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AIM: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum miR-4534 combined with Transvaginal Color Doppler Ultrasound (TVCDS) in cervical cancer patients. METHODS: Blood samples from 126 patients with cervical cancer and 83 patients with benign uterine lesions were retrospectively analyzed. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to examine the relative abundances of serum miR-4534 in cervical cancer based on a case-control study. Chi-square test was adopted to analyze the association between serum miR-4534 and other clinicopathological factors. The blood flow of cervix was examined using TVCDS, and the blood flow resistance index (RI) of cervix was summarized. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to explore the diagnostic capacity of serum miR-4534 combined with blood flow RI. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the risk factors of cervical cancer. RESULTS: Serum miR-4534 was distinctly increased in the study group compared with the control group (P < 0.05), while blood flow RI was dramatically decreased (P < 0.05). Moreover, increased miR-4534 was closely associated with lymph node metastasis (P = 0.010), FIGO stage (P = 0.007) and HR-HPV (P = 0.025). ROC curves demonstrated that the area under curve (AUC) of serum miR-4534 combined with the blood flow RI was 0.854, with the sensitivity and specificity of 88.9% and 73.5%, respectively, which displayed a better diagnostic capacity than serum miR-4534 and blood flow RI alone. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that serum miR-4534 (OR = 8.805, 95% CI = 4.124-18.798; P < 0.001) was a risk factor related to the initiation and formation of cervical cancer, as well as blood flow RI (OR = 0.112; 95% CI = 0.054-0.235; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum miR-4534 was highly expressed in cervical cancer, and associated with the development and metastasis of cervical cancer patients. MiR-4534 combined with TVCDS exhibited a considerable biomarker to detect cervical cancer patients.

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Elimination of the binding of immunoglobulin Fc to Fc gamma receptors is highly desirable for the avoidance of unwanted inflammatory responses to therapeutic antibodies and fusion proteins. Many different approaches have been used in the clinic, but they have not been systematically compared. We have now produced a matched set of anti-CD20 antibodies with different Fc subclasses and variants and compared their activity for binding to C1q, Fc-gamma receptors and in cell-based assays. Most of the variants still have significant levels of activity in one or more of these assays and many of them have impaired temperature stability compared with the corresponding wild-type antibody.

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Fragmentos Fc de Inmunoglobulinas , Receptores de IgG , Receptores de IgG/genética , Receptores de IgG/metabolismo , Receptores de IgG/inmunología , Humanos , Fragmentos Fc de Inmunoglobulinas/genética , Fragmentos Fc de Inmunoglobulinas/inmunología , Fragmentos Fc de Inmunoglobulinas/metabolismo , Mutación , Unión Proteica , Antígenos CD20/inmunología , Antígenos CD20/genética , Antígenos CD20/metabolismo , Animales , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/inmunología , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/genética

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Background Abnormal uterine bleeding constitutes a vexing issue among female patients, substantially impacting their quality of life. Surgical interventions, particularly hysterectomy, contribute to the psychological, physical, and financial burden on families and, by extension, the healthcare system. Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) represents a conservative management approach and emerges as a beneficial option for affected patients. The present study aims to elucidate color Doppler changes in the uterine artery pre- and post-LNG-IUS insertion. Objective The primary objectives encompass an investigation into the variations in Doppler indices (resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI)) within the arcuate and radial branches of the uterine artery, as well as the assessment of endometrial thickness before LNG-IUD insertion, at three months, and six months post-insertion. Secondary outcomes include evaluating changes in pictorial blood assessment chart (PBAC) scores before insertion, at three months, and at six months after LNG-IUS insertion. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Nagpur. A cohort of 25 women underwent LNG-IUS insertion. The endometrial cavity, RI, and PI of both arcuate and radial arteries were assessed before LNG-IUS insertion and at three and six months after insertion. Results The PI of the arcuate artery exhibited minimal alteration over the six-month duration, with a p-value of 0.43. Conversely, the RI demonstrated a statistically significant increase over the same period (p = 0.03). Conversely, the radial artery exhibited no statistically significant changes in either PI or RI (p = 0.39 or 0.13, respectively). Conclusion Following six months of LNG-IUS utilization, a substantial reduction in endometrial thickness and menstrual flow was observed, concomitant with an improvement in hemoglobin levels. Notably, the PI of both the arcuate and radial arteries demonstrated no significant change. Although the RI of the arcuate artery increased, its clinical relevance may be limited. Consequently, the observed reduction in menstrual bleeding cannot conclusively be ascribed to diminished blood flow in uterine arteries.

