Proteinuria Severity in Lupus Nephritis is Associated with Anti-dsDNA Level and Immune Complex Deposit Location in Kidney

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), with proteinuria being one of the clinical manifestations. The proteinuria pathogenesis is associated with anti-dsDNA antibody and the location of immune complex deposits within the kidney. This study aims to investigate the correlation of the severity of proteinuria with the location of immune complex deposits and the level of anti-dsDNA antibody in LN. Data were collected in cross-section. Fifty-three patients with LN in Saiful Anwar Hospital Malang, who underwent renal biopsy, were included. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunofluorescence analysis were used to assign subjects to different histopathological classes and determine the immune complex deposits. The spot urine samples were evaluated using the dipstick method for semi-quantitative proteinuria. The anti-dsDNA antibody levels were evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Turbidity and enzymatic tests were conducted to elucidate urine protein and creatinine content, respectively. The level of proteinuria is significantly different among the different locations of immune complex based on the dipstick and protein/creatinine methods (p = 0.021 and p = 0.005, respectively). There was a significant correlation between anti-dsDNA antibody level and the severity of proteinuria (r = 0.326 based on dipstick and r = 0.28 based on protein/creatinine method). Thus, proteinuria in LN is determined by anti-dsDNA level and the location of immune complex deposits in the kidney

Coherent state quantization of a particle in de Sitter space

We present a coherent state quantization of the dynamics of a relativistic test particle on a one-sheet hyperboloid embedded in a three-dimensional Minkowski space. The group SO_0(1,2) is considered to be the symmetry group of the system. Our procedure relies on the choice of coherent states of the motion on a circle. The coherent state realization of the principal series representation of SO_0(1,2) seems to be a new result.Comment: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, vol. 37, in pres

Ten Years in the European Union Selected Remarks Related To the Harmonisation of Slovak Competition Law with EU Competition Law

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the application of competition law in the Slovak Republic since it became a member of the European Union 10 years ago. Special emphasis is placed on selected problems and questions which arose in the application of European competition rules and the need for an adjustment of Slovak competition legislation to EU requirements. The paper presents the relevant amendments in the Slovak Competition Act and analyses in detail their background. Slovak competition law has undergone many changes in the past 10 years, not always without problems. The aim of this paper is to identify the most important of those difficulties and explain why they have occurred. The correct application of national and EU competition rules by Slovak courts has proven to be one of the biggest challenge here, ultimately even causing the European Commission to intervene as amicus curiae. The actions taken by the European Commission in relation to competition matters within the Slovak Republic, and its resulting recommendations, will also be considered. The paper will outline how Slovak competition law has been step-by-step increasing its harmonisation with EU competition law over the last 10 years. Indeed, it is now possible to claim that Slovak competition legislation is fully harmonised with the rules of the European Union. The paper will thus mainly focus on those elements of Slovak law which can give a clear picture of the state of convergence of both legal systems. Nevertheless, the end of the road has not yet been reached. Further harmonisation of selected current topics within Slovak competition law will need to be assessed also. It will also be necessary to analyse which direction should Slovak competition law take in the future with regard to current EU trends. These issues include the need to find a balance between the protection of business secrets and the right of procedural parties to due process, especially in connection with the protection of leniency documents.Cette contribution vise à fournir un aperçu de l'application de la loi sur la concurrence de la République slovaque au cours des 10 dernières années - depuis l'époque d’adhésion de la Slovaquie à l'UE. L’accent particulier est mis sur certains problèmes et questions qui se posent dans l'application des règles de concurrence de l'UE et sur la nécessité d'une adaptation du droit slovaque de la concurrence aux exigences de l'UE. Cet article présentera les changements pertinents dans la Loi slovaque sur la concurrence aussi qu’un analyse détaillé de l'arrière-plan de ces changements. Au cours des 10 dernières années, la loi slovaque de la concurrence a subi de nombreux changements – pas toujours sans problèmes. Le présent article tentera d'identifier les problèmes principaux et donner au lecteur une explication quant à la raison pour laquelle ils ont eu lieu. Dans ce sens-là, l'un des plus grands problèmes est la bonne application des règles nationales et communautaires de concurrence par les juridictions slovaques au moment de décider sur des affaires relatives à la concurrence. Cela a même abouti à la nécessité pour la Commission européenne d'intervenir comme un amicus curiae. Cet article vise également à fournir une analyse des actions de la Commission européenne en ce qui concerne les questions de concurrence en Slovaquie et les recommandations qui en découlent. Le présent article tente de présenter la manière dont le droit slovaque de la concurrence a suivi, étape par étape, un chemin vers l'harmonisation avec le droit communautaire de la concurrence au cours des 10 dernières années. Aujourd'hui, nous pouvons déjà affirmer que la réglementation juridique slovaque de droit de la concurrence est entièrement harmonisée avec la réglementation juridique de l'UE. Par conséquent, nous concentrerons notre attention sur les points dans la loi slovaque qui peuvent donner une image claire de la convergence de ces deux règlements juridiques. Néanmoins, nous ne sommes pas encore à la fin de la route. L'harmonisation supplémentaire de certains sujets actuels dans le droit slovaque de la concurrence devra être évaluée et il sera nécessaire d'analyser la direction vers l'avenir, en particulier ce qui sera le meilleur pour le droit de la concurrence slovaque en ce qui concerne les tendances actuelles dans le droit de la concurrence de l'UE. Parmi ces questions, il y a une nécessité d'un équilibre entre la protection des secrets d'affaires et le droit des participants à la procédure de concurrence pour un procès équitable, en particulier dans le cadre de la protection des documents de clémence