Others include endothelin antagonists and vitamin D analogs which have been shown to decrease urinary albumin excretion. Inhibitors of advanced glycation and oxidative stress and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 have proved useful in animal models of diabetic nephropathy. Others include ruboxistaurin, which blocks protein SP600125 clinical trial kinase C overexpression.

Such targeted therapies would halt and might even reverse progression of diabetic nephropathy.”
“Objectives: To measure the radiation exposure of the operating team during endovascular aortic procedures, and to determine factors that predict high exposures.

Materials and methods: Electronic dosimeters placed over and under protective lead garments, were used to prospectively record radiation exposure during endovascular aortic repairs performed in a designated interventional radiology suite. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses of predictors of radiation exposure were performed.

Results: A total of 26 TGF-beta inhibitor infra-renal and 10 thoracic endovascular cases were studied. Median (IQR) patient age and body mass index were 76.0′ (70.0-81.8) years and 26.2 (23.9-28.9) kg/m(2) respectively. Over-lead exposure to the operator was higher for thoracic than

for infra-renal procedures (421.0 [233.8-597.8] mu Sv vs. 52.5 [27.8-179.8] mu Sv, p=.0003), reflecting a significant exposure to unprotected parts of the body. Under-lead exposures for operator and

assistant were 5.5 (2.0-14.2) mu Sv and 1.0 (0.0-2.3) mu Sv respectively, which for an average caseload would comply with total body effective dose limits. Type of case and percentage of digital subtraction check details angiography (DSA) time in left anterior oblique angulations predicted dose to the operator (p<.0001).

Conclusions: Thoracic procedures, DSA runs and obliquity of the C-arm are strong predictors of radiation exposure during endovascular aortic repairs. Understanding scatter radiation dynamics and instigating measures to minimise radiation exposure should be mandatory. (C) 2013 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background-The transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1 alpha regulates the activity of a number of genes involved in innate immunity, blood coagulation, lipid and glucose transport and metabolism, and cellular detoxification. Common polymorphisms of the HNF-1 alpha gene (HNF1A) were recently associated with plasma C-reactive protein and gamma-glutamyl transferase concentration in middle-aged to older European Americans (EA).