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Zinc-induced PTEN protein degradation through the proteasome pathway in human airway epithelial cells.
The tumor suppressor PTEN is a putative negative regulator of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway. Exposure to Zn2+ ions induces Akt activation, suggesting that PTEN may be modulated in this process. Therefore, the effects of Zn2+ on PTEN were studied in human airway epithelial cells and rat lungs. Treatment with Zn2+ resulted in a significant reduction in levels of PTEN protein in a dose- and time-dependent fashion in a human airway epithelial cell line. This effect of Zn2+was also observed in normal human airway epithelial cells in primary culture and in rat airway epithelium in vivo. Concomitantly, levels of PTEN mRNA were also significantly reduced by Zn2+ exposure. PTEN phosphatase activity evaluated by measuring Akt phosphorylation decreased after Zn2+ treatment. Pretreatment of the cells with a proteasome inhibitor significantly blocked zinc-induced reduction of PTEN protein as well as the increase in Akt phosphorylation, implicating the involvement of proteasome-mediated PTEN degradation. Further study revealed that Zn2+-induced ubiquitination of PTEN protein may mediate this process. A phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor blocked PTEN degradation induced by Zn2+, suggesting that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase may participate in the regulation of PTEN. However, both the proteasome inhibitor and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor failed to prevent significant down-regulation of PTEN mRNA expression in response to Zn2+. In summary, exposure to Zn2+ ions causes PTEN degradation and loss of function, which is mediated by an ubiquitin-associated proteolytic process in the airway epithelium. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Estimating blood alcohol level from observable signs.
Attempts to induce hosts and friends to prevent drinkers from reaching dangerous levels of alcohol impairment depend upon the ability to judge impairment from observable signs of physical appearance and behavior. In a study of this ability, researchers first observed and recorded signs of change in behavior and physical appearance among dosed drinkers in small social groups (n = 149). Signs were grouped into impairment levels corresponding to three broad categories of blood alcohol concentration (BAC): < 0.04% (no signs), 0.04%-0.08%, and > 0.08%. Next, drinkers were then classified into judged impairment level by guests observing small numbers in social groups (n = 333), hosts observing large numbers in social groups (n = 480), and servers observing patrons in public establishments (n = 436). A random half of the observers in each setting were given instructional guidance in the relationships of signs to impairment level. Results showed all observers to exceed chance in their classifications of drinker impairment, with observations in the small social groups being significantly more accurate than those in the other two groups. A beneficial instructional guidance effect was significant for the social groups, with the greatest benefit found in detecting those over 0.04% in the small groups. The authors conclude that, while people are fairly accurate in judging alcohol impairment, their accuracy is greatest and guidance most effective in detecting the presence rather than degree of impairment and when attention can be concentrated upon a few drinkers at a time. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: MR demonstration of reversible brain abnormalities.
We report a case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura evaluated by MR. Multiple hyperintense foci on the T2-weighted images, observed principally in the brain stem and in the region of the basal nuclei, and neurologic signs disappeared after 15 days of therapy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Pressure response of human colon to intraluminal distension.
Pressure response to intraluminal distension was recorded in the ascending and descending colon of six subjects awaiting closure of transverse colostomies to assess and compare compliance in different regions of the human colon. Resistance to distension was significantly greater in the descending colon at intraluminal volumes of 30 ml or greater (P less than 0.01). An equal number of postmortem studies, representing passive connective tissue resistance, demonstrated a similar but more pronounced difference (P less than 0.001), which was maintained after correction for initial intraluminal diameter differences (P less than 0.001). The differences between in vivo and postmortem results indicated an active muscular component in the response of the ascending colon to distension compared with a totally passive distal response. These results support the concept of a functional division in the human colon. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Risk of psychosis exacerbation by tricyclic antidepressants in unipolar Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features.
We conducted a systematic review of the published trials in unipolar Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features (MDDP) to examine the risk of psychosis exacerbation by antidepressants. We searched Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsychINFO, and EMBASE for English language, controlled, open or retrospective acute antidepressant and/or antipsychotic treatment studies of unipolar MDDP. Studies without a clear delineation of treatment course or between bipolar disorder and unipolar MDDP were excluded. We evaluated studies for the number of subjects with psychosis exacerbation, and contacted the corresponding author for ambiguous cases. Studies in which we were unable to determine rates of psychosis exacerbation were excluded. Psychosis exacerbation was determined on a categorical basis, and analyzed with Fisher's exact test, a modified Wald confidence interval and odds ratio. 20 studies meeting criteria provided sufficient adverse event reporting for inclusion. 15 of 177 subjects (8.5%) on antidepressant monotherapy had a psychosis exacerbation, 8 of whom were on tricyclics. 2 of 129 subjects on either antipsychotic or combination treatment had a psychosis exacerbation. Tricyclic monotherapy was significantly more likely to be temporally associated with psychosis exacerbation (p=0.007). Limitations include the small number of placebo-controlled trials, and numerous studies in which the relevant information was missing. Additionally, most trials were designed as treatment outcome studies, and not to determine the rate of psychosis exacerbation. Although rare, the present study indicates that tricyclic monotherapy may be temporally associated with an exacerbation of psychotic symptoms in patients with unipolar MDDP, potentially worsening prognosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Spatial scaling of vernier acuity tasks.
Vernier acuity thresholds for two abutting lines and for a two-dot stimulus were measured as a function of stimulus magnification at eccentricities of 0, 5, 10 and 15 deg using a spatial scaling technique in which all stimuli are simply magnified versions of each other. The advantage of such a technique is that no prior knowledge of a suitable magnification factor with which to increase the size of peripheral stimuli is required. Thresholds for the line stimulus could be successfully scaled by the application of a magnification factor with an E2 value of 1.23-1.78 deg. Further, provided that the effects of dot separation and eccentricity were dissociated, spatial scaling with an E2 value of 1.06-1.96 deg was also successful in removing eccentricity dependence for two-dot vernier thresholds. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Osteogenic response of human MSCs and osteoblasts to hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanostructured titanium implant surfaces.
Microstructured implant surfaces created by grit blasting and acid etching titanium (Ti) support osseointegration. This effect is further enhanced by storing in aqueous solution to retain hydrophilicity, but this also leads to surface nanostructure formation. The purpose of this study was to assess the contributions of nanostructures on the improved osteogenic response of osteoblast lineage cells to hydrophilic microstructured Ti. Human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and normal human osteoblasts (NHOsts) were cultured separately on non-nanostructured/hydrophobic (SLA), nanostructured/hydrophilic (modSLA), or nanostructured/hydrophobic (SLAnano) Ti surfaces. XPS showed elevated carbon levels on SLA and SLAnano compared to modSLA. Contact angle measurements indicated only modSLA was hydrophilic. Confocal laser microscopy revealed minor differences in mean surface roughness. SEM showed the presence of nanostructures on modSLA and SLAnano. MSCs and NHOst cells exhibited similar morphology on the substrates and osteoblastic differentiation and maturation were greatest on modSLA. These results suggest that when the appropriate microstructure is present, hydrophilicity may play a greater role in stimulating MSC and NHOst osteoblastic differentiation and maturation than the presence of nanostructures generated during storage in an aqueous environment. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 3137-3148, 2016. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Listeria monocytogenes in retailed raw chicken meat in Malaysia.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence Listeria monocytogenes in raw chicken meat samples at hypermarkets and wet markets. Chicken drumsticks, breasts, and thighs were randomly selected. The most probable number (MPN) PCR method was used to quantify the L. monocytogenes in the samples. Listeria monocytogenes was detected in 20% of the samples. Occurrence of L. monocytogenes was highest in breast (42.03%) followed by drumstick (11.27%) and thigh (7.14%). Samples from hypermarkets showed higher occurrence (25.71%) of L. monocytogenes compared with wet markets (14.29%). The density of L. monocytogenes found in samples ranged from <3.0 to 16 MPN•g(-1). The presence of L. monocytogenes in raw chicken meat is unwanted but unpreventable. Thus, further research on the processing method to reduce and eliminate this kind of bacteria in chicken meat before consumption is necessary. The presence of L. monocytogenes in chicken samples suggests the importance of this pathogen in chicken. Thus, more study is needed to find ways to eliminate this pathogen from poultry. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assessment of endocrine-disrupting activities of alternative chemicals for bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate.
Plastic products are closely intertwined with modern life. Some plasticizers used in making plastics, such as phthalates, are reported to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Plasticizers can be released into the environment, and health risks related to plasticizer exposure have been reported. In addition, due to plastic waste that flows into the ocean, microplastics have been found in marine products, including non-biological seawater products such as sea salt. Plastics can affect the body via a variety of pathways, and therefore safer alternative chemicals are needed. Three chemicals were evaluated: acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), triethyl 2-acetylcitrate (ATEC), and trihexyl O-acetylacitrate (ATHC), replacing bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), a typical plasticizer. The endocrine-disrupting activities of each chemical, including estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity (test guideline (TG) No. 455), androgenic or anti-androgenic activity (TG No. 458), steroidogenesis (TG No. 456), and estrogenic properties via a short-term screening test using the uterotrophic assay (TG No. 440), were assessed in accordance with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines for chemical testing. Our results showed that DEHP, ATBC, ATEC, ATHC possess no estrogenic activity, whereas DEHP, ATBC and ATHC demonstrate anti-estrogenic activity and ATBC anti-androgenic activity. DEHP and ATHC exhibited a disruption in steroidogenesis activities. Additional tests are necessary, but our results suggest that ATEC is a good candidate plasticizer providing a suitable alternative to DEHP. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Prospective long-term study on primary CMV infections in adult liver transplant (D+/R-) patients after valganciclovir prophylaxis.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can cause severe infections in transplanted patients. To prevent CMV infection, most liver centers use prophylaxis for CMV-seronegative recipients receiving an organ from a seropositive donor (D+/R-). Valganciclovir is mostly given for 3-6 months after transplantation. However, the patients may develop primary CMV infection after the cessation of prophylaxis and late-onset CMV disease may occur. A prospective long-term follow-up of CMV (D+/R-) adult liver transplant recipients after 3 months valganciclovir prophylaxis was investigated. Of 154 consecutive adult liver recipients transplanted from 2006 to 2009, 20 (13%) were CMV D+/R- and received antiviral prophylaxis up to 3 months after transplantation. After excluding the recipients with incomplete prophylaxis or monitoring, 13 (D+/R-) patients with follow-up of >4 years after the 3-month period of valganciclovir prophylaxis were included in the study.The patients were monitored for CMV by real-time quantitative plasma PCR. No break-through CMV infections were recorded during the prophylaxis period. After cessation of valganciclovir prophylaxis 12/13 (90%) patients demonstrated CMV-DNAemia following a post transplantation mean interval of 165 days (range 95-320). Ten patients with high viral loads (peak viral load mean 81,510, range 1900-648950cps/ml) were successfully treated, 6 with valganciclovir, and 4 with ganciclovir. Two patients with low level CMV-DNAemia (<1000cps/ml) were asymptomatic and not treated. No intragraft infection was seen, but one patient developed gastrointestinal CMV infection verified from ileum biopsy. During long-term follow-up, 3 patients demonstrated low-level viral replication, but no symptomatic recurrences occurred. One patient died of bacterial sepsis, but no patient or graft was lost due to CMV. Primary CMV infections after cessation of prophylaxis were common, but were successfully treated with valganciclovir or ganciclovir. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Perception of less irregular and more irregular stimuli.
Berlyne's stimuli were presented in a stereoscope to test his hypothesis that Ss prefer the more irregular member of a pair of stimuli. 32 Ss, screened for normal acuity and phorias, were tested. Contrary to Berlyne's hypothesis and consistent with earlier stereoscopic studies, Ss tend to report more frequently the less irregular member of a pair of stimuli. These data can be explained by an information-conflict model; however, the clearest implication of this study was that experiments concerned with familiarity of stimuli should be qualified by the method. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Microsomal epoxide hydrolase genotypes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Japanese.
Polymorphisms in the gene for microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEPHX), an enzyme involved in the protective mechanism against oxidative stress, have been reported to be associated with individual susceptibility to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The polymorphisms in exons 3 and 4 in the mEPHX gene were examined in a total of 358 Japanese individuals, including 40 patients with COPD and 71 patients with lung cancer. The overall frequencies of variant allele for mEPHX codons 113 (exon 3) and 139 (exon 4) were 44% and 14%, respectively. Moreover, a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (estimated allele frequency: 0.29) was identified in Japanese at 20 bp downstream of the codon 113 polymorphism with strong linkage disequilibrium with the wild allele for codon 113. While the frequencies of variant allele and proportions of individuals homozygous variant for codon 113, assumed having very slow mEPHX activity, were similar among COPD or lung cancer patients and the control population, they were significantly higher in patients with severe COPD than in those with mild COPD [P=0.0225, odds ratio 2.9 (95%CI 1.1-7.4); P=0.0350, respectively]. Thus, we found that the frequency of the variant allele for mEPHX codon 113 is higher in Japanese than that in Caucasians (P=0.0028), a novel silent polymorphism exists in exon 3 and shows strong linkage disequilibrium with the wild allele for codon 113, and individual homozygous variants for codon 113 may be associated with development of advanced COPD rather than the susceptibility to COPD. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Vascular networks and endothelial cells in the rat experimental pituitary glands and in the human pituitary adenomas.
