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pubmed_57_12245 | Oxidative damages are linked to several aging-related diseases and are among the chemical pathways determining protein degradation. Specifically, interplay of oxidative stress and protein aggregation is recognized to have a link to the loss of cellular function in pathologies like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Interaction between protein and reactive oxygen species may indeed induce small changes in protein structure and lead to the inhibition/modification of protein aggregation process, potentially determining the formation of species with different inherent toxicity. Understanding the temperate relationship between these events can be of utmost importance in unraveling the molecular basis of neurodegeneration. In this work, we investigated the effect of hydrogen peroxide oxidation on Human Serum Albumin (HSA) structure, thermal stability and aggregation properties. In the selected conditions, HSA forms fibrillar aggregates, while the oxidized protein undergoes aggregation via new routes involving, in different extents, specific domains of the molecule. Minute variations due to oxidation of single residues affect HSA tertiary structure leading to protein compaction, increased thermal stability, and reduced association propensity. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0084552 |
pubmed_282_19199 | This study focuses on evaluating the potential of transferring from a batch process to continuous process for manufacturing of the extended release formulation. Metformin hydrochloride (HCl) was used in the model formulation which was intended to contain the high amount of hydrophilic drug. The effects of barrel temperature, binder type, powder feed rate, and screw speed on granule properties (size and strength) and torque value in twin screw granulation were investigated. Due to the high content of hydrophilic model drug, the granules prepared at a higher temperature with HPMC binding solution had the narrower size distribution and greater strength than the granules prepared with distilled water as a binding solution. After continuous drying and milling steps, the granules (continuous process) satisfied the fundamental purpose of granulation with size and flowability, despite different shape compared with the granules (batch process). Furthermore, there were no significant differences between two granulation processes in tablet properties, such as tablet hardness and in vitro release. The considerations and strategies used in this study to transfer from a batch to continuous process can be applied to other existing formulations based on high shear granulation to enable rapid process transfer in the pharmaceutical industry. | 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2017.07.019 |
pubmed_387_12994 | Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling allows direct access to the fetal circulation. We describe our experience with the procedure in the first 100 patients whose fetuses were at risk for hemolytic anemia, chromosomal abnormalities, coagulopathy, or intrauterine infection. Hematologic indices, including hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, and platelet count, were analyzed from 50 of the fetuses who were normal at delivery. Normal values and gestational age regression curves (from 17 to 37 weeks' gestation) are presented. The technique and complications of the procedure are described. Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling affords useful information in prenatal diagnosis and entails a low rate of complications. | 10.1055/s-2007-999700 |
pubmed_132_18114 | Foreign body (FB) aspiration is common in children aged 0-3 years. Our case, a 2.5-year-old girl, presented with sudden onset of cough, fever and sputum; she had been treated twice for acute bronchitis four months ago. Resisting complaints led to an esophagoscopic examination in our Chest Surgery Clinic after a chest X-ray suggested FB in the esophagus, but no FB could be detected. A lateral chest X-ray revealed a FB with its sharp end targeting the trachea and its round end to the right hemithorax. Removal of the FB with forceps was not possible during rigid bronchoscopy. The FB was removed by thoracotomy and bronchotomy under general anesthesia. The removed FB was a nail measuring 6 cm in length. This case report should serve to stress the diversity of FB aspirations in childhood, the role of parental neglect, and that physicians should be aware of the possibility of FB in children with persistent cough. | pubmed_132_18114 |
pubmed_1042_8666 | Purpose: to compare the posture-related intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma (PXFG) and in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients using the EyeOP, a novel Goldmann Applanation Tonometer (GAT) and to investigate the effect of ab externo trabeculectomy on these changes. Methods: Prospective, non-randomized, controlled, observational study. IOP was measured in sitting and in left lateral decubitus positions (LLDP), using GAT, GAT-EyeOP and Tonopen XL. Main Outcome Measure: Posture-related IOP differences between groups. Results: Thirty-two eyes of 32 PXFG patients (21 non-operated, 11 post-trabeculectomy) and 47 eyes of 47 POAG patients (18 non-operated, 29 post-trabeculectomy) were included. Among non-operated patients, the average increase in GAT IOP between positions (∆IOP) was 2 ± 1.86 mmHg for the PXFG group and 1.9 ± 2.84 mmHg for the POAG group (P = .87). The ∆IOP among operated patients (1.72 ± 1.9) was slightly less than in non-operated (1.6 ± 2.69; P = .905). Generally, in the LLDP, the mean difference between GAT and Tonopen XL IOP measurements was 1.9 ± 3.83 mmHg (r = 0.643; P < .001). A similar correlation was demonstrated between tonometers when measured in the sitting position. Conclusions: Both PXFG and POAG patients have increased IOP in LLDP as compared to an upright position, with no statistically significant difference between groups. Trabeculectomy had no significant effect on the ∆IOP. Abbreviations: PXFG: pseudo-exfoliation glaucoma; POAG: primary open-angle glaucoma; IOP: intraocular pressure; GAT: goldmann applanation tonometer; LLDP: left lateral decubitus position; ∆IOP: average increase in IOP between positions; TM: trabecular meshwork; CCT: central corneal thickness; MMC: Mitomycin C. | 10.1080/02713683.2020.1739313 |
pubmed_311_24652 | OBJECTIVE
To investigate olfactory bulb volume and olfactory sulcus depth in patients with Behçet's disease, using magnetic resonance imaging.
METHODS
Cranial magnetic resonance imaging scans of 27 adults with Behçet's disease (10 males and 17 females) and 27 healthy controls were examined. Olfactory bulb volume and olfactory sulcus depth were measured on coronal, T2-weighted, spectral pre-saturation with inversion recovery sequences.
RESULTS
Bilateral olfactory bulb volume and right-sided olfactory sulcus depth were significantly lower in the Behçet's disease group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Left-sided olfactory sulcus depth increased with Behçet's disease duration. In both groups, olfactory bulb volume was significantly higher in the left than the right side. There were no gender differences for olfactory bulb volume and olfactory sulcus depth. Positive correlations were determined between right- and left-sided olfactory bulb volume values and between right- and left-sided olfactory sulcus depth values.
CONCLUSION
Behçet's disease may decrease olfactory functions, related to lower olfactory bulb volume and olfactory sulcus depth. The affected vascular system and possibly damaged neural system, nasal mucosal lesions, and prolonged nasal mucociliary clearance time may cause olfactory dysfunction. Patient follow up is recommended, with magnetic resonance imaging examinations of the olfactory system if necessary. | 10.1017/S0022215118002141 |
others_384_8338 | Wolbachia 16S rRNA and fbpA genes were twice detected over 5 days in the blood of a patient with high fever. The patient was given fluoroquinolones and the fever resolved. Four weeks later, he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and received R-CHOP (Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Prednisolone) treatment resulting in complete remission. This is the first report of detection of Wolbachia genes from the blood of human patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. © 2014 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases | 10.1016/j.cmi.2014.09.008 |
pubmed_147_417 | BACKGROUND
One mitigating factor in the accurate diagnosis of complete distal biceps tendon ruptures (DBTR) is the integrity of the bicipital aponeurosis (BA). Current orthopedic literature lacks a descriptive means of evaluating the integrity of the BA in the presence of distal biceps injury.
METHODS
A consecutive cohort of 17 patients with suspected DBTR was examined. The hook test, passive forearm pronation test, and the biceps crease interval (BCI) test were performed as part of the overall clinical examination to assess the integrity of the distal tendon. The biceps crease ratio (BCR), a component of the BCI test, was used as an objective measure of distal tendon retraction. Integrity of the BA was assessed using the "BA flex test." The status of the distal tendon and BA were confirmed intraoperatively.
RESULTS
Sixteen patients had complete rupture of the distal biceps tendon. One had a high-grade partial thickness tear. The BA remained intact in 59%. Application of the BA flex test resulted in 100% sensitivity and 90% specificity, with overall diagnostic accuracy of 94%. Despite complete DBTR, there was a significant difference in the amount of distal tendon retraction (P = .012) between those with the BA intact (median BCR, 1.5, interquartile range, 1.3-1.9) and those where the BA was absent (median BCR, 2.2, interquartile range, 1.7-2.6).
CONCLUSION
Evaluating the integrity of the BA can help to inform evaluation and treatment of DBTR, especially when visible or palpable alterations in biceps contour and proximal tendon migration are absent or equivocal. | pubmed_147_417 |
pubmed_30_4674 | A complicated interaction between outgoing and incoming protein transport occurs in eucaryotic cells. The incoming protein transport commences when protein molecules (ligands) cleave to specific glycoprotein- or glycolipid-receptors on the cell surfaces for endocytosis thereby. This can proceed in two types of membrane vesicle. Endocytosed ligands and receptors are transported from the surface of the cell to its endosomal system where a dissociation of the ligand from its receptor and sorting with regard to its next destination may occur. There are a good many possibilities of intracellular transport, depending on which ligand/receptor complex is at issue. Thus ligands and receptors can be transported back to the cell surface (recycling), across e.g. a polarized epithelial cell (transcytosis) to the lysosomes, and to the cell's Golgi apparatus. Apart from a large number of physiological ligands, viruses and diverse bacterial and plant toxins are also endocytosed. This allows scope for a therapeutic use of endocytosis. | pubmed_30_4674 |
others_156_9108 | Detailed drinking histories, prevalence of alcohol abuse, and consequences of alcohol use were studied in 103 persons with recent spinal cord injury. Ninety-five percent of the sample acknowledged prior alcohol use. the mean weekday quantity of alcohol consumed was 5.9 drinks (SD = 4.7), with a range of one to 24 drinks per drinking episode during the six months before disability onset. The median frequency of alcohol use was one to two times per week. The sample's mean Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) score was 6.8 (SD = 8.0), above the usual cutoff of 5.0, which is interpreted as indicating problematic alcohol use. Forty-nine percent of the sample had scores equal to or exceeding this cutoff. These results suggest that a significant number of individuals with recent spinal cord injuries have heavy drinking histories and experience behavioral problems resulting from alcohol use. The MAST proved to be an efficient method of assessing alcohol-related problems among those with recent spinal cord injuries. Finally, treatment and hospital policy implications are discuss | others_156_9108 |
pubmed_1133_2436 | Changes in the foveal anatomy during infancy are an important component in early development of spatial vision. The present longitudinal study in rhesus monkeys was undertaken to characterize the postnatal maturation of the fovea. Starting at four weeks after birth, the retinas of the left eyes of sixteen infant monkeys were imaged using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT). Retinal scans were repeated every 30 days during the first year of life and every 60 days thereafter. Volume scans through the fovea were registered, scaled using a three surface schematic eye, and analyzed to measure foveal pit parameters. The individual layers of the retina were manually segmented and thicknesses were measured over a transverse distance of 1250 microns from the center of the foveal pit. Based on infrared scanning laser ophthalmoscope (IR SLO) images acquired with the SD OCT system, there were significant changes in the extent of the retina scanned as the eyes matured. Using a three-surface schematic eye, the length of each scan could be computed and was validated using image registration (R2 = 0.88, slope = 1.003, p < 0.05). Over the first 18 months of life, the mean retinal thickness at the pit center had increased by 21.4% with a corresponding 20.3% decrease in pit depth. The major changes occurred within the first 120 days, but did not stabilize until a year after birth. In Macaca mulatta infants, the primary anatomical maturation of the fovea occurs within the first few months of life, as determined by longitudinal data from SD OCT measurements. The timelines for maturation of the fovea correspond well with the normal development of the lateral geniculate nucleus, cortical neurophysiology, and spatial resolution in monkeys. | 10.1016/j.exer.2017.07.018 |
pubmed_750_26189 | BACKGROUND
Presented here is a rare case of a gastroduodenal artery (GDA) replaced to the superior mesenteric artery with continuation into an accessory left hepatic artery. To the authors' knowledge, this rare anomaly is not described previously. Replaced GDA is reported, however without continuation into an accessory LHA.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 74-year-old male with recurrent peptic ulcer disease presented with acute onset melena. This anomaly was discovered during abdominal angiography performed for treatment of a hemorrhagic duodenal ulcer. Initial celiac and common hepatic artery (CHA) subselection and angiography demonstrated no branch vessels. Angiography via the superior mesenteric artery demonstrated free extravasation into the duodenum and distal perfusion of the left hepatic lobe.
