Molecular dating of caprines using ancient DNA sequences of Myotragus balearicus, an extinct endemic Balearic mammal

Background: Myotragus balearicus was an endemic bovid from the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) that became extinct around 6,000-4,000 years ago. The Myotragus evolutionary lineage became isolated in the islands most probably at the end of the Messinian crisis, when the desiccation of the Mediterranean ended, in a geological date established at 5.35 Mya. Thus, the sequences of Myotragus could be very valuable for calibrating the mammalian mitochondrial DNA clock and, in particular, the tree of the Caprinae subfamily, to which Myotragus belongs. Results: We have retrieved the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1,143 base pairs), plus fragments of the mitochondrial 12S gene and the nuclear 28S rDNA multi-copy gene from a well preserved Myotragus subfossil bone. The best resolved phylogenetic trees, obtained with the cytochrome b gene, placed Myotragus in a position basal to the Ovis group. Using the calibration provided by the isolation of Balearic Islands, we calculated that the initial radiation of caprines can be dated at 6.2 �� 0.4 Mya. In addition, alpine and southern chamois, considered until recently the same species, split around 1.6 �� 0.3 Mya, indicating that the two chamois species have been separated much longer than previously thought. Conclusion: Since there are almost no extant endemic mammals in Mediterranean islands, the sequence of the extinct Balearic endemic Myotragus has been crucial for allowing us to use the Messinian crisis calibration point for dating the caprines phylogenetic tree.

Is the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine useful in preventing community-acquired pneumonia?

Although bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia is the most severe form of pneumonia, non-bacteremic forms are much more frequent. Laboratory methods for the diagnosis of nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia have a low sensitivity and specificity, and therefore all-cause pneumonia has been proposed as a suitable outcome to evaluate vaccination effectiveness. This work reviews the epidemiology of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and evaluates the effectiveness of the 3-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV-23) in preventing CAP requiring hospitalization in people aged ���65 years. We performed a case-control study in patients aged ���65 years admitted through the emergency department who presented with clinical signs and symptoms compatible with pneumonia. Weincluded 489 cases and 1,467 controls and it was obtained a vaccine efectiveness of 23.6 (0.9-41.0). Our results suggest that PPV-23 vaccination is effective and reduces hospital admissions due to pneumonia in the elderly, strengthening the rationale for vaccination programmes in this age group.

Postprandial thermogenesis in lactating and non-lactating women from The Gambia.

Postprandial thermogenesis was assessed by indirect calorimetry in 32 Gambian women classified into three groups as follows: 12 non-pregnant non-lactating and 10 lactating women studied during the dry season and 10 lactating women studied during the rainy season. The test meal consisted of a typical Gambian breakfast and its energy content corresponded to 30% of the individual's resting metabolic rate (RMR)/24 h. During the dry season, the postprandial thermogenesis of the lactating women averaged 6.0 +/- 0.4% of the test meal energy content and was similar to that observed in the non-pregnant non-lactating women studied during the same season (5.8 +/- 0.3%). In contrast, the postprandial thermogenesis of lactating women studied during the rainy, nutritionally unfavourable season was found to be significantly lower (4.9 +/- 0.5%). There was no significant difference in the pre- and postprandial respiratory quotients among groups. This leads to the conclusion that lactation does not alter the thermogenic response to food and that the reduction in postprandial thermogenesis observed in lactating women during the wet season constitutes an adaptive response to energy deficit allowing a saving of energy in periods of food restriction.

Subclinical coronary and aortic atherosclerosis detected by magnetic resonance imaging in type 1 diabetes with and without diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Patients with type 1 diabetes and nephropathy maintain an excess cardiovascular mortality compared with diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria. We sought to evaluate coronary and aortic atherosclerosis in a cohort of asymptomatic type 1 diabetic patients with and without diabetic nephropathy using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a cross-sectional study, 136 subjects with long-standing type 1 diabetes without symptoms or history of cardiovascular disease, including 63 patients (46%) with nephropathy and 73 patients with normoalbuminuria, underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. All subjects underwent cardiac exercise testing and noninvasive tests for peripheral artery disease and autonomic neuropathy. Coronary artery stenoses were identified in 10% of subjects with nephropathy (versus 0% with normoalbuminuria; P=0.007). Coronary plaque burden, expressed as right coronary artery mean wall thickness (1.7+/-0.3 versus 1.3+/-0.2 mm; P<0.001) and maximum right coronary artery wall thickness (2.2+/-0.5 versus 1.6+/-0.3 mm; P<0.001), was greater in subjects with nephropathy. The prevalence of thoracic (3% versus 0%; P=0.28) and abdominal aortic plaque (22% versus 16%; P=0.7) was similar in both groups. Subjects with and without abdominal aortic plaques had similar coronary plaque burden. CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic type 1 diabetes, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging reveals greater coronary plaque burden in subjects with nephropathy compared with those with normoalbuminuria.

