On-chip magnetophoretic capture in a model of malaria-infected red blood cells

The search for new rapid diagnostic tests for malaria is a priority for developing an efficient strategy to fight this endemic disease, which affects more than 3 billion people worldwide. In this paper, we characterize systematically an easy-to-operate lab-on-chip, designed for the magnetophoretic capture of malaria-infected red blood cells. The method relies on the positive magnetic susceptibility of infected red blood cells with respect to blood plasma. A matrix of nickel posts fabricated in a silicon chip placed face down is aimed at attracting infected cells, while healthy cells sediment on a glass slide under the action of gravity. Using a model of infected red blood cells, i.e. erythrocytes with methaemoglobin, we obtained a capture efficiency of about 70% after 10 minutes in static conditions. By proper agitation, the capture efficiency reached 85% after just 5 minutes. Sample preparation requires only a 1:10 volume dilution of whole blood, previously treated with heparin, in a phosphate buffered solution. Nonspecific attraction of untreated red blood cells was not observed in the same time interval. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Polymeric implants with drug-releasing capabilities: a mapping review of laboratory research

PURPOSE

To provide a systematic map of the nature and extent of preclinical research concerning drug-releasing polymeric implants.

SIGNIFICANCE

By summarizing available data, this mapping review can guide the development of new drug-delivery devices.

METHODS

In-vitro studies assessing drug-delivery implants were reviewed. A study protocol was registered at Open Science Framework. The association of polymers with prominent drugs, manufacturing processes, geometries, treatments, and anatomical locations was assessed using the VOSviewer software. The release periods were also evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 423 articles, published between 1975 and 2020, were included and grouped into a framework with nine main categories. More than half of studies were published between 2010 and 2020. Among 201 individual polymers or combinations, the most investigated were PLGA, PCL, PLA, Silicone (SIL), EVA, and PU. Similarly, from 232 individual drugs or combinations, the most prominent were dexamethasone (DEX; anti-inflammatory), paclitaxel (PTX; anticancer), fluoruracil (anticancer), ciprofloxacin (CFX) hydrochloride (antibiotic), and gentamicin (GS; antibiotic). A total of 51 manufacturing processes were encountered, of which the most reported were solvent evaporation, compression molding (CM), extrusion (EX), electrospinning (ELS), and melt molding (MM). Among 38 implant geometries, cylinder (CIL) was the most prominent, followed by disk, square film, circular film (FCIR), and undefined film. Release times varied greatly, although the majority of articles ranged between 5 and 300 d.

CONCLUSIONS

Drug-delivery implants were highly heterogeneous due to its applicability for multiple health conditions. Most implants were made of PLGA and most drugs assessed presented anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, or anticancer effects. Solvent evaporation and CIL were the most prominent manufacturing process and geometry, respectively.

AB0354 FDG-PET-DETECTED LARGE VESSEL VASCULITIS DOES NOT PREDICT DISEASE OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH GIANT CELL ARTERITIS AND POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA

Background:

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are tightly associated inflammatory conditions of the elderly [1]. Both disorders can exhibit an increased articular and vascular uptake of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18-FDG) at positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scan [2].

Objectives:

This study evaluated if large-vessel vasculitis (LVV) detected by PET/CT in patients with PMR and/or cranial GCA had a negative prognostic value.

Methods:

108 patients (35 men and 73 women) with a median age of 74 years (range 50-92 years) were prospectively enrolled in our centre over 4 years. PMR was diagnosed by Bird et al. criteria and GCA by the ACR criteria. Six patients died shortly after the first visit (V0) and six were lost at follow-up. Of the remaining 96 patients, 77 were classified as PMR, 6 as GCA and 13 were affected by both diseases.

At V0, patients underwent a clinical, laboratory and PET/CT evaluation, and were stratified according to the presence or not of LVV. Follow-up visits were performed every 6 months for a median of 40 months. Disease outcomes were: prednisone (PDN) use and its cumulative dosage, need of methotrexate (MTX), number of relapses, patients’ death, and PMR disease activity score (PMR-DAS). The independent variables were age, sex, disease duration, fever, C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration, platelet count (PLT), presence of cranial GCA, degree of joint and vascular uptake of FDG, and presence of LVV. The predictive role of LVV was tested by multiple regression.

