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The global registry: hope for the future.
In 2014, there is unanimous agreement that kidney transplant is the optimal treatment for most patients who have end-stage renal failure. Increasing organ shortage is the main obstacle that delays transplant and might even cause death while the patient is on the waiting list for kidney transplant. Many innovations have been proposed to increase the number of organs for transplant in different countries such as increasing awareness about organ donation, based on different cultures and religions. Support of religious and faith leaders exists for procurement of organs for transplant from patients with brain death or circulatory death. In the past decade, use of marginal and expandedcriteria deceased-donor transplant has been very helpful to expand the kidney donor pool. Dual kidney transplant is another procedure that may minimize the waiting list. The 1977 transport of kidneys from Minneapolis to Tehran helped change the life of a 15-year-old girl. At that time, we had the potential to change a life across 2 continents, even though our techniques were new. This should have provided the impetus to develop such a program. Presently, with progress in science, techniques, and organ shipment, it is our responsibility to reach across the globe to change the lives of many more young and adult patients waiting for kidney transplant. There are many countries in which kidneys from patients with brain or cardiac death are being discarded because of the unavailability of a transplant program in these countries, or because these countries have young transplant programs and very limited resources. If a global registry could be organized under the observation of the International Society of Nephrology and The Transplantation Society Sister Transplant Center Program, transplant teams would be able to use kidneys from patients with brain or cardiac death, with strict regulation of organ donation in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Alpha-spectrometric thin source preparation with emphasis on homogeneity.
Differently shaped Pt anodes were used in the electrodeposition procedure and their influence on the quality of the thin layer of deposited radioisotopes was studied. In the micro-coprecipitation procedure the influence of working under vacuum on the homogeneity of the sources was investigated. The homogeneity of the alpha sources was checked by visualization of the activity distribution of the sources using autoradiography. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Two-way ANOVA to identify impacts of multiple interactive behavioral factors on the neuronal population dependency during the reaching motion.
Brain neural activities interact with behaviors. The contribution of this paper is that we investigate the significance of the impacts of multiple behavioral factors: target direction (left or right) and obstacle (presence or absence), and their interaction on the dependency among a neuronal ensemble in the dorsal premotor (PMd) area of a monkey during a reaching motion. We first use bootstrapping to extract multiple resamples from successful trials. Then we use redundancy to measure dependency in each resample. We use ANOVA to investigate the significance of the impacts of these two behavioral factors and their interaction on the redundancy. The ANOVA shows that these two behavioral factors and their interaction have significant impacts on the single feature of neural activity. The same significance of impacts is identified in another neuronal ensemble assessed in another experimental session. Its biological explanation is given. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Quantitative predictions of gas chromatography retention indexes with support vector machines, radial basis neural networks and multiple linear regression.
Support vector machines (SVM), radial basis function neural networks (RBFNN) and multiple linear regression (MLR) methods were used to investigate the correlation between GC retention indexes (RI) and physicochemical descriptors for both 174 and 132 diverse organic compounds. The correlation coefficient r(2) between experimental and predicted retention index for training and test sets by SVM, RBFNN and MLR is 0.986, 0.976 and 0.971 (for 174 compounds), 0.986, 0.951 and 0.963 (for 132 compounds) respectively. The results show that non-linear SVM derives statistical models have similar prediction ability to those of RBFNN and MLR methods. This indicates that SVM can be used as an alternative modeling tool for quantitative structure-property/activity relationship (QSPR/QSAR) studies. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Indoor air pollutants: limited-resource households and child care facilities.
This paper reports on a study of indoor air quality in homes and child care facilities in non-metropolitan counties of New York State. Specific pollutants examined were lead, radon, carbon monoxide, asbestos, and mold. Some homes had high levels of pollutants, and certain pollutants were significantly and negatively correlated with household income. High levels of pollutants also were observed in many child care facilities, which raises questions about constant exposure of children to pollutants. Recommendations are made for lowering pollutant levels in low-income households and child care facilities. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Activation of the Lck tyrosine kinase targets cell surface T cell antigen receptors for lysosomal degradation.
The mechanism by which TCR expression is regulated was explored by expressing a constitutively active form of the tyrosine kinase Lck (Lck505F) in T cells. Expression of Lck505F down-regulated TCR levels, an effect that was even more pronounced in CD45- T cells, in which the activity of this tyrosine kinase is further enhanced. Cells expressing Lck505F synthesized all TCR subunits, but lysosomal degradation of assembled receptors was enhanced. TCRs were rapidly internalized and degraded after removal of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that had permitted cell surface expression. Finally, TCR levels on thymocytes were increased by an Lck inhibitor, and activation- but not phorbol ester-induced internalization of TCRs on Jurkat cells was prevented by inhibition or loss of Lck. These studies identify a regulated nonreceptor tyrosine kinase-mediated pathway for targeting cell surface receptors for lysosomal degradation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Temperature-dependent sensitivity enhancement of solid-state NMR spectra of alpha-synuclein fibrils.
The protein alpha-synuclein (AS) is the primary fibrillar component of Lewy bodies, the pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Wild-type human AS and the three mutant forms linked to Parkinson's disease (A53T, A30P, and E46K) all form fibrils through a nucleation-dependent pathway; however, the biophysical details of these fibrillation events are not yet well understood. Atomic-level structural insight is required in order to elucidate the potential role of AS fibrils in Parkinson's disease. Here we show that low temperature acquisition of magic-angle spinning NMR spectra of wild type AS fibrils-greatly enhances spectral sensitivity, enabling the detection of a substantially larger number of spin systems. At 0 +/- 3 degrees C sample temperature, cross polarization (CP) experiments yield weak signals. Lower temperature spectra (-40 +/- 3 degrees C) demonstrated several times greater signal intensity, an effect further amplified in 3D 15N-13C-13C experiments, which are required to perform backbone assignments on this sample. Thus 3D experiments enabled assignments of most amino acids in the rigid part of the fibril (approximately residues 64 to 94), as well as tentative site-specific assignments for T22, V26, A27, Y39, G41, S42, H50, V52, A53, T54, V55, V63, A107, I112, and S129. Most of these signals were not observed in 2D or 3D spectra at 0 +/- 3 degrees C. Spectra acquired at low temperatures therefore permitted more complete chemical shift assignments. Observation of the majority of residues in AS fibrils represents an important step towards solving the 3D structure. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Development and distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal systems in the frog (Rana esculenta) brain: immunohistochemical analysis.
The ontogenesis of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal systems was studied in the brain of the frog, Rana esculenta. Attention was also focussed on the differential distribution of molecular forms of GnRH during development. The first GnRH-immunoreactive neurons appear in the mesencephalon of posterior limb-stage tadpoles. These neurons are shown to contain only chicken [His5,Trp7,Tyr8]GnRH (cGnRH-II). Later in development, mammalian [Tyr5,Leu7,Arg8] GnRH (mGnRH)-like peptide-containing neurons appear simultaneously in the terminal nerve as well as in the anterior preoptic area of the telencephalon. Subsequently, only after metamorphosis, mGnRH-containing neurons appear in the medial septal area of the posterior telencephalon. It is here shown that neurons containing the two forms of GnRH are distributed in distinct brain areas during development and in the adult: mGnRH-immunoreactive neurons in the terminal nerve, olfactory bulb, mediobasal telencephalon, medial septal area, anterior preoptic area, ventrolateral thalamus and infundibulum, whereas cGnRH-II neurons are located in the mesencephalon. We hypothesize that the terminal nerve/forebrain-located GnRH neurons express immunohistochemically late in development and originate extracranially migrating centrally, along the terminal nerve, during development, whereas those located in the mesencephalon express earlier and may have an intracranial site of origin. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Laparoscopic sigmoid resection for diverticulitis: is learning phase associated with increased morbidity?].
To assess retrospectively the results of laparoscopic sigmidectomy for diverticulitis, with intent to treat, in 58 consecutive patients operating by one surgeon compared with a control group operating by laparotomy. From 1995 to 2001, 90 consecutive patients undergoing elective sigmoid resection for diverticulitis were divided into 3 groups: laparotomy (Group 1 : n = 32), first cases of laparoscopy (Group 2 : n = 29) and last cases of laparoscopy (Group 3 : n = 29). These 3 groups were similar according to age, sex, Body Mass Index (BMI), American society of anesthesia score (ASA), previous abdominal surgery, number of attacks of diverticulitis, and time between last attack and surgery. Following criteria were studied: operating time, conversation rate, intra-operative and post-operative morbidity, return of intestinal transit, and hospital stay. During laparoscopy, conversion was mandatory in 24% of the cases (7/29) in group 2 and 14% in group 3 (4/29; NS). No intra-operative morbidity was noted in the 58 laparoscopies. Mean operative time was 240 min in group 1, 259 min in group 2, and 241 min in group 3 (NS). Postoperative morbidity was observed in 31% of patients in group 1, 34% in group 2, and 10% in group 3 (p = 0.02). Returm of intestinal transit and oral ingestion and mean hospital stay were significantly shorter in group 2 and group 3 versus group 1 (p < 0.05). Our results confirm previous data demonstrating faisability of laparoscopic sigmodectomy for diverticulitis and its benefice in terms of return of intestinal transit and hospital stay. Furthermore, our study suggest that when surgeon gain experience, conversion rate, morbidity and operative time can be reduced. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hepatic morphology changes after hepatic artery ligation in extrahepatic cholestasis.
The present study was performed to correlate changes in hepatic morphology with hepatic artery ligation (HAL) in the presence of extrahepatic cholestasis (EHC). The study was conducted on 36 male Wistar rats weighing 350 to 400 g, divided at random into four groups of 9 animals each: group I, sham operation (control); group II, HAL; group III, bile duct ligation (BDL); group IV, HAL plus BDL. After seven days, liver fragments were obtained for morphological study. The relative volume of the bile ducts was I > II < III and III > IV (P < 0.05). These data indicate that arterial irrigation is important for the nutrition of the biliary tree. Seventy-six percent of the animals submitted to HAL plus BDL showed hepatic necrosis. In general, the liver probably becomes more dependent on HA flow in the presence of EHC. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Contribution of proximal retinal neurons to b- and d-waves of frog electroretinogram under different conditions of light adaptation.
The effects of pharmacological blockade of the proximal retinal activity by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) on the V-log I function of the ERG b- and d-waves were studied in dark and light adapted frog eyes. The effects of NMDA depended on the type of photoreceptor input. In rod-dominated ERG the b-wave amplitude was decreased by NMDA, but that of the d-wave remained unchanged. In cone-dominated ERG the b-wave amplitude was increased while the d-wave amplitude was decreased. Thus, the b/d amplitude ratio was decreased in rod-dominated, but increased in cone-dominated ERG. Our results imply that the b/d amplitude ratio would be changed in an opposite way in the rod- and cone-dominated ERG, when the function of the proximal retinal neurons is compromised. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Microprocessor-based long term cardiorespirography. I. Heart rate changes and apneic attacks.
Cardiorespirography is a well-known method of continuous monitoring in neonatal intensive care. Apneic attacks, bradycardia and tachycardia are registered. In our experience we connected a cardiorespirography recorder to a microprocessor system. The processor consisted of a hardware part including a program (software) and a printer which provided printouts of alarm events. As alarm situations, which cause an alarm printout, we defined: 1. apneic episodes (duration 10, 20 or 30 seconds) 2. tachycardiac (beat-to-beat rate greater than 180/minute) 3. V-shaped and U-shaped bradycardia (beat-to-beat heart rate less than 80/min) and combinations. The reliability of the system of recognizing and classifying alarm situations was tested by comparing the alarm printouts with the simultaneously recorded cardiorespirograms. Fifty eight 12 hour records of 41 patients were evaluated. Six hundred alarm situations were counted. The alarm printouts were found in concordance with the cardiograms in all tachycardia alarms. Nearly all bradycardia (V-shaped, U-shaped bradycardia, combination of bradycardia and apnea) were correctly classified. A preset apnea duration of 10 seconds resulted in many false positive alarm printouts. With 20 second apnea time only few false positive alarms were seen, but nine apneic attacks were not recognized. Altogether 81.5% of alarm printouts were correct, 16.8% were false alarms, or V-shaped bradycardia were really U-bradycardia. Only 2% of all alarms were not recognized by the microprocessor system. We suggest to combine the microprocessor with a special alarm recorder, which is able to store beat-to-beat heart rate and respiration wave before alarm situations. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
VEGF gene polymorphisms and outcome of epithelial ovarian cancer patients.
