Epidemiological Research Advancements in Vascular Calcification in Diabetes

These considerations provide novel insights into the mechanisms that may underpin inositol's ability to confer embryonic developmental benefit.It remains unclear about the role of the EVI1 gene in AML patients with 11q23/MLL rearrangement (MLL-r AML) undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). We analyzed the clinical value of EVI1 gene quantification in 96 MLL-r AML patients. High EVI1 expression was found in 73% (70/96) of MLL-r AML patients, and EVI1-high MLL-r AML patients were characterized by high WBC counts (P = 0.046) and low platelet counts (P  less then  0.001) and commonly had t(6;11) (P = 0.032). In addition, a significant difference was observed in the SETD2 gene mutation between the EVI1 high and low groups (0% vs. 50%, P  less then  0.001). EVI1-high MLL-r AML patients had worse 2-year OS (49.8% vs. 79.7%, P = 0.01) and 2-year PFS (40.2% vs. 68.1%, P = 0.014) than EVI1-low patients. read more In 57 MLL-r AML patients undergoing allo-HSCT, poorer 2-year PFS (48.6% vs. 72.4%, P = 0.039) and higher CIR (33.2% vs. 11.1%, P = 0.035) were observed in the EVI1-high patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that pre-EVI1+ was the sole independent factor of high CIR (P = 0.035, HR = 4.97, 95% CI 1.12-22.04). EVI1+ at 100 days post allo-HSCT was associated with a significantly higher 2-year CIR (P = 0.017). The quantification of the EVI1 gene could be used as an additional marker for early predicting relapse in allo-HSCT MLL-r AML patients.The optimal conditioning for patients with acute myeloid leukemia in first complete remission treated with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) has not been defined so far. In this retrospective study, we compared two "reduced-toxicity" regimens intravenous busulfan at a total dose of 9.6 mg/kg (3 days) + fludarabine (Bu3/Flu) and total body irradiation at a dose of 8 Gy + fludarabine (TBI8Gy/Flu). In the entire study cohort (n = 518), the probabilities of overall survival (OS), leukemia-free survival (LFS), relapse and non-relapse mortality (NRM) at 2 years for Bu3/Flu and TBI8Gy/Flu were 62% vs. 72.5% (p = 0.051), 59.5% vs. 65% (p = 0.15), 30% vs. 20% (p = 0.01), and 10% vs. 14% (p = 0.18), respectively. In multivariate model for patients less then 50 years old, TBI8Gy/Flu was associated with improved LFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.5, p = 0.04), OS (HR = 0.31, p = 0.004), and survival free from both graft-versus-host disease and relapse (HR = 0.55, p = 0.03), as well as tendency to reduced risk of relapse (HR = 0.53, p = 0.08). Among patients aged 50 years or older the use of TBI8Gy/Flu was associated with increased incidence of NRM (HR = 3.9, p = 0.0009), with no significant impact on other outcome measures. We conclude that the use of TBI8Gy/Flu as "reduced-toxicity" regimen may be advised in younger patients with AML referred for allo-HCT.Although the Cre-loxP recombination system has been extensively used to analyze gene function in vivo, spatiotemporal control of Cre activity is a critical limitation for easy and precise recombination. Here, we established photoactivatable-Cre (PA-Cre) knock-in (KI) mice at a safe harbor locus for the spatial and temporal regulation of Cre recombinase activity. The mice showed whole-body Cre recombination activity following light exposure for only 1 h. Almost no leaks of Cre recombination activity were detected in the KI mice under natural light conditions. Spot irradiation could induce locus-specific recombination noninvasively, enabling us to compare phenotypes on the left and right sides in the same mouse. Furthermore, long-term irradiation using an implanted wireless LED substantially improved Cre recombination activity, especially in the brain. These results demonstrate that PA-Cre KI mice can facilitate the spatiotemporal control of genetic engineering and provide a useful resource to elucidate gene function in vivo with Cre-loxP.Changing climate and rising temperatures are predicted to affect millions of workers due to heat stress risks, especially in tropical settings. We used a cross-sectional study design to profile the heat exposures of ~1500 workers from eight-industrial sectors using a QuesTemp wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) monitor, quantified the heat-strain indicators viz., rise in Core Body Temperature (CBT), Sweat Rate (SwR), and Urine Specific Gravity (USG) by standard methods and evaluated the health impacts of heat stress using a structured questionnaire. Heat exposures (Avg.WBGT 28.4 ± 2.6 °C) exceeded the Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for 70% of workers and was significantly associated with the rise in CBT >1 °C in 11.3% and elevated USG >1.020 in 10.5% of the workers. The heat-exposed workers had 2.3 times higher odds of reporting adverse health outcomes (84%) compared to the unexposed workers (95% CI 1.74-3.19; p value ≤ 0.0001). Mild reduction in kidney function observed in 49% of salt - pan workers, and a high prevalence of kidney stones (33%) among the 91 steelworkers subjected to kidney ultrasound had a significant association with chronic high WBGT exposure above the TLV (p value  less then  0.034). Further, in-depth assessments are warranted to develop strategies for interventions and protective labor policies to avert adverse occupational health and productivity consequences for millions of workers globally, especially in the rising temperature scenario.With the adoption of standardized neonatal acute kidney injury (AKI) definitions over the past decade and the concomitant surge in research studies, the epidemiology of and risk factors for neonatal AKI have become much better understood. Thus, there is now a need to focus on strategies designed to improve AKI care processes with the goal of reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with neonatal AKI. The 22nd Acute Dialysis/Disease Quality Improvement (ADQI) report provides a framework for such quality improvement in adults at risk for AKI and its sequelae. While many of the concepts can be translated to neonates, there are a number of specific nuances which differ in neonatal AKI care. A group of experts in pediatric nephrology and neonatology came together to provide neonatal-specific responses to each of the 22nd ADQI consensus statements.