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Humoral immunity provides protection from pathogenic infection and is mediated by antibodies following the differentiation of naive B cells (nBs) to antibody-secreting cells (ASCs). This process requires substantial epigenetic and transcriptional rewiring to ultimately repress the nB program and replace it with one conducive to ASC physiology and function. Notably, these reprogramming events occur within the framework of cell division. Efforts to understand the relationship of cell division with reprogramming and ASC differentiation in vivo have uncovered the timing and scope of reprogramming, as well as key factors that influence these events. Herein, we discuss the unique physiology of ASC and how nBs undergo epigenetic and genome architectural reorganization to acquire the necessary functions to support antibody production. We also discuss the stage-wise manner in which reprogramming occurs across cell divisions and how key molecular determinants can influence B cell fate outcomes. | Antibody-Producing Cells |
We present a 7 boys Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) intoxication. Three of them showed neurological symptoms, including coma. All of them showed gastrointestinal symptomatology. Evolution was satisfactory in all of them. A bibliographic revision is done. | Gastric Lavage |
The coupling of an aspartate residue with an active site histidine plays a pivotal role in enzyme catalysis. The His-Asp pair in glutamate mutase and other B(12)-dependent mutases is not only responsible for coenzyme-binding, but is also involved in fine-tuning the enzymatic activities. Our modeling results show that the His-Asp pair is arranged in a highly organized manner. Except for carboxymethylated Cys or Glu, a less hindered or non-charged amino acid residue is preferred between the conserved histidine and aspartate residue. | Clostridium tetanomorphum |
Ulmus macrocarpa Hance bark (UmHb) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in East Asia for bone concern diseases for a long time. To find a suitable solvent, we, in this study, compared the efficacy of UmHb water extract and ethanol extract which can inhibit osteoclast differentiation. Compared with two ethanol extracts (70% and 100% respectively), hydrothermal extracts of UmHb more effectively inhibited receptor activators of nuclear factor kappaB ligand-induced osteoclast differentiation in murine bone marrow-derived macrophages. We identified for the first time that (2R,3R)-epicatechin-7-O-beta-D-apiofuranoside (E7A) is a specific active compound in UmHb hydrothermal extracts through using LC/MS, HPLC, and NMR techniques. In addition, we confirmed through TRAP assay, pit assay, and PCR assay that E7A is a key compound in inhibiting osteoclast differentiation. The optimized condition to obtain E7A-rich UmHb extract was 100 mL/g, 90 degrees C, pH 5, and 97 min. At this condition, the content of E7A was 26.05 +/- 0.96 mg/g extract. Based on TRAP assay, pit assay, PCR, and western blot, the optimized extract of E7A-rich UmHb demonstrated a greater inhibition of osteoclast differentiation compared to unoptimized. These results suggest that E7A would be a good candidate for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis-related diseases. | RANK Ligand |
INTRODUCTION: Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is characterized by progressive intellectual deterioration, is the most common cause of dementia. beta-Secretase (or BACE1) expression is a trigger for amyloid beta peptide formation, a cause of AD, and thus is a molecular target for the development of drugs against AD. Many BACE1 inhibitors have been identified by academic and pharmaceutical research groups and a number of advanced technologies in drug discovery have been applied to the drug discovery. AREAS COVERED: The purpose of this review is to present and discuss the methodologies used for BACE1 inhibitor drug discovery via substrate- and structure-based design, high-throughput screening and fragment-based drug design. The authors also review the advantages and disadvantages of these methodologies. EXPERT OPINION: Many BACE1 inhibitors have been designed using X-ray crystal structure-based drug design as well as through in silico screening. Nevertheless, there are serious problems with regards to deciding the best X-ray crystal structure for designing BACE1 inhibitors through computational approaches. There are two prominent configurations of BACE1 but there is still room for improvement. Future developments may make it possible to identify BACE1 inhibitors as potential drug candidates." | Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases |
Accumulating evidence has shown that follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) may influence the functions of nongonadal tissues in addition to their classic target gonads. Our previous studies revealed that the scented glands of male muskrats expressed prolactin receptor, steroidogenic enzymes, and inhibin/activin subunits. To further seek the evidence of the activities of pituitary gonadotropins in scented glands, we investigated the seasonal expression patterns of FSH receptor (FSHR) and LH/choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR). The weight and size of scented glands during the breeding season were significantly higher than those during the nonbreeding season. Immunohistochemical studies showed that FSHR was present in the serous cells of scented glands, whereas LHCGR was present in the interstitial cells. The protein and mRNA expression levels of FSHR and LHCGR were significantly higher in the scented glands during the breeding season than those during the nonbreeding season. Importantly, the levels of circulating FSH and LH were remarkably higher during the breeding season. Taken together, these results suggested that gonadotropins may affect the function of muskrat scented gland via the locally expressed receptors in a season-dependent manner. | Scent Glands |
N-linked glycosylation is a crucial post-translational modification involved in protein folding, function, and clearance. N-linked glycosylation is also used therapeutically to enhance the half-lives of many proteins. Antithrombin, a serpin with four potential N-glycosylation sites, plays a pivotal role in hemostasis, wherein its deficiency significantly increases thrombotic risk. In this study, we used the introduction of N-glycosylation sites as a tool to explore what effect this glycosylation has on the protein folding, secretion, and function of this key anticoagulant. To accomplish this task, we introduced an additional N-glycosylation sequence in each strand. Interestingly, all regions that likely fold rapidly or were surrounded by lysines were not glycosylated even though an N-glycosylation sequon was present. The new sequon in the strands of the A- and B-sheets reduced secretion, and the B-sheet was more sensitive to these changes. However, the mutations in the strands of the C-sheet allowed correct folding and secretion, which resulted in functional variants. Therefore, our study revealed crucial regions for antithrombin secretion and could potentially apply to all serpins. These results could also help us understand the functional effects of natural variants causing type-I deficiencies. | Antithrombin III |
BACKGROUND: So much has been written on vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) but there is little on the patients' perspective of the condition. The objectives of this study were to determine the knowledge of patients who have developed VVF on the causes of the fistula and their attitude toward measures that would prevent future occurrence. METHODS: The questionnaire-based survey was conducted on VVF patients on admission from June to August 2003 at Maryam Abacha Women and Children Welfare Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. The case notes of the patients were reviewed after the interview to match the responses from the patients with those documented in the folders. Focus group discussions were held with the maternity staff to ascertain the content and quality of existing counseling. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty patients were studied out of which 121 (93%) had no formal education. Teenagers constituted 37%, while 57% were primiparae. Thirty-five (27%) patients were divorced or separated because of the VVF. There were seven cases of recurrence after a previous successful repair. Prolonged obstructed labor was the cause of the VVF in 110 (85%) patients and 77 (70%) correctly attributed their problem to the prolonged labor. The 33 patients who could not identify the prolonged obstructed labor as the cause either attributed their condition to God/destiny or to the operation that was done to relief the obstruction and therefore would not have hospital delivery in their subsequent pregnancies. From the focus group discussions, it was confirmed that pre and post-operative counseling were inadequate. CONCLUSION: Even though majority (70%) of the patients knew the cause of their fistula from the health talks, some (32%) would still not change from risky obstetric behavior. Mandatory provision of accurate and appropriate information and education to all VVF patients and their relatives or spouses by trained counselors should be ensured. Such information and education should emphasize the etiology and management of obstetric fistula in order to prevent a recurrence. | Vesicovaginal Fistula |
In this study, a detailed exploration is carried out of the production of research and theory in social psychology in the Spanish context. The main research areas are: Work and organizational psychology, social health psychology, community and social services psychology, environmental research, judicial and political psychology, psychosocial theory and meta-theory, social psychology of language, research on emotion, group processes and social identity. The growing importance of social psychology within the framework of Spanish psychology is emphasized, and the relation with specific social problems from the national context, and the paradoxically scarce originality of the theoretical perspectives and the leading research, strongly influenced by Anglo Saxon social psychology, is commented upon. | Psychology, Social |
Five new pregnane tetraglycosides, amurensiosides A-E (1-5), two new pregnane hexaglycosides, amurensiosides F (6) and I (9), two new 18-norpregnane hexaglycosides, amurensiosides G (7) and H (8), and two new pregnane octaglycosides, amurensiosides J (10) and K (11), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the roots of Adonis amurensis. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including two-dimensional (2D) NMR data, and the results of hydrolytic cleavage. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HSC-2 human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells. | Adonis |
Many glucocorticoids occur in the aquatic environments but their adverse effects to fish are poorly known. Here we investigate effects of the natural glucocorticoid corticosterone and the synthetic glucocorticoids betamethasone and flumethasone in zebrafish embryos. Besides studying the effects of each steroid, we compared effects of natural with synthetic glucocorticoids, used as drugs. Exposure at concentrations of 1â¯mug/L and higher led to concentration-related decrease in spontaneous muscle contractions at 24â¯h post fertilization (hpf) and increase in heart rate at 48â¯hpf. Betamethasone showed a significant increase at 0.11â¯mug/L in heart rate. Corticosterone also accelerated hatching at 60â¯hpf at 0.085â¯mug/L. Transcription of up to 24 genes associated with different pathways showed alterations at 96 and 120â¯hpf for all glucocorticoids, although with low potency. Corticosterone caused transcriptional induction of interleukin-17, while betamethasone caused transcriptional down-regulation of the androgen receptor, aromatase and hsd11b2, indicating an effect on the sex hormone system. Furthermore, transcripts encoding proteins related to immune system regulation (irg1l, gilz) and fkbp5 were differentially expressed by corticosterone and betamethasone, while flumethasone caused only little effects, mainly alteration of the irg1l transcript. Our study shows that these glucocorticoids caused more potent physiological effects in early embryos than transcriptional alterations in hatched embryos, likely due to increased metabolism in later developmental stages. Thus, these glucocorticoids may be of concern for early stages of fish embryos in contaminated aquatic environments. | Flumethasone |
Perhaps no other field of medicine illustrates the ethical dilemmas occasioned by the explosion of technology more than neurology. Many dilemmas which at first appear to be ethical, however, are actually biotechnical, informational, or interpersonal in nature. For those which are, indeed, ethical, a review of existing information and acquisition of additional data can often serve to identify the proper response. When the optimal course of action remains unclear, the comprehensive, structured approach described in this chapter is both philosophically rigorous and clinically relevant. It takes into account a variety of critical considerations - including rights, duties, consequences, virtues, and similar cases - while utilizing both inductive and deductive methods. The end result is the least bad" of available options, or, at the very least, a practical response which preserves future options and avoids crucial mistakes." | Morals |
Simultaneous recording of eye and head movements during reading revealed that head movements consisted of two components: a modulatory-velocity component coupled to eye saccades, and a constant-velocity component that was independent of eye saccades. Whereas the constant-velocity component increased as subjects repeatedly read the same text, neither the magnitude of the modulatory-velocity component, nor the amplitude of the eye movement, increased. This outcome could be closely simulated when the head movement command was assumed to be stronger, and issued earlier with repeated reading. These results suggest that higher-level processes related to text familiarity modulate eye-head coordination through head movements. | Head Movements |
Eph receptor Tyr kinases and their membrane-tethered ligands, the ephrins, elicit short-distance cell-cell signalling and thus regulate many developmental processes at the interface between pattern formation and morphogenesis, including cell sorting and positioning, and the formation of segmented structures and ordered neural maps. Their roles extend into adulthood, when ephrin-Eph signalling regulates neuronal plasticity, homeostatic events and disease processes. Recently, new insights have been gained into the mechanisms of ephrin-Eph signalling in different cell types, and into the physiological importance of ephrin-Eph in different organs and in disease, raising questions for future research directions. | Ephrins |
A chest radiograph revealed a large left lower hemithorax mass in a 48-year-old nonsmoker woman with chronic cough and dyspnea. Whole-body contrast-enhanced PET/CT confirmed a large mass with relatively uniform mild FDG uptake (standardized uptake value=1.8). No signs of infiltration, pleural effusion, significant regional lymph nodes, or extrathoracic lesions were seen. A presumptive diagnosis of a probable benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) was considered. SFTP was confirmed at surgery. Few reported cases have described the PET/CT findings of SFTPs." | Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural |
Clinicians commonly report difficulty determining whether the disfluencies produced by their clients are indicative of stuttering or suggestive of something else, such as cluttering, autism, language impairment, or second language learning. In our clinical decision-making process, we identify features unique to specific speech and/or language disorders. This identification enables differential diagnosis in most cases. But what happens when features appear to overlap and, as a result, compromise our clinical decision making? This article provides information to assist in the differential diagnosis of stuttering, particularly as it pertains to the assessment of children who speak more than one language. It explores similarities in the speech behaviors produced by these speakers, contrasting them with stuttering behaviors in monolingual English speakers." | Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder |
In order to prevent complications such as reflux gastritis, reflux esophagitis, erosions, ulcers and tumors of the gastric stump the Roux anastomosis was used in 497 patients. Among them there were 194 patients after distal resection of the stomach, 239--after extirpation of the stomach, 45 after vagotomy, antrumectomy, 19 after reconstructive operations on the stomach. These patients had organic complications much more rarely: 3.7% had reflux esophagitis (after resection of the stomach on the short loop and with Brown anastomosis--in 50.5%), 12.5% (85.4%) had reflux gastritis, 3.66% (23.7%) had erosions and ulcers of the gastric stump, 2.1% (21.5%) had polyps and carcinomas of the gastric stump. Postoperative lethality was 3.09 and 7.12%. | Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y |
Sample size calculations in the planning of clinical trials depend on good estimates of the model parameters involved. When the estimates of these parameters have a high degree of uncertainty attached to them, it is advantageous to reestimate the sample size after an internal pilot study. For non-inferiority trials with binary outcome we compare the performance of Type I error rate and power between fixed-size designs and designs with sample size reestimation. The latter design shows itself to be effective in correcting sample size and power of the tests when misspecification of nuisance parameters occurs with the former design." | Clinical Trials, Phase IV as Topic |
Lipolysis, the coordinated catabolism of triacylglycerol (TG) stored in cellular lipid droplets, provides fatty acids, di-, and monoglycerides. These products are important energy substrates, precursors for other lipids, or lipid signaling molecules. Following their discovery by Hollenberg, C.H., Raben, M.S., and Astwood, E.B.(1961) and Vaughan, M., Berger, J.E., and Steinberg, D. (1964), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and monoacylglycerol lipase stayed in the focus of research for three decades. Within the last decade, however, it became evident that the lipolytic pathway is incompletely understood. Studies on the regulation of lipolysis and the characterization of HSL-deficient mice indicated that additional previously unrecognized factors that contribute to fat catabolism must exist. This led to the discovery of the perilipin, adipophilin, Tip47 (PAT) family of lipid droplet binding proteins and the identification of a novel TG hydrolase named adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). This review focuses on the importance of ATGL as TG lipase within the lipolytic machinery" and the current knowledge of molecular mechanisms that regulate ATGL activity." | Organelle Size |
OBJECTIVE: We report a case study of mastoid cavity aural myiasis in an urban developed setting and review the relevant literature. DATA SOURCE: Retrospective case report and review of the English literature via PubMed. DATA SELECTION: English-language articles concerning aural myiasis and mastoid cavity myiasis were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two previous case reports of mastoid cavity myiasis were identified and analyzed. CONCLUSION: Neglected mastoid cavity care, low socioeconomic status, poor personal hygiene, homelessness, and chronic suppurative otitis media are likely contributing factors to this uncommon presentation occurring in an urban setting. | Mastoid |
Two experiments using rats evaluated the susceptibility of CS preexposure to retrograde amnesia induced by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and tested whether amnesia for CS preexposure shares similar characteristics with amnesia for other memories. In Experiment 1, rats received cycloheximide either immediately, 60 minutes, or 120 minutes after preexposure. Following preexposure, rats received fear conditioning. When later tested, the subjects that received the amnestic treatment shortly after preexposure showed no CS preexposure effect (i.e., no reduction of fear). The amnesia for CS preexposure was attenuated with longer post-preexposure delays, showing a temporal gradient. In Experiment 2, following the replication of amnesia for CS preexposure, the amnestic treatment was readministered to the rats prior to testing. It was demonstrated that the amnestic-preexposure memory could be recovered (i.e., readministration of the drug alleviated the amnesia for CS preexposure). These two experiments show that memories for CS preexposure are susceptible to retrograde amnesia and share similar characteristics with memories for original acquisition and extinction. The results are explained using a retrieval hypothesis of retrograde amnesia. | Amnesia, Retrograde |
BAFF is critical for the survival and maturation of mature B cells. BAFF, via BAFFR, activates multiple signaling pathways in B cells, including the alternative NF-kappaB pathway. The transcription factors RELB and NF-kappaB2 (p100/p52) are the downstream mediators of the alternative pathway; however, the B cell-intrinsic functions of these NF-kappaB subunits have not been studied in vivo using conditional alleles, either individually or in combination. We in this study report that B cell-specific deletion of relb led to only a slight decrease in the fraction of mature splenic B cells, whereas deletion of nfkb2 caused a marked reduction. This phenotype was further exacerbated upon combined deletion of relb and nfkb2 and most dramatically affected the maintenance of marginal zone B cells. BAFF stimulation, in contrast to CD40 activation, was unable to rescue relb/nfkb2-deleted B cells in vitro. RNA-sequencing analysis of BAFF-stimulated nfkb2-deleted versus normal B cells suggests that the alternative NF-kappaB pathway, in addition to its critical role in BAFF-mediated cell survival, may control the expression of genes involved in the positioning of B cells within the lymphoid microenvironment and in the establishment of T cell-B cell interactions. Thus, by ablating the downstream transcription factors of the alternative NF-kappaB pathway specifically in B cells, we identify in this study a critical role for the combined activity of the RELB and NF-kappaB2 subunits in B cell homeostasis that cannot be compensated for by the canonical NF-kappaB pathway under physiological conditions. | NF-kappa B p52 Subunit |
Within the last decade, several peptides have been discovered on the basis of their ability to inhibit the growth of potential microbial pathogens. These so-called antimicrobial peptides participate in the innate immune response by providing a rapid first-line defense against infection. Recent advances in this field have shown that peptides belonging to the cathelicidin and defensin gene families are of particular importance to the mammalian immune defense system. This review discusses the biology of these molecules, with emphasis on their structure, processing, expression and function. Current evidence has shown that both cathelicidins and defensins are multifunctional and that they act both as natural antibiotics and as signaling molecules that activate host cell processes involved in immune defense and repair. The abnormal expression of these peptides has also been associated with human disease. Current and future studies are likely to implicate the presence of antimicrobial peptides in several unexplained human inflammatory disorders and to provide novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of disease." | Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins |
Two strains of C3H mice differed in their susceptibility to lethal infection with Rickettsia tsutsugamushi strain Gilliam. Adult C3H/RV mice were markedly more resistant to lethal infection than C3H/HeDub mice, and both were histocompatible as assessed by mixed-lymphocyte cultures and graft-versus-host responses. The inflammatory response of susceptible C3H/HeDub mice to intraperitoneal infection was evident approximately 5 days postinfection, and the magnitude of the cellular influx increased until death of the animal. The inflammation consisted of an early polymorphonuclear leukocyte response, followed by a mononuclear cell influx which persisted until death of the animal. The C3H/RV mice evidenced similar kinetics of cell influx, but the inflammatory response was significantly reduced in magnitude, and the response of C3H/RV animals to Gilliam was predominantly mononuclear in nature, with little influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes into the peritoneal cavity. C3H/RV mice were rendered susceptible to Gilliam infection by induction of a nonspecific inflammation with thioglycolate if given 3 days after infection. Conversely, treatment of C3H/HeDub mice with indomethacin, an anti-inflammatory agent, prolonged survival after infection with Gilliam. The results of this study indicate that genetic resistance to Gilliam is not due simply to a greater host response to infection or, conversely, that susceptibility is due to a host response quantitatively lacking in a cellular component necessary for antirickettsial immunity. | Mice, Inbred C3H |
The C7N-cyclitol containing alpha-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose is commercially produced using developed strains of Actinoplanes and is used in the treatment of patients suffering from diabetes type II. We have identified a second acarbose production cluster using a genomic cosmid gene bank from Streptomyces glaucescens GLA.O and sequenced a region (42658bp; accession AM409314) which clearly contained a gene cluster (gac-cluster) for the synthesis of acarbose or acarbose related endproducts. The gac-cluster exhibited large similarities to the acb-gene cluster from Actinoplanes. However, remarkable differences are found in the biosynthesis of the C7N-cyclitol in the two acarbose biosynthesis pathways. We show the expression of selected genes using RT-PCR approaches, we were able to detect small amounts of acarbose or acarbose related metabolites and we have characterized the GacK protein, an acarbose kinase, which specifically phosphorylates acarbose and acarbose homologs. All these data in combination with the postulated functions of the encoded Gac proteins clearly indicate that also in S. glaucescens a recycling mechanism for acarbose (carbophor") which had been described for the first time for acarbose cluster from Actinoplanes, is also realised." | Cyclitols |
Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a self-limited cutaneous lesion that most often occurs in infancy. Approximately 10% to 30% of JXGs occur in adult patients, where most cases present as cutaneous papulonodular lesions, with only rare cases involving extracutaneous sites. Intramuscular JXG is extremely rare and has received little attention. On review of the literature, all of the 6 previously reported intramuscular JXGs were noted in the pediatric population. The authors hereby describe a case of adult intramuscular JXG that occurred in a woman who initially had a dermal JXG in the nasal skin at the age of 48 years and then developed a slow-growing painless intramuscular JXG in the right forearm 4 years later. Both the dermal and intramuscular lesions revealed similar histologic features and consisted of diffuse infiltrates of histiocytes with eosinophilic and foamy cytoplasm, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and Touton giant cells in varying proportions. However, central fibrosis and a focal storiform arrangement of spindled fibroblast-like cells in the intramuscular lesion resulted in a histologic pattern reminiscent of a fibrous histiocytoma. Immunohistochemically, the intramuscular JXG was positive for CD68, factor XIIIa, CD31, and vimentin. This case underscores the fact that intramuscular JXG can also involve adult patients and its morphologic variation is more likely to be time dependent rather than site specific or age related. | Xanthogranuloma, Juvenile |
MOTIVATION: RNA loops have been modelled and clustered from solved 3D structures into ordered collections of recurrent non-canonical interactions called 'RNA modules', available in databases. This work explores what information from such modules can be used to improve secondary structure prediction. We propose a bi-objective method for predicting RNA secondary structures by minimizing both an energy-based and a knowledge-based potential. The tool, called BiORSEO, outputs secondary structures corresponding to the optimal solutions from the Pareto set. RESULTS: We compare several approaches to predict secondary structures using inserted RNA modules information: two module data sources, Rna3Dmotif and the RNA 3D Motif Atlas, and different ways to score the module insertions: module size, module complexity or module probability according to models like JAR3D and BayesPairing. We benchmark them against a large set of known secondary structures, including some state-of-the-art tools, and comment on the usefulness of the half physics-based, half data-based approach. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The software is available for download on the EvryRNA website, as well as the datasets. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. | Nucleotide Motifs |
The practice accreditation program of The American College of Radiology is described. Practice accreditation constitutes a facile mechanism to accomplish external quality assurance and to assess compliance with recognized standards. The process of accreditation includes critical review of each radiation therapy facility, the technical staff, all quality assurance procedures, medical physics staff, nursing and physician personnel as well as a whole host of other items, the most important of which is meticulous examination of selected patient charts. In the appendix, standards developed by the American College of Radiation Oncology, are reported. | Accreditation |
Drugs and food interact mutually: drugs may affect the nutritional status of the body, acting on senses, appetite, resting energy expenditure, and food intake; conversely, food or one of its components may affect bioavailability and half-life, circulating plasma concentrations of drugs resulting in an increased risk of toxicity and its adverse effects, or therapeutic failure. Therefore, the knowledge of these possible interactions is fundamental for the implementation of a nutritional treatment in the presence of a pharmacological therapy. This is the case of chronic kidney disease (CKD), for which the medication burden could be a problem, and nutritional therapy plays an important role in the patient's treatment. The aim of this paper was to review the interactions that take place between drugs and foods that can potentially be used in renal patients, and the changes in nutritional status induced by drugs. A proper definition of the amount of food/nutrient intake, an adequate definition of the timing of meal consumption, and a proper adjustment of the drug dosing schedule may avoid these interactions, safeguarding the quality of life of the patients and guaranteeing the effectiveness of drug therapy. Hence, a close collaboration between the nephrologist, the renal dietitian, and the patient is crucial. Dietitians should consider that food may interact with drugs and that drugs may affect nutritional status, in order to provide the patient with proper dietary suggestions, and to allow the maximum effectiveness and safety of drug therapy, while preserving/correcting the nutritional status. | Food-Drug Interactions |
