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Quality assessment of an aquifer recharged with wastewater for its potential use as drinking source: "El Mezquital Valley" case.
Mexico City, with a population of 18 million, has been sending its wastewater for more than 100 years to the Tula Valley where it is used to irrigate 90,000 ha. Due to the large wastewater volume (60 m3/s) sent through unlined channels, combined with the use of very high irrigation rates, artificial recharge of the local aquifer has been occurring. This recharge is estimated in more than 25 m3/s. As a consequence, the water table has raised and several springs have appeared in the last decades with flows between 100 to 600 L/s. These springs and several wells are the water sources in the region. An evaluation of the Tula Valley aquifer quality was performed to analyze the use of such water as source of drinking water for Mexico City. The work is divided into 5 individual projects: (a) drinking water quality in the Tula Valley; (b) water availability in the Tula Valley; (c) wastewater treatment due to its use for irrigation, (d) use of membrane processes to treat groundwater; and (d) biota developed in the new surface water reservoirs. Results show that it is feasible to use this reclaimed water as drinking source. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Analysis and treatment discussion of 778 DSA with atherosclerosis occlusion in lower extremities].
To study on lesion characteristic and treatment of atherosclerosis occlusion (ASO). Collect and analysis 413 patients, 778 lower extremities digital subtraction angiography (DSA) from Jan. 1, 1996 to Dec. 31, 2007 in our hospital. Left 220 (28.3%), right 208 (26.7%), both 350 (45.0%); type I 65 (8.4%), type II 194 (24.9%), type III 519 (66.6%); single level 135 (17.4%), multilevel 643 (82.6%); profound lesions stenosis 82 (10.5%), occlusion 16 (2.1%). Multilevel lesions are the main characteristic in all cases (about 4/5); we should design individual treatment dependent on lesion characteristic. Endovascular intervention and bypass reconstruction is main treatment for ASO. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
IFN-alpha sensitizes daudi B lymphoma cells to anti-IgM induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential through activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase.
Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) regulates multiple biologic functions, including antiviral activity, immune regulation, cell differentiation, and cell survival or death, in a variety of cell types. We and others have recently demonstrated that IFN-alpha induces cell death through activation of c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) in human Daudi B lymphoma and U266 myeloma cells. Moreover, the IFN-alpha-induced signaling pathway has been shown to cross talk with the antigen receptor-mediated signaling cascade. In the present study, we examined whether IFN-alpha affects cell death after engagement of membrane immunoglobulin (mIg) using anti-IgM. Daudi cells pretreated with low concentrations of IFN-alpha (25 or 250 U/mL) for 24 h were stimulated with anti-IgM (1-10 microg/mL) for 24 h. The cells were assayed for JNK activation, mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim) by Western blotting, and DiOC(6) staining, respectively. The IFN-alpha-primed Daudi cells showed an increased sensitivity to subsequent stimulation with anti-IgM, as assessed by JNK activation and DeltaPsim. Moreover, Daudi cells overexpressing the constitutively active or dominant-negative form of JNK were substantially susceptible or resistant to anti-IgM-induced DeltaPsim, respectively, compared with cells overexpressing the control vector alone. Taken together, these results indicate that IFN-alpha renders Daudi B lymphoma cells susceptible to anti-IgM-induced apoptosis, probably through upregulation of JNK activation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Experimental basis for the management of dental resorption.
Current evidence indicates that the mechanisms by which the mineralized tissues, bone and dentin, are resorbed are similar. Osteoclasts and dentinoclasts are possibly indistinguishable cell types that both resorb mineralized substrata. The principles of treatment of both dental and osseous resorptions should therefore have much in common. This article discusses the basis of hard tissue resorption and explores the rationale for experimental approaches towards the management of dental resorption. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Bethlem myopathy: a slowly progressive congenital muscular dystrophy with contractures.
Bethlem myopathy is an early-onset benign autosomal dominant myopathy with contractures caused by mutations in collagen type VI genes. It has been reported that onset occurs in early childhood. We investigated the natural course of Bethlem myopathy in five previously published kindreds and two novel pedigrees, with particular attention to the mode of onset in 23 children and the progression of weakness in 36 adult patients. Our analysis shows that nearly all children exhibit weakness or contractures during the first 2 years of life. Early features include diminished foetal movements, neonatal hypotonia and congenital contractures which are of a dynamic nature during childhood. The course of Bethlem myopathy in adult patients is less benign than previously thought. Due to slow but ongoing progression, more than two-thirds of patients over 50 years of age use a wheelchair. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Phosphorylation of the zinc finger transcriptional regulator ZAT6 by MPK6 regulates Arabidopsis seed germination under salt and osmotic stress.
C(2)H(2)-type zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) play diverse roles in plant response to abiotic stresses. ZAT6, an Arabidopsis C(2)H(2)-type ZFP, has been reported to regulate root development and nutrient stress responses. However, its roles in regulation of abiotic stress response are incompletely known. Here, we demonstrate that salt or osmotic stress triggers a strong increase in ZAT6 expression in leaves. Transgenic plants overexpressing ZAT6 showed improved seed germination under salt and osmotic stress. Intriguingly, ZAT6 interacts with a stress-responsive mitogen-activated protein kinase MPK6 in vitro and in planta. ZAT6 is phosphorylated by both recombinant and plant endogenous MPK6. Serine 8 and serine 223 in ZAT6 were identified as the sites phosphorylated by MPK6. In contrast to wild-type form of ZAT6, overexpression of phosphorylation mutant form did not display significantly enhanced salt and osmotic stress tolerance. Altogether, our results suggest that phosphorylation by MPK6 is required for the functional role of ZAT6 in seed germination under salt and osmotic stress. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Biochemically Controlled Release of Dexamethasone Covalently Bound to PEDOT.
PEDOT (Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)) is one of the most promising electrode materials for biomedical applications like neural recording and stimulation, thanks to its enhanced biocompatibility and electronic properties. Drug delivery by PEDOT is typically achieved by incorporating drugs as dopants during the electrodeposition procedure and a subsequent release can be promoted by applying a cathodic trigger that reduces PEDOT while enabling the drug to diffuse. This approach has several disadvantages including, for instance, the release of contaminants mainly due to PEDOT decomposition during electrochemical release. Herein we describe a new strategy based on the formation of a chemical linkage between the drug and the conductive polymer. In particular, dexamethasone was successfully integrated into a new electropolymerized PEDOT-Dex composite, leading to a self-adjusting drug release system based on a biochemically hydrolysable bond between dexamethasone and PEDOT. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The KBG syndrome, characteristic dental findings: a case report.
Short stature and developmental delay may be observed in many genetic conditions and well-defined syndromes. A 7-year-old girl presented with the non-specific findings of subtle dysmorphism, short stature and developmental delay. Although a genetic syndrome was suspected, a definitive diagnosis was not made until the dental findings of KBG syndrome were recognised, namely grossly enlarged maxillary permanent central incisors and hypodontia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Tobacco, Microbes, and Carcinogens: Correlation Between Tobacco Cure Conditions, Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamine Content, and Cured Leaf Microbial Community.
Tobacco-specific nitrosamines are carcinogenic N-nitrosamine compounds present at very low levels in freshly harvested tobacco leaves that accumulate during leaf curing. Formation of N-nitrosamine compounds is associated with high nitrate levels in the leaf at harvest, and nitrate is presumed to be the source from which the N-nitrosation species originates. More specifically, nitrite is considered to be a direct precursor, and nitrite is linked with N-nitrosation in many environmental matrices where it occurs via microbial nitrate reduction. Here, we initiate work exploring the role of leaf microbial communities in formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines. Leaves from burley tobacco line TN90H were air cured under various temperature and relative humidity levels, and 22 cured tobacco samples were analyzed for their microbial communities and leaf chemistry. Analysis of nitrate, nitrite, and total tobacco-specific nitrosamine levels revealed a strong positive correlation between the three variables, as well as a strong positive correlation with increasing relative humidity during cure conditions. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to assess microbial communities in each of the samples. In most samples, Proteobacteria predominated at the phylum level, accounting for >90 % of the OTUs. However, a distinct shift was noted among members of the high tobacco-specific nitrosamine group, with increases in Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. Several OTUs were identified that correlate strongly (positive and negative) with tobacco-specific nitrosamine content. Copy number of bacterial nitrate reductase genes, obtained using quantitative PCR, did not correlate strongly with tobacco-specific nitrosamine content. Incomplete denitrification is potentially implicated in tobacco-specific nitrosamine levels. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Methane output of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) fed a hay-only diet: implications for the scaling of methane production with body mass in non-ruminant mammalian herbivores.
It is assumed that small herbivores produce negligible amounts of methane, but it is unclear whether this is a physiological peculiarity or simply a scaling effect. A respiratory chamber experiment was conducted with six rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus, 1.57±0.31 kg body mass) and six guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus, 0.79±0.07 kg) offered grass hay ad libitum. Daily dry matter (DM) intake and DM digestibility were 50±6 g kg⁻⁰·⁷⁵ d⁻¹ and 55±6% in rabbits and 59±11 g kg⁻⁰·⁷⁵ d⁻¹ and 61±3% in guinea pigs, respectively. Methane production was similar for both species (0.20±0.10 L d⁻¹ and 0.22±0.08L d⁻¹ and represented 0.69±0.32 and 1.03±0.29% of gross energy intake in rabbits and guinea pigs, respectively. In relation to body mass (BM) guinea pigs produced significantly more methane. The data on methane per unit of BM obtained in this study and from the literature on the methane output of elephant, wallabies and hyraxes all lay close to a regression line derived from roughage-fed horses, showing an increase in methane output with BM. The regression, including all data, was nearly identical to that based on the horse data only (methane production in horses [L d⁻¹]=0.18 BM [kg]⁰·⁹⁷(⁹⁵%CI ⁰·⁹²⁻¹·⁰²)) and indicates linear scaling. Because feed intake typically scales to BM⁰·⁷⁵, linear scaling of methane output translates into increasing energetic losses at increasing BM. Accordingly, the data collection indicates that an increasing proportion of ingested gross energy is lost because relative methane production increases with BM. Different from ruminants, such losses (1%-2% of gross energy) appear too small in non-ruminant herbivores to represent a physiologic constraint on body size. Nevertheless, this relationship may represent a physiological disadvantage with increasing herbivore body size. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Lofgren syndrome revealed by eyelid tumor].
The Lofgren syndrom is a particular variety of sarcoidose. The ocular attack is dominated in this syndrome by anterior uveitis. More rarely the eyelids and the orbitary structures are attached. In this work, we report a Lofgren syndrome case revealed by eyelid tumor. It is about 42 year-old patient who consults for a right inferior eye-lid tumefaction developped for 2 months. The diagnosis of Lofgren syndrome was evoqued because of the association of fever, arthritis, erythema nodosum, tuberculin anergia, hypercalcinuria and mediastinal adenopathy at thoracic scan-tomography. The diagnosis was then confirmed by biopsy of palpebral tumor which showed multiple epithelioid and gigantocellular granuloma without caseous necrosis. The Lofgren syndrome is a multivisceral chronic affection. The eye and its annexes constitute frequent cibles of this affection for which they react by a diverse and rich symptomalogy and which can be presented by eye-lid tumors with orbital extension. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Suitability of the ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua [L.]) for investigations on activity of hepatic enzymes induced by xenobiotics.
Activity measurements of enzymes catalyzing (i) the oxidation of xenobiotics (phase I) and (ii) the conjugation of metabolites produced in phase I (phase II) were carried out in ruffe to test its suitability for biological monitoring. Ruffe typically lives in the lower regions of rivers and in estuaries where monitoring is of particular interest for estimating the amount of pollutants introduced into the sea. The flounder, already examined for this purpose, is used as reference organism. In ruffe, the enzymatic activity (7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD)) increased with the contamination of the river toward Hamburg whereas in flounder it did not. The absence of a correlation between induction of the enzymatic activity in flounder and environmental contamination is attributed to the higher readiness of the flounder to migrate. Therefore, mixed function oxygenase activity found in flounders may not represent the inducing capacity of the local concentrations of xenobiotics. Since ECOD activity in ruffe was 5 to 20 times higher compared to the flounder, histopathological findings of investigations of the liver tissue were considered. Destruction or pathological changes of the endoplasmatic reticulum (where ECOD and EROD are located) is often reported in flounder but not in the ruffe, which may influence the expression of some enzymatic activities. The enzymatic activity of the phase II enzyme glutatione-S-transferase, which is considered to have a protective function in the cell against damages, caused by reactive metabolites, was more induced in ruffe than in flounder. Thus the ruffe may be less subjected to cell injury. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Querulous paranoia in Chinese patients: a cultural paradox.
There has been no reported case of querulous paranoia from the Asian population. A prospective study was undertaken to identify patients with querulous paranoia in an outpatient clinic. One thousand, five hundred and fifty-one new referrals to a university-affiliated psychiatric outpatient clinic in Hong Kong were screened for querulous paranoia during routine clinical work. Three patients with querulous paranoia (0.19%) were identified during 1 year. The case histories of these three patients are reported. Possible reasons for the low reporting rate are discussed and the importance of sociocultural traditions in the development and recognition of querulous paranoia is emphasised. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of activation of NMDA and AMPA glutamate receptors on the extracellular concentrations of dopamine, acetylcholine, and GABA in striatum of the awake rat: a microdialysis study.