Since VEGF polymorphisms were associated with variable protein production, we analyzed herein their roles in outcome of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients. Genotypes of 85 patients with primary EOC were identified in DNA by real-time PCR. Progression-free survival and overall survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method, univariate Cox model and bootstrap resampling study. At 60 months of follow-up, progression-free survival was shorter in patients with VEGF c.-2578 CC genotype compared with others (52.7 vs 82.2%; p = 0.04). Those patients had 2.15 more chance of presenting disease progression than others (p = 0.04); bootstrap study validated the result (p = 0.03). Our data suggest that VEGF c.-2578C>A polymorphism acts as a prognostic factor in EOC. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Ethical issues of resuscitation.
There is a wide variety of ethical issues and dilemmas involving resuscitation, the act of restoring life to a patient in cardiorespiratory arrest. Decisions must be made rapidly and often must be based on suboptimal levels of information available at the time. Certain issues should be considered when one is making decisions in the resuscitation arena, including positive-aspects of resuscitation, not only the possibility of restoring life to the patient but also providing a sense of closure and resolution of guilt for the survivors. During and following resuscitative efforts, the psychologic and emotional well-being of the survivors should also be given close attention. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The erosion protection efficacy of a stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice: An in situ randomized clinical trial.
To compare the enamel protection efficacy of a stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice to a triclosan-containing sodium fluoride dentifrice using a 10-day in situ erosion model, in accordance with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance guidelines for enamel erosion control. In this single-center, double-blind, randomized, supervised-usage, two-treatment, four-period, crossover study, healthy adult subjects were randomized to a treatment sequence involving the following products: a 0.454% stannous fluoride (1,100 ppm F) dentifrice (Procter & Gamble) and a control dentifrice containing 0.243% sodium fluoride (1,100 ppm F) and 0.3% triclosan (Colgate-Palmolive). Each study period consisted of 10 treatment days. Subjects wore an intra-oral appliance fitted with two polished human enamel samples for 6 hours per treatment day. While wearing the appliance, subjects swished with their assigned dentifrice slurry for 60 seconds twice daily and with 250 ml orange juice over a 10-minute period four times daily. After 10 days, enamel specimens were removed and measured for surface loss using contact profilometry. 36 subjects were enrolled and 33 completed the study (mean age = 41.8 years). The stannous fluoride dentifrice demonstrated 90.3% less enamel loss than the NaF/triclosan dentifrice (P < 0.001) at Day 10, with median enamel loss of 0.279 µm and 2.877 µm, respectively. Both products were well tolerated. The stannous fluoride dentifrice provided significantly greater protection against dental erosion relative to the NaF/triclosan dentifrice. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Estimation of kinetic parameters in a structured yeast model using regularisation.
In this work, a procedure for estimating kinetic parameters in biochemically structured models was developed. The approach is applicable when the structure of a kinetic model has been set up and the kinetic parameters should be estimated. The procedure consists of five steps. First, initial values were found in or calculated from literature. Hereafter using sensitivity analysis the most sensitive parameters were identified. In the third step physiological knowledge was combined with the parameter sensitivities to manually tune the most sensitive parameters. In step four, a global optimisation routine was applied for simultaneous estimation of the most sensitive parameters identified during the sensitivity analysis. Regularisation was included in the simultaneous estimation to reduce the effect of insensitive parameters. Finally, confidence intervals for the estimated parameters were calculated. This parameter estimation approach was demonstrated on a biochemically structured yeast model containing 11 reactions and 37 kinetic constants as a case study. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Report of a case of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma with natural growth for 10 years and review of the literature].
To better understand the clinical and imaging characteristics of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC). A case diagnosed with BAC with a natural history for 10 years was reported and the related literature was reviewed. We searched literatures in PubMed with "bronchioloalveolar carcinoma", "ground glass opacity", "high resolution computed tomography" as the search term, in WANFANG MED ONLINE with "bronchioloalveolar carcinoma", "ground glass opacity" as the search term by June 2010. The clinical and imaging characteristics of BAC were variable. A case of BAC in a 76 year old asymptomatic man was reported. He presented with a small 'flake like' density shadow in the left upper lobe which gradually increased in density over a 10 year follow-up. Subsequent upper lobectomy and mediastinal node dissection confirmed BAC. We received 35 literatures reported 664 cases of ground-glass performance BAC, including reviews of 4, retrospective analysis of 24, reported case of 7 in PubMed. We received a retrospective analysis reported 24 cases in WANFANG MED ONLINE. Patients presenting with ground glass opacities on chest CT with no specific clinical manifestations should alert the clinicians to the possibility of BAC. Regular follow-up with CT scans is needed and surgical resection should be considered if BAC is suspected. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition by enalapril: a novel approach to reduce ischemia/reperfusion damage after experimental liver transplantation.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have proven to be effective in the reduction of ischemia/reperfusion damage after myocardial ischemia. Whether this favorable effect can be related to other models of ischemia and reperfusion has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we studied in a model of syngeneic liver transplantation in the rat the effect of recipient enalapril treatment on postischemic liver injury. Untreated animals served as the control group. Treatment with enalapril was started 5 minutes before reperfusion by intravenous infusion of enalapril at a dosage of 5 mg/kg/h. By means of in vivo microscopy, the sinusoidal perfusion rate and leukocyte adherence in sinusoids and postsinusoidal venules were analyzed during 45 to 60 minutes of reperfusion. Liver function was monitored by measuring bile output over a period of 60 minutes. Analysis of coagulation factors (prothrombin time, factor V, fibrinogen) and liver enzymes (alanine transaminase [ALT], aspartate transaminase [AST]) served for the evaluation of organ dysfunction and damage secondary to ischemia/reperfusion injury. The sinusoidal perfusion rate was significantly improved by enalapril treatment (94.7% [1.0] vs. 75.3% [3.8]; mean [SEM]; P = .005). In addition, leukocyte-sticking in both liver sinusoids and postsinusoidal venules was remarkably reduced in enalapril-treated animals as compared with controls (stickers/lobule: 21.0 [3.3] vs. 59.2 [2.1]; P = .0004; stickers/mm2 venular surface: 20.5 [4.7] vs. 110.3 [18.1]; P = .0004). Moreover, bile output was increased (1.13 [0.35] vs. 0.43 [0.18] g bile/60 min x 100 g liver; P = .06). Values for PT (22.5% [2.1] vs. 9.7% [1.8]; P = .005), factor V 99.4% [9.5] vs. 49.5% [8.5]; P = .007), and fibrinogen (64.1% [7.7] vs. 12.8% [3.2]; P = .001) were significantly improved, paralleled by a remarkable reduction in serum ALT (1,428 U/L [190] vs. 2,315 [248]; P = .02). Our data show for the first time that ACE inhibition in the liver recipient by enalapril attenuates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion damage after experimental liver transplantation. Our results may offer a novel approach to reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury in clinical liver transplantation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Exercise reduces effects of creatine on lung.
We recently demonstrated that creatine supplementation increased some features of lung allergic sensitization in mice. On the other hand, other studies have shown that aerobic exercise inhibited allergic airway inflammation and remodeling. We hypothesized that aerobic exercise may decrease the exacerbatory effects of the creatine supplementation in a murine model of asthma. Balb/c mice were divided into six groups: Control, Creatine (Cr), Low Intensity Exercise+Creatine (Low+Cr), Ovalbumin (OVA), Ovalbumin+Creatine (OVA+Cr) and Ovalbumin+Creatine+Low Intensity Exercise (OVA+Cr+Low). OVA-sensitized groups were sensitized with OVA intraperitoneal injections (days 0, 14, 28, and 42). Aerosol challenge (OVA 1%) and Cr treatment (0.5 g/kg/day) were initiated on Day 21 until Day 53. Low intensity exercise began on day 22 and was sustained until day 50. Low intensity exercise in the presence of creatine supplementation in sensitized mice resulted in a decreased number of eosinophils in BALF (p<0.001) and in the airways (p<0.001), and a decreased density of inflammatory cells positive to IL-4 (p<0.001) and IL-5 (p<0.001), airway collagen (p<0.001) and elastic fibers (p<0.001) content, airway smooth muscle thickness (p<0.001) and bronchoconstriction index (p<0.05) when compared with OVA+Cr group. These results suggest that aerobic exercise reduces the exacerbatory effects of creatine supplementation in chronically sensitized mice. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Orientin inhibits HMGB1-induced inflammatory responses in HUVECs and in murine polymicrobial sepsis.
High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein acts as a late mediator of severe vascular inflammatory conditions. Orientin has been known to have anxiolytic and antioxidative activities. However, the effect of orientin on HMGB1-induced inflammatory response has not been studied. We assessed this question by monitoring the effects of post-treatment orientin and its derivatives on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-mediated release of HMGB1 and HMGB1-mediated regulation of pro-inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and septic mice. Post-treatment orientin was found to suppress LPS-mediated release of HMGB1 and HMGB1-mediated cytoskeletal rearrangements. Orientin inhibited HMGB1-mediated hyperpermeability and leukocyte migration in septic mice. Orientin also induced down-regulation of CLP-induced release of HMGB1 and mortality. Collectively, these results suggest that orientin may be regarded as a candidate therapeutic agent for treatment of vascular inflammatory diseases via inhibition of the HMGB1 signaling pathway. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Rehabilitation program for children with brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injury.
An aggressive and integrated physical and occupational therapy program is essential in the treatment of congenital brachial plexus injuries and other severe upper extremity nerve injuries. This article addresses the evaluation, identification of needs, establishment of goals, and the approaches to rehabilitation treatment for patients with brachial plexus palsy and other peripheral nerve injuries. Rehabilitative therapy can preserve and build on gains made possible by medical or surgical interventions; however, therapy is vital to these children regardless of whether surgery is indicated. The therapist uses a problem-solving approach to evaluate the patient and select appropriate occupational and physical therapy treatment modalities. Therapy is continually adjusted based on each child's unique needs. An understanding of the therapy principles aids in making appropriate referrals and prescriptions, and helps to coordinate care between the therapist, pediatrician, neurologist, and surgeon. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Childhood asthma: prevention of attacks with short-term corticosteroid treatment of upper respiratory tract infection.
In this study, the potential for short courses of glucocorticoids to prevent or reduce the severity of asthma induced by viral respiratory infections in preschool children was investigated. Two groups of children with a mean age of 36.4 +/- 3.9 months and 40.4 +/- 4.9 months were monitored during a 2-year period. Group 1, considered as the control group, received theophylline preparations and orciprenaline either on a continuous basis or during attacks. During severe attacks, albuterol was administered by nebulization, with corticosteroids occasionally added for seven to 14 days in cases of poor response to albuterol. Group 2 received the same treatment during the first year. During the second year, however, a short-term course of prednisone (1 mg/kg) was given as soon as the first symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection appeared, prior to any signs of wheezing. Results indicate that, whereas morbidity remained constant in the control group during the 2-year observation period, a significant decrease in the number of wheezing days (65%), attacks (56%), visits to the emergency room (61%), and hospitalizations (90%) occurred in group 2. It was concluded that preschool children who suffer from repeated asthma attacks related to upper respiratory tract infections may benefit greatly from the preventive administration of corticosteroids. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The logic of identity and resemblance in culturally appropriate health care.
Greater diversity in the health care workforce is frequently proposed as a means of addressing health disparities between minority and majority populations in the USA by improving health care access and quality for minority groups. 'Culturally appropriate' health care programs that include ethnic resemblance between physician and patient are emerging as new technologies of knowledge and power in a wide range of health care settings. Based on participant-observation research and interviews with patients and health care providers at a federally funded New England clinic, this article uses theories of cultural identity supported by ethnographic examples to examine arguments in favor of patient-provider resemblance. While ethnic identity is often assumed to incorporate cultural expertise or competence, in practice, developing and maintaining such expertise is the result of repeated performances developed in part through didactic trainings described herein. Claims for the efficacy of patient-provider resemblance in addressing disparities in quality of care mobilize notions of specificity, difference and recognition that both depend on and construct racialized ethnic identities. Proposed as a means to expand access to health care, resemblance programs nonetheless perpetuate segregation in health care by relying on minority health care providers to care for the minority poor. Both patients and health care providers I interviewed perceived benefits associated with ethnic resemblance, yet also articulated critiques of the essentialized notions of identity that render ethnicity automatically efficacious. Following Laclau, I argue that an exclusive focus on physician-patient resemblance constructs ethnicity as 'mere particularity' and in so doing helps to obscure the relations of power and inequality that produce the very health disparities that resemblance is meant to solve. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Segmental mandibulectomy and immediate free fibula osteoseptocutaneous flap reconstruction with endosteal implants: an ideal treatment method for mandibular ameloblastoma.
