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Validation of the Daily Living Tasks Dependent on Vision (DLTV) questionnaire in a U.S. population with age-related macular degeneration.
The Daily Living Tasks Dependent on Vision questionnaire (DLTV) has been used to assess functional impairment among patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the DLTV using patient-reported rates of use of services and devices in an outpatient population. The DLTV was included in a survey mailed to members of an AMD advocacy organization. Included in the survey were questions about demographic and clinical characteristics as well as questions about use of low vision aids and care-giving. Respondents provided informed consent. Data were analyzed in SAS. Four respondents of 803 did not complete the DLTV; missing data were uncommon. Most (56%) respondents were male; the mean age was 73 years. Internal consistency reliability of the DLTV was 0.9699. Construct validity was demonstrated with moderate to high correlations between the DLTV and use of services and devices. The DLTV demonstrated discriminant validity and could distinguish between respondents with different levels of impairment, i.e., those who reported regular care-giving compared to those without regular care-giving. In this outpatient population, the DLTV demonstrated reliability and validity. This analysis complements existing research and supports the use of the DLTV in AMD patients. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Molecular simulation of the concentration-dependent interaction of hydrophobic drugs with model cellular membranes.
We report here the interactions between a hydrophobic drug and a model cellular membrane at the molecular level using all-atom molecular dynamics simulations of paclitaxel, a hydrophobic cancer drug. The calculated free energy of a single drug across the bilayer interface displays a minimum in the outer hydrophobic zone of the membrane. The transfer free energy shows excellent agreement with reported experimental data. In two sets of long-time simulations of high concentrations of drug in the membrane (12 and 11 mol %), the drugs display substantial clustering and rotation with significant directional preference in their diffusion. The main taxane ring partitions in the outer hydrophobic zone, while the three phenyl rings prefer to be closer to the hydrophobic core of the membrane. The clustering of the drug molecules, order parameters of the lipid tails, and water penetration suggest that the fluidity and permeability of the membrane are affected by the concentration of drugs that it contains. Furthermore, at the high-concentration limit, the free energy minimum shifts closer to the hydrophobic core and the central barrier to cross the membrane decreases. Moreover, the transfer free energy change substantially increases, suggesting that increasing concentration facilitates drug partitioning into the membrane. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Blowout bifurcations and the onset of magnetic activity in turbulent dynamos.
The transition to magnetic-field self-generation in a turbulent, electrically conducting fluid is shown to exhibit intermittent bursting characterized by distinct scaling laws. This behavior is predicted on the basis of prior analysis of a type of bifurcation (called a blowout bifurcation) occurring in chaotic systems with an invariant phase space submanifold. The predicted scalings are shown to be consistent with numerical solutions of the governing magnetohydrodynamic equations, and implications for recently implemented experimental programs are discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Lectin-induced actin polymerization in human lymphocytes: a possible signal for mitogenesis.
Employing the DNase I inhibition assay, a decrease in G-actin is demonstrated in human mononuclear cells following stimulation with mitogenic lectins concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA), as well as a nonmitogenic lectin, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA). The decrease in G-actin can be prevented by pretreatment of cells with cytochalasin E, indicating that the decrease is likely due to conversion to F-actin. Thus, the receptor-mediated actin polymerization is common to both the mitogenic as well as the nonmitogenic lectins. The maximal decrease in G-actin with Con A and PHA occurs at the same concentrations of the lectins that give optimal mitogenic responses. It is a distinct possibility that actin polymerization could be one of the signals necessary for the initiation of mitogenesis. The difference between a mitogenic and a nonmitogenic lectin may lie in the fact that a second signal (or signals), derived from macrophages, may not be generated by a nonmitogenic lectin such as WGA. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Evidence of increased substrate availability to in vitro-derived bovine foetuses and association with accelerated conceptus growth.
Changes in placental development have been associated with foetal abnormalities after in vitro embryo manipulations. This study was designed to investigate bovine conceptus development and substrate levels in plasma and fluids in in vivo- and in vitro-produced (IVP) concepti and neonates. In vivo-produced and IVP embryos were derived by established embryo production procedures. Pregnant animals from both groups were slaughtered on days 90 or 180 of gestation, or allowed to go to term. Conceptus and neonatal physical traits were recorded; foetal, maternal and neonatal blood, and foetal fluids were collected for the determination of blood and fluid chemistry, and glucose, fructose and lactate concentrations. Placental transcripts for specific glucose transporters were determined by quantitative RT-PCR. No significant differences in uterine and conceptus traits were observed between groups on day 90. On day 180, larger uterine, placental and foetal weights, and an increase in placental gross surface area (SA) in IVP pregnancies were associated with increased glucose and fructose accumulation in foetal plasma and associated fluids, with no differences in the expression of components of the glucose transporter system. Therefore, the enlarged placental SA in IVP pregnancies suggests an increase in substrate uptake and transport capacity. Newborn IVP calves displayed higher birth weights and plasma fructose concentrations soon after birth, findings which appeared to be associated with clinical and metabolic distress. Our results indicated larger concepti and increased placental fructogenic capacity in mid- to late IVP pregnancies, features which appeared to be associated with an enhanced substrate supply, potentially glucose, to the conceptus. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cannabidiol induced a contrasting pro-apoptotic effect between freshly isolated and precultured human monocytes.
It has been documented that cannabidiol (CBD) induced apoptosis in a variety of transformed cells, including lymphocytic and monocytic leukemias. In contrast, a differential sensitivity between normal lymphocytes and monocytes to CBD-mediated apoptosis has been reported. The present study investigated the pro-apoptotic effect of CBD on human peripheral monocytes that were either freshly isolated or precultured for 72h. CBD markedly enhanced apoptosis of freshly isolated monocytes in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, whereas precultured monocytes were insensitive. By comparison, both cells were sensitive to doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. CBD significantly diminished the cellular thiols and glutathione in freshly isolated monocytes. The apoptosis induced by CBD was abrogated in the presence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine, a precursor of glutathione. In addition, precultured monocytes contained a significantly greater level of glutathione and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) compared to the freshly isolated cells. The HO-1 competitive inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin partially but significantly restored the sensitivity of precultured monocytes to CBD-mediated apoptosis. Collectively, our results demonstrated a contrasting pro-apoptotic effect of CBD between precultured and freshly isolated monocytes, which was closely associated with the cellular level of glutathione and the antioxidative capability of the cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Pituitary gigantism: a rare learning opportunity.
Pituitary gigantism is a rare but significant paediatric condition with complexities surrounding diagnosis and management. Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is the treatment of choice; however, medical treatment is often considered as adjuvant therapy. A 10½ -year-old boy presented with tall stature and a height velocity of 11 cm/year. His height was 178.7 cm (+5.8 SD above mean) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was elevated. An oral glucose tolerance test demonstrated non-suppression of growth hormone (GH). Initial contrast MRI was inconclusive, but C-11 methionine functional positron emission tomography CT identified a 6 mm pituitary microadenoma. A multidisciplinary team clinic held with the family allowed discussion about medical and surgical treatment options. Due to a number of factors including the patient's young age, prepubertal status, a wish to allow him to settle into his new high school and his desire to reach a final height taller than his father's height, it was decided to try medical therapy first with a somatostatin analogue. Pubertal induction was also commenced and bilateral epiphysiodesis surgery performed. Initial response to octreotide was positive; however, 4 months into therapy his IGF-1 was climbing and a repeat GH profile was not fully suppressed. The patient therefore proceeded to have successful TSS excision of the adenoma. Rare cases such as this require sharing of knowledge and expertise, so the best possible care is offered. It is often necessary to work across sites and disciplines. Each case requires an individual approach tailored to the patient and their family. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[A case of tuberculous pyothorax with retroperitoneal gravitation abscess].
A 65-year-old woman being treated under the diagnosis of pneumonia was subjected to further evaluation for right back tenderness. Chest radiography revealed a granular, net-like shadow in the right lower lung field, and right pleural thickening with pleural fluid retention. Ultrasonography demonstrated a cystic mass of uniformly low echo density, corresponding to the site of tenderness. This lesion was located on the right renal dorsal, right iliopsoas muscle ventral side. Based on CT findings of internal water density and marginal enhancement, the lesion was diagnosed as an abscess. With the suspicion of right tuberculous pyothorax with retroperitoneal gravitation abscess, puncture was attempted. The diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the specimen. Antituberculosis chemotherapy was initiated, with drainage for symptom relief and lesion range definition. The abscess cavity communicated with the right pleural cavity via s stalk. The stalk path was confirmed by CT, and surgical curettage was performed. Tuberculous pyothorax with retroperitoneal gravitation abscess is rare and is not discussed in standard textbooks. In large series of cases it is not mentioned. In this patient we assumed that retroperitoneal gravitation abscess occurred as a result of the advanced state of tuberculous pyothorax. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Essential role of transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 in evodiamine-mediated protection against atherosclerosis.
We investigated whether transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) was involved in the therapeutic effect of evodiamine, a main bioactive component in the fruit of Evodiae rutaecarpa, on the development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) mice and ApoE(-/-)TRPV1(-/-) mice. Histopathology was examined by haematoxylin and eosin staining, levels of cytokines and mediators were evaluated by ELISA kits, and protein expression was determined by Western blotting. Chronic administration with evodiamine (10 mg kg(-1) body weight) reduced the size of atherosclerotic lesions and alleviated the hyperlipidaemia and systemic inflammation, as well as hepatic macrovesicular steatosis, in ApoE(-/-) mice. Treating ApoE(-/-) mice with evodiamine enhanced hepatic cholesterol clearance, as revealed by upregulation of hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters ABCG5, ABCG8 and cholesterol 7α-hydrolase. Genetic deletion of TRPV1 in ApoE(-/-) mice promoted the progression of atherosclerosis; elevated the serum levels of cholesterol, cytokines and chemokines; and exacerbated hepatic macrovesicular steatosis. Moreover, genetic deletion of TRPV1 abrogated the evodiamine-evoked atheroprotection but not anti-obesity effect in ApoE(-/-) mice. Evodiamine may confer novel TRPV1-dependent atheroprotection and TRPV1-independent anti-obesity action. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Human responses to simulated chemical warfare training in U.S. Army Reserve personnel.
This study examines biopsychological responses and background practices of 182 military personnel participating in a simulated chemical defense warfare scenario. The study explores the relationship between demographic, training, biopsychological response, and termination variables. Common features of dropouts are described. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Secondary posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation without scleral fixation].
Retrospective evaluation of results of secondary PC IOL implantation without scleral fixation. 29 eyes of 21 patients including 8 children underwent secondary PC IOL implantation into the sulcus. In all these eyes there was partially or completely preserved posterior capsule. Final postoperative visual acuity of 20/40 or better was achieved in 82.7% of the eyes with PC IOL. Secondary PC IOL implants give good anatomical and functional results. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Density waves and cooper pairing on the honeycomb lattice.
Motivated by the surge in research activities on graphene, we investigate instabilities of electrons on the honeycomb lattice, interacting by onsite and nearest-neighbor terms, using a renormalization group scheme. Near half band filling, critical minimal interaction strengths are required for instabilities toward antiferromagnetic or charge-density-wave order. Away from half-filling, f-wave triplet-pairing and d + id singlet-pairing instabilities are found to emerge out of density-wave regimes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Electrophysiological assessment of nociception in patients with Parkinson's disease: A multi-methods approach.
Nociceptive abnormalities indicating increased pain sensitivity have been reported in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The disturbances are mostly responsive to dopaminergic (DA) treatment; yet, there are conflicting results. The objective of the present study was to investigate pain processing and nociception in PD patients in a more comprehensive manner than previous studies. For this purpose, a multi-methods approach was used in order to monitor different levels of the central nervous system (spinal, subcortical-vegetative, cortical). The heat-pain threshold, contact-heat evoked brain potentials (CHEPs) and sympathetic skin responses (SSR), nociceptive flexion responses (NFR) and subjective pain ratings were measured in 23 idiopathic PD patients both in the Off-phase (without DA medication) and On-phase (after DA medication intake) as well as in 23 healthy controls. Compared to controls, PD patients showed decreased heat-pain thresholds only in the Off and tentatively increased NFR amplitudes in both phases. We found no between-group differences for the CHEPs, the NFR threshold/latency or the pain ratings. Yet, SSR amplitudes/frequencies were decreased and latencies were increased in PD patients in both phases. Correlations between CHEPs amplitudes and pain ratings were found only in controls. Increased pain sensitivity (heat-pain threshold) in the Off which normalizes in the On argues for DA induced dysfunctions of the nigrostriatal pain loops with the basal ganglia as main circuit in our PD sample. Dysfunctions of the subcortical-vegetative parameters despite of inconspicuous cortical nociception suggest disturbances of the central or peripheral innervation of sympathetic branches with coincidently intact ascending pathways in the PD group. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Vinyl chloride mechanistic data and risk assessment: DNA reactivity and cross-species quantitative risk extrapolation.
Vinyl chloride produced several tumor types among species. Angiosarcoma of the liver is found in all tested species, including humans with occupational exposures. Vinyl chloride is biotransformed by CYP2E1 to DNA-reactive chloroethylene oxide producing cyclic etheno adducts, which are mutagenic. The dose-response for angiosarcoma of the liver formation in rodents is supralinear, which is consistent with saturation of metabolic activation, and the tumor rate in humans at occupational exposure levels is similar to that for equivalent exposures in rodents. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The determination of activated partial thromboplastin time, coagulate time and thrombin time in patients with epistaxis of indeterminate cause].
