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Lagrangian coherent structures at the onset of hyperchaos in the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations.
We study a transition to hyperchaos in the two-dimensional incompressible Navier-Stokes equations with periodic boundary conditions and an external forcing term. Bifurcation diagrams are constructed by varying the Reynolds number, and a transition to hyperchaos (HC) is identified. Before the onset of HC, there is coexistence of two chaotic attractors and a hyperchaotic saddle. After the transition to HC, the two chaotic attractors merge with the hyperchaotic saddle, generating random switching between chaos and hyperchaos, which is responsible for intermittent bursts in the time series of energy and enstrophy. The chaotic mixing properties of the flow are characterized by detecting Lagrangian coherent structures. After the transition to HC, the flow displays complex Lagrangian patterns and an increase in the level of Lagrangian chaoticity during the bursty periods that can be predicted statistically by the hyperchaotic saddle prior to HC transition. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Influence of intravenous nutrients on bilirubin transport. I. Amino acid solutions.
The effects of synthetic amino acids on bilirubin transport were investigated with competitive binding assays, peroxidase assays, isotopic studies of bilirubin uptake by red cells, and difference spectroscopy. Results indicated that amino acids had no significant effect on the distribution of bilirubin at pigment to albumin molar ratios likely to be encountered in clinical situations. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Backbone and side-chain chemical shift assignments of full-length, apo, human Pin1, a phosphoprotein regulator with interdomain allostery.
Pin1 is a human peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase important for the regulation of phosphoproteins that are implicated in many diseases including cancer and Alzheimer's. Further biophysical study of Pin1 will elucidate the importance of the two-domain system to regulate its own activity. Here, we report near-complete backbone and side-chain 1H, 13C and 15N NMR chemical shift assignments of full-length, apo Pin1 for the purpose of studying interdomain allostery and dynamics. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Primary hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma progressively responsive to interferon-alpha: is there room for novel anti-angiogenetic treatments?
Primary hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (HEH) is a rare, low-grade malignant neoplasm of endothelial origin, with an unpredictable clinical course and prognosis. No standard therapeutic strategies are still available for HEH, due to the infrequency of the disease and to its variable natural history that limit the identification of the most effective treatment. In the absence of metastatic disease, surgical resection or liver transplantation represent the treatment of choice for HEH, while several antineoplastic agents have been proposed in the presence of metastatic nonresectable disesase. Herein, we describe the biological characterization and the clinical course of a primary HEH progressively responsive to treatment with intermediate doses of interferon-alpha (IFN)-alpha2a. Furthermore, based on the newly-identified expression of endoglin (CD105) on HEH, we discuss the clinical potential of novel anti-angiogenetic approaches to the disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of gonadotrophin in vivo and 2-hydroxyoestradiol-17beta in vitro on follicular steroid hormone profile associated with oocyte maturation in the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis.
An HPLC method was used to tentatively identify progesterone (P4) and its metabolites (17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-P4) and 17,20beta-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20beta-P)), corticosteroids (cortisol and corticosterone) and testosterone in ovary/follicular preparations of the catfish Heteropneustes fossilis associated with in vivo or in vitro oocyte maturation/ovulation. A single i.p. injection of human chorionic gonadotrophin (100 IU/fish, sampled at 0, 8 and 16 h) induced oocyte maturation and ovulation, which coincided with significant and progressive increases in 17,20beta-P, and P4 and 17-P4, the precursors of the former. Both cortisol and corticosterone also increased significantly. Conversely, testosterone decreased significantly and progressively over time. Under in vitro conditions, incubation of post-vitellogenic (intact) follicles or follicular envelope (layer) with 2-hydroxyoestradiol (2-OHE2, 5 microM for 0, 6 and 24 h) elicited a sharp significant increase in 17,20beta-P, the increase being higher in the follicular envelope incubate. P4 and 17-P4 also registered significant increases over the time with the peak values at 24 h. Cortisol and corticosterone increased significantly in the intact follicle, but not in the follicular envelope incubate. Testosterone decreased significantly in the intact follicle, but increased significantly (24 h) in the follicular envelope incubate. Coincident with these changes, the percentage of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) increased over the time in the intact follicle incubate (48.9% at 6 h and 79.8% at 24 h). Denuded oocytes on incubation with 2-OHE2 (5 microM) did not produce any significant change in the percentage of GVBD or in the steroid profile. While corticosterone and 17,20beta-P were undetected, P4, 17-P4, cortisol and testosterone were detected in low amounts. The results show that the 2-OHE2-induced GVBD response seems to be mediated through the production of 17,20beta-P and corticosteroids. It is suggested that hydroxyoestrogens seem to be a component in the gonadotrophin cascade of regulation of oocyte maturation/ovulation in the catfish. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Antileukotrienes in the treatment of asthma.
To review the activity in clinical models, the efficacy, and the safety of antileukotrienes as a new class of antiasthma treatment. English-language trials identified from the archival literature, including the MEDLINE database, through 1996; bibliographic references; and textbooks. Reports from placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trials were selected. Study designs and results were extracted from the clinical trial reports. Statistical evaluation of combined results was not attempted. The various classes of antileukotrienes have shown activity in clinical models of asthma, including exercise-induced, cold air hyperventilation-induced, allergen-induced, and aspirin-induced bronchoconstriction. In addition, the antileukotrienes partially reverse spontaneous bronchoconstriction in asthmatic persons, an effect additive to that of inhaled beta 2-agonists. Clinical trials of the antileukotrienes have shown clinical benefit, as measured by reductions in asthma symptom scores, improvements in air flow obstruction, and reductions in the rescue use of inhaled beta 2-agonists. Some, but not all, of the antileukotrienes have been shown to cause liver microsomal activation with increases in hepatic aminotransferase levels. Antileukotrienes are an important new therapy for asthma. Inhibition of leukotriene synthesis or action has a beneficial effect in the treatment of both induced and spontaneous asthma. These results show that leukotrienes are important mediators of the asthmatic response. In addition, encouraging results have been obtained from clinical trials of antileukotrienes; however, these results do not yet provide guidelines for the optimal clinical use of antileukotrienes in asthma treatment. Such recommendations await the results of further studies. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Patient safety in primary care dentistry: where are we now?
In contemporary healthcare settings, ensuring patient safety must be an underlying principal through which systems, teams, individuals and environments work in tandem to strive for. The adoption of a culture in the NHS where patient safety is given greater priority is key to improvement. Recent events at Mid-Staffordshire hospitals among others have brought patient safety into the minds of the public and it increasingly demands attention from clinicians, the press and governments. However, much of the work into patient safety has been completed in the secondary care field with very little work completed in primary care settings. In primary care dentistry, improving patient safety is a relatively new concept with a distinct lack of evidence base. In this article, we discuss what patient safety is and debate its relevance to primary care dentistry. We also look at previous work completed in this field and make recommendations for future work to address the current lack of research. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Respiratory-cancer clustering associated with localised industrial air pollution.
Between 1968 and 1974 there was a significantly large number of deaths from respiratory cancer among members of a Scottish community living near and downwind from a steel foundry. The air in that area was polluted by metallic particles from the foundry. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A magnetically driven PDMS micropump with microball valves.
We present a novel robust PDMS membrane micropump with two one-way microball valves for biomedical applications. The actuating membrane is driven by magnetic force of two miniature permanent magnets. The micropump consists of two PDMS layers, one holding the microball valves and actuating chamber and the second holding the top magnet and covering the chamber and microvalves. A simple approach is used to fabricate a high performance microball valve using an embedded Teflon/sup trade mark/ microtube. A small DC motor (6mm in diameter and 15mm in length) with two permanent magnetic discs (NdFeB) mounted on its shaft is used to actuate the membrane-mounted magnet. This configuration yields a large pumping rate with very low power consumption. Maximum pumping rate of 260muL/min was achieved at the input power of 21mW, the highest pumping rate reported in the literature for micropumps at such power consumption. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Mental illness self-management: a randomised controlled trial of the Wellness Recovery Action Planning intervention for inpatients and outpatients with psychiatric illness.
Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) is a cross-diagnostic, patient-centred, self-management intervention for psychiatric illness. WRAP utilises an individualised Wellness Toolbox, a six part structured monitoring and response system, and a crisis and post-crisis plan to promote recovery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of WRAP on personal recovery, quality of life, and self-reported psychiatric symptoms. A prospective randomised controlled trial, based on the CONSORT principles was conducted using a sample of 36 inpatients and outpatients with a diagnosis of a mental disorder. Participants were randomly allocated to Experimental Group or Waiting List Control Group conditions in a 1:1 ratio. Measures of personal recovery, personal recovery life areas, quality of life, anxiety, and depression were administered at three time points: (i) pre-intervention, (ii) post-Experimental Group intervention delivery, and (iii) 6-month follow-up. Data was analysed by available case analysis using univariate and bivariate methodologies. WRAP had a significant effect on two personal recovery life areas measured by the Mental Health Recovery Star: (i) addictive behaviour and (ii) identity and self-esteem. WRAP did not have a significant effect on personal recovery (measured by the Mental Health Recovery Measure), quality of life, or psychiatric symptoms. Findings indicate that WRAP improves personal recovery in the areas of (i) addictive behaviour and (ii) identity and self-esteem. Further research is required to confirm WRAP efficacy in other outcome domains. Efforts to integrate WRAP into recovery-orientated mental health services should be encouraged and evaluated. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Leptin and leptin receptor in anterior pituitary function.
Leptin is a 16 kDa protein that exerts important effects on the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure by interacting with the leptin receptor in the brain and in many other tissues. Although leptin is produced mainly by white adipose tissue, several laboratories have shown low levels of leptin production by a growing number of tissues including the anterior pituitary gland. Many studies have implicated leptin in anterior pituitary function including the observation that homozygous mutations of the leptin receptor gene led to morbid obesity, lack of pubertal development and decreased GH and TSH secretion. In addition, leptin functions as a neuroendocrine hormone and regulates many metabolic activities. Leptin also interacts with and regulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes. All of the anterior pituitary cell types express the leptin receptor. However, leptin has been localized in specific subtypes of anterior pituitary cells indicating cell type-specific production of leptin in the anterior pituitary. Subcellular localization of leptin indicates co-storage with secretory granules and implicates hypothalamic releasing hormones in leptin secretion from anterior pituitary hormone cells. Leptin signal transduction in the anterior pituitary has been shown to involve the janus protein-tyrosine kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activation of transcription (STAT) as well as suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS). These proteins are activated by tyrosine-phosphorylation in anterior pituitary cells. The various steps in pituitary leptin signal transduction remain to be elucidated. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Quantifying aortic valve insufficiency using color Doppler echocardiography].
51 consecutive patients with the clinical signs of aortic valve incompetence (AI) were evaluated by color-coded Doppler flow mapping (CDF) before angiography (AG). Quantitation of the severity of AI was performed by measurement of length and width of the extension of regurgitant jet (grade I-IV). After AG results both -AG and CDF- were compared. In 36 patients the results of both methods concurred exactly by use length in CDF. With CDF, the regurgitation was overestimated in 7 cases by one grade and underestimated in 8 patients also by one grade. Width of regurgitant jet relative to size of outflow space is a useful parameter to distinguish between mild and severe A1 (limit 0.50). CDF is a suitable method for semiquantitative assessment of AI. In presence of unequivocal CDF signs and in consideration of clinical and other patients findings AG will be dispensable before aortic valve replacement. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
High prevalence of diabetes before and after lung transplantation: target for improving outcome?
Diabetes increases morbidity and mortality of lung transplantation. However, the reported prevalence of diabetes varies post-transplantation partly due to lack of detection protocols. To determine the prevalence of diabetes in patients (i) waitlisted for lung transplant and (ii) early post-transplantation. We analysed patients on the St Vincent's Heart Lung database from 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2015 on the waitlist (Study 1) and those transplanted (Study 2). Standard of care required all non-diabetic patients to have an oral glucose tolerance test (modified for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) to screen for CF-related hyperglycaemia (CFRH) (plasma glucose ≥8.2 mmol/L at 60 or 90 min). Study 1 included 114 patients (32 with CF and 82 without CF). Of 30 CF patients with glycaemic data, 27 (90%) had abnormal glucose metabolism: 18 had diabetes and nine had CFRH. In 50 patients without CF, 20 (40%) had abnormal glucose metabolism: eight had diabetes and 12 had impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance. Study 2 included 78 transplanted patients (25 with CF and 53 without CF). Fourteen CF patients had pre-existing diabetes and seven had pre-existing CFRH. All but one patient were diagnosed with diabetes post-transplantation. Hence, diabetes prevalence in CF patients post-transplantation was 96%. Among 53 transplanted patients without CF, seven (13%) had abnormal glucose metabolism but 30 (57%) were diagnosed with post-transplant diabetes. There is a high prevalence of diabetes in lung transplant patients. Earlier endocrine participation in lung transplant services is likely to lower diabetes-related morbidity and mortality further. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Risk of meningitis with cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea.
The annual risk of meningitis in unrepaired fistulas is widely quoted to be approximately 10% per annum. Our aim was to review our experience with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks and to calculate the overall risk and the annual incidence of meningitis, and to correlate our findings with the causation and the effect of operative intervention in a subgroup of patients who had a history of meningitis. We prospectively collected data on all patients referred with a CSF leak to our tertiary referral center over a 12-year period between 1994 and 2006. We had a follow-up rate of 91%. One hundred eleven patients had a proven leak on endoscopy, beta-2 transferrin, imaging, and/or fluorescein lumbar puncture. The accumulated duration of an active CSF leak in the cohort was 190 years. The total number of episodes of meningitis was 57 in 21 patients, giving an overall risk of developing meningitis of 19%, with an overall incidence of 0.3 episodes per year. There was a progressive reduction in the incidence of meningitis with time, and most episodes occurred within the first year following the onset of the CSF leak. However, the risk persisted as long as the CSF leak was active. The overall risk of meningitis in patients with persistent CSF rhinorrhea was 19%. The annual incidence of meningitis was 0.3 episodes per year, with most episodes occurring within the first year following the onset of the leak. Endoscopic closure is the treatment of choice in most CSF leaks; if successful, it reduces the risk of meningitis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Changes in composition of acid soluble proteins and DNA in chromatin of rat liver and brain bound and not bound to nuclear envelope as a function of age and under the influence of antioxidant ionol].
