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pubmed_949_12447 | Modern obstetrics relies on a collection of drugs that affect the motility of the uterus either to stimulate or to suppress uterine contractions. Although a comprehensive, detailed understanding of how these drugs work does not yet exist, many, such as oxytocin, appear to work by altering cytosolic calcium levels in uterine smooth muscle cells. Other drugs, such as ritodrine, not only alter cytosolic calcium levels, but seem to inactivate myosin light chain kinase, a critical enzyme necessary for the initiation of uterine contractions. This report is intended to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding how these drugs affect the motility of the uterus. The delineation of the molecular mechanisms of action of these drugs is important because it provides the basis for their rational therapeutic use as well as for the design of new and better uterotrophic drugs. | 10.1016/s0091-2182(97)60134-2 |
pubmed_665_20149 | The c-Myc oncogenic transcription factor plays a central role in many human cancers through the regulation of gene expression. Although the molecular mechanisms by which c-Myc and its obligate partner, Max, regulate gene expression are becoming better defined, genes or transcriptomes that c-Myc regulate are just emerging from a variety of different experimental approaches. Studies of individual c-Myc target genes and their functional implications are now complemented by large surveys of c-Myc target genes through the use of subtraction cloning, DNA microarray analysis, serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), chromatin immunoprecipitation, and genome marking methods. To fully appreciate the differences between physiological c-Myc function in normal cells and deregulated c-Myc function in tumors, the challenge now is to determine how the authenticated transcriptomes effect the various phenotypes induced by c-Myc and to define how c-Myc transcriptomes are altered by the Mad family of proteins. | 10.1007/3-540-32952-8_6 |
pubmed_328_9444 | OBJECTIVE
Contingency management (CM) interventions that reinforce attendance have rarely been evaluated in terms of reducing drug use. Using a sequential randomized design, this study examined the efficacy of three attendance CM conditions compared to usual care (UC) on drug use outcomes. It evaluated whether the duration (6 vs. 12 weeks) and timing (early vs. later treatment) of CM delivery impact treatment response.
METHOD
Upon initiating outpatient treatment, patients with cocaine use disorders (N = 360) were randomized to UC or CM for attending treatment for 6 weeks. At week 6, patients (n = 308) were rerandomized to UC or CM for another 6 weeks, with assignment stratified on current functioning. Samples were screened for illicit drugs twice weekly for 12 weeks.
RESULTS
Patients randomized to CM at both time-points attended more sessions and achieved more abstinence than those never randomized to CM. Relative to UC, receiving attendance CM in weeks 1-6 only was not efficacious, but those receiving attendance CM in weeks 7-12 only evidenced some benefits compared to those who never received CM. Twelve weeks of attendance CM was more efficacious than 6 weeks. No between-groups differences in drug use were noted at follow-ups, but days attended treatment and proportion negative samples during treatment were associated with long-term cocaine abstinence.
CONCLUSIONS
Attendance-based CM increases treatment participation and reduces drug use, with beneficial effects noted when CM is delivered over longer durations and during later phases of outpatient care. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved). | 10.1037/ccp0000330 |
pubmed_776_6031 | The acute abdomen in childhood is in most cases caused by an acute appendicitis and rarely it is secondary to other diseases. It is for that reason, that we present two cases extremely rare of acute abdomen: the first one was an abdominal Actinomycosis secondary to acute appendicitis that looked like a tumor and the second that was an acute omentitis due to pinworms. | pubmed_776_6031 |
pubmed_135_19409 | With an upward trend in delaying parenthood, women across the world face an increasing risk of age-related infertility and involuntary childlessness. Elective oocyte banking strategies offer women the possibility to protect part of their reproductive potential until personal finances, personal relationship, or career have stabilized. Timely collection and cryopreservation of oocytes when they are most competent and chromosomal abnormality rates have not yet escalated are crucial for achieving high live births through in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at a later stage. To promote reproductive autonomy, women shall be informed about the decrease in fertility rates that sharply intensifies from the age of 35 years and the strategies available to maintain their reproductive potential. Together with this information, women should also recognize the limitations of available strategies including expected live birth rates, costs of the procedures, and overall approach performance, which is mainly associated with age at cryopreservation, number of oocytes banked, and age at accessing the banked oocytes. Evidence-based statistics are not yet available due to the relatively short period in which oocyte cryopreservation has been offered for elective purposes and the scarce number of patients returning for accessing their oocytes. However, to evaluate the applicability of fertility cryopreservation on a large scale, several theoretical models have been proposed to assess the expected efficacy and overall cost-effectiveness of different oocyte banking strategies. In this study, we review current oocyte cryopreservation methodologies, their applications, and outcomes. Moreover, we summarize current evidence regarding known parameters affecting oocyte banking efficacy. Finally, we discuss key points that could play a role in improving access to the service and optimization of oocyte banking frameworks. | 10.3389/frph.2021.704283 |
pubmed_835_12392 | AIMS
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition of organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated inflammation which predisposes patients to developing cardiovascular disease. The ketone β-hydroxybutyrate is reported to be cardioprotective in cardiovascular disease and this may be due to their signaling properties that contribute to reducing inflammation. While exogenous ketone esters (KE) increase blood ketone levels, it remains unknown whether KEs can reduce the enhanced inflammatory response and multi-organ dysfunction that is observed in sepsis. Thus, this study assesses whether a recently developed and clinically safe KE can effectively improve the inflammatory response and organ dysfunction in sepsis.
METHODS AND RESULTS
To assess the anti-inflammatory effects of a KE, we utilized a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis in which an enhanced inflammatory response results in multi-organ dysfunction. Oral administration of KE for three days prior to LPS-injection significantly protected mice against the profound systemic inflammation compared to their vehicle-treated counterparts. In assessing organ dysfunction, KE protected mice from sepsis-induced cardiac dysfunction as well as renal dysfunction and fibrosis. Furthermore, KE administration attenuated the sepsis-induced inflammation in the heart, kidney, and liver. Moreover, these protective effects occurred independent of changes to enzymes involved in ketone metabolism.
CONCLUSION
These data show that the use of an exogenous KE attenuates the dysregulated systemic and organ inflammation as well as organ dysfunction in a model of severe inflammation. We postulate that this exogenous KE is an appealing and promising approach to capitalize on the protective anti-inflammatory effects of ketones in sepsis and/or other inflammatory responses. | 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166507 |
pubmed_283_14888 | There are increasing numbers of mothers as well as fathers who engage in long-term migration to support their children and other family members in their home countries. In this article, the current state of the literature about children and adolescents left at home in these transnational families is surveyed and reviewed. The article reviews the effects on children of the process of separation from parents, the impact of gifts and remittances home, communication with distant parents and the quality of life with their substitute caregivers. The effects of immigration in late childhood or adolescence on these separated children are examined, as well as what is known about the processes of adaptation and family reunification, including migration traumas, impact of gender, and educational outcomes. Suggestions are given for pediatric clinicians working with reunifying families. Gaps in the literature are highlighted and the need for research into factors that promote successful family re-engagement and overall adaptation upon reunification. | pubmed_283_14888 |
pubmed_23_18640 | The neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) are well-established. The signal cascade mediating these effects includes steps that are likely to influence also the electrical properties of neurones. However, the possibility that FGF-2 may acutely affect the processing of neuronal impulse activity is largely unexplored. In the present study the impulse activity of single dorsal horn neurones was recorded in the rat during ionophoretical administration of FGF-2 close to the neurones. Before and during FGF-2 ionophoresis the receptive field of each cell was tested with defined mechanical stimuli. At a concentration of 10 nM in the ionophoresis pipette, FGF-2 reduced the responses of the cells to mechanical stimulation. There was no preferential action of FGF-2 on a particular functional type of dorsal horn neurone; both non-nociceptive and nociceptive cells exhibited a reduced mechanical responsiveness. The background (ongoing) activity was also depressed in most neurones. The results of the study show that in addition to neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions FGF-2 has an acute inhibitory influence on the impulse activity of spinal sensory neurones. This depression of neuronal activity could add to the neuroprotective action of FGF-2 by counteracting glutamate excitotoxicity following a central nervous trauma. | 10.1016/s0168-0102(01)00217-6 |
pubmed_273_3643 | The American horseshoe crab, Limulus Polyphemus is one of the oldest creatures on earth, and the animal continues to play an indispensable role in biomedical research. Not only does their blood contain special cells that scientists use to detect bacteriotoxins in our medicines, but their eyes also contain a neural network that has provided much insight about physiological processes operating in our visual system, such as light adaptation and lateral inhibition. The horseshoe crab remains an attractive model for vision research because the animal is large and hardy for an invertebrate, its retinal neurons are big and easily accessible, its visual system is compact and extensively studied, and its visual behavior is well defined. Moreover, the structure and function of the eyes are modulated on a daily basis by a circadian clock in the animal s brain. In short, the visual system of horseshoe crabs is simple enough to be understood yet complex enough to be interesting. In this video we present three electrophysiological paradigms for investigating the neural basis of vision that can be performed in vivo with Limulus. They are electroretinogram recording, optic nerve recording, and intraretinal recording. Electroretinogram (ERG) recordings measure with a surface electrode the summed electrical response of all cells in the eye to a flash of light. They can be used to monitor the overall sensitivity of the eye for prolong periods of time. Optic nerve recordings measure the spiking activity of single nerve fibers with an extracellular microsuction electrode. They can be used to study visual messages conveyed from the eye to the brain as well as circadian-clock messages fed back from the brain to the eye. Intraretinal recordings measure with an intracellular microelectrode the voltage fluctuations induced by light in individual cells of the eye. They can be used to elucidate cellular mechanisms of retinal processing. | pubmed_273_3643 |
pubmed_187_2715 | A phase II study of combination paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ)/gemcitabine was conducted in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had failed first-line docetaxel- or cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Eligibility criteria included histologically confirmed measurable stage IIIB or IV NSCLC and previous exposure to docetaxel- or cisplatin-based regimens, World Health Organization performance status between 0 and 2, adequate hematologic parameters, and adequate hepatic, renal, and cardiac function. Gemcitabine (900 mg/m2) was given on days 1 and 8 as a 30-minute infusion; paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) was administered on day 8 as a 3-hour infusion after appropriate premedication. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (150 microg/m2 subcutaneously) was given on days 9 to 15. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks until patients experienced disease progression. From October 1995 to December 1996, 26 patients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled (three stage IIIB, 23 stage IV). All 26 patients were assessable for toxicity, and 24 were evaluable for response. Two complete (8%) and five partial (21%) responses were observed, for an overall response rate of 29% (95% confidence interval, 11% to 47%). The median duration of response was 2.5 months and the median survival was 8 months. A median of three courses per patient was administered, and the median interval between courses was 21 days. The median delivered dose was 579 mg/m2/wk gemcitabine and 54.5 mg/m2/wk paclitaxel, corresponding to a relative dose intensity of 0.97 and 0.96, respectively. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in two patients (8%). Grade 3 conjunctivitis occurred in one (4%) patient and grade 2/3 neurotoxicity in eight (31%) patients. Grade 3/4 and grade 2 fatigue occurred in four (15%) and eight (31%) patients, respectively. Other toxicities were mild to moderate. These preliminary results suggest that the paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination is an active and well-tolerated salvage regimen in patients with NSCLC previously treated with docetaxel- or cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination merits further evaluation as first-line treatment. | pubmed_187_2715 |
pubmed_692_22370 | Higher childhood cancer incidence rates are generally reported for high income countries although high quality information on descriptive patterns of childhood cancer incidence for low or middle income countries is limited, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. There is a need to quantify global differences by cancer types, and to investigate whether they reflect true incidence differences or can be attributed to under-diagnosis or under-reporting. For the first time, we describe childhood cancer data reported to the pathology report-based National Cancer Registry of South Africa in 2000-2006 and compare our results to incidence data from Germany, a high income country. The overall age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) for South Africa in 2000-2006 was 45.7 per million children. We observed substantial differences by cancer types within South Africa by racial group; ASRs tended to be 3-4-fold higher in South African Whites compared to Blacks. ASRs among both Black and White South Africans were generally lower than those from Germany with the greatest differences observed between the Black population in South Africa and Germany, although there was marked variation between cancer types. Age-specific rates were particularly low comparing South African Whites and Blacks with German infants. Overall, patterns across South African population groups and in comparison to Germans were similar for boys and girls. Genetic and environmental reasons may probably explain rather a small proportion of the observed differences. More research is needed to understand the extent to which under-ascertainment and under-diagnosis of childhood cancers drives differences in observed rates. | 10.1002/ijc.29308 |
pubmed_733_16606 | OBJECTIVES
To examine error-related negativity (ERN) and correct response negativity (CRN) in schizophrenia in light of two previous conflicting reports, and to determine their relation to disorganization, psychomotor poverty and reality distortion.
METHODS
Event-related potentials were recorded from 21 schizophrenic and 21 control participants who performed a simple go/no-go task. Response-locked potentials were computed for errors of commission and for correct-hits. Scores for reality distortion syndrome, psychomotor poverty syndrome and disorganization syndrome were determined for each schizophrenic participant using the Signs and Symptoms of Psychotic Illness (SSPI) scale.
RESULTS
ERN produced during error trials and CRN produced during correct trials were significantly larger in the control participant group than in the schizophrenic participant group. In the schizophrenic patients, ERN amplitude was negatively correlated with psychomotor poverty syndrome score and CRN amplitude was negatively correlated with disorganization syndrome score.