To explore the coagulation mechanism of indeterminate epistaxis. 36 cases with epistaxis of indeterminate cause were studies by mean of detecting activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), coagulate time (CT) and thrombin time. The results of first APTT, APTT after 8 min and CT were observed. 1. The first APTT in epistaxis and normal group didn't show statistical difference (P > 0.05). But the APTT after 8 min in epistaxis were significantly different compared with the first APTT and that in normal group (P < 0.01). 2. The CT prolonged in 33.3% patients with epistaxis, which was higher significantly than that in the normal group (P < 0.01). (3) The epistaxis thrombin time (TT) was longer than that in normal group. The result suggest that during blood coagulation in indeterminate epistaxis, the activated factors in internal coagulating system may decompose more quickly than that in normal group. Antiagglutinating factors increase in blood. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
EFFECT OF AGE AND GENDER ON FASTING AND FOOD-STIMULATED LEVELS OF CALCITONIN, PARATHYROID, AND GASTRIN HORMONES IN HEALTHY ADULTS.
Objective: To investigate the effect of age and gender on basal and food-stimulated serum calcitonin (CT), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and gastrin levels among healthy adults. Methods: Ninety-six healthy adults (76 men and 20 women) aged between 21 and 43 years were recruited. Serum CT, PTH, and gastrin levels were measured after a 9-hour overnight fast, and 1 and 3 hours postprandially. Results: PTH levels decreased early and increased late after feeding. This change was significant in men but not in women. CT levels increased in response to food intake in men but not in women. Gastrin levels were significantly increased after feeding in both men and women. Mean basal and food stimulated CT, PTH, and gastrin levels did not significantly differ between genders. Fasting and post-prandial PTH levels were higher while gastrin levels were lower in older subjects (>30 years old) compared to younger subjects (≤30 years old). Fasting and postprandial CT levels were not significantly different between age groups. Conclusion: Age had a significant effect on fasting and food-stimulated PTH and gastrin hormone levels. The effect of age on PTH levels was independent of baseline vitamin D levels. Men showed significant changes in CT and PTH levels in response to feeding compared to women, although the mean hormone levels were not significantly different between men and women. Abbreviations: CT = calcitonin; MTC = medullary thyroid carcinoma; PTH = parathyroid hormone; SD = standard deviation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Stopping a walking locust with sound: an analysis of variation in behavioural threshold.
Pulses of 3 kHz sound, varying in intensity from 46 dB SPL to 113 dB SPL (reference value = 20 microPa), were presented to fifth instar larvae of the locust Locusta migratoria migratorioides (R. and F.) walking on a recording treadmill. Walking locusts either responded to the sound by stopping within 2.1 s of its presentation or they continued walking apparently unaffected by it. The latency of the stopping response was correlated with stimulus intensity: the higher the stimulus intensity, the sooner the locust stopped walking. Pauses induced by sounds were longer than those that occurred 'spontaneously' and increased in duration with increasing stimulus intensity. This relationship, however, was modulated by walking speed: the faster the locust was walking, the shorter the following pause for a given stimulus intensity. The intensity of sound needed to elicit a response depended on the length of time the locust had spent in uninterrupted walking before the stimulus was presented. The stopping threshold for sound stimuli presented 3 s into the walking bout was 84 dB SPL (SE +/- 1.56), and at 20 s it was significantly less, at 76 dB SPL (SE +/- 1.56). This effect of time was significant even when other factors, such as differences between individual locusts, were allowed for in the regression analysis. This shift in the behavioural threshold could not be explained simply by on-going changes in walking behaviour, for although the speed of walking was correlated with stopping threshold its effect was not statistically significant when differences between individuals and time of stimulus presentation were allowed for in the regression analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The prevalence and preventability of potentially relevant drug-drug interactions in patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases: A cross-sectional study.
The aim was to describe the type and prevalence of potentially relevant drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) in a population of patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and management strategies for reducing the occurrence of pDDIs. A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on Cardiology ward of University Clinical Hospital Center in Belgrade, Serbia. A total of 527 patients, with more than one prescription during hospital stay, were enrolled in this study. Data were obtained from medical records. LexiInteract was used as the screening tool. At least one potentially relevant pDDI was identified in 83.9% of patients. Occurrence was significantly more prevalent in patients with higher number of drugs, multimorbidity, longer length of stay, arrhythmia, heart failure, infectious and respiratory disease. About 13% of pDDIs exposures were accompanied with concurrent renal or liver disease, as an additional risk for DDI manifestation. Among CVD, patients with a history of myocardial infarction possessed the highest additional risk. The most common potential clinical outcome was the effect on cardiovascular system 48.5%, renal function and/or potassium 22.3%, bleeding 9.5%, impaired glucose control 6.8% and digoxin toxicity 4.6%. Main management strategies to avoid X or D class included using paracetamol instead of NSAID or alternative NSAID (38%), alternative antibiotic or antifungal (20.4%), H2 receptor antagonist instead of PPI (8.3%), avoiding therapeutic duplication (7.3%), and alternative HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (7%). Heart rate, blood pressure, electrolytes/potassium and blood glucose could have been employed in monitoring for potential consequence of 72.2% C class pDDIs. Use of drug interaction screening tools can be beneficial risk mitigation strategy for potentially relevant pDDIs in CVD patients. DDI screening software could be linked to the patient's laboratory results or clinical data regarding renal or liver function, as an approach to reinforce DDIs alert quality. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Schistosoma mansoni: resistant specific infection-induced gene expression in Biomphalaria glabrata identified by fluorescent-based differential display.
The freshwater tropical snail Biomphalaria glabrata is an intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni, the causative agent of human intestinal schistosomiasis, and strains differ in their susceptibility to parasite infection. Changes in gene expression in response to parasite infection have been simultaneously examined in a susceptible strain (NHM1742) and a resistant strain (NHM1981) using a newly developed fluorescent-based differential display method. Such RNA profiling techniques allow the examination of changes in gene expression in response to parasite infection, without requiring previous sequence knowledge, or selecting candidate genes that may be involved in the complex neuroendocrine or defence systems of the snail. Thus, novel genes may be identified. Ten transcripts were initially identified, present only in the profiles derived from snails of the resistant strain when exposed to infection. The differential expression of five of these genes, including HSP70 and several novel transcripts with one containing at least two globin-like domains, has been confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Can clinical judgment detect children with speech-language problems?
Pediatricians often rely on clinical judgment derived from observation or parental concern to identify children with developmental problems. The less popular but recommended alternative is to repeatedly administer standardized screening tests. Such tests are time consuming but, unlike clinical judgment, have known detection rates. Preliminary research concerning clinical judgment showed that clusters of parental concerns related to their childrens' performances on screening tests. In the present study, previous research was refined by assessment of the meaning of parents' concerns about their childrens' speech-language development. In this study of 157 families seeking pediatric care, 72% of children whose speech-language screening yielded positive results had parents who were concerned about their speech-language development. Of children with negative screening results, 83% had parents with no concerns about their speech-language development. Although standardized screening tests should be used occasionally in the developmental surveillance process, the findings show that the problems of most children with developmental problems were detected through clinical judgment based on parental concern. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Protective effects of a novel pyrazolecarboxamide derivative against lead nitrate induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in Clarias gariepinus.
Pyrazole derivatives display diverse biological and pharmacological activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant properties of a novel pyrazolecarboxamide derivative (4-amino-N-[(4-chlorophenyl)]-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-thieno [2, 3-c] pyrazole-5-carboxamide) in African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, exposed to 1 mg/L PbNO3. Fish were intramuscularly injected with pyrazole-5-carboxamidederivative according to the following groupings: Group 1 (control), Group 2 (1 mg/L lead nitrate), Group 3 (1 mg/L lead nitrate + 5 mg pyrazole derivative/kg body weight), and Group 4 (1 mg/L lead nitrate + 10 mg pyrazole derivative/kg body weight) for two weeks and four weeks. Lead nitrate (1 mg/L) caused significant elevation of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) compared to the control group after two and four weeks of exposure, while serum total lipids, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly reduced compared to the control group. Furthermore, levels of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were reduced in group 2 compared to the control group. However, in group 2, hepatic lipid peroxidation (LPO) and DNA fragmentation percentage were significantly increased compared to the control group. Histopathological changes in the liver of lead-exposed groups included marked disturbance of hepatic tissue organization, degeneration of hepatocytes, dilation of blood sinusoids and the central vein as well as necrosis. Injection of pyrazole derivative for two weeks and four weeks reversed alterations in biochemical parameters, antioxidant biomarkers, lipid peroxidation, hepatic DNA damage, and histopathological changes in liver tissue induced by 1 mg/L lead nitrate. This amelioration was higher in response to high-dose pyrazole derivative (10 mg) at the fourth week of exposure, showing concentration-and time-dependency. Overall, the sensitized derivative pyrazolecarboxamide is likely a useful tool to minimize the effects of lead toxicity due to its potent antioxidant activity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Network-like arrangement of mixed-valence uranium oxide nanoparticles after glutathione-induced reduction of uranium(vi).
Glutathione (GSH), a ubiquitous intracellular reducing tripeptide, is able to reduce hexavalent uranium, U(vi), to its tetravalent form, U(iv), in aqueous media in vitro, inducing the formation of nanocrystalline mixed-valence uranium oxide particles. After the initial reduction to U(v) and subsequent dismutation, the yielded U(iv) rapidly hydrolyses under near-neutral conditions forming 2-5 nm sized nanoparticles. The latter further aggregate to 20-40 nm chain-like building blocks that finally arrange as network-like structures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Resistance of erythrocytes to lipid peroxidation in cirrhotic rats.
The aim of the present study was to investigate erythrocyte prooxidant-antioxidant balance in relation to liver and plasma lipid peroxidation in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver cirrhosis in rats. Liver cirrhosis was produced by the administration of TAA (0.3 g/L of tap water) for a period of 3 months in rats. Serum, liver and erythrocyte lipid peroxide levels as well as liver glutathione (GSH) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were determined in cirrhotic rats. Hepatic cirrhosis was assessed by biochemical and histopathological findings. Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased in cirrhotic rats. This treatment caused increased MDA and diene conjugate (DC) levels as well as decreased GSH levels and GSH-Px activities in the liver of cirrhotic rats. In these conditions, no significant changes in erythrocyte cholesterol, phospholipid levels as well as endogenous DC, and GSH levels and spontaneous hemolysis values were observed in erythrocytes of rats with TAA-induced liver cirrhosis. However, H(2)O(2)-induced MDA levels were detected to decrease significantly in erythrocytes of cirrhotic rats. Our results indicate that erythrocytes of TAA-induced cirrhotic rats have a resistance against peroxidative stress in contrast to the findings in plasma and liver. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Changes in the gene expression of C-myc and CD38 in HL-60 cells during differentiation induced by nicotinic acid-related compounds.
Changes in gene expression levels of c-myc and CD38 were examined during the differentiation of HL-60 cells to granulocytes due to three nicotinic acid-related compounds. CD38 expression was increased by isonicotinic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Nicotinamide and nicotinamide N-oxide drastically decreased c-myc expression, but isonicotinic acid had no effect, suggesting that these compounds differentiate HL-60 to granulocytes through different pathways. These results should provide useful information as to the mechanisms of cell differentiation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Tuberculosis. Focus on risk assessment and health surveillance in health workers: results and perspectives of a multicenter working group].
Tuberculosis (TB) is still a threat for healthcare workers (HCW), due to the non decreasing incidence, the spread of drug-resistance, the introduction of new tests for the screening, the relevant costs of surveillance of exposed subjects. These issues implicate a revision of activities to prevent TB in health-care settings. A multidisciplinary working group, led by occupational physicians, examined the activities to prevent TB performed in 9 Italian hospitals and reviewed the literature, with the aim to formulate evidence-based procedures. In the considered hospitals, 23.000 HCW are classified as exposed to TB, out of 32.000 HCW exposed to biological risks; yearly, about 6000 subjects are screened for preventive, periodical or post-exposure surveillance and 110-130 chemoprophylaxis are prescribed. A high proportion of HCW (54-75%) refused or interrupt to assume the drugs. In the period 2004-2008, 14 occupational TB were diagnosed (9/100.000 HCW exposed to biological risks). Critical issues are the availability of a specific, written TB control plan, including risk assessment, protocols for identifying, evaluating, managing infectious TB patients, health surveillance, education programs, specifically addressed to increase Standard Precaution adoption and compliance to the screening and to adequate risk perception. Risk assessment identify HCW to be included in TB testing (characterized by low positive predictive value), unrecognized TB and environmental control needed; TB risk classification should include no more than 3 or 4 classes and performed by assessing the issues suggested in the Italian guideline. Tubercolin skin test should be used for HCW screening, adding in vitro test in specific circumstances (for example, skin test positivity in BCG vaccinated HCW); the frequency of the screening should not exceed 2 years. Periodical revision of preventive activities should follow up to date scientific literature and need appropriate data computing. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Measuring grip strength in older adults: comparing the grip-ball with the Jamar dynamometer.
