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Mike Richards has "never been politically interfered with"

Mike Richards is well known in the UK - former Cancer Tzar, he now heads up the Care Quality Commission - regulator of all health and social care services, and therefore the body responsible for inspecting hospitals and GP practices. In this interview, BMJ’s head of news and views, Rebecca Coombes went to the CQC’s headquarters in London, and...




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Bread-and-butter issues surface under St Mary community restrictions

DOVER, St Mary: Residents of Epsom and Dover in St Mary are on edge, but have accepted quarantine measures imposed by the Government to curtail the spread of the dreaded coronavirus in that parish. Security checkpoints at both ends of the parish...




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Perivascular Adipose Tissue Controls Insulin-Stimulated Perfusion, Mitochondrial Protein Expression, and Glucose Uptake in Muscle Through Adipomuscular Arterioles

Insulin-mediated microvascular recruitment (IMVR) regulates delivery of insulin and glucose to insulin-sensitive tissues. We have previously proposed that perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) controls vascular function through outside-to-inside communication and through vessel-to-vessel, or "vasocrine," signaling. However, direct experimental evidence supporting a role of local PVAT in regulating IMVR and insulin sensitivity in vivo is lacking. Here, we studied muscles with and without PVAT in mice using combined contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and intravital microscopy to measure IMVR and gracilis artery diameter at baseline and during the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. We show, using microsurgical removal of PVAT from the muscle microcirculation, that local PVAT depots regulate insulin-stimulated muscle perfusion and glucose uptake in vivo. We discovered direct microvascular connections between PVAT and the distal muscle microcirculation, or adipomuscular arterioles, the removal of which abolished IMVR. Local removal of intramuscular PVAT altered protein clusters in the connected muscle, including upregulation of a cluster featuring Hsp90ab1 and Hsp70 and downregulation of a cluster of mitochondrial protein components of complexes III, IV, and V. These data highlight the importance of PVAT in vascular and metabolic physiology and are likely relevant for obesity and diabetes.




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Human conflict and ecosystem services: finding the environmental price of warfare

2 July 2014 , Volume 90, Number 4

Robert A. Francis and Krishna Krishnamurthy




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18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT in Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Superior Diagnostic Performance to Conventional Scintigraphic Imaging for Localization of Hyperfunctioning Parathyroid Glands

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common endocrine disorder, definitive treatment usually requiring surgical removal of the offending parathyroid glands. To perform focused surgical approaches, it is necessary to localize all hyperfunctioning glands. The aim of the study was to compare the efficiency of established conventional scintigraphic imaging modalities with emerging 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT imaging in preoperative localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands in a larger series of PHPT patients. Methods: In total, 103 patients with PHPT were imaged preoperatively with 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT and conventional scintigraphic imaging methods, consisting of 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT/CT, 99mTc-sestamibi/pertechnetate subtraction imaging, and 99mTc-sestamibi dual-phase imaging. The results of histologic analysis, as well as intact parathyroid hormone and serum calcium values obtained 1 d after surgery and on follow-up, served as the standard of truth for evaluation of imaging results. Results: Diagnostic performance of 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT surpassed conventional scintigraphic methods (separately or combined), with calculated sensitivity of 92% for PET/CT and 39%–56% for conventional imaging (65% for conventional methods combined) in the entire patient group. Subgroup analysis, differentiating single and multiple hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands, showed PET/CT to be most valuable in the group with multiple hyperfunctioning glands, with sensitivity of 88%, whereas conventional imaging was significantly inferior, with sensitivity of 22%–34% (44% combined). Conclusion: 18F-fluorocholine PET/CT is a diagnostic modality superior to conventional imaging methods in patients with PHPT, allowing for accurate preoperative localization.




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Doctor alleged to have performed “designer vagina” surgery won’t be prosecuted




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New Orleans Saints release Pro Bowl OL Larry Warford

The New Orleans Saints released Pro Bowl offensive lineman Larry Warford after three seasons, the team announced Friday.




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Staging Presymptomatic Type 1 Diabetes: A Scientific Statement of JDRF, the Endocrine Society, and the American Diabetes Association

Richard A. Insel
Oct 1, 2015; 38:1964-1974
Scientific Statement




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Staging Presymptomatic Type 1 Diabetes: A Scientific Statement of JDRF, the Endocrine Society, and the American Diabetes Association

Richard A. Insel
Oct 1, 2015; 38:1964-1974
Scientific Statement




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Rutherford Test 2020_0226




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May JADA discusses calcium hydroxide overfill risk during root canals

Overfill of medication or obturation materials in endodontic treatment can cause permanent neurologic injury, and there are steps clinicians can take to help prevent that, according to an article published in the May issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.




