We determine Faraday rotations and measure the optical reflection and transmission from magneto-optical Cd1−xMnxTe crystals with various stoichiometric ratios. For wavelengths between 675 and ...1025 nm, we derive Verdet constants, optical loss coefficients, and the complex indices of reflection that are relevant measures to find suitable stoichiometric ratios of Cd1−xMnxTe for the realization of miniaturized optical isolators. By reflection and transmission measurements, we determine the stoichiometric ratios of several different Cd1−xMnxTe crystals and discuss the observed dependence of the optical properties on the stoichiometric ratio with respect to their use in optical isolators. Finally, we show the relevant figure of merit, i.e., the ratio of Verdet constants and optical loss coefficients for Cd1−xMnxTe crystals with Mn contents ranging from x = 0.14 to x = 0.50.
Salinity stress is a serious abiotic stress that negatively affect the crop growth and development. Mineral nutrient supplementation is considered as an effective strategy to mitigate the adverse ...effects of salinity. Nitrogen (N) is an important nutrient needed for plants and its application also an effective strategy to mitigate adverse impacts of salinity. Salinity stress disturbs plant physiological, and biochemical functions, antioxidant activities, cellular membranes, antioxidant activities and nutrient uptake thereby cause significant reduction in plant growth and development. The application of N maintains membrane stability, plant water relations, leaf gas exchange characteristics, and protect the plants from oxidative damages which induce the salt tolerance in plants. Besides, this N also improves nutrient uptake and it also induce cellular signaling that mitigate the adverse impacts of salinity. Therefore, it is interesting to understand the role of N in inducing salt tolerance in plants. In present review the mechanisms of N uptake and assimilation in plants under saline conditions are discussed. The present review provides information on how N mitigates ionic toxicity, and oxidative damages and maintains nutrient balance to counter the toxic effects of salinity stress in plants. This review will help the readers to learning more about the role of N in inducing salt tolerance in plants.
We recently proposed that an epithelial renal tumor "papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity" represents a distinct entity. It constituted 4% of previously diagnosed papillary renal cell ...carcinoma at the participating institutions. Histologically, it is characterized by papillary or tubulopapillary architecture covered by a single layer of eosinophilic cells with finely granular cytoplasm and apically located nuclei. It is characteristically positive for GATA3 and L1CAM and lack vimentin and, to a lesser extent, α-methylacyl-CoA-racemase (AMACR/p504s) immunostaining. To investigate the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors, we performed targeted next-generation sequencing on ten previously reported papillary renal neoplasms with reverse polarity, followed by a targeted polymerase chain reaction analysis for KRAS mutations in a control series of 30 type 1 and 2 papillary renal cell carcinomas. KRAS missense mutations were identified in eight of ten papillary renal neoplasms with reverse polarity. These mutations were clustered in exon 2-codon 12: c.35 G > T (n = 6) or c.34 G > C (n = 2) resulting in p.Gly12Val and p.Gly12Arg alterations, respectively. One of the wild-type tumors had BRAF c.1798_1799delGTinsAG (p.Val600Arg) mutation. No KRAS mutations were identified in any of the 30 control tumors. In summary, this study supports our proposal that papillary renal neoplasm with reverse polarity is an entity distinct from papillary renal cell carcinoma and the only renal cell neoplasm to consistently harbor KRAS mutations.
ABSTRACTThe efficacy of renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) in the treatment of uncontrolled hypertension (HTN) remains uncertain. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials was performed to ...evaluate the efficacy and safety of RSD for resistant HTN. PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane, Directory of Open Access Journals, CINAHL and Google Scholar were searched from January 01, 2001, through July 30, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing RSD with the sham procedure for uncontrolled HTN were selected. The primary efficacy outcome was the reduction in ambulatory systolic blood pressure (BP). We used random-effects models. Nine prospective clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. The ReSet and Symplicity HTN-3 Trial showed no significant changes due to discrepancies in complete circumferential ablation during RSD. The Relief study, The Radiance HTN solo, and the SPYRAL HTN OFF medical trials showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure in the group that had undergone the intervention as compared to the sham group attributed to rigorous trial design. In conclusion, our systematic review suggest that efficacy of RSD appears to be superior to sham-controlled interventions provided circumferential denervation is performed. However, difference in efficacy is marginal.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have an intricate bidirectional relationship. Individuals with T2DM, not only have a higher prevalence of non-alcoholic ...steatosis, but also carry a higher risk of progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Experts still differ in their recommendations of screening for NAFLD among patients with T2DM.
