2,688 research outputs found

    Mutations in blind cavefish target the light-regulated circadian clock gene, period 2

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    Light represents the principal signal driving circadian clock entrainment. However, how light influences the evolution of the clock remains poorly understood. The cavefish Phreatichthys andruzzii represents a fascinating model to explore how evolution under extreme aphotic conditions shapes the circadian clock, since in this species the clock is unresponsive to light. We have previously demonstrated that loss-of-function mutations targeting non-visual opsins contribute in part to this blind clock phenotype. Here, we have compared orthologs of two core clock genes that play a key role in photic entrainment, cry1a and per2, in both zebrafish and P. andruzzii. We encountered aberrantly spliced variants for the P. andruzzii per2 transcript. The most abundant transcript encodes a truncated protein lacking the C-terminal Cry binding domain and incorporating an intronic, transposon-derived coding sequence. We demonstrate that the transposon insertion leads to a predominantly cytoplasmic localization of the cavefish Per2 protein in contrast to the zebrafish ortholog which is distributed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Thus, it seems that during evolution in complete darkness, the photic entrainment pathway of the circadian clock has been subject to mutation at multiple levels, extending from opsin photoreceptors to nuclear effectors.Universidad de Ferrara | Ref. FAR2014-201

    POTASSIUM IN THE PRODUCTION OF UVAIA CHANGES

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    Com o objetivo de avaliar o desenvolvimento de porta-enxertos de uvaia adubados com cloreto de potássio, foi instalado experimento no Setor de Fruticultura da Universidade Federal de Lavras, com quatro doses de cloreto de potássio (0; 1,0; 2,0; 4,0 Kg m-3). Após 90 dias da semeadura, coletaram-se os seguintes dados biométricos: altura média da parte aérea e raíz (cm); número médio de folhas; massa seca média da raiz e da parte aérea (g). Foram encontrados resultados significativos para comprimento da parte aérea comprimento de raiz. O KCl promove incremento na produção de mudas de uvaia.With the objective to evaluate the development of uvaia using potassium chloride, this experiment was installed in the Sector of Fruticultura of the Federal University of Lavras, with four doses of potassium chloride (0; 1,0; 2,0; 4,0 kg m-3). After 90 days of the sowing, the following data had been collected: average height of the aerial part and root (cm); average leaf number; average dry mass of the root and the aerial part (g). They had been found resulted significant for length of the aerial part, length of root. The KCl promoted good results in production of uvaia changes

    Lesão renal aguda após cirurgias não cardíacas: incidência e impacto das disfunções orgânicas extra-renais nos desfechos

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    Introdução: A permanência de pacientes em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) é frequentemente complicada por Lesão Renal Aguda (LRA), principalmente em casos de sepse, baixo débito cardíaco e pós-operatório de grandes cirurgias. Objetivo: Avaliar a incidência, características, desenvolvimento de outras disfunções orgânicas, e desfechos de pacientes com LRA adquirida na UTI após cirurgias não cardíacas. Métodos: Estudo de coorte, prospectivo. Todos os pacientes internados consecutivamente nas UTIs após cirurgias não cardíacas nos meses de abril e maio de 2017 foram analisados quanto ao desenvolvimento ou não de LRA, de outras disfunções orgânicas e ao balanço hídrico. Resultados: A incidência de LRA foi de 16,2%. Os pacientes que desenvolveram LRA no pós-operatório eram mais graves, e diferiram quanto à necessidade de ventilação mecânica (60% vs. 11%, p < 0,001), uso de drogas vasoativas (82% vs. 44%, p = 0,021); presença de infecção (80% vs. 21%, p < 0,001), sepse ou choque séptico (50% vs. 9%, p < 0,001) e a outras complicações pós-operatórias (91% vs. 58%, p = 0,023). Outras disfunções de órgãos e sistemas foram mais fre-quentes nos pacientes com IRA (2 [2-3] vs. 1 [0-1], p < 0,001), particularmente disfunção gas-trointestinal (73% vs. 19%, p < 0,001) e cardiovascular (73% vs. 33%, p = 0,015). O número de pacientes com duas ou mais disfunções orgânicas aumentou de 21% para 82% em pacientes com LRA (RR 3,89, IC: 2,18 – 6,90, p < 0,001). O tempo de internação (13 ± 9 vs. 5 ± 6 dias, p < 0,001) e a mortalidade hospitalar (54,5% vs. 7%, p = 0,013) foram maiores nos pacientes com LRA. Conclusão: Entre pacientes com cirurgias não cardíacas e necessidade de UTI, a incidência de LRA é elevada e associada a complicações de outros sistemas, incluindo os sistemas neurológico, gastrointestinal, respiratório e cardiovascular; somandose a isso, balanço hídrico acumulado positivo, sepse e choque, maior tempo de internação e maiores taxas de mortalidade também foram encontrados nesses pacientes

    Estimated time of death through the cadaveric entomofauna in decomposing cadavers: a case report

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    This study reports a case of a sixty-nine years old lady who was found dead in her house, in state ofputrefaction. The study of cadaveric phenomena was imprecise and determined the post mortem time as two weeks and some days. The entomofauna analysis resulted to be a more accurate cronotanatognosis method, showing that the death had occurred exactly eight days before the body was found.Relato do caso de uma senhora de sessenta e nove anos encontrada morta em sua residência, já em estado de putrefação, no qual a análise dos fenômenos cadavéricos foi imprecisa para determinar a cronotanatognose (de dois dias a algumas semanas). Foi, então, realizado o estudo da entomofauna cadavérica para determinar o PMI (post morten interval) e concluiu-se que a morte havia ocorrido oito dias antes

