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Misarticulation caused by abnormal lingual-palatal contact in patients with cleft palate with adequate velopharyngeal function.
Misarticulations produced by three patients with cleft palate (2 isolated cleft palate; 1 unilateral cleft lip, alveolus, and palate) who attained adequate velopharyngeal function and normal palatal vault by early surgical repairs were examined using electropalatography (EPG) and sound spectrography (SG). Common characteristics of lingual-palatal contact in which the contact area was broader and/or was more posterior than normal were observed. These misarticulations can be divided into three types based on the direction of the breath emission: palatalized misarticulation (in which air passes along the midline of the palate), lateral misarticulation (in which air flows laterally through the occluded dental arch), and nasopharyngeal misarticulation (in which air flows out the nose). These three are considered to be similar to intractable posterior pattern of articulation in cleft palate patients previously reported. However, these types of misarticulations can be produced by cleft patients who have achieved adequate velopharyngeal function and normal palatal vault. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cytogenetic clonality analysis in monosomy 7 associated with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia: clonality in B and NK cells, but not in T cells.
It remains unclear which lymphoid lineages are involved in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). We report a JMML patient who acquired monosomy 7 after intensive chemotherapy. In this case, the expression of monosomy 7 was analyzed in T, B and natural killer (NK) cells highly purified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patient. The fluorescence in situ hybridization method revealed the expression of monosomy 7 in B cells, but not T cells. Half of the NK cells expressed monosomy 7; when NK cells were divided into CD2- and CD2+ populations, this abnormality was positive in 91.1% of CD2- NK cells but in only 14.7% of CD2+ NK cells. These results suggest that, in this JMML patient who acquired monosomy 7 after intensive chemotherapy, B cells and half of NK cells, but not T cells, have monosomy 7. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Endothelin B receptor deficient transgenic rescue rats: a rescue phenomenon in the brain.
Homozygous endothelin B receptor deficiency leads to congenital aganglionosis of the gut in rats and mice, equivalent to human Hirschsprung disease. Homozygous endothelin B receptor deficient rats (spotting lethal rats, sl/sl) are characterized not only by this developmental disorder of the enteric nervous system, which limits their life span to 3-4 weeks, but exhibit an increased rate of apoptosis in the dentate gyrus compared to wildtype (+/+) rats. Recently, endothelin B receptor deficient transgenic rescue rats (sl/sl, tg/tg) were created to further investigate the role of the endothelin B receptor in mature animals. Linkage of the human dopamine-beta-hydroxylase promoter to the rat endothelin B receptor gene and expression of this transgenic construct results in normal development of the enteric nervous system. We investigated the expression pattern of this transgenic construct in the brain by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Unexpectedly, transgene mRNA expression was not restricted to the brain stem where adrenergic and noradrenergic nuclei are known to be present but, in addition, was also detectable in hippocampus and cortex. Using in situ tailing technique, cleaved caspase-3 immunohistochemistry and analysis of hematoxylin-eosin-stained serial sections, we found that all studied transgenic animals were rescued from the increased rate of apoptosis in the dentate gyrus characteristic for non-transgenic sl/sl rats. This finding supports our previous observation that the endothelin B receptor might be an important regulatory element supporting cellular survival in the hippocampus during postnatal development. The endothelin B receptor deficient transgenic rescue rats used here are rescued from developmental disorders both in the gut and in the brain. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Essential involvement of 12-lipoxygenase in regiospecific andstereospecific oxidation of low density lipoprotein by macrophages.
To establish a role of the 12-lipoxygenase on the generation of oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) in macrophages that leads to foam cell formation in atherosclerosis, we overexpressed 12-lipoxygenases in a macrophage-like cell line, J774A.1, that does not show intrinsic enzyme activity. When the 12-lipoxygenase-expressing cells were incubated with 400 microg.mL-1 LDL in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium at 37 degrees C for 12 h, LDL oxidation, as determined by thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, was markedly increased compared with the mock-transfected cells. Oxygenated products in the modified LDL were examined by HPLC before and after alkaline hydrolysis. Most of the oxygenated derivatives were of an esterified form, and the major product was identified as 13S-hydroxyoctadeca-9Z,11E-dienoic acid. These results clearly demonstrate that esterified fatty acids in LDL are oxygenated by the 12-lipoxygenases expressed in the J774A.1 cells. Furthermore, the oxidized LDL generated by intracellular 12-lipoxygenases was recognized by a scavenger receptor as assessed by macrophage degradation assay. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Single channel layer, single sheath-flow inlet microfluidic flow cytometer with three-dimensional hydrodynamic focusing.
Flow cytometry is a technique capable of optically characterizing biological particles in a high-throughput manner. In flow cytometry, three dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic focusing is critical for accurate and consistent measurements. Due to the advantages of microfluidic techniques, a number of microfluidic flow cytometers with 3D hydrodynamic focusing have been developed in recent decades. However, the existing devices consist of multiple layers of microfluidic channels and tedious fluidic interconnections. As a result, these devices often require complicated fabrication and professional operation. Consequently, the development of a robust and reliable microfluidic flow cytometer for practical biological applications is desired. This paper develops a microfluidic device with a single channel layer and single sheath-flow inlet capable of achieving 3D hydrodynamic focusing for flow cytometry. The sheath-flow stream is introduced perpendicular to the microfluidic channel to encircle the sample flow. In this paper, the flow fields are simulated using a computational fluidic dynamic (CFD) software, and the results show that the 3D hydrodynamic focusing can be successfully formed in the designed microfluidic device under proper flow conditions. The developed device is further characterized experimentally. First, confocal microscopy is exploited to investigate the flow fields. The resultant Z-stack confocal images show the cross-sectional view of 3D hydrodynamic with flow conditions that agree with the simulated ones. Furthermore, the flow cytometric detections of fluorescence beads are performed using the developed device with various flow rate combinations. The measurement results demonstrate that the device can achieve great detection performances, which are comparable to the conventional flow cytometer. In addition, the enumeration of fluorescence-labelled cells is also performed to show its practicality for biological applications. Consequently, the microfluidic flow cytometer developed in this paper provides a practical platform that can be used for routine analysis in biological laboratories. Additionally, the 3D hydrodynamic focusing channel design can also be applied to various applications that can advance the lab on a chip research. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Functional paragangliomas of the urinary bladder: a report of 9 cases.
Functional paraganglioma of the urinary bladder (FPUB) is a rare tumor. Misdiagnosis of FPUB before operation can lead to serious intraoperative consequences. In this article, we reported our experience in preoperative diagnosis and surgical treatment of FPUB. Clinical data of nine patients with FPUB treated between June 1985 and January 2009 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were analyzed. All patients underwent urinary catecholamine (CA) detection, B-ultrasound, CT and/or MRI scan; 5 underwent nailfola microcirculation inspection; 4 underwent 131I-metaiodobenzyl guanidine (MIBG) detection; and 6 underwent 111In-DTPA-Octreotide (OCT) scintiscan. According to the UICC bladder tumor classification, 5 patients had T2, 3 had T3, and 1 had T4 disease. All patients underwent surgical treatment, and 1 received 131I-MIBG therapy. All patients had paroxysmal hypertension and palpitation and six had cold sweat, headache, and dizziness after emphatic urination. The definitive diagnosis was made by histopathologic examination of the removed tumors and was confirmed in 7 cases by the immunohistochemical staining of chromogranin A, Ki-67 and S100 protein. The tumor consisted of discrete aggregates of zellballen cells separated by a network of vascular channels. One patient had metastases in the pelvic lymph nodes, liver and colon. Follow-up ranged from 7 to 289 months (mean, 127.2 ± 34.2). Six of the nine cases reported here were found in the usual locations. One patient had multiple tumors. The catecholamine level was elevated under basal conditions in 8 patients and during endoscopic resection of the tumor in 1 patient; it returned to normal after surgery in 8 patients. Three patients had recurrence and 1 had metastasis following surgery. Early preoperative diagnosis of FPUB is difficult, but it should be suspected in patients with typical tetrad symptoms: headache and micturition syncope, sweating, palpitation and hematuria. In those patients with unresectable multiple tumors, medicine and 131I-MIBG therapy may be helpful for controlling hypertension and delaying disease progression. Advanced classification (≥T3), multifocal tumors and CgA expression are risk factors of recurrence and metastasis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Differences among the three major categories of paraproteinaemias in aging man and the mouse. A minireview.
The frequency of homogeneous immunoglobulins markedly increases with aging. These homogeneous Ig, paraproteins, reflect three different major categories of disorders within the immune system: B-cell malignancies; B-cell benign proliferative disorders; and Secondary immunodeficiency, a T-B immune system imbalance due to aging. A correct differential diagnosis among these conditions is crucial for the prognosis and potential treatment. Recent studies in animal models offer some clues which are helpful for our better understanding of the mechanism of the development of the paraproteinemias and for their differential diagnosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The effect of protease-activated receptor2 on rat apoptotic cardiomyocytes underwent ischemia reperfusion injury].
To investigate the effect of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) on rat apoptotic cardiomyocytes underwent ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 8 each): sham-operation group, I/R (ligating the left coronary artery for 30 minutes and followed by 120 minutes reperfusion) group and three SLIGRL-NH2 groups treated with intravenous PAR-2 agonist SLIGRL-NH2 at different doses (0.5, 1, 3 mg/kg) 5 minutes before reperfusion. Apoptic cardiomyocytes was detected by TUNEL staining and by DNA ladder on agarose gel electrophoresis. Bax and Bcl-2 expression in myocardium was analyzed by immunohistochemical technique. The mRNA expression of PAR-2 was determined by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). (1) The apoptosis index and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were significantly increased in IR group and SLIGRL-NH2 groups than those in sham group (P < 0.05-0.01). (2) Compared with I/R group, the apoptosis index and the expression of Bax were significantly reduced while the expression of Bcl-2 and PAR-2 mRNA were significantly upregulated by SLIGRL-NH2 in a dose-dependent manner. (3) DNA Agarose gel electrophoresis demonstrated that DNA ladder existed in I/R and 0.5 mg/kg SLIGRL-NH2 group, but not in 1, 3 mg/kg SLIGRL-NH2 groups. PAR-2 agonist SLIGRL-NH2 could reduce myocardial apoptosis by upregulating the Bcl-2 and PAR-2 mRNA level and downregulating Bax expression in a dose-dependent manner in this rat I/R model. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Building a Values-Informed Mental Model for New Orleans Climate Risk Management.
Individuals use values to frame their beliefs and simplify their understanding when confronted with complex and uncertain situations. The high complexity and deep uncertainty involved in climate risk management (CRM) lead to individuals' values likely being coupled to and contributing to their understanding of specific climate risk factors and management strategies. Most mental model approaches, however, which are commonly used to inform our understanding of people's beliefs, ignore values. In response, we developed a "Values-informed Mental Model" research approach, or ViMM, to elicit individuals' values alongside their beliefs and determine which values people use to understand and assess specific climate risk factors and CRM strategies. Our results show that participants consistently used one of three values to frame their understanding of risk factors and CRM strategies in New Orleans: (1) fostering a healthy economy, wealth, and job creation, (2) protecting and promoting healthy ecosystems and biodiversity, and (3) preserving New Orleans' unique culture, traditions, and historically significant neighborhoods. While the first value frame is common in analyses of CRM strategies, the latter two are often ignored, despite their mirroring commonly accepted pillars of sustainability. Other values like distributive justice and fairness were prioritized differently depending on the risk factor or strategy being discussed. These results suggest that the ViMM method could be a critical first step in CRM decision-support processes and may encourage adoption of CRM strategies more in line with stakeholders' values. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Splenic actinomycotic abscess in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia.
Actinomycosis is a gram-positive anaerobic bacterium. Actinomyces organisms are important constituents of the normal flora of mucous membranes and are considered opportunistic pathogens. The three major clinical presentations of actinomycosis include the cervicofacial, thoracic, and abdominopelvic regions. Actinomycosis infection in patients with febrile neutropenia is uncommon and actinomycosis splenic involvement in acute leukemia patients is very rare. We describe a man with acute myeloid leukemia and splenic actinomycotic abscess that developed after chemotherapy following prolonged neutropenia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Fulminant Guillain-Barré syndrome after Campylobacter jejuni enteritis and monospecific anti-GT1a IgG antibody.
A 21-year-old man developed rapid progression of tetraplegia, bulbar palsy, and respiratory paralysis after Campylobacterjejuni enteritis. Based on the diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome, he received plasmapheresis and intravenous immunoglobulin. Serum anti-GT1a IgG antibody which lacked cross-reactivity with GQ1b was detected. Four months after the onset, the patient still had severe muscle weakness of the lower limbs. This case suggests that anti-GT1a IgG antibody can be associated with severe paralysis in Guillain-Barré syndrome after C. jejuni enteritis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Serum DHEA-S level is associated with the presence of atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
We investigated the relationship between serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to various parameters for atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes. The levels of DHEA-S and IGF-I are known to decrease with aging and thereby might be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. One hundred forty-eight men and 106 postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes were assessed in a cross-sectional study. Serum DHEA-S and IGF-I concentrations were measured and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ultrasonographically-evaluated intima-media thickness (IMT) were assessed. Although simple regression analysis showed that log(DHEA-S) and IGF-I in men and log(DHEA-S) in women were significantly and inversely correlated with baPWV and IMT, only log(DHEA-S) in women was still significantly and inversely correlated with these atherosclerotic parameters after multiple regression analysis was adjusted for age, duration of diabetes, BMI, HbA(1C), systolic blood pressure, LDL-Cholesterol (C), serum creatinine, and smoking (Brinkman index). Serum DHEA-S level seemed to be associated with atherosclerosis in diabetic postmenopausal women independent of age, body stature, diabetic status, and other atherosclerotic risk factors, and might be a useful addition to other parameters for assessing the risk of atherosclerosis in this population. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Epigenetic alterations in neuroendocrine tumors: methylation of RAS-association domain family 1, isoform A and p16 genes are associated with metastasis.
Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors including pancreatic endocrine tumors and carcinoid tumors are uncommon neoplasms that have site-specific differences in clinicopathological features, clinical course and genetic alterations. The epigenetic alterations in these tumors are not well characterized. We therefore compared methylation of the RAS-association domain family 1, isoform A (RASSF1A), p14, p16 and O6-methyl-guanine methyltransferase genes in neuroendocrine tumors from 47 patients including 16 pancreatic, 15 nonileal and 16 ileal neuroendocrine tumors. Methylation of the RASSF1A gene was present in 57% of tumors, p14 in 49%, p16 in 26% and O6-methyl-guanine methyltransferase in 13% of tumors. Ileal neuroendocrine tumors lacked methylation of O6-methyl-guanine methyltransferase gene (P = 0.04). RASSF1A methylation was associated with histopathologic type of tumors (P = 0.03) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.004), and p16 methylation with older patient age (P = 0.002) and liver metastasis (P = 0.04). Two or more genes were methylated in 53% of tumors, one gene was methylated in 30% of tumors, and all four genes were unmethylated in 17% of tumors. Methylation of one or more gene was associated with older age of patients (P = 0.01), and methylation of two or more genes was associated with liver metastasis (P = 0.044). Our study shows that in neuroendocrine tumors epigenetic alterations vary by tumor subsite and clinicopathologic features, including age of onset, histopathologic type and metastasis status. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sonographic imaging of meniscal subluxation in patients with radiographic knee osteoarthritis.
This study was undertaken to describe the sonographic features of meniscal subluxation in the weight-bearing position and to determine any association between meniscal subluxation and radiographic osteoarthritis. In total, 238 knees with symptoms were examined successfully with weight-bearing anteroposterior and lateral radiographs and high resolution ultrasonography. The radiographs were examined to determine whether participants had radiographic osteoarthritis, graded using the Kellgren-Lawrence Scale. The degree of subluxation of the medial meniscus in each knee was measured using high resolution ultrasound with a 10-MHz linear transducer, at the level of the medial collateral ligament in weight-bearing condition. The degree of subluxation was compared in knees with the presence or absence of radiographic osteoarthritis using Students t test. Additional analysis between knees with early and advanced radiographic osteoarthritis was also performed. Meniscal subluxation for knees with (n = 141) and without (n = 97) radiographic signs of osteoarthritis were 4.3 1.9 mm and 0.7 0.6 mm, respectively. The difference was highly significant (p < 0.001). After age adjustment, the medial meniscal subluxation of age-matched subjects were 4.8 1.7 mm for knees with radiographic osteoarthritis (n = 43) and 1.0 0.8 mm for knees without such changes (n = 43). The difference between the two groups was still significant (p < 0.001). The greatest meniscal subluxation was seen in knees with advanced radiographic signs of osteoarthritis; no knee with osteoarthritic changes on radiographs had an undisplaced meniscus. Meniscal subluxation is a prominent feature on weight-bearing sonographic imaging in patients with radiographic osteoarthritis and could be considered as a risk factor for the development of knee osteoarthritis. By using musculoskeletal ultrasonography, one can detect this occult meniscal derangement early before the appearance of radiographic signs of osteoarthritis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 mRNA in osteoporotic bone tissues.
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a sort of important enzymes involved in extracellular matrix metabolism, play critical roles in the process of tissues remodeling, wound healing and metastasis of tumors. Dot blot and in situ hybridization were used in this study to detect the expression and localization of MMP-9, an important proteolytic enzyme implicated in bone resorption in bone tissues. The results showed that the level of MMP-9 mRNA expression in osteoporotic bone tissues was significantly higher than that in normal control group and the cell types that expressed MMP-9 mRNA included mono- and multi-nuclear osteoclasts and some lining cells on the surface of bone matrix. It was suggested that MMP-9 play a key role in the development of bone loss in osteoporosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Failure and success of hydrodynamic interaction models.
In suspensions with charged particles, electrostatic forces and hydrodynamic interactions are both important to describe the system. We study different models of hydrodynamic interaction for monopolarly charged particles in a non-polar liquid. In this case, there is no screening of the Coulomb repulsion, so the repulsion between all pairs must be taken into account. The particles are expected to drift away from each other, however at a lower rate when hydrodynamic interaction between the particles is taken into account. Existing, frequently used models of hydrodynamic interactions tend to overestimate the slowing down of the charged particles, even to the extent that the particles effectively attract each other. This is demonstrated for some selected particle setups. We find that these anomalies even occur in dilute systems, if they contain sufficiently many particles. We explain why these anomalies can be avoided by an approach, in which the superposition of interactions is done in the friction tensor instead of the mobility tensor. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Contemporary Management of Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis for Surgeons.
The decision of surgical approach for hair restoration often involves evaluation of the type of alopecia; however, the impact of surgical hair restoration from existing techniques in specific population subsets has not been comprehensively investigated. The authors sought to systematically review the literature on micrografts, minigrafts, mini-micrografts, tissue grafts, tissue flaps and expanders, as well as evaluate graft survival and satisfaction within specific populations in a meta-analysis. PubMed and Scopus literature searches between 1980 and 2018 yielded 57 articles for systematic review and 34 articles for meta-analysis. Study design, mean patient age and gender, patient alopecia type, surgical hair restoration technique, number of treatment areas, mean follow-up, graft survival rate and satisfaction rate were extracted from each study, and a meta-analysis was performed. The pooled rates of graft survival were 84.98% (95% CI 78.90-91.06) using micrografts and 93.11% (95% CI 91.93-94.29) using micrografts and minigrafts in nonscarring alopecia patients, as well as 88.66% (95% CI 80.12-97.20) using micrografts and 86.25% (95% CI 74.00-98.50) using micrografts and minigrafts in scarring alopecia patients. The pooled rates of satisfaction were 89.70% (95% CI 82.64-96.76) using micrografts and 97.00% (95% CI 92.48-100.0) using micrografts and minigrafts in nonscarring alopecia patients, as well as 97.80% (95% CI 94.59-100.0) using micrografts and 88.70% (95% CI 66.49-100.0) using micrografts and minigrafts in scarring alopecia patients. Dot plots depict rates of graft survival rate from micrografts and satisfaction from micrografts and minigrafts. Surgical hair restoration for nonscarring and scarring alopecia yields high graft survival and satisfaction rates. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 . | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Prenatal exposure to lambda-cyhalothrin impairs memory in developing rats: Role of NMDA receptor induced post-synaptic signalling in hippocampus.
Effect of prenatal exposure to lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) has been assessed on the integrity of NMDA receptors and associated post-synaptic signalling in hippocampus of developing rats. Decrease in the binding of [3H]-MK 801, known to label NMDA receptors was observed in hippocampus of rats prenatally exposed to LCT (1 and 3mg/kg body weight) on PD22, compared to controls. Consistent with this, decrease in the mRNA and protein expression of NR1 and NR2B subunits of NMDA receptors was evident in rats prenatally exposed to LCT (1 and 3mg/kg body weight) on PD22. There was no change in mRNA and protein expression of NR2A subunit of NMDA receptors. Prenatal exposure to LCT (1 and 3mg/kg body weight) decreased the expression of positive regulators (PSD95, pERK1/2, CaMKIIα & pCREB) and increased the expression of negative regulators (Cdk5 & SynGAP) associated with NMDA receptor dependent synaptic plasticity in hippocampus and impaired learning and memory of rats on PD22. The neurobehavioral changes continued to persist in rats exposed to LCT at high dose (3mg/kg body weight) while exhibited trend of recovery in those exposed at moderate dose (1mg/kg body weight) on PD45, compared to controls. No change in any of the neurobehavioral endpoint was observed in developing rats prenatally exposed to LCT at low dose (0.5mg/kg body weight) on PD22 and PD45. The results exhibit that alterations in NMDA receptors on prenatal exposure to LCT may affect postsynaptic signalling associated with impaired learning and memory in developing rats. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Bevacizumab in the treatment of a patient with metastatic colorectal carcinoma with brain metastases.
The development of brain metastases originating from colorectal cancer (CRC) is an infrequent phenomenon occurring in < 5% of patients. Yet, it is feasible that physicians will be diagnosing more patients with brain metastases because of the prolonged survival in our current patient population. The anti-angiogenic agent bevacizumab is currently approved in bevacizumab-naive patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC). Initially, precautionary measures regarding the use of bevacizumab were recommended for patients at risk of bleeding based on earlier incidents of intracranial hemorrhage, hemoptysis, and pulmonary hemorrhage. However, recent data support the use of bevacizumab in the treatment of high-grade gliomas. We present a challenging case of a treatment-naive patient with mCRC with brain metastases and the challenges involved in weighing the risks and benefits of systemic chemotherapy when combined with a biologic agent. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
60 YEARS OF POMC: Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of POMC gene expression.
Expression of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene integrates numerous inputs that reflect the developmental history of POMC-expressing cells of the pituitary and hypothalamus, as well as their critical role in the endocrine system. These inputs are integrated at specific regulatory sequences within the promoter and pituitary or hypothalamic enhancers of the POMC locus. Investigations of developmental mechanisms and transcription factors (TFs) responsible for pituitary activation of POMC transcription led to the discovery of the Pitx factors that have critical roles in pituitary development and striking patterning functions in embryonic development. Terminal differentiation of the two pituitary POMC lineages, the corticotrophs and melanotrophs, is controlled by Tpit; mutations of the human TPIT gene cause isolated adrenocorticotrophic hormone deficiency. Intermediate lobe and melanotroph identity is provided by the pioneer TF Pax7 that remodels chromatin to reveal a new repertoire of enhancers for Tpit action. Many signaling pathways regulate POMC transcription including activation by hypothalamic corticotrophin-releasing hormone acting through the orphan nuclear receptors of the Nur family and feedback repression by glucocorticoids and their glucocorticoid receptor. TFs of the basic helix-loop-helix, Smad, Stat, Etv, and nuclear factor-B families also mediate signals for control of POMC transcription. Whereas most of these regulatory processes are conserved in different species, there are also notable differences between specific targets for regulation of the human compared with mouse POMC genes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Antimicrobial resistance and multilocus sequence types of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from Baltic broiler chicken meat and Estonian human patients.
Genotypes of Campylobacter jejuni in Baltic fresh broiler chicken meat and in Estonian human origin samples were determined by using MLST. We observed associations between clonal complexes, sequence types, and antibiotic resistance of C. jejuni isolates. The detection of high proportions of fluoroquinolone resistance among Latvian (100.0%) and Lithuanian (84.6%) origin broiler chicken meat C. jejuni isolates, found in this study, suggests the wide use of these antibiotics in poultry in these countries. MLST of 48 Baltic origin C. jejuni isolates revealed a total of 22 sequence types belonging to 13 clonal complexes. From the 13 assigned CCs and 22 STs, the most prevalent were ST-353 CC and ST-5 consisting of human, Latvian and Lithuanian chicken meat isolates. Among human and chicken meat isolates the resistance rate was 63.6 and 62.2%, respectively. ST-353 isolated from humans were more often resistant to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin than the other STs. Strain types ST-5, ST-50, ST-353, ST-354, and ST-429 isolated from poultry were more often resistant to both nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin than the other STs. Furthermore, ST-353 and ST-354 isolated from poultry were more often resistant against tetracycline than the other STs. Fluoroquinolone resistance was significantly (P < 0.01) associated with ST-353 CC and ST-5 in comparison with all other CCs, STs. We found that three Estonian broiler isolates belonged to the novel ST-8188.The study indicates the potential public health concern posed by the very high fluoroquinolne resistance in Campylobacter jejuni found in Latvian and Lithuanian poultry meat. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Binding of DNA methyltransferase M.Ecl18kI [corrected] to operator-promoter region decreases its methylating activity.
The type II bifunctional DNA methyltransferase (MTase) Ecl18 that is able to control transcription of its own gene was studied kinetically. Based on initial velocity dependences from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) and target DNA and substrate preincubation assays, it is proposed that the enzyme apparently works by a rapid equilibrium ordered bi-bi mechanism with DNA binding first. By measuring the enzyme activity depending on DNA and AdoMet at different fixed concentrations of the operator sequence oligonucleotide, it was found that its binding has noncompetitive inhibitory effect on Ecl18 MTase activity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Women's experiences of the prenatal group class in Indonesia.
This study sought to understand the meaning of women's experiences of participating in a prenatal group class led by a maternity nurse specialist in Bekasi, West Java, Indonesia. We used a phenomenological approach and recruited seven postpartum mothers at a nurse-led maternity clinic. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and were analyzed using Creswell's systematic coding process. Six themes were found in this study: (1) reasons to join prenatal class, (2) having more preparation compared to former pregnancy, (3) having broader and detailed information, (4) benefitting from the prenatal yoga exercise, (5) having positive birth experience, and (6) receiving better support from the husband. The experiences of women participating in the prenatal group class reflect the importance of the prenatal health promotion done by the nurses. This study also implies the needs of pregnant women to receive more comprehensive antenatal education than what they normally obtain from standard care. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cholestasis of pregnancy: a review of the evidence.