CONCLUSIONS
This is a rare variant of hepatic arterial anatomy. Importantly, this variant challenges a previously described anatomical model that attempts to explain observed CHA variation. | 10.1186/s42155-018-0032-2 |
pubmed_107_11649 | Extracellular brain ascorbate fluctuates with neuronal activity. There is previous evidence that the release of ascorbate is triggered by the re-uptake of neuronally released glutamate. This hypothesis predicts that drugs which block the release and re-uptake of glutamate will also block the release of ascorbate. In the present experiments we have used a novel dialysis electrode which allows continuous monitoring of physiologically induced ascorbate release from the striatum in freely moving rats. An infusion of the enzyme ascorbic acid oxidase abolished the increase in oxidation current in response to tail-pinch, which identified it as an ascorbate current. Perfusion with tetrodotoxin reduced the response to 25% and with CdCl2 to 4% of control. Perfusion with the uptake blocker L-trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-di-carboxylate reduced the response to 24% of control. A neuroprotective function for this coupling of ascorbate and glutamate release is discussed. | 10.1016/0306-4522(94)90316-6 |
pubmed_763_18608 | In order for a chemical plant protection product to be authorised for sale a registration dossier has to be assembled to demonstrate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of government regulators. These studies and tests are protected for a period of 10 years in Europe, North America and some other jurisdictions from the date of first product authorisation so that only the data owner can gain commercial benefit from the data. Subsequent regulatory reviews which require new studies should not result in further periods of regulatory data protection exclusive use for the new data but compensation should be payable to the data generator. © 2016 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. | 10.1002/ps.4316 |
pubmed_249_13132 | The study investigates cortical hemodynamic responses during continuation tapping using auditory pacing stimuli in five healthy right-handed subjects using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The tasks required the use of either the same finger for synchronization of the tapping movement and for continuation, or to use the contralateral finger for continuation. Results show, that using the contralateral finger increases regional cerebral blood flow in motor areas such as the anterior cerebellar hemispheres and vermis, in the cingulate motor area, but also in the posterior cingulum, when compared to using the same finger. The complementary comparison shows increased regional blood flow in the left hippocampus. The results suggest that in addition to pure executive functions, higher cognitive functions localized in these areas are involved in the transfer of interval timing. | 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)01607-x |
pubmed_997_21975 | Increase in grain yield is always a major objective of wheat genetic improvement. The SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) genes, coding for a small family of diverse plant-specific transcription factors, represent important targets for improving grain yield and other major agronomic traits in rice. The function of the SPL genes in wheat remains to be investigated in this respect. In this study, we identified 56 wheat orthologues of rice SPL genes belonging to 19 homoeologous groups. Like in rice, nine orthologous TaSPL genes harbour the microRNA156 recognition elements (MRE) in their last exons except for TaSPL13, which harbour the MRE in its 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR). We modified the MRE of TaSPL13 using CRISPR-Cas9 and generated 12 mutations in the three homoeologous genes. As expected, the MRE mutations led to an approximately two-fold increase in the TaSPL13 mutant transcripts. The phenotypic evaluation showed that the MRE mutations in TaSPL13 resulted in a decrease in flowering time, tiller number, and plant height, and a concomitantly increase in grain size and number. The results show that the TaSPL13 mutants exhibit a combination of different phenotypes observed in Arabidopsis AtSPL3/4/5 mutants and rice OsSPL13/14/16 mutants and hold great potential in improving wheat yield by simultaneously increasing grain size and number and by refining plant architecture. The novel TaSPL13 mutations generated can be utilized in wheat breeding programmes to improve these agronomic traits. | 10.1111/pbi.13969 |
pubmed_117_16493 | AIM
The aim of this study was to assess the changes in maxillary and mandibular third molar inclinations in individuals with class II div 1 malocclusion, before and after orthodontic treatment with extraction of all four first premolars.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This retrospective study consisted of the pretreatment and posttreatment records of 30 patients that were obtained from the archives of the department of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics in A B Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences. The maxillary third molar's relation to the palatal plane and the mandibular third molar's relation to the mandibular plane were measured. The paired t test was used to calculate pre- and posttreatment changes. A value of P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.
RESULTS
The maxillary third molars showed a mean correction of 6.15° (P < 0.001) and the mandibular third molars showed a mean correction of 5.10° (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Maxillary third molars showed more uprighting when compared to the mandibular third molars and that both maxillary and mandibular third molars showed an improvement in their angulations to their respective planes after extraction of the first premolars. However, the results of the study cannot be analyzed to state if the third molars do become fully functional. | 10.4103/jispcd.JISPCD_342_19 |
pubmed_589_15038 | PURPOSE
The effect of nocturnal wear of denture on sleep quality and integrity is still not well understood. Therefore, this systematic review was conducted to provide evidence on this topic.
METHODS
Electronic searches were conducted from 1964 up to September 2015, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Only publications in English or French, in which sleep quality of edentate adult individuals wearing dentures at night was compared to those not wearing were included in the review. Random effects models were used to pool the effect sizes.
RESULTS
A total of 10 studies were included in the systematic review and 5 in the meta-analysis. No statistically significant difference between sleeping with denture and without denture was found for the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI; Standard Mean Difference = -0.60, 95 % CI -1.67-0.47; Z = -1.10; p = 0.27). However, there was considerable heterogeneity in the studies included in the meta-analysis (Tau2 = 1.34; Q-value = 59.32, df = 4 (P < 0.0001); I2 = 93.3 %). When results from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were pooled in subgroup analyses of AHI, there was a tendency towards favoring sleeping without dentures (P = 0.059) and no evidence of heterogeneity between studies (Tau2 = 0.000; Q-value = 0.06, df = 1 (P = 0.80); I2 = 0.000 %).
CONCLUSION
The current evidence suggests that there is no difference in the sleep quality and integrity of individuals wearing or not wearing their denture during sleep. However, the results of randomized controlled trials favoring sleeping without dentures and the likely presence of bias in the previous studies indicate the need for further randomized controlled trials for the development of clinical guideline. | 10.1007/s11325-016-1369-1 |
pubmed_421_4702 | OBJECTIVE
A trial comparing prenatal with postnatal open spina bifida (OSB) repair established that prenatal surgery was associated with better postnatal outcome. However, in the trial, fetal surgery was carried out through hysterotomy. Minimally invasive approaches are being developed to mitigate the risks of open maternal-fetal surgery. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of a novel neurosurgical technique for percutaneous fetoscopic repair of fetal OSB, the skin-over-biocellulose for antenatal fetoscopic repair (SAFER) technique, on long-term postnatal outcome.
METHODS
This study examined descriptive data for all patients undergoing fetoscopic OSB repair who had available 12- and 30-month follow-up data for assessment of need for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion and need for bladder catheterization and ambulation, respectively, from eight centers that perform prenatal OSB repair via percutaneous fetoscopy using a biocellulose patch between the neural placode and skin/myofascial flap, without suture of the dura mater (SAFER technique). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the effect of different factors on need for CSF diversion at 12 months and ambulation and need for bladder catheterization at 30 months. Potential cofactors included gestational age at fetal surgery and delivery, preoperative ultrasound findings of anatomical level of the lesion, cerebral lateral ventricular diameter, lesion type and presence of bilateral talipes, as well as postnatal findings of CSF leakage at birth, motor level, presence of bilateral talipes and reversal of hindbrain herniation.
RESULTS
A total of 170 consecutive patients with fetal OSB were treated prenatally using the SAFER technique. Among these, 103 babies had follow-up at 12 months of age and 59 had follow-up at 30 months of age. At 12 months of age, 53.4% (55/103) of babies did not require ventriculoperitoneal shunt or third ventriculostomy. At 30 months of age, 54.2% (32/59) of children were ambulating independently and 61.0% (36/59) did not require chronic intermittent catheterization of the bladder. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that significant prediction of need for CSF diversion was provided by lateral ventricular size and type of lesion (myeloschisis). Significant predictors of ambulatory status were prenatal bilateral talipes and anatomical and functional motor levels of the lesion. There were no significant predictors of need for bladder catheterization.
CONCLUSION
Children who underwent prenatal OSB repair via the percutaneous fetoscopic SAFER technique achieved long-term neurological outcomes similar to those reported in the literature after hysterotomy-assisted OSB repair. © 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. | 10.1002/uog.23658 |
pubmed_179_20313 | We report a diagnostically challenging case of a 77-year-old man who presented with shortness of breath and was found to have a large right hydropneumothorax with collapse of the right lung. A malignancy was suspected, but pleural fluid cytology and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging were negative. He then underwent video-assisted thoracoscopy with biopsies of the pleura and chest wall which revealed malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Older patients with early stage MPM are more likely to have false-negative FDG PET/CT results. Pleural biopsy is essential when there is clinical suspicion for mesothelioma, even with negative initial FDG PET imaging. | 10.7759/cureus.17263 |
pubmed_169_3910 | In five subjects whose hands were exposed to heat, no depletion in the plasma kininogen level was observed when vasodilatation occurred. This might be due to the admixture of arterial and venous blood following the opening of arterio-venous (A--V) anastomoses. The small rise obtained by warming was not significant (P greater than 0.1). Consequently, the drop in kinonogen concentration recorded when the hand was allowed to cool to an ambient temperature of 23 degrees C as compared with the basal level and that during the period of warming, was also found to be non-significant. In another nine subjects whose A--V kininogen values were determined when their hands were immersed in a water bath at 37 degrees C, a significant A--V difference of the kininogen content was obtained. From this work, it is concluded that no appreciable depletion of venous kininogen concentration was obtained on hand warming. It is possible that sweat glands, vasodilator nerve fibres and the release of kinins contribute in part to the dilatation that occurs. Possible patho-physiological mechanisms involved are discussed. | 10.1007/BF00430079 |
pubmed_1081_3702 | Background
Although animal studies show evidence for a role of vitamin D during brain development, data from human studies show conflicting signals.
Objective
We aimed to explore associations between maternal and neonatal vitamin D status with childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Methods
Comprehensive clinical, demographic, and lifestyle data were collected prospectively in 734 maternal-infant dyads from the Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were quantified at 15 weeks of gestation and in umbilical cord sera at birth via a CDC-accredited liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. Children were assessed at age 5 y through the use of the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (2nd Edition, KBIT-2) and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Linear regression was used to explore associations between 25(OH)D and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Results
25(OH)D concentrations were <30 nmol/L in 15% of maternal and 45% of umbilical cord sera and <50 nmol/L in 42% of mothers and 80% of cords. At age 5 y, the mean ± SD KBIT-2 intelligence quotient (IQ) composite score was 104.6 ± 8.6; scores were 107.2 ± 10.0 in verbal and 99.8 ± 8.8 in nonverbal tasks. Developmental delay (scores <85) was seen in <3% of children across all domains. The mean ± SD CBCL total problem score was 21.3 ± 17.5; scores in the abnormal/clinical range for internal, external, and total problem scales were present in 12%, 4%, and 6% of participants, respectively. KBIT-2 and CBCL subscale scores at 5 y were not different between children exposed to low antenatal vitamin D status, either at 30 or 50 nmol/L 25(OH)D thresholds. Neither maternal nor cord 25(OH)D (per 10 nmol/L) were associated with KBIT-2 IQ composite scores [adjusted β (95% CI): maternal -0.01 (-0.03, 0.02); cord 0.01 (-0.03, 0.04] or CBCL total problem scores [maternal 0.01 (-0.04, 0.05); cord 0.01 (-0.07, 0.09)].
Conclusion
In this well-characterized prospective maternal-infant cohort, we found no evidence that antenatal 25(OH)D concentrations are associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5 y. The BASELINE Study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01498965; the SCOPE Study was registered at http://www.anzctr.org.au as ACTRN12607000551493. | 10.1093/jn/nxy150 |
pubmed_2_16089 | OBJECTIVES
To assess the occurrence, correlation, and clinical outcome of intraprocedural stent thrombosis (IPST) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs).
BACKGROUND
Stent thrombosis (ST), a rare complication of PCI, is more common in the setting of ACS. It is not known whether IPST carries the same prognosis as postprocedural ST.
METHODS
This retrospective study comprised a review of 1,901 consecutive ACS patients who received primary PCI in our center from January 2006 to January 2011. IPST was defined as new, reappearing or increased thrombus within the deployed stent before the index PCI procedure was completed. All angiograms were independently reviewed frame by frame for the incidence of IPST. Patients with and without IPST were compared with respect to clinical characteristics, angiographic parameters, and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) at 30 days and 1-year follow-up.
RESULTS
Overall, there were 23 cases of IPST detected, thus, the prevalence of IPST was 1.2%. There were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics between the 2 groups. Patients with compared to those without IPST had significantly more bifurcation lesions involved, and more thrombus burden at baseline. IPST group compared to no IPST group had more MACEs on 30 days (26.1% vs. 8.7%, P = 0.01) and 1-year follow-up (30.4% vs. 14.4%, P = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS
IPST was a rare complication of PCI in the setting of ACS. It correlated with lesion morphology, presence of thrombus at baseline and was more likely to cause MACEs in 30 days and 1-year follow-up. | 10.1111/joic.12029 |
pubmed_238_26488 | Introduction
Reducing lung cancer deaths through early detection by computed tomography (CT) screening requires delivery of effective treatment. We performed this retrospective study to determine the types of treatment used for screen-detected stage I lung cancer at our academic center and to compare the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients by type of treatment.
Methods
All persons screened in the lung cancer screening program at our institution through June 16, 2021, were included. Those with screening CT findings needing follow-up were managed through a thoracic surgery clinic. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with having stage I lung cancer through June 16, 2021, were compared by type of treatment, with follow-up through December 31, 2021.
Results
Stage I NSCLC was diagnosed in 54 of 2203 persons screened (2.5%), on the basis of biopsy in 37 and on imaging findings in 17 patients in whom a tissue diagnosis could not be obtained. Treatment was by lobectomy in 18, sublobar resection in 14, and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in 22. Patients treated with SBRT had lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second (p < 0.001) and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (p < 0.001) and more comorbidities (p = 0.003) than those treated with surgery. New or recurrent cancer developed in nine patients (three lobectomy, three sublobar resection, three SBRT).