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Cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri) is a rapid but reversible autoimmune encephalopathy where spontaneous autoantibody reaction against amyloid beta deposited in cerebral blood vessels produces characteristic neuroinflammatory changes such as vasogenic edema and microhemorrhages on MRI. The term amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) is sometimes used to describe these changes but are more often reserved for similar MRI signal abnormalities seen after administration of anti-amyloid immunotherapy, using treatment exposure as an antecedent. It is unclear if there is any biological basis for this dichotomized distinction. We report a case of severe CAA-ri after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and performed a literature review of CAA-ri related to vaccination. CAA-ri precipitated by immunogenic triggers other than anti-amyloid therapy would lend support to the hypothesis that ARIA seen on MRI may represent the same disease underpinned by a shared anti-Aß autoantibody response irrespective of etiology. A thorough history should be taken before labelling CAA-ri as spontaneous.

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Angiopatía Amiloide Cerebral , Anciano , Humanos , Angiopatía Amiloide Cerebral/inmunología , Angiopatía Amiloide Cerebral/diagnóstico por imagen , COVID-19/inmunología , COVID-19/complicaciones , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/efectos adversos , Inflamación/inmunología , Inflamación/etiología , Inflamación/inducido químicamente , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Vacunación/efectos adversos

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Introduction Preeclampsia is a serious complication marked by antepartum hemorrhage, resulting in severe maternal and fetal complications. Predicting this condition using placental dysfunction assessments, such as uterine artery Doppler ultrasound, is challenging due to the placenta's evolving structural and biochemical characteristics throughout different stages of pregnancy. Objectives To determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the uterine artery Doppler Pulsatility Index (PI) and Resistive Index (RI) in predicting preeclampsia. To compare the Doppler ultrasound measurements between normal pregnancies and those that develop preeclampsia. To assess the diagnostic accuracy of uterine artery Doppler ultrasound in predicting gestational hypertension in addition to preeclampsia. Methodology Conducted as a prospective study, 116 antenatal mothers with computed gestational ages and scan gestational ages between 11 and 14 weeks, and a previous history of preeclampsia were included. Subjects with chronic hypertension or multiple gestations were excluded. Participants underwent uterine artery Doppler screening, during which the PI and RI were measured upon obtaining three consecutive similar waveforms, and the mean PI of the left and right arteries was calculated. The outcomes of patients with normal pregnancies and those who developed preeclampsia were compared. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel (Microsoft® Corp., Redmond, WA, USA) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23 (Released 2015; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results The mean PI among participants was 1.75 (±0.38), with a range from 1 to 2.75. The mean RI was 0.58 (±0.08), ranging from 0.45 to 0.8. The cutoff for the mean PI in predicting preeclampsia was 2.27, which showed a sensitivity of 92.9%, specificity of 97.1%, PPV of 81.47%, NPV of 99.01%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 96.59% (area under the curve (AUC): 0.982). The cutoff for the mean RI for predicting preeclampsia was 0.695, with a sensitivity of 85.7%, specificity of 98%, PPV of 85.47%, NPV of 98.04%, and diagnostic accuracy of 96.52% (AUC: 0.965). In predicting gestational hypertension, the cutoff for the mean PI was 1.975, with a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 82.9%, PPV of 17.41%, NPV of 98.92%, and diagnostic accuracy of 82.78% (AUC: 0.848). The cutoff for the mean RI in predicting gestational hypertension was 0.615, showing a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 80.2%, PPV of 15.4%, NPV of 98.89%, and diagnostic accuracy of 80.19% (AUC: 0.767). Conclusion The research demonstrated that aberrant readings in uterine Doppler ultrasound, specifically in the PI and RI, possess strong overall validity in forecasting the occurrence of preeclampsia.

