text
stringlengths 1
10.9k
| meta
dict |
|---|---|
Novel one-pot three-component coupling reaction with trimethylsilylmethyl-phosphonate, acyl fluoride, and aldehyde through the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction.
A novel three-component coupling between trimethylsilylmethylphosphonate, acyl fluoride, and aldehyde has been developed. A sequential nucleophilic addition of lithio-trimethylsilylmethylphosphonate to the acyl fluoride and Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction of an aldehyde with the lithio-β-ketophosphonate generated in situ by desilylation at the α-position of the α-silyl-β-ketophosphonate by fluoride took place cleanly in a one-pot operation. Various E- and Z-enones were obtained in high yields with high stereoselectivities by this one-pot procedure. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[A case of thromboexclusion for thoracic descending aortic pseudoaneurysm with Behçet's disease].
A 59-year-old woman with Behçet's disease was admitted because of hemoptysis. She had undergone resection and patch closure of a thoracic descending aortic aneurysm 6 years before this current admission. The aortography after the first operation had shown a pseudoaneurysm at the operative site. In the current operation, we performed thromboexclusion with a temporary occlusion balloon in the distal thoracic descending aorta above Adamkiewicz. The post operative course was uneventful. Postoperative angiography demonstrated exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm and the patient was discharged without recurrent hemoptysis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Analysis of the circuitry responsible for primary afferent depolarization in the trigeminal spinal nucleus caudalis of cats.
Depth analysis was performed on the field potential evoked by stimulation of the infraorbital nerve in the trigeminal spinal nucleus caudalis and the subjacent lateral reticular formation of cats. It was shown by dye marking of the recording positions that each subnucleus of the nucleus caudalis (subnucleus marginalis, gelatinosus and magnocellularis) and the reticular formation could be differentiated from one another by the characteristics of the peripherally evoked field potentials. Responses of neurons were extracellularly recorded in the subnuclei gelatinosus and magnocellularis of the nucleus caudalis and in the reticular formation to stimulation of the trigeminal sensory branches (the frontal, infraorbital and lingual nerves), the nucleus ventralis posteromedialis of the thalamus and the cerebral cortex. The properties of the neurons were studied in relation to their thresholds, latencies, receptive fields (sensory branches effective for spike generation) and frequency-following capacities. These responses were then compared with properties of the PAD induced in the fibers terminating in the nucleus caudalis by similar peripheral and central stimulation. It was found that the neurons in the subnucleus magnocellularis were the most likely candidates for the interneurons mediating the peripherally evoked disynaptic PAD in the trigeminal nerve fibers terminating in the nucleus caudalis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Corticotroph axis sensitivity after exercise: comparison between elite athletes and sedentary subjects.
Strenuous exercise activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Several reports showed that physical training is associated with a decreased efficiency of the feedback control of HPA axis. The aims of the present study were: 1) to evaluate the differences in the mechanical, hormonal, and lactate responses to a high-intensity isokinetic exercise among different groups of competitive athletes (CA, no.=20) of power and endurance disciplines and sedentary controls (SED, no.=10); 2) to determine the effects of the training status on the HPA axis responsiveness following exercise, as indirectly evaluated by the rates of ACTH, cortisol, and DHEA recovery after exercise. CA and SED fulfilled eight sets of twenty concentric contractions of the knee extensors at 180 degrees/sec angular velocity throughout a constant range of motion (100 degrees). There was a rest period of 30 sec between each set and a 3-min rest period between the two legs. Before, immediately after the isokinetic exercise and at different times in the subsequent 120 min of recovery, blood and saliva were sampled to determine plasma ACTH, salivary cortisol, serum DHEA, and serum lactate concentrations. CA showed a higher cortisol response to exercise than SED, whereas no differences were found in the responses of ACTH, DHEA and lactate. In the athlete group the exercise-induced increases of ACTH, cortisol, and lactate were higher in power athletes with respect to endurance athletes. No differences were observed between athletes and SED in the rates of hormonal recovery after exercise: this finding does not support the concept that a reduced feedback control of HPA axis can represent a feature of trained individuals. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Adenovirus-mediated transfection of cultured cells.
We describe here a simple and efficient transfection method for transient expression of cloned genes in cell lines and primary cultured cells. The method involves the use of DEAE-dextran to target DNA to the cellular endocytotic pathway and the use of a human adenovirus to ensure efficient lysis of endosomal vesicles. The procedure allows effective delivery of DNA into the cytoplasm and, therefore, results in a higher fraction of cells expressing exogenous proteins. Using this method, we routinely obtain 60%-90% of COS cells or Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing beta-galactosidase, as determined by in situ staining with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactoside (X-gal). We have also obtained much improved levels of expression in cells that are difficult or impossible to use in transient expression assays, such as rat-1 fibroblasts or primary osteoblast cultures. We successfully used the method to express heteromeric proteins that require subunit assembly for proper function. The method also proved effective to express functions in which the exogenous protein needs to couple to the endogenous cellular machinery. Thus, this transient transfection method should prove valuable for many functional studies in a broad variety of cell lines and primary cultures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cycling hypoxia up-regulates thioredoxin levels in human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
The thioredoxin system is a key cellular antioxidant system and is highly expressed in cancer cells, especially in more aggressive and therapeutic resistant tumors. We analysed the expression of the thioredoxin system in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line under conditions mimicking the tumor oxygen microenvironment. We grew breast cancer cells in either prolonged hypoxia or hypoxia followed by various lengths of reoxygenation and in each case cells were cultured with or without a hypoxic cycling preconditioning (PC) phase preceding the hypoxic growth. Flow cytometry-based assays were used to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Cells grown in hypoxia showed a significant decrease in ROS levels compared to normoxic cells, while a significant increase in ROS levels over normoxic cells was observed after 4 h of reoxygenation. The PC pre-treatment did not have a significant effect on ROS levels. Thioredoxin levels were also highest after 4 h of reoxygenation, however cells subjected to PC pre-treatment displayed even higher thioredoxin levels. The high level of intracellular thioredoxin was also reflected on the cell surface. Reporter assays showed that activity of the thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase gene promoters was also highest in the reoxygenation phase, although PC pre-treatment did not result in a significant increase over non-PC treated cells. The use of a dominant negative Nrf-2 negated the increased thioredoxin promoter activity during reoxygenation. This data suggests that the high levels of thioredoxin observed in tumors may arise due to cycling between hypoxia and reoxygenation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Antidiabetic efficacy of obesity surgery in Germany: a quality assurance nationwide survey.
Obesity and diabetes usually co-exist. Obesity surgery seems to offer solutions for both. The objective of this study was to show the effect of obesity surgery on the diabetic profile. Data on obesity surgery in Germany (2005-2011) were collected from the Institute of Quality Assurance at the research university. Follow-up of the diabetic profile at 1, 2, and up to 6 years after surgery was done. Among 17,670 patients, 5,506 (31.2%) were diabetics. Follow-up was accomplished in 87.4%, 82.5%, and 68.9% of eligible patients at 1, 2, and up to 6 years, respectively, after surgery. Of the study participants, 38.2% were insulin-treated (IT) patients and 61.8% were noninsulin-treated patients (NIT). Of the patients' procedures, 2878 (52.3%) Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses (RYGB), 1711 (31.1%) sleeve gastrectomies (SG), 679 (12.3%) laparoscopic adjustable gastric bands (LAGB), 165 (3%) biliopancreatic diversions with duodenal switch (BPD/DS), and 68 (1.3%) biliopancreatic diversions (BPD) were performed. Female gender percentage and mean body mass index (BMI) were significantly higher in the RYGB and LAGB groups. Mean age was significantly higher in BPD/DS group. At 1 year, remission/improvement (RI) percentage was 83.5%, 82.5%, 67.8%, 93.4%, and 84.8% after RYGB, SG, LAGB, BPD, and BPD/DS, respectively. At 2 years, RI% was 84.9%, 79.5%, 67.7%, 94.5%, and 90.9% after RYGB, SG, LAGB, BPD, and BPD/DS, respectively. At late follow-up, RI% was 83.2%, 59.5%, 58.9%, 100%, and 86.4% after RYGB, SG, LAGB, BPD, and BPD/DS, respectively. IT patients showed insignificantly higher RI% than NIT patients at all follow-up points. Malabsorptive procedures (RYGB, BPD, and BPD/DS) showed a significantly higher RI% than restrictive procedures (LAGB and SG) at late follow-up. Obesity surgery has promising antidiabetic efficacy, especially in IT patients. Malabsorptive procedures show higher, gradually descending, but durable antidiabetic efficacy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Transfer characteristics of first and second order lateral canal vestibular neurons in gerbil.
Discharge patterns of first and second order vestibular neurons responding to angular acceleration in the plane of the lateral canals were studied in gerbil. The resting discharge activity of each cell was used to characterize the neuron by measureing the coefficient of variation and coefficient of skewness of the interspike interval distributions. Sinusoidal angular oscillations ranging in frequency from 0.0125 to 5.0 Hz were delivered by a velocity controlled rate-table. A PDP-12 minicomputer system was used on-line to display period and post-stimulus histograms of discriminated single unit activity. Off-line Fourier analysis of the period histograms was used to determine the phase of cell response to sinusoidal accelerations, while the average level and amplitude were determined by a least squares fitting algorithm applied over the fraction of the stimulus period where the cell discharged. First order neurons were found to have high discharge rates (average = 61.7 imp./sec) and bidirectional responses to rotation, and were of two groups called regular and irregular according to their resting discharge patterns. Second order neurons, located mainly in the medial and lateral vestibular nuclei, had low or even zero resting discharge rates (average = 17.8) resulting in more uni-directional responses and were of a single population. For frequencies less than 10 Hz, the Bode plots of the regular first order neurons are similar to that of a first order system with a time constant of about 2 sec as predicted by the torsion pendulum theory for cupula movement. The irregular first order neurons show an increasing gain above 0.5 Hz and a large phase lead relative to angular velocity above 1.0 Hz suggestive of a fractional power transfer function. The second order neurons show the phase and gain characteristics of the regular first order neurons being in phase with angular velocity above 1.0 Hz. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Development of hepatocytes in the pancreas of hamsters treated with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.
Transdifferentiation is a process in which one differentiated cell type is converted to another. A unique example of transdifferentiation is the development of hepatocytes from pancreatic cells in adult hamsters and rats. In this communication we report the induction of pancreatic hepatocytes in hamsters that were given 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Two or 6 intraperitoneal (ip) injections of TCDD at a dose of 100 micrograms/kg body weight at 4-wk intervals induced pancreatic hepatocytes in 75% and 89% of the animals respectively. In animals given only two doses of TCDD each pancreas contained one to two hepatic foci, whereas when six injections were administered multiple hepatic foci were observed. By hematoxylin and eosin stain and by periodic acid Schiff stain, the pancreatic hepatocytes were morphologically identical to those in normal liver. Although the exact mechanism by which TCDD induces the transformation is not clear, it is conceivable that TCDD acting through receptor-mediated mechanisms is activating the repressed liver-specific genes in the pancreas. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Probiotic bacteria: safety, functional and technological properties.
During the past two decades probiotic (health promoting) micro-organisms have been increasingly included in various types of food products, especially in fermented milks. Several aspects, including safety, functional and technological characteristics, have to be taken into consideration in the selection process of probiotic micro-organisms. Safety aspects include specifications such as origin (healthy human GI-tract), non-pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance characteristics. Functional aspects include viability and persistence in the GI-tract, immunomodulation, antagonistic and antimutagenic properties. Before probiotic strains, chosen on the basis of their good safety and functional characteristics, can benefit the consumer, they must first be able to be manufactured under industrial conditions. Furthermore, they have to survive and retain their functionality during storage, and also in the foods into which they are incorporated without producing off-flavours. Factors related to the technological and sensory aspects of probiotic food production are of utmost importance since only by satisfying the demands of the consumer can the food industry succeed in promoting the consumption of functional probiotic products in the future. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Demonstration of a novel neurofilament associated antigen with the neurofibrillary pathology of Alzheimer and related diseases.
A monoclonal antibody, termed NFT200, was raised after in vitro immunization with sonicated neurofibrillary tangle (NFT)-enriched fractions prepared from Alzheimer brain. The antigen to which NFT200 is directed was expressed in the paired helical filaments of NFT in sporadic and familial Alzheimer disease (AD), in the straight filaments of NFT in AD, progressive supranuclear palsy and of Pick bodies, and the NFT in several other conditions such as Parkinson-dementia complex of Guam and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Granulovacuolar degeneration of AD was also labeled with NFT200. Hirano bodies and amyloid deposits in AD, as well as Lewy bodies of idiopathic Parkinson disease lacked in the antigen. The NFT200-antigen was also expressed as a phosphatase-insensitive antigen in normal neurofilaments found in spinal cord and peripheral nerve axons but was absent from the perikaryal accumulation of neurofilaments induced by aluminum intoxication. Nevertheless, immunoblot studies failed to detect the NFT200 in isolated preparations of the neurofilament proteins, MAP-2, tau, ubiquitin or A4-amyloid peptide. The results indicate that the NFT200 monoclonal antibody is directed against a phosphatase-insensitive epitope of an axonal protein associated with neurofilaments but is labile to isolation and expressed as a stable epitope of a 200 kDa component of NFT. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Studies on the distribution of actin during meiotic prophase I of Nicotiana rustica L].
