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pubmed_780_20963 | Accurate estimate of drug exposure plays an important role in studies of the neurobiology of drug dependence. The validity of self-reported drug use by subjects participating in such studies has not been well established. This study examined the relationship between self-reported drug use and biological markers in 18 non-treatment-seeking cocaine-dependent individuals participating in research on the effects of cocaine on the brain. A significant relationship was found between self-reported frequency of cocaine use and hair cocaine concentration. Frequency of alcohol use correlated significantly with plasma carbohydrate-deficient transferrin and aspartate aminotransferase levels. These results suggest that self-reported substance use in non-treatment seeking research subjects is generally valid. | 10.1080/10550490050148044 |
pubmed_711_2931 | A full-thickness burn wound in adult sheep releases prostanoids when they are injected locally with E. coli endotoxin, 2 micrograms/kg, resulting in an increase in pulmonary artery pressure (Ppa) from 20 +/- 3 to 34 +/- 5 mm Hg, and a decrease in mean arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) from 88 +/- 6 to 70 +/- 5 torr; this corresponds to an increase in venous plasma TxB2 content from a baseline of 220 +/- 79 pg/ml to 440 +/- 90 pg/ml. Burn prostanoid production, measured in lymph, increased ten- to fifteen-fold for both thromboxane A2, measured as TxB2, and prostacyclin, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. The intravenous administration of ibuprofen, 12.5 mg/kg, eliminated both the increase in Ppa and decrease in PaO2 as well as the increase in burn lymph prostanoids. However, plasma prostanoids were also decreased below baseline, a potentially deleterious effect. A topical ibuprofen cream, 5% ibuprofen in a water-soluble ester, was applied to the burn hide every 6 hrs x 4 after which endotoxin was again injected below the hide. The pulmonary dysfunction was prevented as was the increase in plasma TxB2 with the value remaining at baseline. Burn lymph levels were only increased three- to five fold. Ibuprofen levels in burn lymph were maintained at 1-2 mcg/ml. The addition of the cream to the burn, however, did increase the wound bacterial content to 10(5)-10(7) bacteria/gram of tissue compared to 10(2)-10(3) for the dry, untreated burn, probably due to softening of the burn. Topically applied ibuprofen, therefore, can decrease burn wound prostanoid production from local endotoxin, preventing lung dysfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | 10.1097/00005373-198602000-00011 |
pubmed_183_16485 | Altruism and selfishness are fundamental characteristics of human and animal societies. Among colonial biparental species, breeding outcome depends on interactions between mates and neighbours. However, the relationships between cooperation within and among partnerships and fitness have not been fully investigated. We show that in the highly colonial common guillemot (Uria aalge), altruistic behaviour (allopreening) towards a mate was positively related to long-term fitness, whereas allopreening a neighbour was related to current fitness. Turnover is much lower within than between pairs, so our results suggest that allopreening within pairs generates fitness returns at longer timescales than between pairs. Allopreening not only removes ectoparasites and maintains plumage condition, but may also have important social functions. We found a negative relationship between fight rate and allopreen rate between breeding neighbours, with nests exhibiting low breeding success having a higher frequency of fights with neighbours. We also found evidence for reciprocity in allopreening. Thus, allopreening may function as a reciprocal stress reducer, to decrease the likelihood of fights and associated breeding failure. We suggest that altruistic behaviour has long-term benefits for the survival of the offspring when living in a crowded neighbourhood. | 10.1098/rsbl.2007.0258 |
pubmed_277_2676 | Histones are basic proteins which are responsible for the assembly and maintenance of the nucleosomal structure within the chromosomal fiber in eukaryotes. Two clusters of these genes have previously been mapped to the region 6p21.1-p22.2. We describe here a radiation hybrid map, a long range restriction map and a YAC contig covering and linking these two clusters and giving the precise localisation with respect to the HLA complex. The large cluster contains five H1 histone genes in the 6p22.2 region, the smaller only one, H1F5 (H1.5), in 6p22.1. In both clusters, each H1 locus is accompanied by several core histone genes. The large cluster has additionally been covered by a sequence ready PAC contig and three probably unrelated genes (TRMI2, BTN and SSADH) have been accurately localized within the 6p22.2-p22.1 region. | 10.3109/10425179709034070 |
pubmed_397_24188 | Adenosine is an important physiological regulator of the cardiovascular system. The goal of our study was to assess the expression level of nucleoside transporters (NT) in diabetic rat cardiomyocytes and to examine the activities of adenosine metabolizing enzymes. Isolated rat cardiomyocytes displayed the presence of detectable amounts of mRNA for ENT1, ENT2, CNT1, and CNT2. Overall adenosine (10 microM) transport in cardiomyocytes isolated from normal rat was 36 pmol/mg/min. The expression level of equilibrative transporters (ENT1, ENT2) decreased and of concentrative transporters (CNT1, CNT2) increased in myocytes isolated from diabetic rat. Consequently, overall adenosine transport decreased by 30%, whereas Na(+)-dependent adenosine uptake increased 2-fold, and equilibrative transport decreased by 60%. The activity ratio of AMP deaminase/5'-nucleotidase in cytosol of normal cardiomyocytes was 11 and increased to 15 in diabetic cells. The activity of ecto-5'-nucleotidase increased 2-fold in diabetic cells resulting in a rise of the activity ratio of ecto-5'-nucleotidase/adenosine deaminase from 28 to 56.These results indicate that in rat cardiomyocytes diabetes alters activities of adenosine metabolizing enzymes in such a way that conversion of AMP to IMP is favored in the cytosolic compartment, whereas the capability to produce adenosine extracellularly is increased. This is accompanied by an increased unidirectional Na(+)-dependent uptake of adenosine and significantly reduced bidirectional adenosine transport. | 10.1007/s00395-005-0578-8 |
pubmed_936_25561 | Interpreting the electrical signatures of single proteins in electronic junctions has facilitated a better understanding of the intrinsic properties of proteins that are fundamental to chemical and biological processes. Often, this information is not accessible using ensemble and even single-molecule approaches. In addition, the fabrication of nanoscale single-protein junctions remains challenging as they often require sophisticated methods. We report on the fabrication of tunneling probes, direct measurement, and active control (switching) of single-protein conductance with an external field in solution. The probes allowed us to bridge a single streptavidin molecule to two independently addressable, biotin-terminated electrodes and measure single-protein tunneling response over long periods. We show that charge transport through the protein has multiple conductive pathways that depend on the magnitude of the applied bias. These findings open the door for the reliable fabrication of protein-based junctions and can enable their use in future protein-embedded bioelectronics applications. | 10.1126/sciadv.abm8149 |
pubmed_150_16938 | Most service-learning studies in higher education focused on its effects on students' development. The dynamic processes and mechanisms of students' development during service-learning, however, have not been explored thoroughly. Student engagement in service-learning may affect service-learning outcomes and be affected by subjective task value at the same time. The present study aimed to explore the effect of subjective task value on Chinese college student engagement during service-learning. Fifty-four Chinese college students participated in a 9-weeks service-learning program of interacting with children with special needs. Students' engagement and subjective task value were assessed via self-report questionnaires and 433 weekly reflective journals. The results indicated that the cognitive, emotional and behavioral engagement of Chinese college students demonstrated different developmental trends during service-learning process. Subjective task value played an essential role in student engagement in service-learning activities. However, the role of subjective task value varied with different stages. Finally, the implications for implementing service-learning in Chinese education were discussed. | 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00954 |
pubmed_795_1459 | Sequence similarity and profile searching tools were used to analyze the genome sequences of Arabidopsis thaliana, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster for genes encoding three families of histone deacetylase (HDAC) proteins and three families of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) proteins. Plants, animals and fungi were found to have a single member of each of three subfamilies of the GNAT family of HATs, suggesting conservation of these functions. However, major differences were found with respect to sizes of gene families and multi-domain protein structures within other families of HATs and HDACs, indicating substantial evolutionary diversification. Phylogenetic analysis identified a new class of HDACs within the RPD3/HDA1 family that is represented only in plants and animals. A similar analysis of the plant-specific HD2 family of HDACs suggests a duplication event early in dicot evolution, followed by further diversification in the lineage leading to Arabidopsis. Of three major classes of SIR2-type HDACs that are found in animals, fungi have representatives only in one class, whereas plants have representatives only in the other two. Plants possess five CREB-binding protein (CBP)-type HATs compared with one to two in animals and none in fungi. Domain and phylogenetic analyses of the CBP family proteins showed that this family has evolved three distinct types of CBPs in plants. The domain architecture of CBP and TAF(II)250 families of HATs show significant differences between plants and animals, most notably with respect to bromodomain occurrence and their number. Bromodomain-containing proteins in Arabidopsis differ strikingly from animal bromodomain proteins with respect to the numbers of bromodomains and the other types of domains that are present. The substantial diversification of HATs and HDACs that has occurred since the divergence of plants, animals and fungi suggests a surprising degree of evolutionary plasticity and functional diversification in these core chromatin components. | 10.1093/nar/gkf660 |
pubmed_74_26487 | Influenza A viruses have a segmented, negative-stranded RNA genome. These viruses are classified according to the antigenic properties of the two glycoproteins, expressed on the surface of the virus particles, the hemagglutinin (HA or H) and the neuraminidase (NA or N). To date, 17 H and 10 N have been described and 116 HxNy combinations or subtypes reported. Except for the H17N10 subtype recently identified in bats, all identified subtypes have been identified in wild aquatic birds. These birds are considered to be the natural reservoir of influenza A viruses, from which some subtypes can be transmitted to other bird and mammal species, including humans. Interspecies transmissions seem to occur regularly, and can occasionally lead to the adaptation and stable establishment of a new viral lineage in a given species. This review recalls the genetic diversity of avian, swine and human influenza viruses and focuses on lesser-known influenza A viruses, identified in horses, dogs and very recently in bats. It discusses the genetic mixing that may result from interspecies transmission, and the associated risks of epizootics, zoonosis and pandemics. | 10.1684/vir.2013.0540 |
pubmed_674_19281 | BACKGROUND
Early studies established that certain lipids were lower in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells than normal leukocytes. Because lipids are now known to play an important role in cell signaling and regulation of homeostasis, and are often perturbed in malignancies, we undertook a comprehensive lipidomic survey of plasma from AML patients at time of diagnosis and also healthy blood donors.
METHODS
Plasma lipid profiles were measured using three mass spectrometry platforms in 20 AML patients and 20 healthy blood donors. Data were collected on total cholesterol and fatty acids, fatty acid amides, glycerolipids, phospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol esters, coenzyme Q10 and eicosanoids.
RESULTS
We observed a depletion of plasma total fatty acids and cholesterol, but an increase in certain free fatty acids with the observed decline in sphingolipids, phosphocholines, triglycerides and cholesterol esters probably driven by enhanced fatty acid oxidation in AML cells. Arachidonic acid and precursors were elevated in AML, particularly in patients with high bone marrow (BM) or peripheral blasts and unfavorable prognostic risk. PGF2α was also elevated, in patients with low BM or peripheral blasts and with a favorable prognostic risk. A broad panoply of lipid classes is altered in AML plasma, pointing to disturbances of several lipid metabolic interconversions, in particular in relation to blast cell counts and prognostic risk.
CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate potential roles played by lipids in AML heterogeneity and disease outcome.
GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE
Enhanced catabolism of several lipid classes increases prognostic risk while plasma PGF2α may be a marker for reduced prognostic risk in AML. | 10.1016/j.bbacli.2017.03.002 |
pubmed_369_2296 | OBJECTIVE
Most types of neuromuscular diseases are known to be associated with a high risk of sleep-disordered breathing. We performed a prospective study in a well individualized group of muscular disorders, congenital muscular dystrophies (CMD), to characterize the frequency of sleep-disordered breathing and thereby to determine the potential usefulness of sleep studies in such patients.
METHODS
Twenty CMD children (12 F, 8 M, aged 4-17 years) were included. Using overnight polysomnography, we determined the following parameters: sleep stages, sleep latency, sleep efficiency index, wake time duration, total sleep time (TST), apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), arterial blood oxygen saturation, and nocturnal paroxysmal EEG activity.
RESULTS
As compared to healthy controls, we detected in our study group frequent awakenings, a decreased TST (mean 448 ± 44.4 min) and a decreased REM duration (mean 11.5 ± 3.5% of TST). Significant increase in wake time duration (28-90 min) and decrease in REM duration were observed in 12 patients. An apnea/hypopnea syndrome was detected in 13 patients (65%) with central apneas in 8, obstructive apneas in 2 and 3 mixed apneas in 3 patients. AHI was >10 in 3 cases, <10> 5 in 4 cases and were concomitant with blood oxygen de-saturation in four cases. NPA were detected in 10 patients ranging from 10 to 40% of TST.