CONCLUSIONS
Decreased ERN and CRN in the schizophrenic participant group suggests abnormal internal behavior monitoring in schizophrenic patients. Patients with high disorganization symptoms may employ an abnormal strategy for comparing actual response outcome with desired response outcome, while patients with psychomotor poverty may be less emotionally responsive to errors. | 10.1016/s1388-2457(02)00154-2 |
pubmed_347_24903 | We report a unique and previously unreported case of motor paralysis of the posterior interosseous nerve of rapid onset in a context of hypertrophy of the short supinator muscle, occurring 2 years after a distal rupture of the biceps in a 62 year-old man. The ruptured tendon had received functional treatment due to the patient's age and low functional requirements. Operatively, the deep branch of the radial nerve was released within the arcade of Frohse with complete recovery from symptoms at 5 months. The unrepaired rupture of the distal portion of the biceps could be a risk factor for posterior interosseous nerve compression in active subjects. | pubmed_347_24903 |
pubmed_744_7477 | Until now, the feet position effect on orthostatic posture has been investigated only in male or mixed sample groups. However, literature reports gender differences on orthostatic equilibrium. In order to study the effect of feet position on females and to complete the previous works, we tested a homogenous female sample group with 16 feet positions. Most of our results are in agreement with those already observed in male or mixed sample groups. The increase of the base of support induces an improvement of the orthostatic balance mainly on the medio-lateral axis. The stabilizing effect of the inner feet distance increase is more important than the one of the angle. We also noticed that the mean center of pressure position is located on the subjects' right side. | 10.1016/j.neulet.2004.04.062 |
pubmed_518_5046 | PURPOSE
We examined the cardiovascular health profiles of benefit-eligible hospital employees who participated in an incentive screen program for 4 years. We also determined if cardiovascular health changes differed between participants (CHAP) who enrolled in structured follow-up risk reduction programs (CHAPplus) compared with those who chose less formal options (CHAPonly).
METHODS
CHAP consisted of cardiovascular screens, results counseling, and encouragement to participate in education and behavioral support programs. After adjusting for gender, medication use, and baseline levels of adiposity and physical activity, cardiovascular health changes were tested with repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) among CHAP participants and by CHAP type.
RESULTS
CHAP 4-year members (n = 278) were generally healthy and mostly women (87%) with an average age of 40.6 +/- .5 years at baseline. Despite increases in overall (p = .034) and central adiposity (p = .001), cardiovascular health improvements were found for the total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio (TCHOL/HDL; p = .007), low-density lipoprotein (p = .009), and blood glucose (p = .018) among 4-year CHAP members. CHAPonly employees showed greater improvements in most cardiovascular health indicators than CHAPplus participants, although these differences did not achieve statistical significance.
DISCUSSION
Cardiovascular health improvements were associated with long-term participation in a hospital worksite incentive screen program. The cardiovascular health benefits tended to be greatest for CHAP employees who chose informal follow-up risk reduction options (CHAPonly) than those who enrolled in structured programs (CHAPplus). | 10.4278/0890-1171-16.1.16 |
pubmed_714_4519 | Adverse responses to protamine sulfate have been identified for many years. The antigen-antibody response to protamine sulfate results in a type I anaphylactic reaction. Manifestations of allergic reactions include hypotension, bronchospasm, and skin and mucous membrane reactions. The severity of the adverse responses may vary from mild to causing death. Several potential risk factors for adverse reactions to protamine have been identified, including insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, vasectomy, allergy to fish, prior exposure to protamine sulfate, and the rate of infusion. A case study is presented, and strategies for improving patient outcomes are discussed. | 10.1016/s0147-9563(99)70031-2 |
pubmed_167_8986 | Patchy nanoparticles (PNPs) have received increased attention since they serve as a new type of self-assembly unit. However, the precise synthesis of PNPs with target patch numbers and their spatial distribution on a nanoparticle (NP) surface are still a formidable challenge. A recent experimental study [R. M. Choueiri et al., Nature, 2016, 538, 79] has demonstrated that following a change in the solvent quality, the collapse and thermodynamically driven segregation of the grafted homopolymer (HP) chains on the NP surface can lead to the formation of surface-pinned micelles, and therefore, PNPs. In this study, by using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that the collapse of the grafted diblock copolymer (DBC) chains on the NP surface can also lead to the formation of PNPs, but in a more controllable manner with target patch numbers and symmetric surface distribution. In addition, our studies have shown that PNPs formed from the collapse of surface-grafted DBC chains are superior to those formed from the collapse of HP chains. We have shown that the use of DBC can generate more spherical patches than that using HP. More importantly, grafting DBC chains on the NP surface offers a larger adjustable parameter space due to their distinct properties, tunable volume fractions of the two blocks, and the different interaction types with the NP surface. In addition, solvent-phobicity and the sequence of collapsing of each block can also be utilized to control the formation pathway of the PNP structures. | 10.1039/c8cp06699j |
pubmed_1044_8068 | We report the Sabella spallanzanii mucus bacterial agglutination response after inorganic arsenic (As) exposure. As is actively adsorbed from the surrounding environment and accumulated at high concentrations in tissues as an anti-predatory strategy. Here we investigated the effect of high As concentrations on its immunobiological response. It may act on mucus lectins and on its ability to agglutinate bacteria. We concluded that As at high concentrations leads to the inhibition of pathogen recognition. Nevertheless, although its biological activity is significant reduced in winter, responses to As concentrations are very similar, and below a certain threshold do not induce alterations, supporting the hypothesis of adaptation to high As concentrations related to involvement in predation defence. | 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113833 |
pubmed_228_17567 | We consider a four-terminal setup of a two-dimensional topological insulator (quantum spin Hall insulator) with local tunneling between the upper and lower edges. The edge modes are modeled as helical Luttinger liquids and the electron-electron interactions are taken into account exactly. Using perturbation theory in the tunneling, we derive the cumulant generating function for the interedge current. We show that different possible transport channels give rise to different signatures in the current noise and current cross correlations, which could be exploited in experiments to elucidate the interplay between electron-electron interactions and the helical nature of the edge states. | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.096602 |
pubmed_1113_24367 | PURPOSE
To assess the spectrum and reversibility of the cardiotoxicity observed in the adjuvant trastuzumab trials.
DESIGN
The design and efficacy of the major adjuvant trastuzumab trials was assessed, including the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B-31, North Central Cancer Treatment Group N9831, Herceptin Adjuvant, Breast Cancer International Research Group 006, and Finland Herceptin trials. The cardiotoxicity data were evaluated with a focus on the follow-up cardiac evaluations of women who were diagnosed with cardiotoxicity. Proposed mechanisms of trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity were considered. The natural history of congestive heart failure (CHF) was reviewed with the goal of placing the trastuzumab experience in context.
RESULTS
Up to 4% of patients enrolled onto the adjuvant trastuzumab trials experienced severe CHF during treatment. In these trials, early stopping rules that identified an unacceptable level of cardiotoxicity were never reached. Despite this, a large number of patients on these trials experienced some form of cardiotoxicity that ultimately required discontinuation of trastuzumab. Approximately 14% of patients in the NSABP B-31 trial discontinued trastuzumab because of asymptomatic decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results of follow-up cardiac evaluations of patients diagnosed with any degree of cardiotoxicity in the NSABP B-31 trial document that a clinically significant proportion of patients have sustained decrements in their LVEF to less than 50%.
CONCLUSION
Adjuvant trastuzumab provides substantial benefits to patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer, however, competing immediate and long-term cardiovascular risks are a great concern. Continued cardiac follow-up of these women is of critical importance. | 10.1200/JCO.2007.11.0106 |
pubmed_522_11775 | The product of the intronless single copy gene RSC1A1, named RS1, is an intracellular 617-amino-acid protein that is involved in the regulation of the Na(+)-d-glucose cotransporter SGLT1. We generated and characterized RS1 knockout (RS1(-/-) mice. In the small intestines of RS1(-/-) mice, the SGLT1 protein was up-regulated sevenfold compared to that of wild-type mice but was not changed in the kidneys. The up-regulation of SGLT1 was posttranscriptional. Small intestinal d-glucose uptake measured in jointly perfused small bowel and liver was increased twofold compared to that of the wild-type, with increased peak concentrations of d-glucose in the portal vein. At birth, the weights of RS1(-/-) and wild-type mice were similar. At the age of 3 months, male RS1(-/-) mice had 5% higher weights and 15% higher food intakes, whereas their energy expenditures and serum leptin concentrations were similar to those of wild-type mice. At the age of 5 months, male and female RS1(-/-) mice were obese, with 30% increased body weight, 80% increased total fat, and 30% increased serum cholesterol. At this age, serum leptin was increased, whereas food intake was the same as for wild-type mice. The data suggest that the removal of RS1 leads to leptin-independent up-regulation of food intake, which causes obesity. | 10.1128/MCB.25.1.78-87.2005 |
pubmed_164_15120 | BACKGROUND
The genetic make-up of humans and other mammals (such as mice) affects their resistance to influenza virus infection. Considering the complexity and moral issues associated with experiments on human subjects, we have only acquired partial knowledge regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms. Although influenza resistance in inbred mice has been mapped to several quantitative trait loci (QTLs), which have greatly narrowed down the search for host resistance genes, only few underlying genes have been identified.
RESULTS
To prioritize a list of promising candidates for future functional investigation, we applied network-based approaches to leverage the information of known resistance genes and the expression profiles contrasting susceptible and resistant mouse strains. The significance of top-ranked genes was supported by different lines of evidence from independent genetic associations, QTL studies, RNA interference (RNAi) screenings, and gene expression analysis. Further data mining on the prioritized genes revealed the functions of two pathways mediated by tumor necrosis factor (TNF): apoptosis and TNF receptor-2 signaling pathways. We suggested that the delicate balance between TNF's pro-survival and apoptotic effects may affect hosts' conditions after influenza virus infection.
CONCLUSIONS
This study considerably cuts down the list of candidate genes responsible for host resistance to influenza and proposed novel pathways and mechanisms. Our study also demonstrated the efficacy of network-based methods in prioritizing genes for complex traits. | 10.1186/1471-2164-14-816 |
pubmed_103_17056 | OBJECTIVE
To compare clinical outcomes of cataract surgery in eyes with and without pseudoexfoliation (PXF).
DESIGN
Retrospective deidentified data analysis.
PARTICIPANTS
A total of 123 PXF and 4776 non-PXF eyes of patients who underwent cataract surgery.
METHODS
We compared data on visual acuity, Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ)-based quality of life, and complications in PXF and non-PXF eyes from the Veterans Affairs (VA) Ophthalmic Surgery Outcomes Data Project across 5 VA medical centres.
RESULTS
Pupillary expansion devices were used in 31 (25.2%) PXF cases and 398 (8.4%) non-PXF cases (p < 0.0001). Capsular tension rings were used in 6 (4.9%) PXF cases and 55 (1.2%) non-PXF cases (p < 0.004). The following complications occurred more frequently in PXF cases: zonular dehiscence without vitrectomy (4 [3.3%] PXF cases vs 40 [0.8%] non-PXF cases p = 0.02), persistent inflammation (28 [24.1%] vs 668 [14.5%]; p = 0.007), and persistent intraocular pressure elevation (5 [4.3%] vs 68 [1.5%]; p = 0.03). Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved in both groups after 1 month, but 87 (83.7%) PXF cases achieved postoperative BCVA better than or equal to 20/40 compared to 3991 (93.8%) non-PXF cases (p = 0.0003). There was no significant difference in the postoperative composite VFQ scores between PXF (82.1 ± 16.9) and non-PXF cases (84.2 ± 16.8, p = 0.09).
CONCLUSIONS
Several complications occurred more frequently in the PXF group compared to the non-PXF group, and fewer PXF cases achieved BCVA better than or equal to 20/40. Despite this, both groups experienced similar improvement in vision-related quality of life after cataract surgery. | 10.1016/j.jcjo.2016.07.019 |
pubmed_592_4507 | The pathophysiologic features and clinical manifestations of HCM have been elucidated by the introduction of several new diagnostic options. Knowledge of the molecular defects of HCM has advanced rapidly, and genetic screening studies have reemphasized the value of the standard electrocardiogram as an initial screening tool. Analysis of heart rate variability, late potentials, and QT dispersion were not found to be reliable prognostic markers in HCM. However, measurement of dispersion of conduction is probably a sensitive technique in identifying a high risk for sudden cardiac death. Significant developments include transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and their role in studying the mitral valve, early detection of left ventricular chamber dilatation, analysis of coronary flow, and intraoperative echocardiography. Finally, advances in the application of magnetic resonance imaging and positron-emission tomography are underway. | 10.1016/s0002-8703(96)90018-6 |
pubmed_948_7338 | In rabbits, skin wounds were expanded by inflation of a subcutaneously implanted tissue expander in order to study the effect of mechanical stress on wound healing. Biomechanical and histomorphological properties of both expanded and non-expanded control wounds were evaluated. Expanded wounds demonstrated a significant increase in maximum load (80%) and energy absorption at maximum load (95%), when compared to non-expanded control wounds. Histomorphologically, the expanded wounds were stretched in comparison to the control wounds. The collagen in expanded wounds showed an orientation parallel to the direction of force, and displayed a more organised configuration. It is concluded that the use of tissue expanders permits the standardisation of the mechanical stress applied to experimental skin wounds. It is found that mechanical stress accelerates wound healing by producing stronger and more organised scars, however, at the expense of scar stretching. | 10.1016/0007-1226(91)90008-8 |
pubmed_893_13815 | A series of cis-dioxorhenium(V) complexes containing chiral tetradentate N4 ligands, including cis-[ReV(O)2(pyxn)]+ (1; pyxn = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine), cis-[ReV(O)2(6-Me2pyxn)]+ (cis-2), cis-[ReV(O)2(R,R-pdp)]+ (3; R,R-pdp = 1,1'-bis((R,R)-2-pyridinylmethyl)-2,2'-bipyrrolidine), cis-[ReV(O)2(R,R-6-Me2pdp)]+ (4), and cis-[ReV(O)2(bqcn)]+ (5; bqcn = N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-di(quinolin-8-yl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine), were synthesized. Their structures were established by X-ray crystallography, showing Re-O distances in the range of 1.740(3)-1.769(8) Å and O-Re-O angles of 121.4(2)-124.8(4)°. Their cyclic voltammograms in MeCN (0.1 M [NBu4]PF6) display a reversible ReVI/V couple at E1/2 = 0.39-0.49 V vs SCE. In aqueous media, three proton-coupled electron transfer reactions corresponding to ReVI/V, ReV/III, and ReIII/II couples were observed at pH 1. The Pourbaix diagrams of 1·OTf, 3·OTf, and 5·OTf have been examined. The electronic absorption spectra of the cis-dioxorhenium(V) complexes show three absorption bands at around 800 nm (600-1730 dm3 mol-1 cm-1), 580 nm (1700-5580 dm3 mol-1 cm-1), and 462-523 nm (3170-6000 dm3 mol-1 cm-1). Reaction of 1 with Lewis acids (or protic acids) gave cis-[ReV(O)(OH)(pyxn)]2+ (1·H+), in which the Re-O distances are lengthened to 1.788(5) Å. Complex cis-2 resulted from isomerization of trans-2 at elevated temperature. cis-[ReVI(O)2(pyxn)](PF6)2 (1'·(PF6)2) was obtained by constant-potential electrolysis of 1·PF6 in MeCN (0.1 M [NBu4]PF6) at 0.56 V vs SCE; it displays shorter Re-O distances (1.722(4), 1.726(4) Å) and a smaller O-Re-O angle (114.88(18)°) relative to 1 and shows a d-d transition absorption band at 591 nm (ε = 77 dm3 mol-1 cm-1). With a driving force of ca. 75 kcal mol-1, 1' oxidizes hydrocarbons with weak C-H bonds (75.5-76.3 kcal mol-1) via hydrogen atom abstraction. DFT and TDDFT calculations on the electronic structures and spectroscopic properties of the cis-dioxorhenium(V/VI) complexes were performed. | 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b02404 |
pubmed_549_2928 | INTRODUCTION
The UK National training programme (NEWSTART) for SLNB in breast cancer was established in 2004, aimed at providing structured, standardised training with a focus on multidisciplinary team (MDT) delivery.
