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pubmed_1135_11952 | Posterior communicating artery (PcomA) aneurysms in the presence of the fetal variant of posterior cerebral artery (PCA) often pose technical challenges for endovascular treatment because of a greater potential for ischemic injury with the fetal PCA compromise. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and results of endovascular treatment for these lesions. We retrospectively reviewed our experience and results of endovascular treatments for a series of nine consecutive patients with PcomA aneurysms occurring at the origin of fetal PCAs at the Department of Neurosurgery of Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, China, between June 2011 and June 2014. Depending on the angiographic findings, location and shape of the aneurysms, various therapeutic strategies were used including coiling by single or double microcatheter, balloon remodeling technique, and single or Y-stenting technique. Overall, fetal PCA was preserved patent in all cases, and complete or near complete occlusion was achieved in 8/9 cases. There was no procedure-related morbidity or mortality. With the exception of one patient who died of pneumonia 6 weeks after treatment, no clinical evidence of neurologic deterioration and hemorrhagic complication was seen during the follow-up period in the remaining 8 patients. Our experience suggests that endovascular treatment is relatively safe and technically feasible in most patients with PcomA aneurysms in the presence of fetal PCA using multiple strategies. | 10.1177/1591019915590532 |
pubmed_271_13125 | OBJECTIVE
Serum levels of the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-I ratio (ApoB/ApoA-I) have been shown to identify patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether raised ApoB/ApoA-I values are also predictive of renal outcome in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as similar mechanisms seem to be involved in the development of atherosclerosis and glomerulosclerosis. Only patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) were included, since they represent a homogeneous group of patients with CKD.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
ApoB and ApoA-I, serum albumin, urine albumin and blood pressure were measured, and a highly sensitive C-reactive protein test was carried out, in 70 patients with IgAN and in 70 age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. Patients were followed over a period of up to 11 years (median 3.8 years). End-stage renal disease (ESRD) was defined as reaching CKD stage 5 [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <15 ml/min/1.73 m²].
RESULTS
Baseline ApoB/ApoA-I values greater than 0.9 for men and greater than 0.8 for women were associated with a risk of developing CKD stage 5 (risk ratio 5.7, p = 0.037), independently of baseline GFR and serum albumin.
CONCLUSION
Patients with IgAN and an increased ApoB/ApoA-I ratio have a significantly higher risk of developing ESRD compared with patients with a low ratio. Controlled studies are warranted to demonstrate whether interventions focusing on the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio may have beneficial clinical effects. | 10.3109/00365599.2011.644635 |
pubmed_3_20380 | AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of the study was to examine the effectiveness of a psychoeducation intervention based on Peplau's approach, including problem-solving compared with intervention with medication on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and coping of earthquake survivors.
BACKGROUND
Post-traumatic reactions and recovery are the result of complex interactions among biological, personal, cultural and environmental factors. Both psychosocial and psychopharmacological methods have been advised to treat PTSD. The general goal of treatment is to decrease the anxiety and to support these patients in regaining normal daily functions.
DESIGN
The study used a pretest to posttest quasi-experimental design with three comparison groups.
METHODS
The sample of the study included 51 survivors of the Marmara Earthquake who met diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Comparison groups were made up as psychoeducation only, medication only and psychoeducation with medication (PEM). Six semi-structured psychoeducation sessions were conducted individually. Patients in the 'medication only' group did not participate in these sessions. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale and Coping Strategies Scale were used for the measurements.
RESULTS
There was a significant difference between the 'PEM' group and the 'medication only' group with the first group showing greater relief of symptoms. Generally, there were no differences between the 'medication only' and 'psychoeducation only' groups. Avoidance as a coping strategy had significant positive correlations with PTSD and depression outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with PTSD seem to take more advantage from the combined treatment model. Nurses can help the patients with PTSD by teaching them to cope with the symptoms.
RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE
The number and variety of catastrophic events in the world are increasing. Psychiatric nurses should therefore take responsibility regarding the effects of trauma and investigate the ways of working with people who experienced trauma in more detail and develop interventions based on scientific evidence. | 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.02047.x |
pubmed_591_16422 | The leaching effect of the rainfall process for removing heavy metals from farmland soils is a critical physical process. To study the leaching effect of the rainfall process on heavy metals in soil, the pollution characteristics of seven heavy metals in farmland soil have been investigated in the suburban Tianjin region by combining the current data with previously reported runoff data in the same region. There is a large difference for these tested heavy metals in soils, with Zn having the highest concentration at 106.61±56.24 mg·kg-1 and Cd having the lowest concentration at 0.31±0.31 mg·kg-1. Compared with the background value in Tianjin, only the content of Cd is at higher levels (a four-fold increase). The results from a single factor pollution index and comprehensive pollution index analysis indicate that the comprehensive pollution index ranking is Cd > Cu > Ni > Zn > As ≈ Cr > Pb. Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn are in the moderate pollution, mild pollution, and alert level categories, respectively. Except for As, the results from a correlation analysis, the principal component analysis (PCA), and the cluster analysis indicate the possible similar origins of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb. The multivariate statistical analysis indicates that Cd is mainly derived from human activities, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, and Pb are affected by anthropogenic and natural sources, and As is mainly influenced by natural conditions. By comparing the ratios of individual heavy metals to Cr in soils and runoffs, the leaching behaviors have been studied, with the leaching capacity ranked as Cd > As > Cu ≈ Pb > Ni > Cr ≈ Zn. In summary, Cd pollution in soil is more prominent than pollution from other metals and should receive attention. | 10.13227/j.hjkx.201706213 |
pubmed_234_12883 | Swine proliferative enteropathy is an enteric disease caused by Lawsonia intracellularis which affects animals between 6 and 20 weeks of age, causing diarrhea, anorexia, and poor growth. The presence of L. intracellularis was evaluated in the faecal samples of 636 swine from 75 randomly chosen herds in the main swine-producing regions of Brazil. The pathogen was detected by the polymerase chain reaction method (PCR) using L. intracellularis specific primers. A 319-bp DNA fragment specific for L. intracellularis was produced on amplification of DNA from the faeces of pigs with proliferative enteropathy. Equal amounts of DNA extracted from the faeces of animals from the same herd were pooled together and, once L. intracellularis was detected, the faecal material of each animal was analyzed separately. The incidence of L. intracellularis was 33.4% in the state of Santa Catarina, 29.4% in Paraná, 26.3% in Minas Gerais, 16.7% in Mato Grosso, and 7.1% in São Paulo. The presence of the pathogenic agent was detected in samples from 15 farms, representing a total incidence of 20%. Although 46 animals (7.2%) were shown to be infected, 11% did not present any symptoms of swine proliferative enteropathy. The use of PCR allowed the detection of L. intracellularis in swine farms and the evaluation of the incidence of proliferative enteropathy in different regions of Brazil. | 10.1139/w98-234 |
pubmed_33_7669 | BACKGROUND
We have recently identified HOP hoemobox (HOPX) as a tumor suppressor gene candidate, characterized by tumor-specific promoter DNA hypermethylation in human cancers, and it can remarkably inhibit tumors' aggressive phenotypes. In this current study, we for the first time examined methylation level of HOPX and tested the functional relevance in pancreatic cancer (PC).
METHODS
Clinical features of HOPX promoter hypermethylation was investigated in 89 PC tissues, and immunohistochemistry was added. We also examined its functional relevance in phenotype assays such as soft agar, proliferation, invasion, and cell cycle analysis.
RESULTS
PC tissues had HOPX gene hypermethylation as compared to the corresponding normal pancreas tissues, and its uniqueness was robust to discriminate tumor from normal tissues (AUC = 0.85, P < 0.0001). Unexpectedly, HOPX was increased in expression in tumor tissues, and immunohistochemistry revealed its predominant expression in the Langerhans islet cells, where HOPX was reduced in expression for PC cells with promoter hypermethylation. HOPX transfectants exhibited G1 arrest with subG1 accumulation, and inhibited tumor forming and invasive ability.
CONCLUSION
Defective expression of HOPX which is consistent with promoter DNA hypermethylation may explain aggressive phenotype of pancreatic cancer, and intense expression of HOPX in the Langerhans cells may in turn uniquely contribute to pancreatic carcinogenesis. | 10.1186/1471-2407-12-397 |
pubmed_91_6337 | The authors report 2 cases of brain localisation of cysticercosis due to Cysticercus cellulosae. In both cases epilepsy was found but only later was its origin proved by the finding of caracteristic ellipsoidal calcifications of cysticerci on the roentgenogram. The authors also recall the various possible symptoms; insist on the fact that early positive diagnosis is difficult and that the mode of treatment by surgery is exceptional. Though cysticercosis is rare in France, it should be remembered when a diagnosis of epilepsy is made and no apparent cause is found: further research of etiology should thus be made in such cases. | pubmed_91_6337 |
pubmed_454_1791 | BACKGROUND
Activated androgen receptor binds to androgen-responsive elements (AREs) in genome to regulate target gene transcription and, consequently, mediates physiological or tumorigenic processes of the prostate. Our aim was to determine whether genetic variants in AREs are associated with clinical outcomes after androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in prostate cancer patients.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We systematically investigated 55 common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genome-wide insilico-predicted AREs in a cohort of 601 men with advanced prostate cancer treated with ADT. The prognostic significance of these SNPs on disease progression, prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) and all-cause mortality (ACM) after ADT was assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model.
RESULTS
In univariate analysis, two, five, and four SNPs were associated with disease progression, PCSM, and ACM, respectively. After adjusting for known prognostic factors, ARRDC3 rs2939244, FLT1 rs9508016, and SKAP1 rs6504145 remained as significant predictors for PCSM and FBXO32 rs7830622 and FLT1 rs9508016 remained as significant predictors for ACM in multivariate analysis. Moreover, strong combined genotype effects on PCSM and ACM were also observed (P(trend) < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that SNPs in AREs influence prostate cancer survival and may further advance our understanding of the disease progression. | 10.1093/annonc/mdr264 |
pubmed_713_19999 | In search of more efficacious and safe pharmacological treatments for atrial fibrillation (AF), atria-selective antiarrhythmic agents have been promoted that target ion channels principally expressed in the atria. This concept allows one to engage antiarrhythmic effects in atria, but spares the ventricles from potentially proarrhythmic side effects. It has been suggested that cardiac small conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels may represent an atria-selective target in mammals including humans. However, there are conflicting data concerning the expression of SK channels in different stages of AF, and recent findings suggest that SK channels are upregulated in ventricular myocardium when patients develop heart failure. To address this issue, RNA-sequencing was performed to compare expression levels of three SK channels (KCNN1, KCNN2, and KCNN3) in human atrial and ventricular tissue samples from transplant donor hearts (no cardiac disease), and patients with cardiac disease in sinus rhythm or with AF. In addition, for control purposes expression levels of several genes known to be either chamber-selective or differentially expressed in AF and heart failure were determined. In atria, as compared to ventricle from transplant donor hearts, we confirmed higher expression of KCNN1 and KCNA5, and lower expression of KCNJ2, whereas KCNN2 and KCNN3 were statistically not differentially expressed. Overall expression of KCNN1 was low compared to KCNN2 and KCNN3. Comparing atrial tissue from patients with AF to sinus rhythm samples we saw downregulation of KCNN2 in AF, as previously reported. When comparing ventricular tissue from heart failure patients to non-diseased samples, we found significantly increased ventricular expression of KCNN3 in heart failure, as previously published. The other channels showed no significant difference in expression in either disease. Our results add weight to the view that SK channels are not likely to be an atria-selective target, especially in failing human hearts, and modulators of these channels may prove to have less utility in treating AF than hoped. Whether targeting SK1 holds potential remains to be elucidated. | 10.3389/fphys.2021.650964 |
pubmed_995_16153 | The effect of tetanus toxin in doses of 30 mcg/kg on the content, synthesis and release of acetylcholine, and on the activity of choline acetylase and acetylcholine esterase in the central nervous system of the rat was studied. The investigations were carried out after the appearance of tetanus. We found that the tetanus toxin: a) caused no changes in the acetylcholine content in the cerebral cortex and brain stem, and also in the cervical and lumbar parts of the spinal cord; b) stimulated acetylcholine synthesis in the brain stem and in the cervical and lumbar parts of the spinal cord but not in the cerebral cortex; c) activated choline acetylase; d) had no effect on acetylcholine esterase activity; e) released acetylcholine from the neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord. The release could not be inhibited by low concentration of potassium ions in the medium or increased with electrical stimulation. | pubmed_995_16153 |
pubmed_764_10683 | Cefepime, a new parenteral cephalosporin, was evaluated for its in vitro antibacterial activity in comparison with other broad-spectrum antibiotics against a total of 445 recently isolated microorganisms of nosocomial origin. Cefepime was highly active against all species of Enterobacteriaceae with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC90S) ranging from 0.25-8 micrograms/ml. Cefepime showed moderate activity against Acinetobacter spp (MIC50 and MIC90, 16 micrograms/ml) but its activity was superior to that of any drug tested, except imipenem. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa its activity was comparable to that of ceftazidime and was greater than that of cefotaxime, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin and aminoglycosides. Of all the agents tested, imipenem was the most active compound. Cefepime was active against Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative methicillin-susceptible staphylococci but it had no activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococci and enterococci. | 10.1179/joc.1997.9.5.341 |
pubmed_906_20301 | The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) is the primary database resource of the Japanese GenomeNet service (http://www.genome.ad.jp/) for understanding higher order functional meanings and utilities of the cell or the organism from its genome information. KEGG consists of the PATHWAY database for the computerized knowledge on molecular interaction networks such as pathways and complexes, the GENES database for the information about genes and proteins generated by genome sequencing projects, and the LIGAND database for the information about chemical compounds and chemical reactions that are relevant to cellular processes. In addition to these three main databases, limited amounts of experimental data for microarray gene expression profiles and yeast two-hybrid systems are stored in the EXPRESSION and BRITE databases, respectively. Furthermore, a new database, named SSDB, is available for exploring the universe of all protein coding genes in the complete genomes and for identifying functional links and ortholog groups. The data objects in the KEGG databases are all represented as graphs and various computational methods are developed to detect graph features that can be related to biological functions. For example, the correlated clusters are graph similarities which can be used to predict a set of genes coding for a pathway or a complex, as summarized in the ortholog group tables, and the cliques in the SSDB graph are used to annotate genes. The KEGG databases are updated daily and made freely available (http://www.genome.ad.jp/kegg/). | 10.1093/nar/30.1.42 |
pubmed_634_6029 | This article comments recent publications that highlight an intriguing importance of specific settings in the interaction between the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum to ensure cell-specific functions like the responsiveness to elevated glucose in pancreatic β-cells. Hence, alterations of the mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum communications under various pathological conditions like aging or cancer often come with enhanced Ca2+ transfer that, in turn, yields stimulation of basal mitochondrial activity to meet the increasing adenosine triphosphate demand of the very cell. Such observations identify mitochondria-associated membranes as potential target for new therapeutic strategies against aging or cancer. | 10.1177/2515256419861227 |
pubmed_186_1687 | Temperature- and coverage-dependent studies of the Au(1 1 1)-supported spin crossover Fe(II) complex (SCO) of the type [Fe(H2B(pz)2)2(bipy)] with a suite of surface-sensitive spectroscopy and microscopy tools show that the substrate inhibits thermally induced transitions of the molecular spin state, so that both high-spin and low-spin states are preserved far beyond the spin transition temperature of free molecules. Scanning tunneling microscopy confirms that [Fe(H2B(pz)2)2(bipy)] grows as ordered, molecular bilayer islands at sub-monolayer coverage and as disordered film at higher coverage. The temperature dependence of the electronic structure suggest that the SCO films exhibit a mixture of spin states at room temperature, but upon cooling below the spin crossover transition the film spin state is best described as a mix of high-spin and low-spin state molecules of a ratio that is constant. This locking of the spin state is most likely the result of a substrate-induced conformational change of the interfacial molecules, but it is estimated that also the intra-atomic electron-electron Coulomb correlation energy, or Hubbard correlation energy U, could be an additional contributing factor. | 10.1088/0953-8984/28/20/206002 |
pubmed_194_8622 | The lipid compositions of cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells, adventitial fibroblasts and skin fibroblasts were determined for cells grown in media containing either normolipemic or hyperlipemic serum. No significant changes were found in cell phospholipid composition. Each of the threee cell types responded similarly to hyperlipemic serum, accumulating esterified cholesterol and triglyerides. | 10.1016/0021-9150(76)90078-2 |
pubmed_107_19363 | A survey has been performed to discover the prevalence of menopausal symptoms in 108 patients successfully treated for breast cancer. Patients were assessed by them answering a custom designed questionnaire, and the use of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale and the Greene Climacteric Scale. During the first year after treatment 70% of women suffered such symptoms; overall 60% of women surveyed were affected. Adjuvant hormonal treatment was the largest contributing factor in the development of symptoms. There was a relationship with borderline cases of anxiety, but not with definite cases of anxiety, as measured by the HAD scale. The high proportion of women shown to be affected means that treatment of menopausal symptoms should be incorporated into randomized trials of adjuvant therapy. | 10.1016/s0936-6555(05)80270-5 |
pubmed_427_11305 | Twenty-three instances of a histological variant of basal cell epithelioma are presented for the first time in the American literature, to our knowledge. This variant has been termed adamantinoid basal cell epithelioma because of its histological resemblance to adamantinoma (ameloblastoma) of the oral cavity. | pubmed_427_11305 |
pubmed_875_12878 | INTRODUCTION
Reconstruction of large abdominal wall defects not amenable to primary closure remains a challenging problem. These defects result from trauma, previous surgery, infection and tumour resection. The primary objectives of abdominal wall reconstructions are to protect abdominal contents and provide functional support. The abdominal wall reconstruction aims at providing basic component parts, i.e. skin, soft tissue and fascia. For large soft tissue defects, pedicled or free flap closure can be used. In clean wounds, fascial replacement is accomplished with synthetic mesh provided there is adequate soft tissue coverage.
