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pubmed_349_4276 | BACKGROUND
Anastomotic leakage is a severe complication after low anterior resection for rectal cancer. With a global increase in registration initiatives, adapting uniform definitions and grading systems is highly relevant.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to provide clinical parameters to categorize anastomotic leakage into subcategories according to the International Study Group of Rectal Cancer.
DESIGN
All of the patients who underwent a low anterior resection in the Netherlands with primary anastomosis were included using the population-based Dutch Surgical Colorectal Audit.
SETTINGS
Data were derived from the Dutch Surgical Colorectal Audit.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The development of grade B anastomotic leakage (requiring invasive treatment but no surgery) versus grade C anastomotic leakage (requiring reoperation) was measured.
RESULTS
Overall, 4287 patients underwent low anterior resection with primary anastomosis. A total of 159 patients (4%) were diagnosed with grade B anastomotic leakage versus 259 (6%) with grade C. Hospital stay and intensive care unit visits were significantly higher in patients with grade C anastomotic leakage compared with patients with grade B leakage. Mortality in patients with grade C leakage was higher compared with grade B leakage, although nonsignificant (5.8% vs 2.5%; p = 0.12). Multivariate analysis showed that patients with diverting stomas (n = 2866) had a decreased risk of developing grade C leakage compared with grade B (OR = 0.17 (95% CI, 0.10-0.29)). Male patients had an increased risk of developing grade C anastomotic leakage, and patients receiving neoadjuvant treatment before surgery had an increased risk of developing grade B anastomotic leakage.
LIMITATIONS
Some possibly relevant variables, such as smoking and nutritional status, were not recorded in the database.
CONCLUSIONS
Anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection for rectal cancer was a frequent observed complication in this cohort. Differences in clinical outcome suggest that grade B and C leakage should be considered separate entities in future registrations. In patients with a diverting stoma, the chances of experiencing grade C anastomotic leakage were reduced. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A315. | 10.1097/DCR.0000000000000800 |
pubmed_281_25866 | During evolution, plants have faced countless stresses of both biotic and abiotic nature developing very effective mechanisms able to perceive and counteract adverse signals. The biggest challenge is the ability to fine-tune the trade-off between plant growth and stress resistance. The Antarctic plant Colobanthus quitensis has managed to survive the adverse environmental conditions of the white continent and can be considered a wonderful example of adaptation to prohibitive conditions for millions of other plant species. Due to the progressive environmental change that the Antarctic Peninsula has undergone over time, a more comprehensive overview of the metabolic features of C. quitensis becomes particularly interesting to assess its ability to respond to environmental stresses. To this end, a differential proteomic approach was used to study the response of C. quitensis to different environmental cues. Many differentially expressed proteins were identified highlighting the rewiring of metabolic pathways as well as defense responses. Finally, a different modulation of oxidative stress response between different environmental sites was observed. The data collected in this paper add knowledge on the impact of environmental stimuli on plant metabolism and stress response by providing useful information on the trade-off between plant growth and defense mechanisms. | 10.3390/plants11223176 |
pubmed_638_15705 | In this study, wild-type human CYP1A2 without the conventional N-terminal modification (second codon GCT) or the truncation of the N-terminal hydrophobic region was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli. Its enzymatic properties were compared with N-terminally modified CYP1A2. Although modified CYP1A2 is almost all high-spin, some wild-type CYP1A2 shifted to low-spin. Spectral binding titrations with several ligands could be performed with wild-type enzyme, but not with modified enzyme. Kinetic parameters for several substrates were similar for the two CYP1A2 enzymes. However, the oxidation rates of phenacetin by modified enzyme were approximately 2-fold higher than those by wild-type enzyme. The intermolecular isotope effects were approximately 2 for phenacetin O-deethylation catalyzed by both enzymes. However, the wild-type enzyme, but not the modified enzyme, increased C-hydroxylation when O-deethylation rates were lowered by deuterium substitution. Molecular switching indicates that phenacetin rotates within the active site of wild-type enzyme and suggests a looser conformation in the active site of the wild-type enzyme than of the modified enzyme. These results reveal that the overall enzymatic properties of wild-type CYP1A2 enzyme are quite similar to those of modified CYP1A2, although its active site environment seems to differ from that of the modified enzyme. | 10.1016/j.pep.2007.10.010 |
pubmed_813_12937 | OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of ET difficulty on IVF outcome and to optimize the ET procedure.
DESIGN
Retrospective analysis of IVF outcome by ET catheter type and ET difficulty. Prospective treatment and follow-up of patients with a history of extremely difficult cervical passage.
SETTING
Large university-based IVF program.
PATIENT(S)
All patients < 40 years of age undergoing IVF-ET from September 1995 to May 1998.
INTERVENTION(S)
Surgical correction of cervical stenosis.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)
Pregnancy and embryo implantation rates.
RESULT(S)
Only 0.6% of ETs were "extremely difficult." Pregnancy rates were not statistically significantly different among ETs graded easy, moderate, and difficult. In contrast, no pregnancies occurred in the rare "extremely difficult" ET group. Eight patients with a history of extremely difficult cervical passage underwent surgical correction of their cervical stenosis. Twelve postoperative IVF-ET in these women resulted in eight clinical pregnancies, six of which were multiple gestations. The embryo implantation rate of these cycles was 42.2%.
CONCLUSION(S)
Patients with a history of extremely difficult ET may benefit from hysteroscopic evaluation and possible modification of their cervical canal before a future IVF attempt. | 10.1016/s0015-0282(99)00235-6 |
pubmed_885_6315 | Hantaan viruses cause two severe diseases lacking efficient treatment, yet no effective prophylactic vaccines are available. Continued exploration of alternative antiviral agents to treat hantavirus-related syndromes remains compulsory. The fluorescence-based quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) has become the touchstone for target gene quantification. In the present study, standard curves for Hantaan virus (HTNV), mouse, and human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were generated by serial 10-fold dilutions of the constructed recombinant plasmid pGEM-T/HTNV, pGEM-T/mouse-GAPDH, and pGEM-T/human-GAPDH, respectively. Comparisons between the indirect immunofluorescence assay and qPCR assay in the detection of HTNV-infected Vero E6 cells showed improved detection limit and sensitivity of latter method. To characterize the inhibitory effect of several conventional antivirals (arbidol and ribavirin) and unconventional antivirals (indomethacin and curcumin) on HTNV, the levels of viral RNAs were measured for 4 days post-treatment of HTNV-infected Vero E6 cells and 18 days post-inoculation of HTNV-infected suckling mice. Our results validated that HTNV was sensitive to ribavirin and arbidol treatment, while indomethacin and curcumin may also be therapeutically effective in treating HTNV infection. As a result, the establishment and application of qPCR may be a useful tool for the evaluation of potential antivirals for Hantaan virus infection in vitro and in vivo. | 10.1007/s11262-012-0834-6 |
pubmed_641_17154 | The specific activity of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate phospholipase C (PIP2-PLC) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate monophosphatase (IP3-MP) involved in phosphoinositide catabolism was found to be significantly lower in the total homogenate of four human lymphoblastoid cell lines, HSB-2, MOLT-4, CEM and JURKAT, than in resting and activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, ranging from 0.8 to 3.2 and from 1.3 to 3.7 nmol/min/mg for PIP2-PLC and IP3-MP, respectively. In PHA-stimulated cells, the specific activities were enhanced 25 and 35% respectively over the values (8.02 and 7.83 nmol/min/mg, respectively) measured in resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells. After centrifugation on discontinuous sucrose gradient of cell homogenate, PIP2-PLC and IP3-MP activities were found to be predominantly associated with the cytosol fraction (> 69%) in HSB-2 and MOLT-4 cells, with a distribution similar to that found in PHA-stimulated and in resting lymphocytes. In CEM cells, about half of the total activity remained in this fraction, while in JURKAT lymphoblastic cells more than 45% of the total activity was recovered in the high-density membrane fraction (d = 1.20-1.25), the soluble PIP2-PLC and IP3-MP activity accounting for only 13 and 25%, respectively. Conversely, in less differentiated leukemic cells HSB-2 and MOLT-4, conspicuous activity of the ectoenzymes 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT) was recovered in the soluble fraction. Growing leukemic cells at a distinct level of differentiation have a general reduction in activity but a characteristic distribution of enzymes involved in the transmission of signals usually targeting the cell surface. | pubmed_641_17154 |
pubmed_661_18139 | The two myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) species, designated large MAG (L-MAG) and small MAG (S-MAG), are believed to be generated by differential splicing from a single RNA transcript. We have now defined the genetic locus encoding the two MAG proteins in the mouse. Analysis of a panel of interspecies somatic cell hybrids indicated that all MAG coding sequences reside on chromosome 7. Following the inheritance of a restriction fragment length polymorphism associated with MAG coding sequences allowed the locus to be positioned 0.5 centimorgans from the locus Abpa (androgen binding protein alpha) on proximal chromosome 7. These data strongly support the hypothesis that a single gene encodes the two MAG proteins, and we propose the name Mag for this locus. This localization places Mag in close proximity to the neurological mutant locus qv (quivering) and raises the possibility of a functional relationship or identity between Mag and qv. However, an analysis of the MAG gene, its RNA transcripts, and its protein products revealed no abnormalities in homozygous qv mutant mice, suggesting that this chromosomal linkage is not etiologically significant. | 10.1111/j.1471-4159.1988.tb02951.x |
pubmed_1005_1094 | Recently, short beak and dwarfism syndrome (SBDS) had a sudden outbreak in Cherry Valley duck flocks, followed by Pekin ducks and mule ducks in various regions of mainland China. This widely spreading infectious disease was characterized by growth retardation, smaller beak and tarsus with high morbidity and low mortality rate. In this study, we identified and characterized virus from domestic Linwu sheldrakes (namely as HuN18) with SBDS. HuN18 isolates shared high nucleotide identity with novel goose parvovirus (N-GPV). A 5110-nucleotide full-length genome sequence of HuN18 was found with no deletion in ITR region. Alignment studies of HuN18 showed 96.8%-99.0% identity with other N-GPVs and 92.9%-96.3% identity with classic GPV. According to the recombination analysis, HuN18 showed the potential major parent was the N-GPV sdlc01 strain, the potential minor parent was the classical GPV Y strain, and the secondary potential minor parent was the SYG61v strain. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of N-GPV in domestic Linwu sheldrakes with SBDS; these data provide evidence that attenuated live viruses are involved in genetic recombination with prevailing wild parvoviruses, which contributes to the novel emerging variants of waterfowl parvoviruses. | 10.1111/tbed.13280 |
pubmed_105_678 | Purpose: Automated postprocessing packages have been developed for managing acute ischemic stroke (AIS). These packages identify ischemic core and penumbra using either computed tomographic perfusion imaging (CTP) data or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Measurements of abnormal tissues and treatment decisions derived from different vendors can vary. The purpose of this study is to investigate the agreement of volumetric and decision-making outcomes derived from two software packages. Methods: A total of 594 AIS patients (174 underwent CTP and 420 underwent MRI) were included. Imaging data were accordingly postprocessed by two software packages: RAPID and RealNow. Volumetric outputs were compared between packages by performing intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Wilcoxon paired test and Bland-Altman analysis. Concordance of selecting patients eligible for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) was assessed based on neuroimaging criteria proposed in DEFUSE3. Results: In the group with CTP data, mean ischemic core volume (ICV)/penumbral volume (PV) was 14.9/81.1 mL via RAPID and 12.6/83.2 mL via RealNow. Meanwhile, in the MRI group, mean ICV/PV were 52.4/68.4 mL and 48.9/61.6 mL via RAPID and RealNow, respectively. Reliability, which was measured by ICC of ICV and PV in CTP and MRI groups, ranged from 0.87 to 0.99. The bias remained small between measurements (CTP ICV: 0.89 mL, CTP PV: -2 mL, MRI ICV: 3.5 mL and MRI PV: 6.8 mL). In comparison with CTP ICV with follow-up DWI, the ICC was 0.92 and 0.94 for RAPID and Realnow, respectively. The bias remained small between CTP ICV and follow-up DWI measurements (Rapid: -4.65 mL, RealNow: -3.65 mL). Wilcoxon paired test showed no significant difference between measurements. The results of patient triage were concordant in 159/174 cases (91%, ICC: 0.90) for CTP and 400/420 cases (95%, ICC: 0.93) for MRI. Conclusion: The CTP ICV derived from RealNow was more accurate than RAPID. The similarity in volumetric measurement between packages did not necessarily relate to equivalent patient triage. In this study, RealNow showed excellent agreement with RAPID in measuring ICV and PV as well as patient triage. | 10.3390/cells11162547 |
pubmed_558_24027 | BACKGROUND
There is growing evidence that traffic-related air pollution reduces birth weight. Improving exposure assessment is a key issue to advance in this research area.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effect of prenatal exposure to traffic-related air pollution via geographic information system (GIS) models on birth weight in 570 newborns from the INMA (Environment and Childhood) Sabadell cohort.
METHODS
We estimated pregnancy and trimester-specific exposures to nitrogen dioxide and aromatic hydrocarbons [benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene (BTEX)] by using temporally adjusted land-use regression (LUR) models. We built models for NO(2) and BTEX using four and three 1-week measurement campaigns, respectively, at 57 locations. We assessed the relationship between prenatal air pollution exposure and birth weight with linear regression models. We performed sensitivity analyses considering time spent at home and time spent in nonresidential outdoor environments during pregnancy.
RESULTS
In the overall cohort, neither NO(2) nor BTEX exposure was significantly associated with birth weight in any of the exposure periods. When considering only women who spent < 2 hr/day in nonresidential outdoor environments, the estimated reductions in birth weight associated with an interquartile range increase in BTEX exposure levels were 77 g [95% confidence interval (CI), 7-146 g] and 102 g (95% CI, 28-176 g) for exposures during the whole pregnancy and the second trimester, respectively. The effects of NO(2) exposure were less clear in this subset.
