Vegetable-based diets for chronic kidney disease? It Is time to reconsider

Traditional dietary recommendations to renal patients limited the intake of fruits and vegetables because of their high potassium content. However, this paradigm is rapidly changing due to the multiple benefits derived from a fundamentally vegetarian diet such as, improvement in gut dysbiosis, reducing the number of pathobionts and protein-fermenting species leading to a decreased production of the most harmful uremic toxins, while the high fiber content of these diets enhances intestinal motility and short-chain fatty acid production. Metabolic acidosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is aggravated by the high consumption of meat and refined cereals, increasing the dietary acid load, while the intake of fruit and vegetables is able to neutralize the acidosis and its deleterious consequences. Phosphorus absorption and bioavailability is also lower in a vegetarian diet, reducing hyperphosphatemia, a known cause of cardiovascular mortality in CKD. The richness of multiple plants in magnesium and vitamin K avoids their deficiency, which is common in these patients. These beneficial e ects, together with the reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress observed with these diets, may explain the reduction in renal patients’ complications and mortality, and may slow CKD progression. Finally, although hyperkalemia is the main concern of these diets, the use of adequate cooking techniques can minimize the amount absorbedThe Renal, Vascular and Diabetes Laboratory is funded by Ministerio de Economia, Industria y competitividad: FIS ISCIII FEDER funds PI16/01298 and Sociedad Madrileña de Nefrologia

Heteronuclear {TbxEu1−x} furoate 1D polymers presenting luminescent properties and SMM behavior

We report the synthesis, crystal structure and photo-magnetic properties of novel Tb/Eu polymeric complexes of general formula {TbxEu1−x(α-fur)3(H2O)3}n, supported by 2-furancarboxilic acid: the homonuclear Tb(III) complex {Tb} (1), four heterodinuclear complexes, {Tb0.8Eu0.2} (2), {Tb0.7Eu0.3} (3), {Tb0.3Eu0.7} (4), and {Tb0.1Eu0.9} (5), and the homonuclear Eu(III)-only complex {Eu} (6). X-ray diffraction experiments show that the α-furoate ligands, acting in bridging mode, consolidate the 1D polymeric chains along the c-axis. Luminescence studies show the sensitization capability of the furoic acid ligand. Color tuning from green to red can be successfully achieved through the heterodinuclear strategy. We have measured Eu emission by direct excitation at the resonant 7F0 → 5L6 (395 nm), and indirectly, by excitation of the non-resonant wavelength (280 nm) which provokes ligand → Tb → Eu energy transfer. Besides, ac susceptibility measurements under varying frequencies and temperatures reveal that mixed {TbxEu1−x} complexes exhibit field-induced slow relaxation dynamics, with extremely slow relaxation times, owing to direct processes affected by the bottleneck effect. Thus, the {TbxEu1−x} complexes represent interesting low-dimensional multifunctional materials combining both luminescent and SMM magnetic properties

Heteronuclear {TbxEu1-x} furoate 1D polymers presenting luminescent properties and SMM behavior

We report the synthesis, crystal structure and photo-magnetic properties of novel Tb/Eu polymeric complexes of general formula {TbxEu1-x(a-fur)3(H2O)3}n, supported by 2-furancarboxilic acid: the homonuclear Tb(iii) complex {Tb} (1), four heterodinuclear complexes, {Tb0.8Eu0.2} (2), {Tb0.7Eu0.3} (3), {Tb0.3Eu0.7} (4), and {Tb0.1Eu0.9} (5), and the homonuclear Eu(iii)-only complex {Eu} (6). X-ray diffraction experiments show that the a-furoate ligands, acting in bridging mode, consolidate the 1D polymeric chains along the c-axis. Luminescence studies show the sensitization capability of the furoic acid ligand. Color tuning from green to red can be successfully achieved through the heterodinuclear strategy. We have measured Eu emission by direct excitation at the resonant 7F0 ¿ 5L6 (395 nm), and indirectly, by excitation of the non-resonant wavelength (280 nm) which provokes ligand ¿ Tb ¿ Eu energy transfer. Besides, ac susceptibility measurements under varying frequencies and temperatures reveal that mixed {TbxEu1-x} complexes exhibit field-induced slow relaxation dynamics, with extremely slow relaxation times, owing to direct processes affected by the bottleneck effect. Thus, the {TbxEu1-x} complexes represent interesting low-dimensional multifunctional materials combining both luminescent and SMM magnetic properties

