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pubmed_175_4768 | Bovine mastitis is the most important infectious disease, causing significant losses in the dairy industry, in which Streptococcus agalactiae is a major pathogen. In this study, lysin CHAPk, derived from bacteriophage K, was expressed heterogeneously, and its antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects against S. agalactiae isolated from bovine mastitis were further analyzed. CHAPk was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), in which the purified yield of CHAPk was up to 14.6 mg/L with the purity of 95%. Time-killing kinetic curves showed that CHAPk fastly killed S. agalactiae in TSB medium and in milk within 25 min (by 3.3 log10 CFU/mL and 2.4 log10 CFU/mL, respectively). Observation of scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed cells wrinkled and ruptured after the treatment of CHAPk. CHAPk effectively inhibited early biofilms by 95% in 8 × MIC, and eradicated mature biofilms by 89.4% in 16 × MIC. Moreover, CHAPk killed 99% bacteria in mature biofilms. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) also demonstrated the potent antimicrobial and anti-biofilm action of CHAPk. It was firstly demonstrated CHAPk had the characters of inhibition/elimination of S. agalactiae biofilms and killing the bacteria in biofilms. CHAPk has the potential to develop a new antibacterial agent for mastitis treatment of S. agalactiae infections. | 10.3390/microorganisms8020216 |
pubmed_646_10542 | OBJECTIVES
The patient himself plays the crucial role in the prevention of diabetic foot disease and therefore education on foot care is important. In this study, we have evaluated the knowledge of the diabetic subjects regarding the foot problems and the care of feet in order to identify areas that require stress in the education programme.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Two hundred and fifty, consecutive cases of Type 2 diabetes (M:F, 176:74, age 57.2 +/- 9.7 yrs, duration 12.9 +/- 7.9 yrs) were selected for this study from the out-patient department of our hospital. A questionnaire was filled up for each patient by personal interview. The total score was 100 and a score of < 50 was considered as a low score for foot care knowledge.
RESULTS
A score of < 50 was obtained in 67.2%. Low score was more common in women (78.5%) than in men (62.5%) (chi 2 = 5.26, P = 0.022). Low scores (< 50) were more common among those with lower level of formal education (chi 2 = 70.0, P < 0.0001), there were more women with low educational status. Significant foot problems like gangrene, foot ulcers were present in 27.2% and low scores were more common among those with these complications (82% vs 62%) (chi 2 = 8.3, P = 0.004). In general the scores on awareness of general foot care principles and basic facts about the foot complications were poor. Most of them (72%) had good knowledge about the right usage of foot wear. There was a trend to have lower scores with poor formal education (chi 2 = 51.1, P < 0.0001) and also with increasing age. There was no correlation between the scores and the number of hospital visits. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that 31.2% of the variations in the scores were explained by the level of education.
CONCLUSIONS
This study underscores the importance of patient education on foot care principles, especially so, considering the magnitude of the problem of diabetes and the lower levels of literacy and poor socio economic status of many patients in this country. | pubmed_646_10542 |
pubmed_803_2129 | The authors report 4 cases of nontraumatic intramural hematoma of the duodenum (IMHD), 1 of pancreatic origin, 2 due to anticoagulant therapy while the 4th was an unusual complication of periarteritis nodosa. The principal anatomical, clinical, biological and radiological characteristics of IMHD are reviewed. Therapy is discussed, emphasizing nonaggressive surgery when possible. | 10.1159/000198895 |
pubmed_530_20432 | BACKGROUND
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services are often inadequate in promoting HIV-free child survival in rural areas with limited resources. An integrated comprehensive child survival program in rural Rwanda with special emphasis on HIV-exposed infants was established in 2005 and scaled-up. The objective of this study was to report program outcomes and identify predictors of program retention.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of infants born to HIV-infected women enrolled in the program at or before birth from March 1, 2007, to February 28, 2010, in Eastern Rwanda. Key program elements included improved access to health care, antiretroviral prophylaxis for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, clean water sources and replacement feeding, home visits by community health workers, prevention and treatment of childhood illness, nutritional support, family planning, and socioeconomic support for the extremely vulnerable.
RESULTS
Overall,1038 infants enrolled in the program in the study period during which time there was a 4-fold increase in the number of current participants. Uptake of contraception and treatment for diarrheal disease were high. The 18-month survival probability and retention probability were 0.93 (95% confidence interval: 0.91 to 0.94) and 0.88 (95% confidence interval: 0.86 to 0.90), respectively. Twenty-seven (2.6%) children tested positive for HIV, of which 1 died and none were lost-to-follow-up at 18 months. No statistically significant predictors of retention were identified.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate that a comprehensive integrated program to promote HIV-free survival can achieve high rates of retention and survival in a highly vulnerable population, even during a period of rapid growth. | 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31827d5118 |
pubmed_1118_18721 | Biohydrogen production using renewable sources has been regarded as one of the most sustainable ways to develop low-cost and green production technology. In order to achieve this objective, herein biohydrogen production has been conducted using the combination of untreated secondary sewage sludge (Sss), algal biomass hydrolyzate (Abh), graphene oxide (GO) and bacterial consortia that forms a granular system. Thus, naturally formed granular system produced cumulative H2 of 1520 mL/L in 168 h with the maximum production rate of 13.4 mL/L/h in 96 h at initial pH 7.0, and optimum temperature of 37 °C. It is noticed that the combination of Abh, Sss and GO governed medium showed 42.05 % higher cumulative H2 production along with 22.71 % higher production rate as compared to Abh and Sss based H2 production medium. The strategy presented herein may find potential applications for the low-cost biohydrogen production using waste biomasses including Sss and Abh. | 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.08.008 |
pubmed_520_12483 | Microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment undergo complex weathering factors that can affect their ability to interact with different coexisting environmental contaminants (termed here co-contaminants). In this study, the influence of artificially aging using UV on the sorption of a complex mixture of co-contaminants onto MPs was investigated in order to provide meaningful hypotheses on their individual and combined toxicities on sea urchin embryos. A mixture of artificially aged MPs (PS particles and PA microfibers) combined with 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), or Cd or Cu, both alone and in a mix, were used to expose embryos of Paracentrotus lividus. The effects of polymer aging on co-contaminants bioavailability were assessed by measuring changes in the transcriptional profile of genes involved in oxidative-stress response and skeletogenic and endo-mesodermal specification. Changes in the sorption ability of MPs to co-contaminants in the aqueous phase highlighted that aging did not affect the sorption of BDE-47 and Cd on MPs, although a certain influence on Cu sorption was found. Despite no morphological effects in embryos at the gastrula stage after MPs/contaminants combinatorial exposure emerged, the greatest influence of the aging process was mainly found for combined exposures which included BDE-47. Finally, the exposure to multiple contaminants generated transcriptional profiles poorly related to those activated by single contaminant, at times suggesting a mixture-dependent different aging influence. These results open new scenarios on the controversial role of vector of co-contaminants for MPs, especially when complex and different types of mixtures were considered. | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136720 |
pubmed_862_22976 | BACKGROUND
At present pathogenic mechanisms of cancer cachexia are poorly understood. Previous evidence in animal models implicates the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) in the development of cancer cachexia. In humans, MC4R mutations that lead to an impaired receptor function are associated with obesity; in contrast, the most frequent polymorphism (Val103Ile, rs2229616; heterozygote frequency approximately 2%) was shown to be negatively associated with obesity. We tested if cancer patients that are homo-/heterozygous for the Val103Ile polymorphism are more likely to develop cachexia and/or a loss of appetite than non-carriers of the 103Ile-allele.
METHODS
BMI (body mass index in kg/m2) of 509 patients (295 males) with malignant neoplasms was determined; additionally patients were asked about premorbid/pretherapeutical changes of appetite and weight loss. Cachexia was defined as a weight loss of at least 5% prior to initiation of therapy; to fulfil this criterion this weight loss had to occur independently of other plausible reasons; in single cases weight loss was the initial reason for seeing a physician. The average age in years (+/- SD) was 59.0 +/- 14.5 (males: 58.8 +/- 14.0, females 59.2 +/- 14.0). Blood samples were taken for genotyping of the Val103Ile by PCR- RFLP.
RESULTS
Most of the patients suffered from lymphoma, leukaemia and gastrointestinal tumours. 107 of the patients (21%) fulfilled our criteria for cancer cachexia. We did not detect association between the Val103Ile polymorphism and cancer cachexia. However, if we exploratively excluded the patients with early leucaemic stages, we detected a trend towards the opposite effect (p < 0.05); heterozygotes for the 103Ile-allele developed cancer cachexia less frequently in comparison to the rest of the study group. Changes of appetite were not associated with the 103Ile-allele carrier status (p > 0.39).
CONCLUSION
Heterozygotes for the 103Ile-allele are not more prone to develop cancer cachexia than patients without this allele; possibly, Ile103 carriers might be more resistant to cancer cachexia in patients with solid tumors. Further studies of the melanocortinergic system in cachexia of patients with solid tumors are warranted. | 10.1186/1471-2407-8-85 |
pubmed_855_12089 | BACKGROUND
Fractures of the femoral neck already represent a major public health problem in Australia. This situation is set to worsen as the population ages. The present study estimates the number of patients over 50 years of age with femoral neck fractures that is expected to impact on the South Australian healthcare service into the next century.
METHODS
Population projections from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 1996 census were combined with age- and gender-specific incidence rates for fractures of the femoral neck for persons over the age of 50 in South Australia. Projections for the expected number of hip fractures in this State were then calculated.
RESULTS
Assuming there are no changes in the age- and gender-specific incidence of fracture rates, the number of fractures in South Australia is estimated to increase by approximately 66% by the year 2021 and 190% by 2051.
CONCLUSION
Based on the population projections and the assumption that conditions contributing to hip fractures remain constant, the number of fractured neck of femurs will increase in far greater proportion than the overall population in the next century. The results of the present study indicate the serious implications for the South Australian healthcare system if there is no reduction in incidence rates. | 10.1046/j.1440-1622.2000.01768.x |
pubmed_1059_6102 | The influence of Uden, exerted on the activity of GOT, GPT, LDH acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase in the serum, is investigated upon 4-day-long treatment. The experiment is conducted in three groups of white male rats with mean weight 270 +/- 20 g. The first group of animals underwnt poisoning with 1/20 LD50, the second--with 1/4 LD50 while in the third, control group, the animals were treated with an oil solvent at the respective days. It is found that acid phosphatase, GOT and alkaline phosphatase activity in group two is virtually unchanged, whilst GPT activity in both experimental groups, and acid phosphatase in group one are reliably increased (P less than 0,01), with 20,17 and 53 per cent respectively. LDH activity is reliably lowered with 60 per cent in group two, whereas in group one a tendency for a reduction is noted (P less than 0,05). | pubmed_1059_6102 |
pubmed_1084_19272 | Clinical research demonstrates an association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endothelial dysfunction, a pathological state widely believed to be a hallmark of vascular disease; the underlying pathways, however, have not been defined. The purpose of this study was to characterize endothelial function in resistance arteries in a novel rat model of PCOS. Female rats were randomized at 3-4 wk to implantation of a 7.5-mg, 90-d dihydrotestosterone (DHT) pellet or a matched placebo. At 15-16 wk, experiments were performed on isolated mesenteric resistance arteries using a pressurized arteriograph. Endothelial function was assessed by the vasodilatory response of preconstricted arteries to acetylcholine (ACh) in the absence and presence of inhibitors for cyclooxygenase (indomethacin) and the thromboxane prostanoid receptor antagonist (SQ29,548). Distensibility was evaluated by measuring vessel diameter from 3-100 mm Hg, and elastin/collagen content was calculated on formalin-fixed vessels. Serum steroid levels were analyzed by sensitive RIA. DHT-induced PCOS rats were heavier, cycled irregularly, and had elevated blood pressure and smaller arterial lumens than controls. Furthermore, DHT vessels showed significantly reduced vasodilatory efficacy to ACh (with no change in sensitivity), reduced distensibility, and increased elastin content compared with controls. Within DHT animals, maximal dilation correlated negatively to DHT levels (r = -0.72) but not to body weight. Preincubation with either indomethacin or SC29,548 abrogated the dysfunction and restored full efficacy to ACh (P < 0.05). This is the first report to demonstrate the presence of endothelial dysfunction in a hyperandrogenic rat model of PCOS and to identify the role of vasoconstrictor prostanoids, allowing for more targeted research regarding the development of disease and potential therapeutic interventions. | 10.1210/en.2011-1424 |
pubmed_532_17 | Numerous studies have demonstrated that a significant change in weight during chemotherapy treatment was a factor of poor prognosis in early breast cancer women. However, the causes and mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are not fully known. This review summarizes current knowledge about the causes of energy imbalance during chemotherapy treatment and the mechanisms that have been proposed as responsible for the increased risk of relapse and death in this population. Current preventive strategies focus on physical activity programs but also on the use of metformin during and after chemotherapy. | 10.1684/bdc.2013.1802 |
pubmed_580_25166 | OBJECTIVE
We have previously reported the modified parent training of smaller groups and shorter schedules (PTSS). In this study, we applied PTSS to the mothers of children with pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and revealed the new evidence for its effectiveness.
METHODS
The participants were 30 mothers of children with PDD aged from 4.2 to 9.6 years. The effectiveness of PTSS was assessed with the confidence degree questionnaire (CDQ) and the child behavior checklist (CBCL), before and after each PTSS course. The recorded interviews were qualitatively analyzed using the KJ (Kawakita Jiro) methods.
