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Metabonomic study on women of reproductive age treated with nutritional intervention: screening potential biomarkers related to neural tube defects occurrence.
Nutritional intervention is effective in reducing the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). To determine the effects of nutritional supplementation on human metabolism, a metabonomic study was carried out on 96 women of reproductive age. Subjects with nutritional intervention were given fortified wheat flour (containing folic acid, vitamin B₁, vitamin B₂, ferric sodium edetate and zinc oxide) for 8 months. Serum metabolic fingerprinting was detected via ultraperformance liquid chromatography in tandem with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF MS), and data acquired was processed by multivariate statistical analysis. The result revealed a significant difference between the control and intervention group. Twenty potential biomarkers, including fructose 6-phosphate, sphingosine 1-phosphate, docosahexaenoic acid and hexadecanoic acid, were located and identified by the accurate mass measurement of TOF MS. These compounds are believed to be functionally related to anti-oxidative competence in vivo. In conclusion, metabonomics study is a valuable approach in exploring the effect mechanism of nutritional intervention on NTD prevention.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Bone density and microarchitecture in hepatitis C and HIV-coinfected postmenopausal minority women.
We found that HIV+/HCV+ women had 7-8% lower areal bone mineral density (aBMD) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the spine, hip, and radius (p < 0.01) and 5-7% lower volumetric BMD (vBMD) by central quantitative computed tomography (cQCT) at the spine and hip (p < 0.05). These data suggest that true deficits in vBMD may contribute to bone fragility and excess fractures reported in HIV+/HCV+ women. aBMD by DXA is lower in persons coinfected with HIV and HCV (HIV+/HCV+) than with HIV monoinfection (HIV+). However, weight is often also lower with HCV infection, and measurement of aBMD by DXA can be confounded by adiposity; we aimed to determine whether true vBMD is also lower in HIV+/HCV+ coinfection. We measured aBMD of the lumbar spine (LS), total hip (TH), femoral neck (FN), and ultradistal radius (UDR) by DXA and vBMD of the spine and hip by cQCT and of the distal radius and tibia by high-resolution peripheral QCT (HRpQCT) in 37 HIV+/HCV+ and 119 HIV+ postmenopausal women. Groups were compared using Student's t tests with covariate adjustment by multiple regression analysis. HIV+/HCV+ and HIV+ women were of similar age and race/ethnicity. HIV+/HCV+ women had lower body mass index (BMI) and trunk fat and were more likely to smoke and less likely to have a history of AIDS. In HIV+/HCV+ women, aBMD by DXA was 7-8% lower at the LS, TH, and UDR (p < 0.01). Similarly, vBMD by cQCT was 5-7% lower at the LS and TH (p < 0.05). Between-group differences in LS aBMD and vBMD remained significant after adjustment for BMI, smoking, and AIDS history. Tibial total vBMD by HRpQCT was 10% lower in HIV+/HCV+ women. HIV+/HCV+ postmenopausal women had significantly lower spine aBMD and vBMD. These deficits in vBMD may contribute to bone fragility and excess fractures reported in HIV+/HCV+ women.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Septin localization across kingdoms: three themes with variations.
Septins are GTPases that form filaments in fungi and animals. In addition to their original role in cell division, septins have been shown to have roles in coordinating nuclear division, membrane trafficking and organizing the cytoskeleton. Many recent studies have examined subcellular localization of septins in a wide range of fungi and animals. Septin localization shows three patterns, which generally correspond to function across kingdoms. Septins that localize to projections shape and compartmentalize emerging growth. Septins that localize to partitions compartmentalize pre-existing cellular material. Septins that localize to the whole cell are involved in membrane trafficking and organizing the cytoskeleton and are most often in animals. The difference in localization pattern frequency between kingdoms will probably disappear as more septins are examined in diverse organisms and tissues.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Up-regulation of VEGF expression and related neo-angiogenesis in childhood high-grade gliomas: implications for anti-angiogenic anti-neoplastic therapy.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a homodimeric, disulfide-linked glycoprotein which exhibits endothelial cell-specific mitogenic properties. VEGF is also a potent inducer of vascular permeability. There is considerable experimental evidence that VEGF isoforms are strongly involved in provoking neoangiogenesis of neoplastic cells and, consequently, the growth and progression of primary neoplasms (i.e., astrocytic gliomas), including the formation of an invasive and metastatic immunophenotype (IP). During this immunohistochemical study, the presence and tissue localization of VEGF121 was observed in anaplastic, high-grade astrocytomas (AAs) and in glioblastoma multiforme (GBMs) employing the specific monoclonal antibody against it. A sensitive, four-step, alkaline phosphatase-conjugated antigen detection technique was used. The immunoreactivity demonstrated a cytoplasmic, cell surface and extracellular matrix localization pattern in more than 90% of the tumor cells, with high intensity immunoreactivity (++++, A,B) in every high-grade astrocytic glioma tissue. VEGF121 expression was identified mostly within the cytoplasm of tumor cells, suggesting an embryonic, undifferentiated and more malignant cellular IP of high-grade gliomas. Tumor-related neo-angiogenesis and endothelial cell proliferation were also present. The great majority of high-grade astrocytic gliomas are incurable with the three classic therapeutic modalities. In the future, the development of targeted anti-neoplastic treatment strategies, adapted to individual patients, will require molecular identification of the different classes of neoplasm (including subtypes of astrocytomas) according to their stages, biology, prognosis and therapeutic options.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Outstanding spin-orbit-activated interchannel coupling in the Cs and Ba 3d photoemission.
Partial 3d5/2 photoionization cross sections of atomic Cs and Ba as well as the asymmetry parameter beta of the angular distribution of the Cs 3d5/2 photoelectrons were investigated near the threshold of the 3d3/2 channel at about 750 eV and 800 eV, respectively. Strong electron correlations, in particular, the spin-orbit activated interchannel coupling between the 3d5/2 and 3d3/2 channels, govern the observed spectra. The most striking effect was found for beta5/2 of Cs with a dramatic increase from beta=1.0 to beta=1.5 in the energy region where the mixing between both channels causes a pronounced minimum in the partial 3d5/2 cross section. This result indicates the decisive influence of the interference term on the asymmetry parameter beta with its dependence on the phase difference between the outgoing p and f waves.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Metal complexes with tropolones.
A review of the analytical applications of tropolone and its derivatives.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Two outbreaks of trichinosis caused by horsemeat in France in 1985.
Two outbreaks of trichinosis occurred in France in August and October of 1985 and 1,073 cases in all were identified. In the first outbreak, two localities were involved: the town of Melun and the 14th district of Paris. To determine the origin of the contamination, three case-control studies were carried out: among patients' families, among the populations of these two areas, and among the inmates in the prison of Melun. In the second outbreak, cases again occurred in Paris but in a different district (the 12th), in the city's suburbs, and in other towns scattered throughout France. Although no parasites were found in any of the meat examined in either outbreak, results of the study indicate that infection was due to horsemeat consumption and led to the incrimination of two carcasses, one imported from a slaughterhouse in the United States and the other from West Germany. These findings led the French Ministry of Agriculture to order the inspection for trichinosis of all meat from horses slaughtered both in France and in countries exporting horsemeat to France.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Psychotic experiences and subjective cognitive complaints among 224 842 people in 48 low- and middle-income countries.
Cognitive deficits are an important factor in the pathogenesis of psychosis. Subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) are often considered to be a precursor of objective cognitive deficits, but there are no studies specifically on SCC and psychotic experiences (PE). Thus, we assessed the association between SCC and PE using data from 48 low- and middle-income countries. Community-based cross-sectional data of the World Health Survey were analysed. Two questions on subjective memory and learning complaints in the past 30 days were used to create a SCC scale ranging from 0 to 10 with higher scores representing more severe SCC. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to identify past 12-month PE. Multivariable logistic regression and mediation analyses were performed. The final sample consisted of 224 842 adults aged ⩾18 years [mean (SD) age 38.3 (16.0) years; 49.3% males]. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, a one-unit increase in the SCC scale was associated with a 1.17 (95% CI 1.16-1.18) times higher odds for PE in the overall sample, with this association being more pronounced in younger individuals: age 18-44 years OR = 1.19 (95% CI 1.17-1.20); 45-64 years OR = 1.15 (95% CI 1.12-1.17); ⩾65 years OR = 1.14 (95% CI 1.09-1.19). Collectively, other mental health conditions (perceived stress, depression, anxiety, sleep problems) explained 43.4% of this association, and chronic physical conditions partially explained the association but to a lesser extent (11.8%). SCC were associated with PE. Future longitudinal studies are needed to understand temporal associations and causal inferences, while the utility of SCC as a risk marker for psychosis especially for young adults should be scrutinised.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Superluminal Raman laser with enhanced cavity length sensitivity.
We demonstrate experimentally a superluminal ring laser based on optically pumped Raman gain, and a self-pumped Raman depletion for producing anomalous dispersion, employing two isotopes of rubidium. By fitting the experiment data with the theoretical model, we infer that the spectral sensitivity of the superluminal Raman laser to cavity length change is enhanced by a factor of more than a thousand, compared to a conventional laser.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Border effect and physiological characteristics of broomcorn millet under film mulching on ridge-furrow for harvesting rainwater model in the semi-arid region of Northern Shaanxi, China].
To explore the border effect and physiological characteristic of broomcorn millet growing under different film mulching on ridge-furrow for harvesting rainwater models in the semi-arid region of Northern Shaanxi, China, a three-year field experiment was conducted with four different widths of ridge and furrow, and the bare land flat sowing as the control (NM). The width of ridge and furrow varied as ridge: furrow = 40 cm: 40 cm (P40), 60 cm: 60 cm (P60), 80 cm: 80 cm (P80), and 100 cm:100 cm (P100). The results showed that the wider the width of furrow and ridge was, the stronger the border advantage and the border effect index of the yield were. With the increase in width of furrow and ridge, the yield increasing effect of side rows increased with the maximum of 207.7%, and the yield increasing effect of middle rows decreased with the minimum of 10.3%. P60 reached the highest yield within three years. The yield contribution rate of side rows was higher than that of middle rows (P < 0.05). The chlorophyll contents, Ch1 a/Ch1 b, and photosynthetic rate of side rows were higher than those of middle rows among the different harvesting rainwater models. The wider the width of furrow and ridge was, the stronger the photosynthetic capacity of side rows was, and the weaker the photosynthetic capacity of middle rows was. The optimal type of ridge and furrow was P60 in the semi-arid region of Northern Shaanxi.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Effects of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and adjuvant-induced inflammation on desensitization to and metabolism of substance P in the mouse spinal cord.
We have previously shown that the caudally directed biting and scratching response to repeated intrathecal (i.t.) injections of substance P (SP) is decreased by the third injection of SP and that this apparent desensitization to SP is less pronounced in mice pretreated with Freund's adjuvant. This study was designed to study the mechanism of this desensitization to SP and to examine the effect of lysergic acid diethylamide tartrate (LSD) on desensitization. Our results indicate that while 25 micrograms of LSD/kg body weight i.p. in naive mice had no effect on the response to a single injection of SP, LSD decreased the development of desensitization to SP-induced behaviors. In contrast, identical injections of LSD in adjuvant-pretreated mice not only failed to prevent desensitization but enhanced the degree of apparent desensitization to SP. Tolerance developed to the effects of LSD on desensitization to SP-induced behaviors in both adjuvant- and saline-pretreated mice. When injected i.t. with SP, LSD failed to alter the degree of desensitization to SP-induced behaviors, suggesting that the effect of LSD is not produced at the spinal cord level. Separation and quantification of SP and its metabolites in the spinal cord using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques indicated that either a single injection of LSD or pretreatment with Freund's adjuvant produced similar patterns of changes in the concentrations of SP-related peptides in mouse spinal cord.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Therapeutic targeting of trained immunity.
Immunotherapy is revolutionizing the treatment of diseases in which dysregulated immune responses have an important role. However, most of the immunotherapy strategies currently being developed engage the adaptive immune system. In the past decade, both myeloid (monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells) and lymphoid (natural killer cells and innate lymphoid cells) cell populations of the innate immune system have been shown to display long-term changes in their functional programme through metabolic and epigenetic programming. Such reprogramming causes these cells to be either hyperresponsive or hyporesponsive, resulting in a changed immune response to secondary stimuli. This de facto innate immune memory, which has been termed 'trained immunity', provides a powerful 'targeting framework' to regulate the delicate balance of immune homeostasis, priming, training and tolerance. In this Opinion article, we set out our vision of how to target innate immune cells and regulate trained immunity to achieve long-term therapeutic benefits in a range of immune-related diseases. These include conditions characterized by excessive trained immunity, such as inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, allergies and cardiovascular disease and conditions driven by defective trained immunity, such as cancer and certain infections.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Interfacial catalysis by phospholipase A2: monomeric enzyme is fully catalytically active at the bilayer interface.
Interfacial catalysis in the scooting mode by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from pancreas and venoms (18 different preparations) was examined on vesicles of 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphomethanol under the conditions where the rates of transbilayer and intervesicle exchanges of the enzyme, substrate, and the products of hydrolysis were negligible on the time scale (less than 30 min) on which all the substrate molecules on the outer monolayer of the target vesicles were hydrolyzed. The reaction progress curves for all PLA2s exhibited no latency period (less than 3 s). When the vesicle to PLA2 ratio in the reaction mixture was high so that according to the Poissonian distribution model at most one enzyme was bound to a vesicle, the extent of hydrolysis increased linearly with the amount of enzyme in the reaction mixture. However, the extent of hydrolysis per enzyme, NS, remained the same for all PLA2s, and it corresponded to the size of the target vesicles determined by independent methods. Similarly, the initial rate of hydrolysis increased linearly with the enzyme concentration, and the slope of the log-log plot was one under the conditions of one or more enzyme per vesicle. Such observations showed that monomeric PLA2 is fully catalytically active at the interface. This conclusion was supported by the absence of intermolecular resonance energy transfer from tryptophan-3 donor in the native PLA2 to the anthraniloyl acceptor in An87-PLA2, the catalytically active derivative of PLA2 with an anthraniloyl fluorophore on lysine 87. In this system, intermolecular resonance energy transfer was seen only when the donor-acceptor molecules were "crowded" at a high surface density with a relatively low lipid to protein mole ratio. On the basis of these results, it was concluded that secretory PLA2s from venoms and pancreas are fully catalytically active as monomers. Additional studies reported here showed that acylation of PLA2 was not necessary for catalysis or binding to the interface and that the binding of the substrate to the active site of PLA2 was not necessary for the binding of the enzyme to the interface.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Relation of changes in amount and type of dietary fat to fecapentaenes in premenopausal women.
