Low detection of glyphosate in rivers following application in forestry.

Background: Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in the world, and is used in agriculture, forestry, and urban settings. In regions with high glyphosate use, such as agricultural, glyphosate and its' major derivative aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) are frequently detected in surface waters. In Canadian forestry glyphosate-based herbicides are used to control vegetation that competes with conifer trees and are applied one to two times during a rotation, leading to infrequent application to the same area.

Higher Education and Universal Design in Tanzania. A New Model of Inclusion and Sustainable Development.

The need to create a more inclusive society in Tanzania is confronted with a discrepancy between the aims of a regulatory framework, aimed at making Higher Education spaces inclusive, and the question of the right of access to built environments, particularly in universities. The study presents the pilot case of the RUCU's Learning Center for Disabilities to demonstrate that the combination of UDL, architectural accessibility and international cooperation can give impetus to new research and application themes, creating innovative models and good practices to be disseminated for a new shared awareness.

Associations between vitamin D status and atherosclerosis among Inuit in Greenland.

Background And Aims: Low levels of vitamin D are suspected to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis among Inuit in Greenland, and to evaluate the association with vitamin D status. We hypothesized that low vitamin D status could be associated with higher carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as a marker of atherosclerosis.

Two-Way Chemical Communication between Artificial and Natural Cells.

Artificial cells capable of both sensing and sending chemical messages to bacteria have yet to be built. Here we show that artificial cells that are able to sense and synthesize quorum signaling molecules can chemically communicate with , , , and . Activity was assessed by fluorescence, luminescence, RT-qPCR, and RNA-seq.

Experimental data of the static behavior of reinforced concrete beams at room and low temperature.

This article provides data on the static behavior of reinforced concrete at room and low temperature including, strength, ductility, and crack widths of the reinforced concrete. The experimental data on the application of digital image correlation (DIC) or particle image velocimetry (PIV) in measuring crack widths and the accuracy and precision of DIC/PIV method with temperature variations when is used for measuring strains is provided as well.

Modifications in ankle dorsiflexor activation by applying a torque perturbation during walking in persons post-stroke: a case series.

Background: Results obtained in a previous study (Gait Posture 34:358-363, 2011) have shown that, in non-disabled participants, a specific increase in ankle dorsiflexor (Tibialis anterior [TA]) activation can be induced by walking with a torque perturbation that plantarflexes the ankle during the swing phase. After perturbation removal, the increased TA activation persisted temporarily and was associated with a more dorsiflexed ankle during swing. The objective of the present case-series study was to verify if these results can be reproduced in persons post-stroke.

Blood pressure and endothelial function in healthy, pregnant women after acute and daily consumption of flavanol-rich chocolate: a pilot, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) indicate that flavanol-rich chocolate has beneficial effects on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and blood pressure (BP). However, no RCTs have evaluated these outcomes in pregnant women. The objective of this 2-group, parallel, double-blind RCT was to examine the effects of flavanol-rich chocolate on FMD and BP in pregnant women with normal BP.

Distal leg muscle function in patients with COPD.

Quadriceps muscle weakness and increased fatigability are well described in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Whether these functional alterations also exist in distal leg muscles in patients with COPD is uncertain. Fifteen patients with COPD and 15 aged-matched healthy controls performed a 12-minute standardized treadmill exercise during which a fixed total expense of 40 Kcal was reached.

Cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis among Nunavik Inuit.

Objective: To evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis in Nunavik Inuit and its correlation to traditional cardiovascular disease risk factor.

Method: The intima-media thickness (IMT) of 12 segments of the carotid arteries (IMT(12_seg)) free of plaque were assessed in randomly selected 40 years old and older Inuit from. Clinical assessment was performed which included fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, systemic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking, circulating blood lipids and oral glucose tolerance test.

Plasma adipokine and hormone changes in mountaineers on ascent to 5300 meters.

Objective: The current study evaluated multiple metabolic and inflammatory hormone responses in recreational climbers (7 men and 3 women, age 26-49 years) over 9 days. In particular, acylation-stimulating protein (ASP), which influences fat storage in adipose tissue, has not been measured at high altitude.

Methods: Serial measurements were taken at sea level (SL), or 353 m, on day 0, 4000 m on day 3, 4750 m on day 6, and 5300 m on day 9 of the expedition.

Hypertension among the Inuit from Nunavik: should we expect an increase because of obesity?

Objectives: Because of their recent adoption of a Westernized lifestyle, an increased risk of developing hypertension (HTN) is suspected among Inuit populations. This study aimed to assess the exact prevalence of HTN in Nunavik Inuit and to examine its association with other major risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

Study Design: A cross-sectional population-based study.

Cardiovascular burden and related risk factors among Nunavik (Quebec) Inuit: insights from baseline findings in the circumpolar Inuit health in transition cohort study.

Background: The Inuit are commonly portrayed to be somehow protected from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) through their traditional lifestyle and diet. However, actual sociocultural transition and related major, modifiable risk factors have scarcely been quantified in the Inuit population. Such knowledge is extremely valuable in terms of public health intervention.

Comparison of myocardial ischemia on the ergocycle versus the treadmill in patients with coronary heart disease.