To study the prevalence of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis among our patient population with T2DM.
During the study period (November 2018 to January 2020), 59 adult patients with T2DM and 26 non-diabetic control group individuals were recruited prospectively. Patients with known significant liver disease and alcohol use were excluded. Demographic data and lab parameters were recorded. Liver elastography was performed in all patients.
In the study group comprised of patients with T2DM and normal alanine aminotransferase levels (mean 17.8 ± 7 U/L), 81% had hepatic steatosis as diagnosed by elastography. Advanced hepatic fibrosis (stage F3 or F4) was present in 12% of patients with T2DM as compared to none in the control group. Patients with T2DM also had higher number of individuals with grade 3 steatosis 45.8%
11.5%, (
< 0.00001) and metabolic syndrome (84.7%
11.5%,
< 0.00001).
A significant number of patients with T2DM, despite having normal transaminase levels, have NAFLD, grade 3 steatosis and advanced hepatic fibrosis as measured by liver elastography.
•Dielectric properties of oil palm biomass (OPB) and biochar.•Penetration depth and dielectric properties are greatly influenced by frequency.•OPB is poor microwave absorber.•OPB alone did not ...attained high temperature under microwave heating.
The conversion of the electromagnetic energy into heat depends largely on the dielectric properties of the material being treated. Therefore, the fundamental understanding of these properties is necessary for designing industrial microwave processing unit. The objective of this study is to investigate the dielectric properties of oil palm biomass and biochar at varying frequency in the range 0.2–10GHz. The dielectric properties were measured using a coaxial probe attached to a network analyzer. The results indicate the dielectric constant was found to be inversely proportional to the frequency. However, the biomass in the present study did not obey the famous Debye equation and hence, the loss factor was found to be directly proportional to the frequency. The dielectric properties of oil palm shell (OPS) and its biochar were found to be almost similar and higher than oil palm fiber (OPF). Relaxation time and static dielectric constant were also presented in the paper. Lastly, the heating characteristics under MW irradiation confirmed poor microwave absorbing properties of oil palm biomass.
We evaluated the clinicopathologic and molecular characteristics of mostly incidentally detected, small, papillary renal neoplasms with reverse polarity (PRNRP). The cohort comprised 50 PRNRP from 46 ...patients, divided into 2 groups. The clinically undetected (<5 mm) neoplasms (n = 34; 68%) had a median size of 1.1 mm (range 0.2–4.3 mm; mean 1.4 mm), and the clinically detected (≥5 mm) neoplasms (n = 16; 32%) which had a median size of 13 mm (range 9–30 mm; mean 16 mm). Neoplasms were positive for GATA3 (n = 47; 100%) and L1CAM (n = 34/38; 89%) and were negative for vimentin (n = 0/44; 0%) and, to a lesser extent, AMACR (n = 12/46; 26%; weak = 9, weak/moderate = 3). KRAS mutations were found in 44% (n = 15/34) of the clinically undetected PRNRP and 88% of the clinically detected PRNRP (n = 14/16). The two clinically detected PRNRP with wild-type KRAS gene were markedly cystic and contained microscopic intracystic tumors. In the clinically undetected PRNRP, the detected KRAS mutations rate was higher in those measuring ≥1 mm vs <1 mm n = 14/19 (74%) vs n = 1/15 (7%). Overall, the KRAS mutations were present in exon 2—codon 12: c.35 G > T (n = 21), c.34 G > T (n = 3), c.35 G > A (n = 2), c.34 G > C (n = 2) resulting in p.Gly12Val, p. Gly12Asp, p.Gly12Cys and p.Gly12Arg, respectively. One PRNRP had a G12A/V/D complex mutation. Twenty-six PRNRP were concurrently present with other tumors of different histologic subtypes in the ipsilateral kidney; molecular testing of 8 of the latter showed wild-type KRAS gene despite the presence of KRAS mutations in 5 concurrent PRNRP. On follow up, no adverse pathologic events were seen (range 1–160 months; mean 44 months). In conclusion, the presence of KRAS mutations in small, clinically undetected PRNRP provides a unique finding to this entity and supports its being an early event in the development of these neoplasms.
