Studies on electromagnetic turbulence and edge phenomena in fusion plasmas

The magnetic well depth if one of the principal actors when the stability of a confined plasma is analysed. It is the main stabilising mechanism in the TJ-II stellarator, as this is an almost shearless device. This and TJ-II's ability for changing the currents of its coils make the Spanish stellarator a perfect candidate for magnetic well studies. This thesis presents an exhaustive study on plasma performance and stability under theoretically unstable magnetic well conditions. NBI-heated reproducible plasmas were successfully produced even for the most stability adverse conditions and a link between the Alfén Eigenmodes and magnetic well depth was found. Visible light emission at the plasma edge of the JET tokamak has been studied with an intensified fast visible camera since the installation of its ITER-Like Wall. A method to characterize the evolution of ELMs in the divertor and relate the recorded signal with other diagnostics at JET has been developed. A large Matlab library orientated to treat and share the data produced by the intensified fast visible camera has been made available to the users of this diagnostic.Programa Oficial de Doctorado en Plasmas y Fusión NuclearPresidente: Enrique Ascasibar Zubizarreta.- Secretario: Luis García Gonzalo.- Vocal: Antonio López Fragua

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad

Acta de congresoLa conmemoración de los cien años de la Reforma Universitaria de 1918 se presentó como una ocasión propicia para debatir el rol de la historia, la teoría y la crítica en la formación y en la práctica profesional de diseñadores, arquitectos y urbanistas. En ese marco el VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad constituyó un espacio de intercambio y reflexión cuya realización ha sido posible gracias a la colaboración entre Facultades de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño de la Universidad Nacional y la Facultad de Arquitectura de la Universidad Católica de Córdoba, contando además con la activa participación de mayoría de las Facultades, Centros e Institutos de Historia de la Arquitectura del país y la región. Orientado en su convocatoria tanto a docentes como a estudiantes de Arquitectura y Diseño Industrial de todos los niveles de la FAUD-UNC promovió el debate de ideas a partir de experiencias concretas en instancias tales como mesas temáticas de carácter interdisciplinario, que adoptaron la modalidad de presentación de ponencias, entre otras actividades. En el ámbito de VIII Encuentro, desarrollado en la sede Ciudad Universitaria de Córdoba, se desplegaron numerosas posiciones sobre la enseñanza, la investigación y la formación en historia, teoría y crítica del diseño, la arquitectura y la ciudad; sumándose el aporte realizado a través de sus respectivas conferencias de Ana Clarisa Agüero, Bibiana Cicutti, Fernando Aliata y Alberto Petrina. El conjunto de ponencias que se publican en este Repositorio de la UNC son el resultado de dos intensas jornadas de exposiciones, cuyos contenidos han posibilitado actualizar viejos dilemas y promover nuevos debates. El evento recibió el apoyo de las autoridades de la FAUD-UNC, en especial de la Secretaría de Investigación y de la Biblioteca de nuestra casa, como así también de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la UCC; va para todos ellos un especial agradecimiento

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Novel genes and sex differences in COVID-19 severity.

Here we describe the results of a genome-wide study conducted in 11 939 COVID-19 positive cases with an extensive clinical information that were recruited from 34 hospitals across Spain (SCOURGE consortium). In sex-disaggregated genome-wide association studies for COVID-19 hospitalization, genome-wide significance (p < 5x10-8) was crossed for variants in 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci only among males (p = 1.3x10-22 and p = 8.1x10-12, respectively), and for variants in 9q21.32 near TLE1 only among females (p = 4.4x10-8). In a second phase, results were combined with an independent Spanish cohort (1598 COVID-19 cases and 1068 population controls), revealing in the overall analysis two novel risk loci in 9p13.3 and 19q13.12, with fine-mapping prioritized variants functionally associated with AQP3 (p = 2.7x10-8) and ARHGAP33 (p = 1.3x10-8), respectively. The meta-analysis of both phases with four European studies stratified by sex from the Host Genetics Initiative confirmed the association of the 3p21.31 and 21q22.11 loci predominantly in males and replicated a recently reported variant in 11p13 (ELF5, p = 4.1x10-8). Six of the COVID-19 HGI discovered loci were replicated and an HGI-based genetic risk score predicted the severity strata in SCOURGE. We also found more SNP-heritability and larger heritability differences by age (<60 or ≥ 60 years) among males than among females. Parallel genome-wide screening of inbreeding depression in SCOURGE also showed an effect of homozygosity in COVID-19 hospitalization and severity and this effect was stronger among older males. In summary, new candidate genes for COVID-19 severity and evidence supporting genetic disparities among sexes are provided