Commercial vanadium oxide catalysts exhibit high efficiency for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH(3), especially in the presence of NO(2) (i.e., occurrence of fast NH(3)-SCR). The high-activity sites and their working principle for the fast NH(3)-SCR reaction, however, remain elusive. Here, by combining in situ spectroscopy, isotopic labeling experiments, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we demonstrate that polymeric vanadyl species act as the main active sites in the fast SCR reaction because the coupling effect of the polymeric structure alters the elementary reaction step and effectively avoids the high energy barrier of the rate-determining step over monomeric vanadyl species. This study unveils the high-activity dinuclear mechanism of the NO(2)-involved SCR reaction over vanadia-based catalysts and provides a fundamental basis for developing high-efficiency and low V(2)O(5)-loading SCR catalysts. | Oxides |
Wooden objects are often used as nonhuman primate enrichment to provide variety and novelty, promote exploratory behavior, and supply an outlet for curiosity. However, concerns have been raised regarding the ability to sanitize wood by using conventional cage-wash procedures. To address this concern, we examined sanitation outcomes between soiled plastic toys and manzanita wooden manipulanda immediately after a cage-wash cycle. Both an ATP luminometer device, which is capable of providing an immediate assessment of sanitation levels, and traditional bacterial culture were used, with the secondary goal of comparing these methods for sanitation monitoring. Results showed that the wooden objects did not differ from plastic toys with respect to the overall efficacy of cage-wash sanitization. Therefore, manzanita wood can be used as nonhuman primate enrichment without risking pathogen transmission when items are rotated among animals. | Arctostaphylos |
An updated checklist of the mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Algeria based on records published from 1903 to 2021 is presented. Fifty-three species belonging to seven genera are known with reasonable confidence to occur in the country, including Aedes (15 species), Anopheles (15), Coquillettidia (2), Culex (14), Culiseta (5), Orthopodomyia (1) and Uranotaenia (1). Two additional species, Culex simpsoni Theobald, 1905 and Uranotaenia balfouri Theobald, 1904, are provisionally regarded as present in Algeria. Published records are listed for each species, with indication of synonymous usage and variant spelling of names where applicable. The type locality of Aedes biskraensis Brunhes, 1999 is restricted to Seriana in Sidi Okba District in Biskra Province. Problematic species and doubtful occurrence records based on apparently misidentified specimens and confused taxonomy are discussed. Notes on taxonomy and medical importance are provided for the more important species. | Neoptera |
Hypoglycemia remains a common problem for patients with diabetes and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. This article summarizes our current knowledge of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, and complications of hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes and discusses prevention and treatment strategies. | Hypoglycemia |
During the growing season of 2018, several field-grown cucurbit plants in different parts of Iraq and Iran were surveyed for the presence of zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), using two degenerate primer pairs (CIF/Rev and NIb2F/3R) targeting the two separated partial regions of the potyvirus genome (CI and NIb respectively). 7 out of 20 samples were confirmed to be infected with ZYMV. Phylogenetic analyses based on the CI gene grouped all Iranian and two Iraqi (ZYMV1 and ZYMV2) isolates together with isolates from the Middle East in the subgroup (AI), whereas the other Iraqi (ZYMV3 and ZYMV4) isolates were clustered in the subgroup (DI), which was only consisted of American isolates. The highest and lowest identity between the studied isolates and the GenBank isolates showed that the two genes (CI, NIb) of each isolate particularly the Iraqi isolates were more similar to a specific and geographically scattered mosaic of worldwide isolates, suggestive of mixed infection might have occurred between different worldwide isolates in Iraq. Furthermore, the first complete nucleotide sequence of an Iraqi ZYMV (ZYMV-Iq) isolate was done, using the Illumina sequencing technique. The complete nucleotide sequence of ZYMV-Iq isolate was 9650 nt, excluding the 3'poly (A) tail. ZYMV-Iq isolate shared the highest nt identity of 98.8% with an American (KC665630) isolate. Phylogenetic analysis based on the full genome sequence placed ZYMV-Iq in subgroup A of group I alongside 18 isolates from the US and two isolates from Australia. In addition, recombination analysis detected lone significant recombination between ZYMV-Iq and South Korean (AY279000) isolate. Moreover, the results showed that symptom intensity was varied across experimental host plants. | Potyvirus |
tau-Crystallin is a taxon-specific structural protein found in eye lenses. We present here the cloning and sequencing of complete tau-crystallin cDNA from the embryonic lens of Crocodylus palustris and establish it to be identical to the a-enolase gene from non-lenticular tissues. Quantitatively, the tau-crystallin was found to be the least abundant crystallin of the crocodilian embryonic lenses. Crocodile tau-crystallin cDNA was isolated by RT-PCR using primers designed from the only other reported sequence from duck and completed by 5'- and 3'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) using crocodile gene specific primers designed in the study. The complete tau-crystallin cDNA of crocodile comprises 1305 bp long ORF and 92 and 409 bp long untranslated 5'- and 3'-ends respectively. Further, it was found to be identical to its putative counterpart enzyme a-enolase, from brain, heart and gonad, suggesting both to be the product of the same gene. The study thus provides the first report on cDNA sequence of tau-crystallin from a reptilian species and also re-confirms it to be an example of the phenomenon of gene sharing as was demonstrated earlier in the case of peking duck. Moreover, the gene lineage reconstruction analysis helps our understanding of the evolution of crocodilians and avian species. | tau-Crystallins |
BACKGROUND: Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and the main structural component of the skin. OBJECTIVE: To provide a review of the histopathology of collagen alterations and to propose a classification with the most important types of collagen anomalies in dermatopathology. The authors describe some of the main morphological clues of collagen anomalies for specific diagnosis of some cutaneous inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. METHODS: The authors review histopathologic collagen anomalies, concerning both morphology and disposition in some inflammatory and neoplastic cutaneous conditions, and they review previous terminology and proposed a classification of the most important types of collagen anomalies that can be seen in dermatopathological practice. RESULTS: Collagen anomalies in skin can be classified into lamellar fibrosis, sclerosis, and balls" and "rings" of collagen. Lamellar fibrosis presents as long and thin collagen bundles forming a delicate network, which can be disposed in a parallel pattern, onion-bulb-like pattern, and storiform pattern. Sclerosis is characterized by large, thick, and eosinophilic bundles of collagen, which may present as a homogenous-diffuse pattern or as individual thick bundles of collagen with few or abundant number of fibroblasts between them. Finally, the authors propose the terms "balls" and "rings" of collagen. The term "balls" of collagen stands for thick, homogenous, eosinophilic, globular collagen bundles, with no distinguishable individual composing fibers, which include the floating sign and the free-floating sign. The term "rings" of collagen is characterized by sclerotic collagen arranged in a homogenous rimming pattern around vessels without independent fibers in its composition. CONCLUSIONS: Collagen anomalies may be important clues to establish specific clues for specific diagnoses in dermatopathology." | Collagen Diseases |
It is imperative to control radio-iodine discharges to atmosphere from nuclear reprocessing plants. Inhalation and ingestion of radio-iodine cause its concentration in the thyroid gland leading to risk of thyroid cancer in humans. Two isotopes of iodine viz. iodine-131 ((131)I) and iodine-129 ((129)I) are generated in considerable quantities in the nuclear fuel as fission products in the nuclear reactors. From nuclear reactors, no iodine is released to the atmosphere during normal operations, whereas from spent fuel reprocessing plants, during normal operation, iodine is discharged to the atmosphere, mainly through gaseous discharges. Shortly after the initial periods of reprocessing in 1944, iodine emission control methods were incorporated in the design of reprocessing plants. At the time of spent fuel discharge from reactor, quantity of (131)I is high and can contribute radiation dose to humans during reprocessing operations. A delay or cooling period of spent fuel, before reprocessing for a definite number of days can reduce the quantities to below the permissible limits of discharge due to its short half-life of 8 days. (129)I has a very long half-life, and is only significant for reprocessing plants of large throughput and high fuel burn-ups. Minimum required de-contamination factor (DF) for iodine for a reprocessing plant can be estimated from the limits of discharge of iodine stipulated by regulatory authority of each country. Though many processes were developed and demonstrated extensively in lab and pilot scale, only a few of these processes were found to be suitable for commercial deployment. This paper reviews systematically the operation experiences and performance characteristics of iodine control methods implemented so far. The review also focus on the effect of integrating various iodine control methods on the main reprocessing operations and thereby facilitate selection of the optimum iodine control method. | Air Pollutants, Radioactive |
In the current study we show that non-verbal food-evoked emotion scores significantly improve food choice prediction over merely liking scores. Previous research has shown that liking measures correlate with choice. However, liking is no strong predictor for food choice in real life environments. Therefore, the focus within recent studies shifted towards using emotion-profiling methods that successfully can discriminate between products that are equally liked. However, it is unclear how well scores from emotion-profiling methods predict actual food choice and/or consumption. To test this, we proposed to decompose emotion scores into valence and arousal scores using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and apply Multinomial Logit Models (MLM) to estimate food choice using liking, valence, and arousal as possible predictors. For this analysis, we used an existing data set comprised of liking and food-evoked emotions scores from 123 participants, who rated 7 unlabeled breakfast drinks. Liking scores were measured using a 100-mm visual analogue scale, while food-evoked emotions were measured using 2 existing emotion-profiling methods: a verbal and a non-verbal method (EsSense Profile and PrEmo, respectively). After 7 days, participants were asked to choose 1 breakfast drink from the experiment to consume during breakfast in a simulated restaurant environment. Cross validation showed that we were able to correctly predict individualized food choice (1 out of 7 products) for over 50% of the participants. This number increased to nearly 80% when looking at the top 2 candidates. Model comparisons showed that evoked emotions better predict food choice than perceived liking alone. However, the strongest predictive strength was achieved by the combination of evoked emotions and liking. Furthermore we showed that non-verbal food-evoked emotion scores more accurately predict food choice than verbal food-evoked emotions scores. | Food Preferences |
This article is a translation of the original article authored by Eugen Marx and published in 1924.1 Amazingly, many of the issues addressed in the 1924 publication are now, >80 years later, of prime interest for both understanding the lid margin and ocular surface and thus for dry eye diagnosis and treatment. To assist the reader and possibly to provoke further contemplation on a particular section of the translation, we have inserted comments, identified throughout the text. All references, in their original format, have been included in this translation, except those referred to in a few paragraphs that were not readily understood in today's technical language and which were omitted. The first figure of the original article is not included in this translation because it was referred to in one of the few omitted paragraphs. | Anatomy, Regional |
Purpose In this review, we evaluate the survival rate of resin-bonded fixed partial dentures (RBFPDs) made of metal alloys.Methods An electronic search of English peer-reviewed dental literature on PubMed was conducted to identify all publications reporting on RBFPDs made of metal alloys until March 2019. The searched keywords were: bridge OR fixed partial denture OR fixed prosthesis OR fixed prostheses AND resin bonded AND metal OR alloy AND survival OR longevity (RBFPD was not included). Furthermore, the "Related Articles" feature of PubMed was used to identify further references of interest during the primary search. A definitive list of articles was screened to extract qualitative data after the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the results were analyzed.Results Overall, 977 publications were found through an electronic and manual search, out of which 130 articles were selected after screening based on title and abstract. A total of 52 publications passed the second review phase after assessment for eligibility, from which 24 studies were excluded after full-text screening. Finally, a total of 28 studies were selected.Conclusions The survival rate of RBFPDs differed greatly depending on the type of metal alloy, adhesion system, and observation period assessed, e.g. the 10-year survival rate ranged from 18% to 88%. The wide range of survival rates of the RBFPDs reported indicates that though RBFPD is a reliable prosthesis, it is prone to failure if some processes are not completed." | Denture, Partial, Fixed, Resin-Bonded |
Refeeding syndrome describes the metabolic disturbances and clinical sequelae that occur in response to nutritional rehabilitation of patients who are moderate to severely malnourished. When risk factors are not identified and nutrition therapy is not managed appropriately, devastating consequences such as electrolyte depletion and imbalances, fluid overload, arrhythmia, seizure, encephalopathy, and death may occur. As this entity is often unrecognized, especially in pediatrics, becoming familiar with the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and management strategies will help clinicians caring for children avoid unnecessary morbidity and mortality. [Pediatr Ann. 2019;48(11):e448-e454.]. | Refeeding Syndrome |