INTERPRETATION
Our results confirm the high incidence of sleep disordered breathing in children with CMD, and thereby, the usefulness of overnight polysomnography recordings in such patients. | pubmed_369_2296 |
pubmed_980_17364 | Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death. Over the past 5-10 years lung cancer outcomes have significantly improved in part due to better treatment options including immunotherapy and molecularly targeted agents. Unfortunately, the majority of lung cancer patients do not enjoy durable responses to these new treatments. Seminal research demonstrated the importance of the gut microbiome in dictating responses to immunotherapy in melanoma patients. However, little is known regarding how other sites of microbiota in the human body affect tumorigenesis and treatment responses. The lungs were traditionally thought to be a sterile environment; however, recent research demonstrated that the lung contains its own dynamic microbiota that can influence disease and pathophysiology. Few studies have explored the role of the lung microbiome in lung cancer biology. In this review article, we discuss the links between the lung microbiota and cancer, with particular focus on immune responses, metabolism and strategies to target the lung microbiome for cancer prevention. | 10.3390/cancers13010013 |
others_233_7144 | Salvinia natans L. response to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced oxidative stress through physiological activities was evaluated. The plants were incubated with varying concentrations (0, 50, 100 μM) of H2O2 and 100 μM of H2O2 supplemented with 1 mM putrescine (Put) in hydroponic culture. This is observed with the decline in proline content and its biosynthetic enzymes viz. γ-glutamyl kinase and γ-glutamyl phosphate reductase activity. Protein carbamylated derivative by protein oxidation was another trait for oxidative damages by H2O2. The antioxidative enzymes like guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (CAT) recorded to express through in-gel staining with the H2O2 exposure. On nuclear level, plants were sensitive to H2O2 where the DNA disintegration was studied with comet assay and maximum comet tail observed at 100 μM H2O2 treatment. Application of Put reduced the generation of protein oxidation and comet tail length as well as moderated the enzyme activity as revealed through in-gel staining. © 2013 Taylor & Francis | 10.1080/17429145.2013.871076 |
pubmed_409_15623 | The myc oncoproteins are expressed in a wide range of normal adult and embryonic tissues. They are also found to be over-expressed in a variety of tumor types. All myc proteins are short-lived nuclear phosphoproteins thought to act as regulatory components of cell proliferation. The rapid induction of c-myc mRNA and protein following the addition of growth factors to quiescent cells, together with the short half-life of these molecules, suggests that they are sensitive and continuous indicators of external stimuli, consistent with a role in signal transduction. Furthermore, in untransformed cells, c-myc protein expression is tightly regulated, at least in part, by a mechanism of autoregulation. Deregulated expression of myc genes is a frequent observation in tumors and may lead to a cell becoming independent of one or more growth factors, with the concomitant potential for uncontrolled proliferation. Although the precise functions of the myc proteins are unknown, they all bear the hallmarks of multimeric DNA-binding proteins probably involved in the regulation of expression of specific genes. | 10.1177/08959374900040011001 |
pubmed_1065_3693 | The anatomy of the intervertebral foramina L1-S1 was studied by the dissection of 106 foramina levels in 13 human anatomic spine specimens. Twenty foramina were examined in each level from L1 to L5 and 26 foramina from L5 to S1. It appears a safe working canal diameter is 8 mm for L1-L4 and 7 mm for L4-S1. | 10.1097/00003086-200010000-00028 |
pubmed_448_15820 | In this special interview series, we profile members of The FEBS Journal editorial board to highlight their research focus, perspectives on the journal and future directions in their field. Since 2007, Karl Forchhammer is the director of the Department of Microbiology/Organismic Interactions in the University of Tübingen. He has served as an editorial board member of The FEBS Journal since 2008. | 10.1111/febs.15906 |
pubmed_329_17465 | Maize is one the most important staple foods in the world. However, numerous pests, such as fungal pathogens, e.g., Fusarium verticillioides, and insects, such as Sitophlilus zeamais, attack maize grains during storage. Many F. verticillioides strains produce fumonisins, one of the most important mycotoxin that causes toxic effects on human and animal health. This situation is aggravated by the insect fungal vector, Sitophlilus zeamais, which contributes to the dispersal of fungal spores, and through feeding damage, provide entry points for fungal infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro bioassays, the antifungal activity on F. verticillioides M3125 and repellent effects against S. zeamais of ketone terpenes. In addition, we performed Quantitative structure-activity relationship (Q-SAR) studies between physico-chemical properties of ketone terpenes and the antifungal effect. Thymoquinone was the most active compound against F. verticillioides (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration, MIC: 0.87) affecting the lag phase and the growth rate showing a total inhibition of growth at concentration higher than 2 mM (p < 0.05). The Q-SAR model revealed that the antifungal activity of ketone compounds is related to the electronic descriptor, Pi energy. Thymoquinone showed a strong repellent effect (-77.8 ± 8.5, p < 0.001) against S. zeamais. These findings make an important contribution to the search for new compounds to control two stored pests of maize. | 10.3390/microorganisms3040851 |
pubmed_42_9214 | The final sigma 54 factor has been previously described to be involved in Listeria monocytogenes sensitivity to mesentericin Y105, a subclass IIa bacteriocin. Here, we identified the rpoN gene, encoding final sigma 54, of Enterococcus faecalis JH2-2 and showed that its interruption leads to E. faecalis resistance to different subclass IIa bacteriocins. Moreover, this rpoN mutant remained sensitive to nisin, a class I bacteriocin, suggesting that final sigma 54 is especially involved in sensitivity to subclass IIa bacteriocins. | 10.1007/s002840010164 |
pubmed_385_5138 | The Rab family small G proteins regulate discrete steps in vesicular transport pathways. Recent studies indicate that one member of the Rab family, Rab27A, regulates the transport of lysosome-related organelles, such as melanosome distribution in melanocytes, lytic granule release in cytotoxic T cells, and dense granule release in platelets. Here, we have examined the involvement of Rab27A in the exocytic transport of another lysosome-related organelle, the basophilic secretory granule, in basophils. We have found that Rab27A locates on basophilic secretory granules containing histamine in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) 2H3 cells. In addition, exogenous expression of dominant active Rab27A reduces antigen-induced histamine release from the cells. We have moreover identified Munc13-4 as a Rab27A target using a CytoTrap system and found that exogenous expression of Munc13-4 affects antigen-induced histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells. These results demonstrate that Rab27A plays a crucial role in antigen-induced histamine release from RBL-2H3 cells. | 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.09.050 |
pubmed_1111_640 | INTRODUCTION
The endo-perio syndrome presenting with periodontitis is very difficult to manage due to its pathomechanism which until today has evaded clarification. Substantial loss of tooth-bearing tissues within the alveolar processes of the maxilla and the alveolar part of the mandible compounds the situation and complicates efforts to control the inflammatory process and restore the missing periodontal tissues, to minimize the costs for the patient, and to achieve a good cosmetic effect. The aim of this work was to assess therapeutic efforts undertaken in some cases of the endo-perio syndrome.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The results of periodontic and implantologic treatment in three patients with the endo-perio syndrome caused by periodontitis are presented.
CONCLUSIONS
Conservative treatment of the endo-perio syndrome leads to restoration of periodontal tissues, provides a good esthetic effect, and greatly minimizes the psychosocial costs due to temporary loss of a tooth in the visible part of dental arches. | pubmed_1111_640 |
pubmed_637_11151 | Impact of agricultural activities on groundwater can be determined from the concentration of nutrients present in groundwater. This study was carried out with the aim to assess the minor ions content of groundwater and to identify its sources, spatial, and seasonal variations in a part of the Cauvery River basin, southern India. Groundwater samples were collected from July 2007 to September 2009 and were analyzed for minor ions. These ions were in the order of dominance of nitrate> phosphate> bromide> fluoride> ammonium= nitrite> lithium. The concentration of ions tends to increase towards the coast except for fluoride. Increased concentration of ions identified in shallow wells than in deep wells with an exception of few locations indicates the impact of human activities. Relatively high concentration of agriculture-sourced nitrate was identified which pose a threat to groundwater suitability for agriculture and domestic usage. Combined influence of use of agrochemicals, improper sewage disposal, aquaculture activities, seawater intrusion due to heavy pumping near the coast, and natural weathering of aquifer materials are the major sources. Also, fine grain sediments of this area aid in poor flushing of the ions towards the sea resulting in accumulation of higher concentration of ions. A sustainable management strategy is essential to control the concentration of these ions, especially nitrate. Reduced use of fertilizers, increasing the rainfall recharge for diluting the pollutants in groundwater and maintaining the river flow for sufficiently longer period to reduce dependence on groundwater for irrigation can help to improve the situation. | 10.1007/s10661-017-6006-3 |
pubmed_846_11994 | Lactate dehydrogenase (LD) activity and its isozyme profile in mouse lung homogenate was affected by oral administration of 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE). Following 100 mg 1,1-DCE/kg, LD-3 increased significantly. After 200 mg 1,1-DCE/kg, LD-5 increased whereas LD-1 and LD-2 decreased, with a resultant higher M:H ratio than controls. In contrast, elevated LD activity in serum following 1,1-DCE was predominantly associated with striking increases in total activity and changes in isozyme patterns resulting in a decrease in the M:H ratio. LD activity in liver and erythrocytes were unaffected by 1,1,-DCE administration. Although total activity in kidney was decreased, no changes were detected in the isozyme profile. Pulmonary damage induced by 1,1-DCE was reflected in significant increases in total activity and all isozymes in bronchopulmonary lavage fluids. Thus, detection of lung-derived LD activity in lung lavage fluids can be a useful index of pulmonary airway injury. | 10.3109/01902148209039250 |
pubmed_117_12943 | OBJECTIVE
Increased infection risk after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with a higher body mass index (BMI), particularly a BMI ≥40kg/m2, suggests that BMI reduction (through weight loss) prior to TKA may be important. However, the impact of weight loss on TKA risk reduction is unclear. Furthermore, weight loss could have detrimental consequences with respect to muscle loss and development of sarcopenic obesity, whereby a potential weight loss paradox in adults with advanced knee OA and obesity may be present. Using a critical review approach, we examined the current evidence supporting weight loss in adults with obesity and advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA). We focused on three key areas: (1) TKA complication risk with severe obesity compared to obesity (BMI ≥40kg/m2 versus 30.0-39.9kg/m2); (2) weight loss recommendations for individuals with advanced knee OA; and (3) TKA outcomes after pre-surgical weight loss.
METHODS
Medline and CINAHL databases were examined from Jan 2010 to May 2020 to identify high-level and/or clinically-influential evidence (systematic reviews, meta-analyses and clinical practice guidelines).
RESULTS
The literature does not show a clear relationship between weight loss and reduction in TKA complications, and no indication that a patients' individual risk is lowered by reducing their BMI from a threshold of ≥40kg/m2 to ≤39.9kg/m2. Studies that have found a benefit of weight loss for knee OA have not included patients with higher BMIs (≥40kg/m2) or more advanced knee OA. Furthermore, there is unclear evidence of a benefit of pre-surgical weight loss on TKA outcomes. These are important evidence gaps, suggesting that recommendations for BMI reduction prior to TKA should be tempered by the current uncertainty in the literature.
CONCLUSION
Evidence to support a benefit of weight loss prior to TKA is lacking. Until knowledge gaps are clarified, it is recommended that practitioners consider individual patient needs and risk before recommending weight loss (and therefore BMI reduction). | 10.1016/j.jbspin.2020.105114 |
pubmed_965_2821 | The molar absorptivity of the cyanide complexes [Cu(CN)(3)](2-) and [Cu(CN)(4)](3-), at their isosbestic wavelength (235 nm) is 1.13 x 10(3) l.mole(-1)mm.(-1) and can be used for the quantitative determination of micro-amounts of copper in the ppm range. The determination of 1-10 mug of Cu(2+) per g of NaCl, or 0.25-2.5 mug ml , is described in detail. The co-precipitation of copper with NaCl crystallizing from aqueous solutions has been studied by this method. | 10.1016/0039-9140(72)80168-1 |
pubmed_1052_18263 | The aim of this study was to investigate tumor biomarker carbohydrate antigen 724 (CA724) in the serum of patients with carcinomas of the colon and rectum at various clinical stages. Serum was collected from 51 patients with colon carcinoma (CC) and 49 patients with rectal carcinoma (RC). CA724 levels were then measured in the different groups according to site, TNM classification, gender, age and metastastic status of the patients. The statistical significance of the differences between the groups was calculated by non-parametric statistics (Mann-Whitney and Kruskall-Wallis tests). We observed a close association between the serum CA724 levels and tumor migration in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and opposite variation tendencies of CA724 in the evolution of CC and RC. In conclusion, we identified a close association between the serum levels of CA724 and tumor migration in CRC. The opposite variation tendencies of CA724 in the different evolution groups of CC and RC may reflect the differences between these two types of cancer. The evaluation of serum CA724 may be of monitoring and and predictive value and may also assist in the development of treatment strategies for CRC patients. | 10.3892/mco.2013.208 |
pubmed_383_2605 | Respiratory allergies represent a major public health issue in the modern world. Pollens are among the most significant causes of seasonal allergic rhinitis, with pollens of wind-pollinated trees representing an important cause. Members of the Platanaceae family (Platanus acerifolia, Platanus orientalis) are well-recognized sources of allergenic pollens worldwide, due to their high capacity of sensitization and widespread usage as ornamental urban trees. Air pollution, characteristic to all important urban conglomerates in the world and provoked by diesel exhaust gases, industrial and domestic fumes, and biogenic volatile organic compounds represents another major public health issue. Plane trees, along with other species of trees, are one of the main sources of volatile compounds. Recent studies have demonstrated a strong correlation between air pollution and respiratory allergies, with airway chemical compounds intensifying the capacity of sensitization to allergenic pollens. This study presents an overview of the known negative elements on public health of the Platanus family. | 10.3892/etm.2021.9706 |
pubmed_311_1171 | INTRODUCTION
Technical difficulty and unfamiliar surgical anatomy are the main challenges in transanal total mesorectal excision. Precise 3-dimensional real-time image guidance may facilitate the safety, accuracy, and efficiency of transanal total mesorectal excision.
TECHNIQUE
A preoperative CT was obtained with 10 skin fiducials and further processed to emphasize the border of the anatomical structure by 3-dimensional modeling and pelvic organ segmentation. A forced sacral tilt by placing a 10-degree wedge under the patient's sacrum was induced to minimize pelvic organ movement caused by lithotomy position. An optical navigation system with cranial software was used. Preoperative CT images were loaded into the navigation system, and patient tracker was mounted onto the iliac bone. Once the patient-to-image paired point registration using skin fiducials was completed, the laparoscopic instrument mounted with instrument tracker was calibrated for instrument tracking. After validating the experimental setup and process of registration by navigating laparoscopic anterior resection, stereotactic navigation for transanal total mesorectal excision was performed in the low rectal neuroendocrine tumor.
RESULTS
The fiducial registration error was 1.7 mm. The accuracy of target positioning was sufficient at less than 3 mm (1.8 ± 0.9 mm). Qualitative assessment using a Likert scale was well matched between the 2 observers. Of the 20 scores, 19 were judged as 4 (very good) or 5 (excellent). There was no statistical difference between mean Likert scales of the abdominal or transanal landmarks (4.4 ± 0.5 vs 4.3 ± 1.0, p = 0.965).
