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An improved technique for low anterior resection using a PDS endoloop.
We describe herein the results of performing a new technique of low anterior resection of the rectum using a PDS endoloop, on ten patients with rectal cancer. This technique involves first preparing the rectosigmoid colon with an anvil as in the conventional low anterior resection; then, after the stapler is inserted transanally, two endoloops are solid over the colon and rectum. The rectum is ligated by pushing the knot of the endoloop and a second knot is applied 2 cm proximal to the first. Finally, the rectum is cut and the stapler is closed and fired to make a circular end-to-end anastomosis. The level of the anastomosis ranged from 2.5 to 6 cm with a mean of 4.7 cm in the ten patients, only one of whom developed a minor anastomotic leakage postoperatively. Moreover, no patient has developed local recurrence or distant metastasis to date. In summary, this technique offers certain advantages that allow the operation to be done with more skill and safety in a narrow pelvis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Structure and function of archaeal prefoldin, a co-chaperone of group II chaperonin.
Molecular chaperones are key cellular components involved in the maintenance of protein homeostasis and other unrelated functions. Prefoldin is a chaperone that acts as a co-factor of group II chaperonins in eukaryotes and archaea. It assists proper folding of protein by capturing nonnative proteins and delivering it to the group II chaperonin. Eukaryotic prefoldin is a multiple subunit complex composed of six different polypeptide chains. Archaeal prefoldin, on the other hand, is a heterohexameric complex composed of two alpha and four beta subunits, and forms a double beta barrel assembly with six long coiled coils protruding from it like a jellyfish with six tentacles. Based on the structural information of the archaeal prefoldin, substrate recognition and prefoldin-chaperonin binding mechanisms have been investigated. In this paper, we review a series of studies on the molecular mechanisms of archaeal PFD function. Particular emphasis will be placed on the molecular structures revealed by X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics induced by binding to nonnative protein substrates. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Mutations in yeast mt tRNAs: specific and general suppression by nuclear encoded tRNA interactors.
Mutations in mitochondrial tRNA genes can produce alterations in tRNA structure resulting in defective mitochondrial protein synthesis and hence respiratory defects. Such defects are often at the origin of neurodegenerative diseases in humans and can be easily studied in yeast since respiratory deficient mutants are viable. Several nuclear encoded tRNA interactors have been shown to rescue the mitochondrial defects due to mutations in mitochondrial tRNAs. Among these, we have identified the gene for the mitochondrial protein synthesis elongation factor EF-Tu and the specific mt aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. We also observed that the respiratory defects and the effect of the TUF1 over-expression were strongly strain dependent. The importance of the nuclear background in which the mitochondrial mutation is expressed was investigated by changing the nuclear context. Finally, we demonstrated, using the RT-PCR method, the existence of significantly variable levels of the TUF1 transcript among strains with functional and dysfunctional mitochondria. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Incidence and mechanism of neurological deficit after thoracolumbar fractures sustained in motor vehicle collisions.
OBJECT To determine the incidence of and assess the risk factors associated with neurological injury in motor vehicle occupants who sustain fractures of the thoracolumbar spine. METHODS In this study, the authors queried medical, vehicle, and crash data elements from the Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network (CIREN), a prospectively gathered multicenter database compiled from Level I trauma centers. Subjects had fractures involving the T1-L5 vertebral segments, an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of ≥ 3, or injury to 2 body regions with an AIS score of ≥ 2 in each region. Demographic parameters obtained for all subjects included age, sex, height, body weight, and body mass index. Clinical parameters obtained included the level of the injured vertebra and the level and type of spinal cord injury. Vehicular crash data included vehicle make, seatbelt type, and usage and appropriate use of the seatbelt. Crash data parameters included the principal direction of force, change in velocity on impact (ΔV), airbag deployment, and vehicle rollover. The authors performed a univariate analysis of the incidence and the odds of sustaining spinal neurological injury associated with major thoracolumbar fractures with respect to the demographic, clinical, and crash parameters. RESULTS Neurological deficit associated with thoracolumbar fracture was most frequent at extremes of age; the highest rates were in the 0- to 10-year (26.7% [4 of 15]) and 70- to 80-year (18.4% [7 of 38]) age groups. Underweight occupants (OR 3.52 [CI 1.055-11.7]) and obese occupants (OR 3.27 [CI 1.28-8.31]) both had higher odds of sustaining spinal cord injury than occupants with a normal body mass index. The highest risk of neurological injury existed in crashes in which airbags deployed and the occupant was not restrained by a seatbelt (OR 2.35 [CI 0.087-1.62]). Reduction in the risk of neurological injuries occurred when 3-point seatbelts were used correctly in conjunction with the deployment of airbags (OR 0.34 [CI 1.3-6.6]) compared with the occupants who were not restrained by a seatbelt and for whom airbags were not deployed. Crashes with a ΔV greater than 50 km/hour had a significantly higher risk of spinal cord injury (OR 3.45 [CI 0.136-0.617]) than those at lower ΔV values. CONCLUSIONS Deployment of airbags was protective against neurological injury only when used in conjunction with 3-point seatbelts. Vehicle occupants who were either obese or underweight, very young or elderly, and those in crashes with a ΔV greater than 50 km/hour were at higher risk of thoracolumbar neurological injury. Neurological injury at thoracic and lumbar levels was associated with multiple factors, including the incidence of fatality, occupant factors such as age and body habitus, energy at impact, and direction of impact. Current vehicle safety technologies are geared toward a normative body morphology and need to be reevaluated for various body morphologies and torso compliances to lower the risk of neurological injury resulting from thoracolumbar fractures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Inosine--a natural modulator of contractility and myocardial blood flow in the ischemic heart?
The energetic role of inosine (INO) remains controversial. The aim of the present study was first to test whether endogenous INO consumption/production correlates with regional myocardial contractile performance and second to test whether locally increased levels of INO influence contractility and blood flow in severely ischemic myocardium. Fentanyl-anesthetized dogs with implanted sonomicrometry crystals and independently perfused left anterior descending coronary arteries were studied. Two relatively load-independent indexes of regional myocardial contractility derived from left ventricular pressure-segment length loops were used: the regional stroke work-end-diastolic segment length relationship (Wr/L(ed)) and the end-systolic pressure-segment length relationship (Plv/L(es)). Very good correlations between myocardial contractile performance (as measured by the slope of the regional Wr/L(ed) relationship) and endogenous INO consumption/production under both nonischemic and ischemic conditions were found. Ischemia severely depressed contractility, significantly shifting rightward the Wr/L(ed) and Plv/L(es) relationships. INO infused into the left anterior descending bypass, in a concentration of 600 to 800 mumol/L, partially restored contractile performance as evidenced by a significant leftward displacement of both relationships. Wr, measured at a common maximum L(ed), increased significantly by 61 +/- 5%. Border-zone collateral flow (microspheres) increased by 35 +/- 7% within the endocardial segments and by 34 +/- 9% in the epicardial segments, but no increase in flow in the ischemic region was measureable. With the current emphasis on recanalization with thrombolytic therapy and considering the apparent safety of INO, this naturally occurring nucleoside might prove to be a useful adjunctive agent in the treatment of acute myocardial ischemia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Intrameniscal ossicle of the knee (lunula). Apropos of a case. Review of the literature].
An intrameniscal ossicle was discovered and resected by arthroscopy in the anterior horn of a medial meniscus. Intrameniscal ossicles are exceptional; 33 cases are described in the literature. In the great majority of cases, they are discovered in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus in young males. These ossicles most often cause diffuse pain in the knee, but may be asymptomatic. Conservative treatment seems to be recommended in the majority of the cases. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Reduced functional coupling in the default-mode network during self-referential processing.
Activity within the default-mode network (DMN) is thought to be related to self-referential processing, such as thinking about one's preferences or personality traits. Although the DMN is generally considered to function as a network, evidence is starting to accumulate that suggests that areas of the DMN are each specialized for different subfunctions of self-referential processing. Here, we address the issue of functional specialization by investigating changes in coupling between areas of the DMN during self-referential processing. To this aim, brain activity was assessed during a task in which subjects had to indicate whether a trait adjective described their own personality (self-referential, Self condition), that of another person (other-referential, Other condition), or whether the trait was socially desirable (nonreferential, Control condition). To exclude confounding effects of cardiorespiratory processes on activity and functional coupling, we corrected the fMRI signal for these effects. Activity within areas of the DMN was found to be modulated by self-referential processing. More specifically, during the Self condition compared to the Other and Control condition, activity within the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex, ventral medial prefrontal cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex was increased. Moreover, coupling between areas of the DMN was reduced during the Self condition compared to the Other and Control condition, while coupling between regions of the DMN and regions outside the network was increased. As such, these results provide an indication for functional specialization within the DMN and support the notion that each area of the DMN is involved in different subfunctions of self-referential processing. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Endogenous cleavage of annexin I generates a truncated protein with a reduced calcium requirement for binding to neutrophil secretory vesicles and plasma membrane.
We have earlier shown that an N-terminal truncated annexin I molecule, annexin I(des1-8), is generated in human neutrophils through cleavage by a membrane localized metalloprotease. The truncated protein showed differences in membrane binding among the neutrophil granule populations as compared to full-length annexin I. In this study, we investigated the cleavage capabilities of isolated neutrophil secretory vesicles and plasma membrane, and the binding of full-length annexin I and annexin I(des1-8) to these membrane fractions. Translocations were performed in vitro to secretory vesicles and plasma membrane, respectively, at different Ca(2+) concentrations. We show that the annexin I-cleaving membrane localized metalloprotease is present both in the secretory vesicles and the plasma membrane. The N-terminal truncation of annexin I gives rise to a molecule with a decreased Ca(2+) requirement for binding, both to secretory vesicles and plasma membrane. There was, thus, no difference in binding of either full-length annexin I or annexin I(des1-8) to the secretory vesicles as compared to the plasma membrane. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Oleanolic acid induces prostacyclin release in human vascular smooth muscle cells through a cyclooxygenase-2-dependent mechanism.
Oleanolic acid is a triterpenoid that may contribute to the cardio-protective effects of olive oil. Our goal was to assess whether oleanolic acid could modulate eicosanoid biosynthesis and to determine the mechanism involved in this effect. Human coronary smooth muscle cells (SMC) were treated with oleanolic acid, erythrodiol, or hydroxytyrosol and eicosanoid release was measured by enzyme immunoassay. Cyclooxygenase (Cox)-1 and Cox-2 protein and messenger sRNA levels were analyzed by Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways were assessed using specific antibodies. Oleanolic acid induced prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) release by human coronary SMC, an effect that was prevented by celecoxib (a specific inhibitor of Cox-2). The increased PGI2 was time-and dose-dependent and was associated to the up-regulation of Cox-2. No effects were observed on thromboxane A2. Erythrodiol but not hydroxytyrosol upregulated Cox-2 expression and induced PGI2 synthesis. Oleanolic acid induced an early phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and p42/44 MAPK but not c-Jun N-terminal kinase-1 (JNK-1). SB203580 (p38MAPK inhibitor) and U0126 (MAPK kinase1/2 inhibitor) abrogated the upregulation of Cox-2 and PGI2 release induced by oleanolic acid. A peptide inhibitor of JNK-1 (L-JNKI1) did not produce any effect. The induction of Cox-2 was preceded by an early activation of cAMP regulatory element-binding protein, a key transcription factor involved in Cox-2 transcriptional upregulation. Therefore, oleanolic acid contributes to vascular homeostasis by inducing PGI2 release in a Cox-2-dependent manner. Oleanolic acid could be regarded as a bioactive molecule that may contribute to the beneficial effects of the Mediterranean diet. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Fungal Biology: Bidirectional Communication across Fungal Networks.
Protoplasmic flow carries signals through fungal networks, alerting distant regions to predators or new food sources. A new study now shows that, by regularly alternating its direction, this flow links up all parts of the network, revealing new degrees of control over flow within fungal networks. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Increase in hepatic content of oleic acid induced by dehydroepiandrosterone in the rat.
The effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) on the acyl composition of lipids in rat liver were studied. The content of oleic acid (18:1) in hepatic lipids was increased markedly by feeding rats a diet containing 0.5% (w/w) DHEA for 14 days. Treatment of rats with DHEA caused an increase in the activity of the terminal desaturase of the stearoyl-CoA desaturation system, without changing either the activity of NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase or the microsomal content of cytochrome b5. Among the changes observed in hepatic lipids, the increase in 18:1 content in phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) was the most prominent; an approximately 2.5-fold increase in the proportion of 18:1 was induced at position 2, but not at position 1, by DHEA. This selective elevation of 18:1 at position 2 of PtdCho seems to be produced by the concerted actions of the induced 1-acylglycerophosphocholine (1-acyl-GPC) acyltransferase and the induced stearoyl-CoA desaturase. The content of 18:1 in serum lipids was unchanged by DHEA treatment, suggesting that secretion of lipids containing 18:1 into the circulation was not affected by DHEA. These results suggest that the elevation of hepatic content of 18:1 caused by DHEA treatment is mainly due to the induction of stearoyl-CoA desaturase. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
VP6-sequence-based cutoff values as a criterion for rotavirus species demarcation.
Indirect immunofluorescence techniques targeting the rotavirus (RV) protein VP6 are used to differentiate RV species. The ICTV recognizes RV species A to E and two tentative species, F and G. A potential new RV species, ADRV-N, has been described. Phylogenetic trees and pairwise identity frequency graphs were constructed with more than 400 available VP6 sequences and seven newly determined VP6 sequences of RVD strains. All RV species were separated into distinct phylogenetic clusters. An amino acid sequence cutoff value of 53% firmly permitted differentiation of RV species, and ADRV-N was tentatively assigned to a novel RV species H (RVH). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Use of surveillance for invasive pneumococcal disease to estimate the size of the immunosuppressed HIV-infected population.
