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pubmed_15_3752 | INTRODUCTION
Previous research has found that the log roll (LR) technique produces significant motion in the spinal column while transferring a supine patient onto a spine board. The purpose of this project was to determine whether log rolling a patient with an unstable spine from prone to supine with a pulling motion provides better thoracolumbar immobilization compared to log rolling with a push technique.
METHODS
A global instability was surgically created at the L1 level in five cadavers. Two spine-boarding protocols were tested (LR Push and LR Pull). Both techniques entailed performing a 180° LR rotation of the prone patient from the ground to the supine position on the spine board. An electromagnetic tracking device registered motion between the T12 and L2 vertebral segments. Six motion parameters were tracked. Repeated-measures statistical analysis was performed to evaluate angular and translational motion.
RESULTS
Less motion was produced during the LR Push compared to the LR Pull for all six motion parameters. The difference was statistically significant for three of the six parameters (flexion-extension, axial translation, and anterior-posterior (A-P) translation).
CONCLUSIONS
Both the LR Push and LR Pull generated significant motion in the thoracolumbar spine during the prone to supine LR. The LR Push technique produced statistically less motion than the LR Pull, and should be considered when a prone patient with a suspected thoracolumbar injury needs to be transferred to a long spine board. More research is needed to identify techniques to further reduce the motion in the unstable spine during prone to supine LR. | 10.1179/2045772311Y.0000000045 |
pubmed_1045_8012 | Fatty oils from the seeds of Perilla frutescens were extracted by supercritical-CO2 fluid or petroleum ether and its quality was analyzed by GC-MS method. Pharmacological action of lowering blood-lipid for the oils was studied. The results showed that the technology of supercritical-CO2 extraction of the oils of P. frutescens seeds is superior than that of petroleum ether and the oil from SFE-CO2 have the action of lowering blood-lipid with low toxicity. | pubmed_1045_8012 |
pubmed_534_13146 | Cardiovascular disease deaths are increasing in low- and middle-income countries and are exacerbated by health care systems that are ill-equipped to manage chronic diseases. Global health partnerships, which have stemmed the tide of infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries, can be similarly applied to address cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we present the experiences of an academic partnership between North American and Kenyan medical centers to improve cardiovascular health in a national public referral hospital. We highlight our stepwise approach to developing sustainable cardiovascular services using the health system strengthening World Health Organization Framework for Action. The building blocks of this framework (leadership and governance, health workforce, health service delivery, health financing, access to essential medicines, and health information system) guided our comprehensive and sustainable approach to delivering subspecialty care in a resource-limited setting. Our experiences may guide the development of similar collaborations in other settings. | pubmed_534_13146 |
pubmed_807_23104 | We describe the clinical case of 80 years, caucasian woman, with personal history of osteoporosis and chronic normochromic normocytic anemia (NN). She had a three month history of myalgias of the girdle, stiffness in the morning, exceeding 1 hour, associated with inflammatory arthralgia of the small joints of hands and feet. Complementary exams showed normocytic normochromic anemia with Hg 9.8 g/dL; ESR 44 mm/h; CRP 7 mg/dL. Given the profile suggestive of Polymyalgia Rheumatica started prednisolone 10 mg/day with favorable clinical response. Four months after treatment she started paresthesias of right hand and foot, polaquiuria, petequial lesions in lower limbs and inability to walk; there was worsening of anemia and elevation of the biological parameters of inflammation, beginning of renal insufficiency with creatinine clearance 22 ml/min, proteinuria and eritrocituria. Renal biopsy was compatible with Wegener's granulomatosis/microscopic poliangeite. Vasculitis is a rare disease of the elderly and its clinical presentation is varied. The arteritis of giant cells and Polymyalgia Rheumatica are more common in the elderly. It is not often Polymyalgia-like presentation in cases of Wegener's granulomatosis/microscopic polyangitis. | pubmed_807_23104 |
pubmed_211_5094 | In the USA, the incidence of kidney cancer has increased 43% since 1973. The risk of the disorder is higher in men than in women and increases with age. The von Hippel-Lindau tumour-suppressor gene is inactivated in over 75% of sporadic cases. Metastatic disease is present in 20-30% of patients at diagnosis. Early-stage kidney cancer is treated with a radical nephrectomy, but under certain circumstances a partial nephrectomy may be done. Tumour thrombus into the vena cava or right atrium requires thoracotomy and hypothermic circulatory arrest for successful removal of the tumour, but should not be done if extensive nodal or frank metastatic disease is present. Interleukin-2 is the systemic therapy of choice for metastatic disease at present, with long-term relapse-free survival of 5-8%. Several treatments including anti-angiogenesis drugs, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, and differentiating agents are being actively investigated. Fluorouracil has a 10-15% response rate, and surgical excision of isolated metastases should always be considered. Therapy for metastatic renal cancer remains inadequate, but recent developments in basic and clinical research suggest future improvement. | 10.1016/S0140-6736(98)01041-1 |
pubmed_269_6196 | BACKGROUND
Plastic changes to brain structure and function have been reported in elite athletes of various sports. Interestingly, different regions of the brain were engaged according to the type of sports analyzed. Our laboratory reported no difference in total cerebellar volume of basketball players compared to that in the control group using the manual segmentation method. Further detailed analyses showed that elite basketball players had increased volume of the striatum and vermian lobules VI-VII of the cerebellum. We analyzed the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of basketball players to understand their cerebral cortical plasticity through automatic analysis tools for MRI.
METHODS
Brain MRI data were collected from 19 male university basketball players and 20 age-, sex-, and height-matched control groups. In order to understand the changes in the cerebral cortices of basketball players, we employed automated MRI brain analysis techniques, including voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM).
RESULTS
VBM showed increased gray and white matter volume in both precentral gyri, paracentral lobules and increased gray matter volume in the right anterior superior temporal gyrus. SBM revealed a left dominant increase in both pericentral gyri. Fractal dimensional analysis showed an increase in the area of both precentral gyri, the left subcallosal gyrus, and the right posterior cingulate gyrus. These results suggest a significant role not only for the primary motor cortex, but also for the cingulate gyrus during basketball.
CONCLUSION
Plastic changes of both precentral gyri, the pericentral area, paracentral lobules, and the right superior temporal gyrus were observed in elite basketball players. There was a strong increase of fractal complexity in both precentral gyri and a weak increase in the right posterior cingulate gyrus and left collateral gyrus. In this study, plastic regions linked to functional neuroanatomy were related to the competence required to play basketball. | 10.3346/jkms.2022.37.e86 |
pubmed_1090_8701 | Amino acid fund was studied during intensive therapy of 25 patients with sepsis. In 15 patients complex therapy involved detoxicating hemosorption (3-5 sessions) and in 10 patients hemosorption was supplemented by ultraviolet blood irradiation (5-10 sessions). Complex therapy with hemosorption led to a decrease in plasma serine content. The amino acid fund of the whole blood changed insignificantly. There was a significant increase in leucine, isoleucine, threonine and phenylalanine levels. The introduction of ultraviolet blood irradiation into complex therapy of patients decreases a traumatic effect of sorption detoxication on blood cells and potentiates detoxicating effect. | pubmed_1090_8701 |
pubmed_550_12108 | There is a considerable body of knowledge about the way people perceive risks using heuristics and qualitative characteristics, and about how risk information should be communicated to the public. However, little is known about the way people use the perception of known risks (associated risks) to judge an unknown risk. In a first, qualitative study, six different risks were discussed in in-depth interviews and focus group interviews. The interviews showed that risk associations played a prominent role in forming risk perceptions. Associated risks were often mentioned spontaneously. Second, a survey study was conducted to confirm the importance of risk associations quantitatively. This study investigated whether people related unknown risks to known risks. This was indeed confirmed. Furthermore, some insight was gained into how and why people form risk associations. Results showed that the semantic category of the unknown risks was more important in forming associations than the perceived level of risk or specific risk characteristics. These findings were in line with the semantic network theory. Based on these two studies, we recommend using the mental models approach in developing new risk communications. | 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2007.00915.x |
pubmed_720_5617 | We reported the condensation and transformation of peptide micelles into well-defined nanohelices through the incorporation of natural polyamines. The liquid-crystalline peptide micelles are assembled by a short dipeptide amphiphile driven by strong electrostatic repulsions and aromatic stacking attractions. By incorporating polyamines into the peptide solutions, like-charge attractions were achieved to induce the condensation of the like-charged nanofilaments into giant bundles. Intriguingly, by increasing the temperature or electrostatic screening effects, the nanofilaments within the bundles fuse with each other into well-defined flat ribbons which then spontaneously twisted into macroscopically aligned nanohelices. Moreover, the chiral interactions between the aromatic groups of adjacent peptides are inverted from right-handedness to left-handedness during the formation of nanohelices. The results provide new insights into the chiral evolution during peptide self-assembly and offer opportunities for the design of peptide materials with new properties, such as anisotropic hydrogels and long-range ordered chiral nanostructures. | 10.1039/c8sm02554a |
pubmed_241_21024 | CONTEXT
Dyspnea is a disabling distressing symptom that is common in advanced disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Current palliative strategies are partially effective in managing this symptom; facial cooling has been shown to reduce the sensation of breathlessness when induced in volunteers but has not been formally investigated in dyspnea associated with disease.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate whether a handheld fan reduces the sensation of breathlessness in such patients, enhancing palliative approaches.
METHODS
The effectiveness of a handheld fan (blowing air across the nose and mouth) in reducing the sensation of breathlessness was assessed in patients with advanced disease. Fifty participants were randomized to use a handheld fan for five minutes directed to their face or leg first and then crossed over to the other treatment. The primary outcome measure was a decrease of greater than 1cm in breathlessness recorded on a 10 cm visual analog scale (VAS).
RESULTS
There was a significant difference in the VAS scores between the two treatments, with a reduction in breathlessness when the fan was directed to the face (P=0.003).
CONCLUSION
This study supports the hypothesis that a handheld fan directed to the face reduces the sensation of breathlessness. The fan was acceptable to participants: it is inexpensive, portable, enhances self-efficacy, and available internationally. It should be recommended as part of a palliative management strategy for reducing breathlessness associated with advanced disease. | 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2009.09.024 |
pubmed_392_6662 | AIMS
The outcomes of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (HCM-LVSD) undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation remain unclear. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical impact of LVAD implantation on clinical outcomes, including haemodynamics and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, in patients with HCM-LVSD, in comparison with those with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
METHODS AND RESULTS
In this retrospective, single-centre, observational study conducted in Japan, the medical records of patients who underwent LVAD implantation in the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center between 2011 and 2020 were reviewed. We enrolled 96 patients with DCM (average age: 43.5 years; 73 men) and 24 patients with HCM-LVSD (average age: 48.3 years; 16 men). The HCM-LVSD group had smaller left ventricles with thicker ventricular walls than the DCM group, which became more prominent after LVAD implantation. Preoperatively, BNP values were comparable between both groups; however, 3 months post-implantation, they were significantly higher in the HCM-LVSD group. Pulmonary artery pulsatility index, right ventricular stroke work index, and cardiac index were lower, and right atrial pressure was higher, in the HCM-LVSD group, suggesting subclinical impairment of right ventricular function. The HCM-LVSD group demonstrated equivalent outcomes, including overall survival, cerebrovascular accidents, right ventricular failure, LVAD-related infections, arrhythmia, and aortic insufficiency, post-implantation.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite a decreased right ventricular function with higher BNP values, patients with HCM-LVSD and DCM showed comparable outcomes post-LVAD implantation. | 10.1002/ehf2.13653 |
pubmed_270_1375 | The mu- and m-calpains are major members of the calpain family that play an essential role in regulating cell motility. We have recently discovered that nicotine-activated protein kinase C iota enhances calpain phosphorylation in association with enhanced calpain activity and accelerated migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells. Here we found that specific disruption of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity by expression of SV40 small tumor antigen up-regulates phosphorylation of mu- and m-calpains whereas C2-ceramide, a potent PP2A activator, reduces nicotine-induced calpain phosphorylation, suggesting that PP2A may function as a physiological calpain phosphatase. PP2A co-localizes and interacts with mu- and m-calpains. Purified, active PP2A directly dephosphorylates mu- and m-calpains in vitro. Overexpression of the PP2A catalytic subunit (PP2A/C) suppresses nicotine-stimulated phosphorylation of mu- and m-calpains, which is associated with inhibition of calpain activity, wound healing, cell migration, and invasion. By contrast, depletion of PP2A/C by RNA interference enhances calpain phosphorylation, calpain activity, cell migration, and invasion. Importantly, C2-ceramide-induced suppression of calpain phosphorylation results in decreased secretion of mu- and m-calpains from lung cancer cells into culture medium, which may have potential clinic relevance in controlling metastasis of lung cancer. These findings reveal a novel role for PP2A as a physiological calpain phosphatase that not only directly dephosphorylates but also inactivates mu- and m-calpains, leading to suppression of migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells. | 10.1074/jbc.M607702200 |
pubmed_465_15022 | The effect was studied of nitrates and nitrites in drinking water on the methemoglobin level in blood and pathomorphological changes in fourteen-day-old pheasant chickens. The concentrations of 500 ppm of NO3- and 15 ppm NO2- in the drinking water were not lethal, they caused only the increase in the methemoglobin in blood to 7.1% (NO3-) and 16.5% (NO2-). The pheasants exposed to NO3- suffered from hyperaemia of liver, kidneys and mucosa of the small intestine and from the multiplication of the eosinophilic granulocytes in the villus stroma. The exposition to NO2- resulted in the non-specific dystrophic changes in liver and kidneys and in the villus edema of the small intestine. Lethal levels of nitrates and nitrites in drinking water were estimated in relation to the age of pheasants. | pubmed_465_15022 |
pubmed_1131_19298 | In this work, novel theranostic platforms based on graphene oxide and AuNP core polyaniline shell (GO-Au@PANI) nanocomposites are fabricated for simultaneous SERS imaging and chemo-photothermal therapy. PANI, a new NIR photothermal therapy agent with strong NIR absorption, outstanding stability and low cytotoxicity is decorated on AuNPs by one-pot oxidative polymerization, then the Au@PANI core-shell nanoparticles are attached to the graphene oxide (GO) sheet via π-π stacking and electrostatic interaction. The obtained GO-Au@PANI nanohybirds exhibit excellent NIR photothermal transduction efficiency and ultrahigh drug-loading capacity. The nanocomposites can also serve as novel NIR SERS probes utilizing the intense SERS signals of PANI. Rapid SERS imaging of cancer cells is achieved using this ultrasensitive nanoprobe. GO-Au@PANI also reveals good capability of drug delivery with the DOX-loading efficiency of 189.2% and sensitive NIR/pH-responsive DOX release. The intracellular real-time drug release dynamics from the nanocomposites is monitored by SERS-fluorescence dual mode imaging. Finally, chemo-photothermal ablation of cancer cells is carried out in vitro and in vivo using GO-Au@PANI as high-performance chemo-photothermal therapeutic nanoagent. The theranostic applications of GO-Au@PANI endow it with great potential for personalized and precise cancer medicine. | 10.7150/thno.14361 |
pubmed_406_9489 | A carboxypeptidase has been identified in Rhodotorula glutinis and partially purified. The enzyme is active on N-substituted dipeptides and tripeptides and also exhibits an esterolytic activity. Both activities are inhibited by (N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-phenylalanyl)chloromethane and by a thermostable fraction present in extracts. The enzyme shows a pH optimum in the range 7.5 to 8.0 and has a molecular weight of 80000, determined by gel filtration. | 10.1515/bchm2.1979.360.1.581 |
pubmed_69_20617 | OBJECTIVE
Esophageal varices are a consequence of portal hypertension in cirrhotic patients. Current guidelines recommend that all cirrhotic patients undergo screening endoscopy at diagnosis to identify patients with varices at high risk of bleeding who will benefit from primary prophylaxis. This practice increases costs, involves a degree of invasiveness and discomfort and places a heavy burden on endoscopy units. Several studies have evaluated possible noninvasive predictors of esophageal varices, but most of these studies remain controversial.
