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pubmed_135_17613 | BACKGROUND
Young people (15-24 years) bear the highest burden of new infections and are particularly vulnerable because of their highly risky behavior such as early sexual activity. There is paucity of information on the role of religious leaders in the multi-sectoral fight against HIV/AIDS. We examined the role of religious leaders in the use of HIV prevention strategies among young people.
METHODS
A cross sectional study was conducted between March and April 2021 among 422 randomly selected young people in Lira district, Uganda. An interviewer administered a questionnaire to the young people in order to collect quantitative data. A total 20 key informants were purposively sampled and interviews were conducted with religious leaders using a key informant's interview guide. Data was collected on social demographics, HIV prevention messages, and awareness about HIV prevention strategies. Data was analyzed using Stata version 15 using proportions, means, percentages, frequencies, and logistic regression analysis at a 95% level of significance. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic content analysis and the major themes were generated from the participants' responses.
RESULTS
About 57.1% (241/422) of the respondents were females. The prevalence of use of HIV prevention strategies among young people was 69.4%. Factors significantly associated with the use of HIV prevention included completing the primary level (aOR 4.95, p< 0.05), completing at least A level (aOR 8.85, p < <0.05), Awareness of HIV prevention strategies advocated for by religious leaders (aOR 0.02, p<0.001), religious leaders provided targeted HIV prevention messages (aOR 2.53, p<0.01), Advocacy for abstinence outside marriage and fidelity in marriage (aOR 35.6, p<0.01), Religious leaders preaching about HIV prevention (aOR 4.88, p<0.001). Qualitative data indicated that a section of religious leaders recommended abstinence/faithfulness. Condom use was the most discouraged HIV prevention strategy. However, most religious leaders agree with the fact that they have a role to play in HIV prevention, which includes sensitization, teaching and organizing sermons about HIV prevention.
CONCLUSION
The use of HIV prevention strategies advocated for by religious leaders among young people was nearly 70%. This finding indicates that religious leaders have a role to play in HIV/AIDS prevention among young people in the Lira district. This calls for the involvement of religious leaders in HIV prevention programs tailored to prevent new infections of HIV among young people. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0276801 |
pubmed_1118_13881 | This chapter broadly reviews cardiopulmonary sympathetic and vagal sensors and their reflex functions during physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. Mechanosensory operating mechanisms, including their central projections, are described under multiple sensor theory. In addition, ways to interpret evidence surrounding several controversial issues are provided, with detailed reasoning on how conclusions are derived. Cardiopulmonary sensory roles in breathing control and the development of symptoms and signs and pathophysiologic processes in cardiopulmonary diseases (such as cough and neuroimmune interaction) also are discussed. | 10.1016/B978-0-323-91534-2.00014-X |
pubmed_672_1821 | For chemotherapy in fish parasitized by monogeneans, toltrazuril was tested in vivo and in vitro against gill-parasitizing species (Dactylogyrus vastator, D. extensus, D. cornu, Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae, Diplozoon paradoxum, Dip. homoion) as well as the skin-parasitizing species Gyrodactylus arcuatus. Naturally infected fish were incubated at 20 degrees C for 0.3, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6h in water containing 0.5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 microgram toltrazuril/ml. In general, the damage observed resulted in the vacuolization and lysis of the parasitic tegument. Toltrazuril caused irreversible lesions in the tegument of Dactylogyrus species and Pseudodactylogyrus bini, beginning at a dose of 5 microgram/ml (4-h exposure). In vitro treatment with 10 microgram/ml toltrazuril caused death in Dip. paradoxum and Dip. homoion after 4-80 min, depending on the age of the parasites. Subadult worms were more susceptible to the drug than adults. Specimens of G. arcuatus were severely affected after 1-h exposure to 20 microgram/ml. In all species, the prohaptor and peduncle regions of the specimens were most sensitive to the drug. Treatment of infections of Gyrodactylus species, D. vastator, D. extensus, C. cornu, and P. bini using a water bath with 10 micrograms toltrazuril/ml for 4 h (D. cornu, 15 degrees C; other species, 20 degrees C) is recommended, since then species diagnosis is not needed. Fish with extensive skin lesions caused by net catching or infection by Saprolegnia spp. should be carefully observed during treatment, as these factors decrease their drug tolerance. | 10.1007/BF00932713 |
pubmed_204_23535 | We previously found normal polysomnographic (PSG) sleep efficiency, increased slow-wave sleep (SWS), and a blunted melatonin secretion in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) compared to controls. Here, we investigated the effects of exogenous melatonin in five patients previously studied. They took 2 mg of slow-release melatonin 1 h before bedtime during their luteal phase (LP) for three menstrual cycles. At baseline, patients spent every third night throughout one menstrual cycle sleeping in the laboratory. Measures included morning urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMt6), PSG sleep, nocturnal core body temperature (CBT), visual analog scale for mood (VAS-Mood), Prospective Record of the Impact and Severity of Menstrual Symptoms (PRISM), and ovarian plasma hormones. Participants also underwent two 24-hour intensive physiological monitoring (during the follicular phase and LP) in time-isolation/constant conditions to determine 24-hour plasma melatonin and CBT rhythms. The same measures were repeated during their third menstrual cycle of melatonin administration. In the intervention condition compared to baseline, we found increased urinary aMt6 (p < 0.001), reduced objective sleep onset latency (p = 0.01), reduced SWS (p < 0.001), and increased Stage 2 sleep (p < 0.001). Increased urinary aMt6 was correlated with reduced SWS (r = -0.51, p < 0.001). Circadian parameters derived from 24-hour plasma melatonin and CBT did not differ between conditions, except for an increased melatonin mesor in the intervention condition (p = 0.01). Ovarian hormones were comparable between the conditions (p ≥ 0.28). Symptoms improved in the intervention condition, as measured by the VAS-Mood (p = 0.02) and the PRISM (p < 0.001). These findings support a role for disturbed melatonergic system in PMDD that can be partially corrected by exogenous melatonin. | 10.1093/sleep/zsab171 |
others_304_6921 | In a laboratory experiment, we investigated the preference of larvae and adults of Coccinella septempunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) for three aphid species: two essential prey, Acyrthosiphon pisum and Aphis philadelphi, and a toxic prey Aphis sambuci. Surprisingly, the toxic aphid was consumed at twice the rate of the two essential prey species. The stages and genders of the ladybirds did not differ in their preference for aphid species. In the tritrophic interaction, in the field, on the elder host plant Sambucus nigra, A. sambuci is usually avoided by C. septempunctata. To measure ladybird preference, apterous females of the three selected aphid species were released in a Petri dish followed by a ladybird. After four hours, we removed the ladybird, counted the number of aphids of each species that survived, and calculated the number of aphids of each species consumed in total. We examined preference by considering separately the first two aphids consumed by a predator (early feeding), and all remaining aphids consumed thereafter (late feeding). The consumption rates of the first two individuals did not deviate from expected values with no preference; i.e., ladybirds fed on aphids without choice in the beginning of experiment when they were hungry. The ladybirds did express preference thereafter, but our hypothesis that the ladybirds should be able to distinguish among the aphids during later phase of the experiment and choose the most profitable species, or at least distinguish between essential and toxic prey, was r | 10.14411/eje.2008.055 |
pubmed_730_6058 | Hippocampal pyramidal cells are called place cells because each cell tends to fire only when the animal is in a particular part of the environment-the cell's firing field. Acute pharmacological blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors was used to investigate how NMDA-based synaptic plasticity participates in the formation and maintenance of the firing fields. The results suggest that the formation and short-term stability of firing fields in a new environment involve plasticity that is independent of NMDA receptor activation. By contrast, the long-term stabilization of newly established firing fields required normal NMDA receptor function and, therefore, may be related to other NMDA-dependent processes such as long-term potentiation and spatial learning. | 10.1126/science.280.5372.2121 |
pubmed_438_323 | A new extended rat-ear flap model, with both an axial and a random component, is described. The flap is based on an axial supply by the posterior auricular artery and the posterior facial vein. The random portion, consisting of the rat dorsum, is capable of being supercharged at two separate sites-in the scapular and pelvic regions. There are several advantages to this composite flap. It is a combined axial and random flap. When used as a free flap, the viability of the axial portion serves as an indicator for anastomotic patency. The random portion allows for the investigation of the effects of pharmaceutical manipulation or surgical intervention, e.g., flap supercharging. The results indicate that the axial supply alone can cover approximately 50 percent of the extended rat-ear flap. Moreover, adding supercharging perforators to the random portion significantly increases the area of flap survival. Of interest, an axial vascular supply, coupled with more distal dorsal perforators (pelvic) than proximal (scapular) perforators, may increase survival for the so-called "watershed" area in the middle of the random portion of the flap. Additionally, this study also investigated the relative importance of arterial supply vs. venous drainage, using the extended rat-ear flap model. The flap was either supercharged with both the perforators of the scapular and pelvic arteries, or both scapular and pelvic veins. The results of the study suggests that augmenting venous drainage provides statistically significant improvement (87 percent vs. 51.6 percent) in increasing flap survival, when compared to augmenting the arterial supply. Arterial supercharging provided no improvement in flap survival, when compared to no supercharging (axial vessels + arterial supercharging, 51.6 percent vs. axial vessels alone, 49.9 percent). The results also suggest that providing adequate venous outflow is more important than providing additional arterial blood, and that impaired venous outflow may contribute to some cases of flap failure. However, it should be kept in mind that the best flap survival occurs with both arterial and and venous supercharging. | 10.1055/s-2002-33322 |
pubmed_304_17199 | A man from Surinam presented at the Department of Internal Medicine with a perforated septum and progressive collapse of the nose. This condition had existed for 22 years, though earlier analysis had not revealed the cause. Microscopic analysis showed a granulomatous inflammatory reaction, with cultures revealing of Leishmania. The diagnosis was mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and PCR indicated Leishmania braziliensis complex. The patient was treated for mucocutaneous leishmaniasis by a 28-day course of intravenous sodium-stibogluconate therapy. Initially, treatment was stopped briefly due to neurotoxicity, but was recommenced and successfully completed. After treatment the infection parameters returned to normal and the patient was referred for reconstructive nasal surgery. Due to a low parasitic load mucocutaneous leishmaniasis can be difficult to detect, especially in chronic cases. However, the use of molecular techniques has improved both the sensitivity and specificity of detection. The ability to distinguish between different species and sub-species is of prognostic and therapeutic relevance. | pubmed_304_17199 |
pubmed_215_6947 | As many as 86 patients with neuropathy of the facial nerve complicated by development of postneuritic muscular contractures were examined. Based on the clinical-and-neurophysiological investigation, findings from rheoencephalography, electroencephalography, echoencephaloscopy, electrodiagnosis of the facial nerve, clinical variants of the facial nerve function return to normal were defined together with causes of development of muscular contractures. Efficiency is shown of use of acupuncture and magnetotherapy combined in treatment of the above trouble. | pubmed_215_6947 |
pubmed_1072_15282 | Zeller, S, Abel, T, and Strueder, HK. Monitoring training load in handcycling: a case study. J Strength Cond Res 31(11): 3094-3100, 2017-The aim of this study was to analyze the training intensity distribution (TID) and the total training load (TTL) for the first time in handcycling of a multiple female Paralympic medalist (lesion level: L2-3 incomplete, ASIA C, classification: WH5). This study focuses on the preparation and the competitive period of the 2015 season. The athlete completed 194 handcycling training sessions in a time of 433:53 hours, covering a total distance of 10.190 km. An average training week consisted of 9:38 ± 4:50 hours of training during 4.3 ± 1.5 training sessions. Training was categorized according to the 3-zone intensity scale (zone 1: below blood lactate levels of 2 mmol·L; zone 2: between 2 mmol·L and 4 mmol·L; and zone 3: above 4 mmol·L). The average TID during the observation was 71.6 ± 14.9% in zone 1, 15.2 ± 8.0% in zone 2, and 13.1 ± 5.5% in zone 3. The analysis of TID throughout the season demonstrates a tendency toward a greater volume in zone 2 than the recommendations in the literature. The mean TTL throughout the season was 804 ± 399 arbitrary units. During the investigation, the performance capacity in the incremental exercise test analog to 4 mmol·L increased by 19% (150-181 W), whereas the peak power output improved by 22% (180-200 W). Currently, no general guideline for the TTL and TID in paraplegic endurance athletes can be given. | 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001786 |
pubmed_585_9336 | A 10-year-old male presented with vision loss and behavioral changes. He had midpoint pupils with no reaction to light and normal funduscopic examination. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral cortical lesions at parieto-occipital lobes. Elevated measles antibody titers in the cerebrospinal fluid confirmed the diagnosis of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Despite oral inosiplex and supportive care, patient developed generalized seizures with frequent myoclonic jerks and rapidly progressed into coma. Cortical blindness in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis can be an early indicator for fulminant course. | pubmed_585_9336 |
pubmed_1064_14142 | BACKGROUND
The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) load and the importance of multiple-strain HPV infections as biomarkers for the development of cervical disease were evaluated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women.
METHODS
A total of 108 samples were analyzed, 64 of which were obtained from 16 HIV-positive women who underwent surgical resection of the cervical cone for treatment of a histologically confirmed high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasm (cases) and 44 of which were obtained from 22 HIV-positive women who had high-risk HPV but a negative colposcopy result (controls). Each patient underwent periodic examinations at 6-12-month intervals that included colposcopy, Papanicolaou testing, biopsy (if indicated), and cervical brushing for HPV testing. Viral typing was performed by reverse dot-blot hybridization and quantification of viral load by in-house real-time PCR and commercial assays.
RESULTS
Analysis of the cervical-brush samples collected when high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions were diagnosed revealed that all cases had HPV loads that were significantly higher than those of controls (P=.0004 and P=.0003, by PCR and the Hybrid Capture 2 index [Digene], respectively). Decreasing concentrations of HPV load were observed when comparing samples obtained before and after treatment (P<.0001). The number and type of HPV strains that were detected were not statistically different between cases and controls.