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ADA tip sheet includes CDC guidance on identifying counterfeit N95 masks

The American Dental Association has created a tip sheet with guidance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health group at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help health care professionals avoid buying or using counterfeit N95 respirators, which are often simply referred to as masks.




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Performance of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays To Reflect Comorbidity Burden and Improve Mortality Risk Stratification in Older Adults With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Incorporation of comorbidity burden to inform diabetes management in older adults remains challenging. High-sensitivity cardiac troponins are objective, quantifiable biomarkers that may improve risk monitoring in older adults. We assessed the associations of elevations in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and T (hs-cTnT) with comorbidities and improvements in mortality risk stratification.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used logistic regression to examine associations of comorbidities with elevations in either troponin (≥85th percentile) among 1,835 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study with diabetes (ages 67–89 years, 43% male, 31% black) at visit 5 (2011–2013). We used Cox models to compare associations of high cardiac troponins with mortality across comorbidity levels.

RESULTS

Elevations in either troponin (≥9.4 ng/L for hs-cTnI, ≥25 ng/L for hs-cTnT) were associated with prevalent coronary heart disease, heart failure, chronic kidney disease, pulmonary disease, hypoglycemia, hypertension, dementia, and frailty. Over a median follow-up of 6.2 years (418 deaths), both high hs-cTnI and high hs-cTnT further stratified mortality risk beyond comorbidity levels; those with a high hs-cTnI or hs-cTnT and high comorbidity were at highest mortality risk. Even among those with low comorbidity, a high hs-cTnI (hazard ratio [HR] 3.0 [95% CI 1.7, 5.4]) or hs-cTnT (HR 3.3 [95% CI 1.8, 6.2]) was associated with elevated mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Many comorbidities were reflected by both hs-cTnI and hs-cTnT; elevations in either of the troponins were associated with higher mortality risk beyond comorbidity burden. High-sensitivity cardiac troponins may identify older adults at high mortality risk and be useful in guiding clinical care of older adults with diabetes.




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Reduced Myocardial Perfusion Reserve in Type 2 Diabetes Is Caused by Increased Perfusion at Rest and Decreased Maximal Perfusion During Stress

OBJECTIVE

To examine differences in myocardial blood flow (MBF) at rest and during stress between patients with type 2 diabetes and controls, and to identify potential predictors of changes in MBF at rest and during stress.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 193 patients with type 2 diabetes and 20 age- and sex-matched controls. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was used in order to evaluate left ventricular structure and function, and MBF at rest and during adenosine-induced stress. MBF was derived as the mean of the flow within all segments of a midventricular slice.

RESULTS

Patients with type 2 diabetes had higher global MBF at rest (0.81 ± 0.19 mL/min/g) and lower global MBF during stress (2.4 ± 0.9 mL/min/g) than did controls (0.61 ± 0.11 at rest, 3.2 ± 0.8 mL/min/g under stress; both P < 0.01). Patients with macroalbuminuria had lower MBF during stress (1.6 ± 0.5 mL/min/g) than did patients with microalbuminuria (2.1 ± 0.7 mL/min/g; P = 0.04), who in turn had lower MBF during stress than did normoalbuminuric patients (2.7 ± 0.9 mL/min/g; P < 0.01). Patients with severe retinopathy had lower MBF during stress (1.8 ± 0.6 mL/min/g) than did patients with simplex retinopathy (2.3 ± 0.7 mL/min/g; P < 0.05) and those who did not have retinopathy (2.6 ± 1.0 mL/min/g; P < 0.05). Albuminuria and retinopathy were associated with reduced MBF during stress in a multiple regression analysis. Stress-related MBF inversely correlated with myocardial extracellular volume (P < 0.001; R2 = 0.37), a measure of diffuse myocardial fibrosis. A trend toward lower basal MBF was observed in patients treated with sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (P = 0.07).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with type 2 diabetes have higher global MBF at rest and lower maximal MBF during vasodilator-induced stress than do controls. Reduced MBF during stress is associated with diabetes complications (albuminuria and retinopathy) and is inversely correlated with diffuse myocardial fibrosis.