Monitoring of noninvasive ventilation by built-in software of home bilevel ventilators: a bench study.

BACKGROUND: Current bilevel positive-pressure ventilators for home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) provide physicians with software that records items important for patient monitoring, such as compliance, tidal volume (Vt), and leaks. However, to our knowledge, the validity of this information has not yet been independently assessed. METHODS: Testing was done for seven home ventilators on a bench model adapted to simulate NIV and generate unintentional leaks (ie, other than of the mask exhalation valve). Five levels of leaks were simulated using a computer-driven solenoid valve (0-60 L/min) at different levels of inspiratory pressure (15 and 25 cm H(2)O) and at a fixed expiratory pressure (5 cm H(2)O), for a total of 10 conditions. Bench data were compared with results retrieved from ventilator software for leaks and Vt. RESULTS: For assessing leaks, three of the devices tested were highly reliable, with a small bias (0.3-0.9 L/min), narrow limits of agreement (LA), and high correlations (R(2), 0.993-0.997) when comparing ventilator software and bench results; conversely, for four ventilators, bias ranged from -6.0 L/min to -25.9 L/min, exceeding -10 L/min for two devices, with wide LA and lower correlations (R(2), 0.70-0.98). Bias for leaks increased markedly with the importance of leaks in three devices. Vt was underestimated by all devices, and bias (range, 66-236 mL) increased with higher insufflation pressures. Only two devices had a bias < 100 mL, with all testing conditions considered. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians monitoring patients who use home ventilation must be aware of differences in the estimation of leaks and Vt by ventilator software. Also, leaks are reported in different ways according to the device used.

Betaiinin tuotannon sivujakeiden mikrosuodattaminen ter��skeraamisella kalvolla

Betaiini on ammoniumyhdiste, jota k��ytet����n esimerkiksi el��inten rehussa, kosmetiikassa ja l����kkeiss��. Danisco Animal Nutrition Finnfeeds Finland Oy:n Naantalin tehdas on maailman johtava betaiinin tuottaja ja raaka-aineena tehtaalla k��ytet����n melassierotuksesta saatavaa betaiinimelassia. Kiteisen betaiinin puhdistusprosessin yhteydess�� syntyybetaiinipitoisia sivujakeita, jotka sis��lt��v��t huomattavan m����r��n betaiinia, mink�� takia niiden jatkok��sittely on t��rke����. Betaiinin tuotannon sivujakeet ovat eritt��in vaikeasti suodattuvia orgaanisia liuoksia, joiden koostumuksia ei t��ysin tunneta. T��m��n ty��n tarkoituksena oli puhdistaa betaiinin tuotannon sivujakeita mikrosuodattamalla niit�� ter��skeraamisella kalvolla. Ty��n kokeellisessa osassa suoritettiin suodatusparametrien eli pH:n, l��mp��tilan, TMP:n ja betaiiniliuoksen kuiva-ainepitoisuuden optimointi sek�� konsentrointikokeita. Mikrosuodatus suoritettiin Graver Technologiesin Scepter-putkimoduulilla, joka toimi ohivirtausperiaatteella ja jonka huokoskoko oli 0,1 ��m. Scepter-moduuli koostui ruostumattomasta ter��ksest�� sintratuista putkimoduuleista, joissa erottavana kerroksena toimi TiO2. Esikokeiden perusteella todettiin ettei pH:lla ollut suurta vaikutusta suodatukseen. Permeaattivuo kasvoi selv��sti l��mp��tilan ja TMP:nkasvaessa. Vuo taas huononi ja permeaatin sameus lis����ntyi selv��sti 35 % korkeammissa kuiva-ainepitoisuuksissa. Konsentrointikokeet suoritettiin betaiiniliuoksen refraktrometrisessa kuiva-ainepitoisuudessa, BetRk, 35 %, 80 ��C l��mp��tilassa ja betaiiniliuoksen omassa pH:ssa (pH 8-9,5). Esikokeiden tulosten perusteella konsentrointikokeet suoritettiin TMP:ssa 0,6; 0,8 ja 1,0 bar. Betaiinin tuotannonsivujakeiden konsentrointikokeissa saannoksi saatiin 95 %. Suodatustuloksista havaittiin, ett�� betaiinin tuotannon sivujakeen er�� vaikutti voimakkaasti suodatuksen toimivuuteen. Konsentrointikokeissa suodatukset suoritettiin sek��uusilla mikrosuodatusmoduuleilla ett�� vanhalla moduulilla, joka oli jo kulunut.Kulumisen ei kuitenkaan havaittu huonontavan suodatustehokkuutta. Konsentrointikokeiden perusteella voidaan laitteiston pesuv��liksi arvioida noin viikko ja pesu tulisi suorittaa sek�� em��ksisell�� ett�� happamalla pesuaineella.