We used population-based surveillance in New Jersey in 1986 to quantify the risk of invasive pneumococcal disease in persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and in those who went on to develop AIDS. Using pneumococcal surveillance, we also devised a method to estimate the size of the immunosuppressed population infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the so-called pre-AIDS population. From rates of pneumococcal disease that occurred in areas with a low incidence of AIDS, we calculated the number of patients expected to contract pneumococcal disease in areas with a high incidence of AIDS. There were 59 more cases of pneumococcal disease observed than expected; 14 of these patients had AIDS by the time of pneumococcal infection. We attributed the remaining 45 cases to the increased risk of pneumococcal infection in pre-AIDS. The pre-AIDS pneumococcal cases and the attack rate of pneumococcal disease in pre-AIDS were used to estimate the size of the 1986 pre-AIDS New Jersey population as 8823 pre-AIDS cases (95% confidence interval, 7377 to 10,714) or 0.37% of the adult New Jersey population. Surveillance for marker diseases may provide a simple, independent method of estimating the pre-AIDS population. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Dose-effect relationship for in vivo and in vitro induction of dicentric aberrations in blood lymphocytes of children.
Chromosome aberrations induced in vivo were studied in nine children 5-12 years old treated with total-body high-energy photon irradiation (pulsed exposure from a LINAC) for different types of malignant diseases. Dose-effect relationships were obtained for each child by taking blood at different times during exposure. In vitro dose-effect relationships for chromosome aberrations in children and adults were obtained by exposing blood under the same conditions as the children. Exposure in vivo and in vitro yielded similar linear-quadratic dose-effect relationships for dicentric aberrations. The response in vitro was slightly greater than in vivo, but the difference was not very large. It is concluded that the dose-effect relationship for dicentric chromosome aberrations obtained in vitro for adults can be used for biological dosimetry in irradiated children. Some of the children displayed a high number of "rogue cells" before exposure; this may be due to the malignant disease as it was not found in the healthy controls. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Urological complications after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation.
We evaluated the incidence of urological complications after simultaneous renal and pancreatic transplantation. We retrospectively reviewed urological complications following 107 simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantations performed at our institution between March 1995 and June 2008. The 46 women and 61 men were of mean age 37.8 years (range, 25-66). The mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 23.0 years (range, 9-48) and the mean duration of dialysis was 19.9 months (range, 0-70). The exocrine pancreatic secretions were drained to bladder in 58 cases, or enterically in 49 patients. The mean length of follow-up was 51.7 months. The most frequent urological complication was urinary tract infection, reported in 63.8% of patients: 42 bladder-drained and 25 enteric-drained (P = .011). Hematuria occurred in 13 patients (12.5%): 12 bladder-drained and 1 enteric-drained (P = .002). Five bladder-drained patients developed bladder calculi. Among 58 bladder-drained patients, reflux pancreatitis occurred in 28 patients and urine leaks related to the pancreatic graft occurred in 7 patients. Conversion of exocrine secretions from bladder to enteric diversion was required in 6 patients. One- and 3-year patient survival rates were 92.7% and 89.1%, respectively. Moreover, 1 and 3-year kidney graft survival rates were 90.6% and 84.4%, and pancreas graft survival rates were 78.1 and 70.3%, respectively. Simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplantation with bladder drainage is associated with a high frequency of urological complications. Appropriate treatment can resolve most complications. In our opinion, both enteric and bladder drainage seemed to be safe and effective alternatives to manage pancreatic exocrine secretions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Brain Metastasis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer after Pathological Complete Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy - A Case Report].
We report the case of a patient with triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)who showed isolated brain metastasis relatively soon after pathological complete response(pCR)to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A 45-year-old woman with a diagnosis of TNBC(T2N1M0, Stage II B)received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU/epirubicin/cyclophosphamide(FEC), followed by docetaxel. After the neoadjuvant chemotherapy, she underwent mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection. Histological examination of the resected specimens revealed pCR. Brain metastasis, however, developed 7 months after the resection. She underwent total removal of the brain tumor and 50 Gy irradiation to the right frontal lobe. Histological examination confirmed a diagnosis of metastasis from TNBC. She is doing well with no evidence of disease 81 months after resection of the brain metastasis. This case and a review of the literature suggest that the clinician should be aware that brain metastasis from breast cancer may develop even after achieving pCR to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Surgical resection followed by radiotherapy may provide a survival benefit for selected patients with isolated brain metastasis from breast cancer. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Current challenges in open versus endovascular repair of ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm.
A ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm is considered a surgical emergency; it is often fatal if it is not identified and managed immediately. Since the recognition of this clinical entity, open surgical repair has been the "gold standard" method of management. However, open surgical repair is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Among high-risk patients and as an alternative, thoracic endovascular repairs have since transpired, aiming to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates associated with open repair in a number of patients. The results of both treatment options are debatable, yet there is not a full concurrence on the advantages of endovascular repair in comparison to open repair as the gold standard method of managing such emergency cases, particularly ruptures involving the ascending and aortic arch. This literature review aimed to examine current literature evidence for the use of open or endovascular repair in the emergency setting of a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Selenite activates caspase-independent necrotic cell death in Jurkat T cells and J774.2 macrophages by affecting mitochondrial oxidant generation.
Sodium selenite, a common dietary form of selenium, is recognized as essential in animal and human nutrition. Mechanisms regulating the inflammatory response of the immune system involve regulation of apoptosis and control of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In this study, the effect of sodium selenite on ROS production and cell-death rates in macrophages and T cells was investigated. Exposing Jurkat T cells or J774.2 macrophages to >5 micro M sodium selenite induced cell death. In both Jurkat T cells and J774.2 macrophages, rapid loss of the cell's capacity to generate dichlorofluorescein-sensitive ROS preceded cell death. The main cellular source of ROS was found to be the mitochondria electron-transfer chain. DEVDase activity in the cells remained unchanged and even decreased with time, as well as DNA fragmentation level, which was almost unaffected, indicating cell death with necrotic characteristics. tert-Butyl hydroperoxide at a concentration of 5 micro M was beneficial in attenuating the rate of cell death. The superoxide scavenger Tiron was tested for its ability to protect the cells against selenium. Tiron completely protected the J774.2 macrophage cell line against selenium and attenuated the cell death effect in Jurkat T cells. In the presence of the superoxide dismutase-mimicking compound tempol, selenium's macrophage-killing effect was inhibited. Therefore, our results show that, at least in vitro, selenite induces changes in the balance between mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production, which can facilitate cell death in immune system cells. This may be one mechanism by which selenium down-regulates the immune system's inflammatory response and protects against overproduction of peroxides. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Synthesis and some central pharmacological properties of new 5(1H)oxo-2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylic esters.
Six new 5(1H)oxo-2,3-dihydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine-6-carboxylic ethyl esters bearing an aromatic substituent in position 1 or 2 were obtained. Pharmacological studies on the central action of these derivatives were carried out on mice and rats. The highest activity showed compounds 1 and 2 which produced analgesic effects in mice. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Anatomy of the dorsal nerve of the penis, clinical implications.
To show the branching patterns and the anatomic variations of the dorsal nerve of the penis (DNP) along the penile shaft, particularly the relation with the tunica albuginea. The penises of 22 adult cadavers were dissected. The number and the diameters of the branches, the presence of anastomoses between the main trunks, the positioning of the nerves before entering the glans penis, and the presence of branches emerging from the body of the DNP and perforating the tunica albuginea were noted and photographed. The compartments where the anatomic findings were located were noted. The DNP was composed of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 main branches in 6 (27.3%), 6 (27.3%), 6 (27.3%), 1 (4.5%), and 3 (13.6%) of 22 dissections, respectively. We could trace 2, 3, 4, and 5 terminal branches of the DNP going into the glans penis in 4 (18.2%), 8 (36.4%), 7 (31.8%), and 3 (13.6%) dissections, respectively. In 2 dissections (9.1%), fine branches were present between the main trunks crossing the midline. Anastomosing branches between ipsilateral main trunks of the DNP were identified in 5 dissections (22.7%). In 16 (72.7%) dissections, branches emerging from the inferior aspect of the body of the DNP, which perforated the tunica albuginea, could be identified. The exact anatomic knowledge of the DNP is mandatory during penile reconstructive surgeries. The presence of branches perforating the tunica albuginea is the most important finding of this cadaveric study, together with the other documented variations, which must be taken into consideration during penile reconstructive surgeries. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Polymorphisms of TCF7L2 gene in South Brazilian women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a cross-sectional study.
To assess whether TCF7L2 single nucleotide polymorphisms rs7903146 C/T and rs11196236 C/T are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in South Brazilian women. Cross-sectional study. Two hundred PCOS patients and 102 non-hirsute, ovulatory controls were genotyped by real-time PCR. Haplotypes were constructed from the combination of both polymorphisms. Frequencies were inferred using the PHASE 2.1.1 software. The distribution of rs7903146 (PCOS, 54.4% CC; 28.5% CT; 17.1% TT; controls, 51.0% CC; 37.0% CT; 12.0% TT) and rs11196236 (PCOS, 4.3% CC; 33.5% CT; 62.2% TT; controls, 3.2% CC; 35.5% CT; 61.3% TT) was similar between the groups. rs7903146 and rs11196236 were not in linkage disequilibrium (|D'|=0.34; r(2)=0.07). PCOS participants were younger, with higher age-adjusted BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglycerides, insulin, homeostasis model assessment index to estimate insulin resistance and total testosterone, and lower HDL-C and sex hormone binding globulin vs controls. In PCOS, no differences between genotypes and haplotypes were found for clinical and metabolic variables. However, for each T (rs7903146) and T (rs11196236) allele added to the haplotypes, a variation of 5.87 cm in waist (P trend=0.01), 10.7 mg/dl in total cholesterol (P trend=0.03), and 10.3 mg/dl in LDL-C (P trend=0.01) was recorded. TCF7L2 variants are probably not implicated in PCOS development in South Brazilian women. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of dietary crude protein concentration and degradability on milk production responses of early, mid, and late lactation diary cows.
Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of crude protein (CP) concentration and ruminally undegraded protein (RUP) concentration on milk production and composition of dairy cows at three different stages of lactation. Experiments 1, 2, and 3 using 39, 40, and 39 Holstein cows were conducted for cows in early (wk 4 to 14 postpartum), mid (wk 19 to 29), and late (wk 34 to 44) lactation, respectively. Cows were assigned to one of four corn-based diets: high CP, medium RUP (control); low CP, low RUP; low CP, medium RUP; and low CP, high RUP. Percentages of CP in the high and low CP diets were, respectively, 17.4 and 15.2 for Experiment 1, 15.3 and 13.3 for Experiment 2, and 14.2 and 12.6 for Experiment 3. The RUP concentrations (percentages of CP) for low, medium, and high diets averaged 35.5, 41.4, and 46.5%, respectively. For Experiment 1, production of milk, 4% fat-corrected milk, milk fat, and milk protein was increased by the high protein diets versus the low protein diets. Production of milk and fat-corrected milk increased linearly as RUP in the diet increased. During Experiment 2, lactational responses were not affected by treatment. During Experiment 3, dry matter intake, body weight, and body weight change increased for cows fed the high protein diets versus those same measurements for cows fed the low protein diets. Milk fat and milk protein percentage decreased linearly as RUP in the diet increased. Because there was no effect of diet on milk production, decreasing CP in diets fed to cows in mid or late lactation can reduce the cost of the diet and waste N excreted from the cow. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Insulin but not progesterone promotes the biosynthesis of glycogen in Xenopus laevis oocytes: implications on the control of glycogen synthase by phosphorylation, dephosphorylation.
Insulin, the well-known hypoglycemic hormone, mimics progesterone in promoting the resumption of meiosis within the oocyte of Xenopus laevis. Both hormones exert their action through the inhibition of protein kinases and the activation of protein phosphatases. Because glycogen synthase is an enzyme regulated by a kinases/phosphatases cascade, we investigated the effect of insulin and progesterone on the regulation of glycogen synthesis and glycogen synthase throughout the oogenesis of Xenopus laevis oocytes. In this framework the maximal activity of synthase "a" is concomitant with the vitellogenic period characterized by a drastic increase in the amount of glycogen. Oocyte glycogen synthase is inhibited by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation and stimulated by 20 mM Mg2+. The magnesium effect is inhibited by mu molar concentrations of okadaic acid and suggests that oocyte glycogen synthase is activated by dephosphorylation achieved by protein phosphatase-1. The okadaic acid effect is itself thwarted by the specific inhibitor of protein kinase A, confirming the role of this kinase in the regulation of glycogen synthase. Finally, working on intact ripe oocytes, we showed that insulin but not progesterone increases glycogen synthesis and glycogen synthase "a" activity and lowers the rates of phosphorylation, especially in the glycogen-bound proteins. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Care dependency and nursing care problems in nursing home residents with and without dementia: a cross-sectional study.
Chronic diseases, like dementia, can lead to care dependency and nursing care problems. This study aims to compare the degree of care dependency and the prevalence of nursing care problems (pressure ulcer, incontinence, malnutrition, falls, restraints) between residents with and without dementia and between the stages of dementia. A cross-sectional design was chosen and a total of 277 residents with and 249 residents without dementia from nine Austrian nursing homes were assessed by staff using standardized instruments. Significantly more residents with than without dementia are completely or to a great extent care dependent (54.5 vs. 16.9 %). The comparison of care dependency between the stages of dementia indicates a large difference between moderate and severe dementia (completely care dependent: 9.3 vs. 44.3 %). The comparison of the assessed nursing care problems between residents with and without dementia reveals a significant difference only with regard to incontinence (urinary: 84.2 vs. 53.2 %, fecal: 50.9 vs. 17.7 %, double: 49.1 vs. 14.9 %). Urinary incontinence is high even in early dementia at 64 %, reaching 94 % in severe dementia. Fecal- and double incontinence are comparatively much lower in early dementia (both types 12 %) and rise to more than 80 % (both types) in severe dementia. These results highlight areas in which dementia care needs further improvements. The authors suggest maximizing residents' independence to stabilize care dependency and improve incontinence care. Furthermore, longitudinal studies are recommended to deepen insight into the development of care dependency and nursing care problems in dementia residents. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Evaluation of aortic aneurysms and dissection of aorta by intravenous digital subtraction angiography.