XIV Jornada de Investigación 2023

Eje temático I: derecho, cultura y sociedad: En este eje tamático, se presentan ponencias que tienen como propósito analizar y explicar críticamente, a través de la investigación científica y desde el enfoque interdisciplinar, los derechos humanos, el proceso de estructuración de La convivencia y la equidad en la vivencia de los derechos; los valores, las costumbres, las normas, los estilos de vida, el uso de artefactos y la organización social; los procesos de desarrollo espiritual, de conocimiento científico, de desarrollo tecnológico y estético, y la convivencia y sus implicaciones en lo público y lo privado. Eje temático II: desarrollo humano y sostenible. El segundo eje temático que abordó la XII Jornada de Investigación fue desarrollo humano y sostenible, con ponencias que abarcaron todos aquellos aspectos que van, desde el desarrollo y bienestar individual, pasando por los estudios de las comunidades, para llegar a una comprensión global de la sostenibilidad como un factor determinante de existencia de las sociedades. Eje temático III: gestión y tecnología al servicio de la sociedad. Finalmente, en la XII Jornada de Investigación, se trabajóel eje temático gestión y tecnología al servicio de la sociedad, en el cual se presentaron, desde las diferentes disciplinas, ponencias que aportaron al campo del desarrollo productivo y a la solución de los problemas de la sociedad a través de las oportunidades que una buena gestión y un apropiado uso de la tecnología ofrece. (Tomado de la Fuente)EJE TEMÁTICO I: DERECHO, CULTURA Y SOCIEDAD La respuesta económica a la pandemia dentro del Estado social de derecho colombiano. Los espacios intermediarios como contenedores de experiencias significativas. Análisis del estilo lingüístico aplicado a la psicología jurídica. ¿Dejar o transformar? Cinco puntos para entender la ciudad contemporánea. Studiositas y verdad en la educación centrada en la persona. Los derechos de autor en el contrato de trabajo y de prestación de servicios. Afectación de los derechos sexuales reproductivos femeninos durante el conflicto armado en Colombia. Problemas del acceso a la justicia del campesinado de los páramos de Sumapaz y Santurbán. Vulneración del derecho al agua potable en La Guajira: una falta de garantías. Derechos humanos e inteligencia militar: el dilema de la primacía del interés general sobre el particular. Cuantificación del dolor humano por parte de la justicia colombiana. Retos tecnológicos en el derecho vs. Limitaciones en Colombia en las poblaciones más vulnerables. Construir identidad territorial a través del corredor socioambiental Los Nevados. La naturaleza en la arquitectura: una mirada a la arquitectura del siglo XX. Contrato de trabajo del futbolista profesional. La baja educación en las zonas rurales por consecuencia del conflicto armado y la corrupción en el Estado colombiano. Incidentes de la migración venezolana en el ámbito normativo nacional colombiano e internacional. Legalización definitiva del consumo adulto del cannabis en Colombia: un debate jurídico y constitucional. Wawamia jai, síndrome propio de la cultura: una caracterización de los signos y síntomas de una enfermedad cultural del pueblo indígena emberá-katío. La cruda realidad del reclutamiento de niños, niñas y adolescentes en el conflicto armado en Colombia: una visión nacional e internacional. EJE TEMÁTICO II: DESARROLLO HUMANO Y SOSTENIBLE Migración venezolana en Colombia: perspectiva crítica sobre el derecho de acceso a la salud. El estrés laboral. Una imagen no es tradición: la actualidad de la vivienda raizal en el Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina. Aprendizajes del proceso de diseño basado en la investigación: caso de estudio barrio Concepción Norte, Bogotá, Colombia. Sumapaz como territorio potencial hídrico y patrimonio paisajístico y cultural: modelo de región sostenible. Revisión sistemática del liderazgo digital desde las competencias digitales. Intervenciones psicológicas basadas en evidencia: tendencias actuales. Herramientas