Thermo-Responsive and Electroconductive Nano Au-PNiPAAm Hydrogel Nanocomposites: Influence of Synthesis Method and Nanoparticle Shape on Physicochemical Properties.

Hydrogel nanocomposites that respond to external stimuli and possess switchable electrical properties are considered as emerging materials with potential uses in electrical, electrochemical, and biological devices. This work reports the synthesis and characterization of thermo-responsive and electroconductive hydrogel nanocomposites based on poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNiPAAm) and gold nanoparticles (nanospheres-AuNPs and nanorods-AuNRs) using two different synthetic techniques. Method I involved γ-irradiation-induced crosslinking of a polymer matrix (hydrogel), followed by radiolytic formation of gold nanoparticles, while Method II included the chemical synthesis of nanoparticles, followed by radiolytic formation of a polymer matrix around the gold nanoparticles.

Improving health outcomes of people with diabetes: target setting for the WHO Global Diabetes Compact.

The Global Diabetes Compact is a WHO-driven initiative uniting stakeholders around goals of reducing diabetes risk and ensuring that people with diabetes have equitable access to comprehensive, affordable care and prevention. In this report we describe the development and scientific basis for key health metrics, coverage, and treatment targets accompanying the Compact. We considered metrics across four domains: factors at a structural, system, or policy level; processes of care; behaviours and biomarkers such as glycated haemoglobin (HbA); and health events and outcomes; and three risk tiers (diagnosed diabetes, high risk, or whole population), and reviewed and prioritised them according to their health importance, modifiability, data availability, and global inequality.

Development of a target product profile for a point-of-care cardiometabolic device.

Introduction: Multi-parameter diagnostic devices can simplify cardiometabolic disease diagnosis. However, existing devices may not be suitable for use in low-resource settings, where the burden of non-communicable diseases is high. Here we describe the development of a target product profile (TPP) for a point-of-care multi-parameter device for detection of biomarkers for cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, including diabetes, in primary care settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Type 1 diabetes in 2017: global estimates of incident and prevalent cases in children and adults.

Aims/hypothesis: Data on type 1 diabetes incidence and prevalence are limited, particularly for adults. This study aims to estimate global numbers of incident and prevalent cases of type 1 diabetes in 2017 for all age groups, by country and areas defined by income and region.

Methods: Incidence rates of type 1 diabetes in children (available from 94 countries) from the IDF Atlas were used and extrapolated to countries without data.

Release of wood extractable elements in experimental spirit model: Health risk assessment of the wood species generated in Balkan cooperage.

This work investigates the release of toxic elements from wood into the experimental spirit models and the safety risks for consumers. The spirit models were prepared as ethanolic extracts using the procedure which reproduces maturation of spirits. Investigation included staves of wood species commonly used in Balkan cooperage: mulberry, Myrobalan plum, black locust, wild cherry, and various oaks.

Implications of the growing burden of diabetes for premature cardiovascular disease mortality and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal target 3.4.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major cause of deaths globally, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of these deaths. 42% of NCD deaths are premature (occurring before the age of 70 years). As part of the United Nations 3rd Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on health and wellbeing, target 3.

Medicines for Treatment Intensification in Type 2 Diabetes and Type of Insulin in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Low-Resource Settings: Synopsis of the World Health Organization Guidelines on Second- and Third-Line Medicines and Type of Insulin for the Control of Blood Glucose Levels in Nonpregnant Adults With Diabetes Mellitus.

Description: The World Health Organization developed these guidelines to provide guidance on selection of medicines for treatment intensification in type 2 diabetes and on use of insulin (human or analogue) in type 1 and 2 diabetes. The target audience includes clinicians, policymakers, national diabetes program managers, and medicine procurement officers. The target population is adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes in low-resource settings in low- or high-income countries.

Investigation of mechanism and critical parameters for removal of arsenic from water using Zr-TiO composite.

Using the microwave-hydrothermal method for the synthesis of composite, high surface density of hydroxyl groups, as an active adsorption sites for arsenic, was obtained. Adsorption mechanisms of As(III) and As(V) onto zirconium-doped titanium dioxide (Zr-TiO) were investigated and proposed using macroscopic and microscopic methods. Obtained results are suggesting inner-sphere and outer-sphere adsorption mechanisms for As(III) and As(V), respectively.

Synthesis, Biological, and Computational Evaluation of Substituted 1-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-4-(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)piperazines and 1-(2-Methoxyphenyl)-4-[(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)methyl]piperazines as Dopaminergic Ligands.

Sixteen new 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)piperazines and 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-[(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)methyl]piperazines were synthesized to be used as probes for mapping the dopamine D2 receptor (D2 DAR) arylpiperazine binding site. All compounds were evaluated for their affinity toward D2 DAR in an in vitro competitive displacement assay. The most active one was 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-{[1-(3-nitrophenethyl)piperidin-4-yl]methyl}piperazine (25) with an affinity of Ki  = 54 nM.

Contrasting cardiovascular mortality trends in Eastern Mediterranean populations: Contributions from risk factor changes and treatments.

