AIM:To investigate the association between hepatitis C infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS:Observational studies assessing the relationship between hepatitis C infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus were id...AIM:To investigate the association between hepatitis C infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS:Observational studies assessing the relationship between hepatitis C infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus were identified via electronic and hand searches.Studies published between 1988 to March 2011 were screened,according to the inclusion criteria set for the present analysis.Authors performed separate analyses for the comparisons between hepatitis C virus(HCV) infected and not infected,and HCV infected and hepatitis B virus infected.The included studies were further subgrouped according to the study design.Heterogenity was assessed using I2 statistics.The summary odds ratios with their corresponding 95% CIs were calculated based on a random-effects model.The included studies were subgrouped according to the study design.To assess any factor that could potentially affect the outcome,results were further stratified by age group(proportion of ≥ 40 years),gender(proportion of male gender),body mass index(BMI)(pro-portion of BMI ≥ 27),and family history of diabetes(i.e.,self reported).For stability of results,a sensitivity analysis was conducted including only prospective studies.RESULTS:Combining the electronic database and hand searches,a total of 35 observational studies(in 31 articles) were identified for the final analysis.Based on random-effects model,17 studies(n = 286 084) compared hepatitis C-infected patients with those who were uninfected [summary odds ratio(OR):1.68,95% CI:1.15-2.45].Of these 17 studies,7 were both a cross-sectional design(41.2%) and cohort design(41.2%),while 3 were case-control studies(17.6%).Nineteen studies(n = 51 156) compared hepatitis C-infected participants with hepatitis B-infected(summary OR:1.92,95% CI:1.41-2.62).Of these 19 studies,4(21.1%),6(31.6%) and 9(47.4%) were cross-sectional,cohort and case-control studies,respectively.A sensitivity analysis with 3 prospective studies indicated that hepatitis C-infected patients had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with uninfected controls(summary odds ratio:1.41,95% CI:1.17-1.7;I2 = 0%).Among hepatitis C-infected patients,male patients(OR:1.26,95% CI:1.03-1.54) with age over 40 years(summary OR:7.39,95% CI:3.82-9.38) had an increased frequency of type 2 diabetes.Some caution must be taken in the interpretation of these results because there may be unmeasured confounding factors which may introduce bias.CONCLUSION:The findings support the association between hepatitis C infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus.The direction of association remains to be determined,however.Prospective studies with adequate sample sizes are recommended.展开更多
Traffic management and drainage system are two vital issues for any metropolitan city. Like other big cities, Karachi is also facing problems due to lack of traffic management and poor drainage system. The main object...Traffic management and drainage system are two vital issues for any metropolitan city. Like other big cities, Karachi is also facing problems due to lack of traffic management and poor drainage system. The main objective of the study is to model the interdisciplinary issues of storm water and its effect on the traffic of Karachi. The specific objectives are （1） to calibrate and validate urban hydraulic and traffic micro-simulation models and （2） to model storm water and traffic for future conditions. This study is carried out on a 3-km section of arterial road. In this study, loose coupling of two models is done. For urban drainage, PCSWMM, and for traffic, VISSIM is used. Both models are calibrated for an existing situation on rainfall event of August 3, 2013, and then used for prediction of future scenario based on 50-year and 100-year return periods of rainfall. Sensitivity analysis of VISSIM is performed. Locations and lengths of road sections, where ponding happens for the future scenario, are identified using PCSWMM. These lengths axe then marked in VISSIM as low-speed areas, and delays are measured. Analysis of PCSWMM shows that for 100-year return period, there is maximum 0.318 ha-m （3180 cubic meters） water stored in the depressions of the road after 10 h of rainfall. Analysis of VISSIM shows that for a 100-year return period, there is a maximum delay of 35 min on NIPA to Hasan Square section of University Road.展开更多
The trends and periodicities in the annual and seasonal temperature time series at fifteen weather stations within Ontario Great Lakes Basins have been analyzed, for the period 1941-2005, using the statistical analyse...The trends and periodicities in the annual and seasonal temperature time series at fifteen weather stations within Ontario Great Lakes Basins have been analyzed, for the period 1941-2005, using the statistical analyses (Fourier series analysis, t-test, and Mann-Kendall test). The stations were spatially divided into three regions: northwest (NW), southwest (SW), and southeast (SE) to evaluate spatial variability in temperature. The results of the study reveal that the annual maximum mean temperature showed increasing trend for NW, and mixed trends for SW and SE regions. The variability was found to be more for northern stations as compared to southern stations for annual extreme minimum temperature. In addition, the trend slope per 100 years for the average annual extreme minimum temperature increased within the range of -0.8°C (Stratford) to 15°C (Porcupine). The seasonal analysis demonstrated that extreme maximum temperature has an increasing trend and maximum mean temperature has a decreasing trend during summer and winter. The extreme minimum temperature for winter illustrated an increasing trend (90%) with 22% statistically significant for NW region. For the SW region, the trend is also increasing (80%) for most of the temperature variables and 25% of temperature data were significantly increased in the SW region. The SE region stations showed overall very clear increasing trends (95%) for all the temperature variables. The data also showed that 47% of data were statistically significant in the SE region. The analysis of variance accounted for by trend, significant periodicities, and random component show that the pattern is similar for the percent of variance accounted for periodicities, and random component contribute dominantly for the four temperature variables and frost free days (FFD) for all three regions. Overall, the study reveals that the extreme minimum temperature is increasing annually and seasonally, with statistically significant at many stations.展开更多