RESULTS
Average CDQ scores were clearly improved as previously reported. In addition, the CBCL total T-score was significantly improved, which was not observed in the previous study. About KJ methods, six factors that change of mothers recognition were identified.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings provides additional evidence for the usefulness of PTSS for children with PDD. | pubmed_580_25166 |
pubmed_234_5495 | The effect of salinity and the mode of application (oral versus aqueous) on the lead accumulation in different tissues of the fish host eel (Anguilla anguilla) and its parasites Anguillicola crassus (Nematoda) and Paratenuisentis ambiguus (Acanthocephala) was investigated. Waterborne as well as dietary lead exposure caused an increase in the metal levels of different eel tissues and the parasites. The mode of lead application had a significant influence on the distribution of lead in the fish tissues. No significant difference on the lead concentration due to water salinity was found for the fish tissues. Among the analyzed tissues and helminths, the intestinal acanthocephalan P. ambiguus contained the significantly highest amounts of lead, which were affected by neither the mode of application nor the water salinity. In contrast, the lead level of the nematode A. crassus dwelling in the swim bladder of eels was even below the levels detected for host liver, intestine, and bile. Thus, depending on the mode of lead application, the resulting metal concentrations were approximately 20 to 2,000 times higher in P. ambiguus than in A. crassus. These differences may be due to the different microhabitats and nutrient uptake mechanisms of both parasite species. This study presents important new facts for the use of intestinal fish parasites as biological indicators for water quality, not only in freshwater, but also in marine and estuarine ecosystems. The combination of the results obtained from the host and the parasites could reveal a more detailed tool to ascertain the source of an environmental contamination than a study based on a single species.http://link.springer-ny. com/link/service/journals/00244/bibs/37n2p190.html | 10.1007/s002449900505 |
pubmed_424_564 | PURPOSE
To evaluate the short-term effect of gold-plating technique used in Ni-Cr metal ceramic crown in restoring anterior teeth.
METHODS
64 teeth from 38 cases were divided into two groups. Each group consisted of 32 teeth. All the teeth were restored with Ni-Cr metal ceramic crown. The restorations in group 1 had no treatment while those in group 2 were treated with gold-plating technique in the base metal alloy.Gingiva discoloration, bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PLI) and sulcular bleeding index (SBI) were examined 1 and 12 months after restoration. Chi-square test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
Gingiva discoloration was found in both groups after bonding. According to the percentage of gingival discoloration, there was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2 (12.5% vs 28.1%) (P>0.05). However, 12 months later, significant difference was found between the two groups (15.6% vs 37.5%)(P<0.05). According to PLI, BOP and SBI, there was no statistical difference between two groups (P>0.05).
CONCLUSION
Gold-plating was a good method in solving the problem of gingival discoloration in unprecious metal ceramic crown. | pubmed_424_564 |
pubmed_644_20567 | We present an overview of our studies on the differential role of serotonergic projections from the median raphe nucleus (MRN) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in behavioural animal models with relevance to schizophrenia. Stereotaxic microinjection of the serotonin neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) into the MRN or one of its main projections regions, the dorsal hippocampus, induced a marked enhancement of phencyclidine-induced locomotor hyperactivity and a disruption of prepulse inhibition (PPI) in rats. There was no enhancement of locomotor hyperactivity induced by amphetamine or MK-801 or after 5,7-DHT lesions of the DRN or ventral hippocampus. Rats with dorsal hippocampus lesions did not show significant changes in the Y-maze test for short-term spatial memory, the Morris water maze for long-term spatial memory, or in the T-maze delayed alternation test for working memory. These chronic lesion studies suggest a modulatory influence of serotonergic projections from the MRN to the dorsal hippocampus on phencyclidine effects and prepulse inhibition, but not on different forms of learning and memory. The results provide new insight into the role of serotonin in the dorsal hippocampus in aspects of schizophrenia. | 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2008.06.035 |
pubmed_939_15112 | Assessment of bone density is an important part of liver transplantation (LT) evaluation for early identification and treatment of osteoporosis. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is currently the standard clinical test for osteoporosis; however, it may contribute to the appointment burden on LT candidates during the cumbersome evaluation process, and there are limitations affecting its accuracy. In this study, we evaluate the utility of biomechanical analysis of vertebral images obtained during dual-energy abdominal triple-phase computed tomography (TPCT) in diagnosing osteoporosis among LT candidates. We retrospectively reviewed cases evaluated for LT between January 2017 and March 2018. All patients who underwent TPCT within 3 months of DXA were included. The biomechanical computed tomography (BCT) analysis was performed at a centralized laboratory (O.N. Diagnostics, Berkeley, CA) by 2 trained analysts blinded to the DXA data. DXA-based osteoporosis was defined as a T score ≤-2.5 at the hip or spine. BCT-based osteoporosis was defined as vertebral strength ≤4500 N for women or ≤6500 N for men or trabecular volumetric bone mineral density ≤80 mg/cm3 . Comparative data were available for 91 patients who had complete data for both DXA and BCT: 31 women and 60 men, age 54 ± 11 years (mean ± standard deviation), mean body mass index 28 ± 6 kg/m2 . Using DXA as the clinical reference, sensitivity of BCT to detect DXA-defined osteoporosis was 83.3% (20/24 patients) and negative predictive value was 91.7%; specificity and positive predictive value were 65.7% and 46.5%, respectively. BCT analysis of vertebral images on triple-phase computed tomography, routinely obtained during transplant evaluation, can reliably rule out osteoporosis in LT candidates. Patients with suspicion of osteoporosis on TPCT may need further evaluation by DXA. | 10.1002/lt.25926 |
pubmed_36_12715 | Organic photochromic molecules including diarylethenes are of particular interest for their numerous potential applications including high-density optical data storage and light-activated switches. In this report, we examined the temperature dependence of the light-drive photocyclization reaction in a classic diarylethene. The steady-state populations were monitored spectroscopically and by temperature dependent in situ photocrystallography, the latter being the first reported example of this technique. The observed decrease in the steady-state population with decreasing temperature suggests this classic diarylethene possesses an excited-state potential energy surface topology similar to previously reported "inverted" diarylethenes. | 10.1021/jp512488q |
pubmed_588_1650 | The interactions between endothelial cells (ECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) play significant roles in the homeostasis of the blood vessel during vascular remodeling. Cell adhesion and spreading are an essential process for VSMC migration, survival and proliferation in the events of vascular physiology and pathophysiology. However, effects of ECs on adhesion and spreading of VSMCs have not been characterized yet. Here, the interaction of ECs and VSMCs on adhesion and spreading of VSMCs were investigated by using a coculture system. The results showed that VSMCs cocultured with ECs exhibited a significant increase in the number of adherent and spreading cells, and much more mRNA (twofold, P<0.01) and protein (threefold, P<0.05) expression of beta(1)-integrin comparing to the control, i.e., VSMCs cultured alone. Furthermore, the enhanced functional activity of beta(1)-integrin expression was confirmed by FACS. A beta(1)-integrin blocking antibody (P5D2) could inhibit the EC-induced VSMC adhesion and spreading. It was demonstrated that in correspondence with enhanced cell adhesion, ECs also prompted focal adhesion complex assembly and stress fiber formation of VSMCs. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway was more pronouncedly activated in response to VSMC attachment. Our results for the first time show that coculture with ECs enhances VSMC adhesion and spreading by up-regulating beta(1)-integrin expression and activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, suggesting that the interaction between ECs and VSMCs serves an important role in vascular homeostasis and remodeling. | 10.1016/j.ejcb.2006.09.001 |
pubmed_979_14409 | Employees caring for aging family members could be costing your company money. Eldercare benefits could be the solution. Relatively inexpensive programs can make a difference in how employees see their company. | pubmed_979_14409 |
pubmed_247_19286 | The number and segmental distribution of cell bodies of sensory afferents and sympathetic efferent innervating to the knee joint of the rabbit and the Formosan rock-monkey were investigated using retrograde transport with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). After injecting HRP into the articular knee joint capsule of the rabbits, labeled neurons were found in the ipsilateral L4-S2 dorsal root ganglia (DRG). However, following injection of HRP into the articular cavity of the knee joint in the rabbit and the monkey, labeled neurons were found in both the ipsilateral DRG (L5-S2 and L4-S1 of the rabbit and monkey, respectively) and in the ipsilateral sympathetic ganglia (SG) (L4-S3 (rabbit) and L3-S1 (monkey)). The majority of labeled neurons within the DRG and the SG were composed of medium and large neurons in the monkey and the rabbit, respectively. The present findings suggest that the sensory projections from and sympathetic projection to the knee joint in rabbits and monkeys are similar, but that both projections of monkeys were "shifted" one segment cranially compared to the rabbit on both projections. | pubmed_247_19286 |
pubmed_1121_12220 | BACKGROUND
Measuring patient experience is an essential challenge in the inpatient behavioral health population.
PURPOSE
This initiative analyzed the psychometric properties of a revised version of the patient Combined Assessment of Psychiatric Environments (p-CAPE-R) survey.
METHODS
The p-CAPE was revised to encompass the interdisciplinary treatment team and implemented on five inpatient psychiatric units at an academic medical center. A psychometric analysis was performed on the p-CAPE-R.
RESULTS
Analysis of factor loadings with a large sample (n = 786) revealed a more coherent item structure under the "staff competency and engagement" and "treatment effectiveness" domains than presented in the original instrument development research.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the p-CAPE-R reflects a more useful and psychometrically sound instrument than the original p-CAPE, further analysis and revision to reflect the entire interdisciplinary team is warranted. | 10.1177/1078390321989405 |
pubmed_170_16858 | BACKGROUND
Consensus guidelines on the definition, investigation, and treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) have been published (J Peripher Nerv Syst 2005; 10: 220-228, Eur J Neurol 2006; 13: 326-332).
OBJECTIVES
To revise these guidelines.
METHODS
Disease experts, including a representative of patients, considered references retrieved from MEDLINE and Cochrane Systematic Reviews published between August 2004 and July 2009 and prepared statements that were agreed in an iterative fashion.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Task Force agreed on Good Practice Points to define clinical and electrophysiological diagnostic criteria for CIDP with or without concomitant diseases and investigations to be considered. The principal treatment recommendations were: (i) intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) (Recommendation Level A) or corticosteroids (Recommendation Level C) should be considered in sensory and motor CIDP; (ii) IVIg should be considered as the initial treatment in pure motor CIDP (Good Practice Point); (iii) if IVIg and corticosteroids are ineffective, plasma exchange (PE) should be considered (Recommendation Level A); (iv) if the response is inadequate or the maintenance doses of the initial treatment are high, combination treatments or adding an immunosuppressant or immunomodulatory drug should be considered (Good Practice Point); (v) symptomatic treatment and multidisciplinary management should be considered (Good Practice Point). | 10.1111/j.1529-8027.2010.00245.x |
pubmed_135_6438 | Despite recent breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment, congenital heart defects (CHDs) continue to be the leading cause of death among newborns. Fetal echocardiography is the most effective and non-invasive method for the prenatal diagnosis of CHDs. However, the challenge of obtaining standard views can lead to a low diagnostic accuracy. To explore new methods for training, the combined use of cardiovascular casting, computed tomography (CT) scanning, and virtual ultrasound generation methods was studied to preserve the cardiac structures of a fetus in digital form. The feasibility of the proposed workflow was verified by testing three fetal heart specimens collected after the termination of pregnancy. As a result, the anatomical structures were imaged clearly by a CT scan after cardiovascular casting, and the virtually generated ultrasound images based on the use of the Public software Library for UltraSound imaging research (PLUS) toolkit successfully demonstrated both the standard views and the views with diagnostic values for the visualization of the cardiovascular structures. This solution provides great data extensibility while being simple and cost-effective for end users. Therefore, the proposed method could provide a promising educational system for trainees to understand standard views of fetal echocardiography and the corresponding anatomical correlations. | 10.3390/bioengineering9100524 |
pubmed_254_17076 | Irradiated cadaveric costal cartilage (CC) has been utilized as an alternative to autologous cartilage (AC) in functional and aesthetic nasal surgery. The impact of graft choice between AC and CC on functional outcomes in rhinoplasty has yet to be studied. A systematic review was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify comparative studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of CC in nasal surgery. Functional and aesthetic outcomes and complications were reviewed and compared between AC and CC. Meta-analytic comparisons were performed when appropriate using data from comparative studies using a random-effects model. Four studies met inclusion criteria. The indication for surgery was functional in the majority of cases, and 34.6% of cases were revision rhino- or septorhinoplasties. Disparate data across studies prevented meta-analysis on functional outcomes; however, qualitative review of function outcomes demonstrated comparable outcomes between the CC and AC groups. No differences in graft infection, warping, and resorption rates were detected. Analysis of all graft-related complications was higher in the CC group (P = 0.02); however, when AC donor site-related complications were included, no significance between the two groups was observed. In conclusion, limited, high quality data was available for analysis. Of the available studies, this systematic review suggest that the use of AC or CC may lead to comparable results in terms of functional outcomes. More long-term studies directly comparing AC and CC functional outcomes would be welcomed. | 10.1097/SCS.0000000000007400 |
pubmed_1006_1374 | A comparative-embryological study (223 fetuses of man, cat, dog, albino rat and mole) has established a similarity in the development and structure of the intermediate nerve in mammalia. The nerve under study represents a complex structural-functional system. Its afferent component includes a geniculate ganglion, a nucleus of the solitary tract, root, peripheral branches. A superior salivary nucleus, a root, pterygopalatine, submandibular, sublingual and auricular (in man) parasympathetic ganglia of the head, peripheral branches. The intermediate nerve fibers are included as additional sources in branches of other cranial nerves, vegetative ganglia and plexuses being spread on a considerable territory of the head. The intermediate nerve is an isolated anatomical structure and deserves being detached into a separate pair of cranial nerves. | pubmed_1006_1374 |
pubmed_1111_5443 | AIM
Supernumerary teeth represent a numerical dental anomaly in which more teeth than the norm are present in the dentition. A sixteen year sample of supernumerary teeth has been reviewed in order to analyse epidemiological data, morphological and topographic features of these teeth, especially of those located in the praemaxillary region.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
All cases in which supernumerary teeth were surgically treated from 1991 to 2006 at the Oral Surgery Unit of the Sapienza University of Rome have been reviewed.