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Objectives: Three-tesla MRI with gadolinium-based contrast agents is important in diagnosing Ménière's disease. However, contrast agents cannot be used in some patients. By using the compositional difference between the inner ear endolymph and perilymph, we performed basic and clinical research focused on potassium ions and protein to find the optimal parameters for visualizing endolymphatic hydrops on MRI without contrast. We then examined the relationship between severity stage and visualization rate of endolymphatic hydrops. Methods: In phantom experiments simulating the endolymph and perilymph, we explored MRI parameters that could be used to separate endolymph from perilymph by gradually changing the inversion time. We then used these parameters to perform both new non-contrast MRI and contrast MRI on the same day in Ménière's disease patients, and we compared the visualization rates of endolymphatic hydrops under the two modalities. Fifty patients were selected from 478 patients with Ménière's disease of different severity stages; 12 patients had asthma and allergy to contrast agents. Results: The higher the disease stage, the higher the endolymphatic hydrops visualization rate. The new non-contrast MRI gave significantly higher (p < .01) visualization rates of endolymphatic hydrops on the affected side in patients at Stage 3 or above than in Stages 1 and 2 combined. Conclusion: New non-contrast MRI with parameters focusing on the endolymph-perilymph difference in the density of protons surrounding the potassium ions and protein can produce images consistent with endolymphatic hydrops. We believe that this groundbreaking method will be useful for diagnosing Ménière's disease in patients. Evidence Level: Clinical studies are at evidence level 3 in non-randomized controlled trials.

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Although previous studies have shown that self-compassion is associated with self-esteem and depressive symptoms, little is known about the intra-individual processes and the temporal dynamics of these variables. This study used a longitudinal design to explore the association between self-compassion, self-esteem and depressive symptoms among 5785 college students (aged 17-22 years; Mage = 18.63, SD = 0.88; 48.2% females). The participants were assessed six times in a six-month interval over three years. The random intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPMs) were used to disentangle within-person processes from stable between-person differences. Results of RI-CLPMs indicated that at the within-person level, self-compassion can positively predict subsequent self-esteem and negatively predict subsequent depressive symptoms, and vice versa. Self-esteem played a longitudinal mediating role in the prediction from self-compassion to depressive symptoms at the within-person level. These results indicate that cultivating self-compassion in college students is crucial as it can bolster their self-esteem and alleviate depressive symptoms.

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This longitudinal study examined the reciprocal relationship between the Big Five personality traits and sense of purpose over a 13-year period using a nationally representative sample of American adults (N = 11,010). The random intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed unidirectional effects: increases in sense of purpose predicted subsequent increases in openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and extraversion, as well as decreases in neuroticism. Conversely, changes in personality traits did not predict future changes in sense of purpose. One potential mechanism underlying this effect might involve the link between sense of purpose and optimal self-regulatory processes and outcomes, such as successful planning, goal-directed behaviour, and self-control, which promote gradual positive changes in personality traits. Another plausible mechanism may be the association between purpose and improved subjective well-being and reduced psychological distress, which have been found to predict positive changes in personality traits. These findings challenge previous research that has interpreted cross-sectional associations as evidence that personality traits are predictive of purpose, rather than the other way around. The findings that intentionally cultivating a strong sense of purpose may facilitate positive personality change in adulthood.