CONCLUSIONS
The significantly higher HPV load detected in women with high-grade cervical dysplasia, as well as the dramatic decrease in the load after surgical removal of the lesion, suggest that HPV load is a possible prognostic marker of high-grade SIL. | 10.1086/427032 |
pubmed_1082_20944 | Altered sensitivity of topoisomerase II to anticancer drugs profoundly affects the response of eukaryotic cells to these agents. Therefore, several approaches were employed to elucidate the mechanism of drug hypersensitivity of the mutant yeast type II topoisomerase, top2H1012Y. This mutant, which is approximately 5-fold hypersensitive to ellipticine, formed DNA cleavage complexes more rapidly than the wild-type yeast enzyme in the presence of the drug. Conversely, no change in the rate of DNA religation was observed. There was, however, a correlation between increased cleavage rates and enhanced drug binding affinity. The apparent dissociation constant for ellipticine in the mutant topoisomerase II.drug.DNA ternary complex was approximately 5-fold lower than in the wild-type ternary complex. Furthermore, the apparent KD value for the mutant binary (topoisomerase II.drug) complex was approximately 2-fold lower than the corresponding wild-type complex, indicating that drug hypersensitivity is intrinsic to the enzyme. These findings strongly suggest that the enhanced ellipticine binding affinity for topoisomerase II is the mechanistic basis for drug hypersensitivity of top2H1012Y. | 10.1074/jbc.270.47.28018 |
pubmed_1135_1176 | The use of next generation sequencing (NGS) to identify novel viral sequences from eukaryotic tissue samples is challenging. Issues can include the low proportion and copy number of viral reads and the high number of contigs (post-assembly), making subsequent viral analysis difficult. Comparison of assembly algorithms with pre-assembly host-mapping subtraction using a short-read mapping tool, a k-mer frequency based filter and a low complexity filter, has been validated for viral discovery with Illumina data derived from naturally infected liver tissue and simulated data. Assembled contig numbers were significantly reduced (up to 99.97%) by the application of these pre-assembly filtering methods. This approach provides a validated method for maximizing viral contig size as well as reducing the total number of assembled contigs that require down-stream analysis as putative viral nucleic acids. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0129059 |
pubmed_646_3156 | Transcription of the tetA(K) tetracycline resistance determinant encoded by an IS257-flanked cointegrated copy of a pT181-like plasmid, located within the chromosomal mec region of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolate, has been investigated. The results demonstrated that transcription of tetA(K) in this strain is directed by both an IS257-derived hybrid promoter, which is stronger than the native tetA(K) promoter in the autonomous form of pT181, and a complete outwardly directed promoter identified within one end of IS257. Despite lower gene dosage, the chromosomal configuration was shown to afford a higher level of resistance than that mediated by pT181 in an autonomous multicopy state. Furthermore, competition studies revealed that a strain carrying the chromosomal tetA(K) determinant exhibited a higher level of fitness in the presence of tetracycline but not in its absence. This finding suggests that tetracycline has been a selective factor in the emergence of strains carrying a cointegrated pT181-like plasmid in their chromosomes. The results highlight the potential of IS257 to influence the expression of neighboring genes, a property likely to enhance its capacity to mediate advantageous genetic rearrangements. | 10.1128/JB.182.12.3345-3352.2000 |
others_145_11679 | The nutritive value of dried shellfish waste (referred to as crab meal) produced in New Brunswick in the mid-1980s was evaluated by physical, chemical and biological assays. Typically, the crab meal was high in ash content (about 50%), consisting mainly of calcium carbonate and contained about 20% chitin, 25% crude protein (CP) and less than 2% lipid material. The meal could be separated by screening into a coarse fraction high in ash and chitin and a fine fraction lower in ash and higher in CP. Although the reactivity rate of crab meal ash was not as high as that of similar sized limestone particles (42 vs. 30.4 min for particles that passed a 500-μm screen but were retained on a 300-μm screen), it was high enough to suggest crab meal could be a useful rumen buffer. The CP of crab meal was highly resistant to degradation in the rumen in sacco. Less than 18% of the crab meal CP disappeared from bags suspended in the rumen for 24 h, compared with more than 87% for soybean meal and full-fat canola seed. The digestibility of crab meal dry matter by sheep was only 34.3 ± 3.7%, but the CP digestibility was 69.6 ± 4.1%. The chemical and physical attributes assayed and the results of the in sacco and sheep digestibility trials all suggest that crab meal should be a useful supplement for diets low in digestible undergraded protein. However, its inclusion in a supplement for beef calves fed legume silage resulted in lower feed consumption and rate of gain (P < 0.01). Feeding soybean meal or full-fat canola resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.01) in feed efficiency, compared with calves fed the control and crab meal supplements. It was concluded that crab meal produced in New Brunswick would be a useful supplement for beef cattle if problems of palatability could be overcom | 10.4141/cjas96-012 |
pubmed_1127_13178 | Speckle images of spatially incoherent objects viewed under severe seeing conditions are formed in the optical laboratory (organized for simulations of stellar speckle interferometry). The brightest pixel in each speckle image is shifted to the center of image space, and the translated image is added to all other speckle images that have been similarly processed. A recognizable diffraction-limited version of the true image of the object results, even when the imaging instrument is defocused such that, under perfect seeing conditions, the Airy disk is spread over an area comparable with that covered by a typical speckle image. | 10.1364/ol.5.000438 |
pubmed_598_16787 | BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical characteristics and surgical management of Type III Wagstaffe fracture.
METHODS
From August 2012 to July 2015, 13 patients with Type III Wagstaffe fractures were surgically treated. During operation, the cartilage of joint surface was explored. Wagstaffe fragment was fixed with cannulated screw or suture, Chaput fragment was fixed with cannulated screw or plate, and Cotton test was performed to evaluate the stability of syndesmosis during the operation. All the patients were followed up for 14.3 months in average. Clinical outcome was assessed with Olerud-Molander score and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score. The traumatic arthritis was evaluated with osteoarthritis-score (OA-score).
RESULTS
During the operation, chondral injury was found on the lateral top of the talus in 8 cases, as "kissing lesion" of Chaput fragment. The fractures healed uneventfully and all the patients recovered satisfactorily except two had moderate restriction in ankle movement. The average Olerud-Molander score and AOFAS score were 82.3 and 86.1, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Type III Wagstaffe is a rare and often missed fracture. 61% are associated with a chondral lesion on the lateral top of the talus. Anatomical reduction and rigid fixation of both fragments are mandatory to obtain ankle stability and good results. | 10.1016/j.fas.2017.04.013 |
pubmed_2_18137 | Concern about the risk of bone loss in astronauts as a result of prolonged exposure to microgravity prompted the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to convene a Bone Summit with a panel of experts at the Johnson Space Center to review the medical data and research evidence from astronauts who have had prolonged exposure to spaceflight. Data were reviewed from 35 astronauts who had served on spaceflight missions lasting between 120 and 180 days with attention focused on astronauts who (1) were repeat fliers on long-duration missions, (2) were users of an advanced resistive exercise device (ARED), (3) were scanned by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) at the hip, (4) had hip bone strength estimated by finite element modeling, or (5) had lost >10% of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at the hip or lumbar spine as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Because of the limitations of DXA in describing the effects of spaceflight on bone strength, the panel recommended that the U.S. space program use QCT and finite element modeling to further study the unique effects of spaceflight (and recovery) on bone health in order to better inform clinical decisions. | 10.1002/jbmr.1948 |
pubmed_520_1600 | The targeting of specific prey by snake venom toxins is a fascinating aspect of molecular and ecological evolution. Neurotoxic targeting by elapid snakes dominates the literature in this regard; however, recent studies have revealed viper toxins also induce neurotoxic effect. While this effect is thought to primarily be driven by prey selectivity, no study has quantified the taxonomically specific neurotoxicity of the viper clade consisting of Daboia, Macrovipera, Montivipera, and Vipera genera. Here, we tested venom toxin binding from 28 species of vipers from the four genera on the alpha 1 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) orthosteric sites of amphibian, avian, lizard, rodent, and human mimotopes (synthetic peptides) using the Octet HTX biolayer interferometry platform. Daboia siamensis and D. russelii had broad binding affinity towards all mimotopes, while D. palestinae had selectivity toward lizard. Macrovipera species, on the other hand, were observed to have a higher affinity for amphibian mimotopes except for M. schweizeri, which inclined more toward lizard mimotopes. All Montivipera and most Vipera species also had higher affinity toward lizard mimotopes. Vipera a. montandoni, V. latastei, V. nikolski, and V. transcaucasina had the least binding to any of the mimotopes of the study. While a wide range of affinity binding towards various mimotopes were observed within the clade, the lowest affinity occurred towards the human target. Daboia siamensis and Macrovipera lebetina exhibited the greatest affinity toward the human mimotope, albeit still the least targeted of the mimotopes within those species. Overlaying this toxin-targeting trait over phylogeny of this clade revealed multiple cases of amplification of this trait and several cases of secondary loss. Overall, our results reveal dynamic variation, amplification, and some secondary loss of the prey targeting trait by alpha-neurotoxins within the venoms of this clade, indicating evolutionary selection pressure shaping the basic biochemistry of these venoms. Our work illustrates the successful use of this biophysical assay to further research snake venom neurotoxins and emphasizes the risk of generalizing venom effects observed on laboratory animals to have similar effects on humans. | 10.1007/s12640-022-00572-w |
pubmed_350_5518 | The kinetics of the inactivation of Bacillus cereus beta-lactamase I by 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid are described. Loss of beta-lactamase activity is accompanied by a decrease in protein fluorescence, by the appearance of a protein-bound chromophore at 326 nm, and by loss of tritium from 6 alpha-[3H]-6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid. It is shown that all of the above changes probably have the same rate-determining step. The inactivation reaction is competitively inhibited by cephalosporin C, a competitive inhibitor of this enzyme, and by covalently bound clavulanic acid, suggesting that 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid reacts directly with the beta-lactamase active site. It is proposed that this inhibitor reacts initially as a normal substrate and that the rate-determining step of the inactivation is acylation of the enzyme. A rapid irreversible inactivation reaction rather than normal hydrolysis of the acyl-enzyme then follows acylation; 6 beta-bromopenicillanic acid is thus a suicide substrate. | 10.1021/bi00558a016 |
pubmed_343_8549 | Combination of a cryogenic ion-trap machine, operated at 4.7 K, with the free-electron-laser FELIX allows the first experimental characterization of the unusually bright antisymmetric stretch (ν3) and π-bending (ν2) fundamentals of the He-X+-He (X = H, D) chromophore of the in situ prepared HHe+ and DHe+ (n = 3-6) complexes. The band origins obtained are fully supported by first-principles quantum-chemical computations, performed at the MP2, the CCSD(T), and occasionally the CCSDTQ levels employing extended basis sets. Both the experiments and the computations are consistent with structures for the species with n = 3 and 6 being of T-shaped C2 and of D4 symmetry, respectively, while the species with n = 4 are suggested to exhibit interesting dynamical phenomena related to large-amplitude motions. | 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b01911 |
others_352_5109 | Tri-axial accelerometry has been used to continuously and remotely assess field metabolic rates in free-living endotherms. However, in cold environments, the use of accelerometry may underestimate resting metabolic rate because cold-induced stimulation of metabolic rate causes no measurable acceleration. To overcome this problem, we investigated if logging the difference between core and subcutaneous temperatures (δTc-s) could reveal the metabolic costs associated with cold exposure. Using implanted temperature data loggers, we recorded core and subcutaneous temperatures continuously in eight captive rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and concurrently measured their resting metabolic rate by indirect calorimetry, at ambient temperatures ranging from -7 to +25°C. δTc-s showed no circadian fluctuations in warm (+23°C) or cold (+5°C) environments implying that the δTc-s was not affected by an endogenous circadian rhythm in our laboratory conditions. δTc-s correlated well with resting metabolic rate (R2=0.77) across all ambient temperatures except above the upper limit of the thermoneutral zone (+25°C). Determining δTc-s could therefore provide a complementary approach for better estimating resting metabolic rate of animals within and below their thermoneutral zone. Combining data from accelerometers with such measures of body temperature could improve estimates of the overall field metabolic rate of free-living endotherms. © 2015 Elsevier I | 10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.01.012 |
pubmed_891_8456 | Toxic adenoma nodules rarely harbour cancer. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is often not done because of the rarity of these lesions being cancer, the difficulty in interpreting cytology in hyperthyroid patients and the rare precipitation of thyrotoxicosis. We present two young, Caucasian female patients aged 29 and 13 years who were each diagnosed with a toxic nodule categorised as benign and indeterminate respectively. They underwent hemithyroidectomy after being rendered euthyroid, however their histology unexpectedly revealed differentiated follicular cancer. Despite thyroid cancer being rare in patients with toxic adenomas, it should be considered when planning treatment, especially if there are risk factors for cancer, or suspicious features on ultrasound examination. A review of the literature shows that compared with adenomas in euthyroid patients, patients in this group are generally younger and predominately female. If an FNA is considered, it should be performed after the patient is rendered euthyroid. | 10.1308/rcsann.2021.0008 |
pubmed_630_18066 | AIM
The current study was undertaken to evaluate the findings of canine hip dysplasia screening in Kenya.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Records for 591 dogs were included in this study. The data was obtained from the national screening office, Kenya Veterinary Board, for the period between the years 1998 and 2014. Monthly screening records were assessed and information relating to year of evaluation, breed, sex, age, and hip score captured. Descriptive statistics of hip scores was computed based on year, sex, age, and breed.