As a prelude to exploit DNA methylation-induced variation, we hypothesized the existence of substantial natural DNA methylation variation and its association with economically important traits in dolichos bean, and tested it using amplified methylation polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (AMP-PCR) assay. DNA methylation patterns such as internal, external, full and non-methylation were amplified in a set of 64 genotypes using 26 customized randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers containing 5'CCGG3' sequence. The 64 genotypes included 60 germplasm accessions (GA), two advanced breeding lines (ABLs) and two released varieties. The ABLs and released varieties are referred to as improved germplasm accessions (IGA) in this study. The association of DNA methylation patterns with economically important traits such as days to 50% flowering, raceme length, fresh pods plant(-1), fresh pod yield plant(-1) and 100-fresh seed weight was explored. At least 50 genotypes were polymorphic for DNA methylation patterns at 10 loci generated by seven of the 26 RAPD primers. The GA and IGA differed significantly for total, full and external methylation and the frequency of methylation was higher in GA compared to that in IGA. The genotypes with external methylation produced longer racemes than those with full, internal and non-methylation in that order at polymorphic RAPD-11-242 locus. High pod yielding genotypes had significantly lower frequency of full methylation than low yielding ones. On the contrary, the genotypes that produced heavier fresh seeds harboured higher frequencies of total and externally methylated loci than those that produced lighter fresh seeds. | Dolichos |
BACKGROUND: Arginine vasopressin (AVP) and terlipressin (TP) are increasingly used as adjunct vasopressors in the treatment of septic shock. Despite important pharmacological differences between the two drugs (e.g., receptor selectivity, effective half-life) the use of either substance is determined mainly by local availability and institutional inventory. We briefly describe the pathophysiology and pharmacology of septic shock relevant to the treatment with vasopressin analogues. In addition, differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics between AVP and TP are discussed. DISCUSSION: The current literature suggests that neither AVP nor TP should be administered in high doses in patients with septic shock. Furthermore, increasing evidence indicates that early administration of vasopressin analogues may improve outcome as compared to a last-resort treatment. Low-dose infusion of AVP (0.6-2.4 U/h) has been demonstrated to be a safe adjunct in the management of septic shock. The V2 agonistic effects of AVP may exert favorable effects on hepatosplanchnic, renal, pulmonary, and coronary perfusion. However, the higher V1 receptor selectivity of TP may prove more potent in restoring arterial blood pressure and avoiding rebound hypotension, while carrying the risk of sustained global and regional vasoconstriction after bolus injection. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from experimental studies and initial clinical reports suggests that continuous low-dose infusion of TP may stabilize hemodynamics in septic shock with reduced side effects. However, randomized, controlled trials are necessary to determine the role of bolus or continuous infusion of TP in the treatment of septic shock before this approach can be recommended for routine clinical use. | Lypressin |
Protein- or peptide-based viral inactivators are being developed as novel antiviral drugs with improved efficacy, pharmacokinetics and toxicity profiles because they actively inactivate cell-free human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions before attachment to host cells. By contrast, most clinically used antiviral drugs must penetrate host cells to inhibit viral replication. In this study, we pre-treated HIV-1 particles with a gp120-targeting bispecific multivalent protein, 2Dm2m or 4Dm2m, in the presence or absence of the gp41-targeting HIV-1 fusion inhibitory peptides enfuvirtide (T20), T2635, or sifuvirtide (SFT). HIV-1 virions were separated from the inhibitors using PEG-6000, followed by testing of the residual infectivity of the HIV-1 virions. 2Dm2m and 4Dm2m exhibited significant inactivation activity against all HIV-1 strains tested with EC(50) values at the low nanomolar level, whereas none of the gp41-targeting peptides showed inactivation activity at concentrations up to 250 nM. Notably, these three peptides significantly enhanced protein-mediated inactivation against cell-free HIV-1 virions, including HIV-1 laboratory-adapted and primary HIV-1 strains, as well as those resistant to T20 or T2635 and virions released from reactivated latently HIV-1-infected cells. These results indicate that the gp120-targeting bispecific multivalent proteins 2Dm2m and 4Dm2m have potential for further development as HIV-1 inactivator-based antiviral drugs for use in the clinic, either alone or in combination with a gp41-targeting HIV-1 fusion inhibitor such as T20, to treat patients with HIV-1 infection and AIDS. | HIV Envelope Protein gp41 |
OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to investigate the whole transcriptome of periodontal tissues of both young and aged mice to identify the characteristic up-regulation of protease genes with aging and to localize their translated protein products in the periodontal tissues. BACKGROUND: The metzincin protease superfamily is composed of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a disintegrin and metalloproteinases, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinases with thrombospondin motifs. Up-regulation of these extracellular matrix-degrading proteases has been implicated in senescence of tissues and organs, including the skin. However, few studies have investigated the expression profiles of these proteases and potential involvement in aging of periodontal tissues. METHODS: Periodontal tissues with the surrounding mandibular bones were collected from 50- and 10-week-old mice. Total RNA was extracted from the periodontal tissue and analyzed by cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE) to identify differentially expressed genes encoding the metzincin proteases. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to validate the CAGE results, and the phenotypic expression of proteases involved in aging was localized via immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The CAGE results showed that the expression levels of MMP-3, -10, and -12 were up-regulated at 50 weeks. Subsequent qRT-PCR analysis showed that the gene expression levels of MMP-3 and -10 were significantly increased with age. MMP-10 immunoreactivity was localized exclusively in the cementum and alveolar bone adjacent to the periodontal ligament and was stronger and broader in aged mice than young mice. MMP-3 immunoreactivity was localized in the periodontal ligaments at both 10 and 50 weeks. CONCLUSION: In the present study, we demonstrated that the expression of MMP-3 and -10 increased with aging and identified their characteristic localizations in aged periodontal tissues. | Matrix Metalloproteinase 10 |
Methanolic extract of Capparis sinaica Veill was tested for its in vitro antiviral activity against highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1 using plaque inhibition assay in Madin-Darby canine kidney. The results indicated that the extract possessed potent antiviral activity (100% inhibition at the concentration of 1 mug/ml). Based on this result, C. sinaica Veill was selected for further study by applying bioactivity-guided fractionation to isolate its antiviral principles. The fractions eluted with EtOAc and 25% MeOH in EtOAc were found to hold the antiviral activity. Further chromatographic separation of the fractions holding the antiviral activity led to the isolation of quercetin (1), isoquercetin (2) and rutin (3) for the first time from this species. The isolates showed reduction in the virus titre by 68.13%, 79.66% and 73.22% inhibition at a concentration of 1 ng/ml, respectively. | Capparaceae |
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In many labor and delivery units, the obstetric anesthesiologist is often responsible for managing and stabilizing the acutely septic parturient. The management of maternal sepsis has been summarized previously; this study will focus on the implications of maternal sepsis on the fetus, and ways to optimize fetal outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: Although the complex pathophysiology of sepsis is being better understood, the incidence of maternal severe sepsis and deaths continues to increase. The differential sensitivities of systemic and uterine vasculature to catecholamines during pregnancy and the role of fetal inflammatory responses have recently been further elucidated. Additional investigations on methods of fetal monitoring are needed to assist in early identification of the compromised fetus. Despite decades of research, management of a septic parturient and her fetus, including the most appropriate resuscitation fluids, vasopressors and hemodynamic monitoring systems to maximize maternal and fetal outcomes, remain controversial. SUMMARY: In the setting of maternal sepsis, fetal optimization is frequently best accomplished by meeting maternal hemodynamic, oxygenization, and infection treatment goals. Understanding the circulatory and pathophysiologic changes that occur within the uteroplacental unit and fetus is essential to identifying and resolving potential conflicts between maternal and fetal management goals. | Fetal Diseases |
Calcification, fibrosis, and chronic inflammation are the predominant features of calcific aortic valve disease, a life-threatening condition. Drugs that induce serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) are known to damage valves, and activated platelets, which carry peripheral serotonin, are known to promote calcific aortic valve stenosis. However, the role of 5-HT in valve leaflet pathology is not known. We tested whether serotonin mediates inflammation-induced matrix mineralization in valve cells. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that murine aortic valve interstitial cells (VICs) expressed both serotonin receptor types 2A and 2B (Htr2a and Htr2b). Although Htr2a expression was greater at baseline, Htr2b expression was induced several-fold more than Htr2a in response to the pro-calcific tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment. 5-HT also augmented TNF-alpha-induced osteoblastic differentiation and matrix mineralization of VIC, but 5-HT alone had no effects. Inhibition of serotonin receptor type 2B, using specific inhibitors or lentiviral knockdown in VIC, attenuated 5-HT effects on TNF-alpha-induced osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization. 5-HT treatment also augmented TNF-alpha-induced matrix metalloproteinase-3 expression, which was also attenuated by Htr2b knockdown. Htr2b expression in aortic roots and serum levels of peripheral 5-HT were also greater in the hyperlipidemic Apoe(-/-) mice than in control normolipemic mice. These findings suggest a new role for serotonin signaling in inflammation-induced calcific valvulopathy. | Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2B |
The use of graphene in the field of electrochemical sensors is increasing due to two main properties that make graphene and derivatives appealing for this purpose: their conductivity and high surface area. In addition, graphene materials can be easily functionalized with nanoparticles (Au, Pt, etc.) or organic molecules (DNA, polymers, etc.) producing synergies that allow higher sensitivity, lower limit of detection as well as increased selectivity. The present review focuses on the most important works published related to graphene-based electrochemical sensors for the determination of hazardous ions (such as As(III), Cd(2+), Pb(2+), Hg(2+), Cr(VI), Cu(2+), Ag(+), etc.). The review presents examples of the use of graphene-based electrodes for this purpose as well as important parameters of the sensors such as: limit of detection, linear range, sensitivity, main interferences, stability, and reproducibility. The application of these graphene-based electrodes in real samples (water or food matrices) is indicated, as well. There is room for improvement of these type of sensors and more effort should be devoted to the use of doped graphene (doped for instance with N, B, S, Se, etc.) since electrochemically active sites originated by doping facilitate charge transfer, adsorption and activation of analytes, and fixation of functional moieties/molecules. This will allow the sensitivity and the selectivity of the electrodes to be increased when combined with other materials (nanoparticles/organic molecules). | Electrochemistry |
Cluster headache is a debilitating disorder. Oral prophylactic treatments may act with a significant delay, cause side effects, or fail to control the attacks. Injections targeting the occipital nerve have raised interest for the management of CH. Their efficacy is thought to result from the anatomical convergence of trigeminal and cervical afferents in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Efficacy and safety of occipital injections are now documented by 2 randomized controlled trials and several case series, though the optimal technique and substance to be injected are still subject to discussion due to varied approaches in the published studies. The evidence supports the use of injected steroids, with or without the addition of an anesthetic. Side effects of local pain are common, but unlikely to be severe. Systemic effects related to steroid absorption are reported but infrequent. Occipital injections provide a rapid benefit on the frequency of attacks and can be used as an adjunct to an oral prophylactic for a quicker improvement. Whether or not this approach can be used without any oral prophylaxis is still to be determined. The technique is easy to master, has a low cost, and should be learned by physicians involved in CH management." | Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias |
Powassan virus (POWV) is a tick-borne virus maintained in sylvatic cycles between mammalian wildlife hosts and ticks (primarily Ixodes spp.). There are two currently recognized lineages, POWV-lineage 1 (POWV-L1) and deer tick virus (DTV; lineage 2), both of which can cause fatal neurologic disease in humans. Increased numbers of human case reports in the northeastern and north central United States in recent years have fueled questions into POWV epidemiology. We inoculated three candidate wildlife POWV reservoir hosts, groundhogs (Marmota monax), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), and fox squirrels (Sciurus niger), with either POWV-L1 or DTV. Resulting viremia, tissue tropism, and pathology were minimal in most inoculated individuals of all three species, with low (peak titer range, 101.7-103.3 plaque-forming units/mL serum) or undetectable viremia titers, lack of detection in tissues except for low titers in spleen, and seroconversion in most individuals by 21 days postinoculation (DPI). Pathology was limited and most commonly consisted of mild inflammation in the brain of POWV-L1- and DTV-inoculated skunks on four and 21 DPI, respectively. These results reveal variation in virulence and host competence among wild mammalian species, and a likely limited duration of host infectiousness to ticks during enzootic transmission cycles. However, POWV can transmit rapidly from tick to host, and tick co-feeding may be an additional transmission mechanism. The rare and low-level detections of viremia in these three, common, wild mammal species suggest that vector-host dynamics should continue to be explored, along with eco-epidemiological aspects of enzootic POWV transmission in different regions and virus lineages. | Mephitidae |
