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pubmed_1038_21243 | Small retinal detachments (blebs) were made in living eyes by injecting balanced salt solution into the subretinal space with a micropipette. A second micropipette, inserted into the same bleb, measured subretinal pressure using a resistance servonulling system. The adhesive force was calculated from the pressure difference across the retina according to Laplace's law. The retinal adhesive force in rabbit, cat, and monkey eyes averaged 1.0, 1.8, and 1.4 x 10(2) dyne/cm, respectively. In rabbit eyes, 2 hr after intravenous administration of 15 mg/kg acetazolamide, the retinal adhesive force was increased to 133%. In monkeys, this dose of acetazolamide increased retinal adhesion to 144% of control values. Mannitol (2 g/kg) increased retinal adhesion in the monkey to 153% of control values 90 min after intravenous injection (compared with an increase of 145% in previous experiments in the rabbit). Because both mannitol and acetazolamide enhance retinal adhesiveness in living primate eyes, it seems likely that they will have a similar effect in humans that they may be clinically useful. | pubmed_1038_21243 |
pubmed_108_9856 | INTRODUCTION
Nosocomial neonatal sepsis (NNS) is a frequent entity in intensive care units, causing great morbidity and mortality. The most frequent site is blood, followed by lungs and urine.
OBJECTIVE
To know the etiology and most frequent localization of infection in the NNS.
POPULATION, MATERIAL AND METHODS
Cross sectional study, from January to December 2015, performed in a teaching hospital. All newborns infants were included.
RESULTS
70 patients were included, 88 episodes of NNS were analyzed. The most frequent localization was bacteremia in 40% of cases, followed by urinary tract infection and VAP in 25% respectively. The bacteria most frequently isolated were staphylococci of different types, followed by multiresistant Acinetobacter. The CNS involvement was 32%. Mortality was 34%, rising up to 50% with a second episode of NNS. The empirical therapy of choice was vancomycin and carbapenem, adjusting to antibiogram.
CONCLUSIONS
The most frequent infection was bacteremia, mainly by staphylococci resistant to methicillin. CNS involvement was elevated, as well as mortality. | 10.4067/s0716-10182018000500547 |
pubmed_666_9937 | Tree branches are important as they support the canopy, which controls photosynthetic carbon gain and determines ecological interactions such as competition with neighbours. Mangrove trees are subject to high wind speeds, strong tidal flows and waves that can damage their branches. The survival and establishment of mangroves partly depend on the structural and mechanical characteristics of their branches. In addition, mangroves are exposed to soils that vary in salinity. Highly saline conditions can increase the tension in the water column, imposing mechanical stresses on the xylem vessels. Here, we investigated how mechanical strength, assessed as the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and the modulus of rupture (MOR), and density relate to the anatomical characteristics of intact mangrove branches from southeast Queensland and whether the mechanical strength of branches varies among mangrove species. Mechanical strength was positively correlated with density of mangrove intact branches. Mechanical strength (MOE) varied among species, with Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. branches having the highest mechanical strength (2079±176MPa), and Rhizophora stylosa Griff. and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Savigny ex Lam. and Poiret having the lowest mechanical strength (536.8±39.2MPa in R. stylosa and 554±58.2MPa in B. gymnorrhiza). High levels of mechanical strength were associated with reductions in xylem vessel lumen area, pith content and bark content, and positively associated with increases in fibre wall thickness. The associations between mechanical strength and anatomical characteristics in mangrove branches suggest trade-offs between mechanical strength and water supply, which are linked to tree growth and survival. | 10.1071/FP12204 |
pubmed_1121_19177 | Vaccine hesitancy remains a global health threat. Addressing parental vaccine hesitancy is essential to maintaining high vaccine coverage levels and preventing disease outbreaks; however, it is unknown if administering a vaccine hesitancy screening tool negatively impacts parental vaccine beliefs. We conducted a stratified randomized controlled trial in pediatric primary care practices. English-speaking parents ≥18 years of age seeking routine care for infants <3 months of age were eligible. Participants were randomized to receive 1 of 2 surveys - the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) survey or a placebo survey. Six months after initial enrollment, all participants were asked to complete the PACV, regardless of initial randomization group. Our primary outcome was the proportion of hesitant to non-hesitant parents at 6-months between randomization groups. We examined associations between vaccine hesitancy and participant characteristics. We also evaluated the change in the proportion of vaccine-hesitant parents in the PACV group between baseline and 6-month follow up. We enrolled 1705 parents at baseline. At 6-month follow up, 819 parents completed the PACV (50.2% from PACV group vs. 54.1% from placebo group). The proportion of hesitant parents at 6 months did not differ between PACV and placebo groups (6.6% vs. 6.1%; p = .78) and the odds of hesitancy among PACV group participants was not higher than those in the placebo group (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.63-1.93; p = .743). Race was the only characteristic significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy at 6-month follow up (p = .003). Overall, administration of the PACV did not trigger vaccine hesitancy in this study population. | 10.1080/21645515.2020.1859320 |
pubmed_1065_19246 | The innate immune system contributes to the earliest phase of the host defense against foreign organisms and has both soluble and cellular pattern recognition receptors for microbial products. Two important members of this receptor group, CD14 and the Toll-like receptor (TLR) pattern recognition receptors, are essential for the innate immune response to components of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, mycobacteria, spirochetes and yeast. We now find that these receptors function in an antiviral response as well. The innate immune response to the fusion protein of an important respiratory pathogen of humans, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), was mediated by TLR4 and CD14. RSV persisted longer in the lungs of infected TLR4-deficient mice compared to normal mice. Thus, a common receptor activation pathway can initiate innate immune responses to both bacterial and viral pathogens. | 10.1038/80833 |
pubmed_820_14870 | AIM
To evaluate the effectiveness of a new root canal irrigation technique with intracanal aspiration in removing the smear layer and to assess irrigant extrusion ex vivo.
METHODOLOGY
Thirty-five instrumented canals of extracted human canine teeth that had been resected apically by removing 3 mm of the root tip were divided into one control and four experimental groups of seven teeth each. The roots were fixed in a plastic case and surrounded with normal saline agar coloured with 1% acid red. No irrigation was performed in the control teeth. Each root canal in the experimental groups was irrigated with 9 mL of 14% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid for 3 min, and then with 6 mL of 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 2 min. In the intracanal aspiration technique, the irrigant was delivered from the tip of an injection needle placed 12 mm from the apical root-end and an aspiration needle that was connected to a Root ZX apex locator placed 2 and 3 mm short of the apical root-end in groups 1 and 2, respectively. In the conventional method, the tip of an injection needle used for delivery of the irrigant and as an active electrode was placed 2 and 3 mm short of the apical root-end in groups 3 and 4, respectively, the tip of the aspiration needle was placed 12 mm from the apical root-end in these groups. The readings of the Root ZX during irrigation were recorded. The cleanliness of the canal was evaluated by scoring smear layer from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the canal. Extrusion of NaOCl was detected by measuring the discoloured area of the agar around the apical root-end. The data obtained were statistically analysed by one-way anova, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Friedman's test.
RESULTS
In the SEM study, the canals in groups 1-3 were significantly cleaner than those in the control and group 4 (P < 0.05). The mean Root ZX readings in groups 1-3 were approximately "0.5". The discoloured area in group 3 was significantly larger than the other groups (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Irrigation using the intracanal aspiration technique allowed more effective removal of the smear layer than that performed by the conventional method in an apically resected canine tooth. The intracanal aspiration technique produced limited extrusion of the irrigant beyond the apical foramen. | 10.1111/j.1365-2591.2006.01050.x |
pubmed_399_7097 | A computation method is suggested, enabling one to optimize the amino acid composition of protein mixtures proceeding from the real content of amino acids and protein assimilation ratios. The method is based on the adequate use of essential amino acids and an amino acid that limits the biological value of proteins. The difference between the real content of essential amino acids and the portions utilized constitutes a non-utilized part of protein. The optimization may be reduced to the computation of its minimal values. The problem can be solved graphically, by exhaustive search of the products ratios with the use of computer or by optimization methods. According to the method designed there have been found optimal ratios of protein mixtures in animal and vegetable products contained by culinary dishes and products. The biological methods permitted one to determine the biological value and protein effectiveness ratio and to establish that they are closely related with the computed characteristics of the non-utilized part of protein and protein utilization ratio. The correlation ratio was found to amount to 0.76-0.89 (p less than 0.05). | pubmed_399_7097 |
pubmed_984_2125 | Despite the prevalence of anemia in cancer, recombinant erythropoietin (Epo) has declined in use because of recent Phase III trials showing more rapid cancer progression and reduced survival in subjects randomized to Epo. Since Epo receptor (EpoR), Jak2, and Hsp70 are well-characterized mediators of Epo signaling in erythroid cells, we hypothesized that Epo might be especially harmful in patients whose tumors express high levels of these effectors. Because of the insensitivity of immunohistochemistry for detecting low level EpoR protein, we developed assays to measure levels of EpoR, Jak2 and Hsp70 mRNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumors. We tested 23 archival breast tumors as well as 136 archival head and neck cancers from ENHANCE, a Phase III trial of 351 patients randomized to Epo versus placebo concomitant with radiotherapy following complete resection, partial resection, or no resection of tumor. EpoR, Jak2, and Hsp70 mRNA levels varied >30-fold, >12-fold, and >13-fold across the breast cancers, and >30-fold, >40-fold, and >30-fold across the head and neck cancers, respectively. Locoregional progression-free survival (LPFS) did not differ among patients whose head and neck cancers expressed above- versus below-median levels of EpoR, Jak2 or Hsp70, except in the subgroup of patients with unresected tumors (n = 28), where above-median EpoR, above-median Jak2, and below-median Hsp70 mRNA levels were all associated with significantly poorer LPFS. Our results provide a framework for exploring the relationship between Epo, cancer progression, and survival using archival tumors from other Phase III clinical trials. | 10.1002/stem.156 |
pubmed_184_6813 | Four types of synthetic materials were implanted in 54 rabbits: Supramid, Proplast, Plasti-Pore, and Silastic. Each material was implanted into the auricle and concomitantly into the subdermis of the face. Postoperative assessment was every one to three days, while killing was done at six weeks, six months, and one year postoperatively for microscopic evaluation. Supramid mesh contains black pigment, which became incorporated within the histiocytes and giant cells around the implanted mesh by six weeks; at one year, the soft tissues were pigmented microscopically. Proplast was not extruded despite an intense and persistent histiocytic and giant-cell reaction; its black color constituted a major drawback for implantation beneath thin skin. The Plasti-Pore used in these studies was rigid and somewhat difficult to sculpture, and it induced a persistent but minor cellular reaction. Silastic was easily displaced. | 10.1001/archotol.1979.00790220039010 |
pubmed_964_21427 | The research was undertaken with the intention of testing six null hypotheses regarding the retention of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills and knowledge of registered nurses. The hypotheses were formulated from the broad aims of the research, which were to investigate conclusions reached by other researchers highlighting the speed with which retention of CPR skills and knowledge deteriorates, and to investigate the need for regular updating in CPR. The research was quasi-experimental in nature. The 19 nurses participating in the research were qualified staff undertaking the English National Board (ENB) 923 course in Professional Development, which included a refresher on basic CPR skills and included some discussion regarding advanced techniques. The latest guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (1993) were used, which also aided in the design and use of the two research tools, namely an eight-point skills-testing observation tool and a 26-point knowledge-testing questionnaire. While a 3-hour update in CPR skills revealed an initial improvement, the decrease in retention of skills 10 weeks later was significant (P = 0.0000). The update in CPR knowledge also revealed an initial improvement but the decrease in retention of knowledge 10 weeks later was significant (P = 0.0000). The findings of the research reflect similar results to previous research undertaken and discussed in the literature review, suggesting that retention of skills and knowledge quickly deteriorates if not used or updated regularly. Therefore this research supports the importance of CPR refresher courses on a regular basis. | 10.1111/j.1365-2648.1996.tb00084.x |
pubmed_596_5829 | BACKGROUND
Anastomotic leaks are uncommon complications following aortic surgery. To avoid the morbidity associated with a second surgical procedure, minimally invasive techniques have become increasingly popular.
PURPOSE
To evaluate the feasibility and safety of thrombin in interventional treatment of postoperative pseudoaneurysms.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
CT-guided percutaneous injection was chosen in four cases. Endovascular access using an occlusion balloon catheter placed in the orifice of the pseudoaneurysm was utilized in one case.
RESULTS
The average volume of all pseudoaneurysms was 178 ± 190 mL with a volume of the patent lumen of 25 ± 28 mL. All aneurysms thrombosed after injection of 600 ± 237 IU of thrombin. During the follow-up period of an average of 10 months all pseudoaneurysms remained occluded.
CONCLUSION
Our series demonstrates the feasibility of thrombin in the treatment of aortic anastomotic pseudoaneurysms. In combination with occlusion balloon catheters, even wide-necked pseudoaneurysms may be treated successfully. However, further investigations are warranted. | 10.1258/ar.2010.100201 |
pubmed_336_20482 | OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of statins was associated with breast cancer risk.
BACKGROUND
Experimental studies have shown that statins have potential protective effects against cancer.
METHODS
We conducted a population-based case-control study in Taiwan. Cases consisted of all patients who were aged 50 years and older and had a first-time diagnosis of breast cancer for the period between 2004 and 2011. The controls were matched to cases by age, sex and index date. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were estimated by using multiple logistic regression.
