| 1. |
- Bousquet, Jean, et al.
(author)
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Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Phase 4 (2018) : Change management in allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity using mobile technology
- 2019
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In: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. - : Elsevier. - 0091-6749 .- 1097-6825. ; 143:3, s. 864-879
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) has evolved from a guideline by using the best approach to integrated care pathways using mobile technology in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma multimorbidity. The proposed next phase of ARIA is change management, with the aim of providing an active and healthy life to patients with rhinitis and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the lifecycle irrespective of their sex or socioeconomic status to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease. ARIA has followed the 8-step model of Kotter to assess and implement the effect of rhinitis on asthma multimorbidity and to propose multimorbid guidelines. A second change management strategy is proposed by ARIA Phase 4 to increase self-medication and shared decision making in rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity. An innovation of ARIA has been the development and validation of information technology evidence-based tools (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network [MASK]) that can inform patient decisions on the basis of a self-care plan proposed by the health care professional.
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| 2. |
- Menditto, Enrica, et al.
(author)
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Adherence to treatment in allergic rhinitis using mobile technology : The MASK Study
- 2019
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In: Clinical and Experimental Allergy. - : WILEY. - 0954-7894 .- 1365-2222. ; 49:4, s. 442-460
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Mobile technology may help to better understand the adherence to treatment. MASK-rhinitis (Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis) is a patient-centred ICT system. A mobile phone app (the Allergy Diary) central to MASK is available in 22 countries. Objectives: To assess the adherence to treatment in allergic rhinitis patients using the Allergy Diary App. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out on all users who filled in the Allergy Diary from 1 January 2016 to 1 August 2017. Secondary adherence was assessed by using the modified Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) and the Proportion of days covered (PDC) approach. Results: A total of 12143 users were registered. A total of 6949 users reported at least one VAS data recording. Among them, 1887 users reported >= 7 VAS data. About 1195 subjects were included in the analysis of adherence. One hundred and thirty-six (11.28%) users were adherent (MPR >= 70% and PDC <= 1.25), 51 (4.23%) were partly adherent (MPR >= 70% and PDC = 1.50) and 176 (14.60%) were switchers. On the other hand, 832 (69.05%) users were non-adherent to medications (MPR <70%). Of those, the largest group was non-adherent to medications and the time interval was increased in 442 (36.68%) users. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Adherence to treatment is low. The relative efficacy of continuous vs on-demand treatment for allergic rhinitis symptoms is still a matter of debate. This study shows an approach for measuring retrospective adherence based on a mobile app. This also represents a novel approach for analysing medication-taking behaviour in a real-world setting.
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| 6. |
- Verissimo, T., et al.
(author)
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Decreased Renal Gluconeogenesis Is a Hallmark of Chronic Kidney Disease
- 2022
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In: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 1046-6673 .- 1533-3450. ; 33:4, s. 810-827
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction CKD is associated with alterations of tubular function. Renal gluconeogenesis is responsible for 40% of systemic gluconeogenesis during fasting, but how and why CKD affects this process and the repercussions of such regulation are unknown.Methods We used data on the renal gluconeogenic pathway from more than 200 renal biopsies performed on CKD patients and from 43 kidney allograft patients, and studied three mouse models, of proteinuric CKD (POD-ATTAC), of ischemic CKD, and of unilateral urinary tract obstruction. We analyzed a cohort of patients who benefitted from renal catheterization and a retrospective cohort of patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit.Results Renal biopsies of CKD and kidney allograft patients revealed a stage-dependent decrease in the renal gluconeogenic pathway. Two animal models of CKD and one model of kidney fibrosis confirm gluconeogenic downregulation in injured proximal tubule cells. This shift resulted in an alteration of renal glucose production and lactate clearance during an exogenous lactate load. The isolated perfused kidney technique in animal models and renal venous catheterization in CKD patients confirmed decreased renal glucose production and lactate clearance. In CKD patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit, systemic alterations of glucose and lactate levels were more prevalent and associated with increased mortality and a worse renal prognosis at follow-up. Decreased expression of the gluconeogenesis pathway and its regulators predicted faster histologic progression of kidney disease in kidney allograft biopsies.Conclusion Renal gluconeogenic function is impaired in CKD. Altered renal gluconeogenesis leads to systemic metabolic changes with a decrease in glucose and increase in lactate level, and is associated with a worse renal prognosis.
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| 9. |
- Jones, Gregory T., et al.
