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Population pharmacokinetics of landiolol hydrochloride in healthy subjects.
Landiolol hydrochloride is a newly developed cardioselective, ultra short-acting beta(1)-adrenergic receptor blocking agent used for perioperative arrhythmia control. The objective of this study was to characterize the population pharmacokinetics of landiolol hydrochloride in healthy male subjects. A total of 420 blood concentration data points collected from 47 healthy male subjects were used for the population pharmacokinetic analysis. NONMEM was used for population pharmacokinetic analysis. In addition, the final pharmacokinetic model was evaluated using a bootstrap method and a leave-one-out cross validation method. The concentration time course of landiolol hydrochloride was best described by a two-compartment model with lag time. The final parameters were total body clearance (CL: 36.6 mL/min/kg), distribution volume of the central compartment (V1: 101 mL/kg), inter-compartmental clearance (16.1 mL/min/kg), distribution volume of the peripheral compartment (55.6 mL/kg), and lag time (0.82 min). The inter-individual variability in the CL and V1 were 21.8% and 46.3%, respectively. The residual variability was 22.1%. Model evaluation by the two different methods indicated that the final model was robust and parameter estimates were reasonable. The population pharmacokinetic model for landiolol hydrochloride in healthy subjects was developed and was shown to be appropriate by both bootstrap and leave-one-out cross validation methods. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Mathematical methods for the design of color scanning filters.
The problem of the design of color scanning filters is addressed in this paper. The problem is posed within the framework of the vector space approach to color systems. The measure of the goodness of a set of color scanning filters presented in earlier work is used as an optimization criterion to design color scanning filters modeled in terms of known, smooth, nonnegative functions. The best filters are then trimmed using the gradient of the mean square DeltaE(ab) error to obtain filters with a lower value of perceptual error. The results obtained demonstrate the utility of the method. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Localization of upper airway collapse during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
The present study was conducted to determine the effects of body position and sleep state, as well as the effect of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) on the regions over which the upper airway (UA) collapses during sleep. To accomplish this goal, 18 male patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) underwent overnight polysomnography with simultaneous monitoring of pressures in the posterior nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and esophagus. From the profile of pressures recorded in the UA and esophagus, the regions over which the UA collapses during apneas could be determined. The patients were 54 +/- 14 y of age and were grossly obese with a body mass index of 37 +/- 2 kg/m2. They had moderately severe OSA with a mean apnea plus hypopnea index of 62 +/- 8 per hour. During NREM sleep, 10 of the 18 (56%) patients had collapse confined to the velopharyngeal or retropalatal segment of the upper airway. The remaining 44% of the patients demonstrated collapse of the retroglossal segment of the oropharynx located caudal to the inferior margin of the soft palate. Upper airway collapse at the level of the hyoid bone was not observed during NREM sleep. Observations made during REM sleep in nine patients demonstrated that collapse occurred in a more caudal segment of the UA in seven patients during REM than during NREM sleep. The effect of sleep position was evaluated in 10 patients and found to have little affect on the extent over which the UA collapsed during sleep independent of sleep state. The effects of UPPP on regional UA collapse were evaluated in a small group of six patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Functional characterization of a major compatible solute in Deep Sea halophilic eubacteria of active volcanic Barren Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
Ectoine, a cyclic tetrahydropyrimidine (2-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrimidine-4-carboxylic acid) is a compatible solute, serves as a protective compound in many halophilic eubacterial cells under stress. In this study, the ectoine biosynthesis genes (ectA, B and C) from the genomic DNA of a deep sea eubacteria, Bacillus clausii NIOT-DSB04 was PCR amplified, cloned into the expression vector pQE30 with a 6 × histidine tag and expressed in M15 cells. The lysates of induced cells with diaminobutyric acid aminotransferase and ectoine synthase disclosed two clear expressed bands with molecular masses of 46 kDa and 15 kDa as estimated by SDS-PAGE. The recombinant ectoine synthase activity of the expressed cells was at higher level than that of uninduced cells. In silico sequence and phylogenetic analysis of nucleotides and amino acids revealed that the ectA, B and C sequences of Bacillus clausii NIOT-DSB04 were conserved in many eubacteria. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Diaphragmatic hernia: the role of perioperative resuscitation].
Twenty-nine newborn infants with diaphragmatic hernia have been received in a neonatal intensive care unit over a seven year period. In three cases, clinical signs appeared after the first day: they all survived. Six infants died before surgery: five of them had major pulmonary hypoplasia. Surgery was performed in twenty cases: nine of these infants died. Death occurred during the first twelve post-surgical hours in six cases with major pulmonary hypoplasia. Fourteen infants were followed from 6 to 24 months; two developed post-anoxic hydrocephaly with poor neurological development in one case. A pH above 7.1 and an adequate hemodynamic status obtained before surgery are simple criteria of a good prognosis. When these criteria are not obtained, prognosis is poor as they are in favor of major pulmonary hypoplasia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Expiratory neurons in the region of the retrofacial nucleus: inhibitory effects of intercostal tendon organs.
Intercostal muscle tendon organs have an inhibitory effect on the medullary neurons driving all inspiratory muscles, and on a subpopulation of medullary bulbospinal expiratory neurons. Results from this study showed that the activity of expiratory related neurons in the region of the retrofacial nucleus (Botzinger complex) decreases during tendon organ afferent stimulation; the response is similar to that of caudal bulbospinal expiratory neurons. We conclude that these expiratory neurons do not mediate the tendon organ inhibition of medullary inspiratory neuronal activity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Inhibition of human low-density lipoprotein oxidation by flavonoids in red wine and grape juice.
In the presence of red wine or grape juice, low-density lipoprotein was significantly resistant to oxidation; the biological activity of flavonoids, but not ethanol or nonflavonoid phenolic compounds, appeared to contribute to the antioxidant properties of red wine and grape juice. A significant antioxidant activity was also confirmed in low-density lipoprotein from humans after ingesting red wine but not grape juice, suggesting that flavonoids in red wine can be absorbed from the intestine more efficiently than those in grape juice. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Periodic segmental anomalies induced by heat shock in the chick embryo are associated with the cell cycle.
This study provides evidence that cells destined to segment together into somites have a degree of cell division synchrony. We have measured the duration of the cell division cycle in somite and segmental plate cells of the chick embryo as 9.5 h using [3H]thymidine pulse- and-chase. Treatment of embryos with any of a variety of inhibitors known to affect the cell division cycle causes discrete periodic segmental anomalies: these anomalies appear about 6-7 somites after treatment and, in some cases, a second anomaly is observed 6 to 7 somites after the first. Since somites take 1.5 h to form, the 6- to 7- somite interval corresponds to about 9-10 h, which is the duration of the cell cycle as determined in these experiments. The anomalies are similar to those seen after heat shock of 2-day chick embryos. Heat shock and some of the other treatments induce the expression of heat-shock proteins (hsp); however, since neither the expression nor the distribution of these proteins relate to the presence or distribution of anomalies seen, we conclude that hsps are not responsible for the pattern of segmental anomalies observed. The production of periodic segmental anomalies appears to be linked to the cell cycle. A simple model is proposed, in which we suggest that the cell division cycle is involved directly in gating cells that will segment together. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Practice brief. Securing wireless technology for healthcare.
Wireless networking can be a very complex science, requiring an understanding of physics and the electromagnetic spectrum. While the radio theory behind the technology can be challenging, a basic understanding of wireless networking can be sufficient for small-scale deployment. Numerous security mechanisms are available to wireless technologies, making it practical, scalable, and affordable for healthcare organizations. The decision on the selected security model should take into account the needs for additional server hardware and administrative costs. Where wide area network connections exist between cooperative organizations, deployment of a distributed security model can be considered to reduce administrative overhead. The wireless approach chosen should be dynamic and concentrate on the organization's specific environmental needs. Aspects of organizational mission, operations, service level, and budget allotment as well as an organization's risk tolerance are all part of the balance in the decision to deploy wireless technology. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Forensic science investigation of a balloon accident.
This manuscript describes techniques undertaken to recreate the sequence of events that transpired after a hot air balloon made contact with an electrical power line. After the pilot's clothing was examined, the source of the fire in relation to the gondola and the pilot was established. Also determined through postmortem examination were the sequence of the three deaths, the probable heights from which two of the three passengers jumped, the setting where each body landed, and the causes of death for all three passengers. Finally, it was concluded, after correlating the autopsy findings with those of the scene investigation, that the proximate cause of the accident was pilot error. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[About the estimation of fetal risk by evalution of the serum -- amniotic liqour -- ratio of HPL during the pregnancy (author's transl)].
Radioimmunoassay of human placental lactogen (HPL) is a valuable diagnostic tool for the early recognition of placental dysfunction. But, the rather wide normal range hampers HPL estimations to be used as a good prognostic tool. However, the simultaneous determination of HPL in maternal serum and in amniotic fluid allows a better diagnosis of the fetal well-being. Results of amniotic fluid HPL levels are expressed as percent of maternal serum levels. In this pilot study it was shown that this ratio of maternal serum HPL level to amniotic fluid level is below 10% in normal pregnancies. The ratio is between 10 to 20% in subjects where fetal distress was recorded, and dystrophic babies were observed. The value is above 20% in cases where intrauterine fetal deaths were found. This good correlation of the HPL ratio in maternal serum and amniotic fluid with the outcome of pregnancy offers a new means of using HPL estimation as prognostic tool. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Autologous ipsilateral rotating penetrating keratoplasty.
To evaluate visual outcome after autologous ipsilateral rotating penetrating keratoplasty. The study included nine patients who consecutively underwent autologous ipsilateral rotating penetrating keratoplasty for treatment of traumatic central corneal avascular scars. These patients were compared with 105 patients who consecutively underwent homologous central penetrating keratoplasty in the same study period for treatment of avascular corneal scars extending to the corneal periphery. All operations were performed by the same surgeon. Mean follow-up time for both study groups was 31.27 +/- 21.54 and 32.0 +/- 19.4 months, respectively. In the autologous rotating keratoplasty group, visual acuity increased significantly (P = 0.03; Wilcoxon test) from 0.13 +/- 0.11 preoperatively to 0.29 +/- 0.16 postoperatively. Refractive astigmatism and keratometric astigmatism, respectively, increased (P = 0.02) from 3.19 +/- 2.53 diopters and 3.20 +/- 2.24 diopters, respectively, preoperatively to 6.9 +/- 1.82 diopters and 9.55 +/- 4.32 diopters, respectively, postoperatively. Comparing the study groups, postoperative visual acuity was significantly lower (P = 0.01), and keratometric astigmatism (P = 0.003) and refractive astigmatism (P = 0.01) were significantly higher in the autologous rotating keratoplasty group than in the control group. Autologous ipsilateral rotating penetrating keratoplasty compared with homologous central penetrating keratoplasty is associated with a high postoperative refractive and keratometric astigmatism leading to a relatively low postoperative visual acuity. It suggests that, in normal clinical conditions when donor material is available and postoperative follow-up examinations can be performed, homologous central penetrating keratoplasty may be superior to autologous ipsilateral rotating keratoplasty. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Steroid anesthesia in microsurgery of the middle ear].
The essential requirements for correct anaesthesia in microsurgery of the middle ear are described and results obtained with an association of Althesin and NLA drugs in 52 stapedectomies, 27 tympanoplasties, and 14 myringoplasties are presented. Althesin was injected i.v. to induce anaesthesia. Maintenance was obtained by means of the continuous venous perfusion of a 10% solution. The usefulness of the association was apparent from the good cardiac stability noted throughout anaesthesia, during which adrenaline was routinely infiltrated via the external meatus. In addition, the manageability of Althesin enabled a modest degree of hypotension to be established during certain stages of the operation. This enabled the intraoperative bleeding that is one of the major snags in this type of surgery to be reduced in some cases. Other benefits related to the degree of postoperative sedation required and the low toxicity of the drugs employed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Relationship between anger and paranoid thoughts in a nonclinical sample.
Anger has been suggested to be associated with paranoid thoughts in nonclinical groups. For a clear evaluation of the relationship between anger and paranoid thoughts, successive preliminary surveys were conducted in a student group in Japan. A total of 102 undergraduate students completed two scales-the Paranoia Checklist and the Spielberger Trait Anger Expression Inventory. The participants filled out the questionnaires twice, at a 1-mo. interval. The synchronous effects model was used to examine the relationship between the variables. Structural equation modeling demonstrated an acceptable fit, and trait anger at Time 2 was found to have a weak effect on paranoid thoughts at Time 2, whereas paranoid thoughts at Time 2 had no effect on trait anger at Time 2. The findings suggest the possibility of a relationship between trait anger and paranoid thoughts in a nonclinical population. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Unilateral versus bilateral pedicle screw instrumentation for single-level minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.
Minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF) has become an increasingly popular method of lumbar arthrodesis. However, there are few published studies comparing the clinical outcomes between unilateral and bilateral instrumented MIS TLIF. Sixty-five patients with degenerative lumbar spine disease were enrolled in this study. Thirty-one patients were randomized to the unilateral group and 34 to the bilateral group. Recorded demographic data included sex, age, preoperative diagnosis, and degenerated segment. Operative time, blood loss, hospital stay length, complication rates, and fusion rates were also evaluated. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) pain score data were obtained. All patients were asked to follow-up at 3 and 6 months after surgery, and once every 6 months thereafter. The mean follow-up was 26.6 months (range 18-36 months). The two groups were similar in sex, age, preoperative diagnosis, and operated level. The unilateral group had significantly shorter operative time, lower blood loss, and shorter hospital time than the bilateral group. The average postoperative ODI and VAS scores improved significantly in each group. No significant differences were found between the two groups in relation to ODI and VAS. All patients showed evidence of fusion at 12 months postoperatively. The total fusion rate, screw failure, and general complication rate were not significantly different. Results showed that single-level MIS TLIF with unilateral pedicle screw fixation would be sufficient in the management of preoperatively stable patients with lumbar degenerative disease. It seems that MIS TLIF with unilateral pedicle screw instrumentation is a better choice for single-level degenerative lumbar spine disease. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Ultrastructural and morphometric investigations on the effects of training and administration of anabolic steroids on the myocardium of guinea pigs.