The Pollen Mother Cells of Nicotiana Rustica L. were studied using the techniques of immunofluorescence microscopy and protein A-colloidal gold IEM. Immunofluorescence microscopy indicates the presence of actin in both nuclei and cytoplasm. IEM observation shows that gold particles are present in cytoplasm, chromatin and cytomictic channels. These results indicate that actin has some relation with chromatin condensing at synizesis. Moreover, actin may also play an important role in cytomixis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Thermodynamics of Ca2+ binding to calmodulin and its tryptic fragments.
The binding of Ca2+ to calmodulin and its two tryptic fragments has been studied using microcalorimetry. The binding process is accompanied by the uptake or release of protons, depending on the ionic strength. With no added salt, the total enthalpy change for the binding of four calcium ions to calmodulin is -41 kJ mol-1 but in the presence of 0.15 mM KCl delta Htot is +17 kJ mol-1. The mode of binding of Ca2+ is also completely different with and without added salt. It is also shown that for the C-terminal fragment of calmodulin, TR2C, the drastic reduction in delta Gtot for the binding process on increasing the ionic strength is largely an enthalpic effect. Domain interactions in calmodulin are indicated by the fact that the sum of the enthalpies of calcium binding to the two tryptic fragments is not the same as the total binding enthalpy to calmodulin itself. The binding of Ca2+ to calmodulin has also been studied calorimetrically at different temperatures in the range 21-37 degrees C. delta Cp is large and negative in this interval. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
FLT3-ITD positive acute myeloid leukemia: A retrospective analysis of the role of allogeneic transplant and allelic ratio in patient management.
FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3-internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) positive AML is associated with increased relapse risk and reduced overall survival (OS) compared to non-FLT3-mutated AML. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of allelic ratio and allogeneic transplant on outcomes in FLT3-ITD+ AML. A retrospective study across five centers in Queensland, Australia, was conducted to examine survival outcomes and impact of FLT3-ITD allelic ratio and allograft. Seventy-one patients were included in the study. OS was significantly better for patients who were able to be allografted in first complete remission (CR1; 50.1 months vs 8.5 months; P = 0.0002). We did not find allelic ratio to be predictive of outcome. Transplantation in first complete remission is associated with improved outcomes for patients with FLT3+ AML. When feasible transplantation in CR1 is recommended. We do not currently recommend using allelic ratio to stratify risk unless this has been validated by local results. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Targeting retinoblastoma protein for degradation by proteasomes.
Inactivation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb) plays a key role in human tumorigenesis. Although the regulation of Rb by phosphorylation has been extensively studied, the regulation of proteasome-mediated Rb protein degradation is largely unknown. Viral oncoprotein E7, Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C), human cytomegalovirus pp71 and cellular oncoprotein gankyrin all contain the L-x-C-x-E Rb-binding motif and target Rb protein for degradation in either ubiquitin-dependent or ubiquitin-independent proteasome pathways. The molecular mechanisms, however, remain elusive. The MDM2 oncoprotein is overexpressed in a variety of human cancers. MDM2 functions as an ubiquitin E3 ligase and induces p53 protein degradation through ubiquitination-proteasome pathway. Both MDM2 central acidic domain and the C-terminal RING domain are critical for p53 degradation. MDM2 also interacts with Rb through its central acidic domain and inhibits Rb function in part by blocking Rb-E2F-DNA complex formation. Recently, we showed that MDM2 binds to C8 subunit of 20S proteasome and promotes Rb-C8 interaction, leading to a proteasome-dependent ubiquitin-independent degradation of Rb. Knockdown of MDM2 results in accumulation of hypophosphorylated Rb and inhibition of DNA synthesis. Taken together, we suggest that targeting Rb protein for degradation by proteasomes may represent a common neoplastic strategy during human cancer development. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The bioethics debate: transdisciplinary requirements in the multicultural context.
Why is it necessary to have a public debate over bioethical issues? How should it be organized? Who should be involved? What could it offer us? What are its limitations? The author attempts to answer these questions, by highlighting the necessity of breaking down disciplinary barriers and the need to ensure the pluralism of perspectives in such debates and the consideration of cultural factors for accessible and efficient communication. For this purpose, he gives several examples of public debates that correspond to different objectives. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Hemolytic anemia due to aortic valve regurgitation after mitral valve replacement].
A 50-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of heart failure (NYHA III) due to mitral valve regurgitation (MR) with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR). She had a history of chronic renal failure undergoing dialysis (peritoneal dialysis, homodialysis) since 1996. Cardiac catheterization and ultrasonic cardiography showed severe MR (Sellers III), severe TR and PH (mean pressure 33 mmHg). So we performed mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty (DeVega). Frequent blood transfusion was needed because severe hemolytic anemia appeared after operation. Ultrasonic cardiography demonstrated moderate aortic valve regurgitation (AR) with no paravalvular prosthetic leakage. We diagnosed hemolytic anemia due to AR. We performed aortic valve replacement. Hemolytic anemia improved soon after second operation. We investigated the mechanical process of the AR. She had a very short subaortic curtain (5.9 mm) compared with the average (8.7 +/- 2.1 mm: mean +/- SD) of cardiac patients. We think that we must be very careful with suture to short subaortic curtain. In addition measurement of subaortic curtain before operation is very useful. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
An in vitro model for the growth and analysis of chronic wound MRSA biofilms.
To develop an in vitro model (Colony/drip-flow reactor - C/DFR) for the growth and analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms. Using the C/DFR model, biofilms were grown on the top of polycarbonate filter membranes inoculated with a clinical isolate of MRSA, placed on absorbent pads in the DFR and harvested after 72 h. The biofilms varied from 256 to 308 μm in thickness with a repeatability standard deviation of 0·22. Testing of antimicrobial agents was also performed where C/DFR biofilms were grown in parallel with conventional colony biofilms. A saline solution (control), 1% silver sulfadiazine solution, and 0·25% Dakin's solution were used to treat the biofilms for 15 min. Microscopic evaluation of biofilm morphology and thickness was conducted. The Dakins solution in both models produced statistically significantly higher log reductions than silver sulfadiazine treatment. The C/DFR biofilms were thick and repeatable and exhibited higher resistance to Dakins solution than the treated colony biofilms. The C/DFR can be used as a tool for examining complex biofilm physiology as well as for performing comparative experiments that test wound care products and novel antimicrobials. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Barriers to continuity in the pathway toward occupational engagement among ethnic minorities with mental illness.
Ethnic minorities have particular needs and difficulties in terms of support for meaningful occupations, lack of access to and use of occupation-based rehabilitation services. They are not established in the labour market and are seldom in paid employment. This study aimed to investigate how mentally ill ethnic minority clients experience, feel and think about participation in occupation-based rehabilitation, and potential barriers they might encounter. Nine participants experiencing mental illness and receiving occupation-based rehabilitation were interviewed. Grounded theory methods were used in order to collect and analyze data. One core category, "barriers for a continuous path towards enriched and meaningful occupation" described the participants' experiences of a variety of barriers related to personal, occupational and system factors that hindered participation in occupation-based rehabilitation and influenced their need for occupational development and growth. The core category was composed of; personal-related barriers, occupational-related barriers, and system-related barriers as well as six related sub-categories. These barriers interacted continually across time and space in ways that increased the participants' sense of occupational deprivation and alienation. The findings also suggested that the issues of paid employment for ethnic minorities with mental illness should feature on the agenda of local, regional and state politicians and professionals involved in occupational rehabilitation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Aortoiliac thrombosis in antiphospholipid syndrome-case report and literature review.
Antiphospholipid syndrome is accepted as one of the most important causes of hypercoagulable states. Thrombotic events in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome, predominantly women, occur at a younger age than in those suffering from atherosclerotic disease. The majority of the thrombotic events affect the deep venous system of the lower limbs and arterial thrombosis predominates in the cerebral territory. The use of anticoagulant therapy prevents recurrent thrombosis but the duration and intensity of treatment remain controversial. Aortic disease is an anecdotal fact in the literature. A case of infrarenal aortic occlusion involving both iliac arteries associated with primary antiphospholipid syndrome is presented. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Functional and structural alterations of large arteries: methodological issues.
Ultrasound assessment of vascular biomarkers has been implemented for screening, prevention and improvement of cardiovascular risk stratification beyond classical risk factors including smoking, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. Thus, the presence of vascular damage at the sub-clinical, asymptomatic stages can identify a "vulnerable" patient, and aid in implementing cardiovascular prevention strategies. Increased intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery is a well-known marker of early atherosclerosis, which significantly correlates with the development of coronary or cerebro-vascular disease. More recently, guidelines for cardiovascular prevention in hypertension also introduced other vascular parameters evaluating both mechanical and functional arterial properties of peripheral arteries. Increased arterial stiffness, which can be detected by ultrasound at the common carotid, has been shown to predict future cardiovascular events and it is already considered a subclinical target organ of hypertensive patients. Even earlier vascular abnormalities such as endothelial dysfunction in the peripheral arteries, detected as reduced flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery by ultrasound, have also been mentioned for their possible clinical use in the future. This manuscript reviews clinical evidence supporting the use of these different vascular markers for cardiovascular risk stratification, focusing on the need for an accurate, robust and reliable methodology for the assessment of vascular markers, which could improve their predictive value and increase their use in routine clinical practice. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Iptakalim protects against hypoxic brain injury through multiple pathways associated with ATP-sensitive potassium channels.
The rapid and irreversible brain injury produced by anoxia when stroke occurs is well known. Cumulative evidence suggests that the activation of neuronal ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels may have inherent protective effects during cerebral hypoxia, yet little information regarding the therapeutic effects of KATP channel openers is available. We hypothesized that pretreatment with a KATP channel opener might protect against brain injury induced by cerebral hypoxia. In this study, adult Wistar rats were treated with iptakalim, a new KATP channel opener, which is selective for SUR2 type KATP channels, by intragastric administration at doses of 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg/day for 7 days before being exposed to simulated high altitude equivalent to 8000 m in a decompression chamber for 8 h leading to hypoxic brain injury. By light and electron microscopic images, we observed that hypobaric hypoxia-induced brain injury could be prevented by pretreatment with iptakalim. It was also observed that the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, water content, Na+ and Ca2+ concentration, and activities of Na+,K+-ATPase, Ca2+-ATPase and Mg2+-ATPase in rat cerebral cortex were increased and the gene expression of the occludin or aquaporin-4 was down- or upregulated respectively, which could also be prevented by the pretreatment with iptakalim at doses of 2, 4, or 8 mg/kg in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that in an oxygen-and-glucose-deprived model in ECV304 cells and rat cortical astrocytes, pretreatment with iptakalim significantly increased survived cell rates and decreased lactate dehydrogenate release, which were significantly antagonized by glibenclamide, a K(ATP) channel blocker. We conclude that iptakalim is a promising drug that may protect against brain injury induced by acute hypobaric hypoxia through multiple pathways associated with SUR2-type K(ATP) channels, suggesting a new therapeutic strategy for stroke treatment. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
C1-inhibitor attenuates hyperacute rejection and inhibits complement, leukocyte and platelet activation in an ex vivo pig-to-human perfusion model.
Xenotransplantation may be a future alternative due to increased shortage of organs. Classical complement activation is central in hyperacute rejection in pig-to-human combinations. We investigated the effects of C1-inhibitor (C1-INH), a regulator of the complement and contact systems, on hyperacute rejection. Pig kidneys were perfused with fresh human blood to which either C1-INH (n = 6) or human serum albumin (n = 6) was added. The survival of the C1-INH perfused kidneys (mean 327 min) was significantly longer (p < 0.00001) than the controls (79 min). C1-INH substantially inhibited complement activation (C1rs-C1-INH complexes, C4bc, C3bc and terminal complement complex) (p < 0.001 for all) compared with the marked complement activation in the controls. No contact activation was found. Leukocytes and platelets were substantially activated (counts, myeloperoxidase, beta-thromboglobulin, thrombospondin, soluble P-selectin) in the control group, and this activation was markedly reduced by C1-INH (p < 0.02 for all). Immunohistochemistry showed less C1q, C3, TCC, IgG and fibrin deposition in the C1-INH group. C1-INH may be useful to attenuate hyperacute rejection, probably through inhibition of complement. The reduced activation of neutrophils and platelets may mainly be secondary to inhibition of complement. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Inhalant use among indiana school children, 1991-2004.
To examine the prevalence and trend of inhalant use among Indiana public school students. The Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use among Indiana Children and Adolescents surveys conducted annually between 1991 and 2004 were reanalyzed using 2-way moving average, Poisson regression, and ANOVA tests. The prevalence had increased during 1991- 1997, decreased during 1997- 2002, and increased again since 2003. Poisson model estimated an average annual decrease rate of 5.6%. The intensity of inhalant use had also decreased. More males and Hispanics use inhalants. Inhalant use needs to be addressed in drug prevention programs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Lower and upper extremity atrophy associated with a giant congenital melanocytic nevus.