Abstract
Objective
To assess the circulating micro-RNA-150 (miR-150) expression in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in relation to imatinib response.
Methods
Sixty patients with CML and ...20 age- and sex-matched control subjects were enrolled. Circulating miR-150 levels were assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction on days 0, 14, and 90 of imatinib therapy for patients and once for control subjects.
Results
The baseline miR-150 expression was significantly lower in patients with CML than in control subjects with subsequent elevation at 14 and 90 days after the start of imatinib treatment. Early treatment response (ETR) at 90 days was the main study outcome. The miR-150 expression had a significantly higher level in patients with CML with ETR. On multivariate analysis, miR-150 on day 14 was significantly related to ETR in patients with CML with predictive efficacy (area under the curve = 0.838, 72.9% sensitivity, and 84.2% specificity).
Conclusion
We found that miR-150 expression on day 14 of imatinib treatment is a useful early predictive candidate for imatinib response in patients with CML.
Hepatitis C can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. We compared readily available non-invasive fibrosis indexes for the fibrosis progression discrimination to find a better combination of existing ...non-invasive markers.
We studied 157 HCV infected patients who underwent liver biopsy. In order to differentiate HCV fibrosis progression, readily available AAR, APRI, FI and FIB-4 serum indexes were tested in the patients. We derived a new fibrosis-cirrhosis index (FCI) comprised of ALP, bilirubin, serum albumin and platelet count. FCI = (ALP × Bilirubin) / (Albumin × Platelet count).
Already established serum indexes AAR, APRI, FI and FIB-4 were able to stage liver fibrosis with correlation coefficient indexes 0.130, 0.444, 0.578 and 0.494, respectively. Our new fibrosis cirrhosis index FCI significantly correlated with the histological fibrosis stages F0-F1, F2-F3 and F4 (r = 0.818, p < 0.05) with AUROCs 0.932 and 0.996, respectively. The sensitivity and PPV of FCI at a cutoff value < 0.130 for predicting fibrosis stage F0-F1 was 81% and 82%, respectively with AUROC 0.932. Corresponding value of FCI at a cutoff value ≥1.25 for the prediction of cirrhosis was 86% and 100%.
The fibrosis-cirrhosis index (FCI) accurately predicted fibrosis stages in HCV infected patients and seems more efficient than frequently used serum indexes.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Salinity stress (SS) is serious abiotic stress and a major limiting factor for crop productivity and global food security. In this context, the application of osmolytes is considered as an ...environmental friend approach to improve plant growth under SS. Thus, the present study was conducted to determine the impact of foliar applied proline (Pro) and acetic acid (AA) on growth, yield, physiological traits, photosynthetic pigments, ionic homeostasis and antioxidant activities of wheat under SS. The study contained SS levels 0, 6 and 12 dS m-1 and foliar spray of Pro and AA; water spray, Pro (75 mM), AA (15 mM) and AA (30 mM). The study was conducted in a completely randomized design with the factorial arrangement. Salinity stress significantly reduced wheat growth and yield, by decreasing relative water contents (-49.07%), photosynthetic pigments, free amino acids (FAA: -44.79%), total soluble proteins (TSP: -15.94%) and increasing the electrolyte leakage (EL: +27.28%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2: +51.86%), and malondialdehyde (MDA: +36.91%) accumulation. The foliar spray of Pro and AA markedly improved the wheat growth and productivity through enhanced photosynthetic pigments, RWC, FAA, TSP, antioxidant activities (catalase: CAT, ascorbate peroxide: APX: peroxidase: POD), K+ and Ca2+ uptake and decreasing EL, MDA and H2O2 accumulation and restricted entry of toxic ions (Na+ and Cl-1). Therefore, foliar application of AA and Pro effectively improves the growth and yield of wheat under SS by strengthening the antioxidant defense system, and maintaining ionic homeostasis and physiological performance.
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