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pubmed_43_19970 | To compensate for the photoelectric losses of planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the development of high-quality textured absorbers with excellent light-harvesting ability and carrier extraction/transfer efficiency is of great significance to achieve a high-efficiency stable photovoltaic output. In this paper, we propose an in situ growth passivation technique to construct high-performance textured absorbers by adding a 2-amino-4-chlorophenol (AC) modifier consisting of multiple groups during the growth of textured perovskite. Initially, according to the Ostwald ripening mechanism, the strongly polar dimethylformamide (DMF) was used as the etchant to systematically study its synergistic effect on the morphology evolution, crystallization kinetics, light-trapping capability, and photovoltaic loss of textured absorbers. An appropriate amount of DMF induces formamidinium cations (FA+) to replace methylammonium cations (MA+) in the perovskite lattice while etching the absorber to form a texture configuration, which effectively broadens the spectral absorption range, thus greatly improving the light-trapping capacity and short-circuit current density of planar PSCs. In contrast, excess DMF deteriorates the device performance due to the excessive corrosion of the perovskite. Moreover, the introduction of the AC modifier is of great significance for passivating deep-level defects and accelerating the charge extraction/transfer. Owing to the electron-donating nature of the Lewis base, the hydroxyl groups with a higher electron density in AC molecules can better coordinate with Pb2+ ion defects, which effectively improves the crystallinity of the textured perovskite, thus suppressing the nonradiative recombination and ultimately improving the photovoltaic outputs of modified devices, particularly the fill factor and the open-circuit voltage. Thus, the photovoltaic performance of the AC-modified planar PSC is significantly better than that of the conventional textured device, with a reverse efficiency of 21.18% and forward efficiency of 20.77%. Owing to the synergistic effect of (1) the superior optical properties of the textured perovskite induced by DMF and (2) excellent charge dynamics driven by AC, the functionalized devices without encapsulation also exhibited good photovoltaic output stability and reproducibility. This work provides novel insights into the growth mechanism of textured absorbers and paves the way for more efficient and stable planar PSCs. | 10.1021/acsami.1c07971 |
pubmed_723_4414 | BReastCAncer (BRCA) susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are mainly associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome and present an estimated 45%-65% cumulative lifetime risk of developing breast cancer and an 11%-39% risk of ovarian cancer. HBOC is also linked to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). BRCA1 mutations in TNBC are observed in 36% of women age <40 years and 27% of women age <50 years. In India, the prevalence of BRCA1/2 mutation varies from 2.9% to 38% among families with genetic predisposition toward hereditary cancers. With HBOC being linked to early-onset breast cancer and increased susceptibility to other cancers, early screening for BRCA mutations has become a pressing need. Though genetic counseling (GC) for BRCA mutation testing is common in most of the developed countries, India still faces several challenges in mainstreaming the same. Many barriers to effective GC for BRCA testing are unique to India. There is a dearth of trained geneticists which puts the pressure on oncologists to give GC for which they neither have the time or training. Presence of multiethnic/linguistic population acts as a major hindrance along the way toward development of robust predictive and effective GC models for BRCA testing. The current review discusses the need and benefits of GC in breast cancer prevention, through BRCA testing, from an Indian perspective. The functional framework of GC and the role of genetic counselors are discussed in detail. In addition, importance of GC training and role of a multidisciplinary team approach for mainstreaming pre- and post-BRCA test GC is highlighted. | 10.4103/ijc.IJC_458_19 |
pubmed_247_891 | Antigenic differences between Trichinella spiralis and T. pseudospiralis were established using two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that show different specificities to muscle larvae of the two variants. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed that mAb 3G6 reacts positively against T. spiralis, T. nelsoni, T. nativa and T. pseudospiralis, whereas mAb 3E10 does not react with T. pseudospiralis under the same experimental conditions. These antigenic differences were confirmed after preabsorption of the antibodies with serial dilutions of extracts of T. spiralis or T. pseudospiralis muscle larvae. The indirect immunofluorescence technique showed that the antigen corresponding to mAb 3G6 is located in the stichosomes and the cuticle surface of both T. spiralis and T. pseudospiralis. In contrast, mAb 3E10 positively stained cryostat sections of T. spiralis, forming a dense reaction product on the surface of the whole larvae and the surrounding capsule. This antibody can be quite useful as a specific probe for distinguishing T. spiralis from T. pseudospiralis in taxonomic studies. Using an avidin-biotin system, we could prove that mAb 3G6 recognizes an excretory/secretory-type antigen. | 10.1007/BF00934389 |
pubmed_1004_20168 | The phenomenon of stillbirth has been poorly addressed in terms of reported statistics and as a clinical issue. A Study Group of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine reviewed the topic and highlighted specific issues. Such proposal was discussed in an open workshop held in Modena, Italy last year and this paper reports the final recommendations. Briefly, at least 22 completed weeks of gestation was endorsed as definition for including SB in statistics and for clinical studies. A minimum diagnostic work-up was suggested together with the emphasis toward a local, multidisciplinary audit process, in order to comprehend causality. Attention for parents emotional support and appropriate counselling was believed as essential part of the clinical process. Finally, the need for funding comprehensive research programs in SB through international, multidisciplinary involvement was believed mandatory for developing effective preventative strategies to avert the devastating occurrence of stillbirth. | 10.1080/14767050802040849 |
pubmed_905_5266 | A recently deceased juvenile male bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) was found floating in the Gulf of Mexico, off Sand Key in Clearwater, Florida. At autopsy, we identified pneumonia and a focus of malacia in the right cerebrum. Cytologic evaluation of tissue imprints from the right cerebrum revealed fungal hyphae. Fungal cultures of the lung and brain yielded Aspergillus fumigatus, which was confirmed by amplification of a portion of the fungal nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 region sequence. Microscopic pulmonary lesions of bronchiolar epithelial cell syncytia with intracytoplasmic and intranuclear inclusions within bronchiolar epithelial cells were suggestive of Cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) infection. The occurrence of CeMV infection was supported by positive immunohistochemical staining for morbillivirus antigen. CeMV detection was confirmed by amplification and sequencing a portion of the morbilliviral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene from lung tissue. This case provides CeMV sequence data available from the Gulf of Mexico and underscores the need for genomic sequencing across diverse host, temporospatial, and population (i.e., single animal vs. mass mortality events) scales to improve our understanding of these globally emerging pathogens. | 10.1177/1040638716664761 |
pubmed_808_24270 | PURPOSE
Recent studies demonstrate the possible antitumor effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF); however, the exact mechanism is still unclear. The aim of our study was to analyze the effects of GM-CSF on multiple biological functions of human esophageal cancer (EC) cell lines and to explore the potential mechanism of its antitumor effects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Eca109/9706 human EC cells were examined. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were analyzed using cell proliferation assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay, respectively. The expression of signaling molecules were examined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot.
RESULTS
Our results provide experimental evidence that GM-CSF inhibits growth and migration, as well as induction of apoptosis in EC cells. In addition, EC cells stimulated with GM-CSF were more likely to have suppressed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), accompanied by increased E-cadherin and decreased vimentin expression.
CONCLUSION
Our data demonstrate that GM-CSF inhibits cancer cell proliferation and migration, as well as induction of apoptosis. Moreover, our findings indicate that GM-CSF may regulate EMT through JAK2-PRMT5 signaling, and thereby exhibit its antitumor effects on EC cells. | 10.2147/OTT.S133504 |
pubmed_947_18462 | The development of a cost-competitive bioprocess requires that the cell factory converts the feedstock into the product of interest at high rates and yields. However, microbial cell factories are exposed to a variety of different stresses during the fermentation process. These stresses can be derived from feedstocks, metabolism, or industrial production processes, limiting production capacity and diminishing competitiveness. Improving stress tolerance and robustness allows for more efficient production and ultimately makes a process more economically viable. This review summarises general trends and updates the most recent developments in technologies to improve the stress tolerance of microorganisms. We first look at evolutionary, systems biology and computational methods as examples of non-rational approaches. Then we review the (semi-)rational approaches of membrane and transcription factor engineering for improving tolerance phenotypes. We further discuss challenges and perspectives associated with these different approaches. | 10.1016/j.synbio.2021.12.009 |
pubmed_5_12771 | BACKGROUND
Anti-endomysial antibodies are sensitive and specific markers for celiac disease. This antibody has recently been identified as an antibody to tissue transglutaminase, an enzyme that cross-links and stabilizes extracellular matrix proteins.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the clinical usefulness of an enzyme-linked immunoassay for anti-transglutaminase antibodies, and to compare the results with those of AEA, the current gold standard serological test for celiac disease.
METHODS
Serum samples were collected from 33 patients with biopsy-proven celiac disease and AEA tests were performed. Control samples for anti-transglutaminase were obtained from 155 patients. An ELISA test for immunoglobulin A anti-transglutaminase utilizing guinea pig liver transglutaminase was developed and performed on all sera. Cutoff values for the test were performed using logistic regression and receiver operating curves analysis.
RESULTS
An optical density cutoff value of 0.34 was established for the assay. The mean value was 0.18 +/- 0.19 optical density for controls, and 1.65 +/- 1.14 for patients with celiac disease (P < 0.001). Sensitivity and specificity of the assay were both 90%, while AEA had a sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 94%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
A tissue transglutaminase-based ELISA test is both sensitive and specific for detection of celiac disease. | pubmed_5_12771 |
pubmed_448_20822 | BACKGROUND
Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a movement disorder caused by mechanical compression of the facial nerve after it has left the brainstem and is characterized by brief or sustained twitching of the muscles innervated by that nerve. Often we observe spasm in an awakening situation. Actually contractions persist during sleep. To our knowledge, there were no reports on how HFS manifests under disturbance of consciousness. Here, we report a case of primary HFS in which the patient's symptoms persisted in a coma.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 74-year-old female with right-sided primary HFS for 20 years and had received botulinum toxin injections in our hospital. Unfortunately she was carried to emergency department after traumatic right pneumothorax by accident. During the emergency treatment, she lost consciousness due to simultaneous cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest. She was then admitted to the emergency intensive care unit for further treatment. During her hospitalization, she was in a coma with stable vital signs and persisting symptoms of HFS. Thus, a multidisciplinary consultation was requested to identify whether it was focal cortical seizures involving the right-side facial muscles. Physical examination revealed brief involuntary clonic or tonic contractions accompanied with the 'Babinski-2 sign'. A combination of relevant data, including her past history, clinical presentation and a negative computed tomography scan of the head, led to a diagnosis of right-sided HFS. As the symptoms of HFS are not life-threatening, the use of anticonvulsants is unnecessary.
CONCLUSIONS
For the layperson, it is crucial to seek a multidisciplinary consultation to obtain a correct diagnosis. | 10.1186/s40001-021-00616-5 |
pubmed_926_13242 | Phytoplankton primary production is at the base of the marine food web; changes in primary production have direct or indirect effects on higher trophic levels, from zooplankton organisms to marine mammals and seabirds. Here, we present a new time-series on gross primary production in the North Sea, from 1988 to 2013, estimated using in situ measurements of chlorophyll and underwater light. This shows that recent decades have seen a significant decline in primary production in the North Sea. Moreover, primary production differs in magnitude between six hydrodynamic regions within the North Sea. Sea surface warming and reduced riverine nutrient inputs are found to be likely contributors to the declining levels of primary production. In turn, significant correlations are found between observed changes in primary production and the dynamics of higher trophic levels including (small) copepods and a standardized index of fish recruitment, averaged over seven stocks of high commercial significance in the North Sea. Given positive (bottom-up) associations between primary production, zooplankton abundance and fish stock recruitment, this study provides strong evidence that if the decline in primary production continues, knock-on effects upon the productivity of fisheries are to be expected unless these fisheries are managed effectively and cautiously. | 10.1111/gcb.13916 |
pubmed_161_13083 | Acute effects of topical phenylephrine, an alpha-1 adrenergic agonist, on the aqueous humor dynamics and corneal endothelial permeability were studied by means of the oral fluorescein method in 11 normal young volunteers. Twenty microliters of phenylephrine HCL (10%) was instilled in one eye and the placebo in the other eye in a double masked manner. The instillations were carried out 0.5 hour before, and 2, 4 and 6 hours after the fluorescein ingestion. Fluorophotometric measurements were carried out in the central cornea, anterior chamber and plasma ultrafiltrate, and the aqueous-cornea transfer coefficient in reference to the corneal volume (kc.ac), the transfer coefficient in the anterior chamber by diffusion (kd.pa) and by flow (kfa) were calculated in each eye. The thickness of the cornea (CT), intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior chamber volume (Va) were also measured. No significant difference was found in the CT, kc.ac, corneal endothelial permeability (kc.ac x the thickness of the stroma), Va, IOP and kfa between the experimental and control eyes, while the kd.pa was significantly smaller in the experimental eyes (paired t-test, P less than 0.01). The iris permeability factor (kd.pa x Va) decreased significantly to 0.74 +/- 0.26 (Mean +/- SD) of the control (P less than 0.01). The aqueous flow rate (kfa x Va) averaged 0.95 +/- 0.21 of the control, and the difference from unity was not significant (P greater than 0.1). | pubmed_161_13083 |
pubmed_517_13384 | BACKGROUND
Possible accumulative effects of a combined economic hardship's measure, including both income and non-income related economic hardships measures, on mental health has not been well investigated. The aim of this paper was to investigate; (i) independent associations between multiple measures of economic hardships and mental health problems, and (ii) associations between a combined economic hardships measure and mental health problems.
METHODS
We analysed data from the 2009 Swedish National Survey of Public Health comprising a randomly selected representative national sample combined with a randomly selected supplementary sample from four county councils and three municipalities consisting of 23,153 men and 28,261 women aged 16-84 years. Mental health problems included; psychological distress (GHQ-12), severe anxiety and use of antidepressant medication. Economic hardship was measured by a combined economic hardships measure including low household income, inability to meet expenses and lacking cash reserves.
RESULTS
The results from multivariate adjusted (age, country of birth, educational level, occupational status, employment status, family status and long term illness) logistic regression analysis indicate that self-reported current economic difficulties (inability to pay for ordinary bills and lack of cash reserves), were significantly associated with both women's and men's mental health problems (all indicators), while low income was not. In addition, we found a statistically significant graded association between mental health problems and levels of economic hardships.
CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that indicators of self-reported current economic difficulties seem to be more strongly associated with poor mental health outcomes than the more conventional measure low income. Furthermore, the likelihood of mental health problems differed significantly in a graded fashion in relation to levels of economic hardships. | 10.1186/1471-2458-11-788 |
pubmed_149_6770 | BACKGROUND
Chlamydia trachomatis causes the most prevalent bacterial Sexual Transmitted Infection. In pregnant women, untreated chlamydial infections are associated with abortions, premature rupture of membranes, postpartum endometritis, low birth weight and transmission to the newborn. In Córdoba, Argentina, there is little knowledge about the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in women in their third trimester of pregnancy, so, the aim of this study was to evaluate Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence and genotypes present in Cordovan pregnant women with different age and socioeconomic status.
METHODS AND FINDINGS
Design: prospective study. Settings: Women population from Cordoba city, Argentina. Population: Pregnant women having 35 to 37 weeks of gestation. Methods: Five hundred and nine cervical swabs were collected. Each sample was subjected to DNA extraction and PCR for Chlamydia trachomatis using primers NRO/NLO and CTP1/CTP2. Positives samples were sequenced to determine genotype. Main outcome measures: Demographic data of the patients were collected to detect a population at risk for this infection.
RESULTS
A prevalence of 6.9% (35/509) for Chlamydia trachomatis infection was detected, with 32/295 and 3/214 from pregnant women with low or better economic resources respectively (p = 0,0001). Results showed a significantly increased rate of 11.6% (30/258) in women under 25 years compared with 2% (5/251) in patients over that age (p = 0,00003). Genotype E was the most prevalent.
CONCLUSIONS
With these results, we can say that pregnant women under 25 years old and low economic resources are one of the populations in which the screening programs of Chlamydia trachomatis should focus. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0217245 |
pubmed_601_20612 | A primary mucinous carcinoma of the thyroid is reported. The tumour cells, arranged in small nests and trabecules, were surrounded by abundant intercellular substance which was positively stained for mucicarmine, alcian blue and PAS before and after diastase treatment. Diastase-resistant, PAS-positive material was also present in the tumour cells. Electron microscopy revealed neoplastic cells linked by desmosomes and not surrounded by basal lamina; the nuclei had irregular contours, prominent nucleoli and numerous pseudoinclusions; mucin granules and rough endoplasmic reticulum were the prominent organelles in the cytoplasm. Follicles and follicle-like structures were not found, either by light or by electron microscopy. A definite diagnosis could only be established after the disclosure of intense immunostaining for thyroglobulin in several groups of tumour cells. Criteria for the diagnosis are discussed and the question of histogenesis raised. | 10.1016/S0344-0338(86)80086-3 |
pubmed_651_2309 | Workers in the coffee industry were investigated. Study I comprised 50 selected cases of whom 25 had work-related symptoms and 25 had not. Prick tests and RAST investigations with different factory dust extracts were performed. Study II was a cross-sectional study comprising 129 workers who were prick-tested with one factory dust extract and with castor bean (CB). More than 40% described occupationally related asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis or pruritus, and in about half of these cases sensitization with one or two allergens was found. One allergen comes from coffee beans and is found in the factory dust, mainly where the raw coffee is handled. This allergen is destroyed in the roasting process. The other allergen is identical with the allergen from castor bean and its presumed to enter the plant via the sacks. Predisposing factors to developing sensitization were atopic status, degree and length of exposure, and smoking habits. | 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1982.tb01917.x |
pubmed_702_93 | We describe a rare case of secondary malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) following Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). A 23-year-old Japanese male exhibited systemic lymphadenopathy, multiple lung tumors, and osteolytic changes in bilateral iliac bones in 1989. A biopsy specimen from the left iliac bone revealed an infiltration of S-100 protein-positive histiocyte-like cells intermingled with eosinophils, which confirmed the diagnosis of eosinophilic granuloma, a type of LCH. Although the patient was treated with prednisolone initially, the disease did not respond well and progressed gradually over time. The patient subsequently received multiple courses of chemotherapy and immunosuppressive therapy with many kinds of anticancer agents for 6 years. He also received radiotherapy totaling 136.8 Gy for lung tumors and osteolytic lesions of the pelvis. In 1997, because of the LCH refractoriness, biopsy was performed again from the right inguinal lymph node. Microscopic examinations demonstrated a mixture of spindle-shaped cells and histiocyte-like cells, which appeared to be in a storiform pattern. The tumor cells were immunohistologically positive for CD68 and vimentin, but negative for CD1a and S-100 protein. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with MFH. Although chemotherapy was continued, the patient died of pneumonia during the neutropenic period following chemotherapy. Autopsy revealed systemic invasion of MFH and dissemination of mucormycosis. LCH was not detected histologically in any tissues. | 10.3960/jslrt.49.33 |
pubmed_794_26458 | Purpose
High-altitude environment mainly with hypobaric hypoxia could induce pathological alterations in ocular tissue. Previous studies have mostly focused on sporadic case reports and simulated high-altitude hypoxia experiments. This aim of this study was to explore the proteomic and morphological changes of ocular tissue in mice at real altitude environment.
Methods
In this study, mice were flown from Chengdu (elevation: 500 m) to Lhasa (elevation: 3600 m). After exposure for 1day, 3, 6, 10, 20, 30, and 40days, the mice were euthanatized to obtain blood and ocular tissue. Serological tests, ocular pathological examinations, integral ocular proteomics analysis, and Western blot were conducted.
Results
We focused on acute phase (1-3 days) and chronic phase (>30 days) during high-altitude acclimatization. Serum interleukin-1 was increased at 3 days, while superoxide dismutase, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α showed no statistical changes. H&E staining demonstrated that the cornea was edematous at 3 days and exhibited slower proliferation at 30 days. The choroid showed a consistently significant thickening, while there existed no noticeable changes in retinal thickness. Overall, 4073 proteins were identified, among which 71 and 119 proteins were detected to have significant difference at 3 days and 40 days when compared with the control group. Functional enrichment analysis found the differentiated proteins at 3 days exposure functionally related with response to radiation, dephosphorylation, negative regulation of cell adhesion, and erythrocyte homeostasis. Moreover, the differential profiles of the proteins at 40 days exposure exhibited changes of regulation of complement activation, regulation of protein activation cascade, regulation of humoral immune response, second-messenger-mediated signaling, regulation of leukocyte activation, and cellular iron homeostasis. Interestingly, we found the ocular proteins with lactylation modification were increased along high-altitude adaptation.
Conclusion
This is the first work reporting the ocular proteomic and morphological changes at real high-altitude environment. We expect it would deep the understanding of ocular response during altitude acclimatization. | 10.2147/JIR.S361174 |
pubmed_52_21558 | Sex differences in the prevalence of inflammatory disorders exist, perhaps due to sex differences in cellular mechanisms that contribute to proinflammatory cytokine activity. This study analyzed sex differences of monocyte intracellular expression of IL-6 and its associations with reproductive hormones and autonomic mechanisms in 14 matched pairs of men and women (n = 28). Monocyte intracellular IL-6 production was repeatedly assessed over two circadian periods. Sympathetic balance was estimated by heart rate variability and the ratio of power in the low-frequency (LF) to high-frequency (HF); vagal tone was indexed by the power of HF component. As compared to men, women showed greater monocyte expression of IL-6 across the circadian period. In addition, women showed lower sympathetic balance (LF/HF ratio), and greater levels of vagal tone (HF power). In women, but not men, sympathovagal balance was negatively associated with monocyte IL-6 expression, whereas vagal tone was positively associated with production of this cytokine. Levels of reproductive hormones were not related to monocyte IL-6 expression. The marked increase in monocyte expression of interleukin-6 in women has implications for understanding sex differences in risk of inflammatory disorders. Additionally, these data suggest that sex differences in sympathovagal balance or vagal tone may be a pathway to explain sex differences in IL-6 expression. Interventions that target autonomic mechanisms might constitute new strategies to constrain IL-6 production with impacts on inflammatory disease risk in women. | 10.1152/ajpregu.00752.2006 |
pubmed_44_12206 | NOD2, a cytosolic receptor for the bacterial proteoglycan fragment muramyl dipeptide (MDP), plays an important role in the recognition of intracellular pathogens. Variants in the bacterial sensor domain of NOD2 are genetically associated with an increased risk for the development of Crohn disease, a human chronic inflammatory bowel disease. In the present study, global protein expression changes after MDP stimulation were analyzed by two-dimensional PAGE of total protein extracts of human cultured cells stably transfected with expression constructs encoding for wild type NOD2 (NOD2(WT)) or the disease-associated NOD2 L1007fsinsC (NOD2(SNP13)) variant. Differentially regulated proteins were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) peptide mass fingerprinting and MALDI MS/MS. The limited overlap in the responses of the NOD2-overexpressing cell lines to MDP included a down-regulation of heat shock 70-kDa protein 4. A complex pro-inflammatory program regulated by NOD2(WT) that encompasses a regulation of key genes involved in protein folding, DNA repair, cellular redox homeostasis, and metabolism was observed both under normal growth conditions and after stimulation with MDP. By using the comparison of NOD2(WT) and disease-associated NOD2(SNP13) variant, we have identified a proteomic signature pattern that may further our understanding of the influence of genetic variations in the NOD2 gene in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory bowel disease. | 10.1074/jbc.M505986200 |
pubmed_196_23569 | OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to identify School and University support services available and accessed by nursing students transitioning into a university environment as many struggle to adjust to competing demands of personal commitments and expectations at university.
METHODS
A mixed methods design was used, based on activity theory and Lizzio's Five Senses of Success frameworks as exploratory guides. This study was conducted amongst the first year cohort at one campus of the Bachelor of Nursing (BN) program in Queensland, Australia. An initial baseline assessment of what University and School-based support services were on offer for students, and how the students interacted with the support services was conducted. This was followed by a survey to identify awareness and access to support services. Focus groups were then conducted to clarify the previous results and to determine engagement with these support services.
RESULTS
A randomly selected number of students (n = 150) in the first-year 2014 cohort of the BN program (n = 300) were included in this study. The survey was completed by 54 students and three semi-structured focus groups were conducted. The analysis indicated that the support services in place were successful in reaching the majority of students and contributed to their sense of success at university. Specifically students identified that a whole cohort approach to support enhanced their transition to university.
CONCLUSION
Identifying lesser known services early in the first year will ensure that students are supported and encouraged to use all services, contributing to their sense of success at university. | 10.1016/j.ijnss.2019.06.001 |
pubmed_192_22051 | We have compiled, in this Periodontology 2000 review, all Latin American literature on experimental and clinical studies of periodontal plastic procedures. The body of literature on this subject has led to a discussion of the features and treatment outcomes of root-coverage procedures. Over time, knowledge on periodontal plastic procedures has become less empirical and more supportive of the clinical management of recession-type defects. Gingival recession etiology, animal studies, free gingival grafts, pedicle flaps (semilunar, laterally positioned, and coronally positioned), and subepithelial connective tissue grafts are extensively reviewed. The use of allografts as an alternative to subepithelial connective tissue grafts, the treatment of multiple gingival recessions, and the rationale for use of guided tissue regeneration and enamel matrix derivative in plastic periodontal procedure is discussed. We also assess how smoking can affect the treatment outcomes in plastic surgery procedures. Minimally invasive procedures are of great value in improving the features of the final tissues. The following aspects identified in this compilation were of great interest: (a) some factors, anatomical in nature, favor the formation of root recessions, but it is the inflammatory process (caused by the presence of biofilm and/or by traumatic toothbrushing) that is responsible for the development of root recessions; and (b) pedicle flap procedures (especially the coronally positioned flap) are extremely versatile and have the most predictable outcome of all root-coverage procedures, especially when combined with subepithelial connective tissue grafting and/or allogeneic grafts. In summary: subepithelial connective tissue grafting is considered as the first option to augment gingival width and thickness, and it may provide better long-term results; the same principles of root-coverage procedures in individual sites appear be used in clinical practice also for multiple-recession type defects; an allograft is an efficient alternative to a subepithelial connective tissue graft and, when it is the treatment option of choice, the use of wide, extended flaps should be considered; because of the superiority of plastic periodontal procedures over guided tissue regeneration and the technical difficulty of the latter, guided tissue regeneration has become obsolete for root-coverage procedures; there is rather a large body of evidence attesting that smoking negatively influences root-coverage procedures, especially subepithelial connective tissue grafts; and minimally invasive techniques may be of great value for improving the results obtained with plastic periodontal procedures, but these techniques need to be better addressed in clinical trials, both in terms of the quality and quantity of the new tissue generated. | 10.1111/prd.12247 |
pubmed_920_1134 | Temperature stresses affect plant phenotypic diversity. The developmental stability of the inflorescence, required for reproductive success, is tightly regulated by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors. However, the mechanisms underpinning how plant inflorescence architecture responds to temperature are largely unknown. We demonstrate that the barley SEPALLATA MADS-box protein HvMADS1 is responsible for maintaining an unbranched spike architecture at high temperatures, while the loss-of-function mutant forms a branched inflorescence-like structure. HvMADS1 exhibits increased binding to target promoters via A-tract CArG-box motifs, which change conformation with temperature. Target genes for high-temperature-dependent HvMADS1 activation are predominantly associated with inflorescence differentiation and phytohormone signalling. HvMADS1 directly regulates the cytokinin-degrading enzyme HvCKX3 to integrate temperature response and cytokinin homeostasis, which is required to repress meristem cell cycle/division. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which genetic factors direct plant thermomorphogenesis, extending the recognized role of plant MADS-box proteins in floral development. | 10.1038/s41477-021-00957-3 |
pubmed_379_2514 | This study examines the significance of inducing sustained ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular flutter by programmed stimulation after infarction. Programmed ventricular stimulation was performed for prognostic reasons from the right ventricular apex at twice diastolic threshold using a protocol containing 4 extrastimuli. Of 502 patients tested 11 +/- 4 days after acute infarction, VF was induced in 164 (33%), ventricular flutter in 134 (27%), ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 44 (9%), and no arrhythmia in 160 (32%). All groups were similar in age, sex distribution, and sites of index infarction. Those with inducible VT had a higher incidence of multiple infarctions and a lower mean left ventricular ejection fraction at the time of testing. Without antiarrhythmic drug therapy, 8 patients (18%) with inducible VT experienced spontaneous VT or died instantaneously during the first year of follow-up. By contrast, only 1 (0.6%) patient with inducible VF, 1 (0.7%) with ventricular flutter, and 1 (0.6%) without any inducible arrhythmias experienced similar events in the same period (p < 0.001). By relating the cycle length of the induced monomorphic arrhythmia to later spontaneous electrical events, induced arrhythmias with cycle length as low as 230 ms still identified patients at high risk for spontaneous arrhythmias. Only the induction of sustained monomorphic VT with a cycle length > 230 ms indicates patients with ventricular electrical instability after infarction. The induction of VF or ventricular flutter is a negative test result with no adverse long-term prognostic significance. | 10.1016/s0002-9149(99)80576-1 |
pubmed_458_2541 | Libet discovered that a substantial duration (> 0.5-1.0 s) of direct electrical stimulation of the surface of the somatosensory cortex at threshold currents is required before human subjects can report that a conscious somatosensory experience had occurred. Using a reaction time method we confirm that a similarly long stimulation duration at threshold currents is required for activation of elementary visual experiences (phosphenes) in human subjects following stimulation of the surface of the striate cortex. However, the reaction times for the subject to respond to the cessation of the visual experience after the end of electrical stimulation could be as brief as 225-242 ms. We also carried out extensive studies in cats under a variety of anesthetic conditions using the same electrodes and parameters of stimulation employed in the human studies to study the patterns of neuronal activity beneath the stimulating surface electrode. Whereas sufficiently strong currents can activate neurons within milliseconds, stimulating currents close to threshold activate sustained neural activity only after at least 350-500 ms. When currents are close to threshold, some neurons are inhibited for several hundreds of millisecond before the balance between inhibition and excitation shifts towards excitation. These results suggest that the prolonged latencies, i.e., latencies beyond 200-250 ms, for the emergence of conscious experience following direct cortical stimulation result from a delay in the sustained activation of underlying cortical neurons at threshold currents rather than being due to any unusually long duration in central processing time. Intracellular records from cortical neurological cells during repetitive electrical stimulation of the surface of the feline striate cortex demonstrate that such stimulation induces a profound depolarizing shift in membrane potential that may persist after each stimulus train. Such a depolarization is evidence that extracellular K+ concentrations have increased during electrical stimulation. Such an increase in extracellular K+ progressively increases cortical excitability until the threshold for sustained activation of cortical neurons is reached and then exceeded. Consequently, the long latency for threshold activation of cortical neurons depends upon a dynamically increasing cortical facilatory process that begins hundreds of milliseconds before there is sustained activation of such neurons. In some cases, this facilatory process must overcome an initial stimulus-induced inhibition before neuronal firing commences. | 10.1016/j.concog.2004.06.002 |
pubmed_219_9830 | We have studied the effect of target and lung density on block margin for small stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) targets. A phantom (50 × 50 × 50cm(3)) was created in the Pinnacle (V9.2) planning system with a 23-cm diameter lung region of interest insert. Diameter targets of 1.6, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0cm were placed in the lung region of interest and centered at a physical depth of 15cm. Target densities evaluated were 0.1 to 1.0g/cm(3), whereas the surrounding lung density was varied between 0.05 and 0.6g/cm(3). A dose of 100cGy was delivered to the isocenter via a single 6-MV field, and the ratio of the average dose to points defining the lateral edges of the target to the isocenter dose was recorded for each combination. Field margins were varied from none to 1.5cm in 0.25-cm steps. Data obtained in the phantom study were used to predict planning treatment volume (PTV) margins that would match the clinical PTV and isodose prescription for a clinical set of 39 SBRT cases. The average internal target volume (ITV) density was 0.73 ± 0.17, average local lung density was 0.33 ± 0.16, and average ITV diameter was 2.16 ± 0.8cm. The phantom results initially underpredicted PTV margins by 0.35cm. With this offset included in the model, the ratio of predicted-to-clinical PTVs was 1.05 ± 0.32. For a given target and lung density, it was found that treatment margin was insensitive to target diameter, except for the smallest (1.6-cm diameter) target, for which the treatment margin was more sensitive to density changes than the larger targets. We have developed a graphical relationship for block margin as a function of target and lung density, which should save time in the planning phase by shortening the design of PTV margins that can satisfy Radiation Therapy Oncology Group mandated treatment volume ratios. | pubmed_219_9830 |
pubmed_403_2712 | BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Deep sternal wound infection is a major concern after cardiac surgery. This study describes the incidence of postoperative deep sternal wound infections after cardiac surgery and compares two available treatment modalities.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In Tampere University Hospital, 7973 open heart operations were performed between 2007 and 2016. Patients treated for a postoperative deep sternal wound infection were categorized in two groups based on treatment: revision surgery with early reconstruction (revision group; 74 patients) or vacuum-assisted closure treatment (VAC group; 55 patients). The end points in comparisons were overall mortality and hospitalization time.