METHODS
We treated a total of 20 consecutive patients with complex abdominal wall defects utilizing various reconstructive procedures. There were 15 males (75%) and 5 females (25%). The aetiology included dehiscence of laparotomy wounds in eight (40%), following ablative surgery for malignant tumours in seven (35%), trauma in three (15%) and congenital defects in two (10%) cases. The reconstructive procedures consisted of onlay prolene mesh in seven (35%), Gore-Tex (PTFE) dual mesh both as inlay and onlay in five (25%), facial partition release technique in three (15%), inlay prolene mesh covered with omentum and split skin graft in two (10%), inlay prolene mesh covered with expanded skin in two (10%), and Gore-Tex dual mesh covered with latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap in one (5%) case. Postoperatively none developed mesh infection or extrusion. Three patients with malignant aetiology received postoperative radiotherapy. During follow up, one patient developed ventral hernia cephalad to the repair and one died due to recurrence of abdominal wall malignancy.
CONCLUSION
The reconstruction of an abdominal wall defect requires a comprehensive plan of preoperative and post operative care of the patient and aims toward restoration of abdominal structural integrity by a variety of procedures. The use of new biomaterials and tissue expanders provides reliable and durable abdominal wall closure along with good aesthetic results. | 10.1016/S0377-1237(07)80053-0 |
pubmed_299_10024 | BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a German adaptation of the Strengthening Families Programme 10-14 (SFP 10-14; Familien Stärken).
METHODS
A multi-centre randomised controlled trial comparing the German SFP version consisting of seven sessions and four booster-sessions with a minimal intervention on parenting as control condition. Outcomes comprise measures of adolescent substance use (initiation) and behaviour problems and are assessed at baseline, after programme delivery and at 6- and 18-month follow-ups. Primary outcomes were lifetime tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use at 18 months. Data of n = 292 families were analysed using baseline adjusted logistic regressions and mixed models.
RESULTS
We observed reduced rates of lifetime tobacco use in analyses with follow-up respondents, but not in data using the complete intention to treat sample with multiple imputation estimates for missing data. Parents reported fewer adolescent behaviour problems in analyses with the total sample and multiple imputed data, but not in data with follow-up respondents only. There were no other significant effects of SFP 10-14.
CONCLUSION
Overall the medium size effects found in previous US trials could not be replicated in a German context. | 10.1093/eurpub/ckw082 |
pubmed_974_19534 | A novel multiple membrane blood-feeding system for mosquitoes has been developed for the study and routine maintenance of Aedes aegypti L. and Aedes albopictus Skuse that require a meal of vertebrate blood to produce eggs. This blood-feeding system uses cattle collagen sausage-casing membrane to facilitate feeding. The efficiency of this blood-feeding system was compared to a live mice blood source. We observed that Ae. aegypti that fed on pig whole blood had 89.7% (w/o ATP) and 90.7% (w/ ATP) blood-feeding rates, which were not significantly different from the mice-fed ones (98.0%). Ae. albopictus fed on pig whole blood (w/ ATP) had a success rate of 84.4%, which was significantly different from the mice-fed mosquitoes (51.1%). The feeding rates did not differ between sausage-casing membrane and Parafilm-M(®). The survival rate, fecundity, pupation, and pupal emergence rates of Aedes females fed on pig whole blood were not significantly different from the mice-fed ones. The artificial blood feeder can be applied to replace live animals as blood sources. Considering that this simple, inexpensive, convenient, and efficient feeding device can be built with common laboratory materials for research on Aedes mosquitoes. | 10.1111/jvec.12101 |
pubmed_377_11285 | Cancer stem cells or cancer initiating cells are believed to contribute to cancer recurrence after therapy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA molecules with fundamental roles in gene regulation. The role of miRNAs in cancer stem cells is only poorly understood. Here, we report miRNA expression profiles of glioblastoma stem cell-containing CD133(+) cell populations. We find that miR-9, miR-9(*) (referred to as miR-9/9(*)), miR-17 and miR-106b are highly abundant in CD133(+) cells. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-9/9(*) or miR-17 leads to reduced neurosphere formation and stimulates cell differentiation. Calmodulin-binding transcription activator 1 (CAMTA1) is a putative transcription factor, which induces the expression of the anti-proliferative cardiac hormone natriuretic peptide A (NPPA). We identify CAMTA1 as an miR-9/9(*) and miR-17 target. CAMTA1 expression leads to reduced neurosphere formation and tumour growth in nude mice, suggesting that CAMTA1 can function as tumour suppressor. Consistently, CAMTA1 and NPPA expression correlate with patient survival. Our findings could provide a basis for novel strategies of glioblastoma therapy. | 10.1038/emboj.2011.301 |
pubmed_152_12393 | Desmin fulfils important functions in maintenance of muscle cells and mutations in the desmin gene have been linked to a variety of myopathies. To ascertain the role of desmin's amino-terminal domain in muscle cells we generated embryonic stem cells constitutively expressing desmin(Delta1-48) in a null background and investigated muscle cell development in vitro. Desmin(Delta1-48) lacking the first 48 amino acid residues promotes fusion of myoblasts, rescues myogenesis and down-regulates vimentin expression in embryoid bodies, but hampers cardiomyogenesis and blocks smooth muscle development. These results demonstrate that desmin's amino-terminus has different roles in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle cell development and function. | 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)02995-2 |
pubmed_380_16632 | Congenital nystagmus is a rare condition mainly characterised by rhythmic, conjugate, and horizontal oscillations of both eyes that persist in the vertical gaze. This disorder is usually noticed in the neonatal period and persists throughout life. It can be of sensory origin, associated with low visual acuity of various causes, or of motor origin, caused by a defect in the slow eye movement system. The former can be genetically determined. It can also be associated with several conditions, the most frequent being albinism. The achiasma syndrome has recently been recognized in two patients as an autosomal recessive inherited cause of congenital nystagmus. We report the case of the so far youngest reported baby having been diagnosed with the isolated achiasmatic condition, which presented with congenital nystagmus and see-saw nystagmus, and discuss its clinical findings and 18 months follow-up. The achiasmatic syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis of congenital nystagmus, as all the described cases presented like that. Complete investigations should be performed to allow the best evolution and follow-up of these children. | 10.1055/s-2003-42214 |
pubmed_294_10966 | The infected cell protein 4 (ICP-4), the major regulatory protein encoded by the a4 gene of the herpes simplex virus 1, binds two sites (alpha 4-1 proximal, alpha 4-1 distal) at the 5'-untranscribed domain and at the transcription initiation site (alpha 4-2) of the alpha 4 gene. Chimeric genes consisting of the 5'-untranscribed and transcribed noncoding domains of the alpha 4 gene fused to the coding sequences of the thymidine kinase gene were mutagenized to abolish binding of ICP-4 by substitution of bases, including the guanines whose methylation interferes with binding of the protein, and recombined into the viral genome. The cytoplasmic RNAs extracted from infected cells treated with cycloheximide, from untreated infected cells maintained for 4 or 8 hr, and from cells infected first with a virus deleted in the alpha 22 gene and 3 hr later with the test viruses were tested in RNase protection assay for amounts of the chimeric gene RNA relative to amounts of alpha 22 gene RNA. We report the following: (i) Mutation of the alpha 4-2 binding site resulted in a 5-to 6-fold higher accumulation of chimeric gene RNA at 4 hr and as much as 15-fold higher accumulation by 8 hr after infection. (ii) Mutations of alpha 4-1 sites by themselves had no effect on RNA accumulation. However, mutagenesis of all three sites significantly increased mRNA amounts above the levels seen in cells infected with alpha 4-2 site mutants. (iii) The mutations have no effect on accumulation of alpha 4 mRNA in the absence of ICP-4 synthesis and, therefore, the mutations had no effect on RNA stability or transcription rate. (iv) Accumulation of alpha 4 mRNA relative to that of alpha 22 mRNA is highest in the presence of cycloheximide and decreases with time after infection. We conclude that ICP-4 autoregulates the transcription of its own gene in infected cells and that binding of ICP-4 to three sites in its promoter is additive in its effects on this process. | 10.1073/pnas.90.6.2286 |
pubmed_739_7810 | The nicotine abstinence syndrome was studied in the rat utilizing a modified rating scale of the opiate abstinence syndrome. Rats were infused with 10.27 mg/kg per day nicotine hydrogen tartrate for 7 days via subcutaneous minipumps. The behavior of each animal was observed before, during and after termination of the nicotine infusion. The abstinence signs in the withdrawal sessions included gasps, genital licks, ptosis, shakes, teeth chatter, yawns and changes in locomotor activity. Abstinence was induced through surgical removal of the pump or through administration of a nicotinic receptor antagonist, acting either centrally and peripherally (mecamylamine 1 mg/kg s.c.) or peripherally only (chlorisondamine 1 mg/kg s.c.). Statistical evaluation revealed a significant increase in overall abstinence signs both at 16 (P < 0.05) and 40 h (P < 0.01) after termination of the nicotine infusion, as compared to the number of signs in the nicotine treated animals' baseline sessions and to the number of signs in control animals (P < 0.05). There was also a significant reduction in locomotor activity during both withdrawal sessions. Animals injected with mecamylamine or chlorisondamine displayed a larger increase in the abstinence score (P < 0.001) than the spontaneously abstinent animals. Acute administration of different doses of nicotine or of the peripherally acting nicotinic receptor agonist tetramethylammonium (0.8 mg/kg s.c.) reversed the behavioral nicotine abstinence syndrome. Our results show that a nicotine abstinence syndrome can be elicited in rats on a chronic nicotine regimen either by acute withdrawal of nicotine or by the administration of nicotinic receptor antagonists and that peripheral nicotinic receptors may contribute significantly to the overall withdrawal reaction. | 10.1007/s002130050200 |
pubmed_994_64 | Androgens are essential for sexual development and reproduction. However, androgen regulation in health and disease is poorly understood. We showed that human adrenocortical H295R cells grown under starvation conditions acquire a hyperandrogenic steroid profile with changes in steroid metabolizing enzymes HSD3B2 and CYP17A1 essential for androgen production. Here we studied the regulatory mechanisms underlying androgen production in starved H295R cells. Microarray expression profiling of normal versus starved H295R cells revealed fourteen differentially expressed genes; HSD3B2, HSD3B1, CYP21A2, RARB, ASS1, CFI, ASCL1 and ENC1 play a role in steroid and energy metabolism and ANGPTL1, PLK2, DUSP6, DUSP10 and FREM2 are involved in signal transduction. We discovered two new gene networks around RARB and ANGPTL1, and show how they regulate androgen biosynthesis. Transcription factor RARB stimulated the promoters of genes involved in androgen production (StAR, CYP17A1 and HSD3B2) and enhanced androstenedione production. For HSD3B2 regulation RARB worked in cooperation with Nur77. Secretory protein ANGPTL1 modulated CYP17A1 and DUSP6 expression by inducing ERK1/2 phosphorylation. By contrast, our studies revealed no evidence for hormones or cell cycle involvement in regulating androgen biosynthesis. In summary, these studies establish a firm role for RARB and ANGPTL1 in the regulation of androgen production in H295R cells. | 10.1038/srep10132 |
