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pubmed_782_1791 | Photoreceptors perceive different wavelengths of light and transduce light signals downstream via a range of proteins. COP1, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, regulates light signaling by mediating the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of photoreceptors such as phytochromes and cryptochromes, as well as various development-related proteins including other light-responsive proteins. COP1 is itself regulated by direct interactions with several signaling molecules that modulate its activity. The control of photomorphogenesis by COP1 is also regulated by its localization to the cytoplasm in response to light. COP1 thus acts as a tightly regulated switch that determines whether development is skotomorphogenic or photomorphogenic. In this review, we discuss the effects of COP1 on the abundance and activity of various development-related proteins, including photoreceptors, and summarize the regulatory mechanisms that influence COP1 activity and stability in plants. | 10.1093/jxb/erx312 |
pubmed_940_1884 | BACKGROUND
The role of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) associated multidrug resistance for neuroblastoma patients is controversial. Therefore we asked whether at all the typical functional features of the multidrug resistance phenotype could be found in neuroblastoma cells and studied the prognostic relevance of Pgp expression.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Tumor touch preparations and tumor cell infiltrated bone marrow smears of 62 neuroblastoma patients were investigated. The expression of Pgp was determined by a highly sensitive immunosandwich technique. Drug resistance studies were performed by exposing cells to Pgp-dependent cytostatic drugs in tissue cultures. Intracellular drug accumulation was examined by rhodamine-123 fluorescence microscopy.
RESULTS
Pgp expression was demonstrable for the SK-N-SH cell line, but not detectable in CHP-100 and ten other neuroblastoma cell lines by immunocytochemistry. In tissue cultures, SK-N-SH cells showed a relative resistance to vincristine and adriamycin (45.1 and 12.7-fold resp.) and reduced intracellular accumulation of rhodamine-123 which could be normalized by the Pgp blocker verapamil. Pgp expression was detected by immunocytochemistry in 14 out of 62 tumors (22.6%). No correlation was found to the stage of the disease (P = 0.33), histopathological grading (P = 0.82), N-myc oncoprotein expression (P = 0.76) or N-myc oncogene amplification (P = 0.20). Kaplan-Meier analysis of event free survival for stage 4 tumors revealed a weak trend of inferior survival for patients with Pgp positive tumors (log-rank analysis: P = 0.069).
CONCLUSIONS
Though Pgp expression is detectable and functional in neuroblastoma cells, but its presence does not provide much information to the complex phenomenon of chemotherapy resistance in patients. | 10.1023/A:1008476528846 |
pubmed_568_14909 | OBJECTIVE
To explore the efficacy of different timing options for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in patients with acute non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and cardiac and renal insufficiency.
METHODS
Eighty-eight patients with acute NSTEMI complicated with cardiac and renal insufficiency received PCI treatment after achieving a stable condition and were randomly divided into the control group (n = 44) and the research group (n = 44). The control group was given CRRT after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and the research group was treated with CRRT before and after PCI. The clinical treatment efficacy, cardiac function indexes (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac output (CO), and left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD)), renal function indexes (creatinine (Cr), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)), quality of life (QoL) and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
After treatment, the overall effective rate in the research group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05); LVEF, CO, GFR and QoL score were higher, while LVEDD value, creatinine level, NGAL level and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events were lower in the research group than in the control group (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
For patients with acute NSTEMI complicated with cardiac and renal insufficiency, the use of CRRT before and after PCI can effectively ameliorate cardiac and renal function, and significantly improve quality of life with a good prognosis. | pubmed_568_14909 |
others_44_9688 | Survival has steadily improved for major cancer types in most parts of the world. We compared all-cause mortality between foreign-born and Sweden-born residents of Sweden who were diagnosed with cancer of the colon, lung, stomach, prostate, breast, cervix, and all site. Methods: We used Swedish national vital status and health registers to follow a cohort of 1,556,108 patients 45 years of age and older diagnosed with cancer between 1961 and 2009 in Sweden. Among them, 109,915 were born abroad. We estimated hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. Results: We identified 604,035 and 540,138 deaths among men and women, respectively. Among them 33,595 men and 34,174 women were born abroad. At the time of diagnosis, patients born abroad were on average 4 years younger than patients born in Sweden. All-cause mortality was generally lower in the former than in the latter group of patients before 1990 but higher after 2000. The mortality trend was similar for prostate and breast cancer. Conclusions: Whilst national policy in Sweden aims at achieving equal access to health care, the mortality trend observed among cancer patients born in Sweden was different from that observed among patients born elsewhere. Mortality after diagnosis of major types of cancer has worsened among foreign-born after the year 2000. The possible determinants of disparities need be identified and investigated. © 2015 Elsevier L | 10.1016/j.canep.2015.06.003 |
pubmed_0_15394 | The deep brain nuclei play an important role in many brain functions and particularly motor control. Damage to these structures result in movement disorders such as in Parkinson's disease or Huntington's disease, or behavioural disorders such as Tourette syndrome. In this paper, we propose to study the connectivity profile of the deep nuclei to the motor, associative or limbic areas and we introduce a novel tool to build a probabilistic atlas of these connections to the cortex directly on the surface of the cortical mantel, as it corresponds to the space of functional interest. The tool is then applied on two populations of healthy volunteers and patients suffering from severe Huntington's disease to produce two surface atlases of the connectivity of the basal ganglia to the cortical areas. Finally, robust statistics are used to characterize the differences of that connectivity between the two populations, providing new connectivity-based biomarkers of the pathology. | 10.1007/978-3-642-15745-5_27 |
pubmed_386_5598 | Pre-analytical variation in biobanking procedures, e.g., long-term storage, could confound biomarker outcomes. We investigated evaporation in various body fluids at different storage temperatures and storage durations. Biobank sample tubes (Sarstedt 72.694.007) filled with water in different volumes (50, 100, 250, 500, 750, 1000, 1250, 1500μl) were stored at different temperatures (-80°C, -20°C, 4°C, room temperature (RT)) for 4.5years and weighed at regular intervals. Next, saliva, serum, plasma, and CSF were stored in different volumes (50, 250, 500, 1000μl) at different temperatures (-80°C, -20°C, 4°C, RT) for 2years. An extra set of CSF was stored in tubes with safe-lock cap (Eppendorf 0030 120.086) instead of a screw cap with o-ring. No evaporation of water stored in biobanking tubes at -80°C or -20°C occurred over 4.5years. Storage of saliva, serum, plasma, and CSF at -80°C or -20°C, monitored over 2years, protected these samples from evaporation too. At 4°C, evaporation was minor, approximately 1.5% (50μl) or 0% (1ml) yearly, where at RT it ranged from 38% (50μl) to 2% (1ml). Differences were observed neither between different body fluids, nor between tube caps. Our data provide support for long-term biobanking conform current biobanking guidelines, encouraging retrospective use of clinical cohorts. | pubmed_386_5598 |
pubmed_439_4625 | BACKGROUND
Training to become a neurosurgeon takes time and effort, with the training requirements continuing to increase. As such, more efficient educational tools are needed.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of 3-dimensional (3D) printing and augmented reality (AR) systems within neurosurgical training programs.
METHODS
The skull and its structures were segmented using normal computed tomography and MRI and printed with a 3D printer. Basic procedures (burr-hole trephination and other craniotomies) and advanced procedures of skull base approaches (anterior clinoidectomy, anterior petrosectomy, and mastoidectomy) were practiced with the printed model. Skull base approaches were practiced in an AR system. After the training program, a questionnaire was administered to the trainees about the effectiveness of the program.
RESULTS
The basic procedure program was conducted four times with 22 trainees. Twenty trainees indicated that the present simulation program was important to their education (average of 4.9/5.0). When asked whether the model was similar to a human skull, the average score was 4.5 of 5 points. The advanced procedure program was conducted five times with 10 trainees. All 10 answered that the simulation program was a useful tool for training on skull base approaches (average of 5/5). All respondents answered that they would be able to perform the skull base approaches in patients after completing the training program (an average of 4.7/5).
CONCLUSION
The simulation-based training program using 3D-printed anatomy with an AR system was demonstrated to be an important adjunct to training neurosurgery. It provides trainees a realistic environment to improve skills and performance during clinical practice. | 10.1227/ons.0000000000000184 |
pubmed_825_1295 | Structure/function relationships in the human thyroid peroxidase gene promoter have been studied by deletion and mutation analyses and confronted with footprint patterns obtained with thyroid nuclear extracts and the purified thyroid transcription factor TTF-1. Crude nuclear extracts from dog thyroid primary cultures were shown to contain a binding activity recognizing the -119 to -105 segment of the promoter (coordinates relative to the transcriptional start site). Deletion, or site-directed mutagenesis of this segment dramatically reduced transcriptional activity in transient expression experiments on gene fusions of the thyroid peroxidase promoter and the growth hormone reporter. This binding activity was increased in nuclear extracts from thyrocytes cultured in the presence of the cAMP-agonist forskolin. A mutation that decreased the promoter function in forskolin-stimulated thyrocytes resulted in weakening of the corresponding footprint. The binding site displays no significant sequence similarities with known cAMP-responsive elements. Mutagenesis of another region of the promoter (-99 to -94) induced the binding of an additional factor, resulting in a dramatically enhanced promoter activity. We show that the thyroid-specific transcriptional factor TTF-1 is not directly involved in the above-mentioned interactions and provide evidence suggesting that, in spite of displaying a similar binding pattern to thyroperoxidase and thyroglobulin promoters in vitro, TTF-1 plays a less important role in the former. Altogether, our data delineate the minimal thyroid peroxidase gene promoter in the human and identify the binding sites of two trans-activating factors, one of them being potentially the mediator of a non-conventional cAMP control, independent of the cAMP-responsive element and factor AP-2. | 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1992.tb16571.x |
pubmed_163_1808 | Biochar modification by metals and metal oxides is considered a practical approach for enhancing the adsorption capacity of anionic compounds such as phosphate (P). This study obtained paper mill sludge (PMS) biochar (PMSB) via a one-step process by pyrolyzing PMS waste containing ferric salt to remove anionic P from water. The ferric salt in the sludge was transformed into ferric oxide and zero-valent-iron (Fe0) in N2 atmosphere at pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 300 to 800 °C. The maximum adsorption (Qm) of the PMSBs for P ranged from 9.75 to 25.19 mg P/g. Adsorption is a spontaneous and endothermic process, which implies chemisorption. PMSB obtained at 800 °C (PMSB800) exhibited the best performance for P removal. Fe0 in PMSB800 plays a vital role in P removal via adsorption and coprecipitation, such as forming the ≡Fe-O-P ternary complex. Furthermore, the possible chemical precipitation of P by CaO decomposed from calcite (CaCO3; an additive of paper production that remains in PMS) may also contribute to the removal of P by PMSB800. Moreover, PMSBs can be easily separated magnetically from water after application and adsorption. This study achieved a waste-to-wealth strategy by turning waste PMS into a metal/metal oxide-embedded biochar with excellent P removal capability and simple magnetic separation properties via a one-step pyrolysis process. | 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118521 |
pubmed_968_10860 | INTRODUCTION
Obesity is a chronic systemic metabolic disease, which is increasingly prevalent also in children. Obesity carries a risk of numerous complications. The factors that cause excessive weight gain in children are improper eating habits and maternal obesity. The role of mothers manifests mainly in influencing the food preferences of their children. Aim of the study: To analyse the relationship between the selected eating habits of mothers and the eating habits of their children with excess body weight before and after dietary intervention.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study group consisted of 68 overweight and obese children - patients of our department. The study used the author's questionnaire for assessing eating habits. The eating habits were assessed in children and mothers.
RESULTS
After dietary intervention reduction in mean BMI-SDS of 0.80 ±0.96 (p < 0.00001) was observed in children. Before dietary education, there was a significant relationship between mothers' correct habits and children's habits of, e.g., eating breakfast, cereal products drinking water, and consuming milk. Despite the dietary intervention, the influence of negative mothers' habits on the habits of their children was still observed.
CONCLUSIONS
The influence of selected correct and incorrect mothers' eating habits on shaping the eating habits of their children with excess body weight before and after dietary intervention was demonstrated. Before and after dietary intervention, this concerned, e.g., the number of eaten meals and the frequency of consuming sweets and fast food. No relationship was found between mother and child in the frequency of consumption of vegetables. | 10.5114/pedm.2021.107721 |
pubmed_256_14034 | Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was studied in the brain of the cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus during early ontogenetic development. In general a slight but continuous decrease in enzyme activity was found (9.5 +/- 0.5 nmol substrate cleaved per mg protein and per min at developmental stage 13 [= 1 day post hatch at 28 degrees C] to a value of 7.9 +/- 0.6 in adult brain). In order to investigate the possible influence of altered gravity during early ontogenetic brain development, fish larvae were exposed to an increased acceleration of three times earth gravity (3 g) or to functional weightlessness in a fast-rotating clinostat for 7 days. A significant increase of brain G6PDH activity of approx. 15% was found after exposure to hyper gravity, whereas a significant decrease of the enzyme activity, approximately 10%, was detected following functional weightlessness in respect to the corresponding 1 g controls. Analyses concerning the regain of normal control enzyme activity of the larvae revealed dramatic fluctuations within the first 5 h after exposure to an increased acceleration of 3 g. Thereafter, between day 1 and day 3 after exposure, brain glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased slowly. At day 3 after exposure no further differences of the hyper-g larvae compared to the controls were found. Only slight changes in total brain glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity occur during ontogenetic development of cichlid fish. This suggests that a more or less constant enzyme activity is important during brain development, but is reacting very sensitively to changes in the environmental factor gravity. | 10.1016/0197-0186(94)00176-u |
pubmed_382_16078 | During the period from 1992 to 1998, 50 patients underwent anal sphincter restoration by dynamic graciloplasty for primary (n = 26) or secondary (n = 6) total anorectal reconstruction (TAR) following abdominoperineal rectal resection (APR) or acquired (n = 9) or congenital (n = 9) fecal incontinence, respectively. Forty-seven patients were operated on by a single-stage procedure using a modified technique for the muscle wrap ("split sling"). Muscle fiber transformation by controlled stimulation was achieved at the beginning of the learning curve within 8 weeks and in the meantime within 4 weeks. Rectal injury (n = 10) turned out to be the most serious postoperative complication and was observed mainly in patients following TAR (n = 8). As the most prominent functional problem constipation in patients following TAR hampered the postoperative functional result; however, this was overcome by regular enemas. An improvement in the continence status was observed in 80% of the patients treated for fecal incontinence, and following APR 66% of the patients had acceptable results without a permanent colostomy. | 10.1007/s001040050674 |
others_314_103155 | Proximity labeling (PL) with genetically-targeted promiscuous enzymes has emerged as a powerful tool for unbiased proteome discovery. By combining the spatiotemporal specificity of PL with methods for functional protein enrichment, it should be possible to map specific protein subclasses within distinct compartments of living cells. Here we demonstrate this capability for RNA binding proteins (RBPs), by combining peroxidase-based PL with organic-aqueous phase separation of crosslinked protein-RNA complexes ("APEX-PS"). We validated APEX-PS by mapping nuclear RBPs, then applied it to uncover the RBPomes of two unpurifiable subcompartments - the nucleolus and the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM). At the OMM, we discovered the RBP SYNJ2BP, which retains specific nuclear-encoded mitochondrial mRNAs during translation stress, to promote their local translation and import of protein products into the mitochondrion during stress recovery. APEX-PS is a versatile tool for compartment-specific RBP discovery and expands the scope of PL to functional protein mapping.