Conclusions
Many patients with screen-detected stage I lung cancer are medically unfit for lobectomy, and a variety of treatments are being used. Assessment of treatment-based outcomes will be critical for ensuring an optimal balance of the risks and benefits of CT screening in a medically diverse population. | 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2022.100399 |
pubmed_173_6651 | Uric acid stone is the most comment radiolucent renal stone with high recurrence rate, which would further cause acute upper urinary tract obstruction and kidney failure. Here we report two cases of renal uric acid stone from December 2012 to April 2013. One 43-year-old male patient suffered from chronic uric acid nephrolithiasis caused by the long-term indwelling of bilateral double-J stent. Another 69-year-old patient was also diagnosed with uric acid nephrolithiasis at the right kidney. Both patients were first treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), followed by 1.5% sodium bicarbonate dissolution therapy. After a week of the treatment, the uric acid stones in both patients were completely dissolved without retrograde infection. In summary, the use of ESWL and sodium bicarbonate dissolution therapy as a combined modality is a safe, effective, inexpensive treatment for uric acid nephrolithiasis. | pubmed_173_6651 |
pubmed_529_19599 | Plant functional traits are increasingly used to generalize across species, however few examples exist of predictions from trait-based models being evaluated in new species or new places. Can we use functional traits to predict growth of unknown species in different areas? We used three independently collected datasets, each containing data on heights of individuals from non-resprouting species over a chronosquence of time-since-fire sites from three ecosystems in south-eastern Australia. We examined the influence of specific leaf area, woody density, seed size and leaf nitrogen content on three aspects of plant growth; maximum relative growth rate, age at maximum growth and asymptotic height. We tested our capacity to perform out-of-sample prediction of growth trajectories between ecosystems using species functional traits. We found strong trait-growth relationships in one of the datasets; whereby species with low SLA achieved the greatest asymptotic heights, species with high leaf-nitrogen content achieved relatively fast growth rates, and species with low seed mass reached their time of maximum growth early. However these same growth-trait relationships did not hold across the two other datasets, making accurate prediction from one dataset to another unachievable. We believe there is evidence to suggest that growth trajectories themselves may be fundamentally different between ecosystems and that trait-height-growth relationships may change over environmental gradients. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0176959 |
pubmed_125_16357 | Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating event with a tremendous impact in the life of the affected individual and family. Traumatic injuries related to motor vehicle accidents, falls, sports, and violence are the most common causes. The majority of spinal lesions is incomplete and occurs at cervical levels of the cord, causing a disruption of several ascending and descending neuronal pathways. Additionally, many patients develop chronic pain and describe it as burning, stabbing, shooting, or shocking and often arising with no stimulus. Less frequently, people with SCI also experience pain out of context with the stimulus (e.g., light touch). While abolishment of the endogenous descending inhibitory circuits is a recognized cause for chronic pain, an increasing number of studies suggest that uncontrolled release of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators by neurons, glial, and immune cells is also important in the emergence and maintenance of SCI-induced chronic pain. This constitutes the topic of the present mini-review, which will focus on the importance of neuro-immune dysregulation for pain after SCI. | 10.3389/fphys.2020.00748 |
pubmed_10_2902 | The frequency and magnitude of heat waves have increased in recent decades, imposing additional stresses on organisms in extreme environments. Most reptilian embryos are regularly exposed to thermal stress because they develop in shallow, warm soils for weeks to months. We studied cardiac performance during warming to infer lethal temperatures for embryonic lizards in the Sceloporus undulatus complex. Embryos from four populations throughout the geographical range (New Jersey, South Carolina, Colorado, and Arizona) were warmed at a rate observed in natural nests. Embryos from all populations exhibited a similar pattern of thermal sensitivity, as follows: heart rate rose between 34 and 41°C, remained stable between 41 and 44°C, and dropped sharply between 44 and 47°C. No embryos recovered from cardiac arrest, indicating that the upper lethal temperature was ≤47°C. Despite the putative selective pressures, the thermal limit to cardiac performance seems to have been conserved during the evolution of this species. | 10.1093/conphys/cot018 |
pubmed_1025_11848 | Metabolite fingerprinting (metabolomics/metabonomics) is perfectly suited for assessing the biological response following acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as relevant information can be identified in both the change and the absence of change in metabolite concentrations as time progresses post syndrome. During this study the metabolic pattern of plasma from patients at time points 0, four days, two months and six months after the onset of ACS were compared to controls using a non-targeted approach with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fatty acid profiles of the sample set were also analysed in a targeted way. The methods were employed with the aim to identify specific biomarkers, which vary with time. Using the non-targeted approach 27 statistically significant metabolites of interest were found: glucose, fructose, myoinositol, pyruvate, lactate, oxalate, citrate, isocitrate, succinate, malate, valine, alanine, serine, glycine, cysteine, threonine, aspartate, tryptophan, tyrosine, 4-hydroxyproline, 2-hydroxybutyrate, 2-aminobutyrate, 2,3,4-trihydroxybutyrate, 3-hydroxybutyrate, creatinine and aminomalonate. In addition, the targeted analysis of 21 fatty acids revealed patients within the group ACS at day 0 had the highest values for all 21. After 4 days, values decreased and were maintained at a lower level during the 6 months. Whereas the overall fatty acid profile did not change, different patterns of concentration trajectories over time were identified, which can reflect the underlying metabolic alterations as a result of the initial ACS, interestingly these levels had not fully reverted six months later. | 10.1016/j.jpba.2011.05.020 |
pubmed_203_9903 | OBJECTIVE
to describe home-birth risk assessment by parents.
DESIGN
interviews using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analysed using a phenomenological approach.
SETTING
independent midwifery practices in Sweden.
PARTICIPANTS
five couples who had had planned home births.
FINDINGS
the parents had a fundamental trust that the birth would take place without complications, and they experienced meaningfulness in the event itself. Risks were considered to be part of a complex phenomenon that was not limited to births at home. This attitude seems to be part of a lifestyle that has a bearing on how risks experienced during the birth were handled. Five categories were identified as counterbalancing the risk of possible complications: (1) trust in the woman's ability to give birth; (2) trust in intuition; (3) confidence in the midwife; (4) confidence in the relationship; and (5) physical and intellectual preparation.
KEY CONCLUSIONS
although the parents were conscious of the risk of complications during childbirth, a fundamental trust in the woman's independent ability to give birth was central to the decision to choose a home birth. Importance was attached to the expected positive effects of having the birth at home.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
knowledge of parents' assessment can promote an increased understanding of how parents-to-be experience the risks associated with home birth. | 10.1016/j.midw.2005.04.002 |
pubmed_215_16671 | During tumorigenesis, cancer-related genes can be silenced by aberrant DNA methylation and by changes in chromatin structure. It has been reported that 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, a potent inhibitor of DNA methylation, in combination with histone deacetylase inhibitors, can produce a synergistic reactivation of these genes. The aim of our study was to investigate the in vitro antineoplastic activity of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in combination with depsipeptide, a potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, against MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cell lines. We observed that the combination of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and depsipeptide produced a synergistic antineoplastic effect against these tumor cells as compared to either agent administered alone. We also investigated the effect of this drug combination on the activation of maspin and gelsolin expression. These 2 genes whose function is to suppress tumor metastasis have been reported to be silenced by epigenetic events in breast cancer. Using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, we observed that 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine in combination with depsipeptide produced a greater reactivation of both maspin and gelsolin as compared to each agent alone. The synergistic interaction between 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and depsipeptide on breast carcinoma cell lines provides a rationale to investigate this interesting drug combination in future clinical trials on patients with advanced breast cancer. | 10.1002/ijc.10789 |
others_325_10216 | Some studies have reported a genetic association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of Interleukin (IL) 10 and Alzheimer's disease (AD), with conflicting results. To further investigate the proposed association and to clarify the role of cytokines as a potential cause for AD susceptibility, we analyzed genotypes, allele distributions and haplotypes of IL-10 promoter polymorphisms −1082 (rs1800896) and −819 (rs1800871) in a Mexican population: 986 normal controls and 221 cases divided as follows: 122 with Alzheimer disease (AD), 67 with (VaD) and 32 with mixed dementia (AD/VaD). Patients with dementia showed increased frequency of “ATA, CTG, and CTA” haplotypes when compared to controls. We identified two risk haplotypes: ATA (OR = 3.56, 95%CI = 2.84–4.45, p < 0.0001), and CTA (OR = 1.90, 95%CI = 1.38–2.62, p < 0.0001), and four protection haplotypes: ATG (OR = 0.60, 95%CI = 0.45–0.82, p = 0.0012), CTG (OR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.23–0.62, p < 0.0001), ACG (OR = 0.01, 95%CI = 0.002–1.13, p <0.0001), and CCG (OR = 0.02, 95%CI = 0.004–0.203, p < 0.0001). In summary, this is the first study in Mexican population that considers the analysis of IL-10 in patients with AD, VaD and AD/VaD. Our results showed the relevance of the role that IL-10 plays in the pathological mechanisms that result in the development of dementia. In addition, in our study, it was possible to distinguish two protective and two risk haplotypes for the development of dementia. © 2016 European Federation of Immunological Societies | 10.1016/j.imlet.2016.07.011 |
others_422_5968 | ACKGROUND: Considering that the greatest proportion of microalgae commercial production is realized outdoors, it is critically important to highlight the role of the local climate in the performance of the processes. Currently, there is a tendency to identify locations with suitable climates for the large-scale implementation of microalgae-based processes. Therefore, this study proposed to map the performance of photobioreactors for microalgae culture. Fourteen types of climates distributed in 33 geographical locations representative of the equatorial and tropical zones of the world were evaluated. The simulated climatic elements were solar irradiation, temperature and photoperiod. RESULTS: The results showed that the tropical with dry winter (Aw), tropical with dry summer (As), tropical monsoon (Am), tropical fully humid (Af), hot steppe (BSh) and hot desert (BWh) climates favored the system productivities. The highest biomass productivity (0.347 g L–1 d–1) and lipid (0.048 g L–1 d–1) were registered in the Aw simulation. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide a useful database of the effects of climate for the microalgae photoautotrophic production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry | 10.1002/jctb.6574 |
pubmed_866_6301 | The Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) are a superfamily of molecular chaperones that maintain cellular homeostasis under stress. HSP70 represents the major stress-inducible family member, often activated in response to changes in thermal ranges of organisms, and therefore playing an important role enhancing thermal tolerance limits in ectothermic animals. The present study aimed to investigate the presence and the localization of HSP70 through the development of Podarcis siculus, an oviparous lizard inhabiting temperate Mediterranean regions, showing a limited potential to tolerate thermal changes during embryogenesis. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that HSP70 protein is constitutively present in early embryonic stages, abundantly distributed in eye, in encephalic domains (predominantly in ventricular areas and in grey matter), in grey matter of spinal cord, in lung, gut mucosa, hepatic cords and kidney tubules. Interestingly, a severe drop in incubation temperature (5°C for 3 days) does not induce enhancements in HSP70 levels nor changes in tissues localization. These results suggest that the HSP70 found in P. siculus embryos represents a non-inducible, constitutive molecular chaperone that should be better called Heat Shock Cognate 70 (HSC70); the presence of stress-induced members of the HSP family in P. siculus has yet to be proven. | 10.1016/j.crvi.2019.10.001 |
pubmed_213_19377 | To determine half-life and turnover of plasma adenosine, heparinized blood from healthy volunteers was incubated with radiolabeled adenosine in the physiological concentration range of 0.1-1 microM. Plasma levels of adenosine in vitro were 82 +/- 14 nM and were similar to those determined immediately after blood collection with a "stopping solution." Dipyridamole (83 microM) and erythro-9(2-hydroxynon-3yl)-adenine (EHNA) (8 microM) did not measurably alter basal adenosine levels but completely blocked the uptake of added adenosine. Inhibition of ecto-5'-nucleotidase with 100 microM alpha, beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-diphosphate (AOPCP) reduced plasma adenosine to 22 +/- 6 nM. For the determination of adenosine turnover, the decrease in specific radioactivity of added [3H]adenosine was measured using a dipyridamole-containing stopping solution. Without altering basal adenosine levels, the half-life was estimated to be 0.6 s. Similar experiments were carried out with washed erythrocytes or in the presence of AOPCP, yielding half-lives of 0.7 and 0.9 s, respectively. When the initial adenosine concentration was 1 microM, its specific activity decreased by only 11% within 5 s, whereas total plasma adenosine exponentially decreased with a half-life of 1.5 s. Venous plasma concentrations were measured after relief of a 3-min forearm ischemia. Changes in plasma adenosine did not correlate well with changes in blood flow but were augmented in the presence of dipyridamole.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | 10.1152/ajpcell.1989.256.4.C799 |
pubmed_925_37 | Seventy unwed pregnant patients in states of mild to moderate depression evidenced by one or more symptoms (tenseness, "nervousness," crying spells, listlessness, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, insomnia and overeating), received informal psychotherapy and a sustained-release capsule combining d-amphetamine sulfate and amobarbital.Forty-eight patients had complete or substantial relief of symptoms, 15 had partial relief, seven had slight or no relief. Use of the preparation seemed to make tense, "nervous" patients more communicative and amenable to counseling, but was less effective in listless, easily fatigued patients. Because of its direct mood-alleviating action and its ability to facilitate psychotherapy, the d-amphetamine sulfate-amobarbital combination proved a very effective treatment for mild and moderate depression accompanying pregnancy. | pubmed_925_37 |
