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Linear to radial polarization conversion in the THz domain using a passive system.
This paper addresses a passive system capable of converting a linearly polarized THz beam into a radially polarized one. This is obtained by extending to THz frequencies and waveguides an already proven concept based on mode selection in optical fibers. The approach is validated at 0.1 THz owing to the realization of a prototype involving a circular waveguide and two tapers that exhibits a radially polarized beam at its output. By a simple homothetic size reduction, the system can be easily adapted to higher THz frequencies. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Pneumopericardium following penetrating chest injuries.
The presence of pneumopericardium following penetrating injuries of the chest is highly suggestive of a cardiac injury. For this reason, it is generally considered that its presence should be an indication for surgery. In the present study 20 patients with pneumopericardium were selected for conservative treatment. All patients were closely observed by means of clinical examination, serial chest roentgenography, electrocardiography, and Doppler echocardiography. In five patients the electrocardiogram showed pericarditis, and in three patients the echocardiogram demonstrated small pericardial effusions. One patient developed tension pneumopericardium 36 hours after admission and required surgical intervention. The remaining 19 patients had an uneventful recovery. We suggest that the presence of a pneumopericardium following penetrating chest trauma is not an absolute indication for surgery. Electrocardiographic and echographic studies may help in the selection of patients for conservative treatment; but the final decision should be made on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Traumatic shoulder instability involving anterior, inferior, and posterior labral injury: a prospective clinical evaluation of arthroscopic repair of 270° labral tears.
Traumatic labral tears involving the anterior, inferior, and posterior aspects of the glenoid fossa represent a unique subpopulation of shoulder instability. This study was undertaken to evaluate prospectively the clinical results of patients who underwent arthroscopic repair of 270° labral tears. Case series; Level of evidence, 4. This was a prospective outcomes analysis of patients who underwent arthroscopic stabilization of a 270° labral tear. Inclusion criteria included patients with traumatic injury and primarily anteroinferior instability but several had posterior instability as well. Imaging revealed extensive labral injury in all patients. Indications for repair included symptomatic instability, 2+ anterior-inferior and posterior-inferior load-shift testing, and arthroscopic confirmation of labral lesions that extended anteriorly, inferiorly, and with extension to the midglenoid posteriorly. Exclusion criteria were SLAP (superior labrum anterior and posterior) lesions, revisions, and nontraumatic injuries. All patients underwent an arthroscopic repair utilizing modern suture anchor technique. Outcome measures included preoperative and postoperative Rowe, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and Constant Murley scores. The Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) and the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) scores were collected postoperatively. Failure was defined as any days missed from sport activity or work due to an instability event. Twenty-three 270° labral repairs were performed in 21 patients by a single surgeon. Twenty shoulders in 19 patients (92%) were followed for a mean of 28 months (range, 14-47 months) postoperatively. The mean preoperative and postoperative outcome scores showed statistically significant improvements (P ≤ .001): Rowe (59 to 92), ASES (76 to 93), SST (9 to 11), and Constant scores (73 to 95). The mean SANE score was 91 of 100 and the mean WOSI score was 302. Three of the 20 shoulders (in 19 patients) had subsequent episodes of instability for a failure rate of 15%. One required a second procedure for continued instability for a revision rate of 5%. Two patients developed adhesive capsulitis postoperatively of which one required an arthroscopic arthrolysis. Arthroscopic repair of these extensive labral injuries involving 270° of the glenoid fossa was an effective surgical treatment and restored mechanical stability of the shoulder. The arthroscopic approach allowed for complete visualization and repair of all labral pathology. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Anticholinergic actions of steroid muscle relaxants.
The chronotropic effects of two new steroid muscle relaxants have been investigated. Each was compared individually with pancuronium bromide, using acetylcholine as an agonist on the isolated perfused rabbit heart. One of the drugs. Organon 6368, was very similar to pancuronium in its degree of antagonism to the bradycardia produced by acetylcholine and may therefore be a useful drug clinically. Dacuronium, on the other hand, would appear to have marked chronotropic effects at dose levels needed for adequate neuromuscular blockade and thus may be less useful. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Mandibular morphology and growth with and without hypodontia in subjects with Pierre Robin sequence.
Mandibular micrognathia is the hallmark of Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). A high prevalence of mandibular hypodontia has been reported in subjects with PRS. The hypothesis of this study is that the morphology of the mandible in subjects with PRS and mandibular hypodontia is different from that in subjects with PRS but without mandibular hypodontia. The study was conducted at the craniofacial center of The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. The study sample comprised 16 caucasian children with nonsyndromic PRS (7 boys, 9 girls) with mandibular hypodontia and 18 white children with nonsyndromic PRS (6 boys, 12 girls) without hypodontia. Longitudinal lateral cephalograms were available before orthodontic treatment (T1; mean age, 11.7 years) and after orthodontic treatment but before orthognathic surgery (T2; mean age, 16.6 years). A new, customized cephalometric analysis with additional landmarks and measurements to study mandibular morphology was performed. Differences in measurements were studied by using analysis of variance adjusted for age and sex. Cephalometric measurements were smaller in the group with mandibular hypodontia at T1: mandibular length (3.36 mm, P = .04), ramal length (2.78 mm, P = .04), posterior facial height (3.97 mm, P = .03), and mandibular molar eruption (1.96 mm, P = .02). At T2, the differences increased: mandibular length (4.56 mm, P = .02), ramal length (4.04 mm, P = .002), posterior facial height (5.98 mm, P = .001), and mandibular molar eruption (2.08 mm, P = .04). Comparison of growth increments between the 2 groups from T1 to T2 showed a greater cranial base deflection increment in the group with mandibular hypodontia (0.88 degrees, P = .02) and a larger posterior facial height increment in the group without mandibular hypodontia (2.02 mm, P = .04). Children with nonsyndromic PRS with mandibular hypodontia had smaller mandibles than children with nonsyndromic PRS and normal complements of mandibular teeth. Their patterns of growth did not improve during adolescence, and the magnitude of differences increased. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Occurrence of microorganisms of public health and spoilage significance in fruit juices sold in retail markets in Greece.
Fruit juices are an important part of the modern diet in many countries. However, few data are available concerning the microbiological quality of the fruit juices sold in Greece. Using standard microbiological procedures, we conducted a bacteriological survey of commercially sold, pasteurized, shelf-stable fruit juices from retail markets. A total of 120 samples of fruit juices sold in various retail markets were examined for their bacteriological quality. The pH of the tested juices was 2.4-4.8. Bacteria were isolated from 51 samples (42.5%) and fungi from 78 samples (65%). Escherichia coli O157:H7 was detected in four of the analyzed samples (3.34%), and Staphylococcus aureus was detected in four different samples (3.34%). In 11 samples (9.1%), the total number of microorganisms detected was as high as 125 colony-forming units (CFU). Acidophilic microorganisms were isolated from 26 samples (21.7%) and Blastomyces was detected in 46 samples (38.3%). All samples were negative for Lactobacillus, Clostridium perfrigens, Salmonella spp., Bacillus cereus, total coliforms, E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Many of the microorganisms detected may cause disease in humans; thus, a number of the tested samples did not meet the Greek guidelines for the microbiological quality of juices. Use of a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system should be generally introduced into the juice industry sector to improve the quality of fruit juices, as well as other manufactured foods. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Tunicamycin induced endoplasmic reticulum changes in endothelial cells investigated in vitro by confocal Raman imaging.
This paper describes how tunicamycin (Tu), the most widely used pharmacological agent for inducing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, interacts with endothelial cells. Our results show that tunicamycin enters the cells and accumulates within the ER area. ER stress takes place when improperly folded or damaged proteins begin to accumulate; however, spectroscopic markers of these changes have not been identified as yet. In this work, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy imaging of individual endothelial cells treated with Tu were performed. The changes in the biochemical composition of endothelial cells induced by Tu attributed to ER stress were studied in detail. A main feature of the Tu impact on the cells was a decrease of the phospholipid content in the area of ER, and the most abundant lipid with phosphorus groups found there, was identified as sphingomyelin. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Quality by Design approach in the development of a solvent-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography method: finding the design space for the determination of amitriptyline and its impurities.
A solvent-modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography method was set up for the simultaneous determination of the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline (AMI) and its main impurities. The method was developed following Quality by Design (QbD) principles according to ICH Guideline Q8(R2). QbD approach made it possible to find the design space (DS), where quality was assured. After a scouting phase, aimed at selecting a suitable capillary electrophoresis pseudostationary phase, risk assessment tools were employed to define the critical process parameters (CPPs) to be considered in a screening phase (applied voltage, concentration and pH of the background electrolyte, concentration of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate, of the cosurfactant n-butanol and of the organic modifiers acetonitrile and urea). The effects of the seven selected CPPs on critical quality attributes (CQAs), namely resolution values between critical peak pairs and analysis time, were investigated throughout the knowledge space by means of a symmetric screening matrix. Response surface study was then carried out on four selected CPPs by applying a Doehlert Design. Monte-Carlo simulations were performed in order to estimate the probability of meeting the desired specifications on CQAs, and thus to define the DS by means of a risk of failure map. Additional points at the edges of the DS were tested in order to verify the requirements for CQAs to be fulfilled. A control strategy was implemented by defining system suitability tests. The developed method was validated following ICH Guideline Q2(R1), including robustness assessment by Plackett-Burman design, and was applied to the analysis of real samples of amitriptyline coated tablets. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
For me the taste of soy is not a barrier to its consumption. And how about you?
This research investigates the cultural influence on beliefs about and attitudes towards soy foods (French from France vs. Vietnamese from Vietnam) and possible change of beliefs and attitudes and soy consumption habits with a change in cultural environment (French from France vs. French from Vietnam, Vietnamese from Vietnam vs. Vietnamese from France) of French and Vietnamese participants, two countries with very different soy food consumption. Expressed beliefs and attitudes of soy foods resulting from discussions in focus groups, conducted in both countries, were collected and used to derive a questionnaire. French participants differ mainly from Vietnamese participants in questions associated to taste and price of soy foods. Both groups reported positive attitudes towards health benefits of soy foods. With a change in cultural environment, French participants showed a notable change in attitudes related to taste and price of soy foods and in soy consumption habit whereas almost no change was observed in Vietnamese participants. The asymmetry in magnitude of change and cultural differences in components of beliefs and attitudes are discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Myelin in normal and diseased states.
A general outline of the morphologic structure and biochemistry of myelin, its mode of development and assembly, and its alterations in diseased states, including diagnoses and prognoses of diseases affecting myelin, is given. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Efficacy and safety of P2Y12 inhibitors according to diabetes, age, gender, body mass index and body weight: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials.
The efficacy of antiplatelet drugs may differ in specific patient subgroups. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the P2Y12 inhibitors clopidogrel, ticlopidine, prasugrel, ticagrelor, and cangrelor according to diabetes status, age, gender, body mass index, and body weight. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of P2Y12 inhibitors reporting information on cardiovascular disease (defined as myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death) and bleeding (defined as any bleeding) events among the subgroups diabetes and non-diabetes, age ≥65 and <65 year-old, men and women, body mass index ≥30 and <30 kg/m(2), and body weight ≥60 and <60 kg, were identified in Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library on August 31st, 2014. For each inhibitor, random-effects meta-analyses were used to estimate the ratio of relative risks (rRR) for cardiovascular and bleeding events among patient subgroups. Twenty distinct RCTs (233 285 participants, 21 323 cardiovascular and 5183 bleeding events) were identified. Cardiovascular risk reduction with clopidogrel did not significantly differ according to diabetes (rRR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.95 to 1.13; p = 0.395), age (0.98; 0.88 to 1.09; p = 0.347), gender (0.97; 0.90 to 1.04; p = 0.382), or body mass index (1.11, 0.95 to 1.31; p = 0.191). Results for other inhibitors were comparable, although available data were sparse. Limited data on bleeding events were available. Data from RCTs did not show a different cardiovascular efficacy of clopidogrel in diabetes mellitus and other clinically relevant subgroups. Limited information was available on the efficacy and safety of other P2Y12 inhibitors in specific subgroups. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Age-associated up-regulation of a negative co-stimulatory receptor PD-1 in mouse CD4+ T cells.
To explore whether any co-stimulatory receptor(s) for TCR signaling is involved in the age-associated decline in T-cell function, we analyzed changes in these receptors in freshly isolated mouse CD4(+) T cells during aging. Both the mRNA and protein expression levels of CTLA-4 and PD-1, negative co-stimulatory receptors, increase with aging. No such changes are observed for CD28, a positive regulatory receptor. PD-1 is highly expressed on the surface of old, but not young, mouse T cells, while the level of surface-expressed CTLA-4 is very low regardless of age. PD-1 is preferentially expressed on the surface of effector-memory (CD44(hi)CD62L(lo)) T cells, a subset that increases with aging. CD4(+)PD-1(+) T cells from old mice exhibit proliferative hyporesponsiveness. These results suggest that the up-regulation of surface-expressed PD-1 may cause the age-dependent functional decline in effector-memory T cells. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Aortic dissection accompanied by preeclampsia and preterm labor.