RESULTS
A total of 129 patients (1.6%) developed a postoperative deep sternal wound infection. The 30-day mortality rates were 8.1% and 3.6%, the 90-day mortality rates were 15.5% and 18.2%, and the 1-year mortality rates were 17.6% and 23.6% for the revision and VAC group, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in mortality rates. The hospital stay was 18 days in the revision group and 38 days in the VAC group (p < 0.001). The secondary intensive care unit stay was longer in the VAC group (median 1 vs 4, p = 0.011). The most common pathogens isolated in the first reoperation were coagulase-negative staphylococci (33.8% and 41.8%, respectively; p = 0.366), and positive candida findings were more common in the VAC group (4.1% vs 37.0 %, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Vacuum-assisted closure treatment induces an inferior outcome in terms of fungal infections, treatment times, and the number of reoperations. | 10.1177/1457496920979289 |
pubmed_623_15324 | Protein:protein interactions play key functional roles in the molecular machinery of the cell. A major challenge for structural biology is to gain high-resolution structural insight into how membrane protein function is regulated by protein:protein interactions. To this end we present a method to express, detect, and purify stable membrane protein complexes that are suitable for further structural characterization. Our approach utilizes bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), whereby each protein of an interaction pair is fused to nonfluorescent fragments of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) that combine and mature as the complex is formed. YFP thus facilitates the visualization of protein:protein interactions in vivo, stabilizes the assembled complex, and provides a fluorescent marker during purification. This technique is validated by observing the formation of stable homotetramers of human aquaporin 0 (AQP0). The method's broader applicability is demonstrated by visualizing the interactions of AQP0 and human aquaporin 1 (AQP1) with the cytoplasmic regulatory protein calmodulin (CaM). The dependence of the AQP0-CaM complex on the AQP0 C-terminus is also demonstrated since the C-terminal truncated construct provides a negative control. This screening approach may therefore facilitate the production and purification of membrane protein:protein complexes for later structural studies by X-ray crystallography or single particle electron microscopy. | 10.1002/pro.3046 |
pubmed_1092_6809 | Heterotrimeric G protein signaling cascades are one of the primary metazoan sensing mechanisms linking a cell to environment. However, the number of experimentally identified effectors of G protein in plant is limited. We have therefore studied which tools are best suited for predicting G protein effectors in rice. Here, we compared the predicting performance of four classifiers with eight different encoding schemes on the effectors of G proteins by using 10-fold cross-validation. Four methods were evaluated: random forest, naive Bayes, K-nearest neighbors and support vector machine. We applied these methods to experimentally identified effectors of G proteins and randomly selected non-effector proteins, and tested their sensitivity and specificity. The result showed that random forest classifier with composition of K-spaced amino acid pairs and composition of motif or domain (CKSAAP_PROSITE_200) combination method yielded the best performance, with accuracy and the Mathew's correlation coefficient reaching 74.62% and 0.49, respectively. We have developed G-Effector, an online predictor, which outperforms BLAST, PSI-BLAST and HMMER on predicting the effectors of G proteins. This provided valuable guidance for the researchers to select classifiers combined with different feature selection encoding schemes. We used G-Effector to screen the effectors of G protein in rice, and confirmed the candidate effectors by gene co-expression data. Interestingly, one of the top 15 candidates, which did not appear in the training data set, was validated in a previous research work. Therefore, the candidate effectors list in this article provides both a clue for researchers as to their function and a framework of validation for future experimental work. It is accessible at http://bioinformatics.fafu.edu.cn/geffector. | 10.1093/bib/bbw021 |
pubmed_19_19167 | PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This review summarizes the recent developments in support of the immunodeficiency model of Crohn's disease.
RECENT FINDINGS
The demonstration of impaired acute inflammation in Crohn's disease provides a novel mechanism for its pathogenesis, with diminished macrophage cytokine production and neutrophil recruitment leading to reduced bacterial clearance. The innate immune response may be further overwhelmed by other factors. The mucosal barrier in Crohn's patients is disrupted, with abnormal ultrastructure as well as antibacterial defensin deficiency. Specific bacterial agents may contribute and one promising candidate, adherent-invasive Escherichia coli, has recently been described. An interaction between Nod2 and the autophagy system has been elucidated, with direct consequences for bacterial clearance, and the most recent genome-wide association study meta-analysis has extended the number of Crohn's disease susceptibility loci to 71. The spectrum of congenital immunodeficiency disorders recognized to develop Crohn's-like inflammatory bowel disease is also expanding. Conversely, no specific immunodeficiency has so far been observed in ulcerative colitis, in which the defect appears to be failure of inflammation termination and resolution.
SUMMARY
Recent advances continue to highlight defects in innate immunity in Crohn's patients. Similar abnormalities may extend to other granulomatous disorders, but not diseases such as ulcerative colitis. | 10.1097/MOG.0b013e3283463b45 |
pubmed_449_3514 | In this study we investigated the appearance of renal cysts in 43 chronic hemodialyzed patients using ultrasound (3.5 MHz-sector scanner). The mean age of the patients was 45 years, and the mean duration of dialysis was 26.3 months. In 21 patients (= 49%) cysts could be found. In 10 of these patients a former investigation at beginning of dialysis did not demonstrate any cystic lesions. The diameter of the cysts varied between 5 and 30 mm. Considering the duration of dialysis, in 9 (= 39%) out of 23 patients with a maximum duration of dialysis of 2 years cysts could be demonstrated by ultrasound, and in 12 (= 60%) of 20 patients, who had been dialysed for more than 2 years. The clinical impact of the demonstration of such cysts was recently reported in cases which developed complications like tumour formation or severe bleeding. | pubmed_449_3514 |
pubmed_1111_24122 | OBJECTIVES
The heart is one of the organs affected by sickle cell anemia (SCA). This prospective study has aimed to evaluate myocardial perfusion and left ventricle (LV) function in children with SCA by gated myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (G-MPS) and to compare the results with echocardiographic parameters.
METHODS
Forty-three patients with SCA were evaluated by G-MPS and echocardiography. Myocardial perfusion and motion with thickening function were analyzed both visually and quantitatively. End-diastolic (EDV), end-systolic volumes (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), lung-to-heart (L/H) ratio were also calculated.
RESULTS
None of the patients showed stress perfusion impairment in G-MPS. LV dilatation in 15 patients was observed both by G-MPS and echocardiography. EF values were within normal limits. Correlation between EF values calculated by two methods was not statistically significant. However, LV dilatation detected by both methods and EDV-ESV values in G-MPS were correlated to end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters calculated in echocardiography (p<0.05). M-Mode echocardiography revealed higher myocardial performance index (LV-MPI) in patients with LV dilatation. There was also a significant relationship between LV dilatation and frequent blood transfusions (>5/years) and acute chest syndrome (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Myocardial perfusion impairment in children with SCA is not frequently observed. Thus, performing the scintigraphy only in patients with cardiac symptoms should be considered. Since EF values of the children with SCA are not deteriorated in early stages, LV-MPI and LV dilatation should be considered as a significant parameter other than EF or perfusion data. | 10.1016/j.remn.2011.02.003 |
pubmed_1129_13206 | Background
Tuberculosis (TB) has been ranked as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In Cameroon, the National Tuberculosis Control Program aims to fight TB through the implementation of international directives (Directly Observed Treatment Short course [DOTS]). TB control program must reach global targets for detection (70%) and treatment success (85%) as stated by the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Implementing DOTS in Cameroon has not met the MDGs of 85% success rate. This study aimed at identifying factors affecting treatment success.
Methods
A cross-sectional retrospective study was used to collect data from 895 TB registers from January 2011 to December 2012. Out of the seven treatment centers in Fako Division, three were randomly selected following stratification into government, not-for-profit and for-profit structures. Descriptive statistics were used to obtain frequencies. Binomial logistics regression was used to obtain significant values for the various factors. Multinomial logistics was used on significant factors.
Results
Of the 895 registered TB patient records obtained, 416 (46.5%) patient were female and 479 (53.5%) patient were male. Characterizing TB patients, 510 (57.0%) were smear-positive pulmonary TB, 225 (25.1%) were smear-negative pulmonary TB, and 160 (17.9%) were extrapulmonary TB patients. Comparing treatment success rate (TSR) across the three centers, Baptist Hospital Mutengene had the highest value 94.97 (38%), followed by Regional Hospital Buea 83.74 (33%), and Central Clinic Tiko the least 73.13 (29%).
Conclusion
Patient registration year, treatment center, TB classification, and HIV status were identified to significantly affect TSR, hence, effectiveness of the TB program. | 10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_20_18 |
pubmed_1025_13976 | Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) frequently coinfect and persist long after clinical resolution. We assessed the incidence of low-level (occult) HCV infection (OCI) after sustained virological response (SVR) to standard anti-HCV therapy in individuals with or without past exposure to HBV to recognize whether HBV could influence the prevalence of OCI, HCV level and hepatic histology. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 24 individuals at 6- to 12-month intervals for up to 72 months after SVR. Liver histology was available for nine patients. HCV and HBV genomes were detected with sensitivity <10 genome copies/mL. In individuals without HBV exposure (n = 15), comprehensive analyses of sequential plasma and PBMC samples revealed HCV RNA in all 15 cases (75% plasma and 61% PBMC). In the group with HBV exposure (n = 9), evidenced by circulating anti-HBc and/or HBV DNA detection by a highly sensitive assay, HCV RNA was identified in all cases (83% plasma and 59% PBMC), at levels similar to those in HBV nonexposed individuals. In both groups of patients, most liver biopsies included those reactive for viral genomes displayed low-grade inflammation (8 of 9) and fibrosis (7 of 9). Sequence polymorphisms at the 5`-UTR between PBMC and liver or plasma, as well as circulating HCV virion-like particles, were observed in patients with or without HBV exposure. In conclusion, the prevalence of OCI after SVR is comparable in individuals with or without past exposure to HBV. HCV loads and liver alterations in OCI appear to be unaffected by low-level HBV DNA carriage. | 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2011.01442.x |
pubmed_832_25356 | AIM
Tonic tics (TTs) are a part of a clinical picture of Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and manifest themselves as sustained and isometric contraction of a muscle group devoid of the movement effect or accompanied by only slight visible motion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and phenomenology of TTs, and to assess the clinical associations of TTs with tic severity and comorbidities in patients with GTS.
