1,721,048 research outputs found
Atrial changes after kidney transplant: what diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives?
No full textKidney transplant is known to be the first choice therapy for end-stage chronic kidney disease, also for its positive effects on kidney transplant recipients cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Several evidences evaluated the morphological changes in the left ventricle before and after transplantation, demonstrating a positive effect of at least partial regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in kidney transplant recipients. Atrial pathology is likewise important in determining kidney transplant recipients outcomes. In this issue, Regale et al. focused on atrial morphological changes after kidney transplant and found retrospectively that left atrium dilatation tends to progress over time, but the minority of patients that present a reduction after transplant in atrial diameter has a benefit in terms of mortality. These new acquisitions focus on atrial pathology that, probably also thanks to the contribution of circulating mediators such as natriuretic peptides, can significantly influence morbidity and mortality after transplant. The evaluation of the of natriuretic peptide changes before and after transplant and the use of new classes of drugs acting on the natriuretic peptides system are new interesting research areas
Renal function from fetus to adulthood
No full textThe renal ontogeny can be considered complete after the 36th week of gestation. This chapter describes the stages of development of the kidney embryonic structures, provisional and definitive and the complex molecular basis regulating those phases and that represent the basis of congenital kidney disease. The renal endowment arising from the nephrogenesis process not only is the basis of anatomical and functional renal development but it seems to be of considerable importance for the occurrence of cardiovascular and kidney disease in the adulthood. It will also describe the basic principles of the anatomy of the kidney in the term infant. Renal function, both from the glomerular and tubular points of view, undergoes important changes between the intra-and extrauterine life: knowledge of renal function in fetal, neonatal, and childhood is of fundamental importance for the recognition of childhood kidney diseases but also for the management of drug therapies. A condition of considerable importance given its recent growth is that of preterm neonates, who may require a careful care and monitoring often also nephrological
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Importance of vascular calcification in kidney transplant recipients
No full textBackground: Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for chronic kidney disease (CKD), but in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) cardiovascular events are the first cause of death with a functioning graft, ranging from 36 to 55%. The impact of vascular calcification (VC) on morbidity and mortality of KTRs is not appreciated enough nowadays. Summary: This review summarizes 13 important studies on VC in KTRs, comparing the results with CKD and dialysis populations. We focused on VC evaluation and use of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and aorta calcification (AoC) scores. We also evaluated the influence of traditional and non-traditional progression risk factors. Key Messages: VC strongly predicts cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in KTRs. VC assessment is important in KTRs and based essentially on multislice computed tomography or electron beam computed tomography recognition of lesions. Quantitative measurement of CAC and AoC scores is essential for a correct definition of the calcium burden before and after kidney transplant. Progression of CAC slows down but does not halt after kidney transplant. A variable association of both traditional and non-traditional risk factors is shown. There is a strong association between baseline CAC score and CAC progression. A significant improvement in secondary hyperparathyroidism after transplantation favorably affects the progression of CAC. Low 25(OH)D3 levels are an independent determinant of CAC progression. Diabetes is a risk factor for the presence of CAC in KTRs, but has not been independently associated with CAC progression. The data published on the use of immunosuppressive drugs as progression factors are few and inconclusive
Potential advantages of acute kidney injury management by mesenchymal stem cells
No full textMesenchymal stem cells are currently considered as a promising tool for therapeutic application in acute kidney injury (AKI) management. AKI is characterized by acute tubular injury with rapid loss of renal function. After AKI, inflammation, oxidative stress and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix are the molecular events that ultimately cause the end-stage renal disease. Despite numerous improvement of supportive therapy, the mortality and morbidity among patients remain high. Therefore, exploring novel therapeutic options to treat AKI is mandatory. Numerous evidence in animal models has demonstrated the capability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to restore kidney function after induced kidney injury. After infusion, MSCs engraft in the injured tissue and release soluble factors and microvesicles that promote cell survival and tissue repairing. Indeed, the main mechanism of action of MSCs in tissue regeneration is the paracrine/endocrine secretion of bioactive molecules. MSCs can be isolated from several tissues, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, and blood cord; pre-treatment procedures to improve MSCs homing and their paracrine function have been also described. This review will focus on the application of cell therapy in AKI and it will summarize preclinical studies in animal models and clinical trials currently ongoing about the use of mesenchymal stem cells after AKI
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