In two-day rat pups, the histone H1 content in the brain chromatin was higher than in the liver chromatin, as compared to histone of the nucleosome core. The H1 content in the brain chromatin decreased with the age, while in the liver chromatin it increased. At the same time, in the adult brain chromatin bound to the nuclear envelope, a high level of H1 characteristic of chromatin of the newborn rats was preserved, while in a similar chromatin of the adult liver, the H1 content increased, but still remained less than in the chromatin not bound to the nuclear envelope. In both organs, the composition and quantitation of H1 subfractions were different in chromatins bound and not bound to the nuclear envelope. The chromatin from the liver and brain bound to the nuclear envelope differed also in the composition and quantitation of minor acid soluble proteins. In the presence of the antioxidant ionol, the 5-methylcytosine content in DNA of chromatin of the rat liver bound to the nuclear envelope increased while in the chromatin not bound to the nuclear envelope, it remained unchanged. Thus the chromatins bound and not bound to the nuclear envelope differ in the composition and mount of acid soluble proteins, including histone H1, the contents of these proteins in bound and not bound chromatin are different and change with the age in different ways. The antioxidant ionol affects differently the methylation of bound and not bound chromatin. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Secondary reconstruction of abdominal wall defects associated with exstrophy of the bladder.
Exstrophy of the bladder is a spectrum of congenital anomalies that involve the structures of the lower abdominal wall. The classic bladder exstrophy results in a severe deformity. The purpose of the original surgery is to obtain a secure abdominal wall closure with urinary continence. In present times the abdominal wall is repaired shortly after birth. The occasional patient has residual anatomical deformities that impede their social development and interaction. Secondary reconstructive surgery can be helpful, and this patient report illustrates this. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Controversies in aural atresia repair.
To discuss recent controversies regarding the management of aural atresia. Management of unilateral atresia is less controversial. Candidacy for successful repair is based on high-resolution computed tomography findings and atresia grading. The bone-anchored hearing aid is a viable alternative strategy for hearing improvement. Stability of hearing results following atresia repair improves with the number of atresiaplasties performed. Development of image-guided surgery may provide benefit in atresia surgery. New unrecognized rare complications of aural atresia and atresia repair including salivary fistula and middle ear cholesteatoma are now being recognized and are manageable. Management of aural atresia continues to be difficult and surrounded by controversy. New studies and cases series may shed light on these management issues. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hypothyroidism in elderly patients.
Hypothyroidism is an endocrine condition found in elderly patients that is often confused with normal changes associated with aging. Consequently, the disorder may be quite advanced before it is diagnosed and treated. Depressed T4 and elevated TSH levels confirm primary hypothyroidism. Patients are required to take levothyroxine for the rest of their lives. Myxedema coma, a life-threatening complication of hypothyroidism, occurs primarily in elderly women and requires immediate treatment to prevent death. Recovery and stabilization may take six to eight months. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Vertebral artery dissecting aneurysm with Cushing's syndrome: case report.
A 45-year-old woman presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage of World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grade IV. Cerebral angiography showed a dissecting aneurysm of the right vertebral artery (VA). Internal trapping of the right VA with coils was performed. The postoperative course was uneventful, but she continued to demonstrate moon facies and experience amenorrhea. Computed tomography demonstrated an adrenal tumor. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed under a diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome caused by an adrenal tumor. Overproduction of cortisol caused by Cushing's syndrome may be related to the development of cerebral aneurysm. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Treatment of mandibular-condylar fractures.
Particularly with true dislocation fractures, nonoperative treatment with maxillomandibular fixation followed by physiotherapeutic exercises leads to poor results, as was proved with axiography and clinical examinations. The main reason for this is the shortening and scarring of the condyloid process and the lack of function of the lateral pterygoid muscle. The condyle with its insertion of the muscle is usually displaced medially and anterially and nearly in touch with the origin on the pterygoid process so that protrusion by the muscle is no longer possible. The physiologic relationship of the lateral pterygoid muscle is restored after reduction of the condyle and osteosynthesis of the condylar neck fracture and the original distance between origin and insertion of the muscle is re-established and is a fundamental necessity for regaining function (Fig. 40). The anchor screw osteosynthesis is a most effective technique with low limitations for its indication. A comparison with plates shows this technique to be very economic because one anchor screw has the effect of at least one five-hole plate with five plating screws. That means a reduction of osteosynthesis implants of up to 80%, which saves a lot of money. On the other hand, the sophisticated technique of an anchor screw osteosynthesis needs some training on the part of the surgeon to get the best results possible. In general, we could realize that the anchor screw osteosynthesis gives a perfect adaptation of the fracture ends with compression also on the inner cortical layer, which with plates is only possible in rare cases. After an osteosynthesis of mandibular condyle neck fractures with an axial anchor-screw there are a few cases with an absorptive process in the fracture interface where the screw migrates in an axial direction with loosening of the osteosynthesis. This effect can be compared with the effect of a dynamic hip screw, which leads to compression of the callus, which speeds up bony union at the expense of shortening the bone. When the same absorption happens using a plate, the fracture ends cannot become sintered and the plate is in danger of fracturing as a result of metal fatigue. Ceipek evaluated 136 patients with mandibular condylar neck fractures treated with axial anchor screw osteosynthesis. Thirty-six of these screws showed signs of migration, but only 3.7% for more than 4 mm. For the migration process there are some important risk factors: difficult repositioning of the proximal fragment, dorsal luxation fracture, indirect method of anchor screw osteosynthesis, narrow condyle neck, no intercuspation in the molar region, no compliance, and disturbance of bone healing. Another stable technique of osteosynthesis should be used if patients show more risk than one risk factor. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Randomized, controlled trial comparing the efficacy of intrauterine balloon and intrauterine contraceptive device in the prevention of adhesion reformation after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis.
To compare the efficacy of heart-shaped intrauterine balloon and intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) in the prevention of adhesion reformation after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. University hospital. A total of 201 women with Asherman syndrome. Women were randomized to having either a heart-shaped intrauterine balloon or an IUD fitted after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. The devices were removed after 7 days. A second-look hysteroscopy was carried out 1 to 2 months after the surgery. Incidence of adhesion reformation and reduction of adhesion score before and after surgery. Initially 201 cases were recruited; 39 cases dropped out, resulting in 82 cases in the balloon group and 80 cases in IUD group. The age, menstrual characteristics, pregnancy history, and American Fertility Society score before surgery were comparable between the two groups. The median adhesion score reduction (balloon group, 7; IUD group, 7) and the adhesion reformation rate (balloon group, 30%; IUD group, 35%) were not significantly different between the two groups. The heart-shaped intrauterine balloon and IUD are of similar efficacy in the prevention of adhesion reformation after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis for Asherman syndrome. ISRCTN 69690272. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Comparison of surgical lasers and conventional methods in skin incisions.
Steel scalpel, electrocautery, CO2 laser used in a continuous wave mode (CW) and rapid superpulse mode (RSP), and contact Nd: YAG laser were tested on pig skin incisions. Speed of incision and histological changes near the wounds were examined. Light microscopical observations were made on postoperative day 0 using standard Van Gieson stain. Width of the scar on postoperative day 14 was also measured. Steel scalpel produced the least pathological changes in the skin, followed by RSP. Electrocautery did not differ significantly from the CO2 lasers in this respect on postoperative day 0. The damage was larger after contact Nd:YAG laser. The situation was essentially similar on postoperative day 14. The width of the scar was narrowest after steel scalpel and widest after contact Nd:YAG laser (p less than 0.01; Nd:YAG vs. other methods). Electrocautery and the two CO2 lasers produced equal scarring. However, electrocautery was significantly faster than any of the lasers (p less than 0.001). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of postpartum nutrition and once-daily suckling on reproductive efficiency and preweaning calf performance in fall-calving Brahman (Bos indicus) cows.
Brahman cows were used to evaluate the effects of postpartum nutrition and suckling on reproductive and calf performance. Cows received high or low TDN and once-daily or unrestricted suckling. High TDN (H; 111% of NRC recommendation) cows received a 75% corn: 25% soybean meal diet. Low TDN (L; 93% of NRC recommendation) cows received no concentrates. Once-daily suckled (restricted, R) cows nursed calves for 30 min/d starting at d 21 after calving. In the unrestricted (U) suckling groups, calves had continuous access to cows. By 2 wk of suckling restriction, more (P < .01) R than U cows had progesterone concentrations of > or = .7 ng/mL (55 vs 0%) and more (P < .05) HR than LR cows had progesterone concentrations > or = .7 ng/mL (70 vs 40%). All groups had increases in progesterone and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha before estrus. The interval to first estrus was shorter (P < .01) for R than for U cows (42 vs 65 d). By d 42 postpartum, more (P < .01) R than U cows exhibited estrus (67 vs 0%), and more (P < .05) HR than LR cows exhibited estrus (89 vs 44%). Calving interval was shorter (P < .01) for R than for U cows (361 vs 395 d). Initial ADG were lower (P < .01) for R than for U calves (.02 vs .69 kg), but weaning weights were similar. Once-daily suckling permitted ovarian activity, hastened return to estrus, and reduced calving interval without reducing weaning weights. Increased postpartum energy intake enhanced the response to restricted suckling. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) disclosure to the health care providers: a qualitative insight from Malaysian cancer patients.
This study sought to evaluate Malaysian oncology patients CAM disclosure to the health care providers. Patients were interviewed across three major Malaysian ethnic groups, Malay, Chinese and Indian. Thematic content analysis identified three themes: reasons of CAM disclosure, reasons of CAM non-disclosure and preference of CAM discussion to health care providers. Patients agreed that CAM disclosure is important to avoid any interaction with the conventional medicines. Perceived lack of physicians' knowledge & interest in CAM, fear of termination of therapy by the physicians upon CAM disclosure, and perceived simplicity of some of the CAM therapies were among the reasons of non-disclosure. Given the option of oncologists, pharmacists or nurses, patients described oncologists as the most suitable person to discuss or disclose CAM use due to confidence in their clinical skills. Understanding the underlying beliefs of patients' reluctance to disclose CAM to health care providers is important especially when they are on an ongoing treatment for cancer. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A comparative study of glytaminase isozymes in rat tissues.
The three kinds of glutamineses in rat kidney and liver were defined in comparative terms by their properties and were separately purified. Substantial purification was obtained by polymerization and depolymerization of the kidney isozyme that is activated by phosphate, These isozymes differ most strikingly in the activators of their reactions:maleate and a high concentration of phosphate, respectively, for the two kidney isozymes, and a low concentration of phosphate for the liver isozyme. The kidney isozyme that is activated by phosphate was also activated by a much lower concentration of ATP and by other complex phosphates. They also differ in physical properties: the maleate-activated isozyme was heat resistant (50 degrees C) and associated with insoluble submitochondrial particles; both phosphate-activated isozymes were heat sensitive and could be solubilized from their respective mitochondria; the phosphate-activated isozyme of kidney polymerized in phosphate-borate solution while that of liver did not. The characteristics of the kidney isozyme that was activated by high phosphate were shared by the glutaminases in adult brain, transplanted tumors, and in fetal liver and kidney. The similarity to the kidney enzyme was confirmed by the use of polymerization in phosphate borate of the isozyme from a mammary carcinoma to effect its purification. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Impaired cortisol binding to glucocorticoid receptors in hypertensive patients.
We compared glucocorticoid receptor binding characteristics and glucocorticoid responsiveness of human mononuclear leukocytes (HML) from hypertensive patients and matched normotensive volunteers. We also considered associations of these variables with plasma renin activity, aldosterone, cortisol, corticotropin, and electrolyte concentrations. We calculated binding affinity (Kd; nmol/L) and capacity (Bmax; sites/cell) for dexamethasone and cortisol from homologous and heterologous competition curves for specific [3H]dexamethasone binding sites on HML isolated from the blood of normotensive volunteers and subjects with essential hypertension. Glucocorticoid responsiveness of HML was evaluated as IC50 values (nmol/L) for dexamethasone and cortisol for the inhibition of lysozyme release. We measured plasma hormones by radioimmunoassay. Kd values (mean+/-SE) for cortisol in HML of hypertensive patients were higher than in control subjects (24.6+/-2.4 versus 17.5+/-1.7 nmol/L, P<.04). Binding capacity (4978+/-391 versus 4131+/-321 sites/cell), Kd values for dexamethasone (6.7+/-0.5 versus 5.7+/-0.3 nmol/L), and IC50 values for dexamethasone (3.4+/-0.3 versus 3.1+/-0.2 nmol/L) and cortisol (12.2+/-1.6 versus 9.5+/-0.3 nmol/L) were not significantly different. Patients with renin values less than 0.13 ng angiotensin I/L per second were markedly less sensitive to cortisol than those with higher values. Both Kd (30.3+/-2.5 versus 19.2+/-2.4 nmol/L) and IC50 values (15.5+/-1.8 versus 8.9+/-1.2 nmol/L) for cortisol were significantly higher in patients with lower renin values (P<.03). Other variables, including plasma hormone and electrolyte values and binding characteristics for dexamethasone, were not different. These data suggest that cortisol binding to glucocorticoid receptor is slightly impaired in patients with essential hypertension. In vivo, this could lead to inappropriate binding of cortisol to mineralocorticoid receptors. Hence, decreased sensitivity to cortisol is associated with renin suppression. This hypothesis is supported by evidence of hypertension and low renin activity, which others have described in patients with primary glucocorticoid resistance due to mutations of the glucocorticoid receptor. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Pre-operative renal artery embolization and suprarenal IVC filter placement for prevention of fat embolization in renal angiomyolipoma with venous extension.