METHODS
We performed a one-time registration study in a cohort of 241 consecutive outpatients with GTS aged 5 to 50 years (188 males, 153 patients under the age of 18 years). All patients were personally interviewed and examined.
RESULTS
TTs occurred in 85.2% of adults and 63.9% of children and adolescents. Most frequently reported types of TTs were tensing of the abdomen (58.7%), neck (52.7%), and upper limbs (50.3%). Multivariate statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between TTs and the total number of simple tics, total number of complex tics, and age at evaluation. In the group of children and adolescents, an additional significant variable was the duration of GTS. In the group of adults, significant parameters were total number of simple tics, total number of complex tics, peak tic severity ever experienced, premonitory urges, and the presence of dystonic tics.
CONCLUSION
TTs belong to the tic spectrum, common and early symptoms of GTS, are associated with overall a greater number of tics which are more severe, and with more comorbidities. | 10.1055/s-0040-1722689 |
pubmed_522_5622 | CD33 is expressed on the malignant blast cells in most cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but not on normal hematopoietic pluripotent stem cells. Antibody-based therapies for AML have, therefore, focused on CD33 as a suitable tumor-associated target antigen. The most promising results have been obtained with gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO, Mylotarg), a humanized IgG(4) anti-CD33 monoclonal antibody joined to a calicheamicin-gamma(1) derivative. Engagement of CD33 by GO results in immunoconjugate internalization and hydrolytic release of the toxic calicheamicin moiety, which, in turn, causes DNA damage and cell death. Since 2000, when GO was approved for clinical use, treatment trials and pilot studies have revealed potential expanded applications along with additional limitations. At the same time, correlative biological and in vitro functional studies have further characterized CD33 expression patterns in AML, the significance of CD33-antibody interactions, pathways involved in GO-induced cytotoxicity and potential drug resistance mechanisms. This review summarizes the recent data addressing mechanisms of GO action and discusses their relevance with regard to clinical applications and the limitations of using experimental model systems to mimic in vivo conditions. As the first drug conjugate approved for clinical use, GO serves as an important paradigm for other immunoconjugates against internalizing tumor antigens. | 10.1038/sj.leu.2403598 |
pubmed_970_1471 | This review focuses on the contribution of circadian rhythms to aggression with a multifaceted approach incorporating genetics, neural networks, and behavior. We explore the hypothesis that chronic circadian misalignment is contributing to increased aggression. Genes involved in both circadian rhythms and aggression are discussed as a possible mechanism for increased aggression that might be elicited by circadian misalignment. We then discuss the neural networks underlying aggression and how dysregulation in the interaction of these networks evoked by circadian rhythm misalignment could contribute to aggression. The last section of this review will present recent human correlational data demonstrating the association between chronotype and/or circadian misalignment with aggression. With circadian rhythms and aggression being a burgeoning area of study, we hope that this review initiates more interest in this promising and topical area. | 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00039 |
pubmed_872_18398 | OBJECTIVES
The introduction of recombinant erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) has been shown to reverse anemia of chronic renal failure and was able to almost completely obviate the need for repeated blood transfusions (BT), the most potent cause of allostimulation in renal transplant candidates. The series describes single center experience of the pretransplant BT and rHu-EPO therapy effects on late outcomes of cadaveric renal transplantation.
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed data of 502 adult recipients of primary renal allograft between 1990-1997 whose graft survived > 6 months. In the study group 51 patients were treated prior to transplantation with de novo rHu-EPO therapy, 207 patients received BT, 184 patients were switched from BT to rHu-EPO therapy, and 60 patients did not require treatment. The groups were compared in respect to pretransplant % PRA, frequency of acute rejections and graft survival.
RESULTS
At one-year graft survival was similar between groups, however at five years recipients of de novo rHu-EPO and those who have converted from BT to rHu-EPO experienced only 7% graft loss, as compared to 22% of patients treated with BT, and 18% of patients who did not require treatment, p < 0.001. The pretransplant therapy with rHu-EPO was associated with decreased frequency of late episodes of rejection from 0.42 to 0.27, p = 0.03. There were no differences between groups in the number of highly sensitized (PRA > 20%) at the time of transplantation.
CONCLUSIONS
The use of rHu-EPO as de novo therapy or conversion from BT treatment to rHu-EPO prior to transplantation was associated with a decline in late posttransplant alloreactivity and improved late renal graft survival. | pubmed_872_18398 |
pubmed_16_1332 | AIM
To evaluate whether the Milan criteria are useful in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who received transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) before liver transplantation (LT).
METHODS
Thirty-six HCC patients who fulfilled the Milan criteria after having received TACE and subsequently underwent LT were included (TACE + LT group) in the study. As controls, 21 patients who also met the Milan criteria and underwent LT without prior treatment were selected (LT group). Post-LT clinical outcomes, such as HCC recurrence, survival rate, and histologic features of explanted livers, were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
Baseline characteristics were not different between the two groups. Pre-LT maximal tumor diameter in TACE + LT group was similar to that of LT group (2.0 +/- 0.6 cm vs 2.3 +/- 0.9 cm; P = 0.10). Post-LT histologic findings also revealed similar maximal tumor diameter in the two groups (2.4 +/- 1.4 cm vs 2.3 +/- 0.9 cm; P = 0.70). Explanted livers showed similar incidence of unfavorable pathologic features. The morality within 60 d after transplantation was not different between the two groups (8.3% vs 9.5%; P = 0.99). Post-LT 5-year survival rate (57% vs 74%; P = 0.70) and cumulative recurrence rate (8.3% vs 4.8%; P = 0.90) were not significantly different between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
The Milan criteria are still a useful selection criteria showing favorable outcomes in HCC patients receiving TACE before LT. | 10.3748/wjg.v12.i43.6992 |
pubmed_27_535 | In tendon transfer (TT) surgery there is usually a discrepancy in excursion between the muscle(s) to be replaced and the transferred muscle(s). For example, in patients with radial palsy the pronator terres (PT) muscle is frequently used to replace the wrist extensors. However, the excursion of the PT is less than the extensor of the wrist and therefore needs to double its length to allow for full wrist movement. Questions arise about whether or not the PT will increase its fiber length after transfer for wrist extension and how therapy can positively influence usable excursion of the transferred muscle-tendon unit. Most classifications of results accept the flexion of the wrist will remain limited after TT of the PT. This article presents a patient with TT of the PT who accomplished a wrist total active range of motion (TAM) of 125 degrees (wrist extension 0-60 degrees, flexion 0-65 degrees). Based on this observation, the authors assume that the PT muscle has indeed increased its excursion after TT. The authors conclude that limited wrist excursion should not be accepted too soon, but therapists have to familiarize themselves with methods for "excursion training" and possibly change the existing methods of evaluating the results of TT of the PT. | 10.1016/s0894-1130(96)80088-3 |
pubmed_800_13498 | Transseptal perforation using radiofrequency energy was performed successfully in a patient with congenital heart disease and a thickened interatrial septum. This was followed by balloon dilatation of the atrial septal defect. Radiofrequency is presented as a alternative to standard transseptal needle puncture. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;54:83-87. | 10.1002/ccd.1244 |
pubmed_899_17669 | OBJECTIVES
To examine the independent effects of sex on the risk of rapid cycling and other indicators of adverse illness course in patients with bipolar I disorder (BP-I) or bipolar II disorder (BP-II).
METHODS
We analyzed data from the first 1,225 patients enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Individualized Medicine Biobank for Bipolar Disorder. Demographic and clinical variables were ascertained using standardized questionnaires; height and weight were assessed to determine body mass index (BMI). Rates of rapid cycling, cycle acceleration, and increased severity of mood episodes over time were compared between women and men overall and within subgroups defined by bipolar disorder subtype (BP-I or BP-II). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent effect of sex on the risk of these indicators of adverse illness course.
RESULTS
Women had significantly higher rates of rapid cycling than men. Overall rates of rapid cycling were higher in patients with BP-II than BP-I; and sex differences in the rate of rapid cycling were more pronounced in patients with BP-II than BP-I, although the power to detect statistically significant differences was reduced due to the lower sample size of subjects with BP-II. Female sex was a significant predictor of rapid cycling, cycle acceleration, and increased severity of mood episodes over time after adjusting for age, bipolar disorder subtype, BMI, having any comorbid psychiatric disorder, and current antidepressant use.
CONCLUSIONS
Female sex was associated with significantly higher risk of rapid cycling, cycle acceleration, and increased severity of mood episodes over time in a sample of 1,225 patients with bipolar disorders. | 10.1111/bdi.12329 |
pubmed_692_12288 | Statins effectively lower LDL cholesterol levels in large studies and the observed interindividual response variability may be partially explained by genetic variation. Here we perform a pharmacogenetic meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in studies addressing the LDL cholesterol response to statins, including up to 18,596 statin-treated subjects. We validate the most promising signals in a further 22,318 statin recipients and identify two loci, SORT1/CELSR2/PSRC1 and SLCO1B1, not previously identified in GWAS. Moreover, we confirm the previously described associations with APOE and LPA. Our findings advance the understanding of the pharmacogenetic architecture of statin response. | 10.1038/ncomms6068 |
pubmed_947_2648 | Most preventable deaths after trauma are related to hemorrhage and occur early after injury. Timely hemostatic treatment is essential to minimize blood loss and improve survival. Among the various treatment methods, the most economical and effective is to use a hemostatic agent. A powdered hemostatic agent can be used for wounds of any shape or depth with high compactness and excellent accumulation effect. Herein, we chose the natural, hydrophilic polymer poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) to form composite hemostatic microspheres with sodium alginate (SA), which show good biocompatibility, water absorptivity, and viscosity. The morphology and structure of the hemostatic microspheres were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The overall safety, hemolysis, pyrogenic, and intradermal irritation tests were examined. The relationship between hemostatic pressure and hemostatic time during microsphere use was also measured. The hemostatic effect was analyzed with a liver, spleen, and femoral artery bleeding model. The composite microspheres were well tolerated in vivo and exhibited better hemostatic effects in animal experiments than a microporous polysaccharide powder compound. Research results showed that SA/γ-PGA microspheres are materials with good hemostatic effect, high safety, and great potential in clinical applications. | 10.1021/acsabm.1c00671 |
pubmed_867_5621 | The white blood count of 6549 patients with various internal diseases of respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, excretory and endocrine systems was studied as well as in neoplasms, collagenosis, etc. with the exception of malignant hemopathies. Leukocytosis was established in 21.8% of them. In almost half of the cases, leukocytosis is low, in 44.6% it ranges from 12-20 X 10(9)/l and in 10.2%--it is high--from 20 to 40 X 10(9)/l. Immature cells in the peripheral blood were established corresponding to stab neutrophils over 0.06-0.10, metamyelocytes, myelocytes reaching myeloblasts in the cases with leukemoid reactions. The leukemoid reactions have, with no exceptions, been of myeloid type and developed in various diseases. | pubmed_867_5621 |
pubmed_115_18271 | The case of a 72-year-old woman with chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast phase (BP) with hypercalcemia is reported. Bone x-ray examination revealed multiple osteolytic lesions throughout the body. The serum level of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) was elevated, and PTHrP messenger RNA (mRNA) was detectable in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) at BP but was not detectable at chronic phase (CP).Treatment with conventional chemotherapy did not completely control either serum calcium level or serum PTHrP level. Treatment with imatinib mesylate (imatinib) alone rapidly normalized these parameters in parallel with a decrease in the number of blast cells. The treatment also maintained the patient in good condition for approximately 3 months, even though the number of blast cells, serum calcium level, serum PTHrP level, and PTHrP mRNA level increased at the terminal stage. Mutations of the p53, K-Ras, and BCR-ABL genes in PBMNC at BP were absent. A noteworthy feature in this patient was that PBMNC at BP but not at CP showed high Lyn mRNA expression. Taken together the findings showed that production of PTHrP by blast cells was favorably controlled by imatinib therapy alone. Imatinib may prolong survival time at BP even though the patients have the complication of PTHrP-mediated hypercalcemia. | 10.1532/IJH97.05063 |
pubmed_61_17045 | The hippocampus is critical for encoding and retrieving semantic and episodic memories. Animal studies indicate that the hippocampus is also required for relational learning tasks. A prototypical relational learning task, and the one investigated in this experiment, using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging, is the transitive inference (TI) task. In the TI task, participants were to choose between A and B (A?B) and learned by trial and error to choose A (A > B). There were four such premise pairs during a training (A > B, B > C, C > D, D > E). These can be acquired distinctly or can be organized into a superordinate hierarchy (A > B > C > D > E), which would efficiently represent all the learned relations and allow inferences (e.g., B > D). At test there was no reinforcement: In addition to premise pairs, untrained pairings were introduced (e.g., A?E, B?D). Correctly inferring that B > D is taken as evidence for the formation of a superordinate hierarchy; several alternatives to the superordinate hierarchy hypothesis are considered. Awareness of the formation of this hierarchy was measured by a postscan questionnaire. Four main findings are reported: (1) Inferential performance and task awareness dissociated behaviorally and at the level of hemodynamic response; (2) As expected, performance on the inferred relation, B > D, corresponded to the ability to simultaneously acquire B > C and C > D premise pairs during training; (3) Interestingly, acquiring these "inner pairs" corresponded to greater hippocampal activation than the "outer pairs" (A > B, D > E) for all participants. However, a distinct pattern of hippocampal activity for these inner pairs differentiated those able to perform the inferential discrimination, B > D, at test. Because these inner premise pairs require contextual discrimination (e.g., C is incorrect in the context of B but correct in the context of D), we argue that the TI task is hippocampal-dependent because the premise pair acquisition necessary for inference is hippocampal-dependent; (4) We found B > D related hippocampal activity at test that is anatomically consistent with preconsolidation recall effects shown in other studies. | 10.1162/jocn.2006.18.7.1156 |
pubmed_401_19448 | Cryphonectria parasitica is a fungal pathogen that causes lethal bark necrosis in chestnut. A duplex qPCR allowing detection of the pathogen and its host, Castanea sativa, is described. The method can be used for early detection of the pathogen in chestnut bark tissues with an internal control of false-negative results caused by PCR inhibitors and/or DNA extraction failure. A positive amplification control of qPCR that allows detection of any deviation from a normal qPCR run based on a control chart is also described. As C. parasitica is a regulated pathogen in Europe, the protocol also provides information on the way to collect and handle bark samples to fulfil biosecurity rules. | 10.1007/978-1-0716-2517-0_11 |
pubmed_367_24199 | Every year, manufacturers of MRI machines introduce new sequences. Most of them result in improved spatial resolution and signal contrast, occasionally with a decrease in sequence duration or MRI time (as when a single 3D sequence is substituted for three 2D sequences). Some sequences that are specifically designed to obtain structural or functional information about a specific tissue (ultrashort TE, T2 mapping, spectro-MRI) are used only for research purposes. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and tractography constitute an original microarchitectural approach based on water molecule diffusion. These methods are nearly ready to be introduced into clinical practice. They are discussed in this article. | 10.1016/j.jbspin.2009.09.002 |
pubmed_433_1089 | Climate change is the biggest challenge facing humanity today. The associated global warming and humidification, increases in the severity and frequency of extreme climate events, extension of the ranges of vector-borne diseases, and the consequent social and economic stresses and disruption will have major negative consequences on many aspects of health care. People whose resilience to change is already impaired may suffer disproportionately from these environmental changes, which are of unprecedented reach and magnitude. There has been little connection made so far between climate change and epilepsy. We briefly review the history of climate change science and the subsequent response of the global scientific community. We consider how climate change effects might in general affect health and disease. We consider some of the underlying complex interactions that, for example, favor the spread of vector-borne diseases and how climate models operate and may help plan for global and local changes. We then speculate specifically on how these generic ideas may apply specifically to epilepsy. We consider these impacts at levels from molecular to the epidemiological. Data are sparse, and there is undoubtedly a need for more information to enable better estimation of possible effects of climate change on care in epilepsy. We also consider how the professional activities of those involved in epilepsy health care might contribute to global carbon emissions, for example, through flying for conference attendance. Healthcare organizations across the world are already considering, and responding to, many of these issues. We argue for more research in this area, but also for action today. Actions today are likely to generate cobenefits for health care, including care in epilepsy, resulting from efforts to decarbonize, mitigate effects of climate change that has already happened, and plan for adaptation to climate change. | 10.1002/epi4.12359 |
pubmed_42_16467 | AIM
This study describes changes in the general surgical waiting list over a 13-year period. We have also attempted to define the factors affecting the size of the waiting list.