AIMS: To determine the characteristics of trichiasis patients presenting for surgery in Wolayta Zone of Ethiopia. METHODS: Patients referred for trichiasis surgery by community health agents were evaluated by trained integrated eye care workers (IECWs) for the presence of trichiasis, locations of inturned lashes, severity of trichiasis, corneal opacity, and visual acuity. RESULTS: 1635 individuals with trichiasis presented for surgery. 82% had bilateral trichiasis; 91% of patients reported trichiasis duration of >2 years. Epilation was practised by over three fourths of the study subjects. A high proportion of patients tested positive for ocular Chlamydia trachomatis at presentation. 17% had monocular blindness and 8% were binocularly blind. Corneal opacity was highly associated with the trichiasis duration and severity and visual loss was associated with corneal opacity. CONCLUSION: Severe trichiasis reflects the magnitude of the trachoma problem in Ethiopia. Visual impairment due to trichiasis is highly associated with disease severity and duration. Early intervention to correct trichiasis before it become severe is recommended to prevent visual impairment. | Entropion |
A wide range of changes are in the future for health care: value-based reimbursement, delivery of integrated services, the continued breakdown of silos, and interoperability maximizing communication/information exchange. The American Society of Consultant Pharmacists recently held a conference focusing on key innovations in post-acute/long-term/senior care and how pharmacists can function successfully in this new paradigm in ways that promote quality medication management, address polypharmacy, improve patients' quality of life, reduce costs, and eliminate avoidable readmissions. | Pharmacy |
INTRODUCTION: Myxoid liposarcoma is the only translocation-associated liposarcoma subtype. It classically originates in the deep soft tissues of the thigh. At distal sites of the extremities, this tumor is exceedingly rare. We present a series of 8 cases occurring in the foot/ankle. RESULTS: Two female and 6 male patients, aged between 32 and 77 years (mean, 54.3 years), were identified. Tumor size ranged from 1.1 to 10 cm (mean, 6.8 cm). Two lesions eroded bone. All tumors were treated by excision and 7 by (neo)adjuvant radiotherapy. R0 status was reached in 2 cases with 1 case followed by metastasis in the groin. All other cases were documented with R1 (n=2) or R2 (n=4) resection status. In 1 patient, the follow-up status was unknown. All other patients were alive 15-135 (mean, 55.8) months after initial diagnosis. We conclude that myxoid liposarcoma at acral sites are exceedingly rare, and in this series, prognosis was good irrespective of resection status. Clinicians and pathologists have to be aware because this sarcoma type shows a peculiar clinical behavior with high radio- and chemosensitivity and metastatic spread to extrapulmonary sites. | Liposarcoma, Myxoid |
Popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder consisting of popliteal webs and craniofacial, genitourinary, and extremity anomalies. The popliteal webs make this syndrome particularly important to the orthopaedic surgeon. The resultant fixed flexion deformity can be severe, at times approximating the ischium to the calcaneus. The neurovascular bundle is contained in the web's posterior subcutaneous (S.C.) margin, which makes surgery precarious and difficult. We reviewed four patients between 1964 and 1986, three of whom were severely affected with fixed flexion deformities at the knee. Distal femoral shortening and extension osteotomies provided good results, and this procedure should be considered earlier rather than later in treatment of this problem. | Knee |
The HMGN family comprises nuclear proteins that bind to nucleosomes and alter the structure of chromatin. Here, we report that DT40 chicken cells lacking either HMGN2 or HMGN1a, or lacking both HMGN1a and HMGN2, are hypersensitive to killing by UV irradiation. Loss of both HMGN1a and HMGN2 or only HMGN2 increases the extent of UV-induced G(2)-M checkpoint arrest and the rate of apoptosis. HMGN null mutant cells showed slower removal of UV-induced DNA lesions from native chromatin, but the nucleotide excision repair remained intact, as measured by host cell reactivation assays. These results identify HMGN2 as a component of the global genome repair subpathway of the nucleotide excision repair pathway, and may indicate that HMGN2 facilitates the ability of the DNA repair proteins to access and repair UV-induced DNA lesions in chromatin. Our finding that HMGNs play a role in global DNA repair expands the role of these proteins in the maintenance of genome integrity. | HMGN1 Protein |
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has the risk of toxicity to normal myeloid cells. CD7 is expressed by the leukemic blasts and malignant progenitor cells of approximately 30% of AML patients but is absent on normal myeloid and erythroid cells. Since CD7 expression by malignant blasts is also linked with chemoresistance and poor outcomes, targeting this antigen may be beneficial for this subset of AML patients. Here, we show that expression of a CD7-directed CAR in CD7 gene-edited (CD7(KO)) T cells effectively eliminates CD7(+) AML cell lines, primary CD7(+) AML, and colony-forming cells but spares myeloid and erythroid progenitor cells and their progeny. In a xenograft model, CD7 CAR T cells protect mice against systemic leukemia, prolonging survival. Our results support the feasibility of using CD7(KO) CD7 CAR T cells for the non-myeloablative treatment of CD7(+) AML. | Antigens, CD7 |
INTRODUCTION: Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease caused by a spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, which manifests as a multisystem disease of the skin, nervous system, heart and joints. Recently it is the most common vector-borne disease in Yugoslavia. NEW EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDIES: New epidemiological studies revealed that ticks can occasionally be infected not only by Borrelia burgdorferi, but also by some other microbes that can cause diseases in humans. Recently discovered the variable major protein-like sequence, antigenic variation of B. burgdorferi B 31 partly explains the ability of this organism to evade an active immune response. A key role in development of clinical symptoms associated with lyme disease belongs to the connection with ability of B. burgdorferi to induce and activate metallopeptidases and fibrinolytic enzymes, leading to extracellular matrix destruction. DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: Diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is made on the basis of clinical picture, exposure to ticks in endemic areas and serologic confirmation. It seems that polymerase chain reaction has little role in detection of B. burgdorferi in urine, blood, and spinal fluid samples, but it is most useful in evaluating the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy of Lyme arthritis. Infectious Diseases Society of America had prepared new guidelines for selective treatment of Lyme disease. Vaccination is still the best way of prevention for people living in high-risk areas. | Borrelia Infections |
The biliary and urinary excretion and the choleretic effect of ioglycamide were studied in unanesthetized bile fistula dogs using stepwise increasing infusion rates to obtain multiple steady states. The results are compared with data from previously reported experiments in the same animals using iodoxamate and iodipamide. The rate of biliary excretion and the choleretic effect of ioglycamide are similar to those of iodipamide and iodoxamate. Like iodipamide and iodoxamate, the relation between infusion rate or plasma concentration and biliary excretion or concentration of ioglycamide are hyperbolic and can be fitted to saturation kinetics. Quantitatively, the excretion of ioglycamide and iodipamide are virtually identical. However, for any equimolar infusion rate or plasma concentration, more iodoxamate than ioglycamide is excreted in the bile. Despite the greater biliary excretion of iodoxamate, the maximum biliary concentration of ioglycamide, iodipamide, and iodoxamate is the same at low basal bile flow because the choleretic effects of the three compounds are equal. The data suggest that, theoretically, with any equimolar dose ioglycamide will be identical to iodipamide as a contrast material for intravenous cholangiography, but that iodoxamate may be superior to ioglycamide because more iodoxamate is excreted in the bile. This advantage of iodoxamate might become apparent clinically in patients with high basal bile flow or if smaller doses of the contrast material are used. However, at the presently recommended doses of the two compounds, it is unlikely that the use of ioglycamide for intravenous cholangiography will be any different than iodoxamate. | Ioglycamic Acid |
The total, free, short-chain acyl and long-chain acyl carnitine levels were measured in milk of the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius). Significant variation in carnitine concentrations were observed in milk of the camel when compared with other mammalian milk species. The result shows that Arabian camel milk possesses a higher than usual concentration of the average percent contribution of free carnitine to total carnitine that is found in most mammalian milk species. A higher proportion of total carnitine was found in camel milk when compared with cow, human milk and milk formulas, however, it is lower when compared with sheep and goat milk. The higher carnitine content and a higher proportion of total carnitine in milk of the Arabian camel suggest an adaptive mechanism that could be common to desert mammalian species. | Camelus |
Studies have demonstrated that a prolonged feeling of loneliness is a major risk factor for psychopathology among children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between patterns of social media use with loneliness and psychopathology among 65 adolescents who were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders and treated at a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Israel. Social capital (online and offline) was negatively associated with loneliness. There was no association between loneliness and patterns of social media use, age, gender, psychiatric diagnosis, or disease severity. Our findings indicate that both online and offline social capital are associated with loneliness, and highlight the importance of studying the effect of peer online social support in alleviating loneliness. | Loneliness |
For nearly as long as lithium has been in clinical use for the treatment of bipolar disorder, depression, and other conditions, investigators have attempted to characterize its effects on behaviors in rodents. Lithium consistently decreases exploratory activity, rearing, aggression, and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion; and it increases the sensitivity to pilocarpine-induced seizures, decreases immobility time in the forced swim test, and attenuates reserpine-induced hypolocomotion. Lithium also predictably induces conditioned taste aversion and alterations in circadian rhythms. The modulation of stereotypy, sensitization, and reward behavior are less consistent actions of the drug. These behavioral models may be relevant to human symptoms and to clinical endophenotypes. It is likely that the actions of lithium in a subset of these animal models are related to the therapeutic efficacy, as well the side effects, of the drug. We conclude with a brief discussion of various molecular mechanisms by which these lithium-sensitive behaviors may be mediated, and comment on the ways in which rat and mouse models can be used more effectively in the future to address persistent questions about the therapeutically relevant molecular actions of lithium. | Lithium Compounds |
In eukaryotes, U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) forms spliceosomes in equal stoichiometry with U2, U4, U5 and U6 snRNPs; however, its abundance in human far exceeds that of the other snRNPs. Here we used antisense morpholino oligonucleotide to U1 snRNA to achieve functional U1 snRNP knockdown in HeLa cells, and identified accumulated unspliced pre-mRNAs by genomic tiling microarrays. In addition to inhibiting splicing, U1 snRNP knockdown caused premature cleavage and polyadenylation in numerous pre-mRNAs at cryptic polyadenylation signals, frequently in introns near (<5 kilobases) the start of the transcript. This did not occur when splicing was inhibited with U2 snRNA antisense morpholino oligonucleotide or the U2-snRNP-inactivating drug spliceostatin A unless U1 antisense morpholino oligonucleotide was also included. We further show that U1 snRNA-pre-mRNA base pairing was required to suppress premature cleavage and polyadenylation from nearby cryptic polyadenylation signals located in introns. These findings reveal a critical splicing-independent function for U1 snRNP in protecting the transcriptome, which we propose explains its overabundance. | Polyadenylation |
By using phosphoric acid as activation agent, active carbon was prepared from Thalia dealbata residues. The BET specific surface area of the active carbon was 1174.13 m2 x g(-1), micropore area was 426.99 m2 x g(-1), and average pore diameter was 3.23 nm. An investigation was made on the adsorption performances of the active carbon for crystal violet from aqueous solution under various conditions of pH, initial concentration of crystal violet, contact time, and contact temperature. It was shown that the adsorbed amount of crystal violet was less affected by solution pH, and the adsorption process could be divided into two stages, i. e., fast adsorption and slow adsorption, which followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics model. At the temperature 293, 303, and 313 K, the adsorption process was more accordance with Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 409.83, 425.53, and 438.59 mg x g(-1), respectively. In addition, the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic, and the randomness of crystal violet molecules increased. | Marantaceae |
Naloxone hydrochloride, a synthetic N-allyl derivative of oxymorphone, is an effective agent for the reversal of the cardiovascular and respiratory depression associated with narcotic and possibly some non-narcotic overdoses. It is essentially a pure narcotic antagonist, is relatively safe, and is a useful diagnostic and therapeutic agent. Due to naloxone's pharmacokinetic profile, a continuous infusion protocol is recommended when prolonged narcotic antagonist effects are required. The complex pharmacodynamics of naloxone, specifically relating to endorphin receptor sites, focus its potential use in a variety of clinical situations as continuing research illustrates the association of endogenous opioid compounds with various disease states. | Naloxone |
Glycopeptide antibiotics are integral components of the current antibiotic arsenal that is under strong pressures as a result of the emergence of a variety of resistance mechanisms over the past 15 years. Resistance has manifested itself largely through the expression of genes that encode proteins that reprogram cell wall biosynthesis and thus evade the action of the antibiotic in the enterococci, though recently new mechanisms have appeared that afford resistance and tolerance in the more virulent staphylococci and streptococci. Overcoming glycopeptide resistance will require innovative approaches to generate new antibiotics or otherwise to inhibit the action of resistance elements in various bacteria. The chemical complexity of the glycopeptides, the challenges of discovering and successfully exploiting new targets, and the growing number of distinct resistance types all increase the difficulty of the current problem we face as a result of the emergence of glycopeptide resistance. | Vancomycin Resistance |