METHODS
The intra-abdominal portion of the esophagus in 673 patients who presented with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension was examined using standard 2-dimensional (2D) ultrasound. A direct relationship between the degree of varices observed on upper endoscopy and the intra-abdominal esophageal wall thickness was detected using 2D ultrasound.
RESULTS
The mean thicknesses of the esophageal wall were 3.7 ± 0.5 mm (mean ± standard deviation) in normal individuals, 7.3 ± 3.3 mm in those with esophageal varices and 8.65 ± 1.98 mm in those with risky esophageal varices. The overall accuracy of 2D ultrasound was 95%.
CONCLUSIONS
The intra-abdominal esophagus should be observed during abdominal ultrasound examination in patients with liver cirrhosis. Two-dimensional ultrasound can play an important role in screening for esophageal varices. | 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3182750ce8 |
pubmed_415_19816 | OBJECTIVE
To review epidemiologic data on occupational exposures and laryngeal cancer.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature search and a series of meta-analyses for agents with at least 10 available studies with homogenous exposure.
RESULTS
We analyzed 99 publications. Significantly increased meta-relative risks (meta-RRs) were obtained considering exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (meta-RR 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10 to 1.52), engine exhaust (meta-RR 1.17; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.30), textile dust (meta-RR 1.41; 95% CI 1.09 to 1.83), and working in the rubber industry (meta-RR 1.39; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.71). Exposures to wood dust, formaldehyde, and cement dust were not significantly associated with laryngeal cancer. In regards of the epidemiologic available data, we could not conclude on the role of solvents.
CONCLUSION
Further studies should overcome past limitations in terms of exposure characterization, adjustment for confounding, and sample size. | 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31823c1343 |
pubmed_1115_8517 | Recurrent exposure of the developing fetus to cocaine produces persistent alterations in structure and function of the cerebral cortex. Neurons of the cerebral cortex are derived from two sources: projection neurons from the neuroepithelium of the dorsal pallium and interneurons from the ganglionic eminence of the basal telencephalon. The interneurons are GABAergic and reach the cerebral cortex via a tangential migratory pathway. We found that recurrent, transplacental exposure of mouse embryos to cocaine from embryonic day 8 to 15 decreases tangential neuronal migration and results in deficits in GABAergic neuronal populations in the embryonic cerebral wall. GABAergic neurons of the olfactory bulb, which are derived from the ganglionic eminence via the rostral migratory pathway, are not affected by the cocaine exposure suggesting a degree of specificity in the effects of cocaine on neuronal migration. Thus, one mechanism by which prenatal cocaine exposure exerts deleterious effects on cerebral cortical development may be by decreasing GABAergic neuronal migration from the ganglionic eminence to the cerebral wall. The decreased GABA neuron migration may contribute to persistent structural and functional deficits observed in the exposed offspring. | 10.1093/cercor/bhh027 |
pubmed_1012_19211 | AIM
The psychophysical evaluation of selective cell loss in early glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
METHODS
Contrast sensitivity was measured for the detection of luminance modulated gratings at a range of spatial (0.5, 2, 8 c/deg) and temporal (0, 16 Hz) frequency combinations in three groups of age matched patients (primary open angle glaucoma, ocular hypertension, normal controls; n=16). Stimuli of 5 degrees were presented foveally and at 15 degrees along the nasal horizontal meridian under photopic conditions.
RESULTS
Fovea: Compared to the normal group, the thresholds for the glaucoma patients were significantly elevated at all spatial and temporal frequencies (p<0.0001), but this reduction was not significantly different at any particular spatial or temporal frequency (p>0.1). There was no difference in contrast sensitivity between the normals and OHTs (p>0.10). Periphery: The thresholds of the glaucoma patients were elevated compared to the normal controls (p<0.01). The loss of sensitivity was slightly greater at the higher spatial frequencies for both stationary and flickering patterns but this did not reach significance (p=0.09). The contrast sensitivity in normal and OHT groups was not significantly different (p>0.10).
CONCLUSIONS
In early glaucoma, the reduction in contrast sensitivity to stimuli which isolate the magnocellular pathway (0.5 c/deg, 16 Hz) was not significantly different compared with the reduction in contrast sensitivity to stimuli that isolate the parvocellular pathway. These findings are not consistent with the hypothesis that the magnocellular pathway is selectively damaged in early glaucoma. | 10.1136/bjo.86.10.1131 |
pubmed_1045_23184 | OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to assess perfusion patterns seen on slow-infusion MR arteriography using the hepatic arterial infusion system compared with those seen on CT arteriography.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
In 37 patients with liver metastases who had implantable port systems for hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy, slow-infusion MR arteriography using an infusion rate of 10 mL/hr through an implantable port and CT arteriography using an injection rate of 0.7 mL/sec were performed. In 15 of 37 patients, we evaluated enhancement patterns of tumors of the liver and visceral organs using slow-infusion MR arteriography. In all 37 patients, we compared slow-infusion MR arteriography with CT arteriography concerning intra- and extrahepatic perfusion patterns.
RESULTS
On slow-infusion MR arteriography performed 10-20 min after initiation of infusion, tumors of the liver revealed significant enhancement with only a slight effect of systemic enhancement. In seven (19%) of 37 patients, intrahepatic distributions on slow-infusion MR arteriography differed from those on CT arteriography. In eight patients, the patterns of extrahepatic perfusion into the duodenum and the pancreas head differed on slow-infusion MR arteriography from those seen on CT arteriography. In addition, strong artifact caused by platinum coils in the gastroduodenal artery interfered with the evaluation of perfusion in the area around the coils on CT arteriography, whereas no imaging artifact was seen on slow-infusion MR arteriography.
CONCLUSION
We believe that slow-infusion MR arteriography reflects the actual distribution of infused drugs more accurately than CT arteriography. When clinical complications occur during treatment, slow-infusion MR arteriography should be used to assess perfusion abnormalities. | 10.2214/ajr.180.3.1800681 |
pubmed_592_12451 | An NAD-dependent alcohol-aldehyde oxidoreductase was purified to homogeneity and characterized from cell extracts of the thermophilic microorganism Bacillus acidocaldarius. The 500-fold purified homogeneous enzyme had a molecular mass of 154 kDa, as shown by gel filtration and glycerol gradient centrifugation. On sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis the protein showed one band of 38 kDa, indicating that the enzyme is a tetramer composed of subunits of identical molecular weight. Ethanol was the best substrate with the highest kcat/Km values, and the enzyme showed a substrate specificity that included linear, secondary and cyclic alcohols, as well as anisaldehyde, but it was not active on ketones. The protein contains eight zinc atoms per tetramer, four of which are removed by chelating agents with a concomitant loss of thermal stability. Circular dichroism spectra and determination of the NH2-terminal sequence allowed structural and homology comparison with other alcohol dehydrogenases from animal and bacterial sources. | 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jbchem.a021441 |
pubmed_226_20887 | The growing applications of iron/copper bimetallic composites in various industries are increasing. The relationship between the properties of these materials and manufacturing parameters should be well understood. This paper represents an experimental study to evaluate the effect of reinforcement (steel rod) preheating temperature on the mechanical properties (bond strength, microhardness, and wear resistance) of copper matrix composites (QMMC). In preparing the QMMC samples, the melted copper was poured on a steel rod that had been preheated to various temperatures, namely, room temperature, 600 °C, 800 °C, and 1200 °C. Properties of the QMMC (interface microstructure, interfacial bonding strength, microhardness, and wear) were investigated. The experimental results revealed that the best bond between the copper matrix and steel rod formed only in the composites prepared by preheating the steel rods with temperatures lower than the recrystallization temperature of steel (723 °C). This is because the oxide layer and shrinkage voids (due to the difference in shrinkage between the two metals) at the interface hinder atom diffusion and bond formation at higher temperatures. The microhardness test showed that preheating steel rod to 600 °C gives the highest value among all the samples. Furthermore, the QMMC's wear behavior confirmed that the optimization of preheating temperature is 600 °C. | 10.3390/ma15020659 |
pubmed_794_20915 | BACKGROUND
Hemophilic knee arthritis is one of the most common presenting symptoms of hemophilia, and its management continues to be challenging to practitioners. Preliminary research has suggested that platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may have short-term efficacy in the treatment of hemophilic knee arthritis, but evidence for this treatment is limited.
QUESTIONS/PURPOSES
What is the effectiveness of PRP compared with placebo in (1) reducing pain and improving knee joint function (as measured by WOMAC, VAS, and Hemophilia Joint Health Score [HJHS]) and (2) improving quality of life (as measured by SF-36 scores) in patients with hemophilic knee arthritis through 24 months of follow-up?
METHODS
This was a prospective, parallel-group, double-blinded, single-center, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial that included participants from a tertiary care center starting January 1, 2019, with follow-up completed on November 30, 2021. Participants were older than 18 years and had hemophilic knee arthritis confirmed by MRI, and they were randomly allocated to interventions in a 1:1 ratio. The investigators were not informed of the randomization sequence generated by the computer. Patient groups were comparable with respect to age, gender, BMI, hemophilia type, and disease severity at baseline. Physicians delivered three sessions (one per week) of a standard intraarticular injection of PRP (n = 95) or placebo (n = 95). The rate of successful blinding was balanced across the groups, which was assessed by asking participants which injection they thought they had received. The primary outcome was the WOMAC score (range 0 to 96; higher scores indicate more pain and worse function; minimum clinically important difference, 6.4 points) over 24 months. Among the 190 patients assigned to PRP or saline injections (mean age 31 ± 7 years), 100% (190) of patients were men). There was no between-group difference in the proportion of patients who completed the trial; 97% (92 of 95) of patients in the PRP group and 94% (89 of 95) of patients in the placebo group completed the trial. The most common adverse events were injection site discomfort 8% (8 of 95) in the PRP group and 4% (4 of 95) in the placebo group. An intention-to-treat analysis was planned, but there was no crossover between groups. All patients were included in the analyses. With 95 patients in each group, the study was powered a priori at 90% to detect a difference in WOMAC score of 6.4 points, which was considered a clinically important difference.
RESULTS
There were no clinically important differences in the mean WOMAC, VAS pain, HJHS, SF-36, and MRI scores between groups at any timepoint. Intraarticular PRP did not ameliorate function, symptoms, and quality of life in patients with hemophilic knee arthritis. At 24 months of follow-up, the mean difference between the PRP and placebo groups in the WOMAC score was -1 (95% CI -5 to 2; p = 0.42). The mean difference in the VAS pain score was -0.3 (95% CI -0.8 to 0.2; p = 0.19), in the HJHS was -0.6 (95% CI -1.4 to 0.1; p = 0.10), in the SF-36 physical component summary was 0 (95% CI -2 to 3; p = 0.87), and in the SF-36 mental component summary was -1 (95% CI -3 to 2; p = 0.64). The mean differences in the MRI scores of soft tissue and osteochondral subscore were 0.1 (95% CI -0.3 to 0.5; p = 0.59) and -0.3 (95% CI -0.7 to 0.1; p = 0.19), respectively.
CONCLUSION
Among patients with hemophilic knee arthritis, three intraarticular PRP injections, compared with placebo injections, did not improve hemophilic knee symptoms, function, and quality of life over 24 months. The results of this study do not support the use of PRP injections in patients who have hemophilic knee arthritis.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level I, therapeutic study. | 10.1097/CORR.0000000000002264 |
pubmed_448_2238 | Importance
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized melanoma treatment and are now standard of care. Although sex is associated with immune function and immune-related diseases, the interaction between sex and ICIs is understudied.
Objective
To examine whether cancer immunotherapy effectiveness varies between female and male patients with advanced melanoma treated with either nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy or anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) therapy (namely, pembrolizumab or nivolumab).
