1,721,089 research outputs found
MITOMYCIN C MODULATION OF CORNEAL WOUND HEALING AFTER PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY IN HIGHLY MYOPIC EYES
No full textOphthalmology. 2005 Feb;112(2):208-18; discussion 219.
Mitomycin C modulation of corneal wound healing after photorefractive keratectomy in highly myopic eyes.
Gambato C, Ghirlando A, Moretto E, Busato F, Midena E.
SourceRefractive Surgery Service and Antimetabolite Therapy Research Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of topical mitomycin C in corneal wound healing (CWH) after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in highly myopic eyes.
DESIGN: Prospective, double-masked, randomized clinical trial.
PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two eyes of 36 patients affected by high (>7 diopters) myopia.
METHODS: In each patient, one eye was randomly assigned to PRK with intraoperative topical 0.02% mitomycin C application, and the fellow eye was treated with a placebo. Postoperatively, mitomycin C-treated eyes received artificial tears (3 times daily, tapered in 3 months), whereas the fellow eye was treated with fluorometholone sodium 2% and artificial tears (3 times daily, tapered in 3 months).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), contrast sensitivity, manifest refraction, and biomicroscopy. Contrast sensitivity was determined using the Pelli-Robson chart. Corneal confocal microscopy documented CWH.
RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 18 months (range, 12-36). No side effects or toxic effects were documented. At 12-month follow-up examination, UCVAs (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) were 0.4+/-0.48 and 0.5+/-0.53 (P = .03) in mitomycin C-treated eyes and corticosteroid-treated eyes, respectively. At 1 year, corneal haze developed in 20% of corticosteroid-treated eyes, versus 0% of mitomycin C-treated eyes. At 12, 24, and 36 months, corneal confocal microscopy showed activated keratocytes and extracellular matrix significantly more evident in untreated eyes (Ps = 0.004, 0.024, and 0.046, respectively).
CONCLUSION: Topical intraoperative application of 0.02% mitomycin C can reduce haze formation in highly myopic eyes undergoing PRK.
Comment in
Ophthalmology. 2006 Feb;113(2):357; author reply 357-8.
PMID: 15691552 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
Risparmio energetico, efficienza energetica o energie rinnovabili: quale scelta privilegiare per la decarbonizzazione del settore residenziale in Italia?
No full textReduced risk of arterial thromboembolism in cats with pleural effusion due to congestive heart failure
No full textObjectives The aim of the study was to determine whether cardiogenic pleural effusion in cats is associated with a lower risk of arterial thromboembolism (ATE) compared with cats with cardiac disease without evidence of pleural effusion. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on owned cats with natural occurring cardiac diseases. Cats included were classified in three groups: those with cardiac disease but no evidence of congestive heart failure (CHF); those with evidence of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema; and those with evidence of cardiogenic pleural effusion. Prevalence of ATE was calculated and the variables analysed for an association with this outcome were the presence and type of CHF, sex and neuter status, age, breed, type of cardiac diseases and left atrial (LA) dimension. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to fit the association between ATE and these variables. Results A total of 366 cats with cardiac disease met the inclusion criteria: 179 were included in the group with cardiac disease but no evidence of CHF, 66 in the group with evidence of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema and 121 in the group with evidence of cardiogenic pleural effusion. Prevalence of ATE (58/366 [15.8%]) was significantly different among groups (with no evidence of CHF, 28/179 [15.6%]; with evidence of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, 22/66 [33.3%]; with evidence of cardiogenic pleural effusion, 8/121 [6.6%]; P <0.001). Cats with ATE had a significantly higher LA to aortic root ratio (2.30 +/- 0.46) than those without ATE (2.04 +/- 0.46; P <0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that the group with evidence of cardiogenic pleural effusion was associated with a lower risk of developing ATE compared with groups with cardiac disease but no evidence of CHF and with evidence of cardiogenic pulmonary oedema (P = 0.005 and P <0.001, respectively). Conclusions and relevance Presence of cardiogenic pleural effusion is associated with a lower risk of developing ATE, while LA enlargement is a risk factor for ATE
Defective SERCA1protein causing bovine Pseudomyotonia and human Brody disease: from pathogenic mechanism to a novel therapeutic approach
No full textCattle congenital pseudomyotonia (PMT) is an inherited recessive autosomal muscular disorder due to missense mutations in ATP2A1 gene, encoding SERCA1 protein (Sarco-endo-plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase, isoform1) [1]. SERCA1 is responsible for transporting Ca2+ from cytosol back into the lumen of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) playing a crucial role in muscle relaxation. Bovine PMT has been described in the Chianina and Romagnola italian breeds. Even though clinical symptoms were homogeneous, PMT has been found genetically heterogeneous. All PMT Chianina animals were homozygous for a single point mutation leading to an Arg164His (R164H) substitution, while most of PMT Romagnola cases were compound heterozygous, carrying a mutation identical to that of Chianina breed, in addition to two point mutations leading to Gly211Val and Gly286Val (G211V/G286V) substitutions [2]. In spite of this heterogeneity of SERCA1 gene mutations, a striking selective reduction of SERCA1 protein has been described in SR membranes isolated from bovine muscles of different PMT-affected cattle breeds. Recently we have clarified the pathogenic mechanism underlying Chianina PMT: the R164H SERCA1 mutation generates a protein functionally active but corrupted in proper folding that was ubiquitinated and prematurely degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system [3].