There has been considerable interest in the relationship between hormone-secreting endocrine cells (HSEC) and their microvessels (MVN) in human pituitary gland. However, microcirculatory networks have rarely been studied in three dimensions (3D). Therefore, this study was designed to visualize and to reveal the relationship between hormone secreting endocrine cells and their microvessel environment including vascular endothelial cells in 3D using rat pituitary glands under various experimental conditions by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). By CLSM, the 3D distributions of MVN were visualized and revealed a relationship between HSEC and MVN in experimental pituitary glands and human pituitary adenomas. Therefore, 3D reconstructed imaging by CLSM is a useful technique with which to investigate the microvessel environment of hormone-secreting cells and has the potential to reveal dynamic hormone-secreting pathways. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cognition and the corpus callosum: verbal fluency, visuospatial ability, and language lateralization related to midsagittal surface areas of callosal subregions.
Normal volunteers (28 women), 20-45 years old, completed tests of visuospatial ability, verbal fluency, and language lateralization, and the midsagittal surface areas of the splenium, isthmus, midregion, and genu of the corpus callosum were measured from inversion recovery magnetic resonance images. Multivariate statistics were used to analyze patterns of correlations. Verbal fluency correlated positively with the area of the splenium and with the area of a posterior callosal factor defined largely by the splenium. The posterior callosum, particularly the splenium, also correlated negatively with language lateralization. There were no other consistent brain-behavior relationships. These results are relevant to understanding factors involved in the development of cognitive characteristics that show sex differences and to understanding the neural basis of language lateralization and verbal abilities. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Notes from "Pavlov's Wednesdays": Pavlov's law of effect.
Pavlov's Wednesday seminars indicate that he adopted homeostatic balance as a law of effect in order to deal with Konorski's experiments on omission and avoidance training; he did not, as is often thought, completely assimilate instrumental conditioning into his classical framework. He saw the 'new' type of conditioning as the basis of voluntary behavior in higher animals and devoted considerable attention to it in 1930-1933. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Neuroendocrine correlations in the pathogenesis and pathology of Parkinson disease].
In Parkinson's disease the decrease of dopamine in the nigro-striatal pathway is allied to modifications of other neuromodulation systems. The biochemical disorder of cholinergic, gabaergic and epinephrinergic pathways is present. Moreover the alteration of certain neuropeptides such as endorphins or enkefalins have been found. The Authors analyse the functional repercussions of these important biochemical modifications in the T.I.D.A. tract. In particular the variation of PRL synthesis and secretion due to dopamine deficiency during basal conditions and after pharmacological treatment is discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assessing the effects of physician-patient interactions on the outcomes of chronic disease.
Growing interest in the doctor-patient relationship focuses attention on the specific elements of that relationship that affect patients' health outcomes. Data are presented for four clinical trials conducted in varied practice settings among chronically ill patients differing markedly in sociodemographic characteristics. These trials demonstrated that "better health" measured physiologically (blood pressure or blood sugar), behaviorally (functional status), or more subjectively (evaluations of overall health status) was consistently related to specific aspects of physician-patient communication. We conclude that the physician-patient relationship may be an important influence on patients' health outcomes and must be taken into account in light of current changes in the health care delivery system that may place this relationship at risk. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The activity of a 70 kilodalton I kappa B molecule identical to the carboxyl terminus of the p105 NF-kappa B precursor is modulated by protein kinase A.
The p50 subunit of NF-kappa B is derived from the amino terminus of a 105 kilodalton precursor. The p105 carboxyl terminus, which contains ankyrin-like repeats, a feature of I kappa B molecules, regulates the cytoplasmic retention of p105 and inhibits DNA binding by the precursor. Here, we describe an I kappa B protein identical to the carboxyl-terminal region of p105. Probes spanning the COOH terminus but not the rel homology domain of p105 hybridize to a distinct 2.6-kilobase mRNA expressed in a wide range of murine tissues. The nucleotide sequence of complementary DNA clones for this transcript, in vitro translation, and immune precipitation of metabolically labeled cell lysates establish that it encodes a 70 kilodalton protein that corresponds to the COOH-terminal 607 amino acids of p105. p70 suppresses p65 and p75c-rel mediated transactivation of reporter genes under the control of NF-kappa B elements and in vitro can prevent DNA binding of p50 and p75c-rel homodimers to NF-kappa B sites. The ability of p70 to stably associate with p49 and p65 in vitro, but not inhibit DNA binding by these proteins, suggests that the specific inhibitory properties of this I kappa B may reflect its relative affinity for different rel targets. p70 phosphorylated by protein kinase A fails to inhibit DNA binding by p50 or the c-rel protein, and sequencing of radiolabeled p70 tryptic phosphopeptides establishes that protein kinase A phosphorylates serine residue 576 of p70. This finding suggests that the inhibitory activity of p70 can be regulated by signaling via the adenylate cyclase pathway. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Increased albumin CSF/serum ratio in dementia with Lewy bodies.
Alterations in the CSF/serum albumin ratio (Qalb) is currently recognized as one of the most reliable markers of blood-brain barrier impairment and blood-CSF barrier permeability, but its potential role as a biomarker in the differential diagnosis of neurological diseases has been poorly analysed. We evaluated Qalb and core CSF biomarkers (Tau, p-Tau and Aβ42) in a large patient population of neurological and neurodegenerative cases. Diagnostic test evaluation was assessed by ROC-AUC analysis. In the differential diagnostic analysis, increased Qalb was found in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) patients compared to other diseases, either individually or stratified in non-dementia and dementia groups. When clinical groups were analysed individually and compared to controls, Qalb was also increased in stroke and Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) cases, but not in Parkinson's disease (PD). Qalb in DLB cases correlate with CSF Aβ42 levels but not with Tau and p-Tau levels. Due to the lower CSF Aβ42 levels in DLB compared to PD and PDD, the potential clinical applicability of Qalb with respect to the DLB diagnosis is increased in combination with CSF Aβ42 analysis. The present study demonstrates increased Qalb in synucleinopathies associated with dementia revealing a potential new clinical approach for the differential diagnosis of DLB. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Protease treatment of cerebellar purkinje cells renders omega-agatoxin IVA-sensitive Ca2+ channels insensitive to inhibition by omega-conotoxin GVIA.
The identification of currents carried by N- and P-type Ca(2+) channels in the nervous system relies on the use of omega-conotoxin (CTx) GVIA and omega-agatoxin (Aga) IVA. The peptide omega-Aga-IVA inhibits P-type currents at nanomolar concentrations and N-type currents at micromolar concentrations. omega-CTx-GVIA blocks N-type currents, but there have been no reports that it can also inhibit P-type currents. To assess the effects of omega-CTx-GVIA on P-type channels, we made patch-clamp recordings from the soma of Purkinje cells in cerebellar slices of mature [postnatal days (P) 40-50, P40-50] and immature (P13-20) rats, in which P-type channels carry most of the Ca(2+) channel current (>/=85%). These showed that micromolar concentrations of omega-CTx-GVIA inhibited the current in P40-50 cells (66%, 3 microM; 78%, 10 microM) and in P13-20 Purkinje cells (86%, 3 muM; 89%, 10 microM). The inhibition appeared to be reversible, in contrast to the known irreversible inhibition of N-type current. Exposure of slices from young animals to the enzyme commonly used to dissociate Purkinje cells, protease XXIII, abolished the inhibition by omega-CTx-GVIA but not by omega-Aga-IVA (84%, 30 nM). Our finding that micromolar concentrations of omega-CTx-GVIA inhibit P-type currents suggests that specific block of N-type current requires the use of submicromolar concentrations. The protease-induced removal of block by omega-CTx-GVIA but not by omega-Aga-IVA indicates a selective proteolytic action at site(s) on P-type channels with which omega-CTx-GVIA interacts. It also suggests that Ca(2+) channel pharmacology in neurons dissociated using protease may not predict that in neurons not exposed to the enzyme. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Erythrometer: a new device for measuring erythrocyte filterability and plasma viscosity.
The Erythrometer is a new device capable of determining both red blood cell filterability and plasma viscosity. In the case of filterability measurements, a suspension of washed red blood cells is filtered at a steady flow rate through a 3 or 5 microns pore-diameter membrane. Pressure drop across the membrane is recorded and a red blood cell filterability index can be calculated according to the change in pressure. The authors describe the instrument's operating principle and performance and present some of the results obtained. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Nonsentinel lymph node status after positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer.
Axillary dissection is the current standard of care for patients with breast cancer who are diagnosed with metastasis to axillary sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Recently, that concept has come under increasing scrutiny because not all women with a positive SLN will need further dissection. The purpose of this study was to look at nonsentinel lymph node status in patients with breast cancer and axillary SLN metastasis in an effort to determine tumor variables that can guide further treatment if there are additional axillary nodes involved. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients with breast cancer who underwent SLN biopsy between July 1998 and April 2003. Chi2 analysis, Student t test, and multivariate analysis were used to determine the significance of tumor size, grade, location, estrogen receptor (ER) and progestrone receptor (PR) receptor status, angiolymphatic invasion, stage, and number and size of SLNs in predicting the status of nonsentinel lymph nodes. During the study interval, 116 patients were identified who underwent SLN biopsy and 34 (29.3%) had positive SLNs. All of these patients underwent complete axillary node dissection and 11 patients (32.3%) had non-SLN metastasis. The presence of palpable breast mass (P = 0.03), tumor size (P = 0.04), angiolymphatic invasion (P = 0.03), and extracapsular extension of SLN metastasis (P = 0.001) were the variables that predicted non-SLN involvement. Micrometastasis was inversely related to non-SLN involvement. In patients with breast cancer and SLN metastasis, the presence of a palpable breast mass, tumor size, angiolymphatic invasion, and extracapsular node extension increase the likelihood of identifying additional node metastasis on subsequent axillary dissection. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Superior performance for visually guided pointing in the lower visual field.
The superior hemiretina in primates and humans has a greater density of ganglion cells than the inferior hemiretina, suggesting a bias towards processing information in the lower visual field (loVF). In primates, this over-representation of the loVF is also evident at the level of striate and extrastriate cortex. This is particularly true in some of the visual areas constituting the dorsal "action" pathway, such as area V6A. Here we show that visually guided pointing movements with the hand are both faster and more accurate when performed in the loVF when compared to the same movements made in the upper visual field (upVF). This was true despite the fact that the biomechanics of the movements made did not differ across conditions. The loVF advantage for the control of visually guided pointing movements is unlikely to be due to retinal factors and may instead reflect a functional bias for controlling skilled movements in this region of space. Possible neural correlates for this loVF advantage for visually guided pointing are discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Amotivation and functional outcomes in early schizophrenia.
Negative symptoms, particularly amotivation/apathy, are intimately tied to functional outcomes. In the present study, apathy strongly predicted psychosocial functioning in a sample of early course schizophrenia patients. This relationship remained robust even after controlling for other clinical variables. These data suggest amotivation is core to functioning across the disease course. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Acute hemodynamic effects of restrictive mitral annuloplasty in patients with end-stage heart failure: analysis by pressure-volume relations.
Recent studies show beneficial long-term effects of restrictive mitral annuloplasty in patients with end-stage heart failure. However, concerns are raised about possible adverse effects on early postoperative systolic and diastolic function, which might limit application of this approach in patients with heart failure. Therefore we evaluated the acute effects of restrictive mitral annuloplasty on left ventricular function by using load-independent pressure-volume relations. In 23 patients (heart failure, n = 10; control, n = 13) we determined left ventricular systolic and diastolic function before and after surgical intervention by means of pressure-volume analysis with a conductance catheter. All patients with heart failure underwent stringent restrictive mitral annuloplasty (2 sizes smaller than the measured size), and 4 received additional coronary artery bypass grafting. Transesophageal echocardiography was used for evaluation of valve repair. Patients with preserved left ventricular function who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting served as control subjects. Restrictive mitral annuloplasty (ring size, 25 +/- 1) restored leaflet coaptation (8.0 +/- 0.2 mm) with normal pressure gradients (2.9 +/- 1.8 mm Hg). Restrictive mitral annuloplasty did not change cardiac output (5.0 +/- 1.8 to 5.3 +/- 0.9 L/min, P = .516), left ventricular ejection fraction (29% +/- 5% to 32% +/- 8%, P = .315), or end-systolic elastance (0.86 +/- 0.50 to 0.99 +/- 1.05 mm Hg/mL, P = .688). After restrictive mitral annuloplasty, end-diastolic volume tended to decrease (237 +/- 89 to 226 +/- 52 mL, P = .564), whereas end-diastolic pressure remained unchanged (14 +/- 6 to 15 +/- 5 mm Hg, P = .356). Diastolic chamber stiffness tended to increase (0.027 +/- 0.035 to 0.041 +/- 0.047 mL -1 , P = .542) but not significantly. Peak left ventricular wall stress was unchanged (356 +/- 91 to 346 +/- 85 mm Hg, P = .668). Baseline values in the control group were different, but changes in most parameters after surgical intervention showed similar nonsignificant trends. Mitral valve repair by means of restrictive mitral annuloplasty effectively restores mitral valve competence without inducing significant acute changes in left ventricular systolic or diastolic function in patients with end-stage heart failure. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The complete mitochondrial genome of the freshwater fish Galaxias platei and a comparison with other species of the genus Galaxias (faraway, so close?).