CONCLUSIONS
The association of BTEX with reduced birth weight underscores the negative role of vehicle exhaust pollutants in reproductive health. Time-activity patterns during pregnancy complement GIS-based models in exposure assessment. | 10.1289/ehp.0800256 |
pubmed_565_3536 | Data of galactic cosmic rays, solar and geomagnetic activities and solar wind parameters on the one side and car accident events (CAE) in Poland on the other have been analyzed in order to reveal the statistical relationships among them for the period of 1990-2001. Cross correlation and cross spectrum of the galactic cosmic ray intensity, the solar wind (SW) velocity, Kp index of geomagnetic activity and CAE in Poland have been carried out. It is shown that in some epochs of the above-mentioned period there is found a reliable relationship between CAE and solar and geomagnetic activities parameters in the range of the different periodicities, especially, 7 days. The periodicity of 7 days revealed in the data of the CAE has the maximum on Friday without any exception for the minimum and maximum epochs of solar activity. However, the periodicity of 7 days is reliably revealed in other parameters characterizing galactic cosmic rays, SW, solar and geomagnetic activities, especially for the minimum epoch of solar activity. The periodicity of 3.5 days found in the series of CAE data more or less can be completely ascribed to the social effects, while the periodicity of 7 days can be ascribed to the social effect or/to the processes on the Sun, in the interplanetary space and in the Earth's magnetosphere and atmosphere. | 10.1016/j.asr.2004.02.012 |
pubmed_135_16022 | Background
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious complication of cirrhosis and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Rapid institution of appropriate antibiotics is central to the improved patient outcome. Correctly obtaining ascites fluid for analysis has several technical and logistic limitations resulting in overuse of empiric antibiotics when patients are admitted to the hospital with suspected SBP. Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) are non-invasive markers of infection. We conducted a study to illustrate the role of these markers in making the diagnosis of SBP in patients with cirrhosis.
Methods
A total of 45 patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort study, 14 (31.1%) of which were found to have SBP. Ascitic fluid neutrophils, serum procalcitonin and CRP levels were measured prior to initiation of antibiotics and these parameters were compared between the two groups. Area under receiver operator characteristic (AUROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin and CRP in this population. We defined neutrocytic SBP group as a combination of patients who had classic SBP (positive ascitic culture and >250 neutrophils/mm3) and culture-negative neutrocytic ascites.
Results
Serum procalcitonin (2.81±2.59 vs. 0.43±0.48 ng/mL; P=0.0032), serum CRP (60.30±44.48 vs. 22.2±23.28; P=0.0055) and ascitic fluid neutrophil levels (49.23±30.90 vs. 16.7±20.39; P=0.0064) were significantly higher in SBP group than non-SBP group. AUROC for procalcitonin (cut-off >2.0 ng/mL) was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.61-0.88), CRP (cut-off >3.0 mg/L) was 0.55 (95% CI, 0.43-0.68) and for procalcitonin combined with CRP was 0.76 (95% CI, 0.61-0.90) for diagnosing all-cause SBP. In a subgroup analysis of patients with neutrocytic SBP, AUROC for procalcitonin was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.74-1.00), CRP was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.45-0.79) and for procalcitonin combined with CRP was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.81-1.00). Addition of CRP to procalcitonin did not significantly change the AUROC for diagnosis of SBP.
Conclusions
Serum procalcitonin could be used as an adjunctive non-invasive biomarker in diagnosing SBP with a high degree of accuracy in cirrhotic patients. Addition of CRP does not seem to significantly increase the diagnostic accuracy of procalcitonin. | 10.21037/tgh-19-297 |
pubmed_40_6712 | BACKGROUND
The effects of socio-economic factors on suicide were gender-dependent. Japanese suicide mortality gender ratio (male: female) had gradually increased during the twentieth century.
METHODS
With the data covering 1947-2010 collected from Japanese official websites, we conducted non-parametric rank test, curve estimations, spearman ranking correlation and quantile regression in succession with Stata version 12.0.
RESULTS
The suicide mortality rate in male with a "U" shape had been always higher than that in female with a "J" shape. The male suicide mortality peaked around in 1955 (38.5 per 100,000 populations), dropped quickly afterwards until the 1970s; it increased in the 1980s with another peak in 2003 (33.2 per 100,000 populations). For female, an overall decreasing trend was seen with a peak during the 1950s (23.5 per 100,000 populations in 1958). It dropped gradually afterwards with small variations in 1970s and 80s, and was stabilized after 1995 (9.3 per 100,000 populations). The unemployment rate could be used as a single positive predictor of suicide mortality for men (p<0.01), while the total fertility rate (TFR) (p<0.01) and divorce rate (p<0.01) were significantly associated positively and negatively with women's suicide, respectively.
LIMITATIONS
The impact of mental disorders was not analyzed and age-specific analysis was not conducted.
CONCLUSION
The findings of these gender differences in, and the associated factors with, suicide in Japan, warranted further studies including delineation of the implications of differential economic pressure between genders, as well as child-rearing pressure and marriage satisfaction. | pubmed_40_6712 |
pubmed_306_17118 | The influence of ontogeny and nutrition on metabolic enzyme activities in larvae of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, was studied. After start of exogenous feeding, the larvae were reared for 10 days under three different nutritional conditions: Artemia nauplii, a dry starter diet, and starvation. The live feed gave the best growth (96 mg within 10 days) whereas the dry diet resulted in low growth (33 mg). This growth difference was reflected in larval RNA and DNA concentrations, but not in the levels of soluble protein. Enzymes representing the following aspects of metabolism have been analysed: NADPH generation (G6PDH, ME), glycolysis (PFK, PK), gluconeogenesis (FDPase), amino acid catabolism (GOT, GPT) and oxidative catabolism (CS). All enzymes were present from the start of exogenous feeding onwards, but their maximum specific activities displayed different developmental patterns. In catfish larvae fed on Artemia, G6PDH and ME activities steadily increased with age and weight of the larvae. CS levels remained, after an immediate enhancement upon onset of exogenous feeding, on a rather stable plateau. The amino acid-degrading enzymes GOT and GPT showed maximum levels at days 3-5 of feeding or at a body weight of 10-20 mg, but decreased thereafter. Activities of PFK, PK and FDPase showed low initial levels, and increased significantly with age and size. Based on the ontogenetic patterns of metabolic enzymes, in C. gariepinus larvae an early and a late developmental phase can be distinguished. During the early phase, the glycolytic and gluconeogenetic capacities are low, whereas they are enforced during the later phase. The oxidative capacity is high both during the early and the late phase. The metabolic changes in catfish development coincide with other major ontogenetic events, e.g., alterations of muscle organization, gill morphology, respiration and stomach structure and function. Rearing catfish larvae on a dry diet instead of Artemia partly altered the developmental pattern described: The ontogenetic elevation of CS, PFK and FDPase was delayed and the early peak in GOT and GPT activities was not realized. Particularly during the early developmental phase, the enzyme behaviour of the larvae fed on dry food was similar to that of starved larvae. | 10.1007/BF00003376 |
pubmed_529_7244 | Thermal properties of tree hollows play a major role in survival and reproduction of hollow-dependent fauna. Artificial hollows (nest boxes) are increasingly being used to supplement the loss of natural hollows; however, the factors that drive nest box thermal profiles have received surprisingly little attention. We investigated how differences in surface reflectance influenced temperature profiles of nest boxes painted three different colors (dark-green, light-green, and white: total solar reflectance 5.9%, 64.4%, and 90.3% respectively) using boxes designed for three groups of mammals: insectivorous bats, marsupial gliders and brushtail possums. Across the three different box designs, dark-green (low reflectance) boxes experienced the highest average and maximum daytime temperatures, had the greatest magnitude of variation in daytime temperatures within the box, and were consistently substantially warmer than light-green boxes (medium reflectance), white boxes (high reflectance), and ambient air temperatures. Results from biophysical model simulations demonstrated that variation in diurnal temperature profiles generated by painting boxes either high or low reflectance colors could have significant ecophysiological consequences for animals occupying boxes, with animals in dark-green boxes at high risk of acute heat-stress and dehydration during extreme heat events. Conversely in cold weather, our modelling indicated that there are higher cumulative energy costs for mammals, particularly smaller animals, occupying light-green boxes. Given their widespread use as a conservation tool, we suggest that before boxes are installed, consideration should be given to the effect of color on nest box temperature profiles, and the resultant thermal suitability of boxes for wildlife, particularly during extremes in weather. Managers of nest box programs should consider using several different colors and installing boxes across a range of both orientations and shade profiles (i.e., levels of canopy cover), to ensure target animals have access to artificial hollows with a broad range of thermal profiles, and can therefore choose boxes with optimal thermal conditions across different seasons. | 10.1371/journal.pone.0176951 |
pubmed_503_2742 | One hundred six patients treated consecutively with total knee arthroplasty were evaluated to determine whether preoperative comorbidity (as measured by patient class, knee score, short form, anesthesia severity assessment, and number of medical comorbidities) correlated with perioperative and postoperative outcomes, including length of stay, total (and specific) hospital charges, and validated outcome scores. The length of stay for total knee arthroplasty was longer in patients who had lower preoperative knee scores and for patients with greater medical and musculoskeletal morbidity. Greater total hospital costs were associated with Class C patients and patients with poor anesthesia morbidity ratings. Patients who were debilitated medically and had four or more risk factors had decreased postoperative outcome scores. Preoperative medical and musculoskeletal morbidity influence the results of total knee arthroplasty. These findings may be useful to surgeons for optimizing resource utilization and outcomes in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. These data must be accounted for when contrasting total knee arthroplasty results between different surgeons and institutions. | pubmed_503_2742 |
pubmed_438_20969 | Conditionally immortalized gastric epithelial cell lines were established from transgenic rats harboring temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (tsSV40) large T-antigen gene. Gastric mucosal cells and epithelial tissues isolated from the stomach of the transgenic rats were cultured at permissive temperature (33 degrees C), and proliferative cells were cloned by colony formation. Six cell lines (designated as RGE1-01, RGE1-02, RGE1-03, RGE1-21, RGE1-22 and RGE2-01) showing epithelial-like morphology have been established. All cells grew at 33 degrees C, but did not at nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C). High expression level of large T-antigen in the nuclei was observed at 33 degrees C, whereas the expression level was gradually decreased in a time-dependent manner at 39 degrees C. These results suggest that the temperature-sensitive growth characteristics arise as a result of a function of the tsSV40 large T-antigen. None of the cell lines were transformed as judged by anchorage-independent growth assay. Immunocytochemical findings indicated that all cells expressed epithelial cell markers including cytoskeletal (cytokeratin and actin), basement membrane (laminin and collagen type IV) and junctional complex (ZO-1 and desmoplakin I+II) proteins at 33 degrees C. All cells expressed mRNA of cathepsin E, a pit cell marker. Moreover, transepithelial resistance was observed between apical and basolateral sides in the cells. RGE1-22 cells produced prostaglandin E(2). Levels of mRNA for cathepsin E, transepithelial resistance and prostaglandin E(2) were influenced by the nonpermissive temperature. Thus, these conditionally immortalized gastric cell lines which preserve some epithelial cell characteristics will provide a useful in vitro model of gastric epithelium. | 10.1247/csf.27.71 |
pubmed_635_18940 | Pyrosequencing-technique was used to analyze and compare bacterial diversity in the mantle of healthy and incised symptoms of Patinopecten yessoensis, respectively. For the two samples; 20872 and 16333 effective sequences were selected and utilized to perform bacterial diversity analysis, respectively. Bacterial diversity and richness in the incised samples were higher than that in the healthy samples. The effective sequences acquired from both samples included eight known phyla bacteria, i. e., Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Cyanobacteria, Planctomycetes, Spirochaetes and Tenericutes, among which the front seven phyla were present in the two samples. Proteobacteria was absolutely dominant in the mantle of healthy P. yessoensis accounting for 97.7% of the entire bacterial community, and Firmicutes was the sub-dominant group accounting for 0.8%. In contrast, the most abundant bacterial group in the mantle of incised P. yessoensis was Firmicutes, accounting for 52.2% of the entire bacterial community, and the sub- dominant was Proteobacteria accounting for 47.7%. | pubmed_635_18940 |
pubmed_383_3673 | A robust polyaniline-assisted strategy is developed to construct a self-supported electrode constituting a nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur tri-doped thin graphitic carbon layer encapsulated sulfur-doped molybdenum phosphide nanosheet array (NPSCL@S-MoP NSs/CC) with accessible nanopores, desirable chemical compositions, and stable composite structure for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The multiple electronic coupling effects of S-MoP with N, P, S tri-dopants afford effective regulation on their electrocatalytic performance by endowing abundant accessible active sites, outstanding charge-transfer property, and d-band center downshift with a thermodynamically favorable hydrogen adsorption free energy (ΔGH* ) for efficient hydrogen evolution catalysis. As a result, the NPSCL@S-MoP NSs/CC electrode exhibits overpotentials as low as 65, 114, and 49 mV at a geometric current density of 10 mA cm-2 and small Tafel slopes of 49.5, 69.3, and 53.8 mV dec-1 in 0.5 m H2 SO4 , 1.0 m PBS, and 1.0 m KOH, respectively, which could maintain 50 h of stable performance, almost outperforming all MoP-based catalysts reported so far. This study provides a valuable methodology to produce interacted multi-heteroatomic doped graphitic carbon-transition metal phosphide electrocatalysts with superior HER performance in a wide pH range. | 10.1002/smll.202006617 |
pubmed_755_3584 | The high incidence and profile of ras gene mutations reported in spontaneous and chemically induced liver tumours of the B6C3F1 mouse provides a potential means of determining in vivo genotoxicity and its relevance to carcinogenicity. We analysed spontaneous and chemically induced [with 4-amino-biphenyl (ABP), 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)] hepatocellular tumours of the C57Bl/10J mouse for H-ras, K-ras and N-ras gene mutations to see if mutational analysis of the ras genes could be useful for such a determination in this strain. Regions of DNA spanning codons 12, 13 and 61 of the ras genes were amplified from formalin fixed liver tumour sections using the polymerase chain reaction. Mutations were detected using allele specific oligonucleotide probing and confirmed by sequencing. We have found that there are few ras mutations in either spontaneous or chemically induced liver tumours in the C57Bl/10J mouse. Out of 25 spontaneous tumours two contained an A to T transversion and one contained an A to G transition in base 2 of H-ras codon 61 and two contained a G to A transition in base 2 of K-ras codon 13 (the K-ras mutations were only faintly detectable and may be present in a subpopulation of the tumour cells). In the case of the 18 ABP induced tumours one contained a C to A transversion in base 1 of H-ras codon 61, and one contained an A to T transversion in base 2 of H-ras codon 61 and one contained a G to C transversion in base 1 of K-ras codon 13. One C to A transversion in base 1 of H-ras codon 61 was detected out of eight AAF induced tumours. Of the 25 DEN induced tumours, one contained an A to G transition and one contained an A to C transversion in base 2 of H-ras codon 61. The data indicate that at least in hepatocellular tumours of the C57Bl/10J strain and using chronic dosing regimes the ras genes do not represent markers for in vivo genotoxic activity. | 10.1093/carcin/13.8.1383 |
pubmed_439_3822 | OBJECTIVE
To compare the improvement effect between simultaneous electroacupuncture at antagonistic muscle and agonistic muscle and simple electroacupuncture at antagonistic muscle on spasticity degree, upper-extremity motor function and activity of daily living in patients with upper-extremity spasticity after stroke.
