Do the asymmetry and the size of the structures of the temporal lobe persist in early stages of schizophrenia?

A total of 14 patients of various ages diagnosed with schizophrenia and, as an age-matched control group, 12 healthy subjects were examined using the MRI method of neuro-imaging. The volume of the following structures was evaluated in the right and left hemispheres: the superior temporal gyrus, the basolateral temporal area (the region including the middle temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and fusiform gyrus), the parahippocampal gyrus, the hippocampal head, the amygdaloid body and the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle. In schizophrenia a significant increase in the volume of the amygdaloid body on both the left and right sides was observed. In the patients, as in the control group, we noticed significant asymmetry between the left and right sides in the volume of the structures studied. The left amygdaloid body was significantly larger than the right, whereas the left hippocampal head and the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle were smaller than the right. Our findings suggest that in the early stages of schizophrenia, despite the increased volume of the amygdaloid body, the asymmetry between the structures of the temporal lobe is still present. However, the changes observed in the temporal lobe could be related to the functional disturbances observed in this disease

A magnetic resonance volumetric study of the temporal lobe structures in depression

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders and is associated with considerable morbidity. In recent years structural-imaging technology has provided an opportunity to examine the brain anatomy in patients with the psychiatric illness. 10 patients of various ages and, as the control group, 16 healthy subjects were examined using the MRI method of neuroimaging. The volumes of the following structures were evaluated in the right and left hemispheres: the superior temporal gyrus, the basolateral temporal area (the region including middle temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus and fusiform gyrus), the parahippocampal gyrus, the hippocampal head, the amygdaloid body and the lateral ventricle. The significant difference between the control group and the group with depression concerned the volume of the temporal horn of the lateral ventricle of both hemispheres. In depressed patients the left temporal horn was 49.8% and the right 38.4% larger in comparison with the control group. In the control group there were significant differences between the left and right hemispheres in the volume of all the structures studied, whereas in the group with depression these difference in volume between the hemispheres concerned only the amygdaloid body and the lateral ventricle

Report of the first AKI Round Table meeting: an initiative of the ESICM AKI Section.

Critical Care Nephrology is an emerging sub-specialty of Critical Care. Despite increasing awareness about the serious impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal replacement therapy (RRT), important knowledge gaps persist. This report represents a summary of a 1-day meeting of the AKI section of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) identifying priorities for future AKI research. International Members of the AKI section of the ESICM were selected and allocated to one of three subgroups: "AKI diagnosis and evaluation", "Medical management of AKI" and "Renal Replacement Therapy for AKI." Using a modified Delphi methodology, each group identified knowledge gaps and developed potential proposals for future collaborative research. The following key research projects were developed: Systematic reviews: (a) epidemiology of AKI with stratification by patient cohorts and diagnostic criteria; (b) role of higher blood pressure targets in patients with hypertension admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and (c) specific clearance characteristics of different modalities of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Observational studies: (a) epidemiology of critically ill patients according to AKI duration, and (b) current clinical practice of CRRT. Intervention studies:( a) Comparison of different blood pressure targets in critically ill patients with hypertension, and (b) comparison of clearance of solutes with various molecular weights between different CRRT modalities. Consensus was reached on a future research agenda for the AKI section of the ESICM

Magnetic resonance imaging detects placental hypoxia and acidosis in mouse models of perturbed pregnancies

Endothelial dysfunction as a result of dysregulation of anti-angiogenic molecules secreted by the placenta leads to the maternal hypertensive response characteristic of the pregnancy complication of preeclampsia. Structural abnormalities in the placenta have been proposed to result in altered placental perfusion, placental oxidative stress, cellular damage and inflammation and the release of anti-angiogenic compounds into the maternal circulation. The exact link between these factors is unclear. Here we show, using Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a tool to examine placental changes in mouse models of perturbed pregnancies, that T2 contrast between distinct regions of the placenta is abolished at complete loss of blood flow. Alterations in T2 (spin-spin or transverse) relaxation times are explained as a consequence of hypoxia and acidosis within the tissue. Similar changes are observed in perturbed pregnancies, indicating that acidosis as well as hypoxia may be a feature of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and may play a prominent role in the signalling pathways that lead to the increased secretion of anti-angiogenic compounds