pedagógicas para la concientización de la comunidad a partir del reconocimiento de la memoria histórica en el barrio San Benito, Bogotá, Colombia. Diseño sostenible como factor diferencial en la reconversión industrial de las curtiembres en el barrio San Benito, Bogotá, Colombia. Motivación escolar como factor relacionado con el rendimiento académico en estudiantes en extraedad en la Institución Educativa Distrital República de México, sede B, jornada mañana. La realidad de los objetos artificiales. Performance en nuestro diario vivir. ¿Es necesario la modificación del lugar para satisfacer las necesidades del ser humano? ¿Es necesario hacer modificaciones al espacio natural para generar cultura? La arquitectura como síntesis entre los objetos con propósito o sin él. La creación de los objetos y sus impactos en el mundo. ¿Cuáles son los determinantes de las brechas de competencia laboral en el departamento de Cundinamarca, Colombia? Buenas prácticas de habitabilidad. Reconocimiento de la arquitectura doméstica tradicional en Colombia como una pauta de identidad para el diseño de nuevas viviendas. Validación de un instrumento para evaluar la procrastinación académica. Escala de medición de la soledad BATAN. Contraste entre el instrumento para medir la resiliencia en adultos jóvenes de Colombia (CLANP) con CD-RISC 10. Finlandia y naturaleza: país modelo en ratificación de normas y tratados para la protección de los derechos de la naturaleza. EJE TEMÁTICO III: GESTIÓN Y TECNOLOGÍA AL SERVICIO DE LA SOCIEDAD Aplicación de una tecnología limpia desde el diseño resiliente: simulación de un módulo básico de vivienda social en la ciudad de Tunja, Colombia. Recorrido virtual de la Universidad Católica de Colombia Sede Claustro para la inducción de estudiantes y docentes. Evaluación de eficiencia de un prototipo de un sistema de atrapanieblas tipo NRP 3.0 para la vereda Gaunza Arriba, municipio de Guateque, departamento de Boyacá, Colombia. Sistema de Información para la Coordinación de Trabajos de Grado del Programa de Ingeniería de Sistemas de la Universidad Católica de Colombia (SIGETG). Estrategias de sostenibilidad para la reducción de la huella hídrica en la vivienda de la Costa Caribe. Sistema de evaluación de resultados de aprendizaje de la Facultad de Psicología de la Universidad Católica de Colombia. Identificación de tendencias en la implementación de DevOps a partir de una revisión sistemática. Desarrollo de un algoritmo de trading para operar el mercado de divisas a través de ondas de Elliott y números de Fibonacci. Los derechos humanos en el espacio de la inteligencia artificial. Construcción de paz a través del ciberactivismo en redes sociales de cuatro organizaciones juveniles de Bogotá. Las redes sociales digitales como herramienta educativa: una propuesta de investigación-innovación. Videojuego de realidad virtual sobre la extracción y el tráfico ilegal de la fauna silvestre en Colombia. Arquitectura de la información de la plataforma de inteligencia artificial para el estudio neurocognitivo y el apoyo a la salud mental. Inmersión sobre la innovación: perspectivas sobre el derecho al trabajo y la inteligencia artificial en el servicio de justicia. El ciberterrorismo en la legislación colombiana: un análisis desde la criminología. Modelo de fabricación digital de diseño sostenible para vivienda social. Uso de los videojuegos en el campo educativo: ventajas y desventajas. Resolución electrónica de controversias en procesos civiles de mínima cuantía en Colombia. Estrategia de evaluación y promoción de la salud mental en el contexto universitario. Caracterización de técnicas y herramientas de inteligencia artificial utilizadas para el perfilamiento de clientes por las mipymes en Colombia. Transformar el casco urbano del municipio de Líbano, departamento del Tolima, Colombia: un proyecto parque industrial para el intercambio de saberes y revitalización ambiental. Aplicación tecnológica en agricultura urbana para promover la seguridad alimentaria en poblaciones vulnerables. CONCLUSIONE

