Urinary Sodium Profiling in Chronic Heart Failure to Detect Development of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

OBJECTIVES This study sought to determine the relationship between urinary sodium (U-na) concentration and the pathophysiologic interaction with the development of acute heart failure (AHF) hospitalization. BACKGROUND No data are available on the longitudinal dynamics of U-na concentration in patients with chronic heart failure (HF), including its temporal relationship with AHF hospitalization. METHODS Stable, chronic HF patients with either reduced or preserved ejection fraction were prospectively included to undergo prospective collection of morning spot U-na samples for 30 consecutive weeks. Linear mixed modeling was used to assess the longitudinal changes in U-na concentration. Patients were followed for the development of the clinical endpoint of AHF. RESULTS A total of 80 chronic HF patients (71 +/- 11 years of age; an N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP] concentration of 771 [interquartile range: 221 to 1,906] ng/l; left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 33 +/- 7%) prospectively submitted weekly pre-diuretic first void morning U-na samples for 30 weeks. A total of 1,970 U-na samples were collected, with mean U-na concentration of 81.6 +/- 41 mmol/l. Sodium excretion remained stable over time on a population level (time effect p = 0.663). However, interindividual differences revealed the presence of high (88 mmol/l U-na [n = 39]) and low (73 mmol/l U-na [n = 41]) sodium excreters. Only younger age was an independent predictor of high sodium excretion (odds ratio [OR]: 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83 to 1.00; p = 0.045 per year). During 587 +/- 54 days of follow-up, 21 patients were admitted for AHF. Patients who developed AHF had significantly lower U-na concentrations (F-[1.80] = 24.063; p <0.001). The discriminating capacity of U-na concentration to detect AHF persisted after inclusion of NT-proBNP and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measurements as random effects (p = 0.041). Furthermore, U-na concentration dropped (U-na = 46 +/- 16 mmol/l vs. 70 +/- 32 mmol/l, respectively; p = 0.003) in the week preceding the hospitalization and returned to the individual's baseline (U-na = 71 +/- 22 mmol/l; p = 0.002) following recompensation, while such early longitudinal changes in weight and dyspnea scores were not apparent in the week preceding decompensation. CONCLUSIONS Overall, U-na concentration remained relatively stable over time, but large interindividual differences existed in stable, chronic HF patients. Patients who developed AHF exhibited a chronically lower U-na concentration and exhibited a further drop in U-na concentration during the week preceding hospitalization. Ambulatory U-na sample collection is feasible and may offer additional prognostic and therapeutic information. (C) 2019 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation

Roles for veterinarians in laboratory animal facilities. Responsibilities and training

Veterinary education is rich by the variety of its disciplines and the number of animal species it covers. However, at the end of his studies, the young veterinarian has not received any specialised training to be prepared for the demanding world of biomedical research laboratory. He may soon be faced with complex problems in which his advice or decisions can have a significant impact on a research program or the well-being of animals. The new regulations on the protection of so-called “laboratory animals” put animal welfare at the very centre of the veterinarian’s concerns, providing him with a key advisory role. It is therefore essential that, through a range of specialized and appropriate training, he acquires specific skills in order to be able to interact properly with the research teams and fully assume the many roles and responsibilities that he has to coverL’enseignement vétérinaire est riche, tant par les disciplines enseignées que les espèces animales abordées. Mais, à l’issue de ses études, le jeune vétérinaire n'a pas reçu de spécialisation lui permettant de satisfaire les exigences des laboratoires de recherche biomédicale. Il y est toutefois vite confronté à des problématiques complexes, pour lesquelles ses conseils, voire ses décisions, peuvent avoir un impact important sur un programme de recherche ou sur le bien-être des animaux. La nouvelle réglementation relative à la protection des animaux dits « de laboratoire » met l’accent sur le bien-être animal, plaçant le vétérinaire en position de conseiller incontournable en la matière. Il est donc essentiel que ce dernier acquière, grâce à une formation spécialisée, des compétences spécifiques aux animaleries de laboratoire et aux espèces animales qu’elles hébergent, afin de pouvoir interagir à bon escient avec les équipes de recherche et assumer pleinement les nombreux rôles et responsabilités qui sont les sien

Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins: From Plant Defense to Tumor Attack

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are EC3.2.32.22 N-glycosidases that recognize a universally conserved stem-loop structure in 23S/25S/28S rRNA, depurinating a single adenine (A4324 in rat) and irreversibly blocking protein translation, leading finally to cell death of intoxicated mammalian cells. Ricin, the plant RIP prototype that comprises a catalytic A subunit linked to a galactose-binding lectin B subunit to allow cell surface binding and toxin entry in most mammalian cells, shows a potency in the picomolar range. The most promising way to exploit plant RIPs as weapons against cancer cells is either by designing molecules in which the toxic domains are linked to selective tumor targeting domains or directly delivered as suicide genes for cancer gene therapy. Here, we will provide a comprehensive picture of plant RIPs and discuss successful designs and features of chimeric molecules having therapeutic potential

Nonstandard Errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence-generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty-nonstandard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for more reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

Non-Standard Errors

In statistics, samples are drawn from a population in a data-generating process (DGP). Standard errors measure the uncertainty in estimates of population parameters. In science, evidence is generated to test hypotheses in an evidence-generating process (EGP). We claim that EGP variation across researchers adds uncertainty: Non-standard errors (NSEs). We study NSEs by letting 164 teams test the same hypotheses on the same data. NSEs turn out to be sizable, but smaller for better reproducible or higher rated research. Adding peer-review stages reduces NSEs. We further find that this type of uncertainty is underestimated by participants

Copper production and trade in the Niari Basin (Republic of Congo) from the 13th-19th century CE: chemical and lead isotope characterization

© 2018 University of Oxford In Central Africa, copper ore occurs in only a few locations and copper appears to have been a scarce commodity in the past—contrary to iron, which is attested more widely and earlier in the sub-Saharan archaeological record. This paper presents the first detailed characterization of an early copper-working region in Central Africa. Located along the southern border of the Republic of the Congo, the Niari Basin has revealed several copper production sites ranging from the 13th to the 19th century ce. The evidence, specifically in the Mindouli, Mfouati and Boko-Songho areas, includes various production remains as well as different types of copper ingots and artefacts. In the context of a broader copper technology study, the chemical and lead isotope characteristics of the ore deposits in this region are presented. The results of the chemical and lead isotope analyses of copper objects and production remains from archaeological sites are then interpreted against this geological background data, with an emphasis on copper provenance features. Combining these results with archaeological and historical evidence for regional metallurgical activity, new and significant insights are given on the production of copper in the Niari Basin, emphasizing the potential of this research for forthcoming work on copper use and trade in a wider Central African context.status: publishe

Chemical and Lead Isotope Characterisation of Copper Production during the 13th-19th Centuries CE in the Niari Basin (Republic of the Congo)

