Relationship between external weather conditions and number of hibernating bats in two caves in the western Italian Alps

Weather conditions can influence the hibernation behaviour of temperate cave-dwelling bats that are tolerant to low temperatures, and their number can be correlated with weather variables. In this work a first assessment on the correlation between the number of individuals of three species of hibernating bats (Barbastella barbastellus, Myotis emarginatus and Rhinolophus hipposideros) and the environmental weather conditions before the survey was carried out is provided for two hibernacula of the Italian Western Alps. For the B. barbastellus, a significant inverse correlation was observed between the number of bats detected and the average daily temperature for thirty days preceding the count (p= 0.036) and ten days before counting (p= 0.036). A significant positive correlation was observed for M. emarginatus between the number of individuals and the average daily temperatures for thirty days preceding the count (p= 0.018). For R. hipposideros, a significant inverse correlation was observed with the average daily temperatures for the ten days before the count (p= 0.048) and the differences in the maximum and minimum temperature of the ten days preceding the count (p= 0.002). Results of this study show how the ambient temperatures before a count can influence the number of bats present in hibernacula. This confirms how the abundance of bats at underground hibernating sites can be used as an indicator of climate change, as temperature is an important factor controlling hibernation, although further studies are needed in order to better evaluate how the climatic variables interact with each other in regulating the number of bats in the hibernacula.

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Intraperitoneal Pressure in Polycystic and Non-Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients, Treated by Peritoneal Dialysis

Blood Purification ◽

10.1159/000506177 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 670-676

Author(s):

Anna Giuliani ◽

Sabrina Milan Manani ◽

Carlo Crepaldi ◽

Alessandro Domenici ◽

Fiorella Gastaldon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Peritoneal Dialysis ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Polycystic Kidney Disease ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Polycystic Kidney ◽

Significant Inverse Correlation ◽

Intraperitoneal Pressure ◽

Wide Range ◽

Wide Variability

Introduction: Intraperitoneal volume (IPV) should be individualized and aimed to maintain an intraperitoneal pressure (IPP) lower than 17 cm H2O. IPP is very variable, given its relation with body size. However, it is not yet fully understood which anthropometric variable mostly affects IPP and the relation between IPP and organomegaly in polycystic kidney disease (PKD) patients is not known. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to analyse the relation between antropometric variables and IPP in a large cohort of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients and to identify if a relation between nephromegaly and IPP exists in PKD patients. Methods: IPP was measured in PD patients and data was retrospectively collected. In PKD patients, total kidney volumes were measured in CT scans, and normalized with height (hTKV). Results: Seventy-seven patients were included in the study, 18% affected by PKD. Mean IPP was 14.9 ± 2.9 cm H2O and it showed significant positive correlation with body mass index (BMI; ρ = 0.42, p < 0.001). No correlation was found between IPP and absolute IPV; conversely, IPP has a significant inverse correlation with IPV normalized with BMI and body surface area (ρ –0.38, p = 0.001 and ρ –0.25, p = 0.02, respectively). Patients with IPP >17 cm H2O have significant larger BMI and lower IPV/BMI compared to those with IPP <17 cm H2O (29 ± 3.6 vs. 26 ± 4 kg/m2, p < 0.05 and 97 ± 15.5 vs. 109 ± 22 mL/kg/m2, p < 0.05). PKD patients have a wide variability in hTKV (range 645–3,787 mL/m2) and it showed a significant correlation with IPP/IPV (ρ = 0.6, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with larger BMI have greater IPP, irrespectively to IPV. In PKD patients, hTKV correlate with IPP/IPV ratio. However, given the wide range of distribution of hTKV, increased IPP cannot be presumed because of pre-existing polycystic kidney, but need to be quantified.

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The Role of Transferrin and Laminin Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Diabetic Nephropathy in Type II Diabetic Patients

Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research ◽

10.9734/jammr/2021/v33i730876 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 69-80

Author(s):

Mohy Eldin Abd EL-Fattah ◽

Laila Ahmed Rashed ◽

Suzan Magdy Mohammed Nasr

Keyword(s):

Diabetic Nephropathy ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Healthy Control Subject ◽