Correlation studies suggest that fecal mutagenicity is increased in groups eating high-fat diets, the same groups who are often found to have high colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. The fecapentaenes are the best characterized class of fecal mutagens, but the relationship of dietary fat intake to the excretion of these potent genotoxins is unknown. We studied the effect of changes in amount and type of dietary fat on fecapentaene levels in 31 premenopausal women 20-40 years of age who participated in a controlled feeding study. After a pre-diet free-living period lasting 1 menstrual cycle, women were placed on a high-fat (40% energy from fat) diet for 4 menstrual cycles and then switched to a low-fat (20% energy from fat) diet for an additional 4 menstrual cycles. One-half the subjects were maintained throughout the study at a ratio of polyunsaturated-to-saturated fatty acids (P/S ratio) of 1.0, the other half at 0.3; body weight was constant. All meals during the controlled diet periods were prepared at the Human Study Facility of the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center. Fecapentaene and fecapentaene precursor levels were measured in acetone extracts from 3-day pooled stool samples collected during the study. No differences in fecapentaene or precursor levels were observed between the high- and low-fat diets at either P/S ratio. Fecapentaene and precursor levels were higher while on controlled diets than during the pre-diet free-living period, and levels declined again in the post-diet free-living period. We conclude that dietary fat has no significant effect on fecapentaene or precursor levels in acetone extracts of stool in premenopausal women. The effect of other dietary or non-dietary factors on fecapentaenes remains unknown.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Bleb-like and fingerprint dystrophies of the cornea].
Within the past two years we have seen the "bleb-like dystrophy" of Bron and Brown in 30 patients. It is characterized by groups of subepithelial excrescences measuring 15-100 microms. These pathologic changes can only be discerned biomicroscopically by retro-illumination; they do not result in any opacification of the corneal epithelium or stroma. In 21 cases a concomitant Fingerprint dystrophy of the cornea (Guerry) was observed. Both types of dystrophy were prevalent in female patients and in most cases occurred bilaterally. The relatively high incidence of recurrent erosions as well as the pathologic structure of the subepithelial membrane documented in the Fingerprint dystrophy points to a potential weakness of the corneal epithelium in these cases. This fact should be borne in mind especially when fiting contact lenses.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Laparoscopic tumor nephrectomy].
Initially, laparoscopic surgery in urology was restricted to the treatment of benign diseases, whereas its role in the management of malignant disease was restricted to purely diagnostic procedures. Only recently has laparoscopy been introduced for the treatment of low stage renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and the data on both surgical efficiency and oncologic efficacy are very promising. Therefore, we present our experience with laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and data from literature. The technique of the transperitoneal approach is described in detail. Retroperitoneoscopy is a good alternative, however. Intact removal of the specimen within an organ bag to avoid tumor spillage is an important detail of our technique. Our experience amounts to radical nephrectomy in 121 patients. The indication was clinical stage T1-T2. Mean operative time and blood loss was 2.4 h and 154 ml, respectively. The rate of minor or major complications was 5% and 4%, respectively. There was no conversion to open surgery in any patient. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.1 days. Data on tumor control are available for 73 patients with a mean follow-up of 13.3 months. There was no recurrence within this period. Radical nephrectomy for low-stage RCC is associated with low morbidity and great surgical efficiency. The rates for local recurrences and metastases are low, tumor-specific survival is high. However, there is still a lack of long-term data on large series of patients. Despite this fact, laparoscopy is already widely accepted for this indication, and it is quite likely that it will become the standard treatment.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: from lipid profile to treatment.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excess lipid accumulation in the liver. Although the majority of NAFLD is benign simple steatosis, a subset of NAFLD includes nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which can progress to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. In both simple steatosis and steatohepatitis, triglyceride is well known as the major lipid that accumulates in the liver. However, we have little information on the other lipids that deposit in the liver. Thus, lipid profiling is necessary to understand the pathogenesis of NAFLD. In addition, these data provide further information on early detection of NASH and optimal treatment for NAFLD. Although plasma and hepatic lipid profiles are similar between simple steatosis and steatohepatitis, recent intensive researches demonstrate that free cholesterol, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), and phospholipid levels are altered in human NAFLD. In experimental models, liver injury is induced by free cholesterol accumulation and compositional changes of n-6/n-3 PUFAs and phospholipids. Therefore, these lipid levels are candidates to predict the progression to NASH. Lipid-lowering agents have potential to normalize these lipid levels. Currently, favorable results are obtained using statins, ezetimibe, and n-3 PUFAs in simple steatosis. But the effects of these agents for NASH are limited. These unsatisfactory results may partially depend on the study design because most studies are relatively short-term and small number of patients. Larger studies are necessary to determine the promising effects of lipid-lowering agents for NASH and its comorbidities.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Follicular large cell lymphoma: analysis and prognostic factors in 62 patients.
Sixty-two patients with follicular large cell lymphoma were treated between 1973 and 1981. The overall median survival was 78 months with a five-year survival of 62%. The complete remission rate was 76%, with a median relapse-free interval of 72 months for responders. Complete remission produced a significantly longer survival than partial response and failure. Patients who tolerated therapy with an intensive doxorubicin-containing regimen had a significantly longer relapse-free interval and survival. Patients with stage I-II disease treated with radiation therapy alone had a higher relapse rate than those treated with radiation and combination chemotherapy. The addition of radiation therapy to combination chemotherapy in stage III-IV disease decreased the incidence of relapse at irradiated sites, but did not translate into improved survival. Pretreatment prognostic factors associated with poor response were thrombocytosis and stage III-IV disease; those associated with shortened survival were thrombocytosis, elevated lactic dehydrogenase level, stage III-IV disease, and bulky abdominal disease. Follicular large cell lymphoma is an aggressive lymphoma. Treatment should be curative in intent, and should include intensive combination chemotherapy even in stage I-II disease. Knowledge of important prognostic factors can be useful for analysis of future trials and planning therapeutic strategies.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Gas phase study of the trans and gauche rotamers of 1,2-dicyanoethane, novel 1,2-dicyanodisilane and cyano(cyanomethyl)silane by ab initio and density functional methods.
The gauche and trans rotamers of 1,2-dicyanoethane, novel 1,2-dicyanodisilane and cyano(cyanomethyl)silane have been studied theoretically in the gas phase. The methods used are second order Møller-Plesset theory (MP2) and density functional theory (DFT). The basis set used is 6-311++G(d,p) for all atoms. B3LYP is the functional used for the DFT method and G2/MP2 calculation has also carried out using the MP2 optimised structure. All calculations have been done using Gaussian 03W. All structures have been fully optimised and the optimised geometries, dipole moments, moment of inertia and energies are reported. Energies of the optimised structures have been used to obtain the energy difference (DeltaE) between the trans and gauche rotamers. The optimised structures have been used for calculations of vibrational frequencies and these frequencies are reported with appropriate assignments. The computed parameters for 1,2-dicyanoethane compare satisfactorily with experimental literature values. However, the literature for 1,2-dicyanodisilane and cyano(cyanomethyl)silane, in terms of conformational studies, is limited and therefore the data of this work should also be appropriate for them. The results indicate that in general, the energy difference for these molecules is in the order 1,2-dicyanoethane>cyano(cyanomethyl)silane>1,2-dicyanodisilane.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Metabolic syndrome and carotid intima media thickness in the Health 2000 Survey.
Metabolic syndrome has been associated with increased carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of this study was to examine metabolic syndrome as a determinant of CIMT in men and women and to compare the Framingham risk score (FRS) and metabolic syndrome as risk factors for increased carotid atherosclerosis. The study population consisted of 1353 Finnish men and women aged 45 years and above who participated in Finnish population-based Health 2000 Survey. CIMT was used as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criterion was used to define the presence of metabolic syndrome. In multivariable models, metabolic syndrome was an independent determinant of CIMT in both sexes (p</=0.001 for both). When metabolic syndrome was included in the regression models along with its components, it was an independent determinant of CIMT in women but not in men. After dividing the population into risk categories according to FRS and the presence of metabolic syndrome, FRS predominantly determined CIMT regardless of the presence of metabolic syndrome in men. In women, however, CIMT was significantly higher in subjects with metabolic syndrome than in those without it, independently of the FRS. Metabolic syndrome is an independent determinant of CIMT in both sexes. In women but not in men, metabolic syndrome is associated with CIMT independently of its components. Metabolic syndrome provides additional information on a person's risk for early atherosclerosis beyond FRS in women but not in men.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Electroencephalography during on-the-road driving in older untreated insomnia patients and normal sleepers.
Insomniacs report decreased performance in daily routines, which may have detrimental consequences for car driving. We compared changes over time in driving performance (measured as Standard Deviation of Lateral Position - SDLP) and background EEG between 20 untreated insomnia patients (52-70 years old) and 21 normal sleepers (54-73 years old) during a 1h on-the-road driving test after a normal night of sleep, in the morning. SDLP did not differ between groups and increased slightly over time to similar degrees in both groups. EEG alpha and beta power were lower in insomniacs as compared to normal sleepers. Alpha and beta power slightly reduced during driving in normal sleepers but remained at a constant low level in insomniacs. Changes in EEG power and SDLP were not related. It is concluded that on-the-road driving performance does not differ between older insomniacs and older normal sleepers and that changes in spectral EEG measures of cortical arousal and in driving performance are not related.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Current state of pneumococcal vaccines.
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, and acute otitis media in children and adults worldwide. According to World Health Organization estimates, at least 1 million children under 5 years of age die each year from pneumococcal pneumonia. The emergence of resistant strains necessitates the development of an effective vaccine with a large serotype coverage. The 11 most common serotypes cause 72-83% of all serious pneumococcal diseases worldwide. Currently marketed 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine provides large serotype coverage and offers a less expensive option. However, it is efficacious only in adults but not in infants. Conjugate vaccines offer a solution by generating immunological memory already at early age. A recently licensed 7-valent conjugate vaccine is immunogenic and efficacious in infants. Its serotype coverage might be sufficient in Europe and North America, but not in Africa, Asia and Oceania. A need exists to develop pneumococcal vaccines with lower cost and larger serotype coverage. Several 11-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines are being evaluated in phase I-III trials. This study reviews the current state of pneumococcal problem and pneumococcal vaccines in clinical use.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Retrograde labeling of hypophysiotropic neurons by local injection of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) into the median eminence or peripheral administration of fluoro-gold.
The localization of neuronal perikarya which have axon terminals on capillaries of the external zone of the median eminence (hypophysiotropic neurons) has been determined in the rat after injection of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) directly into external zone of the median eminence or after peripheral injection of Fluoro-Gold. The retrogradely transported WGA and endogenous peptides (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, somatostatin, galanin, or neurotensin) have been detected by double-labeling immunocytochemical techniques (PAP or ABS) using contrasting chromogens. Retrograde labeling with Fluro-Gold has been combined with fluoroscence immunocuytochemistry, using Texas red as the second chromogen. A few examples of triple labeling (Fluoro-Gold and two endogenous peptides) are also demonstrated. Detailed descriptions of double-labeling techniques, including preparation and administration of the tracers and simultaneous detection of the retrograde tracers and endogenous peptides, are presented.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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A longitudinal study of electrode impedance, the electrically evoked compound action potential, and behavioral measures in nucleus 24 cochlear implant users.
The primary goal of this study was to examine changes that may occur in electrode impedance, electrically evoked compound action potential (EAP) threshold and slope of the EAP growth function, and behavioral measures of threshold T-level) and maximum comfort (C-level) over time in both adult and child cochlear implant users. Secondary goals were to determine whether changes in these measures are consistent between children and adults, and to determine whether behavioral measures (MAP T- and C-levels) and electrophysiologic measures (EAP thresholds) exhibit the same trends over time. Thirty-five children and 33 adults implanted with the Nucleus CI24M between November 1996 and August 1999 participated in this study. Subjects were included in this study if 1) they had used their implant for at least 1 yr after device connection, and 2) they had participated in the necessary data collection at a minimum number of the time intervals assessed in this study. EAP threshold, slope of the EAP growth function, and common ground electrode impedance measures were collected intraoperatively, at initial stimulation, and at several subsequent visits up to 2 yr post initial stimulation. MAP T- an d C-levels weremeasured at initial stimulation and at the same time intervals as described above. Changes in electrode impedance, EAP thresholds, and slope of the EAP growth function from measures made intraoperatively, at initial stimulation, and at 1 to 2 mo post initial stimulation were similar in both children and adults. Beyond the 1- to 2-mo visit, children exhibited significant increases in electrode impedance, EAP thresholds, slope, and MAP T-levels, whereas these samemeasures in adults remained relatively stable. EAP thresholds in children stabilized by the 3- to 8-mo visit, and electrode impedance stabilized by the 6- to 8-mo visit, while slope of the EAP growth function, MAP T-levels,and MAP C-levels werestable by 1 yr post initial stimulation. C-levels in adults increased up to 1 yr post initial stimulation; however, the amount of increase was much smaller than that seen in children. In both children and adults, longitudinal trends in EAP thresholds mirrored T-level more closely than C-level. The results of this study suggest that peripheral changes occur in many children that do not generally occur in adults within the first year of cochlear implant use. One implication of these results is that if EAP thresholds are to be used to assist in programming the speech processor for children, it is best to make those measures at the same time interval as device programming rather than using measures made intraoperatively or at the initial programming session to set MAP levels at later visits.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Flow cytometric immunophenotyping of lymphocyte subsets in samples that contain a high proportion of non-lymphoid cells.