Giant congenital melanocytic nevi (GCMN) may be associated with a variety of malformations. Recently, atrophy of the underlying extremity was reported for the first time. We observed two patients with GCMN on the extremities with marked atrophy of the underlying tissue without functional impairment. According to the definition of hamartoma, it seems possible that one component of tissue has decreased. Dermatologists treating patients with such nevi in the first weeks of life with dermabrasion, laser, or curettage need to know that the natural course of GCMN may lead to atrophy and that this does not necessarily result from the treatment regimen. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Skin manifestations of protein glycosylation deficiency, the CDG (carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein) type 1 syndrome].
Type I carbohydrate deficient glycoprotein (CDG) syndrome is an inborn hereditary error of metabolism with a broad clinical spectrum. It is characterized by partial N-glycan deficiency of glycoproteins. Skin features may be part of this syndrome in infancy. A male infant failed to thrive, presenting psychomotor retardation, liver disease and multiple biological abnormalities. Very suggestive prominent skin manifestations were noted including abnormal subcutaneous fat with lipoma-like pads on the lower back and buttocks, thickened orange-peel skin on the limbs, thinned proximal knuckles, inverted nipples. Deficient serum transferrin sialylation and phosphomannomutase deficiency were identified confirming type I CDG syndrome. Although inconstantly present, skin manifestations of type I CDG syndrome are very suggestive and may be the inaugural signs of the disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Volatilization and degradation of soil-applied dimethylselenide.
Dimethylselenide (DMSe) is a highly volatile gas that is produced by indigenous microorganisms in seleniferous soils and sediments; however, little is known about the soil conditions that affect the persistence of DMSe and its transport to the atmosphere. In this study we investigated the effect of moisture content, temperature, and organic amendments on the degradation of soil-applied DMSe. The degradation of DMSe was entirely a result of biological mechanisms, but changes in temperature (20-40 degrees C) and soil moisture content (30-70% of the maximum water holding capacity) had little influence on the degradation rate. In contrast, amending soil with either 1% casein or gluten (by weight) had an inhibitory effect on the degradation of DMSe. After 18 d, 2.1 times more DMSe was present in the casein-amended soil and 2.6 times more DMSe was present in the gluten-amended soil. The transport of DMSe in packed soil columns was also investigated. Increasing the depth to soil surface was found to significantly decrease the amount of DMSe transported to the air. After 6 d, 57% of DMSe injected 10 cm below the soil surface was volatilized. At an injection depth of 20 cm the cumulative emissions were reduced by 38% and at 30 cm the cumulative emissions were reduced by 51%. In columns containing 1% casein or gluten in the top 5 cm of soil the cumulative loss of DMSe was about 9% higher than in unamended soil. Increasing our understanding of the soil conditions that influence the gaseous diffusion of DMSe should help in determining the feasibility of using Se volatilization as a remediation technique. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hepatitis B and C virus infection prevalence among women in Manila, the Philippines.
A seroepidemiological survey of HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HBe and anti-HCV positivities was conducted in 1997 in Manila, The Philippines. Adult women (21 to 59 years of age) were invited to donate peripheral blood for the study, and 50 people volunteered. They were nonsmokers, nonhabitual drinkers, and mostly married; none of them was a professional blood donor. The serum assay showed that all subjects were negative for HBsAg and HBeAg. Overall, a half (50%) of the study subjects were positive for any one of the HBV infection markers (i.e. HBV+). The older group (25 women at 36-59 years of age) showed significantly higher prevalence than the younger group (25 women at 21-35 years of age) of positivity to all three HBV antibody markers and therefore HBV positivity also. None of the study subjects was positive for anti-HCV. Comparison of the present findings with the results reported in the literature for the 1980s suggests that the risk of HBV infection and most probably that of HCV infection also has decreased in this 10-year period in the Philippines. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Schizandrin A enhances the efficacy of gefitinib by suppressing IKKβ/NF-κB signaling in non-small cell lung cancer.
The emergence of resistance to EGF receptor (EGFR) inhibitor therapy is a significant challenge for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). During the past few years, a correlation between EGFR TKIs resistance and dysregulation of IKKβ/NF-κB signaling has been increasingly suggested. However, few studies have focused on the effects of combining IKK/NF-κB and EGFR inhibitors to overcome EGFR TKIs resistance. In this study, we discovered that Schizandrin A (Sch A), a lignin compound isolated from Schisandra chinesnesis, could synergize with the EGFR receptor inhibitor Gefitinib to inhibit cell growth, induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of HCC827/GR cells. Sch A effectively suppressed the phosphorylation of IKKβ and IκBα, as well as the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, and showed high and selective affinity for IKKβ in surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments, indicating that Sch A was a selective IKKβ inhibitor. Molecular modeling between IKKβ and Sch A suggested that Sch A formed key hydrophobic interactions with IKKβ, which may contribute to its potent IKKβ inhibitory effect. These findings suggest a novel approach to improve poor clinical outcomes in EGFR TKIs therapy, by combining it with Sch A. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The experimental study on competitive PCR for quantitation of herpesviruses].
A single pair of oligonucleotide primer selected within a highly conserved region of the DNA polymerase gene in herpesviruses was synthesized. The competitive template DNA purified from cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was used to carry out competitive PCR amplification with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) DNA (target sequences). And anti-HSV1 effects of acyclovir (ACV) was investigated by the method. The results showed that the efficacy of PCR amplification was equal to each other(the ratio of the quantity of competitor template with DNA to the target sequence was 1.5:1). As the concentration of ACV was increased, the quantity of HSV1, DNA was decreased. It suggests that this method is practicable and some defects of mutant template can be overcomed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Under-estimation of self-reported occupational exposure by questionnaire in hospital workers.
The aim of the study was to determine whether self-reported occupational exposure to cleaning/disinfecting agents in hospital workers is accurate, in comparison to expert assessment, taken to be the gold standard. In the Epidemiological Study of the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA), participants were interviewed on occupation with a specific questionnaire for hospital workers regarding tasks and cleaning/disinfecting agents. Two estimates of exposure were available: self-report and expert assessment. The expert assessment involved a standardised procedure to estimate intensity, frequency and probability of exposure for each job. The present analysis focused on eight exposures: formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, bleach/chlorine, alcohol, quaternary ammonium components, ammonia, sprays and latex gloves. Agreement and differences between self-reported and expert estimates were studied by kappa and phi coefficients and McNemar tests, respectively. In the survey of 1571 adults, 176 ever hospital workers (327 occupations) with both self-reported and expert exposure assessments were studied. An underestimation of self-reported exposure was observed especially for formaldehyde (26.5% vs 32.7%, p=0.01), ammonia (7.4% vs 18.8%, p<0.0001), alcohol (64.9% vs 93.0%, p<0.0001) and quaternary ammonium components (16.6% vs 70.9%, p<0.0001), compared to expert assessment. Occupational exposure to disinfecting/cleaning agents is common and high in hospitals. A large underestimation of self-reported exposure and a lack of knowledge of product components was observed. Our results show the relevance of expert assessment in epidemiological studies to limit measurement bias. This work underlines the need for health education programmes on the occupational risks induced by these types of products. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Electrokinetic properties and mitogen responsiveness of mouse splenic B and T lymphocytes following hydrocortisone treatment.
CBA mice recieved a single intraperitoneal injection of hydrocortisone acetate (OHC) in a dose of 125 mg/kg body weight. At various times therafter, electrophoretic mobility (EPM), surface immunoglobulin (SIG) and in vitro DNA synthetic reactivity to concanavalin A (ConA), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tuberculin (PPD) were investigated on splenic lymphocytes. OHC was found to deplete rapidly the spleen to a minimum of 18% of control cellularity by day 4 posttreatment. At this time, the proportions of low mobility (LM) and SIG-bearing lymphocytes (B cells) were reduced respectively to 28% (control 54%) and 20% (control 45%). The proportion of high mobility (HM) lymphocytes (T cells) was increased to 72% (control 45%). While the mean EPM of LM cells (0.71) was only slightly and transiently reduced, that of HM cells was significantly augmented (1.24) over control value (1.16). This latter finding was interpreted as indicating the selective removal by OHC of a T cell subpopulation with a mean EPM around 1.10. Changes in mitogenic responsiveness were consistent with these alterations of B and T cell compartments. Despite a marked drop in spontaneous 3H-thymidine uptake, the absolute response to T cell mitogens ConA and PHA remained relatively unchanged. By contrast, the reactivity to B cell mitogens LPS and PPD was strongly depressed. Starting by day 12, regeneration and normalizaiton of lymphocyte populations proceeded slowly and were not achieved before day 26-34. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Transformations.
A patient with a serious illness continually refuses, postpones or avoids treatment until a conversation reveals essential contextual factors which change the physician's point of view. Once attended to, the patient also changes her attitude. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of aspirin on determinations of glycosylated hemoglobin.
We investigated the in vivo and in vitro effects of aspirin on several clinical assays of glycosylated hemoglobin. Acetylation of hemoglobin falsely increased the glycosylated hemoglobin fraction measured by "high-performance" liquid chromatography and electrophoresis, but isoelectric focusing and colorimetric techniques differentiated between acetylated and glycosylated fractions. Aspirin ingestion may result in an apparent increase in glycosylated hemoglobin measured with common clinical assays. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Overexpression of dishevelled-1 attenuates wortmannin-induced hyperphosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins in N2a cell.
To investigate the effect of dishevelled-1 (DVL-1) on wortmannin-induced Alzheimer-like hyperphosphorylation of cytoskeletal proteins in mouse neuroblastoma 2a (N2a) cells. Cultured N2a cells were transitorily transfected with DVL-1 expression plasmid using Lipofectamine 2000. Western blot and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to measure the phosphorylation of neurofilament and tau. Level of phosphorylated neurofilament at SMI31 epitope and phosphorylated tau determined by PHF-1 was increased at 1 h and 3 h and back to normal at 6 h after wortmannin 1 micromol/L treatment. The highest level of phosphorylated neurofilament and phosphorylated tau was seen at 1 h and 3 h after wortmannin treatment, respectively. When DVL-1 protein was overexpressed, the hyperphosphorylation of neurofilament at SMI31 and SMI32 epitopes and tau at PHF-1 (Ser-396/404), M4 (Thr-231/Ser-235), and Tau-1 (Ser-198/199/202) epitopes was attenuated. Overexpression of mouse DVL-1 protein inhibits wortmannin-induced hyperphosphorylation of neurofilament and tau in N2a cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Monoclonal antibodies of IgA isotype specific for lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella enteritidis: production, purification, characterization and application as serotyping reagents.
Hybridomas secreting immunoglobulin A (IgA) monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were generated after mucosal immunization of BALB/c mice with heat killed bacteria. Antigen binding properties and specificity of the produced MAbs were studied in ELISA and immunoblotting with purified LPS. Two IgA MAbs agglutinated all Salmonella OD1 strains and all S. enteritidis clinical isolates. MAb 178H11 recognized O:9 antigen of subserogroup OD1 LPS. MAb 177E6/A9 reacted also with OD3 LPS antigen and agglutinated OD3 strains. These data suggest the existence of different O:9 antigen subspecificities, one presented in subgroup OD1 and the other common for OD1 and OD3. Thus the produced IgA MAbs prove to be useful reagents, which could differentiate OD1 and OD3 from OD2 strains. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Evidence of rotavirus intragenic recombination between two sublineages of the same genotype.
Rotavirus G4 prevalence increased during the past decade, with one of the highest prevalences reported during rotavirus surveillance in Argentina. Intragenotype diversity analysis has led to its subdivision into lineages (I and II) and sublineages (Ia-Id). On analysis of Argentine and G4 VP7 sequences from other locations, one Argentine strain (ArgRes1723) appeared to be an intermediate between G4 sublineages Ib and Ic. Similarity and bootscanning analyses and Sawyer's test were carried out to demonstrate the recombinant nature of this strain. It was concluded that intragenic recombination occurred between sequences of sublineages Ib and Ic, with a crossover point between nucleotide positions 336 and 387. This study constitutes the first report of a mechanism of evolution in rotaviruses that is currently considered unusual - a recombination event between two strains of the same rotavirus genotype. These results will help increase current knowledge about rotavirus evolution and divergence, improving our understanding of the adaptation mechanisms used by these viruses. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A comparison of the in vitro cytotoxicity of two glass-ionomer cements.
The in vitro cytotoxicity of two glass-ionomer cements--ASPA and ChemBond--was compared using a model cavity system which simulates the in vivo situation. Both materials were cytotoxic to fibroblasts and macrophages, although differences were observed in the time scale and magnitude of the response elicited. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The gender role motivation model of women's sexually submissive behavior and satisfaction in heterosexual couples.
