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Nuclear delivery of p53 C-terminal peptides into cancer cells using scFv fragments of a monoclonal antibody that penetrates living cells.
scFv fragments of a monoclonal antibody that penetrates living cells and localizes in nuclei were designed as fusion proteins with C-terminal p53 peptides and tested for restoring p53 function in p53 mutant cancer cells. scFv fragments transported a 30-mer C-terminal peptide of p53 into cancer cells and induced cellular cytotoxicity in contrast to scFv fragments alone and other scFv-p53 fusion peptides. Cellular toxicity was not observed with scFv fragments containing a single mutation in VH that prevented antibody penetration. Our results demonstrate the potential efficacy of antibody scFv fragments as a nuclear delivery system in cancer cells.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Micellar crystallization with a hysteresis in temperature.
We have investigated the phase diagram of the triblock copolymer P123 solved in water by viscosity measurements for different concentrations and temperatures. The structures of the different phases were identified by surface sensitive neutron diffraction. We find a pronounced hysteresis between heating and cooling. During heating, a highly viscous crystalline fcc phase is found before melting occurs at 44 °C with a simultaneous drop in viscosity. Upon cooling, first a hexagonal phase with low viscosity develops followed by a highly viscous fcc phase. Phase diagrams for the heating and cooling cycle for different concentrations are provided. The hysteric behavior is discussed in relation to the shape of the micelles.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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In vivo detection of mutations induced by aflatoxin B1 using human CYP3A7/HITEC hybrid mice.
CYP3A7-M10 mouse is a transgenic mouse carrying human CYP3A7 cDNA, in which CYP3A7 is expressed in the small intestine but not in the kidney. HITEC mouse is a transgenic mouse developed to detect mutagenic potency of various chemicals in vivo. The M10/HITEC mouse was established by crossmating of these two strains of mice. When a 9,000 x g supernatant fraction prepared from the small intestine was added to an incubation mixture for Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium TA98 strain to examine the mutagen-producing activity from aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the mutagen-producing activities of the 9, 000 x g supernatant fraction from the small intestine was found to be 1.7-fold higher in the M10/HITEC mice than in HITEC mice. Such a difference in the capacity to activate AFB1 was not seen with the 9, 000 x g supernatant fraction from the kidney from both strains of mice. Male M10/HITEC mice of 8 weeks old were treated with a single i.p. injection of AFB1 ( 8 mg/kg body weight). The mutation of the introduced rpsL gene in the genomic DNA from the small intestine and the kidney was analyzed. The mutation frequency in the small intestine of M10/HITEC mice was significantly higher (p<0.05) than that of HITEC mice, while the mutation frequency in both strains was similar in the kidney. These results provide the first evidence for the toxicological function of CYP3A7 in vivo.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Peering into the literature: A systematic review of the roles of people who inject drugs in harm reduction initiatives.
People who inject drugs have been central to the development of harm reduction initiatives. Referred to as peer workers, peer helpers, or natural helpers, people with lived experience of drug use leverage their personal knowledge and skills to deliver harm reduction services. Addressing a gap in the literature, this systematic review focuses on the roles of people who inject drugs in harm reduction initiatives, how programs are organized, and obstacles and facilitators to engaging people with lived experience in harm reduction programs, in order to inform practice and future research. This systematic review included searches for both peer reviewed and gray literature. All titles and abstracts were screened by two reviewers. A structured data extraction tool was developed and utilized to systematically code information concerning peer roles and participation, program characteristics, obstacles, and facilitators. On the basis of specific inclusion criteria 164 documents were selected, with 127 peer-reviewed and 37 gray literature references. Data extraction identified key harm reduction program characteristics and forms of participation including 36 peer roles grouped into five categories, as well as obstacles and facilitators at systemic, organizational, and individual levels. Research on harm reduction programs that involve people with lived experience can help us better understand these approaches and demonstrate their value. Current evidence provides good descriptive content but the field lacks agreed-upon approaches to documenting the ways peer workers contribute to harm reduction initiatives. Implications and ten strategies to better support peer involvement in harm reduction programs are identified.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia and Ollier's disease: combined transfrontal and transfacial resection using the nasal-cheek flap.
Fibrous dysplasia and Ollier's disease (skeletal chondromatosis) are bone lesions that result from disorders occurring during ossification. Here we report on a patient suffering from Ollier's disease in whom polyostotic fibrous dysplasia was detected. The main problem for this 20-year-old man was a nasoethmoidorbital cartilaginous mass causing nasal obstruction, nonreducible eye proptosis, and sleep apnea. The lesion was approached by means of a combined route, ie, transfrontally and transfacially (nasal-cheek flap). The possible pathogenetic links existing between the two lesions and the problems involved in surgical treatment are discussed.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Mechanisms and Evidence for Heart Failure Benefits from SGLT2 Inhibitors.
To review the clinical trial data and underlying mechanistic principles in support of the robust cardiovascular (CV) benefits, in particular, heart failure (HF) outcomes association with sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. Several large CV outcome trials in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and with either established atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD) or at high risk for ASCVD reveal that SGLT2 inhibitors cause reductions in CV and HF endpoints. The reduction in ASCVD appears to be confined to those with established ASCVD on the order of ≈ 14%, as does the mortality benefit-all-cause and CV-related. However, hospitalization for HF are reduced by ≈ 33% and occur regardless of baseline patient characteristics. The unprecedented HF outcomes are theorized to occur via several possible mechanisms and include optimization of conventional ASCVD risk factors, improvement in hemodynamics, prevention of cardiac and renal remodeling, inhibition of hormone dysregulation, use of more efficient metabolic substrates, ion channel inhibition, anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-oxidant effects. Recent evidence has unveiled the irrefutable data that SGLT2 inhibitors reduce CV events in patients with T2DM, with a profound effect on reductions in hospitalization for HF. Though several mechanisms conveying this benefit are suggested, most are based in limited data requiring further validation. Nonetheless, the arrival of SGLT2 inhibitors has ushered in a new era of CV risk reductions therapies.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Treatment of a patient with severe hemorrhagic fever accompanied by infection with methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, aspergillus and mucor: a case report.
A 40-year-old Korean man developed hemorrhagic fever in Xi'an, which is one of the main endemic areas for this illness in China. According to the local epidemiological situation, his condition could have been due to hantavirus infection, but this was not confirmed. He presented with the typical symptoms of hemorrhagic fever and rapidly progressed to a severe multisystem illness. The clinical situation deteriorated rapidly after admission, and he became coinfected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, aspergillus, and mucor. The patient was successfully treated with appropriate fluid infusion, hemodynamic support, continuous renal replacement therapy, liver protectants, and antibacterials. This case indicates that the choice of antimicrobials and the required dose are crucial issues, and that the vaccination campaign for hemorrhagic fever in Xi'an needs greater attention.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The value of early SPECT/CT and hand-held γ-camera in radio-guided surgery: a case of a hard-to-locate parathyroid adenoma.
A patient with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent radio-guided surgery by means of a γ-probe and a hand-held γ-camera. Before surgery, a parathyroid double-phase planar scintigraphy and an early SPECT/CT with 99mTc-MIBI were performed and suggested an ectopic parathyroid adenoma with early washout. The hand-held γ-camera was very useful for the localization of a parathyroid adenoma, which could not be found with the probe probably due to its faint uptake and to a high blood pool activity because it was localized next to the great vessels. Besides, it demonstrated the complete extirpation of the parathyroid tissue.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Physicians perception of health insurance in Saudi Arabia.
To assess physicians views on health insurance and its implication on the health care system. We carried out a cross-sectional study in 2 major hospitals in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from January to December 2002 through self-administered questionnaires that were distributed to a total sample of 400 physicians. The instrument consisted of 28 items that focused on assessing physicians' perception towards health insurance and its effect on health services. We performed a descriptive statistics and analysis of variance using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Overall, 151 physicians (38%) completed the survey. This study clearly shows that access to health care services is a major concern; more than 94% of the respondents agree that everyone in the Kingdom should have access to healthcare services. Respondents also agree that health insurance will improve access to healthcare services for all citizens. Physicians also believed that health insurance would lead to more regulations and utilization review of services, create more competition between healthcare providers, and create new jobs in the healthcare sector. Saudi physicians reported a higher mean score for 11 items with significant p-values as compared with non-Saudi physicians. Physicians in this survey believed that accessibility is a major policy concern, and that health insurance will have a positive effect on access to the health care system. Yet, accessibility is an illusive term with many aspects that go beyond the identification of need for health care to the actual delivery of health care services and the organizational structures to match the needs of society. Cooperation as a national health system should be built on collaborative efforts rather than market competition in itself. It has been suggested that markets are stronger in the role of delivery than in the financing of health care, that markets tend to promote more expenditure on technological innovation rather than producing the most desired set of social outcomes. Cooperative health insurance can be an answer to the current problems facing the health care system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as long as it remains cooperative rather than competitive.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Do interspecies correlation estimations increase the reliability of toxicity estimates for wildlife?
For warm-blooded species, the hazardous dose of a chemical (HD50) is an upcoming and important characteristic in the assessment of toxic chemicals. Generally, experimental information is available for a limited number of warm-blooded species only, which causes statistical uncertainty. Furthermore, when small datasets contain an unrepresentative sample of species, they can cause systematic uncertainty in chemicals' hazardous doses. The number of species can be enlarged with interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) models, but these are uncertain themselves. The goal of this study is to quantify the possible gain in reliability of the HD50 values for warm-blooded wildlife species after enlargement of the sample size with ICE predictions. For 1137 chemicals, we compared systematic uncertainty and statistical uncertainty between HD50 values based on experimental data (HD50(Ex)) and on datasets combining experimental data and ICE predictions (HD50(Co)). HD50(Ex) values ranged between 1.0×10(-1) and 9.5×10(3)mgkg(wwt)(-1), and HD50(Co) values between 1.1×10(0) and 6.1×10(3)mgkg(wwt)(-1). For over 97 percent of the chemicals, HD50(Ex) values exceeded HD50(Co) values, with a systematic uncertainty (i.e. the ratio of HD50(Ex)/HD50(Co)) of typically 3.5. The limited availability of experimental toxicity data, predominantly for mammals, resulted in a systematic underestimation of the wildlife toxicity of a chemical. Statistical uncertainty factors (i.e. the ratio of the 95th/5th percentile) quantified the statistical uncertainty in the HD50 values. The statistical uncertainty factors ranged between 1.0×10(0) and 2.5×10(22) for the experimental dataset, and between 4.8×10(0) and 1.1×10(2) for the combined dataset. For all sample sizes, median statistical uncertainty factors were the largest for combined datasets. However, combining experimental toxicity data with ICE predictions makes it possible to reduce the upper limit of the range for statistical uncertainty factors. We conclude that, by combining experimental data with ICE model predictions, the validity of the HD50 value can be improved and high statistical uncertainty can be reduced, particularly in cases of limited toxicity data, i.e. data for mammals only or a sample size of n≤4.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The beneficial effects of Tai Chi Chuan on blood pressure and lipid profile and anxiety status in a randomized controlled trial.
To evaluate the effects on blood pressure, lipid profile, and anxiety status on subjects received a 12-week Tai Chi Chuan exercise program. Randomized controlled study of a Tai Chi Chuan group and a group of sedentary life controls. Taipei Medical University Hospitals and University campus in the Taipei, Taiwan, area. Two (2) selected groups of 76 healthy subjects with blood pressure at high-normal or stage I hypertension. A 12-week Tai Chi Chuan exercise training program was practiced regularly with a frequency of 3 times per week. Each session included 10-minute warm-up, 30-minute Tai Chi exercise, 10-minute cool-down. Exercise intensity was estimated to be approximately 64% of maximal heart rate. Blood pressure, lipid profile and anxiety status (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; STAI) were evaluated. After 12-weeks of Tai Chi training, the treatment group showed significant decrease in systolic blood pressure of 15.6 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure 8.8 mm Hg. The serum total cholesterol level decreased 15.2 mg/dL and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased 4.7 mg/dL. By using STAI evaluation, both trait anxiety and state anxiety were decreased. This study shows that under well-designed conditions, Tai Chi exercise training could decrease blood pressure and results in favorable lipid profile changes and improve subjects' anxiety status. Therefore, Tai Chi could be used as an alternative modality in treating patients with mild hypertension, with a promising economic effect.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Gender-based disparities East/West: rethinking the burden of care in the United States and Taiwan.
When feminist bioethicists express concerns about health-related gender disparities, they raise considerations about justice and gender that traditional bioethicists have either not raised or raised somewhat weakly. In this article, I first provide a feminist analysis of long-term healthcare by and for women in the United States and women in Taiwan. Next, I make the case that, on average, elderly US and Taiwanese women fare less well in long-term care contexts than do elderly US and Taiwanese men. Finally, I explore some suggested practical remedies to reduce gender disparities in long-term care contexts.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Descending thoracic aorta-splenic artery graft for occlusive disease of the celiac axis.
A new procedure is presented for the restoration of normal blood flow to the celiac axis in cases of orifice lesions of the celiac artery. The operation consists of inserting a graft between the descending thoracic aorta end-to-side and the divided splenic artery end-to-end.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Semi-empirical model for depth dose distributions of megavoltage x-ray beams.