Flow cytometric (FCM) immunophenotyping of peripheral blood from thalassemia patients presents technical difficulties because of the high proportion of immature red cells. The combination of forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC) with fluorescence associated with human leukocyte antigen/monocyte antigen (CD45/CD14) was unable to identify the lymphocyte population in thalassemia patients; therefore, it was necessary to exclude immature red cells to analyze lymphocyte subsets in these patients. A simultaneous three-color FCM method was developed, with the basis that transferrin receptor (CD71) or glycophorin A (glyco A) is present on all immature red cells, but is not expressed on CD45 positive leukocytes. In this study, the lymphocyte population was identified by gating out unwanted cell populations using the FSC/CD71-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), FSC/glyco A-FITC, or FSC/CD45-peridinin chlorophyll protein (PerCP) profiles. The CD71-FITC negative cells, glyco A-FITC negative cells, or CD45-PerCP positive cells were identified, then analyzed on the basis of FSC/SSC to allow any remaining non-lymphocyte cells in FSC/SSC gate to be excluded. The cells in FSC/SSC gate were then analyzed using other irrelevant two-color antibodies. Of the three gating strategies, CD45-PerCP and glyco A-FITC methods are better than the CD71-FITC gating method. Both methods markedly increase the purity of lymphocytes in the analysis gate. Either method is easy, straightforward, requires a six-tube set of reagent tubes, and provides a reliable method for immunophenotyping lymphocyte subsets in preparations containing a large percentage of non-lymphoid cells.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Adjunctive intra-operative local anaesthesia in paediatric strabismus surgery: a randomized controlled trial.
The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that adjunctive local anaesthesia decreases postoperative pain, vomiting or length of stay in children having strabismus repair A prospective, randomized, triple-armed clinical trial involving a treatment comparison between topical amethocaine, sub-conjunctival bupivacaine and, as a placebo, topical normal saline was performed. All treatments were given at the end of surgery before emergence from the anaesthetic. Overall, there was no statistically significant difference between outcome measures in the three trial groups. Using post hoc analysis there was a statistically significant difference between the groups receiving amethocaine and bupivacaine compared with the saline group in terms of the pain score at 120 min postoperatively. This difference has little clinical significance. Neither topical amethocaine nor subconjunctival bupivacaine makes a clinically significant difference to postoperative pain, emesis or length of stay. Moderate dose paracetamol per rectum alone appears to be effective analgesia for strabismus surgery, although it probably masked any small adjunctive effect of the topical anaesthesia used in the present trial.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Stimulation of regeneration of hyaline cartilage in experimental osteochondral injury.
A model of osteochondral intra-articular defect in rats is presented. During spontaneous healing, the stage of formation of granulation tissue is followed by its replacement with bone and fibrous tissue. Chondroinductive properties of collagen 1 sponge used for defect filling manifested in the formation of fibrous cartilage with fields of hyaline cartilage. Filling of the defect with collagen 1 sponge containing bone powder stimulated regeneration of the bone tissue and hyaline cartilage.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The influence of diet on urinary risk factors for stones in healthy subjects and idiopathic renal calcium stone formers.
The daily intake of 103 recurrent idiopathic calcium stone formers and 146 controls was assessed by means of a computer-assisted 24-h dietary record. Timed 24-h urine samples were collected over the same period to assess the relationship between dietary intake of nutrients and urinary risk factors for calcium stones. After standardisation for sex, age and social status a total of 128 subjects underwent final statistical analysis; 64 renal stone formers and 64 controls. Significant increases in the consumption of animal and vegetable protein and purine were identified as the nutritional factors that distinguished renal stone formers from controls. As expected, the daily urinary excretion of calcium and oxalate was higher and the daily urinary excretion of citrate was lower in stone formers than in controls. No difference with respect to daily urinary uric acid excretion was recorded. Daily urinary excretion of calcium was correlated to dietary protein intake while daily urinary oxalate was correlated to dietary vitamin C intake. It was concluded that renal stone formers could be predisposed to stones because of their dietary patterns. A link between the protein content of the diet and urinary calcium was confirmed, but dietary animal protein had a minimal effect on oxalate excretion.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Altered expression of HLA-A,B specificities on acute lymphoid and myeloid leukaemia blasts.
HLA-A,B specificities were analysed on the neoplastic blasts of a panel of 69 lymphoblastic (ALL) and 50 non lymphoblastic (ANLL) acute leukaemias at onset using the standard lymphocytotoxicity technique. Analysis of the number of detected specificities per locus and, when possible, comparison of the results with those obtained on lymphocytes of the same patients during remission revealed many alterations in the expression of A,B specificities including extra specificities both at the HLA-A and -B loci mainly on lymphoblasts and missed specificities mainly at the HLA-B locus on myeloblasts. Lack of A,B antigens was complete in 6.2% of all tested samples (9% of ANLL) and selective for all the products of one locus in 16.8% of all tested samples (27.7% of ANLL). A decrease of class I molecules on the cell surface was evidenced with MoAb W6/32 on blasts missing detectable serological specificities.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Males exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol.
An increased frequency of various genitourinary anomalies, infertility, and testicular cancer among males has been reported to follow intrauterine exposure to diethylstilbestrol, but not all studies have confirmed an association. This study was designed to determine whether a cohort of males exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol had a higher frequency of urogenital abnormalities than an unexposed cohort. Biases in selection of exposed and control participants were minimized. Of 828 exposed and 676 control men studied by medical-record review, 265 exposed men and 274 controls also underwent a special clinical examination. Overall, the data suggest that diethylstilbestrol exposure of males in utero did not increase their risk of genitourinary abnormalities, infertility, or testicular cancer. Previously reported increased frequencies of these abnormalities in diethylstilbestrol-exposed men may have resulted from selection biases or differences in diethylstilbestrol use, or both.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Cake Compressibility Analysis of BPOME from a Hybrid Adsorption-Microfiltration Process.
This study investigates the utility of a hybrid adsorption-membrane process for cake compressibility evaluation of biotreated palm oil mill effluent (BPOME). A low-cost empty fruit bunch (EFB) based powdered activated carbon (PAC) was employed for the upstream adsorption process with operation conditions of 60 g/L PAC dose, 68 min mixing time, and 200 rpm mixing speed to reduce the feed-water strength and alleviate probable fouling of the membranes. Two polyethersulfone microfiltration (MF) membranes of 0.1 and 0.2 μm pore sizes were investigated under constant transmembrane pressures (TMP) of 40, 80, and 120 kPa. The compressibility factors (z), which was obtained from the slopes of power plots (function of specific cake resistance (α) and pressure gradient) were evaluated. The z values of 0.32 and 0.52, respectively obtained, for the 0.1 and 0.2 μm MF membranes provided compressible and stable z values as observed from their power plots. Besides, these membranes were found suitable for the measurement of z since the results are in consonance with the established principle of cake compressibility. Moreover, the upstream adsorption mitigated the clogging of the membranes which ultimately led to moderate resistances and cake compressibility. These are indications that with the secondary cake filtration, a sustainable flux can be achieved during BPOME filtration. The membranes exhibited close to 100% restoration after cleaning.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Endothelial keratoplasty: vision, endothelial survival, and complications in a comparative case series of fellows vs attending surgeons.
To compare a 6-month postoperative vision, endothelial cell loss, and immediate postoperative complications in Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) cases performed by an experienced corneal surgeon and his inexperienced fellows using an established technique. Retrospective analysis of prospectively gathered data in 327 consecutive DSAEK cases. DSAEK cases performed by fellows vs attending surgeons during a concurrent period were compared for 6-month postoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), endothelial cell loss, and immediate postoperative complications. This series represents the initial consecutive cases performed by 3 cornea fellows using a technique identical to that used by the attending. After DSAEK, average BSCVA improved from 20/80 to 20/37 in the attending cases and 20/74 to 20/36 in the fellow cases. There was no statistical difference in endothelial cell loss between groups (32% vs 35%). The dislocation rate was 2% in the attending group and 1% in the fellow group. There were no primary graft failures or cases of pupillary block in either group. This study demonstrates no difference in vision or endothelial cell loss after DSAEK when performed by an experienced corneal surgeon or inexperienced fellows. Postoperative complications also were similar. Results and complications of DSAEK performed by supervised novice fellows can equal those of an experienced DSAEK surgeon.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Regulation of a bovine nonclassical major histocompatibility complex class I gene promoter.
Studies have shown in humans and other species that the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) region is involved at a number of levels in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. The aim of this study was to characterize how a bovine nonclassical MHC-I gene (NC1) is regulated. Initial serial deletion experiments of a 2-kb fragment of the NC1 promoter identified regions with positive regulatory elements in the proximal promoter and evidence for a silencer module(s) further upstream that cooperatively contributed to constitutive NC1 expression. The cytokines interferon tau (IFNT), interferon gamma (IFNG), and interleukin 4 (IL4) significantly increased luciferase expression in NC1 promoter reporter constructs and endogenous NC1 mRNA levels in a bovine endometrial cell line. In addition, IFNG, IL3, IL4, and progesterone significantly increased Day 7 bovine blastocyst NC1 mRNA expression when supplemented during in vitro embryo culture. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis identified a STAT6 binding site that conferred IL4 responsiveness in the NC1 proximal promoter. Furthermore, methylation treatment of the proximal promoter, which contains a CpG island, completely abrogated constitutive NC1 expression. Overall, the findings presented here suggest that constitutive NC1 expression is regulated positively by elements in the proximal promoter, which are further controlled by upstream silencer modules. The promoter is responsive to IFNT, IFNG, and IL4, suggesting possible roles for these cytokines in bovine preimplantation embryo survival and/or maternal-fetal tolerance. Our studies also suggest that methylation of the proximal promoter, in particular, could play a significant role in regulating NC1 expression.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Assessment of the chemical changes induced in human melanoma cells by boric acid treatment using infrared imaging.
Boron is found in everyday foods and drinking water in trace quantities. Boron exists as boric acid (BA) within plants and animals, where low levels have been linked to cancer incidence. However, this correlation is not well characterized. In this study, we examined the chemical and morphological effects of BA on human skin melanoma cells (SK-MEL28) using Fourier Transform InfraRed Imaging (FTIRI) with a Focal Plane Array (FPA) detector. Cells were grown under concentrations of BA ranging from 0 to 50 mM. Cell viability was determined after 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days using trypan blue staining. With FTIRI, images of approximately twenty cells per time point per condition were collected. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to evaluate changes in cell composition, with particular focus on the lipid, protein, and nucleic acid spectral components. Results from trypan blue staining revealed decreased cell viability as BA concentration increased. FTIRI data indicated that the protein and lipid contents (as indicated by the lipid/protein ratio) did not undergo substantial changes due to BA treatment. In contrast, the nucleic acid/protein ratio significantly decreased with BA treatment. PCA results showed an increase in beta-sheet protein at higher concentrations of BA (12.5, 25, and 50 mM). Together, these results suggest that high concentrations of BA have an anti-proliferative effect and show signs consistent with apoptosis.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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A Novel Method of Evaluating Key Factors for Success in a Multifaceted Critical Care Fellowship Using Data Envelopment Analysis.
The current system of summative multi-rater evaluations and standardized tests to determine readiness to graduate from critical care fellowships has limitations. We sought to pilot the use of data envelopment analysis (DEA) to assess what aspects of the fellowship program contribute the most to an individual fellow's success. DEA is a nonparametric, operations research technique that uses linear programming to determine the technical efficiency of an entity based on its relative usage of resources in producing the outcome. Retrospective cohort study. Critical care fellows (n = 15) in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited fellowship at a major academic medical center in the United States. After obtaining institutional review board approval for this retrospective study, we analyzed the data of 15 anesthesiology critical care fellows from academic years 2013-2015. The input-oriented DEA model develops a composite score for each fellow based on multiple inputs and outputs. The inputs included the didactic sessions attended, the ratio of clinical duty works hours to the procedures performed (work intensity index), and the outputs were the Multidisciplinary Critical Care Knowledge Assessment Program (MCCKAP) score and summative evaluations of fellows. A DEA efficiency score that ranged from 0 to 1 was generated for each of the fellows. Five fellows were rated as DEA efficient, and 10 fellows were characterized in the DEA inefficient group. The model was able to forecast the level of effort needed for each inefficient fellow, to achieve similar outputs as their best performing peers. The model also identified the work intensity index as the key element that characterized the best performers in our fellowship. DEA is a feasible method of objectively evaluating peer performance in a critical care fellowship beyond summative evaluations alone and can potentially be a powerful tool to guide individual performance during the fellowship.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Strategy for the Construction of Diverse Poly-NHC-Derived Assemblies and Their Photoinduced Transformations.
A series of supramolecular assemblies of types [Ag8 (L)4 ](PF6 )8 and [Ag4 (L)2 ](PF6 )4 , obtained from the tetraphenylethylene (TPE) bridged tetrakis(1,2,4-triazolium) salts H4 -L(PF6 )4 and AgI ions, is described. The assembly type obtained dependends on the N-wingtip substituents of H4 -L(PF6 )4 . Changes in the lengths of the N4-wingtip substituents enables controlled formation of assemblies with either [Ag4 (L)2 ](PF6 )4 or [Ag8 (L)4 ](PF6 )8 stoichiometry. The molecular structures of selected [Ag8 (L)4 ](PF6 )8 and [Ag4 (L)2 ](PF6 )4 assemblies were determined by X-ray diffraction analyses. While H4 -L(PF6 )4 does not exhibit fluorescence in solution, their tetra-NHC (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene) assemblies do upon NHC-metal coordination. Upon irradiation, all assemblies undergo a light-induced, supramolecule-to-supramolecule structural transformation by an oxidative photocyclization involving phenyl groups of the TPE core, resulting in a significant change of the luminescence properties.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Effect of transient cyclic AMP elevation on DNA synthesis in rat hepatocytes at G1 phase.
