No association between polymorphisms/haplotypes of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene and preeclampsia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Preeclampsia (PE) is the first worldwide cause of death in pregnant women, intra-uterine growth retardation, and fetal prematurity. Some vascular endothelial grown factor gene (<it>VEGF</it>) polymorphisms have been associated to PE and other pregnancy disturbances. We evaluated the associations between <it>VEGF </it>genotypes/haplotypes and PE in Mexican women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>164 pregnant women were enrolled in a case-control study (78 cases and 86 normotensive pregnant controls). The rs699947 (-2578C/A), rs1570360 (-1154G/A), rs2010963 (+405G/C), and rs25648 (-7C/T), <it>VEGF </it>variants were discriminated using Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods or Taqman single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assays.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportions of the minor allele for rs699947, rs1570360, rs2010963, and rs25648 <it>VEGF </it>SNPs were 0.33, 0.2, 0.39, and 0.17 in controls, and 0.39, 0.23, 0.41, and 0.15 in cases, respectively (<it>P </it>values > 0.05). The most frequent haplotypes of rs699947, rs1570360, rs2010963, and rs25648 <it>VEGF </it>SNPs, were C-G-C-C and C-G-G-C with frequencies of 0.39, 0.21 in cases and 0.37, 0.25 in controls, respectively (<it>P </it>values > 0.05)</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There was no evidence of an association between <it>VEGF </it>alleles, genotypes, or haplotypes frequencies and PE in our study.</p

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to &lt;90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], &gt;300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of &lt;15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P&lt;0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P&lt;0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

In Vitro And In Vivo Studies Of Novel Poly(d,l-lactic Acid), Superhydrophilic Carbon Nanotubes, And Nanohydroxyapatite Scaffolds For Bone Regeneration

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Poly(D,L-lactide acid, PDLLA) has been researched for scaffolds in bone regeneration. However, its hydrophobocity and smooth surface impedes its interaction with biological fluid and cell adhesion. To alter the surface characteristics, different surface Modification techniques have been developed to facilitate biological application. The present study compared two different routes to produce PDLLA/superhydrophilic vertically aligned carbon nanotubes:nanohydroxyapatite (PDLLA/VACNT-O:nHAp) scaffolds. For this, we used electrodeposition and immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Characterization by goniometry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy confirmed the polymer modifications, the in vitro bioactivity, and biomineralization. Differential sunning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analyses showed that the inclusion of VACNT-O:nHA probably acts as a nucleating agent increasing the crystallization rate in the neat PDLLA without structural alteration. Our results showed the formation of a dense nHAp layer on all scaffolds after 14 days of immersion in SBF solution; the most intense carbonated nHAp peaks observed in the PDLLA/VACNT-O:nHAp samples suggest higher calcium precipitation compared to the PDLLA control. Both cell viability and alkaline phosphatase assays showed favorable results, because no cytotoxic effects were present and all produced scaffolds were able to induce detectable mineralization. Bone defects were used to evaluate the bone regeneration; the confocal Raman and histological results confirmed high potential for bone applications: In vivo study showed that the PDLLA/VACNT-O:nHAp scaffolds mimicked the immature bone and induced bone remodeling: These findings indicate surface improvement and the applicability of this new nanobiomaterial for hone regenerative medicine.71893859398Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Brazilian Innovation Agency (FINEP) [01-13-0428-00, 1259/13]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FAPESP [2011/17877-7, 2011/20345-7, 2012/02159-4]CNPq [474090/2013-2, 307809/2013-7

Porous membranes of the polycaprolactone (PCL) containing calcium silicate fibers for guided bone regeneration

Porous membranes of polycaprolactone containing calcium silicate fibers for guided bone regeneration were prepared by a controlled humidity method. The results indicated the development of the novel membrane microstructure with porosity and surface roughness increased. The pore size varied between 4.76-14.28 mu m and the roughness increase 72.8% compared with control. These characteristics can provide a better interaction with the biological medium combined to the osteoconduction properties of the calcium silicate fibers and biocompatibility of the PCL. Therefore, the porous PCL/CaSiO3 membranes are promising biomaterial for guided bone regeneration. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, 330 Talim St, BR-2231280 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, BrazilNatl Inst Space Res INPE, 1758 Astronautas Ave, BR-2227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Carlos, Rod Washington Luis,Km 235, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP, BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo UNIFESP, 330 Talim St, BR-2231280 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2015/24659-7Web of Scienc

Effects of tree pollen on throughfall element fluxes in European forests

The effects of tree pollen on precipitation chemistry are not fully understood and this can lead to misinterpretations of element deposition in European forests. We investigated the relationship between forest throughfall (TF) element fluxes and the Seasonal Pollen Integral (SPIn) using linear mixed-effects modelling (LME). TF was measured in 1990–2018 during the main pollen season (MPS, arbitrary two months) in 61 managed, mostly pure, even-aged Fagus, Quercus, Pinus, and Picea stands which are part of the ICP Forests Level II network. The SPIn for the dominant tree genus was observed at 56 aerobiological monitoring stations in nearby cities. The net contribution of pollen was estimated as the TF flux in the MPS minus the fluxes in the preceding and succeeding months. In stands of Fagus and Picea, two genera that do not form large amounts of flowers every year, TF fluxes of potassium (K+), ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) showed a positive relationship with SPIn. However- for Fagus- a negative relationship was found between TF nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−-N) fluxes and SPIn. For Quercus and Pinus, two genera producing many flowers each year, SPIn displayed limited variability and no clear association with TF element fluxes. Overall, pollen contributed on average 4.1–10.6% of the annual TF fluxes of K+ &gt; DOC &gt; DON &gt; NH4+-N with the highest contribution in Quercus &gt; Fagus &gt; Pinus &gt; Picea stands. Tree pollen appears to affect TF inorganic nitrogen fluxes both qualitatively and quantitatively, acting as a source of NH4+-N and a sink of NO3−-N. Pollen appears to play a more complex role in nutrient cycling than previously&nbsp;thought.</p

The Occurrence of Ambrosia Pollen in Rzeszów, Kraków and Poznań, Poland: Investigation of Trends and Possible Transport of Ambrosia Pollen from Ukraine

Previous studies have shown that ragweed pollen arrives in Poland from sources in the south, in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria. It is likely that ragweed pollen also arrives from sources in the southeast (e.g. Ukraine). This hypothesis is investigated using 13-years of pollen data and back-trajectory analysis. Ambrosia pollen data were collected at three sites in Poland, Rzeszów, Kraków and Poznań. The amount of ragweed pollen recorded at Rzeszów was significantly higher than in Poznań and Kraków. This can be related to either a higher abundance of local populations of Ambrosia in south-east Poland or the nearness of Rzeszów to foreign sources of ragweed pollen. The combined results of pollen measurements and air mass trajectory calculations identified plumes of Ambrosia pollen that were recorded at Rzeszów, Kraków and Poznań on the 4th and 5th September 1999 and the 3rd September 2002. These plumes arrived at the pollen-monitoring sites from an easterly direction indicating sources of Ambrosia pollen in eastern Poland or Ukraine. This identifies Ukraine as a possible new source of ragweed pollen for Poland and therefore an important source area of Ambrosia pollen on the European Continent