Design, Setting, and Participants
The study population consisted of 1369 older adults (aged ≥65 years) with a record of melanoma diagnosis from January 1, 1991, to December 31, 2015, in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linked database. Patients with a diagnosis of stage III or stage IV melanoma and a claims record showing nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy or anti-PD-1 therapy (ie, pembrolizumab or nivolumab) as their last type of ICI prescribed were included in the analyses. Patients were followed up through December 31, 2017, for the overall survival analysis. Statistical analysis was performed from September 19, 2019, to February 20, 2021.
Exposures
Sex, last prescribed ICI, and prior use of ipilimumab.
Main Outcomes and Measures
The primary outcome was overall survival, defined as time from the index date until death from any cause, with patients censored at the end of the study (December 31, 2017). Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was used to examine the association of sex with ICI outcomes while adjusting for prior use of ipilimumab, age at ICI initiation, Charlson Comorbidity Index, cancer stage at the time of diagnosis, and autoimmune disease diagnosis.
Results
Among the 1369 patients in the study (982 men [71.7%]; median age, 75 years [IQR, 69-82 years]), the outcome of nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy depended on sex (Wald χ2 = 9.48; P = .009 for interaction). The mortality hazard ratio (HR) for women with prior ipilimumab use receiving combination therapy was 2.06 times (95% CI, 1.28-3.32; P = .003) higher than their male counterparts. No significant difference was observed between women and men receiving anti-PD-1 therapy with (HR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.68-1.38]; P = .85) or without prior ipilimumab use (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.67-1.07]; P = .16). For women with prior ipilimumab use, combination therapy was associated with 2.82 times higher mortality hazards than anti-PD-1 therapy (95% CI, 1.73-4.60). No statistically significant difference was seen in mortality risk between anti-PD-1 therapy and combination therapy for men.
Conclusions and Relevance
This cohort study suggests that female patients with advanced melanoma may not benefit as much from combination ICIs as male patients would. Tumor mutation burden or estrogen level may serve as an important biomarker associated with ICI response in metastatic melanoma. | 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.36823 |
pubmed_69_3946 | BACKGROUND
Expansive remodelling is the process of compensatory arterial enlargement in response to atherosclerotic stimuli. The genetic determinants of this process are poorly characterized.
METHODS
Genetic association analyses of inter-adventitial common carotid artery diameter (ICCAD) in the IMPROVE study (n = 3427) using the Illumina 200k Metabochip was performed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that met array-wide significance were taken forward for analysis in three further studies (n = 5704), and tested for association with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA).
RESULTS
rs3768445 on Chromosome 1q24.3, in a cluster of protein coding genes (DNM3, PIGC, C1orf105) was associated with larger ICCAD in the IMPROVE study. For each copy of the rare allele carried, ICCAD was on average 0.13 mm greater (95% CI 0.08-0.18 mm, P = 8.2 × 10(-8)). A proxy SNP (rs4916251, R(2) = 0.99) did not, however, show association with ICCAD in three follow-up studies (P for replication = 0.29). There was evidence of interaction between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and rs4916251 on ICCAD in two of the cohorts studies suggesting that it plays a role in the remodelling response to atherosclerosis. In meta-analysis of 5 case-control studies pooling data from 5007 cases and 43,630 controls, rs4916251 was associated with presence of AAA 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.17, p = 2.8 × 10(-3), I(2) = 18.8, Q = 0.30). A proxy SNP, rs4916251 was also associated with increased expression of PIGC in aortic tissue, suggesting that this may the mechanism by which this locus affects vascular remodelling.
CONCLUSIONS
Common variation at 1q24.3 is associated with expansive vascular remodelling and risk of AAA. These findings support a hypothesis that pathways involved in systemic vascular remodelling play a role in AAA development. | pubmed_69_3946 |
pubmed_699_1362 | In this Perspective we explore the evolution of our understanding of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and its relationship with repetitive head injury. As with many neurodegenerative conditions, there is an imperfect correspondence between neuropathology and clinical phenotype, but unlike other neurodegenerative diseases, CTE has a discrete and easily modifiable risk factor: exposure to repetitive head injury. Consequently, evaluation of the evidence regarding exposure to repetitive head injury and CTE risk should be undertaken using public or occupational health frameworks of medical knowledge. The current debate over the existence of CTE as a disease of concern is fuelled in part by immediate medico-legal considerations, and the involvement of high-profile athletes, with inevitable media interest. Moving beyond this debate has significant potential to address and reduce disease impact in the near future, and provide novel insights into mechanisms underlying abnormal protein accumulation in CTE and other neurodegenerative diseases. | 10.3389/fneur.2022.880905 |
pubmed_416_14157 | Applying the criteria for the metabolic syndrome serves as a simple and inexpensive tool for identifying patients at high risk for diabetes and coronary heart disease, particularly those who do not fall into traditional risk categories. Several independent physiological processes underlie the non-random risk-factor clustering that defines the metabolic syndrome, including insulin resistance, central obesity, dyslipidemia, impaired glucose tolerance, and hypertension. Other non-classic risk factors, such as abnormal oxidized low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, adiponectin, and C-reactive protein levels, are highly correlated with the metabolic syndrome. Use of the metabolic syndrome criteria for assessment is comparable with other risk-scoring systems in accurately predicting cardiovascular disease risk and is simpler to implement in the clinic. Further research is needed to define the etiology of the metabolic syndrome. | 10.1038/oby.2006.292 |
pubmed_565_16527 | OBJECTIVE
To investigate the value of serum C reactive protein (CRP) as a marker of erosive osteoarthritis (EOA) of the hand.
METHODS
Ninety eight patients, 67 with EOA and 31 with non-EOA of the hand, were included in the study and analysed for radiographic score (RS), number of erosions, and joint count (JC) at clinical observation and at bone scintigraphy. CRP was assayed in a serum sample by a highly sensitive immunonephelometric method.
RESULTS
The median (interquartile range) CRP level was 4.7 (2.4-6.9) mg/l in the EOA and 2.1 (0.5-4.9) mg/l in the non-EOA group (p = 0.001). In all patients, CRP correlated with RS (r(s) = 0.43, p<0.001), and mainly with JC at clinical observation (r(s) = 0.72, p<0.001) and at bone scintigraphy (r(s) = 0.47, p<0.001). The correlation of CRP with RS and JC was confirmed at clinical observation and at bone scintigraphy in the EOA subgroup, but only with JC at clinical observation in the non-EOA subgroup.
CONCLUSIONS
CRP levels are higher in EOA than in non-EOA patients. These levels probably reflect the disease activity of EOA, as suggested by correlations between CRP and JC at clinical observation and at bone scintigraphy. | 10.1136/ard.2004.029892 |
pubmed_118_24377 | This WinZip archive 'Combined R, EpiWin & datafiles (rev 2016-9-29).zip' contains the basic data used in the meta-analysis of doi 10.1016/j.mrrev.2016.07.008 (M.P. Little, 2016) [1], complete with R (R Project version 3.2.2, 2015) [2] code used for meta-regression etc. The basic data is derived from the papers of Mulrooney et al. (D.A. Mulrooney, M.W. Yeazel, T. Kawashima, A.C. Mertens, P. Mitby, M. Stovall, S.S. Donaldson, D.M. Green, C.A. Sklar, L.L. Robison, W.M. Leisenring, 2009) [3], Cutter et al. (D.J. Cutter, M. Schaapveld, S.C. Darby, M. Hauptmann, F.A. van Nimwegen, A.D.G. Krol, C.P.M. Janus, F.E. van Leeuwen, B.M.P. Aleman, 2015) [4] and van Nimwegen et al. (F.A. van Nimwegen, M. Schaapveld, D.J. Cutter, C.P.M. Janus, A.D.G. krol, M. Hauptmann, K. Kooijman, J. Roesink, R. van der Maazen, S.C. Darby, B.M.P. Aleman, F.E. van Leeuwen, 2016) [5], and other data taken from various Tables in the papers summarized in Tables 2-4 of doi 10.1016/j.mrrev.2016.07.008 [1]. The archive also contains R [2] script files that perform the meta-analysis. | 10.1016/j.dib.2016.11.016 |
pubmed_450_4358 | BACKGROUND AND AIMS
There is an increasing enthusiasm and pressure to submit scientific articles to journals for publication due to official policies. This has led to increased stress on authors and editors and in issues like plagiarism. We planned a cross-sectional study with an aim to explore the current publication related views and practice of faculty members and consultants.
METHODS
We conducted a questionnaire based prospective survey with 22 questions divided into parts. Print and electronic versions were sent to around 18,270 members in total, a majority of whom were anaesthesiologists and 600 members responded to our questionnaire. A database was created and analysed using Microsoft Excel.
RESULTS
About 80% felt that online journals were better read than print journals. Eighty eight percent agreed that publications improve academic skills. The Medical Council of India requirements to publish in reputed journals were cited as the main reasons for plagiarism. The publication rule had become a burden for 46% respondents. Review articles were most likely to be read though clinical investigations were considered to be of maximum academic significance. Review/publishing time followed by author requirements and journal indexing were the points our respondents liked to see most when choosing a journal for article submission.
CONCLUSION
Our survey results depict the current author related views and trends in publication practice which may guide in evidence-based policy making. | 10.4103/0019-5049.171567 |
pubmed_515_24468 | Homeless persons are numerous, carry a significant burden of illness and face challenges in accessing care. A search of the literature revealed insufficient empirical sources to permit the use of standard systematic review methodology to determine the most effective way to deliver point-of-first-contact healthcare to homeless people. Instead, we used a policy analysis approach. We found that the dominant model of primary care in Canada performs poorly when assessed on 13 evaluation criteria. While there is variable performance on individual measures, the three alternative models - targeted standard facility/clinic site, fixed outreach site and mobile outreach service - all perform well. Our findings suggest that some factor other than performance on the specified measures, such as costs, feasibility, geographical fit or local preferences, should be used to choose a specific model. Our analysis clearly indicates that the status quo model of primary care is inadequate to meet the needs of homeless people. | pubmed_515_24468 |
pubmed_1113_5045 | In this article we provide practical advice for optimizing computed tomography colonography (CTC) technique to help ensure that reproducible, high-quality examinations are achieved. Relevant literature is reviewed and specific attention is paid to patient information, bowel cleansing, insufflation, anti-spasmodics, patient positioning, CT technique, post-procedure care and complications, as well as practical problem-solving advice. There are many different approaches to performing CTC; our aim is to not to provide a comprehensive review of the literature, but rather to present a practical and robust protocol, providing guidance, particularly to those clinicians with little prior experience of the technique. | 10.1016/j.crad.2007.03.007 |
pubmed_815_18093 | New approaches to successful prevention and management of transplant rejection include the use of biological immunosuppressants, such as monoclonal antibodies targeting the CD3 and CD4 molecules on native T cells, the interleukin 2 receptor on activated T cells, monocytes and B cells, and adhesion molecules. Several new drugs have been found to be effective immunosuppressive agents: FK 506, a macrolid antibiotic inhibiting lymphokine gene transcription, lymphokine production and secretion, rapamycin, which blocks effects of lymphokine-induced signal transduction, and RS 61443, brequinar and mizoribine, which inhibit DNA/RNA synthesis and lymphocyte proliferation. Initial experience with these drugs clinical protocols currently in use and already devised for use in the near future to test these and other emerging immunosuppressants are reviewed. | pubmed_815_18093 |
pubmed_454_19617 | Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. Endogenous testosterone is critical for normal libido; however, studies have also demonstrated a potentially important role with respect to the erectile process. The prevalence of testosterone deficiency ranges from 1.7% to 35% in patients with ED, and age is a common factor linking ED and testosterone deficiency. By 2025, global estimates are that there will be 356 million men >65 years. Age-associated testosterone deficiency is characterized by symptoms such as ED, and low serum testosterone. Randomized, placebo controlled studies have established the utility of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for the restoration of serum testosterone levels to the normal range in hypogonadal males; however, well designed studies are limited with respect to specific evaluation of the role of TRT as monotherapy in improving erectile function. In addition, recent literature suggests a possible role for TRT in combination with phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors for men with ED. The following review describes the potential roles of testosterone in erectile physiology, examines the relationship between testosterone deficiency and ED, and reviews published literature evaluating the use of TRT in hypogonadal males with a diagnosis of ED. | 10.1177/0897190010397715 |
pubmed_700_5775 | Maternally transmitted antigen (Mta) is a mouse major histocompatibility antigen recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes. A role for mitochondria in expression of this class I-like cell surface antigen has been previously established. We now show that a labile product of mitochondrial protein synthesis is required for Mta expression. Reexpression of Mta determinants after enzymatic removal occurred within 24 h, and the regeneration process was sensitive to chloramphenicol (CAP), a selective inhibitor of mitochondrial protein synthesis. Additionally, target cells treated with CAP for as little as 18 h showed diminished expression of Mta. The estimated half-life for Mtf products ranged from 6 to 15 h, less than the half-lives of known mitochondrial translation products. This suggests that the Mtf product is not generated by the normal turnover of stable mitochondrial respiratory proteins. Instead, these results indicate the existence of either labile unknown mitochondrially encoded peptides or a rapid turnover pathway for known mitochondrial products. | 10.1007/BF00717910 |
pubmed_760_7468 | OBJECTIVE
To assess the psychometric properties of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), a measure of depressive symptoms, in a large Danish national cohort of patients with heart disease, implanted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), using item response theory.
METHODS
A prospective cohort of patients implanted with an ICD (n=1531; 80.4% men) completed the PHQ-9 at the time of implant. Data were analyzed using two item response theory models, the partial credit model and the generalized partial credit model.
RESULTS
The analysis showed disordered response thresholds in eight of nine items for the partial credit model and five of nine items for the generalized partial credit model, indicating that respondents have difficulty discriminating between response options. When collapsing response options 2 and 3, the rescored PHQ-9 had a better fit to both models. The unidimensionality and the precision of the rescored PHQ-9 were confirmed. Items did not have any differential functioning (DIF) across educational level, age, indication for ICD implantation, and severity of heart failure that influence depression outcomes in patients with an ICD. One item exhibited DIF by gender. Three items did not fit the partial credit model, but the generalized partial credit model could be fitted to the full item set.
