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Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in stages 3–5 without albuminuria occurs more often in women than in men; however, most patients initiating and receiving kidney replacement therapy are men. Sex-determined biological factors and gender-related aspects both likely account for this discrepancy. Patient opinions on gender-related discrepancies in kidney care have not been investigated. Methods: Building upon the findings of semi-structured interviews previously conducted with CKD patients and their caregivers, two questionnaires were developed to investigate patient behavior and opinions relating to gender and CKD. These questionnaires containing 39 items were distributed to eight outpatient clinics in Austria. Responses were descriptively analyzed and compared between genders, as well as between age-groups and CKD stages. Results: Questionnaires from 783 patients and 98 caregivers were included in the analysis and covered health awareness and self-management of disease, the impact of gender roles and gender equality, and patient autonomy and trust in the health-care system. A total of 56.1% of men patients and 63.1% of women patients found that women were better at looking after their health compared to men (41.1%/34.3% no difference, 2.8%/2.6% men better). A total of 95.4% of men patients, 95.0% of women patients, 100% of men caregivers, and 95.5% of women caregivers stated that all patients with kidney disease were treated completely equally, irrespective of gender. Conclusion: Neither the patients nor the caregivers stated gender-determined treatment decisions in CKD care. Both men and women however agreed that women are better at maintaining their own health and excel in disease self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As proteins travel through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a quality-control system retains newly synthesized polypeptides and supports their maturation. Only properly folded proteins are released to their designated destinations. Proteins that cannot mature are left to accumulate, impairing the function of the ER. To maintain homeostasis, the protein-quality-control system singles out aberrant polypeptides and delivers them to the cytosol, where they are destroyed by the proteasome. The importance of this pathway is evident from the growing list of pathologies associated with quality-control defects in the ER., About 20% of the proteins encoded by the human genome are predicted to be secretory proteins (1). These proteins pass through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) on the way to their [...]

A novel pathway to porphyrins with [alpha],[beta]-unsaturated substituents in the meso position is demonstrated by reaction of allylporphyrins with Ni[(OAc).sub.2] in the presence of glacial acetic acid in N,N-dimethyl-formamide (DMF) to acroleinylprophyrins.

Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease should be vaccinated against hepatitis B. In observational studies vitamin D insufficiency is associated with a reduced seroconversion rate. The effect of cholecalciferol supplementation on hepatitis B vaccination response in haemodialysis patients with vitamin D insufficiency is unknown. In this randomized open label pilot study 40 unvaccinated haemodialysis patients with 25(OH)D insufficiency (<30 ng/mL) were enrolled. In the supplementation group, we administered cholecalciferol orally in a dose of 28,000 IU weekly for a maximum of 12 weeks. Hepatitis B vaccination (HBvaxPRO 40 µg i.m. months 0, 1, 6) was performed after achieving a 25(OH)D level >30 ng/mL or after completing three months of supplementation despite failure to achieve the target level. In the control group, patients were vaccinated immediately after randomization. Anti-hepatitis B-antibody titer (anti-HBs) was measured eight weeks after completing the vaccination course. Thirty-seven (26 male, 11 female) patients aged 65 (13.5) years underwent randomization with 17 patients allocated to the control group and 20 patients included in the supplementation group. After 12 weeks of cholecalciferol supplementation, mean (SD) 25(OH)D concentration increased from 15.0 (8.0) to 31.0 (7.1) ng/mL, but remained unchanged in the control group (14.0 (7.1) to 11.6 (7.5) mg/mL). Neither the number of patients with seroconversion (anti-HBs titer ≥ 10 IU/L; n = 6 (35.3%) vs n = 3 (27.3%), p = 0.704), nor the number of patients with seroprotection (anti-HBs titer >100 IU/L; n = 4 (23.5%) vs n = 2 (18.2%) differed between treatment groups. Cholecalciferol supplementation was safe without treatment-related adverse events. In this small pilot study, high-dose oral cholecalciferol supplementation did not improve the hepatitis B vaccination response in haemodialysis patients with vitamin D insufficiency. This clinical trial was registered within EudraCT (EudraCT number 2011-004621-26). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to the global trend, seagrass beds have recovered in size and density in the northern part of the European Wadden Sea, but ecosystem effects of seagrass recovery and the impacts to ecosystem services are largely unknown. We used temporal‐dynamic food web modeling Ecopath with Ecosim to assess potential ecosystem effects of seagrass recovery in the semi‐enclosed Sylt‐Rømø Bight at the German‐Danish border. In addition to changes in the system's structure and functioning over time, the model predicted changes in biomass of seagrass‐associated species. For seagrass consumers, we projected an increase in biomass as a result of an increase in food supply. Likewise, the model predicted an increase in biomass of seagrass meadow inhabitants from decreased predation pressure. Correspondingly, the main predators of these inhabitants decreased in biomass according to model results. Proxies representing ecosystem services predicted an increase of tourism appeal of the site with increasing seagrass meadows. Indirect mediation effects of seagrass severely influenced the model output and are thus crucial to forecast potential effects of the recovery of habitat‐forming species. Our study illustrates that holistic approaches such as food web models could provide a suitable basis for predicting ecosystem effects of changes in the biomass of habitat‐forming species such as seagrasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cisplatin is widely used as an antineoplastic agent since it is effective against a broad spectrum of different tumours. Nevertheless, it has several potential side effects affecting different organ systems and an overdose may lead to life-threatening complications and even death. Case presentation We report on a 46-year old woman with non-small cell lung cancer who accidentally received 225 mg/m2 of cisplatin, which was threefold the dose as scheduled, within a 3-day period. Two days later, the patient presented with hearing loss, severe nausea and vomiting, acute renal failure as well as elevated liver enzymes. In addition, she developed a severe myelodepression. After plasmapheresis on two consecutive days and vigorous supportive treatment, the toxicity-related symptoms improved and the patient recovered without any sequelae. Conclusion To date, no general accepted guidelines for the treatment of cisplatin overdoses are available. Along with the experience from other published cases, our report shows that plasmapheresis is capable of lowering cisplatin plasma and serum levels efficiently. Therefore, plasma exchange performed as soon as possible can ameliorate all side effects of a cisplatin overdose and be a potential tool for clinicians for treatment. However, additional intensive supportive treatment-modalities are necessary to control all occurring side effects.

