169,739 research outputs found
Retroperitoneal fibrosis at the onset of ANCA associated vasculitis: The risk of a delay in the diagnosis of vasculitis
No full textRe-treatment with rituximab in ANCA-associated vasculitis only in the presence of clinical relapse: A single centre experience
No full textRITARDO DI MATURAZIONE FAV DISTALI NEL PAZIENTE VASCULOPATICO. TRATTAMENTO MEDIANTE PTA DELLE ARTERIE DI AVAMBRACCIO
No full textGoing Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
No full textThe 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
Endovascular treatment of non maturing distal arterovenous fistula for haemodialysis associated with forearm artery stenosis
No full textTransplantation of kidneys with tumors
No full textThe shortage of donors in the face of the increasing number of patients wait-listed for renal transplantation has prompted several strategies including the use of kidneys with a tumor, whether found by chance on harvesting from a deceased donor or intentionally removed from a living donor and transplanted after excision of the lesion. Current evidence suggests that a solitary well-differentiated renal cell carcinoma, Fuhrman nuclear grade I-II, less than 1 cm in diameter and resected before grafting may be considered at minimal risk of recurrence in the recipient who, however, should be informed of the possible risk and consent to receive such a graft
Total Convection Affects Serum β2 Microglobulin and C-Reactive Protein but Not Erythropoietin Requirement following Post-Dilutional Hemodiafiltration
No full textBACKGROUND:
Inflammation and increased erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA) requirement are frequently associated in patients on dialysis. On-line hemodiafiltration (ol-HDF), putting together high levels of diffusion, and convection could improve both conditions. However, it is still not known which depurative component plays a major role in determining this result. The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of convection and diffusion on long-term variations of serum β2 microglobulin (Δβ2M), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (ΔhsCRP) concentrations, and ESA requirement (ΔESA) in ol-HDF.
METHODS:
Seventy-three patients prevalent on high flux HD (hfHD) were studied. Thirty-eight patients were switched from hfHD to post-dilutional ol-HDF (Study group); the other 35 patients were considered the Control group. At 6 and 12 months, the effects of ol-HDF and hfHD on ΔhsCRP, ΔB2M, and ΔESA (U/kg/week) were evaluated. Other variables considered were body weight (BW), serum albumin (sAlb), hemoglobin (Hb), and equilibrated Kt/V (eKt/V). Iron therapy and ESA were administered intravenously according to the K/DOQI guidelines in order to maintain transferrin saturation between 20 and 40%, serum ferritin between 150 and 500 ng/ml and Hb between 11 and 12 g/dl. Qb, treatment time and Qd remained constant. Ol-HDF and hfHD were performed using membranes of size 1.9-2.1 sqm. Ultrapure dialysate and substitution fluid were employed in both HDF and HD treatments. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. Paired t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and simple and multiple regression analyses were employed for statistical evaluation.
RESULTS:
STUDY GROUP:
total convective volume (TCV) was 22.1 ± 1.9 l/session. A significant reduction of hsCRP: from 6.8 ± 7.1 to 2.3 ± 2.4 mg/dl (p < 0.001), β2M: from 36.5 ± 14.4 to 24.7 ± 8.6 mg/dl (p < 0.0001) and ESAdose: from 107 ± 67 to 65 ± 44 U/kg/week (p < 0.005) was observed. No significant variations of Hb, BW and sAlb were seen. A significant inverse correlation was found between TCV and Δβ2M (r = -0.627; p < 0.0001), and TCV and ΔhsCRP (r = -0.514; p < 0.0001); no correlation between TCV and ΔESAdose was observed. No correlation was found between eKt/V and Δβ2M, ΔhsCRP, and ΔESAdose. Multiple regression analysis with ΔESAdose as dependent variable showed ΔhsCRP as the only significantly associated independent factor (p < 0.01).
CONTROL GROUP:
no significant variations of hsCRP, β2M, and ESAdose were observed over time.
CONCLUSIONS:
Ol-HDF induces a long-term significant reduction in pre-dialysis β2M and hsCRP concentrations. The magnitude of reduction is directly correlated to the amount of TCV achieved but not on eKt/V. The observed reduction in ESAdose requirement is independent either on convection or diffusion, but is directly associated to the concomitant reduction of inflammation
Mitomycin C in highly myopic eyes - Author reply
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
Description of a new species of shark
No full textDuring the month I had brought to the Museum a peculiar-looking fish, having been found washed up on the beach at Bruny Island. On examination it proved to be a species of Centrina ; at first I was inclined to believe it was C. salviani, but on closer examination it seemed to differ.' A specimen of C. salviani having been found off the coast of New Zealand some few years back, I had a photo, of the Tasmanian specimen sent to Professor Hutton, F.R.S., Curator Canterbury Museum, Christchurch. Professor Hutton wrote, stating that, judging from the photo., he was inclined to think that the Tasmanian Centrina differed from the one in New Zealand, which he considered was Centrina salviani. Before finally deciding on making a new species, Mr. Ogilby, the able Ichthiologist of the Australian Museum, kindly undertook to compare the Tasmanian shark with the C. salviani in the Sydney Museum
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