pubmed_46_7627 | The B mating type of the basidiomycete fungus, Schizophyllum commune is determined by two, tightly linked, multi-specificity (also called multi-allelic) loci: B alpha and B beta. A plasmid library was used in DNA-mediated transformation to obtain transformants that displayed B-directed development. Plasmids that conferred B alpha 1 and B beta 1 mating-type specificities were rescued from the transformants. Fragments of DNA from each plasmid hybridized to genomic DNA from the strain used to make the plasmid library; however, they did not hybridize, or hybridized only weakly, to genomic DNA from strains with mating-type specificities different from B alpha 1 or B beta 1. The cloned fragments are presumed to correspond to active regions of each B mating-type locus. | 10.1007/BF00326436 |
pubmed_756_16458 | In this paper, pH-sensitive polyelectrolyte complex micelles assembled from two oppositely charged graft copolymers chitosan-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (CS-g-PNIPAM) and sodium alginate-g-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N-vinyl-pyrrolidone) [ALG-g-P(NIPAM-co-NVP)] were prepared for controlled release of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The polyelectrolyte complex micelles showed a narrow size distribution with core-shell structure, where the core formed from positively charged CS and negatively charged ALG by electrostatic interactions. The hydrogen bonding interactions between micelles and 5-FU improved the drug loading. Changing temperature or pH, a controlled drug release was observed. Glutaraldehyde, as a chemical cross-linking agent, was used to improve the micelles stability and decrease the initial burst release. Cytotoxicity assays showed that drug-loaded micelles retained high cell inhibition efficiency in Hela cells. These novel complex micelles with environmentally sensitive properties are expected to be useful in the field of intelligent drug delivery system. | pubmed_756_16458 |
pubmed_900_9990 | A novel class of non-peptide somatostatin receptor ligands bearing the octahydrobenzo[g]quinoline (obeline) structural element has been identified. SAR studies have been performed that led to the discovery of derivatives with high affinity (pK(d) r sst(1) > or = 9) and selectivity (> or = 150-fold for h sst(1) over h sst(2)-h sst(5)) for somatostatin receptor subtype sst(1). In a functional assay, the compounds act as antagonists at human recombinant sst(1) receptors. | 10.1016/j.bmcl.2007.04.086 |
pubmed_507_24017 | The last few years have seen a rapid expansion in the use and availability of ablation techniques with hundreds of papers published. Radiofrequency remains the front-runner in terms of cost, ease of set-up, versatility and flexibility but other techniques are catching up. Ablation with cryotherapy and microwave, which were previously only available at open laparotomy due to the large size of the probes, are now readily performed percutaneously, with a predictable reduction in morbidity. Ablation is now accepted as the first line of treatment in patients with limited volume hepatocellular carcinoma who are not candidates for transplantation. There is continuing debate in most other areas but the evidence is increasing for an important role in liver metastases, renal carcinoma, inoperable lung tumours and some bone tumours. | 10.1102/1470-7330.2009.9028 |
pubmed_887_8365 | Molecular genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology of thromboplastin are briefly reviewed with special emphasis on its biosynthesis by endothelial cells. | 10.1159/000215809 |
pubmed_101_15567 | Low temperature magnetization of CrI3, CrSiTe3and CrGeTe3single crystals were systematically studied. Based on the temperature dependence of extrapolated spontaneous magnetization from magnetic isotherms measured at different temperatures, the spin stiffness constant (D) and spin excitation gap (Δ) were extracted according to Bloch's law. For spin stiffness,Dis estimated to be 27 ± 6 meV Å2, 20 ± 3 meV Å2and 38 ± 7 meV Å2for CrI3, CrSiTe3and CrGeTe3respectively. Spin excitation gaps determined via Bloch's formulation have larger error bars yielding 0.59 ± 0.34 meV (CrI3), 0.37 ± 0.22 meV (CrSiTe3) and 0.28 ± 0.19 meV (CrGeTe3). Among all three studied compounds, larger spin stiffness value leads to higher ferromagnetic transition temperature. | 10.1088/1361-648X/abe44d |
pubmed_21_3927 | We developed a dietary exposure assay for screening insecticidal compounds for their toxicity and for assessing the side effects of insecticidal proteins produced by genetically engineered (GE) plants on the planthopper Laodelphax striatellus Fallén. The fitness bioassay confirmed that the diet fulfills the requirements to be used in the dietary exposure system. To validate the efficacy of the dietary exposure system, nymphs of L. striatellus were fed diets treated with different concentrations of an inorganic stomach poison, potassium arsenate (PA), or a cysteine protease inhibitor, E-64. The results showed that with increasing concentrations of E-64, the larval development time was prolonged, the adult weight was reduced and the survival rate of L. striatellus was decreased. Similarly the survival rates of L. striatellus consistently decreased with increasing PA content in the diet. The data indicate that the dietary exposure assay is able to detect the effects of insecticidal compounds on L. striatellus. Subsequently, this assay was successfully used for assessing the potential toxicity of Cry2Aa. The results showed that L. striatellus larvae were not negatively affected when fed the artificial diet containing purified Cry2Aa at 300 μg/g diet. In the assay, the stability and bioactivity of crystal (Cry) proteins in the food sources were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and sensitive-insect bioassays. These results show that L. striatellus is not sensitive to Cry2Aa. We conclude that the dietary exposure system is valid and useful for assessing the toxicity of insecticidal compounds produced by GE plants on planthoppers. | 10.1111/1744-7917.12060 |
pubmed_437_16235 | Atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique was used to investigate the nanomechanical properties of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) nanofibers produced by the thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method. Firstly, AFM-based nanolithography was employed to produce localized deformations on the surface of single PLLA nanofiber, in which the AFM tip served as a nanoscale burin to draw a scratch longitudinally along the nanofiber. Secondly, the morphology and physical properties of the nanofiber before and immediately after the deformation were characterized with AFM and force spectroscopy measurement. During the initial stage of TIPS process, the crystallization of PLLA resulted in a regular arrangement of crystalline domains along the thinner fibrils which then assembled laterally into larger nanofibers. The deformation due to the nanoindentation and plowing with the probe induced structural variation of PLLA nanofibers and led to a functional consequence in their nanomechanical properties. The region after deformation had a higher adhesion force and elastic modulus, probably because the polymer chains became more compact and ordered under both compression and shear stresses. | pubmed_437_16235 |
pubmed_992_13002 | The purpose of this study was to objectively assess the morbidity of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) in iliofemoral vein thrombosis treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and stenting under the protection of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. All patients with an unprovoked episode of iliofemoral vein thrombosis combined with iliac vein compression syndrome (IVCS) during January 2011 and January 2015 were enrolled. Clinical records of all patients were evaluated. Firstly, cox regression was performed to find out the factors impacted the incidence of PTS. Then, Kaplan Meier analysis was conducted to verify the roles of these factors in PTS. A total of 247 patients who underwent CDT and IVC filter insertion for iliofemoral vein thrombosis and were found stenosis in the iliac vein after CDT were included in this study. Among them, 74 patients suffered PTS diagnosed via Villalta scale. Comparison with patients without stent implantation and filter withdrawal, patients with stent implantation and filter withdrawal had a less risk of PTS, but patients with a lesion in the left or bilateral proximal deep vein had a more risk of PTS. Cox regression found that stent implantation was a preventive measure to prevent PTS (OR 0.541, 95% CI 0.334-0.876, p = 0.012). The Kaplan-Meier curve found that patients with stent implantation had a less ratio of PTS occurrence (P = 0.008). In patients with iliofemoral vein thrombosis and IVCS, stent implantation to solve the residual obstruction after CDT might play an important role in preventing PTS. | 10.1007/s11239-017-1515-z |
pubmed_225_20128 | Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP; Santicizer 160 Plasticizer) was fed to 3 groups of 10 male and 10 female Charles River CD rats for 6 wk at target doses of 500, 1500, and 3000 mg/kg/d. Control groups of 6 males and 6 females received untreated diets for the same period. Body weight gains were decreased at the 1500 and 3000 mg/kg/d levels. Hindlimb stiffness was noted at the 3000 mg/kg/d level and was more prevalent in males. Stiffness was apparently reversed after withdrawal from BBP exposure for 2 d. Microscopic examination of central and peripheral nervous system tissues did not reveal any compound-related pathological changes. Thus, there were no morphological changes in the nervous system that could be related to the apparently reversible hindlimb stiffness. | 10.1080/15287399109531487 |
pubmed_1108_8646 | Targeting specific receptors is attracting growing interest in the fields of drug delivery and gene therapy for cancer treatment. The urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is overexpressed on many tumors,particularly that of prostate and breast cancers. The aim of this study is to design, prepare, and characterize a synthetic self-assembled nanoparticle that presents targeting ligands at a certain conformation and molar ratio onthe surface of the particles. Here, we describe the synthesis of a novel uPAR targeting ligand consisting of an 11-amino-acid sequence named U11 peptide modified with an alkyl chain to form an U11 peptide-lipid amphiphile.This peptide-lipid is inserted into the outer layer of a parent stealth liposome by post-modification to derive a U11 peptide-targeted nanoparticle. We demonstrate that the peptide moieties become separated into more singular conformations as they are inserted into a liposome membrane, rendering them to be sufficiently biologically active to observe specific receptor-mediated endocytosis (RME) and delivery of plasmid DNA to uPAR positive cells (DU145 cells). The U11 peptide targeted nanoparticle transfection of DU145 cells is essentially 10-fold higher compared to transfection achieved by nanoparticles having a scrambled peptide sequence on their surface.U11 peptide targeted nanoparticles also proved to be uPAR-specific, as they did not improve transfection levels on the uPAR-negative cell line, HEK293. | 10.1021/bc8001908 |
pubmed_186_7606 | OBJECTIVE
Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT), one of the several genes recently discovered in familial glucocorticoid deficiencies (FGD), is involved in reactive oxygen species detoxification, suggesting that extra-adrenal manifestations may occur, due to the sensitivity to oxidative stress of other organs rich in mitochondria. Here, we sought to identify NNT mutations in a large cohort of patients with primary congenital adrenal insufficiency without molecular etiology and evaluate the degree of adrenal insufficiency and onset of extra-adrenal damages.
METHODS
Sanger or massive parallel sequencing of NNT and patient monitoring.
RESULTS
Homozygous or compound heterozygous NNT mutations occurred frequently (26%, 13 unrelated families, 18 patients) in our cohort. Seven new mutations were identified: p.Met337Val, p.Ala863Glu, c.3G>A (p.Met1?), p.Arg129*, p.Arg379*, p.Val665Profs*29 and p.Ala704Serfs*19. The most frequent mutation, p.Arg129*, was found recurrently in patients from Algeria. Most patients were diagnosed belatedly (8-18 months) after presenting severe hypoglycemia; others experiencing stress conditions were diagnosed earlier. Five patients also had mineralocorticoid deficiency at onset. One patient had congenital hypothyroidism and two cryptorchidism. In follow-up, we noticed gonadotropic and genitalia impairments (precocious puberty, testicular inclusions, interstitial Leydig cell adenoma, azoospermia), hypothyroidism and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Intrafamilial phenotype heterogeneity was also observed.
