Measurement of the cosmic microwave background polarization lensing power spectrum with the POLARBEAR experiment.

Gravitational lensing due to the large-scale distribution of matter in the cosmos distorts the primordial cosmic microwave background (CMB) and thereby induces new, small-scale B-mode polarization. This signal carries detailed information about the distribution of all the gravitating matter between the observer and CMB last scattering surface. We report the first direct evidence for polarization lensing based on purely CMB information, from using the four-point correlations of even- and odd-parity E- and B-mode polarization mapped over ∼30 square degrees of the sky measured by the POLARBEAR experiment. These data were analyzed using a blind analysis framework and checked for spurious systematic contamination using null tests and simulations. Evidence for the signal of polarization lensing and lensing B modes is found at 4.2σ (stat+sys) significance. The amplitude of matter fluctuations is measured with a precision of 27%, and is found to be consistent with the Lambda cold dark matter cosmological model. This measurement demonstrates a new technique, capable of mapping all gravitating matter in the Universe, sensitive to the sum of neutrino masses, and essential for cleaning the lensing B-mode signal in searches for primordial gravitational waves.

Evidence for gravitational lensing of the cosmic microwave background polarization from cross-correlation with the cosmic infrared background.

We reconstruct the gravitational lensing convergence signal from cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization data taken by the Polarbear experiment and cross-correlate it with cosmic infrared background maps from the Herschel satellite. From the cross spectra, we obtain evidence for gravitational lensing of the CMB polarization at a statistical significance of 4.0σ and indication of the presence of a lensing B-mode signal at a significance of 2.3σ. We demonstrate that our results are not biased by instrumental and astrophysical systematic errors by performing null tests, checks with simulated and real data, and analytical calculations. This measurement of polarization lensing, made via the robust cross-correlation channel, not only reinforces POLARBEAR auto-correlation measurements, but also represents one of the early steps towards establishing CMB polarization lensing as a powerful new probe of cosmology and astrophysics.

Prognosis after "high urgent" kidney transplantation might be determined by control of preexisting septic condition.

INTRODUCTION: Dialysis is the standard bridging method for patients with end-stage renal disease. In rare cases, dialysis is impossible and immediate kidney transplantation (KT) is the only option for survival. Most allocation organizations offer an immediate allocation procedure (high urgency [HU]), which focuses on immediate allocation at the cost of immunologic matching. The impossibility of dialysis is mainly caused by multiple systemic thromboses and blood stream infections. This situation creates an ethical dilemma: Accepting the HU-KT allocation potentially saves the patient's life albeit with negatively effects on the expected patient and organ survivals. In times of organ shortage, more information is needed regarding this difficult decision; the published literature is limited to 4 papers. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who were transplanted by HU allocation in our center between January 1989 and October 2010. RESULTS: Of 1040 KT, 10 (0.96%) were performed in HU condition. Mean follow-up time was 37 months. The main reason for HU-KT was exhaustion of vascular access in combination with a bloodstream infection. All recipients showed severe preoperative comorbidities. Patient survival was 90% at 1, 80% at 3, and 60% at 5 years. There was 1 graft loss owing to chronic rejection. CONCLUSION: When kidney transplantation is performed as an HU procedure, it is associated with a greater morbidity and mortality compared with elective cases. Bloodstream infections that existed before transplantation contributed considerably to mortality.

[De novo sarcoidosis after kidney transplantation]. / Neu aufgetretene Sarkoidose nach Nierentransplantation.

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 39-year-old man complained of unspecific chest pains four years after kidney transplantation. INVESTIGATIONS: Laboratory tests revealed a slow increase of retentions values; the value of soluble IL-2 receptor was slightly elevated. Computed tomography of the chest confirmed mediastinal and bilateral hilar masses. The broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) showed a marked increase of the CD4/CD8 T-lymphocyte ratio and the aspiration cytology of these lymphadenopathies revealed the cytopathological characteristics of sarcoidosis. TREATMENT AND CLINICAL COURSE: An asymptomatic stage I sarcoidosis was diagnosed, and the immunosuppressive treatment with cyclosporine, mycophenolatmofetil and prednisone was retained. The patient has remained asymptomatic for now six months. CONCLUSION: When bilateral hilar / mediastinal lymphadenopathies occur after organ transplantation with immunosuppression de novo sarcoidosis should be taken into account.

[Treating the symptoms in nephrotic syndrome: which therapeutic strategies are evidence based in the treatment of proteinuria?]. / Symptomatische Therapie bei nephrotischem Syndrom: Was ist gesichert in der Therapie der Proteinurie?.

Glomerular diseases are among the most common renal pathologies leading frequently to end-stage renal disease. Clinical disease can be divided into five different groups the features of which are determined by the underlying pathophysiology. One of these five clinical syndromes is the nephrotic syndrome, which is characterized by proteinuria > 3.5 g/day accompanied by hypalbuminemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and pronounced edema. The nephrotic syndrome may be the clinical manifestation of a row of underlying diseases. The pathophysiological basics had remained elusive for decades, yet recently significant progress which allows for establishing new therapeutic strategies has been made. A major breakthrough in understanding the function of the glomerular filter unit has been possible in the last years through both genetic and cell biological studies, which have revealed a crucial role for the visceral epithelial cells of the glomerulus - the podocytes. By now various factors have been found causing podocyte damage, such as toxines, immunological phenomena or systemic disease like diabetes mellitus.