RESULTS
118 Caucasian subjects with supernumerary teeth have been reviewed in the range of age comprised between 5 and 42 years: 191 SNTs were collected, 136 from the upper jaw and 55 from the mandible. In the maxilla the incisor region was more frequently involved (67.65%), while in the mandible the one most frequently involved was the premolar region (69.1%). Conoid was the most frequent type of supernumerary teeth. Uneruption of the contiguous permanent teeth was the most commonly associated pathological condition, found in 81 out of the 191 cases of supernumerary teeth (40 patients, 42.4%). Tuberculated, infundibuliform and incisiform-shaped teeth caused uneruption of permanent teeth more frequently than the other morphological types of supernumerary teeth.
CONCLUSION
In the upper incisor area, the extraction of SNT is mandatory as early as they are diagnosed, especially if they are tuberculated, infundibuliform and incisiform-shaped, if they are located palatally or just in the middle of the ridge and when more than one SNT is present. | pubmed_1111_5443 |
pubmed_20_5803 | The cellular response to a hypoxic environment is regulated by hypoxia inducible factors. Hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (Hif1alpha) in particular, is tightly regulated by the hypoxic environment in most cells, and plays an important role in regulating the stress response of cells to hypoxia. Interestingly, substantial observations are now emerging that point to an important role for Hif1alpha in stem cells, including embryonic stem cells, neuronal stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells. Notably, Hif1alpha has been shown to enhance self renewal of stem cells, mediate a shift to glycolytic metabolism, and promote telomerase expression. | 10.2741/4389 |
pubmed_1090_3982 | Eight defects of the tegmen tympani or antri have been operated on during the last two years. Among these cases, 4 brain herniae were associated with the defect of the tegmen. Magnetic resonance imaging permitted to evaluate accurately the space occupying lesions into the mastoid cavity and disclosed the brain and/or meningeal herniations. The defect of the tegmen was oblitered through a middle fossa approach whereas the hernia was resected through a mastoid approach when necessary. | pubmed_1090_3982 |
pubmed_695_1929 | The adult mammalian heart has limited capacity for regeneration following injury, whereas the neonatal heart can readily regenerate within a short period after birth. Neonatal heart regeneration is orchestrated by multiple cell types intrinsic to the heart, as well as immune cells that infiltrate the heart after injury. To elucidate the transcriptional responses of the different cellular components of the mouse heart following injury, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing on neonatal hearts at various time points following myocardial infarction and couple the results with bulk tissue RNA-sequencing data collected at the same time points. Concomitant single-cell ATAC sequencing exposes underlying dynamics of open chromatin landscapes and regenerative gene regulatory networks of diverse cardiac cell types and reveals extracellular mediators of cardiomyocyte proliferation, angiogenesis, and fibroblast activation. Together, our data provide a transcriptional basis for neonatal heart regeneration at single-cell resolution and suggest strategies for enhancing cardiac function after injury. | 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108472 |
pubmed_463_8918 | Creatine supplementation has been widely used by athletes and young physical exercise practioneers in order of increasing muscle mass and enhancing athletic performance, but their use/overuse may represent a health risk on hepatic and renal impaired function. In this study, we evaluated the effects of 40 days of oral creatine supplementation on hepatic and renal function biomarkers in a young animal model. Wistar rats (5 weeks old) were divided in five groups (n = 7): control (CONTR), oral creatine supplementation (CREAT), moderate exercise training (EXERC), moderate exercise training plus oral creatine supplementation (EXERC + CREAT) and pathological group (positive control for liver and kidney injury) by the administration of rifampicin (RIFAMPICIN). Exercise groups were submitted to 60 min/day of swimming exercise session with a 4% of body weight workload for six weeks. The EXERC + CREAT showed the higher body weight at the end of the training protocol. The CREAT and EXERC + CREAT group showed an increase in hepatic (Aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) and renal (urea and creatinine) biomarkers levels (p < 0.05). Our study showed that the oral creatine supplementation promoted hepatic and renal function challenge in young rats submitted to moderate exercise training. | 10.3109/15376516.2013.843108 |
pubmed_986_7597 | Two hundred and seventy-two persons aged 11 to 80 were interviewed regarding whether and why they had tried and/or used coffee, tobacco, liquor, and marijuana. The attracting and capturing power of tobacco and marijuana registered as lower than those associated with coffee and liquor. A guilt/shame index was derived from avowed motives. Trying tobacco and liquor was associated with greater guilt/shame than that associated with coffee and marijuana. Most tobacco users offered motives that indicated continued guilt/shame, while the majority of the other users expressed contentment with their habits. | 10.3109/10826088209064059 |
pubmed_538_5856 | To investigate whether the presence of infections in C57BL/6 mice influences the metastatic ability of B16 melanoma (B16M) cells, we compared the susceptibility to metastasis development of pathogen-free mice with that of mice from a colony endemically infected with several mouse pathogens. We found that, compared to seronegative controls, mice that were seropositive at least to Mouse Hepatitis Virus (MHV) and Mycoplasma pulmonis: (i) exhibited a higher interindividual variability in all the parameters quantifying metastatic progression; (ii) had elevated serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines both before and at the end of the experiment; (iii) were more susceptible to hepatic metastasis. Interestingly, final levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-18 correlated with the extent of hepatic colonization by the melanoma cells. To confirm the metastasis-enhancing effect of MHV and M. pulmonis we measured the ability of B16M cells to metastasize in pathogen-free animals housed for increasing time-intervals in the vicinity of MHV(+) animals. Notably, susceptibility to metastasis was lower in animals seronegative to MHV than in MHV(+) mice, whereas the latter were less susceptible to metastasis than MHV(+) M. pulmonis(+) mice. Seropositive animals had increased levels of TNF-alpha and IL-18 suggesting that MHV and M. pulmonis enhance the metastatic ability of melanoma cells by inducing the release of proinflammatory cytokines. While our results highlight the importance of using pathogen-free animals in metastasis studies, they emphasize the need for a comprehensive health monitoring of the mice used in such studies, particularly in case of using facilities lacking appropriate containment measures. | 10.1007/s10585-005-5261-9 |
pubmed_197_7984 | BACKGROUND
During the past two decades, the hypothesis of fetal origins of adult disease has received considerable attention. However, critique has also been raised regarding the failure to take the explanatory role of accumulation of other exposures into consideration, despite the wealth of evidence that social circumstances during the life course impact on health in adulthood. The aim of the present prospective cohort study was to examine the contributions of birth weight and life course exposures (cumulative socioeconomic disadvantage and adversity) to dyslipidemia and serum lipids in mid-adulthood.
METHODS
A cohort (effective n = 824, 77%) was prospectively examined with respect to self-reported socioeconomic status as well as stressors (e.g., financial strain, low decision latitude, separation, death or illness of a close one, unemployment) at the ages of 16, 21, 30 and 43 years; summarized in cumulative socioeconomic disadvantage and cumulative adversity. Information on birth weight was collected from birth records. Participants were assessed for serum lipids (total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides), apolipoproteins (A1 and B) and height and weight (for the calculation of body mass index, BMI) at age 43. Current health behavior (alcohol consumption, smoking and snuff use) was reported at age 43.
RESULTS
Cumulative life course exposures were related to several outcomes; mainly explained by cumulative socioeconomic disadvantage in the total sample (independently of current health behaviors but attenuated by current BMI) and also by cumulative adversity in women (partly explained by current health behavior but not by BMI). Birth weight was related only to triglycerides in women, independently of life course exposures, health behaviors and BMI. No significant association of either exposure was observed in men.
CONCLUSIONS
Social circumstances during the life course seem to be of greater importance than birth weight for dyslipidemia and serum lipid levels in adulthood. | 10.1186/1471-2458-10-484 |
pubmed_335_18538 | Among its other physiological roles, C-type lectins functioned as pattern recognition receptors (PRR) in innate immunity received much attention. In the present study, a novel C-type lectin was identified and characterized from the invertebrate razor clam Sinonovacula constrict and designated as ScCTL. The complete cDNA sequence of ScCTL was 828 bp in length and coded a secreted polypeptide of 158 amino acids with a typical CRD domain. Multiple sequence alignments combined with phylogenetic analysis both collectively confirmed that ScCTL was a novel member belong to lectin family. Spatial expression distribution analysis revealed that ScCTL was extensively expressed in all of the examined tissues, and the highest expression was detected in the hepatopancreas. After 1 × 107 CFU/mL Vibrio parahaemolyticus challenge by immersion infection, the ScCTL transcript in hepatopancreas and gill were markedly upregulated and arrived the maximum levels at 24 or 12 h after challenge, respectively. Recombinant ScCTL could agglutinate not only all tested bacteria but sheep and mouse erythrocyte in the presence of Ca2+. All of our studies suggested that ScCTL performed important roles in protecting cells from pathogenic infection in S. constrict. | 10.1016/j.dci.2018.04.016 |
pubmed_321_2939 | When mathematical and computational dynamic models reach infinity in finite time, extending analysis and numerics beyond it becomes a notorious challenge. We suggest how, upon suitable transformations, it may become possible to go beyond infinity with the solution becoming again well behaved and the computations continuing normally. In our Ordinary Differential Equation examples the crossing of infinity occurs instantaneously. For Partial Differential Equations, the crossing of infinity may persist for finite time, necessitating the introduction of buffer zones, within which an appropriate transformation is adaptively identified. Along the path of our analysis, we present a regularization process via complexification and explore its impact on the dynamics; we also discuss a set of compactification transformations and their intuitive implications. This methodology could be useful toward a systematic approach to bypassing infinity and thus going beyond it in a broader range of evolution equation models. | 10.1038/s41467-017-01502-7 |
pubmed_163_18681 | Neurorretinitis as a manifestation of cat scratch disease occurs in 1-2 % of patients with Bartonella Henselae eye disease. Ocular manifestations tend to follow systemic ones, although they can appear in their absence. The presence of star-shaped macular exudate is characteristic and suggestive of this infection. We report a case of a 14-year-old healthy boy, with 15 days of decreased visual acuity, who was admitted for suspected left optic neuritis with papilledema. Ophthalmological examination revealed the characteristic "macular star" that led to the diagnosis of infection by Bartonella Henselae, later confirmed by positive serology. | 10.5546/aap.2021.e616 |
pubmed_1113_14160 | Since 2002, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has approved ten enzyme-based total coliform and E. coli detection tests for examination of drinking water. These tests include: Colilert, Colilert-18, Colisure, m-Coli Blue 24, Readycult Coliforms 100, Chromocult, Coliscan, E * Colite, Colitag and MI Agar. The utility of the enzyme based test systems is based on both the ability of the test to detect the target organisms at low levels and the ability of the test system to suppress the growth of non-target organisms that might result in false positive results. Differences in the ability of some of these methods to detect total coliform and E. coli, as well as suppress Aeromonas spp., a common cause of "false positive" results, have been observed. As a result, this study was undertaken to elucidate the strengths and weaknesses of each method. Water samples were collected from three geographically and chemically diverse groundwaters in Wisconsin. One-hundred milliliter aliquots were individually spiked with both low concentrations (one to ten organisms) and high concentrations (fifty to one-hundred) of each of five different total coliform organisms (Serratia, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, E. coli, & Klebsiella). These spiked samples were used to test the capability of ten enzyme-based test systems to both detect and enumerate the spiked organisms. In addition, 100 ml samples were independently spiked with two different strains of Aeromonas spp. at six different levels, to assess the ability of each enzyme-based test to suppress Aeromonas spp. Analysis of the data indicated that wide variability exists among USEPA approved tests to detect and quantify total coliforms, as well as suppress Aeromonas spp. | pubmed_1113_14160 |
pubmed_414_14736 | BACKGROUND
There is mixed evidence on the association between psychosocial work exposures (ie, passive jobs) and physical activity, but previous studies did not take into account the effect of cumulative exposures nor did they examine different trajectories in exposure. We investigated whether exposure to passive jobs, measured three times over an average of 5 years, is associated with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA).
METHODS
Data were from working men (n = 4291) and women (n = 1794) aged 35-55 years who participated in the first three phases of the Whitehall II prospective cohort. Exposure to passive jobs was measured at each phase and LTPA at phases 1 and 3. Participants were categorised according to whether or not they worked in a passive job at each phase, leading to a scale ranging from 0 (non-passive job at all three phases) to 3 (passive job at all three phases). Poisson regression with robust variance estimates were used to assess the prevalence ratios of low LTPA.
RESULTS
An association was found in men between exposure to passive jobs over 5 years and low LTPA at follow-up, independently of other relevant risk factors. The prevalence ratio for low LTPA in men was 1.16 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.33) times greater for employees with three reports of passive job than for those who had never worked in passive jobs. No association was observed in women.