METHODS
The number of patients on the waiting list was obtained from Hospital Activity Analysis data. Available surgical beds and theatre sessions were recorded prospectively over 13 years.
RESULTS
As the number of beds and theatre sessions decreased, the general surgical waiting list increased. The total number of patients waiting rose from 301 in 1985 to 1,253 by 1990. The number of patients waiting for more than one year rose from 37 to 251. During that time the total number of available beds fell from 143 to 99 and theatre sessions from 21 to 17.5. Despite theatre sessions subsequently increasing to 21.5, the waiting list continued to rise, as these sessions were not matched with an increase in available beds. The introduction of a waiting list initiative that made extra resources available resulted in a fall in the number of patients waiting to 702 by 1993. Only 45 of those patients had been waiting for more than a year. When the waiting list initiative ended, there was a further steady rise in the waiting list, reaching 1,242 by the end of 1997. At this point, further waiting list initiative facilities were made available. We also noticed that during winter months there was a disproportionate number of patients added to the waiting list when surgical beds were 'blocked' by medical patients.
CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that external factors, particularly available resources, influence the number of patients on a surgical waiting list. The main factors are lack of beds and theatre sessions. Furthermore, an imbalance between them will result in insufficient beds being available to fill those theatre sessions that do exist. Surgeons have little control over their routine waiting lists. | pubmed_42_16467 |
pubmed_704_10171 | BACKGROUND
A better understanding of how multicomponent school-based interventions work and their effects on health and education outcomes are needed. This paper described the methods of the Movimente Program, a school-based intervention that aims to increase physical activity (PA) and decrease sedentary behavior (SB) among Brazilian students.
METHODS
This is a cluster randomized controlled trial with adolescents from 7th to 9th grade in public schools from Florianopolis, Southern Brazil. After agreement, 6 schools were randomly selected to intervention or control groups (3 schools each), and all eligible students were invited to the study. The Movimente intervention program was performed during a school year and included 3 main components: Teacher training (including face-to-face meeting, social media platform, and handbook with lesson plans); improvements in the PA environment in school; and educational strategies. Control schools continued with their traditional schedule. Baseline (March/April 2017), postintervention (November/December 2017), and maintenance (June/July 2018) evaluations included PA and SB as primary outcomes (assessed by self-report and accelerometry). Secondary outcomes included psychosocial factors related to PA and SB (e.g., social support and self-efficacy), as well as health (e.g., quality of life and nutritional status) and education (e.g., academic achievement) outcomes. A program evaluation was performed based on the RE-AIM framework. Participants, intervention staffs, and evaluators were not blinded to group assignment, but a standardized evaluation protocol was applied independently of the trial allocation.
RESULTS
Statistical analyses will include a multilevel approach for repeated measurements and mediation analysis. Any side effects of the intervention will be recorded. The sample size close to that expected (n = 1090) was reached (n = 999). The results of this trial will involve valuable information about the effect and the evaluation of a multicomponent intervention carried out in a middle-income country.
CONCLUSION
By creating opportunities for adolescents to be active at school using multicomponent strategies, the Movimente program has the potential to enhance students health and academic performance which may encourage the school community (e.g., teachers, principals) to adopt the program. Also, this trial will provide evidence for practitioners, policy makers, and researchers on how multicomponent program may be implemented in a school setting.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
The trial is registered at the Clinical Trial Registry (Trial ID: NCT02944318; date of registration: 18 October 2016). | 10.1097/MD.0000000000021233 |
pubmed_262_20780 | OBJECTIVE
Imaging the shoulder in the position of flexion, adduction, and internal rotation (FADIR) may be useful in characterizing lesions of the posteroinferior labrum. The purpose of this preliminary study is to illustrate the diagnostic utility of FADIR positioning in the assessment and characterization of posteroinferior labral tears.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In the FADIR position, the arm is placed across the chest, with the hand on the contralateral shoulder and palm facing outwards. FADIR positioning was performed if there was a subtle or equivocal abnormality of the posteroinferior labrum on conventional MR arthrography sequences. A retrospective review of the charts of 9 people who were imaged using FADIR positioning in addition to routine MR arthrographic sequences of the shoulder was performed. The review included the indication for the study, documentation of presence of clinical posterior instability, and surgical correlation, where available.
RESULTS
In all 9 patients, FADIR positioning helped confirm, exclude, or better characterize a posteroinferior labral abnormality by increasing the diagnostic confidence.
CONCLUSION
Flexion, adduction, and internal rotation positioning appears to be a useful adjunct in evaluating patients with equivocal or subtle posteroinferior labral abnormalities on conventional MR arthrography sequences. | 10.1007/s00256-010-0907-3 |
pubmed_86_18336 | Nucleocapsid-pol fusion proteins have been detected by serological screening hepatocellular carcinoma tissues that contain hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. The existence of these fusion proteins suggests that HBV may synthesize its reverse transcriptase in a fashion analogous to the way that retroviruses synthesize and process a precursor. The accumulation of HBV reverse transcriptase intermediates in tumorous tissues and not in other tissues may be related to the absence of viral core particles and possibly contributes to tumor development. | 10.1126/science.2418501 |
pubmed_183_16930 | A structured wound assessment is a crucial part of managing any patient with a wound. Many different wound assessment tools currently exist but there is little standardization in the information they are used to record. A simple framework such as TIME can be used to co-ordinate the data collection into more useful elements which assist in planning cost-effective care. Clustering the information under the key headings of TIME encourages the practitioner to relate what they are seeing to what is happening at a cellular level and manage wounds in a proactive rather than reactive manner, setting clear management/care objectives to facilitate the wound to heal where this is appropriate. | 10.12968/bjon.2007.16.8.23415 |
pubmed_195_12665 | BACKGROUND
Prior breast irradiation increases the rate of postoperative complications, including capsular contracture, in tissue expander/implant reconstruction. Acellular dermal matrix is heralded to decrease capsular contracture, but recent evidence suggests a possible increase in postoperative complications. The authors evaluated outcomes in patients undergoing bilateral tissue expander/implant reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix in the setting of prior unilateral irradiation.
METHODS
A case-control study was conducted on all patients undergoing bilateral, acellular dermal matrix-assisted, tissue expander/implant reconstruction with a history of previous unilateral irradiation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Complication rates were compared.
RESULTS
Twenty-three patients met inclusion criteria and had an average follow-up of 19 months (range, 4 to 60 months). The perioperative infection rate was 21.7 percent (n = 5) in irradiated breasts and 4.3 percent (n = 1) in control breasts (p = 0.079). Mastectomy skin flap necrosis, explantation, hematoma, and seroma rates were not significantly different between the groups. Sixty percent of patients had irradiated breast contracture that was one Baker grade greater than that in the nonirradiated breast. Body mass index greater than 25 and smoking history were significant independent risk factors for early postoperative complications in univariate analysis (p = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Previous irradiation does not appear to increase the risk of early postoperative complications associated with acellular dermal matrix use in tissue expander/implant breast reconstruction. However, body mass index greater than 25 and smoking history are cause for caution. In addition, acellular dermal matrix does not appear to affect the degree of capsular contracture formation in the setting of prior irradiation.
CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
: Therapeutic, III. | 10.1097/PRS.0b013e31828659c1 |
pubmed_918_19238 | Various silicon compounds have been reported to stimulate autoimmune reactions in the human body. Based on case reports, a possible causal association between silicone breast implants and systemic sclerosis has been suggested since the end of the 1970s. Although the relationship between systemic sclerosis and silicone breast implants has been intensely investigated, no clear evidence of such an association has ever been found in epidemiological studies. Instead, it is now proposed that silicone breast implants can induce nonspecific symptoms of inflammatory diseases, despite not fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for a specific autoimmune disease. This phenomenon was named autoimmune syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA syndrome). ASIA syndrome is worth considering in the differential diagnosis in rheumatology patients. In this paper, we present a case of the scleroderma-like syndrome in a 48-year-old woman with a broken silicone breast implant and a review the current literature on this issue. | 10.5114/reum.2019.83241 |
pubmed_918_6590 | Fluorophores and probes are invaluable for the visualization of the location and dynamics of gene expression, protein expression, and molecular interactions in complex living systems. Rhodamine dyes are often used as scaffolds in biological labeling and turn-on fluorescence imaging. To date, their absorption and emission spectra have been expanded to cover the entire near-infrared region (650-950 nm), which provides a more suitable optical window for monitoring biomolecular production, trafficking, and localization in real time. This review summarizes the development of rhodamine fluorophores since their discovery and provides strategies for modulating their absorption and emission spectra to generate specific bathochromic-shifts. We also explain how larger Stokes shifts and dual-emissions can be obtained from hybrid rhodamine dyes. These hybrid fluorophores can be classified into various categories based on structural features including the alkylation of amidogens, the substitution of the O atom of xanthene, and hybridization with other fluorophores. | 10.1002/anie.201901061 |
pubmed_353_1056 | BACKGROUND
Different types of immune cells are involved in the formation of granulomas, a hallmark of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Proinflammatory monocytes are activated circulating monocytes thought to be related to the initial events of granuloma formation. We tested the hypothesis that peripheral blood monocytes in patients with active pulmonary sarcoidosis have an activated phenotype and, secondly, that measuring this activation status can provide a new tool for monitoring disease activity.
METHODS
Blood was collected of 23 steroid-naive patients presenting with pulmonary sarcoidosis and 10 healthy control subjects. Expression of CD16 (Fc-gamma type III receptor), CD69 (a general activation marker of cells of the hematopoietic lineage), and the integrin very late antigen (VLA)-1 (on interaction with extracellular matrix compounds mediates cell adhesion) was measured by flow cytometry.
RESULTS
Percentages of monocytes expressing CD16, CD69, and VLA-1 in patients vs control subjects were 56.2 +/- 4.1% vs 12.2 +/- 2.4% (p < 0.0001), 87.3 +/- 2.1% vs 8.6 +/- 3.3% (p < 0.0001), and 66.5 +/- 3.6% vs 11.2 +/- 2.3% (p < 0.0001), respectively. Moreover, the CD69+VLA-1+ monocyte subset, abundantly present at disease presentation, was found to decrease to normal levels during follow-up with disease remission.
CONCLUSIONS
Peripheral blood monocytes from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis show a highly activated phenotype. Phenotyping circulating monocytes might be a promising tool for monitoring sarcoidosis disease activity but needs further investigation. | 10.1378/chest.08-0443 |
pubmed_143_13056 | BACKGROUND
There are reports on high psychological morbidity, mainly personality disorders, among people opting for cosmetic surgery. This study aims to describe the personality traits, level of self-esteem, and anxiety in women seeking cosmetic surgery with body contouring, such as liposculpture or lipoabdominoplasty with or without placement of breast implants.
METHODS
Subjects were 87 women between 18 and 60 years of age in Mexico City who went to a private clinic with the intention of undergoing cosmetic surgery with body contouring. A psychiatric interview was performed using three scales: the Salamanca questionnaire for screening for personality disorders, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and the Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale.
RESULTS
The average age was 31 years, with 35% of participants having previously undergone body-contouring surgery. Regarding personality, the patients did not show a psychopathology level for diagnosing a personality disorder. Regarding anxiety, 92% of the patients showed an average level of anxiety. High level of self-esteem was exhibited by 81 participants (93.15%), and six participants (6.9%) exhibited average self-esteem. Notably, no participant exhibited low self-esteem.
CONCLUSIONS
The level of psychopathology of the patients was lower than expected, the self-esteem was not affected prior to the surgical procedure, and the level of anxiety did not cause dysfunction. | 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002381 |
pubmed_878_1979 | MUC1 is a membrane-tethered mucin expressed on the ductal cell surface of glandular epithelial cells. Loss of polarization, overexpression and aberrant glycosylation of MUC1 in mucosal inflammation and in adenocarcinomas induces humoral immune responses to the mucin. MUC1 IgG responses have been associated with a benefit in survival in patients with breast, lung, pancreatic, ovarian and gastric carcinomas. Antibodies bound to the mucin may curb tumor progression by restoring cell-cell interactions altered by tumor-associated MUC1, thus preventing metastatic dissemination, as well as counteracting the immune suppression exerted by the molecule. Furthermore, anti-MUC1 antibodies are capable of effecting tumor cell killing by antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Although cytotoxic T cells are indispensable to achieve anti-tumor responses in advanced disease, abs to tumor-associated antigens are ideally suited to address minimal residual disease and may be sufficient to exert adequate immune surveillance in an adjuvant setting, destroying tumor cells as they arise or maintaining occult disease in an equilibrium state. Initial evaluation of MUC1 peptide/glycopeptide mono and polyvalent vaccines has shown them to be immunogenic and safe; anti-tumor responses are scarce. Progress in carbohydrate synthesis has yielded a number of sophisticated substrates that include MUC1 glycopeptide epitopes that are at present in preclinical testing. Adjuvant vaccination with MUC1 glycopeptide polyvalent vaccines that induce strong humoral responses may prevent recurrence of disease in patients with early stage carcinomas. Furthermore, prophylactic immunotherapy targeting MUC1 may be a strategy to strengthen immune surveillance and prevent disease in subjects at hereditary high risk of breast, ovarian and colon cancer. | 10.3390/cancers3033073 |
pubmed_859_13511 | BACKGROUND
Although there have been a number of studies exploring the impact and efficacy of transfemoral prosthetic components such as knee and foot mechanisms, the empirical evidence surrounding transfemoral prosthetic interface considerations is limited. This constitutes a substantial void for practicing clinicians seeking to apply best practices for patients who use transfemoral prostheses. Recent years have seen increased production and availability of clinical practice guidelines germane to prosthetic rehabilitation. In those areas where empirical evidence is lacking, consensus clinical opinions may constitute the highest level of evidence.