Graphic Abstract
O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=186 SRC="FIGDIR/small/387209v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1">
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[email protected]@7c87c6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1b5e7cdorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@185449b_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG | 10.1101/2020.11.17.387209 |
pubmed_78_4074 | The treasures of many archives can be amazing for the historians such as those ones of the Royal Society of Medicine which listed all the diseases rife into the French provinces since 1774. The listing now appears as weather reports and nosology classifications. How to study these reports? What kind of methodology to be used? | pubmed_78_4074 |
pubmed_1073_19551 | Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that is associated with elevated maternal risk for cardiovascular disease. The aims of this study were to determine the effect of normal pregnancy on postpartum parameters of the electrocardiogram, and furthermore to determine how a history of pre-eclampsia may affect these parameters. Ten-minute high-resolution (1000 Hz) orthogonal Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings were used to measure heart rate variability (HRV). Signal-averaged P-wave and QRS complex durations were determined. Participants included non-pregnant controls, normotensive parous controls and women with a recent history of PE. While reductions in HRV induced by uncomplicated pregnancy returned to non-pregnant levels by 6-8 months postpartum HRV remained reduced in women with a history of PE compared to control groups. In addition, P-Wave and QRS complex durations were prolonged in PE subjects at 6-8 months postpartum compared to control groups. Only QRS duration was independent of differences in blood pressure. These results suggest increased sympathetic cardiac activity, and delayed myocardial conduction in women after PE; alterations consistent with cardiac remodeling and increased risk for arrhythmia. In examining the association between PE and cardiovascular disease, identification of ECG abnormalities soon after pregnancy in women with a history of PE highlights a unique opportunity for early identification and screening in this population before other risk factors become apparent. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0138664 |
pubmed_954_21326 | Neurological heterotopic ossification (NHO) is the abnormal formation of bone in soft tissues as a consequence of spinal cord or traumatic brain injury. NHO causes pain, ankyloses, vascular and nerve compression and delays rehabilitation in this high-morbidity patient group. The pathological mechanisms leading to NHO remain unknown and consequently there are no therapeutic options to prevent or reduce NHO. Genetically modified mouse models of rare genetic forms of heterotopic ossification (HO) exist, but their relevance to NHO is questionable. Consequently, we developed the first model of spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced NHO in genetically unmodified mice. Formation of NHO, measured by micro-computed tomography, required the combination of both SCI and localized muscular inflammation. Our NHO model faithfully reproduced many clinical features of NHO in SCI patients and both human and mouse NHO tissues contained macrophages. Muscle-derived mesenchymal progenitors underwent osteoblast differentiation in vitro in response to serum from NHO mice without additional exogenous osteogenic stimuli. Substance P was identified as a candidate NHO systemic neuropeptide, as it was significantly elevated in the serum of NHO patients. However, antagonism of substance P receptor in our NHO model only modestly reduced the volume of NHO. In contrast, ablation of phagocytic macrophages with clodronate-loaded liposomes reduced the size of NHO by 90%, supporting the conclusion that NHO is highly dependent on inflammation and phagocytic macrophages in soft tissues. Overall, we have developed the first clinically relevant model of NHO and demonstrated that a combined insult of neurological injury and soft tissue inflammation drives NHO pathophysiology. | 10.1002/path.4519 |
pubmed_87_25951 | Four experiments with unfamiliar objects examined the remarkably late consolidation of part-relational relative to part-based object recognition (Jüttner, Wakui, Petters, Kaur, & Davidoff, 2013). Our results indicate a particularly protracted developmental trajectory for the processing of metric part relations. Schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years and adults were tested in 3-Alternative-Forced-Choice tasks to judge the correct appearance of upright and inverted newly learned multipart objects that had been manipulated in terms of individual parts or part relations. Experiment 1 showed that even the youngest tested children were close to adult levels of performance for recognizing categorical changes of individual parts and relative part position. By contrast, Experiment 2 demonstrated that performance for detecting metric changes of relative part position was distinctly reduced in young children compared with recognizing metric changes of individual parts, and did not approach the latter until 11 to 12 years. A similar developmental dissociation was observed in Experiment 3, which contrasted the detection of metric relative-size changes and metric part changes. Experiment 4 showed that manipulations of metric size that were perceived as part (rather than part-relational) changes eliminated this dissociation. Implications for theories of object recognition and similarities to the development of face perception are discussed. | 10.1037/a0037288 |
pubmed_924_13302 | A global evaluation of wastewaters should include ecotoxicological tests to complement the chemical characterization, with advantages especially in the case of complex wastewaters. A European project developed in Trancão River Basin (Portugal), integrated the ecotoxicological and physicochemical studies of wastewater samples from two municipal sewer networks and respective wastewater treatment plants. Wastewater samples were analysed for physicochemical parameters, ecotoxicological acute and chronic tests performed and the potential for endocrine disruption evaluated. Organic load parameters and total suspended solids showed significant correlations with Microtox and ThamnoToxKit test results. Data analysis showed that treated treatment plant effluent samples are associated with less organic contamination and less toxicity in ThamnoToxKit test. Chronic toxicity test and endocrine disruption assay of treatment plant effluent samples indicated that, in a long term, potential population effects could arise in the receiving waters. A test battery to monitor this type of wastewaters is proposed, including tests with a bacterium, an alga and a crustacean. In a screening phase the most sensitive test, Microtox, can be used. The use of an ecotoxicological approach can have added value to hazard and risk assessment of discharges to the receiving waters and can contribute to the environmental management of the treatment plant. | 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.07.012 |
pubmed_646_2785 | The consequences of physical inactivity on fuel homeostasis were evaluated during 7 days of head-down bed rest (HDBR), a model mimicking weightlessness. Eight men (32.4 +/- 1.9 yr; body mass index, 23.9 +/- 0.7 kg/m2) and eight women (27.9 +/- 0.9 yr; body mass index, 20.9 +/- 0.6 kg/m2) underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 1 g/kg) before and after HDBR. The glucose load was labeled with 13C and associated with D-[6,6-2H2] glucose infusion, indirect calorimetry, breath tests, and plasma measurements to determine the glucose turnover and biodisponibility, substrate oxidation, and endocrine responses. Body composition was assessed using H2(18)O dilution. In addition, hormones were measured in daily blood and 24-h urine samples. No change in body composition was noted. Daily fasting insulin increased during HDBR (men, 34%; women, 26%), as did the insulin to glucose ratio (men, 30%; women, 25%). The normetanephrine level dropped (men, 30%; women, 16%), but metanephrine was unchanged. During OGTTs, the insulin response was increased after HDBR (men, 47%; women, 67%), whereas plasma glucose levels were similar. Nonesterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate levels were lower. Endogenous glucose production dropped (28%), and exogenous glucose oxidation increased (28%) only in men. Resting energy expenditure was unchanged, but nonproteic respiratory quotient increased (men, 10%; women, 14%). Basal levels of lipid oxidation dropped in both sexes (approximately 90%), but those of carbohydrate oxidation increased in men (40%); as did lipogenesis in women (570%). In response to OGTTs, lipid oxidation was 80% reduced in both sexes after HDBR, but carbohydrate oxidation increased (25%) in men. Lipogenesis occurred in men (304%) and women (74%), but the latter had higher absolute levels. Therefore, 7 days of HDBR resulted in 1) reduced sympathetic activity, 2) insulin resistance suggested at the muscle level in men and at both the muscle and liver levels in women, 3) no changes in glucose biodisponibility, suggesting no alterations in the gastrointestinal function, and 4) a shift toward carbohydrate oxidation in men and a net lipogenesis in women. Such results suggest gender differences in response to sedentary life style and warrant further analysis. | 10.1210/jcem.85.6.6617 |
pubmed_337_15243 | BACKGROUND
Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) plays a crucial role in systemic glucose metabolism.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain reference data on absolute and relative values of SMM for Korean children and adolescents.
METHODS
Cross-sectional results from 1919 children and adolescents (1024 boys) aged 10-18 years that underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) during the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2011 were analyzed. SMMs were evaluated as follows; absolute SMM (appendicular skeletal muscle mass [ASM]) and relative SMMs, namely, height-adjusted skeletal muscle index (SMI; ASM/height2), %SMM (ASM/weight x 100), and skeletal muscle-to-body fat ratio (MFR; ASM/body fat mass).
RESULTS
Percentile curves illustrated the developmental patterns of the SMMs of Korean children and adolescents. ASM and SMI increased with age in both genders, and increased from age 10 throughout adolescence in boys, whereas in girls, they increased until age 13 and then stabilized. In boys, %SMM and MFR were highest at age 15 and then slowly stabilized or decreased, whereas in girls, they peaked at age 10 to 11 and then decreased through adolescence. Cut-off values for low MFR were identified and a significant association was found between a low MFR and high risk of metabolic syndrome. However, this association was found to be dependent on gender and the level of BMI.
CONCLUSION
This study provides reference values of absolute and relative SMM for Korean children and adolescents. Detailed body composition analyses including skeletal muscle and fat mass might provide improved measures of metabolic risk. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0153383 |
pubmed_393_7700 | The stainless steel cannula inserting method was used to investigate the effects of serotonin on isolated and perfused dog mesenteric arteries with and without intraluminal saponin treatment. By intraluminal administration, serotonin and potassium chloride caused dose-related vasoconstrictions. After intraluminal treatment with 3 mg of saponin, the potassium chloride-induced vasoconstrictor response was significantly enhanced, whereas the serotonin-induced one was not potentiated but rather reduced slightly. | 10.1254/jjp.39.271 |
pubmed_666_10243 | Use of polyacrylate-polyalcohol copolymer (PPC) after endoscopic correction (EC) of vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) is highly effective but is associated with a higher risk of obstructive complications (OC) compared with other implants. We undertook a STROBE compliant retrospective investigation and studied the OC risk factors to increase the practical safety of PPC.Overall, 798 patients (464 [58.1%] girls and 334 [41.9%]) boys) from 5 hospitals in whom PPC was routinely used were evaluated retrospectively. The patients were subdivided into 2 groups. Group I consisted of 754 (94.5%) children (449 [59.5%] girls and 305 [40.5%] boys) without OC. Median age was 41 months [Q1: 18.0; Q3: 81.0]. Group II comprised 44 (5.5%) patients (29 [65.9%] boys and 15 [34.1%] girls) experiencing OC, and their median age was 21.5 months [Q1: 12.0; Q3: 43.0]. Clinical and renal ultrasound examinations were carried out 1 day and 1 month after EC, and then every 6 months after EC. At the follow-up examination approximately 6 months after EC, voiding cysto-urethrography (VCUG) was performed. All patients with OC underwent diuretic renography.OC occurred in 44 (5.5%) of 798 children, in some cases as late as 60 months after endoscopic injection of the bulking agent PPC for correction of VUR. Univariate analysis revealed that younger age (P < .001), higher grade of VUR (P < .001), male gender (P < .001), second injection (P = .003), and EC injection using hydrodistension implantation technique (HIT; P < .001) represented significant risk factors. At multivariate analysis, only male gender (P = .0078), younger age (P = .0044), HIT technique (P < .0001), and second injection (P = .04) represented significant risk factors for the occurrence of OC.We identified young age, male gender, high reflux grade, HIT technique, and second endoscopic injections as factors associated with the risk of OC after EC of VUR using PPC as a bulking agent. Thus, patients who have undergone EC with PPC must be monitored sonographically for occurrence of OC for at least 60 months after the intervention. | 10.1097/MD.0000000000020386 |
pubmed_911_5343 | In contrast to many currently employed osteotomy techniques like saws or drills the use of short-pulsed laser light offers the possibility of non-contact and vibration-free bone cutting. With a wavelength of 2.94 microm the Er:YAG laser displays a consummate absorption in water and thus is particularly suitable for bone ablation. To examine the benefits of laser osteotomy in oral surgery a short-pulsed Er:YAG laser was used for different surgical procedures in 30 patients. Preliminary clinical findings revealed satisfactory cut efficiency and no carbonisation. No serious complications were encountered in the postoperative wound healing process. However, the surgical procedures were time-consuming. | pubmed_911_5343 |
pubmed_5_5111 | A series of technical tips and devices designed to increase accuracy and safety in stereotactic surgery are presented. We use stereotactic magnetic resonance imaging with three-dimensional magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (MP-RAGE) imaging to minimize image distortion, and a three-dimensional stereotactic planning system for accurately registering three-dimensional space. We also developed several technical devices useful for stereotactic intracranial procedures; an applicator system attached to the frame which simulates the fiducial markers in order to keep the target at a suitable position in stereotactic space; a torque wrench to set the torque on the fixing pins to the frame reproducibly at 5 inch pounds in order to keep distortion of the frame to a minimum while maintaining secure fixation; an entry point marker to maintain the calculated trajectory angle; a straightening cannula to prevent the thermo-coagulation needle from bending; a microvascular Doppler and its holder to detect significant vessels and to know their precise depth in order to avoid vascular injury from thermocoagulation; a burr hole button device to secure depth electrode cables at the patient's skull. | 10.1055/s-2000-8811 |
pubmed_674_20939 | PURPOSE
To study the structural and functional outcomes of 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy in giant retinal tear-associated retinal detachments.