The effects of activation of the AMPA and NMDA ionotropic glutamate receptors on the extracellular concentration of dopamine, acetylcholine, (ACh) and GABA in striatum of the awake rat was investigated. Also the levels of DOPAC, HVA, and choline (Ch) were included in this study. Seven to eight days after stereotaxical implantation of a guide-cannulae assembly, microdialysis experiments were performed. The dopamine and ACh content of samples were measured by HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection. GABA was measured using fluorometric detection. Perfusion of AMPA (1, 20, 100 microM) produced a dose-related increase of dopamine and a dose-related decrease of DOPAC and HVA. AMPA 100 microM decreased extracellular concentrations of ACh and increased the extracellular concentration of Ch and GABA. Perfusion of NMDA 500 microM increased the concentration of dopamine and decreased DOPAC and HVA. Also, NMDA 100 microM decreased DOPAC. NMDA 500 microM decreased the extracellular concentrations of ACh and increased the concentrations of Ch and GABA. Perfusion of the AMPA/kainate-antagonist DNQX (100 microM) blocked the effects of AMPA (100 microM) on dopamine, DOPAC, HVA, ACh, and GABA concentrations. Perfusion of the NMDA-antagonist CPP (100 microM) blocked the effects of NMDA 500 microM on dopamine, DOPAC, HVA, ACh, Ch, and GABA concentrations. These results suggest an interaction between glutamate-dopamine-ACh-GABA in striatum of the awake rat. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Transgenic mice expressing Cre-recombinase specifically in M- or S-cone photoreceptors.
To establish lines of transgenic mice that express Cre-recombinase in M- or S-cone photoreceptors for generating cone photoreceptor-specific (conditional) mutants. Five kilobases of 5' upstream sequence of the mouse red-green (M) opsin gene or 0.5 kb of the mouse blue (S) opsin gene was cloned into a Cre-expression plasmid. Transgenic mice were generated and characterized, and appropriate lines were established. The Cre-transgenic mice were crossed with ROSA26-lacZ mice (containing floxed beta-galactosidase gene) and analyzed to determine Cre-recombinase activity. Immunofluorescence study showed successful targeting of Cre-recombinase expression to cone photoreceptors. Double staining with anti-Cre antibody and anti-M- or anti-S-opsin antibody revealed specificity of Cre expression in M-opsin- and/or S-opsin-positive photoreceptors. Mating with ROSA26-lacZ mice demonstrated that Cre-recombinase was functionally active in M- or S-cones. Lines of transgenic mice that specifically express functional Cre-recombinase in M- or S-cones were established in this study. Because mutations in several widely expressed genes lead to photoreceptor degeneration, these transgenic mice should be valuable in generating conditional mutants to investigate the function of various genes specifically in cone photoreceptors. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Age-related changes in the nigrostriatal system.
These data support the view that the rate at which an organism ages is a summation of factors throughout life. While some cells seem to remain stable or even grow with age, others show significant regression. In this regard, different populations of striatal neurons show unique and different patterns of growth and development with advancing age. While aspiny II neurons show peak growth by 10 months of age, aspiny I and medium spiny I cells do not reach a growth peak until much later in life. In addition, our data support the notion that the occurrence and severity of structural changes in the aged brain are not distributed homogeneously and that many of the so-called "age-related" changes that were once generalized to the entire brain are brain-region, cell-type, and species specific. Furthermore, our data reinforces the concept that the correlation of structure and function is central to the analysis of an aging population because considerable differences may be found in data based on functionally impaired and unimpaired groups. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Preparation and studies with 90Y-labelled particles for use in radiation synovectomy.
90Y-FHMA (Ferric hydroxide macroaggregates) and 90Y-HA (hydroxyapatite) were prepared in >95% yield using 90Y from an in-house 90Sr-90Y generator. Most of the particles ranged from 5 to 20 microm in diameter and retained radiochemical purity > 95% in human serum for at least 7 days at 37 degrees C. Gamma camera imaging of normal rabbits after intraarticulation of the particles showed complete retention of activity within the knee cavity with no measurable radioactivity leaching out of the joints over a 96 hour period. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Supramolecular self-assembly of inclusion complexes of a multiarm hyperbranched polyether with cyclodextrins.
A new class of crystalline inclusion complexes of a multiarm hyperbranched polyether combined with various cyclodextrins (CDs) was successfully prepared. Using self-condensing ring-opening polymerization, a kind of multiarm polyether with a hyperbranched poly(3-ethyl-3-oxetanemethanol) core and multiple linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) arms was obtained. It has been found that this kind of hyperbranched polyether can be dissolved in water. Adding alpha-CDs to the multiarm hyperbranched polyether solution, molecular recognition results in the formation of crystalline inclusion complexes based on the noncovalent interactions between the linear PEG arms of the polyether particles and the alpha-CDs. These multiarm polyether inclusion complexes have been well characterized. Interestingly, quite different from inclusion complexes of CDs and linear polymeric guests, the complexes of the multiarm hyperbranched polyether with alpha-CDs show a novel lamellar morphology. The experimental results validate that the resultant lamellar crystals have a juxtaposed structure. In addition, the formation mechanism of these inclusion complexes of a multiarm polyether with alpha-CDs has also been well described. Besides the role of displacement of associated water molecules and the presence of hydrogen bonding between CDs in channel structure CD inclusion complexes, the noncovalent intermolecular forces between CDs and polymers also play an important role in the formation of complex architectures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Modulation of AMPA receptor subunits GluR1 and GluR2/3 in the rat cerebellum in an experimental hepatic encephalopathy model.
The immunohistochemical expression and distribution of the AMPA-selective receptor subunits GluR1 and GluR2/3 were investigated in the rat cerebellum following portocaval anastomosis (PCA) at 1 and 6 months. With respect to controls, GluR1 and GluR2/3 immunoreactivities increased over 1 to 6 months following PCA, although immunolabelling patterns for both antibodies were different at the two analysed times. GluR1 immunoreactivity was expressed by Bergmann glial cells, which showed immunoreactive glial processes crossing the molecular layer at 6 months following PCA. The GluR2/3 subunit was expressed by Purkinje neurons and moderately expressed by neurons of the granule cell layer. Immunoreactivity for GluR2/3 was detectable in cell bodies and dendrites of Purkinje cells in young control cerebella, whereas GluR2/3 immunoreactivity was scarce 1 month post PCA. However, despite a lack of immunoreactivity in the Purkinje somata and main processes of adult control rats, GluR2/3 immunoreactivity was strongly enhanced in Purkinje neurons following long-term PCA. These findings suggest that the localization of the GluR2/3 subunit in Purkinje cells undergoes an alteration and/or reorganization as a consequence of long-term PCA. The combination of enhanced GluR immunoreactivity in long-term PCA, both in Bergmann glial cells and in Purkinje neurons, suggests some degree of neuro-glial interaction, possibly through glutamate receptors, in this type of encephalopathy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Preparation and characterization of a chitosan/galactosylated hyaluronic acid/heparin scaffold for hepatic tissue engineering.
Cell culture microenvironment and hepatocyte-specific three-dimensional tissue-engineering scaffold play important roles for bioartificial liver devices. In the present study, highly porous sponge scaffolds composed of chitosan (CS) and galactosylated hyaluronic acid (GHA, galactose moieties were covalently coupled with hyaluronic acid through ethylenediamine), were prepared by freezing-drying technique. Because the growth factors specifically bind to heparin with a high affinity and biological stability of the growth factors are modulated by heparin. Heparin was added into CS/GHA scaffold under mild conditions. The effects of heparin on the morphology, structure, porosity, mechanical properties of the CS/GHA/heparin scaffold were studied. CS/GHA scaffold containing heparin maintains the porous structure and good mechanical properties. Furthermore, addition of heparin with the growth factors into the scaffold resulted in a significantly improved the microenvironment of cell growth and prolonged liver functions of the hepatocytes such as albumin secretion, urea synthesis and ammonia elimination. These results indicate that this CS/GHA/heparin scaffold is a potential candidate for liver tissue engineering. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Aggressive angiomyxoma presenting as polyp of uterine cavity.
Aggressive angiomyxoma is a distinctive, locally aggressive tumor associated with a high risk of local recurrences that lacks metastatic potential. This tumor occurs mostly in the soft tissues of the pelvis and the perineum of adult women. It may rarely occur at less common sites, such as the vagina, urinary bladder, and soft tissue of the perineum and the perianal region in men, particularly the scrotum. We report a case of aggressive angiomyxoma presenting as an endometrial uterine polyp. To the best of our knowledge, the primary location of aggressive angiomyxoma within the uterine cavity has never been described. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings support the conclusion that the progenitor cell displays myofibroblastic and fibroblastic features, with a capacity for smooth muscle differentiation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Arsenic-containing fatty acids and hydrocarbons in marine oils - determination using reversed-phase HPLC-ICP-MS and HPLC-qTOF-MS.
Arsenolipids are the major arsenic species present in marine oils. Several structures of arsenolipids have been elucidated the last 5 years, demonstrating the chemical complexity of this trace element in the marine environment. Several commercial fish oils and marine oils, ranging in total arsenic concentrations from 1.6 to 12.5 mg kg(-1) oil, were analyzed for arsenolipids using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). The arsenolipids were quantified using three different arsenic-containing calibration standards; dimethylarsinate (DMA), triphenylarsinoxide (Ph₃AsO) and a synthesized arsenic-containing hydrocarbon (AsHC) (dimethylarsinoyl nonadecane; C₂₁H₄₃AsO). The observed variation in signal intensity for arsenic during the gradient elution profile in reversed-phase HPLC was compensated for by determining the time-resolved response factors for the arsenolipids. Isotopes of germanium ((74)Ge) and indium ((115)In) were suited as internal standards for arsenic, and were used for verification of the arsenic signal response factors during the gradient elution. Dimethylarsinate was the most suitable calibration standard for the quantification of arsenolipids, with recoveries between 91% and 104% compared to total arsenic measurements in the same extracts. A range of marine oils was investigated, including oils of several fish species, cod liver and seal, as well as three commercial fish oils. The AsHCs - C₁₇H₃₈AsO, C₁₉H₄₂AsO and C₂₃H₃₈AsO - were identified as the major arsenolipids in the extracts of all oils by HPLC coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (qTOF-MS). Minor amounts of two arsenic-containing fatty acids (AsFAs) (C₂₃H₃₈AsO₃ and C₂₄H₃₈AsO₃) were also detected in the oils. The sum of the AsHCs and the AsFAs determined in the present study accounted for 17-42% of the total arsenic in the oils. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
C-type natriuretic peptide and its precursor: potential markers in human prostate cancer.
Seminal plasma offer a more organ-specific matrix for markers in prostatic disease. We hypothesized that C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) expression may constitute such a new target. Patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, clinically localized and metastatic prostate cancer were examined for CNP and CNP precursor (proCNP) concentrations in blood and seminal plasma. Furthermore, CNP and the CNP receptor (NPR-B) mRNA contents in tissue from prostate and seminal vesicles were analyzed by qPCR. CNP and NPR-B concentrations decreased with increasing tumor burden (p = 0.0027 and p = 0.0096, respectively). In contrast, seminal plasma CNP and proCNP concentrations were markedly increased with increased tumor burden (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). CNP/proCNP could be new markers in human prostate cancer. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta inhibit the synthesis and release of renin from human decidual cells.
Cytokines modulate hormone expression in many cell types, including the expression of renin in juxtaglomerular cells. However, the effect of cytokines on the expression of renin from extrarenal cells is unknown. In this paper, we have examined whether tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) modulate the release of renin from human decidual cells. Continuous exposure of primary decidual cell cultures from term pregnancies to TNF alpha and IL-1 beta caused dose-dependent inhibition of renin release. The maximal inhibitions by TNF alpha and IL-1 beta were 75.5% and 55.2%, respectively, and the half-maximal effective doses of TNF alpha and IL-1 beta were 30 and 1.1 pmol/L, respectively. The decrease in renin release by the cytokines was statistically significant on days 2-5 (P > 0.001 at each time) and was accompanied by inhibition of renin synthesis and renin messenger ribonucleic acid levels. The renin messenger ribonucleic acid levels in cells exposed for 4 days to TNF alpha (50 ng/mL) or IL-1 beta (50 pg/mL) were 58.0% and 37.7% less than those in control cells, respectively. As decidual macrophages express TNF alpha and IL-1 beta, the results of this study strongly suggest a paracrine role for cytokines in the regulation of decidual renin expression. The effect of these cytokines on renin expression in decidual cells is opposite that in juxtaglomerular cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Role of different regions of the hypothalamus in regulating the hypophyseal-adrenal cortex system in rats].
The effect of electrical stimulation of various structures of the medial hypothalamus on the corticosterone level in the peripheral blood was studied in rats with preliminarily destroyed individual areas of the hypothalamus. Injury of various structures of the medial hypothalamus led the first days after the operation to reduction of the response to the stimulation. Two-three weeks after destruction of the anterior and the middle portions of the hypothalamus reactivity of the hypophyseo-adrenocortical system was restored, although not always completely. Only in destruction of the premamillary nuclei there was no restoration of the reaction. A conclusion was drawn that the area of the posterior hypothalamus was of great necessity for functional regulation of the hypophysis-adrenal cortex system. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Modified Z-epicanthoplasty in the Asian eyelid.
To propose a new technique for eliminating the medial epicanthal fold of the Asian upper eyelid. A retrospective review of the Z-epicanthoplasty and modified Z-epicanthoplasty procedures performed during 1995 through 1999. Facial plastic surgery private practice. Four hundred seventy-five Korean American patients from 9 midwestern states with type 2 or type 3 medial epicanthal folds. The majority of the East Asian population has type 2 or 3 medial epicanthal folds. Most surgeons avoid epicanthoplasty because of the fear of visible scar formation. Modified Z-epicanthoplasty is a safe and effective technique for eliminating the epicanthal fold during double-eyelid operations. Scarring of the medial canthal area has not been a problem with this technique. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2000;2:43-47 | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A validated LC method for the determination of the enantiomeric purity of aliskiren hemifumarate in bulk drug samples.