P Value ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Serum Transferrin ◽

Type Ii ◽

Significant Inverse Correlation ◽

Healthy Control

Background/Aim: Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most important microvascular complications associated with type II diabetic patients. It occurs in 20-40% patients with diabetes mellitus, and microalbuminuria is still considered as the first sign of diabetic nephropathy. Low sensitivity and specificity of microalbuminuria leads to more sensitive biomarkers that may be used to detect diabetic nephropathy at an earlier stage with higher accuracy. This study was carried out to detect the validity of using serum Transferrin and Laminin as a diagnostic biomarkers for diabetic nephropathy in type ΙΙ diabetic patients. Methods: Egyptian patients (n=96) included 72 type 2 diabetic patients who were classified into three groups: group 1 - normoalbuminuric patients (uACR up to 30 mg/g), group 2 - microalbuminuric patients (uACR from 30 – 300 mg/g), group 3 - macroalbuminuric patients (uACR from >300 mg/g) and 24 healthy control were surveyed in a cross-sectional study over a period of 6 months at biochemistry department, KASR ALAINY Hospital of Cairo University. Patients were subjected to measurement of Albumin creatinine ratio, eGFR, Serum creatinine, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profile. The serum concentrations of transferrin and lamnin were measured using a highly sensitive one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay kit. Results: Serum laminin was significantly higher in macroalbuminuric patients than in the microalbuminuric and in microalbuminuric patients than in the normoalbuminuric and healthy control subject. By comparing these goups according to serum laminin concentration we found statistically significant positive correlation (p value <0.001, r= 0.670), serum transferrin was significantly lower in macroalbuminuric patients than in the microalbuminuric and in microalbuminuric patients than in the normoalbuminuric and healthy control subject. By comparing these goups according to serum transferrin concentration we found statistically significant inverse correlation (p value <0.001, r= -0.579). There was no correlation between level of serum transferrin /laminin and glycoregulation, and statistically significant positive correlation was found between serum laminin and duration of diabetes and statistically significant inverse correlation was found between serum transferrin and duration of diabetes. Conclusions: The results from this study provide the evidence that serum laminin and transferrin could be used as a diagnostic markers of diabetic nephropathy.

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WMHs AND HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS AS CANDIDATE BIOMARKER FOR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT

10.1101/2020.05.04.20090704 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Vivek Misra ◽

Ennapadam S. Krishnamoorthy ◽

Shruti Balaji ◽

Jayandrakumar Kuppan ◽

K Nagarajan

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Biochemical Markers ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Biological Marker ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Plasma Homocysteine ◽

Elevated Plasma ◽

Significant Inverse Correlation ◽

Blood Biochemical ◽

South Indian

ABSTRACTThe aim of this pilot study was to test the hypotheses that a) WMHs would be a biological marker in South Indian patients who present with either cognitive impairment, dementia or depression and b) presence of WMHs would be related to other blood biochemical markers. A significant positive correlation was present between temporal WMHs and increased homocysteine levels. A significant inverse correlation was obtained between MMSE scores and frontal caps. Association between temporal WMHs and elevated plasma homocysteine levels implies that this can serve as a biological marker for cognitive impairment and possibly for therapy.

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NKG2D Signaling Leads to NK Cell Mediated Lysis of Childhood AML

Journal of Immunology Research ◽

10.1155/2015/473175 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Patrick Schlegel ◽

Kerstin Ditthard ◽

Peter Lang ◽

Markus Mezger ◽

Sebastian Michaelis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nk Cells ◽

Myeloid Leukemia ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Nk Cell ◽

Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Nkg2d Ligand ◽

Significant Inverse Correlation ◽

Ligand Expression ◽

Childhood Aml

Natural killer cells have been shown to be relevant in the recognition and lysis of acute myeloid leukemia. In childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, it was shown that HLA I expression and KIR receptor-ligand mismatch significantly impact ALL cytolysis. We characterized 14 different primary childhood AML blasts by flow cytometry including NKG2D ligands. Further HLA I typing of blasts was performed and HLA I on the AML blasts was quantified. In two healthy volunteer NK cell donors HLA I typing and KIR genotyping were done. Blasts with high NKG2D ligand expression had significantly higher lysis by isolated NK cells. Grouping the blasts by NKG2D ligand expression led to a significant inverse correlation of HLA I expression and cytolysis in NKG2D low blasts. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation of NKG2D ligand expression and blast cytolysis was shown. No impact of KIR ligand-ligand mismatch was found but a significantly increased lysis of homozygous C2 blasts by KIR2DL1 negative NK cells (donor B) was revealed. In conclusion, NKG2D signaling leads to NK cell mediated lysis of childhood AML despite high HLA I expression.