The effects on the myocardium of guinea pigs of a training program, of the administration of anabolic steroids (Dianabol), and of both combined were investigated at the ultrastructural level. Quantitative electron microscopy showed an enlargement of the sarcoplasmic space in all experimental groups and a disbalance of the mitochondrial/myofibrillar ratio in favor of the mitochondria, which was most pronounced after administration of anabolic steroids. The augmentation of the mitochondrial volume was assumed to occur by fusion, hypertrophy, and development of new mitochondria. When the administration of anabolic steroids and training were combined, some myocardial cells were pathologically altered; destructed mitochondria and aberrant myofibrils were found. Focally dehiscent intercalated discs and necrotic cells were also observed. It is suggested from these findings that the administration of anabolic steroids in competitive sports may lead to pathological alterations in the myocardium. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Current status of hemophilia patients and recombinant coagulation factor concentrates in Japan.
The first recombinant factor VIII concentrate was introduced in 1987 to treat hemophilia A patients, and the product was licensed in the United States in 1992. More than 10 years have passed since the recombinant products have been used for treatment of hemophilia A. The new therapeutic options seem to be safe and effective through the gathered experiences. Recently, recombinant factor VIIa concentrate has become available to treat hemophilia patients with inhibitor and factor VII deficiency patients in Europe and also recombinant factor IX for the treatment of hemophilia B has been licensed in the United States and Europe. The usage of recombinant coagulation factors has expanded the routine therapy for hemophilia in many countries. In Japan, the consumption of recombinant factor VIII is increasing year by year, because many patients have started to think that the recombinant technology seems to be safe. Unfortunately, though, the factor VIIa and factor IX products have not been licensed yet in Japan. This article discusses the current status of patients with hemophilia and recombinant coagulation factor products in Japan. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Using canonical commonality analysis to examine the predictive quality of aging and falls efficacy on balance functioning in older adults.
The effects of important variables measuring the psychobiological aspects of falls among older adults were considered to determine their utility in predicting balance functioning among older adults. To partition the effects of aging and falls efficacy on balance and leg strength simultaneously, canonical commonality analysis (CCA) was used. CCA is a multivariate technique which decomposes squared semipartial correlation effect sizes into constituent, nonoverlapping segments that describe unique and common explanatory powers of predictor variables. Data from a study conducted to examine the psychobiological and aging influences on unintended falls among physically active older adults were analyzed. CCA showed balance confidence as measured by the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and age to be noteworthy predictors of balance; yet, age was determined to be more important than balance confidence when predicting balance and leg strength (i.e., balance functioning) simultaneously. In addition, results suggest that data obtained from the ABC better predicted balance functioning among active older adults as compared to the Tinetti Falls Efficacy Scale (FES), a traditional measure used to assess the construct. The ABC stands as a viable alternative to consider when assessing falls efficacy among dynamic older adults. Future research would benefit from using CCA to understand how various psychobiological constructs predict fall-related outcomes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Structure is lost incrementally during the unfolding of barstar.
Coincidental equilibrium unfolding transitions observed by multiple structural probes are taken to justify the modeling of protein unfolding as a two-state, N <==> U, cooperative process. However, for many of the large number of proteins that undergo apparently two-state equilibrium unfolding reactions, folding intermediates are detected in kinetic experiments. The small protein barstar is one such protein. Here the two-state model for equilibrium unfolding has been critically evaluated in barstar by estimating the intramolecular distance distribution by time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) methods, in which fluorescence decay kinetics are analyzed by the maximum entropy method (MEM). Using a mutant form of barstar containing only Trp 53 as the fluorescence donor and a thionitrobenzoic acid moiety attached to Cys 82 as the fluorescence acceptor, the distance between the donor and acceptor has been shown to increase incrementally with increasing denaturant concentration. Although other probes, such as circular dichroism and fluorescence intensity, suggest that the labeled protein undergoes two-state equilibrium unfolding, the TR-FRET probe clearly indicates multistate equilibrium unfolding. Native protein expands progressively through a continuum of native-like forms that achieve the dimensions of a molten globule, whose heterogeneity increases with increasing denaturant concentration and which appears to be separated from the unfolded ensemble by a free energy barrier. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The effect of breast feeding on anthropometric indicators in very young children].
In a group of 4,217 children from Southern Moravia the authors evaluated growth from birth to the age of three years in relation to breastfeeding. The basic anthropometric data were evaluated in sub-groups made with regard to birth weight. Infants who were breastfed longer than four months were lighter during the first half year, as compared with those breastfed for a shorter period; at the age of one year this difference disappeared, in the second year they tended to have a higher weight, in the third year the differences were balanced. The same was manifested in weight increments. The influence on height was not so marked and was manifested mainly in the difference of increments. The head circumference and chest circumference was not much influenced. Evaluation of indices of proportionality revealed a more harmonious growth in children who were breastfed for a longer period. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Lack of potential carcinogenicity for sucralose - Systematic evaluation and integration of mechanistic data into the totality of the evidence.
Sucralose is widely used as a sugar substitute. Many studies and authoritative reviews have concluded that sucralose is non-carcinogenic, based primarily on animal cancer bioassays and genotoxicity data. To add to the body of knowledge on the potential carcinogenicity of sucralose, a systematic assessment of mechanistic data was conducted. This entailed using a framework developed for the quantitative integration of data related to the proposed key characteristics of carcinogens (KCCs). Data from peer-reviewed literature and the ToxCast/Tox21 database were evaluated using an algorithm that weights data for quality and relevance. The resulting integration demonstrated an overall lack of activity for sucralose across the KCCs, with no "strong" activity observed for any KCC. Almost all data collected demonstrated inactivity, including those conducted in human models. The overall lack of activity in mechanistic data is consistent with findings from animal cancer bioassays. The few instances of activity across the KCC were generally accompanied by limitations in study design in the context of either quality and/or dose and model relevance, highlighted upon integration of the totality of the evidence. The findings from this comprehensive and integrative evaluation of mechanistic data support prior conclusions that sucralose is unlikely to be carcinogenic in humans. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether. I. Subchronic vapor inhalation study with rats and rabbits.
Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and New Zealand White rabbits were exposed to 0, 30, 100 or 300 ppm ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) vapors 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, for a total of 13 weeks. No rats died prior to scheduled sacrifice, but some rabbits in the 100 and 300 ppm exposure groups died or were sacrificed when moribund during the study. Body weights as well as thymus and testicular weights of rats and rabbits in the 300 ppm group were reduced as a result of the exposures. Hematologic changes occurred in rats and rabbits exposed to 300 ppm. Concentrations of total protein, albumin and globulins in serum of rats (but not rabbits) in the 300 ppm group were lower than for controls. Gross lesions in rats and rabbits exposed to 300 ppm EGME included decreased size of thymus in both sexes, decreased abdominal fat, and small flaccid testes in males. In addition there was decreased lymphoid tissue in some rabbits, as well as a slight-to-moderate decrease in size of testes in 4 of 5 rabbits in the 100 ppm group and in 2 of 5 rabbits exposed to 30 ppm. Treatment-related microscopic lesions included degenerative changes in germinal epithelium of testes in all male rats and rabbits in the 300 ppm group, as well as in 3 of 5 rabbits in the 100 ppm group and 1 of 5 male rabbits in the 30 ppm group. The only effects attributed to exposure to 30 ppm EGME in this study were slight microscopic changes in testes of 1 of 5 male rabbits. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Single-layer transdermal film containing lidocaine: modulation of drug release.
We have recently described an innovative drug delivery system, a water-based and vapor permeable film intended for dermal and/or transdermal delivery. The aim of this work was to modulate the delivery of the model drug lidocaine hydrochloride from the transdermal film across rabbit ear skin. The effect of drug loading, of film-forming polymer type and content, of adhesive and plasticizer on lidocaine transport across the skin was evaluated. Additional objective was to evaluate the effect of occlusion on the kinetics of lidocaine transport, by applying an occlusive backing on the surface of the transdermal film. From the data obtained it can be concluded that the transdermal film acts as a matrix controlling drug delivery. The film-forming polymer molecular weight had a negligible effect on drug penetration, while its content was more effective. The choice of the adhesive seems to be the most important variable governing drug transport. In particular, the presence of lauric acid combined with a basic drug, such as lidocaine, can produce a relevant improvement in permeation, because of the formation of an ion pair. Concerning the kinetics, drug depletion is responsible for the declining permeation rates observed in the late times of permeation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cortical metabolic activation in humans during a visual memory task.
A delayed match-to-sample (DMS) task of abstract, visual memory was performed during the uptake period of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose. The increase in glucose uptake of cortical and subcortical regions ("activation") during the DMS task was compared with that during a control, immediate match-to-sample task using positron emission tomography. Both discriminant analysis and paired t tests supported the observation that the dorsolateral prefrontal area underwent the greatest activation, while a factor analysis revealed the functional correlation matrices of the tasks. Activations in the ventral premotor cortex and supramarginal and angular gyri were highly correlated with the change in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The basal forebrain/ventral pole region showed a smaller but independently significant change. The findings support the role of the dorsal prefrontal region in the nonspatial working memory of humans. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Imitative learning of actions on objects by children, chimpanzees, and enculturated chimpanzees.
In this study we compared the abilities of chimpanzees and human children to imitatively learn novel actions on objects. Of particular interest were possible differences between chimpanzees raised mostly with conspecifics (mother-reared) and chimpanzees raised in a human-like cultural environment (enculturated). Subjects were thus 3 enculturated and 3 mother-reared chimpanzees, along with 8 18-month-old and 8 30-month-old human children. Each subject was tested over a 2-day period with 16 novel objects. The introduction of each object was preceded by a baseline period in which the subject's natural proclivities toward the object were determined. For 12 objects, a human experimenter demonstrated first a simple and then a complex novel action, instructing the subject in each case to "Do what I do" (chimpanzees were prepared for the task behaviorally as well). For the other 4 objects, demonstration of a single action took place on the first day and the subject's opportunity to imitate was delayed until the second day, 48 hours later. Actions that a subject produced in baseline were excluded from further analysis. For each analyzed action, the subject's behavior was scored as to whether it successfully reproduced (1) the end result of the demonstrated action, and (2) the behavioral means used by the demonstrator. Results showed that in immediate imitation the mother-reared chimpanzees were much poorer imitators than the enculturated chimpanzees and the human children, who did not differ from one another. Surprisingly, on the delay trials, the enculturated chimpanzees significantly outperformed the other 3 groups. We conclude from these results that a human-like sociocultural environment is an essential component in the development of human-like social-cognitive and imitative learning skills for chimpanzees, and perhaps for human beings as well. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Leptin levels in boys with pubertal gynecomastia.
It has been reported that there is a relationship between circulating leptin and sex steroid hormones and leptin is able to stimulate estrogen secretion by increasing aromatase activity in adipose stromal cells and breast tissue. Leptin receptors have been also shown in mammary epithelial cells and it has been suggested that leptin is involved in the control of the proliferation of both normal and malignant breast cells. To investigate circulating leptin levels in boys with pubertal gynecomastia. Twenty boys with pubertal gynecomastia who were in early puberty and had no obesity, and 20 healthy individuals matched for age, pubertal stage and body mass index (BMI) with the study group, were enrolled in the study. Body weight, height and left midarm circumference (MAC) and left arm triceps skinfold thickness (TSF) were measured and BMI was calculated. A fasting blood sample was collected and routine hormonal parameters including prolactin, beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (betaHCG), total and free testosterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin, androstenedione (AS) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels were studied. Serum leptin levels were analyzed using radioimmunoassay. The mean ages of the study and control group were not different (13.9 +/- 0.89 and 14.2 +/- 0.66, respectively). No significant difference was found for BMI, MAC and TSF values between the two groups. There was no significant difference for hormonal parameters including FSH, LH, total and free testosterone, estradiol, AS, DHEAS and estradiol/total testosterone ratio between boys with pubertal gynecomastia and the controls. Serum leptin levels were found significantly higher in the study group compared with the healthy controls (5.58 +/- 0.81 and 2.39 +/- 0.29 ng/ml, respectively; p <0.001). No correlation could be determined between serum leptin levels and hormonal parameters. The presence of higher leptin levels in boys with pubertal gynecomastia indicates that leptin may be involved in the pathogenesis of pubertal gynecomastia. The role of circulating leptin in pubertal gynecomastia is probably related to increase in estrogen and/or estrogen/ androgen ratio by the stimulating effect of leptin on aromatase enzyme activity in both adipose and breast tissues, or a direct growth stimulating effect of leptin on mammary epithelial cells, or increase in sensitivity of breast epithelial cells to estrogen with inducing functional activation of estrogen receptors by leptin in breast tissue. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Ultrastructural study of gap junctions between dendrites of parvalbumin-containing GABAergic neurons in various neocortical areas of the adult rat.