Intravenous (IV) digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed in 12 patients with suspected aortic aneurysm/dissection. Bolus injection of 30-40 ml of contrast in mid right atrium/main pulmonary artery at a flow rate of 18-20 ml/sec. during DSA accurately localised the site and extent in all 7 patients of aortic aneurysm and in 4 patients of aortic dissection. In one patient, radiological opacity was unrelated to aorta. There were no complications. IV-DSA should be the preferred mode of evaluation for aortic aneurysm and dissection of aorta. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Efficacy of autologous renal tumor cell lysate-loaded dendritic cell vaccine in combination with cytokine-induced killer cells on advanced renal cell carcinoma--a report of ten cases].
Nowadays, operation is the main treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). But the prognosis of advanced RCC is poor because of its high recurrence rate and resistance to conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Hence, novel and more effective therapeutic options for advanced RCC are needed. This study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of autologous renal tumor lysate-loaded dendritic cells (DCs) in combination with cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells on advanced RCC. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 10 patients with advanced RCC, and cultured with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) to produce DCs. The DCs were pulsed with autologous renal tumor cell lysate. T lymphocytes were cultured with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-2, CD3-moAb, and IL-1alpha to prepare CIKs. After nephrectomy, the patients received intradermal DC vaccination weekly for at least 8 times, and CIKs administration biweekly for at least 4 times. Clinical and immunologic responses were evaluated by imaging examination, T lymphocytes subset changes, and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DHT) reaction, respectively. During follow-up of 6-20 months (median, 11 months), 1 case of partial remission (PR), 2 cases of stable disease (SD), and 1 case of progressive disease (PD) were identified in the 4 patients with measurable diseases; 1 case of PD was identified in the 6 patients with no measurable diseases, 1 case was lost, and no progressive disease was identified. When treated for 2 months, the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, CD56+ were increased significantly (P<0.05) as compared with those before treatment. DTH reaction was positive in 6 patients, including the patient with PR. Except transient fever and chill, no remarkable adverse event happened during or after the treatment. Autologous tumor cell lysate-pulsed DCs in combination with CIKs shows short-term efficacy on advanced RCC through inducing specific antitumor immunity, and the adverse events are tolerable. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Trends in testicular germ cell cancer incidence in Australia.
Although increasing incidence of testicular germ cell cancer has been reported in many developed nations, national estimates for Australia, with histological differentiation, are not currently available. Using data from all state and territory population-based cancer registries in Australia, this paper reports on incidence trends for seminomas and non-seminomas in Australia between 1982 and 2004 using Joinpoint and Age-Period-Cohort models. Of the 10,528 testicular germ cell cancers diagnosed during this period, 6086 (58%) were seminomas. Incidence rates have increased (2.6% per year) in Australia since 1982, with the effect stronger among seminomas (3.4% per year) rather than non-seminomas (1.4% per year). There was a strong age effect evident for both subtypes, peaking in the 25-29 year age group for non-seminomas and the 30-34 year age group for seminomas. Non-seminoma rates reflected a significant birth cohort effect, following a U-shaped pattern with the lowest risk among the 1,945 birth cohort. The differential trends observed for Australia for seminomas and non-seminomas are consistent with those reported for the United States, but slightly different to those reported for Europe. The trends may be at least partly due to changes over time in the prevalence of etiologic or protective factors around the time of birth. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Defective organization of the erythroid cell membrane in a novel case of congenital anemia.
In the present paper, we demonstrate the erythroid cell membrane unique properties in a previously characterized case of hemoglobin-H disease, associated with congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type-I features. In order to explain the patient's cell membrane distortions and the high affinity for the various intracellular inclusions, we studied its composition and structure in comparison to other anemic and non-anemic cases. Red cells from peripheral blood were fractionated into cellular, membrane and protein extracts. Membrane attached immunocomplexes were separated and collected by immunoprecipitation. The subcellular fractions were analyzed by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and immunoblotted against a variety of erythroid-specific antibodies. The protein composition of the membrane was characterized by immunogold electron microscopy. In the membrane of the CDA-associated case, we identified sialic acid and protein deficiencies, formation of protein crosslinkings, excesses of bound globin and immunoglobulins and aberrant peptides. In contrast to the typical hemoglobin-H disease, the ghost-bound globin exhibited preferential attachment to the skeletal proteins than the band 3 and the skeleton-bound globin consisted not only of beta- but also of alpha-globin chains. Another hallmark, probably associated with the CDA defect, was the participation of glycophorins in the membrane-bound immunocomplexes and the pathological clustering of the latter in the membrane. This study strongly suggests that the result of the combinatorial effects on the diseased membrane created a unique profile, quite distinct from the one observed in several typical hemoglobinopathies. Our observations shed light into critical membrane alterations leading to hemolysis in the novel CDA-associated disease and probably into the CDA-I or CDA-I-like diseases. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Actions of the scalene muscles for rotation of the cervical spine in macaque and human.
Multiple single-subject design in 2 parts: 1 in anesthetized monkeys and a follow-up in human cadavers. To determine whether anterior, middle, and posterior scalene muscles rotate the cervical spine to the same (ipsilateral to the muscle) or opposite (contralateral to the muscle) side. Some physical therapy and anatomy textbooks indicate that all 3 scalenes rotate the cervical spine to the same side, some indicate that all rotate to the opposite side, and the rest ascribe different functions to the different scalenes. While under anesthesia, macaques (n = 3) already scheduled for euthanasia were implanted with stimulating electrodes in each scalene muscle on one side, and then a neuromuscular junction blocker was administered to prevent confounding movement from brachial plexus stimulation. Three observers independently rated the direction of rotation produced by electrical stimulation. Postmortem dissection of the macaques was used to determine which direction of passive rotation stretched each scalene. Postmortem analyses in 2 human cadavers were also conducted to determine which direction of rotation stretched the human scalenes. Electrical stimulation in the macaque produced rotation to the same side for each of the 3 scalenes. Passive rotation to the opposite side put each scalene muscle of the macaque on stretch. In the human, rotation to the opposite side also stretched each scalene. All 3 scalene muscles produce rotation of the cervical spine to the same side. Maximum stretching of the scalenes should include rotation to the opposite side. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Synthesis and body distribution of several iodine-131 labeled centrally acting drugs.
1-(4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane (3B), 4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylethylamine (3A), and 1-(4-iodo-2,5, dimethoxyhenyl)-2-aminobutane (3C) have been synthesized with 131I. Labeled iodine monochloride reacts with the appropriately substituted phthalimide at the aromatic 4 position, and the phthalic acid group is removed with hydrazine. Body distribution was measured in rats; the most prominent difference between the three compounds was a much greater concentration in the lung with 3b than with 3a or 3c. gamma-Ray scintigraphs of 3a-c in rats and of 3b in a dog indicate an uptake by the brain similar to that of the bromine analogue of 3b (DOB) in humans. [82Br]-DOB has been suggested as a potential brain scanning agent for nuclear medicine; 3b would have the advantage over DOB of providing the superior gamma-ray imaging properties of 131I or 123I. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Case of a patient with Philadelphia-chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia relapsed after myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation treated successfully with imatinib and sequential donor lymphocyte infusions.
A 23-year-old man with Philadelphia-chromosome-positive (Ph(+)) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) underwent myeloablative allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) from his HLA-identical brother in first hematological remission following induction chemotherapy which included imatinib. He had no acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and 4.5 months after HSCT, he had a molecular relapse (180,000 copies/mug RNA of minor bcr/abl transcripts (m-bcr/abl) without mutation in 22 sites including the p-loop region). Following discontinuation of cyclosporine A, imatinib (600 mg daily) was restarted and 4 days later donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) (5 x 10(7)/kg of CD3(+) cells) was given. In 2 weeks, the marrow m-bcr/abl became undetectable. He received two further DLIs and imatinib was continued at a reduced dose of 400 mg a day. At the time of this report, he remains in complete hematological remission more than 33 months after allo-HSCT and persists in the second molecular remission for longer than 24 months. During this clinical course, he became positive for anti-nuclear antibody after second DLI, without any other manifestations of GVHD. The standard treatment for Ph(+) ALL relapsing after allo-HSCT still remains to be established. Imatinib in combination with DLI for early molecular relapse may be a promising option. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Chemerin plays a protective role by regulating human umbilical vein endothelial cell-induced nitric oxide signaling in preeclampsia.
The aim of this study was to determine chemerin levels in preeclampsia and to assess the effects of this anti-inflammatory factor on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nuclear factor (NF)-κB, and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Serum chemerin and eNOS levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, while chemerin mRNA and protein levels were measured by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. Nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were determined with a colorimetric method. Akt and eNOS phosphorylation were assessed by Western blotting. We also tested the effects of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 and the eNOS inhibitor L-NAME. NF-κB p65 and VCAM-1 phosphorylation were assessed by Western blotting to investigate the role of chemerin in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced HUVEC injury. Serum chemerin levels were increased in preeclampsia, while eNOS was decreased. Chemerin mRNA and protein were both increased in placentae from patients with preeclampsia. Furthermore, chemerin serum level positively correlated with blood pressure, body mass index, and serum insulin and was negatively correlated with serum eNOS. Chemerin dose-dependently increased NO concentrations in supernatants. Chemerin can increase eNOS and Akt levels in HUVECs, and these results could be partly blocked by LY294002 and L-NAME. Chemerin significantly decreased TNF-α-induced NF-κB and VCAM-1 in HUVECs, and these changes were partly inhibited by LY294002 and L-NAME. Chemerin may play a protective role by regulating NO signaling. Future studies should assess the role of chemerin in preeclampsia and other vascular diseases. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Three easy pieces.
The author provides information about and analyzes three issues confronting academic medical centers in the realms of education, patient care, and research. (1) In the educational realm, he indicates why medical centers must play an expanded role in training primary care physicians, explains the dangers of not doing so, and describes ongoing and proposed approaches and reforms for achieving this goal. (2) In the arena of patient care, he explains why modifying physician reimbursement policies is essential for more physicians to develop careers as generalists. Other more controversial physician payment reform measures and their implications for health care and academic medical centers are discussed; the author urges that benefit to patients always be the first concern of such reforms, even at the expense of more narrowly based interests such as limits in faculty salaries or reduced overages to institutions. (3) Regarding research, he discusses various facets and implications of conflict of interest for biomedical scientists--both the reality of misconduct and the appearance of it--especially as they apply to the growing number and forms of university-industry relationships, and urges that such conflicts be managed within guidelines that clarify expectations and standards in an atmosphere of appropriate disclosure and oversight. He concludes by urging academic medical centers to rise to, rather than avoid, the three challenges he has described. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Effects of N-acetylglucosamine and platelet inhibitors on the synergistic interaction of platelets and aggregating agents in the presence of wheat germ agglutinin.
Low concentrations of wheat germ agglutinin (4 micrograms/ml) have been shown to act synergistically to induce platelet aggregation with epinephrine, collagen, arachidonate and ionophore A23187. Aggregation ceased on the addition of the haptenic sugar N-acetylglucosamine at any time following the onset of aggregation with these agonists and a small degree of disaggregation was observed during the reversible first wave with the biphasic aggregating agents epinephrine and ADP. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors such as indomethacin and aspirin blocked the second wave of aggregation with the biphasic aggregating agents epinephrine and ADP but a synergistic response continued to be shown with the first wave in the presence of these inhibitors. Release of [14C]serotonin and the mobilization of [3H]arachidonate by epinephrine and collagen were markedly stimulated in the presence of wheat germ agglutinin but there was no increase of either radiolabel in the case of ADP. Platelet shape change, but not aggregation, occurred with low levels of wheat germ agglutinin and the synergistic response with ADP, collagen or ionophore A23187 occurred without further shape change. Wheat germ agglutinin did not affect the basal or stimulated levels of cyclic AMP. The membrane fluidity of platelets was not affected by the lectin or by thrombin as shown by the lack of change in fluorescence polarization with diphenylhexatriene. It is suggested that the binding of wheat germ agglutinin to the platelet surface induces platelet activation by mechanisms similar to those of other agonists and that it may affect the distribution of membrane-bound Ca2+ by a reversible perturbation of the platelet membrane. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Effects of irrigation scheme on the grain glutenin macropolymer's size distribution and the grain quality of winter wheat with strong gluten].
Taking two winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (Gaocheng 8901 and Jimai 20) with high quality strong gluten as test materials, a 2-year field experiment was conducted to study the grain glutenin macropolymer (GMP)'s content and size distribution, grain quality, and grain yield under effects of different irrigation schemes. The schemes included no irrigation in whole growth period (W0), irrigation once at jointing stage (W1), irrigation two times at wintering and jointing stages (W2), respectively, and irrigation three times at wintering, jointing, and filling stages (W3), respectively, with the irrigation amount in each time being 675 m3 x hm(-2). Among the test irrigation schemes, W2 had the best effects on the dough development time, dough stability time, loaf volume, grain yield, GMP content, weighted average surface area of particle D(3,2), weighted average volume of particle D(4,3), and volume percent and surface area percent of particle size >100 microm of the two cultivars. The dough development time, dough stability time, and loaf volume were negatively correlated with the volume percent of GMP particle size <10 microm and 10-100 microm, while positively correlated with the volume percent of GMP particle size >100 microm, D(3,2), and D(4,3). It was suggested that both water deficit and water excess had detrimental effects on the grain yield and grain quality, and irrigation level could affect the wheat grain quality through altering GMP particle size distribution. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Anti-inflammatory role of interleukin-15 in Crohn's disease.