Maintaining high levels of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) is known to inhibit the growth of various proliferating cells including hepatocytes. We show here that transient (30 min) elevations of cAMP induced by addition of 8-bromo-cAMP (1 mmol/L) to rat hepatocytes in primary culture at three time points (12 h, 16 h and 20 h) after seeding stimulated DNA synthesis. Sustained levels of cAMP stimulated DNA synthesis to a lesser degree at a lower concentration (1 mumol/L), but inhibited it at concentrations higher than 100 mumol/L. We also determined cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) activity in the hepatocytes during this incubation period. The transient addition of 8-bromo-cAMP at the late G1 phase increased cdk2 activity. This suggests that transient cAMP elevation in hepatocytes at the late G1 phase has a growth stimulation effect. Up-regulation of cdk2 activity may have a role in this process.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the head and neck in patients with AIDS.
The clinical and histologic features of five homosexual men with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who developed extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the head and neck region are presented. The primary sites of these malignant neoplasms include the larynx, palate, alveolar ridge, nasal vestibule, and skin overlying the mastoid tip. In all cases, the patients' lymphomas followed an aggressive clinical course with frequent central nervous system involvement. Although, to our knowledge, this is the first report of head and neck lymphomas in patients with AIDS, this malignant neoplasm has been demonstrated to occur at other anatomic sites in such patients with an incidence far greater than that found in the general population. A high index of suspicion for lymphomas and other unusual malignant neoplasms is required on the part of the otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon when evaluating patients with AIDS.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Hydroponic estimation of heavy metal accumulation by different genotypes of Salix.
The absorption abilities of selected heavy metals by twelve genotypes of willow (Salix) were compared in a hydroponic experiment. Coefficients of increased ion concentrations in tissues of each tested genotype were determined in relation to initial values. Some plants exhibited high sorption of particular metals (Salix purpurea Utilissima' and Salix purpurea 233') with limited sorption of other metals. The results indicate possible application of willow genotypes, with selective sorption of analyzed heavy metals. Ranking of genotypes according to their capacity for heavy metals absorption, individually and/or jointly, makes it possible to apply such information in the remediation of soil and/or sewage contaminated with individual or a complex of several heavy metals simultaneously. The most effective Salix genotypes were: Salix purpurea Utilissima' and Salix petiolaria 'Rigida'. The lowest accumulation was observed in Salix purpurea Green Dicks', Salix purpurea Uralensis' and Salix purpurea Nigra longifolia pendula'. Statistical analysis confirmed the above results.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Evidence of acute pancreatitis in a patient with radioresistant-differentiated thyroid cancer.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists are sometimes used in patients with radioiodine-resistant differentiated thyroid cancers in order to effect further differentiation of the tumor and increase the chance of therapeutic success with subsequent doses of radioiodine. PPAR agonists are reportedly protective of the pancreas and have been proposed as agents that might be useful in the prevention of pancreatitis. In this report, we describe a patient treated with the PPAR agonist rosiglitazone for thyroid cancer who showed imaging abnormalities on PET scan and biochemical evidence of acute pancreatitis. Despite evidence of acute pancreatitis, the etiology of which is unclear, the patient remained asymptomatic. It is speculated that the lack of symptoms in this patient was due to the suppression by rosiglitazone of proinflammatory cytokines.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Genipin suppression of fibrogenic behaviors of the alpha-TN4 lens epithelial cell line.
To determine in a lens epithelial cell line, alpha-TN4, whether genipin, an intestinal metabolite component of the herbal medicine inchin-ko-to, suppresses profibrogenic myofibroblast generation and upregulation of fibrogenic cytokines and to evaluate the potential benefit of the medicine in preventing posterior capsule opacification (PCO). Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan. In this study, alpha-TN4 cell proliferation, migration, and expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), the hallmark of myofibroblast generation, were assayed with a colorimetric assay, scratch wound assay, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. Gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was characterized with real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p 38 MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) limb, and Smad signalings were evaluated by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Cytotoxicity of genipin was evaluated using a commercial colorimetric assay kit for nuclear matrix protein 41/7 (NMP41/7) in culture medium. Genipin suppressed cell proliferation and migration in association with inhibition of Smad and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, although ERK signaling was enhanced. Genipin suppressed mRNA expression of TGF-beta1 and CTGF. Cytoplasmic fiber formation declined based on less intense alpha-SMA immunocytochemical staining. However, alpha-SMA protein expression was actually not altered. This negative result suggests that genipin attenuated formation of alpha-SMA-containing cytoskeleton. Treatment of the cells with genipin for 48 hours did not increase the release of NMP41/7 to the medium, indicating this compound is not cytotoxic. Because genipin suppressed alpha-TN4 lens cell fibrogenic behaviors, it may be of therapeutic value in preventing PCO.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Thoracic puncture-biopsy. Technic and indications. Critical study of more than 1,200 procedures].
With the use of CT guidance, thoracic (pulmonary and mediastinal) biopsy is a very accurate procedure. The authors obtained 86% of good results in a series of more than 1,200 procedures. Aspiration-biopsy therefore occupies an important place in the diagnostic process and in pretreatment assessment when fibroscopy is negative. The authors describe their technique and demonstrate the value of minimally traumatic biopsy equipment: fine millimetric needles. The use of CT and fine needles dramatically decreases the risk of pneumothorax and blank aspiration. A personalised collaboration between radiologists and pneumocytologists is an essential prerequisite. The authors discuss the indications for this technique and propose a decisional flowchart.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Aging and baroreflex control of RSNA and heart rate in rats.
Aging is associated with altered autonomic control of cardiovascular function, but baroreflex function in animal models of aging remains controversial. In this study, pressor and depressor agent-induced reflex bradycardia and tachycardia were attenuated in conscious old (24 mo) rats [57 and 59% of responses in young (10 wk) Wistar rats, respectively]. The intrinsic heart rate (HR, 339 +/- 5 vs. 410 +/- 10 beats/min) was reduced in aged animals, but no intergroup differences in resting mean arterial blood pressure (MAP, 112 +/- 3 vs. 113 +/- 5 mmHg) or HR (344 +/- 9 vs. 347 +/- 9 beats/min) existed between old and young rats, respectively. The aged group also exhibited a depressed (49%) parasympathetic contribution to the resting HR value (vagal effect) but preserved sympathetic function after intravenous methylatropine and propranolol. An implantable electrode revealed tonic renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was similar between groups. However, old rats showed impaired baroreflex control of HR and RSNA after intravenous nitroprusside (-0.63 +/- 0. 18 vs. -1.84 +/- 0.4 bars x cycle(-1) x mmHg(-1) x s(-1)). Therefore, aging in rats is associated with 1) preserved baseline MAP, HR, and RSNA, 2) impaired baroreflex control of HR and RSNA, and 3) altered autonomic control of resting HR.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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CRTC3 polymorphisms were associated with the plasma level of total cholesterol and the risks of overweight and hypertriglyceridemia in a Chinese Han population.
CREB-regulated transcription coactivator 3 (CRTC3) was a recently identified protein which played an important role in glucose and lipid metabolism. Previous research showed that the polymorphisms of CRTC3 were associated with obesity in Mexican-Americans. Data on that relationship in Chinese was unavailable so far. So we investigated whether the polymorphisms of CRTC3 could confer risks of obesity or other metabolic disorders in Chinese population. 1,550 subjects were recruited from physical examination participants. Two SNPs of CRTC3, rs3862434 and rs11635252, were genotyped with the method of PCR-RFLP. Logistic regression model was applied to calculate the risks of overweight, obesity and dyslipidemias for genotypes. The rs3862434 was significantly associated with the plasma level of total cholesterol (P = 0.026), with the G allele carriers having a lower level compared with the AA genotype (P = 0.018). The rs11635252 was associated with the risks of overweight and hypertriglyceridemia, specifically, T allele had higher risks of overweight and hypertriglyceridemia compared with C allele (OR 1.23, 95 % CI 1.02-1.48, P = 0.024; OR 1.22, 95 % CI 1.00-1.48, P = 0.048, respectively). In conclusion, the CRTC3 polymorphism rs3862434 was associated with the plasma level of total cholesterol, and rs11635252 was associated with the risks of overweight and hypertriglyceridemia in a Chinese Han population, which might strengthen our understanding of the complex heredity of metabolic disorders.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Nitric oxide-induced formation of the S-2 state in the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II from Synechococcus elongatus.
In spinach photosystem II (PSII) membranes, the tetranuclear manganese cluster of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) can be reduced by incubation with nitric oxide at -30 degrees C to a state which is characterized by an Mn(2)(II, III) EPR multiline signal [Sarrou, J., Ioannidis, N., Deligiannakis, Y., and Petrouleas, V. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 3581-3587]. This state was recently assigned to the S(-)(2) state of the OEC [Schansker, G., Goussias, C., Petrouleas, V., and Rutherford, A. W. (2002) Biochemistry 41, 3057-3064]. On the basis of EPR spectroscopy and flash-induced oxygen evolution patterns, we show that a similar reduction process takes place in PSII samples of the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus at both -30 and 0 degrees C. An EPR multiline signal, very similar but not identical to that of the S(-)(2) state in spinach, was obtained with monomeric and dimeric PSII core complexes from S. elongatus only after incubation at -30 degrees C. The assignment of this EPR multiline signal to the S(-)(2) state is corroborated by measurements of flash-induced oxygen evolution patterns and detailed fits using extended Kok models. The small reproducible shifts of several low-field peak positions of the S(-)(2) EPR multiline signal in S. elongatus compared to spinach suggest that slight differences in the coordination geometry and/or the ligands of the manganese cluster exist between thermophilic cyanobacteria and higher plants.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Scaffold architecture determines chondrocyte response to externally applied dynamic compression.
It remains unclear how specific mechanical signals generated by applied dynamic compression (DC) regulate chondrocyte biosynthetic activity. It has previously been suggested that DC-induced interstitial fluid flow positively impacts cartilage-specific matrix production. Modifying fluid flow within dynamically compressed hydrogels therefore represents a promising approach to controlling chondrocyte behavior, which could potentially be achieved by changing the construct architecture. The objective of this study was to first determine the influence of construct architecture on the mechanical environment within dynamically compressed agarose hydrogels using finite element (FE) modeling and to then investigate how chondrocytes would respond to this altered environment. To modify construct architecture, an array of channels was introduced into the hydrogels. Increased magnitudes of fluid flow were predicted in the periphery of dynamically compressed solid hydrogels and also around the channels in the dynamically compressed channeled hydrogels. DC was found to significantly increase sGAG synthesis in solid constructs, which could be attributed at least in part to an increase in DNA. DC was also found to preferentially increase collagen accumulation in regions of solid and channeled constructs where FE modeling predicted higher levels of fluid flow, suggesting that this stimulus is important for promoting collagen production by chondrocytes embedded in agarose gels. In conclusion, this study demonstrates how the architecture of cell-seeded scaffolds or hydrogels can be modified to alter the spatial levels of biophysical cues throughout the construct, leading to greater collagen accumulation throughout the engineered tissue rather than preferentially in the construct periphery. This system also provides a novel approach to investigate how chondrocytes respond to altered levels of biophysical stimulation.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The Glasgow rehabilitation survey.
To assess the future requirements for long-stay psychiatric beds, every consultant psychiatrist in Glasgow was asked to consider whether long-stay patients in his or her wards would be fit for rehabilitation and return to the community. For the purposes of the survey, long stay was defined as a single admission of at least six months, but patients with an organic diagnosis who were aged over 65 were excluded. It was estimated that, with rehabilitation, almost a third of the patients surveyed could return to the community, and that, with more participation in self-care, over 15% might be able to manage in a ward or hostel within the the hospital. Patients judged fit to return to the community were preponderantly younger patients with a shorter period of in-patient care, and those suffering from a functional psychotic illness.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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A General Approach for Calculating Strongly Anharmonic Vibronic Spectra with a High Density of States: The X̃2B1 ← X̃1A1 Photoelectron Spectrum of Difluoromethane.
Due to a low-lying fragmentation channel, the X̃2B1 ← X̃1A1 photoelectron spectrum of difluoromethane is dominated by strong anharmonicity effects. We have used a time-independent eigenstate-free Raman wave function approach (RWF) to calculate the entire spectrum. Vibronic transitions with the most significant Franck-Condon factors were determined by employing our recently developed residual-based algorithm for the calculation of eigenpairs (RACE). An analysis of the factors controlling the accuracy of the predicted band shape is provided. The calculated spectrum is in very close agreement with experimental results.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Highly sensitive analysis of tetrodotoxin based on free-label fluorescence aptamer sensing system.
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) specifically can bind to its nucleic acid aptamer (TTX-aptamer) and cause the conformation of TTX-aptamer to be switched from the single-strand random coiling form to the compact neck ring structure. Based on the microenvironment difference of the fluorescence reporter, berberine in between the single-stranded coil oligonucleotides and the structure of the neck ring, a simple, rapid and sensitive label-free fluorescence aptamer sensing system for detection of TTX was developed. Various factors affecting the analysis of TTX were optimized, including the concentration of berberine, ion strength, pH, reaction time, the concentration of TTX-aptamer. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the fluorescence intensity of the sensing system and the concentration of TTX showed a good linear relationship in the range of 0.1 nM to 500 nM, with the detection limit of 0.074 nM. The standard recovery test result exhibited that the recoveries of TTX in serum samples were 96.54%-106.40%. The established method has the advantages of high specificity, good sensitivity, quickness and convenience, low cost, and can be used for the detection of TTX in serum samples.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Remodeling of the occupational medical examination program in South Korea.
