BP Reduction, Kidney Function Decline, and Cardiovascular Events in Patients without CKD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), intensive systolic BP treatment (target <120 mm Hg) was associated with fewer cardiovascular events and higher incidence of kidney function decline compared with standard treatment (target <140 mm Hg). We evaluated the association between mean arterial pressure reduction, kidney function decline, and cardiovascular events in patients without CKD. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We categorized patients in the intensive treatment group of the SPRINT according to mean arterial pressure reduction throughout follow-up: <20, 20 to <40, and ≥40 mm Hg. We defined the primary outcome as kidney function decline (≥30% reduction in eGFR to <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 on two consecutive determinations at 3-month intervals), and we defined the secondary outcome as cardiovascular events. In a propensity score analysis, patients in each mean arterial pressure reduction category from the intensive treatment group were matched with patients from the standard treatment group to calculate the number needed to treat regarding cardiovascular events and the number needed to harm regarding kidney function decline. RESULTS: In the intensive treatment group, 1138 (34%) patients attained mean arterial pressure reduction <20 mm Hg, 1857 (56%) attained 20 to <40 mm Hg, and 309 (9%) attained ≥40 mm Hg. Adjusted hazard ratios for kidney function decline were 2.10 (95% confidence interval, 1.22 to 3.59) for mean arterial pressure reduction between 20 and 40 mm Hg and 6.22 (95% confidence interval, 2.75 to 14.08) for mean arterial pressure reduction ≥40 mm Hg. In propensity score analysis, mean arterial pressure reduction <20 mm Hg presented a number needed to treat of 44 and a number needed to harm of 65, reduction between 20 and <40 mm Hg presented a number needed to treat of 42 and a number needed to harm of 35, and reduction ≥40 mm Hg presented a number needed to treat of 95 and a number needed to harm of 16. CONCLUSIONS: In the intensive treatment group of SPRINT, larger declines in mean arterial pressure were associated with higher incidence of kidney function decline. Intensive treatment seemed to be less favorable when a larger reduction in mean arterial pressure was needed to attain the BP target.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comment on Bress et al. Effect of Intensive Versus Standard Blood Pressure Treatment According to Baseline Prediabetes Status: A Post Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Trial. Diabetes Care 2017;40:1401-1408.

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessing patterns of geographic dispersal of Gelidium sesquipedale (Rhodophyta) through RAPD differentiation of populations

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) of bulked genomic DNA samples were used to analyse the genetic differentiation of Gelidium sesquipedale populations. They reflect the pat terns of gene flow, which in turn depend on the dispersal mechanisms of the species and on near-shore ocean currents. Fourteen populations were sampled from northern France to Morocco, covering the geographical distribution of the species. A single bulk DNA sample (from 15 individuals) was used in each population, under the assumption that the resulting patterns represent the populations' most common genetic features. To test this, we investigated the genetic variability among 5 bulk samples within a single population. Genetic distances among bulks were very low (average = 0.065) and were signifi- cantly lower than those observed between geographically separated populations (average = 0.241). Neighbour-joining analysis of the distance matrix of populations separated a well-supported group including populations of northern Spain and of northern France, and a less-supported group containing populations of northern Portugal. Multidimensional scaling of the genetic distance matrix revealed 2 isolated populations, Sao Rafael in southern Portugal and Algeciras in southern Spain. These patterns of genetic differentiation are discussed under the available data on the near-shore ocean currents. Results suggest that the genetic differentiation of G. sesquipedale populations may be used as a biological tracer of prevailing flows and barriers of the near-shore currents. A positive correlation between geographical and genetic distances of G. sesquipedale populations along the species geographical dis tribution was found, suggesting that a continuous transport of detached fronds and their reattachment to new substrate must be an effective dispersal mechanism of the species, sustaining the gene flow among populations

From natur(e) to architectural matter: responsive shading system

From the mid XX century, we have seen an increasing interest in exploring a building capacity of changing, of dynamically and automatically responding to the internal and external environments and to different patterns of use. These ideas found its basis on reciprocal relationships between users, spaces and environment. This means that these three factors have direct consequences on each other, affecting reactions, sensations, configuration and even behaviour. The main idea behind this theory is not new; what has changed are the means through which those relationships interact – technology and materials science (Kolarevic, 2014).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Proof of Concept (PoC) 1.0—Implementing a bioshading system design method

Nature provides a remarkable database of possible adaptation strategies that can be implemented in biomimetic design of shading systems. However, at this moment, successful design methods are conditioned to a limited knowledge and ability to emulate nature’s strategies to meet corresponding functional needs. The implementation of biomimetic processes has some major challenges: (1) the search and selection among several databases of appropriate strategies adopted by nature; (2) difficulties in reading, interpreting and translating at different scales; (3) connection problems between concepts and material premises. The selection of nature models is a very common situation among architectural projects. Proof of Concept (PoC) 1.0 was the first experience of application of the Bioshading System Design Method (BSDM). BSDM is a problem-based method that guides its users since the initial architectural challenge definition, improving users’ capabilities to interpret and translate nature strategies into architecture design, until its final state of creation, it’s physical condition. This experience enabled us to validate and evolve initial decisions, based on users experience and evaluation. At the end, PoC 1.0 revealed to be a fundamental step into the final version of BSDM.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

