Coronary artery bypass grafting versus percutaneous coronary intervention in end-stage kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies

The most significant complication of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is cardiovascular disease, mainly coronary artery disease (CAD). Although the effective treatment of CAD is an important prognostic factor, whether percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is better for treating CAD in this group of patients is still controversial. We searched Pubmed/Medline, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials articles that compared the outcomes of CABG versus PCI in patients with ESKD requiring dialysis. A total of 10 observational studies with 39,666 patients were included. Our analysis showed that when compared to PCI, CABG had lower risk of need for repeat revascularization (relative risk [RR] = 2.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.1–2.42, p < 0.00001) and cardiovascular death (RR = 1.19, 95% CI 1.14–1.23, p < 0.00001) and higher risk for short-term mortality (RR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.38–0.48, p < 0.00001). There was no statistically significant difference between the PCI and CABG groups in the risk for late mortality (RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.97–1.14, p = 0.25), myocardial infarction (RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.46–2.36, p = 0.91) or stroke (RR = 1.02, 95% CI 0.64–1.61, p = 0.95). This meta-analysis showed that in ESKD patients requiring dialysis, CABG was superior to PCI in regard to cardiovascular death and need for repeat revascularization and inferior to PCI in regard to short term mortality. However, this meta-analysis has limitations and needs confirmation with large randomized controlled trials.     

How miR-31-5p and miR-33a-5p Regulates SP1/CX43 Expression in Osteoarthritis Disease: Preliminary Insights

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative bone disease that involved micro and macro-environment of joints. To date, there are no radical curative treatments for OA and novel therapies are mandatory. Recent evidence suggests the role of miRNAs in OA progression. In our previous studies, we demonstrated the role of miR-31-5p and miR-33a families in different bone regeneration signaling. Here, we investigated the role of miR-31-5p and miR-33a-5p in OA progression. A different expression of miR-31-5p and miR-33a-5p into osteoblasts and chondrocytes isolated from joint tissues of OA patients classified in based on different Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) grading was highlighted; and through a bioinformatic approach the common miRNAs target Specificity proteins (Sp1) were identified. Sp1 regulates the expression of gap junction protein Connexin43 (Cx43), which in OA drives the modification of (i) osteoblasts and chondrocytes genes expression, (ii) joint inflammation cytokines releases and (iii) cell functions. Concerning this, thanks to gain and loss of function studies, the possible role of Sp1 as a modulator of CX43 expression through miR-31-5p and miR-33a-5p action was also evaluated. Finally, we hypothesize that both miRNAs cooperate to modulate the expression of SP1 in osteoblasts and chondrocytes and interfering, consequently, with CX43 expression, and they might be further investigated as new possible biomarkers for OA.     

A Matter of Size and Placement: Varying the Patch Size of Anisotropic Patchy Colloids

Non-spherical colloids provided with well-defined bonding sites—often referred to as patches—are increasingly attracting the attention of materials scientists due to their ability to spontaneously assemble into tunable surface structures. The emergence of two-dimensional patterns with well-defined architectures is often controlled by the properties of the self-assembling building blocks, which can be either colloidal particles at the nano- and micro-scale or even molecules and macromolecules. In particular, the interplay between the particle shape and the patch topology gives rise to a plethora of tilings, from close-packed to porous monolayers with pores of tunable shapes and sizes. The control over the resulting surface structures is provided by the directionality of the bonding mechanism, which mostly relies on the selective nature of the patches. In the present contribution, we investigate the effect of the patch size on the assembly of a class of anisotropic patchy colloids—namely, rhombic platelets with four identical patches placed in different arrangements along the particle edges. Larger patches are expected to enhance the bond flexibility, while simultaneously reducing the bond selectivity as the single bond per patch condition—which would guarantee a straightforward mapping between local bonding arrangements and long-range pattern formation—is not always enforced. We find that the non-trivial interplay between the patch size and the patch position can either promote a parallel particle arrangement with respect to a non-parallel bonding scenario or give rise to a variety a bonded patterns, which destroy the order of the tilings. We rationalize the occurrence of these two different regimes in terms of single versus multiple bonds between pairs of particles and/or patches.     

