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Context. HAT-P-67 b is one of the lowest-density gas giants known to date, making it an excellent target for atmospheric characterisation through the transmission spectroscopy technique. Aims. In the framework of the GAPS large programme, we collected four transit events of HAT-P-67 b with the aim of studying the exoplanet atmosphere and deriving the orbital projected obliquity. Methods. We exploited the high-precision GIARPS (GIANO-B + HARPS-N) observing mode of the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) along with additional archival TESS photometry to explore the activity level of the host star. We performed transmission spec-troscopy, both in the visible (VIS) and in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range, and we analysed the Rossiter–McLaughlin (RML) effect when fitting both the radial velocities and the Doppler shadow. Based on the TESS photometry, we redetermined the transit parameters of HAT-P-67 b. Results. By modelling the RML effect, we derived a sky-projected obliquity of (2.2 ± 0.4)°, indicating an aligned planetary orbit. The chromospheric activity index log R′HK, the CCF profile, and the variability in the transmission spectrum of the Hα line suggest that the host star shows signatures of stellar activity and/or pulsation. We found no evidence of atomic or molecular species in the optical transmission spectra, with the exception of pseudo-signals corresponding to Cr I, Fe I, Ha, Na I, and Ti I. In the NIR range, we found an absorption signal of the He I triplet of 5.56−0.30+0.29% (19.0σ), corresponding to an effective planetary radius of ~3 Rp (where Rp ~ 2 RJ), which extends beyond the planet's Roche lobe radius. Conclusions. Owing to the stellar variability and the high uncertainty of the model, we could not confirm the planetary origin of the signals found in the optical transmission spectrum. On the other hand, we were able to confirm previous detections of the infrared He I triplet, providing a 19.0σ detection. Our finding indicates that the planet's atmosphere is evaporating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the relationship between intraoperative body temperature and thiol/disulfide balance in geriatric patients scheduled for elective transurethral prostate resection surgery with spinal anesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 71 patients classified as categories 1 and 2, according to American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, were included in the study. The core temperature of the patients was recorded in the operating room after monitoring, at 5 and 30 minutes after spinal anesthesia. Total thiols, native thiols, disulfide amounts, disulfide/native thiol, disulfide/total thiol, and native thiol/total thiol were calculated as percentages after monitorization (Tpreoperative) and at 60 minutes after spinal anesthesia (Tintraoperative). RESULTS: The disulfide levels in the T intraoperative period (29±8.9 mmol/L) were higher than the disulfide levels measured in the Tpreoperative period (18.2±8.8 mmol/L) (p<0.001). In the Tpreoperative period, the disulfide/native thiol (%) level was 4.6±2, while the disulfide/total thiol (%) level was 4.2±1.6. In the Tintraoperative period, the disulfide/native thiol (%) level was 8±2.3, while the disulfide/total thiol (%) level was 6.8±1.7. Native thiol/total thiol (%) levels for the Tpreoperative and Tintraoperative periods were 91.5±3.3 mmol/L and 86.3±3.4 mmol/L, respectively. A correlation was found between native, total thiol levels and patient age in the Tpreoperative and Tintraoperative periods. CONCLUSIONS: O xidative stress can ber educed in geriatric patients with the possibility of developing involuntary perioperative hypothermia by regularly monitoring body temperature and applying warming techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Artificial sweeteners were thought to be metabolically inactive, but after demonstrating that the gustatory mechanism was also localized in the small intestine, suspicions about the metabolic effects of artificial sweeteners have emerged. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of artificial sweeteners (aspartame and sucralose) on blood glucose, insulin, c-peptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Eight newly diagnosed drug-naive type 2 diabetic patients (mean age 51.5 ± 9.2 years; F/M: 4/4) and eight healthy subjects (mean age 45.0 ± 4.1 years; F/M: 4/4) underwent 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). During OGTT, glucose, insulin, c-peptide and GLP-1 were measured at 15-min intervals for 120 min. The OGTTs were performed at three settings on different days, where subjects were given 72 mg of aspartame and 24 mg of sucralose in 200 ml of water or 200 ml of water alone 15 min before OGTT in a single-blinded randomized order. RESULTS: In healthy subjects, the total area under the curve (AUC) of glucose was statistically significantly lower in the sucralose setting than in the water setting (P = 0.002). There was no difference between the aspartame setting and the water setting (P = 0.53). Total AUC of insulin and c-peptide was similar in aspartame, sucralose and water settings. Total AUC of GLP-1 was significantly higher in the sucralose setting than in the water setting (P = 0.04). Total AUC values of glucose, insulin, c-peptide and GLP-1 were not statistically different in three settings in type 2 diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Sucralose enhances GLP-1 release and lowers blood glucose in the presence of carbohydrate in healthy subjects but not in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2015) 69, 162-166;doi:10.1038/ejcn.2014.208;published online 1 October 2014, INTRODUCTION Artificial sweeteners are frequently used to sweeten beverages and to decrease caloric intake by diabetic or nondiabetic adults in daily life. They were thought to be metabolically inactive, but [...]

OBJECTIVE: Burns are a global medical and economic problem. In addition to high costs, the lengthy therapeutic process and the emotional trauma experienced by patients and their families indirectly worsen the socioeconomic damage caused. Kidney failure observed after burns is highly correlated with mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (age four months, weight 250-350 g) were included in the study. They were randomly assigned into four groups consisting of seven rats each with similar mean weights. Group 1 (n=7) represented the healthy control group (C), Group 2 (n=7) the Sham+dexmedetomidine (DEX) 100 mcg/kg (three doses) (S+DEX100) group, Group 3 (n=7) the 30% Burn (B), and Group 4 (n=7) the 30% Burn+-DEX 100 mcg/kg/day group (B+DEX100) (three doses). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total thiol (TT), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) values in kidney tissues were investigated biochemically, and histopathological analyses were also performed. Nuclear factor B (NF-B)/p65 was measured using immunohistochemistry, and the TUNEL assay was applied to indicate apoptotic tubular epithelial cells. RESULTS: TBARS, IL-1, and TNF-a in kidney tissues decreased in the B+DEX100 group compared to the 30% burn group, while total thiol values increased. Histopathologically, atypical glomeruli, particularly necrotic tubules, and inflammation in peritubular areas decreased in the B+DEX100 group compared to the 30% burn group. In addition, apoptotic tubular epithelial cells exhibiting TUNEL positivity and tubular epithelial cells exhibiting NF-ß/p65 positivity also decreased in the B+DEX100 group compared to the 30% burn group. CONCLUSIONS: Dexmedetomidine reduced apoptotic activity in rats and exhibited anti-inflammatory antioxidant effects in the burn model in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]