Though generally considered benign, angiomyolipomas can invade through the renal vein into the inferior vena cava, putting patients at risk of catastrophic pulmonary fat embolization. Venous invasion is thus an indication for surgical resection but is thought to increase the risk of adverse operative outcomes including intraoperative hemorrhage and embolization of fat and/or tumor thrombus. We report a novel approach to mitigating these complications illustrated in the case of a 43-year-old woman with IVC-invasive renal AML who underwent successful radical nephrectomy after concurrent pre-operative renal artery embolization and placement of a retrievable suprarenal IVC filter. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The immunobiology of viral arthritides.
A large range of human viruses are associated with the development of arthritis or arthralgia. Although there are many parallels with autoimmune arthritides, there is little evidence that viral arthritides lead to autoimmune disease. In humans viral arthritides usually last from weeks to months, can be debilitating, and are usually treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but with variable success. Viral arthritides likely arise from immunopathological inflammatory responses directed at viruses and/or their products residing and/or replicating within joint tissues. Macrophages recruited by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) and activated by interferon, and proinflammatory mediators like tumour necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, interleukin-6 and interleukin-1beta appear to be common elements in this group of diseases. The challenge for new treatments is to target excessive inflammation without compromising anti-viral immunity. Recent evidence from mouse models suggests targeting MCP-1 or complement may emerge as viable new treatment options for viral arthritides. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Barcode index number, taxonomic rank and modes of speciation: examples from fish.
Species delimitation by DNA sequence data or DNA barcoding is successful, as confirmed by the vast BOLD data base. However, the theory that would explain this fact has not been developed yet. An approach based on Barcoding Index Number (BIN), suggested in the assignment, allows delimiting of taxa of three ranks (species, genera, and families) and statistical validation with a high precision of delimiting (over 80%), as well as shows for majority of Co-1-based single gene trees good correspondence between their topology and conventional taxa content for analyzed fish species (R2 ≈ 0.84-0.98). Knowledge of deviations from these data can help to find out new taxa and improve biodiversity description. It is concluded that delimiting is successful for bulk of cases because the geographic mode of speciation prevails in nature. It takes a long time for new taxa to form in isolation, which allows accumulation of random mutations and many different nucleotide substitutions between them that can be detected by molecular markers and give unique DNA barcodes. The use of BIN approach, described here, can aid greatly in making this important question clearer especially under wider examination of other organisms. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Phosphate group requirement for mitogenic activation of lymphocytes by an extracellular phosphopolysaccharide from Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus.
The mitogenic activity of extracellular polysaccharides produced by Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus OLL 1073R-1 and NCFB2483 was examined in murine lymphocytes. The extracellular polysaccharide from Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus OLL 1073R-1 was fractionated into neutral and acidic polysaccharides by anion-exchange chromatography, while that of Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus NCFB2483 were all fractionated into neutral polysaccharide(s). The acidic polysaccharide stimulated mitogenic responses of murine splenocytes and Peyer's patches but not of thymocytes. The optimal concentration of the acidic polysaccharide at the highest stimulation was 160 microg/ml. A significant increase of mitogenic activity was initiated at 24 h, and the highest response was obtained after stimulation for 48 h. The acidic polysaccharide purified by high performance liquid chromatography also had substantial mitogenic activity, and the molecular weight was estimated to be 1.2 x 10(6). The acidic polysaccharide was a phosphopolysaccharide consisting of glucose, galactose and phosphorus. Dephosphorylation by hydrofluoric acid degradation reduced the mitogenic activity in lymphocytes. The phosphopolysaccharide produced by Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus 1073R-1 is a potent B-cell-dependent mitogen in which the phosphate group acts as a trigger of the mitogenic induction. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Differences between African Americans and whites in the outcome of heart failure: Evidence for a greater functional decline in African Americans.
National statistics indicate that African Americans are disproportionately affected by mortality and hospitalizations resulting from heart failure when compared with other racial/ethnic groups. This might, in part, reflect a poorer course of heart failure among African Americans. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 316 white and 82 African American consecutive patients aged > or =50 years with decompensated heart failure on hospital admission. The outcome of the study was death or decline in activities of daily living function at 6 months relative to baseline. African American patients were on average 8 years younger and had less favorable socioeconomic and access-to-care indicators. African Americans more often had a history of hypertension, renal insufficiency, and diabetes, but there were no differences in functional status, self-reported health status, signs of decompensation, or left ventricular ejection fraction. Quality-of-care indicators did not differ by race. Mortality rates at 6 months were similar in African Americans and whites (19.5% vs 17.2%, age adjusted), but African Americans had a greater functional decline (37.6% vs 24.7%). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, African Americans had an almost 50% higher risk of either death or decline in activities of daily living functioning (relative risk 1.45, 95% CI, 1.06-1.81). Adjustment for socioeconomic, access-to-care and quality-of-care indicators did not substantially change this estimate. African Americans have similar mortality but greater functional decline than whites after hospitalization for heart failure. This outcome is not explained by clinical, socioeconomic, access-to-care or quality-of-care differences. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Synthesis and structural characterization of cationic 5-hydroxy-1,3-diketonate stabilized dinuclear complexes and tetranuclear lanthanoid clusters.
5-Hydroxy-1,3-diketonate ligands have been found to stabilize dimeric complexes and tetrameric lanthanoid clusters dependent on the degree of steric bulk provided by the presence or absence of a methoxy group. Treatment of (R/S,Z)-1'-hydroxy-3-(hydroxy(phenyl)methylene)bi(cyclopentan)-2-one (Hhpb) and the p-methoxyphenyl derivative (Hhmb) with [LnCl(2)(H(2)O)(6)]Cl yields clusters of composition [Ln(4)(Cl)(2)(O)(hpb)(6)]Cl(2) (Ln = Nd (1), Ho (2), Tb (3), and Er (4)) and [Ln(2)(hmb)(5)]Cl (Ln = La (5), Nd (6), Tb (7), Dy (8), and Er (9)). Single crystal X-ray analysis of the tetranuclear cluster has revealed the lanthanoid core to be in a tetrahedral arrangement around a central mu(4)-oxygen, bridged by symmetrical chlorides and shrouded in six bridging hpb ligands. The dimeric complexes are stabilized by three bridging and two terminal hmb ligands. In each instance, double or single cationic charges respectively are balanced by chloride anions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A case study on medical image enhancement based on II curvelet.
A method is presented in this paper for medical image enhancement based on II curvelet. After the wavelet decomposition of medical image, we continue to break down the high-frequency sub-images, in order to get more detailed information. We have also designed the corresponding gain weight function for the edge enhancement of low-frequency sub-images, using II curvelet to extract the edge information, which has advantages over the normal curvelet transform. This method has overcome the disadvantages of the present medical image enhancement algorithm based on wavelet theory, for instance, (1) most of the present methods only decompose the low-frequency sub-images to get detailed information; (2) they can not well extract the tumors or other large areas of edge information of medical images. In simulation experiments, we enhanced the mammography X-ray images of breast provided by Heilongjiang Provincial Tumor Hospital, and compared our algorithm with several traditional image enhancement methods. The results shows that with our enhancement algorithm based on II curvelet, the textures and edges of the image can be reflected clearly, and the calcifications in the image are independent, at the same time, this method has the superiority when enhancing the images which have been added noise to. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Fluoride removal from groundwater by limestone treatment in presence of phosphoric acid.
Fluoride removal from groundwater has been studied by addition of dilute phosphoric acid (PA) to the influent water before limestone treatment through laboratory plug-flow column experiments and bench-scale plug-flow pilot tests. In this PA-enhanced limestone defluoridation (PAELD) technique, fluoride is removed from 0.526 mM to 0.50-52.60 μM in 3 h with near neutral final pH. The presence of PA increases the fluoride removal capacity of limestone to 1.10 mg/g compared to 0.39 mg/g reported in its absence. The changes in fluoride removal with variation in initial PA concentration, initial fluoride concentration and the final pH have been found to be statistically significant with p < 0.05. The estimated recurring cost is US$ ≈0.58/m(3) water. Simple scrubbing and rinsing is a preferable method for regeneration of limestone as it is almost equally effective with lime or NaOH. Sorption of fluoride by calcium phosphates produced in situ in the reactor is the dominant mechanism of fluoride removal in the PAELD. Precipitation of CaF2 and sorption of fluoride by the limestone also contribute to the fluoride removal. High efficiency, capacity, safety, environment-friendliness, low cost and simplicity of operation make the PAELD a potential technique for rural application. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Functional brain imaging of movement disorders.
Functional brain imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET) have contributed to our understanding of the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other movement disorders. PET employs small amounts of positron emitting radioligands to produce quantitative measures of physiological and biochemical processes in the brain and other organs. In a PET experiment, a subject is given a compound of biological interest. The spatial and temporal distribution of the radiotracer is measured quantitatively in the course of the PET study, providing a tomographic representation of regional radioactivity concentration. In this review, we focus on the potential application of PET in the selection of suitable candidates and the assessment of surgical interventions such as pallidotomy, thalamotomy, and deep brain stimulation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Malignancy: Molecular Demonstration of BCR/ABL Fusion in a Patient with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia with Basophilia Carrying a Variant t(16;22) (q24;q11) Philadelphia Chromosome.
We report a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase and basophilia which was found to carry a simple variant t(16;22) (q24;q11) Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome in unstimulated bone marrow mononuclear cells. Molecular analysis of peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells demonstrated the presence of a bcr-abl chimeric mRNA transcript of the b(3) -a(2) type. These findings confirm that band 9q34 participates in the formation of all Ph chromosomes, either standard or variant, even when this is not detectable by conventional cytogenetics. The available literature concerning variant Philadelphia translocations is also reviewed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The mediating role of disability and social support in the association between low vision and depressive symptoms in older adults.
Vision loss is highly prevalent in old age and has a substantial impact on different aspects of quality of life including depressive symptoms. Our objective was to examine the mediating role of disability and social support in the association between low vision and depressive symptoms. Differences in disability, social support, and depressive symptoms between 148 persons with low vision and a reference population (N = 4,792) all ≥57 years were compared. The association between low vision and depressive symptoms and the mediating role of disability and social support was examined by the means of regression. A significant effect of low vision on depressive symptoms was identified even after the adjustment for disability and social support (standardized beta 0.053, P < 0.001). The association between low vision and symptoms of depression was partially mediated by disability, while social support was identified as a suppressor variable. Low vision, disability, and social support showed unique contributions to depressive symptoms. Prevention of disability and the increase in social support may help to reduce symptoms of depression in older adults with low vision. By taking such information into account in their intervention work, health professionals working in this area may improve their care quality. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Transforming growth factor-beta pathway: role in pancreas development and pancreatic disease.
The pancreas is a complex exocrine and endocrine gland that controls many homeostatic functions. The exocrine pancreas produces and secretes digestive enzymes, whereas, the endocrine pancreas produces four distinct hormones, chief among them being the glucose regulating hormone-insulin. Diabetes, pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer are some of the main afflictions that result from pancreas dysfunction. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) proteins are central regulators of pancreas cell function, and have key roles in pancreas development and pancreatic disease. Since expression levels and kinase activities of components of TGF-beta signaling are aberrantly altered in diseases of the pancreas, modulating the activity of TGF-beta provides a unique and rational opportunity for therapeutic intervention. Although TGF-beta still remains elusive in terms of our understanding of its multifunctional modes of action, research is moving closer to the design of approaches directed toward modulating its activities for therapeutic benefit. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Does hysterectomy in a premenopausal woman affect ovarian function?
Women undergoing a hysterectomy without oophorectomy in their premenopausal years would expect to benefit from continued secretion of oestrogens to protect them from the conditions and symptoms associated with the climacteric and postmenopause. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the effect of premenopausal hysterectomy on ovarian function. Some research indicates an increase in incidence and severity of menopausal symptoms following removal of the uterus, despite the ovaries remaining in place; others have failed to find evidence of a decrease in ovarian endocrine secretion, implying that the ovaries are unaffected. This article reviews the conflicting evidence regarding the effect of hysterectomy on ovarian function as well as examining evidence for counter-current exchange between the ovarian and uterine blood supplies. An hypothesis is put forward to explain how removal of a woman's uterus may affect her ovarian function. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Neonatal dopamine lesion in the rat results in enhanced adenylate cyclase activity without altering dopamine receptor binding or dopamine- and adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) immunoreactivity.
Newborn male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated neonatally with an intracisternal injection of 75 micrograms 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) following desipramine pretreatment in order to induce a permanent selective dopamine (DA) lesion. At 60-70 days of age a massive loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive (IR) cells was seen in substantia nigra. The TH-IR terminal density was reduced by 92% in striatum, 77% in nucleus accumbens and by 72% in tuberculum olfactorium. Quantitative autoradiography using 3H-SCH-23390 and 3H-spiperone did not reveal any alteration of DA D1 and D2 receptor binding in the denervated regions studied. Furthermore, no change in the Bmax or Kd of 3H-SCH-23390 or 3H-spiperone in vitro binding was observed in membrane preparations of striatum following the neonatal DA lesion. Basal and DA-stimulated accumulation of cAMP was increased in striatal membrane preparations of the neonatally DA-lesioned rats. No alteration of the immunoreactivity of the D1 receptor associated phosphoprotein dopamine- and adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32), was observed as visualized using quantitative immunohistochemistry. Thus, neonatal DA lesions seem to induce a selective functional supersensitivity reflected by an enhanced activity of D1 receptor-coupled adenylate cyclase, without any alteration in the number of affinity of D1 and D2 receptor sites. Furthermore, the appearance of DARPP-32 seems to be independent of intact DA input during development. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A simple method of DNA extraction for Eimeria species.