CONCLUSIONS
Application of an existing navigation system to transanal total mesorectal excision for a low rectal tumor is feasible. The acceptable accuracy of target positioning justifies its clinical use. Further research is needed to prove the clinical need for the procedure and its impact on clinical outcomes. | 10.1097/DCR.0000000000001259 |
pubmed_1075_20254 | The caddisfly fauna of Minnesota contains at least 277 species within 21 families and 75 genera. These species are based on examination of 312,884 specimens from 2,166 collections of 937 Minnesota aquatic habitats from 1890 to 2007. Included in these totals is my own quantitative sampling of 4 representative habitat types: small streams, medium rivers, large rivers, and lakes, from each of the 58 major Minnesota watersheds from June through September during 1999-2001. All species are illustrated herein, and their known Minnesota abundances, distributions, adult flight periodicities, and habitat affinities presented. Four species: Lepidostoma griseum (Lepidostomatidae), Psilotreta indecisa (Odontoceridae), and Phryganea sayi and Ptilostomis angustipennis (Phryganeidae) are added to the known fauna. An additional 31 dubious species records are removed for various reasons. Of the 5 determined caddisfly regions of the state, species richness per watershed was highest in the Lake Superior and Northern Regions, intermediate in the Southeastern, and lowest in the Northwestern and Southern. Of the 48 individual collections that yielded >40 species, all but 1 were from the Northern Region. Many species, especially within the families Limnephilidae and Phryganeidae, have appeared to decrease in distribution and abundance during the past 75 years, particularly those once common within the Northwestern and Southern Regions. Many species now appear regionally extirpated, and a few have disappeared from the entire state. The loss of species in the Northwestern and Southern Regions, and probably elsewhere, is almost certainly related to the conversion of many habitats to large-scale agriculture during the mid-20th century. | 10.3897/zookeys.189.2043 |
pubmed_994_14631 | BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of an economically-important class of mycotoxins, the aflatoxins (AFs) in Pakistani Brown Rice.
METHODS
A total of 262 of brown rice samples were collected from different vendors during July 2006 to June 2011. Samples were analyzed for the occurrence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), B2 (AFB2), G1 (AFG1) and G2 (AFG2) by thin layer chromatography (TLC) technique.
RESULTS
AFB1 was detected in 250 (95.4%) samples, whereas AFB2 was detected in 20 (7.6%) samples. Furthermore, AFG1 and AFG2 were not found in any sample. The contamination range of AFB1 and AFB2 was found 1.07-24.65 μg/kg and 0.52-2.62 μg/kg, respectively. Total AFs were quantified in 250 (95.4%) samples with an average of 3.89 μg/kg and contamination range was noted to be between 1.07-27.27 μg/kg. The overall results indicated that in 12 (4.6%) samples, AFs were not found within detectable limits. Furthermore, in 188 (71.7%) samples, AFs level was found below than maximum tolerated levels (MTL) as recommended by the European Union (4 μg/kg). Moreover, in 61 (23.3%) samples, AFs range was found between 4-20 μg/kg, which were fit for human consumption as per MTL (20 μg/kg) assigned by USA (FDA and FAO) and Pakistan (PSQCA). While only one sample (27.27 μg/kg) exceeded the above mention regulation limits.
CONCLUSION
Low level of AFs occurs frequently in brown rice, and can be improved using proper harvesting practices, storage and transportation conditions. The small quantities of AFs warrant performing further investigation, monitoring and routine analysis on regular basis. | pubmed_994_14631 |
pubmed_670_13871 | We designed a shuttle vector system that allowed a comparison of the mutation spectrum on the supF target gene after transfection of single-stranded or double-stranded DNA into monkey cells. Single-strand-derived plasmids exhibited a spontaneous mutation frequency tenfold higher than double-strand-derived ones. These spontaneous mutations comprised deletions and point substitutions. This system was applied to the study of ultraviolet-induced mutagenesis. Single-stranded DNA exhibited a lower survival and a higher mutation frequency than double-stranded DNA after identical ultraviolet-irradiation. The use of single-stranded DNA allowed us to confirm and complete the data about the targeting of ultraviolet-induced mutations and the exact nature of the base changes involved. One class of mutations was more frequent after transfection of ultraviolet-irradiated single-stranded DNA than for double-stranded DNA: frameshifts represented 10% of the mutants. Multiple mutations, attributed by some authors to an error-prone excision repair process, have also been observed in the spontaneous and ultraviolet-induced mutation spectra following single-stranded DNA transfection, although it cannot be a direct substrate for excision repair. | 10.1016/0022-2836(91)90252-2 |
pubmed_1058_19823 | BACKGROUND
Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of malignant tumours in Mexico. The distribution of the histological types of this tumour has not been estimated from a population-based representative sample.
METHODS
The histological types of gastric cancer according to the Lauren classification and selected socio-demographic characteristics for 220 patients from different socioeconomic levels are reported. The study population represents 66% of all new gastric cancer cases during 1989-1990 reported to the Mexico City Cancer Registry. The patients attended four public hospitals, seven social security hospitals and four private hospitals in Mexico City. A second histological diagnosis was performed by one pathologist.
RESULTS
No specific histological type of gastric cancer predominated since the estimated distribution for intestinal gastric cancer was 44.5%, for diffuse gastric cancer 43.2% (and the remaining 12.3% corresponded to indeterminate tumours). The distribution of intestinal and diffuse gastric cancer did not vary significantly according to socioeconomic level or medical care unit and it showed a clear relationship with gender, the intestinal type of gastric cancer being more common among males.
CONCLUSIONS
Mexico may not have been affected by the gastric cancer epidemic at the beginning of the twentieth century but the available information and the results of this study are only useful to demonstrate that, currently, no histological type of gastric cancer (according to Lauren's classification) predominates significantly in this country. | 10.1093/ije/26.6.1166 |
pubmed_191_9333 | During the 1960's and into the early 1970's, investigations were conducted related to the feasibility of using active radiation shielding methods, such as afforded by electromagnetic fields, as alternatives to passive, bulk material shielding to attenuate space radiations. These active concepts fall into four categories: (1) electrostatic fields; (2) plasma shields; (3) confined magnetic fields; and (4) unconfined magnetic fields. In nearly all of these investigations, consideration was given only to shielding against protons or electrons, or both. During the 1980's and 1990's there were additional studies related to proton shielding and some new studies regarding the efficacy of using active methods to shield from the high energy heavy ion (HZE particle) component of the galactic cosmic ray spectrum. In this overview, each concept category is reviewed and its applicability and limitations for the various types of space radiations are described. Recommendations for future research on this topic are made. | pubmed_191_9333 |
pubmed_872_20860 | The bacterial CYP101 system and mitochondrial P450 systems show high similarity. Both systems contain the same protein components, a FAD containing reductase, a ferredoxin of the [2Fe2S] type, and a cytochrome P450. At a first glance they seem to be comparable but there are considerable differences among both proteins. Thus, the ferredoxin components of the two systems display significant structural homology but cannot substitute for each other in functional assays. Going into more detail, pronounced differences between the two systems that affect their biological functions are found. | 10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.09.214 |
pubmed_1025_6393 | OBJECTIVES
To determine the long-term retention of a 3-dimentional (3-D) educational computer model of the larynx to teach laryngeal anatomy and to compare it with standard written instruction (SWI).
DESIGN
Prospective randomized controlled trial.
SETTING
University education program.
PARTICIPANTS
One hundred health care students.
INTERVENTIONS
For short-term assessment, 50 students were randomized to the 3-D model and 50 to SWI and were tested using a 20-question laryngeal test. Six months later, the same students were invited to retake the laryngeal anatomy test to examine long-term retention.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
The score on a 20-item Web-based test that assessed the students' level of knowledge of laryngeal anatomy approximately 6 months after their initial exposure to the laryngeal anatomy teaching intervention.
RESULTS
Sixty-two students retook the test: 3-D (n = 30) and SWI (n = 32). No significant difference was noted in mean scores (P = .54) and change in scores (P = .59) between short- and long-term retention on the laryngeal anatomy test. There was a trend toward an increase in 3-D scores in both groups (P = .07) and a significant increase in 3-D scores in the 3-D group only (P = .049).
CONCLUSIONS
A low-fidelity model (SWI) is just as effective as a high-fidelity model (3-D) in teaching laryngeal anatomy. The acquired knowledge from either educational intervention may last up to 6 months for long-term retention. This study is one of the few in medical education to examine long-term retention. | 10.1001/archoto.2011.76 |
pubmed_783_11573 | We examined 76 children and adolescents (45 boys (59.2%), 31 girls (40.8%), aged from 6 to 17 years (mean age 14.31 ± 0.3), with the diagnosis of refractory epilepsy using a clinical/psychopathological method and psychometric scales. Marked non-psychotic mental disorders of varying severity were observed in all patients. The patients were treated with levetiracetam in a dose of 60 mg/kg/day during one year. The reduction in the frequency of epileptic seizures was achieved in 77.6% of patients. The significant (p<0.01) improvement in cognitive functions and speech were found in 81.6% cases. The treatment reduced stress and improved mood in 63.1% of patients. | pubmed_783_11573 |
pubmed_335_10182 | An upgrade of the Swiss Light Source (SLS) is planned for 2021-2024 and includes the exchange of the existing storage ring by a new one providing about 40-50 times lower emittance in user operation mode. This will extend the performance of SLS in particular in the fields of coherent imaging, full-field tomography, soft X-ray angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. A science case and a conceptual design for the machine have been established. As a summary of these reports, the novel lattice design, undulator developments and scientific highlights are presented. | 10.1107/S1600577518002722 |
pubmed_95_6354 | This study examined the effect of optokinetic stimulation on objective sleepiness, as measured by the Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). The Nightcap, a portable sleep monitor, was used in a novel way to perform MSLTs, as well as record sleep in the home. Subjects wore the Nightcap for seven consecutive nights. On days 3 and 5 of the protocol, subjects came into the lab for an MSLT. On the experimental day, subjects underwent 10 minutes optokinetic stimulation (OKS), resulting in moderate motion sickness prior to each MSLT trial. Although subjects in the OKS condition reported significantly more drowsiness than controls, this did not result in significantly reduced sleep latencies. | pubmed_95_6354 |
pubmed_691_10559 | The drug treatment of Parkinson's disease should be tailored to the age of the patient, coexistence of dementia or postural hypotension, duration of the disease process and the emergence of side effects. In the early stages of the disease when disability is minimal, amantadine or anti-cholinergic drugs may suffice. As the patient's lifestyle becomes hampered, levodopa in combination with carbidopa or benserazide is introduced. Mild dopa induced dyskinesia can be ignored but when it is troublesome the dose of levodopa should be reduced. Fluctuations are minimised by giving small doses of levodopa frequently throughout the day or by adding bromocriptine to the drug regimen. Postural symptoms often respond to fludrocortisone and elevation of the head of the bed. In elderly or demented patients anticholinergic drugs and amantadine should be avoided. In these patients small doses of levodopa alone may be preferable to the combined preparations. More effective drugs with fewer side effects are likely to emerge with future successful research into the different types of dopamine receptors and other possible transmitters. | pubmed_691_10559 |
pubmed_1030_3863 | Rosette-forming glioneuronal tumors (RGNT) are rare low-grade primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors. The methylation class (MC) RGNT (MC-RGNT) delineates RGNT from other neurocytic CNS tumors with similar histological features. We performed a comprehensive molecular analysis including whole-exome sequencing, RNAseq, and methylome on 9 tumors with similar histology, focusing on the immune microenvironment and cell of origin of RGNT. Three RGNT in this cohort were plotted within the MC-RGNT and characterized by FGFR1 mutation plus PIK3CA or NF1 mutations. RNAseq analysis, validated by immunohistochemistry, identified 2 transcriptomic groups with distinct immune microenvironments. The "cold" group was distinguishable by a low immune infiltration and included the 3 MC-RGNT and 1 MC-pilocytic astrocytoma; the "hot" group included other tumors with a rich immune infiltration. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that the "cold" group had upregulated NOTCH pathway and mainly oligodendrocyte precursor cell and neuronal phenotypes, while the "hot" group exhibited predominantly astrocytic and neural stem cell phenotypes. In silico deconvolution identified the cerebellar granule cell lineage as a putative cell of origin of RGNT. Our study identified distinct tumor biology and immune microenvironments as key features relevant to the pathogenesis and management of RGNT. | 10.1093/jnen/nlac074 |
pubmed_286_578 | BACKGROUND
The current rapid economic development has brought changes in workplaces in developing countries, including Ethiopia. The organization of occupational health and safety services is not yet resilient enough to handle the growing demands for workers' health in the context of industrialization. There is limited information on the gaps and needs of occupational health services in workplaces in Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVES
The present review article describes the existing profile of occupational safety and health services in Ethiopia and identifies the current gaps and needs in the services.
METHODS
Secondary data sources were reviewed using a structured checklist to explore the status of occupational safety, health services and related morbidity. Local literature was consulted in order to describe the type and prevalence of work related hazards, patterns of industries and of workforce. Published articles were searched in Google, Google scholar, PUBMED, and HINARI databases. Relevant heads of stakeholder organizations and experts were interviewed to verify the gaps that were synthesized using desk review.
