CubeSats have emerged as a promising alternative to satellite missions for studying remote areas where satellite data are scarce and insufficient, such as coastal and marine environments. However, their standard size and weight limitations make integrating remote sensing optical instruments challenging. This work presents the development of Bentayga-I, a CubeSat designed to validate PANDORA, a self-made, lightweight, cost-effective multispectral camera with interchangeable spectral optical filters, in near-space conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Homozygous ZZ alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency produces mutant AAT (Z-AAT) proteins in hepatocytes, leading to progressive liver fibrosis. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of an investigational RNA interference therapeutic, fazirsiran, that degrades Z-AAT messenger RNA, reducing deleterious protein synthesis.
Methods: This ongoing, phase 2 study randomized 40 patients to subcutaneous placebo or fazirsiran 25, 100, or 200 mg.
Ferric hexacyanoferrate, Fe [Fe(CN)] · xHO, known as Prussian blue (PB), has proven its effectiveness as an antidote in cases of accidental poisoning or poisoning caused by radioactive materials such as cesium (Cs) and thallium (Tl); which due to their solubility in water, when absorbed by the human body, cause serious damage to vital organs. The local development of a drug with PB as an active ingredient arises as a response to the civil and military needs established within the Ministry's pharmacy request for national defense. This fact contemplates the circumstances related to public health protection in the nuclear, radiological, biological and chemical (NRBQ) of the emergency institutions in health and national security.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol
February 2023
Aims: Heterozygous alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) Pi*MZ variant has been shown to increase the risk of developing liver cirrhosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to determine the association between heterozygous Pi*MZ and Pi*MS variants and development of hepatic decompensation events in NAFLD patients.
Methods: We included patients with NAFLD who also had A1AT genotyping performed from 2005 to 2020.
Objective: To determine the relationship between travel distance and surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma among veterans with cirrhosis.
Data Sources: Veterans Health Administration (VHA) inpatient and outpatient administrative data were linked to geocoded enrollee files. CMS-VHA merged data were used to assess receipt of Medicare-financed non-VA imaging.
A technique that combines the spatial resolution of a 3D structured-light (SL) imaging system with the spectral analysis of a hyperspectral short-wave near infrared system was developed for freshness predictions of gilthead sea bream on the first storage days (Days 0-6). This novel approach allows the hyperspectral analysis of very specific fish areas, which provides more information for freshness estimations. The SL system obtains a 3D reconstruction of fish, and an automatic method locates gilthead's pupils and irises.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm
October 2015
Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between polymorphisms located in type I interferon (IFN)-induced genes, genes belonging to the toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway, and genes encoding neurotransmitter receptors and the response to IFN-β treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods: In a first or screening phase of the study, 384 polymorphisms were genotyped in 830 patients with MS classified into IFN-β responders (n = 416) and nonresponders (n = 414) according to clinical criteria. In a second or validation phase, the most significant polymorphisms associated with IFN-β response were genotyped in an independent validation cohort of 555 patients with MS (281 IFN-β responders and 274 nonresponders).
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over hundred polymorphisms with modest individual effects in MS susceptibility and they have confirmed the main individual effect of the Major Histocompatibility Complex. Additional risk loci with immunologically relevant genes were found significantly overrepresented.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) has been proposed as a biomarker associated with the conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis in patients with clinically isolated syndromes, based on the finding of increased cerebrospinal fluid CHI3L1 levels in clinically isolated syndrome patients who later converted to multiple sclerosis compared to those who remained as clinically isolated syndrome. Here, we aimed to validate CHI3L1 as a prognostic biomarker in a large cohort of patients with clinically isolated syndrome. This is a longitudinal cohort study of clinically isolated syndrome patients with clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and cerebrospinal fluid data prospectively acquired.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Rev Neurother
November 2014
Refractory spasticity, central neuropathic pain and bladder dysfunction are common clinical problems in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). None of the currently available oral medications has proven to be reliably effective and can be limited by toxicity. Cannabinoids have shown therapeutic effects on those MS-associated symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Fingolimod has recently been approved for the therapy of relapsing multiple sclerosis. This drug binds to different sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
Aim: To analyze basic mechanisms of action that can account for the efficacy of this drug in multiple sclerosis.
J AOAC Int
March 2011
A method was optimized for the analysis of omeprazole (OMZ) by ultra-high speed LC with diode array detection using a monolithic Chromolith Fast Gradient RP 18 endcapped column (50 x 2.0 mm id). The analyses were performed at 30 degrees C using a mobile phase consisting of 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic liver disorders predispose to complex metabolic disturbances that lead to malnutrition, which is universally present in patients with hepatic failure undergoing liver transplantation and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The nutritional status is an important factor for survival after liver transplantation. Aggressive nutritional support is essential during all phases of liver transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExperimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats is the most widely used animal model for multiple sclerosis. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) has been associated with neuroinflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of different cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes by analyzing their expression in the brain of EAE rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComb Chem High Throughput Screen
July 2007
Optical biosensors have been commercially available since the early 1990s, and have been used extensively in many areas of research in the life sciences. Optical biosensors developed for drug analysis generally exploit the high selectivity of the antigen-antibody and drug-protein interaction. Optical biosensors can be made based on optical diffraction or electro-chemiluminescence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe structures and biosynthesis of the sesquiterpenoid metabolites of Botrytis cinerea and their relationship to the presilphiperfolanes are reviewed. The development of a novel strategy for the control of this phytopathogenic fungus based on analogues of these metabolites is described. There are 75 references.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMany reports have shown that cannabinoids might be beneficial in the symptomatic treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). We have investigated the therapeutic properties of the non-selective cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN-2 as a suppressive drug in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS. In the passive variety of EAE, induced in Lewis rats by adoptive transfer of myelin-reactive T cells, WIN-2 ameliorates the clinical signs and diminishes the cell infiltration of the spinal cord.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) frequently have diverse abnormalities of carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism that cause progressive deterioration of their clinical condition and lead to malnutrition. Malnutrition is almost universally present in patients with ESLD undergoing liver transplantation and has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It is essential to identify and correct nutritional deficiencies in this population and provide an adequate nutritional support during all phases of liver transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetabolic bone disease (osteodystrophy) is an important complication of patients with chronic liver disease; its etiology is complex and multifactorial. Osteodystrophy is manifested as osteopenia/osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can predispose patients to bone fractures, increasing morbidity and mortality, especially after liver transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRolipram suppresses experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and diminishes cell infiltration of the central nervous system (CNS). In Lewis rats with EAE, rolipram reduced matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) gene expression in lymph node cells (LNCs) and spinal cord, decreased basal levels of nuclear (p50/p65) NF-kappaB in LNCs from treated rats, and impaired CD3 mediated NF-kappaB translocation. Rolipram reduced the luciferase activity directed by the NF-kappaB binding site of the MMP-9 gene in lymphocytes.
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