RESULTS
A total of 591 records from the year 1998 to 2014 were retrieved at the National Screening Centre, the Kenya Veterinary Board. Each record was examined and data pertaining to year of screening, the breed, sex, age of the dogs, and the total hip score were recorded. The highest number of dogs screened for hip dysplasia (HD) was in the year 2009 and the lowest in the year 1998. More females than males were screened for HD and the mean age of all the dogs was 22.9±12.7 months. The most common breeds of dogs screened during the study period were German Shepherd (67.0%), Rottweiler (15.6%), and Labrador Retriever (12.2%). The mean hip score for the 591 dogs was 15.1±10.9 and the median 12.0. The mean hip scores per breed were; German Shepherd (16.3±12.1); Golden Retriever (16.0); Hungarian Vizla (15.0); Labrador Retriever (3.0±6.7); Great Dane (13.3±3.2); Rottweiler (12.2±8.2); Doberman (10.3±4.2); Rhodesian Ridgeback (9.6±3.8); and Boxer (9.3±0.6). Based on the hip score, moderate to severe HD was diagnosed in 16.6% of the dogs, mild HD in 32.7%, Borderline HD in 37.7%, fair HD in 6.9%, and good HD in 6.1%.
CONCLUSION
Canine HD is a common occurrence in Kenya with most dogs suffering mild to border line HD. In addition, German Shepherd and Golden Retriever appear to be the most affected breeds. It is therefore recommended that stringent measures be imposed to dog breeding programs to avoid transmission of this undesirable trait and consequently improve the welfare and the quality of dog breeds in Kenya. | 10.14202/vetworld.2015.1326-1330 |
pubmed_649_2631 | A patient presented with granulomatous lung disease associated with the pulmonary deposition of various metallic particles. To evaluate the relation between the metallic dust and the granulomatous process, lymphocyte transformation tests to aluminium sulphate, titanium chloride, beryllium sulphate, and nickel sulphate were performed. A lymphocyte proliferative response to titanium chloride was observed on two separate occasions; no responses to the other metals were shown. These results are consistent with hypersensitivity to titanium, and suggest, in this individual, a possible aetiological role between the inhalation of titanium and a granulomatous disease process. | 10.1136/oem.43.10.652 |
pubmed_92_23573 | A set of carbazole substituted BODIPYs 2a-2c were designed and synthesized by the Pd-catalysed Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction. The effects of variation in the donor strength of various carbazoles were investigated by photophysical, electrochemical and computational studies. The electronic absorption spectra of BODIPYs 2a and 2c show charge transfer bands, which show red shift in polar solvents. The BODIPYs 2a-2c are highly fluorescent in nonpolar solvents (emission from the localized state) and poorly fluorescent in polar solvents (emission from the charge transfer state). The photophysical and electrochemical studies reveal strong donor-acceptor interaction between carbazole and BODIPY and follows the order 2a > 2c > 2b. The computational calculations show good agreement with the experimental results. The single crystal structures of BODIPYs 2a-2c are reported, which exhibit interesting supramolecular interactions. The packing diagrams of 2a show a zigzag 3D structural arrangement, whereas 2b and 2c show complex 3D structural motifs. | 10.1039/c4dt00983e |
pubmed_676_7236 | The migration of vascular cells is regulated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). Because the activation of adventitial fibroblasts has been implicated in coronary repair, we have examined regional differences in cell outgrowth and the synthesis of MMPs/TIMPs in different layers of porcine coronary arteries. Coronary medial explants demonstrated significantly slower cell outgrowth than coronary adventitia in culture (P<0.001). These observations were paralleled by the predominant expression of TIMP-1 and -2 in the media (14-fold and 37-fold higher than in adventitia, respectively, P<0.001), whereas higher gelatinolytic activities (MMP-2 and -9) were released from adventitial explants. Smooth muscle cell outgrowth from the media was regulated by endogenous TIMPs, since TIMP inhibition (recombinant MMP-2 or neutralizing anti-TIMP antibodies) facilitated cell outgrowth (P<0.001). In contrast, the addition of recombinant TIMP-1 or -2 decreased adventitial cell outgrowth. In the coculture experiments, the presence of coronary media retarded adventitial cell outgrowth, whereas medial damage abrogated these effects, allowing for fibroblast migration (P<0.001). In conclusion, this study demonstrated differential migratory properties and distinct MMP/TIMP synthesis by coronary fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. Endogenous TIMPs in the media may play an important role in maintaining coronary arterial wall homeostasis, whereas high levels of matrix-degrading activities confer the "invasive" characteristics of adventitial fibroblasts. | 10.1161/01.atv.19.5.1150 |
pubmed_1082_6277 | The effects of chronic administration of hydrocortisone (10 mg/kg/day) on the development and evolution of acute pancreatitis induced by supramaximal stimulation with cerulein were examined in the rat. In these circumstances the potentially therapeutic effect of L-364,718, a CCK-receptor antagonist, was assayed. Administration of hydrocortisone over 7 days did not increase the severity of edematous acute pancreatitis induced by cerulein, since the reduction in pancreatic secretion, the hyperamylasemia and the increase in the levels of hematocrit and fluid in the pancreatic tissue were similar in rats with acute pancreatitis treated and untreated with hydrocortisone previously. When hydrocortisone was administered chronically, before administration of supramaximal doses of cerulein, a spontaneous regression of acute pancreatitis occurred. However, when hydrocortisone administration was continued after inducing pancreatitis, pancreatic recovery was prevented, observing a significantly depressed acinar secretion and elevated values of hematocrit and tissue fluid (edema). L-364,718 administration proved to be detrimental in the evolution of edematous acute pancreatitis when the rats had been treated chronically with hydrocortisone because the blockade exerted on secretion prevented the draining of enzymes stored in excess by hydrocortisone administration. | 10.1097/00006676-199508000-00009 |
others_168_10524 | BJECTIVE: To determine clinical and baseline polysomnographic data on obstructive sleep apnoea secondary to adenotonsillar hypertrophy in Hong Kong Chinese children. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University teaching hospital, Hong Kong. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty children (35 boys and 15 girls) suspected to have obstructive sleep apnoea were recruited between January 1999 and December 1999. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Symptoms questionnaire, electrocardiogram, chest radiograph, and full-night polysomnography. RESULTS: All patients had symptoms suggestive of obstructive sleep apnoea. None were found to have clinical evidence of cor pulmonale. Forty-five (90%) of 50 children had obstructive sleep apnoea with a respiratory disturbance index of greater than five. Central and mixed apnoeas were rare. Tonsil size did not correlate with the severity of obstructive sleep apnoea. CONCLUSION: Symptoms and signs suggestive of obstructive sleep apnoea can lead to a high detection rate and confirmation of obstructive sleep apnoea by polysomnography | others_168_10524 |
others_314_6384 | Inter-specific body mass allometries can evolve from the natural selection of mass, with {+/-}1/4 and {+/-}3/4 exponents following from the geometry of intra-specific interactions when density dependent foraging occurs in two spatial dimensions (2D, Witting, 1995). The corresponding values for three dimensional interactions (3D) are {+/-}1/6 and {+/-}5/6.\n\nBut the allometric exponents in mobile organisms are more diverse than the prediction. The exponent for mass specific metabolism tends to cluster around -1/4 and -1/6 in terrestrial and pelagic vertebrates, but it is strongly positive in prokaryotes with an apparent value around 5/6 (DeLong et al., 2010). And a value around zero has been reported in protozoa, and on the macro evolutionary scale from prokaryotes over larger unicells to multicellular vertebrates (Makarieva et al., 2005, 2008).\n\nI show that mass specific metabolism can be selected as the pace of the resource handling that generates net energy for self-replication and the selection of mass, and that this selection of metabolism and mass is sufficient to explain metabolic exponents that decline from 5/6 over zero to -1/6 in 3D, and from 3/4 over zero to -1/4 in 2D. The decline follows from a decline in the importance of mass specific metabolism for the selection of mass, and it suggests i) that the body mass variation in prokaryotes is selected from primary variation in mass specific metabolism, ii) that the variation in multicellular animals are selected from primary variation in the handling and/or densities of the underlying resources, iii) that protozoa are selected as an intermediate lifeform between prokaryotes and multicellular animals, and iv) that macro evolution proceeds along an upper bound on mass specific metabolism | 10.1101/084624 |
others_222_2650 | A retrospective review of homicide cases among Aboriginal people in South Australia examined at Forensic Science SA was undertaken over a 40-year period from 1969 to 2008. A total of 90 Indigenous homicide victims were identified compared to 599 non-Indigenous victims over the same time period. Although homicide rates have fallen, the Indigenous homicide rate (ranging from 73.5 to 223.97 per 100,000) significantly exceeded the non-Indigenous rate (ranging from 8.16 to 12.6 per 100,000) for all decades (p < 0.001). The most common methods of homicide in the Indigenous population involved blunt force and sharp force trauma, with gunshot, strangulation and other forms of homicides being encountered less often. While lack of access to firearms may explain the lower numbers of gunshot deaths it would not explain the low numbers of deaths due to strangulation. Considerable variability may, therefore, exist in the types of unnatural deaths that may be found in different cultural and ethnic groups, even within the same community. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reser | 10.1016/j.jflm.2011.12.027 |
pubmed_757_7670 | INTRODUCTION
There is significant interest in the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) attend the most seriously unwell and injured patients in the community; their data therefore present an early opportunity to examine self-harm trends. The primary aim was to compare the incidence of deliberate self-harm incident (DSH-I) encounters by HEMS before and during the first wave of COVID-19.
METHODS
Data were obtained from all three East of England HEMS: total number of activations and stand-downs, number of DSH-I activations and stand-downs, self-harm mechanism and number of 'severe' DSH-I patient encounters, in two 61-day periods: 1 March to 30 April in 2019 (control) and 2020 (COVID-19). Severe DSH-I was defined as cardiac arrest and/or died prehospital. Proportions were compared with a Fisher's exact test.
RESULTS
There were a total of 1725 HEMS activations: n=981 (control) and n=744 (COVID-19), a decrease of 24.2% during COVID-19. DSH-I patient encounters increased by 65.4%: n=26 (control) and n=43 (COVID-19). The proportion of encounters that were DSH-I and severe DSH-I both significantly increased during COVID-19: p=0.002 and p=0.001, respectively. The absolute number of hangings and falls from height both approximately tripled during COVID-19, whereas the number of other mechanisms remained almost constant.
CONCLUSION
Despite a reduction in overall HEMS patient encounters, there were significant increases in both the proportion of DSH-Is and their severity attended by HEMS during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the East of England. | 10.1136/emermed-2020-210393 |
pubmed_959_2642 | Across Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs), the fight against dementia faces pressing challenges, such as heterogeneity, diversity, political instability, and socioeconomic disparities. These can be addressed more effectively in a collaborative setting that fosters open exchange of knowledge. In this work, the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium on Dementia (LAC-CD) proposes an agenda for integration to deliver a Knowledge to Action Framework (KtAF). First, we summarize evidence-based strategies (epidemiology, genetics, biomarkers, clinical trials, nonpharmacological interventions, networking, and translational research) and align them to current global strategies to translate regional knowledge into transformative actions. Then we characterize key sources of complexity (genetic isolates, admixture in populations, environmental factors, and barriers to effective interventions), map them to the above challenges, and provide the basic mosaics of knowledge toward a KtAF. Finally, we describe strategies supporting the knowledge creation stage that underpins the translational impact of KtAF. | 10.1002/alz.12202 |
pubmed_327_11963 | Nitric oxide (NO) appears to be a final common inflammation mediator of cartilage degradation. Halting the pathological formation of excessive NO, by suppressing the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) activity, may help to preserve cartilage integrity. We used fresh ex-vivo human articular cartilage explants from normal and arthrotic joints for assessment of NO levels, as determined by its nitrite degradation products and nitric oxide synthase expression. We measured matrix proteoglycan content, assessed by image analysis of alcian blue staining, and proteoglycan synthesis, assessed by sulfate incorporation into proteoglycans. The effect of methylene blue, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, on matrix preservation was evaluated. Cartilage discs in vitro, derived from normal appearing joints, secreted about one tenth as much NO compared to discs derived from arthrotic cartilage. Cartilage explants showed a time-dependent reduction in the amount of aggrecan within the cartilaginous matrix. Addition of methylene blue to the growth medium lowered nitric oxide accumulation and prevented matrix degradation in the cultured cartilage discs. The cartilage matrix preservation effect was mediated through downregulation of all three isoforms of NOS, i.e., the neuronal NOS, endothelial NOS and inducible NOS and upregulation of TGF beta receptor in the chondrocytes. Our findings indicate that inhibition of NOS activity preserves cartilage matrix in vitro. | 10.1080/000164700317362299 |
pubmed_367_2295 | Oxidative stress-induced cerebral endothelial cell dysfunction is associated with cerebral microvascular complication of primary diabetic encephaolopathy, a neurodegenerative disorder of long-standing diabetes, but the injury mechanisms are poorly understood. This study sought to determine the contribution of carbonyl (methylglyoxal, MG) stress to human brain endothelial cell (IHEC) apoptosis, the relationship to cellular redox status and mitochondrial membrane potential, and the protection by thiol antioxidant and insulin sensitizers. MG exposure induced IHEC apoptosis in association with perturbed cellular glutathione (GSH) redox status, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsi(m)), activation of caspase-9 and -3, and cleavage of polyADP-ribose polymerase. Insulin sensitizers such as biguanides or AMP-activated protein kinase activator, but not glitazones, afforded cytoprotection through preventing (Deltapsi(m) collapse and activation of caspase-9 that was independent of cellular GSH. Similarly, cyclosporine A prevented Deltapsi(m) collapse, while N-acetylcysteine (NAC) mediated the recovery of cellular GSH redox balance that secondarily preserved Deltapsi(m). Collectively, these results provide mechanistic insights into the role of GSH redox status and mitochondrial potential in carbonyl stress-induced apoptosis of brain endothelial cells, with implications for cerebral microvascular complications associated with primary diabetic encephalopathy. The findings that thiol antioxidant and insulin sensitizers afforded cytoprotection suggest potential therapeutic approaches. | 10.2174/156720209789630348 |
pubmed_27_22801 | We report two cases of nerve abscesses, one suffering from lepromatous leprosy (LL) and the other from tuberculoid neural leprosy. Neither had any signs of reactions. Both were untreated cases. Surgical nerve decompression and systemic prednisolone had resolved the nerve abscess in the first case, whereas the second one responded only to surgical nerve decompression. The unusual nature of clinical presentation of nerve abscess has been outlined. | 10.5935/0305-7518.19960023 |
pubmed_43_25592 | Successful adaptation to the environment requires an accurate response to external threats by recalling specific memories. Memory formation and recall require engram cell activity and synaptic strengthening among activated neuronal ensembles. However, elucidation of the underlying neural substrates of associative fear memory has remained limited without a direct interrogation of extinction-induced changes of specific synapses that encode a specific auditory fear memory. Using dual-eGRASP (enhanced green fluorescent protein reconstitution across synaptic partners), we found that synapses among activated neuronal ensembles or activated synaptic ensembles showed a significantly larger spine morphology at auditory cortex (AC)-to-lateral amygdala (LA) projections after auditory fear conditioning in mice. Fear extinction reversed these enhanced synaptic ensemble spines, whereas re-conditioning with the same tone and shock restored the spine size of the synaptic ensemble. We suggest that synaptic ensembles encode and represent different fear memory states. | 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.07.003 |
pubmed_175_9554 | BACKGROUND
The rate of S68G mutation in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase has increased and is closely related to the K65R mutation among CRF01_AE-infected patients who failed treatment. We aimed to explore the temporal association of S68G and K65R mutations and disclose the role of the former on susceptibility to nucleotide/nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) and viral replication with the K65R double mutations among CRF01_AE-infected patients who failed treatment.
