Longitudinal evidence on the association between air pollution and blood pressure (BP) in adolescence is scarce. We explored this association in an ethnically diverse cohort of schoolchildren. ...Sex-stratified, linear random-effects modelling was used to examine how modelled residential exposure to annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and ozone (O3), measures in μg/m3, associated with blood pressure. Estimates were based on 3,284 adolescents; 80% from ethnic minority groups, recruited from 51 schools, and followed up from 11-13 to 14-16 years old. Ethnic minorities were exposed to higher modelled annual average concentrations of pollution at residential postcode level than their White UK peers. A two-pollutant model (NO2 & PM2.5), adjusted for ethnicity, age, anthropometry, and pubertal status, highlighted associations with systolic, but not diastolic BP. A μg/m3 increase in NO2 was associated with a 0.30 mmHg (95% CI 0.18 to 0.40) decrease in systolic BP for girls and 0.19 mmHg (95% CI 0.07 to 0.31) decrease in systolic BP for boys. In contrast, a 1 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with 1.34 mmHg (95% CI 0.85 to 1.82) increase in systolic BP for girls and 0.57 mmHg (95% CI 0.04 to 1.03) increase in systolic BP for boys. Associations did not vary by ethnicity, body size or socio-economic advantage. Associations were robust to adjustments for noise levels and lung function at 11-13 years. In summary, higher ambient levels of NO2 were associated with lower and PM2.5 with higher systolic BP across adolescence, with stronger associations for girls.
•This paper describes solid phases associated to AMD in a massive sulfide deposit.•The study was performed in Tharsis mines, in the Iberian Pyrite Belt.•The AMD-precipitates are dominated by ...efflorescent sulfate minerals.•There are two mineralogical environments differentiated by composition and variety.•The open pits reflect a proximal paragenesis; the Meca River reflects a distal one.
This paper documents the solid phases associated to acid mine drainage (AMD) at the Tharsis mines (SW Spain). It provides an inventory of the AMD-precipitates, describing their main modes of occurrence and mineral assemblages. Results indicate that iron, aluminum and magnesium sulfates predominate in the assemblages. They occur as efflorescences composed of complex mixtures of metallic salts, and as ochres (jarosite combined with goethite). Also, their distributions illustrate two hydrochemical environments: the open pits, which reflect a proximal secondary paragenesis; and the downstream river banks (Meca River), which represent a more evolved paragenesis, resulting from the evolution of AMD produced throughout the system. These environments can be differentiated by composition and variety of minerals, which is considerably lower along the Meca River.
The newly-formed minerals have monitoring significance and proved capable of participating in cycles of retention–liberation of hydrogen ions, sulfate, and metals. In a semi-arid climate, the importance of the AMD-precipitates as environmental indicators is stressed. They may help to understand the response of the system to the episodic rainfall events that occur after prolonged dry periods.
Background
Malnutrition is a frequent medical problem of cancer patients that negatively impacts their quality of life.
Methods
A multidisciplinary group of experts in Medical Oncology, Pharmacy, and ...Nutrition convened to discuss the management of the nutritional support in cancer patients.
Results
Of the 18 questions addressed, 9 focused on nutritional support, 5 were related to parenteral nutrition (PN) and 4 about home PN (HPN). The panel of experts recommends using nutritional screening routinely, at diagnosis and throughout the disease course, for detecting the risk of malnutrition and, if it is positive, to perform a complete nutritional assessment, to diagnose malnutrition. Currently, there are different screening tools and methods that allow us to detect nutritional risk. Based on the evidence and experience, the panel stated that PN is indicated mainly when it is not possible to use the digestive tract and/or oral feeding and/or enteral nutrition is not sufficient or possible. The nutritional needs of the cancer patients, except in those cases where individualized measures are required, should be considered similar to healthy individuals (25–30 kcal/kg/day). The panel considers that the nutritional monitoring of the cancer patient should be multidisciplinary and adapted to the characteristics of each center. Additionally, the objective of the HPN is to improve or maintain the nutritional status of a patient at home.
Conclusions
This document seeks to lay down a set of recommendations and to identify key issues that may be useful for the nutritional management of cancer patients.
