GREY MATTER AIROPHY IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

White matter lesions are defining characteristics of multiple sclerosis (MS), whereas grey matter involvement is a less recognised attribute. Recent investigations using dedicated imaging approaches have made it possible to depict cortical lesions. Additionally, grey matter atrophy may be estimated using various methods. Several studies have suggested that grey matter atrophy closely correlates to clinical disability. In this review we have collected information on grey matter atrophy in MS and the effect of disease modifying therapies upon brain atrophy

Constraining the parameters of the putative supermassive binary black hole in PG 1302-102 from its radio structure

We investigate the pc-scale kinematics and kpc-scale radio morphology of the quasar PG 1302–102, which may harbour a sub-pc separation supermassive binary black hole system at its centre as inferred from optical variability. High-resolution radio interferometric measurements obtained with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) in the Monitoring Of Jets in Active galactic nuclei with VLBA Experiments (MOJAVE) programme at 15 GHz at 20 epochs spanning 17 years were analysed to investigate the pc-scale radio structure. Archival observations with the Very Large Array (VLA) at 1.4 GHz and 5 GHz were obtained to study the kpc-scale morphology. We find that the pc-scale jet is inclined within ∼ 2.2◦ to the line of sight and has a half-opening angle of ∼ 0.2◦. The parameters derived from the pc-scale radio jet are qualitatively consistent with those obtained from the analysis of the optical light curve of PG 1302–102. We obtain at least 0.08 for the mass ratio of the two black holes in the system. We find some indication for a helical jet structure on kpc-scale, but the directions of the inner and the extended radio jets are significantly different, obstructing a straightforward connection of the pc- and kpc-scale jets within the binary scenario

Heterogenity of Graphite Oxide Particles Obtained with Wet Oxidative Exfoliation

Wet oxidative exfoliation of graphite is one of the most frequently applied techniques to obtain aqueous dispersions of hydrophilic graphene derivatives as required, e.g., in 3D printing, wet spinning or film casting. Due to the harsh conditions of the process, the resulting suspension is a mixture of particles with a wide distribution range both of physical dimensions and chemical properties. An aqueous graphite oxide suspension was obtained by an improved Hummers method and separated into five fractions by controlled centrifugation. The fractions were characterized and compared by various methods, revealing their diversity in size, chemical properties and application-related viscosity. The characterization methods (powder XRD, Raman spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, XPS, potentiometric titration, rheology) exhibited subtle but measurable differences that exceeded the standard deviation of the techniques employed, but no systematic trend was found across the fractions in any of the properties investigated. The conditions of our centrifugal separation hardly meet the constrains of the ideal of Stokes’s law, the polydispersity of the high aspect ratio particles as well as their concentration close to the percolation limit challenge the independent sedimentation of the platelets

Maternal hypertensive disorders and neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring: a population-based cohort in two Nordic countries

Maternal hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) have been associated with neuropsychiatric problems in offspring. We aim to investigate the associations between specific types of maternal HDP and offspring neurodevelopmental disorders and further examine whether the timing of onset and severity of HDP would affect these associations. The study population consisted of 4,489,044 live-born singletons in Denmark during 1978-2012 and Sweden during 1987-2010. Maternal HDP was categorized into chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia; pre-eclampsia was further stratified according to timing (early-onset, late-onset), or severity (moderate, severe) of the disease. Neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and intellectual disability (ID), were defined by ICD-coded register diagnosis. Cox regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) while adjusting for potential confounders, and sibling analyses assessed the influence of unmeasured shared familial factors. Maternal HDP was associated with increased risks of ADHD (HR, 1.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-1.28), ASD (1.29 [1.24-1.34]), and ID (1.58 [1.50-1.66]) in offspring, respectively, which was mostly driven by pre-eclampsia. The strongest associations were observed for early-onset and severe pre-eclampsia, and the corresponding HRs for ADHD, ASD and ID were 1.93 [1.73-2.16], 1.86 [1.61-2.15], and 3.99 [3.42-4.65], respectively. The results were similar in the sibling analyses. The associations between maternal HDP and offspring neurodevelopmental disorders were consistent across the subgroups of sex, preterm status, parity, maternal age and psychiatric disorders. Maternal HDP, especially early-onset pre-eclampsia, are associated with increased risks of ADHD, ASD, and ID in particular, independent of shared familial factors

The burden of Clostridium difficile infection between 2010 and 2013: trends and outcomes from an academic center in Eastern Europe

Modeling is now an essential ingredient in business process management and information systems development. The general usefulness of models in these areas is therefore generally accepted. It is also undisputed that the quality of the models has a significant impact on their usefulness. In the literature we can find any number of quality metrics, but hardly any study that investigates their relation with (perceived) usefulness and none that considers their relative impact on usefulness. We take a look at some of the most frequent quality dimensions and their relative impact on the perceived usefulness of models

Association of Maternal Autoimmune Diseases with Risk of Mental Disorders in Offspring in Denmark

