Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Studies: Study Design and Data Analysis

Sanne A.E. Peters,Michiel L. Bots 대한뇌졸중학회 2013 Journal of stroke Vol.15 No.1

Background Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurements have been widely used as primary endpoint in studies into the effects of new interventions as alternative for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. There are no accepted standards on the use of CIMT measurements in intervention studies and choices in the design and analysis of a CIMT study are generally based on experience and expert opinion. In the present review, we provide an overview of the current evidence on several aspects in the design and analysis of a CIMT study on the early effects of new interventions. Summary of Issues A balanced evaluation of the carotid segments, carotid walls, and image view to be used as CIMT study endpoint; the reading method (manual or semi-automated and continuously or in batch) to be employed, the required sample size, and the frequency of ultrasound examinations is provided. We also discuss the preferred methods to analyse longitudinal CIMT data and address the possible impact of, and methods to deal with missing and biologically implausible CIMT values. Conclusions Linear mixed effects models are the preferred way to analyse CIMT data and do appropriately handle missing and biologically implausible CIMT values. Furthermore, we recommend to use extensive CIMT designs that measure CIMT at regular points during the multiple carotid sites as such approach is likely to increase the success rates of CIMT intervention studies designed to evaluate the effects of new interventions on atherosclerotic burden.

Health Promotion at Work: A Comparison of Policy and Practice Across Europe

Sanne E. Verra,Amel Benzerga,Boshen Jiao,Kai Ruggeri 한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 2019 Safety and health at work Vol.10 No.1

Background: Promoting healthy lifestyles at work should complement workplace safety programs. This study systematically investigates current states of occupational health and safety (OHS) policy as well as practice in the European Union (EU). Methods: OHS policies of EU member states were categorized as either prevention or health promotion provisions using a manifest content analysis. Policy rankings were then created for each prevention and promotion. Rankings compared eight indicators from the European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks-2 data on prevention and promotion practices for each member state using Chi-square and probit regression analyses. Results: Overall, 73.1% of EU establishments take preventive measures against direct physical harm, and about 35.4% take measures to prevent psychosocial risks. Merely 29.5% have measures to promote health. Weak and inconsistent links between OHS policy and practice indicators were identified. Conclusion: National OHS policies evidently concentrate on prevention while compliance with health and safety practices is relatively low. Psychosocial risks are often addressed in national policy but not implemented by institutions. Current risk assessment methods are outdated and often lack psychosocial indicators. Health promotion at work is rare in policy and practice, and its interpretation remains preventive. Member states need to adopt policies that actively improve health and well-being at the workplace.

MYANMAR AND BUDDHA DHAMMA -HOW THE TEACHING OF THE BUDDHA WAS INTRODUCED INTO MYANMAR-

( U Sann Lwin ) 천태불교문화연구원 2001 天台學硏究 Vol.3 No.-

Health Promotion at Work: A Comparison of Policy and Practice Across Europe

Verra, Sanne E.,Benzerga, Amel,Jiao, Boshen,Ruggeri, Kai Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2019 Safety and health at work Vol.10 No.1

Background: Promoting healthy lifestyles at work should complement workplace safety programs. This study systematically investigates current states of occupational health and safety (OHS) policy as well as practice in the European Union (EU). Methods: OHS policies of EU member states were categorized as either prevention or health promotion provisions using a manifest content analysis. Policy rankings were then created for each prevention and promotion. Rankings compared eight indicators from the European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks-2 data on prevention and promotion practices for each member state using Chi-square and probit regression analyses. Results: Overall, 73.1% of EU establishments take preventive measures against direct physical harm, and about 35.4% take measures to prevent psychosocial risks. Merely 29.5% have measures to promote health. Weak and inconsistent links between OHS policy and practice indicators were identified. Conclusion: National OHS policies evidently concentrate on prevention while compliance with health and safety practices is relatively low. Psychosocial risks are often addressed in national policy but not implemented by institutions. Current risk assessment methods are outdated and often lack psychosocial indicators. Health promotion at work is rare in policy and practice, and its interpretation remains preventive. Member states need to adopt policies that actively improve health and well-being at the workplace.