RESULTS
We examined 565 breast cancer cases and 2260 controls. The unadjusted OR for any statin prescription was 1.19 (95% CI = 0.95 - 1.49) and the adjusted OR was 1.13 (95% CI = 0.84 - 1.51). Compared with no use of statins, the adjusted ORs were 1.02 (95% CI = 0.61 - 1.69) for the group with cumulative defined daily doses (DDDs) below 44.67 DDDs, 1.21 (95% CI = 0.83 - 1.76) for the group with cumulative dose between 44.68 DDDs and 308 DDDs, and 1.10 (95% CI = 0.66 - 1.83) for the group with the highest cumulative dose (> 308 DDDs).
CONCLUSIONS
The present data do not provide evidence to support either beneficial or harmful associations between statin use and breast cancer risk. | 10.1517/14740338.2014.885949 |
pubmed_969_1850 | Immunochemical studies of human colorectal carcinoma with various monoclonal antibodies against Le(X)-related carbohydrate antigens previously revealed that the amount of sialyl-dimeric Le(X) antigen (NeuAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)GlcNAc beta 1-R: SLX) associated with metastatic lesions was greater than in the primary tumors. To assess whether an experimental model can be used to study the direct relationship between this carbohydrate antigen and the tumor cell's metastatic behavior, we selected variant cells with increased surface SLX from established human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29. The cells in the upper 5% or lower 5% population in fluorescence intensity after reacting with a monoclonal antibody, FH6, were retrieved separately by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter and propagated. After three- or four-times selection, we obtained stable cell lines with low and high cell surface SLX antigens (HT-29 M1 and HT-29 M2, respectively). Binding of monoclonal antibody FH6 was detected to glycolipids extracted from HT-29 M2 cells but not from HT-29 M1 cells. Glycoprotein components having reactivity with monoclonal antibody FH6 were below the detectable level. HT-29 M2 cells injected intrasplenically into nude mice showed a slightly reduced incidence of metastasis to lung, liver and lymph nodes than did HT-29 M1 cells. Subsequently we found that SLX antigen was not detectable by immunohistochemical examination of these tumor cells grown in nude mice. Re-established cell line from nude mice xenografts expressed SLX antigen in vitro. | 10.1007/BF01753731 |
pubmed_515_13672 | We report on a 4-year-old boy with mental retardation, facial and skeletal anomalies, cerebral angiomas, femoral nucleus necrosis, mild biochemical abnormalities. This complex of features resembles the Hall-Riggs syndrome but could represent a novel syndrome. | 10.1002/ajmg.a.32805 |
pubmed_719_14678 | Swallowing difficulty is among the major complications that can occur after surgery for thoracic esophageal cancer. Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis (RLNP) has been considered the most significant cause of a postoperative swallowing difficulty, but association between the two has not been adequately explained. We investigated the relation between postoperative RLNP and swallowing difficulty by means of video fluoroscopy. Our study included 32 patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy for thoracic esophageal cancer at St. Marianna University School of Medicine between April 2014 and March 2017. We evaluated patients' age and sex, disease stage, preoperative presence of a swallowing difficulty, nutritional status, extent and duration of surgery, blood loss volume, and postoperative presence of RLNP and/or hoarseness. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether oral food intake was possible when video fluoroscopy was performed on postoperative day (POD) 7, and we analyzed the associated factors. Postoperative RLNP occurred in 21 patients (65.6%); hoarseness occurred in 19 (59.4%). Eleven patients (34.4%) suffered swallowing difficulty that prevented food intake. No significant association was found between postoperative swallowing difficulty and postoperative RLNP or hoarseness, but a significant relation was found between the prognostic nutritional index and intraoperative lymph node dissection. Multivariable analysis revealed a significant relation between postoperative swallowing difficulty and only one factor: cervical lymph node dissection (P = 0.0075). There appears to be no relation between RLNP pursuant to esophageal cancer surgery and swallowing difficulty that prevents oral food intake. | 10.1007/s00455-019-10010-3 |
pubmed_940_18566 | Cerebral blood flow and cerebrospinal fluid amino acids were investigated in patients with leukoaraiosis on magnetic resonance imaging. Ten patients with leukoaraiosis and without significant cerebral infarction and ten age-matched controls without abnormality on magnetic resonance imaging were studied. The regional cerebral blood flow was measured using the stable xenon computed tomography method. The blood flow was significantly lower in the leukoaraiosis area in the leukoaraiosis group than in the same area in the control group. The cerebrospinal fluid glutamate concentration was significantly higher in the leukoaraiosis group than in the control group. There was a significant negative correlation between the blood flow in the leukoaraiosis area and the cerebrospinal fluid glutamate concentration. The high concentration of cerebrospinal fluid glutamate in patients with leukoaraiosis is considered to be related to ischaemia. | 10.1007/s004150050286 |
pubmed_490_9990 | Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) is an effective treatment modality for allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD). However, frequent visits over a 3-year period as well as looming adverse events tend to discourage patient compliance. Therefore, a more convenient, effective, and safe method of SIT is needed. For several decades, use of microneedles has been promoted as an efficient and precise transdermal drug delivery method. In this study, we developed Dermatophagoides farinae (D. farinae) extract (DfE)-loaded microneedle patches, and evaluated their safety and efficacy as a novel SIT method. After 4 weeks of patch application, efficient allergen delivery and successful induction of immune response to DfE were demonstrated in mice, with no apparent adverse events. AD-induced NC/Nga mice received microneedle immunotherapy (MNIT) (10 μg), subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) (10 μg), SCIT (100 μg), or placebo. Both MNIT (10 μg) and SCIT (100 μg) treatments improved clinical and histologic manifestations of AD skin lesions, altered immunoglobulin production, dampened Th2 cellular response, and boosted Treg infiltrates, without significant side effects; whereas SCIT (10 μg) or placebo subsets failed to show any effects. Based on the favorable safety and efficacy profiles demonstrated in mice by MNIT in the current study, we believe that MNIT may serve as a new SIT modality. | 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.10.013 |
pubmed_1005_22146 | Breakthroughs in Medicinal Chemistry: New Targets and Mechanisms, New Drugs, New Hopes is a series of Editorials which is published on a biannual basis by the Editorial Board of the Medicinal Chemistry section of the journal Molecules [...]. | 10.3390/molecules24132415 |
pubmed_1092_15059 | Cadmium (Cd) exposure can induce acute lethal health-related threats in humans since it has an exceptional ability to accumulate in living organism tissues and cause toxicological effects. Curcumin (Cur) on the other hand has a wide variety of biological activities and several studies have suggested its potential therapeutic or protective effects against several ailments and infections. To study the effect of Cur on the toxicity of Cd, Swiss-Webster strain male and female mice (sixty each) were divided into 6 groups of ten each at random. Group-1 served as the naïve control and received no treatment. Group-2, 3 and 4 were the experimental controls and were administered once a day with a single oral dose of 50% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), Cur (300 mg/kg) or Cd (100 mg/kg) respectively, for 2 weeks. Group-5 and 6 received Cur and Cd in combination once a day orally for 2 weeks except that Cur in a dose of 150 and 300 mg/kg to group 5 and 6 respectively, was administered one hour before Cd administration to both groups. After treatment period, the male animals were subjected to social standard opponent test and females were subjected to the tube restraint tests and thereafter, their blood was collected to measure the blood composition indices and level of reproductive hormones. The animals were sacrificed to collect their brain for the estimation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Results indicated that Cd significantly increased nonsocial activities in males and latency to first bite in females, whereas the social activities in males and the number of bites in females were significantly decreased. All measured indices of blood composition and levels of progesterone (female) and testosterone (male) in blood and AChE in their brain tissues were significantly decreased due to Cd treatment. However, administration of Cur along with Cd had an ameliorating effect on all the behavioral and biochemical parameters studied herein and reduced the toxicity of Cd significantly and dose-dependently. Thus, Cur may be beneficial for general health and for protection from Cd intoxication. | 10.1016/j.sjbs.2015.05.010 |
pubmed_434_2871 | BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS
To determine the utility of narrow-band imaging with optical magnification (NBI-Z) in the evaluation of villous morphology.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Patients considered at risk of having celiac disease were invited. After standard endoscopy, they underwent further evaluation with NBI-Z which was digitally recorded. Targeted biopsies of each area videoed with NBI-Z were performed and tissue sent for histopathological analysis. Two expert endoscopists then selected the best representative videos (developmental phase). Next, 41 representative images of these videos were classified as follows: villous patterns present (N) or absent (A). Images showing absence of villi were then classified as cerebriform (C) or flat (F), corresponding to partial or total villous atrophy respectively. Three NBI-Z-naïve endoscopists then graded the videos. They underwent an interactive training session (learning phase) with video and images from a digital library before embarking on the actual assessment. To test for reproducibility, all videos were randomly reordered and graded again after a week.
RESULTS
Forty-one videos (10 celiac disease, 31 normal) from 21 patients (3 celiac disease, 18 normal) were analyzed. The overall sensitivity and specificity in correctly distinguishing the presence or absence of villi were 93.3% and 97.8% respectively, with interobserver and intraobserver agreement (kappa, κ) at 0.82 and 0.86. The sensitivity and specificity in differentiating partial from total villous atrophy were 83.3% and 100%, κ at 0.73 and 0.68 respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Using a simplified classification, we demonstrated the feasibility of using NBI-Z to detect villous atrophy in patients presenting with suspected celiac disease. | 10.1055/s-0030-1255708 |
pubmed_1033_1946 | We report a rare case of metachronous double cancer of the biliary tract. At age 59 years, a man had undergone a cholecystectomy and resection of the liver bed for gallbladder cancer pathologically diagnosed as papillary adenocarcinoma, in 1997. Four years later, he was admitted to our hospital with jaundice. At first, we suspected lymph node metastasis of the gallbladder cancer along the common bile duct. But abdominal computed tomography demonstrated circular wall thickness of the common bile duct, so primary bile duct cancer was strongly suspected. Thus, extended right hepatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy were performed after right portal vein embolization. The pathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was well-differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, and this case was clarified to be metachronous double cancer. A review of the literature regarding double cancer of the biliary tract is presented following this case report. We showed that half of 30 cases of double cancer of the biliary tract were not associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, including all 6 metachronous cases. | 10.1007/s00534-003-0880-5 |
pubmed_483_8230 | Marine recirculating aquaculture system (MRAS) is an effective technology that provides sustainable farming of food fish globally. However, dissolved organics material (chemical oxygen demand, COD) and especially ammonia are produced from uneaten feed and metabolic wastes of fish. To purify the MRAS water, this study adopted a sequencing biofilm batch reactor (SBBR) and comparatively investigated the performances of four different carriers on ammonia and COD removal. Results indicated that the NH4+-N removal rates were 0.045 ± 0.05, 0.065 ± 0.008, 0.089 ± 0.005, and 0.093 ± 0.003 kg/(m3·d), and the COD removal rates were 0.019 ± 0.010, 0.213 ± 0.010, 0.255 ± 0.015, and 0.322 ± 0.010 kg/(m3·d) in the SBBRs packed with porous plastic, bamboo ring, maifan stone, and ceramsite carriers, respectively. Among the four carriers, ceramsite exhibited the best performance for both NH4+-N (80%) and COD (33%) removal after the SBBR reached the steady-state operation conditions. For all carriers studied, the NH4+-N removal kinetics could be well simulated by the first-order model, and the NH4+-N and COD removal rates were logarithmically correlated with the carrier's specific surface area. Due to its high ammonia removal, stable performance and easy operation, the ceramsite-packed SBBR is feasible for MRAS water treatment. | 10.1007/s11356-019-04887-8 |
pubmed_490_19398 | Mitochondrial DNA analyses indicate that the Bay of Fundy population of the intertidal tellinid bivalve Macoma petalum is genetically divergent from coastal populations in the Gulf of Maine and Nova Scotia. To further examine the evolutionary forces driving this genetic break, we performed double digest genotype by sequencing (GBS) to survey the nuclear genome for evidence of both neutral and selective processes shaping this pattern. The resulting reads were mapped to a partial transcriptome of its sister species, M. balthica, to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in protein-coding genes. Population assignment tests, principle components analyses, analysis of molecular variance, and outlier tests all support differentiation between the Bay of Fundy genotype and the genotypes of the Gulf of Maine, Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Nova Scotia. Although both neutral and non-neutral patterns of genetic subdivision were significant, genetic structure among the regions was nearly 20 times higher for loci putatively under selection, suggesting a strong role for natural selection as a driver of genetic diversity in this species. Genetic differences were the greatest between the Bay of Fundy and all other population samples, and some outlier proteins were involved in immunity-related processes. Our results suggest that in combination with limited gene flow across the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, local adaptation is an important driver of intraspecific genetic variation in this marine species with high dispersal potential. | 10.1002/ece3.3332 |
pubmed_483_9347 | A chronosequence approach, i.e., a comparison of spatially distinct plots with different stages of succession, is commonly used for studying microbial community dynamics during paedogenesis. The successional traits of prokaryotic communities following sand fixation processes have previously been characterized for arid and semi-arid regions, but they have not been considered for the tundra zone, where the environmental conditions are unfavourable for the establishment of complicated biocoenoses. In this research, we characterized the prokaryotic diversity and abundance of microbial genes found in a typical tundra and wooded tundra along a gradient of increasing vegetation-unfixed aeolian sand, semi-fixed surfaces with mosses and lichens, and mature soil under fully developed plant cover. Microbial communities from typical tundra and wooded tundra plots at three stages of sand fixation were compared using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene libraries. The abundances of ribosomal genes increased gradually in both chronosequences, and a similar trend was observed for the functional genes related to the nitrogen cycle (nifH, bacterial amoA, nirK and nirS). The relative abundance of Planctomycetes increased, while those of Thaumarchaeota, Cyanobacteria and Chloroflexi decreased from unfixed sands to mature soils. According to β-diversity analysis, prokaryotic communities of unfixed sands were more heterogeneous compared to those of mature soils. Despite the differences in the plant cover of the two mature soils, the structural compositions of the prokaryotic communities were shaped in the same way. Thus, sand fixation in the tundra zone increases archaeal, bacterial and fungal abundances, shifts and unifies prokaryotic communities structure. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0206777 |