Aortic dissection is a potentially fatal disease rarely encountered in obstetric clinics. A multiparous woman with a prior cesarean delivery was admitted with the complaint of epigastric pain at 33 weeks of gestation. The patient was diagnosed with preeclampsia and preterm labor. An emergent cesarean delivery was performed. Hypertension and epigastric pain could not be controlled after the operation. Computed tomography scan 2 days after the operation revealed aortic dissection, multiple infarct areas in the spleen and liver, and dilations of the intestine and the colon. Ascending aorta replacement followed by massive intestinal resection starting from the ligament of Trietz to the sigmoid colon was performed. Nine hours after the operation the patient had cardiopulmonary arrest. Aortic dissection should be suspected in cases of atypical epigastric pain even if the patient shows signs of preeclampsia and preterm labor. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Cellular dissection of zebrafish hematopoiesis.
The zebrafish is an excellent model system to study vertebrate blood cell development due to a highly conserved hematopoietic system, optical transparency, and amenability to both forward and reverse genetic approaches. The development of functional assays to analyze the biology of hematopoietic mutants and diseased animals remains a work in progress. Here we discuss recent advances in zebrafish hematology, prospective isolation techniques, cellular transplantation, and culture-based assays that now provide more rigorous tests of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function. Together with the proven strengths of the zebrafish, the development and refinement of these assays further enable efforts to better understand the development and evolution of the vertebrate hematopoietic system. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Efficient use of retention time for the analysis of 302 drugs in equine plasma by liquid chromatography-MS/MS with scheduled multiple reaction monitoring and instant library searching for doping control.
Multiple drug target analysis (MDTA) used in doping control is more efficient than single drug target analysis (SDTA). The number of drugs with the potential for abuse is so extensive that full coverage is not possible with SDTA. To address this problem, a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for simultaneous analysis of 302 drugs using a scheduled multiple reaction monitoring (s-MRM) algorithm. With a known retention time of an analyte, the s-MRM algorithm monitors each MRM transition only around its expected retention time. Analytes were recovered from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction. Information-dependent acquisition (IDA) functionality was used to combine s-MRM with enhanced product ion (EPI) scans within the same chromatographic analysis. An EPI spectrum library was also generated for rapid identification of analytes. Analysis time for the 302 drugs was 7 min. Scheduled MRM improved the quality of the chromatograms, signal response, reproducibility, and enhanced signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), resulting in more data points. Reduction in total cycle time from 2.4 s in conventional MRM (c-MRM) to 1 s in s-MRM allowed completion of the EPI scan at the same time. The speed for screening and identification of multiple drugs in equine plasma for doping control analysis was greatly improved by this method. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Angiographic and histologic findings in high frequency rotational ablation in coronary arteries in vitro].
High-frequency rotational angioplasty is a recently developed method for coronary angioplasty in the catheter laboratory. An elliptical burr tip (phi 1.25-2.0 mm) with embedded diamant chips (phi 40-50 microns) is rotated by a helical drive shaft at 150,000-180,000 rpm. The burr is advanced over a 0.009-inch coaxial guide wire. To show the effects of this approach in diseased and healthy vessels, which may be present before and behind a stenosis, 17 atherosclerotic coronary arteries of nine human hearts, and 18 normal coronary arteries of nine pig hearts were treated by this method in vitro. Standardized coronary angiography was performed before and after Rotablator treatment, followed by histological examination. From these data the burr-to-vessel-diameter ratio was calculated for each vessel segment and compared with the angiographical and histological outcome. Partial or complete removal of the circumference of the innermost vessel wall layers was observed regularly. The average removal of tissue in human coronary arteries was limited to the intimal layer and in the pig coronary arteries to the internal elastic membrane. In the pig coronary arteries no intimal tears or dissections occurred, in human coronary arteries tears could be seen frequently (13 of 17 vessels (76%)). Media tears were observed in 3 of 17 vessels; one (2%) media dissection could be demonstrated; no perforation occurred. Thus, the in vitro studies suggest that coronary rotational angioplasty has only a slight effect on the vessel segment next to a stenosis, regardless of the burr-to-vessel-diameter ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Putative early manifestations of bipolar II disorder emerge later in the initial prodrome than manifestations hypothesized to be unrelated: an exploratory study.
Symptom instances characterized as episodic or chronic, and as exaggerated responses to life events or inexplicable (e.g. mood swings, irritability/aggressiveness), may be the most likely early manifestations of the first episode of bipolar II disorder (BD-II). Assuming that symptoms that emerge late in the prodrome, to a larger extent, are early manifestations of the disorder itself, we explore the time of onset and the duration of instances classified as 'likely', 'possible' and 'unlikely' early manifestations. Retrospective interviews of 15 BD-II patients and 22 family members. 'Likely' early manifestations do, to a larger extent than other symptom instances, emerge late in the prodrome. The mean time interval between symptom onset and the first episode is shorter for the 'likely' than for the 'unlikely' early manifestations but is similar to the 'possible' ones. Symptom instances classified as 'likely' early manifestations may be the most useful to prospectively predict BD-II. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Human resources for the intensive care unit at the municipal district of São Paulo].
The study had the purpose to investigate aspects of the ICUs from the Municipal district of São Paulo, regarding the composition of the clinical staff; characteristics of the nursing personnel and nurses' characterization. Data were collected through 47 questionnaires distributed in 32 hospitals. Results show that: the morning and the afternoon shifts have a larger number of people from all clinical categories, the majority of the nursing personnel work 36 hours per week, nurses' wages varied from 700 to 1,500 "reais" and 66.1% of them were enrolled in Master Programs. Authors concluded that 79.2% of the clinical staff was formed by the nursing personnel. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Prognostic value of symptom limited exercise testing in men with a high prevalence of coronary artery disease.
In order to evaluate the independent prognostic information provided by exercise testing in populations with a high prevalence of coronary artery disease, survival rates were calculated with the life table method in 372 men, mean age 48 years, referred for coronary arteriography. The prevalence of angiographic coronary artery disease was 82%. During a mean follow-up of 29 months (1 to 8 years), 32 patients died and 27 patients had a nonfatal event (acute infarction or hospitalization for disabling angina). Both the history (presence or absence of typical angina pectoris or of a previous myocardial infarction) and the exercise test results (abnormal if angina and/or ST segment changes greater or equal to 0.1 mV occurred) had a significant prognostic value for the 5 year survival rate (P less than 0.001). In patients with a positive history, the 5 year cumulative survival rate was 76% if the exercise test was abnormal versus 94% if it was normal (P less than 0.001). The following 8 noninvasive and 2 invasive variables were submitted to a Cox regression analysis: age, typical angina pectoris, previous myocardial infarction, maximal heart rate and workload, maximal ST segment depression and elevation, angina pectoris during exercise testing, number of diseased vessels, and wall motion score on contrast ventriculography. By univariate analysis, the age and the maximal workload reached during exercise were the only noninvasive predictive variables for survival or cardiac events (P less than 0.05). By multivariate analysis, and combining all noninvasive and invasive variables, survival was predicted by the wall motion score, the presence or absence of 3 vessel disease, and age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Advances in Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) - Part II: Treatment and Prevention.
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) describes an entity of ultrastructural muscle damage. The manifestation of DOMS is caused by eccentric muscle contractions or unaccustomed forms of exercise. Clinical signs include impaired muscular force capacities, painful restriction of movement, stiffness, swelling, and altered biomechanics in adjacent joints. Although DOMS is categorised as a mild type of muscle damage, it is one of the most common reasons for compromised sportive performance. In the last decade, many hypotheses have been developed to explain the aetiology of DOMS, and there are a wide range of different interventions aiming to prevent or alleviate the symptoms. Many studies have evaluated various types of cold or heat therapy, compression, massage, physical therapy or nutritional interventions. Treatment considerations focus on the primary prevention of ultrastructural lesions during exercise, the treatment of the inflammatory response that leads to DOMS, and recovery strategies for manifest DOMS. This narrative review aims to present an overview of the current treatment and preventive strategies in the field of DOMS. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Twin Study Design.
By studying human pairs of twins, researchers can learn the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors to the development of alcoholism. Identical (i.e., monozygotic, or MZ) twins share 100 percent of their genes, whereas fraternal (i.e., dizygotic, or DZ) twins generally share only 50 percent of their genes. Using certain techniques and theoretical models, researchers can compare the two types of twin pairs for how often alcoholism occurs in both members of a twin pair. If alcoholism occurs more often in both members of MZ twins, genetic factors are implicated in the origin of the disorder. Twin research also has been applied to studies of differences between men and women in their genetic contribution to alcoholism. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Circular frame fixation for calcaneal fractures risks injury to the medial neurovascular structures: A cadaveric description.
There is a risk of iatrogenic injury to the soft tissues of the calcaneus and this study assesses the risk of injury to these structures in circular frame calcaneal fracture fixation. After olive tip wires were inserted, an L-shaped incision on the lateral and medial aspects of 5 formalin fixed cadaveric feet was performed to expose the underlying soft tissues. The calcaneus was divided into zones corresponding to high, medium and low risk using a grading system. Structures at high risk included the posterior tibial artery, posterior tibial vein and posterior tibial nerve on the medial aspect. Soft tissue structures on the lateral side that were shown to be at lower risk of injury were the small saphenous vein and the sural nerve and the tendons of fibularis longus and fibularis brevis. The lateral surface of the calcaneus provides a lower risk area for external fixation. The risk of injury to significant soft tissues using a circular frame fixation approach has been shown to be greater on the medial aspect. This study highlights the relevant anatomical relations in circular frame fixation for calcaneal fractures to minimise damage to these structures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Identifying Lynch syndrome in patients with endometrial carcinoma: shortcomings of morphologic and clinical schemas.
It has been suggested that reflex testing for Lynch syndrome (LS) using mismatch repair immunohistochemistry and/or microsatellite instability analysis in newly diagnosed colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients is an emerging standard of care in the United States. The risk of gynecologic malignancy in women with LS approaches and even exceeds that of CRC. Furthermore, gynecologic malignancies are often the sentinel cancers in these patients. There is significant variation in practice, but some groups have similarly recommended deployment of reflex testing strategies in patients presenting with endometrial cancer (EC). The College of American Pathologists has stated that pathologists should recognize the histologic and clinical features that should prompt at least a recommendation for mismatch repair testing. Morphologic and clinical schemas in EC to identify microsatellite unstable/LS tumors are less refined than the colon-centric schemas (Amsterdam, Bethesda, and MsPath). Studies of LS EC are few and interpretation is limited by recruitment strategies and the myriad of definitions and study designs used. Although serous cell type is used to triage ovarian cancer patients for BRCA screening, cell type correlation in LS is less certain but seems to involve a spectrum of cell types. We review the morphologic and clinical features/schemas in LS EC and highlight limitations of restrictive aged-based screening strategies, uncertainty in current clinical schemas and equivocal results of morphologic studies of LS EC. With uncertainty of histologic and clinical schemas, and following developments in CRC, reflex testing of all/vast majority of newly diagnosed EC for LS should be considered. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assessing depression improvement with the remission evaluation and mood inventory tool (REMIT).
The Remission Evaluation and Mood Inventory Tool (REMIT) was developed as a brief complementary measure to provide a more robust assessment of depression improvement than tracking DSM-V symptom improvement alone. This study provides further validation of the REMIT tool and examines its utility in predicting depression improvement. The sample comprised 294 primary care patients enrolled in a telecare trial of pain plus depression and/or anxiety. Assessments collected included: REMIT, PHQ-9 and measures assessing anxiety, pain, sleep, fatigue, somatization, health-related quality of life and disability. Data was analyzed to assess the REMIT's validity, its minimally important difference (MID), and its utility in predicting 6-month depression improvement. Convergent and construct validity of REMIT was supported by moderate correlations with mental health measures and weaker correlation with physical health measures. MID of approximately 2 points for REMIT was estimated by two metrics: 0.5 standard deviation and 1 standard error of measurement. Both baseline and 3-month change in REMIT scores predicted depression improvement at 6 months. Indeed, REMIT was as good or better predictor than the PHQ-9. The REMIT measure is a brief 5-item tool that augments core DSM-V symptom-oriented metrics in assessing and predicting recovery from major depression. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Significance of adrenal computed tomography in predicting laterality and indicating adrenal vein sampling in primary aldosteronism.
Although laterality assessed by computed tomography (CT) in primary aldosteronism (PA) is not always concordant with that assessed by adrenal vein sampling (AVS), it is unclear whether all patients diagnosed with PA should undergo AVS for subtype classification. The aim of the current study was to investigate the accuracy of CT in subtype classification and to develop a prediction score for bilateral subtype in patients without adrenal tumour. As part of the WAVES-J study, 393 patients with PA were analysed. Subtyping using CT was concordant with that using AVS in 68% (269/393) of patients in the total sample, and in 38% (68/156) of patients with unilateral tumours, 56% (5/9) of patients with bilateral tumours and 89% (204/228) of patients without tumour. In patients without tumour, female gender, plasma aldosterone concentration (pg ml-1) to plasma renin activity ratio ⩽550 and serum potassium ⩾3.8 mEq l-1 were shown to be independent predictors for bilateral subtype. A prediction score based on these three variables was constructed with one point attributed to each variable. A score of three points had 29% sensitivity and 96% specificity in a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The results suggest that although CT is not sufficiently accurate for subtype classification in patients with adrenal tumours, it is sufficient to determine bilateral subtype in patients without tumour. Moreover, using our clinical prediction score in patients without tumour could be useful in determining the necessity of AVS for subtype classification. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Personality and coping in first episode psychosis linked to mental health care use.
A body of literature focuses on associations of neuroticism, extraversion, passive coping and active coping with the course of psychotic illness. Less is known about other personality and coping variables - and underlying causal mechanisms between variables remain unclear. We explored causal effects from personality, coping and symptoms on mental health care consumption over two years in 208 first episode patients. Causal inference search algorithms lead to formation of a hypothetical causal model based on presumptions on (non-)mutuality between variables and consistent with data. Structural equation modelling estimated effect sizes conditionally on the causal model. Our observed model implies that none of the coping or personality variables have any effect on the number of days of hospitalisation, whereas general psychopathology symptoms do have a direct positive effect. For ambulatory care it is proposed that openness to experience, depressive symptoms and age have direct positive effects. Reassuring thoughts as a coping strategy seems to have a direct negative effect on the use of ambulatory care and mediates indirect effects of other personality and coping variables on ambulatory care. Furthermore, while previously established relations between personality and symptoms are confirmed by our model, it challenges traditional ideas about causation between personality and symptoms. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Biochemical changes in skeletal muscles after chronic indirect stimulation].
The skeletal muscle has the capacity to respond adaptively to increased use. This observation could open up the feasibility of constructing pumping chambers to support or even replace cardiac work. We investigated the changes in enzyme activity due to chronic stimulation in an animal skeletal muscle. In 5 adult sheep the psoas muscle of one side was electrically stimulated through the muscle nerves, with an implantable stimulation unit for 5 weeks. The activity of the hexokinase (E.C.2.7.1.1.), lactate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.27), malate dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.37), creatine kinase (E.C.2.7.3.2.) choline acetyltransferase and the contents of adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate were determined in bioptic specimen. The use of only 15 Hertz as a stimulation frequency led to a transformation of an originally fast-twitch muscle into a slow-twitch muscle with reduced susceptibility to fatigue. These results indicate a potential role of the skeletal muscle as an ideal myocardial substitute with the ability to perform hemodynamic work. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Acute mastoiditis in children: is computed tomography always necessary?
Acute mastoiditis (AM) is the most common intratemporal complication of acute otitis media in children. In the past decade, reports have indicated a rise in the incidence of AM in the pediatric population. A parallel rise in the use of computed tomography (CT) imaging has occurred. The rise in the use of CT scanning in the pediatric population, entraining with it a rise in pediatric brain irradiation, has led us to question the necessity of using CT for pediatric patients with AM. We reviewed the medical files of pediatric patients who had AM in the years 2005 through 2007. Fifty patients were identified. The gender distribution was equal, and the ages ranged from 4 months to 12 years. Of the 46 patients who were admitted to our institution "de novo," only 2 underwent CT scanning on admission, and 4 other patients had CT performed during hospitalization. The majority of patients (92%) with AM did not have a CT scan performed and were treated conservatively with no complications. In most pediatric patients, CT does not seem to be indispensable in the diagnosis of AM. Conservative therapy and close follow-up seem to suffice for most. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Colchicine kinetics in patients with familial Mediterranean fever.
Serum colchicine levels were determined by radioimmunoassay after a 1-mg bolus injected intravenously in 4 patients with familial Mediterranean fever and in 6 normal subjects. Mean elimination half-life (t1/2) (+/- SEM) was 157 +/- 20 min in the patients and 65 +/- 15 min in the normal subjects (p less than 0.005). Total clearance was 239 +/- 50 ml/min in the patients and 601 +/- 155 ml/min in the normal subjects (p less than 0.05). Volume of distribution (Vdarea) was 76 +/- 16 and 49 +/- 91 and did not differ significantly. In 8 patients receiving colchicine prophylactically with good clinical response, serum colchicine ranged from 0.3 to 2.4 ng/ml after daily doses of 1 mg orally. In 2 responding patients 2-mg doses orally induced levels from 4 to 10 ng/ml, and in one (a nonresponder) a 3-mg dose induced levels of 7.5 to 13 ng/ml. Of 3 patients receiving 2 mg daily with unsatisfactory clinical responses, serum levels were not detectable in one and in the low range of 1.5 to 5.4 ng/ml in the others. It is suggested that lack of response to colchicine orally in some nonresponders could result from inadequate absorption or altered disposition of colchicine. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The synthesis and biological evaluation of novel Danshensu-cysteine analog conjugates as cardiovascular-protective agents.
A series of novel amide and thioester conjugates between Danshensu and cysteine derivatives have been designed and synthesized based on the strategy of "medicinal chemical hybridization". Pharmacological evaluation indicated that the amide conjugates 3a/4a/17a and thioester conjugates 6a-d exhibited obvious protective effects on H(2)O(2)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Pretreated with these conjugates could increase glutathione (GSH) activity and decrease malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Further study on mechanism of compound 4a revealed that it was related to its mitochondrial-protective effect and regulation of apoptosis-related proteins expression (Bax, p53, PARP, caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bcl-2). These results indicate that these Danshensu-cysteine analog conjugates possess significant cardiovascular-protective effects and merit further investigation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Cutaneous lesions and blood count changes in a 9-month old girl with glutaric aciduria type I].
Non-specific cutaneous lesions are common in patients suffering from acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Leukemic skin infiltrates are present in about 30% of cases of monoblastic or myelomonocytic leukemia. The appearance of specific skin lesions can precede bone marrow involvement. We report the case of a 9-month-old girl with acute myelogenous leukemia (FAB M5) and glutaric aciduria type I which initially presented with cutaneous lesions, anemia and leukopenia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The relationship between theory of mind and insight in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
It is known that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients with poor insight display more severe neuropsychological impairments than other patients with OCD. There are limited studies of OCD and theory of mind (ToM). To investigate ToM skills in patients with OCD and the relationship between insight and ToM skills by comparing OCD patients with good and poor insight. Eighty patients with OCD and 80 healthy controls completed the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV axis I disorders, the Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, the Beck Anxiety and Beck Depression Inventories, and the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale. To assess ToM skills, first- and second-order false-belief tests, a hinting test, a faux pas test, a reading the mind in the eyes test, and a double-bluff test were administered. Patients with OCD had poorer ToM abilities than healthy controls. All ToM scores were significantly lower in the poor insight group than in the good insight group (p < .001). A significant negative correlation was found between the BABS-total scores and all the ToM test mean scores (p < .05). The finding of significantly lower ToM skills in OCD with poor insight than in OCD with good insight may contribute to the idea of OCD with poor insight being a subtype with different clinical and neuropsychological characteristics. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Can apparent increases in muscle extensibility with regular stretch be explained by changes in tolerance to stretch?
The aim of this study was to determine whether an intensive stretch program increases muscle extensibility or subjects' tolerance to an uncomfortable stretch sensation. Twenty healthy able-bodied individuals with limited hamstring muscle extensibility were recruited. A within-subjects design was used whereby one leg of each subject was randomly allocated to the experimental condition and the other leg was allocated to the control condition. The hamstring muscles of each subject's experimental leg were stretched for 20 minutes each weekday for four weeks. Hamstring muscle extensibility (angle of hip flexion corresponding with a standardised torque) and stretch tolerance (angle of hip flexion corresponding with maximal torque tolerated) were assessed on both legs at the beginning and end of the study. The intervention did not increase the extensibility of the hamstring muscles (mean change in hip flexion was -1 degree, 95% CI -4 to 3 degrees) but did increase subjects' tolerance to an uncomfortable stretch sensation (mean change in hip flexion was 8 degrees, 95% CI 5 to 12 degrees). These results highlight the importance of distinguishing between real and apparent increases in muscle extensibility when assessing the effectiveness of stretch, and indicate that whilst a four-week stretch program increases subjects' tolerance to an uncomfortable stretch sensation it does not increase hamstring muscle extensibility. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Preliminary findings: 25(OH)D levels and PTH are indicators of rapid bone accrual in pubertal children.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of serum levels of 25(OH)D and PTH on the accumulation of whole body bone mass in a cohort of children. This was a longitudinal study (1.98 +/- 0.07 y) of sixty-nine children (89% Caucasian, 44% male) enrolled in a calcium supplementation trial. Bone area, bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) of the whole body and radius were assessed using a QDR 2000 (Hologic, Inc) dual energy x-ray absorptiometer. Serum PTH and 25(OH)D were measured using radioimmunoassays. Vitamin D stores were inversely related gain in bone area (p < 0.002), BMC (p < 0.002) BMD (p < 0.027), as well as to PTH levels (p < 0.0001). Compared to those with adequate vitamin D stores (>34 ng/ml), those who had consistently low vitamin D stores (18 ng/ml) had a 8% larger gain in bone area (p < 0.05); 11% in BMC (p < 0.05) and no differences in gain in BMD; after adjusting for baseline bone measurements, race, gender, season measured, Tanner stage, and calcium intake. High normal PTH with low-normal 25(OH)D stores and moderate to high calcium intake may be beneficial to accruing larger bone size and BMC during puberty. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Transcriptional pattern of Escherichia coli ihfB (himD) gene expression.
Integration host factor (IHF) is a small heterodimer containing subunits encoded by the unlinked ihfA (himA) and ihfB (himD, hip) genes. The transcriptional pattern of ihfB expression in the logarithmic and stationary growth phases was investigated. The ihfB gene is expressed as both monocistronic and polycistronic (hybridizing also to an internal rpsA probe) transcript. The intensity of the polycistronic transcripts, initiated upstream of rpsA, decreased sharply upon growth cessation. In contrast, expression of the monocistronic ihfB transcript strongly increased when cells entered stationary growth phase. The observed growth rate-dependent regulation of the transcription of these transcripts is in agreement with the previously published data about the regulation of the rpsA and ihfB promoters (Pedersen et al., 1984; Aviv et al., 1994). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Screening and identification of stable transfectants of mouse soluble B lymphocyte stimulator].
Mouse colon cancer cells CT26 were transfected with constructed plasmid expressing mouse soluble B lymphocyte stimulator (msBlyS). Single cell clones were selected with 100 microg/ml Zeosin and subcloned by serial limiting dilution. Eight resistant transfectants were isolated and expanded, and five of them displayed the desirable msBlyS cDNA band amplified by semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay. Western blot analysis showed that only msBlyS molecules of the expected size were detected in the cell lysates from transfectants. The supernatant of transfectants could costimulate B cell proliferation in standard costimulation assay. Thus we have successfully screened the stable transfectants expressing high levels of msBlyS in CT26 cells, which could be used as cancer vaccines for further anti-tumor immunotherapy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Myosin isoenzyme distribution and Ca+2-activated myosin ATPase activity in the rat heart is influenced by fructose feeding and triiodothyronine.
Studies were conducted to determine if the level of cardiac Ca+2-activated myosin ATPase activity and ventricular myosin isoenzyme distribution are influenced by both T3 administration and fructose feeding. Previous studies have shown that in the cardiac ventricle of hypothyroid rats, only myosin V3 is present, and the Ca+2-activated myosin ATPase activity is markedly decreased. Hypothyroid [thyroidectomized (Tx)] rats were fed a diet containing 60% fructose or a regular diet (47% complex carbohydrates) for 4 weeks. Fructose feeding of hypothyroid rats led to a significant increase in Ca+2-activated myosin ATPase activity (Tx regular diet, 0.33 +/- 0.02 mumol Pi/mg protein X min; Tx fructose diet, 0.54 +/- 0.04 mumol Pi/mg protein X min). In addition, myosin V1 was detectable in the heart of fructose-fed Tx rats, but was absent in Tx rats on the regular diet. To determine if fructose had an effect of similar magnitude in animals of different thyroid states, Tx rats were injected with 0.075, 0.150, 0.225, and 0.300 micrograms T3/100 g BW daily and placed on fructose or regular diets. The fructose-induced increase in Ca+2-myosin ATPase activity was between 24-27% in Tx rats receiving 0-0.15 micrograms T3/100 g BW daily. In animals receiving 0.225 and 0.300 micrograms T3/100 g BW daily, fructose feeding did not induce a significant increase in myosin ATPase activity. This is due to the fact that the Ca+2-activated myosin ATPase activities of euthyroid and hyperthyroid animals are not significantly different from each other. In hypothyroid rats receiving a 60% glucose diet, Ca+2-myosin ATPase activity showed a significant 20% increase above the value in regular diet-fed Tx rats. Fructose- and glucose-induced changes in Ca+2-myosin ATPase activity occurred in the absence of changes in thyroid hormone or insulin levels. Our findings may indicate that cardiac carbohydrate consumption influences the predominance of ventricular myosin isoenzymes in the rat heart. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
NOVEL APPROACH TO SCLERAL FIXATION OF A REPER INTRAOCULAR LENS AND ARTIFICIAL IRIS COMPLEX FOLLOWING PARS PLANA LENSECTOMY AND VITRECTOMY FOR ECTOPIA LENTIS AND CATARACT IN A PATIENT WITH ANIRIDIA AND NYSTAGMUS.