Results:

LVV was seen in 47 patients (49 %), 31 with PMR, 6 with GCA and 10 with both diseases. Patients with or without LVV did not significantly differ in terms of demographic and laboratory parameters except for a non-significant higher number of PLT in patients with LVV. Clinical and laboratory parameters at V0, stratified per disease and considered together, did not significantly change between PET+ and PET- patients (table 1). Lastly, none of the independent variables, including LVV, could predict disease outcomes.

Conclusion:

The presence of a PET-detected LVV at diagnosis does not seem a negative prognostic factor in PMR and GCA. As a consequence, routine investigation by PET/CT of patients with PMR and GCA is not indicated to predict disease outcome.

References:

[1]Dejaco C, Duftner C, Buttgereit F, Matteson EL, Dasgupta B. The spectrum of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica: revisiting the concept of the disease. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2017 Apr 1;56(4):506-515. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew273. PMID: 27481272.

[2]Blockmans D, Coudyzer W, Vanderschueren S, Stroobants S, Loeckx D, Heye S et al. Relationship between fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the large vessels and late aortic diameter in giant cell arteritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008 Aug;47(8):1179-84. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/ken119. Epub 2008 May 31. PMID: 18515868.

Table 1.

Clinical, laboratory and imaging features between PET+ and PET- patients at V0

Features at V0PET+ patientsPET- patientspMorning stiffness (min)30 (0-480)60 (0-360)0.20Haemoglobin (g/dL)12.3±1.512.6±1.50.28Platelets (x 103/mm3)349 (108-643)297(159-571)0.08C-reactive protein (mg/dL)35.5 (3.4-149)36.2 (2-149)0.54Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (mm/h)62.5 (10-120)57.5 (10-120)0.29Total Vascular Score at PET20 (4-41)6 (0-12)0Total Joint Score at PET18 (5-30)18 (5-32)0.77

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

POS0862 NAILFOLD CAPILLAROSCOPY IN UNDIFFERENTIATED AND MIXED CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES

Background:

Microvascular damage is a frequent feature in connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and can be easily detected trough nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) (1,2). Mixed and Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (MCTD and UCTD) do not show a specific and unique NVC pattern (3). However, a variety of microvascular abnormalities can occur in these two CTDs, both non-specific or specific for the scleroderma like-pattern (3-5).

Objectives:

To retrospectively assess and compare nailfold microangiopathy observed by NVC in MCTD and stable UCTD versus primary Raynaud’s phenomenon (PRP) (6). In addition, the aim was to correlate NVC findings with serum levels of autoantibodies (Abs) against extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) detected in UCTD.

Methods:

Files of fourty-six MCTD patients (Kasukawa’s criteria) (mean age 42.8±16 SD years), fourty-seven UCTD patients (mean age 47.7±16.1 SD years), fifty-one PRP (mean age 45.9±17.3 SD years) were retrospectively evaluated in the study. Among UCTD and MCTD patients 95% of both showed Raynaud’s phenomenon. Main NVC parameters (i.e. dilated capillaries, giant capillaries, microhemorrhages, abnormal shapes and number of capillaries) and related semiquantitative scale (score 0–3 for every parameter), were analyzed and compared between the two distinct CTD groups and PRP. Furthermore, ENA Abs (in particular, Ro/SSA, La/SSB, Scl70 and Jo1) were evaluated. The CTD patients were receiving different immunosuppressive treatments. Statistical analysis was performed by non-parametric tests.

Results:

Among UCTD group, 36% of patients showed a normal NVC pattern, 53% had non-specific NVC abnormalities and 11% had a scleroderma like-pattern. The latter was significantly more frequent in MCTD than in UCTD (p<0.001), in fact 22 out of 46 (48%) MCTD patients presented a scleroderma-like pattern. On the other hand, normal pattern or non-specific NVC abnormalities were respectively found in 9% and 43% MCTD patients. Therefore, CTD patients showing giant capillaries, abnormal shapes (i.e. angiogenesis) and lower capillary density were significantly more affected by MCTD than UCTD (p<0.001). Finally, the absolute number of capillaries was found significantly lower in MCTD versus UCTD patients (mean 7±1.7 SD vs mean 9.2±1 SD, respectively, p<0.001). Not any statistical correlation was observed between NVC parameters and specific Abs ENA in UCTD. PRP showed a normal NVC pattern in 2% and non-specific capillary abnormalities in 98%, (including dilated capillaries and microhemorrhages).