High-performance liquid chromatography enantioseparation of aliskiren hemifumarate was accomplished on an immobilized-type Chiralpak IC chiral stationary phase under both polar organic and reversed-phase modes. A simple analytical method was developed and validated using a mixture of acetonitrile-n-butylamine 100:0.1 (v/v/) as a mobile phase with a flow rate maintained at 1.0 mL/min. Ultraviolet detection was carried out at 228 nm. Resolution between the two enantiomers was greater than 3.0. This method was capable of detecting the R-isomer to a level of 0.2 μg/mL. The method was validated as per International Conference on Harmonization guidelines and found to be robust. The method is very useful for routine evaluation of the quality of aliskiren hemifumarate in bulk drug manufacturing units. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The influence of childbearing on the urinary tract (author's transl)].
The study of intravenous pyelograms taken immediately after delivery shows how the ureter has its dynamics modified during pregnancy. The role of parity and of urinary tract infection which sometimes is evidence of a pre-existing urological malformation is demonstrated. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cardiolipin and β₂-Glycoprotein I antibodies associate with cognitive impairment and seizure frequency in developmental disorders.
Cardiolipin (CL) and β(2)-Glycoprotein I (β(2)-GpI) antibodies have been shown to associate with various neurological symptoms including seizures and cognitive dysfunction. Here we studied the prevalence of CL, β(2)-GpI and antinuclear (ANA) antibodies in 74 patients with various developmental disorders with epilepsy and 70 healthy controls. Developmental disorders were classified into genetic syndromes and diseases, genetic and/or acquired conditions, cortical dysgenesias and acquired encephalopathias. IgM-CL and β(2)-GpI antibodies were significantly more common in patients (46% vs. 20%, p<0.001 and 10% vs. 0%, p<0.05). Patients with most frequent seizures were more likely to have IgM-CL antibodies. The risk for positive IgM-CL, IgG-CL and β(2)-GpI antibodies increased concomitantly with increasing intellectual disability. Present data demonstrates that epilepsy with frequently recurring seizures may be associated with secondary immune system activation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Expression of ATP binding cassette superfamily (multidrug resistance-1, multidrug resistance-associated protein, human canalicular multispecific organ anion transporter) mRNA in etoposide and m-AMSA resistant cell lines].
The efficacy of all chemotherapeutic agents is limited by the occurrence of drug resistance. To further understand resistance to topoisomerase (topo) II inhibitors, 50 sublines were isolated as single clones from parental cells by exposure to etoposide or m-AMSA. Subsequently, a population of cells from each sublines was exposed to three-fold higher drug concentrations allowing 16 stable sublines to be established at higher extracellular drug concentration. Quantitative aspects of MRP and C-MOAT were studied by Northern blotting in 66 resistant cell lines. Increased MRP mRNA was observed in 48.5% of resistant cell lines (64.7% of etoposide resistant cells and 31.3% of m-AMSA resistant cell lines). Increased C-MOAT mRNA was also observed in 39.4% of resistant cell lines (41.2% in etoposide resistant cell lines and 37.5% in m-AMSA resistant cell lines). To characterize the function of C-MOAT, cellular accumulation assay for 3H-etoposide was performed in three resistant cell lines which overexpress C-MOAT but do not express MRP. Accumulation of etoposide was reduced in the cell lines. Our findings suggest that increased MRP and O-MOAT mRNA seems to be an important mechanism of resistance to topo II inhibitors. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Plasma ANP levels and protein extravasation during graded expansion with equilibrated whole blood.
The relationship between plasma immunoreactive atrial natriuretic peptide (irANP) and radiolabeled albumin clearance (CBSA) in multiple tissues after graded volume stimuli was examined. To obtain a pure volume stimulus, pentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rats (5 or 6 per group) were equilibrated with a reservoir of blood by a femoral arteriovenous shunt, and volume expansion (VE) was produced by adjusting reservoir outflow. Peak increases in central venous pressure (CVP) during VE equal to 2 and 4% of the body weight over 5 min were 3.6 +/- 0.2 and 7.0 +/- 0.3 mmHg, and plasma irANP levels measured at 40 min post-VE were elevated 1.9- and 4.1-fold above baseline, respectively. Graded increases in CBSA measured between 5 and 35 min post-VE occurred in selective tissues, including intestine, visceral fat, lung, and muscle (P < or = 0.05). In separate animals, the level of VE was maintained after 2% VE by slower administration of an additional 2% VE for the remaining 30 min. This resulted in a more sustained CVP elevation and larger increases in irANP levels and CBSA compared with either 2 or 4% VE. Furthermore, equations derived from previous work in this laboratory involving intravenous administration of ANP predicted the magnitude of CBSA elevation during maintained VE. These findings support a role for ANP in regulating transcapillary protein distribution during acute intravascular expansion. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Outcomes of continent catheterizable stomas for urinary and fecal incontinence: comparison among different tissue options.
To retrospectively review the outcome of appendix, transverse tubularized intestine segments, caecal flap, gastric tube and others tissue options used as a continent stoma for urinary and fecal incontinence. Between January 1993 and January 2003 we created 179 continent stomas to treat urinary and fecal incontinence in 135 patients (81 females and 54 males; mean age at surgery 13 years, 118, 87%, aged <17 years). We used either appendix (112), a short segment of bowel following the Yang-Monti technique (49), gastric augment single pedicle tube (eight), caecal flap (seven), Casale continent vesicostomy (two) and Meckel's diverticulum (one). Thirty-six patients had both urinary and fecal continent stomas created. The mean follow-up for the appendix group was 46 months for the urinary stoma and 23 months for the Malone antegrade continent enema (MACE) stoma. Stoma-related complications occurred in 24 of 112 (21%) patients; there was complete channel fibrosis in five (4%). The mean follow-up for the Yang-Monti group was 38 months for the urinary and 59.2 months for the MACE stoma. There were stoma-related problems in 11 of 49 (22%) patients, with complete channel fibrosis in three (6%). Overall, in the long-term follow-up, there were stoma-related complications in 42 of 179 (23.5%) procedures. Continent catheterizable stomas are a feasible and reliable method for treating urinary and fecal incontinence. Long-term success can be accomplished with appendix, transverse tubularized intestinal segments and caecal flaps, with similar complication rates in all groups. Surgeon preference and individual patient status should determine the surgical technique to be used. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Leaf dynamics of seedlings of rain forest species in relation to canopy gaps.
Leaf dynamics of eight tropical rain forest species seedlings was studied in three environments: the shaded forest understorey, a small gap of ±50 m2, and a large gap of ±500 m2. Leaf production rate and leaf loss rate were enhanced in gaps, and a large gap resulted in larger increases than a small gap. For most species net leaf gain rate was larger in gaps, although this rate was not always largest in the large gap. Leaf loss decreased, and leaf survival percentages increased with increasing shade tolerance of species, indicating a slower leaf turnover for more shade tolerant species. Leaf area growth rate was only partly determined by net leaf gain rate. Ontogenetic effects on leaf size were also important, especially in the large gap. Species which possessed leaves with high specific leaf weight (SLW) showed lower leaf loss rates and higher leaf survival percentages than species with low SLW leaves. Leaf life span seemed to be related to leafcost per unit area. The relation of specific patterns in leaf production and leaf loss to the regeneration mode of the species is briefly discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Human PAD4 regulates histone arginine methylation levels via demethylimination.
Methylation of arginine (Arg) and lysine residues in histones has been correlated with epigenetic forms of gene regulation. Although histone methyltransferases are known, enzymes that demethylate histones have not been identified. Here, we demonstrate that human peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) regulates histone Arg methylation by converting methyl-Arg to citrulline and releasing methylamine. PAD4 targets multiple sites in histones H3 and H4, including those sites methylated by coactivators CARM1 (H3 Arg17) and PRMT1 (H4 Arg3). A decrease of histone Arg methylation, with a concomitant increase of citrullination, requires PAD4 activity in human HL-60 granulocytes. Moreover, PAD4 activity is linked with the transcriptional regulation of estrogen-responsive genes in MCF-7 cells. These data suggest that PAD4 mediates gene expression by regulating Arg methylation and citrullination in histones. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Single surgeon experience with bilayer polypropylene mesh repair of inguinal hernia.
Open mesh repair of inguinal hernia has been shown to be an effective and safe method of hernia repair. In search of the 'ideal' method of open mesh hernia repair, many different methods of mesh placement have been developed. Laparoscopic hernia repair is reported to be superior to open repair in terms of postoperative pain and rehabilitation. These improved functional outcomes could be the result of placement of mesh in the preperitoneal space (underlay), rather than the laparoscopic method per se. A bilayer polypropylene mesh implant has been developed that provides onlay and underlay (preperitoneal) mesh layers. The present study reports the singular experience of a general surgeon with this bilayer polypropylene mesh implant. A retrospective audit of the first 169 consecutive inguinal hernia repairs was conducted by mailed questionnaire and telephone interview. Data was collected on patient demographics, postoperative pain scores and complications. Patients with potential recurrences at the time of follow up were invited for clinical review. One hundred and three patients (71%) participated in the audit. Thirteen per cent of cases were for recurrent hernia. Median age was 60 years (range 21-99). Median length of follow up was 19 months (range 8-27). No recurrences were detected in the patients who underwent primary repair of inguinal hernia. Inguinal hernia repair with bilayer polypropylene mesh is safe and has low complication and recurrence rates. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cognition and quality of life in patients after transcallosal microsurgery for midline tumors.
The transcallosal route has been propagated as a safe approach to midline tumors. The present study was performed in order to elucidate the neurobehavioral late sequelae in patients after transcallosal microsurgery on near-midline tumors. The present study was performed retrospectively with a delay between surgery and follow-up examination ranging from 2 to 36 months (mean 10.2 months). The study was performed in the Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of the University of Technology (RWTH) Aachen, Germany. A consecutive series of 18 patients treated for an intracranial lesion by transcallosal surgery was included into the study. The patients had to be not younger than 16 and not older than 67 years. The age mean was 38.9 years (range 16 to 65 years). The surgical approach was performed along the falx cerebi under microneurosurgical conditions with direct use of the microscope after opening the dura. Beyond neurological examinations, the patients were submitted to an extensive neuropsychological testing battery. Furthermore, quality of life was examined by means of a questionnaire. Surgery was performed without persistent new neurological deficits. Cognitive deficits were found in short- and long-term memory, motor fine-coordination, reaction time, divided attention and fronto-cortical capacity. The quality of life was particularly impaired in the area of cognitive capacity in daily life. These findings could be related to the duration of preoperative symptoms and to the tumor location. The deficits found cannot be explained by surgical damage to the corpus callosum itself. Rather, they seem to correspond to an extra-callosal pathology. Further studies with a prospective evaluation of larger patient samples are called for in the future. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
An unusual case of non-syndromic occurrence of multiple dental anomalies.
Dental anomalies have been known to occur in humans due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Combinations of dental anomalies are known to be associated with specific syndromes. A few cases of multiple dental anomalies have been reported in patients with no generalized abnormalities. This case report describes an unusual occurrence of a combination of dental anomalies in an apparently normal healthy 12-year-old female patient. The dental anomalies in this patient were multiple dens invaginatus, generalized enamel hypoplasia, generalized microdontia, root resorption and multiple periapical lesions, shovel shaped incisors, cup shaped premolars, taurodontism, hypodontia and supernumerary teeth. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Factor XIII-A subunit Val34Leu polymorphism is associated with the risk of thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies and high fibrinogen levels.
Recent reports have described the factor XIII A subunit (FXIII-A) Val34Leu polymorphism as a protective factor against venous and arterial thrombosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the FXIII-A Val34Leu polymorphism, its interaction with fibrinogen concentration, and thrombosis in patients with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). We included 172 consecutive patients with aPL: 88 with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), 38 with APS associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (APS-SLE), 32 with SLE and aPL but without APS (SLE-aPL), and 14 asymptomatic individuals with aPL (A-aPL). The FXIII-A Val34Leu polymorphism was assessed by polymerase chain reaction techniques. We found no significant differences in FXIII-A Leu34 allele frequencies between primary APS (allele frequency 0.22), APS-SLE (0.23), SLE-aPL (0.22) and A-aPL (0.32) patients, or between patients with (0.21) and without thrombosis (0.26). FXIII-A Leu34 allele frequencies were significantly lower in patients with thrombosis and those in the upper fibrinogen tertile (>3.40 g/l) (allele frequency 0.07) compared with patients without thrombosis in the upper fibrinogen tertile (0.29) and patients with (0.29) and without (0.25) thrombosis in the mid- and lower fibrinogen tertiles. The FXIII-A Leu34 allele had a protective effect against thrombosis in patients in the upper fibrinogen tertile (odds ratio [OR] = 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07-0.60) but not in those in the other tertiles (OR = 1.20, 95% CI 0.67-2.16). The FXIII-A Leu34 allele seems to have a protective effect on the development of thrombosis in patients with aPL, but only in those with high plasma fibrinogen values. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Recent developments in the molecular biology of anaplasmosis.