CONCLUSION
The unidimensionality and reliability of the Danish version of the PHQ-9 were confirmed. However, the associated consequences of the number of response options (3-point versus 4-point Likert scale) need to be further examined for the PHQ-9 both as a screening tool and outcome measure. | 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.09.010 |
pubmed_915_1161 | Various decision analytic models exist for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for heart failure (HF). Despite this, studies that explore drivers influencing these modeling approaches remain scarce. Through a systematic review of the literature, the present study sought to identify model drivers that emerge from economic evaluations of HF pharmacological interventions. Among the 72 cost effectiveness papers evaluating HF drug interventions, the most frequently identified, top 5 ranked model drivers impacting the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were cost of treatment and utility, identified in 10% of studies, respectively. Other drivers that emerged as top 5 ranked drivers in > 5% of studies included treatment effect on mortality (or cardiovascular mortality), duration of treatment, and baseline cardiovascular mortality. Model drivers reported at the top of tornado diagrams were treatment effect on mortality or on cardiovascular mortality. Collectively, these observations highlight the key importance of treatment effect in driving cost-effectiveness models for HF. | 10.1007/s41669-019-00173-y |
pubmed_392_18758 | OBJECTIVE
The cold pressor test (CPT) has been shown a potential sympathoexcitatory stimulus which increases aortic pulse wave velocity and the aortic augmentation index, suggesting that noninvasively, arterial stiffness parameters are altered by the CPT. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is widely used for reflecting arterial stiffness, and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) for evaluating peripheral artery disease in obesity. We aimed to assess CAVI and ABI in overweight young adults in the context of sympathetic activation by using the CPT.
METHODS
160 participants were divided into 2 groups: 86 normal-weight (body mass index [BMI] 18.50-22.99 kg/m2) and 74 overweight (BMI ≥23 kg/m2). The CPT was performed by immersing a participant's left hand into cold water (3-5°C) for 3 min, and CAVI and ABI assessment.
RESULTS
At baseline, the CAVI in the overweight group was significantly less than that in the normal-weight group (5.79 ± 0.85 vs. 6.10 ± 0.85; p < 0.05). The mean arterial pressure (MAP) for overweight was significantly greater than that for normal-weight subjects (93.89 ± 7.31 vs. 91.10 ± 6.72; p < 0.05). During the CPT, the CAVI increased in both normal-weight and overweight subjects, the CAVI value was greater during the CPT in overweight subjects by 14.36% (6.62 ± 0.95 vs. 5.79 ± 0.85, p < 0.05) and in normal-weight subjects by 8.03% (6.59 ± 1.20 vs. 6.10 ± 0.85, p < 0.05) than those baseline values. The CPT evoked an increase in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), heart rate (HR,) and pulse pressure (PP) in both groups. After a 4-min CPT period, the CAVI returned values similar to the baseline values in both groups, and the SBP, DBP, MAP, and PP in overweight participants were significantly higher than those in normal-weight participants. However, there was no significant difference in the ABI at baseline, during CPT, and post-CPT in either group.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated that the CAVI was influenced by sympathetic activation response to the CPT in both normal-weight and overweight young adults. Specifically, during the CPT, the percentage change of the CAVI in overweight response was greater in normal-weight participants than baseline values in each group. The ABI was not found significantly associated with CPT. These findings suggesting that sympathoexcitatory stimulus by CPT influence CAVI results. | 10.1159/000517617 |
pubmed_650_17657 | Callus cultures of Taxus cuspidata and Taxus canadensis were induced using different tissue explants including green and red arils, seed contents, young stems and needles. Callus derived from stem segments displayed the best growth in defined media. The culture medium was supplemented with reducing agents and phenolic-binding compounds to inhibit callus darkening and subsequent growth reduction. T. cuspidata explant growth was affected by different concentrations and ratios of 2,4-D and kinetin. Callus tissues of T. cuspidata were extracted for taxol after 2 months in culture and analysed by HPLC. The presence of taxol (0.020 +/- 0.005% of the extracted dry weight) was indicated based on retention time, U.V. spectra, peak purity as assessed by photo-diode array spectroscopy and compared with an authentic taxol standard, as well as by 1H-NMR analysis. Suspension cultures of T. cuspidata were established from the callus cultures, subsequently immobilized onto glass fiber mats, and maintained as immobilized cultures for 6 months. The immobilized cell cultures also produced taxol at levels up to 0.012 +/- 0.007% of the extracted dry weight. | 10.1038/nbt1292-1572 |
pubmed_987_1905 | Background
Coronary sinus (CS) blood sampling gives an insight into the localized pathophysiology of heart diseases. However, additional specifically-designed or modified catheters were needed in most previous studies, making the convenience of clinical application unsatisfactory. This study aimed to introduce a simple method for CS blood sampling without using additional catheters during catheter ablation (CA) of arrhythmias, and to investigate its feasibility and safety.
Methods
A total of 119 patients undergoing CA were prospectively enrolled, including 25 with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), 30 with premature ventricular complexes (PVC), and 64 with atrial fibrillation (AF). Cannulation and sampling of CS was performed via the femoral vein using a conventional 8F SR0TM or 8.5F SL1TM introducer sheath (St. Jude Medical) guided by a 6F steerable diagnostic catheter (St. Jude Medical). The success rate and any suspicious complications were recorded. Untargeted liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS)-based metabonomics of CS samples versus peripheral venous samples were also performed.
Results
CS blood samples were successfully collected from 114 patients, with an overall success rate of 95.8%. Among patients with different arrhythmias, the success rates were similar, with 96.0% in PSVT, 96.7% in PVC, and 95.3% in AF (P=0.223). Adverse events occurred in four (3.4%) patients, including two patients with occasional atrial ectopic beats without causing any discomfort, and two patients with new-onset paroxysmal AF lasting for about 2 min. No serious complications were noted. Metabonomics analysis showed that CS samples provided a number of different metabolites (93 in PVST, 217 in PVC, and 109 in AF) versus peripheral samples.
Conclusions
Our method for CS blood sampling during CA is feasible and safe, and can provide useful cardiometabolic information that is significantly different from a peripheral sample. | 10.21037/atm-21-6973 |
pubmed_496_548 | Obesity and osteoporosis have grave consequences for human health, quality of life, and even the efficiency of the labor force and economy. However, these pathologies share a common cell progenitor, revealing a surprising target for drug research and development. Recent findings show that high adipocyte count in bone marrow is directly related to bone loss, as fat cells replace osteoblasts (or bone-forming cells). The objective of this review is to examine the importance of adipocyte apoptosis in the treatment of obesity and/or osteoporosis, with special emphasis on natural products as promising leads for drug development. We have induced in vivo adipocyte apoptosis, using leptin, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), beta adrenergic agonists and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in rodents. The results of leptin treatments on rats are suppressed food intake, reduced body weight, reduced body fat, adipocyte apoptosis, and elevated energy expenditure. Further, leptin treatment of leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice increases endosteal bone formation and bone mineral density. Adipocyte apoptosis has also been induced in vitro using tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from Camellia sinensis and ajoene, from Allium sativum. Natural products have potential for inducing apoptosis of adipose tissue, inhibiting bone marrow adipogenesis and increasing the expression of osteogenic factors in bone, thereby yielding effective treatments for obesity and osteoporosis. | 10.2174/0929867054864886 |
pubmed_702_1402 | Arthritis treatment in young patients remains a challenge. Joint replacement surgery offers excellent pain relief but is controversial with this age group because of long-term wear and loosening. Recently, biological reconstructive techniques have become available to improve traditional treatment methods such as osteotomies. We present our experience with a technique for combined meniscal transplantation, chondral repair, and osteotomy in 7 patients presenting with a constellation of meniscal deficiency, focal arthritis, and malalignment. Patients underwent concurrent or staged meniscal transplantation, cartilage repair, and osteotomy. Evaluation included the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Short Form-12 and Lysholm scales. At average follow-up of 24 months, patients experienced significant improvements in the IKDC, Lysholm, and KOOS functional scores. Six of 7 patients were able to return to unrestricted activities; 1 patient experienced mild pain with high-impact activities. Combined treatment with meniscal transplantation, cartilage repair, and osteotomy demonstrated promising clinical results of unicompartmental arthritis treatment in young patients. | 10.1055/s-0030-1247738 |
pubmed_830_5392 | BACKGROUND
Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar are morphologically identical. However, the former is highly pathogenic and the latter is not.
AIM
To differentiate Entamoeba histolytica from Entamoeba dispar through ELISA and PCR techniques in Colombian isolates from feces.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Descriptive study of Colombian fecal samples from 53 males and 47 women, that were positive for the complex E. histolytica/E. dispar on light microscopy. Positive samples were cultured on Robinson medium to isolate trophozoites. The presence of specific Gal/ GalNAc-lectin was determined by ELISA and polymerase chain reaction in genomic DNA, using the combination of three nucleotides that recognize a variable region of 16S small subunit ribosomal RNA, generating a 166 base pair (bp) product for E. histolytica and 752 pb product for E. dispar.
RESULTS
After verification, only eight of the 100 samples were positive for the complex E. histolytica/E. dispar and were cultivated. Isolates were obtained in six cultures, one corresponded to E. histolytica and six to E. dispar.
CONCLUSIONS
The presence of E. histolytica/E. dispar complex was largely overestimated with light microscopy. In the few samples where isolates were obtained, the technique described differentiated between both strains. | pubmed_830_5392 |
pubmed_1037_10115 | BACKGROUND
Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The effectiveness of magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) and the risk for unplanned return to the operating room (UPROR) remain to be studied in this patient population. The primary outcome of this study was to examine the frequency of UPROR between MCGRs as compared with traditional growth friendly (TGF) surgeries for children with EOS secondary to CP.
METHODS
Patients with EOS secondary to CP were prospectively identified from an international database, with data retrospectively analyzed. Scoliosis, kyphosis, T1-S1, and T1-T12 height were measured preoperation, immediate postoperation, and at minimum 2-year follow-up. The risk and etiology of UPRORs were compared between MCGR and TGF.
RESULTS
Of the 120 patients that met inclusion criteria, 86 received TGF (age 7.5±0. 1.8 y; mean follow-up 7.0±2.9 y) and 34 received MCGR (age 7.1±2.2 y, mean follow-up 2.8±0.0.5 y). Compared with TGF, MCGR resulted in significant improvements in maintenance of scoliosis (P=0.007). At final follow-up, UPRORs were 8 of 34 patients (24%) for MCGR and 37 of 86 patients (43%) for TGF (P=0.05). To minimize the influence of follow-up period, UPRORs within the first 2 years postoperation were evaluated: MCGR (7 of 34 patients, 21%) versus TGF (20 of 86 patients, 23%; P=0.75). Within the first 2 years, etiology of UPROR as a percentage of all patients per group were deep infection (13% TGF, 6% MCGR), implant failure/migration (12% TGF, 9% MCGR), dehiscence (4% TGF, 3% MCGR), and superficial infection (4% TGF, 3% MCGR). The most common etiology of UPROR for TGF was deep infection and for MCGR was implant failure/migration.
CONCLUSION
For patients with EOS secondary to CP, there was no difference in the risk of UPROR within the first 2 years postoperatively whether treated with TGF surgery or with MCGRs (23% TGF, 21% MCGR).
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
Level III-retrospective cohort, therapeutic study. | 10.1097/BPO.0000000000001892 |
pubmed_154_12006 | We show that the approach to asymptotic fluctuation-induced critical behavior in polymer solutions is governed by a competition between a correlation length diverging at the critical point and an additional mesoscopic length-scale, the radius of gyration. Accurate light scattering experiments on polystyrene solutions in cyclohexane with polymer molecular weights ranging from 200 000 up to 11.4x10(6) clearly demonstrate a crossover between two universal regimes: a regime with Ising asymptotic critical behavior, where the correlation length prevails, and a regime with tricritical theta-point behavior determined by a mesoscopic polymer-chain length. | 10.1103/PhysRevE.65.051805 |
pubmed_472_19704 | OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to evaluate 30-day readmission, 12-month prolapse recurrence, and complications after apical surgeries in older women.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted using 2002-2011 Medicare data in women 65 years or older who underwent abdominal sacrocolpopexy with synthetic mesh, vaginal uterosacral, or sacrospinous colpopexy with 12 months follow-up. Vaginal mesh procedures were excluded. The primary outcome was 30-day inpatient readmission. Secondary outcomes were complications and prolapse recurrence, defined as either reoperation or pessary insertion. We used Pearson χ, Fisher exact tests, and analyses of variance to examine difference between surgical treatment groups. Odds ratios (ORs) utilizing Charlson Comorbidity Index, age, race, and procedure type were calculated to assess the differences in the outcomes probability.
