Notes

Polarization state doing a trace for method to guide nearby birefringent components within biological materials making use of polarization hypersensitive eye coherence tomography.
5 ± 4.6% (95%-LoA - 8.6 to 9.6%) and the overall predictive agreement was 72.4% with a Cohen's kappa of 0.53. The mean of the differences was - 0.7 ± 3.8% (95%-LoA - 8.1 to 6.7%) without pneumoperitoneum in horizontal position and 1.1 ± 4.8% (95%-LoA - 8.4 to 10.5%) during pneumoperitoneum in reverse-Trendelenburg position. The absolute agreement and predictive agreement between PPVFinger and PPVART are moderate in obese patients having laparoscopic bariatric surgery.Oxidative stress-induced damage is a major mechanism in the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A recent human clinical trial showed that the combination of nicotinamide riboside (NR) and pterostilbene (PT), molecules with potential to interfere in that mechanism, was efficacious in ALS patients. We examined the effect of these molecules in SOD1G93A transgenic mice, a well-stablished model of ALS. Assessment of neuromotor activity and coordination was correlated with histopathology, and measurement of proinflammatory cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid. Cell death, Nrf2- and redox-dependent enzymes and metabolites, and sirtuin activities were studied in isolated motor neurons. NR and PT increased survival and ameliorated ALS-associated loss of neuromotor functions in SOD1G93A transgenic mice. NR and PT also decreased the microgliosis and astrogliosis associated with ALS progression. Increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines were observed in the cerebrospinal fluid of mice and humans with ALS. NR and PT ameliorated TNFα-induced oxidative stress and motor neuron death in vitro. Our results support the involvement of oxidative stress, specific Nrf2-dependent antioxidant defenses, and sirtuins in the pathophysiology of ALS. NR and PT interfere with the mechanisms leading to the release of proapoptotic molecular signals by mitochondria, and also promote mitophagy.
To assess the association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease in a nationally representative sample of Canadian adults.

This study used cross-sectional data from 13,608 adults (aged 19+ years) from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition. The survey provided data on food consumption (from 24-h recall) and prevalent obesity (BMI ≥ 30kg/m
) and self-reported diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. All foods and drinks consumed were classified according to the extent and purpose of industrial processing using the NOVA classification. Ultra-processed food consumption was estimated as proportion of total daily energy intake. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the association between ultra-processed food consumption and obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, adjusting for a range of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors.

In 2015, ultra-processed food contributed, on average, to24% of total daily energy iessed foods in Canada and to make unprocessed or minimally processed foods more affordable, available and appealing.
To determine the significance of the correlation between the vascular structure and neural function of the macula in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Single-center observational study.