METHODS
Seventeen eyes of 17 patients with giant retinal tear, who underwent 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy over a period of 15 months at a tertiary eye care center by a single surgeon, were recruited in this retrospective interventional study.
RESULTS
Giant retinal tears were mostly traumatic (35.3%) or associated with myopia (35.3%) and occurred in young (mean age 25.7 years) males (94.1%). Most eyes had best-corrected visual acuity ≤20/1,200 (in 82.3%), foveal detachment (in 88.2%), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy ≤Grade B (in 82.3%). The giant retinal tear extent was more than 180° in 29.4% and the fellow eye was involved in 35.2% of eyes. All eyes underwent 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with encircling band in 41.1%, perfluorocarbon liquid use in 82.3%, and endotamponade with sulphur hexafluoride (23.6%) or silicone oil (76.4%). At mean follow-up of 10.2 months, reattachment rate was 88.2%. Only 35.2% of eyes achieved final visual acuity ≥20/80 with a cause of poor vision being cataract, secondary glaucoma, macular pucker, and corneal edema.
CONCLUSION
Twenty-five-gauge pars plana vitrectomy can achieve excellent attachment rates in eyes with giant retinal tear-associated retinal detachment. It can be as efficient as larger-gauge vitrectomy, at the same time retaining all advantages of smaller-gauge surgery. | 10.1097/IAE.0000000000001592 |
pubmed_37_7091 | Consistent holistic view of sexual species as the highest form of biological existence is presented. The Weismann's idea that sex and recombination provide the variation for the natural selection to act upon is dominated in most discussions of the biological meaning of the sexual reproduction. Here, the idea is substantiated that the main advantage of sex is the opposite: the ability to counteract not only extinction but further evolution as well. Living systems live long owing to their ability to reproduce themselves with a high fidelity. Simple organisms (like bacteria) reach the continued existence due to the high fidelity of individual genome replication. In organisms with a large genome and complex development, the achievable fidelity of DNA replication is not enough for the precise reproduction of the genome. Such species must be capable of surviving and must remain unchanged in spite of the continuous changes of their genes. This problem has no solution in the frame of asexual ("homeogenomic") lineages. They would rapidly degrade and become extinct or blurred out in the course of the reckless evolution. The core outcome of the transition to sexual reproduction was the creation of multiorganismic entity - biological species. Individual organisms forfeited their ability to reproduce autonomously. It implies that individual organisms forfeited their ability to substantive evolution. They evolve as a part of the biological species. In case of obligatory sexuality, there is no such a thing as synchronic multi-level selection. Natural selection cannot select anything that is not a unit of reproduction. Hierarchy in biology implies the functional predestination of the parts for the sake of the whole. A crucial feature of the sexual reproduction is the formation of genomes of individual organisms by random picking them over from the continuously shuffled gene pool instead of the direct replication of the ancestor's genome. A clear anti-evolutionary consequence of the sexuality is evident from the fact that the genotypes of the individuals with an enhanced competitiveness are not transmitted to the next generation. Instead, after mating with "ordinary" individuals, these genotypes scatter and rearrange in new gene combinations, thus preventing the winner from exploiting the success. | 10.1186/1745-6150-5-14 |
pubmed_674_22122 | Pt-Pd catalyst supported on nitrogen-doped carbon nanofiber (N-CNF) was prepared and evaluated as a cathode electrode of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC). The N-CNF, which was directly synthesized by the catalytic chemical vapor deposition from acetonitrile at 640 °C, was verified as having a change of electrochemical surface properties such as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities and the electrochemical double layer compared with common carbon black (CB). To attain the competitive oxygen reduction reaction activity with methanol tolerance, the Pt and Pd metals were supported on the CB or the N-CNF. The physical and electrochemical characteristics of the N-CNF-supported Pt-Pd catalyst were examined and compared with catalyst supported on the CB. In addition, DMFC single cells using these catalysts as the cathode electrode were applied to obtain I-V polarization curves and constant current operating performances with high-concentration methanol as the fuel. Pt-Pd catalysts had obvious ORR activity even in the presence of methanol. The higher power density was obtained at all the methanol concentrations when it applied to the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of the DMFC. When the N-CNF is used as the catalyst support material, a better performance with high-concentration methanol is expected. | 10.3390/nano6080148 |
pubmed_170_11358 | The self-consistent charge density functional tight binding (SCC-DFTB) method is a relatively new approximate electronic structure method that is increasingly used to study biologically relevant systems in aqueous environments. There have been several gas phase cluster calculations that indicate, in some instances, an ability to predict geometries, energies, and vibrational frequencies in reasonable agreement with high level ab initio calculations. However, to date, there has been little validation of the method for bulk water properties, and no validation for the properties of the hydrated excess proton in water. Presented here is a detailed SCC-DFTB analysis of the latter two systems. This work focuses on the ability of the original SCC-DFTB method, and a modified version that includes a hydrogen bonding damping function (HBD-SCC-DFTB), to describe the structural, energetic, and dynamical nature of these aqueous systems. The SCC-DFTB and HBD-SCC-DFTB results are compared to experimental data and Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics (CPMD) simulations using the HCTH/120 gradient-corrected exchange-correlation energy functional. All simulations for these systems contained 128 water molecules, plus one additional proton in the case of the excess proton system, and were carried out in a periodic simulation box with Ewald long-range electrostatics. The liquid water structure for the original SCC-DFTB is shown to poorly reproduce bulk water properties, while the HBD-SCC-DFTB somewhat more closely represents bulk water due to an improved ability to describe hydrogen bonding energies. Both SCC-DFTB methods are found to underestimate the water dimer interaction energy, resulting in a low heat of vaporization and a significantly elevated water oxygen diffusion coefficient as compared to experiment. The addition of an excess hydrated proton to the bulk water resulted in the Zundel cation (H(5)O(2)(+)) stabilized species being the stable form of the charge defect, which diffuses at a rate similar to the underlying water diffusion. These SCC-DFTB results differ significantly from other existing computational descriptions of the hydrated excess proton in water, as well as from the available experimental data. | 10.1021/jp1010555 |
pubmed_259_15775 | The culture of hepatoblastoma G2 (Hep G2) cells is proposed as an effective model for screening of microbial metabolites--inhibitors of sterol biosynthesis. This model can be applied at early stages of screening procedures and is quite effective for testing of crude extracts of producers' culture broth. The test is based on measurement inhibition of the radiolabelled precursors incorporation in cholesterol and separate fractions of lipids by microbial metabolites in Hep G2 cells. That allows not only to reveal inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis, but also to evaluate mechanism of action, including ability to inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol ethers. The cholesterol biosynthesis inhibition was tested at 150 microbial cultures (actinomycetes and imperfect fungi), isolated from soil. The ability to inhibit 14C-acetate incorporation into cholesterol was found in 15-20% of microbial cultures possessing antifungal activity of extracts (culture broth and mycelium). | pubmed_259_15775 |
pubmed_906_7673 | We present a simulation scheme based on the lattice-Boltzmann method to simulate the dynamics of charged colloids in an electrolyte. In our model we describe the electrostatics on the level of a Poisson-Boltzmann equation and the hydrodynamics of the fluid by the linearized Navier-Stokes equations. We verify our simulation scheme by means of a Chapman-Enskog expansion. Our method is applied to the calculation of the reduced sedimentation velocity U/U(0) for a cubic array of charged spheres in an electrolyte. We show that we recover the analytical solution first derived by Booth [F. Booth, J. Chem. Phys. 22, 1956 (1954)] for a weakly charged, isolated sphere in an unbounded electrolyte. The present method makes it possible to go beyond the Booth theory, and we discuss the dependence of the sedimentation velocity on the charge of the spheres. Finally we compare our results to experimental data. | 10.1103/PhysRevE.64.061507 |
pubmed_452_3139 | Nitrate pollution in groundwater is now one of the most important environmental problems all over the world. For this purpose, a new framework for risk screening and assessment of groundwater nitrate was proposed according to source-pathway-receptor-response model to provide basic for defining environmental management strategies. The framework is composed of groundwater relative risk model (RRM), groundwater contamination risk assessment (CRA), and human health risk assessment (HHRA). The framework is applied in the lower Liaohe river basin plain, northeast of China. The results showed that the priority area with high groundwater relative risk in study area was successfully screened by RRM. Furthermore, the sites with high human health risk for public by groundwater nitrate were selected as hazardous areas. This framework promotes systematic integration of risk assessment of groundwater nitrate and expands traditional research on groundwater management from a scale-based approach to crucial insights into pollution. | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134102 |
others_205_11582 | xidative stability and fatty acid composition of the pumpkin seed oil (PSO) were studied, during roasting process from 80 to 150 °C and oil heat treatment (220 °C), by FTIR (Fourier - transform infrared) – Spectroscopy and GC/MS (Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry). The physicochemical parameters (density and iodine value) showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) during roasting, with a maximum value observed in the oil roasted at temperatures from 90 to 110 °C. The relative contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) decreased to 87.7%, and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) increased to 112.5% at unroasted sample, after thermal treatment of oil samples. Especially at temperature 90 and 110 °C, oil samples have demonstrated that relative contents of PUFAs decreased to 95 % and SFAs increased to 101.6%. FTIR Spectroscopy provide to understand mechanism of chemical changes of seed during roasting process and, as result, which of obtained compounds are responsible for increasing thermal stability of oil lipids. In this study, it was observed that the best temperature for roasting pumpkin seeds is 110 °C, since at this point, both oxidation and Maillard reactions give rise to compounds with maximum antioxidant effect (lipid stability). © 2022. Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences. All Rights Reser | 10.55251/jmbfs.5839 |
pubmed_302_11689 | Hypertonic stress (HS) suppresses neutrophil (PMN) functions. We studied the underlying mechanism and found that HS rapidly (<1 min) increased intracellular cAMP levels by up to sevenfold. cAMP levels correlated with applied hypertonicity and the degree of neutrophil suppression. HS and cAMP-elevating drugs (forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP-acetoxymethyl ester) similarly suppressed extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and superoxide formation in response to N-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) stimulation. Inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) with H-89 abrogated the suppressive effects of HS, restoring fMLP-induced ERK and p38 activation and superoxide formation. Inhibition of phosphodiesterase with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine augmented cAMP accumulation and the suppressive effects of HS, while inhibition of adenylyl cyclase with MDL-12330A abolished these effects. These findings suggest that HS-activated cAMP/PKA signaling inhibits superoxide formation by intercepting fMLP-induced activation steps upstream of ERK and p38. In contrast to its effects in the presence of moderate hypertonicity levels (40 mM), H-89 was unable to rescue neutrophil functions from suppression by higher hypertonicity levels (100 mM), indicating that more severe HS suppresses neutrophils via secondary PKA-independent mechanisms. | 10.1152/ajpcell.00479.2001 |
pubmed_939_1886 | Various types of sarcomas arise as a result of postradiation chronic fibrous pericarditis. A primary undifferentiated spindle cell pericardial sarcoma is a rare type of sarcoma after radiotherapy. The risk of sarcoma increases with time after treatment of cancer. A 55-year-old woman underwent successful radiation and chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma 20 years ago. She was hospitalized with typical manifestations of severe heart failure. Echocardiography, сomputed tomography of the chest and magnetic resonance imaging scan of the heart detected neoplastic formations of the pericardium. A biopsy of the pericardium was performed. Histological, immunohistochemical, and genetic studies showed a primary undifferentiated spindle cell pericardial sarcoma (an extremely rare type of sarcoma). | 10.1159/000510068 |
pubmed_620_6025 | A method of revascularizing the coeliac axis or its branches, and the superior mesenteric artery, is described. A saphenous vein graft is brought from the lumbar aorta behind the pancreas to the recipient host artery. Two illustrative patients' histories are presented. | 10.1111/j.1445-2197.1979.tb06494.x |
pubmed_344_19150 | BACKGROUND
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ACVD) is the most common cause of mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients and the annual mortality in this population is about 10%. Inflammation is one of the most important predictor of ACVD morbidity and mortality in these patients. Recent studies demonstrated that levels of inflammatory markers and ACVD mortality vary seasonally in healthy population and in high-cardiac-risk populations. In this retrospective analysis, we aimed to determine seasonal variation of inflammation and ACVD morbidity and mortality in HD patients.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Data were retrieved retrospectively for 1 year. Patients with acute or chronic infections or inflammatory conditions were excluded from the analysis. Laboratory data and ACVD-related events were retrieved from patients' files and these data were classified into seasonal periods.