METHODOLOGY
A questionnaire was devised and after approval by the Association of Breast Surgeons (ABS) executive committee they were sent to all full members of the ABS.
RESULTS
Most (97%) of breast surgeons are convinced by the evidence for SLNB as standard of care for early breast cancer. 64% use SLNB to stage clinically node negative patients, of whom 23% use it as a standalone procedure. 38% of surgeons were dissatisfied with the time it takes to complete the in house training, and 87% with the time it takes to complete the validation phase. Logistical and funding issues were the main problems cited. The majority of surgeons (86%) use the recommended combined technique, with 47% continuing to use the dual localisation method. 14% use either blue dye or isotope alone, without scintiscan. Only 10% offer intra operative diagnosis, of which the majority (6%) use touch imprint cytology. 31% included their results in their most recent surgical appraisal.
CONCLUSIONS
The majority of breast surgeons in the UK are convinced by the evidence for SLNB, and most use SLNB in their practice for staging. Reasons for not conducting SLNB are logistical rather than lack of belief in the procedure. The majority of respondents completed their training within the anticipated time line. The majority of centres do not perform intra-operative assessment. | 10.1016/j.ejso.2009.10.012 |
pubmed_955_9811 | Cyclosporin A pharmacokinetics were studied following intravenous and abomasal dosing in an open, crossover study in healthy, merino ewes. Five different doses of cyclosporin A were dispersed in milk and administered into the abomasum through a surgically inserted fistula which simulates oral administration. Cyclosporin A was well tolerated. Whole blood concentrations of cyclosporin A were measured by HPLC and mean clearance (0.45 +/- 0.05 L h-1 kg-1), distribution volume (4.4 +/- 2.0 L kg-1), mean residence time (9.6 +/- 4.1 h) and half-life (12.1 +/- 3.1 h) were calculated cyclosporin A was excreted in urine or bile. Area under the curve increased proportionally with doses up to 26.3 mg kg-1, but was curvilinear above this dose. Abomasal bioavailability at 6.4 mg kg-1 was 0.26 +/- 0.09, and mean absorption time was 4.7 +/- 11.1 h. Considerable pharmacokinetic variability was observed, particularly after abomasal administration. Cyclosporin A pharmacokinetics in sheep lie within the values reported in man after renal, bone marrow and cardiac transplantation. | 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1993.tb05693.x |
pubmed_365_20823 | The contents of free and hydrolytic cinnamic acid in storax and its original plant (Liquidambar orientalis) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography, and the chromatographic behaviors were studied. In styrax gummi, the contents of free and hydrolytic cinnamic acid were 7.03% and 25.26% respectively; and in its original plant, they were 0.3% evenly. | pubmed_365_20823 |
pubmed_970_12385 | Data concerning the prevalence of developmental enamel defects and their association with dental caries in individuals with intellectual disability are scarce. This paper aims to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of developmental enamel defects and dental caries in the permanent dentition of special-care school children from Poznan (Poland). Out of 1091 students attending all special-care schools in the city, the study covered 268 subjects with intellectual disability (mild, moderate, severe, and profound) with permanent dentition, aged 10-20. One calibrated dentist performed dental examinations. The Statistica Software v10 was used for statistical analysis, assuming the level of statistical significance p ≤ 0.05. Among the subjects of the study, 19.40% presented developmental enamel defects. The number of teeth with changes ranged from 1 to 28, with maxillary incisors most frequently affected. Students without developmental enamel defects had more teeth observed with active caries compared to those with such changes (10.92% vs. 7.82%, p < 0.01). The highest number of students with developmental defects of enamel was observed in the group of individuals with mild intellectual disabilities. The present study revealed that in special-care students from Poznan, enamel defects and dental caries were frequently observed. However, individuals with developmental enamel defects did not show higher dental caries indices. | 10.3390/jcm9041031 |
pubmed_291_24569 | BACKGROUND
Cellular interactions between thymocytes and thymic stromal cells are critical for normal T cell development. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are important stromal niche cells that provide essential growth factors, cytokines, and present self-antigens to developing thymocytes. The identification of genes that mediate cellular crosstalk in the thymus is ongoing. One candidate gene, Adam17, encodes a metalloprotease that functions by cleaving the ectodomain of several transmembrane proteins and regulates various developmental processes. In conventional Adam17 knockout mice, a non-cell autonomous role for ADAM17 in adult T cell development was reported, which strongly suggested that expression of ADAM17 in TECs was required for normal T cell development. However, knockdown of Adam17 results in multisystem developmental defects and perinatal lethality, which has made study of the role of Adam17 in specific cell types difficult. Here, we examined T cell and thymic epithelial cell development using a conditional knockout approach.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
We generated an Adam17 conditional knockout mouse in which floxed Adam17 is deleted specifically in TECs by Cre recombinase under the control of the Foxn1 promoter. Normal T cell lineage choice and development through the canonical αβ T cell stages was observed. Interestingly, Adam17 deficiency in TECs resulted in reduced expression of the transcription factor Aire. However, no alterations in the patterns of TEC phenotypic marker expression and thymus morphology were noted.
CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE
In contrast to expectation, our data clearly shows that absence of Adam17 in TECs is dispensable for normal T cell development. Differentiation of TECs is also unaffected by loss of Adam17 based on phenotypic markers. Surprisingly, we have uncovered a novel genetic link between Adam17and Aire expression in vivo. The cell type in which ADAM17 mediates its non-cell autonomous impact and the mechanisms by which it regulates intrathymic T cell development remain to be identified. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0013528 |
pubmed_882_9745 | INTRODUCTION
Podcasting has recently emerged as an important information technology tool for health professionals. Podcasts can be viewed online or downloaded to a user computer or a handheld multimedia device like a portable MP3 player, smart phone and tablet device. The principal advantage of the podcast is that the presentation of information need not be linked with any particular time or location. Since students are familiar with newer technology tools and may be using it on a regular basis, video podcast could serve as a convenient tool for students to help remember both conceptual and factual information.
AIM
The purpose of this study was to assess the attitude of first year dental students towards video podcast supplementation and to assess the efficacy of video podcast as a teaching aid in comparison to text book reading.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
First year dental students were recruited for this study. A didactic lecture class was conducted for the students (n=100). The students were then randomly divided into two groups. Students present in group A (n=46) underwent a video podcast session followed by a multiple choice question test. This was followed by student feedback to assess the usefulness of video podcast. Students belonging to group B (n=54) had a study session for 20 minutes followed by the MCQ test. Students then underwent the video podcast session followed by feedback to assess the utility of video podcast. Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the difference in the median MCQ score between the two groups.
RESULTS
The findings revealed a significant gain in the median MCQ score in the intervention group (group A) when compared to control group (Group B). In the feedback form, 89% of students agreed that the video podcast might be useful as it would enable them to view slides and hear the lectures repeatedly.
CONCLUSION
Students who underwent the video podcast session performed significantly better in the MCQ test compared to students who underwent text book reading alone. This demonstrates an advantage of video podcasts over text book reading. Majority of students accepted the benefits of video podcast supplementation. | 10.7860/JCDR/2015/14428.6944 |
pubmed_159_14332 | STUDY DESIGN
Case series.
BACKGROUND
Changes in the number of muscle synergies (MSs) and in the weighting of muscles composing each MS are typically altered following an incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Wearable robotic exoskeletons (WRE) represent a promising rehabilitation option, though the effects of various WRE control modes on MSs still remain unknown.
OBJECTIVE
This case series characterizes how WRE control modes affect the number of MSs and the weighting of muscles composing each MS in individuals with iSCI.
SETTING
Pathokinesioly laboratory of a rehabilitation research center.
METHODS
Three participants with a chronic iSCI walked at a self-selected comfortable speed without and with a WRE set in two trajectory-controlled (Total Assistance, TOT; Assistance-as-Needed, ADAPT) and three non-trajectory controlled modes (High Assistance, HASSIST; High Resistance, HRESIST; NEUTRAL). Surface EMG of eight lower extremity (L/E) muscles was recorded and used to extract MSs using a nonnegative matrix factorization algorithm. Cosine similarity and weighting relative differences characterized similarities in MSs between individuals with iSCI and able-bodied controls.
RESULTS
The mode providing movement assistance within a self-selected L/E trajectory (HASSIST) best replicated MSs in able-bodied controls during overground walking. MSs extracted with the trajectory-controlled modes differed to the greatest extent from able-bodied group MSs.
CONCLUSIONS
Most WRE control modes did not replicate the motor control required for typical L/E muscle coordination during stereotypical overground walking. These results highlight the need to gain a better understanding of the effects of various control modes on L/E motor control for rehabilitation professionals to incorporate research evidence when selecting WRE control mode(s) during WRE locomotor interventions. | 10.1038/s41394-020-0269-6 |
pubmed_877_19746 | Motivation
The biological relevance of chimeric RNA alignments is now well established. Chimera arising as chromosomal fusions are often drivers of cancer and recently discovered circular RNA (circRNA) are only now being characterized. While software already exists for fusion discovery and quantitation, high false positive rates and high run-times hamper scalable fusion discovery on large datasets. Furthermore, software available for circRNA detection and quantification is limited.
Results
Here, we present STAR Chimeric Post (STARChip), a novel software package that processes chimeric alignments from the STAR aligner and produces annotated circRNA and high precision fusions in a rapid, efficient and scalable manner that is appropriate for high dimensional medical omics datasets.
Availability and implementation
STARChip is available at https://github.com/LosicLab/STARChip.
Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. | 10.1093/bioinformatics/bty091 |
pubmed_1100_670 | The very-long-term follow-up of patients initially included in the PVSG protocols provides useful information. The excess risk of cancer after chlorambucil appears to persist for 5 years after stopping this treatment. The risk of leukaemia induced by marrow suppression (32P or chemotherapy) was marked before the 10th year, but low thereafter. Phlebotomy is unacceptable as permanent treatment because of the poor clinical tolerance and the frequency of vascular complications. This treatment is also associated with a risk of early progression towards myelofibrosis with myeloid splenomegaly. In the very long term, 15 years or more after the diagnosis, this complication is the major clinical risk, affecting almost 50% of our patients surviving at this time. The prevention of this type of complication could constitute one of the objectives of future protocols dealing with this disease. | 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1994.tb03289.x |
pubmed_359_11090 | Robust dental systems obtained by computer-aided design and manufacture (CAD/CAM) have been introduced and, in parallel, the strength of the ceramic materials used in fabricating dental crowns has improved. Yet all-ceramic crowns suffer from near-surface damage, limiting their clinical success, especially on posterior teeth. Factors directly associated with CAD/CAM fabrication that contribute to the degree of damage include material selection and machining parameters and strategies. However, a number of additional factors also either create new damage modes or exacerbate subcritical damage, potentially leading to catastrophic failure of the crown. Such factors include post-fabrication manipulations in the laboratory or by the clinician, fatigue associated with natural occlusal function, and stress fields created by compliance or distortion within the supporting tooth structure and/or adhesive material holding the crown to the tooth. Any damage reduces the strength of a crown, increasing the probability of catastrophic failure. The challenge is to understand and manage the combination of competing damage initiation sites and mechanisms, limitations imposed by the demand for aesthetics, and biologically related constraints. | 10.1243/095441105X9363 |
pubmed_542_4798 | We studied the effects of shakuyaku-kanzo-toh (a Chinese herbal medicine) and its components on testosterone production by rat gonads. We used paeoniflorin as a main component of shakuyaku (paeoniae radix), glycyrrhizin as a main component of kanzo (glycyrrhizae radix) and glycyrrhetinic acid as a main metabolite of glycyrrhizin. Oral administration of shakuyaku-kanzo-toh, glycyrrhizin, and glycyrrhetinic acid decreased in vitro basal testosterone production in Leydig cells by LH stimulation. Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid caused a significant decrease in testosterone production with an accumulation of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone when incubated with isolated Leydig cells, while paeoniflorin showed no such effect. The inhibitory effect of glycyrrhetinic acid was far more potent than that of glycyrrhizin, causing about 90% inhibition at 10 micrograms/ml. Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid did not change the cyclic AMP or progesterone level in the Leydig cells. When 14C-labeled androstenedione was incubated with microsomal fraction of testicular or ovarian tissue, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid inhibited the conversion of androstenedione to testosterone, indicating that these compounds inhibit the activity of 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (EC. 1.1.1.64). The ED50 of glycyrrhetinic acid was about 4 microM. | 10.1507/endocrj1954.35.333 |
pubmed_1108_14952 | A quantitative, voxel-wise meta-analysis was performed to investigate the cortical control of water and saliva swallowing. Studies that were included in the meta-analysis (1) examined water swallowing, saliva swallowing, or both, and (2) reported brain activation as coordinates in standard space. Using these criteria, a systematic literature search identified seven studies that examined water swallowing and five studies of saliva swallowing. An activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis of these studies was performed with GingerALE. For water swallowing, clusters with high activation likelihood were found in the bilateral sensorimotor cortex, right inferior parietal lobule, and right anterior insula. For saliva swallowing, clusters with high activation likelihood were found in the left sensorimotor cortex, right motor cortex, and bilateral cingulate gyrus. A between-condition meta-analysis revealed clusters with higher activation likelihood for water than for saliva swallowing in the right inferior parietal lobule, right postcentral gyrus, and right anterior insula. Clusters with higher activation likelihood for saliva than for water swallowing were found in the bilateral supplementary motor area, bilateral anterior cingulate gyrus, and bilateral precentral gyrus. This meta-analysis emphasizes the distributed and partly overlapping cortical networks involved in the control of water and saliva swallowing. Water swallowing is associated with right inferior parietal activation, likely reflecting the sensory processing of intraoral water stimulation. Saliva swallowing more strongly involves premotor areas, which are crucial for the initiation and control of movements. | 10.1002/hbm.20680 |
pubmed_60_2342 | BACKGROUND
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) and sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT) are frequently associated with prior or acute myocardial injury. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) provides morphological, functional, and tissue characterization in a single setting. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic yield of CMR-based imaging versus non-CMR-based imaging in patients with resuscitated SCD or SMVT.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Eighty-two patients with resuscitated SCD or SMVT underwent routine non-CMR imaging, followed by a CMR protocol with comprehensive tissue characterization. Clinical reports of non-CMR imaging studies were blindly adjudicated and used to assign each patient to 1 of 7 diagnostic categories. CMR imaging was blindly interpreted using a standardized algorithm used to assign a patient diagnosis category in a similar fashion. The diagnostic yield of CMR-based and non-CMR-based imaging, as well as the impact of the former on diagnosis reclassification, was established. Relevant myocardial disease was identified in 51% of patients using non-CMR-based imaging and in 74% using CMR-based imaging (P=0.002). Forty-one patients (50%) were reassigned to a new or alternate diagnosis using CMR-based imaging, including 15 (18%) with unsuspected acute myocardial injury. Twenty patients (24%) had no abnormality by non-CMR imaging but showed clinically relevant myocardial disease by CMR imaging.