CONCLUSIONS
NNT should be sequenced, not only in FGD, but also in all primary adrenal insufficiencies for which the most frequent etiologies have been ruled out. As NNT is involved in oxidative stress, careful follow-up is needed to evaluate mineralocorticoid biosynthesis extent, and gonadal, heart and thyroid function. | 10.1530/EJE-16-0056 |
pubmed_815_7007 | Tetrahydropteroylpolyglutamates with longer gamma-glutamyl chain lengths have been found to act as better cofactors than the corresponding monoglutamates for the activity of thymidylate synthase, (5, 10-CH2H4PteGlu: dUMP C-methyltransferase, EC 2.1.1.45) purified from Lactobacillus leichmannii. Contrarily, the pteroylpolyglutamates (unreduced forms) with longer gamma-glutamyl chain lengths act as powerful inhibitors of the same enzyme, the I50 being 2 microM for the tetraglutamate, and inhibition is competitive. The Km and Ki values for the synthetic folylpolyglutamates are identical to those obtained for the natural folylpolyglutamyl forms isolated from Torula yeast (Candida utilis) by the author earlier. A rapid novel method is suggested that could be conveniently used to determine the gamma-glutamyl chain lengths of the folylpolyglutamates employing the direct or indirect linear proportionality relationship observed between the number of gamma-glutamyl residues linked and the Ki and Km values of the enzyme considering the state of oxidation/reduction of the pteridine moiety and the 1-C substituents attached. | pubmed_815_7007 |
pubmed_552_6589 | The command elements that initiate and coordinate the abdominal movements in crayfish show little similarity between the various abdominal segments. Our criteria for similarity among interneurons were based on both cell morphology and electrophysiology. By contrast, previously published evidence shows much greater intersegmental similarity in the skeletal, muscular, motoneuronal, and sensory components of the abdominal system in crayfish, structures that are controlled by or send information to the command elements. Therefore, unlike the command elements, these structures have retained nearly identical form and function in the various segments. We also found in different ganglia examples of interneurons involved with abdominal positioning behavior that have similar morphology but different function and vice versa. Such interneurons could represent divergent pairs of serial homologues. It is unknown why so many of the abdominal positioning interneurons have become different. The various ganglia may perform subtly different functions, requiring differences in the positioning interneurons but not in the motor neurons or muscles. Alternatively, some of the abdominal positioning interneurons underlie more than one behavior; consequently, selection acting on these multiple functions may have changed these interneurons through evolution. | 10.1002/jez.1402530104 |
pubmed_625_19673 | Reflectance spectroscopy has been widely used for predicting soil properties due to its rapidity and convenience. In past decades, the application of soil spectroscopy on soil science studies has increased exponentially. The total nitrogen (TN) content in soil is an important index for soil fertility and the rapid prediction of TN content with spectroscopy serves an important function in precision agriculture. However, whether the TN content in soil is predicted through its relationship with soil organic carbon (SOC) or on its specific absorption is still debatable. The objective of this study was to explore the mechanism of reflectance spectroscopy for predicting TN in soils. Soils used for calibration were sampled from coastal soil in the north of Jiangsu province. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) analysis was used for the calibration datasets with different TN content when the sample number is the same in every dataset. In order to explore the mechanism of reflectance spectroscopy for predicting total nitrogen in soil, the changes of model accuracies and the correlation of TN and SOC were analyzed. The results indicated that the contents of TN and SOC in soil were relatively lower because the soil was derived from coastal sediments in the past 1 000 years and formed during cultivation. There was strong correlation between TN and SOC (R=0.98). The prediction accuracy of TN increased at first and then decreased slightly with the increase of mean, standard deviation of TN content. Meanwhile, the changes of prediction accuracy comply well with coefficients of variation. In conclusion, when the TN content is relatively low (mean TN<0.27 g·kg-1), the correlation coefficient between TN and SOC was moderately-high and TN was predicted on the basis of N absorbers. When the TN content is relatively high (mean TN>0.29 g·kg-1), strong correlation coefficients were obtained for TN and SOC and the model accuracy of SOC were better than TN. The effect of SOC to spectroscopy enhanced with the increase of SOC content, which masked the spectral features of N. Therefore, TN was predicted through the correlation with SOC when the TN content is high. This study revealed the mechanism of reflectance spectroscopy for predicting TN in soil and it could provide a theoretical basis for predicting soil TN content rapidly using reflectance spectroscopy. | pubmed_625_19673 |
pubmed_591_15940 | PM2.5 was simultaneously collected using a high-volume sampler at 4 h intervals from the mountainside and the foot of the mountain in the Mt. Huashan region, inland China, during the summer of 2016, and the samples were analyzed for inorganic ions, to investigate the chemical characteristics and vertical distribution of the fine particles in the region. The results showed that the concentrations of PM2.5 were (46.9±38.2) μg·m-3 and (76.0±44.3) μg·m-3 on the mountainside and at the foot of Mt. Huashan, respectively. The concentrations of inorganic ions in PM2.5 was higher at the foot of the mountain than on the mountainside, with the order of the mass concentrations of the major ionic species being SO42- > NO3- > NH4+ > Ca2+. Among all the inorganic ions, SO42-, NO3-, and NH4+ are the dominant species, accounting for 89% and 85% of the total, on the mountainside and at the foot, respectively. The fine particulate NH4+ existed mostly in the forms of (NH4)2SO4 and NH4NO3 on the mountainside, and in the forms of NH4HSO4 and NH4NO3 at the foot of the mountain. Mass concentrations of PM2.5 and its major components on the mountainside showed clear diurnal variations, with maximums between 12:00-16:00, mainly due to the transport of the pollutants from the ground surface by the planetary boundary layer height variation and the valley breeze. In contrast, the diurnal variations of PM2.5 and its major components at the foot are characterized with two maxima, peaking between 08:00-12:00 in the daytime and 00:00-04:00 in the nighttime, respectively, mainly due to the increased emissions from both the morning rush-hour traffic and the nighttime on-road heavy-duty vehicles. Acidity of the fine particles was estimated by using the equivalent ratio of anions to cations and the thermodynamic equilibrium model ISORROPIA Ⅱ. Both methods showed that the acidity of PM2.5 at the ground surface site is stronger than that on the mountainside in the Mt. Huashan region. | 10.13227/j.hjkx.201708039 |
pubmed_355_4358 | Increased esterification of fatty acids to triglyceride is common to most of the mechanisms proposed to explain the causation of alcoholic fatty liver. However, it is unclear whether this is caused by increased substrate supply or whether direct stimulation of the enzymes of the esterification pathway occurs after excessive alcohol intake. The rate-limiting step in triglyceride synthesis is catalyzed by the enzyme phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, which is present in the cytosol and microsomes and is sensitive to inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide. This enzyme is physically distinct from a second form of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase that is located predominantly in the plasma membrane, is insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide inhibition and has a putative role in cell-signaling. We have investigated whether the activity of the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive ("metabolic") form of phosphatidate phosphohydrolase is increased in patients with alcoholic liver disease and whether any increased activity correlates with the severity of steatosis. N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive and -insensitive phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activities were measured in needle liver biopsy specimens from 42 alcoholic patients and 6 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and in wedge biopsy specimens from 6 normal patients undergoing routine cholecystectomy. Steatosis was "scored" on coded slides from 0 to 3. N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive activity was higher in alcoholic biopsy specimens scoring 3 (3.25 +/- 0.4 units/mg protein, n = 10) than in those scoring either 0 (1.21 +/- 0.2, n = 14) or 1 to 2 (1.58 +/- 0.2, n = 18), and it was also higher than in biopsy specimens from normal and primary biliary cirrhosis patients (1.65 +/- 0.3, n = 12; p < 0.0001, analysis of variance).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | 10.1002/hep.1840180413 |
pubmed_973_6179 | Based upon findings with respect to the viability of the expression j(v)=-rhoD(v)nablav hypothesized to represent the constitutive equation for the diffusive volume flux in ideal binary mixtures (rho=mass density, v=1/rho=specific volume, and D(v)=volume diffusion coefficient), implicit evidence is offered in support of the recently developed theory of bivelocity continuum hydrodynamics for mixtures. Present findings for the case of mixtures add to existing evidence already available for the single-component case, thus supporting the viability of bivelocity hydrodynamic theory in general. | 10.1063/1.3298996 |
pubmed_387_12498 | The DNA sequence of the Escherichia coli gene encoding thioredoxin reductase has been determined. The predicted protein sequence agrees with an earlier determination of the 17 amino-terminal amino acids and with a fragment of the protein containing the redox-active half-cystines. Similarity between E. coli thioredoxin reductase and other flavoprotein disulfide oxidoreductases is quite limited, but three short segments, two of which are probably involved in FAD and NADPH binding, are highly conserved between thioredoxin reductase, glutathione reductase, dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase, and mercuric reductase. | pubmed_387_12498 |
pubmed_450_11908 | Older people living in the community use complementary medicine (CM) to manage the symptoms of chronic illness; however, little is known about CM use by older people living in care settings. Using focus groups and individual interviews, this study explored the use of CM from the perspective of 71 residents, families, and health professionals from six residential aged-care facilities in Victoria, Australia. Residents used CM to manage pain and improve mobility, often covertly, and only with the financial assistance of their families. Facility policies and funding restrictions constrained CM use at the individual and facility level. An absence of evidence to support safety and efficacy coupled with the risk of interactions made doctors wary of CM use in older people. These findings have relevance for the large number of CM using "baby-boomers" as they move into residential aged-care. | 10.1177/0733464816629852 |
pubmed_454_12801 | AIM
The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of malocclusion in the primary dentition in a randomised representative sample of Brazilian preschool children.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A cross-sectional survey was carried out in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, involving 1069 male and female preschool children from 60 to 71 months of age, randomly selected from public and private preschools and daycare centers. A questionnaire addressing demographic data was sent to parents/guardians in order to characterise the sample. The oral examination of the children was performed by a single, previously calibrated dentist (kappa inter-examiner agreement value = 0.82). The criterion for the categorisation of malocclusion was at least one of the following conditions: posterior crossbite, overjet (> 2 mm), anterior crossbite, anterior open bite and deep overbite. Univariate analysis was performed using the SPSS software
RESULTS
The prevalence of malocclusion was 46.2%. Deep overbite was the most prevalent alteration (19.7% of the sample). Posterior crossbite was diagnosed in 13.1% of the children; 10.5% had accentuated overjet; 7.9% had anterior open bite; and 6.7% had anterior crossbite.
CONCLUSION
Malocclusion in primary dentition is becoming a significant problem. The prevalence in the present study was high, especially vertical and transversal malocclusions. | pubmed_454_12801 |
pubmed_744_10321 | Tropomyosins are a family of actin binding proteins encoded by a group of highly conserved genes. Humans have four tropomyosin-encoding genes: TPM1, TPM2, TPM3, and TPM4, each of which is known to generate multiple isoforms by alternative splicing, promoters, and 3' end processing. TPM1 is the most versatile and encodes a variety of tissue specific isoforms. The TPM1 isoform specific to striated muscle, designated TPM1alpha, consists of 10 exons: 1a, 2b, 3, 4, 5, 6b, 7, 8, and 9a/b. In this study, using RT-PCR with adult and fetal human RNAs, we present evidence for the expression of a novel isoform of the TPM1 gene that is specifically expressed in cardiac tissues. The new isoform is designated TPM1kappa and contains exon 2a instead of 2b. Ectopic expression of human GFP.TPM1kappa fusion protein can promote myofibrillogenesis in cardiac mutant axolotl hearts that are lacking in tropomyosin. | 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.06.084 |
pubmed_1109_18704 | Pseudomonas aeruginosa exoenzyme S (ExoS) ADP-ribosylates multiple eukaryotic targets to promote cytopathology and bacterial colonization. ADP-ribosylation of the small GTPase Rab5 has previously been shown to block fluid-phase endocytosis and trafficking of plasma membrane receptors to the early endosomes as well as inhibit phagocytosis of the bacterium. In this study, ExoS is shown to be capable of ADP-ribosylating 6 candidate arginine residues that are located in the effector binding region or in the C terminus of Rab5. Two Rab5 derivatives were engineered, which contained Arg→Ala mutations at four Arg residues within the effector binding region (EF) or two Arg residues within the C-terminal tail (TL). Expression of Rab5(TL) does not affect the ability of ExoS to modify intracellular trafficking, while expression of Rab5(EF) rescued the ability of ExoS to inhibit intracellular trafficking. ADP-ribosylation of effector arginines likely uncouples Rab5 signaling to downstream effectors. This is a different mechanism for inhibition than observed for the ADP-ribosylation of Ras by ExoS, where ADP-ribosylated Ras loses the ability to bind guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). Other experiments showed that expression of dominant negative Rab5(Ser34Asn) does not inhibit ExoS trafficking to the perinuclear region of intoxicated cells. This study provides insight into a mechanism for how ExoS ADP-ribosylation of Rab5 inhibits Rab5 function. | 10.1128/IAI.01059-13 |
pubmed_789_24978 | Inspired by the observation that the cockroach changes from a tripod gait to a different gait for climbing high steps, we report on the design and implementation of a novel, fully autonomous step-climbing maneuver, which enables a RHex-style hexapod robot to reliably climb a step up to 230% higher than the length of its leg. Similar to the climbing strategy most used by cockroaches, the proposed maneuver is composed of two stages. The first stage is the 'rearing stage,' inclining the body so the front side of the body is raised and it is easier for the front legs to catch the top of the step, followed by the 'rising stage,' maneuvering the body's center of mass to the top of the step. Two infrared range sensors are installed on the front of the robot to detect the presence of the step and its orientation relative to the robot's heading, so that the robot can perform automatic gait transition, from walking to step-climbing, as well as correct its initial tilt approaching posture. An inclinometer is utilized to measure body inclination and to compute step height, thus enabling the robot to adjust its gait automatically, in real time, and to climb steps of different heights and depths successfully. The algorithm is applicable for the robot to climb various rectangular obstacles, including a narrow bar, a bar and a step (i.e. a bar of infinite width). The performance of the algorithm is evaluated experimentally, and the comparison of climbing strategies and climbing behaviors in biological and robotic systems is discussed. | 10.1088/1748-3182/7/3/036008 |
pubmed_466_15833 | We retrospectively examined 89 patients with pharyngeal wall cancer treated in our institution between 1964 and 1981, to compare the results of treatment after low-dose preoperative irradiation and surgery (R + S) with those achieved with radiation therapy alone (RA). Age, sex, and stage of tumor were comparable for the 41 patients who had R + S and the 34 who had RA. Treatment outcome, survival, and tumor and nodal control were better for the R + S treatment group than for the RA treatment group. Patterns of relapse differed for the two treatment methods and suggested that each might complement the other. Low-dose preoperative irradiation and surgery more often controlled the pharyngeal tumor than did RA, while high-dose irradiation more often controlled nodal disease than did low-dose irradiation and surgery. Our experience suggests that surgical treatment combined with high doses of radiation might improve treatment results for pharyngeal wall cancer. | 10.1001/archotol.1985.00800040043003 |
pubmed_115_12085 | The gas to particle synthesis route is a relatively clean and efficient manner for the production of high-quality ceramic powders. These powders can be subsequently sintered in any wanted shape. The modeling of these production systems is difficult because several mechanisms occur in parallel. From theoretical considerations it can be determined, however, that coagulation and sintering are dominant mechanisms as far as shape and size of the particles are considered. In part I of this article an extensive theoretical analysis was given on the self-preserving size distribution theory for power law particles. In this second part, cumulative particle size distributions of silicon and silicon nitride agglomerates, produced in a laser reactor, were determined from TEM pictures and compared to the distributions calculated from this self-preserving theory for power law particles. The calculated distributions were in fair agreement with the measured results, especially at the high end of the distributions. Calculated and measured particle growth rates were also in fair agreement. Using the self-preserving theory an analysis was made on the distribution of annealed silicon agglomerates, of interest in applications to nanoparticle technology. | 10.1006/jcis.2002.8213 |
pubmed_1110_21796 | OBJECTIVES
To investigate the clinical value of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) and laboratory indexes in predicting conversion from undifferentiated arthritis (UA) to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
METHODS
A total 81 DMARD-naive UA patients were studied. 37 cases were ultimately diagnosed as RA, 32 cases were diagnosed as other types of arthritis, and the remaining cases were still UA during the 1-year follow-up. The DCE-MRI and laboratory measures were fed into a logistic regression analysis.