RESULTS
Ethiopia is an agrarian country that is industrializing rapidly with a focus on construction, manufacturing, mining, and road infrastructure. An estimated work force of about two million is currently engaged in the public and private sectors. Males constitute the majority of this workforce. Most of the workforce has basic primary education. Commonly observed hazards in the workplace include occupational noise and dust of various types in manufacturing sectors and chemical exposures in the flower industry. Injury in both the agriculture and the manufacturing sectors is another workplace hazard commonly observed in the country. A lack of information made assessing workplace exposures in detail difficult. The prevalence of noise exposure was found to be high with the potential to seriously impact hearing capacity. Exposure to dust in textile and cement factories greatly exceeded international permissible limits. There is a high level of workplace injuries that often leads to an extended loss of productive working days. Occupational safety and health services were found to be inadequately organized. There is limited practice in exposure assessment and monitoring. This happens to be true despite the existing favorable environment in areas of policies and regulations.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
There is a severe scarcity of peer-reviewed literature related to workplace exposures and their impact on workplace health and safety. Limited adequately skilled manpower is available. The internal infrastructural capacity is weak and cannot help to identify and assess hazards in the workplace. Monitoring system and laboratory investigation is limited despite the presence of favorable policy and regulatory frameworks. Addressing these gaps is of immediate concern. | pubmed_286_578 |
pubmed_49_395 | Short-chain fatty acids (e.g. acetic, propionic and butyric acid) are metabolic products produced by colonic bacteria. Since intra-rectal instillation of dilute acetic acid to rats and cats has been reported to produce a diffuse colitis similar to the human disease, in our study we have investigated the effect of intra-rectal butyric acid in mice. Male BKA mice (n = 6) received 01 ml of dilute butyric acid by intra-rectal instillation which was flushed out with saline after 10 sec. Control animals received saline alone. The severity of observed inflammatory responses was assessed using an arbitrary scoring system based on clinical, macroscopic and histological features of colitis. Colitic oedema was measured as percentage (%) tissue water compared with that in saline controls. The peak oedema response was found to be at around 4 hours. A concentration-dependent symptomatic response was obtained at concentrations between 1% and 12% of butyric acid. Oedema production was similar at all concentrations above 1%. The 3% butyric acid response produced a moderate colitis with mild erythema, oedema, crypt abscess formation, goblet cell depletion and cellular infiltration without total loss of mucosal architecture. The colitogenic action of butyric acid in mouse colon could not be reproduced by low pH alone, nor by the butyrate anion at neutral or alkaline pH. These results indicate that intra-rectal butyric acid induces a consistent and reproducible colitis in mice. | pubmed_49_395 |
pubmed_928_13728 | The contribution of the corpus callosum to binocularity of visual cortex cells and to their responsiveness was studied in cats. Electrophysiological recordings of the responses of single cells to visual stimulation was performed in the callosal projection zone, visual cortex area 17-18 boundary in callosotomized cats. Callosotomy was carried out by transection of the visual segment of the corpus callosum in 6-7-week-old kittens and in acute and chronic adult cats (postoperative recovery time: 11 days-39 months). While in our normal cats the common proportion of binocularly driven cells (79.8%) was found (66.3% in the sham controls), a remarkable diminution (29.7%) was found in the callosotomized kittens, in the acute (39.7%) and in the chronic (50.6%)-operated cats. We have also found a change in the amount of binocularity as function of postoperative recovery time. While the proportion of binocular cells was conceivable (60.7%) in the short- and intermediate-term callosotomized cats (postoperative time: 0.3-5.5 months), it was diminished (36.9%) in the long-term (6.5-39 months) chronic cats. As to the responsiveness level, it was found that visual responsive cells constituted 88% of the cells in the normal and 80.3% in the sham controls. In comparison, they constituted 69.2% in the acute, 54.4% in the chronic and 52.8% in the callosotomized kittens. Furthermore, callosal transection had produced a symmetric effect in the two hemispheres, regarding binocularity and responsiveness. It has been thus concluded that the corpus callosum is essential for the mediation of binocular functions between the two hemispheres; in addition, cortical excitability has been also found to depend on callosal integrity. | 10.1016/0361-9230(92)90121-d |
pubmed_1095_19460 | Understanding the molecular architectures of enveloped and complex viruses is a challenging frontier in structural biology. In these viruses, the structural and compositional variation from one viral particle to another generally precludes the use of either crystallization or image averaging procedures that have been successfully implemented in the past for highly symmetric viruses. While advances in cryo electron tomography of unstained specimens provide new opportunities for identification and molecular averaging of individual subcomponents such as the surface glycoprotein spikes on purified viruses, electron tomography of stained and plunge-frozen cells is being used to visualize the cellular context of viral entry and replication. Here, we review recent developments in both areas as they relate to our understanding of the biology of heterogeneous and pleiomorphic viruses. | 10.1016/j.sbi.2007.09.009 |
pubmed_23_8475 | Serratia species are known for the infections they cause in adult and neonatal intensive care patients. Little is known about colonization and infection in paediatric intensive care patients. This study aims to describe the type of infections in critically ill newborns, infants and children, caused by Serratia spp., to compare patients colonized by Serratia spp. to patients colonized with other micro-organisms, and to assess the importance of the respiratory and digestive tracts as reservoirs. To this end, all microbiological samples taken from patients in our paediatric surgical intensive care unit between January 1986 and November 1993 were retrieved from the hospital database and patient records reviewed. Serratia spp. were isolated 1356 times from 97 patients. Eighty-five infections were diagnosed in 40 patients. Infections of the respiratory tract occurred most frequently (n= 65), followed by septicaemia (13), urinary tract infections (3), omphalitis (2), meningitis (1) and conjunctivitis (1). Colonization by Serratia spp. was associated with yearly age at admission, long ICU stay and high mortality. Both the respiratory and digestive tracts were frequently colonized. Our findings do not support the contention that the digestive tract is more important as reservoir than the respiratory tract in neonates. | 10.1053/jhin.2001.0939 |
pubmed_583_9072 | We describe frequency-domain four-wave mixing spectroscopy measurements near the fundamental band edge in room-temperature GaAs multiple quantum wells. The line-shape information gives a measure of the dynamical behavior of the material and what is to our knowledge the first observation of an interference line shape due to a dominant slow contribution to the nonlinear response. | 10.1364/ol.14.001131 |
pubmed_456_16834 | OBJECTIVE
To investigate the change trend and correlation between the perioperative pain degree and neuroendocrine hormone levels in the perioperative period on patients with thyroid surgery by electroacupuncture combined with cervical plexus block.
METHODS
Forty patients with elective thyroidectomy were enrolled and divided into a control group and an observation group according to the random number table method, 20 cases in each group. In the control group, cervical plexus block was performed. In the observation group, the cervical plexus block combined with electroacupuncture (EA) were given. After the cervical plexus block was completed, the EA was applied at the bilateral Hegu (LI 4) and Neiguan (PC 6) for 30 min. The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the pain level before anesthesia (T0), 2 h after operation (T1), 12 h after operation (T2), 24 h after operation (T3) and 48 h after operation (T4). Blood samples such as adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), C-reactive protein (CRP) and β-endorphin (β-EP) were collected to measure the level of neuroendocrine hormones, and to analyze the correlation between ACTH, CRP, β-EP and VAS scores.
RESULTS
The VAS scores at T1, T2, T3 were higher than those at T0 in the two groups (all P<0.05). The VAS scores T1, T2 and T3 in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The ACTH and CRP in the control group at T1, T2 and T3 were significantly higher than those at T0 (all P<0.05). The β-EP in the observation group at T1, T2 and T3 was significantly higher than that at T0 (all P<0.05). The ACTH and CRP in the observation group at T1, T2 and T3 were lower than those in the control group,and the β-EP level was higher than that in the control group (all P<0.05).The VAS score was significantly positively correlated with ACTH and CRP levels, and negatively correlated with β-EP.
CONCLUSION
EA stimulation can inhibit the secretion of ACTH and CRP, promote the release of β-EP, reduce the perioperative pain score, and inhibit the body's stress response. | 10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.12.002 |
pubmed_380_17323 | BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
We set out to compare the efficacy of clevidipine and sodium nitroprusside infusions in the control of blood pressure and the haemodynamic changes they produce in hypertensive patients after operation for elective coronary bypass grafting.
METHODS
Thirty patients were randomly allocated to receive either clevidipine or sodium nitroprusside after their mean arterial pressure (MAP) had reached > 90 mmHg for at least 10 min in the postoperative period. The MAP was continuously measured and related to time. Thus, the efficacy of the drugs in controlling arterial pressure could be inversely related to the total area under the MAP-time curve outside a target MAP range of 70-80 mmHg normalized per hour (AUC(MAP) mmHg min h(-1)). Haemodynamic variables and the number of dose-rate adjustments required to maintain MAP were also studied.
RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in the efficacy (AUC(MAP) mmHg min h(-1)) of clevidipine (106 +/- 25 mmHg min h(-1)) compared with sodium nitroprusside (101 +/- 28 mmHg min h(-1)). Nor was any significant difference found in the total number of dose adjustments required to control MAP within the target range. The heart rate in patients receiving clevidipine increased less than in those given sodium nitroprusside. Stroke volume, central venous pressure and pulmonary artery pressure were significantly reduced upon administration of sodium nitroprusside but not of clevidipine.
CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant difference between clevidipine and sodium nitroprusside in their efficacy in controlling MAP. The haemodynamic changes, including tachycardia, were less pronounced with clevidipine than with sodium nitroprusside. | 10.1017/s0265021503001133 |
others_412_12926 | BJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of cleavage stage embryo and blastocyst transfer in patients with recurrent implantation failure. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records of patients who underwent 2 or more failed attempts of frozen-thawed embryo transfer at cleavage stage and still had frozen cleavage stage embryos were reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In group A (blastocyst stage, n=132), blastocysts were cultured to D5 or D6 after freeze thawing of cleavage stage embryos. In group B (cleavage stage embryo, n=164), D3 cleavage embryo resuscitation was observed. The number of embryos transferred, clinical pregnancy, implantation, multiple pregnancy, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and live birth rate were compared. RESULTS: Blastocyst formation rate of cleavage stage embryo after thawing was 55.27%. Cancellation rate in group A was 6.06%, while no cases of cancellation were seen in group B. Data showed a higher pregnancy rate in group A with 46.77% vs. 36.59% in group B. The implantation rate in group A was higher than that in group B (p<0.05). There were no differences in multiple pregnancy, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and live birth rate between the 2 groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The blastocyst transfer can achieve better clinical results, but it does have the risk of cancellation if there is no blastocyst formation. © Journal of Reproductive Medicine®, I | others_412_12926 |
pubmed_1109_3283 | Air travel is a common mode of transportation in today's society, particularly for individuals traveling long distances. Sleep disturbances associated with air travel frequently result in cognitive and physiologic impairments that may be detrimental to the traveler's experience and intent. A primary consequence of air travel is the development of acute sleep deprivation, which may result in reduced attention/vigilance, alteration in mood states, diminished memory processing, and alteration in executive function. Along with and contributing to acute sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm misalignment resulting in jet lag disorder (JLD) is frequently encountered by air travelers traversing multiple time zones. JLD is characterized by insomnia or excessive daytime sleepiness associated with physical or mental impairment associated with travel. This review focuses on the neurocognitive manifestations of acute sleep deprivation and the pathophysiology and treatment of JLD to provide the practicing clinician a greater understanding of the sleep abnormalities manifest in air travelers. Treatment recommendations for the traveler, including the use of light/melatonin therapy, sleep scheduling, and pharmacologic aids for both sleep and alertness, are provided. | 10.1378/chest.12-2963 |
pubmed_700_7827 | NMR spectroscopy has been used to investigate the structure of a partially folded state of a protein, the molten globule or A-state of alpha-lactalbumin. The 1H NMR spectrum of this species differs substantially from those of both the native and fully unfolded states, reflecting the intermediate level of order. The resolution in the spectrum is limited by the widespread overlap and substantial line widths of many of the resonances. Methods have therefore been developed that exploit the well-resolved spectrum of the native protein to probe indirectly the A-state. A number of resonances of the A-state have been found to be substantially shifted from their positions in the spectrum of the unfolded state and have been identified through magnetization transfer with the native state, under conditions where the two states are interconverting. The most strongly perturbed residues in the A-state were found to be among those that form a hydrophobic core to the native structure. A number of amides were found to be highly protected from solvent exchange in the A-state. These have been identified through pH-jump experiments, which label them in the spectrum of the native protein. They were found to occur mainly in segments that are helical in the native structure. These results enable a model of the A-state to be proposed in which significant conformational freedom exists but where specific elements of native-like structure are preserved. | 10.1021/bi00427a002 |
pubmed_117_8566 | When patients presenting with subjective lower limb weakness (SLLW) are encountered, it is natural to suspect a lumbar pathology and proceed with related clinical examination, investigations and management. However, SLLW could be a sign of degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) due to an evolving cord compression. In such circumstances, if symptoms are not correlated to myelopathy at the earliest, there could be potential complications over time. In this study, we intend to analyse the outcomes after surgical management of the cervical or thoracic cord compression in patients with SLLW. Retrospectively, patients who presented to our center during the years 2010-2016 with sole complaint of bilateral SLLW but radiologically diagnosed to have a solitary cervical or thoracic stenosis, or tandem spinal stenosis and underwent surgical decompression procedures were selected. Their clinical presentation was categorised into three types, myelopathy was graded using Nurick's grading and JOA scoring; in addition, their lower limb functional status was assessed using the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS). Functional recovery following surgery was assessed at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, one year, and two years. Selected patients (n = 24; Age, 56.4 ± 10.1 years; range 32-78 years) had SLLW for a period of 6.4 ± 3.2 months (range 2-13 months). Their preoperative JOA score was 11.3 ± 1.8 (range 7-15), and LEFS was 34.4 ± 7.7 (range 20-46). Radiological evidence of a solitary cervical lesion and tandem spinal stenosis was found in 6 and 18 patients respectively. Patients gradually recovered after surgical decompression with LEFS 59.8 ± 2.7 (range 56-65) at 1 year and JOA score 13.6 ± 2.7 (range - 17 to 100) at 2 years. The recovery rate at final follow up was 47.5%. Our results indicate the importance of clinically suspecting SLLW as an early non-specific sign of DCM to avoid misdiagnosis, especially in patients without conventional upper motor neuron signs. In such cases, surgical management of the cord compression resulted in significant functional recovery and halted the progression towards permanent disability. | 10.1038/s41598-020-78139-y |
pubmed_204_2570 | Elevated frequency of afucosylated IgG1 antibodies during dengue virus infection is associated with prior infection and predicts severe disease. | 10.1126/sciimmunol.abk1555 |
pubmed_11_18276 | OBJECTIVES
To investigate the reliability and validity of remote scoring a video assessment of a core ENT surgical procedure (myringotomy and grommet insertion) and its suitability as an objective tool for assessing the technical skills of ENT surgeons.
DESIGN
Single-blinded (raters) video assessment.
