ABSTRACT
We present a reassessment of the radial abundance gradients of C, N, O, Ne, S, Cl, and Ar in the Milky Way using deep spectra of 33 H ii regions gathered from the literature, covering ...Galactocentric distances from 6 to 17 kpc. The distances of the objects have been revised using Gaia parallaxes. We recalculate the physical conditions and ionic abundances in an homogeneous way using updated atomic data. All the objects have direct determination of the electron temperature, permitting to derive their precise ionic abundances. We analyse and compare different ICF schemes for each element in order to obtain the most confident total abundances. Due to the revised distances, our results do not support previous claims about a possible flattening of the O/H gradient in the inner Galactic disc. We find that the Galactic N/O gradient is rather flat, in contrast to what has been found in other spiral galaxies. The slope of the gradients of some elements is sensitive to the ICF scheme used, especially in the case of Ne. The dispersion around the fit for the gradients of C, N, O, S, Cl, and Ar is of the order of the typical uncertainties in the determination of the abundances, implying the absence of significant inhomogeneities in the chemical composition of the ionized gas phase of the ISM. We find flat gradients of log(S/O) and log(Cl/O) and very shallow or flat ones for log(Ne/O) and log(Ar/O), consistent with a lockstep evolution of Ne, S, Cl, and Ar with respect to O.
Monocytes and macrophages express cell-surface markers indicative of their inflammatory and activation status. In this study, we investigated whether these markers are affected or correlated in ...non-obese T2D subjects, or glycemic/metabolic control variables.
Clinical data was recorded, and peripheral blood drawn from T2D patients (n = 28) and control subjects (n = 27). Isolated monocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry for the expression of CD14, CD16, and the phenotypic markers for the different states of activation spectrum, such as pro-inflammatory (M1) (HLA-DR, CD86), anti-inflammatory/pro-resolving (M2) (CD163, CD206, MERTK, PD-L1) and metabolically-activated (MMe) (CD36, ABCA-1). From a subset of individuals, monocytes-derived macrophages (MDM) were obtained and evaluated for phenotypic markers. A correlation analysis was performed between the clinical variables and the marker expression.
The frequency of CD14++CD16− monocytes was lower in T2D patients and it correlates negatively with poor control in glycemic and metabolic variables. T2D monocytes expressed lower levels of HLA-DR, CD86, PD-L1, and CD163, which correlated negatively with poor metabolic control. In MDM from T2D patients, HLA-DR, CD86 and CD163 expression was lower and it inversely correlated with deficient glycemic or metabolic control parameters.
The glycemic/metabolic control associated with T2D influences monocyte and MDM phenotypes toward an immune-suppressive phenotype.
•The frequency of classical monocytes (CM) is lower in monocytes from T2D patients.•Glycemic and metabolic control negatively correlates with CM frequencies.•In T2D, monocytes/MDM show lower M1 and M2 markers expression without changes in MMe.•Poor metabolic control influences HLA-DR, CD86, and CD163 expression (monos and MDM).
Purpose
To date, treatment with intravenous (IV) agents such as vasodilators, diuretics, and inotropes has shown marginal or mixed benefits in acute heart failure (AHF) trials. The aim of this study ...was to identify the risks and benefits of IV drugs in patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure.
Methods
The AHF global survey of standard treatment (ALARM-HF) reviewed in-hospital treatments in eight countries. The present study was a post hoc analysis of ALARM-HF data in which propensity scoring was used to identify groups of patients who differed by treatment but had the same multivariate distribution of covariates. Such propensity matching allowed estimations of the effect of specific treatments on the outcome of in-hospital mortality.
Results
Unadjusted analysis showed a lower in-hospital mortality rate in AHF patients receiving “diuretics + vasodilators” (
n
= 1,805) compared to those receiving “diuretics alone” (
n
= 2,362) (7.6 vs. 14.2%,
p
< 0.0001). Propensity-based matching (
n
= 1,007 matched pairs) confirmed the lower mortality of AHF patients receiving diuretics + vasodilators: 7.8 versus 11.0% (
p
= 0.016). Unadjusted analysis showed a much greater in-hospital mortality rate in patients receiving IV inotropes (25.9%) compared to those who did not (5.2%) (
p
< 0.0001). Propensity-based matching (
n
= 954 pairs) confirmed that IV catecholamine use was associated with 1.5-fold increase for dopamine or dobutamine use and a >2.5-fold increase for norepinephrine or epinephrine use.