Efficacy and safety of sparsentan versus irbesartan in patients with IgA nephropathy (PROTECT): 2-year results from a randomised, active-controlled, phase 3 trial

BackgroundSparsentan, a novel, non-immunosuppressive, single-molecule, dual endothelin angiotensin receptor antagonist, significantly reduced proteinuria versus irbesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, at 36 weeks (primary endpoint) in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy in the phase 3 PROTECT trial's previously reported interim analysis. Here, we report kidney function and outcomes over 110 weeks from the double-blind final analysis.MethodsPROTECT, a double-blind, randomised, active-controlled, phase 3 study, was done across 134 clinical practice sites in 18 countries throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Patients aged 18 years or older with biopsy-proven primary IgA nephropathy and proteinuria of at least 1·0 g per day despite maximised renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 12 weeks were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive sparsentan (target dose 400 mg oral sparsentan once daily) or irbesartan (target dose 300 mg oral irbesartan once daily) based on a permuted-block randomisation method. The primary endpoint was proteinuria change between treatment groups at 36 weeks. Secondary endpoints included rate of change (slope) of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), changes in proteinuria, a composite of kidney failure (confirmed 40% eGFR reduction, end-stage kidney disease, or all-cause mortality), and safety and tolerability up to 110 weeks from randomisation. Secondary efficacy outcomes were assessed in the full analysis set and safety was assessed in the safety set, both of which were defined as all patients who were randomly assigned and received at least one dose of randomly assigned study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03762850.FindingsBetween Dec 20, 2018, and May 26, 2021, 203 patients were randomly assigned to the sparsentan group and 203 to the irbesartan group. One patient from each group did not receive the study drug and was excluded from the efficacy and safety analyses (282 [70%] of 404 included patients were male and 272 [67%] were White) . Patients in the sparsentan group had a slower rate of eGFR decline than those in the irbesartan group. eGFR chronic 2-year slope (weeks 6–110) was −2·7 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year versus −3·8 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (difference 1·1 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year, 95% CI 0·1 to 2·1; p=0·037); total 2-year slope (day 1–week 110) was −2·9 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year versus −3·9 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (difference 1·0 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year, 95% CI −0·03 to 1·94; p=0·058). The significant reduction in proteinuria at 36 weeks with sparsentan was maintained throughout the study period; at 110 weeks, proteinuria, as determined by the change from baseline in urine protein-to-creatinine ratio, was 40% lower in the sparsentan group than in the irbesartan group (−42·8%, 95% CI −49·8 to −35·0, with sparsentan versus −4·4%, −15·8 to 8·7, with irbesartan; geometric least-squares mean ratio 0·60, 95% CI 0·50 to 0·72). The composite kidney failure endpoint was reached by 18 (9%) of 202 patients in the sparsentan group versus 26 (13%) of 202 patients in the irbesartan group (relative risk 0·7, 95% CI 0·4 to 1·2). Treatment-emergent adverse events were well balanced between sparsentan and irbesartan, with no new safety signals.InterpretationOver 110 weeks, treatment with sparsentan versus maximally titrated irbesartan in patients with IgA nephropathy resulted in significant reductions in proteinuria and preservation of kidney function

Sparsentan in patients with IgA nephropathy: a prespecified interim analysis from a randomised, double-blind, active-controlled clinical trial

Background: Sparsentan is a novel, non-immunosuppressive, single-molecule, dual endothelin and angiotensin receptor antagonist being examined in an ongoing phase 3 trial in adults with IgA nephropathy. We report the prespecified interim analysis of the primary proteinuria efficacy endpoint, and safety. Methods: PROTECT is an international, randomised, double-blind, active-controlled study, being conducted in 134 clinical practice sites in 18 countries. The study examines sparsentan versus irbesartan in adults (aged ≥18 years) with biopsy-proven IgA nephropathy and proteinuria of 1·0 g/day or higher despite maximised renin-angiotensin system inhibitor treatment for at least 12 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive sparsentan 400 mg once daily or irbesartan 300 mg once daily, stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate at screening (30 to 1·75 g/day). The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline to week 36 in urine protein-creatinine ratio based on a 24-h urine sample, assessed using mixed model repeated measures. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were safety endpoints. All endpoints were examined in all participants who received at least one dose of randomised treatment. The study is ongoing and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03762850. Findings: Between Dec 20, 2018, and May 26, 2021, 404 participants were randomly assigned to sparsentan (n=202) or irbesartan (n=202) and received treatment. At week 36, the geometric least squares mean percent change from baseline in urine protein-creatinine ratio was statistically significantly greater in the sparsentan group (-49·8%) than the irbesartan group (-15·1%), resulting in a between-group relative reduction of 41% (least squares mean ratio=0·59; 95% CI 0·51-0·69; p<0·0001). TEAEs with sparsentan were similar to irbesartan. There were no cases of severe oedema, heart failure, hepatotoxicity, or oedema-related discontinuations. Bodyweight changes from baseline were not different between the sparsentan and irbesartan groups. Interpretation: Once-daily treatment with sparsentan produced meaningful reduction in proteinuria compared with irbesartan in adults with IgA nephropathy. Safety of sparsentan was similar to irbesartan. Future analyses after completion of the 2-year double-blind period will show whether these beneficial effects translate into a long-term nephroprotective potential of sparsentan. Funding: Travere Therapeutics