SETTING
Tertiary Care University Hospital.
PARTICIPANTS
Consultant and trainee [Specialty Registrar (StR) and Core Trainee (CT)] ENT surgeons performing a total of 30 consecutive index procedures.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
To determine the construct validity and the reliability of video assessment scoring of myringotomy and grommet insertion by two raters at ENT Consultant level with a subspecialty interest in Otology. To measure the performance (by rating) of participants compared to operative time.
RESULTS
A strong correlation between scores by the two blinded raters was demonstrated (ρ = 0.748; P < 0.001). Median scores (/45) for each group were as follows: CT 25.5 (IQR 21.13-31.25), StR 33 (IQR 24.88-35) and Consultant 40 (IQR 35.38-42.63). Kruskal-Wallis test analysis showed statistically significant mean rank scores between the three different levels of experience (H = 12.77, P = 0.002). Multiple group comparisons indicated a significant difference between CT and Consultant groups (P < 0.001) and StR and Consultant groups (P = 0.007). Analysis of the time taken between the experience groups demonstrated a difference (H = 8.689, P = 0.013) although individual intergroup comparisons indicated this was only significant between CT and Consultant groups (P = 0.004). There was a significant negative correlation (ρ = -0.842; P < 0.001) between time taken for procedure and score achieved.
CONCLUSIONS
Video assessment of myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion may represent a valid, feasible tool for use in summative and formative assessments of trainee ENT surgeons. Remote scoring of assessment procedures minimises bias and enables blinding of raters. ENT is well positioned to benefit from video assessment due to the high number of surgical procedures within the specialty that are performed utilising digital technology. | 10.1111/coa.12240 |
pubmed_587_13482 | The cellular activity and changes in mineral composition of dental tissues involved in feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions were investigated. Teeth with at least 1 lesion (n = 10) were extracted from 10 different cats that were presented primarily for chronic gingivostomatitis and/or severe periodontal disease. Scanning electron microscopic methods were used to determine the presence of resorptive cells in 8 teeth while 2 teeth were evaluated for pathologic changes in dental mineral composition. Observations were complicated by the presence of organic wear on the dental surfaces, however resorptive cells could be clearly identified in feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions. Resorptive cells had morphologic features indicative of "osteoclast-like" cells or odontoclasts. Resorptive cell activity created a resorption area of darker dentin continuous with physiologic dentin. The darker dentin area seemed poorly mineralized and showed a significantly lower calcium/phosphorous ratio compared with adjacent physiologic denting in 1 tooth. A significantly higher level of magnesium combined with available carbonate ions may have increased the solubility in areas of darker dentin. | pubmed_587_13482 |
pubmed_804_17961 | BACKGROUND
There has been a global consensus since 2016 that antiretroviral therapy (ART) should be initiated following HIV diagnosis regardless of CD4-count test results. Identifying an instrument that is able to accurately assess the readiness of HIV-infected persons for treatment initiation is thus critical.
PURPOSE
(1) To evaluate the comparative readiness of patients receiving ART and those who are not yet on ART; (2) to evaluate the respective readiness variation within these 2 groups over a one-year period; and (3) to identify the cutoff value for medication readiness that indicates the ideal time to initiate ART.
METHODS
A multicenter cohort study design was conducted and 297 newly diagnosed patients with HIV were enrolled at four time points, including: baseline and at 1, 3-6, and 9-12 months after ART initiation. Data collection included a demographics datasheet, the Chinese version of the HIV Medication Readiness Scale (HMRS), and 2 items, readiness to take ART for a long period of time and confidence in adhering to ART, which were scored using a 10-point Likert scale.
RESULTS
Overall, 224 (75.4%) of the participants had initiated ART. Over time, the medication readiness of participants with ART initiation had increased significantly over that of non-ART user (p < .001). The mean scores of the 2-item self-rated readiness scale for patients with ART initiation were significantly greater than those without (p < .001). The cutoff values for HMRS, self-rating readiness for ART, and confidence in adherence to ART were 23.5, 5.5, and 6.5, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS / IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE
The optimal cutoff value of the Chinese version HMRS for evaluating HAART initiation among persons with HIV infection was 23.5. HIV healthcare professionals may apply the Chinese version HMRS and the two simple self-rated items as a clinical tool for quickly assessing the initiation of ART in people living with HIV. | 10.6224/JN.201804_65(2).08 |
pubmed_1015_11430 | The study covered 39 acclimatised workers of a ball-bearing forge, aged 39,03 +/- 9,95 years. Temperature of the air, relative humidity and air speed were measured immediately at work. Additionally electrocardiogram, heart rate and temperature of the skin were continuously transmitted by telemetry. Before and at the end of the shift analysis of blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiogram, blood cells and coagulation, serum acidity and a great number of other metabolic parameters was performed. The netto calories were calculated as 3250 kcal/8 hours (= 13585 kJ/8 hours). Hematological analysis demonstrated a tendency to increase of leucocytes favouring neutrophil granulocytes. The main alterations comprised decrease of actual pH, base excess and standard bicarbonate. Furthermore serum lactate and triglycerides increased, creatinine attained the upper limit of the normal range, mineralogram remained unchanged by drinking ad libitum. The so called "liver enzymes" remained stable. As to circulatory parameters systolic blood pressure slightly declined whilst heart rate increased. | pubmed_1015_11430 |
pubmed_633_13103 | Eosinophils play important roles in asthma and lung infections. Murine models are widely used for assessing the functional significance and mechanistic basis for eosinophil involvements in these diseases. However, little is known about tissue eosinophils in homeostasis. In addition, little data on eosinophil chemokine production during allergic airway inflammation are available. In this study, the properties and functions of homeostatic and activated eosinophils were compared. Eosinophils from normal tissues expressed costimulation and adhesion molecules B7-1, B7-2 and ICAM-1 for Ag presentation but little major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, and were found to be poor stimulators of T-cell proliferation. However, these eosinophils expressed high levels of chemokine mRNA including C10, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, MIP-1gamma, MIP-2, eotaxin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-5 (MCP-5), and produced chemokine proteins. Eosinophil intracellular chemokines decreased rapidly with concomitant surface marker downregulation upon in vitro culturing consistent with piecemeal degranulation. Lung eosinophils from mice with induced allergic airway inflammation exhibited increased chemokines mRNA expression and chemokines protein production and upregulated MHC class II and CD11c expression. They were also found to be the predominant producers of the CCR1 ligands CCL6/C10 and CCL9/MIP-1gamma in inflamed lungs. Eosinophil production of C10 and MIP-1gamma correlated with the marked influx of CD11b(high) lung dendritic cells during allergic airway inflammation and the high expression of CCR1 on these dendritic cells (DCs). The study provided baseline information on tissue eosinophils, documented the upregulation of activation markers and chemokine production in activated eosinophils, and indicated that eosinophils were a key chemokine-producing cell type in allergic lung inflammation. | 10.1038/cmi.2010.31 |
pubmed_295_18034 | By using a full factorial design of experiment, the combinatorial effects of biological sex, shear stress, and substrate stiffness on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) spreading and Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) activity are able to be efficiently evaluated. Within the range of shear stress (0.5-1.5 Pa) and substrate stiffness (10-100 kPa), male HUVECs are smaller than female HUVECs. Only with sufficient mechanical stimulation do they spread to a similar size. More importantly, YAP1 nuclear localization in female HUVECs is invariant to mechanical stimulation within the range of tested conditions whereas for male HUVECs it increases nonlinearly with increasing shear stress and substrate stiffness. The sex-specific response of HUVECs to combinations of shear stress and substrate stiffness reinforces the need to include sex as a biological variable and multiple mechanical stimuli in experiments, informs the design of precision biomaterials, and offers insight for understanding cardiovascular disease sexual dimorphisms. Moreover, here it is illustrated that different complex mechanical microenvironments can lead to sex-specific phenotypes and sex invariant phenotypes in cultured endothelial cells. | 10.1002/adhm.202100735 |
pubmed_278_15585 | Fatal intoxications are common in a medico-legal autopsy setting and are associated with sparse findings during autopsy. It has been suggested that an increased lung weight may be associated with such fatalities. Previous literature is generally limited to a descriptive approach, including only opioid deaths, and lacking a definition of "heavy" lungs. Our aim was to create a model to identify cases with heavy lungs and to assess the predictive power of "heavy" lungs in identifying cases of different types of fatal intoxications during autopsy in an unselected medico-legal autopsy population. We identified all medico-legal autopsy cases ≥18 years in Sweden from 2000 through 2013. The lung weight to heart weight (LWHW) ratio was calculated. The positive predictive values (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of both lung weight and LWHW ratio were calculated. Mean lung weight was higher in the intoxication group but the predictive power in the individual case was limited. Lung weight to heart weight ratio had better predictive power than lung weight alone, with a PPV of at most 0.15(0.14, 0.16 95% CI), while the NPV was 0.96 (0.95, 0.96 95% CI). The association between fatal intoxication and increased lung weight was positive, regardless of method and cutoffs used. While the PPV was poor, the NPV could reduce suspicion of fatal intoxication in the absence of other information. LHWH ratio is only a probability factor for fatal intoxication; accurate cause of death determination-as always-requires consideration of circumstances, autopsy, and toxicologic findings. | 10.1111/1556-4029.14726 |
pubmed_368_21116 | OBJECT
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) represents a significant complication after spine surgery, with reported rates as high as 2%-4%. Published institutional practices for VTE prophylaxis are highly variable. In 2008, the authors implemented a departmental protocol for early VTE prophylaxis consisting of combined compressive devices and subcutaneous heparin initiated either preoperatively or on the same day of surgery. In this study, the authors compared the incidence of VTE in spine surgery patients before and after implementing this protocol.
METHODS
An institutional review board-approved retrospective review of outcomes in patients undergoing spine surgery 2 years before protocol implementation (representing the preprotocol group) and of outcomes in patients treated 2 years thereafter (the postprotocol group) was conducted. Inclusion criteria were that patients were 18 years or older and had been admitted for 1 or more days. Before 2008 (preprotocol), VTE prophylaxis was variable and provider dependent without any uniform protocol. Since 2008 (postprotocol), a new VTE-prophylaxis protocol was administered, starting either preoperatively or on the same day of surgery and continuing throughout hospitalization. The new protocol consisted of 5000 U heparin administered subcutaneously 3 times daily, except in patients older than 75 years or weighing less than 50 kg, who received this dose twice daily. All patients also received sequential compression devices (SCDs). The incidence of VTE in the 2 protocol phases was identified by codes of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolus (PE). Bleeding complications arising from anticoagulation treatments were evaluated by the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code for postoperative epidural hematoma (EDH) requiring evacuation.
RESULTS
In total, 941 patients in the preprotocol group met the inclusion criteria: 25 had DVT (2.7%), 6 had PE (0.6%), and 6 had postoperative EDH (0.6%). In the postprotocol group, 992 patients met the criteria: 10 had DVT (1.0%), 5 had PE (0.5%), and 4 had postoperative EDH (0.4%). This reduction in DVT after the protocol's implementation was statistically significant (p = 0.009). Despite early aggressive prophylaxis, the incidence of postoperative EDH did not increase and compared favorably to the published literature.
CONCLUSIONS
At a high-volume tertiary center, an aggressive protocol for early VTE prophylaxis after spine surgery decreases VTE incidence without increasing morbidity. | 10.3171/2014.6.SPINE13447 |
pubmed_212_5341 | A method is offered to compensate the effect of the sample temperature variation on the performance of the thermoconductometric unit intended for studying the blood coagulation with an additional thermister. In the course of analysis of the unit measuring circuit some formulas were derived for engineering calculations. This compensation method was shown as efficient one on mathematical models. | pubmed_212_5341 |
pubmed_340_18516 | In most studies comparing trace and delay conditioning, CS duration is kept constant across training conditions but the interstimulus interval (ISI), the time from CS onset to US onset, is confounded. In the infrequently used long-delay condition, however, ISI is kept constant across the trace and delay conditions but CS duration varies. A recent study reported that trace and long-delay fear conditioning have the same developmental trajectory, with both emerging later in development than standard-delay conditioning (). Past studies have shown that trace conditioning is mediated by the cholinergic system; given the parallel developmental emergence of trace and long-delay conditioning, the present study examined whether the cholinergic system also mediates long-delay conditioning. Two experiments, both involving Sprague-Dawley-derived rats and using freezing as a measure of learned fear, showed that the cholinergic system is critically involved in trace conditioning but is not involved in long-delay conditioning. Specifically, pre-training injections of the muscarinic receptor antagonist scopolamine impaired acquisition of a CS-US association in 32-day-old rats trained with a trace procedure but had no effect on rats this age trained with a long-delay procedure (Experiment 1). Similarly, pre-training injections of physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, enhanced acquisition of trace conditioning in 25-day-old rats but had no effect on long-delay conditioning in rats this age (Experiment 2). Taken together, the results indicate that despite the similarities between trace and long-delay conditioning in terms of developmental emergence and level of conditioned responding, they are mediated by different physiological systems. | 10.1016/j.nlm.2006.06.003 |
pubmed_334_3659 | This work evaluated the effect of adjunct autochthonous cultures on the chemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of Fiore Sardo cheese during ripening. A total of twelve batches of cheeses were manufactured according to the technical Disciplinary of Fiore Sardo cheese, with and without different combinations of autochthonous strains isolated from the native microflora of artisanal Fiore Sardo. There were no significant differences in the cheese compositional parameters between experimental and control cheeses, but the addition of cultures led to a statistically significant decrease in pH values in experimental cheeses. The evolution of total mesophilic bacteria, total coliforms and lactic acid bacteria were significantly influenced by the addition of autochthonous cultures in most of the experimental cheeses. As for sensory characteristics, all the experimental cheeses reported significantly higher scores especially for shape, texture, interior openings, taste and aftertaste. This study demonstrated the beneficial effect of the addition of selected autochthonous cultures in accelerating the disappearance of undesirable flora and improving the typical sensory characteristics of the cheese, and confirmed the importance of ewes' milk as a source of technologically interesting strains that could be used to ensure a higher quality of artisanal cheese productions. | 10.1017/S0022029907002464 |
pubmed_180_17088 | Hydrogenation of crude anacardic acid gave a transparent crystalline product on recrystallization. When reacted with copper nitrate in the presence of pyridine it produced green crystals of a pyridine adduct of a dimeric copper(II) anacardate with the copper acetate structure. The X-ray single crystal structures of both anacardic acid and the copper complex were determined. Magnetic studies have confirmed strong antiferromagnetic coupling between copper(II) centre in the dimer. The exchange coupling constant was determined to be J = -324 cm(-1). The EPR spectra of the polycrystalline product are consistent with spin S = 1. The zero-field splitting parameter and g tensor values are |D| = 0.36 cm(-1), g(||) = 2.36 and g(⊥) = 2.06. | 10.1039/c3dt51634b |
pubmed_808_17143 | Foreign body ingestion and foreign body aspiration commonly affect young children between 6 months and 6 years. A large number of these events remain unwitnessed and asymptomatic while the swallowed foreign body traverses the gastrointestinal tract and is passed in the stool. Recent literature has shown an increase in morbidity associated with button battery and (neomydium) magnet ingestions in children, particularly over the last decade. Early identification and management in a time critical manner is required in cases where button batteries get lodged in the oesophagus or multiple magnets are swallowed. Deaths, although rare, have been reported with these dangerous foreign body ingestions in children where diagnoses were delayed. Nurses through their direct contact with children in different clinical settings play a vital role in managing foreign body ingestions. | 10.12968/bjon.2017.26.8.456 |
pubmed_278_8976 | INTRODUCTION
Identifying predictors of patient outcomes evaluated over time may require modeling interactions among variables while addressing within-subject correlation. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) address within-subject correlation, but identifying interactions can be difficult if not hypothesized a priori. We evaluate the performance of several variable selection approaches for clustered binary outcomes to provide guidance for choosing between the methods.