Congenital obstructive nephropathy is a common disease affecting fetuses and young children. The kidney shows profound morphologic and functional changes. The physiologic developmental kidney program is disturbed in the most advanced cases, arguing for altered temporal/spatial expression of genes which control normal nephrogenesis. Major regulators of mesenchymal-epithelial transformation and collecting duct and tubular development such as WT1 and Sall1 are decreased with obstruction. Additional candidate genes include GDNF/cRET, LIM1 and Pax2. Excessive apoptosis is an undisputed mechanism in these processes, mediated by decreased expression of apoptosis inhibiting genes (Bcl-2, HGF, IGF, BMP7), and overexpression of pro-apoptotic genes like Bax and TGF-beta. Renin and AT2R implicated in renal vascular development are decreased. Numerous extracellular matrix genes including Matrilysin are altered. The emerging theories of the biology of congenital obstructive nephropathy suggest new targets for therapeutic interventions with profound implications for these children. | Genes, cdc |
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) H5N1 is endemic in China. It is expanding its borders over time and the associated economic and health consequences are critically important. To determine the evolutionary history and phylodynamics of HPAI H5N1, a comprehensive analysis of the demographic, adaptive and spatial dynamics of H5N1 viruses in China over almost two decades based on whole genome sequences was performed. We divided HPAI H5N1 isolates into five and seven distinct groups for HA and NA respectively, and several regionally dominant subgroups were found as well. We detected five reassortants, and our analysis suggested that the intrasubtype reassortment may resulted in enhanced virulence. Seven and eight positively selected sites were detected in HA and NA genes respectively, and the relatively higher dN/dS ratio and nucleotide substitution rate were observed in NS gene. Our BSP analysis about the effective population size increase and decrease showed similar temporal patterns to those in the epidemiological studies. Here we show that the time to most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of earlier reassortments was dated back to 1970s. And our phylogeographic analysis indicated that the geographic spread of HPAI H5N1 accelerated the viral evolution and expanded their host ranges, prompting potential cross-species transmission." | Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype |
Combined spinal epidural anesthesia offers the advantages of each method while minimizing their respective disadvantages. First described in 1937, this technique has risen in popularity over the last 15 years and is being used successfully in orthopedic, urologic, and gynecologic surgeries and for anesthesia/analgesia for labor and delivery as well as cesarean section. The history and development of combined spinal epidural anesthesia/analgesia, the different techniques, and controversies and problems associated with its use are discussed. The use of the technique of obstetric anesthesia/analgesia is also examined. | Anesthesia and Analgesia |
Valosin-containing protein (VCP)-associated multisystem proteinopathy (MSP) is a rare genetic disorder with abnormalities in the autophagy pathway leading to various combinations of myopathy, bone diseases, and neurodegeneration. Ninety percent of patients with VCP-associated MSP have myopathy, but there is no consensus-based guideline. The goal of this working group was to develop a best practice set of provisional recommendations for VCP myopathy which can be easily implemented across the globe. As an initiative by Cure VCP Disease Inc., a patient advocacy organization, an online survey was initially conducted to identify the practice gaps in VCP myopathy. All prior published literature on VCP myopathy was reviewed to better understand the different aspects of management of VCP myopathy, and several working group sessions were conducted involving international experts to develop this provisional recommendation. VCP myopathy has a heterogeneous clinical phenotype and should be considered in patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy phenotype, or any myopathy with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Genetic testing is the only definitive way to diagnose VCP myopathy, and single-variant testing in the case of a known familial VCP variant, or multi-gene panel sequencing in undifferentiated cases can be considered. Muscle biopsy is important in cases of diagnostic uncertainty or lack of a definitive pathogenic genetic variant since rimmed vacuoles (present in ~40% cases) are considered a hallmark of VCP myopathy. Electrodiagnostic studies and magnetic resonance imaging can also help rule out disease mimics. Standardized management of VCP myopathy will optimize patient care and help future research initiatives." | Muscular Dystrophies, Limb-Girdle |
Studies of genetics and ecology often require estimates of relatedness coefficients based on genetic marker data. However, with the presence of null alleles, an observed genotype can represent one of several possible true genotypes. This results in biased estimates of relatedness. As the numbers of marker loci are often limited, loci with null alleles cannot be abandoned without substantial loss of statistical power. Here, we show how loci with null alleles can be incorporated into six estimators of relatedness (two novel). We evaluate the performance of various estimators before and after correction for null alleles. If the frequency of a null allele is <0.1, some estimators can be used directly without adjustment; if it is >0.5, the potency of estimation is too low and such a locus should be excluded. We make available a software package entitled PolyRelatedness v1.6, which enables researchers to optimize these estimators to best fit a particular data set. | Alleles |
Obesity is a relatively common problem in childhood and is often very difficult to manage. The authors reviews some of what is known of the aetiology, prevalence and natural history of the condition and discuss the approach to treatment. | Obesity |
One of the goals of protein engineering is to tailor the structure of enzymes to optimize industrial bioprocesses. In the present work, we present the construction of a novel high molecular weight subtilisin, based on the fusion of the DNA sequences coding for Bacillus subtilis prosubtilisin E and for an elastin-like polymer (ELP). The resulting fusion protein was biologically produced in Escherichia coli , purified and used for wool finishing assays. When compared to the commercial protease Esperase, the recombinant subtilisinE-VPAVG(220) activity was restricted to the cuticle of wool, allowing a significant reduction of pilling, weight loss and tensile strength loss of wool fibers. Here we report, for the first time, the microbial production of a functionalized high molecular weight protease for controlled enzymatic hydrolysis of wool surface. This original process overcomes the unrestrained diffusion and extended fiber damage which are the major obstacles for the use of proteases for wool finishing applications. | Serine Endopeptidases |
In the current study, Isospora sagittulae McQuistion and Capparella, 1992 (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is reported from white-shouldered fire-eyes Pyriglena leucoptera (Vieillot, 1818) in the Atlantic Forest in southeastern Brazil. To date, this coccidian species was described from antbirds in Ecuador and Brazilian Amazon. In this sense, oocysts and measurements of the description of I. sagittulae from Amazonian antbirds were required from the deposit for comparison between samples from the Amazon and Atlantic Forest. The morphology was similar in all aspects, despite the polymorphism associated with the oocyst shape. DNA sequences for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) locus of the oocysts had similarity of 100%. Therefore, these strong morphological, molecular, and ecological equivalences ensure the unique identification of I. sagittulae. Finally, this finding reveals the wide distribution of I. sagittulae in the Neotropical region and indicates that other antbirds in the Brazilian Cerrado should disperse I. sagittulae to the Amazon and Atlantic Forest. | Isospora |
CULLIN1 (CUL1) protein, as a scaffold protein in Skp1-CUL1-F box (SCF) E3 ligases complex, was reported involved in different cellular functions to regulate the early embryonic development. In our previous study, we have demonstrated that CUL1 promote trophoblast cell invasion at the maternal-fetal interface in human and the CUL1 protein significantly decreased in preeclampsia (PE) placenta, but how CUL1 involved in placentation is still obscure. Due to the embryo lethal in CUL1 knockout mice, the lentivirus mediated placenta-specific CUL1 knockdown mice model was constructed to uncover the potential role of CUL1 in placentation. In this study, CUL1 was first detected in mouse placenta. CUL1 mainly expressed in trophoblast giant cell at E9.5, and spongiotrophoblast at E11.5 and E13.5 by using immunohistochemistry and int situ hybridization. In lentivirus mediated placenta specific mouse model, the number of implanted embryos was reduced in CUL1 shRNA group at E13.5 and E18.5 compared to control group. Based on the morphological analysis of histologic staining, we observed that spongiotrophoblast layer is expanded, fetal angiogenesis in labyrinth was obstructed and fetus blood cells were accumulated in vessels. These results indicated that decreased expression of CUL1 affect placentation of mice, which give new insights into the cause of gestational diseases, but the exactly mechanism still needs further study." | SKP Cullin F-Box Protein Ligases |
This study sought to determine the ontogeny of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) mRNA by in situ hybridization, and the expression of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) by immunohistochemistry, in the ovine fetal pituitary gland. Detection of POMC mRNA, and of ACTH and alpha-MSH immunoreactivity was first noted at Day 40 of gestation in the pars intermedia (PI) and the pars distalis (PD). After Day 70, alpha-MSH immunoreactivity was confined to the PI whereas POMC mRNA and ACTH immunostaining remained in both the PI and the PD. Increases (P < 0.05) of POMC mRNA expression were observed in the PI between Days 50-70 and levels then remained constant to Day 141 (term, 145 days). In the basal region of the PD, POMC mRNA expression was high at Day 40, declined (P < 0.01) by Day 50 and then increased progressively to Day 141 of gestation. The proportion of ACTH-immunopositive cells in the PD also fell from 14% at Day 40 to 11.4% at Day 70 and then increased to 15.3% by Day 141. In contrast, neither the level of POMC mRNA expression nor the percentage of corticotrophs changed in the region of the PD immediately adjacent to the PI. These data provide evidence for differential processing of POMC in a tissue-specific manner during early fetal pituitary development. | Pro-Opiomelanocortin |
The Insentec Roughage Intake Control (RIC) system has been validated for the collection of water intake; however, this system has not been validated for water restriction. The objective of this validation was to evaluate the agreement between direct observations and automated intakes collected by the RIC system under both ad libitum and restricted water conditions. A total of 239 crossbred steers were used in a 3-d validation trial, which assessed intake values generated by the RIC electronic intake monitoring system for both ad libitum water intake ( = 122; BASE) and restricted water intake ( = 117; RES). Direct human observations were collected on 4 Insentec water bins for three 24-h periods and three 12-h periods for BASE and RES, respectively. An intake event was noted by the observer when the electronic identification of the animal was read by the transponder and the gate lowered, and starting and ending bin weights were recorded for each intake event. Data from direct observations across each validation period were compared to automated observations generated from the RIC system. Missing beginning or ending weight values for visual observations occasionally occurred due to the observer being unable to capture the value before the monitor changed when bin activity was high. To estimate the impact of these missing values, analyses denoted as OBS were completed with the incomplete record coded as missing data. These analyses were contrasted with analyses where observations with a single missing beginning or end weight (but not both) were assumed to be identical to that which was recorded by the Insentec system (OBS). Difference in mean total intake across BASE steers was 0.60 +/- 2.06 kg OBS (0.54 +/- 1.99 kg OBS) greater for system observations than visual observations. The comparison of mean total intake across the 3 RES validation days was 0.53 +/- 2.30 kg OBS (0.13 +/- 1.83 kg OBS) greater for system observations than direct observations. Day was not a significant source of error in this study ( > 0.05). These results indicate that the system was capable of limiting water of individual animals with reasonable accuracy, although errors are slightly higher during water restriction than during ad libitum access. The Insentec system is a suitable resource for monitoring individual water intake of growing, group-housed steers under ad libitum and restricted water conditions. | Animal Identification Systems |
The IgG antibody response to streptococcal M protein is distributed between the IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses, however individual sera vary with respect to the relative amounts of these two subclasses. The basis of this variation was investigated. Sera were also analysed for IgG subclass antibodies to the outer membrane proteins (OMP) of Moraxella catarrhalis, as these have also been reported to have a major IgG3 component. The mean percentage of IgG3 was higher in the antibody response to OMP and there was less variability between sera for this antigen than was seen for M protein. Non-specific binding of IgG3 in ELISA, which has been reported for some bacterial proteins (including M protein of some serotypes) was excluded as an explanation for the apparent IgG3 bias of these antibodies. The relative amount of IgG3 antibody to the two antigens showed a positive correlation, suggesting that some individuals tended to make a greater IgG3 response to unrelated antigens. Serial bleeds from two individuals maintained a relatively constant subclass profile over several months, suggesting that time since infection did not play a major role in determining the proportion of IgG1 and IgG3. Gm allotypes for the sera were determined, and found to correlate with both total serum IgG3 concentrations and with IgG subclass composition of specific antibodies. Mean serum IgG3 concentrations were highest in sera typed as Gm(fb/fb) homozygous and lowest in sera typed as Gm(ag/ag) homozygous. Similarly, in the M protein-specific antibodies, the mean percentage of IgG3 was much lower in the Gm(ag/ag) sera than in the Gm(fb/fb) homozygous sera. Sera which typed as Gm(fb/ag) heterozygous were not significantly different from the Gm(fb/fb) homozygous sera for either total serum IgG3 or for M protein-specific IgG3. Moreover, both Gm(fb/fb) homozygous and Gm(fb/ag) heterozygous sera included samples in which IgG1 was the predominant antibody subclass and the percentage of IgG3 was very low. In contrast to the M protein-specific antibodies, for the OMP-specific antibodies there was no correlation between Gm phenotype and the proportion of IgG3. The data suggest that Gm allotype may influence the IgG subclass composition of antibody responses to bacterial surface protein, but that other factors are also likely to be involved. | Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes |
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor (rhPDGF)-BB combined with a cross-linked collagen matrix (CCM) for the treatment of multiple adjacent gingival recession type 1 defects (MAGRs) in combination with the coronally advanced flap (CAF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients were enrolled in this triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial and treated with either CAF + CCM + rhPDGF, or CAF + CCM + saline. The primary outcome was mean root coverage (mRC) at 6 months. Complete root coverage, gain in gingival thickness (GT), keratinized tissue width, volumetric and ultrasonographic changes, and patient-reported outcome measures were also assessed. Mixed-modelling regression analyses were used for statistical comparisons. RESULTS: At 6 months, the mRC of the CCM + rhPDGF and CCM alone groups were 88.25% and 77.72%, respectively (p = .02). A significant gain in GT was consistently observed for both treatment arms, and more so for the patients receiving the matrix containing rhPDGF through time (0.51 vs. 0.80 mm, on average, p = .01). The rhPDGF + CCM treated patients presented greater volume gain, higher soft tissue thickness, and a superior aesthetic score. CONCLUSION: rhPDGF enhances the clinical, volumetric, and aesthetic outcomes of MAGRs above the results achieved with CAF + CCM alone (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04462237). | Gingival Recession |
Intelligence can be defined as a general mental ability for reasoning, problem solving, and learning. Because of its general nature, intelligence integrates cognitive functions such as perception, attention, memory, language, or planning. On the basis of this definition, intelligence can be reliably measured by standardized tests with obtained scores predicting several broad social outcomes such as educational achievement, job performance, health, and longevity. A detailed understanding of the brain mechanisms underlying this general mental ability could provide significant individual and societal benefits. Structural and functional neuroimaging studies have generally supported a frontoparietal network relevant for intelligence. This same network has also been found to underlie cognitive functions related to perception, short-term memory storage, and language. The distributed nature of this network and its involvement in a wide range of cognitive functions fits well with the integrative nature of intelligence. A new key phase of research is beginning to investigate how functional networks relate to structural networks, with emphasis on how distributed brain areas communicate with each other. | Neural Pathways |
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Bimanual microincisional cataract surgery has recently become a procedure of interest among cataract surgeons, and a number of trials have shown its potential as a minimally invasive cataract surgery. The purpose of this review is to examine the studies that have been published to date and to evaluate the potential of bimanual phacoemulsification as a method of cataract extraction. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have reinforced the safety of bimanual phacoemulsification. In particular, recently published studies have focused on evaluating various phacoemulsification technologies and their safety when used in bimanual phacoemulsification. Newly developed rollable hydrophilic acrylic ThinOptX lenses have been shown to be implantable in 2.2-mm incisions safely with good visual outcomes. SUMMARY: Bimanual phacoemulsification has been a potential technique for a number of years, but only recently have the technology, software, and technique advanced sufficiently to make bimanual phacoemulsification a feasible method of cataract extraction. Although the main disadvantage to bimanual phacoemulsification remains the lack of intraocular lenses that can fit through microincisions, necessitating the enlargement of corneal wounds for intraocular lens implantation, bimanual phacoemulsification has a number of advantages over traditional small-incision phacoemulsification. Theses advantages have been a source of interest for cataract surgeons and surgical companies who are now developing technologies that will permit the performance of truly microincisional cataract surgery. | Phacoemulsification |
Active vitamin A metabolites, known as retinoids, are essential for multiple physiological processes, ranging from vision to embryonic development. These small hydrophobic compounds associate in vivo with soluble proteins that are present in a variety of cells and in particular extracellular compartments, and which bind different types of retinoids with high selectivity and affinity. Traditionally, retinoid-binding proteins were viewed as transport proteins that act by solubilizing and protecting their labile ligands in aqueous spaces. It is becoming increasingly clear, however, that, in addition to this general role, retinoid-binding proteins have diverse and specific functions in regulating the disposition, metabolism and activities of retinoids. Some retinoid-binding proteins appear to act by sequestering their ligands, thereby generating concentration gradients that allow cells to take up retinoids from extracellular pools and metabolic steps to proceed in energetically unfavourable directions. Other retinoid-binding proteins regulate the metabolic fates of their ligands by protecting them from some enzymes while allowing metabolism by others. In these cases, delivery of a bound retinoid from the binding protein to the 'correct' enzyme is likely to be mediated by direct and specific interactions between the two proteins. One retinoid-binding protein was reported to enhance the ability of its ligand to regulate gene transcription by directly delivering this retinoid to the transcription factor that is activated by it. 'Channelling' of retinoids between their corresponding binding protein and a particular protein target thus seems to be a general theme through which some retinoid-binding proteins exert their effects. | Retinol-Binding Proteins |
Prokaryotic restriction-modification (R-M) systems defend the host cell from the invasion of a foreign DNA. They comprise two enzymatic activities: specific DNA cleavage activity and DNA methylation activity preventing cleavage. Typically, these activities are provided by two separate enzymes: a DNA methyltransferase (MTase) and a restriction endonuclease (RE). In the absence of a corresponding MTase, an RE of Type II R-M system is highly toxic for the cell. Genes of the R-M system are linked in the genome in the vast majority of annotated cases. There are only a few reported cases in which the genes of MTase and RE from one R-M system are not linked. Nevertheless, a few hundreds solitary RE genes are present in the Restriction Enzyme Database (http://rebase.neb.com) annotations. Using the comparative genomic approach, we analysed 272 solitary RE genes. For 57 solitary RE genes we predicted corresponding MTase genes located distantly in a genome. Of the 272 solitary RE genes, 99 are likely to be fragments of RE genes. Various explanations for the existence of the remaining 116 solitary RE genes are also discussed. | DNA Restriction Enzymes |
The aim of this work is to assess the morphological characteristics and parameters of biomass production, such as fresh and dry matter weight (FMW and DMW, g/plant), yield of dry matter (YDM) in terms of ton/ha, essential oil content (EOC, mL/100 g) and yield of essential oils (YEO) expressed as L/ha of the following plants Salvia verbenaca, Salvia argentea, Salvia lavandulifolia, Salvia pratensis, Salvia sclarea, Salvia triloba and Salvia officinalis. Except for Salvia argentea (S2) all other species have adapted to the south Brazilian climate conditions, with morphological differences among the species evaluated. In terms of DMW and YDM, S. officinalis was found to be the most productive species with 445.83 g/plant and 11.14 ton/ha. The higher essential oil content and yield was observed for S. officinalis, affording 1.99 mL/100 g and 221.74 L/ha, respectively. Chemical characterisation of the essential oils obtained from hydrodistillation was performed through GC and GC/MSD analyses, which revealed for most of the species studied, alpha e beta-thujone, camphor and 1,8-cineole as major compounds, apart from S. sclarea, for which linalool, linalyl acetate and alpha-terpineol were the major components. | Lamiaceae |
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by skin inflammation, barrier dysfunction and chronic pruritus. In this review, recent advances in the pathogenesis of AD are summarized. Clinical efficacy of the anti-IL-4 receptor antibody dupilumab implies that type 2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 have pivotal roles in atopic inflammation. The expression of IL-4 and IL-13 as well as type 2 chemokines such as CCL17, CCL22 and CCL26 is increased in the lesional skin of AD. In addition, IL-4 and IL-13 down-regulate the expression of filaggrin in keratinocytes and exacerbate epidermal barrier dysfunction. Keratinocytes in barrier-disrupted epidermis produce large amounts of thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL-25 and IL-33, conducing to type 2 immune deviation via OX40L/OX40 signaling. IL-31, produced by type 2 T cells, is a cardinal pruritogenic cytokine. IL-4 and IL-13 also amplify the IL-31-mediated sensory nerve signal. These molecules are particularly important targets for future drug development for AD. | OX40 Ligand |
The polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5-10% of all premenopausal women. It is diagnosed by a combination of oligo-amenorrhea and hyperandrogenism (NIH criteria) or by the presence of two out of three of: oligo-amenorrhea, hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries on ultrasound (Rotterdam criteria). PCOS is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. Different patterns of dyslipidemia can be present, both in lean and obese PCOS. Low HDL-cholesterol, with or without elevated TG, is the most prominent lipid abnormality. In addition, smaller HDL and LDL particles and elevated postprandial TG responses are reported. Hyperandrogenism, anovulation and insulin resistance affect multiple steps in lipid metabolism in PCOS, as will be discussed. Surrogate markers for atherosclerosis are consistently abnormal in PCOS, while studies on clinical CVD endpoints are limited and non-conclusive. The (pharmaco-) therapy of dyslipidemia in PCOS will be discussed. In addition, the effects of other PCOS related (pharmaco-) therapies, primarily aimed at hyperandrogenism, anovulation or insulin resistance, on lipid metabolism will be addressed. | Anovulation |
Pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the phytoremediation of pyrene-contaminated soil using alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Alfalfa biomasses, microbial viable counts, dehydrogenase activity, residual pyrene concentration and pyrene removal percentage were determined after 60 days of alfalfa growth. The results indicated that pyrene had an inhibitive effect on alfalfa growth, and higher pyrene concentration seriously affected alfalfa growth. In addition, the inhibitive effect on the root was more severe than that on the shoot. When pyrene concentration reached 492 mg kg(-1) in soil, the shoot and root biomasses were only 34% and 22% of those of alfalfa growing in non-spiked soil, respectively. The rhizospheric bacterial and fungi counts were 5.0-7.5 and 1.8-2.3 times higher than those in non-rhizosphere soil, respectively. The residual concentrations of pyrene in the rhizosphere soil were lower than those in the non-rhizosphere soil. After 60 days, 69-85% and 59-80% of spiked pyrene disappeared from the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils, respectively. The removal percentage decreased with increasing pyrene concentration. However, the average removal of pyrene in the rhizosphere soil was 6% higher than that in the non-rhizosphere soil. Therefore, the presence of alfalfa roots was effective in promoting the phytoremediation of freshly added pyrene into the soil. | Medicago sativa |
BACKGROUND: Peroxynitrite, the product of the reaction between superoxide radicals and nitric oxide, is an elusive oxidant with a short half-life and a low steady-state concentration in biological systems; it promotes nitroxidative damage. SCOPE OF REVIEW: We will consider kinetic and mechanistic aspects that allow rationalizing the biological fate of peroxynitrite from data obtained by a combination of methods that include fast kinetic techniques, electron paramagnetic resonance and kinetic simulations. In addition, we provide a quantitative analysis of peroxynitrite production rates and conceivable steady-state levels in living systems. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS: The preferential reactions of peroxynitrite in vivo include those with carbon dioxide, thiols and metalloproteins; its homolysis represents only <1% of its fate. To note, carbon dioxide accounts for a significant fraction of peroxynitrite consumption leading to the formation of strong one-electron oxidants, carbonate radicals and nitrogen dioxide. On the other hand, peroxynitrite is rapidly reduced by peroxiredoxins, which represent efficient thiol-based peroxynitrite detoxification systems. Glutathione, present at mM concentration in cells and frequently considered a direct scavenger of peroxynitrite, does not react sufficiently fast with it in vivo; glutathione mainly inhibits peroxynitrite-dependent processes by reactions with secondary radicals. The detection of protein 3-nitrotyrosine, a molecular footprint, can demonstrate peroxynitrite formation in vivo. Basal peroxynitrite formation rates in cells can be estimated in the order of 0.1 to 0.5muMs(-1) and its steady-state concentration at ~1nM. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The analysis provides a handle to predict the preferential fate and steady-state levels of peroxynitrite in living systems. This is useful to understand pathophysiological aspects and pharmacological prospects connected to peroxynitrite. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Current methods to study reactive oxygen species - pros and cons and biophysics of membrane proteins. Guest Editor: Christine Winterbourn. | Peroxynitrous Acid |
The systematic integration of evidence-based tobacco treatment has yet to be broadly viewed as a standard-of-care. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommends the provision of support for tobacco cessation. We argue that the provision of smoking cessation services in clinical settings is a fundamental clinical responsibility and permits the opportunity to more effectively assist with cessation. The role of clinicians in prioritising smoking cessation is essential in all settings. Clinical benefits of implementing cessation services in hospital settings have been recognised for three decades-but have not been consistently provided. The Ottawa Model for Smoking Cessation has used an 'organisational change' approach to its introduction and has served as the basis for the introduction of cessation programmes in hospital and primary care settings in Canada and elsewhere. The significance of smoking cessation dwarfs that of many preventive interventions in primary care. Compelling evidence attests to the importance of providing cessation services as part of cancer treatment, but implementation of such programmes has been slow. We recognise that the provision of such services must reflect the realities and resources of a particular health system. In low-income and middle-income countries, access to treatment facilities pose unique challenges. The integration of cessation programmes with tuberculosis control services may offer opportunities; and standardisation of peri-operative care to include smoking cessation may not require additional resources. Mobile phones afford unique opportunities for interactive cessation programming. Health system change is fundamental to improving the provision of cessation services; clinicians can be powerful advocates for such change. | Health Behavior |