Interleukin (IL)-15 is overexpressed in intestinal tissue with active Crohn's disease (CD). However, its role in the pathogenesis of the disease remains uncertain. We studied the effects of IL-15 on colonic mucosal proinflammatory cytokine response in vitro using organ culture of human colonic explants. Colonic tissue was obtained from (1) resections in pediatric CD patients (inflamed and noninflamed) and (2) rectal biopsies in patients with CD undergoing colonoscopy (n = 31) and controls (n = 9). In preliminary experiments, explants from the resections were cultured in the presence or absence of a simulated T(H)1 stimulation using ionomycin (Io) and phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA), with or without IL-15, or in medium alone. Rectal biopsies were cultured in the same conditions as above, with or without adding a monoclonal anti-IL-15 neutralizing antibody (mAb). Levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and IL-2R alpha were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. IL-15, in the absence of Io + PMA, did not induce the expression of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, or IL-2R alpha. Only inflamed explants from resections stimulated with Io + PMA expressed IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-2R alpha. This T(H)1 stimulatory effect was inhibited by IL-15 in a dose-dependent fashion. In rectal biopsy explants, inflamed, noninflamed CD, and control tissue responded to stimulation with Io + PMA (P < 0.05) with increased IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha (P < 0.05). This response was again inhibited by IL-15. The inhibitory effect of IL-15 was specifically reversed by anti-IL-15 mAb (P < 0.05). The data for the CD group were also analyzed according to the severity of colonic inflammation and medication use. Our results suggest a possible anti-inflammatory role for IL-15 in CD. We postulate that its overexpression in CD potentially represents a protective mechanism against the exaggerated T(H)1 immune response. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Characterization of a B cell-derived growth-enhancing factor produced by a human B cell line established from a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
A human B cell line, TKS-1, which was established from the peripheral blood of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis, was found to spontaneously produce a factor which enhances the activity of interleukin 1 (IL-1). This factor, designated B cell-derived growth-enhancing factor (BGEF), enhanced IL-1-induced proliferation of peanut agglutinin nonagglutinated thymocytes. BGEF also enhanced IL-1-induced production of interleukin 2 (IL-2) by both thymocytes and a human T cell clone, HSB.2 C5B2. BGEF alone did not induce the production of IL-2. BGEF failed to induce proliferation of the IL-2-dependent T cell clone, and did not enhance its response to IL-2. The activity of BGEF was not blocked by antisera against human IL-1-alpha or human IL-1-beta. Gel filtration analysis revealed that BGEF has a m.w. of 60,000 to 65,000 in its native state. We concluded that BGEF differed from IL-1 and IL-2, but is a novel factor produced by TKS-1 cells. In addition, we found that partially purified B cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis produced factors which enhanced the activity of IL-1. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Differential expression of proteins in brain regions of Alzheimer's disease patients.
Alzheimer's disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia and cognitive impairment is usually characterized by neuritic amyloid plaques, cerebrovascular amyloidosis and neurofibrillary tangles. In order to find out the pathological protein expression, a quantitative proteome analysis of AD hippocampus, substantia nigra and cortex was performed and the extent of protein expression variation not only in contrast to age-matched controls but also among the understudied regions was analyzed. Expression alterations of 48 proteins were observed in each region along with significant co/contra regulation of malate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase B chain, aconitate hydratase, protein NipSnap homolog 2, actin cytoplasmic 1, creatine kinase U-type and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. These differentially expressed proteins are mainly involved in energy metabolism, cytoskeleton integration, apoptosis and several other potent cellular/molecular processes. Interaction association network analysis further confirms the close interacting relationship between the co/contra regulated differentially expressed proteins among all the three regions. Elucidation of co/contra regulation of differentially expressed proteins will be helpful to understand disease progression and functional alterations associated with AD. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Rib fractures in infancy: establishing the mechanisms of cause from the injuries--a literature review.
In the absence of a history of a significant accidental event, the most likely diagnosis in an infant with rib fractures is non-accidental injury. Medical opinion is essential when deciding if child abuse has taken place or not and this requires a consideration of whether a proposed causal explanation fits with the observed injuries. To assist in the interpretation of injuries and inform medical practitioners, it is essential to develop a clear understanding of their biomechanical mechanism of causation. The types and 'likely' mechanisms of rib fracture are well-documented, however, what forces, deflections and loading rates are required to produce particular fractures are relatively unknown. This paper presents a review of the literature, from a biomechanical engineering perspective, to assess information regarding the various types of rib fracture and their likely mechanisms, paying particular attention to the likely forces, deflections and loading rates involved. The biomechanical parameters, applied during 'two finger' infant cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), are identified and discussed, and are currently believed to be below the limit at which rib fracture may occur. However, a new 'two thumb' CPR technique is identified which involves a holding/gripping mechanism of the infant thorax, similar to that which is believed to occur in inflicted injury scenarios, such as shaking. The two thumb method may provide a greater magnitude of force and deflection, a greater rate of loading and may perhaps pose a greater risk of fracture, compared with the 'two finger' supine, anterior-posterior chest compression approach. It is proposed to introduce a force/deflection boundary condition into mechanical and computer/numeric infant models. Subject to the future inclusion of loading rate/response data, a three-dimensional (force/deflection/loading rate) boundary condition will be used to provide a minimum injury threshold for potentially injurious scenarios. A number of further studies are suggested, since this paper is intended to provide a first step to developing a more sophisticated understanding of the causes of infant rib fracture. Areas of further study include specific rib fracture mechanisms, as well as the effects of age dependent characteristics, positioning and area of force application. Such additional information would allow the proposed initial boundary condition to be further refined to provide an indication of the likelihood, type and number of fractures that might be expected. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Learning deficits after unilateral AF64A lesions in the rat basal forebrain: role of cholinergic and noncholinergic systems.
Rats were given unilateral infusions of ethylcholine aziridinium ion (AF64A) into the basal forebrain (BF). BF-lesioned rats had significant acquisition and retention deficits in two different types of learning tasks (water maze and active avoidance). Choline acetyltransferase activity was lower than control in the frontal cortex but not in the hippocampus or striatum. AF64A markedly reduced the levels of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in all brain regions studied. However, L-glutamic acid decarboxylase activity was not altered by AF64A injection. Cholinergic agents (physostigmine and arecoline) ameliorated the AF64A-induced learning deficits in the water maze task but not in the active avoidance task. Noncholinergic agents (desipramine and L-dopa) ameliorated the AF64A-induced avoidance deficits in the active avoidance task but not in the water maze task. 5-Methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine did not improve either active avoidance or water maze learning. These results suggest that intra-BF injection of AF64A produces extensive brain dysfunction and that different neuronal systems are involved in associative and spatial learning. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Computed tomography in the diagnosis of tuberculous spondylitis complicated by neurological disorders].
Computed tomographic data were studied in 50 patients with evolutional forms of tuberculous spondylitis and 3 patients with its sequels. 95% of the patients were operated on. Cross sections displayed 3 variants of vertebral body destruction in tuberculous spondylitis. The vertebral canal was evaluated in 28 patients with neurological disorders and in 22 patients without them. Epidural abscess was revealed in all the patients with neurological disorders and in 12 patients without them. There was a relationship of the severity of neurological disorders as classified by Frankel et al. to the degree of stenosis of the vertebral canal, to the presence of its reserve space, and to the extent of vertebral and spinal lesion. The informative value of computed tomography in detecting spinal cord compression was 98.1 +/- 1.8%. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The use of portable ultrasound devices in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the literature.
To review the scientific literature pertaining to the use of hand-carried and hand-held ultrasound devices in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), with a focus on clinical applications, geographical areas of use, the impact on patient management and technical features of the devices used. The electronic databases PubMed and Google Scholar were searched. No language or date restrictions were applied. Case reports and original research describing the use of hand-carried ultrasound devices in LMIC were included if agreed upon as relevant by two-reviewer consensus based on our predefined research questions. A total of 644 articles were found and screened, and 36 manuscripts were included for final review. Twenty-seven studies were original research articles, and nine were case reports. Several reports describe the successful diagnosis and management of difficult, often life-threatening conditions, using hand-carried and hand-held ultrasound. These portable ultrasound devices have also been studied for cardiac screening exams, as well as a rapid triage tool in rural areas and after natural disaster. Most applications focus on obstetrical and abdominal complaints. Portable ultrasound may have an impact on clinical management in up to 70% of all cases. However, no randomised controlled trials have evaluated the impact of ultrasound-guided diagnosis and treatment in resource-constrained settings. The exclusion of articles published in journals not listed in the large databases may have biased our results. Our findings are limited by the lack of higher quality evidence (e.g. controlled trials). Hand-carried and hand-held ultrasound is successfully being used to triage, diagnose and treat patients with a variety of complaints in LMIC. However, the quality of the current evidence is low. There is an urgent need to perform larger clinical trials assessing the impact of hand-carried ultrasound in LMIC. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Egg-laying behaviour by shiny cowbirds parasitizing brown-and-yellow marshbirds.
We studied the laying behaviour of shiny cowbirds, Molothrus bonariensis, parasitizing brown-and-yellow marshbirds, Pseudoleistes virescens. Shiny cowbirds lay two egg morphs, spotted and white immaculate. Brown-and-yellow marshbirds eject the white egg morph but accept the spotted morph. The incidence of parasitism in this host was 66.5%, and half of the parasitized nests had more than one shiny cowbird egg. There was a positive relationship between the number of parasitic events and the availability of nests in the laying stage, but parasitic events reached a plateau when the availability of nests was high. The distribution of parasitic eggs per nest was more clumped than expected by chance. Shiny cowbird females synchronized parasitism with host laying in 80% of the cases. They seldom parasitized nests before the host started laying or after the nest had been deserted or predated. The majority of multiply parasitized nests were parasitized by more than one female. Females that lay white eggs did not avoid parasitizing brown-and-yellow marshbird nests. Egg pecking by cowbird females resulted, on average, in one egg lost per parasitic event and the probability of being broken was greater for host eggs when host and parasitic eggs where both in the nest. Copyright 1999 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Prioritizing industries for occupational injury and illness prevention and research, Washington State Workers' compensation claims, 1999-2003.
The objective of this study was to identify high-risk industry groups for effective allocation of occupational safety and health prevention and research resources. We used all compensable Washington state workers' compensation claims to rank North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry groups by a "prevention index" (PI). The PI is the average of the rank orders of each industry group's claim count and claim incidence rate. Of the 274 industry groups ranked by PI for all compensable workers' compensation claims, the following industry groups ranked the highest: NAICS 2381 Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors, NAICS 4841 General Freight Trucking, and NAICS 2361 Residential Building Construction. Industry group PI rankings are reported for the seven most common costly occupational injury types. Use of a PI can focus prevention and research resources where they can be of most benefit. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Interaction between the yellow fever virus nonstructural protein NS3 and the host protein Alix contributes to the release of infectious particles.
The ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery normally executes cargo sorting and internalization during multivesicular body biogenesis, but is also utilized by several enveloped viruses to facilitate their budding from cellular membranes. Although the mechanisms of flavivirus infectious particle assembly and release are poorly understood, the nonstructural protein NS3 has been reported to have an essential role via an undescribed mechanism. Here, we shed light on the role of NS3 by connecting it to the host factor Alix, a protein intimately connected with the ESCRT machinery. We demonstrate that NS3 and Alix interact and show that dominant negative versions of Alix inhibit YFV release. Furthermore, we show that NS3 supplied in trans rescues this effect. We propose that the interaction between NS3 and Alix contributes to YFV release. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
A survey of the burden of allergic rhinitis in Europe.
The perceptions of patients and physicians regarding the symptoms and impact of allergic rhinitis (AR) were assessed in a prospective, cross-sectional, international survey. This paper presents the combined survey results from five European countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK). Data were recorded by 1,482 patients and matched with records from 415 primary care physicians and specialists. Diagnostic tests to confirm AR had been performed on 1,279 (86.3%) patients. Both physicians and patients recorded the presence, severity and impact of symptoms at the time of consultation in addition to those symptoms frequently, but not currently, present. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire. A large proportion of patients had moderate-severe disease (67.2%; n = 996), persistent disease (42.5%; n = 630) and comorbidities such as asthma (31.5%; n = 467). Overall, patients rated their disease as more severe than did physicians (P < 0.001). At the time of the consultation, one-third of all patients reported that their current nasal and ocular symptoms were moderate or severe in nature. According to the physicians' assessment, good control of nasal and ocular symptoms was achieved in 45.4% (n = 673) and 51.3% (n = 760) of patients, respectively, and poor symptom control in 18.0% (n = 267) and 12.1% (n = 179). Overall, 43.3% (n = 641) of those surveyed were using two or more medicines for their AR. Health-related quality of life was correlated with disease severity and with the number of days without symptoms in the previous 4 weeks. Allergic rhinitis had a significantly greater impact in patients with more persistent disease than in those with intermittent disease (2.3 +/- 1.3 vs 1.9 +/- 1.2; P < 0.001). Nonetheless, 81.8% (n = 601) of patients with intermittent disease reported some impairment of their daily life as a result of their AR. Allergic rhinitis remains a significant health problem because of the high burden of symptoms and its impact on general well being and HRQoL among patients consulting for this condition. Overall, there was a poor correlation between patients and physicians in the reporting of disease severity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Insights into the role of cell-cell junctions in physiology and disease.
Contacting cells establish different classes of intricate structures at the cell-cell junctions. These structures are of increasing research interest as they regulate a broad variety of processes in development and disease. Further, in vitro studies are revealing that various cell-cell interaction proteins are involved not only in cell-cell processes but also in many additional aspects of physiology, such as migration and apoptosis. This chapter reviews the basic classification of cell-cell junctional structures and some of their representative proteins. Their roles in development and disease are briefly outlined, followed by a section on contemporary methods for probing cell-cell interactions and some recent developments. This chapter concludes with a few suggestions for potential research directions to further develop this promising area of study. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Diet and esophageal cancer risk in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
A multicenter hospital-based case-control study comprising 670 incident cases of esophageal cancer (EC) and 1188 controls, frequency-matched for age and sex, was conducted to evaluate the role of diet on EC development in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. A locally relevant lifestyle and dietary questionnaire was used. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed using unconditional multivariable logistic regression. Individually, maize or sorghum consumption vs. never or rare consumption were not associated with EC (P > 0.1). Males and females consuming green leafy vegetables 5-7 days/wk had 38% (P = 0.04) and 50% (P = 0.007) reduced odds of developing EC, respectively, compared with consumption ≤1 day/wk. A similar reduction in odds was observed with fruit consumption. Principal component factor analysis revealed 3 distinct dietary patterns. In females, high vs. low consumption of Pattern 1 (sorghum, green leafy vegetables, green legumes, fruits, meat) was inversely associated with EC development (OR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.34-0.89), whereas for Pattern 2 (maize, wild greens-imifino, dry beans) the odds were elevated (OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.04-2.67). Compared with low adherence, high adherence to Pattern 3 (wheat-based products) reduced the odds by 35% for both sexes. This study provides further evidence on the role of diet in minimizing EC risk in this population. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Metal enhanced fluorescence improved protein and DNA detection by zigzag Ag nanorod arrays.