Parvalbumin (PV)-containing GABAergic neurons in the hippocampus form dual networks linked by both dendrodendritic gap junctions and mutual inhibitory synapses. Recent physiological studies have demonstrated similar functional connectivity among cortical GABAergic neurons, but the corresponding structures have not been fully analyzed at the electron microscopic level. In this study we examined detailed ultrastructural features of gap junctions between PV neurons in the mature neocortex. Light microscopic observations and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed frequent dendrodendritic contacts between PV neurons. Electron microscopic analysis provided direct morphological evidence for the existence of gap junctions between 22 pairs of PV-immunoreactive dendrites in the visual, auditory, and somatosensory cortices. Their ultrastructural features that were characteristic of immunolabeled profiles were consistent with the general structure of gap junctions. In one case a gap junction coexisted with a dendrodendritic chemical synapse, making a mixed synapse. Importantly, we also encountered a gap junction between PV positive and negative, presumptive non-principal cell-derived, dendrites. Quantitative analysis was made in 16 pairs of PV positive dendrites forming gap junctions in the infragranular layers of the somatosensory cortex. Diameters of these dendrites ranged from 0.3 to 2.7 microm, suggesting diverse locations of gap junctions along the proximal-distal axis of dendritic trees, but the majority (81%) were less than 1 microm. The mean size of gap junctions along apposing membranes was 0.22+/-0.09 microm. By using this size, the theoretical value of a junctional conductance was estimated to be 2.1-5.3 nS. Dendrites of PV neurons in the infragranular layers of the somatosensory cortex were reconstructed light microscopically and the sites of contacts with other PV neurons were mapped. Although these contacts do not necessarily imply gap junctional coupling, their number (5.3+/-2.3 per cell, n=11) suggested the degree of connectivity of less than 10 coupling from single PV neurons with others. Sholl analysis revealed that only 38% of their dendrites occurred within 200 microm from the soma. The present study demonstrated detailed ultrastructural features of gap junctions between mature cortical PV neurons. These features will facilitate not only identification of gap junctions in variously labeled neurons but also analysis of their functional aspects by enabling theoretical estimate of their junctional conductances. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Sarcoma of the body of the uterus. Report of 8 cases (author's transl)].
The authors report 8 cases of sarcoma of the uterus and discuss the special characteristics of this type of lesion. It seems that the frequency of sarcoma of the uterus is more importnat than is usually thought : one case out of 100 fibromas in the authors' series. The pre-operative diagnosis is difficult, in particular the radiological signs described by Musset were only found in 2 cases out of 8. On the other hand, the pre-operative diagnosis was made in 5 cases out of 8. The histological diagnosis is difficult and may only be made later. The only treatment is surgical, according to most authors. Chemotherapy may be of interest in the future. A uterine sarcoma should certainly be considered more often, especially in cases of fibroma which undergo rapid change. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Diet and health of people with an ileostomy. 1. Dietary assessment.
1. People with an ileostomy experience digestive problems with some foods. Why those foods are avoided is not known nor is it certain whether this interferes with the nutritional adequacy of their diet. 2. A detailed dietary assessment has therefore been made of thirty-seven subjects with ileostomies and a similar number of age- and sex-matched healthy controls. All food and drink eaten over 1 week was weighed and recorded. In addition. A larger group of seventy-nine ileostomy subjects and seventy matched controls answered a questionnaire designed to identify foods which upset them and which they avoided. 3. Total nutrient and energy intakes were similar in the two groups but the subjects with an ileostomy ate less dietary fibre (g/d; mean + SD: ileostomy subjects 18.0 +/- 5.9, controls 20.9 +/- 5.5; P less than 0.05) mainly due to lower fruit and vegetable intakes. Iron and vitamins A and C intakes were also less. 4. A majority of ileostomy subjects had a pattern of food intake different from the controls, taking more of their energy in the morning and less at night. A variety of food items upset more than half of them including nuts, pips, seeds, skins, onions, beetroot, lettuce, raw cabbage and carrot, peas, sweetcorn, mushrooms and dried fruit. 5. On the basis of the results it is possible to formulate general dietary advice for people with an ileostomy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
FT-IR spectroscopy of supersaturated aqueous solutions of magnesium borate.
FT-IR spectra of supersaturated aqueous solution of magnesium borate, its acidized solutions with azeotropic hydrochloric acid, and its diluted solutions with water have been recorded. The FT-IR spectra of borate in solution are obtained by difference, subtracting the FT-IR spectrum of water from that of the magnesium borate supersaturated aqueous solution. All of the results showed that various polyborate anions in the supersaturated aqueous solutions exist. The bands of symmetric pulse vibration of the corresponding polyborate anions were indicated and some assignments were tentatively given. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Kinetics of various 99mTc-Sn-pyrophosphate compounds in the rat. I. In vivo studies.
The kinetic data of two different 99mTc-Sn-pyrophosphate compounds (compound A and B) were evaluated in non-adult rats. Only compound A concentrated in bone. Both compounds dispersed rapidly in the intravascular as well as the extravascular space. The plasma protein bond of both compounds increased with time after injection and impaired both the renal clearance of both compounds and the bone clearance of compound A. The renal clearance of both compounds was somewhat above that of 51Cr-EDTA. It is concluded that compound A and B is mainly excreted by glomerular filtration. About one fourth of the glomerular filtrate of compound B is reabsorbed and accumulated by the tubular cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Involvement of specialized DNA polymerases in mutagenesis by 8-hydroxy-dGTP in human cells.
The mutagenicity of an oxidized form of dGTP, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-OH-dGTP), was examined using human 293T cells. Shuttle plasmid DNA containing the supF gene was first transfected into the cells, and then 8-OH-dGTP was introduced by means of osmotic pressure. The DNAs replicated in the cells were recovered and then transfected into Escherichia coli. 8-OH-dGTP induced A:T-->C:G substitution mutations in the cells. The knock-downs of DNA polymerases eta and zeta, and REV1 by siRNAs reduced the A:T-->C:G substitution mutations, suggesting that these DNA polymerases are involved in the misincorporation of 8-OH-dGTP opposite A in human cells. In contrast, the knock-down of DNA polymerase iota did not affect the 8-OH-dGTP-induced mutations. The decrease in the induced mutation frequency was more evident by double knock-downs of DNA pols eta plus zeta and REV1 plus DNA pol zeta (but not by that of DNA pol eta plus REV1), suggesting that REV1-DNA pol eta and DNA pol zeta work in different steps. These results indicate that specialized DNA polymerases are involved in the mutagenesis induced by the oxidized dGTP. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Atypical tapetoretinal degeneration simulating a neurologic syndrome].
We report the case of a 57-year-old woman with progressive bilateral visual acuity loss, presumed during ten years to be secondary to a neurological disease. Ophthalmological examination showed for both eyes pallor of the optic discs and arteriolar narrowing. Periphery was normal, without pigment clumping. Fluorescein angiography showed a widespread irregular hypopigmentation and discovered a bilateral macular edema. Abnormal rod function was confirmed by electroretinography. A review of the literature data shows the variety of clinical symptoms in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and the frequency of atypical non-pigmented forms. Those forms are usually considered as early stages of the disease. Besides, macular lesions, and macular edema in particular, are frequently reported. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Human atrial natriuretic factor prevents against norepinephrine-induced acute renal failure in the rat.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential protective effect of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) on the norepinephrine (NE)-induced acute renal failure (ARF). After determination of basal renal function, ANF at different doses induced a dose dependent increase of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), diuresis (V), sodium (UNaV) and potassium (UKV) excretion. Unilateral intrarenal norepinephrine infusion induced acute renal failure in an isotonic saline pretreated rat group. The experimental kidney in this group was anuric, and no measurable GFR and electrolyte excretion was observed. ANF pretreatment prevented the norepinephrine-induced ARF. In the experimental kidney, GFR, V, UNa V and UK V were subnormal or even elevated during NE-infusion as compared to the basal clearance period. During the 60 min control period after the norepinephrine infusion in the isotonic saline pretreated rat group, anuria persisted. In the ANF pretreated groups, normal or significantly increased levels of GFR, V, UNa V and UK V were obtained. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Loss of urethrovaginal septum as a complication of exstrophy closure in girls.
The aim of this study was to report complications involving paraexstrophy skin flaps in the female bladder exstrophy closure. Bladder exstrophies in three female patients were initially closed using paraexstrophy skin flaps, with an osteotomy being performed in only 1 patient. A dehiscence occurred in all, and a reclosure was performed at a mean of 10 (range: 7-18) months after the initial closure. Two patients underwent successful reclosure and are awaiting bladder neck reconstruction. The third patient, who had complete procidentia, had a bladder which failed to grow after successful reclosure and underwent augmentation cystoplasty. Closure of bladder exstrophy in female patients using paraexstrophy skin flaps can be associated with an increased complication rate and should be used judiciously in the exstrophy patient. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Health care costs in the last year of life--the Dutch experience.
Health expenditure depends heavily on age. Common wisdom is that the age pattern is dominated by costs in the last year of life. Knowledge about these costs is important for the debate on the future development of health expenditure. According to the 'red herring' argument traditional projection methods overestimate the influence of ageing because improvements in life expectancy will postpone rather than raise health expenditure. This paper has four objectives: (1) to estimate health care costs in the last year of life in the Netherlands; (2) to describe age patterns and differences between causes of death for men and women; (3) to compare cost profiles of decedents and survivors; and (4) to use these figures in projections of future health expenditure. We used health insurance data of 2.1 million persons (13% of the Dutch population), linked at the individual level with data on the use of home care and nursing homes and causes of death in 1999. On average, health care costs amounted to 1100 Euro per person. Costs per decedent were 13.5 times higher and approximated 14,906 Euro in the last year of life. Most costs related to hospital care (54%) and nursing home care (19%). Among the major causes of death, costs were highest for cancer (19,000 Euro) and lowest for myocardial infarctions (8068 Euro). Between the other causes of death, however, cost differences were rather limited. On average costs for the younger decedents were higher than for people who died at higher ages. Ten per cent of total health expenditure was associated with the health care use of people in their last year of life. Increasing longevity will result in higher costs because people live longer. The decline of costs in the last year of life with increasing age will have a moderate lowering effect. Our projection demonstrated a 10% decline in the growth rate of future health expenditure compared to conventional projection methods. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
L-3,4-(3-3,4-dimethoxyphenethylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-phenyl- crotonic acid nitrile.HCl (Hoe 224), a beta-blocking agent with high beta 1-selectivity.
L-3,4-(3-3,4-Dimethoxyphene-ethylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)-phenyl-++ +crotonic acid nitrile X HCl (Hoe 224) has beta 1-blocking action. In the isolated left atrium of the guinea pig, the ED50 necessary to counteract the positive inotropic action of 2 ng/ml isoprenaline (isoproterenol) was determined as 10.3 ng/ml in comparison to the ED50 of propranolol 2.7 ng/ml. On the isolated right atrium of the same animal, the ED50 for inhibition of increased heart rate brought about by 2 ng/ml isoprenaline was 29.5 ng/ml in comparison to the ED50 of propranolol 13.5 ng/ml. On the isolated tracheal chain of the guinea pig 40 micrograms Hoe 224/ml also inhibited relaxation induced by 50 ng isoprenaline/ml only by 31%. The ED50 for propranolol in this experiment was 1.2 ng/ml. Therefore, Hoe 224 is a very specific beta 1-blocker. In the dog anaesthetized with pentobarbital the ED50 of Hoe 224 for depression of dp/dt increase by 0.1 mg isoprenaline/kg i.v. was determined as 85 micrograms/kg i.v. Under the same conditions, the ED50 for propranolol was 10 micrograms/kg i.v., for atenolol 17 micrograms/kg i.v., for practolol 56 micrograms/kg i.v. In the conscious dog, 1.6 mg Hoe 224/kg orally depressed the increase of dp/dt brought about by 0.1 microgram isoprenaline/kg i.v. by 50%. The beta 2-blocking effect of Hoe 224 intraarterially against vasodilating effect of 0.01 microgram isoprenaline/kg given intraarterially in the A. femoralis of anaesthetized dogs was very weak. 100 micrograms Hoe 224/kg reduced the effect of isoprenaline only by 23%, but 2 micrograms propranolol/kg intraarterially reduced this effect by 61%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Recombinant human thrombopoietin promotes platelet engraftment after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective randomized controlled trial.
Delayed platelet engraftment (DPE) is a common complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). This phenomenon is also a predictor of increased treatment-related mortality and poor survival. Therefore, therapies that promote platelet engraftment to prevent DPE are needed. This prospective randomized controlled trial was designed to investigate whether recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO), administered subcutaneously at a daily dose of 15,000 U from the first day after transplantation, promotes platelet engraftment after haploidentical HSCT. The cumulative incidence of platelet engraftment (platelet recovery to ≥20 × 10(9)/L without transfusion support for seven consecutive days) on day 60 post-transplantation was significantly higher in the rhTPO group (n = 60) than in the control group (n = 60) (91.7 ± 3.8 % vs. 74.5 ± 5.8 %, P = 0.041). Additionally, the number of platelet transfusions from day 14 to day 60 was significantly lower in the rhTPO group than in the control group (4 ± 5 vs. 7 ± 9 Units, P = 0.018). No severe adverse effects were observed, with a median follow-up duration of 256 days (range, 48-586 days). The incidences of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), chronic GVHD, and cytomegalovirus viremia and the probabilities of overall survival and disease-free survival did not differ between the two groups. A multivariate analysis of all patients revealed that regardless of assignment to the rhTPO group or the control group (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.514; 95 % CI (1.024-2.238); P = 0.038), the number of total infused CD34(+) cells (HR = 1.304; 95 % CI (1.148-1.482); P < 0.001) and slower neutrophil engraftment (HR = 2.777; 95 % CI (1.841-4.189); P < 0.001) were associated with platelet engraftment. In conclusion, rhTPO promotes platelet engraftment and safely reduces the requirement for platelet transfusion in patients after unmanipulated haploidentical HSCT. This trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org ) as ChiCTR-TRC-11001774. http://www.chictr.org/cn/proj/show.aspx?proj=2132 . | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Alteration of the somatosensory cortical map in peripheral mononeuropathy due to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Substantial plasticity of the mature mammalian somatosensory cortex was demonstrated after deprivation of sensory input produced by amputation or somatosensory deafferentation. Following transection of the median nerve, adult owl and squirrel monkeys exhibit extensive reorganization in the cortical representation of the hand in areas 3b and 1. In the present study we investigated the possible effect of incomplete median nerve damage on sensory cortex somatotopy in a patient with unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. We assessed interhemispheric differences of the hand representation in SI by means of magnetic source imaging. Additional intersubject data comparison was performed for specific results on the basis of available normal data from the literature and from own investigations in five healthy volunteers. Our results demonstrated a decreased extension of the cortical zone representing the injured median nerve and suggested invasion of the deprived area by cortical sectors receiving inputs from the little finger (supplied by the ulnar nerve) and from the dorsum of the thumb (innervated by the radial nerve). The study indicates topographic rearrangement of the hand representational zone in the human primary somatosensory cortex in a case of chronic median nerve injury. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hunting for horsepower: what's in a gallop?