Conclusions
In terms of in-hospital survival, a vasodilator in combination with a diuretic fared better than treatment with only a diuretic. Catecholamine inotropes should be used cautiously as it has been seen that they actually increase the risk for in-hospital mortality.
•Tracing moisture using non-destructive technics is an advantage in buildings in use.•IRT accuracy is higher in low reflectance surfaces and during the night.•IRT detects invisible moisture ...problems.•IRT may be used to assess the drying process.•In quantitative approaches parameters as radiation, wind, T and RH must be included.
In this work the potential of infrared thermography (IRT) to assess moisture related phenomenon was tested. Initially, several set-ups and boundary conditions were created to compare IRT with other techniques and to understand the ideal conditions for accurate IRT. Afterwards, IRT was used to assess capillary absorption on a full-scale laboratory model and the drying process of two exterior walls. The main conclusions were that smaller differences are obtained for low reflectance surfaces and during the night, IRT can detect invisible moisture problems and can be used to assess the drying process, although the phenomenon complexity raises some difficulties if a quantitative approach is intended.
Abstract
In this paper we discuss and confront recent results on metallicity variations in the local interstellar medium, obtained from observations of H
ii
regions and neutral clouds of the Galactic ...thin disk, and compare them with recent high-quality metallicity determinations of other tracers of the chemical composition of the interstellar medium as B-type stars, classical Cepheids, and young clusters. We find that the metallicity variations obtained for these last kinds of objects are consistent with each other and with that obtained for H
ii
regions but significantly smaller than those obtained for neutral clouds. We also discuss the presence of a large population of low-metallicity clouds as the possible origin for large metallicity variations in the local Galactic thin disk. We find that such a hypothesis does not seem compatible with: (a) what is predicted by theoretical studies of gas mixing in galactic disks, and (b) the models and observations on the metallicity of high-velocity clouds and their evolution as they mix with the surrounding medium in their fall onto the Galactic plane. We conclude that most of the evidence favors that the chemical composition of the interstellar medium in the solar neighborhood is highly homogeneous.
Objective
To evaluate work‐related issues (WRIs) and their determinants in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) across Europe.
Methods
The European Map of Axial Spondyloarthritis is a ...cross‐sectional online survey (2017–2018) of unselected patients with self‐reported axial SpA from 13 European countries. Participants were classified as active or inactive members of the labor force according to the International Labor Organization standards. Those employed reported WRIs due to axial SpA in the past 12 months. Sociodemographic characteristics and patient‐reported outcomes were compared between patients with and without WRIs. Stepwise regression analysis was conducted to identify independent determinants of WRIs.
Results
The sample comprised 2,846 patients with axial SpA, 1,653 were active members of the labor force, 1,450 were employed, and of those employed, 67.7% reported at least 1 WRI. The most frequently reported WRIs were taking sick leave (56.3%), difficulty fulfilling working hours (44.6%), and missing work for doctor’s appointments (34.6%). Of the total sample, 74.1% declared that they had faced or would face difficulties finding a job due to axial SpA. Patients with WRIs were more often female, were less likely to be married or in a relationship, and had a higher educational level, poorer patient‐reported outcomes, and a greater prevalence of anxiety and depression. Multivariable regression showed that WRIs were associated with a higher Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index score (odds ratio OR 1.30 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.16–1.45) and the 12‐item General Health Questionnaire score (OR 1.15 95% CI 1.09–1.22), and were negatively associated with inflammatory bowel disease (OR 0.58 95% CI 0.36–0.91).
Conclusion
Approximately two‐thirds of employed patients experienced WRIs due to axial SpA. Association between disease activity and psychological distress with WRIs suggests the need to ensure that axial SpA patients receive the required support to cope with their working life.