    Higher-dose sitagliptin and the risk of congestive heart failure in older adults with CKD

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    Background and objectives Sitagliptin, a dipeptidylpeptidase-4 inhibitor, is commonlyprescribed to patientswith type 2 diabetes. As this drug is primarily eliminated by the kidney, a reduced dose is recommended for patients with CKD. Some evidence suggests that sitagliptin is associated with a higher risk of congestive heart failure, particularly at higher doses.Wecompare the 1-year risk of death or hospitalizationwith congestive heart failure in patients with CKD newly prescribed sitagliptin at \u3c50 versus ≤50 mg/d. Design, setting, participants, & measurements This population-based cohort study included older adults (\u3e66 years) with type 2 diabetes and an eGFR\u3c45 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (but not receiving dialysis) who were newly prescribed sitagliptin between 2010 and 2017 in Ontario, Canada. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting on the basis of propensity scores to balance baseline characteristics. The primary composite outcome was death or hospitalization with congestive heart failure. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization with pancreatitis or hypoglycemia, all-cause hospitalization, and glycemic control. Weighted hazard ratios were obtained using Cox proportional hazards regression, and 95%confidence intervalswere obtained using bootstrap variance estimators. Results Of 9215 patients, 6518 started sitagliptin at \u3e50 mg/d, and 2697 started sitagliptin at ≤50 mg/d. The 1-year risk of death or hospitalization with congestive heart failure did not differ significantly between groups (79 versus 126 events per 1000 person-years; weighted hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% confidence interval, 0.67 to 1.14); hospitalization with pancreatitis (weighted hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.32 to 3.03) and hypoglycemia (weighted hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% confidence interval, 0.64 to 1.90) also did not differ significantly between groups. Patients starting sitagliptin at \u3e50 mg/d had lower mean glycated hemoglobin concentrations (weighted between-group difference, 20.12%; 95% confidence interval, 20.19 to 20.06) and a lower risk of allcause hospitalization (weighted hazard ratio, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.66 to 0.98). Conclusions The risk of death or congestive heart failure was not higher in older adults with CKD starting sitagliptin at \u3e50 versus ≤50 mg/d

    Constraints on the χ_(c1) versus χ_(c2) polarizations in proton-proton collisions at √s = 8 TeV

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    The polarizations of promptly produced χ_(c1) and χ_(c2) mesons are studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at √s=8  TeV. The χ_c states are reconstructed via their radiative decays χ_c → J/ψγ, with the photons being measured through conversions to e⁺e⁻, which allows the two states to be well resolved. The polarizations are measured in the helicity frame, through the analysis of the χ_(c2) to χ_(c1) yield ratio as a function of the polar or azimuthal angle of the positive muon emitted in the J/ψ → μ⁺μ⁻ decay, in three bins of J/ψ transverse momentum. While no differences are seen between the two states in terms of azimuthal decay angle distributions, they are observed to have significantly different polar anisotropies. The measurement favors a scenario where at least one of the two states is strongly polarized along the helicity quantization axis, in agreement with nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics predictions. This is the first measurement of significantly polarized quarkonia produced at high transverse momentum

    AIRO Breast Cancer Group Best Clinical Practice 2022 Update

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    Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women and represents the leading cause of cancer death. Radiation therapy plays a key-role in the treatment of all breast cancer stages. Therefore, the adoption of evidence-based treatments is warranted, to ensure equity of access and standardization of care in clinical practice.Method: This national document on the highest evidence-based available data was developed and endorsed by the Italian Association of Radiation and Clinical Oncology (AIRO) Breast Cancer Group.We analyzed literature data regarding breast radiation therapy, using the SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network) methodology (www.sign.ac.uk). Updated findings from the literature were examined, including the highest levels of evidence (meta-analyses, randomized trials, and international guidelines) with a significant impact on clinical practice. The document deals with the role of radiation therapy in the treatment of primary breast cancer, local relapse, and metastatic disease, with focus on diagnosis, staging, local and systemic therapies, and follow up. Information is given on indications, techniques, total doses, and fractionations.Results: An extensive literature review from 2013 to 2021 was performed. The work was organized according to a general index of different topics and most chapters included individual questions and, when possible, synoptic and summary tables. Indications for radiation therapy in breast cancer were examined and integrated with other oncological treatments. A total of 50 questions were analyzed and answered.Four large areas of interest were investigated: (1) general strategy (multidisciplinary approach, contraindications, preliminary assessments, staging and management of patients with electronic devices); (2) systemic therapy (primary, adjuvant, in metastatic setting); (3) clinical aspects (invasive, non-invasive and micro-invasive carcinoma; particular situations such as young and elderly patients, breast cancer in males and cancer during pregnancy; follow up with possible acute and late toxicities; loco-regional relapse and metastatic disease); (4) technical aspects (radiation after conservative surgery or mastectomy, indications for boost, lymph node radiotherapy and partial breast irradiation).Appendixes about tumor bed boost and breast and lymph nodes contouring were implemented, including a dedicated web application. The scientific work was reviewed and validated by an expert group of breast cancer key-opinion leaders.Conclusions: Optimal breast cancer management requires a multidisciplinary approach sharing therapeutic strategies with the other involved specialists and the patient, within a coordinated and dedicated clinical path. In recent years, the high-level quality radiation therapy has shown a significant impact on local control and survival of breast cancer patients. Therefore, it is necessary to offer and guarantee accurate treatments according to the best standards of evidence-based medicine
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