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Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, with acute myocardial infarction and anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity being the significant factors. The most effective treatment for acute myocardial infarction is rapid restoration of coronary blood flow by thrombolytic therapy or percutaneous coronary intervention. However, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI) after reperfusion therapy is common in acute myocardial infarction, thus affecting the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction. There is no effective treatment for MI/RI. Anthracyclines such as Doxorubicin (DOX) have limited clinical use due to their cardiotoxicity, and the mechanism of DOX-induced cardiac injury is complex and not yet fully understood. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a crucial role in many biological processes. Emerging evidence suggests that m6A methylation plays a critical regulatory role in MI/RI and DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC), suggesting that m6A may serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for MI/RI and DIC. M6A methylation may mediate the pathophysiological processes of MI/RI and DIC by regulating cellular autophagy, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. In this paper, we first focus on the relationship between m6A methylation and MI/RI, then further elucidate that m6A methylation may mediate the pathophysiological process of MI/RI through the regulation of cellular autophagy, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. Finally, briefly outline the roles played by m6A in DIC, which will provide a new methodology and direction for the research and treatment of MI/RI and DIC.

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Adenosina , Apoptosis , Cardiotoxicidad , Doxorrubicina , Daño por Reperfusión Miocárdica , Estrés Oxidativo , Doxorrubicina/efectos adversos , Animales , Humanos , Adenosina/análogos & derivados , Adenosina/metabolismo , Daño por Reperfusión Miocárdica/metabolismo , Daño por Reperfusión Miocárdica/inducido químicamente , Daño por Reperfusión Miocárdica/patología , Daño por Reperfusión Miocárdica/fisiopatología , Daño por Reperfusión Miocárdica/genética , Metilación , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Autofagia/efectos de los fármacos , Transducción de Señal , Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/efectos adversos , Antibióticos Antineoplásicos/toxicidad , Miocitos Cardíacos/efectos de los fármacos , Miocitos Cardíacos/metabolismo , Miocitos Cardíacos/patología , Miocardio/metabolismo , Miocardio/patología , Mediadores de Inflamación/metabolismo

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Background Acidosis, hypoxemia, and hypercarbia are symptoms of a syndrome known as perinatal asphyxia that occurs during the first and second stages of labor and shortly after delivery due to poor gas exchange. The Doppler technique is a non-invasive way to assess the risk of neurodevelopment damage in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) that may be done at the patient's bedside without disturbing them. The study aims to evaluate cranial ultrasound findings in HIE and investigate the role of resistive index (RI) values assessed by color Doppler transcranial ultrasonography in predicting early morbidities in neonates with HIE within 72 hours of life. Methodology Prospective observational research was carried out at the north Karnataka region's tertiary newborn critical care unit. The study included 54 infants with HIE in total. The male-to-female ratio was 1.7:1, with 34 (63%) male and 20 (37%) female newborns. Results About 32 instances had grade I HIE, 8 had grade II HIE, and 14 had grade III HIE. In 35 instances (64.81%), the RI was normal; in 19 cases (35.19%), it was abnormal. Increased periventricular density and cerebral parenchyma echo density were common Doppler ultrasonography findings. Roughly 93% of people survived, and 7% of people died from HIE. Seizures (12.96%) and acute renal damage (33.33%) were the most frequent consequences. Conclusion In instances of HIE, the RI was revealed to be a favorable predictive indicator for newborn prognosis. Counseling and educating parents about early morbidities, anticipated long-term consequences, and the need for follow-up will all benefit from it. Additionally, color Doppler is a practical and secure diagnostic method for determining a newborn's level of HIE.