The dose distribution due to absorption of photon energy fluence in a homogeneous water phantom irradiated by megavoltage x-ray beams has been analyzed with a semiempirical model. The method generalizes an analytical formalism for the scattering component of dose within a water phantom which was developed recently for monoenergetic photon beams. Contributions to dose via Compton interaction and pair creation form the essential structure of the secondary component formula. Both the central-axis percent depth dose and off-central-axis ratios can be determined for beams of different sizes, used at any value of source to surface distance. The input data include the values of linear attenuation and energy-absorption coefficients in water at energies between 10 keV and the equivalent energy of the beam. Predicted values of the central-axis percent depth dose and the off-central-axis ratios are compared with the measured data for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 20, 35, 45, and 70 MVp x-ray beams. For the central-axis percent depth dose, agreement is within 3% for fields of sizes between 5 X 5 and 20 X 20 cm2, and 5% for larger fields, for beams of MVp up to 20. For higher energy beams, comparison was made only for the 10 X 10 cm2 fields and the discrepancies were within 3%. For the off-central-axis ratios, agreement between the predicted and measured values is within 5% over the umbra region but worsens in the penumbra region and geometrical shadow. This formalism requires large computer storage for generating data for all realistic beams irradiating normal-size phantoms.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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LATS2 inhibits the activity of NF-κ B signaling by disrupting the interaction between TAK1 and IKKβ.
NF-κB signaling plays very important role in the tumorigenesis of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the molecular mechanisms for the dysregulation of NF-κB signaling in NSCLC have not been fully understood. In the previous reports, we have showed that large tumor suppressor gene 2 (LATS2) inhibited NF-κB signaling in NSCLC cells, whereas the details for the mechanism remain unknown. Here, we reported that LATS2 is a suppressor of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)-induced NF-κB signaling by inhibiting the interaction between TAK1 and IKKβ. Overexpression of LATS2 largely blocked TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation and IκBα degradation, whereas knockdown of LATS2 showed the opposing results. Mechanistically, we identified that LATS2 interacted with IKKβ and blocked the interaction between IKKβ and TAK1. Our results indicate that LATS2 functions as a pivotal negative regulator in TNF-α-induced activation of NF-κB via disrupting the interaction of TAK1 with IKKβ.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Progress toward the total synthesis of bacchopetiolone: application of a tandem aromatic oxidation/Diels-Alder reaction.
A stereoselective synthesis of the bacchopetiolone (1) carbocyclic core using a tandem phenolic oxidation/Diels-Alder reaction is described. [reaction: see text].
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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An analysis of consanguineous marriage in the Muslim population of India at regional and state levels.
Consanguineous marriage is widely favoured in a large majority of the world's Islamic populations. According to recent estimates, the resident Muslim population of India is over 100 million. However, apart from a few numerically small or geographically defined surveys, little is known about their patterns of marriage preferences since partition of the Indian Subcontinent in 1947. This study seeks to determine the prevalence and patterns of consanguineous marriages contracted among Indian Muslims at regional and state levels during the last two generations. Data from the 1992/93 Indian National Family Health Survey (NFHS) were used in the analysis. The NFHS was a nationally-representative survey of ever-married women aged 13-49 years, conducted across 25 states of India. Of the initial 9845 respondents, 8436 were included in the final weighted analysis sample. Overall, 22.0% of marriages were found to be contracted between spouses related as second cousins or closer, ranging from 15.9% in the eastern states to 32.9% in the western states of India. In all parts of the country first cousin marriages were the preferred form of consanguineous union, and in four of the five regions paternal first cousin marriages predominated. Despite predictions to the contrary, there was no evidence of a significant change in the prevalence of consanguineous unions over the course of the study period, which extended from the late 1950s to the early 1990s.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[The effect of thalamic stimulation on levodopa induced dyskinesias--evaluation of a new target: the center parafascicular median].
After 10 years of clinical practice (1987-1997), chronic thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) is considered to be effective in the treatment of drug-resistant parkinsonian tremor. DBS has produced few side-effects, which are usually reversible. More recently, DBS has been applied to other movement disorders (akinesia and rigidity, dyskinesias, dystonia), using new targets: internal pallidum, subthalamic nucleus. These targets have been selected on the basis of neurophysiological or anatomo-clinical data suggesting they could be effective. Control of L-Dopa peak-dose dyskinesias by thalamic ventralis intermedius nucleus (V.im.) stimulation has been reported by the Lille team, but not by the Grenoble team. We therefore re-examined all teleradioanatomical data of both teams, and compared them with the therapeutic effects. Location of 99 monopolar electrodes of thalamic stimulation, applied to treat parkinsonian tremor, has been retrospectively measured. The Lille team included 21 patients (22 electrodes); the Grenoble team included 52 patients (74 electrodes). L-Dopa dyskinesias were suppressed in all 9 patients in Lille, and improved clearly in only 8 out of 32 patients in Grenoble. The mean center of electrodes was significantly different between both teams, being deeper, more posterior and medial in Lille. This did not correspond to the coordinates of the V.im., but seems to be closer to those of the centromedian and parafascicular complex (CM-Pf), according to stereotactic atlases. Considering only the dyskinetic patients, the therapeutic effects on L-Dopa dyskinesias were related to the differences observed in the electrode position, but not to the team membership. Improvement of L-Dopa dyskinesias was significantly associated with deeper and more medial placement of electrodes. Retrospective analysis of ventriculographic data confirmed that the electrode position and therapeutic effects of DBS are strongly related. Our study suggested that CM-Pf stimulation could control both tremor and L-Dopa dyskinesias. This hypothesis is consistent with neuro-anatomical data showing that CM-Pf is connected to internal pallidum, the stimulation of which controls specifically L-Dopa dyskinesias.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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A pilot study of time allocation and reimbursement for routine obstetric ultrasonography.
To evaluate time allocation during initial and repeated ultrasonography and to formulate recommendations to improve unit efficiency. Over a 2-year period, 51 comprehensive ultrasonographic examinations between 14 and 38 weeks' gestational age were observed by a single reviewer. Each patient-sonographer interaction was divided into timed segments, including setup, examination time, review, and turnover. Statistical analysis using descriptive statistics, Student ttest, and analysis of variance was performed to determine the effect of the number of ultrasonographic examinations, sonographer experience, estimated gestational age, and patient body mass index on examination time. The average time spent with each patient was 15 minutes 22 seconds: 2 minutes 10 seconds for setup, 9 minutes 38 seconds for examination, 1 minute 50 seconds for review, and 1 minute 44 seconds for turnover. Examination length was not significantly affected by estimated gestational age, body mass index, ultrasonography experience, or the number of ultrasonographic examinations (P > .05). No statistical significance in the duration of scanning was found between initial (15 minutes 3 seconds) and repeated (16 minutes 1 second) examinations (P = .609). Nonexamination activities, such as data entry and room cleanup, consumed 37% of the sonographer's time. Resource use within the ultrasonography department may be improved by reassigning clerical and custodial duties from sonographers to other personnel. Although differential reimbursement exists, no statistically significant difference in resource use between initial and repeated examinations was found.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Biodegradable cellulose acetate nanofiber fabrication via electrospinning.
Nanofiber manufacturing is one of the key advancements in nanotechnology today. Over the past few years, there has been a tremendous growth of research activities to explore electrospinning for nanofiber formation from a rich variety of materials. This quite simple and cost effective process operates on the principle that the solution is extracted under the action of a high electric field. Once the voltage is sufficiently high, a charged jet is ejected following a complicated looping trajectory. During its travel, the solvent evaporates leaving behind randomly oriented nanofibers accumulated on the collector. The combination of their nanoscale dimensionality, high surface area, porosity, flexibility and superior strength makes the electrospun fibers suitable for several value-added applications, such as filters, protecting clothes, high performance structures and biomedical devices. In this study biodegradable cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibrous membranes were produced using electrospinning. The device utilized consisted of a syringe equipped with a metal needle, a microdialysis pump, a high voltage supply and a collector. The morphology of the yielded fibers was determined using SEM. The effect of various parameters, including electric field strength, tip-to-collector distance, solution feed rate and composition on the morphological features of the electrospun fibers was examined. The optimum operating conditions for the production of uniform, non-beaded fibers with submicron diameter were also explored. The biodegradable CA nanofiber membranes are suitable as tissue engineering scaffolds and as reinforcements of biopolymer matrix composites in foils by ultrasonic welding methods.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The cDNA sequence of murine Nkx-2.2.
We isolated and sequenced a 2026-bp murine Nkx-2.2 cDNA clone that contains an open reading frame encoding 273 amino acids (aa). The 273-aa protein includes a homeobox, an NK-2 box and a N-terminal decapeptide found in other Nk family members.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Intracranial metastases from a supraglottic carcinoma (a case report).
An extremely rare case of intracranial metastasis from a laryngeal carcinoma is reported associated with multiple pulmonary metastatic deposits.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Eradication of Plant Pathogens in Forest Nursery Irrigation Water.
Interest in rational use and reuse of water has increased in recent years, especially in forest nurseries. However, before water can be reused in nurseries, it must be properly treated to eradicate plant pathogens to reduce risks of pathogen dispersal and losses to disease. In the present study, the efficacy of irrigation water treatment by ultrafiltration and conventional physical-chemical treatment was studied to eliminate Botrytis cinerea, Cylindrocladium candelabrum, Ralstonia solanacearum, and Xanthomonas axonopodis, the pathogens most commonly found in Brazilian forest nurseries. Ultrafiltration eradicated over 99% of R. solanacearum, X. axonopodis, and B. cinerea and 100% of C. candelabrum. The few remaining cells or conidia of R. solanacearum and B. cinerea did not induce disease in irrigated rooted cuttings. Flocculation and fast sand filtration used in physical-chemical treatment completely eliminated C. candelabrum but the other pathogens were only removed after chlorination of the filtered water. Both forms of treatment are viable, practical, and safe methods for plant pathogen removal from irrigation water.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Recent progress in understanding of structure, ligand interactions and the mechanism of activation of the β₂-adrenergic receptor.
The understanding of β₂-adrenergic receptor (β₂AR) interactions with ligands as well as the mechanism of receptor activation changed radically from 2007, when the first crystallographic structure of the receptor was reported. Since then numerous crystallographic studies described interactions with all main classes of β₂AR ligands and with G proteins, which provided a great insight into the molecular structure of the receptor. However, molecular mechanisms of receptor activations remain to be determined. Functional research supported the concept of ligand-directed signaling at β-adrenoceptors. Agonist can activate alternative signaling pathways with different capacities and trigger cellular effects. It indicates that agonists nominally belonging to the same class may bind to and/or stabilize different active conformations of the receptor which are selectively recognized by signaling proteins in the allosteric manner.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Evaluation of the flow characteristics of an internal thoracic artery graft after coronary artery bypass grafting by intercostal Duplex scanning ultrasonography.
We previously reported intercostal duplex scanning ultrasonography to be a reliable technique for the evaluation of the internal thoracic artery (ITA). The purpose of this study was to determine the flow characteristics of the ITA graft using this technique. We evaluated the flow characteristics of 69 ITA grafts who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting by this technique. The internal diameter, mean systolic and diastolic velocity, total flow volume and diastolic fraction were all thus obtained. One occluded graft was found during the follow-up. The mean systolic velocity significantly decreased after the operation (P=0.0001) and the mean diastolic velocity significantly increased both just after the operation (P=0.0002) and 1 year later (P=0.0283). The average diameter of the ITA graft after the operation (1.70+/-0.39), at 1 year (1.73+/-0.29) and at 2 years thereafter (1.66+/-0.27 mm) all significantly decreased in comparison to the preoperative value (2.30+/-0.35 mm) (P=0.0001). The average total flow volume after the operation (35.8+/-22.2), and at 1 year (29.4+/-16.5) and 2 years thereafter (23.4+/-12.7), respectively, were significantly decreased in comparison to the preoperative value (59.4+/-28.6 mL/min) (P=0.0001). However, the average diastolic fraction which was 25.1+/-10.5% before the operation significantly increased after the operation (54.5+/-12.0, 53.2+/-11.2 at 1 year and 50.4+/-9.3 at 2 years) (P=0.0001). This technique is thus considered to be a useful noninvasive for the postoperative follow-up of the graft function. A significant increase in the diastolic fraction is thought to be important for maintaining long term graft patency.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Relationships of gamma-glutamyltransferase and beta 2-microglobulin on high sensitivity C-reactive protein among Japanese elementary school children.
Recent studies reported that gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and beta 2-microglobulin (β2M) are possible markers of cardiovascular disease in adults, however, their roles among children have not been fully elucidated. We have examined the relationships of GGT and β2M on C-reactive protein (CRP) among 326 healthy elementary school children. To investigate the relationships of serum GGT and β2M levels on measuring of CRP, multiple regression analysis and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed. After being adjusted for confounders, body mass index, log-transformed GGT, and β2M were significantly related to CRP. Independent of other risk factors, ANCOVA showed that serum β2M levels were significantly associated with serum CRP (p=0.012, p for trend <0.001), and GGT levels had similar results (p=0.211, p for trend=0.035). These results suggest that serum β2M and GGT levels are useful indicators for evaluating the occurrence of slight inflammation as background, which promotes atherosclerosis even in healthy children.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Tuberculosis and HIV infection in the Kweneng district, Botswana].
