| 1. |
- Axfors, Cathrine, et al.
(författare)
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Association between convalescent plasma treatment and mortality in COVID-19 : a collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
- 2021
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Ingår i: BMC Infectious Diseases. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1471-2334. ; 21:1
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Convalescent plasma has been widely used to treat COVID-19 and is under investigation in numerous randomized clinical trials, but results are publicly available only for a small number of trials. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of convalescent plasma treatment compared to placebo or no treatment and all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19, using data from all available randomized clinical trials, including unpublished and ongoing trials (Open Science Framework, ). Methods: In this collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis, clinical trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform), the Cochrane COVID-19 register, the LOVE database, and PubMed were searched until April 8, 2021. Investigators of trials registered by March 1, 2021, without published results were contacted via email. Eligible were ongoing, discontinued and completed randomized clinical trials that compared convalescent plasma with placebo or no treatment in COVID-19 patients, regardless of setting or treatment schedule. Aggregated mortality data were extracted from publications or provided by investigators of unpublished trials and combined using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman random effects model. We investigated the contribution of unpublished trials to the overall evidence. Results: A total of 16,477 patients were included in 33 trials (20 unpublished with 3190 patients, 13 published with 13,287 patients). 32 trials enrolled only hospitalized patients (including 3 with only intensive care unit patients). Risk of bias was low for 29/33 trials. Of 8495 patients who received convalescent plasma, 1997 died (23%), and of 7982 control patients, 1952 died (24%). The combined risk ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.92; 1.02) with between-study heterogeneity not beyond chance (I-2 = 0%). The RECOVERY trial had 69.8% and the unpublished evidence 25.3% of the weight in the meta-analysis. Conclusions: Convalescent plasma treatment of patients with COVID-19 did not reduce all-cause mortality. These results provide strong evidence that convalescent plasma treatment for patients with COVID-19 should not be used outside of randomized trials. Evidence synthesis from collaborations among trial investigators can inform both evidence generation and evidence application in patient care.
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| 2. |
- Matabuena, Marcos, et al.
(författare)
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Identification of Asthma Phenotypes in the Spanish MEGA Cohort Study Using Cluster Analysis
- 2023
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Ingår i: Archivos de Bronconeumologia. - : Elsevier BV. - 0300-2896. ; 59:4, s. 223-231
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The definition of asthma phenotypes has not been fully established, neither there are cluster studies showing homogeneous results to solidly establish clear phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to develop a classification algorithm based on unsupervised cluster analysis, identifying clusters that represent clinically relevant asthma phenotypes that may share asthma-related outcomes. Methods: We performed a multicentre prospective cohort study, including adult patients with asthma (N = 512) from the MEGA study (Mechanisms underlying the Genesis and evolution of Asthma). A standardised clinical history was completed for each patient. Cluster analysis was performed using the kernel k-groups algorithm. Results: Four clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (31.5% of subjects) includes adult-onset atopic patients with better lung function, lower BMI, good asthma control, low ICS dose, and few exacerbations. Cluster 2 (23.6%) is made of adolescent-onset atopic asthma patients with normal lung function, but low adherence to treatment (59% well-controlled) and smokers (48%). Cluster 3 (17.1%) includes adult-onset patients, mostly severe non-atopic, with overweight, the worse lung function and asthma control, and receiving combination of treatments. Cluster 4 (26.7%) consists of the elderly-onset patients, mostly female, atopic (64%), with high BMI and normal lung function, prevalence of smokers and comorbidities. Conclusion: We defined four phenotypes of asthma using unsupervised cluster analysis. These clusters are clinically relevant and differ from each other as regards FEV1, age of onset, age, BMI, atopy, asthma severity, exacerbations, control, social class, smoking and nasal polyps.
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| 3. |
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- 2019
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
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| 4. |
- Adell, Emeli, et al.
