Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 as cardiovascular risk factor and therapeutic target in nephropatic patients

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is a serine lipase associated with Low-Density Lipoproteins, that increases the oxidative stress in atherosclerotic lesions and makes the plaque instable. Lp-PLA2 is recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular and peripheral artery disease in general population, in cardiac and dysmetabolic patients, but no data are available for subjects with renal failure. The aim of the present PhD thesis was to investigate the role of Lp-PLA2 among patients with advanced renal failure. Chapter 1. In 102 hemodialyzed patients, it has been demonstrated that Lp-PLA2, activity is increased and associated with a more inflammatory phenotype. Chapter 2. In the first clinical observational study, it was demonstrated for the first time that Lp PLA2 is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in 102 hemodialyzed subjects, followed for 3 years. Chapter 3. In the second clinical observational study, LP-PLA2 was recognized, for the first time, as independently associated with peripheral artery disease, in 102 dialyzed subjects followed for 5 years. Chapter 4. Here, it is reported a personal experience, demonstrating that lipoprotein apheresis -PLA, and improves lower limb ulcers, just confirming its role as additional therapy. Chapter 5. It was demonstrated that: first, the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower levels of LP-PLA2 in 41 subjects with advanced renal failure. Second, the low protein diet is effective in decreasing Lp-PLA2, in 28 subjects with advanced renal failure. In conclusion with this PhD project it was demonstrated that, also among renal patients, Lp-PLA2 could be considered a risk factor for acute cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and peripheral artery disease. Lp-PLA2 could also represent a useful target for non-pharmacological approaches (lipoprotein-apheresis) and nutritional therapy

Quantum effects in muon spin spectroscopy within the stochastic self-consistent harmonic approximation

In muon spin rotation experiments the positive implanted muon vibrates with large zero point amplitude by virtue of its light mass. Quantum mechanical calculations of the host material usually treat the muon as a point impurity, ignoring this large vibrational amplitude. As a first order correction, the muon zero point motion is usually described within the harmonic approximation, despite the large anharmonicity of the crystal potential. Here we apply the stochastic self-consistent harmonic approximation, a quantum variational method devised to include strong anharmonic effects in total energy and vibrational frequency calculations, in order to overcome these limitations and provide an accurate ab initio description of the quantum nature of the muon. We applied this full quantum treatment to the calculation of the muon contact hyperfine field in textbook-case metallic systems, such as Fe, Ni, Co including MnSi and MnGe, significantly improving agreement with experiments. Our results show that muon vibrational frequencies are strongly renormalized by anharmonicity. Finally, in contrast to the harmonic approximation, we show that including quantum anharmonic fluctuations, the muon stabilizes at the octahedral site in bcc Fe.Comment: 10 page

All-electron magnetic response with pseudopotentials: NMR chemical shifts

A theory for the ab initio calculation of all-electron NMR chemical shifts in insulators using pseudopotentials is presented. It is formulated for both finite and infinitely periodic systems and is based on an extension to the Projector Augmented Wave approach of Bloechl [P. E. Bloechl, Phys. Rev. B 50, 17953 (1994)] and the method of Mauri et al [F. Mauri, B.G. Pfrommer, and S.G. Louie, Phys. Rev. Lett. 77, 5300 (1996)]. The theory is successfully validated for molecules by comparison with a selection of quantum chemical results, and in periodic systems by comparison with plane-wave all-electron results for diamond.Comment: 25 pages, 4 tables, submitted to Physical Review

Regulatory B Cells in Experimental Mouse Models of Arthritis

Regulatory B cells (Breg) have been shown to have a role in the suppression of a wide variety of immune responses, yet they are deficient or defective in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. For the study of autoimmune inflammation, experimental models of arthritis have acted as a valuable tool in understanding the development of Bregs and their role in maintaining immune homeostasis. In this chapter, we will focus on the study of transitional-2 marginal zone precursor (T2-MZP) Bregs in the context of two experimental arthritis models: antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). We will specifically focus on how to induce arthritis, as well as on methods for the isolation and functional study of Bregs both in vitro and in vivo

¿Cómo los medios informativos catalanes tratan a las personas jóvenes? Análisis de situación e instrumentos de mejora

Los medios de comunicación tienen una parte importante de responsabilidad en la creación de estereotipos. Son muchos los grupos sociales afectados por estos estereotipos y uno al que se ha prestado muy poca atención ha sido el de las personas jóvenes. Esta comunicación presenta los resultados de un amplio estudio empírico realizado en Cataluña sobre el tratamiento informativo de las personas jóvenes en prensa, internet, televisión y radio. La investigación se ha complementado con entrevistas en profundidad a periodistas y agentes de juventud. El proyecto ha culminado con la elaboración de un conjunto de recomendaciones para paliar la imagen de los jóvenes en los medios.The media has an important part of responsibility in the creation of stereotypes. Many social groups are affected by these stereotypes and one that has received very little attention has been young people. This paper presents the results of a empirical research conducted in Catalonia on the media coverage of the young people in press, internet, television and radio. The research has been supplemented with extensive interviews. The project has culminated in the development of a set of recommendations to overcome the image of young people in the media

Vitamin D

PòsterJun

On a Paun’s Conjecture in Membrane Systems

We study a P˘aun’s conjecture concerning the unsolvability of NP–complete problems by polarizationless P systems with active membranes in the usual framework, without cooperation, without priorities, without changing labels, using evolution, communication, dissolution and division rules, and working in maximal parallel manner. We also analyse a version of this conjecture where we consider polarizationless P systems working in the minimally parallel manner.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia TIN2006–13425Junta de Andalucía TIC–58

Laser thermal ablation to treat a recurrent soft-tissue sarcoma of the leg : A case report

We present the case of a 52-year-old male patient with recurrence of a soft-tissue sarcoma of the left leg treated with percutaneous laser ablation. The patient received the diagnosis of sarcoma for the first time in 2011; further local recurrences and a pulmonary metastatic spread occurred during follow-up, so the patient has been treated several times with chemotherapy, limb-sparing surgery and radiotherapy. In September 2017, a new local recurrence of sarcoma occurred, for which limb amputation was proposed but refused by the patient. Laser ablation with ultrasound guidance was performed, with complete ablation at 6 months and limb salvage