The relevance of cattle PMT is based on phenotypic and genotypic similarities with human Brody myopathy, a “rare” genetic muscular disorder. Clinical symptoms genetic and biochemical findings, clearly demonstrated that cattle PMT is the true animal model of Brody disease. This is not surprising since, in the last years, the counterparts of human pathologies have been found in many domestic mammalian species.
Using the heterologous cellular model HEK293 overexpressing SERCA1 mutants, we have deeply investigated SERCA1 mutations found in Romagnola breed. G211V and G286V mutations were introduced separately or together into bovine SERCA1 cDNA. Using both immunofluorescence and western blot analyses we have found that only the G211V mutation is responsible for the PTM phenotype of Romagnola and the treatment with proteasome inhibitor rescues the expression level of G211V mutated SERCA1 at ER membranes in HEK293 cell model.
At present, neither specific therapy nor mouse model for Brody myopathy exists. Our findings opened new perspectives for a therapy of this rare disease. To this aim, in the same cell model we have tested small molecules known as “CFTR correctors” specifically developed for rescuing type II Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator (CFTR) mutants, causing Cystic Fibrosis. We have observed, by western blot analysis, that treatments with these compounds induce an increase of SERCA1 mutant content. So, a possible pharmacological therapy could be hypothesized for the specific population of Brody patients in which, as in bovine PMT, ATP2A1 mutations impair SERCA1 protein folding causing its rapid degradation.
[1] Sacchetto et al. A defective SERCA1 protein is responsible for congenital pseudomyotonia in Chianina cattle, Am J Pathol ,174:565-573, 2009.
[2] Murgiano, Sacchetto et al. Pseudomyotonia in Romagnola cattle caused by novel ATP2A1 mutations, BMC Vet. Res, 8:186. 2012.
[3] Bianchini et al. Inhibition of ubiquitin proteasome system rescues the defective sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA1) protein causing Chianina cattle pseudomyotonia, J Biol Chem. 289:33073-33082, 2014
Energy Saving, Energy Efficiency or Renewable Energy: Which Is Better for the Decarbonization of the Residential Sector in Italy?