Ninety eyes of 90 diabetic patients with an average (SD) age of 63.5 (3.8) years were studied. Fifty of the eyes had no clinically apparent diabetic retinopathy (non-DR), and 40 eyes had mild-to-moderate nonproliferative DR (NPDR). Thirty age-matched healthy individuals were also studied in the same way. Swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was performed to obtain 3 × 3-mm en face images of the posterior pole of the eye. The vascular densities (VDs) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and the deep capillary plexus (DCP) were determined. The focal macular electroretinograms (ERGs) elicited by a 15° circular stimulus centered on the fovea were recorded. The amplitudes of the a- and b-waves, sum of the oscillatory potentials (ΣOPs), photopic negative response (PhNR), and implicit times of the in reflects the early changes of the microvasculature in the macula caused by diabetes.The overdiagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) in nursing home residents that results in unnecessary antibiotic treatment has been recognized for more than 2 decades. This has resulted in the publication of several decision tools for the diagnosis of UTI in nursing home residents. Given all of the decision tools available, how does one decide on the approach to improve the diagnosis of UTI in nursing home residents in the context of an antimicrobial stewardship program? To address this question, this paper reviews (a) published decision tools for the diagnosis of UTI in nursing home residents; (b) randomized controlled trials to improve the diagnosis of UTI in nursing home residents; and (c) non-randomized studies to improve the diagnosis of UTI in nursing home residents. Review of published decision tools indicates that the diagnosis of UTI is based on the presence of urinary tract signs and symptoms. However, there is considerable variation in the diagnostic criteria among the decision tools and there if this protocol were inconclusive because of design limitations and additional studies are required. Regardless of what interventions are utilized, there must be provider and nursing staff commitment and motivation to improve the management of residents with suspected UTI and methods to achieve improvement must be demonstrated to be feasible and sustainable given the resources available in nursing homes.IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated disorder often showing elevated serum IgG4 concentrations, dense T and B lymphocyte infiltration, and IgG4-positive plasma cells and storiform fibrosis. We prospectively evaluated for 4 years 5 patients with histologically proven IgG4-RD of whom 3 had tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) and 2 had retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF). They received an intensive B depletion therapy with rituximab. The estimated glomerular filtration rate of TIN patients after 1 year increased from 9 to 24 ml/min per 1.73 m2. IgG/IgG4 dropped from 3236/665 to 706/51 mg/dl, C3/C4 went up from 49/6 to 99/27 mg/dl, and the IgG4-RD responder index fell from 10 to 1. CD20+ B cells decreased from 8.7 to 0.5%. A striking drop in interstitial plasma cell infiltrate as well as normalization of IgG4/IgG-positive plasma cells was observed at repeat biopsy. Both clinical and immunological improvement persisted over a 4-year follow-up. Treating these patients who were affected by aggressive IgG4-RD with renal involvement in an effort to induce a prolonged B cells depletion with IgG4 and cytokine production decrease resulted in a considerable rise in eGFR, with IgG4-RD RI normalization and a noteworthy improvement in clinical and histological features. Furthermore, the TIN subgroup was shown not to need for any maintenance therapy.Klotho gene is an important gene involved in calcium homeostasis, and polymorphisms of this gene may render the individual prone to renal stone formation. We evaluated G395A single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Klotho gene at rs1207568 in renal stone patients of North India. This was a prospective study involving 150 patients of renal stone disease (aged 15-60 years) and 100 age- and sex-matched controls. The DNA was isolated and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for identifying the G395A Klotho SNPs at rs1207568. Confronting two pair primers were used, and gel electrophoresis showing two bands at 175,252 bp was considered as GG genotype, three bands at 121,175 and 252 bp as GA and two bands at 121 and 252 bp as AA genotype. The association between genotype and cases was evaluated by using Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. Cases and controls were well matched for age (40.65 vs 42.06, p = 0.063) and sex (p = 0.420). Significantly high proportion of patients with renal stones had GG genotype as compared to controls (odds ratio (OR) 2.37(1.39,4.03), p = 0.001). None of the participants (cases and controls) had homozygous recessive AA genotype. The risk of stone formation was significantly higher in the population carrying G allele OR 1.94 (1.225-3.073), p 0.004. Mean serum calcium was higher in stone formers with GG genotype as compared to those with GA genotype (9.16 mg/dl vs 8.91 mg/dl; p = 0.06). GG genotype of G396A Klotho gene SNPs is associated with renal stone formation. The G allele carrier is twice at risk of renal stone formation. The absence of AA genotype in north-western Indian population remains a curiosity.Ultra-mini PNL is increasingly preferred in the treatment of kidney stones. Unlike routine applications of the ultra-mini PNL technique, we aimed to perform kidney stones treatment with an epiduroscopic device that can pass through 11-13-Fr ureteral access sheaths with a flexible structure and which is routine in neurosurgical practice. The study was planned prospectively. The study included 52 patients with mid-sized kidney stones who had presented to our clinic between July 2017 and January 2019. The ultra-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy was carried out with epiduroscopy routinely used in neurosurgery practice, which can pass through 11-13-Fr ureteral access and has a flexible structure. The perioperative and postoperative parameters were analyzed. The mean operation time was 45.6 ± 4.8 min and entry was provided through a single entry (from the calyx appropriate to the lower pole) in all patients; a second entry tract was not required. No DJ catheter or nephrostomy tube was installed in any patient and the procedures were completed totally without a tube. The mean reduction in hemoglobin values was determined as 0.33 (0.1-1.1) g/dL. None of the patients needed transfusion and no patient developed acute kidney injury. Clinically significant (≥ 3 mm) residual stone was observed in 2 (4%) of the 52 patients, while clinically insignificant (≤ 3 mm) stones were observed in 50 patients (96%). The mean length of hospital stay was 2.5 ± 0.9 days. Ultra-mini flexible percutaneous nephrolithotomy is an effective and safe method in the treatment of medium-sized kidney stones.The interferon-inducible transmembrane 3 (IFITM3) protein is an effector of the host innate immune system that shows defensive activity against a wide range of viruses, including the influenza A virus. Previous studies have reported that three transcription-related regulatory single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs12252, rs34481144, and rs6598045, showed potent associations with the severity of pandemic influenza A 2009 infection and susceptibility to this virus, respectively. However, the distribution of the risk genotypes of these three SNPs according to ethnic background has remained elusive. In this study, we compared the genotype and allele frequencies of the IFITM3 polymorphisms among several ethnic groups including American, African, European, South Asian, and East Asian using chi-square test. In addition, we analyzed the worldwide distribution of risk genotypes for pandemic influenza A 2009 virus infection. We found that the genotype and allele distributions of the rs12252, rs34481144, and rs6598045 SNPs were significantly different among several ethnic groups.
Here's my website: