Purification and characterization of a variant of human prothrombin: prothrombin Segovia

A dysprothrombin designated prothrombin Segovia was isolated from the plasma of an individual with normal prothrombin antigen and prothrombin activity lesser than 25% of the control prothrombin activity. Activation by prothrombinase complex showed a lower amidolytic than clotting activity, which suggests a lesser generation of active intermediates than normal prothrombin. When prothrombin Segovia was activated by prothrombinase complex in the absence of factor Va, no thrombin formation was found by functional activities. SDS-PAGE analysis of the molecules derived by activation with prothrombinase complex, Taipan snake venom and Echis carinatus venom showed an accumulation of molecules not cleaved at bond Arg320-Ile321. This was more evident with Echis carinatus venom, which only acts on this bond. Our data suggest that the alteration of prothrombin Segovia impairs the scission of bond Arg320-Ile321

RICORS2040 : The need for collaborative research in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent and poorly known killer. The current concept of CKD is relatively young and uptake by the public, physicians and health authorities is not widespread. Physicians still confuse CKD with chronic kidney insufficiency or failure. For the wider public and health authorities, CKD evokes kidney replacement therapy (KRT). In Spain, the prevalence of KRT is 0.13%. Thus health authorities may consider CKD a non-issue: very few persons eventually need KRT and, for those in whom kidneys fail, the problem is 'solved' by dialysis or kidney transplantation. However, KRT is the tip of the iceberg in the burden of CKD. The main burden of CKD is accelerated ageing and premature death. The cut-off points for kidney function and kidney damage indexes that define CKD also mark an increased risk for all-cause premature death. CKD is the most prevalent risk factor for lethal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the factor that most increases the risk of death in COVID-19, after old age. Men and women undergoing KRT still have an annual mortality that is 10- to 100-fold higher than similar-age peers, and life expectancy is shortened by ~40 years for young persons on dialysis and by 15 years for young persons with a functioning kidney graft. CKD is expected to become the fifth greatest global cause of death by 2040 and the second greatest cause of death in Spain before the end of the century, a time when one in four Spaniards will have CKD. However, by 2022, CKD will become the only top-15 global predicted cause of death that is not supported by a dedicated well-funded Centres for Biomedical Research (CIBER) network structure in Spain. Realizing the underestimation of the CKD burden of disease by health authorities, the Decade of the Kidney initiative for 2020-2030 was launched by the American Association of Kidney Patients and the European Kidney Health Alliance. Leading Spanish kidney researchers grouped in the kidney collaborative research network Red de Investigación Renal have now applied for the Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) call for collaborative research in Spain with the support of the Spanish Society of Nephrology, Federación Nacional de Asociaciones para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades del Riñón and ONT: RICORS2040 aims to prevent the dire predictions for the global 2040 burden of CKD from becoming true

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs. First visual-channel radial-velocity measurements and orbital parameter updates of seven M-dwarf planetary systems

Stars and planetary system

Financial valuation model for a small and medium-sized company in Colombia [Modelo de valoración financiera para una pequeña y mediana empresa (PYME) en Colombia]

En este trabajo se realizó la valoración de una pequeña y mediana empresa (PYME) partiendo del diagnóstico financiero y utilizando el método de flujo de caja libre, asumiendo un horizonte de tiempo de diez semestres y teniendo en cuenta información financiera y contable publicada por la compañía en semestres anteriores. Los estados financieros se proyectaron con base en diferentes variables macroeconómicas. © 2018.In this work, the assessment of an SME was made based on a financial diagnosis and using the free cash flow method, assuming a time horizon of ten semesters and taking into account financial and accounting information published by the company in previous semesters. The financial statements were projected based on different macroeconomic variables. © 2018

Nelson-Siegel model for estimation of term structure of interest rates [Modelo de Charles B. Nelson y Andrew F. Siegel para la estimación de la estructura temporal de tasas de interés]

This article explains the mathematical and market approaches that were considered for the creation of the model of estimation of the term structure of interest rates. Additionally a methodology is presented by which the model object of study is applied, making use of 7 Colombian public debt securities, finally the conclusions are presented, in which it is emphasized mainly in the scope of the model at issue. © 2018.En este artículo se explican los planteamientos de orden matemático y de mercado que fueron considerados para la creación del modelo de estimación de la estructura temporal de tasas de interés planteado por Nelson y Siegel. Adicionalmente, es presentada una metodología mediante la cual es aplicado el modelo objeto de estudio, haciendo uso de 7 títulos de deuda pública colombiana, finalmente se presentan las conclusiones, en las cuales se enfatiza principalmente en el alcance del modelo en cuestión. © 2018

Valuation of a medium-sized company using free cash flow (FCL) and cash flow at risk (CFaR) [Valoración de una mediana empresa usando flujo de caja libre (FCL) y flujo de caja en riesgo (CFaR)]

According with the need that are faced by companies to have information to evaluate their growth, competitiveness and expansion decisions; the project is developed through the valuation of the Company is made through the free cash flow discounted, which will allow to get the potential value of the Company. And finally, It will be evaluated the cash flow at risk, through the methodology known as CFaR with the objective of integrating the variables of uncertainty and risk throughout the process. © 2017