The prevalence of HIV infection in a group of Botswana tuberculosis patients was studied in a linked, anonymous survey that included 214 cases. The testing was done by ELISA serology. 45 of 214 patients (21%) were HIV positive. The HIV seropositivity reached 29% in the age group 15-49 years. 25% of the females (average age 34 years) and 18% of the males (average age 39 years) were HIV positive. 18 (40%) of the 45 HIV positive patients had AIDS. No significant differences were found between HIV positive and HIV negative patients with regard to clinical type of tuberculosis. The findings are discussed in relation to other studies from Africa.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Investigating the Low Temperature Formation of CuII -(N,O) Species on Cu-CHA Zeolites for the Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx.
In this work, we show the potentiality of operando FTIR spectroscopy to follow the formation of CuII -(N,O) species on Cu exchanged chabazite zeolites (Cu-CHA), active for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 (NH3 -SCR). In particular, we investigated the reaction of NO and O2 at low temperature (200 and 50 °C) on a series of Cu-CHA zeolites with different composition (Si/Al and Cu/Al ratios), to investigate the nature of the formed copper nitrates, which have been proposed to be key intermediates in the oxidation part of the SCR cycle. Our results show that chelating bidentate nitrates are the main structures formed at 200 °C. At lower temperature a mixture of chelating and monodentate nitrates are formed, together with the nitrosonium ion NO+ , whose amount was found to be proportional to the zeolite Brønsted site concentration. Nitrates were found to mainly form with CuII ions stabilized by one negative framework charge (Z), Z-[Cu(OH]I or Z-[Cu(O2 ]I , without involvement of Z2 -CuII ones. This evidence, together with the absence of bridging nitrates in samples with high probability for Cu-Cu pairs, indicate that the nitrate ligands are not able to mobilize copper ions, at variance with what recently reported for NH3 . Finally, water was found to replace preformed chelating copper nitrates and deplete NO+ (though with different kinetics) at both temperatures, while favouring the presence of monodentate ones.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Validation of Heine Gamma G7 (G5) and XXL-LF aneroid devices for blood pressure measurement.
To determine the accuracy of the Gamma G7 (and G5 model) and XXL-LF aneroid sphygmomanometers developed by the Heine Company. Device evaluations were performed using the new protocol of the European Society of Hypertension. Monitor performance was assessed in relation to participants' sex, age, arm circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The two sphygmomanometers were assessed in two different samples according to European Society of Hypertension requirements, which are based on four zones of accuracy differing from the mercury standard by 5, 10, 15 mmHg, or more. Both sphygmomanometers passed all three phases of the protocol for systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Mean blood pressure difference between Gamma G7 sphygmomanometer and observers was -0.4+/-3.3 mmHg for systolic blood pressure and -0.5+/-2.6 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure. Mean differences for the Gamma XXL-LF sphygmomanometer were -0.3+/-3.7 and -1.0+/-2.6 mmHg, respectively. In multivariable analyses, the SBP discrepancies between both aneroid sphygmomanometers and observers were unrelated to age, sex, arm circumference and systolic blood pressure. For diastolic blood pressure, a borderline relationship was found only for arm circumference (P=0.057) with the Gamma G7 device. These data show that the Heine Gamma G7 and Gamma XXL-LF aneroid sphygmomanometers satisfy the new recommended ESH accuracy levels for both SBP and DBP. Their performance is uniform across subgroups of participants with different clinical characteristics.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Twin transfusion syndrome--diagnosis and prognosis].
Twin-twin transfusion syndrome is a serious complication of monozygotic, monochorionic, diamniotic twins resulting from transplacental vascular communications. In this syndrome blood is thought to be shunted from one twin--donor, who develops anaemia, growth retardation and oligoamnios, to the other twin--recipient, who becomes plethoric, macrosomic and develops polyhydroamnios. The incidence of twin-twin transfusion syndrome ranges from 5-15% of all twin pregnancies. If this condition develops in the second trimester, it is usually associated with spontaneous abortion and death of one or both fetuses before viability. Developing the syndrome in the third trimester has better perinatal outcome. Mortality rates ranging from 56%-100%, depending on gestational age and severity of the syndrome. The ultrasound criterias for diagnosis, in this study, were the presence of twins of the same sex with discordant growth, with oligohydroamnios in one twin sac and polyhydroamnios in the other one, one placenta and thin membrane between twins. The present study shows clinical course of 14 cases and value of Doppler ultrasound to analyze the usefulness of umbilical artery blood flow velocimetry for predicting the risk of twin-twin transfusion syndrome. 14 twin pregnancies with twin-twin transfusion syndrome were diagnosed during the last four years period and prospectively followed. 9 cases were diagnosed before the completion od 28 weeks of gestation. The mean gestational age was 21.6 _+ 4.2 weeks at diagnosis and 23.2 +_ 3.6 weeks at delivery. 5 cases were diagnosed after 28 weeks of gestation. The mean gestational age in this group was 29.6 +_ 2.1 weeks at diagnosis and 33 +_ 3.3 weeks at delivery. The survival rate in this study was 29% (8/28). 9 cases ended in spontaneous abortion between 18th and 27th weeks of pregnancy (table 1) and 5 in premature labor (table 2). There were 7 intrauterine death (5 at admission and 2 few days after admission) and 13 neonatal deaths. Overall mortality rate was 71% (20/28). Up to 28th weeks mortality rate was 100% and after 28th weeks mortality rate was 20% (2/10). 9 cases had "stuck" twin phenomenon. The differences in the Doppler indexes from twin-twin transfusion syndrome cases significantly exceeded those without this syndrome. This difference seemed to predict the risk of twin-twin transfusion syndrome, but the number of cases is too small for general conclusions. Treatment regimens for twin-twin transfusion syndrome have included bed rest, tocolytic agents and serial amniocenthesis for decompression in some cases. Neither serial amniocenthesis nor tocolytic agents use were associated with an improved survival rate in our study. Twin-twin transfusion syndrome can be diagnosed early in second trimester of pregnancy, but the survival rate remains low with the current methods of treatment. Survival was related to gestational age at delivery and birth weight. Twin-twin transfusion syndrome diagnosed before 28th weeks of gestation represents one of the most lethal conditions in perinatal medicine today.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Two polymorphic dinucleotide repeats in intron 44 of the dystrophin gene.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most common and severe X-linked disorders with an incidence of approximately 1 in 3500 newborn males. In more than 60% of DMD patients, deletions of part or all of the dystrophin gene have been shown. Despite this, carrier detection still poses a problem in some cases, because of the enormous size of the gene and the lack of sufficient numbers of informative markers. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of two additional microsatellite markers (IVS44SK12 and IVS44SK21) in intron 44 of the dystrophin gene. Both markers are useful for carrier detection either by indirect DNA analysis or by direct proof of loss of heterozygosity.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Emphysema-like changes in the lungs of the blotchy mouse.
The Blotchy allele is one of several mutations at the Mottled locus on the mouse X-chromosome. Affected males and heterozygous females within the several allelic groups possess varying degrees of connective tissue abnormalities similar to those found in copper-deficient and lathyritic animals, including aortic aneurysms and reduced skin tensile strength. There is evidence that defective inter- and intramolecular cross-links in collagen and elastin account for these abnormalities. The lung of the Blotchy mouse is also structurally and functionally abnormal. Hemizygous males have larger total lung volumes, markedly increased mean linear intercepts, and diminished internal alveolar surface area when compared to normal control animals. Light microsbopy and scanning electron microscopy show abnormal architecture with enlargement of air spaces and effacement of alveolar septa. Static air and saline pressure-volume curves show that lungs of Blotchy mice have decreased elastic recoil and are significantly more compliant than normal. These abnormalities in the lung of the Blotchy mouse suggest that the defects of the connective tissue proteins described in skin and aorta also involve the lung. The Blotchy strain may be a useful model in which to investigate how abnormalities of connective tissue proteins influence pulmonary structure and function.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Enhanced degradation of naphthalene by immobilization of Pseudomonas sp. strain NGK1 in polyurethane foam.
A Pseudomonas sp. strain NGKI (NCIM 5120) capable of degrading naphthalene was immobilized in polyurethane foam. The naphthalene-degrading activity of the freely suspended cells was compared with that of immobilized cells in batches in shaken culture and in a continuous culture system in a packed-bed reactor. Increasing concentrations of naphthalene were better tolerated and more quickly degraded by immobilized cell cultures than by free cells. An initial naphthalene concentration of 25 mM was completely degraded by freely suspended cells (4 x 10(10) cfu ml(-1)) and polyurethane-foam-immobilized cells (0.8-1 x 10(12) cfu g(-1) foam cubes) after 4 days and 2 days of incubation, respectively. Free cells degraded a maximum of 30 mM naphthalene after 4 days of incubation with 50 mM naphthalene, and no further degradation was observed even after 15 days of incubation, whereas foam-immobilized cells brought about the complete degradation of 50 mM initial naphthalene after 6 days of incubation. Furthermore, with 25 mM naphthalene, the polyurethane-foam-immobilized cells were re-used 45 times over a period of 90 days without losing naphthalene-degrading activity. By contrast, with the same amount of naphthalene, alginate-, agar-, and polyacrylamide-entrapped cells could be reused for 18, 12, and 23 times over a period of 44, 28, and 50 days, respectively. During continuous degradation in a packed-bed reactor, foam-immobilized cells degraded 80 mM naphthalene at a rate of 150 ml(-1) h(-1). With the same flow rate and 40 mM naphthalene, this system operated efficiently and continuously for about 120 days, whereas the packed-bed reactor with alginate-, agar-, and polyacrylamide-entrapped cells could be operated only for 45, 40, and 60 days respectively. Thus, more efficient degradation of naphthalene could be achieved by immobilizing cells of Pseudomonas sp. strain NGK1 in polyurethane foam, rather than in the other matrices tested.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Protection of nigral cell death by bilateral subthalamic nucleus stimulation.
In Parkinson disease (PD), the subthalamic nucleus (STN) becomes hyperactive (disinhibited), which is reported to cause excitotoxic damage to midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Here, we examined whether silencing of the hyperactive STN by chronic bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) increased the survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in a rat model of PD. High-precision design-based stereologic examination of the total number of neurons and tyrosine tydroxylase (TH) immunoreactive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta revealed that STN DBS resulted in a significant survival of these neurons. These data provide the first evidence in vivo that bilateral STN DBS is useful for protecting midbrain dopaminergic neurons from cell death in PD.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Clinical impact of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with thick (>4 mm) melanomas.
The role of sentinel lymph node status (SLNS) in thick melanoma is evolving. The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic value of SLNS in thick melanoma. A retrospective analysis of 120 prospectively collected clinically node-negative thick melanomas over 5 years was performed. Patient (age/sex) and tumor (thickness, ulceration, SLNS, mitoses, metastases, and recurrence) features were collected. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazard model. Factors predictive of positive SLN included male sex, ulceration, and high mitoses. Factors associated with positive SLN had higher local-regional recurrence and metastases than negative SLN. SLNS and tumor thickness impacted 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Positive SLN, ulceration, age, and mitoses were independent predictors of DFS/OS. Nonulcerated/lower mitoses thick melanomas had lower positive SLN rates. Positive SLN develop recurrence and metastases and have worse OS/DFS. SLNS is an important prognosticator for OS/DFS. Sentinel lymph node biopsy delineates prognostic groups in thick melanomas and can impact management.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Human diseases caused by leptospirae of the canicola serogroup in the Krasnodar Territory].
During the period of 34 years (1957-1990) diseases caused by leptospires of the serogroup canicola were confirmed in 2.7% of the total number of patients. The analysis revealed that in the presence of epidemic outbreaks Leptospira infection caused by bacteria of the serogroup canicola occurred 1.7 times more often than at the time when such outbreaks were absent. Periodic increases of leptospirosis caused by this serogroup were registered in individual towns and regions of the territory in different years. The analysis of 33 medical histories made it possible to state that the clinical manifestations of leptospirosis caused by bacteria of the serogroup canicola were characteristic of Leptospira infections caused not only by this serovar. As a rule, this kind of leptospirosis was registered in rural and urban areas as individual isolated cases.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Gamma delta T-cells in human cutaneous immunology.
Gamma delta T-Cells represent a minor subpopulation of T-lymphocytes in man and their role in normal and diseased human skin is unknown. This article is a comprehensive review of T-lymphocytes bearing the gamma delta T-cell receptor in normal and pathological human skin. Firstly, we have documented the occurrence of gamma delta T-cells in normal skin and in a range of reactive and malignant skin conditions. We have then discussed the experimental findings regarding the repertoire used by gamma delta T-cells in normal human skin and in cutaneous disorders with an increased percentage of gamma delta T-cells.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Hepatitis C virus antibodies in subjects with and without liver disease in the United Kingdom.
The prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus, evidence of previous or current infection with this agent of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis, was determined in 340 subjects residing in the United Kingdom. The antibody was detected in 3 per cent of unselected blood donors and in 60 per cent of patients with chronic post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis. Evidence for infection was also found in 30 per cent of intravenous drug abusers, and in 75 per cent of haemophiliacs receiving commercial factor VIII concentrate. The infection is uncommon in renal units and amongst sexually promiscuous groups attending sexually-transmitted disease clinics. Although the seropositivity rate in primary biliary cirrhosis and chronic B and delta hepatitis was very low (0-2 per cent), in patients with autoimmune and alcoholic liver disease it was 14-16 per cent which, although lower than that quoted in studies from Spain and Italy, is considerably higher than would be expected by chance. The reason for the high incidence of non-A, non-B hepatitis in this latter group of patients is unclear.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Efficacy of Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography for the Treatment Strategy of Colonic Diverticular Bleeding.