RESULTS
Sixty-two patients were included in the final analysis. During follow-up period, geometric means of serum hsCRP levels were similar in all of the seasonal periods (4.17, 4.17, 4.57, and 4.17 mg/L in winter, spring, summer, and autumn, respectively). Means of hsCRP values were significantly higher in patients with active-ACVD compared to patients with no-ACVD in winter (3.38 vs. 13.18 mg/L, p < 0.05) and in autumn (3.63 vs. 23.4 mg/L, p < 0.05). There were 5 mortality and 7 morbidity and 12 combined morbidity and mortality related to ACVD and the distribution of these events were similar in all of the seasonal periods.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates that hsCRP levels and ACVD events do not show seasonal variation in HD patients. | 10.3109/0886022X.2010.494800 |
pubmed_590_17571 | Although differences in immunological responses between populations have been found in terms of vaccine efficacy, immune responses to infections and prevalence of chronic inflammatory diseases, the mechanisms responsible for these differences are not well understood. Therefore, innate cytokine responses mediated by various classes of pattern-recognition receptors including Toll-like receptors (TLR), C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) and nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain-like receptors (NLRs) were compared between Dutch (European), semi-urban and rural Gabonese (African) children. Whole blood was stimulated for 24 hours and the pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the anti-inflammatory/regulatory interleukin-10 (IL-10) cytokines in culture supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Gabonese children had a lower pro-inflammatory response to poly(I:C) (TLR3 ligand), but a higher pro-inflammatory response to FSL-1 (TLR2/6 ligand), Pam3 (TLR2/1 ligand) and LPS (TLR4 ligand) compared to Dutch children. Anti-inflammatory responses to Pam3 were also higher in Gabonese children. Non-TLR ligands did not induce substantial cytokine production on their own. Interaction between various TLR and non-TLR receptors was further assessed, but no differences were found between the three populations. In conclusion, using a field applicable assay, significant differences were observed in cytokine responses between European and African children to TLR ligands, but not to non-TLR ligands. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0095241 |
pubmed_1049_2773 | Prolongation of the QT interval, sometimes leading to torsades de pointes, has been clinically reported during terfenadine treatment. However, information regarding the cardiovascular profile of terfenadine is still limited, particularly in in vivo animal models. In the current study, we examined the cardiovascular effects of terfenadine using halothane-anesthetized, closed-chest in vivo canine models (n = 6) to better simulate the clinical situation. Intravenous infusion of 0.3 mg/kg of terfenadine over 10 min, which would attain the antihistaminic plasma concentration, reduced the heart rate and left ventricular contractility and prolonged the repolarization period as well as the ventricular effective refractory period. An additional infusion of a ten times higher dose of terfenadine over 10 min caused hypotension and increased left ventricular preload and atrioventricular conduction time, in addition to potentiating the changes observed by the lower dose. A reverse use-dependent prolongation of the repolarization period was observed after the higher dose infusion. Moreover, early afterdepolarization-like potential was detected in four out of six experiments. Since each suppressive effect can become deleterious during terfenadine overdose, caution must be taken for those patients with potential cardiac dysfunction and with the risk of elevated plasma drug concentrations. | 10.1007/BF01744586 |
others_314_183149 | Alcohol tolerance is a simple form of behavioral and neural plasticity that occurs with the first drink. Neural plasticity in tolerance is likely a substrate for longer term adaptations that can lead to alcohol use disorder. Drosophila develop tolerance with characteristics similar to vertebrates, and it is useful model for determining the molecular and circuit encoding mechanisms in detail. Rapid tolerance, measured after the first alcohol exposure is completely metabolized, is localized to specific brain regions that are not interconnected in an obvious way. We used a forward neuroanatomical screen to identify three new neural sites for rapid tolerance encoding. One of these was comprised of two groups of neurons, the DN1a and DN1p glutamatergic neurons, that are part of the Drosophila circadian clock. We localized rapid tolerance to the two DN1a neurons that regulate arousal by light at night, temperature-dependent sleep timing, and night-time sleep. Two clock neurons that regulate evening activity, LNd6 and the 5th LNv, are postsynaptic to the DN1as and they promote rapid tolerance via the metabotropic glutamate receptor. Thus, rapid tolerance to alcohol overlaps with sleep regulatory neural circuitry, suggesting a mechanistic l | 10.1101/2023.01.30.526363 |
pubmed_924_20361 | The aim of the study was to evaluate psychometric properties of the Obsessive Compulsive Inventory (OCI) on Italian community and clinical samples. The Italian version of the 42-item OCI was administered to a sample of 340 individuals belonging to the general population and to 88 patients with obsessive compulsive (OCD) or other anxiety disorders. Four different internal structures of the OCI were compared through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA): the figures for the model with six factors and 18 items (OCI-R) met the best criteria for adequacy of fit. The six scales showed on average a 10% of common variance in the community sample and 8% in the clinical sample. The OCI-R subscales showed good internal consistency and temporal stability, with the exception of washing and mental neutralizing subscales which showed a strong alpha coefficient only in the OCD sample. Psychometric data for the OCI-R were insensitive to age and sex, whereas an effect of education was found. Concurrent validity was demonstrated, since the OCI-R subscales showed a pattern of specific correlations with another conceptually related self-report measure. Moreover, although the OCI-R was positively correlated with measures of depression, anxiety, and worry, the correlations were weaker than those with the other measure of OCD symptoms. The OCI-R clearly differentiated OCD patients from non-OCD anxious patients and nonclinical controls with the exception of hoarding subscale. However, the hoarding scale discriminated OCD patients who presented hoarding symptoms from OCD counterparts without such symptoms. Thus, the OCI-R proved to be a reliable and valid measure of obsessive compulsive symptoms in the Italian context. | 10.1016/j.janxdis.2008.07.001 |
pubmed_986_9446 | In the operation proposed the tumour is approached by the abdominal route after incision of the diaphragm. It is dissected and the overlying healthy oesophagus is stripped. Continuity of the digestive tract is re-established by tubular gastroplasty in which the stomach is brought up to the neck through a retrosternal tunnel. The operation is indicated for tumours of the lower and middle oesophagus. | pubmed_986_9446 |
pubmed_195_15029 | Nuclear migration during yeast karyogamy, termed nuclear congression, is required to initiate nuclear fusion. Congression involves a specific regulation of the microtubule minus end-directed kinesin-14 motor Kar3 and a rearrangement of the cytoplasmic microtubule attachment sites at the spindle pole bodies (SPBs). However, how these elements interact to produce the forces necessary for nuclear migration is less clear. We used electron tomography, molecular genetics, quantitative imaging, and first principles modeling to investigate how cytoplasmic microtubules are organized during nuclear congression. We found that Kar3, with the help of its light chain, Cik1, is anchored during mating to the SPB component Spc72 that also serves as a nucleator and anchor for microtubules via their minus ends. Moreover, we show that no direct microtubule-microtubule interactions are required for nuclear migration. Instead, SPB-anchored Kar3 exerts the necessary pulling forces laterally on microtubules emanating from the SPB of the mating partner nucleus. Therefore, a twofold symmetrical application of the core principle that drives nuclear migration in higher cells is used in yeast to drive nuclei toward each other before nuclear fusion. | 10.1101/gad.206318.112 |
pubmed_175_8817 | Gait disturbance is considered to be a significant clinical manifestation of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). We aimed to investigate the association between different imaging markers of CSVD or total CSVD burden and gait disturbance in a community-dwelling population. In the cross-sectional Taizhou Imaging Study (TIS), 314 participants free of neurological disorders underwent MRI scanning and gait assessment with quantitative wearable devices as well as clinical rating scales. In linear regression, after adjustment for demographics and vascular risks, total CSVD burden was associated with prolonged 3-m walking (β=0.118, P=0.035), shorter stride length (β=-0.106, P=0.042), and poorer Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) performance (β=0.146, P=0.009). Lacunes were positively associated with 3-m walking (β=0.118, P=0.037) and duration of TUG test (β=0.112, P=0.047). White matter hyperintensities and cerebral microbleeds were associated with prolonged stride time (β=0.134, P=0.024) and increased stance phase time percentage (β=0.115, P=0.038), respectively. Logistic regression revealed that participants with high CSVD burden or more lacunes were more likely to have an impaired gait velocity and an impaired TUG test. These results suggest that total CSVD burden and CSVD imaging markers are associated with gait disturbance among community-dwelling elderly people. Different CSVD imaging markers may cause gait disturbance through different pathways. | 10.18632/aging.102779 |
pubmed_744_19426 | Axons need to be above a minimum size before they can be ensheathed by myelin-forming glia. But it has generally been assumed that the axonal signals that initiate myelination, whatever they are, would act similarly in both the CNS and the PNS. The surprising finding of Chan et al. in this issue of Neuron is that NGF can act as a regulator of ensheathment but that it has opposite effects on CNS and PNS axons. | 10.1016/j.neuron.2004.07.005 |
pubmed_9_9505 | A case of posterior fossa meningioma with parapharyngeal extension is described. The tumour lacked contrast enhancement at both CT and MRI, and showed no vascularity at angiography. These negative features restricted us to a differential diagnosis alone. The postulated mechanisms for an extracranial position of a meningioma, mainly from Hoye et al, are re-presented. | 10.1111/j.1440-1673.1993.tb00026.x |
pubmed_332_18216 | UNLABELLED
What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have an increased risk of developing RCC in their native kidneys. The prevalence of RCC is 3-4% in cases of ESRD in dialyzed and/or transplanted patients, which corresponds to a rate 100-times higher than that in the general population. This is the first study, to our knowledge, comparing the characteristics of kidney cancer in the ESRD population according to their dialysis or transplantation status at the time of diagnosis. The differences in stage and survival we observed may be due to differences in surveillance strategies between transplanted and not transplanted patients, nevertheless, the differences in pathological subtypes suggest they could also be due to differences in the tumorigenesis process.
OBJECTIVE
• To compare clinical, pathological and outcome features of renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) arising in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) with or without renal transplantation.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
• In all, 24 French University Departments of Urology and Kidney Transplantation participated in this retrospective study comparing RCCs arising in patients with CRF according to their dialysis or transplantation status at the time of diagnosis. • Information about age, sex, symptoms, duration of CRF, mode and duration of dialysis, renal transplantation, tumour staging and grading, histological subtype and outcome were recorded in a unique database. • Qualitative and quantitative variables were compared by using chi-square and Student statistical analysis. Survival was assessed by Kaplan-Meier and Cox methods.
RESULTS
• Data on 303 RCC cases diagnosed between 1985 and 2009 were identified in 206 men (76.3%) and 64 women (23.7%). • Transplanted and not transplanted patients accounted for 213 (70.3%) and 90 cases (29.7%), respectively. • In transplant recipients, RCC was diagnosed at a younger age [mean (sd) 53 (11) vs 61 (14) years, P < 0.001), the mean tumour size was smaller [3.4 (2.3) vs 4.2 (3.1) cm, P= 0.02), pT1a stage (75 vs 60%, P= 0.009) and papillary histological subtype (44 vs 22%, P < 0.001) were more frequent than in their dialysis-only counterparts. • Nodal (1 vs 6%, P= 0.03) and distant metastases rates (0 vs 5%, P < 0.001) were significantly increased in patients who had not had a transplant. However, Fürhman grading, symptoms, tumour multifocality or bilaterality, presence of acquired cystic kidney disease, were not significantly different between the groups. • Estimated 5-year survival rates were 97% and 77% for transplanted and not transplanted patients, respectively (P < 0.001). In univariate analysis, presence of symptoms (P= 0.008), poor performance status (P= 0.04), large tumour size, advanced TNM stage (P < 0.001), high Führman grade (P= 0.005) and absence of transplantation (P < 0.001) were all adverse prognostic factors. In multivariate analysis, only T stage remained an independent predictor for cancer-related death (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
• RCC arising in native kidneys of transplant patients seems to exhibit many favourable clinical, pathological and outcome features compared with those diagnosed in dialysis-only patients. Further research is needed to determine whether it is due to particular molecular pathways or to biases in relation to mode of diagnosis. | 10.1111/j.1464-410X.2012.11273.x |
pubmed_901_5544 | Neointimae of fabric vascular prostheses of three types (crimped and knitted [A], stretchable [B], and expansile [C]) were examined under both light and electron microscopes from 1 to 1,240 days after implantation in the thoracic aorta of 161 dogs. With all types of prostheses, a very uniform arrangement of smooth muscle cells was observed beneath the endothelial cells. In the crimped and knitted prostheses (A), the smooth muscle cells in the neointima showed a regular arrangement perpendicular to the direction of the bloodstream at each inner ridge of the crimp. In the stretchable prostheses (B), which can stretch only longitudinally, the long axes of the smooth muscle cells oriented in rows parallel to the bloodstream. In the expensive prostheses (C), which can expand only circumferentially, the smooth muscle cells were perpendicular to the bloodstream. These observations suggest that the arrangement of the smooth muscle cells in neointima is largely governed by the tension to which they are subjected. | pubmed_901_5544 |
pubmed_303_8020 | A new method has been developed which permits the rapid screening of E. coli colonies for mutants with defective enzymes of phospholipid metabolism. In this procedure, a disc of filter paper is pressed down on an agar plate containing several hundred colonies of mutagen-treated cells, after which the paper is lifted off. In the process the colonies are transferred to the paper, giving rise to a replica print of the master plate. The few cells from each colony left on the master keep growing in the original pattern. The pattern of colonies is also retained on the filter paper, even after the cells are rendered permeable with lysozyme and EDTA. Colonies treated in this manner remain absorbed to the paper, where they can convert sn-(U-14-C)glycero-3-P to phosphatidyl(U-14-C)glycerophosphate, dependent on added CDP-diglyceride. Unrelated reactions of sn-(U-14-C)glycero-3-P that may obscure the synthesis of phosphatidyl-glycerophosphate are inhibited by the addition of reagents poisoning energy generation. The radioactive phospholipid that forms around each colony on the paper is precipitated in situ with trichloroacetic acid, and unreacted sn-(U-14-C)glycero-3-P is washed away. After autoradiography, the colonies on the filter paper are stained with Coomassie blue. When the autoradiogram is superimposed on the strained paper, mutants are identified as blue colonies lacking a black halo. With this method, 20,000 colonies were screened in several days. Four mutants were identified with low levels of CDP-diglyceride:snglycero-3-P phosphatidyl transferase (EC 2.7.8.5, GLYCEROL-PHOSPHATE PHOSPHATIDYLTRANSFERASE, PHOSPHATIDYLGLYCEROPHOSPHATE SYNTHETASE) IN EXTRACTS. With a similar assay, 10,000 additional colonies were screened for mutants with altered CDP-diglyceride:L-serine O-phosphatidyltransferase (EC 2.7.8.8, phosphatidylserine synthetase), and four strains were found in which the enzyme is thermolabile. The screening technique described here is termed replica printing and should be applicable not only to studies of phospholipid metabolism but also to nucleic acid and protein synthesis. | 10.1073/pnas.72.6.2274 |
pubmed_448_3819 | Background: Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of the cardiovascular disease (CVD). Several risk factors lead to atherosclerosis, and altered nutrition is one among those. Nutrition has been ignored quite often in the process of CVD risk assessment. Altered nutrition along with carotid ultrasound imaging-driven atherosclerotic plaque features can help in understanding and banishing the problems associated with the late diagnosis of CVD. Artificial intelligence (AI) is another promisingly adopted technology for CVD risk assessment and management. Therefore, we hypothesize that the risk of atherosclerotic CVD can be accurately monitored using carotid ultrasound imaging, predicted using AI-based algorithms, and reduced with the help of proper nutrition. Layout: The review presents a pathophysiological link between nutrition and atherosclerosis by gaining a deep insight into the processes involved at each stage of plaque development. After targeting the causes and finding out results by low-cost, user-friendly, ultrasound-based arterial imaging, it is important to (i) stratify the risks and (ii) monitor them by measuring plaque burden and computing risk score as part of the preventive framework. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based strategies are used to provide efficient CVD risk assessments. Finally, the review presents the role of AI for CVD risk assessment during COVID-19. Conclusions: By studying the mechanism of low-density lipoprotein formation, saturated and trans fat, and other dietary components that lead to plaque formation, we demonstrate the use of CVD risk assessment due to nutrition and atherosclerosis disease formation during normal and COVID times. Further, nutrition if included, as a part of the associated risk factors can benefit from atherosclerotic disease progression and its management using AI-based CVD risk assessment. | 10.52586/5026 |