A new, simple method is described for extracting DNA from coccidia (Eimeriidae) oocysts. In our hands this method works well for all Eimeria oocysts and, presumably, will work equally well for oocysts of other coccidia genera. This method combines the two steps of breaking oocyst and sporocyst walls, and dissolving the sporozoite membrane in one step. This greatly simplifies the currently used DNA extraction procedures for Eimeria species and overcomes the disadvantages of existing DNA extraction methods based on glass-bead grinding and sporozoite excystation procedures. Because all the procedures are done in a 1.5-ml microfuge tube, which minimizes the loss of DNA in the extraction procedures, this method is especially suitable for samples with small number of oocysts. In addition, this method directly lyses the oocyst and sporocyst walls as well as the sporozoite membrane in a continuous incubation; therefore, it does not require the sporozoites to be alive. The results of PCR experiments indicate that this method generates better quality of DNA than what the existing glass-bead grinding method does for molecular analysis, and is suitable for both large or small number (<10(2) oocysts) of living or dead oocyst samples. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Burnout in patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders.
This study sought to assess burnout and its relation to pain, disability, mood and health-related quality of life in a group of patients with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). Forty-five patients with chronic WAD (≥3 months) referred to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation centre were included. A questionnaire covering data on background and lifestyle, the Shirom Melamed Burnout Questionnaire, pain intensity, the Neck Disability Index, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the EQ-5D was filled in before the first visit to the clinic. A high proportion of burnout as measured using the Shirom Melamed Burnout Questionnaire was found in the patient group (87%). Burnout correlated moderately with present pain intensity, neck disability, depression and health-related quality of life. The results indicate the possible clinical importance of burnout in relation to chronic WAD and the need for further studies including a larger study population and a longitudinal study design. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A microporous MOF with a polar pore surface exhibiting excellent selective adsorption of CO2 from CO2-N2 and CO2-CH4 gas mixtures with high CO2 loading.
A microporous MOF {[Zn(SDB)(L)0.5]·S}n (IITKGP-5) with a polar pore surface has been constructed by the combination of a V-shaped -SO2 functionalized organic linker (H2SDB = 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoic acid) with an N-rich spacer (L = 2,5-bis(3-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene), forming a network with sql(2,6L1) topology. IITKGP-5 is characterized by TGA, PXRD and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The framework exhibits lozenge-shaped channels of an approximate size of 4.2 × 5.6 Å2 along the crystallographic b axis with a potential solvent accessible volume of 26%. The activated IITKGP-5a revealed a CO2 uptake capacity of 56.4 and 49 cm3 g-1 at 273 K/1 atm and 295 K/1 atm, respectively. On the contrary, it takes up a much smaller amount of CH4 (17 cm3 g-1 at 273 K and 13.6 cm3 g-1 at 295 K) and N2 (5.5 cm3 g-1 at 273 K; 4 cm3 g-1 at 295 K) under 1 atm pressure exhibiting its potential for a highly selective adsorption of CO2 from flue gas as well as a landfill gas mixture. Based on the ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST), a CO2/N2 selectivity of 435.5 and a CO2/CH4 selectivity of 151.6 have been realized at 273 K/100 kPa. The values at 295 K are 147.8 for CO2/N2 and 23.8 for CO2/CH4 gas mixtures under 100 kPa. In addition, this MOF nearly approaches the target values proposed for PSA and TSA processes for practical utility exhibiting its prospect for flue gas separation with a CO2 loading capacity of 2.04 mmol g-1. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
HEK 293 cell suspension culture using fibronectin-adsorbed polymer nanospheres in serum-free medium.
Previously, we reported on suspension culture of anchorage-dependent animal cells using plain polymer nanospheres in serum-containing medium. For commercial cell culture, it is more advantageous to use serum-free medium than serum-containing medium. To culture anchorage-dependent animal cells using polymer nanospheres in serum-free medium, the nanospheres need to be coated with cell adhesion proteins. In this study, we utilized fibronectin-adsorbed polymer nanospheres for suspension culture of anchorage-dependent animal cells in serum-free medium. Fibronectin was adsorbed onto poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanospheres (433 nm in average diameter) by immersing the nanospheres in fetal bovine serum. The nanospheres were used to culture human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells in serum-free medium in stirred suspension bioreactors. Nanospheres attached between HEK 293 cells and promoted cell aggregate formation compared with culture without nanospheres. Most cells in the aggregates were viable over a 10-day culture period. Importantly, the use of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanospheres promoted the cell growth significantly, compared with culture without nanospheres (3.8- vs 1.8-fold growth). The nanosphere culture method developed in this study removes the time-consuming and costly process of adaptation of anchorage-dependent animal cells to suspension culture in serum-free medium. This culture method may be useful for the large-scale suspension culture of various types of anchorage-dependent animal cells in serum-free medium. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Immunization, oral rehydration therapy and malaria chemotherapy among children under 5 in Bomi and Grand Cape Mount counties, Liberia, 1984 and 1988.
As part of an evaluation of child survival programmes in 13 African countries, cluster surveys were carried out in two Liberian counties in 1984 and 1988 to measure use of three primary health care services: immunization of infants, antimalarial treatment of children with fever, and oral rehydration of childhood diarrhoea. Immunization rates increased (30-53% for DPT-1 and 13-33% for measles), treatment of malaria with drugs available in the home increased from 5 to 35%, and home use of sugar-salt solution to prevent dehydration remained essentially unchanged, 5.9% in 1984 and 3.8% in 1988. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Adverse childhood experiences, chronic diseases, and risky health behaviors in Saudi Arabian adults: a pilot study.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked with risky health behaviors and the development of chronic diseases in adulthood. This study examined associations between ACEs, chronic diseases, and risky behaviors in adults living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2012 using the ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ). A cross-sectional design was used, and adults who were at least 18 years of age were eligible to participate. ACEs event scores were measured for neglect, household dysfunction, abuse (physical, sexual, and emotional), and peer and community violence. The ACE-IQ was supplemented with questions on risky health behaviors, chronic diseases, and mood. A total of 931 subjects completed the questionnaire (a completion rate of 88%); 57% of the sample was female, 90% was younger than 45 years, 86% had at least a college education, 80% were Saudi nationals, and 58% were married. One-third of the participants (32%) had been exposed to 4 or more ACEs, and 10%, 17%, and 23% had been exposed to 3, 2, or 1 ACEs respectively. Only 18% did not have an ACE. The prevalence of risky health behaviors ranged between 4% and 22%. The prevalence of self-reported chronic diseases ranged between 6% and 17%. Being exposed to 4 or more ACEs increased the risk of having chronic diseases by 2-11 fold, and increased risky health behaviors by 8-21 fold. The findings of this study will contribute to the planning and development of programs to prevent child maltreatment and to alleviate the burden of chronic diseases in adults. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Imaging apomorphine stimulation of brain arachidonic acid signaling via D2-like receptors in unanesthetized rats.
Because of the important role of dopamine in neurotransmission, it would be useful to be able to image brain dopamine receptor-mediated signal transduction in animals and humans. Administering the D1-D2 receptor agonist apomorphine may allow us to do this, as the D2-like receptor is reported to be coupled to cytosolic phospholipase A2 activation and arachidonic acid (AA) release from membrane phospholipid. Unanesthetized adult rats were given intraperitoneally apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) or saline, with or without pretreatment with 6 mg/kg intravenous raclopride, a D2/D3 receptor antagonist. [1-14C]AA was injected intravenously, then AA incorporation coefficients k*--brain radioactivity divided by integrated plasma radioactivity--markers of AA signaling, were measured using quantitative autoradiography in 62 brain regions. Apomorphine significantly elevated k* in 26 brain regions, including the frontal cortex, motor and somatosensory cortex, caudate-putamen, thalamic nuclei, and nucleus accumbens. Raclopride alone did not change baseline values of k*, but raclopride pretreatment prevented the apomorphine-induced increments in k*. A mixed D1-D2 receptor agonist, apomorphine, increased the AA signal by activating only D2-like receptors in brain circuits containing regions with high D2-like receptor densities. Thus, apomorphine might be used with positron emission tomography to image brain D2-like receptor-mediated AA signaling in humans in health and disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Substituent effects on the binding of phenols to the D38N mutant of 3-oxo-delta5-steroid isomerase. A probe for the nature of hydrogen bonding to the intermediate.
The nature of hydrogen bonding to the intermediate of the reaction catalyzed by 3-oxo-Delta5-steroid isomerase (KSI) was investigated. Substituted phenols bind tightly to the active site of the D38N mutant of KSI, and are analogs of the intermediate dienol. These D38N-phenol complexes exhibit fluorescence, NMR, and UV spectral characteristics similar to D38N complexed with phenolic steroids. The binding of phenols to D38N is satisfactorily described by the modified Bronsted equation: log KD = 0.85(pKa) - 0.63 pi - 6.3 (n = 10, r = 0.967), where KD is the dissociation constant of the complex and pi is the hydrophobicity parameter for the phenol substituent. The high value of the Bronsted alpha (0.85 +/- 0.08) indicates that the negative charge in the D38N-phenol complex, and by implication in the KSI-intermediate complex, is localized almost exclusively on the bound ligand. It is concluded that stabilization of the anionic (dienolate) intermediate is provided by ordinary hydrogen bonds from the enzyme acids Tyr-14 and Asp-99, rather than low-barrier hydrogen bonds. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assessment of bone turnover in the dry period of dairy cows by measurement of plasma bone GLA protein, total plasma alkaline phosphatase activity and urinary hydroxyproline.
Plasma osteocalcin, or plasma bone GLA protein (BGP), total plasma alkaline phosphatase activity and urinary hydroxyproline excretion of twenty-four pregnant dairy cows (thirteen in their first or second pregnancy, i.e. low parity, and eleven in their third or more pregnancies, i.e. high parity) were measured from 7 weeks before parturition until 1 week after parturition. Seven weeks before parturition the cows' ration was changed to one containing either 0.22% magnesium (low magnesium, LMg) or 0.82% magnesium (high magnesium, HMg) in the dry matter, and the potassium content of both rations was increased to approximately 4.1% in the dry matter to reduce the absorption of magnesium. Plasma BGP levels decreased significantly (P less than 0.01) as parturition approached while total plasma alkaline phosphatase activity and urinary hydroxyproline excretion did not. Magnesium supply and parity had no significant effect on this decrease. The overall plasma concentration of BGP, total plasma alkaline phosphatase activity and the urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio in the prepartum period were affected by parity (P less than 0.05) with higher values in the lower parity cows. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.58, P less than 0.01) was found in all cows between plasma BGP level at parturition and the percentage of the bone surface covered with osteoblasts; however, plasma BGP was not correlated either with other histomorphometric variables or with total alkaline phosphatase activity during this time. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Understanding: a function of short-term memory?
We describe our investigations of the sentence comprehension abilities of 2 patients with a severe impairment in their auditory verbal short-term memory (conduction aphasia). Both were capable of comprehending a range of sentences, even when adequate comprehension was dependent upon the processing of order-dependent syntactic information rather than the utilization of semantic knowledge. Thus they performed satisfactorily on tests using plausibly reversible subject and object constituents with either active or passive verb phrases or prepositional phrases. Both, however, were impaired on sentences which departed from normal conversational conventions in terms of their reference to the order of event occurrence, or to the subject and object of an array. They were also very poor at performing comparative judgements, even when these involved a simple intrinsic attribute such as colour. These findings are discussed in terms of the role of auditory verbal short-term memory in backing up and back-tracking over spoken information when conditions preclude the immediate understanding of auditory-verbal information. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Luteal support for IVF/ICSI cycles with Crinone 8% (90 mg) twice daily results in higher pregnancy rates than with intramuscular progesterone.
The use of progesterone for luteal support has been demonstrated to be beneficial in assisted reproductive cycles, yet the optimal route of progesterone administration has still not been established. This article is a retrospective study in a tertiary reproductive medical unit to compare luteal progesterone supplementation with vaginal gel or intramuscular progesterone. A total of 144 in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles were analyzed, 67 cycles using vaginal gel 90 mg twice daily and 77 cycles using intramuscular progesterone 50 mg daily as luteal support. Both groups had similar mean age, cause of infertility, baseline hormone levels, dosage of recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone, number of retrieved and fertilized oocytes, and number of transferred embryos. The vaginal gel group had significantly lower mid-luteal serum progesterone levels but higher implantation rate (32.5% vs. 18.5%, p = 0.001) and ongoing pregnancy rate (55.2% vs. 32.5%, p = 0.006). Within each group, mid-luteal serum progesterone levels between pregnant or non-pregnant patients were comparable. For patients with serum estradiol levels on day of human chorionic gonadotropin greater than 5,000 pg/mL, vaginal gel still resulted in better ongoing pregnancy and implantation rates. The use of vaginal progesterone gel twice daily for luteal support results in better pregnancy outcomes than intramuscular progesterone. A high local progesterone effect from vaginal gel might improve endometrial receptivity under extraordinarily high serum estradiol levels. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
FZD5 is a Gαq-coupled receptor that exhibits the functional hallmarks of prototypical GPCRs.
Frizzleds (FZDs) are a group of seven transmembrane-spanning (7TM) receptors that belong to class F of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily. FZDs bind WNT proteins to stimulate diverse signaling cascades involved in embryonic development, stem cell regulation, and adult tissue homeostasis. Frizzled 5 (FZD5) is one of the most studied class F GPCRs that promote the functional inactivation of the β-catenin destruction complex in response to WNTs. However, whether FZDs function as prototypical GPCRs has been heavily debated and, in particular, FZD5 has not been shown to activate heterotrimeric G proteins. Here, we show that FZD5 exhibited a conformational change after the addition of WNT-5A, which is reminiscent of class A and class B GPCR activation. In addition, we performed several live-cell imaging and spectrometric-based approaches, such as dual-color fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (dcFRAP) and resonance energy transfer (RET)-based assays that demonstrated that FZD5 activated Gαq and its downstream effectors upon stimulation with WNT-5A. Together, these findings suggest that FZD5 is a 7TM receptor with a bona fide GPCR activation profile and suggest novel targets for drug discovery in WNT-FZD signaling. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Mortality among infants with evolving bronchopulmonary dysplasia increases with major surgery and with pulmonary hypertension.
To assess whether mortality in patients with evolving bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD, defined as ⩾28 days of oxygen exposure with lung disease) is independently associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and surgery. Single institution retrospective birth cohort of preterm infants with gestational age (GA) 230/7 to 366/7 weeks, and evolving BPD delivered between 2001 and 2014. Surgery was classified as minor or major using published criteria. Mortality was analyzed by stepwise logistic regression analysis. Among 577 patients with evolving BPD, 33 (6%) died prior to discharge. Mortality decreased with GA (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.69; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.55, 0.87), birth weight Z-score (aOR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.996) and increased with PAH (aOR: 30, 95% CI: 2.1, 415), major surgery (aOR; 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3, 6.3), and PAH and surgery (aOR: 10.3, 95% CI: 2.5, 42.1). Among preterm patients with evolving BPD, PAH and surgery are independently associated with mortality. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Toxicity and dose-response studies of 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D2 in a retinoblastoma xenograft model.
Although calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol) and vitamin D(2) inhibit retinoblastoma growth in the athymic (nude) mouse xenograft (Y-79 cell line) model of retinoblastoma, they can cause severe toxicity. To examine the toxicity of and dose-dependent response for the inhibition of tumor growth for 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D(2) (1alpha-OH-D(2)), an analogue with reduced systemic toxicity, in the athymic Y-79 mouse model. Mice were randomized into treatment and control groups for 5-week toxicity and dose-response studies. Treatment was via oral gavage 5 times per week. Dose-response studies measured tumor inhibition and drug serum levels. Tumor size and body weight were measured weekly together with various criteria for toxicity. Animals were euthanized at the end of the treatment period. Tumors and kidneys were harvested, and serum was analyzed for calcium and drug levels. Doses of 0.1 to 1.2 microg/d were selected on the basis of toxicity studies for the dose-response trial. Tumor weight and volume in the 0.2-microg and 0.3-microg doses were significantly lower than in controls. Mortality rates and kidney calcification in mice treated with doses of 0.1 to 0.3 microg were lower than those observed in studies of calcitriol and vitamin D(2). A vitamin D analogue, 1alpha-OH-D(2), inhibits tumor growth in this xenograft model of retinoblastoma with less toxicity than calcitriol and vitamin D(2). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
3,5-Diphenyl-1H-pyrazole derivatives. III--Esters from 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole and its 4-bromo derivative with hypotensive, depressant, antiarrhythmic and analgesic activities.
The synthesis of dialkylaminoalkyl ethers (III a-g) by reaction of 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole (I) sodium salt with a series of omega-chloroalkyldialkylamines is described. Cyanoethylation of alcohol (I) and its 4-bromo derivative (II) gave 2-cyanoethyl ethers (III h, i), one of which (III h) was hydrolyzed to the corresponding carboxylic acid. Cyanoethylation of 3,5-diphenylpyrazole (IV) and its 4-bromo derivative (V) yielded nitriles (VI) and (VII), respectively, which were hydrolyzed to the corresponding carboxylic acids (VIII) and (IX). Some of the above compounds showed considerable hypotensive, depressant, antiarrhythmic and analgesic activities in mice and rats, as well as a remarkable platelet antiaggregating activity in vitro. Moreover, the above compounds usually exhibited a moderate antiinflammatory activity in rats and infiltration anesthesia in mice. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The effect of phosphate application on the mobility of antimony in firing range soils.
Chemical and biogenic sources of phosphate are commonly accepted in situ treatment methods for immobilization of lead (Pb) in soil. The metalloid antimony (Sb), commonly associated with Pb in the environment, exists as either a neutral species or a negatively charged oxyanion. Antimony is used in the manufacture of bullets as a hardening agent, constituting approximately 3% of the bullet mass. Technological solutions to reduce the migration of metals from small arms firing range (SAFR) soils for environmental compliance purposes must be robust with respect to multi-component systems containing both cationic and anionic contaminants. The effect of varying physico-chemical soil properties on Sb mobility post-firing was assessed in this study for six soil types using common analytical protocols and methods related to regulatory criteria. The sands (SM and SP) demonstrated the greatest Sb solubility in post-firing leachate samples and therefore were selected to evaluate the effects of five commercially available stabilization amendments on Sb mobility. Enhanced Sb leaching was experimentally confirmed in the phosphate-treated soils compared to both the untreated control soil and the sulfur-based amendment, and thus suggests competition for negative sorption sites between Sb and phosphate. However, the 5% Buffer Block® calcium phosphate amendment did not exhibit the same enhanced Sb release. This can be attributed to the inclusion of aluminum hydroxide in the amendment composition. Technologies are needed that will adequately immobilize Pb without mobilizing oxyanions such as Sb. Further research will be required to elucidate binding mechanisms and redox conditions that govern the mobility of Sb on SAFRs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Laparoscopic versus open distal pancreatectomy: a meta-analysis.
Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) is a minimally invasive surgical technique. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the currently available literature and compare the short-term clinical outcomes of patients who underwent LDP for left-sided pancreatic pathology with patients who underwent traditional open surgery. A literature search was performed to identify and compare studies that reported the clinical outcomes of both LDP and open distal pancreatectomy (ODP). Pooled odds ratios (OR) and weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated using either fixed-effects or random-effects models. Nineteen nonrandomized controlled studies were identified that matched the selection criteria and reported the clinical outcomes of 1935 patients, of whom 805 underwent LDP and 1130 underwent ODP. Compared with open surgery, reports on laparoscopic resection indicate potentially favorable outcomes in terms of operative blood loss (WMD: -273.11; 95% CI: -404.61 to -141.61), the requirement of a blood transfusion (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.11-0.71), postoperative time until oral intake (WMD: -1.19; 95% CI: -1.87 to -0.50), time to first flatus (WMD: -1.03, 95% CI: -1.93 to -0.12), length of hospital stay (WMD: -3.87, 95% CI: -5.06 to -2.68), and overall morbidity (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.56-0.87). There were no differences in terms of the extent of oncologic clearance and postoperative mortality. LDP results in a faster postoperative recovery and a comparable oncologic clearance in comparison with open surgery. Additional large trials are required to delineate the long-term clinical outcomes of patients diagnosed with malignant neoplasms who undergo either of these two surgeries. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon for the electrocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide.
Mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon derived from the ionic liquid N-butyl-3-methylpyridinium dicyanamide is a highly active, cheap, and selective metal-free catalyst for the electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide that has the potential for use in a safe, sustainable, and cheap flow-reactor-based method for H(2)O(2) production. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Neuropsychological functioning among the nonpsychotic relatives of schizophrenic patients: a diagnostic efficiency analysis.
Numerous studies suggest that the relatives of schizophrenic patients exhibit neuropsychological impairments that are milder yet similar to those seen among schizophrenic patients. The authors assessed 35 nonpsychotic relatives of schizophrenic patients and 72 normal controls using a clinical and experimental neuropsychological test battery. Three neuropsychological functions met criteria for risk indicators of the schizophrenia genotype: abstraction, verbal memory, and auditory attention. These findings could not be attributed to parental socioeconomic status, education, general visual-spatial ability, or psychopathology. Furthermore, exploratory analyses were performed to determine whether the diagnostic efficiency of the indicators could be adjusted to meet the needs of genetic linkage analyses. These analyses suggest that psychometric considerations may help to create measures for genetic linkage studies. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Weight regulation and bone mass: a comparison between professional jockeys, elite amateur boxers, and age, gender and BMI matched controls.
The aim of this study was to compare bone mass between two groups of jockeys (flat: n = 14; national hunt: n = 16); boxers (n = 14) and age, gender and BMI matched controls (n = 14). All subjects underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning for assessment of bone mass, with measurements made of the total body, vertebra L2-4 and femoral neck. Body composition and the relative contribution of fat and lean mass were extrapolated from the results. Data were analysed in accordance with differences in body composition, in particular, height, lean mass, fat mass and age. Both jockey groups were shown to display lower bone mass than either the boxers or control group at a number of sites including total body bone mineral density (BMD) (1.019 ± 0.06 and 1.17 ± 1.05 vs. 1.26 ± 0.01 and 1.26 ± 0.06 g cm(-2) for flat, national hunt, boxer and control, respectively), total body bone mineral content (BMC) less head, L2-4 BMD and femoral neck BMD and BMC (p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed that lean mass and height were the primary predictors of total body BMC, although additional group-specific influences were present which reduced bone mass in the flat jockey group and enhanced it in the boxers (R (2) = 0.814). Reduced bone mass in jockeys may be a consequence of reduced energy availability in response to chronic weight restriction and could have particular implications for these athletes in light of the high risk nature of the sport. In contrast, the high intensity, high impact training associated with boxing may have conveyed an osteogenic stimulus on these athletes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Carbon dioxide capture at the molecular level.
Carbon dioxide is recognized as a typical greenhouse gas and drastic reduction of CO2 emissions from industrial process is becoming more and more important in relation to global warming. In fact, the reaction between monoethanolamine (MEA) and CO2 in aqueous solution has been widely used for the removal from flue gases. In this study, the role of the interplay between solvent water and nitrogen (MEA)-carbon (CO2) bond formation is discussed based on the molecular theory using RISM-SCF-SEDD, which is the hybrid method of quantum chemistry of solute and statistical mechanics of solvent. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Radiation-induced lung injury.
The use of radiation therapy is limited by the occurrence of the potentially fatal clinical syndromes of radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis. Radiation pneumonitis usually becomes clinically apparent from 2 to 6 months after completion of radiation therapy. It is characterized by fever, cough, dyspnea, and alveolar infiltrates on chest roentgenogram and may be difficult to differentiate from infection or recurrent malignancy. The pathogenesis is uncertain, but appears to involve both direct lung tissue toxicity and an inflammatory response. The syndrome may resolve spontaneously or may progress to respiratory failure. Corticosteroids may be effective therapy if started early in the course of the disease. The time course for the development of radiation fibrosis is later than that for radiation pneumonitis. It is usually present by 1 year following irradiation, but may not become clinically apparent until 2 years after radiation therapy. It is characterized by the insidious onset of dyspnea on exertion. It most often is mild, but can progress to chronic respiratory failure. There is no known successful treatment for this condition. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Accumulation of C-terminally truncated tau protein associated with vulnerability of the perforant pathway in early stages of neurofibrillary pathology in Alzheimer's disease.
Neurofibrillary pathology is a characteristic hallmark of Alzheimer's disease that is closely correlated with cognitive decline. We have analysed the density and distribution of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) that are immunoreactive with the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 423 in a prospectively analysed population of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases and age-matched controls. NFTs were examined in allocortical and isocortical areas and correlated with Braak pathological stage and clinical severity of dementia. The mAb 423 was used as it recognises a C-terminally truncated tau fragment that is a major constituent of NFTs. Our results show that extracellular NFTs and, to a lesser extent, intracellular NFTs, correlated significantly with both Braak stages and the clinical index of severity. Furthermore, a differential distribution of the two types of tangles indicates that layer II of the entorhinal cortex and the transentorhinal area are particularly vulnerable to neurofibrillary degeneration. These areas serve as a point of connection between isocortex and hippocampus. Our findings, therefore, suggest that the perforant pathway may be substantially affected by the accumulation of truncated tau protein in AD and that this represents a neuropathological predictor for the clinical severity of dementia. When neurofibrillary pathology was examined by combined labelling with mAbs 423 and Alz-50 and the dye thiazin red, we were able to demonstrate various stages of tau aggregation. The different stages may represent a sequence of conformational changes that tau proteins undergo during tangle formation in the allocortex during the early development of dementia in AD. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Serum acute-phase proteins and immunoglobulins in patients with gliomas.
Cellular immune competence was found to be impaired in previous studies of patients with malignant brain tumors. In patients with nonneural tumors, we recently found that serum levels of acute-phase proteins were related to immune status as well as to tumor extent. To determine whether the serum proteins in patients with central nervous system tumors show similar changes, levels of acute-phase proteins (alpha1-acid glycoprotein, alpha1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein) and immunoglobulins (immunoglobulins G, M, and A) were assayed in patients with gliomas prior to treatment. Compared to normals, significant increases (p less than 0.001) in the acute-phase proteins were found, and the levels were similar to those in patients with nonneural solid neoplasms. Serum immunoglobulins were not significantly increased in patients with gliomas. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
omega-Dialkylaminoalkyl ethers of 6-(benzyl or phenyl)-1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo [2.2.2]octan-6-ol with platelet antiaggregating and local anesthetic activities.
The synthesis of 1,3,3-trimethyl-6-phenyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-6-ol 2 and 6-benzyl-1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-6-ol 3 starting from (+)-1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-6-one and phenylmagnesium bromide or benzylmagnesium chloride, respectively, is described. Alcohols 2 and 3 gave a series of omega-dialkylaminoalkyl ethers 4 by reaction as sodium salts with omega-chloroalkyldialkylamines in toluene solution. Some compounds 4, in particular those derived from alcohol 2, showed a strong platelet antiaggregating activity in vitro, superior to that of acetylsalicylic acid, as well as in general an appreciable local anesthetic activity and a weak sedative effect in mice. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Modulation of connexon densities in gap junctions of horizontal cell perikarya and axon terminals in fish retina: effects of light/dark cycles, interruption of the optic nerve and application of dopamine.
