligation, B-cell activating factor is produced by epithelial cells and, together with autoantigen presentation on salivary gland epithelial cells, stimulates the adaptive immune system. In view of the central role of IFNalpha in at least the initiation of the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome, blockade of this cytokine may be a rational therapeutic approach

Methotrexate as combination partner of TNF inhibitors and tocilizumab. What is reasonable from an immunological viewpoint?

The goal of therapy of rheumatoid arthritis is to achieve a remission or at least low disease activity. TNF inhibitors induce high remission rates only in combination with methotrexate, whereas the efficacy of tocilizumab is optimal even as a monotherapy. In this article, the differing dependence of the biological drugs on methotrexate is explained from the viewpoint of an immunologist. A selective search and evaluation of the literature was performed with regard to the mode of action of TNF inhibitors, tocilizumab and methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate primarily inhibits the activation and proliferation of lymphocytes. TNF inhibitors suppress monocytes and myeloid dendritic cells, and tocilizumab has a broader activity and is directed against both the lymphoid as well as the myeloid compartment. In view of the broad mode of action of tocilizumab, it can be explained why this drug, in contrast to TNF inhibitors, is acting optimally even in monotherapy

Protocol for ADDITION-PRO: a longitudinal cohort study of the cardiovascular experience of individuals at high risk for diabetes recruited from Danish primary care.

BACKGROUND: Screening programmes for type 2 diabetes inevitably find more individuals at high risk for diabetes than people with undiagnosed prevalent disease. While well established guidelines for the treatment of diabetes exist, less is known about treatment or prevention strategies for individuals found at high risk following screening. In order to make better use of the opportunities for primary prevention of diabetes and its complications among this high risk group, it is important to quantify diabetes progression rates and to examine the development of early markers of cardiovascular disease and microvascular diabetic complications. We also require a better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie and drive early changes in cardiometabolic physiology. The ADDITION-PRO study was designed to address these issues among individuals at different levels of diabetes risk recruited from Danish primary care. METHODS/DESIGN: ADDITION-PRO is a population-based, longitudinal cohort study of individuals at high risk for diabetes. 16,136 eligible individuals were identified at high risk following participation in a stepwise screening programme in Danish general practice between 2001 and 2006. All individuals with impaired glucose regulation at screening, those who developed diabetes following screening, and a random sub-sample of those at lower levels of diabetes risk were invited to attend a follow-up health assessment in 2009-2011 (n=4,188), of whom 2,082 (50%) attended. The health assessment included detailed measurement of anthropometry, body composition, biochemistry, physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors including aortic stiffness and central blood pressure. All ADDITION-PRO participants are being followed for incident cardiovascular disease and death. DISCUSSION: The ADDITION-PRO study is designed to increase understanding of cardiovascular risk and its underlying mechanisms among individuals at high risk of diabetes. Key features of this study include (i) a carefully characterised cohort at different levels of diabetes risk; (ii) detailed measurement of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors; (iii) objective measurement of physical activity behaviour; and (iv) long-term follow-up of hard clinical outcomes including mortality and cardiovascular disease. Results will inform policy recommendations concerning cardiovascular risk reduction and treatment among individuals at high risk for diabetes. The detailed phenotyping of this cohort will also allow a number of research questions concerning early changes in cardiometabolic physiology to be addressed.RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are

Effect of Intensive Multifactorial Treatment Compared With Routine Care on Aortic Stiffness and Central Blood Pressure Among Individuals With Screen-Detected Type 2 Diabetes:The ADDITION-Denmark study

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is associated with increased brachial and central blood pressure and aortic stiffness. We examined the effect of intensive multifactorial treatment in general practice on indices of peripheral and central hemodynamics among patients with screen-detected diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: As part of a population-based screening and intervention study in general practice, 1,533 Danes aged 40–69 years were clinically diagnosed with screen-detected diabetes. General practitioners were randomized to provide intensive multifactorial treatment or routine care. After a mean follow-up of 6.2 years, an unselected subsample of 456 patients underwent central hemodynamic assessments by applanation tonometry. Central pressure was derived from the radial pulse wave. Aortic stiffness was assessed as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (aPWV). The intervention effect on each index of central hemodynamics was analyzed by mixed-effects models adjusted for heart rate, cluster randomization, age, and sex. RESULTS: At screening, median age was 59.2 years (interquartile range 55.2–64.6); 289 patients (63%) were in the intensive treatment group, and 278 patients (61%) were men. Patients in the intensive treatment group had a 0.51 m/s (95% CI −0.96 to −0.05, P = 0.03) lower aPWV compared with routine care. Respective differences for central augmentation index (−0.84% [−2.54 to 0.86]), pulse pressure (0.28 mmHg [−1.75 to 2.32]), and systolic (−1.42 mmHg [−4.47 to 1.64]) and diastolic (−1.79 mmHg [−3.72 to 0.14]) blood pressure were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Intensive multifactorial treatment of screen-detected diabetes during 6 years in general practice has a significant impact on aortic stiffness, whereas the effects on other hemodynamic measures are smaller and not statistically significant

Association of CD247 polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis: a replication study and a meta-analysis

Given the role of CD247 in the response of the T cells, its entailment in autoimmune diseases and in order to better clarify the role of this gene in RA susceptibility, we aimed to analyze CD247 gene variants previously associated with other autoimmune diseases (rs1052237, rs2056626 and rs864537) in a large independent European Caucasian population. However, no evidence of association was found for the analyzed CD247 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with RA and with the presence/absence of anti-cyclic citrullinated polypeptide. We performed a meta-analysis including previously published GWAS data from the rs864537 variant, revealing an overall genome-wide significant association between this CD247 SNP and RA with anti-CCP (OR = 0.90, CI 95% = 0.87-0.93, Poverall = 2.1×10−10). Our results show for first time a GWAS-level association between this CD247 polymorphism and RA risk