pubmed_1038_6646 | This study reviews data on patients with fungemia and confirms the high prevalence (50%) of infections caused by non-albicans species of Candida. Fungemia due to C. albicans or Torulopsis glabrata occurred significantly more often in patients with a solid tumor, while fungemia due to Candida tropicalis or Candida krusei was significantly more common in patients with hematologic malignancy (P = .001). For 31% of patients, only a single blood culture was positive for yeasts, and the prognosis for these patients was not significantly different than that for patients with three or more positive blood cultures (P = 1), including those who had C. albicans fungemia. The overall mortality rate was 41.8%, which is much lower than that previously reported in studies of patients with cancer. No significant difference was observed between patients treated with amphotericin B and those treated with fluconazole in this retrospective analysis. Although no significant difference was observed in the mortality rate among patients who had fungemia with or without neutropenia, the incidence of disseminated candidiasis was significantly higher among neutropenic patients (P = .03). | 10.1093/clinids/14.supplement_1.s120 |
pubmed_1086_20753 | The authors studied influence of chemical and physical factors in main production of chromium compounds plant on the workers' health. Patterns of morbidity formation in the workshops are defined. | pubmed_1086_20753 |
pubmed_665_9655 | We present a new mechanism for creating the observed cosmic matter-antimatter asymmetry which satisfies all three Sakharov conditions from one common thread, gravitational waves. We generate lepton number through the gravitational anomaly in the lepton number current. The source term comes from elliptically polarized gravity waves that are produced during inflation if the inflaton field contains a CP-odd component. The amount of matter asymmetry generated in our model can be of realistic size for the parameters within the range of some inflationary scenarios and grand unified theories. | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.081301 |
pubmed_644_15546 | Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is formed in cells as intra- and intermolecular RNA interactions and is involved in a range of biological processes including RNA metabolism, RNA interference and translation control mediated by natural antisense RNA and microRNA. Despite this breadth of activities, few molecular tools are available to analyse dsRNA as native hybrids. We describe a two-step ligation method for enzymatic joining of dsRNA adaptors to any dsRNA molecule in its duplex form without a need for prior sequence or termini information. The method is specific for dsRNA and can ligate various adaptors to label, map or amplify dsRNA sequences. When combined with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, the method is sensitive and can detect low nanomolar concentrations of dsRNA in total RNA. As examples, we mapped dsRNA/single-stranded RNA junctions within Escherichia coli hok mRNA and the human immunodeficiency virus TAR element using RNA from bacteria and mammalian cells. | 10.1093/nar/gkn445 |
pubmed_750_2252 | Brain-machine interface (BMI) researchers have traditionally focused on modeling endpoint reaching tasks to provide the control of neurally driven prosthetic arms. Most previous research has focused on achieving an endpoint control through a Cartesian-coordinate-centered approach. However, a joint-centered approach could potentially be used to intuitively control a wide range of limb movements. We systematically investigated the feasibility of discriminating between flexion and extension of different upper limb joints using electrocorticography(ECoG) recordings from sensorimotor cortex. Four subjects implanted with macro-ECoG (10-mm spacing), high-density ECoG (5-mm spacing), and/or micro-ECoG arrays (0.9-mm spacing and 4 mm × 4 mm coverage), performed randomly cued flexions or extensions of the fingers, wrist, or elbow contralateral to the implanted hemisphere. We trained a linear model to classify six movements using averaged high-gamma power (70-110 Hz) modulations at different latencies with respect to movement onset, and within a time interval restricted to flexion or extension at each joint. Offline decoding models for each subject classified these movements with accuracies of 62%-83%. Our results suggest that the widespread ECoG coverage of sensorimotor cortex could allow a whole limb BMI to sample native cortical representations in order to control flexion and extension at multiple joints. | 10.1109/TNSRE.2019.2891362 |
pubmed_0_9063 | During co-translational folding, the nascent polypeptide chain is extruded sequentially from the ribosome exit tunnel and is [corrected] under severe conformational constraints [corrected] dictated by the one-dimensional geometry of the tunnel. [corrected] How do such vectorial constraints impact the folding pathway? Here, we combine single-molecule atomic force spectroscopy and steered molecular dynamics simulations to examine protein folding in the presence of one-dimensional constraints that are similar to those imposed on the nascent polypeptide chain. The simulations exquisitely reproduced the experimental unfolding and refolding force extension relationships and led to the full reconstruction of the vectorial folding pathway of a large polypeptide, the 253-residue consensus ankyrin repeat protein, NI6C. We show that fully stretched and then relaxed NI6C starts folding by the formation of local secondary structures, followed by the nucleation of three N-terminal repeats. This rate-limiting step is then followed by the vectorial and sequential folding of the remaining repeats. However, after partial unfolding, when allowed to refold, the C-terminal repeats successively regain structures without any nucleation step by using the intact N-terminal repeats as a template. These results suggest a pathway for the co-translational folding of repeat proteins and have implications for mechanotransduction. | 10.1074/jbc.M110.179697 |
pubmed_1089_24877 | Tuberculosis of breast is very rare with an incidence of 0.1-0.5%. It can be primary or secondary. Except in patients presenting with sinuses, it is a challenge to diagnose it. A 40 year old premenopausal lady presented with breast lump increasing in size for 3 months. Mammogram showed a lesion suspicious of malignancy and trucut biopsy showed necrotic material only. Intraoperatively there was caseous necrosis and the tract from breast was extending to rib. It is a rare case with few case reports been reported where a rib tuberculosis presents as a breast lump rather than retromammary abscess. | 10.4103/0255-0857.124331 |
pubmed_314_9559 | Mechanotransduction of sensory neurons is of great interest to the scientific community, especially in areas such as pain, neurobiology, cardiovascular homeostasis and mechanobiology. We describe a method to investigate stretch-activated mechanotransduction in sensory nerves through subcellular stimulation. The method imposes localized mechanical stimulation through indentation of an elastomeric substrate and combines this mechanical stimulation with whole-cell patch clamp recording of the electrical response to single-nerve stretching. One significant advantage here is that the neurites are stretched with limited physical contact beyond their attachment to the polymer. When we imposed specific mechanical stimulation through the substrate, the stretched neurite fired and an action potential response was recorded. In addition, complementary protocols to control the molecules at the cell-substrate interface are presented. These techniques provide an opportunity to probe neurosensory mechanotransduction with a defined substrate, whose physical and molecular context can be modified to mimic physiologically relevant conditions. The entire process from fabrication to cellular recording takes 5 to 6 d. | 10.1038/nprot.2010.15 |
pubmed_117_17606 | Routine coagulation tests do not enable rapid, accurate determination of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy. The ecarin clotting assay (ECA), performed on the ClotPro viscoelastic testing device, may enable sensitive and specific detection of dabigatran. We assessed the association between trough plasma dabigatran concentration and clotting time (CT) in the ClotPro ECA, in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Each patient provided a single venous blood sample, ∼1 hour before dabigatran dosing. The study included 118 patients, of whom 64 were receiving dabigatran 110 mg twice daily and 54 were receiving 150 mg twice daily. ECA CT was moderately correlated with trough plasma dabigatran concentration (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). Slight trends toward increased plasma dabigatran concentration and prolonged ECA CT were apparent with 150 mg versus the 110 mg dose (differences not statistically significant). Individuals with creatinine clearance below 50 mL/minute had significantly higher plasma dabigatran concentrations and significantly prolonged ECA CT versus those with creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/minute. In conclusion, this preliminary study has demonstrated that CT in the ClotPro ECA reflects the plasma concentration of dabigatran in patients with NVAF. The ECA could potentially be used to assess the impact of dabigatran on a patient's coagulation status. | 10.1177/1076029620972473 |
pubmed_1063_7163 | The effects of 1-vinyl-3-butyl imidazole chloride (VBIM) on the structure and properties of Polyamide 6 (PA6) were investigated systematically. It was found that PA6/VBIM blends were homogeneous without phase separation. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of PA6 increased with small VBIM loadings followed by the decreasing in Tg with further increasing the amount of VBIM. The crystallization temperature decreased with the addition of VBIM because of the strong interactions between VBIM and the PA6 matrix, as well as the dilution effect when large amounts of VBIM was introduced to the matrix. According to rheological testing, small amounts of VBIM enhanced the storage modulus and melt viscosity of PA6. Tensile tests also show an increase in strength and modulus at relatively low loadings of VBIM. The strength of PA6 with only 1 wt % VBIM improved by 108% compared to that of neat PA6. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) investigations revealed that the ions of VBIM preferred to form hydrogen bonds with amide groups in PA6. Therefore, VBIM acts as physical connection point for the neighboring PA6 molecular chains. The specific interactions between VBIM and PA6 account not only for the enhanced melt viscosity of PA6, but also for the improved mechanical properties. Moreover, outstanding antistatic property was also observed. The surface resistivity of the sample with 1 wt % VBIM was 1.50 × 1010 Ω/sq, which means good electric dissipation property. | 10.3390/polym10050562 |
pubmed_1115_12915 | Here we provide evidence for an interaction-dependent subnuclear trafficking of the human La (hLa) protein, known as transient interaction partner of a variety of RNAs. Among these, precursor transcripts of certain RNAs are located in the nucleoplasm or nucleolus. Here we examined which functional domains of hLa are involved in its nuclear trafficking. By using green fluorescent-hLa fusion proteins, we discovered a nucleolar localization signal and demonstrated its functionality in a heterologous context. In addition, we revealed that the RRM2 motif of hLa is essential both for its RNA binding competence in vitro and in vivo and its exit from the nucleolus. Our data imply that hLa traffics between different subnuclear compartments, which depend decisively on a functional nucleolar localization signal as well as on RNA binding. Directed trafficking of hLa is fully consistent with its function in the maturation of precursor RNAs located in different subnuclear compartments. | 10.1074/jbc.M401017200 |
pubmed_600_17985 | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disorder involving the degeneration of motor neurons. ALS shares pathogenic characteristics and genetic risk factors with multiple system atrophy (MSA). Here we examine whether a variant of the COQ2 gene associated with MSA in Japanese is also associated with ALS in Han Chinese. The ligase detection reaction was used to measure the frequency of the V393A variant of COQ2 in 282 patients with ALS and 491 healthy controls. The ALS and control groups showed no significant differences in genotype frequencies (OR 1.298, 95 %CI 0.396-4.253, p = 0.666) or allele frequencies (OR 1.314, 95 %CI 0.403-4.286, p = 0.650) at the V393A locus of COQ2. We also conducted a meta-analysis and combined our data with the previous Japanese research, but still failed to detect an association between V393A and ALS. In conclusion, This case-control study shows no evidence for an association between ALS and the V393A variant of COQ2 in Han Chinese and together with the Japanese research suggests that this polymorphism may not be linked to the risk of ALS in East Asians in general. | 10.1007/s10072-015-2083-7 |
pubmed_433_12754 | Q-carbon is a densely packed metastable phase of carbon formed by ultrafast quenching of carbon melt in a super-undercooled state. After quenching, diamond tetrahedra are randomly packed with >80% packing efficiency. This discovery has opened a pathway to fabricate various interesting heterostructures following the highly nonequilibrium route of nanosecond pulsed laser annealing. In the present work, we demonstrate the evolution of Q-carbon/α-carbon and Q-carbon/diamond heterostructures with atomically sharp interfaces, controlled via varying solidification rates of the undercooled C melt. This structure consists of ultrahard Q-carbon (∼80% sp3 and rest sp2) with an overlayer of soft α-carbon (∼40% sp3) on the inert c-Al2O3 substrate. Using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy analysis, we present the formation of the highly dense Q-carbon/α-carbon bilayer structure with distinctly different atomic and electronic structures. The laser-solid interaction simulations coupled with atomistic ab initio modeling further confirm the conversion of C melt into Q-carbon by achieving maximum undercooling near the substrate and further into α-carbon with a decrease in regrowth velocity (<6 m/s) away from the substrate. We present details of the evolution of heterointerfaces formed from carbon melt for designing heterostructures far from equilibrium for various functional applications by using pulsed laser processing. | 10.1021/acsami.9b17428 |
pubmed_946_1543 | An interspecific differentiation between T. cruzi, T. rangeli and T. conorhini can be done with the lectin II from the marine sponge Aaptos papillata. Independently from the origin the T. cruzi strains can intraspecifically subdivided into two strain-groups from WGA-type and PNA-type. The Leishmania strains from the Old World can inter- and intraspecifically distinguished by lectins while the strains from the New World form only two groups. A comparison of the agglutination-behaviour of the Leishmania parasites shows that strains of L. m. mexicana, L. b. braziliensis, L. aethiopica and L. m. amazonensis belong to the same type. The second agglutination-type includes strains of L. t. major (Near East), L. m. amazonensis and L. m. pifanoi. | pubmed_946_1543 |
pubmed_388_394 | The case histories of three patients, a man and two boys, with disappearing bone disease are reported. The clinical, roentgenographic, and histopathological features are described in detail. Histologically, in the early stages of the disease, the vanishing bone is replaced by numerous wide engorged capillaries. Eventually the bone is replaced by dense fibrous tissue. All three patients were treated by radiotherapy. Histochemical studies performed in one case revealed strong acid phosphatase and leucine aminopeptidase activities in perivascular mononuclear cells (possibly pericytes), suggesting that these cells took part in the bone resorption. | pubmed_388_394 |