Thirteen patients with large ameloblastomas of the mandible underwent segmental mandibulectomy and immediate reconstruction, with simultaneous placement of osseointegrated implants. All patients received palatal mucosal grafts around the dental implants 6 to 10 months after surgical treatment and received implant-supported prostheses another 1 to 2 months later. There were five female and eight male patients, with a mean age of 32 years (range, 17 to 50 years). The mean length of the mandibular defect was 8.8 cm (range, 5 to 13 cm). All free fibula flap procedures were successful, with no reexplorations or partial flap losses. There was no clinical or radiographic evidence of failure during the osseointegration process for any implant. With functional occlusal loading, the marginal bone loss around the implants was less than 1.5 mm in a mean follow-up period of 40 months (range, 18 to 70 months). There were no recurrences during that time. The technique described allows improved access to the bone at the time of reconstruction, immediate assessment of alveolar ridge relationships, and accurate fixation of the implant-fibula construct. The advantages of this procedure include a reduced risk of recurrence with segmental resection, reliable mandibular reconstruction, and reduction of the number of surgical procedures, allowing full oral rehabilitation in a shorter time. It is concluded that segmental mandibulectomy and immediate vascularized fibula osteoseptocutaneous flap reconstruction, with simultaneous placement of osseointegrated implants, represent an ideal treatment method for large ameloblastomas of the mandible. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Opinions on the Legitimacy of Brain Death Among Sunni and Shi'a Scholars.
The concept of brain death poses a great challenge to clinicians who may be required to bridge the interface of culture, religion, law, and medicine. This review discusses and applies Islamic jurisprudence to the question of whether brain death is accepted as true death under Islamic law. Among the five sources of Islamic law, the Qur'an and Sunnah do not directly address brain death. Scholarly consensus (Ijmā') does not exist, and Qiya does not apply. When applying Ijtihad, the identified collection of non-binding fatwā offer conflicting results. Debate continues as to the validity of brain-death criteria within Islamic circles. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Topical vasoconstrictor use for nasal intubation during pregnancy complicated by cardiomyopathy and preeclampsia.
Ankylosing spondylitis presents challenges for the obstetric anesthesiologist in administering neuraxial anesthesia or managing the airway. A pregnant patient with ankylosing spondylitis, cardiomyopathy and preeclampsia requiring cesarean delivery was managed with an awake nasotracheal fiberoptic intubation. The use of topical cocaine, epinephrine, phenylephrine, and oxymetazoline to produce nasal vasoconstriction is discussed. Selective alpha-2 agonists that can potentially provide nasal mucosa vasoconstriction and placental vasculature vasodilation are also discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Clinical approach to post-traumatic stress disorders].
A confrontation with death can lead to acute reactions of stress, followed possibly, after a phase of latency, by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterised by the appearance of a repetition syndrome combining reliving, hypervigilance and avoidance; comorbidities frequently arise, increasingthe risk of suicide. Caregivers have an important role to play in identifying them. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Perioperative anemia].
Anemia is a frequent finding, particularly in the elderly population, and usually indicative of a serious disease. The main causes of preoperative anemia are acute or chronic hemorrhage, iron deficiency, renal insufficiency, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. A preexisting mild anemia may be enhanced or unmasked by surgically induced bleeding or repeated diagnostic phlebotomies, and by a postoperative erythropoietic dysfunction caused by the surgical trauma, irrespective of any hemorrhage. Low hemoglobin values are associated with a distinct increase of mortality and morbidity, both in the normal population and perioperatively and in the critically ill patients. The anemia-associated risk is exacerbated by preexisting cardiovascular disease, important intraoperative blood loss and advanced age. In contradiction to established therapeutical concepts, the administration of allogeneic blood beyond hemoglobin levels of 8-10 g/dl has not been found to decrease perioperative or intensive care morbidity or mortality. Rather, in addition to the inherent long-term risks of transfusions, a liberal transfusion strategy seems to increase the incidence of postoperative complications. Thus, current transfusion guidelines tend to be interpreted in an increasingly restrictive manner. Depending on the urgency of the clinical situation, the primary goal should be to diagnose and treat the underlying disease, rather than to focus on the symptom anemia. Time permitting, the patient's cardiovascular and pulmonary status should be optimized preoperatively. Furthermore, iron should be substituted to treat and prevent deficiency. Recombinant human erythropoietin has successfully been used to treat anemia of chronic renal failure and chronic disease, as well as in the perioperative and intensive care setting, and to support the efficiency of autologous programs. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Where did I leave my keys? A twin study of self-reported memory ratings using the multifactorial memory questionnaire.
Behavior genetics has convincingly shown the importance of genetic factors in objective tests of memory function. However, self-report memory tests have received little attention. This study used items from the Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) to estimate the heritability of self-reported memory contentment and ability in 909 monozygotic (MZ) and 1034 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs aged between 20 and 84 years from the St Thomas' Adult UK Twin Register. Heritability estimates ranged between 37% and 64% for contentment (e.g., reporting to worry about one's memory) and approximately 45% for ability (e.g., reporting a tendency to forget keys). Shared family environmental influences (between 32% and 33%) were found for some abilities (e.g., learning to use a new gadget). Given their clinical significance and ease of administration, these tests could prove to be useful in examining memory functioning in large-scale population studies. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Synthesis and evaluation of N-alkyl-beta-D-glucosylamines on the growth of two wood fungi, Coriolus versicolor and Poria placenta.
Various glucosylamines were synthesized from glucose and different alkyl amine compounds. These amino compounds are beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (GPA), N-ethyl-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (EtGPA), N-butyl-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (BuGPA), N-hexyl-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (HeGPA), N-octyl-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (OcGPA), N-dodecyl-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (DoGPA), N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (HEtGPA) and N,N-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosylamine (DHEtGPA). They were tested for their antifungal activity against the growth of Coriolus versicolor and Poria placenta. An improvement of the antifungal activity with the increase of alkyl chain length was observed. DoGPA exhibited the best antifungal activity against both strains. It completely inhibited the fungal growth at 0.01x10(-3)molmL(-1) and 0.0075x10(-3)molmL(-1) for C. versicolor and P. placenta, respectively. For other glucosylamines higher concentrations were needed for complete inhibition of fungi. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Quantitative histochemical assessment of regional differences in hepatic glucose uptake and release.
As a further step in the investigation of the heterogeneity of liver cells in general and regionality of glucose metabolism in particular, requirements for isolation of appropriate tissue samples were defined and procedures for measurement of the biochemical parameters responsible for glucose uptake and release developed and tested. By using enzymatic cycling for chemical amplification, in conjunction with the oil-well technique, sufficient analytical sensitivity was provided to assay samples averaging 20 ng dry weight. Microchemical data on the distribution of glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase and of their substrates, glucose and glucose-6-P, were used to, first calculate in vivo rates of these catalytic steps by means of the Michaelis-Menten equation, and then, to determine the direction and rate of net glucose flux, as well as, the rate of substrate cycling between glucose and glucose-6-P. Calculations from the results indicated a reciprocal distribution of in vivo glucokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase velocities, as well as, sex-specific differences. The distribution of in vivo activities results in a spatial separation of these antagonistic steps. Separation is incomplete, but nevertheless appears to lead to regionally different rates in futile substrate cycling. Glucose gradients permit differentiation between net glucose uptake and release and were, therefore, used as a test of the validity of the calculations of in vivo activities. The observed discrepancies between glucose gradients and calculated in vivo enzyme activities illustrate the power of this approach: it provides a way to compare changes in glucose along the sinusoid with what would be predicted from the levels of enzymes which liberate and tie up glucose and of their respective substrates. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in Peru and its relation to social determinants of health.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing public health problem and an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Disparities in CKD may be related to social determinants and health inequalities in low- and middle-income countries. This study determined how social determinants of health influence trends in the prevalence and mortality of CKD in Peru. This was an ecological study based on a secondary analysis of health care and death records obtained from the Ministry of Health of Peru for the period 2010-2016. The standardized prevalence and mortality rates of CKD were descriptively reported using geospatial exploratory analysis. We also determined the association with social determinants of health according to the domains suggested by Healthy People 2020. In the studied period, CKD prevalence increased by 300% and was associated with the health insurance coverage rate (β=5.9 [95% CI 0.82 to 10.92]), proportion of people with a secondary education level (β=11.4 [95% CI 1.94 to 20.93]), mean age (β=-10.7 [95% CI -19.33 to -2.12]), monetary poverty rate (β=-2.2 [95% CI -3.88 to -0.60]) and gross domestic product per capita (β=-63.2 [95% CI -117.81 to -8.52]). The standardized mortality decreased by 10% and was associated with mean age (β=-0.6 [95% CI -1.22 to -0.06]) and the proportion of people with a primary education level (β=-0.5 [95% CI -0.9 to -0.05]). During the period 2010-2016, the prevalence of CKD increased and the mortality associated with CKD decreased. The observed changes were associated with some social determinants of health, such as increased health coverage and education. The health system of Peru must be prepared to take on the challenge. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sports and hemophilia: antagonist or protagonist.
Until recent years the life for the person with hemophilia was dictated by the severity and frequency of bleeding episodes. Those with hemophilia tended to be overprotected and not allowed to participate in sporting activities normal to their peer group. The past 2 decades has seen a dramatic change in attitudes, mainly due to the introduction of factor replacement, home therapy, and comprehensive care programs. Those involved in the care of people with hemophilia now recognize that sport and exercise can reduce or prevent intraarticular hemorrhages. The arguments for and against sport as described in the literature from 1960 to 1990 are reviewed. Swimming, golf, and table tennis were recommended by doctors, whereas most contact sports, including football, were discouraged. The move toward more active pursuits brings with it an increase in sporting injuries, which is addressed in this article, but more importantly the prevention of injuries is highlighted. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Two pyogenic granulomas arising in an epidermoid cyst.
Two pyogenic granulomas arising from the wall of an epidermoid cyst on the midback of a 62-year-old white man are reported. Histologically, each pyogenic granuloma was a polypoid sessile nodule that showed well-vascularized granulation tissue; edema; a mixed inflammatory infiltrate; an epidermal collarette; and a thinned, variably ulcerated epidermis. Although pyogenic granulomas may develop anywhere on the skin, this appears to be the first report of pyogenic granulomas in an epidermoid cyst. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Lipoic acid prevents collagen abnormalities in tail tendon of high-fructose-fed rats.
Non-enzymatic glycation of proteins, leading to chemical modification and cross-linking are of importance in the pathology of diabetic complications. We studied the effect of alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on the glycation and cross-linking of collagen from tail tendon of high-fructose-fed rats. The rats were divided into four groups of six each. Two groups of rats were fed with a high-fructose diet (60/100 g diet) and administered with either LA (35 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) (FRU + LA) or saline (FRU) for 45 days. The other two groups were fed control diet containing starch (60/100 g diet) and administered with either saline (CON) or LA (CON + LA). The rats were maintained for 45 days and then sacrificed. Collagen was isolated from tail tendon and the extent of glycation, fluorescence, aldehyde and peroxidation levels were measured. The tail tendons were separated, and shrinkage temperature was also measured. Acid-soluble collagen was extracted from tail tendon and subjected to sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Fructose administration caused accumulation of collagen in tail tendon. Glycation, collagen-linked fluorescence, aldehyde and peroxide contents were elevated. The gel pattern of acid-soluble collagen from the fructose-fed rat showed elevated beta-component. These changes were alleviated by the simultaneous administration of LA. Administration of LA has a positive influence on tail tendon collagen glycation and other variables in high-fructose-fed rats. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Surgery in cystic fibrosis--a 20-year review.