Prosthetic iris devices have recently been used to improve cosmesis and reduce glare in aniridia. There is currently no consensus on which prosthetic iris device or which surgical approach is preferred for managing large iris defects. A novel surgical approach with Gore-Tex polytetrafluoroethylene sutures was used to achieve scleral fixation of an intraocular lens and artificial iris complex in a 19-year-old Caucasian female patient with aniridia, nystagmus, cataracts, and ectopia lentis. Six weeks postoperatively, the intraocular lens-artificial iris complex remained well centered, and the vision in the left eye improved from 20/400 to 20/70. Two years after prosthetic iris device implantation, there have been no complications. This case demonstrates a promising proof-of-concept for long-term management of complicated aniridia cases using an intraocular lens and artificial iris complex prosthetic iris devices. Gore-Tex sutures may be preferable to conventional polypropylene sutures because of their improved durability. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of long-term and reduced-dose hormone replacement therapy on endothelial function and intima-media thickness in postmenopausal women.
Short-term estrogen therapy improves endothelial function in postmenopausal women. However, there are few reports on its long-term effects on endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness. Further, we determined whether a reduced dosage of estrogen may maintain its beneficial effects. Eighteen postmenopausal women (53.7+/-1.1 years) who had been diagnosed as having osteoporosis were enrolled. Among them, 11 women were prescribed oral conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg and medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg per day, and 7 women were prescribed an oral calcium supplement as the control group. Each patient decided whether she would take hormone replacement therapy or a calcium supplement. We performed ultrasound measurement of endothelial function of the brachial artery and carotid intima-media thickness. Examinations were scheduled to be performed pre-therapy and after 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months of therapy. After three years of therapy, 6 women in the hormone replacement therapy group agreed to take half the dose of oral conjugated estrogen. Improvement of flow-mediated dilatation was observed at 3 months and the improvement was preserved up to 36 months. A similar improvement was also observed while women were on hormone replacement therapy even at the reduced dosage. Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in the control group increased after 12 months, which was not observed in the hormone replacement therapy group. Our results indicate that even at half the dose of estrogen, hormone replacement therapy may improve endothelial function and prevent the progression of carotid intima-media thickening in postmenopausal women. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Function-analysical studies of class II abnormalities. A contribution to the study of the articular reaction in activator treatments].
In patients treated with an activator the individual axial hinge points lie on the average 4.5 mm more ventral than in untreated patients. In those treated, the analytically calculated gliding movement of the condyles from the posterior position of contact to habitual intercuspidation on the average was 0.88 mm compared to 0.36 mm in the untreated. Movement of the teeth amounted to 1.18 mm in group 1, and 0.46 in group 11. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Synthesis and evaluation of radioactive/fluorescent peptide probes for imaging of legumain activity.
Legumain or asparaginyl endopeptidase is an enzyme overexpressed in some cancers and involved in cancer migration, invasion, and metastasis. We have developed radioiodine- ([125I]I-LCP) or fluorescein-labeled peptides (FL-LCP) with a cell-permeable d-Arg nonamer fused to an anionic d-Glu nonamer via a legumain-cleavable linker, to function as peptide probes that measure and monitor legumain activity. Non-cleavable probes of FL-NCP and [125I]I-NCP were similarly prepared and evaluated as negative control probes by altering their non-cleavable sequence. Model peptides with the legumain-cleavable or non-cleavable sequence (LCP and NCP, respectively) reacted with recombinant human legumain, and only LCP was digested by this enzyme. [125I]I-LCP uptake in legumain-positive HCT116 cells was significantly higher than that of [125I]I-NCP (11.2 ± 0.44% vs 1.75 ± 0.06% dose/mg). The accumulation of FL-LCP in the HCT116 cells was rather low (4.75 ± 0.29% dose/mg protein), but not significantly different from the levels of FL-NCP. It is possible that low concentrations of [125I]I-LCP (40 pM) can be effectively internalized after legumain cleavage. On the other hand, the cellular uptake of much higher concentrations of the FL-LCP derivative (1 mM) may be restricted by high concentrations of polyanions. The in vivo biodistribution studies in tumor-bearing mice demonstrated that the tumor uptake of [125I]I-LCP was 1.34% injected dose per gram (% ID/g) at 30 min. The tumor/blood and tumor/muscle ratios at 30 min were 0.63 and 1.77, respectively, indicating that the [125I]I-LCP accumulation in tumors was inadequate for in vivo imaging. Although further structural modifications are necessary to improve pharmacokinetic properties, [125I]I-LCP has been demonstrated to be an effective scaffold for the development of nuclear medicine imaging probes to monitor legumain activity in living subjects. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Normal modiolus: CT appearance in patients with a large vestibular aqueduct.
To determine the computed tomographic (CT) appearance of the normal modiolus and the pathologic alteration in patients with a large vestibular aqueduct and an otherwise normal-appearing cochlea. Temporal bone CT studies obtained before and after a major upgrade of CT capability in 1992 were reviewed in four groups: Group A (1.5-mm section thickness) comprised 50 normal ears in 43 patients, group B (1-mm section thickness) comprised 75 normal ears in 50 patients, group C (1.5-mm section thickness) comprised 16 ears with a large vestibular aqueduct in 10 patients, and group D (1-mm section thickness) comprised 23 ears with a large vestibular aqueduct in 12 patients. All groups comprised adult and pediatric patients. In groups A and B, the normal modiolus was visualized in 90% and 100% of ears, respectively. In groups C and D, with a total of 39 ears with a large vestibular aqueduct and an otherwise normal cochlea, modiolar deficiency was demonstrated in 100% of ears. CT is an excellent technique for depicting the cochlear modiolus. Results suggest that all ears with a large vestibular aqueduct have associated cochlear modiolar deficiencies. Thus, a large vestibular aqueduct may be only occasionally, if ever, an isolated developmental anomaly of the inner ear. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Science, medicine and virility surveillance: 'sexy seniors' in the pharmaceutical imagination.
Abstract While historically sex has been seen primarily as the prerogative of the young, more recently, the emphasis has been on the maintenance of active sexuality as a marker of successful ageing. A new cultural consensus appears to have emerged which not only emphasises the importance of continued sexual activity across the lifespan, but links sexual function with overall health and encourages increased self-surveillance of, and medical attention to, late-life sexuality. Drawing on historical accounts, clinical research, popular science reporting and health promotion literatures, I explore several key shifts in models of sexual ageing, culminating in the contemporary model of gender, sexuality and ageing that has made ageing populations a key market for biotechnologies aimed at enhancing sexual function. Two central concepts frame my analysis: 'virility surveillance', where age-related changes in sexual function are taken as indicative of decline, and the 'pharmaceutical imagination', where sexual lifecourses are reconstructed as drug effects revise standards of sexual function. After consideration of how narratives emerging from qualitative research with older adults challenge the narrow depiction of sexual functionality promoted by pharmaculture, conclusions call for continued critical inquiry into the biomedical construction of sex and age. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Brainstem afferents to the lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat.
The ascending connections from the brainstem to the dorsal division of the lateral geniculate nucleus were examined using retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. Labelled cells were identified in a variety of structures, including the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT), the posterior pretectal nucleus (NPP), the superior colliculus (SC), the parabigeminal nucleus (PBN), the midbrain reticular formation (MRF), locus coeruleus and nucleus sub-coeruleus, the substantia nigra (SN), and parts of the raphe complex. The projections from NOT, NPP, MRF, LC and PBN were all bilateral in origin. The most intense labelling was observed in the nucleus of the optic tract and the superior colliculus. Colliculo-geniculate cells were located primarily in the superficial gray (lamina II1 and II2 of Kaneseki and Sprague (1974), but sparse labelling was also observed in lamina II3 and in statum opticum (lamina III). Consistent with the report of Harrell et al. (1982), these cells represent a morphologically diverse population, which includes stellate cells, granule cells, and both vertical and horizontal fusiform cells. A similarly diverse population of cell types contributes to the geniculate projection arising from NOT. These results confirm and extend earlier descriptions of the brainstem projections to the cat LGNd, and serve to emphasize the diversity of brainstem influences over the geniculate. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Clinical aspects of antimicrobial therapy used in patients with urogenital infections].
To study the clinical aspects of using the furasidine potassium in combination with basic magnesium carbonate (furamag) and phosphomycin trometamol (monural) as antimicrobial agents most frequently used in outpatient practice during combination therapy for acute and chronic urinary tract (UT) diseases. To study the specific features of therapy for UT infections, 60 patients were randomized to 2 groups: 1) 30 patients received a course therapy with furasidine potassium (furamag) in a dose of 50 mg t.i.d. for 7 days (a study group) and 2) 30 had phosphomycin trometamol (monural) in a single dose of 3 g for pulse therapy (a comparison group). The clinical efficacy of the drugs, symptom disappearance rates, bacterial changes, and laboratory and instrumental findings were assessed. The patient's opinion was mainly used to evaluate outpatient pharmacoeconomic efficiency. Patient compliance with the given therapy was estimated by taking into account the specific features of prehospital care. During therapy, both groups showed positive clinical changes. In the study group, the symptoms of dysuria resolved 0.5 days more quickly and a complete clinical remission was achieved 0.8 days more promptly; the latter within the first 72 hours was achieved by 7.5% more of the patients; the symptoms of bacteriuria resolved 0.6 days more rapidly. With the similar average price of the packs of furasidine potassium (furamag) 50 mg (30 capsules) and phosphomycin trometamol (monural) 1 g (a sachet) being 350 and 370 rubles, the average costs of required treatment were 482 and 546 rubles, respectively. No case of adverse reactions was recorded during the study. Patients with infectious and inflammatory diseases of UT should be given furasidine potassium in the standard dose of 50 mg t.i.d for 7 days. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Sleep of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: actigraphic and parental reports.
The objectives of this study were to characterize the sleep of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), using actigraphy and parental questionnaires, and examine the potentially moderating role of psychostimulant medication and psychiatric comorbidity. Children with ADHD significantly differed from controls on parental and actigraphic measures of sleep, with parental reports indicating more severe sleep disturbances, and actigraphic recordings of longer sleep onset latency, lower sleep efficiency, and lower total sleep time. Both medicated and unmedicated ADHD subgroups differed from the control group on sleep measures, but did not differ from each other. Only the subgroup with comorbid psychiatric symptoms differed from the control group on actigraphic measures. The presence of psychiatric comorbidity, but not psychostimulant medication use, was associated with more severe sleep disturbances. The main implication of these findings is that clinicians should systematically attend to sleep disturbances in children with ADHD, particularly when other psychiatric symptoms are also present. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Stroke in systemic lupus erythematosus: a Swedish population-based cohort study.
To study the occurrence of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with the general population by age, sex and time since SLE diagnosis METHODS: Adults with incident SLE were identified from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR, n=3390) and general population comparators from the Total Population Register were matched on age, sex and county (n=16730). Individuals were followed prospectively until first of death, December 2013, emigration or incident stroke (identified from the NPR, Cause of Death Register and the Stroke Register). Incidence rates, rate differences and HR were estimated comparing SLE with non-SLE. Estimates were stratified by sex, age and time since diagnosis. We observed 126 strokes in SLE and 304 in the general population. Individuals with SLE had a twofold increased rate of ischaemic stroke compared with the general population (HR 2.2; 95% CI 1.7 to 2.8). The HR for intracerebral haemorrhage was 1.4 (95% CI 0.7 to 2.8). There was effect modification by sex and age, with the highest HRs for females and individuals <50 years old. The HR for ischaemic stroke was highest in the first year of follow-up (3.7; 95% CI 2.1 to 6.5). The relative risk of ischaemic stroke in SLE was more than doubled compared with the general population, and importantly, the highest relative risks were observed within the first year after SLE diagnosis. Thus, the first encounter with patients presents an opportunity for rheumatologists to screen for risk factors and intervene. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Isolated glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves palsy due to fracture involving the left jugular foramen.