CONCLUSIONS
CMR-based imaging provides a robust diagnostic yield in patients presenting with resuscitated SCD or SMVT and incrementally identifies clinically unsuspected acute myocardial injury. When compared with non-CMR-based imaging, a new or alternate myocardial disease process may be identified in half of these patients. | 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.111.966085 |
pubmed_103_14975 | Despite the importance of water sorption isotherms for a fundamental understanding of protein-water interactions, the microscopic origin of hysteresis between the adsorption and desorption branches is not well understood. Using our recently developed simulation technique, we compute the water sorption isotherms of two proteins, lysozyme and Trp-cage, a miniprotein. We explicitly compare protein-water interactions in adsorption and desorption processes, by analyzing local hydration in terms of hydrogen bonding, water density, and solvent-accessible surface area. We find that significant differences in hydration behavior between adsorption and desorption manifest themselves at the individual amino acid level, in particular around polar or charged residues. We confirm this observation by demonstrating that Trp-cage's hysteresis can be significantly reduced by mutating charged residues to alanine, a neutral and nonpolar amino acid. | 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b00184 |
pubmed_162_24389 | Phytosulfokine (PSK) is a disulfated pentapeptide that is an important signaling molecule. Although it has recently been implicated in plant defenses to pathogen infection, the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Using surface plasmon resonance and gene silencing approaches, we showed that the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) PSK receptor PSKR1, rather than PSKR2, functioned as the major PSK receptor in immune responses. Silencing of PSK signaling genes rendered tomato more susceptible to infection by the economically important necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea Analysis of tomato mutants defective in either defense hormone biosynthesis or signaling demonstrated that PSK-induced immunity required auxin biosynthesis and associated defense pathways. Here, using aequorin-expressing tomato plants, we provide evidence that PSK perception by tomato PSKR1 elevated cytosolic [Ca2+], leading to auxin-dependent immune responses via enhanced binding activity between calmodulins and the auxin biosynthetic YUCs. Thus, our data demonstrate that PSK acts as a damage-associated molecular pattern and is perceived mainly by PSKR1, which increases cytosolic [Ca2+] and activates auxin-mediated pathways that enhance immunity of tomato plants to B. cinerea. | 10.1105/tpc.17.00537 |
pubmed_341_157 | BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Preterm babies thrive well on exclusive breastfeeding with fewer complications. In a retrospective analysis, challenges were noticed in the form of delayed first milk expression and frequency of expression, which was limited to 2-3 times a day. A quality improvement initiative was designed to increase the exclusive breast milk feeding rates in admitted preterm babies. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the proportion of preterm neonates receiving mother's own milk by day 7 of life after such an initiative.
METHODS
The quality improvement initiative was conducted at a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit from May 10, 2018, to August 10, 2018. Inborn preterm neonates <34 weeks with a minimum hospital stay of 7 days were included. Neonates of critically sick mothers and neonates having major congenital malformations were excluded. Mothers were given structured antenatal counseling regarding expressing breast milk (EBM). Postnatal visits were conducted to provide information through a video and a leaflet and formation of breastfeeding support group.
RESULTS
A total of 30 babies were recruited during a period of 3 months and compared to historical controls. The median age of the first EBM improved from 2.5 days to 1.16 days, and the amount of EBM on the first day improved from 0.24 ml to 2.6 ml (p = .002). The proportion of babies receiving EBM on the first day improved from 24% to 80% (p = .0001), and at the end of 7 days, it increased to 73% from 46% (p = .02). The factors time to reach full enteral feeds, time to regain birth weight, rate of necrotizing enterocolitis, rate of sepsis, and proportion of babies on exclusive mother's milk during discharge appear comparable in both the groups.
CONCLUSIONS
A simple quality improvement approach through the formation of breastfeeding support group, antenatal counseling, and postnatal support for breast milk expression has made a significant improvement in milk expression from mothers delivered prematurely. It reflects on a team approach using the available resources. | 10.1016/j.ijpam.2018.12.003 |
pubmed_382_16177 | Neurocysticercosis, caused by Taenia solium larvae (cysticerci), is the most common parasitic infection of the human CNS Worldwide. In Germany its appearance is rare. Here we report two cases of neurocysticercosis which we followed over a period of 4-6 years. The first patient acquired neurocysticercosis in Germany. On admission he suffered from papilledema, partial seizures and a mild psychotic disorder. MR-tomography showed an internal hydrocephalus and multiple contrast enhancing parenchymal cysts. In the course of the disease a giant cyst within the left temporal pole developed and was exstirpated neurosurgically. The persistent internal hydrocephalus required ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Therapy with Praziquantel led to a clinical improvement, however, repeated analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid documented persistent inflammation. With the aid of a contrast enhanced three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound imaging technique we demonstrated increased cerebral perfusion surrounding one cyst. This may be interpreted as evidence for persistent disease activity. The second patient presented with repeated episodes of cysticercotic encephalitis, which is rarely described in the literature (incidence 1%). Clinical features, laboratory findings, diagnosis, and therapy of neurocysticercosis will be presented together with the pitfalls of the two described cases. Our cases will be compared to previous reports on clinical findings in neurocysticercosis. | 10.1007/s001150050440 |
pubmed_1041_5970 | Exposure of the mature Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seed to water results in the rapid release of pectinaceous mucilage from the outer cells of the testa. Once released, mucilage completely envelops the seed in a gel-like capsule. The physical force required to rupture the outer cell wall of the testa comes from the swelling of the mucilage as it expands rapidly following hydration. In this study, we show that mutations in the transcriptional regulator LEUNIG_HOMOLOG (LUH) cause a mucilage extrusion defect due to altered mucilage swelling. Based on sugar linkage and immunomicroscopic analyses, we show that the structure of luh mucilage is altered, having both an increase in substituted rhamnogalacturonan I and in methyl-esterified homogalacturonan. Also correlated with the structural modification of luh mucilage is a significant decrease in MUCILAGE MODIFIED2 (MUM2; a β-galactosidase) expression in the luh seed coat, raising the possibility that reduced activity of this glycosidase is directly responsible for the luh mucilage defects. Consistent with this is the structural similarity between mum2 and luh mucilage as well as the observation that elevating MUM2 expression in luh mutants completely suppresses the mucilage extrusion defect. Suppression of the luh mutant phenotype was also observed when LEUNIG, a transcriptional corepressor closely related to LUH, was introduced in luh mutants under the control of the LUH promoter. Based on these data, we propose a new model for the regulation of pectin biosynthesis during plant growth and development. | 10.1104/pp.111.172692 |
pubmed_156_12286 | UNLABELLED
Thailand is seen as a developing Southeast Asian country with a fast-growing number of senior citizens. Meanwhile, they are also encouraged to attend a local club for the elderly for the sake of health promotion and disease prevention. Knowledge of the quality of life as well as the health status of elderly people in this setting would be invaluable for further planning. 1811 individuals from 66 provinces, who attended clubs for the elderly were recruited. Structured questionnaires with detailed instructions were distributed to clubs for the elderly nationwide. 61.4 per cent had a good quality of life. The independent factors determining poor quality of life were as follows: not living with a spouse, poor financial status, no regular exercise, sleeping or hearing difficulty, not taking milk regularly, suffering from joint pain or diabetes mellitus, history of a fall within the last 6 months and a poor mobility score and score of instrumental activities of daily living. No regular exercise had the highest adjusted odds ratio (2.38: 95% CI: 1.61-3.51). The main factors determining a poor quality of life in any region of the country were socioeconomic background in the northern region, having less exercise and joint pain in the eastern part and diabetes mellitus in the western region.
CONCLUSION
All these factors should be part of the geriatric assessment among elderly Thais. Socioeconomic factors could be employed to screen for those who are at risk while the other reversible factors should be highlighted and treated properly in order to reduce the outcomes of poor quality of life in those attending clubs for the elderly. | pubmed_156_12286 |
pubmed_324_11317 | There has recently been interest in neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) as the disorder has been better characterized. Nms is still poorly recognized, however, by most physicians. Hyperpyrexia, rigidity, altered consciousness, autonomic instability, and enzymatic evidence of muscle breakdown after drug intake are the cardinal features. The authors of this article review the proposed pathogenesis, complications, and treatment of NMS. | pubmed_324_11317 |
pubmed_738_5476 | The series of highly stable porous solids here feature systematic, regiospecific sulfur substitutions on the organic linkers for versatile functions. One major surprise lies in the controllable sequential reactions between sodium thiomethoxide (NaSMe) and octafluorobiphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (H2bpdc-8F; this was readily made without precious metal catalysts). Namely, 3, 4, 6, and 8 methylthio-substitutions can be respectively achieved with regiospecificity (i.e., to produce the four molecules H2bpdc-3S5F, H2bpdc-4S4F, H2bpdc-6S2F, H2bpdc-8MS). A second surprise lies in their persistent formation of the UiO-67-type net with Zr(IV) ions, e.g., even in the case of the fully sulfurated H2bpdc-8MS. In addition to the remarkable breadth of functional control, all the Zr(IV)-based crystalline solids here are stable in boiling water (e.g., for 24 h) and in air as solventless, activated porous solids. Moreover, the thioether groups allow for convenient H2O2 oxidation to fine-tune the hydrophilicity and luminescence properties and improve proton conductivity. | 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00576 |
pubmed_600_4804 | INTRODUCTION
As the population ages, the prevalence of hypertension also increases. Although primary care is usually the patient's first point of contact for healthcare, little is known about the management of hypertension among elderly patients at the primary care level. This study aimed to determine the antihypertensive prescription trend for elderly patients, the predictors of antihypertensive use and any inappropriate prescribing practices in both public and private primary care settings.
METHODS
Data on patient demographics, diagnosis, prescription pattern, payment mode and follow-up was extracted from a cross-sectional study involving 122 public primary care clinics and 652 private primary care clinics in Malaysia. Encounters with hypertensive patients aged ≥ 60 years were included.
RESULTS
A total of 1,017 antihypertensive medications were prescribed - calcium channel blockers (27.1%), beta blockers (25.5%), diuretics (23.3%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (14.9%) and angiotensin receptor blockers (6.3%). Out of the 614 patient encounters, 53.1% of the patients were prescribed monotherapy, 31.6% were prescribed dual therapy, 12.2% triple therapy, 2.8% quadruple therapy and 0.3% quintuple therapy. Type of primary care clinic and payment mode were significant predictors for the prescription of combination therapy and fixed-dose combination therapy, respectively. Four types of inappropriate prescriptions were identified.