METHODS
We conducted simulations comparing stepwise selection, penalized GLMM, boosted GLMM, and boosted GEE for variable selection considering main effects and two-way interactions in data with repeatedly measured binary outcomes and evaluate a two-stage approach to reduce bias and error in parameter estimates. We compared these approaches in real data applications: hypothermia during surgery and treatment response in lupus nephritis.
RESULTS
Penalized and boosted approaches recovered correct predictors and interactions more frequently than stepwise selection. Penalized GLMM recovered correct predictors more often than boosting, but included many spurious predictors. Boosted GLMM yielded parsimonious models and identified correct predictors well at large sample and effect sizes, but required excessive computation time. Boosted GEE was computationally efficient and selected relatively parsimonious models, offering a compromise between computation and parsimony. The two-stage approach reduced the bias and error in regression parameters in all approaches.
CONCLUSION
Penalized and boosted approaches are effective for variable selection in data with clustered binary outcomes. The two-stage approach reduces bias and error and should be applied regardless of method. We provide guidance for choosing the most appropriate method in real applications. | 10.1017/cts.2020.556 |
pubmed_572_8628 | OBJECTIVE
To evaluate superb microvascular imaging (SMI) for the detection of high-grade vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).
METHODS
We reviewed the patients with urinary tract infection who underwent renal US with SMI and VCUG. The subjects were divided into a VUR group, which included 17 patients (20 kidney units, KU) with high-grade reflux (grade 4 or 5) on VCUG, and a group without VUR including the same numbers of subjects. The direction of urine movement at the distal ureter and the renal pelvis was reviewed on SMI. SMI and VCUG results were compared.
RESULTS
Urinary flow "jets" into the bladder and direction of the flow were detectable on all SMI examinations in both groups. In the group with VUR, 20 KUs had grade 4 (n = 11) or grade 5 (n = 9) reflux (bilateral VUR in 3 patients). Among 20 KUs with VUR, 15 (75%) showed a reversed ureteral jet and/or renal pelvic swirl sign on SMI. None of the patients in the group without VUR showed those findings on SMI.
CONCLUSION
SMI enables detection of the direction of urinary flow. The presence of a reversed ureteral jet and/or renal pelvic swirl sign correlates with high-grade VUR with 75% accuracy.
KEY POINTS
• Superb microvascular imaging is feasible in children with urinary tract infection. • SMI enables detection of the direction of urinary flow. • Presence of reversed flow correlates with high-grade vesicoureteral reflux. | 10.1007/s00330-017-4974-x |
pubmed_659_24383 | Morphogen-mediated signaling is critical for proper organ development and stem cell function, and well-characterized mechanisms spatiotemporally limit the expression of ligands, receptors, and ligand-binding cell-surface glypicans. Here, we show that in the developing Drosophila ovary, canonical Wnt signaling promotes the formation of somatic escort cells (ECs) and their protrusions, which establish a physical permeability barrier to define morphogen territories for proper germ cell differentiation. The protrusions shield germ cells from Dpp and Wingless morphogens produced by the germline stem cell (GSC) niche and normally only received by GSCs. Genetic disruption of EC protrusions allows GSC progeny to also receive Dpp and Wingless, which subsequently disrupt germ cell differentiation. Our results reveal a role for canonical Wnt signaling in specifying the ovarian somatic cells necessary for germ cell differentiation. Additionally, we demonstrate the morphogen-limiting function of this physical permeability barrier, which may be a common mechanism in other organs across species. | 10.3389/fcell.2022.877047 |
pubmed_190_6774 | OBJECTIVE
To identify modifiable risk factors for miscarriage and to estimate the preventable proportion of miscarriages that could be attributed to these.
DESIGN
Nationwide observational follow-up study.
SETTING
Denmark.
POPULATION
Ninety-one thousand four hundred and twenty seven pregnancies included in the Danish National Birth Cohort between 1996 and 2002.
METHODS
Information on potentially modifiable risk factors before and during pregnancy was collected by means of computer-assisted telephone interviews and linkage with Danish registers, ensuring almost complete follow-up of pregnancy outcome. Modifiable risk factors for miscarriage were identified by multiple Cox regression analysis, which provided the background for our estimations of population attributable fractions. In all, 88,373 pregnancies had full information on all covariates and were included in this analysis.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
Miscarriage before 22 completed weeks of gestation.
RESULTS
The potentially modifiable pre-pregnant risk factors associated with increased miscarriage risk were: age of 30 years or more at conception, underweight, and obesity. During pregnancy the modifiable risk factors were: alcohol consumption, lifting of >20 kg daily, and night work. We estimated that 25.2% of the miscarriages might be prevented by reduction of all these risk factors to low risk levels. Modification of risk factors acting before and during pregnancy could lead to prevention of 14.7 and 12.5%, respectively, of the miscarriages. Maternal age at conception and alcohol consumption were the most important risk factors.
CONCLUSIONS
Miscarriage risk is increased by multiple potentially modifiable risk factors and a considerable proportion of miscarriages may be preventable. | 10.1111/1471-0528.12694 |
others_425_3200 | Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae is a novel species belonging to the viridans group streptococci (VGS). Accurate species identification is challenging due to significant homology to other VGS. Whole-genome sequencing of S. pseudopneumoniae suggests it most likely originated from Streptococcus pneumoniae, sharing many of its virulence genes. There are several limitations when using traditional phenotypic identification methods to identify this organism. Other identification approaches include genotypic methods, pherotype analysis, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. S. pseudopneumoniae is most commonly isolated from respiratory specimens, and its associations with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and aspiration pneumonia have been previously described, suggesting that the organism treads the fine line between commensal and pathogen. Recent isolation of S. pseudopneumoniae from blood raises the important question of its clinical relevance. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of S. pseudopneumoniae indicate a higher level of resistance than other VGS. However, further information may be required to determine the choice of breakpoints. © 2014 Elsevier I | 10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2014.04.003 |
pubmed_190_5459 | Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons and a reduction in striatal dopaminergic fibers, which result in tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia and gait disturbance. In addition to motor dysfunction, dementia is a widely recognized symptom of patients with PD. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Berberis vulgaris L., is known to exert anxiolytic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipsychotic, antidepressant and anti-amnesic effects. In the present study, we investigated the effects of berberine on short-term memory in relation to dopamine depletion and hippocampal neurogenesis using a mouse model of PD, induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine/probenecid (MPTP/P) treatment. Mice in the berberine-treated groups were orally administered berberine once a day for a total of 5 weeks. Our results revealed that the injection of MPTP/P induced dopaminergic neuronal death in the substantia nigra and fiber loss in the striatum. This resulted in impaired motor balance and coordination, as assessed by the beam walking test. We further demonstrated that MPTP/P-induced apoptosis in the hippocampus deteriorated short-term memory, as shown by the step-down avoidance task. By contrast, neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, which is a compensatory adaptive response to excessive apoptosis, was increased upon PD induction. However, treatment with berberine enhanced motor balance and coordination by preventing dopaminergic neuronal damage. Treatment with berberine also improved short-term memory by inhibiting apoptosis in the hippocampus. Berberine demonstrated maximal potency at 50 mg/kg. Based on these data, treatment with berberine may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for the alleviation of memory impairment and motor dysfunction in patients with PD. | 10.3892/ijmm.2014.1656 |
pubmed_128_16008 | A new palladium-catalyzed oxidative cyclization process leading to the functionalized bicyclo[4,3,0]nonenes is serendipitously discovered during attempts to form aza-heterocycle by the amino-Heck reaction of trans-2-vinylclohexyl phosphinyloxime. Under the influence of Pd(dba)2/Et3N/1:1 N2-O2 (1:1, v/v) (Method A) or Pd(OAc)2/Et3N/O2 (Method B), the reactions afford the substituted cis-1-hydroxyl-8-formyl-bicyclo[4,3,0]non-8(9)-enes or bicycle[4,3,0]non-1(9)-en-8-ones in varying yields with the incorporation of molecular oxygen into the structures. The 5,6-bicyclic scaffold of these products is presumably derived from tandem double intramolecular cyclization followed by the ring-opening of an aza-palladium(II) tricyclic intermediate. | 10.1021/jo5005422 |
pubmed_698_16226 | The isotopomer distributions of metabolites are invaluable pieces of information in the computation of the flux distribution in a metabolic network. We describe the use of tandem mass spectrometry with the daughter ion scanning technique in the discovery of positional isotopomer distributions (PID). This technique increases the possibilities of mass spectrometry since given the same fragment ions, it uncovers more information than the full scanning mode. The mathematics of the new technique is slightly more complicated than the techniques needed by full scanning mode methods. Our experiments, however, show that in practice the inadequacy of the fragmentation of amino acids in the tandem mass spectrometer does not allow uncovering the PID exactly even if the daughter ion scanning is used. The computational techniques have been implemented in a MATLAB application called PIDC (Positional Isotopomer Distribution Calculator). | 10.1006/mben.2002.0232 |
pubmed_394_6416 | Sedum alfredii is a well known cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator native to China; however, the mechanism behind its hyperaccumulation of Cd is not fully understood. Through several hydroponic experiments, characteristics of Cd uptake and translocation were investigated in the hyperaccumulating ecotype (HE) of S. alfredii in comparison with its non-hyperaccumulating ecotype (NHE). The results showed that at Cd level of 10 microM measured Cd uptake in HE was 3-4 times higher than the implied Cd uptake calculated from transpiration rate. Furthermore, inhibition of transpiration rate in the HE has no essential effect on Cd accumulation in shoots of the plants. Low temperature treatment (4 degrees C) significantly inhibited Cd uptake and reduced upward translocation of Cd to shoots for 9 times in HE plants, whereas no such effect was observed in NHE. Cadmium concentration was 3-4-fold higher in xylem sap of HE, as compared with that in external uptake solution, whereas opposite results were obtained for NHE. Cadmium concentration in xylem sap of HE was significantly reduced by the addition of metabolic inhibitors, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), in the uptake solutions, whereas no such effect was noted in NHE. These results suggest that Cd uptake and translocation is an active process in plants of HE S. alfredii, symplastic pathway rather than apoplastic bypass contributes greatly to root uptake, xylem loading and translocation of Cd to the shoots of HE, in comparison with the NHE plants. | 10.1016/j.jplph.2008.09.001 |
pubmed_411_14739 | BACKGROUND
Duplications of 15q11.2-q13.1 (Dup15q syndrome) are highly penetrant for autism, intellectual disability, hypotonia, and epilepsy. The 15q region harbors genes critical for brain development, particularly UBE3A and a cluster of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) genes. We recently described an electrophysiological biomarker of the syndrome, characterized by excessive beta oscillations (12-30 Hz), resembling electroencephalogram (EEG) changes induced by allosteric modulation of GABAARs. In this follow-up study, we tested a larger cohort of children with Dup15q syndrome to comprehensively examine properties of this EEG biomarker that would inform its use in future clinical trials, specifically, its (1) relation to basic clinical features, such as age, duplication type, and epilepsy; (2) relation to behavioral characteristics, such as cognition and adaptive function; (3) stability over time; and (4) reproducibility of the signal in clinical EEG recordings.
METHODS
We computed EEG power and beta peak frequency (BPF) in a cohort of children with Dup15q syndrome (N = 41, age range 9-189 months). To relate EEG parameters to clinical (study 1) and behavioral features (study 2), we examined age, duplication type, epilepsy, cognition, and daily living skills (DLS) as predictors of beta power and BPF. To evaluate stability over time (study 3), we derived the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) from beta power and BPF computed from children with multiple EEG recordings (N = 10, age range 18-161 months). To evaluate reproducibility in a clinical setting (study 4), we derived ICCs from beta power computed from children (N = 8, age range 19-96 months), who had undergone both research EEG and clinical EEG.
RESULTS
The most promising relationships between EEG and clinical traits were found using BPF. BPF was predicted both by epilepsy status (R2 = 0.11, p = 0.038) and the DLS component of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (R2 = 0.17, p = 0.01). Beta power and peak frequency showed high stability across repeated visits (beta power ICC = 0.93, BPF ICC = 0.92). A reproducibility analysis revealed that beta power estimates are comparable between research and clinical EEG (ICC = 0.94).