Full text linkThe residential sector is currently responsible for approximately 30% of the final energy consumption and 12% of direct CO2 emissions in Italy, mainly due to the heating and cooling of buildings and the use of domestic hot water. Such figures show a significant potential for reducing non-renewable primary energy utilization to comply with the decarbonization constraints of the European Union. In this context, the purpose of this work is to provide a quantitative assessment of the effect of a different number of actions (eight for energy savings, four for energy efficiency and two for the installation of renewable energy plants) that could be implemented at the national level to reduce the consumption of natural gas in the residential sector. Two typical residential buildings are dynamically simulated using Trnsys®, and the savings from energy, economic and CO2 emissions points of view are evaluated in the different climatic zones of Italy. The most effective action foresees the replacement of natural gas boilers and old air conditioners with modern heat pumps and air/air chillers as well as the installation of a controlled mechanical ventilation system with heat recovery. This solution allows for non-renewable primary energy savings of 58% and an economic savings on annual energy costs of 72%
Retrospective evaluation of the short-term response of human intravenous immunoglobulin therapy in the management of canine immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (2010–2015): 27 cases
No full textObjective: To describe the short-term response, early prognostic markers, and survival after treatment of canine immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (ITP) with human intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG) and methylprednisolone. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Settings: Private referral veterinary medical center.AnimalsTwenty-seven client-owned dogs with primary or secondary ITP. Interventions: All dogs received 2 mg/kg IV methylprednisolone once daily and a single infusion of 5% hIVIG administered over 6-12 hours. Measurements and Main Results: A substantial increase in platelet count within 60 +/- 12 hours post-hIVIG infusion (T60) was observed in 19 of the 27 (70%) dogs with ITP (responders). Thirty-four variables, including serum immunoglobulin (Ig) G concentration 24 +/- 12 hours post-hIVIG infusion (T24IgG) and increase in serum IgG concentration 24 +/- 12 hours post-hIVIG infusion (T24 Delta IgG), were compared between responders and nonresponders at 5 different time points. Mortality rates of responders and nonresponders were evaluated 14 days post-hIVIG infusion. Serum T24IgG and serum T24 Delta IgG were both significantly higher at T60 in responders. All responders were alive 14 days post-hIVIG infusion, and their mortality rate was significantly lower compared with nonresponders. Conclusions: Responder dogs had an excellent 14-day survival rate. Serum T24IgG and serum T24 Delta IgG concentrations accurately predicted response status at 60 hours post-hIVIG infusion
Preference shifts between consumption goods and sectoral changes
No full textThis paper analyzes under which conditions a shift in the relative preferences between consumption goods may induce a change in the equilibrium values of the sectoral variables in the same direction, compared with the previous static equilibrium
Inflation-Based Fiscal Consolidation: Does Speed Matter?
No full textThe potential role that a permanent increase in the inflation target might have in contributing to debt consolidation has rarely been covered in the literature on the link
between inflation and public debt. This paper thus investigates under what conditions
a higher inflation target might lead to a reduction in the public debt-to-GDP ratio,
in a deterministic environment of a TANK model where monetary and fiscal authorities actively operate. Analysing the economic mechanisms involved led to two key
results. Higher inflation has opposite effects on public debt in the short and long term.
Initially, a rise in the nominal interest rate induces savers to invest relatively more
in bonds. In contrast, once the inflation rate reaches higher values, lower wages and
rates of return impact on savers who reduce investments in bonds. The second finding
is that fiscal consolidation through higher inflation is far from obvious. Overall, the
long-term negative effects of higher inflation on output determine increases in fiscal
deficits. Moreover, a slower inflation adjustment path influences households’ expectations, leading to increases in the debt-to-GDP ratio rather than decreases in the short
term. In light of that, today more than ever, a traditional fiscal policy aimed at reducing the government’s deficit would be needed. Furthermore, revising the monetary policy strategy to increase the inflation target would not be recommended due to the potentially negative effects higher inflation could have on the economy
The control of renewable energies to improve the performance of multisource heat pump systems: A two‐case study
Full text linkIn new and refurbished buildings, different energy sources are usually exploited to reach the Near Zero Energy Building target. Heat pumps and renewables are the most common adopted technologies. The coupling of the different components with a control logic conceived to exploit all energy contributions causes an implied design complexity. In this paper, two case studies were reported regarding the use of multisource heat pump systems: as main novelties, the correct design of the solar field (thermal or photovoltaic/thermal) in relation with the other sources (ground heat exchangers, ventilation heat recovery) for a given building and climate was reported in order to balance the energy drawn and injected into the ground around the year, and to attempt to reach the independency from the electric grid. Moreover, the relatively complex (compared to conventional heating or cooling) system controlling for multisource heat pump plants was simulated. The paper reported on the design of the plant, of the control logic, and the energy performance of two original multisource heat pump systems by means of dynamic simulation. In one case, real measured data were available as well. Very high primary energy ratios were obtained due to suitable control logics of the multisource plants, around 1.4 (based on measured data) and 4.7 (based on simulated data) for the first and second case, respectively. As a consequence, non‐renewable primary energy consumptions of 37 and 3.9 kWh m−2 y−1 were determined, respectively
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