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The accuracy of the signal within a driving chain for the rate-integrating hemispherical resonator gyro (RI-HRG) plays a crucial role in the overall performance of the gyro. In this paper, a notable and effective method is proposed to realize the identification and compensation of the unbalanced error in the driving chain for the RI-HRG that improved the performance of the multi-loop control applied in the RI-HRG. Firstly, the assembly inclination and eccentricity error of the hemispherical resonator, the inconsistent metal conductive film layer resistance error of the resonator, the coupling error of the driving chain, and the parameter inconsistency error of the circuit components were considered, and the impact of these errors on the multi-loop control applied in the RI-HRG were analyzed. On this basis, the impact was further summarized as the unbalanced error in the driving chain, which included the unbalanced gain error, equivalent misalignment angle, and unbalanced equivalent misalignment angle error. Then, a model between the unbalanced error in the driving chain and a non-ideal precession angular rate was established, which was applicable to both single channel asynchronous control and dual channel synchronous control of the RI-HRG. Further, an unbalanced error identification and compensation method is proposed by utilizing the RI-HRG output with the virtual precession control. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method was verified through simulation and experiments in kind. After error compensation, the zero-bias instability of the RI-HRG was improved from 3.0950°/h to 0.0511°/h. The results of experiments in kind demonstrated that the proposed method can effectively suppress the non-ideal angular rate output caused by the unbalanced error in the driving chain for the RI-HRG, thereby further improving the overall performance of the RI-HRG.

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BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of treatment with P2Y12 adenosine-diphosphate receptor inhibitors (P2Y12-RI) before coronary angiography among patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTEACS) are questionable. AIMS: To assess the pretreatment rate with P2Y12-RI and its association with ischemic and bleeding risks among patients with NSTEACS. METHODS: The study comprised patients with NSTEACS referred for coronary angiography and included in the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Surveys between 2013 and 2021. Patients were divided into two groups according to the timing of P2Y12-RI loading concerning coronary angiography: pretreatment and posttreatment. The primary endpoints were 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; composite of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, stent thrombosis, and urgent revascularization) and 1-year all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Of 3076 patients, 2423 (78.8%) received pretreatment with a P2Y12-RI, and 653 (21.2%) received P2Y12-RI posttreatment. Prasugrel and ticagrelor were used more in the posttreatment group compared to the pretreatment group (16% vs. 6% and 38% vs. 25%, respectively, p < 0.001 for both). No difference was observed in the rate of 30-day MACE comparing pretreatment and posttreatment (5.3% vs. 2.2%, respectively, p = 0.62). A sensitivity analysis of 30-day MACE among patients from the 2021 survey demonstrated similar results (2.5% in the posttreatment group vs. 8.0% in the pretreatment group, p = 0.13). There were no differences in 1-year all-cause mortality rates between the pretreatment and posttreatment groups (4.8% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with NSTEACS referred for an invasive strategy, the P2Y12-RI posttreatment strategy was associated with similar 30-day and 1-year MACE as the pretreatment strategy. These large-scale, multicenter, real-world data provide reassurance on the safety and efficacy of delaying P2Y12-IR until after coronary stratification to improve clinical decision-making.

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During the gestation and lactation period, the energy demand in pregnant and lactating bitches is elevated. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are utilized either directly from the fed diet or from body fat storage. High NEFA concentration in the blood plasma leads to an increased risk for diseases. Therefore, measuring blood NEFA concentrations may be an indicator for a period of scarcity. The aim of this study is to explore if serum NEFA concentrations in healthy bitches change during gestation and lactation. Healthy pregnant and lactating bitches were sampled on three appointed dates around parturition. NEFA values were examined with a multiparameter clinical chemistry analyser. All statistical analyses were performed using R. Overall, 38 bitches were enrolled in the study. Twenty-one bitches were sampled on all three appointed dates. The median NEFA concentration antepartum was 0.73 mmol/L (IQR: 0.59, 1.01); during peak lactation, it was 0.57 mmol/L (IQR: 0.44, 0.82); and around weaning, it was 0.58 mmol/L (IQR: 0.46, 0.73). NEFA concentrations rose slightly with litter size in late gestation. Body condition score had no influence on observed NEFA values. We conclude that NEFA concentrations widely remain within reference ranges in well-fed pregnant and lactating bitches. Nevertheless, they may be a valuable parameter to assess the actual metabolic status of malnourished pregnant and lactating bitches.