METHODS
A total of 60 patients with upper-extremity spasticity after stroke were randomized into a comprehensive group (30 cases, 1 case dropped off) and an antagonistic muscle group (30 cases, 2 cases dropped off). In the antagonistic muscle group, acupuncture was applied at Jianyu (LI 15), Binao (LI 14), Zhouliao (LI 12), Shousanli (LI 10), Waiguan (TE 5) and Houxi (SI 3), electric stimulation was attached to Jianyu (LI 15)-Binao (LI 14), Zhouliao (LI 12)-Shousanli (LI 10) and Waiguan (TE 5)-Houxi (SI 3), with discontinuous wave, 15 Hz in frequency. On the basis of the treatment in the antagonistic muscle group, acupuncture was applied at Tianquan (PC 2), Chize (LU 5), Jianshi (PC 5) and Daling (PC 7) in the comprehensive group, electric stimulation was attached to Tianquan (PC 2)-Chize (LU 5) and Jianshi (PC 5)-Daling (PC 7), with continuous wave, 5 Hz in frequency. The treatment was given once a day, 6 days a week for 4 weeks in the two groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer assessment upper extremity scale (FMA-UE) and modified Barthel index (MBI) scale were observed in the two groups.
RESULTS
Compared before treatment, the MAS scores of elbow flexors and wrist flexors after treatment were decreased (P<0.05), the scores of FMA-UE and MBI scale after treatment were increased in the two groups (P<0.05). The scores of FMA-UE and MBI scale after treatment in the comprehensive group were higher than those in the antagonistic muscle group (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Simultaneous electroacupuncture at antagonistic muscle and agonistic muscle and simple electroacupuncture at antagonistic muscle can both improve the spasticity degree in patients with upper-extremity spasticity after stroke, however, the former can better restore motor function and improve activity of daily living. | 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20210406-k0001 |
pubmed_238_158 | Electrically conductive elastomer composites (CECs) have great potential in wearable and stretchable electronic applications. However, it is often challenging to trade off electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility in melt-processed CECs for wearable electronic applications. Here, we develop CECs with high electrical conductivity and mechanical elasticity by controlling the segregated networks of carbon nanofillers formed at the elastomer interface. The carbon nanofiller dimensionality has a significant influence on the electrical and mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites. For instance, 3D branched carbon nanotubes (carbon nanostructures, CNSs) have a very low percolation threshold (Φ C = 0.01 wt%), which is about 8-10 times lower than that of 1D carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 2D graphene nanosheets (GNSs). Besides, the TPU/CNS system has a higher electrical conductivity than other fillers at all filler contents (0.05-2 wt%). On the other hand, TPU/CNT systems can retain high elongation at break, whereas for the TPU/GNS systems elongation at break is severely deteriorated, especially at a high filler content. Different electrical and mechanical properties in the TPU-based CECs enable potential applications in flexible conductors/resistors and stretchable strain sensors, respectively. | 10.1039/c9na00176j |
pubmed_200_21792 | OBJECTIVE
To measure the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) program on the use of antibiotics for surgical prophylaxis at acute care hospitals in Egypt.
METHODS
This was a before-and-after intervention study conducted in 5 tertiary, acute-care surgical hospitals. The baseline, intervention, and follow-up periods were 3, 6, and 3 months, respectively. The impact of the intervention was measured by preintervention and postintervention surveys for surgical patients with clean and clean-contaminated wounds. Information was collected on demographic characteristics and antibiotic use. The intervention focused mainly on educating surgical staff on the optimal timing and duration of antibiotics used for surgical prophylaxis. Only 3 hospitals identified a surgeon to audit antibiotic surgical prescriptions. The primary outcome measures were the percentages of surgical patients receiving optimal timing and duration of surgical prophylaxis.
RESULTS
Data were collected for 745 patients before the intervention and for 558 patients after the intervention. The optimal timing of the first dose improved significantly in 3 hospitals, increasing from 6.7% to 38.7% (P < .01), from 2.6% to 15.2% (P < .01), and from 0% to 11% (P < .01). All hospitals showed a significant rise in the optimal duration of surgical prophylaxis, with an overall increase of 3%-28% (P < .01). Days of therapy per 1000 patient-days were decreased significantly in hospitals A, B, C, and D, with no change in hospital E.
CONCLUSIONS
An AMS program focusing on education supported by auditing and feedback can have a significant impact on optimizing antibiotic use in surgical prophylaxis practices. | pubmed_200_21792 |
pubmed_355_12629 | Contrast agent-mediated endothelial injury may be clinically relevant to the development of acute thrombosis after coronary interventions. We sought to investigate the extent to which contrast agents increase platelet deposition by measuring deposition of indium-111 radiolabeled platelets in an isolated perfused rabbit carotid artery model. Carotid artery segments were perfused at physiologic temperature, pressure, and shear. Vessels were subjected to angioplasty or no angioplasty before exposure to either buffer, diatrizoate (high osmolal/ionic), ioxaglate (low osmolal/ionic), or ioversol (low osmolal/nonionic). Subsequent deposition of indium-111 radiolabeled platelets was quantified. In vessels without balloon angioplasty, platelet deposition (platelets/cm2) was 110,000 +/- 95,000 for buffer perfused vessels, 280,000 +/- 210,000 for vessels perfused with diatrizoate, 290,000 +/- 160,000 for vessels perfused with ioxaglate, and 130,000 +/- 98,000 for vessels perfused with ioversol. After balloon angioplasty, platelet deposition was 1,300,000 +/- 590,000 for buffer controls, 1,800,000 +/- 320,000 for diatrizoate-perfused vessels, 1,500,000 +/- 450,000 for ioxaglate-perfused vessels, and 1,000,000 +/- 180,000 for ioversol-perfused vessels. In vessels without balloon angioplasty, diatrizoate and ioxaglate increased platelet deposition 2.5-fold and 2.6-fold, respectively, relative to buffer-perfused vessels (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), whereas no increase was seen with ioversol. After balloon angioplasty, diatrizoate increased platelet deposition 1.4-fold over control (p < 0.05), whereas ioxaglate and ioversol showed no statistically significant increase. We conclude that ionic contrast media may cause more endothelial injury and associated localized platelet deposition than nonionic contrast media. These findings may be relevant to coronary interventions, specifically with regard to acute closure and chronic restenosis. | 10.1016/0002-8703(93)90058-h |
pubmed_987_3312 | Purpose: The interplay of inflammation and immunity affects all stages from tumorigenesis to progression, and even tumor response to therapy. A growing interest has been attracted from the biological function of MICALL2 to its effects on tumor progression. This study was designed to verify whether MICALL2 could be a prognostic biomarker to predict kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) progression, inflammation, and immune infiltration within tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: We firstly analyzed MICALL2 expressions across 33 cancer types from the UCSC Xena database and verified its expression in KIRC through GEPIA platform and GEO datasets. The clinicopathological characteristics were further analyzed based on the median expression. Kaplan-Meier method, univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to compare survival outcomes. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms were performed to assess immune infiltration, and a co-expression analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between MICALL2 and immunoregulatory genes. Enrichment analysis was finally performed to explore the biological significance of MICALL2. Results: MICALL2 was highly expressed in 16 types of cancers compared with normal tissues. MICALL2 expression increased with advanced clinicopathological parameters and was an independent predictor for poor prognosis in KIRC. Moreover, MICALL2 closely correlated with inflammation-promoting signatures and immune infiltration including T cell exhaustion markers. Consistently, MICALL2 involved in the regulation of signaling pathways associated with tumor immunity, tumor progression, and impaired metabolic activities. Conclusion: MICALL2 can function as a prognostic biomarker mediating inflammation, immune infiltration, and T cell exhaustion within the microenvironment of KIRC. | 10.7150/jca.66922 |
pubmed_14_19903 | OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prognostic value of the Gleason score in prostate cancer.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A consecutive series of 305 men with prostate cancer diagnosed at transurethral resection (1975-1990) and with no curative treatment was analysed. There was no assessment of prostate-specific antigen level during this period. The mean (range) age at diagnosis was 73.7 (52-95) years and the mean follow-up was 6.4 (0-22) years. The influence of Gleason score and the percentage of the specimen area with tumour (% cancer) on disease-specific survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analyses.
RESULTS
Of 305 cancers, 22% had a Gleason score of 4-5, 29% of 6, 18% of 7 and 32% of 8-10. At the follow-up, 89% of the men had died, of whom 42% had died from prostate cancer. The disease-specific 10-year survival was 56%. The disease-specific mean survival (DSMS) for Gleason score 4-5, 6, 7 and 8-10 was 20, 16, 10 and 5 years, respectively (P < 0.001). The DSMS did not differ significantly between Gleason 4 and 5 or between 8-10. There was a trend towards shorter survival for Gleason 4 + 3=7 (DSMS 9 years) than GS 3 + 4=7 (DSMS 13 years; P = 0.16). Gleason score and % cancer were independent predictors of DSMS (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
The long-term prognosis of prostate cancer on deferred treatment is predicted well by the Gleason score. Four prognostic categories of prostate cancer are suggested, i.e. Gleason score 4-5, 6, 7 and 8-10. | 10.1046/j.1464-410x.2002.02669.x |
pubmed_864_22633 | BACKGROUND
Increased tryptase concentrations are a risk marker for the severity of reactions to Hymenoptera stings or venom immunotherapy
OBJECTIVE
To investigate serum tryptase concentrations in beekeepers with and without Hymenoptera venom allergy (HVA).
METHODS
Serum tryptase concentrations were measured in adult patients with HVA (n = 91, 37 of whom were beekeepers), beekeepers without HVA (n = 152), and control individuals from the general adult population (n = 246).
RESULTS
Multivariate analyses revealed that serum tryptase levels were positively associated with beekeeping activities (P < .001) and HVA (P < .001). Tryptase levels were also positively associated with age (P < .001) and male'sex (P = .02), and negatively associated with alcoho consumption (P = .002).
CONCLUSIONS
Beekeeping and HVA are independently associated with increased concentrations of serum tryptase. | pubmed_864_22633 |
pubmed_313_10949 | OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of 3-T MRI in patients with implanted deep brain stimulation (DBS) systems. METHODS This study was performed in 2 phases. In an initial phantom study, a Lucite phantom filled with tissue-mimicking gel was assembled. The system was equipped with a single DBS electrode connected to an internal pulse generator. The tip of the electrode was coupled to a fiber optic thermometer with a temperature resolution of 0.1°C. Both anatomical (T1- and T2-weighted) and functional MRI sequences were tested. A temperature change within 2°C from baseline was considered safe. After findings from the phantom study suggested safety, 10 patients with implanted DBS systems targeting various brain areas provided informed consent and underwent 3-T MRI using the same imaging sequences. Detailed neurological evaluations and internal pulse generator interrogations were performed before and after imaging. RESULTS During phantom testing, the maximum temperature increase was registered using the T2-weighted sequence. The maximal temperature changes at the tip of the DBS electrode were < 1°C for all sequences tested. In all patients, adequate images were obtained with structural imaging, although a significant artifact from lead connectors interfered with functional imaging quality. No heating, warmth, or adverse neurological effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, this was the first study to assess the clinical safety of 3-T MRI in patients with a fully implanted DBS system (electrodes, extensions, and pulse generator). It provided preliminary data that will allow further examination and assessment of the safety of 3-T imaging studies in patients with implanted DBS systems. The authors cannot advocate widespread use of this type of imaging in patients with DBS implants until more safety data are obtained. | 10.3171/2016.9.JNS16908 |
pubmed_541_6949 | The purpose of this research is to design a device which can treat highway runoff, especially runoff during initial rainfall with high pollution intensity, by connecting it with the draining grid sink of a drainage ditch on a highway, through which runoff flows. Porous polypropylene (PPL) particles were used as a treatment agent. The device treated highway runoff during initial rainfall by filtration and adsorption. It had a capacity to treat highway runoff in an area of 7.0 m x 20.0 m when rainfall intensity was up to 10 mm/hr. Two cases of rainfall intensity were set for the experiment: 5 and 10 mm/hr. The relationships between the efficiency of SS and COD removals and the rainfall intensity were investigated. Using artificial highway runoff with constant flow and SS concentration, results of 70% or more of SS removal with 5 mm/hr and 50% or more with 10 mm/hr were obtained. COD removal efficiency was about 90% of SS removal efficiency. This device was effective to remove non-point source pollutants in runoff on highways. | pubmed_541_6949 |
pubmed_68_17388 | Fluorescence-activated cell sorting was used to isolate 19 independent, temperature-sensitive, low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cell mutants that define three recessive complementation groups, ldlE, ldlF, ldlG. LDL receptor activity, essentially normal at the permissive temperature (34 degrees C), was virtually abolished in the mutants after incubation for 8-12 h at the nonpermissive temperature (39-40.5 degrees C). The mutants died after incubation for > 24 h at 39.5 degrees C. These mutants exhibited two striking and unexpected abnormalities that suggest that they define three genes important for general vesicular membrane traffic. First, LDL receptors were degraded abnormally rapidly at the nonpermissive temperature (chloroquine inhibited this degradation in ldlE and ldlG, but not in ldlF). In ldlE cells, the rapid degradation did not require efficient receptor clustering into coated pits and was not observed for all cell surface proteins. This selective degradation may be due to endocytic missorting. Second, the mutants exhibited temperature-sensitive defects in the posttranslational processing and intracellular transport of many membrane-associated and secreted proteins, including the LDL, mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II, and scavenger receptors, the vesicular stomatitis virus G protein and decay accelerating factor. Although the initial synthesis, folding, and processing of precursor forms of these proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum were apparently normal at the nonpermissive temperature, there was either a delay or a block in oligosaccharide processing associated with endoplasmic reticulum to medial Golgi transport at the nonpermissive temperature. This was accompanied by a dramatic inhibition of total soluble protein secretion. The posttranslational processing defects, the instability of cell surface LDL receptors, and the defective protein secretion exhibited by these mutants suggest that the ldlE-G gene products regulate or participate in reactions that are vital for a variety of secretory and endocytic membrane transport processes. This suggestion is strongly supported by our recent observation that a cDNA encoding a component of the coatomer, epsilon-COP, corrects the mutant phenotypes of ldlF cells (Guo, Q., Vasile, E., and Krieger, M. (1994) J. Cell Biol. 125, 1213-1224). Thus, these mutant cells should prove useful for further genetic and biochemical analysis of the mechanisms underlying intracellular membrane traffic. | pubmed_68_17388 |
pubmed_622_11951 | The effect of polydispersity on surface segregation of a lower molecular weight polymer component in a higher molecular weight linear polymer melt host is investigated theoretically. We show that the integrated surface excess zM of a polymer component of molecular weight M satisfies a simple relation zM=2Ue(M/Mw-1)phiM, where Mw is the weight averaged molecular weight, phiM is the polymer volume fraction, and Ue is the attraction of polymer chain ends to the surface. Ue is principally of entropic origin, but also reflects any energetic preference of chain ends to the surface. We further show that the surface tension gammaM of a polydisperse melt of high molar mass components depends on the number average degree of polymerization Mn as, gammaM=gammainfinity+2UerhobRT/Mn. The parameter gammainfinity is the asymptotic surface tension of an infinitely long polymer of the same chemistry, rhob is the bulk density of the polymer, R is the universal gas constant, and T is the temperature. The predicted gammaM compare favorably with surface tension values obtained from self-consistent field theory simulations that include equation of state effects, which account for changes in polymer density with molecular weight. We also compare the predicted surface tension with available experimental data. | 10.1063/1.2721542 |
pubmed_22_6000 | Noninfectious penile lesions are classified by clinical presentation as papulosquamous (e.g., psoriasis), inflammatory (e.g., lichen sclerosus, lichen nitidus, lichen planus), vascular (e.g., angiokeratomas), or neoplastic (e.g., carcinoma in situ, invasive squamous cell carcinoma). Psoriasis presents as red or salmon-colored plaques with overlying silvery scales, often with extragenital cutaneous lesions. Lichen sclerosus presents as a phimotic, hypopigmented prepuce or glans penis with a cellophane-like texture. Lichen nitidus usually produces asymptomatic pinhead-sized, hypopigmented papules. The lesions of lichen planus are pruritic, violaceous, polygonal papules that are typically systemic. Angiokeratomas are typically asymptomatic, well-circumscribed, red or blue papules, often with annular or figurate configurations. Carcinoma in situ should be suspected if there are velvety red or keratotic plaques on the glans penis or prepuce, whereas invasive squamous cell carcinoma presents as a painless lump, ulcer, or fungating mass. Some benign lesions, such as psoriasis and lichen planus, may mimic carcinoma in situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Biopsy is indicated if the diagnosis is in doubt or neoplasm cannot be excluded. The management of benign noninfectious penile lesions usually involves observation, topical corticosteroids, or topical calcineurin inhibitors. Neoplastic lesions generally warrant organ-sparing surgery. | pubmed_22_6000 |
pubmed_481_21138 | AIM
To determine the frequency of exposure to lead based paint (LBP) in early childhood centres (ECCs) in the Wellington region.