AVALIA����ES F��SICO-QU��MICAS EM FRUTOS DE DIFERENTES GEN��TIPOS DE ACEROLA (MALPIGHIA PUNICIFOLIA L.)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar quanto ��s caracter��sticas qu��micas e f��sico-qu��micas frutos de 12 gen��tipos de acerola (Malpighia punicifolia L.), em processo de sele����o pela Embrapa Mandioca e Fruticultura, visando a identificar aqueles com altos teores de vitamina C e elevada rela����o Brix/acidez. Os frutos analisados foram colhidos no est��gio de matura����o "de vez", na safra de setembro a outubro dos anos de 1997 e 1998. Os resultados obtidos para vitamina C variaram de 835 a 1820 mg de ��cido asc��rbico por 100 g de polpa, para s��lidos sol��veis totais de 6,0 a 11,6%, para acidez total titul��vel de 0,69 a 1,65%, para rela����o Brix/acidez de 4,24 a 11,59 e para pH de 3,08 a 3,57. Dentre os gen��tipos analisados, o CMF022 e o CMF019 apresentaram os maiores teores de vitamina C e os menores valores para a rela����o Brix/acidez, enquanto os gen��tipos CMF015, CMF008 e CMF010 apresentaram a maior rela����o Brix/acidez, nos dois anos do experimento.

Qualidade de ped��nculo de cajueiro-an��o precoce cultivado sob irriga����o e submetido a difrentes sistemas de condu����o e espa��amento

Este trabalho teve com objetivo estudar a influ��ncia do espa��amento sobre as caracter��sticas qu��micas e f��sico-qu��micas em ped��nculos de cajueiro-an��o precoce (Anacardium occidentale L) irrigado. O experimento foi conduzido na Esta����o Experimental do Vale do Curu, no munic��pio de Paraipaba-Ce, ocupando uma ��rea de 1,57 ha. Foram estudados 4 espa��amentos, sendo um convencional (6,0 x 8,0 m) e tr��s adensados (4 x 3, 6 x 3 e 8 x 3 m), onde foram aplicadas podas e desbastes. Os ped��nculos para a realiza����o das an��lises foram colhidos em agosto de 1998 e encaminhados ao Laborat��rio de Fisiologia e Tecnologia P��s-Colheita da Embrapa Agroind��stria Tropical. Para a caracteriza����o qu��mica e f��sico-qu��mica, foram analisados: s��lidos sol��veis totais (SST), a����cares sol��veis totais (AST), acidez total titul��vel (ATT), rela����o SST/ATT, vitamina C e taninos (polim��ricos, d��meros e oligom��ricos). N��o houve diferen��a significativa entre os tratamentos com rela����o ��s vari��veis estudadas, como tamb��m os valores encontrados para essas vari��veis s��o semelhantes ��queles encontrados na literatura.

