796 research outputs found
Plasma Non-Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC) in Relation to Dietary NEAC, Nutrient Antioxidants and Inflammation-Related Biomarkers
The results presented in this article constitute part of the C.J. Carrión-García’s Doctoral Thesis
performed in the Nutrition and Food Science Doctorate Program of the University of Granada.(1) Background: Little is known about the interlinkages between dietary and plasma
non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (D-NEAC and P-NEAC, respectively) and the body’s antioxidant
and inflammation response. Our aim was to explore these associations in 210 participants from two
Spanish European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) centers. (2) Methods:
D-NEAC was estimated using published NEAC values in food. P-NEAC and total polyphenols
(TP) were quantified by FRAP (ferric-reducing antioxidant power), TRAP (total radical-trapping
antioxidant parameter), TEAC-ABTS (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity-Azino Bis Thiazoline
Sulfonic), ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) and Folin–Ciocalteu assays. Nutrient antioxidants
(carotenes, α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, retinol, uric acid, Q9 and Q10 coenzymes) and inflammation
markers (IL-6, IL-8, CRP, TNF-α, PAI-I, resistin and adiponectin) were also analyzed. Spearman correlation
and linear regression analyses were performed in association analyses. Analyses were stratified by
covariates and groups were defined using cluster analysis. (3) Results: P-FRAP was correlated with
D-NEAC, and significantly associated with P-NEAC in multivariate adjusted models. P-FRAP levels
were also significantly associated with plasma antioxidants (log2 scale: TP β = 0.26; ascorbic acid
β = 0.03; retinol β = 0.08; α-tocopherol β = 0.05; carotenes β = 0.02; Q10 β = 0.06; uric acid β = 0.25),
though not with inflammation-related biomarkers. Different profiles of individuals with varying levels
of P-NEAC and biomarkers were found. (4) Conclusions: P-NEAC levels were to some extent associated
with D-NEAC and plasma antioxidants, yet not associated with inflammation response.This research was co-funded by the Health Research Found (FIS), Acción Estratégica en Salud (AES),
of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, grant number PI12/00002, and the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF)
Multi-band high resolution spectroscopy rules out the hot Jupiter BD+20 1790b - First data from the GIARPS Commissioning
Context. Stellar activity is currently challenging the detection of young
planets via the radial velocity (RV) technique. Aims. We attempt to
definitively discriminate the nature of the RV variations for the young active
K5 star BD+20 1790, for which visible (VIS) RV measurements show divergent
results on the existence of a substellar companion. Methods. We compare VIS
data with high precision RVs in the near infrared (NIR) range by using the
GIANO - B and IGRINS spectrographs. In addition, we present for the first time
simultaneous VIS-NIR observations obtained with GIARPS (GIANO - B and HARPS -
N) at Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG). Orbital RVs are achromatic, so the RV
amplitude does not change at different wavelengths, while stellar activity
induces wavelength-dependent RV variations, which are significantly reduced in
the NIR range with respect to the VIS. Results. The NIR radial velocity
measurements from GIANO - B and IGRINS show an average amplitude of about one
quarter with respect to previously published VIS data, as expected when the RV
jitter is due to stellar activity. Coeval multi-band photometry surprisingly
shows larger amplitudes in the NIR range, explainable with a mixture of cool
and hot spots in the same active region. Conclusions. In this work, the claimed
massive planet around BD+20 1790 is ruled out by our data. We exploited the
crucial role of multi- wavelength spectroscopy when observing young active
stars: thanks to facilities like GIARPS that provide simultaneous observations,
this method can reach its maximum potential.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure
The GAPS programme at TNG XXII. The GIARPS view of the extended helium atmosphere of HD189733 b accounting for stellar activity
Exoplanets orbiting very close to their host star are strongly irradiated.
This can lead the upper atmospheric layers to expand and evaporate into space.