METHODS
Senior staff at sixty nine randomly selected licensed ECCs in the Wellington region were contacted. Fifty two centres consented to participate. Senior staff at these centres were interviewed and centres built before 1980 were examined for damaged LBP surfaces accessible to children. The survey was carried out between July 1995 and January 1996. A centre was considered to be LBP positive if it had at least one damaged LBP surface accessible to children in the course of a normal day's activities.
RESULTS
Fifty two per cent of surveyed centres were LBP positive. LBP hazards were detected in 60% of buildings built before 1965 and 30% of buildings constructed between 1965 and 1980, and were found more frequently in Te Kohanga Reo and childcare centres. Although children aged 2 years and under constituted only 27% of all children attending surveyed centres, over half (53%) of the children in this age group attended centres with an LBP hazard. Staff at ECCs were often uncertain about the causes and outcomes of lead toxicity and expressed a desire for further education.
CONCLUSION
There is significant potential for exposure to lead in early childhood centres in Wellington as a consequence of accessible damaged lead based paint surfaces. | pubmed_481_21138 |
pubmed_545_618 | Many neuromuscular disorders (NMD) are complicated by respiratory failure. These patients are best managed in a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic to provide timely access to the various disciplines they require. The key mainstay of treatment of respiratory failure in patients with NMD is noninvasive ventilation, supported by secretion clearance, speech and language therapy, optimisation of nutrition and the maintenance of mobility. Patients with specific conditions may also require cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, urology and psychological services. The respiratory NMD multidisciplinary team should also provide access to palliative care, and caregiver health and wellbeing should also be reviewed at clinical reviews. The future of care for the respiratory NMD patient will increasingly involve home services and telehealth and the clinic should be equipped and resourced to deliver these. Although not all health systems will be able to provide all elements of the multidisciplinary team discussed here, this review provides the "ideal" recipe for the adult multidisciplinary team and the evidence base underpinning this from which a clinic can be developed.
EDUCATIONAL AIMS
To provide an overview of the care of an adult neuromuscular disorder patient presenting to the multidisciplinary respiratory clinic.To provide the evidence base for establishing the different elements of the multidisciplinary respiratory clinic. | 10.1183/20734735.0121-2020 |
pubmed_762_18974 | Diazinon is an organophosphate (OP)-based, anticholinesterase insecticide that irreversibly inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity and produces cholinergic stimulation in central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral tissues. Our laboratory has found that OPs administered orally in rats induce a transient period of hypothermia followed by a delayed fever that persists for several days after exposure. There is little information on the thermoregulatory effects of diazinon. Core temperature (Tc) and motor activity (MA) were monitored by radiotelemetry in male and female rats of the Long-Evans strain dosed orally with diazinon (0 [corn-oil vehicle], 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg in males and 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg in females). There was a dose-dependent decrease in Tc during the first night after treatment, with females exhibiting slightly greater sensitivity than males. MA was unaffected in females exposed to diazinon at doses of 50 to 200 mg/kg; MA of males was reduced during the first night after dosing with 300 mg/kg. There was a delayed elevation in Tc of males dosed with 200 and 300 mg/kg and females dosed with 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg diazinon. The elevated Tc was only manifested during d 2 and 3 after diazinon. Administration of 200 mg/kg sodium salicylate to females 48 h after being treated with 200 mg/kg diazinon led to a rapid abatement of the fever. Diazinon doses of 50 to 300 mg/kg led to 40% to 50% inhibition in plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity 4 h after dosing, and females displayed a significantly slower recovery of ChE activity compared to males. When compared on a molar basis, the hypothermic response to diazinon was relatively small compared to other OPs such as chlorpyrifos. The delayed fever and efficacy of sodium salicylate to block diazinon-induced fever are similar to the effects of OPs chlorpyrifos and diisopropyl fluoro-phosphate (DFP). | 10.1080/15287390306371 |
pubmed_880_22123 | The mol-ecule of the title compound, C(13)H(12)ClNO(2)S, is bent at the S atom with a C-SO(2)-NH-C torsion angle of -54.8 (2)°. The dihedral angle between the two aromatic rings is 71.6 (1)°. An intra-molecular N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bond is observed. The crystal structure features inversion-related dimers formed by pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. | 10.1107/S1600536809053756 |
pubmed_703_11422 | Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) is rich in phenolic compounds and may be useful for the treatment of metabolic syndrome in humans. To improve the production of rutin in buckwheat, we overexpressed the flavonol-specific transcription factor, AtMYB12 using Agrobacterium rhizogenes into hairy root culture systems. This induced the expression of flavonoid biosynthetic genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase, cinnamate 4-hydroxylase, 4-coumarate:CoA ligase, chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, flavone 3-hydroxylase, flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase, and flavonol synthase. This led to the accumulation of rutin in buckwheat hairy roots up to 0.9 mg/g dry wt. PAP1 expression, however, did not correlate with the production of rutin. | 10.1007/s10529-011-0807-1 |
pubmed_996_17430 | PURPOSE
To implement and evaluate a variable repetition time (TR) modification of three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Variable- and constant-TR 3D TOF MR angiography of the intracranial vasculature was performed in 20 healthy volunteers and 10 patients with known or suspected cerebrovascular disease. Total acquisition time was short and held constant for all studies. Frequency-selective fat saturation (FS) and magnetization transfer saturation (MTS) pulses were applied. The associated maximum-intensity projection (MIP) images were evaluated quantitatively for contrast-to-noise (C/N) and qualitatively for depiction of vessels that exhibit slow flow.
RESULTS
Variable-TR MIP images exhibited improved C/N and depiction of small peripheral vessels and venous structures when compared with constant-TR MIP images. These observations were consistent for all studies.
CONCLUSIONS
The variable-TR modification improved the depiction of intracranial vessels that exhibit slow flow. | 10.1148/radiology.191.3.8184069 |
pubmed_994_1067 | The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of increasing intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) on stroke volume variation (SVV) and plethysmographic variability index (PVI) in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. PVI examined by Masimo Radical 7 pulse oximeter and SVV determined using FloTrac/Vigileo were monitored simultaneously in forty-five patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), perfusion index (PI), airway pressures (P), SVV, and PVI were also recorded at the following predetermined time: 5 min after endotracheal intubation (T1), 5 min after pneumoperitoneum at 5 mmHg (T2), 5 min after pneumoperitoneum at 10 mmHg (T3), 5 min after pneumoperitoneum at 15 mmHg (T4), and 5 min after the termination of pneumoperitoneum (T5). Forty-five patients with a total of 225 pairs of measurements were included in the analysis. Compared with the values at T1, both SVV and PVI showed significant progressive increases as the IAP was adjusted from 5 to 10, 15 mmHg at T2, T3, and T4, respectively. No significant difference was found when the pneumoperitoneum was terminated at T5. Further regressive analysis indicated strong relationships between SVV and IAP (r = 0.8118, p < 0.001), PVI and IAP(r = 0.8876, p < 0.001) respectively. Both PVI and SVV showed rapid and IAP correlative changes with increasing intra-abdominal pressure in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. | 10.5582/bst.2015.01029 |
pubmed_568_23833 | BACKGROUND
In the primary care setting, diagnosis and treatment of COPD is not always consistent with GOLD guidelines.
OBJECTIVES
To calculate the prevalence of COPD underdiagnosis, false diagnosis and treatment in the general population of northern Greece.
METHODS
Observational study in the context of an early COPD detection and smoking cessation project. Inclusion criteria: >40-year-old, current and former smokers (>10 pack-years) in five primary care centres of northern Greece from 2012 to 2019. Participation was achieved via a campaign (posters and advertisements in the mass media).
RESULTS
We examined 5,226 subjects (mean age: 58.2 ± 12.7 years, 61.5% males, current smokers: 56.2%) of whom 564 (10.8%) had symptoms and spirometrically confirmed COPD. There were 5 groups of 'interest:' a) 117/264 (44.3%) with a previous correct diagnosis COPD and correct treatment; b) 139/264 (52.7%) previous correct diagnosis COPD but overtreatment; c) 8/264 (3%) previous correct diagnosis COPD but undertreatment; d) 461 subjects (63.6% of those with previous COPD diagnosis) had previous false diagnosis of COPD (= also overtreatment); e) 300/564 (53.2%) previously not diagnosed COPD (=underdiagnosis and also undertreatment). We found that 322/461 (69.8%) of those with a previous false diagnosis have been prescribed long-acting bronchodilators plus ICS.
CONCLUSION
Among the general population subjects in northern Greece, more than 50% of patients with COPD were underdiagnosed, more than 50% of correctly diagnosed COPD patients were overtreated and most patients taking inhaled drugs were those with a false diagnosis of COPD (possibly GOLD stage 0). | 10.1080/13814788.2021.1912729 |
pubmed_539_7810 | Northwestern Memorial Hospital instituted in-house molecular typing to rapidly assess microbial clonality and integrated this typing into an infection control program. We compared data on nosocomial infections collected during 24 months before and 60 months after implementing the new program. During the intervention period, infections per 1,000 patient-days fell 13% (p=0.002) and the percentage of hospitalized patients with nosocomial infections decreased 23% (p=0.000006). In our hospital, the percentage of patients with nosocomial infections is 43% below the U.S. rate. Our typing laboratory costs approximately $400,000 per year, a savings of $5.00 for each dollar spent. | 10.3201/eid0702.010233 |
pubmed_785_9493 | The complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome for the Chilean silverside Basilichthys microlepidotus is reported for the first time. The entire mitochondrial genome was 16,544 bp in length (GenBank accession no. KM245937); gene composition and arrangement was conformed to that reported for most fishes and contained the typical structure of 2 rRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs and a non-coding region. The assembled mitogenome was validated against sequences of COI and Control Region previously sequenced in our lab, functional genes from RNA-Seq data for the same species and the mitogenome of two other atherinopsid species available in Genbank. | 10.3109/19401736.2014.953113 |
pubmed_310_17421 | The first whole genome sequence of a symbiotic soil bacterium, Sinorhizobium meliloti (formely named Rhizobium meliloti) strain 1021, is due in 2001. As an active participant in the European and North American consortium that has completed this work, our group has sequenced a region on the chromosome containing clusters rpoBC, str, S10, spc and alpha corresponding to 30 protein genes. The structural organization and function of these genes were compared with those of orthologs in another 15 complete eubacterial genomes available in databases. This study, involving the DNA and amino acid sequences as well as the organization of the whole region (gene order, cluster order, etc.), has shown that the phylogenetic tree resulting from a comparison of the amino acid sequence is rather similar to that derived from 16S rRNA sequence data. However, the tree achieved by aligning DNA sequences groups the organisms with a high GC content (>60% GC), while that based on a comparison of gene cluster orientation and organization reveals a greater level of correspondence between the alpha-proteobacteria S.meliloti and the firmicute Bacillus subtilis. | 10.1093/nar/29.13.2747 |
pubmed_22_15775 | Plesiomonas shigelloides, a pathogen responsible for frequent outbreaks of severe travelers' diarrhea, causes grave extraintestinal infections. Sepsis and meningitis due to P. shigelloides are associated with a high mortality rate as antibiotic resistance increases and vaccines are not available. Carbohydrate antigens expressed by pathogens are often structurally unique and are targets for developing vaccines and diagnostics. Here, we report a total synthesis of the highly functionalized trisaccharide repeating unit 2 from P. shigelloides serotype 51 from three monosaccharides. A judicious choice of building blocks and reaction conditions allowed for the four amino groups adorning the sugar rings to be installed with two N-acetyl (Ac) groups, rare acetamidino (Am), and d-3-hydroxybutyryl (Hb) groups. The strategy for the differentiation of amino groups in trisaccharide 2 will serve well for the syntheses of other complex glycans. | 10.1021/jacs.8b00148 |
pubmed_382_12542 | In multicellular organisms, very little is known about the role of mRNA stability in development, and few proteins involved in degradation pathways have been characterized. We have identified the Drosophila homologue of XRN1, which is the major cytoplasmic 5'-3' exoribonuclease in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The protein sequence of this homologue (pacman) has 59% identity to S. cerevisiae XRN1 and 67% identity to the mouse homologue (mXRN1p) in certain regions. Sequencing of this cDNA revealed that it includes a trinucleotide repeat (CAG)9 which encodes polyglutamine. By directly measuring pacman exoribonuclease activity in yeast, we demonstrate that pacman can complement the yeast XRN1 mutation. Northern blots show a single transcript of approximately 5.2 kb which is abundant only in 0-8-h embryos and in adult males and females. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that the pcm transcripts are maternally derived, and are expressed at high levels in nurse cells. During early embryonic syncytial nuclear divisions, pcm transcripts are homogenously distributed. pcm mRNA is expressed abundantly and ubiquitously throughout the embryo during gastrulation, with high levels in the germ band and head structures. After germ band retraction, pcm transcripts are present at much lower levels, in agreement with the Northern results. Our experiments provide the first example of an exoribonuclease which is differentially expressed throughout development. | 10.1016/s0925-4773(98)00173-7 |
pubmed_1026_2888 | OBJECTIVE
This study aimed at investigating the therapeutic effect and mechanism of pioglitazone metformin complex preparation (PM) in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) comorbid psychological distress.