We present the whole mitochondrial genome for Galaxias platei, a freshwater fish widely distributed throughout the Patagonian Andes, and compare it with the mitochondrial genome of three congeneric species. The position of G. platei in the phylogenetic reconstruction differs from that shown by earlier studies using multiple markers. We discuss the results in terms of the phylogenetic position of G. platei and the use of whole mitochondrial genomes versus specific regions of multiple organelles. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Diverse biological activities of dandelion.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) is a member of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, native to Europe but widely distributed in the warmer temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. Dandelion and its parts are habitually consumed as plant foods in several areas of the world, where they are also employed in phytotherapy. Indeed, dandelion contains a wide array of phytochemicals whose biological activities are actively being explored in various areas of human health. In particular, emerging evidence suggests that dandelion and its constituents have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that result in diverse biological effects. The present review provides a comprehensive analysis of the constituents of dandelion, an assessment of the pharmacological properties of dandelion, and a description of relevant studies that support the use of dandelion as a medicinal plant. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Adenovirus-mediated expression of CYP2E1 produces liver toxicity in mice.
Induction of cytochrome P450 2E1 by ethanol is believed to be one of the central pathways by which ethanol generates a state of oxidative stress and causes hepatotoxicity. In order to evaluate the biochemical and toxicological actions of CYP2E1 and its sensitization of hepatotoxin-induced injury, an adenovirus which can mediate overexpression of CYP2E1 was constructed. Injecting this virus into mice through the tail vein elevated CYP2E1 protein and activity twofold in the liver of the mice compared with the mice injected with Ad-LacZ or saline. Transaminase levels were dramatically increased in mice injected with the CYP2E1 adenovirus. Histological evaluation of liver specimens of mice injected with Ad-2E1 showed liver cell injury. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay demonstrated that more cells were stained positively in the liver of the mice infected with Ad-2E1 than in the liver of the mice infected with Ad-LacZ. 3-Nitrotyrosine protein adducts and protein carbonyl adducts were increased in the liver of the mice infected with Ad-2E1 compared with Ad-LacZ. This potentiated toxicity most likely reflects interactions between CYP2E1- and adenovirus-mediated toxicity pathways. These results show that adenovirus-mediated overexpression of CYP2E1 could induce liver toxicity in mice and suggests a mechanism involving oxidative/nitrosative stress. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Comparative studies of the psychopathology of bronchial asthma and cystic fibrosis].
Comparative examinations were performed on each N = 36 subjects, with bronchial asthma, cystic fibrosis and healthy controls, with regard to individual psychopathology, family functioning, and the relationship of clinical parameters to psychopathology. Children suffering from cystic fibrosis had the highest prevalence rate of psychiatric disorder. Findings of the psychiatric assessment in general were cross-validated by parent's and teacher's questionnaires. Data relating to family function were less differentiating between the groups. In both groups of diseases significant correlations between clinical parameters and psychopathology were detected. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Requirements management: keeping your technology acquisition project under control.
Whether you are acquiring clinical or business information systems, patient monitoring systems, or therapeutic and diagnostic systems, the odds are good that the project will be delivered late, will cost far more than predicted, and will not provide all the features promised. The principal reason for project failure is improper management of the requirements of the system. Requirements engineering and management is a skill from the systems engineering profession that can be learned by nearly any professional who is managing a technology acquisition project. The author discusses what requirements engineering and management is and how it is done. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Abdominal pregnancy after gonadotropin superovulation and intrauterine insemination: a case report.
An abdominal pregnancy after superovulation with human menopausal and chorionic gonadotropins followed by intrauterine insemination of the husband's sperm is reported. The incidence of ectopic pregnancy increases with administration of human menopausal and chorionic gonadotropins. However, the role of human menopausal and chorionic gonadotropins as a cause of abdominal pregnancy has not been delineated. It appears that ultrasonography has become one of the most important aids in the diagnosis of early abdominal pregnancy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Metastatic Breast Cancer to the Cervix Presenting with Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding During Chemotherapy: A Case Report and Literature Review.
The most common sites of invasive breast cancer metastasis are the lungs, liver, bones and brain. Less frequent sites include the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, spleen, thyroid, adrenals, kidneys, heart and female genital tract. The uterus is reported as a rare site for metastasis, and even more so for an isolated metastasis. Other sites of extra-genital sources for uterine metastases include the colon, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, lung, cutaneous melanoma, urinary bladder and thyroid. The rarity of breast cancer metastasis to the uterine cervix could be explained by the fact that the cervix has a small blood supply and an afferent lymph drainage system alone. It is rare to diagnose a cervical metastasis prior to eliciting the primary breast disease. Invasive lobular carcinoma metastasises to the female reproductive system more frequently than invasive ductal carcinoma. This paper presents a case of breast cancer metastasis to the cervix. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Tyrosine phosphorylation of calponins. Inhibition of the interaction with F-actin.
The phosphorylation-dephosphorylation of serine and threonine residues of calponin is known to modulate in vitro its interaction with F-actin and is thought to regulate several biological processes in cells, involving either of the calponin isoforms. Here, we identify, for the first time, tyrosine-phosphorylated calponin h3 within COS 7 cells, before and after their transfection with the pSV vector containing cDNA encoding the cytoplasmic, Src-related, tyrosine kinase, Fyn. We then describe the specific tyrosine phosphorylation in vitro of calponin h1 and calponin h3 by this kinase. 32P-labeling of tyrosine residues was monitored by combined autoradiography, immunoblotting with a specific phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibody and dephosphorylation with the phosphotyrosine-specific protein phosphatase, YOP. PhosphorImager analyses showed the incorporation of maximally 1.4 and 2.0 mol of 32P per mol of calponin h3 and calponin h1, respectively. As a result, 75% and 68%, respectively, of binding to F-actin was lost by the phosphorylated calponins. Furthermore, F-actin, added at a two- or 10-fold molar excess, did not protect, but rather increased, the extent of 32P-labeling in both calponins. Structural analysis of the tryptic phosphopeptides from each 32P-labeled calponin revealed a single, major 32P-peptide in calponin h3, with Tyr261 as the phosphorylation site. Tyr261 was also phosphorylated in calponin h1, together with Tyr182. Collectively, the data point to the potential involvement, at least in living nonmuscle cells, of tyrosine protein kinases and the conserved Tyr261, located in the third repeat motif of the calponin molecule, in a new level of regulation of the actin-calponin interaction. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Parathyroid and calcium metabolism disorders during pregnancy.
Parathyroid disorders are not common among pregnant women, but harbor a significant morbidity and mortality potential if they remain unrecognized and untreated. The symptoms caused by abnormally low or high blood free calcium level are mostly non-specific in the initial stages, thus when recognized might pose a real danger. Here we will survey the alterations in calcium metabolism induced by pregnancy, and describe the clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of parathyroid and other calcium metabolism disorders during pregnancy. The current literature on the impact of calcium and vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy will also be reviewed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Venous obstruction due to a distended urinary bladder.
Bladder distention is an infrequently reported cause of venous obstruction that may be confused clinically with deep venous thrombosis or congestive heart failure. Urinary symptoms may be minimal or absent. Herein we describe a 73-year-old man with unilateral lower extremity edema caused by a distended urinary bladder. In addition, we review the clinical manifestations of 15 previously reported cases of venous obstruction due to urinary retention. Of the 15 patients, all but 1 had painless bilateral lower extremity edema. In most cases, the cause of bladder distention was benign prostatic enlargement. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Simple ultrasound-based rules for the diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
To derive simple and clinically useful ultrasound-based rules for discriminating between benign and malignant adnexal masses. In a multicenter study involving nine centers consecutive patients with persistent adnexal tumors underwent transvaginal gray-scale and Doppler ultrasound examination using a standardized examination technique and standardized terms and definitions. Information on 42 gray-scale ultrasound variables and six Doppler variables was collected and entered into a research protocol. When developing simple ultrasound-based rules to predict malignancy (M-rules) we chose the ultrasound variable or the combination of ultrasound variables that had the highest positive predictive value (PPV) with regard to malignancy; when developing simple rules to predict a benign tumor (B-rules) we chose the ultrasound variable or the combination of ultrasound variables that had the lowest PPV with regard to malignancy. We selected ten rules that were in agreement with our clinical experience and were applicable to at least 30 tumors and then tested them prospectively on 507 tumors examined in three of the nine centers. 1066 patients with 1233 adnexal tumors were included. There were 903 benign tumors (73%) and 330 malignant tumors (27%). In 167 patients the tumors were bilateral. We selected five simple rules to predict malignancy (M-rules): (1) irregular solid tumor; (2) ascites; (3) at least four papillary structures; (4) irregular multilocular-solid tumor with a largest diameter of at least 100 mm; and (5) very high color content on color Doppler examination. We chose five simple rules to suggest a benign tumor (B-rules): (1) unilocular cyst; (2) presence of solid components where the largest solid component is < 7 mm in largest diameter; (3) acoustic shadows; (4) smooth multilocular tumor less than 100 mm in largest diameter; and (5) no detectable blood flow on Doppler examination. These ten rules were applicable to 76% of all tumors, where they resulted in a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 90%, positive likelihood ratio (LR+) of 9.45 and negative likelihood ratio (LR-) of 0.08. When prospectively tested the rules were applicable in 76% (386/507) of the tumors, where they had a sensitivity of 95% (106/112), a specificity of 91% (249/274), LR+ of 10.37, and LR- of 0.06. Most adnexal tumors in an ordinary tumor population can be correctly classified as benign or malignant using simple ultrasound-based rules. For tumors that cannot be classified using simple rules, ultrasound examination by an expert examiner might be useful. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Pediatric Cushing's syndrome: clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.
Cushing's syndrome (CS) results from prolonged exposure to supraphysiological levels of circulating glucocorticoids, endogenously or exogenously derived. Although rare in childhood, CS remains a difficult condition to diagnose and treat. A multidisciplinary approach and close collaboration with adult colleagues is adopted at most large centres that manage pediatric CS patients. Although pediatric protocols are derived from adult data, significant differences exist between adult and childhood CS. Furthermore, long term outcome parameters including final height, bone mineral density, reproductive function, body composition and psychological health pose challenges for pediatric care. This article will aim to provide an overall view of pediatric CS highlighting some of the differences between adult and pediatric CS. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Biofeedback on voice use in call center agents in order to prevent occupational voice disorders.
Call center agents (CCAs) are at high risk of voice disorders because of high-demanding vocal load and work-related stress factors. Goal of this prospective study was to examine the voice use at work and to introduce biofeedback software into real-life workplace situation to improve vocal performance. Individual fundamental frequency, sound pressure level (SPL) of speaking voice, and syllables per second should be optimized by visualization on-screen. Further, its impact on vocal attrition and vocal constitution should be investigated. Over a period of 6 months, 76 call center advisors voluntarily participated in this study (37 female, 39 male, mean age 29.3 years). At the beginning of the study, all the subjects received voice range profile (VRP) measurements and acoustic voice analyses at the beginning and at the end of shift. Additionally, several questionnaires have been completed. The subjects were classified into either the study group (group 1) or the control group (group 2). Group 1 had open access to results of the biofeedback software program at their workplace, and group 2 did not. The VRP measurements, questionnaires, and acoustic voice analyses were repeated 4 weeks later again at the beginning and at the end of shift. All the subjects confirmed a rather high vocal load. In contrast, almost none of the subjects received any voice training before entering the floor. The percentage of voice-related hoarseness and regular throat clearing was rather high in both groups. The statistical analyses revealed a significant improvement of vocal performance in subjects with vocal fatigue in the study group when compared with the control group after a 4-week biofeedback intervention. All the subjects with vocal hypofunction defined as maximum SPLs lower than 90 dB in VRP measurements improved to normal voice constitution at the end of the study in contrast to the control group. Biofeedback is a suitable method to improve vocal awareness and vocal performance of CCAs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Synthesis procedure for routine production of [carbonyl-11C]desmethyl-WAY-100635.
An improved one-pot synthesis procedure for routine production of [carbonyl-(11)C]desmethyl-WAY-100635 ([(11)C]DWAY) is described. An efficient purification of the crude product has also been developed and was accomplished by C-18 reversed-phase semi-preparative HPLC using 55/45 EtOH-NaH(2)PO(4) buffer (20 mM, pH=6.5) as the eluent. The desired product fraction was collected in a 2.0-2.5 mL volume and formulated with 11 mL of 0.9% saline. The radioligand was ready for human use in 45 min (EOB). The product was obtained with a radiochemical yield of 11.1+/-1.8% (EOB, n=15) with a radiochemical purity of >99%. Specific activity was 133.2-185.0 GBq/micromol (3.6-5.0 Ci/micromol, EOS, n=2) when ca. 37.0 GBq (ca. 1.0 Ci) of starting [(11)C]CO(2) was used. Unlabeled mass of [(11)C]DWAY was found to be 0.15-0.24 microg/mL and the precursor was present in less than 50 ng/mL in final production solution. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Selective decrease of CD26 expression in T cells from HIV-1-infected individuals.