The metastable helium (HeI) triplet at 1083.3nm has recently been shown to be a
powerful diagnostic to probe extended and escaping exoplanetary atmosphere. We
perform high-resolution transmission spectroscopy of the transiting hot Jupiter
HD189733b with the GIARPS (GIANO-B + HARPS-N) observing mode of the Telescopio
Nazionale Galileo, taking advantage of the simultaneous optical+near infrared
spectral coverage to detect HeI in the planet's extended atmosphere and to
gauge the impact of stellar magnetic activity on the planetary absorption
signal. Observations were performed during five transit events of HD189733b. By
comparison of the in- and out-of-transit GIANO-B observations we compute
high-resolution transmission spectra, on which we perform equivalent width
measurements and light-curves analyses to gauge the excess in-transit
absorption in the HeI triplet. We detect an absorption signal during all five
transits. The mean in-transit absorption depth amounts to 0.75+/-0.03%. We
detect night-to-night variations in the HeI absorption signal likely due to the
transit events occurring in presence of stellar surface inhomogeneities. We
evaluate the impact of stellar-activity pseudo-signals on the true planetary
absorption using a comparative analysis of the HeI and the H lines. We
interpret the time-series of the HeI absorption lines in the three nights not
affected by stellar contamination -exhibiting a mean in-transit absorption
depth of 0.77+/-0.04%- using a 3-d atmospheric code. Our simulations suggest
that the helium layers only fill part of the Roche lobe. Observations can be
explained with a thermosphere heated to 12000 K, expanding up to
1.2 planetary radii, and losing 1 g/s of metastable helium.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Effectiveness and safety of obeticholic acid in a Southern European multicenter cohort of patients with primary biliary cholangitis and suboptimal response to ursodeoxycholic acid
Background
Obeticholic acid (OCA) was recently approved as the only on-label alternative for patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) with intolerance or suboptimal response to ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). However, few data are available outside clinical trials.
Aim
To assess the effectiveness and safety of OCA in a real-world cohort of patients with non-effective UDCA therapy.
Methods
Open-label, prospective, real-world, multicentre study, enrolling consecutive patients who did not meet Paris II criteria, from 18 institutions in Spain and Portugal. Effectiveness was assessed by the changes in GLOBE and UK-PBC scores from baseline. POISE and Paris II criteria were evaluated after 12 months of OCA . Liver fibrosis was evaluated by FIB-4 and AST to platelet ratio index (APRI).
Results
One hundred and twenty patients were eligible, median time since PBC diagnosis 9.3 (4.0-13.8) years, 21.7% had cirrhosis, and 26.7% received had previous or concomitant treatment with fibrates. Seventy-eight patients completed at least 1 year of OCA. The Globe-PBC score decreased to 0.17 (95% CI 0.05 to 0.28; P = 0.005) and the UK-PBC score decreased to 0.81 (95% CI -0.19 to 1.80; P = 0.11). There was a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase of 81.3 U/L (95% CI 42.5 to 120; P < 0.001), ALT 22.1 U/L (95% CI 10.4 to 33.8; P < 0.001) and bilirubin 0.12 mg/dL (95% CI 0 to 0.24; P = 0.044). FIB-4 and APRI remained stable. According to the POISE criteria, 29.5% (23 out of 78) achieved response. The adverse events rate was 35%; 11.67% discontinued (8.3% due to pruritus).
Conclusions
This study supports data from phase III trials with significant improvement of PBC-Globe continuous prognostic marker score among OCA-treated patients with good tolerability
Comparison of flipped learning and traditional lecture method for teaching digestive system diseases in undergraduate medicine: A prospective non-randomized controlled trial
Introduction:
This study examined the effects of a large-scale flipped learning (FL) approach in an undergraduate course of Digestive System Diseases.
