92 research outputs found
Beneficial effects of paricalcitol on cardiac dysfunction and remodelling in a model of established heart failure
The synthetic vitamin D3 analogue paricalcitol acts as a selective activator of the vitamin D receptor (VDR). While there is evidence for cardioprotective effects of paricalcitol associated with the VDR pathway, less information is available about the structural and functional cardiac effects of paricalcitol on established heart failure (HF) and particularly its effects on associated electrophysiological or Ca2+ handling remodelling.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH:
We used a murine model of transverse aortic constriction (TAC) to study the effect of paricalcitol on established HF. Treatment was initiated 4 weeks after surgery over five consecutive weeks, and mice were sacrificed 9 weeks after surgery. Cardiac MRI (CMRI) was performed 4 and 9 weeks after surgery. Hearts were used for biochemical and histological studies and to isolate ventricular myocytes for electrophysiological and calcium imaging studies.
KEY RESULTS:
CMRI analysis revealed that, compared with vehicle, paricalcitol treatment prevented the progression of ventricular dilation and hypertrophy after TAC and halted the corresponding decline in ejection fraction. These beneficial effects were related to the attenuation of intracellular Ca2+ mishandling remodelling, antifibrotic and antihypertrophic effects and potentially antiarrhythmic effects by preventing the reduction of K+ current density and the long QT, JT and TpTe intervals observed in HF animals.
CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS:
The results suggest that paricalcitol treatment in established HF hampers disease progression and improves adverse electrophysiological and Ca2+ handling remodelling, attenuating the vulnerability to HF-associated ventricular arrhythmias. Paricalcitol may emerge as a potential therapeutic option in the treatment of HFThis
work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2014-
57190R, SAF2017-84777-R), ISCIII (PI17/01093 and PI17/01344), European Regional
Development Fund (FEDER), Sociedad Española de CardiologĂa (SEC), and CIBER-CV, a
network funded by ISCIII. MF-V is a Miguel Servet II researcher of ISCIII (MSII16/00047
Carlos III Health Institute). GR-H is a Miguel Servet I researcher of ISCIII (CP15/00129
Carlos III Health Institute). MT is a predoctoral fellow of the Spanish Ministry of Science,
Innovation and Universities (FPU-17/06135
Thermal conductivity measurements of macroscopic frozen salt ice analogues of Jovian icy moons in support of the planned JUICE mission
14 pĂĄginas, 16 figuras, 2 tablascThe study of thermal properties of frozen salt solutions representative of ice layers in Jovian moons is crucial to support the
JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) (ESA) and Europa Clipper (NASA) missions, which will be launched in the upcoming
years to make detailed observations of the giant gaseous planet Jupiter and three of its largest moons (Ganymede, Europa, and
Callisto), due to the scarcity of experimental measurements. Therefore, we have conducted a set of experiments to measure
and study the thermal conductivity of macroscopic frozen salt solutions of particular interest in these regions, including sodium
chloride (NaCl), magnesium sulphate (MgSO4 ), sodium sulphate (Na2 SO4 ), and magnesium chloride (MgCl2 ). Measurements
were performed at atmospheric pressure and temperatures from 0 to â70 âŠC in a climatic chamber. Temperature and calorimetry
were measured during the course of the experiments. An interesting side effect of these measurements is that they served to
spot phase changes in the frozen salt solutions, even for very low salt concentrations. A small sample of the liquid salt-water
solution was set aside for the calorimetry measurements. These experiments and the measurements of thermal conductivity
and calorimetry will be valuable to constrain the chemical composition, physical state, and temperature of the icy crusts of
Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto.This project received financial support of The European Space
Agency (ESA) contracts No.: RFP/3-15589/18/ES/CM and
4000126441/19/ES/CM: âMeasurements of thermal and dielectric
properties of ices in support to future radar measurements
of Jovian Icy moonsâ, The Unidad de Excelencia âMar Ìıa de
Maeztuâ MDM-2017-0737â Centro de Astrobiolog Ìıa (INTA-CSIC),
The Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities
AYA2017-85322-R and PID2020-118974GB-C21 (AEI/FEDER,
UE), Retos Investigaci Ìon BIA2016-77992-R (AEI/FEDER, UE),
and âExplora Ciencia y Explora Tecnolog Ìıaâ [AYA2017-91062-
EXP]. We are grateful to Anezina Solomonidou for assistance in the
project proposal. The view expressed in this article can in no way be
taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Space Agency.