RESULTS
Wash-in rate and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody served as the final variables into the regression equation (p<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of wash-in rate was 0.966. With optimal cut-off point 29.84 s-1, wash-in rate achieved a sensitivity of 94.6% and specificity of 88.6% for predicting RA conversion from UA; anti-CCP antibody positive achieved a sensitivity of 37.8% and specificity of 90.9%. The combination of wash-in rate and anti-CCP antibody positive improved specificity (100%) but not sensitivity (27.3%).
CONCLUSIONS
The conversion from UA to RA is highly predictable. The wash-in rate of DCE-MRI can be used as an important biomarker to predict UA progression. | pubmed_1110_21796 |
pubmed_661_16867 | The tissue distribution of the alpha-, beta- and gamma-isomers of 14C-labelled hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in pregnant mice was studied by whole-body and light microscopic autoradiography. The results showed that alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH are taken up and retained in adult and foetal surface epithelia to varying degrees. Autoradiography of organic-solvent extracted tissue sections of nonpregnant mice given gamma-HCH (lindane) demonstrated that a high level of tissue-bound radioactivity was present in the tracheobronchial epithelium, the subepithelial glands in the olfactory mucosa, the squamous epithelia of the tongue, oesophagus, forestomach and vagina, the inner zone of the adrenal cortex, and the liver. Autoradiography of freeze-dried sections of pregnant mice given alpha- or beta-HCH showed preferential localization of radioactivity in the nasal and tracheobronchial epithelia after administration of both isomers, whereas localization of radioactivity in the epithelia of the tongue and oesophagus was only observed after administration of alpha-HCH. The results suggest that the localization of HCH isomers and/or their metabolites in the epithelial linings is regulated by factors that are highly substrate specific. | 10.1016/0278-6915(87)90233-x |
pubmed_611_11268 | We sought to determine if axial and circumferential distribution of plaque before stenting determines the axial and circumferential distribution of subsequent intimal hyperplasia (IH). We studied 22 patients with a single Palmaz-Schatz stent implanted in a native coronary artery, who underwent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging before intervention, after stenting, and at 6-month follow-up. For each lesion, 7 locations were analyzed: proximal and distal reference, proximal and distal edge of the stent, proximal and distal location within the body of the stent, and the articulation. Pre- and postintervention and follow-up image slices were precisely aligned and analyzed for pre- and postintervention plaque area and follow-up IH area and thickness. The location of maximal IH area was at or adjacent to the location of maximal preintervention plaque in 17 of 22 of the patients (77%). Similiarly, the circumferential distribution of IH at follow-up paralleled the eccentricity pattern of the native plaque burden in 69% (24 of 35 slices). Using multivariant analysis, the strongest predictor of IH was preintervention plaque area (p = 0.001). IH accumulates axially and circumferentially preferentially at the site of maximal preintervention plaque. | 10.1016/s0002-9149(00)01234-0 |
pubmed_1019_1866 | The presence of chemical elements and the differences in their concentration in the fruiting bodies of wood decay fungi may reflect their activity either as saprobes or parasites and the intimate physiological relation with the substrate from which they extract their nutrients. In order to test this hypothesis, we carried out a systematic sampling of eight species of wood decay fungi on oak (Quercus ilex). The data show that the concentration of some elements exhibits a very wide range of values for the species tested, which could mean that the relative content of some elements may provide clues about the nature of the substrate and, moreover, about the nutritional physiology. The comparison between the foliar analysis (FA) and the elemental content of fungi may shed light on the specific physiological behaviour of the species. Potassium is an element accumulated in fungal biomass in higher quantities than in the FA. By contrast, calcium appears in foliar analysis in much higher quantities than in fungal fruiting bodies' biomass. Concerning this element, we have also found profound differences between the two species phylogenetic groups and lifestyle. Of all elements measured, we believe that the relative accumulation of K and Ca may be related to the close connection between fungi and the substrate on which they live and may also explain their physiological role as saprobes or parasites. When the lifestyle and the systematic position of the different species sampled were compared, differences also emerged in the content of Na and Ca. | 10.1007/s12011-011-9134-6 |
pubmed_661_13756 | Systemic fungal infections were identified in 13 of 1468 necropsies of infants dying in the 1st year of life in a south Indian hospital. Candidiasis was present in 11 infants, most often as pneumonia or enteritis. Spread to other organs occurred in four cases. Intestinal candidiasis was associated with zygomycosis of the intestine in one infant and with aspergillosis of the lungs and intestine in another. One case of aspergillosis of the myocardium and one of gastric zygomycosis were also diagnosed. Septicaemia, broad spectrum antibiotic therapy, surgery and congenital abnormalities, including immune deficiencies, were important predisposing factors. | 10.1080/02724936.1987.11748491 |
pubmed_1046_13215 | Motivation
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play important roles in many biological processes and are involved in many diseases. Their identification is an important task, and many tools exist in the literature for this purpose. However, almost all of them are focused on the discrimination of coding and ncRNAs without giving more biological insight. In this paper, we propose a new reliable method called IRSOM, based on a supervised Self-Organizing Map (SOM) with a rejection option, that overcomes these limitations. The rejection option in IRSOM improves the accuracy of the method and also allows identifing the ambiguous transcripts. Furthermore, with the visualization of the SOM, we analyze the rejected predictions and highlight the ambiguity of the transcripts.
Results
IRSOM was tested on datasets of several species from different reigns, and shown better results compared to state-of-art. The accuracy of IRSOM is always greater than 0.95 for all the species with an average specificity of 0.98 and an average sensitivity of 0.99. Besides, IRSOM is fast (it takes around 254 s to analyze a dataset of 147 000 transcripts) and is able to handle very large datasets.
Availability and implementation
IRSOM is implemented in Python and C++. It is available on our software platform EvryRNA (http://EvryRNA.ibisc.univ-evry.fr). | 10.1093/bioinformatics/bty572 |
pubmed_901_9161 | Light and ultrastructural features of a cerebellar hemangioblastoma in a 56-year-old man are described in detail. The neoplasm was composed of three major cell types: endothelial cells, pericytes, and stromal cells. The endothelial cells lined the fenestrated vascular channels. The pericytes were ensheathed by their own basal lamina which separated them from the basal lamina covering the endothelium. The stromal cells contained, in addition to the conventional organelles, numerous membrane-bound lipid inclusions, annulate lamellae, and nuclear bodies. There were also present transitional cells which shared the fine structure of all the three major cell types. Histogenetically, the tumor was considered to be of vascular origin. The stromal cells represented the stem cells which, under the neoplastic influence, continued to proliferate and differentiate into "vasoformative" elements (pericytes and endothelium) which formed new blood vessels. The transitional forms between the stromal cells and the "vasoformative" elements suggested that the cellular components of a hemangioblastoma shared a common ancestry, most likely of an angioblastic lineage. | 10.1002/1097-0142(197810)42:4<1834::aid-cncr2820420423>3.0.co;2-z |
pubmed_13_5923 | Type I interferon inhibits viruses through inducing the expression of antiviral proteins, including the myxovirus resistance (Mx) proteins. Compared to the human MxA protein, which inhibits a wide range of viruses, the MxB protein has been reported to specifically inhibit primate lentiviruses, including HIV-1, and herpesviruses. Further, the role of endogenous MxB in alpha interferon-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 infection was questioned by a recent study showing that MxB knockout did not increase the level of infection by HIV-1 which carried the G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), allowing infection of CD4-negative HT1080 cells. In order to further examine the anti-HIV-1 activity of endogenous MxB, we have used CRISPR/Cas9 to deplete MxB in different cell lines and observed a substantial restoration of HIV-1 infection in the presence of alpha interferon treatment. However, this rescue effect of MxB knockout became much less pronounced when infection was performed with HIV-1 carrying the VSV G protein. Interestingly, a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screen of alpha interferon-stimulated genes in U87-MG cells revealed that the genes for interferon-induced transmembrane protein 2 (IFITM2) and IFITM3 inhibited VSV G-pseudotyped HIV-1 much more strongly than the rest of the genes tested, including the gene for MxB. Therefore, our results demonstrate the importance of MxB in alpha interferon-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 infection, which, however, can be underestimated if infection is performed with VSV G protein-pseudotyped HIV-1, due to the high sensitivity of VSV G-mediated infection to inhibition by IFITM proteins.IMPORTANCE The results of this study reconcile the controversial reports regarding the anti-HIV-1 function of alpha interferon-induced MxB protein. In addition to the different cell types that may have contributed to the different observations, our data also suggest that VSV G protein-pseudotyped HIV-1 is much less inhibited by alpha interferon-induced MxB than HIV-1 itself is. Our results clearly demonstrate an important contribution of MxB to alpha interferon-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 in CD4+ T cells, which calls for using HIV-1 target cells and wild-type virus to test the relevance of the anti-HIV-1 activity of endogenous MxB and other restriction factors. | 10.1128/JVI.00422-18 |
pubmed_960_10610 | BACKGROUND
Ketobemidone has been used as an analgesic for postoperative pain in children, but to our knowledge the effect and occurrence of adverse effects of ketobemidone compared to morphine is not known. The aim was to determine if the analgesic potency and the occurrence of adverse effects of ketobemidone differ from morphine when administered to children, as measured by patient-controlled analgesia consumption (PCA) for postoperative pain.
METHODS
Sixty healthy children, aged 6 to 16 years, scheduled for elective surgery were randomized to receive either ketobemidone (Ke) 1 mg ml(-1) or morphine (Mo) 1 mg ml(-1) for postoperative pain through PCA. Drug consumption (microg kg(-1) h(-1)), the number of PCA doses, pain intensity, and adverse effects were recorded at regular intervals.
RESULTS
Data on total drug consumption were based on 26 children in the Ke group and 28 in the Mo group. A non-statistically significant difference for total mean consumption of ketobemidone (18.6 microg kg(-1)h(-1)) and morphine (23.2 microg kg(-1)h(-1)) was obtained. The mean dose ratio (Mo/Ke) was 0.80 and the median was 0.94. Children's characteristics, loading dose, PCA doses, VAS scores, and adverse effects showed no significant differences between the groups.
CONCLUSION
The analgesic potency and adverse effects of ketobemidone are similar to morphine when used for postoperative pain management in children. | 10.1111/j.1399-6576.2004.00524.x |
pubmed_311_4027 | PURPOSE
This study was performed to assess the clinical and radiological outcomes following one-stage hip reconstruction, consisting of open reduction femoral shortening and pelvic osteotomy, for neglected developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This is a retrospective analysis of 77 hips in 65 patients (46 females and 19 males; 12 had bilateral dislocations), operated at a Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital in Pakistan between 2013 and 2015. The average age at surgery was 11.02±3.43 years. According to the Tönnis classification, there were 10, 14, 22, and 31 patients in grades 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The pelvic procedure utilized in this study was triple osteotomy (47 hips) followed by double and Salter osteotomy (18 and 12 hips, respectively). Postoperative evaluations were conducted using the modified MacKay's scoring system (functional outcomes) and Severin's scoring method (radiological assessment).
RESULTS
Postoperatively, there were 38 (49.4%), 19 (24.7%), 14 (18.2%), and 6 (7.8%) hips in Severin grade I, II, III and IV, respectively. According to the modified McKay criteria, there were 22 hips (28.6%) in excellent condition, 44 (57.1%) in good condition, 9 (11.7%) in fair condition and 2 (2.6%) in poor condition. Both patients with poor outcomes had an unstable, painful hip with evidence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results presented here, we recommend the single stage procedure of open reduction, femoral shortening and pelvic osteotomy for treatment of DDH in older children with good to excellent functional and radiological outcomes. | 10.5371/hp.2018.30.4.260 |
pubmed_50_22535 | Excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) usually resulted in scar formation during wound healing, which caused skin dysfunction, such as hair loss. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was very helpful for promoting hair follicle neogenesis and regulating the remodeling of ECM during wound healing. Because of its poor stability in wound fluids and low permeability against the dense wound scar, the repairing quality of bFGF on wound was hindered largely in clinical practice. To overcome these drawbacks, herein, a novel liposome with silk fibroin hydrogel core (bFGF-SF-LIP) was firstly prepared to stabilize bFGF, followed by insertion of laurocapam, a permeation enhancer, into the liposomal membrane to construct a skin-permeable liposome (SP-bFGF-SF-LIP). The encapsulated efficiency of bFGF was reaching to nearly 90% when ratio of drug/lipids above 1:300, and it activity was not compromised by laurocapam. SP-bFGF-SF-LIP exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of 103.3 nm and Zeta potential of -2.31 mV. The stability of the encapsulated bFGF in wound fluid was obviously enhanced. After 24 h of incubation with wound fluid containing MMP-9, the remaining bFGF was as high as 65.4 ± 0.5% for SP-bFGF-SF-LIP, while only 2.1 ± 0.2% of free bFGF was remained. The skin-permeability of bFGF was significantly enhanced by SP-bFGF-SF-LIP and most of the encapsulated bFGF penetrated into the dermis. After treatment with SP-bFGF-SF-LIP, the morphology of hair follicle at wound zone was obviously improved and the hair regrew on the deep second scald mice model. The therapeutic mechanism was highly associated with inhibiting scar formation and promoting vascular growth in dermis. Conclusively, SP-bFGF-SF-LIP may a potential option to improve wound healing with high-quality. | 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.09.006 |
pubmed_710_15673 | Since the isolation of morphine from the opium poppy over 200 years ago, the molecular basis of opioid action has remained the subject of intense inquiry. The identification of specific receptors responsible for opioid function and the discovery of many chemically diverse molecules with unique opioid-like efficacies have provided glimpses into the molecular logic of opioid action. Recent revolutions in the structural biology of transmembrane proteins have, for the first time, yielded high-resolution views into the 3-dimensional shapes of all 4 opioid receptors. These studies have begun to decode the chemical logic that enables opioids to specifically bind and activate their receptor targets. A combination of spectroscopic experiments and computational simulations has provided a view into the molecular movements of the opioid receptors, which itself gives rise to the complex opioid pharmacology observed at the cellular and behavioral levels. Further diversity in opioid receptor structure is driven by both genetic variation and receptor oligomerization. These insights have enabled computational drug discovery efforts, with some evidence of success in the design of completely novel opioids with unique efficacies. The combined progress over the past few years provides hope for new, efficacious opioids devoid of the side effects that have made them the scourge of humanity for millennia. | 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.08.028 |
pubmed_176_11506 | D-serine plays a significant role in neuronal activity, including learning, memory, neuronal migration at developmental stages, and cell-death signaling. It has been also suggested that D-serine can potantiate the neurotoxicity induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation due to its coagonist function. However, little is known about the role of D-serine in oxidative stress mechanisms. The aim of this study was to determine the possible neurotoxic or oxidative effects of the dose- (50-200 mg/kg) and time-dependent (2 or 6 hours) D-serine administration on lipid, protein, DNA, mitochondrial integrity (i.e., function), levels of antioxidant enzyme activities (e.g., catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), and glutathione (GSH) in the rat brain. Our results showed that D-serine significantly increases the levels of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, and DNA damage. In addition, D-serine treatment changes cellular antioxidant status due to the decreased levels of antioxidant enzymes, GSH, and mitochondrial function. Therefore, it is concluded that the regulation of D-serine levels in the brain may be an important target for the development of neuroprotective strategies against neurodegenerative processes where excitotoxicity is involved. | 10.3109/01480545.2010.494183 |
pubmed_74_17008 | BACKGROUND
Ultrasound (US) risk stratification systems (RSSs) have been developed to reduce the number of unnecessary fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of thyroid nodules. These systems were designed primarily to identify papillary thyroid carcinomas, thus their performance on follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is debatable. The present study was undertaken to investigate the accuracy of RSSs in selecting FTCs for FNA.