Methods:
This prospective non-randomized trial recruited 404 students over three academic years. In 2016, the course was taught entirely in a Traditional Lecture (TL) style, in 2017 half of the course (Medical topics) was replaced by FL while the remaining half (Surgical topics) was taught by TL and in 2018, the whole course was taught entirely by FL. Academic performance, class attendance and student’s satisfaction surveys were compared between cohorts.
Results:
Test scores were higher in the FL module (Medical) than in the TL module (Surgical) in the 2017 cohort but were not different when both components were taught entirely by TL (2016) or by FL (2018). Also, FL increased the probability of reaching superior grades (scores >7.0) and improved class attendance and students’ satisfaction.
Conclusion:
The holistic FL model is more effective for teaching undergraduate clinical gastroenterology compared to traditional teaching methods and has a positive impact on classroom attendances
GIARPS: commissioning and first scientific results
GIARPS (GIAno \& haRPS) is a project devoted to have on the same focal
station of the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG) both high resolution
spectrographs, HARPS-N (VIS) and GIANO-B (NIR), working simultaneously. This
could be considered the first and unique worldwide instrument providing
cross-dispersed echelle spectroscopy at a resolution of 50,000 in the NIR range
and 115,000 in the VIS and over in a wide spectral range (m)
in a single exposure. The science case is very broad, given the versatility of
such an instrument and its large wavelength range. A number of outstanding
science cases encompassing mainly extra-solar planet science starting from
rocky planets search and hot Jupiters to atmosphere characterization can be
considered. Furthermore both instruments can measure high precision radial
velocities by means the simultaneous thorium technique (HARPS-N) and absorbing
cell technique (GIANO-B) in a single exposure. Other science cases are also
possible. GIARPS, as a brand new observing mode of the TNG started after the
moving of GIANO-A (fiber fed spectrograph) from Nasmyth-A to Nasmyth-B where it
was re-born as GIANO-B (no more fiber feed spectrograph). The official
Commissioning finished on March 2017 and then it was offered to the community.
Despite the work is not finished yet. In this paper we describe the preliminary
scientific results obtained with GIANO-B and GIARPS observing mode with data
taken during commissioning and first open time observations.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, Telescopes and Astronomical instrumentation,
SPIE Conf. 201
Etiology, management, and outcome of the Budd-Chiari syndrome
Background: The Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is hepatic venous outflow obstruction. What is known about the syndrome is based on small studies of prevalent cases. Objective: To characterize the causes and treatment of incident BCS. Design: Consecutive case series of patients with incident BCS, enrolled from October 2003 to October 2005 and followed until May 2006. Setting: Academic and nonacademic hospitals in France, Spain, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland. Patients: Persons older than 16 years with definite hepatic outflow obstruction diagnosed by imaging. Persons with hepatic outflow obstruction due to heart failure, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, cancer, or liver transplantation were excluded. Measurements: Signs and symptoms; laboratory and imaging findings; diagnosis; treatment; and overall, transplantation-free, and intervention-free survival. Results: 163 incident cases of BCS were identified. Median follow-up was 17 months (range, 0.1 to 31 months). Most patients (84%) had at least 1 thrombotic risk factor, and many (46%) had more than 1; the most common was myeloproliferative disorders (49% of 103 tested patients). Patients were mainly treated with anticoagulation (140 patients [86%]), transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (56 patients [34%]), or liver transplantation (20 patients [12%]), and 80 patients (49%) were managed noninvasively. Only 3 patients underwent surgical shunting. The survival rate was 87% (95% CI, 82% to 93%) at 1 year and 82% (CI, 75% to 88%) at 2 years. Limitation: Treatment was not standardized across all centers, and data on important clinical variables were missing for some patients. Conclusion: Most patients with BCS have at least 1 thrombotic risk factor, and many have more than 1; myeloproliferative disorders are most common. One- and 2-year survival rates are good with contemporary management, which includes noninvasive therapies (anticoagulation and diuretics) and invasive techniques. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunting seems to have replaced surgical shunting as the most common invasive therapeutic procedure. Primary Funding Source: Fifth Framework Programme of the European Commission