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a rare disorder, predominately occurring during the third trimester of pregnancy and characterized by pruritus, jaundice, and biochemical disturbances in liver enzymes. While intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy poses little maternal risk, there is significant risk to the fetus such as preterm delivery, non-reassuring fetal status, meconium staining, and perinatal mortality. Current evidence proposes susceptibility to derangements in the sulfation of steroid compounds, affecting the metabolism of progesterone and bile acids in the fetal/placental compartment. Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid is suggested, coupled with close maternal-fetal surveillance and delivery as close to term as possible. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
An open letter to institutional review boards considering Northfield Laboratories' PolyHeme® trial.
At the time of this writing, a widely publicized, waived-consent trial is underway. Sponsored by Northfield Laboratories, Inc. (Evanston, IL) the trial is intended to evaluate the emergency use of PolyHeme®, an oxygen-carrying resuscitative fluid that might prevent deaths from uncontrolled bleeding. The protocol allows patients in hemorrhagic shock to be randomized between PolyHeme® and saline in the field and, still without consent, randomized between PolyHeme® and blood after arrival at an emergency department. The Federal regulations that govern the waiver of consent restrict its applicability to circumstances where proven, satisfactory treatments are unavailable. Blood-the standard treatment for hemorrhagic shock-is not available in ambulances but is available in hospitals. The authors argue that the in-hospital stage of the study fails to meet ethical and regulatory standards. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Salmonella enteritidis causing joint sepsis.
A 22-year-old male taking dexamethasone following resection of a medulloblastoma developed an acutely painful swollen knee from which salmonella enteritidis was cultured. He had no gastrointestinal symptoms; one stool culture was positive. Active metalloproteinases without inhibitors were detected in the synovial fluid, a characteristic finding in septic joints. S. enteritidis infecting joints is extremely rare despite being the second most frequent salmonella species after S. typhimurium causing infections in man. The recent findings of S. enteritidis in eggs, and poultry points to one more source of infection. Immunosuppression is likely to facilitate infection. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Blood mononuclear cell magnesium in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.
Magnesium (Mg) is effective in the treatment of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). In order to determine if patients with PIH are Mg deficient, we assessed mononuclear cell magnesium content (mMg) and serum Mg concentrations (sMg) in 23 normal pregnant women and in 12 women with PIH admitted in active labor. The sMg concentration in women with PIH was 1.74 +/- 0.1 mg/dl (mean +/- SD) and was not significantly different from normal pregnant women at 1.69 +/- 0.2 mg/dl. Both groups had sMg concentrations lower than in normal, non-pregnant controls (sMg = 1.96 +/- 0.1 mg/dl, p less than 0.001). The mMg content in normal pregnant women did not differ significantly from that in women with PIH (1.54 +/- 0.26 micrograms Mg/mg protein and 1.50 +/- 0.26 micrograms Mg/mg protein respectively). The normal control mean mMg was 1.36 +/- 0.17 micrograms Mg/mg protein, slightly lower than in normal pregnancy (p less than 0.005) and PIH (p less than 0.02). Mononuclear Mg content did not correlate with sMg concentration. These data suggest that PIH is not associated with an intracellular Mg deficit. Further studies utilizing other measures of intracellular Mg are indicated to assess the presence or absence of Mg deficiency in patients with both normal pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by PIH. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Validity of sidestream endtidal carbon dioxide measurement in critically ill, mechanically ventilated children.
Capnography is used to monitor the endtidal carbon dioxide tension (EtCO2) in exhaled gas. Sidestream capnography has great potential to monitor mechanically ventilated pediatric patients, given the continuous sampling from the endotracheal tube into a gas sensor. However, hemodynamic and respiratory impairments may reduce reliability and validity of sidestream capnography to monitor arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) in critically ill, mechanically ventilated children. In 47 mechanically ventilated pediatric patients (aged 0-14 years, median age 17.2 months), a total of 341 consecutive measurements of PaCO2, EtCO2, respiratory and hemodynamic parameters were performed, and capnogram shape was determined. Validity was assessed with the Bland-Altman limit of agreement (loa), mixed models were used to adjust for variation between patients, and potential confounders were considered with multivariable analyses. EtCO2 (mean 4.50 ± 0.96 kPa) underestimated PaCO2 (mean 5.37 ± 0.87) considerably, resulting in a loa of 0.87 kPa [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -1.03;2.77] and 42.2% percentage error. The association improved significantly b = 0.54 [95 %CI = 0.45;0.64, P < 0.001] when corrected for individual differences. The association between EtCO2 and PaCO2 was not influenced by any of the potential confounders. Sidestream capnography in mechanically ventilated infants and children seems moderately reliable and valid when corrected for individual differences. Therefore, it could only be used with caution for trend estimation in the individual patient. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Surgical outcome and prognostic factors influencing visual acuity in myopic foveoschisis patients.
To analyze the optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics and visual outcome of vitrectomy in myopic foveoschisis (MF) patients and identify prognostic factors. This study is a retrospective clinical cohort study in tertiary care hospital. Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients who underwent MF-related vitrectomy in were investigated retrospectively. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measured at 1 year post surgery and changes in central foveal thickness (CFT) and co-existing macular pathologies, such as foveal detachment (FD), lamellar holes, and macular holes were the main outcome measures. Prognostic factors were identified using multivariate linear regression analysis. Average BCVA (in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution) and mean CFT had improved from 0.46 ± 0.06 to 0.37 ± 0.07 (P = 0.089) and from 485.72 ± 164.69 to 341.71 ± 109.70 (P < 0.001), respectively. Univariate analysis identified baseline BCVA, epiretinal membrane, no coexisting OCT features other than MF, FD on OCT, and gas injection as significantly associated with visual outcome (P < 0.001, 0.014, 0.022, < 0.001, and 0.030). Better baseline BCVA and absence of FD on OCT remained significant (P < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively) after multivariate analysis. Good preoperative visual acuity and absence of FD pre-surgery are important predictors of good visual prognosis. Thus, timely surgical intervention, before development of macular complications, may improve visual outcome after surgical treatment of patients with MF. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A comparison of ribonucleotide reductase activities in normal human fibroblast strains with their transformed counterparts.
The objective of this investigation was to examine the relationship between levels of ribonucleotide reductase activity and transformation of two human cell strains. Enzyme activity levels were elevated by 3.2- to 3.5-fold in transformed cells compared directly to the normal human fibroblast strains from which they were derived. There did not appear to be a general correlation between elevated ribonucleotide reductase and increased proliferation abilities as has been previously observed with some rodent tumor cell lines. In keeping with the rise in reductase activity, human transformed cells were relatively more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of hydroxyurea, an antitumor agent whose site of action is ribonucleotide reductase. This indicates that an important point to be considered during drug therapy aimed at the reductase, is the greater sensitivity of normal compared to transformed cells due to differences in enzyme activity. The results of this investigation support the view that an increased ability to reduce ribonucleotides is an important step towards the development of a neoplastic program in human cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sexual dimorphism characterizes steroid hormone modulation of rat aortic steroid hormone receptors.
Quantification of aortic androgen and estrogen receptor content and distribution in AXC/SSh rats established that the total androgen receptor content in intact young mature males (mean +/- SD, 55 +/- 13 fmol/mg DNA) was indistinguishable (P greater than 0.05) from that in proestrous females (50 +/- 3 fmol/mg DNA). However, 60% of male aortic androgen receptors were in the nuclear fraction, whereas all proestrous female aortic androgen receptors were in the cytoplasmic fraction. The total aortic estrogen receptor content of intact young mature males (70 +/- 16 fmol/mg DNA) was indistinguishable (P greater than 0.05) from that of proestrous (92 +/- 12) or diestrous (77 +/- 4) females. However, 50% of proestrous female aortic estrogen receptors were in the nuclear fraction, whereas male or diestrous female aortic estrogen receptors were restricted to the cytoplasmic fraction. To assess estrogen receptor function, we characterized aortic cytoplasmic progesterone receptors and established that the receptor content of intact male aortae (101 +/- 3 fmol/mg DNA) was not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from that of diestrous female aortae (100 +/- 11). 17 beta-Estradiol injection of intact males failed to affect aortic progesterone receptor content (93 +/- 17 fmol/mg DNA). However, injection of orchiectomized males with 17 beta-estradiol significantly (P less than 0.05) increased progesterone receptor content to 208 +/- 24 fmol/mg DNA. This value is twice that of intact males and is not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from the aortic cytoplasmic progesterone receptor content (190 +/- 32 fmol/mg DNA) of 17 beta-estradiol-injected oophorectomized females. These studies establish that intracellular distribution of aortic androgen and estrogen receptors of male or female AXC/SSh rats is regulated by endogenous hormones. The observation that 17 beta-estradiol modulates aortic progesterone receptor content indicates that rat aortic estrogen receptors are physiologically functional. Our data imply that steroid hormones directly regulate aspects of rat cardiovascular cell function and that sexually dimorphic differential regulation may characterize male and female aortic metabolism. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Exploring nurse leader fatigue: a mixed methods study.
To describe hospital nurse leaders' experiences of fatigue. Fatigue is a critical challenge in nursing. Existing literature focuses on staff nurse fatigue, yet nurse leaders are exposed to high demands that may contribute to fatigue and associated risks to patient, nurse and organisational outcomes. A mixed method approach comprising semi-structured interviews and the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery scale with 21 nurse administrators (10 nurse managers and 11 nurse executives) from hospitals in a Midwestern state. Most nurse leaders experience fatigue; nurse managers reported higher levels of chronic fatigue. Participants identified multiple sources of fatigue including 24 h accountability and intensity of role expectations, and used a combination of wellness, restorative, social support and boundary setting strategies to cope with fatigue. The consequences of nurse leader fatigue include an impact on decision-making, work-life balance and turnover intent. The high prevalence of nurse leader fatigue could impact the turnover intent of nurse administrators and quality of care. This study highlights the significance and consequences of nurse leader fatigue. As health care organisations continue to raise awareness and establish systems to reduce nurse fatigue, policies and programmes must be adapted to address nurse leader fatigue. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Invasive staging of lung cancer by mediastinoscopy and video-assisted thoracoscopy.
Accurate evaluation of the outcomes of clinical trials using preoperative chemotherapy in a multimodality treatment protocol may require invasive pretreatment staging for pathologic confirmation of the clinical TNM. Mediastinoscopy and videothoracoscopy complement each other to provide appropriate staging of lung cancer. Invasive staging utilizing both methods may accurately determine the presence or absence of N2 and N3 disease, and identify T3 or T4 or thoracic M1 disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Synthesis and hypoxic-cytotoxic activity of some 3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-dioxide derivatives.
A series of 3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-dioxide derivatives 1 have been synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity in vitro against human leukemia cell lines: Molt-4, K562, HL60, human liver cancer cell Hep-G2, human prostate cancer cell PC-3 in hypoxia. Most of the compounds showed more potent activity than TPZ. Compounds 1i and 1m displayed encouraging superior activity against Molt-4 and HL-60 cell lines. Three potential derivatives received the test of the activity in hypoxia and in normoxia against Molt-4 and HL-60 cell lines and showed obvious hypoxia selectivity. Further mechanism study revealed that the cytotoxic activities of compounds 1i and 1k in Molt-4 cells might be mediated by modulation of p53 protein expression and mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Comparison between the antiproliferative effect and intracellular glutathione depletion induced by Casiopeína IIgly and cisplatin in murine melanoma B16 cells.
Casiopeína IIgly (Cas IIgly) [Cu(4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline)(glycinate)]NO(3) induce oxidative damage in different human tumour cell strains, as the known anticancer agent cisplatin (CDDP) does. To compare glutathione (GSH) depletion induced by Cas IIgly and CDDP in murine melanoma B16 cells and its relationship with their antiproliferative effect. Cell growth was determined according to the sulforhodamine B assay. Intracellular GSH levels were measured by the reduction of Ellman's reagent (DTNB). Cas IIgly IC50 in B16 cells was 54.5 μM (24.21 μg/mL), which depleted GSH from 1092 to 585 ng per million cells in a 30 min incubation period. In the other hand, CDDP was less toxic at the same conditions with an IC50 equal to 197.76 μM (59.33 μg/mL), and depleted GSH to 50% of the normal only after a longer exposure period (4h). The addition of 1.8mM ascorbic acid (Asc) or 1mM buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) enhanced Cas IIgly toxicity, whereas it was prevented by 100 U/mL catalase. BSO sensitised B16 cells to CDDP, but neither Asc or catalase modified CDDP effects. The antiproliferative effect of both drugs correlated to intracellular GSH levels. Unlike CDDP, GSH depletion induced by Cas IIgly occurs earlier, it is enhanced by ascorbic acid and preventable by catalase. Redox cycles, feasible only with Cas IIgly, may be an important difference in their mode of action. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
ACL injury and posttraumatic osteoarthritis.
