University of Milan

About: University of Milan is a education organization based out in Milan, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 58413 authors who have published 139784 publications receiving 4636354 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli Studi di Milano & Statale.

Genome-wide association study identifies 74 loci associated with educational attainment

Abstract: Educational attainment is strongly influenced by social and other environmental factors, but genetic factors are estimated to account for at least 20% of the variation across individuals. Here we report the results of a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for educational attainment that extends our earlier discovery sample of 101,069 individuals to 293,723 individuals, and a replication study in an independent sample of 111,349 individuals from the UK Biobank. We identify 74 genome-wide significant loci associated with the number of years of schooling completed. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with educational attainment are disproportionately found in genomic regions regulating gene expression in the fetal brain. Candidate genes are preferentially expressed in neural tissue, especially during the prenatal period, and enriched for biological pathways involved in neural development. Our findings demonstrate that, even for a behavioural phenotype that is mostly environmentally determined, a well-powered GWAS identifies replicable associated genetic variants that suggest biologically relevant pathways. Because educational attainment is measured in large numbers of individuals, it will continue to be useful as a proxy phenotype in efforts to characterize the genetic influences of related phenotypes, including cognition and neuropsychiatric diseases.

First result from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station: precision measurement of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays of 0.5-350 GeV.

Abstract: A precision measurement by the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays in the energy range from 0.5 to 350 GeV based on 6.8 × 10(6) positron and electron events is presented. The very accurate data show that the positron fraction is steadily increasing from 10 to ∼ 250 GeV, but, from 20 to 250 GeV, the slope decreases by an order of magnitude. The positron fraction spectrum shows no fine structure, and the positron to electron ratio shows no observable anisotropy. Together, these features show the existence of new physical phenomena.

COVID-19 Does Not Lead to a "Typical" Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Abstract: ventilation strategy was applied to the first four patients to increase pulmonary efficiency to eliminate CO2, and this was used in the next four patients. Gas exchange consists of oxygenation and ventilation. Oxygenation is quantified by the PaO2/FIO2 ratio, and this method has gained wide acceptance, particularly since publication of the Berlin definition of ARDS (7). However, the Berlin definition does not include additional pathophysiological information about ARDS, such as alveolar ventilation, as measured by pulmonary dead space, which is an important predictor of outcome (8). Increased pulmonary dead space reflects the inefficiency of the lungs to eliminate CO2, which may lead to hypercapnia. In our patients with ARDS with COVID-19, hypercapnia was common at ICU admission with low VT ventilation. Assuming the anatomic portion of dead space is constant, increasing VT with constant respiratory rate would effectively increase alveolar ventilation. Any such increase in VT would decrease PaCO2, which would be captured by VR (6). VR, a novel method to monitor ventilatory adequacy at the bedside (4–6), was very high in our patients, reflecting increased pulmonary dead space and inadequacy of ventilation. With an acceptable plateau pressure and driving pressure, titration of VT was performed. PaCO2 and VR were significantly decreased when an intermediate VT (7–8 ml/kg PBW) was applied. We suggest that intermediate VT (7–8 ml/kg PBW) is recommended for such patients. Therefore, low VT may not be the best approach for all patients with ARDS, particularly those with a less severe decrease in respiratory system compliance and inadequacy of ventilation. In summary, we found that hypercapnia was common in patients with COVID-19–associated ARDS while using low VT ventilation. VR was increased in these patients, which reflected increased pulmonary dead space and inadequacy of ventilation. An intermediate VT was used to correct hypercapnia efficiently, while not excessively increasing driving pressure. Clinicians must have a high index of suspicion for increased pulmonary dead space when patients with COVID19–related ARDS present with hypercapnia. n