RESULTS
Of 3,015 women, 863 underwent abdominal sacrocolpopexy, 510-uterosacral and 1,642-sacrospinous ligament suspensions. The 30-day readmission was 7.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.7-9.2%; OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.7-3.5, P<.01) after abdominal sacrocolpopexy and 4.5% (95% CI 2.7-6.3%; OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8-2.1, P=.3) after uterosacral compared with 3.5% (95% CI 2.6-4.4% P<.01) after sacrospinous ligament suspensions. Prolapse recurrence did not differ between the groups (8.2%, 95% CI 6.4-10.1%; 10.6%, 95% CI 7.9-13.3%; and 9.9%, 95% CI 8.4-11.3%, P=.3, respectively). Women had 30-day gastrointestinal complications (6.1%, 95% CI 4.5-7.7%; 1.2%, 95% CI 0.2-2.1%; and 1.1%, 95% CI 0.6-1.6%, P<.01), surgical site infections (5.9%, 95% CI 4.3-7.5%; 3.1%, 95% CI 1.6-4.7%; and 3.7%, 95% CI 2.8-4.6%, P=.01), genitourinary complications (10.9%, 95% CI 8.8-13%; 17.7%, 95% CI 14.3-21%; and 13.6%, 95% CI 12-15.3%, P<.01), and medical complications (7.4%, 95% CI 5.7-9.2%; 7.8%, 95% CI 5.5-10.2%; and 4.4%, 95% CI 3.4-5.4%, P<.01; all after abdominal sacrocolpopexy, uterosacral, and sacrospinous ligament suspensions, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Vaginal apical suspensions compared with abdominal sacrocolpopexy with synthetic mesh are associated with lower rates of postoperative 30-day readmission without an increase in prolapse recurrence among older women. | 10.1097/AOG.0000000000001717 |
pubmed_691_9885 | Reticuloendothelial iron kinetics were investigated in a simultaneous dual-isotope study in 10 healthy adult subjects in whom 55Fe-ferric hydroxide phosphate colloid was used to label the reticuloendothelial iron pools, and 59Fe-transferrin was used to define plasma iron kinetics. The simultaneous clearance of 55Fe and 59Fe from plasma and the uptake of each into red blood cells were measured over 14 days. The 55Fe-colloid was cleared almost immediately, and its iron was rapidly released to bind to plasma transferrin. Red cell incorporation of 55Fe was, however, much slower than that of 59Fe bound to transferrin in vitro. The data were analyzed by a new model of reticuloendothelial iron metabolism that contained two reticuloendothelial iron pools; one had a rapid turnover and donated iron to transferrin, and the other, a storage pool, had a slower turnover. The transit pool contained a mean of 164 mumol iron with little variation between subjects, whereas the storage pool was somewhat larger (mean 873 mumol iron) and showed more marked variation between subjects. In general an equal proportion of the iron leaving the transit pool went to transferrin and to the storage pool. The distribution between the two routes did not appear to be related either to plasma iron concentration, latent iron-binding capacity, or transferrin saturation. | 10.1152/ajpregu.1984.247.5.R842 |
pubmed_111_2102 | We described an optical method of measuring corneal volume and employed the optical method of Johnson et al. for measuring the volume of the anterior chamber in cynomolgus monkey. In 12 normal monkey eyes, the corneal volume was found to be 40.4 +/- 2.3 microliter (mean +/- S.E.) and the anterior chamber volume was 101.8 +/- 4.2 microliter (mean +/- S.E.). | 10.3109/02713688509000849 |
pubmed_612_10512 | Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) disease is a serious pandemic that put the world on an exceptional sanitary alert. It is a multifaceted disease, since it can affect the lung, the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system at the same time. A 66-year-old man, diabetic, hypertensive, admitted to the emergency room for medical management of acute dyspnea, diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. The evolution is marked by respiratory distress as well as new onset atrial fibrillation and a severe ischemic stroke of the brainstem. COVID-19 disease is associated with very serious thromboembolic complications of high incidence, and this is explained by the coagulopathy secondary to the alteration of the microcirculation after the hyper-inflammatory state. Ischemic stroke is one of these complications. The occurrence of new onset atrial fibrillation during COVID-19 infection makes the incidence of ischemic stroke very high and the prognosis more severe. The treatment is mainly based on antithrombotic therapy. Thromboembolic complications remain a real problem to manage in COVID-19 patients given the several mechanisms that promote this situation. | 10.1016/j.radcr.2021.07.090 |
pubmed_612_1488 | Service-learning (SL) helps engineering students to be involved in community activities and to be motivated by their studies. Although several reviews and research studies have been published about SL, it is not widespread in sciences and engineering at the university level. The purpose of this research is to analyze the different community services or projects where SL is implemented by engineering students and faculty and to identify the procedures that were usually implemented to assess SL-based courses and activities. Assessment could be considered as the evaluation of a specific module and the engineering competencies, the evaluation of the effectiveness of the SL program, the assessment of the participation of the student in those programs, and the assessment of whether students have achieved certain outcomes or gained specific skills. We conducted a systematic review with a search in three scientific databases: Scopus, Science Direct, and ERIC educational database to analyze the assessment methods and what that assessment covers. From 14,107 publications related to SL, 120 documents were analyzed to inform the conclusions of this study. We found that SL is widely used in several universities as experiential education, and it is considered an academic activity. The most widely used assessment technique is a survey to evaluate the engagement and attitudes of students and, to a lesser extent, teamwork presentations. | 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.629231 |
pubmed_910_6630 | BACKGROUND
We have previously described a panel of 238 urinary polypeptides specific for established severe coronary artery disease (CAD). Here we studied this polypeptide panel in patients with a wider range of CAD severity.
METHODS
We recruited 60 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography for investigation of stable angina. Patients were selected for either having angiographic evidence of CAD or not (NCA) following coronary angiography (n = 30/30; age, 55 ± 6 vs. 56 ± 7 years, P = 0.539) to cover the extremes of the CAD spectrum. A further 66 patients with severe CAD (age, 64 ± 9 years) prior to surgical coronary revascularization were added for correlation studies. The Gensini score was calculated from coronary angiograms as a measure of CAD severity. Urinary proteomic analyses were performed using capillary electrophoresis coupled online to micro time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The urinary polypeptide pattern was classified using a predefined algorithm and resulting in the CAD238 score, which expresses the pattern quantitatively.
RESULTS
In the whole cohort of patients with CAD (Gensini score 60 [40; 98]) we found a close correlation between Gensini scores and CAD238 (ρ = 0.465, P < 0.001). After adjustment for age (β = 0.144; P = 0.135) the CAD238 score remained a significant predictor of the Gensini score (β =0.418; P < 0.001). In those with less severe CAD (Gensini score 40 [25; 61]), however, we could not detect a difference in CAD238 compared to patients with NCA (-0.487 ± 0.341 vs. -0.612 ± 0.269, P = 0.119).
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion the urinary polypeptide CAD238 score is associated with CAD burden and has potential as a new cardiovascular biomarker. | 10.1186/s12872-016-0246-y |
pubmed_98_16808 | We present the case of a 71-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus manifesting abdominal pain, weight loss, dyspnea on small efforts, muscle weakness, and left subcostal swelling. Associated with this, he developed frequent episodes of syncope, diaphoresis, and night sweats, during which blood glucose levels below 50 mg/dL and improvement were documented after the administration of hypercaloric beverages or intravenous dextrose. Abdominal computed tomography revealed the presence of a tumor of approximately 20 cm dependent on the left adrenal gland. Histopathological diagnosis of a solitary retroperitoneal fibrous tumor was obtained, confirmed by immunohistochemistry. | 10.24875/CIRU.21000035 |
pubmed_272_21683 | Subcutaneous insulin has been used to treat diabetes since the 1920s; however, despite a number of different formulations, intensive insulin therapy with multiple daily injections has not gained widespread clinical acceptance. Attempts to find effective, well-tolerated, nonenteral routes for delivering insulin began in the 1920s, and, over the years, have included ocular, buccal, rectal, vaginal, oral, nasal and uterine delivery systems. Until recently, many researchers believed that insulin delivered noninvasively was associated with too low a bioavailability to offer a realistic clinical approach. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that inhaled insulin is an effective, well-tolerated, noninvasive alternative to subcutaneous regular insulin. Critically, inhaled insulin shows a more physiological insulin profile than that seen with conventional insulin. Further studies are needed to confirm long-term efficacy and pulmonary safety, to compare the different approaches, and to characterize better their relative places in practice. As a result of the recognition of the importance of tighter control of glycaemia and the growing number of patients with type 2 diabetes who receive insulin, inhaled insulin could become an increasingly integral part of managing diabetes. | pubmed_272_21683 |
pubmed_16_9916 | Urinary retention is a rare condition in women. We report a case of intermittent retention associated with severe anterior displacement of the uterus and cervix caused by a large hydrosalpinx. We also highlight the possibility of a falsely elevated post-void residual as measured by a bladder scan due to hydrosalpinx. Resolution of the patient's symptoms was documented following salpingectomy. | 10.1007/s00192-006-0207-6 |
pubmed_352_4322 | Using silver impregnation and electron-microscopic techniques, nerves have been demonstrated in rat axillary, cervical and inguinal lymph nodes, and their distribution was investigated. With the electron microscope, vesicle-containing varicosities or terminals are demonstrated in close proximity to reticulum cells, lymphocytes, plasmablasts and mature plasma cells. Nerves supplying the blood vessels possibly differ from those supplying stromal or lymphocytic elements. | 10.1159/000146293 |
pubmed_994_3555 | A generalization of the random geometric graph (RGG) model is proposed by considering a set of points uniformly and independently distributed on a rectangle of unit area instead of on a unit square [0,1](2). The topological properties of the random rectangular graphs (RRGs) generated by this model are then studied as a function of the rectangle sides lengths a and b=1/a, and the radius r used to connect the nodes. When a=1 we recover the RGG, and when a→∞ the very elongated rectangle generated resembles a one-dimensional RGG. We obtain here analytical expressions for the average degree, degree distribution, connectivity, average path length, and clustering coefficient for RRG. These results provide evidence that show that most of these properties depend on the connection radius and the side length of the rectangle, usually in a monotonic way. The clustering coefficient, however, increases when the square is transformed into a slightly elongated rectangle, and after this maximum it decays with the increase of the elongation of the rectangle. We support all our findings by computational simulations that show the goodness of the theoretical models proposed for RRGs. | 10.1103/PhysRevE.91.042805 |
pubmed_121_8987 | Although surgical resection is available as a potentially curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), high recurrence of HCC after surgery remains a serious obstacle for long-term patient survival. Therefore, the discovery of valuable prognostic biomarkers for HCC recurrence is urgently needed. Pre-S2 mutant is a mutant form of hepatitis B virus (HBV) large surface protein which is expressed from the HBV surface gene harboring deletion mutations spanning the pre-S2 gene segment. Pre-S2 mutant-positive HCC patients have been regarded as a high-risk population of HCC recurrence after resection surgery and display increased immune checkpoint programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and pro-tumor regulatory T cells (Tregs) infiltration in tumor tissues. In this study, the association of higher levels of PD-L1 expression and Tregs infiltration in tumor tissues with post-operative HCC recurrence in pre-S2 mutant-positive HCC patients was evaluated. We found that patients with pre-S2 mutant in combination with higher levels of PD-L1 expression and Tregs infiltration in tumor tissues were independently associated with a higher risk of HCC recurrence (hazard ratio, 4.109; p value = 0.0011) and poorer recurrence-free survival (median, 8.2 versus 18.0 months; p value = 0.0004) than those of patients with either one or two of these three biomarkers. Furthermore, a combination of pre-S2 mutant, intra-tumoral PD-L1 expression, and tumor-infiltrating Tregs exhibited superior performance in identifying patients at a higher risk of HCC recurrence (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.8400). Collectively, this study suggests that higher levels of PD-L1 expression and Tregs infiltration in tumor tissues predicted a higher risk of HCC recurrence in pre-S2 mutant-positive HCC patients after curative surgical resection. | 10.3390/v14061346 |
pubmed_1133_9558 | This research aims to describe the grammatical development of Turkish-speaking children with cochlear implants (CI) using the Turkish adaptation of the Language Assessment and Remediation Profile (LARSP). The study was conducted on a total of 15 children with CIs aged 43-87 months with 22-45 months of hearing age. A total of 750 utterances were elicited from the CI group's recorded speech samples and analysed using the methodology of Turkish-Language Assessment and Remediation Profile (TR-LARSP). A cross-sectional descriptive model is used in the study. The results show that there is a significant difference in the acquisition of grammatical structures in children with CIs as compared to typically developing (TD) age-matched children in Turkish. In conclusion, this study suggests that after the implantation of these children, the speech therapist should consider the acquisition time of morpho-syntactical structures before making a language-based therapy plan. | 10.1080/02699206.2017.1334231 |