Georgina Mills discusses research into the power behind a horse's gallop. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Trends and Age-Related Changes of Physical Activity Among Portuguese Adolescent Girls From 2002-2014: Highlights From the Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Study.
To examine the trends of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) from 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014 in a representative sample of Portuguese adolescent girls and to investigate MVPA changes during adolescence in surveys of each year and by generation. A nationally representative sample of 6018 girls between 11 and 13 years and 3838 girls between 15 and 17 years was drawn from the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children surveys in 2002, 2006, 2010, and 2014. A questionnaire was used to collect data of MVPA. Data were assessed with analysis of variance, t test, chi square, and chi-square test for trend. The percentage of 11- to 13-year-old girls reporting 60 minutes of daily MVPA was low and stable between 2002 (9.5%) and 2014 (11.1%) (P = .21), such as for girls aged 15-17 years (2002 = 5.6%, 2014 = 5%, P = .81). The percentage of girls reporting 60 minutes MVPA decreased significantly among age groups in all year surveys. A significant decrease in correlation with age across the same generation of adolescents was also found. This study points out that the prevalence of Portuguese girls meeting the PA guidelines is low, declines with age, and is stable from 2002-2014. Therefore, different strategies to prevent MVPA decline and promote MVPA are needed since childhood. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Transglutaminase-catalyzed post-translational modifications of proteins in the nervous system and their possible involvement in neurodegenerative diseases.
Transglutaminases are a large family of related and ubiquitous enzymes which catalyze the cross-linking of a glutaminyl residue of a protein/peptide substrate to a lysyl residue of a protein/peptide co-substrate. These enzymes are also capable of catalyzing other reactions important for the cell viability. The distribution and the physiological roles of the human transglutaminases have been widely studied in numerous cell types and tissues and their roles in several diseases have begun to be identified. Recently, "tissue" transglutaminase (TG2) has been shown to be involved in the molecular mechanisms responsible for a very widespread human pathology, Celiac Disease (CD). Transglutaminase activity has also been hypothesized to be directly involved in the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for several human neurodegenerative diseases, which are characterized in part by aberrant cerebral transglutaminase activity and by increased cross-linked proteins in affected brains, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), supranuclear palsy, Huntington's disease (HD) and other recently identified polyglutamine diseases. In this review we discuss the biochemistry of the transglutaminases, with particular reference to the molecular mechanisms that could be involved in the physiopathological processes responsible for these human neurodegenerative diseases. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Recombinant production of a hybrid plasminogen activator composed of surfactant protein B and low-molecular-weight urokinase.
Intraalveolar fibrin deposition is commonly observed during acute inflammatory and chronic interstitial lung diseases and may contribute to impairment of surfactant function and gas exchange. We recently described a chemically cross-linked chimeric protein consisting of surfactant protein (SP)-B and urokinase (uPA) for targeting alveolar fibrin under conditions such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or lung fibrosis. We now investigated the feasibility of a recombinant production of a fusion protein encoding mature SP-B and uPA, termed SPUC. Four different SPUC proteins (N-term SP-B/C-term uPA, N-term uPA/C-term SP-B, each +/- His-tag) were prepared by cloning the cDNA encoding mature SP-B and low-molecular-weight uPA into the expression vector pcDNA3.1. CHO-cells were transfected with the constructs and the supernatant and cell lysates were analyzed for expression of SPUC. Using a chromogenic substrate assay uPA activity was found in supernatants and lysates of transfected cells with highest activities related to the N-term uPA/C-term SP-B (+/- His-tag) construct in supernatants 48h after transfection. Casein enzymography showed an enzymatically active fusion proteins with a molecular weight of approximately 42 kDa in the supernatant of cells transfected with the N-term uPA/C-term SP-B (+/- His-tag) construct, but only a minor activity with the N-term SP-B/C-term uPA construct. The N-term uPA/C-term SP-B construct was also shown to possess higher resistance towards inhibition by plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. We conclude that recombinant production of a fusion protein consisting of mature SP-B and uPA is feasible, when the SP-B moiety is fused to the C-terminus of urokinase. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Pathogen evolution within host individuals as a primary cause of senescence.
This paper discusses a novel theory of senescence: the community of pathogens within each host individual evolves during the life-time of the host, and in doing so progressively reduces host vigour. I marshal evidence that asymptomatic host individuals maintain persistent populations of viral pathogens; that these pathogens replicate; that they are often extremely variable; that selection within hosts causes the evolution of pathogens better able to exploit the host; that selection is host-specific; and that such evolving infections cause appreciable and progressive deterioration. Experimental approaches to testing the theory are discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Coexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in human tumor cell lines].
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play an important role in tumor angiogenesis through a paracrine mechanism, but the importance of its autocrine has not been fully elucidated. This study was designed to explore the gene coexpression pattern of VEGF and its receptors (Flt-1 and KDR) in variety of human malignant cell lines. After isolation of RNA from thirty tumor cell lines and four endothelial cells, gene expressions of VEGF and its receptors were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using the transcriptional level of the house-keeping gene for internal calibration. VEGF transcript was detected in the majority of tumor cell lines (29/30) and in all endothelial cell lines at moderate or high level, while the expression of VEGF was low in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). Moreover, Flt-1 gene expression was found in 50% of hematopoietic malignancies (6/12), 28% of solid tumors (5/18), and endothelial cells (EA. hy926 and HUVEC). In contrast, the expression of KDR gene was found in 2 (16.7%) hematopoietic cell lines and 6 (33.3%) solid tumor lines. In endothelial cells, KDR gene expression was detectable in HMEC-1 and HUVEC only. However, ECV304 cells express neither Flt-1 nor KDR gene. Overexpression of VEGF gene in all tumor cell lines provides a potential biological marker for malignancies and the coexpression of VEGF with its receptors suggesting an autocrine pathway exists in tumor cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Behavioral response and gene expression changes in fipronil-administered male Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica).
Fipronil is an important member of the phenylpyrazole group of insecticides and is widely used for various crops and vegetables to control insects, thereby exposing birds, animals, and humans to fipronil. Currently, there is limited information on the effects of fipronil exposure in Japanese quail. Therefore, our aim was to assess the reproductive toxicological effects of fipronil in the Japanese quail in a 15-day gavage study and then its recovery over a period of 60 days. Fipronil-administration led to significant losses in both feed intake and body weight. Whereas, the gonadosomatic index was not affected, and histological changes observed in the testes were reversible, particularly by day 45 and day 60 of recovery. Cloacal gland atrophy, reduced foam quantity and a reduction in fertility, sexual and aggressive behaviors, and serum testosterone with elevated estradiol (E2) hormone levels were also observed. All these changes gradually reversed during various recovery periods. Further, alterations in hepatic vitellogenin (Vtg) and estrogen receptor α (ERα) gene expression, assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, were also observed. Specifically, ERα1 was induced after fipronil administration, while the Vtg transcript was elevated during both exposure and recovery periods. Our results showed that fipronil exposure has a profound negative influence on reproductive traits in the male Japanese quail and exhibits an estrogenic activity that can raise the incidence of infertility in males. Nevertheless, most of the changes could be reversed after a recovery period of 30-45 days. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Incidence of Diabetes Mellitus in Male Moderate Alcohol Drinkers: A Community-Based Prospective Cohort Study.
Although alcohol consumption is known to affect the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM), reports on the effects of moderate alcohol consumption on DM incidence have been inconsistent. This community-based prospective cohort study was performed to investigate the incidence of DM in male Korean moderate alcohol drinkers. The Ansan and Ansung cohort was used for the analysis. The study population included a total of 3,492 men with no history of DM. The subjects were classified as mild (1-14 g/d), moderate (15-29 g/d), and heavy (≥30 g/d) drinkers based on their amount of alcohol consumption. The incidence rates of DM in the three groups were compared and analyzed over a 10 year follow-up period. The hazard ratios (HRs) for DM incidence were 25.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.73-28.90) per 1,000 person years (PY) in mild drinkers, 31.13 (26.11-36.83) per 1,000 PY in moderate drinkers, and 31.68 (26.81-37.18) per 1,000 PY in heavy drinkers (p for trend, p = 0.043). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the HRs (95% CI) for DM were 1.25 (0.97-1.61, p = 0.086) in moderate drinkers and 1.30 (1.01-1.68, p = 0.045) in heavy drinkers compared to mild drinkers. The changes in pancreatic insulin secretion were more remarkable than those in insulin resistance in all three groups. The incidence of DM in male Korean moderate drinkers did not increase significantly over the observation period. However, the incidence of DM tended to increase with increasing alcohol consumption. Pancreatic insulin secretion may play a more important role than insulin resistance in the relationship between alcohol and incidence of DM. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Relationships between protein and energy consumed from milk replacer and starter and calf growth and first-lactation production of Holstein dairy cows.
The objective was to determine relationships between protein and energy consumed from milk replacer and starter and calf growth and first-lactation production of Holstein heifer calves. Milk replacer and starter protein intake and metabolizable energy (ME) intake data were collected from 4,534 Holstein heifer calves for growth and 3,627 Holstein cows for production from birth year of 2004 through 2014. Calves from 3 commercial dairy farms were assigned to 45 different calf research trials at the University of Minnesota Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca, Minnesota, from 3 to 195 d of life. Calves were moved to heifer growers at 6 mo of age, and calves were returned to their farm of birth a few weeks before calving. Most calves (85%) were fed a 20% crude protein and 20% fat milk replacer at a rate of 0.57 kg/calf daily. Metabolizable energy and protein consumed from milk replacer and starter were calculated for each individual calf for 6 and 8 wk of age. Mixed model analyses were conducted to determine the effect of protein and energy consumed from both milk replacer and starter on calf growth and first-lactation 305-d production of milk, fat, and protein, adjusting for herd, season of birth, year, average daily gain (ADG), and calf trial. Calves with ADG >0.80 kg/d consumed more combined protein and ME than calves with lower ADG. Protein and ME intake from calf starter affected growth more than protein and ME intake from milk replacer because most calves were fed the same fixed amount of milk replacer. Calves born during the fall and winter had greater combined protein and ME intake than calves born during the spring and summer. Milk replacer protein and ME intake did not have a relationship with first-lactation 305-d milk, fat, and protein production. However, starter protein and ME intake during the first 6 and 8 wk of age had a significant positive relationship with first-lactation 305-d milk, fat, and protein production. Consequently, combined protein and combined ME intake had a positive effect on 305-d milk, fat, and protein production. Variance in protein and ME intake was high, suggesting that additional factors affect calf growth during the first 8 wk of life and milk production in first lactation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Outpatient laparoscopic pyeloplasty.
To assess the feasibility of ambulatory laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty aims to reproduce the excellent functional outcomes of open pyeloplasty while diminishing procedural morbidity. Six patients fulfilled specific inclusion criteria for outpatient laparoscopic pyeloplasty: informed consent, body mass index of 40 kg/m2 or less, primary ureteropelvic junction obstruction, uncomplicated laparoscopic surgery completed by 12:00 pm, and postoperative pain control by oral analgesics. All patients had a double-J ureteral stent placed cystoscopically before laparoscopic access. No drains were placed postoperatively. All 6 patients successfully underwent laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty (3 left, 3 right) using the retroperitoneal (n = 5) or transperitoneal (n = 1) approach. The average patient age was 22 years. The mean surgical time was 223 minutes (range 165 to 270), the mean blood loss was 82 mL (range 10 to 250), and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 359 minutes (range 226 to 424). Postoperative analgesia comprised a mean of 6 mg morphine sulfate and 32 mg of ketorolac. No complications or readmissions occurred postoperatively. Intravenous urography and Lasix technetium-99m mercaptoacetyltriglycine renal scans documented resolution of obstruction. With long-term follow-up (mean 38.4 months), no recurrences have developed. We report our initial series of ambulatory laparoscopic pyeloplasty. In this well-selected patient population, outpatient pyeloplasty was feasible and safe. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Acute effects of platelet activating factor on the pulmonary circulation in rats].
To investigate the acute effects of platelet activating factor (PAF) on pulmonary circulation and cardiovascular function in rats, twenty anesthetized Wistar rats were given 100-800 ng/kg PAF by bolus intrapulmonary artery infusion. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), mean systemic artery pressure (mSAP) and cardiac output (CO) were measured before and after administration. The results showed that PAF infusion caused: a rise in mPAP from 2.11 +/- 0.20 kPa to 2.65 +/- 0.11 kPa (100 ng/kg, P > 0.05), from 2.32 +/- 0.25 kPa to 2.85 +/- 0.24 kPa (200 ng/kg, P < 0.05) and from 2.11 +/- 0.33 kPa to 3.01 +/- 0.45 kPa (400 ng/kg, P < 0.05)p; a down in mSAP from 16.0 +/- 2.11 kPa to 9.1 +/- 2.39 kPa (100 ng/kg, P < 0.05); from 16.3 +/- 1.38 kPa to 7.0 +/- 0.57 kPa (200 ng/kg, P < 0.05) and from 16.4 +/- 2.56 kPa to 6.3 +/- 0.89 kPa (400 ng/kg, P < 0.05); and a down in CO from 48.1 +/- 2.16 ml/min to 30.8 +/- 3.27 ml/min (100 ng/kg, P < 0.05), from 47.8 +/- 2.12 ml/min to 25.6 +/- 2.86 ml/min (200 ng/kg, P < 0.05) and from 48.3 +/- 2.24 ml/min to 20.0 +/- 2.39 ml/min (400 ng/kg, P < 0.05). These findings suggested that PAF play an important role in the pathophysiologic course of pulmonary hypertension. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Rehabilitation Protocols After Isolated Meniscal Repair: A Systematic Review.
Current postoperative rehabilitation protocols after isolated meniscal repair vary widely. No consensus exists with regard to the optimal amount of weightbearing, range of motion, or speed at which the patient progresses through the rehabilitation phases. Confounding factors including concomitant ligamentous or cartilaginous injuries have made studying isolated meniscal tears problematic. To systematically review and evaluate the influence of range of motion and weightbearing status during the postoperative rehabilitation period after isolated meniscal repair on clinical efficacy and outcome scores. Systematic review. A search of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted. The selection criteria for inclusion were English-language in vivo clinical studies reporting on isolated meniscal repairs utilizing an arthroscopically assisted technique that outlined the postoperative rehabilitation protocol and included at least a 2-year follow-up. Titles, abstracts, and articles were reviewed, and data concerning patient demographics, tear type, repair technique, postoperative protocol details, clinical failures, and outcome scores were extracted from the eligible studies. Rehabilitation protocols were divided into "accelerated," "motion restricted," "weight restricted," and "dual restricted" according to the limitations placed on the treatment groups. Fifteen studies, containing 17 different treatment groups, met the inclusion criteria. The 2 accelerated groups, 2 motion-restricted groups, 4 weight-restricted groups, and 9 dual-restricted groups showed similar efficacy in terms of clinical success and postoperative outcome scores. Early range of motion and weightbearing status showed no influence over clinical outcomes. Of the 17 groups, 13 reported a greater than 70% clinical success rate with significant variation in the tear type, fixation technique, and postoperative restrictions. Early range of motion and immediate postoperative weightbearing appear to have no detrimental effect on the chances for clinical success after isolated meniscal repair. Significant variation exists between postoperative protocols, with no current consensus on the ideal parameters for weightbearing and range of motion. Studies reporting outcomes regarding isolated meniscal repair are limited. Future research should include determining the ideal combination of weightbearing and range of motion for specific tear types. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Immobilized purple bacteria for light-driven H2 production from starch and potato fermentation effluents.
The goal of the study was to show that immobilized purple bacteria could photoproduce H(2) using dark fermentation effluent (FE) as substrate. Simple pretreatment of an inexpensive glass-fiber matrix accelerated the immobilization process. Photobioreactors (PhBR) containing immobilized Rhodobacter sphaeroides GL produced 0.128 L H(2) h(-1) L(-1) of PhBR volume (0.570 L h(-1) L(-1) of matrix) for up to 3 months when continuously fed artificial media with volatile fatty acids (VFAs) or FE from potato and starch fermentations. Hydrogen production was insensitive to NH(4)(+) up to 1 mM and saturated at 8 mM lactate or 1.5% potato FE (diluted in water and supplemented with critical micronutrients). The efficiency of VFA transformation to H(2) was 50-70% of theoretical. At nonlimiting substrate concentrations in artificial media or FE, acetate was utilized before butyrate. High volumetric rates of continuous H(2) photoproduction and stability of the process are advantages of using immobilized cultures. Use of H(2) photoproduction as a polishing step in the treatment of FEs from dark fermentations increased the total amount of H(2) produced from 0.9 to 4.7 mol mol(-1) glucose equivalent in the original potato homogenate. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Computed tomographic evaluation of the dilated pancreatic duct: the value of thin-section collimation.
Three patients with surgically proved pancreatic carcinoma and one with chronic and acute pancreatitis were evaluated by computed tomography. Scans through the pancreatic region were initially performed with standard 10-mm collimation and then repeated using thin-section (5-mm) collimation. In all cases a pathologically dilated pancreatic duct was either not seen or faint with 10-mm collimation, whereas it was clearly identified using the thin-section collimator. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Intestinal parasitoses among the workers and their families at three electricity generating dams in Thailand.
During September 17, 1980 - May 29, 1981 a total of 986 single stool specimens were collected from workers and their families at three electricity generating dams under the administration of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). Parasitological surveys were carried out at the dam sites, namely the Khoa Laem Project, the Srinakarin Dam and the Ubolratana Dam. The overall prevalence at all three sites are moderately high (62.50%, 45.33% and 54.05% respectively). The Khoa Laem project had the highest prevalence of E. histolytica infection (16.16%) which may be the result of poorer sanitary standards for workers of the project under construction. The occurrence of opisthorchiasis at the first two sites situated in central Thailand (12.19% and 7.01%) is the result of influx of migrant northeastern workers. The prevalence of other parasites are not remarkable. However, because of the proximity of the people living close to the large bodies of fresh water, urgent measures should be taken to eradicate the parasitic infections among them in order to prevent the spread through the water. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Reaction rate of H2CO (1A) and (3A) via TST.
In this work, we present the reaction rate and dissociation of formaldehyde H2CO, where we found three possible pathways for the singlet state (1A), and two for triplet state (3A). The optimized geometries and frequencies were determined at B3LYP/6-311g(2d,d,p) internal to CBS-QB3 methods. The reaction rates are calculated using the APUAMA code, applying the tunneling correction of Wigner, Eckart, and small curvature transmission coefficient (SCT), and the total reaction rate is presented in the Arrhenius form as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], for singlet and triplet state, respectively. Graphical Abstract PES for singlet and triplet formaldehyde. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Blockade of voltage-dependent 42K efflux from rat brain synaptosome by minaprine and tetrahydroaminoacridine.
The effect of minaprine (3-(2-morpholinoethylamino)-4-methyl-6-phenylpyridazine) on the K+ channels was studied by means of 42K efflux from rat brain synaptosomes, comparing the effects of 4-aminopyridine and 9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine (THA). 42K efflux from rat brain synaptosomes was classified into five components: a resting component (R), a rapidly inactivating, voltage-dependent component (T), a slowly inactivating, voltage-dependent component (S) and a voltage-dependent, Ca(2+)-dependent component which is divided into a fast phase (CT) and a slower phase (CS). 4-Aminopyridine selectively inhibited 42K efflux of component T. THA blocked both S and T components. The inhibitory effect of THA on the 42K efflux of component S was quite pronounced compared with that of component T. Minaprine inhibited the 42K efflux of components S and T but the inhibitory effect on component S was observed with a lower dose of minaprine than that needed for the effect on component T. Minaprine had no effect on the Ca(2+)-dependent component while THA blocked component CT. 42K efflux of the resting component was not changed by minaprine, THA or 4-aminopyridine. These results suggest that minaprine blocks Ca2+ independent voltage-dependent K+ channel is involved in the pharmacological actions of minaprine. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Validation of the functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-fatigue (FACIT-F) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
BACKGROUND Many patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) complain of significant fatigue. To date, no instrument to measure fatigue has been validated in a US inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) population. AIM To determine the reliability and validity of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) scale in IBD. METHODS A total of 209 patients with IBD completed the 13 items of the FACIT-F, alongside laboratory testing and disease activity assessment. Internal consistency was measured by Cronbach's alpha; test-retest reliability by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC); validity by the correlation of the FACIT-F score with C-reactive protein (CRP) erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), haematocrit (HCT) and disease activity as measured by the Harvey-Bradshaw Index (HBI; CD) and Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI; UC). RESULTS The mean ± SD FACIT-F score was 38.9 ± 11.0 overall (CD 38.6 ± 11.3; UC 39.4 ± 10.6). Cronbach's alpha was 0.94. The ICC for first and repeat FACIT-F scores assessed within 180 days without change in disease state was 0.81 (CD 0.78; UC 0.87). FACIT-F scores were lower in patients with active symptoms (CD 4.6 points, 95% CI 2.4-6.9, P < 0.001; UC 8.5 points, 95% CI 5.5-11.4, P < 0.001). In UC, FACIT-F scores were correlated with ESR (-0.76, 95% CI -0.89 to -0.50), CRP (-0.72, 95% CI -0.88 to -0.43) and HCT (0.53, 95% CI 0.22-0.74). CONCLUSION The FACIT-F scale is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring fatigue in IBD. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Determination of fatty alcohol ethoxylates by derivatization with phthalic anhydride followed by liquid chromatography with UV-vis detection.
The esterification of fatty alcohol ethoxylates (FAEs) with phthalic anhydride in 1,4-dioxane was studied. At 110 degrees C and in the presence of urea, which increased the reaction rate, esterification was completed in 60 min. The reaction yield did not decrease when the sample contained up to 50% water. For the non-ethoxylated alcohols, the UV-vis response factors of the derivatives were not significantly different from each other (f=1 for C12E0 as reference). The response factors decreased when the number of ethylene oxide units, m, increased, reaching constant values of ca. 0.40 and 0.65 for the n=8 and 18 series, respectively, when m>or=3. Using a C8 column and gradient elution with acetonitrile/water plus 0.1% acetic acid, FAEs in industrial mixtures and cleaning products were characterized. At column temperatures of 25 and 35 degrees C, homologous series with even values of n from 8 up to 20, were resolved up to m=14 and 18, respectively, and at 25 degrees C, series with consecutive even and odd values of n were resolved up to m=7. Within the series, superior resolution of the ethoxymers with large values of m was achieved; however, the elution order was reversed for the m=1 and 0 ethoxymers, which produced overlapping of a few peaks within the series. A simple procedure for the accurate prediction of the concentrations of all the ethoxymers in industrial samples was described. After preconcentration with C18 solid-phase extraction cartridges, FAEs were also characterized and quantified in environmental samples (river and sea water). The LODs were ca. 2 microM (S/N=3) in the injected solutions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Transfer of defined numbers of chloroplasts into albino protoplasts by subprotoplast/protoplast microfusion: chloroplasts can be "cloned", by using suitable plastome combinations or selective pressure.
Defined numbers (1-5) of (donor) chloroplasts were transferred into (acceptor) protoplasts of plastid albino mutants by subprotoplasts/protoplast microfusion. Single transferred plastids gave rise to new organelle populations in the progeny of the fusion products when suitable combinations of plastomes were used or when selective pressure for the plastome transferred was applied. This process is termed "chloroplast cloning" and is the first reported case of "cloning" a cell organelle. The plastome combination and the presence or absence of selective pressure were found to influence the frequencies with which cell lines, containing both plastomes or acceptor or donor only, were obtained, and the number of cell generations needed for complete segregation - as measured by the duration of culture before the green donor plastome could be detected. The high frequency of cell lines and regenerated shoots recovered with donor plastome only, even when only a single chloroplast was transferred, leads to the conclusion that all organelles present in the fusion product contribute to the organelle population of the progeny, i.e. organelle death or loss are not regularly occurring events during plant regeneration from protoplasts in Nicotiana tabacum. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in severe necrotizing soft tissue infections complicated by septic shock.
Necrotizing soft tissue infections remain a challenging clinical problem. Delays in diagnosis, incomplete débridement of necrotic tissues, and the hemodynamic instability and end-organ failure associated with overwhelming sepsis all contribute to significant mortality. Extracorporeal support is a well-established tool to support profound cardiopulmonary failure. To broaden the indications for use, we present two cases of young adults with necrotizing soft tissue infections who sustained sepsis-induced hemodynamic collapse and required extracorporeal support to facilitate adequate tissue débridement as a bridge to recovery. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Total synthesis of (±)-ganocins B and C.
The first total synthesis of structurally unique polycyclic phenolic meroterpenoids, ganocins B and C is reported. The synthesis features gold-catalyzed intramolecular cascade cyclization to construct the C/D ring bearing an angular methyl group, diastereoselective Michael addition, and acid-mediated one-pot Robinson cyclization/deprotection/isomerization. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects on bowel motility of misoprostol administered before and after meals.
Prostaglandin analogues, used in the treatment of duodenal and benign gastric ulcer and in the prevention of gastric ulceration caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are frequently associated with gastrointestinal side effects, particularly diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. We investigated the effects of misoprostol, a prostaglandin E1 derivative, on bowel motility and faecal loss of fat, water and bile acids in relation to its postprandial vs. preprandial administration. Twelve healthy subjects participated in a double-blind crossover study comparing three 5-day courses of therapy with a washout period of 1-2 weeks between courses. Following a Latin Square design, the dosing regimens were (a) 400 micrograms misoprostol b.d. after meals and placebo b.d. before meals; (b) 400 micrograms misoprostol b.d. before meals and placebo b.d. after meals; (c) placebo before and after meals. Orocaecal transit time measured by H2 breath tests following lactulose administration, was shortest during pre-prandial dosing but was also significantly decreased during post-prandial dosing. The overall treatment difference was highly significant (P less than 0.001), and the difference between each pair of treatments was also statistically significant. Whole bowel transit time studied by means of 3H-PEG 4000 determination in stools, was shorter for the two misoprostol regimens but statistical significance was borderline. The number of stools passed per day was similar in the three groups. During both misoprostol dosing periods, stools were less formed and their content of water, fat and bile acids was higher. There was also more urgency, flatulence, abdominal pain and nausea. It is concluded that the gastrointestinal side effects caused by misoprostol are mainly based on an increased orocaecal transit time. The effects are more important when the drug is administered before meals than after meals. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Which signs and symptoms warrant involvement of medical staff? The definition and identification of status-change events in the nursing home.