Heteronuclear {TbxEu1-x} furoate 1D polymers presenting luminiscent properties and SMM behavior

We report the synthesis, crystal structure and photo-magnetic properties of novel Tb/Eu polymeric complexes of general formula {TbxEu1−x(α-fur)3(H2O)3}n, supported by 2-furancarboxilic acid: the homonuclear Tb(III) complex {Tb} (1), four heterodinuclear complexes, {Tb0.8Eu0.2} (2), {Tb0.7Eu0.3} (3), {Tb0.3Eu0.7} (4), and {Tb0.1Eu0.9} (5), and the homonuclear Eu(III)-only complex {Eu} (6). X-ray diffraction experiments show that the α-furoate ligands, acting in bridging mode, consolidate the 1D polymeric chains along the c-axis. Luminescence studies show the sensitization capability of the furoic acid ligand. Color tuning from green to red can be successfully achieved through the heterodinuclear strategy. We have measured Eu emission by direct excitation at the resonant 7F0 → 5L6 (395 nm), and indirectly, by excitation of the non-resonant wavelength (280 nm) which provokes ligand → Tb → Eu energy transfer. Besides, ac susceptibility measurements under varying frequencies and temperatures reveal that mixed {TbxEu1−x} complexes exhibit field-induced slow relaxation dynamics, with extremely slow relaxation times, owing to direct processes affected by the bottleneck effect. Thus, the {TbxEu1−x} complexes represent interesting low-dimensional multifunctional materials combining both luminescent and SMM magnetic properties

Shared care: a pathway for the rejuvenation of home haemodialysis?

There much evidence for the benefits to patients of being able to manage their own haemodialysis rather following the thrice weekly model of most in-centre dialysis programmes. Numbers of patients dialysing at home remains disappointingly small and there are considerable variations between renal centres. Shared care models have been promoted as a route of encouraging greater take-up of home haemodialysis (HHD). There is currently little available evidence to support this assertion. Barriers have been identified to increasing self-management by haemodialysis patients, many of which apply to both shared care and HHD programmes. Overcoming the barriers, many of which are institutional is key to increasing numbers of patients dialysing at home. The development of shared care initiatives alone will not foster greater HHD engagement rather the cultural and other barriers to both must be overcome if such growth is to be seen

Threshold Corrections and Gauge Symmetry in Twisted Superstring Models

Threshold corrections to the running of gauge couplings are calculated for superstring models with free complex world sheet fermions. For two N=1 $SU(2)\times U(1)^5$ models, the threshold corrections lead to a small increase in the unification scale. Examples are given to illustrate how a given particle spectrum can be described by models with different boundary conditions on the internal fermions. We also discuss how complex twisted fermions can enhance the symmetry group of an N=4 $SU(3)\times U(1)\times U(1)$ model to the gauge group $SU(3)\times SU(2)\times U(1)$. It is then shown how a mixing angle analogous to the Weinberg angle depends on the boundary conditions of the internal fermions.Comment: easier to Tex version, figures to be sent separatel

Mean-field cooperativity in chemical kinetics

We consider cooperative reactions and we study the effects of the interaction strength among the system components on the reaction rate, hence realizing a connection between microscopic and macroscopic observables. Our approach is based on statistical mechanics models and it is developed analytically via mean-field techniques. First of all, we show that, when the coupling strength is set positive, the model is able to consistently recover all the various cooperative measures previously introduced, hence obtaining a single unifying framework. Furthermore, we introduce a criterion to discriminate between weak and strong cooperativity, based on a measure of "susceptibility". We also properly extend the model in order to account for multiple attachments phenomena: this is realized by incorporating within the model $p$-body interactions, whose non-trivial cooperative capability is investigated too.Comment: 25 pages, 4 figure