ABSTRACT
We determine the radial abundance gradient of helium in the disc of the Galaxy from published spectra of 19 H ii regions and ring nebulae surrounding massive O-type stars. We revise the ...Galactocentric distances of the objects considering Gaia DR2 parallaxes (Gaia Collaboration 2018) and determine the physical conditions and the ionic abundance of He+ in a homogeneous way, using between 3 and 10 He i recombination lines in each object. We estimate the total He abundance of the nebulae and its radial abundance gradient using four different ionization correction factor (ICF; He) schemes. The slope of the gradient is always negative and weakly dependent on the ICF(He) scheme, especially when only the objects with log(η) < 0.9 are considered. The slope values go from −0.0078 to −0.0044 dex kpc−1, consistent with the predictions of chemical evolution models of the Milky Way and chemodynamical simulations of disc galaxies. Finally, we estimate the abundance deviations of He, O, and N in a sample of ring nebulae around Galactic Wolf–Rayet stars, finding a quite similar He overabundance of about +0.24 ± 0.11 dex in three stellar ejecta ring nebulae.
ABSTRACT
We present a first study based on the analysis of the DEep Spectra of Ionized REgions Data base (DESIRED). This is a compilation of 190 high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra of ...$\mathrm{H\, \scriptstyle II}$ regions and other photoionized nebulae, mostly observed with 8–10 m telescopes and containing ∼29 380 emission lines. We find that the electron density –ne– of the objects is underestimated when $\mathrm{S\, \scriptstyle II}$ λ6731/λ6716 and/or $\mathrm{O\, \scriptstyle II}$ λ3726/λ3729 are the only density indicators available. This is produced by the non-linear density dependence of the indicators in the presence of density inhomogeneities. The average underestimate is ∼300 cm−3 in extragalactic $\mathrm{H\, \scriptstyle II}$ regions, introducing systematic overestimates of Te($\mathrm{O\, \scriptstyle II}$) and Te($\mathrm{S\, \scriptstyle II}$) compared to Te($\mathrm{N\, \scriptstyle II}$). The high-sensitivity of $\mathrm{O\, \scriptstyle II}$ λλ7319 + 20 + 30 + 31/λλ3726 + 29 and $\mathrm{S\, \scriptstyle II}$ λλ4069 + 76/λλ6716 + 31 to density makes them more suitable for the diagnosis of the presence of high-density clumps. If Te($\mathrm{N\, \scriptstyle II}$) is adopted, the density underestimate has a small impact in the ionic abundances derived from optical spectra, being limited to up to ∼0.1 dex when auroral $\mathrm{S\, \scriptstyle II}$ and/or $\mathrm{O\, \scriptstyle II}$ lines are used. However, these density effects are critical for the analysis of infrared fine structure lines, such as those observed by the JWST in local star forming regions, implying strong underestimates of the ionic abundances. We present temperature relations between Te($\mathrm{O\, \scriptstyle III}$), Te($\mathrm{Ar\, \scriptstyle III}$), Te($\mathrm{S\, \scriptstyle III}$), and Te($\mathrm{N\, \scriptstyle II}$) for the extragalactic $\mathrm{H\, \scriptstyle II}$ regions. We confirm a non-linear dependence between Te($\mathrm{O\, \scriptstyle III}$) and Te($\mathrm{N\, \scriptstyle II}$) due to a more rapid increase of Te($\mathrm{O\, \scriptstyle III}$) at lower metallicities.
Multiple myeloma (MM) causes lytic bone lesions due to increased bone resorption and concomitant marked suppression of bone formation. Sclerostin (Scl), an osteocyte-derived inhibitor of ...Wnt/β-catenin signaling, is elevated in MM patient sera and increased in osteocytes in MM-bearing mice. We show here that genetic deletion of Sost, the gene encoding Scl, prevented MM-induced bone disease in an immune-deficient mouse model of early MM, and that administration of anti-Scl antibody (Scl-Ab) increased bone mass and decreases osteolysis in immune-competent mice with established MM. Sost/Scl inhibition increased osteoblast numbers, stimulated new bone formation and decreased osteoclast number in MM-colonized bone. Further, Sost/Scl inhibition did not affect tumor growth in vivo or anti-myeloma drug efficacy in vitro. These results identify the osteocyte as a major contributor to the deleterious effects of MM in bone and osteocyte-derived Scl as a promising target for the treatment of established MM-induced bone disease. Further, Scl did not interfere with efficacy of chemotherapy for MM, suggesting that combined treatment with anti-myeloma drugs and Scl-Ab should effectively control MM growth and bone disease, providing new avenues to effectively control MM and bone disease in patients with active MM.
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