pubmed_227_9259 | This study was performed to clarify the clinical and pathological characteristics of T1 colorectal cancer. From 1987 to 2003, a total of 223 patients with T1 colorectal cancer were treated at our institute. Disease recurrence occurred in eight (3%) of these cases. The original sites of cancer were the ascending colon (n = 1), sigmoid colon (n = 2), and rectum (n = 5). We performed three local resections per anus and five bowel resections with lymph node dissection. In cases showing recurrence after resection, lymph node metastasis was observed more frequently (four of five cases; 80%) compared with the cases showing no recurrence (11%). The average recurrence time was <36 months in seven of the eight cases (88%). Local recurrence occurred in five of the eight cases (63%). We conclude that careful follow-up is necessary in cases of T1 colorectal cancer in the first 3 years after treatment. | pubmed_227_9259 |
pubmed_389_1512 | The 677 C to T transition in the MTHFR gene is a genetic determinant for hyperhomocysteinemia. We investigated whether this polymorphism modulates gray matter (GM) structural covariance networks independently of white-matter integrity in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). GM structural covariance networks were constructed by 3D T1-magnetic resonance imaging and seed-based analysis. The patients were divided into two genotype groups: C homozygotes (n = 73) and T carriers (n = 62). Using diffusion tensor imaging and white-matter parcellation, 11 fiber bundle integrities were compared between the two genotype groups. Cognitive test scores were the major outcome factors. The T carriers had higher homocysteine levels, lower posterior cingulate cortex GM volume, and more clusters in the dorsal medial lobe subsystem showing stronger covariance strength. Both posterior cingulate cortex seed and interconnected peak cluster volumes predicted cognitive test scores, especially in the T carriers. There were no between-group differences in fiber tract diffusion parameters. The MTHFR 677T polymorphism modulates posterior cingulate cortex-anchored structural covariance strength independently of white matter integrities. Hum Brain Mapp 38:3039-3051, 2017. © 2017 The Authors Human Brain Mapping Published Wiley by Periodicals, Inc. | 10.1002/hbm.23572 |
pubmed_383_17938 | The oldest confirmed remains of domestic dogs in North America are from mid-continent archaeological sites dated approximately 9900 calibrated years before present (cal BP). Although this date suggests that dogs may not have arrived alongside the first Native Americans, the timing and routes for the entrance of New World dogs remain uncertain. Here, we present a complete mitochondrial genome of a dog from southeast Alaska, dated to 10 150 ± 260 cal BP. We compared this high-coverage genome with data from modern dog breeds, historical Arctic dogs and American precontact dogs (PCDs) from before European arrival. Our analyses demonstrate that the ancient dog belongs to the PCD lineage, which diverged from Siberian dogs around 16 700 years ago. This timing roughly coincides with the minimum suggested date for the opening of the North Pacific coastal (NPC) route along the Cordilleran Ice Sheet and genetic evidence for the initial peopling of the Americas. This ancient southeast Alaskan dog occupies an early branching position within the PCD clade, indicating it represents a close relative of the earliest PCDs that were brought alongside people migrating from eastern Beringia southward along the NPC to the rest of the Americas. The stable isotope δ13C value of this early dog indicates a marine diet, different from the younger mid-continent PCDs' terrestrial diet. Although PCDs were largely replaced by modern European dog breeds, our results indicate that their population decline started approximately 2000 years BP, coinciding with the expansion of Inuit peoples, who are associated with traditional sled-dog culture. Our findings suggest that dogs formed part of the initial human habitation of the New World, and provide insights into their replacement by both Arctic and European lineages. | 10.1098/rspb.2020.3103 |
pubmed_19_8918 | This study examines the importance of variables from the Theory of Planned Behaviour (i.e., attitudes toward behaviour, subjective norms, and perceived control) for the prediction of consumption of anxiolytic and sedative-hypnotic (ASH) medications in a sample of older persons, aged 69 years on average, 62 consumers and 92 non-consumers. A favourable attitude toward ASH and a sense of having less control regarding these drugs predict both current usage and intention to continue. Perceived control predicts intention to start consumption of ASH in current non-consumers. This study underlines the importance of considering the role of the older person's decisional power in the consumption of these medications. | 10.1017/S0714980810000784 |
pubmed_650_18858 | In order to define the optimal conditions for detection of microbial antigens in urine, urinary HBsAg excreted during hepatitis B was chosen as a model. Using commercial kits, which mainly involve anti-discontinuous epitopes, we found urinary HBsAg in only 50% of patients with HBsAg in their sera. In contrast, with an inhibition method involving a monoclonal antibody recognizing a continuous epitope, urinary HBsAg was found in 100% of these patients. Structural analysis of HBsAg showed that urinary HBsAg is denatured; it can escape detection by commercial kits well fitted for detection of native serum HBsAg. General implications for the revelation of urinary microbial antigens are discussed. | 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1992.tb02991.x |
pubmed_655_22733 | The shoulder joint allows three-dimensional movement. In order to analyze the function of the muscles which act on the shoulder joint, three-dimensional movements, including rotation, must be considered. Among muscles participating in the shoulder joint movement, the supraspinatus muscle is known to have abduction and stabilization effects on the shoulder joint. However, the rotational function of the supraspinatus muscle has not been identified, because few studies have been reported on it. This study investigates the rotating function of the supraspinatus muscle using electrical stimulation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and anatomical examination. Electrical stimulation was applied selectively to the supraspinatus muscle of healthy subjects using percutaneous wire electrodes. The electrical stimulation was given at different positions of the shoulder joint. It was found that the electrically induced rotational movements changed their direction depending on the position of the shoulder joint. When the humerus was relatively in internal rotation, internal rotation resulted. When it was in external rotation, external rotation occurred. Regarding the abduction angle of the shoulder joint, external rotation was induced with an increase in the abduction angle, whereas internal rotation occurred when the abduction angle was decreased. By the dissection of cadavers and MRI examination, it was indicated that the relation between the running direction of the supraspinatus muscle and the center of rotation of the humeral head was dependent on the position of the shoulder joint. Those findings supported the results of electrical stimulation of the supraspinatus muscle at various shoulder positions. These results indicate that the bi-directional rotating function of the supraspinatus muscle is characterized by an anatomical relationship between the running direction of the supraspinatus muscle and the center of rotation of the humeral head. | 10.1016/s1050-6411(97)00038-2 |
pubmed_580_10496 | PURPOSE
We queried whether comprehensive genomic profiling using a next-generation sequencing-based assay could identify novel and unanticipated targets of therapy for patients with relapsed invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC).
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
DNA sequencing (Illumina HiSeq 2000) was conducted for 3,320 exons of 182 cancer-related genes and 37 introns of 14 genes frequently rearranged in cancer on indexed, adaptor-ligated, hybridization-captured libraries using DNA isolated from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections from 22 histologically verified ILC.
RESULTS
A total of 75 genomic alterations were identified with an average of 3.4 alterations per tumor (range, 1-6), of which 35 were actionable for an average of 1.59 actionable alterations per patient (range, 0-3). Nineteen of 22 (86%) of the ILC samples harbored at least one actionable alteration. Six (27%) cases featured alterations in ERRB2 including 4 (18%) with ERBB2 mutation, 1 (5%) with an ERBB2 gene fusion, and 1 (5%) with an ERBB2 copy number gain (amplification). The enrichment of ERBB2 mutations/fusion in CDH1-mutated ILC (5 of 22, 23%) compared with the 5 ERBB2 mutations in a series of 286 non-CDH1-mutated breast cancers from which the ILC cases were obtained (5 of 286, 2%) was significant (P = 0.0006).
CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive genomic profiling of relapsed CDH1-mutated ILC revealed actionable genomic alterations in 86% of cases, featured a high incidence of ERBB2 alterations, and can reveal actionable alterations that can inform treatment decisions for patients with ILC. | 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-13-0295 |
pubmed_41_729 | BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Haemoglobin threshold for transfusion has been significantly decreased, but haemoglobin plasma concentration may not be sufficient to assess the need of red-blood-cell (RBC) transfusion. Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2 ) is a clue of metabolic matching between O2 transport and consumption, which could help to assess when transfusion is appropriate once anaemia has been diagnosed in ICU patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Adult patients admitted consecutively to a cardiothoracic and vascular ICU were included in a prospective, observational and single-centre study over a 6-month period (September 2014 to February 2015), provided they were transfused with RBC. Patients with active bleeding or in unstable condition were excluded. Haemoglobin and ScvO2 were collected through a central venous catheter before and after transfusion. In order to identify a ScvO2 threshold, analysis of ScvO2 changes after transfusion was performed.
RESULTS
Fifty-three patients received 100 RBC transfusions. Haemoglobin at the time of transfusion was 7·2 g/dl [6·8-7·7], while ScvO2 was 66·9% [60-73]. A 5% increase in ScvO2 after transfusion has the best specificity and positive predictive values, with a ScvO2 threshold of 65%. After transfusion (RBC units, 2 [1-2]), ScvO2 increased only in patients with ScvO2 ≤65%, from 58% [53-62] to 69% [64-73] (P < 0·001).
CONCLUSION
In anaemic patients, RBC transfusion induced a significant increase in ScvO2 , provided it was low before transfusion. A 65% cut-off value of ScvO2 before transfusion showed good specificity and good positive predictive value for a 5% increase after transfusion. | 10.1111/vox.12610 |
pubmed_764_5997 | ORF95 in the filamentous phage phi Lf genome, locating behind gIII, was identified to be the gene (gVI) coding for minor coat protein pVI (95 amino acids, 10,245 dal). It was shown to be virion associated by Western blot analysis of chloroform-treated phage particles. Computer analysis predicted two transmembrane regions for this protein. Since no signal peptide was suggested and the size estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis matches that deduced from nucleotide sequence, it appears to be incorporated into the phage particle as its primary translational product. After completion of this study, eight genes organizing into an order of gVII-gX-gV-gVII-gIX-gIII-gIII-gVI have been identified for phi Lf. | 10.1006/bbrc.1997.7548 |
pubmed_91_934 | Thirteen patients with left ventricular failure complicating acute myocardial infarction were treated with intravenous nitroglycerin. The hemodynamic criterium for admission to this study was a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure greater than 15 mm Hg. All patients received intravenous nitroglycerin at infusion rates sufficient to lower pulmonary capillary wedge pressure by an average of 15 mm Hg, corresponding to the optimal left ventricular filling pressure in acute myocardial infarction. During this study, heart rate did not vary significantly; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure decreased from 24 +/- 0,7 to 15 +/- 0,8 mm Hg (p less than 0,001), mean arterial pressure from 95 +/- 5 to 80 +/- 4 mm Hg (p less than 0,005), mean right atrium pressure from 8,7 +/- 1 to 4,6 +/- 0,8 mm Hg (p less than 0,001), systemic vascular resistance index from 36,4 +/- 2 to 29,6 +/- 2 mm Hg/mm-1/l/m2 (p less than 0,005). Cardiac index increased from 2,5 +/- 0,2 to 2,7 +/- 0,1 l/mn/m2 (p less than 0,025) and stroke work index did not vary significantly. These data indicate that nitroglycerin provides a significant improvement of cardiac performance, more through reduction of preload than through reduction of afterload, the later being however significant. This study points out that intravenous nitroglycerin is a most efficient drug in patients with left ventricular failure complicating acute myocardial infarction. | pubmed_91_934 |
pubmed_247_3847 | The present study describes the results from the 10-year follow-up data of a prospective epidemiological study for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in two communities of rural agricultural districts in Hokkaido, Japan. The number of incidences of cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) in persons who were normotensive, borderline hypertensive (BHT), untreated hypertensive (HT), well-controlled HT [blood pressure (BP) less than 150/90 mm Hg], and poorly controlled HT (BP greater than or equal to 150/90 mm Hg) were 0.46, 3.24, 4.17, 3.49, and 12.76 per 1,000 person-years. respectively: CVAs were markedly high in poorly controlled HT persons. The winter-summer mean BP differences in the first year were significantly and positively correlated with the differences in mean BP between the tenth and the first year, and were significantly higher in the progression to hypertension group than in the nonprogression group in both towns. Multivariate analysis indicated that the winter-summer mean BP difference was a significant variable for indication of progression to hypertension. From these results, we concluded that (a) good control of hypertension could considerably prevent CVA, (b) cold environment may contribute to the progression to hypertension, and (c) winter-summer variation in BP may predict the future course of BP. | pubmed_247_3847 |
others_115_4803 | The in vitro shoot propagation of Cannabis sativa L. is an emerging research area for large-scale plant material production. However, how in vitro conditions influence the genetic stability of maintained material, as well as whether changes in the concentration and composition of secondary metabolites can be expected are aspects that need to be better understood. These features are essential for the standardised production of medicinal cannabis. This work aimed to find out whether the presence of the auxin antagonist α-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-1H-indole-3-acetic acid (PEO-IAA) in the culture media influenced the relative gene expression (RGE) of the genes of interest (OAC, CBCA, CBDA, THCA) and the concentrations of studied cannabinoids (CBCA, CBDA, CBC, ∆9-THCA, and ∆9-THC). Two C. sativa cultivars, ‘USO-31’ and ‘Tatanka Pure CBD’, were cultivated by in vitro conditions with PEO-IAA presence and then analysed. The RT-qPCR results indicated that even though some changes in the RGE profiles could be observed, no differences were statistically significant compared with the control variant. The results of the phytochemical analyses demonstrate that although there were some differences from the control variant, only the cultivar ‘Tatanka Pure CBD’ showed a statistically significant increase (at a statistical significance level α = 0.05) in the concentration of the cannabinoid CBDA. In conclusion, it would appear that using PEO-IAA in the culture medium is a suitable approach to improve in vitro cannabis multiplication. © 2023 by the authors | 10.3390/plants12081664 |
pubmed_340_16116 | The tumultuous catastrophic tragedies of the Oklahoma bombing in 1995 and September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon have caused urgency for the profession of social work to be ready to respond to unexpected crises whether directed to an individual, group, or nation. While there has always been the possibility of tragedies in the U.S. caused by nature (so-called "acts of God") or the spontaneous or planned acts of criminals or the deranged, the increased awareness of catastrophes includes, as never before, disasters that are perpetrated by terrorist acts from within or outside of the U.S. The creation of the Department of Homeland Security, in 2003, underscores the need for awareness and for preparation on the part of the nation. Based upon its skills and values, social workers have significant roles to play in the face of potential and actual disasters; yet, gerontological social workers have additional responsibilities for addressing the needs of older persons. It is the purpose of this article to provide an overview of issues to be considered by social workers, in general, and gerontological social workers, in particular, with regard to preparation for possible disasters and the consequences from such catastrophes that affect older persons. | 10.1300/J083v47n01_04 |
pubmed_892_19758 | This study of 329 substance abuse treatment staff assessed how recovery status, in combination with other variables, influences beliefs about the causes and treatment of substance abuse. About 15% (n = 47) of participants were "in recovery" from substance abuse problems; these staff members were not significantly different than nonrecovering staff members on education, age, race/ethnicity, years of clinical experience, or amount of client contact. When examined in a multiple regression equation that also included age, education, and treatment program goals and activities, staff members' recovery status was not associated with endorsement of disease and psychosocial models of substance abuse. However, being in recovery was associated with endorsing an eclectic approach to substance abuse treatment. The importance of recognizing the diversity of beliefs about substance abuse among recovering staff and of acknowledging that multiple influences affect all staff members viewpoints on treatment is discussed. | 10.1016/0740-5472(95)02019-5 |
pubmed_203_14428 | Nitrite reductase is an enzyme operating in the denitrification pathway which catalyses the conversion of nitrite (NO2(-)) to gaseous nitric oxide (NO). Here, crystal structures of the oxidized and reduced forms of the copper-containing nitrite reductase from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.3 are presented at 1.74 and 1.85 A resolution, respectively. Whereas the structure of the enzyme is very similar to those of other copper-containing nitrite reductases, folding as a trimer and containing two copper sites per monomer, the structures reported here enable conformational differences between the oxidized and reduced forms of the enzyme to be identified. In the type 1 copper site, a rotational perturbation of the side chain of the copper ligand Met182 occurs upon reduction. At the type 2 copper site, a dual conformation of the catalytic residue His287 is observed in the oxidized structure but is lacking in the reduced structure, such that the interactions of the oxidized type 2 copper ion can be regarded as adopting octahedral geometry. These findings shed light on the structural mechanism of the reduction of a copper-bound nitrite to nitric oxide and water. | 10.1107/S0907444905017488 |
pubmed_1066_23161 | OBJECTIVE
To examine the difference in incidence of ocular hypertension (OHT) following the introduction of filtered anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medication in silicone-free syringes.
DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study.
METHODS
A retrospective review of consecutive treatment-naive patients receiving intravitreal anti-VEGF injections in a group practice was performed. Data from the cohort receiving nonfiltered anti-VEGF in insulin syringes (IS group) was collected from June 2015. Data from the cohort receiving filtered anti-VEGF in silicone-free syringes (SFS group) was collected from June 2019. Follow up data were collected at 1 year. Exclusion criteria included prior anti-VEGF treatment, known glaucoma or diagnosis of glaucoma suspect before anti-VEGF treatment, neovascular glaucoma, steroid use, or vitrectomy during follow-up. Primary outcome was the cumulative incidence of intraocular pressure (IOP) > 21 mmHg and IOP ≥ 30 mm Hg at any follow-up visit. The use of IOP lowering therapy was also recorded.
RESULTS
The mean age (71 ± 13 years), mean number of injections (9.6 ± 2.7), and median follow-up time (392 ± 57 days) were similar between groups. The incidence of IOP ≥ 21 mm Hg was 34% (34/100) in the IS group and 15% (15/100) in the SFS group (p = 0.025). The incidence of IOP ≥ 30 mm Hg was 8% (8/100) in the IS group and 0% (0/100) in the SFS group (p =0.004). The incidence of IOP-lowering therapy was 13% in the IS group and 0% in the SFS group (p =0.0002).
CONCLUSION
The incidence of OHT and treatment with IOP-lowering therapy significantly decreased after the introduction of filtered anti-VEGF medication and silicone-free syringes. | 10.1016/j.jcjo.2021.06.025 |
pubmed_377_19396 | BACKGROUND
Molecular marker information is a common source to draw inferences about the relationship between genetic and phenotypic variation. Genetic effects are often modelled as additively acting marker allele effects. The true mode of biological action can, of course, be different from this plain assumption. One possibility to better understand the genetic architecture of complex traits is to include intra-locus (dominance) and inter-locus (epistasis) interaction of alleles as well as the additive genetic effects when fitting a model to a trait. Several Bayesian MCMC approaches exist for the genome-wide estimation of genetic effects with high accuracy of genetic value prediction. Including pairwise interaction for thousands of loci would probably go beyond the scope of such a sampling algorithm because then millions of effects are to be estimated simultaneously leading to months of computation time. Alternative solving strategies are required when epistasis is studied.
METHODS
We extended a fast Bayesian method (fBayesB), which was previously proposed for a purely additive model, to include non-additive effects. The fBayesB approach was used to estimate genetic effects on the basis of simulated datasets. Different scenarios were simulated to study the loss of accuracy of prediction, if epistatic effects were not simulated but modelled and vice versa.
RESULTS
If 23 QTL were simulated to cause additive and dominance effects, both fBayesB and a conventional MCMC sampler BayesB yielded similar results in terms of accuracy of genetic value prediction and bias of variance component estimation based on a model including additive and dominance effects. Applying fBayesB to data with epistasis, accuracy could be improved by 5% when all pairwise interactions were modelled as well. The accuracy decreased more than 20% if genetic variation was spread over 230 QTL. In this scenario, accuracy based on modelling only additive and dominance effects was generally superior to that of the complex model including epistatic effects.
CONCLUSIONS
This simulation study showed that the fBayesB approach is convenient for genetic value prediction. Jointly estimating additive and non-additive effects (especially dominance) has reasonable impact on the accuracy of prediction and the proportion of genetic variation assigned to the additive genetic source. | 10.1186/1471-2156-12-74 |
pubmed_337_15963 | We report a microfluidic device for automated sorting and cultivation of chemotactic microbes from pure cultures or mixtures. The device consists of two parts: in the first part, a concentration gradient of the chemoeffector was built across the channel for inducing chemotaxis of motile cells; in the second part, chemotactic cells from the sample were separated, and mixed with culture media to form nanoliter droplets for encapsulation, cultivation, enumeration, and recovery of single cells. Chemotactic responses were assessed by imaging and statistical analysis of droplets based on Poisson distribution. An automated procedure was developed for rapid enumeration of droplets with cell growth, following with scale-up cultivation on agar plates. The performance of the device was evaluated by the chemotaxis assays of Escherichia coli (E. coli) RP437 and E. coli RP1616. Moreover, enrichment and isolation of non-labelled Comamonas testosteroni CNB-1 from its 1:10 mixture with E. coli RP437 was demonstrated. The enrichment factor reached 36.7 for CNB-1, based on its distinctive chemotaxis toward 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. We believe that this device can be widely used in chemotaxis studies without necessarily relying on fluorescent labelling, and isolation of functional microbial species from various environments. | 10.1038/srep24192 |
pubmed_364_2272 | Analyzing interaction data provides an opportunity to learn about users, uncover their underlying goals, and create intelligent visualization systems. The first step for intelligent response in visualizations is to enable computers to infer user goals and strategies through observing their interactions with a system. Researchers have proposed multiple techniques to model users, however, their frameworks often depend on the visualization design, interaction space, and dataset. Due to these dependencies, many techniques do not provide a general algorithmic solution to user exploration modeling. In this paper, we construct a series of models based on the dataset and pose user exploration modeling as a Bayesian model selection problem where we maintain a belief over numerous competing models that could explain user interactions. Each of these competing models represent an exploration strategy the user could adopt during a session. The goal of our technique is to make high-level and in-depth inferences about the user by observing their low-level interactions. Although our proposed idea is applicable to various probabilistic model spaces, we demonstrate a specific instance of encoding exploration patterns as competing models to infer information relevance. We validate our technique's ability to infer exploration bias, predict future interactions, and summarize an analytic session using user study datasets. Our results indicate that depending on the application, our method outperforms established baselines for bias detection and future interaction prediction. Finally, we discuss future research directions based on our proposed modeling paradigm and suggest how practitioners can use this method to build intelligent visualization systems that understand users' goals and adapt to improve the exploration process. | 10.1109/TVCG.2020.3030430 |
pubmed_571_22265 | Recent research has confirmed that depression is a risk factor for the development and prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD). Depressive symptoms are associated with the progression of underlying coronary atherosclerosis and clinical events such as acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Depression is poorly recognized and undertreated in patients following ACS, but progress is being made in developing abbreviated measurement tools that can be used in clinical cardiologic practice. Depressive symptoms emerging at various stages of CHD presentation may have different effects on CHD prognosis. The mechanisms mediating the relationship between depression and CHD include vascular inflammation, autonomic and endothelial dysfunction, and behavior patterns such as poor adherence to medication and advice. The optimal methods of managing depression following ACS have not yet been established. | 10.1007/s11920-007-0066-y |
pubmed_533_13244 | MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that posttranscriptionally regulate gene expression inside the cell. Extracellular circulating miRNAs are also observed outside the cell, but their origin is poorly understood. Recently, miRNA has been shown to be exocytosed by vesicle fusion; this observation demonstrates that vesicle-free miRNAs are secreted from neuroendocrine cells, in a manner similar to hormone secretion. miRNAs are stored in large dense-core vesicles together with catecholamines, then released by vesicle fusion in response to stimulation; in this way, vesicle-free miRNA may regulate cell-to-cell communication including the regulation of gene expression and cellular signaling. Therefore, miRNA has been suggested to function as a hormone; i.e., a ribomone (ribonucleotide + hormone). This review focuses on the mechanisms by which vesicle-free miRNAs are secreted from neuroendocrine cells and will discuss potential functions of vesicle-free miRNAs and how vesicle-free miRNAs regulate cell-to-cell communication. | 10.3389/fendo.2017.00355 |
pubmed_902_667 | The ever-increasing demand for test equipment which can interface with a computer or which can perform operationally in a completely automatic mode has had a large effect on the somewhat futuristic question: "How do we test electrooptical systems automatically?" This paper is developed to give information about the systems currently in operation, the techniques required for automation of these systems, the present problem areas of design, and a look at new techniques for future electrooptical systems testing. | 10.1364/AO.9.002298 |
pubmed_663_300 | OBJECTIVE
We tested the hypothesis that the proliferative estrogen effect on the endometrium is enhanced in obese vs lean animals.
STUDY DESIGN
Using Zucker fa/fa obese rats and lean control, we examined endometrial cell proliferation and the expression patterns of certain estrogen-regulated proproliferative and antiproliferative genes after short-term treatment with estradiol.
RESULTS
No significant morphologic/histologic difference was seen between the obese rats and the lean rats. Estrogen-induced proproliferative genes cyclin A and c-Myc messenger RNA expression were significantly higher in the endometrium of obese rats compared with those of the lean control. Expression of the antiproliferative gene p27Kip1 was suppressed by estrogen treatment in both obese and lean rats; however, the decrease was more pronounced in obese rats. Estrogen more strongly induced the antiproliferative genes retinaldehyde dehydrogenases 2 and secreted frizzled-related protein 4 in lean rats but had little or no effect in obese rats.
