42,836 research outputs found

    Randomized trial comparing albumin, dextran 70, and polygeline in cirrhotic patients with ascites treated by paracentesis.

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    Gastroenterology. 1996 Oct;111(4):1002-10. Randomized trial comparing albumin, dextran 70, and polygeline in cirrhotic patients with ascites treated by paracentesis. Ginès A, Fernández-Esparrach G, Monescillo A, Vila C, Domènech E, Abecasis R, Angeli P, Ruiz-Del-Arbol L, Planas R, Solà R, Ginès P, Terg R, Inglada L, Vaqué P, Salerno F, Vargas V, Clemente G, Quer JC, Jiménez W, Arroyo V, Rodés J. SourceLiver Unit, Hospital Clinic i Provincial, Barcelona, Spain. Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Paracentesis associated with plasma expanders is widely used for the treatment of ascites in cirrhosis. This study investigated the clinical importance of paracentesis-induced-circulatory dysfunction and compared the efficacy of albumin, dextran 70, and polygeline in preventing this complication. METHODS: A total of 289 cirrhotic patients with ascites were randomized to treatment by total paracentesis plus intravenous albumin (97 patients), dextran 70 (93 patients), or polygeline (99 patients). Postparacentesis circulatory dysfunction was defined as an increase in plasma renin activity on the sixth day after paracentesis of more than 50% of the pretreatment value to a level > 4 ng.mL-1.h-1. RESULTS: Postparacentesis circulatory dysfunction occurred more frequently in patients treated with dextran 70 (34.4%; P = 0.018) or polygeline (37.8%; P = 0.004) than in those receiving albumin (18.5%). The plasma expander used and the volume of ascites removed were independent predictors of this complication. Postparacentesis circulatory dysfunction persisted during follow-up and was associated with a shorter time to first readmission (1.3 +/- 0.5 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.8 months, median +/- SEM; P = 0.03) and shorter survival (9.3 +/- 4.2 vs. 16.9 +/- 4.3 months; P = 0.01). Creatinine and sodium levels in serum, and Child-Pugh score at inclusion, and postparacentesis circulatory dysfunction were independent predictors of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Postparacentesis circulatory dysfunction is not spontaneously reversible and is associated with a shorter time to first readmission and shorter survival. Albumin is the best plasma expander to prevent this complication

    Identification of heart rate-associated loci and their effects on cardiac conduction and rhythm disorders

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    Elevated resting heart rate is associated with greater risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. In a 2-stage meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies in up to 181,171 individuals, we identified 14 new loci associated with heart rate and confirmed associations with all 7 previously established loci. Experimental downregulation of gene expression in Drosophila melanogaster and Danio rerio identified 20 genes at 11 loci that are relevant for heart rate regulation and highlight a role for genes involved in signal transmission, embryonic cardiac development and the pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy, congenital heart failure and/or sudden cardiac death. In addition, genetic susceptibility to increased heart rate is associated with altered cardiac conduction and reduced risk of sick sinus syndrome, and both heart rate-increasing and heart rate-decreasing variants associate with risk of atrial fibrillation. Our findings provide fresh insights into the mechanisms regulating heart rate and identify new therapeutic targets

    The dialogue between the author and the hero in the “Notes” of G. R. Derzhavin

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    В центре внимания автора статьи «Записки» Г. Р. Державина, представляющие по своей сути его автобиографию. Труд этот был создан на закате жизни, он включает все важнейшие события жизни Г. Р. Державина, поэта и государственного деятеля. Рассказ ведется от третьего лица, что придает особую атмосферу повествованию, выстраивается своеобразный диалог между автором и героем, все это и является предметом исследования автора статьи.The focus of the author of the article “Notes” G. R. Derzhavin, representing in essence his autobiography. This work was created at the end of his life; it includes all the most important events in the life of G. R. Derzhavin, poet and statesman. The story is told in a third person, which gives a special atmosphere to the story, a certain dialogue emerges between the author and the hero, all this is the subject of the author's research

    Advances in biotechnology and informatics to link variation in the genome to phenotypes in plants and animals

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    Advances in our understanding of genome structure provide consistent evidence for the existence of a core genome representing species classically defined by phenotype, as well as conditionally dispensable components of the genome that shows extensive variation between individuals of a given species. Generally, conservation of phenotypic features between species reflects conserved features of the genome; however, this is evidently not necessarily always the case as demonstrated by the analysis of the tunicate chordate Oikopleura dioica. In both plants and animals, the methylation activity of DNA and histones continues to present new variables for modifying (eventually) the phenotype of an organism and provides for structural variation that builds on the point mutations, rearrangements, indels, and amplification of retrotransposable elements traditionally considered. The translation of the advances in the structure/function analysis of the genome to industry is facilitated through the capture of research outputs in "toolboxes" that remain accessible in the public domain

    A Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Variants in ARL15 that Influence Adiponectin Levels