Diverticular bleeding is the most common cause of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding, and its incidence has recently increased. However, the treatment strategy of diverticular bleeding has not yet been established. The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) to determine the indication for urgent colonoscopy to achieve hemostasis. A total of 124 patients diagnosed with diverticular bleeding between 2012 and 2013 in our hospital were analyzed. The clinical behavior, factors related to detecting bleeding diverticula, and risk factors for early rebleeding of diverticular bleeding were evaluated. Clinical behavior: Bleeding diverticula were identified in 23 of 124 (19%) patients and most of them (16/23; 70%) were located in the ascending colon. Hemostasis was achieved in all 23 cases, however, six (26%) developed early rebleeding. Factors for detecting bleeding diverticula: In patients in whom extravasation was detected using CECT, the endoscopic detection rate of bleeding diverticula was 60% (12/20), while bleeding diverticula were detected in only 31% (11/35) of patients in whom extravasation was not detected using CECT (p<0.05). The interval between the first hematochezia and colonoscopy in which the bleeding point was detected by colonoscopy (median 23.5 hours) was shorter than that in which bleeding diverticula were not detected (median 43.6 hours) (p<0.01). Risk factors for short term rebleeding: Using a univariate analysis, atherosclerotic comorbidity, anti-inflammatory drugs including low-dose aspirin, antithrombotic agents, vital signs on admission, hemoglobin level on hospitalization, and extravasation on CECT were not found to be significant risk factors. The finding of extravasation on CECT is the most important factor for identifying and treating bleeding diverticula by colonoscopy. In such cases, urgent colonoscopy is recommended.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Diagnosis support system based on clinical guidelines: comparison between case-based fuzzy cognitive maps and Bayesian networks.
Several studies have described the prevalence and severity of diagnostic errors. Diagnostic errors can arise from cognitive, training, educational and other issues. Examples of cognitive issues include flawed reasoning, incomplete knowledge, faulty information gathering or interpretation, and inappropriate use of decision-making heuristics. We describe a new approach, case-based fuzzy cognitive maps, for medical diagnosis and evaluate it by comparison with Bayesian belief networks. We created a semantic web framework that supports the two reasoning methods. We used database of 174 anonymous patients from several European hospitals: 80 of the patients were female and 94 male with an average age 45±16 (average±stdev). Thirty of the 80 female patients were pregnant. For each patient, signs/symptoms/observables/age/sex were taken into account by the system. We used a statistical approach to compare the two methods.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Prevalence of the 35delG mutation in the GJB2 gene in two samples of non-syndromic deaf subjects from Chile.
Hearing loss is the most common inherited sensorial deficiency in humans; about 1 in 1000 children suffer from severe or profound hearing loss at birth. Mutations in the GJB2 gene are the most common cause of prelingual, non-syndromic autosomal recessive deafness in many populations; the c.35delG mutation is the most common in Caucasian populations. The frequency of the c.35delG mutation was estimated in two samples of deaf patients from Santiago, Chile. Unrelated non-syndromic sensorioneural deaf patients were examined: Group 1 consisted of 47 unrelated individuals with neurosensory deafness referred to the Chilean Cochlear Implant Program; Group 2 included 66 school children with prelingual deafness attending special education institutions for deaf people. Individuals with profound to moderate isolated neurosensory hearing loss with unknown etiology were included. The presence of the c.35delG mutation was evaluated by the allele-specific polymerase chain reaction method (PCR), and in some cases it was confirmed by direct DNA sequencing of the coding region of the GJB2 gene. Deaf relatives were present in 20.3% of the cases. We found 19.5% (22/113) patients with the c.35delG mutation, 6 of them homozygous; these rates are similar to frequencies found in other Latin American countries.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Chronic activation of 5-HT4 receptors or blockade of 5-HT6 receptors improve memory performances.
5-HT4 and 5-HT6 serotonergic receptors are located in brain structures involved in memory processes. Neurochemical and behavioural studies have demonstrated that acute activation of 5-HT4 receptors (5-HT4R) or blockade of 5-HT6 receptors (5-HT6R) improves memory. To evaluate the potential of these two receptors as targets in the treatment of memory disorders encountered in several situations (ageing, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, etc.), it is necessary to assess whether their beneficial effects occur after chronic administration, and if such treatment induces adverse effects. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of chronic 5-HT4R or 5-HT6R modulation on recognition memory, and to observe the possible manifestation of side effects (modification of weight gain, locomotor activity or exploratory behaviour, etc.). Mice were treated for 14 days with a 5-HT4R partial agonist (RS-67333) or a 5-HT6R antagonist (SB-271046) at increasing doses. Memory performances, locomotor activity, and exploration were assessed. Both chronic 5-HT4R activation and 5-HT6R blockade extended memory traces in an object recognition test, and were not associated with any adverse effects in the parameters assessed. Chronic modulation of one or both of these receptors thus seems promising as a potential strategy for the treatment memory deficits.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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How to identify suitable ways for the hydrothermal treatment of wet bio-waste? A critical review and methods proposal.
A considerable amount of wet biogenic residues and waste has no resource-efficient use in several European countries yet. Hydrothermal processes (HTP) seem to be promising for treating such biomass as they best work with substrates with 70% to 90% water content. However, thus far the suitability of HTP for this purpose has not been sufficiently evaluated, for which this work aims to identify suitable multi-criteria analysis (MCA) methods that can be used to identify promising ways for the hydrothermal treatment of wet bio-waste. A review on 31 recent MCA studies in bio-waste management was conducted with the aim of comparing them to methodological requirements for evaluating HTP. Furthermore, an MCA approach for HTP based on the review findings is proposed. Results show that no observed MCA method is directly transferable for assessing HTP, for which a customized approach combining the analytical hierarchy process and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solutions is proposed and preliminarily validated with literature data. These preliminary calculations indicate that hydrothermal gasification seems most promising under consideration of multiple criteria using the available average and exemplary data. However, needless to say there is still a long way to go to obtain the sufficient adequate data to validate and use the model appropriately, for which further studies are necessary to acquire more reliable data and to assess also future technology developments of HTP.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Dietary patterns and risk of bladder cancer: a factor analysis in Uruguay.
To determine the major dietary patterns associated with bladder cancer risk, we conducted a principal components analysis (PCA) in a case-control study from Uruguay. A total of 255 newly diagnosed and microscopically confirmed cases of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and 501 hospitalized controls were included in the study. Both series were drawn from the four major public hospitals in Montevideo, Uruguay. Cases and controls were frequency matched on age and sex. Controls were submitted to factor (principal components) analysis. We retained three factors that explained 25.1% of the total variance (including error variance). The first factor was labeled as the sweet beverages pattern. This factor was characterized by high loadings of coffee, tea, and added sugar and was strongly associated with risk of bladder cancer (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.96-5.45). The second factor was labeled as the Western pattern and displayed high loadings of red meat, fried eggs, potatoes, and red wine. This pattern was directly associated with risk of bladder cancer (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.42-3.89). Finally, the third factor was labeled as the prudent pattern and showed high loadings of fresh vegetables, cooked vegetables, and fruits. This pattern was not associated with risk of bladder cancer. According to our study, non-alcoholic beverages were the strongest risk factor for bladder cancer, whereas the Western pattern was also associated with a significant increase in risk of bladder cancer.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[The non-invasive accessible informative laboratory panel for detection of liver fibrosis - TEA index.]
The article presents the results of continued studies of informative accessible tests as a screening non-invasive technique of diagnostic of fibrosis under chronic hepatitis C. The sampling included 70 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The comparable control group included 30 healthy individuals. The ultrasonic elastography of liver was implemented using FibroScan («EchoSens», France). The concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in blood serum was detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique («StatFax», USA) using reagents of "Vektor-Best" (Russia); thrombocytes - by hematologic analyzer Medonic-620M (Sweden); albumin - by analyzer Archtekt-4000. The ROC-analysis and detection of odds ratio (QR) was implemented to calculate threshold values and diagnostic efficiency of indices with predictor value. The correlation relationship is established between density of hepatic tissue according ultrasonic elastography data and three applied tests: number of thrombocytes (r = -0,9), content of TNF-α (r = 0,89) and albumin (r = -0,9). These are the three tests included into mathematical model of diagnostic of fibrosis stage. The equation of multiple regression is reproduced in the utility patent № 2592371. The diagnostic value of the proposed index of fibrosis TTA (thrombocytes, TNF and albumin) according the scale METAVIR for F0 made up to 0-0.5; for F1-2 - 0.6-2.5; in case of expressed fibrosis/cirrhosis index made up to more than 2.5. The index TTA by its efficiency is comparable with more complicated analogues. The individual application of fibrosis predictors is possible: the test permit to exclude fibrosis under chronic hepatitis C at number of thrombocytes in blood more or equal to 282×109l,, value of TNF-α les or equal 1.9 pg/ml, level of albumin more or equal 47.3 g/l and also to differentiate stages of moderate (F1-2) and expressed fibrosis (F3-4). The index TTA of liver fibrosis can be applied to exclude fibrosis under chronic hepatitis C and also to establish stages of fibrosis with diagnostic sensitivity 93.3% and specificity 83%. At that, low approximate cost of examination has an important value.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Semantic dementia: aspects of the early diagnosis.
Semantic dementia is a lobar atrophy syndrome, related to a degeneration of anterior temporal regions, and characterized by a very predominant impairment of semantic memory. Whereas the diagnosis is relatively easy to establish in the typical form and if the patient is seen early, the emergence of possible additional cognitive or psycho-behavioural disorders can lead to a misdiagnosis in favour of a frontotemporal dementia syndrome or even probable Alzheimer's disease.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Object relations issues in the treatment of the preoedipal character.
It was through tolerance of Ms. D.'s infantile rage (i.e., rage against reality and its limits) that the analyst was able to open up a dialogue with the patient that could lead to a developmental mourning process. The same was true for the borderline character, Ms. A.! The interpersonal dialogue between analyst and analysand, which had both empathic and interpretive functions, allowed Ms. D. to reactivate her capacities for an intrapsychic dialectic gained during infancy. In her case, as well as in that of Ms. A., the initiation of an internal dialectic allowed for a mourning process to unfold. It is proposed that this internal dialectic is evidence of the existence of the psychic structure necessary to promote both mourning and the mutuality of interpersonal dialogue. The inability to mourn, generally seen in narcissistic and borderline characters, can be seen, therefore, not only as a failure in psychic structure formation, but also as a failure in psychic structure function that is due to intrapsychic defense.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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A cluster algorithm for Monte Carlo simulation at constant pressure.
We propose an efficient algorithm to sample the volume in Monte Carlo simulations in the isobaric-isothermal ensemble. The method is designed to be applied in the simulation of hard-core models at high density. The algorithm is based in the generation of clusters of particles. At the volume change step, the distances between pairs of particles belonging to the same cluster do not change. This is done by rescaling the positions of the center of mass of each cluster instead of the position of each individual particle. We have tested the performance of the algorithm by simulating fluid and solid phases of hard spheres, finding that in both cases the algorithm is much more efficient than the standard procedure. Moreover, the efficiency of the method measured in terms of correlation "time" does not depend on the system size in contrast with the standard method, in which the sampling becomes rapidly inefficient as the system size increases. We have used the procedure to compute with high precision the equation of state of the face-centered-cubic phase of the hard sphere system for different system sizes. Using these results we have estimated the equation of state at the thermodynamic limit. The results are compared to different equations of state proposed in literature.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Clinical score system in the treatment of Cushing's disease: failure to identify discriminative variables from the German Cushing's Registry.
To develop a multidimensional and integrated clinical scoring instrument, that encompasses, summarizes and weights appropriately the desired clinical benefits of a treatment for Cushing's disease (CD). A panel of 42 variables potentially relevant to the clinical course of CD was predefined by endocrinology experts taking into account relevant literature. Variables as well as biochemical disease activity assessed as urinary free cortisol (UFC) levels were evaluated at baseline and at least after 12 months in patients treated between 2012 and 2016 in two Munich-based academic centres of the German Cushing's Registry. The primary endpoint was the identification of variables whose changes from baseline to follow-up visit(s) could characterize well biochemical cured from not cured patients after 12 months. Ninety nine patients with at least two consecutive visits were enrolled. Biochemical data were available for 138 visit-pairs among which UFC was not controlled in 48 (34.8%) and controlled in 90 (65.2%) first visits. In 41 (29.7%) consecutive visits (visit-pairs) changes in biochemical activity categories was observed between visits; concretely: in 17 (12.3%) consecutive visits changing from previously controlled to not controlled, and in 24 (17.4%) from uncontrolled to controlled biochemical activity. Multivariate statistical analyses (especially analyses of variance) based on data of the 138 visit-pairs were performed in order to proof possible effects of biochemical activity on clinical benefits. However, in none of the considered 42 variables corresponding to quality of life-dimensions, laboratory, anthropometric, musculo-skeletal or other clinical areas any statistically significant differences between different categories of biochemical activity were observed. It was not possible to provide clinical key parameters in our population of patients with CD discriminating biochemical cured from non-cured patients and to construct a clinical scoring system reflecting clinical treatment benefits.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Endoscopic stapling for pharyngeal pouch: does it make the cut?