BACKGROUND: Patients suffering from aortic dissection (AD) often experience sleep apnea syndrome (SAS), which aggravates their respiratory function and aortic false lumen expansion. METHODS: We analyzed the peri-operative data of Stanford A AD patients, with or without SAS, between January 2017 and June 2019. Subjects were separated into SAS positive (SAS(+)) and SAS negative (SAS(-)) cohorts, based on the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) and the Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI). We next analyzed variables between the SAS(+) and SAS(-) groups. RESULTS: 155, out of 198 AAD patients, were enlisted for this study. SAS(+) patients exhibited higher rates of pneumonia (p < 0.001), heart failure (HF, p = 0.038), acute kidney injury (AKI, p = 0.001), ventilation time (p = 0.009), and hospitalization duration (p < 0.001). According to subsequent follow-ups, the unstented aorta false lumen dilatation (FLD) rate increased markedly, with increasing degree of SAS (p < 0.001, according to AHI and ODI). The SAS(+) patients exhibited worse cumulative survival rate (p = 0.025). The significant risk factors (RF) for poor survival were: severe (p = 0.002) or moderate SAS (p = 0.008), prolonged ventilation time (p = 0.018), AKI (p = 0.015), HF New York Heart Association (NYHA) IV (p = 0.005) or III (p = 0.015), pneumonia (p = 0.005), Marfan syndrome (p = 0.010), systolic blood pressure (BP) upon arrival (p = 0.009), and BMI >/= 30 (p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: SAS(+) Stanford A AD patients primarily exhibited higher rates of complications and low survival rates in the mid-time follow-up. Hence, the RFs associated with poor survival must be monitored carefully in SAS patients. Moreover, the FLD rate is related to the degree of SAS, thus treating SAS may mitigate FLD. | Aortic Dissection |
The intestine is a prime example of self-renewal where stem cells give rise to progenitor cells called transit-amplifying cells which differentiate into more specialized cells. There are two intestinal lineages: the absorptive (enterocytes and microfold cells) and the secretory (Paneth cells, enteroendocrine, goblet cells, and tuft cells). Each of these differentiated cell types has a role in creating an ecosystem" to maintain intestinal homeostasis. Here, we summarize the main roles of each cell type." | M Cells |
As public health departments around the country undergo accreditation using the Public Health Accreditation Board standards, the process provides a new opportunity to integrate ethics metrics into day-to-day public health practice. While the accreditation standards do not explicitly address ethics, ethical tools and considerations can enrich the accreditation process by helping health departments and their communities understand what ethical principles underlie the accreditation standards and how to use metrics based on these ethical principles to support decision making in public health practice. We provide a crosswalk between a public health essential service, Public Health Accreditation Board community engagement domain standards, and the relevant ethical principles in the Public Health Code of Ethics (Code). A case study illustrates how the accreditation standards and the ethical principles in the Code together can enhance the practice of engaging the community in decision making in the local health department. | Government Agencies |
Molecular docking is a pragmatic approach to exploit protein structures for new ligand discovery, but the growing size of available chemical space is increasingly challenging to screen on in-house computer clusters. We have therefore developed AWS-DOCK, a protocol for running UCSF DOCK in the AWS cloud. Our approach leverages the low cost and scalability of cloud resources combined with a low-molecule-cost docking engine to screen billions of molecules efficiently. We benchmarked our system by screening 50 million HAC 22 molecules against the DRD4 receptor with an average CPU time of around 1 s per molecule. We saw up to 3-fold variations in cost between AWS availability zones. Docking 4.5 billion lead-like molecules, a 7 week calculation on our 1000-core lab cluster, runs in about a week depending on accessible CPUs, in AWS for around $25,000, less than the cost of two new nodes. The cloud docking protocol is described in easy-to-follow steps and may be sufficiently general to be used for other docking programs. All the tools to enable AWS-DOCK are available free to everyone, while DOCK 3.8 is free for academic research. | Ligands |
BACKGROUND: Severity of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) lower respiratory illness (LRTI) is considered similar to that observed for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). However, differences in severity between these pathogens have been noted, suggesting the degree of illness may vary in different populations. Moreover, a potential association between hMPV and asthma also suggests that hMPV may preferentially affect asthmatic subjects. METHODS: In a population-based surveillance study in children aged <2 years admitted for severe LRTI in Argentina, nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested by RT-PCR for hMPV, RSV, influenza A, and human rhinovirus. RESULTS: Of 3947 children, 383 (10%) were infected with hMPV. The hospitalization rate for hMPV LRTI was 2.26 per 1000 children (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04-2.49). Thirty-nine (10.2%) patients infected with hMPV experienced life-threatening disease (LTD; 0.23 per 1000 children; 95% CI, .16-.31/1000), and 2 died (mortality rate 0.024 per 1000; 95% CI, .003-.086). In hMPV-infected children birth to an asthmatic mother was an increased risk for LTD (odds ratio, 4.72; 95% CI, 1.39-16.01). We observed a specific interaction between maternal asthma and hMPV infection affecting risk for LTD. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal asthma increases the risk for LTD in children <2 years old hospitalized for severe hMPV LRTI. | Paramyxoviridae Infections |
Breast cancer is becoming an important issue due to its various consequences and epidemiology. Studies are showing that it extremely impacts the mental health as well as the physical activity of the patients. In addition to the most common symptom, which is fatigue, patients also have problems with the quality of sleep. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) therapy in improving the mental state and quality of sleep, as well as increasing the physical activity (PA) of patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The study was conducted in a hospital's Breast Unit and included patients at the time of diagnosis of malignant breast cancer. A total of 16 subjects randomly divided into experimental (n = 9), and control (n = 7) groups were measured with the Beck Depression Scale, Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at two timepoints. The experimental intervention consisted of a 2-week (8 sessions) Virtual Therapeutic Garden (VRTierOne) procedure performed daily for about 15 min. Significant differences were identified between groups in the interactions between the main factors seen in the destructive style of the Mini-Mac scale: F(1.14) = 4.82, p = 0.04, and between multiple experiments: F(1.14)= 5.54, p = 0.03 showing a significant reduction in the destructive style of coping with the disease in the study group after therapy (32.44 vs. 28.33, p = 0.003). The level of main effects [study] for the constructive style is F(1.14) = 3.93, p = 0.06 with a significant increase in constructive style in the study group (43.33 vs. 45.33, p = 0.044). Significant differences in levels of depression between multiple experiments: F(1.14) = 5.04, p = 0.04, show a significant reduction in the severity of depressive symptoms was found in the experimental group after therapy (13.33 vs. 8.11, p = 0.02). However, the analysis did not show significant differences between group analyses (p = 0.25). It seems that VR reduces the severity of depressive symptoms and reduces the destructive style and can be an effective option in improving the mental state of patients diagnosed with breast cancer. | Preoperative Exercise |
Two novel magnetic agarose bead based assays have been developed to measure complement component C5 interaction with C3b and the Factor I Modules (FIMs) of C7. One innovation was to couple C3b onto the magnetic agarose bead using the alternative pathway C3 convertase, which resulted in a linkage of the ligand by a covalent ester bond. A second innovation was to employ nickel ion charged N,N,N'-tris(carboxymethyl)ethylene-diamine-magnetic agarose to capture recombinantly prepared C7 FIMs that were expressed with an oligo-histidine linker followed by an acidic domain that provided a spacer enabling the C7 modules exposure to C5. Detection was brought about by peroxidase coupled to C5. Both assays exhibited adequate statistics suitable for screening. As examples of the utility of these new methods, we chose to examine influence of natural products on C5 interaction. Fucoidan and beta-glucans were observed to inhibit C3b-C5 interaction, and dextran sulfate was similarly active; however, rosmarinic acid had no measurable effect. In contrast only beta-glucans from two species of macrofungi were able to interfere with interaction of C5 with the FIMs of C7. | Complement C7 |
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To examine trends in fertility preservation attitudes and behaviors of pediatric oncology nurses and evaluate their awareness of fertility preservation guidelines published in June 2006 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). DESIGN: Cross-sectional surveys conducted in 2005 and 2006. SETTING: Annual meetings of the Florida Association of Pediatric Tumor Programs. SAMPLE: 115 pediatric oncology nurses in 2005 and 95 nurses in 2006. METHODS: A 45-item survey was distributed to conference attendees. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Knowledge, current fertility preservation practices, and awareness of fertility preservation guidelines. FINDINGS: Nurses' attitudes about fertility preservation discussions with patients did not change during the survey period; however, the number of nurses believing that one of their duties was to discuss fertility preservation with patients decreased from 91% in 2005 to 81% in 2006. Nurses' likelihood to discuss fertility preservation with patients with specific characteristics significantly changed over time. Fertility preservation discussions were just as likely for single patients as they were for those married or recently engaged, although nurses were more likely to discuss fertility preservation with patients who had at least one child or who had a poor prognosis. Nurses' awareness of ASCO guidelines was less than 5%. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of nurses perceive that fertility preservation options should be offered to patients. However, practice and patient family barriers exist that may impede discussion. Attitudes and behaviors will be monitored with the 2006 ASCO guidelines. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses play a key role in survivorship discussions for pediatric patients with cancer and their families. Increased knowledge of fertility preservation guidelines may help promote the fertility preservation concept and lead to improved dissemination and implementation of training programs that focus on current ASCO fertility preservation guidelines and address the psychosocial needs of children aged 12-16 years. | Oncology Nursing |
OBJECTIVE: To compare the antioxidant active components from two species of chamomile-matricaria and Roman chamomile produced in Xinjiang. METHOD: The TLC-bioautography was used, with 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical as the experimental model. The peak areas of various antioxidant components were obtained by TLC-scanning for analyzing antioxidant active components contained in volatile oil extracts and flavone extracts from the two species of chamomiles. The total peak area was taken as the indicator for comparing the antioxidant capacities of the two types of extracts, and comparing them with the total antioxidant activity of flavone extracts of the two species of chamomiles. RESULTS: According to the result of TLC-bioautography in volatile oil extracts from the two species of chamomiles, volatile oil extracts from chamomile showed four white antioxidant spots, including en-yne-dicycloether, and volatile oil extracts from Roman chamomile showed only one white antioxidant spot. The TLC-scanning result showed that the peak area of antioxidant spots of volatile oil extracts from chamomile was significantly larger than that of volatile oil extracts from Roman chamomile. According to the test on the antioxidant activity of the two species of chamomiles with ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, the concentration of chamomile after scavenging 50% of DPPH radicals was 0.66 g x L(-1), whereas the figure for Roman chamomile was 0.33 g x L(-1). According to the result of TLC-bioautography in flavone extracts from the two species of chamomiles, flavone extracts from chamomile showed seven yellowish antioxidant spots, including apigenin and apigenin-7-glucoside, and flavone extracts of Roman chamomile showed eight yellowish antioxidant spots, including apigenin and apigenin-7-glucoside. The TLC-scanning results showed that the peak area of antioxidant spots of flavone extracts from Roman chamomile was significantly larger than that of flavone extracts from chamomile. CONCLUSION: Volatile oil extracts from the two species of chamomiles have significant difference in the antioxidant activity in TLC-bioautography. Specifically, the antioxidant activity of volatile oil extracts from chamomile is stronger than volatile oil extracts from Roman chamomile; the known antioxidant active components in volatile oil extracts from chamomile is en-yne-dicycloether, while all of the other three antioxidant active components as well as antioxidant active components in volatile oil extracts from Roman chamomile are unknown components and remain to be further determined. Considering the significant difference in the number of antioxidant active spots in volatile oil extracts from the two species of chamomiles, the result can be applied to distinguish the two species of chamomiles. The antioxidant activity determination result for flavone extracts from two species of chamomiles was consistent with the result of TLC-bioautography, showing that flavone extracts from chamomile and Roman chamomile are more antioxidant active, while that of Roman chamomile is stronger than chamomile. Flavone extracts from both of the two species of chamomiles contain apigenin and pigenin-7-glucoside, which are known, while all of the other five antioxidant active components contained in flavone extracts from chamomile and the other six antioxidant active components contained in flavone extracts from Roman chamomile are unknown and remain to be further identified. The method lays a foundation for further identification of antioxidant active components contained in chamomile. | Chamaemelum |
Pilomatricoma is a benign tumor that presents as a 3-30-mm, firm, solitary, deep, dermal or subcutaneous tumor on the head, neck, or upper extremities. The clinical diagnosis is often made by the firm, sometimes rock-hard texture of the skin. The diagnosis can be confirmed by a skin biopsy or excision of the lesion. We have recently noted that pilomatricomas appear as a black mass in the skin when the lesion is transilluminated by placing the light of a fiberoptic otoscope adjacent to the skin lesion. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating preoperative diagnosis of pilomatricoma by transilluminating the lesion with an otoscope. | Otoscopes |
Therapeutic hypothermia is a standardized intervention for the treatment of moderate-severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborns with gestational age >/=35 weeks. Several complications have been described. Our aim was to report a case of leukocytosis, for the first time in the literature, in a term newborn who underwent therapeutic hypothermia. | Leukocytosis |
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