CONCLUSION
This study provides evidence that working in passive jobs may encourage a passive lifestyle in men. | 10.1136/oem.2008.045104 |
pubmed_785_4540 | Although a recent study of Debord et al. in Biochimie (2014; 97:72-77) described the thermodynamics of the catalysed hydrolysis of phenyl acetate by human paraoxonase-1, the mechanistic details along the reaction route of this enzyme remain unclear. Therefore, we briefly present the solvent kinetic isotope effects on the phenyl acetate esterase activity of paraoxonase-1 and its inhibition with the phenyl methylphosphonate anion, which is a stable isosteric analogue that mimics the high-energy tetrahedral intermediate on the hydroxide-promoted hydrolysis pathway. The data show normal isotope effects, while proton inventory analysis indicates that two protons contribute to the kinetic isotope effect. Coherently, moderate competitive inhibition with the phenyl methylphosphonate anion reveals that the rate-limiting transition state suboptimally resembles the tetrahedral intermediate. The implications of these findings can be attributed to two possible reaction mechanisms that might occur during the paraoxonase-1-catalysed hydrolysis of phenyl acetate. | pubmed_785_4540 |
pubmed_18_8203 | Increased myocyte apoptosis in diabetic hearts has been previously reported. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of insulin on cardiac apoptotic, hypertrophic, and survival pathways in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Forty-eight male Wistar rats at 8 weeks of age were randomly divided into control group (Control), STZ-induced (65 mg/kg STZ i.v.) Type 1-like diabetic rats (DM), and DM rats with 4 IU insulin replacement (DI) for 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. The levels of protein involved in cardiac apoptotic, hypertrophic, and survival pathways were measured by Western blotting. Cardiac mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways, such as Bad, cytosolic cytochrome c, activated caspase 9 and 3, and calcineurin-nuclear factor activation transcription 3 (NFAT3) hypertrophic pathway in DM were increased compared to Control and attenuated in DI group after 8 weeks whereas those were not found after 4 weeks. Cardiac anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and phosphorylated-Bad were significantly decreased in DM group but not in DI group after 8 weeks. Insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGFIR), phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K), and the protein kinase B (Akt) were significantly decreased in DM relative to Control and DI after 8 weeks whereas those were not found after 4 weeks. Insulin replacement not only prevents activation of the cardiac mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway and calcineurin-related NFAT3 hypertrophic pathway in diabetes but it also enhances the cardiac insulin/IGFIR-PI3K-Akt survival pathway, all of which are attenuated with insulin therapeutic duration-dependent manners. The findings may provide possible diabetes-related apoptotic, hypertrophic, and survival pathways for potentially preventing cardiac abnormality in diabetes. | 10.1002/cbf.1601 |
pubmed_41_9770 | Background: Treatment of cancers with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathway inhibitors can lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which could be serious and even fetal. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the characteristics of irAEs associated with the use of such drugs. Methods: The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to find potential studies using the following strategies: anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment; irAEs; and cancer. R© package Meta was used to pool incidence. Results: Forty-six studies representing 12,808 oncologic patients treated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents were included in the meta-analysis. The anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents included nivolumab, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, avelumab, and BMS-936559. The tumor types were melanomas, Hodgkin lymphomas, urothelial carcinomas, breast cancers, non-small cell lung cancers, renal cell carcinomas (RCC), colorectal cancers, and others. We described irAEs according to organ systems, namely, the skin (pruritus, rash, maculopapular rash, vitiligo, and dermatitis), endocrine system (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypophysitis, thyroiditis, and adrenal insufficiency), digestive system (colitis, diarrhea, pancreatitis, and increased AST/ALT/bilirubin), respiratory system (pneumonitis, lung infiltration, and interstitial lung disease), and urinary system (increased creatinine, nephritis, and renal failure). In patients treated with the PD-1 signaling inhibitors, the overall incidence of irAEs was 26.82% (95% CI, 21.73-32.61; I2, 92.80) in any grade and 6.10% (95% CI, 4.85-7.64; I2, 52.00) in severe grade, respectively. The development of irAEs was unrelated to the dose of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agents. The incidence of particular irAEs varied when different cancers were treated with different drugs. The incidence of death due to irAEs was around 0.17%. Conclusion: The occurrence of irAEs was organ-specific and related to drug and tumor types. | 10.3389/fphar.2017.00730 |
pubmed_249_10858 | This paper describes the Sheffield Mk3.5 EIT/EIS system which measures both the real and imaginary part of impedance at 30 frequencies between 2 kHz and 1.6 MHz. The system uses eight electrodes with an adjacent drive/receive electrode data acquisition protocol. The system is modular, containing eight identical data acquisition boards, which contain DSPs to generate the drive frequencies and to perform the FFT used for demodulation. The current drive is in three sequentially applied packets, where each packet contains ten summed sine waves. The data acquisition system is interfaced to a host PC through an optically isolated high speed serial link (RS485) running at 2 Mbaud (2 Mbits s(-1)). Measurements on a saline filled tank show that the average signal to noise performance of the system is 40 dB measured across all frequencies and that this figure is independent of frequency of measurement. These results suggest that the current system is 10 dB better in absolute terms than the previous Sheffield (Mk3a) system. | 10.1088/0967-3334/22/1/307 |
pubmed_373_6351 | Persistent infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a leading cause of human liver disease and is strongly associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, one of the most prevalent forms of human cancer. Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is an important mediator of chronic liver disease caused by HBV infection. It is demonstrated that the HBV HBx protein acutely sensitizes cells to apoptotic killing when expressed during viral replication in cultured cells and in transfected cells independently of other HBV genes. Cells that were resistant to apoptotic killing by high doses of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), a cytokine associated with liver damage during HBV infection, were made sensitive to very low doses of TNFalpha by HBx. HBx induced apoptosis by prolonged stimulation of N-Myc and the stress-mediated mitogen-activated-protein kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1) pathway but not by up-regulating TNF receptors. Cell killing was blocked by inhibiting HBx stimulation of N-Myc or mitogen-activated-protein kinase kinase 1 using dominant-interfering forms or by retargeting HBx from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, which prevents HBx activation of cytoplasmic signal transduction cascades. Treatment of cells with a mitogenic growth factor produced by many virus-induced tumors impaired induction of apoptosis by HBx and TNFalpha. These results indicate that HBx might be involved in HBV pathogenesis (liver disease) during virus infection and that enhanced apoptotic killing by HBx and TNFalpha might select for neoplastic hepatocytes that survive by synthesizing mitogenic growth factors. | 10.1073/pnas.94.16.8744 |
pubmed_81_10211 | PURPOSE
To investigate whether uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a cost-effective alternative to hysterectomy for patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids, the authors performed an economic evaluation alongside the multicenter randomized EMMY (EMbolization versus hysterectoMY) trial.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between February 2002 and February 2004, 177 patients were randomized to undergo UAE (n = 88) or hysterectomy (n = 89) and followed up until 24 months after initial treatment allocation. Conditional on the equivalence of clinical outcome, a cost minimization analysis was performed according to the intention to treat principle. Costs included health care costs inside and outside the hospital as well as costs related to absence from work (societal perspective). Cumulative standardized costs were estimated as volumes multiplied with prices. The nonparametric bootstrap method was used to quantify differences in mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) costs between the strategies.
RESULTS
In total, 81 patients underwent UAE and 75 underwent hysterectomy. In the UAE group, 19 patients (23%) underwent secondary hysterectomies. The mean total costs per patient in the UAE group were significantly lower than those in the hysterectomy group ($11,626 vs $18,563; mean difference, -$6,936 [-37%], 95% CI: -$9,548, $4,281). The direct medical in-hospital costs were significantly lower in the UAE group: $6,688 vs $8,313 (mean difference, -$1,624 [-20%], 95% CI: -$2,605, -$586). Direct medical out-of-hospital and direct nonmedical costs were low in both groups (mean cost difference, $156 in favor of hysterectomy). The costs related to absence from work differed significantly between the treatment strategies in favor of UAE (mean difference, -$5,453; 95% CI: -$7,718, -$3,107). The costs of absence from work accounted for 79% of the difference in total costs.
CONCLUSIONS
The 24-month cumulative cost of UAE is lower than that of hysterectomy. From a societal economic perspective, UAE is the superior treatment strategy in women with symptomatic uterine fibroids. | 10.1016/j.jvir.2008.03.001 |
pubmed_1048_4920 | OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the application of 0.005% estriol gel to the vulvar vestibule in the management of postmenopausal dyspareunia.
STUDY DESIGN
Postmenopausal women with dyspareunia were enrolled in this study. Patients were instructed to use a fingertip to apply 0.25g of vaginal gel containing 25μg of estriol to the vulvar vestibule daily for three weeks and then twice weekly for up to 12 weeks.
RESULTS
Assessment of symptoms (dyspareunia and cotton swab test) and signs of vestibular atrophy were performed, and changes between baseline and weeks 3 and 12 were assessed. Adverse events were recorded. A total of 63 women were included. Of the 63, 59 (93.6%) completed the 12-week treatment period, and four dropped out for vestibular burning. Dyspareunia improved or was cured (score ≤1) by week 12 in 81.4% of patients. The patients also showed a statistically significant reduction in vestibular atrophy and cotton swab test at the end of treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
Application of 0.005% estriol gel to the vulvar vestibule is effective in correcting menopausal coital pain. This suggests that reduction in sensory vestibular innervation sensitivity is likely to play a pivotal role in the relief of dyspareunia. One limitation of this study is the limited follow-up, but the therapy may be continued for as long as the patients are distressed by their symptoms without estrogen intervention. | 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2016.10.016 |
pubmed_175_12578 | The stiffness and topography of a cell's extracellular matrix (ECM) are physical cues that play a key role in regulating processes that determine cellular fate and function. While substrate stiffness can dictate cell differentiation lineage, migration, and self-organization, topographical features can change the cell's differentiation profile or migration ability. Although both physical cues are present and intrinsic to the native tissues in vivo, in vitro studies have been hampered by the lack of technological set-ups that would be compatible with cell culture and characterization. In vitro studies therefore either focused on screening stiffness effects in cells cultured on flat substrates or on determining topography effects in cells cultured onto hard materials. Here, we present a reliable, microfabrication method to obtain well defined topographical structures of micrometer size (5-10 μm) on soft polyacrylamide hydrogels with tunable mechanical stiffness (3-145 kPa) that closely mimic the in vivo situation. Topographically microstructured polyacrylamide hydrogels are polymerized by capillary force lithography using flexible materials as molds. The topographical microstructures are resistant to swelling, can be conformally functionalized by ECM proteins and sustain the growth of cell lines (fibroblasts and myoblasts) and primary cells (mouse intestinal epithelial cells). Our method can independently control stiffness and topography, which allows to individually assess the contribution of each physical cue to cell response or to explore potential synergistic effects. We anticipate that our fabrication method will be of great utility in tissue engineering and biophysics, especially for applications where the use of complex in vivo-like environments is of paramount importance. | 10.1088/1758-5090/ab7552 |
pubmed_368_25122 | Despite a significant decrease in Shigella-related mortality, shigellosis continues to carry a significant burden of disease worldwide, particularly in Asia and Africa. Shigella is a highly virulent pathogen comprised of four major species with numerous subtypes. Shigella dysenteriae and Shigella flexneri infections are predominant in resource-limited settings. Clinical presentations range from mild watery diarrhea to severe dysentery with systemic complications such as electrolyte imbalance, seizures and hemolytic uremic syndrome. S. dysenteriae subtype 1, the producer of Shiga toxin, causes the most severe illness and highest mortality. Susceptible strains of Shigella may be effectively treated with inexpensive oral antibiotics such as ampicillin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Unfortunately, multidrug resistant strains have emerged that have rendered most antibiotics, including fluoroquinolones and extended-spectrum cephalosporins, ineffective. Management and prevention of shigellosis represents a major public health challenge. The development of an effective vaccine is urgently needed to decrease its global impact. | 10.1007/s40475-014-0019-6 |
pubmed_1132_20033 | PURPOSE
To evaluate the role of core-needle biopsy (CNB) in thyroid nodules with nondiagnostic results at previous fine-needle aspiration (FNA).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From October 2008 to July 2011, 155 nodules from 155 patients (37 men, 118 women) with a mean age of 51.8 years (age range, 22-76 years) with nondiagnostic results at previous FNA were reviewed retrospectively. The Bethesda system for reporting thyroid cytopathologic results was used to assign FNA and CNB findings. Malignant nodules (n = 37) were diagnosed after surgery. Benign nodules (n = 79) were diagnosed either after surgery, with benign findings after FNA and/or CNB that had been repeated at least twice, or after benign cytology findings at FNA or CNB with a stable size at follow-up. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of ultrasonographically guided CNB were evaluated.
RESULTS
At CNB, two nodules (1.3%) showed nondiagnostic results, and 135 nodules (87.1%) had conclusive diagnoses. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of core biopsies for the detection of malignancy were 94.6% (35 of 37), 100% (79 of 79), 100% (35 of 35), 97.5% (79 of 81), and 98.3% (114 of 116), respectively. For 28 nodules, nondiagnostic results were found after two or more FNA procedures; however, diagnostic surgery was performed in only one patient.
CONCLUSION
CNB of the thyroid nodule demonstrates high rates of conclusive and accurate diagnoses in patients for whom previous FNA results were nondiagnostic, thereby reducing the need for unnecessary diagnostic surgery. | 10.1148/radiol.13122247 |
pubmed_2_11729 | We herein describe the case of a 58-year-old man who presented with dilated-phase hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and required an implantable cardioverter defibrillator implant. Subsequently, the patient was diagnosed with Fabry disease (FD), which was suspected based on the results of an endomyocardial biopsy and diagnosed following demonstration of deficient α-galactosidase A (GLA) activity. Molecular studies showed a novel point mutation in the 3' splice site consensus sequence of intron 5 in the gene encoding GLA that created a new splicing site, resulting in the expression of mutant mRNA. FD should be considered a cause of HCM in patients with severe tachyarrhythmia without other remarkable manifestations of FD. | 10.2169/internalmedicine.52.9213 |
pubmed_374_25392 | AIM
To determine the clinical and radiographical aspects of six patients diagnosed with pericallosal lipomas (PCL).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A retrospective analysis of patients who presented to the neurosurgery outpatient clinics of Selcuk Faculty of Medicine between 2009 and 2019, revealed that six patients were diagnosed with PCL. The clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were obtained by reviewing patients? records.