New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

Characterization of the genetic landscape of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related dementias (ADD) provides a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the associated pathophysiological processes. We performed a two-stage genome-wide association study totaling 111,326 clinically diagnosed/‘proxy’ AD cases and 677,663 controls. We found 75 risk loci, of which 42 were new at the time of analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed the involvement of amyloid/tau pathways and highlighted microglia implication. Gene prioritization in the new loci identified 31 genes that were suggestive of new genetically associated processes, including the tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway through the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. We also built a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future AD/dementia or progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD/dementia. The improvement in prediction led to a 1.6- to 1.9-fold increase in AD risk from the lowest to the highest decile, in addition to effects of age and the APOE ε4 allele

Efficacy and safety of sparsentan versus irbesartan in patients with IgA nephropathy (PROTECT): 2-year results from a randomised, active-controlled, phase 3 trial

Background Sparsentan, a novel, non-immunosuppressive, single-molecule, dual endothelin angiotensin receptor antagonist, significantly reduced proteinuria versus irbesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, at 36 weeks (primary endpoint) in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy in the phase 3 PROTECT trial's previously reported interim analysis. Here, we report kidney function and outcomes over 110 weeks from the double-blind final analysis. Methods PROTECT, a double-blind, randomised, active-controlled, phase 3 study, was done across 134 clinical practice sites in 18 countries throughout the Americas, Asia, and Europe. Patients aged 18 years or older with biopsy-proven primary IgA nephropathy and proteinuria of at least 1·0 g per day despite maximised renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 12 weeks were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive sparsentan (target dose 400 mg oral sparsentan once daily) or irbesartan (target dose 300 mg oral irbesartan once daily) based on a permuted-block randomisation method. The primary endpoint was proteinuria change between treatment groups at 36 weeks. Secondary endpoints included rate of change (slope) of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), changes in proteinuria, a composite of kidney failure (confirmed 40% eGFR reduction, end-stage kidney disease, or all-cause mortality), and safety and tolerability up to 110 weeks from randomisation. Secondary efficacy outcomes were assessed in the full analysis set and safety was assessed in the safety set, both of which were defined as all patients who were randomly assigned and received at least one dose of randomly assigned study drug. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03762850. Findings Between Dec 20, 2018, and May 26, 2021, 203 patients were randomly assigned to the sparsentan group and 203 to the irbesartan group. One patient from each group did not receive the study drug and was excluded from the efficacy and safety analyses (282 [70%] of 404 included patients were male and 272 [67%] were White) . Patients in the sparsentan group had a slower rate of eGFR decline than those in the irbesartan group. eGFR chronic 2-year slope (weeks 6–110) was −2·7 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year versus −3·8 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (difference 1·1 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year, 95% CI 0·1 to 2·1; p=0·037); total 2-year slope (day 1–week 110) was −2·9 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year versus −3·9 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (difference 1·0 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year, 95% CI −0·03 to 1·94; p=0·058). The significant reduction in proteinuria at 36 weeks with sparsentan was maintained throughout the study period; at 110 weeks, proteinuria, as determined by the change from baseline in urine protein-to-creatinine ratio, was 40% lower in the sparsentan group than in the irbesartan group (−42·8%, 95% CI −49·8 to −35·0, with sparsentan versus −4·4%, −15·8 to 8·7, with irbesartan; geometric least-squares mean ratio 0·60, 95% CI 0·50 to 0·72). The composite kidney failure endpoint was reached by 18 (9%) of 202 patients in the sparsentan group versus 26 (13%) of 202 patients in the irbesartan group (relative risk 0·7, 95% CI 0·4 to 1·2). Treatment-emergent adverse events were well balanced between sparsentan and irbesartan, with no new safety signals. Interpretation Over 110 weeks, treatment with sparsentan versus maximally titrated irbesartan in patients with IgA nephropathy resulted in significant reductions in proteinuria and preservation of kidney function.</p