METHODS
Patients with FTC who underwent US examinations between 2012 and 2018 in 2 institutions were selected. US images were reviewed retrospectively, and FTCs were reclassified according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologist/American College of Endocrinology/Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (AACE/ACE/AME), American College of Radiology (ACR-TIRADS), 2015 American Thyroid Association, British Thyroid Association, European Thyroid Association, Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology and Korean Society of Radiology, and Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TIRADS). Risk class and indication for FNA were assessed.
RESULTS
Forty-five FTCs from 45 consecutive patients were included in the study. The median tumor diameter was 32 mm (range, 11-100), and ovoid isoechoic nodule with or without lobulated margins was the most frequent presentation. When FTCs were classified according to RSSs, the most common categories were intermediate and high risk, though 1 case in 3 was not classifiable. FTCs were classified as high risk/high suspicion/malignant in 11% to 74% of cases, with a statistically significant difference among the systems. FNA was indicated in 69% to 100% of cases, with good agreement among AACE/ACE/AME, ACR-TIRADS, and TIRADS.
CONCLUSION
Current RSSs show high performance in selecting FTCs for FNA. This result is mainly due to the dimensional RSSs cutoffs indicating FNA. On the contrary, given the reported unsuspicious echo-structural presentation of FTC and the recognized limitation of cytological assessment to detect it, caution is advised when using US to manage cytologically indeterminate nodules. | 10.1002/cncy.22235 |
pubmed_147_24776 | OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of lateralization skills in children who received bilateral cochlear implants (CIs) in sequential operations.
METHODS
The lateralization skills of 9 children with a mean age of 4.1 years at the first surgery and 5.5 years at the second surgery were assessed at 3 time intervals. Children were assessed with a 3-loudspeaker setup (front, left and right) at 0.9 years (interval I) and 1.6 years (interval II) after the second implantation, and after 5.3 years of bilateral implant use (interval III) with a 9-loudspeaker setup in the frontal horizontal plane between -90° and 90° azimuth.
RESULTS
With bilateral implants, a significant decrease in lateralization error was noted between test interval I (45.0°) and II (23.3°), with a subsequent significant decrease at test interval III (4.7°). Unilateral performance with the CI did not improve significantly between the first 2 intervals; however, there was a bias of responses towards the unilateral side by test interval III.
CONCLUSIONS
The lateralization abilities of children with bilateral CIs develop in a relatively short period of time (1-2 years) after the second implant. Children appear to be able to acquire binaural skills after bilateral cochlear implantation. | 10.1159/000347193 |
pubmed_612_6410 | The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is a widely accepted test for measuring lower extremity function in older adults. However, there are concerns regarding the examination time required to conduct a complete SPPB consisting of three components (walking speed, chair rise, and standing balance tests) in clinical settings. We aimed to assess specific examination times for each component of the electronic Short Physical Performance Battery (eSPPB) and compare the ability of the original three-component examinations (eSPPB) and a faster, two-component examination without a balance test (electronic Quick Physical Performance Battery, eQPPB) to classify sarcopenia. The study was a retrospective, cross-sectional study which included 124 ambulatory outpatients who underwent physical performance examination at a geriatric clinic of a tertiary, academic hospital in Seoul, Korea, between December 2020 and March 2021. For eSPPB, we used a toolkit containing sensors and software (Dyphi, Daejeon, Korea) developed to measure standing balance, walking speed, and chair rise test results. Component-specific time stamps were used to log the raw data. Duration of balance examination, 5 times sit-to-stand test (5XSST), and walking speed examination were calculated. Sarcopenia was determined using the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) guideline. The median age was 78 years (interquartile range, IQR: 73,82) and 77 subjects (62.1%) were female. The total mean eSPPB test time was 124.8 ± 29.0 s (balance test time 61.8 ± 12.3 s, 49.5%; gait speed test time 34.3 ± 11.9 s, 27.5%; and 5XSST time 28.7 ± 19.1 s, 23.0%). The total mean eQPPB test time was 63.0 ± 25.4 s. Based on the AWGS criteria, 34 (27.4%) patient's results were consistent with sarcopenia. C-statistics for classifying sarcopenia were 0.83 for eSPPB and 0.85 for eQPPB (p = 0.264), while eQPPB took 49.5% less measurement time compared with eSPPB. Breakdowns of eSPPB test times were identified. Omitting balance tests may reduce test time without significantly affecting the classifying ability of eSPPB for sarcopenia. | 10.3390/s21155147 |
pubmed_373_14484 | This study offers a new evaluation methodology for peer-education programs. Peer educators' knowledge, self-esteem, peer pressure, and the number of friends, neighbors, and relatives given HIV/AIDS information were compared before and after training using self-administered questionnaires. Significant changes were observed in knowledge, peer pressure, self-efficacy, numbers of people given condoms, number of formal and informal HIV/AIDS presentations, and numbers of HIV/AIDS discussions with friends and neighbors. | 10.1016/s1054-139x(97)00005-0 |
pubmed_234_19379 | Thirty hips that had undergone conversion total hip arthroplasty because of failed intertrochanteric valgus osteotomy for advanced osteoarthrosis were analyzed clinically and radiographically for more than 2 years. The average followup after total hip arthroplasty was 7 years (range, 2-18 years). The average age of the patients at the time of valgus osteotomy was 42 years (range, 30-63 years). The average age of the patients at the time of conversion total hip arthroplasty was 57 years (range, 43-76 years), and the average period between valgus osteotomy and conversion was 14 years (range, 3-24 years). Perioperative complications in conversion total hip arthroplasties were minimal, and intramedullary reaming was performed easily. Of the 30 conversion total hip arthroplasties, 12 cemented and 18 cementless components were used, respectively. Kaplan-Meier's survival analysis indicated that survivorship of cemented stems was significantly higher than that of conventional cementless stems. Cemented stems are preferable for conversion total hip arthroplasty after failed femoral valgus osteotomy. | 10.1097/00003086-199907000-00023 |
pubmed_556_7792 | Interdigital cell death is an important mechanism employed by amniotes to shape their limbs; inhibiting this process leads to the formation of webbed fingers, as seen in bats and ducks. The Chinese softshell turtle Pelodiscus sinensis (Reptilia: Testudines: Trionychidae) has a distinctive limb morphology: the anterior side of the limbs has partially webbed fingers with claw-like protrusions, while the posterior fingers are completely enclosed in webbings. Here, P. sinensis embryos were investigated to gain insights on the evolution of limb-shaping mechanisms in amniotes. We found cell death and cell senescence in their interdigital webbings. Spatial or temporal modulation of these processes were correlated with the appearance of indentations in the webbings, but not a complete regression of this tissue. No differences in interdigital cell proliferation were found. In subsequent stages, differential growth of the finger cartilages led to a major difference in limb shape. While no asymmetry in bone morphogenetic protein signaling was evident during interdigital cell death stages, some components of this pathway were expressed exclusively in the clawed digit tips, which also had earlier ossification. In addition, a delay and/or truncation in the chondrogenesis of the posterior digits was found in comparison with the anterior digits of P. sinensis, and also when compared with the previously published pattern of digit skeletogenesis of turtles without posterior webbings. In conclusion, modulation of cell death, as well as a heterochrony in digit chondrogenesis, may contribute to the formation of the unique limbs of the Chinese softshell turtles. | 10.1111/ede.12352 |
pubmed_953_12305 | It is well known that violent video games increase aggression, and that stress increases aggression. Many violent video games can be stressful because enemies are trying to kill players. The present study investigates whether violent games increase aggression by inducing stress in players. Stress was measured using cardiac coherence, defined as the synchronization of the rhythm of breathing to the rhythm of the heart. We predicted that cardiac coherence would mediate the link between exposure to violent video games and subsequent aggression. Specifically, we predicted that playing a violent video game would decrease cardiac coherence, and that cardiac coherence, in turn, would correlate negatively with aggression. Participants (N = 77) played a violent or nonviolent video game for 20 min. Cardiac coherence was measured before and during game play. After game play, participants had the opportunity to blast a confederate with loud noise through headphones during a reaction time task. The intensity and duration of noise blasts given to the confederate was used to measure aggression. As expected, violent video game players had lower cardiac coherence levels and higher aggression levels than did nonviolent game players. Cardiac coherence, in turn, was negatively related to aggression. This research offers another possible reason why violent games can increase aggression-by inducing stress. Cardiac coherence can be a useful tool to measure stress induced by violent video games. Cardiac coherence has several desirable methodological features as well: it is noninvasive, stable against environmental disturbances, relatively inexpensive, not subject to demand characteristics, and easy to use. | 10.1002/ab.21454 |
pubmed_600_25154 | Comprehensive two-dimensional liquid chromatography (LC×LC) is rapidly evolving as the preferred method for the analysis of complex biological samples owing to its much greater resolving power compared to conventional one-dimensional (1D-LC). While its enhanced resolving power makes this method appealing, it has been shown that the precision of quantitation in LC×LC is generally not as good as that obtained with 1D-LC. The poorer quantitative performance of LC×LC is due to several factors including but not limited to the undersampling of the first dimension and the dilution of analytes during transit from the first dimension ((1)D) column to the second dimension ((2)D) column, and the larger relative background signals. A new strategy, 2D assisted liquid chromatography (2DALC), is presented here. 2DALC makes use of a diode array detector placed at the end of each column, producing both multivariate (1)D and two-dimensional (2D) chromatograms. The increased resolution of the analytes provided by the addition of a second dimension of separation enables the determination of analyte absorbance spectra from the (2)D detector signal that are relatively pure and can be used to initiate the treatment of data from the first dimension detector using multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). In this way, the approach leverages the strengths of both separation methods in a single analysis: the (2)D detector data is used to provide relatively pure analyte spectra to the MCR-ALS algorithm, and the final quantitative results are obtained from the resolved (1)D chromatograms, which has a much higher sampling rate and lower background signal than obtained in conventional single detector LC×LC, to obtain accurate and precise quantitative results. It is shown that 2DALC is superior to both single detector selective or comprehensive LC×LC and 1D-LC for quantitation of compounds that appear as severely overlapped peaks in the (1)D chromatogram - this is especially true in the case of untargeted analyses. We also anticipate that 2DALC will provide superior quantitation in targeted analyses in which unknown interfering compounds overlap with the targeted compound(s). When peaks are significantly overlapped in the first dimension, 2DALC can decrease the error of quantitation (i.e., improve the accuracy by up to 14-fold compared to 1D-LC and up to 3.8-fold compared to LC×LC with a single multivariate detector). The degree of improvement in performance varies depending upon the degree of peak overlap in each dimension and the selectivities of the spectra with respect to one another and the background, as well as the extent of analyte dilution prior to the (2)D column. | pubmed_600_25154 |
pubmed_786_10786 | A single-tube PCR method was developed for efficient identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and their environmental isolates in about 3 h without conventional DNA isolation. The following three steps were optimized or developed: (i). a simple, 6-min direct cell lysis protocol as a PCR prestep for generation of DNA-template, (ii). an improved Mycobacterium-specific PCR amplification protocol with a broader species specificity using newly designed primers targeting a 228-bp region of the 65-kDa heat shock protein (hsp) gene and optimal PCR amplification conditions, and (iii). a genus-specific restriction analysis of the PCR product for conclusive identification of the unknown NTM isolates. | 10.1128/JCM.42.1.453-457.2004 |
pubmed_660_21332 | Health care has lagged behind other industries in its use of advanced analytics. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has three decades of experience collecting data about the veterans it serves nationwide through locally developed information systems that use a common electronic health record. In 2006 the VHA began to build its Corporate Data Warehouse, a repository for patient-level data aggregated from across the VHA's national health system. This article provides a high-level overview of the VHA's evolution toward "big data," defined as the rapid evolution of applying advanced tools and approaches to large, complex, and rapidly changing data sets. It illustrates how advanced analysis is already supporting the VHA's activities, which range from routine clinical care of individual patients--for example, monitoring medication administration and predicting risk of adverse outcomes--to evaluating a systemwide initiative to bring the principles of the patient-centered medical home to all veterans. The article also shares some of the challenges, concerns, insights, and responses that have emerged along the way, such as the need to smoothly integrate new functions into clinical workflow. While the VHA is unique in many ways, its experience may offer important insights for other health care systems nationwide as they venture into the realm of big data. | 10.1377/hlthaff.2014.0054 |
pubmed_189_24210 | OBJECTIVE
This preliminary report used data from a randomized controlled clinical trial to investigate the beneficial effects of a self-monitoring quality of life (SMQOL) intervention on communication, medical care and patient outcomes in Japanese women with breast cancer.