pubmed_312_18933 | In animals, the first three enzymatic steps of de novo pyrimidine synthesis, carbamyl phosphate synthetase, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase, comprise the multifunctional protein known as the CAD protein. Mutants of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1, pro-) deficient in CAD protein activities require uridine for growth and are designated Urd-A mutants. To examine further the nature of the genetic alterations in Urd-A mutants and revertants, we have performed a detailed Southern blot hybridization analysis of DNA from wild-type, Urd-A, and revertant cells using as hybridization probes cDNAs complementary to CAD mRNA isolated from Syrian hamster. This has allowed us to identify an apparent alteration in the CAD gene in DNA from Urd-A cells. This alteration is in a region of the gene which appears to correspond to the region of the protein which is hypersensitive to proteases and which seems to be altered in the mutants. Only one of the two CAD alleles present appears to be altered in this way. Study of certain revertants of Urd-A strongly suggests that in some cases reversion has occurred by amplification of the mutant CAD allele. | 10.1007/BF01534415 |
others_338_844 | ACKGROUND: In the last 20 years the technique of operative laparoscopy has rapidly evolved, so the majority of gynecologic procedures can now be performed endoscopically. However, laparoscopy is still a relatively new technique, and we have much to learn about its associated complications and their management. In the English-language literature there are 15 reported cases of bladder perforation associated with laparoscopy, and 4 of them occurred with insertion of the primary trocar. CASES: Two cases are described in which incidental cystotomy occurred with primary trocar insertion during laparoscopy for infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Both patients were treated successfully with Foley catheterization. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, nothing was written earlier about conservative management of incidental cystotomy occurring at the time of primary laparoscopic trocar insertion. This paper reports two such cases | others_338_844 |
pubmed_44_7123 | We previously showed that thioredoxins are required for dithiothreitol (DTT) tolerance, suggesting they maintain redox homeostasis in response to both oxidative and reductive stress conditions. In this present study, we screened the complete set of viable deletion strains in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for sensitivity to DTT to identify cell functions involved in resistance to reductive stress. We identified 195 mutants, whose gene products are localized throughout the cell. DTT-sensitive mutants were distributed among most major biological processes, but they particularly affected gene expression, metabolism, and the secretory pathway. Strikingly, a mutant lacking TSA1, encoding a peroxiredoxin, showed a similar sensitivity to DTT as a thioredoxin mutant. Epistasis analysis indicated that thioredoxins function upstream of Tsa1 in providing tolerance to DTT. Our data show that the chaperone function of Tsa1, rather than its peroxidase function, is required for this activity. Cells lacking TSA1 were found to accumulate aggregated proteins, and this was exacerbated by exposure to DTT. Analysis of the protein aggregates revealed that they are predominantly composed of ribosomal proteins. Furthermore, aggregation was found to correlate with an inhibition of translation initiation. We propose that Tsa1 normally functions to chaperone misassembled ribosomal proteins, preventing the toxicity that arises from their aggregation. | 10.1091/mbc.e05-06-0520 |
pubmed_886_7970 | Cell death occurs spontaneously or in response to external stimuli, and can be largely subdivided into apoptosis and necrosis by the distinct morphological and biochemical features. Unlike apoptosis, necrosis was recognized as the passive and unwanted cell demise committed in a non-regulated and disorganized manner. However, under specific conditions such as caspase intervention, necrosis has been proposed to be regulated in a well-orchestrated way as a backup mechanism of apoptosis. The term programmed necrosis has been coined to describe such an alternative cell death. Recently, at least some regulators governing programmed necrosis have been identified and demonstrated to be interconnected via a wide network of signal pathways by further extensive studies. There is growing evidence that programmed necrosis is not only associated with pathophysiological diseases, but also provides innate immune response to viral infection. Here, we will introduce recent updates on the molecular mechanism and physiological significance of programmed necrosis. | 10.1007/s10059-010-0066-3 |
pubmed_129_12822 | The results of 27 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTA) of the subclavian artery are reported in 25 patients. 13 patients complained of claudicatio brachii, 7 also demonstrated symptoms of vertebral-basilar insufficiency. In 5 cases this was the sole indication for PTA. 23 (85.2%) of 27 interventions were limited to the proximal section of the subclavian artery. In 22 (81%) the obstructions were localized on the left side. A technical success could be achieved in 24 (88.9%) of 27 interventions. The angiographic appearance of the homolateral vertebral arteries before and after PTA differed significantly. No PTA led to an occlusion of the previously patent vertebral artery. A retrograde flow was no longer seen after PTA. The haemodynamic significance was also demonstrated by the differences in brachial-occlusion pressures (mean 51 mmHg before, 7 mmHg after PTA). Complete or partial relief was achieved after technically successful PTA in 90% of patients with brachial symptoms and in 50% with vertebral-basilar insufficiency. Complications occurred in one (3.7%) of 27 procedures. Published data on PTA of the subclavian artery are discussed. | pubmed_129_12822 |
pubmed_889_6391 | Anacetrapib is an inhibitor of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), associated with reduction in LDL cholesterol and increase in HDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients. Anacetrapib was not taken forward into filing/registration as a new drug for coronary artery diease, despite the observation of a ∼9% reduction in cardiovascular risk in a large phase III cardiovascular outcomes trial (REVEAL). Anacetrapib displayed no adverse effects throughout extensive preclinical safety evaluation, and no major safety signals were observed in clinical trials studying anacetrapib, including REVEAL. However, anacetrapib demonstrated a long terminal half-life in all species, thought to be due, in part, to distribution into adipose tissue. We sought to understand the dependence of anacetrapib's long half-life on adipose tissue and to explore potential mechanisms that might contribute to the phenomenon. In mice, anacetrapib localized primarily to the lipid droplet of adipocytes in white adipose tissue; in vitro, anacetrapib entry into cultured human adipocytes depended on the presence of a mature adipocyte and lipid droplet but did not require active transport. In vivo, the entry of anacetrapib into adipose tissue did not require lipase activity, as the distribution of anacetrapib into adipose was-not affected by systemic lipase inhibition using poloaxamer-407, a systemic lipase inhibitor. The data from these studies support the notion that the entry of anacetrapib into adipose tissue/lipid droplets does not require active transport, nor does it require mobilization or entry of fat into adipose via lipolysis. | 10.1124/dmd.118.084525 |
pubmed_572_8213 | People with asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) are often unnecessarily treated with antibiotics risking adverse effects and antimicrobial resistance. We performed a systematic review to determine any benefits and harms of treating ABU in particular patient groups. Relevant databases were searched and eligible trials were assessed for risk-of-bias and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Education quality. Where possible, a meta-analysis of extracted data was performed or a narrative synthesis of the evidence was presented. After screening 3626 articles, 50 studies involving 7088 patients were included. Overall, quality of evidence ranged from very low to low. There was no evidence of benefit for patients with no risk factors, patients with diabetes mellitus, postmenopausal women, elderly institutionalised patients, patients with renal transplants, or patients prior to joint replacement, and treatment was harmful for patients with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI). Treatment of ABU resulted in a lower risk of postoperative UTI after transurethral resection surgery. In pregnant women, we found evidence that treatment of ABU decreased risk of symptomatic UTI, low birthweight, and preterm delivery. ABU should be treated prior to transurethral resection surgery. In addition, current evidence also suggests that ABU treatment is required in pregnant women, although the results of a recent trial have challenged this view.
PATIENT SUMMARY
We reviewed available scientific studies to see if people with bacteria in their urine but without symptoms of urinary tract infection should be treated with antibiotics to eliminate bacteria. For most people, treatment was not beneficial and may be harmful. Antibiotic treatment did appear to benefit women in pregnancy and those about to undergo urological surgery. | 10.1016/j.eururo.2017.07.014 |
pubmed_289_13049 | As a nontargeted metabolomics approach, we investigated changes in the plasma metabolite levels in a mouse model of obesity induced by a high-fat diet and fermented soybean product diet. We analyzed the plasma samples by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). In the present study, the animals were divided into four groups according to the diet type; normal fat diet control group (ND), high-fat diet control group (HD), high-fat diet plus 30% cooked soybean power (HD + S), and high-fat diet plus 30% 72-h fermented Cheonggukjang powder (HD + CGJ). To examine the changes in plasma metabolite levels because of high-fat diet feeding, total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were measured. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were lower in the HD + S and HD + CGJ groups than in the ND group. According to partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), major metabolites contributing to the discrimination between each group were assigned as lipid metabolites in plasma, e.g., lyso-phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylcholines. Therefore, diets containing soy-based food products, which are rich sources of isoflavonoids, might be helpful for controlling the lipid metabolism under high-fat diet conditions. | 10.1002/mnfr.201200700 |
pubmed_786_5210 | The increasingly frequent use of radiation therapy (RT) and systemic chemotherapy (CT) in the treatment of breast carcinoma requires surgical pathologists and cytologists to be familiar with the variable histologic changes initiated by these agents. Both treatment modalities can cause severe epithelial abnormalities, which are difficult to distinguish from carcinoma. The progression or regression of these histologic abnormalities in nonneoplastic breast tissue have not been extensively evaluated. Our study used 120 post-RT biopsy or mastectomy specimens from 117 patients (3 had bilateral carcinoma treated with RT) yielding 120 specimens. The interval from post-RT to biopsy or mastectomy ranged from 1 to 229 months with 25 of the specimens obtained 1 to 12 months after cessation of RT and 95 more than a year post-RT. Twenty-seven specimens were from >6 years after RT. The histologic features of pretreatment and posttreatment specimens were graded (0-3) blindly for each histologic feature to include stromal vascular and fibroblastic changes and epithelial cell changes of the terminal duct lobular unit and extralobular ducts as well as terminal duct lobular unit fibrosis/atrophy. The changes between the pre- and post-RT grades were all statistically significant (P < 0.05) using multiple nonparametric statistical methods and the parametric Student t test. The specimens obtained within the first year post-RT were compared with those from >1 year post-RT, >3 years post-RT, and >6 years post-RT. None of the histologic features evaluated showed significant changes over the various time intervals regardless of the statistical method used. The absence of regression of the radiation-induced histologic changes over time mandates the surgical pathologist be alert to the possibility of RT or CT even without that therapeutic history. | 10.1097/00000478-200401000-00004 |
pubmed_498_5838 | 4-Epianhydrotetracycline (4-EATC) is a major intermediate product of tetracycline during its degradation progress in the natural environment, which is frequently detected in aquatic environments and poses a potential threat to aquatic organisms. In the present study, the ecotoxicity of 4-EATC have been studied from the perspective of oxidative stress by using zebrafish embryos. After 96 h exposure, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations and protein carbonyl (PC) contents in zebrafish embryos in the lower-concentration 4-EATC treatment groups (1.25 mg/L and 2.50 mg/L) showed no significant differences compared with the negative control group. However, the total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased significantly. After exposed to the higher-concentration of 4-EATC (5.00, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/L) resulted in a significant increase in ROS levels, MDA concentrations and PC contents, in contrast, a significant decrease in SOD activities. The results indicate that exposure to high concentrations of 4-EATC (5.00, 10.0 and 20.0 mg/L) could disrupt the redox equilibrium in zebrafish embryos, leading to the occurrence of oxidative damage. Apoptosis of the embryonic cells could be induced by 4-EATC exposure at different concentration and the rate of apoptosis enhanced with the increase of 4-EATC concentration. The pericardium was the most frequent site of apoptosis. The present study points out that more attention should be paid to the potential ecological risks of antibiotic degradation products. | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149047 |
pubmed_675_6501 | BACKGROUND
The skull is an important anatomical structure to discern dog breeds and wolves from dogs. For this purpose, skull morphology and some morphometric measurements of Malakli dogs, a local breed in the Aksaray region, were examined.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-two distances were measured and seven ratios calculated in nine skulls of adult dogs. In our study, different morphological features and statistical findings that were not revealed by taking measurements from 32 distinct anatomical points of Aksaray Malakli dog skull bones were determined in accordance with the literature.
RESULTS
Processus zygomaticus was found to be long and pointed in the Aksaray Malakli dogs. The results of morphometric analysis were as follows: facial index value 107.68 ± 4.98, nasal index value 19.61 ± 3.25, cranial index value 56.17 ± 2.52, basal index value 30.57 ± 1.30, skull index 54.68 ± 3.01, palatal index I value 56.76 ± 1.89 and palatal index II value 59.83 ± 2.23.
CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded form the present investigation that the neurocranium length, facial index, cranial index, basal index, skull index, and palatal index values were statistically different from other dog breeds. | 10.5603/FM.a2021.0011 |
pubmed_414_2685 | Against the Cartagena Protocol and widespread scientific support for a case-by-case approach to regulation, the Convention on Biological Diversity has become a platform for imposing broad restrictions on research and development of all types of transgenic trees. | 10.1038/nbt0609-519 |
pubmed_55_2898 | OBJECTIVE
To determine frequency of and interval until recurrence after initial ammonium urate, calcium oxalate, and struvite uroliths in cats and whether breed, age, or sex was associated with increased risk for urolith recurrence.
DESIGN
Case-control study.
ANIMALS
4,435 cats with recurrent uroliths.
PROCEDURES
To identify recurrence of uroliths in cats for which uroliths were submitted for analysis at the Minnesota Urolith Center in 1998, the facility's database was searched for urolith resubmissions from the same cats between 1998 and 2003. Risk factors and differences in mean interval until recurrence were assessed.