Conclusion:

NVC features in UCTD patients seem very close to the pattern observed in PRP (mostly non-specific capillary abnormalities), conversely in MCTD the scleroderma-like pattern was found significantly prevalent together with a significant capillary number reduction. The transition from the scleroderma-like to the scleroderma pattern (mean systemic sclerosis) is matter of actual investigation.

References:

[1]Cutolo M. et al. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2008; 22:1093-108.

[2]Sulli A, Ann Rheum Dis. 2008;67:885-7.

[3]Smith V. et al. Autoimmunity Reviews 2020; 19:102458.

[4]De Holanda Mafaldo DA, et al. Lupus. 2007; 16:254–8.

[5]Smith V, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2010; 69: 1092-96.

[6]Antunes M, et al. RMD Open. 2019, 26;4.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

AB0330 ANTIPHOSPHOLIPID ANTIBODIES AND ANTICOAGULANT TREATMENT: CAPILLAROSCOPIC FINDINGS

Background:

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune condition characterized by arterial and/or venous thrombosis and/or obstetric morbidity, associated with the presence in the serum of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) [1]. Subjects with confirmed positivity of aPL in absence of thrombotic/obstetric manifestations are identified as aPL carriers [2] The microangiopathy detected by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) in APS and in aPL-carrier patients is poorly investigated, as well as the possible interference of anticoagulant drugs [3].

Objectives:

To compare microvascular damage in APS, aPL carriers and a group of patients (CTR) without aPL positivity and on regular warfarin therapy for cardiovascular indications

Methods:

NVC investigations were performed as part of standard procedures in APS patients (18, mean age 50.0±12.8 years), aPL carriers (24, mean age 46.4±16.4 years) and CTR without aPL (18, mean age 74±12.5 years) in therapy with oral anticoagulant (warfarin) for non-immunological vascular complications (atrial fibrillation, mechanical heart valve, deep venous thrombosis). Only patients affected by primary APS form were selected from data files (2006 Sapporo classification criteria). The following NVC parameters were availble: dilated capillaries, giant capillaries, microhemorrhages (with particular attention to linear and thin hemosiderin deposits, arranged perpendicularly and parallel to the nailfold bed, “comb-like”), abnormal shape (i.e. brunched “bushy” capillaries) and capillary number reduction. Those parameters were scored according to a semi-quantitative scale [4,5]. Statistical analysis was performed by non-parametric tests. Any p values equal or lower than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

APS patients showed a higher score for dilated capillaries (p=0.001), more frequent microhemorrhages (p=0.03), in particular “comb-like” microhemorrhages (p=0.007) than simply aPL carriers. Of note, there wasn’t a statistically significant difference in the number of microhemorrhages between APS and CTR group (p=0.23), but again the number of “comb-like” hemorrhages, was almost absent in the CTR group (p=0.03). No significant correlation was found between the different aPL subtypes and the NVC parameters.

Conclusion:

APS patients showed significantly higher number of non-specific NVC abnormalities than aPL carriers. Anticoagulant treatment could represent a further risk factor for the appearance of microhemorrhages in all the patients, being the NVC “comb-like“ pattern mainly associated with the APS. Further investigations with larger cohorts of patients are needed for the definition of a possible APS specific NVC-pattern.

References:

[1]Ruiz-Irastorza G et al. Lancet. 2010;376(9751):1498-509. 2. Pengo V et al. Semin Thromb Hemost. 2012;38:322-7. 3. Sulli A et al. J Rheumatol. 2000;27:1574-6. 4. Smith V et al. 2020. Autoimmun Rev. 19:102458. 5. Sulli A et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008;67:885-7.

Disclosure of Interests:

None declared

Robotic versus laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: multicentre analysis

BACKGROUND

The role of minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy is still unclear, and whether robotic distal pancreatectomy (RDP) offers benefits over laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) is unknown because large multicentre studies are lacking. This study compared perioperative outcomes between RDP and LDP.