pubmed_526_7280 | The almost complete nucleotide (nt) sequences lacking only short primer-derived 5' and 3' terminal portions were determined for the RNA2s of two closely related tobacco rattle virus (TRV) isolates which were detected in recently infected roots of Nicotiana benthamiana bait plants (isolate HaB) or of field-grown potato plants (isolate HaW), respectively. The sequences of c. 1350 5' proximal nts in these RNA2s were almost identical to those in four previously described TRV isolates from potatoes in the Netherlands and Poland which had been propagated in tobacco leaves. The RNA2s of the earlier isolates, however, consist of only c. 2000 nts, whereas the HaW and HaB RNA2s comprise more than 4000 nts. In addition to the coat protein gene which is present in the RNA2s of all isolates, the HaW and HaB RNA2s contain two further open reading frames which in the previous isolates were apparently lost either entirely or of which small remnants only were left. The RNA2s of the previously described isolates and of our new ones have different RNA1-related 3' ends which apparently have been acquired from different supporting RNA1s. After transmission to tobacco leaves HaB RNA2 formed deletion/recombination mutants which--as in the previous isolates--consisted of only c. 2000 nts. They had acquired the 3' end from their supporting RNA1. | pubmed_526_7280 |
pubmed_203_11993 | Tryptophan 49 of antithrombin, the primary inhibitor of blood clotting proteinases, has previously been implicated in binding the allosteric activator, heparin, by chemical modification and mutagenesis studies. However, the X-ray cocrystal structure of the antithrombin-pentasaccharide complex shows that Trp49 does not contact the bound saccharide. Here, we provide a detailed thermodynamic and kinetic characterization of heparin binding to a Trp49 to Lys variant of antithrombin and suggest a model for how Trp49 participates in heparin binding and activation. Mutation of Trp49 to Lys resulted in substantial losses of 16-24% in heparin-binding energy at pH 7.4, I 0.15, and 25 degrees C. These losses were due to both the loss of one ionic interaction ( approximately 30%) and the loss of nonionic interactions ( approximately 70%). Rapid kinetics analyses showed that the mutation minimally affected the initial weak binding of heparin to antithrombin or the rate constant for the subsequent conformational activation of the serpin. Rather, the principal effect of the mutation was to increase the rate constant for reversal of the conformational activation step by 70-100-fold, thereby destabilizing the activated conformation. This destabilization could be accounted for by the disruption of a network of interactions involving Trp49, Glu50, and Lys53 of helix A and Ser112 of helix P, which stabilizes the activated conformation. | 10.1021/bi050741i |
pubmed_923_21368 | Analyses of injuries sustained in airline disasters have been hampered by the frequent association of burn injury and by poor documentation. This report analyzes autopsy data from the crash of Avianca Flight 52 on Long Island, New York. There were 158 passengers of whom 73 died. The majority of persons had multiple organ injuries (average, 3.8/victim). Severe neurologic trauma included subarachnoid hemorrhage (65%), skull fracture (32%), and brain laceration (22%). Chest injuries included rib fractures (80%: average, 8.3/victim), hemothorax (58%), sternal fracture (22%), and lung contusion (33%). Orthopedic injuries (average, 4.4/victim) included pelvic (22%), tibial (37%), femur (22%), thoracic spine (33%), cervical spine (22%), and lumbar fractures (5%). Cardiovascular injuries included aortic transection (25%), heart laceration (14%), and major vascular injury (10%). Intra-abdominal injuries included liver (10%), spleen (8%), and kidney (10%). Unrestrained infants suffered severe injuries. Deaths in this airline disaster were from severe head and upper body injuries. This report may allow reappraisal of current restraint and safety measures. | 10.1097/00005373-199302000-00019 |
pubmed_808_3283 | A total of 16 cases of congenital fibrosarcoma have been reported from 1975 to March 2015. Five of the 16 had abnormal fusion between erythroblast transformation specific translocation variant 6 and neurotrophin recptor gene neurotrophic tyrosine kinase, receptor, type 3 (ETV6-NTRK3); in another five out of 16 this was absent, and six were not tested. All were managed by surgical resection but none involved metastasis. Herein we report the case of a newborn baby girl with congenital fibrosarcoma negative for ETV6-NTRK3 gene fusion, who presented with ileal perforation and positive resection margin. She had rapid recurrence with lymph node metastasis treated with postoperative chemotherapy. There was no further recurrence at >3 years of follow up. | 10.1111/ped.13252 |
pubmed_827_16465 | OBJECTIVE
This study examined the putative effects of a paternal history of alcoholism on the apparent detectability of brain alcohol in human subjects.
METHOD
Brain to blood ethanol ratios in two cohorts of men were determined, using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in a brain voxel (2 x 2 x 2 cm) containing the putamen. The men were light drinkers with a positive (n = 8) or a negative (n = 8) paternal history of alcoholism and were given an alcohol dose of 0.8 g/kg body weight.
RESULTS
In both groups, brain alcohol detectability was less than 100%. No significant difference (p = .37) was found in the brain/blood ethanol ratios of the two groups. However, subjective assessments of feeling the extreme effects of alcohol and the extent of intoxication ("how drunk") were highly correlated with a paternal history of alcoholism, with the paternal history negative group reporting significantly more intense feelings of intoxication.
CONCLUSIONS
A review of existing literature evidence and data obtained in this study indicate that brain alcohol detectability via magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging is less than 100%. There were no significant differences in brain alcohol detectability between paternal history positive and paternal history negative men. Differences in the Subjective High Assessment Scale ratings between the two groups, however, indicate the importance of a genetic influence on the subjective response to alcohol. | 10.15288/jsa.2004.65.16 |
pubmed_1003_2573 | Induced spatial incoherence (ISI) has been proposed for KrF laser drivers to achieve the high degree of spatial beam uniformity required for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. Although ISI provides ultrasmooth illumination at the far field of the laser, where the target is located, it can still allow the beams in the quasi-near field to develop a time-averaged spatial structure. This speckle, which arises primarily from random-phase aberration, builds up as the laser beams propagate away from the pupil plane located at the final amplifier stage; it is distinct from any structure imposed by gain nonuniformities in the amplifiers. Because of the spatial incoherence, the speckle is significantly smaller than that experienced by coherent beams. Nevertheless, it remains a damage issue, especially for the long beam delay paths required in angularly multiplexed KrF lasers. We develop a novel algorithm for calculating the time-integrated intensities; compare simulations and measurements of the near-field speckle in the Nike KrF laser; and explore options, such as aberration reduction and optical relaying, for controlling the problem in future angularly multiplexed KrF drivers. | 10.1364/ao.44.002805 |
pubmed_794_10590 | Smartphones are currently extensively used worldwide, and advances in hardware quality have engendered improvements in smartphone image quality, which is occasionally comparable to the quality of medical imaging systems. This paper proposes two algorithms for pupil recognition: a stateful-service-based pupil recognition mechanism and color component low-pass filtering algorithm. The PRSSM algorithm can determine pupil diameters in images captured in indoor natural light environments, and the CCLPF algorithm can determine pupil diameters in those captured outdoors under sunlight. The PRSSM algorithm converts RGB colors into the hue saturation value color space and performs adaptive thresholding, morphological operations, and contour detection for effectively analyzing the diameter of the pupil. The CCLPF algorithm derives the average matrix for the red components of eye images captured in outdoor environments. It also performs low-pass filtering, morphological and contour detection operations, and rule-of-thumb correction. This algorithm can effectively analyze pupil diameter in outdoor natural light. Traditional ruler-based measurements of pupil diameter were used as the reference to verify the accuracy of the PRSSM and CCLPF algorithms and to compare their accuracy with that of the other algorithm. The errors in pupil diameter data were smaller for the PRSSM and CCLPF algorithms than for the other algorithm. | 10.3390/healthcare10050789 |
pubmed_197_11766 | Spatial patterning of cell behaviors establishes the regional differences within tissues that collectively develop branched organs into their characteristic treelike shapes. Here we show that the pattern of branching morphogenesis of three-dimensional (3D) engineered epithelial tissues is controlled in part by gradients of endogenous mechanical stress. We used microfabrication to build model mammary epithelial tissues of defined geometry that branched in a stereotyped pattern when induced with growth factors. Branches initiated from sites of high mechanical stress within the tissues, as predicted numerically and measured directly using 3D traction force microscopy. Branch sites were defined by activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), inhibition of which disrupted morphogenesis. Stress, FAK activation, and branching were all altered by manipulating cellular contractility, matrix stiffness, intercellular cohesion and tissue geometry. These data suggest that the pattern and magnitude of mechanical stress across epithelial tissues cooperate with biochemical signals to specify branching pattern. | 10.1039/c0ib00040j |
pubmed_637_10579 | A sample size of 280 certified mammography technologists were surveyed to understand what factors affect patient discomfort during breast imaging. Given mammography technologists' level of patient involvement, they are uniquely positioned to observe factors that affect patient comfort. The findings suggest that according to technologists, multiple factors, including patient ethnicity, breast density, previous biopsy and lumpectomy experience, as well as psychological factors, impact breast discomfort during mammography. Additionally, with respect to imaging protocols, technologists attributed 80% of moderate-to-extreme discomfort to "length of compression time" (27%) and "compression force" (53%). Technologists also attributed "pinching at chest wall" and "hard edges of breast platform" to "very high" discomfort significantly more times (P<0.05) than "coolness and edges of paddle". These findings confirm some of what has been reported to date and challenge other findings. Given that recent decline in breast cancer mortality has been attributed to improvements in early detection and treatment, approaches to reduce discomfort should be considered in order to promote screening compliance. Although more research is needed, it is apparent that the patient experience of comfort and pain during mammography is an area warranting increased research and solutions. | 10.2147/IJWH.S129817 |
pubmed_983_2899 | Inappropriate timing of introducing complementary food deprives the infant of optimum nutrition, leading to undernutrition, and increased mortality and morbidity. The aim of this analysis was to identify determinants of inappropriate timing of introduction of solid, semi-solid and soft foods in Pakistan. Data on 941 infants 3.00 to 8.99 months were obtained from the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2006-2007. The prevalence of introduction of foods among infants aged 3.00-5.99 months and 6.00-8.99 months was examined against a set of individual, household and community level variables using univariate analysis. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for early introduction in age 3.00-5.99 months and non-introduction in 6.00-8.99 months of age were calculated using backward stepwise logistic regression models. The prevalence of early introduction of complementary foods among 3.00- to 5.99-month-old and timely introduction among 6.00- to 8.99-month-old infants were 10.6% and 39.2%, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that mothers who had four or more antenatal clinic visits (AOR=2.68) and who lived in the provinces of Sindh (AOR=2.89) and Baluchistan (AOR=6.75) were more likely to introduce complementary foods early. Mothers from middle-level households (AOR=7.82), poorer households (AOR=4.84) and poorest households (AOR=5.72) were significantly more likely to delay introduction of complementary foods. In conclusion more than half (60.8%) of Pakistani infants do not receive complementary foods at recommended time. Public health interventions to improve the timing of introduction of complementary food are needed at national level with special focus on high risk groups. | 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2011.00383.x |
pubmed_456_11849 | In this work, we present a CMOS-integrated low-noise junction field-effect transistor (JFET) developed in a standard 0.18 pm CMOS process. These JFETs reduce input-referred flicker noise power by more than a factor of 10 when compared to equally sized n-channel MOS devices by eliminating oxide interfaces in contact with the channel. We show that this improvement in device performance translates into a factor-of-10 reduction in the input-referred noise of integrated CMOS operational amplifiers when JFET devices are used at the input, significant for many applications in bioelectronics. | 10.1109/LED.2018.2844545 |
pubmed_275_18230 | This article presents a novel methodology for the analysis of ethanolamine glycerophospholipid (PE) and lysoPE molecular species directly from lipid extracts of biological samples. Through brief treatment of lipid extracts with fluorenylmethoxylcarbonyl (Fmoc) chloride, PE and lysoPE species were selectively derivatized to their corresponding carbamates. The reaction solution was infused directly into the ion source of an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer after appropriate dilution. The facile loss of the Fmoc moiety dramatically enhanced the analytic sensitivity and allowed the identification and quantitation of low-abundance molecular species. A detection limitation of attomoles (amoles) per microliter for PE and lysoPE analysis was readily achieved using this technique (at least a 100-fold improvement from our previous method) with a >15,000-fold dynamic range. Through intrasource separation and multidimensional mass spectrometry array analysis of derivatized species, marked improvements in signal-to-noise ratio, molecular species identification, and quantitation can be realized. The procedure is both simple and effective and can be extended to analyze many other lipid classes or other cellular metabolites by adjustments in specific derivatization conditions. Thus, through judicious derivatization, a new dimension exploiting specific functional reactivities in each lipid class can be used in conjunction with shotgun lipidomics to penetrate farther into the low-abundance regime of cellular lipidomes. | 10.1194/jlr.D500007-JLR200 |
pubmed_691_146 | Prevention of the formation of struvite and carbonate-apatite calculi, which rapidly increase in size and tend to recur, is of prime importance. One of the urease inhibitors, hydroxycarbamide, was studied in vitro. The results are favourable and justify further studies aimed at the local application of the inhibitor. | 10.1007/BF02082562 |
pubmed_785_16226 | BACKGROUND
Open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has gradually been replaced by endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). The primary objective of this study is to establish baseline mortality data and compare our institutional mortality rates for ruptured AAA patients with published rates from institutions using similar approaches.
METHODS
This study is a retrospective review of 49 patients treated using a structured ruptured AAA (rAAA) protocol in a community teaching hospital. Variables examined include demographics, repair type, device used, presenting systolic blood pressure, presenting glomerular filtration rate, initial hematocrit, transfusions required, and development of postoperative abdominal compartment syndrome.