(author)
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Meta-Analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Identifies Four New Disease-Specific Risk Loci
- 2017
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In: Circulation Research. - 0009-7330 .- 1524-4571. ; 120:2, s. 341-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a complex disease with both genetic and environmental risk factors. Together, 6 previously identified risk loci only explain a small proportion of the heritability of AAA. Objective: To identify additional AAA risk loci using data from all available genome-wide association studies. Methods and Results: Through a meta-analysis of 6 genome-wide association study data sets and a validation study totaling 10 204 cases and 107 766 controls, we identified 4 new AAA risk loci: 1q32.3 (SMYD2), 13q12.11 (LINC00540), 20q13.12 (near PCIF1/MMP9/ZNF335), and 21q22.2 (ERG). In various database searches, we observed no new associations between the lead AAA single nucleotide polymorphisms and coronary artery disease, blood pressure, lipids, or diabetes mellitus. Network analyses identified ERG, IL6R, and LDLR as modifiers of MMP9, with a direct interaction between ERG and MMP9. Conclusions: The 4 new risk loci for AAA seem to be specific for AAA compared with other cardiovascular diseases and related traits suggesting that traditional cardiovascular risk factor management may only have limited value in preventing the progression of aneurysmal disease.
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| 10. |
- Aguer, P, et al.
(author)
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Skin morphology and layer identification using different STIM geometries
- 2005
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In: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-583X. ; 231:1-4, s. 292-299
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The use of on-axis geometry in scanning transmission ion microscopy (STIM) has been widely used for thin biological sample structure identification. In this configuration, the lateral resolution is optimised so that micron or submicron beam spots are easily achieved even for classic microbeam lines. Off-axis STIM was more particularly employed for rapid imaging, and also (when associated to a scattering set-up) for normalising elemental contents obtained by other ion beam analysis techniques in organic thin samples. Due to the very small beam current required, on-axis STIM is a stand-alone technique. Off-axis STIM can be advantageous as it enables the simultaneous utilisation of PIXE and RBS techniques. In this paper, the STIM images obtained with an on-axis geometry, a standard off-axis geometry and a recently developed on-off geometry are presented and discussed. Data from skin samples are used for comparison purposes aiming at studying skin permeability to sunscreens. Skin is a stratified tissue and the precise identification of skin layers is needed to ascertain the penetration depth of the physical filter from the formulation. In addition to the intrinsic difference in image quality due to the beam resolution, the influence of the detector type, implanted silicon detector versus Si pin diode, is discussed on the basis of their energy resolution.. their resistance to beam damage as well as the effect
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| 11. |
- Apostolopoulou, E., et al.
(author)
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Radical social innovations and the spatialities of grassroots activism: navigating pathways for tackling inequality and reinventing the commons
- 2022
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In: Journal of Political Ecology. - 1073-0451. ; 29, s. 143-188
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this article, by drawing on empirical evidence from twelve case studies from nine countries from across the Global South and North, we ask how radical grassroots social innovations that are part of social movements and struggles can offer pathways for tackling socio-spatial and socio-environmental inequality and for reinventing the commons. We define radical grassroots social innovations as a set of practices initiated by formal or informal community-led initiatives or/and social movements which aim to generate novel, democratic, socially, spatially and environmentally just solutions to address social needs that are otherwise ignored or marginalised To address our research questions, we draw on the work of Cindi Katz to explore how grassroots innovations relate to practices of resilience, reworking and resistance. We identify possibilities and limitations as well as patterns of spatial practices and pathways of re-scaling and radical praxis, uncovering broadly-shared resemblances across different places. Through this analysis we aim to make a twofold contribution to political ecology and human geography scholarship on grassroots radical activism, social innovation and the spatialities of resistance. First, to reveal the connections between social-environmental struggles, emerging grassroots innovations and broader structural factors that cause, enable or limit them. Second, to explore how grassroots radical innovations stemming from place-based community struggles can relate to resistance practices that would not only successfully oppose inequality and the withering of the commons in the short-term, but would also open long-term pathways to alternative modes of social organization, and a new commons, based on social needs and social rights that are currently unaddressed.
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| 12. |
- Costa, J., et al.
(author)
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Intragenic Recombination Has a Critical Role on the Evolution of Legionella pneumophila Virulence-Related Effector sidJ
- 2014
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In: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203 .- 1932-6203. ; 9:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- SidJ is a Dot/Icm effector involved in the trafficking or retention of ER-derived vesicles to Legionella pneumophila vacuoles whose mutation causes an observable growth defect, both in macrophage and amoeba hosts. Given the crucial role of this effector in L. pneumophila virulence we investigated the mechanisms shaping its molecular evolution. The alignment of SidJ sequences revealed several alleles with amino acid variations that may influence the protein properties. The identification of HGT events and the detection of balancing selection operating on sidJ evolution emerge as a clear result. Evidence suggests that intragenic recombination is an important strategy in the evolutionary adaptive process playing an active role on sidJ genetic plasticity. This pattern of evolution is in accordance with the life style of L. pneumophila as a broad host-range pathogen by preventing host-specialization and contributing to the resilience of the species.
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| 13. |
- Legouis, D., et al.