CONCLUSIONS
In this era of precision health, with pharmacological and neuromodulatory therapies being developed and tested for specific genetic etiologies of neurodevelopmental disorders, quantification and examination of mechanistic biomarkers can greatly improve clinical trials. To this end, the robust beta oscillations evident in Dup15q syndrome are clinically reproducible and stable over time. With future preclinical and computational studies that will help disentangle the underlying mechanism, it is possible that this biomarker could serve as a robust measure of drug target engagement or a proximal outcome measure in future disease modifying intervention trials. | 10.1186/s11689-020-09326-1 |
pubmed_360_6190 | Retroplacement and torsional manipulation of the globe during forced duction testing provide an exaggerated traction test of the oblique muscles, allowing graded evaluation of superior oblique and inferior oblique tightness. On a scale from 0 to 4 +, normal superior oblique tightness averages 1.5+, and normal inferior oblique tightness averages about 1+. The degree of superior oblique or inferior oblique tightness correlates well with clinical overaction of these muscles, allowing better distinction between oblique overaction and dissociated vertical deviation. Also, the effect of partial superior oblique tenotomy can be monitored, and a complete tenotomy can be confirmed with certainty. | 10.1016/s0161-6420(81)80033-4 |
pubmed_990_13746 | Vascular disease in the pediatric population is a poorly understood process which is often underestimated in its incidence. The common beginnings of such ubiquitous diseases as atherosclerosis manifest themselves at a cellular level shortly after birth. Other common systemic disorders, including congestive heart failure and sepsis, are also intricately associated with dysfunctional vasculature. Progress in the understanding of normal and pathophysiologic processes within the vascular system begins with the "control center"--the endothelial cell. The purpose of this review is to consolidate a body of knowledge on the processes that occur at the cellular level within the blood vessel wall, and to simplify the understanding of how imbalances in these physiologic parameters result in vascular disease. | 10.1007/s002470050313 |
pubmed_668_973 | The reversibility of early uncomplicated cholesterol-induced aortic lesions in rhesus monkeys was investigated. Three groups of Rhesus monkeys were used: the control group was fed a chow diet for 8 weeks; the progression group was fed an atherogenic diet for 8 weeks and the regression group was fed an atherogenic diet for 8 weeks and returned to the chow diet for 16 weeks. The lesions produced in the progression animals characteristically contained many lipid-laden monocytes immediately beneath the endothelium, abundant lipid droplets in intimal smooth muscle cells and moderate amounts of lipid in the extracellular spaces. Lesions in regression animals contained few lipid-laden monocytes, less lipid in smooth muscle cells and larger and more numerous lipid particles in the extracellular spaces. The results indicate that aortic lesions can be produced predictably after 8 weeks of feeding a high-cholesterol diet and that qualitative changes in the lesions occur 16 weeks after withdrawal from the diet. | pubmed_668_973 |
pubmed_940_15274 | The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of formulation and processing changes on the dissolution and bioavailability of propranolol hydrochloride tablets. Directly compressed blends of 6 kg (20,000 units) were prepared by mixing in a 16-qt V blender and tablets were compressed on an instrumented Manesty D3B tablet press. A half-factorial (2(5-1), Resolution V) design was used to study the following variables: filler ratio (lactose/dicalcium phosphate), sodium starch glycolate level, magnesium stearate level, lubricant blend time, and compression force. The levels and ranges of the excipients and processing changes studied represented level 2 or greater changes as indicated by the Scale-up and Post Approval Changes (SUPAC-IR) Guidance. Changes in filler ratio, disintegrant level, and compression force were significant in affecting percent drug released (Q) in 5 min (Q5) and Q10. However, changes in magnesium stearate level and lubricant blend time did not influence Q5 and Q10. Hardness was found to be affected by changes in all of the variables studied. Some interaction effects between the variables studied were also found to be significant. To examine the impact of formulation and processing variables on in vivo absorption, three batches were selected for a bioavailability study based on their dissolution profiles. Thirteen subjects received four propranolol treatments (slow-, medium-, and fast-dissolving formulations and Inderal 80 mg) separated by 1 week washout according to a randomized crossover design. The formulations were found to be bioequivalent with respect to the log Cmax and log AUC0-infinity. The results of this study suggest that (i) bioavailability/bioequivalency studies may not be necessary for propranolol and perhaps other class 1 drugs after level 2 type changes, and (ii) in vitro dissolution tests may be used to show bioequivalence of propranolol formulations with processing or formulation changes within the specified level 2 ranges examined. | 10.3109/10837459809028636 |
others_399_540 | Pre-processing near-infrared (NIR) spectral data is indispensable in multivariate analysis, since the measured spectra of complex samples are often subject to overwhelming background, light scattering, varying noises, and other unexpected factors. Various pre-processing methods have been developed to remove or reduce the interference of these effects. Until now, most applications of NIR spectra pre-processing in multivariate calibration have been trial-and-error, with selecting a proper method depending on the nature of the data, expertise, and practitioner experience. Thus, it is usually challenging to determine the best pre-processing method for a given data. In order to tackle these problems, this study proposes a new concept of data pre-processing, namely, automatically generating a pre-processing strategy (AGoES). This concept belongs to the ensemble pre-processing method, where machine learning algorithms (PLSR, SVM, k-NN, DT, AB, and GPR) built on differently preprocessed data are combined by 5-fold cross-validation and grid search optimization. To investigate our concept, a public NIR spectral dataset was used to predict three responses, including dry matter content (DM), organic matter content (OM) and ammonium nitrogen content (AN) from manure organic waste. The results show that SVM is the best algorithm combined with the AGoES pre-processing to predict DM and AN with a ratio of prediction to deviation (RPD) of 3.619 and 2.996, respectively. The AB tandem with AGoES pre-processing is the best strategy for predicting OM with an RPD of 3.185. Therefore, in the framework of the AGoES concept, it is unsupervised pre-processing, more simple, and feasible to apply multivariate analysis using machine learning algorithms. © 2023 The Authors | 10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100625 |
pubmed_83_15437 | The main actors of this review are Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and atherosclerosis. HGPS is a very rare disease with no definitively approved specific drugs. Atherosclerosis is a very common disease with a more consolidated treatment strategy. Nevertheless, common mechanisms are shared by both these diseases, particularly related to inflammation, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Pathways regulated by Nuclear factor E2 related factor (Nrf2), Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) and related to the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) and ER stress are receiving increasing attention. In HGPS "not omnia" happen(s) "cum tempore", that means that HGPS patients have atherosclerotic complications before their time. The third actor is clonal hematopoiesis: it constitutes a link between ageing and atherosclerosis. This review aims to analyse the current knowledge of atherosclerosis and clonal hematopoiesis in order to suggest therapeutic strategies to correct the timing of the atherosclerosis progression in HGPS. The goal for HGPS is a shift from "not omnia cum tempore" to "omnia cum tempore" in terms of significant lifespan extension by postponing atherosclerosis-related complications. | 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111365 |
pubmed_213_18585 | Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) episomal replicons offer an expeditious means for amplifying transfected genes in human cells. A panel of EBV episomes was constructed to assess the relative utility of five distinct eukaryotic promoter elements for high level and inducible gene expression in stably transfected human myeloid leukemia cells. The Rous sarcoma virus 3' long terminal repeat (LTR) was most highly suited for EBV episome-based gene expression, whereas the lymphopapilloma virus and the SV40 early regulatory elements exhibited substantially lower activities. Chemically responsive promoter elements, such as the SV40 early, human metallothionein IIA and rat GRP78 gene promoters, retained their inducibility when EBV episome-based. Differences in gene expression obtained with the episomes reflected differential promoter activity rather than significant variations in episome copy numbers per cell. These observations provide guidelines for the optimal design of EBV episomal expression vectors for human expression work. | 10.1093/nar/17.5.1989 |
pubmed_1055_5485 | BACKGROUND
Children with Chiari malformation type 1 (CM1) have increasingly presented to neurosurgery clinics. Limited research relating to the cognitive dysfunction experienced by this population has been completed. In adults, inhibition problems and executive dysfunction have been documented.
METHODS
Seventy-seven parental reports of children with CM1 were included in the study. Parents completed questions on a scale rating daily executive functioning as well as reporting on common neurological symptoms.
RESULTS
The sample consisted of 41 males and 36 females with a mean age of 133.57 ± 42.18 months. Thirty-eight subjects had had decompression surgery. The most common neurological symptoms included: headache (69%), a history of pain (31%) and gait disturbance (20%). One third of the sample demonstrated overall executive functioning impairment, with working memory elevations being most prevalent (44%). Depression, gender, age and decompression surgery were not related to executive dysfunction.
CONCLUSIONS
The parental report of executive dysfunction in children with CM1 was higher than the standardized healthy sample. Metacognitive problems, especially working memory and initiation problems were most prevalent. A quick parental rating scale identifying children with executive dysfunction may be beneficial for neurosurgeons and assist with referrals for a more comprehensive neuropsychological assessment. | 10.1159/000445899 |
pubmed_921_2892 | Yeast predation was studied with respect to the range of its distribution among ascomycetous yeasts, the range of yeast species that can be affected, and nutritional aspects of the phenomenon. The yeasts identified as predators belong to the Saccharomycopsis clade as defined on the basis of rDNA sequence relatedness. The 11 recognized species in the clade, plus three undescribed but related Candida species, were shown to be incapable of utilizing sulfate as sole source of sulfur, and all but two (Saccharomycopsis capsularis and Saccharomycopsis vini) were observed to penetrate and kill other yeasts under some conditions. Other unrelated sulfate transport-deficient yeasts (strains in the genera Pichia and Candida and the two known species of Starmera) are not predacious. The predacious species vary considerably as to the optimal environmental conditions that favour predation. Some are inhibited by the presence of rich nitrogenous nutrients, organic sulfur compounds, or higher concentrations of ammonium nitrogen, whereas other species may be stimulated under the same conditions. An attempt was made to correlate prey susceptibility to the excretion of substances that stimulate the growth of predators, but no correlation was detected between the two phenomena. The range of susceptible prey covers both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, and includes Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which was previously thought to be immune. The achlorophyllous alga Prototheca zopfii is not killed by predacious yeasts, but the initial steps of penetration have been observed in some cases. Predacious species attack other predacious species, and in some cases, young cultures may penetrate older cultures of the same strain. | 10.1139/w00-021 |
pubmed_770_3907 | NK cell activity was determined in peripheral blood of 24 women during pregnancy, and compared to NK activity of 40 healthy nonpregnant women in generative age. An increase in the first trimester was followed by a significant decline of NK activity in the second trimester, and a further fall in the third trimester of pregnancy. The initial rise of NK activity was predominantly due to primigravidas, whereas the fall in the second trimester was mainly due to multigravidas. There was a significant negative correlation between NK activity and the increasing levels of estrogen hormones (beta-estradiol, estriol and estrone) in the sera of pregnant women. However, when analyzed for each trimester of pregnancy separately, a significant (p less than 0.02) negative correlation was only found with beta-estradiol, suggesting that high doses of this hormone could contribute to pregnancy-associated NK suppression. | 10.1159/000293766 |
pubmed_374_8267 | The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral, immunological, and neurological effects of long-term isolation in an animal model. Male C3H/eB mice wereraised in either social isolation or standard conditions for 6 weeks. At 10 weeks, each group was further divided into 3 sets. (A) Physical strength and behavior were evaluated with the grip strength, hot plate, staircase, and elevated plus-maze tests. Natural-killer cell activity and lymphocyte proliferation were measured. (B) Half the animals were subjected to electric shock with 3 reminders, and freezing time was evaluated at each reminder. Cortisone levels were evaluated after 16 weeks. (C)Mice were injected with 38 C-13 B lymphoma cells and followed for tumor size and survival. Strength evaluation yielded asignificantly lower body weight and grip strength in the socially isolated mice. Behavioral test results were similar in the two groups. The pattern of reactions to stress conditioning differed significantly, with the socially isolated mice showing an incline in freezing with each successive reminder, and the control mice showing a decline. The socially isolated mice had significantly attenuated tumor growth, with no significant difference in survival from control mice. There were no significant between-group differences in immunological parameters. In conclusion, social isolation serves as a model for chronic stress. It was associated with significant changes in stress conditioning reaction, resembling symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and attenuated tumor development. No differences from controls were found in behavior tests, immune parameters, or survival after tumor cell inoculation.Lay summaryThis article explores biological and behavioral consequences of social isolation in a mice model. Our results show that social isolation leads to changes in the Hypothalamic-hypophyseal-adrenal axis, which in turn alter the response to stress. Additionally, social isolation was shown to impact tumor progression. | 10.1080/10253890.2020.1777976 |
pubmed_569_16923 | Excessive microglial activation often contributes to inflammation-mediated neurotoxicity in the ischemic penumbra during the acute stage of ischemic stroke. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) has been reported to induce microglial activation via the NF-κB pathway. Isoflurane preconditioning (IP) can provide neuroprotection and inhibit microglial activation. In this study, we investigated the roles of the TLR4 signalling pathway in IP to exert neuroprotection following ischemic stroke in vivo and in vitro. The results showed that 2% IP alleviated neurological deficits, reduced the infarct volume, attenuated apoptosis and weakened microglial activation in the ischemic penumbra. Furthermore, IP down-regulated the expression of HSP 60, TLR4 and MyD88 and up-regulated inhibitor of IκB-α expression compared with I/R group in vivo. In vitro, 2% IP and a specific inhibitor of TLR4, CLI-095, down-regulated the expression of TLR4, MyD88, IL-1β, TNF-α and Bax, and up-regulated IκB-α and Bcl-2 expression compared with OGD group. Moreover, IP and CLI-095 attenuated microglial activation-induced neuronal apoptosis, and overexpression of the TLR4 gene reversed the neuroprotective effects of IP. In conclusion, IP provided neuroprotection by regulating TLR4 expression directly, alleviating microglial activation and neuroinflammation. Thus, inhibiting the activation of microglial activation via TLR4 may be a new avenue for stroke treatment. | 10.1038/srep11445 |
pubmed_635_10108 | BACKGROUND
An in depth understanding of mosquito breeding biology and factors regulating population sizes is fundamental for vector population control. This paper presents results from a survey of mosquito breeding habitats and the efficacy of neem chippings as a potential larvicide that can be integrated in mosquito control on Nyabondo Plateau in western Kenya.