Degradation of Functional Materials in Temperature Gradients - Thermodiffusion and the Soret Effect

Janek, Jurgen,Sann, Joachim,Mogwitz, Boris,Rohnke, Marcus,Kleine-Boymann, Matthias The Korean Ceramic Society 2012 한국세라믹학회지 Vol.49 No.1

Functional materials are often exposed to high temperatures and inherent temperature gradients. These temperature gradients act as thermodynamic driving forces for the diffusion of mobile components. The detailed consequences of thermodiffusion depend on the boundary conditions of the non-isothermal sample: Once the boundaries of the sample are inert and closed for exchange of the mobile components, thermodiffusion leads to their pile-up in the stationary state (the so called Soret effect). Once the system is open for an exchange of the mobile component, chemical diffusion adds to the Soret effect, and stationary non-zero component fluxes are additionally observed in the stationary state. In this review, the essential aspects of thermodiffusion and Soret effect in inorganic functional materials are briefly summarized and our current practical knowledge is reviewed. Major examples include nonstoichiometric binary compounds (oxides and other chalcogenides) and ternary solid solutions. The potential influence of the Soret effect on the long term stability of high temperature thermoelectrics is briefly discussed. Typical Soret coefficients for nonstoichiometric compounds are found to be of the order of (d${\delta}$/dT) ${\approx}$ 1%/K.

우유(牛乳)${\cdot}$유제품(乳製品)의 다양화(多樣化) 및 우유연구(牛乳硏究)의 진보(進步)와 그 응용(應用)

산내방남,Bang Nam, Sanne 한국유가공학회 1984 Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology (JMSB) Vol.3 No.2

Complementary Liver Histological Effects of Mitochondrial Function Enhancer HSG4112, a Synthetic First-in-Class Small Molecule, and Semaglutide in a Diet-Induced and Biopsy-Confirmed Obese Mouse Model of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

( Kyungil Kim ),( Ida Rune ),( Sanne S. Veidal ),( Keun-wan Lim ),( Yunsun Park ),( Youngah Kim ),( Leo S. Choi ),( Henrik H. Hansen ),( Michael Feigh ),( Sang-ku Yoo ) 대한간학회 2020 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2020 No.1

Aims: HSG4112, a synthetic new chemical entity, is a first-inclass oral small molecule in clinical development for obesity. In preclinical studies, HSG4112 as mitochondrial function enhancer has been demonstrated to increase energy expenditure and decrease chronic low-grade inflammation, resulting in reduced adiposity and robust weight loss. As these therapeutic effects are highly relevant for the management of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), we aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of HSG4112 and semaglutide (GLP-1 receptor agonist) in a diet-induced obese (DIO) and biopsy-confirmed mouse model of NASH. Methods: Male C57BL/6JRj mice were fed AMLN diet high in trans-fat, fructose and cholesterol for 35 weeks. Only animals with liver biopsy-confirmed steatosis (score ≥2) and fibrosis (stage ≥F1) were included and stratified into treatment groups according to baseline body weight and liver collagen-1a1 deposition. DIO-NASH mice received vehicle (PO, QD), HSG4112 (50 or 100 mg/kg, PO, QD), or semaglutide (30 nmol/kg, SC, QD) for 10 weeks. Endpoints included within-subject changes in body composition, NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) and fibrosis stage as well as terminal quantitative liver histology and transcriptome analysis. Results: HSG4112 and semaglutide induced similar reductions in body weight (20%) and whole-body fat levels (10-12%) in DIO-NASH mice. These metabolic effects were accompanied by significantly reduced plasma levels of liver injury markers (ALT, AST, ALP). Notably, in contrast to semaglutide, HSG4112 did not reduce any food intake and improved NAS by a different mode of action. Accordingly, HSG4112 specifically attenuated lobular inflammation while semaglutide reduced steatosis severity. Both compounds significantly reduced fibrogenesis activity associated with suppressed stellate cell activation and lowered collagen mRNA expression. Conclusions: HSG4112 showed robust anti-obesity and anti- NASH efficacy, especially with reduced liver inflammation and fibrogenesis, in DIO-NASH mice with biopsy-confirmed liver pathology. While its efficacy was comparable to that of semaglutide, HSG4112 did not reduce food intake, further demonstrating its energy expenditure-enhancing effect. These findings suggest HSG4112 as a potent novel drug for the treatment of NASH.