OBJECTIVE
A consensus exercise was performed to generate clinical practice recommendations in the areas of transfemoral interface considerations including socket variations and critical design features, suspension and interface considerations, alignment, heat retention and dermatologic considerations, female considerations, surgical considerations, and both regulatory and ethical considerations related to osseointegration.
METHODS
This began with the generation of postulate items through systematic and narrative literature reviews. A Delphi consensus exercise was performed among clinical experts in government hospital and private clinical practice settings, culminating in a series of clinical practice recommendations associated with the prosthesis-limb interface for individuals with transfemoral amputation.
RESULTS
The completed recommendations include guidance statements relative to socket variations and critical design features, female considerations, suspension and interface considerations, surgical variations and prescription considerations, rehabilitation team considerations and both regulatory and ethical considerations related to osseointegration.
CONCLUSIONS
The Delphi process facilitated the development of practice guidelines for transfemoral prosthetic interface considerations based on aggregated subject matter expertise. | 10.1097/PXR.0000000000000182 |
pubmed_556_11849 | N-nitrosamines are potent carcinogens, particularly N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), which are commonly found in a variety of foods and drinking water. We calculated the food and drinking water intakes of NDMA, NDEA, and total volatile nitrosamines (TVNA) by Chinese residents in different provinces by multiplying the reported total diet study results by the nitrosamine contents in food and drinking water. The weighted content of nitrosamines in each category of foods and the concentration of nitrosamines in drinking water was obtained through literature review. The exogenous NDMA, NDEA and TVNA intakes of adult residents in 20 provinces ranged from 171 to 425 ng/d, 41 to 140 ng/d and 373 to 1028 ng/d, respectively. The main contributors to NDMA and TVNA intakes were vegetables, cereals, aquatic products, and meats while the main sources of NDEA intake were vegetables and cereals. The average total NDMA intake per capita in China (251 ng/d) was similar to that in Germany in 1991 (231 ng/d) but higher than that in the United States (136 ng/d), Canada (87.6 ng/d) and France (188 ng/d). Large differences in nitrosamine intakes were observed between the coastal provinces and inland provinces. Drinking water was estimated to contribute 13.1%, 1.3% and 10.8% of the exogenous intakes of NDMA, NDEA and TVNA, respectively. Based on our results, we recommend setting the NDMA drinking water criterion of 40 ng/L. Overall, this study presents basic information regarding nitrosamines intake via food and drinking water in China that will facilitate risk assessment, generation of health advisories and policy making. | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142121 |
pubmed_118_9535 | The increased paternal age at conception (PAC) has been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders, thus raising questions that imply, potential health concerns in the offspring. As opposed to female oogonia, the male germ cells undergo hundreds of cell divisions during the fertile years. Thus, the advanced paternal age is associated with increase of point mutations in the male spermatogonia DNA, implying that this could be the major driving mechanism behind the paternal age effect observed in the offspring. In addition to replication errors, DNA replication fidelity and inefficient DNA repair machinery in the spermatogonia also contribute to the mutagenic load. Our study population consisted of 38 nonagenarians, participants in the Vitality 90+ Study, born in the year 1920 (women n = 25, men n = 13), for whom the parental birth dates were available. The gene expression profile of the study subjects was determined with HumanHT-12 v4 Expression BeadChip from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We used Spearman's rank correlation to look for the associations of gene expression with paternal age at conception. Associated transcripts were further analyzed with GOrilla and IPA to determine enriched cellular processes and pathways. PAC was associated with the expression levels of 648 transcripts in nonagenarian subjects. These transcripts belonged to the process of mitochondrial translational termination and the canonical pathway of Mitochondrial dysfunction, more specifically of Oxidative phosphorylation. The observed systematic down-regulation of several mitochondrial respiratory chain components implies compromised function in oxidative phosphorylation and thus in the production of chemical energy. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0167028 |
pubmed_661_11770 | Preincubation of purified plasma membranes from rat liver with EGF stimulates the level of phosphorylation on serine and tyrosine residues in a 59-kD protein. Such an increased phosphoserine and phosphotyrosine content of the 59-kD protein occurs at the expense of the phosphorylation on threonine residues. The effect is observed under conditions where the plasma membranes have been extracted at pH 10. It is not observed when the membranes are simply washed at pH 7.5 before further purification. A number of experiments, including TBR-IgG phosphorylation in immunoprecipitates and partial hydrolysis with varying concentrations of the V8 protease, suggest that the 59-kD protein modified upon EGF treatment could be a representative of the c-src gene product from hepatocytes. | 10.1016/0006-291x(87)91062-x |
pubmed_865_2318 | INTRODUCTION
The term "euthyroid sick syndrome" (ESS) has been used to describe a pattern of thyroid hormone changes during the course of critical illness in adult patients without thyroid disease, often associated with reduced thyroid hormone secretion.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the thyroid hormone profile in full-term newborns critically ill compared with thyroid hormone profile of healthy infants, and determine if alterations could be related to the severity of the disease and outcome.
METHODS
A cross-sectional, observational, and prospective study of full-term infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Hospital de Pediatría J.P. Garrahan between July 2007 and April 2008. Serum T3, T4, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured at admission and severity of the disease was evaluated through SNAP, lactic acid, respiratory assistance and number of organs affected.
RESULTS
Sick newborns showed significantly lower T3 and T4 levels compared with healthy infants [T3: -0.97 μg/dL (95% CI -0.89, -1.13) and T4: -4.37 μg/dL (95% CI -2.95, -5.78)]. Only 29 out of 94 (31%) infants presented a normal profile; 37 (39%) infants showed isolated low T3 levels, 20 (21%) infants had low T3 and T4 levels and eight (9%) infants had low TSH, T3, and T4. Of this latter group, five of eight (62%) children died suggesting a significantly higher risk of death for patients with low T3 associated with low T4 and TSH [Risk ratio (RR) 10.75 95% CI 3.93, 29].
CONCLUSIONS
Full-term sick newborns frequently have lower thyroid hormone levels than healthy ones. These observed thyroid hormones changes might be related to the underlying disease and could be used as a prognostic marker of the severity and fatal outcome of the patient. | 10.1515/jpm.2010.120 |
pubmed_700_16533 | The examinations have involved 62 subjects (116 eyes), of these 48 ones with open-angle glaucoma and 14 with suspected glaucoma. Vacuum compression of the eye with simultaneous recording of the visual evoked potentials (electroencephalodynamography) has been carried out. The studies have revealed increased, vs. the initial level, latent period and decreased amplitude of evoked potentials during the eye compression in 74% of patients with primary glaucoma and in 69% of subjects with suspected glaucoma. These results permit recommending electroencephalodynamography for the early diagnosis and prognosis of glaucoma. | pubmed_700_16533 |
pubmed_424_2792 | Many seed storage proteins, including monomeric 2S albumin and polymeric prolamin, contain conserved sequences in three separate regions, termed A, B, and C, which contain the consensus motifs LxxC, CCxQL, and PxxC, respectively. Protein-sorting mechanisms in rice (Oryza sativa) endosperm were studied with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) fused to different segments of rice alpha-globulin, a monomeric, ABC-containing storage protein. The whole ABC region together with GFP was efficiently transported to protein storage vacuoles (type II protein bodies [PB-II]) in the endosperm cells and sequestered in the matrix that surrounds the crystalloids. Peptide Gln-23 to Ser-43 in the A region was sufficient to guide GFP to PB-II. However, GFP fused with the AB or B region accumulated in prolamin protein bodies. Substitution mutations in the CCxQL motif in the B region significantly altered protein localization in the endosperm cells. Furthermore, protein extracts containing these substituted proteins had increased amounts of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperons BiP (for binding protein), protein disulfide isomerase, and calnexin as a part of protein complexes that were insoluble in a detergent buffer. These results suggest that the ER chaperons and disulfide bonds formed at the dicysteine residues in CCxQL play critical roles in sorting fused proteins in the endosperm cells. | 10.1105/tpc.105.030668 |
pubmed_881_6258 | Several studies have demonstrated that lipid-free apolipoproteins can promote cholesterol and phospholipid efflux from cells; however, the mechanisms and the role of cell-mediated pathways involved remain incompletely elucidated. We have recently demonstrated that brefeldin A or monensin, agents that disrupt Golgi apparatus structure and function, inhibit intracellular cholesterol efflux from cells to high density lipoproteins. In the present study we examined the effects of those agents on cell cholesterol and phospholipid efflux to purified apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) and apolipoprotein-depleted acceptors from cholesterol-loaded fibroblasts. Brefeldin A or monensin treatment of cells during incubation with apoA-I inhibited efflux of cellular cholesterol by greater than 80% compared with control cells, measured by changes in cellular cholesterol radioactivity, mass, and the substrate pool of cholesterol available for esterification by acyl coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase. Inhibition of cholesterol efflux by these agents could not be overcome by increasing the apoA-I concentration and persisted during incubations up to 24 h. Similarly, brefeldin A and monensin inhibited up to 80% of apoA-I-mediated efflux of labeled phospholipids from cholesterol-loaded cells relative to controls. In contrast, lipid efflux mediated by apolipoprotein-depleted acceptors (trypsin-modified HDL and sonicated phospholipid vesicles) was not sensitive to these drugs. On the basis the known effects of brefeldin A and monensin on Golgi apparatus structure and function, these results are consistent with the notion that efflux of cell lipids by apolipoprotein-dependent mechanisms, but not by apolipoprotein-independent mechanisms, require active cellular processes involving an intact and functional Golgi apparatus. | pubmed_881_6258 |
pubmed_603_5697 | BACKGROUND
Mechanical orthoses are used for standing and walking after neurological injury. Most orthoses such as the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis typically use solid ankle-foot orthoses.
OBJECTIVES
The goal of this study was to test the effects of ankle dorsiflexion assistance in patients with spinal cord injury when ambulating with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis compared to walking with fixed ankles.
STUDY DESIGN
Quasi-experimental.
METHODS
Four patients with spinal cord injury were fitted with an advanced reciprocating gait orthosis equipped with solid and dorsiflexion assist-type ankle-foot orthoses and walked at their self-selected speed. Joint angles and spatial-temporal parameters were measured and analyzed.
RESULTS
The mean walking speed and stride length were both significantly increased along with cadence by the volunteer subjects when ambulating using the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis fitted with dorsiflexion assist ankle-foot orthoses compared to the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with solid ankle-foot orthoses. The mean ankle joint ranges of motion were significantly increased when walking with the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with dorsiflexion assist ankle-foot orthoses compared to when using the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with the solid ankle-foot orthoses. Knee joint ranges of motion were reduced, and hip joint ranges of motion were increased but not significantly.
CONCLUSION
The advanced reciprocating gait orthosis fitted with the dorsiflexion assist ankle-foot orthoses had the effect of improving gait parameters when compared to the advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with solid ankle-foot orthoses. Clinical relevance The advanced reciprocating gait orthosis with dorsiflexion assist ankle-foot orthoses has the potential to improve hip and ankle joint kinematics and the temporal-spatial parameters of gait in spinal cord injury patients' walking. | 10.1177/0309364612457704 |
pubmed_16_12447 | It has been established that childhood cardiovascular (CV) risk factors are predictive of adulthood vascular changes as measured by carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). However, whether this relationship is race- and gender-specific is not known. This aspect was examined in a black-white cohort of 868 adults (29% blacks, 42% males) aged 25-44 years who were examined at least twice in childhood for traditional CV risk factors with an average follow-up period of 26.4 years. The average value of the two earliest childhood measurements was used as the childhood value, standardized to age, race, and gender-specific z-score. Carotid IMT was measured by B-mode ultrasonography. The mean of the maximum carotid IMT readings of three right and three left far walls for common, bulb and internal segments was used. In univariate analysis, significant correlates of adulthood carotid IMT (standardized to age-, race- and gender-specific z-score) were, in the order of decreasing magnitude, triglyceride and LDL cholesterol in white males; systolic blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI) in white females; systolic blood pressure in black males; BMI and systolic blood pressure in black females. In multivariate regression analysis, significant predictors of carotid IMT were triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in white males; systolic blood pressure and LDL cholesterol in white females; systolic blood pressure in black males; and BMI and LDL cholesterol in black females. In conclusion, the predictability of childhood CV risk factors for increased carotid IMT in adulthood varies by race and gender. The prevention implications of these findings need further investigation. | 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2006.08.026 |
pubmed_1058_21996 | For 80 fifth-grade students three practice conditions (mental, mental with physical simulation, and physical with singing) produced significant mean differences in instrumental performance of an etude. No significant differences were found for traditional, physical practice. | 10.2466/pms.1997.85.3f.1338 |
pubmed_282_1581 | Grain boundary triple junctions are a key structural element in polycrystalline materials. They are involved in the formation of microstructures and can influence the mechanical and electronic properties of materials. In this work we study the structure and energetics of triple junctions in graphene using a multiscale modelling approach based on combining the phase field crystal approach with classical molecular dynamics simulations and quantum-mechanical density functional theory calculations. We focus on the atomic structure and formation energy of the triple junctions as a function of the misorientation between the adjacent grains. We find that the triple junctions in graphene consist mostly of five-fold and seven-fold carbon rings. Most importantly, in addition to positive triple junction formation energies we also find a significant number of orientations for which the formation energy is negative. | 10.1038/s41598-017-04852-w |
pubmed_960_14244 | Failure of intramedullary fixation of the tibia presents a unique problem, as improving fracture alignment is often difficult after nail placement. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Ilizarov technique in obtaining anatomic union after failed intramedullary fixation of the tibia. We reviewed medical records and plain radiographs of 4 men who, at a tertiary-care facility, presented with failed intramedullary fixation of the tibia. Mean age was 28 years (range, 23-36 years). All 4 patients underwent reduction and external fixation by the llizarov technique with retention of the intramedullary nail. Anatomic union was attained in each case. Thin-wire circular-frame external fixation by the Ilizarov technique was a viable salvage option for failed intramedullary fixation of the tibia. | pubmed_960_14244 |
pubmed_13_20169 | OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this exploratory study was to validate and extend previous research on social support by identifying which dimensions of social support are most commonly exchanged on health-related social networking sites and how social network structure varies with each support dimension exchanged.
