Introduction: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disease and the 4th leading cause of renal replacement therapy in the world. ADPKD is a systemic disorder as cysts may develop in several organs. Liver cysts are the most common extrarenal manifestations and are often incidentally detected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic kidney disease. Its main feature is the progressive enlargement of both kidneys with progressive loss of kidney function. ADPKD is the fourth leading cause of terminal renal failure in the world.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) has infected about 124 million people worldwide and the total amount of casualties now sits at a staggering 2.7 million. One enigmatic aspect of this disease is the protean nature of the clinical manifestations, ranging from total absence of symptoms to extremely severe cases with multiorgan failure and death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA 37-year old man had suffered palmar hyperhidrosis since he was fifteen years old. In the last year, he has been treated with tolvaptan for autosomic polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The start of tolvaptan therapy was associated with a complete resolution of palmar hyperhidrosis and a sensation of relaxation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe interaction of Np(v) with borate was investigated in 0.1-5.0 M NaCl and 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: The only effective and safe treatment of celiac disease (CD) continues being strict exclusion of gluten for life, the so-called gluten-free diet (GFD). Although this treatment is highly successful, following strict GFD poses difficulties to patients in family, social and working contexts, deteriorating his/her quality of life. We aimed to review main characteristics of GFD with special emphasis on factors that may interfere with adherence to it.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ability of cement phases carrying positively charged surfaces to retard the mobility of (129)I, present as iodide (I(-)) in groundwater, was investigated in the context of safe disposal of radioactive waste. (125)I sorption experiments on ettringite, hydrotalcite, chloride-, carbonate- and sulfate-containing AFm phases indicated that calcium-monosulfate (AFm-SO(4)) is the only phase that takes up trace levels of iodide. The structures of AFm phases prepared by coprecipitating iodide with other anions were investigated in order to understand this preferential uptake mechanism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScanning transmission X-ray microscopy was used to investigate the speciation and spatial distribution of Co in a Co(II)-doped cement matrix. The aim of this study was to improve the understanding of the heavy metals immobilization process in cement on the molecular level. The Co-doped cement samples hydrated for 30 days with a Co loading of 5000 mg/kg were prepared under normal atmosphere to simulate conditions used for cement-stabilized waste packages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrevious synchrotron X-ray microprobe measurements of Zn speciation in contaminated and uncontaminated soils have identified phyllosilicate as the main sequestration phase. The emphasis now is focused on comparing the nature and properties of neoformed and geogenic phyllosilicate species to understand natural attenuation processes. Refined structural characterization of the two types of Zn-containing phyllosilicate in slightly basic smelter-affected agricultural soils were obtained using a so far unprecedented combination of X-ray microscopic techniques, including fluorescence (μ-XRF), absorption (μ-EXAFS), and diffraction (μ-XRD), and X-ray bulk-sensitive techniques, including powder and polarized EXAFS spectroscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Technol
March 2007
Cement-based materials play an important role in multi-barrier concepts developed worldwide for the safe disposal of hazardous and radioactive wastes. Cement is used to condition and stabilize the waste materials and to construct the engineered barrier systems (container, backfill and liner materials) of repositories for radioactive waste. In this study, Co uptake by hardened cement paste (HCP) has been investigated with the aim of improving our understanding of the immobilization process of heavy metals in cement on the molecular level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCement is used to condition waste materials and for the construction and backfilling of repositories for low-and intermediate-level radioactive waste. In this study, Ni uptake by hardened cement paste has been investigated with the aim of improving our understanding of the immobilization process of Ni(ll) in cement on the microscale. Information on the cement microstructure, Ni distribution, Ni concentration, and speciation of the Ni phases formed in the cement system and their association with specific cement minerals has been gained by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and synchrotron-based micro-X-ray fluorescence (micro-XRF) and micro-X-ray absorption spectroscopy (micro-XAS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Sci Technol
April 2006
Cement-based materials play an important role in multi-barrier concepts developed worldwide for the safe disposal of hazardous and radioactive wastes. Cement is used to condition and stabilize the waste materials and to construct the engineered barrier systems (container, backfill, and liner materials) of repositories for radioactive waste. In this study, Ni uptake by hardened cement paste has been investigated with the aim of improving our understanding of the immobilization process of heavy metals in cement on the molecular level.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLong-term predictions on the mobility and the fate of radionuclides and contaminants in cementitious waste repositories require a molecular-level understanding of the geochemical immobilization processes involved. In this study, the use of X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) for chemical speciation of trace elements in cementitious materials will be outlined presenting two examples relevant for nuclear waste management. The first example addresses the use of XAS on powdered cementitious materials to determine the local coordination environment of Sn(IV) bound to calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA non-mycelial strain of wild-type Candida albicans strain 3153 A was produced by repeated subculturing on Sabouraud glucose agar, and maintained on yeast extract-peptone-glucose medium resulting in hydrophobic cells at 26 degrees C and hydrophilic cells at 37 degrees C. The behaviour of cells of this strain was studied in male BALB/c mice, immunocompromised by treatment with cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate. An ex-vivo assay of cell adherence to tissue sections of liver, spleen, kidney and lymph-nodes was used.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of tunicamycin on the morphology of Candida albicans yeast cells and germ tubes grown in two different Earle's minimal essential media was investigated. Tunicamycin inhibited germ tube and mycelia formation. Inhibition increased the size and caused aberrant morphology of yeast cells, including bud formation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFEMS Immunol Med Microbiol
March 1995
The influence of immune status of the host on binding of germ tubes of Candida albicans to murine tissue sections in an ex vivo assay was examined. Generally, germ tubes appeared randomly adhered to the tissues examined and binding was unaffected by immunodeficiency induced by treatment with cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate. Adherence was somewhat reduced in spleen and kidney sections or increased in liver sections and unchanged in lymph node sections from treated mice compared to sections from control animals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCan J Microbiol
January 1994
Adhesion of Candida albicans germ tubes to murine tissues was examined. An ex vivo assay previously employed to examine adhesion of yeast cells of C. albicans was adapted for use with germ tubes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFScanning electron microscopy was used to study the effect of tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation, on the morphology of Candida albicans grown in minimal essential medium Earle's base and supplemented with 0.5% N-acetyl-D-glucosamine to stimulate germ tube induction. Addition of the drug prevented development of germ tubes, development of mycelia from germ tubes and resumption of germ tube growth after drug removal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis
April 1993
We report on the effect of subinhibitory doses of tunicamycin on Candida albicans cells (BP strain high responder NCYC 1466) in a defined medium favourable for expression of the mycelial phase. Tunicamycin inhibited the synthesis of some protein fractions ranging from 40 to 65 kDa, where the immunodominant antigens of C. albicans responsible for the antibody response to systemic mycosis were inhibited.
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