Endoscopic stapling to treat pharyngeal pouch is a relatively new technique with the potential to reduce the morbidity associated with the open approach for pharyngeal pouch. Despite enthusiasm for the endoscopic approach there have been no series reported in Australia, and descriptions of outcomes and benefits are currently anecdotal. The aim of the present study was to determine the outcome associated with endoscopic stapling of pharyngeal pouch in an Australian setting. All patients admitted for endoscopic stapling for a pharyngeal pouch between 1998 and 2002 by surgeons from the Adelaide and Flinders Universities were identified, and their medical records were reviewed for clinical and operative details. All patients were interviewed by telephone using a structured questionnaire to determine symptom resolution and patient satisfaction. The Likert scale was used to assess the impact of preoperative and postoperative symptoms upon quality of life. A total of 31 patients were identified. The mean age of the group was 75 years (range: 35-91 years) and half the patients had an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score of 3 or greater. In four patients the procedure was abandoned; (for three because of inability to pass the diverticuloscope and for one because the pouch was too small). Standard open surgery was undertaken in these patients. Of the 27 procedures completed endoscopically, interview follow up was obtained in 23, at a mean follow up of 17 months (range: 2-68 months). Outcome was very good or excellent in 21 (91%), with significant symptom resolution, reduction in Likert scores and high patient satisfaction. Three patients had previously had pouch surgery and endoscopic stapling was straightforward in these patients. Recurrence of a symptomatic pouch occurred in three patients. There was no significant morbidity related to the procedure. The early experience of endoscopic stapling for pharyngeal pouch in Adelaide is encouraging. The procedure achieves excellent control of symptoms and can be undertaken with minimal morbidity. Recurrence may be a problem, although repeat endoscopic stapling can be undertaken without difficulty.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Nitric oxide inhibits smooth muscle responses evoked by cholinergic nerve stimulation in the guinea pig gastric fundus.
In circular smooth muscle tissues of the guinea pig gastric fundus, transmural nerve stimulation (TNS) evoked an atropine-sensitive cholinergic excitatory junction potential (e.j.p.) and, after inhibiting the e.j.p. with atropine, an apamin-sensitive nonadrenergic noncholinergic (NANC) inhibitory junction potential (i.j.p.). The amplitude of e.j.p.s was similar when the frequency of TNS was low (<0.5 Hz), but it decreased successively (depression phenomenon) when the frequency was high (>1 Hz). The depression phenomenon was attenuated after inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (NOLA), but was not altered by inhibiting the i.j.p. with apamin. The e.j.p.s were increased in amplitude by the inhibition of cholinesterase activity, but they were decreased by NO produced from SNP with no alteration of their depression phenomenon. Isometric twitch contractions were depressed during high-frequency TNS. NOLA caused an increase in the amplitude of twitch contractions and the attenuation of their depression that changed the transient contraction produced by high-frequency TNS (1 Hz) to a tetanic one. SNP reduced the amplitude of twitch contractions, with no alteration of the depression phenomena. Contractions produced by low concentrations of acetylcholine, but not by high concentrations, were attenuated by SNP, with no alteration of the membrane depolarization. The results suggest that NO produced during TNS has inhibitory actions on cholinergic transmission; the depression of e.j.p.s is mainly prejunctional events, and the depression of mechanical responses is mainly postjunctional events.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Prognostic impact of clopidogrel pretreatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome managed invasively.
Pretreatment with antiP2Y12 agents before angiography in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is associated with a reduction in thrombotic events. However, recent evidences have questioned the benefits of upstream antiP2Y12, reporting a higher incidence of bleeding. We analyzed the prognostic impact of clopidogrel pretreatment in a large cohort of invasively managed patients with ACS. In hospital, safety and efficacy of clopidogrel pretreatment were retrospectively analyzed in patients included in the ARIAM-Andalucía Registry (Analysis of Delay in Acute Myocardial Infarction). Propensity score and inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis were performed to control treatment selection bias. Results were stratified by ACS type. Sensitivity analyses were used to explore stability of the overall treatment effect. Of 9,621 patients managed invasively, 69% received clopidogrel before coronary angiography. In the ST-elevation myocardial infarction group, pretreatment was associated with a significant reduction in reinfarction (odds ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27 to 0.96; p = 0.027), stent thrombosis (odds ratio 0.15, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.38; p <0.0001), and mortality (odds ratio 0.67, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.94; p = 0.020), with an increase in minor bleeding but remained as a net clinical benefit strategy. Those benefits were not present in patients without ST elevation (non-ST elevation ACS). The weighting and propensity analysis confirmed the same results. An interaction between pretreatment duration and bleeding was observed. In conclusion, pretreatment with clopidogrel reduced the occurrence of death and thrombotic outcomes at the cost of minor bleeding. Those benefits exclusively affected ST-elevation myocardial infarction cases. The potential benefit of routine upstream pretreatment in patients with non-ST-elevation ACS should be reappraised at the present.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Pharmacological actions of a new TRH analogue, YM-14673, in rats subjected to cerebral ischemia and anoxia.
The cerebral protective actions of a new thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) analogue, YM-14673, [Na-[[(S)-4-oxo-2-azetidinyl-carbonyl]-L-histidyl-L-prolinamide] dihydrate), were compared with those of CDP-choline (cerebral metabolic enhancer) and naloxone in rats rats subjected to unilateral carotid artery ligation and anoxic exposure (Levine rats). Drugs were administered intraperitoneally or orally 20, 80, and 140 min after anoxia. YM-14673 (0.03 to 1 mg/kg i.p. and 0.3 to 10 mg/kg p.o.) decreased the incidence of neurological deficits, such as hemiplegia and convulsion followed by coma and death, for 48 h after ischemia and anoxia. Both the increase in the brain water content and the degeneration of neurons in the cerebral cortex and thalamus were prevented by YM-14673 at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg (i.p.). CDP-choline (400 mg/kg i.p.), which is currently used in the therapy of cerebral vascular diseases, and naloxone (3 mg/kg i.p.) also decreased the incidence of the neurological deficits. These results suggest that YM-14673 protects Levine rats against neurological deficits, presumably by attenuating the development of brain edema and preventing neuronal damage. This compound may be useful in the therapeutic treatment of cerebral vascular diseases.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Robust Distance Metric Learning via Bayesian Inference.
Distance metric learning (DML) has achieved great success in many computer vision tasks. However, most existing DML algorithms are based on point estimation, and thus are sensitive to the choice of training examples and tend to be over-fitting in the presence of label noise. In this paper, we present a robust DML algorithm based on Bayesian inference. In particular, our method is essentially a Bayesian extension to a previous classic DML method-large margin nearest neighbor classification and we use stochastic variational inference to estimate the posterior distribution of the transformation matrix. Furthermore, we theoretically show that the proposed algorithm is robust against label noise in the sense that an arbitrary point with label noise has bounded influence on the learnt model. With some reasonable assumptions, we derive a generalization error bound of this method in the presence of label noise. We also show that the DML hypothesis class in which our model lies is probably approximately correct-learnable and give the sample complexity. The effectiveness of the proposed method1 is demonstrated with state of the art performance on three popular data sets with different types of label noise.1 A MATLAB implementation of this method is made available at http://parnec.nuaa.edu.cn/xtan/Publication.htm.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Primary aortoenteric fistula and endovascular repair.
Primary aortoenteric fistulae are difficult conditions to diagnose and manage. A 35-year-old male developed massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to a primary aortoduodenal fistula. Previous radiation therapy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for germ cell cancer with resultant dense retroperitoneal fibrosis made open aortic repair impossible. Endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta and stent graft repair of the primary aortoduodenal fistula was performed. At 1-year follow-up, there is no clinical or radiographic evidence of stent-graft infection. Endovascular techniques and repair are important approaches to consider during the management of complicated primary aortoenteric fistulae when open surgical repair is not feasible.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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In vitro and in vivo responses of saccular and caudal nucleus neurons in the grassfrog (Rana temporaria).
We present results from in vitro and in vivo studies of response properties of neurons in the saccular and caudal nuclei in the frog. In the in vitro studies the saccular nerve of the isolated brain was stimulated with electrical pulses. In the in vivo experiments, the neurons were stimulated by dorso-ventral vibrations of the intact animal. We identified six response types: (1) primary-like cells with short latencies and follow repetition rates up to 100 Hz; (2) phasic cells responding only to the first pulse in a train; (3) bursting cells firing several spikes in response to any stimulation; (4) late responders with very long latencies; (5) integrator cells showing facilitated responses, and (6) inhibitory cells inhibited by saccular nerve stimulation. The cells have comparable sensitivity and frequency characteristics to the primary fibres (BF 10-80 Hz, thresholds from 0.01 cm/s2) and enable a sophisticated analysis of vibrational stimuli.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Initial X-ray manifestations of bronchial carcinoma. Possibilities and limitations of early diagnosis (author's transl)].
Problems of defining "early diagnosis" and difficulties, arising from multiform clinical and radiological manifestations in bronchial carcinoma are discussed. Different types of manifestations offer unequal chances for early detection. In demonstrating some typical cases, auxiliary diagnostic means and possibilities for more efficient radiological diagnosis are discussed.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The dietary inflammatory index is associated with gastrointestinal infection symptoms in the national health and nutrition examination survey.
Inflammation influences many aspects of health including gastrointestinal illnesses. Associations between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and gastrointestinal symptoms were examined using cross-sectional data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (years 2005-2014, n = 25,553). Outcomes included self-reported presence of mucus or liquid in bowel leakage and stomach illness in the past month, diarrhoea in the past year and number of weekly bowel movements. Energy-adjusted DII (E-DII) scores were estimated from one 24-h dietary recall. Analyses included survey design-appropriate logistic and linear regression. Compared to E-DII quartile 1 (anti-inflammatory), E-DII quartile 4 (pro-inflammatory) had elevated odds of mucus in leakage: 71% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.01-1.20); liquid in leakage: 74% (95%CI = 1.30-2.33); stomach illness: 43% (95%CI = 1.18-1.72); and diarrhoea: 65% (95%CI = 1.21-2.26). Those with more anti-inflammatory diets had more bowel movements. Future questions should address whether anti-inflammatory diets provide protective effects against gastrointestinal infections and if these relationships are modified by other health behaviours.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Isolation and preliminary characterisation of two toxic phospholipases A2 from the venom of the Malayan cobra (Naja naja sputatrix).
Two toxic phospholipases A have been isolated from the venom of the Malayan cobra (Naja naja sputatrix). The phospholipases A were purified by successive ion-exchange chromatography on SP-Sephadex C-25, Sephadex G-75 gel filtration chromatography and successive Bio-Rex 70 ion-exchange chromatography. The purified toxic phospholipases A were homogeneous electrophoretically. They were designated as sputatrix phospholipase A-I and sputatrix phospholipase A-II. Positional specificity studies showed that they belong to the A2-type phospholipase A. The medium lethal dose 50% (LD50) values of the two phospholipases A are 0.27 and 0.28 microgram/g, respectively, by intravenous injection and 1.05 and 1.00 microgram/g, respectively, by intraperitoneal injection. The molecular weights of the two enzymes are 14000 as determined by gel-filtration chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Amino acid composition of sputatrix phospholipase A-I differs from sputatrix phospholipase A-II only by having one extra amino acid: a glutamic acid. Amino acid compositions of the two enzymes are also similar to those of other cobra venom phospholipases A.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Coupled-mode-theory framework for nonlinear resonators comprising graphene.
A general framework combining perturbation theory and coupled-mode theory is developed for analyzing nonlinear resonant structures comprising dispersive bulk and sheet materials. To allow for conductive sheet materials, a nonlinear current term is introduced in the formulation in addition to the more common nonlinear polarization. The framework is applied to model bistability in a graphene-based traveling-wave resonator system exhibiting third-order nonlinearity. We show that the complex conductivity of graphene disturbs the equality of electric and magnetic energies on resonance (a condition typically taken for granted), due to the reactive power associated with the imaginary part of graphene's surface conductivity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the dispersive nature of conductive materials must always be taken into account, since it significantly impacts the nonlinear response. This is explained in terms of the energy stored in the surface current, which is zeroed-out when linear dispersion is neglected. The results obtained with the proposed framework are compared with full-wave nonlinear finite-element simulations with excellent agreement. Very low characteristic power for bistability is obtained, indicating the potential of graphene for nonlinear applications.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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ESCMID* guideline for the diagnosis and management of Candida diseases 2012: adults with haematological malignancies and after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT).
Fungal diseases still play a major role in morbidity and mortality in patients with haematological malignancies, including those undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although Aspergillus and other filamentous fungal diseases remain a major concern, Candida infections are still a major cause of mortality. This part of the ESCMID guidelines focuses on this patient population and reviews pertaining to prophylaxis, empirical/pre-emptive and targeted therapy of Candida diseases. Anti-Candida prophylaxis is only recommended for patients receiving allogeneic stem cell transplantation. The authors recognize that the recommendations would have most likely been different if the purpose would have been prevention of all fungal infections (e.g. aspergillosis). In targeted treatment of candidaemia, recommendations for treatment are available for all echinocandins, that is anidulafungin (AI), caspofungin (AI) and micafungin (AI), although a warning for resistance is expressed. Liposomal amphotericin B received a BI recommendation due to higher number of reported adverse events in the trials. Amphotericin B deoxycholate should not be used (DII); and fluconazole was rated CI because of a change in epidemiology in some areas in Europe. Removal of central venous catheters is recommended during candidaemia but if catheter retention is a clinical necessity, treatment with an echinocandin is an option (CII(t) ). In chronic disseminated candidiasis therapy, recommendations are liposomal amphotericin B for 8 weeks (AIII), fluconazole for >3 months or other azoles (BIII). Granulocyte transfusions are only an option in desperate cases of patients with Candida disease and neutropenia (CIII).