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    The adipocyte-derived protein adiponectin is highly heritable and inversely associated with risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and coronary heart disease (CHD). We meta-analyzed 3 genome-wide association studies for circulating adiponectin levels (n = 8,531) and sought validation of the lead single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) in 5 additional cohorts (n = 6,202). Five SNPs were genome-wide significant in their relationship with adiponectin (P <= 5x10(-8)). We then tested whether these 5 SNPs were associated with risk of T2D and CHD using a Bonferroni-corrected threshold of P <= 0.011 to declare statistical significance for these disease associations. SNPs at the adiponectin-encoding ADIPOQ locus demonstrated the strongest associations with adiponectin levels (P-combined = 9.2x10(-19) for lead SNP, rs266717, n = 14,733). A novel variant in the ARL15 (ADP-ribosylation factor-like 15) gene was associated with lower circulating levels of adiponectin (rs4311394-G, P-combined = 2.9x10(-8), n = 14,733). This same risk allele at ARL15 was also associated with a higher risk of CHD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.12, P = 8.5610 26, n = 22,421) more nominally, an increased risk of T2D (OR = 1.11, P = 3.2x10(-3), n = 10,128), and several metabolic traits. Expression studies in humans indicated that ARL15 is well-expressed in skeletal muscle. These findings identify a novel protein, ARL15, which influences circulating adiponectin levels and may impact upon CHD risk

    Gravastars in f(R, G) gravity

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    This paper is focused on the study of gravitational vacuum stars or, briefly, gravastars in f(R, G) gravity, where R and G stand for the Ricci scalar and Gauss–Bonnet invariant term, respectively. Due to the involvement of highly non-linear differential equations, solutions are found by using some appropriate numerical techniques. The main structure of gravastars has been discussed according to core, shell, and exterior regions for a well-known f(R, G) gravity cosmological model. Mass–radius evolution is described graphically for the considered gravastar, and it is shown that the mass is directly proportional to the radius.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author

    The Role of Late Presenters in HIV-1 Transmission Clusters in Europe

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    Background: Investigating the role of late presenters (LPs) in HIV-1 transmission is important, as they can contribute to the onward spread of HIV-1 virus before diagnosis, when they are not aware of their HIV status. Objective: To characterize individuals living with HIV-1 followed up in Europe infected with subtypes A, B, and G and to compare transmission clusters (TC) in LP vs. non-late presenter (NLP) populations. Methods: Information from a convenience sample of 2679 individuals living with HIV-1 was collected from the EuResist Integrated Database between 2008 and 2019. Maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenies were constructed using FastTree. Transmission clusters were identified using Cluster Picker. Statistical analyses were performed using R. Results: 2437 (91.0%) sequences were from subtype B, 168 (6.3%) from subtype A, and 74 (2.8%) from subtype G. The median age was 39 y/o (IQR: 31.0–47.0) and 85.2% of individuals were males. The main transmission route was via homosexual (MSM) contact (60.1%) and 85.0% originated from Western Europe. In total, 54.7% of individuals were classified as LPs and 41.7% of individuals were inside TCs. In subtype A, individuals in TCs were more frequently males and natives with a recent infection. For subtype B, individuals in TCs were more frequently individuals with MSM transmission route and with a recent infection. For subtype G, individuals in TCs were those with a recent infection. When analyzing cluster size, we found that LPs more frequently belonged to small clusters (&lt;8 individuals), particularly dual clusters (2 individuals). Conclusion: LP individuals are more present either outside or in small clusters, indicating a limited role of late presentation to HIV-1 transmission

    Introduction: Starring the Author

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    Literary celebrity is by now a familiar feat of contemporary literary culture, but it continues to raise complex questions about the history and development of fame, the interplay between the cultural marketplace and the official culture of critics and the canon, and the relation between authorial agency and public appropriation. This introduction addresses these questions by approaching literary celebrity as a merging of two discursive constructions: the celebrity-function and the author-function. By combining insights from celebrity studies, literary history and cultural memory studies, the introduction conceptualizes literary celebrity as a discursive construction with several variables, such as the author’s self-presentation, the circulation of his public identity, changing opinions on literature and writership, and the public afterlife of the author’s image

    Spherically symmetric solution of f(R,G) gravity at low energy

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    The weak-field and slow-motion limit of f(R,G) gravity is developed up to (v/c)(4) order in a spherically symmetric background. Considering the Taylor expansion of a general function f around vanishing values of R and G, we present general vacuum solutions up to (v/c)(4) order for the gravitational field generated by a ball-like source. The spatial behaviors at (v/c)(2) order are the same for f(R,G) gravity and f(R) gravity, and their corresponding real valued static behaviors are presented and compared with the one in general relativity. The static Yukawa-like behavior is proved to be compatible with the previous result of the most general fourth-order theory. At (v/c)(4) order, the static corrections to the Yukawa-like behavior for f(R,G) gravity, f(R) gravity, and the Starobinsky gravity are presented and compared with the one in general relativity.National Natural Science Foundation of China [11120101004, 11475006]SCI(E)[email protected]; [email protected]

    Real Estate Development: An overview

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    Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Urban Development Managemen
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