As metal nano-arrays show great potential on metal enhanced fluorescence (MEF) than random nanostructures, MEF of Ag zigzag nanorod (ZNR) arrays made by oblique angle deposition has been studied for biomolecule-protein interaction and DNA hybridization. By changing the folding number and the deposition substrate temperature, a 14-fold enhancement factor (EF) is obtained for biotin-neutravidin detection. The optimal folding number is decided as Z=7, owing to the high scattering intensity of Ag ZNRs. The substrate temperature T=25°C and 0°C slightly alters the morphology of Ag ZNRs but has no big difference in EF. Further, Ag ZNRs deposited on a layer of Ag film have been introduced to the DNA hybridization and a significant signal enhancement has been observed through the fluorescence microscope. Through a detailed quantitative EF analysis, which excludes the enhancing effect from the increased surface area of ZNRs and only considers the contribution of MEF, an EF of 28 is achieved for the hybridization of two single-stranded oligonucleotides with 33 bases. Furthermore, a limit of detection is determined as 0.01pM. We believe that the Ag ZNR arrays can serve as a universal and sensitive bio-detection platform. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Inviting the breach: confronting homophobia in the name of social justice.
In 2008 California was divided over Proposition 8, a measure designed to prohibit same-sex marriage. In this article, we focus on a university classroom setting to explore how discussions about Proposition 8 and homophobia led to what Turner (1986) termed a social drama. Drawing on student personal narratives as they moved through the stages of social drama, we provide a poignant example of the conflict that may erupt when homophobia and heteronormativity are part of the curriculum. After documenting the social drama, we offer pedagogical strategies and note the strategic ways Christian, hegemonic discourse is utilized during discussions about homophobia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Regulation of protein diversity by alternative pre-mRNA splicing with specific focus on chondrogenesis.
Analysis of the human genome has dramatically demonstrated that the majority of protein diversity is generated by alternative splicing of pre-mRNA. This powerful and versatile mechanism controls the synthesis of functionally different protein isoforms that may be required during specific stages of development from a single gene. Consequently, ubiquitous and/or tissue-specific RNA splicing factors that regulate this splicing mechanism provide the basis for defining phenotypic characteristics of cells during differentiation. In this review, we will introduce the basic mechanisms of pre-mRNA alternative splicing, describe how this process is regulated by specific RNA splicing factors, and relate this to various systems of cell differentiation. Chondrogenesis, a well-defined differentiation pathway necessary for skeletogenesis, will be discussed in detail, with focus on some of the alternatively-spliced proteins known to be expressed during cartilage development. We propose a heuristic view that, ultimately, it is the regulation of these RNA splicing factors that determines the differentiation status of a cell. Studying regulation at the level of pre-mRNA alternative splicing will provide invaluable insights into how many developmental mechanisms are controlled, thus enabling us to manipulate a system to select for a specific differentiation pathway. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Desmoplastic fibroma of the maxilla: report of case.
Desmoplastic fibroma of the facial areas is a rarely occurring tumor. Characteristically, it is a benign, locally aggressive lesion. The treatment is surgical excision. The case presented is only the fourth one to be reported in the maxillary region. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
The influence of salt concentration on CD spectra of tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase.
The CD spectra of serine tRNA or seryl-tRNA synthetase were measured. The [theta] values at 210 nm were minimum at 50mM - 0.2M NaCl, at that concentration the velocity of aminoacylation was maximum. This results suggest that A . U and G . C base pairs loosened. The [theta] values at 200 nm decreased according to the decreasing of salt concentration, suggesting the decomposition of A . U base pairs. The CD spectra of seryl-tRNA synthetase at 210-240 nm were not changed in the range of 10mM-0.3M NaCl but the spectra at 260-290 nm showed minimum in the range between 50mM-0.2M NaCl. These results suggest that the influence of salt concentration on the velocity of aminoacylation depends on both the conformational changes of tRNA and seryl-tRNA synthetase. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Reduced severity of oxygen-induced retinopathy in kittens recovered in 28% oxygen.
Chronic hypoxemia adversely affects the retinopathy observed in kittens after a hyperoxic exposure (80% oxygen) in the 1st wk of life. To test the converse hypothesis, 55 kittens were randomly assigned to recover in room air (21%) or 28% inspired oxygen after a 65-h hyperoxic exposure. At 4 wk of age, the retinopathy was found to be less severe in the 28% recovered kittens, severity score 3.0 +/- 3.3 (mean +/- SD), than in the room air recovered animals, severity score 5.7 +/- 3.3, p less than 0.01. This finding suggests that the clinical practice of restricted oxygenation in premature infants warrants reevaluation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Randomized controlled trial of intrasphincteric botulinum toxin A injection versus balloon dilatation in treatment of achalasia cardia.
As the few randomized controlled trials available in the literature comparing botulinum toxin (BT) injection with established endoscopic treatment of achalasia cardia, i.e. pneumatic dilatation, showed conflicting results, we conducted a prospective randomized trial. Seventeen consecutive patients with achalasia cardia diagnosed during a period between December 1997 and February 2000 were randomized into two treatment groups [pneumatic dilatation by Rigiflex dilator (n=10), BT injection by sclerotherapy needle into four quadrants of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) (n=7) 80 units in five cases, 60 units in two cases] after dysphagia grading, endoscopy, barium esophagogram, and manometry, all of which were repeated 1 week after treatment. Patients were followed up clinically for 35.2+/-14 weeks. Chi-squares, Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests were used for statistical analysis. After 1 week, 6/7 (86%) BT-treated vs. 8/10 (80%) dilatation-treated patients improved (P=NS). There was no difference in LES pressure and maximum esophageal diameter in the barium esophagogram in the two groups before therapy. Both therapies resulted in significant reduction in LES pressure. The cumulative dysphagia-free state using the Kaplan-Meier method decreased progressively in BT-treated compared with dilatation-treated patients (P=0.027). Two patients with tortuous megaesophagus, one of whom had failed dilatation complicated by perforation previously, improved after BT. One other patient in whom pneumatic dilatation had previously failed improved in a similar manner. BT is as good as pneumatic dilatation in achieving an initial improvement in dysphagia of achalasia cardia. It is also effective in patients with tortuous megaesophagus and previous failed pneumatic dilatation. However, dysphagia often recurs during 1-year follow up. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Personalized mitral valve closure computation and uncertainty analysis from 3D echocardiography.
Intervention planning is essential for successful Mitral Valve (MV) repair procedures. Finite-element models (FEM) of the MV could be used to achieve this goal, but the translation to the clinical domain is challenging. Many input parameters for the FEM models, such as tissue properties, are not known. In addition, only simplified MV geometry models can be extracted from non-invasive modalities such as echocardiography imaging, lacking major anatomical details such as the complex chordae topology. A traditional approach for FEM computation is to use a simplified model (also known as parachute model) of the chordae topology, which connects the papillary muscle tips to the free-edges and select basal points. Building on the existing parachute model a new and comprehensive MV model was developed that utilizes a novel chordae representation capable of approximating regional connectivity. In addition, a fully automated personalization approach was developed for the chordae rest length, removing the need for tedious manual parameter selection. Based on the MV model extracted during mid-diastole (open MV) the MV geometric configuration at peak systole (closed MV) was computed according to the FEM model. In this work the focus was placed on validating MV closure computation. The method is evaluated on ten in vitro ovine cases, where in addition to echocardiography imaging, high-resolution μCT imaging is available for accurate validation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Measuring vaccine efficacy for both susceptibility to infection and reduction in infectiousness for prophylactic HIV-1 vaccines.
Current Phase III trials are designed to assess only a vaccine candidate's ability to reduce susceptibility to infection or disease, that is, vaccine efficacy for susceptibility (VES). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccination, however, may reduce the level of infectiousness of vaccinees who become infected, producing an important indirect reduction in HIV transmission even if the vaccine confers only modest protection against infection. We propose two approaches for augmenting the information of a classic trial for estimating protective efficacy that enable the additional estimation of the vaccine's effect on infectiousness, that is, vaccine efficacy for infectiousness (VEI). In the first augmentation, steady sexual partners of trial participants are recruited but not randomized to vaccine or placebo. Their infection status is monitored throughout the trial. In the second augmentation, the sexual partners are randomized. Through computer simulations and analytic methods, we investigate the feasibility and statistical properties of the augmented designs. Phase III prophylactic HIV-1 vaccines trials are currently being planned. Employment of the augmented designs described in this paper would not only provide estimation of VEI but also increase the precision of the VES estimator and the power to reject the null hypothesis of no vaccine effect. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Epitope Mapping Using Peptide Microarray in Autoantibody Profiling.
The use of peptide microarrays for epitope mapping of autoantibodies greatly facilitates the early diagnosis of allergic, cytotoxin-associated diseases and especially inflammatory diseases. A common approach to create the microarrays utilizes nitrocellulose-coated glass slides for peptide probe binding, which is based on surface adsorption. Advantages of this method include excellent peptide binding capacity and long-term stability. To ensure equal accessibility to all antibodies on the peptide microarray during epitope mapping, all probes are immobilized in a random manner, thus avoiding concentration-dependent effects on signal intensity.In this chapter, we provide a step-by-step protocol on how to construct the peptide microarrays and perform epitope mapping of autoantibodies using them. Finally we present a comparative approach for the evaluation of the data. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Glucose uptake through translocation and activation of GLUT4 in PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by asiatic acid in diabetic rats.
In this study, we examined the in vivo effect and the mechanism of asiatic acid (AA) on glucose uptake in an insulin target skeletal muscle. Diabetic rats showed significantly increased levels of plasma glucose, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and lipid hydroperoxides, decreased levels of insulin and antioxidants, and impairment in insulin-signaling proteins such as insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1/2, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), Akt, and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) proteins. Oral treatment with AA (20 mg/kg body weight) showed near-normalized levels of plasma glucose, lipid peroxidation products, and antioxidants and improved insulin, IR, IRS-1/2, PI3K, Akt, and GLUT4 proteins. These findings suggest that AA improves glucose response by increasing GLUT4 in skeletal muscle through Akt and antioxidant defense in plasma and it also improves glucose homeostasis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Molecular interconversion behaviour in comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.
Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC x GC) is shown to provide information on dynamic molecular behaviour (interconversion), with the interconversion process occurring on both columns in the coupled-column experiment. The experiment requires suitable adjustment of both experimental conditions and relative dimensions of each of the columns. In this case, a longer column than normally employed in GC x GC allows sufficient retention duration on the second column, which permits the typical plateau-shape recognised for the interconversion process to be observed. The extent of interconversion depends on prevailing temperature, retention time, and the phase type. Polyethylene glycol-based phases were found to result in high interconversion kinetics, although terephthalic acid-terminated polyethylene glycol had a lesser extent of interconversion. Much less interconversion was seen for phenyl-methylpolysiloxane and cyclodextrin phases. This suggests that for the oximes, interconversion largely occurs in the stationary phase. Examples of different extents of interconversion in both dimensions are shown, including peak coalescence on the first column with little interconversion on the second column. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Enhanced wild-type p53 expression by small activating RNA dsP53-285 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in pheochromocytoma cell line PC12.
Malignant pheochromocytoma (PHEO) is diagnosed only when metastasis has occurred, making it less likely for patients to obtain the benefits of traditional chemotherapy. Anti-oncogene TP53 mutation has been detected in PHEO and is possibly related to disease progression. However, whether the upregulation of wild-type TP53 has antitumoral effects on PHEO remains completely unknown. In the present study, we used RNA activation (RNAa) technique to upregulate the expression of wild-type TP53 by transfecting synthetic dsP53‑285 into PHEO cell line PC12. We found that the upregulation of wild-type p53 blocked the transition of PC12 cells from the G0/G1 to the S phase, with induction of apoptosis. Additionally, the above-mentioned findings were attested in vivo. Most importantly, dsP53-285-induced antitumoral effects were reversible following co-transfection with siRNA that targeted p53 mRNA. Collectively, our results revealed that the upregulation of p53 and possibly other anti-oncogenes may provide a potential effective therapeutic strategy for PHEO. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Side effects of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough].
Both the systemic and local reactions caused by the immunization with the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough were studied. Side-effects, 48 hours after the vaccination were determined in 730 children between the ages of two months and five years and 11 months. Over 13% of the children were free from side-effects. Eighty-seven percent of the children immunized showed the following side-effects in percentages of frequency: fever, 66.0%; malaise, 37.8%; loss of appetite, 25.0%; sleep disorders, 20.4%; vomiting, 7.9%; and continuous crying, 7.6%. With respect to local disturbances: pain, 41.6%; reddening, 28.0% and subcutaneous nodules, 20.1%. None of the children had convulsions, hypotonic episodes or immediate neurological damage. Two types of DTP vaccines, one from the Connaught (Canadian) Laboratory and another from the National Institute of Hygiene (Venezuelan) were used. No significant differences were found in the appearance of the side-effects between the both, except for localized pain (P less than 0.01) with the national vaccine. The results obtained in relation to age and the number of doses were: there was a significant increase of localized pain as ages increased (P less than 0.01). There were significantly greater number of localized pain and subcutaneous nodules with greater numbers of doses (P less than 0.01). | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Reversion of temperature sensitive transformation mutants of Rous sarcoma virus and its effect on the expression of tumour specific surface antigen.
Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) mutants, which bear temperature sensitive (ts) defects in both the maintenance of cell transformation and the expression of tumour specific cell surface antigen(s) (TSSA), have yielded a number of revertants. In seven revertants studied, the acquisition of wild type transforming capacities is always accompanied by a wild type TSSA expression. This strongly indicates that transformation and TSSA expression in RSV are affected by the same mutation. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Renal damage following transplantations of heterologous placental tissue.