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Relations of phenometrical indices of apple fruits with weather variation in the assortment of varieties of an apple gene bank

International Journal of Horticultural Science ◽

10.31421/ijhs/18/2/1045 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

Author(s):

L. Lakatos ◽

T. Szabó ◽

Z. Szabó ◽

M. Soltész ◽

Z. Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Temperatures ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Gene Bank ◽

Weather Variables ◽

Soil Humidity ◽

Weather Variation ◽

Input Side ◽

Dynamic Components ◽

Apple Fruits

The purpose of phenometry is to examine the measurable parameters of the plants in order to follow up the consequences of weather processes. We should fi nd the reasons, why the diameter of fruits grows larger in one season and smaller in the next. Variation may occur as a response to insuffi cient provision of water or nutrients, but also because of pathological effects and of extremely high or low temperatures, moreover, of extraordinary heavy fruit load. There are phenometrical characteristics, which consider the fi nal consequences (density of fl owers, fruits set, drop of fruits), whereas other parameters could be followed up (size, length and width of fruits) as the dynamic components of growth. The quantitative parameters of growth are functionally related to each other, where the weather conditions, soil humidity and nutrients are on the input side, thus it is possible to model the growth of fruits as a function of the environment. Initially, the relations between the main weather variables and the phenometrical data have to be cleared. In the present study, the interactions between the mentioned phenomena are presented and numerically defi ned.

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Secondary hyperparathyroidism in association with malnutrition - inflammation complex syndrome in chronic hemodialysis

Annals of King Edward Medical University ◽

10.21649/akemu.v11i3.1030 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Hamid Nasri ◽

Azar Baradaran

Keyword(s):

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Serum Triglyceride ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Serum Phosphorus ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Significant Inverse Correlation ◽

Positive Correlation ◽

Serum Ipth ◽

Serum Crp

To found the association of high PTH levels with some indexes of malnutrition-inflammation complex syndrome (MICS), a study was carried out a group of maintenance hemodialysis patients(MHPs) consisting of nondiabetic and diabetic patients. Intact serum PTH (iPTH) and serum C-reactive protein(CRP), serum calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum cholesterol (chol)and serum triglyceride (Tg) were measured .Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated . Total patients were 36(f=15 m=21), consisting of 25 non-diabetic HD patients and 11 diabetic HD patients. The mean patient`s age was 44(17) years. The value of serum iPTH of total HD patients was 434455 (median:309)pg/nd, the value of serum iPTH of diabetic and nondiabetic-dialysis patients were 201277(median:41) and 537483(median:340)pg/ml respectively. In this study we found a near significant positive correlation of serum iPTH with serum CRP, a significant inverse correlation of serum iPTH with BMI and a near significant positive correlation of serum ALP with Logarithm of CRP, a significant positive correlation of serum phosphorus with serum CRP and also a significant inverse correlation of serum phosphorus with BMI were found. A near significant inverse correlation of serum cholestrol with serum phosphorus as well as a near significant inverse correlation of serum cholestrol with serum CRP were existed too. When patients with iPTH below than 200 pg/ml were deleted, the correlation of iPTH with CRP was positive (r =0.42, p =0.085) and when patients with iPTH more than 500pg/ml were deleted, this correlation was found to be negative(r = -0.42, p =0.047), means that a low iPTH values is an index of malnutrition while higher values is associated with inflammation, Further attention needs to better control of hyperphosphatemia and maintaining the iPTH levels 1.5 times of normal to avoid the sides effects of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

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High Levels of Plasma Protein C in Nephrotic Syndrome

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1661225 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 53 (01) ◽

pp. 005-007 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

I Pabinger-Fasching ◽

K Lechner ◽

H Niessner ◽

P Schmidt ◽

E Balzar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nephrotic Syndrome ◽

Plasma Protein ◽

Protein C ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Elevated Plasma ◽

Significant Inverse Correlation ◽

At Iii ◽

Thrombotic Tendency ◽

Protein C Activity

SummaryIn patients with severe nephrotic syndrome determinations of plasma protein C : Ag levels (8 patients: 5 adults, 3 children) and protein C activity (3 out of 8 patients) revealed significantly elevated plasma protein C concentrations. Furthermore we observed a significant inverse correlation of protein C : Ag to AT III : Ag levels. No protein C : Ag could be detected in the urine of two patients studied. We conclude from our data, that changes of plasma protein C do not contribute to the high thrombotic tendency in nephrotic syndrome.

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The Dependence of Renal 68Ga[Ga]-DOTATOC Uptake on Kidney Function and Its Relevance for Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy with 177Lu[Lu]-DOTATOC

Diagnostics ◽

10.3390/diagnostics11071216 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1216

Author(s):

Falk Gühne ◽

Alexander Heinzig ◽

Philipp Seifert ◽

Robert Drescher ◽

Martin Freesmeyer

Keyword(s):

Kidney Function ◽

Specific Binding ◽

Correlation Coefficients ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy ◽

Tracer Uptake ◽

Significant Inverse Correlation ◽

Peptide Receptor ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Induced Changes

Background: In addition to its SSTR-specific binding in tumors and healthy tissues, DOTATOC analogues accumulate in kidney parenchyma. Renal tracer uptake might be a surrogate of kidney function or dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate if kidney function can be estimated from 68Ga[Ga]-DOTATOC uptake in PET/CT and its impact on the nephrotoxicity of 177Lu[Lu]-DOTATOC PRRT. Methods: Two cohorts of patients (A: 128 diagnostic patients; B: 32 PRRT patients) were evaluated retrospectively. SUV values of the kidneys, physiologically SSTR-expressing organs and in background compartments were assessed. Kidney function was calculated as eGFR by CKD-EPI creatinine equation. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and treatment-induced changes of uptake and kidney function were assessed and compared. Results: Kidney function and renal DOTATOC uptake showed a significant inverse correlation (R2 = 0.037; p = 0.029). Evaluated models of PET/CT measurements were not able to predict kidney function sufficiently. The uptake of other organs did not depend on eGFR. While the renal uptake increased after PRRT (p < 0.001), the kidney function did not change significantly (p = 0.382). Neither low pre-therapeutic eGFR nor high pre-therapeutic kidney uptake were risk factors of PRRT-induced deterioration in kidney function. Conclusion: The relevance of kidney function for renal 68Ga[Ga]-DOTATOC uptake is limited. The nephrotoxicity of 177Lu[Lu]-DOTATOC PRRT might be low and cannot be reliably predicted by pre-therapeutic measurements.

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Ambient temperatures, heatwaves and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Brisbane, Australia

Occupational and Environmental Medicine ◽

10.1136/oemed-2020-107018 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. oemed-2020-107018

Author(s):

Tan N Doan ◽

Daniel Wilson ◽

Stephen Rashford ◽

Emma Bosley

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Arrest ◽

Temperature Distribution ◽

Low Temperatures ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Reference Temperature ◽

Ambient Temperatures ◽

Distributed Lag ◽

Exposure Response ◽

Heat Threshold ◽

Hospital Cardiac Arrest

BackgroundThe health impacts of temperatures are gaining attention in Australia and worldwide. While a number of studies have investigated the association of temperatures with the risk of cardiovascular diseases, few examined out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and none have done so in Australia. This study examined the exposure–response relationship between temperatures, including heatwaves and OHCA in Brisbane, Australia.MethodsA quasi-Poisson regression model coupled with a distributed lag non-linear model was employed, using OHCA and meteorological data between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2019. Reference temperature was chosen to be the temperature of minimum risk (21.4°C). Heatwaves were defined as daily average temperatures at or above a heat threshold (90th, 95th, 98th, 99th percentile of the yearly temperature distribution) for at least two consecutive days.ResultsThe effect of any temperature above the reference temperature was not statistically significant; whereas low temperatures (below reference temperature) increased OHCA risk. The effect of low temperatures was delayed for 1 day, sustained up to 3 days, peaking at 2 days following exposures. Heatwaves significantly increased OHCA risk across the operational definitions. When a threshold of 95th percentile of yearly temperature distribution was used to define heatwaves, OHCA risk increased 1.25 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.50) times. When the heat threshold for defining heatwaves increased to 99th percentile, the relative risk increased to 1.48 (1.11 to 1.96).ConclusionsLow temperatures and defined heatwaves increase OHCA risk. The findings of this study have important public health implications for mitigating strategies aimed at minimising temperature-related OHCA.

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Construct Validity for Self-Acceptance and Fear of Negative Evaluation

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/pr0.2001.89.2.386 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 89 (2) ◽

pp. 386-386 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mark W. Durm ◽

Patricia E. Glaze

Keyword(s):

Construct Validity ◽

Inverse Correlation ◽

The Self ◽

Negative Evaluation ◽

Fear Of Negative Evaluation ◽

Significant Inverse Correlation ◽

Acceptance Scale ◽

Self Acceptance

For 55 students (13 men, 42 women) there was a significant inverse correlation for scores on the Self-acceptance Scale and scores on the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, thereby giving credence to the construct validity of both scales, that is, the more one accepts oneself, the less negative evaluation there is of oneself.

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