The decrease of CD4+ cells in AIDS patients is widely documented, although the selective loss within different subsets of CD4+ cells and the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon are controversial. In the present report we have analyzed the proliferative response to Ag and mitogen of peripheral blood T lymphocytes from HIV-infected individuals, the phenotype profile of CD26+ and CD26- subset of cells and their infectivity by the HIV. The expression of CD26 Ag, either in CD4+ or CD8+ cells, was clearly diminished in all the patients tested. On the other hand, the expression of CD29 seems not to be affected, nevertheless T cells from these patients were unable to generate a proliferative response against soluble Ag. In 11 out of 13 patients, polymerase chain reaction studies demonstrated that the CD26- subset of CD4+ cells was the main reservoir for HIV-1 in infected individuals and HIV-1 virus preferentially infected in vitro CD4+/CD26- subpopulation. This capacity for preferential infectivity, together with the selective loss of cells expressing CD26 Ag, helps to explain the progressive impairment in the immune system of these patients and sheds new light on our understanding of the AIDS pathophysiology. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Optimization and evaluation of alkaline potassium permanganate pretreatment of corncob.
Alkaline potassium permanganate solution (APP) was applied to the pretreatment of corncob with a simple and effective optimization of APP concentration, reaction time, temperature and solid to liquid ratio (SLR). The optimized pretreatment conditions were at 2% (w/v) potassium permanganate with SLR of 1:10 treating for 6h at 50°C. This simple one-step treatment resulted in significant 94.56% of the cellulose and 81.47% of the hemicellulose recoveries and 46.79% of the lignin removal of corncob. The reducing sugar in the hydrolysate from APP-pretreated corncob was 8.39g/L after 12h enzymatic hydrolysis, which was 1.44 and 1.29 folds higher than those from raw and acid pretreated corncobs. Physical characteristics, crystallinity and structure of the pretreated corncob were analyzed and assessed by SEM, XRD and FTIR. The APP pretreatment process was novel and enhanced enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose by affecting composition and structural features. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Multifactorial evaluation of implant failure: a 19-year retrospective study.
Dental implants generally provide good results as replacements for missing teeth, but a few patients experience implant failure. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the characteristics and causes of implant failures in hopes of reducing future failures. Patients who received one or more implants at the Dental Hospital of Yonsei University College of Dentistry between February 1991 and May 2009 were included in this study. Data including age, sex, medical history, habits (eg, smoking and drinking), bone quality, primary stability, implant size, implant surface, additional surgical procedures, prosthetic type, clinical symptoms, implant failure date, and causes of implant failure were obtained through a chart review. Follow-up radiographs were compared to those obtained at baseline. The Pearson chi-square test and Fisher exact test were used to evaluate the correlations between risk factors and implant failure. In total, 879 patients received 2,796 implants; 150 implants in 91 patients had failed. Early and late implant failures occurred with 86 (57.3%) and 64 (42.7%) implants, respectively. The main causes of early and late implant failures were inflammation (47%) and overloading (53%), respectively. When the cause of early implant failure was inflammation, the failure rate was significantly higher for implants in the anterior maxilla; implants with poor primary stability, a machined surface, or a length exceeding 15 mm; and implants placed with a reconstructive procedure and two-stage surgery. When late implant failure was caused by overloading, the failure rate was significantly higher for implants with a machined surface, placed with a reconstructive procedure and/or two-stage surgery, and supporting telescopic dentures. Within the limitations of this study, the major causes of implant failure are inflammation and overloading, and they differ between early and late implant failures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Initial and Long-Term Outcomes of Complex Bifurcation Aneurysms Treated by Y-Stent-Assisted Coiling with Low-Profile Braided Stents.
Coiling complex intracranial bifurcation aneurysms often necessitates the implantation of double stents in various configurations, such as Y-stent placement. Low-profile braided stents have been introduced recently to facilitate the endovascular treatment of wide-neck aneurysms. We aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, efficacy, and durability of Y-stent-assisted coiling with double low-profile braided stents for the treatment of complex bifurcation aneurysms. A retrospective review was performed to identify patients who were treated using Y-stent-assisted coiling with low-profile braided stents. Technical success was assessed, as were initial and follow-up clinical and angiographic outcomes. Periprocedural and delayed complications were reviewed. Preprocedural and follow-up clinical statuses were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale. Forty patients with 40 intracranial aneurysms were included in the study. Y-stent placement was successfully performed in all cases. Immediate postprocedural digital subtraction angiography images revealed total aneurysm occlusion in 72.5% of cases. The mean angiographic follow-up time was 24.8 months. The last follow-up angiograms showed complete occlusion in 85% of patients. During follow-up, only 1 patient showed an increase in the filling status of the aneurysm and that patient did not require retreatment. There was no mortality in this study. The overall procedure-related complication rate, including asymptomatic complications, was 17.5%. A permanent morbidity developed in 1 patient (2.5%). The long-term angiographic and clinical outcomes of this retrospective study demonstrate that Y-stent-assisted coiling using low-profile braided stents is an effective, relatively safe, and durable endovascular treatment for wide-neck and complex bifurcation aneurysms. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Relationship between insulin resistance and circulating endothelial cells in pre-eclampsia.
Endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR) are established features of pre-eclampsia, however the cause and effect relationship between them remain unexplained. Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) are increased in pre-eclampsia and appear to correlate with the degree of endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesised that CEC count in pre-eclampsia would correlate with IR and might provide a simple measure of IR in pregnancies complicated by the disease. CEC count and IR were measured in 10 women with pre-eclampsia and 10 normal pregnant controls matched for maternal age, body mass index and gestational age during the third trimester. CEC count was determined using an established immunomagnetic bead separation method and IR was measured by the homeostasis model test. CEC count and IR were significantly increased in pre-eclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. However, there was no correlation between the CEC count and IR in pre-eclampsia. The data suggest that CEC count in pre-eclampsia is not a useful measure on its own of IR in pregnancies complicated by the disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of amifostine in combination with cyclophosphamide on female reproductive system.
This study investigated the cytoprotective effects of amifostine against the adverse effects of cyclophosphamide relying on ovarian cell death markers and the fertilization rate of the surviving follicles as a late outcome of the study. Combined pretreatment of amifostine with cyclophosphamide enabled partial recovery of antiapoptotic messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels while a decrease in expression of BAX and Casp3 were identified. The pretreatment of amifostine to cyclophosphamide significantly reduced the proportion of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive primary and preantral follicles (P < .001 and P < .05, respectively). These findings were comparable with the results obtained from protein expression of cleaved caspase 3. The fertilization rate showed a significant capability of amifostine to improve fertilization potency of oocytes exposed to cyclophosphamide (P < .01). In conclusion, administration of amifostine prior to cyclophosphamide might serve as a promising protocol to improve female fertility. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Integration of novel agents into combined-modality treatment for rectal cancer patients.
With optimized local treatment--achieved through preoperative radiochemotherapy (RCT) and total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery--distant metastases are by far the predominate sites of tumor failure in rectal cancer today. The challenge is to integrate more effective systemic therapy into combined-modality programs. Capecitabine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan as well as targeted therapies improved results for colorectal cancer patients when treated in the metastatic and adjuvant setting. These agents have now been incorporated into phase I-II studies for rectal cancer. Phase I/II studies with combination chemotherapy suggest higher pathologic complete response (pCR) rates in the range of 15-25% and improved tumor regression compared with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) RCT alone. However, the pCR rate is an early surrogate endpoint that may not necessarily translate into improved long-term outcomes. For some studies, this increased pCR rate is associated with an increase in acute toxicity--and data on long-term toxic sequelae are not yet available. Further challenges are to define the best sequence of combinations, including neoadjuvant combination chemotherapy prior to RCT, the role of postoperative chemotherapy, and the best sequence of targeted therapies. Phase III trials are needed to determine, if these novel combination regimens offer an advantage compared with 5-FU-based combined modality. These studies have now been started in Germany (CAO/ARO/AIO-04), Europe (PETACC 6), and the USA (NSAPB-R04, E5204 Intergroup Trial). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Skin-contact exposure to tritium-gas-contaminated stainless-steel surfaces.
One of the radiation protection problems potentially encountered in tritium-handling facilities is contamination of metal surfaces. Experiments with hairless rats have demonstrated that when intact skin is brought into contact with tritium-gas-contaminated stainless-steel surfaces, tritium can be fixed as organically bound tritium (OBT) and as tritiated oxide (HTO) in the skin. The radiological hazard associated with this route of tritium uptake is determined by the retention and distribution of tritium in the skin and other organs. The experimental data suggest that the OBT in the skin serves as an input source to the rest of the body. The urinary excretion of tritium shows a biphasic excretion for OBT and a single-phase clearance for HTO from the body. The results indicate that the exposure from this mode of contamination results in long retention of tritium in the skin as well as in non-uniform distribution of tritium in organs and macromolecules. This information is useful in evaluating the possible dosimetric concerns from this mode of exposure. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Connecticut emergency department physicians survey. Implications for graduate medical education.
A survey conducted in mid-1989 of 36 Connecticut hospital emergency departments sought to determine the nature of physician staffing and the volume and the acuteness of patient problems. Overall, only 31% of emergency department staffing is provided by board certified emergency physicians in the state of Connecticut. In addition to emphasizing the lack of board certified emergency physicians available in the state, this survey also indicated a relative deficiency in emergency department physician staffing in general with approximately 20% of all positions currently unfilled statewide. The implications of these findings for graduate medical education in Connecticut are discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Should dialysate calcium concentration be standardised or individualised?
The 2003 K/DOQI bone metabolism guidelines recommend a standard dialysate calcium concentration of 1.25 mmol/l. Studies of calcium balance that take ultrafiltration, as well as changes in ionised calcium, into account show that patients lose calcium when treated with this dialysate Ca. Compensation for negative calcium balance will usually be required in patients with normal or high bone turnover, but may be impossible if the recommendations to restrict intake of calcium, and hold vitamin D therapy if serum phosphate is high, are followed. A literature review suggests that conversion to 1.25 mmol/l dialysate Ca is beneficial in selected, but not all, patients. Conversion to higher dialysate Ca levels has been shown to improve control of calcium, phosphate and PTH, again in selected patients. Given the important role that dialysate calcium concentration plays in the management of renal bone disease, it should be prescribed on an individual basis like other medications. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Toxoplasma gondii and MHC-restricted antigen presentation: on degradation, transport and modulation.
Resistance against Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite surrounded by a parasitophorous vacuolar membrane, is mediated by the cellular arm of the immune system, namely CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Thus, priming and activation of these cells by presentation of antigenic peptides in the context of major histocompatibility complex class I and class II molecules have to take place. This is despite the fact that the vacuolar membrane avoids fusion with the endocytic compartment and acts like a molecular sieve, restricting passive diffusion of larger molecules. This raises several cell biological and immunological questions which will be discussed in this review in the context of our current knowledge about major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen presentation in other systems: (1) By which pathways are parasite-derived antigens presented to T cells? (2) Has the parasite evolved mechanisms to interfere with major histocompatibility complex-restricted antigen presentation in order to avoid immune recognition? (3) To what extent and by which mechanism is antigenic material, originating from the parasite, able to pass through the vacuolar membrane into the cytosol of the infected cell and is it then accessible to the antigen presentation machinery of the infected cell? (4) What are the actual antigen-presenting cells which prime specific T cells in lymphoid organs? An understanding of these mechanisms will not only provide new insights into the pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii and possibly other intravacuolar parasites, but will also improve vaccination strategies. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Beta-blockers in noncardiac surgery: Did observational studies put us back on safe ground?
Based on landmark trials, international guidelines had for years promoted the use of beta-blockers in the setting of non-cardiac surgery. In 2011, concerns were raised regarding the integrity of some of the landmark trials, as the Dutch Erasmus Medical Center found some of them to be scientifically incorrect. Based on the remaining studies that were to be trusted, investigations showed that, in contrast to prior beliefs, the widespread use of perioperative beta-blockers might be harmful. A call for further investigations into the matter ushered in several observational studies evaluating the safety of perioperative beta-blocker therapy in specific patient subgroups. Within this review, we discuss important aspects for making these decisions, and compare the major observational studies and specific estimates of risk in subgroups of interest. We conclude that patients at high risk with heavy co-morbidities, such as heart failure, may benefit from beta-blocker therapy, whereas low-risk patients, such as patients with uncomplicated hypertension, may be at increased risk with beta-blocker therapy. We provide a critical review of current perioperative guidelines in view of the new observational data, suggesting that the recommended schematics, such as the Revised Cardiac Risk Index, for risk stratification of patients in this setting may be suboptimal. Further, we provide discussions of other aspects, including risk of sepsis, type of beta-blocker, and the potential of perioperative beta-blocker withdrawal, which may be important in guiding future studies. Summarising the current evidence, we argue that, after a precarious decade, we may just now, be back on safe ground. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Differential involvement of amygdala corticosteroid receptors in visceral hyperalgesia following acute or repeated stress.
Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are exacerbated by stress. Previously, we demonstrated that the stress hormone corticosterone applied directly to the amygdala induced visceral hypersensitivity through the actions of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). However, the involvement of amygdaloid GR and MR in the regulation of visceral sensitivity following psychological stress is unknown; therefore, the goal of the present study was to determine the relative importance of amygdaloid GR and MR in the regulation of visceral sensitivity in a rodent model of behavioral stress. Male F-344 rats were stereotaxically implanted with micropellets bilaterally on the dorsal margin of the amygdala containing the GR antagonist mifepristone, the MR antagonist spironolactone, or cholesterol as a control. Animals were then exposed to 1 h of water-avoidance stress (WAS) or sham stress for 1 day (acute) or 7 days (repeated). Visceral sensitivity was assessed either 1 h or 24 h after the final session of WAS and quantified as the number of contractions of the external abdominal oblique, a visceromotor response, in response to colorectal distension at pressures of 0-60 mmHg. Acute stress induced transient visceral hyperalgesia, which was absent 24 h after WAS and independent of GR and MR. Conversely, repeated WAS induced sustained visceral hyperalgesia that was abolished by specifically targeting the amygdala with GR and MR antagonists. These results demonstrate that the amygdala corticosteroid system plays an essential role in mediating the effects of repeated WAS on visceral sensitivity. Furthermore, our findings suggest that amygdaloid GR and MR may be involved in IBS symptomatology. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Declining risk of colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease: an updated meta-analysis of population-based cohort studies.
Recently reported risks of colorectal cancer (CRC) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been lower than those reported before 2000. The aim of this meta-analysis was to update the CRC risk of ulcerative and Crohn's colitis, investigate time trends, and identify high-risk modifiers. The MEDLINE search engine was used to identify all published cohort studies on CRC risk in IBD. Publications were critically appraised for study population, Crohn's disease localization, censoring for colectomy, and patient inclusion methods. The following data were extracted: total and stratified person-years at risk, number of observed CRC, number of expected CRC in background population, time period of inclusion, and geographical location. Pooled standardized incidence ratios and cumulative risks for 10-year disease intervals were calculated. Results were corrected for colectomy and isolated small bowel Crohn's disease. The pooled standardized incidence ratio of CRC in all patients with IBD in population-based studies was 1.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.2 ). High-risk groups were patients with extensive colitis and an IBD diagnosis before age 30 with standardized incidence ratios of 6.4 (95% confidence interval, 2.4-17.5) and 7.2 (95% confidence interval, 2.9-17.8), respectively. Cumulative risks of CRC were 1%, 2%, and 5% after 10, 20, and >20 years of disease duration, respectively. The risk of CRC is increased in patients with IBD but not as high as previously reported and not in all patients. This decline could be the result of aged cohorts. The risk of CRC is significantly higher in patients with longer disease duration, extensive disease, and IBD diagnosis at young age. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Suction blister fluid as potential body fluid for biomarker proteins.
Early diagnosis is important for effective disease management. Measurement of biomarkers present at the local level of the skin could be advantageous in facilitating the diagnostic process. The analysis of the proteome of suction blister fluid, representative for the interstitial fluid of the skin, is therefore a desirable first step in the search for potential biomarkers involved in biological pathways of particular diseases. Here, we describe a global analysis of the suction blister fluid proteome as potential body fluid for biomarker proteins. The suction blister fluid proteome was compared with a serum proteome analyzed using identical protocols. By using stringent criteria allowing less than 1% false positive identifications, we were able to detect, using identical experimental conditions and amount of starting material, 401 proteins in suction blister fluid and 240 proteins in serum. As a major result of our analysis we construct a prejudiced list of 34 proteins, relatively highly and uniquely detected in suction blister fluid as compared to serum, with established and putative characteristics as biomarkers. We conclude that suction blister fluid might potentially serve as a good alternative biomarker body fluid for diseases that involve the skin. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A new technique for radiographic measurement of acetabular cup orientation.
Accurate radiographic measurement of acetabular cup orientation is required in order to assess susceptibility to impingement, dislocation, and edge loading wear. In this study, the accuracy and precision of a new radiographic cup orientation measurement system were assessed and compared to those of two commercially available systems. Two types of resurfacing hip prostheses and an uncemented prosthesis were assessed. Radiographic images of each prosthesis were created with the cup set at different, known angles of version and inclination in a measurement jig. The new system was the most accurate and precise and could repeatedly measure version and inclination to within a fraction of a degree. In addition it has a facility to distinguish cup retroversion from anteversion on anteroposterior radiographs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Revisiting the mechanism of the autoactivation of the complement protease C1r in the C1 complex: structure of the active catalytic region of C1r.
C1r is a modular serine protease which is the autoactivating component of the C1 complex of the classical pathway of the complement system. We have determined the first crystal structure of the entire active catalytic region of human C1r. This fragment contains the C-terminal serine protease (SP) domain and the preceding two complement control protein (CCP) modules. The activated CCP1-CCP2-SP fragment makes up a dimer in a head-to-tail fashion similarly to the previously characterized zymogen. The present structure shows an increased number of stabilizing interactions. Moreover, in the crystal lattice there is an enzyme-product relationship between the C1r molecules of neighboring dimers. This enzyme-product complex exhibits the crucial S1-P1 salt bridge between Asp631 and Arg446 residues, and intermolecular interaction between the CCP2 module and the SP domain. Based on these novel structural information we propose a new split-and-reassembly model for the autoactivation of the C1r. This model is consistent with experimental results that have not been explained adequately by previous models. It allows autoactivation of C1r without large-scale, directed movement of C1q arms. The model is concordant with the stability of the C1 complex during activation of the next complement components. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
HIV-1 Latency by Transition.
The latent HIV-1 reservoir represents the major barrier for the development of an HIV-1 cure. In this issue of Immunity, Shan et al. (2017) highlight that effector-to-memory transitioning (EMT) CD4+ T cells are particularly permissive for the establishment of latent HIV-1 infection. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Malignancies arising in sinonasal inverted papillomas].
Inverted papillomas are primarily benign neoplasms that occur in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Many aspects of sinonasal inverted papillomas are still controversial and active fields of research. Inverted papillomas generate considerable interest because they are locally aggressive, have a propensity to recur and are associated with malignancy. However, neither the etiology and pathogenesis of these tumors nor the putative role as a precursor to carcinoma and the factors responsible for associated malignancy have been clarified. Whether carcinomas in inverted papillomas arise meta- or synchronous is also still unknown. In a retrospective study we reviewed the charts of 93 patients with sinonasal inverted papillomas who were treated at our department between 1990 and 2007. Comparison was made between the group of patients with inverted papillomas and associated squamous cell carcinomas and the group of patients with benign inverted papillomas. We undertook a critical analysis of our results compared with the international medical literature. Associated malignancy was found in 11 patients (11.8 %). In each one case a metachronous carcinoma with and without recurrent inverted papilloma was diagnosed, the remaining 9 carcinomas were determined to be synchronous malignancies. Our data suggest, that the association between carcinoma and inverted papilloma is indirect and that the gradual progression from inverted papilloma to a malignant neoplasm is if at all infrequent. Male gender, advanced age and recurrent inverted papilloma do not per se present risk factors for the development of associated malignancies. Sinonasal carcinomas arise in about 10 % of patients with inverted papillomas, but the ratio of metachronous carcinomas has possibly been overrated up to now. Nevertheless, regular follow-up investigations after surgical resection of inverted papillomas are mandatory. The assumption, that carcinomas in inverted papillomas are less aggressive than carcinomas alone and the definition of high-risk groups for the development of carcinomas seems hazardous. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Developmental trajectories and ecological transitions: a two-step procedure to aid in the choice of prevention and promotion interventions.
The confluence of two different types of transitional processes is explored: human development and normative ecological transitions. There are periods of greater vulnerability than others in the developmental life course as well as particular normative ecological transitions that are more disruptive than others. When there is a confluence of developmental vulnerability and a disruptive ecological transition, a "turning point" in development may ensue. This can take the form of an opportunity for growth and development or a developmental mismatch. Consequently, such turning points may represent opportune times and places at which to launch prevention/promotion programs. A two-step analytic procedure, nomothetic analyses followed by idiographic analyses, is described and illustrated to test the utility of this framework. First, these issues are illustrated using the self-esteem trajectories of low-income, urban public school students making a normative school transition to a junior and senior high school. Second, new data are presented on the early adolescent self-esteem trajectories and their association with long-term psychopathology. Third, the significance of this two-step procedure is discussed in regard to several normative ecological transitions that are common when older adolescents make the developmental transition into adulthood (e.g., into full-time employment, marriage). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Colonic contrast enema in digital luminescent radiography (DLR) and conventional x-ray technic].
120 double-contrast barium enemas were obtained by both digital luminescent radiography (DLR) and conventional screen-film systems, the digital exposure dose being 50% of the conventional one. In DLR two differently post processed images were obtained from one x-ray exposure: a display with low spatial frequency enhancement was processed to look like a conventional radiograph and was complemented by a display with high spatial frequency enhancement. Analysing the results statistically DLR proved to be diagnostically equivalent to conventional radiography despite the reduction in exposure dose and a slightly diminished image quality. High spatial frequency enhancement did not provide further diagnostic information and is therefore superfluous in barium enemas. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Subcranial fronto-orbito-nasal approach for ethmoidal cancers surgical techniques and results.
The authors report their experience with the subfronto-orbito-nasal approach (SFON) for the treatment of 30 patients suffering from ethmoidal cancers over the past 3 years. The advantages and pitfalls of this technique are described and compared with other classic approaches. Among 156 patients suffering from ethmoidal cancers and treated between January 1984 and January 1998, 30 patients were operated on using the SFON approach during the past 3 years. There were 27 males and 3 females, ranging in age from 15 to 77 years. Histologic composition of the lesions was as follows: 15 adenocarcinomas, 6 esthesioneuroblastomas, 3 melanomas, 2 epidermoid carcinomas, 1 nondifferentiated carcinoma, 1 neuroendocrine carcinoma, 1 villous carcinoma, and 1 cystic adenoid carcinoma (cylindroma). According to the authors' classification, 7% were T1, 6% T2, 22% T3, 38.5% T4a, and 26.5% T4b. All patients were operated on through a SFON approach, followed by removal of the tumor and reconstruction of the skull base with a pericranial flap. Since the mean follow-up was of short duration (12 months, ranging from 3 to 29 months), significant carcinologic results could not be obtained. However, a detailed analysis of the surgical procedure was performed. No patient died or had major complications related to the SFON approach. One cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula and four oculomotricity dysfunctions were observed. Definitive anosmia was reported in all cases. The advantages of the procedure include a wide exposure of the anterior skull base through a limited approach, the possibility of modifying the approach according to the size and location of the lesion, total resection of tumors, simplified skull base reconstruction technique, and reduction of postoperative confusion and hospital stay. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Melanocytoma in the orbital apex.
We report a case of a 49-year-old man presenting with a melanocytoma located in the orbital apex. The tumor was subtotally removed and adjuvant chemotherapy was given. The patient has remained under follow-up for the past 12 years without any evidence of recurrence. Although the characteristic neuroradiological images of the lesion prove the presence of melanin, histological examination is crucial to establish the diagnosis of melanocytoma. Besides the clinical and neuroradiological presentation, the histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural findings are described. To our knowledge, this is the second published case of intraorbital melanocytoma initially confined to the orbital apex. Melanocytoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of intraorbital tumors in such a location. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Nutritional assessment of patients affected by porphyria variegata.
To describe the nutritional status and dietary practices of patients affected by porphyria variegata, paying special attention to the consumption of nutrients that may help or hinder the condition, and to assess the compliance with prevalent nutritional recommendations. Cross-sectional study. 24 individuals affected by porphyria variegata (16 females and 8 males; mean age 46.8 (SD 19.5) years) from the Balearic Islands (Spain) recruited through the Balearic Porphyria Association. Dietary questionnaires (7-day dietary record and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire), socio-demographic, lifestyle and health status interviews and anthropometric measurements were carried out. According to current recommendations for the Spanish population and to specific recommendations for porphyria patients, the daily intake of saturated fat (13.2% of total energy), sugars (16.9% of total E), cholesterol (387 mg) and alcoholic beverages (1.1 servings per day) were too high whereas the consumption of total carbohydrates (43.5% of total E), vitamin E (69.5% of RDI), beta-carotene (63.1% of RDI) and vitamin D (42.4% of RDI) was lower than recommended. Dietary pattern observed among porphyria variegata patients was in line with current dietary trends in the Balearic Islands. Nutritional recommendations to these individuals for the management of porphyria are poorly met. It is necessary to translate these recommendations into food-based dietary guidelines based on prevailing dietary patterns. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Development of the hypothalamic-hypophysial-gonadotrophic activities in fetal rats.
Pituitary responsiveness to LHRH and anti-LHRH serum was investigated in fetal rats aged 18.5-22.5 days. Synthetic LHRH injection in utero into fetuses brought about a remarkable depletion of pituitary-LH with a corresponding increase of serum-LH on day 18.5. On the contrary, anit-LHRH serum administration to day-20.5 fetuses caused a significant augmentation of pituitary-LH 1 day later. These data indicate that LH-gonadotrophs respond to LHRH even on day 18.5, and that endogenous LHRH begins to affect LH gonadotrophs on day 20.5. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Who gets supervised? An extension of patient selection inequity.