Decreased grip strength is a predictor of adverse outcomes in older adults. A Grip-ball was developed that can be used for home-based self-monitoring of grip strength to detect decline at an early stage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of measurements obtained with the Grip-ball in older adults. Forty nursing home patients and 59 community-dwelling older adults 60 years or older were invited to participate in this study. Grip strength in both hands was measured 3 consecutive times during a single visit using the Grip-ball and the Jamar dynamometer. Test-retest reliability was described using intraclass correlation coefficients. Concurrent validity was evaluated by calculating Pearson correlations between the mean Grip-ball and Jamar dynamometer measurements and between the highest measurements out of 3 trials. Known-groups validity was studied using t tests. Eighty eight participants (33 men) with a mean age of 75 (SD = 6.8) years were included. Intraclass correlation coefficients for the Grip-ball were 0.97 and 0.96 for the left and right hands, respectively (P < .001), and those for the Jamar dynamometer were 0.97 and 0.98 for the left and right hands, respectively (P < .001). Pearson correlations between the mean scores of the Grip-ball and the Jamar dynamometer were 0.71 (P < .001) and 0.76 (P < .001) for the left and right hands, respectively. Pearson correlations between the highest scores out of 3 trials were 0.69 (P < .001) and 0.78 (P < .001) for the left and right hands, respectively. The t tests revealed that both the Grip-ball and the Jamar dynamometer detected grip strength differences between men and women but not between nursing home patients and community-dwelling older adults. Grip-ball measurements did not confirm higher grip strength of the dominant hand whereas the Jamar dynamometer did. The Grip-ball provides reliable grip strength estimates in older adults. Correlations found between the Grip-ball and Jamar dynamometer measurements suggest acceptable concurrent validity. The Grip-ball seems capable of detecting "larger" grip strength differences but might have difficulty detecting "smaller" differences that were detected by the Jamar dynamometer. The Grip-ball could be used in practice to enable home-based self-monitoring of grip strength in older adults. However, for implementation of the Grip-ball as a screening and monitoring device in practice, it is important to gain insight into intersession reliability during home-based use of the Grip-ball and clinical relevance of changes in grip strength. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Morbidity Rates and Weight Loss After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, Sleeve Gastrectomy, and Adjustable Gastric Banding in Patients Older Than 60 Years old: Which Procedure to Choose?
As life expectancy increases, more elderly patients fit into the criteria for bariatric procedures. The aim of our study is to evaluate and compare the safety and efficacy of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) in patients older than 60. Between January 2005 and December 2013, 68 LAGB, 73 LSG, and 212 RYGB patients were 60 years or older at the time of primary procedure. A retrospective review was performed in these patients. Mean age and body mass index (BMI) was 62.7 ± 2.2, 64.1 ± 2.9, and 62.6 ± 2.3 years and 42.7 ± 5.6, 44.0 ± 7.0, and 45.2 ± 6.7 kg/m(2) for LAGB, LSG, and RYGB at the time of procedure, respectively. Seven (10.3%) patients from the LAGB, 3 (4.1%) from the LSG, and 29 (13.8%) from the RYGB group required readmissions. Reoperation rate was 10.3, 1.4, and 9.5% in LAGB, LSG, and RYGB, respectively. The difference in reoperation rates was statistically significant (p < 0.03) while that in readmission rates was not (p > 0.58). Procedure-related mortality rate was 1.4% in the RYGB group, while no mortality was observed in LSG and LAGB groups. At 6, 12, and 18 months postoperatively, mean percentage of excess weight loss were highest in the RYGB group, followed by LSG and LAGB group (p < 0.01). Mean number of comorbidities at the last follow-up significantly decreased in LSG and RYGB patients. LSG showed the lowest readmission and reoperation rate, and RYGB patients had the highest mortality rate. Weight loss and comorbidity resolution were effectively achieved in RYGB and LSG patients. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assessment of bacterial inoculant formulated with Paraburkholderia tropica to enhance wheat productivity.
Paraburkholderia tropica is an endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from the rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and internal tissues of sugarcane and corn plants in different geographical regions. Other plant-growth-promoting abilities, such as phosphate solubilization and antifungal activity, have also been reported for this bacterium. With an aim at investigating the potential use of P. tropica as an inoculant for improving the performance of wheat crop, in this work we evaluated an experimental inoculant formulated with P. tropica MTo-293 with respect to root colonization, the practical aspects of its application, and the effects under field conditions when applied to wheat seeds. Bacterial colonization was monitored by culture dependent techniques and the wheat yield determined by quantifying the total grain production in two different seasons. Rhizoplane and endophytic colonization in wheat roots was achieved efficiently (on average, 8 and 4 log colony-forming units/g fresh weight, respectively) even at relatively low concentrations of viable bacteria in the inoculum under controlled conditions. P. tropica was compatible with a widely used fungicide, maintained viability for 48 h once applied to seeds, and was also able to colonize wheat roots efficiently. Furthermore, we were able to formulate an inoculant that maintained bacterial viability for relatively long time periods. Preliminary field assays were realized, and even though the average yields values for the inoculated treatments remained above the uninoculated ones, no significant effects of inoculation were detected with or without fertilization. The correct physiologic behavior of P. tropica suggests the necessity to continue with field experiments under different conditions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The characteristics of the immune status of patients with lichen ruber planus].
All three main components of the immune system (phagocytosis, humoral and cell-mediated immunity) are changed in patients with lichen ruber planus (LRP). Changes in the functional activity of phagocytes manifest by a decreased phagocytic activity of the peripheral blood monocytes towards Staphylococcus aureus and increased production of active oxygen forms during phagocytosis, which are registered by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence. Changes in the humoral immunity consist in increased serum levels of IgG and IgA, and shifts in the cell-mediated immunity manifest by increased count of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes and decreased functional activity of T cells recorded by the proliferative response to phytohemagglutinin. The greatest shifts in the immune status are observed in patients with erosive ulcerative LRP, which is characterized by the greatest severity and intensity of inflammation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Investigation of a new mathematical model for compression of pharmaceutical powders.
A new compaction equation, the log-exp model: V=V(l)-w log(P)+V(e) exp(P/P(m)) is presented. The model presumes that two compaction processes: a logarithmic and an exponential decline may be active simultaneously. Using non-linear regression techniques the model gives an excellent fit to a number of model substances with wide differences in compaction behaviour. Compared to the Kawakita equation the model covers a broader range of the compaction profile. The new model and the Cooper and Eaton equation fit the data on the same level, but the parameters derived from the log-exp model seems to have more discriminative power between substances and have a close relation to the apparent plastic or brittle densification mechanism. The log-exp model has potential as a tool in estimation of the strength of agglomerated materials. A proposal for a set-up to an iterative non-linear regression calculation in a spreadsheet program is attached. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hematology: first-line bortezomib benefits patients with multiple myeloma.
Bortezomib-based regimens are beneficial in the treatment of patients with symptomatic, newly diagnosed and relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. researchers who investigated the efficacy and safety of single-agent bortezomib as first-line therapy in patients with myeloma have particularly emphasized the incidence and management of peripheral neuropathy, which is the most common adverse effect of bortezomib administration. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Meiotic recombination dramatically decreased in thelytokous queens of the little fire ant and their sexually produced workers.
The little fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata, displays a peculiar breeding system polymorphism. Classical haplo-diploid sexual reproduction between reproductive individuals occurs in some populations, whereas, in others, queens and males reproduce clonally. Workers are produced sexually and are sterile in both clonal and sexual populations. The evolutionary fate of the clonal lineages depends strongly on the underlying mechanisms allowing reproductive individuals to transmit their genomes to subsequent generations. We used several queen-offspring data sets to estimate the rate of transition from heterozygosity to homozygosity associated with recombination events at 33 microsatellite loci in thelytokous parthenogenetic queen lineages and compared these rates with theoretical expectations under various parthenogenesis mechanisms. We then used sexually produced worker families to define linkage groups for these 33 loci and to compare meiotic recombination rates in sexual and parthenogenetic queens. Our results demonstrate that queens from clonal populations reproduce by automictic parthenogenesis with central fusion. These same parthenogenetic queens produce normally segregating meiotic oocytes for workers, which display much lower rates of recombination (by a factor of 45) than workers produced by sexual queens. These low recombination rates also concern the parthenogenetic production of queen offspring, as indicated by the very low rates of transition from heterozygosity to homozygosity observed (from 0% to 2.8%). We suggest that the combination of automixis with central fusion and a major decrease in recombination rates allows clonal queens to benefit from thelytoky while avoiding the potential inbreeding depression resulting from the loss of heterozygosity during automixis. In sterile workers, the strong decrease of recombination rates may also facilitate the conservation over time of some coadapted allelic interactions within chromosomes that might confer an adaptive advantage in habitats disturbed by human activity, where clonal populations of W. auropunctata are mostly found. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Multivisceral resection for gastric cancer: a systematic review.
The overall prognosis and survival of patients with advanced gastric cancer is generally poor. One of the most powerful predictors of outcomes in gastric cancer surgery is an R0 resection. However, the extent of the required surgical resection and the additional benefit of multivisceral resection (MVR) are controversial. Electronic literature searches were conducted using Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 2009. All search titles and abstracts were independently rated for relevance by a minimum of two reviewers. Seventeen studies were included in this review. Among the 1343 patients who underwent MVR, overall complication rates ranged from 11.8 to 90.5%. Perioperative mortality was found to be 0-15%. Pathological T4 disease was confirmed in 28.8-89% of patients. R0 resection and extent of nodal involvement were important predictors of survival in patients undergoing MVR. Patient outcomes may also be affected by the number of organs resected. Gastrectomy with MVR can be safely pursued in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer to achieve an R0 resection. MVR may not be beneficial in patients with extensive nodal disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Dietary protein: a trigger of insulin-dependent diabetes in the BB rat?
Animals from a colony of spontaneously diabetic insulin-dependent BB rats were fed from weaning with semi-synthetic diets in which natural proteins were replaced by l-amino acids with or without the addition of either milk or wheat proteins. The normal 50% incidence of diabetes in the colony was reduced to 15% in rats fed the basic semi-synthetic diet, while it was 35% and 52% when supplemented with gluten or milk, respectively. Thus, dietary factors might precipitate the expression of the disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Monitoring of clinical trials and interim analyses from a drug sponsor's point of view.
This paper illustrates aspects of data monitoring of clinical trials in the pharmaceutical industry. Formal interim analyses are performed at least in part to address the question of whether the trial should proceed or whether there should be an early termination of the trial. For formal interim analyses, frequently independent data and safety monitoring committees are utilized for monitoring clinical trials, and adjustments to nominal significance levels for test statistics are required. Various statistical methods developed during the last fifteen years are utilized. Administrative interim analyses are those analyses that are performed without any intention to stop the trial as a consequence of those analyses. For administrative interim analyses, adjustments to significance levels may not be required, but results must still be carefully interpreted. Regardless of the interim analyses performed, it is critical that the plans for interim analyses be identified in the study protocol, and the dissemination of interim results be carefully restricted. The following clinical trials sponsored by Merck Sharp and Dohme Research Laboratories (MSDRL) will illustrate these points: CONSENSUS; CONSENSUS II; 4S; Haemophilus influenza type b efficacy trial; famotidine in upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage, and a phase II analgesic study. It is anticipated that data monitoring and interim analysis activities will increase for future clinical trials due to the availability of appropriate statistical methods and improved data management systems. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Caregivers' experiences at home with a ventilator-dependent child.
With advancing technology and transformation in health care delivery, more chronically ventilator-dependent children are being discharged to home. Pediatric home health care aims to increase the quality of life of patients and families, decrease cost and duration of hospital stay, and promote community participation in health care delivery. The authors aimed to describe and identify the qualitatively different experiences of primary caregivers who support ventilator-dependent children at home. Through phenomenographic inquiry 17 primary caregivers described their experiences through interviews that were later analyzed using accepted qualitative methods. Seven categories of description and an outcome space were identified, with findings highlighting the unique experience of this group and providing insight into their personal, social, and collective experiences. Outcomes reveal the significant and distinctive nature of understanding and have implications for clinical practice development, health education, policy formulation, social support, and future research in pediatric home health care. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 coactivates NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression synergistically with CARM1 and PARP1.
Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) plays an important role in the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in inflammation and cell survival. Transcriptional coactivators that methylate histones become increasingly important. Recently, we provided evidence that coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1) is a transcriptional coactivator of NF-kappaB and functions as a promoter-specific regulator of NF-kappaB recruitment to chromatin. Here, we show that protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) synergistically coactivates NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression at the macrophage inflammatory protein 2 and human immunodeficiency virus 1 long terminal repeat promoters in concert with the transcriptional coactivators p300/CREB binding protein, CARM1, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1. PRMT1 formed a complex with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 and NF-kappaB in vivo and interacted directly with the NF-kappaB subunit p65 in vitro. The methyltransferase activity of PRMT1 appeared essential for its coactivator function in context with CARM1 and p300/CREB binding protein. These results suggest that the cooperative action between PRMT1 and CARM1 is required for NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Paleoclimate during Neandertal and anatomically modern human occupation at Amud and Qafzeh, Israel: the stable isotope data.
The δ(13)C(en) and δ(18)O(en) values of goat and gazelle enamel carbonate indicate that Neandertals at Amud Cave, Israel (53-70 ka) lived under different ecological conditions than did anatomically modern humans at Qafzeh Cave, Israel (approximately 92 ka). During the Last Glacial Period, Neandertals at Amud Cave lived under wetter conditions than those in the region today. Neither faunal species ate arid-adapted C(4) plants or drought-stressed C(3) plants. The variation in gazelle δ(18)O(en) values suggests multiple birth seasons, which today occur under wetter than normal conditions. The magnitude and pattern of intra-tooth variation in goat δ(18)O(en) values indicate that rain fell throughout the year unlike today. Anatomically modern humans encountered a Qafzeh Cave region that was more open and arid than Glacial Period Amud Cave, and more open than today's Upper Galilee region. Goat δ(13)C(en) values indicate feeding on varying amounts of C(4) plants throughout the year. The climate apparently ameliorated higher in the sequence; but habitats remained more open than at Amud Cave. Both gazelles and goats fed on C(3) plants in brushy habitats without any inclusion of C(4) plants. The magnitude of intra-tooth variation in goat δ(18)O(en) values, however, suggest that some rain fell throughout the year, and the relative representation of woodland dwelling species indicates the occurrence of woodlands in the region. Climate differences affecting the distribution of plants and animals appear to be the significant factor contributing to behavioral differences previously documented between Neandertals and anatomically modern humans in the region. Climate forcing probably affected the early appearances of anatomically modern humans, although not the disappearance of Neandertals from the Levant. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Impact of hospital volume on long-term survival after esophageal cancer surgery.