METHODS
The occurrence of S68G and K65R mutations was evaluated among HIV-1 of various subtypes in the global HIV Drug Resistance Database. The temporal association of S68G and K65R mutations was analyzed through next-generation sequencing in four CRF01_AE-infected patients who failed treatment with tenofovir/lamivudine/efavirenz. The impact of the S68G mutation on susceptibility to NRTI and replication fitness was analyzed using pseudovirus phenotypic resistance assays and growth competition assays, respectively.
RESULTS
The frequency of the S68G mutation increased by 1.4-9.7% in almost all HIV subtypes and circulating recombinant forms in treatment-experienced patients, except subtype F. The S68G mutation often occurred in conjunction with the K65R mutation among RTI-treated patients, with frequencies ranging 21.1-61.7% in various subtypes. Next-generation sequencing revealed that the S68G mutation occurred following the K65R mutation in three of the four CRF01_AE-infected patients. In these three patients, there was no significant change detected in the half maximal inhibitory concentration for zidovudine, tenofovir, or lamivudine between the K65R and K65R/S68G mutations, as demonstrated by the phenotypic resistance assays. Virus stocks of the K65R and K65R/S68G mutations were mixed with 4:6, 1:1, and 9:1 and cultured for 13 days, the K65R/S68G mutants outgrew those of the K65R mutants irrespective of the input ratio.
CONCLUSIONS
S68G may be a natural polymorphism and compensatory mutation of K65R selected by NRTIs in the CRF01_AE strain of HIV-1. This mutation does not affect susceptibility to NRTI; however, it improves the replication fitness of K65R mutants. This study deciphers the role of the S68G mutation in the HIV reverse transcriptase of the CRF01_AE strain and provides new evidence for the interpretation of drug-resistant mutations in non-B subtypes of HIV-1. | 10.1186/s12879-020-4836-z |
pubmed_1088_6583 | Muscle regeneration involves the coordination of myogenesis and revascularization to restore proper muscle function. Myogenesis is driven by resident stem cells termed satellite cells (SC), whereas angiogenesis arises from endothelial cells and perivascular cells of preexisting vascular segments and the collateral vasculature. Communication between myogenic and angiogenic cells seems plausible, especially given the number of growth factors produced by SC. To characterize these interactions, we developed an in vitro coculture model composed of rat skeletal muscle SC and microvascular fragments (MVF). In this system, isolated epididymal MVF suspended in collagen gel are cultured over a rat SC monolayer culture. In the presence of SC, MVF exhibit greater indices of angiogenesis than MVF cultured alone. A positive dose-dependent effect of SC conditioned medium (CM) on MVF growth was observed, suggesting that SC secrete soluble-acting growth factor(s). Next, we specifically blocked VEGF action in SC CM, and this was sufficient to abolish satellite cell-induced angiogenesis. Finally, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), a transcriptional regulator of VEGF gene expression, was found to be expressed in cultured SC and in putative SC in sections of in vivo stretch-injured rat muscle. Hypoxic culture conditions increased SC HIF-1alpha activity, which was positively associated with SC VEGF gene expression and protein levels. Collectively, these initial observations suggest that a heretofore unexplored aspect of satellite cell physiology is the initiation of a proangiogenic program. | 10.1152/ajpcell.00391.2008 |
pubmed_289_4084 | Sequential data labeling is a fundamental task in machine learning applications, with speech and natural language processing, activity recognition in video sequences, and biomedical data analysis being characteristic examples, to name just a few. The conditional random field (CRF), a log-linear model representing the conditional distribution of the observation labels, is one of the most successful approaches for sequential data labeling and classification, and has lately received significant attention in machine learning as it achieves superb prediction performance in a variety of scenarios. Nevertheless, existing CRF formulations can capture only one- or few-timestep interactions and neglect higher order dependences, which are potentially useful in many real-life sequential data modeling applications. To resolve these issues, in this paper we introduce a novel CRF formulation, based on the postulation of an energy function which entails infinitely long time-dependences between the modeled data. Building blocks of our novel approach are: 1) the sequence memoizer (SM), a recently proposed nonparametric Bayesian approach for modeling label sequences with infinitely long time dependences, and 2) a mean-field-like approximation of the model marginal likelihood, which allows for the derivation of computationally efficient inference algorithms for our model. The efficacy of the so-obtained infinite-order CRF (CRF(∞)) model is experimentally demonstrated. | 10.1109/TPAMI.2012.208 |
pubmed_545_19816 | AIM
Cell-free and concentrated ascites reinfusion therapy (CART) is applied to relieve symptoms in patients with malignant ascites. We performed a prospective cohort study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CART performed on patients with advanced ovarian and peritoneal cancers with massive ascites during the initial treatment.
METHODS
From April 2018 to July 2020, CART was performed during the initial treatment of 31 patients with advanced ovarian and peritoneal cancers with cancerous ascites. Patient characteristics and clinical information before and after CART were collected. We performed quality of life assessment using the Japanese version of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-J) 24 h before and after CART.
RESULTS
CART was performed 38 times in 24 patients before or during neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 11 times in 11 patients prior to surgery. Four patients underwent CART before primary surgery and before and/or during chemotherapy. Grade 1-2 fever was observed in 18 of 31 cases (58%), and all were controllable by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. CART did not adversely affect the main treatment, chemotherapy, or surgery. CART significantly improved the MDASI-J symptom and interference scores within 24 h after the procedure. The symptom and interference scores decreased from 2.4 to 1.8 and from 4.8 to 3.0, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
CART can be safely performed and is useful for symptom relief and improvement of general condition prior to initial surgery and during initial chemotherapy in ovarian and peritoneal cancers. Performing CART at the time of initial treatment may facilitate initiation of the main treatment. | 10.1111/jog.14670 |
pubmed_962_22397 | The objective of the present study is to ascertain and analyze the understanding that the wives of alcoholic husbands have about life. A descriptive and exploratory qualitative methodological approach was employed. Data were collected from six Colombian women on the basis of semi-structured interviews and observation. Qualitative contents analysis was applied to the data. The material obtained thereby was classified into categories that indicate that the dominant meaning of "suffering", attributed by the women, is determined by the social and cultural environment, reflecting their cultural values and behaviors. | 10.1590/s0104-11692005000700007 |
pubmed_873_16687 | Pineal parenchymal tumor of intermediate differentiation (PPTID) is rare. The WHO first classified PPTID in 2000 as a pineal parenchymal tumor (PPT) with an intermediate prognosis between pineocytoma (PC) and pineoblastoma (PB). It is considered an intermediate-grade tumor and divided into WHO grade II or III.The number of available reports about PPTID is presently limited, and the appropriate management for this tumor has not yet been determined.The authors report a rare case of PC in a 63-year-old woman who presented with lower-extremity weakness and gait disturbance. A pineal mass lesion was detected on MRI. A diagnosis of PC was established after microsurgical gross-total tumor resection, and the patient received no adjuvant therapy after surgery. Two years after surgery, a partial recurrence was recognized and Gamma Knife radiosurgery was performed. Fours years later, the patient developed diffuse leptomeningeal dissemination. She was successfully treated with craniospinal irradiation. Leptomeningeal dissemination may develop 6 years after the initial diagnosis of PC. A histopathological study of the recurrent tumor revealed a malignant change from PC to PPTID.The present case shows the importance of long-term follow-up of patients with PPTs following resection and the efficacy of craniospinal irradiation in the treatment of leptomeningeal dissemination. | pubmed_873_16687 |
pubmed_892_4150 | More and more studies have been carried out on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in recent years which deal with classification, epidemiology, etiology and therapy. The problems in classifying PTSD result from the differences in the duration and in the subjective assessment of the disorder. Empirical research on psychotherapeutic intervention is still scarce. The article reviews and compares the therapeutic approaches described in the literature. In view of their theoretical foundation and the results of empirical research, interventions based on behavioral therapy have the strongest chance of being effective. | pubmed_892_4150 |
others_124_6640 | AC Readymade and AC Tempest are hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars selected from the Montana cultivar 'Redwin' to conform to the kernel visual distinguishability requirements of the Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat class. AC Readymade and AC Tempest were registered in 1991 and 1999, respectively, following 3 yr of testing in the Western Winter Wheat Cooperative registration trials relative to various checks including Winalta, Norstar, CDC Clair and CDC Osprey. The survival characteristics of these cultivars demonstrated that they were well-suited to the relatively mild winter climate of southern Alberta. In this region of the prairies, AC Tempest had 4% higher grain yield than AC Readymade and was not significantly different from the other checks except Winalta, which was lower yielding. Both cultivars displayed relatively late maturity, moderate height, exceptional straw strength, high test weight, large kernels, high grain protein content and moderate resistance to common bunt. AC Tempest had significantly higher flour yield than AC Readymad | 10.4141/CJPS2011-151 |
pubmed_351_12577 | A comparative immunohistochemical study of the distribution pattern of complement components and regulatory proteins within secondary lymphoid follicles was performed by the immunoperoxidase technique. Fifteen lymphoid tissues including appendices. Peyer's patches and tonsils were analysed. Sixty secondary lymphoid follicles with evident polarity, that is, the distinct coexistence of a light zone, dark zone and mantle zone in the same lymphoid follicle, were tested with single antibodies. The light zones were consistently immunostained in a dendritic meshwork pattern with all antibodies. The immunostaining patterns were classified into two major groups based on the immunoreactivity of the dark zone. One immunostaining pattern was characterized by no immunostaining of the dark zone to the majority of the antigens. The second group was characterized by a diffusely weak to moderate dendritic meshwork pattern of the dark zone to some of the immunostainings of C9 (monoclonal), S-protein, and DF-DRC1, and all immunostainings of CR1 (CD35), Ber-Mac-DRC (CD35), CR2 (CD21), and R4/23. All four complement regulatory proteins were localized by immunoelectron microscopy attached to the cell surface of the cells, including follicular dendritic cells, in the light zone. Our data indicate that there is an evident functional difference between the light zone and the dark zone, and that complete activation of the complement system occurs only in the light zone. | pubmed_351_12577 |
pubmed_93_1601 | We studied the competition between heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation of an aqueous suspension of charged colloidal spheres close to the container walls. Samples of equilibrium crystalline structure were shear-melted and the metastable melt left to solidify after the cessation of shear. The crystallization kinetics was monitored using time-resolved scattering techniques: at low particle number densities n we applied an improved static light scattering method while at large particle concentrations ultra-small-angle x-ray scattering was applied for the first time. Our results show some unexpected behavior: the heterogeneous nucleation at the container walls is delayed in comparison to the homogeneous bulk nucleation and its rate density appears surprisingly slightly smaller, demonstrating the complexity of the observed crystallization process. | 10.1088/0953-8984/21/46/464115 |
pubmed_970_24001 | The Chicago Consensus Working Group provides multidisciplinary recommendations for the management of colorectal cancer specifically as it relates to the management of peritoneal surface malignancy. These guidelines are developed with input from leading experts, including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, palliative care physicians, and pharmacists. These guidelines recognize and address the emerging need for increased awareness in the appropriate management of peritoneal surface disease. They are not intended to replace the quest for higher levels of evidence. | 10.1002/cncr.32874 |
pubmed_347_23304 | There are scarce studies evaluating the modification of ventilatory response to upper limb exercise (ULE) post-training in COPD patients. A prospective, randomized, controlled study was performed comparing two groups: training lower limbs (LL), vs. LL plus upper limb training (UL), in relation to their pre and post-training ventilatory response to ULE. A total of 43 COPD patients were included; 84% male, 6 (14%) GOLD moderate stage (II), 15 (35%) severe stage (III), and 22 (51%) very severe (IV); 28 patients completed the study. After ULE, in UL group (N = 14) a training increased isotime VT (p < 0.0001) was observed, as well as an increase in the inspiratory capacity isotime percentage (IC, 8.8%, p = 0.001), in the Ti isotime (29.3%, p = 0.022) and in the Ti/Tot isotime (37.4%, p = 0.0004). Also, Te isotime was reduced (26%, p = 0.009) and IC isotime was increased (p = 0.01) after ULE. In LL group (N = 14), training increased VT/Ti isotime (66.86%, p = 0.0005) after ULE. Also, after ULE a decrease in Ti isotime (27.9%, p = 0.015) and in Ti/Tot isotime (22.74%, p = 0.00016) were observed. A moderate correlation was observed between Δ respiratory rate and ΔIC after ULE, only for post-training in UL group (r = -0.53 , p < 0.001). Comparing both groups in relation to their responses to ULE, only in the UL group was a reduction observed in Te isotime (p = 0.049) and VT/Ti (p = 0.0015), higher Ti isotime (p = 0.0019), Ti/tot isotime (p = 0.000076) and IC isotime (% predictive, p = 0.01). UL training modified ventilatory response to ULE and it also reduced air trapping in COPD patients. | pubmed_347_23304 |
