Comparing the incidence of hypoglycemia episodes in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease treated with insulin or glibenclamide

Introduction. Hypoglycemia is one of the side effects of glibenclamide, which is administered orally in people with diabetes. Hypoglycemia may occur easily due to the reduced metabolism of this drug in patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of hypoglycemia in patients with chronic kidney disease who were treated with glibenclamide or insulin. Material and methods. In this study, 87 patients with type 2 diabetes and in stage 3–4 of chronic kidney disease (CKD) were examined. The patients were divided into two groups of glibenclamide (N = 44) and insulin (N = 43) based on the type of blood glucose-lowering therapy. Next, demographic data, serum creatinine level, number of hypoglycemic episodes over the last year and the amount of consumed drugs were recorded in the checklist. Finally, the data analysis was performed using the SPSS Software. Results. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), weight, duration of diabetes and blood glucose control. In addition, it was indicated that 38% of patients in the glibenclamide group and 32% of patients in the insulin group had at least one hypoglycemic episode. Also, in those two groups, there was no significant correlation between doses of the drug and the number of hypoglycemic episodes. Conclusions. This study showed that there was no significant difference between the patients with chronic kidney disease who were treated with insulin and those patients who were treated with glibenclamide in terms of number of symptomatic hypoglycemic episodes

Brand Value Co-Creation in the Social Commerce Era: Empirical Evidence From Iran

Brand value co-creation occurs when customers provide informational input to brand owners, which can be used to develop, refine or extend brands. Brand co-creation is an attractive and inexpensive marketing strategy for firms entering new markets and developing new brand meanings. The upward trend in social media use has transformed e-commerce by adding social support and information sharing features, resulting in social commerce. This research tests a framework that examines the e-commerce opportunities for firms from a branding perspective. Using a survey of Iranian consumers, SEM- PLS was used to analyse the data. Results provide new insights for a strategic approach to social media use in relation to the firm’s value co-creation objective. The results confirm the research model and emphasise the importance of social commerce constructs, social support, and relationship quality in brand value co-creation. The theoretical and practical implications are provided

Porównanie częstości występowania epizodów hipoglikemii u chorych na cukrzycę typu 2 z przewlekłą chorobą nerek leczonych insuliną lub glibenklamidem

Wstęp. Hipoglikemia jest jednym z objawów ubocznych obserwowanych przy stosowaniu glibenklamidu — leku doustnego używanego w leczeniu cukrzycy. Hipoglikemia może występować częściej z powodu obniżonego metabolizmu tego leku u chorych z przewlekłą niewydolnością nerek. Celem pracy była ocena częstości występowania hipoglikemii u pacjentów z przewlekłą niewydolnością nerek leczonych glibenklamidem w porównaniu z chorymi otrzymującymi insulinę. Metody. Do badania zakwalifikowano 87 pacjentów z cukrzycą typu 2 i niewydolnością nerek w stadium 3.–4. Na podstawie zastosowanego leczenia hipoglikemizującego zostali oni podzieleni na dwie grupy: pacjentów otrzymujących glibenklamid (n = 44) oraz leczonych insuliną (n = 43). Następnie odnotowano dane demograficzne, poziom kreatyniny w surowicy krwi, liczbę epizodów hipoglikemii w ciągu ostatniego roku oraz dane dotyczące liczby zużytych leków. Analizę przeprowadzono za pomocą oprogramowania SPSS Software. Wyniki. Nie obserwowano znamiennej różnicy między badanymi grupami w odniesieniu do wieku i masy ciała pacjentów, poziomu wskaźnika filtracji kłębuszkowej (GFR), czasu trwania cukrzycy oraz jej wyrównania. Ponadto stwierdzono że u 38% pacjentów w grupie leczonych glibenklamidem oraz u 32% chorych z grupy otrzymujących insulinę wystąpił co najmniej jeden epizod hipoglikemii. W obu grupach nie było znamiennej korelacji między dawką przyjmowanego leku a liczbą incydentów hipoglikemii. Wnioski. Badanie wykazało brak istotnej różnicy w liczbie objawowych epizodów hipoglikemii między grupami pacjentów z cukrzycą i przewlekłą chorobą nerek leczonych glibenklamidem a grupą chorych z cukrzycą, i tym samym z powikłaniem, otrzymujących insulinę

Antifungal Effect of Lipopeptide Compounds Produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M13RW01

Aims: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens lipopeptide are made of amino acids and fatty acid chain, and have many antifungal activities against several important pathogenic yeasts. The present research was carried out with the aim of extraction and evaluation of antifungal effect of lipopeptide compounds produced by Esfahan native Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M13RW01 against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M13RW01 was cultured in modified Peptone-Glucose-Yeast extract medium (PGY) for 72 hours. Then, the lipopeptide compounds produced in the medium by precipitation with HCl 6M were extracted and dissolved in methanol (50% water; 50% methanol). The antifungal activity of lipopeptide compounds against 5 species of Candida was investigated by well diffusion method, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and Minimum Fungal Concentration (MFC). Also, germ tube production by Candida albicans in tube containing lipopeptide was investigated. Findings: The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M13RW01 lipopeptide metabolites inhibited germ tube production in all C. albicans yeasts, but no inhibitory or fatal effect was observed on other species of Candida. Inhibition zone was not observed around the wells; in all dilutions, Candida yeasts grew. Therefore, minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal fungicidal concentration were not determined. Conclusion: The lipopeptide metabolites produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens M13RW01 have no inhibitory or fungal effects on the studied species of Candida, but inhibit the germ tubes production by Candida albicans yeast

Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of COVID-19; a Narrative Review

There are significant misconceptions and many obstacles in the way of illuminating the epidemiological and clinical aspects of COVID-19 as a new emerging epidemic. In addition, usefulness of some evidence published in the context of the recent epidemic for decision making in clinic as well as public health is questionable. However, misinterpreting or ignoring strong evidence in clinical practice and public health probably results in less effective and somehow more harmful decisions for individuals as well as subgroups in general populations of countries in the initial stages of this epidemic. Accordingly, our narrative review appraised epidemiological and clinical aspects of the disease including genetic diversity of coronavirus genus, mode of transmission, incubation period, infectivity, pathogenicity, virulence, immunogenicity, diagnosis, surveillance, clinical case management and also successful measures for preventing its spread in some communities. Keywords:COVID-19; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; epidemiology; public health; communicable diseases; emergin

Turbocharger heat transfer and mechanical losses influence in predicting engines performance by using one-dimensional simulation codes

The exhaust energy can represent up to 40% of the fuel chemical energy in turbocharged internal combustion engines. In order to calculate properly the available energy of the exhaust gases, a critical parameter is the temperature downstream the turbine. The prediction of this temperature will also benefit the two-stage turbochargers and after-treatment modelling that affects brake specific fuel consumption, exhaust gases emissions and the scavenging process. In this paper, turbocharger heat transfer losses have been modelled using a lumped capacitance model coupled with one-dimensional whole-engine simulation software. The data from the simulations of a turbocharged Diesel engine, with and without the turbocharger heat transfer model, have been compared with experimental measurements performed in an engine test bench. The analysis is focused on studying the influence in turbocharger outlet temperatures and predicting the engine performance. The main result of the study is the improvement in the prediction of both compressor and turbine outlet temperatures (up to an improvement of 70 K). The results from the model allow analysing how heat transfer losses are split in the turbocharger and quantifying the importance of heat transfer phenomena in turbocharger efficiency, at full load conditions and as a function of engine speed.This work has been financial supported by Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. It has been also partially supported by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Secretaria de Estado de Investigacion, Subdireccion de proyectos de investigacion (TRA2013-40853-R).Serrano Cruz, JR.; Olmeda González, PC.; Arnau Martínez, FJ.; Dombrovsky, A.; Smith, L. (2015). Turbocharger heat transfer and mechanical losses influence in predicting engines performance by using one-dimensional simulation codes. Energy. 86:204-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.03.130S2042188

Thermodynamic analysis of an absorption refrigeration system used to cool down the intake air in an Internal Combustion Engine

[EN] This paper deals with the thermodynamic analysis of an absorption refrigeration cycle used to cool down the temperature of the intake air in an Internal Combustion Engine using as a heat source the exhaust gas of the engine. The solution of ammonia-water has been selected due to the stability for a wide range of operating temperatures and pressures and the low freezing point. The effects of operating temperatures, pressures, concentrations of strong and weak solutions in the absorption refrigeration cycle were examined to achieve proper heat rejection to the ambient. Potential of increasing Internal Combustion Engine efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions was estimated by means of theoretical models and experimental tests. In order to provide boundary conditions for the absorption refrigeration cycle and to simulate its effect on engine performance, a OD thermodynamic model was used to reproduce the engine performance when the intake air is cooled. Furthermore, a detailed experimental work was carried out to validate the results in real engine operation. Theoretical results show how the absorption refrigeration system decreases the intake air flow temperature down to a temperature around 5 degrees C and even lower by using the bottoming waste heat energy available in the exhaust gases in a wide range of engine operating conditions. In addition, the theoretical analysis estimates the potential of the strategy for increasing the engine indicated efficiency in levels up to 4% also at the operating conditions under evaluation. Finally, this predicted benefit in engine indicated efficiency has been experimentally confirmed by direct testing. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Authors want to acknowledge the "Apoyo para la investigacion y Desarrollo (PAID)" grant for doctoral studies (FPI S2 2015 1067).Novella Rosa, R.; Dolz, V.; Martín, J.; Royo-Pascual, L. (2017). Thermodynamic analysis of an absorption refrigeration system used to cool down the intake air in an Internal Combustion Engine. Applied Thermal Engineering. 111:257-270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.09.084S25727011

Variable Geometry Turbocharger Technologies for Exhaust Energy Recovery and Boosting-A Review

As emissions regulations become increasingly demanding, higher power density engine (downsized/downspeeded and increasingly right-sized) requirements are driving the development of turbocharging systems. Variable geometry turbocharging (VGT) at its most basic level is the first step up from standard fixed geometry turbocharger systems. Currently, VGTs offer significant alternative options or complementarity vis-à-vis more advanced turbocharging options. This review details the range of prominent variable geometry technologies that are commercially available or openly under development, for both turbines and compressors and discusses the relative merits of each. Along with prominent diesel-engine boosting systems, attention is given to the control schemes employed and the actuation systems required to operate variable geometry devices, and the specific challenges associated with turbines designed for gasoline engines