Differential activities of glutathione s-transferase isoenzymes in strains of fasciola hepatica susceptible and resistant to triclabendazole

Fasciolosis, a parasitic zoonosis of intrahepatic location, is caused by the trematode Fasciola hepatica. Its control is mainly based on the use of the anthelminthic Triclabendazole (TCBZ). The indiscriminate use of this drug has favored the development of anthelmintic resistance. The Glutation S-Transferases (GSTs) are multifunctional enzymes involved in the detoxification of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds using conjugation with endogenous glutathione. Recently, it has been shown an active participation of this family of enzymes in the detoxification of TCBZ related to the phenomenon of resistance. In F. hepatica, eight isoenzymes of the GST are present. Since it is well known that different isoenzymes do not necessarily have the same metabolic activity, this study evaluated the cytosolic activity of mu and pi GST isoenzymes in TCBZ resistant (Sligo and Oberon strains) and TCBZ susceptible (Cullompton strains) of F. hepatica. The results obtained in this study confirm that, although both isoenzymes are involved in different processes of detoxification in F. hepatica, only the GSTmu isoenzyme is involved in the manifestation of resistance to TCBZ.Fil: Fernandez, Vanesa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Ortiz Oblitas P.. Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca; PerúFil: Solana, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; Argentina. Ministerio de Ciencia. Tecnología e Innovación Productiva. Agencia Nacional de Promoción Cientifíca y Tecnológica; ArgentinaFil: Solana, Hugo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; Argentin

Klotho, the elusive kidney-derived anti-ageing factor

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the fastest growing causes of death worldwide. Only early diagnosis will allow prevention of both CKD progression and the negative impact of CKD on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Klotho is a protein produced by the kidneys that has anti-ageing and phosphaturic properties, preventing excess positive phosphate balance. There is evidence that Klotho downregulation is one of the earliest consequences of kidney injury. Thus the development of reliable assays to monitor Klotho levels may allow an early diagnosis of CKD and monitoring the impact of therapies aimed at preserving Klotho expression or at preventing CKD progression. However, the performance of Klotho assays has been suboptimal so far. In this issue of Clinical Kidney Journal, Neyra et al. explore methods to improve the reliability of Klotho assays.The authors were supported by FIS PI16/02057, PI18/01366, PI19/ 00588, PI19/00815, ERA-PerMed-JTC2018 (KIDNEY ATTACK AC18/00064 and PERSTIGAN AC18/00071), DTS18/00032, ISCIIIRETIC REDinREN RD016/0009 Fondos FEDER, Sociedad Española de Nefrología, Comunidad de Madrid B2017/BMD-3686 CIFRA2- CM and Miguel Servet MS14/00133 to MDS

The gaseous extent of galaxies and the origin of Lyman alpha absorption systems. IV: Lyman alpha absorbers arising in a galaxy group

We present new GHRS observations of Lyman alpha absorption lines associated with a group of galaxies towards the QSO 1545+2101. We have identified eight distinct Lyman alpha absorption features in the spectrum of QSO 1545+2101 at a mean redshift of z=0.2648 with a velocity dispersion of 163 km/s. A group of galaxies is detected in the vicinity of this QSO at a mean redshift of z=0.2645 and velocity dispersion 239 km/s. The identification of discrete absorption systems indicates that they arise in clouds of neutral hydrogen rather than in a diffuse intragroup medium. Our analysis suggests that the Lyman alpha absorption lines are associated with individual galaxies in the group, although a one-to-one relationship between absorbers and galaxies is difficult to establish in such a dense environment.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

EMPA-KIDNEY: expanding the range of kidney protection by SGLT2 inhibitors

Chronic kidney disease; Normoalbuminuria; Primary preventionMalaltia renal crònica; Normoalbuminúria; Prevenció primàriaEnfermedad renal crónica; Normoalbuminuria; Prevención primariaIn the EMPA-KIDNEY (The Study of Heart and Kidney Protection With Empagliflozin) trial, empagliflozin reduced cardiorenal outcomes by 28% (hazard ratio 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.64–0.82; P 50% were not diabetic. It expanded the spectrum of CKD that may benefit from sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition to participants with urinary albumin: creatinine ratio 20 mL/min/1.73 m2 or even lower (254 participants had an eGFR 15–20 mL/min/1.73 m2). EMPA-KIDNEY was stopped prematurely because of efficacy, thus limiting the ability to confirm benefit on the primary outcome in every pre-specified subgroup, especially in those with more slowly progressive CKD. However, data on chronic eGFR slopes were consistent with benefit at any eGFR or urinary albumin:creatinine ratio level potentially delaying kidney replacement therapy by 2–27 years, depending on baseline eGFR. The representation of diverse causes of CKD (>1600 participants with glomerular disease, >1400 with hypertensive kidney disease, >450 with tubulointerstitial disease and >600 with unknown cause) was higher than in prior SGLT2 inhibitor trials, although polycystic kidney disease was excluded. Around 15% (almost 1000) of participants were not on renin–angiotensin system blockade. The clinical characteristics of the cohort differed from DAPA-CKD (A Study to Evaluate the Effect of Dapagliflozin on Renal Outcomes and Cardiovascular Mortality in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease), as did the frequency of individual components of the primary outcome in the placebo arm. Thus, rather than compare EMPA-KIDNEY with DAPA-CKD, the results of both trials should be seen as complementary to those of other SGLT2 inhibitor trials. Overall, EMPA-KIDNEY, a recent meta-analysis and post hoc analyses of participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but no baseline CKD in other trials, indicates that SGLT2 inhibitor treatment will benefit an expanded CKD population with diverse baseline albuminuria or eGFR values, presence of T2DM or cause of CKD, as well as providing primary prevention of CKD in at least the T2DM setting.FIS/Fondos FEDER (PI20/00744, PI19/00588, PI19/00815, PI21/01292, PI21/00251), ERA-PerMed-JTC2018 (KIDNEY ATTACK AC18/00064, ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN RD016/0009), ERA-PerMed-JTC 2022 (ONAKI-ICI AC22/00029) Sociedad Española de Nefrología, Sociedad Madrileña de Nefrología (SOMANE), FRIAT, Comunidad de Madrid en Biomedicina B2017/BMD-3686 CIFRA2-CM. Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) RICORS program to RICORS2040 (RD21/0005/0001, RD21/0005/0016) funded by European Union—NextGenerationEU, Mecanismo para la Recuperación y la Resiliencia (MRR), SPACKDcPMP21/00109, FEDER funds, and Marató TV3 2020 421/C/2020, Marató TV3 2021 215/C/2021

