1,721,030 research outputs found
The mucosal immune system and IgA nephropathy
No full textThe precise pathogenesis of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is still not clearly established but emerging evidence confirms a pivotal role for mucosal immunity. This review focuses on the key role of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in promoting the onset of the disease, underlying the relationship among microbiota, genetic factors, food antigen, infections, and mucosal immune response. Finally, we evaluate potential therapies targeting microbes and mucosa hyperresponsiveness in IgAN patients
Preeclampsia and Glomerulonephritis: A Bidirectional Association
No full textPurpose of Review: We focus on the current understanding of preeclampsia (PE) in order to examine how it mediates glomerular injury and affects the course of glomerulonephritis (GNs). In addition, this review discusses the role of GNs on the development of PE. Recent Findings: In PE, the dysfunctional utero-placental perfusion causes the release into the mother’s circulation of anti-angiogenic substances, leading to systemic endotheliosis. In preeclamptic patients, the imbalance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors is responsible for the kidney injury, and PE may reveal a silent pre-existent GN or may induce the development of the disease. Moreover, in women with chronic kidney disease (CKD), it could accelerate the disease progression. In any case, GNs compromise renal function, making the kidney less responsive to physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and, at the same time, cause maternal vascular inflammation, representing a risk factor for PE development. Summary: Although a bidirectional correlation between GNs and PE has been demonstrated, the data are limited, and further large studies are warranted. Close collaboration between a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians and nephrologists is essential to establish the correct diagnosis and safely manage these vulnerable women and their fetuses
I prismi di Gramsci: La formula del fronte unico (1919-1926)
No full textMarcos Del Roio analizza l'attività politico-teorica di Gramsci, prima del suo incarceramento, alla luce di una tesi forte e radicale: la continuità piena tra l'azione politica e la riflessione filosofica di tutto Gramsci. Il che non comporta la sottovalutazione dei cambiamenti, delle svolte, financo delle rotture intervenute nell'arco della sua breve, ma densa esistenza. Al contrario. Emergono, leggendo Gramsci, idee-cardine che determinano in modo unitario il ritmo del suo pensiero, per lo meno dall'epoca dei Consigli di fabbrica sino alla stesura degli ultimi quaderni, e che costituiscono l'identità del pensiero, oltre e attraverso le diversità delle sue manifestazioni: ciò che ritroviamo, in genere, nei grandi pensatori. Il titolo e l'esergo del libro di Del Roio rinviano precisamente, nell'immagine-metafora del raggio e dei prismi, a questo contrappunto tra identità e diversità. La categoria essenziale del sottotitolo ci riporta alla medesima problematica, considerata nella temperie dell'azione politica di Gramsci, con riferimento a quel suo radicale leninismo che lo guidò nel vincente duello con Bordiga: il "fronte unico" - formula politica nata nel 1921 in Germania, centrale nel pensiero maturo di Lenin - di cui Del Roio mostra le diverse interpretazioni, analizzando la posizione di Gramsci a riguardo
Clinical relevance of small-bowel findings detected by wireless capsule endoscopy
No full textObjective. Capsule endoscopy is becoming known as a valid tool for identifying sources of obscure gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Fewer data are available about its clinical value for other indications. Material and methods. Sixty patients ( 31 F, mean age 47 years, range 14 - 80 years) with no signs of overt GI bleeding were investigated by Given M2A video capsule for suspected small-bowel disease. The main clinical features were: iron deficient anemia ( 20), abdominal pain ( 12), chronic diarrhea ( 9), malabsorption and weight loss ( 7), Crohn's disease ( CD) ( 5), and familial adenomatous polyposis ( 3). Three patients underwent wireless endoscopy for suspected GI neoplasm and one for portal thrombosis. Results. Complete vision of the small bowel was achieved in 55 patients. No small-bowel lesions were identified in 17 patients, but 5 of them had gastric abnormalities. Small-bowel abnormality was found in 38 patients. Lesions compatible with CD were found in 14 patients, diffuse or patchy enteropathy in 7 and polyps in 6. Actively bleeding lesions were detected in 6 patients and potential bleeding sources in 5. Capsule endoscopy had an overall diagnostic yield of 62%. In particular, three small-bowel malignancies were detected and 9 patients received a better definition of their already-known pathology. However, further endoscopies were needed in 10 patients to obtain a diagnosis. One patient, diagnosed with ileal CD, underwent surgery, as the capsule remained trapped in a stricture. Conclusions. Wireless endoscopy effectively visualizes small-bowel abnormalities even though more accurate selection of the patients is needed in order to optimize its diagnostic efficacy
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
Zinc supplementation tightens "leaky gut" in Crohn's disease
No full textObjectives: Small intestinal permeability is often increased in patients with Crohn's disease and may be pathogenic for clinical relapses. No effective prophylactic treatment is available for these patients. The aim of this study was to ascertain whether zinc supplementation may improve intestinal permeability. Methods: We studied 12 patients with quiescent Crohn's disease who had been in remission for at least 3 months and had increased intestinal permeability on two separate occasions within the last 2 months. Patients received oral zinc sulfate supplements (110 mg three times a day) for 8 weeks and were followed-up for 12 months thereafter to monitor relapses. Results: We found that the lactulose/mannitol ratio was significantly higher before supplementation than after (0.041 +/- 0.003 versus 0.026 +/- 0.005). During follow-up, 10 patients had normal intestinal permeability and did not relapse; of the remaining two who had increased intestinal permeability, one relapsed. Conclusions: Our findings show that zinc supplementation can resolve permeability alterations in patients with Crohn's disease in remission. Improving intestinal barrier function may contribute to seduce the risk of relapse in Crohn's disease
- …
