The Renal Healthcare Program Uruguay (NRHP-UY) is a national, multidisciplinary program that provides care to chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. In this study, we report the global results of CKD ...patient outcomes and a comparison between those treated at the NRHP-UY Units, with those patients who were initially included in the program but did not adhere to follow up. A cohort of not-on dialysis CKD patients included prospectively in the NRHP-UY between October 1.sup.st 2004 and September 30.sup.th 2017 was followed-up until September 30.sup.th 2019. Two groups were compared: a) Nephrocare Group: Patients who had at least one clinic visit during the first year on NRHP-UY (n = 11174) and b) Non-adherent Group: Patients who were informed and accepted to be included but had no subsequent data registered after admission (n = 3485). The study was approved by the Ethics Committee and all patients signed an informed consent. Outcomes were studied with Logistic and Cox's regression analysis, Fine and Gray competitive risk and propensity-score matching tests. 14659 patients were analyzed, median age 70 (60-77) years, 56.9% male. The Nephrocare Group showed improved achievement of therapeutic goals, ESKD was more frequent (HR 2.081, CI 95%1.722-2.514) as planned kidney replacement therapy (KRT) start (OR 2.494, CI95% 1.591-3.910), but mortality and the combined event (death and ESKD) were less frequent (HR 0.671, CI95% 0.628-0.717 and 0.777, CI95% 0.731-0.827) (p = 0.000) compared to the Non-adherent group. Results were similar in the propensity-matched group: ESKD (HR 2.041, CI95% 1.643-2.534); planned kidney replacement therapy (KRT) start (OR 2.191, CI95% 1.322-3.631) death (HR 0.692, CI95% 0.637-0.753); combined event (HR 0.801, CI95% 0.742-0.865) (p = 0.000). Multidisciplinary care within the NRHP-UY is associated with timely initiation of KRT and lower mortality in single outcomes, combined analysis, and propensity-matched analysis.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The glycolipid alpha-galactosylceramide binds with high affinity to CD1d and stimulates natural killer T cells. Here we report the crystal structure of human CD1d in complex with synthetic ...alpha-galactosylceramide at a resolution of 3.0 A. The structure shows a tightly fit lipid in the CD1d binding groove, with the sphingosine chain bound in the C' pocket and the longer acyl chain anchored in the A' pocket. We also present the CD1d structure without lipid, which has a more open conformation of the binding groove, suggesting a dual conformation of CD1d in which the 'open' conformation is more able to load lipids. These structures provide clues as to how CD1 molecules load glycolipids as well as data to guide the design of new therapeutic agents.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Although airway inflammation is an established component of disease pathology in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the nature of this inflammation is not clear. In this study, ...in which airway specimens from subjects with asthma or COPD were examined for the presence of invariant natural killer cells, very few of these immunoregulatory T lymphocytes, restricted by the antigen-presenting molecule CD1d, were identified.
In this study, airway specimens from subjects with asthma or COPD were examined for the presence of invariant natural killer cells. Very few of these immunoregulatory T lymphocytes, restricted by the antigen-presenting molecule CD1d, were identified.
Asthma is characterized by a specific form of airway inflammation that is believed to be orchestrated by CD4+ helper T cells of the type 2 (Th2) phenotype in response to allergens presented by mucosal dendritic cells.
1
Th2 CD4+ T cells release the cytokines interleukin-4, interleukin-5, and interleukin-13, which play key roles in airway inflammation and remodeling.
2
The Th2 CD4+ T cells have been generally accepted to be class II major-histocompatibility-complex (MHC)–restricted cells.
3
This notion has recently been challenged in a study by Akbari and colleagues,
4
which found that about 60% of the CD4+ T cells in the airways of persons . . .
Introduction
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) encompasses a wide spectrum of genetic, clinical, and histological findings. Sex is emerging as a potential biological variable influencing FTD ...heterogeneity; however, only a few studies explored this issue with nonconclusive results.
Objective
To estimate the role of sex in a single-center large cohort of FTD patients.
Methods
Five hundred thirty-one FTD patients were consecutively enrolled. Demographic, clinical, and neuropsychological features, survival rate, and serum neurofilament light (NfL) concentration were determined and compared between sex.
Results
The behavioral variant of FTD was more common in men, whereas primary progressive aphasia was overrepresented in women (
p
< 0.001). While global cognitive impairment was comparable, females had a more severe cognitive impairment, namely in Trail Making Test parts A and B (
p
= 0.003), semantic fluency (
p
= 0.03), Short Story Recall Test (
p
= 0.003), and the copy of Rey Complex Figure (
p
= 0.005). On the other hand, men exhibited more personality/behavioral symptoms (Frontal Behavior Inventory FBI AB,
p
= 0.003), displaying higher scores in positive FBI subscales (FBI B,
p
< 0.001). In particular, apathy (
p
= 0.02), irritability (
p
= 0.006), poor judgment (
p
= 0.033), aggressivity (
p
= 0.008), and hypersexuality (
p
= 0.006) were more common in men, after correction for disease severity. NfL concentration and survival were not statistically different between men and women (
p
= 0.167 and
p
= 0.645, respectively).