RESULTS
A total of six patients (two girls and four boys), with a mean age of 53.8 months (38?72 months), were included in this study. They were followed up for a mean period of 36.5 months (32?41 months). PCL were detected on MRIs, which were obtained to investigate headache in two patients, epilepsy in one patient, frontal dermal sinus tract and left frontal epidermoid tumor in one patient, and subcutaneous lipoma associated with PCL in one patient. Five patients displayed tubulonodular lipomas and one patient displayed curvilinear lipomas. Agenesis or dysgenesis of the corpus callosum (CC) was observed in four (66%) patients. Two patients received surgical treatment for cosmetic skin problem.
CONCLUSION
Because of the benign course of PCL, i.e. no growth or very slow growth, and close proximity to the surrounding neurovascular structures, surgical removal should be considered only in symptomatic PCL. Furthermore, other malformations and anomalies may accompany PCL. | 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.27692-19.6 |
pubmed_896_12694 | Recent studies have emphasized that regular exercise should be encouraged as a key part of care and support for people with Down syndrome (DS). However, muscle hypotonia has traditionally been considered a major barrier to resistance training (RT) in people with DS. The main objective of this study was to analyze the impact of circuit RT on markers of muscle damage. The secondary objective was to assess the influence of a RT program on body composition and work task performance. Thirty-six men with DS were recruited and randomly assigned to perform a circuit RT program with six stations 3 days/week for 12 weeks (n = 18) or to a control group (n = 18). Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Serum markers of muscle damage (creatine kinase, myoglobin, and lactate dehydrogenase) were determined at baseline and at the end of training weeks 1, 6, and 12. Work task performance was assessed using the weighted pail-carry test. RT did not induce significant changes in markers of muscle damage during the intervention. Furthermore, muscle mass and work task performance were significantly improved in the exercise group. These findings suggest that circuit RT can be used safely to increase muscle mass and work task performance in young adults with DS. Muscle hypotonia should not be considered a major barrier to exercise in people with DS, provided that qualified staff design and supervise all training sessions. | 10.3390/ijerph18178996 |
pubmed_336_22721 | Mammalian prions refold host glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored PrP(C) into β-sheet-rich PrP(Sc). PrP(Sc) is rapidly truncated into a C-terminal PrP27-30 core that is stable for days in endolysosomes. The nature of cell-associated prions, their attachment to membranes and rafts, and their subcellular locations are poorly understood; live prion visualization has not previously been achieved. A key obstacle has been the inaccessibility of PrP27-30 epitopes. We overcame this hurdle by focusing on nascent full-length PrP(Sc) rather than on its truncated PrP27-30 product. We show that N-terminal PrP(Sc) epitopes are exposed in their physiological context and visualize, for the first time, PrP(Sc) in living cells. PrP(Sc) resides for hours in unexpected cell-surface, slow moving strings and webs, sheltered from endocytosis. Prion strings observed by light and scanning electron microscopy were thin, micrometer-long structures. They were firmly cell associated, resisted phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, aligned with raft markers, fluoresced with thioflavin, and were rapidly abolished by anti-prion glycans. Prion strings and webs are the first demonstration of membrane-anchored PrP(Sc) amyloids. | 10.1083/jcb.201308028 |
pubmed_23_8221 | The evaluation process involved data collected by Official Food Control Laboratories during the period 1995 until 1999. A total of 613 samples analysed for ochratoxin A and complying with a detection limit lower than 0.6 microg/kg were evaluated. With the assistance of statistical process analysis the median concentrations for green coffee (0.4 microg/kg), for roasted coffee (0.6 microg/kg), for decaffeinated roasted coffee along with low-acid decaffeinated roasted coffee (0.4 microg/kg) as well as for soluble coffee (0.7 microg/kg) were determined. The result is a mean daily total intake per consumer of 9 ng OTA. | 10.1080/02652030119082 |
pubmed_95_11039 | The inhibition mechanism of the dimeric human placenta glutathione transferase (GST) P1-1 by calvatic acid and the reaction intermediates, i.e. the diazocyanide analogue of calvatic acid, has been investigated at pH 7.0 and 30.0 degrees C. Experiments performed at different molar ratios of inhibitor/GST P1-1 indicate that 1 mol calvatic acid inactivates 1 mol GST P1-1, containing two catalytically equivalent active sites. However, 2 mol of the diazocyanide analogue of calvatic acid inactivate 1 mol GST P1-1. Two disulfide bridges/dimer, probably between Cys47 and Cys101, have been formed during the reaction of GST P1-1 with calvatic acid and its diazocyanide analogue. The apparent second-order rate constants for GST P1-1 inactivation by calvatic acid and its diazocyanide analogue are 2.4+/-0.3 M(-1) s(-1) and (8.5+/-0.7) x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1), respectively. The reaction of calvatic acid with free L-cysteine can be described by a simple process with an apparent second-order rate constant of (5.0+/-0.4) x 10(1) M(-1) s(-1). In contrast, a transient species occurs during the reaction of the diazocyanide analogue of calvatic acid with free L-cysteine. Kinetics may be described by a second-order process [the rate constant being (8.0+/-0.5) x 10(3) M(-1) s(-1)] followed by a first-order decay [the rate constant corresponding to (1.2+/-0.1) x 10(1) s(-1)]. Calvatic acid represents an enzyme inhibitor acting much slower than its reaction intermediates (i.e. its diazocyanide analogue). | 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1997.00663.x |
pubmed_857_15518 | Although heart, heart-lung, or lung transplantation is performed in more than 200 children annually, the number of patients referred for such procedures is considerably greater, and little is known about the outcome of those referrals. To determine the outcome of pediatric transplant referrals we reviewed the follow-up of 31 patients evaluated at our institution for heart (24), heart-lung (three), or lung (four) transplantations between January 1991 and September 1992. Indications included hypoplastic left heart syndrome (seven patients), cardiomyopathy or myocarditis (seven patients), and postoperative congenital heart disease (10 patients) for heart transplantation; Eisenmenger's syndrome (three patients) for heart-lung transplantation; and primary pulmonary hypertension (two patients), broncho pulmonary dysplasia, and cystic fibrosis for lung transplantation. Only 14 of 31 referred patients were listed for transplantation; the remaining 17 patients either improved when medical therapy was maximized (nine patients), died within days of referral (three patients), refused (two patients), chose alternate surgery (one patient), were medically unacceptable (one patient), or are currently undecided (one patient). To date 7 of 14 patients listed have undergone successful heart transplantation; the remaining seven patients either improved and did not require transplantation (two patients), refused (one patient), died waiting (one patient), are currently awaiting a donor (one patient), or underwent Norwood procedure because of donor unavailability (two patients). Thus including patients who died before listing, only 14 of 31 referrals (45%) were deemed in need of a transplant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | pubmed_857_15518 |
pubmed_1088_9649 | PURPOSE
There has been a growing interest in meeting the health care needs of the anticipated "age wave." In order to prepare for the current demographic trends, we sought to describe the status of geriatrics curricula in the 18 North American English-speaking chiropractic colleges by reviewing geriatric course syllabi.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was conducted using syllabi and catalog information solicited from each English-speaking chiropractic college in North America, collected from January 1, 2007 through June 30, 2007. Information was then summarized.
RESULTS
As of June 30, 2007, roughly 78% of colleges submitted their current geriatrics course syllabi. The remaining 4 colleges were estimated using online course catalog information. Sixty-one percent of colleges offered a course that was solely dedicated to the topic of geriatrics. Additionally, 37.5% of syllabi indicating credit load offer 4 or more credits to the course containing the geriatrics component. Also, 31.3% of courses include non-classroom clinical experience, while 50% require an independent study project that provides further geriatrics experience. Furthermore, 41.2% of reported courses classify the teaching strategies as lecture only.
CONCLUSIONS
These results warrant a proposal for improved curricula in this specialty population. It is proposed that more time be dedicated for this topic, more experiential learning be required, and more clinical focus be given on the needs of this population. A restructure of curricula will provide more clinical experiences for students to better equip future doctors of chiropractic for the increase in geriatric health care needs. | 10.7899/1042-5055-23.1.28 |
pubmed_812_12266 | Granzyme B is a major cytotoxic T lymphocyte/natural killer (CTL/NK) granule protease that can activate members of the caspase family of cysteine proteases through processing of caspase zymogens. However, the molecular order and relative importance of caspase activation events that occur in target cells during granzyme B-initiated apoptosis has not been established. Here, we have examined the hierarchy of granzyme B-initiated caspase activation events using a cell-free system where all caspases are present at physiological levels. We show that granzyme B initiates a two-tiered caspase activation cascade involving seven caspases, where caspase-3 is required for the second tier of caspase activation events. Using a two-dimensional gel-based proteomics approach we have also examined the scale of granzyme B-initiated alterations to the proteome in the presence or absence of effector caspase-3 or -7. These studies indicate that granzyme B targets a highly restricted range of substrates and orchestrates cellular demolition largely through activation of caspase-3. | 10.1074/jbc.M410915200 |
pubmed_293_16902 | OBJECTIVE
Chronic renal failure is one of the most significant health problems in Turkey, as it is all over the world, and negatively affects quality of life. The aim of this study is to find factors affecting compliance levels and quality of life of patients undergoing kidney transplant.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The population of the study consisted of 244 patients who underwent kidney transplant. Although the study aimed to cover the entire target population in the sampling selection, it was conducted among 206 patients. The data were collected by face-to-face interview.