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Prevention of postherpetic neuralgia with varicella-zoster hyperimmune globulin.
Recovery after an acute attack of herpes zoster is followed by postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) in 9-14% of all patients. Depending on the patient's age, the severity of the acute attack of herpes zoster and the dermatome involved, the incidence of PHN may be as high as 65%. The purpose of our study was to ascertain the incidence of PHN after a prophylactic intravenous injection of varicella-zoster hyperimmune globulin (VZV-IG) (Varitect Biotest Pharma). For this double-blind placebo-controlled randomised investigation we defined PHN as pain confined to the dermatome previously affected by herpes zoster, and we required a pain intensity of at least 15% points on a visual analogue scale (VAS) for this dermatome. The inclusion criteria were the dermatological diagnosis of herpes zoster together with age over 50 years. On Day 1, 20 patients received a single intravenous infusion of VZV-IG in a dose of 2mL/kg body weight, 20 patients (control group) received a single infusion of human albumin 5% in a dose of 2mL/kg body weight. All patients received acyclovir intravenously in a dose of 15mg/kg body weight per 24h for 5 days. The patients were followed up for a total of 42 days. The incidence of PHN at Day 42 was selected as the main outcome criterion for assessing the efficacy of prophylaxis. On reaching a significant difference between the groups (t test; alpha<0.05) in favour of the active treatment group, prophylaxis of PHN by VZV-IG was assessed as effective. Pain was assessed on a VAS and a NAS. As auxiliary outcome criteria, we used the McGill Pain-Rating Questionnaire in its German version, the revised multidimensional pain scale (RMSS) and the Freiburg symptom list (FBL). All results were assessed by the t test (alpha<0.05). The frequency of PHN in the placebo group was 70% (14/20), in the active treatment group it was 35% (7/20) at Day 42. The results of the McGill test showed the variability of the perception of pain in the placebo group significantly greater. No significant group differences were found in the FBL. Being tested with the RMSS, the patients of the placebo group assessed their pains as significantly "more obstinate" (p=0.047). The results can be summed up by saying that VZV-IG not only reduces the incidence of PHN, but also that in certain respects the patients' assessments of their pain experience were different. In our study we found a 50% reduction in PHN incidence However, the outcome time point of our trial was so close to the acute phase of the zoster illness that spontaneous remissions of PHN still have to be taken into account. Despite the widely varied approaches to the problem, reliably effective therapy, let alone 100% prevention of PHN, is still not feasible.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Chromosomal assignment of human VIP/PHM-27 gene to 6q26----q27 region by spot blot hybridization and in situ hybridization.
We determined the chromosomal location of the human VIP/PHM-27 gene in two different ways. First, we performed chromosome sorting with a cell sorter. Sufficient numbers of chromosomes for sorting were obtained by cultivating peripheral blood lymphocytes with interleukin-2. Spot blot hybridization of a molecularly cloned fragment of the gene to the sorted chromosomes revealed that this gene is located on chromosome 6. To define the location more precisely, in situ hybridization of the same fragment to the metaphase spreads was then performed, and human VIP/PHM-27 gene was assigned to a region near the terminus of the long arm of chromosome 6 (q26----q27).
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Molecular phylogeny of monogeneans parasitizing African freshwater Cichlidae inferred from LSU rDNA sequences.
The African freshwater fish of Cichlidae are parasitized by five genera of monogeneans belonging to Dactylogyridea. Ectoparasitic Scutogyrus, Onchobdella, and the highly diversified Cichlidogyrus represent three genera located on the gills, while the endoparasitic Enterogyrus and Urogyrus are located in the stomach and the urinary bladder, respectively. Representatives of four dactylogyridean genera (except for Urogyrus) were collected from seven cichlid species in West Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the phylogenetic relationships between ectoparasitic and endoparasitic dactylogyridaen monogeneans specific to African freshwater Cichlidae and other representatives of Dactylogyridae, including a wide range of species from both freshwater and marine environments. All phylogenetic analyses point to the polyphyletic origin of the subfamily Ancyrocephalinae. Both Enterogyrus and Onchobdella were found to be monophyletic. The phylogenetic position of Scutogyrus longicornis was placed within the Cichlidogyrus species, which suggests the non-monophyly of Cichlidogyrus. Therefore, we have proposed a taxonomical revision of the species recently considered to be Scutogyrus. However, these four dactylogyridean genera-specific to cichlids do not form a monophyletic group. Using LSU rDNA analyses, we found that Enterogyrus and Onchobdella form a clade with Protogyrodactylus, i.e., the parasite species does not live in cichlids, which suggests that endoparasitism in cichlid monogeneans is not an ancestral feature.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Credentialing of certified registered nurse anesthetists.
Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) have provided anesthesia services in this country since the mid-1800s. As the earliest advanced practice nurse specialists, CRNAs have been leaders in the development of educational programs, accreditation, certification, and recertification. This article will describe the history of credentialing in nurse anesthesia and the achievements in the development of a valid and highly respected credentialing mechanism. Recertification and hospital credentialing are also discussed.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Hippocampus-specific deficiency in RNA editing of GluA2 in Alzheimer's disease.
Adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing is a base recoding process within precursor messenger RNA, catalyzed by members of the adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) family. A notable example occurs at the Q/R site of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid glutamate receptor subunit GluA2. Abnormally, low editing at this site leads to excessive calcium influx and cell death. We studied hippocampus and caudate samples from Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and age-matched healthy controls, using direct sequencing and a high accuracy primer-extension technique to assess RNA editing at the Q/R GluA2 site. Both techniques revealed lower, more variable RNA editing in AD, specific to the hippocampus and the GluA2 site. Deficient editing also characterized the hippocampus of apolipoprotein ε4 allele carriers, regardless of clinical diagnosis. In AD, messenger RNA expression of neuronal markers was decreased in the hippocampus, and expression of the Q/R-site editing enzyme ADAR2 was decreased in caudate. These findings provide a link between neurodegenerative processes and deficient RNA editing of the GluA2 Q/R site, and may contribute to both diagnosis and treatment of AD.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Recognition latency for pictures and words as a function of encoded-feature similarity.
In separate trials of a same-different recognition task, a single target item presented as either a picture or a word was followed after a 30-sec delay by a single test item, either a picture or a word. Test items were either nominal matches for the target (same) or one of five related distractor items. Distractors were selected to resemble the target item on one of five dimensions: orthographic, acoustic, conceptual (functional or categorical), schematic (similar in shape), or neutral. Same-different reaction times were found to vary systematically as a function of depiction mode of target and/or test items and by distractor type. Verbally related distractors (orthographic and acoustic) produced longer reaction times when target or test items or both were presented as printed words. When target or test items were presented as pictures, schematic and conceptual distractors produced the longest rejection latencies.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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The Pacific Identity and Wellbeing Scale-Revised (PIWBS-R).
We develop and validate a revised version of the Pacific Identity and Wellbeing Scale (the PIWBS-R). This revision extends the original 5-factor PIWBS model to include a sixth subscale assessing Cultural Efficacy (CE). The definition and item content for CE was based on a synthesis of research on self-efficacy and Pacific cultural capital. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (N = 919) supported the revised 6-factor PIWBS-R model. Validation analyses using a sample subset indicated that the PIWBS-R subscales predicted distinct criterion outcomes (Ns = 452-522). CE uniquely predicted self-reported Church Attendance, travel to the Pacific Islands, confidence in speaking Pacific heritage language, and satisfaction with health. Critically, Pacific Connectedness and Belonging and Perceived Societal Wellbeing predicted a lower likelihood of having been diagnosed with diabetes. These findings highlight the potential of the PIWBS-R model for research assessing the protective function of certain aspects of Pacific identity on health-related outcomes. A copy of the PIWBS-R, scale psychometrics, and construct definitions are provided.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Quantification of organellar DNA and RNA using real-time PCR.
Quantitative (real-time) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows the measurement of relative organellar gene copy numbers as well as transcript abundance of individual mitochondrial or plastidial genes. Requiring only minute amounts of total DNA or RNA, the described method can replace traditional analyses like Southern or Northern hybridization which require large amounts of organellar nucleic acids and usually provide only semiquantitative data. Here we describe prerequisites, reaction conditions, and data analysis principles, which should be applicable for a wide range of plant species and experimental situations where comparative and precise determination of gene copy numbers or transcript abundance is requested. Sequences of amplification primers for qPCR of organellar genes from Arabidopsis are provided.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Inhibition of basal and corticotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity and cytosolic Ca2+ levels by somatostatin in human corticotropin-secreting pituitary adenomas.
The effects of CRH and somatostatin (SRIH) on adenylate cyclase (AC) activity, intracellular free calcium concentrations [( Ca2+]i) and in vitro ACTH release were investigated in six human ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. In all tumors, CRH induced a marked stimulation (from 69-210% at 10 nM), whereas SRIH caused a definite inhibition (from 29-50% at 100 nM) of membrane AC. When added together, CRH and SRIH caused a purely additive effect on AC. In adenomatous corticotrophs CRH (10 nM) caused [Ca2+]i to rise from 160 +/- 30 nM (mean +/- SD) to 410 +/- 95 nM. CRH-induced transients were biphasic, with an initial peak predominantly due to redistribution from intracellular Ca2+ stores and a secondary phase due to Ca2+ influx. The effects of CRH on [Ca2+]i were totally independent of the stimulation of AC. In fact, cAMP-elevating agents other than CRH did not modify [Ca2+]i. SRIH (100 nM) decreased resting [Ca2+]i (approximately 20-40%) as well as [Ca2+]i rises induced by CRH, arginine vasopressin, or high K+. The effect of SRIH on [Ca2+]i was maintained in presence of high cAMP levels, while was totally abolished after pertussis toxin pretreatment. CRH (10 nM) stimulated ACTH release (from 22.5 +/- 3.5 to 45.0 +/- 8.5 pmol/L) by an extent similar to that elicited by calcium ionophore and forskolin. By contrast, SRIH (0.1 microM) inhibited both basal and CRH-stimulated ACTH release. In conclusion, in human adenomatous corticotrophs SRIH exerts an inhibitory action by reducing both AC activity and, independently, [Ca2+]i. In this way, SRIH can efficiently counteract the stimulatory action of CRH that in these cells involves activation of both cAMP and Ca2+ pathways.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Tissue-specific expression of human terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase is regulated at the transcriptional level.
Transcriptional regulation of expression of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase gene in normal thymus and in differentiation arrested cells was demonstrated by analyzing steady-state levels of TdT RNA as well as the relative transcription rate of the gene. Terminal transferase transcripts were detected only in those cells and tissues that contained antigen and enzyme activity. The relative rates of transcription correlated with levels of mRNA as well as with levels of the protein. These data suggest that expression of this gene in normal and leukemic cells is modulated at the level of transcription.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Expression of tyrosine kinase receptor B in human follicle].
To study the expression of tyrosine kinase receptor B(TrkB) in human follicle and explore the significance of the expression. Streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex immunocytochemistry was employed to determine the expression of TrkB on the oocytes, cumulus granulosa cells (CGCs) or mural granulosa cells (MGCs) obtained from women during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Western blotting was used to analyze TrkB expression level in CGCs and MGCs. The results demonstrated for the first time the presence of TrkB on the surface of human ovary cells including MGCs, CGCs and the oocytes. Higher expression levels of TrkB were detected on the MGCs than on the CGCs. It is possible that TrkB tyrosine autophosphorylation in response to neurotrophins can take part in the regulation and modulation of steroidogenesis and oocyte maturation.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Voxel-based morphometry reveals excess gray matter concentration in patients with focal cortical dysplasia.
Many patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) continue to have seizures after surgical treatment. The usual explanation for the poor surgical outcome is the presence of residual dysplastic tissue missed by the preoperative neuroimaging investigation and therefore not resected during surgery. We apply a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis to the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from patients with epilepsy and visually detected FCD to investigate whether (a) VBM is able to detect gray-matter concentration (GMC) abnormalities in patients with FCD, and (b) whether the extent of GMC abnormalities in the brain of these patients differs from the regions observed by using visual inspection. We studied 11 patients with visually detected FCD (eight of them with histologic confirmation of FCD). The GMC from each one of these patients was compared with the mean GMC from a control group of 96 normal healthy subjects by using an optimized VBM protocol. Ten of 11 patients showed statistically significant GMC excess, and among patients with GMC excess, only one showed GMC excess that was not exactly correspondent to the visually detected FCD. Seven patients exhibited excess in GMC extending beyond the area of visually detected FCD. This preliminary neuroimaging study suggests that (a) VBM can detect GMC excess in patients with FCD, and (b) GMC excess in these patients can extend to brain areas not visually defined as abnormal. Abnormal areas detected by VBM can possibly correspond to mild malformations of cortical development, supporting the notion that the surgical refractoriness observed in patients with FCD can be due to the incomplete resection of the dysplastic tissue.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Inverse metabolic engineering with phosphagen kinase systems improves the cellular energy state.