Recent applications of DNA analysis, cloning, sequencing and expression technology have resulted in significant advances in our understanding of the hemoparasite Anaplasma marginale. Analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA has confirmed a phylogenetic position close to Ehrlichia sp. and Cowdria ruminantium. Intact genomic DNA of A. marginale digested with SfiI separates into bands from 14 to 170 kbp on pulse-field gels, with a total genome size of 1200-1260 kbp and G + C content of 56 mol%. Major surface proteins (MSP1-MSP5) have been identified and DNA coding sequences are available for most of these. These data have revealed that MSPs may be quite polymorphic between different geographic isolates, may be encoded by multi-gene families, and have some similar features to other prokaryotes including signal peptidase cleavage sites and gene regulatory sequences. Homologies have been detected between MSPs and immunodominant proteins of Cowdria ruminantium. Several MSPs have been expressed to high level and purified from recombinant Escherichia coli. MSP 1, 2 and 4 have potential for the development of vaccines and MSP3 and 5 for improved diagnostic assays. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
On-demand self-assembly of supported membranes using sacrificial, anhydrobiotic sugar coats.
Borrowing principles of anhydrobiosis, we have developed a technique for self-assembling proteolipid-supported membranes on demand--simply by adding water. Intact lipid- and proteolipid vesicles dispersed in aqueous solutions of anhydrobiotic trehalose are vitrified on arbitrary substrates, producing glassy coats encapsulating biomolecules. Previous efforts establish that these carbohydrate coats arrest molecular mobilities and preserve native conformations and aggregative states of the embedded biomolecules, thereby enabling long-term storage. Subsequent rehydration, even after an extended period of time (e.g., weeks), devitrifies sugar--releasing the cargo and unmasking the substrate surface--thus triggering substrate-mediated vesicle fusion in real time, producing supported membranes. Using this method, arrays of membranes, including those functionalized with membrane proteins, can be readily produced in situ by spatially addressing vitrification using common patterning tools--useful for multiplexed or stochastic sensing and assaying of target interactions with the fluid and functional membrane surface. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Localized oral blastomycosis mimicking actinomycosis.
A case of blastomycosis limited to the oral cavity is presented. The disease apparently originated in the mandible and eroded into the oral cavity. Secondary bacterial infection of the sinus tracts resulted in a clinical picture that mimicked cervicofacial actinomycosis. Appropriate microbiologic studies, including culture confirmation of the causative organism, were necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Enhanced Laser-Driven Ion Acceleration by Superponderomotive Electrons Generated from Near-Critical-Density Plasma.
We report on the experimental studies of laser driven ion acceleration from a double-layer target where a near-critical density target with a few-micron thickness is coated in front of a nanometer-thin diamondlike carbon foil. A significant enhancement of proton maximum energies from 12 to ∼30 MeV is observed when a relativistic laser pulse impinges on the double-layer target under linear polarization. We attributed the enhanced acceleration to superponderomotive electrons that were simultaneously measured in the experiments with energies far beyond the free-electron ponderomotive limit. Our interpretation is supported by two-dimensional simulation results. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Apathy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: insights from Dimensional Apathy Scale.
Apathy is associated with cognitive decline and worse survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); an accurate evaluation of this aspect is relevant in clinical settings. The aims of this study are to evaluate the prevalence of apathy in a large ALS sample, using published diagnostic criteria, and to explore the psychometric properties, the sensitivity and the specificity of the Dimensional Apathy Scale (DAS) as a screening tool for apathy. One hundred and thirty-one patients underwent clinical interview based on diagnostic criteria for apathy, DAS, Apathy Evaluation Scale, and assessment of depression, global cognitive functioning, and non-verbal intelligence. According to diagnostic criteria, apathy occurred in 28.2% of the patients. The DAS showed high consistency, convergent, and discriminant validities. Apathetic and non-apathetic patients significantly differed on total DAS and executive and Behavioral/Cognitive Initiation subscales, indicating good criterion validity. Receiver operating characteristics analysis, considering diagnostic criteria for apathy as gold standard, revealed that a score of 26/27 was an optimal cut-off score for the identification of apathy. The DAS is a valid screening tool for apathy and its aspects in ALS through limiting the impact of physical disability. Executive and behavioral/cognitive aspects of apathy, rather than emotional aspects, are more frequent in ALS. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Suppression of the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat by CD8+ T cells is dependent on the NFAT-1 element.
CD8+ T lymphocytes of HIV-1 infected individuals produce a soluble factor that efficiently suppresses HIV-1 replication at the transcriptional level. We show here that the response of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) to mitogenic or Tat-mediated activation is sensitive to the suppressive action of a Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS)-transformed CD8+ T cell clone from an HIV-infected individual and supernatants from CD8+ T cells of HIV-1-infected asymptomatic subjects (CD4+ > 350/microliters). Mutagenesis of NF kappa B or Sp-1 elements within the LTR resulted in no change in the ability of CD8+ T cell supernatants to inhibit Tat- or mitogen-mediated LTR transcription. However, the response to HIV-1 Tat by a LTR in which the interleukin (IL)-2 homology NFAT-1 region was mutated resulted in almost complete elimination of suppression by CD8+ T cells. This was not observed when the NFAT-1 mutant LTR was activated by mitogen. We have previously shown that gene expression directed by the HIV-1 NF kappa B elements is inhibited by CD8+ cell-derived supernatants (Copeland et al., AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses, 1995;11:1321-1326). Taken together, these observations suggest that mitogenic activation, mediated primarily through the NF kappa B enhancer, is susceptible to CD8-mediated inhibition, however, inhibition of Tat-mediated activation may rely upon a different pathway that is NFAT-1 dependent. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of lysozyme-stabilized gold nanoparticles.
The particle size and surface properties of gold nanoparticles are critical factors for the interactions between nanoparticles and cells. To produce noncytotoxic gold nanoparticles, a straightforward method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles designed involving the reduction and stabilization by a protein such as a lysozyme in conjunction with microwave irradiation. The cooperative combination of a lysozyme with a high affinity for metal ions and the microwave irradiation allowed to form biocompatible gold nanoparticles in an aqueous system. In addition, the cell toxicity and the cellular uptake pathways of the gold nanoparticles synthesized against mouse embryonic fibroblast NIH-3T3 cells were studied and found to be taken up by receptor-mediated endocytosis. In addition, the lysozyme-stabilized gold nanoparticles are accumulated in the cytoplasm as well as the nucleus without any significant cytotoxicity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma with trophoblastic differentiation].
Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) with trophoblastic differentiation (TD) is a newly recognized variant of urothelial cancer which produces placental proteins, predominantly beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). It has a poor prognosis. About 210 cases were described, mostly from North America, Europe and Japan. This is the first report of TCC TD in a resident of Israel's upper Galilee. A 69-year-old man whose urinary papillary bladder tumor was established cystoscopically, refused treatment and stopped follow-up. 3.5 years after his last visit, he returned and cytologic examination revealed malignant urothelial cells, while intravenous pyelography disclosed a urinary bladder defect. Cystoscopy showed numerous papillary masses dispersed over the bladder mucosa, which were resected transurethrally. Histopathologic examination revealed TCC grade III, stage A. Tumor cells were immunopositive for beta-HCG and human placental lactogen. 4 transurethral resections of large masses were performed within 2 months. Pulmonary metastases developed and the patient died 4 years after the detection of the urinary bladder tumor. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Use of a water-based probiotic to treat common gut pathogens.
This work reports the anti-pathogenic effect of a commercially available water-based probiotic suspension, Symprove™, against three commonly encountered infectious organisms; Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Shigella sonnei. An isothermal calorimetric assay was used to the monitor growth of the species individually and in binary combinations, while colony plate counting was used to enumerate viable cell numbers. It was observed that all pathogenic species were faster growing than the probiotic bacteria in Symprove™ after inoculation into growth medium yet in all instances bacterial enumeration at the end of the experiments revealed a significant reduction in the pathogen population compared with the controls. A control population between 108 and 109 CFU/ml was obtained for E. coli and S. sonnei whilst approximately 106 CFU/ml was obtained for MRSA. Upon co-incubation for 48 h, no viable counts were obtained for E. coli; a 4-log reduction was obtained for S. sonnei whilst MRSA numbers were down to less than 10 cells/ml. The results show that Symprove™ has antipathogenic activity against E. coli, S. sonnei and MRSA. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Identification of decatenation G2 checkpoint impairment independently of DNA damage G2 checkpoint in human lung cancer cell lines.
It has been suggested that attenuation of the decatenation G(2) checkpoint function, which ensures sufficient chromatid decatenation by topoisomerase II before entering into mitosis, may contribute to the acquisition of genetic instability in cancer cells. To date, however, very little information is available on this type of checkpoint defect in human cancers. In this study, we report for the first time that a proportion of human lung cancer cell lines did not properly arrest before entering mitosis in the presence of a catalytic, circular cramp-forming topoisomerase II inhibitor ICRF-193, whereas the decatenation G(2) checkpoint impairment was present independently of the impaired DNA damage G(2) checkpoint. In addition, the presence of decatenation G(2) checkpoint dysfunction was found to be associated with diminished activation of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated in response to ICRF-193, suggesting the potential involvement of an upstream pathway sensing incompletely catenated chromatids. Interestingly, hypersensitivity to ICRF-193 was observed in cell lines with decatenation G(2) checkpoint impairment and negligible activation of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated. These findings suggest the possible involvement of decatenation G(2) checkpoint impairment in the development of human lung cancers, as well as the potential clinical implication of selective killing of lung cancer cells with such defects by this type of topoisomerase II inhibitor. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of recombinant human interferons on rheumatoid arthritis B lymphocytes activated by Epstein-Barr virus.
We evaluated the effects of all 3 classes of recombinant human interferon (IFN) on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection of purified B lymphocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). After EBV infection, RA B cells secreted more IgM and significantly more IgM rheumatoid factor (RF) than normals. Spontaneous (no EBV) proliferation, IgM, and IgM RF were also higher in RA. All 3 types of IFN inhibited dose dependently EBV induced B cell activation. In RA, however, higher doses of each class of IFN were necessary to obtain 50% inhibition. IFN gamma was most potent in normals and RA. Four IgM RF production IFN gamma was significantly more potent than IFN alpha and IFN beta in reducing the spontaneous activation of RA B cells, and a similar trend was seen in B cell proliferation. These findings are discussed in the context of ongoing clinical trials with IFN gamma in RA. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sleep quality and its association with fatigue, symptom burden, and mood in patients with advanced cancer in a clinic for early-phase oncology clinical trials.
Limited data exist about sleep quality for patients with advanced cancer in phase 1 clinical trials. Poor sleep quality is often not captured as an adverse event, and its association with fatigue, one of the most frequently reported adverse events, is not documented routinely. This article describes sleep quality and its relation with fatigue, symptom burden, and mood in patients recruited from an early-phase clinic for targeted therapy. Sleep, fatigue, symptom burden, and mood were assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Brief Fatigue Inventory, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), and the Brief Profile of Mood States, respectively; the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) was determined from medical records. The sample (n = 256) was 51.2% female, 90% had an ECOG PS of 0 or 1, and the mean age was 58 ± 0.8 years. Poor sleepers (global PSQI score > 5) constituted 64% of the sample. In separate multiple regression models, poor sleepers had higher levels of fatigue (P < .001), symptom burden (P < .001), and overall mood disturbance (P < .001) than good sleepers. Also, compared with good sleepers, poor sleepers had greater fatigue-related and symptom-related interference with daily activities (all P values < .001). The MDASI disturbed-sleep item correlated well with the global PSQI score (Pearson's r = 0.679, P < .001), and this suggests its usefulness as a patient-reported outcome screener of sleep quality in early-phase clinical trials clinics. Poor sleep quality was a significant problem in the current study and was associated with greater fatigue, symptom burden, and mood disturbance. Sleep quality should be routinely assessed in patients with advanced cancer who are participating in early-phase clinical trials. Cancer 2016;122:3401-3409. © 2016 American Cancer Society. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of independently altering body weight and mass on the energetic cost of a human running model.
The mechanisms underlying the metabolic cost of running, and legged locomotion in general, remain to be well understood. Prior experimental studies show that the metabolic cost of human running correlates well with the vertical force generated to support body weight, the mechanical work done, and changes in the effective leg stiffness. Further, previous work shows that the metabolic cost of running decreases with decreasing body weight, increases with increasing body weight and mass, and does not significantly change with changing body mass alone. In the present study, we seek to uncover the basic mechanism underlying this existing experimental data. We find that an actuated spring-mass mechanism representing the effective mechanics of human running provides a mechanistic explanation for the previously reported changes in the metabolic cost of human running if the dimensionless relative leg stiffness (effective stiffness normalized by body weight and leg length) is regulated to be constant. The model presented in this paper provides a mechanical explanation for the changes in metabolic cost due to changing body weight and mass which have been previously measured experimentally and highlights the importance of active leg stiffness regulation during human running. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
TILLING in Barley.
TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes), a popular reverse genetics approach in barley research, combines plant mutagenesis with efficient mutation detection for studying biological function of a specific gene. The high mutation frequency within a TILLING population principally enables the identification of induced variations in (almost) all genes of a given species (more precisely a given genotype of a species) of interest, which can be tested for their functional impact on morphological and/or physiological characteristics of the plant. Several TILLING populations induced by chemical mutagenesis were established for barley (Talame et al., Plant Biotechnol J 6:477-485, 2008; Gottwald et al., BMC Res Notes 2:258, 2009; Caldwell et al. Plant J 40:143-150, 2004) and showed the possibility for adapting protocols to develop further populations. This chapter describes a chemical mutagenesis protocol for barley seeds and two independent procedures for efficient single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection in a large number of mutagenized plants either by slab-gel- or capillary gel-based electrophoreses on the LI-COR 4300 DNA Analyzer and the AdvanCE FS96 instruments, respectively. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Reproducibility of measurements with the nerve fiber analyzer (NfA/GDx).