In this article, the authors clarify the concept of status-change events (a significant clinical change that calls for medical follow-up by a physician) by providing preliminary descriptions of these events, and attempting to differentiate them from incidents that did not qualify as status-change events. Participants were residents from a large, nonprofit nursing home. Data were collected about the source of information, the nature of the incident, whether it qualified as a status-change event, and the reason (if any) for disqualification. The most common incidents involved in status-change events were troubled breathing, aspiration, fracture, and hypotension. The most common incidents that did not qualify as status-change events were continuing pneumonia, bruises, lacerations, disorientation, and blood pressure abnormalities. A wide range of physical ailments characterized both status-change events and incidents that did not qualify as status-change events. The main reason an incident did not qualify was because it did not warrant contacting the physician. The nature of the incident is insufficient in itself to determine whether the incident qualifies as a status-change event. The process for identifying and analyzing status-change events in the nursing home requires several steps and much persistence. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Measurement of the spin temperature of optically cooled nuclei and GaAs hyperfine constants in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots.
Deep cooling of electron and nuclear spins is equivalent to achieving polarization degrees close to 100% and is a key requirement in solid-state quantum information technologies. While polarization of individual nuclear spins in diamond and SiC (ref. ) reaches 99% and beyond, it has been limited to 50-65% for the nuclei in quantum dots. Theoretical models have attributed this limit to formation of coherent 'dark' nuclear spin states but experimental verification is lacking, especially due to the poor accuracy of polarization degree measurements. Here we measure the nuclear polarization in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum dots with high accuracy using a new approach enabled by manipulation of the nuclear spin states with radiofrequency pulses. Polarizations up to 80% are observed-the highest reported so far for optical cooling in quantum dots. This value is still not limited by nuclear coherence effects. Instead we find that optically cooled nuclei are well described within a classical spin temperature framework. Our findings unlock a route for further progress towards quantum dot electron spin qubits where deep cooling of the mesoscopic nuclear spin ensemble is used to achieve long qubit coherence. Moreover, GaAs hyperfine material constants are measured here experimentally for the first time. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Defective nephrin trafficking caused by missense mutations in the NPHS1 gene: insight into the mechanisms of congenital nephrotic syndrome.
Congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (CNF or NPHS1) is an autosomal recessive kidney disorder resulting in severe proteinurea and renal dysfunction. Although the disease occurs predominantly in the Finnish population, many cases in other populations have also been reported. The disease gene (NPHS1) encodes nephrin, a podocyte transmembrane protein that is an essential component of the podocyte slit diaphragm, the renal ultrafilter. Since the discovery of the gene, many mutations have been reported in the NPHS1 gene in patients with diverse ethnic background. A surprisingly large number of these mutations are missense mutations resulting in single amino acid substitutions. In order to study the pathomechanism of these missense mutations, we have investigated the fate of 21 such mutations hitherto identified in NPHS1 patients. Immunostaining of stable transfected cells expressing the nephrin mutants demonstrated that most of the mutants showed only endoplasmic reticulum (ER) staining and no detectable cell surface localization. Immunoelectron microscopy of cells expressing the wild-type and a mutant nephrin further confirmed that the mutant nephrin could be abundantly found in the ER but not on the plasma membrane. Subcellular fractionation of wild-type and a mutant cell line clearly showed an altered subcellular distribution and molecular mobility of the mutant nephrin. In summary, our data indicate that a defective intracellular nephrin transport, most likely due to misfolding, is the most common consequence of missense mutations in NPHS1. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Biomarker tests for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: Generating evidence to inform insurance coverage determinations.
Outside of their uses in drug development and clinical research trials, the current clinical value of performing any type of formal biomarker testing for the diagnosis or exclusion of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is controversial, and most biomarker tests for AD are not covered by public or private insurers. This situation raises the issue of how insurers determine whether there is "adequate" evidence to justify a positive coverage determination in this area. This article, a focused condensation of a larger white paper, is the product of an initiative led by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review to convene a multiple-stakeholder AD Diagnostics Policy Development Group composed of patient advocates, clinicians, clinical researchers, manufacturers, and insurers. The larger white paper was the basis for the evidence review presented to the Medicare Evidence Development and Coverage Advisory Committee meeting on January 30, 2013, as part of its deliberations on positron emission tomography-amyloid imaging. Herein we focus on the description of the core elements of what insurers will be looking for in evidence on all potential diagnostic tests for AD. Corresponding research recommendations are also included, framed to serve as a guide for future AD diagnostics research. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Risk Assessment for Mobile Systems Through a Multilayered Hierarchical Bayesian Network.
Mobile systems are facing a number of application vulnerabilities that can be combined together and utilized to penetrate systems with devastating impact. When assessing the overall security of a mobile system, it is important to assess the security risks posed by each mobile applications (apps), thus gaining a stronger understanding of any vulnerabilities present. This paper aims at developing a three-layer framework that assesses the potential risks which apps introduce within the Android mobile systems. A Bayesian risk graphical model is proposed to evaluate risk propagation in a layered risk architecture. By integrating static analysis, dynamic analysis, and behavior analysis in a hierarchical framework, the risks and their propagation through each layer are well modeled by the Bayesian risk graph, which can quantitatively analyze risks faced to both apps and mobile systems. The proposed hierarchical Bayesian risk graph model offers a novel way to investigate the security risks in mobile environment and enables users and administrators to evaluate the potential risks. This strategy allows to strengthen both app security as well as the security of the entire system. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Reduced expression of Rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor-alpha modulates the cytotoxic effect of busulfan in HEK293 cells.
High-dose busulfan is an important component in many conditioning protocols for hematopoietic stem cell or bone marrow transplantation. Treatment with busulfan results in the inhibition of cell cycle progression and apoptosis of tumor cells. As Rho GTPases are involved in cell cycle regulation, we investigated the influence of modified Rho guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor-alpha (GDI), a physiological inhibitor of Rho GTPases, on busulfan activity in cancer cells. RhoGDIalpha has been shown to be overexpressed in multiple types of tumors such as ovarian and breast cancer. To investigate the role of RhoGDIalpha, we established a RhoGDIalpha knockdown by the transient transfection of HEK293 cells with specific small interfering RNA resulting in strongly reduced RhoGDIalpha mRNA and protein expression. Other members of the RhoGDI family such as RhoGDIbeta and RhoGDIgamma were not affected. In RhoGDIalpha knockdown cells, cell cycle regulation was not altered by the downregulation of RhoGDIalpha; however, the rate of apoptotic cells increased when compared with the control small interfering RNA-transfected cells. In addition, treatment of cells with busulfan resulted in a further increased apoptotic rate, as determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis and caspase-3 activation. Such a sensitization of RhoGDIalpha small interfering RNA transfected cells was also found upon treatment with doxorubicin and taxol. In summary, we could demonstrate that the expression of RhoGDIalpha influences the sensitivity of cells toward busulfan-induced cytotoxicity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sonochemical incorporated of cytosine in Cu-H2bpdc as an antibacterial agent against standard and clinical strains of Proteus mirabilis with rsbA gene.
The cytosine embedded copper based metal-organic framework (Bio-MOF) was synthesized by facile one-step sonochemical method by simply mixing of 4-4, biphenyldicarboxylic, cytosine and copper nitrate (Bio-Cu-H2bpdc-Cy). The prepared bio-MOF was characterized by XRD, FTIR and FE-SEM techniques. The effect of Cu-H2bpdc-Cy on the expression of the rsbA gene was evaluated in the clinical and standard Proteus mirabilis and study of MIC of Cu-H2bpdc-Cy by microdilution against them that have the rsbA gene. According to different concentrations of MIC, MBC concentrations was cultured on blood agar culture medium. Regarding to the concentration of MIC, gene expression changes were obtained by real-time PCR. MIC for standard and clinical strains of Proteus mirabilis was 1.6 and 1.8 mg/ml, and also MBC was obtained to be 1.8 and 2.0 mg/ml, respectively. Finally, in the real time PCR method, expression of the rsbA gene in presences of bio-Cu-H2bpdc-Cy was reduced, but has no effect on the gene expression of the Housekeeping DNA Gyrase-B gene. Considering the effect of Cu-H2bpdc-Cy on the rsbA gene in Proteus mirabilis bacteria, it is possible to use of Cu-H2bpdc-Cy agent as a therapeutic supplement against this bacterium. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A novel form of human neuropsin, a brain-related serine protease, is generated by alternative splicing and is expressed preferentially in human adult brain.
We have cloned cDNAs encoding two isoforms of a human novel serine protease. They encoded sequences of 260 and 305 amino acids, and both showed significant homology to mouse neuropsin. Mouse neuropsin has been reported to be involved in hippocampal plasticity, therefore we designated the proteins as type 1 and type 2 neuropsin, respectively. The amino acid sequences of the two types of human neuropsin were identical, except that type 2 carried an insert of 45 amino acids at the C-terminus of the leader sequence. The essential three amino acids in the active site triad, His, Asp, and Ser, and the single putative N-glycosylation site were conserved in human and mouse neuropsin. Sequence analysis of the 946 bp genomic DNA spanning the region encoding the insertion sequence revealed that two isoforms were generated in human brain by alternative splicing. However, the mouse genomic sequence did not conserve the 3' acceptor consensus sequence at the corresponding position, suggesting that type 2 neuropsin was a species-specific splice variant. When the open reading frames of human neuropsin were expressed in insect cells, both types of neuropsin were detected in the conditioned media by western blot analysis using anti-human neuropsin serum. Northern blot hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed predominant expression of type 1 neuropsin in pancreas. Type 2 neuropsin was preferentially expressed in human adult brain and hippocampus, although both types were expressed in fetal brain and placenta in comparable amounts. Dot blot hybridization showed that neuropsin was expressed in various regions of adult brain, including the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, and also in various fetal tissues. These results suggest that human type 2 neuropsin may be important to the adult brain plasticity, although both types may be necessary for the development of the nervous system. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Roles of transmembrane domain 2 and the first intracellular loop in human noradrenaline transporter function: pharmacological and SCAM analysis.
The aim was to investigate the roles of transmembrane domain 2 and the adjacent region of the first intracellular loop in determining human noradrenaline transporter (hNET) function by pharmacological and substituted-cysteine accessibility method (SCAM) analyses. It was first necessary to establish a suitable background NET for SCAM. Alanine mutants of endogenous hNET cysteines, hC86A, hC131A and hC339A, were examined and showed no marked effects on expression or function. hNET and the mutants were also resistant to methanethiosulfonate (MTS), ethylammonium (MTSEA) and MTStrimethylammonium (MTSET). Hence, wild-type hNET is an appropriate background for production of cysteine mutants for SCAM. Pharmacological investigation showed that all mutants except hT99C and hL109C showed reduced cell-surface expression, while all except hM107C showed a reduction in functional activity. The mutations did not markedly affect the apparent affinities of substrates, but apparent affinities of cocaine were decreased 7-fold for hP97C and 10-fold for hF101C and increased 12-fold for hY98C. [3H]Nisoxetine binding affinities were decreased 13-fold for hP97C and 5-fold for hF101C. SCAM analysis revealed that only hL102C was sensitive to 1.25 mm MTSEA, and this sensitivity was protected by noradrenaline, nisoxetine and cocaine. The results suggest that this region of hNET is important for interactions with antidepressants and cocaine, but it is probably not involved in substrate translocation mechanisms. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Erratum to: Highest Impact Articles in Microsurgery: A Citation Analysis.
| {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Immunomodulating activity in supernatants from EBV immortalized lymphocytes.
Our earlier work has demonstrated that EBV immortalized B lymphocytes are involved in a factor dependent autostimulatory cycle. Soluble growth stimulating activity was released into culture supernatants by these growing B cells. Growth enhancing (GE) media from B lymphocyte lines, immortalized by EBV infection, contained soluble factor(s) which modulated the Con A response of normal human mononuclear cells. Conditioned media from these lines affected the Con A response in a biphasic manner, stimulating the blastogenic response at lower concentrations, while inhibiting at higher concentrations. At stimulatory concentrations, the blastogenic response to Con A began earlier than in controls and was markedly enhanced by day 2. GE media reduced the initial response of purified B cells to pokeweed mitogen. GE media did not support growth of IL-2 dependent cells. GE media from some EBV-carrying B cell lines had measurable IL-1 activity in the mouse thymocyte PHA response. GE media from LPS stimulated B lymphocyte lines produced significant IL-1-like effects on stimulated mouse thymocytes. These results suggested that these B cell lines may produce IL-1-like factors that cooperate in T cell responses. The possibility that such factors may play a role in B lymphocyte transformation by EBV is discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
S-adenosyl-L-methionine a counter to lead intoxication?
The effect of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) administration to both acute and chronic lead exposed mice was investigated. SAM was given s.c. at different doses and for different time intervals. The best results were obtained using 20 mg SAM/kg applied daily over a period of 20-22 days. Results obtained in both acute and chronic lead poisoning were quite similar. GSH concentration in blood and liver, reduced in intoxicated animals was increased after SAM administration reaching normal values. Blood, liver and kidney lead content notably increased at the beginning of SAM treatment and decreased rapidly in the group receiving SAM, attaining values near control levels in 2 weeks. A significant recovery of blood, liver, kidney, spleen and brain delta-aminolevulic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) initially reduced in poisoned animals, was clearly produced after SAM administration. A clear and direct correlation between the recovery of both ALA-D activity and GSH levels and the decreased concentration of lead in tissues was observed, reinforcing our proposal that enhancement of thiol content as a result of SAM administration would facilitate the detoxification process and lead removal, consequently reversing the inactivation of the enzyme. We conclude that SAM therapy is beneficial in the treatment of lead intoxication. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The substrate anion selectivity filter in the human erythrocyte Cl-/HCO3- exchange protein, AE1.