Continued development and validation of quantitative imaging and biochemical assessment techniques are critical research priorities to lead to improved diagnosis and treatment of PTOA. There is also a compelling need to advance understanding of how mechanical joint injuries lead to joint degeneration, and to define the roles of acute joint damage and post–joint injury incongruity and instability as etiologic factors leading to development of OA.22 As OA occurs more frequently in the military population and ACL tears are endemic to the military, it is essential that the military become more active in funding research and seeking novel research cohorts to help solve some of the most fundamental problems in PTOA. The military population, while deeply affected by PTOA, may also prove to be pivotal in determining improved diagnostic techniques and treatment interventions to help minimize the long-term effects of this disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of intensive glucose control on microvascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of individual participant data from randomised controlled trials.
Intensive glucose control is understood to prevent complications in adults with type 2 diabetes. We aimed to more precisely estimate the effects of more intensive glucose control, compared with less intensive glucose control, on the risk of microvascular events. In this meta-analysis, we obtained de-identified individual participant data from large-scale randomised controlled trials assessing the effects of more intensive glucose control versus less intensive glucose control in adults with type 2 diabetes, with at least 1000 patient-years of follow-up in each treatment group and a minimum of 2 years average follow-up on randomised treatment. The prespecified and standardised primary outcomes were kidney events (a composite of end-stage kidney disease, renal death, development of an estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min per 1·73m2, or development of overt diabetic nephropathy), eye events (a composite of requirement for retinal photocoagulation therapy or vitrectomy, development of proliferative retinopathy, or progression of diabetic retinopathy), and nerve events (a composite of new loss of vibratory sensation, ankle reflexes, or light touch). We used a random-effects model to calculate overall estimates of effect. We included four trials (ACCORD, ADVANCE, UKPDS, and VADT) with 27 049 participants. 1626 kidney events, 795 eye events, and 7598 nerve events were recorded during the follow-up period (median 5·0 years, IQR 4·5-5·0). Compared with less intensive glucose control, more intensive glucose control resulted in an absolute difference of -0·90% (95% CI -1·22 to -0·58) in mean HbA1c at completion of follow-up. The relative risk was reduced by 20% for kidney events (hazard ratio 0·80, 95% CI 0·72 to 0·88; p<0·0001) and by 13% for eye events (0·87, 0·76 to 1·00; p=0·04), but was not reduced for nerve events (0·98, 0·87 to 1·09; p=0·68). More intensive glucose control over 5 years reduced both kidney and eye events. Glucose lowering remains important for the prevention of long-term microvascular complications in adults with type 2 diabetes. None. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A new look at social attention: orienting to the eyes is not (entirely) under volitional control.
People tend to look at other people's eyes, but whether this bias is automatic or volitional is unclear. To discriminate between these two possibilities, we used a "don't look" (DL) paradigm. Participants looked at a series of upright or inverted faces, and were asked either to freely view the faces or to avoid looking at the eyes, or as a control, the mouth. As previously demonstrated, participants showed a bias to attend to both eyes and mouths during free viewing. In the DL condition, participants told to avoid the eyes of upright faces were unable to fully suppress the tendency to fixate on the faces' eyes, whereas participants told to avoid the mouth of upright faces successfully eliminated their bias to overtly attend to that feature. When faces were inverted, participants were equally able to suppress looks to the eyes and mouth. Together, these results suggest that the tendency to look at the eyes reflects orienting that is both volitional and automatic, and that the engagement of holistic or configural face processing mechanisms during upright face viewing has an influence in guiding gaze automatically to the eyes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Patterns of photoprotection following CDKN2A/p16 genetic test reporting and counseling.
The impact of melanoma genetic testing and counseling on photoprotective behaviors is unknown. To determine if genetic testing and counseling alter compliance with photoprotection recommendations. Reported use of sunscreen, protective clothing, and sun avoidance by 59 members of CDKN2A/p16-mutation positive pedigrees was assessed as a function of mutation status and melanoma history, before, immediately after, and 1 month following test reporting. Intentions to practice all photoprotective behaviors increased in all participant groups (P < .0001). At 1 month, 33% of participants reported the adoption of a new photoprotective behavior. Subpopulation analyses identified different patterns of change in photoprotection relative to baseline (P < .005), with no net decline in any group. This initial study of CDKN2A/p16 families is small and awaits replication in a larger sample. Melanoma genetic testing and counseling enhanced intentions to implement photoprotective strategies and did not result in reduced compliance in the CDKN2A/p16-subpopulation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Curcuma longa extract supplementation reduces oxidative stress and attenuates aortic fatty streak development in rabbits.
This study evaluates the effect of a Curcuma longa extract on the development of experimental atherosclerosis (fatty streak) in rabbits and its interaction with other plasmatic antioxidants. Two experimental groups of male New Zealand White rabbits, a control group and a curcuma-extract (CU) group, were fed an atherogenic diet. Additionally, the CU group received an oral curcuma hydroalcoholic extract. Six animals from each experimental group were killed after 10, 20, and 30 days. Compared with the CU group, the control group showed significantly higher plasma lipid peroxide at all experimental times (10, 20, and 30 days) and significantly lower alpha-tocopherol and coenzyme Q levels at 20 and 30 days. Histological results for the fatty streak lesions revealed damage in the thoracic and abdominal aorta that was significantly lower in the CU group than in the control group at 30 days. Supplementation with Curcuma longa reduces oxidative stress and attenuates the development of fatty streaks in rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The echoguide embryo transfer maximizes the IVF results.
The performance of two different methods of embryo transfer for IVF has been evaluated in 132 consecutive embryo transfers. Thirty Eight pregnancies were achieved, corresponding to a pregnancy rate of 28.7% of all embryos transfers. The embryo transfer under ultrasound control was used in 61 cases of our study whereas 71 cases were performed with the "clinical feel" method without ultrasound control. The echoguide embryo transfer procedure yielded a significantly higher pregnancy rate than the blind method (36.06% versus 22.6%). The mean number of embryos transferred per attempt was similar in the two groups (3.1 +/- 0.1 and 3.0 +/- 0.1) as was the quality. The randomized comparative study will continue in order to get more data. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Disparities in colorectal cancer between Northern and SouthernSweden - a report from the new RISK North database.
Geographic cancer health disparities have been reported in Sweden. The disparities are not fully understood, but may be attributed to differences in exposure to risk factors as well as differences in health care, socioeconomics and demography. The aim of this study was to describe the new nationwide population based RISK North database and its potential by analysing health disparities in colorectal cancer between Northern and Southern Sweden. Cancer-specific data from the National Cancer Quality Registers for colorectal, gastric and oesophageal cancer and brain tumours were linked to several nationwide registers hereby creating a new database - RISK North. To exemplify the potential of RISK North, we analyzed differences in colorectal cancer incidence, mortality and survival in relation to gender, age, cohabitation and education between Northern and Southern Sweden 2007-2013. In colon cancer, the age-adjusted incidence per 100.000 was lower in Northern than Southern Sweden, 35.9 in the North vs. 41.1 in the South (p < .01); mortality rates were 11.0 vs. 12.2 (p < .01). For rectal cancer, incidence rates were 17.6 vs. 19.7 (p < .01) and mortality rates 5.33 vs. 5.89 (p = .07), respectively. The largest difference in incidence was demonstrated for colon cancer among individuals >79 years old (190. vs. 237, i.e., ∼20%). Survival in colon cancer was higher in Southern Sweden, HR 0.92 (0.87-0.98) adjusted for age, gender, co-habiting, education and m-stage at diagnosis. No difference in survival was seen for rectal cancer. The new RISK North database enabled analysis of cancer disparities between Northern and Southern Sweden. The incidence of colorectal cancer were lower in the North of Sweden whereas colon cancer survival was higher in the South. These differences can be further analysed utilising the RISK North database. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
WaveGuide: a joint wavelet-based image representation and description system.
Data representation and content description are two basic components required by the management of any image database. A wavelet based system, called the WaveGuide, which integrates these two components in a unified framework, is proposed in this work. In the WaveGuide system, images are compressed with the state-of-the-art wavelet coding technique and indexed with color, texture, and object shape descriptors generated in the wavelet domain during the encoding process. All the content descriptors are extracted by machines automatically with a low computational complexity and stored with a low memory space. Extensive experiments are performed to demonstrate the performance of the new approach. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Attitudes towards anorexia nervosa: volitional stigma differences in a sample of pre-clinical medicine and psychology students.
Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a highly stigmatised condition, with treatment often involving multidisciplinary care. As such, understanding and comparing the attitudes of emerging mental health and medical professionals towards AN, within the content of sex-based differences, is pertinent to facilitate the development of targeted stigma interventions. Examine the volitional stigmatisation of AN in emerging medical and mental health professionals. Participants (N = 126) were medical (n = 41) and psychology students (n = 85) who completed a range of attitudinal outcome measures (e.g. Causal Attributions Scale, Eating Disorder Stigma Scale, Opinions Scale, Characteristics Scale and Affective Reaction Scale). Across both disciplines, men were found to exhibit significantly higher eating disorder (ED) stigma, considered AN to be a more trivial and weak illness, and attributed greater levels of blame and responsibility to AN sufferers. Men also had significantly lower biogenetic causal attributions. Compared with psychology students, medicine students exhibited slightly greater anticipation of negative reactions in response to AN, obtained higher selfish/vain scores and considered sociocultural factors to contribute "a lot" in the development and maintenance of AN. Overall, results indicate interventions aimed at improving ED mental health literacy are needed, specifically targeting males and potentially medical students. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Population access to hospital emergency departments and the impacts of health reform in New Zealand.
In the current political climate of evidence-based research, GIS has emerged as a powerful research tool as it allows spatial and social health inequality to be explored efficiently. This article explores the impact health reforms had on geographical accessibility to hospital emergency department (ED) services in New Zealand from 1991 to 2001. Travel time was calculated using least-cost path analysis, which identified the shortest travel time from each census enumeration district through a road network to the nearest ED. This research found that the population further than 60 minutes from an ED has increased with some areas being affected more than others. Some of this increase is attributed to increases in population rather than the closing of hospitals. The findings will be discussed within the context of the health policy reform era and changes to health service provision. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS OF REHABILITATION OUTCOMES FOR ADULT AFRICAN PENGUINS ( SPHENISCUS DEMERSUS).
: The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds facility near Cape Town, South Africa, receives ∼900 African Penguins ( Spheniscus demersus) for rehabilitation every year. Data were analyzed from 3,657 adult African Penguins over a 12-yr period (2002-13), and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate whether individual history and clinical parameters upon admission could predict the outcome of rehabilitation. Penguins admitted due to molt or debilitation were more likely to die during rehabilitation than those admitted due to oiling. Individuals admitted during summer and spring were more likely to die during rehabilitation than those admitted during winter. Penguins diagnosed with Plasmodium infection at some point during rehabilitation were more likely to die than those that were consistently negative, and no significant effect was found for other blood parasite infections. Penguins admitted with low body mass, low total plasma protein, or low hematocrit were more likely to die during rehabilitation than those with normal values. With regard to euthanasia, penguins admitted due to molt, debilitation, injury, or other causes and those admitted during spring or with low plasma protein were more likely to be euthanized. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Failure of rat kidney nephron components to induce allogeneic lymphocytes to proliferate in mixed lymphocyte kidney cell culture.
Rat kidney glomerular mesangial, glomerular epithelial, and tubular epithelial cells were isolated in virtually pure form and studied in mixed lymphocyte kidney cell culture (MLKC) for their ability to induce allogeneic spleen lymphocyte proliferation. The responses were compared with proliferative responses induced by allogeneic endothelial cells or spleen lymphocytes in the same strain combination. Stimulator cells were treated or left untreated with gamma-interferon, known to increase the major histocompatibility complex class II (and class I) expression of the stimulator cells. The results demonstrate that the nephron components are not able to induce lymphoproliferation in the MLKC. In contrast, the endothelial cells of rat heart were potent inducers of lymphoproliferation in mixed lymphocyte endothelial cell cultures (MLEC), as were allogeneic spleen cells. Although the kidney parenchymal cells have been shown to be immunogenic in vivo, the present finding suggests that they are unable to function as antigen-presenting cells on their own. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Non-union of a fractured coracoid process after dislocation of the shoulder. A case report.
A patient with a fractured coracoid process in association with a dislocation of the shoulder is reported. The fracture was not recognised initially, and early mobilisation was encouraged; the widely separated fracture did not heal and a painful pseudarthrosis developed. We believe that this association may not be as rare as generally supposed, and emphasise the importance of careful clinical examination in patients with shoulder dislocation. If a coracoid fracture is suspected, lateral or oblique radiographs should be taken to confirm the diagnosis. A further radiograph after reduction is a useful precaution. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Recall strategies and memory for health-care visits.
Complex questions in health surveys place heavy cognitive demands on respondents, prompting researchers to appraise how specific cognitive interventions may improve the accuracy of people's answers. Investigators in one experiment asked participants to recall visits to medical providers in forward, backward, or no particular order, and matched results with providers' records. "Free" recall proved marginally superior to forward or backward ordering, although overall respondents underreported the number of visits by 20 percent; participants' gender and self-reported health status, among other factors, also affected quality of recall. The experiment lends support to contentions that the methods of cognitive science applied to survey research better the accuracy of population survey data. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of the palate: report of a case and review of the literature.
The follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of the palate is a very rare benign lymphoproliferative lesion that closely resembles lymphomas, clinically or histopathologically or both. A case of follicular lymphoid hyperplasia of the palate is reported. Clinically, the lesion presented as a firm, painless, nonulcerated, nonfluctuant and slowly growing swelling on one side of the palate. The biopsy showed the typical histologic features: multiple germinal centers with a rim of well-differentiated B lymphocytes together with a mixed, mainly mononuclear infiltrate with many plasmacytoid lymphocytes. The clinicopathologic features are described and integrated into a review of the 19 previously recorded cases. The diagnosis of a follicular lymphoid hyperplasia should always be considered in cases of palatal swelling. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Optimizing microbiological controls of corneal organ culture media].
To compare the efficiency of an automated method using blood bottles with conventional microbiological tests for controlling sterility in cornea organ culture media. Two complementary studies were conducted. Experimental study: standard organ culture media were contaminated with four different inocula of 14 bacteria and 3 fungi. The bactericidal activity of organ culture media were evaluated after 48 hours of incubation at 31C. Observational study: 357 samples of organ culture media were collected over 1 year in our cornea bank. For both studies, media were inoculated in three blood bottles (aerobic, anaerobic, fungal) placed in an automat with automated detection every 10 minutes, and in three conventional microbiological media as a control. Changes in organ culture medium color and growth on conventional broth were checked daily by visual inspection. All samples were observed experimentally for 14 days. The sensitivity and rapidity of contamination detection were compared across the three methods: blood bottles, conventional method, and visual inspection of medium color. Experimental study: organ culture medium eradicated five bacteria: S. pneumoniae, B. catarrhalis, E. coli, P. acnes and H. influenzae. For the others, (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, B. subtilis, K. pneumoniae, E. faecalis, C. albicans, C. kruzei, A. fumigatus) the blood bottle method, the conventional microbiological method, and the visual inspection detected microbiological growth respectively in 100%, 76.5%, and 70% of cases. Mean detection time using blood bottles was 15.1 hours (standard deviation, 13.8; range, 2-52). In cases of detection by the blood-bottle method and the conventional method, the former was always faster: 95.5% versus 65.2% detection within 24 hours (p=0.022). Observational study: the global contamination rate was 8% (29/357 analysis). The gain in sensitivity with blood bottles was 25% compared with the conventional method. Five bacteria (three coag. neg Staphylococcus, one E. faecalis, one P. paucimobilis) were detected only by the blood bottles. In addition, these were always detected more quickly with, respectively, 66.6% versus 26.6% detection with 24 hours (p=0.028). Blood bottles detect contaminations of cornea organ culture media more efficiently and faster than conventional microbiological methods. They make it possible to reduce the quarantine period with an equally high security level. Consequently, they should be recommended in cornea preservation guidelines. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Lipomatous mixed tumor of the skin.
An unusual tumor of the neck in a 56-year-old female is reported. The tumor was composed of tubules and small cords of epithelial cells dispersed in the fibromyxoid and adipose stroma. At the periphery, the tumor was not encapsulated and its border was intermingled with the subcutaneous fat. Lack of decapitation secretion and the absence of long tubules suggested an eccrine origin; however, in some of the tumor areas, the cells showed brightly eosinophilic copious cytoplasm that may indicate an apocrine differentiation. As an area of chondroid metaplasia was identified, the diagnosis of a mixed tumor was rendered. This unusual type of skin adnexal neoplasm with unique relation of the epithelial component to the surrounding adipose tissue requires differentiation with the primary cutaneous and metastatic carcinomas. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Multicystic dysplastic kidney: is an initial voiding cystourethrogram necessary?
Traditionally, a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) has been obtained in patients diagnosed with multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) because of published vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) rates between 10%-20%. However, with the diagnosis and treatment of low grade VUR undergoing significant changes, we questioned the utility of obtaining a VCUG in healthy patients with a MCDK. We reviewed our experience to see how many of the patients with documented VUR required surgical intervention. We performed a retrospective review of children diagnosed with unilateral MCDK from 2002 to 2012 who also underwent a VCUG. A total of 133 patients met our inclusion criteria. VUR was identified in 23 (17.3%) children. Four patients underwent ureteral reimplant (3.0%). Indications for surgical therapy included breakthrough urinary tract infections (2 patients), evidence of dysplasia/scarring (1 patient) and non-resolving reflux (1 patient). All patients with a history of VUR who are toilet trained, regardless of the grade or treatment, are currently being followed off antibiotic prophylaxis. To date, none have had a febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) since cessation of prophylactic antibiotics. Hydronephrosis in the contralateral kidney was not predictive of VUR (p = 0.99). Routine VCUG in healthy children diagnosed with unilateral MCDK may not be warranted given the low incidence of clinically significant VUR. If a more conservative strategy is preferred, routine VCUG may be withheld in those children without normal kidney hydronephrosis and considered in patients with normal kidney hydronephrosis. If a VCUG is not performed the family should be instructed in signs and symptoms of urinary tract infection. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
HeartWare LVAD implantation in a patient with a rare ARVD: Carvajal syndrome.
Carvajal syndrome is a variant of Naxos disease characterized by a predominant left ventricular involvement, wooly or curly hair, and palmoplantar keratoderma or similar skin disorders. We describe the clinical and therapeutic course of a 14-year old boy affected by this syndrome, in whom a progressive biventricular failure developed at 13 years of age. The patient was hospitalized in the pediatric department 3 months earlier after the onset of cardiac arrhythmias and he critically worsened with signs and symptoms of biventricular cardiac failure. Over massive inotropic agent infusion, the patient was transferred to our intensive-care-unit in order to be haemodinamically stabilized with a ventricular assist device (VAD) and thereafter transplanted. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Granulomatous inflammation-an underestimated cause of false-positive diagnoses in lung fine-needle aspirates: observations from the college of american pathologists nongynecologic cytopathology interlaboratory comparison program.
The false-positive rate for fine-needle aspirates of the lung has been cited as less than 1% for granulomatous inflammation, comprising one of the known causes of false-positive diagnoses. To determine the rate of false-positive diagnoses of granulomatous inflammation for lung fine-needle aspirates by assessing the false-positive response rate in the context of the College of American Pathologists Nongynecologic Cytopathology Interlaboratory Comparison Program. We performed a retrospective review of 1092 participant responses for lung fine-needle aspirate challenges with the reference diagnosis of specific infections/granulomatous inflammation from 1998 to 2008 from the College of American Pathologists Nongynecologic Cytopathology Interlaboratory Comparison Program. False-positive rates by participant type (pathologist versus cytotechnologist), general diagnosis category, reference diagnosis, and preparation type were analyzed for the pathologists' responses. Of the 502 general category responses for pathologists, 428 (85.3%) were benign, 55 (11%) were malignant, and 19 (3.8%) were suspicious. There was no difference in the false-positive rate between preparations (P = .76) or participants (P = .39). Of those responses by pathologists that were benign, only 68.7% (292 of 425) were an exact match to granulomatous inflammation. Non-small cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and squamous carcinoma represented 64% of false-positive/suspicious responses, while small cell carcinoma and carcinoid comprised 13%. In an interlaboratory comparison program, granulomatous inflammation represents an important cause of false-positive/suspicious responses in lung fine-needle aspirates (14.8%) and is much higher than false-positive rates reported historically in clinical studies. These results highlight the importance of granulomatous inflammation as a mimic of carcinoma. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Diagnosis of high-risk patients with multivessel coronary artery disease by combined cardiac gated SPET imaging and coronary calcium score.
The added value of coronary artery calcium (CAC) to SPET for identification of multivessel CAD has not been studied yet. The aim of this original study was to investigate CAC as an adjunct to gated single photon emission tomography (GSPET) in the detection of multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD). The study group consisted of 164 prospectively recruited patients without known CAD-123 (75%) men and 60 (37%) women, having diabetes type II, renal insufficiency, left ventricular dilatation and other cardiac problems (arrhythmia, necessity of pharmacological stress test, etc.). The mean age of these patients was 61±12 years (range 34-85 years). All these patients underwent GSPET imaging, CAC score measurement, and coronary angiography. The percentage of ischaemic myocardium, stress and rest left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and transient ischaemic dilation (TID) ratio were measured. Patients with multivessel CAD had more frequently reversible defects in multiple territories, severe ischaemia ≥10% of the left ventricle, stress worsening of the LVEF ≥5%, TID ratio ≥1.17, and CAC score >1000. In the detection of multivessel CAD, the sensitivity of combined assessment of perfusion, function, and CAC (i.e., multiple and/or ≥10% ischaemia, and/or worsening of the LVEF ≥5%, and/or TID ratio ≥1.17, and/or CAC score >1000) was significantly higher than the sensitivity of perfusion alone or perfusion and function alone (81% vs. 55% and 65%, respectively, P<0.05). Sensitivity of only CAC was low (41%). Sensitivity of combined assessment of myocardial perfusion, function, and CAC was significantly higher than sensitivity of perfusion alone or perfusion and function alone, suggesting better identification of high-risk patients with CAD. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Investigation of select ergonomic interventions for farm youth. Part 2: wheelbarrows.
Previous research has provided evidence that farm youth performing farm chores may be at risk of developing a low back musculoskeletal injury. In order to reduce these risks, effective interventions for reducing the stressors that cause the injuries are needed. The objective of the current study was to investigate alternative wheelbarrow styles as an intervention for youth working to transfer material on the farm with respect to trunk motion and perceived exertion. A lumbar motion monitor was used to capture three-dimensional trunk kinematics while several wheelbarrow tasks (e.g., pushing, pushing over bump, and dumping) were performed by youth. Ratings of perceived exertion and comfort of use were also assessed. Results indicated a reduction in the sagittal trunk flexion and velocity was achieved by adding a push bar to the handles, in combination with three-wheels, or utilizing adjustable handles. However, these alterations had little impact in the predicted low back disorder risk levels. Additionally, the youths' perceptions of risk and exertion levels were greater for these alternative wheelbarrows than for the regular wheelbarrow. Therefore, the mismatch between perception and kinematic response will probably affect usage of the alternative wheelbarrows. While the results indicate that alternative wheelbarrow designs can reduce the awkward postures and motions during wheelbarrow tasks, further research into the effectiveness of these interventions, including spine loading and long long-term use, is necessary. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Experimental and Theoretical Study of a Cadmium Coordination Polymer Based on Aminonicotinate with Second-Timescale Blue/Green Photoluminescent Emission.
A new cadmium/6-aminonicotinate-based coordination polymer (CP) with an unprecedented multicolored and long-lasting emission is reported. This material shows a blue fluorescence which rapidly turns to green persistent phosphorescence with a lifetime of nearly 1 s. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations revealed that electronic transitions arising from both first excited singlet and triplet states involving ligand-centered and ligand-to-metal charge-transfer mechanisms are responsible for such behavior. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Evaluating a theory-based hypothesis against its complement using an AIC-type information criterion with an application to facial burn injury.
An information criterion (IC) like the Akaike IC (AIC), can be used to select the best hypothesis from a set of competing theory-based hypotheses. An IC developed to evaluate theory-based order-restricted hypotheses is the Generalized Order-Restricted Information Criterion (GORIC). Like for any IC, the values themselves are not interpretable but only comparable. To improve the interpretation regarding the strength, GORIC weights and related evidence ratios can be computed. However, if the unconstrained hypothesis (the default) is used as competing hypothesis, the evidence ratio is not affected by sample-size nor effect-size in case the hypothesis of interest is (also) in agreement with the data. In practice, this means that in such a case strong support for the order-restricted hypothesis is not reflected by a high evidence ratio. Therefore, we introduce the evaluation of an order-restricted hypothesis against its complement using the GORIC (weights). We show how to compute the GORIC value for the complement, which cannot be achieved by current methods. In a small simulation study, we show that the evidence ratio for the order-restricted hypothesis versus the complement increases for larger samples and/or effect-sizes, while the evidence ratio for the order-restricted hypothesis versus the unconstrained hypothesis remains bounded. An empirical example about facial burn injury illustrates our method and shows that using the complement as competing hypothesis results in much more support for the hypothesis of interest than using the unconstrained hypothesis as competing hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Speech-Language Pathologists' Views About Aspiration Risk and Comfort Feeding in Advanced Dementia.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are often called upon to assess swallowing function for older adults with advanced dementia at high risk of aspiration and make recommendations about whether the patient can safely continue oral nutrition. To describe the circumstances under which SLPs recommend oral nutritional intake for these patients. A mail survey of a national probability sample of SLPs (n = 731). Speech-language pathologists were asked if there were circumstances in which they would recommend oral feeding for patients with advanced dementia at high risk of aspiration, and if yes, to describe the circumstances under which they do so. Six themes emerged: (1) when patient preferences are known; (2) for quality of life near end of life; (3) if aspiration risk mitigation strategies are employed; (4) if physician's preference; (5) if aspiration risk is clearly documented and acknowledged; and (6) if SLP is knowledgeable about current evidence of lack of benefit of feeding tubes in advanced dementia or that nothing by mouth status will not necessarily prevent aspiration pneumonia. Speech-language pathologists have an important role within the interprofessional team in assessing swallowing in patients with advanced dementia, advising family and hospital staff about risks and benefits of oral feeding, and the safest techniques for doing so, to maximize quality of life for these patients near the end of life. Speech-language pathologists are often faced with balancing concerns about aspiration risk and recommending the more palliative approach of oral feeding for pleasure and comfort, potentially creating moral distress for the SLP. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Molecular pathology of the lower female genital tract. The papillomavirus model.