METHODS
This research applies a multiple case study approach by examining two social networking sites that focus on pregnancy and prenatal health. For one month, support seeking and providing messages were content analyzed and a social network analysis examined the connections between members.
RESULTS
The sample size consisted of 525 support-seeking messages and 1965 support-providing messages. Findings indicate that participants requested informational and emotional support more than esteem and network support, with no requests for tangible support. Findings also suggest participants substituted emotional support for informational support when they were unable to provide the information sought. The social network analysis showed that network structure varied across support dimensions, with the informational and emotional support networks having the largest number of members and greatest density and reciprocity.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that online support networks are fairly effective in meeting participants' needs. The support dimension sought was generally provided and when it was not another dimension of support may have been substituted; thus, participants may have benefitted in unintended ways. The data also suggest there may be an optimal network size to support member engagement, whereby too large of a network may facilitate diffusion of responsibility and too small a network may not facilitate enough momentum to support a well-connected community. | 10.1177/2055207616628700 |
pubmed_518_21555 | P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporter, which hydrolyses ATP and extrudes cytotoxic drugs from mammalian cells. P-gp consists of two transmembrane domains (TMDs) that span the membrane multiple times, and two cytoplasmic nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs). We have determined projection structures of P-gp trapped at different steps of the transport cycle and correlated these structures with function. In the absence of nucleotide, an approximately 10 A resolution structure was determined by electron cryo-microscopy of two-dimensional crystals. The TMDs form a chamber within the membrane that appears to be open to the extracellular milieu, and may also be accessible from the lipid phase at the interfaces between the two TMDs. Nucleotide binding causes a repacking of the TMDs and reduction in drug binding affinity. Thus, ATP binding, not hydrolysis, drives the major conformational change associated with solute translocation. A third distinct conformation of the protein was observed in the post-hydrolytic transition state prior to release of ADP/P(i). Biochemical data suggest that these rearrangements may involve rotation of transmembrane alpha-helices. A mechanism for transport is suggested. | 10.1093/emboj/20.20.5615 |
pubmed_240_18317 | OBJECTIVE
To review evidence published since the 2001 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) practice parameter regarding the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of steroids and antiviral agents for Bell palsy.
METHODS
We searched Medline and the Cochrane Database of Controlled Clinical Trials for studies published since January 2000 that compared facial functional outcomes in patients with Bell palsy receiving steroids/antivirals with patients not receiving these medications. We graded each study (Class I-IV) using the AAN therapeutic classification of evidence scheme. We compared the proportion of patients recovering facial function in the treated group with the proportion of patients recovering facial function in the control group.
RESULTS
Nine studies published since June 2000 on patients with Bell palsy receiving steroids/antiviral agents were identified. Two of these studies were rated Class I because of high methodologic quality.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
For patients with new-onset Bell palsy, steroids are highly likely to be effective and should be offered to increase the probability of recovery of facial nerve function (2 Class I studies, Level A) (risk difference 12.8%-15%). For patients with new-onset Bell palsy, antiviral agents in combination with steroids do not increase the probability of facial functional recovery by >7%. Because of the possibility of a modest increase in recovery, patients might be offered antivirals (in addition to steroids) (Level C). Patients offered antivirals should be counseled that a benefit from antivirals has not been established, and, if there is a benefit, it is likely that it is modest at best. | 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318275978c |
pubmed_929_13274 | Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare disease correlated with deficiency of the enzyme homogentisate 1,2 dioxygenase, which causes homogentisic acid (HGA) accumulation. HGA is subjected to oxidation/polymerization reactions, leading to the production of a peculiar melanin-like pigmentation (ochronosis) after chronic inflammation, which is considered as a triggering event for the generation of oxidative stress. Clinical manifestations of AKU are urine darkening, sclera pigmentation, early severe osteoarthropathy, and cardiovascular and renal complication. Despite major clinical manifestations of AKU being observed in the bones and skeleton, the molecular and functional parameters are so far unknown in AKU. In the present study, we used human osteoblasts supplemented with HGA as a AKU cellular model. We observed marked oxidative stress, and for the first time, we were able to correlate HGA deposition with an impairment in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, opening a range of possible therapeutic strategies for a disease still lacking a known cure. | 10.1002/jcp.29575 |
pubmed_14_3108 | 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5), an enzyme essential for the formation of all leukotrienes, is highly regulated at multiple levels, including gene transcription. The human ALOX5 promoter sequence has been cloned and is well characterized. Several important cis-acting elements have been identified including a G+C-rich sequence approximately 145-179 base pairs (bp) upstream from the ATG start codon. This region contains consensus-binding sites for the transcription factor serum protein 1, a zinc-finger transcription factor (SP1) and early growth-response protein 1, a zinc-finger transcription factor (EGR-1) and is unique in that functionally significant polymorphisms alter these sequences. To further understand the significance of these polymorphisms and other regulatory sequences in the promoter we cloned approximately 2,000 bp of the mouse promoter sequence from a 129/SvJ BAC library for direct comparison with the human gene. Like the human promoter, the mouse Alox5 promoter lacks a TATA box and has multiple start sites. The first 292 bp immediately upstream of the translational start site function as a core promoter that is capable of mediating high basal transcription in RAW cells but not 3T3 cells. There are vast differences in the distribution of consensus cis elements between human and mouse genes; however, three areas of strong homology exist and they contain consensus-binding sites for the SP1, GATA, GGAGA, and ETS family of transcription factors. We show that Sp1/Sp3 is essential for constitutive promoter-reporter activity. | 10.1165/ajrcmb.26.4.4747 |
pubmed_611_3067 | The veratridine epileptiform model was utilized to assess the antiepileptic effect of Carbamazepine (CBZ) in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons using conventional intracellular recording techniques. In the veratridine model, where brain slices are treated with veratridine (0.3 microM), a single intracellular stimulus evokes epileptiform bursting. Additionally, spontaneous epileptiform activity commonly appears on prolonged exposure to veratridine in this model. In this model, therapeutic (7-15 microM) and high (50 microM) concentrations of CBZ inhibited the evoked and spontaneous epileptiform bursting in a concentration- and voltage-dependent manner. At all concentrations tested, CBZ produced inhibition of epileptiform activity without affecting the membrane resting potential or input resistance. However, at 50 microM, the drug increased the firing threshold of neurons. These results confirm the suitability of this model for testing sodium channel-dependent antiepileptic agents. | 10.1016/s0006-8993(00)02977-2 |
pubmed_745_6762 | The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of cyclosporin A on the course of multiple low dose streptozotocin induced diabetes in mice, an animal model for human type I diabetes mellitus. C57BL/Ks mice were treated on five consecutive days with intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin or citiric acid buffer. Thirty min before the injections the animals were given cyclosporin A (10 or 50 mg/kg body weight) or saline. Cyclosporin A did not protect against the hypoglycaemia and at the higher dose it potentiated the diabetogenic effect. Furthermore, cyclosporin A did not affect the development of insulitis when the pancreatic glands were examined by light microscopy. Using a technique for monitoring vascular permeability in vivo with the aid of the pigment Monastral Blue B, it was found that the development of diabetes was accompanied by an increased vascular leakage. Control animals treated with cyclosporin A also showed an increased islet staining with Monastral Blue B. The data indicate that cyclosporin A potentiates diabetes induced by low doses of streptozotocin. This can be attributed to a direct toxic effect of cyclosporin A on the pancreatic B-cells and may also be due to an increased vascular leakage induced by cyclosporin A. The latter would allow an increased migration of inflammatory cells into the islets and the consequent release of B-cytotoxic substances. | 10.1007/BF00737146 |
pubmed_777_10147 | We investigate the ac transport of magnetization in nonitinerant quantum systems such as spin chains described by the XXZ Hamiltonian. Using linear response theory, we calculate the ac magnetization current and the power absorption of such magnetic systems. Remarkably, the difference in the exchange interaction of the spin chain itself and the bulk magnets (i.e., the magnetization reservoirs), to which the spin chain is coupled, strongly influences the absorbed power of the system. This feature can be used in future spintronic devices to control power dissipation. Our analysis allows us to make quantitative predictions about the power absorption, and we show that magnetic systems are superior to their electronic counterparts. | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.017202 |
pubmed_1096_11072 | Atrial fibrillation is an increasingly common arrhythmia associated with substantial but largely preventable risk of ischemic stroke. There has been an exponential increase in research related to atrial fibrillation in recent years, resulting in some major advances in the therapeutic management. Novel oral anticoagulant agents have become available and require thorough assessment of risk-to-benefit ratio. While the knowledge is rapidly accumulating, the basic principles of atrial fibrillation management remain proper recognition, risk stratification, and appropriate prevention of thromboembolic complications. This review highlights some common misconceptions about atrial fibrillation. | pubmed_1096_11072 |
pubmed_64_2794 | The growth years of traditional Chinese medicinal materials are closely related to their quality, which directly affects the efficacy and safety of clinical medication. Therefore, it is particularly important to establish an identification method for the growth years of traditional Chinese medicinal materials. In this review, the identification methods for the growth years of traditional Chinese medicinal materials were summarized systematically, and were divided into four types according to the identification principles and methods: traditional identification, molecular identification, physical/chemical identification, and integrated identification. Relying on rich experience, objective molecular markers, various physical/chemical methods and integrated identification techniques(including infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, high performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, bionic identification technology and their tandem technologies, etc.), the differences of characters or chemical fingerprints were compared in depth. The growth years of traditional Chinese medicinal materials were quickly identified or predicted by the appearance and characters, the whole fingerprint information or the content of specific chemical markers, and their content ratios. Through the case analysis of mature varieties, we intend to promote the establishment of a perfect technology system for the identification of the growth years of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, and to provide a reference for other perennial herbal materials, finally resulting in the accurate and precise quality control of traditional Chinese medicinal materials. | 10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20201223.102 |
pubmed_929_21349 | The role of metabolic reprogramming in the coordination of the immune response has gained increasing consideration in recent years. Indeed, it has become clear that changes in the metabolic status of immune cells can alter their functional properties. During inflammation, T cells need to generate sufficient energy and biomolecules to support growth, proliferation, and effector functions. Therefore, T cells need to rearrange their metabolism to meet these demands. A similar metabolic reprogramming has been described in endothelial cells, which have the ability to interact with and modulate the function of immune cells. In this overview, we will discuss recent insights in the complex crosstalk between endothelial cells and T cells as well as their metabolic reprogramming following activation. We highlight key components of this metabolic switch that can lead to the development of new therapeutics against chronic inflammatory disorders. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Cellular metabolism and diseases. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.10/issuetoc. | 10.1111/bph.15002 |
pubmed_14_12776 | An asymptomatic pulmonary mass was found in a 42-year-old unmarried male with controlled nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) during routine follow-up chest radiography 8 months following completion of radiotherapy. Chest CT demonstrated a 3x2 cm(2) left lower lobe (LLL) mass, with further small nodules in the same lobe. A presumptive diagnosis of lung metastases was made, and the patient underwent surgical resection with left lower lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Pathologic examination of the masses in the LLL revealed granulomatous inflammation with cryptococcus infection. The dissected lymph nodes revealed anthracosis. The patient received 6 months of antifungal treatment with fluconazole. His NPC showed no evidence of local recurrence or distant metastases. Recognition that pulmonary cryptococcus infection can mimic metastases is important in reaching the correct diagnosis and therefore determining the correct treatment. | 10.1259/bjr.75.891.750275 |
pubmed_353_8190 | Participants at an institute learned more about themselves, their colleagues, and their family members with an icebreaker exercise. | 10.3928/00220124-20080701-01 |
pubmed_874_18041 | The overall architecture of the nervous system, especially the CNS, is remarkable. The anatomy of the nervous system is constituted not only by macroscopic and microscopy identifiable regions and neuronal cell types, but also by protein complexes whose identification and localization require sophisticated techniques. G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute an example of proteins that are the key factors in the framework needed to sustain brain and nerve structure and function. The versatility underlying nervous system anatomy takes advantage of a recently discovered feature of GPCRs, the possibility to form heteromers that, placed at specific neuronal subsets and at specific locations (pre-, post-, or peri-synaptic), contribute to attain unique neural functions. | 10.1111/cns.12277 |
pubmed_891_9028 | In morphine intoxication cases, forensic toxicologists are frequently confronted with the question of if the individual was opioid-tolerant or opioid-naïve, which can be investigated by hair analysis. However, interpretation of results can be challenging. Here, we report on hair testing for morphine and its metabolite hydromorphone following morphine intoxication without tolerance and upon chronic use. Two consecutive hair samples were collected after a non-fatal intoxication. Analysis comprised short hair segments and their initial wash water solutions. In the intoxications, morphine and hydromorphone levels were 3.3 to 56 pg/mg and at maximum 9.8 pg/mg, respectively. Both levels and hydromorphone to morphine ratios were significantly lower compared to chronic morphine use. In the non-fatal intoxication, the highest hydromorphone to morphine ratio was obtained in the segment corresponding to the time of intoxication. Morphine ratios of wash to hair were significantly higher in the intoxications compared to chronic use, being indicative of sweat/sebum contamination. We recommend including the analysis of hydromorphone and the initial wash solution in cases of morphine intoxications. Our study demonstrates that hydromorphone to morphine ratios can help in distinguishing single from chronic morphine use and in estimating the period of exposure when a consecutive hair sample can be collected in survived intoxications. | 10.3390/metabo11080557 |
pubmed_820_16606 | INTRODUCTION
RIPID (Italian register for diffuse infiltrative lung disorders) is a register aimed to create a national database of diffuse infiltrative lung disorders, also known as interstitial lung diseases.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The RIPID register collected prevalent data on patients affected by infiltrative diffuse lung disorders. The data form contains socio-demographic information (sex, age, years of education), existence in life, smoking habits, clinical data, diagnostic procedures (chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), transbronchial biopsies (TBB), surgical biopsies) and respiratory function tests at the time of diagnosis.