Discussion
The present study demonstrated that sex is a potential factor in determining FTD phenotype, while it does not influence survival. Although the pathophysiological contribution of sex in neurodegeneration is not well characterized yet, our findings highlight its role as deserving biological variable in FTD.
Understanding the amount of energy a tire is subjected to is one of the key elements to perform in motorsport competitions, especially in Formula 1 feeder categories, where the number of tires is ...limited over the race weekend to contain costs. This forces teams to use worn tires towards the end of the event. Therefore, tires are usually chosen only relying on their external shape or based on the kilometers traveled. Moreover, being aware of how a setup change impacts tires can be a breakthrough in tire management, especially in tracks where tire wear is limiting the overall performance. This paper provides a scientific method aimed at helping race engineers in tire management to maintain a high performance level through the entire race weekend.
This work introduces a system formed by an integrated circuit and a micro-machined piezoresistive gyroscope, with navigation grade performance. After discussing the specifications in terms of maximum ...allowed electronic noise, so not to worsen the thermo-mechanical noise limits, three different front-end topologies are analysed, and the current-feedback instrumentation amplifier is chosen as the optimal solution in terms of noise and current consumption. After coupling to a gyroscope based on nano-gauges, the system demonstrates 200 dps full-scale, 0.02 °/h stability and 0.004 °/ √ h angle random walk, confirming navigation-grade performance at a current consumption well below 10 mA and an overall power consumption below 40 mW .
•Air quality impacts evaluation of a lightweighting strategy for road transport•Combined application of fuel consumption estimation and scenario analysis•Multi-objective decision problem solved for ...road transport sector•Lombardy Region (Northern Italy) case study•Limited PM10 reduction, but significant impact for future air quality improvement
Display omitted
This study presents a modelling system to evaluate the impact of weight reduction in light commercial vehicles with diesel engines on air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
The PROPS model assesses the emissions of one vehicle in the aforementioned category and its corresponding reduced-weight version. The results serve as an input to the RIAT+ tool, an air quality integrated assessment modelling system.
This paper applies the tools in a case study in the Lombardy region (Italy) and discusses the input data pre-processing, the PROPS-RIAT+ modelling system runs, and the results.
This paper reports on the hybrid process we have used for producing hierarchical scaffolds made of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA), analyzes their internal ...structures via scanning electron microscopy, and presents the results of our in vitro proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells and alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) for 0 and 21 days. These scaffolds were produced by combining additive manufacturing (AM) and thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) techniques. Slow cooling at a rate of 1.5 °C/min during the TIPS process was used to enable a uniform temperature throughout the scaffolds, and therefore, a relatively uniform pore size range. We produced ten different scaffold compositions and topologies in this study. These scaffolds had macrochannels with diameters of ∼300 µm, ∼380 µm, and ∼460 µm, generated by the extraction of embedded porous 3D-plotted polyethylene glycol (PEG) matrices. The other experimental factors included different TIPS temperatures (−20 °C, −10 °C, and 0 °C), as well as varying PLGA concentrations (8%, 10%, and 12% w/v) and nHA content (0%, 10%, and 20% w/w). Our results indicated that almost all these macro/microporous scaffolds supported cell growth over the period of 21 days. Nevertheless, significant differences were observed among some scaffolds in terms of their support of cell proliferation and differentiation. This paper presents the results of our in vitro cell culture for 0 and 21 days. Our optimal scaffold with a porosity of ∼90%, a modulus of ∼5.2 MPa, and a nHA content of 20% showed a cell adhesion of ∼29% on day 0 and maintained cell proliferation and ALP activity over the 21-day in vitro culture. Hence, the use of additive manufacturing and designed experiments to optimize the scaffold fabrication parameters resulted in superior mechanical properties that most other studies using TIPS.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
TAP deficiency syndrome Gadola, S. D.; Moins‐Teisserenc, H. T.; Trowsdale, J. ...
Clinical and experimental immunology,
August 2000, Letnik:
121, Številka:
2
Journal Article
Although graphene has met many of its initially predicted optoelectronic, thermal, and mechanical properties, photodetectors with large spectral bandwidths and extremely high frequency responses ...remain outstanding. In this work, we demonstrate a >500 gigahertz, flat-frequency response, graphene-based photodetector that operates under ambient conditions across a 200-nanometer-wide spectral band with center wavelengths adaptable from <1400 to >4200 nanometers. Our detector combines graphene with metamaterial perfect absorbers with direct illumination from a single-mode fiber, which breaks with the conventional miniaturization of photodetectors on an integrated photonic platform. This design allows for much higher optical powers while still allowing record-high bandwidths and data rates. Our results demonstrate that graphene photodetectors can outperform conventional technologies in terms of speed, bandwidth, and operation across a large spectral range.
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