The improved survival after esophageal cancer surgery in Sweden during recent years may be attributable to the increased centralization of such surgery. Population-based study. All Swedish residents undergoing esophageal cancer surgery from January 1, 1987, through December 31, 2000, were identified from the inpatient and cancer registers and were followed up until October 18, 2004, through nationwide registers. Hospital, tumor, and patient characteristics and preoperative oncological treatment were assessed through the registers and histopathological records. Among 4904 patients with esophageal cancer, 1199 patients (24.4%) who underwent resection constituted the study cohort. Main Outcome Measure Survival rates and hazard ratios (HRs) relative to hospital volume. Low-volume hospitals (LVHs) conducted fewer than 10 esophagectomies annually, while high-volume hospitals (HVHs) conducted 10 or more. Hazard ratios were adjusted for several potential confounders. Thirty-day survival was 96% at HVHs and 91% at LVHs (P = .09). Survival rates 1, 3, and 5 years after surgery at HVHs were nonsignificantly higher (58%, 35%, and 27%, respectively) compared with those at LVHs (55%, 30%, and 24%, respectively). The adjusted HR was nonsignificantly 10% decreased at HVHs (HR, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-1.04). In an analysis restricted to 764 patients (64%) without preoperative oncological treatment (in which the tumor stage was also adjusted for), survival was similar at HVHs and at LVHs (HR, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.18). This study revealed no effect of hospital volume on long-term survival after esophageal cancer surgery. Tumor biology apparently has a greater effect on the chances of long-term survival than hospital volume. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Blood pressure variability in Binswanger's disease and isolated lacunar infarction.
To determine whether blood pressure (BP) variability is increased in hypertensive patients with Binswanger's disease (BD), we studied two samples of consecutive treated hypertensive patients: (1) 11 with BD (mean age 71.3 +/- 5.2 years); (2) 16 with lacunar infarction (mean age 65.2 +/- 8.3 years) without cognitive impairment. An averaged baseline office BP was obtained for 3 consecutive weeks. Ambulatory BP monitoring was then carried out to obtain the averaged mean systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP, and BP variability was defined as the standard deviation of consecutive BP values. Diurnal SBP variability was significantly increased in the BD group (p = 0.04). However, with the analysis of covariance for age and baseline office BP, the difference was no longer significant (p = 0.17 and p = 0.09, respectively). We conclude that increased BP variability in BD patients is probably due to older age and increased baseline office BP. Increased BP variability may be a risk factor for small-vessel disease, but not for cognitive impairment. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Dopamine D1 and D2 receptor functional down regulation in the cerebellum of hypoxic neonatal rats: neuroprotective role of glucose and oxygen, epinephrine resuscitation.
Brain damage due to an episode of hypoxia remains a major problem in infants causing deficit in motor and sensory function. Molecular processes regulating the dopamine receptors play a very important role in motor and cognitive functions. Disturbances in the development of the dopaminergic system lead to dyskinesia, dystonia, tics and abnormal eye movements. The present study is to understand the hypoxic damage to the dopamine content and dopamine D(1), dopamine D(2) receptors in cerebellum and the neuroprotective effect of glucose supplementation prior to the current sequence of resuscitation-oxygen and epinephrine supplementation in neonatal rats. Dopamine content in the cerebellum showed a significant decrease in hypoxic neonatal rats when compared to control. Dopamine D(1) and dopamine D(2) receptors showed a decrease in B(max) during hypoxia. The cerebellar dopamine, dopamine D(1) and dopamine D(2) receptors showed significant decrease on supplementation of 100% oxygen alone to hypoxic rats when compared to control rats. Dopamine D(1) and dopamine D(2) receptors mRNA showed significant decrease during epinephrine supplementation prior to resuscitation. These dopaminergic receptor alterations were reversed to near control by glucose supplementation. Thus our results suggest that glucose acts as a neuroprotective agent in dopaminergic receptors function. This has immense clinical significance to correct the resuscitation sequence in neonatal care. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Induced tolerance to Schistosoma mansoni antigens modulates periovular granuloma.
Immunological tolerance to Schistosoma mansoni antigens induced by oral exposure of neonatal and adult mice to adult worm, soluble egg and polysaccharide antigens conducted to modulated periovular granuloma of infected mice. However the tolerance do not interfere in the infection. The estimative population and subpopulation of lymphocytes in the spleen of tolerized (not infected) animals do not differ from normal animals but Lyt 2.2 reactive lymphocytes to Schistosoma antigens was demonstrated in the tolerized animals. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Subcutaneous mycosis due to Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in an aplasic patient].
Among the filamentous fungi of the Hyphomycete class, Annellospore group, the Scopulariopsis genera presently includes 16 species considered as opportunist pathogens. We report some unusual cutaneous manifestations due to Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in an immunodepressed patient. A 67 year-old man presented with a lymphomatous form of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. During chemotherapy with medullar aplasia, inflammatory cutaneous nodules appeared on the forearm and leg. Microbiological and histological examinations identified Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. The patient improved with rapid remission from aplasia using hematopoietic growth factors and treatment with itraconazole. In a patient in medullar aplasia, the rapid onset of an extra-ungual cutaneous localization (forearm and leg) of a Scopulariopsis brevicaulis infection, without systemic involvement, suggests that the cutaneous inoculation occurred through scratching (from the nails) or from another cutaneous origin. Prolonged neutropenia enhanced the pathogenicity of this mycosis. The mycological and histological examinations are fundamental to confirm the diagnosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Osteogenic sarcoma of the neural arch.
Osteogenic sarcoma arising in the spine, and in particular the neural arch, is rare. We present the case of a 4-year-old girl with an osteogenic sarcoma arising in the left transverse process of the second lumbar vertebra. The child received chemotherapy and delayed surgical excision was performed following a favourable response. The radiological features and differential diagnosis are discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Genetics of ACPA-positive rheumatoid arthritis: the beginning of the end?
Heritability is a measure for the contribution of genetic variation to the variation in liability to disease and for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had previously been estimated to be about 60%. This has been recently confirmed and could show that the heritability of anti-citrullinated protein autoantibody (ACPA)-positive and ACPA-negative RA is similar. Apart from gender, the main known genetic factor is HLA, and its contribution to genetic variation has previously been estimated as 37% but recent studies indicate that this figure may be too high. HLA-linked genes, and in particular the HLA-DRB1 SE alleles, predispose much more strongly to ACPA-positive than to ACPA-negative RA. The same is true for the protective effect of DERAA-positive DRB1 alleles. It has been calculated that the contribution of the protective and predisposing HLA alleles to genetic variance is about 40% for ACPA-positive and 2% for ACPA-negative RA. A meta-analysis indicated that the protective effect may be confined to the HLA-DRB1*1301 allele. The search for non-HLA genes contributing to the genetic variation in RA susceptibility has implicated about 30 other loci/genes. The OR of the associations with these non-HLA polymorphisms is considerably lower than the ORs of sex and HLA as is their contribution to the genetic variation-namely, altogether only about 5%. This means that known genetic factors do not explain much more than 50% of the genetic variance of ACPA-positive RA. Until recently, the only established non-genetic factor contributing to RA susceptibility was smoking. It has recently been shown that non-inherited maternal HLA-DRB1 DERAA-positive antigens (NIMA) should be added to the environmental factors affecting RA susceptibility. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sweeping on a microchip: concentration profiles of the focused zone in micellar electrokinetic chromatography.
On-line sample concentration by sweeping was investigated in microchip micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), By changing the distance between the injection cross and the detection points, the profile of the concentration process and the diffusion process in sweeping was elucidated. Rhodamine B injected for 4 s was best concentrated by sweeping at 9.4 mm from the injection cross and the enhancement factor was 450. At the longer distance from this point the peak of Rhodamine B was broadened and diluted by diffusion. The diffusion constant of Rhodamine B calculated from the experiment was 5.7 x 10(-6) cm2s(-1). The mixture of rhodamine B, sulforhodamine B, and cresyl fast violet was concentrated by sweeping and separated by MEKC at the same time. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Interactions between inorganic pigments and proteinaceous binders in reference paint reconstructions.
The degradation of the proteinaceous binders, ovalbumin (OVA) and casein, and their interactions with azurite (Cu(3)(CO(3))(2)(OH)(2)), calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)), hematite (Fe(2)O(3)) and red lead (Pb(3)O(4)) pigments were studied. A multi-analytical approach based on Thermogravimetric Analysis (TG), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) was used. The research was carried out on a set of paint reconstructions, which were analysed before and after artificial light ageing. We highlighted that in most cases the inorganic pigments interact with both proteins by decreasing their thermal stability and their intermolecular β-sheet content, and that ageing induces aggregation. We hypothesized that pigments intercalate between protein molecules, producing a partial disruption to the protein-protein intermolecular interaction. In the case of casein, these phenomena continued during ageing. In fact, we observed a complete disappearance of intermolecular β-sheets and an increase in intramolecular β-sheets and random coil during ageing. This result is in agreement with the structural properties of casein, whose aggregation is known to be induced by hydrophobic interactions. On the other hand, in aged OVA paint replicas, we observed the formation of new intermolecular β-sheets and an increase in thermostability. In addition FTIR showed oxidation of the side chains of the aged OVA/hematite sample and aged casein pigment samples, and SEC highlighted hydrolysis phenomena in aged carbonate, azurite and red lead/OVA complexes and in aged casein/calcium carbonate and casein/azurite samples. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Complete covalent structure of human beta-thromboglobulin.
The complete primary structure of the platelet-specific protein human beta-thromboglobulin has been determined. beta-Thromboglobulin consists of identical subunits of 81 amino acids, each with a molecular weight of 8851. The amino acid sequence of the beta-thromboglobulin subunit is: Gly-Lys-Glu-Glu-Ser-Leu-Asp-Ser-Asp-Leu-Tyr-Ala-Glu-Leu-Arg-Cys-Met-Cys-Ile-Lys-Thr-Thr-Ser-Gly-Ile-His-Pro-Lys-Asn-Ile-Gln-Ser-Leu-Glu-Val-Ile-Gly-Lys-Gly-Thr-His-Cys-Asn-Gln-Val-Glu-Val-Ile-Ala-Thr-Leu-Lys-Asp-Gly-Arg-Lys-Ile-Cys-Leu-Asp-Pro-Asp-Ala-Pro-Arg-Ile-Lys-Lys-Ile-Val-Gln-Lys-Lys-Leu-Ala-Gly-Asp-Glu-Ser-Ala-Asp. Disulfide bridge-18 to half-cystine-58. The amino acid sequence of beta-thromboglobulin shows a marked homology with that of platelet factor 4. When the sequences are aligned for maximum homology, 42 of the 81 residues of beta-thromboglobulin are identical with those of platelet factor 4, including the position of the four half-cystines. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Bilateral primary writing tremor.
Primary writing tremor is a task-specific tremor that is considered to be unilateral. We report a 59-year-old man with a 5-year history of a typical primary writing tremor in the right hand who developed similar symptoms in the left hand. Copyright 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Investigation of homicides interred in concrete--the Los Angeles experience.
Decedents interred in concrete present unique problems and investigation of these deaths necessitates a team of forensic specialists. The Los Angeles County Department of Coroner has had five such deaths in the past 18 years. The buried cases needed layer-by-layer excavation to establish the time and cause of death. Metal detectors are often used in this process. X-rays of the interred remains were completed to help with locating the decedent's position in the concrete. The breaking of concrete in some of the cases required the use of a sledgehammer and later a chisel in a manner that would not damage the remains. Postmortem dismemberment was frequent in our cases. The decedents were all female or prepubescent children, and the perpetrators were closely related to the decedents. While concrete can interfere with determination of postmortem interval, it can also preserve the remains and assist with identification. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The trees and the forest: mixed methods in the assessment of recovery based interventions' processes and outcomes in mental health.
Recent developments in mental health have emphasized recovery as an outcome for people with serious mental illness (SMI). Accordingly, several studies have attempted to evaluate the process and outcome of recovery-oriented psychosocial interventions. To review and discuss quantitative and qualitative findings from previous efforts to study the impact of five recovery-oriented interventions: Illness Management and Recovery (IMR), Narrative Enhancement and Cognitive Therapy (NECT), Supported Employment (SE), Supported Socialization (SS), and Family Psychoeducation. Reviewing the literature on studies that examine the effectiveness of these interventions by using both quantitative and qualitative approach. Qualitative findings in these studies augment quantitative findings and at times draw attention to unexpected findings and uniquely illuminate the effects of these interventions on self-reflective processes. There is a need for further exploration of how mixed-methods can be implemented to explore recovery-oriented outcomes. Critical questions regarding the implications of qualitative findings are posed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of harvest time of red and white clover silage on chewing activity and particle size distribution in boli, rumen content and faeces in cows.
The study examined the effects of harvest time of red and white clover silage on eating and ruminating activity and particle size distribution in feed boli, rumen content and faeces in cows. The clover crops were harvested at two stages of growth and ensiled in bales. Red clover crops had 36% and 45% NDF in dry matter (DM) at early (ER) and late (LR) harvest, respectively, and the white clover crops had 19% and 29% NDF in DM at the early (EW) and late (LW) harvest, respectively. The silages were fed restrictively (80% of ad libitum intake) twice daily to four rumen cannulated non-lactating Jersey cows (588 ± 52 kg) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Jaw movements (JM) were recorded for 96 h continuously. Swallowed boli, rumen mat, rumen fluid and faeces samples were collected, washed in nylon bags (0.01 mm pore size) and freeze-dried before dry sieving through 4.750, 2.360, 1.000, 0.500, 0.212 and 0.106 mm into seven fractions. The length (PL) and width (PW) values of rumen and faeces particles within each fraction were measured by use of image analysis. The eating activity (min/kg DM intake; P < 0.05) was higher in LR compared with the other treatments. The eating activity (min/kg NDF intake; P < 0.05) was affected by clover type with highest values for white clover silage. The mean ruminating time (min/kg DM), daily ruminating cycles (P < 0.001) and JM during ruminating (P < 0.05) were affected by treatment with increasing values at later harvest time. The proportion of washed particle DM of total DM in boli (P < 0.001), rumen mat (P < 0.001), rumen fluid (P < 0.01) and faeces was (P < 0.001) highest by feeding LR. There were identified two peaks (modes 1 and 2) on the probability density distribution (PDF) of PW values of rumen mat and faeces, but only one peak (mode 1) for PL values. There was no difference in the mean and mode 1 PW and PL value in rumen mat between the four treatments. The mean PL, mode PL, mode 2 PW and mean PW in faeces were highest for LR (P < 0.05). The mean particle size in boli measured by sieving was higher at white clover compared with red clover treatments (P < 0.001) and the highest value in faeces was found in LR (P < 0.01). The two peaks on PDF for width values of rumen mat and faeces particles are most likely related to the leaves and the stems/petioles. In conclusion, the mean total chewing activity per kg DM was lowest for the white clover silage and increased for both silages due to later harvest time. The mean particle size in boli was smallest for LR, whereas the mean PL and PW in faeces were highest for the LR. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Determining the optimal dose of 1940-nm thulium fiber laser for assisting the endodontic treatment.