Fed‐batch fermentation of olive mill wastewaters for lipase production

In the Mediterranean basin countries, huge amounts of olive mill wastewaters (OMW) are produced by the olive oil industry. It constitutes a serious environmental problem, nevertheless its composition turns OMW into a potential growth medium to lipolytic microorganisms. The aim of this work was to study lipase production as well as OMW degradation in fed‐batch cultures of Candida cylindracea CBS 7869, Candida rugosa CBS 2275 and Yarrowia lipolytica W29 (ATCC 20460). Besides the improvement of lipase production, the fed‐batch approach enhanced the effluent degradation, since it led to good COD and lipids reduction, both higher than 50%. C. rugosa achieved the highest value of lipase productivity (130 U L^?1 h^?1), in parallel with highest lipids reduction (77%). This study demonstrates that OMW are becoming a competitive and valuable growth medium in fermentation processes with lipolytic microorganisms. The fed‐batch strategy used proved to be an efficient approach to enhance lipase production from OMW and to reduce significantly the final organic load of the medium. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Processing and storage effects on anthocyanin composition and antioxidant activity of jams produced with Camarosa strawberry

Anthocyanin profiles and radical scavenging activity of Camarosa strawberry jams as affected by two processing methods (conventional/industrial) and storage conditions were evaluated. Industrial strawberry jam produced in a closed system with vacuum preserved the anthocyanin composition (the total content was 35.77 ± 2.56 mg per 100 g) when compared with conventional jam produced in an open system (3.35 ± 0.05 mg per 100 g). However, the radical scavenging activity of conventional jam was lower than that of industrial jam, as EC₅₀ was 52.99 ± 0.94 and 44.33 ± 2.47 mg mL^?1, respectively. Two‐way analysis of variance indicated a significant effect of processing method and storage time during 60 days and a significant interaction for all variables except for EC₅₀. Long‐time storage of industrial jams at ?8 °C leads to 80% reduction in anthocyanin content without loss of sensorial characteristics, whereas at room temperature the reduction was 98%, and the red colour was replaced by a brownish. Regardless of storage temperature, the radical scavenging activity of jams decreased 50–60% of its initial value.     

Betriebliches Energiemanagement – Analysen, Methoden und Bewertungsmodelle zur Effizienzsteigerung

In recent years, the EU has been trying to increase political awareness of the energy problem. In 2007 and 2009, the first European energy strategy was adopted, the energy management standard EN 16001, which has been replaced by ISO 50001, was introduced in 2011. The introduction of an energy management standard in a company can contribute significantly to an increase of efficiency – already fixed in the Energy Efficiency Directive of the EU. The development of the Energy Pentagon – a model based on the decision-oriented business administration – allows individual industries to implement a customized holistic energy management. The model takes into account the three levels of management, namely the normative, strategic, and operational planning, and the five management functions, namely organization, personnel management, information, and control as well as the dynamic element of the development. The importance of enterprise energy management system is increasingly due to higher energy costs and a strong environmental awareness. In the future the focus should be increasingly on the implementation in SMEs and on a cost-effective analysis and evaluation of the efficiency gains particularly through the advancements in operational energy controlling.     

Dealcoholized red wine reverse vascular remodeling in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome: role of NAD(P)H oxidase and eNOS activity

The present study examines the effect of chronic administration of dealcoholized red wine Malbec (DRW) on vascular remodeling and NAD(P)H oxidase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity (eNOS) in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome induced by fructose administration. Thirty-day old male Wistar rats were fed a normal rat diet (control) or the same diet plus 10% fructose in drinking water (FFR). During the last 4 weeks of a 10-week period of the corresponding diet, a subgroup of control and FFR (n=8 each) received DRW in their drinking water. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), aortic NAD(P)H oxidase and eNOS activity in the heart and vascular tissue were evaluated. Vascular remodeling was evaluated in the left carotid artery (CA) and interlobar, arcuate and interlobular renal arteries (RA) through lumen to media (L/M) ratio determination. At the end of the study FFR increased the SBP (p < 0.001), HOMA-IR (p < 0.001), and aortic NAD(P)H oxidase activity (p < 0,05) but reduced cardiac and vascular eNOS activity (p < 0.01), L/M ratio in CA (p < 0.001) and RA (p < 0.01) compared with the C group. DRW reduced SBP (p < 0.05), aortic NAD(P)H oxidase (p < 0.05), and recovered eNOS activity (p < 0.001) and L/M in CA (p < 0.001) and RA (p < 0.001) compared with FFR. This study provides new data about the beneficial effect of DRW on oxidative stress and vascular remodeling in the experimental model of metabolic syndrome. Data suggest the participation of mechanisms involving oxidative stress in FFR alterations and the usefulness of natural antioxidant substances present in red wine in the reversion of these changes.     

Methoden zum Einsatz diskreter,webbasierter Wetterprognosen in Gebäudetechnik und Lastmanagement

Using Discrete Online Weather Forecasts for Building Services Applications and Load Management. Usually, commercially used hourly weather forecasts of national weather institutes are implemented for predictive control strategies. Energy demand and energy loads are calculated by utilizing adequate models with predicted air temperatures. However, on the internet, numerous providers offer freely available weather forecasts. Mostly forecasts of maximum and minimum outside air temperatures are available for five to nine days in advance. Many applications in building services do require hourly or quarter‐hourly data. This paper describes a method for generating weather data of any resolution for freely available weather forecasts issued by online services. Ice storage and load prediction of a building are cited as examples of predictive control strategies using web‐based weather forecasts.