Optimization of Pathogenicity Tests for Selection of Native Isolates of Entomopathogenic Fungi Isolated from Citrusgrowing Areas of México on Adults ofDiaphorina citriKuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae)
Huanglonbing (HLB), es considerado una de las más letales enfermedades de los cítricos alrededor del mundo, y ha alcanzado las principales áreas de producción de limón Mexicano (Citrus latifolia Tanaka) en la costa del pacifico de México. Los productores han iniciado el uso de insecticidas para controlar las poblaciones del psílido asiático de los cítricos, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), el vector del patógeno ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ asociado con el HLB. Actualmente los costos de los insecticidas y los efectos secundarios de su uso son las principales preocupaciones, ya que podrían perjudicar la estrategia de manejo contra el vector; y por lo tanto, alternativas ecológicas y económicamente viables a los insecticidas convencionales serian necesarias a corto plazo. Por tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la patogenicidad de 27 aislados nativos y 3 cepas de hongos entomopatógenos para determinar su potencial como agentes de control biológico sobre Diaphorina citri usando 2 diferentes métodos de bioensayo. Los bioensayos fueron realizados bajo condiciones de laboratorio (26 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% H.R y 16:8 h L:O) mediante la exposición de insectos adultos a una concentración de 1 × 108 conidios por mililitro utilizando 2 diferentes métodos de aplicación, es decir, por asperjado de esporas en las plántulas de cítricos y por asperjado directo a los psílidos adultos. Los resultados mostraron que para el asperjado directo a los adultos los aislados HIB-24 (B. bassiana) y HIB-32 (I. fumosorosea) mostraron el mayor porcentaje de mortalidad (60.66%). Respecto al asperjado de plántulas el aislado HIB-19 (I. fumosorosea) mostró el mayor porcentaje de mortalidad (62.02%). Los resultados de este estudio demuestran el potencial para el uso de hongos entomopatógenos en el manejo de D. citri en México.
ABSTRACT
Huanglongbing (HLB), considered one of the most lethal diseases of citrus worldwide, has reached the main areas of Mexican lime (Citrus latifolia Tanaka) fruit production on the Pacific coast of México. Growers have initiated intensive use of insecticides in order to control populations of the Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), the vector of the pathogen, ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ associated with huanglongbing. Presently, costs of insecticides and the side effects of their use are major concerns, because they could impair the management strategy against the vector; and thus, ecologically and economically viable alternatives to conventional insecticides are required in the short term. Therefore the goal of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of 27 native isolates and 3 strains of entomopathogenic fungi and determine their potential as biological control agents of D. citri by using 2 different bioassay methods. Bioassays were performed under laboratory conditions (26 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH and 16:8 h L:D) by exposing adult insects to a concentration of 1 × 108 conidia per milliliter using 2 different application methods, i.e., spraying the spores onto the citrus seedlings and spraying the spores directly onto the adult psyllids. The results showed that by direct spraying the adults, HIB-24 (B. bassiana) and HIB-32 (I. fumosorosea) isolates showed the highest mortality (60.66%). Regarding spraying of the seedlings, HIB-19 (I. fumosorosea) showed the highest percentage of mortality (62.02%). The results from this study demonstrate potential for using entomopathogenic fungi in the management of D. citri in México
A search for charged massive long-lived particles
We report on a search for charged massive long-lived particles (CMLLPs),
based on 5.2 fb of integrated luminosity collected with the D0 detector
at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. We search for events in which one
or more particles are reconstructed as muons but have speed and ionization
energy loss inconsistent with muons produced in beam collisions.
CMLLPs are predicted in several theories of physics beyond the standard model.
We exclude pair-produced long-lived gaugino-like charginos below 267 GeV and
higgsino-like charginos below 217 GeV at 95% C.L., as well as long-lived scalar
top quarks with mass below 285 GeV.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev. Letter
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