METHODS
Seventy-five patients with PCOS comorbid psychological distress were randomly allocated into the PM, metformin, and placebo groups. The primary efficacy measure was the change from baseline to week 12 on the Symptom Checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R) scores. NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and biochemical parameters were determined at baseline and at week 12. The participants were required to meet the criteria for PCOS (Rotterdam, NIH) and psychological distress (any factor scores of SCL - 90 - R > 2).
RESULTS
The participants had significantly high scores on the SCL-90-R scales of anxiety and depression. PM significantly decreased anxiety and depression symptom severity (from 2.31 ± 0.75 to 1.65 ± 0.38, p < 0.001, and from 2.08 ± 0.74 to 1.61 ± 0.46, p = 0.010, at week 12, respectively). PM significantly decreased the expression of NRPL3 and caspase-1. Patients in the PM group experienced a significant reduction in IL-1β (from 98.42 ± 14.38 to 71.76 ± 13.66, p = 0.02), IL-6 (from 87.51 ± 8.74 to 71.98 ± 15.87, p = 0.02), and TNF-α (from 395.33 ± 88.55 to 281.98 ± 85.69, p = 0.04). PM was superior to metformin in reducing total testosterone (2.24 ± 0.74 versus 3.06 ± 0.83, p = 0.024, at week 12).
CONCLUSIONS
This study is the first to reveal that PM alleviates psychological distress via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and improves several markers, including total testosterone. | 10.1155/2020/3050487 |
pubmed_28_20684 | BACKGROUND
As both orthodontist and patient should play a role hand in hand for the better outcomes of the treatment their knowledge and perceptions regarding problems are important. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the perception of patients and knowledge and attitude of the Orthodontist with regards to oral mucosal ulceration during the treatment.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
For this cross-sectional questionnaire study was two questionnaires were distributed. The first questionnaire was given to orthodontic practitioners (n = 103) to obtain demographic details, measure their knowledge, attitude and practices toward oral mucosal ulcers encountered during orthodontic treatment and the second questionnaire was given to orthodontic patients (n = 190) to record demographics, and experience and perceptions regarding mucosal ulcerations caused by orthodontic treatment and pain severity. Data analysis was done by using SPSS version 22. Cross tabulation was achieved using Chi-square tests and Fisher's exact test.
RESULTS
Over half of the patient 63% had oral ulcers during orthodontic treatment. More than half of the orthodontic practitioners 55.3% in this study reported that orthodontic treatment is the cause of oral ulcerations. The majority of orthodontic practitioners 70% participating in this study educated their patients about oral ulcerations by using verbal means of education.
CONCLUSION
Although patients rarely visit their orthodontic practitioner with the complaint of ulcers it may be due to the fact that they seek physcian or implement various home remedies rather than seek their orthodontic practitioner. Further studies are needed to elucidate the correlation between ulcers and orthodontic treatment clinically. | 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1197_20 |
pubmed_529_634 | BACKGROUND
Esophagectomy carries considerable morbidity. Many studies have evaluated factors to predict patients at risk. This study aimed to determine whether the surgical Apgar score (SAS) predicts complications and length of stay (LOS) for patients undergoing esophagectomy.
STUDY DESIGN
We evaluated 212 patients undergoing esophagectomy. Postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo scale and the SAS was determined. Association of SAS with incidence of complications was evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage trend test between grouped SAS scores (0-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10) and each of the outcomes. Correlation of SAS with LOS was evaluated using competing risks proportional hazards regression.
RESULTS
The average patient age was 63.5 years (range 31-86), and the average blood loss was 284 mL (range 50-4000). The median LOS was 10 days. There was a significant association between SAS and grade 2 or higher (P = 0.0002) and grade 3 or higher (P < 0.0001) complications. The perioperative mortality rate was 5.2% (n = 11) with lower SAS being associated with greater mortality. LOS was also associated with SAS (P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
We demonstrate that SAS is a significant predictor of complications and LOS for patients undergoing esophagectomy. SAS should be used to identify lower risk patients to prioritize use of critical care beds and hospital resources. | 10.1002/jso.24662 |
pubmed_873_24447 | BACKGROUND
This systematic review aimed to identify the unmet care needs and their associated variables in patients with advanced cancer and informal caregivers, alongside summarizing the tools used for needs assessment.
METHODS
Ten electronic databases were searched systematically from inception of each database to December 2016 to determine eligible studies. Studies that considered the unmet care needs of either adult patients with advanced cancer or informal caregivers, regardless of the study design, were included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was utilized for quality appraisal of the included studies. Content analysis was used to identify unmet needs, and descriptive analysis was adopted to synthesize other outcomes.
RESULTS
Fifty studies were included, and their methodological quality was generally robust. The prevalence of unmet needs varied across studies. Twelve unmet need domains were identified in patients with advanced cancer, and seven among informal caregivers. The three most commonly reported domains for patients were psychological, physical, and healthcare service and information. The most prominent unmet items of these domains were emotional support (10.1-84.4%), fatigue (18-76.3%), and "being informed about benefits and side-effects of treatment" (4-66.7%). The most commonly identified unmet needs for informal caregivers were information needs, including illness and treatment information (26-100%) and care-related information (21-100%). Unmet needs of patients with advanced cancer were associated with their physical symptoms, anxiety, and quality of life. The most commonly used instruments for needs assessment among patients with advanced cancer were the Supportive Care Needs Survey (N = 8) and Problems and Needs in Palliative Care questionnaire (N = 5). The majority of the included studies investigated unmet needs from the perspectives of either patients or caregivers with a cross-sectional study design using single time-point assessments. Moreover, significant heterogeneity, including differences in study contexts, assessment methods, instruments for measurement, need classifications, and reporting methods, were identified across studies.
CONCLUSION
Both advanced cancer patients and informal caregivers reported a wide range of context-bound unmet needs. Examining their unmet needs on the basis of viewing patients and their informal caregivers as a whole unit will be highly optimal. Unmet care needs should be comprehensively evaluated from the perspectives of all stakeholders and interpreted by using rigorously designed mixed methods research and longitudinal studies within a given context. | 10.1186/s12904-018-0346-9 |
pubmed_765_19695 | PURPOSE
To compare computed tomography (CT) image properties between a vendor-independent image-based noise reduction technique, Image-space Noise Reduction (iNoir) and a hybrid-type iterative reconstruction technique, Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction (ASIR).
METHODS
A cylindrical water phantom, corresponding to pediatric body size, containing soft-tissue-equivalent rod and 12-mg iodine/ml rod was scanned at size-specific dose estimates of 8.4 and 16.7 mGy. For assessments of image quality and noise texture change, task-based system performance function (SPF) and peak frequency difference (PFD) were compared, respectively, among filtered back projection (FBP), IR image with 50%-blending rate (50%ASIR), 100%ASIR, 50%iNoir, and 100%iNoir. Human observer test for pediatric CT images was performed by radiologists.
RESULTS
For the soft-tissue contrast, SPF2 of 100%iNoir was the highest. The average SPF2 between 0.1 and 0.5 cycles/mm for 100%iNoir increased by approximately 70% compared with FBP, while ASIR indicted slight increases in the frequency region of >0.2 cycles/mm. For the iodine contrast, 100%iNoir indicated highest values at the spatial frequencies corresponding pediatric artery diameters. The PFDs of iNoir were negligible and lower than that of ASIR. The results of human observer test supported results of SPF2 and PFD.
CONCLUSIONS
Compared with ASIR, iNoir provided better image quality for pediatric abdominal CT without compromising noise texture change. | 10.1016/j.ejmp.2020.06.015 |
pubmed_934_20993 | This study was aimed at assessing the potential of essential oil from the leaf of Hoslundia opposita in the treatment of diabetes. Forty-eight rats (Rattus norvegicus) were randomized into two groups; nondiabetic and diabetic groups, each with four subgroups. Animals in the diabetic group were induced with diabetes using a single dose of alloxan monohydrate, 160 mg/kg body weight (b. wt.). The rats were treated with 110 and 220 mg/kg b. wt. of the essential oil. All treatments were administered, intraperitoneally, once a day for 4 days. In the nondiabetic condition, there was no effect of the oil on fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in rats. In diabetic rats, the oil caused a significant reduction in FBG levels. Treatment with 110 mg/kg b. wt. of the oil reduced FBG almost to the normoglycemic level by day 4 and the overall glucose excursion during a 3-h intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test approached the baseline level at 120 min. Also, hepatic glycogen was significantly higher, while the glucose concentrations were lower in the diabetic-treated group when compared with the diabetic untreated group. Histological examinations revealed a mildly distorted architecture of the pancreatic islets β-cells of diabetic rats treated with the oil, while those of the untreated rats were severely degenerated. Overall, the in vivo antihyperglycemic activity of the essential oil may prove to be of clinical importance in the management of type 2 diabetes. | 10.1089/jmf.2013.0118 |
pubmed_711_16939 | Evidence for an association of both hydrophilic insulin and hydrophobic cyclosporin with liposomes prepared from egg yolk lecithin, cholesterol, and stearylamine (7:2:2.25 molar ratio) was obtained by Sepharose-4B gel filtration. The method used to prepare unilamellar liposomes containing 29.7 nmol cyclosporin and 2.3 nmol insulin per mu mol of liposomal lecithin is described. | 10.1016/0165-022x(86)90004-7 |
pubmed_958_5960 | Many people engage in physical activity to reduce their cardiovascular risk associated with smoking. These people should be made aware of the metabolic and cardiorespiratory changes induced by chronic and acute smoking and, in particular, the exercise ramifications of increased levels of blood carbon monoxide (CO). Smoking-induced elevations in the CO content of the blood can reduce exercise tolerance and maximal aerobic capacity. Smoking also increases the reliance upon glycolytic metabolism during exercise. Together, these factors contribute to earlier fatigue in smokers compared with nonsmokers who exercise. Similar effects upon exercise tolerance are noted in those who inhale environmental tobacco smoke. | 10.2165/00007256-199927050-00001 |
pubmed_99_1108 | The peripheral haemodynamic effects of a 40 mg intravenous injection of domperidone (a dopamine antagonist) have been studied in 10 normal subjects. In four subjects domperidone was infused directly into the brachial artery and the effects on forearm blood flow were measured. When administered systemically, domperidone significantly decreased forearm blood flow by 9% (P less than 0.01) and significantly increased calculated forearm vascular resistance by 11% (P less than 0.01). The drug produced no measurable changes in forearm blood flow at any dose when infused directly into the brachial artery. A further study was carried out into the effects of a systemic injection of domperidone on peripheral sympathetic tone. Reduction of sympathetic tone in the forearm was achieved by passively raising the legs of eight recumbent subjects. Before domperidone administration, passive leg elevation significantly increased forearm blood flow by 39% and decreased forearm vascular resistance by 13%. After drug administration the absolute values of vascular resistance increased and the changes between the supine and elevated position values when compared with those of the corresponding values prior to drug administration were significantly lower. These results suggest that the role of domperidone in increasing peripheral vascular tone is unlikely to be mediated by a direct local effect on peripheral resistance vessels. Any effect the drug may have is suggested to be mediated via a central control mechanism. | 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1984.tb02360.x |
pubmed_928_15737 | Hormones influence brain function from gestation throughout life and may affect the seizure threshold by altering neuronal excitability. Estrogen enhances and progesterone diminishes neuronal excitability experimentally, whereas testosterone and corticosteroids have less consistent effects. Hormonal effects in the CNS also depend on the region of brain in which the hormone acts. Sites of action for most steroid hormones include the hypothalamus and limbic cortex, providing a mechanism for modulating behavior and endocrine function. Seizure patterns may change at certain life stages, perhaps as a result of alterations in hormones. At puberty, epilepsy and benign rolandic epilepsy often remit, while juvenile myoclonic and photosensitive epilepsy may arise. Other types of epilepsy do not respond predictably to events in the reproductive life or to advancing age. In some women, fluctuations in hormones over the menstrual cycle appear to increase seizure vulnerability, probably reflecting changes in relative amounts of estrogen and progesterone. Seizure patterns can be altered, for better or worse, during pregnancy. Whether this reflects the effects of hormones or changes in levels of antiepileptic drugs is not resolved. More information is needed about changes in established epilepsy at menopause and in the elderly. Better understanding of endocrine effects on seizures over a lifetime should lead to more effective epilepsy therapies. | 10.1111/j.1528-1157.1992.tb06227.x |
pubmed_177_9064 | Lead toxicity is a major public health issue in developed and developing countries. Both acute and chronic lead exposure has the potential to cause many deleterious systematic effects including hypertension, frank anemia, cognitive deficits, infertility, immune imbalances, delayed skeletal and deciduous dental development, vitamin D deficiency, and gastrointestinal effects. The underlying mechanisms for all these systemic effects have not been elucidated completely. However, the most plausible cause is free radical damage. In addition to this, lead being a divalent cation can surrogate for calcium at multiple levels affecting various cell signaling pathways. The molecular basis of lead exposure resulting in various systemic effects is being extensively explored. The reports include single nucleotide polymorphisms, epigenetic modifications in susceptible individuals, and the most recent reports also feature regulatory RNA molecules - miRNAs. However, many genetic targets are identified, but their possible mechanisms are still an area to be explored. Additional studies are needed in different population groups to validate the existing findings, as well as to find newer targets that may help in better understanding the molecular mechanisms contributing to lead toxicity. Furthermore, newer strategies for lead risk assessment becomes necessary as the previously recognized "safe" level of lead is also being found to be associated with negative health outcomes. | 10.1080/10408363.2017.1408562 |
pubmed_973_6612 | BACKGROUND
A 2004 study showed adolescents living in rural Australia were aware of the impact of drought on self, family and community, but did not report levels of emotional distress higher than adolescents of similar age and gender in the Australian community. It was proposed that the rural lifestyle had helped adolescents build resilience for managing this environmental adversity.