METHODS

A multicentre international propensity score-matched study included patients who underwent RDP or LDP for any indication in 21 European centres from six countries that performed at least 15 distal pancreatectomies annually (January 2011 to June 2019). Propensity score matching was based on preoperative characteristics in a 1 : 1 ratio. The primary outcome was the major morbidity rate (Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa or above).

RESULTS

A total of 1551 patients (407 RDP and 1144 LDP) were included in the study. Some 402 patients who had RDP were matched with 402 who underwent LDP. After matching, there was no difference between RDP and LDP groups in rates of major morbidity (14.2 versus 16.5 per cent respectively; P = 0.378), postoperative pancreatic fistula grade B/C (24.6 versus 26.5 per cent; P = 0.543) or 90-day mortality (0.5 versus 1.3 per cent; P = 0.268). RDP was associated with a longer duration of surgery than LDP (median 285 (i.q.r. 225-350) versus 240 (195-300) min respectively; P < 0.001), lower conversion rate (6.7 versus 15.2 per cent; P < 0.001), higher spleen preservation rate (81.4 versus 62.9 per cent; P = 0.001), longer hospital stay (median 8.5 (i.q.r. 7-12) versus 7 (6-10) days; P < 0.001) and lower readmission rate (11.0 versus 18.2 per cent; P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

The major morbidity rate was comparable between RDP and LDP. RDP was associated with improved rates of conversion, spleen preservation and readmission, to the detriment of longer duration of surgery and hospital stay.

Ventricular arrhythmias among patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with myocardial injury and higher risk of arrhythmic complications. However, no reports are available about the effect of the ongoing pandemic on arrhythmias in patients at risk.

Objective

To describe the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on arrhythmic burden among high-risk patients.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study on the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) during the pandemic outbreak (study period), compared to the same timeframe in 2019 (reference period). Inclusion criteria were age (>18 years) and having an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD).

Results

Among 455 patients enrolled (mean age 64.9 ± 15.7 years; 25.1% females and 39.6% with CRTD), in the study period, 45 (9.9%) patients experienced a total of 86 VA; 8 patients (1.7%) required antitachycardia-pacing (ATP) and 6 (1.3%) at least one shock. In the reference period, a total of 69 events occurred in 36 patients (7.9%). Six patients (1.3%) required ATP and three (0.7%) at least one shock. The number of patients that suffered from any arrhythmic events in the study period (9.9% vs 7.9%) did not significantly differ from the reference period (χ2 = 1.09, P = .29). The main predictor of VA during the COVID-19 pandemic was the previous history of any ICD therapy (OR = 3.84, P < .001).

Conclusions

No evidence of an increase of arrhythmic burden was found during the COVID-19 pandemic among patients with an ICD.

Water vapor therapy (Rezūm) for lower urinary tract symptoms related to benign prostatic hyperplasia: early results from the first Italian multicentric study

Purpose

Rezūm is the latest developed minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We aimed to carefully assess the functional outcomes of patients treated with Rezūm for BPH.

Methods

We prospectively followed 135 consecutive patients treated by Rezūm at 5 institutions from June 2019 to August 2020. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF), the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire-Short Form (OAB-q SF) score, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and questions 9 and 10 to assess ejaculatory dysfunction were recorded.

Election criteria were age > 18, no prior prostate interventions, IPSS ≥ 13, post-void residual ≤ 250 mL, prostate volume between 30 and 120 cc.

Results

The median operative time was 10.5 (IQR 8.7–15) min. All patients were dismissed few hours after surgery with indwelling urinary catheter that was removed after a median of 7 (IQR 7–10) days. A significantly decrease of IPSS from baseline at first (p = 0.001) and third (p < 0.0001) month after surgery was reported. No difference was reported in terms of ICIQ-UI SF score postoperatively. A mild reduction of the OAB-q SF score was reported at 1 month from surgery (p = 0.06) that turned significant at 3 months postoperatively (p < 0.0001). A slight but statistically significant increase of the IIEF-5 score was reported from baseline at 6 months (p = 0.04). Postoperatively, patients reported a significantly decrease of ejaculatory dysfunction after alpha-blocker interruption.