To determine the reproducibility of measurements with the Nerve Fiber Analyzer, a scanning laser polarimeter designed for quantifying glaucoma in healthy patients and patients with glaucoma. The authors also assessed the variance of measurements between instruments. Measurements were made with the third generation Nerve Fiber Analyzer, the GDx. The study consisted of three parts. In the first part, the authors measured the right eyes of 10 healthy volunteers on 5 consecutive days. In the second part, 45 patients with glaucoma underwent Nerve Fiber Analyzer measurements of one randomly selected eye on two separate days in a 5-week period. For all 14 available parameters, reproducibility of measurements was expressed in terms of 95% limits of agreement and as the intraclass correlation coefficient. The Nerve Fiber Analyzer software has an option of creating a mean image from a selection of single images; for both parts of the study, the reproducibility of measurements was calculated for a "single image," and a "mean-of-three" image. In the third part of the study, 17 volunteers underwent repeated Nerve Fiber Analyzer measurement sessions on each of three different instruments. Using multivariate analysis of variance, the authors determined the variance of measurements between instruments. The reproducibility of measurements varied considerably across parameters. Limits of agreement in mean images for superior maximum and inferior maximum were 7.2 microm and 7.7 microm, respectively in the healthy volunteers, and 8.7 microm and 7.9 microm, respectively in the patients with glaucoma. For healthy patients, the intraclass correlation coefficient was greater than 90% in 10 of 14 parameters. In patients with glaucoma, the intraclass correlation coefficient was greater than 90% in 13 of 14 parameters. Some parameters reproduced better in a mean than in a single image; these differences, however, were small and generally not statistically significant. The between-instruments component also varied across parameters and was highest in ratio-based parameters. The reproducibility of measurements varied across parameters. In general, the reproducibility of measurements with the Nerve Fiber Analyzer was high. The reproducibility of measurements was similar between healthy patients and patients with glaucoma. Any measured change in nerve fiber layer thickness would be statistically significant if it exceeded approximately 7 or 8 microm in the superior maximum or inferior maximum parameter in healthy patients. Reproducibility of measurements hardly differed between single images and mean images. The reproducibility of measurements among the three instruments we used was highest for straight parameters. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Probing organic layers on the TiO2(110) surface.
In this work, we use first principles simulations to provide features of the dynamic scanning force microscopy imaging of adsorbed organic layers on insulating surfaces. We consider monolayers of formic (HCOOH) and acetic (CH(3)COOH) acid and a mixed layer of acetic and trifluoroacetic acids (CF(3)COOH) on the TiO(2)(110) surface and study their interaction with a silicon dangling bond tip. The results demonstrate that the silicon tip interacts more strongly with the substrate and the COO(-) group than the adsorbed acid headgroups, and, therefore, molecules would appear dark in images. The pattern of contrast and apparent height of molecules is determined by the repulsion between the tip and the molecular headgroups and by significant deformation of the monolayer and individual molecules. The height of the molecule on the surface and the size of the headgroup play a large role in determining access of the tip to the substrate and, hence, the contrast in images. Direct imaging of the molecules themselves could be obtained by providing a functionalized tip with attraction to the molecular headgroups, for example, a positive potential tip. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Improvement of cardiac function by recombinant adenovirus Ad-hBNP in rats with chronic heart failure].
To evaluate the therapeutic effect of hBNP on rats with chronic heart failure (CHF). Thirty CHF rats defined by echocardiography at 12 weeks post abdominal aortic constriction were randomly divided into Ad-hBNP group (2.5 × 10(10) VP/ml NS Ad-hBNP 1 ml/week × 4, n = 14), Ad-Track group (n = 8), placebo group (NS, n = 8), 10 sham-operated rats served as control group. After 4 weeks treatment, cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements. Heart weight (HW) and HW/body weight (BW) ratio were determined. IVS, LVPW, LVEDD and LVESD were significantly reduced in the Ad-hBNP group [(2.34 ± 0.29) mm, (2.28 ± 0.18) mm, (6.50 ± 0.42) mm, (3.54 ± 0.59) mm] than those in the Ad-Track group [(2.71 ± 0.35) mm, (3.02 ± 0.85) mm, (7.71 ± 0.83) mm, (4.72 ± 0.80) mm] and in the NS group [(2.78 ± 0.23) mm, (2.83 ± 0.53) mm, (7.34 ± 0.97) mm, (4.55 ± 0.77) mm, all P < 0.05]. The LVEF and LVFS of the Ad-hBNP group [(79.27 ± 7.01)%, (43.38 ± 6.73)%] were significantly higher than in the Ad-Track group [(70.85 ± 4.81)%, (35.72 ± 3.68)%] and in the NS group [(69.67 ± 6.90)%, (34.91 ± 5.10)%, all P < 0.01]. HR [(417.48 ± 32.57) beats/min, (446.85 ± 61.49) beats/min, P < 0.05; (440.83 ± 32.18) beats/min, P < 0.05], LVEDP [(-4.24 ± 4.00) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa); (21.99 ± 6.80) mm Hg, P < 0.01; (18.00 ± 12.25) mm Hg, P < 0.01] were significantly decreased and while LVSP [(131.79 ± 15.76) mm Hg; (112.99 ± 32.35) mm Hg, P < 0.05; (117.13 ± 15.26) mm Hg], +dP/dt(max) [(5037.20 ± 430.41) mm Hg/s; (4217.40 ± 1354.15) mm Hg/s, P < 0.05; (4310.50 ± 1293.97) mm Hg/s, P < 0.05] and -dP/dt(max) [(-4382.00 ± 1304.79) mm Hg/s; (-3725.00 ± 791.34) mm Hg/s, P < 0.05; (-3890.00 ± 1043.73) mm Hg/s, P < 0.05]were significantly increased in Ad-hBNP group than in Ad-Track group and NS group (all P < 0.05). HW and HW/BW were also decreased in Ad-hBNP group than in the Ad-Track group and the NS group. Exogenous hBNP improved the cardiac function and attenuated remodeling in CHF rats. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Optimization of bimetallic Cu-Au and Ag-Au clusters by using a modified adaptive immune optimization algorithm.
A modified adaptive immune optimization algorithm (AIOA) is designed for optimization of Cu-Au and Ag-Au bimetallic clusters with Gupta potential. Compared with homoatom clusters, there are homotopic isomers in bimetallic cluster, so atom exchange operation is presented in the modified AIOA. The efficiency of the algorithm is tested by optimization of Cu(n)Au(38-n) (0 < or = n < or = 38). Results show that all the structures with the putative global minimal energies are successfully located. In the optimization of Ag(n)Au(55-n) (0 < or = n < or = 55) bimetallic clusters, all the structures with the reported minimal energies are obtained, and 36 structures with even lower potential energies are found. On the other hand, with the optimized structures of Cu(n)Au(55-n), it is shown that all 55-atom Cu-Au bimetallic clusters are Mackay icosahedra except for Au55, which is a face-centered cubic (fcc)-like structure; Cu55, Cu12Au43, and Cu1Au54 have two-shell Mackay icosahedral geometries with Ih point group symmetry. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Accuracy of 2-Phase Parathyroid CT for the Preoperative Localization of Parathyroid Adenomas in Primary Hyperparathyroidism.
Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy requires accurate preoperative localization of suspected adenomas, and multiphase CT allows adenoma characterization while providing detailed anatomic information. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of a protocol using only arterial and venous phases to localize pathologic glands in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. We identified 278 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who had undergone 2-phase CT with surgical cure. All scans were read prospectively by board-certified neuroradiologists. A neuroradiology fellow retrospectively reviewed images and reports and classified suspected adenomas on the basis of anatomic location. Accuracy was determined by comparing imaging results with surgical findings. The ability of 2-phase CT to localize adenomas to 1 of 4 neck quadrants and lateralize them to the correct side was assessed. Accuracy of identifying multigland disease was also evaluated. In patients with single-gland disease, the sensitivity and specificity of 2-phase CT to correctly localize the quadrant were 55.4% and 85.9%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of correct lateralization were 78.8% and 67.8%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity to identify multigland disease were 22.9% and 79.5%, respectively. While the 2-phase CT protocol in this study demonstrates lower accuracy compared with reports of other techniques, its lower radiation compared with 3- and 4-phase techniques may make it a feasible alternative for preoperative parathyroid localization. Further prospective studies are needed to identify patients for whom this technique is most suitable. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Management of diabetic pregnant patients in a tertiary center in the developing world.
To audit our insulin regimen in our antenatal diabetics. 170 pregnant diabetic patients were retrospectively analyzed. The perinatal mortality rate was 37/1000, vs. a perinatal mortality rate of 30/1000 in our setting. Cesarean section rate was 49%. Strict blood-glucose control reduced the incidence of macrosomia and polyhydramnios. Routine amniocentesis for fetal-lung maturity was not practiced. Satisfactory results in pregnant diabetic patients are achievable with an established insulin regimen in a developing country. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
High-Temperature Grafting Silylation for Minimizing Leaching of Acid Functionality from Hydrophobic Mesoporous Silicas Used as Catalysts in the Liquid Phase.
Ordered-hexagonal silica materials, such as Mobil crystalline material-41 and Santa Barbara amorphous-15, have important applications in heterogeneous catalysis and biomass conversion due to their chemical stability and mesoporous structure. Low-temperature grafting (LG) is one of the most common functionalization methods used to modify the acidity/basicity or hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of the surface. However, the materials prepared by this method are prone to leaching of functional groups into the reaction medium. The exact nature of the leaching phenomenon has not been fully addressed in the literature. In this contribution, we have investigated this process at the molecular level by combining well-controlled reaction experiments and several characterization techniques (Fourier transform infrared, 1H-29Si cross-polarization magic-angle spinning NMR, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and N2 adsorption-desorption). We have found that leaching is originated by the presence of terminal surface silanols, which render the catalysts susceptible to the attack of water and polar compounds. Hence, instead of simple detaching of functional groups, leaching can be better described as a partial dissolution of the surface layers of the silica, which of course also removes the functional groups during this process. Therefore, an effective strategy to minimize leaching is to reduce the density of free silanols via full functionalization of the surface. We propose a novel silylation method, high-temperature grafting, which allows the grafting process to be conducted at high temperatures (180 °C) under solvent-free conditions. By this method, a more complete silylation of surface silanols can be obtained. Consequently, the samples prepared by this high-temperature grafting method show to be highly stable during acid-catalyzed alkylation reaction, conducted under severe conditions (high temperature and in the presence of polar solvents). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Titanium oxide thin films obtained with physical and chemical vapour deposition methods for optical biosensing purposes.
This work discusses an application of titanium oxide (TiOx) thin films deposited using physical (reactive magnetron sputtering, RMS) and chemical (atomic layer deposition, ALD) vapour deposition methods as a functional coating for label-free optical biosensors. The films were applied as a coating for two types of sensors based on the localised surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of gold nanoparticles deposited on a glass plate and on a long-period grating (LPG) induced in an optical fibre. Optical and structural properties of the TiOx thin films were investigated and discussed. It has been found that deposition method has a significant influence on optical properties and composition of the films, but negligible impact on TiOx surface silanization effectiveness. A higher content of oxygen with lower Ti content in the ALD films leads to the formation of layers with higher refractive index and slightly higher extinction coefficient than for the RMS TiOx. Moreover, application of the TiOx film independently on deposition method enables not only for tuning of the spectral response of the investigated biosensors, but also in case of LSPR for enhancing the ability for biofunctionalization, i.e., TiOx film mechanically protects the nanoparticles and induces change in the biofunctionalization procedure to the one typical for oxides. TiOx coated LSPR and LPG sensors with refractive index sensitivity of close to 30 and 3400nm/RIU, respectively, were investigated. The ability for molecular recognition was evaluated with the well-known complex formation between avidin and biotin as a model system. The shift in resonance wavelength reached 3 and 13.2nm in case of LSPR and LPG sensors, respectively. Any modification in TiOx properties resulting from the biofunctionalization process can be also clearly detected. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The cost-effectiveness of ESBL detection: towards molecular detection methods?
Correct detection of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) is crucial for infection control and antibiotic choice. We performed a study to determine the cost-effectiveness of phenotypical testing, which can be inaccurate, and genotypical tests, which are considered to be more reliable but also more expensive. All patients that had been in isolation in the Amphia hospital because of the detection of ESBL according to the ESBL Etest were included in the survey. All strains were retested using the double disk confirmation test (DDCT) and a genotypical method. This was a commercially available microarray (Check-Points). Discordant results were confirmed by PCR and sequencing. In total 174 patients were included. In 24 of 174 (14%) patients, ESBL carriage could not be confirmed with the microarray. This was verified with PCR and sequencing. The mean duration of isolation was 15 days, adding up to a total number of isolation days of 2571. False-positive results according to the microarray resulted in a total of 279 days of unnecessary isolation for the Etest and 151 days for the DDCT. Using Etest to detect the presence of ESBL results in a false-positive outcome in 14% of the cases. This results in unnecessary isolation of patients, which can be omitted by using a genotypic method. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Surgical treatment of early acute thrombosis of mechanical mitral prosthesis.
Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a rare but life threatening complication of mechanical heart valve prosthesis. A 44-year-old woman diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease with severe mitral valve stenosis, moderate tricuspid valve insufficiency, and atrial fibrillation underwent transseptal mitral valve replacement and tricuspid valvuloplasty in our department. Heparin and warfarin were routinely used postoperatively. Although the international normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time ratio, and platelet count were satisfactory, the patient presented with severe dyspnea suddenly 10 days after discharge; echocardiogram showed that the prosthetic posterior leaflet was immobile. The patient suffered cardiac arrest suddenly during the examination and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was carried out successfully. Emergent surgery was performed, confirming the prosthetic valve thrombosis. The prosthetic valve was replaced with another mechanical prosthesis. The patient recovered smoothly and was discharged 14 days later with atrial fibrillation. During the 12-months follow-up period, her prosthetic valve and heart function were normal with INR around 3.0. This case highlights the need for awareness among clinicians for the possibility of valve thrombosis in the early postoperative period. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Instrumented forceps for measuring tensile forces in the rod of the VDS implant during correction of scoliosis.
Ventral derotation spondylodesis (VDS) is the standard in ventral scoliosis surgery. Especially in the thoracic spine, there are no alternatives to VDS with compression and derotation as its correction forces. However, pull-out of the end-vertebra screw during correction of scoliosis with the VDS implant is a common complication involving particularly the cranial end-vertebra screw in the thoracic region. This complication requires an extension of the fusion length or reduces at least the outcome of the correction. There are no in vivo data on correction forces in ventral scoliosis surgery. Thus the correction depends on the skill and experience of the surgeon. An instrumented forceps developed and built to measure forces in the longitudinal rod allows axial tensile forces to be determined in the longitudinal rod during surgery. The instrumented forceps has the advantage of reducing the risk of screw pull-out. Furthermore, viscoelastic behavior of the spine can be measured during ventral correction. In addition, knowledge of the correction forces improves our biomechanical understanding of the spine, especially during correction of scoliosis. Intraoperative force measurement is in no way detrimental to the patient. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquitoes in Trinidad, West Indies: longevity case studies.
Few laboratory and field studies have reported long survival periods for Ae. aegypti females and even fewer have designed experiments to characterize this important life history trait. This study was conducted under laboratory conditions to determine the number of blood meals taken by individual females, the number of eggs laid per individual female, the length of the gonotrophic cycle, and the duration of female survival. The results showed individual females oviposited between 670 and 1,500 eggs throughout their lifetimes, females undergoing large numbers of gonotrophic cycles and surviving up to 224 days. These results are discussed in the context of vector competence, unique alternating high and low oviposition patterns observed after week 14, and resource partitioning/allocation by older Ae. aegypti females after blood feeding. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Integrating qualitative research into occupational health: a case study among hospital workers.
We sought to better use qualitative approaches in occupational health research and integrate them with quantitative methods. We systematically reviewed, selected, and adapted qualitative research methods as part of a multisite study of the predictors and outcomes of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among hospital workers in two large urban tertiary hospitals. The methods selected included participant observation; informal, open-ended, and semistructured interviews with individuals or small groups; and archival study. The nature of the work and social life of the hospitals and the foci of the study all favored using more participant observation methods in the case study than initially anticipated. Exploiting the full methodological spectrum of qualitative methods in occupational health is increasingly relevant. Although labor-intensive, these approaches may increase the yield of established quantitative approaches otherwise used in isolation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Interleukin 1 production by human lung tissue. I. Identification and characterization.
Crucial to the development of inflammatory infiltrates is the localized production of mediators which promote adherence of leukocytes to the vascular endothelium. Previous in vitro studies, using monolayers of cultured human vascular endothelial cells (VEC), have identified various agents which promote the acquisition of adhesiveness in VEC for polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In the present studies, we report that human lung fragments cultured for 4 to 24 hr release a factor which acts on VEC to promote adherence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Adhesiveness in VEC stimulated by lung fragment culture supernatants was time- and dose-dependent. This adherence-promoting factor appears to be a mixture of the alpha and beta forms of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and has the following properties: 1) it is heat-labile; 2) it is not inactivated by polymyxin B; 3) it has mobility on Sephadex G-75 column chromatography corresponding to apparent m.w. of approximately 15,000, 30,000, and 70,000 (a pattern observed previously for IL-1); 4) it has activity in the thymocyte costimulation IL-1 assay, but no interleukin 2 activity, and 5) it is neutralized by anti-human IL-1 antisera but not by anti-human tumor necrosis factor antiserum. Production and release of IL-1 in vivo may play a role in the development of inflammatory infiltrates in human lung and other tissues by acting on endothelium to promote the localized adherence of leukocytes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Ambrosia pollen in Switzerland--produced locally or transported?].
The ambrosia (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) has been announced in Switzerland for more than 100 years. During the last decade, signs of an increased presence of the ambrosia and its pollen appear in the south-west of Switzerland, in particular in Geneva. Aerobiologic measurements make it possible to highlight the importance of the transport of pollen by the winds since the area of Lyon, where the ambrosia is abundant. It also bring elements making it possible to detect a local production of pollen in the Geneva area, where several invaded fields were discovered with the autumn 2001. A multidisciplinary group was created in Geneva and it attempts to prevent as far as possible probable invasion of the ambrosia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
HIV and older adults: clinical outcomes in the era of HAART.
As the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic enters its third decade, nurses are caring for increasing numbers of older adults with HIV who are on complicated medication regimens or highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Although HAART has revolutionized HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) care, little is known about how older adults respond to the new therapies. A review of the medical records of 19 older (> or = 50 years) and 18 younger (< 40 years) adults initiated on their first HAART regimen revealed both older and younger adults had similar positive clinical outcomes. Nurses need to individualize their care to patients of all ages rather than develop specific clinical guidelines for older adults with HIV. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Bilateral Vestibulopathy Documented by Video Head Impulse Tests in Superficial Siderosis.
Superficial siderosis (SS) of the CNS is associated with cerebellar ataxia, sensorineural hearing loss, and pyramidal symptoms, which result from iron depositions on CNS surfaces. SS can produce bilateral vestibulopathy as the vestibulo-cochlear nerve is particularly vulnerable. To our knowledge, however, vestibular dysfunction in SS has not been reported thoroughly in the literature. Here, we describe a case of bilateral vestibulopathy, documented quantitatively by the video head impulse test (vHIT), in a patient with SS. A 60-year-old man presented with slowly progressing bilateral hearing loss, oscillopsia, and a severe gait disturbance that worsened in the dark. After noticing deficits in the bedside head impulse test in all six semicircular canals, the patient underwent vHIT and brain MRI. MRI demonstrated a rim of hypointensities and signal losses in T2-weighted and gradient echo images around the cerebellum, brainstem, and vestibulo-cochlear nerve, which were compatible with an SS diagnosis. In addition, vHIT revealed reduced vestibule-ocular reflex (VOR) gains, and abnormal catch-up saccades (both covert and overt saccades) in all semicircular canals. The vHIT showed impaired VOR gains that were 0.55, 0.59, and 0.45 in the horizontal, anterior, and posterior canals, respectively. SS may result in chronic bilateral vestibulopathy with SNHL. Bilateral vestibulopathy originated peripherally in our participant, without cerebellar dysfunctions such as those reported in the literature. vHIT findings have not been previously reported in patients with SS, and our study suggests that vHIT is a useful tool to document vestibular dysfunction. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Nucleotide dependent motion and mechanism of action of p97/VCP.
The AAA (ATPases associated with a variety of cellular activities) family of proteins bind, hydrolyze, and release ATP to effect conformational changes, assembly, or disassembly upon their binding partners and substrate molecules. One of the members of this family, the hexameric p97/valosin-containing protein p97/VCP, is essential for the dislocation of misfolded membrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum. Here, we observe large motions and dynamic changes of p97/VCP as it proceeds through the ATP hydrolysis cycle. The analysis is based on crystal structures of four representative ATP hydrolysis states: APO, AMP-PNP, hydrolysis transition state ADP x AlF3, and ADP bound. Two of the structures presented herein, ADP and AMP-PNP bound, are new structures, and the ADP x AlF3 structure was re-refined to higher resolution. The largest motions occur at two stages during the hydrolysis cycle: after, but not upon, nucleotide binding and then following nucleotide release. The motions occur primarily in the D2 domain, the D1 alpha-helical domain, and the N-terminal domain, relative to the relatively stationary and invariant D1alpha/beta domain. In addition to the motions, we observed a transition from a rigid state to a flexible state upon loss of the gamma-phosphate group, and a further increase in flexibility within the D2 domains upon nucleotide release. The domains within each protomer of the hexameric p97/VCP deviate from strict 6-fold symmetry, with the more flexible ADP state exhibiting greater asymmetry compared to the relatively rigid ADP x AlF3 state, suggesting a mechanism of action in which hydrolysis and conformational changes move about the hexamer in a processive fashion. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The surgeon as a scientific writer.
The skills of a surgeon as a scientific writer are many and sophisticated. Recognizing the essential elements of research, learning how to plan and execute the idea, and finally assembling and reporting the data in a coherent and intelligent manner are all critical elements in successfully writing a publication. But writing a research paper is a demanding process that young surgeons are often ill-equiped to address. It consists of many complex tasks and inevitable difficulties that confront every researcher. From undergraduate programs through residency, more attention must be given to cultivate writing skills, especially within the scientific realm. In this article we specifically address these shortcomings while identifying solutions for and attributes of sound scientific writing. When we can manage the parts, we can manage the whole, and look forward to more research with greater confidence. Those who want to join communities that depend on research, such as surgical and medical communities, have to demonstrate not only that they can give good answers to hard questions, but also that they can report their results in ways that are useful to their community, and that means in ways that are apparent, accessible, and recognizable. Being a scientific writer allows him or her to clearly express and effectively convey the importance of worthwhile research. Only when someone has experienced the process of doing his or her own research can one intelligently evaluate the research of others. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Prison health care: New York Times series brings attention.
A three-part series and an editorial in The New York Times, the result of a year's investigation, has brought attention to the bad medical care in prisons in the U.S.--deficiencies that kill prisoners and allow epidemics to spread. The wrong funding arrangements, incentives to make money by reducing care, and the huge growth in the number of prisoners in the U.S. are major causes. We also comment on shortage of social space as a potential root cause of prison and other problems. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Efficacy of Primary Collagen Cross-Linking with Photoactivated Chromophore (PACK-CXL) for the Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus-Induced Corneal Ulcers.
To evaluate the efficacy of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) with photoactivated riboflavin (PACK-CXL) as primary therapy for Staphylococcus aureus-induced corneal ulcers in a rabbit model. The right eye of 40 rabbits was inoculated with S. aureus to induce formation of central corneal ulcers (day 1). The ulcer was examined on day 5, and rabbits were randomly assigned to 4 groups-group A: no treatment (control); group B: topical antibiotic treatment (cefazolin 50 mg/mL, garamycin 14 mg/mL drops, chloramphenicol 5% ointment every 2 hours); group C: PACK-CXL; group D: PACK-CXL + topical antibiotics. Follow-up by biomicroscopy was performed on day 5 and then every week for 1 month. The main outcome measures included infiltrates or the scar diameter, time to healing, time to full epithelialization, and a change in corneal thickness. After 1 month of treatment, group C ulcers had the smallest mean scar diameter (8.8 mm), followed by groups D (11.2 mm), B (13.0 mm), and A (24.5 mm) (P = 0.011). Group C had the shortest mean healing time (15.5 days), followed by groups D (17.2 days), B (19.7 days), and A (21.8 days). Analysis of relative reduction in the infiltrate size from day 5 yielded better results for groups C (P = 0.039) and D (P = 0.034) than those of group B. We demonstrate a beneficial effect of PACK-CXL as primary treatment, either as stand-alone or as an adjuvant to antimicrobial therapy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Posttransplant Malignancy.
Posttransplant malignancy is a leading cause of death after solid organ transplantation (SOT). Recipients of SOT are at significantly higher risk of multiple cancers compared with the general population, most notably nonmelanoma skin cancer and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders. Risk factors for posttransplant malignancy include history of malignancy, immunosuppression, oncogenic viral infections, sun exposure, and disease-specific associations. Early detection and treatment of malignancies can improve survival. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Equine Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumours Exhibit Variable Differentiation, Proliferation Activity and KIT Expression.
Equine cutaneous mast cell tumours (CMCTs) are generally considered to be benign skin lesions, although recurrent and multicentric tumours have been described. For canine CMCTs, grading and prognostic approaches are well established and aberrant KIT expression as well as high proliferation indices are associated with poor outcome. However, in the case of equine CMCTs, morphological features, proliferative activity and KIT expression pattern have not been assessed or related to biological behaviour, and there is discussion as to whether CMCTs are true neoplastic processes. The present study describes 45 equine CMCTs in terms of their morphology and KIT and PCNA expression by immunohistochemistry. KIT expression was classified as membranous (I), cytoplasmic and focally stippled (II) or diffuse cytoplasmic (III). A large proportion of the tumours were multinodular or diffuse dermal infiltrates of mast cells with mild anisokaryosis, a low proliferative rate and a dominance of KIT pattern I, representing well-differentiated CMCTs. In approximately one third of the cases, the mast cells exhibited more infiltrative growth, moderate to marked anisokaryosis and a higher degree of proliferation. These were classified as poorly differentiated CMCTs and exhibited only KIT patterns II and III. These findings indicate that there is a subgroup of poorly differentiated equine CMCTs, in which there is an association between aberrant KIT expression, high proliferative rate and potential aggressive behaviour, all features that confirm at least the poorly differentiated CMCT as a true neoplastic processes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Increased proportion of mature oocytes with sustained-release growth hormone treatment in poor responders: a prospective randomized controlled study.