Atypical depression and alcohol misuse are related to the cardiovascular risk in the general population.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to assess the associations between mood, anxiety and substance use disorders, including their subtypes, and the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs). METHOD: Thorough physical investigations, biological measures and standardized interview techniques were used to assess 3716 subjects of an urban area, aged 35-66 years. RESULTS: Atypical depression was associated with increased prevalence of overweight, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.5, 95% C.I. 1.1-2.0; OR = 2.0, 95% C.I. 1.1-3.5, OR = 1.6, 95% C.I. 1.0-2.4 respectively), whereas decreased prevalence of overweight was found in melancholic (OR = 0.7, 95% C.I. 0.6-0.9) and unspecified depression (OR = 0.8, 95% C.I. 0.7-1.0). Alcohol abuse was associated with diabetes (OR = 1.8, 95% C.I. 1.1-2.9) and dyslipidemia (OR = 1.3, 95% C.I. 1.0-1.8), alcohol dependence with dyslipidemia only (OR = 1.4, 95% C.I. 1.0-2.0). Almost all mental disorders were associated with a lifetime history of regular cigarette smoking, and atypical depression, alcohol misuse and drug dependence were associated with inactivity. CONCLUSION: To conclude results emphasize the need to subtype depression and to pay particular attention to the atypical subtype. Comorbid alcohol misuse may further increase the cardiovascular risk. Efforts to diminish smoking in subjects with mental disorders could be crucial measures to reduce their high incidence of cardiovascular disease.

A prospective, randomized, and controlled study of fluid management in children with severe head injury: lactated Ringer's solution versus hypertonic saline.

OBJECTIVES: Resuscitation in severe head injury may be detrimental when given with hypotonic fluids. We evaluated the effects of lactated Ringer's solution (sodium 131 mmol/L, 277 mOsm/L) compared with hypertonic saline (sodium 268 mmol/L, 598 mOsm/L) in severely head-injured children over the first 3 days after injury. DESIGN: An open, randomized, and prospective study. SETTING: A 16-bed pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) (level III) at a university children's hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 35 consecutive children with head injury. INTERVENTIONS: Thirty-two children with Glasgow Coma Scores of <8 were randomly assigned to receive either lactated Ringer's solution (group 1) or hypertonic saline (group 2). Routine care was standardized, and included the following: head positioning at 30 degrees; normothermia (96.8 degrees to 98.6 degrees F [36 degrees to 37 degrees C]); analgesia and sedation with morphine (10 to 30 microg/kg/hr), midazolam (0.2 to 0.3 mg/kg/hr), and phenobarbital; volume-controlled ventilation (PaCO2 of 26.3 to 30 torr [3.5 to 4 kPa]); and optimal oxygenation (PaO2 of 90 to 105 torr [12 to 14 kPa], oxygen saturation of >92%, and hematocrit of >0.30). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure and intracranial pressure (ICP) were monitored continuously and documented hourly and at every intervention. The means of every 4-hr period were calculated and serum sodium concentrations were measured at the same time. An ICP of 15 mm Hg was treated with a predefined sequence of interventions, and complications were documented. There was no difference with respect to age, male/female ratio, or initial Glasgow Coma Score. In both groups, there was an inverse correlation between serum sodium concentration and ICP (group 1: r = -.13, r2 = .02, p < .03; group 2: r = -.29, r2 = .08, p < .001) that disappeared in group 1 and increased in group 2 (group 1: r = -.08, r2 = .01, NS; group 2: r = -.35, r2 =.12, p < .001). Correlation between serum sodium concentration and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) became significant in group 2 after 8 hrs of treatment (r = .2, r2 = .04, p = .002). Over time, ICP and CPP did not significantly differ between the groups. However, to keep ICP at <15 mm Hg, group 2 patients required significantly fewer interventions (p < .02). Group 1 patients received less sodium (8.0 +/- 4.5 vs. 11.5 +/- 5.0 mmol/kg/day, p = .05) and more fluid on day 1 (2850 +/- 1480 vs. 2180 +/- 770 mL/m2, p = .05). They also had a higher frequency of acute respiratory distress syndrome (four vs. 0 patients, p = .1) and more than two complications (six vs. 1 patient, p = .09). Group 2 patients had significantly shorter ICU stay times (11.6 +/- 6.1 vs. 8.0 +/- 2.4 days; p = .04) and shorter mechanical ventilation times (9.5 +/- 6.0 vs. 6.9 +/- 2.2 days; p = .1). The survival rate and duration of hospital stay were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of severe head injury with hypertonic saline is superior to that treatment with lactated Ringer's solution. An increase in serum sodium concentrations significantly correlates with lower ICP and higher CPP. Children treated with hypertonic saline require fewer interventions, have fewer complications, and stay a shorter time in the ICU.