The South Korean government carried out reforms in the occupational medical examination program over a period of 2 years from 1997 to 1998 in a response to the discontent of workers, who had complained that occupational medical examinations were merely ritualistic and unproductive. The purposes of this manuscript are to describe the reason for the remodeling, with a historical review of the existing occupational medical examination program in South Korea, and to discuss the main issues involved in remodeling the program. The existing occupational medical examination program in South Korea was reviewed and criticized. The basic philosophy and the main issues in remodeling South Korea's occupational medical examination program were also discussed. In conclusion, the occupational medical examination program should not be conducted in a uniform manner according to legal regulations, but should be a part of overall occupational health services. Individual workplaces should be given the autonomy to perform medical examinations according to the characteristics of the workplace. An enabling approach based on the participation of labor and management should be taken into consideration.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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In vitro metabolism and covalent binding of ethylbenzene to microsomal protein as a possible mechanism of ethylbenzene-induced mouse lung tumorigenesis.
This study was conducted to determine species differences in covalent binding of the reactive metabolites of ethylbenzene (EB) formed in the liver and lung microsomes of mouse, rat and human in the presence of NADPH. These data further the understanding of the mechanism by which EB causes mouse specific lung toxicity and a follow-up to our earlier report of the selective elevation, although minor, of the ring-oxidized reactive metabolites in mouse lung microsomes (Saghir et al., 2009). Binding assays were also conducted with or without 5-phenyl-1-pentyne (5P1P), an inhibitor of CYP 2F2, and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC), an inhibitor of CYP 2E1 to evaluate their role in the formation of the related reactive metabolites. Liver and lung microsomes were incubated with (14)C-EB (0.22 mM) in the presence of 1mM NADPH under physiological conditions for 60 min. In lung microsomes, binding activity was in the order of mouse (812.4+/-102.2 pmol/mg protein)>>rat (57.0+/-3.2 pmol/mg protein). Human lung microsomes had little binding activity (15.7+/-1.4 pmol/mg protein), which was comparable to the no-NADPH control (9.9-16.7 pmol/mg protein). In liver microsomes, mouse had the highest activity (469.0+/-38.5 pmol/mg protein) followed by rat (148.3+/-14.7 pmol/mg protein) and human (89.8+/-3.0 pmol/mg protein). Presence of 5P1P or DDTC decreased binding across species and tissues. However, much higher inhibition was observed in mouse (86% [DDTC] and 89% [5P1P]) than rat (56% [DDTC] and 59% [5P1P]) lung microsomes. DDTC showed approximately 2-fold higher inhibition of binding in mouse and human liver microsomes than 5P1P (mouse=85% vs. 40%; human=59% vs. 36%). Inhibition in binding by DDTC was much higher (10-fold) than 5P1P (72% vs. 7%) in rat liver microsomes. These results show species, tissue and enzyme differences in the formation of reactive metabolites of EB. In rat and mouse lung microsomes, both CYP2E1 and CYP2F2 appear to contribute in the formation of reactive metabolites of EB. In contrast, CYP2E1 appears to be the primary CYP isozyme responsible for the reactive metabolites of EB in the liver.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Sustainability of an enhanced recovery after surgery program (ERAS) in colonic surgery.
Between 2006 and 2008 the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program was implemented in colonic surgery in one-third of all hospitals in the Netherlands (n = 33). This resulted in enhanced recovery and a decrease in hospital length of stay (LOS) from a median of 9 days at baseline to 6 days at one-year follow-up. The present study assessed the sustainability of the ERAS program 3-5 years after its implementation. From the 33 ERAS hospitals, 10 initially successful hospitals were selected, with success defined as a median LOS of 6 days or lower and protocol adherence rates above 70 %. In 2012 a retrospective audit of 30 consecutive patients was performed in each of these hospitals. Sustainability of the ERAS program was assessed on hospital level, using median hospital LOS, protocol adherence rates and time to functional recovery. Data were compared with the implementation phase data. Overall median LOS in the selected hospitals increased from 5.25 days (interquartile range [IQR] 4.75-6.00; min, 4.00-max, 6.00) to 6 days (IQR 5.00-7.00; min, 5.00-max, 8.00), but this change was not significant (p = 0.052). Time to functional recovery was equal in both phases: median 3.00 days (p = 0.26). Protocol adherence decreased from 75 to 67 % (p = 0.32). Especially adherence to postoperative care elements dropped considerably. Despite a slight decrease in protocol adherence, the ERAS program was sustained reasonably well in the 10 selected hospitals, although there was quite some variation between the hospitals.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Follicular atresia and LH concentrations during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle in the goat (Capra hircus).
The objective of the study was to identify the effects of LH on the final follicle maturation process as well as the incidence of atresia during the follicular phase of the goat's estrous cycle. In Experiment 1, concentrations of the LH were measured during the follicular phase of a synchronized cycle in 8 Canary goats. In Experiment 2, the same animals were synchronized again. On each day of a 4-day experimental period (day 0 = day of sponges withdrawal), 2 of the goats were bilaterally ovariectomized. Follicles with a diameter > 1 mm were dissected out to obtain qualitative histological data in normal, early atretic I, early atretic II, advanced atretic I and advanced atretic II follicles. The total interval from sponge withdrawal to LH peak was 77.5 +/- 9.8 h. LH peak concentration averaged 44 +/- 5.3 ng/ml and the mean length of the preovulatory surge (amounts over 10 ng/ml) was 8.9 +/- 0.9 h. During the total follicular phase, there were more atretic follicles than normal follicles (58 vs. 30, P < 0.05). The number of early and advanced atretic follicles was similar. There were more early atresia I than early atresia II follicles (23 vs. 6, P < 0.05). On day 2, the number of advanced atretic follicles was greater than early atretic follicles (10 vs. 4, P < 0.05). There was an increase in the number of early atretic follicles from day 2 to day 4 (4 vs. 9, P < 0.05), which was consistent with the effects of the preovulatory LH surge.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Pulmonary effects and clearance after long-term inhalation of potassium octatitanate whiskers in rats.
The pulmonary effects of long-term inhalation of potassium octatitanate whisker (PT1), one of the durable man-made fibers (MMFs), were examined in rats. Male Wistar rats were exposed to PT1 by inhalation for 6 h/day, 5 days/wk for 1 yr. The daily average exposure concentration of PT1 aerosol was 2.2 +/- 0.7 mg/m3 (111 +/- 34 fiber/ml) during the exposure. Rats were sacrificed at 3 days, 6 mo, and 12 mo after 1 yr of inhalation exposure. The amount of deposited PT1 in rat lungs (lung burden) was 2.4 +/- 0.7 mg and the deposition fraction was 7.2% at 3 days after 1 yr. The clearance of inhaled PT1 after 1-yr inhalation was prolonged so that the biological half-life time (BHT) was difficult to estimate. The histopathological findings showed that mild fibrotic changes were observed around the macrophages that had engulfed the PT1 in the 3-day, 6-mo, and 12-mo rat sacrifice groups. As for pulmonary tumors, no malignant tumors were observed, although 2 adenomas at 6 mo and 1 adenoma and 1 squamous metaplasia at 12 mo after the exposure were found in the rat lungs.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Pathways from science findings to health benefits.
There have been numerous exhortations for more 'translational research'. A selective review of historical examples of research leading to health benefits is used to consider the various forms of successful interplay between basic science and clinical applications. This is followed by a consideration of key neuroscience findings that might be relevant for translation, and then by a discussion of the challenges and opportunities in relation to mental disorders. The time-frame for the pathway from science findings to health benefits is usually long, and generally requires an interactive interplay among different scientific strategies. There is a false dichotomy between so-called basic and applied research and translation needs to proceed from the bedside to the laboratory as well as in the opposite direction. There is a key need for bridging research of the hypothesis-testing experimental medicine variety. Health benefits may involve either public health considerations or the treatment of individual patients, or both. There are now some opportunities for direct translational research but there is a much greater need for hypothesis-based bridging studies that occupy a crucial mid-phase in the pathway from science findings to health benefits.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Estrogen effects on the hyperactivity induced by (+)-MDMA and cocaine in female rats.
This study compared the effects of estrogen (E) on the hyperactivity induced by (+)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) with E effects on cocaine-evoked hyperactivity in female rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX); half of them received a 17beta-estradiol (E2) implant (OVX + E). Three weeks later, rats received saline, (+)-MDMA (1, 2, or 4 mg/kg) or cocaine (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg), and locomotor activity was monitored. OVX + E rats exhibited greater locomotor hyperactivity in response to both psychostimulants than did OVX rats. The enhanced response to cocaine appeared within 5 min following drug injection whereas the enhanced response to (+)-MDMA was delayed for approximately 30 min. The differential effects of E on hyperactivity may be due to the unique profiles of DA and 5-HT in response to (+)-MDMA and cocaine.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Anthraquinone derivative emodin inhibits tumor-associated angiogenesis through inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation.
An anthraquinone derivative, emodin, suppresses tumor development both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the anti-angiogenic activity of emodin and its modifying effect on the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. In cell cultures, emodin inhibited endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube formation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the mouse dorsal air sac assay revealed the vivo anti-angiogenic potential of emodin. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression, which is critical for the angiogenic process, including migration and tube formation, decreased after exposure to emodin, as determined by polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription (RT-PCR) and gelatin zymography. Moreover, the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2 decreased after exposure to emodin in a dose-dependent manner. These observations suggest that emodin has the potential to inhibit several angiogenic processes and that these effects may be related to suppression of the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Basal cell carcinoma metastatic to the parotid: report of a new case and review of the literature.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common of the cutaneous malignancies, accounting for 65 to 75% of all skin cancers. The natural history of this disease is one of chronic local invasion. Metastatic basal cell carcinoma is a rare clinical entity, with a reported incidence of only 0.0028 to 0.5%. Approximately 85% of all metastatic basal cell carcinomas arise in the head and neck region. We present a case of basal cell carcinoma that spread to the parotid gland in a man who had multiple lesions on his scalp and face. We also review the literature on metastatic basal cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and we discuss its epidemiology, etiology, histopathology, and treatment.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Recognizing Others: Rodent's Social Memories.
We provide in this chapter a brief overview of the present knowledge about social memory in laboratory rodents with a focus on mice and rats. We discuss in the first part the relevance of the processing of olfactory cues for social recognition in these animals and present information about the brain areas involved in the generation of a long-term social memory including cellular mechanisms thought to underlie memory consolidation. In the second part, we suggest that sensory modalities beyond olfaction may also be important in contributing to the long-term social memory trace including audition and taction (and vision). The exposure to stimuli activating the auditory system and taction is able to produce interference phenomena at defined time points during the consolidation of social memory. This ability of such-nonsocial-stimuli may provide a new approach to dissect the brain processes underlying the generation of the social memory trace in further studies.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Frequency and determinants of adverse reactions induced by high-osmolality contrast media.
To determine the frequency of and risk factors for adverse reactions to high-osmolality contrast media, the authors prospectively studied hospitalized patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. The authors also studied patients undergoing peripheral angiography and contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the head or body who met at least one of the following criteria thought to increase the risk of adverse reactions: age of more than 60 years, diabetes, renal or liver disease, concurrent nephrotoxic drug use, or a history of allergic reactions (n = 795). Criteria were defined and used to group adverse reactions into three classes of clinical severity. Overall, class I (mild), class II (moderate), and class III (severe) reactions occurred in 362 (45%), 44 (5.5%), and three (0.4%) patients, respectively. Class II reactions were relatively common (25%) in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization yet were uncommon (2%) in patients undergoing the other three procedures. Nephrotoxicity occurred in 18 of 651 patients who had follow-up creatinine levels obtained at 48-72 hours. With multivariate regression analysis, the only risk factor (P less than .05) for combined class II and III reactions was diabetes. Diabetes, furosemide use, and a history of atopy (odds ratio = 2.8) were associated with nephrotoxicity (P less than .05). Underlying renal insufficiency was not a risk factor for nephrotoxicity.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Suppression of cough during emergence from general anesthesia: laryngotracheal lidocaine through a modified endotracheal tube.
To ascertain if coughing during emergence from general anesthesia can be suppressed with a modified endotracheal tube. Randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Operating rooms at a university hospital. 46 adult ASA physical status I, II, and III patients requiring elective surgery. Patients underwent general anesthesia with the laryngotracheal instillation of topical anesthesia (LITA) endotracheal tube (ETT). Thirty minutes before anticipated extubation, one investigator administered, via the LITA tube injection port onto the laryngotracheal mucosa, one of the following according to randomized preselection: 2 mg/kg with 4% lidocaine (Group I; n = 15); 4 mL with saline (Group 2;n = 16); and nothing (Control; n = 15). At the completion of surgery, with the patient adequately anesthetized, the oropharynx was gently suctioned, and the isoflurane was then turned off. When the isoflurane end-tidal concentration was < or =0.2%, the neuromuscular block was reversed and the inspiratory oxygen concentration was increased to 100% while awaiting the return of spontaneous ventilation. An observer who was blinded to the study drug regimens judged the presence or absence of cough upon emergence, over a 1-minute period. The observer noted the responses to the following verbal commands, in this order: 1) "open your eyes", 2) "grip my hand", and 3) "lift your head". Coughing was defined as any evidence of irritation from having a tube in the trachea. Blood samples for plasma lidocaine levels were taken at the time of extubation from patients who received lidocaine (Group 1). Seventy-five percent of patients were found to have complete cough suppression upon emergence, while Group 2 (saline) had 14% and Group 3 (the control) only had 13% suppression. The technique of laryngotracheal topical lidocaine administered by the LITA tube can, in most cases, provide a smooth emergence from general anesthesia without coughing.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Diminished survival in asymptomatic primary biliary cirrhosis. A prospective study.