METHODS
This study compared a SMQOL intervention group with a control group that received usual care after 4 months on self-efficacy aspects of patient-physician communication among outpatients with breast cancer in Japan using the Perceived Efficacy in Patient-Physician Interactions (PEPPI) questionnaire. Patients were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups using permuted-block randomization. The intervention groups were asked to complete a paper-based quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaire in addition to the usual care provided in the control group. Analysis of covariance was used to assess the difference in PEPPI scores between the intervention and control groups. Additionally, subgroup analyses were performed for outpatients with breast cancer accompanied by depression or anxiety.
RESULTS
In total, 232 patients were eligible for this study and randomized. Seven patients did not answer the PEPPI questionnaire at baseline after group allocation, leaving 225 patients for inclusion in the analyses. The modified intention-to-treat ITT analysis showed the SMQOL intervention had no significant effect on PEPPI total score (P = 0.226). We found a significant between-group difference in PEPPI total score in the anxiety group (P = 0.045), namely, the self-efficacy aspects of patient-physician communication of those with anxiety in the intervention group were better than for those in the control group after 4 months.
CONCLUSION
Use of the SMQOL had beneficial effects on communication self-efficacy between patients and physicians for outpatients with breast cancer, those with anxiety. | 10.31557/APJCP.2022.23.1.53 |
pubmed_328_2203 | The experience of treatment in the clinic of 47 patients with acute calculous cholecystitis was analysed. The removal of the gallbladder found brown pigment stones. The clinical course of the disease in such patients, ultrasound data and instrumental methods were described. The triple antibiotic therapy application helped to reduce the risk of infection of bile, the elimination of the inflammatory process. | pubmed_328_2203 |
pubmed_192_14033 | The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of articaine versus lidocaine, both containing epinephrine, using a single buccal infiltration for extraction of primary molars.A total of 100 children requiring primary molar extraction received buccal infiltration using either 4% articaine or 2% lidocaine, both with epinephrine, with 50 children in each group. The Wong-Baker Facial Pain Scale (FPS) was used to evaluate pain perception subjectively. The heart rate and the blood pressure values were assessed objectively as an indirect measure of physiological pain perception. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used for comparing mean pain scores, heart rate, and blood pressure in both the groups. Single buccal infiltration with articaine was sufficient for achieving palatal or lingual anesthesia in all the children receiving it while all children in the lidocaine group required supplemental anesthesia. The mean FPS value was found to be higher in lidocaine group and was statistically significant. The mean heart rate recorded during the intervention was less than the mean baseline values in the articaine group, which was found to be statistically significant. For pediatric patients age 7 to 12 years, single buccal infiltration with 4% articaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine is more effective compared to 2% lidocaine with 1:80,000 epinephrine for primarly molar extraction. | 10.2344/anpr-65-04-02 |
pubmed_879_24983 | BACKGROUND
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a well-established complication in people with diabetes mellitus. Roughly one quarter of prevalent patients with diabetes exhibit a CKD stage of 3 or higher and the individual course of progression is highly variable. Therefore, there is a clear need to identify patients at high risk for fast progression and the implementation of preventative strategies. Existing prediction models of renal function decline, however, aim to assess the risk by artificially grouped patients prior to model building into risk strata defined by the categorization of the least-squares slope through the longitudinally fluctuating eGFR values, resulting in a loss of predictive precision and accuracy.
METHODS
This study protocol describes the development and validation of a prediction model for the longitudinal progression of renal function decline in Caucasian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). For development and internal-external validation, two prospective multicenter observational studies will be used (PROVALID and GCKD). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) obtained at baseline and at all planned follow-up visits will be the longitudinal outcome. Demographics, clinical information and laboratory measurements available at a baseline visit will be used as predictors in addition to random country-specific intercepts to account for the clustered data. A multivariable mixed-effects model including the main effects of the clinical variables and their interactions with time will be fitted. In application, this model can be used to obtain personalized predictions of an eGFR trajectory conditional on baseline eGFR values. The final model will then undergo external validation using a third prospective cohort (DIACORE). The final prediction model will be made publicly available through the implementation of an R shiny web application.
DISCUSSION
Our proposed state-of-the-art methodology will be developed using multiple multicentre study cohorts of people with DM2 in various CKD stages at baseline, who have received modern therapeutic treatment strategies of diabetic kidney disease in contrast to previous models. Hence, we anticipate that the multivariable prediction model will aid as an additional informative tool to determine the patient-specific progression of renal function and provide a useful guide to early on identify individuals with DM2 at high risk for rapid progression. | 10.1186/s41512-021-00107-5 |
pubmed_478_9896 | Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3), a tyrosine kinase receptor expressed in CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, is important for both normal myeloid and lymphoid differentiation. It has been implicated in mice and humans for potential multilineage differentiation. We found that mice deficient in Flt3 or mice that received an Flt3 inhibitor (AC220) showed significantly reduced areas of ischemia-induced retinal neovascularization (RNV) and laser-induced choroidal NV (CNV) (P < 0.05). Increased Flt3 expression at the protein level was detected in retinas of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) mice at P15 and P18 during retinal NV (RNV) progression. We subsequently found that macrophages (Mphi) polarization was regulated at the site of CNV in Flt3-deficient mice. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that Flt3 deficiency shifted Mphi polarization towards an M2 phenotype during RNV with significant reduction in M1 cytokine expression when compared to the wild-type controls (P < 0.05). Based on the above findings, we concluded that Flt3 inhibition alleviated ocular NV by promoting a Mphi polarization shift towards the M2 phenotype. Therapies targeting Flt3 may provide a new approach for the treatment of ocular NV. | 10.1155/2018/2518568 |
pubmed_147_13256 | Clostridium difficile spores must germinate in vivo to become actively growing bacteria in order to produce the toxins that are necessary for disease. C. difficile spores germinate in vitro in response to certain bile acids and glycine. In other sporulating bacteria, proteins embedded within the inner membrane of the spore sense the presence of germinants and trigger the release of Ca⁺⁺-dipicolinic acid (Ca⁺⁺-DPA) from the spore core and subsequent hydrolysis of the spore cortex, a specialized peptidoglycan. Based upon homology searches of known germinant receptors from other spore-forming bacteria, C. difficile likely uses unique mechanisms to recognize germinants. Here, we identify the germination-specific protease, CspC, as the C. difficile bile acid germinant receptor and show that bile acid-mediated germination is important for establishing C. difficile disease in the hamster model of infection. These results highlight the importance of bile acids in triggering in vivo germination and provide the first description of a C. difficile spore germinant receptor. Blocking the interaction of bile acids with the C. difficile spore may represent an attractive target for novel therapeutics. | 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003356 |
pubmed_235_13208 | PURPOSE
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Cyberknife® (CK) for the treatment of primary or recurring thymic tumours.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 12 patients (16 tumour lesions) with primary or recurring thymic tumours who were treated with CK between March 2008 and October 2017. Their data was stored in prospectively collected database. Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival curves.
RESULTS
Five patients (41.7%), who had inoperable disease or refused surgery, were treated with CK initially, and 7 patients (58.3%) were treated with CK when they had recurrence diseases. The disease sites treated with CK were primary tumour site (5), regional lymph nodes (4), tumour bed (3), chest wall (2), pleura (1), and bone (1). The median target volume was 43.8 cm3 (range, 13.1-302.5cm3) for the 16 tumour lesions. The median follow-up time was 69.3 months (range, 9.7-124.8 months). The median survival time was 48.2 months, and the 5-year and 10-year OS rates were 68.2% and 45.5%, respectively. A high response rate for the tumour lesions irradiated with CK was obtained. Only one patient (8%) experienced in-field recurrence, and the 5-year local recurrence free survival was 90.9%. A case indicated that CK may induce the abscopal effect, which provides the potential to combine CK and immunotherapy. No severe radiation related toxicities were observed, and no treatment related death occurred.
CONCLUSION
CK treatment resulted in good outcomes, particularly local control, with minimal side effects, in highly selected patients with primary and recurring thymic tumours. More studies with larger sample are needed. | 10.1016/j.canrad.2020.06.026 |
pubmed_776_8082 | Fourteen adult patients with newly-diagnosed acute lymphoblastic, leukemia (ALL), and lymphoblastic lymphoma, were treated with a dose-intense induction regimen. This regimen was designed to increase the fraction of patients achieving an early complete remission, in an attempt to increase the fraction of patients who are long-term disease-free survivors. The induction regimen included vincristine, prednisone, intermediate-dose cytarabine (Ara-C), and idarubicin, all given during the first week of therapy. This combination led to significant hepatic, gastro-intestinal, infectious, and neurologic toxicity. There was unacceptable treatment-related mortality (29%). After the first eight patients, the study was modified, omitting the Ara-C from the induction phase. Gastrointestinal morbidity was less in the cohort treated without Ara-C; however, infectious morbidity persisted at unacceptable levels and this program was terminated as too toxic to administer. There were nine complete remissions, three early deaths, and two patients with resistant disease. There have been six relapses, three of which occurred in patients who, because of protracted grade III/IV toxicity, were no longer receiving chemotherapy. With a minimum follow-up of 20 months, only three patients are still alive. We conclude that this combination of vincristine, prednisone, Ara-C, and idarubicin, is too toxic to be used as induction therapy for adult patients with ALL and lymphoblastic lymphoma. | pubmed_776_8082 |
pubmed_505_21135 | PURPOSE
A chalazion, localized lipogranulomatous inflammation of the eyelid, may simulate various eyelid lesions. This study was conducted to determine the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis of chalazion and demonstrate the importance of histopathological confirmation of the diagnosis.
METHODS
Histopathological diagnoses of 1060 cases with the clinical diagnosis of chalazion, submitted to the Henry C Witelson Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory and Registry between September 1993 and December 2001, were retrospectively evaluated. Discrepancies between clinical and histopathological diagnoses were classified.
RESULTS
A total of 1033 (97.4%) of the 1060 cases were clinically diagnosed as primary and the remaining 27 (2.6%) as recurrent chalazions. Agreement was noted between clinical and histopathological diagnoses in 992 (93.6%) cases. Of the 68 (6.4%) clinically misdiagnosed cases, 15 (1.4%) were found to be malignant, two (0.2%) premalignant, and 51 (4.8%) benign conditions. Sebaceous cell carcinoma was the most commonly missed malignancy (12 cases, 1.1%) followed by basal cell carcinoma (three cases, 0.3%). Premalignant lesions, which masqueraded as chalazion, were chronic inflammation with cellular atypia and mitotic figures (two cases, 0.2%). Of these 17 cases with premalignant and malignant histopathologies, only six (35.3%) had a clinical diagnosis of recurrent chalazion, whereas the others (64.7%) were primary cases. Of the various benign conditions that were misdiagnosed as chalazion, different types of chronic inflammation (24 cases, 2.2%) were the most frequent.