CONCLUSION
Calcium channel blockers were the most common antihypertensive drug prescribed and more than half of the elderly patients were on monotherapy. Antihypertensive drug prescription was found to be associated with the type of primary care clinic and the payment mode, suggesting that prescription is influenced by the cost of the drug. | 10.11622/smedj.2015019 |
pubmed_432_4671 | Four soybean meals (SBM) were manufactured in a commercial solvent-extraction plant to give a much wider range in heat treatment than is usually found among commercially available SBM. The SBM were designated in ascending order of heat treatment as Under, Normal, Over and Rumen Escape. The nutritive value of the four meals was evaluated in a series of five feeding trials using 458 pigs: two performance and two diet preference trials with pigs weaned at 4 wk of age and one performance trial with growing pigs (17.4 kg initial weight were conducted). In both nursery and grower trials, there were no differences (P greater than .10) in performance of pigs fed the four meals. However, in the nursery trials, the severely heated meal (Rumen Escape) supported slightly lower gains (6.4%) and less desirable feed efficiency (3.5%) than the average of the other three meals. Growing pig performance was essentially the same for all meals. This suggests that older pigs either used the Rumen Escape meal more effectively than nursery pigs, or the Rumen Escape diet contained adequate digestible lysine for 17.4-kg pigs to grow optimally. In the preference studies, pigs selected between Normal- and Rumen Escape-supplemented diets. Pigs consumed 63 and 62% of the Normal diet in preference trials 1 and 2, but these differences were not significant (P greater than .10) due to the large variation among pens. These data suggest that the range of heat treatment normally found among commercially available SBM (Under, Normal and Over meals) has no effect on the nutritive value of the meal for swine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | 10.2527/jas1987.6551283x |
pubmed_1117_409 | We identified fibrils from non-transmissible systemic and cerebral amyloidosis using the purification method of scrapie-associated fibrils (SAF). The fibrils possessed the same nature of congophilia, filamentous structures and molecular weights as amyloid fibrils, and were resistant to Proteinase K digestion. This SAF method makes for a rapid extraction from amyloid-laden tissues. The method, therefore, may purify nontransmissible amyloids alone or together with SAF proteins. | 10.1007/BF01116137 |
pubmed_50_18015 | In this study, a dietary exposure assessment of mycotoxins was conducted for the Romanian population using the contamination data of a various categories of wheat-based products for direct human consumption. Wheat-based foods (n = 181) commercialized in Romania, including flour, bread, biscuits, breakfast cereals and pasta, were evaluated by GC-QqQ-MS/MS for the occurrence of deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3AcDON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15AcDON), fusarenon-X, nivalenol, HT-2 and T-2 toxins, diacetoxyscirpenol, neosolaniol and zearalenone (ZEA). DON and 15AcDON were detected in 63 and 5% of all the analyzed samples, whereas 13-AcDON, HT-2, T-2, NIV and ZEA were not detected. Exposure of Romanian adult population was assessed, the EDIs for the sum of DON+3AcDON+15AcDON were 669 ng kg-1 bw day-1 at low-bound estimation, and 690 ng kg-1 bw day-1 at upper-bound estimation, being lower than the TDI set (1000 ng kg-1 bw day-1). | 10.1016/j.fct.2018.09.014 |
pubmed_938_4475 | In September, 1987, a survey on the nutrition of infants was conducted with 1,235 children from 3 to 6 years of age selected from six nurseries and six kindergartens in the metropolis of Tokyo. We compared the survey results with other similar survey reports with respect to three areas; 1, caries attack on primary teeth, 2, anomalies of dentition and occlusion and 3, how foods are eaten, to observe the difference by age and also between children in nurseries and in kindergartens. The following are the results of this comparative investigation. 1) The ratio of caries attacks on the 4-year-old in this survey was 69.6%, which was lower than the 83.4% of the nationwide survey of 1987 conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, while the average value of the df index per person was 4.7, which was lower than the 6.1 of 1981. 2) The caries incidence rate was higher with children in kindergarten than those in nurseries and many kindergarten children had had more than one caries attack. 3) The frequency rate of anomalies of dentition and occlusion in the entire survey sample was 12.9% for deep overbite, 11.4% for open bite and 10.7% for edge-to-edge bite. 4) In the survey of how foods were eaten, the question, "Does your child like to eat things that are hard to bite on?" was asked, and 10.4% of the group answered "My child prefers eating soft food," which was quite high. To the question, "Does your child often eat things that are difficult to eat?", 17.1% of the entire group answered, "My child refuses to." This tendency was greater among the children in kindergaretens. | pubmed_938_4475 |
pubmed_926_3198 | Late-life depression (LLD) is a public health concern with deleterious effects on overall health, cognition, quality of life, and mortality. Although LLD is relatively common, it is not a normal part of aging and is often under-recognized in older adults. However, psychotherapy is an effective treatment for LLD that aligns with many patients' preferences and can improve health and functioning. This review synthesized the current literature on evidence-based psychotherapies for the treatment of depression in older adults. Findings suggest that active, skills-based psychotherapies (cognitive behavioral therapy [CBT] and problem-solving therapy [PST]) may be more effective for LLD than non-directive, supportive counseling. PST may be particularly relevant for offsetting skill deficit associated with LLD, such as in instances of cognitive impairment (especially executive dysfunction) and disability. Emerging treatments also consider contextual factors to improve treatment delivery, such as personalized care, access, and poverty. Tele-mental health represents one such exciting new way of improving access and uptake of treatment by older adults. Although these strategies hold promise, further investigation via randomized controlled trials and comparative effectiveness are necessary to advance our treatment of LLD. Priority should be given to recruiting and training the geriatric mental health workforce to deliver evidence-based psychosocial interventions for LLD. | 10.1007/s40501-017-0100-6 |
pubmed_994_9870 | BACKGROUND
Molecular tools for detection of low-density asymptomatic Plasmodium infections are needed in malaria elimination efforts. This study reports results from the hitherto largest implementation of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for centralized mass screening of asymptomatic malaria in Zanzibar.
METHODS
Healthy individuals present and willing to participate in randomly selected households in 60 villages throughout Zanzibar were screened for malaria by rapid diagnostic tests (RDT). In 50% of the study households, participants were asked to provide 60 μL of finger-prick blood for additional LAMP screening. LAMP was conducted in two centralized laboratories in Zanzibar, by trained technicians with limited or no previous experience of molecular methods. The LAMP assay was performed with Loopamp(TM) MALARIA Pan/Pf Detection Kit (Eiken Chemical Company, Japan). Samples positive for Plasmodium genus (Pan)-LAMP were re-tested using Plasmodium falciparum-specific LAMP kits.
RESULTS
Paired RDT and LAMP samples were available from 3983 individuals. The prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 0.5% (CI 95% 0.1-0.8) and 1.6% (CI 95% 1.1-2.2) by RDT and Pan-LAMP, respectively. LAMP detected 3.4 (CI 95% 2.2-5.2) times more Plasmodium positive samples than RDT. DNA contamination was experienced, but solved by repetitive decontamination of all equipment and reagents.
CONCLUSIONS
LAMP is a simple and sensitive molecular tool, and has potential in active surveillance and mass-screening programmes for detection of low-density asymptomatic malaria in pre-elimination settings. However, in order to deploy LAMP more effectively in field settings, protocols may need to be adapted for processing larger numbers of samples. A higher throughput, affordable closed system would be ideal to avoid contamination. | 10.1186/s12936-015-0731-2 |
pubmed_162_20223 | This study used a within group design to investigate blood flow patterns (fMRI) in 16 long-term practitioners of Transcendental Meditation (mean practice: 34.3 years with each having over 36,000 h of meditation practice). During Transcendental Meditation practice, blood flow patterns were significantly higher in executive and attention areas (anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices) and significantly lower in arousal areas (pons and cerebellum). This pattern supports the understanding that Transcendental Meditation practice requires minimal effort. During Transcendental Meditation, the attentional system was active (heightened blood flow in anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices) in an automatic manner-decreased blood flow in the pons and cerebellum. This pattern of heightened blood flow in attentional areas and decreased blood flow in arousal areas has not been reported during other meditation practices. Future research should investigate blood flow patterns in different meditation practices in the same study. | 10.1016/j.bandc.2018.02.011 |
pubmed_1054_13895 | A patient with mucocutaneous candidiasis and impaired polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemotaxis is described. The patient's PMN chemotaxis was markedly decreased in the presence of autologous plasma but normal in control plasma. Cell-directed inhibitory activity was found in whole patient plasma as well as the 40% ammonium sulfate precipitate fraction of both the patient's and the control plasma. The inhibitor was heat stable, reversible, nondialyzable, eluted from DEAE cellulose with 0.005 M sodium phosphate buffer, and migrated with IgG on immunoelectrophoresis. The supernate from 40% ammonium sulfate-fractionated patient and control plasma contained a cell-directed enhancer of PMN chemotaxis that antagonized the cell-directed inhibitor activity. It is possible that the patient's chemotactic defect may be caused by imbalance between plasma factors that regulate chemotaxis. | 10.1016/0091-6749(80)90235-3 |
pubmed_34_381 | Forty-seven community-dwelling older adults aged >70 years participated in this Japanese cross-sectional study to determine the relationship between the isometric lower extremity muscle strength measured during knee extension (KE) in single-joint and total leg extension (TLE) in multi-joint tasks, physical performance tests, and functional status. The physical performance was determined by KE and TLE muscle strength, walking capacity, and balance performance tests, while the functional status was evaluated by interview using basic activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) tools. The results indicated that the TLE muscle strength was significantly related to all the other performance tests, while the KE muscle strength was not correlated with the balance test. Also, the bilateral TLE muscle strength was significantly associated with IADL status compared with the KE muscle strength. In conclusion, multi-joint muscle strength testing might be superior to single-joint muscle strength testing for the screening of the functional impairments of older adults. | 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2007.00317.x |
pubmed_272_20942 | OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of treatment with mesoglycan, a sulphated polysaccharide compound, on the walking capacity of patients with stage II peripheral arterial disease.
METHODS
Non-diabetic outpatients with intermittent claudication, duplex ultrasound evidence of peripheral atherosclerosis, ankle/arm index <0.80, systolic ankle pressure >50 mmHg, and absolute walking distance (AWD) between 100 and 300 m (standardised treadmill test) were eligible. After a 5-week run-in on single-blind placebo, patients were randomised to double-blind treatment with mesoglycan, 30 mg/day intramuscularly for 3 weeks followed by 100 mg/day orally for 20 weeks, or matching placebo. All patients received low-dose aspirin and lifestyle instructions. Clinical response was defined as an AWD increase at Week 23 >50% over baseline. Health-related quality of life and ischaemic events were assessed as secondary efficacy variables.
RESULTS
242 patients were randomised and 237 were assessed for clinical response. Patients achieving clinical response were 59/118 with mesoglycan (50.0%) and 31/119 with placebo (26.1%; p <0.001). Geometric mean AWD increased from 192 to 298 m with mesoglycan, and from 192 to 238 m with placebo (p <0.001). Pain-free walking distance showed a non-significant increase with mesoglycan (p = 0.057). Changes in quality of life scores were in favour of mesoglycan. The rate of ischaemic events was 1/120 on mesoglycan and 6/122 on placebo (p = 0.053). The rate of non-ischaemic adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation was 7/120 and 4/122, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Treatment with mesoglycan improves the walking capacity of patients with intermittent claudication, and might confer additional antithrombotic protection over that of aspirin. | pubmed_272_20942 |
pubmed_126_1564 | Our studies showed that family C DNA polymerase (pol III) of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 is phylogenetically close to the Gram-negative dna E group, rather than to the Gram-positive group. However, in contrast to the dna E genes of most of the eubacteria, the cyanobacterial dna E gene has split into two genes, dna E1 and dna E2. The evolutionary origin of the split dna E gene is discussed. | 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1998.tb12797.x |
pubmed_437_17089 | The national Finnish Schools on the Move programme support schools with their individual plans to promote school-based physical activity (PA). We examined the changes in adolescents' recess and overall PA in four lower secondary schools and described the school actions to promote students' PA and the local contact persons' perceptions of the effects. Recess and overall PA were assessed four times by anonymous questionnaires from students in grades 7-9 (n = 789) in 2010-12, and local contact persons (n = 7) provided information on school actions with diaries, interviews and surveys. Student data were analysed with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, and school actions data were analysed with quantitative content analysis. The proportion of students who participated in physical activities at recess at least sometimes increased from 30% to 49% in physically active play and from 33% to 42% in ball games, mostly due to improvements in males' participation. Females' participation in recess activities increased in two schools with gender-specific physical activities or facilities. Overall PA levels declined slightly. Organized recess activities, student recess activators and equipment provision and sports facilities development were considered to have affected students' PA positively. Solutions for getting females more physically active in the school setting are needed. | 10.1093/her/cyu030 |
pubmed_580_14955 | Recently, progress has been made toward the regulatory acceptance of replacements in the European Union (EU), particularly with the introduction of in vitro methods for the prediction of skin corrosivity, dermal penetration, phototoxicity and embryotoxicity. In vitro genotoxicity tests are well established, and testing for this endpoint can be completed without animals, provided that clear negative outcomes are obtained. Tiered approaches including in vitro tests can also be used to address skin and eye irritation endpoints. Reductions and/or refinements in animal use are being achieved following the replacement of the oral LD50 test with alternative methods and the adoption of reduced test packages for materials, such as closed-system intermediates and certain polymers. Furthermore, the use of a "read-across" approach has reduced animal testing. Substantial gains in refinement will also be made with the recent acceptance of the local lymph node assay for skin sensitisation and the development of an acute inhalation toxicity method that avoids lethality as the endpoint. For the future, under the proposed EU Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH) scheme, it is envisaged that, where suitable in vitro methods exist, these should be used to support registration of substances produced at up to ten tonnes per annum. This proposal can only accelerate the further development, validation and regulatory acceptance of such alternative methods. | 10.1177/026119290403201s108 |
pubmed_753_3661 | High-dose oral prednisone (at an initial dose of 1mg/kg/day) is the mainstay of therapy for PM/DM, and should be subsequently tapered slowly based on patients' clinical response. First-line combination of prednisone with intravenous immunoglobulins may be considered in patients with PM/DM-related severe systemic complications, especially in the subgroup exbititing life-threatening esophageal involvement. In patients who failed to respond to prednisone, the first-line immunosuppressive therapy includes methotrexate or azathioprine. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy should be considered in patients in whom those cytotoxic drugs are contraindicated. In patients who failed to respond to prednisone, methotrexate or azathioprine, there is no general clinical consensus, although the options more often include: combined therapy of methotrexate and azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil or rituximab. To date, TNF-α antagonists should not be considered in PM/DM patients, as both efficacy and safety concerns have been markedly raised in anti-TNF-α agent-treated PM/DM patients. | 10.1016/j.lpm.2010.12.012 |
pubmed_313_9816 | Pseudomonas argentinensis strain SA190 is a plant endophytic-inhabiting bacterium that was isolated from root nodules of the desert plant Indigofera argentea collected from the Jizan region of Saudi Arabia. Here, we report the genome sequence of SA190, highlighting several functional genes related to plant growth-promoting activity, environment adaption, and antifungal activity. | 10.1128/genomeA.01431-16 |
pubmed_470_19966 | The production of metallic debris from the wear of nonbearing surfaces of a total hip arthroplasty is encountered frequently. We describe a case of extreme generation of metallic debris that resulted in the radiographic outlining of the joint cavity. A 71-year-old woman with a total hip arthroplasty experienced dislodgment of the polyethylene liner from its acetabular shell, resulting in metal-on-metal articulation of the femoral head and the cup. This articulation created severe metallosis that could be seen on preoperative radiographs, producing the described bubble sign. At the time of revision surgery, copious metallic debris was seen macroscopically. This newly described radiographic sign should alert the arthroplasty surgeon to the extent of metallic wear. | 10.1054/arth.2003.50007 |
pubmed_598_4613 | BACKGROUND
Nursing home residents are frail, have multiple medical comorbidities, and are at high risk for delirium. Most of the existing evidence base on delirium is derived from studies in the acute in-patient population. We examine the association between clinical characteristics and medication use with the incidence of delirium during the nursing home stay.