Papillomavirus-related genital neoplasms are one area where molecular biology has had an impact at many levels. Studies of cell transformation, gene expression, and genome organization have linked papillomaviruses to neoplasia; they have also provided data suggesting potential pathways by which the papillomaviral genome exerts its effect on cells. Molecular epidemiological studies using clinical material have identified specific HPV types with neoplasia, profiled the populations at risk for these infections, and supported the emerging concept of latent infection. Studies using in situ hybridization have confirmed the close relationship of neoplastic change with certain infections (such as HPV-16), and have detailed the transcription patterns of the papillomavirus genome in warts, precancers, and carcinomas. The technology of in situ hybridization has facilitated the evaluation of archive material; using this material, the close relationship between HPV type 18 and adenocarcinomas and small-cell carcinomas has been described. Methods for expressing HPV proteins in bacteria have produced a spectrum of antisera to specific gene products, which in turn will facilitate mapping their distribution in tissues, determining their biological significance, and clarifying the host immune response to genital papillomavirus infections. Although these multidisciplinary approaches help to promote an understanding of genital HPV infections and their related neoplasms as well as clarifying the role of HPV in the evolution of genital neoplasia, the clinical utility of this information has not yet been established. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A qualitative investigation of the experiences of immigrant dentists working in New Zealand.
To determine the nature of problems experienced by overseas-trained dentists settling in New Zealand (NZ), and to ascertain what can be done to improve their experiences. Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. A convenience sample of fourteen overseas-qualified dentists was selected and individuals invited to participate in a semi-structured interview. Each interview was audiotaped, transcribed and analysed in order to identify key patterns and themes. Those who were required to sit the New Zealand Dental Registration Examination (NZDREX) found it very challenging, with the majority requiring more than one attempt. Most interviewees had moved to NZ for an improved quality of life and had settled well into dental practice. However, some reported that they had experienced significant difficulties. These primarily related to financial issues, employment issues, being accepted into the profession, and establishing suitable peer contact. The dentists considered that the Dental Council and the NZDA were very helpful, but that there was a need for clearer information about the content of the NZDREX examinations, and a peer support network for immigrant dentists. Improved support for immigrant dentists would aid their transition into general practice in this country. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Higher protein and energy intake is associated with increased weight gain in pre-term infants.
To characterise and compare the nutritional management and growth in infants <33 weeks' gestation in two tertiary centres. An audit of daily intake and growth from birth to discharge home was undertaken in two neonatal units: The KK Women's and Children's Hospital Singapore and the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital, South Australia. Mixed models were used to model intake and daily weight (g/day) accounting for repeated day per subject. The clinical characteristics of the two cohorts were similar. The Adelaide cohort had a higher initial energy intake in the first 5 days compared with the Singapore cohort, and a significantly greater weekly increase of 21.0 kcal/week (95% CI 7.7-34.3; P = 0.002). The Adelaide cohort also had a higher initial protein intake and a significantly greater weekly increase of 0.88 g/week (95% CI 0.5, 1.3), P < 0.001) compared with the Singapore cohort. The weight gain of the Adelaide cohort was 9 g/day more than the Singapore cohort (95% CI 7.3, 10.7; P < 0.001). Post-natal growth failure was evident in 32% (n = 64) of the Adelaide cohort and 64% (n = 94) of the Singapore cohort. The two centres showed distinct differences in nutritional management. A higher energy and protein intake was associated with improved growth yet growth in both cohorts was still below current recommendations. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sexual dimorphic expression pattern of a splice variant of zebrafish vasa during gonadal development.
In Drosophila, the RNA helicase VASA (VAS) is required for both germ line formation and oocyte differentiation. While the murine VAS homologue is required for spermatogenesis, it is dispensable for germ line formation. The molecular basis for this apparently dual role of VAS in germ line ontogeny is, however, unclear. Recent evidence indicates that fish, like flies, employs VAS both in early and late stages of the germ line development and that there is a sex-linked differential expression of splice variants. We show here that the longer of two splice variants of zebrafish vas is transiently downregulated in the germ line around the time when the germ cells reach the developing gonad. Using transgenic vas::EGFP fish lines, which allow us to distinguish between male and female individuals, we show that the long splice variant reappears in both sexes at around day 25 and is subsequently downregulated during male gonadal development. Our data further suggest that there is a switch from maternal to zygotic expression of the long splice variant of vas as sexual dimorphic development commences. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Folic acid compounds in romaine lettuce.
The composition of folate coenzymes in romaine lettuce was studied. Lettuce extract was purified on QAE-Sephadex A-25 and folate compounds were separated into a monoglutamate fraction and a polyglutamate fraction by chromatography on Sephadex G-15. Both the mono- and poly-glutamate fractions were resolved on DEAE-cellulose. Positive identification of DEAE peaks was made by further cochromatography with high specific activity radioactive marker folate compounds and with differential microbiological assay. The distribution of folate compounds in lettuce is as follows: 32% 5-CH3-H4PteGlu; 1% 5-CHO-H4PteGlu; 3% 5-CHO-H4PteGlu4; 9% 5-CH3-H4PteGlu4; 13% 5-CHO-H4PteGlu5; and 31% 5-CH3-H4PteGlu5. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on oxidative energy metabolism in rat kidney mitochondria. A comparative study of early and late effects.
The effects of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes on oxidative energy metabolism of rat kidney mitochondria were examined at the end of 1 week and 1 month of STZ treatment. At the end of 1 week of induction of diabetes, respiration rates with pyruvate + malate and succinate as the substrates increased while those with beta-hydroxybutyrate and ascorbate + TMPD decreased. Respiration with glutamate was not affected. Insulin treatment had no alleviating effect. The changes persisted through 1 month of induction of diabetes and were not corrected by insulin treatment even at this stage. beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase activity registered significant decrease while the succinate dehydrogenase activity increased in diabetic and insulin-treated diabetic animals whereas only marginal changes were evident in the composition of the cytochromes. The ATPase activity tended to be high in the diabetic groups and was restored by insulin treatment. At both the stages, i.e. early and late stages of diabetes the mitochondria were tightly coupled and the ADP/O ratios were in normal expected ranges. Taken together, the results suggest that kidney is the major target tissue to suffer impairment of mitochondrial function with the onset of the disease which persists throughout and that insulin treatment is ineffective in restoring the normal state. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hepatocyte growth factor stimulates cell motility in cultures of the striatal progenitor cells ST14A.
Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a growth factor with pleiotropic effects on different cell types. It acts as a mitogen and motility factor for many epithelial cells. HGF/SF and its receptor Met are present in the developing and adult mammalian brain and control neuritogenesis of sympathetic and sensory neurons. We report that the striatal progenitor ST14A cells express the Met receptor, which is activated after binding with HGF/SF. The interaction between Met and HGF/SF triggers a signaling cascade that leads to increased levels of c-Jun, c-Fos, and Egr-1 proteins, in agreement with data reported on the signaling events evoked by HGF in other cellular types. We also studied the effects of the exposure of ST14A cells to HGF/SF. By time-lapse photography, we observed that a 24-hr treatment with 50 ng/ml HGF/SF induced modification in cell morphology, with a decrease in cell-cell interactions and increase of cell motility. In contrast, no effect on cell proliferation was observed. To investigate which intracellular pathway is primarily involved we used PD98059 and LY294002, two specific inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAP-kinase/ERK-kinase) and phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase (PI3-K), respectively. Cell motility in HGF/SF treated cultures was inhibited by LY294002 but not by PD98059, suggesting that PI3-K plays a key role in mediating the HGF/SF-induced dissociation of ST14A cells. Previous evidence of HGF stimulation of motility in nervous system has been obtained on postmitotic neurons, which have already acquired their specificity. Data reported here of a motogenic response of ST14A cell line, which displays properties of neuronal progenitors, seem of interest because they suggest that HGF could play a role in very early steps of neurogenesis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assess, negotiate, treat: community prescribing for chronic wounds.
The cost of prescribing wound-care products in general practice in 1999 exceeded 95 million (Department of Health (DoH), 1999a). However, there is a lack of randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of wound-care products (National Prescribing Centre, 1999a) and there is evidence that non-effective treatments are being prescribed (DoH, 1999a). Use of the prescribing pyramid, as taught during nurse prescribing courses, may help community nurses justify their decisions and assess their wound-care practices. Wounds commonly encountered in the community include pressure sores, leg ulcers, fungating wounds and cavity wounds. The ideal choice of product is one that allows moist wound healing, is cost effective, clinically effective and acceptable to the patient. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Analysis of copper tolerant rhizobacteria from the industrial belt of Gujarat, western India for plant growth promotion in metal polluted agriculture soils.
Agricultural sites irrigated for long term with water polluted by industrial effluents containing heavy metals might adversely affect the soil microbial communities and crop yield. Hence it is important to study rhizobacterial communities and their metal tolerance in such affected agricultural fields to restore soil fertility and ecosystem. Present work deals with the study of rhizobacterial communities from plants grown in copper (Cu) contaminated agricultural fields along the industrial zone of Gujarat, India and are compared with communities from a Cu mine site. Microbial communities from rhizosphere soil samples varied in the magnitude of their Cu tolerance index indicating differences in long term pollution effects. Culture dependent denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (CD-DGGE) of bacterial communities revealed the diverse composition at the sampling sites and a reduced total diversity due to Cu toxicity. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene diversity of Cu tolerant rhizobacteria revealed the predominance of Enterobacter spp. and Pseudomonas spp. under Cu stress conditions. Cu tolerant bacterial isolates that were able to promote growth of mung bean plants in vitro under Cu stress were obtained from these samples. Cu tolerant rhizobacterium P36 identified as Enterobacter sp. exhibited multiple plant growth promoting traits and significantly alleviated Cu toxicity to mung bean plants by reducing the accumulation of Cu in plant roots and promoted the plant growth in CuSO4 amended soils. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Asymmetric conjugate addition reactions of allyl- and crotylstannanes.
The conjugate addition reactions of allylic stannanes have been investigated utilizing nonracemic N-enoyl-4-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidinones with Lewis acid precomplexation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Simultaneous determination of lamivudine, lopinavir, ritonavir, and zidovudine concentration in plasma of HIV-infected patients by HPLC-MS/MS.
The nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors lamivudine and zidovudine and the protease inhibitors lopinavir and ritonavir are currently used in anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy. Here, a high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method, using a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass analyzer, is reported for the simultaneous quantification of lamivudine, lopinavir, ritonavir, and zidovudine in plasma of HIV-infected patients. The volume of plasma sample was 600 μL. Plasma samples were extracted by solid-phase using 1 cc Oasis HLB Cartridge (divinylbenzene and N-vinylpyrrolidone) and evaporated in a water bath under nitrogen stream. The extracted samples were reconstituted with 100-μL methanol. Five microliters of the reconstituted samples were injected into a HPLC-MS/MS apparatus, and the analytes were eluted on a Vydac column (250 × 1.0 mm i.d.) filled with 3-μm C(18) particles. The mobile phase was delivered at 70 μL/min with a linear gradient elution, both acetonitrile and ultrapure water solvents contained 0.2% formic acid. The calibration curves were linear from 0.47 to 20 ng/mL. The absolute recovery ranged between 91 and 107%. The minimal concentration of lamivudine, lopinavir, ritonavir, and zidovudine detectable by HPLC-MS/MS is 0.47, 0.28, 0.30, and 0.66 ng/mL, respectively. The great advantage of the new HPLC-MS/MS method here reported is the possibility to achieve a very high specificity toward the selected anti-HIV drugs, despite the simple and rapid sample preparation. Moreover, this method is easily extendible to the analysis of co-administrated drugs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Clinical evaluation of 252Cf neutron intracavitary therapy for primary endometrial adenocarcinoma.
A pilot feasibility study of the neutron-emitting radioisotope 252Cf was done on patients with uterine adenocarcinoma and medically inoperable disease or unfavorable G3 histologic findings. 252Cf intracavitary therapy was combined with 40-45 Gy of fractionated whole-pelvis photon therapy. In select patients, hysterectomy was performed. Thirty-one patients with Stage I-III adenocarcinoma of the corpus uteri were treated with 252Cf neutron brachytherapy. The patients treated often were in poor general medical condition and had multiple chronic medical illnesses for which conventional radiation and surgery usually would not be recommended. 252Cf allowed short implant treatment time (hours), was usable in a small number of insertions (the average number of insertions was two), and was useful for treating large volume tumors. Stage and grade of the tumor were important determinants of patient survival. The 5-year actuarial survival was 83% for patients with Stage I disease but only 37% for those with Stage II disease (primarily adenosquamous cell carcinomas). The 5-year survival was 100% for patients with Grade 1 tumors, 88% for those with Grade 2 tumors, and 21% for those with Grade 3 tumors. 252Cf neutron brachytherapy was found to be an effective and well-tolerated therapy for endometrial carcinoma. The excellent therapeutic efficacy and good patient tolerance make it suitable for additional evaluation in future Phase II-III trials. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Familial Alzheimer's disease: genetic analysis related to disease heterogeneity, Down syndrome and human brain evolution.