Data from 73 asymptomatic patients with primary biliary cirrhosis were analyzed to determine clinical course and long-term survival. Of these, 44 entered a D-penicillamine treatment trial; 29 qualified but chose not to participate. Median follow-up was 7.6 yr (range, 2.8-12.2 yr). Liver biopsy at the initial visit showed advanced disease (fibrosis, cirrhosis) in 61% of the patients. During prospective clinical follow-up, which was available for 37 of the 44 study patients, one or more symptoms of liver disease developed in 33 (89%); esophageal varices were found in 15 (41%), and histologic progression to cirrhosis was found in 20 (67%) of the 30 precirrhotic patients. Significant (p less than 0.01) biochemical progression was reflected by a decrease in mean serum albumin concentrations and an increase in mean serum bilirubin levels in 32 patients followed for 4-6 yr. Survival data were available for all 73 patients; 17 died (11 secondary to liver failure), and 1 underwent liver transplantation. These patients had a 4-fold increase in mortality rate (p less than 0.001) compared with the U.S. population matched for age, race, and sex.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Molecular bases of antifungal resistance in filamentous fungi.
Invasive mould infections due to Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Scedosporium spp. and other filamentous fungi remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Antifungal therapy is required for successful patient management; however, limited antifungal drugs as well as the emergence of drug resistance pose a challenge to clinicians for effective management of these diseases. The evolution of multidrug-resistant strains owing to selective pressure as well as intrinsically-resistant pathogenic species are a major concern. Thus, it is necessary to gain a better insight into the antifungal resistance mechanisms and their clinical impact. So far, the resistance mechanisms responsible for acquired azole resistance include alteration of the drug target and its overexpression, biofilm formation and efflux pump upregulation. However, mechanisms responsible for polyene and echinocandin resistance are less understood in filamentous moulds, primarily due to incomplete correlation between in vitro susceptibility and clinical response to treatment. The present review gives an insight into the mechanisms implicated in resistance to different classes of antifungal agents both in human and plant pathogenic filamentous fungi. Furthermore, the spectrum of antifungal resistance in these filamentous fungi is highlighted.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Y-scar vertical mammaplasty for treatment of mild macromastia with pseudoptosis.
Y-scar vertical mammaplasty is a technical modification of vertical scar breast reduction, which avoids superior areolar scarring. It has been previously shown to be particularly useful in young patients with mild macromastia and minimal or no ptosis. This case report presents a new indication for which to apply this technical approach. A 58-year-old patient presented with mild macromastia of mainly the inferior pole and pseudoptosis. Since there was no need to transpose the nipple, a Y-scar vertical mammaplasty was performed, removing tissue from the lower pole and preserving upper-pole fullness. Furthermore, superior areolar scarring was avoided. In conclusion, Y-scar vertical mammaplasty may find its use in other less commonly seen patient profiles such as this presented case of an older patient with slightly enlarged breasts and pseudoptosis.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Optimization and characterization of liposome formulation by mixture design.
This study presents the application of the mixture design technique to develop an optimal liposome formulation by using the different lipids in type and percentage (DOPC, POPC and DPPC) in liposome composition. Ten lipid mixtures were generated by the simplex-centroid design technique and liposomes were prepared by the extrusion method. Liposomes were characterized with respect to size, phase transition temperature, ζ-potential, lamellarity, fluidity and efficiency in loading calcein. The results were then applied to estimate the coefficients of mixture design model and to find the optimal lipid composition with improved entrapment efficiency, size, transition temperature, fluidity and ζ-potential of liposomes. The response optimization of experiments was the liposome formulation with DOPC: 46%, POPC: 12% and DPPC: 42%. The optimal liposome formulation had an average diameter of 127.5 nm, a phase-transition temperature of 11.43 °C, a ζ-potential of -7.24 mV, fluidity (1/P)(TMA-DPH)((¬)) value of 2.87 and an encapsulation efficiency of 20.24%. The experimental results of characterization of optimal liposome formulation were in good agreement with those predicted by the mixture design technique.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Expression of Formyl-peptide Receptors in Human Lung Carcinoma.
Formyl-peptide receptors (FPRs) are expressed in several tissues and cell types. The identification of markers involved in cell growth may further allow for molecular profiling of lung cancer. We investigated the possible role of FPRs as molecular markers in several types of lung carcinomas which is the main cause of cancer death worldwide. Tumor tissue samples were collected from six patients affected by lung cancer. Biopsies were analyzed for expression of FPR isoforms both in tumoral and peritumoral tissue by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blot and immunofluorescence. Real-time PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence analyses showed that FPR expression is lower in types of human lung cancer tissues when compared to the surrounding peritumoral tissues. The study of the mechanistic basis for the control of FPR expression in normal peritumoral versus tumoral tissues could provide the basis for new diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Failure of pentoxifylline to affect air- borne contact dermatitis caused by parthenium.
Twelve patients, 9 males and 3 females between 22 to 65 years in age having air-borne contact dermatitis (ABCD) for 6 months to 12 years were included in this study. The diagnosis in each patient was confirmed by patch tests. Six of these patients (group I) were treated with pentoxifylline 400 mg three times a day orally in addition to topical clobetasol propionate and oral betamethasone 1.0 to 2.0 mg per day for 5 to 10 weeks. The other 6 patients (group II) were given the same treatment for the same duration but without pentoxifylline. The response to the treatment in both the groups was almost the same. The patients treated with pentoxifylline did not have any added benefit. There were no significant side effects of the therapy in either of the groups.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Use of high-rate envelope speech cues and their perceptually relevant dynamic range for the hearing impaired.
The ability of hearing-impaired (HI) listeners to use high-rate envelope information in a competing-talker situation was assessed. In experiment 1, signals were tone vocoded and the cutoff frequency (f(c)) of the envelope extraction filter was either 50 Hz (E filter) or 200 Hz (P filter). The channels for which the P or E filter was used were varied. Intelligibility was higher with the P filter regardless of whether it was used for low or high center frequencies. Performance was best when the P filter was used for all channels. Experiment 2 explored the dynamic range over which HI listeners made use of high-rate cues. In each channel of a vocoder, the envelope extracted using f(c) = 16 Hz was replaced by the envelope extracted using f(c) = 300 Hz, either at the peaks or valleys, with a parametrically varied "switching threshold." For a target-to-background ratio of +5 dB, changes in speech intelligibility occurred mainly when the switching threshold was between -8 and +8 dB relative to the channel root-mean-square level. This range is similar in width to, but about 3 dB higher in absolute level than, that found for normal-hearing listeners, despite the reduced dynamic range of the HI listeners.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Comparison of the risk of non-traumatic lower extremity amputation between haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease.
We used insurance claims data of Taiwan to compare the risk of non-traumatic lower extremity amputation between haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We identified 77 669 HD patients and 10 035 PD patients without prior amputation from 2000 to 2010. Incidence rates and hazard ratios (HRs) of lower extremity amputation, and subsequent 30-day mortality after amputation were evaluated up to 31 December 2011. There were 2427 and 216 patients undergoing lower extremity amputation during follow-up in the HD and PD groups with incidence rates of 8.35 and 5.79 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Compared with the HD group, the overall adjusted HR of lower extremity amputation for the PD group was 1.27 (95% CI = 1.10-1.46). The impact of diabetes status on the risk of lower extremity amputation interacted with dialysis modality significantly (P < 0.001). Compared with the corresponding HD patients, the PD patients with diabetes had an adjusted HR of 1.44 (95% CI = 1.24-1.67) for amputation, whereas those without diabetes had an adjusted HR of 0.58 (95% CI = 0.36-0.95). The subsequent 30-day mortality rates after amputation were not significantly different between the HD and PD groups (8.45% vs. 9.72%) with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.41 (95% CI = 0.87-2.28, PD versus HD). Compared with corresponding HD patients, the amputation risk is higher for PD patients with diabetes, while the risk is lower for PD patients without diabetes. Dialysis patients have a high 30-day mortality risk after amputation.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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IA-2 antibodies--a sensitive marker of IDDM with clinical onset in childhood and adolescence. Childhood Diabetes in Finland Study Group.
To study the relationship of IA-2 antibodies (IA-2A) to other autoantibodies and genetic risk markers in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), 758 children and adolescents younger than 15 years of age (mean age 8.4 years) with newly diagnosed diabetes were analysed for IA-2A, GAD antibodies (GADA) and insulin autoantibodies (IAA) with radiobinding assays, for islet cell antibodies (ICA) with immunofluorescence and for HLA DR alleles by serology. IA-2A were detected in 85.9% of cases with no association with gender or age. An overwhelming majority of the patients (71.3%) tested positive for three or more antibodies, and 90.7% for at least two. Fifty-four subjects (7.1%) had one antibody detectable, whereas only 2.1% of the patients tested negative for all four. A higher proportion of patients was positive for IA-2A and/or GADA than for ICA alone (95.5 vs 84.2%, p < 0.001). The prevalence and level of IA-2A were increased in cases carrying HLA DR4/non-DR3 compared with other DR combinations. The results indicate that almost all patients with newly diagnosed childhood IDDM can be identified by screening with these four autoantibodies. The combination of IA-2A and/or GADA had a higher sensitivity for IDDM than ICA alone. The close association between IA-2A and HLA DR4, the strongest single allele predisposing to IDDM, suggests that IA-2A may be a more specific marker of beta-cell destruction than GADA, which have been shown to associate with the DR3 allele and thyroid autoimmunity.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Spontaneous and mitogen-induced cytokine production in lymphoproliferative diseases.
The levels of spontaneous and mitogen-induced production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were studied in patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphocytic lymphomas, and multiple myeloma during the course of chemotherapy. Cytokine concentrations varied within a great range and did not conform to the normal distribution law. The levels of granulocyte and granulocyte-macrophage CSF were high during the debut, progress, and remission of the lymphoproliferative diseases. Imbalance of a wide spectrum of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines was observed during the debut and progress of the lymphoproliferative diseases, more often in chronic lymphoid leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphocytic lymphomas than in multiple myeloma.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Aqueous two phase based selective extraction of mannose/glucose specific lectin from Indian cultivar of Pisum sativum seed.
Pisum sativum lectin (Psl) being a high-value protein has marked its application in the biomedical and therapeutic field. Aqueous two phase extraction (ATPE) was implemented as a selective partitioning technique for the partial purification of Psl from its seeds. PEG/citrate based biodegradable aqueous two phase system (ATPS) was screened and the factors such as the type and concentration of citrate salts, molar mass and concentration of polyethylene glycol (PEG), tie line length (TLL) and additive (NaCl) concentration, pH, crude load and volume ratio were studied for the selective partition of Psl. The Psl was successfully extracted to the top phase in the ATPS formed with 18% PEG 6000/16% sodium citrate at 41.01% TLL, 2% NaCl and pH of 7.5. A volume ratio of 0.76 and a crude load of 20% showed maximum activity yield of 122.12% with the purification factor of 16.26. The subunits of Psl namely α and β were identified with a molecular weight of 6 and 18 kDa respectively during the purity analysis using SDS PAGE and HPLC.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Design of a novel gut bacterial adhesion model for probiotic applications.
A new gut bacterial adhesion model has been developed. For this, a continuous-flow bioreactor packed with bacteria-coated beads was designed to simulate the gut lining and other features. In vitro model efficacy shows successful bacterial cell gut adhesions: bacterial adhesion was higher with mucin-alginate compared to controls. In feasibility study, adhesion of Lactobacillus fermentum NCIMB 5221 and Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 701359 was investigated for their metabolic activities for bile salt. Bile salt hydrolase (BSH)-active Lactobacillus reuteri exerted higher activity than non-BSH-active L. fermentum. This model has potential use in gut health, probiotic, bacterial cell gut adhesion and other delivery applications.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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A viral peptide with limited homology to a self peptide can induce clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.
Molecular mimicry has been suggested as a mode of autoreactive T cell stimulation in autoimmune diseases. Myelin basic protein (MBP) peptide 1-11 induces experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in susceptible strains of mice. Here we show that a herpesvirus Saimiri (HVS) peptide, AAQRRPSRPFA, with a limited homology to MBP1-11 peptide, ASQKRPSQRHG (underlined letters showing homology), can stimulate a panel of MBP-11-specific T cell hybridomas and more importantly cause EAE in mice. We demonstrate that this is due to cross-recognition of these two peptides by TCRs. Results presented in this communication are the first demonstration that a viral peptide with homology at just 5 amino acids with a self peptide can induce clinical signs of EAE in mice. These findings have important implications in understanding the breakdown of T cell tolerance to self Ags in autoimmune diseases by means of cross-reactivity with unrelated peptides.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Phenytoin and phenobarbital concentrations in serum: a comparison of Ames Seralyzer with GLC, TDX, and EMIT.
A recently developed system for measuring antiepileptic drug concentrations was evaluated for phenytoin and phenobarbital. The apoenzyme reactive immunoassay system was compared with gas-liquid chromatography, EMIT, and TDX systems. Comparisons were performed with control specimens and with sera obtained from patients at three facilities. Precision for all methods was similar, with within-run and between-run coefficients of variation generally 5%. The accuracy of all methods was acceptable, but bias was present in some. However, measurements obtained by a nontechnical person (physician) in a clinical setting were sometimes inaccurate.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Reconstruction and measurement of a digital dental model using grating projection and reverse engineering].
This work lays the foundation for establishing a digital model database with normal occlusion. A digital dental cast is acquired through grating projection, and model features are measured through reverse engineering. The grating projection system controlled by a computer was projected onto the surface of a normal dental model. Three-dimensional contour data were obtained through multi-angle shooting. A three-dimensional model was constructed, and the model features were analyzed by using reverse engineering. The digital model was compared with the plaster model to determine the accuracy of the measurement system. The structure of three-dimensional reconstruction model was clear. The digital models of two measurements exhibited no significant difference (P > 0.05). When digital and plaster models were measured, we found that the crown length and arch width were not statistically different (P > 0.05), whereas the difference between the crown width and arch length was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The reconstruction of a digital model by using the grating projection technique and reverse engineering can be used for dental model measurement in clinic al and scientific research and can provide a scientific method for establishing a digital model database with normal occlusion.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Nomograms provide improved accuracy for predicting survival after radical cystectomy.