The surgical histories of 111 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) seen between 1972 and 1991 were examined. Fifty-seven of these children underwent 154 operations; in 34 the surgery was directly related to CF and accounted for 84 operations. Meconium ileus and its complications were responsible for 26 of the 32 major abdominal CF-related procedures and there were 3 major CF-related thoracic operations. Only 1 child died within a month of operation. Complications occurred in 11.9% of general anaesthetics and post-operative complications in 9.2% of operations. Patients with CF are likely to need operative intervention and, when indicated, surgery should have a low morbidity and mortality. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cell cycle arrest and autoschizis in a human bladder carcinoma cell line following Vitamin C and Vitamin K3 treatment.
Exponentially growing cultures of human bladder tumor cells (T24) were treated with Vitamin C (VC) alone, Vitamin K(3) (VK(3)) alone, or with a VC:VK(3) combination for 1, 2, or 4hr. Flow cytometry of T24 cells exposed to the vitamins for 1h revealed a growth arrested population and a population undergoing cell death. Cells in G(1) during vitamin treatment arrested in G(1) while those in S phase progressed through S phase and arrested in G(2)/M. DNA synthesis decreased to 14 to 21% of control levels which agreed with the percent of cells in S phase during treatment. Annexin V labeling demonstrated the majority of the cells died by autoschizis, but necrosis and apoptosis also were observed. Catalase treatment abrogated both cell cycle arrest and cell death which implicated hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in these processes. Redox cycling of VC and VK(3) increased H(2)O(2) production and decreased cellular thiol levels and DNA content, while increasing intracellular Ca(2+) levels and lipid peroxidation. Feulgen staining of treated cells revealed a time-dependent decrease in tumor cell DNA, while electrophoresis revealed a spread pattern. These results suggest that Ca(2+) disregulation activates at least one DNase which degrades tumor cell DNA and induces tumor cell death. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Host defense factors, tumor aggressiveness, and prognosis associated with carcinomas of the breast.
Analysis of disease-free survival rates in 405 women with operable breast cancers was undertaken in a five-year retrospective study; tumor aggressiveness and host defense factors ( HDF ) were evaluated by a histologic method. Tumors were classified as slightly, moderately, or highly aggressive carcinomas by a scoring method that takes into account several histologic features. The presence of absence of HDF was determined by nodal sinus histiocytosis in the regional axillary lymph nodes and by stromal mononuclear reaction in the primary tumor. Overall, women with positive HDF had better cumulative five-year survival rates (76 per cent) than women with negative HDF (49 per cent). The combination of highly aggressive tumors, metastatic lymph nodes, and negative HDF was associated with extremely poor five-year survival rates (1 per cent) compared with those observed for women with aggressive tumors, nodal metastases, and positive HDF (30 percent), P less than 0.001. In this group, patients with four or fewer metastatic nodes showed a recurrence rate of 28 per cent; however, if five or more nodes were involved, the recurrence rate was 93 per cent. This pattern in disease-free survival rates related to HDF was not found in slightly or moderately aggressive tumors with or without metastases or in aggressive tumors without metastases. In addition, there was no relation between the number of metastatic nodes and survival in patients with slightly or moderately aggressive tumors or with aggressive tumors and negative HDF . It is concluded that HDF influence survival only in aggressive tumors with metastases and that the inherent aggressiveness of the tumor is the main factor that determines prognosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
"Supercharging" the rectus abdominis muscle to provide a single flap for cover of large mediastinal wound defects.
Mediastinitis continues to be a devastating complication of open heart surgery. Supercharging the rectus abdominis muscle through revascularisation of the deep inferior epigastric vessels in the neck adds another safety factor in the management of these difficult problems. Large mediastinal wound defects that would usually require more than one muscle for cover can be covered adequately with this technique. Viability of the entire rectus abdominis is assured and permits use in its entirety. Details of the technique are presented as well as a review of the reconstructive options for mediastinal wound infections. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Gastrointestinal leukocytoclastic vasculitis: an adverse effect of sirolimus.
An 18-yr-old Hispanic female with end-stage renal disease secondary to chronic glomerulonephritis of unknown etiology underwent cadaveric renal transplantation. She was placed on a steroid-free protocol with tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for maintenance immunosuppression. Approximately 8 months post-transplantation, MMF was replaced by sirolimus (SRL) because of persistent leukopenia. Four months after the initiation of SRL, the patient began to experience chronic, constant periumbilical abdominal pain in the absence of vomiting, diarrhea or melena. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and CT scans revealed significant diffuse mucosal thickening of the antrum, duodenum, and jejunum; leukocytoclastic vasculitis was identified on antral biopsy. A repeat biopsy after reduction of sirolimus dose by 50% over 6 months showed mild chronic inflammation of stomach and duodenum with some improvement in abdominal pain. Discontinuation of SRL and replacement with low dose MMF resulted in complete resolution of pain and normalization of gastrointestinal anatomy by imaging studies within 2 months. In light of this report, drug-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis caused by SRL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic abdominal pain in a patient with organ transplantation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Occupational asthma caused by soybean hull: a workplace equivalent to epidemic asthma.
A case showing that soya hull exposure at work causes occupational asthma without flour-related bronchoconstriction. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Photocytotoxicity of hypocrellin B (HB) was enhanced by liposomalization in vitro.
Hypocrellin B (HB) was encapsulated into a phosphatidylcholine liposome. Encapsulation of HB into liposomes not only improved the delivery of this photosensitizer but also increased its photodynamic efficacy compared to free HB molecules. Liposomal HB showed a higher cellular uptake than free HB as measured by confocal microscopy and was internalized into cultured HeLa cells by caveolar endocytosis, which was lipid-raft-dependent. Cell viability measurements demonstrated that liposomal HB was more phototoxic to HeLa cells than free HB as a result of the higher concentration of intracellular HB delivered by the liposomal formulation. The encapsulation of HB influenced the cell death pathway by an increased rate of necrotic cells after irradiation versus free HB, and a Type II (singlet oxygen) mechanism was responsible for the photocytotoxicity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Inadvertent fatal imipramine poisoning of a child: what happened to Tommy?
This column illustrates the importance of considering interindividual variance when prescribing medications. In this tragic case, the failure to consider age and body weight when prescribing a drug, imipramine, with a narrow therapeutic index caused the death of an otherwise physically healthy 6-year-old child. This death could also have been avoided by using therapeutic drug monitoring to properly adjust the dose. This case illustrates the importance of the second (pharmacokinetics) and third (biological variance) variables in the equation frequently cited in this column: clinical response=affinity for and intrinsic activity at site of action x drug concentration at site of action x underlying biology of the patient. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Permeability change of liposomal membrane induced by interleukin-1 alpha.
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is produced and released by various cells, including activated macrophages, and plays important roles in inflammation as well as immune responses. Since the precursor of IL-1 has no signal peptide, the mechanism of IL-1 release has been an enigma. To investigate the possibility of direct interaction of IL-1 with the lipid bilayer, the interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha)- or beta (IL-1 beta)-induced permeability change of the liposomal membrane was determined. IL-1 alpha, but not IL-1 beta, caused an increase in the permeability of liposomes composed of phosphatidylserine (PS), at neutral and acidic pHs, as demonstrated by measuring the efflux of calcein. On the other hand, liposomes composed of phosphatidylcholine (PC) showed no increase in permeability when incubated with IL-1 alpha, suggesting the importance of acidic phospholipids in the interaction of IL-1 alpha with the membrane. Furthermore, permeability of liposomal membrane was markedly increased by IL-1 alpha in the presence of 1 microM calcium ions, although a permeability change was observed even in the absence of calcium ions. IL-1 alpha also induced the efflux of fluorescent dextran (average M(r) of 39,600), raising the possibility of translocation of IL-1 alpha through the cell membrane. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Two sides of the same coin? On the history and phenomenology of chronic fatigue and burnout.
Burnout and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are two fatigue syndromes which have developed largely independently from each other, yet whose similarities in symptoms can be a source of confusion. We aim to explore the phenomenology of burnout and CFS in a historical context as this may provide some insight into the links and relationship between these conditions. A narrative review based on literature in the fields of history, social science and medicine. The origins of CFS lie within medicine, whereas burnout developed in a psychological setting. As well as symptoms, burnout and CFS also share similar themes such as an overload process triggering illness onset, the need for restoration of depleted energy, external causal attributions and the characteristics of people suffering from these illnesses. However, these themes are expressed in either psychological or medical terms according to the historical background. Despite their similarities, there have been few direct comparisons of the two concepts. Culture, illness perceptions and accountability are important issues in both conditions and could contribute to their differences. Comparing burnout and CFS within one sample frame, thus looking beyond the psychology/medicine divide, could be a useful first step towards understanding their relationship. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
ADAM Metalloprotease-Released Cancer Biomarkers.
Identification of early cancer, detection of progression, and monitoring of therapeutic success remain urgent issues in clinical medicine, particularly given the increasing cancer incidence in our aging populations. New methodologies have provided enormous progress over the past decades by defining the genetic and proteomic composition of cancers, yielding putative cancer biomarkers detectable in blood or other body fluids less invasively and more cheaply than using currently available screening techniques that often involve biopsies or surgery. However, the clinical use of these new methodologies is still far off. In this review, we focus on putative soluble cancer biomarkers shed from the cell surface by metalloproteases overexpressed in numerous cancers. Although useful candidates have been identified, their validation and adoption into clinical use remain challenging. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Drug marker absorption in relation to pellet size, gastric motility and viscous meals in humans.
The objective of this study was to evaluate drug marker absorption in relation to the gastric emptying (GE) of 0.7 mm and 3.6 mm enteric coated pellets as a function of viscosity and the underlying gastric motility. Twelve subjects were evaluated in a 3-way crossover study. 0.7 mm caffeine and 3.6 mm acetaminophen enteric coated pellets were concurrently administered with a viscous caloric meal at the levels of 4000, 6000 and 8000 cP. Gastric motility was simultaneously measured with antral manometry and compared to time events in the plasma profiles of the drug markers. Caffeine, from the 0.7 mm pellets, was observed significantly earlier in the plasma than acetaminophen, from the 3.6 mm pellets, at all levels of viscosity. Motility related size differentiated GE was consistently observed at all viscosity levels, however, less variability was observed with the 4000 cP meal. Specifically, the onset of absorption from the of 3.6 mm pellets correlated with the onset of Phase II fasted state contractions (r = 0.929, p < 0.01). The timeframe of drug marker absorption and the onset of motility events were not altered within the range of viscosities evaluated. Rather, the differences in drug marker profiles from the non-digestible solids were most likely the result of the interaction between viscosity and motility influencing antral flow dynamics. The administration of the two sizes of pellets and a viscous caloric meal with subsequent monitoring of drug marker profiles is useful as a reference to assess the influence of motility patterns on the absorption profile of orally administered agents. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Genome-wide characterization of gene expression variations and DNA copy number changes in prostate cancer cell lines.
The aim of this study was to characterize gene expression and DNA copy number profiles in androgen sensitive (AS) and androgen insensitive (AI) prostate cancer cell lines on a genome-wide scale. Gene expression profiles and DNA copy number changes were examined using DNA microarrays in eight commonly used prostate cancer cell lines. Chromosomal regions with DNA copy number changes were identified using cluster along chromosome (CLAC). There were discrete differences in gene expression patterns between AS and AI cells that were not limited to androgen-responsive genes. AI cells displayed more DNA copy number changes, especially amplifications, than AS cells. The gene expression profiles of cell lines showed limited similarities to prostate tumors harvested at surgery. AS and AI cell lines are different in their transcriptional programs and degree of DNA copy number alterations. This dataset provides a context for the use of prostate cancer cell lines as models for clinical cancers. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Lung cancer mortality among nuclear workers of the Mayak facilities in the former Soviet Union. An updated analysis considering smoking as the main confounding factor.
A new analysis of lung cancer mortality in a cohort of male Mayak workers who started their employment in the plutonium and reprocessing plants between 1948 and 1958 has been carried out in terms of a relative risk model. The follow-up has been extended until 1999, moreover a new dosimetry system (DOSES2000) has been established. Particular emphasis has been given to a discrimination of the effects of external gamma-exposure and internal alpha-exposure due to incorporated plutonium. This study has also utilized and incorporated the information from a cohort of Mayak reactor workers, who were exposed only externally to gamma-rays. The influence of smoking as the main confounding factor for lung cancer has been studied. The baseline lung cancer mortality rate was not taken from national statistics but was derived from the cohort itself. The estimated excess relative risk for the plutonium alpha-rays was 0.23/Sv (95%CI: 0.16-0.31). The resulting risk coefficient for external gamma-ray exposure was very low with a statistically insignificant estimate of 0.058/Sv (95%CI: -0.072-0.20). The inferred relative risk for smokers was 16.5 (95%CI: 12.6-20.5). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
In vitro interaction of rat liver cytochromes P-450 with erythromycin, oleandomycin and erythralosamine derivatives. Importance of structural factors.