RESULTS
Forty-nine patients were treated using the rAAA protocol and 48 underwent repair. The 30-day mortality for rAAA and symptomatic AAA (sAAA) was 36.4% (12/33) and 20.0% (3/15), respectively, with a mean mortality of 31.2% (15/48). Mortality for rAAA treated by EVAR was 32.0% (8/25). Mortality for rAAA in the open repair group was 33% (2/6). Conversion from EVAR to open procedure (3/48) or 6% resulted in 100% mortality (P = 0.266). The development of abdominal compartment syndrome was an absolute predictor of death as mortality was 100% (P < 0.001). Other significant predictors of death include the following: (1) blood transfusion received during operation required in 10/14 deaths (71%) (P = 0.005) and (2) transfusion received anytime during hospitalization required in 12/14 deaths or 86% (P = 0.017).
CONCLUSIONS
The management and endovascular repair of sAAA or rAAA can be improved at the community hospital level by the implementation of standardized protocols. Blood transfusions and development of postoperative abdominal compartment syndrome significantly increase mortality. Individual institutional knowledge of results is critical to effective process improvement and optimal patient outcomes. | pubmed_785_16226 |
pubmed_369_18392 | OBJECTIVE
The objective is to study the rehabilitation management and to assess autonomy in daily life activities as well as walking recovery in patients with complicated Pott's disease.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Retrospective study in nine patients over a period of 8 years extending from 2000 to 2008, collated in the Department of Physical Medicine and Functional Rehabilitation, CHU Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia.
RESULTS
The mean age of our patients was 43.8 years; sex ratio was 5/4. The spine involvement of tuberculosis was dorsal in seven cases, dorso-lumbar in one patient, and multiple (cervical, dorsal and lumbar) in one case. All patients were paraplegic with a neurological involvement of the bladder. They had prior antituberculosis chemotherapy for at least 8 months. Decompression surgery was performed in six cases. Two female patients presented disorders of spinal posture during treatment requiring surgical revision with osteosynthesis. All patients received additional rehabilitation care. Following a mean duration of hospitalisation in the Rehabilitation department of 47 days with twice-daily sessions of tailored physiotherapy, three patients remained in complete paraplegia, autonomous in wheel-chair and with vesical and sphincter incontinence. The measure of functional independence (MFI) was at admission/discharge 71/92.
CONCLUSION
Rehabilitation takes an important place in the medico-surgical management in Pott's disease, to limite or compensate the disabilities and handicap related to this pathology. | 10.1016/j.rehab.2012.02.004 |
pubmed_702_1819 | The regional social affairs and health services department (DDASS) of Finistère in France, in cooperation with first-aid workers, the town hall and the police headquarters, have developed and refined a method for medical evacuations of people during mine clearance in the area of Brest. It consists of conducting a census of the population in their place of residence, identifying the hospitalisation needs, and organising their management and care provided by the first-aid workers. Having been applied and put into practice since 2003, this method is reliant on tools created by the regional social affairs and health services department of. It is frequently used and has proven its effectiveness. | 10.3917/spub.092.0191 |
pubmed_462_4682 | A study has been made of 107 HIV infected patients by the C/C. Psychiatry unit in the department of infections diseases, during 1987-1988. In this group the psychiatrist studied the following factors: the AIDS risk group, HIV infection stages, the somatic disorders and the neuropsychiatric complications. Also are described the different aspects of the therapy. The results from the study show that 95% were drug abusers and the most common psychopathological diagnosis were delirium and adjustment disorders. | pubmed_462_4682 |
pubmed_23_19104 | A series of dopamine D(4) antagonists was synthesized and evaluated as potential candidates for development as positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands. All new compounds display high affinity and selectivity for the D(4) receptors and compounds 5b, 5d, and 5e were identified as candidates for radioligand development. | 10.1016/s0960-894x(01)00241-4 |
pubmed_810_18850 | BACKGROUND
Concha bullosa is the pneumatisation of intranasal conchae (usually the middle turbinate, and rarely the inferior or superior turbinate); however, the term is generally used to describe aeration of the middle concha. Superior concha bullosa is a rare finding, and only a few cases of inferior concha bullosa have been reported in the medical literature. When symptomatic, concha bullosa may cause various problems including nasal congestion, headache, postnasal drip, anosmia and, sometimes, epiphora.
METHODOLOGY
Computed tomography, following history-taking and physical examination, is a valuable tool in diagnosing turbinate pneumatisation. This article presents a very rare case with bilateral triple conchae pneumatisations.
RESULTS
The symptomatology, diagnosis and treatment options for cases of multiple concha bullosa are discussed. The surgical interventions performed in the presented case are briefly described.
CONCLUSION
The presented patient had pneumatisation of all six turbinates. In such cases, we propose that this condition be termed 'conchae bullosis' rather than 'conchae bullosa', in a similar fashion to the use of nasal polyposis as the plural form of nasal polyp. | 10.1017/S0022215112002514 |
pubmed_1063_629 | Männer mit Prostatakarzinom haben eine gute Prognose, wenn die Erkrankung in einem frühen Stadium erkannt und behandelt wird. In späteren Stadien steigt das Progressions- und Mortalitätsrisiko hingegen deutlich. Das gilt auch für das nicht-metastasierte kastrationsresistente Prostatakarzinom (M0CRPC, nm-CRPC), bei dem das Progressionsrisiko insbesondere bei kurzer PSA-Verdopplungszeit deutlich erhöht ist. Für entsprechende Patienten gab es lange - außer der klassischen Androgendeprivation - keine Therapieoptionen. | 10.1159/000496364 |
pubmed_445_4446 | In mycetomes of leafhoppers, Helochara communis, ultrastructural and histochemical studies revealed that spheroplast symbiotes (t-symbiotes) were converted to 'a-symbiotes' (so-called), with apparent loss of DNA--a phenomenon reminiscent of rhizobium-bacteroid conversion in certain legume nodules. Additional t-symbiotes were incorporated into the substance of these 'a-symbiotes'. | 10.1139/m75-028 |
pubmed_153_14843 | Lysosomes play a vital role in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis through the recycling of cell constituents, a key metabolic function which is highly dependent on the correct function of the lysosomal hydrolases and membrane proteins, as well as correct membrane lipid stoichiometry and composition. The critical role of lysosomal functionality is evident from the severity of the diseases in which the primary lesion is a genetically defined loss-of-function of lysosomal hydrolases or membrane proteins. This group of diseases, known as lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), number more than 50 and are associated with severe neurodegeneration, systemic disease, and early death, with only a handful of the diseases having a therapeutic option. Another key homeostatic system is the metabolic stress response or heat shock response (HSR), which is induced in response to a number of physiological and pathological stresses, such as protein misfolding and aggregation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, nutrient deprivation, elevated temperature, viral infections, and various acute traumas. Importantly, the HSR and its cardinal members of the heat shock protein 70 family has been shown to protect against a number of degenerative diseases, including severe diseases of the nervous system. The cytoprotective actions of the HSR also include processes involving the lysosomal system, such as cell death, autophagy, and protection against lysosomal membrane permeabilization, and have shown promise in a number of LSDs. This review seeks to describe the emerging understanding of the interplay between these two essential metabolic systems, the lysosomes and the HSR, with a particular focus on their potential as a therapeutic target for LSDs. | 10.1194/jlr.R048090 |
pubmed_1058_11791 | BACKGROUND
With the increasing use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for longer-term support of patients awaiting cardiac transplantation, we must now consider whether to use these devices as alternatives to medical therapy when biologic hearts are needed but not forthcoming. This expansion of use depends as much on quality of life as it does on survival. To draw an inference about long-term quality of life with implanted LVADs, we studied "bridged" patients at our institution.
METHODS
We elicited, by standard gamble, the utilities (preferences) of bridged patients at three points in their care: before LVAD implantation, during LVAD support, and after cardiac transplantation.
RESULTS
Utility was 0.548 (+/-0.276) before implantation, 0.809 (+/-0.136) during LVAD support, and 0.964 (+/-0.089) after transplantation. For patients interviewed during all three states of health, the utilities were significantly different (p = 0.0009 by analysis of variance).
CONCLUSIONS
The quality of life with an LVAD was substantially better than with medical therapy, on par with renal transplantation (as established by others), and not as good as after cardiac transplantation. These results portend an acceptable quality of life for long-term use of LVADs for patients with end-stage heart failure and contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting a clinical trial to test this new use. | 10.1016/s0003-4975(97)01000-x |
pubmed_1081_11113 | Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and represents one of the top five leading causes of cancer-related mortality. Inherited and acquired genetic mutations as well as epigenetic aberrations are known to be important contributors to the development and progression of breast cancer. Recent developments in high-throughput technologies have increased our understanding of the molecular changes in breast cancer, leading to the identification of distinctive genetic and epigenetic modifications in different breast cancer molecular subtypes. These genetic and epigenetic changes in luminal A, luminal B, ERBB2/HER2-enriched, basal-like, and normal-like breast cancer subtypes are discussed in this chapter. Furthermore, recent epigenome studies provided more information about further stratification of breast cancer subtypes, with essential role in the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Thus, the inclusion of both genetic and epigenetic information in breast cancer clinical care could provide critical scientific base for precision medicine in breast cancer. | 10.1007/978-1-4939-8751-1_2 |
pubmed_964_1800 | Two methods for diagnosing radiological osteopenia in thoracic (TS) and lumbar (LS) spine radiographs were assessed: a subjective conventional method (A) and a semiquantitative method (B), by comparing them with bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), in a population of "normal" women aged 45-70 years (n = 818). For both methods there was good intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility. BMDs were significantly lower with increasing radiological osteopenia grades (p < 0.001), and remained lower after adjustment for age and body mass index (p < 0.01). The proportion of subjects with DEXA-defined osteoporosis rose with increasing radiological osteopenia grades for both methods. The worst osteopenia categories identified 29.7-55.3% of women with DEXA-defined osteoporosis, compared with 6.1-11.7% in the "normal" categories. Both methods, however, showed a large degree of overlap of BMDs between the various radiological osteopenia grades. The sensitivity and specificity of method A in diagnosing osteoporosis were 45.3% and 78.4%, respectively, for the TS and 19.0% and 94.3%, respectively, for the LS. For method B the sensitivities and specificities were 8.8% and 96.1%, respectively (TS), and 10.2% and 95.6%, respectively (LS). Although both methods have poor sensitivities, "definite" or "high" grade osteopenia should be an indication for bone densitometry. The high specificities suggest that a "normal" (no osteopenia) X-ray is unlikely to have a significantly low BMD. | 10.1259/0007-1285-69-821-451 |
pubmed_678_25499 | In this review, I consider the varied mechanisms in cortical bone that help preserve its integrity and how they deteriorate with aging. Aging affects cortical bone in two ways: extrinsically through its effects on the individual that modify its mechanical loading experience and 'milieu interieur'; and intrinsically through the prolonged cycle of remodelling and renewal extending to an estimated 20 years in the proximal femur. Healthy femoral cortex incorporates multiple mechanisms that help prevent fracture. These have been described at multiple length scales from the individual bone mineral crystal to the scale of the femur itself and appear to operate hierarchically. Each cortical bone fracture begins as a sub-microscopic crack that enlarges under mechanical load, for example, that imposed by a fall. In these conditions, a crack will enlarge explosively unless the cortical bone is intrinsically tough (the opposite of brittle). Toughness leads to microscopic crack deflection and bridging and may be increased by adequate regulation of both mineral crystal size and the heterogeneity of mineral and matrix phases. The role of osteocytes in optimising toughness is beginning to be worked out; but many osteocytes die in situ without triggering bone renewal over a 20-year cycle, with potential for increasing brittleness. Furthermore, the superolateral cortex of the proximal femur thins progressively during life, so increasing the risk of buckling during a fall. Besides preserving or increasing hip BMD, pharmaceutical treatments have class-specific effects on the toughness of cortical bone, although dietary and exercise-based interventions show early promise. | 10.1038/bonekey.2016.82 |
pubmed_326_1043 | Lectins have been used to study populations and discrete differentiation stages of lymphocytes. Likewise, lectins have been of practical importance in promoting mitogenic stimulation of lymphocytes in numerous species. In this research project, we took advantage of these tools in an attempt to identify specific subsets of peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from healthy nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus). The same cell source served to evaluate mitogenic stimulation. Twelve FITC-labeled lectins were used; 5 (ConA, LcH, RCA, WGA and UEA) reacted with almost 100% of the lymphocytes and 7 (PNA, DBA, SBA, PCA, PHA-L, PWM and VVA) recognized variable percentages (< 100% of these cells). This latter group of lectins may be useful in the identification of armadillo lymphocyte subsets, or may correlate with discrete stages of differentiation of these cells. The same lectins served to evaluate mitogenic stimulation in an aliquot of the same peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Of the 12 lectins studied, 5 (ConA, PHA-L, PWM, DBA and SBA) had the capacity to induce mitogenic stimulation in the whole mixture of mononuclear cells, giving rise to variable degrees in the corresponding mitogenic index obtained for each of the 5 lectins. Those lectins that gave an indication of selective identification of lymphocytes, that is, the percentages at or below 75%, may prove useful in the evaluation of the immune response of healthy armadillos as well as the evolution of progression stages of lepromatous leprosy in armadillos inoculated with the same strain of Mycobacterium leprae that affects humans. | pubmed_326_1043 |
pubmed_864_24637 | Mislocalization of axonal proteins can result in misassembly and/or miswiring of neural circuits, causing disease. To date, only a handful of genes that control polarized localization of axonal membrane proteins have been identified. Here we report that Drosophila X11/Mint proteins are required for targeting several proteins, including human amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Drosophila APP-like protein (APPL), to axonal membranes and for their exclusion from dendrites of the mushroom body in Drosophila, a brain structure involved in learning and memory. Axonal localization of APP is mediated by an endocytic motif, and loss of X11/Mint results in a dramatic increase in cell-surface levels of APPL, especially on dendrites. Mutations in genes required for endocytosis show similar mislocalization of these proteins to dendrites, and strongly enhance defects seen in X11/Mint mutants. These results suggest that X11/Mint-dependent endocytosis in dendrites may serve to promote the axonal localization of membrane proteins. Since X11/Mint binds to APP, and abnormal trafficking of APP contributes to Alzheimer's disease, deregulation of X11/Mint may be important for Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. | 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5749-12.2013 |
pubmed_548_12326 | OBJECTIVE
The burden of illness that can be attributed to osteoarthritis is considerable and ever increasing. The aim of this systematic review is to analyze currently available data derived from cost-of-illness studies on the healthcare and non-healthcare costs of osteoarthritis.