Volume Assessment in Mechanically Ventilated Critical Care Patients Using Bioimpedance Vectorial Analysis, Brain Natriuretic Peptide, and Central Venous Pressure

Purpose. Strategies for volume assessment of critically ill patients are limited, yet early goal-directed therapy improves outcomes. Central venous pressure (CVP), Bioimpedance Vectorial Analysis (BIVA), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are potentially useful tools. We studied the utility of these measures, alone and in combination, to predict changing oxygenation. Methods. Thirty-four mechanically ventilated patients, 26 of whom had data beyond the first study day, were studied. Relationships were assessed between CVP, BIVA, BNP, and oxygenation index (O2I) in a cross-sectional (baseline) and longitudinal fashion using both univariate and multivariable modeling. Results. At baseline, CVP and O2I were positively correlated (R = 0.39; P = .021), while CVP and BIVA were weakly correlated (R = −0.38; P = .025). The association between slopes of variables over time was negligible, with the exception of BNP, whose slope was correlated with O2I (R = 0.40; P = .044). Comparing tertiles of CVP, BIVA, and BNP slopes with the slope of O2I revealed only modest agreement between BNP and O2I (kappa = 0.25; P = .067). In a regression model, only BNP was significantly associated with O2I; however, this was strengthened by including CVP in the model. Conclusions. BNP seems to be a valuable noninvasive measure of volume status in critical care and should be assessed in a prospective manner

INSULIN AND ANALOGS: NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

As insulinas e seus análogos são divididos em três tipos principais: os de ação curta, distribuídas nas categorias de ação curta e ultracurta ou rápida; ação intermediária e ação longa. A insulina aspart e lispro possuem ação ultracurta e rápida, a insulina glulisina sofre absorção duas vezes mais rápida que a insulina regular e atinge um pico plasmático duas vezes maior. A insulina regular é uma insulina zinco cristalina, de ação curta, empregada em casos emergenciais hiperglicêmicos. As de ação intermediária são: protamina neutra de Hagedorn (NPH) ou isófana e a lente. A insulina glargina é um análogo de insulina modificada, a qual foi desenvolvida para proporcionar uma concentração constante de insulina. A insulina detemir é um análogo solúvel, com ação prolongada, caracteriza por não possuir pico de ação. Este trabalho é uma revisão narrativa, descritiva e exploratória sobre a insulina e seus análogos, voltados para o estudo da insulina no Diabetes mellitus (DM), pois, é a melhor escolha para o tratamento do DM tipo 1.

Налоговое стимулирование инвестиций частных инвесторов в облигации в Российской Федерации