RESULTS
Up to 18/01/2005 a total of 3152 patients had been included in the register. Seventy-nine centers and 138 physicians in all 20 regions of Italy contributed to patient enrolment. The vast majority of cases were from Northern Italy (2343 cases, 75%). The most frequently reported diagnoses were Sarcoidosis (1063 patients) and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF, 864 patients).
DISCUSSION
The data in the RIPID confirm that epidemiological registries can be useful tools to investigate rare or relatively rare disorders (e.g. Sarcoidosis and IPF), in order to design multicentric clinical studies of adequate sample size, aimed at providing standardized diagnostic, management and follow up criteria with a particular regard to outcome. | pubmed_820_16606 |
pubmed_1098_12408 | The use of biodegradable polymers in daily life is increasing to reduce environmental hazards. In line with this, the present study aimed to develop a fully biodegradable polymer composite that was environmentally friendly and exhibited promising mechanical and thermal properties. Bamboo powder (BP)-reinforced polycaprolactone (PCL) composites were prepared using the solvent casting method. The influence of BP content on the morphology, wettability, and mechanical and thermal properties of the neat matrix was evaluated. In addition, the degradation properties of the composites were analysed through soil burial and acidic degradation tests. It was revealed that BP contents had an evident influence on the properties of the composites. The increase in the BP content has significantly improved the tensile strength of the PCL matrix. A similar trend is observed for thermal stability. Scanning electron micrographs demonstrated uniform dispersion of the BP in the PCL matrix. The degradation tests revealed that the biocomposites with 40 wt·% of BP degraded by more than 20% within 4 weeks in the acidic degradation test and more than 5% in the soil burial degradation test. It was noticed that there was a considerable difference in the degradation between the PCL matrix and the biocomposites of PCL and BP. These results suggest that biodegradable composites could be a promising alternative material to the existing synthetic polymer composites. | 10.3390/polym14194169 |
pubmed_414_12233 | PURPOSE
Living donor liver transplantation (LR) is an important alternative for children. We compared our outcomes of LR and cadaveric (CAD) graft recipients, with attention to the pediatric end-stage liver disease (PELD) score and perioperative morbidity and mortality to identify appropriate candidates for LR.
METHODS
Our transplant database and electronic medical records were searched for demographics and outcome measures.
RESULTS
From 2000 to 2008, 81 children underwent liver transplantation from 37 LR and 44 CAD donors. There were no significant differences in graft or overall survival at 3 months or 1 year. The LR group was significantly younger (4.46 +/- 5.2 years vs 7.41 +/- 6.6 years; P = .03) and had a significantly lower PELD score (12.7 +/- 13 vs 22 +/- 12; P = .001) at the time of transplantation. Ten patients were transplanted for unresectable tumor in the LR group vs 4 CAD (P = .03). Significantly fewer LR recipients required return to the operating room in the first 30 days posttransplant (13.9% vs 34.1%; P = .03). The LR recipients had a higher rate of biliary stricture requiring reoperation (22.2% vs 2.3%; P = .005).
CONCLUSIONS
The LR liver transplantation is highly selected for patients with a parent donor who will need transplant but do not yet have a high PELD score. A lower PELD score at operation may have contributed to the lower incidence of postoperative complications requiring reoperation. | 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2009.02.012 |
pubmed_665_8651 | An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to evaluate antibody positive titer in vaccinated and non-vaccinated cattle using schizont infected myeloid cells as an antigen. The result was compared with indirect fluorescent antibody level in the same animals. For this study 116 milking cows, 95 vaccinated and 21 non-vaccinated, were bleeded in order to prepare sera. They were tested with both ELISA and IFA tests. 94 sera had positive antibody titer and 22 sera were negative through ELISA test but, with IFA test, only 89 sera showed positive antibody titer and 27 were negative. Thereby, it was concluded that the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA test in comparison with IFA test was 95.5% and 66.6% respectively. This study generally indicated that ELISA could be an effective test for sero-epidemiological investigations of bovine tropical theileriosis, and it is considered to be valid as an additional test to distinguish the vaccinated from the non vaccinated cattle in order to schedule vaccination programs. | 10.1051/parasite/2006131071 |
pubmed_425_5223 | Mastic essential oil exhibits anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties. With the growing interest of the use of mastic oil in the food and pharmaceutical industry, systematic in vivo studies are needed to address controlled usage and safety issues. In the present work we evaluated the safety of mastic oil using as a model the zebrafish lateral line system. In addition, we studied the gene expression profile of zebrafish fed with mastic oil-supplemented diet using microarray analysis. Our results showed that the hair cells of lateral line neuromasts are functional upon exposure of zebrafish larvae up to 20 ppm of mastic essential oil, while treatment with higher concentrations, 100 and 200 ppm, resulted in increased larvae mortality. Dietary supplementation of zebrafish with mastic essential oil led to differential expression of interferon response-related genes as well as the immune responsive gene 1 (irg1) that links cellular metabolism with immune defense. Notably, mucin 5.2, a constituent of the mucus hydrogel that protects the host against invading pathogens, was up-regulated. Our in vivo work provides information concerning the safety of mastic essential oil use and suggests dietary effects on gene expression related with the physical and immunochemical properties of the gastrointestinal system. | 10.3390/molecules24213919 |
pubmed_655_13678 | We verified whether an adapted formula, which presents poly-oligosaccharides containing maltose, promotes intestinal implantation of bacterial microflora to the extent that breast milk does, as an epidemiological link exists between newborn feeding methods and infant health. Stool specimens were taken and cultured at the fourth day of life from vaginally born neonates. Twenty-two were breast-fed and 20 were fed with formula. In breast-fed infants, the Bifidobacterium was significantly prevalent expressed in percentage (47.6% vs 15%) and in mean bacterial fecal counts/g (7.1 +/- 0.8 vs 5.3 +/- 0.6). Enterococci prevailed in formula-fed infants (mean counts 6.7 +/- 0.9 vs 7.4 +/- 0.5). Of interest is the significant and simultaneous presence of Bifidobacteria and Bacteroides in breast-fed infants. Our study indicates that flora with a diet-dependent pattern is present from the fourth day of life. These results support a preference for breast feeding over formula feeding, even though renewed. | 10.1515/jpme.1998.26.3.186 |
pubmed_13_12230 | BACKGROUND
Current methodologies used to determine the progression of hepatic fibrosis rely heavily on liver biopsy, a dangerous and invasive procedure, with semi-subjective analysis of the results of the biopsy. Thus, a new approach is immensely needed for monitoring the progression of liver fibrosis in Hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients.
AIM OF WORK
The purpose of this study was to find highly specific and sensitive miRNA biomarkers that can be used to detect different stages of liver fibrosis.
METHODOLOGY
The study consisted of 42 cases of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with early-stage fibrosis, 45 cases of CHC with late-stage fibrosis, and 40 healthy subjects with no CHC or fibrosis as controls. Expression patterns of 5 miRNAs (miR-16, miR-146a, miR-214-5p, miR-221, and miR-222) were analyzed in each group using TaqMan real-time PCR.
RESULTS
Serum levels of miRNA-16, miRNA-146a, miRNA-221, and miRNA-222 were all significantly up-regulated in early and late stages of liver fibrosis. miRNA-222 had the highest sensitivity and specificity values in early and late fibrosis. miRNA-221 had the second highest sensitivity and specificity with the late-stage fibrosis group. Furthermore, miRNA-221 showed significant positive correlations with both miRNA-16 and miRNA-146a in the early- and late-stage fibrosis groups, with the early stage having a stronger correlation.
CONCLUSIONS
The results indicated that miRNA-16, miRNA-146a, miRNA-221, and miRNA-222 can be used to detect the presence of liver fibrosis. The high sensitivity and specificity of miRNA-222 and miRNA-221 in late-stage fibrosis indicate promising prognostic biomarkers for HCV-induced liver fibrosis. | 10.1016/j.virusres.2018.06.007 |
pubmed_556_2995 | Fungal-bacterial symbioses range from antagonisms to mutualisms and remain one of the least understood interdomain interactions despite their ubiquity as well as ecological and medical importance. To build a predictive conceptual framework for understanding interactions between fungi and bacteria in different types of symbioses, we surveyed fungal and bacterial transcriptional responses in the mutualism between Rhizopus microsporus (Rm) (ATCC 52813, host) and its Mycetohabitans (formerly Burkholderia) endobacteria versus the antagonism between a nonhost Rm (ATCC 11559) and Mycetohabitans isolated from the host, at two time points, before and after partner physical contact. We found that bacteria and fungi sensed each other before contact and altered gene expression patterns accordingly. Mycetohabitans did not discriminate between the host and nonhost and engaged a common set of genes encoding known as well as novel symbiosis factors. In contrast, responses of the host versus nonhost to endobacteria were dramatically different, converging on the altered expression of genes involved in cell wall biosynthesis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism. On the basis of the observed patterns, we formulated a set of hypotheses describing fungal-bacterial interactions and tested some of them. By conducting ROS measurements, we confirmed that nonhost fungi increased production of ROS in response to endobacteria, whereas host fungi quenched their ROS output, suggesting that ROS metabolism contributes to the nonhost resistance to bacterial infection and the host ability to form a mutualism. Overall, our study offers a testable framework of predictions describing interactions of early divergent Mucoromycotina fungi with bacteria.IMPORTANCE Animals and plants interact with microbes by engaging specific surveillance systems, regulatory networks, and response modules that allow for accommodation of mutualists and defense against antagonists. Antimicrobial defense responses are mediated in both animals and plants by innate immunity systems that owe their functional similarities to convergent evolution. Like animals and plants, fungi interact with bacteria. However, the principles governing these relations are only now being discovered. In a study system of host and nonhost fungi interacting with a bacterium isolated from the host, we found that bacteria used a common gene repertoire to engage both partners. In contrast, fungal responses to bacteria differed dramatically between the host and nonhost. These findings suggest that as in animals and plants, the genetic makeup of the fungus determines whether bacterial partners are perceived as mutualists or antagonists and what specific regulatory networks and response modules are initiated during each encounter. | 10.1128/mBio.02088-20 |
pubmed_984_8361 | The origins and evolution of the three major clades of modern amphibians are still a source of controversy, and no general consensus exists as to their relationship to the various known Paleozoic taxa. This may indicate that additional character complexes should be studied to resolve their phylogenetic relationship. The salamander elbow joint has been fundamentally misinterpreted in previous morphological descriptions. In caudates and anurans, both the radius and ulna (fused in anurans) articulate with the characteristically large capitulum (radial condyle), although part of the ulnar articulating surface fits into to the smooth trochlear region. The salamander "ulnar condyle" of previous descriptions is in fact the entepicondyle. The condition seen in batrachians (i.e., salamanders and frogs) may be a lissamphibian synapomorphy because the elbow region of the primitive fossil caecilian Eocaecilia resembles those of frogs and salamanders. In addition to the large and bulbous capitulum, all lissamphibian humeri lack an entepicondylar foramen, and possess a distally pointing entepicondyle, a low and rounded ectepicondyle, and an elongated shaft. These characters are identified in key fossil forms to assess the support for the different hypotheses proposed for the evolutionary origins of lissamphibians. Temnospondyli is the only group of early tetrapods that shows a progressive evolution of lissamphibian traits in the humerus and elbow joint. Furthermore, among Paleozoic taxa, the dissorophoid temnospondyl Doleserpeton annectens is the only taxon that has the full set of humeral features shared by all lissamphibians. These results add support for the theory of a monophyletic origin of lissamphibians from dissorophoidtemnospondyls. | 10.1002/jmor.10769 |
pubmed_734_17382 | Technological advances over the past 50 years or so have resulted in the development of a succession of hardware and software systems intended to improve the quality and effectiveness of Western music instrument pedagogy during classroom instruction or individual study. These systems have aimed to provide evaluation or visualization of single or combined technical aspects by analyzing performance data collected in real time or offline. The number of such educational technologies shows an ever-increasing trend over time, aided by the wide diffusion and availability of mobile devices. However, we believe there are unrealized opportunities for modern technologies to help music students in their technical development and assist them during their practice sessions in between visits to their teachers. The ubiquity of PCs and mobile devices with built-in microphones, speakers, and cameras has inspired the development of media technologies in support of music pedagogy. They offer an attractive potential for implementing audio signal processing algorithms addressing different technical skills of the performer, providing real-time feedback, collecting data over time, and applying statistical models. Despite this potential, most available software for music instrument pedagogy remains very limited in functionality. This study provides a survey of music edTech software available, together with the methods of use, addressed technical skills, commonalities, and limitations. Results show that most current software is based on the metronome and tuner, with only a few systems that have limited abilities to follow a performance in real-time and compare it to a given score to monitor correctness of notes, intonation, and rhythm. The survey also highlights a high and under-exploited potential regarding the monitoring of other more specific technical skills, which are more instrument-dependent, but no less important, such as the control of dynamic range and clarity of the attack. This article ends with a discussion of possible directions for future development of technologies to support the practice of music students at different levels, with some consideration for the corresponding signal processing methods that can be utilized or that need advancement. By helping students to more efficiently achieve a high level of proficiency of their instruments with assistive technologies, we hope to minimize stress and afford better enjoyment of the music performance experience for all. | 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.835609 |
pubmed_798_20917 | Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a widely accepted alternative for patients at high risk for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). However, the role, indications, and evidence for many pharmacologic agents that are used adjunctively in the periprocedural setting have not been established. Several drugs are commonly used before, during, and after CAS, but their uses have not been standardized. Large prospective cohort studies with good validity or randomized trials are needed to demonstrate efficacy, predict outcome, and determine the optimal use of these medications in patients undergoing CAS to improve patient care and obtain optimal outcomes. Several conclusions can be made: (1) dual-antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel) is commonly used for CAS; (2) the most commonly used regimen is aspirin 325 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg per day, but the optimal time of therapy is unknown; and (3) the dose and regimen of other agents used for CAS are not established. | 10.2310/6670.2008.00081 |
pubmed_1122_18611 | Findings from 4 studies suggest that differentiation and integration are used by individuals high in agency and communion to structure motive-related information in episodic memory. Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that agentic and communal individuals recalled more emotional experiences related to their motives, and that agentic individuals used more differentiation whereas communal individuals used more integration to structure these memories. Study 3 showed that agentic and communal individuals used more differentiation and integration to structure memories about social separation and connection, respectively. Study 4 demonstrated a similar pattern of recall in an experimentally controlled retrieval task. For a motive-congruent topic, agentic individuals recognized more differentiated information and had fewer differentiation recognition errors, and communal individuals freely recalled more integration. | 10.1037//0022-3514.76.4.600 |
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