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Ácidos Grasos no Esterificados , Lactancia , Animales , Femenino , Perros , Ácidos Grasos no Esterificados/sangre , Lactancia/fisiología , Embarazo , Tamaño de la Camada , Preñez/sangre

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Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapies have achieved remarkable success in the treatment of hematological tumors. However, given the distinct features of solid tumors, particularly heterogeneity, metabolic aggressiveness, and fewer immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME), the practical utility of CAR-T cells for solid tumors remains as a challenging issue. Meanwhile, although anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) has shown clinical efficacy, most mAbs also show limited clinical benefits for solid tumors due mainly to the issues associated with the lack of immune cells in TME. Thus, the infiltration of targeted immunological active cells into TME could generate synergistic efficacy for mAbs. Methods: We present a combinational strategy for solid tumor treatment, which combines armored-T cells to express Fc-gamma receptor I (FcγRI) fragment on the surfaces for targeting various tumors with therapeutically useful mAbs. Choosing CD20 and HER-2 as the targets, we characterized the in vitro and in vivo efficacy and latent mechanism of the combination drug by using flow cytometry, ELISA and other methods. Results: The combination and preprocessing of armored T-cells with corresponding antibody of Rituximab and Pertuzumab exerted profound anti-tumor effects, which is demonstrated to be mediated by synergistically produced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) effects. Meanwhile, mAb was able to carry armored-T cell by preprocessing for the infiltration to TME in cell derived xenograft (CDX) model. Conclusions: This combination strategy showed a significant increase of safety profiles from the reduction of antibody doses. More importantly, the present strategy could be a versatile tool for a broad spectrum of cancer treatment, with a simple pairing of engineered T cells and a conventional antibody.

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Neoplasias , Receptores de IgG , Linfocitos T , Microambiente Tumoral , Receptores de IgG/inmunología , Receptores de IgG/metabolismo , Humanos , Animales , Ratones , Neoplasias/inmunología , Neoplasias/terapia , Neoplasias/tratamiento farmacológico , Linfocitos T/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/uso terapéutico , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/inmunología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Ensayos Antitumor por Modelo de Xenoinjerto , Inmunoterapia Adoptiva/métodos , Receptor ErbB-2/inmunología , Receptor ErbB-2/antagonistas & inhibidores , Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos Inmunológicos/uso terapéutico , Receptores Quiméricos de Antígenos/inmunología , Receptores Quiméricos de Antígenos/genética , Femenino , Antígenos CD20/inmunología

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OBJECTIVES: Mercapto acetyl tri-glycine renogram (MAG3) scan has been the gold standard assessment of pediatric ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) but requires intravenous access and radiation exposure. While Doppler ultrasound measurements of resistive indices (RI) of the arcuate arteries have been proposed as an alternative assessment of obstruction, they have not been widely adopted in the pediatric population. We hypothesized that RI of the main renal artery (RA) is more strongly correlated with MAG3 findings than arcuate RI. METHODS: Pediatric patients with unilateral Society for Fetal Urology grade 3-4 hydronephrosis undergoing concomitant RUS and MAG3 were recruited. Doppler ultrasound peak systolic velocity (PSV); RI of bilateral RA at the origin, middle, and hilum; and RI of the superior, middle, and lower pole arcuate arteries were obtained. MAG3 differential renal function (DRF) and T½ were recorded. Differences in RI measurements (DRI) between the affected and normal kidney were calculated and compared with DRF and T½. RESULTS: 31 patients (median 4.6-month-old) were enrolled. Only RA RI at the origin differed between affected and normal kidneys (p < .001). DRI RA at the origin showed weak evidence for an association with MAG3 DRF < 40% (p .07). DRI was not associated with T½ > 20 minutes. CONCLUSION: There was weak evidence for an association between RA DRI at the origin and DRF but not with T½. These findings suggest that RA DRI may provide additional data in the evaluation of patients with UPJO to tailor the use of MAG3 and associated risk of radiation exposure to those patients most at risk for concomitant renal function impairment.

