Interleukin-1 gene complex in schizophrenia: an association study.

The aim of this study is to investigate the association between three polymorphisms of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene complex and schizophrenia. We genotyped 228 outpatients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria) and 419 unrelated healthy controls. The following polymorphisms were analyzed: IL-1alpha -889 C/T, IL-1beta +3953 C/T, and IL-1RA (86 bp)n. No significant differences in genotype or in allelic distribution of the Il-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-1RA polymorphisms were found. Estimated haplotype frequencies were similar in both groups. Our data do not suggest that genetically determined changes in the IL-1 gene complex confer increased susceptibility for schizophrenia.     

Value of scrotal scanning. Report of 62 cases

A review of sixty-two technetium scrotal scans performed over a one-year period has led to a classification of pathologic states based on the degree of uptake of the radioactive isotope. Absent uptake, or a "cold" scan, is present only with testicular torsion, and rarely with avascular tumors. Increased uptake, or a "hot" scan, is most commonly seen with inflammatory conditions such as acute epididymitis and orchitis, and less commonly with tumor. "Mixed" scans can be associated with abscess, tumor with necrosis, trauma, and late torsion.     

Pointwise‐constrained optimal control of a semiactive vehicle suspension

This article presents an optimal control strategy (OCS) for semiactive vehicle suspensions with road profile sensors. The suspension is modeled as a quarter‐car model with a magnetorheological (MR) damper. The OCS main objective is to minimize the fourth‐power acceleration of the sprung mass. In addition, three pointwise constraints of the model are taken into account when the optimal control problem is solved: suspension travel limits (upper and lower) and tyre vertical force. In order to deal with a large number of constraints, we implement the gradient optimization method based on the method of moving asymptotes routine, which shows very good performance reaching optimal controls while satisfying the constrains. The solution has been compared with two passive MR damper configurations (low and high damping) as well as Skyhook and Balance control strategies for three different road inputs. Results show that OCS fulfills the constraints and reduces the sprung mass acceleration peak and the root‐mean‐quad acceleration up to 59% , in comparison to passive strategies.     

Mesangial expansion at 5 years predicts death and death‐censored graft loss after renal transplantation

Death with a functioning graft and death‐censored renal allograft failure remain major problems for which effective preventative protocols are lacking. The retrospective cohort study aimed to determine whether histologic changes on a 5‐year surveillance kidney biopsy predict adverse outcomes after transplantation in recipients who had: both Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) at the time of transplantation (T2DM/Obesity, n = 75); neither (No T2DM/No obesity, n = 78); No T2DM/Obesity (n = 41), and T2DM/No obesity (n = 47). On 5‐year biopsies, moderate‐to‐severe mesangial expansion was more common in the T2DM/Obesity group (Banff mm score ≥2 = 49.3%; Tervaert classification MS ≥ 2b = 26.7%) compared to the other groups (p < .001 for both scores). Risk factors included older age, higher BMI, HbA1C, and triglycerides at 1‐year post‐transplant. Moderate‐to‐severe mesangial expansion correlated with death with function (HR 1.74 (1.01, 2.98), p = .045 Banff and 1.89 (1.01, 3.51) p = .045 Tervaert) and with death‐censored graft loss (HR 3.2 (1.2, 8.8), p = .02 Banff and HR 3.8 (1.3, 11.5), p = .01 Tervaert) over a mean of 11.6 years of recipient follow‐up post‐transplant. These data suggest that mesangial expansion in recipients with T2DM and obesity may reflect systemic vascular injury and might be a novel biomarker to predict adverse outcomes post renal transplant.     

Changes in humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection in liver transplant recipients compared to immunocompetent patients

The protective capacity and duration of humoral immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection are not yet understood in solid organ transplant recipients. A prospective multicenter study was performed to evaluate the persistence of anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies in liver transplant recipients 6 months after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resolution. A total of 71 liver transplant recipients were matched with 71 immunocompetent controls by a propensity score including variables with a well-known prognostic impact in COVID-19. Paired case–control serological data were also available in 62 liver transplant patients and 62 controls at month 3 after COVID-19. Liver transplant recipients showed a lower incidence of anti-nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at 3 months (77.4% vs. 100%, p < .001) and at 6 months (63.4% vs. 90.1%, p < .001). Lower levels of antibodies were also observed in liver transplant patients at 3 (p = .001) and 6 months (p < .001) after COVID-19. In transplant patients, female gender (OR = 13.49, 95% CI: 2.17–83.8), a longer interval since transplantation (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03–1.36), and therapy with renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors (OR = 7.11, 95% CI: 1.47–34.50) were independently associated with persistence of antibodies beyond 6 months after COVID-19. Therefore, as compared with immunocompetent patients, liver transplant recipients show a lower prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and more pronounced antibody levels decline.