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In December 2019 a newly described single-stranded coronavirus, later named SARS-CoV-2, started its expansion around the world and subsequently caused a global pandemic, affecting the lives of millions of people worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 can bind multiple receptors on different cells and thus invade many target organs, including the respiratory and gastrointestinal mucous membranes, lungs, central nervous system, heart, etc. This virus can affect the kidney tissue both directly and as a consequence of other organ involvement or of the treatment administered, causing acute kidney injury and leaving long term squeals that worsen the prognosis. We describe three patients with acute kidney injury and subsequent acute renal failure at the background of coronaviral infection.

Background: The diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is usually delayed, when significant functional renal impairment has already occurred. The diagnosis is complex and clinical and laboratory investigations play a crucial role. There are well-established markers of CKD – serum creatinine and cystatin C. However, the search for new reliable biomarkers that aid in the assessment of kidney function and predict the evolution of the disease is still in progress.

We present a semiconductor-based optoelectronic switch based on active modulation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) at lattice-matched indium gallium arsenide (In0.53Ga0.47As) degenerately doped pn++ junctions. The experimental device, which we refer to as a surface plasmon polariton diode (SPPD), is characterized electrically and optically, showing far-field reflectivity modulation for mid-IR wavelengths. Self-consistent electro-optic multiphysics simulations of the device’s electrical and electromagnetic response have been performed to estimate bias-dependent modulation and switching times. The numerical model shows a strong agreement with the experimental results, validating the claim of excitation and modulation of SPPs at the junction, thus potentially providing a new pathway toward fast optoelectronic devices.

Introduction/Objective. Pneumonias remain one of the most frequent reasons for morbidity and mortality in the group of kidney recipients. The objective of the study was to define the factors associated with a higher risk for in-hospital mortality from pneumonia after renal transplantations. Methods. A total of 124 patients with kidney transplants hospitalized with pneumonia for the period of nine years were studied. Different noninvasive and invasive diagnostic tests were used. Results. Forty-one of the patients died as a result of pneumonia or related complications during their hospital stay. The factors associated with the increased risk for in-hospital mortality were as follows: the development of pneumonia during the early postoperative period (during the first month after surgery) (HR = 2.027; p = 0.025) or between the first and sixth month after surgery (HR = 2.303; p = 0.026), dyspnoea (HR = 2.184; p = 0.007) and hypoxemia (HR = 2.261; p = 0.003). The presence of bilateral infiltrates (HR = 2.482; p = 0.001), failure of initial antibiotic therapy (HR = 3.548; p < 0.001), intubation and mechanical ventilation (HR = 4.635; p < 0.001) also increased the risk for the fatal outcome. Conclusion. Knowing the prognostic factors associated with the increased risk for in-hospital fatal outcome from pneumonia after renal transplantation makes it possible to differentiate the high-risk group of renal recipients who require early etiological diagnosis and strict control of the condition, in order to reduce the mortality from pulmonary infections in the group.

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Utilization of Theravance's multivalent approach to drug discovery towards 5-HT(4) receptor agonists with a focus on identification of neutral (non-charged at physiological pH) secondary binding groups is described. Optimization of a quinolone-tropane primary binding group with a chiral 2-propanol linker to a range of neutral secondary binding group motifs, for binding affinity and functional potency at the 5-HT(4) receptor, selectivity over the 5-HT(3) receptor, oral pharmacokinetics, and in vivo efficacy in models of GI motility, afforded velusetrag (TD-5108). Velusetrag has achieved proof-of-concept in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We present a transformation optics approach for molding the light flow at the deep-subwavelength scale, using metamaterials with uniquely designed dispersion. By conformal transformation of the electromagnetic space, we develop a methodology for realizing subwavelength ray optics with curved ray trajectories. This enables deep-subwavelength-scale beams to flow through two- or three-dimensional spaces.

[structure: see text] The synthesis of phosphine oxazoline ligands based on P-chiral 1-phosphanorbornadienes is reported. The use of these ligands in palladium catalyzed asymmetric allylation and Heck reaction is described.

The present facts on immunity system in women with endometriosis are quite contradictory. We investigated 30 women with hystological proven diagnosis, divided into three groups: 1st group-10 women with myoma uteri, 2nd group-10 women with endometriosis, 3rd group-10 women with adnexitis chronica. Control group were 65 healthy women in reproductive age between 24-42 years. It is established, that in the 3 groups cell immunity is oppressed, but more highly expressed in women with endometriosis (Tact and Ttot. p < 0.001). There are not changes in the levels of B lymphocytes, but in the women with endometriosis they are most low. In the 3 groups NBT (Nitro Blue Tetrazolium) is with high values, i. e. there is increased dynamic activity on the neutrophils. The humoral immunity (lg G, lg A, lg M) are within the borders of standard. The results suggest the concept for disturbance of cells immunity in endometriosis.

A patient has been observed with virilizing cancer of the adrenal cortex. Anesthesiologic-resuscitation and operative problems are discussed. The importance of corticosteroid substitutional treatment is emphasized. The operation was performed through transversal laparotomy under classical neuroleptanesthesia.

Proceeding from extensive review of the available literature, the authors discuss the possibilities which pharmacokinetic modelling offers for achieving precise dosage of intravenously administered drugs. Problems associated with the development of pharmacokinetic models depending on the distributive characteristics of the drugs in the body and the desired plasma concentration are principally discussed. Concrete examples for attaining and maintaining stationary plasma concentrations of some intravenously administered drugs in anesthesiologic practice and intensive treatment are indicated.

Considerable deviations, qualitative and quantitative, in patients with nephropathy were found with the examination 38 patients with various stages of diabetic nephropathy and 14 other diabetic patients as well as 37 healthy subjects. The urine of those patients is characterized by high content of albumin, transferrin and immunoglobulins G, A and M and to lesser degree--of alpha 2-macroglobulin. The selectivity of proteinuria is most frequently decreased, especially in the advanced stages of diabetic nephropathy. Tubular components (light chains, alpha 2- and beta-microglobulins) were also found in the urine of the same patients.