Previous findings suggest that women are more likely than men to take on the submissive role during sexual activities (e.g., waiting for their partner to initiate and orchestrate sexual activities), often to the detriment of their sexual satisfaction. Extending previous research on gender role motivation, the authors recruited 181 heterosexual couples to examine scripted sexual behavior, motivation for such behavior, and relationship outcomes (sexual satisfaction, perceptions of closeness, and relationship satisfaction) for both women and their partners. Using the actor-partner interdependence model, path analyses revealed that women's submissive behavior had negative links to personal sexual satisfaction and their partner's sexual satisfaction but only when their submission was inconsistent with their sexual preferences. Moreover, the authors show there are negative downstream consequences of diminished sexual satisfaction on perceptions of closeness and overall relationship satisfaction for both partners in the relationship. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Dispersed Uniform Nanoparticles from a Macroscopic Organosilica Powder.
A colloidal dispersion of uniform organosilica nanoparticles could be produced via the disassembly of the non-surfactant-templated organosilica powder nanostructured folate material (NFM-1). This unusual reaction pathway was available because the folate and silica-containing moieties in NFM-1 are held together by noncovalent interactions. No precipitation was observed from the colloidal dispersion after a week, though particle growth occurred at a solvent-dependent rate that could be described by the Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner equation. An organosilica film that was prepared from the colloidal dispersion adsorbed folate-binding protein from solution but adsorbed ions from a phosphate-buffered saline solution to a larger degree. To our knowledge, this is the first instance of a colloidal dispersion of organosilica nanoparticles being derived from a macroscopic material rather than from molecular precursors. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Vitamin D deficiency and acute lower respiratory infections in children younger than 5 years: identification and treatment.
Acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) is a leading cause of childhood mortality. Research suggests that vitamin D deficiency (VDD) puts children at risk for ALRI. The purpose of this review is to examine ALRI and VDD in children 5 years and younger. Common etiologies, diagnosis, prevention, treatment of ALRI, and recommendations for vitamin D supplementation are summarized. Databases were searched for studies investigating VDD and ALRI in children. Independent reviewers assessed the internal validity of the studies. Of 18 studies examined, VDD was found to be associated with increased risk or severity of ALRI in 13 studies; associations were not found in 4 studies. In one study it was found that high maternal vitamin D levels was associated with ALRI in infants. Vitamin D supplementation is a low-cost, low-risk intervention that providers should consider for children, especially those at high risk for ALRI. Practitioners should follow current recommendations when prescribing vitamin D supplementation for infants and children. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Multistrain outbreak of chancroid in San Francisco, 1989-1991.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and plasmid analyses were used to evaluate an outbreak of Haemophilus ducreyi in San Francisco. Fifty-four cases of culture-confirmed chancroid occurred between May 1989 and May 1991. Of these, 46 (96%) were in men and 35 (65%) were in blacks; the median age of patients was 34 years. Among the 32 isolates submitted for RFLP and plasmid analyses, six different HindIII RFLP patterns were identified. Two RFLP types were found in patients who had recently traveled to Los Angeles, Korea, or El Salvador. Four RFLP types appeared to be acquired locally and were more common among blacks (P = .002), in patients with a history of a sexually transmitted disease (P = .01), and in those who used drugs or exchanged drugs or money for sex (P = .08). The use of RFLP analysis confirmed that this outbreak was associated with multiple strains of H. ducreyi and allowed for the identification of risk factors for locally acquired chancroid. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, and S. japonicum: identification of genus-, species-, and gender-specific antigenic worm glycoproteins.
Immunoreactive glycoproteins of Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium, and S. japonicum adult worms which are genus-, species-, and gender-specific, or react with sera of patients infected with other parasites, have been identified. Schistosomes were metabolically labeled with [35S]methionine and the concanavalin-A binding glycoproteins that were immunoprecipitated with sera of patients infected with one of three species of Schistosoma or Trichinella spiralis, Taenia solium, Echinococcus granulosus, Entamoeba histolytica, or Wuchereria bancrofti were analyzed by one- and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The S. mansoni glycoproteins that were immunoprecipitated by sera of patients infected with S. mansoni were indistinguishable from those precipitated by sera of patients infected with S. haematobium. Analogous results were obtained by use of S. haematobium glycoproteins as the radiolabeled antigen. In contrast, sera of patients infected with S. japonicum or parasites not of the genus Schistosoma immunoprecipitated fewer than half of the major S. mansoni or S. haematobium glycoproteins. Likewise, several S. japonicum glycoproteins were cross-reactive, while others exhibited genus, species, and gender specificity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Lowered quality of life in mood disorders is associated with increased neuro-oxidative stress and basal thyroid-stimulating hormone levels and use of anticonvulsant mood stabilizers.
Major affective disorders including bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are associated with impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Oxidative stress and subtle thyroid abnormalities may play a pathophysiological role in both disorders. Thus, the current study was performed to examine whether neuro-oxidative biomarkers and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels could predict HRQoL in BD and MDD. This cross-sectional study enrolled 68 BD and 37 MDD patients and 66 healthy controls. The World Health Organization (WHO) QoL-BREF scale was used to assess 4 QoL subdomains. Peripheral blood malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products, paraoxonaxe/CMPAase activity, a composite index of nitro-oxidative stress, and basal TSH were measured. In the total WHOQoL score, 17.3% of the variance was explained by increased advanced oxidation protein products and TSH levels and lowered CMPAase activity and male gender. Physical HRQoL (14.4%) was associated with increased MDA and TSH levels and lowered CMPAase activity. Social relations HRQoL (17.4%) was predicted by higher nitro-oxidative index and TSH values, while mental and environment HRQoL were independently predicted by CMPAase activity. Finally, 73.0% of the variance in total HRQoL was explained by severity of depressive symptoms, use of anticonvulsants, lower income, early lifetime emotional neglect, MDA levels, the presence of mood disorders, and suicidal ideation. These data show that lowered HRQoL in major affective disorders could at least in part result from the effects of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, lowered antioxidant enzyme activities, and higher levels of TSH. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of delta 9-THC on brain and plasma catecholamine levels as measured by HPLC.
The effects of chronic administration of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) on the plasma and brain catecholamine (CA) levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection (LC-EC) system. Intact male rats were injected daily with vehicle (50 microliter oil) or with delta 9-THC (3 mg/kg body wt) over a period of 25 days. Trunk plasma and tissue from preoptic area (POA) and mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH) were collected and catecholamine levels were detected by LC-EC system coupled to an electronic integrator. Alumina extract of tissue and plasma samples, spiked with the internal standard (dihydroxybenzylamine), were injected into the LC-EC system; the CA were chromatographed and eluted within 12 minutes using sodium phosphate buffer as the mobile phase. delta 9-THC treatment resulted in a significant decrease in plasma and MBH levels of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), POA levels of NE; and significant increases in MBH levels of dopamine (DA) and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). Our study indicates for the first time that delta 9-THC treatment significantly alters not only the POA and MBH CA levels, but also the plasma CA levels. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Birthweight placental weight ratio of appropriate-for-dates and light-for-dates infants in preterm delivery.
Although birthweight placental weight ratio (BPR) may be a promising indicator which reflects pathophysiology of fetal growth restriction (FGR), the standard of BPR changes throughout gestation in a Japanese population has not been established as far as we know. Therefore, we first examined BPR of appropriate-for-dates (AFD) infants in each gestational week in preterm deliveries. We then compared it with that in a group of light-for-dates (LFD) infants born from mothers with and without pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Placentas of a singleton pregnancy with 373 AFD and 110 LFD infants delivered from 22 to 36weeks of gestation in our hospital during the period between September 2000 and December 2008 were included. We examined the placental weight and BPR of each gestational week in AFD and LFD groups. And the mean BPR and placental weight in the three groups (AFD: LFD with PIH: LFD without PIH) were compared according to gestational periods. The placental weight and BPR were significantly correlated to the gestational week both in AFD and LFD groups. We found that although the mean BPR in LFD-PIH(-) group was significantly lower than those both in AFD group and in LFD-PIH(+) group in 22-29weeks, the mean BPR in 30-36weeks was not statistically different among these three groups. Our result in the AFD group may be useful as one of the standards of BPR changes throughout gestation in a Japanese population for future studies. We believe that BPR may be a clinically useful indicator which reflects pathophysiology of FGR. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Iron stores in patients with chronic kidney failure treated with recombinant human erythropoietin].
Nine patients with anemia of chronic renal failure were treated with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in dose 50-150 IU/kg/week. After 8 weeks the treatment was maintained with 30-50 IU/kg/week for one year. A significant increase of hemoglobin (Hb) level and red blood cell (RBC) count was observed in all patients. Administration of rHUEPO maintained Hb level higher than 100 milligrams and RBC count above 3.0 x 10(12)/l. Iron stores decreased in all patients. Parameters reflecting either the real amount of iron available for erythropoiesis or iron stores in erythroid precursors, i.e. red cell ferritin (eF), free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) and transferrin saturation (satTRF) were the most reliable tools for diagnosis of iron deficient erythropoiesis. Serum ferritin (sF) was not decreased in most patients, however, sF level was below 50 micrograms/l in all patients at the time of diagnosis of iron deficiency. Iron supplementation in a daily dose allowing absorption of 100mg of elementary iron was sufficient to cover the increased demand for iron in rHuEPO treated patients. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Allergic rhinopathy: Magic Lite SQ Allergy Screen Inhalant and CAP-FEIA SX1--comparison of two allergen-specific screening tests in serum].
Although total IgE determination in the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis has been proposed for screening, specific tests seem to be more efficient. In this study, Magic Lite SQ Allergy Screen Inhalant (ML) and CAP-FEIA Phadiatop (CF) were compared in serum in a group of 101 patients with allergic rhinitis (41 women, 60 men, mean age 31.4 years, range 7-69) and 37 controls (17 women, 20 men, mean age 38.3 years, range 6-68). All patients were suffering from nasal disease. The diagnosis based on case history, skin prick test, total and specific IgE determination and nasal challenge tests. ML was found to have a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 83.8% while CF achieved a sensitivity of 94.1% and a specificity of 94.6%. Efficiency was 92.8% for ML and 94.2% for CF. A positive predictive value of 94.2% for ML and of 97.9% for CF was calculated while the negative predictive value was 88.6% for ML and 85.4% for CF. It is concluded, that both ML and CF are suitable allergy screening tests able to give a 100% diagnostic security in combination with further examinations, especially regarding the case history. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Robot-Assisted Surgery for Mandibular Angle Split Osteotomy Using Augmented Reality: Preliminary Results on Clinical Animal Experiment.
Mandibular angle split osteotomy (MASO) is a procedure widely used for prominent mandibular angles. However, conventional mandibular plastic surgery is invasive and high risk. It may induce postoperative neurosensory disturbance of the inferior alveolar nerve, fractures and infection due to the complexity of the anatomical structure and the narrow surgical field of view. The success rate of MASO surgery usually depends on the clinical experience and skills of the surgeon. To evaluate the performance of inexperienced plastic surgeons conducting this surgery, a self-developed and constructed robot system based on augmented reality is used. This robot system provides for sufficient accuracy and safety within the clinical environment. To evaluate the accuracy and safety of MASO surgery, an animal study using this robot was performed in the clinical room, and the results were then evaluated. Four osteotomy planes were successfully performed on two dogs; that is, twenty tunnels (each dog drilled on bilaterally) were drilled in the dogs' mandible bones. Errors at entrance and target points were 1.04 ± 0.19 and 1.22 ± 0.24 mm, respectively. The angular error between the planned and drilled tunnels was 6.69° ± 1.05°. None of the dogs experienced severe complications. Therefore, this technique can be regarded as a useful approach for training inexperienced plastic surgeons on the various aspects of plastic surgery. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 . | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The value of patient-reported health status in predicting short-term outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Risk stratification for comparison of outcomes after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) typically includes only clinical measures of risk. Patient-reported health status may be an important independent predictor of short-term health outcomes. To determine whether patient-reported health status, as measured by the Physical and Mental Component Summary scores of the SF-36, predicts in-hospital mortality and prolonged length of stay after CABG, after controlling for other clinical predictors of those outcomes. Prospective cohort study conducted from September 1993 to November 1995. One thousand seven hundred seventy-eight adults who underwent isolated CABG for myocardial ischemia. In-hospital mortality and prolonged length of stay (> 14 days). There were 27 deaths and 223 patients with prolonged length of stay in the study sample. A 10-point decrease in the Physical Component Summary (PCS) score increased the odds of in-hospital mortality by 61% (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.04-2.49), independent of established clinical risk factors. Similarly, a 10-point decrease in the PCS score increased the odds of prolonged length of stay by 33% (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.13-1.57). A 10-point decrease in the Mental Component Summary score (MCS) decreased the odds of mortality by 36% (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.95). The PCS score is independently and significantly associated with in-hospital mortality and prolonged length of stay, after controlling for clinical risk factors. The MCS score is independently and significantly associated only with mortality, though the direction of the effect is unexpected. The result likely reflects a property of the scoring of the MCS and not a finding of clinical substance. Although caution must be taken when interpreting the summary scores, the SF-36 yields information not otherwise captured by clinical data and may be useful in risk stratification for in-hospital mortality and prolonged length of stay after CABG. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The rationale for improved integration between home care and neurology hospital services in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.