Etiologically heterogeneous subgroups of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) exist and need to be distinguished so as to better identify genetic causes of familial cases. Furthermore, the presence of AD neuropathology in Down syndrome (trisomy 21) subjects older than 35 years suggests that AD in some cases is caused by dysregulation of expression of genes on chromosome 21. Cerebral metabolic abnormalities in life, and the distribution of AD neuropathology in the post-mortem brain, indicate that AD involves the association neocortices and subcortical regions with which they evolved during evolution of the human brain. Accordingly, understanding the molecular basis of this evolution should elucidate the genetic basis of AD, whereas knowing the genetics of AD should be informative about the genomic changes which promoted brain evolution. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Immobilization of U(VI) from oxic groundwater by Hanford 300 Area sediments and effects of Columbia River water.
Regions within the U.S. Department of Energy Hanford 300 Area (300 A) site experience periodic hydrologic influences from the nearby Columbia River as a result of changing river stage, which causes changes in groundwater elevation, flow direction and water chemistry. An important question is the extent to which the mixing of Columbia River water and groundwater impacts the speciation and mobility of uranium (U). In this study, we designed experiments to mimic interactions among U, oxic groundwater or Columbia River water, and 300 A sediments in the subsurface environment of Hanford 300 A. The goals were to investigate mechanisms of: 1) U immobilization in 300 A sediments under bulk oxic conditions and 2) U remobilization from U-immobilized 300 A sediments exposed to oxic Columbia River water. Initially, 300 A sediments in column reactors were fed with U(VI)-containing oxic 1) synthetic groundwater (SGW), 2) organic-amended SGW (OA-SGW), and 3) de-ionized (DI) water to investigate U immobilization processes. After that, the sediments were exposed to oxic Columbia River water for U remobilization studies. The results reveal that U was immobilized by 300 A sediments predominantly through reduction (80-85%) when the column reactor was fed with oxic OA-SGW. However, U was immobilized by 300 A sediments through adsorption (100%) when the column reactors were fed with oxic SGW or DI water. The reduced U in the 300 A sediments fed with OA-SGW was relatively resistant to remobilization by oxic Columbia River water. Oxic Columbia River water resulted in U remobilization (∼7%) through desorption, and most of the U that remained in the 300 A sediments fed with OA-SGW (∼93%) was in the form of uraninite nanoparticles. These results reveal that: 1) the reductive immobilization of U through OA-SGW stimulation of indigenous 300 A sediment microorganisms may be viable in the relatively oxic Hanford 300 A subsurface environments and 2) with the intrusion of Columbia River water, desorption may be the primary process resulting in U remobilization from OA-SGW-stimulated 300 A sediments at the subsurface of the Hanford 300 A site. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Identification of aortic thrombus by magnetic resonance imaging.
The unique properties of magnetic resonance imaging result in the potential to differentiate various components of the diseased arterial wall. In this article four cases are presented in which magnetic resonance imaging showed mural aortic thrombus and its anatomic relationship to the visceral and renal arteries. Once thrombus is identified and localized specific operative strategies can be undertaken to prevent recurrent embolic events and/or avoid perioperative thromboembolic complications. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Endorectal flap advancement repair is an effective treatment for selected patients with anorectal fistulas.
Although the majority of anorectal fistulas may be treated with fistulotomy, patients with higher-lying fistulas or women with anterior fistulas in whom simple fistulotomy may threaten continence present a management dilemma. Endorectal flap advancement repair is one potential solution. Chart review was performed of consecutive patients receiving endorectal advancement flaps during a 5-year period (1999-2003). Twenty-nine patients received endorectal advancement flap repair. In 21 (72%) patients, an etiology of the fistula could not be clearly identified, and they were considered to be cryptoglandular in origin. Eight (24%) patients had pathology presumed to be related to prior obstetrical injury. There were 18 (62%) women, and the majority (72%) had anterior fistulas and flaps. Primary success was defined as resolution of symptoms for at least a 3-month period without an additional surgical procedure. If resolution of symptoms after flap placement was achieved after an additional surgical procedure, it was considered a secondary success. Primary success was achieved in 20 (69%) patients, and a secondary success in four (44%) of the remaining nine patients, for a total success of 83 per cent. Anal advancement flaps demonstrate a reasonable success rate when utilized in this group of patients with challenging anorectal fistulas. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Optimal cyclosporine plasma levels decline with time of therapy.
To avoid nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity the CsA-PL should be kept at less than 500 ng/mL during the first month after transplantation and less than 200 ng/mL after four months. After ten months most patients in this study had a CsA-PL of less than 150 ng/mL and many had levels of less than 50 ng/mL with an apparently good immunosuppressive effect. Rejections showed no correlation with high or low CsA-PL. Continuous monitoring of CsA-PL is recommended for the management of renal allograft recipients. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
An association between successful vaccination against the bovine nodular worm, Oesophagostomum radiatum and induction of eosinophilia.
Immunization of 48 cattle with somatic antigen extracts of the nodular worm, Oesophagostomum radiatum, reduced faecal egg counts (FEC) by 51% and worm burden by 47%. The antibody titre of each animal was correlated to both worm burden (r = -0.40, P < 0.005) and FEC (r = -0.37, P < 0.01). The vaccinated cattle showed wide variation in their response to vaccination with worm burdens after challenge infection varying from 0 to 4060. Of these 48 vaccinated animals, eight developed sterile immunity (worm burden = 0, FEC = 0) whereas a further 10 had no protective response to immunization (worm burden > 1,000, FEC > 100). A comparison of these two sub-groups showed that the group with sterile immunity had a higher antibody titre (P < 0.05). In addition, the group with sterile immunity developed a blood eosinophilia between 21 and 29 days after challenge infection. Vaccinated, unprotected calves and control, unvaccinated calves did not develop eosinophilia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Andreas Vesalius in Pisa].
Andreas Vesalius is the most commanding figure in European medicine, after Galen and before Harvey. His dissections and lectures were in considerable demand. Having just published the De humani corporis fabrica, and before operating as a private physician of Emperor Charles V, the anatomist spent some months conducting demonstrations of anatomy at the universities of Bologna, Pisa and Florence. The present study aim to reconstruct the journey he made to Pisa, where he was invited by Duke Cosimo I De' Medici. The work of Andrea Corsini and O'Malley, the study of Vesalius' Epistola... rationem modumque propinandi radicis Chynae dedocti... , and other documents make possible a more detailed reconstruction of the period Vesalius spent in the Nuovo Studio Pisano, carrying out public human dissections, discussing and refuting most of the Galenic doctrine. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Autoreactivity in patients with Behçet's disease.
Behçet's disease (BD) has features consistent with an immunopathogenic mechanism. We tested 23 patients with BD and 139 normal controls for autoantibodies to nuclear, cardiolipin and smooth muscle antigens using indirect immunofluorescence, immunodiffusion, Western blots and an enzyme immunosorbent assay. Serum immunoglobulin G, M and A levels were measured by standard radial immunodiffusion techniques. The prevalence of the following autoantibodies was raised in patients with BD compared with the control group: ANA on rodent (P < 0.05) and human (P < 0.01) substrates and smooth muscle antibody (P < 0.001). Anticardiolipin antibody was detected in one patient (GPL 23.1 U). Antibodies to the ribonucleoproteins Ro, La, Sm and RNP were not found. Levels of serum immunoglobulins G, M and A were elevated in BD compared with the controls and this was significant for immunoglobulin M (P < 0.05) and A (P < 0.001). These findings support the concept of a polyclonal B cell activation in BD. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
An evaluation of accelerated Portland cement as a restorative material.
Biocompatibility of two variants of accelerated Portland cement (APC) were investigated in vitro by observing the cytomorphology of SaOS-2 osteosarcoma cells in the presence of test materials and the effect of these materials on the expression of markers of bone remodelling. Glass ionomer cement (GIC), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and unmodified Portland cement (RC) were used for comparison. A direct contact assay was undertaken in four samples of each test material, collected at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. Cell morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and scored. Culture media were collected for cytokine quantification using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). On SEM evaluation, healthy SaOS-2 cells were found adhering onto the surfaces of APC variant, RC and MTA. In contrast, rounded and dying cells were observed on GIC. Using ELISA, levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-18 and OC were significantly higher in APC variants compared with controls and GIC (p<0.01), but these levels of cytokines were not statistically significant compared with MTA. The results of this study provide evidence that both APC variants are non-toxic and may have potential to promote bone healing. Further development of APC is indicated to produce a viable dental restorative material and possibly a material for orthopaedic | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Migratory responses of ovine neutrophils to inflammatory mediators in vitro and in vivo.
The migration of 111In-labeled ovine neutrophils towards a range of inflammatory mediators was examined in vitro using a 48-well chemotaxis chamber. Typical curves were obtained for the chemotactic response to zymosan-activated plasma (ZAP, a source of C5a) and interleukin-8 (IL-8). In contrast, leukotriene B4 (LTB4), platelet-activating factor (PAF), interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), N-formyl-methionine-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), and endotoxins from Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa failed to induce neutrophil migration in vitro. Of these mediators LTB4, ZAP, IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-8 have been reported to induce neutrophil accumulation in skin of sheep, and in the current study E. coli endotoxin was a potent inducer of 111In-labeled neutrophil accumulation and plasma leakage in skin. In contrast, PAF induced intense plasma leakage but failed to induce accumulation of 111In-labeled neutrophils in skin. Histologic examination of skin sites receiving PAF confirmed the failure of PAF to stimulate neutrophil extravasation. FMLP lacked inflammatory activity in skin. Coinjection of actinomycin D did not abrogate recruitment of neutrophils to skin sites receiving LTB4; thus neither induction of endothelial adhesion molecules nor synthesis of IL-8 was necessary for LTB4 to exhibit inflammatory activity in vivo. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The nursing schools of the Brazilian Red Cross and the beginnings of professional nursing in Brazil].
This article discusses the generation of professional nursing in Brazil and the role of Brazilian Red Cross Training School for Nurses, founded in Rio de Janeiro, in 1910. The analysis is based on different sorts of documents such as articles published in medical journals and advertisements published in daily newspapers, nursing manuals, statutes, minutes of meetings. It discusses recurrent crystallized statements presented in the History of Brazilian Nursing, such as the relation between the professionalization of nursing in Brazil to the arrival of the Rockefeller Mission, and the importance attributed to Dona Anna Nery School of Nursing, founded in 1923 in Rio de Janeiro, as the precursor of nursing education in this country. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The behavior of titin and the proteins of its family from skeletal muscles of ground squirrel (Citellus undulatus) during hibernation and rats under conditions of simulated microgravity].
By the use of SDS PAGE, the behavior of titin and MyBP-C in fast (m. psoas) as well as titin and MyBP-X in slow (m. soleus) muscles of ground squirrels (Citellus undulatus) during hibernation was compared with the behavior of titin and MyBP-X in rat m. soleus under conditions of simulated microgravity. A decrease in the amount of titin 1 and MyBP-C relative to that of myosin heavy chains by approximately 30% and approximately 40%, correspondingly, in muscles of hibernating and arousing ground squirrels was revealed in comparison with active animals. No differences in the relative amount of MyBP-X in m. soleus of hibernating, arousing and active ground squirrels were found. Under conditions of simulated microgravity, a decrease in the amount of titin 1 by approximately 2 times and MyBP-X by approximately1.5 times relative to that of myosin heavy chains in rat m. soleus was observed. By the method of SDS PAGE modified by us, an almost twofold decrease in the amount of short isovariants of the titin N2A isoform relative to that of myosin heavy chains was shown in muscles of hibernating and arousing ground squirrels, whereas no changes were found in the amount of long titin isovariants. The conditions of simulated microgravity resulted in a twofold decrease in the relative amount of both short and long titin isovariants in rat m. soleus. The results indicate that hibernating ground squirrels have an evolutionarily determined adaptive mechanism of selective degradation of fast muscle fibers and preservation or increase of slow fibers, as the most economic and energetically advantageous, with proteins typical of them. The microgravitation of nonhibernating animals (rats) leads to a non-selective degradation of MyBP-X and titin isovariants, which contributes to considerable atrophy of soleus fibers. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Morphological characteristics of colonic cancer in organ cultures].
Three types of human colonic carcinoma were studied in organ cultures. Apart from the formation of glandular structures and processes not structurally differing from those in human bodies, there occurred complexes of cancer cells spreading beyond the boundaries of the explant and forming no structures at all. It was shown that in organ cultures, cancer cells retained their capacity to synthesize carcinoembryonic antigen. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
KMC 3: counting and manipulating k-mer statistics.
Counting all k -mers in a given dataset is a standard procedure in many bioinformatics applications. We introduce KMC3, a significant improvement of the former KMC2 algorithm together with KMC tools for manipulating k -mer databases. Usefulness of the tools is shown on a few real problems. Program is freely available at http://sun.aei.polsl.pl/REFRESH/kmc . [email protected]. Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of acetic acid on phycocyanin-phycoerythrocyanin mixture extracted from Anabaena variabilis.
Exposure of a phycocyanin-phycoerythrocyanin mixture extracted from Anabaena variabilis to sodium acetate, pH 3.8, ionic strength of 0.1, results in dissociation of the phycoerythrocyanin's beta subunit from its alpha subunit. The alpha subunit obtained by this method has a strong absorption transition at 508 nm. This transition is a consequence of the subunit's specific conformation, rather than of a new chromophore. The behavior of the phycocyanin-phycoerythrocyanin mixture in acetate buffers of variable compositions suggests that interactions which involve carboxylic amino acid residues play an important role, along with hydrophobic associations, in the association of phycoerythrocyanin subunits into monomers (alpha beta) and between this protein and phycocyanin. This work also indicates that the linkage between alpha and beta subunits of phycoerythrocyanin is labile and may be weaker than the association of these subunits with phycocyanin under acidic conditions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Repairability of a packable resin-based composite using different adhesives.