Conclusion

Rezūm treatment is a feasible minimally invasive option for patients with BPH symptoms and showed optimal early functional outcomes.

Body composition and bone status in relation to microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis patients

AIM

To evaluate, in Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, the body composition and the bone status according to the peripheral microcirculatory condition, assessed and scored by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC, "Early", "Active", "Late" patterns).

METHODS

Body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed by Dual X-ray absorptiometry and dedicated software (GE Lunar USA) in 37 female SSc patients classified according to the 2013 EULAR/ACR criteria and 40 sex-matched healthy subjects. Clinical, laboratory, body composition and bone parameters were analyzed according to the different NVC patterns. Means were compared by the Student's t test or one-way analysis of variance; medians were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis test; and frequencies by the chi-square test.

RESULTS

Higher prevalence of vertebral (21% vs 7%) and femoral (35% vs 7%) osteoporosis (OP) was found in SSc. Particularly SSc patients with "Late" NVC pattern showed a significantly higher prevalence of vertebral (p = 0.018) and femoral OP (p = 0.016). Regional assessment of bone mass (BM) in seven different body areas showed a significantly lower BMD only at the total spine (p = 0.008) and femoral neck (p = 0.027) in advanced microvascular damage. Patients with "Late" NVC pattern showed a lower whole-body lean mass (LM) compared to "Early" and "Active" NVC patterns, particularly at upper limbs. To note, in all body sites, BMD correlates with LM and BMC according to NVC pattern severity.

CONCLUSIONS

SSc patients with most severe microvascular damage show a significantly altered body composition and bone status suggesting a strong link between microvascular failure and associated muscle/bone sufferance.

Impedance-based Real-time Monitoring of Neural Stem Cell Differentiation

We present here the first impedance-based characterization of the differentiation process of two human mesencephalic fetal neural stem lines. The two dopaminergic neural stem cell lines used in this study, Lund human mesencephalic (LUHMES) and human ventral mesencephalic (hVM1 Bcl-X_L), have been developed for the study of Parkinsonian pathogenesis and its treatment using cell replacement therapy. We show that if only relying on impedance magnitude analysis, which is by far the most usual approach in, e.g., cytotoxicity evaluation and drug screening applications, one may not be able to distinguish whether the neural stem cells in a population are proliferating or differentiating. However, the presented results highlight that equivalent circuit analysis can provide detailed information on cellular behavior, e.g. simultaneous changes in cell morphology, cell-cell contacts, and cell adhesion during formation of neural projections, which are the fundamental behavioral differences between proliferating and differentiating neural stem cells. Moreover, our work also demonstrates the sensitivity of impedance-based monitoring with capability to provide information on changes in cellular behavior in relation to proliferation and differentiation. For both of the studied cell lines, in already two days (one day after induction of differentiation) equivalent circuit analysis was able to show distinction between proliferation and differentiation conditions, which is significantly earlier than by microscopic imaging. This study demonstrates the potential of impedance-based monitoring as a technique of choice in the study of stem cell behavior, laying the foundation for screening assays to characterize stem cell lines and testing the efficacy epigenetic control.

Major cardiovascular adverse events in Fabry disease patients receiving agalsidase alfa

Cardiovascular mortality (CVM) has become the major contributor to overall Fabry disease (FD) mortality in the enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) era. Our objectives were to describe causes and potential predictors of mortality in FD adult patients in Argentina, and to assess risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the ERT era. We retrospectively studied 93 consecutive patients treated with alphagalactosidase A (median follow up: 9.5 years from start of ERT). Mean age at ERT starting was 35 ± 16.3 years. Prevalence of cardiomyopathy and renal disease reached 47% and 41%, respectively. Eleven subjects (11.8%, 95% CI: 5-18%) died during follow up (1.24/100 patient-years). Mean overall survival was 71 years (95% CI: 66-75 years). Seven cases were considered as CVM; main causes were sudden death and stroke. Risk of MACE was 14% (95% CI: 6.9-21.1%; 1.47 events/100 patient-years from start of ERT). All but 2 subjects had at least one comorbid cardiovascular risk factor; however, 86% of patients remained free of MACE during follow-up. CVM remained low and our study was underpowered for detection of predictors of mortality, but it is worth noting that age at diagnosis and ERT starting, left ventricular mass index and renal disease trended to correlate with CVM. Prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia were lower in FD patients when compared to population level data. As in the Argentinean general population, CVM was the leading cause of mortality among this cohort of consecutive FD patients treated with agalsidase alfa.