Supplementation of growth hormone (GH) during controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) has been suggested to improve ovarian response. Despite potential benefits in poor responders, multiple injections of GH during COS are inconvenient. We conducted a randomized controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sustained-release human GH in poor responders undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). This was a single-center, randomized, open-label, parallel study. Infertile women who satisfied the Bologna criteria for poor responders were randomized into GH treatment and control groups. The treatment group received a sustained-release GH (Eutropin Plus® 20 mg) three times before and during COS (mid-luteal, late luteal, and menstrual cycle day 2). The baseline characteristics and IVF outcomes were compared between the two groups. A total of 127 patients were included in the analysis. The mean age was 39.6 years and mean anti-Müllerian hormone level was 0.6 ng/ml. There was no significant difference in the baseline characteristics between GH treatment and control groups. The number of follicles on the human chorionic gonadotropin triggering day (3.1 ± 2.3 vs. 2.4 ± 1.6, P = 0.043) and the proportion of metaphase II oocytes (67.5 vs. 52.3%, P = 0.030) were higher in the GH group than in controls. The percentage of clinical and ongoing pregnancy and miscarriage was not different between the two groups. Supplementation of sustained-release GH before and during COS improved ovarian response, with an increase in mature oocytes in poor responders. Further studies are needed to ensure this benefit in general infertility patients. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Myosin light chain kinase autoregulatory pseudosubstrate prototope.
The myosin light chain kinase is catalytically inactive unless activated by calmodulin. An autoregulatory pseudosubstrate region located on the carboxyl-terminal side of the enzyme's catalytic domain is responsible for maintaining the enzyme in a latent form. This pseudosubstrate region overlaps the calmodulin binding domain. Synthetic peptides corresponding to the regulatory region can have both substrate antagonist and calmodulin antagonist activities. The pseudosubstrate peptide from the smooth muscle myosin light chain kinase, smMLCK(787-807), S787KDRMKKYMARRKW800QKTGHAV807 is a potent substrate antagonist with a Ki of approximately 12 nM and acts as a calmodulin antagonist with an IC50 = 0.54 microM. The shorter peptide R797RKWQK802, Ki = 1.26 microM, is the core region primarily responsible for substrate antagonist activity and is a weak calmodulin antagonist, IC50 = 181 microM. The corresponding skeletal muscle peptide, KRRWKK was a comparable substrate antagonist, IC50 = 1.63 microM, but a 30-fold more potent calmodulin antagonist, IC50 = 6.1 microM. Substitution of the Trp in either peptide with Phe or Leu did not significantly alter the substrate antagonist activity but markedly reduced calmodulin antagonist activity, RRKWQK, IC50(calmodulin) = 181 microM; RRKFQK, IC50(calmodulin) = 488 microM; RRKLQK, IC50(calmodulin) = 1700 microM; KRRWKK, IC50(calmodulin) = 6.1 microM; KRRLKK, IC50(calmodulin) = 221 microM and KRRFKK, IC50(calmodulin) = 93 microM. The IC50(substrate) values for these peptides ranged from 0.5-13 microM. The peptide KRRLKK was the most selective substrate antagonist and is suitable as an inhibitor for the myosin light chain kinase with the ratio IC50(calmodulin): IC50(substrate) = 273 and an IC50(substrate) = 0.81 microM. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A method for determining the modulation transfer function from thick microwire profiles measured with x-ray microcomputed tomography.
This study describes a model-dependent method to determine the modulation transfer function (MTF) in the transversal plane, obtained by a microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) system from profiles of a thick wire phantom instead of a thin wire phantom, and the study evaluates the feasibility of the proposed method in the MTF determination of micro-CT systems. The MTF is generally calculated as the absolute value of the normalized Fourier transform from the point spread function obtained by scanning a thin wire phantom. Since the wire is not a point source, the raw MTF is corrected for the finite size of the wire phantom; a wire with too large a diameter introduces inaccuracies in the MTF values. Therefore, we solved the MTF determination from profiles of a thick wire phantom via MTF modeling on the basis of the symmetric Lévy function that generalizes Gaussian and Lorentzian functions. We then applied the method to profiles of wire phantoms (1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm in diameter) measured by a clinical CT system to evaluate the applicable diameter range of the thick wire phantom. Two types of reconstruction kernels (standard and sharp) were used in the clinical CT. The performance of the method was evaluated using microwire phantoms (10 and 30 μm in diameter) measured by a synchrotron radiation micro-CT (SRμCT) system, in which the Shepp-Logan filter and Ramachandran-Lakshminarayanan filter were used as the reconstruction kernel. The MTFs obtained using thin wire phantoms of 0.1 mm and 3 μm in diameter were regarded as the gold standard MTFs for the clinical CT and SRμCT, respectively. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) and relative error (RE) of the 10% value of the MTF were used to measure the difference between the MTF determined by the method and the gold standard. The mean RMSEs for two types of reconstruction kernels of three wire phantoms (1, 2, and 3 mm in diameter) were 0.0085, 0.012, and 0.021, respectively. The mean REs for the 1-, 2-, and 3-mm wire phantoms gave the same values of 2.0%, 3.5%, and 3.5%, respectively, for two types of reconstruction kernel. The MTFs determined from thick wire phantoms reveal the spatial resolution for the two kernels. The mean RMSEs for two types of reconstruction kernels of the microwire phantoms of 10 and 30 μm in diameter were 0.0045 and 0.0035, respectively. The mean REs of the two wire phantoms of 10 and 30 μm diameter had 4.0% and 3.1%, respectively, for two types of reconstruction kernel. Experimental data presented in this paper support the effectiveness of the model-dependent method based on the symmetric Lévy function. We conclude that the method is a useful approach for measuring the spatial resolution in the x∕y-scan plane (transversal orientation) of micro-CT systems by substituting a thick wire phantom for a thin wire phantom. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Perspectives on gender parity in bioanalysis: an interview with Shefali Patel.
Biography Shefali R Patel is a Senior Scientist and a Group leader in the Bioanalytical Group within DMPK Department at Janssen (a Johnson & Johnson company). In her current role, she is supervising the nonregulated bioanalysis group within East Coast Bioanalytical Department. Also, as a part of her current role, she is applying microsampling techniques for rodent studies within Johnson & Johnson. She has 17 years of experience in Bioanalytical Sciences. Before joining Janssen in 2007, Shefali was a Research Chemist with Drug Metabolism Department for Merck Research Laboratories in Rahway, NJ, USA. Prior to Merck, she was employed as Scientist with Taylor Technology (CRO) in Princeton, NJ, USA. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A comparison of five curve-fitting procedures in radioimmunoassay.
Data obtained from routine analytical radioimmunoassays were processed using five curve-fitting procedures, viz. 'Amersham', single binding site, four parameter logistic, a linear logit-log and a polynomial logit-log. The polynomial logit-log procedure gave the best fit, but this was probably due to the inherent flexibility of this curve-fitting process since the analytical precision achieved with it was not better than what was obtained with most of the other procedures. A limited study failed to show that statistical weighting of data before curve fitting had any practical advantage. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The first year results of mizoribine/tacrolimus-based multitarget treatment for consecutive patients with lupus nephritis.
Despite the high efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)/tacrolimus-based multitarget treatment, risks of infections are a matter of concern. In the present study, we clarified the potential of multitarget therapy using mizoribine opposed to MMF. A total of 36 patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis were treated with mizoribine, tacrolimus, and glucocorticoids and then retrospectively evaluated. To determine the efficacy, proteinuria remission (≤ 0.2 g/day), complete remission (Liu et al. in Ann Intern Med 162:18-26, 2015) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) remission rates, and the prednisolone dose at months 6 and 12 were evaluated. The associations between serum mizoribine/tacrolimus levels and clinical parameters were investigated. To assess safety, adverse events were inspected. All patients could continue the original treatment regimen without withdrawal or exacerbations through month 12. At month 6, the proteinuria remission, complete remission, SLEDAI remission rates, and prednisolone dose were 69, 53, 36%, and 12.1 mg/day, respectively, whereas the values at 12 months were 92, 67, 50%, and 8.8 mg/day, respectively. The treatment was efficacious for every histologic type of nephritis and non-renal manifestations of SLE. Excluding one patient who was hospitalized due to upper respiratory tract infection, serious infections, including pneumonia and cytomegalovirus disease, were not observed. Higher trough tacrolimus levels were associated with normalization of complement, whereas higher peak mizoribine levels with prevention of cytomegalovirus viremia. Our results suggest that multitarget therapy using mizoribine opposed to MMF is highly safe and effective through 12 months. The therapy may enable faster dose reduction of concomitant glucocorticoids. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Classification of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and decoys by a support vector machine.
Acetylcholinesterase has long been considered as a target for Alzheimer disease therapy. In this work, several classification models were built for the purpose of distinguishing acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and decoys. Each molecule was initially represented by 211 ADRIANA.Code and 334 MOE descriptors. Correlation analysis, F-score and attribute selection methods in Weka were used to find the best reduced set of descriptors, respectively. Additionally, models were built using a Support Vector Machine and evaluated by 5-, 10-fold and leave-one-out cross-validation. The best model gave a Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 0.99 and a prediction accuracy (Q) of 99.66% for the test set. The best model also gave good result on an external test set of 86 compounds (Q=96.51%, MCC=0.93). The descriptors selected by our models suggest that H-bond and hydrophobicity interactions are important for the classification of AChEIs and decoys. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assessing Impressions of Community Health Worker Use of Tablet-Based Medication Documentation Software.
Community health workers, an important and emerging role in the evolution of the care delivery system, are uniquely positioned to play a vital role in information gathering and exchange. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital carried out a feasibility study to assess community health worker use and impressions of a medication documentation application that runs on a tablet. The nine community health workers successfully collected data on 16 patients in the home setting. On average, 10 medications were collected per patient, and the average time to collect the medication data was 1 hour. Key findings from the focus groups included the need for additional training and the desire to use the device to streamline other documentation activities. In general, the software was judged to be suitable for the proposed task and represents a starting point for further use of tools that leverage the community health worker in a team-based workflow. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
EEG/functional MRI in epilepsy: The Queen Square Experience.
The recording of EEG during functional MRI scanning (EEG/fMRI) has opened up new dimensions in brain research. The simultaneous recording of EEG activity and its temparospatial haemodynamic correlates is a powerful tool in the non-invasive mapping of normal and pathological brain function. The technological constraints imposed by having a conductor (the EEG) within the magnetic environment of the MRI scanner have been sufficiently overcome for high quality EEG recording during MRI. The initial applications of EEG/fMRI were in the study of epileptiform discharges in epilepsy. This has been rapidly followed by studies of normal EEG rhythms and evoked response in healthy subjects. The ability to map brain areas involved in the generation of epileptiform discharges recorded on the surface EEG has been shown using EEG/fMRI in patients with epilepsy. This has potential clinical applications in providing additional localizing information in the pre-surgical workup of epilepsy patients and in gaining a greater understanding of the neurobiology of interictal epileptiform discharges and epileptic seizures. In this review we address the issues in recording EEG during fMRI and review the application of EEG/fMRI in the study of patients with epilepsy at our centre. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Early sexual initiation and subsequent sex-related risks among urban minority youth: the reach for health study.
Since the 1980s, the age at which U.S. teenagers, especially minority youth, begin having sex has decreased. There is limited information on the relationship between early sexual initiation and subsequent risky sexual behaviors. A sample of 1,287 urban minority adolescents completed three surveys in seventh and eighth grade, and 970 completed a follow-up in 10th grade. Logistic regression was used to test the effects of timing of initiation on 10th-grade sexual behaviors and risks, adjusting for gender, ethnicity and age. At baseline, 31% of males and 8% of females reported sexual initiation; by the 10th grade, these figures were 66% and 52%, respectively. Recent intercourse among males increased from 20% at baseline to 39% in eighth grade; 54% reported recent sex and 6% had made a partner pregnant by 10th grade. Among females, recent intercourse tripled from baseline to eighth grade (5% to 15%); 42% reported recent sex and 12% had been pregnant by grade 10. Early initiators had an increased likelihood of having had multiple sex partners, been involved in a pregnancy, forced a partner to have sex, had frequent intercourse and had sex while drunk or high. There were significant gender differences for all outcomes except frequency of intercourse and being drunk or high during sex. Minority adolescents who initiate sexual activity early engage in behaviors that place them at high risk for negative health outcomes. It is important to involve parents and schools in prevention efforts that address sexual initiation in early adolescence and that target youth who continue to place themselves and their partners at risk. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Region-specified PCR-mutagenesis: its application to locate epitopes for anti-RecA protein-monoclonal IgGs ].
Even though various techniques for site-directed mutagenesis have been developed, random mutagenesis is an important and complementary approach to locate functional domains on polypeptides and RNA, and to modify their biochemical and biological properties. Region-specified PCR-mutagenesis is a powerful and simple technique for this purpose. A couple of primers specifies a DNA region to be mutagenized. By use of Taq DNA polymerase and the addition of deoxyinosine-triphosphate (dITP), PCR causes various base-substitutions in the region. By screening of a change in a phenotype of the protein, one can obtain mutants with significant phenotype at 10(-2) from an expressed library of mutagenized DNA. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials: II. Some clinical experiences].
Compared to other somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP), little information has been published so far on trigeminal somatosensory evoked potentials (TSEP) in the various kind of disorders. This may be due to few recording technique suitable for clinical practice. We previously reported a new recording method and showed the normal pattern of TSEP. The purpose of this report is to examine its reliability for clinical use. Sixty patients, with either a complaint of facial numbness or an organic lesion supposed to involve facial sensory pathway, were investigated. Their age ranged from 13 to 74 years old (mean 47.0). They consisted of 34 organic lesions (30 brain tumors and 4 cerebrovascular diseases) and 26 non-organic lesions (16 hemifacial spasms, 6 trigeminal neuralgias and other miscellaneous disorders). TSEP was recorded by the stimulation of the half of the contralateral upper or lower lip with the clip-shaped electrode. C'5 or C'6 (midpoint between Cz and the external auditory porus) was used as an active electrode and Fz as a reference. Two hundred or four hundred responses were averaged by a Nicolet Pathfinder II. All recordings were repeated at least twice to confirm the reproducibility. (1) Among 21 patients with a complaint of facial numbness except for neuralgia, the abnormality rate of TSEP was significantly different (p less than 0.02) between organic and non-organic lesions. The former was 87.5% (14 out of 16 cases) and the latter was 20% (1 out of 5 cases).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Simultaneous analysis of acidulants and preservatives in food samples by using capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect UV detection.