METHODS
PubMed, Index Medicus Español (IME), and the Spanish Database of Health Sciences [Índice Bibliográfico Español en Ciencias de la Salud (IBECS)] were searched up to the end of April 2013. This study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Articles were reviewed and the study quality assessed by two independent investigators with consensus resolution of discrepancies.
RESULTS
We identified 39 studies that investigated the socio-economic cost of osteoarthritis. Only nine studies took a social perspective. Rather than estimating the incremental cost of osteoarthritis, nine studies estimated the total cost of treating patients with osteoarthritis without a control for comorbidity. The other 30 studies determined the incremental cost with or without a control group. Only nine studies assessed a comprehensive list of healthcare resources. The annual incremental healthcare costs of generalized osteoarthritis ranged from €705 to €19,715. The annual incremental non-healthcare-related costs of generalized osteoarthritis ranged from €432 to €11,956.
CONCLUSIONS
The study concludes that the social cost of osteoarthritis could be between 0.25% and 0.50% of a country׳s GDP. This should be considered in order to foster studies that take into account both healthcare and non-healthcare costs. | 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2014.10.012 |
pubmed_837_17405 | Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) is a replication-competent retrovirus which induces T-cell lymphoma in mice. The enhancer sequences present within the M-MuLV long terminal repeat (LTR) region of the proviral genome have been shown to influence the disease specificity of the virus strongly. We examined the contribution of the M-MuLV enhancers to the transcriptional activity and pathogenesis of M-MuLV by constructing LTRs containing heterologous enhancer elements. The simian virus 40 enhancer region (72- and 21-base-pair repeats) was inserted into the U3 region (at -150 base pairs) of the M-MuLV LTR (Mo + SV) and also into a deleted form of the LTR which lacks the M-MuLV enhancer sequences (delta Mo + SV). These chimeric LTRs were used to generate infectious M-MuLVs by transfection of corresponding proviral plasmids into mouse fibroblasts. The relative infectivities of Mo + SV and delta Mo + SV recombinant viruses as determined by rat XC cell plaque assay and reverse transcriptase assay were 60 to 70% of wild-type M-MuLV levels. To study the pathogenicity of these two recombinant viruses, we inoculated newborn NIH Swiss mice with either Mo + SV or delta Mo + SV M-MuLV. Both viruses induced disease more slowly than M-MuLV, which induces disease 2 to 4 months postinoculation. Mo + SV M-MuLV-inoculated animals became moribund at 3 to 13 months postinoculation, whereas delta Mo + SV M-MuLV-inoculated animals became moribund at 6 to 24 months postinoculation. The tumors induced by the two viruses were characterized histologically and molecularly. Mo + SV M-MuLV-induced tumors were primarily T-cell-derived lymphoblastic lymphomas containing extensive rearrangements of the T-cell receptor beta gene. In contrast, delta Mo + SV M-MuLV induced pre-B- and B-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas, B-cell-derived follicular-center cell lymphomas, and acute myeloid leukemia. The delta Mo + SV tumor DNAs from B-lineage tumors were typically rearranged at the immunoglobulin gene loci and contained germ line configurations of the T-cell receptor beta gene. Southern blot hybridization confirmed that the tumor DNAs contained the predicted Mo + SV M-MuLV or delta Mo + SV M-MuLV provirus. | 10.1128/JVI.62.7.2427-2436.1988 |
pubmed_453_19109 | The study investigates the influence of access to information of a history of physical maltreatment on the evaluative responding of social service and clinical psychology professionals. Written vignettes were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design to manipulate the: (a) presence/absence of abuse history; (b) presence/absence of behavior problems; and (c) gender of the child. Professionals rated children presented in 12 case vignettes along five treatment-related dimensions: (a) overall adjustment; (b) predicted 6 months temporal stability of behavior; (c) likelihood of treatment referral; (d) expected home intervention success; and (e) expected school intervention success. Four dimensions related to social functioning were also rated, including likelihood of the child being: (a) recommended to serve as assistant to teacher; (b) elected as a school activity team leader; (c) elected as a class officer; and (d) nominated as a candidate for successful completion of a summer camp program. The findings verified the influence of information related to a history of maltreatment of professional judgments, despite matched vignette content for all factors other than maltreatment status. The results suggests a possible failure to recognize that some children have been buffered from the negative effects of abuse and point to the risk of erroneous judgments that may be directed toward maltreated children. | 10.1016/s0145-2134(96)00155-x |
pubmed_16_22067 | We have designed and synthesized a molecular dyad comprising a carotenoid pigment linked to a fullerene derivative (C-C(60)) in which the carotenoid acts both as an antenna for the fullerene and as an electron transfer partner. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy was carried out on the dyad in order to investigate energy transfer and charge separation pathways and efficiencies upon excitation of the carotenoid moiety. When the dyad is dissolved in hexane energy transfer from the carotenoid S(2) state to the fullerene takes place on an ultrafast (sub 100 fs) timescale and no intramolecular electron transfer was detected. When the dyad is dissolved in toluene, the excited carotenoid decays from its excited states both by transferring energy to the fullerene and by forming a charge-separated C.+ -C(60).- . The charge-separated state is also formed from the excited fullerene following energy transfer from the carotenoid. These pathways lead to charge separation on the subpicosecond time scale (possibly from the S(2) state and the vibrationally excited S(1) state of the carotenoid), on the ps time scale (5.5 ps) from the relaxed S(1) state of the carotenoid, and from the excited state of C(60) in 23.5 ps. The charge-separated state lives for 1.3 ns and recombines to populate both the low-lying carotenoid triplet state and the dyad ground state. | 10.1039/b613971j |
pubmed_446_22345 | EC0746 is a rationally designed anti-inflammatory drug conjugate consisting of a modified folic acid-based ligand linked to a γ-hydrazide analog of aminopterin. In this report, EC0746's effectiveness was evaluated against experimental retinal S-antigen (PDSAg) induced autoimmune uveitis (EAU) and myelin-basic-protein induced autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In both models, functional FR-β was detected on activated macrophages in local (retinal or central-nervous-system, respectively) and systemic (peritoneal cavity) sites of inflammation. In myelin-rich regions of EAE rats, an increased uptake of (99m)Tc-EC20 (etarfolatide; a FR-specific radioimaging agent) was also observed. EC0746 treatment at disease onset suppressed the clinical severity of both EAU and EAE, and it strongly attenuated progressive histopathological changes in the affected organs. In all parameters assessed, EC0746 activity was completely blocked by a benign folate competitor, suggesting that these therapeutic outcomes were specifically FR-β mediated. EC0746 may emerge as a useful macrophage-modulating agent for treating inflammatory episodes of organ-specific autoimmunity. | pubmed_446_22345 |
pubmed_914_5575 | PURPOSE
To evaluate the added value of non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) to conventional MR imaging for a detailed characterization of different rodent glioma models.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Intracerebral tumor cell implantation and chemical induction methods were implemented to obtain rat C6, 9L/LacZ, F98, RG2, and ethyl-nitrosourea (ENU) -induced glioma models, a human U87 MG tumor model as well as a mouse GL261 glioma model. MR assessments were regularly conducted on a 7 Tesla Bruker BioSpin system. The tumor border sharpness and growth characteristics of each glioma model were assessed from T(2)-weighted images. Neovascularization and vascular alterations inherent to each model were characterized by assessing absolute blood volumes, vessel density, length, and diameter using Mathematica and Amira software.
RESULTS
The 9L/LacZ and ENU gliomas both presented flaws that hinder their use as reliable brain tumor models. C6 gliomas were slightly invasive and induced moderate vascular alterations, whereas GL261 tumors dramatically altered the brain vessels in the glioma region. F98, RG2, and U87 are infiltrative models that produced dramatic vascular alterations.
CONCLUSION
MRI and MRA provided crucial in vivo information to identify a distinctive "fingerprint" for each of our seven rodent glioma models. | 10.1002/jmri.22263 |
pubmed_488_10522 | A patient with a sarcoma of the tibia associated with multiple bone infarcts and a history of alcoholism, is presented. This is a rare association. The possible aetiological role of bone infarcts in relation to the development of a sarcoma is discussed. | pubmed_488_10522 |
pubmed_482_16139 | International migration has become a global phenomenon bringing with it complex and interrelated issues related to the physical and mental well-being of the people involved. This study investigated the mental well-being and factors associated with mental health among Myanmar migrant workers (MMW) in Malaysia. The cross-sectional study was conducted in Penang, Malaysia by using the WHO-5 Well-Being Index Scale (WHO-5) and the Mental Health subscale of 36 items in the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Among 192 migrant workers who were understudied, 79.2% had poor mental well-being according to the WHO-5 scale. The duration of stay in Malaysia and without receiving financial aid from their employers despite having a physical illness were significantly associated with poor mental well-being. Mental health support groups should target migrant workers for mental health education and find ways to provide assistance for them. Furthermore, premigration training should be delivered at the country of origin that also provides information on the availability of mental health support in the host country. | 10.1177/1010539520940199 |
pubmed_474_6188 | The administration of methylene blue to assist the identification of insulin secreting pancreatic adenomata, during surgery in a patient with normal haemoglobin and red cells, was associated with an increase in the methaemoglobin concentration from 0.6% to 7.1%. In patients with unstable haemoglobins or abnormalities of the hexose monophosphate pathway the administration of large amounts of methylene blue is potentially dangerous. | 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1979.tb06275.x |
pubmed_386_22851 | The impact of residual vein thrombosis (RVT) on the long-term outcome of patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is unknown. We assessed the incidence of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), postthrombotic syndrome (PTS), arterial thrombotic events, and cancer in patients with DVT with and without RVT. For this purpose, we evaluated up to 3 years 869 consecutive patients with acute proximal DVT who had conventional anticoagulation. RVT, defined as ultrasound incompressibility of at least 4 mm in the common femoral and/or the popliteal vein after 3 months, was detected in 429 (49.4%) patients, and was more likely in males (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-2.04), in patients with previous VTE (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.06-2.54), and in those with extensive thrombosis (OR, 3.58; 95% CI, 2.19-5.86). During the 3-year follow-up, recurrent VTE developed in 84 (19.6%) patients with RVT and 43 (9.8%) patients without RVT (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 2.03; 95% CI, 1.40-2.94); PTS in 225 (52.4%) and 118 (26.8%), respectively (HR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.87-2.93); arterial thrombosis in 29 (6.7%) and 14 (3.2%), respectively (HR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.08-3.88); and cancer in 21 (4.9%) and 8 (1.8%), respectively (HR, 3.09; 95% CI, 1.31-7.28). In conclusion, in patients treated with vitamin K antagonists for prevention of recurrent VTE, RVT doubles the risk of recurrent VTE, PTS, arterial thrombosis, and cancer. Males, patients with previous VTE, and those with extensive thrombosis are independent risk factors of RVT development. Studies addressing the impact of the novel direct anticoagulants on the development of RVT as well as the long-term complications of DVT are needed. | 10.1055/s-0035-1544161 |
pubmed_905_25233 | Substantial data indicate that amyloid-β (Aβ), the major component of senile plaques, plays a central role in Alzheimer's Disease and indeed the assembly of naturally occurring amyloid peptides into cytotoxic aggregates is linked to the disease pathogenesis. Although Aβ42 is a highly aggregating form of Aβ, the co-occurrence of shorter Aβ peptides might affect the aggregation potential of the Aβ pool. In this study we aimed to assess whether the structural behavior of human Aβ42 peptide inside the brain is influenced by the concomitant presence of N-terminal fragments produced by the proteolytic activity of glial cells. We show that the occurrence of the human C-terminal truncated 1-24 Aβ fragment impairs Aβ42 clearance through blood brain barrier and promotes the formation of Aβ42 aggregates even in the healthy brain. By showing that Aβ1-24 has seeding properties for aggregate formation in intracranially injected wild type mice, our study provide the proof-of-concept that peptides produced upon Aβ42 cleavage by activated glial cells may cause phenotypic defects even in the absence of genetic mutations associated with Alzheimer's Disease, possibly contributing to the development of the sporadic form of the pathology. | 10.1186/s40478-016-0381-9 |
pubmed_383_5530 | PURPOSE
To present the clinical features of 4 patients with Duane retraction syndrome characterized by synergistic divergence or convergence, abnormal vertical movements, and accessory fibrotic bands.
METHODS
The medical records of 4 patients were reviewed retrospectively for the following clinical manifestations: visual acuity, refraction, ocular alignments, ocular motility, head position, magnetic resonance imaging, surgical techniques, and outcomes.
RESULTS
All 4 cases were diagnosed as variants of Duane retraction syndrome. Two cases (cases 1 and 2) had synergistic divergence with unilateral adduction deficit, and 2 (cases 3 and 4) had synergistic convergence with bilateral abduction deficit. Case 2 manifested abnormal vertical movements of the right eye, which goes down with adduction of the left eye and goes up oppositely with abduction of left eye. Accessory fibrotic bands were detected beside the medial rectus muscle of both eyes in case 3. Synergistic convergence in case 4 occurred only after the first strabismus surgery. Weakening of the misinnervated horizontal rectus muscle improved ocular alignment and head position in cases 1, 3, and 4.
