Pituitary adenomas are benign tumors located in the anterior hypophysis. Its appearance is associated with the development of parameters related to metabolic syndrome; therefore, surgical treatment ...could reduce associated morbimortality.
Pre- and post-surgical MRI, using the Hardy-Wilson and Knosp classification, and clinical data according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) criteria for metabolic syndrome: all the patients were followed-up until 208.57 days were reviewed on 217 consecutive patients with pituitary surgery.
Seventy-four patients were included in this study. There was a significant reduction in tumor size in mm
3
average pre- and post-surgery respectively: 12,362 mm
3
(±12,397); 3,910 mm
3
(±7,160), (p < 0.0001). This was confirmed by the Hardy-Wilson and Knosp classification, where most patients went from grade IV C (33.7%) to grade 0 (12.1%), IA (20.2%), IIB (21.36%), and IIC (16.2%); as well as from grade 4 (24.3%) to grade 0 (45.9%), respectively. After surgery, there were statistically significant reductions in total serum levels of glucose average pre- and post-surgery, respectively: 116 mg/dL (±26.9); 90 mg/dL (±10.2), (p < 0.001), triglycerides average pre- and post-surgery, 240 mg/dL (±102); 171 mg/dL (±60.5), (p = 0.001); and HDL-c average pre- and post-surgery, respectively: 39 mg/dL (±11.8); 44.6 mg/dL (±8.4), (p = 0.029). The other parameters remained unchanged.
This is the first study to demonstrate the relationship between the presence of pituitary adenoma and significative changes in serum glucose, triglycerides and c-HDL related to metabolic syndrome.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Layered double hydroxides (LDH) M2+M3+CO32− were synthesized following the sol-gel methodology using Mg-Al, Mg-Fe, and Zn-Al as cation pairs for subsequent use in the preparation of TiO2/LDH ...materials. The samples were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) technique to determine the surface area (SA); the results of which were used to determine the roughness of the samples in terms of surface fractal dimension (D). The prepared materials exhibited both adsorption and photocatalytic properties in the removal of phenol in aqueous solution under ultraviolet irradiation. This work studies the relationship between the textural parameters of the materials obtained in relation to their photocatalytic efficiency and adsorption capacity, finding that the surface of the solids, their structural heterogeneity, and roughness condition the photodegradation and adsorption processes, using phenol as reference organic pollutant. The results show that different cation in LDH influences in photocatalytic capacity; the TiO2/ZnAl was the best material in one test, but after 10 times of test, the TiO2/MgFe gave the better photodegradation material. In adsorption capacity, TiO2/ZnAl and TiO2/MgFe have a close rate for phenol adsorption and both were better than TiO2/MgAl. The differences in textural characteristics (surface area, surface roughness, and pore-size distribution) affected phenol adsorption and photodegradation efficiency.
We determined effective temperatures, surface gravities, and metallicities for a sample of 343 M dwarfs observed with CARMENES, the double-channel, high-resolution spectrograph installed at the 3.5 m ...telescope at Calar Alto Observatory. We employed S
TE
P
AR
S
YN
, a Bayesian spectral synthesis implementation particularly designed to infer the stellar atmospheric parameters of late-type stars following a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach. We made use of the BT-Settl model atmospheres and the radiative transfer code
turbospectrum
to compute a grid of synthetic spectra around 75 magnetically insensitive Fe
I
and Ti
I
lines plus the TiO
γ
and
ϵ
bands. To avoid any potential degeneracy in the parameter space, we imposed Bayesian priors on
T
eff
and log
g
based on the comprehensive, multi-band photometric data available for the sample. We find that this methodology is suitable down to M7.0 V, where refractory metals such as Ti are expected to condense in the stellar photospheres. The derived
T
eff
, log
g
, and Fe/H range from 3000 to 4200 K, 4.5 to 5.3 dex, and −0.7 to 0.2 dex, respectively. Although our
T
eff
scale is in good agreement with the literature, we report large discrepancies in the Fe/H scales, which might arise from the different methodologies and sets of lines considered. However, our Fe/H is in agreement with the metallicity distribution of FGK-type stars in the solar neighbourhood and correlates well with the kinematic membership of the targets in the Galactic populations. Lastly, excellent agreement in
T
eff
is found for M dwarfs with interferometric angular diameter measurements, as well as in the Fe/H between the components in the wide physical FGK+M and M+M systems included in our sample.
