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Aim To gain insight into the presence of islet cell autoimmunity in an ethnic Asian compared with a white European population. Methods For this cross‐sectional study we recruited people with adult‐onset diabetes (age of diagnosis 20–60 years), at tertiary referral centres in Germany (n=1020) and Singapore (n=1088). Glutamic acid decarboxylase and islet antigen 2 antibodies were measured according to Islet Autoantibody Standardization Program protocols. Results The prevalence of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody positivity was 13.9% (95% CI 12.1–16.0; P, What's new? Data on the prevalence of adult‐onset autoimmune diabetes gathered from population‐based studies in Asia are sparse. We assessed the presence of islet cell antibodies [glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and islet antigen 2 (IA2) antibodies] in three ethnic Asian groups from Singapore as compared with a white European population with diabetes.In the Asian cohort, IA2 antibodies were most prevalent, across the three ethnicities, whereas GAD antibodies were more frequent in the white European cohort. In the white European cohort, those who were GAD autoantibody‐positive had a lower BMI than those who were GAD autoantibody‐negative, but this trend was absent in the Asian cohort.

A revised Miyaura borylation process has been developed using tetrahydroxydiboron that avoids the use of bis(pinacolato) diboron and hence the need to hydrolyze the resulting boronic ester to its corresponding acid. The process was greatly simplified and successfully scaled-up in the pilot plant on a 65 kg scale, reducing plant cycle time and resulting in a 47% overall cost reduction. Furthermore, methodology for the study of the oxygen sensitivity of the process is reported that allowed for optimization of the amount of tetrahydroxydiboron and catalyst used. These studies also demonstrated an oxygen-induced decomposition of tetrahydroxydiboron.

Rhizopines such as scyllo-inosamine (SIA) and L-3-O-methyl-scyllo-inosamine (3-O-MSI) play an intricate role as nutritional mediators during the establishment of the symbiotic relationship between legumes and rhizobia. The mechanism of action is not well understood. One challenge is the availability of rhizopines, which occur in only minute amounts in plant nodules. We herewith report an efficient synthesis of scyllo-inosamine and its biochemical activity in specific bacteria. SIA was prepared in 7 steps and 32% overall yield from readily available myo-inositol. The chemically synthesized SIA was tested to determine whether it can serve as sole carbon and nitrogen source for Sinorhizobium meliloti wild-type strain L5-30 and for strains carrying mutations in the rhizopine degradation (moc) genes. The analysis of the phenotype of the mutant strains revealed that the moc genes previously shown to be essential for the breakdown of the rhizopines isolated from root nodules are also essential for the utilization of the chemically synthesized SIA.

Uit de ‘5e Landelijke Groeistudie’ blijkt dat het percentage kinderen met overgewicht in Nederland van 9-12% in 1997 gestegen is tot 13-15% in 2009. De jeugdgezondheidszorg heeft een unieke setting om de ontwikkeling, de groei en het gedrag van kinderen te bevorderen en biedt preventieve zorg op maat. Het signaleren en interveniëren door de jeugdgezondheidszorg bij kinderen met overgewicht vindt plaats binnen een keten met de huisarts, kinderarts, diëtist, leerkracht, fysiotherapeut, pedagoog en psycholoog. Voor interventie bij kinderen met overgewicht wordt een veranderplan opgesteld gebaseerd op meer bewegen en buiten spelen, elke dag ontbijten, zo min mogelijk gezoete dranken en fastfood, minder voor de televisie of computer zitten en minder energierijke tussendoortjes. Conform de CBO-richtlijn ‘Obesitas’ worden kinderen met obesitas verwezen naar huisarts of kinderarts.

The present study comprises of forty patients of scoliosis in growing age group (10-25 years) with Cobbs angles ranging from 52"-98". They were treated with Leeds procedure which is by anterior loosening followed by Posterior Harrington fixation + Luque derotation + Fusion and Costoplasty. Majority of the curves were thoracic (60%), and right sided (72%). Average correction of the deformity after surgery was 45%. Satisfaction level of patients and parents was good in 60% of the cases. The modality of treatment was decided on the basis of personality of each case, its demand and requirement, time of presentation and the potential for increasing severity. Anterior spinal surgery for scoliosis is an effective procedure in hands of experienced surgeons and it reduces stiffness of the curve, shorten the anterior column, decreases thoracic lordosis which leads to some improvement of pulmonary function. But there is greater risk of damage to vital structures with higher risks of cardiorespiratory failure. The potential risks have to be balanced with the expected rewards. The optimum method of correction has to be decided by careful preoperative evaluation. Combined procedure of anterior and posterior surgery causes lesser decrease in pulmonary functions than costoplasty alone, and achieving better cosmetic correction. This study reaffirms the role of anterior spinal surgery in India as the patients due to lower levels of health awareness present late and with severe deformities.