The Banff scoring schema provides a common ground to analyze kidney transplant biopsies. Interstitial inflammation (i) and tubulitis (t) in areas of viable tissue are features in scoring acute ...rejection, but are excluded in areas of tubular atrophy (TA). We studied inflammation and tubulitis in a cohort of kidney transplant recipients undergoing allograft biopsy for new‐onset late graft dysfunction (N = 337). We found inflammation (‘iatr’) and tubulitis (‘tatr’) in regions of fibrosis and atrophy to be strongly correlated with each other (p < 0.0001). Moreover, iatr was strongly associated with death‐censored graft failure when compared to recipients whose biopsies had no inflammation, even after adjusting for the presence of interstitial fibrosis (Hazard Ratio = 2.31, 1.10–4.83; p = 0.0262) or TA (hazard ratio = 2.42, 1.16–5.08; p = 0.191), serum creatinine at the time of biopsy, time to biopsy and i score. Further, these results did not qualitatively change after additional adjustments for C4d staining or donor specific antibody. Stepwise regression identified the most significant markers of graft failure which include iatr score. We propose that a more global assessment of inflammation in kidney allograft biopsies to include inflammation in atrophic areas may provide better prognostic information. Phenotypic characterization of these inflammatory cells and appropriate treatment may ameliorate late allograft failure.
A more global assessment of inflammation in kidney allograft biopsies to include inflammation in atrophic areas may provide critical insight into the prognosis of late graft injury.
Copper export and mobility in acid mine drainage are difficult to understand with conventional approaches. Within this context, Cu isotopes could be a powerful tool and here we have examined the ...relative abundance of dissolved (<0.22 μm) Cu isotopes (δ65Cu) in the Meca River which is an outlet of the Tharsis mine, one of the largest abandoned mines of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Spain. We followed the chemical and isotopic composition of the upstream and downstream points of the catchment during a 24-h diel cycle. Additional δ65Cu values were obtained from the tributary stream, suspended matter (>0.22 μm) and bed sediments samples. Our goals were to 1) assess Cu sources variability at the upstream point under contrasted hydrological conditions and 2) investigate the conservative vs. non conservative Cu behavior along a stream. Average δ65Cu values varied from −0.47 to −0.08‰ (n = 9) upstream and from −0.63 to −0.31‰ downstream (n = 7) demonstrating that Cu isotopes are heterogeneous over the diel cycle and along the Meca River. During dry conditions, at the upstream point of the Meca River the Cu isotopic composition was heavier which is in agreement with the preferential release of heavy isotopes during the oxidative dissolution of primary sulfides. The more negative values obtained during high water flow are explained by the contribution of soil and waste deposit weathering. Finally, a comparison of upstream vs. downstream Cu isotope composition is consistent with a conservative behavior of Cu, and isotope mass balance calculations estimate that 87% of dissolved Cu detected downstream originate from the Tharsis mine outlet. These interpretations were supported by thermodynamic modelling and sediment characterization data (X-ray diffraction, Raman Spectroscopy). Overall, based on contrasted hydrological conditions (dry vs flooded), and taking the advantage of isotope insensitivity to dilution, the present work demonstrates the efficiency of using the Cu isotopes approach for tracing sources and processes in the AMD regions.
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•We observe rapid change of both riverine Cu isotopic signature and water regime.•This change indicates the contribution of various sources within the mining area.•δ65Cu appears to be controlled by water regime rather than upstream processes.
Long-term survival remains low for most patients with glioblastoma (GBM), which reveals the need for markers of disease outcome and novel therapeutic targets. We describe that ODZ1 (also known as ...TENM1), a type II transmembrane protein involved in fetal brain development, plays a crucial role in the invasion of GBM cells. Differentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells drives the nuclear translocation of an intracellular fragment of ODZ1 through proteolytic cleavage by signal peptide peptidase-like 2a. The intracellular fragment of ODZ1 promotes cytoskeletal remodelling of GBM cells and invasion of the surrounding environment both in vitro and in vivo. Absence of ODZ1 by gene deletion or downregulation of ODZ1 by small interfering RNAs drastically reduces the invasive capacity of GBM cells. This activity is mediated by an ODZ1-triggered transcriptional pathway, through the E-box binding Myc protein, that promotes the expression and activation of Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) and subsequent activation of Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK). Overexpression of ODZ1 in GBM cells reduced survival of xenografted mice. Consistently, analysis of 122 GBM tumour samples revealed that the number of ODZ1-positive cells inversely correlated with overall and progression-free survival. Our findings establish a novel marker of invading GBM cells and consequently a potential marker of disease progression and a therapeutic target in GBM.
