Nanoscale polarization transient gratings.

Light manipulation at the nanoscale is essential both for fundamental science and modern technology. The quest to shorter lengthscales, however, requires the use of light wavelengths beyond the visible. In particular, in the extreme ultraviolet regime these manipulation capabilities are hampered by the lack of efficient optics, especially for polarization control.

Strong-field quantum control in the extreme ultraviolet domain using pulse shaping.

Tailored light-matter interactions in the strong coupling regime enable the manipulation and control of quantum systems with up to unit efficiency, with applications ranging from quantum information to photochemistry. Although strong light-matter interactions are readily induced at the valence electron level using long-wavelength radiation, comparable phenomena have been only recently observed with short wavelengths, accessing highly excited multi-electron and inner-shell electron states. However, the quantum control of strong-field processes at short wavelengths has not been possible, so far, because of the lack of pulse-shaping technologies in the extreme ultraviolet (XUV) and X-ray domain.

Small hydrophobic (SH) proteins of and : small but mighty.

Small hydrophobic (SH) proteins are a class of viral accessory proteins expressed by many members of the negative-stranded RNA viral families . Identified SH proteins are type I or II transmembrane (TM) proteins with a single-pass TM domain. Little is known about the functions of SH proteins; however, several possess viroporin activity, enhancing membrane permeability of infected cells or those expressing SH protein.

Femtosecond Polarization Shaping of Free-Electron Laser Pulses.

We demonstrate the generation of extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) free-electron laser (FEL) pulses with time-dependent polarization. To achieve polarization modulation on a femtosecond timescale, we combine two mutually delayed counterrotating circularly polarized subpulses from two cross-polarized undulators. The polarization profile of the pulses is probed by angle-resolved photoemission and above-threshold ionization of helium; the results agree with solutions of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation.

Characterisation of microbunching instability with 2D Fourier analysis.

The optimal performance of high-brightness free-electron lasers (FELs) is limited by the microbunching instability, which can cause variations in both the slice energy spread and longitudinal profile of electron beams. In this paper, we perform 2D Fourier analysis of the full bunch longitudinal phase space, such that modulations in both planes can be studied simultaneously. Unlike the standard 1D analysis, this method is able to reveal modulations in a folded phase space, which would otherwise remain uncovered.

Preliminary report: the effect of a 6-month dietary glycemic index manipulation in addition to healthy eating advice and weight loss on arterial compliance and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in men: a pilot study.

We aimed to determine whether altering dietary glycemic index (GI) in addition to healthy eating and weight loss advice affects arterial compliance and 24-hour blood pressure (BP), both coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. Middle-aged men with at least 1 CHD risk were randomized to a 6-month low-GI (LGI) or high-GI (HGI) diet. All were advised on healthy eating and weight loss.

Measuring the glycemic index of foods: interlaboratory study.

Background: Many laboratories offer glycemic index (GI) services.

Objective: We assessed the performance of the method used to measure GI.

Design: The GI of cheese-puffs and fruit-leather (centrally provided) was measured in 28 laboratories (n=311 subjects) by using the FAO/WHO method.

Postprandial ghrelin suppression is exaggerated following major surgery; implications for nutritional recovery.

Meeting patients' nutritional requirements and preventing malnutrition is a challenge following major surgical procedures. The role of ghrelin in nutritional recovery after non-gastrointestinal major surgery is unknown. We used coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as an example of anticipated good recovery post major surgery.

Increased sucrose intake is not associated with a change in glucose or insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Debate continues over the role of sucrose and sucrose-containing food in the diet for people with type 2 diabetes. Traditionally, dietary recommendations have suggested sucrose be reduced to a minimum level to improve glycaemic control. More recently the American Diabetes Association evidence-based guidelines have suggested a more liberal approach.

Wholegrain cereals for coronary heart disease.

Background: There is increasing evidence from observational studies that wholegrains can have a beneficial effect on risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD).

Objectives: The primary objective is to review the current evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that assess the relationship between the consumption of wholegrain foods and the effects on CHD mortality, morbidity and on risk factors for CHD, in participants previously diagnosed with CHD or with existing risk factors for CHD.

Search Strategy: We searched CENTRAL (Issue 4, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to 2005), EMBASE (1980 to 2005), CINAHL (1982 to 2005), ProQuest Digital Dissertations (2004 to 2005).

The effect of a 12-week low glycaemic index diet on heart disease risk factors and 24 h glycaemic response in healthy middle-aged volunteers at risk of heart disease: a pilot study.

Objective: To compare the effects of two energy-restricted healthy diets, one with a low GI and one with a high GI, on heart disease risk factors and weight loss in subjects at risk of heart disease.

Design: A 12-week randomized parallel study of low and high GI, healthy eating diets was carried out.

Setting: The study was carried out at the Hammersmith Hospital.

Peptide YY (PYY) is increased in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Peptide YY (PYY), a gut peptide, has recently been shown to inhibit appetite. The role of this peptide in elderly nutritionally-compromised patients with femoral neck fracture (FNF) has not been investigated. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal pattern of PYY levels during hospital stay and investigated the postprandial PYY response to a standard meal in patients with FNF and matched controls.