METHODS
This is a retrospective cohort study of 1571 residents from 12 nursing homes operated by a single care provider in Ontario, Canada. Residents were over the age of 55 and admitted between February 2010 and December 2015 with no baseline delirium and a minimum stay of 180 days. Residents with moderate or worse cognitive impairment at baseline were excluded. The baseline and follow-up characteristics of residents were collected from the Resident Assessment Instrument-Minimal Data Set 2.0 completed at admission and repeated quarterly until death or discharge. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify characteristics and medication use associated with the onset of delirium.
RESULTS
The incidence of delirium was 40.4% over the nursing home stay (mean LOS: 32 months). A diagnosis of dementia (OR: 2.54, p < .001), the presence of pain (OR: 1.64, p < .001), and the use of antipsychotics (OR: 1.87, p < .001) were significantly associated with the onset of delirium. Compared to residents who did not develop delirium, residents who developed a delirium had a greater increase in the use of antipsychotics and antidepressants over the nursing home stay.
CONCLUSIONS
Dementia, the presence of pain, and the use of antipsychotics were associated with the onset of delirium. Pain monitoring and treatment may be important to decrease delirium in nursing homes. Future studies are necessary to examine the prescribing patterns in nursing homes and their association with delirium. | 10.1186/s12877-018-0733-3 |
pubmed_567_10638 | To determine changes in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the spinal cord in response to a complete transection, we examined the cellular and tissue changes of the two forms of GABA synthetic enzyme glutamate decarboxylase (GAD(65) and GAD(67)). In situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analyses show that spinal cord transection between thoracic segments 12 and 13 results in an increase of GAD(67), but not GAD(65), protein and mRNA in the lumbar spinal cord. This increase occurs mainly in the dorsal horn and persists for at least 12 months. In addition, there was relatively high GAD(67)-immunoreactivity around the central canal, with dorsolateral GAD(67)-immunoreactive fibers extending toward the ependyma and into the central canal in the transected animals. We suggest that an increase in GAD(67) leads to increased GABA production in spinal neurons below the injury site, resulting in altered inhibition and trophic support during posttrauma recovery and adaptation. Increased GABA synthesis around the central canal, in the vicinity of ependymal cells, may represent part of a regenerative process in the mammalian spinal cord, reminiscent of that observed in lower vertebrates. | 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4547(20000415)60:2<219::AID-JNR11>3.0.CO;2-F |
pubmed_505_7837 | The transcriptional coactivator PPAR gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1alpha) is a key regulator of metabolic processes such as mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration in muscle and gluconeogenesis in liver. Reduced levels of PGC-1alpha in humans have been associated with type II diabetes. PGC-1alpha contains a negative regulatory domain that attenuates its transcriptional activity. This negative regulation is removed by phosphorylation of PGC-1alpha by p38 MAPK, an important kinase downstream of cytokine signaling in muscle and beta-adrenergic signaling in brown fat. We describe here the identification of p160 myb binding protein (p160MBP) as a repressor of PGC-1alpha. The binding and repression of PGC-1alpha by p160MBP is disrupted by p38 MAPK phosphorylation of PGC-1alpha. Adenoviral expression of p160MBP in myoblasts strongly reduces PGC-1alpha's ability to stimulate mitochondrial respiration and the expression of the genes of the electron transport system. This repression does not require removal of PGC-1alpha from chromatin, suggesting that p160MBP is or recruits a direct transcriptional suppressor. Overall, these data indicate that p160MBP is a powerful negative regulator of PGC-1alpha function and provide a molecular mechanism for the activation of PGC-1alpha by p38 MAPK. The discovery of p160MBP as a PGC-1alpha regulator has important implications for the understanding of energy balance and diabetes. | 10.1101/gad.1152204 |
pubmed_973_11894 | Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) provides image contrast that is different from that obtained by conventional magnetic resonance techniques. Although previously, DWI has been used to evaluate various diseases of the central nervous system, several technical advances have expanded the clinical applications of DWI beyond the central nervous system. As a result, many reports have been published on the use of DWI in abdominal diseases. Particularly, abdominal DWI has now being focused on evaluation of patients with abdominal cancer. DWI can be used for pretreatment tumor detection, characterization including predicting tumor response to therapy, monitoring tumor response during therapy, and follow-up study after treatment to detect possible tumor recurrence. | 10.3748/wjg.v16.i7.832 |
pubmed_148_8518 | The three haploid yeast strains T2tmpl1-3, T2tmp1-1, and T6tmp1-51 auxotrophic for 5'-dTMP differ in their requirement for thymidylate: 72, 16, and 3 mug 5'-dTMP/ml will restore optimal growth, respectively. Thymidylate low requirement in strain T2tmp1-1 and T6tmp1-51 is termed tlrA and tlrC, respectively. When the growth medium is made 5 x 10(-4) M for 5'-dTMP only strain T6tmp1-51 is severely inhibited in RNA and DNA synthesis. This inhibition is reversible after removal of excessive 5'-dTMP. The inhibitory characteristic is in marked contrast to "thymineless death" due to the lack of 5'-dTMP in strain T6tmp1-51 where only DNA synthesis stops while RNA synthesis continues. The inhibitory effect of 5 x 10(-4) M 5'-dTMP is not due to the 5'-dTMP auxotrophy but to the thymidylate low requiring character (tlrC) in strain T6tmp1-51. The arrest of RNA and DNA synthesis by high concentrations of exogenous 5'-dTMP suggests a regulatory role of either the mono- or triphosphate on nucleoside or nucleotide biosynthesis in yeast. | 10.1007/BF00269428 |
pubmed_877_1969 | Tissue cryopreservation uses very low temperatures to preserve structurally intact living cells in their natural microenvironment. Cell survival is strongly influenced by the biophysical effects of ice during both the freezing and the subsequent thawing. These effects can be controlled by optimizing the fragment size, type of cryoprotectant, and cooling rate. The challenge is to determine cryopreservation parameters that suit all cell types present in the tissue. Here we describe a quick and convenient protocol for the cryopreservation of testicular tissue using an isopropyl-insulated freezing device, which was validated in both a mouse and a human model. | 10.1007/978-1-4939-7698-0_20 |
pubmed_786_13001 | OBJECTIVE
To measure the effect of age on Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)characteristics, sleep latency, and number of sleep-onset REM periods (SOREMP) in two large populations of narcoleptic patients with similar genetic backgrounds.
METHODS
Clinical and polygraphic information on the severity of the condition was obtained on 236 well-defined narcolepsy-cataplexy-human leukocyte antigen DR2-positive patients from Montpellier (France) and on 147 similar patients from Montreal (Canada).
RESULTS
The results show a progressive decrease in the number of SOREMP with age and a progressive increase in the mean sleep latency on the MSLT as a function of age. This finding is also related to the severity of cataplexy as assessed from the clinical history with a progressive decrease in the frequency of cataplexy attacks with age. These results may reflect the progressive increase in sleep latency seen in normal aging and suggest that clinical improvement might be due to changes in the neural mechanisms responsible for SOREMP, which may weaken with age.
CONCLUSIONS
The progressive decrease in the number of SOREMP and increase in the mean sleep latency on the MSLT as a function of age suggest that the current criteria used for diagnosis may be too stringent in older patients. The major influence of age on MSLT results should therefore be taken into account when diagnosing a narcoleptic patient. | 10.1212/01.wnl.0000101725.34089.1e |
pubmed_26_20163 | This study uses a rapid-serial-visual-presentation (RSVP) paradigm to test the extent to which shape and motion direction can be independently accessed and processed during the perception of structure-from-motion (SFM) stimuli. Subjects reported the number of occurrences of shape or motion direction during RSVP sequences of 3D-SFM stimuli. Overall, performance was better for motion than shape. In the motion task, observers were less accurate when the motion direction was repeated revealing a repetition blindness (RB) effect. In addition, the repetition of shape, although irrelevant to the motion task, resulted in increased performance, without change in RB rate. In contrast, there was no RB at the group level in the shape task and the repetition of the irrelevant motion direction had no effect on the performance. A closer look at the data showed that observers fall in two statistically distinct groups for the shape task. Some observers (N = 6) show a repetition advantage (RA) while the others (N = 5) show a repetition blindness (RB) effect. No behavioral differences between groups could be found for the motion task. The implications of these results for models of SFM processing are discussed in the light of the type/token theory (N. Kanwisher, 2001). | 10.1167/8.16.17 |
pubmed_250_9296 | Preparation of isolated cells and microorganisms for ultrastructural examination always provides a challenge in terms of adequate immobilization of the cells and prevention of subsequent sample loss and damage during various steps of sample processing. Using a positively charged nylon membrane substrate we demonstrate that it is possible to easily immobilize and retain a sample of isolated cells in culture for a wide variety of microscopy-based techniques. Radiolabelled E. coli cells when immobilized on the charged membrane were seen to be highly resistant to detachment when subjected to the normal sample processing procedures associated with microscopy. In contrast cells on regular millipore membranes were rapidly lost during sample preparation. We demonstrate the utility of charged nylon membranes for a wide variety of microscopy based analysis including scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), TEM based immunogold labelling, laser confocal microscopy and SEM based elemental analysis. | 10.1007/s10616-006-9027-2 |
pubmed_4_10420 | BACKGROUND
Acute angioedema of the upper airways can be life-threatening. An important distinction is drawn between mast-cell-mediated angioedema and bradykinin-mediated angioedema; the treatment of these two entities is fundamentally different.
METHODS
This review is based on pertinent articles retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and on guidelines concerning the treatment of angioedema. The authors draw on their own clinical experience in their assessment of the literature.
RESULTS
In the emergency clinical situation, the most important information comes from accompanying manifestations such as itching and urticaria and from the patient's drug history and family history. When angioedema affects the head and neck, securing the upper airways is the highest priority. Angioedema is most commonly caused by mast-cell mediators, such as histamine. This type of angioedema is sometimes accompanied by urticaria and can be effectively treated with antihistamines or glucocorticoids. In case of a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, epinephrine is given intramuscularly in a dose that is adapted to the patient's weight (150 μg for body weight >10 kg, 300 μg for body weight >30 kg). Bradykinin-mediated angioedema may arise as either a hereditary or an acquired tendency. Acquired angioedema can be caused by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and by angiotensin II receptor blockers. Bradykinin-mediated angioedema should be treated specifically with C1-esterase inhibitor concentrates or bradykinin-2 receptor antagonists.
CONCLUSION
Angioedema of the upper airways requires a well-coordinated diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Steroids and antihistamines are very effective against mast-cell-mediated angioedema, but nearly useless against bradykinin-mediated angioedema. For angioedema induced by ACE inhibitors, no causally directed treatment has yet been approved. | pubmed_4_10420 |
pubmed_1066_8319 | Tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) is considered to be a tumor suppressor gene that is highly expressed in normal or well-differentiated colon tissues, while downregulation of TIG1 expression occurs in poorly differentiated colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues. However, it is still unclear how TIG1 regulates the tumorigenesis of CRC. Polo-like kinases (Plks) are believed to play an important role in regulating the cell cycle. The performance of PLK2 in CRC is negatively correlated with the differentiation status of CRC tissues. Here, we found that PLK2 can induce the growth of CRC cells and that TIG1 can prevent PLK2 from promoting the proliferation of CRC cells. We also found that the expression of PLK2 in CRC cells was associated with low levels of Fbxw7 protein and increased expression of cyclin E1. When TIG1 was coexpressed with PLK2, the changes in Fbxw7/cyclin E1 levels induced by PLK2 were reversed. In contrast, silencing TIG1 promoted the proliferation of CRC, and when PLK2 was also silenced, the proliferation of CRC cells induced by TIG1 silencing was significantly inhibited. The above research results suggest that TIG1 can regulate the tumorigenesis of CRC by regulating the activity of PLK2. | 10.1002/cbin.11681 |
pubmed_895_5994 | Overbinding of ions to lipid head groups is a potentially serious artifact in simulations of charged lipid bilayers. In this study, the Lennard-Jones radii in the CHARMM force field for interactions of Na(+) and lipid oxygen atoms of carboxyl, phosphate, and ester groups were revised to match osmotic pressure data on sodium acetate and electrophoresis data on palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylcholine (POPC) vesicles. The new parameters were then validated by successfully reproducing previously published experimental NMR deuterium order parameters for dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) and newly obtained values for palmitoyloleoyl phosphatidylserine (POPS). Although the increases in Lennard-Jones diameters are only 0.02-0.12 Å, they are sufficient to reduce Na+ binding, and thereby increase surface areas per lipid by 5-10% compared with the unmodified parameters. | 10.1021/jp401512z |
pubmed_437_3239 | Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a commonly occurring condition that is not familiar to most clinicians. A common presenting feature may be transient focal neurological symptoms leading to the potential for clinical misdiagnosis as transient ischaemic attack. This may result in the inappropriate use of anti-platelets and anticoagulants or radiological misdiagnosis. It is also being increasingly recognised as an important cause of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage and cognitive impairment in the elderly. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy can be diagnosed based on clinical and radiological findings, but clinicians need a high index of suspicion to ensure appropriate investigations are requested. In this article we aim to cover the pathophysiology, clinical findings, radiological appearances and approach to management of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. | 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-3-255 |
pubmed_497_16630 | Okra hypocotyl segments were incubated in solutions of 0.3 or 0.4 M sorbitol at various temperatures and their shrinkage was measured. The result yielded an apparent activation energy for shrinkage of 4.8 kcal/mol, which is close to that of the viscosity of water. This coincidence suggests that the viscosity of water, i.e., the reciprocal function of water conductivity, is a limiting factor for osmotic shrinkage. Abrasion of okra hypocotyl segments with Carborundum substantially increased the rate of their osmotic shrinkage, indicating that the cuticle is the major barrier to water uptake by segments. The apparent activation energy for osmotic shrinkage was 4.5 kcal/mol in abraded segments. By introducing water conductivity into an algorithm, osmotic shrinkage and expansion of hypocotyl segments was successfully predicted by computation with this algorithm. Hence the extent of the contribution of water conductivity in osmotic shrinkage and expansion can be evaluated. Based on this simulation, water conductivity was identified as one of the major factors in governing the elongation growth rate of cells along with the osmotic pressure of the cell sap and the mechanical properties of the cell wall. | pubmed_497_16630 |
pubmed_623_1252 | BACKGROUND
Coordinated, multi-component school-based interventions can improve health behaviors in children, as well as parents, and impact the weight status of students. By leveraging a unique collaboration between Texas AgriLife Extension (a federal, state and county funded educational outreach organization) and the University of Texas School of Public Health, the Texas Grow! Eat! Go! Study (TGEG) modeled the effectiveness of utilizing existing programs and volunteer infrastructure to disseminate an enhanced Coordinated School Health program. The five-year TGEG study was developed to assess the independent and combined impact of gardening, nutrition and physical activity intervention(s) on the prevalence of healthy eating, physical activity and weight status among low-income elementary students. The purpose of this paper is to report on study design, baseline characteristics, intervention approaches, data collection and baseline data.