AE1 facilitates Cl-/HCO3- exchange across the erythrocyte membrane. To identify residues involved in substrate selection and translocation, we prepared an array of single cysteine mutants in an otherwise cysteineless background. These mutants spanning the C-terminal portion of the AE1 membrane domain from Phe806-Cys885 were characterized for functional activity when expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells by measurement of changes of intracellular pH associated with bicarbonate transport. To identify residues involved in substrate translocation, transport activity was assessed for each mutant before and after treatment with the following sulfhydryl reagents: anionic para-chloromercuibenzenesulfonate; permeant (2-aminoethyl)methanethiosulfonate; and cationic [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate (MTSET). Among the 80 mutants, only certain key residues in the Val849-Leu863 region were inhibited by the sulfhydryl reagent, consistent with direct involvement of these sites in anion transport. In the last two transmembrane segments, only mutants in the extracellular portion of the transmembrane segments could be inhibited by sulfhydryl reagent, suggesting that the outer portions line the translocation channel and the inner portions have some other role. Sensitivity to cationic MTSET and effects of Cl- identified the substrate charge filter as Ser852-Leu857. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Relative suppression of magical thinking: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.
The tendency to perceive meaning in noise (apophenia) has been linked to "magical thinking" (MT), a distinctive form of thinking associated with a range of normal cognitive styles, anomalous perceptual experiences and frank psychosis. Important aspects of MT include the propensity to imbue meaning or causality to events that might otherwise be considered coincidental. Structures in the lateral temporal lobes have been hypothesised to be involved in both the clinical and nonclinical aspects of MT. Accordingly, in this study we used single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to stimulate either the left or right lateral temporal areas, or the vertex, of 12 healthy participants (balanced for similar levels of MT, delusional ideation and temporal lobe disturbance) while they were required to indicate if they had "detected" pictures, claimed to be present by the experimenters, in visual noise. Relative to the vertex, TMS inhibition of the left lateral temporal area produced significant reduced tendency to report meaningful information, suggesting that left lateral temporal activation may be more important in MT and therefore producing and supporting anomalous beliefs and experiences. The effect cannot simply be explained by TMS induced cognitive slowing as reaction times were not affected. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Measures of resilience and adaptation of adolescents in single parent families in Taiwan: psychometric properties and related profiles.
The dimensionality of measures of resilience (74 items) and adaptation (35 items) were examined in 291 adolescents living in single parent families in Taiwan. Factor analyses showed that internally consistent factors with high loadings could be derived from: (a) resilience items with reference to different ecological systems, including personal domain (six factors), family domain (eight domains), school domain (three domains), and community domain (three domains); and (b) adaptation problem items (eight factors). An examination of the profile of responses of the respondents showed that several concerns in the areas of resilience (effective coping, parental protection from being hurt by parental divorce, home-school cooperation, and connection with outside resources) and adaptation (problems in academic aspirations, low self-regard, and low self-control) were identified. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sensitivity of Encephalitozoon cuniculi to various temperatures, disinfectants and drugs.
Spores of Encephalitozoon cuniculi were exposed to various temperature or to disinfectants, and their infectivity was then tested on monolayer cultures of canine kidney cells. The maximum survival time for spores suspended in medium 199 was 1 day at -20 degrees C, 98 days at 4 degrees C, 6 days at 22 degrees C, and 2 days at 37 degrees C. Only 2.5% survived 30 min at 56 degrees C. Boiling for 5 min or autoclaving at 120 degrees C for 10 min killed all spores. Dry spores survived less than a week at 4 degrees C but at least 4 weeks at 22 degrees C. Exposure for 30 min to recommended working concentrations of 9 of the 11 disinfectants tested killed all spores. The growth-inhibition effect of 7 antibiotics and chemotherapeutics was studied on canine kidney cell culture inoculated with E. cuniculi. None could completely inhibit growth. The most effective was chloroquine phosphate which, at a concentration of 12.5 mg per 1000 ml culture medium and during a test period of 8 weeks, reduced the harvest of E. cuniculi to 31% of that from inoculated, untreated cultures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A comparison of the performance of Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 with old standard severity scores and customized scores in a mixed medical-coronary care unit.
Recently, the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) 3 was developed. The objective of this study was to compare the performance of SAPS 3 with those of SAPS II, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II and customized scores in predicting hospital mortality in critically ill mixed medical-coronary patients. A prospective cohort study was conducted over a 2.5-year period in a 10-bed mixed medical-coronary care unit of a tertiary referral university teaching hospital in Thailand. The probabilities of hospital mortality of SAPS 3, SAPS II and APACHE II were calculated using standard equations. A total of 2022 patients were enrolled. The performance of SAPS 3 was similar to those of the old standard severity scores. All three scores had excellent discrimination, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.916 for SAPS 3, 0.914 for SAPS II and 0.936 for APACHE II. All scores overestimated hospital mortality, with standardized mortality ratios of 0.81, 0.78 and 0.80 for SAPS 3, SAPS II and APACHE II, respectively. The calibration of all scores was poor as demonstrated by the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit H and C statistics, which were <0.05. The calibration of all scores was improved by first-level customization. The SAPS 3 score provided excellent discrimination but poor calibration, as did the SAPS II and APACHE II scores in our critically ill mixed medical patients. The customization of the severity score improved the calibration performance, and thus this customization may serve as a tool for adjusting the equation of the score to predict mortality and quality assessment in intensive care units (ICUs). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Towards improved diagnosis of zoonotic trematode infections in Southeast Asia.
Humans in Southeast Asia are at risk for at least 70 species of food-borne and water-borne trematodes, including blood flukes, intestinal flukes, liver flukes and lung flukes, which are shared with a great variety of animals. Co-infection with several other zoonotic trematodes is pervasive, and hence differential diagnosis represents a major challenge. Many zoonotic trematodes are commonly overlooked, leading to unreliable prevalence data, underappreciation of their veterinary and public health burden and impact, and general neglect with respect to treatment and control. Additionally, many eggs are indistinguishable by microscopy. For example, failure to address this diagnostic dilemma has resulted in overestimation of Clonorchis sinensis prevalence and underestimation of minute intestinal flukes. Test insensitivity is becoming a problem of prime interest as surveillance is gaining in importance and various control programmes now regularly register progress. Hence, the likelihood of underestimating the true burden of disease is growing in well-controlled areas when the faecal egg excretion among infected individuals approaches zero. While antibody testing has ultimate sensitivity, its use as a test of cure remains contentious. On the other hand, employing faecal egg detection as the diagnostic 'gold' standard makes many positive antibody test results (incorrectly) appear false. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostics could solve this dilemma, but more experience is needed and costs must be brought down to permit large-scale use of this approach. The future development of virtual microscopy to be used for diagnosis of parasitic infections in the field could make ordinary microscopy obsolete by electronically capturing specimens at point-of-contact in remote areas. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The electrical effect of two commonly used clinical stimulators on traumatic edema in rats.
The purposes of this study were to determine the effect of electrical stimulation on traumatic rat hind-paw edema and to establish whether there would be a difference in edema reduction when two types of stimulators were used. The animals were divided into a control group (n = 15) and two experimental groups, one group receiving monophasic pulsed current (MPC group, n = 15) and the other group receiving symmetrical biphasic pulsed current (SBPC group, n = 14). The right hind-paw volume of all groups was measured prior to traumatization and at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours posttrauma. Following the 24-, 48-, and 72-hour measurements, 1 hour of electrical stimulation was administered to the experimental groups. The control group received sham treatment. Results revealed significant edema reduction in all groups over the 96-hour period, with each group's greatest change in paw volume occurring 48 hours posttrauma. At the final paw volume measurement, there was no significant difference between the MPC and control groups or between the MPC and SBPC groups. The SBPC group, however, showed less reduction in edema than did the control group. One hour of electrical stimulation per day over 3 consecutive days failed to demonstrate significant edema reduction in either the MPC group or the SBPC group as compared with the control group. The results of this study demonstrated that the electrical stimulation characteristics and procedures currently used in the clinic do not significantly reduce extant edema caused by trauma in rat hind limbs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The influence of side airbags on the risk of head and thoracic injury after motor vehicle collisions.
Side airbags (SABs) were developed as an energy-absorbing barrier to protect specific occupant body regions in near side impact motor vehicle collisions. The National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System was used to evaluate drivers and front-seated passengers in 1998 or newer vehicles involved in near side impact collisions. Risk ratios were calculated comparing the risk of head and thoracic injury among occupants in vehicles with and without SABs adjusting for occupant, vehicle, and collision characteristics. Occupants in vehicles equipped with head protection SABs had a 75% lower risk of head injury (p = 0.008) after near side collisions. With respect to thoracic injury, SABs that provide thoracic protection are associated with a 68% reduction (p = 0.01) in thoracic injury risk. As SAB-equipped vehicles become an increasingly larger segment of the on-road vehicle fleet, the impact of head and thoracic injury after near side impact collision is likely to be reduced. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Structure and functional properties of cellulose acetate films incorporated with glycerol.
Tests were performed with cellulose acetate films (CA) incorporating 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50% (w/v) of glycerol with the purpose of evaluating the possible changes caused by the plasticizer on the functional properties of the packaging. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and relative crystallinity (RC) were are obtained by DSC and XRD, respectively. The results showed that, the presence of glycerol in the films caused increased thickness, water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), and optical properties for most treatments. Moreover, morphological changes were evidenced in scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A reduction of tensile strength (TS) and Young's modulus (YM) was observed only in the concentration of 50% of glycerol. Therefore, the results suggest that there was an interaction between glycerol and cellulose acetate, demonstrating that the film has potential for use as food packaging. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Neurologic adverse effects of piperazine].
Piperazine has been used since the end of the nineteenth century as a urine alkalizing agent in gout and more widely in the past thirty years for its antihelmintic properties. It is known for being well tolerated and of low toxicity. However, there are cases, sometimes in particular circumstances, where piperazine causes severe and impressive neurological disorders, which can be totally reversed if the medication is discontinued. The disorders are accompanied by consistent, but similarly reversible, electroencephalographic changes. The etiopathogenesis of these accidents caused by piperazine is discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Isolation of a potential biocontrol agent Paenibacillus polymyxa NSY50 from vinegar waste compost and its induction of host defense responses against Fusarium wilt of cucumber.
Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (FOC) is one of the major destructive soil-borne diseases infecting cucumber. In this study, we screened 60 target strains isolated from vinegar waste compost, from which 10 antagonistic strains were identified to have the disease suppression capacity of bio-control agents. The 16S rDNA gene demonstrated that the biocontrol agents were Paenibacillus polymyxa (P. polymyxa), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (B. amyloliquefaciens) and Bacillus licheniformis (B. licheniformis). Based on the results of antagonistic activity experiments and pot experiment, an interesting strain of P. polymyxa (named NSY50) was selected for further research. Morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics indicated that this strain was positive for protease and cellulase and produced indole acetic acid (22.21±1.27μg mL-1) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase (ACCD). NSY50 can significantly up-regulate the expression level of defense related genes PR1 and PR5 in cucumber roots at the early stages upon challenge with FOC. However, the gene expression levels of a set of defense-related genes, such as the plant nucleotide-binding site (NBS)-leucine-rich repeat (LRR) gene family (e.g., Csa001236, Csa09775, Csa018159), 26kDa phloem protein (Csa001568, Csa003306), glutathione-S-transferase (Csa017734) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (Csa002864) were suppressed by pretreatment with NSY50 compared with the single challenge with FOC after nine days of inoculation. Of particular interest was the reduced expression of these genes at disease progression stages, which may be required for F. oxysporum dependent necrotrophic disease development. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Oxidation of p-cresol by horseradish peroxidase compound I.
Rate constants for the reaction between horseradish peroxidase compound I and p-cresol have been determined at several values of pH between 2.98 and 10.81. These rate constants were used to construct a log (rate) versus pH profile from which it is readily seen that the most reactive form of the enzyme is its most basic form within this pH range so that base catalysis is occurring. At the maximum rate a second order rate constant of (5.1 +/- 0.3) x 10(-7) M-1 s-1 at 25 degrees is obtained. The activation energy of the reaction at the maximum rate was determined from an Arrhenius plot to be 5.0 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol. Evidence for an exception to the generally accepted enzymatic cycle of horseradish peroxidase is presented. One-half molar equivalent of p-cresol can convert compound I quantitatively to compound II at high pH, whereas usually this step requires 1 molar equivalent of reductant. The stoichiometry of this reaction is pH-dependent. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Systemic delivery of scAAV9 in fetal macaques facilitates neuronal transduction of the central and peripheral nervous systems.
Correction of perinatally lethal neurogenetic diseases requires efficient transduction of several cell types within the relatively inaccessible CNS. Intravenous AAV9 delivery in mouse has achieved development stage-specific transduction of neuronal cell types, with superior neuron-targeting efficiency demonstrated in prenatal compared with postnatal recipients. Because of the clinical relevance of the non-human primate (NHP) model, we investigated the ability of AAV9 to transduce the NHP CNS following intrauterine gene therapy (IUGT). We injected two macaque fetuses at 0.9 G with 1 × 10(13) vg scAAV9-CMV-eGFP through the intrahepatic continuation of the umbilical vein. Robust green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression was observed for up to 14 weeks in the majority of neurons (including nestin-positive cells), motor neurons and oligodendrocytes throughout the CNS, with a significantly lower rate of transduction in astrocytes. Photoreceptors and neuronal cell bodies in the plexiform and ganglionic retinal layers were also transduced. In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), widespread transduction of neurons was observed. Tissues harvested at 14 weeks showed substantially lower vector copy number and GFP levels, although the percentage of GFP-expressing cells remained stable. Thus, AAV9-IUGT in late gestation efficiently transduces both the CNS and PNS with neuronal predilection, of translational relevance to hereditary disorders characterized by perinatal onset of neuropathology. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Antianginal efficacy of carvedilol, a beta-blocking drug with vasodilating activity.