In the fish retina, connexon densities of gap junctions in the outer horizontal cells are modulated in response to different light or dark adaptation times and wavelengths. We have examined whether the connexon density is a suitable parameter of gap junction coupling under in situ conditions. Short-term light adaptation evoked low connexon densities, regardless of whether white or red light was used. Short-term dark adaptation evoked high connexon densities; this was more pronounced in the axon terminal than in perikaryal gap junctions. Under a 12 h red light/12 h dark cycle, a significant difference in connexon densities between the light and the dark period could be established in the gap junctions of the perikarya and axon terminals. Under a white light/dark cycle, only the gap junctions of axon terminals showed a significant difference. Crushing of the optic nerve resulted in an increase in connexon densities; this was more pronounced in axon terminals than in perikarya. Dopamine injected into the right eye of white-light-adapted animals had no effect. However, dopamine prevented the effect of optic-nerve crushing on connexon density. The reaction of axon-terminal gap junctions to different conditions thus resembles that of perikaryal gap junctions, but is more intense. Axon terminals are therefore thought to play an important role in the adaptation process. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
BioMoby web services to support clustering of co-regulated genes based on similarity of promoter configurations.
Here we present a computational protocol to analyze the promoter regions of a given set of co-expressed genes, and its implementation through the use of Web services technologies. This protocol aims to cluster a set of co-regulated genes in subsets of genes showing similar configurations of transcription factor binding sites. All the steps of this protocol have been developed as web services that are compliant with BioMoby specifications. {http://genome.imim.es/cgi-bin/moby/GeneClustering_DataSubmission.cgi}. Supplementary data are available at {http://genome.imim.es/webservices/} | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assessment of calcium balance in patients on hemodialysis, based on ionized calcium and parathyroid hormone responses.
Identification of the underlying causes of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in individual patients on hemodialysis (HD) is hampered by the lack of clinically reliable information on calcium balance. The aim of this study was to assess calcium balance during HD sessions with a method that is applicable in day-to-day practice. Plasma ionized calcium (pCa2+) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured at the beginning and end of HD to evaluate calcium fluxes in 23 patients on a dialysate calcium (DCa) concentration of 1.25 mmol/L. HD with a DCa of 1.25 mmol/L caused a decrease in pCa2+ from 1.15 ± 0.01 mmol/L to 1.09 ± 0.01 mmol/L (p<0.0001) and increased plasma PTH from 26.7 ± 1.8 pmol/L to 37.0 ± 2.9 pmol/L (p<0.0001). The changes in pCa2+ were inversely related to the predialysis pCa2+ levels (R2 = 0.86, p<0.001). Patients with a predialysis pCa2+ >1.06 mmol/L had a calcium efflux, whereas those with a predialysis pCa2+ <1.06 mmol/L had a calcium influx during HD. The results suggest that measurement of pCa2+ and PTH at the beginning and the end of HD provides useful information about calcium fluxes in individual patients. Further validation of this approach is warranted. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Outcomes of extraskeletal vs. skeletal Ewing sarcoma patients treated with standard chemotherapy protocol.
To compare the outcomes of extraskeletal and skeletal Ewing sarcomas treated with standard chemotherapy protocol. We retrospectively collected data on primary localized skeletal and extraskeletal ES patients. Demographics and disease characteristics were compared between the two groups. The influence of presentation (skeletal vs. extraskeletal) on overall survival (OS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was assessed and compared by the log-rank test. A total of 120 patients were included; 29 (24%) had extraskeletal and 91 (76%) had skeletal ES. All patients received vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide (VDC-IE) chemotherapy, with a plan for local control at week 12. At a median follow-up of 38 months, there was no difference in OS between skeletal and extraskeletal ES; 5-year OS 70% and 67% respectively, p = 0.96. Patients with extraskeletal ES had inferior 5-year LRFS compared to skeletal ES; 74% vs. 83%; p = 0.042. Local recurrence occurred at a higher frequency in the extraskeletal group; 28% vs. 11%, p = 0.034, although more extraskeletal patients received adjuvant radiotherapy; 73% vs. 36%, p = 0.01. Among patients who underwent surgery (n = 76), there was no difference in R0 resection rate (skeletal: 89%, extraskeletal: 86%, p = 0.52, or good ( ≥ 90%) tumor necrosis; skeletal: 54%, extraskeletal: 38%, p = 0.31. Patients with localized extraskeletal ES have comparable OS outcomes to patients with skeletal ES utilizing the standard VDC-IE chemotherapy. However, extraskeletal patients are at significantly higher risk for local recurrence. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Expression of miR-98 in myocarditis and its influence on transcription of the FAS/FASL gene pair.
Myocarditis is a common cardiovascular disease and frequently occurs in children and teenagers. It is believed to be caused by both endogenous and exogenous factors, among which FAS/FASL gene pair-induced cell apoptosis is a major mechanism of myocardial cell injury. A previous study has detected low expression of microRNA (miR)-98 in myocarditis patients. Therefore, in this study we investigated the functional implications of miR-98 with respect to the disease. We carried out a case-control study including 50 myocarditis patients and 50 healthy individuals. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood plasma. Expression levels of miR-98 and the FAS/FASL gene pair were determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The interaction between miR-98 and the FAS/FASL pair was visualized by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The expression of the FAS/FASL gene pair was further detected by transfecting with an miR-98 mimic or an miR-98 inhibitor. The content of miR-98 in the peripheral blood of the myocarditis patients was significantly lower than in the healthy individuals. However, the FAS/FASL genes were upregulated by 1.68-fold in the myocarditis patients. miR-98 was shown to interact with the 3'-untranslated region of the FAS/FASL gene pair. The inhibition/facilitation of miR-98 expression in myocardial cells can modulate apoptosis. miR-98 was downregulated in the peripheral blood of myocarditis patients. It may interact with the FAS/FASL gene pair to further modulate cell apoptosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Spindle Cell Lipoma of the Conjunctiva.
A 67-year-old woman presented with progressive enlargement of a long-standing mass on the surface of her OS associated with ocular surface irritation. The mass was excised en bloc. Histopathological examination showed a well-defined encapsulated tumor composed of wiry collagen containing bland spindle cells that were strongly positive for CD34 with scattered mature adipocytes. These features confirmed a diagnosis of spindle cell lipoma. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Bimolecular fluorescent complementation (BiFC) by MAP kinases and MAPK phosphatases.
The adaptation of plants to the environment is a key property for survival. Adaptation responses to environmental cues are generated in cells by signaling initiated from cell receptors. Signal transduction is based on protein phosphorylation that is employed in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades to integrate signals from receptors to cellular responses. MAPK activity is determined by phosphorylation of amino acid residues within the kinase activation loop and their dephosphorylation by phosphatases is essential to control signal duration and intensity.Monitoring protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of MAPKs with MAPK phosphatases in vivo provides valuable information about specificity and intracellular localization of the protein complex. Here, we report studying PPIs between Arabidopsis MAPKs and PP2C-type MAPK phosphatases using bimolecular fluorescent complementation (BiFC) in suspension cell protoplasts. The interactions of the MAPKs MPK3, MKP4 and MPK6 with the phosphatases AP2C1 and AP2C3 have been tested. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
MR detection of cytoplasmic fat in clear cell renal cell carcinoma utilizing chemical shift gradient-echo imaging.
We attempted to determine whether cytoplasmic fat in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can be identified by chemical shift gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging (CSI). CSI was performed for 22 clear cell RCCs and 30 other renal tumors (including 16 non-clear cell RCCs), all of which were surgically proven. Signal reduction in out-of-phase images of these tumors was retrospectively evaluated and compared. The signal loss ratio (SLR) was defined and calculated. Fat staining of specimens from 16 tumors was performed and correlated with SLR. SLR was significantly higher in clear cell RCCs than in non-clear cell RCCs (P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between degree of fat staining positivity of the specimens and SLR (P < 0.01). When signal reduction in out-of-phase images suggested the diagnosis of clear cell RCC, correct diagnosis of this entity was made in resected renal tumors with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 82%, 90%, and 87%, respectively. CSI can demonstrate cytoplasmic fat in clear cell RCCs, which helps to differentiate this entity from other RCCs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Technical considerations in the use of 3-D beam arrangements in the abdomen.
The practical utilization of 3-D treatment planning to reduce doses to normal tissues in the abdomen is illustrated for irradiation of hepatic masses using fields with central axes rotated out of the transverse plane. The beams were arranged to go through the minimum amount of normal liver tissue, while exiting above or below a kidney. Although these beam arrangements were not coplanar with standard transverse body sections, they were designed for dose delivery through use of standard Megavoltage equipment. The planning process for these techniques illustrates the need for and use of several tools usually associated with 3-D treatment planning systems. Beam's eye-view planning with perspective display of the relevant anatomy in the projective beam geometry is required for designing the placement of focused blocks for these oblique fields. Three-dimensional volumetric dose calculations are required to evaluate dose distributions. Additionally, port-film-type radiographs, digitally reconstructed from the CT dataset, are found to be useful in understanding the correctness of simulation and verification films. The reduction in dose to normal tissues over that achievable using standard plans with beams entering the patient at right angles to the central axis of the body is illustrated using dose-volume histograms. These techniques have allowed the initiation of a radiation dose escalation protocol for tumors involving the liver and porta hepatis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Linalool attenuates oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction mediated by glutamate and NMDA toxicity.
Mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation contribute to the initiation and development of several brain pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and cerebral ischemia. Linalool is an aromatic plant-derived monoterpene alcohol with reported anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant properties. We investigated the role of linalool on glutamate-induced mitochondrial oxidative stress in immortalized neuronal HT-22 cells. Glutamate induced oxidative stress in neuronal cells, as detected by real-time cell impedance measurements, MTT assay, and analysis of Annexin V/PI. Administration of linalool 100 μM reduced cell death mediated by glutamate. Staining of glutamate-stimulated mitochondria by MitoTracker revealed improved morphology in the presence of linalool. Furthermore, we demonstrated a potential neuroprotective effect of linalool in conditions of oxidative stress by a reduction of mitochondrial ROS and mitochondrial calcium levels, and by preserving mitochondrial membrane potential. Experiments using both high-resolution respirometry and Seahorse Extracellular flux analyzer showed that linalool was able to promote an increase in uncoupled respiration that could contribute to its neuroprotective capacity. Linalool protection was validated using organotypic hippocampal slices as ex vivo model with NMDA as a stimulus to induce excitotoxity cell damage. These results demonstrate that linalool is protective in an in vitro model of glutamate-induced oxidative stress and in an ex-vivo model for excitotoxity, proposing linalool as a potential therapeutic agent against neurodegenerative brain diseases where oxidative stress contributes to the pathology of the disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Thiazolidinediones, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists, regulate endothelial cell growth and secretion of vasoactive peptides.
Insulin resistance has been highlighted as a common causal factor for glucose intolerance, hypertension and dyslipidemia, all of which are cardiovascular risk factors. A new class of antidiabetic agents, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), has been developed and demonstrated to improve insulin sensitivity. TZDs are high affinity ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), the crucial transcription factor for adipocytes. Recent studies showed that PPARgamma is also expressed in monocytes/macrophages and is suggested to be involved in atherosclerosis. We could detect PPARgamma gene transcript in several cultured endothelial cells (human aortic endothelial cells (HAoECs), human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs), human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and bovine carotid artery endothelial cells (BAECs)) as well as human coronary arteries we examined. Since endothelial dysfunction is critical for atherosclerosis, we investigated the effects of TZDs, troglitazone (TRO) and pioglitazone (PIO), on endothelial cell growth and secretion of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP), which we demonstrated as a novel endothelium-derived relaxing peptide, and endothelin (ET), a potent vasoconstrictor, using HAoECs, HCAECs, HUVECs and BAECs. When all these cultured endothelial cells were daily treated with TRO and PIO for 5 days, both TRO and PIO (10(-8)M) significantly stimulated (3)H-thymidine incorporation of all these endothelial cells. In contrast, higher dose of TRO and PIO (10(-5)M) significantly suppressed DNA synthesis. TRO and PIO also exerted the compatible effect on the increase of cell numbers. TRO and PIO significantly enhanced CNP secretion from BAECs. In contrast, ET secretion from BAECs was suppressed by both TRO and PIO in a dose-dependent manner. The results of the present study suggest that TZDs modulate endothelial functions, including regulation of endothelial cell growth and secretion of endothelium-derived vasoactive substances, which affect vascular tone and remodeling in the process of atherosclerosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Stoichiometry of phosphorylation to fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate binding in the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles.
In an attempt to establish the stoichiometry of phosphorylation in the Ca2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles, phosphorylation by ATP (or Pi) or labeling by fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) was performed with the SR vesicles under the conditions in which almost all the phosphorylation sites or FITC binding sites are phosphorylated or labeled. The resulting vesicles were solubilized in lithium dodecyl sulfate and then the Ca2+-ATPase was purified by size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography. Peptide mapping and sequencing of the tryptic digest of the purified enzyme showed that Lys-515 of the Ca2+-ATPase was exclusively labeled with FITC, in agreement with the previously reported findings. The content of the phosphoenzyme from ATP (4.57 nmol/mg of Ca2+-ATPase protein) or from Pi (4.94 nmol/mg of Ca2+-ATPase protein) in the purified enzyme was approximately half the content of the FITC binding site (8.17-8.25 nmol/mg of Ca2+-ATPase protein) and also half the content of the Ca2+-ATPase molecule (9.06 nmol/mg of Ca2+-ATPase protein) calculated from its molecular mass (110,331 Da). These results show that there is one specific FITC binding site per molecule of the Ca2+-ATPase (in agreement with the previously reported findings) and that the stoichiometry of phosphorylation to FITC binding is approximately 0. 5:1.0. All the above findings lead to the conclusion that only half of the Ca2+-ATPase molecules present in the SR vesicles can be phosphorylated. FITC binding completely inhibited the ATP-induced phosphorylation before the binding reached its maximum level. This finding indicates that FITC preferentially binds to a part of the Ca2+-ATPase molecules and that this binding is primarily responsible for the inhibition of phosphorylation, suggesting an intermolecular ATPase-ATPase interaction. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Amphibian Host and Skin Microbiota Response to a Common Agricultural Antimicrobial and Internal Parasite.