OBJECTIVE
To re sample adolescents from the same rural area and determine if this resilience remained after ongoing drought three years later.
DESIGN
A mixed methods approach using focus groups and a self-report questionnaire.
SETTING
Government Central Schools within the Riverina region of New South Wales.
PARTICIPANTS
Male and female adolescents (n = 111) aged 11-17 years completed the self-report questionnaires, while some adolescents (n = 61) within this group also participated in focus groups.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and a Drought and Community Survey for Children comprised the self-report survey.
RESULTS
Adolescents reported significantly higher levels of emotional distress than those in the previous study (t (191) = 2.80, P < 0.01) and 12% of adolescents scored in the clinical caseness range. Thematic analysis showed consistency with the previous study as well as new themes of grief, loss and the impacts of global climate change.
CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate a reporting of lesser well-being than was reported by a comparable group of young people four years earlier. A preventative intervention with a focus on family and community is recommended to address the mental health of adolescents enduring a chronic environmental adversity such as drought. | 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2009.01107.x |
pubmed_1124_18827 | Our velocity measurements on quasi-two-dimensional turbulent flow in a rapidly rotating annulus yield self-similar (scale-independent) probability distribution functions for longitudinal velocity differences, deltav(l) = v(x+l)-v(x). These distribution functions are strongly non-Gaussian, suggesting that the coherent vortices play a significant role. The structure functions <[deltav(l)](p)> approximately l(zeta)p exhibit anomalous scaling: zeta(p) = p / 2 rather than the expected zeta(p) = p / 3. Correspondingly, the energy spectrum is described by E(k) approximately k(-2) rather than the expected E(k) approximately k(-5/3). | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.114501 |
pubmed_1103_4511 | The endophytic green alga Acrochaete operculata completely colonizes the sporophytes of the red alga Chondrus crispus; however, it does not penetrate beyond the outer cell layers of the gametophytes. Given that the life cycle phases of C. crispus differ in the sulfation pattern of their extracellular matrix carrageenans, we investigated whether carra-geenan fragments could modulate parasite virulence. lambda-Carrageenan oligosaccharides induced release of H(2)O(2), stimulated protein synthesis, increased carrageenolytic activity, and induced specific polypeptides in the pathogen, resulting in a marked increase in pathogenicity. In contrast, kappa-carrageenan oligosaccharides did not induce a marked release of H(2)O(2) from A. operculata but hindered amino acid uptake and enhanced their recognition by the host, resulting in a reduced virulence. Moreover, C. crispus life cycle phases were shown to behave differently in their response to challenge with cell-free extracts of A. operculata. Gametophytes exhibited a large burst of H(2)O(2), whereas only low levels were released from the sporophytes. | 10.1105/tpc.11.9.1635 |
pubmed_878_16385 | Methadone maintenance treatment is the most widely-used therapy in opioid dependence, but some patients relapse or drop out from treatment. We genotyped a genetic variant in the succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase enzyme gene, ALDH5A1, and found that subjects carrying the T variant allele have a higher risk to be nonresponders to methadone treatment (OR=3.16; 95% CI [1.48-6.73], P=0.0024). This could be due to a reduction in the ALDH5A1 enzyme activity, that would increase endogenous gamma-hydroxbutyric acid (GHB) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels and therefore, inducing symptoms such as sedation and impaired pschomotor performance. These neuropsychological effects related with the reduction in enzyme activity could be responsible for a higher propensity to relapse in these genetically predisposed patients. | pubmed_878_16385 |
pubmed_433_24150 | Experimental psychologist Jonathan Crystal and evolutionary psychologist Thomas Suddendorf debate with nonhuman animals experience human-like episodic memory. | 10.1016/j.cub.2019.10.045 |
pubmed_600_16742 | Early life adversity plays a critical role in the emergence of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and this could occur through epigenetic programming. In this perspective, we aimed to determine whether childhood maltreatment could durably modify epigenetic processes by the means of a whole-genome methylation scan of BPD subjects. Using the Illumina Infinium® HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, global methylation status of DNA extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes was correlated to the severity of childhood maltreatment in 96 BPD subjects suffering from a high level of child adversity and 93 subjects suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) and reporting a low rate of child maltreatment. Several CpGs within or near the following genes (IL17RA, miR124-3, KCNQ2, EFNB1, OCA2, MFAP2, RPH3AL, WDR60, CST9L, EP400, A2ML1, NT5DC2, FAM163A and SPSB2) were found to be differently methylated, either in BPD compared with MDD or in relation to the severity of childhood maltreatment. A highly relevant biological result was observed for cg04927004 close to miR124-3 that was significantly associated with BPD and severity of childhood maltreatment. miR124-3 codes for a microRNA (miRNA) targeting several genes previously found to be associated with BPD such as NR3C1. Our results highlight the potentially important role played by miRNAs in the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders such as BPD and the usefulness of using methylome-wide association studies to uncover such candidate genes. Moreover, they offer new understanding of the impact of maltreatments on biological processes leading to diseases and may ultimately result in the identification of relevant biomarkers. | 10.1111/gbb.12197 |
pubmed_458_23531 | Multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4/ABCC4), transports cyclic nucleoside monophosphates, nucleoside analog drugs, chemotherapeutic agents, and prostaglandins. In this study we characterize ATP hydrolysis by human MRP4 expressed in insect cells. MRP4 hydrolyzes ATP (Km, 0.62 mm), which is inhibited by orthovanadate and beryllium fluoride. However, unlike ATPase activity of P-glycoprotein, which is equally sensitive to both inhibitors, MRP4-ATPase is more sensitive to beryllium fluoride than to orthovanadate. 8-Azido[alpha-32P]ATP binds to MRP4 (concentration for half-maximal binding approximately 3 microm) and is displaced by ATP or by its non-hydrolyzable analog AMPPNP (concentrations for half-maximal inhibition of 13.3 and 308 microm). MRP4 substrates, the prostaglandins E1 and E2, stimulate ATP hydrolysis 2- to 3-fold but do not affect the Km for ATP. Several other substrates, azidothymidine, 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine, and methotrexate do not stimulate ATP hydrolysis but inhibit prostaglandin E2-stimulated ATP hydrolysis. Although both post-hydrolysis transition states MRP4.8-azido[alpha-32P]ADP.Vi and MRP4.8-azido[alpha-32P]ADP.beryllium fluoride can be generated, nucleotide trapping is approximately 4-fold higher with beryllium fluoride. The divalent cations Mg2+ and Mn2+ support comparable levels of nucleotide binding, hydrolysis, and trapping. However, Co2+ increases 8-azido[alpha-32P]ATP binding and beryllium fluoride-induced 8-azido[alpha-32P]ADP trapping but does not support steady-state ATP hydrolysis. ADP inhibits basal and prostaglandin E2-stimulated ATP hydrolysis (concentrations for half-maximal inhibition 0.19 and 0.25 mm, respectively) and beryllium fluoride-induced 8-azido[alpha-32P]ADP trapping, whereas Pi has no effect up to 20 mm. In aggregate, our results demonstrate that MRP4 exhibits substrate-stimulated ATP hydrolysis, and we propose a kinetic scheme suggesting that ADP release from the post-hydrolysis transition state may be the rate-limiting step during the catalytic cycle. | 10.1074/jbc.M408849200 |
pubmed_504_8894 | This study aims to inform SARS-CoV-2 vaccine development/licensure/decision-making/implementation, using mathematical modeling, by determining key preferred vaccine product characteristics and associated population-level impacts of a vaccine eliciting long-term protection. A prophylactic vaccine with efficacy against acquisition (VES) ≥70% can eliminate the infection. A vaccine with VES <70% may still control the infection if it reduces infectiousness or infection duration among those vaccinated who acquire the infection, if it is supplemented with <20% reduction in contact rate, or if it is complemented with herd-immunity. At VES of 50%, the number of vaccinated persons needed to avert one infection is 2.4, and the number is 25.5 to avert one severe disease case, 33.2 to avert one critical disease case, and 65.1 to avert one death. The probability of a major outbreak is zero at VES ≥70% regardless of the number of virus introductions. However, an increase in social contact rate among those vaccinated (behavior compensation) can undermine vaccine impact. In addition to the reduction in infection acquisition, developers should assess the natural history and disease progression outcomes when evaluating vaccine impact. | 10.3390/vaccines8040668 |
pubmed_582_9558 | BACKGROUND
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) shares common features with catatonia and serotonin syndrome (SS). For instance, catatonia is a risk factor for the development of NMS.
METHODS
We performed a pilot study to examine if the Lee-Carroll Scale is able to differentiate the proposed NMS subtypes and explore possible relationship between NMS and SS. A consecutive series of cases reported to the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Information Service (NMSIS) were reviewed with 29 cases of "definite NMS." The Hynes-Vickar Scale (an NMS scale), Hegerl Scale (a SS scale), and Lee-Carroll Scale (an NMS subtype scale) were applied to these case report forms.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the groups were too small for statistical analysis, the 2 catatonic NMS subtypes appear to have higher NMS scores on the Hynes-Vickar Scale, and lower SS scores on the Hegerl Scale than the non-catatonic NMS subtype. The scores on the Lee-Carroll Scale were highest for non-catatonic NMS subtype. This pilot study suggests that the Lee-Carroll scale may help differentiate the subtypes of NMS, and provides some support that non-catatonic NMS may be a form of SS. NMS subtypes may be important in the early detection and treatment of NMS. | 10.1080/10401230701844893 |
pubmed_1043_11994 | Epidemiologic studies of causes of disease rarely contain adjustments for inequalities in diseases susceptibility caused by baseline differences in clinical phenomena. In the controversial association between estrogens and endometrial cancer, the menopausal syndrome was suspected as an independent risk factor for the development of endometrial cancer, irrespective of estrogen use. To investigate this suspicion, personal interview data from a case-control investigation were collected and analyzed. The odds ratio for the association between menopausal symptoms and endometrial cancer was 1.12 and 0.85 for two different sets of cases and controls assembled at the same institution. When the data were partitioned according to estrogen usage, the odds ratios became consistently less than one. The results suggest that the menopausal syndrome is not a risk factor for endometrial cancer. | pubmed_1043_11994 |
pubmed_1043_3200 | A method for the quantitative extraction of paraquat from plasma is described. The method relies on the use of an organic-soluble ion pair of paraquat with dodecyl sulphate. The use of the extraction procedure in conjunction with the dithionite colour reaction gives a method which is suitable for emergency estimations with a sensitivity limit of 50 micrograms/l. The extraction procedure alone offers a new first step in the clean up of paraquat for analysis by other methods. | 10.1016/0009-8981(79)90071-8 |
pubmed_52_12163 | With a shortage of supply of nurses and the increasing demand for nursing care, hospitals require or allow nurses to work extended shifts (in excess of 12 hours) and many shifts per week (up to and in excess of 60 hours per week). The result of these excessive hours of work is that many nurses care for patients while suffering from sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation has been shown to negatively impact judgment and performance resulting in errors and accidents. Sleep deprivation also negatively affects the health of individuals. Sleep deprivation in nurses is a significant issue that requires more attention. | 10.1097/01.NAQ.0000264863.94958.40 |
pubmed_39_7015 | G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK; Kir3) channels, which are members of the large family of inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir1-Kir7), regulate excitability in the heart and brain. GIRK channels are activated following stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors that couple to the G(i/o) (pertussis toxin-sensitive) G proteins. GIRK channels, like all other Kir channels, possess an extrinsic mechanism of inward rectification involving intracellular Mg(2+) and polyamines that occlude the conduction pathway at membrane potentials positive to E(K). In the past 17 years, more than 20 high-resolution atomic structures containing GIRK channel cytoplasmic domains and transmembrane domains have been solved. These structures have provided valuable insights into the structural determinants of many of the properties common to all inward rectifiers, such as permeation and rectification, as well as revealing the structural bases for GIRK channel gating. In this chapter, we describe advances in our understanding of GIRK channel function based on recent high-resolution atomic structures of inwardly rectifying K(+) channels discussed in the context of classical structure-function experiments. | pubmed_39_7015 |
pubmed_576_18841 | An unknown, Gram-positive, ovoid-shaped bacterium isolated from the nose of a mouse was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that the unknown organism was a member of the family Micrococcaceae and possessed a specific phylogenetic association with Rothia dentocariosa and Stomatococcus mucilaginosus. Phenotypically, the bacterium closely resembled R. dentocariosa and S. mucilaginosus but could be distinguished from these species by biochemical tests and electrophoretic analysis of whole-cell proteins. Based on both phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified in the genus Rothia, as Rothia nasimurium sp. nov. In addition, it is proposed that S. mucilaginosus be reclassified in the genus Rothia, as Rothia mucilaginosa comb. nov. | 10.1099/00207713-50-3-1247 |
pubmed_567_10709 | The patient acceptability of open carpal tunnel release under local anaesthesia (LA) and tourniquet control was assessed by a postal survey. 58 releases on 44 patients over a 3-year period were surveyed, with a questionnaire response rate of 91%. Use of LA for this procedure was effective and acceptable to most patients, but the incidence of severe pain due to infiltration of LA and the tourniquet intolerance rate were unacceptably high and have been addressed by use of LA with adrenaline and bipolar diathermy to dispense with tourniquet and use of dental syringe and injecting LA from proximal to distal direction to make infiltration more comfortable. | pubmed_567_10709 |
pubmed_567_8784 | Previous reports from our laboratory have demonstrated qualitatively that preabsorbed IgG can enhance long-term macrophage adhesion in vitro. This investigation further characterizes and quantifies the biological effect of adsorbed human IgG on human macrophages and probes the potential mechanisms. Ten-day human monocyte/macrophage cultures on Plastek M (PM), a normally poor cellular substrate for macrophages, confirmed the ability of preabsorbed IgG to dramatically enhance long-term macrophage adhesion. An adsorption solution concentration of 200 microg/mL of IgG was necessary to provide a consistent, optimal cellular response. (125)I adsorption studies indicated Langmuir-style IgG adsorption at low concentrations; however, no adsorption maximum was observed. Additional adsorption analysis revealed that the IgG fragments Fab, F(ab')(2), and Fc adsorb at levels only 20-40% that of the whole molecule. Despite the lower adsorption levels, both preabsorbed Fab and F(ab')(2) were shown to be as effective as whole molecule IgG at enhancing long-term macrophage adhesion. Surprisingly, the preabsorbed Fc fragment demonstrated no IgG-like activity, thereby eliminating the possibility of an Fc receptor-based mechanism. Other possible mechanisms, such as macrophage lectins, novel macrophage Fab receptors, and complement activation by adsorbed IgG and IgG fragments, are discussed. | 10.1002/(sici)1097-4636(20000605)50:3<281::aid-jbm1>3.0.co;2-5 |
pubmed_474_1079 | The effects of exposure to 48 h darkness and to stroboscope stimulation on chick optic lobe adenylate-cyclase activity were studied. A significant decrease in adenylate-cyclase after 48 h exposure to darkness occurred with return to normal values after re-exposure to light. Stroboscope stimulation for 3 min produced instead a marked increase in optic lobe adenylate-cyclase. Present experiments suggest that cAMP may serve as inhibitory messenger in synaptic transmission along central visual pathways. | pubmed_474_1079 |
pubmed_987_10050 | Telemedicine can be useful for the management of diabetes mellitus. Remote monitoring of glucose levels improves A1C levels in people with poor glucose control. When multiple daily injections of insulin are required, continuous glucose monitoring improves glycemic control and increases patient satisfaction. Telemedicine diabetes prevention programs can be cost-effective. Teleretinal screening allows for the remote evaluation of retinal photos obtained at the primary care office to facilitate the timely completion of annual screening. Telemedicine for patients who have diabetes requires administrative and patient preparation before the visit. The physical examination should focus on the skin and extremities, especially the feet. Patients receiving telediabetes care require at least annual in-person visits for complete foot examinations, sensory screenings, and to address issues noted during previous telemedicine visits. | pubmed_987_10050 |
pubmed_787_5745 | BACKGROUND
Acquired cold urticaria (ACU) is usually a self-limited, sporadic, cutaneous disease diagnosed based on history and a positive cold stimulation time test (CSTT) result. We describe 3 unrelated families (A, B, and C) with lifelong atypical cold urticaria distinguished from ACU and familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to describe a new hereditary disease of cold urticaria and study its pathogenesis.