We thank the reviewer of this article for his constructive comments.Peer reviewe
Evolution of the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Spain between March and November 2020: SEMI-COVID national registry
Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID- 19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7-160) vs. 49.3 (16-109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393-1534) vs. 470 (236- 996) ”g/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430-1400) vs. 617 (345-1180) ”g/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp02/Fi02 (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%
The Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey: Motivation, implementation, GIRAFFE data processing, analysis, and final data products
Context. The Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey is an ambitious project designed to obtain astrophysical parameters and elemental abundances for 100 000 stars, including large representative samples of the stellar populations in the Galaxy, and a well-defined sample of 60 (plus 20 archive) open clusters. We provide internally consistent results calibrated on benchmark stars and star clusters, extending across a very wide range of abundances and ages. This provides a legacy data set of intrinsic value, and equally a large wide-ranging dataset that is of value for the homogenisation of other and future stellar surveys and Gaia's astrophysical parameters. Aims. This article provides an overview of the survey methodology, the scientific aims, and the implementation, including a description of the data processing for the GIRAFFE spectra. A companion paper introduces the survey results. Methods. Gaia-ESO aspires to quantify both random and systematic contributions to measurement uncertainties. Thus, all available spectroscopic analysis techniques are utilised, each spectrum being analysed by up to several different analysis pipelines, with considerable effort being made to homogenise and calibrate the resulting parameters. We describe here the sequence of activities up to delivery of processed data products to the ESO Science Archive Facility for open use. Results. The Gaia-ESO Survey obtained 202 000 spectra of 115 000 stars using 340 allocated VLT nights between December 2011 and January 2018 from GIRAFFE and UVES. Conclusions. The full consistently reduced final data set of spectra was released through the ESO Science Archive Facility in late 2020, with the full astrophysical parameters sets following in 2022. A companion article reviews the survey implementation, scientific highlights, the open cluster survey, and data products
The Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey: Implementation, data products, open cluster survey, science, and legacy
Context. In the last 15 years different ground-based spectroscopic surveys have been started (and completed) with the general aim of delivering stellar parameters and elemental abundances for large samples of Galactic stars, complementing Gaia astrometry. Among those surveys, the Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey, the only one performed on a 8m class telescope, was designed to target 100 000 stars using FLAMES on the ESO VLT (both Giraffe and UVES spectrographs), covering all the Milky Way populations, with a special focus on open star clusters. Aims. This article provides an overview of the survey implementation (observations, data quality, analysis and its success, data products, and releases), of the open cluster survey, of the science results and potential, and of the survey legacy. A companion article reviews the overall survey motivation, strategy, Giraffe pipeline data reduction, organisation, and workflow. Methods. We made use of the information recorded and archived in the observing blocks; during the observing runs; in a number of relevant documents; in the spectra and master catalogue of spectra; in the parameters delivered by the analysis nodes and the working groups; in the final catalogue; and in the science papers. Based on these sources, we critically analyse and discuss the output and products of the Survey, including science highlights. We also determined the average metallicities of the open clusters observed as science targets and of a sample of clusters whose spectra were retrieved from the ESO archive. Results. The Gaia-ESO Survey has determined homogeneous good-quality radial