METHODS
The study design for the TGEG study consisted of a factorial group randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which 28 schools were randomly assigned to one of 4 treatment groups: (1) Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) only (Comparison), (2) CATCH plus school garden intervention [Learn, Grow, Eat & Go! (LGEG)], (3) CATCH plus physical activity intervention [Walk Across Texas (WAT)], and (4) CATCH plus LGEG plus WAT (Combined). The outcome variables include student's weight status, vegetable and sugar sweetened beverage consumption, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Parents were assessed for home environmental variables including availability of certain foods, social support of student health behaviors, parent engagement and behavior modeling.
RESULTS
Descriptive data are presented for students (n = 1369) and parents (n = 1206) at baseline. The sample consisted primarily of Hispanic and African American (53 % and 18 %, respectively) and low-income (i.e., 78 % eligible for Free and Reduced Price School Meals program and 43 % food insecure) students. On average, students did not meet national guidelines for vegetable consumption or physical activity. At baseline, no statistical differences for demographic or key outcome variables among the 4 treatment groups were observed.
CONCLUSIONS
The TGEG study targets a population of students and parents at high risk of obesity and related chronic conditions, utilizing a novel and collaborative approach to program formulation and delivery, and a rigorous, randomized study design. | 10.1186/s12889-016-3453-7 |
pubmed_433_19173 | BACKGROUND
Student-Run Free Clinics (SRFCs) have been an integral part of US medical schools since the 1960s and provide health care to underserved populations. In 2018, we established an SRFC in Hamburg, Germany, a major city in Northern Europe. The aim of this study was to describe the central problems and to investigate the usefulness of an SRFC in a country with free access to medical care, such as Germany.
METHODS
All consecutive patients treated at the SRFC Hamburg between February 2018 and March 2019 that consented to this study were analyzed regarding clinical characteristics, diagnosis, readmission rate and country of origin.
RESULTS
Between February 2018 and March 2019, 229 patients were treated at the SRFC in Hamburg. The patients came from 33 different countries with a majority (n = 206, 90%) from countries inside the European Union. The most common reasons for visiting the SRFC were infections (23.2%), acute or chronic wounds (13.5%) and fractures (6.3%).
CONCLUSION
Our multicultural patients suffer mainly from infections and traumatological and dermatological diseases. We find similarities to published Canadian SRFC patient cohorts but differences in diseases and treatment modalities compared to US SRFCs. Importantly, we demonstrate the relevance and necessity of the SRFC in a major city in Northern Europe. | 10.1093/pubmed/fdz165 |
pubmed_1055_15420 | The potential contribution of inflammation to the development of neuropsychiatric diseases has recently received substantial attention. In the brain, the main immune cells are the microglia. As they are the main source of inflammatory factors, it is plausible that the regulation of their activation may be a potential therapeutic target. Fractalkine (CX3CL1) and its receptor CX3CR1 play a crucial role in the control of the biological activity of the microglia. In the present study, using microglial cultures we investigated whether fractalkine is able to reverse changes in microglia caused by a prenatal stress procedure. Our study found that the microglia do not express fractalkine. Prenatal stress decreases the expression of the fractalkine receptor, which in turn is enhanced by the administration of exogenous fractalkine. Moreover, treatment with fractalkine diminishes the prenatal stress-induced overproduction of proinflammatory factors such as IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, TNF-α, CCL2, or NO in the microglial cells derived from prenatally stressed newborns. In conclusion, the present results revealed that the pathological activation of microglia in prenatally stressed newborns may be attenuated by fractalkine administration. Therefore, understanding of the role of the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 system may help to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the neuron-microglia interaction and its role in pathological conditions in the brain. | 10.1155/2016/7258201 |
pubmed_501_10331 | Ferritin values for 250 selected sera were compared with values for iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation, to assess the potential of the ferritin assay for the detection of latent iron deficiency. The specimens were grouped (50 in each group) according to their values for iron and TIBC. In Group 1 (low iron, high TIBC) the saturation and ferritin values both indicated iron deficiency in all but one. In the 100 specimens of Groups 2 (normal iron, high TIBC) and 4 (normal iron, high normal TIBC), the saturation values revealed 16 iron-deficient cases, the ferritin test 55. For Groups 3 (low iron, normal TIBC) and 5 (low iron, low TIBC), the ferritin test revealed fewer cases of iron deficiency than did the saturation values (37 cases vs 51 cases, in the 100 specimens). Evidently the ferritin test detects iron deficiency in many cases for whom the serum iron and TIBC tests are not positively indicative. The correlation of serum ferritin with iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation in the five groups was good only in the case of specimens for which the TIBC was normal; if it was abnormal the correlation was very poor. | pubmed_501_10331 |
pubmed_1141_22092 | One-hundred thirteen stents (78 Wallstents, 29 Palmaz-Schatz and 6 Wiktor) were implanted in 106 patients aged 63 +/- 5 years to treat a restenosis following previous angioplasty in a native coronary artery (86 cases) and in a venous graft (20 cases). Implantation was technically possible in all cases. The native vessels had a mean reference diameter of 3.3 +/- 0.3 mm and their mean minimal lumen diameter increased from 1.2 +/- 0.3 mm before angioplasty to 2.8 +/- 0.8 after stent implantation. The venous grafts mean reference diameter was 4.4 +/- 0.7 mm and their mean minimal lumen diameter increased from 1.3 +/- 0.4 mm before angioplasty to 4.0 +/- 0.7 mm after implantation. Percentage stenosis in the native arteries and in the venous grafts were respectively 78 +/- 13% and 69 +/- 14% before angioplasty and 24 +/- 8% and 22 +/- 8% after stent implantation. Complications at 6 months, presented as a ranking scale with 100% follow-up rate were, overall, of 20% clinical events (4% deaths, 6% myocardial infractions, 2% coronary artery bypass grafting and 8% re-angioplasty). Angiographic complications were of 8% subacute thrombosis and 19% restenosis and chronic occlusions. Long-term, at 65 +/- 9 months, clinical (86% follow-up) and angiographic (74% follow-up) showed that only a further 9% clinical events and 14% restenosis (12% of them between 6 and 12 months) occurred after 6 months. At an estimated follow-up time of 104 months, 70% patients remain event-free and the survival rate is 95%. In conclusion, stent implantation in the treatment of restenosis following conventional balloon angioplasty is a valid strategy with good long-term results. | pubmed_1141_22092 |
pubmed_744_580 | Hypoxia can occur in solid tumors when oxygen demand from rapid tumor growth outstrips the blood supply. Once thought to be merely a consequence of tumor physiology, more recent evidence suggests that hypoxia may also be a tumor adaptation to promote its own survival. For example, hypoxic conditions generate local transcriptional changes that enhance angiogenesis and glycolysis, processes that directly promote tumor growth. We hypothesize that maladaptive local chemoreceptor host response to hypoxia may contribute to a shift in immune balance that favors cancer survival. Specifically, we propose that hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment activates local adrenergic activity which in turn inhibits Th1 function while favoring Th2 function. Th1 function is vital to the host defense against cancer, and Th1 depletion is associated with increased cancer risk. In our view, the sympathetic bias induces Th2 bias independent of the direct immunomodulatory effects of tumor-derived cytokines. The hypoxia-induced local adrenergic response may be part of a broad tumor adaptation that enables its evasion of host immune surveillance. That the host response of Th2 bias is so reflexively linked to hypoxia may reflect the likelihood that trauma, rather than modern diseases such as cancer, were the most common causes of hypoxia during our teleologic past when natural selection shaped our biologic pathways. Validation of our hypothesis may shed more light on the biology of cancer and reveal novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. | 10.1016/j.mehy.2004.02.026 |
pubmed_115_11317 | We investigate the effect of magic angle spinning on heteronuclear spin decoupling in solids. We use an analytical Floquet-van Vleck formalism to derive expressions for the powder-averaged signal as a function of time. These expressions show that the spectrum consists of a centerband at the isotropic frequency of the observed spin, omega(0), and rotational decoupling sidebands at omega(0)+/-omega(1)+/-momega(r), where omega(1) is the decoupling field strength and omega(r) is the rotation frequency. Rotary resonance occurs when the rotational decoupling sidebands overlap with the centerband. Away from the rotary resonance conditions, the intensity of the centerband as a function of omega(r)/omega(1) is simply related to the total intensity of the rotational decoupling sidebands. Notably, in the absence of offset terms it is shown that as omega(1) decreases, the centerband intensity can decrease without any associated broadening. Furthermore, the centerband width is shown to be independent of spinning speed, to second order for the effects we consider. The effects of I spin chemical shift anisotropy and homonuclear dipolar couplings are also investigated. The analytical results are compared to simulations and experiments. | 10.1016/j.ssnmr.2005.09.009 |
pubmed_40_3394 | MicroRNA has been recently recognized as playing a prominent role in tumorigenesis and metastasis. Here, we report that miR-338-3p was epigenetically silenced in gastric cancer, and its down-regulation was significantly correlated with gastric cancer clinicopathological features. Strikingly, restoring miR-338-3p expression in SGC-7901 gastric cancer cells inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion and tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo, at least partly through inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, we demonstrate the oncogene SSX2IP is a target of miR-338-3p. We propose that miR-338-3p functions as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer, and the methylation status of its CpG island could serve as a potential diagnostic marker for gastric cancer. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0066782 |
pubmed_157_13489 | OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of direct identification of pathogens of bacteremia by direct matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-flight mass spectrometry (mALDI-TOF) compared to routine method.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A prospective study included 211 positive blood cultures obtained from 116 patients (106 adults and 10 children, aged from 2 weeks to 77 years old in the ICU after open heart surgery. Incubation was carried out under aerobic vials with a sorbent for antibiotics Analyzer BacT/ALERT 3D 120 (bioMerieux, France) in parallel with the primary sieving blood cultures on solid nutrient media with subsequent identification of pure cultures using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analyzer Vitek MS, bioMerieux, France routine method), after appropriate sample preparation we carried out a direct (without screening) MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric study of monocomponental blood cultures (n = 201).
RESULTS
using a routine method in 211 positive blood cultures we identified 23 types of microorganisms (Staphylococcus (n = 87), Enterobacteria- ceae (n = 71), Enterococci (n = 20), non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria (n = 18), others (n = 5). The average time of incubation of samples to obtain a signal of a blood culture growth was 16.2 ± 7.4 h (from 3.75 to 51 hours.) During the first 12 hours of incubation, growth was obtained in 32.4% of the samples, and on the first day in 92.2%. In the direct mass spectrometric analysis mnonocomponental blood cultures (n = 201) is well defined up to 153 species of the sample (76.1%), while the share of successful identification of Gram-negative bacteria was higher than that of Gram-positive (85.4 and 69, 1%, respectively p = 0.01). The high degree of consistency in the results of standard and direct method of identifying blood cultures using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (κ = 0.96, p < 0.001; the samples included in the calculation for which both option given result). Duration of the direct mass spectrometric analysis, including sample preparation, was no longer than 1 hour:
CONCLUSION
The method of direct MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry allows to significantly speed up the identification of blood cultures that may contribute as much as possible early appointment effective regimes of starting antibiotic therapy. | pubmed_157_13489 |
pubmed_186_1669 | A highly sensitive catheter probe is critical to catheter-based intravascular photoacoustic imaging. Here, we present a photoacoustic catheter probe design on the basis of collinear alignment of the incident optical wave and the photoacoustically generated sound wave within a miniature catheter housing for the first time. Such collinear catheter design with an outer diameter of 1.6 mm provided highly efficient overlap between optical and acoustic waves over an imaging depth of >6 mm in D2O medium. Intravascular photoacoustic imaging of lipid-laden atherosclerotic plaque and perivascular fat was demonstrated, where a lab-built 500 Hz optical parametric oscillator outputting nanosecond optical pulses at a wavelength of 1.7 μm was used for overtone excitation of C-H bonds. In addition to intravascular imaging, the presented catheter design will benefit other photoacoustic applications such as needle-based intramuscular imaging. | 10.1038/srep25236 |
pubmed_418_20152 | The European X-ray Free-Electron Laser (FEL) became the first operational high-repetition-rate hard X-ray FEL with first lasing in May 2017. Biological structure determination has already benefitted from the unique properties and capabilities of X-ray FELs, predominantly through the development and application of serial crystallography. The possibility of now performing such experiments at data rates more than an order of magnitude greater than previous X-ray FELs enables not only a higher rate of discovery but also new classes of experiments previously not feasible at lower data rates. One example is time-resolved experiments requiring a higher number of time steps for interpretation, or structure determination from samples with low hit rates in conventional X-ray FEL serial crystallography. Following first lasing at the European XFEL, initial commissioning and operation occurred at two scientific instruments, one of which is the Single Particles, Clusters and Biomolecules and Serial Femtosecond Crystallography (SPB/SFX) instrument. This instrument provides a photon energy range, focal spot sizes and diagnostic tools necessary for structure determination of biological specimens. The instrumentation explicitly addresses serial crystallography and the developing single particle imaging method as well as other forward-scattering and diffraction techniques. This paper describes the major science cases of SPB/SFX and its initial instrumentation - in particular its optical systems, available sample delivery methods, 2D detectors, supporting optical laser systems and key diagnostic components. The present capabilities of the instrument will be reviewed and a brief outlook of its future capabilities is also described. | 10.1107/S1600577519003308 |
pubmed_698_4815 | AIMS
To investigate the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in poultry products, and to elucidate whether poultry products may be linked to listeriosis cases. A further goal was to identify contamination routes for L. monocytogenes to broiler carcasses.