KINE[SIS]TEM’17 From Nature to Architectural Matter International Conference

With nature as a starting point, KINESISTEM’17 was the first International Conference held in Portugal aiming to share and debate research and design work related to the integration of natural geometries, mechanics and systems fundamentals applied to the scale, function and aesthetics of architecture. Four prominent guest keynote speakers set the pace of the conference: Manuel Kretzer, Alex Haw, Bob Sheil and Alberto Estévez. Gathering academics, students and designers, a significant set of research and practice works was presented and the interplay between diverse scientific fields was also a strong feature at the conference, with attendants coming from areas such as architecture, design, electronics, mechanics, computer science, biology and sociology. This report summarizes the KINE[SIS]TEM’17–From Nature to Architectural Matter International Conference hosted by ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa in June 19th–20th, 2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Reconstruction of velopharyngeal sphincter in secondary Cleft Palate: surgical alternative

Cir Pediatr. 2006 Apr;19(2):106-10. [Reconstruction of velopharyngeal sphincter in secondary Cleft Palate: surgical alternative] [Article in Spanish] Recamán M, Bonet B, Leitão J, Mesquita A. Hospital Central e Especializado de Crianças Maria Pia, Serviço de Cirurgía Plástica. [email protected] Abstract There are numerous surgical procedures for the repair of Cleft Palate (CP). Since 1998, in children with CP we use a modified Wardill-Kilner technique, with a large section of the nasal mucous layer at the level of the muscular insertion on the hard palate and lateral nasopharingeal wall, obtaining a push-back and reorientation of the muscular fibres without dissection, diminishing this way the risks of haemorrhages and fibrosis, simplifying the intervention. It allows a lower operative time and a short internment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the results of this operative procedure specially in the development of the speech in 73 children operated on from 1998 until 2000 in our hospital. We verify a competence of the velopharingeal sphincter with ideal results in speech in 88,8% of the cases. PMID: 16846134 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLIN

Responsiveness based material - [a] passive shading control system

During the last decades Architecture has been looking to its basic principles, finding in nature a natural and obvious inspiration. Materials and environment have been playing an important and essential role in this process. Recovering the ideals of the 1950’s intellectually movement Performative Turn, performance-oriented design finds its fundaments on the understanding that architecture unfold their performative capacity by absorbing the complexity conditions and processes. Following this premise, architecture and environment are simultaneously set at a spatial, material and temporal level. The following article has the goal to describe a methodology to find the material and environmental driven parameters to be considered in the design and construction of a passive shading system. This research aims to develop a universal parametric definition, based on cork material and environmental essential and determinant driven parameters that could enable us to design a totally personalized passive shading system to any location and time.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Alteration of the conserved residue tyrosine-158 to histidine renders human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase insensitive to the inhibitor O6- benzylguanine

The DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) protects cells from alkylation damage. O6-Benzylguanine (BG) is a potent inactivator of human AGT (ED50 of 0.1 μM) that is currently undergoing clinical trials to enhance chemotherapy by alkylating agents. In a screen of AGT mutants randomly mutated at position glycine-160, we found that the double mutant Y158H/G160A protected Escherichia coli from killing by N- methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) even in the presence of BG and that the AGT activity of this mutant was strongly resistant to BG (ED50 of 180 μM). Because the single mutant G160A was not resistant to BG, this suggested that the presence of the charged histidine residue at position 158 was responsible. This hypothesis was confirmed by the construction of the single mutation Y158H. The Y158H-mutant AGT was slightly less active than wild-type AGT for the repair of mcthylated DNA in vitro, but it protected E. coli from killing by MNNG even in the presence of BG and had an ED50 for the inactivation by BG of 620 μM. In contrast, mutant Y158F had an ED50 of 0.2 μM. Previous studies (M. Xu-Welliver et al., Cancer Res., 58: 1936-1945, 1998) have shown that mutant P140K is highly resistant to BG (ED50 of > 1200 μM). Models of human AGT suggest that the side chain of the lysine inserted into this mutant is close to tyrosine-158 and that the positively charged lysine side-chain may interfere with BG binding. The double mutants P140K/Y158H and P140K/Y158F resembled P140K and Y158H in being highly resistant to BG, but the use of a sensitive assay for reaction of BG with AGT indicated that their abilities to react were in the order P140K/Y158H < P140K < P140K/Y158F. These results confirm that the presence of a positively charged residue close to the active site of human AGT renders it highly resistant to BG without substantially affecting activity toward methylated DNA substrates. Such mutants may limit the value of BG therapy if they arise in malignant cells during chemotherapy, but the mutant sequences may be useful for gene therapy approaches in which BG-resistant human AGTs are used to prevent hematopoietic toxicity. At least 28 AGT sequences (from 25 species) have now been described. In 25 of these, the position equivalent to 158 in the human AGT is also a tyrosine, and in the other 3, it is a phenylalanine. The importance of an aromatic ring side chain at this position is emphasized by previous studies (S. Edara et al., Carcinogenesis, 16: 1637- 1642, 1995), which show that the replacement by alanine renders human AGT inactive. Our results show that histidine can also substitute for tyrosine at this position