velocities and stellar parameters for a large fraction of its more than 110 000 unique target stars. Elemental abundances were derived for up to 31 elements for targets observed with UVES. Lithium abundances are delivered for about 1/3 of the sample. The analysis and homogenisation strategies have proven to be successful; several science topics have been addressed by the Gaia-ESO consortium and the community, with many highlight results achieved. Conclusions. The final catalogue will be released through the ESO archive in the first half of 2022, including the complete set of advanced data products. In addition to these results, the Gaia-ESO Survey will leave a very important legacy, for several aspects and for many years to come
Gordura protegida na dieta de vacas de alta produção a campo, em alfafa verde ou pré-secada, na fase inicial da lactação: parùmetros plasmåticos
Agroforesterie et services écosystémiques en zone tropicale
Respectueux de lâenvironnement et garantissant une sĂ©curitĂ© alimentaire soutenue par la diversification des productions et des revenus quâils procurent, les systĂšmes agroforestiers apparaissent comme un modĂšle prometteur dâagriculture durable dans les pays du Sud les plus vulnĂ©rables aux changements globaux. Cependant, ces systĂšmes agroforestiers ne peuvent ĂȘtre optimisĂ©s quâĂ condition de mieux comprendre et de mieux maĂźtriser les facteurs de leurs productions. Lâouvrage prĂ©sente un ensemble de connaissances rĂ©centes sur les mĂ©canismes biophysiques et socio-Ă©conomiques qui sous-tendent le fonctionnement et la dynamique des systĂšmes agroforestiers. Il concerne, dâune part les systĂšmes agroforestiers Ă base de cultures pĂ©rennes, telles que cacaoyers et cafĂ©iers, de rĂ©gions tropicales humides en AmĂ©rique du Sud, en Afrique de lâEst et du Centre, dâautre part les parcs arborĂ©s et arbustifs Ă base de cultures vivriĂšres, principalement de cĂ©rĂ©ales, de la rĂ©gion semi-aride subsaharienne dâAfrique de lâOuest. Il synthĂ©tise les derniĂšres avancĂ©es acquises grĂące Ă plusieurs projets associant le Cirad, lâIRD et leurs partenaires du Sud qui ont Ă©tĂ© conduits entre 2012 et 2016 dans ces rĂ©gions. Lâensemble de ces projets sâarticulent autour des dynamiques des systĂšmes agroforestiers et des compromis entre les services de production et les autres services socio-Ă©cosystĂ©miques que ces systĂšmes fournissent
Measurement of the muon flux from 400 GeV/c protons interacting in a thick molybdenum/tungsten target
The SHiP experiment is proposed to search for very weakly interacting particles beyond the Standard Model which are produced in a 400 GeV/c proton beam dump at the CERN SPS. About 1011 muons per spill will be produced in the dump. To design the experiment such that the muon-induced background is minimized, a precise knowledge of the muon spectrum is required. To validate the muon flux generated by our Pythia and GEANT4 based Monte Carlo simulation (FairShip), we have measured the muon flux emanating from a SHiP-like target at the SPS. This target, consisting of 13 interaction lengths of slabs of molybdenum and tungsten, followed by a 2.4 m iron hadron absorber was placed in the H4 400 GeV/c proton beam line. To identify muons and to measure the momentum spectrum, a spectrometer instrumented with drift tubes and a muon tagger were used. During a 3-week period a dataset for analysis corresponding to (3.27±0.07) à 1011 protons on target was recorded. This amounts to approximatively 1% of a SHiP spill
Track reconstruction and matching between emulsion and silicon pixel detectors for the SHiP-charm experiment
In July 2018 an optimization run for the proposed charm cross section measurement for SHiP was performed at the CERN SPS. A heavy, moving target instrumented with nuclear emulsion films followed by a silicon pixel tracker was installed in front of the Goliath magnet at the H4 proton beam-line. Behind the magnet, scintillating-fibre, drift-tube and RPC detectors were placed. The purpose of this run was to validate the measurement's feasibility, to develop the required analysis tools and fine-tune the detector layout. In this paper, we present the track reconstruction in the pixel tracker and the track matching with the moving emulsion detector. The pixel detector performed as expected and it is shown that, after proper alignment, a vertex matching rate of 87% is achieved
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