METHODS
Questionnaires, interviews, physical examinations, skin testing, and biopsies were performed. Absolute values, means, and prevalence percentages of data are reported.
RESULTS
Thirty-five subjects are described with familial atypical cold urticaria (FACU; family A, 17; family B, 8; and family C, 10) displaying an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. All tested subjects had negative CSTT results. Completed questionnaires from affected and unaffected members of families A and B (n = 35) revealed that all affected subjects had lifelong symptoms that began in early childhood with pruritus, erythema, and urticaria after cold exposure. Angioedema (family A, 23%; family B, 42%) and syncope, near syncope, or both (family A, 46%; family B, 86%) were also present. Triggers included cold atmosphere (100%), aquatic activities (family A, 92%; family B, 100%), handling cold objects (family A, 54%; family B, 71%), and ingestion of cold foods or beverages (family A, 69%; family B, 100%). Skin biopsy specimens demonstrated a mast cell infiltrate with the appearance of degranulation after cold challenge.
CONCLUSIONS
FACU is a new cold-induced inherited disease that is different than ACU in its natural history, atmospheric cold elicitation, severity of systemic reactions, and CSTT results. FACU differs from familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome in symptom timing and the absence of fever, chills, and joint pain. The cause is suspected to be mast cell related. Treatment of reactions is similar to that for ACU. Further evaluation of pathogenesis and genetics is warranted. | 10.1016/j.jaci.2009.09.035 |
pubmed_229_19586 | Only limited data are available about the incidence of asthma based on longitudinal prospective studies. Further, the results from different studies on incidence vary considerably depending on the age composition of the cohorts under study, the used methods and the criteria for disease. Also among adults high incidence rates have been reported during recent years. The aim of this study was to examine to what extent the incidence of physician-diagnosed asthma could be explained by a real incidence of the disease, and to what extend by an increased diagnostic activity or altered diagnostic praxis. Another aim was to study risk factors for asthma based on incident cases. Three cross-sectional surveys have been performed in the same population sample living in the northern-most province of Sweden, Norrbotten. The first survey was performed in 1986, and 5698 subjects, 86% of those invited, responded to a postal questionnaire. Of these, 4754 subjects (83%) participated at the third survey in 1996. After exclusion of all subjects who had reported that they had asthma in 1986, or had been classified as having asthma in 1986, 68 men and 98 women (P=0.02) reported in 1996 that they had been diagnosed as having asthma by a physician. Thus, the cumulative incidence for the 10-year period was 3.2% among men and 4.5% among women. After correction for subjects who already in 1986 had reported symptoms common in asthma, or had been classified as having chronic bronchitis, 97 subjects with incident asthma remained, which corresponded to an annual incidence rate among men of 1.7 and among women of 2.9/1000 persons year(-1) (P=0.1). Clinical examinations confirmed asthma in a large majority of these 97 subjects. Significant risk factors were family history of asthma, both ex- and current smoking, and female sex. The socio-economic groups manual workers and assistant non-manual employees were associated with incident asthma, although not significantly. The increasing prevalence of asthma among adults during recent 10-20 years may to a considerable extent be explained by an increased diagnostic activity or altered diagnostic praxis. Use of different methods when measuring incidence may in part explain the extremely diverging incidence rates of asthma found in different studies. | 10.1053/rmed.2001.1126 |
pubmed_1040_8390 | The prevalence of pleural effusions after endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy was reviewed in 30 patients undergoing 65 sclerotherapy sessions. Pleural effusions were identified radiographically after 31 of the 65 (48%) sclerotherapy sessions. Eleven of the effusions were right-sided, 10 were left-sided, and 10 were bilateral. Most of the effusions (20 of 31, 65%) were small. Significant postsclerotherapy chest pain was found more commonly in those patients who developed pleural effusions (11 of 31, 35%) compared with those who did not (4 of 34, 12%) (p less than 0.05). The total sclerosant volume injected was significantly greater in those who developed effusions (13.2 +/- 5.8 ml) (mean +/- SD) than in those who did not (8.5 +/- 4.5 ml) (p less than 0.001). Twelve effusions were analyzed biochemically after thoracentesis. Eleven effusions met one or more of three criteria commonly used to identify exudative effusions. We conclude that pleural effusions develop frequently after sclerotherapy. The effusions are predominantly exudative in character and presumably arise from inflammation of the mediastinal parietal pleura. | 10.1016/0016-5085(85)90018-6 |
pubmed_186_19843 | Bee venom has long been used to treat various inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. Previously, we reported that bee venom phospholipase A₂ (bvPLA₂) has an anti-inflammatory effect through the induction of regulatory T cells. Radiotherapy is a common anti-cancer method, but often causes adverse effects, such as inflammation. This study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of bvPLA₂ in radiation-induced acute lung inflammation. Mice were focally irradiated with 75 Gy of X-rays in the lung and administered bvPLA₂ six times after radiation. To evaluate the level of inflammation, the number of immune cells, mRNA level of inflammatory cytokine, and histological changes in the lung were measured. BvPLA₂ treatment reduced the accumulation of immune cells, such as macrophages, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. In addition, bvPLA₂ treatment decreased inflammasome-, chemokine-, cytokine- and fibrosis-related genes' mRNA expression. The histological results also demonstrated the attenuating effect of bvPLA₂ on radiation-induced lung inflammation. Furthermore, regulatory T cell depletion abolished the therapeutic effects of bvPLA₂ in radiation-induced pneumonitis, implicating the anti-inflammatory effects of bvPLA₂ are dependent upon regulatory T cells. These results support the therapeutic potential of bvPLA₂ in radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis treatments. | pubmed_186_19843 |
pubmed_187_8594 | Large scale observational studies have conclusively demonstrated that systolic and diastolic blood pressure values are linearly related to the incidence of cerebrovascular diseases and that high blood pressure is an important risk factor for both primary and secondary development of stroke. Interventional studies have shown that blood pressure lowering by antihypertensive treatment reduces the incidence of stroke in hypertensive patients without a history of previous stroke. Whether this is the case also for the secondary prevention of cerebral ischemic attacks has not been unequivocally shown, however. The PROGRESS ("Perindopril Protection Against Recurrent Stroke Study") study has been designed and is under way to collect information on this important issue of the antihypertensive treatment, its purpose being to evaluate the blood pressure lowering effects with an ACE-inhibitor on recurrent stroke in an overall population of 6000 patients with a positive history of previous cerebral ischemic attacks or stroke. | pubmed_187_8594 |
pubmed_828_20721 | Further attenuated live measles vaccine strains were developed through passages in chick embryo cells or other non-permissive cells from the Edmonston strain. The number of measles patients has reduced through worldwide acceptance of measles vaccine. Measles elimination was achieved in American continents and the goal of measles elimination in Western Pacific region was aimed by 2012. Recent development of molecular techniques facilitates the reverse genetics to recover the infectious virus from the cDNA clone constructed from measles RNA genome. Using this technology, characteristics of attenuated measles vaccine strain were investigated and new approach has started to develop the recombinant measles vaccine expressing foreign virus antigen(s) against the infectious diseases for which no effective vaccine is available. Besides infectious diseases, the oncolytic measles virus based on measles vaccine strains was developed for targeting cancer cells. | 10.2222/jsv.59.257 |
pubmed_982_16809 | Rapid advances in medical technology may in the near future make "natural" aging and old age diseases the main causes of human death in affluent societies (apart from accidents). When dealing with end of life issues, medical sociology will need to focus more on life and death in seniors. Understanding the attitudes of older persons toward life and death is important for both performing end-of-life medical care and in developing end-of-life policies. Descriptive bioethical analysis of attitudes in different cultures can aid a fuller understanding of the views inside each culture and the trajectories of conflict situations within each culture. In-depth interviews were conducted with 112 senior citizens in Taiwan and with 25 senior citizens in New Zealand. All interviews were transcribed verbatim; qualitative data analysis was used to examine people's views on life and death. Their images of life and end of life attitudes were compared. Analysis of the key concepts they mentioned revealed distinctive views in life attitudes between these two groups. However, in spite of differences in culture and traditions, most life and end-of-life attitudes among elderly people in the two groups were rather similar. According to these similarities, an interpretation of these values was made within a Confucian and Taoist framework that might be applicable to non-Eastern cultures as well. | 10.1097/01.jnr.0000387578.58974.42 |
pubmed_912_7752 | The application of (smart) cameras for process control, mapping, and advanced imaging in agriculture has become an element of precision farming that facilitates the conservation of fertilizer, pesticides, and machine time. This technique additionally reduces the amount of energy required in terms of fuel. Although research activities have increased in this field, high camera prices reflect low adaptation to applications in all fields of agriculture. Smart, low-cost cameras adapted for agricultural applications can overcome this drawback. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) for each image pixel is an applicable algorithm to discriminate plant information from the soil background enabled by a large difference in the reflectance between the near infrared (NIR) and the red channel optical frequency band. Two aligned charge coupled device (CCD) chips for the red and NIR channel are typically used, but they are expensive because of the precise optical alignment required. Therefore, much attention has been given to the development of alternative camera designs. In this study, the advantage of a smart one-chip camera design with NDVI image performance is demonstrated in terms of low cost and simplified design. The required assembly and pixel modifications are described, and new algorithms for establishing an enhanced NDVI image quality for data processing are discussed. | 10.3390/s130201523 |
pubmed_1046_3542 | Only a few papers exist dealing with the development and aging of the autonomic nervous system - and even rarer are studies that investigated the otic ganglion. Using a special trepan, we removed and investigated 172 samples from 86 corpses, ranging from 20 weeks of gestational age (GA) to 95 years of age. The aim of the study was to measure different morphometric parameters of the ganglionic neurons in order to study age-related changes from early development until old age. Fetuses show the highest numerical density of neurons. Then, in the first years of life, a rapid growth of the cytoplasm takes place, which is the main reason for the neuronal growth and the increase of the general size of the otic ganglion at this age. Also, the number of satellite cells increases till puberty. In adults, the parameters are relatively stable over decades and decrease slowly, in contrast to the steep increase in the first years of life. Moreover, neuronal degeneration, storage of pigments, neuro-axonal dystrophy, and lymphocytic infiltrates increase with age. | 10.1111/joa.12898 |
pubmed_35_7039 | The kidney plays a central role in our ability to maintain appropriate sodium balance, which is critical to determination of blood pressure. In this review we outline current knowledge of renal salt handling at the molecular level, and, given that Westernized societies consume more salt than is required for normal physiology, we examine evidence that the lowering of salt intake can combat hypertension. | 10.1172/JCI21560 |
pubmed_1015_11463 | The myofiber type composition was studied in 42 different muscles of the dog to determine if there are unique features that might explain the preferential involvement of the muscles of mastication by inflammatory myopathies. The principal myofiber types for most muscles studied were type 1 and type 2A and, to a lesser extent, type 2C, whereas the dorsal group of muscles innervated by the mandibular nerve (Mm. temporalis, and tensor veli palatini) was composed only of type 2C myofibers and a variant of the type 1 myofiber whose staining intensity was not fully reversed after preincubation in acid media. The distribution of this myofiber type composition was associated with the innervation and embryologic development of the dorsal muscles innervated by the mandibular nerve. This unique myofiber type composition could provide the basis for the preferential susceptibility of these muscles to agents (e.g., immune and/or infectious) that produce myositis; however, further studies are required to assess that possibility. | 10.1002/mus.880040411 |
pubmed_13_6506 | A variety of literature addresses the question of how the age distribution of deaths changes over time as life expectancy increases. However, corresponding terms such as extension, compression, or rectangularization are sometimes defined only vaguely, and statistics used to detect certain scenarios can be misleading. The matter is further complicated because mixed scenarios can prevail, and the considered age range can have an impact on observed mortality patterns. In this article, we establish a unique classification framework for realized mortality scenarios that allows for the detection of both pure and mixed scenarios. Our framework determines whether changes of the deaths curve over time show elements of extension or contraction; compression or decompression; left- or right-shifting mortality; and concentration or diffusion. The framework not only can test the presence of a particular scenario but also can assign a unique scenario to any observed mortality evolution. Furthermore, it can detect different mortality scenarios for different age ranges in the same population. We also present a methodology for the implementation of our classification framework and apply it to mortality data for U.S. females. | 10.1007/s13524-018-0694-3 |
pubmed_1092_19163 | Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation has been noted in HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)-seronegative patients with CD20 B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) undergoing rituximab treatment. Clinically, hepatitis flares are usually associated with the reappearance of HBsAg (reverse seroconversion of HBsAg, HBV-RS). It is unclear whether human genetic factors are related to rituximab-associated HBV reactivation. Unvaccinated HBsAg-seronegative adults (n = 104) with CD20 NHL who had received rituximab-containing therapy without anti-HBV prophylaxis were enrolled. Eighty-nine candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 49 human cytokine genes were chosen and were analyzed using the iPLEX technique. Competing risk regression was used to identify the factors associated with HBV-RS. Participants had a median age of 66.1 years and 56.7% were male (n = 59). The anti-HBs and anti-HBc positivity rates were 82.4% and 94.1%, respectively, among patients for whom data were available (approximately 81%). A mean of 7.14 cycles of rituximab therapy were administered, and a total of 14 (13.4%) patients developed HBV-RS. Nine SNPs showed significant differences in frequency between patients with or without HBV-RS: CD40 rs1883832, IL4 rs2243248 and rs2243263, IL13 rs1295686, IL18 rs243908, IL20 rs1518108, and TNFSF13B rs12428930 and rs12583006. Multivariate analysis showed that ≥6 cycles of rituximab therapy, IL18 rs243908, and the IL4 haplotype rs2243248∼rs2243263 were independently associated with HBV-RS. The IL4 haplotype rs2243248∼rs2243263 was significantly associated with HBV-RS regardless of anti-HBs status. Polymorphisms in human cytokine genes impact the risk of rituximab-associated HBV-RS. | 10.1097/MD.0000000000003064 |
pubmed_616_7069 | PURPOSE
Many childhood diseases often present with skin abnormalities with which radiologists are largely unfamiliar. Knowledge of associated dermatologic manifestations may aid the radiologist in confirming the diagnosis and recommending targeted imaging of affected organs.