Insufficient cleaning, the complex anatomy of the root canal system, inaccessible accessory canals, and inadequate penetration of irrigants through dentinal tubules minimizes the success of the conventional endodontic treatment. Laser-assisted endodontic treatment enhances the quality of conventional treatment, but each laser wavelength has its own its own limitations. The optimal parameters for the antibacterial efficiency of a new wavelength, 1940-nm Thulium Fiber Laser, were firstly investigated in this study. This paper comprises of two preliminary analyses and one main experimental study, presents data about thermal effects of 1940-nm laser application on root canal tissue, effective sterilization parameters for bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis, and finally the antibacterial effectiveness of this 1940-nm Thulium Fiber Laser irradiation in single root canal. Based on these results, the optimal parameter range for safe laser-assisted root canal treatment was investigated in the main experiments. Comparing the antibacterial effects of four laser powers on an E. faecalis bacteria culture in vitro in 96-well plates showed that the most effective group was the one irradiated with 1 W of laser power (antibacterial effect corresponding to a log kill of 3). After the optimal laser power was determined, varying irradiation durations (15, 30, and 60 s) were compared in disinfecting E. faecalis. Laser application caused significant reduction in colony-forming unit values (CFU) compared with control samples in the 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) group. The results of bacteria counts showed that 1 W with 30 s of irradiation with a 1940-nm thulium fiber laser was the optimal dose for safely achieving maximal bactericidal effect. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[A study on the availability of subjective health indices for the aged focus on Japanese and Chinese studies].
With the follow on availability of indices for studies on subjective health centered in Japan and China, this paper reviews previous studies from the following perspectives: 1) reliability; 2) validity; 3) practicality. The aims was to determine the status of research, and future subjects for exploration. The following four conclusions were needed subjective health: 1) With regard to measurement methods an "even number balanced scale" which does not include middle points of choices such as "average" or "cannot tell which is better" is more reliable than an "odd number balanced scale" which includes middle points. "even number balanced scale" may be unbalanced in distribution.; 2) Criteria for a validity of a although an subjective health are highly in convergent what health validity for illness and prediction of life expectancy; 3) For subjective health, psychological and mental health indices, for example for the subjective for the subjective sense of happiness and the degree of satisfaction with one's life, are convergent both in Japan and China, but what a closer linkage with social relationships in Japan and with family relationships assessment in China.; 4) Both Japan and China pride evidence of the practicality of subjective health in health evaluation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Substance use and abuse among mentally retarded persons: a comparison of patients and a survey population.
Substance abuse among mentally retarded persons, first described 55 years ago, has received little or no attention by specialists in mental retardation. With deinstitutionalization, this problem has reappeared, often followed by victimization (i.e., assault, rape, robbery). In this study the demographic characteristics, family and childhood history, substance use patterns, and substance-related problems of 40 mild mentally retarded persons are compared with those of 40 mild mentally retarded persons without substance abuse. Similarities with substance abusers who are not mentally retarded are noted. Recommendations for alleviating this serious problem among mentally retarded persons are made. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Consumption of a high-fat meal was associated with an increase in monocyte adhesion molecules, scavenger receptors, and Propensity to Form Foam Cells.
Macrophage-derived foam cells are the predominant component of arterial plaques in the early stages of atherosclerosis. One factor that poses a major risk for plaque development is high levels of plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as a result of a high-fat meal. In order to better understand how an individuals' diet affects arterial plaque deposition via the process of foam cell formation, we measured the acute circulating monocyte activity response after consuming a high-fat meal (85% of daily fat allowance). Venous blood samples from 17 participants were acquired on a FlowSight. Samples were analyzed to identify nonclassical (CD14+/16+) and classical (CD14+/16-) monocytes. We measured monocyte concentration, adhesion molecule expression, CD36 expression, and oxidized LDL (oxLDL) endocytosis for preprandial 1, 3, and 5 h postprandial. Consuming a high-fat meal caused increases in oxLDL uptake, adhesion molecule expression, and CD36 expression in both classical and nonclassical monocytes, with the nonclassical monocytes responding with larger increases than the classical monocytes. These results suggest that consumption of a high-fat meal increased the potential of monocytes to become foam cells, and implicates nonclassical monocytes as having greater potential than classical monocytes to become foam cells. © 2016 International Clinical Cytometry Society. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
RASSF10 promoter hypermethylation is frequent in malignant melanoma of the skin but uncommon in nevus cell nevi.
The Ras association domain family (RASSF) consists of several tumor suppressor genes, which are frequently silenced in human cancers. We analyzed the epigenetic inactivation of RASSF2 and RASSF10 in malignant melanoma (MM) of the skin, including 5 MM cell lines, 28 primary MM, 33 metastases of MM, 47 nevus cell nevi (NCN), and 22 control tissues. The RASSF2 promoter was epigenetically downregulated in two MM cell lines only, but not in any of the investigated tumor samples. In contrast, hypermethylation of the RASSF10 promoter was found in all investigated cell lines, 19/28 (68%) of the primary MM and 30/33 (91%) of the MM metastases, 2/18 (11%) of the dysplastic NCN, and 0/29 (0%) of the non-dysplastic NCN (difference between MM and all nevi, P<0.001). RASSF10 promoter hypermethylation correlated with a reduced RASSF10 mRNA expression in 3/4 MM cell lines, and treatment with a DNA methylation inhibitor reactivated RASSF10 transcription. Furthermore, immunohistological RASSF10 expression corresponds negatively to its promoter methylation state. In summary, RASSF10 proved to be a characteristically epigenetically silenced tumor suppressor in melanomagenesis, and analysis of RASSF10 methylation status represents a new candidate tool to assist in discrimination between MM and NCN. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Intraflagellar transport is required for the vectorial movement of TRPV channels in the ciliary membrane.
The membranes of all eukaryotic motile (9 + 2) and immotile primary (9 + 0) cilia harbor channels and receptors involved in sensory transduction (reviewed by). These membrane proteins are transported from the cytoplasm onto the ciliary membrane by vesicles targeted for exocytosis at a point adjacent to the ciliary basal body. Here, we use time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to demonstrate that select GFP-tagged sensory receptors undergo rapid vectorial transport along the entire length of the cilia of Caenorhabditis elegans sensory neurons. Transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels OSM-9 and OCR-2 move in ciliary membranes at rates comparable to the intraflagellar transport (IFT) machinery located between the membrane and the underlying axonemal microtubules. OSM-9 motility is disrupted in certain IFT mutant backgrounds. Surprisingly, motility of transient receptor potential polycystin (TRPP) channel PKD-2 (polycystic kidney disease-2), a mechano-receptor, was not detected. Our study demonstrates that IFT, previously shown to be necessary for transport of axonemal components, is also involved in the motility of TRPV membrane protein movement along cilia of C. elegans sensory cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The hygienic disposal and rendering of dead animals and animal waste].
In this publication an overview is made of both the fundamental and practical approaches laid down in the 'WHO Guidelines on the hygienic disposal and rendering of dead animals and animal wastes to protect human and animal health'. It describes methods that can be used both in developed and developing countries for the hygienic disposal and rendering of contaminated animal materials. In view of the various veterinary-hygienic measures that might be taken a distinction is made between low-risk materials (for instance slaughter offal of healthy animals) and high-risk materials (for instance animals that died because of infectious diseases). The hygienic disposal of low-risk materials is usually done by sterilisation in autoclaves or by cooking, so that proteins and fat may be re-used, mostly in the form of animal feed components. High-risk materials should at the least be sterilised or otherwise be burnt. Attention is also paid to the hygiene in rendering plants, particularly concerning the avoidance of cross-contamination from raw to decontaminated materials. Finally aspects of environmental hygiene are discussed and attention is paid to the protection of the personnel that is involved in the hygienic disposal and rendering of dead animals and animal wastes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Electric-field-induced modification of the magnon energy, exchange interaction, and curie temperature of transition-metal thin films.
The electric-field-induced modification in the Curie temperature of prototypical transition-metal thin films with the perpendicular magnetic easy axis, a freestanding Fe(001) monolayer and a Co monolayer on Pt(111), is investigated by first-principles calculations of spin-spiral structures in an external electric field (E field). An applied E field is found to modify the magnon (spin-spiral formation) energy; the change arises from the E-field-induced screening charge density in the spin-spiral states due to p-d hybridizations. The Heisenberg exchange parameters obtained from the magnon energy suggest an E-field-induced modification of the Curie temperature, which is demonstrated via Monte Carlo simulations that take the magnetocrystalline anisotropy into account. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A cellular mechanism for myogenic regulation of cat cerebral arteries.
Autoregulation of cerebral blood flow is accomplished through integration of metabolic, neurogenic and myogenic mechanisms. Myogenic mechanisms involve activation of cerebral arterial muscle cells as transmural pressure increases, providing a means through which vessel caliber can be regulated to maintain blood flow constant. The cellular mechanisms involved in this myogenic response may involve changes in the electrical potential across the plasma membrane. When isolated cat middle cerebral arteries are cannulated and prepared in a manner allowing manipulation of transmural pressure, the muscle cell membrane depolarizes as pressure increases. The degree of membrane depolarization in response to an elevated pressure is dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ [( Ca]o), increasing as [Ca]o is elevated and markedly decreasing as [Ca]o is reduced to low levels. When these arterial preparations are maintained at a physiological pressure of around 100 mm Hg, spontaneous action potentials can be recorded which increase in frequency upon further elevation in pressure. Vessels exhibiting such electrical activity can be observed to decrease in diameter as pressure is increased. Such finding suggest a membrane electrical mechanism for myogenic autoregulation of cerebral arteries. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
PBB levels in fish from the Baltic and North seas and in selected food products from Poland.
Recently, a significant amount of attention has been devoted to the determination of polybrominated biphenyls in food and the environment. In this study, PBB contamination of fish from the North and Baltic Seas, with a special focus on samples from Poland and France, was investigated. North Sea fish like salmon, herring, scarp, gilthead seabream and grey gurnard were collected from a French fish market. Baltic Sea fish like salmon, tunny, trout, herring, and freshwater fish such as carp were purchased from a Polish fish market. Cod livers in oil were also analyzed in this study. As additional food samples, butter, pork fat and beef fat were tested. Concentrations of PBBs in North Sea fish (except herring) were higher than in fish from the Baltic Sea. The highest total PBB concentration was measured in scarp muscle tissue (635+/-107 pg g(-1) wet weight), and the lowest was in carp samples (0.567+/-0.245 pg g(-1) wet weight). The PBB content in tunny oil samples was below the detection limits (0.45-1.05 pg g(-1)fat). Our study also demonstrated that PBBs may bioaccumulate in the liver, where PBB concentrations were 2116+/-351 pg g(-1) wet weight and 841+/-147 pg g(-1) wet weight. In fish species from Poland, the most dominant congeners were tetrabromobiphenyls, followed by pentabromobiphenyls and hexabromobiphenyls. In some species of fish from the North Sea, the most dominant groups were hexabromobiphenyls and tetrabromobiphenyls. Although the relative abundances of structurally known and unknown isomers varied from species to species, all fish (except tunny) were contaminated with PBBs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Two distinct members of the ADP-ribosylation factor family of GTP-binding proteins regulate cell-free intra-Golgi transport.
We have used an intra-Golgi transport assay to identify GTP-binding proteins involved in regulation of protein traffic. Two soluble proteins of 20 kd were purified by their ability to mediate GTP gamma S-dependent inhibition of transport. These GTP-dependent Golgi binding factors, or GGBFs, exhibit a 3-fold difference in activity and are differentiated by their hydrophobicity, isoelectric points, and apparent size. Removal of 80% of GGBFs from cytosol abolishes GTP gamma S sensitivity but does not affect inhibition by aluminum fluoride. We demonstrate that GGBFs are members of the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family. Recombinant ARF1 exhibits GGBF activity and myristoylation is required. The distinct biochemical properties of GGBFs indicate that members of the ARF family may have related but distinct functions in intracellular transport. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Parental Perceptions of the Efficacy of Cogmed Working Memory Training.