To develop multivariate nomograms that determine the probabilities of all-cause and bladder cancer-specific survival after radical cystectomy and to compare their predictive accuracy to that of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analyses to model variables of 731 consecutive patients treated with radical cystectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy for bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Variables included age of patient, gender, pathologic stage (pT), pathologic grade, carcinoma in situ, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), lymph node status (pN), neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACH), adjuvant chemotherapy (ACH), and adjuvant external beam radiotherapy (AXRT). Two hundred bootstrap resamples were used to reduce overfit bias and for internal validation. During a mean follow-up of 36.4 months, 290 of 731 (39.7%) patients died; 196 of 290 patients (67.6%) died of bladder cancer. Actuarial all-cause survival estimates were 56.3% [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 51.8-60.6%] and 42.9% (95% CI, 37.3-48.4%) at 5 and 8 years after cystectomy, respectively. Actuarial cancer-specific survival estimates were 67.3% (62.9-71.3%) and 58.7% (52.7-64.2%) at 5 and 8 years, respectively. The accuracy of a nomogram for prediction of all-cause survival (0.732) that included patient age, pT, pN, LVI, NACH, ACH, and AXRT was significantly superior (P=0.001) to that of AJCC staging-based risk grouping (0.615). Similarly, the accuracy of a nomogram for prediction of cancer-specific survival that included pT, pN, LVI, NACH, and AXRT (0.791) was significantly superior (P=0.001) to that of AJCC staging-based risk grouping (0.663). Multivariate nomograms provide a more accurate and relevant individualized prediction of survival after cystectomy compared with conventional prediction models, thereby allowing for improved patient counseling and treatment selection.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Mechanism of 5,5-Dimethylhydantoin Chlorination: Monochlorination through a Dichloro Intermediate.
The hydantoin moiety is an important pharmacore, and when halogenated, hydantoin derivatives act as excellent biocides. However, there have been no computational studies concerning the chlorination mechanism for the hydantoin moiety reported. Herein we describe a computational mechanistic study of the chlorination of 5,5-dimethylhydantoin (H) at the B3LYP/6-311+G(2d,p) level. Under a 1:1 molar ratio of hydantoin and a chlorinating agent (HOCl), conproportionation is calculated to be favorable to give the N1 monochloro derivative as the major predicted product, which is in agreement with experiment. Initial direct chlorination at the N1 position is prevented by a high kinetic barrier. The first step involves the deprotonation of the hydantoin moiety (at the N3 position) which is followed by a SN2 step transferring a chloronium ion (Cl(+)) from HOCl to the ionized hydantoin anion. A mechanism is proposed where the N3 nitrogen is chlorinated first followed by the N1 position to form the dichloro derivative. When CPCM solvation free energies (ΔG(solv)) were added to the gas-phase free energies (ΔG(gas)) along the SN2 reaction path, a sudden decrease in free energy was observed due to the incipient formation of the hydroxide ion. Explicit consideration of solvation within a box of 512 water molecules led to a much more gradual free energy change along the reaction path but a very similar free energy of activation.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The Medicalization of Bereavement: (Ab)normal Grief in the DSM-5.
This article examines the recently published changes to eliminate the bereavement exclusion (BE) from the criteria for the diagnosis of major depression in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5). Numerous scholars and critics have expressed concerns by calling these changes a "medicalization" of grief. This article first considers the removal of the BE and then examines the macrolevel and microlevel consequences of this medicalization of grief, including overdiagnosis and overtreatment, a potential expanded market for pharmaceutical companies, and the loss of traditional and cultural methods of adapting to the loss of a loved one.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Purification and partial sequence of proteins involved in the cholic acid transport into rat liver hepatocytes.
Two proteins, in previous work labeled by affinity markers derived from taurocholic acid, were purified and partially sequenced. Antibodies were raised against purified proteins, and cross-reactions were carefully checked. The influence of these antibodies upon taurocholic acid import into vesicles from rat liver plasma membranes was measured, and showed a distinct inhibition of transport in the case of the 54 kD protein.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Dermatological findings in the annual examination of the patients with Yusho in 1989-1990].
We reported the skin symptoms of the patients with Yusho in the 1989 and 1990 annual examinations. We also studied the alteration of the skin symptoms in 33 patients followed up for 14 years (1977-1990). Most of these patients showed obvious improvement in their skin symptoms during 12 years (1977-1988). However, a remarkable improvement was not observed in recent 3 years and approximately 40% of the patients still had comedones and/or acneiform eruptions.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Effect of electroacupuncture on gastric mucosal intestinal trefoil factor gene expression in the rat of gastric mucosal injury induced by stress].
To investigate effects of electroacupuncture on gastric mucosal intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) gene expression in the rat of gastric mucosal injury induced by stress. Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank group, model group, stomach channel group, gallbladder channel group. The normal group did not receive any processing, and the model group were fixed for 7 sessions and both the stomach channel group and the gallbladder channel group received 7 sessions of electro-acupuncture before modeling. The model was made by water restraint stress (WRS) for 10 hours. Index of gastric mucosal injury was detected and then the gastric mucosa tissue in each rat was taken and the expression of ITFmRNA of the tissue was detected by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. There was very significant or significant difference in the gastric mucosal injury as the stomach channel group and the gallbladder channel group compared with the model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); electroacupuncture had a tendency of improving the expression of gastric mucosal ITFmRNA gene; the expression of ITFmRNA in the gallbladder channel group and the stomach channel group was significantly higher than that of the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The special regulation of electroacupuncture on gastric mucosal tissue is related with the release of epidermal growth factor and the expression of intestinal trefoil factor gene.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Recombination of Virulence Genes in Divergent Acidovorax avenae Strains That Infect a Common Host.
Bacterial etiolation and decline (BED), caused by Acidovorax avenae, is an emerging disease of creeping bentgrass on golf courses in the United States. We performed the first comprehensive analysis of A. avenae on a nationwide collection of turfgrass- and maize-pathogenic A. avenae. Surprisingly, our results reveal that the turfgrass-pathogenic A. avenae in North America are not only highly divergent but also belong to two distinct phylogroups. Both phylogroups specifically infect turfgrass but are more closely related to maize pathogens than to each other. This suggests that, although the disease is only recently reported, it has likely been infecting turfgrass for a long time. To identify a genetic basis for the host specificity, we searched for genes closely related among turfgrass strains but distantly related to their homologs from maize strains. We found a cluster of 11 such genes generated by three ancient recombination events within the type III secretion system (T3SS) pathogenicity island. Ever since the recombination, the cluster has been conserved by strong purifying selection, hinting at its selective importance. Together our analyses suggest that BED is an ancient disease that may owe its host specificity to a highly conserved cluster of 11 T3SS genes.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The desmoplastic lymph node reaction as a prognostic factor of cancer of the tongue and floor of the mouth.
To determine the prognostic significance of desmoplasia in metastatic lymph nodes of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of mouth, 37 cases of this disease were studied. Desmoplasia was present in 59.4% of the cases and associated extracapsular spread in 40.5%. The association of desmoplasia with large lymph node involvement occurred in 59.4%. These relationships were statistically significant (p = 0.002 and 0.0069). The results obtained suggest that desmoplasia is a bad prognosis associated factor.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Sexual dysfunction in patients with painful bladder syndrome is age related and progressive.
The degree of sexual dysfunction in patients with painful bladder syndrome (PBS) across their lifespan has not been previously documented. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is a research tool to measure the degree of clinical female sexual dysfunction (FSD). This 19-item questionnaire evaluates FSD in six domains: desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain. This study used the FSFI with the additional variables of age, geographical location, and current medications. The participants were not blinded to the fact that this study was examining the link between PBS and FSD. Each question in the survey was targeted to a specific variable of FSD and the answers were rated on a Lickert scale. When compared with controls, PBS patients self-report significant sexual dysfunction in all domains evaluated by the FSFI (p < 0.001). Age-specific results were observed in regards to the domains of arousal, lubrication, and pain (p < 0.01). PBS patients report significant FSD in all domains when compared to controls (p < 0.001). Significant differences in the domains of arousal, lubrication, and pain exist between respondents < 30 years old and in those > 50 years of age. The extent of sexual dysfunction is worse in the areas of pain in each age group evaluated. Pain is the most significant finding in patients with FSD and PBS.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Immunoadsorption for pregnancy-associated severe acquired hemophilia.
Postpartum hemorrhage is a common cause of maternal mortality. Acquired hemophilia (AH) is a rare, life-threatening bleeding disorder induced by autoantibodies against coagulation factors (inhibitors). We report about eight patients with postpartum AH (out of 82). Seven AH patients with severe bleeding complications were treated by the "Modified Bonn-Malmö Protocol (MBMP)" which consists of inhibitor elimination via immunoadsorption (IA) in combination with immunosuppression and high-dose Factor VIII substitution. One patient was treated only by immunosuppression. Seven out of eight patients with severe AH and mean inhibitor titers (IT) of 118 BU/mL were referred to our center. They were severe cases with a median delay of diagnosis of 30.5 days (range 7-278 days). After a median of 3 IA sessions (range 3-5 days), no inhibitor was detectable. The factor substitution was discontinued after a median of 13 IA sessions (range 8-24 days) and IA was terminated after a median of 15 sessions (range 9-27 days). One less severe affected patient (IT: 2.1 BU/mL) received prednisolone (1.5 mg/kg BW) for 120 days. Complete remission was achieved in all patients with a median follow-up of 100 months (range 56-126 m). The delayed diagnosis of pregnancy-associated AH leads to a high bleeding risk with bleeding associated complications. Immunoadsorption offers an important treatment option in severe AH, enabling a fast reconstitution of the blood coagulation with a reduced time for the Factor VIII substitution and for immunosuppressive treatment. In cases of postpartum bleeding the diagnosis of AH should be routinely considered.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The activity of class I, II, III and IV alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes and aldehyde dehydrogenase in ovarian cancer and ovarian cysts.
The metabolism of cancerous cells is in many ways different than in healthy cells. In ovarian cancer, cells exhibit activity of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which participate in metabolism of many biological substances. The aim of this study was to compare the metabolism of ovarian cancer cells, ovarian cysts and normal ovarian cells by measurement of ADH isoenzymes and ALDH activities. The study material consisted of 36 cancerous ovarian tissues. Class III, IV of ADH and total ADH activity was measured by the photometric method and class I, II ADH and ALDH activity by the fluorometric method with class-specific fluorogenic substrates. The activity of the class I ADH isoenzyme and the total ADH was significantly higher in ovarian cancer as compared to ovarian cysts and healthy tissues but there are no significant differences between ovarian cysts and healthy cells. The other classes of ADH tested, did not show significant differences between activity of cancerous cells and healthy ovary. The increased activity of total ADH in ovarian cancer, especially the class I isoenzyme and normal activity of ALDH, may be the factor for the disturbances in important biological substances metabolism and could increase the concentration of highly carcinogenic acetaldehyde.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Clinicopathologic study of primary gastric lymphoma of B cell phenotype with special reference to low-grade B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue among the Japanese.
Resection specimens from 83 patients with primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) of B cell phenotype at stage IE and at stage IIE according to the Ann Arbor classification were investigated. Histologically, these lymphomas could be divided into four types: Type I lesions (n = 24) were entirely made up of MALT lymphoma; Type II lesions (n = 13) were predominantly MALT lymphoma containing one to a few foci of high-grade B cell lymphoma; Type III lesions (n = 22) consisted largely of high-grade lymphoma with small areas of low-grade MALT lymphoma; and Type IV lesions (n = 24) were pure high-grade B cell lymphoma, mostly of the large cell type. All patients had undergone primary gastric resection, and 14 received additional chemotherapy (n = 12), or both chemotherapy and radiotherapy (n = 2). The survival probability was significantly higher for Types I and II lymphomas than for Types III and IV tumors (P < 0.05 by the generalized Wilcoxon test). According to The General Rules for the Gastric Cancer Study by the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer, the stage of disease showed a clear distinction between each of them (P < 0.01 by the generalized Wilcoxon test). This staging method seemed to serve well as a prognostic indicator. The histological typing of the PGL of the present series also seemed to correlate with the gross appearance, pathologic stage and prognosis. Furthermore, the expression of cyclin D1, bcl-2 and p53 protein, and PCNA was immunohistochemically investigated in 42 cases of the present series. Most of the low-grade PGL (Types I and II) had less than 60% PCNA-positive cells, whereas the high-grade PGL (Types III and IV) had more than 60% positive cells. In a study for cyclin D1 protein, no cases showed the nuclear staining pattern characteristic for mantle cell lymphoma, and the cytoplasmic staining frequently observed in the node-based large B cell lymphoma was seldom identified in the PGL. This discrepancy might suggest a lineage difference among the morphologically similar, but site-different, lymphomas. On the other hand, bcl-2 protein overexpression was almost equal in frequency between the gastric and node-based high-grade B cell lymphomas. This is in contrast to the reports from Western countries, in which the majority of high-grade gastric tumors were bcl-2 negative.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Assessment of two methods to determine the relative contributions of the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems in racehorses.
A prospective, randomized, controlled study was designed to determine relative aerobic and anaerobic (lactic and alactic) contributions at supramaximal exercise intensities using two different methods. Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 5) performed a maximal rate of oxygen consumption (V̇o2max) test and three supramaximal treadmill runs (105, 115, and 125% V̇o2max). Blood lactate concentration (BL) was measured at rest, every 15 s during runs, and 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min postexercise. In method 1, oxygen demand was calculated for each supramaximal intensity based on the V̇o2max test, and relative aerobic and anaerobic contributions were calculated from measured V̇o2 and the accumulated oxygen deficit. In method 2, aerobic contribution was calculated using the trapezoidal method to determine V̇o2 during exercise. A monoexponential model was fitted to the postexercise V̇o2 curve. Alactic contribution was calculated using the coefficients of this model. Lactate anaerobic contribution was calculated by multiplying the peak to resting change in BL by 3. Linear mixed-effects models were used to examine the effects of exercise intensity and method (as fixed effects) on measured outcomes (P ≤ 0.05). Relative aerobic and anaerobic contributions were not different between methods (P = 0.20). Horses' mean contributions were 81.4, 77.6, and 72.5% (aerobic), and 18.5, 22.3, and 27.4% (anaerobic) at 105, 115, and 125% V̇o2max, respectively. Individual alactic anaerobic energy was not different between supramaximal exercise intensities (P = 0.43) and was negligible, contributing a mean of 0.11% of the total energy. Relative energy contributions can be calculated using measured V̇o2 and BL in situations where the exercise intensity is unknown. Understanding relative metabolic demands could help develop tailored training programs. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Relative energy contributions of horses can be calculated using measured V̇o2 and BL in situations where the exercise intensity is unknown. Horses' mean contributions were 81.4, 77.6, and 72.5% (aerobic), and 18.5, 22.3, and 27.4% (anaerobic) at 105, 115, and 125% of V̇o2max, respectively. Individual alactic capacity was unaltered between supramaximal exercise intensities and accounted for a mean contribution of 0.11% of energy use.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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A post-modification approach to peptide foldamers.