RESULTS
Of 221 cats with ammonium urate uroliths in 1998, 29 (13.1%) had a first and 9 (4.1%) had a second recurrence. Mean interval until recurrence was 22 and 43 months for the first and second recurrence, respectively. Of 2,393 cats with calcium oxalate uroliths in 1998, 169 (7.1%) had a first, 15 (0.6%) had a second, and 2 (0.1%) had a third recurrence. Mean interval until recurrence was 25, 38, and 48 months for the first, second, and third recurrence, respectively. Of 1,821 cats with struvite uroliths in 1998, 49 (2.7%) had a first and 3 (0.2%) had a second recurrence. Mean interval until recurrence was 29 months for first and 40 months for second recurrences.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
These results provided insights into the frequency of urolith recurrence in cats. Because some uroliths associated with recurrent episodes probably were not submitted to our facility, our data likely represented an underestimation of the actual recurrence rate. | 10.2460/javma.235.12.1450 |
pubmed_511_11909 | Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized as a group of cardiometabolic risk factors that raise the risk for heart disease and other health problems, such as diabetes mellitus and stroke. Treatment strategies include pharmacologic interventions and supplementary (or "alternative") treatments. Nutraceuticals are derived from food sources (isolated nutrients, dietary supplements and herbal products) that are purported to provide health benefits, in addition to providing basic nutritional value. Nutraceuticals are claimed to prevent chronic diseases, improve health, delay the aging process, increase life expectancy, and support the structure and function of the body. The study of the beneficial effects of nutraceuticals in patients with MetS, including product standardization, duration of supplementation and definition of optimal dosing, could help better define appropriate treatment. This review focuses on widely marketed nutraceuticals (namely polyphenols, omega-3 fatty acids, macroelements and vitamins) with clinically demonstrated effects on more than one component of MetS. | 10.5114/aoms.2017.68717 |
pubmed_1076_17490 | Coronary ostial stenosis is one of the cardiac manifestations of tertiary syphilis and should be perceived as a disorder of the aorta. A 45-year-old man with no coronary risk factors except smoking developed severe isolated ostial stenosis in the left main coronary artery. He underwent emergency bypass surgery using the bilateral internal thoracic arteries as a composite Y-graft, and recovered uneventfully. | 10.1177/021849230701500217 |
pubmed_358_18469 | In order to define a cellular model suitable for studying, in vitro, the molecular properties and functions of neurotrophin receptors in human lymphocytes, TrkA, TrkB, TrkC and p75(NTR) expression was investigated in a panel of EBV immortalized lymphoblastoid (LCL) and Burkitt lymphoma-derived cell lines (BLs) compared to primary B lymphocytes by RT-PCR and flow cytometric analysis. Our data show that trkA and trkB are transcribed in most B cell lines of normal and malignant origin. For several of them, we also gained first evidence of trkC expression in B cells. All cell lines and primary B cells lack p75(NTR) expression. These data suggest that neurotrophin receptors expression in the B cell lines correlates to some extent with the phenotypic maturation stage and endogenous viral activity levels. Our data suggest that TrkA and TrkB, once activated, provide a partial rescue from apoptosis, whereas TrkC stimulates the progression through the cell cycle without affecting cell survival. Finally, the identification of a number of cell lines showing single expression of one of the Trk receptors has disclosed the availability of a cellular tool for further studies on their function, and mechanisms of signal transduction in the B cell moiety in the absence of p75(NTR). | pubmed_358_18469 |
pubmed_239_8379 | The volatile profile of four different groups of dried pistachios namely: H: healthy, NC: naturally contaminated with aflatoxin, AC: artificially contaminated with aflatoxigenic strains of the fungi Aspergillus flavus and ANT: artificially contaminated with non-toxigenic strains of the fungi A. flavus, was determined. The volatiles were isolated by the HS-SPME method and determined by GC-FID and GC-MS, whereas aflatoxin by HPLC. Seventy two volatile compounds were identified almost equally distributed among the above four studied groups. The predominant chemical compounds were monoterpenes, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters and hydrocarbons. The monoterpenes, mainly determined as α-pinene and α-terpinolene were detected in all samples. Even though the general volatile profile was similar among groups, some differences were detected between healthy and contaminated groups of samples. When some key volatiles such as eight-carbon and seven-carbon alcohols and aldehydes were used along with the species-specific sesquiterpenes and the other terpenes detected, a correct classification was obtained in H, NC, AC and ANT groups, as was demonstrated by cluster and discriminant analyses. This evidence provides a potential tool for distinguishing contaminated samples on the basis of characteristic volatile patterns. | 10.1016/j.foodres.2015.03.021 |
pubmed_61_6369 | Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor involved in abnormal cardiovascular events. Rho-kinase-mediated Ca(2+) sensitization of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) plays a critical role in vasospasm and hypertension. We recently identified sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) and Src family tyrosine kinase (Src-TK) as upstream mediators for the Rho-kinase-mediated Ca(2+) sensitization. Here we report the strong linkage between cholesterol and the Ca(2+) sensitization of VSM mediated by a novel SPC/Src-TK/Rho-kinase pathway in both humans and rabbits. The extent of the sensitization correlated well with the total cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in serum. However, an inverse correlation with the serum level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed, and a correlation with other cardiovascular risk factors was nil. When cholesterol-lowering therapy was given to patients and rabbits with hypercholesterolemia, the SPC-induced contractions diminished. Depletion of VSM cholesterol by beta-cyclodextrin resulted in a loss of membrane caveolin-1, a marker of cholesterol-enriched lipid raft, and inhibited the SPC-induced Ca(2+) sensitization and translocation of Rho-kinase from cytosol to the cell membrane. Vasocontractions induced by membrane depolarization and by an adrenergic agonist were cholesterol-independent. Our data support the previously unreported concept that cholesterol potentiates the Ca(2+) sensitization of VSM mediated by a SPC/Src-TK/Rho-kinase pathway, and are also compatible with a role for cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomain, a lipid raft. This process may play an important role in the development of abnormal vascular contractions in patients with hypercholesterolemia. | 10.1161/01.RES.0000235877.33682.e9 |
pubmed_770_2821 | This study examined the microbial degradation of acenaphthene and naphthalene under denitrification conditions at soil-to-water ratios of 1:25 and 1:50 with soil containing approximately 10(5) denitrifying organisms per g of soil. Under nitrate-excess conditions, both acenaphthene and naphthalene were degraded from initial aqueous-phase concentrations of about 1 and several mg/liter respectively, to nondetectable levels (less than 0.01 mg/liter) in less than 9 weeks. Acclimation periods of 12 to 36 days were observed prior to the onset of microbial degradation in tests with soil not previously exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds, whereas acclimation periods were absent in tests with soil reserved from prior PAH degradation tests. It was judged that the apparent acclimation period resulted from the time required for a small population of organisms capable of PAH degradation to attain sufficient densities to exhibit detectable PAH reduction, rather than being a result of enzyme induction, mutation, or use of preferential substrate. About 0.9% of the naturally occurring soil organic carbon could be mineralized under denitrification conditions, and this accounted for the greater proportion of the nitrate depletion. Mineralization of the labile fraction of the soil organic carbon via microbial denitrification occurred without an observed acclimation period and was rapid compared with PAH degradation. Under nitrate-limiting conditions the PAH compounds were stable owing to the depletion of nitrate via the more rapid process of soil organic carbon mineralization. Soil sorption tests showed at the initiation of a test that the total mass of PAH compound was divided in comparable proportions between solute in the aqueous phase and solute sorbed on the solid phase. The microbial degradation of the PAH compound depends on the interrelationships between (i) the desorption kinetics and the reversibility of desorption of sorbed compound from the soil, (ii) the concentration of PAH-degrading microorganisms, and (iii) the competing reaction for nitrate utilization via mineralization of the labile fraction of naturally occurring soil organic carbon. | 10.1128/aem.54.5.1188-1198.1988 |
pubmed_358_6128 | PURPOSE
To review computed tomographic (CT) and radiographic features of an oblique superior accessory fissure in the lower lobe of the lung.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
CT scans in 34 patients with a prospectively identified accessory fissure of the lower lobe were reviewed and correlated with chest radiographs (31 patients). The fissure and its relationship to segmental bronchovascular structures were evaluated on transverse scans. Three-dimensional (3D) shaded surface display (SSD) reconstructions were obtained from spiral volume data (six patients).
RESULTS
Thirty-four patients had 36 accessory fissures (26 right, 10 left). Four of the 36 accessory fissures were manifested by a normal fissure line; two, by slight thickening or minimal linear atelectasis; 16, by thicker linear or subsegmental atelectasis; two, by contiguous tumor infiltration; one, by adjacent consolidation; and 11, by intrafissural extension of pleural fluid. Analysis of bronchovascular structures revealed that this fissure was the superior accessory fissure. The 3D SSD reconstructions demonstrated an oblique orientation. On frontal radiographs, presence of this fissure correlated with a curvilinear band of atelectasis coursing inferomedially and obliquely from its intersection with the lateral aspect of the major fissure toward the infrahilar region on the right and the heart border on the left. Chest radiographs also showed intrafissural extension of pleural fluid.
CONCLUSION
A superior accessory fissure of the lower lobe, more common on the right than on the left, can be identified at transverse CT. Contrary to previous descriptions, it may be oblique, as findings on transverse images suggest and 3D SSD reconstructions confirm. Its presence correlates with characteristic patterns of atelectasis and pleural fluid collection on conventional radiographs. | 10.1148/radiology.216.1.r00jl4797 |
pubmed_708_20397 | Chlamydia trachomatis infection, presumably sexually transmitted, has been implicated in the spread of tubal infertility and ectopic pregnancy. In searching evidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection as a possible cause of tubal ectopic pregnancy, we enrolled 40 consecutive pathologically proven tubal ectopic women and 37 normal early intrauterine pregnant women from our OPD and ward from Jan. 1989 to July 1989. All cases underwent a structured interview giving particular attention to past reproductive history, contraception history and past history of STD. The levels of serum antibody IgG to Chlamydia trachomatis in all cases were determined. Seven ectopic women with wearing IUD in situ (group A) and 33 ectopic women with no identical factor (group B) were compared with 37 normal early intrauterine pregnant women (control group). The result showed group B more often had IgG antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis than control group (P = 0.001). Group A had higher antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis than control group but the difference was not statistically significant (P greater than 0.05). We concluded that the above findings add to the evidence that Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a major cause of tubal ectopic pregnancy. | pubmed_708_20397 |
others_314_3872 | Understanding gene regulatory networks is critical to understanding cellular differentiation and response to external stimuli. Methods for global network inference have been developed and applied to a variety of species. Most approaches consider the problem of network inference independently in each species, despite evidence that gene regulation can be conserved even in distantly related species. Further, network inference is often confined to single data-types (single platforms) and single cell types. We introduce a method for multi-source network inference that allows simultaneous estimation of gene regulatory networks in multiple species or biological processes through the introduction of priors based on known gene relationships such as orthology incorporated using fused regression. This approach improves network inference performance even when orthology mapping and conservation are incomplete. We refine this method by presenting an algorithm that extracts the true conserved subnetwork from a larger set of potentially conserved interactions and demonstrate the utility of our method in cross species network inference. Last, we demonstrate our methods utility in learning from data collected on different experimental platforms | 10.1101/049775 |
pubmed_576_75 | The enzyme phosphomannomutase/phosphoglucomutase (PMM/PGM) catalyzes the conversion of mannose 6-phosphate to mannose 1-phosphate in the second step of the alginate biosynthetic pathway of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PMM/PGM has been crystallized by hanging-drop vapor diffusion in space group P2(1)2(1)2(1). Crystals diffract to 1.75 A resolution on a synchrotron X-ray source under cryo-cooling conditions. PMM/PGM substituted with selenomethionine has been purified and crystallizes isomorphously with the native enzyme. Structure determination by MAD phasing is under way. Because of its role in alginate biosynthesis, PMM/PGM is a potential target for therapeutic inhibitors to combat P. aeruginosa infections. | 10.1107/s0907444900004431 |
pubmed_828_12471 | Echinococcus granulosus, the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis, not only often causes unilocular cysts in intermediate hosts, but also in rare cases induces formation of multivesicular cysts which have similar morphology to alveolar cysts. The aim of the present study was to characterise multivesicular and unilocular hydatid cysts in cattle using morphologic and molecular diagnostic tools. Multivesicular cysts were detected in 4 out of 1255 slaughtered cows. Four unilocular cysts were also included in the study to compare with multivesicular cyst morphology. For histopathological evaluation, tissues were fixed in 10% neutral formalin. Following a routine histological tissue-processing procedure, samples were embedded in paraffin blocks and serial sections were cut at a thickness of 4-5 microm. For polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cyst walls and/or protoscolices recovered from six materials were preserved in 70% alcohol. Histopathologically, severity of calcification, fibrous capsule formation and giant cell layer were similar for multivesicular and unilocular cysts. However, the severity of subcapsular inflammation, inflammatory cell infiltration into adjacent organ parenchyma and eosinophil leucocyte infiltration into the cyst lumen was higher in multivesicular cysts. PCR analyses revealed that all unilocular hydatid cysts as well as two out of four multivesicular cysts were G1 genotype of E. granulosus. Molecular diagnosis of the other two multivesicular structures remained inconclusive as DNAs obtained from paraffin-embedded cyst walls were fragmented to small parts, as short as 100 bp, which were not suitable for PCR analyses. In conclusion, molecular analysis concomitant to histopathological examinations is useful in differential diagnosis of multivesicular echinococcosis. | 10.1016/j.vetpar.2010.01.045 |