Several derivatives of the erythromycin, erythralosamine and oleandomycin series have been prepared. Their abilities to bind to rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 and to lead to the formation of stable 456 nm absorbing cytochrome P-450-metabolite complexes after their oxidative microsomal metabolism in vitro have been compared. The obtained data confirmed that cytochrome P-450 induced in rats either by macrolides or by 16 alpha-pregnenolone carbonitrile were the major isozymes involved in the binding of macrolides to liver microsomes and in metabolite-complex formation. They showed that (i) hydrophobicity was in general a beneficial factor for these two properties, (ii) the presence of a bulky substituent in position 3 of erythromycin dramatically decreased their affinity for these isozymes, and (iii) the simultaneous presence of bulky substituents in position 2' and 3 prevented iron-metabolite complex formation. These results led to the selection of two compounds, erythralosamine-2'-benzoate and erythralosamine-2',3-diacetate, which exhibited a particularly high affinity for macrolide inducible cytochrome P-450 and were very good precursors of cytochrome P-450-iron-metabolite complex formation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Development of continuing nursing education offerings for the World Wide Web.
Nurses are seeking continuing professional development that is easily accessible, convenient, and available at any time and any place. As nurses have increasing access to Internets and Intranets at home and their workplace, courses for continuing nursing education must be available to meet this need. This article discusses the planning, implementation, and evaluation of continuing nursing education (CNE) on the World Wide Web. The article explains how to develop a strategic plan, develop course offerings, select technology tools to support teaching and learning, and market and evaluate the courses. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Availability of antidotes in hospital pharmacies in Greece.
We determined the availability of poisoning antidotes in the pharmacies of state hospitals in Greece and in Health Centers of the island of Crete. A questionnaire survey was sent to all pharmacy directors of hospitals with emergency departments, asking them to report anonymously the amount currently in stock of each of 12 common antidotes. Questionnaires were sent to 100 pharmacy directors and 68 (68%) of them replied. Only 2 (3%) of the 68 hospitals stocked all 12 antidotes. The percentage of sufficient stocking for individual antidotes ranged from 6% (for digoxin immune fab) to 91% (for methylene blue). Recent circulation of government guidelines for antidote stocking and hospital type had no significant effect on antidote stocking. In a multiple regression analysis, hospital type (prefectural, regional, university hospital) and smaller hospital size were not predictors of the number of antidotes sufficiently stocked. Storing of key poisoning antidotes is inadequate in regional as well as in prefectural hospitals in Greece. Antidotes, including those which should be used without delay to be effective, are often not available, even for the commoner poisons in Greece such as pesticides. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Severity and extent of upper small bowel mucosal damage in cow's milk protein-sensitive enteropathy.
A series of 31 infants, 28 with cow's milk protein sensitive enteropathy (CMPSE) and 3 controls, was studied for severity and extent of mucosal damage of the upper small bowel in relation to the development of clinical symptoms. Following challenge with the offending cow's milk, 18 infants (Group 1) developed severe mucosal changes at both the proximal and distal small bowel mucosa and all of these infants presented with clinical symptoms. The other 10 infants (Group 2) who did not develop clinical symptoms following the challenge had less severe damage to the distal small bowel mucosa as compared to the proximal region. The histological score of both the proximal and distal postchallenge biopsies were significantly lower in Group 2 as compared to Group 1 infants. The mucosal disaccharidase and alkaline phosphatase levels were depleted in both the proximal and distal biopsies following challenge but the depletion was greater in the proximal than the distal biopsies. It is suggested that the extent and severity of mucosal damage to the proximal duodenum and jejunum have a critical bearing on the development of clinical symptoms. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
How robust are switches in intracellular signaling cascades?
Since all-or-none decisions of the cell are controlled by extracellular signals, cells have biochemical switches within their intracellular signaling networks. Central elements of these switches are multisite phosphorylation, enzymic saturation, and amplification by cascades. Moreover, positive feedback can contribute to switch-like behavior termed also ultrasensitivity. Here we analyse the robustness of these mechanisms exemplified by models of the three-molecule MAPK-cascade and the single-molecule Goldbeter-Koshland switch. We show that the ultrasensitivity in the MAPK-cascades is more robust against changes of the kinetic parameters than the Goldbeter-Koshland switch. If multiple parameters are changed randomly, the effects of parameter changes can compensate each other in the cascade leading to a remarkable robustness of the switch-like behavior. The different degrees of robustness can be traced back to the different mechanisms of generating ultrasensitivity. While in the Goldbeter-Koshland switch the saturation of the enzymes are crucial, in the MAPK-cascade the adjustment of working ranges determines the ultrasensitivity. Our results indicate that amplification of ultrasensitivity in cascades and multisite phosphorylation might be a design principle to achieve robust switches. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Urine benzodiazepines screening of involuntarily drugged and robbed or raped patients.
This study involved 35 patients who claimed to have been drugged before being robbed or raped, despite urine negative toxicologic screening by immunoenzymatic methods. The urines were frozen for further investigations, including enzymatic hydrolysis of urinary conjugates, liquid-solid extraction and, finally, immunoenzymatic screening of concentrated urine extract. Urine benzodiazepines were analyzed by immunoenzymatic assay before and after enzymatic hydrolysis combined with extraction. On direct immunoenzymatic screening, 17 of the 35 urine samples were benzodiazepine positive. Enrichment of preserved specimens improved the detection threshold from 200 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL and 10 of the 18 negative urines became positive. This method allowed us to demonstrate the benzodiazepines in half of previously negative urine samples. Benzodiazepine screening is particularly problematic because of low dosage, rapid elimination, failure to detect conjugated metabolites by immunoenzymatic reagents and high threshold of sensitivity for certain substances. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Transanal excision of locally advanced rectal cancers downstaged using neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
Our institution has previously demonstrated a survival advantage conferred by preoperative neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancers. We now report our results using transanal excision as definitive surgical therapy in a selected group of patients who experienced significant downstaging of T3 rectal cancers after neoadjuvant therapy. Seventy-four patients diagnosed with locally advanced (T3) rectal cancers were treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. After neoadjuvant therapy, 11 (14.9%) patients who had significant downstaging of their tumors were selected to undergo transanal excision of their residual rectal cancers. Intraoperative cryostat evaluation was used to confirm negative margin status, and all patients were subsequently followed with routine endoscopy, transrectal ultrasonography, and digital rectal examinations. Tumors were located between 1 cm and 7 cm from the anal verge (mean 4.3 +/- 0.6 cm), and were located in lateral, anterior, and posterior positions. Mean followup was 55.2 +/- 8.9 months (median 47.9 months). Imaging studies using CT, MRI, transrectal ultrasonography, or combination demonstrated suspicious lymph nodes in three patients. After neoadjuvant therapy, these lymph nodes were no longer demonstrated in two patients. There were no local recurrences, nodal metastases, or operative mortalities. One patient (9%) developed distant metastases (pulmonary nodules), and remains alive 30 months after transanal excision. One patient (9%) experienced sphincter laxity, which was successfully repaired, and is now asymptomatic. One patient (9%) developed postoperative urgency that resolved spontaneously. In patients who have initial bulky (T3) lesions, and experience significant downstaging after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, transanal excision appears to be a safe and effective treatment, preserving sphincter function and avoiding laparotomy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Toxicity of ocular surgical solutions.
Intraocular medications, solutions, and instruments are an integral component of intraocular surgery. The ionic composition, pH, and osmolality should approximate aqueous humor to prevent damage to the corneal endothelium. Intraocular medications should be evaluated for their intrinsic properties and presence of vehicles or preservatives. Many new cleaning procedures and promising new intraocular drugs are likely to be introduced in the future. The responsibility of ocular surgeons is to protect their patients from drug-, solution-, or instrument-related toxicity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Inhibition of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli adhesion on host epithelial cells by Holarrhena antidysenterica (L.) WALL.
Bacterial adhesion is the first step in the sequence of events leading to infection. Previous data are available on the effect of Holarrhena antidysenterica on antidiarrhoeal and antibacterial action, but there is little information on the mechanism of action of the various aspects of EPEC-induced diarrhoea, namely adherence and translocation of the effector molecule to intestinal epithelial cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of alkaloids of Holarrhena antidysenterica (AHA) on interference in the mechanism of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) adhesion on host epithelial cells (INT 407 and HEp2). To determine the impact of AHA on epithelial cells, cytotoxicity (LDH), adherence, apoptotic and ultrastructural studies were performed. To analyse the effect of AHA on EPEC secreted proteins, especially EspD, INT 407 monolayers were infected with EPEC and AHA-treated EPEC, followed by immunoblotting, probed with anti EspD antisera. The maximum percentage of LDH leakage was reduced in AHA-treated EPEC (400 microg/mL) in both cell lines. Reduced bacterial adherence was observed under light microscopy and altered apoptotic changes were visualized using propidium iodide staining in conjunction with fluorescence microscopy, in both cell lines infected with AHA-treated EPEC and these results were confirmed with transmission electron microscope images. The suppression of type III secretory proteins (TTSPs), EspD ( approximately 40 kDa), was detected in INT 407 cells infected with AHA-treated EPEC. In conclusion, AHA reduces initial bacterial adhesion to intact epithelial cells and it may exert an antiadherence effect against the pathogenesis of EPEC in host epithelial cells. Thus, the investigations provide a rational basis for the treatment of EPEC-mediated diarrhoea with AHA. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Compliance with methodological standards when evaluating ophthalmic diagnostic tests.
To draw attention to the importance of methodological standards when carrying out evaluations of ophthalmic diagnostic tests by reviewing the extent of compliance with these standards in reports of evaluations published within the ophthalmic literature. Twenty published evaluations of ophthalmic screening/diagnostic tests or technologies were independently assessed by two reviewers for compliance with the following methodological standards: specification of the spectrum composition for populations used in the evaluation, analysis of pertinent subgroups, avoidance of work-up (verification) bias, avoidance of review bias, presentation of precision of results for test accuracy, presentation of indeterminate test results, and presentation of test reproducibility. Compliance ranged from just 10% (95%CI, 1%-32%) for presentation of test reproducibility data and avoidance of review bias to 70% (95%CI, 46%-88%) for avoidance of work-up bias and presentation of indeterminate test results. Only 5 of the 20 evaluations complied with four or more of the methodological standards and none with more than five of the standards. The evaluations of ophthalmic diagnostic tests discussed in this article show limited compliance with accepted methodological standards but are no worse than previously described for evaluations published in general medical journals. Adherence to these standards by researchers can improve the study design and reporting of evaluations of new diagnostic techniques. Limited compliance, combined with a lack of awareness of the standards among users of research evidence, may lead to the inappropriate adoption of new diagnostic technologies, with a consequent waste of health care resources. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Tennessee Trauma Care System Plan, part III.
Tennessee implemented a statewide trauma care system in 1988. This system serves the state of Tennessee and supports eight neighboring states. The demographics and geography of Tennessee have ensured that nearly all residents have rapid access to the trauma care system. However, since 1988, many changes have occurred in healthcare in general, and trauma care in particular, that point out problems and issues with the Tennessee trauma care system. Therefore, the Tennessee Trauma Care Advisory Council has developed this Trauma Care System Plan to look at needs and opportunities for the future of trauma care in Tennessee. This plan will be presented in four segments: History, Administrative Components, Operational Components, and Clinical Components. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
High response rate and improvement of long-term survival with combined treatment modalities in patients with poor-risk primary thyroid diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: an International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group and Intergruppo Italiano Linfomi study.