A study of 89 individual psychotherapy patients followed by 17 residents in a teaching clinic demonstrated that those presented for supervision significantly differed from the others in being younger, better educated, and better liked by residents and in having higher incomes and longer term treatment. The authors discuss the implications of these findings in relation to the inequity in service time and teaching emphasis that this selection allows. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities from chorionic biopsy samples: improved success rate using a modified direct method.
Several methods for fetal chromosome analysis using chorionic biopsy samples were compared. A modified direct method for culturing villi was considered to be the method of choice and details are presented of 186 pregnancies tested prenatally. The success rate in obtaining a fetal karyotype with the direct method was 93 per cent. The fetal loss rate in the prenatal series was 4.3 per cent and congenital abnormalities in the babies already born did not differ from the expected incidence. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Modes of action of arjunolic acid and derivatives on Trypanosoma cruzi cells.
Chagas disease causes considerable morbimortality in the Americas, with circa 7 to 8 million infected people, causing at least 12,000 annual deaths and 100 million people at risk. Its chemotherapy is poorly selective and effective, associated to severe side effects and unresponsive cases. Thus, R&D on therapeutic alternatives is undoubtedly required. The Brazilian poorly studied biodiversity offers uncountable bioagents, which may be exploited for chemotherapy. The triterpene arjunolic acid (AA), reduced the Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigote in vitro proliferation with an apparent IC₅₀ of 171 µM. Electron microscopy analysis revealed remarkable effects on the parasite surface and architecture. AA-treated parasites displayed minutely corrugated plasma membranes devoid of subpellicular microtubules as well as biogenesis of multiple basal bodies. As the AA effects appeared mainly restricted or originated at the parasite peripheral cytoplasm, including the cytoskeleton membrane linkage, we inferred that the compound targeted primarily the lipid bilayer; therefore, we performed synthetic modification to increase the molecule lipophilicity and thus membrane permeability. The methyl ester (MeAA) and tri-acetylated derivatives (3AcAA) had potentiated trypanocidal activity, producing IC₅₀ values of 21.9 and 15.8 µM, respectively. Both derivatives were able to produce remarkable ultrastructural alterations in the parasites, including inner compartments such as Golgi apparatus and the endocytic/autophagic pathway. Parasites cultured with both derivatives displayed numerous and large autophagic vacuoles, altered flagellar length and cell body connection. These data indicate that synthetically-modified natural products comprise valuable tools in antiparasitic chemotherapy and that electron microscopy may be useful not only in determining the mechanisms of action but also in directing such modifications for rational drug design. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A simple analytical method for determining the steady-state potential in models of geometrically complex neurons.
A method is presented for solving the cable equation for a spiking neuron below firing threshold or a nonspiking neuron of arbitrary geometry under constant stimulation. The neuron structure is considered as a tree composed of a set of cylinder cables of three types (terminal, intermediate and branching) characterized by their lengths, diameters and linear membrane properties. The stimulation can result from either a uniform conductance-change over a whole cable segment or a point injection of a current. Other special segments are considered (synapses, voltage clamp, lumped soma). Equations are given for replacing any segment with its Thévenin equivalent, i.e. resistance and electromotive force. The step by step use of these elementary equations allows one to find the Thévenin equivalent of the whole neuron and to determine the steady-state membrane potential at any point. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A controlled study of lifetime prevalence of affective and other psychiatric disorders in bulimic outpatients.
The authors used structured diagnostic interviews to assess the lifetime prevalence of psychiatric disorders, by DSM-III criteria, among 70 women: 51 outpatients with active bulimia and 19 nonpatient subjects with remitted bulimia. Comparison groups consisted of 24 female outpatients with major depression and 28 nonpsychiatric control subjects. The active and remitted bulimic subjects closely resembled each other, with high lifetime rates of major affective disorder, anxiety disorders, and substance use disorders. Atypical depression was equally common among subjects with major affective disorder in all groups. These results are consistent with previous studies suggesting a phenomenologic relationship between bulimia and major affective disorder. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Role of metabolic CO2 production in the generation of elevated renal cortical PCO2.
Several possible explanations for the elevated CO2 tension observed in structures of the renal cortex have been proposed. The present study was designed to investigate the contribution of renal metabolic CO2 production and removal and the role of incomplete equilibration of the CO2 added to peritubular plasma in an environment devoid of carbonic anhydrase. PCO2 was measured in vivo with PCO2 microelectrodes in early (EP) and late proximal (LP) tubules and stellate vessels (SV) during control conditions and after hyperoncotic albumin, aortic constriction, vanadate, rotenone, or 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) per renal artery, and carbonic anhydrase infusion. In all groups values for PCO2 in EP, LP, and SV sites were indistinguishable but significantly higher than systemic arterial PCO2. PCO2 increased to 71.4 +/- 1.4 mmHg with hyperoncotic albumin and to 87.0 +/- 1.8 mmHg after 2,4-DNP (P less than 0.001). During aortic constriction, vanadate infusion, and rotenone per renal artery, PCO2 fell to 53.7 +/- 0.9, 55.2 +/- 2.5, and 57.3 +/- 1.3, respectively (P less than 0.001). Renal O2 consumption decreased significantly after rotenone (-38.1 +/- 5.6 to -13.3 +/- 2.7 mumol X min-1 X kg-1) and increased significantly after 2,4-DNP (-35.7 +/- 5.9 to -75.9 +/- 6.9 mumol X min-1 X kg-1). These findings demonstrate that renal energy utilization and metabolic CO2 production represents an important source of renal cortical PCO2. Carbonic anhydrase infusion resulted in a decrease in PCO2 to 58.2 +/- 1.2 mmHg (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Development of an advanced integrative process to create valuable biosugars including manno-oligosaccharides and mannose from spent coffee grounds.
Spent coffee grounds (SCG) or coffee residue wastes (CRW) provide excellent raw material for mannose and bioethanol production. In this study, SCG were used to produce valuable biosugars, including oligosaccharides (OSs), manno-oligosaccharides (MOSs), mannose, and bioethanol. SCG were subjected to delignification and defatting, producing SCG-derived polysaccharides. Two-stage enzymatic hydrolysis (short- and long-term) was performed to produce short-chain manno-oligosaccharides (MOSs) and monosaccharides (MSs), respectively. From 100 g dry weight (DW) amounts of SCG, approximately 77 g delignified SCG and 61 g SCG-derived polysaccharides, amounts of 15.9 g of first biosugars (mostly MOSs), 25.6 g of second biosugars (mostly MSs), and 3.1 g of bioethanol, were recovered. This technique may aid in the production of high-value mannose and OSs from SCG and other lignocellulosic biomasses that contain specific polysaccharides. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Growth behaviour and bioproduction of indole acetic acid by a Rhizobium sp. isolated from root nodules of a leguminous tree Dalbergia lanceolaria.
The Rhizobium sp. isolated from healthy and mature root nodules of a leguminous tree, Dalbergia lanceolaria Linn. f., preferred mannitol and KNO3 for growth as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The bacterium produced a high amount (22.3 microg/ml) of indole acetic acid (IAA) from L-tryptophan supplemented basal medium. Growth and IAA production started simultaneously. IAA production was maximum at 20 hr when the bacteria reached the stationary phase of growth. Cultural requirements were optimized for maximum growth and IAA production. The IAA production by the Rhizobium sp. was increased by 270.8% over control when the medium was supplemented with mannitol (1%,w/v), SDS (1 microg/ml), L-asparagine (0.02%,w/v) and biotin (1 microg/ml) in addition to L-tryptophan (2.5 mg/ml). The possible role of IAA production in the symbiosis is discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Does inflammation induced by ultraviolet B and heat rekindling alter pain-related behaviour in rats?
To investigate whether induction of the ultraviolet B and heat rekindling (UVB/HR) model alters burrowing behaviour in rats. Randomized, blinded, prospective experimental study. Sixteen adult male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g. In the UVB/HR group (n = 8), UV irradiation was delivered to the heel area of the right plantar pelvic limb paw at a dose of 1000 mJ cm(-2) , using a narrow-band UVB light source. Twenty-four hours later, heat rekindling was performed by placement of a feedback-controlled thermode set at a constant temperature of 45 °C over the area of UVB irradiation for 5 minutes. Both interventions were carried out under pentobarbital anaesthesia. The 'sham' group (n = 8) was anaesthetized only. In the burrowing test, rats were housed singly for 2 hours in cages furnished with a burrow filled with sand. The amount of sand remaining in the burrow after 2 hours was weighed and the amount displaced from the burrow calculated. The burrowing test was carried out for two consecutive days prior to UVB irradiation (day 0), on day 1 prior to HR, on days 2 and 3 after UVB exposure and at equivalent time points in the sham group. Rats in the sham group burrowed means (SD) of 2429 (73) g and 2358 (124) g of sand on days -2 and 3, respectively, while those in the UVB/HR group burrowed 2460 (26) and 2419 (58) g on days -2 and 3, respectively. There was no significant effect of treatment on the amount of sand burrowed at any time point. Pain associated with UVB/HR model induction is below the threshold required to affect rat burrowing behaviour and therefore questions the face validity of UVB/HR as a translational model of inflammatory pain. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Scintigraphic appearance of the piriformis muscle syndrome.
This is the first report in the nuclear medicine literature of the scintigraphic appearance of the piriformis muscle syndrome. This syndrome previously has been thought to be a purely clinical diagnosis and imaging modalities have been ignored. However, its confusing clinical presentation can lead to unnecessary surgical exploration. This case is presented to illustrate the characteristic scintigraphic pattern and suggest the role of nuclear medicine scanning in establishing the diagnosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Experimental assessment of the vibration-reorientation contribution to liquid crystal NMR dipolar couplings: the case of tetramethylallene dissolved in a nematic mesophase.
In the present paper, the peculiar orientational behavior, studied by liquid crystal NMR (LXNMR) spectroscopy, of the D(2d) symmetry quasi-spherical molecule of tetramethylallene (TMA) dissolved in the nematic solvent I52 is exploited to attempt a quantitative experimental assessment of the correlation between molecular vibrations and overall rotations in weakly oriented molecules. The analysis of the very small D(HH) and (1)D((13)C-H) dipolar couplings, available from the natural abundance LXNMR spectra of TMA at different temperatures, allows for a derivation leading (by making a few approximations) to the quantification of the vibration-reorientation (also called nonrigid) contribution affecting the observed direct (1)D((13)C-H) dipolar coupling. The obtained results show that, under the particular conditions of the studied system (very weak orientational ordering of a highly symmetric molecule), this contribution is particularly important, in order to reproduce the whole value of the "observed" dipolar coupling. This issue is discussed and commented on at length in the work, also, by making reference to the analogy with perfectly symmetric molecules (such as methane and analogues) dissolved in liquid crystalline phases. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Resonant control of an atomic force microscope micro-cantilever for active Q control.
Active Q control may be used to modify the effective quality (Q) factor of an atomic force microscope (AFM) micro-cantilever when operating in tapping mode. The control system uses velocity feedback to obtain an effective cantilever Q factor to achieve optimal scan speed and image resolution for the imaging environment and sample type. Time delay of the cantilever displacement signal is the most common method of cantilever velocity estimation. Spill-over effects from unmodeled dynamics may degrade the closed loop system performance, possibly resulting in system instability, when time delay velocity estimation is used. A resonant controller is proposed in this work as an alternate method of velocity estimation. This new controller has guaranteed closed loop stability, is easy to tune, and may be fitted into existing commercial AFMs with minimal modification. Images of a calibration grating are obtained using this controller to demonstrate its effectiveness. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Berberine ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced learning and memory deficit in the rat: insights into underlying molecular mechanisms.
Systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers neuroinflammation with consequent development of behavioral and cognitive deficits. Neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid in Berberis genus with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory property and protective effects in neurodegenerative disorders. In this research, beneficial effect of this alkaloid against LPS-induced cognitive decline was assessed in the adult male rats. LPS was intraperitoneally administered at a dose of 1 mg/kg to induce neuroinflammation and berberine was given via gavage at doses of 10 or 50 mg/kg, one h after LPS, for 7 days. Treatment of LPS group with berberine at a dose of 50 mg/kg (but not at a dose of 10 mg/kg) improved spatial recognition memory in Y maze, performance in novel object recognition task (NORT), and prevented learning and memory dysfunction in passive avoidance tasks. Furthermore, berberine lowered hippocampal activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl, activity of caspase 3, and DNA fragmentation and improved antioxidant capacity through enhancing glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione (GSH). Besides, berberine attenuated inflammation-related indices, as was evident by lower levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Berberine also appropriately restored hippocampal 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox 2), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), sirtuin 1, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) with no significant alteration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In summary, berberine could partially ameliorate LPS-induced cognitive deficits via partial suppression of apoptotic cascade, neuroinflammation, oxido-nitrosative stress, AChE, MAPK, and restoration of sirtuin 1. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Modulation of endothelin-1 on pulmonary surfactant synthesis of cultured alveolar type II cells].