pubmed_992_11489 | Excited state ultrafast conformational reorganization is recognized as an important phenomenon that facilitates light-induced functions of many molecular systems. This report describes the femtosecond and picosecond conformational relaxation dynamics of middle-ring and terminal ring twisted conformers of the acetylene π-conjugated system bis(phenylethynyl)benzene, a model system for molecular wires. Through excitation wavelength dependent, femtosecond-transient absorption measurements, we found that the middle-ring and terminal ring twisted conformers relax at femtosecond (400-600 fs) and picosecond (20-24 ps) time scales, respectively. Actinic pumping into the red flank of the absorption spectrum leads to excitation of primarily planar conformers, and results in very different excited state dynamics. In addition, ultrafast Raman loss spectroscopic studies revealed the vibrational mode dependent relaxation dynamics for different excitation wavelengths. To corroborate our experimental findings, DFT and time-dependent DFT calculations were carried out. The Franck-Condon simulation indicated that the vibronic structure observed in the electronic absorption and the fluorescence spectra are due to progressions and combinations of several vibrational modes corresponding to the phenyl ring and the acetylenic groups. Furthermore, the middle ring torsional rotation matches the room-temperature electronic absorption, in stark contrast to the terminal ring torsional rotation. Finally, we show that the middle-ring twisted conformer undergoes femtosecond torsional planarization dynamic, whereas the terminal rings relax on a few tens of picosecond time scale. | 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b03893 |
pubmed_67_1199 | Background Obstructive sleep apnea is a highly prevalent yet largely under-diagnosed disease that poses a significant burden on the healthcare system. Objective To determine the role of predictors for Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and its severity in Nepalese population. Method Prospective and analytical study conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck surgery at Kathmandu University Hospital between March 2018 and June 2020. A total of 85 adult patients with Obstructive sleep apnea with an Epworth sleepiness score greater than 10 were included. Overnight polysomnography was done and scoring of sleep associated events were done according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine criteria. Participants were classified as simple snoring and mild, moderate or severe Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome groups depending on the Apnea Hypopnea Index values. Relationship of Apnea hypopnea index was analyzed with age, neck circumference, body mass index and Epworth Sleepiness score. Result Simple snoring was seen in 18(21.17%) patients, 14(16.47%) had mild Obstructive sleep apnea, 13(15.29%) had moderate Obstructive sleep apnea, whereas the severe group consisted of 40(47.05%) patients. The minimum Epworth Sleepiness Score was 10 and the maximum was 25. The Apnea hypopnea index correlated positively with Body mass index (p=.010) and Epworth sleepiness score (p <.001). However, Apnea hypopnea index had no association with age (p=.437) and neck circumference (p=.118). Conclusion Health professionals need to be extremely vigilant while examining patients presenting with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Polysomnography is the investigation of choice in the early identification of this treatable disease. | pubmed_67_1199 |
pubmed_1092_20749 | Although chlorophyll degradation pathways in higher plants have been well studied, little is known about the mechanisms of chlorophyll degradation in microalgae. In this article, we report the occurrence of a chlorophyll a derivative that has never been discovered in photosynthetic organisms. This chlorophyll derivative emits no fluorescence and has a peculiar absorbance peak at 425, 451, 625, and 685 nm. From these features, it was identified as 13(2) ,17(3) -cyclopheophorbide a enol (cPPB-aE), reported as a degradation product of chlorophyll a derived from prey algal cells in heterotrophic protists. We discovered cPPB-aE in six benthic photosynthetic dinoflagellates that are phylogenetically separated into four clades based on SSU rDNA molecular phylogeny. This is the first report of this chlorophyll derivative in photosynthetic organisms and we suggest that the derivative is used to quench excess light energy. | 10.1111/jpy.12135 |
pubmed_1109_19660 | By 2002, China's prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults was 18.9 and 2.9%, respectively. The replacement of traditional Chinese diet with 'Western diet', major declines in all phases of activity and increased sedentary activity are cited as the main reasons explaining the rapid increase in overweight and obesity, which bring major economic and health costs. The Nutrition Improvement Work Management Approach was released in 2010. Overweight and obesity prevention-related policies were added to national planning for disease prevention and control. The Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Overweight and Obesity of Chinese Adults and the School-age Children and Teenagers Overweight and Obesity Prevention and Control Guidelines in China were promulgated in 2003 and 2007, respectively. Few education programmes have been implemented. Selected academic intervention research projects dominate with a focus on reducing child obesity and promoting healthier diets; increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary time; and facilitating changes in family, school, social and cultural environments. Intervention samples are small and have not addressed the increasing rates of obesity throughout the entire population. Government provision of effective policy measures, multisectoral cooperation and increasing corporate social responsibility are keys to curbing the trend towards overweight and obesity in China. | 10.1111/obr.12106 |
pubmed_1140_20574 | Exposure of certain strains of mice to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) causes suppression of some innate and adaptive immune responses. One such consequence of acute UVB exposure is a reduction in the number of Langerhans cells (LC) in the epidermis and an increase in dendritic cells (DC) in lymph nodes draining the irradiated skin sites. Exposure to chronic UVB irradiation also has effects on the immune system, but it is unknown what effects are caused by repeated doses of solar simulated radiation (SSR). Consequently, the main aims of the present study were to determine whether repeated exposure to low doses of SSR would lead to similar changes in these cell populations and whether chronic doses of SSR activate a protective photoadaptation mechanism. Groups of C3H/HeN mice were irradiated daily with 3.7 J/cm(2) SSR from Cleo Natural lamps for 2, 10, 20, 30 or 60 days. Further groups of mice received an additional dose of 7.4 J/cm(2) SSR on days 2, 10, 30 or 60 to test for photoadaptation. The numbers of LC in the epidermis and DC in the lymph nodes draining irradiated skin sites were counted 24 h after the final irradiation. With the exception of mice irradiated for only 2 days, LC were significantly reduced throughout the chronic irradiation protocol, and no recovery occurred. DC numbers were significantly increased in the draining lymph nodes of mice irradiated for 20 days and 60 days. | 10.1562/2005-04-10-RA-484 |
pubmed_269_25933 | Many species of echinoderms have long been considered model research organisms in biology. Historically, much of this research has focused on the embryology of sea urchins and the use of their extensive gene regulatory networks as a tool to understand how the genome controls cell state specification and patterning. The establishment of Patiria miniata, the bat sea star, as a research organism has allowed us to expand on the concepts explored with sea urchins, viewing these genetic networks through a comparative lens, gaining great insight into the evolutionary mechanisms that shape developmental diversity. Extensive molecular tools have been developed in P. miniata, designed to explore gene expression dynamics and build gene regulatory networks. Echinoderms also have a robust set of bioinformatic and computational resources, centered around echinobase.org, an extensive database containing multiomic, developmental, and experimental resources for researchers. In addition to comparative evolutionary development, P. miniata is a promising system in its own right for studying whole body regeneration, metamorphosis and body plan development, as well as marine disease. | 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.01.006 |
pubmed_1138_4894 | Capillary electrophoresis based on cetyltrimethylammonium bromide micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) was developed for the separation and determination of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) disaccharide units without derivatization. The influence of changes in several separation conditions was studied, and the separation mechanisms are discussed. Tests of repeatability and linearity were performed for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the method. The described procedure gives a rapid and efficient determination of GAG disaccharides. Samples of chondroitin sulphates and mink skin were treated with proteases, and the extent of protein cleavage was followed by free zone capillary electrophoresis. The result of the chondroitinase ABC treatment following the protease treatment was evaluated by the MECC method. | 10.1016/0021-9673(93)83272-T |
pubmed_975_7428 | During gastrulation in vertebrates, ectodermal cells choose between two fates, neural and epidermal. The nervous system forms in response to signals from the Spemann organizer; ectoderm that does not receive these signals becomes epidermis. Unexpectedly, however, in Xenopus, neural tissue also forms when cell-cell communication within the ectoderm is disrupted by cell dissociation or by antagonists of the growth factor activin. These observations suggest that epidermal specification depends on local signalling, by activin or a close relative, and that neural tissue forms when this communication is blocked. Here we report that bone morphogenesis protein 4 (Bmp-4), a relative of activin that is expressed in the embryo at the time of ectodermal fate determination, is a potent epidermal inducer and neural inhibitor, the first reported in any vertebrate. Activin can inhibit neuralization by inducing mesoderm, but does not induce epidermis. Moreover, the dominant-negative activin receptor, which stimulates neuralization when expressed in the embryo, blocks Bmp-4 in our assay. Our findings demonstrate that epidermal fate can be induced, and thus provide further evidence that neural specification is under inhibitory control in vertebrates. | 10.1038/376331a0 |
pubmed_649_2170 | Adrenocortical carcinoma is an unusual tumor that tends to be larger than 100 g at diagnosis. Malignant adrenocortical tumors of less than 50 g have been reported rarely. We studied a small adrenocortical carcinoma that weighed 40 g and metastasized 3 1/2 years following bilateral adrenalectomy. The malignancy of adrenocortical tumors is frequently difficult to determine. Two recent studies have proposed histologic criteria for determining the malignancy of adrenal cortical tumors. Since the tumor we studied was initially judged to be benign, we sought to determine whether an extensive evaluation of this tumor using these recent criteria could have identified the tumor's potential for metastasizing. Careful application of these criteria indicated that the tumor was either a borderline lesion or a definitely malignant lesion. This emphasizes the need to approach systematically all adrenal neoplasms with regard to determining their malignant potential. Documenting small adrenocortical carcinomas also should help in setting criteria for evaluating adrenal masses discovered incidentally by sensitive radiologic methods. | pubmed_649_2170 |
pubmed_715_21880 | Several Monte Carlo simulators are currently available for positron emission tomography (PET). Because each code has been described in a different way, it is difficult to know which one is best suited to a specific application. To help clarify the capabilities and accuracy of different codes dedicated to PET simulations, we propose a uniform description of the code features. This description specifies features pertaining to the models used for simulating the physics of PET and for describing a PET acquisition, to the acceleration strategies and to the technical characteristics of the code implementation. To assess the code accuracy, we suggest validation procedures based on NEMA phantoms involving standard physical parameters and simulation of a complex activity distribution. A test characterizing the statistical properties of detected coincidences is also described. The proposed code description and validation procedures are illustrated by considering the SimSET and PET-EGS codes. These codes differ in many features, including models for randoms and dead time, and source description. Despite these differences, both codes yielded data with properties close to those of real data. Depending on the intended application, one code might be preferred however. Indeed, only PET-EGS allows for accurate modelling of count rates while SimSET is more computationally efficient. The proposed code description and validation procedures might help determine which code is most appropriate for a specific application. | 10.1088/0031-9155/50/2/011 |
pubmed_594_12420 | Neural responses accompanying anticipation and experience of monetary gains and losses were monitored by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Trials comprised an initial "prospect" (expectancy) phase, when a set of three monetary amounts was displayed, and a subsequent "outcome" phase, when one of these amounts was awarded. Hemodynamic responses in the sublenticular extended amygdala (SLEA) and orbital gyrus tracked the expected values of the prospects, and responses to the highest value set of outcomes increased monotonically with monetary value in the nucleus accumbens, SLEA, and hypothalamus. Responses to prospects and outcomes were generally, but not always, seen in the same regions. The overlap of the observed activations with those seen previously in response to tactile stimuli, gustatory stimuli, and euphoria-inducing drugs is consistent with a contribution of common circuitry to the processing of diverse rewards. | 10.1016/s0896-6273(01)00303-8 |
others_81_4588 | mporal injections of puromycin consistently induce amnesia of aversive maze learning in mice when administered within 3 days of training. These bitemporal puromycin injections lose their amnestic effectiveness if the latency between training and injection is extended beyond 6 days. Consistent with other evidence, we conclude that in our experimental paradigm, complementary memory storage sites normally develop in additional cerebral areas within 6 days following training. Previous experiments have indicated that the central adrenergic and cholinergic systems are critically involved in this process. We now present evidence that administration of the NMDA receptor antagonist, CPP, blocks the development of these complementary memory storage sites. As suggested by studies of long-term potentiation, NMDA receptor-dependent postsynaptic calcium appears to be essential for the development of these storage sites and indeed to trigger their development. © 1995 | 10.1016/0091-3057(95)00021-N |
others_256_7231 | With the recent report of mutations in the calcium channel gene CACNA1A in two families with episodic ataxia type 2, we investigated a patient with nonfamilial episodic vertigo and ataxia responsive to acetazolamide for similar mutations. Single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of exon 23 identified an extra band in the patient that was not present in other relatives or in normal controls. Exon 23 of the patient showed a spontaneous C to T substitution at position 4410 resulting in an early stop codon. Patients with nonfamilial episodic ataxia may respond to acetazolamide and may have mutations in CACNA1A | 10.1002/(SICI)1096-8628(19980526)77:4<298::AID-AJMG9>3.0.CO;2-J |
pubmed_748_1920 | STUDY OBJECTIVE
Accurate tumor staging is essential for choosing the appropriate treatment strategy for lung cancer. CT of the chest is the most commonly used noninvasive staging method of the lymph node metastasis, but it is far from satisfying. We evaluated whether circulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C could give additional information for diagnosing lymph node metastasis in patients with lung cancer.
PATIENTS AND METHOD
Serum samples were obtained from 116 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). All patients underwent preoperative CT of the thorax. Clinical T and N stages were compared to the final T and N stages obtained from pathologic findings. Serum VEGF-C concentration was assayed by commercially available sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We evaluated the utility of serum VEGF-C level as a marker for nodal metastasis comparing the utility of CT.
RESULTS
Preoperative and final T categories completely agreed in 82.8%. Regarding nodal metastasis, the accuracy of CT was 68.1%. Patients with lymph node metastasis showed higher serum VEGF-C concentrations than those without lymph node metastasis (p = 0.0007). Serum VEGF-C reached the highest sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing lymph node metastasis when a cut-off value of 1,850.6 pg/mL was applied (sensitivity, 70.0%; specificity, 77.3%). Serum VEGF-C visually correlated with CT scan in the detection of lymph node metastasis (sensitivity, 74.0%; specificity, 80.3%; positive predictive value, 74.0%; negative predictive value, 80.3%; accuracy, 77.6%). When the cases were limited to adenocarcinoma, better results could be obtained.
