684 research outputs found
A REDUCED TABLEOF THE ZECH´S LOGARITHM
In this work we will solve the problem of expression of the sum of two given elements of a finite field, as power of the primitive element of the field. We obtain a reduced table of the Zech's logarithm from our proposal that relate the Zech'slogarithm with the partition of the exponents of the powers of elements over finite field ð‘®ð‘Â(ð’‘ð’) in p-cyclotomic cosets modulo (ð’‘ð’−ðŸ). This reduces, in a significant way, the quantity of information to store and it facilitates its use in several cryptographic algorithms, specifically in asimetric cryptography. It is illustrated the computationof the Zech'slogarithm of any element thatdoesn't appear in the obtained reduced table
An Update on EMU Sovereign Yield Spread Drivers in Times of Crisis: A Panel Data Analysis
p21(Cip1) plays a critical role in the physiological adaptation to fasting through activation of PPARα.
Fasting is a physiological stress that elicits well-known metabolic adaptations, however, little is known about the role of stress-responsive tumor suppressors in fasting. Here, we have examined the expression of several tumor suppressors upon fasting in mice. Interestingly, p21 mRNA is uniquely induced in all the tissues tested, particularly in liver and muscle (>10 fold), and this upregulation is independent of p53. Remarkably, in contrast to wild-type mice, p21-null mice become severely morbid after prolonged fasting. The defective adaptation to fasting of p21-null mice is associated to elevated energy expenditure, accelerated depletion of fat stores, and premature activation of protein catabolism in the muscle. Analysis of the liver transcriptome and cell-based assays revealed that the absence of p21 partially impairs the transcriptional program of PPARα, a key regulator of fasting metabolism. Finally, treatment of p21-null mice with a PPARα agonist substantially protects them from their accelerated loss of fat upon fasting. We conclude that p21 plays a relevant role in fasting adaptation through the positive regulation of PPARα
High Levels of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in CCM3-Deficient Cells Increase Their Susceptibility to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition
Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are vascular malformations that can be the result of the deficiency of one of the CCM genes. Their only present treatment is surgical removal, which is not always possible, and an alternative pharmacological strategy to eliminate them is actively sought. We have studied the effect of the lack of one of the CCM genes, CCM3, in endothelial and non-endothelial cells. By comparing protein expression in control and CCM3-silenced cells, we found that the levels of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) are higher in CCM3-deficient cells, which adds to the known upregulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in these cells. Whereas VEGFR2 is upregulated at the mRNA level, EGFR has a prolonged half-life. Inhibition of EGFR family members in CCM3-deficient cells does not revert the known cellular effects of lack of CCM genes, but it induces significantly more apoptosis in CCM3-deficient cells than in control cells. We propose that the susceptibility to tyrosine kinase inhibitors of CCM3-deficient cells can be harnessed to kill the abnormal cells of these lesions and thus treat CCMs pharmacologically
Employment Expectations and Gross Flows by Type of Work Contract
There is growing interest in understanding firms’ temporary and permanent employment practices and how institutional changes shape them. Using data on Spanish establishments, we examine: (a) how employers adjust temporary and permanent job and worker flows to prior employment expectations, and (b) how the 1994 and 1997 labour reforms promoting permanent employment affected establishments’ employment practices. Generally, establishments’ prior employment expectations are realized through changes in all job and worker flows. However, establishments uniquely rely on temporary hires as a buffer to confront diminishing long-run employment expectations. None of the reforms significantly affected establishments’ net temporary or permanent employment flows.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40032/3/wp646.pd
Clinical features and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with rheumatic diseases treated with biological and synthetic targeted therapies
Molecular details of quinolone–DNA interactions: solution structure of an unusually stable DNA duplex with covalently linked nalidixic acid residues and non-covalent complexes derived from it
Quinolones are antibacterial drugs that are thought to bind preferentially to disturbed regions of DNA. They do not fall into the classical categories of intercalators, groove binders or electrostatic binders to the backbone. We solved the 3D structure of the DNA duplex (ACGCGU-NA)(2), where NA denotes a nalidixic acid residue covalently linked to the 2′-position of 2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridine, by NMR and restrained torsion angle molecular dynamics (MD). In the complex, the quinolones stack on G:C base pairs of the core tetramer and disrupt the terminal A:U base pair. The displaced dA residues can stack on the quinolones, while the uracil rings bind in the minor groove. The duplex-bridging interactions of the drugs and the contacts of the displaced nucleotides explain the high UV-melting temperature for d(ACGCGU-NA)(2) of up to 53°C. Further, non-covalently linked complexes between quinolones and DNA of the sequence ACGCGT can be generated via MD using constraints obtained for d(ACGCGU-NA)(2). This is demonstrated for unconjugated nalidixic acid and its 6-fluoro derivative. The well-ordered and tightly packed structures thus obtained are compatible with a published model for the quinolone–DNA complex in the active site of gyrases
Network Meta-Analysis of Tofacitinib, Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs, and Apremilast for the Treatment of Psoriatic Arthritis
