Pubblicazione anonima di dati sequenziali

Si propone un approccio per la pubblicazione anonima di dati sequenziali in grado di preservare i pattern sequenziali, estratti con analisi di mining

β-trace protein is highly removed during haemodialysis with high-flux and super high-flux membranes

Background: Serum β-trace protein (βTP, MW 23-29 kDa) is a marker of GFR impairment in renal patients. Recent papers propose to predict residual renal function (RRF) in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients from serum concentrations of βTP and other small proteins, avoiding the collection of urine. Few data are available on the removal of βTP in patients treated with dialysis membranes with different flux characteristics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of haemodialysis with low-flux, high-flux and super high-flux membranes on serum concentrations of ßTP in MHD patients with null RRF. Methods: Serum ßTP concentrations were measured before and after the first dialysis of the week in 51 MDH patients treated by low-flux (n = 24), high-flux (n = 17), or super high-flux (n = 10) membranes. The removal of β2-microglobulin (β2M, MW 11.8), cystatin C (Cys, MW 13.3), urea and creatinine was also analyzed. Results: Low-flux membranes did not remove βTP, β2M and Cys whose concentration increased at the end of dialysis. High-flux membrane removed more efficiently β2M and Cys than ßTP. Super high-flux membrane had the highest efficiency to remove ßTP: mean reduction ratio (RR) 53.4%, similar to β2M (59.5%), and Cys (62.0%). Conclusions: In conclusion, the plasma clearance of small proteins and particularly of βTP is dependent from the permeability of the dialysis membranes Therefore, the reliability of the formulas proposed to predict RRF from serum βTP and other LMWP may be affected by the different permeability of the dialysis membranes

A method to obtain purified free light chain monomers and dimers from urine samples of patients with multiple myeloma

Antibody light chains are synthesized in excess by plasma cells, and this excess can be secreted into biological fluids as dimers or monomers in various proportions. Structural differences between monomers or dimers of free light chains (FLC) can affect their biological functions and possibly their pathogenicity. They also may exhibit differential immune reactivity, perhaps explaining discrepant quantifications when measured by different immunoreagents. Having purified FLC monomers and dimers available can be useful for studying their properties. Here we propose a simple preparatory procedure to purify FLC monomers and dimers from urine samples of patients with plasma cell disorders. Two representative urine samples containing lambda or kappa FLC were loaded into a nonreducing sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The gel strips containing separate monomers and dimers were excised, electroeluted, and the FLC recovered. The FLC were recovered from SDS-PAGE gel in sufficient amounts to be quantified by UV and two automated nephelometric assays immunochemical. The procedure was found to be simple, reproducible, and with a high yield, thus offering the opportunity to compare different assays. Not all urine samples are suitable for this procedure, but this approach allows for the purification of FLC monomers and dimers from many selected urine samples which maintain their oligomeric organization

Discrepancy between FLC assays: Only a problem of quantification?

Immunoglobulin light chains not associated with heavy chains (free light chains, FLC) are found in serum. A growing clinical importance has been assigned to the quantification of the kappa and lambda FLC in serum in the management of plasma cell dyscrasias. At present, automated immunoassays are the only available techniques allowing quantitative determination of serum FLC. Unfortunately, the two reagents available for FLC assay, provide sometimes divergent results. It has been proposed that the different results, unpredictably affecting individual serum samples, are due the different reactivity of reagents against FLC oligomers that are known to be present to a variable extent in serum, especially when lambda FLC are involved. We report a case where we demonstrated that the two reagents recognized differently FLC monomer and dimers

Development of a normothermic extracorporeal liver perfusion system toward improving viability and function of human extended criteria donor livers

Letter to the edito

Serological screening for Celiac Disease in 382 pre-schoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Recent investigations suggest a possible common genetic background between Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and Celiac Disease (CD). However, studies regarding this association are scarce and often limited by the small sample sizes and/or large heterogeneity among ASD groups in terms of demographic and clinical features. The present study aims to investigate the overall CD prevalence (biopsy proven-CD patients plus screening detected tTG and EMA positive cases) in a large population of pre-schoolers with ASD referred to a tertiary care University Hospital. Methods: We retrospectively collected data about 382 children (mean age: 46.97 ± 13.55 months; age-range: 18-72 months) consecutively diagnosed as ASD (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition criteria) over the period 2010-2013, and who performed a serological CD screening. Results: The overall CD prevalence was 2.62%, which is statistically significant higher to that reported in the Italian paediatric population (p = 0.0246). Half of these children had no symptoms or risk factors related to CD when they performed the serological screening. Conclusions: If replicated, these data suggest the importance of regular screening for CD in young patients with ASD, and are of relevance for clinical and public health

Lazos sociales y pandemia: Una experiencia de investigación en el barrio La Esperanza (Benavidez, partido de Tigre)

El artículo describe una experiencia de investigación colaborativa entre el Observatorio de Crímenes de Estado (FSOC-UBA) y los Hogares de Cristo, con asiento en el barrio La Esperanza-Benavidez-Tigre y presenta una primera aproximación muy exploratoria al análisis del trabajo de campo realizado. Los ejes de indagación que ordenaron la tarea fueron por un lado, comprender cómo había impactado la pandemia del COVID-19 en los barrios populares; por otro, indagar en las estrategias de contención y cuidado implementados por el gobierno nacional y los gobiernos locales ( pertinencia y efectividad en su implementación).Finalmente, dar cuenta del rol de las redes y/o organizaciones de los barrios en la construcción de estrategias autónomas (complementarias o supletorias de las desplegadas por las distintas instancias estatales) como un revelador de las modalidades de configuración de los lazos sociales y clivaje a partir del cual repensar redes de solidaridad y organización territorial. La hipótesis puesta en juego establecía que las organizaciones sociales y barriales habían adquirido protagonismo en la contención de las demandas emergentes en los territorios ante las medidas de aislamiento primero, y distanciamiento después, estipuladas desde los diversos niveles de gobierno. El trabajo de campo se llevó adelante mediante un instrumento de recolección de datos semi estructurado, que se complementó con la realización de encuentros, entrevistas y talleres con referentes del barrio y de la institución con la que trabajamos.The axes of inquiry that ordered the task were, on the one hand, to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted on the popular neighborhoods; on the other, to investigate the containment and care strategies implemented by the national government and local governments ( relevance and effectiveness in itsimplementation). Finally, to account for the role of neighborhood networks and/or organizations in the construction of autonomous strategies (complementary or supplementary to those deployed by the different state bodies) as a revealer of the modalities of shaping social ties and cleavage from which to rethink networks of solidarity and territorial organization. The research hypothesis established that social and neighborhood organizations had acquired a leading role in containing the emerging demands in the territories in the face of isolation measures first, and distancing later, stipulated by the various levels of government. The field work was carried out through a semi-structured data collection instrument, which was complemented by meetings, interviews and workshops with representatives of the neighborhood and the institution with which we work.Fil: Camelli, María Eva. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de General Sarmiento. Instituto del Conurbano; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Olmos, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales. Instituto de Investigaciones "Gino Germani"; ArgentinaFil: Arcem Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Campi, Aldana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Caponi, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, Walter. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Gimpelewicz, Violeta Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Massera, Lucia Macarena. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Seinhart, Catalina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Silveyra, Malena. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero. Centro de Estudios sobre Genocidio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Feierstein, Daniel Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Sociales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero. Centro de Estudios sobre Genocidio; Argentin