CONCLUSIONS
Serum VEGF-C is a reliable marker for lymph node metastasis in NSCLC. Serum VEGF-C evaluation and CT examination are complementary to each other for accurate lymph node staging in NSCLC. | 10.1378/chest.126.2.342 |
pubmed_648_11343 | Alachlor, a chloroacetanilide endocrine disruptor herbicide is precarious for humans as well as the environment. Though banned by the European Union and classified as moderately hazardous by WHO, yet it is nevertheless used in several countries posing austere human and environmental health issues. Alachlor attenuation was scrutinized through simulated biodegradation experiments using soil-isolated microbes. Bio-disintegrative assays of pure three fungal and one bacterial strain; Aspergillus flavus (AF), Penicillium chrysogenum (PC), Aspergillus niger (AN) and Xanthomonas axonopodis (XA), respectively were utilized. Initial Alachlor concentration (10 mg/L) was prepared with individual microbial suspension and monitored for 35 d. Alachlor bio-transformation was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. XA and AN displayed maximal potential to metabolise the herbicide while forming residues; 1-chloroacetyl, 2,3- dihydro-7 ethylindole, 7 ethylindole, 7-ethyl-3-methyl-2-methoxy-2,3-dihydroindole, N- (2,6-diethylphenyl)-methyleneamine and 7-Ethyl-N-methylindole. Alachlor degradation by AF, PC, AN and XA was found to be 17.1%, 5.5%, 72.6% and 82.1%, respectively, after 35 d. Microbes have displayed cometabolism as the main mechanism for Alachlor degradation. This research can influence imperative and significant environmental friendly bio-remedial strategies for xenobiotic eradication. | 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109117 |
pubmed_549_1033 | INTRODUCTION
Despite a high worldwide prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy among black patients, the association of a specific left ventricular geometric pattern with left ventricular dysfunction is rare. The aim of this study was to explore the possibility of such an association in Nigerian hypertensives.
METHODS
This was a retrospective study consisting of 188 treated hypertensives. Echocardiography was used to allocate the patients to the following four groups: normal geometric pattern, concentric remodelling, eccentric hypertrophy and concentric hypertrophy.
RESULTS
The mean age of the study population was 55.95 +/- 10.71 years. There were 75 females (39.9%). Concentric hypertrophy occurred in 72 (38.3%) patients and concentric remodelling in 53 (28.2%). Only 30 (16%) had a normal left ventricular geometric pattern. Hypertensive subjects with eccentric hypertrophy had the lowest ejection fraction, fractional fibre shortening and left ventricular ejection time but these did not reach statistical significance. The mean left atrial dimension was highest in the subjects with eccentric hypertrophy.
CONCLUSION
In this study population of treated Nigerian hypertensives, concentric remodelling and hypertrophy were the predominant left ventricular geometrical patterns. | pubmed_549_1033 |
pubmed_350_753 | Inflammatory cells were characterized by immunohistochemistry, utilizing monoclonal antibodies against cell surface antigens in frozen sections of sciatic nerves and nerve roots of Lewis rats, sacrificed during the course of experimental allergic neuritis. Large numbers of Ia-expressing irregular macrophage-like/dendritic cells, as well as W 3/13 reactive T lymphocytes of both W 3/25 reactive helper and ox8 reactive suppressor/cytotoxic phenotypes were seen within afflicted peripheral nervous tissue at the start of clinical symptoms and at the height of the disease. T lymphocytes of both helper and suppressor/cytotoxic phenotypes decreased concomitant with clinical recovery. During this period demyelination was still extensive and Ia-expressing macrophage-like/dendritic cells were abundant. | 10.1016/0022-510x(84)90002-9 |
pubmed_594_15786 | Chronic granulomatous disease is caused by a genetic defect in the oxidase of phagocytic cells which results in increased susceptibility to recurrent infections. Conventional treatment includes the use of antimicrobials and interpheron-gamma. This study was performed to assess the clinical efficacy of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in definitively correcting the functional underlying defect of chronic granulomatous disease. An 8-year-old boy with a rare type X-linked cytochrome b positive chronic granulomatous disease underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation after conditioning with busulfan and cyclophosphamide. The patient's HLA identical sister was marrow donor. The post-transplant outcome was uneventful. During the 9 year follow-up period the patient has been constantly free of infections, maintained an excellent clinical performance with full correction of the granulocyte functional defect. This case confirms that allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is the only treatment capable to cure chronic granulomatous disease to those patients who cannot be optimally treated with conventional therapy. | 10.1080/10245332.1999.11746454 |
pubmed_699_15675 | Hyperkinesias are heterogeneous involuntary movements that significantly differ in terms of clinical and semeiological manifestations, including rhythm, regularity, speed, duration, and other factors that determine their appearance or suppression. Hyperkinesias are due to complex, variable, and largely undefined pathophysiological mechanisms that may involve different brain areas. In this chapter, we specifically focus on dystonia, chorea and hemiballismus, and other dyskinesias, specifically, levodopa-induced, tardive, and cranial dyskinesia. We address the role of neurophysiological studies aimed at explaining the pathophysiology of these conditions. We mainly refer to human studies using surface and invasive in-depth recordings, as well as spinal, brainstem, and transcortical reflexology and non-invasive brain stimulation techniques. We discuss the extent to which the neurophysiological abnormalities observed in hyperkinesias may be explained by pathophysiological models. We highlight the most relevant issues that deserve future research efforts. The potential role of neurophysiological assessment in the clinical context of hyperkinesia is also discussed. | 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.05.014 |
pubmed_940_17947 | Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a betaherpesvirus that has been frequently associated with pediatric encephalitis. In 1995 Challoner et al reported that HHV-6 variant B (HHV-6B) was linked to multiple sclerosis (MS) due to the presence of viral DNA and antigen in the oligodendrocytes surrounding MS plaques. These findings led us to examine HHV-6B's in vitro tropism for primary neural cells. HIV-6B mediated cell-to-cell fusion in cultured adult oligodendroglia. Infection of oligodendrocytes was further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (EM), which showed the presence of intracellular HHV-6 particles, and by PCR for HHV-6 DNA. However, the release of infectious virus was low or undetectable in multiple experiments. Microglia were also susceptible to infection by HHV-6B, as demonstrated by an antigen capture assay. We did not detect infection of a differentiated neuronal cell line (NT2D). Our findings suggest that HHV-6B infection of oligodendrocytes and/or microglia could potentially play a role in neuropathogenesis. | 10.3109/13550289809113493 |
pubmed_1057_23688 | INTRODUCTION
Assessments of executive functions (EFs) with varying levels of perceptual information or action fidelity are common talent-diagnostic tools in soccer, yet their validity still has to be established. Therefore, a longitudinal development of EFs in high-level players to understand their relationship with increased exposure to training is required.
METHODS
A total of 304 high-performing male youth soccer players (10-21 years old) in Germany were assessed across three seasons on various sport-specific and non-sport-specific cognitive functioning assessments.
RESULTS
The posterior means (90% highest posterior density) of random slopes indicated that both abilities predominantly developed between 10 and 15 years of age. A plateau was apparent for domain-specific abilities during adolescence, whereas domain-generic abilities improved into young adulthood.
CONCLUSION
The developmental trajectories of soccer players' EFs follow the general populations' despite long-term exposure to soccer-specific training and game play. This brings into question the relationship between high-level experience and EFs and renders including EFs in talent identification questionable. | pubmed_1057_23688 |
pubmed_314_7748 | The already high and still rising cost of health care has become a matter of serious concern and a subject of political dispute. The problem has no magic cures but, as is shown here, there are a number of promising modifications in current practice that promise to reduce the required outlays without impairing appropriate health care. Continual reports of new medicines, new tests, and new procedures have created an urgent need for careful comparison and evaluation of the advantages and beneficial results that these innovations offer. The same is true for the growing knowledge of genetic variations, which affects the course of therapy for some patients. Costs also can be saved, in some instances, by utilization of medical therapy, rather than interventional procedures. Preventive medicine provides still more opportunities for cost savings. This paper provides an overview of promising potential approaches to reduce the cost of health care. | 10.1007/s10900-010-9253-6 |
pubmed_1008_12662 | Several metabolic (HbA1, HDL-C, triglycerides) and hemostatic (VIIIR: Ag, VIII:C, B-TG variables were investigated in 35 non-obese, insulin-dependent diabetics without clinically evident vascular complications. B-TG was high but did not correlate with other metabolic and hemostatic parameters, suggesting that elevated B-TG in diabetes might be an expression of in vitro platelet activation. VIIIR: Ag and the ratio of VIIIR: Ag to VIII: C were markedly increased. There was a significant correlation of the HbA1 and HDL-C levels with VIIIR: Ag, indicating that VIIIR:Ag is another reflection of metabolic control in diabetes. Additional pathogenic mechanisms, however, appear to be involved in causing the changes in VIIIR: Ag in diabetes. | 10.1007/BF02047890 |
pubmed_729_17903 | There is a phase difference between s and p polarizations when a circularly polarized heterodyne light beam is reflected from a birefringent crystal. It can be measured accurately with a common-path heterodyne interferometric technique. We have derived an equation that describes the relationship between the phase differences and n(e), n(o), and alpha. Two groups of solutions for (n(e), n(o)) can be obtained from this equation by the phase measurements performed at three incident angles under moderate conditions. Each group consists of three pairs of solutions for (ne), n(o)). Finally, by justifying with physical conditions, we obtained the correct solution for (n(e), n(o)). Azimuth angle alpha of the birefringent crystal optical axis can also be determined. And the feasibility of this method is demonstrated. | 10.1364/ao.41.003936 |
pubmed_854_5091 | INTRODUCTION
The biological behavior of most solid tumors in transplant recipients has not been adequately compared to the general population. The purpose of the present study was to compare outcomes in de novo colorectal cancer (CRC) following solid organ transplantation to those observed in the general population (SEER) database.
METHODS
All transplant recipients with de novo CRC in the Israel Penn International Transplant Tumor Registry were identified and analyzed and the data were compared to CRC patients in the SEER National Cancer Institute (NCI) database.
RESULTS
One hundred and fifty transplant recipients with de novo CRC were identified, among which were 93 (62%) kidney, 29 (19.3%) heart, 27 (18%) liver, and 1 (0.7%) lung recipients. Median age of transplant recipients was 54 years, compared to a median age of 72 years for patients in the SEER NCI database. However, compared to patients from the SEER NCI database, recipients with Duke's A through C stage disease were noted to experience a significant decrease in 5-year survival. The results in Duke's C patients were particularly dismal.
CONCLUSIONS
The early age at presentation of CRC in transplant recipients suggests that the development of de novo CRC may be effected by immunosuppression. Decreased 5-year survival rates in transplant recipients compared to the general population suggest that CRC in transplant patients is biologically more aggressive. These data cannot distinguish whether the lower survival rates are because the CRC are inherently biologically more aggressive or whether immunosuppression allows for more aggressive clinical behavior of CRC. | 10.1016/j.transproceed.2004.12.122 |
pubmed_524_4614 | BACKGROUND
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by novel coronavirus 2019 in December 2019 has spread all around the globe and has caused a pandemic. There is still no current effective guidance on the clinical management of COVID-19. Mesenchymal stem cell therapy has been shown to be one of the therapeutic approaches to alleviate pneumonia and symptoms through their immunomo-dulatory effect in COVID-19 patients.
CASE SUMMARY
We describe the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Hangzhou to explore the role of human menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs) in the treatment of COVID-19. Moreover, we review the immunomodulation effect including non-specific and specific immune functions of MenSCs for the therapy of COVID-19.
CONCLUSION
MenSCs can be helpful to find a promising therapeutic approach for COVID-19. | 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i7.1705 |
others_341_2500 | The developmental period, adult longevity, fecundity, age-specific survival rate (lx), age-specific fecundity (mx) and body size effects on the longevity and fecundity of Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) from the population of Memuro, Hokkaido, which parasitizes the cowpea aphid Aphis craccivora Koch, were examined. The mean developmental period, adult longevity, and fecundity (20°C and 16L8D photoperiod) were 11.8 days, 6.6 days, and 60.4, respectively. All progeny produced were females, indicating that the population is thelytokous. On the basis of the results, the estimated intrinsic rate of the natural increase (rm) of this parasitoid was 0.241. A positive significant correlation was found between female body size and longevity, but no significant correlation was found between body size and fecundity | 10.1303/jjaez.2008.149 |
pubmed_201_21395 | BACKGROUND
Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common problem that can severely affect quality of life.
OBJECTIVES
To compare bipolar radiofrequency endometrial ablation and thermal balloon ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding in terms of efficacy and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
SEARCH STRATEGY
Online registries were systematically searched using relevant terms without language restriction from inception to November 24, 2016.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized control trials or cohort studies of women with heavy menstrual bleeding comparing the efficacy of two treatments were eligible.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Data were extracted. Results were expressed as risk ratios (RRs) or weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
MAIN RESULTS
Six studies involving 901 patients were included. Amenorrhea rate at 12 months was significantly higher after bipolar radiofrequency endometrial ablation than after thermal balloon ablation (RR 2.73, 95% CI 2.00-3.73). However, no difference at 12 months was noted for dysmenorrhea (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.68-1.58) or treatment failure (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.38-1.60). The only significant difference for HRQoL outcomes was for change in SAQ pleasure score (12 months: WMD -3.51, 95% CI -5.42 to -1.60).
CONCLUSIONS
Bipolar radiofrequency endometrial ablation and thermal balloon ablation reduce menstrual loss and improve quality of life. However, bipolar radiofrequency endometrial ablation is more effective in terms of amenorrhea rate and SAQ pleasure. | 10.1002/ijgo.12340 |
pubmed_1061_19069 | PURPOSE
To determine the long-term prognostic role of hormone receptor subtype in breast cancer using surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database.