Many articles have been written about the effectiveness of Cogmed Working Memory Training (CWMT). As Cogmed licensees, we have provided CWMT to more than 350 trainees and have collected pre- and post-training assessment data and parental feedback from about 280 child and adolescent trainees and their parents. On all nine measures of working memory and other selected executive functions, we have found statistically significant improvement. We also offer many of the comments and feedback that we have received from families about the changes they have experienced. There are limitations to the one group pre-test post-test design used in this study that need to be considered as the results are reviewed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Vancomycin-associated Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
Intravenous vancomycin is a widely used antibiotics, but it causes different types of cutaneous hypersensitivity reactions, ranging from maculopapular rash, red-man syndrome, drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms, IgA bullous dermatosis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, Stevens-Johnsons syndrome, to IgE-mediated anaphylaxis. We report an elderly patient with the end-stage renal disease presented with diffuse palpable purpura while receiving IV vancomycin therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus septicemia. Histopathology of skin biopsy revealed perivascular infiltrates of leukocytoclastic debris with necrosis of the small-sized blood vessels. Direct immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated vivid IgA plus C3 immune-complex deposits localized to the vessel walls, and no immune complexes were noted on the dermoepidermal junction. There was no IgG or IgM immunoreactivity detected on the tissue specimen. Rheumatologic disease work-ups were negative. A diagnosis of vancomycin-associated Henoch-Schönlein variant of vasculitis was made. Vancomycin was substituted by daptomycin, and the purpuric skin rashes were resolved. Since vancomycin is a commonly used antibacterial agent, clinicians are encouraged to have a heightened awareness of this rare adverse skin reaction. Early recognition and prompt discontinuation of the medication is the key in management. As it is not an Ig-E mediated reaction, desensitization of vancomycin or re-challenge with vancomycin is not recommended as re-exposure to the drug may result in a recurrence of similar manifestations with potential permanent renal failure. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Secondary ocular hypertension after intravitreal injection of 4 mg of triamcinolone acetonide: incidence and risk factors.
To analyze the incidence of secondary ocular hypertension (SOH) after intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA) injection and its risk predictors. Retrospective review of charts for 219 consecutive patients receiving a 4-mg IVTA injection. One hundred fifty eyes of 150 patients who were followed for at least 3 months and met inclusion criteria were considered. Main indications for IVTA injection were neovascular age-related macular degeneration (79 eyes [52.7%]), choroidal neovascularization due to other etiologies (22 eyes [14.7%]), diabetic macular edema (14 eyes [9.3%]), central retinal vein occlusion (12 eyes [8.0%]), and branch retinal vein occlusion (8 eyes [5.3%]). SOH defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) of >or=21 mmHg was recorded for 32.0% of injected eyes at some point during a mean follow-up of 7.7 months. There was no association between SOH and age, sex, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, indication for IVTA injection, prior cataract surgery, or concurrent photodynamic therapy. Although previous pars plana vitrectomy did not influence risk, peak IOP was lower in vitrectomized eyes (P = 0.044). Prior diagnosis of glaucoma was a significant risk factor for SOH (relative risk = 2.17; P = 0.004). In nonglaucomatous eyes, baseline IOP of >or=16 mmHg was associated with a higher risk of SOH (relative risk = 2.31; P = 0.003). Baseline IOPs of <12 mmHg, 12-14 mmHg, 15-17 mmHg, 18-20 mmHg, and >20 mmHg were associated with incidences of SOH of 11.1%, 25.4%, 40.0%, 46.2%, and 50.0% (P = 0.01), respectively. A 4-mg IVTA injection was associated with SOH in 32.0% of treated eyes. The risk of SOH was higher in eyes with previous glaucoma and higher baseline IOP. Peak IOP after IVTA injection was lower in vitrectomized eyes. Risk factor analysis may permit better individualization of the risk-benefit ratio for IVTA injection. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Immunohistochemical analysis of survivin expression in primary breast cancers.
Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, is expressed in fetal tissues but undetectable in normal adult tissues. It is also expressed in most common human cancers. This study evaluated the expression of survivin in breast cancers. A monoclonal anti-survivin antibody B1 was generated. Immunohistochemical staining was performed in 226 paraffin sections of primary breast cancers and correlated with the patients' clinicopathological characteristics. Survivin was expressed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells in 59.3% of breast cancers. Expression of survivin was associated with high histologic grade (p = 0.027), high mitotic count (p = 0.014), positive p53 immunostaining (p = 0.012), neu overexpression (p = 0.018), and with bcl-2 (p = 0.001) and bak (p < 0.001) expression. No correlation was found between survivin expression and age, tumor size, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor or Bax expression. Survivin expression was not significantly associated with overall or disease-free survival. Survivin expression is correlated with high histologic grade, high mitotic count, p53 overexpression, and bcl-2 expression in breast cancer. It does not have significance as a marker in predicting overall or disease-free survival. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Heterogeneous expression of the lipocalin NGAL in primary breast cancers.
We have previously shown that neu oncogene-initiated rat mammary carcinomas uniquely over-express neu-related lipocalin (NRL), a member of the calycin protein superfamily. Here, we characterize the putative human homolog of NRL, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). ngal gene expression was found at moderate levels in only 2 of 17 human tissues examined, breast and lung. When breast cancers were examined for NGAL mRNA and protein levels, they were found to exhibit heterogeneous expression. NGAL levels varied in these tumors from undetectable to exceeding those in normal breast parenchyma. Immuno-histochemical analysis confirmed the presence of NGAL within breast carcinoma cells but detected only low levels of this protein in normal ductal epithelium. In contrast, large amounts of the protein were localized to the lumen of normal breast ducts in the vicinity of NGAL-expressing tumors. Interestingly, unlike NRL in rat mammary carcinomas, no significant association between NGAL expression and HER-2/neu activation was found in human breast tumors. In contrast, a significant correlation between NGAL expression in breast cancer was found with several other markers of poor prognosis, including estrogen and progesterone receptor-negative status and high proliferation (S-phase fraction). NGAL levels were stratified as high or low in breast cancers from a cohort of node-positive patients with known outcome. No significant association between NGAL expression and disease-free or overall survival was observed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Synthesis of Nanoporous Adsorbents Using Alum Sludge.
This study optimizes the synthesis process of pellet-type adsorbents using alum sludge. The effect of the binder and heat treatment temperature on the nanopore formation in the adsorbent is investigated. The pellet-type adsorbent prepared using the powder-type sludge from water treatment is determined to be a material that contains nanopores. The specific surface area is increased significantly after the calcination process in the range of 132-172 m2/g. With the calcination treatment, the breakthrough time in the formaldehyde adsorption increases remarkably with an optimum calcination temperature of 400 °C. The breakthrough capacity of the formaldehyde increases to a maximum 2.96 mg/g at this temperature. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma, Version 1.2020, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.
Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) is a rare malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract that has increased in incidence across recent years. Often diagnosed at an advanced stage, outcomes for SBA are worse on average than for other related malignancies, including colorectal cancer. Due to the rarity of this disease, few studies have been done to direct optimal treatment, although recent data have shown that SBA responds to treatment differently than colorectal cancer, necessitating a separate approach to treatment. The NCCN Guidelines for Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma were created to establish an evidence-based standard of care for patients with SBA. These guidelines provide recommendations on the workup of suspected SBA, primary treatment options, adjuvant treatment, surveillance, and systemic therapy for metastatic disease. Additionally, principles of imaging and endoscopy, pathologic review, surgery, radiation therapy, and survivorship are described. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effectiveness of surrogate taxa in the design of coral reef reserve systems in the Indo-Pacific.
Implementing systematically designed reserve systems is crucial to slowing the global decline of coral reef health and diversity. Yet, the paucity of spatial data for most coral reef taxa often requires conservation planners to design reserve systems based only on a subset of taxonomic groups as surrogates for all other taxa. In terrestrial systems the validity of surrogates for reserve design is established by testing for cross-taxon congruence (similarities in spatial patterns of species richness), but this concept has rarely been examined in the marine environment. We tested the suitability of taxa as conservation representation surrogates of coral reef species richness across the Indo-Pacific, based on species lists of fishes, corals, and mollusks from 167 sites. First, we tested the relevance of cross-taxon congruence patterns to predict these surrogacy patterns. We determined congruence between taxonomic groups by conducting a correlation analysis of dissimilarity values between pairs of sites. We then evaluated how well each taxonomic group represented the other groups in a marine reserve system selected by a greedy reserve-selection algorithm relative to reserve systems selected by chance. No taxonomic group we examined was a reliable surrogate for the other groups such that site selection based on that group always represented other taxa significantly better than random selection of sites. Sites selected based on hard corals represented the other taxonomic groups in a reserve system worse than randomly selected sites. Although we found high cross-taxon congruence between fishes and corals and between corals and mollusks, for some regions cross-taxon congruence was not always a reliable indicator of the ability of one taxonomic group to efficiently represent another in a reserve system. We concluded that in Indo-Pacific coral reef ecosystems one can only be sure that a target taxon is efficiently represented in a reserve system when data on that taxon are used to select a reserve system. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Anesthesia for port-access cardiac surgery in a pediatric population.
A less invasive approach to cardiac surgical procedures has become widely accepted. The Port-Access (Heartport Inc, Redwood City, CA) technique for correction of acquired and congenital heart defects in adults produces superior cosmetic results without increasing perioperative morbidity. This study evaluated the feasibility of the Port-Access approach for repairs of various congenital heart defects in children and describes the anesthetic management for this procedure. Prospective observational study. University hospital. Ten 3- to 15-year-old patients. Patients underwent repairs of congenital heart defects via minimal right thoracotomy. The induction and maintenance of anesthesia were tailored to achieve early extubation. Endotracheal intubation with a double-lumen tube was performed in 3 patients with body weight more than 25 kg. In other patients, lung separation was achieved with the use of a bronchial blocker. Arterial and venous cannulation were done under transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance. A small surgical incision was performed in the fifth right intercostal space. In most patients, operations were performed on a fibrillating heart in normothermic condition. TEE-guided cannulation posed no technical difficulties. Flow rates, calculated for patients' body surface area, were easily achieved. No inotropic support was necessary for the separation from cardiopulmonary bypass. All patients but 1 were extubated in the operating room. Despite longer times of operation and cardiopulmonary bypass, intensive care unit stay and postoperative hospital length of stay were not different from the historic matched control group and were 2.7 +/- 1.1 days and 5.0 +/- 1.6 days, respectively. The Port-Access method for the correction of selected congenital cardiac defects is feasible in children. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Relation between lipid-bound sialic acid in blood serum and plasma andin human tumors].
Athymic mice with transplanted osteosarcoma and carcinoma of the rectum were found to have increased blood plasma levels of lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA). To verify the applicability of the method of LSA determination, patients with cancer of the mammary gland, rectum, and colon were examined for their LSA level. The serum LSA level was significantly increased in patients with cancer of the mammary gland and rectum, compared to levels determined in the serum of healthy volunteers. The serum LSA level elevation was even more pronounced in patients with carcinoma of the colon. In patients with carcinoma of the colon who were in remission at the time of blood collection the serum LSA level was found to be reduced to control values. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Theoretical study on the mechanism for the addition reaction of SiH(3) with propylene and acetic acid.
To explore the reactivities of alkene (-CH=CH(2)) and carboxy (-COOH) group with H-Si under UV irradiation, the addition mechanism for the reactions of SiH(3) radical with propylene and acetic acid was studied by using the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) method. Based on the surface energy profiles, the dominant reaction pathways can be established; i.e., SiH(3) adds to the terminal carbon atom of the alkene (-CH=CH(2)) to form an anti-Markovnikov addition product, or adds to the oxygen atom of the carboxy group (-COOH) to form silyl acetate (CH(3)-COOSiH(3)). Because the barrier in the reaction of the carboxy group (39.9 kJ/mol) is much larger than that of alkene (11.97 kJ/mol), we conclude that the reaction of bifunctional molecules (e.g., omega-alkenoic acid) with H-Si under irradiation condition is highly selective; i.e., the alkene group (-CH=CH(2)) reacts with SiH(3) substantially faster than the carboxyl group (-COOH), which agrees well with the experimental results. This provides the possibility of preparing carboxy-terminated monolayers on silicon surface from omega-alkenoic acids via direct photochemical reaction. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The effect of SLCO1B1*15 on the disposition of pravastatin and pitavastatin is substrate dependent: the contribution of transporting activity changes by SLCO1B1*15.
This study was addressed to understand the underlying mechanism of the substrate-dependent effect of genetic variation in SLCO1B1, which encodes OATP1B1 (organic anion transporting polypeptide) transporter, on the disposition of two OATP1B1 substrates, pravastatin and pitavastatin, in relation to their transport activities. The uptake of pravastatin, pitavastatin, and fluvastatin was measured in oocytes overexpressing SLCO1B1*1a and SLCO1B1*15 to compare the alterations of in-vitro transporting activity. After 40-mg pravastatin or 4-mg pitavastatin was administered to 11 healthy volunteers with homozygous genotypes of SLCO1B1*1a/*1a and SLCO1B1*15/*15, the pharmacokinetic parameters of pravastatin and pitavastatin were compared among participants with SLCO1B1*1a/*1a and SLCO1B1*15/*15 genotypes. The uptake of pravastatin and pitavastatin in SLCO1B1*15 overexpressing oocytes was decreased compared with that in SLCO1B1*15, but no change occurred with fluvastatin. The fold change of in-vitro intrinsic clearance (Clint) for pitavastatin in SLCO1B1*15 compared with SLCO1B1*1a was larger than that of pravastatin (P<0.0001). The clearance (Cl/F) of pitavastatin was decreased to a greater degree in participant with SLCO1B1*15/*15 compared with that of pravastatin in vivo (P<0.01), consistent with in-vitro study. As a result, Cmax and area under the plasma concentration-time curve of these nonmetabolized substrates were increased by SLCO1B1*15 variant. The greater decrease in the transport activity for pitavastatin in SLCO1B1*15 variant compared with SLCO1B1*1a was, however, associated with the greater effect on the pharmacokinetics of pitavastatin compared with pravastatin in relation to the SLCO1B1 genetic polymorphism. This study suggests that substrate dependency in the consequences of the SLCO1B1*15 variant could modulate the effect of SLCO1B1 polymorphism on the disposition of pitavastatin and pravastatin. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Accommodation of couch constraints for coplanar intensity modulated radiation therapy.