METHODS AND RESULTS
Poultry products (385 samples) were screened for L. monocytogenes. The recovered isolates and 19 patient isolates were characterized by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and restriction enzyme analysis. The poultry isolates showed great genetic diversity, but no identical subclones were identified from poultry sources and patients. One slaughterhouse was examined in detail during a 16-month period. The contamination rates increased along the processing line, and one subclone was found during the whole period. Only low prevalence of the bacteria was revealed from broiler faeces.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of L. monocytogenes in poultry products was high, but no listeriosis cases was linked to poultry products. Broilers seem to be contaminated during the slaughter process, and specific strains may persist in the processing environment. Broiler faeces does not seem to be an important source of L. monocytogenes in poultry products.
SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY
Preventive measures to avoid contamination of poultry products by L. monocytogenes must be taken in the processing plants. | 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2003.01895.x |
pubmed_1054_6535 | Eleven patients with focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver underwent a combination of radiologic procedures, including sonography, computed tomography (CT), hepatic scintigraphy, and angiography. This paper describes the radiologic findings in this group of patients and reviews the current literature. In the present series, sonography was the most sensitive (100%) method for detection of focal nodular hyperplasia, while CT was able to detect only seven (78%) of nine cases. Arteriographic findings were felt to be characteristic in nine (82%) of 11 cases. Hepatic scintigraphy demonstrated normal colloid uptake in six (55%) of 11 lesions. In this series, an accurate radiologic diagnosis of focal nodular hyperplasia was made in 73% of cases. Hepatic scintigraphy is the pivotal examination. Normal colloid uptake by a focal hepatic mass is virtually diagnostic. However, in the patients in whom the colloid scan shows decreased or absent uptake, angiography may show findings diagnostic of focal nodular hyperplasia in up to 75% of cases, thus avoiding the need need for liver biopsy or surgery. | 10.2214/ajr.137.5.983 |
pubmed_12_17874 | To examine the necessity and consequences of high-dose contrast media administration during coronary angioplasty, the records of 730 consecutive patients over a 6-month period were reviewed. The 54 patients (7%) requiring contrast agent doses greater than or equal to 400 ml were examined in detail. The mean contrast dose in this group was 496 +/- 76 ml (range 400 to 785 ml). Their mean age was 63 +/- 11 years (range 36 to 83 years), 10 patients had diabetes mellitus (19%), and four patients had a baseline creatinine level greater than or equal to 1.5 mg/dl (7%). Following coronary angioplasty, the serum creatinine rose from 1.1 +/- 0.2 to 1.2 +/- 0.3 (p = 0.08). The creatinine rose greater than or equal to 0.5 mg/dl in six patients (11%) and greater than or equal to 1.0 mg/dl in one patient (2%). Five of these six patients had either diabetes mellitus, baseline renal insufficiency, or both. Oliguria was not observed. The most important procedural factors contributing to the high doses of contrast media were multilesion and multivessel angioplasty in 96% and 83% of patients, respectively, prior bypass surgery in 52%, and combined diagnostic cardiac catheterization and angioplasty in 13%. Thus renal dysfunction following high-dose contrast agent administration during complex coronary angioplasty is infrequently associated with nephrotoxicity. Whenever possible, contrast doses in patients with diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency should be minimized. | 10.1016/0002-8703(90)90006-j |
pubmed_250_2723 | BACKGROUND & AIMS
Although colorectal cancer (CRC) progression has been associated with alterations in KRAS and RAS signaling, not all CRC cells have KRAS gene mutations. RAS activity is modulated by RAS-GTPase-activating proteins (RASGAPs), so we investigated the role of RASGAPs in CRC progression.
METHODS
The level of RASGAP expression in CRC cells was analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of the RAS protein activator like-1 (RASAL1) was examined in clinical colorectal neoplasms using immunohistochemistry. The clinicopathologic (age, sex, and tumor site and grade) and molecular (KRAS gene mutation, as well as CTNNB1 and TP53 expression patterns) factors that could affect RASAL1 expression were examined.
RESULTS
Of 12 RASGAPs examined, expression levels of only RASAL1 decreased in CRC cells; RASAL1 expression decreased in most CRC cells with wild-type KRAS gene but rarely in those with mutant KRAS gene. A transfection assay showed that RASAL1 repressed RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling in response to growth factor stimulation and reduced proliferation of CRC cells that contained wild-type KRAS gene. RASAL1 expression was detected in 46.9% (30/64) of adenocarcinoma, 17.4% (8/46) of large adenoma, and no (0/42) small adenoma samples. RASAL1 expression levels were correlated with the presence of wild-type KRAS gene in CRC tumor samples (P= .0010), distal location (P= .0066), and abnormal expression of TP53 (P= .0208).
CONCLUSIONS
RASAL1 expression is reduced in CRC cells that contain wild-type KRAS gene. Reductions in RASAL1 expression were detected more frequently in advanced lesions than in small adenomas, suggesting that RASAL1 functions in the progression of benign colonic neoplasms. | 10.1053/j.gastro.2008.09.063 |
pubmed_213_6129 | Binding of the selective D-1 dopamine receptor ligand 125I SCH 23982 was studied using crude plasma membranes derived from human renal cortex. 125I SCH 23982 bound saturably to a single high affinity site (Kd = 650 pM, Bmax = 19 fmol/mg protein). Binding at 37 degrees was rapid and reversible with forward and reverse rate constants of 5.79 x 10(8) min-1 m-1 and 0.156 min-1 respectively. Antagonist and agonist competition for 125I SCH 23982 binding was also consistent with the existence of a single site possessing pharmacological characteristics similar to a D-1 dopamine receptor. It is suggested that this site may represent a D-1 (or DA1) dopamine receptor present in human renal cortex. | 10.1016/0006-2952(89)90231-1 |
pubmed_989_17241 | Bronchiolitis obliterans is a clinical entity which results from a variety of etiologies and has a detrimental impact on patients' quality of life when it remains undiagnosed and untreated. Due to its non-pathognomic clinical symptoms and signs, physicians often proceed to radiological examination, especially with high resolution chest tomography. Histological examination reveals constrictive bronchiolitis, the pathological definition of bronchiolitis obliterans. Due to an almost normal aspect of the lung parenchyma this condition can be missed. However, its recognition and the identification of a possible exposure are important for removing the patient from the incriminating agent. We present a case of constrictive bronchiolitis in a metal-cutting worker, highlighting the principal findings of this disease. | 10.1016/j.prp.2020.153069 |
pubmed_335_12534 | BACKGROUND
Optimal parameters of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) are still undetermined. Given the vagus nerve's role in regulating heart rate (HR), it is important to determine safety and HR effects of various taVNS parameters.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted two sequential trials to systematically test the effects of various taVNS parameters on HR.
METHODS
15 healthy individuals participated in the initial two-visit, crossover exploratory trial, receiving either tragus (active) or earlobe (control) stimulation each visit. Nine stimulation blocks of varying parameters (pulse width: 100 μs, 200 μs, 500 μs; frequency: 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 25 Hz) were administered each visit. HR was recorded and analyzed for stimulation-induced changes. Using similar methods and the two best parameters from trial 1 (500μs 10 Hz and 500μs 25 Hz), 20 healthy individuals then participated in a follow-up confirmatory study.
RESULTS
Trial 1- There was no overall effect of the nine conditions on HR during stimulation. However multivariate analysis revealed two parameters that significantly decreased HR during active stimulation compared to control (500μs 10 Hz and 500μs 25 Hz; p < 0.01). Additionally, active taVNS significantly attenuated overall sympathetic HR rebound (post-stimulation) compared to control (p < 0.001). Trial 2-For these two conditions, active taVNS significantly decreased HR compared to control (p = 0.02), with the strongest effects at 500μs 10 Hz (p = 0.032).
CONCLUSION
These studies suggest that 60s blocks of tragus stimulation are safe, and some specific parameters modulate HR. Of the nine parameters studied, 500μs 10 Hz induced the greatest HR effects. | 10.1016/j.brs.2018.04.004 |
pubmed_699_24013 | Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the myocardium with focal or diffuse involvement. Viral infections are the most common cause of myocarditis, especially in Western countries. A recent viral illness with gastroenteric or upper respiratory symptoms often precedes myocarditis. The absence of specific pathognomonic features in conjunction with the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations that range from subclinical cases to sudden cardiac death (SCD) makes myocarditis diagnosis particularly challenging. Moreover, myocarditis might represent a cause of initially unexplained dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure (HF), especially among children and young adults. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is crucial for myocarditis diagnosis, because of its ability to detect interstitial edema during acute inflammation. Assessment of subepicardial or mid-myocardial fibrosis by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) is typical for myocarditis. Cardiac arrhythmias are frequent events that may arise especially in more severe myocarditis cases. The most common form of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, followed by ventricular tachycardia. Documented arrhythmias have been reported more commonly with HIV myocarditis than other more common infections such as Adenovirus, Parvovirus B19, human Herpes virus 6, and Enterovirus. The mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis in myocardial inflammation are not fully understood; in the acute phase, the spectrum of arrhythmogenesis ranges from a direct effect on cardiomyocytes that leads to electrical instability and ion channel impairment to ischemia from coronary macro- or microvascular disease. In chronic myocarditis, instead, myocardial replacement with fibrosis promotes scar-mediated re-entrant ventricular arrhythmias. Observational data suggested the important role of CMR, with LGE being the strongest independent predictor of SCD, cardiac, and all-cause mortality. In acute myocarditis, the most common localization of subepicardial LGE dwells in the lateral wall. Patients with myocarditis that develop HF and arrhythmias usually show a larger LGE distribution involving several myocardial segments. Moreover, a mid-layer LGE in the interventricular septum is more frequent in acute myocarditis than in acute coronary syndromes cases. The risk of SCD in patients with wide areas of LGE is significant, and a shared decision-making approach is warranted. Nevertheless, there is no formal consensus about the extension of LGE to justify implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation in primary prevention. | 10.3389/fcvm.2022.908663 |
pubmed_1084_6924 | Intralesional floating fat globules have been reported in cystic lesions such as teratoma of the ovary and dermoid of the head and neck but not within intracranial lesions. Fat globules dispersed within the subarachnoid space are a known imaging finding of ruptured intracranial dermoid. We report a unique case of an intralesional solitary floating fat globule within a multicompartmental arachnoid cyst, with varying locations on serial imaging. We also put forward a hypothesis for the pathogenesis of fat within an arachnoid cyst. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first such report in the literature. | 10.4103/0971-3026.85374 |
pubmed_1034_19488 | The use of drug price controls is a contentious issue globally. Low- and middle-income countries use direct price controls to improve access to essential drugs. But such price controls have little meaning if they are not designed and implemented well, and the extent to which firms coordinate in these countries to weaken price controls has been largely overlooked. In mid-2013, India adopted partial price-cap regulation for some, but not all, formulations of several essential medicines. Using data on sales and prices of the out-of-patent oral antidiabetic drug Metformin—considered essential by WHO since 1998—and employing the differences-in-differences methodology, we examine the impact of the regulation on curbing prices. We find that firms coordinated to increase the price of the regulated formulation in the period before regulation, which led to a higher ceiling price. We also find, using triple-differences analyses, that the coordination is stronger among larger firms and for time-release formulations. We present anecdotal evidence to suggest that pharmaceutical trade associations facilitated coordination among firms, and we conclude that partial price control of Metformin in India is, at best, a modest improvement over no regulation. | 10.1093/heapol/czw109 |
pubmed_364_19678 | Tuberculosis (TB) was responsible for more deaths in 2019 than any other infectious agent. This epidemic is exacerbated by the ongoing development of multi-drug resistance and HIV co-infection. Recent studies have therefore focused on identifying host-directed therapies (HDTs) that can be used in combination with anti-mycobacterial drugs to shorten the duration of TB treatment and improve TB outcomes. In searching for effective HDTs for TB, studies have looked toward immunometabolism, the study of the role of metabolism in host immunity and, in particular, the Warburg effect. Across a variety of experimental paradigms ranging from in vitro systems to the clinic, studies on the role of the Warburg effect in TB have produced seemingly conflicting results and contradictory conclusions. To reconcile this literature, we take a historical approach to revisit the definition of the Warburg effect, re-examine the foundational papers on the Warburg effect in the cancer field and explore its application to immunometabolism. With a firm context established, we assess the literature investigating metabolism and immunometabolism in TB for sufficient evidence to support the role of the Warburg effect in TB immunity. The effects of the differences between animal models, species of origin of the macrophages, duration of infection and Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains used for these studies are highlighted. In addition, the shortcomings of using 2-deoxyglucose as an inhibitor of glycolysis are discussed. We conclude by proposing experimental criteria that are essential for future studies on the Warburg effect in TB to assist with the research for HDTs to combat TB. | 10.3389/fcimb.2020.576596 |
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