pubmed_623_4311 | The aim of this study is to describe characteristics of Graves' orbitopathy (GO) patients with progressive diplopia and to consider whether modified clinical activity score (CAS) is a useful indicator for prediction of diplopia progression. Medical records and images of GO patients with progressive diplopia were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical parameters (e.g., modified CAS, modified NOSPECS score, exophthalmometry results, score of diplopia, and prevalence of optic neuropathy) were evaluated. Thyroid stimulating hormone receptor autoantibody (TRAb) values were determined. Maximum recti muscle diameters and extraocular muscle (EOM) indices were evaluated. Sixty-three of the 435 GO patients had progressive diplopia; 44.4% (28/63) of these patients had a low CAS (<3). The subgroup analysis (by modified CAS, group 1: CAS<3, group 2: CAS≥3) revealed that the mean modified NOSPECS score and exophthalmos value were significantly higher in group 2 (7.2, 19.1 mm) compared with group 1 patients (5.5, 17.7 mm) (p<0.001, p=0.037, respectively). Score of diplopia, prevalence of optic neuropathy and the positive rate and level of TRAb were not significantly different between groups. There were no differences in maximum recti muscle diameters or EOM indices between the two groups. Diplopia may progress even in patients with a low modified CAS. CAS may not reflect the inflammatory activity of myopathy, especially in mild to moderate GO with low NOSPECS and exophthalmos values. Careful patient follow-up using subjective and objective measures for diplopia should be performed. | 10.1507/endocrj.EJ16-0165 |
pubmed_520_8166 | Diclofenac is an emerging surface water contaminant, yet the environmental impact of its degradation products remains elusive. The current study focuses on mineralogy-controlled diclofenac photo-degradation and its potential health impacts. Under irradiated conditions, we studied the effects of kaolinite, hematite, and anatase on diclofenac degradation. Our results showed that kaolinite doubled the diclofenac degradation rate, which can be attributed to the high catalytic effect, mediated via increased surface area and pore size of mineral surface in the low pH. Conversely, anatase, a crystal phase of titanium dioxide (TiO2), diminished the diclofenac degradation compared to treatments without TiO2. Hematite, on the other hand, showed no effect on diclofenac degradation. Photo-degradation products also varied with the mineral surface. We further assessed in vitro toxicological effects of photo-degraded products on two human cell lines, HEK293T and HepG2. Biological assays confirmed that photo-degraded compound 6 (1-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)indolin-2-one) decreased HEK293T cell survival significantly (p < 0.05) when compared to diclofenac in all concentrations. At lower concentrations, inhibition of HEK293T cells caused by compounds 4 (2-(8-chloro-9H-carbazol-1-yl)acetic acid), and 5 (2-(9H-carbazol-1-yl)acetic acid) was greater than diclofenac. Compound 7 (1-phenylindolin-2-one) was toxic only at 250 µM. Additionally, compound 6 decreased HepG2 cell viability significantly when compared to diclofenac. Overall, our data highlighted that mineralogy plays a vital role in environmental diclofenac transformation and its photo-degraded products. Some photo-degraded compounds can be more cytotoxic than the parent compound, diclofenac. | 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.114138 |
pubmed_873_21313 | Trauma in early childhood has been shown to adversely affect children's social, emotional, and physical development. Children living in out-of-home care (OoHC) have better outcomes when care providers are present for children, physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Unfortunately, the high turnover of out-of-home carers, due to vicarious trauma (frequently resulting in burnout and exhaustion) can result in a child's trauma being re-enacted during their placement in OoHC. Organisation-wide therapeutic care models (encompassing the whole organisation, from the CEO to all workers including administration staff) that are trauma-informed have been developed to respond to the complex issues of abuse and neglect experienced by children who have been placed in OoHC. These models incorporate a range of therapeutic techniques, and provide an overarching approach and common language that is employed across all levels of the organisation. The aim of this study was to investigate the current empirical evidence for organisation-wide, trauma-informed therapeutic care models in OoHC. A systematic review searching leading databases was conducted for evidence of organisation-wide, trauma-informed, out-of-home care studies, between 2002 and 2017. Seven articles were identified covering three organisational models. Three of the articles assessed the Attachment Regulation and Competency framework (ARC), one study assessed the Children and Residential Experiences programme (CARE), and three studies assessed The Sanctuary Model. Risk of bias was high in six of the seven studies. Only limited information was provided on the effectiveness of the models identified through this systematic review, although the evidence did suggest that trauma-informed care models may have significantly positive outcomes for children in OoHC. Future research should focus on evaluating components of trauma-informed care models and assessing the efficacy of the various organisational care models currently available. | 10.1111/hsc.12621 |
pubmed_405_3462 | PURPOSE
To report a case of long-lasting hypotony because of accidental break, with scleral tunnel entrapment, of a 23-gauge microcannula during transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy.
METHODS
Interventional case report. An 80-year-old Spanish woman who underwent 23-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy presented at the postoperative ocular examination with irreversible, refractory low intraocular pressure of unknown cause. Two weeks after surgery, a piece of the microcannula was found at the inferotemporal sclerotomy site during a scheduled medical appointment. Surgical intervention was indicated to explore and remove the foreign body.
RESULTS
The day after foreign body extraction, the patient's pressure rose to normal levels. However, her visual acuity did not improve until 3 weeks later.
CONCLUSION
Transient postoperative hypotony is unsurprising after 23-gauge vitrectomy because of leakage of small-diameter open sclerotomies. However, when long-term low intraocular pressure fails to return to normal levels because of an unidentified condition, breaking of the microcannula piece with scleral tunnel entrapment may be contemplated. | 10.1097/ICB.0000000000000038 |
pubmed_1066_9633 | Undiagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy (DC) can be asymptomatic or present as sudden cardiac death, therefore pre-emptively identifying and treating patients may be beneficial. Screening for DC with echocardiography is expensive and labor intensive and standard electrocardiography (ECG) is insensitive and non-specific. The performance and applicability of artificial intelligence-enabled electrocardiography (AI-ECG) for detection of DC is unknown. Diagnostic performance of an AI algorithm in determining reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was evaluated in a cohort that comprised of DC and normal LVEF control patients. DC patients and controls with 12-lead ECGs and a reference LVEF measured by echocardiography performed within 30 and 180 days of the ECG respectively were enrolled. The model was tested for its sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive (NPV) and positive predictive values (PPV) based on the prevalence of DC at 1% and 5%. The cohort consisted of 421 DC cases (60% males, 57±15 years, LVEF 28±11%) and 16,025 controls (49% males, age 69 ±16 years, LVEF 62±5%). For detection of LVEF≤45%, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.955 with a sensitivity of 98.8% and specificity 44.8%. The NPV and PPV were 100% and 1.8% at a DC prevalence of 1% and 99.9% and 8.6% at a prevalence of 5%, respectively. In conclusion AI-ECG demonstrated high sensitivity and negative predictive value for detection of DC and could be used as a simple and cost-effective screening tool with implications for screening first degree relatives of DC patients. | 10.1016/j.amjcard.2021.06.021 |
pubmed_125_21715 | BACKGROUND
Developmental delays following pediatric abusive head trauma are common.
OBJECTIVE
To assess early developmental, behavioral, and quality of life outcomes following infant abusive head trauma and evaluate injury severity and early therapeutic intervention as potential predictors.
PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING
Infants under 12 months old who were admitted to a large pediatric hospital with abusive head trauma between October 2010 and October 2017 and followed at a multidisciplinary post-injury clinic were included.
METHODS
Injury severity groups were classified based on days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Participation in early intervention services and/or physical or occupational therapy by the first clinic visit was documented. Development was assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning, which 47 patients completed at approximately 6 month intervals up to 3 years of age (an average of 19 months post-injury). Behavior and quality of life were assessed around age 2 using the Child Behavior Checklist (n = 24) and PedsQL™ (n = 27), respectively.
RESULTS
Overall cognitive development, fine motor function, and expressive language significantly declined with age up to 3 years (p < 0.05). The changes in these developmental scales with age differed significantly between injury severity groups (p < 0.05). Internalizing behaviors were also greater in patients with moderate than mild injuries (t = 2.37, p = 0.037). Quality of life was comparable to healthy populations. Early therapeutic intervention was not significantly associated with developmental, behavioral, or quality of life outcomes (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Long-term comprehensive follow-up is recommended for children following abusive head trauma, as developmental delays and behavioral problems may present at later ages. | 10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104643 |
pubmed_1076_6060 | BACKGROUND
Many studies have shown a consistent association between ambient air pollution and an increase in death due to cardiovascular causes. An increase in blood pressure is a common risk factor for a variety of cardiovascular diseases. However, the association between air pollution and blood pressure has not been evaluated extensively.
METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, we measured blood pressure in 10,459 subjects who had a health examination from 2001 to 2003, and calculated individual's exposure to ambient levels of air pollutants. To evaluate the relationship between exposure to air pollutants and blood pressure with respect to season, we performed a multiple regression analysis, separately, according to season, controlling for individual characteristics and meteorological variables.
RESULTS
In the warm-weather season (July-September), particulate air pollutant of <10 microm (PM(10)) and nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) concentrations were significantly associated with measures of blood pressure. During cold weather (October-December), blood pressure was significantly associated with sulphur dioxide (SO(2)) and ozone (O(3)) concentrations. The significant association between PM(10) or NO(2) and blood pressure disappeared during the cold-weather season.
CONCLUSION
We found a seasonal variation for the association between ambient air-pollutant concentrations and blood pressure. | 10.1136/jech.2006.049205 |
pubmed_489_9490 | Identifying child abuse and neglect solely on the grounds of child characteristics leaves many children undetected. We developed a new approach (Hague protocol) based on characteristics of parents who attend the Emergency Department (ED) because they have the following problems: (1) intimate partner violence, (2) substance abuse, or (3) suicide attempt or other serious psychiatric problems. The goal of this protocol is to enable the Reporting Center for Child Abuse and Neglect (RCCAN) to rapidly assess family problems and offer voluntary community based support to these parents. The aim of this study is to assess whether this protocol for screening adults presenting for care in the Emergency Department can identify children at high risk for maltreatment. A before and after study was conducted at 9 EDs in 3 regions in the Netherlands (one intervention region and 2 control regions). During the period January 2006 to November 2007, prior to the introduction of the Hague protocol, from a total of 385,626 patients attending the ED in the intervention region 4 parents (1 per 100,000) were referred to the RCCAN. In the period after introduction of the protocol (December 2007 to December 2011), the number rose to 565 parents from a total of 885,301 patients attending the ED (64 per 100,000). In the control region, where the protocol was not implemented, these figures were 2 per 163,628 (1 per 100,000) and 10 per 371,616 (3 per 100,000) respectively (OR=28.0 (95 CI 4.6-170.7)). At assessment, child abuse was confirmed in 91% of referred cases. The protocol has a high positive predictive value of 91% and can substantially increase the detection rate of child abuse in an ED setting. Parental characteristics are strong predictors of child abuse. Implementing guidelines to detect child abuse based on parental characteristics of parents attending the adult section of the ED can increase the detection rate of child abuse and neglect allowing appropriate aid to be initiated for these families. | pubmed_489_9490 |
pubmed_1032_23174 | PURPOSE
Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common problem in modern societies. Causes of TMD, as a consequence of condylar asymmetry index (CAI), are still a subject of controversy. The aim of the present study was to determine the possible correlations between the degree of condylar asymmetry and clinical dysfunction indices.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this cross-sectional study, we used the Habets method to measure the CAI in 42 TMD patients. The participants' age and sex were matched in the control group. Patients were divided into mild, moderate and severe dysfunction groups based on Helkimo's clinical Di. The data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Also, the study attempted to assess the possibility of correlation between age and CAI.
RESULTS
The CAI values of TMD patients were significantly higher than those of the control group (P = 0.001). However, CAI was not significantly different among TMD patients with different dysfunction index. There was no significant correlation between CAI and age (Spearman r = 0.655, P = 0.23).