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Ultrasonografía Doppler , Obstrucción Ureteral , Humanos , Obstrucción Ureteral/diagnóstico por imagen , Obstrucción Ureteral/fisiopatología , Femenino , Masculino , Lactante , Ultrasonografía Doppler/métodos , Arteria Renal/diagnóstico por imagen , Arteria Renal/fisiopatología , Pelvis Renal/diagnóstico por imagen , Pelvis Renal/fisiopatología , Preescolar , Resistencia Vascular/fisiología , Niño , Estudios Prospectivos , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Hidronefrosis/diagnóstico por imagen , Hidronefrosis/fisiopatología , Riñón/diagnóstico por imagen , Riñón/fisiopatología

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OBJECTIVE: To assess the bidirectional association between chronic pain and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults from two prospective cohort studies. METHODS: We used prospective data (12y of follow-up) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (n = 9149, 5018 women, 65.0 ± 10.2y) and the Health and Retirement Study (n = 16,883, 9810 women, 66.9 ± 10.3y), including data from seven waves of each cohort between 2006 and 2018/2019. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Centre of Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, while chronic pain was estimated using questions about the frequency of being troubled with pain. We used random-intercept cross-lagged panel models to assess the bidirectional association between pain and depressive symptoms, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: There was a cross-lagged effect of chronic pain on depressive symptoms (ELSA: ß: 0.038; 95%CI: 0.011-0.066. Standardized coefficient (B): 0.021. SHARE: ß: 0.044; 95%CI: 0.023-0.065. B: 0.023-0.024) as well as depressive symptoms on pain (ELSA: ß: 0.010; 95%CI: 0.002-0.018. B: 0.017-0.019. SHARE: 0.011; 95%CI: 0.005-0.017. B: 0.020-0.021). Moreover, there were auto-regressive effects of both chronic pain (ELSA: ß: 0.149; 95%CI: 0.128-0.171. SHARE: ß: 0.129; 95%CI: 0.112-0.145) and depressive symptoms (ELSA: ß: 0.149; 95%CI: 0.130-0.168. SHARE: ß: 0.169; 95%CI: 0.154-0.184). CONCLUSION: We identified a modest bidirectional association between depressive symptoms and chronic pain, using two large prospective ageing cohorts.

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Dolor Crónico , Depresión , Humanos , Femenino , Dolor Crónico/epidemiología , Masculino , Depresión/epidemiología , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Estudios Longitudinales , Estudios Prospectivos , Inglaterra/epidemiología , Envejecimiento , Anciano de 80 o más Años

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OBJECTIVE: Copeptin is a stable fragment of vasopressin. Copeptin levels have been found to reflect the degree of endothelial stress in various conditions, including acute coronary syndrome. Copeptin may be a bio marker for endothelial stress during pregnancy. However, there is still a lack of understanding of its dynamics and levels throughout pregnancy. This study aims to describe intra-individual and longitudinal changes in copeptin levels at 30th and 36th gestational weeks in healthy pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery and to establish specific reference ranges. METHODS: A total of 125 pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery were included. These women were monitored throughout their pregnancy and gave birth at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Olomouc University Hospital. The blood was taken at ~30 and ~36 gestational weeks. Serum copeptin levels were measured using a Kryptor Compact PLUS analyzer. For statistics, we used R software and the "referenceRanges" package. RESULTS: It was found that serum levels of copeptin were significantly higher in the 36th week group than in the 30th week group (P < 0.05). Cook's distance was used to eliminate outliers. The 30th week median was 3.377 pmol/l, reference range = 1.343-7.829 pmol/l, and the 36 week was median 4.735 pmol/l and reference range = 2.06-13.2 pmol/l. In the 36th week reference range, the median was higher than in healthy, non-pregnant women (P < 0.05). Copeptin values can exceed 10 pmol/l, particularly after the 36th week. In the 3rd trimester, this value may indicate cardiovascular and endothelial overload. CONCLUSION: Copeptin levels were found to vary significantly depending on gestational week. The proposed reference ranges take into account the increased secretion of vasopressin in pregnancy. The existence of specific upper reference limits represents a potential advantage in detecting pregnant women prone to hypertensive disease in the 3rd trimester.