We present the results of stereoscopic observations of the satellite galaxy Segue 1 with the MAGIC Telescopes, carried out between 2011 and 2013. With almost 160 hours of good-quality data, this is ...the deepest observational campaign on any dwarf galaxy performed so far in the very high energy range of the electromagnetic spectrum. We search this large data sample for signals of dauk matter particles in the mass range between 100 GeV and 20 TeV. For this we use the full likelihood analysis method, which provides optimal sensitivity to characteristic gamma-ray spectral features, like those expected from dark matter annihilation or decay. In particular, we focus our search on gamma-rays produced from different final state Standard Model particles, annihilation with internal bremsstrahlung, monochromatic lines and box-shaped signals. Our results represent the most stringent constraints to the annihilation cross-section or decay lifetime obtained from observations of satellite galaxies, for masses above few hundred GeV. In particular, our strongest limit (95% confidence level) corresponds to a ~500 GeV dark matter particle annihilating into tau super(+)tau super(-), and is of order left angle bracketsigma sub(ann)v right angle bracket approximately 1.2xl0 super(-24)cm super(3) s super(-1) - a factor ~40 above the left angle bracketsigma sub(ann)v right angle bracket approximately thermal value.
Aberrant expression of the cardiac gap junction protein connexin-43 (Cx43) has been suggested as playing a role in the development of cardiac disease in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular ...dystrophy (DMD); however, a mechanistic understanding of this association is lacking. Here, we identified a reduction of phosphorylation of Cx43 serines S325/S328/S330 in human and mouse DMD hearts. We hypothesized that hypophosphorylation of Cx43 serine-triplet triggers pathological Cx43 redistribution to the lateral sides of cardiomyocytes (remodeling). Therefore, we generated knockin mdx mice in which the Cx43 serine-triplet was replaced with either phospho-mimicking glutamic acids (mdxS3E) or nonphosphorylatable alanines (mdxS3A). The mdxS3E, but not mdxS3A, mice were resistant to Cx43 remodeling, with a corresponding reduction of Cx43 hemichannel activity. MdxS3E cardiomyocytes displayed improved intracellular Ca2+ signaling and a reduction of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2)/ROS production. Furthermore, mdxS3E mice were protected against inducible arrhythmias, related lethality, and the development of cardiomyopathy. Inhibition of microtubule polymerization by colchicine reduced both NOX2/ROS and oxidized CaMKII, increased S325/S328/S330 phosphorylation, and prevented Cx43 remodeling in mdx hearts. Together, these results demonstrate a mechanism of dystrophic Cx43 remodeling and suggest that targeting Cx43 may be a therapeutic strategy for preventing heart dysfunction and arrhythmias in DMD patients.
Little is known about the pathophysiological mechanisms of relapse in first-episode schizophrenia, which limits the study of potential biomarkers. To explore relapse mechanisms and identify potential ...biomarkers for relapse prediction, we analyzed gene expression in peripheral blood in a cohort of first-episode schizophrenia patients with less than 5 years of evolution who had been evaluated over a 3-year follow-up period. A total of 91 participants of the 2EPs project formed the sample for baseline gene expression analysis. Of these, 67 provided biological samples at follow-up (36 after 3 years and 31 at relapse). Gene expression was assessed using the Clariom S Human Array. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was applied to identify modules of co-expressed genes and to analyze their preservation after 3 years of follow-up or at relapse. Among the 25 modules identified, one module was semi-conserved at relapse (DarkTurquoise) and was enriched with risk genes for schizophrenia, showing a dysregulation of the TCF4 gene network in the module. Two modules were semi-conserved both at relapse and after 3 years of follow-up (DarkRed and DarkGrey) and were found to be biologically associated with protein modification and protein location processes. Higher expression of DarkRed genes was associated with higher risk of suffering a relapse and early appearance of relapse (p = 0.045). Our findings suggest that a dysregulation of the TCF4 network could be an important step in the biological process that leads to relapse and suggest that genes related to the ubiquitin proteosome system could be potential biomarkers of relapse.
Context.
Small planets around low-mass stars often show orbital periods in a range that corresponds to the temperate zones of their host stars which are therefore of prime interest for planet ...searches. Surface phenomena such as spots and faculae create periodic signals in radial velocities and in observational activity tracers in the same range, so they can mimic or hide true planetary signals.
Aims.
We aim to detect Doppler signals corresponding to planetary companions, determine their most probable orbital configurations, and understand the stellar activity and its impact on different datasets.
Methods.