RESULTS
Of the patients, 92.7% were between 46 and 59 years of age, 54.4% had a living donor transplant, 54.9% had adverse effects, and 2.9% had rejection due to incompatibility. There was a significant relationship between compliance and quality of life; increasing frequency of adverse effects would decrease in direct proportion to compliance, which would, therefore, increase quality of life. All the subscale scores of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey were found to have an average of 60 and above. The mean of the compliance scale was 48.33 (SD, 3.21), and, with the maximum score at 55, the mean of the group was high. In our country, patients view transplant as a final and definite treatment method. This might be related to fact that the longer the time after transplant, the lower the level of compliance. | 10.1016/j.transproceed.2019.01.083 |
pubmed_690_2000 | The relative efficacy of mebendazole (MEB) and albendazole (ALB) was tested by treating 51 patients with single, multiple and multi-organ hydatid cysts; 28 patients were treated with MEB, 50-70 mg kg-1 body weight daily for six to 24 months, and 23 with ALB, 10 mg kg-1 body weight daily in four courses of 30 days with 15-day intervals between courses. The therapeutic effect during the follow-up was assessed by ultrasonography, computerized tomography and chest X-ray. The criteria used when assessing the results were: 'success', evidence of effect on all cysts; 'partial success', evidence of effect on some of the cysts; and 'no success', no changes in cyst morphology. Treatment with MEB was successful in eight cases (28.6%), partially successful in eight (28.6%) and unsuccessful in 12 (42.8%). Treatment with ALB was successful in 10 cases (43.5%), partially successful in 10 (43.5%) and unsuccessful in three (13.0%). | 10.1080/00034983.1992.11812631 |
pubmed_1064_11729 | The reactivity of catalytic surfaces is often dominated by very reactive low-coordinated atoms such as step-edge sites. However, very little knowledge exists concerning the influence of step edges on the selectivity in reactions involving multiple reaction pathways. Such detailed information could be very valuable in rational design of new catalysts with improved selectivity. Here we show, from an interplay between scanning tunnelling microscopy experiments and density functional theory calculations, that the activation of ethylene on Ni(111) follows the trend of higher reactivity for decomposition at step edges as compared with the higher-coordinated terrace sites. The step-edge effect is considerably more pronounced for the C-C bond breaking than for the C-H bond breaking, and thus steps play an important role in the bond-breaking selectivity. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the number of reactive step sites can be controlled by blocking the steps with Ag. This approach to nanoscale design of catalysts is exploited in the synthesis of a new high-surface-area AgNi alloy catalyst, which is tested in hydrogenolysis experiments. | 10.1038/nmat1311 |
pubmed_828_12051 | Positive surgical margins after radical prostatectomy are associated with an increased risk of cancer recurrence. Depending on the patient's clinical presentation and the amount of residual prostatic tissue, this could be described as a surgical complication or as treatment failure. Endorectal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides useful information regarding the presence and extent of benign and/or malignant residual prostate tissue. The clinical features and MR images from a 55-year-old man who underwent prostatectomy for prostate cancer and was found to have a considerable amount of residual prostatic tissue postoperatively on MR imaging are presented in the article. | 10.1016/j.urology.2009.12.009 |
pubmed_550_860 | This paper describes the adsorption and spreading of beta-cyclodextrin (CD) vesicles on hydrophobic and hydrophilic substrates, which involves a transition from bilayer vesicles to planar molecular monolayers or bilayers. On substrates that are patterned with self-assembled monolayers by microcontact printing (muCP), the CD vesicles preferentially adsorb on hydrophobic areas instead of hydrophilic (nonionic) areas, and on cationic areas instead of hydrophilic (nonionic) areas. Supported monolayers of amphiphilic cyclodextrins CD1 and CD2 were obtained by adsorption of CD vesicles to hydrophobic substrates, and supported bilayers of amphiphilic cyclodextrins CD1 and CD2 were prepared by adsorption of CD vesicles on cationic substrates. Contact angle goniometry, atomic force microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM) were used to analyze the supported CD layers. The fluidity of the supported CD layers was verified using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments. The supported layers function as a supramolecular platform that can bind suitable guest molecules through inclusion in the CD host cavities. Additionally, the CD host layers were patterned with fluorescent guest molecules by supramolecular muCP on the supported CD layers. The host-guest interactions were investigated with CFM and fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments. | 10.1021/la700808h |
pubmed_6_21742 | Tris(phenylureido)calix[6]arene is endowed with unique properties that make it a valuable macrocyclic component for the synthesis of mechanically interlocked molecules. Its three-dimensional and intrinsically nonsymmetric structure is kinetically selective toward two processes: (i) in apolar media, the threading of bipyridinium based axle-like components takes place exclusively from the upper rim; (ii) SN2 alkylation reactions of a pyridylpyridinium precursor engulfed in the cavity occur selectively at pyridylpyridinium nitrogen atom located at the macrocycle upper rim (active template synthesis). Here we exploit such properties to prepare two series of [3]rotaxanes, each consisting of three sequence isomers that arise from the threading of two identical but nonsymmetric wheels on a symmetric thread differing only for the reciprocal orientation of the macrocycles. The features of the calix[6]arene and the active template synthetic approach, together with a careful selection of the precursors, enabled us to selectively synthesise the [3]rotaxane sequence isomers of each series with fast kinetics and high yields. | 10.1039/d1sc00279a |
pubmed_228_25057 | Treatment of sigmoid sinus thrombosis with long-term anticoagulation therapy remains controversial. We present the case of a 6-year-old boy with intraoperatively confirmed sigmoid sinus thrombosis secondary to acute otomastoiditis. Combined-modality treatment-including mastoidectomy, sigmoid sinus decompression, and antibiotic and anticoagulation therapy-resulted in a complete clinical resolution of the patient's signs and symptoms. However, a 19-month follow-up with magnetic resonance venography demonstrated that the sigmoid sinus thrombosis itself had not resolved. It is clear that occlusion of the sigmoid sinus may persist after the completion of surgical and medical therapy for sigmoid sinus thrombosis secondary to otomastoiditis. It remains unclear (1) whether anticoagulation treatment aids in recanalization of the affected sinus and (2) whether patient outcomes are affected if recanalization is achieved. | 10.1177/014556131109000907 |
pubmed_316_7585 | Specific binding to alpha 2-adrenergic receptors was studied in the platelets of 31 patients with major depressive disorder and 18 normal controls using the selective antagonist 3H-yohimbine. Receptor density for depressed patients (Bmax = 88 +/- SD 45.1 fmoles/mg) was not significantly lower than that for controls (124 +/- SD 78.1 fmoles/mg). The affinity of the receptor for yohimbine was significantly greater in depressed patients (Kd = 1.05 +/- SD 0.47 nM) than in controls (Kd = 1.47 +/- SD 0.63 nM). This is consistent with the hypothesis of increased alpha 2-adrenergic receptor sensitivity in depressive disorders. Past studies of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors on platelets are reviewed, and the importance of designing studies with sufficient statistical power is discussed. | 10.1016/0165-1781(87)90003-5 |
pubmed_312_1281 | A cytolytic protein (perforin) was rapidly purified from a cell line of mouse cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) by DEAE-cellulose, heparin-Sepharose, and phenyl-Sepharose chromatographies. The purified perforin was activated by heparin, the half maximal concentration being 3-10 ng/ml, depending on the calcium concentration. Other acid mucopolysaccharides, such as chondroitin sulfates A and C, keratan polysulfate, and heparin sulfate, also enhanced the lysis of erythrocytes by perforin, but the concentrations required for activation were more than 100-fold higher than that of heparin. Chondroitin, hyaluronic acid, and keratan sulfate, however, had no effect on the perforin activity. It was suggested that heparin potentiates the lytic activity of perforin and acid mucopolysaccharides may actually be involved in target cell lysis by CTL. | 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a122214 |
pubmed_1009_11645 | We hypothesized that the mass and maximum tetanic tension (Po) of nerve-intact grafts overloaded by ablation of synergistic muscles would be greater than that of standard nerve-intact grafts or of control soleus muscles. Soleus muscles were grafted orthotopically and bilaterally in 35 female rats. Control soleus muscles were obtained from 30 age-matched cohorts. Twenty-eight days following grafting, gastrocnemius muscles were ablated bilaterally in half of the animals. Comparisons were made between 28 and 112 days following grafting. By 112 days the wet mass of the overload nerve-intact grafts was 138% of the standard grafts and 152% of the control soleus muscles, whereas the Po was 161% and 107%, respectively. Specific tension stabilized at approximately 19 +/- 1 N/cm2 for both types of grafts, significantly lower than the value of 24 +/- 1 N/cm2 for control soleus muscles. Ablation of synergistic muscles resulted in a significant and sustained increase in mass and Po in regenerating skeletal muscle autografts. We conclude that provided the appropriate conditioning stimulus small grafts (100-200 mg) are capable of achieving the values for the mass and Po of control muscles. | 10.1152/jappl.1986.61.1.288 |
pubmed_891_5556 | • The 2020 Focused Updates to the Asthma Management Guidelines: A Report from the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Coordinating Committee Expert Panel Working Group provides updated recommendations for 6 topics related to the management of individuals with asthma. • The classification of asthma severity and asthma control, as well as the concept of utilizing a stepwise approach to pharmacologic treatment, were not updated from the Expert Panel Report 3, released in 2007. • However, important updates in preferred therapies for intermittent and persistent asthma at treatment steps 1 through 5 were suggested. • Recommendations regarding biologic therapy were not included in the 2020 update, as only evidence and US Food and Drug Administration approvals through October 2018 were considered. • The most recent 2021 Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines are not included in this review but can be used in a complementary manner to assist primary care clinicians to optimize decisions regarding the care of patients with asthma. | 10.12788/jfp.0219 |
pubmed_440_11355 | Oblique propagation of semi-guided waves across slab waveguide structures with bent corners is investigated. A critical angle can be defined beyond which all radiation losses are suppressed. Additionally an increase of the curvature radius of the bends also leads to low-loss configurations for incidence angles below that critical angle. A combination of two bent corner systems represents a step-like structure, behaving like a Fabry-Perot interferometer, with two partial reflectors separated by the vertical height between the horizontal slabs. We numerically analyse typical high-index-contrast Si/SiO2 structures for their reflectance and transmittance properties. When increasing the curvature radius the resonant effect becomes less relevant such that full transmittance is reached with less critical conditions on the vertical distance or the incidence angle. For practical interest 3-D problems are considered, where the structures are excited by the fundamental mode of a wide, shallow rib waveguide. High transmittance levels can be observed also for these 3-D configurations depending on the width of the rib. | 10.1364/OE.26.018621 |
pubmed_242_22691 | Prompt attention is typically required in managing intraoperative problems associated with total hip arthroplasty. There is often limited time for consultation or a review of the literature. The treating surgeon should be familiar with treatment options, favored treatment methods, and should be able to implement the most appropriate and optimal treatment for his or her patient. Common intraoperative complications associated with primary total hip arthroplasty include difficulty gaining sufficient exposure, problems with cup fixation, challenges with implant anteversion, intraoperative fracture of the femur, and difficulties with intraoperative limb length and hip instability. | pubmed_242_22691 |
pubmed_1050_2439 | The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic triggered by SARS-CoV-2 emerged from Wuhan, China, firstly in December 2019, as well spread to almost all around the world rapidly. The main reason why this disease spreads so many people in a short time is that the virus could be transmitted from an infected person to another by infected droplets. The new emergence of diseases usually may affect multiple organs; moreover, this disease is such an example. Numerous reported studies focus on acute or chronic organ damage caused by the virus. At this point, tissue engineering (TE) strategies can be used to treat the damages with its interdisciplinary approaches. Tissue engineers could design drug delivery systems, scaffolds, and especially biomaterials for the damaged tissue and organs. In this review, brief information about SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, and epidemiology of the disease will be given at first. After that, the symptoms, the tissue damages in specific organs, and cytokine effect caused by COVID-19 will be described in detail. Finally, it will be attempted to summarize and suggest the appropriate treatments with suitable biomaterials for the damages via TE approaches. The aim of this review is to serve as a summary of currently available tissue damage treatments after COVID-19. | 10.1007/s42247-020-00138-6 |
pubmed_624_7632 | We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 47 patients who had had penetrating keratoplasty and intraocular lens exchange with fixation of a posterior chamber lens to the ciliary sulcus. Follow-up ranged from 5 to 30 months (mean, 13 months). The corneal grafts remained clear in 46 eyes. The average visual acuity of patients followed for more than 12 months was 20/60. Complications have been minor. Because of complications associated with anterior chamber lenses and these findings, we now utilize this technique in all patients who require penetrating keratoplasty and intraocular lens insertion without posterior capsule support. | pubmed_624_7632 |
pubmed_126_12598 | The common response to infection is infiltration of the affected tissue by inflammatory cells. It is now recognized that the epithelium plays a crucial role in this immunological process by producing an array of proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-8, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, extractable nuclear antigen-78 and others. The response of the intestinal epithelium to bacterial pathogens is particularly intriguing because it is literally bathed by normal bacterial flora and bacterial components/products yet remains immunologically quiescent despite this potentially hostile environment. In contrast, when challenged by bacterial pathogens, intestinal epithelial cells exhibit a vigorous immunological response. Our laboratory has, therefore, focused on the immune response of intestinal epithelial cells when confronted by a specific bacterial pathogen, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. | 10.1111/j.1365-2036.1997.tb00810.x |
pubmed_932_3263 | Connarus suberosus is a typical species of the Brazilian Cerrado biome, and its inflorescences and young vegetative branches are densely covered by dendritic trichomes. The objective of this study was to report the occurrence of a previously undescribed glandular trichome of this species. The localization, origin and structure of these trichomes were investigated under light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Collections were made throughout the year, from five adult specimens of Connarus suberosus near Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil, including vegetative and reproductive apices, leaves and fruits in different developmental stages, as well as floral buds and flowers at anthesis. Glandular trichomes (GTs) occurred on vegetative and reproductive organs during their juvenile stages. The GTs consisted of a uniseriate, multicellular peduncle, whose cells contain phenolic compounds, as well as a multicellular glandular portion that accumulates lipids. The glandular cell has thin wall, dense cytoplasm (with many mitochondria, plastids and dictyosomes), and a large nucleus with a visible nucleolus. The starch present in the plastids was hydrolyzed during the synthesis phase, reducing the density of the plastid stroma. Some plastids were fused to vacuoles, and some evidence suggested the conversion of plastids into vacuoles. During the final activity stages of the GTs, a darkening of the protoplasm was observed in some of the glandular cells, as a programmed cell death; afterwards, became caducous. The GTs in C. suberosus had a temporal restriction, being limited to the juvenile phase of the organs. Their presence on the exposed surfaces of developing organs and the chemical nature of the reserve products, suggest that these structures are food bodies. Field observations and detailed studies of plant-environment interactions, as well as chemical analysis of the reserve compounds, are still necessary to confirm the role of these GTs as feeding rewards. | 10.15517/rbt.v60i1.2785 |
pubmed_680_6441 | PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This review article provides an overview of the various roles of 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography in the evaluation of the tricuspid valve (TV) with specific focus on tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and its treatment.
RECENT FINDINGS
The prognostic implications of TR and the advent of new transcatheter therapies have underscored the need of accurate assessment of the TV. 3D echocardiography is key to assess the anatomy and function of TV and has provided new insights that have led to new classifications of the type of TR. Furthermore, 3D echocardiography is superior to 2-dimensional echocardiography to assess the right ventricle, an important parameter to select the patients with severe TR who may benefit from intervention. Finally, the use of 3D echocardiography during the guidance of transcatheter interventions is pivotal to ensure procedural success and minimize the complications. Three-dimensional echocardiography provides the soft tissue resolution that fluoroscopy does not provide. | 10.1007/s11886-022-01780-8 |
pubmed_377_701 | OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to investigate the differential expression of proteins in serum of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients in relation to aneurysm size (D(max)) and progression.
METHODS
Two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) together with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used to analyse the serum proteome from patients with small (D(max) 30-54 mm) AAA, either stable (increase D(max) <5 mm year⁻¹; n = 8) or progressive (increase D(max) ≥5 mm year⁻¹; n = 8), and large (D(max) ≥ 55 mm; n = 8) AAA. The identified proteins were quantitatively validated in a larger population (n = 80).
RESULTS
Several proteins were differentially expressed in serum of small stable, small progressive and large AAA. Three validated proteins (immunoglobulin G (IgG), α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) and Factor XII activity) showed strong correlation with D(max). Size combined with either Factor XII activity or α1-antitrypsin had minimal effect on the prognostic value in predicting aneurysm progression compared with size alone (area under the curve (AUC), 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.73-0.97; p < 0.001 and AUC, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72-0.98; p < 0.001 vs. AUC, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71-0.96; p < 0.001, respectively).