The impact of different treatment modalities and prognostic factors on the clinical course of primary thyroid diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PTDLBCL) is still the subject of research. This study was conducted to clarify these clinical aspects of this disorder. The clinical parameters of 48 patients with PTDLBCL at time of diagnosis were comparable to those of previous studies. Patients underwent either radiotherapy (RT) ± surgery (SX), chemotherapy (CHT) alone or in combination with local treatments (RT or SX), or SX followed by CHT and RT. A 90% complete remission (CR) rate was observed among patients who underwent combined treatment modalities (CTM), compared to 76% among the others. The 5-year progression-free survival differed significantly between both groups (p = 0.028). Poor performance status and advanced age correlated with decreased survival. PTDLBCL is a curable disease prevalent in elderly patients. Combined treatment modalities were able to induce an elevated rate of CR, improving long-term survival in younger patients. However, the outcome in elderly patients still remains unsatisfactory. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Histomorphological and immunohistochemical characterization of equine granulosa cell tumours.
Benign (n=33) and malignant metastasizing (n=1) granulosa cell tumours (GCTs) from 34 mares aged 3-21 years, and normal (control) ovaries from nine mares aged 3-10 years, were examined histologically and immunohistochemically (for inhibin alpha, glutathione S-transferase alpha [GSTalpha], c-erbB-2 oncoprotein [cerb], cytokeratin, vimentin, desmin and alpha-actin), the results being related where appropriate to clinical signs and endocrinological data. Availability permitting, serum samples from GCT-affected mares before and several weeks after ovariectomy were examined for the following hormones: oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone (by radioimmunoassay); and inhibin B (by a cross-reactive ELISA). Histological examination revealed that the GCTs were predominantly well differentiated neoplasms. The metastasizing GCT differed immunohistochemically from the benign GCTs in respect of the expression patterns of vimentin, cerb and GSTalpha in the granulosa cells. A notable feature was the presence of Leydig-like cells in mares with stallion-like behaviour or elevated serum testosterone, or both. GSTalpha immunolabelling indicated that the Leydig-like cells were potential producers of steroid hormone. From the immunohistochemical and endocrinological findings it was concluded that GCTs produce abnormally high concentrations of inhibin, which reduce the release of follicle-stimulating hormone, leading to atrophy of the contralateral ovary-a finding in 27 of the mares. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate on fetal middle cerebral artery flow velocity waveforms in term pregnancy.
To investigate whether bolus injection of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) is associated with changes in fetal middle cerebral artery flow velocity waveforms in term pregnancy. Ten normal full-term pregnant women received the administration of a 200-mg intravenous dose of DHAS in 20 ml of 5% dextrose. Ten normal full term pregnant women received 20 ml 5% dextrose as controls. Color Doppler flow imaging and pulsed Doppler ultrasonographic assessments were made on fetuses in each group before and 10 min, 30 min, 60 min, 90 min. and 120 min after DHAS or dextrose administration. The pulsatility index (PI) values for the middle cerebral artery, and umbilical artery, and fetal heart rate were recorded. In the DHAS group, middle cerebral artery PI decreased from baseline by 24% (p<.05) after 10 min, and the mean reduction was 22% (p<.05) after 30 min. The PI returned to the baseline value 60 min later. In the control group, there was no change in middle cerebral artery PI. No change was found in umbilical artery PI or fetal heart rate in the control or DHAS group. DHAS induces a significant decrease in the fetal middle cerebral artery PI, which suggests a possible decrease in fetal cerebral vascular impedance in term pregnancy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Surgical treatment of typhoid peritonitis].
Under observation were 17 patients with typhoid peritonitis. The authors describe some specific features of the clinical course of this complication. The necessary method of treatment is thought to be an urgent operation with suturing the perforated ulcer and peritonization of all the ulcers found or a resection of the injured portion of the intestine, peritoneal dialysis, drainage of the thoracic lymph duct and intensive transfusion therapy in the postoperative period. Eleven patients recovered, six patients died. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A technique for producing scalable color-quantized images with error diffusion.
To reliably and efficiently deliver media information to diverse clients over heterogeneous networks, the media involved must be scalable. In this paper, a color quantization algorithm for generating scalable color-indexed images is proposed based on a multiscale error diffusion framework. Images of lower resolutions are embedded in the outputs such that a simple down-sampling process can extract images of any desirable resolutions. Images possessing this scalable property support transmission over the Internet which contains clients with different display resolutions, systems with different caching resources and networks with varying bandwidths and QoS capabilities. Unlike most of the color halftoning algorithms available nowadays, the proposed algorithm is not dedicated for printing applications but for color-indexed displays. It works with any arbitrary palettes of different size. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Identification of psychological symptoms and associated factors in adolescents who have a parent with cancer in Turkey.
This descriptive study was designed to identify the psychological symptoms and associated factors in the adolescent children of cancer patients. The data were collected by a questionnaire developed by the researchers, "The Brief Symptom Inventory" and "The Scale of Social Support provided by the Family and Friends" and statistically compared. The study involved adolescents of 13-18 years of age accompanying their parents who were receiving cancer treatment. According to the results of the study, the adolescents involved in the study generally showed high rates of psychological symptoms, and the score for the subdimension of depression, one of the psychological symptoms listed in the Brief Symptom Inventory, was the highest (20.22 ± 8.40). The mean anxiety, depression, negative identity, somatization, hostility and total psychological symptom scores of the boys were higher than those of the girls, and the difference between the mean scores of psychological symptoms in male and female genders was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The scores of perceived social support by the family and friends and psychological distress were not significantly associated (p > 0.05). In light of these findings, the importance of caring for the adolescents along with their parents and providing them with professional support to overcome their psychological distress has become evident. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Photic retinal injury from endoillumination during vitrectomy.
We treated a patient who developed a paramacular area of light-induced retinal damage after endoscopic epimacular membrane removal. Postoperative color photographs showed complete absence of the membrane, but fluorescein angiography demonstrated a previously absent superior paramacular lesion consistent with a photic injury. Operative microscope illumination had been eliminated by corneal shielding, which implicated endoillumination as the source of injury. We recommend the following procedures to avoid this complication: careful planning of vitreous surgery for epimacular membrane removal; using filters; minimizing the length of surgery; keeping the light output low; maintaining maximal light pipe distance from the retina; eccentric orientation of the light pipe; and use of intermittent and variable site illumination techniques. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A re-appraisal of antibiotic susceptibility tests in the management of bacterial prostatitis.
In a material of fifty cases of chronic prostatitis the effectiveness of antibiotic susceptibility tests has been evaluated in the management of bacterial prostatitis. Limitations of the therapy are discussed, and factors effecting drug diffusion across the prostatic membrane are reviewed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cerebrospinal fluid neurochemistry in the myoclonic subtype of Alzheimer's disease.
Monoamine metabolites, biopterin, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) were determined in the lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 24 patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) without myoclonus or extrapyramidal signs, in 8 patients with DAT and myoclonus, and in 14 age-matched healthy control subjects. In patients with DAT with myoclonus as compared with both DAT patients without myoclonus and control subjects, the concentrations of homovanillic acid and biopterin were significantly decreased. 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid was significantly lower in patients with myoclonic DAT as compared to patients with nonmyoclonic DAT, but not significantly lower than in control subjects. CSF AChE and SLI were significantly reduced in patients with DAT with or without myoclonus, as compared with control subjects, but AChE and SLI were not significantly different between dementia groups. These results suggest that DAT patients with myoclonus represent a distinct clinical and neurochemical DAT subtype. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Emergence of chikungunya virus infection in Orissa, India.
From September through October 2006, an unknown disease characterized by acute onset of fever, joint pain with or without swelling, and maculopapular rash along with fatigue was reported from three villages of Cuttack and one village of Kendrapara district of Orissa, India, by the State Health Department. Upon learning this, a team from Regional Medical Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Bhubaneswar, Orissa, conducted an epidemiological investigation in the area. Household survey was carried out and clinical examination of the symptomatic individuals (n = 1289: Kendrapara, 752; Cuttack, 537) undertaken. Based on the recorded chikungunya (CHIK) fever symptoms, a vector-borne viral disease was considered for provisional diagnosis. Blood samples were collected from 217 symptomatic individuals; to confirm the diagnosis, sera were tested for anti-CHIK antibody (immunoglobulin M), which revealed 63% (64/101) and 40% (47/116) seropositivity in the samples from Kendrapara and Cuttack district, respectively. The illness was managed with analgesics like paracetamol. No death was recorded due to the illness. Entomological survey in the areas revealed the presence of Aedes mosquitoes: aegypti, albopictus, and vittatus. The per-man-hour density of Aedes vectors ranged from 0.8 to 7.6. High larval indices, house index >17% and Breteau index >70%, also indicated Aedes breeding in the area. The investigation documented circulation of CHIK in Orissa, India, and helped to take preventive steps in the outbreak area, with the suggested vector control measures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
An evaluation of etomidate in total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).
In 47 adult patients undergoing either microlaryngoscopy or bronchoscopy, anesthesia was maintained with a continuous etomidate infusion after induction with etomidate and spraying the vocal cords and trachea with 10% xylocaine. The patients breathed air spontaneously throughout the procedure, oxygen being added if necessary. It is claimed that this technique provides good, safe and convenient anesthesia. An additional advantage in cases of microlaryngoscopy is that mobility of the vocal cord is retained. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support as a Bridge to Heart Transplant: Report of 3 Cases.
Heart transplant is the only definitive treatment of end-stage heart failure. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be used as a bridge to heart transplant. Among 31 patients who underwent heart transplant between January 2014 and June 2016, we present our experiences with 3 patients who received venoarterial extracorporeal support as a bridge to heart transplant. The first patient was a 51-year-old male with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Transplant was performed after 6 days of extracorporeal support, and the patient was discharged and alive at follow-up. Patient 2 was a 12-yearold girl with dilated cardiomyopathy who presented with cardiac arrest. Extracorporeal support was initiated during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. She had full neurologic recovery and remained on the wait list. She received a transplant 22 days after resuscitation. She survived and was alive at day 220 posttransplant. The third patient was a 50-year-old male with ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy requiring venoarterial extracorporeal support. Percutaneous balloon atrial septostomy was performed for left ventricle venting. He underwent transplant on day 28 after intensive care unit admission. He died 29 days after release from the hospital. Regarding patients on heart transplant wait lists who are worsening despite optimal medical therapy, venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support is a safe and viable last resort. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Influence of photoinitiator concentration and irradiation time on the crosslinking performance of visible-light activated pullulan-HEMA hydrogels.
In-situ forming hydrogels were prepared from pullulan-HEMA copolymer using three-component visible-light system composed of camphorquinone carboxylic acid-folic acid-iodonium salt. The relevance of double bond conversion and crosslinking density of hydrogels with the photoinitiator concentration and irradiation time were estimated by FT-IR analysis and swelling calculation using Flory-Rehner theory, respectively. The results revealed that the crosslinking density and degree of conversion of hydrogels were improved by photoinitiator concentration increasing until certain extend, then they decreased due to a primary radicals termination reaction occurred. The shortest irradiation time of 10 s was essential to obtain acceptable hydrogels for further characterizations. For the probability use of hydrogels as scaffold was investigated in vitro by measuring of the indirect cytotoxicity assay by MTT-assay using human bone Sarcoma cell as a reference cell lines. The majority of seeded SW1353 cells maintained a live with an accepted viability of ~85-92% over a four days culture period with irradiation of hydrogel 10 s, while cell viability has improved to ~95-98% with prolonging the irradiation time of hydrogel to 60 s. The current photoinitiating system is a proper system for in-situ crosslinking the activated-light biomaterials for bone regeneration, dental, or tissue engineering applications. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
General paresis: neuropsychological and SPECT study of five cases.
Although much less common than before the advent of the antibiotics, cognitive impairment due to general paresis can still be found in clinical practice. Five patients with general paresis underwent longitudinal neuropsychological assessment; on the occasion of the final evaluation, Single Photon Emission Tomography (SPECT) was also performed in four cases. The most frequent cognitive deficit at admission was long term spatial memory impairment, which was present in four patients. Only the two patients who received the highest dosage of intravenous penicillin therapy showed significant improvement at neuropsychological tests after treatment. SPECT findings included areas of cortical hypoperfusion and/or perfusion asymmetry in three out of four patients. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
WebAL Comes of Age: A Review of the First 21 Years of Artificial Life on the Web.