Recent research in the Niari Basin, located along the southern border of the Republic of Congo, has revealed several copper production sites ranging from the 13th to 19th century CE. The evidence in this area, specifically at Mindouli, Mfouati and Boko-Songho, includes various production remains such as furnaces, tuyères, smelting slags and crucibles, as well as different types of copper ingots and artefacts (See Nikis, On Copper production in western central Africa in 2nd millennium AD, this conference). This region further has several copper-lead-zinc deposits that are not thoroughly characterised. In the context of a broader technological study of the copper metallurgy in the region, several of these ores have been analysed for their chemical and lead isotope composition. The results of these analyses are discussed in this presentation, with specific emphasis on the distinct features of each deposit - Mindouli, Mfouati and Boko-Songho - pertinent to copper provenance issues. Against this geological background, results of the chemical and lead isotope analysis of copper objects – primarily ingots – as well as other production remains from the archaeological sites are further presented. Combining this line of evidence with archaeological and historical evidence, complemented by a first reconstruction of manufacturing processes, new and significant insights are given on the production of copper in the Niari Basin. Thereby, the potential of this research as a pilot study for forthcoming work on the copper trade in a wider regional context is outlined.Les recherches récentes dans le bassin du Niari, situé au sud de la République du Congo, ont mis en évidence de nombreux sites de production du cuivre datés du 13e au 19e s. AD. Ceux-ci sont caractérisés par une diversité de vestiges métallurgiques – fourneaux, tuyères, scories ou fragments de creusets – ainsi que différents types de lingots et d’objets en cuivre (voir Nikis, Développement de la métallurgie du cuivre au 2e millénaire AD à l’ouest de l’Afrique centrale, cette conférence) Cependant, les gisements de cuivre-plomb-zinc de cette région sont encore mal caractérisés (recherches en cours par l’équipe). Dans le contexte de l’étude technologique plus large de la métallurgie du cuivre dans la zone, plusieurs de ces minerais ont dès lors été analysés pour leurs compositions chimiques et isotopiques. Une attention particulière est portée aux caractéristiques de chacun des gisements - Mindouli, Mfouati et Boko-Songho – qui sont pertinentes pour les questions relatives aux études de provenance. En plus de ce contexte géologique sont présentés les résultats des analyses chimiques et isotopiques d’objets en cuivre, principalement des lingots, ainsi que de différents vestiges métallurgiques. Combinés aux données archéologiques et historiques et aux premières reconstitutions de chaines opératoires, ces résultats fournissent de nouvelles perspectives sur la production de cuivre dans le bassin du Niari et soulignent le potentiel de ce travail comme étude pilote pour de futurs travaux sur le commerce du cuivre dans un contexte régional plus large.info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Provenancing Central African copper croisettes: A first chemical and lead isotope characterisation of currencies in Central and Southern Africa

The Copperbelt is one of the richest copper deposits in the world and has been an important primary metal source for Central African cultures for over a millennium. The technology underlying this exploitation and the trade networks through which copper was exchanged, however, have not yet received much attention in archaeological research. This paper presents the first geochemical dataset for archaeological copper currencies in Central and Southern Africa: croisette ingots. Chemical and lead isotope analysis have been carried out for 45 precolonial copper artefacts with the aim of illuminating their provenance and production technology. The results show that highly pure copper with very low trace element content was produced, indicating the selection, beneficiation and smelting of specific Copperbelt ores. The variable croisette compositions and shapes reflected in burial assemblages support their suggested use as currencies over a large area. This study offers a highly novel contribution to provenance research in Central and Southern Africa, shedding new light on the broader trade networks associated with copper provisioning in these regions. The exploitation of a range of ore sources throughout the 2nd millennium CE has been identified, with a marked shift around the mid-15th century CE largely correlating to croisette typologies. Furthermore, these different geochemical copper signatures can be tentatively related to different Copperbelt zones. Combining these results with archaeological and historical evidence for regional copper production and consumption, this study provides a framework for the future study of copper production and exchange systems in the wider Central and Southern African region.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Copper Production and Trade in the Niari Basin (Republic of Congo) during the 13th to 19th Centuries CE: Chemical and Lead Isotope Characterization

In Central Africa, copper ore occurs in only a few locations and copper appears to have beena scarce commodity in the past—contrary to iron, which is attested more widely and earlier inthe sub-Saharan archaeological record. This paper presents the first detailed characterizationof an early copper-working region in Central Africa. Located along the southern border of theRepublic of the Congo, the Niari Basin has revealed several copper production sites rangingfrom the 13th to the 19th century CE. The evidence, specifically in the Mindouli, Mfouati andBoko-Songho areas, includes various production remains as well as different types of copperingots and artefacts. In the context of a broader copper technology study, the chemical andlead isotope characteristics of the ore deposits in this region are presented. The results ofthe chemical and lead isotope analyses of copper objects and production remains from archaeologicalsites are then interpreted against this geological background data, with an emphasison copper provenance features. Combining these results with archaeological and historicalevidence for regional metallurgical activity, new and significant insights are given on the productionof copper in the Niari Basin, emphasizing the potential of this research for forthcomingwork on copper use and trade in a wider Central African context.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe