Evaluation of IScore validity in a Greek cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Diabetes constitutes a risk factor for stroke that also aggravates stroke prognosis. Several prognostic models have been developed for the evaluation of neurologic status, severity, short-term functional outcome and mortality of stroke patients. IScore is a novel tool recently developed in order to predict mortality rates within 30 days and 1 year after ischemic stroke and diabetes is not included in the scoring scale of IScore. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare IScore validity in ischemic stroke patients with and without diabetes. METHODS: This prospective study included 312 consecutive Caucasian patients with type 2 diabetes and 222 Caucasian patients without diabetes admitted for ischemic stroke in a tertiary Greek hospital. Thirty-day and 1-year IScores were individually calculated for each patient and actual mortality was monitored at the same time intervals. IScore’s predictive ability and calibration was evaluated and compared for ischemic stroke patients with and without diabetes. The performance of IScore for predicting 30 and 1-year mortality between patients with and without diabetes was assessed by determining the calibration and discrimination of the score. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the discriminative ability of IScore for patients with and without diabetes, whereas the calibration of IScore was assessed by the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of fit statistic. RESULTS: Baseline population characteristics and mortality rates did not differ significantly for both cohorts. IScore values were significantly higher for patients with diabetes at 30 days and 1 year after ischemic stroke and patients with diabetes presented more frequently with lacunar strokes. Based on ROC curves analysis IScore’s predictive ability for 30 day mortality was excellent, without statistically significant difference, for both cohorts. Predictive ability for 1 year mortality was also excellent for both groups with significantly better ability for patients with diabetes especially at high score values. Calibration of the model was good for both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: IScore accurately predicts mortality in acute ischemic stroke Caucasian patients with and without diabetes with higher efficacy in predicting 1 year mortality in patients with diabetes especially with high scores

Διδακτική προσέγγιση των νέων μορφών θρησκευτικότητας στη Θρησκευτική Εκπαίδευση στην Ελλάδα: το αρχέτυπο του ήρωα στον κύκλο της κινηματογραφικής μεταφοράς του “Πολέμου των Άστρων”

Η μελέτη εξετάζει πώς οι νέες μορφές θρησκευτικότητας διδάσκονται στο μάθημα των Θρησκευτικών στη Δευτεροβάθμια Εκπαίδευση, χρησιμοποιώντας ως παράδειγμα τον «Πόλεμο των Άστρων» και το θρησκευτικό κίνημα του «τζενταϊσμού». Η έρευνα, που έγινε σε μαθητές Γ’ Γυμνασίου, αξιολόγησε τον θρησκευτικό γραμματισμό πριν και μετά τη διδακτική παρέμβαση. Τα ευρήματα έδειξαν ότι η παρέμβαση βοήθησε στην κατανόηση των νέων μορφών θρησκευτικότητας, με το παράδειγμα του τζενταϊσμού να συμβάλλει καθοριστικά. Επιβεβαιώνεται, τέλος, μέρος της βιβλιογραφίας για τη διδασκαλία του θέματος σε σχολική τάξη, αν και η έρευνα ήταν μικρής κλίμακας.The study examines how new forms of religiosity are taught in Religious Education in Secondary Education, using "Star Wars" and the religious movement of "Jediism" as examples. The research, conducted with ninth-grade students, evaluated their religious literacy before and after the educational intervention. The findings revealed that the intervention significantly enhanced students' understanding of new forms of religiosity, with the example of Jediism playing a key role. Finally, the study confirms part of the literature regarding the teaching of this subject in the classroom, despite being a small-scale research effort

TBE vaccination breakthrough cases—Does age matter?

Funding Information: Funding: This study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) vaccines are highly effective in preventing TBE and vaccine failures (VF) are rare events. In this study, we compared the age distribution of TBE cases and TBE VF in three endemic countries: Sweden, Southern Germany, and Latvia. While the age distribution of TBE cases was similar for those <50 years versus those ≥50 years in all three countries, in Sweden, a higher proportion of VF cases was ≥50 years, whereas most VF cases in Latvia were <50 years of age and more evenly distributed between those <50 years versus those ≥50 in Southern Germany. Here, theoretical explanations were provided, including differences in diagnostic practices, vaccine uptake between age groups, behavioral patterns and underlying medical conditions, as to why VF were generally older in Sweden than the other countries. There is no scientific rationale to give an extra priming dose of TBE vaccine to subjects ≥50 years of age.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 mediates pleiotrophin-induced endothelial cell migration

Pleiotrophin (PTN) stimulates endothelial cell migration through binding to receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase beta/zeta (RPTPβ/ζ) and ανβ3 integrin. Screening for proteins that interact with RPTPβ/ζ and potentially regulate PTN signaling, through mass spectrometry analysis, identified cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) activator p35 among the proteins displaying high sequence coverage. Interaction of p35 with the serine/threonine kinase CDK5 leads to CDK5 activation, known to be implicated in cell migration. Protein immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays verified p35-RPTPβ/ζ interaction and revealed the molecular association of CDK5 and RPTPβ/ζ. In endothelial cells, PTN activates CDK5 in an RPTPβ/ζ- and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-dependent manner. On the other hand, c-Src, ανβ3 and ERK1/2 do not mediate the PTN-induced CDK5 activation. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of CDK5 abolished PTN-induced endothelial cell migration, suggesting that CDK5 mediates PTN stimulatory effect. A new pyrrolo[2,3-α]carbazole derivative previously identified as a CDK1 inhibitor, was found to suppress CDK5 activity and eliminate PTN stimulatory effect on cell migration, warranting its further evaluation as a new CDK5 inhibitor. Collectively, our data reveal that CDK5 is activated by PTN, in an RPTPβ/ζ-dependent manner, regulates PTN-induced cell migration and is an attractive target for the inhibition of PTN pro-angiogenic properties