(author)
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Altered proximal tubular cell glucose metabolism during acute kidney injury is associated with mortality
- 2020
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In: Nature Metabolism. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2522-5812. ; 2:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Acute kidney injury (AKI) is strongly associated with mortality, independently of its cause. The kidney contributes to up to 40% of systemic glucose production by gluconeogenesis during fasting and under stress conditions. Whether kidney gluconeogenesis is impaired during AKI and how this might influence systemic metabolism remain unknown. Here we show that glucose production and lactate clearance are impaired during human and experimental AKI by using renal arteriovenous catheterization in patients, lactate tolerance testing in mice and glucose isotope labelling in rats. Single-cell transcriptomics reveal that gluconeogenesis is impaired in proximal tubule cells during AKI. In a retrospective cohort of critically ill patients, we demonstrate that altered glucose metabolism during AKI is a major determinant of systemic glucose and lactate levels and is strongly associated with mortality. Thiamine supplementation increases lactate clearance without modifying renal function in mice with AKI, enhances glucose production by renal tubular cells ex vivo and is associated with reduced mortality and improvement of the metabolic pattern in a retrospective cohort of critically ill patients with AKI. This study highlights an unappreciated systemic role of renal glucose and lactate metabolism under stress conditions, delineates general mechanisms of AKI-associated mortality and introduces a potential intervention targeting metabolism for a highly prevalent clinical condition with limited therapeutic options.
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| 14. |
- Pinheiro, T., et al.
(author)
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The influence of corneocyte structure on the interpretation of permeation profiles of nanoparticles across skin
- 2007
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In: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms. - : Elsevier BV. - 0168-583X. ; 260:1, s. 119-123
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The permeability of skin to nanoparticles of titanium dioxide (TiO2) used in sunscreens as a reflector of the UV wavelengths of sunlight, was examined using nuclear microscopy techniques. Special attention was given to the permeation characteristics of these nanoparticles across the outer layers of skin, the stratum corneum, in healthy and psoriatic skin condition. Aspects that may influence the interpretation of results such as sample preparation difficulties and skin condition were focused. Sample preparation can damage the integrity of the corneocyte layers inducing unwanted artefacts that may bias the evaluation of results. Irradiation conditions may also introduce distortions in the labile structures of human skin. Skin condition, such as loss of corneocyte cohesion occurring in psoriasis also influence the permeation profile of the nanoparticles. Weighing and accounting for these features in the examination of skin by nuclear microscopy is crucial to accurately assess the TiO2 nanoparticles permeation depth. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 15. |
- Pliatsikas, C, et al.
(author)
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Working memory in older adults declines with age, but is modulated by sex and education
- 2019
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In: Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006). - : SAGE Publications. - 1747-0226 .- 1747-0218. ; 72:6, s. 1308-1327
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Working memory (WM), which underlies the temporary storage and manipulation of information, is critical for multiple aspects of cognition and everyday life. Nevertheless, research examining WM specifically in older adults remains limited, despite the global rapid increase in human life expectancy. We examined WM in a large sample ( N = 754) of healthy older adults (aged 58-89) in a non-Western population (Chinese speakers) in Taiwan, on a digit n-back task. We tested not only the influence of age itself and of load (1-back vs. 2-back) but also the effects of both sex and education, which have been shown to modulate WM abilities. Mixed-effects regression revealed that, within older adulthood, age negatively impacted WM abilities (with linear, not nonlinear, effects), as did load (worse performance at 2-back). In contrast, education level was positively associated with WM. Moreover, both age and education interacted with sex. With increasing age, males showed a steeper WM decline than females; with increasing education, females showed greater WM gains than males. Together with other findings, the evidence suggests that age, sex, and education all impact WM in older adults, but interact in particular ways. The results have both basic research and translational implications and are consistent with particular benefits from increased education for women.
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| 16. |
- Verissimo, Ana, et al.
(author)
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Nuclear microscopy: A tool for and percutaneous absorption imaging elemental distribution in vivo
- 2007
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In: Microscopy Research and Technique. - : Wiley. - 1059-910X .- 1097-0029. ; 70:4, s. 302-309
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nuclear microscopy is a technique based on a focused beam of accelerated particles that has the ability of imaging the morphology of the tissue in vivo and of producing the correspondent elemental maps, whether in major, minor, or trace concentrations. These characteristics constitute a strong advantage in studying the morphology of human skin, its elemental distributions and the permeation mechanisms of chemical compounds. In this study, nuclear microscopy techniques such as scanning transmission ion microscopy and particle induced X-ray emission were applied simultaneously, to cryopreserved human skin samples with the purpose of obtaining high-resolution images of cells and tissue morphology. In addition, quantitative elemental profiling and mapping of phosphorus, calcium, chlorine, and potassium in skin cross-sections were obtained. This procedure accurately distinguishes the epidermal strata and dermis by overlapping in real time the elemental information with density images obtained from the transmitted beam. A validation procedure for elemental distributions in human skin based on differential density of epidermal strata and dermis was established. As demonstrated, this procedure can be used in future studies as a tool for the in vivo examination of trans-epidermal and -dermal delivery of products. .
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