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings of the present study, patients with condylar asymmetry index are more susceptible to TMD. However, degree of the condylar asymmetry is not a criterion for TMD signs and symptoms. | 10.1016/j.jcms.2018.12.012 |
others_257_7497 | This paper reports on the effectiveness of the mechanical repellents employed against the management of rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri) in citrus, guava and mango orchards. All the three fields were sub-divided into three sections, left, middle and right. More damage occurred on the corners than in the middle. For the mango, the most effective repellent was the reflecting ribbon, reducing the depredations to (0.103%), while acetylene exploder was the least effective with the damage profile 0.237%. More or less comparable damage to all three fruits was reported using other mechanical repellents. For the citrus, the reflecting ribbon, yet again, proved to be most effective in inhibiting parakeet attacks, while in guava, the gas exploder was augmented to be the optimum in limiting the parakeet depredations, with maximum damage recorded with the multi-mirror reflectors. The present results indicated that, of the non-chemical techniques, unquestionably, the repellents proved highly beneficial in reducing the damage proportions and their rational use on some other fruit and cultivated crops should be manifested with to restrain the considerable economic losses in the unprotected conditions. © 2011 Friends Science Publishers | others_257_7497 |
others_288_274 | Phoresy, the use of another organism for dispersal, is one of the most intriguing commensalistic interactions. The selection of a correct host is fundamental for phoretic organisms to ensure arrival to suitable habitats and to encounter potential mates. This study focuses on a group of phoretic mites in the genus Lasioseius (Acari: Blattisociidae). In La Selva Biological Station, a tropical wet forest in Costa Rica, Lasioseius mites feed on nematodes inside the scrolls formed by the young leaves of their hosts, plants in the order Zingiberales. When leaves expand and unfurl, mites disperse to another rolled leaf by clinging onto 'rolled-leaf beetles', a group of insect herbivores specialized on Zingiberales (genera Cephaloleia and Chelobasis; Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). In this study, we determined whether Lasioseius mites associated with Cephaloleia belti Baly are specialized on this beetle species as a phoretic host. Mites may also be attracted to Chelobasis perplexa Baly, sharing the same host plant. Another possibility is that Lasioseius mites are opportunistic generalists and attach to rolled-leaf beetle species (e.g., Cephaloleia dorsalis Baly) that never share host plants with either C. belti or Ch. perplexa. In a laboratory setting, we tested whether mites preferred scents from and/or attached to particular beetle species. Scent attraction experiments showed that Lasioseius mites collected from C. belti were attracted to scents from C. belti and Ch. perplexa, but were not attracted to scents from C. dorsalis. Mites collected from C. belti attached to both C. belti and Ch. perplexa, but never to C. dorsalis. In conclusion, Lasioseius mites are not strict specialists, but are able to detect and attach to beetle species that inhabit their host plan | 10.1111/eea.13140 |
pubmed_674_13649 | Lennon and Belfort introduce inteins - protein introns - and describe how they escape host proteins, their uses in biotechnology, where they are found in nature, and their role in post-translational regulation. | 10.1016/j.cub.2017.01.016 |
pubmed_531_3407 | Presentation of 55 patients aged more than 65 years, appendectomized with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. After histological study, we saw 6 normal cecal appendixes (10.9%), so the real number of acute appendicitis operated was 49 out of 435 (11.2%) interventions. The clinical history was typical in most of the patients and, nevertheless, we noticed a diagnostic delay greater than 24 hours in 31 (63.2%), and greater than 48 hours in 17 patients (34.6%). We verified the existence of a high percentage of perforated appendicitis (36.7%) closely related to a long evolution time, not being able to show, in the group studied, an increase of early appendix perforations in comparison with the rest. These results suggest that the high morbidity of acute appendicitis in old patients is due, to a great extent, to a delay in the performance of the appendectomy. | pubmed_531_3407 |
pubmed_315_7443 | AIMS
To investigate whether twinning occurs more frequently in residents in the vicinity of a toxic waste incinerator (TWI).
METHODS
Within a longitudinal environmental study that addressed child health second grade school children and their parents were recruited. The proportion of twinning in the TWI region was compared with two comparison areas. In a second confirmatory investigation, birth records for the years 1994-97 from the Hessian Perinatal Survey (HEPS) were accessed to determine whether the incidence of twinning was higher in regions around the TWI compared to adjacent reference areas.
RESULTS
In the environmental study, 61.5% of the children and 95% of their mothers participated. In mothers, twinning was 5.3% in the TWI region compared to 1.6% and 2.3% in the comparison regions. The proportion of mothers with fertility assessment/treatment was 5.7%, 8.3%, and 0% respectively. The prevalence of twinning was not significantly higher (4.5%) in mothers with treatment compared to mothers without (3.7%). From the HEPS, data of 20 603 births was analysed. The incidence of twins was significantly higher in areas which surround the TWI and other industries (1.4-1.6 per 100 births) compared to births in reference areas (0.8 per 100).
CONCLUSIONS
Twinning rates may be associated with exposure to industrial pollution. Future environmental health studies that consider multiple births as an outcome are warranted. These should also investigate whether the incidence of monozygotic or dizygotic twinning may be associated with industrial pollution. | 10.1136/oem.2003.008342 |
pubmed_347_5550 | ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Heteropterys brachiata is a plant species that has been used in traditional Mexican medicine for the treatment of nervous disorders.
AIM OF THE STUDY
To evaluate the anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, antidepressant and sedative effects produced by the methanolic extract of Heteropterys brachiata (HbMeOH) in ICR mice. Additionally, we determine the acute toxicity profiles of the extract and the presence of its main constituents.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The neuropharmacological effects of the extract were evaluated using a variety of models, such as the elevated plus maze (EPM), the forced swimming test (FST), the pentobarbital potentiation test (PTBt), pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures test (PTZt), and the open field test (OFT). HPLC was employed for obtention of phytochemical profile.
RESULTS
HbMeOH produced a significant antidepressant effect in FST at 500 and 750 mg/kg doses, while doses from 500 to 1500 mg/kg exhibited a clear dose-dependent anxiolytic activity in EPM. A dose of 500 mg/kg showed a significant anticonvulsant activity in PTZt and an absence of sedation effects in PTBt. The main compounds of HbMeOH were chlorogenic acid and chlorogenic acid methyl ester, as well as less abundant terpene-type compounds. Furthermore, the extract was either safe with no deaths in mice treated orally with 2000 mg/kg.
CONCLUSIONS
HbMeOH extract which contains mainly hydroxycinnamic acids and triterpene-type compounds, possesses antidepressant, anxiolytic and anticonvulsive properties and can be considered safe or of low toxicity when orally administrated. These findings lend pharmacological justification to the traditional use of Heteropterys brachiata in the treatment of nervous disorders. | pubmed_347_5550 |
pubmed_812_19115 | OBJECTIVE
To emphasize the usefulness and reliability of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on uncultured amniotic fluid cells in the prenatal diagnosis of common chromosomal aneuploidies.
METHODS
FISH analyses utilizing centromeric, locus-specific or whole chromosome paint DNA probes specific for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18, 21, and 4 were performed on uncultured amniotic fluid cells or the peripheral blood specimen from the father. Routine chromosome analysis was carried out as well.
RESULTS
A prenatal case with partial trisomy 21 due to a paternal cryptic insertion (4;21) was ascertained by a rapid overnight FISH on uncultured amniotic fluid cells. The fetus was delivered at term and had classical features of Down syndrome.
CONCLUSION
Our results stress the importance of FISH on uncultured amniotic fluid cells to supplement routine cytogenetics, especially in cases with abnormal ultrasound findings. | 10.1002/ajmg.a.30449 |
pubmed_114_6739 | Primary heart tumours are extremely rare. Over a period of 25 years 22 primary cardiac tumours were diagnosed clinically or at autopsy at Groote Schuur Hospital. Fourteen patients with myxomas, 1 with lymphocytic lymphoma and 2 with haemangiomas underwent surgery. A further 4 myxomas and 1 histiocytoma were found at autopsy. In both the cases of haemangioma the diagnosis of a vascular tumour was made before surgery. One tumour had infiltrated the lateral wall of the left ventricle and was unresectable; only a biopsy specimen was taken. The patient, however, remains well some 6 years later. In the second patient the haemangioma was situated in the outflow tract of the right ventricle and was successfully excised. The clinical history, pathological features and management of both cases are presented. | pubmed_114_6739 |
pubmed_1010_6670 | Neurovascular compression is a potential, yet rare cause of vertigo and unilateral tinnitus. Despite the high success rate of microvascular decompression (MVD) in other vascular compression syndromes, the outcome reported after MVD of the vestibulocochlear nerve is variable.1,2 The presence of combined symptoms of tinnitus and vertigo treated by MVD has demonstrated a higher predictive value for success.3 In this video, we present the case of a 68-year-old male who presented with vertigo and tinnitus refractory to medical management and vestibular therapy. Audiologic evaluation was normal apart from mild sensorineural hearing loss. Vestibular testing was suggestive of uncompensated right peripheral vestibulopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging with fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition sequences revealed vascular compression by the right anteroinferior cerebellar artery (AICA) at the cisternal component of vestibulocochlear nerve. After a multidisciplinary discussion, a microvascular decompression was performed through a right retrosigmoid craniotomy. The AICA was mobilized off the vestibulocochlear nerve and was secured to the petrous dura using a fenestrated clip. Indocyanine green angiography with Glow-800 was conducted before and after AICA transposition to confirm adequate flow through the mobilized vessel. Postoperatively, the patient's vestibular symptoms improved significantly. This case demonstrates that microvascular decompression can provide a satisfactory outcome in patients with unilateral tinnitus and vertigo associated with vascular compression in appropriately selected cases (Video 1). | 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.12.046 |
pubmed_372_17901 | Both inhibitory and excitatory GABA transmission exist in the mature suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master pacemaker of circadian physiology. Whether GABA is inhibitory or excitatory depends on the intracellular chloride concentration ([Cl-]i). Here, using the genetically encoded ratiometric probe Cl-Sensor, we investigated [Cl-]i in AVP and VIP-expressing SCN neurons for several days in culture. The chloride ratio (RCl) demonstrated circadian rhythmicity in AVP + neurons and VIP + neurons, but was not detected in GFAP + astrocytes. RCl peaked between ZT 7 and ZT 8 in both AVP + and VIP + neurons. RCl rhythmicity was not dependent on the activity of several transmembrane chloride carriers, action potential generation, or the L-type voltage-gated calcium channels, but was sensitive to GABA antagonists. We conclude that [Cl-]i is under circadian regulation in both AVP + and VIP + neurons. | 10.1177/07487304211059770 |
pubmed_1009_11478 | The effect of intravenously injected iodipamide ethyl ester (IDE) particles (150 mgl/kg) on white blood cells was studied by light and electron microscopy. The clearance of IDE from rat plasma also was determined by analyzing free IDE particles in a counting chamber. The total white blood cell count remained essentially unchanged up to 40 minutes after the IDE injection, but the polymorphonuclear (PMN) neutrophil count decreased significantly. At 5 minutes postinjection, occasional PMNs contained ingested IDE particles, but by 40 minutes no intracellular particles could be found in the peripheral circulation. In vitro incubation experiments confirmed that human PMNs ingest IDE particles. In electron microscopy, the cells and particles seemed to be morphologically intact. Of the IDE particles counted at 5 minutes postinjection, only 4% remained in plasma at 30 minutes and none at 40 minutes. The decrease in PMN count apparently reflects sequestration of phagocytic cells from the circulation. | 10.1097/00004424-198607000-00008 |
pubmed_293_8155 | The biological functions of ATPases, such as myosin, kinesin, and ABC transporter, are due to large conformational motions driven by energy obtained from ATP. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying these ATP-driven movements is one of the greatest challenges in computational chemistry. It has been shown that the MARTINI coarse-grained method is a promising tool for the investigation of large conformational motions in various proteins. However, this method has not yet been applied to ATPases because of the lack of a force field for the ATP molecule. Here, we developed force field parameters for the ATP molecule and conducted simulations using these parameters for the subunits (MalK2 ) and the full-length structure (MalFGK2 -E) of a maltose transporter. It was found for both targets that the dimerization of the nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) is induced upon ATP binding. Moreover, for the full-length transporter, the conformational transition from the pre-translocation state to the outward-facing state was observed and was accompanied by an initial transport motion of the substrate. It is expected that coarse-grained simulations utilizing the parameters for the ATP molecule developed here will serve as a powerful tool for investigating other ATPases as well. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | 10.1002/jcc.25861 |
pubmed_477_7836 | 295 lepromatous and 74 tuberculoid leprosy patients were typed for HLA-A, -B and -C and compared to 110 healthy controls. It was found that frequency of HLA-B7 was significantly high and that of Bw54 was significantly low in lepromatous leprosy. HLA-DR and MT types were investigated in 84 lepromatous and 28 tuberculoid patients and compared to 55 controls. Both lepromatous and tuberculoid patients showed a marked increase in DR2 frequency. The relative risk is 8.7 and 5.9. Lepromatous leprosy showed an increase in frequency of MT1 and decreases in those of DRw9 and MT3 too. | 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1982.tb00751.x |
others_126_6319 | Leydig cell hypoplasia (LCH) due to inactivating mutations of luteinizing hormone receptor gene (LHCGR) is a relatively rare form of 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD). LCH is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, which leads to aberration of Leydig cell differentiation and ultimately subnormal androgen production both pre- and postnatally. In males, two distinct phenotypes have been described in the literature depending on the degree of remaining activity of LHCGR. Leydig cell hypoplasia type 1 (LCH type 1) represents more severe form with 46,XY DSD while Leydig cell hypoplasia type 2 (LCH type 2) is more diverse with micropenis to several degrees of undervirilization. We identified one kindred with 27-bp insertion in exon 1 causing 46,XY DSD. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC | 10.1007/978-1-4419-8002-1_32 |
pubmed_751_9732 | The best operative results with fewest complications after enucleation surgery can be achieved by following basic principles, some of which are those of conservative tissue excision, using spherical implants placed behind Tenon's capsule into the muscle cone and avoiding surgical techniques that overlap the extraocular muscles (especially the superior rectus) over the front of the implant. The presence of an intraocular tumor demands that an enucleation be done. When the possible development of sympathetic ophthalmia is not present, the surgeon should consider doing an evisceration because of the cosmetic and motility advantages. Mention is made of some developments in enucleation surgery, such as the scleral cap reinforcement, the "baseball" implant technique using donor sclera, the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze intraocular tumors before removal of the eye, the dermis-fat orbital graft, and the use of two spherical orbital implants instead of one. | 10.1097/00002341-198501040-00005 |