pubmed_32_7395 | 1. The aims of the present study were to characterize the pharmacological profile of a new endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist, TAK-044 and to consider whether it limits the extension of myocardial infarct size in rats. 2. Binding of [125I]-ET-1 to ET receptors on rabbit ventricular and cerebellar membrane fractions was inhibited by TAK-044 with IC50 values of 3.8 nM and 130 nM, respectively. 3. It inhibited ET-1, ET-2 and ET-3-induced vasoconstriction of porcine isolated coronary arteries in a competitive (ET-1, ET-2) and a non-competitive (ET-3) manner. 4. In the rat in vivo, the ET-1-induced blood pressure changes including transient hypotension followed by sustained hypertension, were inhibited by TAK-044 (0.1-10 mg kg-1, i.v.) in a dose-dependent manner. 5. Acute myocardial infarction induced by 1 h coronary occlusion followed by 24 h reperfusion in rats caused an infarct size of 60 +/- 2% (n = 12) of the area-at-risk by weight. 6. Intravenous injection of TAK-044 10 min before coronary occlusion reduced the infarct size in a dose-dependent manner: 32% and 54% reductions at 1 and 3 mg kg-1, respectively. 7. TAK-044 administered 10 min before or 1 h after reperfusion (1 mg kg-1, i.v.) showed similar inhibitory effects: 34% and 23% reductions, respectively. 8. We conclude that TAK-044 is an ETA/ETB receptor antagonist which shows strong inhibitory effects on the extension of myocardial infarct size after coronary artery occlusion-reperfusion in rats. | 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1995.tb13296.x |
pubmed_948_12827 | Electroencephalographic (EEG) power spectrum analysis was performed in 18 conscious, adult horses for evaluation as control values for EEG data obtained during anesthesia. Computer-processed total amplitudes for the frequency range 0 to 32 Hz were mainly between 400 and 600 microV, with 80% spectral edge frequency between 16.6 and 32.5 Hz. The highest electrical activity was in the delta band (41.3 +/- 4.4% of total amplitude); there was a less pronounced activity in the beta (34.2 +/- 5.2%), theta (13.6 +/- 1.5%), and alpha (10.0 +/- 1.0%) bands. The applicability of EEG power spectrum analysis as a guide to depth of anesthesia was evaluated in four horses by comparing simultaneously recorded EEG data and clinical signs of anesthesia. Global changes in cerebrocortical electrical activity were detected with a single, monopolar (left frontoatlanto-occipital) EEG lead. Increasing depth of halothane anesthesia was accompanied by a pronounced shift in EEG activity from beta to theta and delta frequency bands, a decrease in 80% spectral edge frequency from 21.5 +/- 2.4 Hz to 12.6 +/- 2.2 Hz, a reduction in the beta/delta ratio of fractional amplitudes from 2.37 +/- 0.84 to 0.49 +/- 0.04, and a slight inconsistent increase in total amplitude from 96.1 +/- 37.3 microV to 185.5 +/- 53 microV. These results show that changes in the clinical signs of anesthetic depth in horses can be described numerically by use of EEG power spectrum analysis. | 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1991.tb01284.x |
pubmed_143_127 | A new species of natricid snakes, Trachischium apteii sp. nov. is described from the northeastern Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh. The new species differs from its congeners in the following suite of characters: dorsal scales in 15:15:15 rows, SVL 293-299mm, higher ventral count 143-150, very faint dorsal longitudinal lines, absence of yellow patch on the neck and the belly being pale yellow. Preliminary discussion on the phylogenetic position of the members of the genus Trachischium is presented. This discovery of a new snake species advocates the need for dedicated surveys to document biodiversity across Arunachal Pradesh and the neighbouring States of northeastern India. | 10.1016/j.crvi.2019.10.003 |
pubmed_418_3946 | Host innate immune system is critical for combating invading microbes including Influenza A virus (IAV). As an important arm of the innate immunity, the NLRP3 inflammasome has been found essential for protecting host against IAV challenge, while the mechanism remained elusive. Here we found that mice carrying a gain-of-function mutation in the Nlrp3 gene (Nlrp3R258W) are strongly resistant to IAV infection. Upon H1N1 IAV infection, the Nlrp3R258W mice exhibited decreased weight loss, increased survival rate and attenuated lung damage compared with WT littermate controls. Mechanistically, the resistance of Nlrp3R258W mice to IAV infection was dependent on IL-1β-mediated neutrophil recruitment. Upon IAV infection, mice carrying the Nlrp3R258W mutation produced more IL-1β than WT mice in the lung, which enhanced neutrophil recruitment locally. The recruited neutrophils facilitated IAV clearance, so that the viral load in Nlrp3R258W mice was lower than that in control mice. Conversely, neutrophil depletion in Nlrp3R258W mice compromised IAV clearance. Taken together, our results demonstrate a previously undescribed mechanism by which hyperactivation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome protects mice from IAV infection through IL-1β mediated neutrophil recruitment, thus suggest that positively fine tuning the physiological function of NLRP3 inflammasome can be beneficial for a mammalian host against IAV challenge. | 10.1016/j.cyto.2019.04.019 |
pubmed_304_14792 | Because the active remodeling of biointerfaces is a paramount feature of nature, it is very likely that future, advanced biomaterials will be required to mimic at least certain aspects of the dynamic properties of natural interfaces. This need has fueled a quest for model surfaces that can undergo reversible switching upon application of external stimuli. Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a model system for studying reversibly switching surfaces based on low-density monolayers of mercaptohexadecanoic acid and mercaptoundecanoic acid. These monolayers were assembled on both gold and silver electrodes. When conducting electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under physiological conditions, these monolayers exhibit significant changes in their electrochemical barrier properties upon application of electrical DC potentials below +400 mV with respect to a standard calomel electrode. We further found the impedance switching to be reversible under physiological conditions. Moreover, the impedance can be fine-tuned by changing the magnitude of the applied electrical potential. Before and during impedance switching at pH 7.4 in aqueous buffer solutions, the low-density monolayers showed good stability according to grazing angle infrared spectroscopy data. We anticipate low-density monolayers to be potentially useful model surfaces when designing active biointerfaces for cell-based studies or rechargeable biosensors. | 10.1021/la061677o |
pubmed_1127_15507 | Transnational tobacco manufacturing and tobacco leaf companies engage in numerous efforts to oppose global tobacco control. One of their strategies is to stress the economic importance of tobacco to the developing countries that grow it. We analyze tobacco industry documents and ethnographic data to show how tobacco companies used this argument in the case of Malawi, producing and disseminating reports promoting claims of losses of jobs and foreign earnings that would result from the impending passage of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). In addition, they influenced the government of Malawi to introduce resolutions or make amendments to tobacco-related resolutions in meetings of United Nations organizations, succeeding in temporarily displacing health as the focus in tobacco control policymaking. However, these efforts did not substantially weaken the FCTC. | 10.2105/AJPH.2008.146217 |
pubmed_1105_11413 | This study was carried out to investigate the potential subchronic inhalation toxicity of dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) via whole-body exposure in F344 rats. Groups of 10 rats of each sex were exposed to DMDS vapor by whole-body exposure at concentrations of 0, 5, 25, or 125 ppm for 6 h/day, 5 days/wk for 13 wk. All the rats were sacrificed at the end of treatment period. During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weights, food consumption, ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weights, and histopathology were examined. At 25 ppm, a decrease in the body weight gain, food intake, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was observed in the males, but not in the females. However, at 125 ppm, a decrease in the body weight gain, food intake, and thymus weight and an increase in the weights of adrenal glands were observed in both genders. Serum biochemical investigations revealed a decrease in the AST, ALT, BUN, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), and triglyceride levels and an increase in the glucose level. In contrast, no treatment-related effects were observed in the 5 ppm group. The toxic potency of DMDS was slightly higher in males than that in females. In these experimental conditions, the target organ was not determined in rats. The no-observed-adverse-effect concentration (NOAEC) was found to be 5 ppm, 6 h/day for male rats and 25 ppm, 6 h/day for female rats. | 10.1080/08958370500516291 |
pubmed_729_13900 | In this report, clinical, echocardiographic, and pathologic findings of a patient with multiple masses caused by tuberculosis both in the left and right side of the heart are presented. After antituberculosis treatment some of the masses disappeared and some became smaller. Although an intracardiac mass caused by tuberculosis is very rare, it should be considered in the list of masses detected by echocardiography. | 10.1067/mje.2002.119846 |
pubmed_357_9659 | Research has shown that team reflection is a critical transition process for coordination processes and team performance, but our understanding of its dynamics and relationship to action processes and performance is incomplete. The goal of the present study was to examine the long-term change in reflection in teams over time and explore whether these changes are related to implicit and explicit coordination processes and performance improvement. Drawing on the recurring phase model of team processes and team reflexivity theory, we hypothesized that team reflection is at least stable or increases over time for dissimilar tasks, that reflection trajectories are positively associated with implicit and negatively associated with explicit coordination in the later phases, and that implicit coordination mediates the relationship between team reflection and performance improvement. This model was tested in a three-wave longitudinal study (N = 175 teams) over a 2-months period. Results from growth curve modeling and structural equation modeling provided support for our hypotheses. | 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.677896 |
pubmed_963_16273 | Most clinicians feel the best clinical outcome occurs when patients are treated for serious infections with injections for the entire illness. Unfortunately, this type of prescribing style results in considerable indirect costs such as those involved in increased labor (nursing, pharmacy, intravenous technician time), supplies (needles, syringes, intravenous solutions, administration sets, infusion pumps) and nosocomial bacteremia. It now appears from pharmacodynamic and pharmacoeconomic information that this traditional prescribing behavior should change in the management of many infectious diseases, particularly in those clinically stable patients who can ingest or digest a medication. With the presence of numerous antibiotics with high bioavailability, many infections in such patients can now be successfully treated with an oral agent. This review provides examples of common infections (such as community- and hospital-acquired pneumonias, intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections, and skin, soft tissue, and bone infections) in which oral therapy can replace parenteral agents. | pubmed_963_16273 |
pubmed_243_799 | 1 Injection of pentobarbitone sodium into a lateral cerebral ventricle of rats produced a loss of righting reflex. The duration of anaesthesia was dose-dependent.2 The optimum dose of pentobarbitone to allow study of the factors affecting the sleeping time was considered to be 650 mug injected in 25 mul water.3 In a study of the effect of age and sex on the sleeping time, the youngest rats used (88 g body weight) were found to be the most sensitive to barbiturate. Female rats were more sensitive than male animals.4 The duration of anaesthesia was not affected by induction or inhibition of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme activity.5 Prior administration (acute) of central nervous system depressant drugs shortened the latent period and prolonged the duration of sleep. Prior administration of stimulant drugs antagonized the effect of pentobarbitone.6 Animals withdrawn following chronic administration of a number of drugs, barbitone, barbitone/bemegride mixture, Mandrax (methaqualone: diphenhydramine; 10: 1), chlordiazepoxide, nitrazepam, chlorpromazine or ethanol, exhibited a significant tolerance to intracerebroventricularly administered pentobarbitone.7 Withdrawal of amphetamine, morphine, methyprylon or diazepam did not result in tolerance to intracerebroventricularly administered pentobarbitone.8 Chronic administration of all drugs except amphetamine and morphine induced a tolerance to intraperitoneally administered hexobarbitone (100 mg/kg).9 The usefulness of sleeping time determination following intracerebroventricular administration of pentobarbitone as an assessment of central nervous system excitability is discussed. It is concluded that this method gives a valid indication of the sensitivity of the central nervous system to barbiturate and of the level of excitability in general. The method is particularly applicable in situations where the activity of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme activity may be altered. | 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1974.tb08583.x |
pubmed_258_18946 | BACKGROUND
Many rheumatic diseases may cause gastrointestinal manifestations. The goal of this study was to analyze the prevalence and predictors of gastrointestinal involvement in patients with rheumatic disorders.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review was performed for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and sys- temic sclerosis who have consulted due to gastrointestinal symptoms. The relationship between clinical symptoms, gastroscopic/colo- noscopic findings, and histopathological results with current drugs and disease duration was evaluated.
RESULTS
A total of 364 patients with rheumatic disorders and 740 people as control group were included in the study. Abdominal bloating followed by abdominal pain, regurgitation, and heartburn were reported as the main complaints by more than half of the patients. Most of the patients had gastric mucosal changes expressed as Lanza score, and the presence of major polypharmacy was the most important factor affecting Lanza score (odds ratio: 10, 95% CI: 1.882-54.111, P < .007) followed by disease duration (odds ratio: 1.559, 95% CI: 1.369-1.775, P < .001) and age (odds ratio: 1.069, 95% CI: 1.030-1.109, P < .001). In general, approximately 30% of the patients were posi- tive for Helicobacter pylori infection and 35% showed intestinal metaplasia in histopathological examination. Most of the colonoscopic findings were associated with colonic polyps (n = 81). In multivariate analysis, disease duration was the only factor that affected the pres- ence of colonic lesions (Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve (AUROC): 0.871, 95% CI: 0.824-0.918, P < .001).