This report describes a case of delayed post-traumatic glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves palsy (i.e. dysphonia and swallowing dysfunction). A high resolution CT study of the cranial base detected a fracture rim encroaching on the left jugular foramen. Treatment consisted in supportive measures with incomplete recovery during a one-year follow-up period. Lower cranial nerves palsies after head trauma are rare and, should they occur, a thorough investigation in search of posterior cranial base and cranio-cervical lesions is warranted. The presumptive mechanism in our case is a fracture-related oedema and ischemic damage to the nerves leading to the delayed occurrence of the palsy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Occupational stress in special education: a challenge for school health professionals.
Results of this study support the hypothesis that the majority of special educators, their support personnel, and general education administrators do not experience more job dissatisfaction than comparable occupational groups. However, they do report lower levels of subjective well-being when compared with normal populations. Furthermore, 18% of the educators in the study perceived themselves as failing to cope with their job, experienced more frequent symptoms of poor physical health, and reported significantly poorer subjective well-being. Health promotion programs for public school personnel should initiate prevention-oriented health education programs for all employees. For those identified as more vulnerable to stress-related mental and physical health problems, therapeutic approaches may be necessary. However, self-help and mutual support groups may offer both groups a social support system to help meet human needs in addition to offering the potential for reducing perceived occupational stress. School health personnel may be in the best position to influence policies, procedures, and practices in schools that would support the work-related needs of all employees. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Induction of complete remission in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia refractory to high-dose chemotherapy through treatment with 5-azacytidine.
For patients with acute myeloid leukemia refractory to intensive chemotherapy prognosis is very poor and treatment options are limited. 5-Azacytidine, a demethylating drug, is effective in the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes when administered at a low-dose, subcutaneously. We report a case of a patient with AML refractory to induction chemotherapy as well as to two high-dose salvage regimens. The patient achieved CR through monotherapy with low-dose azacytidine. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Expression of CD44 variant proteins in human colorectal cancer is related to tumor progression.
Specific CD44 variant glycoproteins are overexpressed at particular stages of colorectal tumor progression. Some variants of the CD44 glycoprotein without exon v6 sequences appear at the earliest stage of tumorigenesis, i.e., in early adenomas. Expression of variants containing exon v6 sequences is largely restricted to the advanced stages of tumor development and in addition is more prevalent and intense in metastatic (Dukes C/D) than in nonmetastatic (Dukes A/B) carcinomas. The observation that CD44 variants containing a protein domain of CD44 that confers full metastatic potential to rat carcinoma and sarcoma cell lines is increasingly expressed during colorectal tumor progression indicates that this domain may have an important role in tumor progression and metastasis in humans. Information on v6 expression, which can be obtained by routine immunohistochemistry, may prove of important prognostic value, particularly in carcinomas (Dukes A and B) that have not yet given rise to detectable metastases. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
TGF beta 1 and biglycan, decorin, and fibromodulin metabolism in canine cartilage.
Small proteoglycans (PGs) may accumulate in late stage osteoarthritis even as aggrecan is lost. It is not clear what role transforming growth factor (TGF) beta has in this accumulation. Our goal was to investigate the ability of TGF beta 1 to modulate the synthesis and accumulation of decorin, biglycan, and fibromodulin in cartilage explants cultured under conditions in which aggrecan synthesis remains relatively constant. Articular cartilage was cultured in the presence or absence of 4 ng/ml TGF beta 1 for up to 16 days. Material extracted from cartilage was assayed for 35SO(4)-large and small PGs and for total endogenous decorin, biglycan and fibromodulin. The synthesis of 35SO(4)-small PGs increased during the 16 days in culture in response to TGF beta 1, but declined in control cultures. The difference in 35SO(4)-decorin between TGF beta 1 and control samples reached nine-fold after 16 days, while the difference in total endogenous decorin was less than 1.5-fold. 35SO(4)-decorin, which was present in TGF beta 1-treated cultures had an identical core protein, but a longer glycosaminoglycan chain than that of decorin in control cultures. No significant differences in endogenous biglycan were detected, but accumulation of fibromodulin in TGF beta 1 explants exceeded fibromodulin in controls, on average, by 3.8-fold. Fibromodulin was present in cartilage in both keratan sulfate- and non-sulfated oligosaccharide-substituted forms. The accumulation of each of the three small PGs was affected to a different extent in response to TGF beta 1. Of the three, fibromodulin content was most rapidly augmented in response to TGF beta 1. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Novel lipids in Myxococcus xanthus and their role in chemotaxis.
Organisms that colonize solid surfaces, like Myxococcus xanthus, use novel signalling systems to organize multicellular behaviour. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) containing the fatty acid 16:1omega5 (Delta11) elicits a chemotactic response. The phenomenon was examined by observing the effects of PE species with varying fatty acid pairings. Wild-type M. xanthus contains 17 different PE species under vegetative conditions and 19 at the midpoint of development; 13 of the 17 have an unsaturated fatty acid at the sn-1 position, a novelty among Proteobacteria. Myxococcus xanthus has two glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (PlsB) homologues which add the sn-1 fatty acid. Each produces PE with 16:1 at the sn-1 position and supports growth and fruiting body development. Deletion of plsB1 (MXAN3288) results in more dramatic changes in PE species distribution than deletion of plsB2 (MXAN1675). PlsB2 has a putative N-terminal eukaryotic fatty acid reductase domain and may support both ether lipid synthesis and PE synthesis. Disruption of a single sn-2 acyltransferase homologue (PlsC, of which M. xanthus contains five) results in minor changes in membrane PE. Derivatization of purified PE extracts with dimethyldisulfide was used to determine the position of the double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids. The results suggest that Delta5 and Delta11 desaturases may create the double bonds after synthesis of the fatty acid. Phosphatidylethanolamine enriched for 16:1 at the sn-1 position stimulates chemotaxis more strongly than PE with 16:1 enriched at the sn-2 position. It appears that the deployment of a rare fatty acid (16:1omega5) at an unusual position (sn-1) has facilitated the evolution of a novel cell signal. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Forces in gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris tendons of the freely moving cat.
The purpose of this study was to gain an insight into the mechanisms of force sharing among muscles in a functional group. Tendon force measurements were obtained simultaneously from gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles of 10 cats during a variety of different locomotor tasks using strain gauge based force transducers. In particular, tendon forces were measured for conditions where movement speed was altered systematically, and where movement speed was kept constant but external resistance to walking was varied systematically. The results show that forces in the gastrocnemius and plantaris tendons increase with increasing intensities of movement, independent of intensity being altered by varying speed or external resistance. In contrast, peak soleus forces, on an average, remained nearly the same for all conditions; however, substantial modulations in soleus force were observed for consecutive stride cycles. These results suggest that soleus forces are not limited by peripheral (contractile) conditions but by central mechanisms and, further, that these central mechanisms depend on speed of movement and resistance to movement. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Isolation and characterization of CCoAOMT in interspecific hybrid of Acacia auriculiformis x Acacia mangium--a key gene in lignin biosynthesis.
This study was directed at the understanding of the function of CCoAOMT isolated from Acacia auriculiformis x Acacia mangium. Full length cDNA of the Acacia hybrid CCoAOMT (AhCCoAOMT) was 1024-bp long, containing 750-bp coding regions, with one major open reading frame of 249 amino acids. On the other hand, full length genomic sequence of the CCoAOMT (AhgflCCoAOMT) was 2548 bp long, containing three introns and four exons with a 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) of 391 bp in length. The 5'UTR of the characterized CCoAOMT gene contains various regulatory elements. Southern analysis revealed that the Acacia hybrid has more than three copies of the CCoAOMT gene. Real-time PCR showed that this gene was expressed in root, inner bark, leaf, flower and seed pod of the Acacia hybrid. Downregulation of the homologous CCoAOMT gene in tobacco by antisense (AS) and intron-containing hairpin (IHP) constructs containing partial AhCCoAOMT led to reduction in lignin content. Expression of the CCoAOMT in AS line (pART-HAS78-03) and IHP line (pART-HIHP78-06) was reduced respectively by 37 and 75% compared to the control, resulting in a decrease in the estimated lignin content by 24 and 56%, respectively. AhCCoAOMT was found to have altered not only S and G units but also total lignin content, which is of economic value to the pulp industry. Subsequent polymorphism analysis of this gene across eight different genetic backgrounds each of A. mangium and A. auriculiformis revealed 47 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in A. auriculiformis CCoAOMT and 30 SNPs in A. mangium CCoAOMT. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Normal molecular repair mechanisms in regenerative peripheral nerve interfaces allow recording of early spike activity despite immature myelination.
Clinical use of neurally controlled prosthetics has advanced in recent years, but limitations still remain, including lacking fine motor control and sensory feedback. Indwelling multi-electrode arrays, cuff electrodes, and regenerative sieve electrodes have been reported to serve as peripheral neural interfaces, though long-term stability of the nerve-electrode interface has remained a formidable challenge. We recently developed a regenerative multi-electrode interface (REMI) that is able to record neural activity as early as seven days post-implantation. While this activity might represent normal neural depolarization during axonal regrowth, it can also be the result of altered nerve regeneration around the REMI. This study evaluated high-throughput expression levels of 84 genes involved in nerve injury and repair, and the histological changes that occur in parallel to this early neural activity. Animals exhibiting spike activity increased from 29% to 57% from 7 to 14 days following REMI implantation with a corresponding increase in firing rate of 113%. Two weeks after implantation, numbers of neurofilament-positive axons in the control and REMI implanted nerves were comparable, and in both cases the number of myelinated axons was low. During this time, expression levels of genes related to nerve injury and repair were similar in regenerated nerves, both in the presence or absence of the electrode array. Together, these results indicate that the early neural activity is intrinsic to the regenerating axons, and not induced by the REMI neurointerface. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Life-History Evolution: Grandmothering in Space and Time.
The evolutionary puzzle of the extended post-reproductive life of female humans has been explained by indirect fitness benefits gained by grandmothers helping raise their grandchildren. Two new studies support this 'grandmother hypothesis' and explore its limits in space and time. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Guidelines and considerations for conducting experiments using tissue microarrays.
Tissue microarrays (TMAs) represent a powerful method for undertaking large-scale tissue-based biomarker studies. While TMAs offer several advantages, there are a number of issues specific to their use which need to be considered when employing this method. Given the investment in TMA-based research, guidance on design and execution of experiments will be of benefit and should help researchers new to TMA-based studies to avoid known pitfalls. Furthermore, a consensus on quality standards for TMA-based experiments should improve the robustness and reproducibility of studies, thereby increasing the likelihood of identifying clinically useful biomarkers. In order to address these issues, the National Cancer Research Institute Biomarker and Imaging Clinical Studies Group organized a 1-day TMA workshop held in Nottingham in May 2012. The document herein summarizes the conclusions from the workshop. It includes guidance and considerations on all aspects of TMA-based research, including the pre-analytical stages of experimental design, the analytical stages of data acquisition, and the postanalytical stages of data analysis. A checklist is presented which can be used both for planning a TMA experiment and interpreting the results of such an experiment. For studies of cancer biomarkers, this checklist could be used as a supplement to the REMARK guidelines. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
WD40 proteins propel cellular networks.
Recent findings indicate that WD40 domains play central roles in biological processes by acting as hubs in cellular networks; however, they have been studied less intensely than other common domains, such as the kinase, PDZ or SH3 domains. As suggested by various interactome studies, they are among the most promiscuous interactors. Structural studies suggest that this property stems from their ability, as scaffolds, to interact with diverse proteins, peptides or nucleic acids using multiple surfaces or modes of interaction. A general scaffolding role is supported by the fact that no WD40 domain has been found with intrinsic enzymatic activity despite often being part of large molecular machines. We discuss the WD40 domain distributions in protein networks and structures of WD40-containing assemblies to demonstrate their versatility in mediating critical cellular functions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
p53 dependence of topoisomerase I recruitment in vivo.
DNA damage is attended by rapid recruitment of endogenous type I topoisomerase (topo I) into covalent cleavage complexes with genomic DNA in vivo. In contrast, endogenous topoisomerase II alpha and beta are not stimulated by DNA damage. We show that topo I and p53 are able to associate at arrested topo I-genomic DNA covalent complexes in vivo, suggesting that p53 directly stimulates topo I activity and damage to the genome of the afflicted cell. Moreover, cells that express wild-type p53 are most proficient at recruiting topo I after DNA damage; however, the p53 dependence is conditional because topo I recruitment after DNA damage can be restored if p53 mutant cells (containing a single mutant allele) are artificially held in G1. In contrast, p53 null mutants do not recruit topo I after DNA damage under any conditions (although camptothecin-dependent topo I/DNA complexes readily form in the nulls). These results show that topo I activation after DNA damage depends on the p53 status of the cell. It also depends upon the cell cycle in a way that is very different from that observed with DNA replication-dependent, camptothecin-mediated DNA breaks. The data suggest a model where p53 activates topo I, which inflicts additional genomic damage after the initial UV damage events. Topoisomerases therefore contribute to the p53 commitment to apoptosis, and topo I might assist in elimination of DNA-damaged cells as part of the cellular proofreading function inherent in the p53 pathway. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Practical de-O-acylation reactions promoted by molecular sieves.