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Glicopéptidos , Tercer Trimestre del Embarazo , Humanos , Femenino , Glicopéptidos/sangre , Embarazo , Valores de Referencia , Tercer Trimestre del Embarazo/sangre , Adulto , Biomarcadores/sangre

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Water-insoluble α-glucans synthesized from sucrose by glucansucrases from Streptococcus spp. are essential in dental plaque and caries formation. Because limited information is available on the fine structure of these biopolymers, we analyzed the structures of unmodified glucans produced by five recombinant Streptococcus (S.) mutans DSM 20523 and S. salivarius DSM 20560 glucansucrases in detail. A combination of methylation analysis, endo-dextranase and endo-mutanase hydrolyses, and HPSEC-RI was used. Furthermore, crystal-like regions were analyzed by using XRD and 13C MAS NMR spectroscopy. Our results showed that the glucan structures were highly diverse: Two glucans with 1,3- and 1,6-linkages were characterized in detail besides an almost exclusively 1,3-linked and a linear 1,6-linked glucan. Furthermore, one glucan contained 1,3-, 1,4-, and 1,6-linkages and thus had an unusual, not yet described structure. It was demonstrated that the glucans had a varying structural architecture by using partial enzymatic hydrolyses. Furthermore, crystal-like regions formed by 1,3-glucopyranose units were observed for the two 1,3- and 1,6-linked glucans and the linear 1,3-linked glucan. 1,6-linked regions were mobile and not involved in the crystal-like areas. Altogether, our results broaden the knowledge of the structure of water-insoluble α-glucans from Streptococcus spp.

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Glucanos , Glicosiltransferasas , Agua , Glucanos/química , Agua/química , Glicosiltransferasas/metabolismo , Glicosiltransferasas/química , Streptococcus/enzimología , Solubilidad , Streptococcus mutans/enzimología

RESUMEN

Objective: Mindfulness is frequently seen as a protective factor of stress, but self-report measures of mindfulness may overlap with other related constructs, such as mental health, and could thus not only be a predictor, but also an outcome of stress. This study thus aimed to examine the longitudinal bidirectional associations between the use and perceived helpfulness of the four mindfulness facets Observe, Describe, Nonjudge, and Nonreact with daily perceived stress. Methods: Participants from a large (N = 1,276) mixed student and community group sample filled out a brief daily diary over the time span of 7 days. Bidirectional cross-lagged effects were investigated using the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model, an extension of the traditional cross-lagged panel model that allows to differentiate between stable between-unit differences and time-varying within-unit dynamics. In addition, we controlled for several baseline and sociodemographic confounders. Results: At the within-subject level, the use of Actaware was associated with higher perceived stress on the next day (ß = 0.03, p = 0.029). The use (ß = -0.04, p = 0.025) and perceived helpfulness (ß = -0.05, p = 0.014) of Nonreact were associated with lower perceived stress on the next day. In turn, perceived stress was associated with lower perceived helpfulness of Describe (ß = -0.04, p = 0.037) and Nonreact (ß = -0.03, p = 0.038) on the next day. In addition, there were several residual correlations between mindfulness facets and perceived stress within days. At the between-subject level, there was a positive association between the random intercept of Describe and daily stress (r = 0.15, p = 0.003). In addition, while baseline perceived stress was negatively associated with the random intercepts of the mindfulness facets, two baseline components of mindfulness were not associated with the random intercept of perceived stress. Conclusion: On the currently investigated time scale, our results challenge prior results and assumptions regarding mindfulness as a buffering and protective factor against daily stress. With the exception of Nonreact, mindfulness was either positively associated with perceived stress, or in turn perceived stress appeared to interfere with the ability to stay mindful in daily life.