Produtividade e qualidade dos frutos da laranjeira 'P��ra' clone IAC em 16 porta-enxertos na regi��o de Bebedouro-SP

Avaliou-se a influ��ncia de 16 porta-enxertos na produtividade, nas caracter��sticas f��sicas e qu��micas (s��lidos sol��veis totais-°Brix; acidez; ratio; porcentagem de suco; ��ndice tecnol��gico e tamanho dos frutos) dos frutos da laranjeira 'P��ra' [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] e na incid��ncia e severidade da clorose variegada dos citros (CVC). O plantio do experimento foi realizado em julho de 1993, com espa��amento de 6,0 m entre linhas e 3,5 m entre plantas (476 plantas/ha). O experimento foi conduzido sem irriga����o. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, duas plantas por parcela, tr��s repeti����es e 16 tratamentos, constitu��dos pelas seguintes cultivares porta-enxertos: tangerineira 'Sun Chu Sha Kat' (Citrus reticulata Blanco), tangerineira 'Pectin��fera' (C. reticulata), 'Shekwasha' (C. depressa Hayata), tangerineira 'Pectin��fera/Shekwasha' (C. depressa Hayata), tangerineira 'Batangas' (C. reticulata), tangerineira 'Oneco' (C. reticulata), citrangor [citrange (Poncirus trifoliata Raf. x C. sinensis) x C. sinensis], citrandarin [C.sunki hort. Ex Tanaka) x Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf. cv. English, tangerineira 'Sunki' (C. sunki), tangerineira 'Suen-Kat' (C. sunki), tangerineira 'Nasnaran' (C. amblycarpa Ochse), tangerineira 'Venezuela' (C. reticulata), tangerineira Heen Naran (C. lycopersicaeformis hort. ex Tan. ), limoeiro 'Cravo' (C. limonia Osbeck) x tangerineira 'Cle��patra' (C. reshni hort ex Tanaka), limoeiro 'Cravo' (C. limonia), tangerineira 'Cle��patra' (C. reshni). A intensidade da clorose variegada dos citros variou em fun����o dos porta-enxertos e n��o se relacionou com a produ����o de frutos at�� a quarta safra. Os porta-enxertos estudados, com exce����o da tangerineira Nasnaran, proporcionaram qualidade e produ����es iniciais de frutos similares aos do limoeiro 'Cravo'.

Controle do amadurecimento de carambolas com 1-MCP

O 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP) inibe a a����o do etileno retardando o amadurecimento de muitos frutos climat��ricos e n��o-climat��ricos. Considerando a potencialidade do 1-MCP em retardar o amadurecimento, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito inibit��rio desse bloqueador da a����o do etileno sobre o amadurecimento de carambolas mantidas em condi����es de ambiente. Frutos da cultivar Fwang Tung, colhidos no est��dio de matura����o verde-maduro (50% amarelos), foram tratados com 1-MCP a 500 etaL.L-1 e 1.000 etaL.L-1 em caixas pl��sticas hermeticamente fechadas por 24 horas, a 25(0)C. Depois da aplica����o, estes frutos e os controle (sem tratamento) foram transferidos para ambiente a 21,6+0,9(0)C e 59,7% UR, onde foram mantidos por at�� nove dias, sendo amostrados a cada tr��s dias. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial (duas concentra����es de 1-MCP e o controle, com quatro per��odos de avalia����o). Foram utilizadas tr��s repeti����es com seis frutos por tratamento e per��odo de avalia����o. A respira����o dos frutos foi significativamente reduzida em 36,62% e 68,89%, quando se aplicaram 500 etaL.L-1 e 1.000 etaL.L-1 de 1-MCP em rela����o aos n��o-tratados, respectivamente. O uso do 1-MCP levou tamb��m �� melhor manuten����o da colora����o dos frutos, todavia o amadurecimento dos mesmos n��o foi significativamente retardado pelo uso deste produto.

A bovine model of a respiratory Parachlamydia acanthamoebae infection.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Parachlamydia (P.) acanthamoebae as a potential agent of lower respiratory tract disease in a bovine model of induced lung infection. Intrabronchial inoculation with P.��acanthamoebae was performed in healthy calves aged 2-3 months using two challenge doses: 10(8) and 10(10) bacteria per animal. Controls received 10(8) heat-inactivated bacteria. Challenge with 10(8) viable Parachlamydia resulted in a mild degree of general indisposition, whereas 10(10) bacteria induced a more severe respiratory illness becoming apparent 1-2 days post inoculation (dpi), affecting 9/9 (100%) animals and lasting for 6 days. The extent of macroscopic pulmonary lesions was as high as 6.6 (6.0)% [median (range)] of lung tissue at 2-4 dpi and correlated with parachlamydial genomic copy numbers detected by PCR, and with bacterial load estimated by immunohistochemistry in lung tissue. Clinical outcome, acute phase reactants, pathological findings and bacterial load exhibited an initial dose-dependent effect on severity. Animals fully recovered from clinical signs of respiratory disease within 5 days. The bovine lung was shown to be moderately susceptible to P.��acanthamoebae, exhibiting a transient pneumonic inflammation after intrabronchial challenge. Further studies are warranted to determine the precise pathophysiologic pathways of host-pathogen interaction.