Methanol dried extensively over molecular sieves, or methanol in combination with powdered molecular sieves, serves as a good acceptor for acyl transfer reactions. Several O-acetylated and O-benzoylated sugar derivatives were efficiently de-O-acylated using this approach. In the case of per-O-acetylated N-acetylglucosamine, selective anomeric deprotection could be effected in high yield. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Itching: differential diagnosis and therapy].
The lecture deals with the differential diagnosis and treatment of diseases accompanied by itching. It considers the major components of its pathogenesis, which are important to provide a rationale for its therapy. Particular emphasis is laid on the analysis of the most common classifications of the causes of itching, which take into account both pathogenetic and clinical parameters. The main differentially diagnostic signs of dermal and nondermal diseases attended by itching are given. Antihistamines among the agents intended for itching therapy are considered in detail. The efficacy and safety of first- and second-generation antihistamines, including quinuclidine derivatives, are comparatively analyzed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Thyroid metastases of renal cell carcinoma: clinical course in 45 patients undergoing surgery. Assessment of factors affecting patients' survival.
Metastases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to the thyroid gland are uncommon. There is no clear consensus regarding the role of surgery in metastatic disease to the thyroid since most clinical studies include small numbers of patients. Also, risk factors associated with disease progression following thyroidectomy are not yet defined. We examined the determinants of the outcome in patients undergoing surgery for thyroid metastases of RCC. The medical records of 45 patients undergoing resection of thyroid metastases of RCC at 15 institutions in Germany and Austria were reviewed retrospectively. The outcome parameters assessed were overall survival and tumor-related survival. Factors associated with disease progression following thyroid surgery have been calculated. The overall 5-year survival rate following thyroid metastasectomy was 51%. Nineteen patients died during the study: 14 of disseminated disease and 5 of non-tumor-related causes. In the multivariate analysis, the prognosis was significantly worse in patients older than > or = 70 years and in patients who had undergone nephrectomy for metastases in the contralateral kidney during the course of the disease. Nine patients developed a thyroid recurrence following surgery. No local disease relapse occurred if resection margins were documented to be free of the tumor. Of the 45 patients with thyroid metastases, 14 (31%) developed pancreatic metastases during the course of disease. Ten of these patients also underwent pancreatic surgery with a 5-year survival rate of 43% in this subgroup. The overall survival of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for metastases of RCC is affected rather by general health status than by tumor-related factors. There is a significant coincidence of thyroid and pancreatic metastases of RCC. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Freeze-dried MoS2 sponge electrodes for enhanced electrochemical energy storage.
In the present study, we have synthesized high surface area MoS2 sponge electrodes via a facile hydrothermal method followed by a freeze drying process. The performance of the MoS2 based symmetric capacitor showed a high specific capacitance value of around 128 F g-1 at a scan rate of 2 mV s-1, and also a single electrode showed a specific capacitance of 510 F g-1, which is a remarkable value to be reported for a MoS2 based material in a symmetric device configuration. Also, a high energy density of around 6.15 Wh kg-1 and a good cyclic stability over 4000 cycles are obtained for the symmetrical cell. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Project HANDS: A Bundled Approach to Increase Short Peripheral Catheter Dwell Time.
Increasing short peripheral catheter (SPC) dwell time is becoming common practice. A number of variables lead to unscheduled restarts and significant complications with SPCs. Preventing complications is important to patient outcomes as dwell time increases. This quality improvement project compared the use of a manufactured securement device versus tape and transparent occlusive dressing while instituting a standardized insertion and care bundle with a 96-hour dwell time. Major findings included no statistically significant difference in restart rates in SPCs secured with a device compared with those secured with tape and transparent occlusive dressing (P = .06). These results differ from other published studies and may be due to the traditional nature of the hospital's infusion team and patients' average length of stay. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Experimental equivalent cluster-size distributions in nanometric volumes of liquid water.
Ionisation cluster-size distributions in nanometric volumes of liquid water were determined for alpha particles at 4.6 and 5.4 MeV by measuring cluster-size frequencies in small gaseous volumes of nitrogen or propane at low gas pressure as well as by applying a suitable scaling procedure. This scaling procedure was based on the mean free ionisation lengths of alpha particles in water and in the gases measured. For validation, the measurements of cluster sizes in gaseous volumes and the cluster-size formation in volumes of liquid water of equivalent size were simulated by Monte Carlo methods. The experimental water-equivalent cluster-size distributions in nitrogen and propane are compared with those in liquid water and show that cluster-size formation by alpha particles in nitrogen or propane can directly be related to those in liquid water. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Serological screening for cysticercosis in mentally altered individuals.
The parasitic infection neurocysticercosis may give rise to a variety of psychiatric manifestations that resemble, but are different from, primary psychiatric disorders. The aim of this study was to determine if among individuals from a neurocysticercosis-endemic area of Colombia who apparently had a psychiatric manifestation with associated neurological finding ('cases'), some could have been infected with Taenia solium cysticerci. This case-control study was done in individuals hospitalized in two mental institutions. The control-1 individuals were those classified with primary psychiatric disease, and the control-2 group consisted of healthy, non-hospitalized individuals. A serological test for cysticercosis was positive in 5/96 (5.1%) cases, 4/153 (2.6%) psychiatric controls, and 5/246 (2%) healthy controls. The data analysis indicated a weak association between the cases and a positive serology for neurocysticercosis (odds ratio > 2; P > 0.05). The lower education level of the cases influenced this association. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Predicting relatedness and self-definition depressive experiences in aging women based on personality traits: a preliminary study.
As part of the research relating personality and depression, this study seeks to predict depressive experiences in aging women according to Sidney Blatt's perspective based on the Five-Factor Model of Personality. The NEO-Five Factor Inventory and the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire were administered. The domains Neuroticism, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness predicted self-criticism, explaining 68% of the variance; the domains Neuroticism and Extraversion predicted dependency, explaining 62% of the variance. The subfactors Neediness and Connectedness were differently related to personality traits. These findings are relevant to the research relating personality and anaclitic / introjective depressive experiences in late adulthood. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Esculetin improves cognitive impairments induced by transient cerebral ischaemia and reperfusion in mice via regulation of mitochondrial fragmentation and mitophagy.
Mitochondrial dynamics regulate mitochondrial autophagy (mitophagy) and apoptosis, which are important events for the quality control of mitochondria and mitochondrial-associated diseases. Esculetin (ESC) is a natural coumarin that exhibits inspiring biological activities in a variety of animal models, but its neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischaemia have not been clearly elucidated. In this paper, we demonstrated the effects of ESC on transient cerebral ischaemia and reperfusion injury induced in a mouse model and examined the possible underlying mechanisms by investigating mitochondrial fragmentation-regulated mitochondrial autophagy and apoptosis. The experimental results showed that ESC treatment alleviated neurological defects and improved cognitive impairments in transient bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (tBCCAO)-treated mice. Further mechanism studies showed that tBCCAO induced mitochondrial oxidative stress injuries and triggered mitochondrial fragmentation, which were evident by the elevated levels of malondialdehyde and mitochondrial dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and the downregulated activities of superoxide dismutase and nuclear transcription factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). ESC treatment significantly alleviated tBCCAO-induced mitochondrial stress and mitochondrial fragmentation. Moreover, mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis were stimulated in response to the mitochondrial oxidative stress in the hippocampus of tBCCAO-treated mice, and ESC treatment regulated the expression of mitophagy-related factors, including Bnip3, Beclin1, Pink1, and parkin, the LC-3 II/I ratio, and apoptosis-related factors, including p53, Bax, and caspase 3. Taken together, our results suggest that ESC treatment regulated hippocampal mitophagy and mitochondrial apoptosis triggered by mitochondrial stress via the mediation of mitochondrial fragmentation during transient cerebral ischaemia and reperfusion injury, which provides insight into the potential of ESC for further therapeutic implications. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Complement C5a regulates IL-17 by affecting the crosstalk between DC and gammadelta T cells in CLP-induced sepsis.
Complement 5a (C5a) and Interleukin-17 (IL-17) are two important inflammatory mediators in sepsis. Here we studied the mechanisms underlying regulation of IL-17 by anaphylatoxin C5a. We found that C5a blockade increased the survival rate of mice following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis and decreased IL-17 expression in vivo. IL-17 was secreted mainly by gammadelta T cells in this model. Importantly, our data suggest that C5a participates in the regulation of IL-17 secretion by gammadelta T cells. Dendritic cells (DC) were found to act as a "bridge" between C5a and gammadelta T cells in a mechanism involving IL-6 and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). These results imply that C5a affects the crosstalk between DC and gammadelta T cells during sepsis development, and this may result in a large production of inflammatory mediators such as IL-17. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Immunological abnormalities in the chronic fatigue syndrome.
The chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder of unknown aetiology which is characterized by debilitating fatigue. Recent evidence has suggested that viruses may persist in the tissues of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. A concurrent immunological disturbance is likely to be associated with the persistence of viral antigens. Therefore, the humoral and cellular immunity of 100 patients who were suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and that of 100 healthy, age- and sex-matched control subjects were compared. This study documents the frequent occurrence of abnormalities within the cellular and humoral immune systems of patients with well-defined chronic fatigue syndrome. Disordered immunity may be central to the pathogenesis of chronic fatigue syndrome. In patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, a significant (P less than 0.01) reduction was found in the absolute number of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the total T-cell (CD2), the helper/inducer T-cell (CD4) and the suppressor/cytotoxic T-cell (CD8) subsets. A significant (P less than 0.001) reduction also was found in T-cell function, which was measured: in vivo by delayed-type hypersensitivity skin-testing (reduced responses were recorded in 50 [88%] of 57 patients); and in vitro by phytohaemagglutinin stimulation. Reduced immunoglobulin (Ig) levels were common (56% of patients), with the levels of serum IgG3- and IgG1-subclasses particularly (P less than 0.05) affected. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The fluorescence neuraminidase inhibition assay: a functional method for detection of influenza virus resistance to the neuraminidase inhibitors.
Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) are presently the only effective antiviral drugs for treatment and chemoprophylaxis of influenza A and B infections, due to the high prevalence of resistance to the adamantane class of drugs among influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N1) viruses, including the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain. The limited pharmaceutical options currently available for control of influenza infections underscore the critical need for surveillance on NAI susceptibility of influenza viruses circulating globally. This chapter describes the fluorescent neuraminidase (NA) inhibition (NI) assay, a functional method used for assessing influenza virus susceptibility to NAIs. The IC(50) (drug concentration needed to reduce the NA enzymatic activity by 50%) values generated in this assay are used to evaluate the NAI-susceptibility of test viruses relative to those of sensitive reference viruses of the same antigenic type and subtype. Test viruses with significantly elevated IC(50)s are further analyzed by pyrosequencing or conventional sequencing to identify known markers of NAI resistance or novel changes in the NA. The harmonization of NI assay conditions and interpretation of results across surveillance laboratories is necessary to improve NAI susceptibility testing and analysis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Individualizing treatment with verapamil for cluster headache patients.
Verapamil is currently the best available prophylactic drug for patients experiencing cluster headaches (CHs). Published papers usually state 240 to 480 mg taken in three divided doses give good results, ranging from 50% to 80%; others mention higher doses--720, even 1200 mg per day. In clinical practice we found we needed to adapt dosage to individual's time of attacks, in particular giving higher doses before going to bed to suppress severe nocturnal episodes. A few only required 120 mg daily. We therefore evolved a scheme for steady and progressive drug increase until satisfactory control had been achieved. To find the minimum dose of verapamil required to prevent episodic and chronic cluster headaches by supervising each individual and adjusting the dosage accordingly. Consecutive patients with episodic or chronic CH (satisfying International Headache Society (IHS) criteria) were started on verapamil 40 mg in the morning, 80 mg early afternoon, and 80 mg before going to bed. Patients kept a diary of all attacks, recording times of onset, duration, and severity. They were advised, verbally and in writing, to add 40 mg verapamil on alternate days, depending on their attack timing: with nocturnal episodes the first increase was the evening dose and next the afternoon one; when attacks occurred on or soon after waking, we advised setting an alarm clock 2 hours before the usual waking time and then taking the medication. Patients were followed-up at weekly intervals until attacks were controlled. They were also reviewed when a cluster period had ended, and advised to continue on the same dose for a further 2 weeks before starting systematic reduction. Chronic cluster patients were reviewed as often as necessary. Seventy consecutive patients, 52 with episodic CH during cluster periods and 18 with chronic CH, were all treated with verapamil as above. Complete relief from headaches was obtained in 49 (94%) of 52 with episodic, and 10 (55%) of 18 with chronic CH; the majority needed 200 to 480 mg, but 9 in the episodic, and 3 in the chronic group, needed 520 to 960 mg for control. Ten, 2 in the episodic and 8 in the chronic group, with incomplete relief, required additional therapy-lithium, sumatriptan, or sodium valproate. One patient withdrew because verapamil made her too tired, another developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and the drug was withdrawn. Providing the dosage for each individual is adequate, preventing CH with verapamil is highly effective, taken three (occasionally with higher doses, four) times a day. In the majority (94%) with episodic CH steady dose increase under supervision, totally suppressed attacks. However in the chronic variety only 55% were completely relieved, 69% men, but only 20% women. In both groups, for those with partial attack suppression, additional prophylactic drugs or acute treatment was necessary. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Enhancing ultrasonic imaging with low transient pulse shaping.