CONCLUSIONS
Synergistic divergence and convergence are extremely rare and may present with a great diversity of clinical features. A good outcome is very difficult to achieve; however, weakening of the misinnervated horizontal rectus muscle was therapeutic in these patients. | 10.1016/j.jaapos.2020.10.007 |
pubmed_289_7325 | Ricin is a lethal protein toxin produced by the castor bean plant. Ricin is known to possess significant heat resistance. Therefore, we placed it in a variety of foods to study the influence of the food matrix on behavior of a thermally stable protein toxin. First order rate constants for the thermal inactivation of ricin in foods and simple buffers were measured using cytotoxicity assays. We observed greater thermal stability at 75 °C for the cytotoxic activity of ricin when it was placed in a yogurt-containing fruit drink compared to its stability when placed in the other foods tested. We found that galactose and high molecular weight exopolysaccharides present in various dairy products contributed to the thermal stability of ricin. Differential scanning calorimetry also showed enhanced thermal stability for ricin at pH 4.5. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering pH and the presence of stabilizing ligands in the thermal inactivation of protein toxins in foods. | pubmed_289_7325 |
pubmed_326_13467 | Tramadol, an analgesic deriving only part of its effect via opioid agonist activity, might provide postoperative pain relief with minimal risk of respiratory depression. We, therefore, evaluated it for the control of postthoracotomy pain. In this randomized, double-blind study, a single intravenous (IV) bolus dose of 150 mg tramadol (Group T) was compared to epidural morphine administered as an initial 2-mg bolus and subsequent continuous infusion at a rate of 0.2 mg/h (Group M). Patients in each group could receive morphine IV from a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) device. Pain scores, morphine consumption, arterial blood gases, and vital capacity values were recorded at regular intervals postoperatively until 8:00 AM on the first postoperative day. Both groups obtained adequate pain relief, and there were no between-group differences in pain scores or PCA morphine consumption. Pao2 was significantly higher in Group T at 2 h and Paco2 significantly higher in Group M at 4 h postoperatively. There were no other significant respiratory differences. We conclude that a single dose of 150 mg tramadol given at the end of surgery provided postoperative analgesia equivalent to that provided by this dosage regimen of epidural morphine for the initial postoperative period. | 10.1097/00000539-199607000-00015 |
pubmed_538_5308 | OBJECTIVE
Sleep-wake rhythm disturbances frequently occur in demented elderly and are of clinical relevance because they herald accelerated functional decline and institutionalization. Assessment of sleep-wake rhythm disorders is therefore of significant importance and can be performed by questionnaires or actigraphy, i.e., the recording of wrist activity. The present study investigates the relation of these two types of measurement by simultaneously assessing actigraphy and the Circadian Sleep Inventory for Normal and Pathological States (CSINAPS).
METHODS
Seventy-eight elderly subjects, mean age 85+/-6 years, living in group care facilities of 12 homes for the elderly, wore an actigraph for two weeks. Caregivers completed the nurse informant CSINAPS. Spearman rank correlations and Mann-Whitney U tests were calculated over the equivalent sleep-wake rhythm parameters as derived from actigraphy and from the CSINAPS.
RESULTS
Good correlations were found between questionnaire items about habitual timing of sleep and wakefulness and their actigraphic counterparts. Caregivers overestimated the actual sleep time between sleep onset and offset by 96 minutes. Questionnaire reports of sleep disturbances like wandering at night were also reflected in actigraphy parameters. However, the questionnaire and actigraphy variables correlate only modestly and may complement each other. In our study, both actigraphy and the CSINAPS seemed to miss the previously established high prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and leg movements during sleep (LM).
CONCLUSION
The assessment of sleep and wake disturbances in demented elderly is best served by parallel use of a questionnaire like the CSINAPS and actigraphy. Moreover, if SDB and LM are a focus of interest, additional assessments are needed. | 10.1097/01.JGP.0000192481.27931.c5 |
pubmed_415_4381 | BACKGROUND
Antegrade femoral nailing has become the standard treatment for diaphyseal femoral shaft fractures. Concerns linger that improper location of the nail entry point may lead to iatrogenic fracture and further complications. This study used finite element analysis to compare the strain magnitude and distribution resulting from each of two entry points in the proximal femur during antegrade nailing.
METHODS
A finite element model was created from a CT scan of a 37 year old male femur and of a standard antegrade nail. Using implicit time-stepping, the nail was inserted through piriformis and trochanteric entry points and strain was computed at 9 anatomic locations.
FINDINGS
The strain levels were higher overall when inserting a nail through the trochanteric starting point. The highest strain occurred immediately medial and lateral to the trochanteric entry point. The posterior greater trochanter also showed very high strain levels during nail insertion. All strain values for nail insertion through the piriformis entry point were less than 2000 μm/m.
INTERPRETATION
The trochanteric entry will have a much greater potential of iatrogenic fracture of the proximal femur during insertion of a nail. Strains with this entry point exceed the yield level of bone and the repeated loading with the progression of the nail could cause fissures or fractures. Caution should be taken during insertion of an antegrade nail when utilizing a lateral trochanteric starting point secondary to an increased risk of trochanteric fracture and lateral cortex fracture. | 10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2011.11.002 |
pubmed_11_8792 | In the context of inadequate public spending on health care in India (0.9% of the GDP); government liberalized its policies in the form of subsidized lands and tax incentives, resulting in the mushrooming of private hospitals and clinics in India. Paradoxically, a robust framework was not developed for the regulation of these health care providers, resulting in disorganized health sector, inadequate financing models, and lack of prioritization of services, as well as a sub-optimal achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). We systematically reviewed the evidence base regarding regulation of private hospitals, applicability of private-public mix, state of health insurance and effective policy development for India, while seeking lessons on regulation of private health systems, from South African (a developing country) and Australian (a developed country) health care systems. | 10.7860/JCDR/2014/7532.3990 |
pubmed_534_13584 | Fisher information is generally believed to represent a lower bound on mutual information (Brunel & Nadal, 1998), a result that is frequently used in the assessment of neural coding efficiency. However, we demonstrate that the relation between these two quantities is more nuanced than previously thought. For example, we find that in the small noise regime, Fisher information actually provides an upper bound on mutual information. Generally our results show that it is more appropriate to consider Fisher information as an approximation rather than a bound on mutual information. We analytically derive the correspondence between the two quantities and the conditions under which the approximation is good. Our results have implications for neural coding theories and the link between neural population coding and psychophysically measurable behavior. Specifically, they allow us to formulate the efficient coding problem of maximizing mutual information between a stimulus variable and the response of a neural population in terms of Fisher information. We derive a signature of efficient coding expressed as the correspondence between the population Fisher information and the distribution of the stimulus variable. The signature is more general than previously proposed solutions that rely on specific assumptions about the neural tuning characteristics. We demonstrate that it can explain measured tuning characteristics of cortical neural populations that do not agree with previous models of efficient coding. | 10.1162/NECO_a_00804 |
pubmed_543_11263 | Chyle is a fluid rich in triglycerides and is characterized by the presence of chylomicrons. Chylous effusions are unusual complications of malignant neoplasms, usually lymphomas. The combination of chyloperitoneum and chylothorax is very rare. When abdominal lymphatics are obstructed, chylous ascites results and eventually leads to a chylothorax. We present the case of a 68-year-old woman with a chyloperitoneum and a right-sided chylothorax due to an underlying malignant B-cell lymphoma. After thoracocentesis and replacement therapy with medium chain triglycerides, she was treated with a combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone. This has resulted in a regression of the chylous effusions. A short review of the literature describes causes, diagnosis and therapy of chylous effusions. | 10.1080/17843286.1995.11718415 |
pubmed_216_4155 | The in vitro and in vivo characterization of adult stem cells has allowed researchers to identify certain specific functional features to each tissue-specific stem cell. Moreover, recent studies revealed that their malignant counterparts, the cancer progenitor cells with stem cell-like properties, may assume a crucial role for the initiation and progression of locally invasive cancers into disseminated and incurable disease states. Therefore, a new direction in cancer research appears necessary in considering the critical functions of cancer progenitor cells. In this review, we discuss recent concepts on the critical roles of tumorigenic and migrating cancer progenitor cells in carcinogenesis. Particularly, we describe the tumorigenic cascades that are frequently activated through the interplay of diverse hormones, growth factors, cytokines and integrins in cancer progenitor cells versus their further differentiated progeny. The emphasis is on the oncogenic signaling pathways activated during the localized cancer progression and micrometastatic events involved in tumor formation at distant sites such as bone marrow. Of therapeutic interest, important information for the selective molecular targeting of cancer progenitor cells, which must now be considered in developing new effective diagnostic and prognostic methods and curative treatments against the most locally advanced and metastatic cancers, is also described. | 10.1007/s10555-007-9052-4 |
pubmed_416_3889 | The current epidemic of obesity warrants aggressive screening for associated comorbid conditions; namely, the metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus. Approximately 25-30% of patients with acute coronary syndrome have diabetes. Of the remaining patients, most have a spectrum of abnormal glucose metabolism, including previously undiagnosed impaired fasting glucose and diabetes mellitus. This article reviews the current literature and the author's own experience of this subject, as well as highlighting effective new agents in treating diabetes. | 10.1586/14779072.4.4.503 |
pubmed_310_21825 | The C-H activation of toluene and p-xylene at cationic Pt(II) diimine complexes (N-N)Pt(CH(3))(H(2)O)(+)BF(4)(-) (N-N = Ar-N=CMe-CMe=N-Ar; 1(BF(4)(-)), N(f)-N(f), Ar = 3,5-(CF(3))(2)C(6)H(3)); 2(BF(4)(-)), N'-N', Ar = 2,6-(CH(3))(2)C(6)H(3)) has been investigated. The reactions were performed at ambient temperature in 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE), and after complete conversion of the starting material to mixtures of Pt-aryl/Pt-benzyl complexes and methane, acetonitrile was added to trap the products as more stable acetonitrile adducts. In the reactions with toluene, the relative amounts of products resulting from aromatic C-H activation were found to decrease in the order (N-N)Pt(m-tolyl)(NCMe)(+) > (N-N)Pt(p-tolyl)(NCMe)(+) > (N-N)Pt(o-tolyl)(NCMe)(+) for both 1 and 2. Unlike the reaction at 1, significant amounts of the benzylic activation product (N'-N')Pt(benzyl)(NCMe)(+) were concurrently formed in the C-H activation of toluene at 2. The C-H activation of p-xylene revealed an even more remarkable difference between 1 and 2. Here, the product ratios of (N-N)Pt(xylyl)(NCMe)(+) and (N-N)Pt(p-methylbenzyl)(NCMe)(+) were found to be 90:10 and 7:93 for reactions at 1 and 2, respectively. The elimination of toluene from (N(f)-N(f))Pt(Tol)(2) species (3a-c; a, Tol = o-tolyl; b, Tol = m-tolyl; c, Tol = p-tolyl) after protonolysis with 1 equiv of HBF(4) was investigated. Most notably, protonation in neat TFE followed by addition of acetonitrile gave a 77:23 mixture of (N(f)-N(f))Pt(m-tolyl)(NCMe)(+) (4b) and (N(f)-N(f))Pt(p-tolyl)(NCMe)(+) (4c) from all three isomeric bis(tolyl) complexes 3a-c. The presence of acetonitrile during the protonation reactions resulted in considerably less isomerization. This behavior is explained by an associative mechanism for the product-determining displacement of toluene by the solvent. For the C-H activation reactions, our findings suggest the existence of a dynamic equilibrium between the isomeric intermediates (N-N)Pt(aryl)(CH(4))(+) (aryl = tolyl/benzyl from 1; xylyl/p-methylbenzyl from 2). The observed selectivities might then be explained by steric and electronic effects in the pentacoordinate transition-state structures for the solvent-induced associative elimination of methane from these intermediates. | 10.1021/ja010277e |
pubmed_173_1264 | UNLABELLED
Combined17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency is a rare cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and hypogonadism. Hypertension and hypokalemia are essential presenting features. We report an Arab family with four affected XX siblings. The eldest presented with abdominal pain and was diagnosed with a retroperitoneal malignant mixed germ cell tumour. She was hypertensive and hypogonadal. One sibling presented with headache due to hypertension while the other two siblings were diagnosed with hypertension on a routine school check. A homozygous R96Q missense mutation in P450c17 was detected in the index case who had primary amenorrhea and lack of secondary sexual characters at 17 years. The middle two siblings were identical twins and had no secondary sexual characters at the age of 14. All siblings had hypokalemia, very low level of adrenal androgens, high ACTH and high levels of aldosterone substrates. Treatment was commenced with steroid replacement and puberty induction with estradiol. The index case had surgical tumor resection and chemotherapy. All siblings required antihypertensive treatment and the oldest remained on two antihypertensive medications 12 years after diagnosis. Her breast development remained poor despite adequate hormonal replacement. Combined 17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency is a rare condition but might be underdiagnosed. It should be considered in young patients presenting with hypertension, particularly if there is a family history of consanguinity and with more than one affected sibling. Antihypertensive medication might continue to be required despite adequate steroid replacement. Breast development may remain poor in mutations causing complete form of the disease.