We present a survey of the first 21 years of web-based artificial life (WebAL) research and applications, broadly construed to include the many different ways in which artificial life and web technologies might intersect. Our survey covers the period from 1994-when the first WebAL work appeared-up to the present day, together with a brief discussion of relevant precursors. We examine recent projects, from 2010-2015, in greater detail in order to highlight the current state of the art. We follow the survey with a discussion of common themes and methodologies that can be observed in recent work and identify a number of likely directions for future work in this exciting area. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
What determines whether chromosomes segregate reductionally or equationally in meiosis?
Normal meiosis consists of a single round of DNA replication followed by two nuclear divisions. In the 1st division the chromosomes segregate reductionally whereas in the 2nd division they segregate equationally (as they do in mitosis). In certain yeast mutants, a single-division meiosis takes place, in which some chromosomes segregate reductionally while others divide equationally. This autonomous segregation behaviour of individual chromosomes on a common spindle is determined by the centromeres they carry. The relationship between reductional segregation of a pair of chromosomes and their earlier recombinational history is also discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Electrospinning of silk fibroin and collagen for vascular tissue engineering.
Tubular scaffolds of silk fibroin (SF)/collagen (Col) were prepared by electrospinning with the aim to develop a new scaffold for vascular tissue engineering. The effects of the solvent, solution concentration and collagen content on the morphology of the scaffolds were investigated by SEM. FTIR and XRD were used to investigate their structural changes. Although there were morphological and structural differences, the water uptake and the tensile strength of the scaffolds with different collagen content showed no significant difference. This study confirmed the feasibility of the fabrication of SF/Col tubular scaffold by electrospinning from aqueous solution and provided promising tubular scaffold for vascular tissue engineering. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of salt reduction intervention program using an electronic salt sensor and cellular phone on blood pressure among hypertensive workers.
We investigated the effectiveness of a workplace intervention program that utilized self-monitoring of daily salt excretion by an electronic salt sensor and sent personalized e-mail advice via cellular phone. Forty-one hypertensive male workers were assigned to intervention and control groups, then counseled together. Intervention group members were asked to measure daily salt excretion and received e-mail advice. After 4 weeks, a greater decrease of blood pressure (BP) was observed in the intervention group, with significant reductions to daily salt excretion and home BP. The new intervention program is considered useful for BP control among hypertensive workers. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Early maturation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion and sexual precocity after exposure of infant female rats to estradiol or dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.
An increase in the frequency of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in vitro and a reduction in LH response to GnRH in vivo characterize hypothalamic-pituitary maturation before puberty in the female rat. In girls migrating for international adoption, sexual precocity is frequent and could implicate former exposure to the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), since a long-lasting DDT derivative has been detected in the serum of such children. We aimed at studying the effects of early transient exposure to estradiol (E(2)) or DDT in vitro and in vivo in the infantile female rat. Using a static incubation system of hypothalamic explants from 15-day-old female rats, a concentration- and time-dependent reduction in GnRH interpulse interval (IPI) was seen during incubation with E(2) and DDT isomers. These effects were prevented by antagonists of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4 propionic acid (AMPA)/kainate receptors and estrogen receptor. Also, o,p'-DDT effects were prevented by an antagonist of the aryl hydrocarbon orphan dioxin receptor (AHR). After subcutaneous injections of E(2) or o,p'-DDT between Postnatal Days (PNDs) 6 and 10, a decreased GnRH IPI was observed on PND 15 as an ex vivo effect. After DDT administration, serum LH levels in response to GnRH were not different from controls on PND 15, whereas they tended to be lower on PND 22. Subsequently, early vaginal opening (VO) and first estrus were observed together with a premature age-related decrease in LH response to GnRH. After prolonged exposure to E(2) between PNDs 6 and 40, VO occurred at an earlier age, but first estrus was delayed. We conclude that a transient exposure to E(2) or o,p'-DDT in early postnatal life is followed by early maturation of pulsatile GnRH secretion and, subsequently, early developmental reduction of LH response to GnRH that are possible mechanisms of the subsequent sexual precocity. The early maturation of pulsatile GnRH secretion could involve effects mediated through estrogen receptor and/or AHR as well as AMPA/kainate subtype of glutamate receptors. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
What is the extent of repeat prescriptions for post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV after sexual exposure among men who have sex with men in the UK?
People who repeatedly present for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for prevention of HIV following a high-risk sexual exposure are of concern according to the British HIV Association PEP guidelines. The aim of this audit was to determine the extent of repeat PEP prescriptions for men who have sex with men (MSM) by conducting a retrospective review of patient notes from a 5-year period at one genitourinary medicine clinic. Over the 5 years, 107 of 929 MSM (11.5%; 95% confidence interval: 9.45-13.55) received more than one PEP prescription (repeat range 1-8; mean=3.3, s.d.=1.44). Forty percent of these had received three or more PEP prescriptions. Seven of the 107 became HIV positive. Patients need to be offered and encouraged to take up behavioural risk reduction interventions at the time of each PEP prescription. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Molecular characterization of the t(3;9) associated with immortalization in the MCF10A cell line.
The t(3;9)(p14;p21) in the MCF10A human mammary gland epithelial cell line was the single cytogenetic event that accompanied the transition from primary culture to immortalized cell line, suggesting that it is related to the development of the immortalization phenotype. To study the molecular consequences of the breakpoints in this rearrangement, we used a combination of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). The 3p14 translocation breakpoint occurs within BAC RP11-795e22, which accommodates only the TAFA1 gene, a novel cysteine-rich secreted protein thought to be involved in cytokine signaling. TAFA1 is expressed in normal breast tissue, not in MCF10A, and shows differential expression in a range of breast cancer cell lines. The 9p translocation breakpoint results in a deletion of approximately 4 megabases on the derivative chromosome 9, which includes the CDKN2A (p16) gene. Array CGH and FISH analysis demonstrated that BAC 149i22, which contains the CDKN2A/B genes, is also deleted specifically on the apparently normal copy of chromosome 9, making MCF10A null for the p16/p15 genes. The exact extent of gains and losses of chromosome regions resulting from rearrangements involving chromosomes 1q, 5q, and 8q have also been characterized using the BAC arrays. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assay of iodine deficiency status in three ecological regions of Nepal by a microdigestion method.
Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are a global public health problem. In continuation of the efforts to eliminate the iodine deficiency in different parts of the world, IDD surveys are being conducted to assess the status of iodine nutriture. A survey was conducted in Nepal in 1998 with assistance from UNICEF. We present the status of the iodine nutriture, as assessed from urinary iodine levels of casual samples by a micro-digestion method, in the three ecological regions: Terai (flat region), Hilly region (300-3,000 m altitude) and mountainous regions (>3,000 m altitude) of Nepal. Terai region is more affected, having iodine deficiency in 18.6% of the population. The hilly and mountainous regions were found to have 11.2% and 9% iodine deficient populations respectively. The study shows improvement in iodine deficiency status with respect to previous surveys yet it continued to be prevalent in the country as a major public health problem which requires strengthening of preventive measures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[The management of post operative chylothorax].
Post operative chylothorax occurs in less than a few percentages of pulmonary resection and lymph node dissection for lung cancer and is a serious complication. The management of post operative chylothorax is both conservative and surgical treatment and generally the former is used. In our hospital during 1992-2005, almost patients responded to conservative treatment. Surgical interventions with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is considered that it is low invasive method and can prevent the demerits of conservative therapy such as infection of long-term drain detention and lymphocyte loss, malnutrition and so on. Early detection of surgical interventions might be one of strategies in the management of post operative chylothorax for the patients with much quantity of drainage. We consider that administration of somatostatin and lymphangiography are effective treatments and are recommended as the previous step of surgical interventions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A review of basic concepts in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.
The technique of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GCxGC) is reviewed. A description of technical aspects of the method illustrates how the GCxGC result is achieved through the use of dual-coupled columns and the modulation of capillary chromatographic peaks. This review presents an expanded section dealing with the relationship between the modulation phase and frequency and the resulting peak pulse profiles. Experimental results that support the appreciation and understanding of the effects that pulsing has on a chromatographic peak are provided. The main goals of GCxGC analysis are discussed with respect to analytical sensitivity and peak capacity arising from zone compression effects and fast analysis on the second column. A typical application of GCxGC is presented, along with a consideration of implementation of the GCxGC method. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Pharmacological management of Cronkhite-Canada syndrome.
Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare, non-inherited gastrointestinal polyposis syndrome associated with characteristic ectodermal abnormalities. A number of potentially life-threatening complications including malnutrition, gastrointestinal bleeding and infection may occur in affected patients and CCS is fatal in many cases. The optimal therapy for CCS is not known but several treatment options have been described. Nutritional support, antibiotics, corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, histamine-receptor antagonists and surgical treatment have all been used with varying degrees of success. Unfortunately, controlled therapeutic trials have not been possible because of the rarity of the disease. Most recently, a combination regimen using histamine-receptor antagonists, cromolyn sodium, prednisone and suppressive antibiotics has been described. The reported treatment options and rates of success are reviewed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Outcome of patients with acute kidney injury in severe sepsis and septic shock treated with early goal-directed therapy in an intensive care unit.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is commonly caused by severe sepsis and septic shock. There is limited data regarding the incidence and outcomes of patients developing AKI treated with early goal-directed therapy (EGDT). Our aim was to observe the incidence and outcomes of patients with AKI in severe sepsis and septic shock, treated with EGDT as compared with historic controls. Study subjects included all adults admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of severe sepsis and septic shock prior to (historic controls) and after introduction of EGDT (intervention group). Two groups were compared for incidence of AKI, length of ICU and hospital stay, incidence and requirement for renal replacement therapy, serum creatinine at discharge, maximum RIFLE (Risk, injury, failure, loss, end stage) in each group and 28-day mortality. Two groups were well matched for age, sex, (April 16, 2014) and acute physiological and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores. We found no significant difference in the incidence of AKI (51% vs. 46%). There was no statistical difference in any of the above outcomes, including 28-day mortality in historic controls versus patients treated with EGDT. Septic AKI is a complex syndrome. The incidence and outcomes have not improved despite advances in sepsis management and EGDT. Very early detection of septic AKI and targeted therapies may improve outcomes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hydrophilic microporous polyurethane versus expanded PTFE grafts as substitutes in the carotid arteries of dogs. A limited study.
A novel, microporous, hydrophilic polyether urethane-urea (PEUU) vascular graft was compared with expanded PTFE in the canine carotid artery. At implantation times ranging from 4 h to 6 months, all the PEUU grafts were found to be occluded while of the PTFE grafts, only those implanted for 1 week and 6 months were blocked. Histopathological analysis of the explanted grafts and their capsules revealed an ongoing inflammatory reaction at the anastomotic sites of the PEUU grafts. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Oxidative and antioxidative status in the endometrium of patients with benign gynecological disorders.
Oxidative stress and impaired antioxidative system are implicated in the development of many disease states including gynecological diseases. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the oxidative-antioxidative status in endometrium of patients diagnosed with benign gynecological disorders. Samples of endometria and blood were obtained from 65 patients admitted to our center for abnormal uterine bleeding or postmenopausal bleeding. Endometrial biopsy was performed for the evaluation of histopathology and oxidative-antioxidative status in endometrial tissue. Based on histological examination, subjects were divided into groups as follows: normal controls (n=15); patients with endometrial polyps (n=20); patients with uterine myoma (n=10) patients with chronic endometritis (n=10), and patients with atrophic endometrium (n=10). Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and total antioxidant status (TOS), total oxidant status (TAS) were assessed. Compared to the normal controls, nonsignificant changes (decrease or increase) were detected in antioxidant enzyme activities, TAS and TOS in the examined groups. Additionally, between TAS and TOS, we also found a strong positive correlation in normal and chronic endomethritis groups and a moderate positive correlation uterine myoma, endometrial polyps and endometrial atrophy groups. Even though, our results do not allow to conclude how oxidative and antioxidative status are influenced in benign gynecological disorders, these findings may provide a basis for the further researches. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Anti-Candida property of a lignan glycoside derived from Styrax japonica S. et Z. via membrane-active mechanisms.
Styraxjaponoside C was investigated with respect to its antifungal activity and mechanisms of action. Devoid of hemolytic activity, Styraxjaponoside C demonstrated an antifungal effect against the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans in an energy-independent manner. To characterize the mechanisms of the antifungal activity of Styraxjaponoside C, fluorescence analysis with membrane probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, and flow cytometric analysis on C. albicans were conducted. The results showed that Styraxjaponosdie C induced cytoplasmic membrane perturbation. The current study suggested that Styraxjaponoside C was active against C. albicans with membrane-active mechanisms. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Differences in the clinical-epidemiological profile between new cases of tuberculosis and retreatment cases after default.