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Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Receiving Interferon-Based therapy




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Bush and Counterfactual Confidence

In the face of mounting public and political opposition to the war in Iraq, recent reports from the White House suggest that President Bush remains serenely confident.




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Why Fluff-Over-Substance Makes Perfect Evolutionary Sense

Consider these scenarios. Scandal A: A prominent politician gets caught sleeping with a campaign aide and plunges himself into an ugly paternity dispute -- all while his cancer-stricken wife is fighting for her life.




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How a Self-Fulfilling Stereotype Can Drag Down Performance

Here's a trick question, so think carefully before you answer: If someone mentions the word "beast" to you, which word would you match it with?




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Lady finger parfait with warm chocolate sauce and crushed Honey Macadamias

The local lady finger bananas are so sweet and moorish!




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Performance of the ESC 0/1-h and 0/3-h Algorithm for the Rapid Identification of Myocardial Infarction Without ST-Elevation in Patients With Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have elevated levels of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn). We investigated the diagnostic performance of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) algorithms to rule out or rule in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without ST-elevation in patients with DM.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We prospectively enrolled 3,681 patients with suspected AMI and stratified those by the presence of DM. The ESC 0/1-h and 0/3-h algorithms were used to calculate negative and positive predictive values (NPV, PPV). In addition, alternative cutoffs were calculated and externally validated in 2,895 patients.

RESULTS

In total, 563 patients (15.3%) had DM, and 137 (24.3%) of these had AMI. When the ESC 0/1-h algorithm was used, the NPV was comparable in patients with and without DM (absolute difference [AD] –1.50 [95% CI –5.95, 2.96]). In contrast, the ESC 0/3-h algorithm resulted in a significantly lower NPV in patients with DM (AD –2.27 [95% CI –4.47, –0.07]). The diagnostic performance for rule-in of AMI (PPV) was comparable in both groups: 0/1-h (AD 6.59 [95% CI –19.53, 6.35]) and 0/3-h (AD 1.03 [95% CI –7.63, 9.7]). Alternative cutoffs increased the PPV in both algorithms significantly, while improvements in NPV were only subtle.

CONCLUSIONS

Application of the ESC 0/1-h algorithm revealed comparable safety to rule out AMI comparing patients with and without DM, while this was not observed with the ESC 0/3-h algorithm. Although alternative cutoffs might be helpful, patients with DM remain a high-risk population in whom identification of AMI is challenging and who require careful clinical evaluation.




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Forthcoming in JHBS: Quêtelet on Deviance, McClelland on Leadership, Psychological Warfare, and More

A number of articles now in press at the Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences will be of interest to AHP readers. Full details below. “Uncovering the metaphysics of psychological warfare: The social science behind the Psychological Strategy Board’s operations planning, 1951–1953,” Gabrielle Kemmis. Abstract: In April 1951 president Harry S. Truman established … Continue reading Forthcoming in JHBS: Quêtelet on Deviance, McClelland on Leadership, Psychological Warfare, and More




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Online Therapy: A Powerful Tool in the Fight Against Covid 19

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting billions of people around the world today. Coronavirus, now called covid 19, is a type of virus that is usually found in animals and is rarely transmitted to humans. According to reports from the World Health Organization, covid 19 likely originated from a seafood and meat market in Wuhan, China, […]




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How you can help save the monarch butterfly -- and the planet | Mary Ellen Hannibal

Monarch butterflies are dying at an alarming rate around the world -- a looming extinction that could also put human life at risk. But we have just the thing to help save these insects, says author Mary Ellen Hannibal: citizen scientists. Learn how these grassroots volunteers are playing a crucial role in measuring and rescuing the monarch's dwindling population -- and how you could join their ranks to help protect nature. (You'll be in good company: Charles Darwin was a citizen scientist!)




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Massachusetts

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Massachusetts

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in North Carolina

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in West Virginia

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Virginia

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in West Virginia

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Virginia

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Maine

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Maine

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Ohio

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Ohio

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Oklahoma

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Oklahoma

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Wyoming

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Wyoming

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Texas

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Texas

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in North Dakota

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Nevada

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Nevada

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Kentucky

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Kentucky

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Nebraska

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Nebraska

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Alabama

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Alabama

This Quality Counts 2020 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.




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Educational Opportunities and Performance in Maryland

This Quality Counts 2019 Highlights Report captures all the data you need to assess your state's performance on key educational outcomes.