Effect of nutritional counselling on hepatic, muscle and adipose tissue fat content and distribution in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of the current UK clinical practice in reducing hepatic fat (IHCL).

Methods: Whole body MRI and (1)H MRS were obtained, before and after 6 mo nutritional counselling, from liver, soleus and tibialis muscles in 10 subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Results: A 500 Kcal-restricted diet resulted in an average weight loss of 4% (-3.

Vulnerable patients with a fractured neck of femur: nutritional status and support in hospital.

Background And Aim: Malnutrition has serious consequences for recovery and increases the risk of complications in hospital patients. Fractured neck of femur (NOF) patients may be particularly at risk because of their old age and frail state of health. We conducted an observational study to evaluate the nutritional state and the nutritional support, which was provided to this group during their stay in hospital.

Changes in appetite related gut hormones in intensive care unit patients: a pilot cohort study.

Introduction: The nutritional status of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) appears to decline not only during their stay in the ICU but also after discharge from the ICU. Recent evidence suggests that gut released peptides, such as ghrelin and peptide YY (PYY) regulate the initiation and termination of meals and could play a role in the altered eating behaviour of sick patients. The aim of this study was to assess the patterns of ghrelin and PYY levels during the stay of ICU patients in hospital.

The beneficial effect of a diet with low glycaemic index on 24 h glucose profiles in healthy young people as assessed by continuous glucose monitoring.

Elevated postprandial glycaemia has been linked to CVD in a number of different epidemiological studies involving predominantly non-diabetic volunteers. The MiniMed continuous glucose monitor, which measures blood glucose every 5 min, over a 24 h period, was used to investigate changes in blood glucose readings before and after instigating a diet with low glycaemic index (GI) for 1 week in free-living healthy individuals. Nine healthy people (age 27 (SEM 1.

Fasting and postprandial hyperghrelinemia in Prader-Willi syndrome is partially explained by hypoinsulinemia, and is not due to peptide YY3-36 deficiency or seen in hypothalamic obesity due to craniopharyngioma.

The cause of the unique elevation in fasting plasma levels of the orexigenic gastric hormone ghrelin in many patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is unclear. We measured fasting and postprandial plasma ghrelin in nonobese (n = 16 fasting and n = 8 postprandial) and obese non-PWS adults (n = 16 and 9), adults with genetically confirmed PWS (n = 26 and 10), and patients with hypothalamic obesity from craniopharyngioma tumors (n = 9 and 6). We show that 1) plasma ghrelin levels decline normally after food consumption in PWS, but there is still fasting and postprandial hyperghrelinemia relative to the patient's obesity (2.

Comparison of the effects of dietary plant sterol and stanol esters on lipid metabolism.

Background And Aim: To compare the cholesterol-lowering efficacy and other metabolic effects of plant sterol and stanol esters, both of which are commonly used in the dietary management of hypercholesterolaemia.

Methods And Results: The cholesterol-lowering efficacy of equivalent intakes of sterol and stanol esters and of different intakes of stanol esters were compared at 1 and 2 months, both in normal subjects and treated patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Systemic effects were assessed by measuring serum levels of plant sterols and of lathosterol and 7alpha-hydroxy-cholestenone, indices of sterol absorption and of cholesterol and bile acid synthesis respectively.

Elevated fasting plasma ghrelin in prader-willi syndrome adults is not solely explained by their reduced visceral adiposity and insulin resistance.

Plasma ghrelin is elevated in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). This might contribute to obesity or GH deficiency in such patients. Visceral adiposity and insulin resistance are reduced in PWS, which might lead to hyperghrelinemia.

A prospective randomised trial to determine the efficacy of a low glycaemic index diet given in addition to healthy eating and weight loss advice in patients with coronary heart disease.

Objective: Recent epidemiological and prospective trial evidence suggests that consumption of a low glycaemic index (LGI) diet will reduce coronary risk. We hypothesise that introduction of an LGI diet will improve the metabolic profile of patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting.

Design: We conducted a randomised parallel group trial comparing a control group (n=29, age 61.

A randomised four-intervention crossover study investigating the effect of carbohydrates on daytime profiles of insulin, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids and triacylglycerols in middle-aged men.

Postprandial concentrations of glucose, insulin and triacylglycerols (TG) correlate to risk for CHD. Carbohydrates affect many metabolites that could have a potential effect on cardiovascular risk factors. The objective of the present study was to examine, using a randomised prospective study, the acute (day 1) and ad libitum medium-term (day 24) effects of four diets: a high-fat diet (HIGH-FAT; 50 % fat, >34 % monounsaturated fatty acids); a low-glycaemic index (GI) diet (LOW-GI; high-carbohydrate, low-GI); a high-sucrose diet (SUCROSE; high carbohydrate increase of 90 g sucrose/d); a high-GI diet (HIGH-GI; high-carbohydrate, high-GI).