CONCLUSION
Enhancement of estrogen-induced endometrial proproliferative gene expression and suppression of antiproliferative gene expression was seen in the endometrium of obese vs lean animals. | 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.08.064 |
pubmed_447_7521 | An isolated vagus nerve-tracheal tube preparation from guinea-pig was treated intraluminally with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at various concentrations. Exposure to, 100 mmol/L H2O2 for 20 min was chosen for further experiments since it appeared to cause selective damage to the epithelium. Thus the subepithelial layers of the tracheal wall appeared intact as judged by light microscopic examination. The response to nerve stimulation (increase in intratracheal pressure) was attenuated by only about 20%. Terbutaline administration into the tracheal lumen caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of the response to nerve stimulation. In tracheal preparations pretreated with 100 mmol/L H2O2 there was a 20-fold decrease in the EC50 for terbutaline. The EC50 for terbutaline added to the external medium was not changed by the H2O2 pretreatment. The efflux of 3H-terbutaline from the tracheal lumen into the external medium was three times higher in H2O2-treated than in control preparations. It is concluded that in the H2O2-damaged epithelium the absorption of terbutaline is enhanced resulting in a better availability of the drug in the smooth muscle layer after intraluminal administration. | 10.1016/0952-0600(91)90055-8 |
pubmed_146_24206 | Acute or repetitive sun exposures are known to elicit cutaneous damages such as sunburn but also long-term effects such as photoaging or cancers. Determination of early biological events occurring after ultraviolet (UV) exposure is essential for photoprotection. Using skin reconstructed in vitro containing both a dermal equivalent and a fully differentiated epidermis, the effects of UV light (UVB and UVA) were investigated. UVB-induced damage was essentially epidermal, with the typical sunburn cells and DNA lesions, whereas UVA radiation-induced damage was mostly located within the dermal compartment. The model and end points used for UVB- and UVA-induced damages appeared to be very useful for the in vitro evaluation of sunscreens after topical application, in particular to investigate its protective effects against the effects of UVR, and allowed us to distinguish the efficiency of absorbers depending on their absorption spectrum. | 10.1016/j.jaad.2007.08.050 |
pubmed_531_4992 | Joints obtained from 192 pig carcases were examined by means of standard microbiological and macro- and histopathological procedures. Approximately 32% of the joints were considered normal; 35.5% showed lesions consistent with osteochondrosis and a non-specific synovitis was present in 24.4%. Only 6.1% of joints were arthritic and yielded either Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus spp. The remainder (2.3%) had periarticular lesions such as abscesses. The study emphasises that an accurate diagnosis and correct evaluation of pig carcases showing joint lesions, is absolutely essential if a high standard of meat inspection is to be obtained and unnecessary economic losses are to be avoided. | pubmed_531_4992 |
pubmed_828_4047 | The complex process of lipolysis mobilizes fatty acids from adipocyte triglyceride stores for energy production in muscle and other organs during fasting and exercise. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Yang, et al. identify G0S2 as a regulator of the key enzyme, adipose triglyceride lipase. | 10.1016/j.cmet.2010.02.008 |
pubmed_766_911 | The "fast oscillation" of the corneoretinal potential can be precisely examined by means of cyclic light stimuli and an automatic measuring device. This new procedure is carried out during the period of adaptation as part of the usual EOG-test. Normal values and some clinical findings are presented. The fast oscillation may provide additional information when compared with EOG and ERG results. | 10.1007/BF00418982 |
pubmed_247_20981 | The value of the popliteal-to-distal artery bypass in limb salvage is well documented. However, the influence of progression of disease in the superficial femoral artery or proximal popliteal artery, and the role of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of these vessels before bypass have not been adequately assessed. To evaluate these and other factors, we reviewed our experience with 153 nonsequential popliteal-to-distal artery bypasses performed over a 12-year period. Limb salvage was the indication for all procedures, and 87% of the patients were diabetic. The 5-year primary and secondary graft patency rates were 55% and 60%, respectively, and the limb salvage rate was 73%. Preoperative arteriograms were evaluated for stenosis in the superficial femoral artery or popliteal artery proximal to the graft. Fifty-six grafts with a proximal stenosis 20% or less were identified and had primary graft patency of 77% at 2 years, similar to the 70% patency for the 20 grafts placed distal to a 21% to 35% stenosis. The 18 grafts placed distal to a stenosis greater than 35% had 53% 2-year primary graft patency (p = 0.25). Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of a superficial femoral artery or popliteal artery stenosis (24% to 85% luminal narrowing) in 19 limbs resulted in 68% 2-year graft patency, not significantly lower than grafts with 35% or less proximal stenosis (75%, p = 0.25). Other factors associated with significant decreases in graft patency included a vein graft diameter less than 3.0 mm, a dorsalis pedis outflow site, and poor quality outflow. Thus the popliteal-to-distal bypass is a durable procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | pubmed_247_20981 |
pubmed_260_3558 | Metabolic diseases arise from mutations in key enzymes of major metabolic pathways. One promising approach for the treatment of such diseases is based on the administration of a wild-type enzyme to substitute the activity of the impaired enzyme by the use of enzyme replacement therapy, yet it is important to deliver this enzyme to the specific deficient tissue. We suggest a new concept for the treatment of metabolic diseases using fusion proteins. We examined the feasibility of this concept in the well characterized metabolic disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), which results from a mutation in the liver enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). PAH is a key enzyme in the metabolic pathway of phenylalanine. Deficiency in PAH leads to high and persistent levels of this amino acid in the plasma of PKU patients, causing permanent neurological damage. Currently a low protein diet is still considered the only effective treatment for most PKU patients. To restore PAH activity in the liver of PKU patients, we constructed PAH-based fusion proteins with delivery moieties based on the HIV-transactivator of transcription peptide, and fragments of human hepatocyte growth factor aiming to specifically target PAH to the liver. We show that these new fusion proteins can be delivered into a variety of human liver cell lines and retain PAH activity after being internalized. We also show that plasma phenylalanine levels were dramatically lowered in mice treated with PAH-based fusion proteins after intravenous administration. We therefore suggest an alternative concept for the treatment of PKU using targeted fusion proteins, which may also be applied to the treatment of other metabolic diseases. | 10.1074/jbc.M703367200 |
pubmed_349_20506 | Half of all prostate cancers are caused by the TMPRSS2-ERG gene-fusion, which enables androgens to drive expression of the normally silent E26 transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factor ERG in prostate cells. Recent genomic landscape studies of such cancers have reported recurrent point mutations and focal deletions of another ETS member, the ETS2 repressor factor ERF. Here we show these ERF mutations cause decreased protein stability and mostly occur in tumours without ERG upregulation. ERF loss recapitulates the morphological and phenotypic features of ERG gain in normal mouse prostate cells, including expansion of the androgen receptor transcriptional repertoire, and ERF has tumour suppressor activity in the same genetic background of Pten loss that yields oncogenic activity by ERG. In the more common scenario of ERG upregulation, chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing indicates that ERG inhibits the ability of ERF to bind DNA at consensus ETS sites both in normal and in cancerous prostate cells. Consistent with a competition model, ERF overexpression blocks ERG-dependent tumour growth, and ERF loss rescues TMPRSS2-ERG-positive prostate cancer cells from ERG dependency. Collectively, these data provide evidence that the oncogenicity of ERG is mediated, in part, by competition with ERF and they raise the larger question of whether other gain-of-function oncogenic transcription factors might also inactivate endogenous tumour suppressors. | 10.1038/nature22820 |
pubmed_628_17070 | The diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism should rarely by missed by the orthopedic surgeon. When a patient presents with a pathologic fracture, routine serum calcium should be obtained. If there is evidence of elevated serum calcium or any of the pathognomonic findings of primary hyperparathyroidism on plain radiographs, total and ionized calcium and an intact parathyroid hormone levels should be obtained to make the diagnosis (Figure 5). When patients require surgical treatment for an orthopedic condition and also need surgery for hyperparathyroidism, the procedures can be safely performed simultaneously. Simultaneous parathyroidectomy corrects the underlying endocrinopathy, thereby improving the outcome of the orthopedic procedure. In addition, these procedures can easily be performed simultaneously under one anesthetic and thereby minimize cost and length of hospitalization. | 10.3928/0147-7447-20011001-26 |
pubmed_935_11469 | It was demonstrated in 12 dog experiments with the use of electromagnetic flowmetry and an automatic system of heart function analysis that a single intravenous injection of propranolol in a dose of 0.1 +/- 0.017 mg/kg causes a negative chrono- and inotropic effect and a moderate hypotensive effect in negligible change in the cardiac output. Repeated injections of propranolol in doses of 0.05 mg/kg to a final dose of 0.2 mg/kg at intervals of 5 min (total dose of 0.4 mg/kg) are not attended by increasing inhibition of cardiac function. In systolic and volume load after intravenous injection of propranolol in a dose of up to 0.4 mg/kg it was found that the heart was capable of providing quite adequate hemodynamics. The features of the regulation of cardiac function under these conditions were determined. | pubmed_935_11469 |
pubmed_463_848 | Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can trigger repressive chromatin, but how they recruit silencing factors remains unclear. In Schizosaccharomyces pombe, heterochromatin assembly on transcribed noncoding pericentromeric repeats requires both RNAi and RNAi-independent mechanisms. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which lacks a repressive chromatin mark (H3K9me [methylated Lys9 on histone H3]), unstable ncRNAs are recognized by the RNA-binding protein Nrd1. We show that the S. pombe ortholog Seb1 is associated with pericentromeric lncRNAs. Individual mutation of dcr1+ (Dicer) or seb1+ results in equivalent partial reductions of pericentromeric H3K9me levels, but a double mutation eliminates this mark. Seb1 functions independently of RNAi by recruiting the NuRD (nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase)-related chromatin-modifying complex SHREC (Snf2-HDAC [histone deacetylase] repressor complex). | 10.1101/gad.226019.113 |
pubmed_319_21313 | Delirium, an acute brain dysfunction, frequently affects intensive care unit (ICU) patients during the course of a critical illness. Besides the acute morbidities, ICU survivors often experience long-term sequelae in the form of cognitive impairment (LTCI-CI). Though delirium and LTCI-CI are associated with adverse outcomes, little is known on the terminology used to define these acute and chronic co-morbidities. The use of a correct terminology is a key factor to spread the knowledge on clinical conditions. Therefore, we first review the epidemiology, definition of delirium and its related terminology. Second, we report on the epidemiology of LTCI-CI and compare its definition to other forms of cognitive impairments. In particular, we define mild cognitive impairment, dementia and finally postoperative cognitive dysfunction. Future research is needed to interpret the trajectories of LTCI-CI, to differentiate it from neurodegenerative diseases and to provide a formal disease classification. | pubmed_319_21313 |
pubmed_581_25681 | Reversible methylation by means of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal modification in mammalian mRNA. This RNA chemical mark is created by proteins that are m6A "writers" and can be reversed by proteins that are m6A "erasers" (i.e., demethylases). Some other proteins serving as "readers" can recognize m6A-containing mRNA and regulate downstream molecular mechanisms accordingly. Although m6A bases in RNA perform critical functions in important biological processes, their roles in cancer biology and cancer stem cells remain largely unknown. In this review, we focus on the m6A-associated mechanisms and modification landscapes in several major malignant tumors. Global and detailed analyses were both conducted on relevant high-throughput sequencing data. Possible interventions against m6A demethylases are also explored in this review, which may be advantageous for the treatment of m6A related cancers. | 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.08.030 |
pubmed_1091_10900 | Purpose
This study examined the nature of the relation between language-specific vocabulary and conceptual lexical-semantic skills with grammatical abilities within and across languages in preschool Latino dual language learners (DLLs).
Method
Sixty-one typically developing, Spanish-English speaking DLLs from preschools serving low-income families participated in the study. Lexical, semantic, and grammar skills were assessed toward the end of the fall in both Spanish and English using normative and researcher-developed assessment instruments. Hierarchical linear regressions using baseline cross-sectional data were completed to determine the association of language-specific vocabulary and bilingual lexical and semantic abilities to grammatical skills measured by sentence repetition tasks in Spanish and English both within and across languages.
Results
Results from the study revealed that a considerable percentage of the variance in the grammatical ability of these Latino DLL preschoolers in both Spanish and English was explained by lexical variables in the same language (54% in English and 16% in Spanish). In the strong language (Spanish), bilingual semantic skills also played a role, explaining an additional 8% of the variance. Conceptual vocabulary was a significant predictor of English grammar in the model that excluded the language-specific vocabulary measures.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that grammatical skills in the Latino preschoolers examined in the study are strongly related to language-specific measures of vocabulary. In contrast, no evidence supporting the relation between vocabulary and grammar skills across languages was observed. Findings from this study provide insight into the impact of bilingual lexical-semantic knowledge on the grammatical skills of dual-language preschool children developing language abilities in their 2 languages. Clinical implications are also discussed. | 10.1044/2018_LSHSS-17-0058 |
pubmed_576_14951 | Safe and effective hemoglobin-based blood substitutes may be advantageous over conventional therapies for certain clinical settings requiring short term blood replacement such as emergency resuscitation and hemodilution in surgery. Many advances have been made in developing these oxygen therapeutics, however safety concerns continue to slow their clinical progress. An important and often overlooked consideration in evaluating the safety of modified hemoglobins is the impact of chemical and/or genetic modifications on the redox chemistry of these proteins. Diaspirin cross-linked hemoglobin (DBBF-Hb) has been extensively evaluated in vitro and in animal models, and thus represents a useful model to explore possible correlations between structural-functional alterations and toxicity of hemoglobin-based blood substitutes. | 10.1016/s0169-409x(99)00050-2 |
pubmed_1055_1530 | AIMS/HYPOTHESIS
Type 2 diabetes is highly correlated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Hepatocyte-derived fibrinogen-related protein 1 (HFREP1) is a hepatokine that mediates NAFLD development; however, the role of HFREP1 in the development of insulin resistance and diabetes remains obscure.
METHODS
A total of 193 age- and sex-matched participants with normal glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and newly diagnosed diabetes (NDD) were recruited for a cross-sectional study. Plasma HFREP1 levels were measured and multivariate linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between HFREP1, IFG, IGT and NDD. The causal relationship between HFREP1 and insulin resistance was then investigated in animal and cell models. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests, and euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp, were used to evaluate insulin sensitivity in animals with Hfrep1 overexpression or knockdown in liver by lentiviral vectors. HepG2 cells were used to clarify the possible mechanism of HFREP1-induced insulin resistance.
RESULTS
Plasma HFREP1 concentrations were significantly increased in participants with IFG, IGT and NDD. HFREP1 concentrations were independently associated with fasting plasma glucose levels, insulin resistance, IFG, IGT and NDD. Injection of recombinant HFREP1 or Hfrep1 overexpression induced insulin resistance in mice, and HFREP1 disrupted insulin signalling to induce insulin resistance through an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2-dependent pathway. Moreover, hepatic knockdown of HFREP1 improved insulin resistance in both mice fed a high-fat diet and ob/ob mice.
CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION
These findings highlight the crucial role of HFREP1 in insulin resistance and diabetes, and provide a potential strategy and biomarker for developing therapeutic approaches to combat these diseases. | 10.1007/s00125-016-3991-7 |
pubmed_615_17540 | OBJECTIVE
Veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) commonly experience alcohol misuse and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following their return from deployment to a war zone. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a newly developed, 8-module, self-management web intervention (VetChange) based on motivational and cognitive-behavioral principles to reduce alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, and PTSD symptoms in returning combat veterans.