Inverse metabolic engineering attempts to identify or construct desired phenotypes of applied interest to endow them on appropriate host organisms. A particular desirable phenotype is the ATP homeostasis exhibited by animal cells with high and variable ATP turnover through temporal and spatial energy buffering. This buffering is achieved by phosphagen kinase systems that consist of a specific kinase and its cognate phosphagen, which functions as a large pool of 'high-energy phosphates' that are used to replenish ATP during periods of high energetic demand. This review discusses recent advances and potentials of inverse metabolic engineering of cell types that do not normally contain such systems--bacteria, yeast, plants, and liver--with creatine or arginine kinase systems. Examples are discussed that illustrate how microbial metabolism can be tailored for large-scale industrial processes with imperfect mixing and how the liver can be protected from metabolic insults or stimulated for better regeneration.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Effects of nicotine and cannabinoids on the central nervous system].
We describe the molecular mechanisms of action of nicotine and delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the most potent component of cannabis. Like other drugs of abuse, these compounds enhance dopamine release in a precise area of the limbic system when administered acutely. It has recently been shown that the cannabinoid receptors on which delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol acts are also activated by endogenous ligands such as anandamide. This unconventional neurotransmitter appears to have important physiological effects in the central nervous system. Both preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that nicotine is more addictive than delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. However, the intimate interactions that exist between cannabinoid and opioid systems within the brain suggest that cannabinoids should not be considered as harmless drugs of abuse.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Primary charge separation routes in the BChl:BPhe heterodimer reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides.
Energy transfer and the primary charge separation process are studied as a function of excitation wavelength in membrane-bound reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides in which the excitonically coupled bacteriochlorophyll homodimer is converted to a bacteriochlorophyll-bacteriopheophytin heterodimer, denoted D [Bylina, E. J., and Youvan, D. C. (1988) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. A. 85, 7226]. In the HM202L heterodimer reaction center, excitation of D using 880 nm excitation light results in a 43 ps decay of the excited heterodimer, D. The decay of D results for about 30% in the formation of the charge separated state D+QA- and for about 70% in a decay directly to the ground state. Upon excitation of the monomeric bacteriochlorophylls using 798 nm excitation light, approximately 60% of the excitation energy is transferred downhill to D, forming D. Clear evidence is obtained that the other 40% of the excitations results in the formation of D+QA- via the pathway BA --> BA+HA- --> D+HA- --> D+QA-. In the membrane-bound "reversed" heterodimer reaction center HL173L, the simplest interpretation of the transient absorption spectra following B excitation is that charge separation occurs solely via the slow D-driven route. However, since a bleach at 812 nm is associated with the spectrum of D in the HL173L reaction center, it cannot be excluded that a state including BB is involved in the charge separation process in this complex.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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In vivo evaluation of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-grafted gelatin as an in situ-formable scaffold.
We examined whether poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-grafted gelatin (PNIPAM-gelatin) with a lower critical solution temperature of approximately 34 degrees C, which was prepared by quasi-living radical graft polymerization, can serve as an in situ-formable three-dimensional extracellular matrix or cell scaffold. A mixture of fibroblasts stained with fluorescent dye and PNIPAM-gelatin in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium solution was injected into the subcutaneous tissue of Wistar rats, and immediately formed a white, opaque cell-incorporated gel. Fibroblasts immediately after injection were spherical in shape and were homogeneously distributed in the gel. Fibroblasts in the gel 2 weeks after injection had spread and proliferated. One day after injection, many macrophages and neutrophiles were observed around the gel. As the implantation period proceeded, the inflammation reaction subsided. One week after injection, fibroblasts in the native tissue and macrophages migrated into the gel. From 6 to 12 weeks after injection, some degree of calcification in the solid tissue was intermittently observed. The weight of the gel 6 weeks after implantation was reduced to almost one-half of the weight of the originally injected sample. The potential usefulness of PNIPAM-gelatin as an injectable scaffold is discussed.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Clinical utility of 4D FDG-PET/CT scans in radiation treatment planning.
The potential role of four-dimensional (4D) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in radiation treatment planning, relative to standard three-dimensional (3D) PET/CT, was examined. Ten patients with non-small-cell lung cancer had sequential 3D and 4D [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT scans in the treatment position prior to radiation therapy. The gross tumor volume and involved lymph nodes were contoured on the PET scan by use of three different techniques: manual contouring by an experienced radiation oncologist using a predetermined protocol; a technique with a constant threshold of standardized uptake value (SUV) greater than 2.5; and an automatic segmentation technique. For each technique, the tumor volume was defined on the 3D scan (VOL3D) and on the 4D scan (VOL4D) by combining the volume defined on each of the five breathing phases individually. The range of tumor motion and the location of each lesion were also recorded, and their influence on the differences observed between VOL3D and VOL4D was investigated. We identified and analyzed 22 distinct lesions, including 9 primary tumors and 13 mediastinal lymph nodes. Mean VOL4D was larger than mean VOL3D with all three techniques, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The range of tumor motion and the location of the tumor affected the magnitude of the difference. For one case, all three tumor definition techniques identified volume of moderate uptake of approximately 1 mL in the hilar region on the 4D scan (SUV maximum, 3.3) but not on the 3D scan (SUV maximum, 2.3). In comparison to 3D PET, 4D PET may better define the full physiologic extent of moving tumors and improve radiation treatment planning for lung tumors. In addition, reduction of blurring from free-breathing images may reveal additional information regarding regional disease.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Human health risk assessment of occupational and residential exposures to dechlorane plus in the manufacturing facility area in China and comparison with e-waste recycling site.
A screening level human health risk assessment based on the worst-case scenario was conducted on the occupational and residential exposures to dechlorane plus (DP) in the manufacturing facility region and an electronic-waste (e-waste) recycling site in China, which are two of the most polluted areas of DP in the world. Total estimated exposure doses (EEDs) via dietary intake, dermal contact, and inhalation was approximately 0.01 mg kg(-1) d(-1) for people living in the manufacturing facility region. In comparison, total EEDs (approximate 0.03 μg kg(-1), d(-1)) were 300-fold lower in people living near an e-waste recycling site in China. Chronic oral, dermal, and inhalation reference doses (RfDs) were estimated to be 5.0, 2.0, and 0.01 mg kg(-1)d (-1), respectively. The oral RfD was markedly greater than Mirex (2×10(-4) mg kg(-1) d(-1)) and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209; 7×10(-3) mg kg(-1) d(-1)), which have been or might be replaced by DP as a flame retardant with less toxicity. Monte Carlo simulation was used to generate the probability densities and functions for the hazard index which was calculated from the EEDs and RfDs to assess the human health risk. The hazard index was three orders of magnitude lower than 1, suggesting that occupational and residential exposures were relatively safe in the manufacturing facility region and e-waste recycling site.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Porphyria cutanea tarda and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Fifty-five patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) were examined for the simultaneous occurrence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The diagnostic criteria for SLE were those set up by the American Rheumatism Association (ARA). No patient fulfilled the ARA criteria for SLE. Clinical and laboratory features characteristically associated with SLE (although they were not ARA criteria) were simultaneously evaluated. A total of 120 items occurred in those cases but only 15 of these were ARA criteria. These findings, which may suggest the presence of SLE in patients with PCT, might be ascribed to the concomitant liver disease. The simultaneous occurrence of SLE and PCT is reviewed from the literature. The ARA criteria were fulfilled in one third of the reported cases. The coexistence of SLE and PCT might be less frequent than formerly believed.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Imaging centrosomes and cilia in the mouse kidney.
The centrosome and cilium are evolutionarily conserved components of the microtubule cytoskeleton, and act as a cellular signaling center that regulates the activity of numerous developmental signaling pathways. Several genetic syndromes, called the ciliopathies, are associated with defects in the structure or function of the centrosome-cilium complex. In the mammalian kidney, these organelles are found at the apical surface of renal epithelial cells lining the various segments of the nephron, where they relay information from the extracellular environment to the interior of the cell. Cilium-based signaling plays an important role in the development and homeostasis of mammalian kidneys, and ciliary dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of cystic kidney disease. Given the importance of centrosomes and cilia in renal function, techniques used to visualize these organelles, analyze their composition, and test their functionality have become essential in many studies of kidney development and disease. Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful, widely used technique that has enhanced our understanding of molecular mechanisms that regulate the assembly, maintenance, and function of these organelles in various organs. Here, we present detailed steps for the isolation of kidneys from adult and embryonic mice, describe protocols to label centrosomes and cilia in renal tissues, and methods used to culture and image kidneys ex vivo.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Crossover enhancements in GEFREX.
This letter describes some improvements to the crossover operator in the genetic-neuro-fuzzy algorithm called genetic fuzzy rule extractor (GEFREX). Although, the new crossovers studied are very simple the performance of GEFREX, in terms of learning time, is decidedly improved.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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High plasma levels of a ouabain-like factor in normal pregnancy and in pre-eclampsia.
Recent reports have described high levels of one or more substances which cross-react with digoxin antibodies in the serum of women with pre-eclampsia. We measured plasma ouabain-like activity and intraerythrocyte sodium and potassium concentrations, in addition to performing routine hypertensive laboratory tests, in 13 normotensive non-pregnant subjects, 15 normotensive pregnant women and 16 pre-eclamptic women (gestational age: 33-36 weeks). Plasma ouabain-like activity, measured as plasma-induced variations in ouabain binding to human erythrocytes, proved significantly higher in both groups of pregnant subjects as compared to normotensive non-pregnant women, and a significant difference was also found between pre-eclamptic and normotensive pregnant women, the former exhibiting higher plasma ouabain-like activity. No differences in intracellular sodium and potassium levels were detected among the three groups studied. Though there is reason to believe that the high plasma levels found both in normal and hypertensive pregnancy may depend on placental production, we are not in a position to define with any degree of certainty what the mechanism or mechanisms are that regulate ouabain-like factor production.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Determination of the binding properties of the uremic toxin phenylacetic acid to human serum albumin.
Uremic toxins are compounds normally excreted in urine that accumulate in patients with chronic kidney disease as a result of decreased renal clearance. Phenylacetic acid (PAA) has been identified as a new protein bound uremic toxin. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vitro the interaction between PAA and human serum albumin (HSA) at physiological and pathological concentrations. We used ultrafiltration to show that there is a single high-affinity binding site for PAA on HSA, with a binding constant on the order of 3.4 × 10(4) M(-1) and a maximal stoichiometry of 1.61 mol per mole. The PAA, at the concentration reported in end-stage renal patients, was 26% bound to albumin. Fluorescent probe competition experiments demonstrated that PAA did not bind to Sudlow's site I (in subdomain IIA) and only weakly bind to Sudlow's site II (in subdomain IIIA). The PAA showed no competition with other protein-bound uremic toxins such as p-cresyl-sulfate or indoxyl sulfate for binding to serum albumin. Our results provide evidence that human serum albumin can act as carrier protein for phenylacetic acid.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Photosensitized NADH formation system with multilayer TiO2 film.
A TiO(2)/polymer film on a quartz plate fabricated by a layer-by-layer method was employed for NADH production from NAD(+) with lipoamide dehydrogenase and methyl viologen in Tris-HCl buffer on irradiation with UV light, and the ultra thin film prevented from enzyme deactivating effectively.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Characterization and cyclic AMP-dependence of a hyperpolarization-activated chloride conductance in Leydig cells from mature rat testis.
We recently described a cyclic AMP-activated current in the membrane of Leydig cells from mature rat testis by using the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique (Noulin & Joffre, 1992a). In the present study, further experiments were performed in symmetrical CsCl solutions. We show that this current corresponds to a hyperpolarization-activated chloride conductance. Voltage jumps to negative potentials, applied from a holding potential of +60 mV, activated a time-dependent inward current. In control cells, the curve of steady-state current activation typically ranged from +60 mV (0) to -120 mV (1) and had its midpoint at -40 mV. Deactivation at positive potential was characterized by an instantaneous outwardly rectifying current which decayed with time. The kinetics of activation and deactivation were described by a double and a single exponential, respectively. Cyclic AMP, added to the pipette solution, increased both the inward rectification and the amplitude of the steady-state current in the range of 0 to -60 mV. The activation threshold was unchanged, while the V0.5 of the activation curve was shifted by 24 mV to more positive potentials. Consequently, the activation curve was steeper. The two rate constants of activation were increased and were strongly voltage dependent. In parallel, the amplitude of the instantaneous outward current and the rate constant of deactivation were increased. The reversal potential of this current was close to ECl. It did not change with equimolar replacement of cesium by TEA, and shifted with the chloride concentration gradient. This current was inhibited by chloride channel blockers. These results indicate a hyperpolarization-activated chloride conductance in the membrane of Leydig cells which is modulated by cyclic AMP. This nucleotide acts by modifying the kinetics of inward current and both the kinetics and the amplitude of deactivating outward current.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Dominant coloboma-microphthalmos syndrome associated with sensorineural hearing loss, hematuria, and cleft lip/palate.