Management of patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) should benefit from improved integration between in-hospital services and home care. In Italy the number of PD hospital admissions is large but there are no guidelines of appropriateness to address queries of health authorities on resource allocation. Reasons for hospitalisation are often linked primarily to the occurrence of falls or infections leading to admission in internal medicine wards rather than neurology. This could be reduced if severe patients were provided with regular nursing and rehabilitation services at their homes and neurologists were actively involved in this process. Moreover, the application of infusion therapies (apomorphine or duodenal levodopa infusion) or deep brain stimulation would require integration with home care services after patient discharge. Here we propose a management algorithm that we believe would facilitate care and eventually lead to an optimisation of resource allocations for advanced PD patients. This would reduce unnecessary internal medicine hospitalisations and further highlight the role of neurologists as a key health care figure. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Radiological evaluation of paragangliomas of the head and neck.
Paragangliomas can be differentiated angiographically from most other tumors in the head and neck by their profuse vascularity; specific classification is based on their position and displacement of adjacent vessels. Subtraction usually aids in diagnosis. In most cases, bilateral carotid angiography should be performed, since the ipsilateral carotid artery may have to be ligated and an asymptomatic contralateral tumor may also be found during surgery. Studies of multiple vessels will often show an additional blood supply. Computed tomography can demonstrate the tumor's vascular nature and position and is valuable in follow-up after radiation therapy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Nurses and the genomic revolution.
To increase nurses' genetics and genomics literacy through a series of articles focused on genomic research discoveries and their importance for nursing education, practice, policy, and research. "Genomics for Health " is one of three themes, along with genomes to biology and genomes to society, emanating from applications of the Human Genome Project (HGP). In this series of articles, nurse scientists who are experts in genetics and genomics sciences explain terminology, provide background information about the HGP, discuss clinical examples, and recommend changes in nursing practice, education, and research. The HGP has already led to major changes in clinical practice, research, education, and policy, and even more dramatic changes are predicted for people throughout the world. Mastering this information is necessary for nurses globally because genomic information will ultimately pervade all of health care. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Anticoagulant 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose isolated from geranium (Pelargonium inquinans Ait).
Geranium (Pelargonium inquinans Ait) leaves were extracted with 80% MeOH, and partitioned into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, BuOH and H2O to isolate the anticoagulant principles. The EtOAc fraction was found to be the most active, and was further purified using silica and octadecylsilane column chromatography employing a bioassay-guided fractionation method. The active compound was isolated and identified as 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose (PGG) (compound I). The isolated anticoagulant significantly prolonged the activated partial thrombin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT) using normal human plasma. One microgram of 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloyl-beta-D-glucopyranose showed 0.063 heparin units in the APTT and 2.73 heparin units in the TT for anti-thrombosis. This is the first report of the isolation of PGG from geranium plants. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Postoperative (pressure) alopecia following sacrocolpopexy.
Postoperative alopecia is a rare occurrence seen after a variety of surgical procedures performed under general anesthesia. The speculated cause is pressure-induced ischemia due to prolonged head immobilization. This case describes a patient who developed this complication after undergoing sacrocolpopexy. A 57-year-old postmenopausal Caucasian female was consented to undergo a robotic-assisted sacrocolpopexy, perineoplasty, and midurethral sling with possible conversion to an open procedure. The indication was symptomatic proximal and distal rectocele with foreshortened vagina. It was converted to laparotomy due to difficult presacral dissection. Her total operative time was 540 with 240 min in the Trendelenburg position. No intraoperative hypotension or excessive blood loss was noted. She started complaining of scalp pain in the postoperative recovery area. She developed soreness, crusting, and later alopecia in the same area. It was noted at her 3-week office visit. Referral was made for dermatology and anesthesiology evaluation. There was spontaneous full recovery by the 5th month. Postoperative alopecia is a rare condition mimicking alopecia areata but it is preceded by inciting events. There is some evidence to suggest that it is a preventable condition by frequent head repositioning during surgery. This case report is intended to increase the surgeon's awareness about this rare complication as its occurrence can be distressing for the patient. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
One hundred percent incidence of hemidiaphragmatic paresis associated with interscalene brachial plexus anesthesia as diagnosed by ultrasonography.
Interscalene brachial plexus anesthesia for shoulder surgery routinely includes sensory anesthesia of the fourth and fifth cervical nerves. The authors reasoned that some degree of diaphragm paralysis should result from interscalene blocks that produce surgical C3-C5 sensory anesthesia. In this investigation, ultrasonography was used to study the incidence of ipsilateral hemidiaphragmatic paresis during routine interscalene block, as it is a practical, sensitive, and low-risk method for diagnosing hemidiaphragmatic function without radiation exposure. Thirteen healthy patients received interscalene blocks using a paresthesia technique with 34-52 mL 1.5% mepivacaine with added epinephrine and bicarbonate. All developed cervical sensory anesthesia. Data were collected before and 2, 5, and 10 min after injection, and, when possible (11 of 13 patients), at hourly intervals after surgery. Changes from normal to paradoxical motion of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm were seen in all 13 patients during sniff and Mueller maneuvers within 5 min (in 11 of 13 patients at 2 min). Diaphragmatic motion returned to normal in 10 of 11 patients between 3 and 4 h after injection and in the remaining patient by the fifth hour after injection. Diaphragmatic paresis appears to be an inevitable consequence of interscalene brachial plexus block when providing anesthesia sufficient for shoulder surgery. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Brimonidine for glaucoma.
Brimonidine is a drug used in the management of glaucoma throughout the world and is the most modern alpha(2)-adrenoceptor agonist available. This review comprehensively discusses the use of brimonidine for glaucoma. A historical insight into the development of selective adrenergic glaucoma drugs is given, followed by a description of the mechanisms of action and a discussion of the main clinical trials investigating clinical applications. The safety of brimonidine is evaluated, and our expert opinion is provided on how brimonidine is used in our clinical practice. The most relevant literature on the role of brimonidine in glaucoma is discussed. A clear understanding of the role of brimonidine for glaucoma treatment, with an explanation of its efficacy, limitations and use in clinical practice. Brimonidine is an effective drug for lowering intraocular pressure. It has potentially serious systemic effects in children, in whom it is contraindicated. Its use in adults is limited by its ocular side effects such as allergy. Brimonidine is, however, an important part of the range of intraocular pressure lowering drugs available to prescribers. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Antiallergic activity profile in vitro of RHC 2963 and related compounds.
RHC 2963 (7-methyl-pyrido (3',2':4,5)-thieno (3,2-d)-1,2,3 triazine-4(3H)-one and 20 related compounds have been investigated for their antiallergic activities in 3 in vitro models of anaphylaxis and for their effects on cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (cNUC-PDE) from purified rat mast cells (RMC). Nine compounds were potent (I50 less than or equal to 80 microM) inhibitors of antigen-induced release of histamine (AIR) from RMC, 2 compounds inhibited anti-IgE-induced release of histamine from human basophils (I50 less than or equal to 60 microM) and one compound inhibited AIR from guinea pig lung slices (I50 = 55 microM). RHC 2963 was 18 times more potent than disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) as inhibitor of AIR from RMC and had an activity profile identical to that of DSCG in the following respects: loss of inhibitory activity with increasing preincubation time, tachyphylactic properties and inability to inhibit non-immunologic release of histamine induced by compound 48/80. Neither RHC 2963 nor DSCG had any effect on anti-IgE-induced release of histamine from human basophils or IgG1-mediated release of histamine from guinea pig lung. Twelve of the compounds in this chemical series were more potent than theophylline as inhibitors of cyclic AMP and/or cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) from RMC. Paired regression analysis of the I50 values for inhibition of AIR and cNUC-PDE from RMC revealed no statistically significant correlation between the inhibition of AIR and inhibition of cAMP- or cGMP-PDE. We conclude: (1) RHC 2963 and some of the related compounds are potent inhibitors of immunologic release of histamine from RMC with a mechanism of action similar to that of DSCG, and (2) inhibition of cAMP- or cGMP-PDE by these compounds is not the biochemical mechanism by which they inhibit AIR from RMC. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
How to screen for intimate partner violence.
Domestic violence affects individuals in every part of the world, regardless of age, economic status, race, religion, nationality, or educational background. In the United States, domestic violence affects as many as 3 million women each year. Physicians and other health care providers have a unique opportunity to screen their patients-both female and male-for domestic violence or abuse. This article describes signs and symptoms of domestic violence that physicians should look for when seeing patients in the medical office or hospital and offers guidelines for initiating a discussion with patients who might be victims or abusers. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Women are dying early from drug misuse.
Women who misuse drugs are dying prematurely and in increasing numbers. The past decade has seen a 95% rise in the number of women dying as a result of drug misuse: 357 died in 2006, while 697 died in 2016. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Immunotherapeutics for autoimmune encephalopathies and dementias.
The timely implementation of immunotherapy is key to successful treatment of autoimmune encephalopathies or dementias (from here on will be referred to as autoimmune encephalopathies). There are different levels of diagnostic certainty which should guide the immunological treatment of autoimmune encephalopathies. There is a high level of diagnostic certainty for patients who have classic limbic encephalitis and have a neural antibody detected in serum or CSF (such as potassium channel complex antibody). For these patients, initiating high-dose corticosteroids or IVIg is indicated, with plasma exchange, rituximab or cyclophosphamide used as second-line therapy if first-line therapy proves only partially beneficial. There is a lower level of diagnostic certainty in patients with non-limbic atypical phenotypes (though rapidly progressive) when no neural antibody is detected in serum and CSF. A trial of corticosteroids or IVIg (or both sequentially) may be undertaken in these patients, but if no objective improvements occur, further immunotherapy is unlikely to be beneficial. Antiepileptic treatment also plays a critical role in those who have seizures as well as cognitive symptoms. Evaluation for and treatment of any underlying cancer is another component for those patients with a paraneoplastic cause of encephalitis. An individualized maintenance regimen needs to be designed for patients who do improve with immunotherapy. Individual factors that need to be considered when formulating a program of maintenance treatment include disease severity, antibody specificity and proclivity for disease relapse. Azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil are frequently used for the purpose of remission maintenance, and should permit gradual withdrawal of steroids, IVIg or more toxic immunosuppressants. The duration of maintenance therapy is uncertain, but this author typically recommends 3-5 years of relapse-free maintenance treatment before discontinuing immunotherapy altogether. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
High resolution recording of asymmetry currents from the squid giant axon: technical aspects of voltage clamp design.
The design, realisation and performance of a voltage clamp system dedicated to recording asymmetry currents from the squid giant axon is presented. The design has been optimised with respect to dynamic response, signal-to-noise ratio and linearity. Analytical expressions are given for both the dynamic performance and noise characteristics which simplify the design and setting up of the clamp and provide excellent agreement between design theory and practice. A 0.5 cm2 area of membrane can be voltage clamped in response to a command input voltage step within 10 microseconds with smooth settling and up to 100% of the effective series resistance being compensated. The noise contributions of the recording chamber, voltage sensing electrodes and clamp electronics have been reduced such that recording of gating currents with a more than 10-fold reduction in the number of averages required compared with previous clamp designs is possible. The overall system nonlinearity results in typically less than 1% contribution to the measured asymmetry charge. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Histomorphometric evaluation of short-term changes in masseter muscle after lengthening the rabbit mandible by distraction osteogenesis.
Structural changes in muscles may affect the process during and after distraction osteogenesis (DO) of the mandible. However, the response of the masticatory muscles is still not well defined after gradual lengthening of the mandible. In this experimental study, short-term structural changes in masseter muscles of the rabbits are evaluated after mandibular DO. Left mandibles of 10 New Zealand rabbits were lengthened by DO for 7 days in the rate of 1 mm/day. Mandibles of all animals were removed at the end of the consolidation period. Muscle biopsy samples of distracted and contralateral sides were histopathologically investigated, and histomorphometric results were statistically analyzed. Atrophy, hypertrophy, regeneration, and concomitant mild interstitial edema and fibrosis were found more evident in experimental side biopsy samples 30 days after distraction. Histomorphometric analysis revealed a statistically significant decrease in the mean regions of masseter muscle fibers of the distracted sides compared with the control sides (P <.05). This experimental study showed that the structure of masseter muscle is influenced during and shortly after mandibular distraction osteogenesis. Atrophic changes of the ipsilateral masseter muscles may be regarded as regenerative response that occurs during and shortly after distraction period. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Novel etiological and therapeutic strategies for neurodiseases: RNA editing enzyme abnormality in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The motor neurons of patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) express abundant Q/R site-unedited GluR2 mRNA, whereas those of patients with other motor neuron diseases including familial ALS associated with mutated SOD1 (ALS1) and those of normal subjects express only Q/R site-edited GluR2 mRNA. Because adenosine deaminase acting on RNA type 2 (ADAR2) specifically catalyzes GluR2 Q/R site-editing, it is likely that ADAR2 activity is not sufficient to edit this site completely in motor neurons of patients with sporadic ALS. Because these molecular abnormalities occur in disease- and motor neuron-specific fashion and induce fatal epilepsy in mice, we have hypothesized that GluR2 Q/R site-underediting due to ADAR2 underactivity is a cause of neuronal death in sporadic ALS. We found that cytoplasmic fragile X mental retardation protein interacting protein 2 (CYFIP2) mRNA had an ADAR2-mediated editing position using RNA interference knockdown. Our review will include a discussion of new ADAR2 substrates that may be useful for research on sporadic ALS. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Pediatric case series in an ophthalmic camp in Turkana (Kenya)].