Background: Tofacitinib and other new treatments approved for use in psoriatic arthritis have only recently been included in psoriatic arthritis treatment guidelines, and studies evaluating the relative efficacy of available therapies are important to inform treatment decisions by healthcare professionals. Objective: To perform a network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety profiles of tofacitinib, biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), and apremilast in patients with psoriatic arthritis naive to tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy (TNFi-naive) or with an inadequate response (TNFi-IR). Methods: A systematic literature review used searches of MEDLINE, Embase, and The Cochrane Library on October 9, 2017. Randomized controlled trials including adult patients with psoriatic arthritis receiving treatment administered as monotherapy or with conventional synthetic DMARDs were selected. Efficacy outcomes included American College of Rheumatology 20 response, change from baseline in Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index, >/=75% improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, and change from baseline in Dactylitis Severity Score and Leeds Enthesitis Index. Treatment effects were evaluated during placebo-controlled phases, using a binomial logit model for binary outcomes and a normal identify link model for other outcomes. Discontinuations due to adverse events and serious infection events were assessed as safety outcomes. Results: The network meta-analysis included 24 published randomized controlled trials, of which 13 enrolled TNFi-naive patients only, 3 enrolled TNFi-IR patients only, and 8 enrolled both TNFi-naive and TNFi-IR patients. Placebo-controlled treatment durations ranged from 12 to 24 weeks. Indirect comparisons showed tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg BID to have similar efficacy compared with most bDMARDs and apremilast in improving joint symptoms (based on American College of Rheumatology 20 response), and with some bDMARDs in improving skin symptoms (based on Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) (tofacitinib 10 mg BID only in TNFi-IR) in patients with psoriatic arthritis who were TNFi-naive or TNFi-IR. Results also showed that, compared with placebo, the improvement in physical functioning (based on Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index) with tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg BID was similar to that observed with most bDMARDs and apremilast in TNFi-naive patients, and similar to that observed with all bDMARDs with available data in the TNFi-IR population. Improvements in Dactylitis Severity Score and Leeds Enthesitis Index scores were comparable between treatments. Tofacitinib 5 and 10 mg BID were median-ranked 8 and 15, respectively, for discontinuation due to any adverse events, and 5 and 16, respectively, for a serious infection event out of a total of 20 treatments in the network (lower numbers are more favorable). Conclusions: Tofacitinib provides an additional treatment option for patients with psoriatic arthritis, both in patients naive to TNFi and in those with TNFi-IR. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2020; 81:XXX-XXX)
Detection and dynamics of circulating tumor cells in patients with high-risk prostate cancer treated with radiotherapy and hormones: a prospective phase II study
BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are an established prognostic marker in castration-resistant prostate cancer but have received little attention in localized high-risk disease. We studied the detection rate of CTCs in patients with high-risk prostate cancer before and after androgen deprivation therapy and radiotherapy to assess its value as a prognostic and monitoring marker. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective analysis of CTCs in the peripheral blood of 65 treatment-naive patients with high-risk prostate cancer. EpCAM-positive CTCs were enumerated using the CELLSEARCH system at 4 timepoints. A cut off of 0 vs >/= 1 CTC/7.5 ml blood was defined as a threshold for negative versus positive CTCs status. RESULTS: CTCs were detected in 5/65 patients (7.5%) at diagnosis, 8/62 (12.9%) following neoadjuvant androgen deprivation and 11/59 (18.6%) at the end of radiotherapy, with a median CTC count/7.5 ml of 1 (range, 1-136). Only 1 patient presented a positive CTC result 9 months after radiotherapy. Positive CTC status (at any timepoint) was not significantly associated with any clinical or pathologic factors. However, when we analyzed variations in CTC patterns following treatment, we observed a significant association between conversion of CTCs and stages T3 (P = 0.044) and N1 (P = 0.002). Detection of CTCs was not significantly associated with overall survival (P > 0.40). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a low detection rate for CTCs in patients with locally advanced high-risk prostate cancer. The finding of a de novo positive CTC count after androgen deprivation therapy is probably due to a passive mechanism associated with the destruction of the tumor. Further studies with larger samples and based on more accurate detection of CTCs are needed to determine the potential prognostic and therapeutic value of this approach in non-metastatic prostate cancer. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01800058
Naturally presented HLA class I-restricted epitopes from the neurotrophic factor S100-? are targets of the autoimmune response in type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from the destruction of pancreatic beta-cells by the immune system, and CD8(+) T lymphocytes are critical actors in this autoimmune response. Pancreatic islets are surrounded by a mesh of nervous cells, the peri-insular Schwann cells, which are also targeted by autoreactive T lymphocytes and express specific antigens, such as the neurotrophic factor S100-beta. Previous work has shown increased proliferative responses to whole S100-beta in both human T1D patients and the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model. We describe for the first time naturally processed and presented epitopes (NPPEs) presented by class I human leukocyte antigen-A*02:01 (A2.1) molecules derived from S100-beta. These NPPEs triggered IFN-gamma responses more frequently in both newly diagnosed and long-term T1D patients compared with healthy donors. Furthermore, the same NPPEs are recognized during the autoimmune response leading to diabetes in A2.1-transgenic NOD mice as early as 4 wk of age. Interestingly, when these NPPEs are used to prevent diabetes in this animal model, an acceleration of the disease is observed together with an exacerbation in insulitis and an increase in S100-beta-specific cytotoxicity in vaccinated animals. Whether these can be used in diabetes prevention needs to be carefully evaluated in animal models before use in future clinical assays.-Calvino-Sampedro, C., Gomez-Tourino, I., Cordero, O. J., Reche, P. A., Gomez-Perosanz, M., Sanchez-Trincado, J. L., Rodriguez, M. A., Sueiro, A. M., Vinuela, J. E., Calvino, R. V. Naturally presented HLA class I-restricted epitopes from the neurotrophic factor S100-beta are targets of the autoimmune response in type 1 diabetes
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