Cost modelling for cloud computing utilisation in long term digital preservation

The rapid increase in volume of digital information can cause concern among organisations regarding manageability, costs and security of their information in the long-term. As cloud computing technology is often used for digital preservation purposes and is still evolving, there is difficulty in determining its long-term costs. This paper presents the development of a generic cost model for public and private clouds utilisation in long term digital preservation (LTDP), considering the impact of uncertainties and obsolescence issues. The cost model consists of rules and assumptions and was built using a combination of activity based and parametric cost estimation techniques. After generation of cost breakdown structures for both clouds, uncertainties and obsolescence were categorised. To quantify impacts of uncertainties on cost, three-point estimate technique was employed and Monte Carlo simulation was applied to generate the probability distribution on each cost driver. A decision support cost estimation tool with dashboard representation of results was developed

Emergent quantum matter in graphene nanoribbons

In this book chapter, we introduce different schemes to create quantum states of matter in engineered graphene nanoribbons. We will focus on the emergence of controllable magnetic interactions, topological quantum magnets, and the interplay of magnetism and superconductivity. We comment on the experimental signatures of those states stemming from their electronic and spin excitations, that can be observed with atomic resolution using scanning probe techniques.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures. Submitted book chapter for "Graphene Nanoribbons", Edited by A. Tejeda, P. Seneor, L. Bre

The chaos of hypertension guidelines for chronic kidney disease patients

Three major guidelines deal with blood pressure thresholds and targets for antihypertensive drug therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients: the 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Blood Pressure in Chronic Kidney Disease; the 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults; and the 2018 ESC/ESH Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension. However, a careful reading of the three guidelines leaves the practicing physician confused about the definition of CKD, how hypertension and secondary hypertension should be diagnosed in CKD patients and what the blood pressure thresholds, targets and compelling indications of antihypertensive drug therapy should be for this population. Current guidelines refer to different CKD populations and propose different definitions of hypertension, different thresholds to initiate antihypertensive therapy in CKD patients and different BP targets compelling antihypertensive drug use. The different bodies producing guidelines should work together towards a unified definition of CKD, a unified concept of hypertension and unified BP thresholds and targets for hypertensive drug therapy for CKD patients. Otherwise they risk promoting confusion and therapeutic nihilism among physicians and patientsResearch by the authors was supported by FIS CP14/00133, PI16/02057, PI18/01366, PI19/00588, PI19/00815, DTS18/00032, ERA-PerMed-JTC2018 (KIDNEY ATTACK AC18/00064 and PERSTIGAN AC18/00071), ISCIII-RETIC REDinREN RD016/0009 Fondos FEDER, FRIAT, Sociedad Española de Nefrología, Comunidad de Madrid B2017/BMD-3686 CIFRA2-C

Real-time portable system for fabric defect detection using an ARM processor

Modern textile industry seeks to produce textiles as little defective as possible since the presence of defects can decrease the final price of products from 45% to 65%. Automated visual inspection (AVI) systems, based on image analysis, have become an important alternative for replacing traditional inspections methods that involve human tasks. An AVI system gives the advantage of repeatability when implemented within defined constrains, offering more objective and reliable results for particular tasks than human inspection. Costs of automated inspection systems development can be reduced using modular solutions with embedded systems, in which an important advantage is the low energy consumption. Among the possibilities for developing embedded systems, the ARM processor has been explored for acquisition, monitoring and simple signal processing tasks. In a recent approach we have explored the use of the ARM processor for defects detection by implementing the wavelet transform. However, the computation speed of the preprocessing was not yet sufficient for real time applications. In this approach we significantly improve the preprocessing speed of the algorithm, by optimizing matrix operations, such that it is adequate for a real time application. The system was tested for defect detection using different defect types. The paper is focused in giving a detailed description of the basis of the algorithm implementation, such that other algorithms may use of the ARM operations for fast implementations