The effects of endothelin-1(ET-1) on pulmonary surfactant(PS) synthesis of cultured AT II cells were observed. The results showed that: 1. ET-1(10(-11)-10(-8) mol.L-1) enhanced PS synthesis of cultured AT II cells in a dose-dependent manner. 2. The minimum effective concentration of ET-1 enhanced PS synthesis of cultured AT II cells was higher than that of lung explants. 3. ETA antagonist BQ123 decreased the effect of ET-1 on PS synthesis, but ETB antagonist BQ788 did not change the effect. 4. ET-1 (10(-12) and 10(-10) mol.L-1) had no effect on the proliferation of AT II cells. These results confirmed that ET-1 can enhance directly and indirectly on the PS synthesis of AT II cells mediated via ETA receptor. The effect of ET-1 on PS synthesis was not induced by changing the number of AT II cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Which outcomes should we measure in adult epilepsy trials? The views of people with epilepsy and informal carers.
So that informed treatment decisions can be made, clinical trials need to evaluate treatments against domains that are important to people with epilepsy (PWE), their carers, and clinicians. Health professionals have identified domains of importance to them via the International League Against Epilepsy's Commission on Outcome Measurement (COME). However, patients and carers have not been systematically asked. Via the membership of the British Epilepsy Association, we recruited and surveyed 352 PWE and 263 of their informal carers. They were presented with 10 outcome domains (including the 5 identified by COME) and asked to rate their importance using a 9-point Likert scale. They were also asked to identify any additional domains of importance. The patients' mean age was 49years, the median number of years since diagnosis was 20, and 65% had experienced seizures in the prior 12months. Most carers were the spouse or parent. Patients' and carers' mean ratings indicated that their outcome priorities were similar, as were those of patients who had and had not experienced recent seizures. There was consensus among patients that 6 domains were of critical importance. These included the 5 identified by COME (namely, and in order of importance, the effects of the treatment on "Seizure severity", "Seizure frequency", "Quality of life", "Cognitive function", and "Adverse events"), as well as one additional domain ("Independence/need for support"). There was consensus among carers that the 5 COME domains were also critically important. They, however, identified 3 further domains as critically important. These were the effects of the treatment on patient "Depression", "Anxiety", and "Independence/need for support". Our study found some overlap between the priorities of PWE, carers, and health professionals. They, however, highlight additional areas of importance to patients and carers. Our results could inform a core outcome set for epilepsy that represents the domains that should be reported as a minimum by all trials. This could promote trials which produce meaningful results and consistency in measurement and reporting. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Alcon CustomCornea wavefront-guided retreatments after laser in situ keratomileusis.
To evaluate the outcome of wavefront-guided ablations for the correction of residual myopia and astigmatism after standard laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Twenty nine eyes of 26 patients who underwent wavefront-guided LASIK retreatment with Alcon CustomCornea (Alcon Laboratories Inc, Fort Worth, Tex) were evaluated. Complete ophthalmologic examination, corneal topography, and wavefront measurements were performed. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest refraction, and wavefront analysis were evaluated preoperatively, 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. Wavefront measurements were assessed using the LADARWave device. Statistical analysis was performed using the McNemar test and percentages of success. One week postoperatively, UCVA was > or =20/40 in 100% of eyes (> or =20/20 in 31%) and BSCVA was > or =20/40 in 100% (> or =20/20 in 73%). Wavefront analysis showed a decrease in total aberrations, high order aberrations, defocus, coma, spherical aberration, and other terms of higher order aberrations at 1-week follow-up. Three months postoperatively, UCVA was > or =20/40 in 100% of eyes (> or =20/20 in 38%) and BSCVA was > or =20/40 in 100% (> or =20/20 in 81%). Six months postoperatively, UCVA was > or =20/40 in 100% of eyes (> or =20/20 in 60%) and BSCVA was > or =20/40 in 100% (> or =20/20 in 90%). Wavefront analysis showed decrease in total aberration, high order aberration, defocus, coma, and spherical aberration. Wavefront-guided LASIK retreatment in post-LASIK eyes represents a good option for laser vision correction. All eyes showed reduction in pre-existing total aberrations. Some high order aberration components decreased in this initial series. Further follow-up is necessary to assess the initial predictability of wavefront-guided LASIK upgrade. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Renal and gastrointestinal potassium excretion in humans: new insight based on new data and review and analysis of published studies.
Little is known about the relationship between the renal and gastrointestinal excretion of potassium in humans. This information is important in light of strong associations of potassium intake with hypertension and occlusive stroke. We determined the relationship between fecal and urinary excretion of potassium under both fixed and variable potassium intakes using our unpublished archival data and published data of others. Twenty-five subjects were evaluated. On a fixed, low oral potassium intake (61.2 +/- 4.7 mmol/day; mean +/- SD), there was an inverse relationship between fecal and urinary potassium excretion (r = -0.66, p = 0.040). In studies in which potassium intake varied between 61-135 mmol/day, fecal and urinary potassium excretions were positively correlated (r = 0.58, p = 0.024). Considerable within-and-between-subject variation was observed in the relationship between fecal and urinary potassium excretion. Inter-individual variation in fecal potassium excretion may arise from both variation in dietary potassium intake and intrinsic individual differences in the renal versus gastrointestinal handling of potassium. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Techniques and high resolution DNA size markers for pulsed field gel electrophoresis.
High resolution DNA size markers are described for pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). These markers provide resolution of 10-20 kbp over a size range from 10 kbp to more than 400 kbp and are produced by partial restriction digestion of lambda phage DNA concatemers (lambda ladder). High resolution markers extending to over 400 kbp are made by partial restriction digestion of lambda ladder embedded in agarose. Detailed methods are described for marker production and for DNA separation by contour-clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) electrophoresis. These markers and methods are useful for a variety of high resolution DNA mapping by PFGE. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Mitochondrial genetic background plays a role in increasing risk to asthma.
A number of studies suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma. To shed light for the first time on the role of the mitochondrial genome in the etiology of asthma we analyzed the mitochondrial tRNA genes and part of their flanking regions in patients with asthma compared with a set of healthy controls. We found a total of 10 mutations in 56 out of 76 asthmatic patients. Four of these mutations were not found in the control group, five were observed at a significantly lower frequency in controls, but none of the combinations of mutations detected in asthma patients was observed in the controls. Furthermore, we observed that 27.6% of the asthma patients (vs. 4% of the controls) belonged to the haplogroup U (Fisher test P = 0.00) and a positive significant correlation was found between the occurrence of the haplogroup U and the severity of the disease (Fisher test P = 0.02). Whereas further studies in larger cohorts are needed to confirm these observations we suggest that the mitochondrial genetic background plays a key role in asthma development. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Standardized methyl green-pyronin Y procedures using pure dyes.
Fully standardized Methyl Green-Pyronin methods are presented. Pure Pyronin Y and purified Methyl Green or Ethyl Green are used either simultaneously in one dye bath or are used as a sequence of Pyronin Y and Ethyl or Methyl Green. Both methods, as shown by enzymatic pretreatment, give a reliable and reproducible staining in DNA with Ethyl or Methyl Green and of RNA with Pyronin Y on Carnoy fixed material. On formaldehyde fixed material it was found advantageous to use the sequential method as chromatin was hereby stained green instead of blue as seen with the simultaneous method. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Safety and efficacy of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: evidence from Northern California.
Pneumococcal disease remains a significant cause of morbidity among young children. A large-scale efficacy trial in the Northern California Kaiser Permanente system (the KP trial) demonstrated that a seven-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV) is safe and immunogenic in young children and effective in preventing both invasive pneumococcal disease caused by vaccine serotypes (97.4% efficacy) and episodes of otitis media (7.0% efficacy). Since the publication of the results of the KP trial in 2000, we have performed an additional analysis on the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the vaccine in low birth weight (LBW) and preterm (PT) infants, and have examined the efficacy of the vaccine during 1 year of wide-scale post-licensure use. The vaccine was at least as immunogenic in LBW and PT infants as in normal-weight, full-term infants and was 100% effective, although the LBW and PT infants had higher rates of adverse events such as redness and swelling. LBW and PT infants receiving pneumococcal vaccine also had higher rates of adverse events, such as hives, than those receiving control meningococcal vaccine, but these reactions were not severe. When the PCV was used in the general population, the efficacy remained high and there was no corresponding increase in disease caused by nonvaccine serotypes. There was also evidence that vaccine administration led to herd immunity. Febrile illness was the only adverse event seen more frequently after vaccine administration than during a control period. the seven-valent conjugate vaccine is safe and effective for use in the general population. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Necessity of the divalent cation in the reaction between EAC1-8hu and C9gp.
The reaction of EAC1-8hu and C9gp could not generate E* in 0.09 M EDTA solution. In 0.001 M EDTA solution, EAC1-8hu could not fix C9gp. But E* formation was observed in the buffer containing low concentration of divalent cations. Of the tested cations, Ca++ was most effective and its optimal concentration was 2 X 10(-7) M. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Tonal vocalizations in the red wolf (Canis rufus): potential functions of nonlinear sound production.
The purpose of this study is to further understanding of the function of nonlinear vocalizations in red wolves (Canis rufus) by examining the acoustic, structural, and contextual characteristics of nonlinear sounds as compared to linear sounds. Video recordings of captive wolves from a breeding facility were analyzed. The acoustic nature of sound units was consistent with that of other social canids. The sound units included high-frequency squeaks (2600-9500 Hz) and low-frequency wuhs (160-1600 Hz) occurring either as separate units or in combination as nonlinear units (squeak-wuh frequency jumps, biphonations, squeaks with sidebands) and frequency jumps within squeaks. These low-amplitude sounds occurred in trains of 1-30 units that were classified as squeak vocalizations (49%), wuh vocalizations (19%), and nonlinear vocalizations (any combination including one or more nonlinear units, 32%). Nonlinear vocalizations transitioned directionally from high-frequency units to mixed-frequency units which has implications for the study of sound production and function. Wolves squeaked most often when oriented toward others, implying a solicitation function, while wuh vocalizations were more common during social interactions. Nonlinear vocalizations occurred most often during penmate-play or when oriented toward neighbors, indicating that nonlinear sound production may signal an increase in arousal. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Spontaneous fetal behavior after maternal exposure to ethanol.
Acute and chronic intubations of ethanol to pregnant rats produced changes in spontaneous fetal behavior four hours later. Fetuses from mothers in intermediate alcohol groups (4 and 6 g/kg) were substantially less active than controls (0 g/kg), but fetuses from low (2 g/kg) and high (8 g/kg) alcohol groups showed little indication of behavioral suppression. Circulating levels of alcohol in maternal blood, fetal homogenate and amniotic fluid at the time fetuses were observed confirmed that fetuses were exposed to alcohol in utero, but the measured concentrations of alcohol were not predictive of fetal activity. We suggest that some of the developmental consequences of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome may be the consequence of fetal inactivity induced by alcohol in utero. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Murine and bovine blue cone pigment genes: cloning and characterization of two new members of the S family of visual pigments.
Two novel visual pigment genes, mouse blue and bovine blue, have been isolated from mouse and bovine genomic libraries, respectively, using a human blue cone pigment cDNA as probe. Corresponding cDNA clones have also been obtained from mouse retinas. The intron-exon boundaries for the mouse gene were determined by comparing the genomic and cDNA sequences. The visual pigments encoded by the mouse and bovine blue pigment genes are highly homologous to each other (89% amino acid identity) and to human blue and chicken violet cone pigments (greater than 80% identity), but are less homologous to chicken or goldfish blue cone pigments (less than 50% identity). These results indicate that phylogenetically both mouse and bovine blue pigments belong to the S branch of visual pigments, rather than to the M branch. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Our experiences with the gallium-scintigraphy in case of sarcoidosis of the lungs (author's transl)].
The comparing examinations of patients suffering from a sarcoidosis of the lungs by the help of roentgenograms, scintigraphies of lung perfusion of 67-gallium and bioptic examinations admit to conclude as follows: In the stages I and II the activity-accumulation of radioactive gallium corresponds nearly to the alterations becoming visible in the X-ray-graph. Consequently, increases of lymph nodes and active granulomatous interstitial or centriform infiltrations may be presented. In case of a successful treatment the activity-incorporation is not to be proved anymore. As to time the alterations also coincide with the radiogram. In single cases the epithelioid nodule may be proved bioptically and microscopically when the active process already has stabilized spontaneously or by a treatment. In these cases the radioactive gallium is incorporated no more. The proof of 67-Ga-activity has a special signification in case fibrotic alterations have already appeared. The examinations prove that a granulomatosis may continue to exist when already distinct X-ray-symptoms of a fibrosis are present. Consequently, the granulomas may appositionally develop and cause an additional fibrosis. Therefore, in case of an existing infiltration of the lungs the combination of a definite lesion in the form of a fibrosis and a persisting formation of granulomas rather means a rule than an exception. A perfusion scintigram may be altered pathologically by a granuloma as well as by a fibrosis. Disorders in perfusion caused by granulomas are reversible. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Biological appraisal of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells during ex-vivo expansion].