Capillary zone electrophoresis with indirect UV detection was developed for the simultaneous analysis of acidulants and preservatives in food samples. When a solution of tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane, trimellitic acid and poly (vinyl alcohol) was used as the background electrolyte, the nine acidulants and four preservatives listed in the Japanese Food Sanitation Law were detected within 8min. The calibration curves plotted from the peak height of each analyte were linear with a correlation coefficient of 0.99. The relative standard deviations (n=10) of the peak height ranged from 1.2% to 4.7%. The detection limits for these species ranged from 0.6 to 5.3mg/L at a signal-to-noise ratio of three. The method developed method was applied to the simultaneous analysis of acidulants and preservatives in a wide variety of food samples. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Primary syphilis of oral mucosa: case report of an unusual manifestation.
Dental clinicians and other health care providers have long been concerned about a variety of infectious agents that may be transmitted within the dental setting. Many infectious diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and syphilis are important both because of their potential transmissibility and because the first manifestations of the disease may appear in the oral cavity. Oral disease as a consequence of primary syphilis is rare. This article details a patient presenting with a labial nodule as her only clinical manifestation of undiagnosed primary syphilis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Caveolin-1 gene silencing promotes the activation of PI3K/AKT dependent on Eralpha36 and the transformation of MCF10ACE.
ERalpha36, a variant of estrogen receptor-alpha, acts as a dominant-negative factor in both estrogen-dependent and estrogenindependent transactivation signaling pathways, and is a key factor in the promotion, progression and prognosis of breast cancers. Caveolin-1, a 22- to 24-kD integral membrane protein, may function as a tumor suppressor in inhibiting of many growth-promoting signaling pathways. It was shown that downregulation of Caveolin-1 strengthens the interaction of ERalpha and Caveolin-1. In conclusion, Caveolin-1 gene silencing activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in an ERalpha36-dependent way. Our finding may provide a promising therapeutic target of breast cancer. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Decreasing rate of fatty involution at screening mammography.
This study was performed to document the perceived decrease in fatty involution at screening mammography during the past decade and evaluate the influence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In December 1996, the mammograms of 261 consecutive screening patients with a comparison study obtained 5 years earlier were evaluated, and their breasts were categorized according to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System categories for breast density. The women, aged 50-59 years, included 119 who had been receiving HRT for 0.25-15 years (mean, 3 years). From the files, 261 age-matched screening mammograms from 1986 were obtained; these patients also had comparison mammograms from 1981. Analysis of variance was used to determine differences between the 1980s group, the 1990s group receiving HRT, and the 1990s group not receiving HRT. Scheffé tests were used for post hoc comparisons. Stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate the relative influence of age, decade, score of the first mammogram, and HRT. Breast density for the 1991 mammograms did not differ significantly from that in 1981 (P < .05). Initial breast density was the best predictor of final breast density in both decades (P < .001), regardless of HRT status. The change in breast density (toward fatty) over the 5-year interval in the 1980s (mean, 0.48) was significantly greater than that in both 1990s groups (mean for HRT group, 0.11; no HRT, 0.30; P < .05). These results confirm that breast density at screening mammography in the 1990s did not decrease with age at the same rate as in the 1980s, even in patients not receiving HRT. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Double-quantum-filtered rotational-resonance MAS NMR in the presence of large chemical shielding anisotropies.
Double-quantum filtration under rotational resonance MAS NMR conditions where the chemical shielding anisotropies involved exceed the differences in isotropic chemical shielding is considered by means of numerical simulations and (13)C MAS NMR experiments. The responses of two different pulse sequences, suitable for double-quantum filtration specifically under rotational resonance conditions, to large chemical shielding anisotropies are compared. In the presence of large chemical shielding anisotropies a very recently introduced pulse sequence (T. Karlsson, M. Edén, H. Luthman, and M. H. Levitt, J. Magn. Reson. 145, 95-107, 2000) suffers losses in double-quantum-filtration efficiencies. The double-quantum-filtration efficiency of another pulse sequence (N. C. Nielsen, F. Creuzet, R. G. Griffin, and M. H. Levitt, J. Chem. Phys. 96, 5668-5677, 1992) is less afflicted by the presence of large chemical shielding anisotropies. Both sequences deliver double-quantum-filtered lineshapes that sensitively reflect chemical shielding tensor orientations. It is further shown that double-quantum-filtered rotational-resonance lineshapes of spin systems composed of more than two spins offer a suitable experimental approach for determining chemical shielding tensor orientations for cases where conventional rotational-resonance experiments are not applicable due to the presence of additional background resonances. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
New CCK2 agonists confirming the heterogeneity of CCK2 receptors: characterisation of BBL454.
Pharmacological studies were undertaken with a new series of cholecystokinin(2) CCK(2) agonists in order to assign to them a CCK(2A) or CCK(2B) pharmacological profile. The open-field test was chosen as the discrimination test of CCK(2B) agonists. The most interesting agonist, BBL454 (0.03-300 microg/kg) induced hyperactivity which was blocked by a CCK(2) antagonist, the D1 antagonist SCH23390, the delta-opioid antagonist naltrindole, but not a CCK(1) antagonist. All compounds active in the open-field test are characterised by a common structural feature, -COCH(2)CO-Trp-NMeNle-Asp-Phe-NH(2), whereas inactive compounds do not possess such a motive. Therefore, this feature can be considered crucial for CCK(2B) activity. BBL454 (0.03-3 microg/kg) improved memory in a two-trial memory test while it was very weakly active on the peripheral CCK(2) receptor, and did not evoke anxiogenic effects in the plus-maze test. The synthesis of BBL454 is simple, its minimal active dose is 30 ng/kg and no "bell-shaped" responses were observed. These results suggest that BBL454 could be considered to be the new CCK(2B) reference agonist. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Simulation in health care, an overview and framework for development].
Following the example of Anglo-Saxon countries, which have been using it for some thirty years, simulation in health care is growing rapidly in France. The development of this challenging pedagogical method is guided by several documents published by the French National Health Authority. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Impact of rigid and nonrigid registration on the determination of 18F-FDG PET-based tumour volume and standardized uptake value in patients with lung cancer.
Assessment of the metabolically active tumour tissue by FDG PET is evolving for use in the diagnosis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in the planning of radiotherapy, and in follow-up and response evaluation. For exact evaluation accurate registration of PET and CT data is required. The registration process is usually based on rigid algorithms; however, nonrigid algorithms are increasingly being used. The influence of the registration method on FDG PET-based standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and metabolic tumour volume (MTV) definition has not yet been evaluated. We compared intra- and interindividual differences in SUV and MTV between rigid- and nonrigid-registered PET and CT acquired during different breathing manoeuvres. The study group comprised 28 radiotherapy candidates with histologically proven NSCLC who underwent FDG PET acquisition and three CT acquisitions (expiration - EXP, inspiration - INS, mid-breath-hold - MID). All scans were registered with both a rigid (R) and a nonrigid (NR) procedure resulting in six fused datasets: R-INS, R-EXP, R-MID, NR-INS, NR-EXP and NR-MID. For the delineation of MTVs a contrast-oriented contouring algorithm developed in-house was used. To accelerate the delineation a semiautomatic software prototype was utilized. Tumour mean SUVmax did not differ for R and NR registration (R 17.5 ± 7, NR 17.4 ± 7; p=0.2). The mean MTV was higher by 3 ± 12 ml (p=0.02) in the NR group than in the R group, as was the mean tumour diameter (by 0.1 ± 0.2 cm; p<0.01). With respect to the three different breathing manoeuvres, there were no differences in MTV in the R group (p > 0.7). In intraindividual comparison there were no significant differences in MTVs concerning the registration pairs R-EXP (68 ± 88 ml) vs. NR-EXP (69 ± 85 ml) und R-MID (68 ± 86 ml) vs. NR-MID (69 ± 83 ml) (both p > 0.4). However, the MTVs were larger after NR registration during inspiration (R-INS 68 ± 82 vs. NR-INS 78 ± 93 ml; p=0.02). The use of nonrigid algorithms may lead to a change in MTV, whose extent is influenced by the breathing manoeuvre on CT. Nonrigid registration methods cannot be recommended for the definition of MTV if the CT scan is performed during inspiration. The choice of registration algorithm has no significant impact on SUVmax. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Proresorptive actions of FSH and bone loss.
We review studies that propose follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as a physiologic stimulator of osteoclastic bone resorption. We hypothesize that, in addition to low estrogen, a rising FSH contributes to the increased bone resorption and bone loss in hypergonadism. This is of particular relevance to the perimenopausal transition, wherein profound bone loss is accompanied by trabecular perforations in the face of high FSH and normal estrogen levels. Potential therapeutic implications include the development of antagonists to both circulating FSH and its osteoclastic receptor. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cardiac nociception in rats: neuronal pathways and the influence of dermal neurostimulation on conveyance to the central nervous system.
Neurostimulation for refractory angina pectoris is often advocated for its clinical efficacy. However, the recruited pathways to induce electroanalgesia are partially unknown. Therefore, we sought to study the effect of neurostimulation on experimentally induced cardiac nociception, using capsaicin as nociception-induced substance. Four different groups of male Wistar rats were pericardially infused with either saline or capsaicin with or without neurostimulation. Group StimCap was infused with capsaicin, and group StimVeh was infused with saline. Both groups were treated with neurostimulation. Group ShamCap was only infused with capsaicin without stimulation, whereas group ShamVeh was only infused with saline. Neuronal activation differences were assessed with cytochemical staining, revealing the cellular expression of c-fos. Pain behavior was registered on video and was quantitatively analyzed. In the StimCap and ShamCap groups, all animals exerted typical pain behavior, whereas in the StimVeh group only moderate changes in behavior were observed. Group ShamVeh animals were unaffected by the procedure. The upper thoracic spinal cord showed high numbers of c-fos-positive cells, predominantly in laminae III and IV in both StimCap and StimVeh groups. Almost no c-fos expression was noticed in groups ShamCap and ShamVeh in these sections of the spinal cord. In groups StimCap and ShamCap a significantly higher number of c-fos-positive cells in comparison with groups StimVeh and ShamVeh were noticed in the periambigus region, the nucleus tractus solitarius, and the paraventricular hypothalamus. In the paraventricular thalamus, periaqueductal gray, and central amygdala, no significant differences were noticed among the first three groups, and the c-fos concentration in these three groups was significantly higher than in group ShamVeh. It is concluded that neurostimulation does not influence capsaicin-induced cardiac nociceptive pain pulses to the central nervous system. Furthermore, capsaicin-induced cardiac pain and neurostimulation may utilize two different pathways. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
High-dose-rate brachytherapy for small-sized peripherally located lung cancer.
The demand for minimally invasive therapies is increasing in the treatment of small peripheral non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Twelve patients with T1-2 N0 M0 peripheral NSCLC were treated by high-dose-rate brachytherapy with (192)Ir radioactive source. A (192)Ir source was introduced into the tumors percutaneously in five patients (percutaneous brachytherapy) or transbronchially in seven patients (transbronchial brachytherapy). Whereas irradiation was performed with a single fraction of 20 Gy in percutaneous brachytherapy, it was hypofractionated from 5 x 5 Gy to 2 x 12.5 Gy in transbronchial brachytherapy. Complications were generally mild in all patients, although focal radiation pneumonitis was observed in most patients. Primary recurrence occurred in three patients, including one with a T2 tumor and one treated by brachytherapy as a salvage treatment for recurrence after conformal radiotherapy. When brachytherapy is evaluated as a primary treatment for T1 N0 M0 NSCLC, local control rate is 88.9% and estimated 5-year survival rate is between 60% and 70%. Brachytherapy has a potential to be a method to treat peripheral T1 N0 M0 NSCLC. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Prevention of Listeria infections].
The prophylaxis of listeriosis needs the implementation of hygienic rules by the producers and controls by competent authorities and professionals. On this base, it is necessary to define a management method for emergencies and crises, depending on the complementarity of various intervening parties. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Vitamin E in preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is the disorder of pregnancy with the highest rate of both maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. The maternal syndrome is characterized by oxidative stress and activation of the vascular endothelium that may originate from placental release of lipid peroxidation products, cytokines, and microparticles leading to an acute inflammatory response. The current understanding of the etiology has allowed the improvement of predictive tests, tests that could make intervention possible from early pregnancy onwards. Although the large secondary intervention antioxidant trials in cardiovascular diseases did not show any beneficial effect of vitamin E and vitamin C, either alone or in combination, knowledge of the nature of the pathogenesis of preeclampsia offers hope for the beneficial use of antioxidants in the prevention of the disorder. Not only has our previous small trial shown that antioxidant prophylactics in high-risk women lowered the prevalence of preeclampsia, but also new evidence has demonstrated multiple other actions of alpha-tocopherol (such as anti-inflammation and inhibition of NAD(P)H oxidase activation) besides its antioxidant properties that could be advantageous in the prevention of the disorder. Several larger trials are under way to investigate the precise role that vitamins C and E can play in the prevention of preeclampsia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
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