The paper addresses the specificities of tax incentives in the form of tax reliefs designated for individual investors, who invest in bonds in the Russian Federation. The need for the use of tax incentives to encourage individual investors to purchase bonds is regarded as an integral aspect of the bondization, announced by the Bank of Russia. The objective of this paper is to analyze the specific features of the investment tax relief implementation in the Russian Federation and to reveal issues that remain controversial and require particularization. It was found that stimulation of investment through tax is widely studied by foreign scientists; however, it is almost completely disregarded in Russia. The following tax innovations related to investments of individual Russian investors were analyzed: tax relief for coupon income, derived from corporate bonds; investment tax deductions (individual investment account and long-term capital gains exemption); long-term capital gains exemption for securities of the high-tech (innovation) sector of economy. Reconciliation schemes for the above-mentioned reliefs were identified. Insufficiency of quantitative data for the effectiveness evaluation of tax relief for individual investors was revealed, which was explained by the short validity period of this relief. The authors proved the absence of a uniform system tax relief instruments for individual investors and found that bond holders have more tax relief options, compared to share holders of other investment instruments. In this context, it was proposed to make amendments to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation in order to ensure tax equalization with relation to derivative instruments, designed on the basis of bonds, mutual fund units). In addition, it was recommended to adjust a number of technical aspects, connected with tax relief application and to evaluate the effectiveness of the reliefs under study.Highlights1. A tendency towards emergence of a tax relief system for individual investors is revealed in the context of the active development of the bond market in the Russian2. In the Russian Federation, there are a number of tax reliefs for bond holders, including coupon income exemption from tax and investment tax deductions, which are not bound into a uniform system3. Reconciliation of tax reliefs for individual investors is possible; however, there are issues that remain controversial and require particularization4. The current tax reliefs for individual investors require improvement. It is important to make certain amendments to the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and evaluate the effectiveness of tax reliefsFor citationBelomyttseva O. S., Grinkevich L. S., Grinkevich A. M., Bobek S., Tominc P. Tax incentives for bond-oriented individual investors: evidence from the Russian Federation. Journal of Tax Reform, 2018, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 108–124. DOI: 10.15826/jtr.2018.4.2.047Article infoReceived June 6, 2018; accepted July 12, 2018 Статья посвящена анализу особенностей налогового стимулирования инвестиций частных инвесторов в облигации в РФ. Необходимость налогового стимулирования приобретения облигаций частными инвесторами отмечена как составная часть стратегии бондизации, заявленной Банком России. Целью настоящей статьи является анализ специфики применения инвестиционных налоговых льгот в РФ, выявление спорных и требующих конкретизации вопросов. Отмечены широкое освещение темы налогового стимулирования инвестиций в иностранной периодической литературе и практически полное игнорирование данной тематики отечественными авторами. В статье проанализированы налоговые новации в области инвестиций российских частных инвесторов: льгота по купонному доходу корпоративных облигаций, инвестиционные налоговые вычеты (индивидуальные инвестиционные счета и льгота по долгосрочному владению ценными бумагами), льгота по долгосрочному владению ценными бумагами высокотехнологичного (инновационного) сектора экономики. Определены возможности совмещения вышеназванных льгот. Отмечен недостаток количественных данных для оценки эффективности налоговых льгот для частных инвесторов вследствие короткого периода их действия. Авторы пришли к выводу относительно отсутствия единой системы предоставления льгот частным инвесторам и более широком льготировании облигаций в сравнении с прочими инструментами. Конкретным результатами работы можно считать констатацию необходимости внесений изменений в НК РФ с целью выравнивания налогообложения по производным инструментам, созданным на основе облигаций, паям паевых инвестиционных фондов и корректировки ряда технических моментов применения льгот, а также оценку эффективности описанных льгот.Основные положения 1. Формирования системы налоговых льгот для частных инвесторов в РФ имеет место в рамках активного развития рынка облигаций2. В РФ существует ряд налоговых льгот для владельцев облигаций, включая льготу по купонному доходу и инвестиционные налоговые вычеты, не связанных между собой единой системой3. Совмещение налоговых льгот для частных инвесторов возможно, однако существуют спорные и требующие конкретизации вопросы4. Логично реформирование системы налоговых льгот для частных инвесторов в РФ, включая необходимость внесения изменений в НК РФ и оценку эффективности льготДля цитирования Беломытцева О. С. Налоговое стимулирование инвестиций частных инвесторов в облигации в Российской Федерации / О. С. Беломытцева, Л. С. Гринкевич, А. М. Гринкевич, C. Бобек, П. Томинц // Journal of Tax Reform. — 2018. — Т. 4, № 2. — С. 108–124. — DOI: 10.15826/jtr.2018.4.2.047Информация о статье Дата поступления 6 июня 2018 г.; дата принятия к печати 12 июля 2018 г.