The concept of van der Waals solid solutions has been demonstrated to yield photon upconversion (UC) organic crystals with extraordinary performance, opening a domain of versatile dispersion-force-based systems in the quest for superior UC solids.
Background. Osteoporosis or bone fracture can be induced in nephrotic children treated long-term with high doses of glucocorticoids. The purpose of this study was to determine whether short-term prednisolone therapy affects the skeleton in children with steroid-responsive nephrotic syndrome (NS). Methods. Bone mineral density (BMD) and biochemical parameters of mineral and skeletal homeostasis in nine children (four girls, five boys) aged between 2 and 7 years at the first episode of NS were measured. Prednisolone was started at 60 mg/m 2 for 4 weeks, then decreased every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. All patients were steroid-responsive and had no relapse. All patients were examined at 0, 4, and 12 weeks of prednisolone therapy, and 16 weeks after the cessation of prednisolone therapy. Results. The Z-scores (BMD) before prednisolone therapy (Ϫ0.79 Ϯ 0.51) were slightly low. The Z-scores at 4 weeks (Ϫ1.37 Ϯ 0.46) and at 12 weeks of therapy (Ϫ1.22 Ϯ 0.36) were significantly lower than those at 16 weeks after the cessation of prednisolone therapy (Ϫ0.29 Ϯ 0.29). There was also a significant decrease in the mean serum levels of alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and urinary deoxypyridinoline during the short-term prednisolone therapy. However, BMD and biochemical parameters of mineral and skeletal homeostasis returned to normal values at 16 weeks after the cessation of prednisolone therapy. Conclusions. Skeletal effects of short-term prednisolone therapy for 16 weeks were transient in children with steroidresponsive NS without relapse.
Background. High doses of cyclosporin A (CsA) produce high-turnover osteopenia in rats. The aim of this study was to determine whether low-dose CsA affects the skeleton in children with nephrotic syndrome. Methods. Biochemical parameters of mineral and skeletal homeostasis, and bone mineral density (BMD) in eight boys with steroid-dependent, frequently relapsing minimal change nephrotic syndrome who had received low-dose CsA (between 1.6 and 3.1 mg/kg per day) for 2 years were compared with measurements in the same patients before CsA therapy and who had received glucocorticoids for long periods, and with measurements in age-matched controls. Results. It was possible to discontinue glucocorticoid therapy within 4 months after the start of CsA therapy. There was a significant increase in the mean serum alkaline phosphatase concentration in CsA therapy patients compared with the same patients before CsA therapy and the controls. Serum osteocalcin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and urinary deoxypyridinoline concentrations in CsA therapy patients did not differ from those in the controls. BMD in CsA therapy patients was increased significantly compared with values in the same patients before CsA therapy. BMD in CsA therapy patients was lower than that in the controls, but remained within 80% of the overall mean BMD value. Conclusions. Two years of low-dose CsA therapy without glucocorticoids does not appear to induce high-turnover osteopenia in children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome.
We demonstrate record-long 10-mode-multiplexed transmission over 1300 km with 6-LP few-mode-fiber with modal dispersion coefficient of 157 ps/km. Modal-dispersion-unmanaged link was built by cyclic mode-group permutation, achieving reduction in modal dispersion accumulation by 82 %.
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