Immunological interrelations between placenta and kidney have become a matter of interest with regard to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Kidney morphology of Lewis rats was studied following repeated transplantations of heterologous or syngeneic placental tissue. In most of the heterologous placenta-recipient animals, diffuse severe glomerular lesions were found, similar to those seen in women with preeclampsia. In the strongly responding recipients, endothelial cell swelling, narrowing of capillary lumina and proliferation of mesangial matrix were observed. Patchy areas of fluorescence associated with dense IgG deposition, as well as fibrin deposits demonstrated in the affected glomeruli, were correlated with histologic changes. The use of syngeneic placenta as a transplant did not cause histological or immunohistological changes. These findings support the view that differences in histocompatibility antigens between mother and fetus may be involved in the pathogenesis of the nephropathy in preeclampsia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Differential expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAM), neural CAM and epithelial cadherin in ependymomas and choroid plexus tumors.
A series of frozen specimens of 18 ependymomas and 7 choroid plexus tumors were examined for their expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), its polysialylated isoforms (PSA NCAM), and epithelial (E-) cadherin, and of intermediate filament proteins, such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and cytokeratin, using various monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. Normal choroid plexus and ependyma were taken as controls. Anti-E-cadherin immunoreactivity was observed on the basolateral part of most adult choroid plexus and benign choroid plexus papilloma cells. However, a small number of atypical papillomas and carcinoma cells showed anti- E-cadherin immunoreactivity throughout their cell surface membrane. NCAM were not expressed by adult choroid plexus and benign papilloma cells. Only a few cells expressed NCAM and PSA NCAM in developing choroid plexus, atypical papillomas and carcinomas. Cytokeratin expression was always observed in choroid plexus and their tumors; GFAP expression was variable from case to case. In contrast, ependymal cells and their tumors never expressed E-cadherin but strongly expressed NCAM. PSA NCAM was found in ependymomas exhibiting anaplastic features. All ependymomas strongly expressed GFAP and a few demonstrated slight expression of cytokeratin. These data suggest that, besides GFAP and cytokeratin, NCAM and E-cadherin are of potential diagnostic value in distinguishing choroid plexus tumors from ependymomas. E-cadherin and NCAM may play a role in the functional organization of normal choroid plexus and ependyma, respectively. In particular, incomplete or irregular anti-E-cadherin expression in choroid plexus tumors and PSA NCAM immunoreativity in ependymomas and choroid plexus tumors correlates with the emergence of anaplastic histological features. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Hypothermia and Alzheimer's disease neuropathogenic pathways.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains a major health problem, and accounts for 50 to 60% of all cases of dementia. The two histopathological hallmarks of AD are senile plaques, composed of the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ), and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles composed of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Only a small proportion of AD is due to mutations in the genome of patients, the large majority of cases being of late onset and sporadic in origin. The relative contribution of genetics and environment to the sporadic cases is unclear, but they are accepted to be of multifactorial origin. This means that genetic and environmental factors can interact together to induce or accelerate the disease. Among environmental factors, studies suggest that hypothermia may contribute to the development and exacerbation AD. Here, we review the preclinical data involving hypothermia with tau and Aβ, as well as clinical evidence implicating hypothermia in the development of AD. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Margin Integrity of Conservative Composite Restorations after Resin Infiltration of Demineralized Enamel.
To investigate the influence of pretreating demineralized enamel with a caries infiltrant on the margin integrity of Class V composite restorations bonded with different adhesives. A total of 60 specimens from bovine incisors were demineralized (21 days, acid buffer, pH 4.95) to create artificial enamel lesions, and circular Class V cavities were prepared. Cavities of half of the specimens were treated with either an unfilled etch-and-rinse adhesive (Syntac Classic; Ivoclar Vivadent), a filled etch-and-rinse adhesive (Optibond FL; Kerr), or a self-etch adhesive (iBond Self Etch; Heraeus Kulzer) (n = 10 per group). Demineralized enamel of the other half of the specimens was pretreated with a caries infiltrant (Icon; DMG) prior to adhesive application. All cavities were restored with a nanofilled composite material and thermocycled (5000×, 5°C-55°C). Margin integrity was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, and the percentage of continuous margin was statistically analyzed (p < 0.05). The significantly highest margin integrity was observed for Optibond FL, whether or not demineralized enamel was pretreated with the infiltrant. Pretreatment of demineralized enamel with the infiltrant resulted in a significant increase in margin integrity when the unfilled etch-and-rinse adhesive (Syntac Classic) or the self-etch adhesive (iBond Self Etch) was subsequently applied, but showed no significant improvement in combination with the filled etch-and-rinse adhesive (Optibond FL). Application of a caries infiltrant can improve margin integrity of composite fillings in demineralized enamel when used in combination with the examined self-etch and unfilled adhesives. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Identification and characterization of a novel natural recombinant avian leucosis virus from Chinese indigenous chicken flock.
Avian leukosis virus (ALV) caused tremendous economic losses to poultry industry all over the world, especially in China. One natural recombinant ALV strain, designated as HB2015032, was isolated from indigenous chickens with neoplastic diseases in Hubei, China. The complete proviral genome of HB2015032 is 7703 bp in length. Sequence analysis showed that the Env of HB2015032 exhibited 99.3% similarity with that of a ALV subgroup K (ALV-K) isolate JS11C1 at amino acid level. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that both gp85 and gp37 of HB2015032 were clustered in the same branch with JS11C1 and other ALV-K strains isolated from Chinese indigenous chickens in recent years. However, the pol gene, the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR), and the 3' long terminal repeat (3' LTR) of HB2015032 were more closely related to ALV-J prototype HPRS-103, and clustered in the same branch with ALV-J strains. Furthermore, the pol gene of HB2015032 contained a premature stop codon that resulted in a truncated Pol protein with 22 amino acid residues missing, which was a unique feature of the pol gene of ALV-J. 3'UTR of HB2015032 containing entire DR1, E element and U3. E element of HB2015032 contained one base deletion, which resulted in a c-Ets-1 binding site. In addition, U3 region of HB2015032 contains most of the transcription regulatory elements of ALV-J, including two CAAT boxes, Y boxes, CArG boxes, PRE boxes, NFAP-1 boxes, and one TATA box. These results suggest that isolate HB2015032 was a novel recombinant ALV-K containing the ALV-K env gene and the ALV-J backbone and exhibiting high pathogenicity. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Precut sphincterotomy: indications, pitfalls, and complications.
Precut sphincterotomy is a technique employed to gain access to the common bile duct (CBD) when standard methods using catheters, cannulatomes, and guidewires have failed. It is particularly useful in cases of distal biliary strictures or distal impacted stones and in patients with Billroth II gastrectomies who require papillotomy. It significantly improves the overall success rate of CBD access. This technique should only be used, however, when a therapeutic maneuver is anticipated, and it has no place in diagnostic imaging. In the hands of experienced, skillful endoscopists, the complication rate is comparable with that of standard sphincterotomy. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Characteristics of Cytomegalovirus Uveitis in Immunocompetent Patients.
To present the clinical characteristics of patients with anterior uveitis who had evidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection on polymerase chain reaction PCR-based assays for viral DNA in aqueous samples. This was a retrospective observational case series of 16 patients with CMV infection on qualitative polymerase chain reaction PCR-based assays for viral DNA in aqueous samples. Case records of 16 patients were reviewed and relevant clinical information was collected using a standardized data sheet. There were 10 male and 6 female patients, with 16 eyes included. The median age at the first attack was 52 years (range 27-77 years). Thirteen patients (81.3%) presented with an initial BCVA of 20/40 or better. Eleven eyes (68.8%) had anterior chamber inflammation of 1+ cells or less. Eight eyes (50.0%) had concomitant sectoral iris atrophy, while 2 eyes were noted to have heterochromic irides. Eleven patients (68.8%) presented with an elevated intraocular pressure. Seven patients (43.8%) had clinical features that led to a presumptive diagnosis of Posner-Schlossman syndrome, while 3 patients (18.8%) were initially diagnosed with Fuchs heterochromic iridocyclitis. Six patients were initially treated for uveitic glaucoma or anterior uveitis of unknown cause. There is a spectrum of clinical manifestations of CMV anterior uveitis. A high index of suspicion of a possible viral etiology, especially CMV, and subsequent accurate identification of the virus involved are fundamental to the overall therapeutic approach. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Removed antibiotic-impregnated cement spacers in two-stage revision joint arthroplasty do not show biofilm formation in vivo.
Use of antibiotic-impregnated spacers is common in the two-stage approach to treatment of periprosthetic joint infection despite the lack of information regarding in vivo performance of these implants. Antibiotic elution levels likely often fall below the minimal inhibitory concentration need to inhibit bacterial growth, raising concern that the spacers themselves may provide a potential attachment site for biofilm formation. Advanced microscopy was used in this study to evaluate the surface characteristics of antibiotic-eluting spacers collected at the time of prosthesis reimplantation from 6 patients undergoing two-stage treatment for an infected total joint arthroplasty. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal scanning microscopy of the removed spacers revealed modest fibrous matrix formation and inflammatory cells with no biofilm or bacteria detected. This study supports the continued use of antibiotic spacers in the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Stabilization of backbone-circularized protein is attained by synergistic gains in enthalpy of folded structure and entropy of unfolded structure.
Backbone circularization is an effective technique for protein stabilization. Here, we investigated the effect of a connector, an engineered segment that connects two protein termini, on the conformational stability of previously designed circularized variants of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). Heat tolerance and chemical denaturation analyses revealed that aggregation resistance and thermodynamic stability of the circularized variants were superior to those of linear G-CSF. Crystal structure and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of the most thermodynamically stable variant (C166) revealed a high number of intramolecular hydrogen bonds in both the connector region and Helix D adjacent to the connector region in the folded structure. MD simulations and theoretical calculations involving different force fields indicated a reduction in the main chain entropy of C166 in the unfolded state and increase in the intramolecular hydrogen bond energy of C166 in the folded structure. Although backbone circularization is usually considered to alter chain entropy of the unfolded state, the data indicated that it could also improve the conformational enthalpy of the folded state. Further structural examination of the connector region confirmed that protein design based on a statistical analysis of local structures is an effective approach for predicting an optimum connector length to improve the conformational stability of backbone-circularized proteins. Protein design using backbone circularization with an optimum connector length will be useful for the development of effective and safe protein therapeutics. DATABASE: Structural data are available in Protein Data Bank under the accession number 5ZO6. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Association of breast vascular calcifications with low bone mass in postmenopausal women.
In developing countries, there is a deficiency of densitometers with which to screen the population for osteoporosis. Thus, strategies with which to select patients for a bone density test are desirable. To determine whether breast vascular calcifications (BVCs) may be employed to identify postmenopausal women with osteoporosis/osteopenia. This was a cross-sectional study of postmenopausal women subjected to bilateral mammography and bone densitometry (DXA) of the spine and hip. A medical interview registered possible confounding factors, such as age, length of menopause, previous use of postmenopausal hormone therapy, family history of osteoporosis, smoking, alcoholism, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and medication use. The study included 211 postmenopausal women aged 62.1 ± 9.3 years, 38 of whom (18.0%) exhibited BVC. Osteoporosis was detected in 36 (17.1%), and a T-score < 21.0 for any site was found in 164 (77.7%). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups without BVC (n = 173) and with BVC (n = 38) for the prevalence of 'osteoporosis' or 'moderate/severe osteopenia or osteoporosis' at the spine or at any other site. There was a difference between the groups in terms of age (59.0 ± 7.8 vs. 71.9 ± 8.9 years, respectively; p < 0.001), sedentary lifestyle (57.8% vs. 84.2%, respectively; p = 0.002), smoking (27.7% vs. 7.9%, respectively; p = 0.009), and high blood pressure (65.3% vs. 92.1%, respectively; p = 0.001). Logistic regression analysis confirmed the lack of statistical significance for BVC as a predictor of an osteoporosis diagnosis. Sensitivity values of BVCs to detect osteoporosis or osteopenia ranged from 17.9% to 25.0%. BVCs have been shown to be inadequate to identify postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Patient perceptions of communications on the threshold of cancer survivorship: implications for provider responses.
Although high quality professional-patient communication is recognized as fundamental to effective cancer care, less attention has been paid to developing an evidence basis for communications surrounding the stage of the cancer journey when primary cancer treatment concludes, management responsibilities shift from oncology specialist services into the generalist care domain, and the patient transitions beyond patienthood and into survivorship. Using applied qualitative methodology, we analyzed a database of multiple interviews with 14 Canadian cancer patients from a larger study of changing communication needs and preferences across the cancer trajectory. Through constant comparative analysis, we generated a thematic summary of interpretive understandings from the patient perspective of communication patterns across the transition from active treatment to survivorship. The accounts illuminate the complexities of the communication environment in which the transition to survivorship occurs. Communication gaps and misinterpretations by clinicians contributed to the confusion, insecurity, vulnerability, loss, and abandonment associated with this transition when they failed to accurately and sensitively respond to individual conditions. Despite increasing recognition of the importance of this transition, communication gaps occur in relation to attending to cues, giving prior warning, avoiding avoidance, sensitivity to context, managing relationships, surfacing anxieties, and clarifying roles and responsibilities. These findings expand upon previous reports to explain mechanisms whereby interactions between clinicians and patients may significantly shape the transitional experience and set the stage for survivorship. From the perspective of cancer survivors, the transition beyond initial treatment warrants well-informed anticipatory and supportive healthcare communications. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Visual scene effects on the somatogravic illusion.
This study attempted to determine which visual scene cues are most effective in overcoming the somatogravic illusion (SGI), a form of spatial disorientation that occurs when a shift in the resultant gravitoinertial force vector created by a sustained linear acceleration is misinterpreted as a change in pitch or bank attitude. Nine subjects were exposed to a gravitoinertial force shift of -30 degrees in the pitch plane, both with their eyes closed and while viewing computer-generated visual scenes through a wide field-of-view head-mounted display. The scenes depicted acceleration over a shoreline by means of horizon, texture, perspective, and color cues that were presented both in isolation and in various combinations. None of the scenes significantly reduced the magnitude of the SGI relative to the eyes-closed (baseline) pitch illusion, even though the textured scenes produced some linear vection. It remains to be established whether low-cost head-mounted visual displays can reliably reduce the magnitude of the SGI and other spatially disorienting illusions. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
LVV-hemorphin-4 modulates Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent pathways in the immune system by the same mechanism as in the brain.