pubmed_1127_7922 | Four studies show that the abstract concept of importance is grounded in bodily experiences of weight. Participants provided judgments of importance while they held either a heavy or a light clipboard. Holding a heavy clipboard increased judgments of monetary value (Study 1) and made participants consider fair decision-making procedures to be more important (Study 2). It also caused more elaborate thinking, as indicated by higher consistency between related judgments (Study 3) and by greater polarization of agreement ratings for strong versus weak arguments (Study 4). In line with an embodied perspective on cognition, these findings suggest that, much as weight makes people invest more physical effort in dealing with concrete objects, it also makes people invest more cognitive effort in dealing with abstract issues. | 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2009.02426.x |
pubmed_160_12228 | The nuclear spin dependence of the chemical reaction H(3)(+)+ H(2) → H(2) + H(3)(+) has been studied in a hollow cathode plasma cell. Multipass infrared direct absorption spectroscopy has been employed to monitor the populations of several low-energy rotational levels of ortho- and para-H(3)(+) (o-H(3)(+) and p-H(3)(+)) in hydrogenic plasmas of varying para-H(2) (p-H(2)) enrichment. The ratio of the rates of the proton hop (k(H)) and hydrogen exchange (k(E)) reactions α ≡ k(H)/k(E) is inferred from the observed p-H(3)(+) fraction as a function of p-H(2) fraction using steady-state chemical models. Measurements have been performed both in uncooled (T(kin) ∼ 350 K) and in liquid-nitrogen-cooled (T(kin) ∼ 135 K) plasmas, marking the first time this reaction has been studied at low temperature. The value of α has been found to decrease from 1.6 ± 0.1 at 350 K to 0.5 ± 0.1 at 135 K. | 10.1063/1.3587246 |
pubmed_409_11070 | We have developed a sensitive, reliable, optimized ELISA to measure human IgM monoclonal antibodies using a novel shaking incubator system with short incubation periods of 15 min at 37 degrees C for all stages. The shaking incubator is compared with a static incubator over a range of incubation times and temperatures. For each stage using static incubation conditions the system does not reach a saturation level and the results are inconsistent, unlike the shaking incubator. No 'edge effects' are observed in the shaking system due to even heating from beneath and across the plate. The orbital shaking ensures optimal mixing of reagents which eliminates a diffusion limited reaction rate caused by a depletion of reactants at the solid phase as observed in the static system. The optimized shaking system permits economical use of reagents since the coating antibody can be used at high dilutions. | 10.1016/0022-1759(90)90236-o |
pubmed_543_4789 | The studies were carried out in 30 patients (24 men and six women) aged 40-56 years, mean age 51 years after myocardial infarction in whom enalapril in doses 5-10 mg daily, mean dose 8,5 mg daily was added to drugs used as yet. This drug was administered for six weeks. The patients had myocardial infarction 6-18 months before their inclusion to the studies. In all patients two-dimensional echocardiographic and Doppler examinations were performed twice: before and after the treatment with enalapril. Left ventricular contractility disturbances and the following parameters were analysed: maximal early diastolic filling rate (EDF), maximal late diastolic filling rate (LDF), EDF/LDF ratio and early diastolic deceleration time (dec. EDF) and early diastolic slope (EF sl.). Enalapril administered in patients after myocardial infarction caused an increase of ejection fraction and increase of the contractility of left ventricular muscle segments not involved by necrosis. It exerted, however, no effect on the changes of contractility index. After the treatment with enalapril the maximal late diastolic filling rate (LDF) was significantly decreased while early diastolic deceleration slope (EF sl.) was significantly increased. The observed influence of enalapril on the left ventricular filling profile may suggest an improvement of left ventricular diastolic function. | pubmed_543_4789 |
others_341_13846 | The diet and foraging behaviour of 15 radio-tagged pangolins were studied in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin for 14 months, together with the community composition and occurrence of epigaeic ants and termites. Fifty-five ant and termite species of 25 genera were trapped in pitfalls of which Pheidole sp. 2 was the most common (27% occurrence). Five termite and 15 ant species were preyed on by pangolins. Six of these species constituted 97% of the diet while ants formed 96% of the diet. Anoplolepis custodiens constituted the major component of the pangolins' diet (77% occurrence) while forming only 5% of the trapped ants. Above-ground ant and termite activity was higher during summer than during winter (an 11-fold difference for A. custodiens), and the above-ground activity was also higher during the day than at night. Pangolins fed for 16% of their foraging time. However, 99% of the observed feeding bouts (mean duration 40s) were on subterranean prey. The mean dig depth was 3.8 cm. Prey from deeper digs were fed upon for longer periods. A model taking into account various ant characteristics suggests that ant abundance and ant size are the two most important factors determining the number of feeding bouts that pangolins undertake on a particular ant species. Temperature effects on ant activity and their nest characteristics may exclude pangolins from parts of southern Afr | 10.1017/S0952836999003015 |
others_268_14556 | Schwannomas, arising from nerve-sheath Schwann cells, rarely occur in the lip area. A Medline search in English literature from 1966 to 2002 revealed only 6 documented cases of schwannomas of the lip. We report the unusual case of a 22-year-old female patient who developed a schwannoma of the upper lip. Histopathological examination and immunohistochemical staining studies were performed, with the relevant literature for this clinical rarity also reviewed. Complete enucleation of the schwannoma usually achieves cure. Although very rare, schwannoma should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis of any upper lip mass. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reser | 10.1016/S0196-0709(03)00065-6 |
pubmed_760_18592 | This article provides methodological and empirical insights into the estimation of technical efficiency in the nursing home sector. Focusing on long-stay care and using primary data, we examine technical and scale efficiency in 39 public and 73 private Irish nursing homes by applying an input-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA). We employ robust bootstrap methods to validate our nonparametric DEA scores and to integrate the effects of potential determinants in estimating the efficiencies. Both the homogenous and two-stage double bootstrap procedures are used to obtain confidence intervals for the bias-corrected DEA scores. Importantly, the application of the double bootstrap approach affords true DEA technical efficiency scores after adjusting for the effects of ownership, size, case-mix, and other determinants such as location, and quality. Based on our DEA results for variable returns to scale technology, the average technical efficiency score is 62 %, and the mean scale efficiency is 88 %, with nearly all units operating on the increasing returns to scale part of the production frontier. Moreover, based on the double bootstrap results, Irish nursing homes are less technically efficient, and more scale efficient than the conventional DEA estimates suggest. Regarding the efficiency determinants, in terms of ownership, we find that private facilities are less efficient than the public units. Furthermore, the size of the nursing home has a positive effect, and this reinforces our finding that Irish homes produce at increasing returns to scale. Also, notably, we find that a tendency towards quality improvements can lead to poorer technical efficiency performance. | 10.1007/s10729-016-9389-8 |
pubmed_750_22693 | Background and study aims There is sparse data on the endoscopic management of caustic-induced gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). The present retrospective study aimed to define the response to endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD) in such patients and their long-term outcome. Patients and methods The data from symptomatic patients of caustic-induced GOO who underwent EBD at our tertiary care center between January 1999 and June 2014 were retrieved. EBD was performed using wire-guided balloons in an incremental manner. Procedural success and clinical success of EBD were evaluated, including complications and long-term outcome. Results A total of 138 patients were evaluated of whom 111 underwent EBD (mean age: 30.79 ± 11.95 years; 65 male patients; 78 patients with isolated gastric stricture; 33 patients with both esophagus plus gastric stricture). The initial balloon diameter at the start of dilatation, and the last balloon diameter were 9.6 ± 2.06 mm (6 - 15 mm) and 14.5 ± 1.6 mm (6 - 15 mm), respectively. Procedural and clinical success was achieved in 95 (85.6 %) and 108 (97.3 %) patients, respectively, requiring a mean (SD) of 5.3 (2.6) and 7.21 (3.86) sessions, respectively. Patients with isolated gastric obstruction had a better response than those with combined esophagus and gastric stricture. Minor complications such as self-limited pain or bleeding were seen in 18 (16.2 %) and 16 (14.4 %), respectively. Perforation occurred in two patients. Over a follow-up period of 98 months, there were no recurrences. Conclusion Caustic-induced GOO can be successfully managed using EBD with 97.3 % clinical success. | 10.1055/a-0655-2057 |
pubmed_1013_15331 | INTRODUCTION
The emergence of the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) has led to huge disruptions in the medical field and society. The significance of training and education for experts has been increasingly acknowledged in Japan, where the number of infectious disease (ID) specialists is reportedly insufficient. In this paper, we report the results of a web-based survey that was conducted to reveal the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced medical students' awareness of ID specialists and future career choices.
METHOD
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in March 2021 and targeted 717 medical students belonging to Medical School of Okayama University, Japan. The questionnaire consisted of four questions meant to assess students' knowledge and future intentions of becoming ID specialists.
RESULTS
We obtained 328 eligible questionnaires (response rate: 45.7%). Of 227 (69.2%) students who were aware of ID specialists, 99 (43.6%) answered that they came to know about them only after the pandemic, 12 (3.7%) answered that their interest in being an ID specialist arose during the pandemic, while 36 (11.0%) responded that they would rather not become ID specialists. At the time of the survey, 5 students (1.5%) were aiming to become ID specialists.
CONCLUSION
We observed a very low rate of interest to be an ID specialist among medical students. The experience of the pandemic does not seem to have influenced Japanese medical students to choose ID as a specialty for their careers. Continuous efforts to increase the number of ID specialists are necessary in Japan as a countermeasure against the coming pandemic. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0267587 |
pubmed_143_4974 | The data presented here are related to our research article entitled "Neurophysiology and neuroimaging accurately predict poor neurological outcome within 24 hours after cardiac arrest: a prospective multicentre prognostication study (ProNeCA)" [1]. We report a secondary analysis on the ability of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), brain computed tomography (CT) and electroencephalography (EEG) to predict poor neurological outcome at 6 months in 346 patients who were comatose after cardiac arrest. Differently from the related research article, here we included cerebral performance category (CPC) 3 among poor outcomes, so that the outcomes are dichotomised as CPC 1-2 (absent to mild neurological disability: good outcome) vs. CPC 3-5 (severe neurological disability, persistent vegetative state, or death: poor outcome). The accuracy of the index tests was recalculated accordingly. A bilaterally absent/absent-pathological amplitude (AA/AP) N20 SEPs wave, a Grey Matter/White Matter (GM/WM) ratio <1.21 on brain CT and an isoelectric or burst suppression EEG predicted poor outcome with 49.6%, 42.2% and 29.8% sensitivity, respectively, and 100% specificity. The distribution of positive results of the three predictors did not overlap completely in the population of patients with poor outcome, so that when combining them the overall sensitivity raised to 61.2%. | 10.1016/j.dib.2019.104755 |
pubmed_608_24391 | Paediatric low-grade (World Health Organization grade I-II) gliomas (LGGs) represent a spectrum of primary central nervous system tumours. Local tumour control is the cornerstone in the general management of childhood gliomas. Surgery is the primary treatment of choice in the majority. Non-surgical treatments are recommended for progressive or symptomatic inoperable disease. Although chemotherapy is increasingly used as first non-surgical treatment, radiotherapy remains standard as salvage treatment or as primary treatment in selected cases in which surrounding normal tissue can be optimally preserved. The role of targeted therapies is currently under investigation in clinical trials. Modern high-precision radiotherapy techniques, including proton therapy, have the potential to improve long-term toxicities. There is therefore an urgent need for prospective studies to compare the efficacy and safety of modern radiotherapy with systemic treatment in children with LGGs. New information on molecular genetic patterns in LGGs may also have an impact on the selection and sequencing of radiotherapy. | 10.1016/j.clon.2018.11.032 |
pubmed_315_3710 | Enterotoxigenic and verotoxigenic F18+ Escherichia coli colonising the pig small intestine, adhere to receptors on intestinal villous enterocytes by F18 fimbriae. The aim of the present study was to define the F18R nature. The knowledge on the nature of this receptor could be important for the development of receptor-based treatments against F18+ E. coli-induced disease. The adhesion of F18+ E. coli to pig intestinal villous enterocytes was analysed in an in vitro assay. The adhesion of F18+ E. coli but not of F4ac+ E. coli was strongly inhibited by monoclonal antibodies (mAb) with blood group H-2 specificity. Conversely, blood group H-1 specific mAb could not inhibit the adhesion of F18+ E. coli nor F4ac+ E. coli. Moreover, the blood group H-2 trisaccharide strongly inhibited the adhesion of F18+ E. coli, but only partially the adhesion of F4ac+ E. coli. These data demonstrate that the F18 receptor contains the blood group antigen H-2 (alpha-fuc-(1-2)-beta-Gal-(1-4)-GlcNAc) as major carbohydrate. | 10.1016/j.vetmic.2004.03.001 |
others_8_15456 | Monthly serological follow-up of the antibody titres against Leishmania infantum in hunting dogs in rural southern Spain was carried out during the transmission period (from April to October in 1996). Titres ≤ 160 were regarded as indicating disease, while lower positive titres were also recorded as 'seropositive'. Over this period, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the percentage of dogs with a titre ≤ 160 was observed; from 12.6% in April to 19.2% in October. The same pattern was observed with the seropositives (titre ≤ 20) which increased from 36.3% in April to 55.6% in October. Of seronegatives in April, 60% were still negative in October whereas 22% had a titre of 20-40 and 18% had a titre ≤ 80. Similarly, 68% of those with a titre ≤ 80 in April still had a titre in this range in October, 25% of the titre had decreased to 20-40 and in 7% to a zero titre. The most noteworthy is that 25% of animals reached titres of ≤ 80 and decreased to zero or 20 more than once. Parallel to this study, another survey was conducted on dogs from Granada city centre. The seroprevalences (titres ≤ 160) at the start and the end of the transmission period were 1.7 and 3.7% respectively and the seropositivety values were 12 and 11% respectively | 10.1016/S0304-4017(97)00196-9 |