Holistic approaches that simultaneously characterize responses of both microbial symbionts and their hosts to environmental shifts are imperative to understanding the role of microbiotas on host health. Using the northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) as our model, we investigated the effects of a common trematode (family Echinostomatidae), a common agricultural antimicrobial (Sulfadimethoxine; SDM), and their interaction on amphibian skin microbiota and amphibian health (growth metrics and susceptibility to parasites). In the trematode-exposed individuals, we noted an increase in alpha diversity and a shift in microbial communities. In the SDM-treated individuals, we found a change in the composition of the skin microbiota similar to those induced by the trematode treatment. Groups treated with SDM, echinostomes, or a combination of SDM and echinostomes, had higher relative abundances of OTUs assigned to Flavobacterium and Acinetobacter. Both of these genera have been associated with infectious disease in amphibians and the production of anti-pathogen metabolites. Similar changes in microbial community composition between SDM and trematode exposed individuals may have resulted from stress-related disruption of host immunity. Despite changes in the microbiota, we found no effect of echinostomes and SDM on host health. Given the current disease- and pollution-related threats facing amphibians, our study highlights the need to continue to evaluate the influence of natural and anthropogenic stressors on host-associated microbial communities. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
First Report of Anthracnose on Rohdea japonica Caused by Colletotrichum liriopes in Korea.
Lily of China (Rohdea japonica Roth) is a flowering plant native to eastern Asia. In the summers of 2010 and 2011, suspected anthracnose disease was observed on R. japonica plants in the exhibition field of Jinju Agriculture Technology Center, Jinju, South Korea. Symptoms began as yellow to brown spots on leaves and darkened as the spots expanded. The lesions subsequently became dark brown, and bristled acervuli were observed on the dark brown areas. Leaf spots led to leaf shriveling and eventual death. Fresh leaf specimens were collected from infected plants and the putative causal pathogen was isolated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The fungus formed a dark brown colony, irregularly shaped black sclerotia, and abundant setae in PDA cultures. Conidia were colorless, falcate, fusiform, and 21 to 26 × 2 to 3 μm. Appressoria were clavate to circular and 8 to 12 × 6 to 8 μm. Amplification of the internal transcribed spacer was conducted as described previously (2) and generated a 577-bp sequence (GenBank Accession No. JQ677042) with 99% identity to sequences of C. liriopes strain CBS 119444 (GU227804), identified previously as C. dematium from Agavaceae (1). In the phylogenetic tree, the representative strain was placed within a clade comprising a reference strain of C. liriopes (data not shown). A representative isolate of the pathogen was used to inoculate R. japonica leaves for pathogenicity testing. Five 4-month-old R. japonica plants were sprayed to runoff with a conidial suspension (104 conidia/ml) and 0.025% Tween. Three plants were sprayed with sterilized distilled water and 0.025% Tween as a control. The plants were kept in a moist chamber with >90% relative humidity at 25°C for 48 h and then moved to a greenhouse. After 7 days of incubation, necrotic spot symptoms similar to those observed in the field developed on the inoculated leaves. Control plants remained asymptomatic. The pathogenicity test was repeated twice with similar results and the causal fungus was reisolated from the lesions of inoculated plants to satisfy Koch's postulates in each test. On the basis of observed symptoms, morphology, pathogenicity, and molecular characterization, this fungus was identified as Colletotrichum liriopes. The recent outbreak of leaf spot on R. japonica plants suggests that C. liriopes is spreading and poses a serious threat to these plants in Korea. References: (1) U. Damm et al. Fungal Diversity 39:45, 2009. (2) T. J. White et al. Page 315 in: PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, M. A. Innis et al., eds., Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1990. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Unaltered secretion of beta-amyloid precursor protein in gelatinase A (matrix metalloproteinase 2)-deficient mice.
The beta-amyloid peptide, which forms extracellular cerebral deposits in Alzheimer's disease, is derived from a large membrane-spanning glycoprotein referred to as the beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP). The APP is normally cleaved within the beta-amyloid region by a putative proteinase (alpha-secretase) to generate large soluble amino-terminal derivatives of APP, and this event prevents the beta-amyloid peptide formation. It has been suggested that the gelatinase A (matrix metalloproteinase 2, a 72-kDa type IV collagenase) may act either as alpha-secretase or as beta-secretase. Mice devoid of gelatinase A generated by gene targeting develop normally, except for a subtle delay in their growth, thus providing a useful system to examine the role of gelatinase A in the cleavage and secretion of APP in vivo. We show here that APP is cleaved within the beta-amyloid region and secreted into the extracellular milieu of brain and cultured fibroblasts without gelatinase A activity. The data suggest that gelatinase A does not play an essential role in the generation and release of soluble derivatives of APP at physiological conditions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Children's and family needs of young women with advanced breast cancer: a review.
This article reviews literature about the impact of advanced breast cancer on children and families. It is clear that the adjustment of the family is influenced by disease stage and maternal adjustment, the needs of the particular child relating closely to their developmental stage. Interventions with children and families to promote adjustment when a parent has advanced cancer are also discussed, including implications for clinical practice. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Incidence of adrenal involvement and assessing adrenal function in patients with renal cell carcinoma: is ipsilateral adrenalectomy indispensable during radical nephrectomy?
To determine the value of ipsilateral adrenalectomy with radical nephrectomy, by investigating the clinical aspects of adrenal involvement and adrenocortical function in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The demographic, clinical and pathological data of adrenal involvement were reviewed in 247 patients with RCC. To evaluate adrenocortical function, 14 patients (adrenalectomy in eight, adrenal-sparing in six) had a rapid adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test before and 2 weeks after surgery. There was adrenal involvement with RCC in seven of the 247 (2.8%) patients (a solitary adrenal metastatic tumour in four and direct extension into the adrenal gland in three). All adrenal involvement was detectable on abdominal computed tomography before surgery, and these patients had a large primary renal tumour of > pT2 and/or distant metastasis. Plasma cortisol levels declined significantly more in response to the rapid ACTH stimulation test in those treated by adrenalectomy than in those with spared adrenal glands at 2 weeks after surgery (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between the groups before surgery. These results suggest that unconditional ipsilateral adrenalectomy with radical nephrectomy for RCC should be avoidable, and thus preserve the reserve of adrenocortical function, as preoperative imaging, especially thin-slice multidetector helical computed tomography, can detect adrenal involvement with RCC in most cases. Unilateral adrenalectomy might cause an irreversible impairment of the reserve of adrenocortical function. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A survey study of index food-related allergic reactions and anaphylaxis management.
Initial food-allergic reactions are often poorly recognized and under-treated. Parents of food-allergic children were invited to complete an online questionnaire, designed with Kids with Food Allergies Foundation, about their children's first food-allergic reactions resulting in urgent medical evaluation. Among 1361 reactions, 76% (95% CI 74-79%) were highly likely to represent anaphylaxis based on NIAID/FAAN criteria. Only 34% (95% CI 31-37%) of these were administered epinephrine. In 56% of these, epinephrine was administered by emergency departments; 20% by parents; 9% by paramedics; 8% by primary care physicians; and 6% by urgent care centers. In 26% of these, epinephrine was given within 15 min of the onset of symptoms; 54% within 30 min; 82% within 1 h; and 93% within 2 h. Factors associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving epinephrine for anaphylaxis included age <12 months, milk and egg triggers, and symptoms of abdominal pain and/or diarrhea. Epinephrine was more likely to be given to asthmatic children and children with peanut or tree nut ingestion prior to event. Post-treatment, 42% of reactions likely to represent anaphylaxis were referred to allergists, 34% prescribed and/or given epinephrine auto-injectors, 17% trained to use epinephrine auto-injectors, and 19% given emergency action plans. Of patients treated with epinephrine, only half (47%) were prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors. Only one-third of initial food-allergic reactions with symptoms of anaphylaxis were recognized and treated with epinephrine. Fewer than half of patients were referred to allergists. There is still a need to increase education and awareness about food-induced anaphylaxis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Psychotic-like cognitive biases in borderline personality disorder.
Whereas a large body of research has linked borderline personality disorder (BPD) with affective rather than psychotic disorders, BPD patients frequently display psychotic and psychosis-prone symptoms, respectively. The present study investigated whether cognitive biases implicated in the pathogenesis of psychotic symptoms, especially delusions, are also evident in BPD. A total of 20 patients diagnosed with BPD and 20 healthy controls were administered tasks measuring neuropsychological deficits (psychomotor speed, executive functioning) and cognitive biases (e.g., one-sided reasoning, jumping to conclusions, problems with intentionalizing). Whereas BPD patients performed similar to controls on standard neuropsychological tests, they showed markedly increased scores on four out of five subscales of the Cognitive Biases Questionnaire for Psychosis (CBQp) and displayed a one-sided attributional style on the revised Internal, Personal and Situational Attributions Questionnaire (IPSAQ-R) with a marked tendency to attribute events to themselves. The study awaits replication with larger samples, but we tentatively suggest that the investigation of psychosis-related cognitive biases may prove useful for the understanding and treatment of BPD. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Studywise minimization: a treatment allocation method that improves balance among treatment groups and makes allocation unpredictable.
In randomized controlled trials with many potential prognostic factors, serious imbalance among treatment groups regarding these factors can occur. Minimization methods can improve balance but increase the possibility of selection bias. We described and evaluated the performance of a new method of treatment allocation, called studywise minimization, that can avoid imbalance by chance and reduce selection bias. The studywise minimization algorithm consists of three steps: (1) calculate the imbalance for all possible allocations, (2) list all allocations with minimum imbalance, and (3) randomly select one of the allocations with minimum imbalance. We carried out a simulation study to compare the performance of studywise minimization with three other allocation methods: randomization, biased-coin minimization, and deterministic minimization. Performance was measured, calculating maximal and average imbalance as a percentage of the group size. Independent of trial size and number of prognostic factors, the risk of serious imbalance was the highest in randomization and absent in studywise minimization. The largest differences among the allocation methods regarding the risk of imbalance were found in small trials. Studywise minimization is particularly useful in small trials, where it eliminates the risk of serious imbalances without generating the occurrence of selection bias. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Morphological heterogeneity of secretory granules of rat Clara cells: an immunocytochemical study.
The secretory granules of rat bronchiolar Clara cells were classified into different types by their ultrastructural appearances followed by immunocytochemistry using anti-rat 10 kDa Clara cell-specific protein (10 kDa CCSP) antibody. One predominant type was the oval to round granule (type A granule), of which the matrix was composed of a map-like mixture of electron-dense and less electron-dense material. Another predominant type was the rod-shaped granule (type B granule). The content of type B granules varied from a finely fibrillar (type B1 granule) to an electron-dense, rod-like (type B3 granule) structure. Various intermediate types (type B2 granule) between type B1 and B3 granules were also found. Small cytoplasmic vesicles were found occasionally in close proximity to type B2 or B3 granule. Another type of granule (type C granule) was large, up to 8 microns in diameter, and contained a moderately electron-dense amorphous matrix. Both type A and C granules stained at a similar density with the antibody. The nascent form of type A granules, which was found in the vicinity to the trans face of the Golgi apparatus, was also labeled. On the other hand, the labeling density of type B granules varied: type B1 granules were almost devoid of immunolabeling, whereas type B3 granules were intensely labeled. Type B2 granules stained with the antibody; however, the labeling density was less than that of type B3 granules. The small cytoplasmic vesicles of type B2 granules were labeled.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Ex vivo lung evaluation and reconditioning.
Only about 15% of the potential candidates for lung donation are considered suitable for transplantation. A new method for ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) has been developed and can be used for evaluation and reconditioning of "marginal" and unacceptable lungs. This is a report of functional evaluation experience with ex vivo perfusion of twelve donor lungs deemed unacceptable in São Paulo, Brazil. After harvesting, the lungs are perfused ex vivo with Steen Solution, an extra-cellular solution with high colloid osmotic pressure. A membrane oxygenator connected to the circuit receives gas from a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide and maintains a normal mixed venous blood gas level in the perfusate. The lungs are gradually rewarmed, reperfused and ventilated. They are evaluated through analyses of oxygenation capacity, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), lung compliance (LC). The arterial oxygen pressure (with inspired oxygen fractions of 100%) increased from a mean of 193.3 mmHg in the organ donor at the referring hospital to a mean of 495.3 mmHg during the ex vivo evaluation. After 1 hour of EVLP, mean PVR was 737.3 dynes/sec/cm5, and mean LC was 42.2 ml/cmH2O. The ex vivo evaluation model can improve oxygenation capacity of "marginal" lungs rejected for transplantation. It has a great potential to increase lung donor availability and, possibly, to reduce the waiting time on the list. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Medulloblastoma: Clinical presentation.
Medulloblastomas present generally a-specifically as a fast-evolving posterior fossa tumor. Medical literature is poor concerning clinical features of medulloblastomas and their potential significance. In the present study, we reviewed 91 pediatric observations of medulloblastomas treated in Lille between 1997 and 2017. Clinical and epidemiological variables were collected and intercorrelated. They were also compared with anatomical and pathological findings, and outcome, with the aim of defining clinical-pathological entities. We also compared the group with 32 cases of posterior fossa ependymoma and 130 cases of cerebellar astrocytoma treated during the same period. We found that in medulloblastomas, the M/F ratio was higher and diagnostic delay was shorter than in astrocytomas. Also, the mean age was older than in ependymomas. Intracranial hypertension was constant; we further observed that altered general status was common (16.5%) and correlated with a metastatic tumor. We delineated two clusters: the "nodular" cluster, which associates young age, cerebello-pontine angle tumor, herniation, desmoplastic tumor, and tumor predisposition syndrome; and the "metastatic" cluster, which associates altered status, initial metastases, hydrocephalus, and diagnostic delay. Meticulous collection of clinical data at the initial phase is integral part of the oncological evaluation, with a search for genetic and prognostic risk factors, which then permits us to define clinical-pathological entities. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Efficacy of Duet dual-action adulticide against caged Aedes albopictus with the use of an ultra-low volume cold aerosol sprayer.