The effect of synthetic LVV-hemorphin-4 (LVV-H4) on human blood and tonsils lymphocytes total phosphatase activity was studied by a spectrofluorimetric assay using 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (4-MUP) as a substrate. It has been established that LVV-H4 at concentrations of 10(-9) to 10(-7) M induces the inhibition of human blood (12-24%) and tonsils (42-45%) lymphocytes total phosphatase activity as 1 mM EGTA. The same peptide at concentrations of 10(-5) to 10(-4) M induces activation of human blood (48-57%) and tonsils (20-25%) lymphocytes total phosphatase activity. LVV-H4 is able to neutralize the inhibitory effect of calmodulin (CaM) antagonist and calcineurin inhibitor trifluoperazine (TFP) on human blood lymphocyte total phosphatase activity. It is suggested that a dose-dependent activation/inhibition of lymphocytes total phosphatase activity is due to activation/inhibition of lymphocyte calcineurin activity. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) it was found that LVV-H4 neutralized the inhibitory effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) and TFP on interleukin-2 (IL-2) synthesis by activated blood lymphocytes. LVV-H4 also affects the lymphocytes proliferation, suppressed in pathophysiological condition, and restores their function by enhancement of DNA synthesis, as determined by measuring of [3H] thymidine incorporation into lymphocytes. It has been proposed that CaM is an essential component in starting up the molecular mechanism of hemorphins action and that calcineurin is a key enzyme underlying the molecular mechanism of hemorphins action on the brain and immune system. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Serological and molecular diagnostic tests for canine visceral leishmaniasis in Brazilian endemic area: one out of five seronegative dogs are infected.
Euthanasia of infected dogs is one of the measures adopted in Brazil to control visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in endemic areas. To detect infected dogs, animals are screened with the rapid test DPP® Visceral Canine Leishmaniasis for detection of antibodies against K26/K39 fusion antigens of amastigotes (DPP). DPP-positives are confirmed with an immunoenzymatic assay probing soluble antigens of promastigotes (ELISA), while DPP-negatives are considered free of infection. Here, 975 dogs from an endemic region were surveyed by using DPP, ELISA and real-time PCR (qPCR) for the diagnosis of VL. When DPP-negative dogs were tested by qPCR applied in blood and lymph node aspirates, 174/887 (19·6%) were positive in at least one sample. In a second sampling using 115 cases, the DPP-negative dogs were tested by qPCR in blood, lymph node and conjunctival swab samples, and 36/79 (45·6%) were positive in at least one sample. Low-to-moderate pairwise agreement was observed between all possible pair of tests. In conclusion, the official diagnosis of VL in dogs in Brazilian endemic areas failed to accuse an expressive number of infected animals and the impact of the low accuracy of serological tests in the success of euthanasia-based measure for VL control need to be assessed. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Melanosis coli(author's transl)].
Melanosis coli is caused by deposits of malanin- or lipofuscin-containing pigments in the colon mucosa; it is a conspicuous sign of long standing abuse of anthrachinonic laxatives. Melanosis coli can be easily diagnosed during rectoscopy, using morphological as well as histological criteria; nevertheless this condition is often overlooked or goes unnoticed. Abuse of laxatives, which is denied or concealed rather often by patients, does however explain in many cases otherwise unexplained abdominal complaints. Four cases are reported demonstrating the diagnostic significance of colonic melanosis. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Auditory processing and high frequency audiometry in students of São Paulo].
Auditory processing and auditory sensibility to high Frequency sounds. To characterize the localization processes, temporal ordering, hearing patterns and detection of high frequency sounds, looking for possible relations between these factors. 32 hearing fourth grade students, born in city of São Paulo, were submitted to: a simplified evaluation of the auditory processing; duration pattern test; high frequency audiometry. Three (9,4%) individuals presented auditory processing disorder (APD) and in one of them there was the coexistence of lower hearing thresholds in high frequency audiometry. APD associated to an auditory sensibility loss in high frequencies should be further investigated. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Socioeconomic position and exposure to multiple environmental chemical contaminants in six European mother-child cohorts.
Human exposure to environmental chemical contaminants at critical periods of development can lead to lifelong health consequences. Traditionally, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are thought to experience higher contaminant exposures; however, this relationship may not hold for all contaminants. Using data from six European birth cohorts (1301 mother-child pairs), we determined biomarkers of exposure to 41 contaminants in biological samples from children (6-12 years) and their mothers during pregnancy, including organochlorine compounds (OCs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), metals, phthalate metabolites, phenols, and organophosphate (OP) pesticide metabolites. We analyzed these biomarkers with several socioeconomic position (SEP) indicators (maternal education, employment status and family affluence scale). Higher SEP was associated with higher concentrations of several chemicals during pregnancy, including certain PFASs, mercury, arsenic, several phenols, and OP pesticides. Similarly, childhood concentrations of OCs, PFASs, mercury, arsenic, and bisphenol A were higher in higher SEP groups. Conversely, cadmium exposure during pregnancy and exposure to lead and phthalate metabolites in childhood were higher in lower SEP. Principal components representing multiple pollutant exposures showed similar association with SEP. This study demonstrates that environmental chemical contaminant exposure during fetal and childhood life is not exclusively associated to lower SEP and that for several contaminants higher SEP groups incur higher exposure levels. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Holographic characteristics of a 1-mm-thick photopolymer to be used in holographic memories.
Poly(vinyl alcohol-acrylamide) photopolymers are materials of interest in the field of digital information storage (holographic memories). We analyzed the behavior of a 1-mm-thick photopolymer. Using a standard holographic setup, we recorded unslanted diffraction gratings. The material has high angular selectivity (0.4 degrees), good sensitivity (88 mJ/cm2), and small losses caused by absorption and scattering of light. It also has a high maximum diffraction efficiency (70%). A significant induction period was seen in the material. The authors hypothesize that, during most of this induction period, polymerization does in fact take place but is not reflected in the appearance of the diffracted light until a certain threshold value of exposure is reached. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Towards a scalable, open-standards service for brokering cross-protocol data transfers across multiple sources and sinks.
Data Transfer Service (DTS) is an open-source project that is developing a document-centric message model for describing a bulk data transfer activity, with an accompanying set of loosely coupled and platform-independent components for brokering the transfer of data between a wide range of (potentially incompatible) storage resources as scheduled, fault-tolerant batch jobs. The architecture scales from small embedded deployments on a single computer to large distributed deployments through an expandable 'worker-node pool' controlled through message-orientated middleware. Data access and transfer efficiency are maximized through the strategic placement of worker nodes at or between particular data sources/sinks. The design is inherently asynchronous, and, when third-party transfer is not available, it side-steps the bandwidth, concurrency and scalability limitations associated with buffering bytes directly through intermediary client applications. It aims to address geographical-topological deployment concerns by allowing service hosting to be either centralized (as part of a shared service) or confined to a single institution or domain. Established design patterns and open-source components are coupled with a proposal for a document-centric and open-standards-based messaging protocol. As part of the development of the message protocol, a bulk data copy activity document is proposed for the first time. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Surgical treatment of eyelid tumors].
Eyelid tumors are often periocular skin lesions but can also be derived from adnexal structures or the conjunctiva. Treatment is primarily surgical, especially for malignant tumors, whereby complete excision is strived for to minimize the local rate of recurrence. Adjuvant therapy and conservative alternative methods (e.g. radiotherapy, cryotherapy and immunomodulation) are reserved for specific cases. The main goal for reconstruction of the eyelids is the functional and aesthetic rehabilitation. This article focuses on the principles and underlying techniques for the reconstruction of the periocular region. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Rapid detection and isolation of mycoplasmas from cell cultures.
An improved medium for the isolation of Mycoplasma species from contaminated cell cultures is reported. A modification of the mycoplasma detection method using the uridine/uracil uptake ratio method is described. Results obtained using this method with mycoplasma contaminated cell cultures and with contaminated cell cultures treated with the antibiotic Lincomycin are presented. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Antinociceptive and hypnotic properties of Celastrus orbiculatus.
Celastrus orbiculatus, a woody vine of the Celastraceae family, has been widely used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of many diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and odontalgia. In this study, we assessed the sedative and antinociceptive activities of the methanolic extract of Celastrus orbiculatus (MCO). The antinociceptive effect of MCO was evaluated using several experimental pain models, including thermal nociception methods, such as the tail immersion and the hotplate tests, as well as chemical nociception induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid and subplantar formalin administration in mice. To verify the possible connection of the opioid receptor to the antinociceptive activity of MCO, we performed a combination test with naloxone, a nonselective opioid receptor antagonist. The sedative effect of MCO was studied using the pentobarbital-induced sleeping model. MCO demonstrated strong and dose-dependent antinociceptive activity compared to tramadol and indomethacin in various experimental pain models. The combination test using naloxone revealed that the antinociceptive activity of MCO is associated with activation of the opioid receptor. MCO also caused decreased sleep latency and increased sleeping time in the pentobarbital-induced sleeping model; however, MCO alone did not induce sleep. In the present study, MCO showed potent antinociceptive and sedative activities. Based on these results, MCO may be considered a valuable anti-nociceptive and hypnotic agent for the treatment of various diseases. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Quality of life among Brazilian children with epilepsy: validation of a parent proxy instrument (QVCE-50).
To analyze the validity and reliability of an epilepsy specific health related quality of life (HRQL) instrument (QVCE-50), constructed for Brazilians. The QVCE-50 comprises the following domains: physical (9 items), psychological (18 items), social/familial (7 items), and cognitive/educational (16 items). Items were scored on a four point scale. Domains were equally weighted using percent scores. The questionnaire ends with a quality of life scale scored 0-10 and a space for free observations. A total of 77 children with epilepsy were consecutively seen in a neuropaediatric ambulatory unit. Parents or caregivers responded to the QVCE-50 and a Portuguese version of ICIS (Impact of Childhood Illness Scale). QVCE-50 was analyzed for internal consistency, reliability, content and concurrent validity. Clinical and socio-demographic variables were also analyzed. Socio-demographic and clinical variables that differed in at least one domain were age, sex, time since diagnosis, epilepsy family history, and antiepileptic drug used. Internal consistency, analyzed by Cronbach's alpha, showed good results for total and domain scores: physical (0.68), psychological (0.86), socio-familiar (0.70) and cognitive-educational (0.91). Total scores on the QVCE-50 and ICIS are inversely correlated (Pearson's r=-0.74, p<0.0001). The Intraclass Correlation Coefficients for test-retest reliability were acceptable: physical (0.51), psychological (0.62), socio-familiar (0.66), cognitive-educational (0.85) and total (0.77), p<0.0001. QVCE-50 has good psychometric properties. It is a useful tool for analyzing HRQL in children with epilepsy for Portuguese speakers, especially Brazilians. Other properties should be further tested, such as responsiveness to drug and surgical treatment, capacity of distinguishing among seizure control categories and etiology (with a larger sample) and impact of psychiatric and cognitive co-morbidities. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Femoral nerve neuropathy following the psoas hitch procedure.
To present two cases of femoral nerve neuropathy following a psoas hitch procedure performed during Leadbetter-Politano ureteric reimplantation, and emphasize the importance of this rare complication. Two 2-year-old boys with complex urological histories underwent Leadbetter-Politano ureteric reimplantations with a psoas hitch using non-absorbable sutures independently in Turkey and the UK. Postoperatively both developed a femoral nerve palsy, which required re-exploration and removal of the sutures. In the first case the femoral nerve was not identified, but in the second case re-exploration revealed the femoral nerve stretched by the nearby suture. Both boys made a full recovery from their neuropraxia. These two cases illustrate the potential for nerve involvement with the psoas hitch manoeuvre, and the importance of early recognition of this complication. It is recommended that if a psoas hitch procedure is performed great care should be taken to identify the nerves, and if none are seen then the sutures are placed superficially into the belly of the muscle as the nerves may be sited deeper within it. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Analysis of correlation coefficient filtering in elasticity imaging.
Correlation-based speckle tracking methods are commonly used in elasticity imaging to estimate displacements. In the presence of local strain, a larger window size results in larger displacement error. To reduce tracking error, we proposed a short correlation window followed by a correlation coefficient filter. Although simulation and experimental results demonstrated the efficacy of the method, it was not clear why correlation coefficient filtering reduces tracking error since tracking error increases if normalization before filtering is not applied. In this paper, we analyzed tracking errors by estimating phase variances of the cross-correlation function and the correlation coefficient at the true time lag based on statistical properties of these functions' real and imaginary parts. The role of normalization is clarified by identifying the effect of the cross-correlation function's amplitude fluctuation on the function's imaginary part. Furthermore, we present analytic forms for predicting axial displacement error as a function of strain, system parameters (signal-to-noise ratio, center frequency, and signal and noise bandwidths), and tracking parameters (window and filter sizes) for cases with and without normalization before filtering. Simulation results correspond to theory well for both noise-free cases and general cases with an empirical correction term included for strains up to 4%. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Outfielders playing in the infield: functions of aging-associated "nuclear" proteins in the mitochondria.
Over the past few years it has become clear that mitochondria are not merely the powerhouses of cells. Proteome-analyses of mitochondria from different organisms and organs revealed that more than 1000 proteins are localized in and/or on mitochondria. This by far exceeds the number of proteins required for classical mitochondrial functions, e.g. the respiratory chain, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, fatty acid oxidation and apoptosis. This suggests that many of these proteins have other, as yet unknown functions. Several proteins with well-described nuclear functions, like the transcription factor FoxO3A or the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase, have recently been shown to be localized also within the mitochondria. This mini-review will focus on the description of the functions of these two proteins in the nucleus and in the mitochondria - as two examples of many more proteins, which are yet to be uncovered. It will give insights into the role of these proteins within different organelles of the cell and will reveal that the functions of the proteins are probably not the same in the nucleus and the mitochondria. Therefore, these differences have to be considered when targeting proteins for therapeutic approaches. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Detection of intrauterine viral infection using the polymerase chain reaction.