Turkana is the largest district in Kenya, situated in the Northwest of the country. It features a semi-nomadic population of 850,000. Around 60% of population lives below the poverty threshold. The ratio of doctors is 1:75,000 inhabitants. Five ophthalmologists took part in the last deployment in November. Local staff had previously selected the patients from the rural areas, as well as in Lodwar, the capital of the district. Of the 371 patients who attended the clinic, 128 required surgery. To describe the pediatric population attended to in the last «Turkana Eye Project» Camp. Description of the ophthalmic pathologies of the children seen in the clinic in this surgical camp, and the diagnostic and therapeutic options according to the limitations of the environment. Of the 371 patients, 54 were younger than 15 years old (14.5%). Four children had surgery (3.25% of the 128 patients). In 2 more cases surgery was the indicated but not performed. Therefore, of the total of 54 cases, 6 could be considered as surgical (11.1%), and 17 suffered ophthalmic problems other than refraction defects, or mild ocular surface pathologies: traumatic cataracts, neuropathies, impetigo, exophthalmos, retinal dystrophies, dermoid cysts, or nyctalopia. The etiology was traumatic in four of the 17 children (23.5%). Surgical camps are increasing in the developing countries. They are usually focused on particular pathologies, such as cataracts or trachoma. Our case series shows the importance of pediatric teams and the need to be prepared to face complex pediatric pathologies. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Enzymatic catalysis via liquid-liquid interfaces.
Enzymes acting in a biphasic liquid of water and organic solvent may show catalytic activity dependent on the amount of phase interface available. Such an effect may be caused by several mechanisms. For example, for hydroxynitrile lyase from Prunus amygdalus, substrate mass transfer limitation has been advocated, but also adsorption of the enzyme on the interface. In this commentary it is shown that often these two mechanisms will have qualitatively similar consequences. The reaction rate will be influenced by the organic substrate concentration, by the initial enzyme concentration, and by the volume-specific interfacial area, and these influences will be linear at low values but reach a saturation level at high values. To rule out any of the models, their quantitative mathematical descriptions should be compared, taking into account that both models may be valid simultaneously. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Switching antipsychotics to aripiprazole or blonanserin and plasma monoamine metabolites levels in patients with schizophrenia.
Blonanserin is a novel atypical antipsychotic drug that has efficacy equal to risperidone. We investigated the effects of aripiprazole and blonanserin on clinical symptoms and plasma levels of homovanillic acid (pHVA) and 3-methoxy-4hydroxyphenylglycol in the switching strategy of schizophrenia. Twenty two Japanese patients with schizophrenia were enrolled into this open study. The antipsychotics of all patients were switched to aripiprazole or blonanserin for the improvement of clinical symptoms or side effects. Plasma monoamine metabolites levels were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. There were no significant effects for time (p = 0.346) or time × group interaction (p = 0.27) on the changes of positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) total score, although blonanserin decreased PANSS scores. We observed negative correlation between pHVA at baseline and the change in PANSS total score (rs = -0.450, p = 0.046). We also found positive correlation between the changes in pHVA and the changes in PANSS total (rs = 0.536, p = 0.015) and positive (rs = 0.572, p = 0.008) scores. There were no differences between blonanserin and aripiprazole in the improvement of clinical symptoms. Our results suggest that pHVA may be useful indicator for the switching strategy to aripiprazole or blonanserin in schizophrenia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Changes in medicaid physician fees, 1998-2003: implications for physician participation.
After slow growth during much of the 1990s, Medicaid physician fees increased, on average, by 27.4 percent between 1998 and 2003. Primary care fees grew the most. States with the lowest relative fees in 1998 increased their fees the most, but almost no states changed their position relative to other states or Medicare. Physicians in states with the lowest Medicaid fees were less willing to accept most or all new Medicaid patients in both 1998 and 2003. However, large fee increases were associated with primary care physicians' greater willingness to accept new Medicaid patients. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Tongue-palate contact pressure, oral air pressure, and acoustics of clear speech.
The authors compared articulatory contact pressure (ACP), oral air pressure (Po), and speech acoustics for conversational versus clear speech. They also assessed the relationship of these measures to listener perception. Twelve adults with normal speech produced monosyllables in a phrase using conversational and clear speech. Target phonemes were /t, d, s, z, l, n/. ACP was measured at a point of articulatory contact; Po was sensed by a catheter open in the posterior oral cavity. ACP was increased to a greater extent in clear speech for /t, d, z/. Po was increased to a greater extent for /t, d/. Acoustic changes also occurred in terms of segment durations, speaking rate, and CV dB ratio. Regression analysis indicated that segment duration was the strongest predictor of listener ratings of speech clarity, followed by an index of articulatory effort and speaking rate. Articulatory effort, as indexed by ACP, Po, and CV dB ratio, was increased to varying degrees depending on the consonant. Greatest changes occurred for /t, d/. Durational measures at both the segment and the phrase level were also important for predicting listener ratings of speech clarity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Utilization of antiepileptic drugs during pregnancy: comparative patterns in 38 countries based on data from the EURAP registry.
We assessed the utilization of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), 1999-2005, in 4,798 prospective epilepsy pregnancies from 38 countries participating in EURAP, an international AED and pregnancy registry. Prominent differences in utilization patterns were observed across the various countries. Exposure to second-generation AEDs ranged from 3.5% in India and 7.3% in Italy to 75% in Denmark. Even wider variation was recorded in exposure to individual AEDs. The utilization of second-generation AEDs increased over time (for lamotrigine, from 9.9% of all pregnancies before 2001 to 29.6% after 2003). The differences in use of individual AEDs across countries probably reflect lack of evidence concerning the optimal treatment of epilepsy in women of childbearing age, as well as variation in country-specific traditions, medication costs, and drug promotion. Our observations underscore the need for comparative studies to investigate the factors influencing the prescription of AEDs during pregnancy, as well as their influence on pregnancy outcome. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Neurologic signs in bacterial endocarditis: an unusual case report]
We describe the case of a 35-year-old woman, hospitalised due to a fever lasting two days, with signs and symptoms of cerebro-spinal meningitis. The subsequent occurrence of a thromboembolic event with stroke suggests that the neurological symptoms were secondary to a centre of infective endocarditis (instrumentally proved) in the absence of further outstanding symptoms of endocarditis. This event is very unusual during the course of endocardic disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The role of prophylactic oophorectomy in women undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer.
Current gynaecological practice is to remove surgically accessible ovaries with prior consent in post menopausal women to eradicate the risk of subsequent development of ovarian cancer. However in colorectal surgery opinion is divided, although evidence suggests that ovarian metastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma occur in 3-4% of cases. The review is based on published literature of the role of prophylactic oophrectomy in women undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer, obtained from Medline/PubMed and other online databases using the terms 'prophylactic oophorectomy' and 'colon cancer'. Additional references were sourced by manually searching bibliographies of articles located. There is a paucity of published information and published reports have conflicting conclusions. A preliminary report of a randomised prospective trial suggests the probability of increased recurrence free survival in the oophorectomy group. It would seem appropriate to consider the necessity and possible benefits of oophorectomy in women prior to surgery for colorectal cancer. This would seem particularly relevant in distal sigmoid or upper rectal cancers when the ovaries or uterus may be directly invaded and curative surgery would involve en bloc resection. Post menopausal women with a family history of ovarian cancer should be advised to have oophorectomy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Safety pharmacology of a combination of tinidazole and oxyphenonium bromide.
The effect of a combination of 150 mg tinidazole (CAS 19387-91-8) and 1 mg oxyphenonium bromide (CAS 50-10-2), referred to as the combination, was examined in various animal species to assess its safety. In mice and rats, the combination in the dose range 30-1000 mg/kg p.o. or 250 mg/kg i.p. did not produce behavioural or neurological changes, nor did it influence pentobarbital sleeping time, though, alcohol sleeping time was altered. In anaesthetised dogs, neither blood pressure, ECG, heart rate, respiration or gastrointestinal motility was affected after single intraduodenal administration of the combination 20 and 50 mg/kg or after chronic oral administration of 25 mg/kg daily for 15 days. In isolated organs, viz. perfused rabbit heart, guinea-pig ileum and rat ileum no significant changes were observed following various doses of the combination, compared to tinidazole and oxyphenonium bromide given alone in corresponding concentrations. In conclusion, the pharmacological profile of the aforementioned combination in the dosages employed in mice, rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits and dogs shows that it is safe and well tolerated. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[How I treat … an acute otitis media in children].
Acute otitis media (AOM) is very common in early childhood (inferior to 2 years). As a spontaneous recovery occurs in superior to 80 % of cases, antibiotics use should not be systematic. The aim of this review is to discuss AOM diagnostic criteria based on the latest recommendations, aiming a wiser use of antibiotics. Antibiotics use in a child with AOM should take into account the age, the severity of the disease, uni- or bilateral otitis, the presence or absence of otorrhea, and the presence of possible risk factors. Delayed antibiotics prescription might be considered in some specific circumstances. The first line antibiotic treatment is amoxicillin, and increased dosage is efficient in case of resistant pneumococci. Pain evaluation is important, and, in every treatment protocols for AOM, pain-relievers use is needed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Heat-inactivated frog virus 3 selectively inhibits equine herpesvirus type 1 translation in a temporal class-dependent manner.
Superinfection of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1)-infected rabbit kidney cells with heat-inactivated frog virus 3 (delta FV3) differentially blocked EHV-1 protein synthesis. The extent of inhibition varied with the specific EHV-1 message, but in general late protein synthesis was inhibited more than early and immediate early translation. Since FV3 has been shown to block heterologous RNA and protein synthesis, it was necessary to determine whether the observed reduction in herpesvirus protein synthesis was primarily due to a block in translation or to an earlier inhibition of EHV-1 mRNA synthesis. To distinguish between these alternatives, replicate cultures of EHV-1 infected cells were either superinfected with delta FV3 or treated with 10 micrograms/ml actinomycin D at 6 hr after infection, and EHV-1 protein synthesis monitored 3 hr later. We found that addition of actinomycin D to EHV-1 infected cultures had only a slight effect on EHV-1 translation, whereas superinfection with delta FV3 markedly reduced EHV-1 protein synthesis. This result suggested that the observed decline in EHV-1 protein synthesis was not due to the inhibition of herpesvirus mRNA synthesis. In addition, we showed that RNA extracted from delta FV3-superinfected cells directed the synthesis of full-size EHV-1 proteins in vitro indicating that shut-off was not caused by the degradation of EHV-1 mRNAs. Taken together these results show that delta FV3 selectively inhibited EHV-1 protein synthesis and are consistent with earlier observations which suggest that translational shut-off occurs at initiation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
An alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase from Penicillium purpurogenum: production, purification and properties.
Penicillium purpurogenum secretes arabinofuranosidase to the growth medium. Highest levels of enzyme (1.0 U ml(-1)) are obtained when L-arabitol is used as carbon source, while 0.85 and 0.7 U ml(-1) are produced with sugar beet pulp and oat spelts xylan, respectively. By means of a zymogram, three bands with arabinofuranosidase activity have been detected in the supernatant of a culture grown in oat spelts xylan. One of the enzymes was purified to homogeneity from this supernatant using gel filtration (BioGel P-100), cation exchange chromatography (CM-Sephadex C-50), hydrophobic interaction chromatography (phenyl agarose) and a second BioGel P-100 column. The enzyme is a monomer of 58 kDa with a pI of 6.5. Optimum pH is 4.0 and optimal temperature 50 degrees C. The arabinofuranosidase is highly specific for alpha-L-arabinofuranosides and liberates arabinose from arabinoxylan. The enzyme shows hyperbolic kinetics towards p-nitrophenyl-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside with a K(M) of 1.23 mM. A 36-residue N-terminal sequence is over 70% identical to that of fungal arabinofuranosidases belonging to family 54 of the glycosyl hydrolases. Based on the sequence similarity and other biochemical properties it is proposed that the purified enzyme from P. purpurogenum belongs to family 54. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cation nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). 7Li- and 23Na-NMR results obtained with human erythrocytes.
A short discussion of practical results and theoretical aspects of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) on intracellular monovalent cations is presented. 7Li- and 23Na-NMR relaxation studies on human erythrocytes are described which indicate that lithium and sodium ions are essentially free inside the cell. However, there is a contribution to transverse relaxation originating from cations diffusing through electric field gradients imposed by the cytoskeleton, which is reflected in the NMR line shape. 39K-NMR results obtained by other authors for intracellular potassium are compared with the 7Li- and 23Na-NMR results presented here. The few 39K-NMR results obtained so far do not suggest that significant differences in dynamic behavior exist between intracellular potassium and sodium. 39K-NMR studies will, in the future, certainly enhance our understanding of the intracellular state of potassium ions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Ecotoxicological assessment of a dredged sediment using bioassays with three species of soil invertebrates.