CONCLUSION
The present study indicates that both Factor XII and α1-antitrypsin are found in increased amounts in the serum of patients with expanding AAA. However, combination of either Factor XII or α1-antitrypsin with aneurysm diameter had little effect on prediction of aneurysm progression versus diameter alone. | 10.1016/j.ejvs.2011.07.019 |
pubmed_299_9104 | Roughly 14% of regular season National Hockey League games since the 2005-06 season have been decided by a shoot-out, and the resulting allocation of points has impacted play-off races each season. But despite interest from fans, players and league officials, there is little in the way of published research on team or individual shoot-out performance. This manuscript attempts to fill that void. We present both generalised linear mixed model and Bayesian hierarchical model frameworks to model shoot-out outcomes, with results suggesting that there are (i) small but statistically significant talent gaps between shooters, (ii) marginal differences in performance among netminders and (iii) few, if any, predictors of player success after accounting for individual talent. We also provide a resampling strategy to highlight a selection bias with respect to shooter assignment, in which coaches choose their most skilled offensive players early in shoot-out rounds and are less likely to select players with poor past performances. Finally, given that per-shot data for shoot-outs do not currently exist in a single location for public use, we provide both our data and source code for other researchers interested in studying shoot-out outcomes. | 10.1080/02640414.2016.1198046 |
pubmed_487_15175 | In order to deliver a bioactive agent to a physiological location, it is important to be able to regulate precisely the location and the dosage. Such exquisite control can easily be envisioned for a photochemical drug that is active toward release of the desired bioactive agent upon irradiation of a specific tissue site. These materials should be thermally stable but reactive under excitation at visible (vis) or near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths where tissue transmission is optimal. Two photon excitation (TPE) is of special interest, since the use of focused laser pulses to activate release could provide 3D spatial control in therapeutic applications. This Account describes the preparation and photochemistry of a series of transition metal complexes designed to release the simple bioregulatory compound nitric oxide upon vis or NIR excitation. In order to enhance the light gathering capability of such compounds, we have attached chromophores with high single- or two-photon absorption cross sections to several photochemical NO precursors. For example, the iron nitrosyl clusters Fe2(mu-SR)2(NO)4 (Roussin's red esters) have been prepared with various chromophores as pendant groups, an example being the protoporphyrin XI derivative illustrated here. Direct excitation into the vis absorbing Q bands of the porphyrin leads to enhanced rates of NO generation from the Fe/S/NO cluster owing to the larger rate of light absorption by that antenna. Furthermore, femtosecond pulsed laser NIR excitation of the same compound at 810 nm (a spectral region where no absorption bands are apparent) leads to weak emission at approximately 630 nm and generation of NO, both effects providing evidence of a TPE mechanism. Roussin's red esters with other chromophores described here are even more effective for TPE-stimulated NO release. Another photochemical NO precursor discussed is the Cr(III) complex trans-Cr(L)(ONO)2(+) where L is a cyclic tetraamine such as cyclam. When L includes a chromophore tethered to the ligand backbone, excitation of that functionality results in energy transfer to the spin-forbidden ligand field double states and light-stimulated release of NO. We are working to develop systems where L is attached to a semiconductor nanoparticle as the antenna. In this context, we have shown that electrostatic assemblies are formed between the anionic surface of water-soluble CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs) and Cr(L)(ONO)2(+) cations via an ion-pairing mechanism. Photoexcition of such modified QDs leads to markedly enhanced NO generation and suggests promising applications of such nanomaterials as photochemical drugs. | 10.1021/ar700128y |
pubmed_944_14397 | Previous screening trials for early detection of ovarian cancer in postmenopausal women have used the standard CA125 cut-point of 35 U/mL, the 98th percentile in this population yielding a 2% false positive rate, whereas the same cut-point in trials of premenopausal women results in substantially higher false positive rates. We investigated demographic and clinical factors predicting CA125 distributions, including 98th percentiles, in a large population of high-risk women participating in two ovarian cancer screening studies with common eligibility criteria and screening protocols. Baseline CA125 values and clinical and demographic data from 3,692 women participating in screening studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute-sponsored Cancer Genetics Network and Gynecologic Oncology Group were combined for this preplanned analysis. Because of the large effect of menopausal status on CA125 levels, statistical analyses were conducted separately in pre- and postmenopausal subjects to determine the impact of other baseline factors on predicted CA125 cut-points on the basis of 98th percentile. The primary clinical factor affecting CA125 cut-points was menopausal status, with premenopausal women having a significantly higher cut-point of 50 U/mL, while in postmenopausal subjects the standard cut-point of 35 U/mL was recapitulated. In premenopausal women, current oral contraceptive (OC) users had a cut-point of 40 U/mL. To achieve a 2% false positive rate in ovarian cancer screening trials and in high-risk women choosing to be screened, the cut-point for initial CA125 testing should be personalized primarily for menopausal status (50 for premenopausal women, 40 for premenopausal on OC, and 35 for postmenopausal women). | 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-10-0402 |
pubmed_982_6574 | Psychological trauma is a major public-health problem, and trauma victims frequently turn to the Internet for medical information related to trauma. The Internet has many advantages for trauma victims, including low cost, privacy, use of access, and reduced direct social interactions. However, there are no regulations on what is posted on the Internet, or by whom, and little is known about the quality of information currently available related to the topic of psychological trauma. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of Internet sites related to the topic of psychological trauma. The top 20 hits for searches on Google, AllTheWeb, and Yahoo were tabulated, using search words of 'psychological trauma', 'stress', 'PTSD', and 'trauma'. From these searches, a list of 94 unique unsponsored hits that represented accessible websites was generated. Fourteen sites were unrelated or only peripherally related, and eight were related but were not comprehensively evaluated because they represented brochures, online book sales, etc. Seventy-two websites underwent evaluation of the content, design, disclosure, ease of use, and other factors based on published guidelines for medical information sites. Forty-two per cent of sites had inaccurate information, 82% did not provide a source of their information, and 41% did not use a mental-health professional in the development of the content. Ratings of content (e.g. accuracy, reliability, etc.) were 4 (2 SD) on a scale of 1 - 10, with 10 being the best. There were similar ratings for the other variables assessed. These findings suggest that although abundant, websites providing information about psychological trauma are often not useful, and can sometimes provide inaccurate and potentially harmful information to consumers of medical information. | 10.1080/14639230600887866 |
pubmed_774_2941 | Collagenomas are connective tissue nevi with hamartomatous proliferations of dominant dermal collagen. They can present as solitary or multiple inherited or acquired lesions over various body sites. The face is a rare site of collagenomas and, of the few cases reported in the literature, they have been seen more often on the scalp or on the plantar area. An extensive literature search did not reveal any cases of isolated collagenoma on the face. Herein we present the case of 22-year-old female with isolated collagenoma on the face. This case is being reported because of its unique location and rarity. | pubmed_774_2941 |
pubmed_360_6503 | The case of a young fit diabetic patient who suffered from injection abscesses is presented. Mycobacterium Chelonei var chelonei was the organism responsible. The organism was difficult to isolate, but skin tests yielded valuable results. The abscesses responded to treatment with erythromycin and cotrimoxazole. | 10.1016/s0041-3879(81)80008-6 |
pubmed_779_704 | Nucleic acid-based constitutional dynamic networks (CDNs) have recently emerged as versatile tools to control a variety of catalytic processes. A key challenge in the application of these systems is achieving intercommunication between different CDNs to mimic the complex interlinked networks found in cellular biology. In particular, the possibility to interface photochemical 'energy-harvesting' processes with dark-operating 'metabolic' processes, in a similar way to plants, represents an up to now unexplored yet enticing research direction. The present study introduces two CDNs that allow the intercommunication of photocatalytic and dark-operating catalytic functions mediated by environmental components that facilitate the dynamic coupling of the networks. The dynamic feedback-driven intercommunication of the networks is accomplished via information transfer between the two CDNs effected by hairpin fuel strands in the environment of the system, leading to the coupling of the photochemical and dark-operating modules. | 10.1038/s41467-021-24512-y |
pubmed_680_19188 | INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES
To characterize patients with atherosclerosis, a disease with a high socioeconomic impact, in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Health Region.
METHODS
A cross-sectional observational study was carried out through the Lisbon and Tagus Valley Regional Health Administration primary health care database, extracting data on the clinical and demographic characteristics and resource use of adult primary health care users with atherosclerosis during 2016. Different criteria were used to define atherosclerosis (presence of clinical manifestations, atherothrombotic risk factors and/or consumption of drugs related to atherosclerosis). Comparisons between different subpopulations were performed using parametric tests.
RESULTS
A total of 318 692 users were identified, most of whom (n=224 845 users; 71%) had no recorded clinical manifestations. The subpopulation with clinical manifestations were older (72.0±11.5 vs. 71.3±11.0 years), with a higher proportion of men (58.0% vs. 45.9%), recorded hypertension (78.3% vs. 73.5%) and dyslipidemia (55.8% vs. 53.5%), and a lower proportion of recorded obesity (18.2% vs. 20.8%), compared to those without clinical manifestations (p<0.001). Mean blood pressure, LDL-C and glycated hemoglobin values were lower in the subpopulation with manifestations (142/74 vs. 146/76 mmHg, 101 vs. 108 mg/dl, and 6.80 vs. 6.84%, respectively; p<0.001). Each user with atherosclerosis attended 4.1±2.9 face-to-face medical consultations and underwent 8.6±10.0 laboratory test panels, with differences in subpopulations with and without clinical manifestations (4.4±3.2 vs. 4.0±2.8 and 8.3±10.3 vs. 8.7±9.8, respectively; p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
About one in three adult primary health care users with atherosclerosis have clinical manifestations. The results suggest that control of cardiovascular risk factors is suboptimal in patients with atherosclerosis. | 10.1016/j.repc.2021.03.018 |
pubmed_448_11667 | This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Sous-vide (SV) cooking on the quality, flavor and digestion characteristics of braised pork. Traditional (TD) sample had the highest fat content and malondialdehyde (MDA) value, but the lowest protein content and total sulfhydryl (SH) content (P < 0.05). The SH content in SV samples decreased with the heating time, but MDA content increased (P < 0.05). In addition, α-helix content of TD samples was higher but β-sheet content was lower than SV samples. LC-MS/MS indicated that SV samples at 65 °C for 8 h had potential bioactive and antioxidant peptides. GC-MS mainly identified 395 volatile components and SV samples at 70 °C for 8 h and 75 °C for 8 h had similar flavor compounds to TD samples. Thus, Sous-vide cooking produced better quality and digestion characteristics of braised pork. These findings give a new insight into the associations of processing methods with meat quality. | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131683 |
pubmed_936_19188 | Optoplasmonic hybrid structures composed of photonic and plasmonic elements with excellent optical properties are of great significance for the development of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates. In this work, the optoplasmonic hybrid structure is composed of SiO2 microsphere and two-dimensional (2D) plasmonic- metal organic frameworks (MOF) film. Among them, the 2D plasmonic-MOF film is prepared from silver nanoparticles encapsulated by zeolitic imidazole acid framework (AgNP@ZIF-8) by self-assembly method. This optoplasmonic hybrid structure with gas adsorption properties could be used as a SERS substrate for 4-Mercaptophenol (4-MP) gas detection. Experimental data show that this substrate is dependent on the thickness of the ZIF shell and the size of the SiO2 microspheres. In addition, it is confirmed by the electromagnetic field simulation of finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD). The optoplasmonic hybrid microstructures exhibit good uniformity for detection of 4-MP gas molecules. This work not only broadens the understanding of our optoplasmonic hybrid structure, but also has broad application prospects in SERS and gas sensing related fields. | 10.1016/j.saa.2022.121362 |
pubmed_1140_5426 | The authors report differential item functioning (DIF) between Black and White participants completing the 60-item Padua Inventory (PI) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The authors use an Internet-generated sample that included 105 Blacks, 67 Hispanics, 582 Whites, and 136 additional participants reporting an OCD diagnosis. Factor analysis replicated prior work indicating the PI consists of four factors: contamination fears, checking behaviors, impaired control over thoughts, and fear of losing control over impulses. On the contamination subscale, nonclinical Black and Hispanic mean scores were as high as the OCD group. Comparing Blacks to Whites, the authors applied an item response theory, DIF-graded response model to each factor and found significant DIF on eight items, with biased items in each factor. Results suggest that extraneous factors contribute to racial differences on scores. Cultural practices and fear of being negatively stereotyped may contribute to item bias. | 10.1177/1073191105275620 |
pubmed_560_22931 | INTRODUCTION
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the admission blood glucose level following acute poisoning, severity of acute poisoning and clinical outcome.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This prospective study was conducted on 345 deliberate self-poisoning patients. Standard demographic and clinical information; admission blood glucose level; poisoning severity score and outcome were recorded. Patients with a history of diabetes mellitus, receipt of pre-sampling intravenous dextrose solution or glucocorticoids, and poisoning with toxic agents which produce hyper- or hypoglycaemia were excluded.