The efficacy of carvedilol, a new vasodilating beta-blocking drug, was evaluated in 20 patients with chronic angina using a single-blind, placebo-controlled protocol. A 2-week placebo phase was followed by therapy with carvedilol, 25 mg twice daily for 2 weeks, after which the dose was doubled. There was then a second placebo phase lasting 2 weeks. Treadmill exercise testing, 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring and drug blood level assays were performed at the end of each phase. Exercise time (mean +/- standard error of mean) increased from 7.4 +/- 0.5 minutes during placebo to 9.0 +/- 0.5 minutes carvedilol, 25 mg twice daily (p less than 0.001), and to 9.2 +/- 0.4 minutes with 50 mg twice daily (p less than 0.001). Mean time to 1 mm of ST depression in both bipolar leads CM5 and CC5 increased significantly, but peak ST depression did not change. Heart rate at rest was reduced at both dose levels, from 86 +/- 4 beats/min during placebo to 70 +/- 2 beats/min with 25 mg twice daily (p less than 0.001) and to 67 +/- 3 beats/min with 50 mg twice daily (p less than 0.001). Systolic blood pressure at rest was significantly reduced at both doses (p less than 0.05; p less than 0.01), but blood pressure during exercise was decreased only with the larger dose (p less than 0.001). The exercise rate-pressure product was 182 +/- 9 with placebo and decreased to 153 +/- 5 with 25 mg twice daily (p less than 0.001) and to 138 +/- 6 with 50 mg twice daily (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Low levels of circulating platelet factor 4 (PF4, CXCL4) in subclinically hypothyroid autoimmune thyroiditis.
Chemokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases. Platelet factor 4 (PF4, CXCL4) released from activated platelets is a chemokine. However, its clinical importance in autoimmune thyroiditis remains unknown. This study is intended to determine circulating levels of PF4 levels in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). Circulating levels of PF4 were measured in 34 consecutive patients with newly diagnosed AIT and 18 euthyroid controls. Among AIT group, 16 patients were euthyroid and 18 had subclinic hypothyroidism. Controls and individuals with AIT were similar in terms of age. Serum levels of PF4 were comparable in patients with AIT and in controls. Among patients with AIT, PF4 was significantly lower in those with subclinical hypothyroidism than in euthyroid individuals (p = 0.001). In correlation analysis, PF4 was negatively correlated with TSH (r = -0.663, p = 0.000) and positively correlated with free T4 (r = 0.428, p = 0.012). There was not any significant correlation between PF4 and AbTPO, AbTg. The present study demonstrated for the first time that circulating PF4 levels are decreased in subclinically hypothyroid AIT. This result draws attention to the circulating PF4 levels in subclinically hypothyroid AIT and may shed light on further researches at this topic. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Coordination of cell polarity and the patterning of leaf vein networks.
During development, the behavior of cells in tissues is coordinated along specific orientations or directions by coordinating the polar localization of components in those cells. The coordination of such cell polarity is perhaps nowhere more spectacular than in developing leaves, where the polarity of hundreds of cells is coordinated in the leaf epidermis and inner tissue to pattern vein networks. Available evidence suggests that the spectacular coordination of cell polarity that patterns vein networks is controlled by auxin transport and levels, and by genes that have been implicated in the polar localization of auxin transporters. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Elbasvir/Grazoprevir: A Review in Chronic HCV Genotypes 1 and 4.
A fixed-dose combination tablet comprising the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A inhibitor elbasvir and the HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor grazoprevir (elbasvir/grazoprevir; Zepatier™) was recently approved for the treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1 and 4 infection in the EU and the USA. In phase III trials, 12 or 16 weeks of treatment with once-daily elbasvir/grazoprevir (fixed-dose tablet or as individual agents), taken with or without ribavirin, generally provided high rates of sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12) in treatment-naive and -experienced adult patients with chronic HCV genotype 1a, 1b or 4 infection, including those with or without compensated cirrhosis, HIV co-infection, inherited blood disorders or chronic kidney disease or patients receiving opioid agonist therapy or of Japanese origin. Elbasvir/grazoprevir was generally well tolerated. Thus, elbasvir/grazoprevir, with or without ribavirin, represents an effective new option for the treatment of adults with chronic HCV genotype 1 and 4 infection, including a number of difficult-to-treat populations. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Comparing the effects of meal replacements with an isocaloric reduced-fat diet on nutrient intake and lower urinary tract symptoms in obese men.
Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men are associated with obesity, particularly central obesity as measured by waist circumference (WC), and may improve with weight loss. We aimed to compare effects of a meal-replacement based diet with isocaloric reduced-fat plan on LUTS and nutrient intake in obese Asian men. Obese Asian [mean (range) body mass index of 32.9 (30.5-42.3) kg m(-2) ] men [mean (range) age 40.2 (30-61) years] were randomised to a reduced-fat (< 30% of energy) diet [conventional reduced-fat diet (CD) group; n = 23] or meal-replacement-based plan [meal replacement (MR) group; n = 23], to reduce daily intake by 2000 kJ for 12 weeks. CD and MR groups had statistically significant and similar reductions in weight (-2.6 ± 1.9 kg versus -4.2 ± 3.8 kg), overall LUTS severity measured with International Prostate Symptom Scale (IPSS) scores (-1.71 ± 1.93 points versus -2.42 ± 2.12 points) and insulin resistance [homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) calculated from plasma glucose and insulin]. The MR group had significantly greater decreases in WC (-4.8 ± 3.3 cm versus -2.5 ± 2.3 cm), fat mass (-2.47 ± 3.63 kg versus -1.59 ± 2.32 kg), fat intake, plasma C-reactive protein, and in storage LUTS score (-1.59 ± 1.33 points versus -1.00 ± 0.87 points), which was associated with a decreased fat intake (r = 0.48, P = 0.03). A decrease in overall IPSS score was associated with reductions in weight, WC and HOMA. Weight loss as a result of CD or MR had similar efficacy in relieving LUTS. MR produced greater reductions in fat intake, adiposity and storage LUTS. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Huntington disease and the huntingtin protein.
Huntington disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that derives from CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. The clinical syndrome consists of progressive personality changes, movement disorder, and dementia and can develop in children and adults. The huntingtin protein is required for human development and normal brain function. It is subject to posttranslational modification, and some events, such as phosphorylation, can play an enormous role in regulating toxicity of the huntingtin protein. The function of huntingtin in the cell is unknown, and it may play a role as a scaffold. Multiple mouse models of HD have now been created with fragments and full-length protein. The models show variable fidelity to the disease in terms of genetics, pathology, and rates of progression. Pathogenesis of HD involves cleavage of the protein and is associated with neuronal accumulation of aggregated forms. The potential mechanisms of neurodegeneration are myriad, including primary effects of protein homeostasis, gene expression, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Specific therapeutic approaches are similarly varied and include efforts to reduce huntingtin gene expression, protein accumulation, and protein aggregation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Dynamics of spontaneous local field potentials in the anterior claustrum of freely moving rats.
The functions of the claustrum are not well understood. Few studies explore its electrophysiological properties in awake animals. Here, we address this lacuna by recording spontaneous local field potential (LFP) activity in the anterior claustrum of rats freely exploring open field environments under differing conditions (light; dark; with, without an object present). We found three peaks in the LFP power spectral density (PSD) at 1-4Hz, 4-7Hz and 8-12Hz. Two of those peaks, in the 1-4Hz and 8-12Hz bands, were present in almost all recordings and dominated the power spectrum. The power or frequency of detected peaks in some cases changed depending on the environmental context. The power of detected frequency bands of spontaneous LFPs showed varied patterns of distribution across the experimental arena. The 8-12Hz band was predominantly found at running speeds of up to 6cm/s. We suggest that spontaneous LFP activity in the anterior claustrum depends on the environmental context and running speed of the animal. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Therapeutic interventions targeting organ preservation in muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a review.
Nowadays in modern oncology there is a tendency towards therapies that target organ preservation. Organ preservation protocols have become standard in the treatment of laryngeal carcinoma, oesophageal cancer, breast carcinoma and soft tissue sarcomas. The three-combined therapy consisting of a transurethral resection of the bladder tumour followed by concomitant chemoradiotherapy has been shown to be an attractive alternative for bladder preservation in selected patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. In order to evaluate the organ preservation approaches in muscle-invasive bladder cancer we have conducted a comprehensive literature review. Data reported from the studies have shown that bladder preservation therapy with a trimodality approach is safe and effective. Moreover, such an approach provides patients with the opportunity to maintain an intact and functional bladder with a survival rate similar to that of radical cystectomy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Inhibition by ethacrynic acid of NO-mediated relaxations of the rat anococcygeus muscle.
1. The effects of ethacrynic acid were studied on relaxations elicited by nitric oxide (NO), the NO-donors sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), nitrergic nerve stimulation and the NO-independent agent papaverine in isolated preparations of rat anococcygeus muscles. 2. Ethacrynic acid (100 mumol/L) produced complete relaxation of partially contracted anococcygeus muscles, but the tone recovered after the ethacrynic acid was washed out. Following exposure to ethacrynic acid, the relaxant responses to NO, SNP, GTN and nitrergic nerve stimulation were abolished or markedly reduced; however, the response to papaverine was only slightly reduced. 3. The presence of 3 mmol/L L-cysteine during the period of exposure to ethacrynic acid prevented the inhibition of the relaxing effects of SNP, GTN and nitrergic nerve stimulation almost completely, but did not affect the slight reduction in responses to papaverine. 4. The addition of L-cysteine (3 mmol/L) after incubation with ethacrynic acid did not significantly affect the inhibited responses to SNP and GTN; however, the inhibited responses to nitrergic nerve stimulation were slightly but significantly increased. 5. The results suggest that endogenous sulphydryl groups are required for the actions of NO, NO-donating drugs and the nitrergic transmitter in the rat anococcygeus muscle and possibly for the synthesis or release of the nitrergic transmitter. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Cushing Disease: Results of an International, Multicenter Study.
Cushing disease (CD) due to adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting pituitary tumors can be a management challenge. To better understand the outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for CD and define its role in management. International, multicenter, retrospective cohort analysis. Ten medical centers participating in the International Gamma Knife Research Foundation. Patients with CD with >6 months endocrine follow-up. SRS using Gamma Knife radiosurgery. The primary outcome was control of hypercortisolism (defined as normalization of free urinary cortisol). Radiologic response and adverse radiation effects (AREs) were recorded. In total, 278 patients met inclusion criteria, with a mean follow-up of 5.6 years (0.5 to 20.5 years). Twenty-two patients received SRS as a primary treatment of CD. Mean margin dose was 23.7 Gy. Cumulative initial control of hypercortisolism was 80% at 10 years. Mean time to cortisol normalization was 14.5 months. Recurrences occurred in 18% with initial cortisol normalization. Overall, the rate of durable control of hypercortisolism was 64% at 10 years and 68% among patients who received SRS as a primary treatment. AREs included hypopituitarism (25%) and cranial neuropathy (3%). Visual deficits were related to treatment of tumor within the suprasellar cistern (P = 0.01), whereas both visual (P < 0.0001) and nonvisual cranial neuropathy (P = 0.02) were related to prior pituitary irradiation. SRS for CD is well tolerated and frequently results in control of hypercortisolism. However, recurrences can occur. SRS should be considered for patients with persistent hypercortisolism after pituitary surgery and as a primary treatment in those unfit for surgery. Long-term endocrine follow-up is essential after SRS. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A laboratory investigation of the effectiveness of various skin and surface decontaminants for aliphatic polyisocyanates.
Isocyanates may cause contact dermatitis and respiratory sensitization leading to asthma. Dermal exposure to aliphatic isocyanates in auto body shops is very common. However, little is known about the effectiveness of available commercial products used for decontaminating aliphatic polyisocyanates. This experimental study evaluated the decontamination effectiveness of aliphatic polyisocyanates for several skin and surface decontaminants available for use in the auto body industry. The efficiency of two major decontamination mechanisms, namely (i) consumption of free isocyanate groups via chemical reactions with active hydrogen components of the decontaminant and (ii) physical removal processes such as dissolution were studied separately for each decontaminant. Considerable differences were observed among surface decontaminants in their rate of isocyanate consumption, of which those containing free amine groups performed the best. Overall, Pine-Sol(R) MEA containing monoethanolamine was the most efficient surface decontaminant, operating primarily via chemical reaction with the isocyanate group. Polypropylene glycol (PPG) had the highest physical removal efficiency and the lowest reaction rate with isocyanates. All tested skin decontaminants performed similarly, accomplishing decontamination primarily via physical processes and removing 70-80% of isocyanates in one wiping. Limitations of these skin decontaminants are discussed and alternatives presented. In vitro testing using animal skins and in vivo testing with field workers are being conducted to further assess the efficiency and identify related determinants. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Tick-borne relapsing fever.
Tick-borne relapsing fever is characterized by recurring fevers separated by afebrile periods and is accompanied by nonspecific constitutional symptoms. It occurs after a patient has been bitten by a tick infected with a Borrelia spirochete. The diagnosis of tick-borne relapsing fever requires an accurate characterization of the fever and a thorough medical, social, and travel history of the patient. Findings on physical examination are variable; abdominal pain, vomiting, and altered sensorium are the most common symptoms. Laboratory confirmation of tick-borne relapsing fever is made by detection of spirochetes in thin or thick blood smears obtained during a febrile episode. Treatment with a tetracycline or macrolide antibiotic is effective, and antibiotic resistance is rare. Patients treated for tick-borne relapsing fever should be monitored closely for Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions. Fatalities from tick-borne relapsing fever are rare in treated patients, as are subsequent Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions. Persons in endemic regions should avoid rodent- and tick-infested areas and use insect repellents and protective clothing to prevent tick bites. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Arthroscopic Correlation in Shoulder Instability.
The shoulder is the most inherently unstable joint in the body, prone to high rates of anterior dislocations with subsequent injuries to soft tissue and bony stabilizing structures, resulting in recurrent shoulder instability. Advanced imaging utilizing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR arthrography allows for thorough evaluation of lesions present in the unstable shoulder and is critical for preoperative planning. Arthroscopic shoulder stabilization in the appropriately selected patient can help restore stability and function. This review highlights correlations between MR imaging and arthroscopy of the most commonly reported soft tissue and bony injuries present in patients with shoulder instability. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
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