CONCLUSIONS
A number of different benign, premalignant, and malignant conditions may clinically masquerade as a chalazion. Delayed diagnosis and treatment of sebaceous cell carcinoma, which is the most frequently missed malignancy, may be life threatening for the patient. Therefore, all chalazion specimens, primary or recurrent, should be submitted for histopathological examination. | 10.1038/sj.eye.6700603 |
pubmed_434_9270 | This work reports the formation of stable nanoassemblies of short pentapeptides LKLKL (pepI) and their mutated sequence LKKLL (pepII) obtained from their Langmuir-Blodgett films transferred onto hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicon substrates. The adsorption and assembly of the LB films of these peptides on solid surfaces have been studied by quartz crystal microbalance, surface plasmon resonance, and scanning electron microscopy. Both pepI and pepII assemble into nanosized ribbons, with diameters around 20-25 nm and lengths greater than 5 μm on hydrophobic surface, and tend to aggregate on hydrophilic surfaces with pepII showing twisted structures. Circular dichroic spectra of the films on a hydrophobic surface showed formation of a β-sheet-like structure, while the corresponding solution spectra did not show any specific secondary structure. Our results demonstrate the formation of a two-dimensional dense array of nanoassemblies with either vertical or horizontal patterns from such short peptides that may find application in nanotechnology. | 10.1021/jp1089678 |
pubmed_429_7189 | The phenomenon of mass education and the crisis of university education in Latin America, in particular in the 1960's, are broadly analyzed. From the facts that characterized the period in question, two conclusions may be drawn: (1) that the basic role of the university must be redefined on the basis of new principles and different content; and (2) that a university must be administered by a system other than improvization. The concepts of policy, strategy, and plan are considered in depth and then explained as they apply to curriculum planning and design. | pubmed_429_7189 |
pubmed_364_14807 | Cocoa butter provides desirable sensory properties to chocolates; however, the exposure of chocolate to temperature variations during transportation and/or storage can lead to changes in the polymorphic form of butter, with the appearance of a dull-white film on the chocolate surface, known as fat bloom. This study investigated the use of a portable NIR spectrometer combined with chemometric tools to discriminate milk chocolate, white chocolate, 40% cocoa chocolate, and 70% cocoa chocolate samples, which were subjected to temperature abuse for 6 hours. The PCA allowed separating the samples into three classes: control at 20 °C, chocolate subjected to 35 °C, and chocolate subjected to 40 °C, for each type of chocolate studied. The PLS-DA models provided sensibility, specificity, and accuracy values in the range of 80 to 100%, and allowed identifying the wavelengths associated with the different chocolates that most impacted the construction of the models. | 10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.128267 |
pubmed_765_4519 | Helium-ion microscopy (HIM) has so far rarely been employed to image microbial interactions. Here, the visualization of the life-cycle of the bacterial predator Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100 with Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida, respectively, as prey is presented. The predator is brought in contact with prey and samples are taken at selected times. The system is monitored by phase-contrast microscopy and HIM. For HIM imaging, a sample preparation protocol is established that preserves the structure of Bdellovibrio, prey, and bdelloplasts. The micrographs show the attachment of the predator to its prey, the evolution of bdelloplasts, their lysis, and the release of predator progeny. The combination of HIM with two more approaches allows for investigating predator-prey interactions from different angles: First, phase-contrast micrographs provide quantitative information for the numbers of predator, prey, and bdelloplasts. Second, a numerical model solving the retarded differential equations that describe the system's time-evolution is developed and fits the experimentally determined cell numbers. In conclusion, the high resolution, the large depth of focus, and surface sensitivity of HIM hold promise to expand future studies on so far neglected ecological interactions within the microbial food web, in particular in samples with pronounced topography such as bacterial biofilms. | 10.1002/adbi.201800250 |
pubmed_828_11555 | Surfactants can enhance the stabilization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in water through their adsorption, thus affecting the environmental behavior and application of CNTs. However, the quantitative relationship between adsorption and stabilization and the role of the surfactant structure in the surfactant-CNT interactions are largely unknown. Therefore, Triton X-series surfactants with a same hydrophobic functional group (4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)-phenyl) and different hydrophilic polyethoxyl chain lengths were selected to investigate their adsorption onto CNTs and their ability to stabilize CNT suspensions. Adsorption data were fitted well by Langmuir equation, indicating monolayer coverage on CNTs. Adsorption capacities of the surfactants increased with decreasing hydrophilic chain length: Triton-305<Triton-165<Triton-114<Triton-100. Electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bond could be excluded as the main mechanism because adsorption was not significantly affected by pH change. Hydrophobic and pi-pi interactions between the surfactants and CNTs were the dominant mechanism for their adsorption. CNT suspension data were well fitted to a nonlinear equation with a similar form to the Langmuir equation. Suspended CNT amounts in water were positively related to the adsorption capacities of the surfactants, but negatively with the hydrophilic fraction ratio of the X-series surfactants. | 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2010.02.023 |
pubmed_628_7270 | Altered placental and circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (flt-1) may be associated with pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The aim of this study was to determine whether chorionic villous VEGF or flt-1 mRNA are altered at early gestation in pregnancies subsequently found to be complicated by abnormal fetal growth. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed on chorionic villous samples for VEGF and flt-1 using an internal RNA standard. Using the individualized birthweight ratio (IBR), the subjects (n = 51) were divided into three groups; IUGR (IBR <10th centile, n = 6), normal (IBR 10th-90th centiles, n = 41) and macrosomic (IBR >90th centile, n = 4). There was no correlation between the mRNA expression of VEGF(121) or VEGF(165) and gestational age of the normal controls. There was also no difference in the expression of either of the VEGF isoforms between the IUGR or macrosomic groups and the normal controls. Expression of flt-1 was below the detection limit of the assay. In conclusion, we have found that altered chorionic villous expression of VEGF is not associated with the initial stages of development of IUGR or macrosomia. | 10.1093/molehr/7.11.1093 |
pubmed_396_12784 | The Bcl-2 protein is involved in the regulation of apoptosis. Bax has an antagonistic effect and enhances cell death. We report that in early gestation, Bcl-2 and Bax colocalize to the epidermal portion of the hair follicle. In the more advanced stages, Bax is located in the compartments where a hair canal is excavated and keratinization and holocrine secretion are initiated, in contrast to Bcl-2, which is expressed in the follicular papilla, preventing apoptosis and underscoring its role as a permanent and stable population of specialized fibroblasts. Scattered dendritic cells located in the basal and immediate suprabasal interfollicular epidermis as well as in the outer root sheath of the developing hair follicle, including the bulge, strongly express Bcl-2 and label for HMB-45, identifying them as melanocytes. The spatial and temporal expression pattern of Bcl-2 and Bax during human hair follicle development underscores their importance for hair biology and most likely is disturbed in the evolution of follicular tumors. | 10.1097/00000372-200102000-00001 |
pubmed_240_23486 | Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are a genetically heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by cognitive and motor decline, epilepsy, visual loss and by lysosomal autofluorescent inclusions. Two distinct clinical phenotypes, the progressive epilepsy with mental retardation (EPMR) and a late-infantile variant of NCLs (CLN8-vLINCL) are associated with mutations in the CLN8 gene that encodes a transmembrane protein predominantly located to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To gain insight into the function of CLN8 protein, we employed the split-ubiquitin membrane-based yeast two-hybrid (MYTH) system, which detects protein-protein interactions in a membrane environment, using the full-length human CLN8 as bait and a human brain cDNA library as prey. We identified several potential protein partners of CLN8 and especially referred to VAPA, c14orf1/hERG28, STX8, GATE16, BNIP3 and BNIP3L proteins that are associated with biologically relevant processes such as synthesis and transport of lipids, vesicular/membrane trafficking, autophagy/mitophagy and apoptosis. Interactions of CLN8 with VAPA and GATE16 were further validated by co-immunoprecipitation and co-localization assays in mammalian cells. Using a new C-terminal-oriented CLN8 antibody, CLN8-VAPA interaction was also confirmed by co-staining in close spatial proximity within different CNS tissues. The results of this study shed light on potential interactome networks of CLN8 and provide a powerful starting point for understanding protein function(s) and molecular aspects of diseases associated with CLN8 deficiency. | pubmed_240_23486 |
pubmed_402_16988 | BACKGROUND
The concern that maternal exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) might be related to childhood cancer risks, particularly leukemia risks.
METHODS
Maternal occupational data already collected as part of the Oxford Survey of Childhood Cancers have been reviewed. Information on occupations held before, during, and after the pregnancy was sought for 15,041 children dying of cancer in Great Britain in the period 1953-1981, and for an equal number of matched controls. Each period of working was classified under one of five headings: (1) sewing machinist; (2) textile industry workers (other than sewing machinists) with likely exposures to EMF; (3) other machinists and other jobs with likely "higher" EMF exposure; (4) other jobs with likely exposure to some EMF, and (5) jobs with little potential for EMF exposure.
RESULTS
Relative to risks in the children of mothers who held occupations with little potential for EMF exposure during pregnancy (a category that included housewives), risks of all childhood cancers were close to unity both for the children of sewing machinists (22 case and 31 control mothers, RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.25) and for the children of other machinists with likely "higher" EMF exposures (44 case and 47 control mothers, RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.41). Corresponding risks for all childhood leukemias and for all childhood brain cancers were similarly unexceptional. Simultaneous adjustment for social class, maternal age at birth of child, and sibship position had little effect.
CONCLUSIONS
The study findings did not indicate that maternal occupational exposure to EMF during pregnancy is a risk factor for childhood leukemias, childhood brain cancers, or the generality of all childhood cancers. | 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199904)35:4<348::aid-ajim5>3.0.co;2-x |
pubmed_939_18710 | BACKGROUND
Iron-deficiency anemia is considered to be a major health problem in India. This can complicate a normal pregnancy resulting in poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Iron-folic-acid (IFA) supplementation to antenatal and postnatal mothers given through the National Health Mission (NHM) serves as a major tool to combat this problem.
AIM
This study aimed to assess compliance to IFA supplement and associated factors among antenatal mothers in a district of West Bengal, India.
METHODS
A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 208 pregnant mothers attending different subcenters, using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected on their demographic, obstetric profile, compliance to IFA tablets, and knowledge on various health care-related factors through direct interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 (licensed) considering the confidence interval to be 95%.
RESULTS
Compliance rate was 81.74%. The most common cause of noncompliance was forgetfulness (73.7%). On multivariate regression analysis, age, history of deworming, and education became the significant predictors for noncompliance to IFA.
CONCLUSIONS
Compliance to IFA supplementation was better than the national average, although deworming and education can lead to a better outcome. Health workers played a pivotal role for the success of this national program. | 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_392_20 |
pubmed_1115_4899 | The opportunistic human pathogen Psuedomonas aeruginosa produces two lectins in close association with virulence factors: PA-IL adn PA-IIL, which bind to galactose- and fucose/mannose-containing glycoconjugates, respectively. We review here the structural aspects of these lectins relative to their putative roles in host recognition, cell surface adhesion and biofilm formation. | 10.1016/j.micinf.2003.10.016 |
pubmed_392_19217 | The amount of food being thrown away despite being in an edible condition has become alarming in countries with populations with medium and high incomes. Changes in consumer behaviour, such as overbuying, are some of the major impetuses of food waste. This study aimed to examine the relationship between food waste and social media usage, neuroticism, and impulse buying. The mediating role of impulse buying and the moderating role of neuroticism on food waste during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic were also uncovered in this study. A self-administered online survey was distributed to a total of 274 consumers who had experienced a lockdown during the COVID-19 outbreak and were also regular buyers of food. Empirical findings supported the fact that social media usage, neuroticism, and impulse buying were positively related to food waste. Impulse buying mediates the relationship between social media usage and food waste, as well as between neuroticism and food waste. The study results also revealed that neuroticism positively moderates the relationship between social media usage and food waste. This paper offers new insights into efforts for sustainable food consumption to tackle the issue of food waste. | 10.1016/j.spc.2021.06.008 |
pubmed_272_19148 | TOPIC
The use of restraints in nursing and other professions has a long and troubling history, particularly in psychiatric settings. No research evidence has demonstrated restraints to be therapeutically effective. A number of faulty assumptions appear to support the continued practice of this unproven and potentially dangerous intervention.
PURPOSE
To present and refute several faulty assumptions using the empirical literature and theory, and to discuss alternatives based on the developmental-ecological theoretical framework for responding to crises in children.
SOURCES
Extant empirical literature.
CONCLUSION
Alternatives to restraints must be investigated and developed to replace the current reactive, crisis-management orientation of practice. | 10.1111/j.1744-6171.2001.tb00305.x |
pubmed_894_5005 | The functional role of histidine and sulfhydryl groups of thiamine pyrophosphokinase (ATP: thiamine pyrophosphotransferase, E.C.2.7.6.2) has been studied by the methods of photooxidation and chemical modification by diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) and Ellman's reagent, 5,5' - dithiobis (2 - nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). Histidine amino acid residues have been shown to be destroyed during photoinactivation. Titration of the protein with DEPC has established that modification of two histidine groups decreases the catalytic activity of thiamine pyrophosphokinase. Interaction of the subsequent three groups with the reagent does not affect residual activity. Substrates protect thiamine pyrophosphokinase from inactivation. Two -SH groups have been identified in a molecule of thiamine pyrophosphokinase with Ellman's reagent. Modification of only one of them results in complete loss of the enzymatic activity. Treatment of the enzyme with 8M urea has shown no differences in the amount of thiol groups of the native and denatured enzymes. Mg2+ + ATP and somewhat more weakly Mg2+ partially protect thiamine pyrophosphokinase from inhibition by DTNB. In their presence a high degree of enzyme reactivation is observed. Both histidine and sulfhydryl groups are suggested to play an important role in the catalytic mechanism of thiamine pyrophosphokinase. | pubmed_894_5005 |
pubmed_39_9074 | BACKGROUND
Returning to work following a job-related injury or illness can be a complex process, influenced by a range of interrelated personal, psychosocial, and organizational components. System dynamics modelling (SDM) takes a sociotechnical systems perspective to view return-to-work (RTW) as a system made up of multiple feedback relationships between influential components.
DESIGN AND METHODS
To build the RTW SDM, a mixed-method approach will be used. The first stage, that has already been completed, involved creating a baseline model using key informant interviews. Second, in two manufacturing companies, stakeholder-based models will be developed through interviews and focus groups with senior management, frontline workers, and frontline supervisors. Participants will be asked about the RTW process in general and more targeted questions regarding influential components. Participants will also be led through a reference mode exercise where they will be asked to estimate the direction, shape and magnitude of relationships between influential components. Data will be entered into the software program Vensim that provides a platform for visualizing system-structure and simulating the effects of adapting components. Finally, preliminary model validity testing will be conducted to provide insights on model generalizability and sensitivity.
EXPECTED IMPACT OF THE STUDY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
The proposed methodology will create a SDM of the RTW process using feedback relationships of influential components. It will also provide an important simulation tool to understand system behaviour that underlies complex RTW cases, and examine anticipated and unanticipated consequences of disability management policies. Significance for public healthWhile the incidence of occupational injuries and illnesses has declined over the past two decades, the proportion resulting in sickness absence has actually increased. Implementing strategies to address sickness absences and promote return-to-work (RTW) can significantly benefit physical and mental health, and work outcomes like worker engagement, job satisfaction and job strain. As a key social determinant of health, participation in paid work can also ensure that work-disabled individuals generate income necessary for access to housing, education, food, and social services that also benefit health. Improving RTW outcomes can also have significant societal benefits such as a reduction in workers compensation costs, increased economic activity and less burden on social assistance programs. Despite its benefits, returning to work after injury or illness is not a straightforward process and can be complicated by the individual, psychosocial, organizational and regulatory components that influence a disabled person's ability to resume work activities. | 10.4081/jphr.2015.553 |
pubmed_607_5025 | Late in adenovirus infection, large amounts of viral mRNA accumulate while cell mRNA transport and translation decrease. Viruses deleted in the E1B region of type 5 adenovirus do not produce the same outcome: (i) viral mRNA synthesis by the mutants is normal, delivery to the cytoplasm is 50 to 75% of normal, but steady-state levels of viral mRNA are decreased 10-fold; (ii) cell mRNA synthesis and transport continue normally in the mutant virus-infected cell; and (iii) translation of preexisting cell mRNA which is disrupted in wild-type infection remains normal in mutant-virus-infected cells. Thus E1B proteins are required for accumulation of virus mRNA and for induction of the failure of host cell mRNA transport and translation. If a single function is involved, by inference the transport and some aspect of translation of mRNAs could be linked. | 10.1128/mcb.5.10.2552-2558.1985 |
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