Three treatment couches, henceforth referred to as the standard, the variable standard and the C-arm couch, each based on a different supporting frame system, were investigated for their suitability for the delivery of a high number of coplanar beams (> or =5) as may be required for intensity-modulated radiation therapy treatments. A number of equispaced beam arrangements (five to nine) were examined in combination with two circular target sizes (Phi6 and Phi10 cm) at different locations within an elliptical body on the investigated couches, resulting in 70 different plans per couch. A rule based advisory system determined possible intersections of the beam paths with the supporting frames of the respective treatment couch and suggested a suitable constellation for the supporting frames. In cases of intersection, a beam-couch collision was eliminated by minimal rotation of the beams from the initial equispaced beam arrangement. To investigate the effect of a rotation of the posterior-oblique beams for five, seven and nine initially equispaced beams by an angle of 10 degrees, a prostate plan was generated and compared with equispaced beam arrangement. Initial beam paths intersected with the standard couch in 63% of the plans, necessitating a rotation of one or two beams. It was necessary to modify the beam angles in 34% of the cases on the variable standard couch to avoid an intersection of the beams with the couch. All the plans would have been delivered satisfactorily on the C-arm couch without a rotation of beams. Simulation studies showed that the dose distribution for a prostate treatment could be affected significantly, but not detrimentally, by the rotation of the two posterior-oblique beam orientations by an angle of 10 degrees. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Embryonic origins of hull cells in the flatworm Macrostomum lignano through cell lineage analysis: developmental and phylogenetic implications.
The development of macrostomid flatworms is of interest for evolutionary developmental biology research because these taxa combine characteristics of the canonical spiral cleavage pattern with significant deviations from this pattern. One such deviation is the formation of hull cells, which surround the remaining embryonic primordium during early development. Using live observations with a 4D microscope system, histology, and 3D reconstructions, we analyzed the ontogeny of these hull cells in the macrostomid model organism Macrostomum lignano. Our cell lineage analysis allowed us to find the precursors of the hull cells in this species. We discuss the relation between macrostomid development and the development of other spiralians and the question of whether hull cells are homologous within rhabditophoran flatworms. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Dissecting aneurysm of the anterior cerebral artery and Guillain-Barré-syndrome during pregnancy (author's transl)].
In the 8th month of her second pregnancy a young woman fell ill with polyradiculitis. She suddenly died because of a massive abdominal hemorrhage, the cause of which remained obscure. Autopsy revealed typical morphological findings of polyradiculoneuritis and a dissecting aneurysm of the anterior cerebral artery and the recurrent artery of Heubner. The importance of elastic tissue degneration in intracranial dissecting aneurysms is stressed and similar reports in the literature are referred. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[A comparison of various methods of x-ray sensitometry].
Three methods of roentgen sensimetry have been compared: the wedge method based on using the stepped wedge, the Moscow Radiation and Roentgenology Research Institute method consisting in the time-modulation of the exposure by means of a lead diaphragm and revolving cassette with screens and film, and the method, according to which the dose is modulated by changing the distance from the source of irradiation to the cassette. The exposure conditions have been selected in order to achieve the best coordination of the results obtained by all the three methods. The minimal sensitivity of the combination of the medium amplification screens of ZY-B2A type with film PM-1 is about 1000P-1. For a more complete characteristic of the important properties of the roentgenographic films it is necessary in addition to determining the sensitivity, gamma and medium gradient to measure the parameters determining the graininess of the film and the transmission of the screen light by its emulsion layer. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Notch signaling: a rheostat regulating oligodendrocyte differentiation?
Recent studies suggest that Notch signaling provides both instructive and inhibitory cues for oligodendroglial differentiation, depending on the developmental stage and the stimulatory ligand. In the October 17 issue of Cell, Hu et al. present the axonal cell adhesion molecule contactin as a functional Notch ligand, and suggest interesting potential roles for axoglial interactions in regulating oligodendroglial maturation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Changes in the epidemiological situation of HIV infections and AIDS in Poland 1985-1991 and resulting directions of necessary actions].
HIV penetration and spreading among intravenous drug users (ivduS)--probably in 1988--was turning point in HIV infections/AIDS cases epidemiological situation in Poland. Since then, some important changes have been observed, mainly: visible increasing of number HIV-infected persons and ivduS percentage among HIV-infected, growing frequency of HIV-infections among ivduS, the change of F:M sex ratio among HIV-infected, increasing number and percentage of young people among HIV-infected, AIDS appearance not only among homo-/bisexuals, infected by heterosexual contact, but also among ivduS. The changes mentioned above indicate the most important directions in health care, health promotion, economical and social activities in Poland. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The role of salivary cytokines in the etiology and progression of periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is a common oral disease in all segments of the population, regardless of their systemic health status. The disease is generalized or localized and the severity of lesions can vary at different sites. It is possible to recognize a number of different types of periodontal disease on the basis of clinical and pathological criteria, which include the extent of periodontal destruction, the age of onset and severity of disease, the distribution of lesions, the microflora involved, and the variation in host responses. The ultimate outcome of periodontal disease in adults, whether treated or untreated, depends on patient susceptibility. While periodontopathic bacteria are recognized as the etiologic agents in periodontal disease, their interaction with and modulation of the host immune response is of fundamental importance. An interplay of protection and pathology active in periodontal disease is that of T-lymphocyte cells and the subsequent production of cytokines within the periodontal tissues. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Possible role of neuraminidase in the pathogenesis of arteritis and thrombocytopenia induced in rats by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.
The role of the neuraminidase produced by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (E. rhusiopathiae) in the pathogenesis of arteritis and induced thrombocytopenia was examined using young and adult rats. There was a close correlation between bacterial invasion, desialation and cell infiltration in the common iliac artery. E. rhusiopathiae induced arteritis from the second and third day after inoculation with 3 X 10(8) viable bacteria in the young and adult rats, respectively. This delay with age was closely related to the increase of free sialic acid in the plasma. The sites invaded by E. rhusiopathiae coincided with the desialated lesions, and the bacteria invaded the periarterial region which was always accompanied by desialation when examined with FITC-conjugated peanut lectin. The free sialic acid in the plasma was, at least partly, considered to originate from the desialation of the arterial wall caused by E. rhusiopathiae. The platelet number decreased significantly after inoculation. The sialic acid content of the platelets prepared from circulating blood at 12 and 18 hours after inoculation showed a slight decrease and decreased further when the platelets were incubated with the bacteria. Platelets obtained from circulating blood within 24 hours after inoculation or incubated with the bacteria had demonstrated desialated sites as detected by immunofluorescent staining with FITC-conjugated peanut lectin. In conclusion, free sialic acid in the plasma was considered to be a good marker of the desialation of the arteries caused by E. rhusiopathiae, and the neuraminidase produced by the bacteria would be a key to solve the pathogenesis of the arteritis and thrombocytopenia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
EUS is superior for detection of pancreatic lesions compared with standard imaging in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.
In multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1), pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) are the leading MEN1-related cause of death. To evaluate EUS and (11)C-5-hydroxytryptophan positron emission tomography ((11)C-5-HTP PET), compared with the recommended screening techniques in MEN1 patients for early detection of pNETs. Cross-sectional study. Tertiary-care university medical center. This study involved 41 patients with a proven MEN1 mutation or with one MEN1 manifestation and a mutation carrier as a first-degree family member, with recent screening by abdominal CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS). EUS by using a linear Pentax echoendoscope and Hitachi EUB-525 and (11)C-5-HTP PET. Patient-based and lesion-based positivity for pNET was calculated for all imaging techniques. The McNemar test was used to compare the yield of the 4 imaging techniques. In 35 of 41 patients, 107 pancreatic lesions were detected in total. EUS detected 101 pancreatic lesions in 34 patients, (11)C-5-HTP PET detected 35 lesions in 19 patients, and CT/MRI + SRS detected 32 lesions in 18 patients (P < .001). (11)C-5-HTP PET performed similarly to CT/MRI + SRS and better compared with SRS only (13 lesions in 12 patients), both at a patient-based and lesion-based level (P < .05). Single-center study. EUS is superior to CT/MRI + SRS for pancreatic lesion detection in patients with MEN1. In this setting, (11)C-5-HTP PET is not useful. We recommend EUS as the first-choice pancreas imaging technique in patients with MEN1. ( NTR1668.). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
NFkappaB-mediated upregulation of bcl-xl restrains TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in murine viral hepatitis.
Inhibition of NFkappaB enhances the susceptibility of cancer to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and is suggested as a strategy for cancer therapy. Because the role of NFkappaB in TRAIL-mediated apoptosis of hepatocytes is unknown, we investigated the influence of NFkappaB-inhibition in death ligand-mediated apoptosis in hepatitis. Adenoviral hepatitis resulted in upregulation of NFkappaB-activity, which could be inhibited by expression of IkappaBalpha-superrepressor. We treated mice after the onset of adenoviral hepatitis with adenoviruses expressing FasL (AdFasL), TRAIL (AdTRAIL), or GFP (AdGFP). In contrast to apoptosis induced by AdFasL, NFkappaB inhibition strongly enhanced AdTRAIL-mediated apoptosis of hepatocytes. Expression of IkappaBalpha inhibits adenoviral infection-mediated overexpression of bcl-xl, providing a molecular mechanism for TRAIL sensitization. In agreement with this hypothesis, downregulation of bcl-xl by siRNA enhanced susceptibility of hepatocytes to TRAIL, but not to FasL-mediated apoptosis, resulting in TRAIL-mediated severe liver damage after AdTRAIL application. Our data demonstrate that inhibition of NFkappaB in adenoviral hepatitis strongly sensitizes hepatocytes to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Bcl-xl, in contrast to bcl-2 and c-FLIP, is strongly upregulated after viral infection and represents an essential NFkappaB-dependent survival factor against TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. In conclusion, inhibition of NFkappaB or bcl-xl during TRAIL therapy may harbor a risk of liver damage in patients with viral hepatitis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Antibodies against orthopoxviruses in wild carnivores from Fennoscandia.
Two hundred and three sera obtained in 1993-96 from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), lynx (Lynx lynx), brown bears (Ursus arctos) and wolverines (Gulo gulo) in Fennoscandia (Norway, Sweden, and Finland) were examined for the presence of anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies by a competition enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). High prevalences were found for the red foxes in Norway (7/62, 11%) and Finland (7/14, 50%). While only one of 73 (1%) lynx from Finland had anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies, a high prevalence was found in sera from the Sarek National Park in Sweden (5/17, 29%). In addition, anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies were found in one brown bear from the same area (1/45, 2%), whereas none of the 14 wolverines were seropositive. This is the first report of anti-orthopoxvirus antibodies in the brown bear and the lynx, and the first screening for such antibodies in Sweden and Finland. These results indicate that orthopoxviruses are distributed in Sweden and Finland as well as in Norway, and that the red fox and the European lynx may serve as indicator species for the presence of orthopoxviruses in the local populations of small mammals. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
EXPERIMENTAL MOLECULAR EVOLUTION OF BACTERIOPHAGE T7.
We present an analysis of molecular evolution in a laboratory-generated phylogeny of the bacteriophage T7, a virus of 40 kilo-base pairs of double-stranded DNA. The known biology of T7 is used in concert with observed changes in restriction sites and in DNA sequences to produce a model of restriction-site convergence and divergence in the experimental lineages. During laboratory propagation in the presence of a mutagen, the phage lineages changed an estimated 0.5%-1.5% in base pairs; most change appears to have been G → A or C → T, presumably because of the mutagen employed. Some classes of restriction-site losses can be explained adequately as simple outcomes of random processes, given the mutation rate and the bias in mutation spectrum. However, some other classes of sites appear to have undergone accelerated rates of loss, as though the losses were selectively favored. Overall, the wealth of knowledge available for T7 biology contributes only modestly to these explanations of restriction-site evolution, but rates of restriction-site gains remain poorly explained, perhaps requiring an even deeper understanding of T7 genetics than was employed here. Having measured these properties of molecular evolution, we programmed computer simulations with the parameter estimates and pseudo-replicated the empirical study, thereby providing a data base for statistical evaluation of phylogeny reconstruction methods. By these criteria, replicates of the experimental phylogeny would be correctly reconstructed over 97% of the time for the three methods tested, but the methods differed significantly both in their ability to recover the correct topology and in their ability to predict branch lengths. More generally, the study illustrates how analyses of experimental evolution in bacteriophage can be exploited to reveal relationships between the basics of molecular evolution and abstract models of evolutionary processes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Giant-sized condyloma of the breast with focal acantholytic changes.
A healthy 26-year-old pregnant woman presented with a 6.0-cm exophytic mass in her left inframammary fold. The lesion was surgically excised. Histopathologic sections of the skin lesion were reviewed in hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides. Additional sections were studied by an in situ hybridization method for human papillomavirus DNA (HPV) types 6 and 11. The histopathologic examination demonstrated a benign exophytic, verrucous and papillary epidermal proliferation with features of condyloma acuminatum. Reactivity to HPV DNA types 6 and 11 was demonstrated by in situ hybridization method. The epidermis adjacent to, and focally within, the neoplasm showed multiple areas of suprabasilar and intraepidermal acantholysis without dyskeratosis. Condylomas related to HPV 6 and 11 may be found in extragenital locations including conjunctiva, oral and nasal mucosa. To our knowledge, however, the extragenital condylomas described in the literature have not included the giant-sized variant. We describe an example of a benign, giant-sized condyloma acuminatum of the breast with nearby acantholytic alterations similar to Hailey-Hailey disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Genetic Nature, Stability, and Improved Virulence of Hybrids from Protoplast Fusion in Beauveria
Genetic improvement of two different strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana for more effective control of Ostrinia nubilalis and Leptinotarsa decemlineata was obtained by crosses with the insecticidal toxin-producing strain Beauveria sulfurescens. Protoplast fusion between diauxotrophic mutants resulted in the recovery of some stable prototrophic fusion products. The low levels of virulence of the wild type strain B. bassiana 28 isolated originally from L. decemlineata were enhanced both on L. decemlineata and O. nubilalis for one of the hybrids obtained (FP 8) from the cross B. bassiana 28xB. sulfurescens 2. Fusion product 25 obtained from the cross between B. sulfurescens and the highly pathogenic strain B. bassiana 147 showed a three-day reduction in the LT50 towards O. nubilalis. Southern blot hybridization with nine probe-enzyme combinations were conducted on genomic DNAs from the original wild strains, parental mutant strains, and fusion products. Additive banding patterns or unique banding pattern of either parental strain was observed in five hybrids, indicating their status as recombinant and/or partially diploid. Combination of RFLP markers indicative of both parental genomes was never observed with fusion product FP 25. The stability of the virulence following passage through insect-host and stability of molecular structure for the fusion products FP 8 and FP 25 suggest that asexual genetic recombination by protoplast fusion may provide an attractive method for the genetic improvement of biocontrol efficiency in entomopathogenic fungi. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Long-term resolution of acute, obstructive, triventricular hydrocephalus by endoscopic removal of a third ventricular hematoma without third ventriculostomy. Case report and review of the literature.