(författare)
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Developing HMI components for a driver assistance system for safe speed and safe distance
- 2008
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Ingår i: IET Intelligent Transport Systems. - : Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). - 1751-9578 .- 1751-956X. ; 2:1, s. 1-14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper describes a pre-screening procedure that was carried out with a number of candidate Human-Machine-Interaction solutions in three different modes (visual, auditory and haptic) for the concepts of “safe speed and safe distance” (referred to as SASPENCE) of an Advanced Driver Assistance System (termed as ADAS). This procedure was performed simultaneously in two European countries, Sweden and Spain, in 2004. In each country two groups of about 30 drivers each participated in the two-phase procedure. Eleven visual display alternatives for speed information and ten alternatives for distance warning as well as twelve auditory warning sounds were screened by a standard procedure. In addition, two alternatives of haptic feedback via the accelerator pedal were tested in a mock-up driving seat. The overall results provide recommendations for visual, auditory and haptic feedback alternatives to build a driver support system for safe speed and safe distance.
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| 5. |
- Gallardo Bolanos, Juan M., et al.
(författare)
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Phosphorylated AKT preserves stallion sperm viability and motility by inhibiting caspases 3 and 7
- 2014
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Ingår i: Reproduction. - : Bioscientifica. - 1470-1626 .- 1476-3990. ; 148:2, s. 221-235
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AKT, also referred to as protein kinase B (PKB or RAC), plays a critical role in controlling cell survival and apoptosis. To gain insights into the mechanisms regulating sperm survival after ejaculation, the role of AKT was investigated in stallion spermatozoa using a specific inhibitor and a phosphoflow approach. Stallion spermatozoa were washed and incubated in Biggers-Whitten-Whittingham medium, supplemented with 1% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in the presence of 0 (vehicle), 10, 20 or 30 mu M SH5, an AKT inhibitor. SH5 treatment reduced the percentage of sperm displaying AKT phosphorylation, with inhibition reaching a maximum after 1 h of incubation. This decrease in phosphorylation was attributable to either dephosphorylation or suppression of the active phosphorylation pathway. Stallion spermatozoa spontaneously dephosphorylated during in vitro incubation, resulting in a lack of a difference in AKT phosphorylation between the SH5-treated sperm and the control after 4 h of incubation. AKT inhibition decreased the proportion of motile spermatozoa (total and progressive) and the sperm velocity. Similarly, AKT inhibition reduced membrane integrity, leading to increased membrane permeability and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential concomitantly with activation of caspases 3 and 7. However, the percentage of spermatozoa exhibiting oxidative stress, the production of mitochondrial superoxide radicals, DNA oxidation and DNA fragmentation were not affected by AKT inhibition. It is concluded that AKT maintains the membrane integrity of ejaculated stallion spermatozoa, presumably by inhibiting caspases 3 and 7, which prevents the progression of spermatozoa to an incomplete form of apoptosis.
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| 6. |
- Gonzalez-Ramiro, Henar, et al.
(författare)
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A Short-Term Altrenogest Treatment Post-weaning Followed by Superovulation Reduces Pregnancy Rates and Embryo Production Efficiency in Multiparous Sows
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Veterinary Science. - : Frontiers Media S.A.. - 2297-1769. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although embryo transfer (ET) is a biotechnology ready for the swine industry, there are factors to be solved, the availability of embryo donors as one. Multiparous sows as donors ought to be considered since weaning is a natural and efficient method for estrus synchronization. In addition, superovulation treatments at weaning are effective in increasing the efficiency of donor embryo production. However, ET programs typically require more donors than those available from a single weaning, imposing grouping several weanings to establish a batch for ET. Since short-term administration of Altrenogest is effective in delaying estrus after weaning without effects on ovulation and embryo development, we investigated how Altrenogest combined with superovulation would affect reproductive parameters and embryo quality and quantity of weaned multiparous donor sows. The sows were administered Altrenogest from the day of weaning for 14 (SS-14 group; N = 26), 7 (SS-7 group; N = 31) and 4 (SS-4 group; N = 32) days. The sows were superovulated with eCG 24 h after the last administration of Altrenogest and with hCG at the onset of estrus. Sows not treated with Altrenogest that were superovulated with eCG 24 h post-weaning and hCG at the onset of estrus (SC group; N = 37) and sows with natural estrus after weaning (C group; N = 34) were used as control groups. The percentage of sows showing estrus within 10 days was not affected by the treatment, but the interval from Altrenogest withdrawal to estrus was longer (P < 0.05) in the SS groups than the interval from weaning to estrus in the controls. SS treatments increased (P < 0.05) the percentage of sows with ovarian cysts and the development of polycystic ovaries. The pregnancy and the fertilization rates, and the overall embryo production efficiency were also negatively affected by the SS treatments (P < 0.05). Interestingly, almost 70% of the structures classified as unfertilized oocytes or degenerated embryos in sows from the SS groups were immature oocytes. In conclusion, although superovulation of weaned sows was highly efficient, short-term administration of Altrenogest in combination with superovulation had negative effects on most of the reproductive parameters assessed, particularly affecting the overall efficiency of pregnancy and embryo production.