Toll/Interleukin-1 receptor member ST2 exhibits higher soluble levels in type 2 diabetes, especially when accompanied with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Soluble ST2, a member of the of the Toll/IL-1 superfamily, is a novel biomarker with exceptional predictive value in heart failure and myocardial infarction- related mortality as well as in acute dyspneic states. Soluble ST2 is considered a decoy receptor of IL 33 that blocks the protective effects of the cytokine in atherosclerosis and cardiac remodeling. In the present study we investigated the differences in the levels of soluble ST2, BNP and hs-CRP between healthy controls and patients with type 2 diabetes with and without left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. A secondary aim was to investigate correlations between sST2 and other biomarkers of type 2 diabetes, such as HbA1c.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>158 volunteers were recruited and underwent a complete Doppler-echocardiographic evaluation of both systolic & diastolic cardiac function. All subjects with ejection fraction < 50% were excluded. The study population was divided in 4 groups as follows: A: 42 healthy controls, B: 18 subjects without diabetes with LVDD, C: 48 patients with type 2 diabetes without LVDD & D: 50 patients with type 2 diabetes & LVDD. ELISA technique was performed to measure sST2 levels. Statistical analysis was performed with Kruskal-Wallis & Mann-Whitney test (continuous variables), chi squared & Fischer exact test (discrete variables), Spearman coefficient (univariate analysis) and step-wise backward method (multivariate analysis).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Patients with type 2 diabetes with (p < 0.001) or without LVDD (p = 0.007) had higher serum ST2 levels compared to healthy controls, state found also for hs-CRP levels but not for the corresponding BNP levels (p = 0.213 & p = 0.207 respectively). Patients with type 2 diabetes & LVDD had higher serum ST2 in relation to diabetic patients without LVDD (p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis HbA1c positively and independently correlated with sST2 levels in both groups of patients with type 2 diabetes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Patients with type 2 diabetes exhibit higher sST2 levels compared to healthy controls. The presence of LVDD in patients with type 2 diabetes is associated with even higher sST2 levels. A significant correlation between glycemic control and sST2 levels was also revealed.</p

Actividad antiviral de una antraquinona natural de la flora autóctona y de su derivado semi-sintético

Frente a las escasas alternativas terapéuticas para las virosis, nuestro grupo se aboca a la búsqueda de potenciales compuestos antivirales a partir de especies vegetales nativas de Argentina. Galium latoramosum Clos. (Rubiáceae) es una especie herbácea conocida como "raíz de teñir", utilizada popularmente por sus efectos tintóreos, antibacterianos y antifúngicos. A partir del estudio fitoquímico de esta especie vegetal, demostramos que la antraquinona (AQ) más abundante es lucidina primeverosido (Lp). Esta AQ natural podría ser un importante precursor para la obtención de derivados semi-sintéticos con potenciales bioactividades. Por lo tanto, el objetivo de este trabajo fue obtener Lp y su derivado semi-sintético, nordamnacantal (Nd), y evaluar la actividad antiviral in vitro de ambos para ampliar la búsqueda de compuestos con actividad antiviral.Fil: Mugas, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Investigaciones sobre Porfirinas y Porfirias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones sobre Porfirinas y Porfirias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; ArgentinaFil: Konigheim, Brenda Salome. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; ArgentinaFil: Rojas, Laura Maria Gloria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias. Departamento de Producción Vegetal. Laboratorio de Biotecnología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Aguilar, Juan Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; ArgentinaFil: Joseau, Marisa Jacqueline. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Contigiani de Minio, Marta Silvia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; ArgentinaFil: Fousteris, Manolis. University of Patras. Department of Pharmacy. Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry; GreciaFil: Núñez Montoya, Susana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Virología Dr. J. M. Vanella; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Departamento de Farmacia. Cátedra de Farmacognosia; ArgentinaXII Congreso Argentino de Virología; V Simposio de Virología Clínica; III Simposio de Virología VeterinariaCiudad Autónoma de Buenos AiresArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Virologí

MXML Storage and the Problem of Manipulation of Context

The problem of storing and querying XML data using relational databases has been considered a lot and many techniques have been developed. MXML is an extension of XML suitable for represent- ing data that assume different facets, having different value and structure under different contexts, which are determined by assigning values to a number of dimensions. In this paper, we explore techniques for storing MXML documents in relational databases, based on techniques previ- ously proposed for conventional XML documents. Essential characteristics of the proposed techniques are the capabilities a) to reconstruct the original MXML document from its relational representation and b) to express MXML context-aware queries in SQL