文摘AIM:To investigate the association between hepatitis C infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS:Observational studies assessing the relationship between hepatitis C infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus were identified via electronic and hand searches.Studies published between 1988 to March 2011 were screened,according to the inclusion criteria set for the present analysis.Authors performed separate analyses for the comparisons between hepatitis C virus(HCV) infected and not infected,and HCV infected and hepatitis B virus infected.The included studies were further subgrouped according to the study design.Heterogenity was assessed using I2 statistics.The summary odds ratios with their corresponding 95% CIs were calculated based on a random-effects model.The included studies were subgrouped according to the study design.To assess any factor that could potentially affect the outcome,results were further stratified by age group(proportion of ≥ 40 years),gender(proportion of male gender),body mass index(BMI)(pro-portion of BMI ≥ 27),and family history of diabetes(i.e.,self reported).For stability of results,a sensitivity analysis was conducted including only prospective studies.RESULTS:Combining the electronic database and hand searches,a total of 35 observational studies(in 31 articles) were identified for the final analysis.Based on random-effects model,17 studies(n = 286 084) compared hepatitis C-infected patients with those who were uninfected [summary odds ratio(OR):1.68,95% CI:1.15-2.45].Of these 17 studies,7 were both a cross-sectional design(41.2%) and cohort design(41.2%),while 3 were case-control studies(17.6%).Nineteen studies(n = 51 156) compared hepatitis C-infected participants with hepatitis B-infected(summary OR:1.92,95% CI:1.41-2.62).Of these 19 studies,4(21.1%),6(31.6%) and 9(47.4%) were cross-sectional,cohort and case-control studies,respectively.A sensitivity analysis with 3 prospective studies indicated that hepatitis C-infected patients had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with uninfected controls(summary odds ratio:1.41,95% CI:1.17-1.7;I2 = 0%).Among hepatitis C-infected patients,male patients(OR:1.26,95% CI:1.03-1.54) with age over 40 years(summary OR:7.39,95% CI:3.82-9.38) had an increased frequency of type 2 diabetes.Some caution must be taken in the interpretation of these results because there may be unmeasured confounding factors which may introduce bias.CONCLUSION:The findings support the association between hepatitis C infection and type 2 diabetes mellitus.The direction of association remains to be determined,however.Prospective studies with adequate sample sizes are recommended.
文摘Traffic management and drainage system are two vital issues for any metropolitan city. Like other big cities, Karachi is also facing problems due to lack of traffic management and poor drainage system. The main objective of the study is to model the interdisciplinary issues of storm water and its effect on the traffic of Karachi. The specific objectives are （1） to calibrate and validate urban hydraulic and traffic micro-simulation models and （2） to model storm water and traffic for future conditions. This study is carried out on a 3-km section of arterial road. In this study, loose coupling of two models is done. For urban drainage, PCSWMM, and for traffic, VISSIM is used. Both models are calibrated for an existing situation on rainfall event of August 3, 2013, and then used for prediction of future scenario based on 50-year and 100-year return periods of rainfall. Sensitivity analysis of VISSIM is performed. Locations and lengths of road sections, where ponding happens for the future scenario, are identified using PCSWMM. These lengths axe then marked in VISSIM as low-speed areas, and delays are measured. Analysis of PCSWMM shows that for 100-year return period, there is maximum 0.318 ha-m （3180 cubic meters） water stored in the depressions of the road after 10 h of rainfall. Analysis of VISSIM shows that for a 100-year return period, there is a maximum delay of 35 min on NIPA to Hasan Square section of University Road.
文摘The trends and periodicities in the annual and seasonal temperature time series at fifteen weather stations within Ontario Great Lakes Basins have been analyzed, for the period 1941-2005, using the statistical analyses (Fourier series analysis, t-test, and Mann-Kendall test). The stations were spatially divided into three regions: northwest (NW), southwest (SW), and southeast (SE) to evaluate spatial variability in temperature. The results of the study reveal that the annual maximum mean temperature showed increasing trend for NW, and mixed trends for SW and SE regions. The variability was found to be more for northern stations as compared to southern stations for annual extreme minimum temperature. In addition, the trend slope per 100 years for the average annual extreme minimum temperature increased within the range of -0.8°C (Stratford) to 15°C (Porcupine). The seasonal analysis demonstrated that extreme maximum temperature has an increasing trend and maximum mean temperature has a decreasing trend during summer and winter. The extreme minimum temperature for winter illustrated an increasing trend (90%) with 22% statistically significant for NW region. For the SW region, the trend is also increasing (80%) for most of the temperature variables and 25% of temperature data were significantly increased in the SW region. The SE region stations showed overall very clear increasing trends (95%) for all the temperature variables. The data also showed that 47% of data were statistically significant in the SE region. The analysis of variance accounted for by trend, significant periodicities, and random component show that the pattern is similar for the percent of variance accounted for periodicities, and random component contribute dominantly for the four temperature variables and frost free days (FFD) for all three regions. Overall, the study reveals that the extreme minimum temperature is increasing annually and seasonally, with statistically significant at many stations.