To compare the repair potential of a packable composite (Filtek P60) to that of a conventional hybrid composite (Pertac II) using three different adhesives: an unfilled resin (EBS-Multi), a one-bottle, acetone-based adhesive (One-Step), and a self-etching adhesive (Prompt L-Pop). 30 composite disks (diameter = 8 mm) of each composite material were fabricated, light-cured, and stored in 37 degrees C for 7 days. The specimens were polished to 600-grit, sandblasted (CoJet-System), silanated, and randomly assigned to three groups (n=10). EBS-Multi, One-Step, and Prompt L-Pop were applied to each composite and cured. Pertac II was applied in a #5 gelatin capsule and light-cured. As controls, Pertac II was applied to freshly cured Filtek P60 and Pertac II specimens, with no additional surface treatment. Specimens were loaded in shear using an Instron testing machine at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/minute, 24 hours after bonding, and the peak shear force at failure was converted to MPa (force/area). ANOVA showed a significant difference in means at P<0.001. Tukey's test was used for pairwise comparisons. Mean SBS (+/-SD, MPa) were: P60/control: 25.2 (3.0); P60/EBS-Multi: 18.0 (2.3); P60/One-Step: 16.7 (2.3); P60/Prompt: 10.5 (3.3); Pertac/control: 25.5 (3.6); Pertac/EBS-Multi: 18.8 (3.0); Pertac/One-Step: 18.8 (2.4); Pertac/Prompt: 9.7 (3.5). Repair strengths were all significantly less than their respective controls, and repairs made using Prompt L-Pop had significantly lower mean strengths than the repairs made with EBS-Multi and One-Step (P<0.05). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The spectrum of disorders presenting as adult-onset focal lower extremity dystonia.
Uncommonly, adult-onset dystonia is confined to one lower extremity. We sought to characterize the clinical spectrum associated with the presenting phenotype of lower limb dystonia including foot torsion. Retrospective computer search of the Mayo Clinic Medical Records Linkage System (1996-2006). Inclusion criteria were (1) a principal, initial diagnosis of monomelic lower extremity dystonia with foot torsion; (2) no neurologic findings outside of the affected limb; (3) age-onset>18 years. Prospective data were sought from apparent idiopathic cases. We identified 36 patients (31 females) presenting with monomelic lower limb dystonia including foot torsion. Onset was usually subacute or insidious (32 patients); mean symptom duration was 28.8 months (range, 1-96), age-onset 47.5 years (range, 21-77). After a mean follow-up of 3.1 years, causes were identified in over half, including 5 with parkinsonism. Other treatable etiologies included psychogenic dystonia (3 patients) and stiff-limb syndrome (2 patients). Post-traumatic dystonia was diagnosed in 10 patients and consistently manifested as fixed, painful foot torsion, in contrast to the action-induced dystonia in 5 parkinsonism cases, and 10 of 14 patients with primary lower limb dystonia. Imaging identified the cause in only 1 patient (ischemic stroke) and was negative in the single patient with pyramidal signs. Adults presenting with monomelic lower limb dystonia with foot torsion often have an identifiable cause, sometimes treatable, including Parkinson's disease (diagnosed with levodopa trial) or immune-mediated stiff-limb syndrome. Post-traumatic dystonia was the single most frequent cause and proved difficult to treat. Unlike certain other series of such patients, psychogenic dystonia was an uncommon clinical diagnosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Further clinical experience with the ileal W-neobladder and a serous-lined extramural tunnel for orthotopic substitution.
To report on the functional results following orthotopic substitution using an ileal W-neobladder with an extramural serous-lined tunnel for reflux prevention. Sixty men (mean age 46 years) underwent a one-stage radical cystoprostatectomy and an ileal W-neobladder for invasive bladder cancer. The technique entails the creation of two serous-lined extramural tunnels in a detubularized ileal W-bladder fashioned from 40 cm of the terminal ileum. Fifty-one patients were evaluable, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Evaluation of patients included clinical, radiographic and urodynamic studies. There was no operative mortality and no gross morbidity. The upper tracts remain unchanged or improved in 97% of the implanted renal units. Reflux was not observed in any patient. The incidence of day and night continence was 90 and 80%, respectively. The technique provides a non-obstructed unidirectional uretero-ileal re-implantation, in a low-pressure system constructed from a short ileal segment. No staples were required. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The challenges of peripheral bone density testing: which patients need additional central density skeletal measurements?
Lower cost, portable, peripheral bone mass measurement devices are being increasingly utilized for widespread bone mass testing. These devices are being placed in traditional medical settings as well as nontraditional settings, such as pharmacies and grocery stores. Increased bone mass testing is appropriate at menopause in women who are undecided whether to begin systemic estrogen replacement. Women may decide to begin estrogen replacement if they are aware they have low bone mass and understand that bone mass will predictably decline after the menopause (1). With the approval of alendronate and raloxifene for the prevention of osteoporosis, even women who cannot or will not utilize estrogen replacement may be offered preventive interventions if they are identified as having low bone mass. More accessible bone mass measurements and more approved pharmacologic interventions will shift the focus of osteoporosis management to strategies that emphasize the reduction of lifetime fracture risk as well as current fracture risk. It will also be an impetus to focus on earlier identification and intervention (2-4). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The anti-tumor effects of dendritic cells co-cultured with cytokine induced killer cells after chemotherapy].
To determine the changes in phenotype, proliferation activity and cytotoxicity of cytokine induced killer (CIK) cells after in vitro co-culturing with dendritic cells (DC), and then to investigate the auxiliary therapeutical effect of CIK cells after chemotherapy. DC and CIK cells were generated by culturing prepheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of healthy blood donors. Then the changes in the proliferation activity and phenotype of the cells were determined after DC and CIK cell co-culture. MTT assays were used to determine the cytotoxicity in vitro. The antitumor activity of DC and CIK cells were evaluated after chemotherapy in BALB/c nude mice bearing A549 lung cancer and BEL-7404 liver cancer respectively. DC and CIK cells promoted the antitumor effect of chemotherapy. Co-culture of DC with CIK cells produced a new cell population, whose cytotoxicity and proliferation activity were much higher than those of CIK cells. CIK cells co-cultured with DC are more potent than CIK cells alone in the anti-tumor effect. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Influence of insulin on human leukemia cell proliferation].
As a hormone with a number of biological effects, insulin not only displays the function of classic metabolic regulation, but also can regulate cell proliferation and differentiation, and ensure growth and development of embryos and young individuals. In vitro insulin can stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation. Insulin is also an important growth regulator in vivo, which has been proved in more and more studies. The role of insulin at the cellular level is triggered by the binding of insulin to its receptor located in the cell surface. However, insulin at the higher concentration can also been triggered by insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) receptor. Its role varies in different cell lines. Insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor receptor-1 are widely expressed in human MDS and AML cell membranes. Recently, many studies related to the relationship between hyperinsulinemia and cancer have been reported. In this review the role and its possible mechanism in promoting human leukemia cell proliferation and inhibiting human leukemia cell proliferation are summarized. Furthermore, the potential application prospect of insulin analogues also will be described. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sonography of infantile polycystic kidney disease.
Sonography was performed on five children, ages 1 day-9 years, who had classic infantile polycystic kidney disease and on one child who had glomerulocystic renal disease. Microcystic involvement of the kidneys in infantile polycystic kidney disease results in renal enlargement, increased echogenicity of renal parenchyma but good transmission of sound through the kidney, and poor definition of renal borders on sonograms. The periportal involvement of the liver in the classic infantile polycystic kidney disease may lead to hepatic fibrosis and portal hypertension. Less typical features include asymmetric renal enlargement and macrocysts in the renal parenchyma. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Paradoxical sleep deprivation impairs spatial learning and affects membrane excitability and mitochondrial protein in the hippocampus.
Previous research has demonstrated that paradoxical sleep has a key role in learning and memory, and sleep deprivation interferes with learning and memory. However, the mechanism of memory impairment induced by sleep deprivation is poorly understood. The present study investigated the effect of paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) on spatial learning and memory using the Morris Water Maze. Effects of PSD on CA1 pyramidal neurons in hippocampus were also examined. PSD impaired spatial learning of rats. PSD induced translocation of Bax to mitochondria and cytochrome c release into the cytoplasm, and decreased the membrane excitability of CA1 pyramidal neurons, effects which may contribute to the deficits in learning behavior. These results may partially explain the mechanism of the effect of PSD on learning. Modulating the excitability of hippocampal neurons and protecting mitochondrial function are possible targets for preventing the effects of paradoxical sleep deprivation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A novel disease with deficiency of mitochondrial very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase.
Palmitoyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity in skin fibroblasts from seven patients with unidentified defects of fatty acid oxidation was measured in the presence and absence of antibodies against medium-chain, long-chain, and very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenases (VLCAD). Two of the patients, 4-5 month old boys, were found to have a novel disease, VLCAD deficiency, as judged from the results of very low palmitoyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity and the lack of immunoreactivity toward antibody raised to purified VLCAD. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Circadian rhythmicity in substance use disorder male patients with and without comorbid depression under ambulatory and therapeutic community treatment.
Although there have been described alterations of circadian rhythmicity both in patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), the circadian characteristics of SUD patients with comorbid MDD (SUD-MDD) are unknown. Likewise, the possible influence of the different modalities of treatments (ambulatory or therapeutic community) upon the circadian rhythmicity of SUD patients has not been characterized. Therefore, this study analyzes the circadian rhythmic profiles of SUD and SUD-MDD patients under ambulatory and therapeutic community treatment. The sample was composed of 40 SUD and 40 SUD-MDD men, aged 22-55 yrs, under treatment and with abstinence for at least three months (including each group 20 ambulatory and 20 from therapeutic community). Patients completed a sociodemographic, clinical and sleep-wake schedules interview, the Composite Scale of Morningness, and wore on the wrist an ambulatory device known as iButton® Thermochron DS1921H, which registered their distal skin temperature every two minutes for 48 hours. All the groups showed a tendency to morningness without differences among them in concordance with their sleep-wake schedules. With regard to distal skin temperature circadian rhythm, SUD patients showed higher values than SUD-MDD in amplitude, relative amplitude, percentage rhythm, and first harmonic power, and lower minimum temperature in 10 consecutive hours (p < .043, in all cases). Therapeutic community group values were lower in minimum temperature and higher in amplitude, relative amplitude, and 12 harmonic accumulated power (p < .028, in all cases) as compared to ambulatory ones. Moreover, all groups showed higher Rayleigh vector and rhythm stability as compared to normative population (p < .043, in both cases). The circadian rhythmic differences observed for diagnosis and type of treatment are indicative of a higher circadian rhythmicity robustness in SUD and therapeutic community patients as compared to SUD-MDD and ambulatory ones, respectively. Although drug consumption exerts a negative effect on the circadian rhythmicity, our results (high amplitude and rhythm stability) are indicative of an adequate circadian functioning as well as of an adjustment to the light-dark cycle in both diagnosis and type of treatment which may constitute a marker of the adherence to treatment and recovery status. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Opsins: evolution in waiting.
Complete vertebrate genome sequencing has revealed a remarkable stability and uniformity in the protein-coding gene set, which at first glance might suggest that gene duplication events are relatively rare. This may be a red herring, or at least a red cichlid, as the Lake Malawi cichlid fishes show rapid and extensive duplication and diversification of their retinal cone photoreceptor opsin genes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
High-performance liquid chromatographic drug analysis by direct injection of whole blood samples. III. Determination of hydrophobic drugs adsorbed on blood cell membranes.
The determination of strongly hydrophobic drugs in whole blood by high-performance liquid chromatography was investigated and the amount adsorbed on cytomembranes was measured. A polyvinyl resin, TSK Gel HW-65, was used as the pre-column packing. Proteins, cytomembranes and endogenous hydrophilic components flowed through the pre-column in aqueous medium, but strongly hydrophobic substances such as chlorpromazine were adsorbed and then eluted by backflushing into an ODS analytical column. The recovery of chlorpromazine from whole blood was 103.3% with a coefficient of variation of 3.4% (n = 10). This method gave the total amounts in blood, representing not only the amount bound to proteins but also that bound to cytomembranes. The difference in the concentrations determined in whole blood and the supernatant of haemolysed whole blood gave the value adsorbed on cytomembranes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Boutonniere rheumatoid thumb deformity.
The boutonniere deformity is the most common rheumatoid thumb deformity. It can be classified into early, moderate, and advanced types, depending on whether the deformity is passively correctable. Fifty-three patients with 74 procedures form the basis of these recommendations. The early type treated with metacarpophalangeal joint synovectomy and extensor pollicis longus rerouting have a high recurrence rate of 64%. Metacarpophalangeal joint fusion is the procedure of choice for the moderate type with isolated metacarpophalangeal joint involvement. Metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty is best suited for the low-demand, older patients with borderline proximal and distal joints. Interphalangeal joint releases done with metacarpophalangeal joint fusions have a high recurrence rate and are not recommended. In advanced cases metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty and interphalangeal joint fusion is our procedure of choice. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
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