METHODS
We review the imaging findings in childhood diseases associated with dermatologic manifestations.
FINDINGS
Diseases include dermatologic findings which herald underlying malignancy (Neuroblastoma, leukemia/lymphoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis),are associated with risk of malignancy (Epidermolysis Bullosa, basal cell nevus syndrome, Cowden's syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis),or indicate a systemic inflammatory/immune disorder (Kawasaki's disease, Henoch Schonlein Purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, sarcoidosis, dermatomyositis and immune thrombocytopenic purpura).
CONCLUSION
Familiarity with pertinent findings in childhood diseases presenting with dermatologic manifestations in childhood diseases aids the radiologist in confirming the diagnosis and guiding imaging workup. | 10.1016/j.clinimag.2017.10.015 |
pubmed_87_1736 | We demonstrate the preparation of rationally designed, multifunctional, monolithic and periodically ordered mesoporous core-shell nanocomposites with tunable structural characteristics. Three-dimensionally (3D) co-continuous gyroidal mesoporous polymer monoliths are fabricated from a solution-based triblock terpolymer-resol co-assembly and used as the functional templates for the fabrication of free-standing core-shell carbon-titania composites using atomic layer deposition (ALD). The deposition depth into the torturous gyroidal nanonetwork is investigated as a function of ALD conditions and the resulting composites are submitted to different thermal treatments. Results suggest that ALD can homogenously coat mesoporous templates with well defined pore sizes below 50 nm and thicknesses above 10 μm. Structural tunability like titania shell thickness and pore size control is demonstrated. The ordered nanocomposites exhibit triple functionality; a 3D continuous conductive carbon core that is coated with a crystalline titania shell that in turn is in contact with a 3D continuous mesopore network in a compact monolithic architecture. This materials design is of interest for applications including energy conversion and storage. Gyroidal mesoporous titania monoliths can be obtained through simultaneous titania crystallization and template removal in air. | 10.1039/c4nr01948b |
pubmed_1104_14974 | To elucidate the neuronal characteristics of the functional expansion in the uncrossed visual pathways (UXVPs), resulting from early monocular enucleation in rats, the feasibility of stimulus-dependent induction of the immediate early gene c-fos was examined immunohistochemically. In the UXVPs of rats with monocular enucleation at birth, patterned visual stimuli induced Fos-like immunoreactive (FLI) neurons much more densely in wide areas of the superficial layer throughout the superior colliculus (SC), and in the striate and extrastriate areas of the visual cortex (VC). In the UXVPs of rats monocularly enucleated after maturity, however, only a few stimulus-dependent FLI neurons were scattered in the restricted portions of the SC and the VC. | 10.1016/s0304-3940(01)01762-1 |
pubmed_377_22559 | UNLABELLED
BACKGROUND; It is acknowledge that discharge planning benefits both consumers and hospitals. What is not widely understood is the experience that the family carer of a person with a dementia has and whether the hospitals meet their in-hospital and post-hospital needs.
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether metropolitan and rural hospital discharge practices meet the needs of the family carer of a person with dementia.
RESULTS
Although this and other research indicates that a continuum of care model is beneficial to family caregivers, no evidence has been identified that family carers currently experience this type of quality planning. Family carers were often unaware of the existence of a hospital discharge plan and were rarely engaged in communication about the care of their family member with a dementia or prepared for discharge. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS; Discharge planning processes for family carers of people with dementia could be substantially improved. It is recommended that hospitals develop policy, process and procedures that take into account the family carer's needs, develop key performance indicators and adopt best practice standards that direct discharge planning activities and early engagement of the family carer in healthcare decisions. It is recommended that health professionals be educated on communication, consultation and needs of family carers. | 10.1071/AH09811 |
pubmed_747_205 | The time course of ventilatory adaptation to medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and potential mediators of this response in plasma and lumbar CSF were determined in five healthy adult males. A significant decrease in arterial PCO2 (PACO2) at rest and exercise was noted within 48 h of drug administration with the maximum effect reached within 7 days and amounting to a 5-Torr decrement in PACO2. Blood and lumbar cerebrospinal fluid pH because significantly alkaline to control as soon as the ventilatory resporse was noted and remained alkaline during the treatment period. The ventilatory and dP/dt max response to exogenous CO2 was unchanged but their response to moderate exercise was increased after MPA. MPA-rlated materials were detected in both the plasma and CSF as soon as the ventilatory response was noted. The increase in CSF MPA-related materials approximated the unbound fraction determined in plasma. We conclude that [H+] in plasma and CSF is a function rather than a cause of ventilator acclimatization to MPA. MPA-related materials are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and could potentially exert their ventilatory stimulant effect by some central mechanism. | 10.1152/jappl.1978.44.6.939 |
pubmed_1092_13056 | Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of chronic active hepatitis, cirrhosis, and primary hepatocellular carcinoma, all of which are severe threats to human health. However, current clinical therapies for HBV are limited by potential side effects, toxicity, and drug-resistance. In this study, a cell-penetrating peptide-conjugated peptide nucleic acid (PNA), Tat-PNA-DR, was designed to target the direct repeat (DR) sequences of HBV. Tat-PNA-DR effectively inhibited HBV replication in HepG2.2.15 cells. Its anti-HBV effect relied on the binding of Tat-PNA-DR to the DR, whereby it suppressed the translation of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HBsAg, HBV core, hepatitis B virus x protein, and HBV reverse transcriptase (RT) and the reverse transcription of the HBV genome. Furthermore, Tat-PNA-DR administered by intravenous injection efficiently cleared HBeAg and HBsAg in an acute hepatitis B mouse model. Importantly, it induced an 80% decline in HBV DNA in mouse serum, which was similar to the effect of the widely used clinical drug Lamivudine (3TC). Additionally, a long-term hydrodynamics HBV mouse model also demonstrated Tat-PNA-DR's antiviral effect. Interestingly, Tat-PNA-DR displayed low cytotoxicity, low mouse acute toxicity, low immunogenicity, and high serum stability. These data indicate that Tat-PNA-DR is a unique PNA and a promising drug candidate against HBV. | 10.1038/mtna.2016.11 |
pubmed_351_20042 | To develop a new concept of central acting drugs, the modulation of brain Ca2+ flux must be considered as one of the important factors. This is because excessive Ca2+ influx to neuronal cells damages or kills these cells, and also because abnormal intracellular Ca2+ concentrations induce several types of mental disorders. Recently, both pre-clinical and clinical studies indicated that some Ca2+ channel blockers (Ca antagonists) will be useful for the treatment of grand mal, manic depressive insanity, panic disorder and anxiety. Furthermore, it has been estimated by animal studies and clinical pharmacology that ischemia-induced neuronal death can be prevented by the treatment with a Ca antagonist. However, the latter data, especially, has been mainly explained by pharmacological effects on the cerebrovascular system, not because of possible direct central actions. To invoke the notion of direct central action, it must be assumed that Ca antagonists might pass the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This potentiality that some Ca antagonists (i.e., flunarizine, nicardipine, nimodipine, etc.) can pass the BBB has been initially explored. If substantiated, such direct central effects of Ca antagonists may explain both the psychotropic effects and neuronal protection by these agents. To investigate the actual therapeutic effects of Ca2+ antagonists on psychotropic disorders and neuronal death, a suitable animal model and reasonable methods and criteria must be established. Then, both preclinical and clinical studies can be expected to relate to atypical central acting drugs modulating the brain Ca2+ channels, and also to the development of new pharmacological properties of Ca2+ antagonists. | 10.1254/fpj.100.239 |
pubmed_5_21195 | The human haemochorial placenta is a complex and dynamic interface between embryonic and maternal tissues. A myriad array of compounds has been identified at this interface, some of which exert local effects which might be important in maintaining the integrity of the organ. These compounds are diverse in nature and function; they include enzymes, hormones and bioactive peptides. Successful nidation requires the synchronization of endometrial maturation and embryonic development. The complex nature of this interface requires the application of sound sampling strategies. The new stereological methods have thrown fresh light on the growth and development of the human placenta. These methods permit the objective, quantitative description of morphology by efficient design-based methods. This approach has permitted a better definition of the functional morphology of the placenta. Applications of these methodologies are providing a spatial and temporal framework on which to lay the new physiological and molecular information. Here we review the essential features of the stereological approach, identify useful structural quantities and provide some examples of their application. The problems associated with the quantification of immunocytochemistry are illustrated with the use of immunoreactivity to insulin-like growth factor I receptor in normal placentae and in pre-eclampsia. Although stereology can provide useful quantitative information about the structure of this dynamic tissue, other anatomical methods that could be applied to better define the relationships between structure and function will be discussed. These include confocal microscopy, to examine the dynamic physiological interactions of the different tissue compartments, and low-temperature electron microscopy techniques such as cryosubstitution, to allow better access to the biochemical information resident in the tissue. The complex and dynamic nature of the tissue requires a multidisciplinary approach; central to these investigations is a comprehensive understanding of its fine structure. | 10.1042/bst0280202 |
pubmed_724_4072 | The objective of this research was to functionally characterize sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter (SVCT) in MDCK-MDR1 cells and to study the effect of substituted benzene derivatives on the intracellular accumulation of ascorbic acid (AA). Mechanism of AA uptake and transport was delineated. Uptake of [(14)C]ascorbic acid ([(14)C]AA) was studied in the absence and presence of excess unlabelled AA, anion transporter inhibitors, and a series of mono- and di-substituted benzenes. Transepithelial transport of [(14)C]AA across polarized cell membrane has been studied for the first time. Role of cellular protein kinase-mediated pathways on the regulation of AA uptake has been investigated. The cellular localizations of SVCTs were observed using confocal microscopy. Uptake of AA was found to be saturable with a K(m) of 83.2muM and V(max) of 94.2pmol/min/mg protein for SVCT1. The process was pH, sodium, temperature, and energy-dependent. It was under the regulation of cellular protein kinase C (PKC) and Ca(2+)/CaM mediated pathways. [(14)C]AA uptake was significantly inhibited in the presence of excess unlabelled AA and a series of electron-withdrawing group, i.e., halogen- and nitro-substituted benzene derivatives. AA appears to translocate across polarized cell membrane from apical to basal side (A-B) as well as basal to apical side (B-A) at a similar permeability. It appears that SVCT1 was mainly expressed on the apical side and SVCT2 may be located on both apical and basal sides. In conclusion, SVCT has been functionally characterized in MDCK-MDR1 cells. The interference of a series of electrophile-substituted benzenes on the AA uptake process may be explained by their structural similarity. SVCT may be targeted to facilitate the delivery of drugs with low bioavailability by conjugating with AA and its structural analogs. MDCK-MDR1 cell line may be utilized as an in vitro model to study the permeability of AA conjugated prodrugs. | 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2008.03.002 |
pubmed_615_24137 | BACKGROUND
There is little evidence for counseling patients who seek uterine conservation in the setting of placenta accreta.
CASE
We report the case of a 37-year-old woman with retained placenta accreta after vaginal delivery. Attempts at transvaginal removal failed, and the placenta was removed through a fundal hysterotomy with bilateral uterine artery ligations performed to control blood loss. She conceived a second pregnancy 11 months later and sustained spontaneous fundal uterine rupture at 26.5 weeks of gestation with a recurrent accreta found at the rupture site. The newborn survived but has residual musculoskeletal morbidity and developmental delay at 1 year of age.
CONCLUSION
Patients undergoing conservative treatment of placenta accreta in the setting of a fundal hysterotomy should be cautioned about recurrent accreta and uterine rupture. | 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182926a42 |
pubmed_178_1243 | Left ventricular systolic function was tested in 27 insulin-dependent diabetic patients by measuring the systolic time intervals. In diabetics longer pre-ejection period, and higher PEP/LVET quotient were found showing a good correlation with the values of glycosylated haemoglobin. These findings emphasize the importance of metabolic control in the development of cardiac dysfunction. | pubmed_178_1243 |
pubmed_904_23006 | Ferroelectric (FE) size effects against the scaling law were reported recently in ultrathin group-IV monochalcogenides, and extrinsic effects (e.g., defects and lattice strains) were often resorted to. Via first-principles based finite-temperature (T) simulations, we reveal that these abnormalities are intrinsic to their unusual symmetry breaking from bulk to thin film. Changes of the electronic structures result in different order parameters characterizing the FE phase transition in bulk and in thin films, and invalidation of the scaling law. Beyond the scaling law T_{c} limit, this mechanism can help predict materials that are promising for room-T ultrathin FE devices of broad interest. | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.135702 |
pubmed_581_7462 | BACKGROUND
Community-based collaborative approaches have received increased attention as a means for addressing occupational health disparities. Organizational capacity, highly relevant to engaging and sustaining community partnerships, however, is rarely considered in occupational health research.
METHODS
To characterize community organizational capacity specifically relevant to Chinese immigrant worker health, we used a cross-sectional, descriptive design with 36 agencies from six community sectors in King County, Washington. Joint interviews, conducted with two representatives from each agency, addressed three dimensions of organizational capacity: organizational commitment, resources, and flexibility. Descriptive statistics were used to capture the patterning of these dimensions by community sector.
RESULTS
Organizational capacity varied widely across and within sectors. Chinese and Pan-Asian service sectors indicated higher capacity for Chinese immigrant worker health than did Chinese faith-based, labor union, public, and Pan-ethnic nonprofit sectors.
CONCLUSIONS
Variation in organizational capacity in community sectors can inform selection of collaborators for community-based, immigrant worker health interventions. | 10.1002/ajim.22758 |
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