METHOD
Six hundred participants, recruited through targeted Facebook ads, were randomized to either an Initial Intervention Group (IIG; n = 404) or a Delayed Intervention Group (DIG; n = 196) that waited 8 weeks for access to VetChange. Primary outcome measures were Drinks per Drinking Day, Average Weekly Drinks, Percent Heavy Drinking Days, and PTSD symptoms. Intent-to-treat analyses compared changes in outcome measures over time between IIG and DIG as well as within-group changes.
RESULTS
IIG participants demonstrated greater reductions in drinking (p < .001 for each measure) and PTSD symptoms (p = .009) between baseline and end-of-intervention than did DIG participants between baseline and the end of the waiting period. DIG participants showed similar improvements to those in IIG following participation in VetChange. Alcohol problems were also reduced within each group between baseline and 3-month follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that VetChange is effective in reducing drinking and PTSD symptoms in OIF/OEF veterans. Further studies of VetChange are needed to assess web-based recruitment and retention methods and to determine VetChange's effectiveness in demographic and clinical sub-populations of returning veterans. | 10.1037/a0033697 |
pubmed_300_19753 | Solid molecular dispersions of bicalutamide (BL) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were prepared by hot melt extrusion technology at drug-to-polymer ratios of 1:10, 2:10, and 3:10 (w/w). The solid-state properties of BL, physical mixtures of BL/PVP, and hot melt extrudates were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), Raman, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Drug dissolution studies were subsequently conducted on hot melt extruded solid dispersions and physical mixtures. All hot melt extrudates had a single T(g) between the T(g) of amorphous BL and PVP indicating miscibility of BL with PVP and the formation of solid molecular dispersions. PXRD confirmed the presence of the amorphous form of BL within the extrudates. Conversely, PXRD patterns recorded for physical mixtures showed sharp bands characteristic of crystalline BL, whereas DSC traces had a distinct endotherm at 196 degrees C corresponding to melting of crystalline BL. Further investigations using DSC confirmed solid-state plasticization of PVP by amorphous BL and hence antiplasticization of amorphous BL by PVP. Experimentally observed T(g) values of physical mixtures were shown to be significantly higher than those calculated using the Gordon-Taylor equation suggesting the formation of strong intermolecular interactions between BL and PVP. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy were used to investigate these interactions and strongly suggested the presence of secondary interaction between PVP and BL within the hot melt extrudates. The drug dissolution properties of hot melt extrudates were enhanced significantly in comparison to crystalline BL and physical mixtures. Moreover, the rate and extent of BL release were highly dependent on the amount of PVP present within the extrudate. Storage of the extrudates confirmed the stability of amorphous BL for up to 12 months at 20 degrees C, 40% RH whereas stability was reduced under highly humid conditions (20 degrees C, 65% RH). Interestingly, BL recrystallization after storage under these conditions had no effect on the dissolution properties of the extrudates. | 10.1002/jps.21914 |
pubmed_236_12882 | Orthopedists who use prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in total joint arthroplasty are often called on to care for trauma patients. Much less is known or published about the effects of such prophylaxis in the trauma patient than in the arthroplasty patient. The questions to ask are: what is the incidence of DVT in trauma patients; what are the benefits of DVT prophylaxis; and what are the risks of DVT prophylaxis, and do the risks outweigh the benefits? | 10.3928/0147-7447-19940702-09 |
pubmed_295_25824 | Sensory analysis for stuffed cheese with Penicillium nalgiovense superficial growth using a descriptive analysis was performed. Cheeses were manufactured in a pilot plant. Penicillium nalgiovense was superficially inoculated and the cheeses were ripened at 12 °C and 90% relative humidity until packaged using a microperforated polyethylene film on day 14. The ripening process continued at either 5 °C or 12 °C for 21 days. Results showed that P. nalgiovense not only confers the external desirable appearance but also has a protective effect against dehydration process. Inoculated cheeses showed descriptors of odour and flavour associated with moulds. Ammonia notes were perceived only for inoculated cheeses on day 35 being more pronounced at 12 °C than 5 °C. The high fat content of the cheeses and the transparent and microperforated packaging might affect the oxidative stability of cheeses at the end of the ripening. | 10.1177/10820132211023673 |
pubmed_701_1417 | OBJECTIVES
The validity of equations for the calculation of resting metabolic rate (RMR) were studied and new predictive equations were developed.
STUDY DESIGN
The RMR was measured in a sample of 371 10- to 16-year-old prepubertal and postpubertal children. The study group included 193 male (116 nonobese and 77 obese) and 178 female (119 nonobese and 59 obese) subjects; for each group the RMRs predicted from five equations recommended for this age group were compared. The RMR was assessed by indirect calorimetry with a ventilated hood system for 45 minutes after an overnight fast. Body composition was estimated from skin-fold measurements.
RESULTS
The mean +/- SD RMR was found to be 5600 +/- 972 kJ/24 hr and 7223 +/- 1220 kJ/24 hr in nonobese and obese boys, and 5112 +/- 632 kJ/24 hr and 6665 +/- 1106 kJ/24 hr in nonobese and obese girls, respectively. All five equations applicable to 10- to 16-year-old children overestimated RMR by 7.5% to 18.1% (p < 0.001 for each equation). Stepwise regression analysis, with independent variables such as age, weight, height, and gender, allowed development of new predictive equations for the calculation of RMR in 10- to 16-year-old boys (RMR = 50.9 Weight (kg) + 25.3 Height (cm) -50.3 Age (yr) + 26.9; R2 = 0.884, p < 0.0001) and girls (RMR = 51.2 Weight (kg) + 24.5 Height (cm) - 207.5 Age (yr) + 1629.8; R2 = 0.824, p < 0.0001). These predictive equations were tested in a second, independent cohort of children (80 male and 61 female subject) and were found to give a reliable estimate of RMR in 10- to 16-year-old obese and nonobese adolescents.
CONCLUSIONS
The currently used predictive equations overestimate RMR in 10- to 16-year-old children. The use of the newly developed equations is recommended. | 10.1016/s0022-3476(95)70114-1 |
pubmed_0_14158 | Monomeric vanadium oxide species is created on the surface of hydrotalcite (V/HT), which acts as a reusable solid catalyst for the highly efficient dehydration of amides into the corresponding nitriles. | 10.1039/c0cc02412k |
pubmed_552_6462 | IL-1 alpha and IL-beta are distinct cytokines, produced by activated macrophages. The temporal sequence in the processing and secretion as well as the mechanism(s) by which IL-1 is secreted from the cells remain undefined. Here we have studied the production of IL-1 from murine macrophages after stimulation with LPS or Listeria monocytogenes by two distinct methods: i) immunoprecipitation of radio-labeled IL-1 peptides from culture supernatants, and ii) determination of IL-1 activity by neutralization with monospecific antisera to either form of IL-1. We confirmed that precursor and mature forms of both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta can be detected in the culture supernatants after stimulation of the macrophages with 10 to 20 micrograms LPS/ml but, in addition, we report the novel finding that IL-1 beta is exclusively secreted in its unprocessed precursor form after stimulation of the cells with either 0.5 to 1 microgram LPS/ml or with L. monocytogenes. Exposure of the cells to increasing amounts of LPS led to the appearance of a 20-kDa IL-1 beta peptide in the culture supernatants concomitant with the release of a processing activity for the IL-1 beta precursor. These data therefore suggest that, in a first step, IL-1 beta is secreted as an unprocessed precursor protein that in a second, postsecretory step is cleaved by a LPS-inducible protease, thus generating the 20-kDa IL-1 beta peptide. The latter represents the biologically active IL-1 beta inasmuch as the generation of IL-1 beta activity in the culture supernatants strictly correlated with the appearance of the 20-kDa IL-1 beta peptide. | pubmed_552_6462 |
pubmed_130_1978 | BACKGROUND
Patients with cancer are a population at high risk of severe infection from SARS-CoV-2. Patients with cancer regularly attend specialised healthcare centres for management and treatment, where they are in contact with healthcare workers (HCWs). Numerous recommendations target both patients with cancer and HCWs to minimise the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during these interactions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the parallel evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic in these 2 populations over time, we studied the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after both the first and second waves of the pandemic, and in both cancer patients and HCWs from a single specialised anti-cancer centre. Factors associated with seropositivity were identified in both populations.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study after the second wave of the COVID pandemic in France. All participants were invited to undergo serological testing for SARS-CoV-2 and complete a questionnaire collecting data about their working conditions (for HCWs) or medical management (for patients) during this period. Results after the second wave were compared to those of a previous study among 1011 patients with cancer and 663 HCWs performed in the same centre after the first wave, using the same evaluations.
FINDINGS
We included 502 HCWs and 507 patients with cancer. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was higher after the second wave than after the first wave in both HCWs (15.1% versus 1.8%; p < 0.001), and patients (4.1% versus 1.7%; p = 0.038). By multivariate analysis, the factors found to be associated with seropositivity after the second wave for HCWs were: working in direct patient care (p = 0.050); having worked in a dedicated COVID-19 unit (p = 0.0036); contact with a person with COVID-19-positive in the workplace (p = 0.0118) or outside of the workplace (p = 0.0297). Among patients with cancer, only a contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 was found to be significantly associated with positive serology. The proportion of reported contacts with individuals with COVID-19-positive was significantly lower among patients with cancer than among HCWs (7.6% versus 40.7%, respectively; p < 0.0001) INTERPRETATION: Between the first and second waves of the epidemic in France, the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies increased to a lesser extent among patients with cancer than among their HCWs, possibly due to better self-protection, notably social distancing. The risk factors for infection identified among HCWs plead in favour of numerous intra-hospital contaminations, especially for HCWs in contact with high-risk patients. This underlines the compelling need to pursue efforts to implement strict hygiene and personal protection measures (including vaccination) to protect HCWs and patients with cancer. | 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.01.005 |
pubmed_565_2365 | The taxonomic positions of Lysobacter species with validly published names and a novel strain Ko07(T), which was newly isolated from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor treating wastewater from a brewery, were (re)estimated on the basis of results obtained by using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Phylogenetic inference based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain Ko07(T) and all Lysobacter species with validly published names clustered together in a phylogenetic branch within the class 'Gammaproteobacteria'. The sequence similarity of strain Ko07(T) to the type strains of established Lysobacter species was in the range 94.9-96.7 %. Ubiquinone Q-8 and branched fatty acids, C(11 : 0) iso, C(15 : 0) iso, C(16 : 0) iso, iso C(17 : 1)omega9c and C(11 : 0) iso 3OH, predominantly appeared in strain Ko07(T) as well as in all type strains of the recognized Lysobacter species. The DNA-DNA hybridization values of strain Ko07(T) with those of recognized Lysobacter species were estimated to be 2-20 %. Despite sharing common taxonomic features in important phenotypic characteristics, such as gliding movement, long-rod shape and proteolytic activity, strain Ko07(T) could be distinguished from the Lysobacter species with validly published names by its low DNA-DNA hybridization value, a comparatively low DNA G + C content (63.8 mol%), substrate utilization and some physiochemical characteristics. On the basis of the results obtained in this study, it is proposed that strain Ko07(T) should be classified as representing a novel member of the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobacter concretionis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Ko07(T) (=KCTC 12205(T) = DSM 16239(T)). | 10.1099/ijs.0.63399-0 |
pubmed_482_14688 | A 79-year-old woman who was on chronic hemodialysis due to diabetic nephropathy and had previously undergo surgery for radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (AVF) in her right wrist needed percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for stenosis at the juxta-anastomotic access site. After successful PTA, the systemic blood pressure decreased from 144/93 mm Hg to 117/67 mm Hg in response to the increase in AVF blood flow. Furthermore, the regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) value in her dorsal hand decreased from 67.9% to 64.9% and, simultaneously, the cerebral rSO2 decreased from 63.6% to 60.1%. Our experience indicates that the PTA procedure may affect the rapid deterioration of systemic oxygenation, including that in the hand and brain, in association with the increase in the AVF blood flow and change in systemic circulation. | 10.1016/j.radcr.2020.05.072 |
pubmed_232_74 | Physical therapy treatments for and evaluation of lower limb swelling are usually performed in supine lying position. However, the limb is usually treated or assessed in the dependent position, i.e. sitting or standing. The purpose of this study was to determine the possible confounding effect of subject positioning on foot and ankle volume. Sixty healthy individuals were randomly positioned into motionless standing, sitting or supine lying for 30 min. Volumetric measurements of the dominant leg were taken with a foot and ankle volumeter before and after 30 min of positioning. A significant difference between the three groups for foot and ankle volume change (F(2,53) = 35.41, P<0.001) was found. A post-hoc Tukey HSD test revealed that the difference was statistically significant between sitting and standing as well as supine lying and standing (P<0.001). No statistical significance was found between sitting and supine lying (P = 0.90). Standing caused the greatest increase in foot and ankle volume followed by sitting then supine lying. The results indicate that treating or assessing a limb with the subject in a sitting position would not be significantly different from a subject who is positioned in supine lying. However, it is not known whether the height and the distance from the heart to the feet were comparable between the groups, and so it is recommended that, where possible, treatment and assessment of lower leg swelling should be undertaken with the leg in a non-dependent position and definitely not in standing. | 10.1111/j.1475-097X.2004.00578.x |
pubmed_621_10360 | Despite their crucial role in the translation of pre-clinical research into new clinical applications, phase 1 trials involving patients continue to prompt ethical debate. At the heart of the controversy is the question of whether risks of administering experimental drugs are therapeutically justified. We suggest that prior attempts to address this question have been muddled, in part because it cannot be answered adequately without first attending to the way labor is divided in managing risk in clinical trials. In what follows, we approach the question of therapeutic justification for phase 1 trials from the viewpoint of five different stakeholders: the drug regulatory authority, the IRB, the clinical investigator, the referring physician, and the patient. Our analysis shows that the question of therapeutic justification actually raises multiple questions corresponding to the roles and responsibilities of the different stakeholders involved. By attending to these contextual differences, we provide more coherent guidance for the ethical negotiation of risk in phase 1 trials involving patients. We close by discussing the implications of our argument for various perennial controversies in phase 1 trial practice. | 10.1111/j.1467-8519.2012.01979.x |
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