With advancement in 3D imaging, better fat-suppression techniques, and superior coil designs for MR imaging and the increasing availability and use of 3T magnets, the visualization of the complexity ...of the brachial plexus has become facile. The relevant imaging findings are described for normal and pathologic conditions of the brachial plexus. These radiologic findings are supported by clinical and/or EMG/surgical data, and corresponding high-resolution MR neurography images are illustrated. Because the brachial plexus can be affected by a plethora of pathologies, resulting in often serious and disabling complications, a better radiologic insight has great potential in aiding physicians in rendering superior services to patients.
The general scientific objective of the ASPERA-3 experiment is to study the solar wind -atmosphere interaction and to characterize the plasma and neutral gas environment within the space near Mars ...through the use of energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging and measuring local ion and electron plasma. The ASPERA-3 instrument comprises four sensors: two ENA sensors, one electron spectrometer, and one ion spectrometer. The Neutral Particle Imager (NPI) provides measurements of the integral ENA flux (0.1-60 keV) with no mass and energy resolution, but high angular resolution. The measurement principle is based on registering products (secondary ions, sputtered neutrals, reflected neutrals) of the ENA interaction with a graphite-coated surface. The Neutral Particle Detector (NPD) provides measurements of the ENA flux, resolving velocity (the hydrogen energy range is 0.1-10 keV) and mass (H and 0) with a coarse angular resolution. The measurement principle is based on the surface reflection technique. The Electron Spectrometer (ELS) is a standard top-hat electrostatic analyzer in a very compact design which covers the energy range 0.01-20 keV. These three sensors are located on a scanning platform which provides scanning through 180 deg of rotation. The instrument also contains an ion mass analyzer (IMA). Mechanically IMA is a separate unit connected by a cable to the ASPERA-3 main unit. IMA provides ion measurements in the energy range 0.01-36 keV/charge for the main ion components H+, He++, He+, 0+, and the group of molecular ions 20-80 amu/q. ASPERA-3 also was its own DC/DC converters and digital processing unit (DPU).
Heme oxygenase-1 may exert cytoprotective effects. In this study we examined the sensitivity of heme oxygenase-1 knockout (HO-1−/−) mice to renal ischemia by assessing glomerular filtration rate ...(GFR) and cytokine expression in the kidney, and inflammatory responses in the systemic circulation and in vital extrarenal organs. Four hours after renal ischemia, the GFR of HO-1−/− mice was much lower than that of wild-type mice in the absence of changes in renal blood flow or cardiac output. Eight hours after renal ischemia, there was a marked induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA and its downstream signaling effector, phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3), in the kidney, lung, and heart in HO-1−/− mice. Systemic levels of IL-6 were markedly and uniquely increased in HO-1−/− mice after ischemia as compared to wild-type mice. The administration of an antibody to IL-6 protected against the renal dysfunction and mortality observed in HO-1−/− mice following ischemia. We suggest that the exaggerated production of IL-6, occurring regionally and systemically following localized renal ischemia, in an HO-1-deficient state may underlie the heightened sensitivity observed in this setting.
Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is widely used to improve the corrosion resistance and protection of magnesium and its alloys by the formation of ceramic oxide layers. However, this anodization ...processes generate porous and rough layers with poor tribological properties. In order to improve corrosion protection and tribological capabilities, three different post-treatments (novel sol–gel coating, polytetrafluoroethylene and acrylate-ethylene copolymer with nanoparticles) have been used as sealing agents on PEO anodized AZ91D magnesium alloys. Characterization of unsealed and sealed systems was made by Fourier transform IR (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) in order to know the chemical structure, morphology and composition of PEO/coating systems. Corrosion resistance was evaluated by electrochemical measurements (open circuit potential and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) in 5wt.% NaCl solution at room temperature and by accelerated neutral salt spray test. Tribological properties were obtained using a ball-on-disk test. According to results, post-treatments have improved the corrosion protection performance of PEO systems. However, while internal physical interlocking of pores seemed to be crucial to enhance corrosion protection using polytetrafluoroethylene and sol–gel post-treatments, the formation of an external top layer was the main cause of the improvement of the barrier properties for acrylate–ethylene copolymer post-treatment. On the other hand, despite that tribological performance was mainly governed by the PEO coating, the formation of a top layer on the surface and its chemical composition can significantly reduce the friction coefficient.
•The performance of sealed PEO Mg alloys can be underestimated by SEM.•Electrochemical tests have provided complementary to surface evaluation by SEM.•Salt spray results were in agreement with impedance results.•Open micro-pores on the surface were effectively sealed by PEO+TEOS:MPTES:Dithiol.•Thin PA/PE-Si coating with nanoparticles improves PEO protection.
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