Background: Middle income countries are facing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases, especially coronary heart disease (CHD). We used a validated CHD mortality model (IMPACT) to explain recent trends in Tunisia, Syria, the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and Turkey.

Methods: Data on populations, mortality, patient numbers, treatments and risk factor trends from national and local surveys in each country were collated over two time points (1995-97; 2006-09); integrated and analysed using the IMPACT model.

Microwave-hydrothermal method for the synthesis of composite materials for removal of arsenic from water.

Composite material Zr-doped TiO2, suitable for the removal of arsenic from water, was synthetized with fast and simple microwave-hydrothermal method. Obtained material, Zr-TiO2, had uniform size and composition with zirconium ions incorporated into crystal structure of titanium dioxide. Synthetized composite material had large specific surface area and well-developed micropore and mesopore structure that was responsible for fast adsorption of As(III) and As(V) from water.

Investigation of 2 models to set and evaluate quality targets for hb a1c: biological variation and sigma-metrics.

Background: A major objective of the IFCC Task Force on Implementation of HbA1c Standardization is to develop a model to define quality targets for glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1c).

Methods: Two generic models, biological variation and sigma-metrics, are investigated. We selected variables in the models for Hb A1c and used data of external quality assurance/proficiency testing programs to evaluate the suitability of the models to set and evaluate quality targets within and between laboratories.

Application of non-thermal plasma reactor and Fenton reaction for degradation of ibuprofen.

Pharmaceutical compounds have been detected frequently in surface and ground water. Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) were reported as very efficient for removal of various organic compounds. Nevertheless, due to incomplete degradation, toxic intermediates can induce more severe effects than the parent compound.

New evidence for TiO2 uniform surfaces leading to complete bacterial reduction in the dark: critical issues.

This study presents new evidence for the events leading to Escherichia coli reduction in the absence of light irradiation on TiO2-polyester (from now on TiO2-PES. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM) the diffusion of TiO2 NP's aggregates with the E. coli outer lipo-polyssacharide (LPS) layer is shown to be a prerequisite for the loss of bacterial cultivability.

Diagnosis of GDM: a suggested consensus.

Despite recent attempts at building consensus, an internationally consistent definition of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains elusive. Within and between countries, there is disagreement between obstetric, medical, and endocrine groups as to the diagnosis and management of GDM. The current article aims to discuss the background to the controversy of GDM diagnosis and to address issues related to the detection and treatment of GDM in low-, middle-, and high-resource settings.

Improving tuberculosis prevention and care through addressing the global diabetes epidemic: from evidence to policy and practice.

Diabetes triples the risk of tuberculosis and is also a risk factor for adverse tuberculosis treatment outcomes, including death. Prevalence of diabetes is increasing globally, but most rapidly in low-income and middle-income countries where tuberculosis is a grave public health problem. Growth in this double disease burden creates additional obstacles for tuberculosis care and prevention.

Cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality, and diabetes incidence after lifestyle intervention for people with impaired glucose tolerance in the Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study: a 23-year follow-up study.

Background: Lifestyle interventions among people with impaired glucose tolerance reduce the incidence of diabetes, but their effect on all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality is unclear. We assessed the long-term effect of lifestyle intervention on long-term outcomes among adults with impaired glucose tolerance who participated in the Da Qing Diabetes Prevention Study.

Methods: The study was a cluster randomised trial in which 33 clinics in Da Qing, China-serving 577 adults with impaired glucose tolerance-were randomised (1:1:1:1) to a control group or lifestyle intervention groups (diet or exercise or both).

Degradation of triketone herbicides, mesotrione and sulcotrione, using advanced oxidation processes.

Degradation of two triketone herbicides, mesotrione and sulcotrione, was studied using four different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs): ozonization, dielectric barrier discharge (DBD reactor), photocatalysis and Fenton reagent, in order to find differences in mechanism of degradation. Degradation products were identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) and UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS analyses. A simple mechanism of degradation for different AOP was proposed.

Screening intervals for diabetic retinopathy and incidence of visual loss: a systematic review.

Screening for diabetic retinopathy can help to prevent this complication, but evidence regarding frequency of screening is uncertain. This paper systematically reviews the published literature on the relationship between screening intervals for diabetic retinopathy and the incidence of visual loss. The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched until December 2012.

Impact of gestational diabetes mellitus screening strategies on perinatal outcomes: a simulation study.

Aims: To evaluate the impact on perinatal outcomes of universal gestational diabetes (GDM) screening based on 1999 WHO and IADPSG diagnostic criteria; to assess the quality of the evidence (GRADE) to support GDM screening.

Methods: Simulation of a hypothetical cohort of community-based pregnant women with 10% GDM prevalence (1999 WHO). Most parameters were obtained from recent systematic reviews.

Possibilities of thermovision application in sport and sport rehabilitation.

Introduction: Infrared thermography or thermovision is increasingly applicable in sport and sport rehabilitation. Thermic forms, thermic imprints, temperature and isotherm distribution, temperature gradient change are the terms that are more and more often met in sport medicine and medicine, in general.

Case Report: We presented two examples of thermovision application: in detection of muscle injury and changes of the feet exposed to low temperature.