METHODS
Data of 810,587 female operable invasive breast cancer patients from SEER database with a mean follow-up period of 94.2 months (range, 0-311 months) were analyzed. Hormone receptor subtype was classified into four groups based on estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) statuses: ER(+)/PR(+), ER(+)/PR(-), ER(-)/PR(+), and ER(-)/PR(-).
RESULTS
Numbers of subjects with ER(+)/PR(+), ER(+)/PR(-), ER(-)/PR(+), ER(-)/PR(-), and unknown were 496,279 (61.2%), 86,858 (10.7%), 11,545 (1.4%), 135,441 (16.7%), and 80,464 (9.9%), respectively. The ER(+)/PR(+) subtype showed the best breast-cancer-specific survival, followed by ER(+)/PR(-), ER(-)/PR(+), and ER(-)/PR(-) subtypes in the respective order (all p < 0.001). Survival difference among hormone receptor subtypes was maintained in subgroup analysis according to anatomic stage, race, age group, and year of diagnosis. Hormone receptor subtype was a significant independent prognostic factor in multivariable analyses (p < 0.001). Hazard ratios of ER(+)/PR(-), ER(-)/PR(+), and ER(-)/PR(-) for breast-cancer-specific mortality risk were 1.419 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.383-1.456), 1.630 (95% CI 1.537-1.729), and 1.811 (95% CI 1.773-1.848), respectively, with ER(+)/PR(+) as reference.
CONCLUSION
Hormone receptor subtype is a significant independent prognostic factor in female operable invasive breast cancer patients with long-term effect. The ER(+)/PR(+) subtype shows the most favorable prognosis, followed by ER(+)/PR(-), ER(-)/PR(+), and ER(-)/PR(-) subtypes in the respective order. Prognostic impacts of hormone receptor subtypes are also maintained in subgroup analysis according to anatomic stage, race, age, and year of diagnosis. | 10.1007/s10549-019-05456-w |
pubmed_1133_24328 | Joint analyses of genes and languages, both of which are transmitted in populations by descent with modification-genes vertically by Mendel's laws, language via combinations of vertical, oblique, and horizontal processes [1-4]-provide an informative approach for human evolutionary studies [5-10]. Although gene-language analyses have employed extensive data on individual genetic variation [11-23], their linguistic data have not considered corresponding long-recognized [24] variability in individual speech patterns, or idiolects. Genetically admixed populations that speak creole languages show high genetic and idiolectal variation-genetic variation owing to heterogeneity in ancestry within admixed groups [25, 26] and idiolectal variation owing to recent language formation from differentiated sources [27-31]. To examine cotransmission of genetic and linguistic variation within populations, we collected genetic markers and speech recordings in the admixed creole-speaking population of Cape Verde, whose Kriolu language traces to West African languages and Portuguese [29, 32-35] and whose genetic ancestry has individual variation in European and continental African contributions [36-39]. In parallel with the combined Portuguese and West African origin of Kriolu, we find that genetic admixture in Cape Verde varies on an axis separating Iberian and Senegambian populations. We observe, analogously to vertical genetic transmission, transmission of idiolect from parents to offspring, as idiolect is predicted by parental birthplace, even after controlling for shared parent-child birthplaces. Further, African genetic admixture correlates with an index tabulating idiolectal features with likely African origins. These results suggest that Cape Verdean genetic and linguistic admixture have followed parallel evolutionary trajectories, with cotransmission of genetic and linguistic variation. | 10.1016/j.cub.2017.07.002 |
pubmed_405_25375 | The blood vasculature is constantly adapting to meet the demand from tissue. In so doing, branches may form, reorganize or regress. These complex processes employ integration of multiple signalling cascades, some of them being restricted to endothelial and mural cells and, hence, suitable for targeting of the vasculature. Both genetic and drug targeting experiments have demonstrated the requirement for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) system, the Delta-like-Notch system and the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) cascades in vascular development. Although several of these signalling cascades in part converge into common downstream components, they differ in temporal and spatial regulation and expression. For example, the pro-angiogenic VEGFA is secreted by cells in need of oxygen, presented to the basal side of the endothelium, whereas BMP9 and BMP10 are supplied via the bloodstream in constant interaction with the apical side to suppress angiogenesis. Delta-like 4 (DLL4), on the other hand, is provided as an endothelial membrane bound ligand. In the present article, we discuss recent data on the integration of these pathways in the process of sprouting angiogenesis and vascular patterning and malformation. | 10.1042/BST20140231 |
others_224_16335 | Crandell feline kidney cells and feline thymocytes, either feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infected or uninfected, were fixed with paraformaldehyde and used to vaccinate cats. The cells were mixed with a 30:70 water/mineral oil emulsion containing 250 μg ml-1 N-acetyl-d-glucosaminyl-β-(1-4)-N-acetyl-muramyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine. Eighteen specific pathogen-free cats were vaccinated three times with 3-week intervals and challenged 21 days after the final boost with a low dose of the homologous FIV-UT113 strain. Eight out of ten cats that had received FIV-infected cell vaccines developed significant anti-FIV antibody titres to the envelope and core antigens. Neutralizing antibodies were detectable at the moment of challenge in the sera of these animals. Within 5 weeks after challenge 15 out of 18 cats became viraemic. Three animals, two that had been vaccinated with FIV-infected thymocytes and did not develop antibody, and one that had received an uninfected thymocyte preparation, remained uninfected for 6 months. Upon rechallenge of the three animals, two again resisted infection; these cats had been immunized with the infected and the uninfected thymocyte preparations, respectively. © 1995 | 10.1016/0165-2427(94)07013-W |
pubmed_533_14738 | Human factors in anaesthesia were first highlighted by the publication of the Anaesthetists Non-Technical Skills Framework, and since then an awareness of their importance has gradually resulted in changes in routine clinical practice. This review examines recent literature around human factors in anaesthesia, and highlights recent national reports and guidelines with a focus on team working, communication, situation awareness and human error. We highlight the importance of human factors in modern anaesthetic practice, using the example of complex trauma. | 10.1111/anae.14136 |
pubmed_517_6117 | PURPOSE
PRKCDBP is a putative tumor suppressor in which alteration has been observed in several human cancers. We investigated expression and function of PRKCDBP in colorectal cells and tissues to explore its candidacy as a suppressor in colorectal tumorigenesis.
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN
Expression and methylation status of PRKCDBP and its effect on tumor growth were evaluated. Transcriptional regulation by NF-κB signaling was defined by luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays.
RESULTS
PRKCDBP expression was hardly detectable in 29 of 80 (36%) primary tumors and 11 of 19 (58%) cell lines, and its alteration correlated with tumor stage and grade. Promoter hypermethylation was commonly found in cancers. PRKCDBP expression induced the G(1) cell-cycle arrest and increased cellular sensitivity to various apoptotic stresses. PRKCDBP was induced by TNFα, and its level correlated with tumor cell sensitivity to TNFα-induced apoptosis. PRKCDBP induction by TNFα was disrupted by blocking NF-κB signaling while it was enhanced by RelA transfection. The PRKCDBP promoter activity was increased in response to TNFα, and this response was abolished by disruption of a κB site in the promoter. PRKCDBP delayed the formation and growth of xenograft tumors and improved tumor response to TNFα-induced apoptosis.
CONCLUSIONS
PRKCDBP is a proapoptotic tumor suppressor which is commonly altered in colorectal cancer by promoter hypermethylation, and its gene transcription is directly activated by NF-κB in response to TNFα. This suggests that PRKCDBP inactivation may contribute to tumor progression by reducing cellular sensitivity to TNFα and other stresses, particularly under chronic inflammatory microenvironment. | 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-11-1026 |
pubmed_614_7427 | OBJECTIVE
To comprehensively analyze and compare the biological difference between bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and placenta-derived MSCs (PMSCs) in hypoxia and to extend the knowledge for seed cells selection.
METHODS
The domestic and foreign related literature about the effects of hypoxia microenvironment on proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, paracrine secretion, migration, and homing ability of BMSCs and PMSCs were summarized and analysed.
RESULTS
PMSCs proliferated much faster and more sensitive to the hypoxia than BMSCs; in addition, PMSCs showed stronger survivability. Similar to BMSCs, PMSCs can home to hypoxic-ischemic tissues efficiently, secrete a lot of growth factors and differentiate into tissue-specific cells to stimulate tissue regeneration.
CONCLUSION
PMSCs as the seed cells will have broad application prospects in the regenerative medicine. | pubmed_614_7427 |
pubmed_71_15729 | Histamine is an important mediator of allergic reactions, and mucus hypersecretion is a major allergic symptom. However, the direct effect of histamine on mucus secretion from airway mucosal epithelia has not been clearly demonstrated. TMEM16A is a Ca2+-activated chloride channel, and it is closely related to fluid secretion in airway mucosal epithelia. We investigated whether histamine directly induces fluid secretion from epithelial cells or submucosal glands (SMG) and mechanisms related, therewith, in allergic airway diseases. In pig airway tissues from the nose or trachea, histamine was a potent secretagogue that directly induced strong responses. However, gland secretion from human nasal tissue was not induced by histamine, even in allergic rhinitis patients. Histamine type 1 receptor (H1R) and histamine type 2 receptor (H2R) were not noted in SMG by in situ hybridization. Cultured primary human nasal epithelial (NHE) cells were used for the measurement of short-circuit current changes with the Ussing chamber. Histamine-induced slight responses of anion secretions under normal conditions. The response was enhanced by IL-4 stimulation through TMEM16A, which might be related to fluid hypersecretion in allergic rhinitis. Pretreatment with IL-4 augmented the histamine response that was suppressed by a TMEM16A inhibitor. TMEM16A expression was enhanced by 24-h treatment of IL-4 in human nasal epithelial cells. The expression of TMEM16A was significantly elevated in an allergic rhinitis group, compared with a control group. We elucidated histamine-induced fluid secretions in synergy with IL-4 through TMEM16A in the human airway epithelium. In addition, we observed species differences between pigs and humans in terms of gland secretion of histamine. | 10.1152/ajplung.00103.2017 |
pubmed_494_7886 | We aimed to assess the effects of acupuncture by analyzing the alternating current (AC) component of skin blood-flow signals (around the heartbeat frequency) simultaneously recorded at the Hoku acupoint, which is an important acupoint in oriental medicine, and two nearby non-acupoints following acupuncture stimulation (AS). Laser Doppler flowmetry signals were measured in 28 experiments on nine volunteers. Each experiment involved the recording of a 20-min control-data sequence and two sets of effects data recorded 0-20 min and 50-70 min after the AS had been stopped. The direct current (DC) and AC components (DCflux and ACflux, respectively), pulse width (PW), and foot delay time (FDT) of the flux signal were calculated. The DCflux, ACflux, PW, and FDT were all significantly increased only at Hoku following AS. Regression analysis between the DCflux and ACflux revealed that the slope was largest (>1) at Hoku among the measurement sites. Our results indicated that both the DCflux and ACflux in the microcirculatory perfusion were increased by stimulation at the Hoku acupoint, with the change being greatest for the latter. Parameters calculated from the pulsatile flux waveform, such as the PW and FDT, could contribute to noninvasive evaluations of the sympathetic neural activities and of the improvement in perfusion following AS. | 10.1007/s10103-008-0610-y |
pubmed_1004_698 | BACKGROUND
Alterations in serum lipids and an increased risk of myocardial infarction have been associated with HIV-1 infection and its treatment.
METHODS
Lipoprotein subclasses were measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in frozen plasma samples from participants in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. The effects of HIV-1 infection, antiretroviral therapy, and other factors on median particle concentrations were examined using quantile regression.
RESULTS
Fasted samples were tested from 1082 men, including 609 HIV-seronegative and 473 HIV-1-infected men. Compared with HIV-seronegative men, HIV-1-infected men on antiretroviral therapy had an atherogenic phenotype with higher numbers of very low density lipoprotein and small low-density lipoprotein particles and lower numbers of high-density lipoprotein and large low-density lipoprotein particles. HIV-infected, antiretroviral-naive men had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein and small low-density lipoprotein particle concentrations compared with the HIV-seronegative men. Among men on antiretroviral therapy, the atherogenic phenotype was most pronounced in men with a good clinical status.
CONCLUSION
Use of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1-infected men was associated with an "atherogenic lipoprotein phenotype." | 10.1097/QAI.0b013e31817bbbf0 |
pubmed_604_8902 | Sensitive experiments have been developed that search for electric dipole moments of atoms, molecules, and the neutron. These experiments play an important role in deciding which of the myriad theoretical models correctly describes violations of the principle of time-reversal invariance. | 10.1126/science.252.5002.73 |
pubmed_325_16806 | Implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is an expanding area of engineering research now moving into clinical application. Ensuring meaningful informed consent in implantable BCI research is an ethical imperative. The emerging and rapidly evolving nature of implantable BCI research makes identification of risks, a critical component of informed consent, a challenge. In this paper, 6 core risk domains relevant to implantable BCI research are identified-short and long term safety, cognitive and communicative impairment, inappropriate expectations, involuntariness, affective impairment, and privacy and security. Work in deep brain stimulation provides a useful starting point for understanding this core set of risks in implantable BCI. Three further risk domains-risks pertaining to identity, agency, and stigma-are identified. These risks are not typically part of formalized consent processes. It is important as informed consent practices are further developed for implantable BCI research that attention be paid not just to disclosing core research risks but exploring the meaning of BCI research with potential participants. | 10.1007/s11948-015-9712-7 |
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