Duet was field evaluated against caged Aedes albopictus, with the use of a truck-mounted ultra-low volume (ULV) cold aerosol sprayer at the rate of 90.6 ml/ha. Cages were placed in 3 rows stationed 30.5, 61.0, and 91.5 m downwind of the spray vehicle. Initial knockdown was >99% with mortality ranging between 95.8% and 98.0% across the distances. Volume median diameter (VMD) and droplet density were slightly reduced (16.4% and 18.6%, respectively) by distance. Reduction in VMD and droplet density, however, did not reduce mortality. The ULV application of Duet is an effective adulticide against Ae. albopictus and may be a useful tool for use in mosquito abatement programs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Biology of LPA in health and disease.
The functions of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) can be broadly divided into two classes: (1) physiological and (2) pathological roles. The role of LPA in embryonic development can be seen as early as oocyte formation. It continues in postnatal homeostasis, through its ability to impart a level of protection from both stress and local injury, by regulating cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and the reorganization of cytoskeletal fibers. LPA may function as a double-edged sword. While it helps maintain homeostasis against stress and insult, it may also augment the development and spread of pathological processes, including cancers. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hydrophobins contribute to root colonization and stress responses in the rhizosphere-competent insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana.
The hyd1/hyd2 hydrophobins are important constituents of the conidial cell wall of the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. This fungus can also form intimate associations with several plant species. Here, we show that inactivation of two Class I hydrophobin genes, hyd1 or hyd2, significantly decreases the interaction of B. bassiana with bean roots. Curiously, the ∆hyd1/∆hyd2 double mutant was less impaired in root association than Δhyd1 or Δhyd2. Loss of hyd genes affected growth rate, conidiation ability and oosporein production. Expression patterns for genes involved in conidiation, cell wall integrity, insect virulence, signal transduction, adhesion, hydrophobicity and oosporein production were screened in the deletion mutants grown in different conditions. Repression of the major MAP-Kinase signal transduction pathways (Slt2 MAPK pathway) was observed that was more pronounced in the single versus double hyd mutants under certain conditions. The ∆hyd1/∆hyd2 double mutant showed up-regulation of the Hog1 MAPK and the Msn2 transcription factor under certain conditions when compared to the wild-type or single hyd mutants. The expression of the bad2 adhesin and the oosporein polyketide synthase 9 gene was severely reduced in all of the mutants. On the other hand, fewer changes were observed in the expression of key conidiation and cell wall integrity genes in hyd mutants compared to wild-type. Taken together, the data from this study indicated pleiotropic consequences of deletion of hyd1 and hyd2 on signalling and stress pathways as well as the ability of the fungus to form stable associations with plant roots. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
(IN)-efficacy of salvage radiotherapy for rising PSA or clinically isolated local recurrence after radical prostatectomy.
To determine the efficacy of external beam radiotherapy (RT) as salvage treatment for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) failure or local recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Between 1991 and 1997, 98 patients underwent salvage RT to the prostatic bed at the Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre for PSA failure or local recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Thirty-six patients were treated for persistently detectable postoperative PSA levels (Group A), 26 for a delayed PSA rise (Group B), and 36 for palpable and/or biopsy-proven local recurrence (Group C). None had clinically apparent distant metastasis at the time of salvage RT. Freedom from PSA failure was defined as the maintenance of PSA <or=0.2 ng/mL. Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors predictive of relapse. The median follow-up from radical prostatectomy and RT was 5.11 and 4.21 years for Group A, 5.31 and 3.32 years for Group B, and 7.85 and 3.95 years for Group C, respectively. The initial PSA response rate was encouraging at a range of 86-94%. The complete PSA response rate (PSA <or=0.2 ng/mL) was lower, however and ranged from 53% to 62%. The actuarial relapse-free rate, including freedom from PSA failure, at 4 years was 26%, 39%, and 14% for Groups A, B, and C, respectively. At the time of the last follow-up, 49, 20, and 1 patient had PSA failure alone, distant metastasis, and local progression, respectively. The actuarial survival rate at 4 years was 89%, 95%, and 94% for Groups A, B, and C, respectively. On Cox regression analysis, the significant predictors for relapse were PSA level before salvage RT and Gleason score for Group A, none for Group B, and margin status for Group C. The efficacy of salvage RT for PSA failure or local recurrence after RT was limited, reflected by very low relapse-free rates. Salvage RT appeared more efficacious for patients with a delayed PSA rise than for those with either persistently detectable postoperative PSA levels or clinically palpable local recurrence. Other strategies such as a combination of salvage RT and hormonal therapy need to be explored. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The critical relationship of antibiotic dose and bacterial contamination in experimental infection.
Even though the usefulness of prophylactic antimicrobial administration for potentially contaminated operations is widely accepted, infection continues to occur in a finite number of cases. This study examined whether potential infection due to an increasing bacterial inoculum can be prevented or controlled by increasing antimicrobial doses. In an initial set of experiments, Sprague-Dawley rats were given various doses of cefazolin (15, 30, 60, 120 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, then serum and tissue levels were quantified. Serum and tissue drug concentrations correlated with the dose given. In another set of experiments, rats were given doses of either 0, 30 (standard dose), 60, or 120 mg/kg of cefazolin 30 min prior to subcutaneous inoculation of various doses of Staphylococcus aureus. After 6 days, inoculum sites were examined for abscess formation and size. At low levels of contamination, increasing in antibiotic dose to 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg, abscess formation was eliminated at 50, 80, and 92% of inoculum sites, respectively. At moderate levels of contamination, abscesses formed at all inoculum sites, but abscess size was significantly smaller as the dose increased. When a high inoculum of S. aureus was given, large doses of antibiotics provided no additional benefit. These data suggest that the risk of infection in this model of experimental infection is significantly related to the size of the bacterial inoculum. Increasing the dose of an effective antimicrobial increases drug concentration at the site of contamination and reduces the risk of infection. Administration of higher doses of prophylactic antimicrobials may be more effective when larger amounts of bacterial contamination are anticipated. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Genetic variability of interleukin-1 beta as prospective factor from developing post-traumatic stress disorder.
Individual susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is conditioned by genetic factors, and association between this disorder and polymorphisms of several genes have been shown. The aim of this study was to explore a potential association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the IL-1β gene (IL1B) and PTSD. In genomic DNA samples of PTSD-affected and healthy subjects, the rs16944, rs1143634, rs2853550, rs1143643, and rs1143633 SNPs of IL1B gene have been genotyped. The results obtained demonstrated that IL1B rs1143633*C and rs16944*A minor allele frequency were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Our results confirm that IL1B rs1143633 and rs16944 SNPs are negatively associated with PTSD which allows us to consider them as protective variants for PTSD. IL1B rs1143633*C and rs16944*A minor allele frequencies and carriage rates are significantly lower in the PTSD patients as compared to the controls. These results may provide a base to conclude that above-mentioned alleles can be protective against PTSD, and IL1B gene can be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of substrate features and mutagenesis of active site tyrosine residues on the reaction course catalysed by Trypanosoma brucei sterol C-24-methyltransferase.
TbSMT [Trypanosoma brucei 24-SMT (sterol C-24-methyltransferase)] synthesizes an unconventional 24-alkyl sterol product set consisting of Δ24(25)-, Δ24(28)- and Δ25(27)-olefins. The C-methylation reaction requires Si(β)-face C-24-methyl addition coupled to reversible migration of positive charge from C-24 to C-25. The hydride shifts responsible for charge migration in formation of multiple ergostane olefin isomers catalysed by TbSMT were examined by incubation of a series of sterol acceptors paired with AdoMet (S-adenosyl-L-methionine). Results obtained with zymosterol compared with the corresponding 24-2H and 27-13C derivatives revealed isotopic-sensitive branching in the hydride transfer reaction on the path to form a 24-methyl-Δ24(25)-olefin product (kinetic isotope effect, kH/kD=1.20), and stereospecific CH3→CH2 elimination at the C28 branch and C27 cis-terminal methyl to form Δ24(28) and Δ25(27) products respectively. Cholesta-5,7,22,24-tetraenol converted into ergosta-5,7,22,24(28)-tetraenol and 24β-hydroxy ergosta-5,7,23-trienol (new compound), whereas ergosta-5,24-dienol converted into 24-dimethyl ergosta-5,25(27)-dienol and cholesta-5,7,24-trienol converted into ergosta-5,7,25(27)trienol, ergosta-5,7,24(28)-trienol, ergosta-5,7,24-trienol and 24 dimethyl ergosta-5,7,25(27)-trienol. We made use of our prior research and molecular modelling of 24-SMT to identify contact amino acids that might affect catalysis. Conserved tyrosine residues at positions 66, 177 and 208 in TbSMT were replaced with phenylalanine residues. The substitutions generated variable loss of activity during the course of the first C-1-transfer reaction, which differs from the corresponding Erg6p mutants that afforded a gain in C-2-transfer activity. The results show that differences exist among 24-SMTs in control of C-1- and C-2-transfer activities by interactions of intermediate and aromatic residues in the activated complex and provide an opportunity for rational drug design of a parasite enzyme not synthesized by the human host. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Intracellular Pathogen Infections and Immune Response in Autism.
Perinatal exposure to infections during critical developmental periods is a promising area of study in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Epidemiological data has highlighted this relationship, pointing out significant correlations between perinatal exposure to pathogens and the occurrence of ASD. The aim of this review is to critically examine the present state of the art on intracellular pathogenic infection during pregnancy and postnatally, pointing out possible correlations with the development of ASD. We reviewed and collected studies concerning potential associations between intracellular pathogens like viral, bacterial, and parasite infection and the risk of ASD. We included 14 publications, considering bacterial and/or viral infection that demonstrated the potential to trigger ASD. Nine case-control studies were included and 5 of them reported an association between infections and ASD. One of the 2 cohorts investigated demonstrated that maternal infection increased the risk of ASD in the offspring. Three cross-sectional studies demonstrated that ASD patients presented with chronic infections and active neuroinflammatory processes. Most of the reports suggest inflammatory response as a common factor, and interleukin 6 appears to be a key-player in this process. The immune responses generated by organisms that cause perinatal maternal infection, i.e., bacteria, viruses, or parasites, have been associated with the development of autism in offspring. Physiological changes transmitted from the mother during chronic or acute inflammation should be further investigated so that modulatory preventive measures can be developed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Raj Sookye: 1943-2016.
Retired ophthalmic theatre nurse Raj Sookye died in February aged 72, following a short illness. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Optical properties of porcine dermis in the mid-infrared absorption band of glucose.
The optical properties of skin in the mid-infrared range are not known, despite their importance for e.g. non-invasive glucose monitoring. In this paper, transmission, absorption, scattering, and reduced scattering coefficients are quantified using a custom-built goniometer based on a quantum cascade laser operated at the glucose absorption band at a wavelength of around 9.7 μm. The measurements show a strong dominance of absorption and moderate contributions from scattering. The scattered radiation is dominated by single scattering events in the forward direction (g = 0.967) within the range of the investigated dermis layer thicknesses of up to 50 μm, whereby the fraction of multiple scattering is expected to increase with the layer thickness. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Polymorphisms in genes encoding drug metabolizing enzymes and their influence on the outcome of children with neuroblastoma.
Although several studies have shown that drug metabolizing enzyme gene polymorphisms may influence the impact of therapy in childhood leukemia, no comprehensive investigations have been carried out in children with neuroblastoma. The aim of this study was to identify polymorphisms in the genes encoding phase I and II drug metabolizing enzymes associated with the risk of relapse or death in a cohort of 209 children with neuroblastoma. Real-time PCR allelic discrimination was used to characterize the presence of polymorphisms in DNA from children with neuroblastoma. Three broad gene categories were examined: cytochrome P450, glutathione-S-transferase and N-acetyltransferase. Cumulative event-free survival was computed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The influence of selected factors on event-free survival was tested using the Cox proportional hazards model. As previously reported, amplification of MYCN (hazards ratio=4.25, 95% confidence interval=2.76-6.56, P<0.001), unfavorable stage (hazard ratio=4.14, 95% confidence interval=2.3-7.47, P<0.001) or age more than 1 year at diagnosis (hazard ratio=1.86, 95% confidence interval=1.19-2.92, P=0.007) were all associated with an increased risk of relapse or death. Carriers of a NAT1*11 allele variant were significantly less likely to relapse or die compared with those with NAT1*10 or other NAT1 allele variants (P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, children who were GSTM1 null were more likely to relapse or die during follow-up after adjusting for MYCN amplification, stage and age at diagnosis (hazard ratio=1.6, 95% confidence interval=1.02-2.9, P=0.04). These observations suggest that the NAT1*11 variant and the GSTM1 wild-type genotype contribute to a more favorable outcome in patients treated for neuroblastoma and are the first to demonstrate a relationship between NAT1 and GSTM1 genotypes in childhood neuroblastoma. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Investigation and diagnosis of an immediate allergy to amide local anaesthetic in a paediatric dental patient.
Local anaesthetics remain the most common prescription medication utilized in dental practise. Adverse reactions following administration of local anaesthetic are somewhat common and are frequently reported as 'allergies'. However, of these events, it is estimated that only 1% are confirmed allergies to the local anaesthetic. This case report presents the process of referral for investigation and testing to confirm an amide local anaesthetic allergy in a paediatric patient. Testing for a safe alternative was also completed to identify local anaesthetic agents also of the amide variety that could be utilized safely on this individual. Following skin testing of alternative agents, intraoral challenges were completed. Finally, restorative dental treatment was provided safely for the patient with the use of an alternative amide local anaesthetic on a number of occasions with no further adverse outcomes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
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