Asymptomatic hypertension-mediated organ damage in patients with or without moderate to severe chronic kidney disease

Introduction

Moderate or severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) is regarded as high or very high risk factor in the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) system, as stated in the ESC guidelines on arterial hypertension. Assessment of cardiovascular (CV) risk should be completed evaluating hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD).

Purpose

The aim of our study was to find out differences in HMOD in patients with or without moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

We enrolled 80 consecutive non-diabetic hypertensive patients, divided into two groups according to the presence of impaired renal function, evaluated by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): moderate to severe CKD group (n=26 patients, eGFR &lt;60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and mild CKD - normal renal function group (n=54 patients, eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2). A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed to evaluate cardiac HMOD. Small and large vessel damage was assessed by means of non-mydriatic digital fundus oculi examination in order to detect arteriolar narrowing using arteriolar-venular ratio (AVr), applanation tonometry to measure carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and carotid ultrasound to quantify intima-media tickness (IMT).

Results

Moderate to severe CKD patients appeared to be older (mean age 75.54±8.06 vs 63.38±9.62, p=0.001) and showed lower level of total and LDL cholesterol. Both groups showed abnormal values of cfPWV, but these were significantly higher in the presence of moderate to severe CKD (14.12±7.93 m/s vs 10.94±5.81 m/s, p=0.03). Abnormal AVr values were found in patients with higher grade of CKD, with statistically significant differences in the two groups (0.75±0.015 vs 0.81±0.06, p=0.00001). Carotid IMT resulted to be at the upper limit of normality in both groups (0.95±0.15 vs 0.90±0.18, p=0.35). With regard to echocardiography evaluation, left ventricular mass index (LVMi: 105.04±0.4 vs 96.35±1.7, p=0.06) and relative wall thickness (RWT: 0.43±0.02 vs 0.42±0.05, p=0.41) did not differ significantly in the two groups, with a mild trend for LVMi. Both groups showed abnormal diastolic dysfunction on average, but no differences emerged in the presence of more severe renal impairment (deceleration time 281.74±0.37 vs 256.30±0.54, p=0.08; E/A 0.86±0.03 vs 0.95±0.25, p=0.20; E/e' 7.89±2.93 vs 7.60±2.46, p=0.66).

Conclusions

Our study showed significant differences in HMOD in presence of moderate to severe renal impairment. Moderate to severe CKD seemed to be associated to vascular damage (hypertensive retinopathy and arterial stiffness), while no significant differences in echocardiographic markers of cardiac remodeling were found, suggesting that systemic vascular damage is more closely linked to CKD than cardiac damage. Therefore, the use of fundus oculi examination and PWV should always be considered to properly assess the target organ damage in hypertensive patients with CKD.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Measurement of the Canonical Equation of State of a Weakly Interacting 3D Bose Gas

Using a multiple-image reconstruction method applied to a harmonically trapped Bose gas, we determine the equation of state of uniform matter across the critical transition point, within the local density approximation. Our experimental results provide the canonical description of pressure as a function of the specific volume, emphasizing the dramatic deviations from the ideal Bose gas behavior caused by interactions. They also provide clear evidence for the nonmonotonic behavior with temperature of the chemical potential, which is a consequence of superfluidity and Bose-Einstein condensation. The measured thermodynamic quantities are compared to mean-field predictions available for the interacting Bose gas. The limits of applicability of the local density approximation near the critical point are also discussed, focusing on the behavior of the isothermal compressibility.

Single-shot reconstruction of the density profile of a dense atomic gas

Partial transfer absorption imaging (PTAI) of ultracold atoms allows for repeated and minimally-destructive measurements of an atomic ensemble. Here, we present a reconstruction technique based on PTAI that can be used to piece together the non-uniform spatial profile of high-density atomic samples using multiple measurements. We achieved a thirty-fold increase of the effective dynamic range of our imaging, and were able to image otherwise saturated samples with unprecedented accuracy of both low- and high-density features.