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| 7. |
- Gonzalez-Ramiro, Henar, et al.
(författare)
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The Use of a Brief Synchronization Treatment after Weaning, Combined with Superovulation, Has Moderate Effects on the Gene Expression of Surviving Pig Blastocysts
- 2023
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Ingår i: Animals. - : MDPI. - 2076-2615. ; 13:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The combination of estrus synchronization and superovulation (SS) treatments causes alterations in ovarian and endometrial gene expression patterns, resulting in abnormal follicle and oocyte growth, fertilization, and embryo development. However, the impact of combined SS treatments on the transcriptome of the surviving embryos remains unidentified. In this study, we examined gene expression changes in day 6 blastocysts that survived a brief regimen of synchronization treatment combined with superovulation. The sows were included in one of three groups: SS7 group (n = 6), sows were administered Altrenogest (ALT) 7 days from the day of weaning and superovulated with eCG 24 h after the end of ALT treatment and hCG at the onset of estrus; SO group (n = 6), ALT nontreated sows were superovulated with eCG 24 h postweaning and hCG at the onset of estrus; control group (n = 6), weaned sows displaying natural estrus. Six days after insemination, the sows underwent a surgical intervention for embryo collection. Transcriptome analysis was performed on blastocyst-stage embryos with good morphology. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between groups were detected using one-way ANOVA with an un-adjusted p-value < 0.05 and a fold change </> 1.5. The effect of SO treatment on the number of altered pathways and DEGs within each pathway was minimal. Only four pathways were disrupted comprising only a total of four altered transcripts, which were not related to reproductive functions or embryonic development. On the other hand, the surviving blastocysts subjected to SS7 treatments exhibited moderate gene expression changes in terms of DEGs and fold changes, with seven pathways disrupted containing a total of 10 transcripts affected. In this case, the up-regulation of certain pathways, such as the metabolic pathway, with two up-regulated genes associated with reproductive functions, namely RDH10 and SPTLC2, may suggest suboptimal embryo quality, while the down-regulation of others, such as the glutathione metabolism pathway, with down-regulated genes related to cellular detoxification of reactive oxygen species, namely GSTK1 and GSTO1, could depress the embryos response to oxidative stress, thereby impairing subsequent embryo development. The gene expression changes observed in the present study in SS7 embryos, along with previous reports indicating SS7 can negatively affect fertilization, embryo production, and reproductive tract gene expression, make its use in embryo transfer programs unrecommendable.
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| 8. |
- Jansen, Sven, et al.
(författare)
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Validation Results
- 2008
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This report describes the validation of the SASPENCE driver support system using an evaluation method which has been developed within the scope of the SAfe SPEed and safe distaNCE (SASPENCE) project. SASPENCE aims to develop a driver support system that focuses on keeping a safe speed and safe heading distance in relation to other road users and road infrastructure. The system warns the driver to adapt to the situation and consequently the driver actions are influencing the effectiveness of SASPENCE. The Human Machine Interface design has therefore been a key aspect in the development of the system. The developed evaluation method is capable of dealing with a large variation of circumstances (including driver behaviour) and in all steps of the evaluation (apart from straightforward hardware tests) the driver is considered. The evaluation method consists of simulation-based functional tests, on-road functional tests, on-road subjective tests, and traffic impact assessment using simulation. The simulation-based functional tests (using a driver model) have been undertaken in three stages using a probabilistic method to cope with the large variation of circumstances. In the first stage a large number of Monte Carlo simulations were performed to assess the effectiveness of the basic SASPENCE algorithm, and to identify the most critical situations. In the second stage, Software-in-the-Loop simulations have been used to reduce the number of critical situations in order to arrive at a practical number of Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) experiments. The HIL experiments confirmed the effectiveness of the results of Monte Carlo simulations, and they additionally provided estimates for dependability parameters (i.e. Safety, Reliability, Appropriateness and Timeliness). On-road functional tests addressed conditions that can not be realised in HIL experiments; however, Appropriateness and Timeliness could not be determined. On-road subjective tests have been carried out in Spain and Italy by selecting 20 drivers at each location and letting each driver run a 50 km course with and without the SASPENCE system activated. Both experimental vehicles were equipped with systems for monitoring the driving session, recording camera images and vehicle motion data. Moreover, the Wiener Fahrprobe in-car observation method was used for the analysis of driver behaviour during the tests. From the users’ point of view, the system has been positively rated as being useful and well accepted by drivers, to an extent that the majority would be willing to pay up to 500 Euro to have it installed in their own vehicle. Also, from the experts’ point of view, the system was rated positively as for instance the number of conflicts and the number of events related to individual behavioural aspects decreased. The recorded vehicle data also confirmed the effectiveness of the system to reduce speed and increase heading distance. The Traffic impact assessment simulations show that the impact of SASPENCE is most apparent for high congestion levels where the positive (safety) effect is an increasing Time-to-Collision. However, the large reduction in the mean speed adversely affects traffic throughput.
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| 9. |
- Martinez-Tomas, Rebeca, et al.
(författare)
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Daily intake of fruit and vegetable soups processed in different ways increases human serum beta-carotene and lycopene concentrations and reduces levels of several oxidative stress markers in healthy subjects
- 2012
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Ingår i: Food Chemistry. - : Elsevier BV. - 0308-8146 .- 1873-7072. ; 134:1, s. 127-133
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of daily intakes of two differently processed fruit and vegetable soups on beta-carotene and lycopene bioavailability, oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk biomarkers was investigated. An optimised soup produced using heat treatments and high pressure homogenisation for high nutrient retention, and a traditionally produced reference soup were tested. Serum beta-carotene concentration was significantly higher with the optimised than with the reference soup after the supplementation (0.41 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.24 +/- 0.03 mu M, respectively), whereas the serum lycopene concentration was higher in subjects consuming the reference (0.06 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.16 +/- 0.02 mu M). The change in serum homocysteine levels tended to be greater in the optimised group (-1.67 +/- 0.63 vs. 0.02 +/- 0.17 mu M, p = 0.06). Serum antioxidant enzyme activity decreased significantly with consumption of both soups, but to a greater extent with the optimised soup. The consumption of the fruit and vegetable soups increased serum beta-carotene and lycopene concentrations and reduced the levels of several oxidative stress makers, particularly in subjects consuming the optimised soup.
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| 10. |
- Parrilla, Inmaculada, et al.
(författare)
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Immunological uterine response to pig embryos before and during implantation
- 2022
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Ingår i: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : Wiley. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 58:S5, s. 4-13
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The establishment of a successful pregnancy can only occur through a concerted functioning of the entire female reproductive system, allowing for fertilization, subsequent embryo development and implantation of the conceptus. In this context, the uterine immunological responses responsible for rejection or tolerance of the conceptus are of critical importance. The aim of the present review is to summarize our current knowledge about those cellular and molecular immunological events occurring at the uterine level during pre-implantation and implantation stages of pregnancy in the pig. Advancing our understanding of the immune mechanisms involved in the success or failure of pregnancy will provide cues to develop novel strategies augmenting endometrial receptivity, finally increasing the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies in pigs.
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