Left ventricular hypertrophy is often found in association with systemic hypertension and may be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Few Therefore, the present study was designed to first determine the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy in a population of children and adolescents with essential hypertension and second to identify independent correlates of LVM index in this population. Methods Study Population and ProtocolChildren and adolescents with essential hypertension followed in the Hypertension Clinic of the

We developed and validated a Monte-Carlo-based application (RAYDOSE) to generate patient-specific 3D dose maps on the basis of pre-treatment imaging studies. A CT DICOM image is used to model patient geometry, while repeated PET scans are employed to assess radionuclide kinetics and distribution at the voxel level. In this work, we describe the structure of this application and present the tests performed to validate it against reference data and experiments. We used the spheres of a NEMA phantom to calculate S values and total doses. The comparison with reference data from OLINDA/EXM showed an agreement within 2% for a sphere size above 2.8 cm diameter. A custom heterogeneous phantom composed of several layers of Perspex and lung equivalent material was used to compare TLD measurements of gamma radiation from (131)I to Monte Carlo simulations. An agreement within 5% was found. RAYDOSE has been validated against reference data and experimental measurements and can be a useful multi-modality platform for treatment planning and research in MRT.

Background. One in three adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes have at least one early diabetes-related complication/comorbidity. However, the prevalence, patterning, and risk factors for co-occurring complications in this population are not well understood. Methods. The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth observational cohort study includes 1327 individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before 20 years of age from 5 United States locations. Sociodemographic and metabolic risk factors were assessed at baseline (mean diabetes duration = 0·8 years, mean age = 10·9 years) and follow-up (mean diabetes duration = 7.8 years, mean age = 18·0 years). Early diabetes complications (diabetic kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy, and arterial stiffness) were assessed at follow-up. We aimed to describe co-occurrence of complications and examine differences in co-occurrence within demographic and metabolic risk factor clusters identified using cluster analysis. Findings. Overall, co-occurrence of any ≥2 complications was observed in 5·9% of all participants, more frequently than expected by chance alone (4·4%, p=0·015). Specifically, retinopathy and diabetic kidney disease, retinopathy and arterial stiffness, and arterial stiffness and cardiac autonomic neuropathy all co-occurred more frequently than expected (all p<0·05). The cluster analysis produced four unique clusters characterized by progressively worsening metabolic risk factor profiles (longer duration; higher A1c, non-HDL cholesterol, and waist to height ratio) and differences in sociodemographic characteristics (race/ethnicity, household income, type of health insurance). Prevalence of ≥2 complications progressively increased with worsening metabolic profiles (from 2·3% to 20·8%, p<0·001). Interpretation. We report that early complications co-occur in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes more frequently than expected after an average of less than eight years of diabetes duration. A cluster of high risk factors identifies groups that may benefit most from interventions to reduce complications.

[18F]F‐DOPA is an important radiotracer that is used in the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and neuroendocrine tumours. We describe a simple synthesis for a number of diaryliodonium salt precursors that are suitable for the production of [18F]F‐DOPA through reaction with no carrier added (n.c.a.) nucleophilic [18F]fluoride. The simple procedure gives bench‐stable, complex iodonium precursors in good yields without the need for laborious anhydrous conditions. Further alteration to the precursor counterion can be readily achieved for a range of halides and pseudo halides by a simple modification of the workup. Preliminary “hot” and “cold” fluorination results show the suitability of the compounds for the production of [18F]F‐DOPA.

This study explored whether different ratios of fructose (F) and glucose (G) in sugar can engender significant differences in self-administration and associated neurobiological and physiological responses in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In Experiment 1, animals self-administered pellets containing 55% F + 45% G or 30% F + 70% G, and Fos immunoreactivity was assessed in hypothalamic regions regulating food intake and reward. In Experiment 2, rats self-administered solutions of 55% F + 42% G (high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)), 50% F + 50% G (sucrose) or saccharin, and mRNA of the dopamine 2 (D2R) and mu-opioid (MOR) receptor genes were assessed in striatal regions involved in addictive behaviors. Finally, in Experiment 3, rats self-administered HFCS and sucrose in their home cages, and hepatic fatty acids were quantified. It was found that higher fructose ratios engendered lower self-administration, lower Fos expression in the lateral hypothalamus/arcuate nucleus, reduced D2R and increased MOR mRNA in the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens core, respectively, as well as elevated omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the liver. These data indicate that a higher ratio of fructose may enhance the reinforcing effects of sugar and possibly lead to neurobiological and physiological alterations associated with addictive and metabolic disorders.