We previously observed an attenuation of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia on the ergocycle during a ramp protocol compared to the standard Bruce protocol treadmill test in patients with coronary heart disease. However, it was uncertain whether decreased ischemia on the ergocycle resulted from the warm-up effect of the more gradual ramp protocol or from the mode of exercise itself (cycling vs running). Sixteen stable patients, aged 64 +/- 5 years, with documented coronary heart disease (> or =70% coronary artery stenosis and/or reversible myocardial perfusion defects) performed 3 symptom-limited exercise tests: the standard Bruce protocol treadmill test and 2 individualized ramp protocols (treadmill and ergocycle).

Using an electrohydraulic ankle foot orthosis to study modifications in feedforward control during locomotor adaptation to force fields applied in stance.

Background: Adapting to external forces during walking has been proposed as a tool to improve locomotion after central nervous system injury. However, sensorimotor integration during walking varies according to the timing in the gait cycle, suggesting that adaptation may also depend on gait phases. In this study, an ElectroHydraulic AFO (EHO) was used to apply forces specifically during mid-stance and push-off to evaluate if feedforward movement control can be adapted in these 2 gait phases.

Atherosclerotic burden findings in young cryptogenic stroke patients with and without a patent foramen ovale.

Background And Purpose: To further determine the mechanisms of cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack in young patients, we evaluated indices of atherosclerosis in patients
Methods: This was a prospective study including 100 consecutive patients View Article and Find Full Text PDF

An electrohydraulic actuated ankle foot orthosis to generate force fields and to test proprioceptive reflexes during human walking.

The control of human walking can be temporarily modified by applying forces to the leg. To study the neural mechanisms underlying this adaptive capacity, a device delivering controlled forces and high-velocity displacements to the ankle was designed. A new solution, involving a closed circuit hydraulic system composed of two cylinders (master-slave) mutually connected by hoses and controlled by an electric motor was preferred over classical mechanical/electrical approaches.

Can prolonged exercise-induced myocardial ischaemia be innocuous?

Aims: To evaluate the innocuousness of intense and prolonged exercise training above the threshold for myocardial ischaemia (1 mm ST-segment depression).

Methods And Results: Twenty-two patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) were randomized to exercise training either at a target intensity that induced myocardial ischaemia (ischaemic group) or that adhered to current guidelines (control group). Training was progressively increased to 60 min under continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring.

Different thresholds of myocardial ischemia in ramp and standard bruce protocol exercise tests in patients with positive exercise stress tests and angiographically demonstrated coronary arterial narrowing.

Gradual instead of abrupt increases in workload favor a more physiologic response in terms of hemodynamic and gas exchange parameters. Therefore, we investigated whether myocardial ischemia is attenuated with a ramp compared with a standard Bruce exercise protocol in patients with coronary artery disease. We compared electrocardiographic ischemic parameters on the standard Bruce protocol treadmill and the individualized ergocycle ramp protocol in 18 men with coronary artery disease and a reproducible ischemic electrocardiographic exercise test.

Enhanced thrombogenesis but not platelet activation is associated with transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Background And Purpose: No studies have yet determined whether antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy is the more appropriate treatment after transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with cryptogenic stroke. The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the presence, degree, and timing of activation of the platelet and coagulation systems after transcatheter closure of PFO in patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Methods: Twenty-four consecutive patients (mean age, 44+/-10 years; 11 men) with previous cryptogenic stroke who had undergone successful transcatheter closure of PFO were included in the study.

Skeletal muscle endurance and muscle metabolism in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Alterations in skeletal muscle function are known to contribute to exercise intolerance in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Objectives: To evaluate whether muscle isometric endurance can be objectively measured and whether it is related to skeletal muscle metabolism in CHF.

Methods: Isometric endurance of the vastus lateralis, measured as time to fatigue (T(F)), was evaluated in 25 patients with CHF (55+/-8 years of age [mean +/- SD]) and 18 healthy subjects (HS) (62+/-6 years of age [mean +/- SD]).

Impact of exercise training on muscle function and ergoreflex in Fontan patients: a pilot study.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated persistent reduced exercise capacity in Fontan patients even after surgical intervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if the skeletal muscle function of these patients is abnormal, if it correlates with exercise tolerance and if it can be improved by exercise training.

Methods: We evaluated the functional capacity of seven patients who underwent Fontan procedure (age:16+/-5 years, mean+/-SD) and seven healthy children (19+/-7 years) paired for age, sex, height and weight.

Impact of prolonged cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition on inflammatory markers and endothelial function in patients with ischemic heart disease and raised C-reactive protein: a randomized placebo-controlled study.

Background: The impact of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 antagonist treatment on acute coronary risk is controversial. We investigated the effect of prolonged COX-2 inhibition on inflammatory profile and endothelial function in patients with ischemic heart disease and high serum C-reactive protein (CRP) values.

Methods And Results: In a double-blind study, 35 stable subjects on low-dose aspirin with > or =2 previous acute coronary events and 2 of 2 screening CRP values >2.

Positive pleiotropic effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor on vitiligo.

Background: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are commonly used in medicine to control blood lipid disorder. Large clinical trials have demonstrated that statins greatly reduces cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality in patients with and without coronary artery disease. Also, the use of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors has been reported to have immunosuppressive effects.

[Aortic and tricuspid valve involvement caused by myxoid degeneration associated with a severe mitral prolapse. Apropos of 2 patients undergoing a double valve replacement].

Idiopathic mitral valve prolapse due to severe myxoid degeneration may be associated with aortic and/or tricuspid valve disease of the same aetiology. These localisations, which usually give rise few symptoms, can be detected by echocardiography. Sometimes, however, they may give rise to serious valvular regurgitation requiring surgical correction at each diseased valve.