LEARNING POINTS
Endocrine hypertension due to rarer forms of CAH should be considered in children and adolescents, particularly if more than one sibling is affected and in the presence of consanguinity.17α-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase deficiency is a rare form of CAH but might be underdiagnosed.Blood pressure measurement should be carried out in all females presenting with hypogonadism.Anti-hypertensive medications might be required despite adequate steroid replacement.Initial presenting features might vary within affected members of the same family.Adverse breast development might be seen in the complete enzyme deficiency forms of the disease. | 10.1530/EDM-15-0069 |
pubmed_220_21084 | Monocarboxylate transporters (MCT) and sodium-bicarbonate cotransporters (NBC) transport acid/base equivalents and coexist in many epithelial and glial cells. In nervous systems, the electroneutral MCT1 isoform cotransports lactate and other monocarboxylates with H+, and is believed to be involved in the shuttling of energy-rich substrates between astrocytes and neurons. The NBC cotransports bicarbonate with sodium and generates a membrane current. We have expressed these transporter proteins, cloned from rat brain (MCT1) and human kidney (NBC), alone and together, by injecting the cRNA into oocytes of the frog Xenopus laevis, and measured intracellular pH changes and membrane currents under voltage-clamp with intracellular microelectrodes, and radiolabeled lactate uptake into the oocytes. We determined the cytosolic buffer capacity, the H+ and lactate fluxes as induced by 3 and 10 mM lactate in oocytes expressing MCT1 and/or NBC, and in water-injected oocytes, in salines buffered with 5 mM HEPES alone or with 5% CO2/10 mM HCO3(-) (pH 7.0). In MCT1 + NBC- but not in MCT1- or NBC-expressing oocytes, lactate activated a Na+- and HCO3(-)-dependent membrane current, indicating that lactate/H+ cotransport via MCT1, due to the induced pH change, stimulates NBC activity. Lactate/H+ cotransport by MCT1 was increased about twofold when MCT1 was expressed together with NBC. Our results suggest that the facilitation of MCT1 transport activity is mainly due to the increase in apparent buffer capacity contributed by the NBC, and thereby suppresses the build-up of intracellular H+ during the influx of lactate/H+, which would reduce MCT1 activity. Hence these membrane transporters functionally cooperate and are able to increase ion/metabolite transport activity. | 10.1016/S0006-3495(04)74099-0 |
pubmed_663_450 | Thiol-modified silica is often used as an intermediate product for further synthesis of modified stationary phases for chromatography or purification processes. Different conditions were used to synthesize such thiol-modified particles, but systematic optimizations remained scarce. In this study the reaction conditions for the synthesis of mercaptopropyl-modified silica were optimized. The general synthetic method consists in slurrying the silica gel in toluene before adding 3-mercaptopropyldimethoxymethylsilane together with a tertiary amine as catalyst (here dimethylaminopyridine). Reaction time and temperature were optimized using a full factorial design of experiment (DoE) from 3 to 25h with temperature varying between 45 and 105 degrees C. The surface coverage of the silica with mercaptopropyl-groups was analyzed by two different ways (elemental analysis and chemical surface reaction with 2,2'-dipyridyl disulfide followed by HPLC-UV analysis of stoichiometrically liberated pyridyl-2-thione). We obtained a three-dimensional (3D) plot of the surface coverage as a function of reaction time and temperature. The arch-shaped hyperplane allowed us to determine an optimum with regard to time and temperature, which yields to the highest surface coverage possible. We also verified that the increase of the surface coverage does not lead to a decrease of the stability of the surface modification by subjecting the gels to treatment with high temperature and acidic conditions. The stability was monitored by different chromatographic methods. Moreover, (29)Si cross-polarization-magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) NMR spectra of materials prepared by different conditions allowed to confirm that the Si species on the surface were essentially the same, while there was only a minute difference in signal intensities for the individual Si species for materials obtained by distinct temperatures. | 10.1016/j.chroma.2009.01.016 |
pubmed_776_17305 | The dissociation rates of 1,N6-ethenoadenosine 5'-triphosphate (epsilon ATP) and of Ca2+ from G-actin and its complex with myosin subfragment 1 (S1) were measured by recording a large decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the dissociating nucleotide. Under the experimental conditions employed, the binary G-acto-S1A2 complex does not polymerize (Chaussepied, P., and Kasprzak, A. A. (1989) Nature 342, 950-953). The released nucleotide was hydrolyzed either by alkaline phosphatase or by apyrase; to trap Ca2+, EDTA was used. From the anisotropy of N-iodoacetyl-N'-(5-sulfo-1- naphthyl)ethylenediamine (1,5-IAEDANS)-actin, it was established that during the dissociation of epsilon ATP, the G-acto-S1 complex remained stable and the equilibrium of the system was unaltered. The reactions followed first order kinetics. The dissociation rate constant, kd for epsilon ATP decreased from 5.5 x 10(-4) s-1 for free G-actin to 1 x 10(-4) s-1 for G-acto-S1A2; for Ca2+, kd was also similarly reduced from 2.8 x 10(-2) s-1 to 4 x 10(-3) s-1. Two proteolytically derived actin variants were also examined. For free subtilisin-cleaved actin, kd for epsilon ATP was elevated 2-fold but was almost unchanged for Ca2+. In the complex of the cleaved G-actin with S1A2, kd for both epsilon ATP and for Ca2+ were reduced. The removal of the last 3 amino acids from actin produced a derivative whose behavior in binding to S1, as well as in the kinetics of epsilon ATP and Ca2+ dissociation, was undistinguishable from the unmodified protein. | pubmed_776_17305 |
pubmed_1030_24704 | Osseointegrated dental implants in the vicinity of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) will become more common given the increasing popularity of dental implants. Reports and studies of OSCC around dental implants are rare, as is the topic of how to handle OSCC surgically when implants are in contact with the tumour. In view of this uncertainty, a histological study was performed to assess tumour behaviour around implants. The aim was to determine whether an implant facilitates inward growth of the tumour and how this should be taken into account during staging and treatment planning. A total of 20 specimens were collected. The implants were macroscopically in contact with OSCC in 13 of the 20 specimens. Histologically, tumour tissue near the implant was indeed confirmed in nine of these cases. In seven cases, tumour invasion had led to resorption of the underlying jaw bone; tumour between the bone-implant interface was identified in only two of these cases, but without downward growth along the implant. In conclusion, no proof was found to confirm that the bone-implant interface is a preferred route for invasion. Therefore, dental implants in the vicinity of OSCC should not influence staging and treatment planning in this regard. | 10.1016/j.ijom.2022.08.004 |
pubmed_638_8222 | Activin is a member of the TGFbeta superfamily of growth and differentiation factors that control a variety of cellular and physiological functions. The canonical intracellular pathway of this ligand is well established and involves Smad signaling molecules. The tissue- and cell-specificity of activin action is achieved by Smad interaction with various transcriptional co-factors in the nucleus. In the reproductive axis, activin induces biosynthesis and secretion of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) through transcriptional control of FSHbeta-subunit. Whereas it has been well demonstrated that this regulation is mediated by Smad pathway, the molecular mechanisms underlying gonadotrope-specific expression of the FSHbeta gene are not fully understood. Previously, we have identified Pitx2 as a pituitary-expressed transcription factor involved in activin-dependent induction of the FSHbeta promoter. Present data demonstrate that Pitx2 is not only sufficient, but also necessary for FSHbeta gene transcription, as a siRNA-mediated downregulation of Pitx2 protein expression abrogates both Smad3- and activin-mediated stimulation of the FSHbeta promoter. In addition, downregulation of Smad3 protein expression has a significant effect on Pitx2-dependent stimulation of the FSHbeta promoter, suggesting that cooperation between these factors is necessary for full transcriptional activation of the FSHbeta promoter. Furthermore, we show that Pitx2/Smad protein complexes assemble and can be co-immunoprecipitated. This interaction is mediated through the homeodomain of Pitx2 and is important for stimulation of FSHbeta gene transcription. Overall, these data contribute to the emerging molecular mechanism underlying both basal and activin-dependent FSHbeta gene regulation. | 10.1016/j.mce.2007.10.003 |
pubmed_636_5418 | BACKGROUND
Childhood fitness is generally evaluated by a battery of health-related estimators to assess pediatric health status. More so than the fitness level at any other stage of life, the level of physical fitness in childhood will have a marked effect on an individual's physical development and overall health in adolescence and adulthood. This paper contributes to this issue by investigating the differences in the distribution of the physical fitness of elementary schoolchildren aged 9-12 by gender, region and ethnicity.
METHODS
Data were drawn from a nationwide dataset of physical fitness test profiles of elementary school students, conducted by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan in 2008. In total, 134,546 schoolchildren in fourth to sixth grade aged from 9 to 12 were included. Three components of physical fitness are measured: explosive power; muscle strength; and flexibility. Each fitness test was carried out by the school teachers during physical education classes. A statistical test procedure was then used to test the distribution differences in each category of physical fitness by age, gender and region. By further using the official recommended levels, the proportions of schoolchildren who have poor physical fitness performance were also examined.
RESULTS
In general, boys have better physical fitness than girls except in the area of flexibility. In addition to gender differences, the present results are supportive of there being differences in the rural and urban populations. The rural children perform better than urban children in bent-leg curl-ups and standing long jump tests.
CONCLUSIONS
Physical fitness has been recognized not only as an integrated predictor of the body's functional status, but also as an important marker of health outcomes. Although considerable attention had been paid to examining the urban-rural differences in physical fitness, it is necessary to further consider the differences in ethnicity. | 10.1111/ped.12044 |
pubmed_1073_1968 | Electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements are a powerful tool for evaluating cardiac function and are widely used for the diagnosis and prediction of a variety of conditions, including myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Recently, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) identified a large number of genes related to ECG parameter variability, specifically for the QT, QRS, and PR intervals. The aims of this study were to establish the heritability of ECG traits, including indices of left ventricular hypertrophy, and to directly assess the proportion of those heritabilities explained by GWAS variants. These analyses were conducted in a large, Dutch family-based cohort study, the Erasmus Rucphen Family study using variance component methods implemented in the SOLAR (Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines) software package. Heritability estimates ranged from 34% for QRS and Cornell voltage product to 49% for 12-lead sum. Trait-specific GWAS findings for each trait explained a fraction of their heritability (17% for QRS, 4% for QT, 2% for PR, 3% for Sokolow-Lyon index, and 4% for 12-lead sum). The inclusion of all ECG-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms explained an additional 6% of the heritability of PR. In conclusion, this study shows that, although GWAS explain a portion of ECG trait variability, a large amount of heritability remains to be explained. In addition, larger GWAS for PR are likely to detect loci already identified, particularly those observed for QRS and 12-lead sum. | 10.1007/s00439-015-1595-9 |
pubmed_795_6034 | We describe two cases of spinal dysraphism where detection of the cutaneous signs - namely a faun-tail naevus and diffuse hypertrichosis - led to early recognition of the occult neurological abnormalities and institution of corrective surgery. The dermatologist may be the first physician to observe these skin changes and an early neurosurgical referral can prevent subsequent neurological complications. | 10.1046/j.1365-2230.2002.01091.x |
pubmed_791_14388 | OBJECTIVE
Guidelines for asthma management contain a consensus recommendation that inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dose should not be stepped down in pregnancy. However, this is not consistent with consumer preferences and pharmacological principles to minimize medication exposure during pregnancy. We investigated exacerbations after changes to ICS and long acting beta agonist (LABA) therapy in pregnant women with asthma.
METHODS
Pregnant women (n = 220) were recruited to a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where maintenance treatment was adjusted monthly based on either symptoms (control group), or fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO, to alter ICS) and symptoms (to alter LABA, FeNO group). Exacerbations were monitored prospectively.
RESULTS
ICS were used by 137 (62.3%) women at some time during pregnancy. ICS dose remained unchanged in 16 women (11.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 7-18%), increased in 37 women (27%, 95%CI 20-35%), decreased in 34 women (24.8%, 95%CI 18%-33%), or both increased and decreased in 50 women (36.5%, 95%CI 29-45%). Exacerbations occurred within 14 days of ICS step-down in 11 women (13%, 95%CI 7.5%-22%). This was not significantly different from exacerbations occurring within 14 days of step-up, in 7 women (8.1%, 95%CI 4%-16%, P = 0.294). There were no differences between management groups. Exacerbations occurred within 14 days of step-down in 14.7% (95%CI 7%-30%) of women in the control group, and in 12% (95%CI 6%-24%) of women in the FENO group.
CONCLUSIONS
ICS step-down could be considered when eosinophilic inflammation or symptoms are low, and may be a useful management approach for women, doctors, and midwives wishing to minimize ICS exposure during pregnancy. | 10.1080/02770903.2020.1847934 |
pubmed_196_14361 | Small gold nanorods have a significantly large absorption/scattering ratio and are especially beneficial in exploiting photothermal effects, for example in photothermal therapy and remote drug release. This work systematically investigates the influence of growth conditions on the size, growth yield, and stability of small gold nanorods. The silver-assisted seed-mediated growth method was optimized to synthesize stable small gold nanorods with a high growth yield (>85%). Further study on the influence of silver ions on the growth facilitates the growth of small gold nanorods with tunable longitudinal surface plasmon resonance from 613 to 912 nm, with average dimensions of 13-25 nm in length and 5-6 nm in diameter. Moreover, the small gold nanorods were successfully functionalized with thiol-modified hairpin oligonucleotides (hpDNA) labeled with Cy5. Fluorescence intensity measurements show an increase in the presence of target DNA and an enhanced signal/background ratio when the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance of small gold nanorods overlaps with the excitation and emission wavelength of Cy5. This coincides with a reduced fluorescence lifetime of Cy5 in the hairpin structure, indicating surface plasmon resonance-enhanced energy transfer to the small gold nanorods. This study may provide insight on the synthesis and functionalization of small gold nanorods in biomedical sensing and therapy. | 10.1021/acsomega.9b01200 |
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