Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a strong risk factor for chronic kidney disease in later life

Although unusual in western countries and in Australia in general, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is still common in Australian Aboriginal children living in remote communities. Here, we evaluated whether episodes of acute PSGN increased the risk for chronic kidney disease in later life in 1519 residents of a remote Aboriginal community (85% of those age eligible), with high rates of renal and cardiovascular disease, who participated in a health screen over a 3-year period. Of these, 200 had had at least one episode of PSGN, with 27 having had multiple episodes, usually in childhood. High levels of albuminuria (albumin/creatinine ratio) with increasing age were confirmed. All PSGN episodes were associated with group A streptococcal skin infections, often related to scabies. In both genders, aged 10-39 years at screening, about one in five had such a history. Among them, PSGN (5 years or more earlier) was significantly associated with higher levels of albuminuria than those without. In women, aged 30-39 years, a history of PSGN was associated with a significantly higher frequency of estimated glomerular filtration rates < 60 ml/min. The adjusted odds ratios for an albumin/creatinine ratio over 34 g/mol (overt albuminuria) in males and females with a history of PSGN were 4.6 and 3.1, respectively, compared with those without a history. Thus, PSGN contributes to the very serious burden of chronic kidney disease in this community. Rigorous strategies to prevent scabies and Group A streptococcal infections will reduce this burden

Augmented-reality clay and adaptive interfacing

Thesis: S.M., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Architecture, 2016.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 45-47).Our collectively developed methods of structuring information through graphical and natural user interfaces (GUI, NUI) largely emphasize visual and visuo-spatial representation over other types of sensory information. As our interfaces continue to develop we seem to select for fidelity of visual stimulation, while neglecting the behavioral aspects of physical materiality. In this thesis, I advocate for the use of expressive mediums of material engagement as part of the design of interaction within interfaces. I present an approach to interfacing using Computer-Mediated Material Interaction (CMMI), by augmenting the visual appearance and behavior of clay. This approach considers the subject's situated learning as the crucial factor in building coherent and immersive interfacing. Taking precedents from the domains of perceptual science and cognitive ecology, such as information-search, affordances and adaptive learning, I suggest that the sense of immersion and ease of learning in an interaction stems from how much it supports the subject's self-guided, iterative, discovery process. To illustrate this approach, I present a series of oil clay augmented-reality prototypes that encourage situated mappings to be discovered by the subject. I also discuss how interface design could further honor the adaptive principles latent in human-material-interactions.by Julia Litman-Cleper.S.M

Cortical Field Complexity: A comparative analysis of cortical field sizes in relation to ethology and sensory specialization across 6 clades of mammals

Comparative studies provide important insights into the evolution of general features of brain organization as well as features that are unique across species. These unique differences in brain organization are thought to reflect specialized adaptations in body morphology, behavior and lifestyle. While there is a great diversity of mammalian behavioral and morphological specializations, we know little about evolutionary changes in the neocortical structures that support these differences. Using histological collections from the Krubitzer lab, a comparative dataset was created in order to measure the sizes of cortical fields across evolution. In this analysis we focus on 4 cortical fields, the primary somatosensory (S1), visual (V1) and auditory (A1) areas, as well as the motor cortex (M1). These areas were examined in 18 species representing 6 different mammalian lineages: 7 species of Rodentia (rodents), 5 species of Marsupialia (marsupials), 2 species of Chiropotera (bats), 2 species of Eulipotyphla (water shrews and hedgehogs), 1 from Scandentia (tree shrews) and 1 from Afrosoricida (tenrecs). We quantify the lineage-specific changes and general properties of the sizes of primary motor and primary sensory cortical fields using allometric analysis, and discuss several outliers from the trends. We found that larger brains with a larger neocortex devote less space to M1, A1 and S1, whereas V1 becomes exceptionally larger, or alternatively exceptionally smaller in mammals with a small neocortex. We also found several examples of mosaic evolution in S1 and one example in A1. The neocortex is the underlying substrate that supports adaptive sensorimotor specializations, yet this varies across species. We found that not all convergent sensorimotor specializations share the same underlying expansions and contractions of cortical fields, suggesting that there are multiple ways the neocortex can organize to “solve” for the same specialization in different species

Body composition and cardiometabolic health of pediatric patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) under burosumab therapy

Contains fulltext : 231927.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access

Impact of Pediatric Chronic Dialysis on Long-Term Patient Outcome: Single Center Study

Objective. Owing to a shortage of kidney donors in Israel, children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) may stay on maintenance dialysis for a considerable time, placing them at a significant risk. The aim of this study was to understand the causes of mortality. Study Design. Clinical data were collected retrospectively from the files of children on chronic dialysis (>3 months) during the years 1995–2013 at a single pediatric medical center. Results. 110 patients were enrolled in the study. Mean age was 10.7±5.27 yrs. (range: 1 month–24 yrs). Forty-five children (42%) had dysplastic kidneys and 19 (17.5%) had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Twenty-five (22.7%) received peritoneal dialysis, 59 (53.6%) hemodialysis, and 6 (23.6%) both modalities sequentially. Median dialysis duration was 1.46 years (range: 0.25–17.54 years). Mean follow-up was 13.5±5.84 yrs. Seventy-nine patients (71.8%) underwent successful transplantation, 10 (11.2%) had graft failure, and 8 (7.3%) continued dialysis without transplantation. Twelve patients (10.9%) died: 8 of dialysis-associated complications and 4 of their primary illness. The 5-year survival rate was 84%: 90% for patients older than 5 years and 61% for younger patients. Conclusions. Chronic dialysis is a suitable temporary option for children awaiting renal transplantation. Although overall long-term survival rate is high, very young children are at high risk for life-threatening dialysis-associated complications

Impact of Pediatric Chronic Dialysis on Long-Term Patient Outcome: Single Center Study

Objective. Owing to a shortage of kidney donors in Israel, children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) may stay on maintenance dialysis for a considerable time, placing them at a significant risk. The aim of this study was to understand the causes of mortality. Study Design. Clinical data were collected retrospectively from the files of children on chronic dialysis (>3 months) during the years 1995–2013 at a single pediatric medical center. Results. 110 patients were enrolled in the study. Mean age was 10.7±5.27 yrs. (range: 1 month–24 yrs). Forty-five children (42%) had dysplastic kidneys and 19 (17.5%) had focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Twenty-five (22.7%) received peritoneal dialysis, 59 (53.6%) hemodialysis, and 6 (23.6%) both modalities sequentially. Median dialysis duration was 1.46 years (range: 0.25–17.54 years). Mean follow-up was 13.5±5.84 yrs. Seventy-nine patients (71.8%) underwent successful transplantation, 10 (11.2%) had graft failure, and 8 (7.3%) continued dialysis without transplantation. Twelve patients (10.9%) died: 8 of dialysis-associated complications and 4 of their primary illness. The 5-year survival rate was 84%: 90% for patients older than 5 years and 61% for younger patients. Conclusions. Chronic dialysis is a suitable temporary option for children awaiting renal transplantation. Although overall long-term survival rate is high, very young children are at high risk for life-threatening dialysis-associated complications