We analyzed 22 yr of data of the M1.5 V-type star Gl 49 (BD+61 195) including HARPS-N and CARMENES spectrographs, complemented by APT2 and SNO photometry. Activity indices are calculated from the observed spectra, and all datasets are analyzed with periodograms and noise models. We investigated how the variation of stellar activity imprints on our datasets. We further tested the origin of the signals and investigate phase shifts between the different sets. To search for the best-fit model we maximize the likelihood function in a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach.
Results.
As a result of this study, we are able to detect the super-Earth Gl 49b with a minimum mass of 5.6
M
⊕
. It orbits its host star with a period of 13.85 d at a semi-major axis of 0.090 au and we calculate an equilibrium temperature of 350 K and a transit probability of 2.0%. The contribution from the spot-dominated host star to the different datasets is complex, and includes signals from the stellar rotation at 18.86 d, evolutionary timescales of activity phenomena at 40–80 d, and a long-term variation of at least four years.
Aims
. With the latest
Gaia
DR3 data, we analyse the widest pairs in the Washington Double Star (WDS) catalogue with angular separations,
ρ
, greater than 1000 arcsec.
Methods
. We confirmed the ...pairs’ membership to stellar systems based on common proper motions, parallaxes, and (when available) radial velocities, together with the locii of the individual components in colour-magnitude diagrams. We also looked for additional closer companions to the ultrawide pairs, either reported by WDS or found by us with a new
Gaia
astrometric search. In addition, we determined masses for each star (and white dwarf) and, with the projected physical separation, computed the gravitational potential energy, |
U
g
*
|, of the systems.
Results
. Of the 155 159 pairs currently catalogued by WDS, there are 504 with
ρ
> 1000 arcsec. Of these, only 2 ultrawide pairs have not been identified, 10 do not have any available astrometry, 339 have not passed a conservative filtering in proper motion or parallax, 59 are members of young stellar kinematic groups, associations or open clusters, and only 94 remain as bona fide ultrawide pairs in the galactic field. Accounting for the additional members at shorter separations identified in a complementary astrometric and bibliographic search, we found 79 new stars (39 reported, plus 40 not reported by WDS) in 94 ultrawide stellar systems. This sample is expanded when including new close binary candidates with large
Gaia
DR3
RUWE
,
σ
Vr
, or a proper motion anomaly. Furthermore, the large fraction of subsystems and the non-hierarchical configurations of many wide systems with three or more stars is remarkable. In particular, we found 14 quadruple, 2 quintuple, 3 sextuple, and 2 septuple systems. The minimum computed binding energies, |
U
g
*
| ~ 10
33
J, are in line with theoretical predictions of tidal destruction by the Galactic gravitational potential. The most fragile and massive systems have huge projected physical separations of well over 1 pc. Therefore, they are either in the process of disruption or they are part of unidentified juvenile stellar kinematic groups.
•In this work, thin films of thymine functionalized MWNT (t-MWNT) were prepared.•Deposited films of t-MWNT were characterized in their thermal and electrical response in order to determine their ...optimized bolometric properties.•The Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR or α), was found to be −5.6±0.1%/K.•The response times of these thermal devices ranged from 0.8 to 1.6ms.•The responsivity (Rv) and specific detectivity (D*) at 1V and at 100 Hz were Rv=252 ± 4 V/W, and D*=(2 ± 0.2)X×106 cmHz1/2/W.
In this work, thin films of thymine functionalized MWNT (t-MWNT) were prepared and systematically characterized in their thermal and electrical response in order to determine the proper conditions for them to have optimum bolometric properties. It was found that t-MWNT, deposited in dried layers 5×6mm and 0.53±0.05μm in thickness, on top of silicon wafers, provided the best characteristics to function as bolometric materials. One of the key resultant figures of merit, the Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR or α), which is measured in percent change of resistance per degree Kelvin was found to be −5.6±0.1%/K. Typical measured response times of these thermal devices ranged from 0.8 to 1.6ms. This indicates that these bolometer materials can be modulated at frequencies above 1kHz. The responsivity (Rv) and specific detectivity (D*) at the optimal bias voltage of 1V and at 100Hz were Rv=252±4V/W, and D*=(2±0.2)×106cmHz1/2/W. Both results are among the largest for MWNT based bolometer devices; however the specific detectivity observed is smaller than that for bolometric devices prepared with SWNT. The t-MWNT’s have their optimal specific detectivity response for 0.75 and 1.0V bias voltages examined, in the frequency range above 1kHz.
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