The synthesis, characterization and electrochemical, photophysical and photocvhemical properties of the binuclear compounds [(Ru(H8-bpy)(sub 2))(sub 2)(Metr)(sub 2)Pz)](PF6)(sub 2) and [(Ru(D8-bpy)(sub 2))(sub 2)(Metr)(Sub 2)Pz)](PF6)(sub 2) where bpy is 2,2'-bipyridine and H2(Metr)(sub 2)Pz is the planar ligand 2,5-bis(5'-methyl-4'H-[1,2,4]triaz-3'-yl)-pyrazine are reported. Resonance Raman, transient and time-resolved spectroscopies enable a detailed assignment to be made of the excited-state photophysical properties of the complexes.

Abstract Ecological network analysis (ENA) is an efficient tool to conduct holistic evaluation of the functioning and structure of ecosystems. ENA results can be used to support management decisions, but further development is needed to improve ENA application. We compared the food web functioning of three areas of the Wadden Sea: the Sylt-Rømø Bight, the Norderaue tidal basin and the Jade Bay, and present an example application of ENA indices in decision making processes. We used a sequential increase in uniform uncertainty from 50% to 99% using 10% increments to evaluate the robustness of the network comparisons. The results showed that the Jade Bay differed in its system functioning from the Sylt-Rømø Bight and the Norderaue tidal basin which represent the Northern Wadden Sea. The Jade Bay system, which is dominated by mudflats, had a heavier reliance on detritivory pathways, while the Northern Wadden Sea, which is dominated by Arenicola -sand flats, relied more on exchanges with the North Sea. Higher recycling, redundant pathways and flow diversity in the Jade Bay indicated that this system is probably more resilient against external perturbations than the Northern Wadden Sea systems which are more organized and specialized. This was related to the high standing stocks of suspension feeders in the Northern Wadden Sea, resulting from the establishment of several invasive suspension feeders, such as the Pacific oysters, the American razor clams and the common slipper shell. This study showed that 1- uncertainty analyses are crucial for the interpretation of ENA results and their use in management, 2- temporal measurable trends of indices which are robust to model uncertainty would be more appropriate for decision making than single reference values, 3- using ENA for assessment purposes in the Wadden Sea must be based on several representative sites taking into account their habitat types as well as morphological and physical characteristics, in terms of water depth, hydrodynamics and degree of enclosure of back barrier areas. Highlights • Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) can be used to inform management decisions. • We compare ENA results of three Wadden Sea systems as an example of ENA application. • The Jade Bay, dominated by mudflat, is more resilient than the Northern Wadden Sea. • Uncertainty analyses are crucial to use ENA results in decision making. • The choice of monitored sites for management should be based on main habitat type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of food web structures using Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) is a helpful tool to get insight into complex ecosystem processes. The intertidal area of the Wadden Sea is structured into diverse habitat types which differ in their ecological functioning. In the present study, six different intertidal habitats (i.e. cockle field, razor clam field, mud flat, mussel bank, sand flat and seagrass meadow) were analyzed using ENA to determine similarities and characteristic differences in the food web structure of the systems. All six systems were well balanced between their degree of organization and their robustness. However, they differed in their detailed features. The cockle field and the mussel bank exhibited a strong dependency on external imports. The razor clam field appeared to be a rather small system with low energy transfer. In the mud flat microphytobenthos was used as a main food source and the system appeared to be sensitive to perturbations. Bird predation was the most pronounced in the sand flat and the seagrass meadow and led to an increase in energy transfer and parallel trophic cycles in these habitats. Habitat diversity appears to be an important trait for the Wadden Sea as each subsystem seems to have a specific role in the overall functioning of the entire ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and characterisation of a series of dinuclear ruthenium and osmium polypyridyl metal complexes based on the bridging ligands [5-(5'-bipyridin-2',2''-yl)-3-(pyridin-2-yl)]-1,2,4-triazole (Hpytr-bipy), 2,2'-bis(pyridin-2''yl)-5,5'-bis(pyridin-3''-yl) (bipy-bipy) and 5,5'-bis(pyridin-2''-yl)-3,3'-bis(1,2,4-triazole) (Hpytr-Hpytr) are reported. The dinuclear complexes have been synthesised via a Ni(0) catalysed cross-coupling reaction from brominated precursors. With this approach a mixture of three products is obtained, which are separated by chromatographic methods. The compounds obtained are characterised by elemental analysis, 1H NMR, absorption and emission spectroscopy. The synthetic approach developed offers a new route to asymmetric multinuclear supramolecular structures that is complimentary to the complexes as ligands/complexes as metal approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]