University of Valencia

About: University of Valencia is a education organization based out in Valencia, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Neutrino. The organization has 27096 authors who have published 65669 publications receiving 1765689 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitat de València & UV.

ESH Position Paper: Renal denervation ^ an interventional therapy of resistant hypertension

Abstract: Experts from the European Society of Hypertension prepared this position paper in order to summarize current evidence, unmet needs and practical recommendations on the application of percutaneous transluminal ablation of renal nerves [renal denervation (RDN)] as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of resistant hypertension. The sympathetic nervous activation to the kidney and the sensory afferent signals to the central nervous system represent the targets of RND. Clinical studies have documented that catheter-based RDN decreases both efferent sympathetic and afferent sensory nerve traffic leading to clinically meaningful systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) reductions in patients with resistant hypertension. This position statement intends to facilitate a better understanding of the effectiveness, safety, limitations and issues still to be addressed with RDN.

Are the five natural DNA/RNA base monomers a good choice from natural selection? : A photochemical perspective

Abstract: In order to prevent the damaging effects of sun radiation in the genetic material, its constituent chromophores, the five natural DNA/RNA nucleobases cytosine, thymine, uracil, adenine, and guanine, should be able to efficiently dissipate absorbed radiation, UV specifically, avoiding as much as possible photoreactions leading to lesions. It has been established experimentally and theoretically that efficient internal conversion channels, still open and relevant in the oligomer-stacked strands, exist in the monomers allowing an effective waste of the initial energy. Previous evidences cannot explain, however, why minor differences in the molecular structure modify drastically the photochemistry of the systems, leading for many derivatives to slower decays, sometimes to intense fluorescence, and also to reactivity. Using the accurate CASPT2//CASSCF quantum chemical method and the Photochemical Reaction Path Approach it is determined that the five natural nucleobases display barrierless paths from the allowed excited state toward accessible conical intersection seams with the ground state. Such features are known to be the funnels for efficient energy decay and fluorescence quenching. Modified nucleobases, except the methylated ones, are predicted less photostable because they display energy barriers along lowest-energy paths and hence restricted accessibility of the internal conversion channel. This specificity speaks in favor of the choice of the biological nucleobases by natural selection based on their resistance to photochemical damage. Whereas natural and methylated nucleobases, also frequent in the genetic code, are photostable and cannot be photochemically discarded, other non-natural nucleobases may have been eliminated at early stages of the natural selection process.

Recent Progress in Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Phobias: A Systematic Review

Abstract: This review is designed to systematically examine the available evidence about virtual reality exposure therapy's (VRET) efficacy for phobias, critically describe some of the most important challenges in the field and discuss possible directions. Evidence reveals that virtual reality (VR) is an effective treatment for phobias and useful for studying specific issues, such as pharmacological compounds and behavioral manipulations, that can enhance treatment outcomes. In addition, some variables, such as sense of presence in virtual environments, have a significant influence on outcomes, but further research is needed to better understand their role in therapeutic outcomes. We conclude that VR is a useful tool to improve exposure therapy and it can be a good option to analyze the processes and mechanisms involved in exposure therapy and the ways this strategy can be enhanced. In the coming years, there will be a significant expansion of VR in routine practice in clinical contexts.