CONCLUSION
Patients with rheumatologic diseases frequently have gastrointestinal manifestations. The most encountered gastrointes- tinal symptom was abdominal bloating, followed by abdominal pain. Being aware of gastrointestinal manifestations and their determi- nants may help physicians manage and follow patients with rheumatologic disorders. | 10.5152/tjg.2022.21780 |
pubmed_745_18008 | Biochemical, microbiological and genetic studies were done to characterize the mechanism of bacterial formation of N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) from morpholine and nitrite at neutral pH. In Escherichia coli and Proteus morganii, the nitrosating activity was markedly induced when bacteria were cultured under anaerobiosis in minimal medium containing nitrate, while in the presence of nitrite there was no induction. However, induction of the nitrosating activity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa occurred in anaerobic cultures in the presence of either nitrate or nitrite. The nitrosation capacity was also examined in various E. coli K12 mutants whose structural gene of either nitrate reductase or nitrite reductase was deleted. Nitrosation was not linked to the three (NADH-, formate- and glucose-dependent) nitrite reductases but was directly dependent on the presence of a nitrate reductase. | 10.1099/00221287-134-1-221 |
pubmed_489_13527 | This is the first reported study of ventricular activation patterns after cardiac transplantation, using electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI), a noninvasive method for electrophysiologic mapping. This study of ten patients reveals that transplanted hearts have unique ventricular activation patterns in sinus rhythm, activating early in the epicardial aspect of the anterior or inferior septum, with intact right and left bundle branch conduction. They have late activation with slowing of conduction near the right ventricular (RV) basal free wall, causing a mild QRS prolongation and an rSr' pattern in lead V1 of the ECG. PVCs arise from both endocardial and epicardial locations in both ventricles. | pubmed_489_13527 |
pubmed_43_21267 | On intensive fish farms, 10% of the population dies exclusively from pathogens, and Photobacterium damselae subsp. Piscicida (Ph. damselae subsp. Piscicida), the bacteria causing pasteurellosis in marine aquaculture, is one of the major pathogens involved. The objective of this study was to obtain new probiotic strains against pasteurellosis in order to limit the use of chemotherapy, avoiding the environmental repercussions generated by the abusive use of these products. In this study, 122 strains were isolated from the gills and intestines of different marine fish species and were later evaluated in vitro to demonstrate the production of antagonistic effects, the production of antibacterial substances, adhesion and growth to mucus, resistance to bile and resistance to pH gradients, as well as its harmlessness and the dynamic of expression of immune-related genes by real-time PCR after administration of the potential probiotic in the fish diet. Only 1/122 strains showed excellent results to be considered as a potential probiotic strain and continue its characterization against Ph. damselae subsp. piscicida to determine its protective effect and elucidating in future studies its use as a possible probiotic strain for marine aquaculture. | 10.3390/ani11072029 |
pubmed_289_10061 | The discovery that elevated total cholesterol levels and the subsequent understanding that low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has led to the development of lipid management strategies that seek to reduce the burden of CVD. Although substantive progress has been made in reducing death and cardiovascular events, questions remain regarding the optimal approach to further reduce CVD-associated death and disability. Based on current evidence, statins are the clear first-line agents for the management of hyperlipidemia in patients at high risk for cardiovascular events. However, due to the failure of recent clinical trials evaluating antihyperlipidemic drugs, the most appropriate lipid management strategy in patients who cannot tolerate statin therapy or who warrant antihyperlipidemic therapies in addition to statins is a major therapeutic controversy. In this review, we summarize the clinical trial evidence evaluating the efficacy of second-line antihyperlipidemic drug classes for reducing cardiovascular risk, provide recommendations for appropriate use of nonstatin lipid-altering drugs, and identify key areas of future research to support evidence-based lipid management. Given the complexity, magnitude, and burden of CVD, opportunities to improve processes of care and identify new therapeutic options clearly exist. | 10.1002/phar.1268 |
pubmed_491_23867 | Blastocyst biopsy is now widely used for both preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Although this approach yields good results, variable embryo quality and rates of development remain a challenge. Here, a case is reported in which a blastocyst was biopsied for PGS by array comparative genomic hybridization on day 6 after insemination, having hatched completely. In addition to a small trophectoderm sample, excluded cell fragments from the subzonal space from this embryo were also sampled. Unexpectedly, the array comparative genomic hybridization results from the fragments and trophectoderm sample were non-concordant: 47,XX,+19 and 46,XY, respectively. DNA fingerprinting by short tandem repeat and amelogenin analysis confirmed the sex chromosome difference but seemed to show that the two samples were related but non-identical. Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and karyomapping identified that the origin of the DNA amplified from the fragments was that of the second polar body corresponding to the oocyte from which the biopsied embryo developed. The fact that polar body DNA can persist to the blastocyst stage provides evidence that excluded cell fragments should not be used for diagnostic purposes and should be avoided when performing embryo biopsies as there is a risk of diagnostic errors. | pubmed_491_23867 |
pubmed_489_15658 | A long-term selection experiment for high (HWS) and low (LWS) BW at 8 wk of age (BW8) was conducted in White Plymouth Rock chickens. Over 54 generations of selection, responses to bidirectional selection were profound. Increase in BW8 in line HWS was linear, and there was a significant quadratic response in line LWS for BW at both 4 and 8 wk of age. Although there is no indication that line HWS has come close to approaching a selection limit in more than 50 generations, selection limits occurred in line LWS chickens at generation 48 for females and generation 50 for males. Evidence also exists that one or more beneficial mutations have occurred in line HWS, aiding in progressive increases in BW8 over generations. Analyses of ratios of BW at 4 wk of age with those at 8 wk of age (ratio 4/8) revealed that LWS females grew proportionately faster through 4 wk of age than LWS males or HWS chickens. Comparisons of the selected lines with contemporary lines in which selection had been relaxed (discontinued) indicated that, in line HWS, the relaxed lines generally regressed toward original (preselection) values, suggesting that the linear response to single-trait selection was at least partially due to continued genetic variance. In LWS chickens, a series of plateaus in selection response occurred, but relaxed contemporary lines still regressed toward preselection values for BW8. In spite of the length of this selection experiment (54 generations), genetic variance and beneficial mutations have allowed continued, linear response to selection for increased BW8. Response to selection for decreased BW8 has been tempered by physiological barriers that have decreased survival of young chicks or the ability of females to reproduce. These findings are discussed in a historical perspective. | 10.3382/ps.2013-03069 |
pubmed_1004_13539 | Herpes zoster in the distribution of the maxillary and mandibular divisions of the trigeminal nerve is characterized by painful vesicular eruptions of the skin and oral mucosa in the distribution of the affected nerves. Oral complications may occur, including post-herpetic neuralgia, devitalization of teeth, abnormal development of permanent teeth, root resorption and periapical lesions. In cases where necrosis of the alveolar bony process occur it may be preceded or accompanied by spontaneous exfoliation of teeth. This usually follows the resolution of the acute phase of HZ and is more prevalent in HIV-seropositive than in HIV-seronegative subjects. A case of HZ of the trigeminal nerve in an HIV-seropositive subject, with complications of necrosis of alveolar bony process, external root resorption and tooth exfoliation is presented and the literature of HIV-associated HZ is reviewed. | pubmed_1004_13539 |
pubmed_434_10081 | We detail, derive and correct the technical use of the solid angle variable identified in formal guidance that relates skyshine calculations to dose-equivalent rate. We further recommend it for use with all National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP), Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) and similar reports documented. In general, for beams of identical width which have different resulting areas, within ± 1.0 % maximum deviation the analytical pyramidal solution is 1.27 times greater than a misapplied analytical conical solution through all field sizes up to 40 × 40 cm². Therefore, we recommend determining the exact results with the analytical pyramidal solution for square beams and the analytical conical solution for circular beams. | 10.1120/jacmp.v11i4.3286 |
pubmed_666_20793 | Though renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for 2% of global cancer diagnoses and deaths, it has more than doubled in incidence in the developed world over the past half-century, and today is the ninth most common neoplasm in the United States (US). While North America and Western Europe have the highest disease burden (with the Belarus highest in incidence), Latin America, Asia and Africa are projected to see an increase in incidence as nation's transition to a Western lifestyle. Most cases of RCC are discovered incidentally on imaging, and survival is highly dependent on the stage at diagnosis, with the metastatic disease having only a 12% 5-year survival rate. Two-thirds of RCC diagnoses are made in men, and the average age of diagnosis in the US is 64. Those with genetic predispositions, namely von Hippel-Lindau disease, tend to be diagnosed 20 years earlier. RCC has a greater incidence among Hispanics and Native Americans, and a lower survival rate among African Americans in the US. Modifiable risk factors for RCC include smoking, obesity, poorly-controlled hypertension, diet and alcohol, and occupational exposures. Prevention strategies aimed at improving survival and reducing disparities include addressing lifestyle factors and access to regular healthcare among underserved populations and in developing nations, as well as more rigorous imaging guidelines to detect RCC at an earlier stage. A stronger understanding of global RCC epidemiology can facilitate prevention efforts, especially in developing nations and underserved communities where disease burden is predicted to rise in the coming decades. | 10.14740/wjon1279 |
pubmed_40_21090 | OBJECTIVES
A sternal-sparing approach for bilateral lung transplantation was recently applied to reoperative lung transplant cases and is compared with the traditional clamshell approach.
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 15 consecutive reoperative bilateral lung transplants performed from January 2008 to April 2011 was conducted. Outcomes were compared between the first 11 patients who underwent the traditional clamshell and the most recent 4 patients who underwent the sternal-sparing approach.
RESULTS
The indication for retransplantation was obliterative bronchiolitis in all patients. Both groups were similar with regard to age, allograft ischaemic time and operative time. Cardiopulmonary bypass was more frequent in the sternal-sparing group although required for a shorter period of time. The need for postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for primary graft dysfunction was similar in both groups. The length of ICU care and total hospitalization length of stay were similar for the sternal-sparing group compared with the traditional clamshell approach. Operative mortality and overall survival also did not differ.
CONCLUSIONS
Reoperative bilateral lung transplantation with a sternal-sparing approach is feasible and may yield outcomes similar to those in the traditional clamshell approach. Further analysis with larger numbers of patients is warranted to delineate the benefits of this approach for patients requiring reoperative lung transplantation. | 10.1093/icvts/ivt305 |
pubmed_92_12092 | The three isoforms of antigen 85 (A, B, and C) are the most abundant secreted mycobacterial proteins and catalyze transesterification reactions that synthesize mycolated arabinogalactan, trehalose monomycolate (TMM), and trehalose dimycolate (TDM), important constituents of the outermost layer of the cellular envelope of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These three enzymes are nearly identical at the active site and have therefore been postulated to exist to evade host immunity. Distal to the active site is a second putative carbohydrate-binding site of lower homology. Mutagenesis of the three isoforms at this second site affected both substrate selectivity and overall catalytic activity in vitro. Using synthetic and natural substrates, we show that these three enzymes exhibit unique selectivity; antigen 85A more efficiently mycolates TMM to form TDM, whereas C (and to a lesser extent B) has a higher rate of activity using free trehalose to form TMM. This difference in substrate selectivity extends to the hexasaccharide fragment of cell wall arabinan. Mutation of secondary site residues from the most active isoform (C) into those present in A or B partially interconverts this substrate selectivity. These experiments in combination with molecular dynamics simulations reveal that differences in the N-terminal helix α9, the adjacent Pro(216)-Phe(228) loop, and helix α5 are the likely cause of changes in activity and substrate selectivity. These differences explain the existence of three isoforms and will allow for future work in developing inhibitors. | 10.1074/jbc.M114.581579 |
pubmed_937_8988 | The last few decades have seen a steady increase in the global production and utilisation of the alkenylbenzene, styrene. The compound is of major importance in the petrochemical and polymer-processing industries, which can contribute to the pollution of natural resources via the release of styrene-contaminated effluents and off-gases. This is a cause for some concern as human over-exposure to styrene, and/or its early catabolic intermediates, can have a range of destructive health effects. These features have prompted researchers to investigate routes of styrene degradation in microorganisms, given the potential application of these organisms in bioremediation/biodegradation strategies. This review aims to examine the recent advances which have been made in elucidating the underlying biochemistry, genetics and physiology of microbial styrene catabolism, identifying areas of interest for the future and highlighting the potential industrial importance of individual catabolic pathway enzymes. | 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2002.tb00622.x |
pubmed_1065_13450 | BACKGROUND
Coronary stenting was initially designed to treat a bailout scenario. Prospective randomized trials comparing stent implantation with standard techniques, including emergency coronary artery bypass grafting, are lacking. The aim of this trial was to test the superiority of immediate stent implantation compared with standard techniques for the treatment of abrupt or threatening closure after coronary balloon angioplasty.
METHODS
In a prospective trial, 100 patients with abrupt vessel closure or symptomatic dissections causing objective signs of ischemia were randomly assigned to treatment with immediate placement of stents (n = 51) versus standard techniques such as prolonged dilatation or emergency bypass surgery (n = 49). The primary end point was the achievement of successful stabilization not requiring crossover to the other study group. Secondary end points included event-free survival and restenosis.
RESULTS
Successful stabilization was achieved in 94% of patients in the stent group compared with 78% of patients in the standard treatment group (P =.038). Two patients died in each group, and there was a trend toward a higher incidence of myocardial infarction (16% vs 8%; P =.163) and a significantly increased creatine phosphokinase level (245 IU/L [95% confidence interval, 217-265 IU/L] vs 179 IU/L [confidence interval 140-212 IU/L]; P =.0002) in the standard treatment group. Event-free survival after 250 days was 72% in the stent group compared with 29% in the standard treatment group (P =.001). The angiographic restenosis rate was 30% in the stent group versus 59% in the standard treatment group (P =.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Immediate stenting, if technically feasible, shows superior short- and long-term results compared with standard treatment options. | 10.1067/mhj.2000.110573 |
pubmed_687_7572 | Introduction: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) is accepted as an efficient method to provide long-term enteral nutrition. PEG accidental dislodgement (device exteriorization confirmed by expert evaluation) rate is high and can lead to major morbidity.Objective: To identify independent risk factors for PEG accidental dislodgement.Methods: Retrospective, single-center study, including consecutive patients submitted to PEG procedure, for 38 consecutive months. Every patient had 12 months minimum follow-up after PEG placement. Univariate analysis selected variables with at least marginal association (p < .15) with the outcome variable, PEG dislodgement, which were included in a logistic regression multivariate model. Discriminative power was assessed using area under curve (AUC) of the receiver operating curve (ROC).Results: We included 164 patients, 67.7% (111) were female, mean age was 81 years. We report 59 (36%) PEG dislodgements, of which 13 (7.9%) corresponded to early dislodgements. The variables with marginal association were hypoalbuminemia (p = .095); living at home (p = .049); living in a nursing home (p = .074); cerebrovascular disease (CVD) (p = .028); weight change of more than 5 kg, either increase or decrease (p = .001); psychomotor agitation (p < .001); distance inner bumper-abdominal wall (p = .034) and irregular appointment follow-up (p = .149). At logistic multivariate regression, the significant variables after model adjustment were CVD OR 4.8 (CI 95% 2.0-11.8), weight change OR 4.7 (CI 95%1.6-13.9) and psychomotor agitation OR 18.5 (CI 95% 5.2-65.6), with excellent discriminative power (AUC ROC 0.797 [CI95% 0.719-0.875]).Conclusion: PEG is a common procedure and accidental dislodgement is a frequent complication. CVD, psychomotor agitation and weight change >5 kg increase the risk of this complication and should be seriously considered when establishing patients' individual care requirements. | 10.1080/00365521.2020.1740779 |
pubmed_659_17865 | Knowing about the virology of human papillomavirus (HPV) including its structure, functions and mechanism of infection, helps in understanding the disease process and morphology of precancerous lesions for cervical cancer. Two types of HPV, low- and high-risk type, adopt different mechanisms of infection which cannot be differentiated on morphological basis. In addition to HPV infection, many other factors such as genetic predisposition, hormonal factors, host immune response, and multiple sexual partners can modify the course and progression of the disease. The viral genome comprises early and late proteins. These early and late genes are expressed in particular course of time after initial infection. Various products of early genes (E1-E7) coordinate for completion of viral life cycle in maturing squamous epithelium by utilizing replication factors and DNA polymerase enzyme of the host cell nucleus. The late genes are mainly concerned with packaging of the viral particles and their release through mature squamous cells. The episomal form of infection seen in the low-risk group of viruses results in productive infection whereas the integrated form seen in high-risk group of viruses is the basis of disruption of host cell growth cycle by inactivating two important tumor suppressor genes p53 and Rb gene by products of E6 and E7 genes. Cervical precancerous lesions and cancer are the resultant effect of the accumulation of mutations. This article discusses the virology of HPV, pathogenesis of HPV infection, and various other factors modifying the disease course. | 10.25259/CMAS_03_03_2021 |
pubmed_727_7297 | Different species of animals (warm-blooded, poikilotherms and cold-blooded) were exposed to oxygen high pressure (OHP) (1-4 ata) for 2-8 h. OHP revealed (a) a different vulnerability in various species; (b) an inverse correlation between basal oxygen consumption and their vulnerability; (c) the critical point of the toxic effect of OHP in normothermia was an exposition time of 2 h with 2 ata OHP; (d) morphological changes of lung, CNS and vessels -- intense folding of alveolar septa with cell hyperplasia and hypertrophy; (e) electron-microscopical demonstration of damaged endothelial cells with total or partial occlusion of the capillaries. | 10.1159/000193690 |
pubmed_842_17777 | In a hospital-based, prospective cohort study, the effects of the three standard treatment regimens for mild Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), oral (p.o.) metronidazole at 500 mg three times/day, intravenous (i.v.) metronidazole at 500 mg three times/day, and oral (p.o.) vancomycin at 250 mg four times/day, were compared with respect to the risk of occurrence of complications, sequelae, and all-cause death within 30 days after the date of starting treatment. Differences in the incidence of these outcomes were tested by χ² or Fisher's exact tests. A Poisson regression model was performed to control for possible confounding effects of sex, age, and severity of comorbidity categorized according to the Charlson comorbidity index. The highest mortality was observed in the metronidazole i.v. group, with a mortality rate 38.1% (16/42) compared to mortality rates of 7.4% (9/121) in the metronidazole p.o. group and 9.5% (4/42) in the vancomycin p.o. group (P < 0.001). After adjustment for possible effects of sex, age (> 65 years), and severity of comorbidity, the relative risk of a 30-day fatal outcome for patients receiving metronidazole i.v. was 4.3 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.92 to 10; P < 0.0001) compared to patients treated with metronidazole p.o. and 4.0 (95% CI = 1.31 to 5.0; P < 0.015) compared to patients treated with vancomycin p.o. There were no significant differences in the risk of complications between the three treatment groups. This study generates the hypothesis that treatment with i.v. metronidazole is inferior to the oral alternatives metronidazole and vancomycin. | 10.1128/AAC.05647-11 |
pubmed_680_4289 | Objective
The aim of this study is to improve the effectiveness of training in putting on and removing personal protective equipment (PPE) during COVID-19.