Funding Information: László); grants 19410713500 and 2018SHZDZX01 from the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (Dr F. Li); grants GWV-10.1-XK07, 2020CXJQ01, and 2018YJRC03 from the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Health and Family Planning (Dr F Li); and grant 2018B030335001 from the Guangdong Key Project (Dr F Li) . Funding Information: Funding/Support: This study was supported by grant NNF18OC0052029 from the Novo Nordisk Foundation (Dr J. Li) ; grants DFF-6110-00019B, DFF-9039-00010B, and DFF-1030-00012B from the Danish Council for Independent Research (Dr J. Li); grant R275-A15770 from the Nordic Cancer Union (Dr J. Li); grant 2016 from the Karen Elise Jensens Fond (Dr J. Li); grants 81761128035, 81930095, and 82125032 (Dr F. Li) and grant 82073570 (Dr J. Li) from the National Natural Science Foundation of China; grant 20180306 from the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation (Dr László); grant 2015-00837 from the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (Dr Publisher Copyright: © 2022 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.Importance: Maternal immune activation during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of several mental disorders in offspring during childhood, but little is known about how maternal autoimmune diseases during pregnancy are associated with mental health in offspring during and after childhood. Objective: To investigate the association between maternal autoimmune diseases before childbirth and risk of mental disorders among offspring up to early adulthood. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based nationwide cohort study used data from Danish national registers on singletons born in Denmark from 1978 to 2015 with up to 38 years of follow-up. Data analyses were conducted from March 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021. Exposures: Maternal autoimmune disease diagnosed before or during pregnancy according to the Danish National Patient Register. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was mental disorders, defined by hospital diagnoses, in offspring. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for mental disorders. Results: Of the 2254234 singleton infants included in the study (median age, 16.7 years [IQR, 10.5-21.7 years]; 51.28% male), 2.26% were born to mothers with autoimmune diseases before childbirth. Exposed participants had an increased risk of overall mental disorders compared with their unexposed counterparts (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.13-1.19; incidence, 9.38 vs 7.91 per 1000 person-years). Increased risks of overall mental disorders in offspring were seen in different age groups for type 1 diabetes (1-5 years: HR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.17-1.57]; 6-18 years: HR, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.15-1.33]; >18 years: HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.09-1.30]) and rheumatoid arthritis (1-5 years: HR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.16-1.74]; 6-18 years: HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.05-1.36]; >18 years: HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.02-1.60]). Regarding specific mental disorders, increased risk after exposure to any maternal autoimmune disorder was observed for organic disorders (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.21-1.94), schizophrenia (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.21-1.51), obsessive-compulsive disorder (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.24-1.63), mood disorders (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.04-1.21), and a series of neurodevelopmental disorders (eg, childhood autism [HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.08-1.36] and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.12-1.26]). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study in Denmark, prenatal exposure to maternal autoimmune diseases was associated with increased risks of overall and type-specific mental disorders in offspring. Maternal type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy were associated with offspring's mental health up to early adulthood. Individuals prenatally exposed to autoimmune disease may benefit from long-term surveillance for mental disorders.Peer reviewe

Efficacy and safety of the biosimilar infliximab CT-P13 treatment in inflammatory bowel diseases: a prospective, multicentre, nationwide cohort

Background and Aims: Biosimilar infliximab CT-P13 is approved for all indications of the originator product in Europe. Prospective data on its efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity in inflammatory bowel diseases are lacking. Methods: A prospective, nationwide, multicentre, observational cohort was designed to examine the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of CT-P13 infliximab biosimilar in the induction treatment of Crohn’s disease [CD] and ulcerative colitis [UC]. Demographic data were collected and a harmonised monitoring strategy was applied. Early clinical remission, response, and early biochemical response were evaluated at Week 14, steroid-free clinical remission was evaluated at Week 30. Therapeutic drug level was monitored using a conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In all, 210 consecutive inflammatory bowel disease [126 CD and 84 UC] patients were included in the present cohort. At Week 14, 81.4% of CD and 77.6% of UC patients showed clinical response and 53.6% of CD and 58.6% of UC patients were in clinical remission. Clinical remission rates at Week 14 were significantly higher in CD and UC patients who were infliximab naïve, compared with those with previous exposure to the originator compound [ p < 0.05]. Until Week 30, adverse events were experienced in 17.1% of all patients. Infusion reactions and infectious adverse events occurred in 6.6% and 5.7% of all patients, respectively. Conclusions: This prospective multicentre cohort shows that CT-P13 is safe and effective in the induction of clinical remission and response in both CD and UC. Patients with previous infliximab exposure exhibited decreased response rates and were more likely to develop allergic reactions

A terápiás hypothermia szerepe a postresuscitatiós ellátásban - irodalmi áttekintés és saját tapasztalatok

In the last fifteen years mild therapeutic hypothermia became an accepted and widespread therapeutic method in the treatment of successfully resuscitated patients due to sudden cardiac death. Based on the available evidence therapeutic hypothermia is part of the resuscitation guidelines, however, many aspects of its therapeutic use are based on empirical facts. In particular, the subjects of intense debate are the ideal target temperature and the benefit of hypothermia in patients found with non-shockable rhythm. Hypothermia affects almost all organ systems and, therefore, early detection and treatment of side effects are essential. The aim of the authors is to summarize the clinical role and pathophysiologic effects of therapeutic hypothermia in the treatment of resuscitated patients based on current evidence and their practical experience. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(16), 611-617