To identify the socioeconomic and clinical-epidemiological factors related to tuberculosis in new cases and retreatment cases. Comparative study with 126 patients, of which 42 were retreatment cases after default attended in a reference center, and 84 were new cases completing the first treatment and treated in Basic Health Units. The collection of primary data was through interview, and of secondary data by records of the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Comparative analysis between the two groups. The new cases differ from retreatment cases regarding educational level. The clinical-epidemiological profile shows a significant difference in relation to performance of the tuberculin skin test, and the HIV test result (positive) in favor of new cases. In relation to performance of sputum culture and the result (positive) of the first sputum smear of the first and second samples, in favor of retreatment cases. The two groups are significantly different in clinical and epidemiological characteristics that show the access to exams. Identificar fatores socioeconômicos e clínico-epidemiológicos associados à tuberculose em casos novos e em casos em retratamento. Estudo comparativo de 126 pacientes, sendo 42 casos em retratamento por abandono atendidos num Centro de Referência e 84 casos novos concluindo o primeiro tratamento, atendidos em Unidades Básicas de Saúde. Levantamento de dados primários por entrevista e dados secundários pela Ficha de Informação de Agravos de Notificação. Análise comparativa entre os dois grupos. Os casos novos diferem dos em retratamento quanto à escolaridade. O perfil clínico-epidemiológico mostra que há diferença significativa quanto à realização do teste tuberculínico e o resultado do teste HIV (positivo) a favor dos casos novos. Quanto à realização da cultura de escarro e o resultado (positivo) da baciloscopia de escarro da primeira e da segunda amostras, a favor dos casos em retratamento. Os dois grupos diferem significativamente por características clínico-epidemiológicas que retratam o acesso a exames. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Trajectory of psychological risk and incident hypertension in middle-aged women.
The aim of the study was to test the hypotheses that the trajectory of psychological risk (ie, persistent or increasing measures of depression and anxiety symptoms, anger, and low social support over time) increases the risk for the development of hypertension and that blood pressure levels fluctuate with psychological changes in women. Initially, healthy normotensive middle-aged women (n=541; 90.6% white, 8.9% African American) were followed across an average of 9.2 years of follow-up. Psychological characteristics were assessed repeatedly via standardized questionnaires, and Cox proportional hazards and random regression models were used to analyze their impact, adjusting for hypertension risk factors (age, race, years of education, parental history of hypertension, baseline blood pressure, body mass index, physical activity, alcohol use, and cigarette smoking). Seventy-five women became hypertensive during the follow-up period. Baseline levels of depression, anxiety, anger, and social support did not predict subsequent hypertension. A high level of anxiety throughout the follow-up, an increase in the level of feelings of anger, and a decrease in the level of social support over the follow-up were significant predictors of hypertension incidence (all P<0.05), although covariate adjustment reduced some of the significance levels to nonsignificance. In women, increases in depressive symptoms were significantly associated (P=0.003) with concurrent increases in the level of systolic blood pressure, especially among hypertensive patients (P=0.0001). Increasing levels of anger, decreasing levels of social support, and high anxiety increase the likelihood of women's development of hypertension in midlife. These results emphasize the importance of evaluating the trajectory of psychological risk during the period of evolving hypertension. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Hospital system as a source of information to estimate stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates].
Studies on the evolution of infant mortality rate are very relevant. Nevertheless, lack of vital statistics in Brazil limits the temporal and spatial analysis of this indicator. This study aims to investigate the possible use of the Brazilian Hospital Information System as an alternative information source for stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates by age group. A new method to estimate the stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates is proposed. It was applied in a set of selected Brazilian states in the year of 1995. For comparative purposes, the Brazilian Death Information System was assessed to estimate the mortality rates under study, after adjusting the registered number of live births by using a demographic tool. By assessing the Hospital Information System a larger number of fetal and early neonatal deaths were observed when compared to data given by the death information system of the Northeastern states. Besides, in the Southern and Southeastern states, where death records are more thorough, the mortality rates calculated using both information sources were very similar. The results suggest that the proposed methodology could greatly contribute to the analysis of the spatial-time evolution of stillbirth and neonatal death rates in recent years in Brazil, as data on death registration in the majority of the Brazilian states are less thorough than those from the hospital information system. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Associated factors of protracted diarrhea.
The associated factors in 80 children (less than 2 yrs) with protracted diarrhea (greater than 21 days duration) and weight loss were: secondary carbohydrate intolerance (36): enteric pathogens (non typhoidal salmonella (11), enteropathogenic E. coli 'EPEC' (6), giardia (4), and shigella (3); cow's milk protein intolerance (3), gluten intolerance (3); miscellaneous (5); and undiagnosed enteropathy (9). Three of the EPEC showed localised pattern of adherence in vitro with HEP-2 cells. Most patients with salmonella and EPEC had severe secretory diarrhea with large fecal sodium losses. All 6 patients who died had secretory diarrhea and very high fecal sodium. All but 4 patients could be effectively managed with a chicken puree-glucose-coconut oil based diet. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Misdiagnosis in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
To confirm our impression that a high percentage of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are initially misdiagnosed, we reviewed records of 33 patients with a definitive diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis seen over 10 years. Fourteen patients (43%) were initially misdiagnosed. Mean time to correct diagnosis was significantly greater for the misdiagnosed group (16.0 +/- 9.3 months) than for the rest of the patients (7.6 +/- 4.1 months). Two of three patients with an initial symptom of dyspnea were misdiagnosed. Three patients underwent laminectomies because of misdiagnosis. Age, stage of disease, and unusual presenting symptoms were not identified as causes of misdiagnosis. Most likely causes were physicians' failure to consider the diagnosis and lack of familiarity with the common clinical presentations of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Earlier diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may help prevent medical mismanagement and may benefit patients both medically and psychologically. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
DNA homology studies in Streptomyces using S1 nuclease.
The optimal reaction conditions for the determination of DNA-homology in Streptomyces species were established in the presence of formamide using S1 nuclease. The melting temperature of Streptomyces DNA was 90 degrees C in 0.42 M NaCl containing 20% formamide in which the denaturation was completed by boiling for 5 minutes. In the S1 reaction mixture consisting of 5 U of S1 nuclease, 0.168 M NaCl, 1 mM ZnSO4 and 8% formamide at pH 4.8, single-stranded DNA was hydrolyzed by more than 98%, while the hydrolysis of double-stranded DNA was less than 3%. From the analysis of homoduplex formation, the C0t1/2 was found at 20 hours, when a mixture of unlabeled DNA and index DNA was used at a ratio of 500:1. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Intramucosal distribution of the glossopharyngeal sensory fibers of cats.
In order to determine distribution of the sensory fibers of the glossopharyngeal nerve (IX) in the pharynx of cats, wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase was injected into the superior and inferior ganglia of IX. Results were as follows: Labeled peripheral sensory nerve fibers in the pharynx were recognized ipsilaterally. The pharyngeal branch of IX innervated the nasopharyngeal mucosa at the level of the torus tubarius. The tonsillo-lingual branch was divided into four rami. The first ramus innervated the caudal one-third of the tongue and the vallate papillae. The second ramus innervated the palatine tonsil and the caudal half of the soft palate. The third ramus supplied a part of the radix linguae, the vallecula epiglottica and the lingual aspect of the epiglottis. The fourth ramus supplied the hypopharyngeal mucosa rostral to the middle level of the aryepiglottic fold. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Differential synthesis and cytolocalization of prosomes in chick embryos during development.
Prosomes, also called "multicatalytic proteinase" or proteasomes, were purified from chick embryos of different developmental stages by a simple, single-step procedure. These were characterized by their characteristic protein patterns determined by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) and immunoblotting with four monoclonal antibodies, namely, anti-p27, -p28, -p29 and -p31, prepared against duck prosomes. In vitro labeling of embryos with 35S-methionine followed by SDS PAGE and fluorography of the purified prosomes revealed that their polypeptides are differentially synthesized at various stages during development. Among 12 polypeptides (p21 to p56), p21 is synthesized at the beginning of gastrulation (stage 2) followed by the synthesis of p24 at stage 3. Nine other polypeptides (p25 to p35) are synthesized at the head-fold stage (stage 6), while the synthesis of polypeptide p56 is only detected at stage 10 (10-somite stage). Indirect immunofluorescence studies, with the 4 monoclonal antibodies, demonstrated 3 distinct, developmental stage-specific patterns of cytodistribution of these four prosome polypeptides in the embryos. During early embryogenesis, these are uniformly nuclear in location, while at later stages (stage 4 onwards) they are also present in the cytoplasm. Interestingly, one of the antigens (p 28), although found uniformly in all types of tissues in the embryos up to the gastrulation stage, is undetectable in the neural tissues and nonuniformly distributed in other tissues of stage-10 embryos. These data suggest that there are subcomponents of prosomes which are synthesized as well as distributed in an independent manner during development, possibly reflecting subcomponent-specific multiple functions of these particles. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Modulation of production of hepatitis B surface antigen by a human hepatoma cell line.
Three drugs were assayed for their capacity to inhibit hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) production by the PLC/PRF/5 human hepatoma cell line. The effect on cell growth and HBsAg production of Cordycepin, 6-azauridine, and Hygromicin B is reported. Hygromicin B, a translation inhibitor unable to penetrate normal cells, greatly reduced HBsAg production by growing and confluent cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Variations in upper urinary tract outflow resistance. The effect of high and low obstruction of ureter.
The upper urinary tract of the pig was subjected to acute standardized obstructions, size 10-F, 8-F and 6-F, in both the proximal and the distal part of the ureter. Each obstruction was followed by measurements of the renal pelvic pressure-flow relationship between 0 and 20 ml/ureter/min. The study showed that the mean baseline pressure in the renal pelvis changed due to the obstruction with an increase related to the degree of obstruction. When the flow was increased a pressure-flow relationship in essence similar to the normal pressure-flow relationship was revealed. Thus phase 1, which is the pressure-flow relationship at low flow rate with urine flowing into a relaxed ureter, was practically eliminated and phase 2 was shifted to the left. The linear pressure-flow relationship in phase 3 was preserved but there was tendency for higher increments with increasing degree of obstruction. Even in cases of severe obstruction both baseline measurements and perfusion pressure measurements showed results well within the normal accepted limits of renal pelvic pressure. It was furthermore shown that the overlap was smallest at the low flow rates between 0 and 2 ml/ureter/min. All degrees of distal obstruction had a lower pressure at flow rates below 10 ml/ureter/min than proximal obstruction, a pressure difference which could be attributed to the peristaltic activity of the ureter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Spontaneous contractions of isolated bat wing venules are inhibited by luminal flow.
The hypothesis that spontaneous contractions of bat wing venules could be modulated by luminal flow was tested. Single venules (114 +/- 5 microns diam) from the wings of anesthetized pallid bats were dissected, cannulated, and pressurized in vitro. A dual reservoir system was used to independently control luminal pressure and flow. In the absence of flow, and with pressure set to 10 cmH2O, all venules contracted spontaneously at rates between 20 and 40 cycles/min. Pressure elevation over the range of 3-10 cmH2O caused a rapid increase in contraction frequency and decrease in amplitude; pressure reduction caused a rapid decrease in contraction frequency and increase in amplitude. In contrast, initiation of flow resulted in a delayed and gradual reduction of contraction amplitude and/or frequency (sometimes to zero). The net effect of flow was to increase mean diameter and decrease the product of frequency x cross-sectional area. Flow-induced inhibition of venular contraction was eliminated by endothelial denudation but persisted in the presence of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (10(-4) M) or indomethacin (10(-5) M) in concentrations that blocked the effects of exogenously applied ATP or arachidonic acid, respectively. The flow-induced venular response also persisted in the presence of superoxide dismutase (55 U/ml). Denuded venules responded to flow when placed downstream (i.e., perfused in series) from venules with intact endothelium. These results indicate that luminal flow can modulate the contractile function of bat wing venules via release of a transferable substance from the endothelium. The exact nature of the substance is not yet known but it does not appear to be classical endothelium-derived relaxing factor, a prostaglandin, or an oxygen radical. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
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