Intrauterine viral infection commonly presents as nonimmune hydrops fetalis or intrauterine growth restriction. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and parvovirus are commonly recognized causes of fetal infection using serology and cultures. We used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate the frequency of fetal viral infection and the associated clinical course and outcome. Specimens (amniotic fluid, fetal blood, pleural fluid, tissue) from 303 abnormal pregnancies at risk for viral infection and 154 controls were analyzed using primers for CMV, herpes simplex virus, parvovirus B19, adenovirus, enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Viral genome was detected in 144/371 samples (39%) or 124/303 patients (41%), with adenovirus (n = 74 patients; 24%), CMV (n = 30 patients; 10%), and enterovirus (n = 22 patients; 7%) most common. Only 4/154 (2.6%), unaffected control patients' samples were PCR positive. We conclude that diagnosis of fetal viral infection by PCR is common in abnormal pregnancies. Adenovirus and enterovirus may cause fetal infection that have been previously unrecognized. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Annotated checklist of the living sharks, batoids and chimaeras (Chondrichthyes) of the world, with a focus on biogeographical diversity.
An annotated checklist of the chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, batoids and chimaeras) of the world is presented. As of 7 November 2015, the number of species totals 1188, comprising 16 orders, 61 families and 199 genera. The checklist includes nine orders, 34 families, 105 genera and 509 species of sharks; six orders, 24 families, 88 genera and 630 species of batoids (skates and rays); one order, three families, six genera and 49 species of holocephalans (chimaeras). The most speciose shark orders are the Carcharhiniformes with 284 species, followed by the Squaliformes with 119. The most species-rich batoid orders are the Rajiformes with 285 species and the Myliobatiformes with 210. This checklist represents the first global checklist of chondrichthyans to include information on maximum size, geographic and depth distributions, as well as comments on taxonomically problematic species and recent and regularly overlooked synonymizations. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the biogeographical diversity of the species across 10 major areas of occurrence is given, including updated figures for previously published hotspots of chondrichthyan biodiversity, providing the detailed numbers of chondrichthyan species per major area, and revealing centres of distribution for several taxa. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
PI3K/PTEN/AKT Genetic Mouse Models of Endometrial Carcinoma.
The PI3K/PTEN/AKT pathway is the most frequently mutated pathway in endometrial carcinoma. Mouse models are invaluable tools to understand, at the molecular level, the contributions of components of this pathway towards initiation and progression of endometrial carcinoma. This chapter summarizes results of germline and tissue specific knockout mouse models generated to understand how mutations in components of this pathway lead to development of carcinoma and its interactions with other frequently altered pathways like mismatch repair and estrogen signaling. The mouse models show that loss of both alleles of Pten is necessary and sufficient for complex atypical hyperplasia (CAH) to develop but insufficient for progression to carcinoma. Additional events like mutations in Pik3ca or mismatch repair deficiency are required for progression to carcinoma. The models show that the interaction between Pten and estrogen signaling is complex. In the absence of estrogen, Pten loss is sufficient for development of CAH. Additionally, lack of ERα on a background of Pten loss leads to the development of carcinoma. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Preferences of cardiologists and clinical geneticists for the future organization of genetic care in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a survey.
In view of the increasing demands for genetic counselling and DNA diagnostics in cardiogenetics, the roles of cardiologists and clinical geneticists in the delivery of care need to be redefined. We investigated the preferences of both groups of professionals with regard to the future allocation of six cardiogenetic responsibilities in counselling and testing, using hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) as a prevalent model disease. In this cross-sectional survey, the participants were Dutch cardiologists (n = 643) and clinical geneticists (n = 60), all members of professional societies. Response rates were 33 and 82%, respectively. In both groups, the majority preferred to perform most of the tasks described above in collaboration. Informing HCM patients about the genetics of HCM and requesting DNA testing in symptomatic patients was viewed by 43 and 35% of cardiologists, respectively, as their sole responsibility, however, and 39 and 59% of clinical geneticists did not object to these views. Both groups felt that the task of discussing the consequences of HCM for offspring and that of discussing the results of DNA diagnostics should be shared or performed by clinical geneticists. Both groups considered co-ordination of family screening the sole responsibility of clinical geneticists. Opinions on who should request DNA diagnostics in asymptomatic relatives were divided: 86% of clinical geneticists considered it their exclusive responsibility, 10% of cardiologists believed that this task could be performed individually by either group and 30% preferred to collaborate. Most professionals said that they would appreciate education programmes and clinical guidelines. Both cardiologists and clinical geneticists prefer to share rather than divide most cardiogenetic responsibilities in caring for HCM patients. Consequently, capacity problems in both groups are to be expected. To safeguard current professional standards in genetic counselling and testing, deployment of non-medical personnel might be essential. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Identification and characterization of a late AH1N2 human reassortant in France during the 2002-2003 influenza season.
We have previously shown a clear differential genetic evolution of the hemagglutinin (HA) of human AH1N1 and AH1N2 viruses, isolated in southern France between 2001 and 2004. However, our analysis revealed that one single AH1N2 isolate, detected in 2003 (A/Lyon/0838/2003), had its HA clustering within the HAs of the AH1N1 subtypes. To determine if this virus was a new reassortant, the nucleotide sequences of its eight RNA gene segments were compared with those of five representative strains of the AH1N1, AH1N2 and AH3N2 viruses, isolated during the same time-period. According to the sequences obtained, the neuraminidase (NA) gene segment of the A/Lyon/0838/2003 (H1N2) virus was genetically closely related to those of the AH1N2 viruses, whereas the six internal genes appeared to be clustering with those of the AH1N1 viruses. This suggested that the A/Lyon/0838/2003 (H1N2) virus was the result of a second reassortment event that had occurred during the winter of 2002-2003; the N2 gene segment of an AH1N2 virus being introduced into an AH1N1 genetic background. Subsequently, we analysed the extremities of each gene segment of the viruses from the different subtypes, and experimentally reproduced, in vitro, AH1N2 reassortant viruses through co-infection of Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells with both AH1N1 and AH1N2 viruses, isolated in the 2002-2003 influenza season. While the comparison of the AH1N1 and the AH1N2 gene segment extremities revealed no major differences, we successfully reproduced an AH1N2 reassortant virus similar to the A/Lyon/0838/2003 (H1N2) virus. This result provided an experimental evidence of the compatibility between their respective surface H1 and N2 glycoproteins, and suggests that similar events may occur silently amongst human subtypes. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Multifactorial resistance to 5,10-dideazatetrahydrofolic acid in cell lines derived from human lymphoblastic leukemia CCRF-CEM.
5,10-dideaza-5,6,7,8-terrahydrofolic acid (DDATHF) is a potent antiproliferative agent in cell culture systems and in vivo in a number of murine and human xenograft tumors. In contrast to classical antifolates, which are dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, DDATHF primarily inhibits GAR transformylase, the first folate-dependent enzyme along the pathway of de novo purine biosynthesis. The (6R) diastereomer of DDATHF (Lometrexol), currently undergoing clinical investigation, was used to develop CCRF-CEM human leukemia sublines resistant to increasing concentrations of the drug. Three cell lines were selected for ability to grow in medium containing 0.1 microM, 1.0 microM, and 10 microM of (6R)DDATHF, respectively. Impaired polyglutamylation was identified as a common mechanism of resistance in all three cell lines. A progressive decrease in the level of polyglutamylation was associated with diminished folylpolyglutamate synthetase activity and paralleled increasing levels of resistance to the drug. However, the expression of folylpolyglutamate synthetase RNA was not altered in the resistant cell lines compared to the parent cells. The most resistant cell subline also displayed an increased activity of gamma-glutamyl hydrolase. The sublines were scrutinized for other possible mechanisms of resistance. No alterations in drug transport or in purine economy were found. Modest increases were found in the activity of methylene tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase but no alterations of other folate-dependent enzymes were observed. Increases in accumulation and conversion of folic acid to reduced forms, particularly 10-formyltetrahydrofolate, was also seen. The resistant cell lines were sensitive to dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors, methotrexate and trimetrexate, for a 72-h exposure period but showed cross-resistance to methotrexate for 4 and 24 h exposures. Cross-resistance was also shown toward other deazafolate analogues for both short- and long-term exposures. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Psychometric assessment of the patient activation measure short form (PAM-13) in rural settings.
The patient activation measure short form (PAM-13) assesses patients' self-reported health management skills, knowledge, confidence, and motivation. We used item response theory to evaluate the psychometric properties of the PAM-13 utilized in rural settings. A Rasch partial credit model analysis was conducted on the PAM-13 instrument using a sample of 812 rural patients recruited by providers and our research staff. Specially, we examined dimensionality, item fit, and quality of measures, category response curves, and item differential functioning. Convergent and divergent validities were also examined. The PAM-13 instrument has excellent convergent and divergent validities. It is fairly unidimensional, and all items fit the Rasch model well. It has relatively high person and item reliability indices. Majority of the items were free of item differential functioning. There were, however, some issues with ceiling effects. Additionally, there was a lack of responses for category one across all items. Patient activation measure short form (PAM-13) performs well in some areas, but not all. In general, more items need to be added to cover the upper end of the trait. The four response categories of PAM-13 should be collapsed into three. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Minimal noise subsystems.
A system subjected to noise contains a decoherence-free subspace or subsystem (DFS) only if the noise possesses an exact symmetry. Here we consider noise models in which a perturbation breaks a symmetry of the noise, so that if S is a DFS under a given noise process it is no longer so under the new perturbed noise process. We ask whether there is a subspace or subsystem that is more robust to the perturbed noise than S. To answer this question we develop a numerical method that allows us to search for subspaces or subsystems that are maximally robust to arbitrary noise processes. We apply this method to a number of examples, and find that a subsystem that is a DFS is often not the subsystem that experiences minimal noise when the symmetry of the noise is broken by a perturbation. We discuss which classes of noise have this property. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Surveillance of HIV type 1 recent infection and molecular epidemiology among different risk behaviors between 2007 and 2009 after the HIV type 1 CRF07_BC outbreak in Taiwan.
The objective of this study was to analyze recent infections and the molecular epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) among different risk groups since the outbreak of circulating recombinant form CRF07_BC among intravenous drug users (IDUs) in 2004 in Taiwan. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the env and pol fragment sequences amplified from these specimens. The BED IgG capture incidence EIA (BED-CEIA assay) was used to determine recent infections. Among the 683 HIV-1-positive individuals enrolled between 2007 and 2009, 394 (57.7%) were subtype B, 260 (38.1%) were CRF07_BC, 26 (3.8%) were CRF01_AE, two (0.3%) were CRF08_BC, and one (0.1%) was CRF06_cpx. While the percentage of CRF07_BC decreased (58.5-17.9%, p < 0.001) from 2007 to 2009, the percentage of subtype B increased (37.6% to 74.9%, p < 0.001). A concordant decrease in the proportion of recent infections to new infections among IDUs (63.6% to 9.8%, p < 0.001), accompanied with an increase of the proportion of recent infections in MSM (men having sex with men) (22.4-67.1%, p = 0.77) and heterosexual groups (13.1- 23.2%, p = 0.852), was observed. The decrease in CRF07_BC infections and the reduction in the proportion of recent infections among IDUs reflected the success of harm reduction strategies initiated by the government in 2005. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
Addressing the challenge of neonatal mortality.
Reducing neonatal mortality remains a challenge with an estimated 3.0 million neonatal deaths in 2011, three-quarters of these in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. The leading causes of neonatal death globally are complications of preterm birth, intrapartum-related causes and infections. While post-neonatal, under-5 deaths fell by 47% between 1990 and 2011, neonatal deaths only fell by 32% and they now account for 43% of all under-5 child deaths. This article reviews the progress in reducing neonatal deaths in high-burden countries and presents an overview of known effective interventions to reduce neonatal mortality and the challenges faced in implementing these in high-burden settings. Effective action is possible to reduce neonatal mortality, but innovative approaches to implementation will be required if these preventable deaths are to be avoided. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
[Dynamic expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 8 in rat cervix].
To elucidate the relationship between collagen degradation and cervical ripening by detecting dynamic expressions of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 8 (MMP-8) in rat cervix. SPF rats were divided into 5 groups (n=6), namely non-pregnancy estrus interval group, gestational days 10, 16, and 19 groups, and immediately postpartum group. The wet weight of the cervix was measured and HE staining was used to display the general structure of the cervix. VG staining was applied to visualize the collagen fibers and muscular fibers. Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-8 in the cervix. HE staining showed that the rat uterine cervix consisted mainly of fibroblasts and fibrous connective tissues. A small quantity of neutrophils could be seen in the cervix stroma of the rats immediately after immediately parturition, but not at the other time points. The wet weight of the antepartum cervix had increased, and a more obvious increase was seen in the wet weight of the cervix immediately after parturition. The collagen fibers of the cervix consisted of collagen fibers and smooth muscle fibers, and their proportions showed no significant variation at the time points around the parturition. Immediately after parturition, the collagen fibers and muscular fibers in the cervix became loosened as compared with that before parturition. MMP-2 expression was found in the cervical stroma but not in the squamous epithelium in nonpregnancy, term pregnancy, and immediately after parturition; the smooth muscle cells, vascular wall, and stromal fibroblasts showed positive expression of MMP-2. Enhanced intensity of MMP-2 staining was seen in term pregnancy and postpartum group in comparison with that in the other groups. MMP-8 expression was observed in the cervix of rats immediately after parturition, with scattered neutrophils positive for MMP-8 spotted in the stroma of the ripened cervix. MMP-8 expression was not detected in the other groups. Ripened cervical fibrous tissue becomes loose and broken, and cervical ripening is accompanied by infiltration of neutrophils from exogenous vessels. These changes are particularly evident after parturition. MMP-2 and MMP-8 cooperate to degrade the cervical fibers, leading to cervical softening and expansion. | {
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
} |
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