The ecotoxicity of a dredged sediment from the Guanabara Bay (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil) was evaluated using reproduction tests with Eisenia andrei, Folsomia candida and Enchytraeus crypticus, and avoidance and feeding inhibition tests with Folsomia candida. The sediment was mixed with artificial soil to obtain the following doses: 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 and 40.0 %. Lead, nickel, chromium, copper and zinc concentrations were determined in the test mixtures. In reproduction tests, E. andrei was the most sensitive species (EC50 = 2.94 %), followed by F. candida (EC50 = 7.72 %) and E. crypticus (EC50 = 10.10 %). The percentage of initial weight of earthworms was significantly higher in all test concentrations compared to the control except at the highest one where earthworms biomass significantly decreased. No feeding inhibition of F. candida was observed for any test mixture and the number of organisms with a dark gut (the fed collembolans) generally increased with the increasing dose of sediment. Significant avoidance responses of F. candida were observed towards all test mixtures, however, the avoidance behaviour was the less sensitive endpoint after feeding inhibition. The results showed that chemical analysis is not sufficient to foresee toxic effects in terrestrial systems resulting from sediment disposal in soil if not complemented with an ecotoxicological evaluation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Health service and medication use among veterans with persistent postconcussive symptoms.
Persistent postconcussive symptoms (PPCS) are noted when a series of cognitive, emotional, and somatosensory complaints persist for months after a concussion. Clinical management of PPCS can be challenging in the veteran population because of the nonspecific nature of symptoms and co-occurrence with affective disturbances such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. In this study, we compared health service and medication use patterns in a sample of 421 veterans with PPCS with an age-matched cohort of case controls. The results suggest that the veterans with PPCS showed high rates of medical and mental health service utilization during a mean treatment period of 2 years. Although chronic pain commonly co-occurs with PPCS in veterans, service use and medication prescribing trends seem to have been influenced more by the presence of PTSD than chronic pain. Our findings reinforce the overlap among PPCS, PTSD, and chronic pain and demonstrate the complexity inherent in treating these conditions in veterans. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Malignant Transformation of Ectopic Pancreas.
Malignant transformation of ectopic pancreas tissue is a diagnostic challenge as clinical symptoms and radiographic features of these tumors are non-specific. Given the rarity of these lesions, it is usually neither suspected nor included in the diagnostic workup of different tumors. We conducted a comprehensive literature review regarding malignancy arising from ectopic pancreas for a better understanding of its frequency, clinicopathological features, and prognosis. A literature search was performed in three major databases: PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science. Fifty-four well-documented cases of malignant ectopic pancreas were identified in the published literature. Our analysis provided the following observations: (1) there was a slight predominance of males over females; (2) most patients with malignant transformation of ectopic pancreas were middle-aged; (3) most commonly, the tumor was located in the stomach; (4) most tumors were adenocarcinomas; (5) most frequently, the malignancy arose within a type I heterotopia according to Heinrich classification; (6) macroscopically, a subepithelial-like appearance was most frequently observed; and (7) improved prognosis for ectopic pancreatic malignancies in comparison with reported survival data for orthotopic pancreatic cancer. Even if the majority of cases of ectopic pancreas are incidental findings and malignant transformation is a rare event, pancreatic heterotopy should be considered as a source of potentially malignant lesions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Deficits in multiple systems of working memory in schizophrenia.
Working memory, the ability to hold and manipulate information 'on-line' in a temporary memory store, is impaired in schizophrenia. This impairment may be characterized within the framework of two opposing theoretical models: (1) central executive as coordinator of component processes of working memory or (2) multiple independent systems of spatial and object memory. In order to test which of these models better explains the working memory deficit of schizophrenia, 14 schizophrenic patients and 12 age- and gender-matched control subjects performed tests of spatial memory (dot location), object memory (shapes, color dots) and a dual paradigm (dot location + shapes). If schizophrenia impairs the central executive, a group-by-task interaction would demonstrate excessively worse performance on the dual than single tasks in schizophrenics relative to controls; however, the absence of an interaction would be consistent with deficits in the multiple working memory systems. The schizophrenic group was significantly impaired on all measures, and both the schizophrenic and control performance was worse on the dual than the single tasks. Despite the schizophrenic group performance deficits on the single tasks, the extent of such deficit did not appear additive and contributive to the dual tasks. The lack of a group-by-task interaction provided no support for the central executive model of dysfunction. Rather, the results uphold the model of working memory deficits arising from compromise of multiple (here spatial and object), relatively independent systems, both of which are affected in schizophrenia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Regulation of sugar transport systems of Kluyveromyces marxianus: the role of carbohydrates and their catabolism.
In Kluyveromyces marxianus grown on a glucose-containing synthetic medium four different sugar transporters have been identified. In cells, harvested during the exponential phase, only the constitutive glucose/fructose carrier, probed with 6-deoxy-D-glucose or sorbose, appeared to be active. In cells from the stationary phase three proton symporters can be active, recognizing 6-deoxyglucose (a glucose/galactose carrier), sorbose (a fructose carrier) and galactosides (lactose carrier), respectively. These symporters appeared to be sensitive to catabolite inactivation. This process is induced by incubating cells in the presence of glucose, fructose or mannose. Catabolite inactivation was not influenced by the inhibitor of protein synthesis, anisomycin. Derepression of the proton/sorbose and the proton/galactoside symporters proceeded readily when cells were incubated in a medium without glucose. Activation of the proton/galactose symporter needed, in addition, the presence of specific molecules (inducers) in the medium. The activation of each of these active transport systems was inhibited by anisomycin, showing the involvement of protein synthesis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: facts and perspectives].
Previous classifications of malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas (nHL) are based on morphological and histological-cytological findings. The rapid development of immunology, the application of immunocytological, cytochemical and electromicroscopic methods led to new classifications of nHL based on immunology. They are founded on the idea that the prevailing cells of nHL correspond to a cell type from the differentiation line of lymphocytes. Thus, a distinction can be made between malignant lymphomas (ml) of stem, B and T-cells; the more frequently occurring lymphomas originating from B-cells are represented by chronic lymphatic leukaemia originating from B1-cells, by ml of follicular genesis (centrocytes, centroblastic-centrocytic ml, centroblasts) and by ml synthesizing and releasing immunoglobulins (immunocytoma, immunoblastoma). The type formerly called "reticulosarcoma" (histocytic ml) could be identified to be an immature, Ig synthesizing ml (immunoblastloma) in most cases. The new classification enables a more extensive differentiation and a better prognostic statement to be made than previous ones. The new units of disease can be diagnosed in most cases with light microscopic routine methods, although borderline cases and unclassifiable ml may occur. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Should nonprofits seek profits?
Twenty years ago, it would have been shocking for a children's choir to sell singing telegrams or for an organization serving the homeless to dabble in property management. Today, it seems routine. Nonprofits increasingly feel compelled to launch earned-income ventures--not only to appear more disciplined and businesslike to stakeholders but also to reduce their reliance on fundraising. There's plenty of hype about the value of earned-income ventures in the nonprofit world, but such projects account for only a small share offunding in most nonprofit domains, and few of the ventures make money. Moreover, when the authors examined how nonprofits evaluate potential enterprises, they discovered a pattern of unwarranted optimism. The potential financial returns are often exaggerated, and the challenges of running a successful business are routinely discounted. But the biggest downside of such ventures is that they can distract nonprofits' managers from their core social missions and, in some cases, even subvert those missions. There are several reasons for the gap between the hype and the reality. One is that an organization's nonfinancial concerns-such as a desire to hire the disadvantaged-can hamper it in the commercial marketplace. Another is that nonprofits' executives tend to overlook the distinction between revenue and profit. For example, a youth services organization that had received funding to launch a food products enterprise hired young people and began making salad dressing. The nonprofit believed it spent $3.15 to produce each bottle of dressing that was sold for $3.50. But when expenses such as unused ingredients and managers' salaries were factored in, the cost per bottle reached a staggering $90. Earned-income ventures do have a role in the nonprofit sector, the authors say, but unrealistic expectations are distorting managers' decisions, wasting precious resources, and leaving important social needs unmet. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Design of all-normal dispersion microstructured optical fibers for pulse-preserving supercontinuum generation.
Recently, the generation of coherent, octave-spanning, and recompressible supercontinuum (SC) light has been demonstrated in optical fibers with all-normal group velocity dispersion (GVD) behavior by femtosecond pumping. In the normal dispersion regime, soliton dynamics are suppressed and the SC generation process is mainly due to self-phase modulation and optical wave breaking. This makes such white light sources suitable for time-resolved applications. The broadest spectra can be obtained when the pump wavelength equals the wavelength of maximum all-normal GVD. Therefore each available pump wavelength requires a specifically designed optical fiber with suitable GVD to unfold its full power. We investigate the possibilities to shift the all-normal maximum dispersion wavelength in microstructured optical fibers from the near infra red (NIR) to the ultra violet (UV). In general, a submicron guiding fiber core surrounded by a holey region is required to overcome the material dispersion of silica. Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) with a hexagonal array of holes as well as suspended core fibers are simulated for this purpose over a wide field of parameters. The PCFs are varied concerning their air hole diameter and pitch and the suspended core fibers are varied concerning the number of supporting walls and the wall width. We show that these two fiber types complement each other well in their possible wavelength regions for all-normal GVD. While the PCFs are suitable for obtaining a maximum all-normal GVD in the NIR, suspended core fibers are well applicable in the visible wavelength range. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Zinc-substituted hemoglobins: alpha- and beta-chain differences monitored by high-resolution emission spectroscopy.
The absorption and emission properties of hybrid Zn-substituted human hemoglobin (Hb) were used to monitor differences in interaction between the porphyrin and the polypeptide chain for the two subunits. Although alpha-substituted (alpha-ZnHb), beta-substituted (beta-ZnHb), or totally substituted Hb all show optical properties characteristic of Zn porphyrins, the spectra are also indicative of specific interactions between the polypeptide chain and the porphyrin. The Q0,0 absorption band of alpha-ZnHb at 5 K shows a splitting of approximately 300 cm-1, comparable to the largest split ever reported for a heme protein. This value is approximately 140 cm-1 for beta-ZnHb. The possible origin of the split is discussed in terms of the local electric field imposed by the amino acids of the respective heme pockets, different configurations of the porphyrin, and/or influences of the liganding histidine. The Zn derivatives show quasiline spectra under fluorescence line narrowing conditions, and the resolved excitation spectrum reveals differences in the vibrational levels of the Zn porphyrin in the two subunits. Broad underlying emission in the fluorescence line-narrowed emission spectrum can be accounted for, in part, by the existence of the two closely spaced electronic origins and also by the extent of phonon coupling between the porphyrin and the protein matrix. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cardiac symptoms before sudden cardiac death caused by coronary artery disease: a nationwide study among young Danish people.
The aim of this nationwide case-control study was to identify and characterise symptoms before sudden death of young persons who had died due to coronary artery disease (CAD). We have previously investigated the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young Danish people aged 1-35 years in Denmark during 2000-2006. We included all deaths (n=6629) and identified 314 autopsied cases of SCD, 40 of whom (13%) died from CAD. To compare symptoms before death, the CAD case group was sex- and age-matched 1:2 with a control group randomly sampled from a population of 1497 individuals who had died in accidents. We used data from the National Patient Registry on previous contacts with the healthcare system for all persons and read all available patient records, including death certificates and autopsy reports. A total of 31 (79%) persons with CAD-SCD had cardiac symptoms such as angina pectoris (n=24, 62%) and dyspnoea during the 12 months before death, and this was significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.001). In the case group, 18 persons (46%) had contacts with the healthcare system for cardiac symptoms before death, and this was also significantly higher than the control group (p<0.001). In this nationwide study we found that 62% of young persons with SCD experienced angina before death, and nearly half of them who died of CAD had sought medical attention within the last year before death. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Factors affecting the variability in ileal amino acid digestibility in corn distillers dried grains with solubles fed to growing pigs.