This work deals with improving the resolution of ultrasonic ranging systems by means of preshaping the transmitter drive signals to achieve low transient acoustic pulses. As ultrasonic transducers are operated at a relatively high nominal frequency and quality factor, feedforward strategy is among the most efficient means to generate the low transient acoustic pulses. In this work, a digital signal processor and a field programmable gate array synthesize the transmitter drive signal to emit low transient pulses which are then applied to the detection of surface features. Both simulation and experiment results confirm an improved spatial detection resolution due to the lower acoustic transient interference. The drive signal synthesis process is also simpler than the conventional modulation method and should result in lower cost of implementation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A double-helix-structured triboelectric nanogenerator enhanced with positive charge traps for self-powered temperature sensing and smart-home control systems.
Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have been in spotlight for their excellent capability to drive miniature electronics. Herein, we report a sophisticated double-helix-structured triboelectric nanogenerator (DHS-TENG) enhanced with positive charge traps for self-powered temperature sensing and smart-home control system. The DHS-TENG increases the charge density on the contact surfaces by taking advantage of the ferroelectric characteristics of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). In addition, the flexible double-helix-structure endows DHS-TENG with excellent elastic property as it has no external supporting materials. The reported DHS-TENG, with the dimensions of 3 cm × 3 cm × 5 cm and a light weight of 10 g, can deliver a peak output power of 9.03 mW under a loading resistance of 4 MΩ. It also delivers an enhanced output performance of 460 V, 140 μA and 400 nC under a constant contact force of 40 N. Furthermore, the DHS-TENG is capable of powering 120 green LEDs and enabling a temperature sensor to work properly. In particular, the DHS-TENG demonstrates the capability of successful remote data transmission for application in smart-home control systems within 10 meters. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Ataxin-3 suppresses polyglutamine neurodegeneration in Drosophila by a ubiquitin-associated mechanism.
Two central issues in polyglutamine-induced neurodegeneration are the influence of the normal function of the disease protein and modulation by protein quality control pathways. By using Drosophila, we now directly link host protein function and disease pathogenesis to ubiquitin pathways in the polyglutamine disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). Normal human ataxin-3--a polyubiquitin binding protein with ubiquitin protease activity--is a striking suppressor of polyglutamine neurodegeneration in vivo. This suppressor activity requires ubiquitin-associated activities of the protein and is dependent upon proteasome function. Our results highlight the critical importance of host protein function in SCA3 disease and a potential therapeutic role of ataxin-3 activity for polyglutamine disorders. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hemodynamic alterations with positive end-expiratory pressure: the contribution of the pulmonary vasculature.
The hemodynamic responses to positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) ventilation have been evaluated. A rise in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure which follows the use of PEEP may not reflect changes in left atrial pressure and may be associated with a fall in cardiac output. This increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure suggests that there is a high resistance to flow in the pulmonary circulation and that a lower level of PEEP should be used. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The effect of flavonoids on visual function in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. A major symptom of this pathology is the loss to the visual field in a peripheral to central pattern. Flavonoids are polyphenol compounds sourced from plants, commonly found in green tea, red wine and cocoa, and they have neuroprotective and antioxidant characteristics proposed to be advantageous within the context of glaucoma. Currently, the literature presents conflicting evidence regarding the effect of flavonoids on patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension; hence a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Databases included in our literature search were EMBASE (1980-present), MEDLINE Ovid, Alternative and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5 (Review Manager) 5 software, version 5.3 (The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen). The primary outcomes were visual field mean deviation (MD) and intraocular pressure (IOP). Secondary outcomes were ocular blood flow and blood pressure (BP). Meta-analyses showed that flavonoids have a promising role in improving visual function in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT), and appear to play a part in both improving and slowing the progression of visual field loss. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Evaluating changes in salivary oxytocin and cortisol following positive reinforcement training in two adult male western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).
Positive reinforcement training (PRT) is associated with increases in species-typical behavior and decreases in stereotypic and abnormal behavior in participating animals. Physiological changes following PRT, for example, increases in oxytocin (OXT) and/or decreases in cortisol (CORT), may facilitate these behavioral changes. This study evaluated salivary OXT and salivary CORT concentrations in two adult male western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) following PRT with their primary animal care staff. Following PRT, no change in OXT was observed. CORT decreased in one subject following PRT. Changes in endogenous OXT are related to affiliative interactions and interact with strongly bonded conspecifics. PRT may not activate the oxytocinergic system because PRT is not a species-specific affiliative interaction and/or animal care staff are not viewed as conspecifics. Regardless, PRT may still be viewed as a positive interaction resulting in stress reduction via a decrease in CORT. Relationships are unique, thus these results only apply to these two gorillas and one animal caregiver. Larger population-level studies are needed to understand overall trends in human-animal interactions, and ultimately human-animal relationships. Further evaluation of physiological changes following human-animal interactions should be informative for understanding the human-animal relationship in zoos. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Determination of residual cell culture media components by MEKC.
Folic acid, hypoxanthine, mycophenolic acid, nicotinic acid, riboflavin, and xanthine are widely used as cell culture media components in monoclonal antibody manufacturing. These components are subsequently removed during the downstream purification processes. This article describes a single MEKC method that can simultaneously determine all the listed compounds with acceptable LOD and LOQ. All the analytes were successfully separated by MEKC using running buffer containing 40 mM SDS, 20 mM sodium phosphate, and 20 mM sodium borate at pH 9.0. The MEKC method was compared to the corresponding CZE method using the same running buffer containing no SDS. The effect of SDS concentration on separation, the pH of the running buffer, and the detection wavelength were studied and optimal MEKC conditions were established. Good linearity was obtained with correlation coefficients of more than 0.99 for all analytes. Specificity, accuracy, and precision were also evaluated. The recovery was in the range of 89-112%. The precision results were in the range of 1.7-4.8%. The experimentally determined data demonstrated that the MEKC method is applicable to the determination of the six analytes in in-process samples from monoclonal antibody manufacturing processes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Frequency of abnormal human haemoglobins caused by C----T transitions in CpG dinucleotides.
A large part of human genetic disease apparently arises from deamination of cytosine residues in methylated CpG dinucleotides. Their mutation rate is known to be high when C is present as 5-methyl-cytosine, but is believed to be normal when it is unmethylated. The beta-globin gene contains five, the gamma-globin gene two, and each of the alpha-globin genes contains 35 CpG dinucleotides. The CpG dinucleotides in the beta and gamma-globin genes are methylated, while those in the alpha-globin genes are under-methylated. One would therefore have expected the CpG dinucleotides to be a frequent source of mutations in the beta and gamma-globin genes, but not in the alpha-globin genes. In fact, the evidence points to CpG dinucleotides being a frequent source of mutations in both the alpha and beta-globin genes. This suggests either that the mutation rates of both methylated and unmethylated CpG dinucleotides are abnormally high, which conflicts with published evidence, or that there is a finite chance of some of these in the alpha-globin genes of certain individuals being methylated and therefore subject to mutation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp1/Abcg2) reduces systemic exposure of the dietary carcinogens aflatoxin B1, IQ and Trp-P-1 but also mediates their secretion into breast milk.
The breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2) usually protects the body from a wide variety of environmental and dietary xenotoxins by reducing their net uptake from intestine and by increasing their hepatobiliary, intestinal and renal elimination. BCRP is also highly expressed in lactating mammary glands in mice, and this expression is conserved in cows and humans. As a result, BCRP substrates can be secreted into milk. We investigated whether different classes of dietary carcinogens are substrates of Bcrp1/BCRP and the implications for systemic exposure and breast milk contamination. Using polarized cell lines, we found that Bcrp1 transports the heterocyclic amines 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and the potent human hepatocarcinogen aflatoxin B1, and decreases their cellular accumulation up to 10-fold. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed that [14C]IQ, [14C]Trp-P-1 and [3H]aflatoxin B1 plasma levels were substantially lower in wild-type compared with Bcrp1-/- mice, after both oral and intravenous administration, demonstrating that Bcrp1 restricts systemic exposure to these carcinogens. Moreover, Bcrp1 mediates transfer of [14C]IQ, [14C]Trp-P-1 and [3H]aflatoxin into milk, with 3.4+/-0.6, 2.6+/-0.3 and 3.8+/-0.5-fold higher milk to plasma ratios, respectively, in lactating wild-type versus Bcrp1-/- mice. We have thus identified Bcrp1/BCRP as one of the molecular mechanisms by which heterocyclic amines and aflatoxin are transferred into milk, thereby posing a health risk to breast-fed infants and dairy consumers. Paradoxically, Bcrp1/BCRP appears to have both protective and adverse roles with respect to exposure to dietary carcinogens. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Centrosome hyperamplification in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a potential phenotypic marker of tumor aggressiveness.
There is currently no single histological or genotypic marker that reliably predicts the biological behavior of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). While multiple genetic mutations have been investigated, no single genotypic alteration has consistently correlated with tumor aggressiveness. Phenotypic markers may prove more predictive, because they can represent many different genetic alterations. We investigated the frequency of centrosome hyperamplification in HNSCC and examined its usefulness as a marker for tumor recurrence. Analysis of archived paraffin blocks using immunohistochemistry. Eighteen patients who underwent resection of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma were reviewed. Ten patients had cancers that recurred locally within 1 year of resection, and 8 patients were tumor free at 5 years. The amount of centrosome hyperamplification in the cancer specimens and all surgical margins was graded as follows: 0, none; 1+, rare hyperamplification; 2+, greater than 10% of cells per high-powered field; and 3 +, greater than 20% of cells per high-powered field. Centrosome hyperamplification was found in 17 of 18 tumors (94%). Grade 2+ or 3+ hyperamplification was found more in cancers that recurred (9 of 10) than in those that did not (3 of 8) and was more prevalent in the histologically normal margins of patients with recurrence (8 of 10) than in those without recurrent cancer (3 of 8). Our results demonstrate the extremely frequent occurrence of centrosome hyperamplification in HNSCC. Centrosome hyperamplification is a phenotypic marker for HNSCC and can reflect multiple genotypic changes. Its presence in histologically normal margins suggests that it may be useful for analysis of primary tumors and tumor margins. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effect of "this side up" T-shirts on infant sleep position.
To assess the impact of "This Side Up" T-shirts on parental practices in Nebraska. A random sample of 3,210 Nebraska women who gave birth in 2004, stratified by race/ethnicity, was mailed a brief questionnaire on their receipt of a T-shirt and SIDS risk reduction materials at their birthing hospital, and on infant sleep position. Response rates were low (25.9%), ranging from 10.6% for Native American mothers to 46.4% for White mothers. Half (52.0%) had received a T-shirt and 71.6% had received SIDS information. Two-thirds (64.0%) reported that their infants slept on their backs; African-American and Hispanic infants were significantly less likely to back sleep. In univariate logistic regression models, African-American race, Hispanic ethnicity and maternal age 30-39 were significant negative predictors of back sleeping; White race and having received a SIDS brochure were positive predictors. In the fully controlled model African American and Asian race and Hispanic ethnicity were negative predictors of back sleeping; neither receiving SIDS information nor the infant T-shirt was significant. Effects of maternal age and a SIDS informational brochure appeared in models stratified by race/ethnicity. In these data, receiving an infant T-shirt was not related to how mothers placed their infants to sleep. Additional research is needed on effective methods of delivering targeted counseling and promoting safe sleep practices among families, particularly among racial and ethnic subgroups. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Caring for disabled teenagers in intensive care, a specific form of care].
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic degenerative disease, resulting in severe motor disability and associated with a fatal prognosis. Children suffering from the disease face numerous treatments and repeated hospitalisations. The care of young patients during these hospital stays represents a key moment for establishing a relationship of trust with them and their family. A survey of two paediatric intensive care units identified the establishment of this bond as being an integral part of care. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Use of a La(III)-modified bentonite for effective phosphate removal from aqueous media.