RESULTS
Six main mosquito habitat types namely artificial ponds, abandoned fish ponds, active fish ponds, open drains, temporary pools and swamps were found in Nyabondo. Early anopheline instars were mainly recovered from temporary pools, artificial ponds and abandoned fish ponds. The mosquitoes collected were Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (35%), An. coustani (46%) and Culex spp (19%). Both early and late instar larvae of anopheline and culicine mosquitoes were more abundant in the controls than in the Bti and neem treated habitats. Within treated habitats, early instar anopheline mosquitoes were recovered more from habitats provided with neem and fish compared to Bti treated habitats. All treated habitats recorded higher numbers of early instar larvae than late instars or pupae, indicating that gravid female mosquitoes still oviposited within treated habitats.
CONCLUSIONS
Neem chippings are a good tool for mosquito larval source management under field conditions. However, more research needs to be done to quantify the contribution of this tool to the overall mosquito borne disease transmission. | 10.1186/s12898-015-0041-0 |
pubmed_646_23206 | Neurological complications contribute significantly to mortality and morbidity from congenital heart disease with serious long-term consequences. Congenital heart disease has also been shown to adversely influence the neuro-developmental outcome of children. In developing countries such as India, majority of congenital heart defects remains uncorrected and major neurological complications are frequently encountered. Stroke and brain abscess are the commonest neurological complications of unoperated congenital heart disease. In developed countries the focus has now shifted to neurological complications of cardiac surgery in the very young as a result of cardiopulmonary bypass and total hypothermic circulatory arrest. A variety of neurological disturbances are now being increasingly recognized and are currently the subject of intense investigations. In this review the neurological complications of uncorrected congenital heart disease and the common neurological complications that result from operations for congenital heart disease will be discussed. | 10.1007/BF02758175 |
pubmed_40_7354 | The epididymis is an organ involved in the maturation, transport, and storage of sperm prior to ejaculation. As epididymis is exposed to a constant risk of inflammatory conditions that may lead to transient or permanent sterility, protection of this organ from pathogens is an essential aspect of reproductive physiology. The families of antimicrobial peptides β-defensins and the pattern-recognition receptors Toll-like (TLR) mediate innate immunity in various vertebrates including avian species. As rooster infertility is a major concern in the poultry industry, the objectives of this study were to determine the expression profile of the entire family of the avian β-defensins (AvBD) and TLR genes in the rooster epididymis, to investigate whether sexual maturation affects their epididymidal mRNA abundance and to determine the changes in their expression levels in response to Salmonella enteritidis (SE) infection in the epididymis of sexually mature roosters. RNA was extracted from the epididymis of healthy pubertal, sexually mature and aged birds, and from sexually mature SE infected birds. RT-PCR analysis revealed that 10 members of the AvBD and nine members of the TLR gene families were expressed in the epididymis. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that the epididymidal mRNA abundance of certain AvBD and TLR genes was developmentally regulated with respect to sexual maturation. SE infection resulted in a significant induction of AvBD 1, 9, 10, 12 and 14, as well as TLR 1-2, 2-1, 2-2, 4, 5 and 7 genes, in the epididymis of sexually mature roosters, compared to healthy birds of the same age. These findings provide strong evidence to suggest that the rooster epididymis is capable of initiating an inflammatory response to Salmonella, through activation of certain members of the AvBD and TLR gene families. | pubmed_40_7354 |
pubmed_920_3158 | BACKGROUND
The 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused a global distress. However, its psychological impact on patients is unclear. We aim to determine the mental health status and explore related factors of anxiety and depression among patients with (COVID-19).
METHODS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
This is a cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted among COVID-19 patients at the Mohammed VI University Hospital Centre in Marrakech over a period of four months. We assessed symptoms of depression and anxiety using the Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) on admission. The significance threshold used for any data comparison test was the value of p < 0.05.
RESULTS
A total of 103 participants were included. The average age was 44, 17 ± 17, 19 years. About 54,4% of the subjects were male. Of the 103 participants, 36.89% and 23.30% patients with COVID-19 had symptoms of anxiety or depression; respectively. The mean score of anxiety subscale and depression subscale for all patients was 6.45 ± 4.29 and 5.38 ± 4.47, respectively. The bivariate analysis showed that age (p=0, 0004; p=0, 0002), oxygen saturation level (p=0, 0003; p=0, 0059), hospital stay (p <0, 0001; p <0, 0001) and family infection with SARS-CoV-2 (p=0, 0094; p=0, 0023) were associated with anxiety and depression respectively for COVID-19 patients. Moreover, gender (p=0, 0119) was associated with depression.
CONCLUSION
There is an increasing level of anxiety and depression in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Mental concern and appropriate intervention remain an important part of clinical care for those who are at risk. | 10.1016/j.rmed.2021.106512 |
pubmed_512_1137 | OBJECTIVES
In randomized controlled clinical trials, continuous outcomes are typically measured at both baseline and follow-up, and mean difference could be estimated using the change scores from baseline or the follow-up scores. This study assesses the impact of using change score vs. follow-up score on the conclusions of meta-analyses.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING
A total of 63 meta-analyses from six comparative effectiveness reviews were included. The combined mean difference was estimated using a random-effects model, and we also evaluated whether the impact qualitatively varied by alternative random-effects estimates.
RESULTS
Based on the Dersimonian-Laird (DL) method, using the change vs. the follow-up score led to five meta-analyses (7.9%) showing discrepancy in conclusions. Based on the profile likelihood (PL) method, nine (14.3%) showed discrepancy in conclusions. Using change score was more likely to show a significant difference in effects between interventions (DL method: 4 of 5; PL method: 7 of 9). A significant difference in baseline scores did not necessarily lead to discrepancies in conclusions.
CONCLUSIONS
Using the change vs. the follow-up score could lead to important discrepancies in conclusions. Sensitivity analyses should be conducted to check the robustness of results to the choice of mean difference estimates. | pubmed_512_1137 |
pubmed_1117_15856 | This study was undertaken to investigate a means of assigning Gm allotypes to Caucasians by RFLP analysis. A single immunoglobulin heavy-chain gamma-4 cDNA probe (HU gamma 4) was hybridized with genomic DNA digested separately with two restriction enzymes, TaqI and PvuII. Results showed excellent correlation (P less than .001) between serologically defined Gm allotypes G1m(1), G1m(2), G2m(23), and G1m;G3m (3;5,10) and RFLPs identified with the (HU gamma 4) probe. We conclude that it is now possible to define common Gm haplotypes in Caucasians by RFLP analysis. This method provides a useful adjunct to serological allotyping and indeed has several important advantages over traditional serology: it allows confident Gm assignment and the definition of homozygous and heterozygous Gm arrangements, is highly reproducible, and is readily executed in any molecular genetic laboratory. | pubmed_1117_15856 |
pubmed_604_844 | The structural organization in a peptide/membrane supramolecular complex is best described by knowledge of the peptide orientation plus its time-dependent and spatial fluctuations. The static orientation, defined by the peptide tilt and a rotation about its molecular axis, is accessible through a number of spectroscopic methods. However, peptide dynamics, although relevant to understand the functionality of these systems, remains largely unexplored. Here, we describe the orientation and dynamics of Trp-flanked and Lys-flanked hydrophobic peptides in a lipid bilayer from molecular dynamics simulations. A novel view is revealed, where collective nontrivial distributions of time-evolving and ensemble peptide orientations closely represent the systems as studied experimentally. Such global distributions are broad and unveil the existence of orientational states, which depend on the anchoring mode of interfacial residues. We show that this dynamics modulates (2)H quadrupolar splittings and introduces ambiguity in the analysis of NMR data. These findings demonstrate that structural descriptions of peptide/membrane complexes are incomplete, and in cases even imprecise, without knowledge of dynamics. | 10.1529/biophysj.107.113043 |
pubmed_580_5979 | OBJECTIVE
To prepare curcumin-piperine (Cu-Pi) nanoparticles by various methods and to study the effect of various manufacturing parameters on Cu-Pi nanoparticles and to identify a suitable method for the preparation of Cu-Pi nanoparticles to overcome oral bioavailability and cancer cell targeting limitations in the treatment of cancer.
METHODS
Cu-Pi nanoparticles were prepared by thin film hydration method, solid dispersion method, emulsion polymerization method and Fessi method. Optimization was carried out to study the effect of various manufacturing parameter on the Cu-Pi nanoparticles.
RESULTS
Out of four methods, Fessi method produced a minimum average particle size of 85.43 nm with a polydispersity index of 0.183 and zeta potential of 29.7 mV. Change of organic solvent (acetone or ethanol) did not have any significant effect on Cu-Pi nanoparticles. However, increase in sonication time, stirring speed, viscosity, use of 1:10:10 ratio of drug/polymer/surfactant, and use of anionic surfactant or combination of anionic surfactant with cationic polymer or combination of non-ionic surfactant with cationic polymer had a significant effect on Cu-Pi nanoparticles.
CONCLUSIONS
Cu-Pi nanoparticles coated with PEG containing copolymer produced by Fessi method had a minimum average particle size, excellent polydispersity index and optimal zeta potential which fall within the acceptable limits of the study. This dual nanoparticulate drug delivery system appears to be promising to overcome oral bioavailability and cancer cell targeting limitations in the treatment of cancer. | 10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60241-X |
pubmed_735_12136 | Future one-dimensional electronics require single-crystalline semiconductor free-standing nanorods grown with uniform electrical properties. However, this is currently unrealistic as each crystallographic plane of a nanorod grows at unique incorporation rates of environmental dopants, which forms axial and lateral growth sectors with different carrier concentrations. Here we propose a series of techniques that micro-sample a free-standing nanorod of interest, fabricate its arbitrary cross-sections by controlling focused ion beam incidence orientation, and visualize its internal carrier concentration map. ZnO nanorods are grown by selective area homoepitaxy in precursor aqueous solution, each of which has a (0001):+c top-plane and six {1-100}:m side-planes. Near-band-edge cathodoluminescence nanospectroscopy evaluates carrier concentration map within a nanorod at high spatial resolution (60 nm) and high sensitivity. It also visualizes +c and m growth sectors at arbitrary nanorod cross-section and history of local transient growth events within each growth sector. Our technique paves the way for well-defined bottom-up nanoelectronics. | 10.1038/ncomms10609 |
pubmed_578_16828 | Desymmetrization of 7-silylcycloheptatriene through consecutive dihydroxylation and acyl-nitroso cycloaddition of the resulting diene moiety is described. Dihydroxylation occurred anti relative to the resident silicon group in line with previous observations made in the cyclohexadiene series. In contrast, the subsequent acyl-nitroso cycloaddition occurred with poor regiocontrol but good level of diastereocontrol syn to the bulky silyl substituent. The resulting cycloadducts were then elaborated further to provide a straightforward entry toward aminocycloheptitols in ten steps from commercially available tropylium salts. | 10.1039/c0ob00521e |
pubmed_281_6523 | Qingfei Paidu decoction (QFPDD) has been clinically proven to be effective in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the bioactive components and therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the effective components and underlying mechanisms of QFPDD in the treatment of COVID-19 by targeting the virus-host interactome and verifying the antiviral activities of its active components in vitro. Key active components and targets were identified by analysing the topological features of a compound-target-pathway-disease regulatory network of QFPDD for the treatment of COVID-19. The antiviral activity of the active components was determined by a live virus infection assay, and possible mechanisms were analysed by pseudotyped virus infection and molecular docking assays. The inhibitory effects of the components tested on the virus-induced release of IL-6, IL-1β and CXCL-10 were detected by ELISA. Three components of QFPDD, oroxylin A, hesperetin and scutellarin, exhibited potent antiviral activities against live SARS-CoV-2 virus and HCoV-OC43 virus with IC50 values ranging from 18.68 to 63.27 μM. Oroxylin A inhibited the entry of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus into target cells and inhibited SARS-CoV-2 S protein-mediated cell-cell fusion by binding with the ACE2 receptor. The active components of QFPDD obviously inhibited the IL-6, IL-1β and CXCL-10 release induced by the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. This study supports the clinical application of QFPDD and provides an effective analysis method for the in-depth study of the mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. | 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113946 |
pubmed_1033_14585 | Ectopic eruption of the maxillary first permanent molar is an eruption disturbance. This article discusses current literature views on diagnosis, prevalence, aetiology and treatment of this disturbance. It is a relatively uncommon disturbance and its aetiology remains unclear. A combination of extraction of the maxillary second primary molar and cervical headgear treatment seems the treatment of choice, although this treatment option is successful in only 70% of cases. More research has to be conducted to compare the effectiveness of treatment options. | pubmed_1033_14585 |
pubmed_244_20565 | BACKGROUND
Various endocrine disorders have been reported in women of reproductive age, 10% of which is affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels with the metabolic syndrome in patients with PCOS.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This cross-sectional study employed a consecutive sampling method using medical records from January 2013 to December 2017 at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital polyclinic and Yasmin in vitro fertilization Clinic (Kencana), Jakarta, Indonesia. The primary outcome of the study was the AMH levels as independent variable correlated with metabolic syndrome. The secondary outcome was also the AMH levels correlated with each PCOS phenotype. The tertiary outcome was each PCOS phenotype as independent variable correlated with metabolic syndrome.
RESULTS
Women with phenotype 1 of PCOS had a median AMH level of 13.92 (range: 3.88-34.06) ng/ml. 21% patients had metabolic syndrome, with a median AMH level 7.65 (3.77-20.20) ng/ml, higher than the women without metabolic syndrome (p = 0.38). The most frequent phenotype in women with PCOS was phenotype 4, oligo- or anovulation and polycystic ovary morphology (OA/PCOM) in 41.3%. The most frequent phenotype in women with metabolic syndrome was phenotype 1, OA + PCOM + hyperandrogenism in 56.5%.
CONCLUSION
All PCOS phenotypes exhibited significant correlations with the AMH level. Phenotype 1 (OA + PCOM + hyperandrogenism) was associated with the highest AMH level and was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome. | 10.18502/ijrm.v18i3.6716 |
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