Up-regulation of HDACs, a harbinger of uraemic endothelial dysfunction, is prevented by defibrotide

Altres ajuts: This work was supported by Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc (IST-16-10355 to MDR. and EC); German José Carreras Leukaemia Foundation (Grant 11R/2016 and 03R/2019 to MDR. and EC); [...]. We would like to thank the Proteomics unit staff (CCIT, University of Barcelona) for their support in the proteomic assay performance and analysis, and to the Primary Hemostasis laboratory group for their technical support. We also acknowledge the collaboration of Dr Josep Maria Cruzado of Institut d'Hemodiàlisi Barcelona who collaborated in obtaining the blood samples, the staff of the Maternitat Hospital, in Barcelona, for providing the umbilical cords that made possible some of the current results and to Shook Studio for the visual abstract design.Endothelial dysfunction is an earlier contributor to the development of atherosclerosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD), in which the role of epigenetic triggers cannot be ruled out. Endothelial protective strategies, such as defibrotide (DF), may be useful in this scenario. We evaluated changes induced by CKD on endothelial cell proteome and explored the effect of DF and the mechanisms involved. Human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells were exposed to sera from healthy donors (n = 20) and patients with end-stage renal disease on haemodialysis (n = 20). Differential protein expression was investigated by using a proteomic approach, Western blot and immunofluorescence. HDAC1 and HDAC2 overexpression was detected. Increased HDAC1 expression occurred at both cytoplasm and nucleus. These effects were dose-dependently inhibited by DF. Both the HDACs inhibitor trichostatin A and DF prevented the up-regulation of the endothelial dysfunction markers induced by the uraemic milieu: intercellular adhesion molecule-1, surface Toll-like receptor-4, von Willebrand Factor and reactive oxygen species. Moreover, DF down-regulated HDACs expression through the PI3/AKT signalling pathway. HDACs appear as key modulators of the CKD-induced endothelial dysfunction as specific blockade by trichostatin A or by DF prevents endothelial dysfunction responses to the CKD insult. Moreover, DF exerts its endothelial protective effect by inhibiting HDAC up-regulation likely through PI3K/AKT

Deficiency of the lipid synthesis enzyme, DGAT1, extends longevity in mice

Calorie restriction results in leanness, which is linked to metabolic conditions that favor longevity. We show here that deficiency of the triglyceride synthesis enzyme acyl CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1), which promotes leanness, also extends longevity without limiting food intake. Female DGAT1-deficient mice were protected from age-related increases in body fat, tissue triglycerides, and inflammation in white adipose tissue. This protection was accompanied by increased mean and maximal life spans of ~25% and ~10%, respectively. Middle-aged Dgat1−/− mice exhibited several features associated with longevity, including decreased levels of circulating insulin growth factor 1 (IGF1) and reduced fecundity. Thus, deletion of DGAT1 in mice provides a model of leanness and extended lifespan that is independent of calorie restriction

Endothelial damage, inflammation and immunity in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients have an accelerated atherosclerosis, increased risk of thrombotic-ischemic complications, and excessive mortality rates when compared with the general population. There is also evidence of an endothelial damage in which the proinflammatory state, the enhanced oxidative stress, or the accumulation of toxins due to their reduced renal clearance in uremia play a role. Further, there is evidence that uremic endothelial cells are both involved in and victims of the activation of the innate immunity. Uremic endothelial cells produce danger associated molecular patterns (DAMPS), which by binding to specific pattern recognition receptors expressed in multiple cells, including endothelial cells, induce the expression of adhesion molecules, the production of proinflammatory cytokines and an enhanced production of reactive oxygen species in endothelial cells, which constitute a link between immunity and inflammation. The connection between endothelial damage, inflammation and defective immunity in uremia will be reviewed here