A bentonite from the Northeast Brazilian region was modified with lanthanum (NT-25La) using an ion exchange process. Lanthanum incorporation in the natural clay, as well as the properties of the clay materials, were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, specific surface area and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDX). Phosphate adsorption equilibrium and kinetic tests were performed at different temperatures. The adsorption data have shown that NT-25La reaches equilibrium between modified clay and phosphate solution within 60 min of contact. The phosphate retention at room temperature reached 95%, when initial phosphate concentration in solution was 5 mg L(-1). A kinetic-order variable model provided satisfactory fitting of the kinetic data. Adsorption of phosphate was best described by a Langmuir isotherm, with maximum phosphate sorption capacity of 14.0 mg g(-1). Two distinct adsorption mechanisms were observed that may influence the adsorption processes. The investigation pointed out that the phosphate adsorption occurs via physisorption processes and that the use of NT-25La provides a maximum phosphate sorption capacity higher than many commercial adsorbents. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Unilateral loss of facial flushing and sweating with contralateral anhidrosis: harlequin syndrome or Adie's syndrome?
A 45-year-old woman presented with a 10 year history of asymmetrical facial flushing and sweating after exertion or in hot weather. During these episodes the right side of her face remained dry and white, while the left side normally flushed. Sweating was impaired on the left side in the limbs and trunk. She also had areflexia in the lower limbs and slow pupillary reactions to light and darkness, as seen in Adie's syndrome. The topography of the sweating disorder suggested that the lesion involved the sympathetic pathways at the level of spinal cord. The relationship with the harlequin syndrome and related disorders is discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Non-Brownian water self-diffusion in lung tissue.
Pulsed field gradient NMR measurements of rat lung tissue have shown that the apparent water self-diffusion coefficient is nearly an order of magnitude smaller than that of free water and moreover is not constant but varies as the inverse square root of the diffusion time. The mean square displacement of water molecules is similarly proportional to the square root of the diffusion time. Possible origins of this non-Brownian behavior are discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Microextraction of bacterial lipid A: easy and rapid method for mass spectrometric characterization.
Endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides) are the main components of Gram-negative bacterial outer membranes. A quick and simple way to isolate their lipid region (lipid A) directly from whole bacterial cells was devised. This method using hot ammonium-isobutyrate solvent was applied to small quantities of cells and proved to be indispensable when a rapid characterization of lipid A structure by mass spectrometry was required. Biological activities of endotoxins are directly related to the lipid A structures, which vary greatly with cell growth conditions. This method is suitable for rough- and smooth-type bacteria and very efficient for screening variations in lipid A structures. Data are acquired in a few hours and avoid the use of phenol in extraction. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Assessment of maxillary sinus volume for the sinus lift operation by three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging.
To calculate sinus and bone graft volumes and vertical bone heights from sequential magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations in patients undergoing a sinus lift operation. MRI scans were obtained pre-operatively and at 10 days and 10 weeks post-operatively, using a 0.95 tesla MRI scanner and a three-dimensional (3D) magnetisation prepared, rapid acquisition gradient-echo (MP-RAGE) sequence. Estimates of the bone graft volumes required for a desired vertical bone height were made from the pre-operative MRI scan. Measurements of the graft volumes and bone heights actually achieved were made from the post-operative scans. The MRI appearance of the graft changed between the 10 day and 10 week scans. We have proposed a technique which has the potential to give the surgeon an estimate of the optimum volume of graft for the sinus lift operation from the pre-operative MRI scan alone and demonstrated its application in a single patient. Changes in the sequential MRI appearance of the graft are consistent with replacement of fluid by a matrix of trabecular bone. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Structural, CV and IR spectroscopic evidences for preorientation in PET-active phthalimido carboxylic acids.
Hydrogen bond and potassium cation mediated preorientation were detected for phthalimido acetic acid and the corresponding acetate. Evidence for these phenomena came from X-ray structure analysis as well as cyclic voltammetric and IR spectroscopic measurements. These interactions rationalize the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reactivity of the substrates in photodecarboxylation reactions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Two novel HLA-DQB1*03:03 alleles, HLA-DQB1*03:03:08 and DQB1*03:03:13, were identified in Chinese individuals.
Compared with HLA-DQB1*03:03:02:01, HLA-DQB1*03:03:08 and DQB1*03:03:13 have 330 G>C and 349 T>C changes, respectively. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Mutational analysis of the sugar-binding site of pea lectin.
Comparison of x-ray crystal structures of several legume lectins, co-crystallized with sugar molecules, showed a strong conservation of amino acid residues directly involved in ligand binding. For pea (Pisum sativum) lectin (PSL), these conserved amino acids can be classified into three groups: (I) D81 and N125, present in all legume lectins studied so far; (II) G99 and G216, conserved in almost all legume lectins; and (III) A217 and E218, which are only found in Vicieae lectins and are possibly determinants of sugar-binding specificity. Each of these amino acids in PSL was changed by site-directed mutagenesis, resulting in PSL molecules with single substitutions: for group I D81A, D81N, N125A; for group II G99R, G216L; and for group III A217L, E218Q, respectively. PSL double mutant Y124R; A126S was included as a control. The modified PSL molecules appeared not to be affected in their ability to form dimeric proteins, whereas the sugar-binding activity of each of the PSL mutants, with the exception of the control mutant (as shown by haemagglutination assays), was completely eliminated. These results confirm the model of the sugar-binding site of Vicieae lectins as deduced from X-ray analysis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Changes in susceptibility to conventional insecticides of a Cry1Ac-selected population of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).
The changes in the susceptibility of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) to three insecticides (lambda-cyhalothrin, phoxim and endosulfan) commonly used for control of this pest in China were monitored by bioassays at various generations. The insects were originally collected from Bt cotton fields and selected with Cry1Ac over 44 generations. In comparison with a susceptible strain, the larval resistance of the Bt-selected populations to Cry1Ac toxin increased 106-fold. Simultaneously, the resistance levels to lambda-cyhalothrin, phoxim and endosulfan declined dramatically. The results indicated no positive cross-resistance between Cry1Ac toxin and the insecticides. Evidence of the lack of cross-resistance to three commonly used synthetic insecticides in our laboratory-derived Cry1Ac-resistant population may suggest that growers can confidently use these insecticides if and when resistance to Cry1Ac cotton does occur. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Affinity labeling of the catalytic and AMP allosteric sites of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase kinase by 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine.
The nucleotide analogue 5'-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyladenosine (FSBA) reacts irreversibly with rat liver cytosolic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase kinase, causing a rapid loss of the AMP activation capacity and a slower inactivation of the catalytic activity. The rate constant for loss of AMP activation is about 10 times higher (kappa 1 = 0.112 min-1) than the rate constant of inactivation (kappa 2 = 0.0106 min-1). There is a good correspondence between the time-dependent inactivation of reductase kinase and the time-dependent incorporation of 5'-p-sulfonylbenzoyl[14C]adenosine ([14C]SBA). An average of 1.65 mol of reagent/mol of enzyme subunit is bound when reductase kinase is completely inactivated. The time-dependent incorporation is consistent with the postulate that covalent reaction of 1 mol of SBA/mol of subunit causes complete loss of AMP activation, whereas reaction of another mole of SBA/mol of subunit would lead to total inactivation. Protection against inactivation by the reagent is provided by the addition of Mg2+, AMP, Mg-ATP, or Mg-AMP to the incubation mixtures. In contrast, addition of ATP, 2'-AMP, or 3'-AMP has no effect on the rate constants. Mg-ATP protects preferentially the catalytic site against inactivation, whereas Mg-AMP at low concentration protects preferentially the allosteric site. Mg-ADP affords less protection than Mg-AMP to the allosteric site when both nucleotides are present at a concentration of 50 microM with 7.5 mM Mg2+. Experiments done with [14C]FSBA in the presence of some protectants have shown that a close correlation exists between the pattern of protection observed and the binding of [14C]SBA. The postulate is that there exists a catalytic site and an allosteric site in the reductase kinase subunit and that Mg-AMP is the main allosteric activator of the enzyme. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Natural genetic variations in bovine leukemia virus envelope gene: possible effects of selection and escape.
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is an oncogenic virus widespread in cattle. It belongs to the genus Deltaretrovirus of the family Retroviridae along with human and simian T-lymphotropic viruses. Here we report the addition of 28 new sequences to the current literature of 16 full-length BLV envelope gene sequences. The phylogenetic clustering, genotyping, and geographic distribution of BLV env variations corresponded in most cases. Most natural variations are mapped to the surface of the proposed conformational models of BLV gp51 N-terminus and gp30 external domain, overlapping with or adjacent to immunogenic epitopes. Analyses for evidence of possible selection pressures suggest the BLV env is under stringent negative selection overall, while strong positive selection is indicated for immunogenic epitope G. Natural env deletions bounded by similar flanking sequences were observed in multiple isolates and would result in truncated signal peptides, missing gp51, and aberrant coding frames for other proteins. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Energy-linked nicotinamide-nucleotide transhydrogenase. Light-driven transhydrogenase catalyzed by transhydrogenase from beef heart mitochondria reconstituted with bacteriorhodopsin.
Purified nicotinamide-nucleotide transhydrogenase from beef heart mitochondria was co-reconstituted with bacteriorhodopsin to from transhydrogenase-bacteriorhodopsin vesicles that catalyze a 20-fold light-dependent and uncoupler-sensitive stimulation of the reduction of NADP+ and NADP+ analogs by NADH and a 50-fold shift of the nicotinamide nucleotide ratio. In the presence of light, the transhydrogenase-bacteriorhodopsin vesicles catalyzed a pronounced light intensity-dependent inward proton pumping as indicated by a pH shift of the medium. As indicated by pH shifts, proton pumping by the bacteriorhodopsin essentially paralleled the light-driven transhydrogenase. Addition of valinomycin increased the pH shift twice with a concomitant 50% inhibition of the light-driven transhydrogenase, whereas nigericin inhibited the pH shift completely and the light-driven transhydrogenase partially. Taken together, these results suggest that transhydrogenase and bacteriorhodopsin interact through a delocalized proton-motive force. Possible partial reactions of transhydrogenase were investigated with transhydrogenase-bacteriorhodopsin vesicles energized by light. Reduction of oxidized 3-acetylpyridine adenine dinucleotide by NADH, previously claimed to represent partial reactions, was found to require NADPH. Similarly, reduction of thio-NADP+ by NADPH required NADH. It is concluded that these reactions do not represent partial reactions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
HMGB proteins involved in TOR signaling as general regulators of cell growth by controlling ribosome biogenesis.
The number of ribosomes and their activity need to be highly regulated because their function is crucial for the cell. Ribosome biogenesis is necessary for cell growth and proliferation in accordance with nutrient availability and other external and intracellular signals. High-mobility group B (HMGB) proteins are conserved from yeasts to human and are decisive in cellular fate. These proteins play critical functions, from the maintenance of chromatin structure, DNA repair, or transcriptional regulation, to facilitation of ribosome biogenesis. They are also involved in cancer and other pathologies. In this review, we summarize evidence of how HMGB proteins contribute to ribosome-biogenesis control, with special emphasis on a common nexus to the target of rapamycin (TOR) pathway, a signaling cascade essential for cell growth and proliferation from yeast to human. Perspectives in this field are also discussed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Stability and folding kinetics of structurally characterized cytochrome c-b562.
The four-helix-bundle protein fold can be constructed from a wide variety of primary amino acid sequences. Proteins with this structure are excellent candidates for investigations of the relationship between folding mechanism and topology. The folding of cytochrome b(562), a four-helix-bundle heme protein, is hampered by heme dissociation. To overcome this complication, we have engineered a variant of cytochrome b(562) (cyt c-b(562)) featuring a c-type linkage between the heme and the polypeptide chain. The replacement of the native cyt b(562) leader sequence in this protein with that of a c-type cytochrome (cyt c(556)) led to high yields of fully matured and correctly folded cyt c-b(562). We have determined the X-ray crystal structure of cyt c-b(562) at 2.25 A and characterized its physical, chemical, and folding properties. These measurements reveal that the c-type linkage does not perturb the protein fold or reduction potential of the heme group. The covalent attachment of the porphyrin to the polypeptide does, however, produce a substantial change in protein stability and folding kinetics. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Dietary restrictions in maintenance hemodialysis: experiences of English speaking West Indian adults.
Dietary therapy is a critical component of the hemodialysis prescription. The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate and describe the lived experience of dietary restrictions in English-speaking, West Indian (WI) adults on maintenance hemodialysis. A phenomenological approach using open-ended interviewing strategies was employed. The sample consisted of five patients who received their treatment in the chronic hemodialysis unit at an inner-city hospital. Following satisfaction of delimitations, each subject had a tape-recorded interview with the researcher that was immediately transcribed by a medical transcriber. Qualitative methods were used to analyze and interpret all data from which the following themes emerged: (a) diet is a major problem; (b) patients adapt by trial and error; (c) WI foods are not listed in the renal failure diets; (d) patients believe that staff lack sufficient knowledge about WI diet and foods; (e) patients believe that eating an American renal diet made them feel worse; and (f) both staff and patients need information on WI foods. The current food list available to the WI hemodialysis patient is insufficient. There is a knowledge deficit regarding WI dietary patterns and their modification for patients on hemodialysis. Further collaborative research is clearly indicated. The findings from this study will add knowledge and understanding in caring for the renal failure population as their numbers continue to increase within this ethnic group. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
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