The authors describe a new extension of the use of neuroendoscopy beyond that which is ordinarily performed. The authors report on the resolution of acute, obstructive, triventricular hydrocephalus in a 42-year-old woman with hypertensive caudate hemorrhage that migrated into the ventricular system. The patient underwent emergency endoscopic removal of a third ventricular hematoma, which was obstructing the orifice of the aqueduct, and restoration of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow but no third ventriculostomy. The authors believe that this is the first such case to be reported. In selected cases of third ventricular hemorrhage, endoscopic removal of the intraventricular hematoma may represent a useful and effective treatment option even in emergency conditions as well as a better alternative to prolonged CSF external ventricular drainage. A reduction in the duration of hospitalization is a beneficial consequence. The authors assert that third ventriculostomy is not always needed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Pivotal Advance: Eosinophilia in the MES rat strain is caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the gene for cytochrome b(-245), alpha polypeptide (Cyba).
MES is a rat strain that spontaneously develops severe blood eosinophilia as a hereditary trait. Herein, we report that eosinophilia in MES rats is caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the gene for cytochrome b(-245), alpha polypeptide (Cyba; also known as p22(phox)), which is an essential component of the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase complex. The MES rat has a deletion of four nucleotides, including the 5' splice donor GpT of intron 4 of the Cyba gene. As a consequence of the deletion, a 51-nucleotide sequence of intron 4 is incorporated into the Cyba transcripts. Leukocytes from the MES strain lack both CYBA protein and NADPH oxidase activity. Nevertheless, unlike patients with chronic granulomatous disease, who suffer from infections with pathogens due to similar genetic defects in NADPH oxidase, MES rats retain normal innate immune defense against Staphylococcus aureus infection. This is due to large quantities of peritoneal eosinophils in MES rats, which phagocytose and kill the bacteria. MES rat has a balance defect due to impaired formation of otoconia in the utricles and saccules. Eosinophilia of the MES rat was normalized by introduction of a normal Cyba transgene. The mechanisms by which impairment of NADPH oxidase leads to eosinophilia in the MES rat are elusive. However, our study highlights the essential role of NADPH oxidase in homeostatic regulation of innate immunity beyond conventional microbicidial functions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Thinking about the future: Comparing children's forced-choice versus "generative" responses in the "spoon test".
One of the most popular methods to assess children's foresight is to present children with a problem (e.g., locked box with no key) in one room and then later, in another room, give them the opportunity to select the item (e.g., key) that will solve it. Whether or not children choose the correct item to bring back to the first room is the dependent measure of interest in this "spoon test." Although children as young as 3 or 4 years typically succeed on this test, whether they would pass a more stringent version in which they must verbally generate (vs. select) the correct item in the absence of any cues is unknown. This is an important point given that humans must often make decisions about the future without being explicitly "prompted" by the future-oriented option. In Experiment 1, using an adapted version of the spoon test, we show that as the "generative" requirements of the task increase, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds' (N = 99) performance significantly decreases. We replicate this effect in Experiment 2 (N = 48 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds) and also provide preliminary evidence that the capacity to verbally generate the correct item in a spoon test may draw more heavily on children's category fluency skills than does their capacity to select this item among a set of distracters. Our findings underscore the importance of examining more generative forms of future thought in young children. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Four-wave mixing assisted stability enhancement: theory, experiment, and application.
Stability enhancement on the basis of four-wave mixing (FWM) is proposed and proved for the first time to our knowledge. This technique is applied to dual-wavelength erbium-doped fiber lasers. Significant uniformity and stability of the novel fiber lasers are demonstrated experimentally. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Comparison of blood-oxygen-level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging and near-infrared spectroscopy recording during functional brain activation in patients with stroke and brain tumors.
Blood-oxygen-level-dependent contrast functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) has been used to perform functional imaging in brain disorders such as stroke and brain tumors. However, recent studies have revealed that BOLD-fMRI does not image activation areas correctly in such patients. To clarify the characteristics of the evoked cerebral blood oxygenation (CBO) changes occurring in stroke and brain tumors, we have been comparing near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and BOLD-fMRI recording during functional brain activation in these patients. We review our recent studies and related functional imaging studies on the brain disorders. In the primary sensorimotor cortex (PSMC) on the nonlesion side, the motor task consistently caused a decrease of deoxyhemoglobin (deoxy-Hb) with increases of oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and total hemoglobin (t-Hb), which is consistent with the evoked CBO response observed in normal adults. BOLD-fMRI demonstrated robust activation areas on the nonlesion side. In stroke patients, severe cerebral ischemia (i.e., misery perfusion) caused an increase of deoxy-Hb during the task, associated with increases of oxy-Hb and t-Hb, in the PSMC on the lesion side. In addition, the activation volume of BOLD-fMRI was significantly reduced on the lesion side. The BOLD signal did not change in some areas of the PSMC on the lesion side, but it tended to decrease in other areas during the tasks. In brain tumors, BOLD-fMRI clearly demonstrated activation areas in the PSMC on the lesion side in patients who displayed a normal evoked CBO response. However, the activation volume on the lesion side was significantly reduced in patients who exhibited an increase of deoxy-Hb during the task. In both stroke and brain tumors, false-negative activations (i.e., marked reductions of activation volumes) in BOLD imaging were associated with increases of deoxy-Hb, which could cause a reduction in BOLD signal. BOLD-fMRI investigations of patients with brain disorders should be performed while giving consideration to atypical evoked CBO changes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
In patients requiring single-tooth replacement, what are the outcomes of implant- as compared to tooth-supported restorations?
The study provides a systematic review of the literature to determine the long-term survival characteristics of single implant-supported crowns and fixed partial dentures. A search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Collaboration databases was conducted to identify articles that compared survival and success of fixed partial dentures and single implant-supported crowns. In addition to comparative cohort studies, articles that pertained specifically to single implant-supported crowns or fixed partial dentures were included in this review. Inclusion criteria for implant and fixed partial denture articles included a minimum 2-year study, primary publication in the English language, a minimum of 12 implants, implants designed to osseointegrate, and inclusion of data regarding implant and prosthetic performance. Data were analyzed using cumulative proportions of survival and success for both prosthetic types and for individual implants. Wilson score method was used to establish 95% confidence intervals for each population. The chi-square test for homogeneity was performed. The literature search failed to identify any articles that directly compared survival or success of single implant-supported restorations with fixed partial dentures. Following the search criteria, and independent analysis by reviewers, 51 articles were identified in the implant literature (agreement, 95.42%; kappa coefficient, 0.8976), and 41 were identified in the fixed partial denture literature (agreement, 90.97%; kappa coefficient, 0.7524). Pooled success of single-implant restorations at 60 months was 95.1% (CI: 92.2%-98.0%), while fixed partial dentures of all designs exhibited an 84.0% success rate (CI: 79.1%-88.9%). This systematic review of the scientific literature failed to demonstrate any direct comparative studies assessing clinical performance of single implant-supported crowns and tooth-supported fixed partial dentures. The analysis suggested differences at 60 months between survival of implant-supported single crowns and natural tooth-supported fixed prostheses when resin-bonded and conventionally retained fixed prostheses were grouped. This difference disappeared when implant-supported single crowns were compared with conventionally retained fixed partial dentures at 60 months. For other time periods, direct comparative data were unavailable. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A fast analytic dose calculation method for arc treatments for kilovoltage small animal irradiators.
Arc treatments require calculation of dose for collections of discrete gantry angles. The sampling of angles must balance between short computation time of small angle sets and the better calculation reliability of large sets. In this paper, an analytical formula is presented that allows calculation of dose delivered during continuous rotation of the gantry. The formula holds valid for continuous short arcs of up to about 30° and is derived by integrating a dose formula over gantry angles within a small angle approximation. Doses for longer arcs may be obtained in terms of doses for shorter arcs. The formula is derived with an empirical beam model in water and extended to inhomogeneous media. It is validated with experimental data obtained by applying arc treatment using kV small animal irradiator to a phantom of solid water and lung-equivalent material. The results are a promising step towards efficient 3D dose calculation and inverse planning purposes. In principle, this method also applies to VMAT dose calculation and optimization but requires extensions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
New insights into pathways for CD1-mediated antigen presentation.
Recent studies of CD1 structure and intracellular trafficking have demonstrated significant differences among the CD1 isoforms (CD1a, CD1b, CD1c and CD1d). The molecular and structural basis for the differential trafficking of CD1 molecules has also been delineated. These observations broaden our understanding of why the immune system has evolved multiple CD1 isoforms to survey different cellular compartments for lipid antigen presentation, to provide host defense against the microbial world and to offer immunoregulation with relevance to tumor immunity and autoimmunity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Discovering signal transduction networks using signaling domain-domain interactions.
The objective of this paper is twofold. One objective is to present a method of predicting signaling domain-domain interactions (signaling DDI) using inductive logic programming (ILP), and the other is to present a method of discovering signal transduction networks (STN) using signaling DDI. The research on computational methods for discovering signal transduction networks (STN) has received much attention because of the importance of STN to transmit inter- and intra-cellular signals. Unlike previous STN works functioning at the protein/gene levels, our STN method functions at the protein domain level, on signal domain interactions, which allows discovering more reliable and stable STN. We can mostly reconstruct the STN of yeast MAPK pathways from the inferred signaling domain interactions, with coverage of 85%. For the problem of prediction of signaling DDI, we have successfully constructed a database of more than twenty four thousand ground facts from five popular genomic and proteomic databases. We also showed the advantage of ILP in signaling DDI prediction from the constructed database, with high sensitivity (88%) and accuracy (83%). Studying yeast MAPK STN, we found some new signaling domain interactions that do not exist in the well-known InterDom database. Supplementary materials are now available from http://www.jaist.ac.jp/s0560205/STP_DDI/. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Inhibition of barnacle larval settlement and crustacean toxicity of some hoplonemertine pyridyl alkaloids.
Hoplonemertines are carnivorous marine worms, which prey upon crustaceans and annelids. They paralyze their prey by injecting alkaloids with a stylet-bearing proboscis. The dermis of these animals also secretes alkaloids to repel predators. Besides affecting central and peripheral nervous system nicotinic receptors, some pyridyl alkaloids also activate certain chemoreceptor neurons in crustacean walking legs, which sense environmental chemicals. Anabaseine (2-[3-pyridyl]-3,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridyl) and 2,3'-bipyridyl (2,3'-BP) are two nemertine alkaloids, which potently paralyze crustaceans. Anabaseine is an agonist of vertebrate as well as invertebrate nicotinic receptors. While 2,3'-BP is non-toxic to mice, it is toxic to crustaceans. We tested a variety of nemertine pyridyl alkaloids for inhibition of barnacle (Balanus amphitrite) larval settlement and for crustacean toxicity in order to determine whether toxicity could be dissociated from inhibition of larval settlement. We prepared eight C-methylated 2,3'-BP isomers to determine where substitution is permitted without loss of activity. Anti-settlement and toxicity activities were not always related. For instance, 4'-methyl-2,3'-BP displayed only 3% of the crayfish paralytic activity of 2,3'-BP, but inhibited settlement almost 2-fold more effectively. Two other isomers displaying exceptional anti-settlement activity were the 4- and 5-methyl-2,3'-BPs; these also displayed high crustacean toxicity. Nemertelline inhibited barnacle settlement at concentrations similar to 2,3'-BP but was 136-fold less toxic when injected into crayfish. Thus, certain bipyridyls and tetrapyridyls may be useful anti-fouling additives. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of carbon source on the cellulosomal subpopulations of Clostridium cellulovorans.
Clostridium cellulovorans produces a cellulase enzyme complex called the cellulosome. When cells were grown on different carbon substrates such as Avicel, pectin, xylan, or a mixture of all three, the subunit composition of the cellulosomal subpopulations and their enzymic activities varied significantly. Fractionation of the cellulosomes (7-11 fractions) indicated that the cellulosome population was heterogeneous, although the composition of the scaffolding protein CbpA, endoglucanase EngE and cellobiohydrolase ExgS was relatively constant. One of the cellulosomal fractions with the greatest endoglucanase activity also showed the highest or second highest cellulase activity under all growth conditions tested. The cellulosomal fractions produced from cells grown on a mixture of carbon substrates showed the greatest cellulase activity and contained CbpA, EngE/EngK, ExgS/EngH and EngL. High xylanase activity in cellulose, pectin and mixed carbon-grown cells was detected with a specific cellulosomal fraction which had relatively larger amounts of XynB, XynA and unknown proteins (35-45 kDa). These results in toto indicate that the assembly of cellulosomes occurs in a non-random fashion. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
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