Ocular colobomas and microphthalmos, isolated or as part of a syndrome, are usually sporadic and only rarely found in large families. A 4-generation family with autosomal dominant uveal coloboma and microphthalmos associated with cleft lip and palate was re-evaluated. Wide variability in expression is evident and more recently recognized manifestations include a complete spectrum of eye involvement, impairment of extraocular movement, mid-frequency sensorineural hearing loss, and hematuria. Learning difficulties requiring remedial teaching were present in one third of those affected and a neural tube defect has occurred in one presumed affected member. This family appears to present a unique phenotype, which provides an opportunity to identify a genetic locus involved in eye, ear, renal, primary palate, and brain development.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Correlation between protein stability cores and protein folding kinetics: a case study on Pseudomonas aeruginosa apo-azurin.
This paper reports a combined computational and experimental study of the correlation between protein stability cores and folding kinetics. An empirical potential function was developed, and it was used for analyzing interaction energies among secondary structure elements. Studies on a beta sandwich protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin, showed that the computationally identified substructure with the strongest interactions in the native state is identical to the "interlocked pair" of beta strands, an invariant motif found in most sandwich-like proteins. Moreover, previous and new in vitro folding results revealed that the identified substructure harbors most residues that form native-like interactions in the folding transition state. These observations demonstrate that the potential function is effective in revealing the relative strength of interactions among various protein parts; they also strengthen the suggestion that the most stable regions in native proteins favor stable interactions early during folding.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Total expansion of the orbit for micro-orbitism].
Micro-orbitism which follows the very early arrested development of the optic vesicles hinders the fitting of a prosthesis. A total enlargement of the orbit is proposed which restores the normal dimensions and enables facial symmetry to be re-established. The risks and advantages of this procedure are discussed.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Carcinosarcoma de novo of the parotid gland: case report.
Salivary gland carcinosarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignant mixed tumor in which carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements coexist and metastasize together. The tumor may occur in the background of a preexisting pleomorphic adenoma or may arise de novo. We report a case of a woman presenting with a carcinosarcoma de novo of the parotid gland. Our patient underwent surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy and demonstrates no evidence of recurrence at 14 months posttreatment. Review of the literature supports combined modality, surgery with postoperative radiation, as the standard of care for this malignancy, although the long-term prognosis for these patients is unclear.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Making progress against cancer in Europe in 2008.
Europe is facing a cancer epidemic, with rapidly increasing incidence rates. Population growth and ageing will further increase the annual number of new patients with cancer. Cancer is a huge and growing contributor to the burden of disease and premature death within the European Union (EU). One in four of all deaths in the EU is attributable to cancer, and in the age range 45-64 years, the figure is almost one in two deaths. The 27 EU Member States differ greatly in cancer incidence, mortality and survival. Yet at least one-third of the cancer burden is preventable and a further third can be detected early and treated effectively, even on the basis of existing knowledge. "Cancer", however, comprises an extremely complex group of diseases and achieving the full potential for prevention and treatment poses very significant challenges. Success in cancer control will depend on a co-ordinated approach that involves every aspect of policy and service delivery. The objective of this paper is to outline the basic requirements of an integrated strategy for cancer control, emphasising the co-ordination of the key elements of primary prevention, secondary prevention (screening), integrated care and advances in research, all at national and EU level. It is based on a detailed review of the status of cancer control in the EU today and summarises the policy recommendations arising from this review, undertaken under the auspices of the Slovenian Presidency of the European Union in 2008.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Radiotelemetric analysis of the effects of prevailing wind direction on Mormon cricket migratory band movement.
During outbreaks, flightless Mormon crickets [Anabrus simplex Haldeman (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)] form large mobile groups known as migratory bands. These bands can contain millions of individuals that march en masse across the landscape. The role of environmental cues in influencing the movement direction of migratory bands is poorly understood and has been the subject of little empirical study. We examined the effect of wind direction on Mormon cricket migratory band movement direction by monitoring the local weather conditions and daily movement patterns of individual insects traveling in bands over the same time course at three close, but spatially distinct sites. Although weather conditions were relatively homogeneous across sites, wind directions tended to be more variable across sites during the morning hours, the period during which directional movement begins. Migratory bands at different sites traveled in distinctly different directions. However, we failed to find any evidence to suggest that the observed variation in migratory band movement direction was correlated with local wind direction at any time during the day. These results support the notion that the cues mediating migratory band directionality are likely to be group specific and that a role for landscape-scale environmental cues such as wind direction is unlikely.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Taxonomic status of Kitasatosporia, and proposed unification with Streptomyces on the basis of phenotypic and 16S rRNA analysis and emendation of Streptomyces Waksman and Henrici 1943, 339AL.
Species classified within the genus Kitasatosporia share many of the phenotypic characteristics typical of streptomycetes. By using a probabilistic identification scheme, they were identified with Streptomyces exfoliatus cluster 5, a species group within Streptomyces. The four species studied hybridized with a 16S rRNA genus probe for Streptomyces spp., indicating a close relationship between the two genera. The kitasatosporias were resistant to selected polyvalent streptomycete phages tested. Quantitative analysis showed that meso-diaminopimelic acid varied from 49 to 89% in Kitasatosporia species and from 1 to 16% in Streptomyces species depending on growth conditions. On the basis of 16S rRNA analysis, it is proposed to reduce Kitasatosporia to synonymy with Streptomyces. As a result, the new names proposed are Streptomyces mediocidicus comb. nov., Streptomyces phosalacineus comb. nov., Streptomyces setae comb. nov., and Streptomyces griseolosporeus comb. nov., nom. nov.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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An ab initio molecular dynamics study of the liquid-vapor interface of an aqueous NaCl solution: inhomogeneous density, polarity, hydrogen bonds, and frequency fluctuations of interfacial molecules.
We have presented a first principles simulation study of the structural and dynamical properties of a liquid-vapor interfacial system of a concentrated (5.3 M) aqueous NaCl solution. We have used ab initio molecular dynamics to examine the structural and dynamical properties of the bulk and interfacial regions. The structural aspects of the system that have been considered here include the inhomogeneous density profiles of ions and water molecules, hydrogen bond distributions, orientational profiles, and also vibrational frequency distributions in the bulk and interfacial regions. It is found that the sodium ions are mostly located in the interior, while the chloride anions occupy a significant portion of the interface of the slab. The water dipoles at the interface prefer to orient parallel to the surface. The dynamical aspects of the interfaces are investigated in terms of diffusion, orientational relaxation, hydrogen bond dynamics, and vibrational spectral diffusion. The results of the interfacial dynamics are compared with those of the corresponding bulk region. It is observed that the interfacial molecules exhibit faster diffusion and orientational relaxation with respect to the bulk. However, the interfacial molecules are found to have longer hydrogen bond lifetimes than those of the bulk. We have also investigated the correlations of hydrogen bond relaxation with the vibrational frequency fluctuations of interfacial water molecules.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Albendazole treatment of human hydatid tissue.
The effect of albendazole was studied in 12 patients with cystic hydatid disease (CHD) of the liver. Six patients received albendazole continuously for 6 months, while 6 patients received albendazole for 6 courses of 4 weeks with a 2 week drug-free interval between cycles. The continuous therapy proved successful, with stable involution at the follow-up at 24 months, while the patients treated with discontinuous therapy showed improvement or relapse. In our experience, continuous therapy was more effective and can be considered to be a suitable alternative or percutaneous therapy in uncomplicated hydatid liver disease, as an initial treatment.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Factors influencing movement probabilities of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in buildings.
We investigated movements of female big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) roosting in maternity colonies in buildings in Fort Collins, Colorado (USA), during the summers of 2002, 2003, and 2005. This behavior can be of public health concern where bats that may carry diseases (e.g., rabies) move among buildings occupied by people. We used passive integrated transponders (PIT tags) to mark individual bats and hoop PIT readers at emergence points to passively monitor the use of building roosts by marked adult females on a daily basis during the lactation phase of reproduction. Multi-strata models were used to examine movements among roosts in relation to ambient temperatures and ectoparasite loads. Our results suggest that high ambient temperatures influence movements. Numbers of mites (Steatonyssus occidentalis) did not appear to influence movements of female bats among building roosts. In an urban landscape, periods with unusually hot conditions are accompanied by shifting of bats to different buildings or segments of buildings, and this behavior may increase the potential for contact with people in settings where, in comparison to their more regularly used buildings, the bats may be more likely to be of public concern as nuisances or health risks.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Ankle-brachial index screening for peripheral artery disease in high cardiovascular risk patients. Prospective observational study of 370 asymptomatic patients at high cardiovascular risk].
Peripheral arterial disease is a marker of systemic atherosclerosis; it is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease by measuring the ankle-brachial pressure index in patients at high cardiovascular risk and to study the risk factors associated with this disease. This was a descriptive and analytic cross-sectional study which focused on 370 patients seen at the medical consultation for atherosclerosis prevention. The ankle-brachial index was measured with a portable Doppler (BIDOP 3) using 4 and 8Hz dual frequency probes. The standards were: normal ankle-brachial index 0.9 to 1.3; peripheral artery obstructive disease ankle-brachial index less than 0.9; poorly compressible artery (medial arterial calcification) ankle-brachial index greater than 1.3. Cardiovascular risk factors were also studied. Three hundred and seventy subjects (mean age 65.5±8.7years) were screened Cardiovascular risk factors were: sedentary lifestyle (91.5 %), hypertension (68.1 %), elevated LDL-cholesterolemia (36.3 %), diabetes (48.3 %) and tobacco smoking (33.8 %). The prevalence of peripheral artery disease was 32.4 % of which 77.5 % were asymptomatic. We found a significant correlation with smoking, diabetes, dyslipidemia and the presence of coronary artery disease or vascular cerebral disease. Screening for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) with the ankle-brachial index has increased the percentage of polyvascular patients from 6.2 to 29 %. Factors independently associated with PAD were advanced age, presence of cardiovascular disease, smoking and glycated hemoglobin. PAD is a common condition in people at high cardiovascular risk, the frequency of asymptomatic forms justifies the screening with pocket Doppler which is a simple, inexpensive and effective test to assess the overall cardiovascular risk.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Simulating the cellular passive transport of glucose using a time-dependent extension of Gillespie algorithm for stochastic pi-calculus.
Realistic simulations of the biological systems evolution require a mathematical model of the stochasticity of the involved processes and a formalism for specifying the concurrent nature of the biochemical interactions. A time-dependent extension of the Gillespie algorithm implementing the race condition of the stochastic pi-calculus formalism satisfies both these requirements. This paper formulates those modifications to the original Gillespie algorithm necessary when the time dependence of the reaction propensity is due to changes either of volume or temperature. This re-formulation has been incorporated in the framework of stochastic pi-calculus and has been applied to simulate the passive glucose cellular transport.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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[Serum sodium imbalance in the bedridden elderly. Part One: Realities and problem of management].
Symptoms and other abnormalities associated with serum sodium imbalance were studied in bedridden elderly and healthy elderly subjects. 1. A significantly higher number of the bedridden elderly suffered from chronic wasting disease. 2. The average serum sodium concentration in bedridden elderly subjects was significantly lower than in healthy subjects, as was the sodium intake and the sodium content in urine, which indicate that the bedridden elderly subjects suffered from chronic sodium deficiency. 3. The bedridden elderly subjects had high levels of plasma PRA and antidiuretic hormone, and their aldosterone levels were low, which indicate that their condition was associated with a decrease in available circulating plasma, hypersecretion of antidiuretic hormone, and a decline in the ability to retain sodium. 4. Measurement of 24-hr creatinine clearance, albumin, and beta 2-microglobulin in urine revealed that bedridden elderly subjects had high levels of renal dysfunction, the result of which may a disturbance in water excretion. Abnormalities in serum sodium levels in the bedridden elderly subjects were related to a chronic deficiency in sodium intake, which reduced their ability to maintain sodium levels and impaired their renal function. Iatrogenic factors are likely to play an important role in the genesis of this condition, and should be taken into account in during management.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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Radiologic management of haemoptysis: diagnostic and interventional bronchial arterial embolisation.
Hemoptysis can be a life-threatening pulmonary emergency with high mortality, is symptomatic of an underlying severe pulmonary disease and requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostically, bronchoscopy, conventional chest x-ray and contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomography (MSCT) with CT angiography (CTA) provide information regarding the underlying pulmonary disease, bleeding site, the vascular anatomy of the bronchial arteries (BA) and extrabronchial branches, as well a basis for planning of endovascular intervention. Therapeutically, bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is a safe and effective technique in the hands of an experienced interventionist with profound knowledge of the BA anatomy and possible pitfalls as well as experience with first-line therapy of recurrent and massive hemoptysis or as an intervention prior to elective surgery. Recurrent episodes of hemoptysis are not uncommon and require a prompt repeat BAE after exclusion of extrabronchial systemic and pulmonary artery bleeding sources. This review article should give an overview of the history, anatomical and pathophysiological basics and the clinical context of hemoptysis and diagnosis, as well as a survey of management, treatment and results of BAE. Hemoptyses are life threatening and require urgent diagnostic and therapy. Chest x-ray, bronchoscopy, and contrast-enhanced MSCT with CTA should be carried out before therapeutic bronchial artery embolization (BAE). BAE for the treatment of massive and recurrent hemoptysis is safe and effective. False embolization in spinal branches of BA are the most serious complication of a BAE. Repeatedly BAE refractory cases should undergo elective surgery.
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{
"pile_set_name": "PubMed Abstracts"
}
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