Hydrophilic/hydrophobic patterning is a powerful strategy to control folding in non-natural polymers/oligomers. In this contribution, we present a novel strategy for the preparation of alternating hydrophilic/hydrophobic patterned non-natural peptide foldamers. This strategy relies on the post-modification of a reactive peptide precursor that can be prepared via standard solid phase peptide synthesis without the need for side chain protective groups. The peptide scaffolds consisted of an alternating sequence of l-leucine and l-allylglycine residues. Using thiol-ene chemistry, the double bonds in the side chains of the l-allylglycine units could be post-modified with cysteamine hydrochloride, thioglycolic acid, 1-thioglycerol or 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-thio-beta-d-glucopyranose to afford alternating hydrophilic/hydrophobic patterned peptides. In agreement with the alternating hydrophilic/hydrophobic patterned primary structure, cysteamine and thioglycolic acid post-modified octapeptides were found to adopt a beta-sheet secondary structure in basic or acidic aqueous media, respectively. The proposed synthetic approach is not only of interest to generate diverse libraries of peptide foldamers from a limited number of reactive precursor scaffolds, but may also represent an attractive, general strategy for the synthesis of peptides with complex side chain functionalities that are not easily accessible via standard solid phase techniques.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Long term nutritional rehabilitation by gastrostomy in Israeli patients with cystic fibrosis: clinical outcome in advanced pulmonary disease.
Several studies have shown a linear correlation between nutritional status and pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis. Our study aims were: 1) To evaluate the effect of nutritional supplementation via gastrostomy on nutritional, clinical, and pulmonary parameters, and 2) To identify predicting factors for success of long-term nutritional rehabilitation. Twenty-one Israeli patients, aged 8 months to 20 years, underwent gastrostomy insertion from 1992 to 2001. All patients were pancreatic insufficient, and all carried severe mutations (W1282X in 62% of the patients). Anthropometric and clinical data were obtained for each patient: 0-12 months before and 6-12 months and 18-24 months after gastrostomy placement. Standard deviation scores (SDS) for height, weight, and body mass index as well as percent of height-appropriate body weight were calculated. The mean percent-of-predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) decreased significantly during the first year of gastrostomy feeding (n = 16), from 44.2% +/- 13.9 to 41% +/- 13.3 (P = 0.05). However, during the second year of therapy (n = 10), a trend toward improvement was observed (from 39.4 +/- 12.1 to 41.4 +/- 16.1). Weight, and BMI z-scores as well as weight percent-of ideal body weight increased significantly. Height z-score for age decreased during the first year (from -1.9 +/- 1.3 to -2.1 +/- 1.4), However, a trend toward improvement was observed during the second year. A significant correlation was found between the change in weight z-score and height z-score during the first (r = 0.488, P = 0.016) and the second (r = 0.825, P < 0.001) years. There was no difference between compliers and noncompliers regarding height, weight, and BMI either before or after gastrostomy placement. A significant correlation between age at insertion of gastrostomy and improvement in height z-score (r = 0.52, P = 0.016) was observed. Cystic fibrosis related diabetes (n = 8) did not affect the response to supplemental feeding. We observed a trend toward improvement of pulmonary disease during the second year, and a significant improvement in weight, height, and BMI z-scores. Compliance, diabetes, and young age prior to tube insertion did not predict success of nutritional rehabilitation.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Relationship of frontal plane rotation of first metatarsal to proximal articular set angle and hallux alignment in patients undergoing tarsometatarsal arthrodesis for hallux abducto valgus: a case series and critical review of the literature.
Rotation of the first metatarsal, as a component of hallux abducto valgus, is rarely discussed and is not addressed as a component of most hallux valgus corrective procedures. We believe frontal plane rotation of the first metatarsal to be an integral component of hallux abducto valgus deformity (the "third plane of deformity") and believe de-rotation is necessary for complete deformity correction. We observed the change in angular measurements commonly used in the evaluation of hallux valgus deformity in patients who underwent a modified lapidus procedure. We measured the intermetatarsal angle, hallux abductus angle, proximal articular set angle, and tibial sesamoid position on weightbearing radiographs of 25 feet in 24 patients who had undergone tarsal metatarsal corrective arthrodesis and lateral capsular release. Specific attention was given to reduction of the frontal plane rotation of the first metatarsal during correction. Our results showed a change in the angular measurements observed by 4 investigators as follows. The mean change in the intermetatarsal angle was 10.1° (p < .0001). The mean change in the hallux abductus angle was 17.8° (p < .0001). The mean change in the proximal articular set angle was 18.7° (p < .0001). The mean change in the tibial sesamoid position was 3.8 (p < .0001). Also, a consistent valgus, or everted position of the first metatarsal, was noted as a component of the hallux abducto valgus deformity in our patient population and was corrected by varus rotation or inversion of the metatarsal. We also reviewed the current literature related to anatomic changes in the first ray in the patient with hallux valgus deformity and reviewed our hypothesis regarding the reduction in the proximal articular set angle, which we believe to be related to frontal plane rotation of the first metatarsal, resulting in a radiographic artifact.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Antibody production by injection of living cells expressing non self antigens as cell surface type II transmembrane fusion protein.
Antigen expression and purification are laborious, time consuming and frequently difficult steps in the process of antibody production. In the present study, we developed a method avoiding these two steps. This method relies on the injection of histocompatible living cells stably expressing the antigen as a cell surface type II transmembrane fusion protein. A vector, nicknamed pCD1-CD134L, was constructed to express the antigen fused at the carboxyterminal end of the human CD134 ligand (CD134L) type II transmembrane protein on the surface of eucaryotic cells. This vector was shown to induce cell surface expression of epitopes from human c-Myc (soluble protein), uterogloblin-related protein 1 (secreted protein) and CD94 (type II transmembrane protein). Using this vector, we developed a method to produce antibodies without antigen production. The flowchart of this method is as follows: (i) cloning of the antigen in the pCD1-CD134L vector; (ii) production of a histocompatible cell line stably expressing the CD134L-antigen fusion protein; (iii) testing for cell surface expression of the fusion protein by targeting the CD134L carrier; and (iv) prime-boost immunisation with living cells expressing the fusion protein. This method was successfully used for production of polyclonal antibodies raised against Ixodes ricinus calreticulin (secreted protein) in mice and for production of monoclonal antibodies raised against an epitope of Vaccinia virus A56 (type I transmembrane protein) protein in rat. The present study is the first to demonstrate the use of a type II transmembrane protein as a carrier for cell surface display of antigens.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
|
Prediction value of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) serum levels and antral follicle count (AFC) in hormonal contraceptive (HC) users and non-HC users undergoing IVF-PGD treatment.
Use of hormone contraceptives (HC) is very popular in the reproductive age and, therefore, evaluation of ovarian reserve would be a useful tool to accurately evaluate the reproductive potential in HC users. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 41 HC users compared to 57 non-HC users undergoing IVF-preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) aiming to evaluate the effect of HC on the levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), small (2-5 mm), large (6-10 mm) and total antral follicle count (AFC) and the ability of these markers to predict IVF outcome. Significant differences in large AFC (p = 0.04) and ovarian volume (p < 0.0001) were seen, however, there were no significant differences in small and total AFC or in serum AMH and FSH levels. Oocyte number significantly correlated with AMH and total AFC in HC users (p < 0.001) while in non-HC users these correlations were weaker. In HC users, the significant predictors of achieving <6 and >18 oocytes were AFC (ROC-AUC; 0.958, p = 0.001 and 0.883, p = 0.001) and AMH (ROC-AUC-0.858, p = 0.01 and 0.878, p = 0.001), respectively. The predictive values were less significant in non-HC users. These findings are important in women treated for PGD, in ovum donors and for assessing the fertility prognosis in women using HC and wishing to postpone pregnancy.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Calcium involved in the signaling pathway of jasmonic acid induced stomatal closure of Vicia faba L].
Ca2+, an ubiquitous second messenger in the signal transudation pathway, is required for various physiological and developmental processes in plant. Jasmonic acid (JA) has been known to induce the stomatal closure. By monitoring the changes of [Ca2+]cyt with fluorescent probe Fluo-3 AM under the confocal microscopy, we observed that exogenous JA increased [Ca2+]cyt in guard cells of Vicia faba L. while the control and linolenic acid (LA), which is a precursor of JA, could hardly affect the change of [Ca2+]cyt. EGTA, a chelator of Ca2+ completely blocked JA-induced stomatal closure. After epidermis pretreated with EGTA, JA failed to result in [Ca2+]cyt increasing. Ruthenium red that blocked Ca2+ released from intracellular Ca2+ store could not significantly change JA-induced stomatal closure, while JA still increased [Ca2+]cyt. Furthermore, Ca2+ channel inhibitor of nifedipine (NIF) reduced the effectiveness of JA-induced stomatal closure and JA-induced increasing fluorescent intensity in guard cells. The results demonstrated that Ca2+ is involved in the signal transduction of JA induced stomatal closure, and the source of [Ca2+]cyt increasing in guard cells induced by JA might derive mainly from the external stores.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
|
Epidemiology and control of brucellosis in China.
The paper describes the history and evolvement of brucellosis in China. It presents the variation of epidemic situation, epidemiological characteristics, application of vaccines and control in brief. Before 1980s, human and animal brucellosis was quite severe; during 1980s, the incidence of human and animal brucellosis was relatively low, and seemed to decrease during the decade. During 1990s, there were no obvious changes in the incidence of animal brucellosis, but the incidence of human brucellosis increased, especially from 1995 to 2001. There are not only some common characteristics but also some differences in brucellosis epidemiology relative to that reported in the rest of the world. For the entire country, B. melitensis was the predominant strain associated with outbreaks, and the epidemic peak is from February to June. Several Brucella vaccines have been used in China for prevention and control of brucellosis. such as B. abortus 104 M in humans, B. suis S2 in animals. The introduction of comprehensive measures has allowed great progress in the prevention and control of brucellosis in China. Surveillance points were set-up countrywide to estimate the epidemic situation. In addition, we discussed the new characteristics of brucellosis in China, the influence of the El Nino phenomenon on brucellosis epidemic situation, the phenomenon of antigenic interference between Brucella species and some disadvantages of live Brucella vaccines.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Reduced distractor interference during vagus nerve stimulation.
Suppressing irrelevant information in decision making is an essential everyday skill. We studied whether this ability could be improved in epileptic patients during vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). VNS is known to increase norepinephrine (NE) in the brain. NE is thought to improve several aspects of cognitive control, including the suppression of irrelevant information. Nineteen epileptic VNS patients executed the Eriksen flanker task twice, both during on and off stimulation. Distractor interference was indexed by the congruency effect, a standard empirical marker of cognitive control. We found a reduced congruency effect during stimulation, which indicates an improved ability to suppress distractor interference. This effect was only found in patients that are clinically determined VNS-responders (n = 10). As VNS increases NE in VNS-responders, our finding suggests a beneficial role of NE in cognitive control. At the same time, it suggests that VNS does not only reduce seizure frequency in epileptic patients, but also improves cognitive control.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
|
Construction and characterization of a phycobiliprotein-less mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
A mutant strain of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803, called PAL, (PC-, delta apcAB, delta apcE), lacking phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and the core-membrane linker (Lcm), was constructed. The strain was characterized by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The mutant compensates for the absence of the major PS II antenna by increasing its PS II/PS I ratio. It is stable and grows well albeit more slowly than wild type.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
|
Burnout among direct-care workers in nursing homes: Influences of organisational, workplace, interpersonal and personal characteristics.
The many negative effects of burnout have prompted researchers to better understand the factors contributing to it. The purpose of this paper is to add to this body of knowledge through the study of burnout among direct-care workers in nursing homes. Perhaps the factor most often associated with employee burnout is the level of staffing-insufficient staffing results in work overload and eventually employee burnout. A closer look at research findings suggests that there are many other factors also contributing to burnout. These range from those at the organisational level, such as availability of training and resources to individual characteristics such as self-esteem and length of employment. A self-administered survey instrument was completed by 410 direct-care workers working within 11 nursing homes in the north Texas region. Regression analyses were performed, adjusting for clustering by nursing home. Beta coefficients and structure coefficients are reported. Burnout was measured through three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment. Organisational, work design, interpersonal and individual characteristics were found to be associated with one or more dimensions of burnout. The analyses largely support previous research. Organisational variables of significance included the availability of resources to do the work, available training and fair pay. Work design variables of significance included adequate staffing. The individual characteristic, self-esteem, appeared to have the strongest impact on burnout. Commitment to the organisation also had a large impact. While the data do not allow for the testing of causal relationships, the data do suggest that providing adequate staffing, perceived fair pay, sufficient work resources (e.g., towels, gowns), management support and adequate training may result in less direct-care worker burnout on the job.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Tau phosphorylation both in vitro and in cells.
Tau was originally isolated from brain microtubules and shown to be a microtubule-associated protein (MAP) that promoted tubulin polymerization (1). It is largely confined to axons, where it is the major MAP. It promotes microtubule nucleation, elongation, and bundling, and stabilizes microtubules by inhibiting depolymerization.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
|
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