Two experiments were conducted to compare the ileal digestibility of AA in distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) sourced from different regions (IL, MN, KY), to compare AA digestibility in DDGS and in distillers dried grains (DDG) and to compare AA digestibility in DDGS from ethanol production (DDGS(ethanol)) and DDGS from beverage production (DDGS(beverage)). In Exp. 1, five samples of DDGS(ethanol) were sourced from Minnesota (MN1, MN2), Illinois (IL1, IL2), and from Kentucky (KY). In Exp. 2, six samples of DDGS(ethanol), 1 sample of DDG, and 1 sample of DDGS(beverage) were used to compare values for apparent ileal digestibility and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of AA between DDGS(ethanol) and DDGS(beverage) and between DDG and DDGS(ethanol). Results of Exp. 1 showed that the SID of Lys in DDGS from MN2 (72.8%) was greater (P < 0.01) than in DDGS from MN1 (66.8%), IL1 (66.8%), and KY (65.8%) but not different from IL2 (70.1%). Except for Leu and Glu, no differences in SID for any of the other AA were observed among the 5 sources of DDGS. In Exp. 2, the SID for Lys in DDGS(beverage) was greater (P < 0.01) than in DDGS(ethanol) (69.3 vs. 64.8%), but for CP and all other AA except His, no differences between the 2 types of DDGS were observed. The SID for most AA in DDG were greater (P < 0.05) than in DDGS(ethanol), which suggests that the AA in the solubles that are added to DDGS may be less digestible than the AA in DDG. In conclusion, results of these experiments confirm that the digestibility of Lys is more variable among sources of DDGS than the digestibility of other AA. However, the SID of AA among DDGS sources within a region can vary as much as among DDGS sources from different regions, and AA in DDGS(beverage) may be as digestible as AA in DDGS(ethanol). The digestibility of AA in DDG is greater than in DDGS, which indicates that AA in the solubles have a lower digestibility than AA in DDG. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Fabrication of 7.2% efficient CZTSSe solar cells using CZTS nanocrystals.
Earth abundant copper-zinc-tin-chalcogenide (CZTSSe) is an important class of material for the development of low cost and sustainable thin film solar cells. The fabrication of CZTSSe solar cells by selenization of CZTS nanocrystals is presented. By tuning the composition of the CZTS nanocrystals and developing a robust film coating method, a total area efficiency as high as 7.2% under AM 1.5 illumination and light soaking has been achieved. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Effects of maxillary growth of Wistar rats with bilateral artificial cleft palate after premaxillary orthopedic treatment on expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)].
Being based on the principle of Latham's appliance, this experiment is designed to detect activity of osteoblasts in the maxillary sutures of Wistar rats with bilateral artificial cleft palate by immunohistochemistry technique, and evaluate the effects of this appliance on the growth and development of the maxilla. The animal models of male infant Wistar rats with bilateral cleft palate were made by removing some palatal bones, splitting a "V" gap of 1.5 cm wide at the line between premaxilla and segments of maxilla. A sort of appliances, which could be fixed in the mouth of Wistar rats with bilateral cleft palate for correcting protrusion premaxilla was constructed basing on the principle of Latham's appliance. Then the diferent pathological changes of osteoblast proliferation between the experimental group and the two controlled groups were examined. The jugomaxillary sutrues, temporomalar sutures and sphenoipalatine suture were harvested 7, 14 days after premaxillar orthopedic treatment, followed by 4% paraformaldehyde fixing about 1 hour, demineralization with 15% EDTA and 0.5% paraformaldehyde for 48 hours, distilled water washing for a night, dimethylbenzene transparant dealing, and paraffin wax embeding. Proliferating Osteoblasts in all these sutures were investigated using immunohiostochemical technique with monoclonal antibodies of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Seven days after orthopedic treatment, no significant difference was observed between the experimental group and the two controlled groups. While after fourteen days, obvious PCNA-positive expression were observed in cells of all these sutures of the experimental group. The distribution of proliferating cells and the degree of cell proliferation change after premaxillary orthopedic treatment. And significant cell proliferation is observed in the experimental group, but there are no significant differences between the two controlled groups. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Structure of 1,1,5,5-tetranitro-[4]peristylane. Structure solution from molecular packing analysis.
The structure of the title compound, decahydro-2,2,5,5-tetranitro-1,6:3,4-dimethanocyclobuta[1,2: 3, 4]dicyclopentene, C12H12N4O8, was solved with the molecular packing program MOLPAK, starting with an AM1-geometry-optimized model of an isolated molecule. The 20 best predicted crystal structures from the MOLPAK procedure were subjected to lattice energy refinement with the WMIN program. A structure-factor calculation with the top MOLPAK/WMIN derived structure and the 197 Fo data to sin theta/lambda = 0.324 A-1 (theta = 30 degrees) gave an R value of 0.29. Final R = 0.057, wR = 0.067 for 730 reflections with I > 3 sigma (I). There are no unusual intermolecular distances and crystal packing is normal. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Breast cancer in Papua New Guinea: a survey of 10 years.
A retrospective review of cancer of breast in Papua New Guinean females for a period of 10 years revealed an annual reporting rate of 2.7 per 100,000. It contributed to 4.8% of all malignancies. The islands region has the highest incidence. The most common age group at diagnosis was 40-49 years. Histologically invasive ductal carcinomas formed 66% of the tumours. Resembling the African experience, the incidence of breast carcinoma in Papua New Guinea appears to be low and most patients report quite late. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Kawasaki syndrome: a controlled study of an outbreak in Wisconsin.
The etiology of Kawasaki syndrome remains unestablished, although a possible role has been suggested for exposure to the application of carpet shampoo, house dust mites, and rickettsial infection. During an outbreak of 20 cases of Kawasaki syndrome that occurred in southeastern Wisconsin from November 1982 through March 1983, a case-control study was done of 15 cases and 30 matched controls. The study included questionnaire administration, dust collection from homes, and serum specimen collection. Only one patient had been exposed to a shampooed carpet within 30 days before onset of illness. No differences were noted between cases and controls in the degree of exposure to house dust mite-associated factors in the home, nor in the occurrence, density and species-specific prevalence of house dust mites in the home. Meadow voles exposed to house dust mites from the homes of patients did not develop serologic or pathologic evidence of infection due to rickettsiae in the spotted fever and typhus groups or Coxiella burnetii. Anti-mite-specific immunoglobulin E was not detected in serum specimens from cases or controls. Results from this study do not support hypotheses suggesting that the development of Kawasaki syndrome is associated with exposure to application of carpet shampoo, house dust mites, or rickettsial infection. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Mechanistic insights and functional determinants of the transport cycle of the ascorbic acid transporter SVCT2. Activation by sodium and absolute dependence on bivalent cations.
We characterized the human Na(+)-ascorbic acid transporter SVCT2 and developed a basic model for the transport cycle that challenges the current view that it functions as a Na(+)-dependent transporter. The properties of SVCT2 are modulated by Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) and a reciprocal functional interaction between Na(+) and ascorbic acid that defines the substrate binding order and the transport stoichiometry. Na(+) increased the ascorbic acid transport rate in a cooperative manner, decreasing the transport K(m) without affecting the V(max), thus converting a low affinity form of the transporter into a high affinity transporter. Inversely, ascorbic acid affected in a bimodal and concentration-dependent manner the Na(+) cooperativity, with absence of cooperativity at low and high ascorbic acid concentrations. Our data are consistent with a transport cycle characterized by a Na(+):ascorbic acid stoichiometry of 2:1 and a substrate binding order of the type Na(+):ascorbic acid:Na(+). However, SVCT2 is not electrogenic. SVCT2 showed an absolute requirement for Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) for function, with both cations switching the transporter from an inactive into an active conformation by increasing the transport V(max) without affecting the transport K(m) or the Na(+) cooperativity. Our data indicate that SVCT2 may switch between a number of states with characteristic properties, including an inactive conformation in the absence of Ca(2+)/Mg(2+). At least three active states can be envisioned, including a low affinity conformation at Na(+) concentrations below 20 mM and two high affinity conformations at elevated Na(+) concentrations whose Na(+) cooperativity is modulated by ascorbic acid. Thus, SVCT2 is a Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-dependent transporter. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Predictability of liver fluke infections and liver fluke disease (author's transl)].
The ambition to reduce direct and indirect damage of livestock by liver fluke disease by adequate control measures, provided the economic basis for the development of a system by which F. hepatica infection may be predicted. In doing simulation studies at various levels, efforts were made to provide a basis for this prognosis by the ecological and parasitological research programme of the Central Veterinary Institute. Besides the rate of growth, the survivorship curve of eggs and larval stages in various environments were studied as well. The relationship between F. hepatica infections and the establishment of liver fluke disease was studied by experimental infection in cattle and sheep. This strongly suggested that, in addition to the dose rate, the rhythm of (re-)infection is also an important factor in the expression of liver fluke disease. These experiments are designed to establish a sound basis for the strategic use of anthelmintics in the future. Moreover, they are essential to the evaluation and prediction of the epidemiology of liver fluke disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Babesia odocoilei infection in elk.
Two male North American elk from a commercial herd were evaluated because of a sudden onset of lethargy, anorexia, and voiding of red urine. These 2 elk were kept in the same pen as 4 other male elk that had died during the preceding 2 months. Laboratory analyses revealed anemia and intraerythrocytic parasites, later confirmed as Babesia odocoilei (a protozoal hemoparasite of cervids). Of the 240 elk remaining in the herd, 59 were screened for B odocoilei by microscopic evaluation of blood smears, protozoal culture of blood, and immunofluorescent antibody testing of serum. Of those 59 elk, 34 (58%) were infected with B odocoilei. Babesia odocoilei infection in elk can be fatal and should be considered in cases of sudden death or acute hemolytic anemia. Familiarity with the disease in elk is essential for practitioners because of the increasing popularity of commercial elk farming. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Inelastic ultraviolet scattering from high frequency acoustic modes in glasses.
The dynamic structure factor of vitreous silica and glycerol has been measured as a function of temperature and of the momentum transfer up to Q=0.105 nm(-1) using a novel experimental technique, the inelastic ultraviolet scattering. As in the case of Brillouin light scattering and ultrasonic measurements, the temperature dependence of the acoustic attenuation shows a plateau below the glass transition whose amplitude scales as Q2. Moreover, a slight temperature dependence of attenuation has been found in vitreous silica at about 130 K, which seems to be reminiscent of the peak measured at lower Qs. These two findings strongly support the idea that anharmonicity is responsible for sound attenuation at ultrasonic and hypersonic frequencies. Finally, we demonstrate that the attenuation mechanism should show a change of regime between 0.105 and 1 nm(-1). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of a single-piece aspheric hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens design on centration and rotation.
To assess the rotation and centration stability of the new design features of a 1-piece aspheric hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL). National Eye Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. Randomized clinical trial. Patients in this study had implantation of a 1-piece Tecnis 1 ZCB00 IOL or a 3-piece Sensar AR40e IOL. Decentration and rotation were recorded immediately postoperatively, and 2 to 3 days and 8 weeks postoperatively. This was done using 2 slitlamp eyepieces and referring to constant corneal landmarks (ie, the limbus and the phaco incision). Thirty-two 1-piece IOLs and 30 3-piece IOLs were implanted. Although the 1-piece IOLs moved toward the corneal center more than the 3-piece IOLs between 3 days and 8 weeks postoperatively (P=.054), the difference was not statistically significant between 0 day and 3 days or during the entire follow-up (P=.546 and P=.367, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in the horizontal or vertical components of this movement between the 2 groups (P=.883 and P=.636, respectively). The mean rotation was 2.5 degrees ± 9.1 (SD) in the 1-piece IOL group and 0 ± 6.5 degrees in the 3-piece IOL group, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (P=.521). The new 1-piece design showed relatively good centration and stability in the horizontal, vertical, and rotational aspects. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The dissociative processing style:a cognitive organization activated by perceived or actual threat in clinical dissociators.
This paper proposes a cognitive organization that operates during times of perceived or actual threat in individuals with dissociative psychopathology. This organization, referred to as the dissociative processing style (DPS), serves as a threat monitoring system. It is characterized by (1) a shift from selective attention processing to multiple streams of information processing, (2) weakened cognitive inhibitory functioning which allows these streams to be operational and (3) the directing of awareness towards some and away from other information streams. Whilst DPS activation has the potential for adaptive and protective functions, it also heightens the likelihood of dissociative symptom experience and dissociation itself. Dissociation is understood as a failure to integrate encoded information from multiple input streams. The DPS is argued to be activated by top-down processes which signal danger, such as the appraisal of contextual cues. A clinical example is used to highlight the characteristics of the DPS. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
In-consultation information and advice-seeking by Australian GP trainees from GP trainers - a cross-sectional analysis.
The apprenticeship model of general practice (GP) training is based on appropriate supervision. A central component of supervision - in-consultation information-seeking of GP trainees from their trainer - has not been documented. We aimed to establish the prevalence, characteristics and associations (trainee, practice, patient and consultation) of this information-seeking. Australian trainees recorded demographic, clinical and educational details of 60 consecutive consultations in each GP term of their training, including the rate and nature of information-seeking. Six-hundred and forty-five trainees contributed data for 1426 trainee-rounds, 84 723 consultations and 131 583 problems. Information was sought from the trainer for 9130 (6.9% (95% CI 6.8-7.1)) of all problems encountered (and in 7833 (9.2% (95% CI 9.0-9.4)) of consultations): 11.7% (95% CI 11.0- 12.4) were for diagnosis, 53.1% (95% CI 52.1-54.2) for management and 35.2% (95% CI 34.2-36.2) for both diagnosis and management. Assistance was sought most commonly for skin problems (20.0%) and musculoskeletal problems (12.6%). Significant adjusted associations of information-seeking included patient age; male patient gender; earlier training term; trainee being younger and female; trainee's training organisation; longer consultation; and trainee generation of learning goals. Our findings have implications for trainer workload and professional development, patient care and trainee education and training. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.