RESULTS
Mean age of the patients was 27.5 ±8.6 years. Females outnumbered males (57.9%). Oral ingestion of more than one drug (46.7%) and opiates (14.2%) were the main causes of poisoning. Blood glucose values ranged from 50 mg/dl to 396 mg/dl. Hyper- and hypoglycaemia were observed in 23.8% and 13.91% respectively. A total of 24.41% and 22.92% of the patients in hyper- and hypoglycaemic groups had grade 3 and 4 severity score in comparison with 4.18% in the normoglycaemic group. Development of complications and death were 14.64% and 10.42% in patients with hyper- and hypoglycaemia versus 3.73% in patients with normoglycaemia. A significant difference between normoglycaemic and hyperglycaemic patients in the severity of poisoning and clinical outcome was observed (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Admission blood glucose levels may have a relationship with the severity of poisoning and clinical outcome following acute poisoning. | 10.5114/aoms.2011.20608 |
pubmed_10_21550 | Aside from kidney transplantation - a procedure which is exceedingly dependent on donor-match and availability leading to excessive costs - there are currently no permanent treatments available which reverse kidney injury and failure. However, kidney-specific targeted gene therapy has outstanding potential to treat kidney-related dysfunction. Herein we report a novel kidney-specific targeted gene delivery system developed through the conjugation of chitobionic acid (CBA) to a polysorbitol gene transporter (PSGT) synthesized from sorbitol diacrylate and low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI) carrying hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene to alleviate unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats. CBA-PSGT performed exceptionally well for targeted delivery of HGF to kidney tissues compared to its non-targeted counterparts (P < 0.001) after systemic tail-vein injection and significantly reduced the UUO symptoms, returning the UUO rats to a normal health status. The kidney-targeted CBA-PSGT-delivered HGF also strikingly reduced various pathologic and molecular markers in vivo such as the level of collagens (type I and II), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and the expressions of ICAM-1, TIMP-1 and α-SMA which play a critical role in obstructive kidney functions. Therefore, CBA-PSGT should be further investigated because of its potential to alleviate UUO and kidney-related diseases using high affinity kidney targeting. | pubmed_10_21550 |
pubmed_1008_4715 | An attempt has been made to determine where in the lower brainstem the cell bodies of nonsympathetic efferent fibres in the aortic nerve of the cat and rabbit are located. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was placed on the central end of the right cut aortic nerve of anaesthetized animals and, after an appropriate time, sections of the brainstem encompassing the rostral and caudal limits of the dorsal vagal motor nucleus and nucleus ambiguus were examined microscopically for retrogradely transported HRP. Cell bodies labelled by exogenous HRP were not found in any of the cats or rabbits exposed to HRP although reaction product, due to an endogenous response, was observed. Appropriate control experiments were performed to show that the sensitivity of the technique for demonstrating HRP in our hand was adequate. We conclude that the cell bodies of efferent fibres, of non sympathetic origin, in the aortic nerve are likely to be located outside the central nervous system. | 10.1113/expphysiol.1980.sp002498 |
pubmed_165_9028 | Zeins are seed storage proteins that form accretions called protein bodies in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of maize endosperm cells. Four types of zeins, alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, aggregate in a distinctive spatial pattern within the protein body. We created transgenic tobacco plants expressing alpha-zein, gamma-zein, or both to examine the interactions between these proteins leading to the formation of protein bodies in the endosperm. Whereas gamma-zein accumulated in seeds of these plants, stable accumulation of alpha-zein required simultaneous synthesis of gamma-zein. The zein proteins formed accretions in the endoplasmic reticulum similar to those in maize endosperm. Protein bodies were also found in protein storage vacuoles. The accumulation of both types of zeins peaked early in development and declined during maturation. Even in the presence of gamma-zein, there was a turnover of alpha-zein, suggesting that the interaction between the two proteins might be transitory. We suggest that gamma-zein plays an important role in protein body formation and demonstrate the utility of tobacco for studying interactions between different zeins. | 10.1105/tpc.8.12.2335 |
pubmed_1019_16842 | Schizophrenia is a chronic disease of body and mind that affects 1% of the population. The existence of the person with schizophrenia should be understood, at least, from two perspectives: one considering the integration of the individual into the social community, another understanding that there is a patient with a medical problem treatable with medications and psychotherapies. There is a large group of patients with 'treatment-resistant schizophrenia," that is, cases in which a minimum degree of remission with conventional treatments is not obtained. These cases have pointed to the fact that even today we still lack an integrative treatment model obtained through the assembling of specific interventions with verifiable effectiveness. The concept of treatment-resistant schizophrenia should have evolved in accordance with the advancing of the currently available knowledge and therapeutic resources. Why hasn't this happened? This article reviews the history of the concept of "resistance" to account for such failure and proposes a methodological approach to overcome this stagnation. | pubmed_1019_16842 |
pubmed_408_15587 | Data of a retrospective case control study on 380 male patients with clinically documented first myocardial infarction (MI) (age 30-55) as well as findings of a follow-up over 18 months of 70% of this sample are presented. Results show first, that specific work stressors, lack of social support, and acute life changes are each significantly more prevalent among subjects with MI than among healthy controls; second, that significantly greater parts of MI subjects can be classified as simultaneously exposed to several chronic and acute social risks; third, that social stressors are related to the recurrence of cardiac symptoms in a follow-up after rehabilitation. These findings are discussed with regard to possible methodological bias such as the role of denial and neuroticism in patients under study, influences caused by interviewers, and limited validity of subjective stress rating. After controlling for these biases, findings basically remain stable. It is argued that a certain class of critical socio-emotional experiences, labeled 'active distress' may be harmful to neurohormonal imbalance, and, consequently, to several precursors of cardiovascular diseases. This class of experiences is reinforced and sustained by social contexts as the ones investigated in this study. | 10.1016/0277-9536(82)90052-1 |
pubmed_304_5607 | Assembly of the Sm-class of U-rich small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (U snRNPs) is a process facilitated by the macromolecular survival of motor neuron (SMN) complex. This entity promotes the binding of a set of factors, termed LSm/Sm proteins, onto snRNA to form the core structure of these particles. Nine factors, including the SMN protein, the product of the spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) disease gene, Gemins 2-8 and unrip have been identified as the major components of the SMN complex. So far, however, only little is known about the architecture of this complex and the contribution of individual components to its function. Here, we present a comprehensive interaction map of all core components of the SMN complex based upon in vivo and in vitro methods. Our studies reveal a modular composition of the SMN complex with the three proteins SMN, Gemin8, and Gemin7 in its center. Onto this central building block the other components are bound via multiple interactions. Furthermore, by employing a novel assay, we were able to reconstitute the SMN complex from individual components and confirm the interaction map. Interestingly, SMN protein carrying an SMA-causing mutation was severely impaired in formation of the SMN complex. Finally, we show that the peripheral component Gemin5 contributes an essential activity to the SMN complex, most likely the transfer of Sm proteins onto the U snRNA. Collectively, the data presented here provide a basis for the detailed mechanistic and structural analysis of the assembly machinery of U snRNPs. | 10.1074/jbc.M608528200 |
pubmed_289_15583 | In the human immune system, T-helper cells are able to differentiate into two lymphocyte subsets: Th1 and Th2. The intracellular signaling pathways of differentiation form a dynamic regulation network by secreting distinctive types of cytokines, while differentiation is regulated by two major gene loci: T-bet and GATA-3. We developed a system dynamics model to simulate the differentiation and re-differentiation process of T-helper cells, based on gene expression levels of T-bet and GATA-3 during differentiation of these cells. We arrived at three ultimate states of the model and came to the conclusion that cell differentiation potential exists as long as the system dynamics is at an unstable equilibrium point; the T-helper cells will no longer have the potential of differentiation when the model reaches a stable equilibrium point. In addition, the time lag caused by expression of transcription factors can lead to oscillations in the secretion of cytokines during differentiation. | 10.4238/2013.April.2.13 |
pubmed_894_9449 | Birds are the primary hosts for St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus in most of North America. Because the increased prevalence of antibody in House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) has been related to human cases, this species has been frequently used as a sentinel of SLE virus activity in urban areas. This study investigated the susceptibility of House Sparrows to two strains of SLE virus, measured antibody profiles, and evaluated the use of House Sparrows in an urban surveillance system. House Sparrows were susceptible to both strains of SLE virus inoculated, although not equally, and produced viremias sufficient to infect vector mosquitoes. Both hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) and neutralizing (N) antibody developed rapidly and to high titers within 2 weeks after inoculation. Detectable humoral antibody began to disappear by 3 months, but persisted for 2 years in 27% for HI and 36% for N antibody of the surviving birds. However, all of the surviving birds were resistant to reinfection with SLE virus at 2 years after inoculation. The titer of HI antibody appeared to be useful in determining recent exposure to SLE virus. The experimental data on HI antibody development and persistence was related to field serologic data from House Sparrows. The monthly prevalences of SLE antibody for independent samples of sera from House Sparrows collected in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1980 were similar. SLE amplification in the House Sparrow population was delayed until September. The Memphis arbovirus surveillance system detected the amplification quickly, and responded with increased adult mosquito control in the focal areas. Urban surveillance of SLE utilizing House Sparrows as sentinels is discussed. | 10.4269/ajtmh.1983.32.1120 |
pubmed_965_11575 | A continuous ultrasound-assisted extraction system connected to a flow injection manifold has been used for the on-line determination of zinc in meat samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. An experimental design was used for the optimisation of the continuous manifold. This flow injection methodology allowed a sampling frequency of ca. 80 samples per hour with a relative standard deviation for the whole procedure of 0.3% (for a sample containing 163.6mugg(-1) Zn). The detection limit was 0.6mugg(-1) for a sample amount of 5mg. Accurate results were obtained by measuring certified reference materials (BCR-186 (pig kidney) and BCR-184 (bovine muscle)). The analytical procedure was applied to different real meat samples with satisfactory results. | 10.1016/j.talanta.2004.12.019 |
pubmed_30_20205 | Femoral blood flow (FBF) was measured in seven dogs, simultaneously with both an electromagnetic perivascular probe and a transcutaneous range gated Doppler velocimeter. Measurements were made in basal conditions and during intraarterial infusions of noradrenaline (10 to 400 ng . kg-1 . min-1) and isoprenaline (10 to 400 ng . kg-1 . min-1) thus allowing comparisons of ultrasonic (DBF) and electromagnetic (EMBF) blood flow at 91 different blood flow rates ranging from 5 to 300 cm3 . min-1. The linear regression line through the data of ultrasonic and electromagnetic simultaneous measurement was: DBF = 0.8 + 1.016 EMBF +/- 19.0 cm3 . min-1 with a highly significant correlation (r = 0.96, p less than 0.001) but there was a wide scattering about the mean. Errors in DBF were mainly due to positioning of the probe and determination of arterial diameter. | 10.1093/cvr/19.11.700 |
pubmed_345_7759 | OBJECTIVE
To survey the present status of medical treatment for Chinese outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) based upon the guidelines for diagnosing and treating COPD (2007 Revised Edition and 2013 Revised Edition) and explore the impact of new guideline on treatment regimens.
METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted at 11 participating hospitals. Stable COPD patients were consecutively recruited from outpatient clinics in China between September 2007 and December 2008 and categorized into the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) I-IV classification and A-D groups according to the Chinese guidelines for diagnosing and treating COPD (2007 Revised Edition and 2013 Revised Edition). The authors compared the present status of medical treatment of two guidelines and analyze the impact of new guideline on treatment regimens.
RESULTS
Among a total of 749 patients, 79.2% (593/749) patients received medical treatment. The distribution of classification GOLD I-IV was 34 (4.5%), 211 (28.2%), 309 (41.3%) and 195 (26.0%). According to the guideline 2007, the patients on medical under-treatment based upon the guidelines in GOLD I-IV classification were 32.4% (11/34), 53.6% (113/211), 57.6% (178/309) and 55.4% (108/195); those on medical treatment: 23.5% (8/34), 3.8% (8/211), 28.8% (89/309) and 33.3% (65/195); those on medical over-treatment: 44.1% (15/34), 42.7% (90/211), 13.6% (42/309), 11.3% (22/195). The distribution of categories A-D was 93 (12.4%), 45 (6.0%), 196 (26.2%), and 415 (55.4%). According to guideline 2013, the patients on medical under-treatment were 34.4% (32/93), 62.2% (28/45), 67.9% (133/196) and 60.7% (252/415); those on medical treatment: 24.7% (23/93), 4.4% (2/45), 32.1% (63 /196) and 39.3% (163/415); those on medical over-treatment: 40.9% (38/93), 33.3% (15/45), 0 and 0. The concordance analysis comparing the judgments of treatment regimens by these two guideline yielded a weighted Kappa coefficient of 0.534 (P < 0.001), indicating that there was a moderate degree of judgments between two guidelines. Medical treatment regimens recommended by new guideline was different from old guideline in 143 COPD patients. Among them, 24 patients (16.8%) required a step-down therapy while 119 patients (83.2%) a step-up therapy.
CONCLUSIONS
There are more outpatients with COPD on medical treatment, but few of them have received standardized treatment. Compared with the old GOLD classification, more patients are recommended for a step-up therapy by new stratification. | pubmed_345_7759 |
pubmed_248_24061 | Polyurethanes are widely used in car paint formulations. During thermal degradation, such polymeric systems can generate powerful asthmatic sensitizing agents named isocyanates. In body repair shops, the thermal degradation of car paint can occur during abrasive processes that generate enough heat to involve release of isocyanates in air. An environmental monitoring study was performed in two body repair training schools and in a body repair shop to evaluate the workers' exposure to isocyanates during cutting, grinding and orbital sanding operations. For sampling, cassettes containing two 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine (MOPIP)-coated glass fiber filters (MFs) ( approximately 5 mg of MOPIP per filter) and bubblers containing 15 ml of MOPIP solution in toluene (1.0 mg ml(-1)) backed at the outlet with cassettes containing two MFs were used. Tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze the MOPIP derivatives of isocyanic acid (HNCO), all the linear aliphatic isocyanates ranging from methyl isocyanate (Me-i) to hexyl isocyanate, all the alkenyl isocyanates ranging from propylene isocyanate to hexylene isocyanate, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), trans- and cis-isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (TDI), 2,4'-; 2,2'- and 4,4'-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), phenyl isocyanate (Ph-i) and p-toluene isocyanate (p-Tol-i). The instrumental detection limits (LOD) were in the 0.13-0.75 microg of NCO per m(3) range for 15 l air samples converted into 3 ml liquid samples. The isocyanate concentrations detected in the workers' breathing zone were in the 1.07-9.80 microg of NCO per m(3) range for cutting, 0.63-3.62 microg of NCO per m(3) range for grinding and 0-1.29 microg of NCO per m(3) range for sanding. However, a rapid decrease of the isocyanate concentration was observed while moving away from the emission source. Among the isocyanates detected the most abundant were the monomers (MDI, HDI, TDI and IPDI) and Me-i. | 10.1093/annhyg/mei075 |
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