Characterization and drying of caja bagasse (Spondias mombin L.) in a tray dryer using a factorial planning

The caja (Spondias mombin L.) is used in the manufacture of ice-cream, jams, pulps, beverages being also consumed in natura. One of the most important procedures in food conservation is drying, considering that most fresh fruits contain approximately 80% of water. Food drying is used to obtain two basic aspects: (1) the economic factor; in the shipping and handling of the product; (2) at the manipulation; once dried and grinded, the material is rehydrated, at desirable levels, to formulate a new product as in ice cream, jams, yoghurts and drinks and may also be added to pasta, biscuits and other industrialized products. The aim of this study was to investigate the kinetics of caja bagasse drying in a fixed-bed tray dryer, using central composite factorial planning. The following factors were evaluated: temperature (55, 65 and 75 ��C), dryer inlet air velocity (3.2, 4.6 and 6.0 m.s-1) and cake thickness (0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 cm) where the response of the considered variable was caja bagasse moisture content (b.s.) and the results showed that the main effects and their interactions were significant at a 95% confidence level being the best condition obtained at temperature of 75 ��C, velocity of 6.0 m.s-1 and cake thickness of 0.8 cm.

Assessment of subjective and hemodynamic tolerance of different high- and low-flux dialysis membranes in patients undergoing chronic intermittent hemodialysis: a randomized controlled trial.

Clinical experience and experimental data suggest that intradialytic hemodynamic profiles could be influenced by the characteristics of the dialysis membranes. Even within the worldwide used polysulfone family, intolerance to specific membranes was occasionally evoked. The aim of this study was to compare hemodynamically some of the commonly used polysulfone dialyzers in Switzerland. We performed an open-label, randomized, cross-over trial, including 25 hemodialysis patients. Four polysulfone dialyzers, A (Revaclear high-flux, Gambro, Stockholm, Sweden), B (Helixone high-flux, Fresenius), C (Xevonta high-flux, BBraun, Melsungen, Germany), and D (Helixone low-flux, Fresenius, Bad Homburg vor der H��he, Germany), were compared. The hemodynamic profile was assessed and patients were asked to provide tolerance feedback. The mean score (��SD) subjectively assigned to dialysis quality on a 1-10 scale was A 8.4&#8201;��&#8201;1.3, B 8.6&#8201;��&#8201;1.3, C 8.5&#8201;��&#8201;1.6, D 8.5&#8201;��&#8201;1.5. Kt/V was A 1.58&#8201;��&#8201;0.30, B 1.67&#8201;��&#8201;0.33, C 1.62&#8201;��&#8201;0.32, D 1.45&#8201;��&#8201;0.31. The low- compared with the high-flux membranes, correlated to higher systolic (128.1&#8201;��&#8201;13.1 vs. 125.6&#8201;��&#8201;12.1&#8201;mmHg, P&#8201;<&#8201;0.01) and diastolic (76.8&#8201;��&#8201;8.7 vs. 75.3&#8201;��&#8201;9.0&#8201;mmHg; P&#8201;<&#8201;0.05) pressures, higher peripheral resistance (1.44&#8201;��&#8201;0.19 vs. 1.40&#8201;��&#8201;0.18&#8201;s&#8201;��&#8201;mmHg/mL; P&#8201;<&#8201;0.05) and lower cardiac output (3.76&#8201;��&#8201;0.62 vs. 3.82&#8201;��&#8201;0.59&#8201;L/min; P&#8201;<&#8201;0.05). Hypotension events (decrease in systolic blood pressure by >20&#8201;mmHg) were 70 with A, 87 with B, 73 with C, and 75 with D (P&#8201;<&#8201;0.01 B vs. A, 0.05 B vs. C and 0.07 B vs. D). The low-flux membrane correlated to higher blood pressure levels compared with the high-flux ones. The Helixone high-flux membrane ensured the best efficiency. Unfortunately, the very same dialyzer correlated to a higher incidence of hypotensive episodes.