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This paper describes the results of the recent archaeological survey of the Chilworth gunpowder works carried out by English Heritage. Although there has been intensive documentary research into the earlier history of the works, the later development of the factory is comparatively little known. Its transformation in the late 19th century from a family-owned concern to a limited company, with strong international links, reflects important themes not only in the development of explosives manufacture but also for other late-Victorian industries that were dependent on capital investment and technological innovation. A surprising postscript to the history of the factory was the reuse of many of its buildings by a small community known as 'Tin Town' and its later use as part of a Second World War anti-invasion stop line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Accumulating evidence suggests that hyperandrogenemia may be a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) in women. The present study was carried out to test the hypothesis that hyperandrogenemia is associated with type 2 diabetes in women and thus may contribute to the increased risk of CHD in women with type 2 diabetes.Research Design and Methods: Sex hormones, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and risk factors for CHD were measured in 20 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes and in 29 control subjects. All of the diabetic and control subjects were Hispanic women aged >55 years who were not taking hormone replacement therapy lipid-lowering drugs, or insulin and who were otherwise randomly chosen from a cohort of stroke-free subjects from the Northern Manhattan Stroke StudyResults: Mean age, BMI, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, and smoking were not significantly different between cases and control subjects, but waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was significantly higher in the diabetic subjects (P = 0.01). The mean levels of free testosterone (FT) (P = 0.01), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (P<0.04), and estradiol (P = 0.01) (controlled for WHR) were significantly higher in the diabetic subjects; with the statistical outliers removed, the testosterone (P = 0.05) and androstenedione (P = 0.002) levels (controlled for WHR) were also significantly higher in the diabetic subjects. The mean levels of estrone, cortisol, and SHBG were not significantly different. The results were similar in the 10 diabetic subjects treated with diet only Significant positive correlations (controlled for age and BMI) were observed between FT or testosterone and cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and blood pressure.Conclusions: Postmenopausal Hispanic women with type 2 diabetes had both hyperandrogenemia and hyperestrogenemia, and testosterone or FT correlated positively with risk factors for CHD. Hyperandrogenemia may be a link between diabetes and CHD in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apo(a)-isoform size, nutritional status and inflammatory markers in chronic renal failure. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and malnutrition are widely recognized as leading causes of the increased morbidity and mortality observed in uremic patients. Levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], an established cardiovascular risk factor, are elevated in uremic patients. Moreover, low serum albumin levels indicating malnutrition have been associated with elevated plasma Lp(a) levels in dialysis patients. However, serum albumin levels are also influenced by an inflammatory reaction. The present study was undertaken to further investigate the relationship between Lp(a), inflammation and malnutrition in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) prior to the initiation of renal replacement therapy, and to investigate the potential relation between these factors and apo(a)-isoform size, an important determinant of plasma Lp(a) levels. A total of 83 patients (mean age 52 ± 1 year) with terminal (creatinine clearance 9 ± 1 ml/min) CRF were cross sectionally investigated. In addition to lipid parameters and apo(a)-isoform size, C-reactive protein (CRP), nutritional parameters including serum levels of albumin and body composition (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry), as well as a subjective global assessment (SGA) and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) were evaluated. Malnourished patients (N = 39) had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher median plasma Lp(a) level (19.5 mg/dl) as compared to 44 well-nourished patients, (11.7 mg/dl). No difference was found for other lipid or lipoprotein parameters. A significant relationship was found between CRP and plasma Lp(a), whereas no significant relation was observed between plasma Lp(a) and serum albumin levels. The apo(a)-isoform distribution was similar among malnourished and well-nourished patients. There was no difference in nutritional parameters when comparing patients with small- and large-size apo(a)... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study to evaluate the association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and ischemic stroke in an elderly, multiethnic population. Analysis of data from the Northern Manhattan Stroke Study; Methods; Results; Evidence that high levels of HDL-C were associated with a reduced risk of ischemic stroke; Conclusion.