Degradation of Functional Materials in Temperature Gradients -Thermodiffusion and the Soret Effect

Jürgen Janek,Joachim Sann,Boris Mogwitz,Marcus Rohnke,Matthias Kleine-Boymann 한국세라믹학회 2012 한국세라믹학회지 Vol.49 No.1

Functional materials are often exposed to high temperatures and inherent temperature gradients. These temperature gradients act as thermodynamic driving forces for the diffusion of mobile components. The detailed consequences of thermodiffusion depend on the boundary conditions of the non-isothermal sample: Once the boundaries of the sample are inert and closed for exchange of the mobile components, thermodiffusion leads to their pile-up in the stationary state (the so called Soret effect). Once the system is open for an exchange of the mobile component, chemical diffusion adds to the Soret effect, and stationary non-zero component fluxes are additionally observed in the stationary state. In this review, the essential aspects of thermodiffusion and Soret effect in inorganic functional materials are briefly summarized and our current practical knowledge is reviewed. Major examples include nonstoichiometric binary compounds (oxides and other chalcogenides) and ternary solid solutions. The potential influence of the Soret effect on the long term stability of high temperature thermoelectrics is briefly discussed. Typical Soret coefficients for nonstoichiometric compounds are found to be of the order of (dδ/dT) ≈ 1%/K.

Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Patients In Malaysia

Ganesh, Sri,Lye, Munn-Sann,Lau, Fen Nee Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.4

Background: Among the factors reported to determine the quality of life of breast cancer patients are socio-demographic background, clinical stage, type of treatment received, and the duration since diagnosis. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the quality of life (QOL) scores among breast cancer patients at a Malaysian public hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study of breast cancer patients was conducted between March to June 2013. QOL scores were determined using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast cancer supplementary measure (QLQ-BR23). Both the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 assess items from functional and symptom scales. The QLQ-C30 in addition also measures the Global Health Status (GHS). Systematic random sampling was used to recruit patients. Results: 223 breast cancer patients were recruited with a response rate of 92.1%. The mean age of the patients was 52.4 years (95% CI = 51.0, 53.7, SD=10.3). Majority of respondents are Malays (60.5%), followed by Chinese (19.3%), Indians (18.4%), and others (1.8%). More than 50% of respondents are at stage III and stage IV of malignancy. The mean Global Health Status was 65.7 (SD = 21.4). From the QLQ-C30, the mean score in the functioning scale was highest for 'cognitive functioning' (84.1, SD=18.0), while the mean score in the symptom scale was highest for 'financial difficulties' (40.1, SD=31.6). From the QLQ-BR23, the mean score for functioning scale was highest for 'body image' (80.0, SD=24.6) while the mean score in the symptom scale was highest for 'upset by hair loss' (36.2, SD=29.4). Two significant predictors for Global Health Status were age and employment. The predictors explained 10.6% of the variation of global health status ($R^2=0.106$). Conclusions: Age and employment were found to be significant predictors for Global Health Status (GHS). The Quality of Life among breast cancer patients reflected by the GHS improves as age and employment increases.

Dexamethasone, but Not Vitamin D or A, Dampens the Inflammatory Neutrophil Response to Protect At-risk COVID-19 Patients

Hafkamp Florianne M.J.,Mol Sanne,Waqué Iris,De Jong Esther C. 대한면역학회 2022 Immune Network Vol.22 No.4

Dexamethasone (DEX) was the first drug shown to save lives of critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients suffering from respiratory distress. A hyperactivated state of neutrophils was found in COVID-19 patients compared to non-COVID pneumonia cases. Given the beneficial effects of DEX in COVID-19 patients, we investigated the effects of DEX and of other immunomodulatory drugs vitamin D3 (VD3) and retinoic acid (RA) on neutrophil function. DEX, but not VD3 or RA, significantly inhibited all tested aspects of neutrophil function, e.g., degranulation, intracellular ROS production, CXCL8 release and NETosis. Interestingly, RA displayed the opposite effect by significantly increasing both CXCL8 and NET release by neutrophils. Taken together, these data suggest that the lower COVID-19 mortality in DEX-treated patients may in part be due to the dampening effect of DEX on the inflammatory neutrophil response, which could prevent neutrophil plugs with NETS in the lungs and other inflamed organs of patients.