others_12_7670 | : Multipotential hematopoietic stem cells differentiate into a wide variety of immune cells with a diversity of functions, including the ability to respond to a variety of stimuli. Importantly, numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of gene transcription in defining cell identity and functions. While these studies have primarily been performed at the level of the gene, it is known that key immune genes such as CD44 and CD45 generate multiple different transcripts that are differentially expressed across different immune cells, and that encode proteins with different sequences and functions. Prior genomic surveys have shown that the mechanisms for generating diversity in expressed transcripts (alternate splicing, alternate transcription start sites, etc.) are very active in immune cells, but have been lacking in terms of identifying genes with multiple transcripts, that are differentially expressed, and likely to affect cell functions. Methods: We first identified the set of genes that had at least two transcripts expressed in our RNA sequencing dataset generated from purified populations of neutrophils, monocytes and five lymphocyte populations (B, NK, γδ T, CD4 + T and CD8 + T) from twelve healthy donors. Next, we developed a heuristic approach to identify genes where two or more transcripts have distinct expression patterns across lymphoid and/or myeloid populations. We then focused our annotation and interpretation on differentially expressed transcripts that affect the coding sequence. This process was repeated to identify transcripts that were differentially expressed between monocytes and populations of macrophages and LPS-stimulated macrophages derived from these monocytes in vitro. Results: We found that over 55 % of genes had two or more expressed transcripts, with an average ∼3 transcripts per gene, and that 70 % of these had at least two of the transcripts that encoded proteins with different sequences. As expected, we identified a complex pattern of differential expression for multiple transcripts encoding the CD45 transmembrane protein, but we also found similar evidence for ten other genes (CD300A, FYB1, GPI, LITAF, PSMA1, PTMA, RPL32, SEPTIN9, SH3BP2, SH3KBP1) when comparing the expression patterns of transcripts within myeloid and lymphoid cells. We also identified five genes with differentially expressed transcripts associated with the transition from monocytes to macrophages (FNBP1, KLF6, and SEPTIN9) or between macrophages and LPS-stimulated macrophages (CD44, OAZ2, and SEPTIN9). For the most part, we found that the different transcripts of these genes are expected to impact specific biological functions, for example the different transcripts of SEPTIN9 likely regulate the cytoskeleton in immune cells via their interactions with actins filaments and microtubules. Conclusions: This analytic approach successfully identified multi-transcript genes that are differentially expressed across immune cells and could be applied to other transcriptomic data. Data availability statement: Researchers can request access to the individual-level data from the current study by contacting the Montreal Heart Institute ethics committee at the following institutional email address: [email protected]. © 2022 Elsevier L | 10.1016/j.molimm.2022.12.005 |
pubmed_230_9612 | In non-melanoma skin cancer, keratinocytes show marked p53 protein expression. Considering photoaging as a background for skin cancer, p53 protein expression by immunohistochemistry was evaluated in normal skin with different levels of photoaging. The difference in p53 expression between mild and severe levels of photoaging was not statistically significant (P=0.169). | 10.1111/j.1600-0781.2009.00400.x |
pubmed_628_11523 | Neurons in the anterior regions of the banks of the superior temporal sulcus (STSa) of the macaque monkey respond to the sight of biologically significant stimuli such as faces, bodies and their motion. In this study the responses of STSa neurons were recorded during the gradual occlusion of the experimenter and other mobile objects behind screens at distances of 0.5-4 m from the monkeys. The experimenter or other object remained out of sight for 3-15 s before emerging back in to view. We describe a population of neurons (n=33) showing increased activity during the occlusion of objects that was maintained for up to 11 s following complete occlusion (when only the occluder itself was visible). This increase in activity was selective for the position of the occlusion within the testing room. Many neurons showed little or no change in activity prior to occlusion when the object or experimenter was completely in view. By coding for the presence and location of recently occluded objects, these responses may contribute to the perceptual capacity for object permanence. | 10.1007/s002210100828 |
pubmed_892_12733 | In the present investigation, we analyzed the mechanism involved in spermine-induced intestinal maturation in suckling rats. Spermine was given orally to suckling pups and biochemical as well as morphological parameters were studied at different times after the beginning of the treatment. Eight hours after administration, spermine produced cell elimination at the villus tops and a decrease in intestinal DNA and protein content. In parallel, protein and DNA concentration and disaccharidase activity were enhanced in the chyme. These transitory alterations were not induced by growth inhibition, as DNA synthesis was not modified, although a brief decrease in protein synthesis was observed. Spermine was not metabolized in cytotoxic products: rat pretreatment with MDL72527 (an inhibitor of polyamine oxidase) did not avoid the decrease in disaccharidase activity and in DNA and protein content. Three days after treatment, sucrase and maltase activity was higher in rats treated with spermine and MDL72527 than that in animals receiving spermine alone. Lactulose or acetylspermine ingestion induced intestinal maturation. Our data suggest that dietary polyamines exert a direct and specific maturational effect on rat small intestine and that an early decrease in lactase activity plays an important role in this phenomenon. | 10.1007/BF02088570 |
pubmed_2_9213 | The Hudson Bay Lowland (HBL) of northern Ontario, Manitoba and Quebec, Canada is the second largest contiguous peatland complex in the world, currently containing more than half of Canada's soil carbon. Recent concerns about the ecohydrological impacts to these large northern peatlands resulting from climate change and resource extraction have catalyzed a resurgence in scientific research into this ecologically important region. However, the sheer size, heterogeneity and elaborate landscape arrangements of this ecosystem raise important questions concerning representative sampling of environmental media for chemical or physical characterization. To begin to quantify such variability, this study assessed the small-scale spatial (1m) and short temporal (21 day) variability of surface pore-water biogeochemistry (pH, dissolved organic carbon, and major ions) in a Sphagnum spp.-dominated, ombrotrophic raised bog, and a Carex spp.-dominated intermediate fen in the HBL. In general, pore-water pH and concentrations of dissolved solutes were similar to previously reported literature values from this region. However, systematic sampling revealed consistent statistically significant differences in pore-water chemistries between the bog and fen peatland types, and large within-site spatiotemporal variability. We found that microtopography in the bog was associated with consistent differences in most biogeochemical variables. Temporal changes in dissolved solute chemistry, particularly base cations (Na(+), Ca(2+) and Mg(2+)), were statistically significant in the intermediate fen, likely a result of a dynamic connection between surficial waters and mineral-rich deep groundwater. In both the bog and fen, concentrations of SO4(2-) showed considerable spatial variability, and a significant decrease in concentrations over the study period. The observed variability in peatland pore-water biogeochemistry over such small spatial and temporal scales suggests that under-sampling in northern peatland environments could lead to erroneous conclusions concerning the abundance and distribution of natural elements and pollutants alike. | pubmed_2_9213 |
pubmed_1058_11635 | To determine whether urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (Albumin index) and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) to creatinine ratio (NAG index) in random spot urine samples can be sued to predict the early stage of diabetic nephropathy in the elderly non-insulin dependent diabetic patients, we measured these concentrations in 150 non-diabetics, 61 diabetics without retinopathy and 56 diabetics with retinopathy. All patients with Albustix-positive urine were excluded. Subjects divided into two groups according to whether they were < 60 years (adult group) or > or = 60 years old (old group). Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between NAG index or Albumin index (dependent variable) and independent variables (age, systolic blood pressure, duration of diabetes. HbA1c) in diabetic patients. Diabetic patients with retinopathy showed the highest mean Albumin index, followed by diabetic patients without retinopathy and then non-diabetic patients both in adult group and in old group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Diabetic patients with retinopathy showed the highest mean NAG index, followed by diabetic patients without retinopathy and then non-diabetic patients both in adult group and in old group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Albumin index positively correlated with systolic blood pressure, duration of diabetes and HbA1c (r = 0.18, r = 0.35, r = 0.18, respectively). NAG index positively correlated with age, duration of diabetes and HbA1c (r = 0.18, r = 0.25, r = 0.29, respectively). These results suggest that both NAG index and Albumin index in random spot urine samples may serve as early functional indicators of diabetic nephropathy in elderly diabetics. | 10.1272/jnms1923.64.518 |
pubmed_743_25628 | The bone marrow (BM) is the primary hematopoietic organ and a hub in which organismal demands for blood cellular output are systematically monitored. BM tissues are additionally home to a plethora of mature immune cell types, providing functional environments for the activation of immune responses and acting as preferred anatomical reservoirs for cells involved in immunological memory. Stromal cells of the BM microenvironment crucially govern different aspects of organ function, by structuring tissue microanatomy and by directly providing essential regulatory cues to hematopoietic and immune components in distinct niches. Emerging evidence demonstrates that stromal networks are endowed with remarkable functional and structural plasticity. Stress-induced adaptations of stromal cells translate into demand-driven hematopoiesis. Furthermore, aberrations of stromal integrity arising from pathological conditions critically contribute to the dysregulation of BM function. Here, we summarize our current understanding of the alterations that pathogenic infections and ensuing inflammatory conditions elicit on the global topography of the BM microenvironment, the integrity of anatomical niches and cellular interactions, and ultimately, on the regulatory function of diverse stromal subsets. | 10.1007/978-3-030-86016-5_3 |
pubmed_396_2726 | Both the extent of semantic memory impairment and the level of processing attained during encoding might constitute critical factors in determining the amount of word-stem completion (WSC) priming encountered in Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects. We investigated the impact of varying encoding level in AD and elderly normal subjects, using a set of stimuli ranked as "intact" or "degraded" in terms of each subject's semantic knowledge on probe questions. For both shallow and deep encoding conditions, overall priming in the two subject groups was equivalent. However, for the deep encoding condition, consisting of a semantic judgment task performed on each target word, the priming effect noted in AD subjects was significantly smaller for semantically degraded items than for semantically intact items. Results indicate that the degree of semantic impairment represents one important variable affecting the amount of WSC priming which results when deep encoding procedures are used at study. | 10.1016/s0028-3932(00)00120-2 |
pubmed_1097_19853 | Measurements of ion distributions at a charged solid-liquid interface using X-ray standing waves (XSW) are presented. High energy synchrotron radiation (17.48 keV) is used to produce an XSW pattern inside a thin water film on a silicon wafer. The liquid phase is an aqueous solution containing Br and Rb ions. The surface charge is adjusted by titration. Measurements are performed over a pH range from 2.2-9, using the native Si oxide layer and functional (amine) groups as surface charge. The Debye length, indicating the extension of the diffuse layer, could be measured with values varying between 1-4 nm. For functionalized wafers, the pH dependent change from attraction to repulsion of an ion species could be detected, indicating the isoelectric point. In combination with the measurement of the streaming current, the surface charge of the sample could be quantified. | 10.1002/cphc.201000166 |
pubmed_889_16874 | Aberrant DNA methylation of cell-free circulating DNA (cfDNA) has recently gained attention for its use as biomarker in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of therapeutic response. Quantification of cfDNA methylation levels requires methods with high sensitivity and specificity due to low amounts of cfDNA available in plasma, high degradation of cfDNA, and/or contamination with genomic DNA. To date, several approaches for measuring cfDNA methylation have been established, including quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP), which represents a simple, fast, and cost-effective technique that can be easily implemented into clinical practice. In this chapter, we provide a detailed protocol for SYBR Green qMSP analysis which is currently used in our laboratory for cfDNA methylation detection. Useful information regarding successful qMSP primers design are also provided. | 10.1007/978-1-4939-8973-7_11 |
pubmed_290_22211 | Electrochemistry and electrocatalysis have been receiving increased attention recently due to their crucial contribution to electrical-to-chemical conversion systems. We describe here the development and operation of a new spectroelectrochemical transmission cell for time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy of solutions. X-ray absorption spectra were recorded on the ROCK beamline of SOLEIL under constant and scanning potentials. Spectra were recorded at a frequency of 2 Hz during a cyclic voltammetry experiment performed on a 20 mM solution of FeIIICl3·6H2O at 20 mV s-1 scanning speed. Spectra with good signal-to-noise ratios were obtained when averaging ten spectra over 5 s, corresponding to a 100 mV potential range. A 90% conversion rate from Fe(III) to Fe(II) was spectroscopically demonstrated in cyclic voltammetry mode. | 10.1107/S1600577519013614 |
pubmed_106_22039 | Investigations of some problems related to the bovine theileriasis and its vector have been undertaken in Korea. Owing to the nation-wide investment of dairy farming, hundreds of milk cattle were imported from foreign countries during the last l0 years. This caused some problems for the imported dairy cattle in terms of cattle piroplasmosis, from which native Korean cattle are immune. The bovine theileriasis has been studied from the beginning of the 20th centry in Korea, and the carriers and incidences of theilerial infection were reported by several authors during the past 60 years. Theilerial species in Korea is still unknown, but Han(1968) reported that it might be the same species as found in Japan. The latest work of Ishihara(1969) suggested that the species of the genus Theileria in Japanese cattle would be one similar to Theileria sergenti in Russian cattle. The tick responsible for the transmission of Korean theileriasis, Haemaphysalis (Kaiseriana) longicornis Neumann 1901 was incriminated as in the name of Haemaphysalis bispinosa (synonym) by Han(1968). The tick vector was re-examined thoroughly following the description of Hoogstraal et a1. (1969). There were no significant differences in the morphological character of ticks between Hoogstraal et al. and Jang(l973). The population fluctuation of H. longicornis in comparison with Boophilus microplus which is major important cattle tick was surveyed based on the collection of them at Suweon Stock Market through a year. The activities of the ticks begin on the central part of Korea in April and showed two highest population densities in May and July, and disappeared almost all in September. | 10.3347/kjp.1974.12.1.14 |
pubmed_625_20957 | BACKGROUND
Many studies have investigated what could attract insects of medical importance and a crucial role has lately been attributed to human skin odors. Most of these researches have been concerned with mosquitoes, e.g., vectors of dengue and malaria. Little is known about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from human skin odors and their effects on leishmania vectors.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to identify the VOCs from human skin that can be attractive to female anthropophilic phlebotomine sandflies.
RESULTS
Forty-two VOCs were identified from skin odors of 33 male volunteers, seven of which were tested in wind tunnel assays employing field-captured phlebotomine sandflies (75.4% identified as Lutzomyia intermedia). Hexane and (E)-oct-3-en-1-ol (octenol) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. 2-Phenylacetaldehyde (hereafter called phenylacetaldehyde), 6-methylhept-5-en-2-one (also known as sulcatone), nonadecane and icosane were found to activate female phlebotomine sandflies, but only phenylacetaldehyde, 6-methylhepten-5-en-2-one and icosane elicited attraction responses.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that phenylacetaldehyde, 6-methylhepten-5-en-2-one and icosane may be suitable candidates for attractiveness experimentation in the field which can be an important tool to develop strategies concerning human beings protection against phlebotomine sandflies bites and consequently against leishmaniasis. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0203989 |
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