Methods
An information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model intervention team was established with the adoption of the IMB model to intervene in putting on and removing PPE by medical staff during COVID-19. Specifically, the information intervention was strengthened through the formulation of the hospital manual for PPE application. In the present study's five-stage motivational interview, the personal motivation and social motivation of medical staff were deeply understood, helping the medical staff to improve their belief in the importance of correct PPE application and to establish the correct attitude toward PPE application. In terms of behavioral skills, there are numerous issues that could interfere with the establishment of proper PPE application, including material supply, double duty, simultaneous supervision of entering and leaving, continuous supervision, video supervision, and nosocomial infection inspection. The scores relating to PPE application knowledge and self-efficacy as well as the PPE usage qualification rate were calculated in the control group and the IMB intervention group and subsequently compared.
Results
For the control group and the IMB intervention group, the scores for PPE application knowledge were 87.78 ± 10.46 and 95.56 ± 9.06 points, respectively. For self-efficacy, the scores were 25.19 ± 0.97 and 33.79 ± 2.05 points, and the PPE usage qualification rates were 64.8% and 90.0%, respectively. The differences in all the scores were statistically significant between the two groups.
Conclusion
The application of the IMB model could improve the relevant knowledge relating to PPE application, strengthen the belief in the importance of and motivation for correct PPE application, improve the qualification rate for PPE application, and provide a theoretical and practical basis for reducing the occurrence of nosocomial infection. | 10.2147/IDR.S366049 |
pubmed_40_14654 | The alkaliphilic Bacillus halodurans strain PPKS-2 was shown to produce extracellular extreme alkaliphilic, halotolerent, detergent, and thermostable mannanase activity. The cultural conditions for the maximum enzyme production were optimized with respect to pH, temperature, NaCl, and inexpensive agro wastes as substrates. Mannanase production was enhanced more than 4-fold in the presence of 1 % defatted copra meal and 0.5 % peptone or feather hydrolysate at pH 11 and 40 °C. Mannanase was purified to 10.3-fold with 34.6 % yield by ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography methods. Its molecular mass was estimated to be 22 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The mannanase had maximal activity at pH 11 and 70 °C. This enzyme was active over a broad range of NaCl (0-16 %) and thermostable retaining 100 % of the original activity at 70 °C for 3 h. Immobilization of whole cells proved to be effective for continuous production of mannanase. Since the strain PPKS-2 grows on cheaper agro wastes such as defatted copra meal, corn husk, jowar bagasse, and wheat bran, these can be exploited for mannanase production on an industrial scale. | 10.1007/s12010-013-0333-9 |
pubmed_786_10717 | Use of R-Mix Fresh Cells has been shown to be a rapid and sensitive method for the detection and identification of respiratory viruses. We prospectively evaluated the impact of incorporation of R-Mix shell vials on the sensitivity and time to detection of seven respiratory viruses recovered in a comprehensive culture during the course of an entire respiratory season in a high-volume clinical laboratory. In this study, R-Mix shell vials were used as part of the culture of 3803 respiratory specimens. A total of 428 respiratory viruses were recovered. Staining of R-Mix vials after overnight incubation allowed initial detection of 274 of 279 influenza viruses, 33 of 38 parainfluenza viruses, 35 of 51 adenoviruses, and 52 of 60 respiratory syncytial viruses (RSVs). The time to reporting of all positive cultures after in-lab specimen receipt was 2.9 days on average and those initially detected in R-Mix cells were reported in 2.3 days on average. A combination of direct fluorescent-antibody (DFA) staining and virus culture was performed on a subset of 711 respiratory specimens. Of 152 viruses identified, 57 were observed only with DFA testing (55 RSV and 2 influenza A viruses) and 31 were recovered only in cell culture. After overnight incubation, R-Mix cells detected 87.1% of respiratory viruses not observed by DFA testing and 96.9% of viruses positive by both methods. The sensitivities of DFA testing and R-Mix cells for identification of influenza viruses were 70.5% and 96.7%, respectively. The R-Mix method detected influenza virus in 18 samples that were negative by DFA testing. | 10.1128/JCM.42.1.79-82.2004 |
pubmed_1105_2841 | This article presents an overview of tuberculosis and includes general information on the disease, signs, symptoms and diagnosis, up-to-date statistics and the implications for nursing practice. | 10.7748/ns2006.02.20.22.49.c4063 |
pubmed_343_19604 | Deep learning is increasingly used in decision-making tasks. However, understanding how neural networks produce final predictions remains a fundamental challenge. Existing work on interpreting neural network predictions for images often focuses on explaining predictions for single images or neurons. As predictions are often computed from millions of weights that are optimized over millions of images, such explanations can easily miss a bigger picture. We present Summit, an interactive system that scalably and systematically summarizes and visualizes what features a deep learning model has learned and how those features interact to make predictions. Summit introduces two new scalable summarization techniques: (1) activation aggregation discovers important neurons, and (2) neuron-influence aggregation identifies relationships among such neurons. Summit combines these techniques to create the novel attribution graph that reveals and summarizes crucial neuron associations and substructures that contribute to a model's outcomes. Summit scales to large data, such as the ImageNet dataset with 1.2M images, and leverages neural network feature visualization and dataset examples to help users distill large, complex neural network models into compact, interactive visualizations. We present neural network exploration scenarios where Summit helps us discover multiple surprising insights into a prevalent, large-scale image classifier's learned representations and informs future neural network architecture design. The Summit visualization runs in modern web browsers and is open-sourced. | 10.1109/TVCG.2019.2934659 |
pubmed_202_7250 | Twenty mongrel dogs were anesthetized with halothane 2.0%, 1.25%, 0.94%, and 0.63% in oxygen. Thyroarytenoid (TA) and posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) electromyography (EMG) tracings were recorded with the animal at rest, following mechanical irritation of the glottis, and during 20 mm Hg continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) following either airway occlusion or hyperventilation. Adductor laryngospasm was defined as continuous tonic TA EMG activity, silent PCA EMG, and vocal cord adduction. Abductor laryngospasm was defined as continuous tonic PCA EMG activity, silent TA EMG, and vocal cord abduction. Combined laryngospasm was defined as continuous tonic PCA and TA EMG activity, with variable vocal cord position. The incidence of adductor laryngospasm following mechanical irritation was 30% to 50%. The combined incidence of laryngospasm during application of CPAP following airway occlusion or hyperventilation was 25% to 50%, and differed from the incidence of irritation-induced adductor laryngospasm by 5% or less at the same anesthetic level. Continuous positive airway pressure appears to be a stimulant of laryngeal muscle spasm comparable to mechanical irritation of the glottis. | 10.1177/000348949210101103 |
pubmed_110_11472 | The implications of viewing the decision to kill oneself as a rational choice, based on an analysis of the costs and benefits, were explored. Suicide is but one symptom for an individual in distress to choose, and if suicide is prevented, other symptoms may appear in its place. Similarly, a critical question to be asked in suicide prevention is whether restriction of the availability of one method for suicide (such as detoxifying domestic gas or car exhaust) will result in suicidal individuals switching to a different method for suicide or to a different symptom of distress. | pubmed_110_11472 |
pubmed_538_3271 | Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopic (DRIFTS) measurements (4000-1500 cm(-1)) and the results of neutron powder diffraction have been combined to study the structure of adsorption complexes of water in a NaX zeolite at different water loadings (25, 48, 72, and 120 water molecules per unit cell, respectively). Sharp bands corresponding to non-hydrogen-bonded OH groups of water molecules and broad associate bands due to hydrogen-bonded molecules are observed in the DRIFT spectra. We observe a remarkable downshift of the high-frequency associate band in a narrow temperature interval when the water amount decreases from 120 to 72 molecules per unit cell, which could signify some kind of "phase transition" for the water inside the zeolite cavities. Neutron powder diffraction results show that water molecules are predominantly localized in or near the 12-ring windows. Water molecules with hydrogen-bonded and non-hydrogen-bonded OH groups were found, in agreement with the observation of sharp and broad bands in the DRIFT spectra. We find strong evidence for the formation of cyclic hexamers of water molecules localized in the 12-ring windows, which are further stabilized by hydrogen bonds to framework oxygen atoms. | 10.1021/jp054636u |
pubmed_427_4430 | A double-blind clinical study was performed to determine whether the release of progesterone from an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) had any effect on IUD event rates. A total of 101 women received intrauterine contraceptive devices containing progesterone, resulting in the accumulation of 877 women-months experience; 100 women received IUD's without steroid, resulting in the accumulation of 780 women-months. The only significant difference was a higher incidence of pregnancy in those patients using devices which did not contain progesterone. | 10.1016/0002-9378(75)90476-7 |
pubmed_635_14417 | Synovial lipomatosis is a benign proliferative disease of the subsynovial adipose which can lead to a variety of presentations. Cases of synovial lipomatosis in children or adolescents are rare. This case report describes an adolescent patient with a rare bilateral presentation of synovial lipomatosis. She had been treated for years prior to her presentation for juvenile idiopathic arthritis. She presented with chronic bilateral knee pain, swelling, and mechanical symptoms. Bilateral MR imaging demonstrated effusions, hypertrophy of the synovium, and polyp-like projections of tissue with the same signal intensity as fat which is pathognomonic for synovial lipomatosis. Arthroscopic synovectomy and extensive debridement of polyp like fat projections of the right knee was performed. Histopathology was consistent with the synovial lipomatosis diagnosis. Postoperatively, the patient was satisfied with her outcome with improved pain relief and function in her right knee. | 10.5312/wjo.v6.i3.369 |
pubmed_153_901 | BACKGROUND/AIMS
Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is the commonest known cause of posterior uveitis worldwide and reactivation is unpredictable. Based on results from one study, the authors proposed that antitoxoplasmic therapy should be initiated as prophylaxis for intraocular surgery in patients with toxoplasmic scars. The aim of this study is to analyse the risk of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis reactivation following intraocular procedures.
METHODS
Retrospective analysis of the medical records of a total of 69 patients who underwent intraocular surgery and presented with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis scars.
RESULTS
No patient received prophylactic antitoxoplasmic therapy. Reactivation following the surgical procedure occurred in four cases, with one at 3 months and the others respectively at 13, 14 and 17 months.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows that intraocular surgery did not result in a significant reactivation rate of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis in the absence of preoperative prophylactic antitoxoplasmic therapy. | 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-304259 |
pubmed_618_22903 | BACKGROUND
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) is a great source of morbidity in sub-Saharan African region. However, the magnitude of this problem remains largely uninvestigated despite having the largest number of population with HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of HAND among patients attending a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.
METHOD
We conducted a cross-sectional study among HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 1 year. They were assessed using the International HIV Dementia Scale, Word Recall Test, Stick Design Test, Subjective Cognitive Complaint Questionnaire, Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, Drug Abuse Screening Test, Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression Scale, Instrumental Activity of Daily Living, and neurological examination. The CD4 count and viral load were determined for all the participants. A consensus diagnosis was made on each case based on the Frascati criteria. Data obtained were analyzed using "SPSS" for Windows version 15.
RESULTS
A total of 418 HIV-positive patients participated in the study, of which 325 (77.8%) are females. The mean age (standard deviation) of the participants was 37.2 (9.3) years. The prevalence of HAND was 21.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 17.6%-25.4%), of which 9.6% were asymptomatic. The significant predictors of HAND in this study are duration of illness (odds ratio [OR] = 1.33 P < .001), detectable viral load (OR = 0.19, P < .001), CD4 count (OR = 0.99, P < .001), education (OR = 0.94, P = .011), stopping medication (OR = 3.55 P = .01), and severity of illness (OR = 1.24, P = .005).
CONCLUSION
One-fifth of the HIV-positive patients in this study had HAND. Various sociodemographic and clinical features were related to the prevalence of HAND. | 10.1177/2325957414553839 |
pubmed_939_5972 | A lower-extremity exoskeleton can facilitate the lower limbs' rehabilitation by providing additional structural support and strength. This article discusses the design and implementation of a functional prototype of lower extremity brace actuation and its wireless communication control system. The design provides supportive torque and increases the range of motion after complications reducing muscular strength. The control system prototype facilitates elevating a leg, gradually followed by standing and slow walking. The main control modalities are based on an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The prototype's functionality was tested by time-angle graphs. The final prototype demonstrates the potential application of the ANN in the control system of exoskeletons for joint impairment therapy. | 10.3233/SHTI200620 |
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