This study was aimed to investigate the characteristics of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells during ex-vivo expansion, MSCs were isolated from human bone marrow. At each passage, the characteristics of proliferation kinetics, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation potential were analyzed, and cell morphology, surface markers were investigated as well. The karyotype analysis was done in different passage cells. The infection HIV, HCV, HBV and TP were detected by ELISA. Mycoplasma contamination in vitro was detected by PCR method. HLA-SBT was used to reanalyze the results of HLA antigens and alleles. STR genetic loci were detected by PCR in the MSC1, MSC2, MSC3 and MSC4. The results indicated that the proliferative ability and osteogenic potential decreased with the increase of passage number during culture expansion. The multiple differentiation potential of MSCs was maintained during their life span. Karyotype analysis showed that MSCs from 4 groups before passage 8 were normal. The expression of CD29, CD44, CD105, CD166 and CD73 were positive. The expression of CD14, CD34, CD45, CD80, CD86 were all negative. SBT was used to identify HLA-A, B, Cw, DRB1, DRPB1, DQ alleles in the MSC1, MSC2, MSC3, MSC4. The genetype of STR in the MSC1, MSC2, MSC3, MSC4 was different. MSC 3 was examined by TP-ELISA to confirm the infectious disease of TP. MSC2 was contaminated by mycoplasma at passage 5. It is concluded that culture expansion causes MSCs to gradually lose their stem cell properties. During ex-vivo expansion of MSCs, the osteogenic differentiation potential is decreased. MSCs before passage 8 can be a valuable subject for basic research and clinical application. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in the presence of left anterior fascicular block: a reexamination of the 2009 AHA/ACCF/HRS guidelines.
The 2009 "AHA/ACCF/HRS Recommendations for Standardization and Interpretation of the Electrocardiogram" state that left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) criteria that include R-wave amplitude in leads I and aVL are not likely reliable in the presence of left anterior fascicular block (LAFB). This statement was referenced to three relatively small studies. The present study reexamines the utility of selected electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for LVH in the presence of LAFB. We identified 185 ECG tracings with LAFB from patients in whom echocardiogram had been performed within 30 days of the ECG. These ECGs were evaluated for the presence of selected LVH criteria: (1) Sokolow index (R-wave-aVL > 11 mm); (2) Cornell criteria (R-wave-aVL + S-wave-V3 > 28 mm in men (>20 mm in women); (3) Gertsch criterion (S-wave-III + (R + S) maximal precordial >30 mm); and (4) Bozzi criterion (SV1 or SV2 + (RV6 + SV6) > 25 mm). The "gold standard" for LVH was left ventricular mass index on echocardiogram. Although the aVL-based LVH criteria demonstrated lower sensitivity (45-68%) and a trend toward higher specificity (67-81%) compared to non-aVL-based criteria, the four studied criteria demonstrated similar diagnostic accuracy. In the presence of LAFB, the aVL-based Sokolow index and Cornell criteria, which were excluded from 2009 multisociety ECG guidelines, identify LVH with similar diagnostic accuracy as the non-aVL-based criteria that were included. Moreover, they are easier to calculate and are included in some of the computer-assisted ECG interpretation software presently in use. Their exclusion from the 2009 guidelines was unnecessary. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Neurotrophins require distinct extracellular signals to promote the survival of CNS neurons in vitro.
Althoughthe neurotrophins BDNF and NT-3 have been recognized as potent survival factors for distinct neuronal populations in the peripheral nervous system, they seem to have only minor effects on the survival of CNS neurons. In the present study, we provide evidence that BDNF and NT-3 require distinct additional extracellular signals in order to effectively promote the survival of several established populations of target neurons in the CNS. In dissociated cell cultures of the embryonic rat mesencephalon, BDNF promoted dopaminergic cell survival only after a delay of several days. Even after prolonged cultivation, survival promoting effects were completely absent with NT-3. Irrespective of the cultivation time, survival promoting effects of both BDNF and NT-3 on dopaminergic neurons were induced or potentiated upon simultaneous depolarization of cultured mesencephalic cells with NMDA or upon activation of cAMP/PKA-dependent signaling pathways with dibutyryl cAMP. Dibutyryl cAMP (dbcAMP), but not NMDA, also potentiated or induced the survival promoting effects of BDNF and NT-3 on cultured cerebellar granule cells. None of these substances, either alone or in combination, affected the survival of cultured cortical neurons. However, cortical cell survival increased upon depolarization with elevated potassium; an effect known to involve the induction of an autocrine BDNF loop. In both cerebellar and mesencephalic neurons, but not in cortical neurons, dbcAMP also potentiated neurotrophin-induced c-fos response, indicating intimate cross-coupling of signaling pathways activated by these different factors. Together these findings suggest that in the CNS, neurotrophins preferentially promote the survival of functionally active neurons. Our findings further reveal that the neuronal response to neurotrophins is modulated in a brain region-specific manner. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Influence of the corpus luteum of pregnancy on ovarian function in postpartum ewes.
This study was conducted to determine the effects of the corpus luteum (CL) of pregnancy and(or) the previously gravid uterine horn (g-UH) on the incidence and site of ovulation and the duration of luteal function in postpartum (PP) ewes. Ewes were laparotomized at d 60 to 80 of gestation and assigned to one of four groups: 1) single g-UH, CL left intact (SI, n = 35); 2) single g-UH, CL removed (SR, n = 30); 3) twin g-UH, CL on both ovaries left intact (TI, n = 21); and 4) twin g-UH, CL removed from one ovary (TR, n = 32). On d 20 PP, the number of follicles on each ovary was determined at laparoscopy, and ewes received (i.m.) 750 IU of hCG. Ovarian structures were determined at laparoscopy on d 24 PP. Blood samples were collected daily from d 20 to 40 PP and assayed for progesterone. more follicles (P < .05) were observed at laparoscopy on d 20 PP in SI/TI than in SR/TR groups (8.4 vs 6.0, respectively; SE = .4). Overall, 52% of the ewes had visible CL 4 d after hCG, and 73% of the ewes had elevated levels of progesterone by 7 d after hCG. The number of g-UH (S vs T) or status of the CL (I vs R) did not affect these responses. For SR ewes with hCG-induced CL on a single ovary, the incidence of CL formation on the ovary adjacent to g-UH was less (P < .05) than that for SI ewes (0 vs 57, respectively). Removal of the CL from S ewes, but not from T ewes, reduced follicular development and ovulation in response to hCG. Perhaps there is a positive systemic effect of the CL of pregnancy on postpartum ovarian function in ewes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
IFN-alpha regulates TLR-dependent gene expression of IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IL-28, and IL-29.
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediate host cell activation by various microbial components. TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 are the receptors that have been associated with virus-induced immune response. We have previously reported that all these TLRs, except TLR9, are expressed at mRNA levels in human monocyte-derived macrophages. Here we have studied TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR7/8 ligand-induced IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IL-28, and IL-29 expression in human macrophages. IFN-alpha pretreatment of macrophages was required for efficient TLR3 and TLR4 agonist-induced activation of IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IL-28, and IL-29 genes. TLR7/8 agonist weakly activated IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, IL-28, and IL-29 genes, whereas TLR2 agonist was not able to activate these genes. IFN-alpha enhanced TLR responsiveness in macrophages by up-regulating the expression of TLR3, TLR4, and TLR7. IFN-alpha also enhanced the expression of TLR signaling molecules MyD88, TIR domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-beta, IkappaB kinase-epsilon, receptor interacting protein 1, and IFN regulatory factor 7. Furthermore, the activation of transcription factor IFN regulatory factor 3 by TLR3 and TLR4 agonists was dependent on IFN-alpha pretreatment. In conclusion, our results suggest that IFN-alpha sensitizes cells to microbial recognition by up-regulating the expression of several TLRs as well as adapter molecules and kinases involved in TLR signaling. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Up-regulation of integrin expression in lung adenocarcinoma cells caused by bacterial infection: in vitro study.
Integrins are a large family of adhesion receptors that are known to be key signaling molecules in both physiological and pathological processes. Previous studies have demonstrated that the expression of integrin receptors in the pulmonary epithelium can change under various pathological conditions, such as injury, inflammation, or malignant transformation. We hypothesize that integrin expression can be altered by stimulation of lung epithelial cells with an opportunistic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Using the A549 adenocarcinoma cell line that expressed a low level of several integrin subunits we have demonstrated that P. aeruginosa infection in vitro caused a rapid up-regulation of alpha5, alphav, beta1, and beta4 integrins at both the mRNA and protein level. Neither heat-killed P. aeruginosa strain PAK nor its live isogenic mutants lacking pili or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core oligosaccharide showed any effect on integrin expression in A549 cells as compared to the use of the wild-type PAK strain. These results establish that up-regulation of integrin expression is dependent on the internalization of live bacteria possessing intact pili and LPS. Gene silencing of integrin-linked kinase in A549 cells caused a significant decrease in the release of proinflammatory cytokines in response to P. aeruginosa stimulation. Although further studies are warranted towards understanding the precise role of integrin receptors in prominent inflammation caused by P. aeruginosa, our findings suggest a possibility of using specific integrin inhibitors for therapy of pulmonary inflammatory conditions caused by pathogenic micro-organisms. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Control of androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer by the cochaperone small glutamine rich tetratricopeptide repeat containing protein alpha.
Although the androgen receptor (AR) is accepted as the major determinant of prostate cancer cell survival throughout disease progression, it is currently unclear how the receptor sustains genomic signaling under conditions of systemic androgen ablation. Here, we show that the evolutionarily conserved Hsp70/Hsp90 cochaperone, small glutamine-rich tetratricopeptide repeat containing protein alpha (alphaSGT), interacts with the hinge region of the human AR in yeast and mammalian cells. Overexpression and RNA interference revealed that alphaSGT acts to (a) promote cytoplasmic compartmentalization of the AR, thereby silencing the receptors basal/ligand-independent transcriptional activity, (b) regulate the sensitivity of receptor signaling by androgens, and (c) limit the capacity of noncanonical ligands to induce AR agonist activity. Immunofluorescence, coactivator, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses strongly suggest that these effects of alphaSGT on AR function are mediated by interaction in the cytoplasm and are distinct from the receptors response to classic coregulators. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of alphaSGT and AR levels in a cohort of 32 primary and 64 metastatic human prostate cancers revealed dysregulation in the level of both proteins during disease progression. The significantly higher AR/alphaSGT ratio in metastatic samples is consistent with the sensitization of prostate tumor cells to androgen signaling with disease progression, particularly in a low-hormone environment. These findings implicate alphaSGT as a molecular rheostat of in vivo signaling competence by the AR, and provide new insight into the determinants of androgen sensitivity during prostate cancer progression. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Short-term exposure to an enriched environment enhances dendritic branching but not brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus of rats with ventral subicular lesions.
Environmental enrichment promotes structural and behavioral plasticity in the adult brain. We have evaluated the efficacy of enriched environment on the dendritic morphology and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the hippocampus of ventral subicular-lesioned rats. Bilateral ventral subicular lesion has significantly reduced the dendritic architecture and spine density of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. The lesioned rats exposed to enriched housing for 10 days showed a significant degree of morphological plasticity in terms of enhanced dendritic branching and spine density. However, the BDNF expression in the hippocampus remained unchanged following subicular lesion and following environmental enrichment. We suggest the participation of other neurotrophic factors in mediating the synaptic plasticity events following exposure to environmental enrichment in ventral subicular-lesioned rats. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Reduction of U(VI) by Fe(II) during the Fe(II)-accelerated transformation of ferrihydrite.
X-ray absorption spectroscopy has been used to study the reduction of adsorbed U(VI) during the Fe(II)-accelerated transformation of ferrihydrite to goethite. The fate of U(VI) was examined across a variety of pH values and Fe(II) concentrations, with results suggesting that, in all cases, it was reduced over the course of the Fe(III) phase transformation to a U(V) species incorporated in goethite. A positive correlation between U(VI) reduction and ferrihydrite transformation rate constants implies that U(VI) reduction was driven by the production of goethite under the conditions used in these studies. This interpretation was supported by additional experimental evidence that demonstrated the (fast) reduction of U(VI) to U(V) by Fe(II) in the presence of goethite only. Theoretical redox potential calculations clearly indicate that the reduction of U(VI) by Fe(II) in the presence of goethite is thermodynamically favorable. In contrast, reduction of U(VI) by Fe(II) in the presence of ferrihydrite is largely thermodynamically unfavorable within the range of conditions examined in this study. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A retrospective study of amitriptyline in youth with autism spectrum disorders.
We performed a retrospective chart review of 50 youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), prescribed amitriptyline (AMI) for hyperactivity and impulsivity. Data was systematically extracted from 50 outpatient clinic charts, including AMI treatment duration, dose, trough levels and adverse events. Mean age was 9.4 years (4.6-17.9); 40 were males and 10 females. 30 % had failed atomoxetine and 40 % had failed ≥3 ADHD medications. Mean dose was 1.3 ± 0.6 mg/kg/day, mean trough level 114.1 ± 50.5 ng/ml, mean duration 3.4 years. Clinical Global Impressions Scale-Improvement (CGI-I) was ≤2 in 60 % of patients at the final visit, and in 82 % of patients for at least 50 % of follow-ups. Cautious use of low dose AMI shows promise for treatment-resistant youth with ASD accompanied by hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggression and self injury. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
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